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‘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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