Sign in to wowOwow

Enter the email address that you used when registering at wowOwow.
The password field is case sensitive. Click here if you have forgotten your password.

Please register for wowOwow

Newsletter subscriptions
Sign up to receive wowOwow's weekly newsletter and get our best picks delivered right to your inbox. Our newsletter content is hand-picked by the wowOwow editorial team and provides the top features, news, and commentary from our site. Subscribing to our newsletter is free and safe. We will never share your email or other information with a third-party without your direct consent.
By registering, you indicate that you have read and agree
with our privacy policy and terms of service.

The Liz Smith Column | 10/27/2009 5:00 am

Liz Smith: The Fresh Scent of Bon Jovi

Also from Our Gossip Girl: Uma Thurman cuts the line … Hulaween – the party of the season!
Jon Bon Jovi © Shutterstock
"Jon Bon Jovi smells delicious! So fresh!" That was pretty much the quote, last week when People magazine and Hornitos Tequila hosted a screening of Showtime’s documentary "Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful."

Jon does smell delicious and he looks delicious. This guy works on his body and takes care of his face. (Even when he is supposed to look gritty and not-so-hot in Phil Griffin’s film, he’s still a knockout.) I am a longtime fan.

But perhaps Jon’s fresh scent was more noticeable because the Hornitos folks were ladling out lethal tequila concoctions nonstop. At the screening theater, and later at the Tribeca party, the fumes were enough to trigger a contact high. One of the drinks was called a Hornutopia. It was pink and looked quite innocent. It was so not.

The celebs attending – Ric Ocasek, Paulina Porizkova, John McEnroe, Calvin Klein, Tovah Feldshuh, Rachael Ray, Kelly Bensimon, etc. – stayed sober. As did Showtime’s big guy, Matthew Blank. And the incredible, indefatigable Peggy Siegal. (Peggy doesn’t need booze, she is high on life.)

Still, I won’t vouch for many of the more or less just-plain-folks who were on hand for Jon and his boys. Food might have been served at some point, but I don’t think anybody much cared.

What of the film? Well, if you love Bon Jovi, or you are interested in what goes on behind the scenes of a grueling concert tour, this is pretty compelling, if not exactly a Madonna-style "Truth or Dare" exposé. Shot in obligatory black and white (so we know it’s serious), the cameras follow Jon, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres on the band’s most recent world tour. What emerges from the film is how very much in control Jon is of his product, the band that bears his name. He says at one point, "I am the CEO of a major corp. who has been running a brand for 25 years." (Twenty-five hugely successful years, despite a paucity of love and respect from critics.)

Even though irritations, exhaustion, emotional issues and power struggles popped up over the decades, Jon remains in control and his bandmates accept his iron will. As bandmate David Bryan explained, "It would be different if we hadn’t been a success. Then maybe we would have had to say, ‘What about our ideas?’ But we have been successful so it’s hard to fight Jon’s concept." All the guys have finally come into their own through creating artwork or music-making apart from the band. But when it’s time to be the enduring rock quartet, Bon Jovi, Jon knows best.

And, if you want nothing more than 90 minutes of looking at Jon Bon Jovi in tight pants, open shirts, no shirt – you’ll be more than content. Check your TV guide for scheduled showings of "When We Were Beautiful."

P.S. Bon Jovi just announced another world tour. I was hoping Jon would make some movies again. But he’d rather make another $100 million.

***

I have been hoarding the following little anecdote ever since the funeral of Dominick Dunne in St. Vincent Ferrer Church. It seemed too "cute" to repeat at the time.

The Church at Lex and 64th has only one public restroom so during the long service people were invariably in a long line to get in and use the unisex facilities.

15 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Susan Crawford

It’s always been my contention, Liz, that when we have more women architects, we will FINALLY have buildings with enough women’s rooms! I’ve crashed the men’s room more than once in my time, but not quite with Uma’s style, I’m afraid. More power to Uma, and here is a fervent wish for more stalls!

By Susan Crawford on 10/27/2009 7:49 am
Baby  Snooks

Have you ever noticed that when men invade the women’s room the police are called but when women invade a men’s room the men step aside. Who says chivalry is dead?

Hulaweeen is probably the real social event of the year in New York.  Just as Diana was regarded as the people’s princess, Bette Midler is regarded as the people’s Brooke Astor. 

By Baby Snooks on 10/27/2009 9:03 am
John Dillon
The people’s Brooke Astor’. What a great and perfect appellation for Bette. She really is a national treasure. I still have my Playbill from when I saw her at the Palace in 1973 (twice) her entry onto the world’s  entertainment stage. I’ve loved her and everything she’s done entertaining us and ‘philanthropizing’ us ever since. Bette and Whoopi on the same stage? What a gorgeous combo of brains, talent and elegant personal style. Man, how I wish I was back in the Big Apple for this.
By John Dillon on 10/27/2009 11:57 am
E .
Jon Bon Jovi seems like a great person.  That said I think he needs to tone down the Clairol effect he has been taking to.  Jon’s ventured a bit too far into the realm of coiffure, make up, and botox which makes some 40+ men look like 40+ women.
By E . on 10/27/2009 12:20 pm
Mr. Wow
At least he’s stopped waxing his chest.  Now he trims it down to a healthy stubble. (It’s a real wild and wooly forest and does look better with a bit of man-scaping.)
By Mr. Wow on 10/27/2009 3:26 pm
E .

Wild and wooly.  Ha!  You made me think of Mike Myers as Austin Powers <shuddering>.  Jon is beautiful though.

So much sexier to make the best of what you’ve got - faux is so … desperate.  

By E . on 10/27/2009 7:35 pm
E .
Poor Uma - we’ve all been there.  There are so many things that can go wrong "in that sense" for a woman if she waits too long.  I can’t imagine turning away anyone - male or female - begging desperately to cut in the line for the bathroom.  Your guy sounds a bit pissy Liz.
By E . on 10/27/2009 12:27 pm
Cindy Marek
Aaahhh…he’s so sexy. :-D
By Cindy Marek on 10/27/2009 2:43 pm
Bonnie Schuster
Bon Jovi is the greatest.  He does so much to help people.  As far as fresh looks, god love those who age slowly.  I don’t look my age either except in photos lol.  Love your music guys keep on rockin.
By Bonnie Schuster on 10/28/2009 8:00 am
Mr. Wow
The camera captures what the eye misses.  After a certain point the camera is not your friend, no matter how youthful you appear in person.  That’s the reason there’s so much plastic surgery in show biz; the camera HAS to be your friend.  I duck when anyone aims one in my direction.  As for Jon, aside from his looks, he really does put his money where his mouth is and is genuinely charitable.
By Mr. Wow on 10/28/2009 9:04 am