enjoys a strange treat: Chewing gum.

The actress, here shooting "Happy Tears" with Demi Moore, was accompanied by her pooch, Gracie, a bichon-frise/maltese, while shopping the Antiquarian (615 S. 6th) over the weekend.

While browsing the Wilbur Vintage shop in the basement, Posey's dog showed an interest in shop owner Dan Wilbur's Stride Winterblue gum.

Wilbur says that Posey asked him to chew a piece a little bit and then give it to Gracie because she loves to chew gum. Posey tried to retrieve the gum from her pooch, but Gracie swallowed it.

Posey, who told Wilbur that she was enjoying Our Town, checked out a pair of Jessica Bennett shoes, but they weren't her size.

And then she flipped through clothing racks singing Dolly Parton's "Two Doors Down," which Wilbur was playing in the shop.

Papa tears up during newscast

6ABC Sports Director Gary Papa got choked up on last night's 6 o'clock news after a piece about Eagles coach Andy Reid visiting sick kids at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Papa, who is battling cancer, teared up and anchor Jim Gardner asked Papa if he was OK. Papa said, "I just get emotional seeing those kids." Gardner shook Papa's hand, then went to a commercial.

After the break, Gardner deadpanned to viewers, "He's OK, he just found out they repossessed his car," and closed the broadcast, "For Gary Papa, who will be on a YouTube viewer near you, for Adam Joseph and the rest of the "Action News" team . . . " By that time, Papa was back on the set.

Out and about

South Philly-born crooner Bobby Rydell and pal Don Cannon, formerly of 98.1 WOGL, caught up over dinner at Scannicchio's (Broad & Porter) the other night.

Michelle Balan, a finalist on "Last Comic Standing," stopped by the new lounge Stir (1705 Chancellor), which was formerly the Post. Balan came in after her show at Helium Comedy (2031 Sansom) for a few glasses of wine. The club was recently renovated and is owned by North Wildwood native Stacey Vey, who worked for six years as a bartender at Tavern on Camac (243 S. Camac).

T.O. to make his acting debut

As if watching Flavor Flav acting wasn't painful enough, now Terrell Owens will appear with the rapper-turned-reality-show-star on his MyNetworkTV sitcom, "Under One Roof," at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

T.O. plays the long-lost brother of the Public Enemy hype man. "If I'm going to really consider doing acting after football, this is a great start to let me get my feet wet," the Cowboys crybaby told the Associated Press.

"I know what's the breadwinner for me,"' he said. "But definitely I'm looking forward to doing some acting after football, in the off-season next year. I think I did well enough that they even may bring me back for some recurring roles. It's a start for me, and I don't like to fail at anything I do."

* Speaking of Flav, Havertown's Jennifer Toof, aka Toastee, is among the cast of VH1's "I Love Money," which comprises ex-members of "Flavor of Love" (on which Toof appeared), "Rock of Love" and "I Love New York."

Last we spoke with Toastee she was talking about going to medical school. Looks like that may be on hold. This new show, on which Toof and others compete for $250,000, premieres July 13.

Stork report

Congratulations to People Paper fitness columnist Kimberly Garrison who became a mother on Mothers' Day. Garrison and her fellow fitness trainer husband, Gabriel Gaskin, welcomed Darius Gabriel Gaskin, an adorable seven- pound, two-ounce boy with a full head of hair.

Mom, dad and baby are all doing great. *

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest stories. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.