Ho-Ho-Hum!

29. December 2008 by Robert Sokol.

Survived the holidays, New Year’s Eve notwithstanding. This year our best friends are out of town, so we’re opting for Joy Behar at the Castro Theatre. I have mixed feelings about this as one of my least pleasant interview experiences of semi-recent vintage occurred with this lady. I called at the appointed time and after five disinterested minutes she asked me to hold while she took another call. When she clicked back in she asked, “So…are we done here?” I was.

On the bill with Behar is Wing, the Florence Foster Jenkins of our day. She’s almost a bigger draw to get me out of the house that night than Behar.

It’s been an interesting showbizzy month. I played diva wrangler for Piper Laurie, who was appearing with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for their 30th Anniversary Concert. Piper is a sweetheart and not a diva at all, which is good because there was a huge one already taking up space. In a group of 200 gay men, you’re bound to have a few egos, but the boys were pussycats compared to Jennifer Hudson. Now I will be the first to defend her talent - the lady is still amazing - but she is not a nice person. At least not as I experienced her.

Barbara Cook breezed into Town for a sassy onstage interview with the hapless Steven Winn. He really was out of his element. Why don’t I get those jobs? (Don’t even get me started on Larry King or James Lipton!) Had a wonderful visit with Jane Olivor, whom I now call friend. Squeezed in an interview with David Brenner - smart, fun guy! - before I ran off to Noo Yawk City for a weekend of theatre that included Stephen Sondheim’s ROAD SHOW, the revivals of GYPSY and EQUUS (yes, I’ve now seen Harry Potter’s peewee), Jason Robert Brown’s really fun 13, and the mildly entertaining  SHREK: THE MUSICAL. Sadly, soon after the ball drops on Times Square the axe will have fallen on four out of the five shows.

Squeaking through a half dozen holiday parties of varying good cheer, I found myself in phonerland with Melba Moore, Darlene Love and beautiful, talented and extremely sweet Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis.

After ten minutes on the phone with me, Mitzi Gaynor just had to meet me. Really! (Sort of.) She was actually coming to town for some pre-event press (she’s one-nighting at the Herbst on 1/10). She wanted me to watch the recent DVD documentary on her decades-past television specials and then we could really dish. I did. We did. I’m a Mitzi fan now. More to come on that!

Speaking of more - Moore, that is - we caught the Melba / Darlene double-header at the Rrazz Room on Sunday. Moore was less, but Love rocked the house. (And she has the nicest husband!) The ladies are in session until 1/4. Go get some good Love!

I’ve posted my first piece at examiner.com. Have a look. Post a comment! Every little click helps!

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