ADAM LAMBERT WITH GAGA & JOAN RIVERS GOODBYE
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G.H. Harding
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| Joan Rivers |
JOAN GOODBYE --- While it's unclear if Joan Rivers' funeral had a wind machine or Harry Winston toe tag, per the instructions left in her 2012 book, the real-life event, held Sunday morning at Manhattan's Temple Emanu-El, was a star-studded affair with all of the security and paparazzi and fan attention of a premiere or red-carpet event.
Huge crowds of fans, photographers, videographers and members of the media lined Fifth Avenue and 65th Street hoping to catch a glimpse of the action outside of the private, invitation-only ceremony.
Among the attendees spotted arriving and leaving the funeral was Whoopi Goldberg, who was wearing two different-colored shoes and received big cheers and rounds of applause from the crowd of onlookers on Fifth Avenue, both on her way in and out of the service, while Bravo's Andy Cohen elicited a similar response from fans, including a bit of jumping up and down, as he left the funeral early Sunday afternoon.
Other guests included Sarah Jessica Parker, Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Joy Behar, Paul Shaffer, Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, Sue Simmons, Giuliana Rancic, Bernadette Peters, Clive Davis, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Michael Musto, and Kyle MacLachlan and his wife, Desiree Gruber.
The ceremony itself was filled with laughter and tears, according to various reports from outlets who had access to the proceedings.
White gardenias lined the front of the synagogue, the New York Times reported.
According to the Associated Press, Howard Stern delivered the eulogy; the New York City Gay Men's Chorus sang “What a Wonderful World,” "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" and "Hey Big Spender," according to reports, before Broadway star Audra McDonald sang "Smile"; and tributes and remembrances were delivered by Deborah Norville, Rivers' close friend Margie Stern, New York Post columnist Cindy Adams and Rivers' daughter, Melissa, who spoke about how she respected her mother and appreciated everyone's support. Hugh Jackman also performed, according to the AP, singing "Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage," at the end of the ceremony, which lasted a little more than an hour.
Stern's speech not only praised Rivers but managed to elicit laughter from her friends and family gathered inside the ceremony, People reported. He called Rivers, "the best friend in the world ... a big sister ... a crazy aunt at a bar mitzvah.”
"She fought the stereotype that women couldn't be funny," Stern added. "She was responsible for putting the red carpet into primetime."
The program even included the excerpt from I Hate Everyone … Starting With Me in which Rivers described the star-studded send-off she wanted as well as a page with three of Rivers' classic lines: "Can we talk?" ''Who are you wearing?" and "Because I'm a funny person."
Other guests in attendance included fashion designer Dennis Basso, Kathy Griffin, Rosie O'Donnell, Kelly Osbourne, Matthew Broderick, Alan Cumming, Tommy Tune, Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, Geraldo Rivera, Sandy Gallin, Barry Diller, Donald Trump and Steve Forbes.
At the end of the service, bagpipers from the NYPD led the procession out of the temple, playing "New York, New York" as fans applauded.
Over the weekend, comedian Chris Rock, in Toronto, said, “People liked Carson … they loved Rivers.”
THE VIEW LOCKED AND LOADED --- The search is over. Final details are still being worked out but actress Rosie Perez and political commentator Nicolle Wallace will occupy the remaining seats on The View when the ABC daytime talk show returns for a new season, next Monday September 15. They would join Rosie O’Donnell and Whoopi Goldberg. Perez and Wallace would succeed co-hosts Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy, who exited the show.
Wallace, who served as communications director for George W. Bush, was among the women who did a screen test for The View last month, emerging as one of the front runners. She also did three guest co-hosting stints this year. Perez has been largely under the radar during the search but she is a household name and served as a guest co-host on the talk show.
With the new hires, the new View hosting team would include three actresses: O’Donnell, Goldberg and Perez. I hear Perez’s schedule has been worked out in a way so she can juggle her duties on The View with a Broadway gig — she just signed on to co-star opposite Larry David in David’s play Fish In The Dark, produced by Broadway's Scott Rudin.
The cast overhaul is part of a top-to-bottom makeover at The View, which includes a new studio, new set, new logo and new behind-the-scenes team led by new executive producer Bill Wollf; who abruptly replaced Bill Geddie.
“These are powerful and accomplished women from different walks of life who have had amazing personal and professional experiences. Each brings incredible perspective and information to the table,” said Bill Wolff. “This mix of smart, vibrant and energetic women is unlike anything else on daytime television.” Except for maybe The Talk on CBS?
“I am beyond thrilled, honored and completely surprised that I’ve been asked to join ‘The View’,” said Perez. “Knowing that I’ll be in the company of Whoopi, Rosie and Nicolle, three very smart and engaging women that I have an immense amount of respect for, makes it even more unbelievable. The opportunity to connect with our nation’s audience on a daily basis… icing on the cake! Very happy.”
“I am honored to join the tradition of compelling conversations that has been the signature of ‘The View’ for the better part of two decades,” said Wallace. “I have watched ‘The View’ for many years and now to be seated alongside three women that I have admired is both humbling and incredibly exciting.”
Did you feel George W. Bush was a great communicator? Well, then you'll probably love Wallace. Perez? An odd choice for sure. I think the powers that be (still Walters, although she did sell her majority stock in the show to ABC) felt this was a too-good-to-lose panel?
Me? I think this show's on life support and will be lucky to make it through this season. Stay tuned!
SIGHTINGS --- Kevin Spacey, Woody Allen and Billie Jean King at the US Open this weekend; PR-pasha David Salidor at Palm West in NYC; and, Jersey Boys’ Donnie Kehr at Times Square Studios on 42nd street.
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| Adam Lambert |
CLOSING NOTES --- Lady Gaga joined Queen and Adam Lambert, who just wrapped their world tour, during their concert in Sydney, Australia on August 27 …
Dressed in a huge afro wig and a black jumpsuit with crowns on it, Gaga joined Lambert and the band for “Another One Bites the Dust” (not “Radio Ga-Ga,” the song that inspired her name). After the show, Queen’s guitarist Brian May tweeted a selfie with Gaga, while Gaga Instagrammed a photo of herself with the entire band …
First, ZZ Top’s co-headlining tour with Jeff Beck had to be postponed while the former Yarbird’s guitarist dealt with an undisclosed medical problem.
Now, the remaining four dates of the tour have been canceled because bass player Dusty Hill fell hard on his hip and is undergoing medical treatment, reports Britain's NME …
It was reported in Mojo magazine that British Invasion legends The Kinks would reunite next year (the band’s 52nd), but without lead guitarist Dave Davies, brother of singer/songwriter and band leader Ray Davies. The pair’s feuds over the decades are notorious.
“Dave’s invited to the party, but if he doesn't want to do it, (the reunion) will happen anyway,” Ray Davies reportedly said. “He’s very welcome to turn up if he wants. I'd much rather work with him than without him.”
Ray Davies added that founding drummer Mick Avory is on board, however, the band is disputing all of it on their official Facebook page.
In a post reading: “MOJO is wrong. There will be NO Kinks reunion without BOTH Ray and Dave Davies. Ray claims to never have said this.” …
At age 77, Merle Haggard says he’s not ready for retirement.
“I’ve just been off (the road) for six weeks and I was about bored to death,” he told the North Carolina News & Observer.
He sprung a little surprise, too. Haggard apparently has enough songs recorded to fill four albums and is in the process of release them all.
Of today’s country music, the veteran Country Outlaw said: “Once in a while, I'll scan it, and I don't understand what they're doing. I can't find the entertainment in it.”
But so as not to offend anyone, he added, “I know these guys, occasionally play shows with them, and they're all good people.” …
Plenty of feedback from last week’s assessment of several so-called record industry publicists (guess we touched a nerve!). We stand behind it and this week, want to nominate several this week, who are just plain excellent. First, Randex Communications’ CEO Randy Alexander and UMG’s Jennifer Ballantyne. Two of the best … ever! Let the battle begin ... all true, don't sue!
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