Why the West Side (Pandemic Edition): Joy Behar

By Eileen Katz

Joy Behar has shared her love of the Upper West Side in calmer times. We thought we’d checkback in now to see how, like the rest of us, she’s figuring out life these days. Joy’s first career was as a school teacher but it wasn’t long before she found her voice as a comedian and opinion-maker, forging a path that led her to stage, screen and television. Joy has been honored with Emmy, MAC and GLAAD awards and she currently can be seen on The View on ABC where she is a co-host. A special thanks, Joy, for taking the time to chat again!

West Side Rag: How are you holding up Joy?

Joy Behar: “I’m a little lethargic, frankly. I’m a person who likes to be on the move. Although I don’t mind it, but it makes me tired! “

(barking in background)

WSR: Is that your dog?

JB: “Yes. That’s Bernie. He’s been very smoochy with me.”

WSR: I think dogs can sense when we need them…

JB: “I think that what they sense is that no one is leaving them alone anymore and they like that. The few times I’ve gone out and left him alone he poops. Every single time. Like clockwork. Like a little present! So we take him everywhere we can. Every where just so I don’t come home to those little presents”

WSR: Are you cooking a lot these days? Ordering in?

JB: “Oh my God! Like I said on The View, I can’t seem to maintain a 6 foot distance from my refrigerator. I can not! I like to cook anyway.”

WSR: I’ve heard the stories about your world famous lasagnas! Any chance you’ve got an extra one lying around?

JB: “No! I’ve only got one in the freezer which I’m saving. But I’ve made a lamb stew, a meatloaf, steak, I made eggplant parmagianna, chicken Milanese…”

WSR: What’s the perfect quarantine meal?

JB: “Any comfort food..I love meatloaf and potatoes. Oh, and I made melted potatoes! Have you ever heard of that?”

WSR: No what’s that?

JB: “I found it on the internet somewhere and it is soooo good, you just want to kill yourself it’s so good.”

WSR: And what’s the beverage of choice for you guys these days?

JB: “Dr. Brown’s Diet Cream Soda which I can’t get! They’re out of it! They say Oh, you can have Black Cherry but No! I want Diet Cream! Nobody wants Black Cherry. I want Diet Cream and I can’t get it. I like it better than alcohol…although I do have the George Clooney tequila around which is quite good…and if only George Clooney came with it….”

WSR: I’m sure, like everyone, there are so many frustrating parts of this that you’re dealing with. Can you share one?

JB: “I’ve found it very difficult to write. To be creative. I feel blocked. I wrote a play that’s supposed to be produced, but of course, now can’t. We’re supposed to have a reading of it this summer, if God spares, as my God mother used to say. I just can’t bring myself to seem to do any writing.”

WSR: What have you been watching?

JB: “I can’t seem to stop watching the news. But I try and switch off between CNN and those British and Swedish detective shows on Netflix.”

WSR: Have you taken on any home improvement or cleaning projects?

JB: “Well, I’ve got this pantry and I was thinking of organizing it, but I realized, if I just keep using up whatever’s in it and eating out of it and not replacing anything, it kind of automatically cleans and organizes itself! So that’s my Marie Kondo tip: Just keep eating everything and eventually it gets organized and cleaned out!”

WSR: People have been stockpiling things like paper products, etc. Have you found something you’re looking to get?

JB: “Well, I shop at Costco so I feel like I have enough paper towel and toilet paper for at least a little while, but I find I’d like more mozzarella and ricotta. My husband will go out and shop for me, because he’s 7 years younger than me, then come home, change out of his clothes and shower immediately. That’s a tip, by the way ladies: Always marry a man who’s younger than you because in case of a pandemic, they come in handy!”

WSR: Can you share something thoughtful someone’s done for you during this?

JB: “Rahm Emanuel was on the show yesterday and I was told he wanted to send me something as a thank you and to cheer me up so I asked for an orchid because they don’t die after three days. They last a long time and I think that could cheer me up considerably and quite frankly, will force me to clean up a lot because you want the house to look good so you can sit and look at the orchid. I think that type of aesthetic is important at these times.”

WSR: Do you have a celebrity quarantine crush?

JB: “Oh my goodness, well it would have to be someone who can make me laugh so I’d say Mel Brooks. I remember asking Anne Bancroft once, where would you like to live? NY or LA? And she said: “Wherever Mel is. I know when he comes home at night, that’s when the party is going to start!” So yeah, Mel is my celebrity quarantine crush.”

WSR: That is the sweetest story ever! Thank you so much for sharing that! When this is all over what is the first thing you’re going to do?

JB: “I want to throw a big party outside. I really do. I want to invite people over to my house.”

WSR: …and hug them?

JB: “Well not necessarily! But I really mean it. I want to have a big outdoor party with people drinking and laughing. You know, I was invited to a zoom cocktail party the other night and I had a glass of wine and right in the middle of it, I just conked out! I fell asleep and I just want to get my energy back!