Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Carell-Tatum film gets local premiere

Also: A "Law and Order" star walks in Philly and Preston and Steve get a shoutout.

"Foxcatcher" stars Steve Carell (left) and Channing Tatum.
"Foxcatcher" stars Steve Carell (left) and Channing Tatum.Read moreSCOTT GARFIELD

"FOXCATCHER," a film starring Steve Carell and Channing Tatum that dramatizes the Newtown Square-based murder of Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz, will have a red-carpet premiere in Philly on Monday.

Anthony Michael Hall, the star of many a Brat Pack movie, including "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles," will walk the red carpet, along with director Bennett Miller ("Capote," "Moneyball") and Schultz's widow, Nancy (played by Sienna Miller in the film).

"Foxcatcher" is about the skewed relationship between local multimillionaire and scientist John du Pont (Carell) and wrestler Mark Schultz (Tatum, who is garnering major Oscar buzz for his role), leading to the 1996 murder of Schultz's brother David (Mark Ruffalo) at du Pont's Newtown Square wrestling complex. Hall plays du Pont's assistant.

"Foxcatcher," which was largely shot near Pittsburgh, opens in Philly on Nov. 21.

'Law & Order' star walks for diabetes

S. Epatha Merkerson, who formerly played hard-bitten yet warm Lt. Anita Van Buren on TV's "Law & Order" for 16 years, will be in Philly on Saturday for the American Diabetes Association at its Step Out Walk.

Merkerson, who has Type 2 diabetes, is the spokeswoman for America's Diabetes Challenge. She'll skip the cast party for her off-Broadway play "While I Yet Live," which wraps Friday.

"Look, people come out to see Van Buren," Merkerson said about her involvement. "Van Buren is that voice of authority, so I think there's part of her in me that people always connect to. She was a voice of reason, but Epatha wasn't always a voice of reason. But hearing my story makes [diabetes] really real for people. It makes it tangible, something they can really connect to."

Preston & Steve celebrated

The Philadelphia Public Relations Association will honor the team of WMMR's Preston & Steve Show, including Preston Elliot (duh), Steve Morrison (double duh), Kathy Romano, Casey Foster, Nick McIlwain and Marisa Magnatta, with the 2014 Gold Medal Award on Nov. 12. Food Network star and part-time Philly resident Marc Summers will host the event, while buddies of the show will attend, including Claude Giroux, celeb chef/"Restaurant Impossible" host Robert Irvine and WMMR's Pierre Robert.

'MasterChef Jr.' auditions hit Philly

If you haven't seen Fox's "MasterChef Junior," you are missing out on some quality reality television. The show, featuring chef Gordon Ramsay, is similar to the flagship show that just crowned Philly's own Courtney Lapresi as the victor, except with children. Hilariously adorable children.

Your own mini-chef has a chance to audition for the next season on Nov. 15 at the Holiday Inn Stadium Philadelphia (900 Packer Ave.). To apply, go to masterchefjuniorcasting.com. The second season premieres on Fox at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Congrats to Calabria

Congrats to Joanne Calabria, CBS3's vice president of public affairs, who was honored by Penn State's College of Communications Alumni Society Board as an outstanding alum. Calabria is in good company. ABC's Lara Spencer took home the honor in 2012.

Tony's toys

Tony Luke's (39 E. Oregon Ave.) and Flat Iron Philly (26 E. Oregon Ave.) are hosting a toy drive tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to support the 34th annual Delaware Valley A.B.A.T.E. Toy Run "for the Kids" on Sunday. Bring a toy tomorrow, get 10 percent off your order and be automatically entered to win one of two raffles, including Tony Luke's swag or sports memorabilia (including tickets and a LeSean McCoy-autographed football.)

OUT AND ABOUT

Aaron Sanchez, of "Chopped" fame, is popping up all over the place. On Monday, he was spotted outside Fishtown joint Sancho Pistola's (19 W. Girard Ave.), chatting with passers-by.

On Twitter: @PhillyGossipDN

Online: ph.ly/DNGossip