The Barbara Walters story.
As far away as downtown Odessa everyone’s read that Barbara Walters attended a pre-inauguration social function in DC, and in full view of everyone, fell. She was then taken to a local hospital.
Here’s the back story:
Before we both headed to Washington, we’d phoned each other repeatedly that week to schedule our usual bimonthly dinner. Her voice had a weariness. It struck me she sounded tired.
Two days later, in Washington, she fell on the stairs. Reportedly she missed her footing. No. She did not. As she told me: “Had I missed a step, I’d have put my hand out automatically to help protect myself. But I did not misstep. What happened was, I fainted.”
Barbara was running a fever. She told no one. Not even her doctor. In days leading up, a Columbia Presbyterian room, with Mayor Bloomberg present, was dedicated in her name. The specialist who attended her during her heart surgery years ago was present. However, she did not tell him nor ask to be examined.
In Washington, she remained feverish. And faint. In George Washington University Hospital, some days were better than others. We expected an immediate release. It was delayed. A first thought was an allergic reaction to antibiotics. No. Besides handling results of the gash on her head, the hospital took tests and cultures to resolve the source of the fever.
Result? She’d contracted chicken pox. Although associated with a childhood disease, it’s a concomitant of shingles. Over New Year’s she’d visited a friend in Florida. Unknown then but learned subsequently, a fellow guest had suffered shingles. He’s perfectly OK now while Barbara, suffering the visible skin problem, had contracted its sister ailment chicken pox. In an adult, that’s a serious condition. Stemming from it, the medical profession lists an alphabet of possible problems.
But Miss Walters who, a few headlines ago, personally brought Egypt’s Anwar Sadat to meet with Israel’s Menachem Begin, is known to overcome problems.
She’s OK now. She’s back in New York. She’s recuperating.
STEVE Stanulis’ film “Long Shot Louie” had its wrap party at Chelsea Manor. If you weren’t invited, not my problem . . . Jan. 31 rocker Madame Mayhem — whom we all know, right? — kicks off her residency at the Cutting Room . . . “Glee” star Matthew Morrison, who grew up watching “Indiana Jones,” wants his producer to get Harrison Ford to do a cameo on the show.
TERRY Hodge Taylor, organizing last night’s 2012 American Theater Hall of Fame gala, wonders qué pasa with that “Show Must Go On” concept. Onstage in London in Jerry Herman’s “Dear World,” honoree Betty Buckley called to cancel. Her producers said she wouldn’t be back in time for the next performance. Ellen Burstyn accepted Betty’s award. Then, hours before the event, co-honoree playwright Christopher Durang called. Busted his leg. Can’t get out of bed.
Hey, no business like show business.
AT the Cinema Society, director Taylor Hackford about his “Parker” movie co-star Jason Statham: “Since he does all his own stunts, you needn’t film him in four half-second cuts like you do with everyone else.”. . . And replied Jason: “Let’s just say I’m stupid enough to do all this stuff.” . . . Chef Bobby Flay, so where and what’s he eat? He does takeout pizza at Bella Napoli across from his residence.
OY, please, enough already with these TV reality housefreaks. One blonde’s so dumb she thinks a quarterback is a refund.
BLOOD Manor, “New York City’s Premier Haunted Attraction,” is doing Feb. 14 Scary Valentine Weekend. Shove roses and chocolates, they’re serving living dead, “Gorgeous and Gory” models, zombie pinup calendars. For “R.I.P. Entry,” $45 . . . In the lineup dating Simon Cowell, 40-ish Carmen Electra began in an Ohio theme park magic show as the girl sawed in half. And like every other living, semi-breathing actress today, says she’s ready to have a baby.
ANYONE know Britney Spears Foundation ran summer camps for wannabe popstrels? Their manifesto? “To release the power of music to heal”. . . Know how stars live? Bedtime ritual for “Ben and Kate’s” Nat Faxon is playing his phone’s “Words With Friends”. . . Sigourney Weaver: “There are just no good bookstores left in New York City.”
NICK Nolte, who’s risen again: “Oscars are unfair. I’m opposed to the whole world in on the process. You can’t pick Best Picture or Best Actor. I don’t say I’d turn one down. Just that I don’t agree with it.”. . . More on Oscars: When Ralph Fiennes went naked in the film based on Graham Greene’s novel “The End of the Affair,” he sighed: “I expect I’ll be receiving those silly rear of the year awards.” Wrong. Julianne Moore got it for the film.
WOMAN Googled two unworking numbers to reach Calvin Klein. At calvinklein.com, she got a customer-service number. There, a lady gave her another service number, where a recording said it will be a 20-minute wait for a live person.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.