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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 05
Friday, October 5, 2007
Janet Jackson on ‘Married’ and marriage
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At the Los Angeles premiere for her new Tyler Perry film, “Why Did I Get Married” this week, part-time Atlantan Janet Jackson spilled some scoop about her relationship with Atlanta producer Jermaine Dupri for “Extra.”
When quizzed about why she and her longtime boyfriend haven’t tied the knot, Jackson said, “I don’t need a piece of paper to validate what we have. That’s just me, though.” And if she and Dupri did decide to marry? Jackson would totally take his last name. Reasoned Jackson: “Of course I would. Isn’t that crazy? It’d be JD and JD.”
When asked for marriage advice, Jackson laughed and replied: “Don’t ask me that question. You want to ask somebody who’s been married twice and divorced twice?”
If you miss Libby like we miss Libby …
The last time many Atlantans saw singer and actress Libby Whittemore, the year 2007 was a mere fetus. The vocalist and pal Lisa Paige were inspiring mass weeping as the pair performed “For Good” from “Wicked,” which served as the swan song for Whittemore’s club, Libby’s Cabaret, on New Year’s Eve.
After taking a break, Whittemore is set to return to performing at “Cabaret 2007,” a Nov. 2 benefit for Actor’s Express as the downtown theater celebrates its 20th anniversary. Earlier this year, Whittemore worked the boards there as a cast member of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical.” In 2002, Whittemore memorably portrayed Mama Rose in the hit Actor’s Express production of “Gypsy.”
“I have really missed the club and our regulars this year,” Whittemore told us Friday. “I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with everybody.”
The singer says she’ll be belting out “Some People” from “Gypsy” for the November benefit because “it tells you exactly who Rose is and besides, I remember all the words!”
Whittemore also has a holiday surprise in store for fans of Libby’s Cabaret.
Her annual holiday show — a staple at the club for six years — will relocate to Actor’s Express on Monday and Tuesday nights this December when the theater’s production is dark.
And yes, Connie Sue Day, “The 31st Lady of Country Music” (Whittemore’s alter ego from “Della’s Diner”) will return for the festivities as well.
“Of course, Connie Sue will be there,” Whittemore says. “The show’s like ‘A Christmas Carol’ at this point. I’m not changing anything that people want and expect.”
For tickets and info about the “Cabaret” benefit, call 404-875-1606 or www.actorsexpress.com.
‘College Hill’ cameras return
MTV’s “The Real World” has managed to bypass Atlanta the past 15 years, picking alternatives such as Philadelphia, Key West, Fla., and Denver instead. But BET is giving the ATL plenty of love. The network’s popular version of that MTV classic “College Hill” recently began shooting its fifth season here, gathering four male and four female college students in a home and hoping for the usual fireworks. The next season is set to air in the spring of 2008. “College Hill” cameras were seen at Young Jeezy’s birthday party this past Sunday and will be at the upcoming BET Hip-Hop Awards at the Atlanta Civic Center. (In addition, BET’s “College Hill: Interns” spinoff, set to debut Oct. 23 and shot in Chicago this past summer, features three Atlanta students.)
Fueling up for the Thrashers
The entire Washington Capitals NHL team — a party of 28 — dined privately Thursday night at the downtown location of Morton’s The Steakhouse. We’re told that the team chowed down on broiled sea scallops, filet mignon steaks, lobster tails and Morton’s legendary hot chocolate cakes. The Capitals were in town to face off Friday night at the Atlanta Thrashers’ season opener at Philips Arena.
OVERSCENE
Film fan and Oscar party host Elton John checking out “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Eastern Promises” and “In the Valley of Elah” at AMC Phipps Plaza.
Among the gospel and R&B notables packing in at singer Marvin L. Winans’ listening party for his new “Alone But Not Alone” disc on Northside Drive: Darwin Hobbs, Byron Cage, Q of 112, Damita Haddon, Men of Standard members Isaac Carree and Lowell Pye, PJ Morton, Bishop Paul S. Morton and radio personalities Larry Tinsley, Reggie Gay and Derek Harper. Event planner Jamahl King of S.T.E.P.S. even had a group of people behind a velvet rope cheering every guest who entered the star-studded evening.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Today: Singer Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon is 56. Actress Elisabeth Shue is 44. Singer-songwriter Matthew Sweet is 43. Actor Ioan Gruffudd (“Fantastic Four,” “Horatio Hornblower”) is 34.
Sunday: Singer Al Martino is 80. Musician John Mellencamp is 56. Gospel singer Michael W. Smith is 50. Simon Cowell is 48. Singer Toni Braxton is 40. Singer Thom Yorke of Radiohead is 39. Singer Damian Kulash of OK Go is 32. Singer Taylor Hicks (“American Idol”) is 31.
Contributing: Rodney Ho, 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.
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‘Stew’-ing the ‘Video Vixen’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Self-proclaimed “Video Vixen” Karrine Steffans isn’t due in town until today, but she’s already encountered some less-than-Southern hospitality. Syndicated radio personalities the 2 Live Stews, based here at 790 the Zone, conducted an occasionally combative interview with the author of The New York Times best seller “Confessions of a Video Vixen.” It ended with Steffans saying “Judge not [female canine]” — and apparently she hung up. Needless to say, Buzz doesn’t expect the Stewart brothers to be in line at Steffans’ local signings of “The Vixen Diaries,” her new book about the two years since the publication of her tell-all about her alleged sexual encounters with such celebrities as Diddy, Bobby Brown and Shaquille O’Neal.
Those signings are scheduled today at Waldenbooks at the CNN Center at 12:30 p.m. and the Verve Lounge at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Steffans will be at Borders Books and Music at the Mall at Stonecrest at 7 p.m. Also, on Oct. 14, she is scheduled to do a taping of “Ryan Cameron Uncensored” at Center Stage, which is open to the public.
Solving the snow problem
So, during a commercial break while watching “The View” on Thursday, Buzz decided to solve all the problems regarding Stone Mountain Park’s proposed but problem-plagued Coca-Cola Snow Mountain attraction. As you’ll recall, due to statewide water restrictions, locals weren’t thrilled when the AJC reported this week that the attraction would require using about a million gallons of DeKalb County water for its snow machine.
But wait a sec, here. Doesn’t the Coca-Cola Co. already own the Dasani water brand? And as Coke has had to concede, Dasani is merely filtered, purified tap water. Surely, Coke already owns more than enough bottled H2O to create a winter wonderland without draining the state’s supply. Oh, and we also came up with a name: “Coca-Cola Snow Mountain presented by Dasani.”
And yes, we do anticipate becoming a ridiculously well-compensated Coke executive by the time you read this …
Star 94 to bid adieu to pair of stars
What has been whispered about for months finally became official Thursday: After a successful, nearly unprecedented 17-year run, Star 94’s morning team of Steve McCoy and Vikki Locke will leave the airwaves Nov. 2.
Earlier this year, citing continuing health concerns, Locke announced her intention to leave the show when her contract expires at the end of the year.
McCoy, a veteran voice on the city’s morning airwaves for decades with stints both at Star 94 and the old Z93, will now depart with his on-air partner.
“It’s really been an incredible run,” Star 94 general manager Mark Kanov told Buzz. “We’re going to spend the month of November looking back on their many, many accomplishments. Steve is supplying us with 17 years of tapes and audio. They have a lot to be proud of.”
Star 94 will salute the pair’s tenure on air with a monthlong retrospective of McCoy and Locke’s “all-time greatest bits, gags and stunts” that will run through Thanksgiving Day. The look back will be co-hosted by morning show regulars Tom Sullivan and Shannon Holly.
Kanov says the station is continuing its nationwide search for a new morning show “that will hopefully run another 15 or 17 years on our airwaves.”
In a statement, Locke said: “My husband and I agree that my health is the most important thing. My doctor says a low-key schedule and more sleep will help get me back to 100 percent.”
There was no statement in the release from McCoy regarding his plans.
Like Locke, McCoy’s contract with the station was due to expire later this year.
A call to McCoy’s cellphone seeking comment was not immediately returned Thursday.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Singer Richard Street (The Temptations) is 65. Singer-guitarist Steve Miller is 64. Singer Bob Geldof is 53. Comedian Bernie Mac is 50. Singer-actress Heather Headley is 33. Actress Kate Winslet (“Titanic”) is 32. Guitarist James Valentine of Maroon 5 is 29. Bassist Paul Thomas of Good Charlotte is 27.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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