Kathie Lee Gifford Didn’t Know Martin Short’s Wife Was Dead

Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb (your Spanx is showin’!) interviewed Martin Short on TODAY Wednesday morning and let’s just say someone didn’t do their homework.

Enthusiastic and seemingly in awe at the love Martin and his wife Nancy Dolman have for one another, Kathie Lee asked Short about his marriage. What Kathie didn’t know was that Nancy died from cancer in 2010. Martin and Nancy were together for 38-years before she passed away. True soul mates. So when Kathie Lee asked Martin about his wife, it was obviously a weird moment for those who knew (everyone) that Nancy had died. When Kathie said, “You and Nancy have one of the greatest marriages in show business. How many years now for you guys?” I gasped. Then I held my breath and wondered how he would respond.

“We, uh, married 36 years.”

Notice he didn’t say, “we were married,” or “we are married.” He skipped the verb altogether. Right then and there my heart sank. He was definitely uncomfortable, but like a true actor, he kept smiling and just got through it as pleasantly as he could. What else do you do? He might be a good actor but you could see the pain in his eyes. But Kathie kept going.

“But, you’re still, like, in love!”

“Madly in love, madly in love,” he says, but now his smile has disappeared. I want to hug him.

“Why?!” muses Kathie, still completely oblivious to what is going down.

“I’m cute!” replies Martin. Humor, thank God. It lightens the room. Everyone laughs and you think it’s finally over. But noooo… Kathie follows it up with, “And you make each other laugh!” Martin seems deflated. Thank God Hoda breaks it up and changes the subject finally.

A lot of people are pissed at Kathie Lee for this total embarrassing moment(s). But really, is she the one doing all the research? I doubt it. Someone else is doing that FOR her. That person is also probably unemployed now. Sorry about your luck, but c’mon man, that was a HUGE mistake, buddy, and I promise behind the scenes Kathie will NOT take the blame for this one.

Martin later talked with E! about the incident: ”On live television, people make mistakes. There’s no ill will intended. It’s nice to aspire to be kind of elegant,” he said.

A class act, that guy is.

Watch the trainwreck unfold here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZo5fvpMfy0&feature=related