Time for a Rhea-lity check
Rhea Perlman. Born Coney Island Hospital, given a Greek name, educated at Hunter, now opening next month in Lincoln Center Theater’s “Let’s Call Her Patty” premiere.
Rhea: “Back when we did ‘Cheers’ I had to memorize new things every week. No problem. Now, being older, it’s a little harder. The amount of words in this play is challenging. I know I then must get these words into my body. So this woman writer friend reads with me. She’s patient. And when I go to bed I can tell myself I really learned that scene.”
And Danny DeVito, is-he-or-isn’t-he your husband?
“We’ve been married forever. Still married. We just don’t live together. The benefit is we talk a lot on the phone, see each other often. We live close to one another. Mine is a beautiful house surrounded by canyons, gorgeous gardens. I don’t always like living alone — breaking up took some work — but now that’s how it is.
“Years went by. We then saw benefits of this. But we really do love each other.”
Rhea’s now also in the new film “Barbie.” We don’t know if she’s playing a toy or a human, but she’s starring alongside Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Simu Liu and fellow funnywoman Kate McKinnon.
So how is it?
“I haven’t seen it yet.”
Hits theaters end of next month.
Politician position
Last week, my assistant answered the phone. Pale, shaking, she says, “It’s him.”
Who?
“Him. Him. It’s him. It’s Wednesday. His birthday.”
“I’m OK,” Donald told me. “Getting some sleep. I’ll get through this.”
Years back when he lost properties, hotels, money, position, all, he never complained.
Never down. We’d previously flown in his grand jet and now he huddled behind me in a two-person row. Dinky plane. I forget where it was headed — but didn’t forget how he was never visibly down. Never gave in. Never showed it. He’d not let himself — nor our country — get beaten.
A thought. Ogden Nash poem: “Oh, would I were a politician/Or else a person with a mission/how happy I could be/If only I were sure of me.”
Royal shticks
Prince Empty. Suing for the press trashing him — YET peeing on his family is exactly how he’s pocketed his own quid — on film, in a book, newspapers, interviews, conversations, TV. And on Father’s Day. And on his own father the king’s birthday yet.
He deserves me-me-Meghan. They met at a rich European resort where rich Europeans resort. She was there shopping. And not for a handbag.
Bad news bearer
We just lost longtime multiple awardee Glenda Jackson. She picked up two Oscars, three Emmys and a Tony even with a 13-year break for a jaunt in British politics.
Her forever agent Lionel Larner once petitioned client Kaye Ballard for the $7.50 she owed him. And despite saying how she loves New York City what Glenda read daily was the Manchester Guardian.
NY1’s Jamie Stelter interviewed me at my home. Great. One problem? News cameramen specialize in dead bodies and car crashes. I looked like both. My dog looked great, home great, housekeeper great. Me, lousy. Probably like what I really look like.
Advice: If filming for an NYC news show, be sure the camera’s on Queens Boulevard.
Oy. Only in New York, kids, only in New York.
