I love Rita Moreno and so enjoy her interviews. She is a living legend at 87 and is definite goals. Rita was on Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote One Day At a Time on Netflix. Jimmy fangirled over her and told her that the West Side Story album played on a loop at his house when he was growing up. Rita talked about that, about a cover shoot she did for Time in 1954 (Jimmy had a copy of the magazine!) and about The Electric Company. That was a staple of my childhood! She even did the “Hey You Guys” line and said that teachers were annoyed by that back in the 70s. My favorite story was the one she told about visiting Trump’s penthouse with her husband for a political event for Mario Cuomo. Mario Cuomo was the governor of New York from 1983 to 1994 (I’ve seen him speak!) so I’m assuming this story takes place in the late 80s/early 90s. Sadly Rita’s husband, Dr. Leonard Gordon, passed in 2010 at the age of 90. Rita described how tacky Trump’s penthouse was, and said that he also insisted on telling them the price of everything.
Her conditions for her One Day At a Time character
I said that there is one condition. I said ‘I know she’s an older woman, I know she’s a grandma, but she has to be sexual’ and they loved it. I mean, what is this, chopped liver?Did you ever meet Donald Trump?
We were invited for a cocktail party that was honoring Governor Cuomo at the time. My husband and I. We went up to his penthouse. What a shocking experience. First of all everything was gold. Like new rich people. But the thing that really amazed me was the friezes on the ceiling like Michelangelo. They had those in his apartment!Was it him with his finger almost touching God’s?
Well, here’s my finger [raises middle finger]He told us the price of everything. He took us around. He mentioned the price of everything. I thought ‘Gee that’s so lowbrow.’ It was astonishing. He hasn’t changed.
[From Jimmy Kimmel Live]
If you haven’t seen photos from inside Trump’s penthouse here’s a link. It’s so tacky it would embarrass Liberace. Just looking at the photos makes me sick to my stomach. Let’s focus on Rita Moreno though and how awesome she is. I said on our podcast that Lady Gaga should homage Rita Moreno at the Oscars, but Kaiser thinks she’s going to do Marilyn Monroe. (Kaiser is right I’m sure.) Remember last year at the Oscars when Rita wore the exact same dress that she wore in 1962 when she won the supporting actress Oscar for West Side Story? This is why I’m hesitant to Marie Kondo my clothing, on the ridiculous off chance that I could still fit into something and want to wear it to an event 50 years later.
Here’s the interview:
Dream dinner party:
photos credit: WENN and Avalon.red
Abuelita is the soul of One Day At a Time! It’s such a great show, watch it, people!
+1
Such a wholesome, uplifting show & Rita is the MVP
she is my favorite character!
Rita Moreno is a national treasure
Yes, she is! I love her glasses, too. She has great style and is such a great example that you can be gorgeous as you get older. I think she is so confident and sexy without even trying. I want to age just like Rita. God, I sound like her PR person.
I saw her honored at the LA music festival a couple of years ago…She is freaking awesome.
Not surprised this abhorrent man is a ‘knows the price of everything and the value of nothing’ kind of fool.
Exactly. He’s just so needy and insecure, it’s the root of his entire being.
I love her. And I cannot overstate how much I loved the Electric Company. Morgan Freeman was in the cast, too! It was so fun to watch, and right up my young spelling/grammar nerd alley.
Rita is perfection.
And, of course, Trump is gauche.
I know two people who went to his penthouse and they have the same exact story as Rita. Went for business and never discussed business. Instead Trump insisted on giving them a tour and discussed the price of everything. Even talked about how expensive the towels were. When it came time to talk about business, they realized he was an idiot and he didn’t handle anything personally. Eventually left, with the day completely waisted and later linked up with the appropriate persons to get the job done.
He’s so utterly pathetic and even a casual observer over the years could see that’s true. I am beyond angry at Mark Burnett for creating the “successful businessman” persona that so many people bought. Hearing stories from the set of The Apprentice makes it even more apparent how idiotic and insecure he really is.
Esmom- I actually don’t think the MAGAts were really swayed that he is as good businessman. Everyone knows he stiffed contractors and went bankrupt a half dozen times. I think deep down, even his supporters know the great businessman thing is bunk. They just it as rationale to vote for him cause they don’t want to admir they are just bigots and racists and hate Democrats. It’s the economic anxiety excuse.
He is doing that right now in the WH! Congressmen come for business and he goes hey who wants to see the Lincoln bedroom? Then he talks about the tacky chandeliers he installed in the WH.
The MAGATs I’ve met are usually in the lower economic sphere or 1%’s. The former group lacks the financial means to care about EZ’s business failures. They use him for their racist agenda and the voice EZ lends to their ignorance. Reminds me of a swarm of locusts wiping out the crops. The 1%’s love the uneducated as they’re easily led like lemmings off a cliff, not able to realize they’re only hurting themselves.
The average income of Trump voters was $75,000 per year. Wish I was that economically insecure…. Look around at people at his rallies during and after the campaign and in interviews. They are not the poor and downtrodden, even though tickets are free.
Hillary won most of the low-income votes. Not having much money doesn’t make you stupid.
I just looked back at that Vanity Fair article about her relationship with Marlo Brando. Wow.
I adore her! I had the great pleasure of meeting her & her family (and Nandy’s friend Pauline) when she performed at Brown’s in 1979. She is just as awesome, sweet & funny in person as she is when being interviewed
I wonder how much he paid for the fake Renoir? He was probably shelled out millions for it. Maybe I can sell him my authentic Leonardo.
Well, here’s my finger. hahahaha
This woman must have found the fountain of youth and bathes in it every single day. This woman is freaking 87 years old! I’m not even talking about her looks (do I even need to state the obvious?) but her voice and energy. I’m barely 33 and I feel decrepit compared to her. It’s also so amazing to think that cover from ’54 is from 65 freaking years ago. The woman can still remember World War II and has moves like nobody’s business. I’m in awe.
Totally agree with you! She is amazing God bless her!
An early interview after the convention with Trump and Pence must have taken place in the tacky penthouse. They were sitting on gold chairs. Pence looked rather uncomfortable. Trump treated him like dirt.
Liberace liked glitter, but he was fun about it.