Kerry Washington’s like crabgrass. Everywhere. TV, on a series. Magazines, in a shmatta. Newspapers, at a party. Now, doing “SNL.” Enough already.
“Is it overkill? I need to reel it in?” she asked me. “But it’s not just one phenomenon. ‘King of Scotland’ started it, then Mamet’s Broadway show ‘Race’ began the tsunami.
“I actually live quietly. Work hard. Get bored easily. Don’t drink. Who needs those empty calories? I watch what I eat. I train, do pilates.
“I’m now renovating my LA apartment, and that tests your patience and clarity. Living out of a suitcase so long, I’m finally establishing residence, but I’m always back in NYC. I’m born here. My parents are here.
“My Shih Tzu mix ‘shorkie’ fills my life. Josie hangs out even when I’m filming. The crew holds her or, leashed so she doesn’t jingle, she hides in a chair out of frame. Our costumer texts her on Twitter. Another’s cell features her photo.”
Yeah, yeah, but about daily shots of Kerry in different outfits?
“Some is loaned. When I watched fashion shows online to see what I wanted for the Emmys, I saw Marchesa’s finale gown and called Georgina Chapman to send it to LA. Next day it went back. They needed it.”
OK. So now she’s doing “SNL”?
“Yeah. Means Halloween in New York. I can’t stay up late, but I’m a fan of the show. My parents aren’t upset anymore at my four-letter words in ‘Race’ or ‘Scandal’ concepts or anything I’ll do on ’SNL.’ They understand now it’s just storytelling. They don’t go heavy on me about it anymore.”
A Jacksonian affair is upon us
Bill Pullman opens off-B’way Nov. 7 until Dec. 15 in “The Jacksonian.” Acorn Theatre. LA’s early tryout co-starred Glenne Headly, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan.
“Takes place in 1964 Jackson, Miss. Suspenseful. Racial dissent, the climate of the time. It starts with murder. Complete with a duck’s ass hair comb and sideburns to match the era, I play Fred, who runs the seedy Jacksonian Bar Motel, where covert things go on behind the scenes. Gold-digging employee, treacherous bartender, marital infidelities, the whole works.”
Note a quote
Damien Hirst: “Doubt I’ll give up drinking forever, but when you can’t control it, you must do something drastic.” . . . American Ballet’s Oct. 30 opening gala grabs high-class attendees — Sigourney Weaver, Bebe Neuwirth, Elettra Wiedemann, even Al Roker. Al Roker? Ballet? Tu-tu unbelievable . . . Roseanne Barr on her “Roseanne” show’s 25th anniversary recalls what she calls “Madison Avenue’s Persuasive Piggery.”
Nice. Sounds like a musical.
Honest reply
Bruce Ratner of Barclays Center, what’s he doing with all the money he’s making? Leaning across pasta at Fresco, Brooklyn’s biggie said: “Hoarding it.” . . . The Herald Tribune’s late columnist Marie Torre’s daughter is NY-1 anchorlady Roma Torre, and what’s Roma’s daughter want to be? A reporter . . . 2014 bringing movies on James Brown, Brian Wilson, Gregg Allman, Nina Simone and Jimi Hendrix. Oy.
Jack, the book
Latest “iconic” actor’s “groundbreaking” biography, with “never before” known info, relating his “traumatic” childhood is “
Nicholson.” Writer, Marc Elliot. Publisher, Crown. The known tale of New Jersey’s Jack Nicholson believing Grandma who raised him was his real mum. The thing’s out this week.
Oscar Race On
Joaquin Phoenix burbles steadily in director Spike Jonze’s newie “Her.” Robert Redford says almost zero in director J.C. Chandor’s newie “All Is Lost.” They’ll oppose one another for Best Actor Oscar.
***
Finishing dinner, a Flex Mussels customer called American Express. Asked his account number, he said, “I misplaced the card.” Next from AmEx: “Please punch in the last four digits on your account.”
Only at American Express, kids, only at American Express.