SHOW BIZ
Rip Taylor hits beach, hunts down a 'Brady'
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
PEOPLE IN PARADISE: Comedian Rip Taylor hit the beach immediately after arriving last week at the Outrigger Waikiki. He was scheduled to open and "introduce" Randy Smith for the launch of the crooner's Frank Sinatra tribute show Friday at the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Room, but the show was canceled because conductor Frank Diehl is hospitalized.
Taylor, hearing that Florence Henderson was in town to do that "Brady Bunch" documentary, "The Bradys Back in Hawai'i" (airing early next year on the Travel Channel), hustled over to the Sheraton Waikiki where filming wrapped up. Taylor and Henderson share the same manager. ...
Richard Carpenter, formerly of The Carpenters, dined at Roy's Hawai'i Kai recently. On another night, actor Rob Lowe and producer-director Ivan Reitman talked business over dinner. ...
Actor Adam Sandler, who truly adores Hawai'i, had dinner with his bride a few nights back at Buzz's Original Steak House in Kailua. ...
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RANDOM NOTES: Jennifer Perri is preparing her second CD, under the tutelage of Takatomo Nozawa, for 10 years the producer of SMAP, a Japanese boy band of five considered to be that nation's Backstreet Boys. Nozawa has signed on as executive producer for Perri; Kevin Yurugi, who produced her debut album, is creating a production team (which will include a U.S. producer) for the new disc. ...
Liz "1900 Yesterday" Damon Taylor was home last week, visiting her ailing dad. She's still the entertainment director at the Westward Ho in Las Vegas, and occasionally performs. Leslie Hee (who was with her Liz Damon's Orient Express band), called her to tell her he has a five-member combo now, and while a nostalgic stroll down memory lane is not immediately on the agenda, Damon remains optimistic and open. Damon also was able to attend a graduation party for niece Sanoe Damon, who recently graduated from Mililani High, and yes, auntie performed a couple of numbers before boarding a plane Saturday night. ...
After a 20-year stint with Diamond Head Theatre (initially as a volunteer, when the theater group was named Honolulu Community Theatre), Lisa Josephsohn has been terminated as the theater's publicist. She was notified in a letter upon returning from a European jaunt; "restructuring" was the reason. Her swan song: the season's finale, "The Wizard of Oz." Yep, she's looking for a similar post with another theater company, if anyone's looking. ...
Carole Kai and Nohelani Cypriano, two of the Local Divas, were among those taking a private jet exec charter cruise aboard the new Pacific Luxury Air. Went to Maui for golf and lunch, with limo service on the ground. ...
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AROUND 'N' ABOUT: There's interest in Iz in Iraq; according to the Mountain Apple Co., a chap in Kirkuk, Iraq, requested a catalog on Israel Kamakawiwo'ole after reading the Dean Koontz novel that included a tribute to the Hawaiian superstar and how his music enabled Koontz to relax. He wanted some of the local music because his "chosen profession involved much stress and chaos." Coming from Iraq, that's quite an understatement. ...
Singer Jimmy Borges will join the Citrus College Jazz Band in performances 7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Spats at the Hyatt Regency Ka'anapali. Borges has been helping to sponsor the group's annual visit (they're from Glendora, Calif.) because he believes they're one of the best college jazz bands anywhere. ...
Author Joan Namkoong, the foodie-writer who also is an ex-Advertiser food editor, does a book-signing 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at a "Got Musubi?" event at Wabi-Sabi in Kaimuki. Among her 'ono-titled books is "Go Home Cook Rice." ...
And that's Show Biz. ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays; reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
Correction: Randy Smith's Frank Sinatra tribute show, which was to be staged Friday at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's Monarch Room, has been canceled because conductor Frank Diehl is hospitalized. Comedian Rip Taylor was to appear. An item in a previous version of this column was incorrect.
