By Jennifer Brett
jbrett@ajc.com
Longtime local radio personality Vikki Locke agreed to host a pajama bingo party benefiting Pets Are Loving Support, held Wednesday at the Jungle Club. What she didn’t know is that her friends actually had planned a surprise party for her. The B98.5 FM Morning Show co-host was feted by industry pals including Tom Sullivan, Will Gara and Jessica Forkel, and showered with gifts including a catered dinner for eight from A Legendary Event’s Tony Conway, a spa getaway from John Stupka of Blue Med Spa and flowers from Larry Hammack of Foxgloves & Ivy. Wouldn’t you know Locke donated her gifts just moments after receiving them? They’ll be auction items at the May 1 PALS Pet Cotillion. (Minus the fleurs, which will be a lovely dried bouquet by then.) The Pet Cotillion will be held at Piedmont Bark; see www.b985.com/events/detail/236346 for details. This week’s party raised $3,600 for PALS, which provides care to the companion animals of elderly or critically ill Atlantans.
It’s Christmas in May from Tyler Perry
Madea is ready to make merry. Tickets for “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas,” coming to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on May 13 and 14, are on sale now at the box office, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 1-800-745-3000. All seats are $25 plus fees. Perry’s latest Madea movie, “Madea’s Big Happy Family,” comes out April 22. The preview screening was held Wednesday at the Regal Atlantic Station theater, and Perry joined guests including Alan Payne and Keshia Knight Pulliam afterward at a post-screening party at Ten Pin Alley. It was adapted from the play he said he penned as he was grieving the loss of his mother. His latest play marks a return of sorts to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. His film “For Colored Girls,” released last fall, shot a scene there, in which Janet Jackson’s character attends the opera with her husband, played by Omari Hardwick.
Buzz in our ear
Former boy band singer Lance Bass was in town this week for a guest-star gig on Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva,” which is filmed in Peachtree City. The former ‘N Sync member is friends with “Diva” creator Josh Berman, and we’re told he will play a “casting director” in the episode. Bass stayed at the W in Midtown and caught up with his buddy the ubiquitous Holly Firfer, who can be seen on HLN, heard on Star 94 and read in The Atlantan these days.
Tweet of the day
“Simply, thank you.”
-- Q100’s Melissa Carter, following her final shift behind the microphone on Friday after a decade there. Her farewell show featured tearful goodbyes from her colleagues and listeners.
Celebrity birthdays
Actor Peter Mark Richman is 84. Singer Bobby Vinton is 76. NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 64. NFL coach Bill Belichick is 59. Actress Ellen Barkin is 57. Rock musician Jason Scheff (Chicago) is 49. Singer Jimmy Osmond is 48. Rock singer David Pirner (Soul Asylum) is 47. Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence is 46. Actor Jon Cryer is 46. Rock musician Dan Rieser is 45. Actor Peter Billingsley is 40. Actor Lukas Haas is 35.
Contributing: news services
