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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > June > 14
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Agnes Scott prof has tony Tony prediction record
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to his own calculations, Agnes Scott professor David Thompson bests The New York Times, Playbill and USA Today in his Tony Award predictions, correctly naming 20 out of 24 award winners this year for an 83 percent accuracy rate. Only Backstage and NYTheatre.com did better, with an 88 percent accuracy rate each, he said.
Thompson began making his Tony predictions about seven years ago, and he does all his research in a one-week marathon of theatergoing during a visit to New York each spring. The short trip necessitates some long days on Broadway. On at least three visits, he’s attended three shows on a single Saturday, packing Power Bars in his pockets to keep going.
“I felt like Tony Stewart doing the Indy 500 and the Coke 600 in the same day,” joked Thompson, who was relaxing Tuesday during a post-Tony vacation trip to Panama City, Fla.
Tree sitting
“Splash” mermaid Daryl Hannah was among 20 or so protesters who clashed with police Tuesday over the forced eviction of a group of urban farmers from a 14-acre tract in Los Angeles. Those fighting the sale of the parcel for use as a warehouse chained themseles to barrels filled with cement, but police and riot forces sawed through the chains and began hauling away the demonstrators Tuesday morning.
According to The Associated Press, Hannah had been sitting in a large walnut tree on the property when she was removed by authorities, who cut away branches and used a firetruck lift to bring her down.
“I’m very confident this is the morally right thing to do, to take a principled stand in solidarity with the farmers,” Hannah told the news service by cellphone. Singer Willie Nelson and actor Danny Glover have expressed support for saving the farm.
A little bit of L.A. in Atlanta
The celebrating continues for former Atlantan Antonio “L.A.” Reid. This past weekend, Oprah Winfrey, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Usher were on hand for the music mogul’s 50th-birthday party in New York. And this Friday, the chairman of Island Def Jam is flying into Atlanta, where Mayor Shirley Franklin will honor Reid for launching LaFace Records here. Many consider the now-closed record label a kick-starter for the city’s still-going music scene. And to thank him, the mayor will place a plaque at the corner of East Paces Ferry and Lenox roads — a first from the city for an entertainer, Franklin’s special events manager said.
Quote of the day
Britney Spears loves her husband, Kevin Federline, because, well, he’s not too complex. Spears revealed her feelings in an interview with Matt Lauer, to be aired on the “Today” show Thursday morning and on “Dateline” at 9 that night. A few tidbits were thrown our way to whet the appetite:
Lauer: What is it about Kevin that makes you love him?
Spears: It’s very simple. Women complicate everything. He’s so simple. His simplicity and just he’s like a boy. He just, you know, and he cares. He cares so much and his heart is awesome. He has a really big heart and I love that.”
Don’t call her madam
Heather Mills McCartney and former Beatle Paul McCartney are divorcing, they confirmed Tuesday, a detail not stated when they announced their separation last month. She also announced plans to sue any newspapers that dig into her past.
News of the separation was followed quickly by the appearance of nude photos of the soon-to-be-former Mrs. McCartney in several publications. Shortly thereafter, the London mass-circulation Sunday publication News of the World printed stories that said when she was in her 20s she accepted sums of cash for spending the night with wealthy men. In a statement last month, Sir Paul said, “Seeing that so many inaccurate stories have been written at the moment about Heather and myself, all I can ask people to do is not believe them and understand that most of what is coming out is made up and entirely false. Thanks for your support.”
According to E! Online, the McCartneys may not have had a prenuptial agreement, so, as they work out custody of their 2-year-old daughter Beatrice, they also could be negotiating her share of his $1.5 billion.
Call him … Midnight?
Rock star, movie star and all-around cool guy Jack Black and his wife, Tanya Haden (daughter of jazz bassist Charlie Haden), are the parents of a baby boy, Black told the “Access Hollywood” program Monday night. No name was mentioned in the “Access Hollywood” piece, or on the US Hollywood Web site where it also appeared, but Buzz would like to suggest either Coffee, Pitch or Basic.
Celebrity birthdays
Tennis great Steffi Graf is 37. Singer Boy George is 45. Businessman and TV personality Donald Trump is 60.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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