Cheers for ‘Frasier’ fifth
WHILE I was happy to see my favorite TV show, "Frasier," win its fifth Emmy for best comedy series, it's laughable that it lost out in the "best writing" category. The writing on "Frasier" is vastly superior to any other show I've seen on the tube, including "The Larry Sanders Show," which won that Emmy. And Kelsey Grammar and David Hyde Pierce both were deserving of their Emmys for best actor and supporting actor respectively ... You may not have noticed, but Peri Gilpin of the "Frasier" cast was wearing a special "Queen Bee," five-diamond hair ornament at the Emmys, each of them six carats and set in platinum and sporting a tiny crown. The crown is the signature of L.A. designer Cynthia Bach, whose works are sold exclusively at Neiman Marcus stores. In fact, Bach arrives here today to show off the Hawaiian flower charm she's designed for the new Neiman Marcus store locally ...
THE Emmy telecast lasted just over four hours, but didn't drag thanks to some thoughtfully selected montages from the past. It seemed somewhat unfortunate, however, that 20 years of Hawaii on network TV ended up with one brief shot of Jack Lord (a still photo, I think) and a second of Tom Selleck raising his eyebrows like George Ariyoshi...
Where the girls are
FORGET about "Where the Boys Are." Sunday they'll all be in the audience to hear an all-wahine program of music running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Skygate near City Hall. It's the 10th annual "Bankoh Na Wahine O Hawaii" and will feature some of the state's finest performers in song and dance. Just check out the lineup: Darlene Ahuna, Loyal Garner, Kuuipo Kumukahi, Haunani Apoliona, Helene Woodward, Myra English with Myrtle Hilo, Jan Brenner, Karen Keawehawai'i, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, and the Paradise Sisters, a quartet made up of Sonya Mendez, Anita Hall, Malia Gibson and Terry Spruill. It's free and there'll be food and craft booths and games and activities for the kiddies and young at heart...TODAY'S column seems to have a decidedly feminine flair, so we might as well tell you about the latest novel by Dr. Terry Gerritsen, the former isle physician who recently moved to Maine. Writing under her pen name Tess Gerritsen, she's come out with "Bloodstream," a thriller in which she could draw from her own medical background. So move over, Robin Cook and Michael Crichton, and make way for Dr. Gerritsen...
WHEN Chef Oliver Altherr left the Kahala Mandarin to return to Europe, they raided Orchids in the Halekulani and hired away Chef Wayne Hirabayashi. Orchids this week is unveiling the menu of new Chef Jean-Pierre Maharibatcha...
SORRY to have to report that Don Weller, 52, the Star-Bulletin's longtime music columnist (who succeeded me in that role after I started the daily column) has died. He'd been battling diabetes for years, friends say. Weller also reviewed rock albums in the paper for many years...
Halfway to Paddy's
IT'S actually six days past the "Halfway to Paddy's Day" excuse for an Irish party, but there'll be a "Gaelic Gala" on Sept. 23 at Murphy's Bar & Grill to benefit CSI. The acronym stands for Comfort, Security, Independence and it's a non-profit agency aiding the elderly and disabled. The gala will feature Irish music, a splendid repast and lots of great auction items, and there'll be a drawing for a trip to San Francisco and $500 in cash. Tickets are $25 if you buy early or $35 at the door. Call Sister Michele McQueeney at 538-0353 for more info ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.