Same-sex marriage gets support from Pitt
Brad Pitt has agreed to donate $100,000 to help the Human Rights Campaign raise money for its efforts to support same-sex marriage initiatives in several states, including Washington.
The nation’s largest gay rights group announced Wednesday that Pitt agreed to match contributions from the group’s members up to $100,000.
In an e-mail to members of the Human Rights Campaign, Pitt wrote that it’s “unbelievable” that people’s relationships will be put to a vote on Election Day.
Same-sex marriage will be on the ballot in Maryland, Maine, Minnesota and Washington state.
The Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign says it has spent $8 million to push for marriage equality for gays and lesbians over the past two years.
Medical issue sidelines Wendt
Chest pains will keep actor George Wendt from performing as Oscar Madison in a Chicago-area production of “The Odd Couple.”
Northlight Theatre announced Tuesday that the actor famous for playing Norm Peterson on the TV show “Cheers” checked into a hospital Sunday and is receiving medical attention. Northlight Theatre executive director Timothy Evans said Wendt “will eventually make a full recovery.”
The 64-year-old Wendt was to perform in the show from Nov. 2 through Dec. 9 in the Chicago suburb of Skokie. He will be replaced by actor Marc Grapey, who previously performed in “The Odd Couple” on Broadway with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.
Emiril plans boudin and beer party
Emeril Lagasse has a new cookbook and new season of TV’s “Top Chef” premiering in a week, but what really got the chef talking was boudin and beer.
Lagasse said Wednesday that chefs from across the country are heading to New Orleans this week to serve up some of their favorite dishes using or inspired by boudin – a pork and rice sausage common in Louisiana cuisine.
Chefs will serve up food for Lagasse’s “Boudin and Beer” street party. The Friday event kicks off a two-day celebration of Louisiana food and culture benefitting the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, a charity the chef established in 2002 to support education programs in culinary arts and nutrition.
The birthday bunch
Golfer Gary Player is 77. Country singer Bill Anderson is 75. Magazine publisher Larry Flynt is 70. Country singer-humorist Kinky Friedman is 68. Country singer Lyle Lovett is 55. Rock singer Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 50. Rapper Willie D (Geto Boys) is 46. Actress Jenny McCarthy is 40. Rock singer Bo Bice (“American Idol”) is 37. Actor Max Burkholder is 15. Actor-musician Alex Wolff is 15.