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Tim Carvell and David Shayne

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The Times on Abe's New Job

By Tim Carvell
Posted Thursday, Jan. 20, 2000, at 5:35 PM ET

You know, one of the consequences of watching Blazing Saddles many times, at an early age, is that I can never see Hedy Lamarr's name without recalling this classic exchange from that movie:

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Woman in Front of Grauman's Chinese Theater: "Look! I'm in Hedy Lamarr's shoes!"

Harvey Korman, Playing a Character Named Hedley Lamarr: (Irritably.) "That's Hedley!"

It is much, much funnier than it seems here. I guess, for the joke to work, Harvey Korman has to say it. And how often is that the case?

So, I think our "Breakfast Table" time is winding down. One final item: Did you see that Abe Rosenthal now has a column at the New York Daily News? I think the person I'd least like to have been yesterday--aside from Hedy Lamarr--is the Times writer who had to report this story. I have this image of him wandering around the newsroom, saying, "So, what word do I use to describe the circumstances under which he left? Do I ask Abe about whether or not he's bitter? Do I make it seem like a coup for the News? Can I use the term 'widely unread' to describe 'On My Mind'?" (The answers, as best I can tell from Glenn Collins' story: "Departed." No. Yes. No.) Rosenthal is quoted as saying that he doesn't know what his first column is going to be about. I'm wagering five bucks it's titled, "Max Frankel Is a Wuss." Any takers?

Tim

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