0

“KATIE THE WONDER DOG”–Makes Its Debut On YouTube Today!

Posted April 16th, 2010 in Katie, Reflections by Glenn Plaskin
Katie in Her Favorite Chair

Katie in Her Favorite Chair

Ever had a long conversation with your dog? Better than any therapist, and often more sympathetic than a mate, Katie, the star of my upcoming book, was always ready to listen, her huge brown eyes flecked with gold, focused and alert. Over a period of fifteen years, I confided pretty much all my feelings to her, all the ups and downs of life.

Katie in Pink

Katie in Pink

But our communication wasn’t only in one direction, for Katie was an empathetic, curious dog, socially outgoing and astutely intelligent. Right from the start, I got into the habit of having conversations with her, eye to eye, and I could tell that she clearly understood the gist of what I said:

“Now, listen up, child,” I told her when she was young. “You’re a good little dog, you are, but you have to learn your manners. No biting, no scratching your nails on the furniture, no getting up on the white couch, and no accidents. And if you’re good, you’ll get a cookie or a nice piece of chicken.” Her ears immediately pricked up at these key words.

Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this story »

0

The Verdict On Judge Judy: Funny & Fierce, She Reigns Supreme

Posted April 16th, 2010 in Celebrity, Katie, Reflections by Glenn Plaskin
Judge Judy

Judge Judy

Even in the company of the great Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Reagan, and Carol Burnett, one of my favorite interview subjects of all time is the incomparable Judge Judy, the charismatic powerhouse who reigns over the highest-rated court session on TV, with more than ten million viewers tuning in daily.

Amazingly, she’s been #1 for the last 700 weeks! Beyond ratings, nobody can surpass Judy’s astute judgments, spicy humor, supersonic mind, and no-nonsense attitude.

And best of all, fear is not in her vocabulary—as she says the things we all want to.

“LOOK at me, Madam!” shouts the Queen of small-screen Justice to an evasive witness.

“Does it say ‘stupid,’ here?” she inquires, pointing briskly to her forehead.

“They don’t pay me because I’m beautiful,” she mugs sweetly to the cameras. “I’m real SMART, so watch it!”

Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this story »

0

The Youngest Woman I Know: The Resplendent Liz Smith

Posted April 16th, 2010 in Celebrity, Katie, Reflections by Glenn Plaskin
Liz Smith

Liz Smith

Just a few weeks ago, at the celebrity Manhattan hot spot Michael’s, there she was, the unstoppable Liz Smith, ebullient as ever as she hosted a reception for her championed charity, Literary Partners. This is a fantastic not-for-profit devoted to bringing the gift of reading to thousands of adults who need a helping hand. Also there was the great novelist, Barbara Taylor Bradford, one of the charity’s most devoted supporters, a ‘woman of substance’ with a generous giving spirit.

Liz Smith

Liz Smith

That night, as I observed Liz Smith, I couldn’t help but notice how absolutely young she is–in her thinking, appearance, and energy level. While she jokingly refers to herself as “the 2000-year-old gossip columnist,” she’s a mere 87, though she looks decades younger.

And while many her age are physically ailing, marooned in retirement homes, or at best golfing or playing cards, this peripatetic wonder remains fully engaged, not missing a cultural event or party in NY while reigning over her syndicated newspaper column and penning her daily wowowow.com column too.

Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this story »

0

Proximity – The Messenger of Fate – A Brilliant Lesson From Tony Robbins

Posted April 16th, 2010 in Celebrity, Katie, Reflections by Glenn Plaskin
Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins

I sometimes wonder why things unfold in life exactly as they do. Can what happens to us be controlled and planned, or is much of it mere accident, fate, destiny–or perhaps another greater force at work as well?

The brilliant peak performance coach and bestselling author Tony Robbins, who has worked with three million people in 80 countries (including heads of state, professional athletes, and corporate executives)–has much to say on our collective Date With Destiny, the title of one of his most captivating seminars, offered a few times each year in exotic locales such as this April in Bali.

In my own life, especially with Katie Up and Down The Hall being soon published, I often reflect on why I became so intensely close to my neighbors down the hall.

Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this story »