Alexander Payne reunites with the ‘brilliant’ Paul Giamatti for ‘The Holdovers’

Yule be seeing them soon

Twenty years ago Paul Giamatti in biggie “Sideways.”

The director-writer was Alexander Payne, he nabbed an Oscar.

The pair currently reunited for the Christmasy “The Holdovers.”

Giamatti, playing a professor stuck with misfit students: “I actually went to prep school like the one in the movie. My father was a Yale professor, mom a teacher. My grandparents were all teachers. My preparation’s from that.”

Payne, who once challenged Giamatti to read from the Omaha phonebook, says, “The guy’s brilliant. Most well-read human I know.”

Omaha phone book? Imagine if he read from a Washington, DC, notebook.

Self-governing

One thing people do not understand about Biden: He doesn’t really care.

Only cared for two things in his life. A long time do nothing in DC, he only thirsted for The Job. Desperately wanted to be president.

And two? Family. His — not yours. He got what he wanted. All he ever wanted.

And, far as he’s concerned, the rest of this whole effing world can basically go to hell.

Celeb spots & stops

Nancy Pelosi into the Regency schlepping a bag so small it barely held private numbers of those who don’t call her anymore . . . Home improvement guy Ken Langone’s supersize yacht “World” docked at Pier 92 with security larger than the crew. He raked in Chinese food with friends . . . Lori Loughlin doing time this time at the Carlyle. Sipped drinks at Bemelmans with friends. Brooke Shields there, too, did autographs for a fan . . . Liza Minnelli organizing for an upcoming movie role about an artist . . . Joni Mitchell hunting for a shot at singing here again. She could slug it “Joni Jam.” 

They’re De-vesting

Ron DeSantis. Several donors want to un-donor him.

Obliged to cut them refund checks, he’s upset. Looking to minimize stories about these refunds.

Some who want money back said he lost them when his biggest issue became Mickey Mouse. Do not ask me how I know this. I know this.

Doc appt pending

Striking actors with nothing to do and zip-a-dee-doo-dah on their hands ended up narrating documentaries.

Critics Choice Documentary Awards hopes Dakota Johnson, Kiefer Sutherland, Natalie Portman, Michael J. Fox will show Nov. 12 at the Edison Ballroom for their annual whatever.

If stars manage to nail paying jobs somewhere, the thing may end up being documented. 

Natural talent

Don’t say I’m not trying to help you. Comes the Academy of Art’s “Take Home a Nude” auction. Two hundred works offered online to fund scholarships.

Listen, if you get one of them, make sure it’s well-hung. 

Intentional acts

The Hamas charter calls for murdering Jews. Its current horror was not only destroying Israel, kidnapping the elderly, killing the ill and the babies primarily to free “Palestine.”

Hamas was simply living up to its charter.

Soon due new credit card commercials: “Tonight, steak in Los Angeles, tomorrow, teriyaki in Tokyo, this weekend, bankruptcy in Manhattan.”

Definitely in New York, kids, definitely in New York.