Local National Treasure Awarded

Montecito actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus was honored by President Joe Biden in a star-studded ceremony at the White House to present the 2021 National Humanities Medals and the 2021 National Medals of Art.

In total, 24 artists, authors, and humanitarians, including rocker Bruce Springsteen, singers Gladys Knight and José Feliciano, fashion designer Vera Wang, and authors Amy Tan, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead, historian Walter Isaacson and Tara Westover, were honored.

Biden is particularly close to Veep star Julia, 62, their having formed a warm friendship after she starred in the popular HBO comedy about an ambitious vice president.

The two performed in a skit together for the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in May 2014. And she and her actor son, Charlie Hall, 25, attended the Bidens’ first state dinner in December for French president Emmanuel Macron.

Royal Rehearsals

A reproduction of the coronation plinth at Westminster Abbey has been built in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace so King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla can carry out rehearsals for his big day on May 6.

Rehearsals are expected to begin this week with the tony twosome learning the complex choreography which will be required during the one-hour ceremony watched by 2,000 spectators in the 1,000-year-old Gothic masterpiece.

The stage is part of the covert Operation Golden Orb, which is designed so there are no mishaps on the big day which will be watched by billions around the globe.

Nearer the coronation date, builders will construct a stage of the same proportions at the abbey, which has hosted the crowning of 39 English and British monarchs in its long history and at least 16 royal weddings, the last being the 2011 nuptials of Prince William and Kate, now the Prince and Princess of Wales, on which I did commentary for NBC.

And, of course, I will also be doing commentary on King Charles III’s crowning for Santa Barbara’s ABC affiliate KEYT-TV.

Into the Ozone

Oscar winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed the weirdest wellness treatment she has ever done is rectal ozone therapy, a procedure where the powerful gas is delivered via catheter into the colon.

“I have used ozone therapy rectally,” the 50-year-old Montecito resident said on the Dean Media podcast The Art of Being Well. “It’s pretty weird… But it has been very helpful.”

The Goop founder’s therapy is said to reduce pain and inflammation, increase energy, improve metabolism, stimulate the immune system, and is anti-aging as well as an effective defense against bacterial and viral infections.

Sightings

Oscar winner Jeff and Susan Bridges at the SAG Awards in L.A…. Legendary chef Éric Ripert of Manhattan’s Le Bernardin at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara… Montecito rocker Adam Levine and wife Behati Prinsloo at the celebrity-packed Vanity Fair Oscars party.

Pip! Pip!