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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > May > 30
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
‘View’ cast gets Spanxing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Given the Rosie O’Donnell-related fireworks last week, Spanx founder Sara Blakely didn’t exactly know what to expect when she turned up backstage for an appearance on “The View” in New York on Wednesday. The Atlanta footless-pantyhose founder was instantly relieved, however.
“The energy was higher backstage than any other show Sara’s ever been booked on,” Spanx rep Misty Elliott told us via cellphone as she and Blakely were departing the ABC studios Wednesday. “It appears that everyone is moving forward.”
On air, Blakely was part of a special edition of the daytime talk show that focused on “Women & Money.” Financial guru Suze Orman served as the guest co-host.
To properly greet Blakely, Orman and “View” co-host Joy Behar showed off their Spanx under their clothes to the audience. Alas, Barbara Walters then admitted to not wearing the slimming garment and inexplicably got up to demonstrate her panty lines to America.
Elliott told us that Walters wasn’t perhaps being completely on the level.
“It was maybe a case of panty lines for TV ratings,” Elliott joked. “Barbara told us backstage that she had just bought a lot of Spanx at retail and that she loved the product,”Elliott dished. “Plus, we gave her a big gift bag full. Barbara’s good for a while now!”
During the broadcast, Orman, a strong proponent for women publicly disclosing their salaries, chastised Blakely for not discussing dough (last year, Spanx rang up $150 million in retail sales …). Cracked Orman: “She’ll talk to you about her panties, but she won’t tell you what’s in her bank account!”
Backstage, Blakely ran into actress Jane Seymour, who was taping an episode of the show to air this week. It just so happens that “Somewhere in Time” is one of Blakely’s fave movies. Seymour, likewise, is a huge fan of Blakely’s control-top hosiery.
“Sara was freaked when she saw Jane,” Elliott told us. As a result, Seymour took home a generous supply of the product as well.
PAGES OF POSITIVITY
The book’s not even written yet, but it already qualifies as a happy ending.
Former CNN anchor-turned-
Web-site-entrepreneur Daryn Kagan has signed a publishing agreement with Meredith Books that includes a book to be released next spring. “What’s Possible! Creating Possibilities Beyond Life’s Five Biggest Obstacles” will be in keeping with darynkagan.com, her 6-month-old Web site that spotlights positive and hopeful news stories.
The content “will be almost all original,” Kagan said Wednesday, although the book will feature some of her favorite stories from the Web site. Otherwise, “It would be kind of like telling Jimmy Buffett he couldn’t put his favorites on a greatest-hits CD!”
Chapter 1 will detail Kagan’s “reinvention” from a 12-year CNN vet whose contract wasn’t renewed to head of “my own media company.” Kagan narrates an upcoming public television documentary about a Peachtree Corners woman’s nonprofit agency for leprosy sufferers in India. “Breaking the Curse” airs here on PBA on June 11.
All well and good, but Buzz had to ask the loyal fan of a certain popular reality show: If “Dancing With the Stars” came calling, would she waltz on out to L.A. and compete?
“My official answer is ‘Sure,’ ” Kagan said. She laughed heartily, then revealed that she’s taken ballroom dancing classes here. “The theme of the Web site is ‘Anything’s possible.’ ”
NEW ‘HOUSE’ RULES
Since we originally wrote about the TBS “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” promotion that will present one lucky church with $25,000 for upgrades, the cable channel has tweaked some of the particulars.
According to Turner rep. Michelle Sisco, the “Building Onto a House of Faith” contest will now be more Web-oriented.
The promotion is connected to the June launch of the new TBS sitcom. According to the updated info, entries should still be a paragraph (no more than 200 words) about why you think your church deserves to win. But now, “The top five entries will be featured on tbs.com/houseofpayne on June 11. Viewers can then vote for their favorite entry, and the winner will be announced on tbs.com/houseofpayne on June 20. For info.: www.tbs.com/contests.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor-director Clint Eastwood is 77. Singer Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary is 69. Actress Sharon Gless (“Cagney and Lacey”) is 64. Actor Gregory Harrison is 57. Actor Tom Berenger is 57. Comedian Chris Elliott is 47. Singer Corey Hart is 45. Rapper DMC of Run-DMC is 43. Actress Brooke Shields is 42. Actor Colin Farrell is 31. Drummer Andy Hurley of Fall Out Boy is 27.
COUPLING
Lisa Ling, a correspondent for National Geographic Channel and for “Oprah,” married Dr. Paul Song over the weekend.
Ling and Song, a Chicago-based radiation oncologist, were wed Saturday in an Asian-themed ceremony in Los Angeles, said Chris Albert, a representative for National Geographic Channel, in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
Song, 41, proposed to the 33-year-old Ling in December.
“They plan to spend time with friends in Los Angeles and Chicago in lieu of a honeymoon,” Albert said.
Contributing: Jill Vejnoska and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Morrissey demands meatless Chastain
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Each summer, the folks who book Chastain Park Amphitheater usually encounter a few acts who request the more formal, less distracting “no tables” policy at the chardonnay and candelabra concert venue. But Classic Chastain concert series organizers got an interesting request via former Smiths vocalist Morrissey’s artist contract rider for his scheduled July 20 gig.
The noted vegetarian and animal-rights activist has it in his contract that no meat products will be sold at Chastain at his performance. The venue routinely sells hot dogs and hamburgers at concession stands, but far more people pack their own goodies and haul them in before each performance.
According to Internet blogs on the mysterious musician, the singer doesn’t enjoy the scent of cooking meat. He is apparently so committed to animal rights that he shops for artificial leather footwear as well.
Classic Chastain rep Caren West told Buzz on Tuesday that the venue is taking the request “in stride” and that Morrissey’s management routinely works with each venue he plays to work out the request in advance.
Still, there’s no predicting what might happen if concertgoers suddenly pull Renaissance Festival-esque turkey legs from coolers during the show.
Regardless, we’re told that tickets for the show and the other concerts in the 34th annual Classic Chastain series have been brisk. (Single-ticket sales began Friday. For details: classicchastain.com.)
WALLOWING IN BARBECUE SUCCESS
It’s safe to assume that Morrissey was nowhere near Memphis over the weekend. That’s where Atlanta musician and Breadwinner baked goods company co-owner Geoff Melkonian emerged as a winner in the “Super Bowl of swine.” Melkonian and his grilling team, Barefoot in the Pork, scored a first place trophy at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in the Patio Porkers non-professional category for their rib recipe.
When we, um, grilled Melkonian about his winning recipe, he would only say: “Barbecue is all about the amount of love you put into it. It’s all about the love.”
We’re told that Melkonian and pals were merely in Memphis seeking to “test their grilling skills, have a little fun in the sun and sample some of the best barbecue in the country.” They actually never anticipated winning an award. Kinda like us and the Pulitzer. …
BABY MAKES EARLY DEBUT
Over the long weekend, Q100’s Bert Weiss and wife Stacey delivered their second son. Hollis Lee Weiss weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces. He was born more than a month earlier than expected. After a few briefly scary complications, mother and son are doing fine, according to dad.
OVERSCENE
Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock dining at Ecco during a champagne post-concert reception at the Midtown eatery. Among the all-star crowd of musicians from the 30th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival: Terri Lyne Carrington, Patrice Rushen, Everette Harp, Chris Walker, Jef Lee Johnson and Munyungo Jackson and the Robert Irving III Trio featuring Buster Williams and Ernie Adams.
‘THE VIEW,’ WITHOUT ROSIE
Even though ex-co-host Rosie O’Donnell has been removed from the ABC daytime gabfest’s opening credits, she remained a significant source of discussion for Barbara Walters and company on Tuesday’s live telecast, the first after O’Donnell resigned last week after an on-air dust-up with Elisabeth Hasselbeck. “It’s been quite a week,” Walters acknowledged. “A week that makes us, in many ways, very sad.” Walters told viewers that she and O’Donnell exchanged “very affectionate” e-mails over the weekend and that “we will always be grateful to Rosie.” Walters acknowledged that O’Donnell had indeed been displeased by the use of a split screen during her prolonged battle with Hasselbeck over comments about the war in Iraq. Hasselbeck said that she and O’Donnell had also been in touch and are learning about “the power of forgiveness.” Us? We’ve learned the power of Aleve.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Colm Meaney (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is 54. Actor Ted McGinley (“Hope and Faith”) is 49. Country singer Wynonna is 43. Guitarist Tom Morello of Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine is 43. Singer Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkley is 33.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We had a test screening in Arizona, and I’m thinking, ‘This movie [expletive]. It’s stupid.’ But then we get our highest [audience response] numbers ever.”
— “Transformers” director Michael Bay in the June/July issue of Details, on why we should all plunk down dough for a ticket to his latest explosion-filled, robot-riddled epic due in theaters July 4.
Contributing: news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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