Reruns continue, but this 25th season is Judge Judy’s last. I’m her friend. I know she’s worked so constantly that once rushing from the gym to a mike, she stuck a wig on backward.
This entire planet recognizes Her smartass Honor. We were together seeing white tigers in India, and people in the jungle knew her.
She’s already created another show idea. Now she earns $50 mil a year plus bonuses, plus programs she owns, plus extras, plus a deal with her Queen Bee Productions, plus $100 mil for selling over 5,200 hours of her library. With six homes, she can definitely afford the same half-dozen restaurants she always goes to for dinner.
And Judy never never argued about compensation. Never even discussed it.
Come money-talking time, her shtick was: She’d write a number, put it in an envelope, seal it, hand it over, and that’s what CBS had to pay.
Last night she couldn’t even speak. Laryngitis. And tomorrow she’s set to introduce Bloomberg at a rally. So might she intend to be his maybe vice president? No. She can’t afford to work that cheap.
Prez does SC in style
Air Force One touched down in Charleston, SC, amid a haze of presidential glory. Enormously awe-inspiring, so huge and glorious that you’d think the plane was enough just showing up and being the Mother of all aircraft. You’d expect the thing to roll in slowly, mind its manners, set down quietly, handle its wild blue yonder business, calm its jets and just plain shut up and be quiet.
Ain’t the DJT way. Cabin lights blazing, it came in lit like a Christmas tree. The Donald was in town. And would stick it to them, to everyone.
Himself had arrived. We’re talking a Donnybrook.
People set up chairs in overflowing parking lots. Small TVs with them. To see and monitor every move.
The motorcade started. Two police chiefs politely announced: “Y’all jes have to hold for nine minutes.” Seamless. Stress-free. No big-time crowd control.
Like clockwork the chiefs then announced, “Six mo-ah minutes and y’all be on your way.”
The town’s only quiet spot was the church, where decorated veteran Tulsi Gabbard was into a mini-rally — maybe 100 people.
Its busy spot was Henrietta’s. Every news pro fell into the place. And why, you ask? Because it served succotash, pancakes, blue crab fritters, smoked pork hock and speckled grits. That’s why.
Another foreign film rising
Films. A South Korean grabbed last year’s Oscars. Coming up? The Polish. The name’s Małgorzata Szumowska. She’s already won things called the Teddy Award and the Silver Leopard Award at whatever’s the Locarno Film Festival. Go ready this director for a statuette for her latest, “The Other Lamb,” about toxic masculinity and the abuse of power.
More. While Robin Leacock’s “A Passion for Giving” with Dan Aykroyd and Run-DMC has a March 10 screening in Palm Beach, Fla., to celebrate its 10th anniversary, PBS picked up director Robin’s new movie, “Stella & Co: A Romantic Musical Comedy Documentary About Aging.” It’s to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Ba dum bum
Fund-raising speaker: “Tonight we probe disturbing issues. I introduce a man who can get right to the bottom of the matter.
“A man who can put his finger on the vital problem — but enough about my urologist. Let me introduce Bernie Sanders.”
Only NOT in New York, kids, NOT in New York.
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