Howie Mandel says "No Deal" to Kentucky Church
Posted March 25, 2007
Howie Mandel has reportedly canceled his scheduled appearance at a fundraiser for a Richmond, Kentucky church.
The host of the wildly-popular "Deal or No Deal" game show had been planning to perform at St. Mark Catholic Church on May 19, according to Father Jim Sichko, the parish's pastor.
Parishioners and fans had paid up to $500 apiece for the chance to meet Mandel. One lucky winner was going to compete for up to a $10,000 grand prize.
Instead of Mandel, actor/comedian Martin Short will appear.
Unlike hundreds of other Catholic parishes, which organize fish fry dinners, bingo games and Oktoberfest events to raise money, St. Mark has used celebrities to bring in the cash.
In 2005, Regis Philbin appeared at a church gala. Last year, Bill Cosby showed up. Now, Short is on the way. Short co-starred in "The Three Amigos" with Chevy Chase and Steve Martin. A former Saturday Night Live cast member, he also won a Tony award in 1999.
Besides performing in Richmond, Short will also announce the celebrity who has agreed to appear at St. Mark in 2008, Sichko said. The priest isn't dropping any hints about the star's identity, except to say that it's a woman and will be the biggest star ever to appear at the church's annual fundraiser.
A woman with more star power than Cosby or Philbin? That's a pretty narrow field. I'm putting my money on Oprah.
Comments
These "churches'" hunger for filthy lucre knows no bounds. They would have Ron Jeremy come and speak if they thought it would turn a dime.
Editor's note: Well I've never heard of a Catholic church doing it, but I know it's possible elsewhere in Christendom. There are indeed some preachers who would invite a porn industry big shot to appear with them if they thought it would help with ratings and/or fundraising. In fact, it's already happened. As a kid, I remember watching Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker interview "born again" Hustler Magazine publisher Larry Flynt on their PTL Club show.
All I can say is that Fr Jim is an incredibly charismatic hoot. I hope he has Oprah for next year!