Kennedy film heads to Harvard

Grim as it is, "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" was a crowd pleaser at the recent Sundance Film Festival. It played to such full houses that, one night, a producer of the film had to give up his seat to MC Hammer. Safe to say, Hammer won't be in the house tomorrow when the documentary about the Iraqi prison scandal screens at Harvard, but director Rory Kennedy will be . "I wanted to go beyond the photos that we're all familiar with," said the youngest of Ethel Kennedy's 11 children, referring, presumably, to the image of laughing reservist Lynndie England. "We were told that it was just nine bad apples on the night shift, but what I found in making this film is that the abuse was much more systemic." The feature-length film, which debuts on HBO Feb. 22, includes interviews with Iraqi victims and a few of the guards involved in the torture. But you won't see anyone on screen from the Bush administration. Should we be surprised that Ted Kennedy's kin couldn't get an interview with Donald Rumsfeld and the rest? "I don't know how much my name had to do with it," said Rory. "I just think they didn't want to get involved in a film about Abu Ghraib."

Cashmans build up Rogers audience

Construction magnate Jay Cashman and his wife, Christy Scott Cashman, were in the front row of Brookline native Jackie Rogers' s New York Fashion Week show at Scores West on Saturday . Christy Cashman has joined Russell Simmons, Ivanka Trump, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas on the host committee for Fashion Week's closing event, Designers for Darfur. Friday's benefit involves some 70 designers including Vera Wang, Anait Bian, Anand Jon, Michael Kors, Joanna Mastroianni and Rogers, all of whom will donate a dress to be shown on the runway and put on eBay to benefit Save Darfur.

Despite her former boyfriend being spotted on the town with a supermodel or two, "Six Degrees" star Bridget Moynahan seemed none the worse for the wear in the front row of Diane Von Furstenberg's show Sunday as part of Fashion Week. Von Furstenberg's show also drew Anderson Cooper, Ellen Barkin, Charlie Rose, and Graydon Carter. . . . In the fourth row of the Oscar de la Renta show yesterday was Sara Cabot, a former flack for Andrew Lloyd Webber. Also at the de la Renta show were Vogue's Anna Wintour, ABC's Barbara Walters, and actress Piper Perabo.

The next Menudo to scout local talent

Back in the day, Menudo was a massive, million-selling singing sensation that sold out stadiums. Eventually, though, the boys in the band, including famous alum Ricky Martin, became men. Now, Epic Records is remaking Menudo, and the label is coming to Boston next month to try out local teens. According to Menudo's MySpace page, Epic has added the Hub to its list of audition cities: New York, San Diego, Chicago, and Orlando, Fla. Not just a cheap imitation, the new Menudo will be managed by Johnny Wright, who's had his share of success with New Kids on the Block, 'N Sync, and Justin Timberlake. But you'll have to have chops. Menudo's new sound will be Latin-infused R&B, not the bubble-gum pop of yesteryear.

WGBH president Henry Becton Jr. has been appointed to the PBS Foundation board of directors. Becton, the chief executive of Boston's public broadcasting stations, recently announced he plans to step down in October, but would continue serving as vice chairman of the WGBH board of trustees. . . . Former WODS (Oldies 103.3) morning guy Paul Perry is joining WROR -- which has a similar format -- as its afternoon drive host. Perry will begin at the station on Monday. "Our listeners have fun driving into work with Loren and Wally," said Ken West , program director of WROR-FM (105.7). "Now they can be entertained on their drive home by a guy who knows Boston and will love being stuck on the Mass Pike with them."

Nominated for best supporting actor for "The Departed," homeboy Mark Wahlberg attended yesterday's LA luncheon for Oscar nominees. The hardware will be handed out Feb. 25.

Last year, Cambridge's Grolier Poetry Book Shop was saved from closing when a poet and longtime friend of the store bought it and kept it open. Now it's happened again, as Newtonville Books has been sold by founder Tim Huggins to Mary Cotton, a book-lover and former employee. Cotton, publisher of Post Road, a local literary review, offered to buy the Walnut Street store when she heard that Huggins planned to close it down.

David Mehegan of the Globe staff and Globe correspondent Tina Cassidy contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.