‘SUE IS the only woman I’ve ever made it work with unequivocally,” said the handsome and knowledge able WNBC anchorman Chuck Scarborough after I spotted him at a movie with his co-star Sue Simmons.
Mr. Scarborough is famous for poking fun at himself and his several marriages. But the Chuck-and-Sue professional duet has endured for more than 25 years, making them commanding news figures in New York City. The night I saw this twosome, they were with Chuck’s beautiful daughter, Elizabeth, also a TV reporter.
Having worked with these guys myself for 13 years at Rockefeller Center, I am used to people asking the inevitable question: “What is Sue Simmons really like?”
I always say, “What you see is what you get.”
My favorite story about Sue concerns my trying to get her interested in the Broadway theater. One night I talked her into going to see the musical “La Cage aux Folles.” The next day I asked, “How did you like it?”
Sue shrugged. “It was OK. I left at the intermission.” I was amazed and asked, “Why?” Sue said, “Oh, I already knew how it turned out.”
THIS REMINDS me of the fa mous restaurateur and sa loonist Toots Shor. One night he was talked into going to see John Gielgud in “Hamlet.” At the intermission he was in the lobby saying, “I’ll bet I’m the only bum here who don’t know how this turns out!”
Speaking of history: The long-awaited “Toots” documentary is about to kick off with Tom Brokaw, Drew Nieporent and Frank Gifford hosting at the Tribeca Screening Room. I first wrote a full column on this historical film back in April 2006. Now it’s here, being released on Sept. 14.
YOU OWE it to yourself and to every service man and woman who has gone to Iraq or Afghanistan, to tune in our old friend, actor James Gandolfini, when he airs his HBO documentary, “Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq.” It bows on HBO Sunday.
We’ve flinched and turned away our eyes from the 27,000 wounded (many severely) of this war. Now the “Sopranos” star is going to make us look and wonder. It is his first job since his famous series ended.
Gandolfini is paired with HBO’s executive wonder woman, Sheila Nevins. She says filming this show on a simple soundstage with the brave people missing arms, legs, eyes, faces and parts of their brains was the experience of a lifetime. And of her star, Gandolfini? Sheila says, “I loved working with a kind bear who gets rid of enemies.”
LOVE THAT British press. The govern ment has launched a study showing that all English cemeteries and graveyards will be completely filled within the next 30 years. So they are beginning to dig up bodies that have been buried for 75 years and burying them deeper to allow the more recently dead to be planted on top of them, with a new person’s name added to the gravestone.
The Church of England says it won’t object if the matter is handled sensitively and relatives of the deceased are willing.
ONE OF my kids is the talented Gina Gershon, who you can see as the new love interest to the sexy Denis Leary in “Rescue Me.” Gina is also in the new Tom DiCillo movie “Delirious,” playing opposite the amazing Steve Buscemi as a paparazzi. If you want a real treat, find the DVD of Gina’s early one – “Bound” with Jennifer Tilly and Joey Pantoliano. A classic!
FEINSTEINS AT the Regency has turned itself inside out with bookings of amazing complexity. Get this – Ashford & Simpson Sept. 11-29 . . . An Evening With Piaf, Brel, Aznavour & Friends Oct. 2-6 . . . Amy Hanaial’i Oct. 9-13 . . . Chita Rivera Nov. 6-24 and Michael himself Nov. 27-Dec. 29.
In a recent comment about the Café Carlyle’s new refurbished nightlife space, I mentioned Elaine Stritch, Woody Allen and Judy Collins as coming on the bill. But somehow I omitted the hot and sizzling force of nature called Eartha Kitt. Ms. Kitt begins a six-week stint that will burn the house down Sept. 18 to Oct. 27. She ready for her close-up and she’s only 80 years old!
WHEN OPRAH conducts her Santa Barbara party pushing Barack Obama for president on Saturday (I believe I told you about that ages ago) she’ll be behaving exactly the opposite of George Clooney.
The famous actor told the famous politician: “I’ll give you whatever support you need – including staying completely away from you.”
But Sen. Obama must have told him that wasn’t the case. George will be at the party.
THE MOGUL David Geffen has been in the Mediterranean on his very big boat, and one of his guests recently was none other than Bono at St. Jean Cap Ferrat. Those liberal environmentalists are living it up in the South of France despite their oil bills.