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.
Home › Entertainment

The Liz Smith Column | 06/01/2009 11:00 pm

Liz Smith: We're Gaga for the Lady (Gaga)

Also fom Our Gossip Girl: Barbra Streisand’s passion … and Holland Taylor: She’s 10 and a half women!
By Liz Smith RSS
Alert me to Liz's new posts
Image: Rolling Stone
It’s always fun to write something about a performer you actually know well, so I’ll take a personal moment to rave about my longtime pal, actress Holland Taylor.

Here she is as she appears in More magazine’s “10 Women Who Make Us Laugh,” and I congratulate writer-editor Kathy Heintzelman for including our own Holland with a few women even more celebrated (Whoopi Goldberg, Tracey Ullman, Lily Tomlin, Diane Keaton, Kathy Griffin, Wanda Sykes, Ellen DeGeneres, Jane Krakowski, Margaret Cho).

Holland is 66 but looks maybe 30. She plays Charlie Sheen’s sexy realtor mother in the CBS hit sitcom, “Two and a Half Men,” and has often provided the basis for the show’s most ravishing laughs. This season the writers have neglected her to their own detriment, in my opinion.     

Holland will be joining Buck Henry, Haskell King and Lisa Ebersole this summer in the play “Mother,” to be seen in the East Village of NYC from July 8 - August 1. The director is Andrew Grosso. She is also readying a one-woman play she is writing herself, in which she’ll be reviving the spirit of the late Ann Richards, onetime governor of Texas.

2009_0601_getty_holland_taylor.jpg
Holland Taylor © Getty Images
« first‹ previous12
Read more about: Andrew Grosso, Ann Richards, Barbra Streisand, Books, Buck Henry, Celebrities, Clara Bow, Clare Ferraro, David Cassidy John Travolta, Diane Keaton, Elizabeth Taylor, Ellen DeGeneres, Eminem, Entertainment, Harvey Weinstein, Haskell King, Holland Taylor, Humor, Jane Krakowski, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Aniston, John Lennon, Kathy Griffin, Kathy Heintzelman, Lady Gaga, Led Zeppelin, Lily Tomlin, Lisa Ebersole, Liz Smith, Margaret Cho, More Magazine, News, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Liz Smith Column, Theater, Tom Folsom, Tracey Ullman, Wanda Sykes, Whoopi Goldberg

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

Judy K.
Violet Eyes is a perfect name for a perfume.  Sounds exotic and sexy at the same time.  Always loved Liz and saw her in person at a Macy’s in San Francisco promoting her first fragrance.  Since I am a tall milkmaid type I was struck by how delicate and tiny Liz was at the time.  Her beauty was undeniable and her charm was evident.  She still is feisty and am glad she is twittering. You go girl.
By Judy K. on 06/02/2009 3:06 am
Rainbow Power
Alas, I have grown old with the idols of my youth and early years of adulthood….Barbra, Liz, Led Zeppelin.  Now I twitter when I used to twiddle my thumbs.  I assume Liz Taylor twiddled before twittering.
By Rainbow Power on 06/02/2009 5:56 am
Suzanne Frazier
Glad to know Liz (Taylor) is still in the buzz.  
By Suzanne Frazier on 06/02/2009 6:52 am
Lin Cercone
OH LIZ:  You are so right. HOLLAND TAYLOR is the Best.  I think there should be a "special Emmy" called the "Holland Taylor Emmy". Every thing she does is Exceptional.  I watch 2 1/2 Men just for her appearances. Oh and of course, the amazing Conchata Farrell.  I’m thrilled to hear that she’s doing a project about Ann Richards.  My fave tv actress playing the all time BEST woman, Ann Richards.  Can’t wait.
By Lin Cercone on 06/02/2009 7:42 am
Deena B.
For what it’s worth, I vote for Violet Eyes as opposed to Follow Me for Elizabeth Taylor’s new fragrance.  Her beautiful eyes are her trademark.  When I think of "violet eyes" I automatically think of Elizabeth Taylor.  The bottle could be gorgeous. 
By Deena B. on 06/02/2009 8:09 am
phyllis Doyle Pepe
I agree, Deena, "Violet Eyes" has a sensual elegance and it SOUNDS lovely; "Follow Me" rings hollow, has no pizazz! Liz Smith please twitter Liz Taylor ––when WOW women speak, many listen––one hopes––or so they say. Re: Holland’s performances: She is center stage in whatever role she plays––she is funny, sexy, believable and beautiful. Twitter her, too, and give her our regards. 
By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 06/02/2009 10:02 am
Richard Bassett
 I believe "Violet Eyes" is the way to go, Deena. No doubt that the buzz regarding this upcoming fragrance will be spectacular. Twitter has given Elizabeth Taylor back to those who love her. On May 8th, she had 1,000 followers on twitter. Now, four weeks later, she has 37, 000 followers. She doesn’t post everyday, and some days the posts are pur and simple: "Enjoying the quiet in my garden today". Some have wondered if it is really Elizabeth Taylor (opposed to an assistant) that is twittering for her, but I believe that Elizabeth, herself, is doing all of the work. Due to health reasons, she has virtually been secluded and has lost touch with her public. Twitter is the perfect method of giving bits and pieces of her life to her fan base. As I said, her following rate is staggering. Her "White Diamonds" frangrance recently won a FIFI Award and went down into The Frangrance Hall of Fame. She was estatic and couldn’t wait to share the news with her followers. I believe that she feels inspired and alive again taking part in this new technology. I wish her love and happiness.
By Richard Bassett on 06/02/2009 1:04 pm
Deena B.

I wish those for her, too, Richard.  She really is a treasure. 

By Deena B. on 06/02/2009 3:20 pm
Irish Eyes NY

I’m with you Deena: "Violet Eyes" is perfect. Of course she may really lilke that name as well, but is saying no so she doesn’t look conceited. I’m sure she likes the violet eyes as well and that is what it will be, she’ll say she was out-numbered.

But, I’m glad to see she is still active.

By Irish Eyes NY on 06/05/2009 7:54 am
Beth Cornell
On Liz’s new fragrance, I vote Follow Me. On Holland Taylor, I have watched her for years and absolutely love her. She is one of the most under rated actresses of our time. I am so glad she is finally getting noticed more. She is funny and clever. I remember an ep of Murder, She Wrote she did, blew me away,(figuratively speaking). If anyone can go toe to toe with Angela Lansbury is good in my book!
By Beth Cornell on 06/02/2009 9:59 am
Mel Berg
I love to read about what Liz Taylor, Holland Mills and Barbra Streisand are doing…..Two and a Half Men is/was lacking this season IMHO. Also my vote is for "Violet Eyes" also.
By Mel Berg on 06/02/2009 12:42 pm
Susan Crawford
I love the idea of calling a perfume Violet Eyes - I can almost smell it! Bottom notes of violet (of course) and hyacinth for a floral bouquet; middle notes of cedrat for a little sparkle, and a finish of unfolding deep green notes and a little amber for mystery. That’s La Liz to me! As for Lady GaGa, this 60-something thinks she’s pretty awesome. Her latest video, Paparazzi, is amazing: very artistic in a Felliniesque, film noirish style - also quite disturbing and provocative. But that’s her style, as you can intuit from the cover shot. She’s a one-of-a-kind. Like Holland Taylor! Thanks for the update on this wonderful actress. She is just hilarious, touching, stylish and elegant, and we need to see a lot more of her considerable talents.
By Susan Crawford on 06/02/2009 1:17 pm
Bethany Christian
I love Elizabeth Taylor and have since - well I don’t remember when.  I am so glad to hear that she has returned from the hospital and, yes, I vote for Violet Eyes! 
By Bethany Christian on 06/02/2009 4:09 pm
Patricia Sprofera
It’s not November, but, I, too vote for "Violet Eyes."  
By Patricia Sprofera on 06/02/2009 7:05 pm
Eileen Alannah

I think she should call her fragrance: "Come Hither." (That would have both the "eyes" and the "follow me" thing going for it and for what it’s worth, I, personally, would not use the word "eyes" to name a perfume!

: ) They could make the bottle violet. 

By Eileen Alannah on 06/02/2009 7:45 pm
12next ›last »