Karate Kid speaks; Rod Stewart digs deep

AT A Q&A SESSION recently for the movie "The Karate Kid," a pregnant woman stood up, looked at star Ralph Macchio and said, "This could have been yours," referring to her swelling baby bump while her disgruntled husband stood by her side.

That's not even the weirdest thing that's happened to Macchio during one of these fan-engagement sessions. Sometimes he has to reassure fans that members of the rival Cobra Kai dojo in "The Karate Kid" were not the "jackasses" portrayed on screen. "When these things become iconic, people have trouble disassociating from the fake. I've never asked Sylvester Stallone if he really hated Apollo Creed," Macchio joked.

Macchio will see if Philadelphians ask similarly strange questions when he participates in a Q&A following a 30th-anniversary screening of "The Karate Kid" on Thursday at Philly comic con Wizard World (wizardworld.com). He'll also make appearances through Saturday.

Macchio has embraced his role as an '80s film icon, starring in "The Outsiders" and "My Cousin Vinny" as well as the "Karate Kid" franchise, something that took age to appreciate. "Roles that touch people are a gazillion-to- one. I was in two or three films that people still quote straight," Macchio said, unfortunately not challenging me to go through all of "My Cousin Vinny" with him.

"I always thought I'd have 'The Karate Kid' on my tombstone," he continued. "But because of the Will Smith family, I have to change it to the 'Original.' "

Rocker Rod Stewart surprised WMGK's John DeBella with a sack of cash. Stewart donated $10,000 and an autographed guitar (that raised $2,500) to DeBella's eighth annual Veterans Radiothon. The fundraiser supports the Veterans Multi-Service Center, vmcenter.org.

"In December, we had a great interview with Rod and he invited us backstage to meet and have a drink. We arrived with a guitar and asked him to sign it for the Veterans Radiothon. That's when we found out what a huge veterans supporter he was, and he offered to call back for the Radiothon," DeBella said. "We were thrilled to have him back on the air [on Friday], and shocked when we later found out that he made a $10,000 donation through the VMC website. The man walks the walk."

Philly rapper Eve married multimillionaire Maximillion Cooper on Saturday in Ibiza, Spain. Eve wore a gorgeous, lacy Alice Temperley dress. The couple met in 2010 at the international car race Gumball 3000, founded by Cooper. This is the first marriage for Eve. Cooper has four children from a previous marriage.

Cheesesteak impresario Tony Luke Jr. is promoting his new Spike competition cooking show, "Frankenfood," this week by doling out free food from the program. The show, which premieres Sunday at 10 p.m., features amateur cooks creating new food combinations that are judged by Luke, celeb chef Josh Capon and a celeb guest.

The truck will be out from noon to 4 p.m., or whenever they run out of food. Locations are as follows: the University of Sciences today, Drexel tomorrow, 30th Street Station on Wednesday, LOVE Park and the University of Pennsylvania on Thursday and 30th Street Station on Friday.

But get this: Tomorrow, I hear Luke will pull double-duty and deliver roast-pork sandwiches and cheesesteaks to the oncology staff at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware. The do-good doctors support Adopt a Pig: Change Matters for Kids with Cancer, a program that helps children and their families fighting cancer.

Craig Robinson, of "The Bachelorette," will support Team Gia Day at Skin Palette (Inside the Studio CL, 128 S. 19th St.), the tanning spa owned by Julie Dorenbos and Susie Celek, from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday. All proceeds from services support the 2014 National Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk (June 28-29). The day is in honor of former "Bachelor" contestant Gia Allemand, who took her own life last summer. Call 215-496-0604 to book your appointment. For more info, go to tinyurl.com/TeamGiaPhilly.

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