1 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, it's me Rosie O'Donnell and Happy Halloween. Happy Halloween. 2 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 1: I can't resist the candy corn. When I go to 3 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: CVS to get my medicine, there's the candy corn always 4 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: around this time. And you know, I'm not even a 5 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: real fan of candy corn, but I like having it 6 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: out in a dish in my house. It makes it 7 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: feel like it's Halloween. And you know, when I was 8 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: much younger, my first go round as a mom with 9 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: my four little ones who are now twenty one to 10 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: twenty eight, so they're all big, big kids, but we 11 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: used to have the greatest display in our yard. Like 12 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: we bought everything that you could buy in terms of 13 00:00:55,800 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: blow up, lit up moving things, you know, and we 14 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:05,199 Speaker 1: used to have beer for the adults and water and 15 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: juice for the kids and haystacks to sit on and 16 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: it was so amazing. Well, my kiddo, Dakota, who is 17 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 1: now going by Clay but wants me to call them Dakota, 18 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: so I know it's confusing, but just so we know, 19 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: there's only one kid and they are going to be 20 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: eleven in January. Well, they had their first Halloween party 21 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: on the weekend and it was thrilling, I have to say, 22 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,639 Speaker 1: to see them so excited. It was just a couple kids, 23 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: because big crowds don't do so well with their nervous system, 24 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: and so we had a small group. But it fun 25 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: was had by all, I could tell you that, and 26 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: I'm happy to have the distraction of Halloween. Quite honestly, 27 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: it's kind of hard to talk about what's going on 28 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: in the world, and I haven't really been doing tiktoks. 29 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: It's a troubling time for so many PTSD and people 30 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: who like me have very thin membranes in the world, 31 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 1: like things seem to permeate inside me in a manner 32 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: that is debilitating to me. So I feel completely debilitated 33 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: by what's going on in the Mid East. I feel 34 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:32,399 Speaker 1: debilitated by the white male American terrorists who shot up 35 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: two towns in Maine, a bowling alley and Billiard's place, 36 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: killing so many. The speaker of the house, who's a Trumper. 37 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: The problem with having a trumper is that you end 38 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: up with someone like bet and Yahoo running your country, 39 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: and that doesn't serve its people. So I don't know 40 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: what to say. We did this interview a couple days 41 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: ago with my really good friend Charles Bush, who is 42 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: so wonderful. He is just amazing. He's written a memoir 43 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: and he's brought so many people, so much entertainment. He's 44 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:21,119 Speaker 1: how do you explain Charles? You know, Charles is an 45 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: author of an out, laugh, out loud memoir called Leading Lady, 46 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: A Memoir of a most Unusual Boy. And the title 47 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: does not like Charles grew up like the movie and 48 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: the play Mame, the musical Mame. You know, he had 49 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: an anti Mame and her name was lil and she 50 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: went on to adopt him after his mom died when 51 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: he was quite young, and he became a theater writer, 52 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: award winning a playwright, a theater actress, a drag legend, 53 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: way before anyone, including Charles, thought that drag would become legendary, 54 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: and his popular as it is today in our culture. 55 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: Leading Lady is. It's a wonderful book. It's filled with 56 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: big names and Charles drops them eloquently, including mine. There's 57 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: a chapter on our time with boy George creating that 58 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,119 Speaker 1: monster show called Taboo, and it was the best of times, 59 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: it was the worst of times. But I have zero regrets. 60 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 1: I really think everything in your life takes you to 61 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: where you are in this moment, and living in the 62 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: present is the only way to do it. So we're 63 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: going to give you, you know, fifty minutes of very entertaining, intelligent, 64 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: kind loving artist named Charles Bush. Sit back and enjoy 65 00:04:42,760 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: a conversation with Charles Bush. Well, Hello, Charles Bush. It's 66 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: lovely to see you. Even though it's only virtually. 67 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 2: It's better than nothing. 68 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: You're damn right, it's better than nothing. How are you. 69 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 2: I'm doing very well, very well, and I'm so looking 70 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 2: forward to chatting with you. It's been so long. And 71 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 2: Chris hear, I've written this book and there's a big 72 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: chapter about you. I hope you hope you approve. 73 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: I approve. I read it. I was like, that was 74 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: a crazy time. Whatever anybody's experience was, I'm going to 75 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: validate because it was not a great time for me, 76 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: you know, getting sued and leaving my show and not 77 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: really figuring out what was happening there on the set 78 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: of Taboo, you. 79 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: Know, and you were just criticized right and left. 80 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: You just couldn't win, exactly couldn't win. But you know, 81 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 1: when I'm proud of that show. I think you did 82 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: a great job. I think that George wasn't in the 83 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: best shape right then and in his life as a 84 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 1: personal struggles with addiction, and you know, I think we 85 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: had a lot, a lot of things against us. But 86 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: you know that Steven Sonheim said before he died he 87 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: thought it was one of the most underrated musicals of 88 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: his lifetime. 89 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I was, so. You know, I don't know 90 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 2: about you, but I find particularly when something's sick, kind 91 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 2: of fresh disaster, you know, I can't really see anything 92 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 2: good about it right afterwards. You know, Tony Kushner and 93 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 2: Susan Stroman would tell me how much they loved Taboo, 94 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: and I thought, well, they're pretty smart people. I better 95 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 2: you know, you know, reevaluate it. 96 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, without a doubt, you can't, you know, 97 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 1: in the midst of the tragedy, like it feels so 98 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: overwhelming and you think you'll never ever get through it 99 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: and survive it. And I love doing it. I loved 100 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: getting to be a part of it. I didn't fully 101 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: understand what I was getting into. But I'm thankful to 102 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 1: this day that you said yes to me, and I'm 103 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: sorry we didn't go on the concord. 104 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 2: That's how you were seducing me. 105 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: But even that I loved. When you wrote that, I 106 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: thought was maybe I was ifinitely wanted you to do it. 107 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: When I saw it, I thought, this, there's no book here, 108 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,919 Speaker 1: there's no real story, and who would get the humor 109 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: and the pathos and the pathos? I guess that's the 110 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: word I thought of you, because you know, I know 111 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: I've told you this Charles in person, but Tale of 112 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: the Eligius Wife was the funniest thing that I ever 113 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: saw in a theater in my life. I could not believe. Now, 114 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: I've also have to remind you I knew nothing about 115 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: it when I went in. I just knew it was 116 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: Linda Lavin and I went in and I was completely 117 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: blown away. And then I was in my Charles Bush wormhole, 118 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: and I've never left. You're an incredibly talented guy, and 119 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: I'm so happy that our paths crossed and that you 120 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: were generous enough to try to do this impossible thing 121 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: with me. 122 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. At first, you know, I thought it was Kevin 123 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 2: Eddie idea. And then you know, after we spent some 124 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 2: time together. First of all, I was touched by the 125 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 2: It's so rare that somebody goes into a project, like 126 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 2: you did do it. This is such a pure motive 127 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 2: that you really wanted to do something artistic with people 128 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 2: that you respect, and it just and it annoyed me 129 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 2: that after it was over that you weren't given credit 130 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 2: for that. So anyway, yeah, it was. 131 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: It was a very bad time, you know. I think 132 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: that when when somebody makes a big move, like you know, 133 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: to leave that show was hard for some people. People 134 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: were mad, you know, and then I got sued by 135 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: the magazine and it was like a year of bad press, 136 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: maybe even two. And it was just icky. But but 137 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 1: I have fond memories of it, you know. I put 138 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: on the soundtrack the cast album. Yeah, sometimes, yes, And 139 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: I love remembering the auditions. I loved remembering like to 140 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: tell Brooke to go get a little punked out before 141 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: she came back and belted it, you know, like I 142 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: felt like, oh my god, this is Judy and Mickey 143 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 1: and I'm doing it, you know. 144 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. I do remember though, one kind of outrageous thing though, 145 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,959 Speaker 2: with you that when we were having auditions for a 146 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,439 Speaker 2: part of Big Sue. Yes, We're all sitting there behind 147 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 2: the table, you know, the tribunal and Liz McCartney walked 148 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 2: in and she was fantastic, and before anyone else could 149 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:25,199 Speaker 2: say anything, you said, Hey, welcome to Broadway. Dway show exactly. 150 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: Well, I didn't even know. You had to talk to 151 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: the other people. 152 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 2: You know, whispered to the director and said, do we 153 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 2: just cast to leave the show? Yes? Okay. She was great. 154 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 2: I mean she was the best one who auditioned, and. 155 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: That part meant so much to me. That role, you know, 156 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: of kind of the fat friend with the gay guy 157 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: and wanting to be a part of something but not 158 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: knowing how to fit in. And I just felt like 159 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: that was a lot that spoke to me, that part. 160 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: And we had had such trouble in the auditions. I'm like, 161 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: where's the person who's gonna knock this song out of 162 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: the out of the park? And she's sure did didn't she? 163 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 3: Yes? 164 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,839 Speaker 2: And she was pregnant, didn't she stay there? 165 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: Yes? 166 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:06,199 Speaker 2: She about nine months pregnant. 167 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, she was nine months when we opened or something 168 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: like that. Yeah, but fond Memories. I loved your book, 169 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: and I can't believe that it took you twelve years 170 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: to write it, although you were writing plays in between. 171 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I had about four plays in between 172 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 2: so I took a break and I but I just 173 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 2: didn't know really what form it was going to be. 174 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 2: And I would go to the bookstores and look up 175 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: us Leana Dunham. What had she do her book? Oh, 176 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 2: it's all short stories. Oh, maybe it should be that. 177 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 2: And then then I look at somebody else's book and 178 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 2: oh it starts in a chapter one I am born, 179 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 2: or maybe it ought to be that one. But right 180 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 2: right really ended up after all those years, being exactly 181 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 2: where I started out, and I'm very happy with it. 182 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: It's got a strange structure, it's it's mostly chronological, but 183 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 2: then I go off on detours, as we would if 184 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 2: we were telling our story, you know, to friends in 185 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 2: our right right. So it's something like I always A 186 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 2: good example, I guess would be that, you know, I 187 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 2: grew up in New York City and my aunt Lilian, 188 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 2: who's really the leading lady of the title leading Lady, 189 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,080 Speaker 2: yes Yes, started taking me to Broadway shows when I 190 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 2: was about eight, and so in the book, I'll say 191 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 2: that that one of the shows we saw was Hella 192 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 2: Dolly with Carol Channing, which then reminds me of when 193 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,199 Speaker 2: I shared a dressing room with her at a fundraiser 194 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 2: forty years later, So. 195 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: Tell everyone that story, please. 196 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, this is kind of what happens to me, 197 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 2: is you know, I've had this career as a I 198 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,559 Speaker 2: guess a male actress, and maybe it's I don't know 199 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 2: what to call myself, but but that's. 200 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: Perfect a male actress. You won awards for your for 201 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: your acting, and you play a grand damn like no 202 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: one else does. Charles. It's it's almost like you're channeling somebody. 203 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 2: Well, that's a really good way of putting it. It 204 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 2: just kind of comes out of me. And anyways, but consequently, 205 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 2: often I end up being put in in the women's 206 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 2: dressing room and nobody seems to blink. No, no woman 207 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 2: has ever excuse me, why are you in here? You know, 208 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:04,559 Speaker 2: I'm just kind of accepted as one of them. So 209 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: one time it was I think maybe one of the 210 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 2: equity fights aids, things like a Gypsy of the Year 211 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 2: or something like that, or or an Easter Bond competition. 212 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 2: And so my friend Carl and I arrived and we 213 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 2: were sent up to this big communal dressing room and 214 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 2: at the New Amsterdam Theater, and then Mario Cantone is 215 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 2: a friend of all of us are yes, wonderful guy, 216 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 2: and said said, do you know you're in the women's 217 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 2: dressing room. I said, no, I'm not. He goes, yeah, look, 218 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 2: you know I'm downstairs with Brian Stokes, Mitchell and Patrick Stewart. 219 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 2: You're here with Betty Buckley and Audrey mcdonnald. And also 220 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 2: at that point, Carol Channing walks in with her her husband, 221 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 2: Charles Lowe, and they say low to us. Then she 222 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 2: sits down next to me at the dressing table, and 223 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,079 Speaker 2: we're putting on our makeup, and and she's doing this 224 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 2: you know, wild stylized, you know, old time Broadway right, 225 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 2: and we're all just fascinated seeing Carol Channing putting on 226 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 2: her her face. And she I'm putting on my false eyelashes, 227 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,719 Speaker 2: and she says, she says, I can't wear false eyelashes 228 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 2: anymore because I have a permanent eye in fiction. But 229 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 2: so then she starts taking a black eyebrow pens some 230 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 2: just drawing stripes, black stripes on her eyelids. I'm thinking, 231 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 2: I don't think this is going to work, you know, 232 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 2: but we're just wrapped it, fascinated watching her. And when 233 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 2: she finally finished, she just turned and her face was 234 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 2: maybe three inches to mine, and she said, how do 235 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 2: I look? And I pulled back a bit and I said, 236 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 2: you look like her. And that's what I needed to hear, 237 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 2: because that's what we all want, is just I still 238 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 2: turn the trick and I still be who I was. 239 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 2: And she did and then she got it that was 240 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 2: what she needed to hear. She got up and she 241 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 2: could now just hang out with Carol Burnette so wild. 242 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 1: She once came into the dressing room of Grease when 243 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,719 Speaker 1: I was there, and Bobby Pierce was my dresser, and 244 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: he he's a wonderfully talented Tony nominated costume designer. He's 245 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:09,319 Speaker 1: a big guy. We look alike kind of we similar features. 246 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: And so I was in the shower when Carol Channing 247 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: came in to say hello, and Bobby was there talking 248 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 1: and saying yes, uh huh. And I walked out and 249 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: I said, oh, Carol Channing and she said hello, Jarli, 250 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: wasn't Rosie wonderful and pointed to Bobby And I didn't 251 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: know what to do, so I just went with it. 252 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: You know, the thing in your book that I loved is, 253 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: of course your anti mame life. You really do have 254 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: you have lived a life of anti mame, and I've 255 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: always thought of it like that when you've told me 256 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: stories about your aunt, and it's and in the book 257 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: you get to see some of the twists and the 258 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: dark things, Like I was shocked to find out that 259 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: your aunt pitted you against your dad. 260 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, you know, I think with our parents. 261 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: Your mom died when you were ten. 262 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, when when I was seven. Yeah. And the thing is, 263 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 2: I don't I don't think you necessarily have to forgive 264 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 2: apparent everything, but I think if you can try to 265 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 2: understand and put in context to the mistakes they made, 266 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 2: and I'd say, my aunt, really, you know, there was 267 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 2: basically she made every right choice for me. I mean 268 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 2: really it just kind of over everything. But uh, you know, 269 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 2: she was human, and I thought it was important in 270 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 2: the book not just to paint a completely idealized portrait 271 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 2: of her. I don't think she really would have appreciated that. 272 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 2: You know, she was such an honest, honest person, So 273 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 2: I thought, you know, the couple of things that she 274 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 2: you know, did wrong, but out of her own emotions, 275 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 2: you know, she really just hated my father and she 276 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 2: had pretty good reason actually for me, by his irresponsibility 277 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 2: and at one. 278 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: Point, but you felt torn between. 279 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, but it was I don't think you should ever 280 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 2: really try to alienate from another person, and just couldn't 281 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 2: help it. At a certain point, she tries, She really 282 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 2: tried for the first years after my mother died, you know, 283 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 2: even though my father was so irresponsible, she thought it 284 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 2: was important that I had this strong male figure, so 285 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 2: she defended him and all that, and at a certain 286 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 2: points she just couldn't take it anymore. She just couldn't 287 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 2: take it. So suddenly she just dropped this illusion and 288 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 2: my turned my father and says to Kenzie and kind 289 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 2: of villain. And it was kind of hard because he 290 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 2: was so much fun, you know, right, you know, and 291 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 2: he never you know, he never hit us, He was 292 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 2: never drunk. He was you know, my father was just 293 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 2: basically seventeen years old and never you know, never grew 294 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 2: up and fun, affectionate, loved old movies. Yeah, but he 295 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 2: was really just so careless and irresponsible, and I finally, 296 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 2: you know, had to you know, I was so connected 297 00:16:57,920 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 2: with my aunt, who you know was at this point 298 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:04,719 Speaker 2: had adopted me, so I just felt I had basically 299 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:08,159 Speaker 2: had to choose, and that was very hurtful and but 300 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 2: fortunately at the end of my father's life, I was 301 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 2: able to somehow try to heal myself of this coldness 302 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 2: and expressed feel some kind of affection for him, and 303 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 2: you know, and he he just was so completely uncritical. 304 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 2: He'd accepted whatever you threw at him, right, right, So 305 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 2: I had at the end, you know, the last few years. 306 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:34,639 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's important. 307 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 2: I think Maria died, I was able to somehow visit 308 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 2: my father in Florida and you know, just embrace him, 309 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 2: and it was good for both of us. 310 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:44,640 Speaker 4: Yeah. 311 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,679 Speaker 1: I think that when you don't have that, which I 312 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:50,200 Speaker 1: didn't get with my dad, I think it always leaves 313 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,640 Speaker 1: you somewhat longing, you know, I'm sure before he passed, 314 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: but you know, choices we make and where we find 315 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: ourself you never would expect when you were a child. 316 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: I was very Are you surprised to find out that 317 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: as much as she embraced your feminine side, Yeah, she 318 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: was a little flipped out that you were gay. 319 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, that was a surprise because she was just a real, 320 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 2: you know, classic liberal democrat. 321 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:14,439 Speaker 4: You know. 322 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, again, I have to kind of give her a 323 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 2: little bit of slack, and that it was nineteen seventy three, 324 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 2: and you know, gay imagery was still pretty horrible in 325 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 2: the media. And as much as she was a sophisticated 326 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 2: New York or, she really didn't have gay friends. It's 327 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 2: a pity, you know, she would have had a much 328 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 2: less lonely old age, right. You know, if if she 329 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 2: just had had a group of you know, gay guys 330 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 2: who thought she was fabulous, it would have been very 331 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 2: helpful to her. But now, yeah, it was when she 332 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,919 Speaker 2: kind of kind of confronted me in college, it was 333 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 2: sort of obvious what was going on. She said, are 334 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 2: you gay? And I said yeah, and she flipped out. 335 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 2: She just you know, sobbed and was so misinformed. And 336 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 2: you know, but I think in a way she sex 337 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 2: to her was not a big deal, like she right right, 338 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 2: her husband died, you know, she never went on a 339 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 2: date or anything or you know, so I think that 340 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 2: what she couldn't quite get was like, why would you know, 341 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 2: in nineteen seventy three, why would you want to be 342 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 2: you know, gay when you know you're completely shunned by society, Yes, 343 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 2: just because you get you're going to go through all 344 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 2: that just for sex. 345 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 1: Right, right? Yeah, that's a lot of work a lot 346 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 1: to give up. But it's not just the sex as well. 347 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 2: She just didn't understand. Yeah, yeah, you know later of course, 348 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 2: you know, whenever I would, I would bring boyfriends home 349 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,120 Speaker 2: to meet her or whatever she was. Couldn't have been 350 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 2: nicer to them and let one money when he was 351 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 2: in trouble. Really, we just never discussed the romantic or 352 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 2: sexual aspect of the relationship. 353 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's so funny, it's so different. Can you imagine 354 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: that we have lived this long that we have seen 355 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: such a change in the way homosexuality is presented in 356 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 1: mainstream media and in the culture now, which it was 357 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 1: just devoid. We had, like I keep telling people, like 358 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: there were no role models. What I remember first is 359 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: Billy Jean King denying that she was gay and Martina 360 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: denying because I was looking for gay role models and 361 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: I thought I saw them in those women. But then 362 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: you know, at ten, when I was watching TV in 363 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: seventy three, there they were saying that now they had 364 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 1: to At the time, it was terrifying, right, nobody knew 365 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 1: what to do or how to come out. 366 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,400 Speaker 2: And in movies, you know, there are television there were 367 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 2: no role models or anyone you could watch in a 368 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 2: movie that wasn't just like a villain or a killer, right, yeah, yeah, 369 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 2: or a terrible victim. And that's of course what my 370 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,120 Speaker 2: aunt was watching and just thinking, oh, I don't want 371 00:20:59,119 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 2: that for my kid. 372 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 1: Of course. Of course, now I know that you had 373 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: two sisters, right, and you were very close to your 374 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 1: older one. 375 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 2: Well, both my sisters are older. I've once I have 376 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:17,199 Speaker 2: sisters was two and a half years older than I have. 377 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,239 Speaker 2: A sister's ten years older who it's I don't have 378 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 2: a close relationship with. But my I was extraordinarily close 379 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 2: with my middle sister, who just passed away in July. 380 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: And yeah, I was going to say, that must have 381 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: been horrible. 382 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 2: It's very difficult. 383 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:31,359 Speaker 1: I don't know. 384 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 2: I don't think I'll ever get over this one. Yeah. 385 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 2: We were so almost like empaths with each other, really 386 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 2: could feel what the other one was feeling from long distances. 387 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 2: I mean it was you know, I'm not that kind 388 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,439 Speaker 2: of woo person, but right, so many instances where you know, 389 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 2: where I would be walking down the street and suddenly 390 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 2: feel it's kind of like kind of clutch in my heart. 391 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 2: And then later I'd find out that my sister had fainted. 392 00:21:58,119 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, it's wow. 393 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 2: And we never you know, when we became the same age, 394 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 2: basically when I was sixteen and she was nineteen. You know, 395 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 2: we used to fight as kids, you know, but we 396 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 2: became sure age at sixteen and nineteen, and at that 397 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 2: point we never had a single moment of tension between us. 398 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:17,640 Speaker 2: I mean it's odd. 399 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, yeah, it's almost like you were twins, like. 400 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 2: Twin's just not a moment of disagreement, just total just 401 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 2: trying to protect each other, just love and protection. Yeah. 402 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,360 Speaker 2: So I don't know, it's just very difficult. I I 403 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:32,880 Speaker 2: and I just don't know how to how to get 404 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 2: quite over this. I mean, time goes by and you know, 405 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 2: but at the moment, it's still very fresh. And about 406 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 2: five times a day I reached for the phone like, 407 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,120 Speaker 2: oh I got everything, Oh I got I mean, I'm 408 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 2: sure in an hour, I'm gonna say, oh I got 409 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 2: told her about what Rosie just said, you know, right right, 410 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,120 Speaker 2: I understand an afternoon their at one time. 411 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: Yes, I remember, it's so cute, adorable and you guys, 412 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:59,199 Speaker 1: you know, you guys uh really had that tweedl D 413 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,040 Speaker 1: and tweedled kind of finishing each other since. 414 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:03,679 Speaker 2: Well, yes, and we spent so much time growing up 415 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 2: in the bathroom mirror, you know, doing faces and impersonations 416 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,680 Speaker 2: for each other. And you know, my Betty Davis wasn't 417 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 2: nearly as good as Sir James Gagney. 418 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: Your aunt as well has passed away. And that I 419 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: read in the book that I didn't know that you 420 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 1: were very close with Joan Rivers, that you like used 421 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,719 Speaker 1: her as a surrogate mother kind of. 422 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 2: Well, yes, I mean I don't. I hope I don't 423 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 2: give the impression that you know, I was like the 424 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 2: closest thing in her. No, no, I was going to 425 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 2: I always think I was a second tier friend of her. 426 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 1: That's okay. 427 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 2: The second year is very good. Yeah, sat next to 428 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 2: her every year at Thanksgiving. Yeah right, So yeah, I 429 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:49,159 Speaker 2: just adored But I get, you know, throughout my life, 430 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:52,159 Speaker 2: I wonder if this is happens with you, because you know, 431 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 2: since we bonded over the fact that we lost our mother. 432 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,919 Speaker 2: So yes, exactly, just get these big crushes on certain 433 00:23:59,000 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 2: kind of lady. 434 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: So do I. 435 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 2: I'm maternal and smart, and yeah, I just get big crushes. 436 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,639 Speaker 2: And Joan was kind of number one, and you know 437 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 2: with her, I think most of her friends would say 438 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,680 Speaker 2: that you felt so safe that if anything should ever 439 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 2: happen to you, you know, she'd step in and fix it. 440 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I didn't have her on my show. I think 441 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 1: I had her on once. But we got to know 442 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:29,439 Speaker 1: each other at the end by going, you know, to 443 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:31,400 Speaker 1: theater when I was sort of done with my show 444 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: and just in New York, and and so I would 445 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: see her at every opening and every art gallery thing, 446 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: and so then we started talking. And she'd usually be 447 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: with Cindy Adams, who would do nothing but make fun 448 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 1: of my outfit the entire evening. So it was a 449 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: lot of stress. 450 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 3: You know. 451 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: She's like, well, you couldn't find your gardening clothes, Like, okay, 452 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 1: all right, that's a good one. 453 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 2: I kind of like that. In my book, I'd tell 454 00:24:54,280 --> 00:25:02,919 Speaker 2: about how we went to the lgbt H Synagogue. It 455 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 2: was at the Javit Center. Basically there's a cole Ninja's 456 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 2: service and h and so I went with her and 457 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 2: was she's standing up for the entire thing, and uh, 458 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 2: I said, uh, I said. Afterwards, I said, it was 459 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:22,640 Speaker 2: very touching when when that the old, that old lesbian, 460 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,880 Speaker 2: the gray hair you know, was with joined the men 461 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:28,440 Speaker 2: and carried the torah down the aisle. I was very 462 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:30,879 Speaker 2: moved by that, and John said it'd be more moving 463 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 2: if she washed her hair. 464 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:40,119 Speaker 1: Well, you know there are people Kathy's like that. Kathy 465 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 1: Griffin has these wonderful salons, like the old time, you know, 466 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: dames getting together in Hollywood, and she insists that you 467 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 1: wear dress and makeup. 468 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:51,400 Speaker 2: What do you do now? 469 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 1: I did? I wore like some version of a dress, 470 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: but it was a dress. I had tights, but it 471 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 1: was a dress, and and I I went, you know, 472 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 1: with lipstick. That was it. But my gosh, she said 473 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 1: that I was banned for two of them for my 474 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,719 Speaker 1: dress in the in the one before. So you know, 475 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:10,959 Speaker 1: you got to really watch it. With some of these girls, 476 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,440 Speaker 1: they really like the the whole look to be right. 477 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 2: That reminds me of my friend. Kathy basically has custody 478 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 2: of me. You know. She she's done my wigs for 479 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 2: my whole career, and she was around the corner and 480 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 2: so she just takes care of me. And anyway she's 481 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 2: she's gay, and and it doesn't you know, just always 482 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 2: always in pants and everything. And so we were gonna 483 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 2: I think it was for some event and I've been 484 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 2: my book party or something, and uh, I saw, so 485 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 2: what are you gonna wear? 486 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 3: You know? 487 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 2: And and she was like, she's I can't wear a dress. 488 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 2: Last The only time I've wore a dress was when 489 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:53,360 Speaker 2: I borrowed yours. That's true. 490 00:26:54,760 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: War with Charles right after this, now talking about similarities 491 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: between you and I. We both had a heart attack 492 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,119 Speaker 1: and you ignored it just like I did? 493 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 2: Or did you ignore it yet? 494 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 1: I ignored it. 495 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 2: I thought I threw my back out, yeah, chiropractor. 496 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:34,679 Speaker 1: Right, yeah, at least you went somewhere. I stayed home 497 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 1: for three days, going, my arm's really hurt, and everyone going, 498 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 1: you look so pale, and me falling asleep and sweating 499 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: and every single soign you could google I had. But 500 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,920 Speaker 1: I went back to sleep, and you know, the doctor 501 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:49,120 Speaker 1: said you were like ten minutes away from being dead. 502 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: What did you do? Tell everybody what you did when 503 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 1: you thought it was a chiropractic injury. 504 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:57,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I thought, oh, I put my back out, and 505 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 2: once the chiropractor cracked me through places, and and I 506 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:04,680 Speaker 2: told him that this guy, I said, this weird pain 507 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 2: down my arm, and right he does to crack you, 508 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 2: you know. And then months went by and I started 509 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,200 Speaker 2: losing all his weight, and I had the good days 510 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 2: and not so good days. And finally, you know, I 511 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 2: always assume I have cancer too. I stubbed my toe. 512 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 1: It's cancer me too, me too. 513 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 2: Anyway, I finally I called my friend the allergist to 514 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 2: Barry Cone and my plays inspired by and whatever. I 515 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 2: told him. He said, uh uh, he said, a hold, 516 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 2: I'm putting on hold. He called a gas ventrologist at 517 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 2: wild Cornell, who then said he'd see me right away. 518 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 2: And I went there and and this young gas ventrologists said, 519 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 2: you know, so let me just listen to your heart. 520 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 2: And he had there's a weird look on his face. 521 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 2: He said, you know, he said, I think you need 522 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 2: to go to the fourth floor the foe right away cardiology, 523 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,800 Speaker 2: so you have an EKG and and echo or whatever. 524 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 2: And so I went down to the fourth floor and 525 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 2: waiting room was filled up with people. And now I 526 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 2: had just been nominated for a Tony Award, you know, 527 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 2: so I thought, I thought, you know, they put they 528 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 2: rushed me through. I thought it was because I'm a celebrity. 529 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: You know, of course you're well known, well known. 530 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, they thought I was near death right and they 531 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 2: give me the the echo, I mean, the room starts 532 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 2: filling up with people, and I tho, oh God, I 533 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 2: am in trouble. And indeed I'd had aortic aneurysm, which 534 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 2: would kill Jonathan Larson and John Ritter, you know, within 535 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 2: an hour. But I ran around for three months. And 536 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 2: so then they did, you know, the doctors said, you know, 537 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 2: took me in her little room and said you can't 538 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 2: go home. You have to have open heart surgery within 539 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 2: the next forty eight hours and you can't go home. 540 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 2: And this the surgeon was right there, you know, and 541 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 2: the scrubs, and I guess he thought I might get 542 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 2: the hell out of there. And he said, mister Bush, 543 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 2: what you've had kills most people within the hour. You 544 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 2: were lucky ones. You will not be lucky again. That's 545 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 2: I'm with you. I'm coming, I'm go ahead, scrub me 546 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 2: in there, you go, ready to go. And that was 547 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 2: I have to say that. This is that was in 548 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 2: two thousand and one, and it really did divide my 549 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 2: life in half. And in a certain sense, you know, 550 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 2: the feelings I had as a child that were you know, 551 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,239 Speaker 2: have been kind of fragile all of a sudden, kind 552 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 2: of came back in a way as I don't know 553 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 2: if I've ever really been quite. I had the same 554 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 2: arrogance of oh my body, you know, nothing's gonna happen exactly. 555 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 2: Another surgery, uh this last December. Another heart one, Yeah, 556 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 2: do you have this time? The already the ortic valve 557 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 2: is gorgeous, but now the micro valve is a problem. 558 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 2: And it wasn't nearly as dramatic, you know, but but 559 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 2: I had, you know, they cracked me open. And and 560 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 2: it was and I said to the when I met 561 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 2: with the surgeon, it was, uh, the head of my 562 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 2: old doctor, old surgeon, doctor Geordi, is now the head 563 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 2: of the whole you know, cardiac you know surgery. Think 564 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 2: it a wild carnell. And I said, now, doctor Jardy, 565 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 2: I said, in my world of showbiz, it's always best 566 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,680 Speaker 2: from the director of the original picture directs the sequel. 567 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,440 Speaker 2: I will do the next surgery. And then it was 568 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 2: kind of I thought it was a little weird. So 569 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 2: I go in the hospital and then you know, after 570 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:22,080 Speaker 2: I get out of you know, surgery, and I wake up, 571 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:24,840 Speaker 2: you know, the doctors all come in the room and 572 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 2: and doctor Jardy said it it's all went well, we 573 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 2: were able to uh we're able to replace. Were able 574 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:33,920 Speaker 2: to repair the Michel valve. Now replace it. And then 575 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 2: he said, you know, and while I was in there, 576 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:39,080 Speaker 2: I have to tell you my work from two thousand 577 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 2: one really held up. I mean it really looks great. 578 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 2: I'm so happy for you. 579 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:47,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly, and for me. But now do you think 580 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 1: do you spend a lot of time thinking why did 581 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 1: I survive that? 582 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 2: Uh? 583 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 1: No, I do. 584 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 2: I spend a lot time really what is a guilt feeling? 585 00:31:59,360 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 3: Well? 586 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 1: It was days instead of three months for me? But 587 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,000 Speaker 1: you know when I got there, like the doctor was like, 588 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:07,480 Speaker 1: why didn't you come in? You had you know, the 589 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: pain must have been unbelievable. Wow did you not? You know? 590 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:13,880 Speaker 1: And and I really thought about it, and I thought, 591 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:17,480 Speaker 1: you know, it's so weird, Charles. What was going through 592 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:21,160 Speaker 1: my head is what if the ambulance really needs to 593 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 1: go to an accident and I'm just you know, having 594 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: a panic attack. What if, like I kept thinking, I 595 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: wasn't deserving of going to get checked. Isn't that weird? 596 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:33,560 Speaker 2: That's very weird? 597 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:33,960 Speaker 3: All right? 598 00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:36,480 Speaker 1: But then as I did in a research about women's 599 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 1: heart attacks afterwards, I found it's a commonplace that women 600 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: are so kind of subjugated that, you know, men have 601 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: a pain in their chest, they're in the er before 602 00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 1: they you know, finish their coffee. 603 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 2: Right. 604 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: Women have a pain in their chest, they call their friend. 605 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 1: I called Linda Richmond and I said to her, hear 606 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:56,520 Speaker 1: my symptoms. Do you think I'm having a heart attack? 607 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:58,920 Speaker 1: I went to therapy said to my therapist, do you 608 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 1: think I'm having a heart attack? I slept two nights 609 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:06,960 Speaker 1: with full heart attack, with one hundred percent blockage of 610 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:09,640 Speaker 1: my lad And what they told me in the hospital, 611 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:14,280 Speaker 1: Martin Luther King's eldest daughter had the same one that 612 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 1: I had, the widow Maker, and she was dead before 613 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 1: she hit the ground. And they kept saying that to me, 614 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,000 Speaker 1: and I was like, yeah, how did I how did 615 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:26,960 Speaker 1: I do it? And was my mom involved? And yeah, 616 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:30,160 Speaker 1: I don't know, Like I kind of have magical thinking 617 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:31,560 Speaker 1: still when it comes to death. 618 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:34,200 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, And I actually I had a kind of 619 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 2: moment interesting moment when uh in the the first time 620 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 2: in two thousand and one where oh, because when I 621 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:45,560 Speaker 2: got when I got back from the hospital after a week, 622 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 2: I was I was home and I was watching TV 623 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 2: and I had this weird episode where suddenly I'd complete 624 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 2: amnesia of the of what had happened. And I was 625 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 2: home a week and I know I looked down my 626 00:33:57,760 --> 00:33:59,560 Speaker 2: chest and so these bandages and I said, what the 627 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:01,600 Speaker 2: hell is this? I started pulling them off, and my 628 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 2: friend Carl was there and he said, you had heart surgery. 629 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 2: You know, a week could go and or a couple 630 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:12,319 Speaker 2: of weeks ago. Anyway, after about an hour, it all 631 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:13,759 Speaker 2: came back to me. But I went back into the 632 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:16,080 Speaker 2: hospital and I think it turned out as like some 633 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:19,000 Speaker 2: little bit of anesthesias, something floats through your brain or something. 634 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 2: But anyway, when I was in the hospital again to 635 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 2: check see if I had a stroke or something, they 636 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 2: put me in this kind of MRI machine, and I 637 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:31,360 Speaker 2: really did have this very Spielbergian moment all of someone 638 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 2: because we're It's very out of a character for me, 639 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:37,560 Speaker 2: but I did feel like the goats, some of the 640 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 2: spirits of my mother and my aunts were kind of 641 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:44,920 Speaker 2: floating above and I kind of I was so depressed. 642 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:47,160 Speaker 2: I was just in such a low. I said, I 643 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:51,239 Speaker 2: decided to surrender. I just and I did feel this 644 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:54,920 Speaker 2: incredible feeling of love, and you know, I'm just not 645 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:56,359 Speaker 2: that kind of you know, I'm really not that kind 646 00:34:56,400 --> 00:34:59,880 Speaker 2: of person, but I just feel this extraordinary moment. 647 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:03,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, what what do you think happens after we die? 648 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 1: Do you think we linger to? Think our spirits are 649 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: accessible to earthling? Still? 650 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,319 Speaker 2: What do you think I love to I'd love to 651 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:14,560 Speaker 2: feel all this same. I you know, I was raised 652 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:21,480 Speaker 2: no religion at all, absolutely, and yeah, I generally think 653 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:23,439 Speaker 2: nothing happens, but I should like to believe it. 654 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:26,759 Speaker 1: Yeah, me too, I'd like to believe it sometimes I do. 655 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:29,920 Speaker 1: Sometimes I get like carried away in the in the 656 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:34,279 Speaker 1: Magical Mystical. I love the part in the book where 657 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 1: you talked about AIDS and the people you lost and 658 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:40,640 Speaker 1: what it was like living through that must have been 659 00:35:40,719 --> 00:35:41,719 Speaker 1: very hard, that part. 660 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:47,080 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, it really for my generation, it's it's a 661 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:50,279 Speaker 2: bit of our World War two and we kind of 662 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:53,120 Speaker 2: talk about it. I think to younger people about you know, 663 00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 2: those days, and uh, yeah, it's just it was it 664 00:35:57,640 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 2: was odd period because so instance, my career had finally 665 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:05,000 Speaker 2: taken off and and uh and it was like the 666 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:08,319 Speaker 2: best of times, the worst of times. And then in 667 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:10,080 Speaker 2: our our you know, I had my own theater company 668 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:13,560 Speaker 2: for seven years and you know, and we had three 669 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:19,080 Speaker 2: of our you know, our family died so terribly and 670 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:22,400 Speaker 2: you know, we just the memorial service really was our 671 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:27,280 Speaker 2: art form. Yeah, we gave completely Yeah. 672 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:31,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, and and all you know, the lesbians uh taking 673 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:35,200 Speaker 1: care of their sick brothers. Like Laurie always talks about 674 00:36:35,560 --> 00:36:39,240 Speaker 1: making that movie, you know, like where the lesbians were 675 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:41,239 Speaker 1: right on the front line with everyone. You know. 676 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:44,839 Speaker 2: And this is so true because so so often gay 677 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:46,600 Speaker 2: men and gay women have so little to do with 678 00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:47,080 Speaker 2: each other. 679 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:50,320 Speaker 1: And in the olden days, like when we were kids, 680 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 1: but nowadays it's all gender queer fluid, right, everybody's together. 681 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:57,400 Speaker 2: Yeah. Back in the day, it really was so separated 682 00:36:57,400 --> 00:36:59,879 Speaker 2: and rather and both sides were rather critical of each 683 00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:00,960 Speaker 2: other exactly. 684 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:02,920 Speaker 1: I remember that vividly. 685 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:07,600 Speaker 2: Crisis when there's so many instances of gay women coming 686 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:10,640 Speaker 2: I'm getting very choked up talking about it. Yeah, just 687 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:14,040 Speaker 2: gay women coming in and stepping up and a forefriend 688 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:16,879 Speaker 2: of caring for these gay men. 689 00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:19,799 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a story I'd love to be a part 690 00:37:19,840 --> 00:37:23,719 Speaker 1: of telling. Well, Charles, you're delightful. I love you very much. 691 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:26,520 Speaker 1: I always have. You're one of the best playwrights around. 692 00:37:26,560 --> 00:37:30,960 Speaker 1: You're an amazing actor, You're a wonderful person and performer 693 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:34,680 Speaker 1: and friend, and I just want to thank you for 694 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:37,480 Speaker 1: being in my life and for saying yes to my 695 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:42,799 Speaker 1: crazy desire to produce Taboo. And you know your book 696 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:47,839 Speaker 1: leading Lady. Everyone go get it Charles Bush, and you'll 697 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:52,080 Speaker 1: love it. It's a wonderful, wonderful story of a very 698 00:37:52,680 --> 00:37:56,040 Speaker 1: full and interesting life of an artist. And you certainly are. 699 00:37:56,760 --> 00:37:58,480 Speaker 2: Oh, thank you, ro It's so good to see you. 700 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:03,239 Speaker 2: And we have wonderful men memories together. Totally, I've mellowed 701 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 2: and I can really enjoy. I can think, I can 702 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:10,319 Speaker 2: appreciate Taboo, and I can also just yeah, just think 703 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:13,200 Speaker 2: about that extraordinary cast of young people. 704 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:16,319 Speaker 1: Yes they were. There were wonderful moments, and you know 705 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,280 Speaker 1: it was chaos, though, make no mistake. 706 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:21,120 Speaker 2: We survived. 707 00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:22,680 Speaker 1: We survived, damn it. 708 00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:23,399 Speaker 3: Well. 709 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:25,440 Speaker 1: I love you. Take care of yourself, give my love 710 00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:28,600 Speaker 1: to everybody and your MISHBOOKA. I sure will, all right, honey, 711 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:31,880 Speaker 1: take care. We'll be back with questions from you, the 712 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 1: lovely listeners, So don't go away. Charles Bush is really 713 00:38:56,800 --> 00:38:59,799 Speaker 1: a unique individual and I love him so much. I 714 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:03,520 Speaker 1: hope you enjoyed that. Now let's hear from you, the listeners. 715 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:06,400 Speaker 1: I hear we got someone from Long Island. Hit it. 716 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:10,040 Speaker 3: Hi, Rosie, this is Jennifer from Long Island, New York. 717 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:13,759 Speaker 3: I always felt like I connected with you because we're 718 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:17,600 Speaker 3: both from the same area of Long Island. Anyway, I 719 00:39:17,640 --> 00:39:21,160 Speaker 3: really enjoyed watching your show in the nineties. Even though 720 00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:23,400 Speaker 3: I was in college and grad school at the time 721 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:25,920 Speaker 3: and I didn't have a lot of time to watch TV. 722 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:29,920 Speaker 3: I always made sure I taped your show. I'm aging 723 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:34,240 Speaker 3: myself there, but I always made sure I taped your show, 724 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:37,200 Speaker 3: especially when there was a guest that I really liked, 725 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:42,359 Speaker 3: or someone from daytime TV or a Broadway performance. I 726 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:46,560 Speaker 3: loved watching your show then, and I'm really enjoying reconnecting 727 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:52,040 Speaker 3: with you on your podcast with your authenticity. Anyway, I 728 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:56,040 Speaker 3: had a question about the guide dog experience that you've 729 00:39:56,080 --> 00:40:00,120 Speaker 3: been having. I wanted to know more about that. I 730 00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:05,440 Speaker 3: have physical issues myself, so I always think about getting 731 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:08,040 Speaker 3: a guide dog in the future. Right now, I have 732 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:11,080 Speaker 3: a little cat that I don't think would appreciate that 733 00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:16,240 Speaker 3: very much, but my dentist actually has a therapy dog 734 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:20,880 Speaker 3: in the dentist's office, which is the greatest thing ever. 735 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:26,560 Speaker 3: And I just always thought about getting my own guide 736 00:40:26,560 --> 00:40:29,200 Speaker 3: dog or therapy dog in the future. So if you 737 00:40:29,239 --> 00:40:33,200 Speaker 3: could talk more about that experience, that would be great. Anyway, 738 00:40:33,239 --> 00:40:35,080 Speaker 3: Thanks Rosie, hope you have a good day. 739 00:40:35,560 --> 00:40:40,520 Speaker 1: Bye. Thanks Jennifer from Long Island. I'm from Comac Exit 740 00:40:40,640 --> 00:40:43,960 Speaker 1: fifty two. I wonder where you were if you were 741 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:46,440 Speaker 1: ever at the flea market at the Long Island Arena, 742 00:40:46,880 --> 00:40:51,440 Speaker 1: because I was there often buying all my school clothes. Listen. 743 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:54,520 Speaker 1: I'm in the middle of my experience with Guide Dogs 744 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:59,000 Speaker 1: of America. I was actually visiting someone who was in 745 00:40:59,080 --> 00:41:01,880 Speaker 1: prison and I saw the guide dogs. There was like 746 00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:05,120 Speaker 1: a little tour and I saw the guide dogs being 747 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:08,839 Speaker 1: trained by the prisoners, and I started to talk to them, 748 00:41:08,880 --> 00:41:12,719 Speaker 1: and in the group was the man who is the 749 00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:16,399 Speaker 1: president of Guide Dogs of America, a lovely man, and 750 00:41:16,440 --> 00:41:19,040 Speaker 1: we talked for a while and I told him that 751 00:41:19,120 --> 00:41:22,440 Speaker 1: I had an autistic child, and he said, you know 752 00:41:22,560 --> 00:41:27,160 Speaker 1: that we provide dogs for autistic kids for free, and 753 00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:34,880 Speaker 1: I was like what. And they're trained to comfort the child, 754 00:41:35,040 --> 00:41:39,759 Speaker 1: to apply deep pressure when the child is maybe out 755 00:41:39,800 --> 00:41:42,960 Speaker 1: of control or spinning or stimming in a way that's 756 00:41:43,040 --> 00:41:47,720 Speaker 1: dangerous for them. They work with children who Elope, although 757 00:41:47,719 --> 00:41:50,480 Speaker 1: my child does not Elope, which is you know, running 758 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:56,400 Speaker 1: away without understanding the danger. But they do so much 759 00:41:58,640 --> 00:42:02,520 Speaker 1: for autistic kids. They do obviously for people who are blind, 760 00:42:02,560 --> 00:42:07,480 Speaker 1: they do for people who suffer from PTSD, especially veterans. 761 00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:11,399 Speaker 1: I'm not sure what the qualifications or the rules are 762 00:42:12,080 --> 00:42:15,200 Speaker 1: for people who are looking to get one. I only 763 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:20,320 Speaker 1: know for autistic children, and it's a very long application process, 764 00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:23,520 Speaker 1: as you would imagine, it's a long waiting period. We 765 00:42:23,560 --> 00:42:26,080 Speaker 1: don't know yet if we've been approved. We're going to 766 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:29,000 Speaker 1: wait to find out. And you know, they go by need, 767 00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:32,600 Speaker 1: so every child has has different needs, and every kid 768 00:42:32,600 --> 00:42:37,040 Speaker 1: with autism is unique to themselves, and so we'll see. 769 00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:39,439 Speaker 1: We hope that we get one, but even if we don't, 770 00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:43,160 Speaker 1: we're going to continue to support the organization. And they 771 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:47,320 Speaker 1: also have emotional support dogs, which are not as highly 772 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:52,440 Speaker 1: trained obviously as the guide dogs, but Guide Dogs for America. 773 00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:55,440 Speaker 1: Look it up on Google. Good luck to you. I 774 00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:57,680 Speaker 1: wish you all the best, and thanks for listening to 775 00:42:57,680 --> 00:43:01,359 Speaker 1: me when you were in college. Fantastic. We got one 776 00:43:01,440 --> 00:43:05,120 Speaker 1: more from Pennsylvania. I hear hit it. 777 00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:09,879 Speaker 4: Hey ro this is Jen forty one living in Pennsylvania, 778 00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:15,279 Speaker 4: so listen. When I had just turned eleven, my mom 779 00:43:15,480 --> 00:43:19,520 Speaker 4: let my brother, my friend and I go to see 780 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:23,880 Speaker 4: a Leather Own at the discount movie theater Philly called 781 00:43:23,920 --> 00:43:27,560 Speaker 4: the Devin. I had been wanting to see it, but 782 00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:30,480 Speaker 4: she was a single mom, so she was not trying 783 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:33,160 Speaker 4: to pay those regular movie prices. 784 00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:37,160 Speaker 1: She drove us there, dropped us off, picked us up. 785 00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:38,520 Speaker 4: Was the first time we were able to go to 786 00:43:38,560 --> 00:43:42,000 Speaker 4: the movies completely by ourselves, with no adult We thought 787 00:43:42,040 --> 00:43:47,200 Speaker 4: we were so cool, fell in love with the movie. 788 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:52,040 Speaker 4: It was really empowering to me as a young female. 789 00:43:52,719 --> 00:43:55,920 Speaker 4: I felt very seen. Couldn't really figure it out at 790 00:43:55,960 --> 00:43:59,880 Speaker 4: the time, but I now know why. And also I 791 00:43:59,880 --> 00:44:03,480 Speaker 4: was softball player and it just made me feel like, yeah, 792 00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:06,640 Speaker 4: of course women and girls can do anything and everything. 793 00:44:07,480 --> 00:44:09,279 Speaker 4: Why did it take a war for women to be 794 00:44:09,280 --> 00:44:13,719 Speaker 4: able to play? But I got the movie on VHS 795 00:44:13,719 --> 00:44:16,680 Speaker 4: and then on dbd if. I really do know almost 796 00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:21,359 Speaker 4: every word, so been a fan. Obviously watched your show 797 00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:27,919 Speaker 4: because I'm of that age. So my question for you is, 798 00:44:28,120 --> 00:44:30,399 Speaker 4: my wife and I just purchased a home a few 799 00:44:30,440 --> 00:44:32,840 Speaker 4: weeks ago, pretty exciting, and we officially moved in a 800 00:44:32,840 --> 00:44:35,920 Speaker 4: few days. We've been at the new house doing work 801 00:44:35,960 --> 00:44:38,839 Speaker 4: to get it ready. So my question for you is 802 00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:41,640 Speaker 4: what do you like to do when you move into 803 00:44:41,640 --> 00:44:43,719 Speaker 4: a new home to make it your own? 804 00:44:44,560 --> 00:44:46,120 Speaker 1: What are your priorities? 805 00:44:46,280 --> 00:44:47,239 Speaker 2: Is it your bedroom? 806 00:44:47,719 --> 00:44:50,839 Speaker 4: I mean obviously it would be right now like Dakota's room, 807 00:44:50,920 --> 00:44:54,359 Speaker 4: the kids rooms? But is it your art space? And 808 00:44:54,480 --> 00:44:57,520 Speaker 4: also you got a lot of money, so people probably 809 00:44:57,520 --> 00:45:00,319 Speaker 4: do all the things for you. But is is there 810 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:02,719 Speaker 4: anything you like to do for yourself? Do you like 811 00:45:02,800 --> 00:45:08,080 Speaker 4: to peet a room by yourself? I don't know, go 812 00:45:08,120 --> 00:45:11,320 Speaker 4: out and buy some furniture, put it together. So yeah, 813 00:45:11,360 --> 00:45:12,600 Speaker 4: what do you like to do to make a home 814 00:45:12,640 --> 00:45:17,480 Speaker 4: your own? Appreciate you, Rosie, thanks for being so open 815 00:45:18,560 --> 00:45:19,719 Speaker 4: and authentically you. 816 00:45:20,840 --> 00:45:24,440 Speaker 1: Thank you. Jen forty one from Pennsylvania. That's very very sweet. 817 00:45:24,840 --> 00:45:28,120 Speaker 1: Eleven years old. Go into the movies by yourself? I 818 00:45:28,200 --> 00:45:33,439 Speaker 1: remember that, feeling completely and feeling like such a big kid. Right. 819 00:45:33,960 --> 00:45:35,959 Speaker 1: But what do I like to do in a home? 820 00:45:36,040 --> 00:45:38,640 Speaker 1: I like to get it to smell good number one, 821 00:45:39,239 --> 00:45:42,480 Speaker 1: So I like other people schmutz out of it. So 822 00:45:42,560 --> 00:45:46,000 Speaker 1: whether that be sanding and not myself, always people to 823 00:45:46,080 --> 00:45:49,080 Speaker 1: do this for me. Standing and staining the floor is 824 00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:53,239 Speaker 1: a different way, or putting in hardwood floors everywhere, or 825 00:45:53,800 --> 00:45:56,880 Speaker 1: matching make sure the wood matches in the in the house. 826 00:45:57,040 --> 00:46:01,479 Speaker 1: And the smell is so vital, you know. I love 827 00:46:03,040 --> 00:46:08,520 Speaker 1: candles that are really well made, and they smell like 828 00:46:08,680 --> 00:46:13,719 Speaker 1: the fall, and they smell like like you're in a 829 00:46:15,120 --> 00:46:18,560 Speaker 1: safe and warm place. It's definitely the smell. I love 830 00:46:18,719 --> 00:46:22,800 Speaker 1: really nice comforters and blankets. I now have a weighted 831 00:46:22,840 --> 00:46:28,520 Speaker 1: blanket Dakota. We got one for Dakota and they did 832 00:46:28,600 --> 00:46:31,480 Speaker 1: not like it at all, and so it was late 833 00:46:31,520 --> 00:46:33,319 Speaker 1: at night in the bed and I just pulled it 834 00:46:33,400 --> 00:46:36,560 Speaker 1: over on me and now I can't sleep without it. 835 00:46:36,640 --> 00:46:41,839 Speaker 1: But I like nice, nice blankets. And you know, I 836 00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:44,399 Speaker 1: like my house to be clean. My house as a kid, 837 00:46:44,440 --> 00:46:48,040 Speaker 1: you know, motherless, it was not very clean, and I 838 00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:49,799 Speaker 1: like it to be clean. I have people come over 839 00:46:49,880 --> 00:46:53,000 Speaker 1: go how your whole life of having this many kids? 840 00:46:53,000 --> 00:46:55,839 Speaker 1: Can you have white furniture? And first time I ever 841 00:46:55,840 --> 00:46:58,799 Speaker 1: went into somebody's house that was really rich was Madonna's 842 00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:02,440 Speaker 1: in Florida, and she had all white furniture and it 843 00:47:02,480 --> 00:47:05,520 Speaker 1: was gorgeous. And I remember thinking, if I ever get 844 00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:07,799 Speaker 1: rich one day, I'm going to have a house like this. 845 00:47:08,000 --> 00:47:12,920 Speaker 1: So all of my taste in that, I think comes 846 00:47:12,960 --> 00:47:17,640 Speaker 1: from seeing a real live house like that looked like 847 00:47:17,680 --> 00:47:21,000 Speaker 1: a magazine, and figuring out as I got older and 848 00:47:21,960 --> 00:47:24,560 Speaker 1: more successful, that I could in fact have that. And 849 00:47:24,600 --> 00:47:27,840 Speaker 1: so I like to create that for my family, for 850 00:47:27,960 --> 00:47:31,120 Speaker 1: my children, for myself, thank you, Jenna. And during my 851 00:47:31,200 --> 00:47:34,080 Speaker 1: free time, I like to do art and craft, and 852 00:47:34,719 --> 00:47:38,080 Speaker 1: so this wonderful room here where I do my podcast 853 00:47:38,239 --> 00:47:40,759 Speaker 1: is also going to become the craft room. That's what 854 00:47:40,800 --> 00:47:43,960 Speaker 1: I've decided. Hey, listen, if you want to leave a comment, 855 00:47:44,120 --> 00:47:46,880 Speaker 1: send a voice memo, record it and send it to 856 00:47:47,000 --> 00:47:50,520 Speaker 1: Onward Rosie at gmail dot com. We look forward to 857 00:47:50,600 --> 00:47:53,919 Speaker 1: your thoughts and questions and comments, and next week join 858 00:47:54,000 --> 00:48:00,280 Speaker 1: me with award winning director, screenwriter, and groundbreaking filmmaker Cheryldny. 859 00:48:00,840 --> 00:48:03,800 Speaker 1: Like many artists, Cheryl could not find within the existing 860 00:48:03,920 --> 00:48:07,920 Speaker 1: framework anywhere that she was represented. So she made a 861 00:48:07,960 --> 00:48:11,560 Speaker 1: new path that was so necessary, not only for herself 862 00:48:11,640 --> 00:48:15,440 Speaker 1: but for so many others. She's a groundbreaking independent filmmaker, 863 00:48:15,960 --> 00:48:22,040 Speaker 1: and she's African American, she's gay, she's smart, she's brilliant, 864 00:48:22,280 --> 00:48:24,759 Speaker 1: and I loved talking to her. So look for that. 865 00:48:25,400 --> 00:48:29,560 Speaker 1: Till then, everyone, do your best, keep your heart bubble wrapped. 866 00:48:29,600 --> 00:48:32,520 Speaker 1: Please onward people, Onward