When your mother is Diana Ross and your father’s Motown Records founder Berry Gordy — be talented or shut up.
Rhonda Ross: “Superstar parents were a blessing. But challenging. Carving out my own authenticity in the midst of their huge footprint is work.”
She sings and writes songs. She’s a mom too. Homeschools her son, who is fluent in four languages. Sold real estate. And was on a soap. “My mother said my dreams will make room for me. My father said to keep an eye on the bottom line … between both, I’ll survive.”
And thrive. She’s at Harlem’s National Black Theatre at 7 Tuesday for “In Case You Didn’t Know: A Conversation with Rhonda Ross.”
I’m not thanking the Academy
Oscars. Zellweger, Brad, Laura Dern won. Nice. But Netflix, Spielberg, etc., screeching how films should be judged — and our best was the Korean movie??! Also, a pittance from Pitt, who now has two Oscars. One for producing, one for acting. He never saw “The Sound of Music.” Not even “Gone With the Wind.” Must be, like Clark Gable, he never gave a damn.
And stop writing lines for artists who can’t do comedy. They’re actors, not comedians. Their craft is specific. I once auditioned for a play, and not only did they not want me in the company, they didn’t even want me in the audience.
Also, the pre-show red carpet thing is puerile. The chat, infantile. The questions, kindergarten. And a male dressed like Cleopatra was not terrific. He lacked only a garter belt.
Kathy Bates was up for Best Supporting. She was in the film “Richard Jewell,” which brought back the true story that was encapsulated in Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic Park bombing. It dealt with a real hero who somehow was made out to be a villain. Heavyset, slow-witted security guard Jewell, always wanting to be a cop, saved lives, but the story of his heroism twisted. His life spiraled, job canceled, and he went downhill.
The actual bomber later confessed. Too late. Jewell had passed on. What also got passed on were defamation lawsuits. An Atlanta paper hired Martin Singer, the lawyer who temporarily represented Bill Cosby, to bring suit against director Clint Eastwood. Singer’s office informs me that there is no activity now on that front.
Finest pies
The Belmont Business Improvement District donated 10 pizzas from Half Moon pizzeria. The Bronx’s 41st Precinct is where a pair of NYC police officers were ambushed in assassination attempts. BID Chairman Peter Madonia: “Unlike those who protest additional police protection, Little Italy supports NY’s finest.”
Books we can lose
Notice how many who’ve lapped from the political trough spit out a book. Some never worked a real job before, but all love peeling skin off another’s behind. Trust mother, many sons of the canine variety have their own backstories they don’t want publicized.
John Bolton? His walrus mustache advertises his ego. Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury”? Ex press secretary Sean Spicer’s thing? Something by Howard Kurtz? Hillary, who scratches out best sellers seasonally? Obama’s wife, who once couldn’t rub two orlon sweaters together, sells more books than Dickens. The cherry-picked memories of some of these writers run longer than their careers.
Love feast
Hunting for a place for Valentine’s Day? Try Nomad’s Blackbarn Restaurant. Across the street from Madison Square Park. They guarantee “passionate” artisanal recipes. Just trying to help you.
Speaking of Valentine’s Day, there was this semi-romantic evening. After which, the ladyfriend said to her romantee: “Oh, please, for this you told me you had to shave?”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.