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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 08
Monday, September 8, 2008
Hannity, Boortz give Palin praise
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fox News star Sean Hannity dubbed his partnering with fellow WSB-AM (750) radio host Neal Boortz Friday at Cobb Energy Centre as “Abbott and Costello.”
Indeed, Hannity and Boortz have been tight since they competed with each other on rival Atlanta radio stations in the early 1990s. While their bosses considered them bitter competitors when Hannity was on WGST-AM (640), they used to call each other during commercial breaks and compare notes.
“If I had that hair,” the follicle-challenged Boortz said, pointing at Hannity’s thick locks, “it’d be ‘Boortz and Colmes!’ “
When Boortz told a story about being at a nasty hotel in Denver during the Democratic convention and finding an adult toy behind the bed, Hannity, in mock exasperation, said, “Did you ever grow out of the age of 14?”
“You have to grow old,” Boortz retorted. “You don’t have to mature.”
And since they had just come back from two weeks of political conventions, the pair brought in former presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Clinton adviser Dick Morris to (mostly) bash Barack Obama and universally praise John McCain’s new vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin.
“She’s authentic,” Hannity said. He compared her grace and confidence to Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and feels the media has been “demeaning” with its scrutiny.
Then he offered $100 to an audience member to properly define “community organizer,” a job Obama once held and Palin mocked last Wednesday. Paraphrasing her speech, a woman in the fifth row said, “A mayor without responsibilities.” A bemused Hannity opened his wallet and gave her $100.
Boortz quickly cracked, “You want my $100, you’re going to have to earn it!”
‘PEACHTREE BATTLE’ ENDS WITH SELL-OUT
After more than 1,300 performances and seven years, the play “Peachtree Battle” threw out its final quip Sunday afternoon, a record-breaking run that may be difficult to beat.
Buzz stopped by Saturday afternoon at Ansley Park Playhouse for a special showing (sold out, of course) featuring Anna House as the drunk yet lovable grandma with the sky-high hair, Azalea Wieuca. House had left the cast last year after more than 1,000 times but decided to do it one more time for nostalgia’s sake.
For House, it was like jumping back on a bike as she showed her usual impeccable comic timing to the very end. Holding roses moments after the last curtain call, she said she’s proud of her work on the play. “It’s the end of an era after seven years,” she said sadly, then mused, “I’ve had marriages that didn’t last as long!”
Co-founder John Gibson told Buzz after the show how grateful he was for the audiences. His partner Anthony Morris noted that “Battle” in its first four years was often sold out months in advance and even toward the end was still filling enough seats to make money.
But the pair want to focus on the film version of “Battle,” which is stripped of local jokes about Smyrna and Gov. Sonny Perdue but keeps the bones of the wacky family interactions. Sony has picked it up and will soon be casting, Gibson said. A popular play the pair created back in the 1990s called “Veranda” will take over the space next month.
In the meantime, House’s teased wig will be encased in glass and placed in the lobby — an heirloom for the ages.
COLBERT’S DNA HEADED TO SPACE
Should this world ever cease to exist, Stephen Colbert will live on.
The comedian’s DNA will be digitized and sent to the International Space Station, Comedy Central was to announce today.
In October, video game designer Richard Garriott will travel to the station and deposit Colbert’s genes.
Garriott, one of few private citizens to travel into space, is collecting material for a time capsule of human DNA. The host of “The Colbert Report” will essentially be preserved so that aliens can clone him. “In the unlikely event that Earth and humanity are destroyed, mankind can be resurrected with Stephen Colbert’s DNA,” Garriott said.
HIGH FIVE
Sports moms
Despite what Sarah Palin said about hockey moms being like pit bulls with lipstick, there are other ways to spot the puck parents among us. From AskHockeyMom.com, here’s a sampling from “Top Ways to Spot a Hockey Mom.”
5. She thinks anything televised would be a lot more interesting if checking were allowed.
4. She’s found a way to work broken $200 hockey sticks into her home décor.
3. She sends her kids to the penalty box instead of time-outs.
2. In the back of her van, she carries a fleece blanket and a winter coat — in August.
1. She knows every way possible of getting bloodstains out.
Courtesy: AskHockeyMom.com
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Comedian Sid Caesar is 86. Singer Aimee Mann (at Variety Playhouse this past Friday) is 48. Actor David Arquette is 37. Actor Henry Thomas (“E.T.”) is 37. Actor Larenz Tate is 33. Singer Pink is 29. Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas (“Home Improvement”) is 27.
Contributing: Rodney Ho, Bo Emerson 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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Rathbun not a whole-hearted Falcons fan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, September 06, 2008
In Food & Wine magazine’s brand-new 2008 NFL Talking Pigskin online preview, Atlanta chef Kevin Rathbun has been selected to represent his hometown and to whip up a culinary creation worthy of the Atlanta Falcons, his hometown team.
Thankfully, the man who recently won “Iron Chef America” by using elk stops short of using an actual falcon in his recipe.
Instead, Rathbun tempts readers with a recipe for roast squab with bacon and grapes (the Rathbun’s chef’s secret weapon: two tablespoons of crushed juniper berries).
In addition to cooking for the Falcons front office personnel and supporting the NFL’s Taste of the NFL charity, Rathbun (a recovering Kansas City Chiefs fan, he admits) tells FoodandWine.com: “I kind of represent the Falcons now. The coach [Mike Smith] comes to my restaurant a lot. I’ve met the coach and the owner [Arthur Blank]. I like football in general —- people in the restaurant business just seem to keep up with it.”
Rathbun concedes he has a bit of trouble getting in the spirit on game day.
“I’m the size of a house; they don’t really make [Falcons] shirts 4XL. I’d probably have to sew two together.”
So far, the chef is right on the money with the predictions he made for the Falcons in the foodie publication. For example, he said rookie Matt Ryan would get the nod as starting quarterback.
Alas, when asked who he’ll be rooting for when the Chiefs roll into the Georgia Dome this season, Rathbun told Food & Wine: “Well, I’ll cheer for the Falcons because they recognize me in the stands, but underneath I’ll probably be hoping the Chiefs pummel them. I will definitely do Kansas City barbecue for the tailgate!”
As of deadline Friday, diehard Falcons fans had yet to flip Rathbun a, well, dirty bird.
Transitions
Reporter/anchor Jaquitta Williams is leaving WSB-TV Sept. 12 after four years at the station and 20 years in the TV news business. And yes, her recent bout with breast cancer was a factor.
“When I came back from my cancer journey in January, I was different,” she told Buzz Friday. “I wanted my life to be more enjoyable. I wanted to do other things.”
While thinking about staying or going, she looked for signs. She found two: her BlackBerry stopped working, then her laptop was stolen out of the WSB-TV van while she covered a church fire.
Ultimately, she had nothing but good things to say about WSB itself and was appreciative that they let her tell her breast cancer story on air. (Essence magazine has a story about her in October’s issue.)
Williams said she has a new job lined up but, out of respect for WSB, won’t reveal what it is until after she leaves.
Better yet, she noted: “I am cancer-free. My last mammogram in August was clean. I’m in a wonderful place. I’m so excited!”
Meanwhile, DJ Kaedy Kiely starts her gig at 97.1/The River as morning host on Sept. 18. The station is not personality-focused, and the morning show is heavily music-oriented. But Kiely has tons of experience and will be the primary presence at community events. She’ll contribute music news and interviews to the Web site.
Jackson adds muscle to Witchu
Part-time Atlantan Janet Jackson announced Friday that hip-hop innovator LL Cool J will join her upcoming Rock Witchu tour. The Live Nation-produced tour begins Sept. 10 at the GM Place in Vancouver, with LL Cool J joining on Sept. 25 at the Allstate Arena in Chicago. The Rock Witchu tour will coincide with the release of Ladies Love Cool James’ 13th album, “Exit 13,” set for release on Sept. 9. The pair will hit Philips Arena Oct. 5. For info: www.livenation.com.
Celebrity birthdays
Today: Singer-bassist Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) is 65. “Pushing Daisies” actress Swoosie Kurtz is 64. Comedian-actress Jane Curtin is 61. Alpharetta comedian Jeff Foxworthy is 50. Actor-comedian Michael Winslow (“Police Academy”) is 50. Singer Macy Gray is 38. Rapper Foxy Brown is 29.
Sunday: Jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins is 78. Singer Gloria Gaynor is 59. Singer Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders is 57. Actor Michael Emerson (“Lost”) is 54.
HIGH FIVE
Television
The Top On Demand programs for the week of Aug. 25-31 as determined by Comcast customers in metro Atlanta:
Bow Wow, “Marco Polo,” music video, Music Choice
Lil’ Wayne, “A Milli,” music video, Music Choice
Big Kuntry King, “Da Baddest,” music video, Music Choice
Yung Berg, “The Business,” music video, Music Choice
“I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry,” movie, HBO
Courtesy: Rentrak’s OnDemand Essentials
COUPLING
So which column do People magazine editors comb through to learn about the latest in young love? Buzz, natch. In the celebrity weekly’s “Scoop” page, People is reporting on the budding romance between dreamy teens Jonas Brother Joe Jonas and singer Taylor Swift. The glossy credits us with first reporting on Swift dancing near the soundboard during the trio’s set when they played Lakewood Amphitheatre Aug. 20.
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.
