PEACH BUZZ: Labor keeps ‘Hillary’ away from ‘SNL’

WXIA’s own Evelyn Mims had a prime vantage point as “Saturday Night Live” producers, writers and cast members busily reworked material during the show’s dress rehearsal in New York on Saturday night.

She was in the studio audience and, lucky for us, she was able to send text updates to Buzz Central.

Initially, cast member Amy Poehler was scheduled to reprise her Hillary Clinton character during that Barack Obama variety show special sketch with former “SNL” pal Maya Rudolph, who played Michelle Obama in the bit. But then Poehler went into labor and delivered her 8-pound son, Archie, just before airtime.

“You could tell things were busy backstage,” the “Atlanta & Company” producer told Buzz on Monday. “But it was similar to when something happens here and people go into hyper mode and just get the job done.”

Mims was staying at the Meridian hotel nearby, where musical guest Coldplay also was booked. Mims also spotted actress Gwyneth Paltrow, wife of Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, at the NBC studios supporting her husband during the telecast.

In order to pad out the live 90-minute show, Coldplay was asked to perform a third song. The additional exposure for the English rock act did not prove problematic for Mims, who surprised Atlanta publicist Karen Canavan by taking her to “SNL” for her birthday.

“Chris Martin did one of those Elvis moves with his legs wide open right in front of me,” Mims told us with a sly laugh. “I didn’t really have a problem with all that!”

Mims put in her request for “SNL” tickets four months ago, way before the musical guest or host Jon Hamm (star of “Mad Men”) were booked or the Poehler pregnancy drama unfolded.

Said Mims: “I just lucked up. It was a great night.”

WWE meets NASCAR Carl Edwards raced to victory Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway with one particularly muscular fan cheering him on. World Wrestling Entertainment star John Cena was among the huge crowd at the racetrack in Hampton.

“Carl’s my driver,” he said early Sunday afternoon, when it still looked like it might be points leader Jimmie Johnson’s day. Edwards and Cena met through their work with the Gillette brand. Edwards invited Cena to a race, and he’s been hooked ever since.

“NASCAR is such a fan-friendly sport,” Cena said. “It’s certainly exciting to see a race unfold. It’s like a finely tuned match.”

As for the folks who say drivers aren’t athletes, he’s not hearing it.

“People don’t realize the endurance these guys have to have for a 500-mile race,” he said.

As for his own line of work?

“It’s not a sport,” Cena conceded. “It’s for the good graces of our paying customers. What we do is entertainment —- but we do get beat up.”

Overscene

Former President Bill Clinton sampling Trois chef Jeremy Lieb’s deep-fried risotto balls, spring duck rolls and tuna nicoise during a fund-raiser for U.S. Senate candidate Jim Martin in Midtown. The folks who ponied up $1,000 to attend got a keepsake photo snapped with Clinton. Before his motorcade whisked him to the airport, Clinton posed for pictures with Trois’ entire kitchen staff. … Actor David Duchovny, in town shooting a film with Demi Moore, dining at One Midtown Kitchen. Duchovny (who used an alias to make his reservation ) and his party shared smoked salmon croquettes and calamari. Entrees included steak frites, brisket and scallops. Duchovny enjoyed the duck while he drank Maso Canali pinot grigio. … Gov. Sonny Perdue and former “American Idol” contestant Michael Johns among the NASCAR fans taking in the Pep Boys 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Sunday tea

Chayil Inc., a nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence, held its annual tea Sunday at the InterContinental Hotel Buckhead. While the afternoon yielded some emotional moments, mistress of ceremonies and WXIA anchor Brenda Wood did her part to keep things light. During a conversation with one survivor who told how her children sometimes had to referee episodes between her and her husband, Wood replied, “They didn’t hit him on the butt, did they?” In addition to celebrating the nine women participating in Chayil’s program, about two dozen other metro Atlanta women, including radio personality Vikki Locke, Kysha Cameron of the Ryan Cameron Foundation and Deborah Danzig, a vice president at Beazer Homes, were honored for their professional accomplishments, community work and dedication to empowering women. The keynote speaker was Patricia Russell-McCloud, and no wonder her speeches are popular with women. “Housework will not kill us,” she said, “but why take the chance?”

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Actress Joan Plowright is 79. Country musician Charlie Daniels is 72. Actress Jane Alexander is 69. Actor-comedian Andy Richter is 42. Actress Julia Roberts is 41. Singer Ben Harper is 39. Country singer Brad Paisley is 36. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 34. Singer Justin Guarini (“American Idol”) is 30.

Contributing: Jennifer Brett, Tracy Brown and news services

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