Obama could have been in pictures

While in town promoting his movie “Nothing Like the Holidays,” producer and Chicago native Robert Teitel recounted a story from another one of his shoots: Barack Obama’s 2001 visit to the set of “Barbershop.”

Obama came to show his support for the production and for Illinois’ film tax incentive, which he backed as a state senator.

But why wasn’t there a cameo?

“Oh, that would have been priceless,” said Teitel, who later helped host fundraisers for the president-elect during the primary.

But it wasn’t to be. In retrospect, Teitel is glad. “I’m sure [John] McCain would have showed clips of it,” in campaign ads, he said.

“‘He’s Hollywood!’ That’s how they try to paint him,” seconded friend and actor Freddy Rodriguez.