Senecal to fill in for ailing Ebert

No one's going to mistake entertainment reporter Toni Senecal, who works for WNYW-TV, Fox's New York affiliate, for famed film critic Roger Ebert. The lovely Brookline native, however, was in Chicago yesterday to fill in for the ailing Ebert while he recovers from surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland. A New York University grad, Senecal was the entertainment reporter for WPIX-TV in Manhattan until late last year. She is one of five guest hosts who will share the balcony with Richard Roeper on the movie review show "Ebert & Roeper" through Sept. 24. Senecal will be seen on Saturday.

‘Invincible’ Wahlberg is a busy man

Last night fans were lining up outside New York's Ziegfeld Theater for the red carpet opening of ``Invincible," starring Boston's Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papale, a Philadelphia Eagles fan who went to an open tryout for the team and then played three seasons in the NFL. Also expected at the premiere for the movie that opens in theaters tomorrow is Wahlberg's costar, Pittsfield native Elizabeth Banks. But over on Martha's Vineyard yesterday, planning continued for this weekend's "Pillow Fight -- Send a Child to Camp" benefit for The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation and Lorraine Bracco and Penny Marshall's The Felix Organization/Adoptees For Children. Whether Wahlberg will attend is still up in the air as he makes the rounds promoting "Invincible." One of the auction items comic Lenny Clarke will offer up is a voice- mail greeting by Bracco sounding like her character Dr. Melfi in "The Sopranos" on the winning bidder's phone. Lenny's wife, Jennifer Clarke, will perform with cohost Darryl "DMC" McDaniel at the event. Also hosting is Sheila Jaffe, the casting director of "The Sopranos" and "Entourage," who, like McDaniel, was adopted and now raises money for organizations that assist children in transition.

Taylor still sweet on Sox

Wearing his Red Sox cap, die-hard fan James Taylor urged the crowd at Tanglewood the other night not to give up on the hometown team, saying ``keep the faith." . . . Ben Affleck and Leonardo DiCaprio were on hand Tuesday night in Beverly Hills as their publicist, Ken Sunshine, was honored by the National Action Network with a ``Dream Keepers Award." Sunshine, who served as chief of staff to former New York City mayor David Dinkin s, was honored along with Representative Maxine Waters , a California Democrat, and music and movie producer Clarence Avant. Chatham resident Julie Harris traveled to the outer Cape the other day for the groundbreaking for the new Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater facility on Route 6. The stage of the 200-seat theater will be named for the five-time Tony Award winner. Former New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre lent his support as Worcester Mayor Tim Murray , a candidate for lieutenant governor, opened his West Roxbury headquarters the other day.

Spotted at the Langham Hotel were singer Chris Isaak, who had a show last night at the Bank of America Pavilion, and funnyman Dave Chappelle, who had a show at BU's Agganis Arena. Also seen at the Post Office Square hotel was Kate Markgraf, a member of the US Olympic soccer team. A former Boston Breaker, Markgraf was celebrating her birthday at the Langham. . . . Lars Frederi ksen and Tim Armstrong of the band Rancid were at Alpha Omega's flagship store in Harvard Square yesterday afternoon, where Amit Handa, veep of Fine Watch Sales, gave them an assist. Rancid played Avalon on Tuesday night. . . . Foxborough native Joanna ``JoJo" Levesque has a charitable streak. The actress-singer attended the Teen Choice Awards -- of course -- but instead of taking home piles of swag, JoJo donated her freebies to the event's charity, the City of Hope. . . . Jon Foster will join Nick Nolte, Mena Suvari, Sienna Miller, and Peter Sarsgaard in the movie version of ``The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," which begins filming just after Labor Day. Foster's family owns Jillian's and Lucky Strike bowling lanes among other local haunts; the Boston native is currently part of the cast of NBC's ``Windfall." . . . And, it came as a surprise to former John Hancock honcho David D'Alessandro that a David Dalessandro wrote the story on which the movie ``Snakes on a Plane" is based.

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