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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > May > 16
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Pair makes selves at home on strip circuit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Yes, we were relieved when those Barbie Bandits came along,” Duluth resident Lisa Ann Taylor conceded to Buzz Wednesday, laughing. After all, Taylor, aka the alleged “Mansion Madam” and her friend Nicole “Naughty Nikki” Probert got knocked off media radar screens earlier this year after teens Ashley Miller and Heather Johnston allegedly knocked over a Bank of America inside a Cobb County Kroger and took off to get makeovers at Carter-Barnes Hair Artisans at Phipps Plaza.
In January, Taylor, a former Penthouse Pet, and fellow adult entertainer Probert were arrested and accused of running a high-end prostitution business out of Taylor’s pricey Sugarloaf Country Club home. The women, who have yet to be indicted on the charges, were back on the radar Wednesday, booked as the star attractions at Atlanta strip club Tattletales Wednesday night.
Prior to their appearance, Taylor and Probert, who both previously worked as Realtors, talked to Buzz about their lives. As the AT&T Classic tees up outside her house this week, Taylor, who says she could have fetched $4,000 renting out the home this week to golfers, hasn’t had any takers. However, the pair has become a hit on the national strip circuit. At Tattletales, the pair had worked up two themed routines as vampires and race car enthusiasts.
“The fans have been absolutely wonderful and very supportive,” said Probert. “I’m a veteran in the commercial real estate business, but this is how we’re earning a living right now.”
Cracked Taylor: “Nobody really wants their husband driving around with me to look at homes right now!”
DOOLITTLE, TOO LATE FOR FINAL ‘IDOL’ TWO
Despite consistently solid vocal performances throughout the contest, Nashville backup singer Melinda Doolittle just missed making the finals of “American Idol” Wednesday night.
The modest Doolittle, 29, fell just short in the charisma department. Nonetheless, she should take comfort that judge Simon Cowell embraced her, telling her early on that she was no longer a backup singer. He heaped even more praise on her Tuesday night, believing she deserved a spot in the final two.
But that wasn’t to be. Instead, it will be a showdown next week between Seattle’s plaid-wearing beatboxer Blake Lewis and Glendale, Ariz., teen Jordin Sparks. While neither were as vocally talented as Doolittle, Lewis has a more contemporary feel and Sparks possesses potential to be even better. Host Ryan Seacrest gave a total vote count from Tuesday night (60 million), but didn’t indicate how close it was.
A NEW MORNING TV MAN AT WSB
WSB-TV has hired Fred Blankenship, the third male morning co-anchor in the past two years for veteran co-host Pam Martin. A Los Angeles native with stops in Kansas, San Francisco and San Diego, Blankenship will co-helm the top-rated 5 a.m. and noon telecasts starting June 25. He replaces Collins Spencer, who was let go last month after only about 18 months on the job .
FIRST LOOK AT THE ‘07 FALCONS
Season ticket holders will get their first look at the 2007 Atlanta Falcons team and cheerleaders at a swanky soiree set for Monday night at the Fox Theatre. Falcons owner Arthur Blank and new head coach Bobby Petrino will be among those on hand to debut the 2007 Falcon draft class and will also premiere the team’s 2006 highlight film. Falcons rep LaRhonda Jackson told Buzz Wednesday that they’re expecting 1,500 fans at the event (and yes, you may still attend if you become a season ticket holder this week. Details: www.atlantafalcons.com).
At presstime, there was no word on whether a special off-field Michael Vick highlight reel was also being readied …
PARIS’ MOM SPEAKS
In a beautiful bit of May sweeps synergy, Kathy Hilton publicly traded on her friendship with Barbara Walters to release a statement to young people who will hopefully learn from her 26-year-old socialite daughter, Paris, who is facing 45 days in jail for violating her probation.
“We can only hope that something positive will come from all of this. Hopefully, young people who look up to people like Paris will learn from this,” Hilton said in a statement read Wednesday on ABC’s “The View” by the show’s founder.
Kathy Hilton called her Tuesday night and offered the statement, Walters said.
“She didn’t say ‘my child didn’t do it’ or ‘this is terrible,’” said Walters. “She’s saying, ‘You have to take responsibility.’ I thought it was a very strong and very good statement.”
Co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck disagreed.
“You want to discipline your children before the criminal system does,” she said.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor-director Dennis Hopper is 71. Singer Taj Mahal is 65. Actor Bill Paxton is 52. Actor-comedian Bob Saget is 51. Singer Enya is 46. Actor Craig Ferguson (“The Late Late Show,” “The Drew Carey Show”) is 45. Musician Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails is 42. Singer Jordan Knight (New Kids on the Block) is 37.
OVERSCENE
Actress Vivica A. Fox enjoying the chicken and watercress soup with mini matzo balls and truffle oil at the Lobby at Twelve at Atlantic Station.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“My favorite thing to do is eat, and I do not think I could date someone who does not eat more than one course. I need a two-course girl.”
— “American Idol” host and Dunwoody High School grad Ryan Seacrest in US Weekly on why he may potentially never date again while residing in Los Angeles.
Contributing: Rodney Ho and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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‘Makeover’ host opens up as mag debuts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just when you’d like to duck the media for the foreseeable future, you need the press to promote your glossy new magazine. Such was the predicament former Grant Park resident and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” host Ty Pennington found himself in as his new mag Ty Pennington at Home debuted on newsstands Tuesday.
Pennington was pulled over this month in Los Angeles and charged with driving under the influence. As part of a trade-off with “Entertainment Tonight” in exchange for publicizing his new publication, Pexnnington sat down to discuss the incident.
“I made an error in judgment; I made a mistake,” Pennington told the syndicated entertainment program. “I don’t condone what I did. I could have jeopardized everything, including my job, which is the best job in the world.”
Pennington used the opportunity to refute one aspect of the media coverage of his arrest: He says no drugs (alcohol not withstanding) were involved.
When asked what he would have done differently, a repentant Pennington said: “I probably would take a cab.”
Of the new publication that gets a trial run prior to becoming a quarterly in 2008, the handyman explained its title is a bit misleading “because I’m never home! [The magazine] shows you how to bring your personality into your home with your own hands.”
A CONCERT FOR KING
The Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation Inc. announced Tuesday that Tommy Hilfiger, Russell Simmons and Quincy Jones will be among the A-listers spearheading an all-star concert Sept. 18 at Radio City Music Hall in New York to benefit the building of the King Memorial on the National Mall in Washington. We’re told that “The Dream Concert” will also benefit from record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis coming on board as artistic directors, while Muhammad Ali, Angela Bassett, Jamie Foxx, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr., Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kerry Washington and former New York City Mayor David Dinkins have all signed onto the concert’s host committee.
In a press release e-mailed to Buzz, we were informed that the concert “will embody the ideals of hope, love, democracy, and justice for which Dr. King stood. The concert will capture the essence of his lasting teaching by joining together musicians from across genre lines, featuring unique musical combinations not usually found on the same stage. The Memorial Foundation has already raised $79 million of the $100 million needed to complete and maintain the memorial, and this event will help secure the additional funds.” The memorial is due to be completed next year.
Buzz was told Tuesday that the all-star lineup for the concert will be announced this month.
OVERSCENE
An MTV video crew filming a North Atlanta High School student being surprised by her unexpected prom date — Atlanta R&B singer Bobby Valentino for an upcoming MTV doc, “Once Upon a Prom.” We’re told that the as-yet-unidentified student (the special airs at 2 p.m. Saturday) had originally planned on dining with her girlfriends at Two Urban Licks until Valentino turned up (with a black Bentley, natch) to escort her to the dance.
A CHANCE TO GLOW ON BROADWAY
Horizon Theatre in Little Five Points had to do some last-minute recasting of its upcoming production of “Charm School,” set to open May 25. It seems that actor David de Vries got a call from the Great White Way, asking if he’d like to play the last Lumiere on Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast” before the Disney show closes on July 29. Horizon reps tell us that de Vries begins rehearsals this week and will debut in the role next week. Thankfully, he’ll have some company from home in NYC. Georgia native Glenn Rainey is set to play Cogsworth in the musical for the same remainder of the run. Atlanta audiences will recall Rainey from his role as the junk-food-eating psychopath Otto Woodnick in Horizon’s production of Nicky Silver’s black comedy “The Food Chain.”
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Jazz musician Billy Cobham is 63. Actor Pierce Brosnan is 54. Actress Debra Winger is 52. Actress Mare Winningham is 48. Violinist Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band is 43. Singer Janet Jackson is 41. Singer Ralph Tresvant is 39. Actor David Boreanaz (“Bones”) is 38. Actress Tracey Gold is 38. Actress Tori Spelling is 34.
ON MY TIVO
Garry Marshall, “Georgia Rule” director and “Happy Days” creator: “I have a wonderful wife of 44 years who knows how to work all the contraptions in our home. She records things for me. I watch ‘Brothers and Sisters,’ which is my favorite show right now. It skillfully blends comedy and drama, which is sometimes a tricky thing to do. I watch a lot of sports, too. I’m also interested to see [the upcoming Steven Spielberg/Mark Burnett film reality show] ‘On the Lot.’ I’m actually on it with Carrie Fisher. If you live long enough in this business, someone asks you to be a judge.”
HIGH FIVE
TOP DOWNLOADED RINGTONES THIS WEEK
1. “What Hurts the Most,” Rascal Flatts
2. “2 Step,” Unk
3. “Super Mario Brothers Theme,” Koji Kondo
4. “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’),” T-Pain featuring Yung Joc
5. “Irreplaceable,” Beyoncé
Source: Billboard
Contributing: news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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