New url for Peach Buzz
Bookmark this new url for Peach Buzz.. We have moved to Wordpress!
Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 07 > Entry
Turner movie host Osborne a classy pro
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We somehow resisted the urge to dash past Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne and leap onto one of the familiar red leather chairs and put our feet up on the large round red ottoman during a recent visit to the Midtown Atlanta set. After all, Buzz was taught to behave ourselves when you’re invited into someone’s home (even if it’s a totally cool urban loft TV home). Later this year, the Hollywood Reporter scribe and author of the history of the Oscars will tape his 50,000th classic film intro here for the basic cable channel.
One week each month, the New Yorker flies here and, with a well-oiled production team over four or five days, records 112 to 124 intros for the next month’s primetime lineup.
As our eyes became adjusted to the studio’s decreased illumination, the 6-foot-plus, silver-haired Osborne extended his hand and said: “Good to have you with us!” Thankfully, watching Osborne operate was unlike our other experiences watching TV folks at work (for example, a CNN Headline News anchor once leaned over to us during a commercial break to ask us how to pronounce something).
Between takes, the reporter’s jacket is off, revealing suspenders. Working with a TeleprompTer editor, Osborne fine-tunes batches of the intros before filming (he also spends two weeks each month in NYC writing and researching the bits as well). If during filming he wants to add more information or tweak something, he dashes off set to rewrite or edit.
Oh, and that green coffee mug you see on the set? It’s filled with hot water to keep Osborne’s voice warmed up. We’re assuming it comes in handy (David Letterman would request a sweater if he did his show at the Turner TCM studio).
While we can’t divulge exactly what you’ll be seeing on TCM in coming weeks, viewers can expect tributes to Hume Cronyn, Gregory Peck (Osborne refers to him on-camera as “Greg”) and an evening of films loosely based on real-life crimes.
Over lunch in the TCM “Canteen,” Osborne told us he loves his job.
“We never repeat a script so it’s important to find a different slant or present new information on even well-known films like ‘The Philadelphia Story,’ ” he explained. “Some people tell us watching TCM is like going to film school. That’s nice to hear but our approach is to make it a little more informal and conversational.”
So how does the print journalist fare now that his famous face is recognized at Hartsfield-Jackson?
“There’s no downside, really,” he said. “People are usually very kind and treat me like they’re running into an old friend.”
SO, YOU THINK YOU CAN SING?
MTV is coming to Atlanta to hold auditions for a nationwide search for the next great singing group. Selected groups will compete for a chance to win $100,000. Groups must consist of three to six members and must be at least 18 years of age. Auditions will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday at J-Pat Management Pop City, 3996 Pleasantdale Road in Doraville. To book an audition time, go to Myspace.com/mtvsinginggroup.
OVERSCENE
Tameka Raymond, aka Usher’s wife, recently was spotted at Hair-Ex in Sandy Springs purchasing 32-inch naturally curly 100 percent human hair imported from India. Word on the street is Mrs. Raymond was prepping her ‘do for a photo shoot with a national magazine. It seems she’s in good hair company. Singers Monica and Ciara, as well as V-103’s Porsche Foxx, are all reported to be customers of the 2 1/2-year-old hair boutique.
RADIO HOST JUDD’S HEADED FOR ALTAR
For 94.9/The Bull’s Cledus T. Judd, perhaps the fourth time will be a charm.
The thrice-married/thrice-divorced morning host met Amy Cameron, a massage therapist (the legitimate kind), while recuperating a few weeks back from a softball injury and fell in love.
“I”m off the market,” he told Buzz. “The first time I kissed her, I knew that was the girl for me. … I fell about as hard for her as anybody in my life.”
The marriage date is July 18. Honeymoon: Destin, Fla.
In other Bull news, for all you fans of Jamie Massey, she’s not only leaving town, but she’s also taken.
Massey, formerly of Star 94 and Q100 and a morning co-host with Judd since January, decided to follow her heart and move to Phoenix, where she has a boyfriend. Her final day on air here is July 18.
In Phoenix, she’ll join sister Clear Channel country station KNIX-FM, where she’ll work part time while also teaching horseback riding. Her boyfriend Chad Jennings is an Air Force fighter pilot. (And yes, that does sound like the name for a fighter pilot, eh?)
Massey is bringing her horse Demure with her, but she anticipates he won’t be too pleased with the 110 degree temps: “He’s going to freak out!”
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Saturday: Actress Katherine Helmond (“Who’s The Boss,” “Soap”) is 79. Actress Shirley Knight is 72. Musician Robbie Robertson is 65. Singer Huey Lewis is 58. Actress Edie Falco (“The Sopranos”) is 45. Singer Jason Wade of Lifehouse is 28. Musician Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum is 26.
Sunday: Actress-singer Della Reese is 77. Actor Sylvester Stallone is 62. Actor Geoffrey Rush is 57. Rapper 50 Cent is 32.
Monday: Drummer Ringo Starr is 68. Singer David Hodo (the construction worker) of The Village People is 61. Country singer Linda Williams is 61. Actress Shelley Duvall is 59. Bassist Mark White of the Spin Doctors is 46. Singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard (“Ally McBeal”) is 45. Bassist Ricky Kinchen of Mint Condition is 42. Actress Jorja Fox (“CSI”) is 40. Actress Cree Summer (“A Different World”) is 39.
Contributing: Helena Oliviero, Rodney Ho and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
Comments