Sorry for last month’s disappearing act, but even writers get called in for jury duty once in a while. It wouldn’t have been so bad if we had been sequestered in a decent place. I got home to three hundred e-mails from my sources, news ranging from the bizarre to the tragic, and in some cases, the downright meshugga. Oh well, at least I had a few weeks away from the kids! P.S. at the last minute, the defendant took a deal, and they sent us home. Feh!

To begin with, I lost a dear friend. Janet Leigh, whose grisly death in the Hitchcock film “Psycho” almost set personal hygiene back to the Dark Ages, died quietly at her Beverly Hills home from Vasculitis, with her family by her side. Janet was a great lady as well as a great actress, whose career rarely gave vent to her incredible sense of humor. The Mother of Scream-Queen Jamie Lee Curtis, (talk about a legacy!) Janet had somewhat of a chance to poke fun at herself in her last film, (with her daughter,) “Halloween: H2O”. Janet was 77 years old, and had appeared in more than sixty movies. Janet and I became friends at an AIDS benefit hosted by Elizabeth Taylor back in the early 1990s, and I’ll always remember her warm, caring nature.

Also gone from us is arguably the last of the pintele Yid comedians. Rodney Dangerfield died from complications after bypass surgery at UCLA Medical Center in August. Dangerfield had lapsed into a coma following a small stroke after the surgery, but regained consciousness last week. Dangerfield’s mercurial career spanned forty years, kicking off in the sixties when he first began using the catch phrase, “I don’ get no respect”. He appeared on Johnny Carson more than seventy times, and in his latter years lent his genius to the big screen in “Caddyshack” among others. Dangerfield’s health problems are said to have stemmed from years of drug abuse, which were also credited with his being replaced by Jackie Mason in “Caddyshack 2”, although the popular reason given was that there had been a dispute over salary. But in his life, Dangerfield was notorious for taking chances, including his foray into the world of Rap Music, with his platinum hit single, “Rappin’ Rodney” in 1985. Maybe he didn’t get respect, but he surely got love!

The unexpected passing of Christopher Reeve sent shock waves around the world. And, while details have been sketchy, my sources tell me that Reeve died from heart failure (Mitral Valve Prolapse, for all you folks who like the grisly details,) caused by a generalized systemic infection resulting from a severe bedsore. But more important than how he died, was the way Reeve lived. I’ve never, in my more than forty years in this business, seen anyone with the courage and conviction Reeve possessed. In the debate over whether art imitates life or vice-versa, I think Reeve answered the question. To have spent every day on a ventilator, and undergoing grueling physical therapy five days a week, to return eventually to acting and directing, truly were the acts of a ‘Superman’. I’ve often wondered if I, in similar straits, would have been able to do it.

Meanwhile, this just in from the “Say, WHAT?” department, a story so bizarre that, when I first read it, I accused my source of trying to play a joke on me. It seems that when Marlon Brando’s ashes were scattered over Death Valley, he shared the interment with the cremains of his old friend, Wally Cox. This didn’t seem strange at first, until I realized that Cox died of heart failure in 1973! After doing some digging, (no pun intended,) I discovered that Cox had, in his will, instructed that his remains be placed in the care of his old friend…you guessed it, the Godfather himself. What remains a mystery is why did Brando wait 31 years to scatter his friend’s ashes? Was it a strange pact they had? Talk about, “Things that make you go Hmmmmm!”

For those of you who are confused by the Dog and Pony show auditions for the new “Partridge Family” television series being produced for MTV’s VH1 channel, let me try to explain. Yes, they really are bringing back the iconic 70’s hit with an updated format and an all-new cast. And yes, the ‘Starsearch meets Keep-Your-Day-Job’ auditions on VH1 was legitimate, with the ‘chosen ones’ actually going to play the roles they auditioned for. What remains a mystery for many is why did they do it? Well, why does anyone in this business do anything? For money, and publicity. And, in this case a loophole. If the show is farshtunken, they can blame the people who voted on the actors who ultimately get the roles. Personally, I hold out little hope for the show. “The Partridge Family” reflected an era of close family ties and values that over the last twenty years have waned, almost to the point of extinction. And in a world where families like The Osbourns and the Gottis and their peccadilloes are aggrandized with their own shows, I seriously wonder if there is any hope for a family like the Partridges. Most people who watch the show, (baby boomers like myself,) will be expecting Keith to say, “Mom, can I use the bus to take Bonnie Kleinschmidt to the dance?” not, “*$@* you bitch, I’m taking the *$@*ing bus and there’s nothing you can do about it!”

And in closing gang, if you only go see one movie during November, make sure it’s “Ray”. Somehow, they managed in a very short time, (Ray Charles died only four months ago and even a ‘B’ movie takes a year to produce,) to grind out one of the slickest, most stunningly accurate biopics ever. While I haven’t actually seen this film yet, (I had one of my people go to the preview in my place,) the general consensus at the preview was that Jaimie Foxx in the title role turns in an Oscar-worthy performance, and that the overall film is a masterpiece. But if you’re not willing to take a chance, I will be going to see it when it opens and I will give a follow-up report next month.

Meanwhile, have an awesome Thanksgiving, and see you next month!