You know about George Bush the Elder shaving off his hair to match a little bald boy battling leukemia — a condition to which they’d lost one of their own children. You don’t know that Barbara the missus, who knows everything and runs everything, hadn’t known he’d do that.
Wheelchair-bound, frail, he went around her head to shear his head. With about 20 Secret Serviceniks at Kennebunkport, “41,” as he calls himself, summoned one to do it. He’s 89. Stunned Barbara only hopes it grows back.
The Bushes were screening Epix cable doc “The Honor Flight.” It’s about WWII volunteer vets, now age 80 and 90, from Oregon, Midwest, Washington, all over, who flew with him in WWII. They came for the screening. The prez personally called an old friend, movie publicist Kathie Berlin, to arrange the event.
His usual MO is a handwritten thanks. One special thank you? A framed group photo of the four living presidents — Bush “41,” Clinton, “42,” Dubya “43,” Obama, “44.”
From ‘Tango’ on up
Maks Chmerkovskiy, the “Dancing With the Stars” Ukrainian who’s in B’way’s “Forever Tango,” has plans.
“I’m doing some acting. Learning how it works. Working with acting coaches. I have offers and auditions are coming to my agent. I want to be on the big screen. Not necessarily a huge motion picture. An indie. Even if I’m offered big roles, I’m not yet ready.”
So should Brad Pitt and Al Pacino move over?
“Right now I am ready for a move over. To reinvent myself. Not have a stigma. Not be stuck or restrained. Not just be a dancer. I want a longevity of work . . . My idea is to follow Channing Tatum’s career. I’m even writing a script. May take a decade, but I’m still writing it. I want a right role. I’m not opposed to a dancing role. I’m young and able to use my dancing stuff, but I’d really like action films. Big guys are clumsy, awkward. I’m more Gene Kelly than Fred Astaire, who was like a boxer. I’m a big guy, 6-foot-2. I have a large presence.
“And 24/7 the food regimen is an industry. No days off. Your body has muscle memory. I haven’t had a hamburger in 12 years. Dance is like an Olympic sport.”
Good he stays in shape. His ladyfriend’s Kate Upton.
“After 14 years in the USSR, I move to a country that allows everything.
Americans are light on their feet because of freedom to express themselves without thoughts of should I do this?’ A negative is their lack of discipline.
“I love this country. Even before my citizenship, I was an American the very first day I landed at JFK.”
Rumor has it
Rumor. Only rumor. Because only his BVDs can say for sure — but could be might be possibly be — we’re hearing a rumor that Python Weiner actually aired It on the Very Day He Announced.
Candidate Catsimatidis: Non-weinie “Weiner doesn’t need City Hall. He needs therapy.”
Odds & ends
Howie Mandel, who’s cashing in on TV, looking for a paid Vegas stand-up gig . . . Sardi’s, Nov. 14, the Deadline Club’s golden anniversary Hall of Fame Medal luncheon honors “media icons” Jimmy Breslin, Bill Moyers, Graydon Carter, Norman Pearlstine, Bob Herbert, Carol Loomis, Linda Mason, me . . . Drea de Matteo feeding at LaG Airport’s Victory Grill.
Fitness facts
Zumba, Earth’s dance-fitness craze, 125 countries, 14 million fans like Jordin Sparks, J.Lo, Snooki, did an Xmas product showcase complete with fake snow — apps, videos, games, apparel, DVDs. Sept. the Copa starts Zumba classes . . . Re: fitness, do Peter Mosconi’s Italian restaurant, Monte’s on MacDougal Street. Whole wheat pasta, diet dishes, low salt, gluten free, etc. And Monte’s does takeout.
In the hood
Don’t need the Hubble to see stars. Chris Rock and Rosario Dawson hanging all day at Olio e Piu in the West Village. Shooting around the corner for “Finally Famous.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.