Goodnight, Suzanne Pleshette

I couldn't believe I was actually double dating with Suzanne Pleshette. It was more than 40 years ago, and only my second date with Aaron Spelling, but there was THE Suzanne Pleshette and her beau, a bigger-than-life oilman named Tommy Gallagher, and we were double dating.

She had been married to heartthrob Troy Donahue. She was in Alfred Hitchcock movies. She was a star with unlimited stardom ahead of her. And we were about to become lifelong friends.

Now I can't believe we've lost her. We knew she had been ill with cancer for over two years, that she went through chemotherapy in true Suzanne-style class, and that she had been quieter than usual. But, no one could imagine losing Suzanne Pleshette at age 70 as we did this past weekend.

Let me apologize in advance for what I'm going to say, but Suzanne was a true "broad." I don't like the word. I don't use the word. I'm offended by the word. But, my friend Suzanne was the best broad ever.

Her sense of humor was like none other. She was as unpredictable as she was funny. Her vocabulary was expansive and, well, broad-like.

This week, a lot of us will be gathering to say good-bye to Suzanne as she gets re-acquainted with her beloved Tommy Gallagher and Tom Poston. I can only imagine what she's going to say to those guys, but heaven will never be the same.

Goodbye, pal. No one will ever forget what you've brought to so many.