It’s astonishing how, after struggling to make it to the top in showbusiness, established stars can become blasé about their successful careers – bored, even.
A comedian-turned-presenter, not unconnected with Wales, once fronted a TV series about British rivers.
For the episode about The Severn, an experienced Wales-based cameraman was hired. On his first morning, he arrived at the small boat moored at the riverbank, which was to be used for filming, and found the producer, director etc. hadn’t arrived.
The presenter sat gloomily staring out across the water and when the cameraman said “Good Morning! It’s a perfect day for filming”, the ex-comedian replied, “It’s just another day at the office!” and continued staring at the muddy water.
The Royal Variety Performance today mainly features familiar British performers.
Perhaps because the legendary American stars who used to fly over especially for the show, like Tony Bennett, Sophie Tucker, Victor Borge & Danny Kaye, are all gone.
Sammy Davis Jnr had done 4 RVPs when in 1989 a team from ITV flew to Vegas to meet him and his manager to discuss Sammy appearing at the 1990 RVP.
At dinner, after Sammy finished performing, he was very enthusiastic about topping another star-studded RVP bill.
Next morning, Sammy’s manager phoned the RVP’s producer at his hotel with the sad news that, despite Sammy’s outward appearance, he only had months to live. Though nobody wanted to dissuade him from making plans, there was little chance he would make the RVP.
He then revealed he also represented Jerry Lewis, who’d be prepared to fly over for the 1990 Royal Variety Performance.
The following November, when the RVP’s producer met Jerry at Heathrow, the unsmiling comedian got in the car, thrust a sheet of paper at him and said, curtly, “Those are four routines I do. Choose one!” then closed his eyes and slept all the way to his hotel
Two examples of how fame doesn’t necessarily give you a cheerful disposition!
Hollywood’s Jerry Lewis was a massive movie star in the 50s and 60s and later did seasons in Vegas and on Broadway.