Remember the lyrics — “Another op’nin’, another show . . .”? Now it’s another celebrity, another hospital.
Now it’s Liza Minnelli telling me, “I couldn’t go to Joan Rivers’ funeral, which I desperately wanted to because I loved her — but I couldn’t go because I can’t walk. I’m in bed. Going in for surgery.
“I broke my lower back. Remember a few years ago I was in a wheelchair because I had trouble with my spine? They operated on it then. Well, now, again. They’ll have to fuse it.
“I was picking up my dogs — and they jumped. And I got twisted and fell. I thought it’s nothing. But it wasn’t nothing. It became something. After an X-ray, seems I busted it and have to have it fused. The operation’s next week.”
Checking in with Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta, honored tomorrow at the Deauville Film Festival, opened Friday in “The Identical.” He said: “No idea why I’m getting this tribute.” OK, now that’s out of the way — talk about the film.
“Touching beautiful faith based story. No car crashes. A family has twins. Can’t afford it. So I, playing a preacher during depression, adopts a kid. Ashley Judd plays my wife.
“I do lots of preaching in this. Sermons about Israel. Our congregation, which is in Tennessee, prays for the chosen people because no question they must be protected.
“Listen, I’ve done clunkers in my time. Some went straight to video so you don’t see me around and know much about what I’m doing. I just finished a Western shot in Durango, a movie with Brad Pitt, but I forget the title, and next year’s my History Channel miniseries.
“I’m a single parent with a 15-year-old daughter who loves acting whether I like it or not and she’s gotten herself a modeling job. She’s pretty. Takes after me.
“My lifestyle? I come and go. I’m like Houdini. My parents were in politics so I, too, follow everything — just don’t go out and do it publicly. I believe actors should stay actors and be a mystery. I got hurt watching candidates get hurt. Local politics is awful. Brutal. They beat up people.”
Who is where
Idina Menzel — or whatever’s her name this week — and son waiting for their car in a Chelsea parking lot…
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Birdman” premiered in Venice, has Oscar buzzards buzzing, will decorate next month’s New York Film Festival and is beginning a Leonardo DiCaprio film…
In an upstate market, Bruce Littlefield said hi to “Game of Thrones’” diminutive tyrant Peter Dinklage. Peter denied his identity. Like it’s hard not to know him, right?
Odds & Ends
Petaluma, terrific 73rd and First restaurant, closed one year for renovations, reopened. And it’s wall-to-wall customers. The beet salad and pizza’s fabulous…
Sexy texty Anthony Weiner sticking his long narrow nose into politics again. He wrote for another tabloid how de Blasio’s definitely pro-cop. I guess that’s what he does — periodically sticks out one or another of his various parts…
Greek restaurant on 50th and First. Two 70-ish yentas having a luncheon discussion. First lady: “In bed at night, how often do you have to get up and pee?” Second lady: “Four times.” First lady: “Me, too. And each time I weigh myself.”
Only in New York, kid, only in New York.