Monday, December 02, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

COLUMN: NORM!

Big spender Affleck makes big impression on fiancee's family

Ben Affleck went shopping on Thanksgiving Day with fiancee Jennifer Lopez, her mother and grandmother and spent about $500,000. FILE PHOTO

Ben Affleck must have had another big night at the gaming tables.

My spies tell me Affleck, in town for the Thanksgiving holiday with fiancee Jennifer Lopez, her mother and grandmother, spent about $500,000 during a shopping binge that included a $150,000 luxury car for his future mother-in-law.

When Affleck bought two new Mercedes-Benz models at Fletcher Jones Imports on Friday, he peeled off about $200,000 in fresh bills.

He spent three hours on Thanksgiving Day -- "spent" being the operative word -- picking up much of the tab when he and J.Lo led family and friends into the Gucci, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana stores at the Forum Shops at Caesars. Solidifying his reputation for generosity, he reportedly tipped the valet $200 and Forum security $300.

Lopez is exploring the possibility of opening a restaurant at the Hard Rock. Her Los Angeles restaurant, Madre's, has been a big hit.

A true survivor

Sole surviving Rat Pack member Joey Bishop has this thing about anyone profiting from his fame.

He lambasted George Clooney and Jerry Weintraub for producing the "Ocean's 11" remake and had an even icier response for a would-be biographer.

New York Post TV columnist Michael Starr invited Bishop to offer any input as he prepared to write "Mouse in the Rat Pack: The Joey Bishop Story (Taylor Trade Publishing)."

"What do you (Italicize you) know about me (italicize me)?" said Bishop, in a terse voice mail message to Starr.

Too bad, because Bishop, the Jerry Seinfeld of his era, should appreciate Starr's new book, which offers a fair portrayal of an often-difficult man known as the "Frown Prince of Comedy."

Starr details how Bishop became part of the ultimate "in" crowd -- the Rat Pack -- and an outcast after angering Ol' Blue Eyes. Frank Sinatra was preparing to shoot the gangster comedy "Robin and the Seven Hoods" in the fall of 1963. Bishop had signed a contract for $75,000 to appear in what was to be the last of the Rat Pack films.

Then, Bishop was suddenly banished from the film and, more importantly, from Sinatra's inner circle.

Sinatra had asked Bishop to fill in for a weekend at the Cal-Neva Lodge, partly owned by Sinatra. According to insiders, Bishop made one too many demands: Frank's personal plane to fly him to Lake Tahoe, comps for his entourage and more money.

He was persona non grata for more than a year, but Sinatra forgave him, because no one cracked him up more than the ad-libbing Bishop.

The icebreaker came in May 1964, when Sinatra almost drowned in a strong undertow off Kauai while shooting "None But the Brave." Bishop sent a telegram to Sinatra: "I thought you could walk on water." With that, Bishop was back in Frank's good graces.

Fans of Bishop's humor won't be disappointed. Take this exchange with Dean Martin during a Rat Pack gig at The Sands in 1961:

Bishop: "Don't light any flames near you, Dean."

Martin: "I drank so much last night my hair hurt."

Bishop: "I didn't know you had a rabbit."

When Mike Douglas moved his long-running TV talk show out of Philadelphia, Bishop's hometown, and took some parting shots at the locals, Bishop took umbrage.

"Mike is about as sincere as Zsa Zsa Gabor yelling 'ouch' on her wedding night."

The Scene and Heard

Steve Schirripa, whose acting career has exploded since his ongoing role in "The Sopranos," may be branching out to stand-up comedy. He told the New York Post that's being discussed, thanks to the success of his book, "A Goomba's Guide to Life."

Sightings

At Rain nightclub (Palms) over the weekend: NBA great Julius Erving, Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas and actors Damon Wayans and Wilmer Valderrama, who plays Fez on "That '70s Show." ... New York Yankees star Jason Giambi, with pals, at Bikinis (Rio) on Saturday night. ... Mike ("Austin Powers") Myers, attending "O" (Bellagio) on Saturday.

The Punch Line

"In a span of eight days, two different cars crashed into The Skillet Café. Sensing a marketing opportunity, the restaurant is now offering a Grand Slam Breakfast."

-- Ira David Sternberg, publicist/humorist.

Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can reach him at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.