By Claudia Wallis

Despite their longstanding friendship, Violin Virtuoso Itzhak Perlman and famed Flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal have never played in concert together. But between rehearsals at Carnegie Hall for their separate performances on Gala of Stars, a public-television special airing this month, the two finally attempted a duet--a four-handed Flight of the Bumblebee on Rampal's 14-karat flute. "He's not too bad," said Rampal of his pal, though the performance was "not for musical purposes." Said Perlman, who just won four Grammy Awards: "We could have done better if I had been thinner. Then he could have gotten his arms around me and breezed through the fingerwork."

When his birthday rolls around, Theodor Seuss Geisel usually hides out in Las Vegas to avoid being "smothered with love." Rather Grinch-like behavior for the author adored by children the world over as Dr. Seuss, but better than facing truckloads of treacly fan mail and thousands of pint-size pilgrims on his doorstep. Last week, however, the good "doctor" turned 77 at home in La Jolla, Calif., braving an avalanche of affection that was greater than ever. The reason: Governors of 15 states had declared March 2 Dr. Seuss Day. Indiana's Robert Orr went so far as to dine on green eggs and ham--favorite feast of Seuss's Sam-I-Am. Shudders Geisel: "If all the Governors take to eating green eggs and ham, I am sort of fearful about the future of this country."

It seemed a pity to waste that distinguished shock of white hair. So, as long as it did not seem destined to bob around the Oval Office, what better place for it than television? Or so, it seems, thought the folks at WLS-TV, the ABC-owned station in Chicago, when they hired defeated independent Presidential Candidate John Anderson, 59, as a political commentator. Recalling one criticism of his stump performance, the former Illinois Congressman once again pledged an Anderson difference: "I firmly promise that I won't preach." But no sooner did the cameras start to roll than Reverend John was back sermonizing, this time on the follies of the Reagan economic program. That aside, the performance was as smooth as the whir of a blow dryer. The only tough moment came during a commercial break following a segment on Rita Jenrette's tale of congressional philandering. "Say, John," hollered Anchorman Fahey Flynn, "how did you stay in Washington so long without getting into trouble?" Anderson was clearly embarrassed: "I can't say. My wife is in the control room."

According to Jackie Cooper, 58, Mickey Rooney "hasn't changed a bit" since the two co-starred in The Devil Is a Sissy back in 1936. Directing his fellow child star in the TV movie Leave 'Em Laughing, Cooper found that Rooney, 60, "still prepares for a scene by cracking people up on the set with funny, sometimes raunchy stories--right up to the moment I yelled 'Action!' " In the film, Rooney portrays the late Jack Thum, a Chicago clown who struggled to support the 37 homeless children he and his wife took in. The role was a natural for Rooney, an inveterate clown who "loves children"--and has ten of his own.

--By Claudia Wallis

On the Record

Dolly Parton, singer, to a Las Vegas audience: "You have no idea the money that went into making this wig look cheap."

Hugh Jacobsen, architect, on the publicity surrounding his latest project, a spacious home on Martha's Vineyard for Jackie Onassis: "Even the plumber has held press conferences to display his bathroom plans."

George Burns, 85, comedian, on standing ovations: "These days I get an ovation for just standing. And if I stand on one foot, they never sit down."

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