Tipper. Update on the lady who used to be the once was, formerly, previous wife of Al Gore, who used to be the once was, formerly, previous VP of the US. Living far from glorious friendly Washington, she’s in Santa Barbara. Now happy. Dating a photographer.
But the split’s civilized. She sees Al, they speak, even recently vacationed together. It’s just that they don’t anymore want to live together.
Al, meanwhile, has made a crateload. Fat with cash. Fat with investments. And with nothing overwhelming to stress him, also fat with fat.
HILLARY. Bone-weary, she has one whole year to do zippo. Tend her hair, face, weight, nerves, family, friends and wardrobe. She needs to play. Do a spa. Sleep. Laugh. Waste a day. She admits she is well aware the public wants her in public life. Wherever she goes she’s constantly asked to run for president. Before she even thinks to do it, or starts raising money, staffers and PACs, it’s a year to rest. Then she’ll decide. Right now she doesn’t even know what she wants to do.
But I know what Obama did. His very first call after re-election? William Jefferson Clinton. To say thanks. To acknowledge Bill helped push him over the top.
CHRISTIANE Amanpour’s Upper West Side flat’s up. She’ll live in London. Mid-2013 she leaves NYC and her not-great shot at ABC . . . Dina Merrill’s mom-in-law once said, “Every bride needs a charity.” 12/12/12, 60 years later, the New York City Mission Society honors Dina . . . Her Ladyship Henrietta, the Duke of Marlborough daughter’s new book “The Life of the House: How Rooms Evolve” gets partied at restaurant Gina La Fornarina, a former millinery shop whose customers were Jackie O and Eleanor Roosevelt.
CHELSEA Handler says she got a talk show so’s to meet different people: “I’m not married, which means I can sleep with whomever I want.” Ooohh, what good news for Katie Couric, whose new boyfriend is age-appropriate . . . An old Larry Hagman memory. Last year, asked what’s he doing, replied: “Making a fortune. Selling all kinds of memorabilia on eBay.”
NOW, stories that TV’s highest-paid kid, Angus T. Jones, hates his “Two and a Half Men” show, which in year 10 either stars Charlie Sheen, of whom you may have heard, or Ashton Kutcher, of whom ex-wife Demi Moore is tired of hearing — depending on which rerun you’re watching. Three months ago, at Tampa’s Republican Convention, very upbeat Angus told me:
“I’m now 18, college-bound, but I’m off this week so I came with the Creative Coalition because I’m put to use. I talk to voters and say how beneficial the arts are. Not sure my future is in politics, but it’s interesting, and I’m learning.”
Looking slightly unfamiliar, he said: “That’s because my hair is now in a short buzz cut. And I’m wearing glasses. I can’t see. I’m almost legally blind, I’ve gotten used to not wearing them on the show because I can determine what I need to and we work it all out in rehearsal.”
Cheerful, positive, where . . . when . . . did Angus’ angst suddenly begin?
THE Middle East front has created competing spy-versus-spy books about spooks. Israeli newspapers report “Mossad” was lifted from another new read “Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel’s Secret Wars.” Translated to English, the “Mossad” one added more pages than are in the Gutenberg just to cite footnotes and credits. No matter. It’s a cold war. Neither side’s talking to the other.
FROM one GOP pol’s snarled lips: “Reagan gave us voodoo economics. Obama’s giving us doo-doo economics.”
THROUGH Dec. 11, the Robert F. Kennedy Center auction, emceed by Alec Baldwin, offers a Hyannis sail with Ethel, fly fishing in the Catskills with economist Paul Volcker, dinner with Harry Belafonte, Taylor Swift’s signed guitar, meetings with Mandy Patinkin, Ethan Hawke, Matthew Broderick, Chris Noth.
Every charity’s offering everything. A Rock & Roll Auction, through Dec. 7, offers John Lennon’s last autograph (minimum bid $60,000) or his worn glasses for a cheapo $20,000; Michael Jackson’s jacket worn when he met Nelson Mandela. That’s 10 grand. Elvis’ last plinked guitar can be yours for not less than $45,000; Johnny Cash’s Grammy for $30,000; Bob Dylan’s handwritten lyrics — $60,000. Stuff’s at East 57th’s Gotta Have It!
JOHN Catsimatidis loans his plane to Giuliani and Clinton. He has supermarkets, oil wells, mayoral desires, a son-in-law whose dad heads the RNC, and he’s throwing wife Margo a birthday party. Seeing her, I mentioned it, then realized maybe it’s a secret and I apologized.
Said Margo: “Oh, please. It’s 300 guests. I picked the list. Ballroom I myself booked. Orchestra I hired. Celebrities I know performing. I’m personally doing the seating. Please. I arranged this whole party myself.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.