What would an Atlanta Press Club banquet be without a breaking news bulletin?
Toward the end of Thursday night's Hall of Fame awards, held at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead, longtime Atlanta business journalist Maria Saporta announced a $1 million pledge from developer Charlie Loudermilk to endow the press club's political debate series. The series will be known as the Loudermilk-Young Debate Series to honor the friendship between Loudermilk and former Atlanta Mayor Andy Young. "The debates are so much fun in Georgia because politics are so much fun in Georgia," Loudermilk said.
Inductees included former CNN president Tom Johnson, CNN founder Ted Turner, Atlanta Daily World publishers Alexis Scott and the Scott family, former Channel 2 Action News anchor John Pruitt and legendary sports journalist Furman Bisher. The late Henry Grady was inducted posthumously. Bisher, who retired from the AJC in 2009 after nearly 60 years, saluted his fellow inductee Turner during his remarks.
"There's never been a more delightful owner in the history of baseball," he said. "Of course, he didn't know what he was doing half the time!" Turner, in turn, along with Johnson, worked in a few zingers at the expense of Rupert Murdoch, whose media empire has been affected by a cell phone hacking scandal at one of his (now-defunct) British newspapers. "We never once wiretapped anyone," Turner quipped.
Georgia Aquarium mixes fame and fish
It's been a banner week for the residents of the Georgia Aquarium, who have received some notable visitors. Part-time Atlantan Elton John visited with partner David Furnish and son Zachary. Actor Dennis Quaid visited with his son Thomas Boone.
Overscene
Kiefer Sutherland, in town shooting scenes for a movie called "The Reluctant Fundamentalist," dined at Veni Vidi Vici Wednesday night and posed for a photo with general manager Leonardo Moura and hostess Carolina Melguizo. He dined solo at the Tavern at Phipps Monday. The film, also starring Kate Hudson and Liev Schreiber, was scheduled to do some filming in the Castleberry Hill area on Friday...A tipster spotted actor Ving Rhames dining at Hal's on Old Ivy Road Wednesday night.
Buzz in our ear
When the movie "What to Expect When You're Expecting" comes out, keep an eye out for various Atlanta landmarks including the giant fish in front of the Atlanta Fish Market on Pharr Road in Buckhead. The film has been shooting some scenes in that area and cast member Elizabeth Banks tweeted out a photo of it, noting, "Look at this giant monster fish that played background." She also posted a 140-character restaurant review Thursday night ("WOW, Bacchanalia in ATL rocked my palate with some crazy delish food items.")
On the filming horizon
A Bette Midler-Billy Crystal comedy called "Us and Them" will crank up here soon. We're already getting word of casting calls for extras including one from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 2 at A.M.T.C, 2000 Powers Ferry Road S.E. in east Cobb.They're looking for kids ages 11 to 14 who play the violin, young adults ages 18 to 33 who are into skateboarding or BMX bikes, people who could be cast as Little League coaches or umpires and folks in their 30s or 40s who appear headed to a resort. For more details see www.marinellacasting.com.
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