Brazil’s Social Nuts

Social Climes was happy to learn that in Brazil, society writers wield positions of great power. (It’s nice to know that somewhere fluff has risen to great heights.)

We came across this heartening news while reading a local Brazilian community paper, News From Brazil.

Writers are able to bestow validation upon the insecure nouveau riche . News From Brazil editor-publisher Rodney Mello describes this group as: “People with no past. People who want to be seen and sighted even if they’re ridiculed.”

The article also implied that society columnists played a role in the impeachment of President Fernando Collor de Mello, and that they have a vocabulary all their own. We pass along a few examples:

- Perua: A bimbo blinded by the social rise of her husband. “Her power of information can be contained in her red painted nails,” the paper said.

-Arroz branco (white rice): Discardable company. Persons who are used, then thrown away.

-Mala sem alco (claspless bag): The sticky bore who can’t be gotten rid of.

-Arroz de fest (party rice): Guests who never decline an invitation. They go to everything.

Army Marches to 40th

The new year is less than a month old and there’s already a big new event in partyland.

You can be sure that everyone who counts, including the Spielbergs and Spellings, or anyone who wants to be counted in the future, will turn up when Daily Variety columnist Army Archerd celebrates his 40th anniversary on the job.

The trade paper’s most beloved scribe will be the honoree at a benefit for three of his pet charities Jan. 29 at the Beverly Hilton.

The benefit committee alone is awesomely heavy with studio chiefs, agents and producers and stars of the highest order, from Burnett to Zanuck.

Producer Pierre Cossette has lined up a musical comedy multimedia tribute that will include appearances by Candice Bergen, Warren Beatty, Jack Lemmon, Dick Van Dyke, Jay Leno, Kirk Douglas and Roseanne and Tom Arnold plus “surprise” guests so surprising that they can only be identified as “other superstars.” At the very least, it’s a pretty sure bet they’ll get a mention in Archerd’s “Just for Variety” for this.

El Vez Is Hot, Hot, Hot

Those Elvis stamps are going like fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, so if you missed out on getting a few, here’s the next best thing: El Vez stamps. The Mexican Elvis (crooner of such tunes as “You Ain’t Nothing but a Chihuahua”) is offering his own line of stamps (not sanctioned by the post office) on which he strikes a pose as the King. El Vez even did the Elvis stamps one better--his have hot sauce-flavored backings in mild, medium and extra-extra hot. El Vez has a new national fan club number hot line: (800) 546-4639.