COME WITH ME TO THE CARIBBEAN!!!!!

THIS FALL/WINTER I WILL BE DOING A SERIES OF MY 

"HOLLYWOOD SECRETS AND SCANDALS" LECTURES FOR TWO CELEBRITY CRUISES.

If you want the truth behind the Manson Murders, O.J., Phil Spector, Leading Ladies from Veronica Lake to Angelina Jolie......Leading Men from Cary Grant to Brad Pitt......or Rock Stars and TV Legends.... MY OWN PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT THESE STARS I'VE KNOWN

Just book either one of these trips:

OCT. 19-28  CELEBRITY SUMMIT  leaving from Cape Liberty, New Jersey and ending up in Puerto Rico---with gorgeous island stops along the way (I'm going early so I can go to NY first!)

DEC. 20-30  CELEBRITY EQUINOX  leaving from Ft. Lauderdale and returning to Ft. Lauderdale...again with gorgeous island stops

FROM WEINER THE RIDICULOUS TO THE DIVINELY RIDICULOUS

HIGH HEELED SHOE COOKIES................

POPE FRANCIS---WELCOME TO THE 21ST CENTURY; GLAD YOU'RE PRESENT AND CARING

LOVE THIS POPE !!!!!!!!

POPE FRANCIS

I HAD A FEELING RIGHT AWAY THAT THIS ONE WOULD BE A GOOD ONE. His eyes looked kind, and he didn't want to wear the red satin shoes. Excellent. And, I can't help but think that one of the reasons he chose Francis was after St. Francis. Gotta love that.

Pope Francis obviously knows that the Church has had BIG PR TROUBLE. God (literally) only knows what politics and favors go on behind the scenes in electing a pope. The fact that Roger Mahony (I refuse to call him cardinal since he should be in jail) was there voting makes me sick, but that's another story. I really believe that God elected Pope Francis.

It had to have been His plan to have Pope Francis be preceded by Pope RAT. I call him that because his name is Ratzinger and I believe he hid some of his Hitlerian beliefs. REMEMBER, PEOPLE, THIS IS AN OPINION PIECE. Just look at his eyes.....

The Church, for decades and decades, has driven out good Catholics by their austere policies. They are anti-everything. I am the kind of Catholic who derives comfort from standards and beliefs that are human and kind. There's nothing wrong with God---it's the men. I take what I want from Catholicism, and leave the rest. Deep beliefs of goodness are spiritual. And, I'm a sucker for music and architecture and pageantry. Too bad they didn't keep the mass in Latin. Most Catholics didn't understand it and their image was better.

I believe it is important to keep the original structure of the Catholic Church. Rules are important. And, I don't necessarily believe rules should bend with the whims of an ever-changing public. Then there would be no order. The Pope is the human manifestation of the Church. In Pope Francis, they now have one who is cognizant of the time in which he lives, and what ALL people need.


By saying this earlier this week about gay people he showed that he "gets it."

“If they accept the Lord and have goodwill, who am I to judge them?” the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics said in a remarkably candid and off-the-cuff news conference en route to Rome from Brazil. “They shouldn’t be marginalized.”

Here's what Pope Rat said during his tenure.........

called homosexual inclinations “disordered” and called for men with “deep-seated” gay tendencies to be barred from the priesthood. He also said same-sex marriage was insidious threat to the common good.


ONE LAST THING.....Twelve years ago when I moved to my new place, I went to the local Catholic Church to introduce myself. I met the young handsome priest who looked really cool and spoke directly for the times. I went for a few weeks before deciding I would leave my old parish for his.

On the morning I made the decision, I walked up the steps to the church and saw him standing there.
"I'm going to join your parish and today's the day I'm going to fill out the papers," I told him excitedly. He said, "THIS morning?" in an odd voice. "What's the matter? I asked. "I wish it wasn't THIS morning," he continued. "I'm not going to tell you why, but be prepared when you go in there," he cautioned.

I walked into the church and saw three seriously higher-up honchos from the archdiocese. The one in the most impressive robes got up to speak. He announced that our head priest had been removed from his post because of inappropriate behavior.  All minds went to priest and little boy thoughts. We held our breaths. Then he said that the priest had become involved with women parishioners. A collective sigh could be heard. Every single parishioner thought...."Well, thank God it's was only a woman."

PEE WEE HERMAN'S "BAGUETTE SHOES"

I LOVE SHOES, AND I HAVEN'T EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THESE......

PEE WEE HERMAN (Thank you. Michael Karm)

ANTHONY WEINER----REALLY?????? HUMA-----REALLY??????

I AM SORRY. THIS IS DISGUSTING ON ALL LEVELS.

I could understand and forgive the first time. People make mistakes. He lied. Not good, but then he owned up. He said he would stop. He said he'd get therapy. He resigned. Huma stayed. OK. And besides, she was pregnant.

But GOOD GOD............HE DIDN'T STOP, even with the therapy. HE HAS A REAL SEXUAL DISORDER. More lying. This is, in my opinion, a sick puppy. This is most certainly someone who is not fit for public office or to ask for and get the public's trust. The nerve he had to seek office again. Damaged, damaged goods. At least Huma never stood beside him the first time.

BUT I AM MORE DISAPPOINTED IN HER THIS TIME, THAN I AM HIM. I understand I'm not in her shoes. I understand I don't know what their real personal life is about, and it's none of my business. But when an extraordinary woman like the brilliant, respected, and admired Huma Abedin stands there, I get physically ill. She looked like an idiot puppet.

Of course one can't help but go back to Hillary standing by Bill. And she and Huma are best friends. I was upset then, too. I supported Clinton's impeachment. I will also support Hillary (again) for president.

No one can control someone's choices, but when you are in the public eye, you take the consequences. I'm mortified for Huma, but if she ran for president I'd support her, too.

RIGHT NOW I THINK SHE SHOULD RUN FOR MAYOR IN HER STUPID, SICK HUSBAND'S PLACE.

SNIPPETS...........

THINGS CATCH MY EYE OR FALL INTO MY HANDS..................

Original still of Lesley Ann Warren as "Cinderella" (the best one ever) directed by Charles Dubin

I had to take this picture. 1959 Cadillac in front of Beverly Hills Hotel the other day

One of the greatest ladies ever, Debbie Reynolds at the Pasadena Pops

RAY DONOVAN SERIES ON SHOWTIME---DON'T MISS IT.

RAY DONOVAN, starring Liev Schreiber and Jon Voight, airs every Sunday night on Showtime at 10 pm. It is as good as THE SOPRANOS or HOMELAND and I urge you, if you haven't watched it yet, tune it in. Go on On Demand so you can see the first three episodes.

The series is about a Hollywood fixer (no, this is not really like SCANDAL) who is hired by studio heads, actors, agents, managers, to make their problems go away. It gets very ugly and scary. Liev is the fixer. Jon Voight, in his best work since COMING HOME, plays Liev's jailbird father who is just terrifying in his understated performance.

This show has murders, trannies, sluts, second wives, disgusting Hollywood men, Malibu, clubs, studio lots.......what else do you need to have fun??? And, it's pure quality all the way.

A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING WAS HAD BY ALL

NOAH EDELMAN, SON OF SINGER-SONGWRITER JACKIE DE SHANNON "What the World Needs Now is Love," "Put A Little Love in Your Heart," "Bette Davis Eyes)AND COMPOSER RANDY EDELMAN (he's scored over 60 feature films just for starters), married Alison Pollack last weekend at Cicada.

The couple met at the dog park and both had dogs named Sunny and both drove white Acuras. The dogs were walked down the aisle by each mother. At the reception, Randy sang a song he composed just for Alison and Noah, and then he accompanied Jackie as she sang "What the World" for the extremely happy couple. Congratulations to all!

And, by the way Jackie's latest single,  "All Our Secrets are the Same," just came out on itunes.

JUST ASKIN'

JENNA ELFMAN has done six series that haven't made it. Why does she keep getting cast? Her seventh one comes on in the fall.

I know networks like to feel safe and hire actresses who they know can deliver a performance. It has gone on for years. Nothing against Jennifer, but she's the latest example of "non-creative, chicken" casting.

"THE VIEW" PART THREE (AT LEAST UNTIL JENNY COMES ON)

PART THREE IS ALL ABOUT BARBARA

When Whoopi joined "The View," there was celebration all around. Whoopi had a brain, a sense of humor, a sense of self, and she didn't like to play games. Whoopi is an authentic person, and the conversations led by her were not only interesting, but they really raised the level of conversation.The other panelists would get really involved, sometimes heated, and it was fantastic to watch. It was a great balance.

But something had changed about Barbara. Before I get into it, I want to say that Barbara is deservedly one of the great journalists of all time, a pioneer for all women, and someone I greatly admire. We know each other casually. At one point, when I worked at ABC, I asked her if she wanted to do a special on the Manson Girls. It was in the late 70s and no one had seen them since their incarceration. I got Barbara's cameras into the prison and she did a live remote. Her ratings on that special were sky high. It was my pleasure to work with her.

In my opinion, Barbara was almost shell-shocked after the Rosie craziness. Rosie did not reflect Barbara's beliefs on TV demeanor or maybe even off-screen behavior. So....when Whoopi's conversations really started to spark and a segment that was about to take off, Barbara would put up her hands as if she were trying to stop a train. She would kill whatever was happening. It was a real shame, and it affected the flow of the show and caused consternation with the viewers.

Soon, you could just watch Whoopi's face every time Barbara interrupted her or tried to stop the action. Waiting for that almost became the fun of the show. Allegedly, Whoopi negotiated a new contract with "Barbara-free Days," making sure that Barbara was on less. Also, allegedly, Whoopi herself had days off just to get a breather. This is how "The View" has been right up to today.
Allegedly, Barbara did have an offer from ABC, since, remember, they own 51% of "The View" and Barbara has 49%, to cut her appearances down and not retire. Allegedly, she refused. Therefore, her retirement was announced. All I can say is, I'm sorry Barbara got timid, and I wish her much happiness.

Thank God Jenny McCarthy

is the replacement for Elisabeth. Jenny is funny, fearless, and a natural-born talk show person. I was terrified that white bread, inoffensive Brooke Shields would get it. If that happened, I'd have to say goodbye forever.

We must not forget that Joy will be replaced, too. Don't "wimp out," ABC. Keep the show alive. We'll see.

'"THE VIEW" CONTROVERSY PART TWO

AND THE STORY CONTINUES............

FREAKED

 So.....Rosie's unpredictability and feisty personality sends "The View's" ratings into the stratosphere. Barbara's choice of Rosie delivered exactly what she wanted it to.....sort of. But Rosie's cracks about Donald Trump (brilliant and hilarious) and other people started to make Barbara nervous. In all her years of broadcasting, her image to the public was that of an extremely tireless worker; an an empathetic and polite woman, but allegedly behind-the-scenes she was unhappy. WHEN ROSIE WAS ON "THE VIEW" IT WAS MUST-SEE TV. IT WAS A LIVE HEAD-ON CRASH WAITING TO HAPPEN...AND I LOVED IT.

FIERCE, BUT TRUE TO HER BELIEFS

We all know Rosie was unhappy eventually because it wasn't her own show, but my God, was it terrific. It also made a true star out of Elisabeth, who held her own every single time. She also became extremely sympathetic after so many "beating-attempts" by Rosie. AND THEN IT ALL CRASHED.
IT WAS 2007.

TRIUMPHED

       

No more Meredith, Debbie, Star, Lisa, Rosie. Sherri Shepherd started as a guest co-host. Barbara now had to be on every day. The boat was filling with water. Without Rosie, the show instantly became average.
I loved Sherri Shepherd from all her "Ellen" show appearances, and was ecstatic to see her. The show needed and needs her warmth and humor. She smiles and I smile back. I'm gad they added her when they did, or I would have been gone.

Smiling Sherri

Talented Joy

I first saw Joy Behar as Helen Reddy's opening act in the late 70s. She was really funny and sharp. I thought she was terrific and I still do. Because of all the controversy over the years, Joy gets ignored. Her show on HLN was good, and CNN really blew it when they put on Piers Morgan instead of Joy. She has been the anchorpiece of "The View." Not Barbara. I'm sick that "allegedly" the demographics-police decided it was time for Joy to go. Joy---Go on the road when you want; write books; do other TV; and go all around the world with Steve. It's all your choice now. Thank you for everything.


AND THEN THERE WAS WHOOPI. THANK GOD.                        PART THREE TOMORROW

I FINALLY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT "THE VIEW." I'VE KEPT QUIET TOO LONG. PART ONE

I HAVE HAD SO MANY THOUGHTS ABOUT "THE VIEW" FOR SO LONG, AND OUT OF RESPECT TO BARBARA WALTERS, I'VE KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT.

HISTORY: "The View" is and always was, a rip-off of the old Virginia Graham daily show called "Girl Talk." It ran on the network from 1963-1969. When Barbara first went to ABC to pitch her show and it was bought, she did, in her early interviews, acknowledge Virginia Graham. That acknowledgement soon stopped as the show gradually built to a hit.

Virginia Graham with guest Joan Crawford on "Girl Talk."

"Girl Talk.

Meredith Viera, Star Jones, Joy Behar and Debbie Matenopoulous were the first group. Lisa Ling was added after Debbie left, and she was a wonderful addition. The rest, for the moment is irrelevant. Star imploded by being arrogant and greedy, Lisa left to become a serious news person, and Meredith left for the "Today Show."

Star Jones' firing really helped the show's visibility because it caused a controversy that made "The View" its own gossip mill.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck had already entered the fray, and was dismissed early as a kind of air-head right-wing twit---BUT NOT BY ME.

I liked her from the minute I saw her. It's true that she was a little "green," but she had something, and Barbara had the guts to put her on and support her. She was a "mom," a "wife," a "survivor," and perfect for a large segment of viewers. She has held her own against attacks that would make weak people shrivel. She is an example of "grace under fire," and a bright, reasonable, well-mannered person who is polite to people of all views. Bravo to her for leaving at just the right time for a terrific job.

YOU SEE.......CASTING "THE VIEW" IS LIKE A SALAD. YOU NEED YOUR LETTUCE, YOUR TOMATOES, YOUR RADISHES, YOUR PEPPERS, AND MAYBE SOME ONIONS.

IT'S ROSIE O'DONNELL TIME

Before Meredith left, Barbara saw Rosie at an awards show or somewhere where she was on stage. She rightfully thought--now there's some spice. Barbara was smart enough to know that it was a crucial time for "The View." Society was changing. Impolite topics were being discussed. It may not have made her comfortable personally, but she knew it would be good for ratings. LET ME SAY RIGHT HERE THAT "ALLEGEDLY" (ALWAYS A GOOD WORD TO USE WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO GET INTO POLITICS) Barbara owns 49% of show. ABC owns 51% making them always the final word.

END OF "THE VIEW" PART ONE. STAY TUNED..............

JOAN RIVERS' 85TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

JOAN RIVERS' 85TH BIRTHDAY

YES, WE ALL KNOW SHE JUST TURNED 80. WE ALSO KNOW THAT, SADLY, HER SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY WAS CANCELED DUE TO HER SISTER'S UNEXPECTED PASSING. IT WAS A DIFFICULT SITUATION AND WE ALL WERE SO UPSET FOR JOAN. EVENTUALLY SHE AND DAN GLOSSER AND I CELEBRATED WITH A QUIET DINNER ON THE WESTSIDE A WEEK LATER.

BUT---EVERYONE WANTED TO KNOW IF THE PARTY WOULD BE RESCHEDULED. JOAN SAID, "I'M SENDING OUT A SAVE THE DATE CARD VERY SOON.

HERE IT IS--

IT IS FOR HER 85TH BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

ALLOW ME TO READ IT TO YOU......


SAVE THE DATE

THE 80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF

MISS JOAN RIVERS

HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO FAMILY BEREAVEMENT
UNTIL THE OCCASION OF HER 85TH BIRTHDAY

JUNE 8, 2018

THE METROPOLITAN CLUB
NEW YORK CITY

RSVP NO LATER THAN 2017

P.S. PLEASE KEEP YOUR ORIGINAL INVITATION AS IT ENTITLES YOU TO ONE FREE DRINK.

P.P.S. THIS WILL BE A SURPRISE AS, DUE TO HER AGE, MISS RIVERS WON'T REMEMBER THAT THE ORIGINAL PARTY DIDN'T HAPPEN

JUST CHECK THIS STATUE OUT

THIS IS A LIVE PERSON AS PARTY DECOR

This was shot in a foyer of Greystone, the Doheny Mansion in Beverly Hills. It was taken over by Chavi Hertz who hosted a 60th birthday for event-planner Connie Armijo. (who pretty much planned her own party, of course).

The theme was Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," and you were greeted at the door by Flapper Girls. Once inside there was a huge sushi station (not of the period, but who cares...) The piece de resistance was the Old Hollywood Buffet with Chasen's Chili, Musso and Frank's Caesar Salad, and The Brown Derby Prime Rib and Mashed Potatoes. OMG.

Thom Rollerson, Connie, Moi, Chavi

Connie and the Flappers

HOW TO SURVIVE THE FOURTH OF JULY

AFTER MUCH THOUGHT (FRIENDS' HOMES; PRIVATE CLUBS) I DECIDED TO BOOK A ROOM AT A HOTEL RIGHT ON THE BEACH IN L.A.

THINK ABOUT IT............PARKING.....REST...AIR-CONDITIONING......BATHROOM.....ROOM SERVICE IF NEEDED.   AHHHHH.........

HAPPY FOURTH TO ALL. WE LIVE IN THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!

YAY, MARLO AND PHIL FOR CELEBRATING BY HEADING THE GLAAD MARCH IN NYC

THEY HAVE BEEN SO AHEAD OF THEIR TIME FOR YEARS AND YEARS ON THIS ISSUE

IT'S TRUE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ALASKA !!!!!!

AHHHHHH..................ALASKA

THE MAGIC OF ALASKA

YES, PEOPLE REALLY SAY "YOU BETCHA'" ALL THE TIME. They are also very nice people who are proud of their homeland. Alaska is every bit as gorgeous as people say. I can see why some people cruise there every year just to breathe the air and take in the delightfully overwhelming nature.

As usual, I went on a Celebrity Cruise. I love them, and I lecture on them. Their service, food, staff, and ship are perfection. I left from Seattle, and it was my second time there--definitely not as charming as the first. Too wet; too windy. It's like "San Francisco light." But, compliments to the Fairmont Olympia Hotel. It's a beautiful Grande Dame.

Alaska was the ports of Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, plus the side cruise called the Tracy Arm Fijord Inside Passage. No words can describe the majesty of the surrounding as you cruise. Each town is old-fashioned and charming, but loaded with jewelry stores like St. Thomas. Diamonds everywhere.

I loved a trainride on a vintage train up to the Mendenhall Glacier. You rode round and round up to the top, with dangerous rapids below, huge mountain/glacier formations, and were so close to the mountain side you could touch it from the train platform.

SKAGWAY

TRAIN TO GLACIER

Another highlight was Victoria or Vancouver Island in Canada. To have tea at the Empress Hotel was finer than tea at the Ritz in London. The famous Butchart Gardens were some of the most beautiful sights I'd ever seen.

NO OFFENSE TO HUNTINGTON GARDENS, BUT IT PALES IN COMPARISON

THE SUNKEN GARDEN

THE ROSE GARDEN

THE EMPRESS

PARLIAMENT HOUSES IN VICTORIA