HEARTBROKEN FOR JOHN TRAVOLTA

THE TRAGEDIES HE'S ENDURED ARE HORRIFIC.

The two women loves of his life have been actresses Diana Hyland and Kelly Preston. John fell in love with Diana during the shooting of the TV movie, "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble." They were truly, deeply in love and she died. Do I know if they were getting married? No. But it tore his world apart.


Then he met Kelly, and his life was full of hope. Kelly was a wonderful, bright, kind person. They had two children, Jett and Ella, and enjoyed a beautiful family. We know the tragedy of Jett. Kelly and John picked up the pieces and chose hope and the future. They had their son, Ben.

Now Kelly has met the same fate as Diana. I know that's in the back of John's mind. My heartbreaks for him. John is one of the nicest, most well-mannered people you could ever meet. He's a real sweetheart. I know his No. 1 goal is to create a fulfilling and joyous life for his children. How sad that Ben only had ten years with Kelly.

Say a prayer for the family.

IS "GLEE" CURSED??????

THINKING ABOUT THE SHOW "GLEE" 
      AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED



DEAD--

DROWNED

DRUG OVERDOSE

SUICIDE BY HANGING

Naya Rivera had a very bright future. So did Cory Monteith. Mark Salling pleaded guilty to being a sexual predator--not such a good future.

EXCORIATED---

Extremely talented, and allegedly very rude.

She's been called out by many people she's worked with. She's married and pregnant, and extremely talented. A sincere apology will help her future. We're waiting....

What IS it about successful young adult shows? Think back to REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE and James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo.

I have no answers.....only questions

SI BON RESTAURANT IS TOTALLY SAFE

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO HAVE A LOVELY MEAL, GO TO SI BON IN RANCHO MIRAGE.


This is one of my favorite restaurants anyway, and I was thrilled to hear they were open.
You are greeted by the owner. Patio tables are appropriately spaced. Inside, tables are missing for social distancing.

In the bar area, there are hard plastic dividers between the booth tables. People are far away and safe.

Masks and gloves are worn. The bar stools are removed and replaced with two high tops, and those have hard plastic dividers.

The owners of Si Bon respect our safety.

Thank you,
Si Bon!

PIERO'S PIZZAVINO EL PASEO-NOT ALL RESTAURANTS ARE BEING SAFE

BAD EXPERIENCE--PIERO'S PIZZAVINO ON EL PASEO



After quarantining forever and being extraordinarily safe, I decided to venture out to a restaurant. It was Piero's Pizzavino on El Paseo. I walked in and noticed that too many people were already seated on the patio. Every table was taken. There were no tables that were marked off to not sit there. The same thing happened in the restaurant. NO TABLES WERE MARKED OFF.

I was seated at a table that was in a row of two-tops, and there was a couple directly to my right. I said to the junior hostess, "I'm not going to sit here. You are not social distancing. You haven't taken tables away, and you don't have any that are marked off." The young lady was snippy.

She showed us to a different table in a high-top area that was separated by a glass panel. There were four tables there, and only one other couple. I said I'd sit there and added, "but you'd better not seat anyone else in this area." She said, "We're going to do that." I said, "No you're not, and if you do, I'm going to report you right away."

She went to a young gentleman who was the main host. I could clearly see his plan was to cram in as many people as possible because she was acting on his instructions. He was about eight feet away from me and I said to him, "Trust me, I WILL report you."

They didn't seat anymore people in that area, and even told people who asked to sit there that they couldn't because of social distancing. It is my opinion that if I hadn't spoken up, they would have sat people there.

THE SERVERS DIDN'T WEAR GLOVES, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE MASKED.

There was no spacing outside where a line of people jammed together. They also didn't require you to wear a mask upon entering.

The Desert Sun today has a story about how restaurants are being sloppy and they posted the rules AGAIN.

P.S. the food was inedible. It was the worst pizza I'd ever had. cardboard-like crust. No taste. 

It was a white pizza with burrata and mozzarella. Tasteless, inexpensive cheese. No seasoning.

If you're wondering why I didn't walk out immediately, it was because I was with someone I didn't know very well, and tried to be polite.

So...if you're going to go to a restaurant, my advice is to go there BEFORE you're going to eat there and watch how safe they are.

The Palms Cafe in Rancho MIrage is extremely safe, with a polite, grateful staff, and terrific food. Go there instead.

BOBBIE EAKES IN THIS SIDE OF CRAZY--DON'T MISS THIS PLAY. IT ENDS THIS WEEKEND

THIS SIDE OF CRAZY, BY DEL SHORES, SHOULD GO TO OFF BROADWAY. IT'S THAT GOOD.

Rachel Sorsa, Sharon Garrison, Bobbie Eakes and Dale Dickey.

(Karianne Flaathen)

Add caption

DEL SHORES

I first met Bobbie Eakes when she was the lead singer of a talented  group called BIG TROUBLE. They were signed to Fred Silverman, my dear friend with whom I was sharing office space. I thought she had that special something then. Later on, I was watching my fave daytime drama, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, and there she was again as an actress. More talent.

I recently went to see her at the Zephyr Theatre on Melrose in West Hollywood in a play called THIS SIDE OF CRAZY. She has the tour-de-force part that involves, drama, comedy, and singing. I was knocked out by her performance. The play is running for one last weekend, and if you're in LA, go, and if you're in Palm Springs, drive. It's worth it.

The play is terrific! I was so impressed that I believe it should go to NY. The other actors are all terrific as well, and writer-producer-director Del Shores just knocked it out of the park.

7456 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90038

(661) 670-8328

THE PRIMARY FOLLIES

NOT A SHOCK TO ME.........

I SEE THIS EVERY ELECTION YEAR IN THE PRIMARIES AND DEBATES WHEN THERE ARE A LOT OF CANDIDATES---WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.


We all lick our chops to watch the debate like a horse race. Ohhhh....it's Buttigieg....no....it's Warren..........wait....Joe had a good night. The horse race goes on and on as the candidates bobb up and down like bobbleheads. The American public gets all caught up, spending money on their favorites.

But, in the end a candidate emerges.

WHAT YOU ARE NOT GETTING IS THAT THAT CANDIDATE IS ALWAYS PICKED BY THE "BACK ROOM BOYS" AND ALL THE PRIMARY MONEY YOU SPEND AND ALL THE TIME YOU USE UP PLAYING THE GAME IS A WASTE.

I never give money in primaries, because I know it's ludicrous. In this case, I said from the very beginning that Biden would take over. He's the "back room boys" candidate and always has been. When Bernie started to cause trouble, they poured money in in ways you can't imagine (and shouldn't)  and they appear to have knocked him off, no matter what his "play" is. The same thing was done to Hillary in the Iowa primary with Obama the first time around. The "back room boys" preferred Obama after meeting him. He proved he could be their guy. Hence, the "shocking" victory in Iowa that blew Hillary away.

This is what always happens.

My other prediction, as I've said from the beginning, is that Amy Klobuchar will be the vp nominee.

Can they beat Trump? No clue, but it's the only shot. It always was.

OSCARS OSCARS OSCARS

I'M IN A HURRY THIS MORNING!!~

It was one of the best shows of all time. Great surprises; great musical numbers; moving moments;
great script; incredible graphic design. I loved it.


Still recovering from Kristin Wiig's dress.

ALEXANDRA DWEK--THE MOST ELEGANT HOSTESS

     ALEXANDRA DWEK'S MOST MAGICAL                CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON


Yes, I know Christmas is over. I don't care. I got a little swamped during the holidays, but to show you an event like this is timeless.

Alexandra is a dear friend. She does charity work all over the world and has raised a great deal of money for VERY worthy causes. She is also a delightful, funny, caring friend. Each year, for many years, she has given this Christmas luncheon. She is switching her main residence to London, and this was the last Christmas lunch ever ( I hope not.)

Her style and taste in decor, menu, ambiance, and showing friendship is simple awe-inspiring.

Take a look at Christmas in her Bel Air English "lodge".......

Carolers greeted you

Alexandra, her GORGEOUS and talented daughter, Cairo, Irena Medavoy

Alexandra and yours truly

This dining room Christmas design caused gasps as we saw it. Yes, those are individually-placed fresh flowers coming down from the ceiling!

Alexandra and Stephanie Schramm

Tawny Sanders, Dahlia Merhi, Nancy Davis

Maria Schnabel, Cynthia Sikes, Ambassador Nancy Hirsch Rubin in front of the foyer fireplace

Ami Sitchu, Mae Brunson, Audrey Broome

The gorgeous halibut followed the cheese souffle

Each long-stemmed rose was tied onto a hook. Mark's Gardens executed Alexandra's design

Happy girl

I loved framing Cynthia with the bar arch

Irena Medavoy is hiding

A shoe fest. Mine at top; Tawny Sanders left; Cynthia right

Breathtaking

Kathy Hilton and Wendy Stark

With Barbara Grant Jaynes

Irena, Dahlia, and Mae

SHAME ON THE ACADEMY

                                     GRETA GERWIG--
                 NO NOMINATION????????

KIM NOVAK-CBS SUNDAY MORNING TOMORROW

             CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR TIME

CATS, YES CATS--PLUS LITTLE WOMEN, UNCURT GEMS, AND FORD VS. FERRARI

                                         MEOW


CATS IS MY MOST LOATHED BROADWAY MUSICAL OF ALL TIME. 

The only time I saw it, I was forced to go as part of a group adventure, and I was trapped in my seat trying not to be the group spoiler. I've never gone back to see it again. I love ripping CATS apart with my theatrical friends. It's a joke among the professionals.

I also am not a fan of anything Andrew Lloyd Webber does, except for PHANTOM.

When the trailer for CATS was released, the movie's prospects were instantly destroyed. Visually, it looked so weird and fake. The stars in their costumes looked ridiculous (but sometimes the fur was pretty.)


So, yesterday, I went to see UNCUT GEMS starring Adam Sandler.  (Stay with me, here.)There have been such raves about his performance I had to see it. I only lasted 45 minutes. Its' the noisiest, unrelentingly loud, screaming movie I've ever had the mis-fortune to see. It was like being hit in the head with a machine gun every second. And, it's filled with horrible characters you would never care about. It was like being water-boarded.Yes, Adam Sandler was great. I don't care. Get me out of here.  

THAT'S WHEN I SAW CATS. I was dressed and in a theatre, and I wanted to see something. The only movie available I hadn't seen was CATS. Lord, help me now....

A word about the Oscar-winning director of CATS, Tom Hooper. He won the Oscar for directing THE KING'S SPEECH. Brilliant. He did THE DANISH GIRL. Brilliant. He did LES MISERABLES....uh oh. Now I see the Andrew Lloyd Webber connection. I didn't like LES MISERABLES on stage either, but the movie was really well done. WHAT HAPPENED?????? Arrogance must be the only logical answer.

There were eight of us in a theatre that was a large, blockbuster theatre for a hit movie. It started. I was curious and relieved that I didn't hear any yelling and did feel like I was being attacked. What I saw was a movie that was shot and directed in such a way that every scene looked flat and fake. You could never get into the characters because it had a "velvet cartoon" look---actors--scenery--background---everything. Such a terrible choice. I think that's the biggest reason the movie is bombing---it just looks so stupid on screen.

The musical numbers bored me as, usual, but if you concentrated on the eyes of performers like Judi Dench, Ian McKellan, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, Jason DeRulo, Rebel Wilson, and Idris Elba, you started to feel the characters. Seriously...I also loved their ears and tails. Oh, yes. Taylor Swift was in it. She moved well and sang well.

Judi Dench

Jennifer Hudson

You never lose sight of the fact that's it's an actor you like playing a cat. It's impossible. But it is possible to admire and in some cases thrill, at their individual performances. Their performances are the only authentic thing to see, and I loved them. I could totally understand why they would take the part.

Jennifer Hudson doing MEMORY, was every bit as fantastic as AND, I'M TELLING YOU. Not as good a song, but you just don't breathe at all when you see her. What a talent. I also was so touched by the work of Ian McKellan and Judi Dench. A pro is a pro is a pro. Their artistry was mesmerizing.

If you go see the movie, you must go just to see those performances. It's not their fault that the movie visually is so lame, and used as a conceit that no audience should be put through. Their work should not suffer because of it.

I was glad I saw it.


LITTLE WOMEN

Greta Gerwig, director!

I loved, loved, loved this movie. It is everything that CATS is not. It is grand and sweeping like a David Lean movie, and intimate and heart-grabbing at the same time. Greta Gerwig is an extraordinary talent--kind of a combo of Lean and Sturges who is "woke." Soarise Ronan, Timothee Chalamet, and Laura Dern head the totally brilliant cast--Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Meryl Streep. Eliza Scanlan, James Norton, Bob Odenkirk, Chris Cooper, Jayne Houdyshell, etc. They all deserve awards.

Run to the theatre to see this one. Don't you dare watch it on a small screen. It is a breath of fresh air we richly deserve. Gerwig made some changes and I LOVED what she did. You'll see.


FORD VS. FERRARI


Matt Damon and Christian Bale are terrific in this true story of a legendary race. If you want a "fast escape" for fun, go see this. Great racing footage. Great heart.You'll like it. That's it.