Michael Richards will have trouble keeping his career alive, a fellow comedian says.
Michael Richards' high-haired character Cosmo Kramer in "Seinfeld" wanted his tombstone to read: "Man's Best Friend."
Keeping his career alive isn't going to be easy for Richards after last week's racist rants on stage, fellow comedian George Wallace contends.
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"He's never going to be able to apologize enough," the Flamingo headliner said.
"It doesn't matter how good you are. You can't go there, you can't cross that line. That's as low as you can go," Wallace said.
More than a dozen calls from comedians started pouring in on Saturday, Wallace said, and one of the first ones came from Jerry Seinfeld.
"We had a discussion immediately that Michael should get on TV immediately and apologize," said Wallace, who roomed with Seinfeld for 13 years during their early comedy careers.
Wallace said he has known Richards for 25 years, but not as a good friend.
Richards needs help, Wallace said, "and we hope he gets better ... Betty Ford Center, whatever it takes."
Stand-up comedy is "the hardest job in the business."
Wallace said Richards might not have been prepared for the heckling that set him off Friday at Hollywood's Laugh Factory.
During his early years, Wallace said, "we used to practice heckling. We'd heckle each other to get good: Jimmy Walker, Elaine Boosler, Tom Dreesen, Jay Leno, Larry Miller.
"We wanted to know how to handle hecklers. They were a part of my act."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
A celebration of Ruth Brown's life will be held Dec. 17 at the First Church of Religious Science, 1420 E. Harmon. Many of her entertainment friends will be participating, including Marlena Shaw, Clint Holmes, Bill Fayne, Freddie Eckstine, Vinnie Falcone, Martha Jordan and Sonny Turner. Brown's family said the public is invited. The rhythm-and-blues legend, who died Friday at age 78, will be interred Tuesday in her hometown of Portsmouth, Va. ...
Kevin Federline's turkey of a rap CD isn't likely to be received warmly Friday at Tao, in the Venetian. Based on the booing he has been getting on his promotional tour, it could be a rough crowd. It didn't help that his bodyguard shoved a camera in the face of a female photographer on one of his most recent trips to Tao, and his ex-wife-to-be seems to be winning the sympathy vote after filing for divorce.
SIGHTINGS
Prince, in the audience Tuesday at Wallace's show. ... Funny man Wayne Brady and Alfonso Ribeiro of "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," racing Wednesday at Fast Lap Indoor Kart Racing. ... Playboy model Cindy Margolis, in a silver dress and flashing her Playboy bunny necklace Tuesday night at Pure, in Caesars Palace. ... Jack Osbourne's 21st birthday celebration at Stack, in The Mirage, included a birthday cake with a Thailand theme. That's because Osbourne, a former partyer who took after his famous father, Ozzy, says he found his spiritual side during rehab in Thailand two years ago. A slimmed-down Osbourne, who has been sober since, was seen drinking water all night at Jet, in The Mirage, while hanging with his pals. ... Las Vegas attorney Marissa Geffen will appear on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on KTNV, Channel 13. ... Chris Rock, back to see Prince for a second night in a row Saturday at the Rio, without his wife, Malaak. Rock, whose next movie is titled "I Think I Love My Wife," reportedly was preparing to file for divorce earlier this month, but there were rumblings of a reconciliation.
THE PUNCH LINE
"I didn't know Armani made extra-small tuxedos." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Things Overheard at Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding
