Any cake left?

According to the guest list provided to media, comedienne Joan Rivers didn't make the cut for attending Elizabeth Taylor's 75th birthday Mardi Gras-themed bash in Las Vegas earlier this week.

Taylor, who arrived late to her party Tuesday at the Ritz-Carlton and was whisked inside via a wheelchair, was dripping in diamonds and fur according to the description of onlookers and reporters.

The guest list included her son Christopher Wilding, who shares the same birthday, and her other children Michael Wilding, 54, Elizabeth "Liza" Todd, 49 and Maria Burton, 45, in addition to white lion guys Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn and model Kathy Ireland.

However, no trace of Michael Jackson, who has confirmed he is now living in Sin City, nor of Rivers, a favorite long-time headlining legend in Las Vegas.

But, despite the hype the media still likes to make of Taylor's rivalry with Debbie Reynolds, who like Taylor, was once married to singer Eddie Fisher, both Reynolds and her daughter Carrie Fisher attended the dinner, which included a menu of jambalaya, prime rib, collard greens, sweet potatoes and a grand finale birthday cake.

On the subject of Rivers, the queen of the red carpet is going to finally make it back to our region for a rare comedy performance in May.

She'll play a double-bill, sharing the stage with comic Don Rickles for one 8 p.m. show May 8 at the beautiful Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet.

This show was just added to the schedule, and tickets went on sale Friday, ranging from $40 to $75 and available at (815) 726-6600 or www.rialtosquare.com.

River' last visit to our area to perform was also a double bill with Rickles, way back in 1995 on the Radisson Star Plaza stage. She also briefly returned to Chicago in March 1997 (which was the last time I interviewed her) to do a book signing.

As for Rivers' thoughts about Taylor, who became her trademark joke specialty during the 1980s, the always outspoken Rivers claims she would have stopped using jokes about the actress and her weight in her act immediately if she believed Taylor really felt hurt or attacked.

"I've met her a number of times, primarily through parties given by our mutual friend Roddy McDowall," Rivers told me.

"After I really started using her a lot in my act and on 'The Tonight Show' because audiences wanted those jokes, I once asked through Roddy whether it bothered her. I was told 'They don't hurt me where I live.' "

As for one of Rivers' favorite Taylor fat jokes from the past: "Elizabeth Taylor once went to Sea World and saw Shamu the Killer Whale, and asked: 'Does he come with fries?' "

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

celebBirthdays

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