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'Anchorman 2' director in talks with Will Smith for Philly-shot remake

Adam McKay wants his next movie to be a remake of "Uptown Saturday Night," starring Will Smith.

Will Smith smiles during a photo opportunity before the start of a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Will Smith smiles during a photo opportunity before the start of a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Read moreASSOCIATED PRESS

"ANCHORMAN" meets a Man in Black.

Malvern-raised "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" director Adam McKay was in town recently to promote his latest collaboration with Will Ferrell/Ron Burgundy. McKay confirmed that his next project will hopefully be a remake of "Uptown Saturday Night" that would star Will Smith.

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" director Nicholas Stoller will update the original 1974 film starring another Philly icon, Bill Cosby, and Sidney Poitier, who also directed.

McKay confirmed to Daily News film-critic extraordinaire Gary Thompson that McKay would like to shoot the movie here in Philly.

"Uptown Saturday Night" featured Poitier as a steelworker whose winning lottery ticket is stolen from him after he's held up at an exclusive club. Cosby played his best friend who goes in search of the missing ticket with Poitier. Smith is most likely up for the Poitier role, so who should play the Cosby surrogate? How about keepin' it straight Philly and adding Kevin Hart into the mix?

But that's not all the McKay news that dropped during his at-home stint. McKay also confirmed that there's been talk with Temple University to give him an honorary doctorate. McKay dropped out of Temple when he was 21 to move to Chicago, where he joined the Second City improv troupe, leading to a gig at "Saturday Night Live," where he met longtime collaborator Ferrell.

Because it's the holiday season, McKay couldn't leave without a bit of do-gooding: He donated a whopping $15,000 to Camp Out for Hunger, the Preston & Steve Show's can drive that took place at Xfinity Live last week.

Sims' close-up

Is state Rep. Brian Sims getting devious when it comes to fundraising? Sims will head up to New York on Friday for a fundraiser at the Upper West Side penthouse of Marc Cherry, whom fans of soapy television know as the creator of the long-running "Desperate Housewives," and Lifetime's controversial (yet totally watchable) "Devious Maids," executive produced by breakout "Housewives" star Eva Longoria.

Co-hosting the event are lawyer Dev Ghose and consultant and former AT&T lobbyist Troup Coronado, who came under fire in 2011 because of his ties to his erstwhile employer leading to his resignation from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) board.

Tickets range from $250 to $2,500.

Show off your 'Talent'

Want a private interview with the producers of NBC's "America's Got Talent"? Head honchos from the talent competition will be in Atlantic City on Jan. 5, but auditions are invite-only. To get a coveted spot with producers and be on your way to performing in front of Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Mel B, send an email with your name, age, contact info and a YouTube link showing the best 90 seconds of your talent to erin@agtauditions.com by Dec. 18.

Engagement games

Who knew accounting could be so romantic? La Salle students in Brother Jerry Fitzgerald's accounting class on Friday were expecting a guest lecture from Fitzgerald's former student Gina Massaro ('10). But they got a show of love instead when Massaro's boyfriend, Gino Saiter ('11), proposed in front of the entire class.

Why an accounting class? Massaro and Saiter met there - College Hall, Room 306 to be exact - when he was a freshman and she was a sophomore. He wanted to propose "where it all began." Aw!

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