My lunch w/Florence Henderson...

Sometimes, my life is so surreal. I found myself on the soundstage where "I Love Lucy" was filmed this afternoon scooping some salmon onto my plate as I chatted up Florence Henderson.

Me: "I really loved all the "Brady Bunch" shows except for the ones with cousin Oliver."

Me: "But hey, look at you. You're still here."

My Daily News column tomorrow is all about Florence and her new talk show. But details of the lunch itself, which won't be in the column, are what I want to share with you. Among a handful of journalists who were invited were a smattering of guest stars including Barbra Streisand's little sister, Roslyn Kind - a very talented singer who is back on stage after a long hiatus. I'll share my chat with her tomorrow. Freda Payne and I gabbed for a minute and Pat Boone was also there but I didn't bother to strike up a conversation with him. Also there was Mr. Blackwell who I wanted to chat up but he was engrossed by an anecdote being told by Tippi Hedren. I thought it was funny that he was at the same table as Allison (Nellie Olson from 'Little House on the Prairie) since he had dissed her on his worst dressed list.
But she was thrilled to be on the same list as Posh Spice! She's a hoot and I will have that interview in the coming days.

Anyway, here's my column on Florence Henderson:

When I was a kid, every Friday night my parents would buy us McDonalds for dinner then we'd all pile into the living room to watch "The Brady Bunch." So it was really cool on Thursday to meet Mrs. Brady herself, Florence Henderson, at an intimate luncheon event celebrating the premiere of her new talk show.

The chatfest, which airs on the fledgling Retirement Living TV channel, may be aimed at the 55-plus crowd but Florence told me she wants to play host to guests of all ages.

"I'd love Tom Cruise as a guest, or Julia Roberts. Certainly Clint Eastwood," said the lovely lady. "I want to talk to people who are contributing and who are talented and have something to say. I'm the most appreciative fan you'll ever meet."
So far, some terrific guests have taped interviews for "The Florence Henderson Show" including Carol Burnett, Jason Alexander, Bob Newhart, Judge Judy and Garry Marshall, among others. Before lunch, she had finished taping a show with guests Tippi Hedren, Freda Payne and Roslyn Kind.

"On most talk shows, if you're on for five minutes you're lucky," she said. "My guests don't feel pressured. We sometimes do 30 minutes and you find out things about these great performers. I love talking to people, I love that intimate one-on-one."

Yes, two of her on-screen kids from "Brady Bunch" - Eve Plumb and Susan Olsen - have already guested with others sure to follow.
"I can't get rid of them!" she joked.

Florence, who turns 74 on Valentine's Day, looks remarkably youthful after more than 50 years of stardom. She was originally a big Broadway star in such shows as "Wish You Were Here" and "Fanny" before she landed a high-profile gig "The Today Show" in 1959 as what was then referred to as a "Today girl."
"In a way, doing this show is going full circle because one of the first things I did was 'Today.' To be so young and to work with people like Dave Garroway. I've just been very fortunate."

Since Retirement Living TV is just over a year old, the show is available locally only through Direct TV and Comcast Cable so Florence knows it's an uphill climb for viewers: "It's difficult these days unless you're hot or you're Britney Spears and you're sick."

Britney Spears could really use a Mrs. Brady right now.