New url for Peach Buzz
Bookmark this new url for Peach Buzz.. We have moved to Wordpress!
Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 10 > Entry
Actor gets a hatful of lines
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Judah Friedlander, who plays scruffy sketch comedy writer Frank on NBC’s critically acclaimed sitcom “30 Rock,” is a regular on the show but didn’t get nearly as much airtime the first season as bigshots Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey or Tracy Morgan, much less newcomer and former Conyers resident Jack McBrayer.
But he isn’t complaining. “It’s out of my hands,” he told Buzz while in Atlanta for a series of comedy shows this weekend at the Punchline. “I don’t make any push for [more airtime.] I have fun and do the best that I can.”
Friedlander, known for always wearing trucker hats, said he has to fend off accusations that he’s copying Ashton Kutcher. In fact, he’s been wearing them since the late ’80s. “Before they became popular, people would say I was racist for wearing these hats because they associate them with rednecks,” he said. “Once they became trendy, those same people would say, ‘Where can I get one?’ “
On the show, Friedlander purposely wears hats with different sayings in each episode and he tries to tie the sayings to something on the show.
One episode, his character misspelled the word “vagina” in a fictional script so he wore a hat with the words “Kung Fu Beech,” with beach purposely misspelled. Unfortunately, he said, they cut the “vagina” reference out of the show so all that was left was a now-inscrutable hat message.
Here comes Atlanta Weddings
The weather was working against one of the sponsors of the posh wedding party at Opera nightclub in Midtown this week as Atlanta magazine launched its latest speciality glossy, Atlanta Weddings. The majestic pieces created by Ice Sculpture Inc. were threatening to disappear even as attendees arrived. The inaugural issue, overseen by editor Susan Forehand, is now on newsstands. A second issue will bow in December. On Friday, Atlanta magazine publisher Sean McGinnis told us how the mag plans to distinguish itself in a crowded marketplace. “We’re tailoring this to a higher-end, affluent bride and specifically the Southern bride.” McGinnis says he’s already receiving tips for future issues. “Some women have suggested we also offer something for the second, third- and fourth-time bride,” he said, laughing. “If there’s a market, we’ll take it into consideration!” And as Atlanta Weddings moves forward, the title’s publisher Marita Kahler has a secret weapon working behind the scenes — former AJC style guru Marylin Johnson has just been signed as AW’s fashion editor.
“We’re blessed and thrilled,” McGinnis said. “Marylin’s reputation is stellar.”
The wedding reception replica at Opera ended with a lavish fashion show of gowns and tuxedos.
Put on your ‘Sunday Best’
Atlanta is feeling like audition central lately. There was the casting call for “Flavor of Love” Thursday at Uptown Comedy Corner. There is the monster of all star searches — “American Idol” — coming Tuesday at the Georgia Dome. And this weekend, BET is soliciting gospel singers for its new reality show, “Sunday Best.” Auditions begin at 9 a.m. today at the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel, 590 W. Peachtree St. Contemporary gospel superstars BeBe Winans and Mary Mary will judge the finalists Sunday afternoon. “Sunday Best” is scheduled to debut Oct. 2. For more information go to www.BET.com or call 1-888-PSALM-95.
Dishing with DJ Drama
When Buzz ran into a buoyant DJ Drama recently, he was feeling so Drama-free he was actually calling himself something else. But we’ll get to that in a minute. First, his partner DJ Don Cannon and his co-worker Miss Shyneka were celebrating their birthdays. He and his fellow Aphilliates DJ team had just completed their first week on the air. (Their Gangsta Grillz show is now on Hot-107.9 from 10 p.m. to midnight weekdays, along with their Saturday installment.) He’s also on the Scream Tour, behind the turntables for rapper-actor T.I. His long-put-off CD debut now has a Thanksgiving release date. And though there were earlier reports that the mixtape titan would have to put out his album under a different moniker — because he didn’t own it — “I am proud to say we have acquired the name Drama,” he told Buzz. “So that’s big!”
And what about that January arrest on state racketeering charges of selling unauthorized music material, for which he and Cannon face one to five years, if convicted?
“The case is still pending, but everything is moving in a good direction,” Drama said. “We’re definitely looking forward to coming to terms with everybody involved.
“And our [mixtapes] have been on the up and up since our situation. [They’re] in two continents besides North America. And 36 states… Everything is on and popping. We’re taking over. Just call me Barack Odrama!”
On my iPod and TiVo
Macy Gray, Grammy-winning R&B singer and actress:
“I’ve got ‘The View’ and ‘Entourage’ and a lot of reality shows. ‘Making The Band’ is hilarious to me. As for downloading, well, I’m a DJ too. Mostly [for] parties in California. So I do that a lot. And maybe the last thing I downloaded was Timbaland’s new album. Gotta have that as a DJ.”
Celebrity birthdays
Today: Wrestler-actor Hulk Hogan is 54. Singer Joe Jackson is 53. Rapper Chris Kelly of Kris Kross is 29.
Sunday: Country singer Porter Wagoner is 80. Singer-guitarist Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits is 58. Rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot is 44. Actor Peter Krause (“Six Feet Under”) is 42. Actress Maggie Lawson (“Psych”) is 27. Actress Imani Hakim (“Everybody Hates Chris”) is 14.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and Rodney Ho.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
Permalink | |
