This Is Your
Life
Gold
hosts Goldberg in 92nd Street Y chat about her experiences
and views
By
Cristina Merrill / Jester correspondent
Whoopi
Goldberg walked the fine line between comedy and tragedy during a Feb.
17 onstage conversation with comedian Judy Gold (see
review, 7/29/09) at the 92nd Street Y. Calm, cool,
and collected throughout the night, Goldberg spoke about many of her
experiences, both personal and professional, which made for a
fascinating and insightful talk. Gold beautifully facilitated the event,
managing to be funny and engaging without taking over the show or
infringing on Goldberg’s speaking time.
Gold opened up the conversation by bringing up a recent New York Times
article “Hollywood’s Whiteout,” which mentioned several black Oscar
winners, minus Goldberg and a few others. Gold brushed aside the notion
that Goldberg may not be “black enough for the New York Times.”
[Goldberg had taken offense at the story omitting her.] “We Jews are
happy to claim her,” Gold said, adding that there is nothing more Jewish
than the name “Goldberg.”
Goldberg talked about one of the odd jobs she had after dropping out of
high school -- putting makeup on dead people. While it was not the
easiest thing to do, especially when children were involved, she
described this particular gig as a “loving job.” She spoke about the
time she spent on welfare and scoffed at people who look down upon those
who receive it. “There are assholes everywhere,” Goldberg said. “There
are fucking assholes everywhere,” Gold said, agreeing with her.
True to her outspoken, activist ways, Goldberg spoke in favor of
legalizing marijuana and gay marriage. “Pot smokers don’t get in their
cars and drive,” she said, adding that they are either too enamored of
the refrigerator or themselves, or they have fallen asleep. Speaking
about her support of gay marriage, Goldberg noted that she herself has
been married several times, and while she is not a fan of the
institution, she supports those who are. “What do I care if you want to
get married and ruin your life?” she said. “My feeling is that if you
don’t like gay marriage, don’t marry a gay person.” She pointed out that
interracial marriage was against the law when she was a child. “There
are so many things to be freaked out about,” she said. “This is not one
of them.”
Goldberg also answered questions from the audience. What advice would
she have given herself back when she first gained fame? (“Have a good
time and enjoy it.”) Her greatest accomplishment? (“Surviving my own
bullshit.”) Who would she want with her if she was stranded on a desert
island? (“My cat, cause he could find shit to eat.”) She talked about
her experiences and co-stars on “The View.” She described her co-star
Elisabeth Hasselbeck as a great mom and woman. “I really dig her,” she
said. Although Hasselbeck’s beliefs make Goldberg’s “eyes twirl and vice
versa,” she said, “it’s alright to disagree.” In fact, one of the
biggest difficulties of “The View,” Goldberg said, is when she has to
feign interest in topics she could not care less about, such as “Dancing
With the Stars” and Charlie Sheen’s problems.
Goldberg also spoke well of co-star Barbara Walters, who she is “blown
away” by. “You don’t get to meet many firsts in your life,” she said of
the pioneering broadcast journalist. The evening may not have been
packed with rip-roaring laughs, but it was excellent all the same.
Goldberg is a multifaceted person who has clearly lived, and is still
living, a very interesting life. Mad props go to Gold, a respected
performer in her own right who has her own commanding presence. She was
a gracious facilitator who allowed one of her personal heroes to have
the stage. Goldberg is outspoken, but also very down to earth. Not
everyone may agree with everything she has to say, but she is okay with
that.
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