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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 20
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Madea reportedly will become a cartoon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We personally didn’t think it possible, but Atlanta director-writer-actor-producer Tyler Perry’s Mabel “Madea” Simmons character is about to get even more animated.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Perry has inked a deal with the animation company Exodus Film Group to adapt his popular “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” matriarch into a ‘toon.
Albeit, a more kid-friendly character. Think more like “SpongeBob SquarePants” and less “Family Guy”-like.
The half-hour series could eventually be shopped to network television, DVD or both. Explains Perry in the trade: “A lot of the plays were not kid-friendly. … I wanted to do something more appropriate and this seems to be it.”
Translation: The animated Madea will likely not be a pistol-packing, butt-whooping heck-raiser.
PECAN PIE’S DESIGNS GOING FULL BLOOMIE
Pecan Pie Couture founder Clint Zeagler had so much exciting news to share over lunch Wednesday, the meal threatened to infringe on the dinner hour.
For starters? Selections from the Atlanta fashion designer’s Summer 2008 line of sassy, Southern-fried T-shirts will debut next month at Bloomingdale’s stores at Lenox Square and Perimeter Mall.
“I’m just superexcited,” the 28-year-old Sylvania native told Buzz. “If you had told me even a year ago that any of my designs would be in Bloomie’s, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
New Yorkers are also now getting their first look at Zeagler’s latest designs via Orange Domino, a New York City showroom that introduces up-and-coming designers’ samples to their influential boutique and Fashion Week clients.
“It’s a little scary and nerve-wracking,” Zeagler allowed. “But my main goal right now is to get those clothes flying off the racks at Bloomingdale’s.”
As it often happens in the complicated world of clothes, a New York buyer for the posh department store chain actually made the decision for the two Southern stores to stock Pecan Pie Couture.
Zeagler will be on hand introducing Bloomie’s shoppers to his work with in-store appearances from 1 to 4 p.m. scheduled for March 14 at Lenox and March 15 at Perimeter.
“I’ll have a chance to meet shoppers and offer them some sweet tea and some pecan pie tarts,” Zeagler previewed. “It should be fun.”
Zeagler’s late nana, Theola Hurst Treado, who for decades operated the Town House restaurant and its adjoining pie factory in Sylvania with her husband Charles, remains the inspiration for the fledgling fashion house.
The Castleberry-based designer says Treado would be proud of the upcoming Pecan Pie Couture “Revival” benefit fashion show, set for April 6 at Opera nightclub in Midtown. The $25 tickets will benefit Seeds of Nutrition Atlanta, a new nonprofit that teaches schoolkids about proper nutrition and where food comes from.
“The kids will actually grow vegetables like lettuce in a garden and are taught about where their meals originate,” Zeagler said. “My granddaddy always had a garden and Nana always worried about us kids eating well.”
The evening will be hosted by Dave FM’s Mara Davis and feature live performances by Francine Reed, Dames Aflame and Big Mike Geier and the Thin White Clouds.
For info: www.pecanpiecouture.com.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actress Rue McClanahan is 73. Record company executive David Geffen is 65. Actress Tyne Daly is 62. Actor Anthony Daniels (C3P0 in “Star Wars” films) is 62. Actor William Petersen (“C.S.I.”) is 55. Actor Kelsey Grammer is 53. Singer Mary Chapin Carpenter is 50. Actor Christopher Atkins is 47. Actor William Baldwin is 45. Country singer Eric Heatherly is 38. Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt is 29. Opera singer Charlotte Church is 22. Actress Ellen Page (“Juno”) is 21. Actor Corbin Bleu (“High School Musical,” “Jump In!”) is 19.
ON MY iPOD (AND TiVo)
John Legend, Grammy-winning R&B singer: “Recently I downloaded the Bravery for some reason. I saw them do one song on ‘Jimmy Kimmel’ — and I was, like, compelled. I bought the album [‘The Sun and the Moon’]. I haven’t listened to it yet, though.
“I TiVo a lot! ‘The Daily Show,’ ‘The Office,’ ‘South Park.’ I do a lot of comedy. ‘The Colbert Report,’ ‘Family Guy,’ ‘Seinfeld.’ ‘The Chris Rock Show,’ because they still show it on HBO every once in a while. Oh, yeah, and ‘Meet The Press.’ “
OVERSCENE
At New York Times best-selling author Charla Krupp’s book party for “How Not to Look Old” at Stan Milton Oasis in Buckhead: Spanx founder Sara Blakely; Michaelene Roland, the philanthropic wife of Collective Soul frontman Ed Roland; charitable fund-raisers Aida Flamm, Marilyn Krone, Jada Loveless and Cinda Boomershine; journalists Carolyn O’Neil, Stephanie Davis and Eleanor Ringel-Cater; and Dr. Pradeep Sinha.
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.
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Chuck D: Vote local
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Red Bull Music Academy’s stop in Atlanta is over, but thanks to some fiery participation from Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Professor Griff, the buzz lingers.
The Atlanta-based members of the seminal hip-hop group, along with DJ Lord, were the guest speakers at the energy drink’s globe-trotting gathering of DJs and music producers, brought together to learn about the music industry.
Here’s what D and Griff had to say at the Luckie Food Lounge:
On Public Enemy’s music being sampled: “To hell with hip-hop if it doesn’t respect black people first,” said D, clearly bothered by “Shut Em Down” being used in the late Notorious B.I.G.’s “Ten Crack Commandments.”
On Public Enemy member Flavor Flav and his reality show: “At the end of the day, he’s family,” D said. “Nothing he does on that thing [‘Flavor of Love’] surprises me. … Remember we knew him way before VH1.”
On how far hip-hop has come: “When people say that, I’m like ‘Really?!’ ” D replied. “After Salt ‘N Pepa, name a female rap group. … How about more than one top female producer?”
On the upcoming presidential election: “No comment,” began D, with a smirk. “Do you really think you pick the president?” added Griff. “You’d be better off voting for your local school board members, or judges or something. … Those are the people you’re going to see if your [expletive] goes to jail,” D continued. “That’s where you can really have an impact — locally.”
FORECAST: CLOUDY
Buzz has heard the man with the most memorable name in Atlanta broadcasting, Flip Spiceland, is leaving WXIA after seven years at the TV station. No details yet from his boss or Spiceland himself about why he’s out, but the veteran meteorologist has been a popular fixture at the NBC affiliate. Before WXIA, he spent 21 years at CNN.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Sidney Poitier is 81. Jazz and soul singer Nancy Wilson is 71. Actress Brenda Blethyn is 62. Model Cindy Crawford is 42. Actor Andrew Shue (“Melrose Place”) is 41. Singer Brian Littrell (Backstreet Boys) is 33. Singer Rihanna is 20.
UNCOUPLING
Pink, husband just friends
Singer Pink and motocross racer Carey Hart (above) have separated after two years of marriage.
“This decision was made by best friends with a huge amount of love and respect for one another,” Pink’s representative, Michele Schweitzer, said Tuesday in a statement. “While the marriage is over, their friendship has never been stronger.”
Pink met Hart at the 2001 X Games in Las Vegas and proposed to him four years later during a race in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. They were married Jan. 7, 2006.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“You can stop at Mary Mac’s [Tea Room] and get something to eat.”
WSB Action News anchor Monica Pearson offering a post-Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race nosh suggestion to runners after sports director Chuck Dowdle announced this year’s race will end waaay down at the intersection of Juniper Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue.
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.
