Never Met a Reader He Didn’t Like
My ramblings about being confused with TV star Steve Harvey--just the other day I received a request for an autographed photo--brought a note from a columnist for the Glendale News-Press.
He pointed out that my troubles are nothing compared to his. He’s had difficulty getting his utilities connected because of his name. When he identifies himself over the phone for interviews, people think he’s kidding. And he’s constantly receiving calls from around the world “intended for the family of a more notable columnist.”
The name of the News-Press scribe is . . . Will Rogers.
“Save for occasionally wishing I could string up those who ask,” Rogers said, “I don’t even do rope tricks.”
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The watchword in today’s sampling of delicacies is “candid”--from the yams of that type noticed by Alice Maupin, to the ominous-sounding “spear” ribs spotted by Wendy Mollett to the admittedly antique cheesecake discovered by Lisalee Anne Wells. As for the $79-per-head-of-lettuce item, submitted by Joyce Turney, well, you knew that El Nino had damaged the agricultural crop, didn’t you?
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NBC PREDICTS . . . One of the odd footnotes to Frank Sinatra’s death was a tape that humorist Harry Shearer played earlier this year on his “Le Show” radio program--a tape of NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw rehearsing an announcement of Sinatra’s passing. The singer was, of course, very much alive at that point.
Brokaw’s rehearsal was not heard by NBC viewers but was picked up on a satellite feed. Twice, the anchorman stumbled (and apologized), saying, “We have late word from Los Angeles tonight--Legend . . . ha . . . my fault” on one try, and on another attempt, “We have late word from Los Angeles tonight--Legendary entertuh . . . my fault . . . “ (Brokaw also had Sinatra dying of cancer rather than of a heart attack.)
Shearer, whose syndicated show is broadcast locally Sunday mornings on KCRW-FM (89.9), delights in monitoring satellite transmissions. Several years ago, he caught an off-camera gem from CBS’ Dan Rather, who was in South Africa just after the release of Nelson Mandela from prison. Rather said to an assistant:
“Question: I did not wash my hair last night because sometimes the stiffness helps, but the question now is should I wash it tonight? I guess that’s something we’re going to have to decide as we go along.”
Dan, in a cosmic mood.
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PIECE OF PIAZZA: If the Dodgers can trade catcher Mike Piazza, the first superstar on the team since Sandy Koufax, no one is safe in Rupert Murdoch’s empire. What other swaps are being planned? Team broadcaster Vin Scully for Jerry Springer? Dodger peanut vendor Roger Owens for the Coors Beer Man?
And you have to wonder if Fox will change its Dodger freeway billboards in the wake of the Piazza deal. The supposedly reassuring signs now say, “Your Dodgers--Fox Attitude.”
Maybe they should be changed to read, “Fox Dodgers--Fox Attitude.”
miscelLAny:
City Atty. Jim Hahn recently filed charges against three women accused of lewd and obscene conduct in public in front of a booth at the L.A. Convention Center. The women, who were identified as porn actresses, were appearing at the Erotica L.A. convention. Another setback for live theater in this town.
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Steve Harvey, who did not wash his hair last night, can be reached by phone at (213) 237-7083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com and by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, Times Mirror Square, L.A. 90053.