“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” head to court

December 4, 2009 at 10:32 am (Uncategorized)
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Are you familiar with the phrase “let sleeping dogs lie”? Apparently Danielle Staub isn’t.

During an appearance yesterday in a Garden State municipal court, The Record reports the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star said she feared for her safety during an altercation last month between she and castmates Jacqueline Laurita and Teresa Giudice – but that it was Jacqueline’s teenage daughter, Ashley Holmes, of whom she was most intimidated.

more about “untitled“, posted with vodpod

However, Danielle dropped her complaints against Jacqueline and Teresa but forged ahead with charges against Ashley, 19.

“I’m just a little afraid, to be honest with you,” Danielle said in court.

Danielle told Judge Lawrence Katz that Ashley said “I’ll get her” and “I’ll kill you” prior to pulling one of Danielle’s hair extensions out by the root. The incident took place Nov. 11 during a fashion show at Wayne’s North Jersey Country Club. A Bravo camera crew, which reportedly captured that incident on tape, also accompanied Danielle to court yesterday.

(Read what the police report says about the altercation here.)

As a result of Danielle’s testimony, Judge Katz issued a summons against Ashley on charges of harassment and simple assault. Both are disorderly persons offenses.

Jacqueline is obviously (and understandably) angry and upset about this turn of events, and she vented on Twitter.

“SOME people will do ANYthing to get their name in the press,” she tweeted today, referring to Danielle in another post as “dirty D.”

Of course, this whole matter could probably be resolved quickly if Bravo said, “Let’s go to the videotape!” (tip of the hat to former local sportscaster Warner Wolf), but what would be the fun in that?

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“D” is for Danielle… and drama

December 3, 2009 at 6:59 pm (Uncategorized)
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During last season’s finale of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” table-flipper Teresa Giudice had had it up to here with castmate Danielle Staub.

I don't think we're going to see Danielle and Jacqueline break bread anytime soon.../Photo by Bravo

“You’re just trying to make drama, Danielle,” Teresa told her. “Your name should be Drama.”

Truer words were never spoken, I believe, especially after reading the news today that Danielle is accusing the teenage daughter of her former best friend, Jacqueline Laurita, of yanking out her hair extensions.

According to The Record, Danielle was due in municipal court today regarding the Nov. 11 incident, which took place at the North Jersey Country Club in Wayne and was witnessed by Bravo cameras. (We can only hope some of the incident makes it into the show’s second season!)

The Record says that police were called to the club around 11 that night and found a “very emotional and rather incoherent” Danielle in the parking lot. She reportedly told police that she had gotten into an argument with Jacqueline and that Jacqueline’s daughter, Ashley Holmes, pulled her hair and ripped out clumps of her extensions. Officials note that Ashley acknowledged pulling Danielle’s hair, but says she did so to defend her mother, whom she believed Danielle had hit. Jacqueline, for her part, told police Danielle did not hit her.

No charges were filed at the time, and Teresa, who was present, was listed by police as an “uncooperative witness.” Priceless. Meanwhile, police told Danielle she could file a simple assault complaint against Ashley, Jacqueline and whoever else if she so chose. Meanwhile, we will have to wait and see if the municipal court finds that there was probable cause, which would allow Danielle to file charges against those she says wronged her.

All of this hubbub comes on the heels of Ashley’s 19th birthday – which, according to her mom’s Twitter page – was Tuesday.

Update

Danielle dropped complaints against Jacqueline and Teresa but is pursuing charges against Ashley. Read all about it – and see a video of Danielle in court – right here.

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Who knew “Pa” was a Jersey boy?

December 3, 2009 at 5:00 pm (Uncategorized)
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There are a lot of names you can call Michael Landon -  Little Joe, the “Teenage Werewolf” and “Pa” top that list – but I had no idea “Jersey boy” was one of them.

That’s right: My childhood “Little House on the Prairie” idol, Michael Landon (aka “Oogie” Orowitz), grew up in Collingswood, N.J.

I learned that surprising fact recently while watching a “Biography” episode about Michael.

“Oogie” (short for Eugene) as he then was called, wasn’t the greatest student. According to “Biography,” he ranked 199th out of 201 students at Collingswood High School. Not too good, eh? But his athletic skills – he was especially adept at javelin-throwing – landed him a scholarship to the University of Southern California. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Unfortunately, it’s pretty clear Michael didn’t have fond memories of his time in the Garden State. His parents apparently hated one another, and he and his sister were stuck in the middle.

Still, Michael’s former high school classmates had good things to say about him.

“He had so much charm and such a lovable way about him,” remarked Ed Kurkian, who, along with Michael, is listed in the high school’s athletic hall of fame.

But the Jersey connections don’t end there, oh, no. Michael’s oldest daughter, Cheryl Landon, asserts in her book “I Promised My Dad” that her father at one point was addicted to Miltown, a tranquilizer sold by Wallace Laboratories – which named the drug after Milltown, N.J.

And when Michael began his brief battle with pancreatic cancer in 1991, he turned to oncologist Charles Simone of Lawrenceville, N.J. (who had previously treated Ronald Reagan’s colon cancer). His struggle is documented in this 1991 People article.

“Pa,” as I like to call him, had a unique way of making viewers – me included – feel like part of his TV family.  I think it’s especially fitting that I discover, decades later, that I also share my home state with him.

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It’s Dec. 1: Wishing you “Bunny Bunny”

December 1, 2009 at 6:50 pm (Uncategorized)
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When I unexpectedly met comedian, author and former “Saturday Night Live” scribe Alan Zweibel in an East Brunswick temple last month, I had no idea he would make me cry.

Yet cry is exactly what I did… when I read his beautiful, heartbreaking book, “Bunny Bunny, Gilda Radner: A Sort of Love Story.”

Listening to Alan’s impromptu introduction last month of friend and fellow comedian Susie Essman – in which he regaled the audience with stories of his days on the “SNL” set and vividly (and humorously) described first meeting Gilda Radner – convinced me I needed to pick up “Bunny Bunny” from my library ASAP.

I devoured the book in one sitting. Which is not hard to do – it’s only 190 pages long and full of Alan’s recollections of his conversations with Gilda over the years.

They clearly loved one another, though their relationship never became as romantic as perhaps Alan wished it to be. They supported one another through failed relationships, Alan’s eventual marriage and birth of two of his children, and Gilda’s eventual diagnosis of ovarian cancer and her drawn-out, painful death.

By the time I reached page 189 – titled “At A Memorial – June 1, 1989″ – I was bawling.

“I don’t know why God makes people and then takes them back while they’re still having fun with the life he gave them in the first place,” Alan’s eulogy goes. “Just like I don’t know if I’m supposed to celebrate the fact that Gilda was in my life, or feel cheated that she’s not here anymore. But even though her body grew to betray her, spirits just don’t die.”

I know exactly how Alan feels. Which is why a recent episode of “Celebrity Ghost Stories” featuring Eric Roberts made such an impression on me.

“You can’t kill energy,” Eric said in it. “You can only displace it.”

Me and Alan Zweibel hanging in East Brunswick last month./Credit Ava Gacser

The title of Alan’s book, by the way, refers to a phrase Gilda began using as a child to make herself feel safe when she was scared – and one that she continued using as an adult, albeit a bit more infrequently.

“It’s just that, for whatever reason, on the first day of every month the first words that I say when I wake up are ‘Bunny Bunny’ to make sure it’s going to be a good month and keep me safe from anything bad that could happen,” Gilda explains to Alan in the book.

Since it’s Dec. 1, I can’t think of a better way to start the first day of the last month of 2009:

Bunny Bunny to you all.

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“A Steady Rain”: It’s raining men, hallelujah!

December 1, 2009 at 2:32 pm (Uncategorized)
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“A Steady Rain” – the hit Broadway play starring hot-hottie-hots Daniel (James Bond) Craig and Hugh (Wolverine) Jackman – is raking in the cash… for its stars, investors and a well-known charity.

"A Steady Rain" photos by Ava Gacser

Entertainment Weekly estimates the dynamic duo will raise $1.3 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in six weeks. No other Broadway shows have raised as much cash as “A Steady Rain.”

When I was lucky enough to see the play on Nov. 12, two members of the audience (both women) donated $5,000 each for the pleasure (and I bet it was a pleasure!) of going backstage and meeting Hugh and Daniel, posing for photographs and – hold onto your hats – receiving the sleeveless undershirts (yes, wife beaters) each had worn during the show.

(Don’t ask me how the ladies decided who was getting whose shirt. I bet that was an interesting *discussion*!)

Woah. Wonder if the winning bidders got a glimpse of this?

While coughing up $5,000 for such a luxury seems a bit insane given the economic circumstances these days, it was apparently a bargain compared to another performance in which an audience member bid a whopping $15,000 for the very same privileges.

If you haven’t gotten around to seeing “A Steady Rain,” you’re not totally out of luck. Performances continue through Sunday.

Clearly, the big thrill is seeing Daniel and Hugh in the (ahem) flesh. It was also really cool seeing them acting like themselves (I assume, anyway), during the charity bidding. They were charming, witty and funny, and definitely seemed to have fun interacting with the audience. I found the play, although well-acted, a bit lacking. The story – of two police detectives and best friends – reminded me a bit of “Gone Baby Gone,” but I clearly think the latter is a better tale overall.

By the way, Hugh and Daniel made a point of thanking us for keeping our cell phones quiet throughout the performance.

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