"30 Rock" creator/star Tina Fey is encouraging friends to sign an online petition against cuts in arts and music programs in the Upper Darby School District.
" ‘Educational Realignment’ should be the new euphemism for crapping in your own bed," Fey writes in an email to friends and family.
"Other than to showcase some amazing Philly accents, I’m sending this to you in the off chance you know someone who can bring attention to this story. It’s emblematic of garbage that’s going on in a lot of states," Fey wrote. She directed her recipients to saveudarts.org, which includes a link to the change.org petition that thousands have signed in opposition to the arts cuts.
"Y’all know I don’t usually forward stuff like this, so thanks," she added.
"How can I help?" Fey was quoted asking in a Sunday Inquirer column about the importance of arts in schools in a story by Maria Panaritis, who co-starred with Fey in a 1988 Upper Darby High production of "Grease." One potential outlet could be some type of financial contribution or arts endowment in the district.
We asked Fey’s reps whether the former "SNL" head writer/star intends to donate more than her name to the campaign, but her publicist said she had no new information on her plans.
Yo, Tina. Shoot a live "30 Rock" at Upper Darby High and donate ticket fees to arts programs.
"Real Housewives of New York" castmate Ramona Singer refused to pose for pictures with Drita D’Avanzo of "Mob Wives" and Tracy DiMarco of "Jerseylicious" Friday night at Parx in Bensalem despite appearing in the "Reality Divas" event/Q&A session at the 360 club.
Singer left just after the event for the Hamptons, while D’Avanzo hung out at Parx Grill and played three-card poker.
DiMarco ate at Parx Grill, played craps and roulette, and stayed until about 2 a.m., and also returned the next day for more roulette and lunch at Chickie’s & Pete’s.
Jennifer Hudson, who co-starred with Beyonce in "Dreamgirls" caught her concert Monday night at Revel in Atlantic City. Queen Latifah also attended the show, the last of Beyonce's four shows at the new hotel marking her first performances since giving birth to a baby, Blue Ivy Carter, with husband Jay-Z, in January.
Kim Kardashian snuck off to Revel to see Beyonce’s Sunday night concert before her own hosting gig at The Pool After Dark at Harrah’s Atlantic City along with friend and fellow reality star Brittny Gastineau.
On Friday Beyonce’s Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, “Smash” star Megan Hilty, model Selita Ebanks took in her show, on Saturday Ravens running back Ray Rice and Norristown native actress Maria Bello took in Beyonce’s show where First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Celebrating Revel’s grand opening weekend Sunday and also catching Beyonce were “SNL” players Bobby Moynihan and Vanessa Bayer, a Penn grad and “Boardwalk Empire” actor Michael K. Williams, whom many still think of as Omar on “The Wire.”
A crew from the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team including Hope Solo, Heather Mitts, (and her husband, former Eagles QB A.J. Feeley) and Lauren Cheney, girlfriend of Sixer Jrue Holiday, and Heather O'Reilly, were expected at Monday night’s show.
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl stopped for a late drink Friday at Smith & Wollensky at the Rittenhouse where he was staying while in town for a wedding.
Grohl was polite to fans who engaged him at the bar and in Rittenhouse Square Saturday afternoon where he posed for pictures such as this one with fan Erdem Yoruk.
An ex-girlfriend of Terrence Howard faces a preliminary hearing June 12 for allegedly punching the actor in the face outside his house last month.
On May 6, May Seng Yang, 39, of Plymouth Meeting, showed up at the Whitemarsh Township home of the “Red Tails” and “Hustle & Flow” star and argued with his current girlfriend, Erica Jiles, according to an affidavit of probable cause by Whitemarsh police.
Howard came outside, the three talked and Howard and Jiles told police that Yang punched him in the nose. The document states that Yang repeatedly contacted Howard, who recently shot the mob drama “Dead Man Down” in town alongside Colin Farrell, after he broke up with her.
Yang’s attorney John J. McAuliffe, Jr. says his client had an on-again/off-again relationship for 10 years during which time the actor was married to and divorced from two women.
Yang, whose driver’s license photo accompanies this article, was charged with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.
She told Whitemarsh Police that Howard choked her and threw her to the ground and punched her in the eye, then told his girlfriend, “F--- this, I’m going to jail for this tonight.” In a handwritten statement to police, Yang wrote that during their argument she told Howard that he gave her herpes and says he acknowledged doing so.
Howard’s attorney Edwin Guyer did not return a phone call yesterday and Howard’s talent manager did not return a request for comment about the herpes allegation or Yang’s statement that Howard had struck her repeatedly.
McAuliffe said he has “never seen such a one-sided affidavit” and believes that Whitemarsh police gave Howard star treatment. McAuliffe was quick to point out Howard’s September 2001 arrest for allegedly punching his first wife Lori, and that he later pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace. “My client is 5-1 and 100 pounds. He is 6-2 and close to 200 pounds. She didn’t attack him,” McAuliffe said.
The police report states that there was a cut on Howard’s nose but also mentions bruising on Yang, who refused medical treatment when paramedics arrived on the scene. McAuliffe says he expects Howard to be present at the June 12 preliminary hearing.
Read more from our column in Thursday's Daily News.
John Bolaris joined Steve Martorano to host a two-hour radio show after Monday’s Phillies game on 1210 WPHT AM.
The former Fox 29 meteorologist might be interested in a permanent job in radio as he doesn’t want to leave Philadelphia, where his daughter lives. “I went on there, I had some fun, if it becomes something, that’s great,” Bolaris told us.
As for whether Bolaris is being considered for a regular slot at WPHT, which recently announced an all-local talk format, CBS Radio Market Manager Marc Rayfield, who doesn’t like to actually answer questions, said that “WPHT is committed to serving the Delaware Valley with a wide array of compelling, local voices. It is always our goal to feature local talent fitting that description, on our booming 50,000 -watt signal. Stay tuned.”
Bolaris, meanwhile, is busy working on the upcoming Badges of Honor 5K Run to benefit the Survivor’s Fund, which aids the families of Philadelphia police or corrections officers or firefighters who were killed in the line of duty. For info, BadgesofHonor5k.com.
Justin Bieber will play the Wells Fargo Center Nov. 4 with "Call Me Maybe" singer Carly Rae Jepsen opening the show.
AEG Live announced the show this morning and tickets go on sale Wednesday for Bieber fan club members, May 24 to May 31 for American Express cardholders. General on sale is June 2.
For more info, visit aeglive.com or BieberFever.com.
The newest Phillies fan is Camryn Drew Rollins who Johari Smith Rollins, wife of shortstop Jimmy Rollins, delivered late Sunday night. The little lady weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces.
As we reported in Tuesday's column, Jimmy Rollins had to run out of an event for his Jimmy Rollins Family Foundation Sunday night at Yakitori Boy (211 N. 11th) when he learned Johari, a fitness trainer, had gone into labor.
Rollins missed Monday's game, and will miss Tuesday's game, in order to spend time with his new bundle of joy.
Yakitori Boy meanwhile now offers a dish appropriately titled the J-Roll whose proceeds benefit the foundation.
Read more from our column in Tuesday's Daily News.
This item has been updated.
Pearl Jam, D'Angelo, and Philly-raised Santigold have been confirmed among artists performing at the Budweiser Made in America Festival which Jay-Z and Mayor Nutter announced one week ago at the Art Museum.
The two-day concert festival takes place Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
A screen capture of what appears to be a Ticketmaster goof made its way around Facebook over the weekend.
Cold Pizza Band originally posted a photo, seemingly a premature Ticketmaster listing that named artists such as those above, along with Skrillex, Afrojack, Odd Future, Miike Snow as performing at the festival.
LiveNation is expected to announce the full roster today, and spokespeople for the concert promoter didn't immediately return a request for comment this morning.
Tickets, which include a $99 two-day pass option, are to go on sale Wednesday at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.
UPDATE: The Dirty Projectors, X, Janelle Monae, Maybach Music (featuring Rick Ross, North Philly's Meek Mill and Wale) and Passion Pit are among other artists LiveNation has announced though the complete line-up has yet to be revealed. Drake, who was included among artists on the Ticketmaster goof, has not yet been confirmed, but that could change, we're told. Also, not yet confirmed is Beyonce, though Jay-Z hinted last week that he wanted his wife to perform.
Country star LeAnn Rimes joined her road crew for target practice at the Philadelphia Archery & Gun Club (9th & Ellsworth) Thursday afternoon.
Rimes, who played the Keswick Theatre Friday, fired a semi-automatic pistol and a semi-automatic rifle down the range and spent time chatting up and taking pictures with employees of the gun shop.
The singer, accompanied by her actor husband Eddie Cibrian, tweeted photos of herself shooting and said she had a wonderful time.
Friday afternoon she stopped for a late lunch and some red wine at at a. kitchen (135 S. 18th) .
Backstage at her Keswick show Friday, Rimes, in accordance with the Wish Upon A Hero organization, presented a wheelchair to Southampton's Renee Succa who has Rett Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disease.
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