June 23, 2000

With straight face, Trump deems Maria's move 'tacky'

By ROGER ANDERSON Scripps Howard News Service

RING TALE: Marla Maples Trump has decided to auction off the wedding ring her ex-husband, Donald Trump, gave her after he ditched his first wife in order to become married to Marla for about 20 or 30 minutes.

It seems pretty tacky to me," Donald says in response to the news. "It's really ridiculous."

But Joseph DuMouchelle, the auctioneer whom Marla has enlisted to do the honors, has a completely different take on the matter, according to the New York Post.

"It's a gorgeous piece and was made by Harry Winston," he observes. "Mr. Trump has very good taste - not only in jewelry, but also in his companions."

Obviously, Mr. DuMouchelle is a born diplomat. But why is Marla fixing to flog the darn thing in the first place?

"I don't know why," says our pal Joey. "She really hasn't said why. But people who sell these types of items usually feel that time has passed and it is the right time to do so." And maybe she's got a yen to wrap a big wad of money around her finger instead of a ring.

TEMPERAMENTAL CELEBS: Ex-"Saturday Night Live" funnyman Dana Carvey has rather insensitively hired lawyers to take a poor medical practitioner to court. And why? Merely because the sawbones in question went to perform a double bypass on him and allegedly did a number on the wrong artery, like that’s some kind of big deal.

NOT FADE AWAY: Despite the fact that Barbra Strelsand's MGM Grand Hotel engagement in Las Vegas at New Year's failed to transform the universe as expected, it's being said that several top promoters are now vying with each other in hopes of nailing her down for her very last performance, in case she has better things to do with her time. Barbra's spokesman, one Dick Gutman, admits as much, but only up to a point.

"There are many venues that are seeking to host Barbra's final show," Dick tells the New York Daily News. "But as of now, there are no contracts for her to have any further performances."

MORE OBTUSENESS: While were waiting for Barbra to figure out what she wants to do, let's check out rumors that this thing where Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie went and got themselves hitched has left some messiness in its wake, especially as regards Billy Bob's former live-in girlfriend, Laura Dern.

Billy Bob's "rep," Michelle Bega, will only say that these are "private matters," which is a clear violation of the First Amendment.

NEWSWOMEN IN THE NEWS: In case you're not convinced that Barbara Walters' current salary negotiations with ABC are serious, get a load of this: Barbara recently got together and had lunch with ABC top kick Bob Iger at the Four Seasons in Manhattan, and if that isn't serious then the meaning of the word eludes us.

NEWSWOMEN IN THE NEWS, CONTINUED: Then there's the truly burning question: Who is going to replace Kathie Lee Gifford on "Live with Regis & Kathie Lee"?

Here's a report saying that Lisa Ling, who has been gracing the aforenamed Ms. Walters' daytime talk test "The View" for about a year or so, is hot and heavy to be considered.

"She's champing at the bit," claims a "show insider," according to one report.

But then it's also being said that the post is coveted by Florence Henderson.

"Yes, I think I'd be better than Lisa Ling," Flo tells a reporter. "I don't think they should bring in someone too young because it makes Regis look really old. ... Regis is a tough curmudgeon. I'm just the opposite and I'm funny. Plus I didn't sleep around like Cybill Shepherd."

From which we gather that Cyblll, too, has allowed her hat to be tossed into the Regis ring.

"Every woman in the business wants to guest with Regis," says another "insider." And some of them, like Ling and Joan Lunden, are turning the situation into good publicity for themselves."

Whereupon we add Joan to the list, which is getting awfully long.

THE PRINCE FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE: Thank goodness, Prince Rogers Nelson has decided the time has come when he can ditch his unpronounceable interim moniker and go back to being the guy who wrote that old-timey tune, "1999." After announcing that he had done this very thing, Prince apparently was tickled when a reporter in attendance addressed hlm by his new/old name.

"'Hi, Prince,'" he echoed. "That sounds great. I haven't heard that in awhile." That's because you haven't been listening.

A TRUE PROFESSIONAL: Finally, Christopher Lloyd - not, mind you, the Christopher Lloyd who used to be on "Taxi," but a different fellow with the same name who has been one of the top people behind "Frasier" for many years now - has decided to move on.

Roger Anderson is arts and entertainment editor at Scripps Howard News Service.

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