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Busting bad dish!

Kathie Lee Gifford Asks Martin Short About His Marriage — 2 Years After Wife’s Death

VIDEO

(NBC)

This is really, really painful to watch.

Martin Short appeared on the Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb hour of the “Today Show” on Wednesday to promote Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, and conversation turned to his children and their jobs.

At that point, Gifford said, “And you and Nancy have one of the greatest marriages of anybody in show business. How many years now for you guys?”

Unfortunately, Short’s beloved wife Nancy Dolman actually died of ovarian cancer back in August 2010.

The actor managed to answer gracefully and without embarrassing Gifford — even after she obliviously followed up with another comment about how “in love” Short and Dolman still are.

Wow.

Following a commercial break, Gifford acknowledged her mistake and apologized.

See video of the uncomfortable exchange below.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Linda-Kopp-Smith/707896239 Linda Kopp Smith

    That’s ridiculously sad!!

  • Regina1180

    What the hell kind of “journalism” is that? Pathetic.

  • Kristine

    She should be fired for this. Inexcusable for a journalist.

  • Jo

    Martin Short showed tremendous grace toward Kathie Lee and at the same time greatly honored his late wife’s memory through his response. God bless him. I’m sure after thirty years she is still with him every day and will be for the rest of his life.

  • Notre Dame, In

    I saw this when it aired and was just shocked to hear her saying that to him. I really can’t stand Kathy. Martin is such a gentleman.

  • Lmac207

    I was watching the interview and I was thinking he doesn’t seem really happy about his marriage. Then I find out the wife died a few years ago. Someone didn’t do their homework.

  • Bbossi

    I take from this moment that Mr. Short is a very kind and classy man.

  • Tatiana

    WOW! No wonder GMA is now beating Today in ratings!

  • Mpls, MN

    Kathie Lee is pathetic and an idiot. She acts like she is so close to everyone and going on and on about Martin’s wife, Nancy, when in fact she knows nothing about her or him. Just ridiculous. FIRE HER! She is a horrible person.

  • Keithsingleton

    These two bimbos don’t do their homework. Less than two years ago, they were reading the introduction of Jeff Dunham and his worldwide phenomenal record and said, “Who are you?” “What?” These are the two worst interviewers I’ve ever seen. Bimbos On Parade.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1326510713 Gloria Marinen Bowen

    I was amazed she did not know that his wife had died. She’s in show business and should know these things, and at the very least, she should do her own homework on her guests. It was a very uncomfortable moment for not only Martin Short but all the viewers who knew that his wife had died. All I can say is shame on you Kathie Lee!!!

  • susies

    I had googled him while he was co-hosting on Live with Kelly earlier in the morning, and noticed his widower status… then when I heard this interview later, I was like “Holy crap, Wikipedia really is full of s**t!!” I was horrified when Kathie Lee came back on to acknowledge his wife’s passing and apologize. As another commenter mentioned, she acts like she’s BFFs with the whole world… like she is so close to Martin Short and Nancy that she knows how special their marriage is, yet isn’t aware that she had cancer… and died. Two years ago. I’ve had a lot of respect for Kathie Lee, because she comes off as such a compassionate and gracious Christian woman, but this proves that a lot of it is all for show.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_63SFUJ622FEIJ65S5YKIQG425A Sophia

    Way to make him feel bad!!!

  • Anonymous

    Kathie Lee Gifford is a blathering, classless (and apparently) lazy idiot.
    Shame on you, Kathie Lee …

  • brian

    he so short he look mental when he take a pitcher of he. he short on tellagents to he so dumb. the elmo a retart fer shore.

  • Campbellclan1

    I was horrified when she carried on like she knew Martin and his wife so well. I remember his wife’s death. I felt so sorry for him being in that predicament. Kathie Lee is a self aggrandizing, faux serious woman who always tries to be so earnest with important people. This was a serious and painful moment. Shame on her.

  • Randall Hodge

    SNL had a regular sketch in the 80s. It was the Pat Stevens Show (Nora Dunn) hosted by a shallow, superficial, self-centered, and clueless “former model”. She had as a guest, Corazon Aquino (Jan Hooks), widow of the slain political leader, Benigno Aquino. Pat asked what her husband thought about her involvement in politics. Corazon Aquino: “My husband was assassinated three years ago!” Pat Stevens: “Are you dating?”

    These things happen. SNL parodies of Kathy Lee Gifford are no longer parodies.

  • Thom_r_brewer

    She did the same thing to James Taylor on her show with Regis. She acted like she was close with him and asked how his brother was. James looked down and said “he died a few years ago.” Real nice

  • Guest

    This is what happens when you drink too much every morning.

  • Anonymous

    damn, martin short handled that very well. mad props.

  • Marlene

    I just saw it and almost was thinking, hoping, that maybe the news had it wrong years ago.Times goes quickly too as I thought it had only been a year ago. sad. Kathie did make a nice apology though after the break.

  • Scvbowler

    God Bless Martin Short for his response he did not skip a beat, even as she countinued. he greatly honored his wife and i’m sure she was right along there laughing with him. this was a major mistake for kathy lee and then network should make their journalist more responsible for how they interview people.

  • Mulan

    it’s sad, they just ask questions, Nobody wants to do research before interviews no more, smh

  • Tinaaga1968

    go back under your rock brian

  • Mimiblair

    ” As not to embarrass HER “, really. Kathie Lee is obviously out of touch with anything not associated within her dull little life. Martin Short should have smacked the s**t out of her and walked off set. How dare she, that was a heartless move.

  • Hx403

    Drunk Journalism at its finest…solid job ladies.

  • Regina1180

    Kristen Wiig would have had a field day with this.

  • Anonymous

    I think her Twitter response was crap. She still made it all about her.

  • brad

    what you mean tinabag lady or mans person? why you are talking to i in that kinda ways. all you haft to do is look at hims pitcher an look at the marvin shirts mans he a menta handiman mans it a factuality of life. it wont hims fault he a canadazian an they all at a least dumb if the wont mentalistical.

  • Justok4u

    omg. does she still have a job? I hope not! this is beyond stupidity

  • wtk44

    Kathie Lee should be F I R E D!!! I can’t watch that show because they don’t take anything seriously and obviously do no research on their guests!

    I agree with miamichick99: Her apology on twitter wasn’t an apology to Martin as it was thanking him for not making her look bad! How disgusting!!

    FIRE HER NBC!!

  • Tinaaga1968

    Martin Short is a highly intelligent and funny person and your low brow attempt at making yourself look humorous falls seriously flat.

  • D. Martin

    So well said. He could have looked right at her and said, “Kathy, my wife passed away two years ago. You really should do your homework.” He didn’t. A. CLASS. ACT.

    No one would have blamed him at all if he’d called her on it right then.

  • J Zambrano

    Poor man. He showed such dignity in an awful situation. There is no excuse for the lack of research before this interview.

  • Chloe

    Jo – You said it perfectly…I don’t need to comment.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5G3UV47TG33STBZQ5KY7GDTMHQ Astro

    People are so damn nosy, that’s what. Someone promoting a movie and you need to talk about their marriage. Furthermore I wonder about these no talents on tv these days (too many of them, just botox faced no talent)

  • smartchick

    Kathy Lee has always had a big mouth and very little between the ears! This is the worst kind of error. I’m glad Martin Short maintained his dignity, but I am sure he was sad inside. Maybe now Kathy Lee will do the homework she should have done before this interview and not embarrass other people with her lack of knowledge. I would like to know if Hoda knew that Nancy Short had passed, or if she just let Kathy Lee put her other foot in her mouth. I don’t think Hoda is a lot better than Kathy Lee….and yet she used to be a good investigative reporter on Dateline (or was it 48 Hours?), I guess on this show the hosts can just go on the air with no preparation. Too bad for the guests and the TV audience.

  • Anonymous

    So, it’s ALWAYS all about her. Why should this be any different?

  • Anonymous

    She’s probably trying to find an assistant to blame for not doing the research for her.

  • Anonymous

    If Hoda knew; then she’s even worse for letting it happen. If she didn’t; then she’s just as stupid for not learning about the person she’s supposed to be interviewing.

  • Ddmondello

    Kathy Lee has always been a bimbo in search of more fame.. Just like all the others in that group.
    It’s sad that some women have to be so terrible to get ratings and throw good people under a bus when they’re just waiting for a fair ride..
    Kathy Gifford has no business being on the air. She’s intrusive, abusive and radically angry at everybody that is not in her family..
    Kathy Lee… No wonder your husband wandered! You are a blister on human life! Get out of the media and try to understand your own life as well as your misguided insights in life. You are the problem that promotes problems in society. Well done!

  • Olivia Roosevelt

    The actor managed to answer gracefully and without embarrassing Gifford — even after she obliviously followed up with another comment about how “in love” Short and Dolman still are.

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  • Anonymous

    Way to go Loud Mouth…look what it got you this time!! Where’s the Donald…YOU’RE FIRED!!!

  • http://www.premierebailbonds.com/ van nuys bail bonds

    I wonder about these no talents on tv these days (too many of them, just botox faced no talent)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1134865289 Sharon Hunt

    this is the 4th hour of Today…way beyond Matt and Ann, Know your facts before you comment…KLG has no class however.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1134865289 Sharon Hunt

    I don’t think she cares

  • Rocky

    Do you think we might encourage broadcasters to use correct English? She might be able to “feel bad” about it, but “I feel badly” is a misnomer.

  • brad

    you rite he do be dumb like a stone he so idiotically challanged he mental.

  • Kaylee

    What a f***ing idiot!

  • Mitchell1961

    Please, you people are pathetic..My Mom and little brother have both passed away..I still have people ask about them all the time..I don’t take it personal..they mean no harm…Neither did Kathy..I know!! you guy’s should form a lynch nob and just go get her and crucify her….Idiots!!

  • Coolio Foolio

    This bitch…

  • Mpls, MN

    Idiots? Wow Mitchell, calm down. If people ask about your mom and brother, that’s because they’re being nice and are showing concern. Kathie Lee is on TV and should do her research before interviewing people. She’s so self-absorbed, it’s embarrassing. The fact that you compare the two incidences as equal is ridiculous, but I won’t lower myself to refer to you as an idiot.

  • suefromnc

    Oh My! How embarrasing! I have a bump in my stomach for Martin! :’(Do any of the TV personalities on the TODAY show do their homework before they interview people? Just curious because, I have watched too many ridiculous interviews with Matt Lauer where he asks Robert Pattinson the exact same stupid questions over and over. He also makes it very obvious he knows nothing about Robert’s work and he too just sits their graciously and answers the same dumb questions.

    This is the final straw though–I will NOT watch the TODAY show AGAIN!

  • Debbie

    How right you r

  • Debbie

    Difference is she should have done her homework especially when you act like their bff. And your doing a interview

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/JQ5Q5FVGTV32HR2TE45JWQCZ6Q Kathy Tufano

    I had no idea that sooooo many of you feel the same as i do about kathie lee giifford. she is PATHETIC and needs to be relaced. I’m finished with the Today show until she’s gone.

  • Vanderheydenp

    Dumb biotch Kathy Lee! Martin Short you are one heck of a gent to handle it with that response. Today show will soon be tomorrow!!

  • Welita55

    Kathie Lee Gifford is, always has been, and always will be a loud mouthed, know-it-all, brainless, no talent, sleep her way to the top hack. This is just yet more proof of that at someone else’s expense. God bless Martin Short. What a gracious man! All she had to do was ask ANYBODY about him or just google him for crying out loud!!
    Can somebody please tell me why she still has a job… on television???

  • Themimi27

    God bless Nancy and rest in peace. What a class act Martin Short.

  • Ecoady

    My wife passed away 5 years ago at a young age of 51. Anyone who has lost their spouse at a too early time (never a right time) has gone through such episodes. Its not easy but you understand and its not too shocking. What is shocking is to wake up that first day without them and realize that you will never be able to talk to them, to listen to them, to touch or hold them. Everything else is easy. Dont worry Kathy, in some ways these incidents bring back your love for you to remember. Then you have to go on and put the memory away and wait for the day in which someone else will wake up and miss you.

  • Neema52

    Maybe Kathy Lee is getting senile? I remember her and Frank and Regis would come into the restaraunt I worked in, on the, the next day,she would mention it on the air.The ladies from the country club would come in their tennis out fits for lunch.Just to ask where they sat last night.The restaraunt was an upscale place where the waiters wore tux.I was really surprised they let them in. because of the way they were dressedThey only ordered soup and salads .

  • Capnsaveemm

    Oh shut up, she made a mistake and they can’t know everything, they have producers and researchers who do that. The woman apologized and he accepted her apology.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=999975436 Jaye Leslie Gries Sarbry

    Martin Short is an amazing CLASS ACT!!!
    Kathy Gifford is just an A$$!!!!!

  • KailuaMom

    She’s lost all credibility. It’s simple inexcusable lazy journalism. I’ll never watch her again but I now have huge respect and admiration for Martin Short!!

  • GOD

    brian, this is God talking. Keep your comments to yourself. Be careful during the next lightning storm…just sayin

  • 4kings

    Thats why kathy lee Gifford should not drink on or before or after the today show? She is a drunkin old hag. the today show should let her go.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/rchrisgomez Ryan Gomez

    Wow. I bet her prep team got fired after that.

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