“The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg has lent her name (and face) to a new app/site, nobituary.com, in which users create a life-affirming message, which looks like a newspaper obituary, for a loved one who smokes — in an effort to help them quit the habit.
“The idea of being able to send someone a loving message while they are still alive, instead of writing an obit after they are dead, seemed a good idea to me,” says Goldberg, an ex-smoker. “It might help save people and encourage folks maybe not to smoke. Maybe.”
The site was created by Ian Wishingrad, who first had the idea five years ago. Then, two years ago, he went to hear Goldberg discuss her HBO documentary about Moms Mabley when she mentioned she’d just quit smoking. “I kind of pitched her hard … and she loved the idea,” he says. “I sent her a link for the site and she wrote back and said, ‘I love this.’ I went to ‘The View’ the next week, met with her and [her producing partner] Tom Leonardis and she gave me permission to use her name.”
Wishingrad says the app/site is an alternative to anti-smoking campaigns that often use graphic images. Goldberg concurs. “Their shock impact is clear,” she says, “but I don’t think any of this takes into account why people smoke and how difficult it is to stop, and ugly pictures may not be the way. For me, it was something as simple … as a little kid with Cystic Fibrosis saying all he wanted to do was breathe like a normal person.”
‘Millionaire’ Justin time
Giants offensive tackle Justin Pugh appears Friday on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (2 p.m./Ch. 7) to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children (Pugh is their “Love to the Rescue Ambassador”). “Before I was born, my cousin was a patient at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia when she was younger,” says Pugh. “Hearing stories from my aunt growing up about the incredible work they did for her, it was always kind of in the back of my mind.”
So was the pressure on “Millionaire” anything like playing in front of a packed house at MetLife Stadium? “Both are high-pressure situations,” he said. “At ‘Millionaire,’ the lights were all on me and the questions were on me, and playing for charity, I wanted to make sure that we won something. Playing at MetLife, I’m protecting the quarterback and his livelihood — but there’s an entire team of us out there …”
Last, but not least …
Bradley Whitford (“Transparent”) at Gallaghers Steakhouse (West 52nd) the other night … Juelz Santana (“Love & Hip Hop”) expected at DeMarcus Cousins’ NBA All Star party Friday at Liberty Theater … Adrian Grenier voices Capt. Callisto in “Miles from Tomorrowland” Friday, Feb. 20 (9 a.m.) on Disney Junior. It was created by his childhood pal, Sascha Paladino.