David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place. Own a Dead Lady’s Dress – oh, it’s Princess Di’s
Full disclosure: Your Mayor never quite got the hoopla surrounding the tragic death of Princess Diana. (Even England’s Guardian still isn’t sure what to make of it.) Tragic and senseless as it was, it seemed the outpouring of grief came from people who should’ve had something better to do (her family and friends excluded, of course). Though, in retrospect, it did result in the excellent film “The Queen,” so silver linings and all that.
That said, I’ll shamelessly plug WE tv’s auction of one of her frocks – or, per WE’s press release, “the famed pale blue silk chiffon evening dress … which Lady Diana Spencer Princess of Wales wore to the Cannes Film Festival in 1987 and at the opening of Miss Saigon in 1989.” This, part of WE “celebrat(ing) Princess Diana’s life and legacy” and plugging some of its programming: “Diana Revealed,” as if there’s any more to reveal at this point, and “Diana: The Night She Died,” which gives voice to sundry conspiracy theorists on the accident – er, “accident.” Both premiere Aug. 31, at 8 and 10 p.m., respectively. (Lifetime, too, is jumping on the Lady Di bandwagon, with a TV movie, “The Murder of Princess Diana,” starring “House’s” Jennifer Morrison – no, not as Diana, thankfully; as a journalist who witnesses the tragedy and is convinced that it was no mere car wreck.)
More on the gown: “The pale blue silk chiffon evening dress of classic style is designed by Catherine Walker and has a strapless bodice composed of draped and tucked fabric with a crossover yoke. The skirt falls straight, with an abundance of draped fabric that complements the fitted bodice, and is accompanied by a matching long stole of the same material.”
In case you’re hoping to wear it after you empty your piggy bank at eBay, the dimensions are: Bust: 36, waist: 29, center back length from top of dress to hem: 50”. The zipper is 15” long. The stole measures 126” x 22” when laid flat.
Starting bid is $125,000; proceeds go to charity. So, it’s win-win: You get a piece of history, WE helps needy children and bolsters its schedule. Oh, except for Diana herself: She doesn’t win so much.