Nelson Aspen Thrills at Sold-Out Don't Tell Mama Show, With Special Guest Anita Gillette

Nelson Aspen and Anita Gillette at Don't Tell Mama on October 2, 2015.
Photo courtesy of Nelson Aspen

International entertainment reporter Nelson Aspen performed at Don't Tell Mama in New York City on Friday night for the first time in nearly 30 years. He brought back the music director from his '80s show, Gerry Dieffenbach, and created a fantastic night of music, comedy and showbiz scoops.

From his performances of everything from "Herb the Verb" and "Rhode Island Is Famous For You" to "I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together" and "Love Is All Around" (Theme Song from The Mary Tyler Moore Show), Aspen packed the evening with pop culture references that made the crowd cheer with laughter and joy. The audience absolutely loved singing along to "Three's Company, Too"!

Aspen's special guest was the Tony nominated Anita Gillette (Mona the mistress in Moonstruck, Tina Fey's mother in 30 Rock et al). Three decades after they met working on Search for Tomorrow, Aspen brought Gillette on stage for a story about working with Ethel Merman in "Gypsy" on Broadway, and a showstopping number that proved why she's the best cabaret performer in New York. Note: Gillette will next play Nick Offerman's mother in a Huntington Theatre Company production of "A Confederacy of Dunces" in Boston.

One of the packed room's favorite moments was when Aspen sang "You Take Me Away (to Another World)," with Dieffenbach playing Crystal Gayle to his Gary Morris during the chorus of the Another World theme song. It received extra loud cheers from the large assemblage of former Another World staffers who reunited to attend the show.

Nelson Aspen Reveals Guest for First NYC Show: Anita Gillette

Anita Gillette

Fresh from his one-man show at the iconic Sydney Opera House, Nelson Aspen (ex-Albert, Search for Tomorrow) is returning for three performances (October 2, 9 and 16 at 7 p.m.), accompanied by his original music director, Gerry Dieffenbach. Aspen has promised surprises at all three shows and has now revealed the first guest: Broadway star Anita Gillette ((ex-Franki, The Edge of Night; ex-Wilma, Search for Tomorrow) will join the first show on October 2.

"Anita is a living showbiz legend and I can't wait to have her be a part of my opening night at Don't Tell Mama," Aspen tells We Love Soaps. "She starred in the first Broadway musical I ever saw, 'They're Playing our Song,' and I grew up watching her on Quincy, Password and Match Game. She can do it all! We worked together briefly in the mid '80s on Search for Tomorrow and then she became a bona fide movie star with Moonstruck. We reunited a few years on a Red Carpet for 30 Rock (she played Tina Fey's mother) and became NYC neighbors...truly full circle. Anita's unique talent, energy and charm continue to endear her to audiences of all ages."

To reserve your seats one of Nelson's upcoming shows at Don't Tell Mama in New York, call (212) 757-0788 (after 4 p.m. daily) or visit donttellmamanyc.com.

Currently enjoying his 12th year on Australia's #1 morning show, Sunrise, Aspen is also working on a new series with veteran soap scribe Janet Iacobuzio. Check out a teaser video for the show below, which includes daytime alums Anne Howard, Stephen Schnetzer, Colleen Zenk, Ryan Brown and Anna Holbrook.

Celebrating America's Birthday, My Own and My Mentor's

Mary Stuart

Celebrating America's Birthday, My Own and My Mentor's
By Nelson Aspen

I always loved my July 1 birthday because all the festivity of the long holiday weekend meant that I got to stretch it out for those extra "lazy, hazy days of summer." When my unique friendship with Mary Stuart began in the early 1980s, it became even more fun with the additional celebration of HER birthday on July 4.

Summertime meant trips to her Connecticut country home and ice cold cocktails in her Upper East Side Manhattan penthouse. Like her memorable Christmases, Independence Day was a magical time. I remember the July 4 episode of Search for Tomorrow in 1986 with Mary's character, Jo, singing a duet with our pal Anita Gillette (Wilma) at the Liberty House's rooftop party. They hilariously belted out "Friendship" from Anything Goes. I wish she'd gotten to sing at one of the Bauer Barbeques when she was on Guiding Light as Meta.

@NELSON'S Premieres! Nelson Aspen Interviews Anita Gillette

We Love Soaps contributor and international entertainment reporter Nelson Aspen launched a brand new online show today, @NELSON'S.

From Broadway to TV to the big screen, multi-talented Anita Gillette is best known these days from her roles on MODERN FAMILY and 30 ROCK. Over "Anita Margaritas," she dishes to her neighbor Nelson about everything from her famous costars to surviving a half century in showbiz (including meeting Nelson at SEARCH FOR TOMORROW). They even play a spontaneous round of PYRAMID, her most famous credit from the great era of Daytime Game Shows!

Check it out below:



Next week on @NELSON'S: Thom Racina!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Elvera Roussel, Anita Gillette, Denise Pence & Victoria Mallory

With THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS celebrating its 40th anniversary this month, many fans have been remembering Victoria Mallory and her portrayal of Leslie Brooks, and asking what she's up to now. Last Wednesday, she performed at a staged reading of "Good Girls Only," a Rehearsal Club Musical produced by GUIDING LIGHT alum Denise Pence.

Also in attendance that night were two other soap alums: Elvera Roussel, who starred as Hope Bauer Spaulding in GUIDING LIGHT, and Anita Gillette, who played roles in THE EDGE OF NIGHT and SEARCH FOR TOMORROW.

Photo: Sue Coflin/Max Photos