Meet the New Bosses in Town

By John Harlow | Editor-in-Chief

It took two decades of heartfelt wooing, but world-famous comedian Billy Crystal has agreed to become the 30th honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades.

With one tradition-shattering change—Janice Goldfinger, producer, actress and Mrs. Billy Crystal since June 1970, is to become honorary “co-mayor” instead of First Lady.

Janice and Billy will be installed jointly at the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce’s Comedy Night, hosted by the outgoing mayor and comedian Kevin Nealon and friends, on Saturday Jan. 20 at the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club.

(Tickets at $150 through the chamber’s website: Underpriced, considering the comic possibilities of the night.)

The Chautauqua resident has been wooed by Arnie Wishnick, executive director of the Chamber, “for 20 years or so, but he always said no. I had almost given up, but a board member urged me to give it one more go and to my surprise Billy said yes!”

Billy and Janice join an illustrious line of Palisadian mayors including, Adam West, Walter Matthau, Rita Moreno, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jake Steinfeld.

Alongside Jerry Lewis, Mel Blanc, Chevy Chase and Martin Short, the list seems tilted toward funny men. But none of them can boast of hosting America’s biggest cultural export the Oscars nine times, challenging social taboos by playing TV’s first major gay character in “Soap” or lighting up one of the most-quoted cult films of all time, “The Princess Bride.”

So, with that movie in mind, all we at the Palisadian-Post can say is: “Good luck storming the Palisades, Billy!”