Inauguration ‘reality’ sets in Honorary dancer
A reality-TV booker — whose credits include “Larry the Cable Guy’s Hula-Palooza Christmas Luau,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “Oh Sit!” a “highoctane musical chairs competition” — is working on wrangling celebrities to appear at Donald Trump’s star-challenged inauguration, we’re told. Suzanne
Bender, a veteran talent booker who has also worked on more highbrow fare like “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent,” as well as the Golden Globes telecast, has been working with the team headed by “Celebrity Apprentice” and “Survivor” producer Mark Burnett on the Jan. 20 festivities. But we’re told that 16-year-old “America’s Got Talent” singer Jackie Evancho remains the only confirmed name. Page Six reported that the president-elect’s team had been courting Italian tenor
Andrea Bocelli, but the talks fell through due to fan backlash on social media. But Boris Epshteyn, the director of communications for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, told us, “First-class entertainers are eager to participate in the inaugural events. The inauguration as a whole will be an exciting and uniting celebration of freedom and democracy. We will be releasing further details at the appropriate time.” Bender confirmed her involvement to Page Six but had no further comment.
Gun to the head on ‘Gotham’
AN extra on “Gotham” was playing a corpse on the hit Fox series when he alleges a star’s gun fell on his head and nearly knocked him off for real. Now the “dead guy extra” is threatening legal action after he allegedly suffered a concussion from the loose gun, a source claims. Actor James Farley landed a dream role “playing a dead person” a few months ago on the superhero spinoff about Gotham City set before the rise of Batman. A source says that while Farley was in full character on the ground, “Gotham” regular Donal Logue’s prop gun fell out of his holster and onto Farley’s head. Logue plays a cop who is the partner of future Batman buddy Commissioner Gordon. The source claims Farley’s head was cut but he bravely stayed for further filming, then headed to the hospital. The source claims that while Farley was woozy, “he hung onto the sound of Logue’s voice saying he was ‘mad at production’ because his gun kept falling out of his holster.” The source added Logue had apologized “profusely.” Farley was due to make $171.85 for his part, we’re told, and is also claiming he hasn’t been paid yet. His credits include “Boardwalk Empire” and new film, “Vamp Bikers Tres.” One of Farley’s attorneys, workers’ compensation lawyer Matthew Masone, told us, “I am not allowed to disclose any information.” A rep for the show had no comment.
AMY Schumer had a reunion with the Knicks City Dancers on Tuesday. VIPs at MSG included Chris Rock, Leslie Jones, Colin Jost and Michael Che, as well as John Oliver, Christie Brinkley and Chris Noth. Spies said Schumer “slipped behind the scenes at halftime to say hello and take a photo with the Knicks City Dancers.” She joined the squad in her film “Trainwreck” for an epic dance routine.