Kathie Lee: There's no feud with Joy Behar!
Posted: Friday, May 16, 2008 3:39 PM by Jen Brown
From Kathie Lee Gifford, TODAY host
Hoda and I agreed that we wanted to stop by the Friars Club on Thursday to say a quick hello to Fran Drescher and wish her well. Fran was to be interviewed by Joy Behar and honored for all her work for "Cancer Schmancer" her book and organization by the same name which educates and empowers cancer patients.
We were sitting at lunch with Fran's very colorful family when suddenly one of the directors of the Friars Club approached me and asked if I would be willing to help them out with a little problem that had emerged: Joy Behar wasn't coming!
Nobody explained why -- there wasn't time for that. Hoda had to leave to shoot a segment for Dateline in New Jersey, so she shot me a quick "have another glass of wine, honey"' and promptly disappeared.
Someone handed me Fran's book, and within minutes I was on stage with the adorable Fran Drescher, an enthusiastic audience and a whole bunch of press. Oy.
Anyway, it took three members of the Friars Club to seat me on the stool, it was so high. (I milked the moment admittedly).
Then I said, "Well, this is a bit of a surprise, etc, etc--well,
you've read the rest.It was meant to be a joke. The audience, who was used to far worse at the Friars Club, howled and Fran and I were off to a fine hour of inspiration, information and hilarity.
I was happy I could help this wonderful woman and happy to help my friends at the Friars Club, of which I've been an honorary member for years. So, that's it. I don't know what the real story is about Joy or for that matter Rosie either. Both were supposed to come. But I'm sure both have very good reasons why they didn't.
We all love Fran and are proud of the great work she's doing.
Not very scandalous, I know. But true.
