George Stephanopoulos may have been the single best decision in David Westin's [ABC News prez guy] career, when he named him host of "This Week," and George may have the single biggest interview on a Sunday ayem show this Sunday (on the campaign trail with Obama, Sunday, WABC/7, 10:30).
Big deal.
More importantly, did you know George Stephanopoulos's dad is an adjunct prof at St. John's? I didn't, which is why I was particularly intrigued by this Sunday's graduation ceremony on the Great Lawn at the Queens campus. Both George and dad will be conferred honorary degrees by the university, which must be some sort of record for St. John's (I'm just spit-balling here, but...first time a father and son ever got degrees the same day...at St. John's?)
Some quick facts about dad: He's dean of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Greek Orthodox) in Manhattan and adjunct prof in the department of theology for twenty-three years. Had a nice chat with the Rev. Stephanopoulos the other day. Said he: "We [father and son] stay in constant touch and see each other quite a bit [but] he keeps his own counsel" - which is to say that he never feeds him questions for "This Week" interviews. "We're both very pleased with the honor being bestowed on us.."
Which is: an honorary doctor of laws degree for son, and an honorary doctor of sacred theology for dad.
And speaking of ABC News' Sunday morning programs (we were speaking of that, were'n't we?) and Long Island connections..."Good Morning America Weekend" will announce the winner of its "Mom's of Invention" series on Sunday's program. One of the three finalists: Elizabeth Wen Zortora of Syosset. Here's her invention: A chopping board with drawers ("My husband does some cooking. He always asks me to help him prepare onions, mushrooms, peppers etc. But when I'm cutting things up on the chopping board, it occurs to me that I'm brushing off everything off to a dish after chopping each & every item...."
Hence, the drawer!! Why didn't I think of that?