Recently, as an event for STORIES: The AIDS Monument was drawing to a close, at the Beverly Hills home of Kevin Huvane (Managing Partner, Creative Artists Agency), my pal, Bryan Rabin and I stopped to exchange pleasantries with Kathy Griffin; who had been holding court, on a settee on the side of the terrace.  As I greeted the comedian, another guest asked her for a photo, and Griffin repeated a previous apology, that – due to being under a federal investigation – she couldn’t pose for any photos.

“I hope people don’t think I’m kidding, or just being rude,” she said in my general direction, if not to me, per se.

“I read, Kathy Griffin.  I know what’s going on with you,” I replied (as though I hadn’t been about to ask for the same exact thing), before holding-up one finger and adding “And lemme tell you something – I almost tore-up my ACLU card, when they let the Klan march in Skokie.  Almost.”

This elicited a very perplexed look from Bryan, while simultaneously leading to a very amusing back-and-forth with Griffin, about the difference between Freedom of Speech and matters taste (or the lack, thereof), with regards to her recent kerfuffle, and ending with a reference to the protests over The Public Theater's production of Julius Caesar in New York's Central Park.  “Kathy Griffin and William Shakespeare – that’s some pretty heady company you’re keeping, Lady.”

A few minutes later, as Bryan and I were in the drive of Chez Huvane, waiting for security to let our Uber through, I looked over and said “You had a funny look on your face, back there”

“I grew-up outside of Chicago, as you know.  Seeing as I was about eight, when that march happened, you must’ve been four; and I doubt that even you were a member of the ACLU at four…”

“Oh, that.  Yeah…  Actually, that was a line from Law & Order*, and it just popped-out.  (From where, I have no idea.)  Fortunately, it was, like, precisely on point!  Also, I look a lot older than I am, and I sound like I know what I’m talking about; so I think it totally worked, in the moment, don’t you?” 

Then, as if on cue, as I shrugged, our car arrived, and we laughed all the way down the hill, to the Peppermint Club; where we were headed to catch Angela McCluskey's performance, that night.  But you’ll have to come back another time, to read about that.  (Sneak preview – she slayed!)

STORIES: The AIDS Monument
West Hollywood Park
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[Editor’s Note: District Attorney Adam Schiff’s line, from the episode “Hate” (S9, Ep10) was “I nearly resigned from the ACLU, when they defended that racist march in Skokie.  Nearly.” It was referencing the 1977 case of National Socialist Party of America et al. v. Village of Skokie, 432 U.S. 43.  Also, I erroneously said “the Klan,” when it was actually the NSPA…]