risk because it could easily affect a career. There are some pretty small-minded people out there, even in showbiz.
The first time I was introduced to Sheryl Underwood, Julie Chen called and asked me to join her and Sheryl for a breakfast meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel Polo Lounge. This was after Holly and Leah’s options hadn’t been renewed and she had told me that CBS were thinking of adding Sheryl to the show. Sheryl is a stand-up comic, but back then I had no idea who she was, any more than she knew who I was.
The morning of the meeting, I woke up not feeling my usual self. I had a headache and felt extremely hot. As usual, I arrived at the meeting ten minutes late. We were seated in a booth and I was in the middle, with Sheryl on my left and Julie on my right. We ordered breakfast and proceeded to discuss the show. Julie knew Sheryl of old and was well versed in her history, so she introduced us, ate and ran. We must have been at least forty-five minutes into our meeting when I felt something was wrong. I had a sweaty top lip, my armpits were tingling and my stomach was definitely not right. I realised that I was missing half of what Sheryl was saying.
Sitting at the table opposite were Nicole Ritchie, her husband and her two lovely children. I’ve known Nicole for the last twelve years, so we’d already acknowledged each other and thrown air kisses in the way you do. I had just made eye contact with Nicole’s husband when my mouth opened and I projectile-vomited. Fortunately the cascade of sick didn’t reach him, but it did reach Sheryl, exploding over the both of us and our breakfasts. As introductions go, it could have been better.
Hastily excusing myself, I ran to my Range Rover and headed straight to my apartment, which was five minutes’ drive from the hotel. But before I got there I shat myself all over the ivory-coloured leather seats. There are never fewer than three doormen to greet you at my apartment block and there’s also a concierge behind the reception desk. My dilemma was this: how the fuck do I get into the building? I was covered in puke and shit, and the smell in the car was making me want to throw up again. So I called up to my housekeeper, Saba, who brought down bin bags, wet towels and a dressing gown. In the meantime, I parked in a side street until she arrived to clean me up.
So it wasn’t the greatest introduction of all time… But Sheryl happens to be one of the funniest women I have ever met in my life and she took it all in her stride. I absolutely adore her, and subsequently I considered her my new bestie. She’s always got my back.
The other new lady on The Talk was Aisha Tyler. She is a multitalented actress/stand-up comedienne/writer, and I’ve known her for eleven years. I interviewed her at least three times on my chat show in 2003. She’s got that lethal combination of beauty and wit and is a complete workaholic – her résumé is endless. I’m in awe of her.
When Kelly came on The Talk as a guest, she made a point of thanking my four co-hosts on air for being so supportive. ‘My mum doesn’t have many female friends,’ she said. ‘So it’s nice that she now has you guys in her life. She loves you all very much.’
She’s right on both counts. It’s true that I don’t have a massive group of friends of either sex. But those I do have are very close indeed. And as I have always told my kids, it’s not the number of friends you have, it’s the quality. At the darkest times of my life, they have always been there for me. I can count them on both hands and, without exception, we have all grown up together.
My best friend is Gloria Butler, who is married to Geezer, Black Sabbath’s bassist. She’s about the only person in the world who still calls him Terry, apart from me when I’m talking to her. We first met when they were just dating and we’ve been friends ever since, even through the various ups and downs of Sabbath. She’s four years
The first time I was introduced to Sheryl Underwood, Julie Chen called and asked me to join her and Sheryl for a breakfast meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel Polo Lounge. This was after Holly and Leah’s options hadn’t been renewed and she had told me that CBS were thinking of adding Sheryl to the show. Sheryl is a stand-up comic, but back then I had no idea who she was, any more than she knew who I was.
The morning of the meeting, I woke up not feeling my usual self. I had a headache and felt extremely hot. As usual, I arrived at the meeting ten minutes late. We were seated in a booth and I was in the middle, with Sheryl on my left and Julie on my right. We ordered breakfast and proceeded to discuss the show. Julie knew Sheryl of old and was well versed in her history, so she introduced us, ate and ran. We must have been at least forty-five minutes into our meeting when I felt something was wrong. I had a sweaty top lip, my armpits were tingling and my stomach was definitely not right. I realised that I was missing half of what Sheryl was saying.
Sitting at the table opposite were Nicole Ritchie, her husband and her two lovely children. I’ve known Nicole for the last twelve years, so we’d already acknowledged each other and thrown air kisses in the way you do. I had just made eye contact with Nicole’s husband when my mouth opened and I projectile-vomited. Fortunately the cascade of sick didn’t reach him, but it did reach Sheryl, exploding over the both of us and our breakfasts. As introductions go, it could have been better.
Hastily excusing myself, I ran to my Range Rover and headed straight to my apartment, which was five minutes’ drive from the hotel. But before I got there I shat myself all over the ivory-coloured leather seats. There are never fewer than three doormen to greet you at my apartment block and there’s also a concierge behind the reception desk. My dilemma was this: how the fuck do I get into the building? I was covered in puke and shit, and the smell in the car was making me want to throw up again. So I called up to my housekeeper, Saba, who brought down bin bags, wet towels and a dressing gown. In the meantime, I parked in a side street until she arrived to clean me up.
So it wasn’t the greatest introduction of all time… But Sheryl happens to be one of the funniest women I have ever met in my life and she took it all in her stride. I absolutely adore her, and subsequently I considered her my new bestie. She’s always got my back.
The other new lady on The Talk was Aisha Tyler. She is a multitalented actress/stand-up comedienne/writer, and I’ve known her for eleven years. I interviewed her at least three times on my chat show in 2003. She’s got that lethal combination of beauty and wit and is a complete workaholic – her résumé is endless. I’m in awe of her.
When Kelly came on The Talk as a guest, she made a point of thanking my four co-hosts on air for being so supportive. ‘My mum doesn’t have many female friends,’ she said. ‘So it’s nice that she now has you guys in her life. She loves you all very much.’
She’s right on both counts. It’s true that I don’t have a massive group of friends of either sex. But those I do have are very close indeed. And as I have always told my kids, it’s not the number of friends you have, it’s the quality. At the darkest times of my life, they have always been there for me. I can count them on both hands and, without exception, we have all grown up together.
My best friend is Gloria Butler, who is married to Geezer, Black Sabbath’s bassist. She’s about the only person in the world who still calls him Terry, apart from me when I’m talking to her. We first met when they were just dating and we’ve been friends ever since, even through the various ups and downs of Sabbath. She’s four years
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