Variety On the Town

Prince Harry Has A Laugh

When Princes William and Harry took the stage during "A Concert for Diana" at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, Harry couldn't resist poking fun at "Extras" Ricky Gervais.

"When William and I first had the idea [for the concert] we forgot we would end up standing here desperately trying to think of something funny to say. We’ll leave that to the funny people – and Ricky Gervais,” quipped Harry.

Sir Elton John kicked-off the concert commemorating the late Diana, Princess of Wales, on what would have been her 46th birthday, with a performance of "Your Song" before introducing the two princes, who received a standing ovation. "This event is about all that our mother loved in life – her music, her dancing, her charities and her family and friends," said William. "We just want you to have an awesome time and enjoy the line-up." A line-up which included performances by Duran Duran, Nelly Furtado, Fergie, P.Diddy, Pharrell Williams, Tom Jones and Rod Stewart.

Ziskin's Well Wishes

Spidey star, Topher Grace, was on hand to present the pic's producer, Laura Ziskin, with the Tribute to the Human Spirit Award at the Wellness Community 25th Anniversary Gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Ziskin, a cancer survivor, has in the past, spoken honestly about her battle with the disease admitting, "A lot of people say that cancer is the best thing that happened to them because it taught them to change their lives. I certainly do not feel that way. It sucked." But when accepting her award Thursday night, Ziskin credited her friends and doctors for her recovery.  “I got very unlucky. I was diagnosed with an inconvenient tumor... a little over three years ago, but then my luck changed with the help of extraordinary friends and two incredible doctors.”

Waiting for the King

CNN had planned a week-long series of events to commemorate Larry King's 50th year in broadcasting. Then a media-obsessed killer got in the way. A week of soft-focus King appreciations were shelved, and it appeared the main event, a red carpet gala in the Pool Room at the Four Seaons might become another victim of the news cycle. But the party went on. Party maven Peggy Siegel rolled up the red carpet and packed it away for what became a lower-key affair. Among the friends-of-Larry was a mix of august celebrity and media vets from Donald and Melania Trump to Andy Rooney, Barbara Walters to Jerry Stiller, and a host of CNN personalities including Lou Dobbs and new morning anchor Kiran Chetry. Due to the arrival of a package at NBC from the campus killer on Wednesday night, the party was otherwise light on journalists. King himself had to duck out early to host his show at 9pm. Now CNN is trying to sort out when to reschedule the planned week of anniversary programming that was scrapped in the wake of the Virginia Tech killings. King had taped a segment with Oprah Winfrey, originally scheduled for Monday, and planned visits from Bill Clinton and Katie Couric, who was to turn the tables and do the interviewing. Bill Maher and friends also suprised King in studio for a gentle roast. At present, the net is looking at the week of April 30 to go all-Larry. But that, too, is in flux as the net waits to see how the Virginia Tech story plays out. (M. Learmonth)

Jagger, Young - rock and remember

Some of the most respected musicians in the world came out to pay their respects to Atlantic Records co-founder and music icon Ahmet Ertegun, Tuesday night at Gotham's Rose Theater. Mick Jagger, Neil Young, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks and Stephen Stills were among the cool cats who came out to pay tribute to Ertegun, who died in December at the age of 83 when he suffered from a head injury he incurred after falling at a Rolling Stones concert at New York's Beacon Theater. The music mogul helped make Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin stars and signed the Rolling Stones in the early 70s. Young has said of Ertegun: "He was a regular guy. He happened to also be one of the most powerful guys in the music business. But he had no use for wielding the power. The only time he ever used his power was with other executives. He didn't use it on the musicians. And it's suitable that his last conscious moments were at a concert. Because that's the way he lived. He went to a show. And the encore was heaven."

posted by Mia Sulpor