MY FAN THE FUGITIVE
Praised by Dorner, Sheen urges the ex-cop to call him
Charlie Sheen’s move to involve himself in the scary, tragic California manhunt for ex-cop-turned-suspected-cop-killer Christopher Dorner has Hollywood folks hotly debating the issue.
Sheen’s team says the actor’s request for Dorner to call him — to bring an end to Dorner’s frightening quest to murder police officers — only came about because the actor was referenced in Dorner’s well-publicized “manifesto.”
“He felt he should respond — and in a way that might be helpful,” said a longtime Sheen insider. “It would have been callous if he didn’t do anything.”
In his rambling statement, Dorner called Sheen “effin awesome,” leading the “Anger Management” star to say, “You mentioned me in your manifesto, so thank you for your kind words. I am urging you to call me. Let’s figure out together how to end this thing.”
While Sheen’s intentions may be good, other entertainment indus- try pros think he should have left it all alone. “This is a major police investigation and Charlie only comes across as someone trying to capitalize on it. This is not the kind of thing you should turn into a sensationalized publicity stunt,” said a TV producer who claims to “really like Charlie Sheen,” except for this move.
A former “Two and a Half Men” associate who remains friendly with Sheen and was not involved in his exit from the hit sitcom also thinks he should have remained silent about Dorner, saying, “Just because you are mentioned in that manifesto doesn’t mean you have to speak up. … It’s simply a terrible tragedy, and it doesn’t help Charlie to get involved.”
JOKE BECOMES REAL? Apparently, Justin Bieber really loved doing the “Saturday Night Live” skit with Jason Sudeikis playing his “head of security” wrangling “doubles” of the pop superstar.
A source close to the singer told this column, “The idea of doppelgangers for high-profile stars is nothing new. … Jennifer Lopez has worked with a couple of women for years, especially when she’s on a movie set.
“Justin told his team that they should look into finding a couple of guys who could — as he put it — ‘make my life a little easier,’” added the source.
In the “SNL” skit, virtually the entire cast of comics played Bieber doubles as he joked they look “nothing like me. … Some of them are black!”
Bieber used another sketch to apologize to his fans for the recent negative publicity about him allegedly smoking marijuana. Appearing on “The Miley Cyrus Show,” Bieber played Cyrus’ biggest fan and used his alter ego to dis himself. After telling Cyrus she’s “light years better than that douche Justin Bieber,” he insulted his own looks and said, “I heard he got busted for smoking weed. … He’s really sorry about it, and that people make mistakes and he’s never gonna do it again.”
A source close to Bieber said Sunday that using the skit was “a good way for Justin both to apologize and also use comedy to put that whole issue behind him — hopefully for ever. Obviously, time — and his personal behavior — will tell if that is true.”
OSCAR COUNTDOWN: For anyone wanting the experience of holding an Academy Award, now’s the chance! The Motion Picture Academy has been traveling an Oscar around the country to drum up additional interest in the Feb. 24 awards show.
In Chicago, the world-famous golden statue will be at Lou Malnati’s, 1120 N. State, from noon to
1:30 p.m. Monday. Then at 3:30 — depending on a fan vote on Twitter — the Oscar will make an appearance at either the Art Institute or Union Station.
On Tuesday, Mr. Oscar will be at Jamba Juice, 20 N. Michigan. To learn more, follow @OscarRoadtrip on Twitter.
† Never one to disappoint when it comes to telling stories, Dustin Hoffman told Bon Appetit magazine his secret for dealing with the intense hoopla at big redcarpet events like the Academy Awards. The Oscar winner said he doesn’t eat beforehand, but “I drink to steady my nerves. I become very friendly, particularly with reporters that never get any action. Like some woman from some newspaper in Bolivia.”
After that crack, let’s hope the actor doesn’t have any upcoming travel plans to that South American country.
HEY! LADY! After Lady Starlight opens for Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way Ball” at the United Center, she will headline her own DJ set at Berlin Nightclub on West Belmont in Lakeview, joined by the Dirty Pearls for what is expected to be quite the fun evening, beginning at around 10 p.m. Thursday.
MORE MUSIC: Also beginning Thursday, Ava Logan will be at the Jazz Showcase, 808 S. Plymouth — presenting a Valentine’s Day “Evening of Romance and More,” performing classics made famous by such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee and Nancy Wilson. There will be an 8 and 10 p.m. show Thursday through Saturday, plus 4 and 8 p.m. shows on Sunday.
DESIGNING WOMAN: The upcoming International Antiques Fair at the Merchandise Mart has booked one of the nation’s bestknown interior designers and tastemakers. Charlotte Moss, the New York design icon who counts Big Apple Mayor Michael Bloomberg among her list of famous clients, will be the keynote speaker for the fair April 26. Moss will talk about antiques and how she uses them to create distinctive interiors.
SEEN ON THE SCENE: “30 Rock” star Jack McBrayer was back in town, happily surprising the iO Theatre audience and performers the other night and sitting in with the team Carl and the Passions. McBrayer also was spotted with Billy Dec, catching “We’re All in This Room Together” at Second City’s e.t.c. stage — with the actor performing in the improv set with the cast after the show. … Recording artist Kid Cudi, who starred in HBO’s “How to Make It in America,” was spied sipping cocktails at the bar at Sullivan’s Steakhouse on North Dearborn.