Media-Whore D'Oeuvres

"When Pope John Paul II died of septic shock and heart failure, in April 2005, he was 84. He had survived cancer, a gunshot, and was in the late stages of Parkinson’s disease, and in the months and years preceding his agonizing end, there was near-constant chatter about the politically incorrect 'papal death watch.' Television networks rented out terraces with a view of St. Peter’s dome, and almost every major publication around the world had a plan in place, from apartments rented to hotel blocks booked for months at a time, for the moment the world’s beloved pope passed away. But his death didn’t happen exactly to plan. Several hospitalizations and close calls in early 2005 amounted to dress rehearsals for what became one of the biggest media events of all time. He finally died after several days of slow suffering, and all the while the Vatican press office promised he was getting better. Thousands of faithful pilgrims flocked to Rome to hold vigil in St. Peter’s Square, where they sang and prayed until the light finally went out in his famous window. Joseph Ratzinger was elected in the secret conclave a few weeks later, and became Pope Benedict XVI. At 78, he was the oldest new pope in nearly 300 years. It would be an exaggeration to claim that the world’s media are preparing for the next papal passing with the same vigor as they did last time, but there is definitely new attention to this pope’s health." (TheDailyBeast)

"Early evening over at "21," Joan Rivers, having flown in that morning on the red-eye from Los Angeles was hosting book party for her friends (and former neighbors) Alan Shayne and Norman Sunshine, celebrating their new book Double Life; A Love Story – From Broadway to Hollywood (Magnus Books). Ms. Rivers arrived looking absolutely fresh and fabulous, natch, wearing Valentino. Even with cancellations (due to the weatherman's promise of a horrendous coming storm) more than 127 friends of the authors braved the elements.  About 7:00 Joan got up ("can we talk?") to tell her guests about the book. She told them how at first she dreaded reading the manuscript, and then couldn't put it down. She found herself schlepping it onto planes in a shopping bag, to all her gigs, relating her heartfelt take on Alan and Norman as two separate accomplished men. Not to mention the tales they wove of life on Broadway and in Hollywood that feature the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Rock Hudson, Barbra Streisand, Laurence Olivier, Truman Capote, Bette Davis, Robert Redford, Lee Radziwill and on and on. Of course the Rivers signature humor kicked in with everyone cracking up in uncontrollable laughter over some of those tales that intrigued and fascinated her. But when Joan ended, she was in tears. Everyone was enthralled." (NYSocialDiary)

"With a slew of daytime syndicated talk show projects jockeying for a fall 2012 berth, a big one is entering the fray for fall 2013. Queen Latifah is set to host a new daytime talk show that Flavor Unit, her company with Shakim Compere, will co-produce with Will Smith and James Lassiter’s Overbrook Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television. Compere and Overbrook’s Miguel Melendez, who were instrumental in getting the project together, will serve as executive producers with Queen Latifah and Overbrook’s Lassiter, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Queen Latifah and Smith have a lot in common — both started in hip-hop before segueing into acting and then producing and both have earned Oscar nominations. In fact, Latifah’s first role was an arc on NBC’s The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, which starred Smith, also in his first acting gig." (Deadline)