Davis, Hayden: Just Friends

“Why, oh why,” asked one of New York’s wittiest and wisest. “Why haven’t you written about Patti Davis and her romance with Tom Hayden?”

Patti Davis--of Ron and Nancy fame--and Jane Fonda’s ex? Well, the reason I hadn’t written of this pairing is because I never heard that one before. So I rang up Patti for a comment: “Tom? I have known him for years and years. Some months ago, we went to a movie and had dinner together. But I have no romantic feelings whatsoever for Tom.”

Patti continued: “Look, I’d be shouting it from the rooftops if I were seeing anybody, feeling romantic about anybody. Believe me, when that happens, you’ll be the first to know.”

Ginger Rogers has been struggling with her memoirs for the past decade, but this fall her “Ginger” will finally be out via HarperCollins. Rogers penned the 1,000-page first draft herself--no ghosts or collaborators. The finished work will probably be whittled down a bit, but don’t worry, the “juicy” parts won’t get cut. You see, it is doubtful that dear Ginger, who has led quite an interesting life, would put what you and I might consider “juicy” stuff into her life story to begin with. No bad-mouthing Fred Astaire, no sexy details about her four marriages, etc.

In any case, “Ginger” should be fascinating, even if it isn’t of the Shelley Winters school of candor.

So Sharon Gless and Barney Rosenzweig married in Malibu (it alliterates) last Saturday. Now when we see the back of his head as the psychiatrist in the opening moments of “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill,” we’ll have new reality vs. unreality to ponder. But we do wish them well--they are a great couple. (Sort of like the Irving Thalberg and Norma Shearer of TV.)

If you’ve been missing “Rosie,” relax. The terrific and rare one-hour series on CBS has been picked up again and Gless and the cast will be back at work July 9. This is good news, and only actor Ron Rifkin (he plays Rosie’s boss, wearing a yarmulke) has mixed emotions.

Rifkin has been a smash at New York’s Playwrights Horizon in the Jon Baitz play, “Substance of Fire.” He has just been nominated for a Drama Desk Award and he really hates to leave the role of a lifetime. (Baitz wrote the play just for Ron.)

Flash! Could our item Monday about Elizabeth Taylor not attending Madonna’s “Truth Or Dare” premiere have possibly spurred the great star to change her mind? Oh, probably not, but late Monday afternoon we did receive word that Taylor would appear to help the Blonde One celebrate her big night.