Top News Online
Shhhh, Babs. Please.
Barbara Walters hit a screening of “Hunger Games: Catching Fire” on Wednesday and spent most of the movie acting out of order — screaming orders at her minions and being a chatterbox, sources complain to Confidenti@l.
The soon-to-be-retired Walters, 84, had four, yes four, assistants on hand to talk her through the very intricate plot of the second installment of the hit franchise. And also, of course, to wipe her spectacles as well.
“She was so rude and entitled,” reports our spy. “She was there with, like, four lackeys who completely bowed to her. Having someone there to clean your glasses is nuts. During the movie she talked through the entire thing with one assistant.”
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Barbara Walters wouldn’t keep quiet at a ‘Hunger Games’ screening, say insiders.
We are told “The View” host rolled into the screening at Magno Screening Room in midtown and was so confused by the high-energy adventure flick starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson that she asked more questions than she does on “The View.”
“Every time someone came onscreen, she’d say out loud, ‘Who’s that?’ Then an assistant would fill her in,” says our source. “She even asked, ‘Is that Jennifer Lawrence?,’ which is weird considering she was probably watching the movie in preparation for an interview.”
PHOTOS: JENNIFER LAWRENCE CHOPS HER LOCKS: STARS WHO’VE GOTTEN PIXIE HAIRCUTS
As for the plot of the hit trilogy installment, Babs just couldn’t keep it straight.
“She couldn’t understand any of the plot twists and would ask ‘What’s going on?’ every five seconds. It was crazy. Even when characters reappeared on screen after having shown up 20 minutes earlier, she’d be like, ‘Who’s that?’ ”
Walters announced in May that she would retire in the summer of 2014 after nearly 40 years at ABC. It’s unclear who will take on a bigger role at “The View” when she departs, but it is unlikely to be Whoopi Goldberg. Confidenti@l first reported in July that Babs’ fellow “View” host had complained loudly after clashing with the chief during a tense segment on the royal baby.
“I can’t handle it anymore. I can’t wait till she retires. I’m tired of her cutting me off,” Goldberg shouted behind the scenes at the show.
Katie Couric is another possible Walters replacement, especially since Couric’s talk show “Katie” is in trouble. We hear ABC honchos believe the timing is perfect for a switcheroo — as soon as Walters decides to go, Couric could seamlessly step in, with the network making it look like Walters had appointed her own successor.
A rep for Walters didn’t get back to us.
JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images
Peter Hermann, above with wife Mariska Hargitay and their kids at her Walk of Fame event last week, says he had her support in playing a gay character.
LABOR OF LOVE
He’s a class actor. Mariska Hargitay’s handsome hubby Peter Hermann plays a gay man in the film “Philomena” — and he tells Confidenti@l he had no problem embracing his character’s sexuality because “love is love.”
“It felt good to … bring love to the screen,” he said at the Weinstein Co. premiere of the film at the Paris Theatre Tuesday.
Hermann gushed that Hargitay was very supportive of his choice to play the role. “I don’t think anything could endear me to Mariska more,” he said.
The actor added that his wife is comfortable with him getting lots of attention from gay movie fans. “Thank you for the title of heartthrob. That’s all I’ll say,” he said.
At the film’s after-party, sponsored by Qui Tequila at nightlife legend David Rabin’s new rooftop bar the Skylark in the Garment District, uber-producer Harvey Weinstein held court. “He stayed for quite a while. He must like the view,” said our spywitness.
Kevin Winter/Getty
Barry Manilow’s musical ‘Harmony’ is headed to New York.
IN ‘HARMONY’ WITH BARRY
Barry Manilow’s new hit musical, “Harmony,” written with his songwriting and composing partner Bruce Sussman, will be coming to New York. Shayne Kennon, the breakout star of the production, will be performing a number from the show at a gala fund-raiser for the New York Theatre Barn in Chelsea on Thursday night. After a hit run in Atlanta, the show, which critics called “a glorious work of art,” now heads to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.
BEAUTY FOR THE AGES
Jet-setting socialite Eleanora Kennedy has rubbed shoulders with hundreds of gorgeous women in her life. But it may come as a surprise whom she considers the most beautiful woman she’s ever met. “Candice Bergen,” Kennedy told us at the Peggy Siegal screening of Paolo Sorrentino’s film “The Great Beauty” at the Bryant Park hotel Tuesday. “We were young women growing up in the early ’70s,” said Kennedy. “Both of our guys were very close friends. She had the most translucent, beautiful face.”
Bar Refaeli is looking pretty good, of course, after having a stomach mole removed.
THIS BAR YOU CAN STOMACH
Bar Refaeli is safe and sound after minor surgery. The stunning supermodel had a tiny mole removed from her stomach and shared a post-op Instagram picture with the caption, “Goodbye beauty mark.” In case you were wondering, Refaeli even looks good posing on a medical table in a fitting tank top and blue patterned shorts. She was back to her bikini bod right after, posting another picture of herself on the beach with a Band-Aid over her boo boo.
PHOTOS: BAR REFAELI SHOWS OFF MOLE FREE BIKINI BODY: CELEBRITY TWITTER PICS
Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Tyra Banks (l.) and Rosario Dawson at the Lower East Side Girls Club grand opening gala.
DAWSON’S PEEK
Rosario Dawson was a class act at grand reopening of the Lower East Side Girls Club. Dawson, on the board of directors at the club, arrived, posed for pictures and then brushed past security to escort press on a personal tour of the 30,000-square-foot space, complete with a planetarium, custom kitchen and recording studio. “I’m going to have my office here on the second floor, where the social justice and social media space is,” she told us. Also there were Tyra Banks, Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler.
POWER DINING
Mayor Bloomberg and first girlfriend Diana Taylor enjoyed a date night at Bistro Le Steak on the Upper East Side this week — along with a few hulking security guards. “A woman with a notebook approached the mayor and complimented him on the good job he is doing,” a spy tells us. The power couple dined for a few hours, staying in the eatery until 11 p.m.
OUTSTANDING WENTWORTH
Out Magazine “Newsmaker of the Year” Wentworth Miller is among the cover stars of the magazine’s annual “100” issue. Miller made headlines in August after he penned a moving letter declining an invite to be honored at the St. Petersburg International Film Festival due to Russia’s stance on gay rights and coming out. Also on the cover are “Artist of the Year” Lee Daniels, “Entertainer of the Year” Jim Parsons and “Lifetime Achievement” honoree Edie Windsor. Out will celebrate its 100 honorees at an event Thursday at Terminal 5.
PHOTOS: WENTWORTH MILLER COMES OUT AS GAY: CELEBRITIES WHO COME OUT
NOT EXPECTING PERFECTION
Drew Barrymore has a healthy post-baby-body image. “You’re not supposed to look perfect while you’re making babies,” she tells Allure magazine. “Making babies is the perfection. It’s about feeling good in clothes and knowing you can get dressed up in the evening, work it for a minute, and maybe get back in a certain pair of jeans. But there’s just no such thing as perfection. So if you’re trying to get there, you’re just torturing yourself.”
ANCHOR MANAGEMENT
As Ron Burgundy says, “I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly.” And alcohol is only one of the items on display at the Newseum’s new “Anchorman: The Exhibit” show in Washington, D.C. Life-size cutouts of Will Ferrell’s hilariously narcissistic character loom large, along with some of the goofiest quotes from the film. “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” premieres in theaters on Dec. 20.
TALL TALES
Ours is bigger than yours! Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson tweeted this picture of himself wearing a Yankees hat as he did a victory lap at Chicago’s Willis Building Tuesday — now officially the nation’s second-tallest building behind 1 World Trade Center. “Great day to visit U.S.’s 2nd tallest building. You can see a long way from top of Willis building — but not far enough,” Wolfson gloated.
Luca Chelsea/Splash News
Mariah Carey on her way to Jimmy Fallon’s show
JUST HANGING OUT
Mimi has landed. On her way to tape “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” on Tuesday, Mariah Carey makes a graceful exit from a limousine despite wearing very little. The 43-year-old posted an image of her outfit on Instagram, showing her ample cleavage on display, complete with black mesh gloves and a snakeskin trench coat.
Sara Jaye Weiss
Piperlime guest editor Olivia Palermo Visits the SoHo store and tries on a Tibi dress over a Rebecca Taylor blouse.
IN FASHION DOWNTOWN
Piperlime guest editor Olivia Palermo looks stunning visiting the SoHo store to choose some of her favorite dresses of the season.
