Even more surprising? Nichols lured Lakers fan Jack Nicholson, who starred in his 1970s movies “Carnal Knowledge” and “The Fortune,” even though Game 4 of the NBA Finals was on that night. (Nicholson appeared midway through the evening.)

The actor capped off stream-of-consciousness remarks about oysters and inadequate pay with the apt conclusion that he was “feeling pretty good — a little bit Jackie, a little bit Norman Maine,” alluding to 1954’s “A Star Is Born” and James Mason’s scene as a drunk, fallen matinee idol disturbing an event honoring his wife.