James Desnick, the ophthalmologist who’s a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in ’96, doesn’t appear to always see his way to supporting the party at the ballot box. An INC. check with voting records shows that, starting in 1988, Desnick hasn’t voted in a GOP primary. The Highland Park resident’s only votes since that time were cast in the ’88 and ’94 general elections and last month’s Highland Park municipal election. This means Desnick missed voting for the GOP’s Lynn Martin for U.S. Senate and Jim Edgar for governor in the ’90 general election and primary, President Bush and U.S. Senate candidate Rich Williamson in ’92, and Edgar in the ’94 primary. Not exactly a way to win friends.
On the move: Tom Hanks, thanks to the Paramount jet, was here less than 24 hours to pick up his award at Monday night’s Chicago Film Critics event. He left early Tuesday morning to attend an Oscar luncheon in L.A., but here are some leftovers:
– Hanks didn’t put much stock in a possible “Forrest Gump” sequel. The actor said the next time he says “Life is like a box of chocolates” and “Stupid is as stupid does” on the screen will be when Sean Connery next says, “My name is Bond. James Bond.”
– On the upcoming Apollo 13 movie, based on astronaut James Lovell’s book and directed by Ron Howard, he said: “It was an amazing experience. We never had to make something up to keep it gripping.”
– After the film critics’ ceremony in Park West, Gary Sinise gave Hanks, a surprise visitor to the event, and wife Rita Wilson a personal tour of Steppenwolf Theatre before everyone adjourned to Carlucci’s Restaurant, where hours were extended by Joey Carlucci. Sinise and his wife, Moira Harris, joined the Hankses for the return L.A. trip and the luncheon.
Sound of music: Winning prestigious awards isn’t all glamor. Within hours after getting his first Grammy in L.A. this month for “Best Engineer” on a Bonnie Raitt album, Ed Cherney, an Evanston native, was flying to Japan to join the Rolling Stones for a three-week tour. “This is a long way from Poor Richard’s,” said Cherney, of the now -defunct Skokie saloon where he got his start making Chicago musicians sound better.
No taxation: David Frost is well known for his interview with Richard Nixon, but the Englishman told a Northern Trust Bank forum audience Tuesday that he received memorable, off-the-air advice too. Frost said Nixon, after meeting and learning David’s girlfriend (who later became his wife) lived in Monte Carlo, pulled the broadcaster aside later and said in all seriousness: “Marry that girl. She lives in Monaco. She lives tax-free.”
Polpourri 1: Chicago investment counselor David Lugar, son of Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), found himself sitting next to Illinois Secretary of State George Ryan at a recent Bulls game. He tried to enlist Ryan for his dad’s national campaign, but was told by Ryan he’s in Sen. Phil Gramm’s (R -Texas) camp. David’s response: When Gramm drops out, then join Lugar.
Polpourri 2: Ross Perot is yanking his syndicated radio talk show, launched in October, off the air June 4. Tribune Radio Networks officials say they’re puzzled. Ratings weren’t that bad. On the other hand, we’re sure Bruce Dumont isn’t unhappy. Dumont, who’s had a long-running, Chicago-based syndicated political talk show, maintains Ross borrowed-stole?-heavily from marketing strategies he revealed to Perot staffers in an attempt to once get him to appear.
INC.lings: Musician Ramsey Lewis, a ’56 grad of the University of Illinois here when it was at Navy Pier, will get an honorary doctorate from the school at spring commencement exercises. . . . Wednesday birthdays: Judd Hirsch, 60; Mike Love, 54; Sly Stone, 51; Georgia Gouzoules, 107.
Damage control: Whether you think O.J. Simpson is guilty or not, you’ve got to admit he’ll need image polishing if he’s set free. Chicago publicist Kathy Posner will be one of the persons E! Entertainment’s Kathleen Sullivan will interview for expertise Friday on how O.J. should go about that job. Her advice: “If he gets off, he should tell everyone he’s going to go look for the one-armed man (as in `The Fugitive’).”
