That money-grubbing behavior by so-called stars doesn't surprise me, and it's nothing new. My late father, a TV exec, said that most of the stars wouldn't even consider appearing at charity events without a big paycheck. Back in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, he was involved in the planning and production of various telethons, and had to deal with their many demands for money and other perks. Then, of course, they'd swoop onto the stage acting like they were so generous for donating their time and talent to the good cause.
In other news of ersatz celebrities:
IN perhaps the gayest act of philanthropy in recent memory, sapphic superstar Rosie O'Donnell personally donated $25,000 to Harvey Milk High School to establish a "Fab Five Room" in the name of the swishy cast of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." Rosie made the announcement while emceeing an auction at Capitale the other night benefiting the Hetrick Martin Institute, the gay youth rights advocacy group that spawned Harvey Milk HS. Rosie, who declared that, at 222 pounds, "me and Aretha Franklin are the two heaviest people in show biz," raised $600,000 beforehand and $245,000 during the live auction. (pagesix)
Don't quit yer day job for the standup comedy circuit quite yet, Whiny Joe:
Sen. Joe Lieberman said: "If you were drowning 50 feet offshore, President Bush would throw a line 30 feet out and John Ashcroft would say, 'At least Bush met you more than halfway.'" (Cindy Adams)
Bill Maher has made another stab at career suicide.
The Bush-bashing comic stunned some of Hollywood's most powerful liberals by joking about Bill Clinton's sexual indiscretions at a benefit honoring Sen. Hillary Clinton.
New York's junior Senator was accepting an Oceana Partners award in Los Angeles last Wednesday for her work on environmental issues. Maher emceed the event, which also honored marine explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, as well as Ron Howard and his Imagine partner, Brian Glazer.
Among the unamused in the audience were Oceana board member Ted Danson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kiefer Sutherland, Diane Lane, Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal and Kirsten Dunst, Norman Lear and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
"Maher began bringing up 'Bill Clinton's [bleep] jobs' - with Hillary sitting right there in front of him eating her chicken," says a witness. "It was just cruel. Ted Danson's wife, Mary Steenburgen, is a longtime friend of the senator's. I can't believe they approved of this."
The former President, although not there, was listed as a co-chairman of the event, which raised $600,000.
Maher also took a shot at Cousteau - sniping: "That must feel great, getting a one-quarter standing ovation." Cousteau walked out of the building shortly afterward.
ABC canceled Maher's show. "Politically Incorrect" after controversial remarks about the 9/11 terrorists. He now has a show on HBO.
Reps for Danson and Clinton had no comment.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/143672p-127160c.html