Unrivalled, unpredictable, unbeat on daytime TV is JudgeJudy. No. 1 in ratings. Seen multiple times every 24 hours. Discovered at 52, she’s been on daily 17 years. Come Year 2030 she’ll probably still snarl at some unfortunate: “I’m not interested in what you say . . . in fact, I’m not interested in you!”
She’s funny, witty, and Monday was inducted into 2012’s 22nd annual Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. Her famous face fills the magazine’s full cover. A judge who once ground through 50 cases a day in family court, this one-of-a-kind’s now global. Everywhere. Bookstores. Talk shows. Videos. A Web site. Visit tiger country in the wilds of India, her smart-assisms come off a television set in the bush. You have to be in solitary confinement not to get her.
So she’s entering the Waldorf, where a black-tie grand ballroom filled with VIPs is waiting to adore her. A woman passerby, thrilled at this sighting, calls out: “How you doing, Dr. Ruth?”
SPIKE Lee’s wife, Tonya’s new Web site is healthyyounow.com . . . More health: Out March 26 is James Hester’s Simon & Schuster book “1 Pound a Day: The Martha’s Vineyard Detox Diet”. . . Art Basel: Sherry Bronfman, ex Mrs. Edgar Bronfman Jr., honored Donald Rubell, who began collecting at $25 a month and now owns Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, 6,000 art works.
CAMILLE, former Mrs. Kelsey Grammer, vacuumed up lobster dumplings at West 44th’s Triomphe restaurant . . . Everyone’s helping everyone: Lyss Stern, Diva Moms and a Winter Wonderland party fund-raised for St. Jude’s . . . Everyone’s writing everything: HarperCollins publishing Unreal N.J. Housewife Caroline Manzo’s “Let Me Tell You Something.” Stuff like “I’m a bitch when I have to be,” and “I may not be the smartest or prettiest, but you will remember me.”
KEN Biberaj masterminds the Russian Tea Room. Besides Chicken Kiev and Veal Pojarsky, RTR’s vice president now eyes our City Council. He’s 32, 17 years younger than any candidate. Last month he registered for the race.
He said: “2013 needs new leadership. A fresh prospective. Despite competition, I provide an alternative.”
I said: Yeah? Why?
“I’m hardworking, dedicated, married, must ensure my West Side community for my kid, who’ll be born in May. I’ve been active on our community board. I’m Bronx-born, have a master’s in public policy from Harvard’s School of Government, and was Sen. John Kerry’s research director.
“We need to reduce crime, traffic, improve education, access greater technology. To navigate city bureaucracy from the Dep’t of Business, owners must hire expediters at extra cost. I can make it easier to start small businesses.”
His parents fled communist Albania in ’68. His father was a doorman, cabdriver, delivered pizzas and became Eurasia’s Voice of America. Biberaj’s funds are coming from the USA. United States of Albania.
“Albanians own Sparks, Ben & Jack’s, many in the restaurant community. They are eager to help. None of my funding comes from any political party.”
IT’s Christmas. Here are actual true collected church bulletins:
Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals . . . Today’s sermon: “Jesus Walks on Water.” Tonight’s Sermon: “Searching for Jesus”. . . Ladies, remember the rummage sale. Remove things useless. Bring your husbands . . . Smile at one hard to love; say “Hell” to whoever doesn’t care about you . . . Worry can’t kill you — let the Church help . . . Our soloist’s “I Will Not Pass This Way Again” gave the congregation pleasure.
If you have children and don’t know it, a nursery’s downstairs . . . Thursday is choir tryouts. They need all the help they can get . . . The Carters were just married. So ends a friendship begun in their school days . . . A bean supper will be held in our hall. Music follows . . . Eight choir robes are needed due to new members and the deterioration of older ones . . . Recycle cans, bottles and other items. Proceeds for crippled children.
Put donation in envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered . . . An evening of fine dining, entertainment and gracious hostility . . . Potluck supper 5 p.m. Prayer and medication follow . . . Cast off clothing ladies may be seen in the basement . . . Low Self-Esteem group: Use the back door . . . Weight Watchers: Use double door . . . Minister’s new campaign slogan: “I upped my pledge — up yours.”
SHEA caroling his “The Christmas I Met You” (nominated as Billboard’s hot holiday song — No. 6 on Cashbox, Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe” is No. 9) with Hale House children at a Steven Colucci/Andy Warhol art show . . . Public school in a sleepy New Jersey town now surrounded by uniformed cops . . . Note from Obama’s people: Taxpayers cannot deduct any sum claiming Madoff promised them money but they didn’t get it.
HOT & Crusty on 23rd and Eighth. Young girl’s purse opens. Out flies a floorful of coins. She exits leaving more than $5 strewn all over. She says: “I’m too tired to pick it up.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.