Gandolfini ‘never turned me down’
James Gandolfini “never said no” to a friend, according to cast mate Steve Schirripa.
“I didn’t ask him for much, but he never turned me down,” said Schirripa, the former Riviera hotel entertainment director-turned actor.
A year ago, Schirripa sent “The Sopranos” star a script with a request to consider a part in Schirripa’s small-budget film, “Nicky Deuce.”
“It was a completely different role than he normally plays,” Schirripa said. “He read it and said, ‘I’ll do it.’ He was in the middle of doing a movie in Los Angeles. He changed things around and flew out for one day. Flew all night, came in and worked and went back the next day.”
Gandolfini, 51, died June 20 in Rome. His funeral was Thursday in New York’s Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.
Gandolfini’s huge cash gifts to his inner circle were legendary. I asked Schirripa whether he had a keepsake from Gandolfini that would rank among his most prized possessions.
“He gave all of us – cast, crew, drivers — a watch when the series ended. He spent an enormous amount of money.”
Engraved on the watch, said Schirripa, was “Sopranos 1999-2007 R.I.P.”
HOT NIGHT FOR OSCAR
Former Mayor Oscar Goodman faces a grilling on July 23 at The Showbiz Roast at the Stratosphere showroom.
A dozen trash talkers will take their whacks at the former mob attorney and three-term mayor. He turns 73 on July 26.
Tropicana comedy headliner Murray Sawchuck will serve as roast master, with Harrah’s comedy magician Mac King, Rick Dale of “Rick’s Restorations” and yours truly among the early wave of announced roasters.
It will be the second of a series of comedy roasts produced by Andy Walmsley. He had Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie on the hot seat in April.
Proceeds of the nonprofit event will be going to Goodman’s charity of choice, The Miracle League of Las Vegas.
Tickets are $30 and $40. They go on sale next week at the Stratosphere box office or website. A one-hour party will precede the 11 p.m. roast.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Baseball-crazed Jaden Agassi, 11, has to be on cloud nine this week. Back in April, he and his father, tennis icon Andre Agassi, attended a UCLA camp. Andre tweeted a photo of himself with the coaching staff and added, “Jaden had a blast.” The Bruins won their first NCAA baseball title this week by winning their last 11 games, including 10 in the College World Series at Omaha. ... Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, performing tonight and Saturday at The Mirage, sees major differences between his race issue and Paula Deen’s. “Mine was on live television,” he said, “and all my black friends defended me.” Deen’s world began unraveling two weeks ago after her admission surfaced in a deposition that she admitted using a racial epithet in the past. The revelation came up in a discrimination lawsuit. Bradshaw came under fire last November after a comment that suggested he said Dolphins running back Reggie Bush “was chasing that bucket of chicken that the wind was blowing the other day.” Bradshaw said the reference was an inside joke regarding fellow Fox analyst Jimmy Johnson’s habit of eating fried chicken on Sunday. “I thought I was fired,” Bradshaw said. “I would never make that slip.”
THE PUNCH LINE
“George Orwell predicted a lot of things that came true, like surveillance, endless wars, and the hypocrisy of the state. Then again, he also predicted Liberace would someday find the right girl.” — Craig Ferguson
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke. “Norm Clarke’s Vegas,” airs Thursdays on the “Morning Blend” on KTNV-TV, Channel 13.
