Selecting individual table cells can be a challenge for even the most nimble-wristed “Halo” master. When all you want to do is color (or tint) a table cell here or there, there’s no reason to twist and turn the cursor until you have it just at the correct angle to select the cell. Instead, switch to the Selection Tool, and then drag a swatch from the Swatches palette over the cell and drop.
This trick also works straight from the Color palette. For those times when you don’t need to create a swatch just for a table cell shade, mix up the color on the Colors palette, and then drag and drop the preview swatch from that palette–either the fill or stroke swatches, either from in front or in back. Heck, you could even just drag and drop the fill or stroke swatches from the Tools palette!