Author loves the sound of 'Pitch'; Kerry on the mend
SOUND CHOICE Not a surprise that author Nick Hornby, who wrote the novel on which ''Fever Pitch" is based, would take particular interest in the movie's soundtrack. His books ''High Fidelity" and ''Songbook" were about music, after all. So what does Hornby think of the ''Fever Pitch" soundtrack? ''It's got 'Whammer Jammer,' which is great," he said of the J. Geils classic. ''I love that number." Hornby, who's a Brit, said he met former Geils frontman Peter Wolf during the filming of ''Fever Pitch." ''We went out for a drink and talked about bands and books," he said. ''It was one of the great thrills of my life." Hornby, who gave the movie a hearty thumbs-up, was chatting with fellow New Yorker contributor Susan Orlean at the post-premiere party at Avalon.
HE SAID SHE SAID Not making small talk at the Avalon party were the state's rival film and entertainment officials. Robin Dawson and Mark Drago both made the scene, but kept their distance. (The pair's simmering feud boiled last week when Dawson accused Drago of trying to strongarm director Martin Scorsese, and Drago responded with a threat to sue.) While Dawson was chatting with car dealer Ernie Boch Jr., Drago was elsewhere in the club with Celtics center Mark Blount.
DOUBLE DUTY She was busy filing her report from the red carpet before the team arrived at the ''Fever Pitch" premiere. But then Michelle Mangan became an interview subject herself when she accompanied husband Johnny Damon through the media horde. Mangan, who does reports for sports station NESN, has had several pieces aired since her debut Sunday from Yankee Stadium. ''It's been a lot of fun," said Mangan. ''I'm still getting used to it."
CHANGE OF ADDRESS If the masthead of Boston Commonwealth looks familiar, it should. The publisher of the new glossy magazine, which debuts in September, has hired several folks away from its potential rival, Boston magazine. Yesterday, Niche Media, publisher of Boston Commonwealth, confirmed that Kim Atkinson, who until this week was executive editor of Boston mag, will be editor in chief of the new magazine. ''She's a powerhouse, a dynamo," exclaimed Jason Oliver Nixon, editorial director of Niche Media. ''She knows style, food, travel, gossip -- everything I want covered." Also jumping from Boston to Boston Commonwealth are Glen Kelley, who'll be the local publisher; ad execs Deborah Rubin and Caren Comiskey Keane; and Susan Berry, a Boston mag alum. Jon Marcus, editor of Boston mag, sounded unbothered by the departures. ''We wish [Atkinson] all the best," he said.
GRACE-FUL ENTRANCE ''The View" cohost and Boston College alum Elisabeth Hasselbeck called the show yesterday to let them know she and her husband, Redskins QB and fellow BC alum Tim Hasselbeck, have named their daughter Grace Elisabeth. The baby, the couple's first, was born Wednesday.
HOBBLING Recuperating from knee surgery, John Kerry, who is in Rome to attend the pope's funeral, is on crutches. The senator had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee during a recent congressional recess and will be hobbling around for a couple of weeks, said his spokeswoman, April Boyd. Boyd said the knee was damaged by ''years of soccer, hockey, and marathon running."
POWER WEEKEND For the next three days, some 250 African-American alums of Simmons College -- including advertising giant Young & Rubicam CEO Ann Fudge and ''Washington Week" managing editor Gwen Ifill -- are returning to Boston for a reunion the college says will allow the women ''to reconnect and discuss the power of black women nationwide and their Simmons experience." Playwright and actress Anna Deavere Smith kicks things off today with a speech, and former CBS4 News anchor Liz Walker will host a Sunday gospel brunch featuring musician Ray Green.
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