PEACH BUZZ: CNN’s show to laugh at political scene

With hunger for political humor cresting, Atlanta-based CNN is creating its own satirical show, starring comic and actor D.L. Hughley. CNN has committed for a year to the weekly program, set to debut at 10 p.m. Oct. 25, just 10 days before the presidential election. The still-unnamed show will feature Hughley’s skewering of the news and interviews with newsmakers.

“It’s going to be more [David] Letterman/[Jay] Leno than ‘Daily Show,’ ” said Hughley, who said he was drawn to CNN by its deep resources, as well as his deep respect for Wolf Blitzer. (Seriously; watch for a shout-out to Blitzer on the first show.)

Besides having had his own sitcom and a spot on the successful “Kings of Comedy” tour, Hughley packs his stand-up routine with sardonic political observations. He admits to leaning left, but says he’s cynical about all politicians.

CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein said Hughley caught his eye when he saw him do Glenn Beck’s CNN Headline News show a year ago. “He defied easy labeling. Yet he is very well-informed and his opinions are based on deep knowledge of the news and the world.”

Hughley said he knows half the country will be ecstatic Nov. 5, half devastated. He’d love to get President Bush as a guest, especially if Barack Obama wins. “I’d love to say to him, ‘You’ve been a horrible president. Your legacy is you were so bad, people said, ‘We’re going to try the black guy next!’ “

Though Hughley won’t get a sidekick or band, he will have a live audience. “Maybe one of the people in the audience will have an iPod we can use,” he cracked.

Some already ready for Santa

Buzz Central is still preparing for trick-or-treaters and maybe brining our Thanksgiving turkey, but holiday regulars at Phipps Plaza seem to be operating on a different schedule. The reservation system for a visit with Santa Claus went online at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, and about 1,400 appointments were made in the first 45 minutes.

Santa’s opening day at Phipps is Nov. 8, and his shop closes, of course, on Christmas Eve. (Other days off are on Nov. 10 and 17, Dec. 1, 8 and 15, and Nov. 27, Thanksgiving.) Reservations are for a spot in a 15-minute window of time, and are booked per family, not per child. For more information, visit www.santaatphipps.com.

What cookies say about the election

The way to voters’ ballots is … through their stomachs? A quadrennial Family Circle magazine contest that pits candidates’ spouses’ cookie recipes against each other —- and has predicted the winner since 1992 —- says Cindy McCain’s oatmeal-butterscotch cookies beat Michelle Obama’s shortbreads 54 percent to 44 percent. (Bill Clinton’s oatmeal cookie recipe got 2 percent of the vote before Hillary Clinton conceded the Democratic nomination.) The winning recipe can be found at www.familycircle.com /cookievote.

Criminal Records gets new home

After just a few days of moving and cleaning, Little Five Points music store Criminal Records is open in its new 5,500-square-foot location just around the corner. The shop closed its 1,800-square-foot space behind Junkman’s Daughter on Sunday and started a marathon move of stock to 1154-A Euclid Ave. N.E., between Bang-On and Porter Beer Bar. Owner Eric Levin says volunteers helped staffers move, just making the move more bittersweet.

Staffers hammered and sawed for months; now it’s just alphabetizing: CDs, DVDs and vinyl are on the floor, and the walls are loaded with comics. The “venue-level” stage shares the back wall with a DJ booth.

They’re still trying to find a place for a wall featuring comic art that Levin kept from the old store. Outdoor signs aren’t up yet, but Levin says local artist Ronnie Land is on the project. For now, they’ll tear down the white paper and try for something Halloween-y.

Celebrity birthdays

Actress Angela Lansbury is 83. Actress Suzanne Somers is 62. Guitarist Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead is 61. Producer-director David Zucker is 61. Actor-director Tim Robbins is 50. Actor Randy Vasquez (“JAG”) is 47. Bassist Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is 46. Singer Wendy Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 39. Rapper B-Rock of B-Rock and the Bizz is 37. Actress Kellie Martin (“Life Goes On”) is 33. Singer-songwriter John Mayer is 31. Actress Brea Grant (“Heroes”) is 27.

OVERSCENE

Blowing out the candles for his 30th birthday Tuesday night: Atlanta R&B superstar Usher, the man of the hour at a private dinner at the Mansion on Peachtree Hotel. In attendance were his pregnant wife Tameka (who was showing), fellow Grammy winners Monica and Bryan-Michael Cox, Frank Ski, and leading the birthday song —- Usher’s mother/manager Jonnetta and Ski’s co-announcer Wanda Smith. “Those two were the highlight of the night!” V-103’s Miss Sophia told Buzz. … In Norcross, Bow Wow was spotted talking with fans and hanging out with monsters at the Netherworld Haunted House.

GEORGIA’S OWN

Conyers native Dakota Fanning will be honored with the Rising Star Award at the 20th Palm Springs International Film Festival in January, organizers announced Wednesday. Fanning, 14, was selected for her work in the film “The Secret Life of Bees,” though she’s been rocking the big screen since age 5 in films such as “I Am Sam,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “War of the Worlds.” Past winners include Jessica Biel, Nikki Blonsky, Bryce Dallas Howard, Terrence Howard and Scarlett Johansson.

Contributing: Rodney Ho, Sonia Murray and news services