First, credit where credit’s due—kudos to Reader blogger Don Bauder for pointing me (and you) to this high-larious Burl Stiff column. If you’re not familiar with Stiff, he’s the Union-Tribune’s bespectacled society columnist and, reportedly, a favorite friend of David Copley (owner of the U-T). Stiff’s the one who wrote about Copley’s European culinary extravaganza, the cost of which could have kept a family of four groceried up for a year.
Anyhow, Stiff writes about Copley hanging out in Cannes, entertaining various rich La Jollans and minor celebs like Dominick Dunne and Christian Slater. Oh, yes, Hard Harry’s looking definitely worse for wear—as pictured in a photo accompanying Stiff’s column—and it’s breaking my heart.
So, while our local daily’s cutting staff and pages, its owner—looking a bit like Cruella de Ville (what’s up with that hair?)—is yachting around, stuffing his face and probably giving little thought to the family biz.
June 12, 2008 - 7:05 am at 7:05 am
What must it be like to live a life of jealousy? You can only wish that your transitional phrases and ability to spell rich socialites’ names emanated one-tenth of the brilliance that Burl’s do. And where are photos of David’s hunky Aide-de-camp Andrew Shelton in your colorless column? Are you so frazzled by the fact that Burl’s cushiony facial hair is no match for your stubble or that David’s coiffure (an obvious homage to Tim Roth in Coppola’s “Dracula”) mocks your alopecia beehive? Go crawl back to your gray little nothing of an existence and leave the powers of true journalistic enlightenment alone, you green-eyed harridan.
June 12, 2008 - 8:34 am at 8:34 am
Now Scott, is this aimed at me or Don Bauder? ‘Cause my little nothing of an existence is more of an off-black than gray.
June 12, 2008 - 11:48 am at 11:48 am
Both of you should be ashamed of what you said about dear Burl. BTW, in my eagerness to defend out town’s beloved social guru, I dropped an inaccurate aside. It’s Gary Oldman, not Tim Roth. Otherwise, I staunchly stand behind everything else I said!
June 14, 2008 - 9:25 am at 9:25 am
I wanna be like him when I grow up, but I’ll name my yacht “Charles in Charge” it’s waaay classier.
June 15, 2008 - 7:55 am at 7:55 am
Due to an editing error (they fired the editor) the last part of Stirl Biff’s column was deleted. Someone hacked into the UT computers and retrieved it. Here it is:
Also on hand that magical evening were socialite “oven cleaner to the stars” Mr. Clean, who’s shiny dome lit up the aft end of the yacht where the ever tasteful and discerning David Copely uses Norman Rockwell originals as a classy alternative to bath tissue.
After an appetizer of lobster, soufle, mac-n-cheeze, whipped cream, and mouthwatering warm-lard shooters, David led the party to the main course. Whole steers, baby fawns, roast rhinosaurus, and fragrant Swiss scheisse sausages were poached fresh French effluent.
The meal was accompanied with only the best selection of refreshing “hovno z prdl”, flown in from Prague.
The skinny-dipping was led by David, who splashed mightily into the Mediterranean waters, displacing far more liquid than any of his boyish companions, as they slid through the warm sea, re-enacting the grotto of Tiberius.
Finally, spent, the Happy Days hoist lifted Mr. Copley back on deck, and he retired with his little friends to the owners cabin for a sound sleep.
June 16, 2008 - 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm
sorry to interject an uncynical smidgen here, but it’s good to see $10 million raised for amfAR.
June 17, 2008 - 4:09 pm at 4:09 pm
D.A., you’re correct.
I poke fun only at Mr. Copley and his many delightful friends, not at amfAR.
Now back to cynicism with you, my friend.
June 17, 2008 - 8:48 pm at 8:48 pm
You got me laughing, Fred!
July 13, 2008 - 1:05 pm at 1:05 pm
David Copley is an alcoholic.