The upcoming season of “Drop Dead Diva” is going to be the special guest star season evidently. LeAnn Rimes, Paula Abdul, Clay Aiken, Wendy Williams and Lance Bass are some of names popping up in the roster of visiting roles.

The latest visitor to the set is comic Kathy Griffin. In her episode she plays Kim’s sister who doesn’t get along at all with Margaret Cho’s character which is funny since the two comedians are good friends in real life.

Griffin has been keeping followers apprised via Twitter of details of her visit. ”Mornin y’all!” she tweeted just a minute ago from the set. “…been up since 5:30. Nothing like waking up in the dark! But I get to work with Margaret Cho!”

In her down time she’s apparently consuming barbecue at every turn, enjoying the delicacies at the Cafe Pig in Peachtree City and Daddy D’z in Atlanta. (She just nibbles and works out a lot, she explained to a follower who asked how she keeps her lithe physique).

After wrapping up here Griffin heads east: …

Continue reading Comic Kathy Griffin in town for “Drop Dead Diva” stint »

Schwarzenegger was all smiles during his visit to Atlanta last year. Photo by Denis Reggie.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was here just about this time last year, speaking at the Emory commencement exercises and hobnobbing with assorted Atlanta luminaries.

Who knew he’d be in the news a year later with the bulletin that he’d fathered a child with a member of his household staff? Geez.

The Governator prepares to impart wisdom to young Emory grads a year ago. AJC Staff Photo by John Spink.

Because your wish is our command, we’re posting this blog in response to a request from one of our faithful regulars, to give you something to chatter about.

Keep it clean please, as we won’t be around to monitor your comments for a while. We’re on the way to a charity event but don’t worry, we’ll be back.

Sorry. That was bad.

Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com

Continue reading Your thoughts on Arnold Schwarzenegger? »

Jennifer Garner visited with Richard Garner, left, and his wife Karen Robinson while she was in town shooting a film recently.

As you may recall, actress Jennifer Garner and husband Ben Affleck spent time in Atlanta earlier this year with their two girls, while she worked on a film called “The Odd Life of Timothy Green.”

It was a homecoming of sorts for Garner. In 1994, she was an acting intern during Georgia Shakespeare’s Summer Festival, appearing in the chorus of “Shrew: The Musical, ” and playing Jessica in “The Merchant of Venice” and one of the fairies in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

During her more recent stint here, Garner got in touch with her old buddy, Georgia Shakespeare producing artistic director Richard Garner (no relation). She wanted to know how she could help the organization, and made a contribution to support the internship program that helped launch her career.

The two Garners also put together a bang-up live auction item for the troupe’s upcoming gala: …

Continue reading Jennifer Garner pays it forward to help Atlanta troupe »

The Farrelly brothers, who last year filmed the comedy “Hall Pass” in Atlanta, are back to shoot “The Three Stooges.”

“We felt that they never got the proper consideration from their studio or from Hollywood, which felt they were second rate,” Peter Farrelly told the Providence (R.I.) Journal, explaining the thought behind bringing Larry, Moe and Curly back to the big screen. “We want to give them the ‘A’ treatment they deserve.”

The movie will star Will Sasso, Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean Hayes, Jane Lynch and Larry David. Here’s a link to the movie web site with more details.

Our sources tell us the project did some shooting in Cartersville before moving intown and to Stone Mountain.

- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com

Continue reading “Three Stooges” movie filming in Atlanta this week »

Photo from MTV.com

Rap group Cali Swag District’s M-Bone was shot and killed late Sunday night in Inglewood, Calif. Details are sketchy.

From E Online:

“The victim was sitting in the passenger seat of a car when another vehicle pulled up alongside and unloaded “at least two rounds” into the car, according to Lt. Michael Marshall.  “It looks like they knew each other. It was not a traditional drive-by.”

But TMZ reports the crime “appears to be a random act of violence.”

Either way, authorities have no suspects yet and are asking for help.

MTV notes that “details have been kept brief,” but cites a police source saying the artist “sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head while sitting in his vehicle on Le Brea Avenue. M-Bone was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.”

Cali Swag District had a huge hip-hop hit last year with “Teach Me How to Dougie.”

M-Bone, also known as Montae Talbert, was 22.

- Jennifer Brett/The …

Continue reading Rapper M-Bone shot and killed »

Staff photo by Curtis Compton

Carlos Santana, in town this weekend for an event at Turner Field, blasted Georgia’s new law cracking down on illegal immigration.

“I represent the human race,” said Santana, who was born in Mexico. “The people of Arizona, the people of Atlanta, Ga., you should be ashamed of yourselves.”

HB 87 is meant to combat illegal immigration by increasing enforcement powers and requiring many employers to check the immigration status of new hires.

Santana, who received the “Beacon of Change” award at Sunday’s MLB Civil Rights Game, called the legislation, signed by Gov. Nathan Deal on Friday, “anti-American.”

Here is a link to the full story on Santana’s remarks.

Were you at Sunday’s game? Do you agree with Santana or Gov. Deal?

- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com

Continue reading Carlos Santana blasts new Georgia law on illegal immigration »

Gotcha!

OK I’m off for a few days. See you back here Monday.

If anyone’s looking for a book recommendation to pass the time until the next incendiary blog topic, pick up Truman Capote’s “Grass Harp.”

It’s a delightful short story where characters looking for a change head up a tree. That seems like a good idea sometimes.

Jennifer

Continue reading Shocking! Scandalous! Unbelievable! »

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast member Kim Zolciak and Atlanta Falcons player Kroy Biermann, who are expecting a child soon, attended a fundraiser at the Twelve Hotel at Atlantic Station the other night. The event benefited the Chauncey Davis Foundation, started by Kroy's fellow Falcon Chauncey Davis. It supports healthy programs for kids.

Kim's fellow "Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast members Sheree Whitfield, shown here, and Kandi Burruss, attended as well.

WSB anchor Monica Pearson, shown here, and Dan Miller from Enterprise Holdings, were among the honorees at the event, benefiting the Chauncey Davis Foundation, which supports healthy programs for kids. Davis often credits his mother's struggle with diabetes to explain his interest in educating young people about healthy lifestyles. "After my mother lost her leg due to complications associated with diabetes, I wanted to make a difference that would not only educate young people but also save and change lives,” said …

Continue reading A very pregnant “Housewife” Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann at Falcons player’s fundraiser »

Ryan Seacrest was here this weekend for Coke's big 125th anniversary bash, and had lunch on Saturday with his family at the Atlanta Fish Market. The idea was to keep it very low-key and discreet but then he dropped his cell phone with a splat and it bounced across the floor. People alerted to the racket turned and saw, hey, it's Ryan Seacrest! Cover blown, he was nice enough to pose for this photo with assistant manager Ricky Burch.

In other Atlanta Fish Market news, Cam Newton stopped by last week for lunch by himself and posed for this photo with assistant managers Ricky Burch, left, and Nathan Kasmar.

Continue reading Spotted! Ryan Seacrest, Cam Newton »

AP photo

The AJC ran an interesting story by the St. Pete Times’ Eric Deggans in the Sunday Living section yesterday, about how OWN, the new Oprah Winfrey channel, is struggling.

From the article:

“The week of April 18, OWN drew an average of 127,000 viewers across its broadcast day, with 52,000 viewers among women ages 25 to 54. In prime-time hours during the same week, the average jumped to 216,000, with 78,000 in her core audience of women ages 25 to 54. In comparison, an average 6.3 million watched the syndicated Oprah show each day that week.”

During its January debut week, OWN drew 1 million viewers.

In other words, viewers love “The Oprah Winfrey Show” but that affinity doesn’t seem to be carrying over to the Oprah Winfrey channel.

“Clearly, it’s time for Winfrey to reboot OWN,” wrote Deggans.

Oprah devotees are gearing up for the finale of Winfrey’s daytime talk show, will (we’ve heard of folks planning viewing parties, similar to the Royal Wedding watching parties …

Continue reading Why is Oprah’s new channel struggling? »