Bob Saget’s friends, family and former co-stars turned out for a cause closeto the actor’s heart on Wednesday night in Beverly Hills. Jimmy Kimmel, JohnMayer and Jeff Ross stepped in to host “Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine,” theScleroderma Research Foundation’s fundraising event which was spearheaded bythe Full House star for 30 years. Saget’s sister Gay died from scleroderma,a rare and often fatal disease, in 1994.
“These bookings have really improved vastly since Bob passed away,” Kimmelquipped on stage as he got the night started.
Regina Hall, Rosie O’Donnell, Kathy Griffin, Norman Lear, Lori Loughlin, JohnStamos, Jodie Sweetin, Joel McHale, Kevin Nealon, Seth Green and Howie Mandelwere among the famous guests in attendance. The event, which was co-chaired bySaget’s wife Kelly Rizzo, also served as a tribute to the beloved comedian.Rizzo and Saget’s daughters were together at the event.
Kelly Rizzo and Lori Loughlin attend “Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine: A Tribute toBob Saget” at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. (Photo: Getty Images)
“What’s so fun about tonight, the only thing that’s fun about it, is we get toshow Bob we wanted to do this,” Kimmel continued, adding: “Everyone shouldhave a friend like Bob Saget. Tonight’s a tribute but it’s also a celebration.… You didn’t really know Bob until you saw him host a Scleroderma Researchdinner. That was the true Bob Saget.”
After dinner and a live auction, the comedy portion of the night featuredstandup sets by Nealon, Mandel and surprise guest Dave Chappelle. Saget andChappelle were friends for decades, ever since the former’s surprising cameoin 1998’s Half Baked. The memorable scene in the stoner comedy depictedSaget less as TV’s dad, and more the raunchy jokester those close to him knewwell.
Chappelle took the stage after making sure everyone’s phones were locked away.He began by going through most of his current material, recounting when he wasattacked four months ago at the Hollywood Bowl. The comic called out the NewYork Post for for doing an interview with the man who knocked him to theground. (Isaiah Lee told the paper he was “triggered” by the comedian’s jokesabout the LGBTQ community and homelessness as he’s bisexual.) Chappelle gotlaughs from the famous crowd recalling how Chris Rock came out after thestunning moment and joked the assailant was Will Smith .
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But it was the end of Chappelle’s set that was touching. The comedian played a”penultimate” message that Saget sent him months before the actor’s death. Inthe video, Sagetes Chappelle on “doing the impossible” with hisaccomplishments and calls him one of the “sweetest” and “most honest” peoplehe ever met.
Chappelle said he received the message at a time when he really needed to hearthose things, calling Saget “af***ing fantastic human being.” The comediansaid it was clear Saget “is in this room tonight.”
“This night is important to him and I wouldn’t miss it for the world,”Chappelle declared.
The evening concluded with a performance by Mayer, who was emotionalthroughout the event. He played a few of “Bob’s favorite songs,” beginningwith “Who Says” — with a very special guitar.
Mayer told the audience that he was playing the guitar Saget used during hislast show in Florida. Rizzo tracked it down, bought it and gifted it to Mayer.The singer said it’s one of his most prized possessions.
Saget was found dead in his Florida hotel room on Jan. 9. The actor was in themiddle of a comedy tour and had performed a gig hours earlier. Saget’s causeof death was the result of blunt head trauma after he likely fell backwardsalone in his hotel room. He was 65.
In one of his final interviews, Saget proudly talked about his work with theScleroderma Research Foundation. “I’ve done over 30 years of benefits andwe’ve raised over $50 million,” he shared. “It’s one of my life’s work.”
Scleroderma is a group of rare diseases that involve the hardening andtightening of the skin. It may also cause problems in the blood vessels,internal organs and digestive tract, according to Mayo Clinic. There is nocure, but the Scleroderma Research Foundation is hoping to change that.Wednesday’s event raised over $1 million, something Saget would clearly be