Tina Fey encourages petition against arts cuts in Upper Darby schools

"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.

The district votes Wednesday night on a budget plan that would cut all arts programs in elementary schools in the district, a savings the budget purports to be $3 million.

" '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.

Despite declaring, "Timbs, we off that. Rims, we off that," in his song "Off That," Jay-Z sported a pair of Timberland boots, jeans and a button-down as he watched his wife, Beyonce, perform Friday night at Revel in Atlantic City. Jay-Z, who sipped Ace of Spades champagne with pal/music producer The Dream, cheered it up in the crowd like everybody else and managed to remain low-key during his visit.

He left Saturday morning for Europe; Beyonce performed three more nights.

Bryn Mawr native Nathan Lieberman is executive producer and a regular on "The Catalina," which premiered Tuesday night on the CW and airs at 8 p.m. Tuesdays this summer.

The reality show follows the staff of the Catalina, a popular Miami Beach hotel that Lieberman owns with his father, Alan, who also owns a number of properties in Philadelphia.

Nathan, who went to Gladwyne Elementary but moved with his family to Miami when he was 10, says the Catalina is "our most recognizable property, and known all over the world," though he and Alan own 12 spots in the South Beach area.

Nathan, a New York University graduate, says each episode features an event at the hotel or elsewhere in South Beach including the area's gay-pride parade in which Nathan can be seen manning a grill and "making all the guyswieners."

He and Jorge Moreno developed the show through their company Beach Pictures and sold the program to the CW.

OUT AND ABOUT

Frankie Avalon and singer Lou Christie stopped by their pal Jerry Blavat's club, Memories (Amherst & Madison), in Margate on Saturday night. Christie filled in for Bobby Rydell, who's having some health problems, in the Golden Boys show with Avalon and Fabian.

The Trampps rocked Memories on Sunday night, helping the Geator celebrate the 40th anniversary of the popular Shore spot.