I am utterly thrilled that Jeff Bridges is finally getting the kudos  he deserves. I had the great pleasure of working with Jeff in “The Morning After” and I know him socially because, like my brother, Peter, and my ex-husband, Ted Turner, Jeff as a home in Montana so we’ve seen each other in civilian life as well. He is really talented and truly a nice man. So glad this award winning role allowed him to showcase his musical talent as well as his acting. I love how he shows his emotions and surprise at being the winner…this was especially evident at the Golden Globes when he was stunned into silence at the prolonged standing ovation he received.

Yesterday, I took a break from writing my book when Carrie Fisher came over to Richard’s to see us. She and Richard have been friends since she was 17. She is just home from her 5 month triumphant Broadway run. I saw “Wishful Drinking” opening night with Richard, my son and daughter-in-law and other friends and was blown away by her performance and the way she has been able to weave the difficulties, challenges, weirdnesses, and pain of her life into an hilarious, jaw-dropping piece of theatre. She has clearly been enjoying herself. It was fun hearing how she kept her performances fresh (she would choose specific people, strangers, in the audience, talk directly to. Really talk to them. Ask them what they thought about something she’d said or done. She’d change things, emphasize some things over others on a given day. Nice when you can play around with your own creation—which you can’t do with someone else’s words. Like me, Carrie said she really was never able to do anything more than sleep and perform…no work on new projects, no visiting museums, no working out. She got a dog like my Tulea whom she named Dwight and I was sad she didn’t bring him but she promised she’d do that next time so the two of them can have a play date.  

Last night we went to Quincy Jones’ home for dinner and get together. What fun to visit with him, We’re cousins, after all. He got the Mormon group, Lineages, to do his genealogy (family tree) and, sure ‘nough, back on George Washington’s plantation our blood line crossed. Hmmm. After dinner, he invited all of us to listen to a young Cuban pianist whose talent blew everyone away. Richard said he had NEVER in his life heard such piano playing…cross styles…Cuban, symphonic, cool jazz, flamenco, you name it, he segued from style to style, weaving it all into unique composition of his own. Breathtaking!!
Now, back to writing.

See You Next Time.

Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe who played Precious—brilliantly!!

Queen Latifah, Me and Richard

Richard, Me and Lenny Kravitz

We saw “Precious“, the remarkable, powerful film directed by Lee Daniels. It opened the New York Film Festival. I read the book, “Push” —by Sapphire–more than a decade ago and felt it to be one of the most powerful, provocative books ever. The film is very good. I am grateful that it has been made and that Oprah and Tyler Perry have stepped up to help ensure it’s distribution. I wish everyone could see it. I’m thinking back over the years to the (white) men, usually business men, who asked me why my organization did “all these programs for those girls? You’re just rewarding them for their bad behavior.” It has taken time, patience and a great deal of faith to try and prove to them that most of the “girls” weren’t “bad.” They were victims who had been on the receiving end of so much dehumanizing, brutal, cruel behavior, then ignored, cast aside. They needed care and attention not more demonizing. The movie is wonderful in how it subtly shows that hope and confidence can bloom in someone when a little love and attention is sent their way. At least two Oscar worthy performances: Gabourey Sidibe is Precious and stand-up comedian, Mo’Nique, is jaw-dropping as her mother, Mary. Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz are excellent as well. Bravo to all!!!

The next night was went to the opening of Carrie Fisher’s “Wishful Drinking.” We had a big group—Troy, Simone, Harvey and Daphna Keitel, Pat Mitchell, Kenny Vance, Claudia Potempkin, Annette and Joe Allen, and more. I meant to take pictures but, as often happens when I’m having fun, I forgot to take any. Carrie was hysterical. I’ve seen an earlier version and was surprised to see how well she’s tightened it up and made it resonate for folks who aren’t of Hollywood. Given her uniquely dysfunctional childhood, one reviewer said it is amazing how she makes the audience feel she is just like them. It’s a must see. So is “Precious”.

Daphna, Harvey, Daphna’s mother, Richard, me and Eve Ensler

Daphna and Harvey Keitel

Then two more glorious days of great food and much fun with Richard’s friends and mine—we had a reunion party with the cast of “33 Variations” and Moises, the author and director. I’m very moved by the fact that Richard’s friends from childhood, High school and college still love him and stay in touch…same with old girlfriends.

33 Variations cast reunion

33 Variations cast reunion

Richard signing doo wop with Kenny Vance. Kenny had long been Richard’s friend. They both had singing groups back in the late fifties...Richard’s was The Escorts, Kenny’s was the Planetones...still is...still sounding like dream

Cannot believe that, except for the photo of Richard singing with Kenny Vance, I forgot to take any pictures. Shame on me.

See You Next TIme

It’s always hard to leave this place and it’s been especially beautiful these last weeks. We’ve had plenty of rain so it’s very green. One can never use the word ‘lush’ when speaking about the high deserts of the south west but it comes close right now.

Richard’s been here this week and it’s been weird getting emails from our friends and family saying the NY gossip rags say we’re getting married. Ted even emailed me to say that Martha Stewart (who was at his ranch in Montana doing an interview about bison) told him Richard and I were marrying. Let me say right here that this is not true. Okay? You heard it from the horse’s mouth. If I ever get married again (which I doubt) you’ll be the first to know (after my family). Marriage aside, we have had a good time here. Richard seems to love the ranch, the house, the river. He didn’t seem to love fly fishing all that much. IT is very hard until you really get the hang of it which requires lots of practice and it’s unlikely Richard will get lots of practice. Guess he’ll just have to like to watch me fish cause I really love it. I’ve caught some big rainbow and brown trout here…26″, 28″!!!

Yesterday I listened to 4 radio programs done several years ago for the BBC Radio about the span of Richard’s career. It was narrated by Patti Labelle. It was interesting to learn more about the enormous diversity of talents he’s worked with….having top albums and singles in every possible category from pop, to R&B, to country western etc with stars ranging from Streisand, Carly Simon, Diana Ross, Fats Domino, Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Randy Travis, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Art Garfunkel, The Temptations etc. No one, I don’t think, has ever had such success with so many different kinds of talent.

Tomorrow we go to LA where I am committed to concentrating on my writing, and seeing Troy and Simone and other friends like Sally Field, Carrie Fisher, Elliott Gould. Gotta save time for the writing, though.

See you next time.

So many friends have brought to my attention (like I didn’t know) that I haven’t blogged in 11 days that I figure it’s time.

In my last blog post I said I was in love. Maybe I shouldn’t have but it’s so much fun I couldn’t resist. A few days later I discovered what PDA means because someone told me that TMZ had said I was engaging in PDA (public display of affection) in a parking lot with my husband. “Oops!l Said someone on the show, “She’s not married.” Hey, I’m from Atlanta and not used to cameras in every hot spot parking lot outting me. I’ll try to be more careful in the future.

My boyfriend is Richard Perry, a record producer whom I met 35 years ago when he gathered heavy hitters from the music industry to support my then-husband, Tom Hayden’s run for the US Senate. I danced with him in Aspen 25 years ago and didn’t see him again till a week after my knee replacement surgery in June when our mutual friend, Carrie Fisher, acted as a go-between at Richard’s request and set up a dinner.

In May I told friends I’d stop thinking about love and all the other good stuff. “That’s all over for me,” I thought. Oh yeah…wham.

Anyway, between physical therapy and romance there just hasn’t been time to blog or even twitter. And as for those 2 new chapters I was going to write during this time in LA—forget about it! I’ll just have to hole up at my ranch starting week after next and knuckle down. I guess the chapter on love etc in the third act will be more interesting now–and fun to write.

Richard is working on a new musical called “Baby It’s You” about Florence Greenberg,  a jewish housewife in New Jersey who started Scepter Records her own record company (the first woman to do so)  in the 1950s and created a long list of hits with, among other groups, the Shirelles. It’s pretty exciting–the music I grew up with.

Last night I had cocktails with Don Amendolia who played the music publisher, Diabelli, in “33 Variations.” We became good friends and it was great catching up with him before he was whisked off to Lucie Arnaz’s birthday party.

Now, I’m on my way to Troy and Simone’s for a barbecue where Richard will join us after his rehearsals.

Life is good.

See you next time

I finally met Patti Lupone. You can’t be on Broadway for long without knowing her legendary status. I had never seen her in anything but she sent me flowers when I was nominated for a Tony Award and we have been emailing. She and Mandy Patinkin are performing in L.A. At the Ahmanson Theatre. A new and compelling compilation of show tunes. She knocked me socks off—and about 3000 other people. I invited her, her husband and son to join me, Carrie Fisher, Richard Perry and my son and daughter-in-law for dinner after the show. Patti turns out to be a real mensch…easy to be with, interesting to talk to and she had so many tips for Carrie Fisher who is coming to Broadway with her one-woman show, “Wishful Drinking” in the fall. We all promised we’d have a reunion at Carrie’s opening.

Carrie Fisher at dinner talking to Patti Lupone.

Hugging my new friend, Patti Lupone

By the way, 2 weeks after knee surgery I am now able to bend my knee 110 degrees.

See you next time.