On Monday, I told you that West Philly-born dancer Abdur-Rahim Jackson will appear on tonight's second season premiere of NBC's Broadway-themed "Smash," but Jackson isn't the only Philly name in the credits this week. Friend Central grad Benj Pasek and his writing partner Justin Paul have a song featured on tonight's episode called "Caught in the Storm." You can check it out early on iTunes.
Pasek and Paul are fast becoming major names on the New York stage. Recently, they wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway adaptation of "A Christmas Story," and they didn't shoot anyone's eyes out in the process.
Want to catch up on "Smash" before tonight's premiere? Read Ellen Gray's review.
Searching for Sugar Man? Look no further.
Rodriguez, the Detroit musician who became a folk legend in South Africa while forgotten about in the United States, performs April 9 at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside.
He was the subject of the recent documentary "Searching for Sugar Man."
LeSean "Shady" McCoy lived up to his nickname Saturday night when he embarked on a Twitter battle with his baby mama, calling her names and insisting his followers also harass her on the social media site.
Fashion designer and AIDS advocate Mondo Guerra will unveil new T-shirt designs to benefit Philly nonprofit organization ActionAIDS at the Fashion in Action event on Valentine's Day at the Hotel Palomar. Guerra, who revealed he was HIV-positive while competing on "Project Runway" in 2010, will also outfit models in three one-off looks to be auctioned off at the event.
The T-shirts are in support of Dining Out for Life on April 26.
Philly hip-hop heroes The Roots will perform their own set and also back Naughty By Nature at the group's annual Roots Picnic, taking place June 1 at Festival Pier.
Last year's event was two-days long, but the Roots Picnic is now one day solidly-packed with an eclectic lineup.
Not every band is praised by not only one, but both surviving members of Nirvana. Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, the former Nirvana drummer, said on comedian Marc Maron's WTF podcast that he loved Philly rockers Bleeding Rainbow. Ex-Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic posted his appreciation last week.
"We all really freaked out when we first saw the Krist Novoselic tweet about how he likes us," said Sarah Everton, who sings and plays bass and guitar in the band. "And then when we listened to Dave Grohl say he was really into us on the WTF podcast, we all lost it. We're all huge Nirvana fans."
Five-time Wing Bowl champ Bill "El Wingador" Simmons will not be part of this year's 21st annual celebration of gluttony and strippers Feb. 1, says 94 WIP morning host, Angelo Cataldi.
Doylestown's Caroline Pla, the 11-year-old football player who was booted from the Philadelphia CYO football team for being female, sat down with Ellen DeGeneres on her Tuesday "Ellen" show. As she tells Ellen, more than 34,000 people have signed a petition at Change.org to ask the CYO to reconsider.
Here's a clip.
Flyers wing Scott Hartnell and NBC1O meteorologist Sheena Parveen had drinks together Wednesday night at the Irish Pub (20th & Walnut).
Parveen was also seen hanging with Hartnell in the VIP area at Dusk at Caesars in November after the Operation Hat Trick charity game he organized at Boardwalk Hall to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.
Hartnell declined to comment through a Flyers spokesman on the Irish Pub outing or the nature of his relationship with Parveen, who did not return our email asking her about her connection to the hockey player.
Mark Wahlberg and "Broken City" director Allen Hughes helped Fox 29's Sue Serio with her weather report Wednesday morning on "Good Day."
Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29
