Dan Gross: Back to school for Tasha Smith

CAMDEN-NATIVE/ACTRESS Tasha Smith, in town yesterday promoting her new TBS series, Tyler Perry's "For Better or Worse," returned to her alma mater, Camden High School, to speak with students. Smith also stopped at the Camden Creative and Performing Arts High School.

The actress was joined by Michael Jai White, with whom she co-starred in two Perry films, "Why Did I Get Married?" and "Why Did I Get Married Too?" The pair reprise their roles in "For Better or Worse," which premieres Nov. 25.

Smith, who also appeared in "Couples Retreat" and "Jumping the Broom," told us she was glad to have time to "see some friends and my old stomping grounds."

White shared a funny story about doing a play called "Cheaters" a few years ago at the Merriam Theatre. "It was a play that had some steamy stuff so these women were a little bit primed," says White, who starred as "Spawn," and also appeared in "The Dark Knight" and "Black Dynamite."

"I went out the wrong stage door and into an alley with a group of women and, long story short, I had to run a few blocks."

You can watch our video interview with the actors online today at PhillyGossip.com

After attending a tribute to their old coach Buddy Ryan at the Otho Davis Scholarship Fund dinner Tuesday at the Society Hill Sheraton, former Eagles Seth Joyner, Clyde Simmons, Keith Byars and Keith Jackson dropped by the cigar bar Mahogany (1524 Walnut).

The guys smoked owner Tom Piazza's own Padron 1964 Anniversary and stayed till close.

British talk-show host Jeremy Kyle, who can by seen on the syndicated "The Jeremy Kyle Show" (2 p.m. CW Philly 57), made his driver pull over when he spotted the Art Museum steps on his press tour yesterday. He left his car to run up the iconic "Rocky" steps and get a photo next to the statue of the Italian Stallion.

Kyle also found a lost cellphone on the steps during his run, picked it up so he could return it to its owner, another tourist. The grateful owner stopped by the CW Philly/CBS 3 headquarters to retrieve his phone.

Expect Sheena Parveen, a meterologist at Tampa's WTVT, to start on NBC10 next month.

Just back from the Exxxotica convention in Edison, N.J., Berks County porn starlet Gina Lynn headlines at Cheerleaders (Front & Oregon), tomorrow and Saturday with shows at 10 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.

HGTV's Carter Oosterhouse, who is married to actress Amy Smart, will be back in Point Breeze Saturday to dedicate the Build Smart, Breathe Easier house he helped construct, along with Merck and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. They built the house for Anna Johnson and her daughter, Tatiana, who has asthma.

Prudential, Fox and Roach Realtor Johanna Loke will be on Monday's "The Dr. Oz Show" (11 a.m., Fox 29) talking with the host about cutting junk food and white flour from her diet.

Community activist Paul "Earthquake" Moore is seeking canned-food donations from noon Saturday to noon Sunday at 73rd & Woodland, Southwest Philly, where he will be set up in a trailer.

Quake, known as the People's Champ in his boxing days, is also looking for participants and turkey donations for his annual Turkey Run, taking place Nov. 19 from 49th & Woodland to 72nd & Woodland. For info, call 215-385-2696 or write earth_quake1@hotmail.com.

Author and SportsWeek contributor Robert Strauss speaks about his new book, Daddy's Little Goalie, a funny and sentimental memoir about being the father of female athletes, at 9:30 a.m. Monday as part of the Bank of America Book Festival at the Katz JCC in Cherry Hill. The Fonz himself, Henry Winkler, Sen. Joe Lieberman and actress Marlee Matlin are also among authors participating in the festival. For info, visit katzjcc.org.