I hung out with Michael Clarke Duncan Thursday night at the Fulton Lounge for an eBay charity event–and I must say that this Hollywood tough guy is one cool cat. The South Side native told me an eBay representative called him a few weeks ago while he was in Vancouver shooting the movie “Pursued” with Christian Slater, and asked him to host the party. Duncan said he can relate to those in need because before starring in “The Green Mile” and “Armageddon,” he was homeless, living in his car for two months in a parking lot along Lake Michigan. “There comes a time in your life when you hit rock bottom,” Duncan said. … Guests at the event drank eBaytinis and purchased toys that were donated to the local Toys for Tots charity run by the Marines. Duncan took photos and signed autographs for VIPs, including Larry Potash of RedEye and WGN. And a few of America’s finest (hottie Marines in uniform) gave Duncan a Marine pin, which he wore on his sport coat the rest of the evening.
FUN FACTORY: R. Kelly’s court hearing didn’t prevent him from keeping the party going last week. The R&B star hosted a party for his friend Wednesday night in the VIP room at White Star, according to a club employee.
HEADSHOTS: Rumor has it that film crews from a major network will be taping the pilot for a potential reality TV show at Le Passage on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The show’s plot? Think: “The Restaurant” but set in a club, of course. So if you want to get in on the camera action, get your butt down there.
THE WRONG STUFF: The owners of Le Passage gave former New Kids on the Block singer Jordan Knight–who is trying to break back into the music industry–the opportunity to perform songs from his new CDs at an exclusive show there Thursday night. But judging by fan reaction, the New Kid might want to find a new day job. I interviewed Knight by phone earlier in the day and he told me he has two CDs coming out: one is a remix of New Kids songs and the other is Knight “having fun in the studio.” Knight told me that at the height of his New Kids career, the hype and fans got “totally out of control.” Knight said, “I thought we had good chemistry, but never thought we were gods.” … Later, at the show, Knight performed only about three songs, and fans who had traveled from all over the state were not pleased at what could only be described as a bizarre performance. “It was [so] much of a letdown–he gave a comatose performance,” longtime fan Keia said. And the fans were even more disappointed when Knight skipped out before the scheduled meet-and-greet.
CELEB JUSTICE: I caught up with Johnnie Cochran at the Loretto Hospital Foundation’s 2003 Spirit of Achievement Award dinner at the Palmer House Hilton last week. I told Cochran that I love watching him and Court TV’s Nancy Grace battle it out on “Larry King Live” over the Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson cases. Although Cochran and Grace often disagree, Cochran told me they’re “buddies.” Cochran said he expects the case against Jackson will be a long battle and added, “I really hope and believe that he will be found not guilty.”
STARS GOTTA EAT: Topo Gigio Ristorante has been hopping with celebrities lately. Comedian Bobby Slayton, who was in town performing at Zanies Comedy Club, ate there on Thursday with Mancow. Bonnie Hunt and David Alan Grier also were in recently, as well as Gary Sinise who chatted up maitre d’ Tony Kreiser about Sinise’s latest movie “The Human Stain.”
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Have a hot tip? E-mail Liz at eyecontact@tribune.com.
