For the next three years, it’s Hillary running . . . Hillary not running. If she ain’t running, she’s sure as hell walking fast. The secret’s as watertight as the Titanic.
For her politician-in-chief roommate, it’s like heroin. The limelight, the power, is addictive. When she pushes the expected regulation book she’s now writing, it’s automatic p.r. She’ll even appear on Kleenex. A new hairdo and face will conquer every villagelet. Under a cloak of literacy, it’s shake every hand, hustle every camera, nail every e-mail address for that ultimate grab.
While her trusted warriors won’t speak, their clenched teeth part enough to mumble it ain’t even if she’ll run. Only question is, when?!
THE History Channel’s special “The Bible” continues through March 31. Co-produced by Mark Burnett, of Class-A reality stuff like “Survivor,” “My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad,” “Bully Beatdown.” So this dude behind “The Shark Tank,” “The Apprentice” and “The Voice” knows from scripture?
“My Presbyterian mother was Church of Scotland. My father, Catholic. Growing up, the Holy Book was always in my hand. And one day my co-producer wife, Roma Downey, who believes there’s biblical illiteracy here, suggested we do ‘The Bible.’
“There’s many biblical copyrights. We used all versions — King James, American Standard, International, even the Internet’s You Version with its 40 translations and 85 million downloads. We involved Orthodox Jewish scholars, Jesus disciples, 40 church academics, to make sure every chariot was authentic.
“The Hand of God was with us on this. We actually felt the Holy Spirit. Like we’re filming John 3. Nicodemus enters the garden. The talk is ‘You have to be born again,’ and Jesus says such words as, ‘It’s like the wind.’ This is 1 a.m., in a calm quiet Sahara oasis. Suddenly, from nowhere, a sustained wind blew through the set. Nothing caused it. We were startled.
“Jesus’ robes blew. Jesus’ hair blew. All faiths, including atheists, were in the crew. Everybody felt it. On the side watching the monitors, I felt it. Every one of us knew Something had happened.
“Now, for seven days, I’m bringing to a Meatpacking District gallery below the High Line — unusual environments create excitement — fragments of three actual Dead Sea Scrolls — from Daniel and Jeremiah — only last seen at the Vatican. Never shown here. We went into vaults to examine them. Also England’s 1613 ‘She’ Bible, which took 47 scholars seven years to complete. Also the third century’s psalms in Greek on papyrus.
“We’re not trying to indoctrinate anyone. We just believe the Bible should be taught in schools.”
FRIDAY DouroAzul unveils two cruise vessels in Portugal. Sharon Stone will christen its AmaVida, Andie MacDowell launches Queen Isabel. Michael Bolton plus Andie’s singer daughter Rainey Qualley will serenade . . . Paul Rudd hit Vinatta Project for a pal’s birthday and a little cabernet . . . Must be Gerard Butler hasn’t spent a night home since his prom. Every day another sighting. This one he’s sipping a largesize soda at Ainsworth Park.
AL Pacino is A-1 in the HBO movie on record genius Phil Spector. Equally magnificent, Helen Mirren as his lawyer Linda Kenney Baden. It doesn’t answer did-he/didn’t-he ice blond actress Lana Clarkson, who was with Spector alone in his house late at night and somehow ended up very dead. A rifle shot in her mouth. Found guilty after one mistrial, Specter’s residing deep in the can.
Linda Kenney Baden: “I’m at the Golden Door. A caller says, ‘I’m David Mamet. I’ve written a screenplay about Spector and you. Want to read it?’ I then sent him notes. Corrections on chemical stuff. Three days later he sent corrections. This was six months before the screenplay was done.
“He asked if I wanted to consult. I said I had to be sure there’d be no violating attorney client privilege . . . I don’t see Spector anymore. He takes no calls or visitors.”
Pacino: “This role was tough for me. I sweated through it. I worked so hard to get his stooped walk that I had trouble learning how to walk straight up afterward.”
Linda, my friend, married to top medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden, was seriously ill during this trial. The movie depicts it. I confirm it. She gave her gizzard for this case. We phoned one another just to talk about how she was feeling, and, while coughing, she feared she wouldn’t make it.
Lawyer Michael Kennedy: “He’s guilty.” Lawyer Linda: “Not guilty.” Lawyer Star Jones at the screening: “He was found guilty because he’s crazy not because of the evidence.”
Linda: “He’s up for appeal, but our system grinds so slowly that he’ll finally finish his sentence before the appeals case ever gets heard.”
JAMMED party. Joy Behar’s delighted to meet the tall, slim, silver-haired real live Canadian ambassador “Argo” immortalized. She vigorously pumps the hand of a short, chunky silver-haired gent. Wrong guy. With that she grabs spectacles from her purse and says: “I can’t see s – – t without these.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.