Madonna, Matt Lauer, And Kardashian’s In The Hamptons

It was a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and it was also a very active one. Media mogul billionaire David Geffen, who reportedly purchased Courtney Ross’s East Hampton Estate just this spring for around $50M, was spotted at a dinner party with Jimmy Fallon and Sarah Jessica Parker. David Geffen is the man Joni Mitchell wrote “Free Man in Paris” about when he was starting out his career. His new place is located literally next door to Spielberg’s long time East Hampton spread. Funny thing the legend is that Steve Ross, the deceased Warner Communications Scion, practically hand picked Spielberg’s place for him decades ago.

Without horsing around too much there seems to be a pattern in measuring popularity by the size of one’s horse farm in Bridgehampton and Water Mill. Madonna’s new eight-bedroom home in Bridgehampton on her horse farm property looks to be near completion. She bought the original 24-acres and structures from Kelly Klein just a few years back. Perhaps this will be the year that “Madge” flashes her star power by spending a whole season around the Hamptons and maybe even have a horse or two compete in the Hamptons Classic.

What can one say about Matt Lauer and his reversal of fortune in the ratings on T.V. and his ambitions in Water Mill? Matt’s 40-acre spread in Water Mill has neighbors reportedly wondering if he just loves to build structures on his “Edge of the Woods Horse Farm.” But Matt’s popularity, or lack of it, in Southampton Town has to be taking a back seat to the latest Kardashian “trashing of the Hamptons way.” Their show is scheduled to begin shooting this week. The show, to be shot in their fantasy boutique named ” Dash” (located somewhere behind the Driver’s Seat) in Southampton Village, has some local residents less than thrilled. I think a way to sum up this situation may be from a line uttered in the original 1981 movie “Arthur,” said by actor John Gielgud to Liza Minnelli: “Usually one has to frequent a bowling alley to meet such women of this stature.” One thing for sure, Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley’s name will no doubt be mentioned without affection in the first few shows. He reportedly claimed he was “lied” to about the whole show. By the Kardashians? No way!

Lastly, I ran into Carl Bernstein, of Watergate fame and who was portrayed by Dustin Hoffman in the movie, “All the Presdent’s Men.” He was dressed totally in green, perhaps making a political statement.

Author TJ Clemente with Carl Bernstein. (Photo: TJ Clemente)