"Drop Dead Diva," the Lifetime drama-comedy that films in Peachtree City, cranked up again this week and we have some inside scoop. For the season premiere, which will air this summer, the show is teaming up with a choreographer from "So You Think Can Dance." Paula Abdul, who guest-starred last season, will be back, joined this time by Wendy Williams, appearing in another "dancing dream" sequence along with members of the cast. As fans know, show regular Margaret Cho has honed her techniques as a contestant on "Dancing With the Stars" so we'll get another chance to see her in action. (Williams has just signed on for a run on DWTS, so we're sure she's ready to bring it, too). And country crooner LeAnn Rimes will guest-star as a party-girl celebrity whose case Jane, played by Brooke Elliott, takes on.
Buzz in our ear
You might see a sniper running around the Marietta Square this weekend. Relax! It’s an actor! Students from Chattahoochee Technical College are filming a movie for a class project, city officials said. Filming will take place between Cherokee and Hansell streets and from the rooftop of the Cobb County parking deck on Cherokee Street. “An actor portraying a sniper will be on the roof of the parking deck, but no shots will be fired,” according to a notice on the city's Web site. No streets will be closed during filming. In case of bad weather, the shoot will be rescheduled to next weekend.
Overscene
Tuesday must have been Pro Athlete Night at Two Urban Licks. Chicago Bulls players Kyle Korver, Carlos Boozer and Ronnie Brewer, in town for the Wednesday night game against the Hawks, and Falcons player Ovie Mughelli all had dinner there that night...Ben Affleck and daughter Violet saw "Honk" at the Alliance Theatre Thursday morning. Based on Hans Christian Andersen's fable "The Ugly Duckling," the performance runs through March 20. Affleck's wife and Violet's mom, Jennifer Garner, is filming "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" here.
Alumni honors
Outwrite Bookstore and Coffeehouse proprietor Philip Rafshoon, who is active with Atlanta Pride, AID Atlanta, AIDS Walk Atlanta, Georgia Equality and Out on Film, will be honored with an Alumni Legacy Award by Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. A 1983 graduate with a bachelor's degree in industrial management, Rafshoon will receive the award at Georgia Tech's Founder's Day ceremony and luncheon on March 15.
Celebrity birthdays
Actor James Noble ("Benson") is 89. Actor James B. Sikking ("Hill Street Blues," "Doogie Howser, M.D.") is 77. Actor Dean Stockwell is 75. Actor Fred Williamson is 73. Actor Michael Warren ("Soul Food," "Hill Street Blues") is 65. Actor-singer Eddie Hodges is 64. Singer Eddy Grant is 63. Keyboardist Alan Clark of Dire Straits is 59. Actress-comedian Marsha Warfield is 57. Comedian-magician Penn Jillette is 56. Singers Craig and Charlie Reid of The Proclaimers are 49. Guitarist John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is 41. Singer Rome is 41. Actor Kevin Connolly ("Entourage") is 37. Actress Eva Mendes is 36. Model Niki Taylor is 36. Actor Sterling Knight ("Sonny With a Chance") is 22. Actor Jake Lloyd ("Star Wars Episode 1: Phantom Menace") is 22.
Contributing: news services
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