Scene for the outs & the ins
If New York isn’t wide open yet, it’s at least blinking its eyes. Last night was reserved seating in the park. For opera. Followed by a Fifth Avenue dinner for the first female president of the Italian senate. Definitely beats dining on reheated leftover pizza while watching TV in your PJs.
Still, if you prefer TV in your fresh BVDs, know Netflix renewed comedy sitcom “The Upshaws” for Season 2. Created by Wanda Sykes and Regina Hicks, it stars Wanda Sykes but not Regina Hicks. The showrunners are Wanda Sykes and Regina Hicks. Says Netflix: “We love Wanda Sykes and Regina Hicks.”
And everyone’s going to school online. MasterClass is pep talks Zoomed by biggies dropping little secrets. James Cameron, Ron Howard, David Mamet, Robin Roberts, Gordon Ramsay, Sam Jackson burble on acting, moviemaking, cooking, news reporting. Actor LeVar Burton whose roots go all the way back to “Roots” tells how to tell stories.
Burton: “I’ve had storytelling mentors in my life — my mother, Alex Haley, ‘Star Trek’s’ Gene Roddenberry and Fred Rogers. Important for ourselves is to discover ourselves, discover who we are. And the courage to share that truth. Storytelling is a sacred pursuit.”
Also $15 a month if you sign up for their MasterClass.
Taxing time for Trump?
Allen Howard Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer. Under the microscope for “fringe benefits,” investigation designed to make him flip on the Trumps. If not, by Labor Day he gets himself nailed for tax evasion.
Should no link exist between any Trumps and any corporate shenanigans, and should Weisselberg take the fall — no jail time for nobody. If Trump haters find a way to blow taps on their trumpet, creditors could call in near a billion in debt.
Rudy Giuliani’s law license got pulled June 24. Suspended, could be disbarred. Roy Cohn got disbarred almost 35 years to the day — June 23, 1986. New York lawyers repping Donald appear to be in a Monopoly game — minus the Get Out of Jail Free card.
A killer’s voice
Story I came across about Anthony Hopkins who this year won an Oscar:
To find his voice for fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter in 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs,” the Welshman combined the sounds of Katharine Hepburn and Truman Capote with the sound of artificial intelligence character Hal in “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
This created an eerie monotone sound. He says, “I heard in my head three voices — Hepburn’s, Capote’s and Hal’s. First, I wanted to test some unidentifiable cockamamie American accent — but when I first tried this one at rehearsal those around let out a ‘My God!,’ so I knew I had it.”
Chopping it up
New idea from Keiko Aoki, widow of the Benihana dynasty’s Rocky Aoki. Launched this month she now provides Chef Omakase, personal private luxury chefs who prep meals for your home dinner parties.
Keiko: “Pay a fixed price per person. It’s as simple as ordering a taxi.” (Me, I don’t see a meter sticking out of a rump roast, but the idea’s great.)
It’s a professional chef for a dinner party. Four to eight people. The new online service provides different foods such as New American, Italian, Asian, Mediterranean, French, International Plant-Based Vegetarian and Kosher. Fresh ingredients delivered to your door two days before. Sessions include cleanup.
Choose from the $90 per person or $140 per person. And invite me.
Bill de Blasio has told friends he will not run again for president next time around. Comedy writers all over the country are demanding a recount.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.