Kausfiles reports that at yesterday’s AARP Hollywood luncheon honoring Smith, the gossip doyenne had some choice words about the LA Times:

[Smith] ragged gleefully on the L.A. Times for its pathetic, stuffy, circ-killing, even David-Shaw-like refusal to have a gossip column. Smith noted the LAT actually subscribes to her column but doesn’t publish it. “I guess the editors like to read it the night before.”

Oh, and Mickey Kaus adds this aside about the luncheon:

P.P.P.S: Best lookin’ senior celeb in person: Rita Moreno! Who knew?

Funny, that’s exactly what the email I just got from Moreno said about Mickey.

UPDATE: A reader writes:

Guess Ms. Smith doesn’t read the Times. Her column IS carried. However all the really boring stuff is edited out and only the less boring stuff is printed. Zzzzzz….

ANOTHER UPDATE: Another reader writes:

You missed the real story about the AARP luncheon. What the hell was Mickey doing there with those alter kakhers?