New New York rivalry

It hasn't gone unnoticed that Massachusetts is attracting more than its share of movies. Envious of the Hub's improved relationship with Hollywood, New York Governor David Paterson is about to approve a budget that includes tax credits for filmmakers that are even more generous than the ones approved by Bay State lawmakers last year. While moviemakers are eligible for tax credits worth up to 25 percent of their payroll and production costs in Massachusetts, New York would give back 30 percent. Contacted yesterday, film folks said Massachusetts could lose a few movie projects as a result of the change in New York, but the big-screen bonanza should continue because Boston is a desirable place to shoot. Just ask Michael Douglas, who was back at Saint yesterday filming scenes with his "Ghosts of Girl- friends Past" costar Matthew McConaughey. The romantic comedy, which also stars Jennifer Garner, will be shooting elsewhere in the Back Bay this week, trying to complete scenes before the city is gripped by gridlock on Marathon Monday.

The tour for "Love, Janis," a musical about the life of Janis Joplin that was supposed to play Boston's Cutler Majestic Theatre early next month, has been canceled. Based on the biography by the performer's baby sister Laura Joplin, the show faced "unforeseen production and casting complications" that forced the abrupt cancellation of the second leg of the tour, according to a release provided by the show's producers.

Margaret Burnham, the first African-American woman to serve in the Massachusetts judiciary, and former City Councilor Maura Hennigan were among the nearly four dozen members of the Massachusetts Women for Obama who spent last weekend in Philadelphia trying to drum up support for Illinois Senator Barack Obama. The women, led by John Hancock's Carol Fulp, participated in a rally that included Caroline Kennedy, actress Jessica Lange, US Virgin Islands first lady Cecile deJongh, and TV judge Glenda Hatchett. Other Bostonians logging some hours in the Keystone State for their candidate were Obama campaign COO Betsy Myers, philanthropist Mary Kakas, legal eagle Cheryl Cronin, and Charlotte Golar Richie, an adviser to Governor Deval Patrick.

The first couple of comedy - Burlington's own Amy Poehler and husband Will Arnett - took part in Comedy Central's "Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Benefit for Autism Education" in New York the other night. Others pitching in at the fund-raiser were New Hampshire native Sarah Silverman, environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and celebs Susan Sarandon, Jonah Hill, Tina Fey, and Rosie O'Donnell.

Tedy Bruschi wants everyone to know he won't be running the Boston Marathon on Monday. "I train for eight-second bursts, not 26.2 miles," the Patriots linebacker said yesterday. Still, he's got a lot riding on the outcome of the annual trek from Hopkinton to Boston and will be cheering for the nearly 50 members of Tedy's Team, who are running to raise money for the American Stroke Association. "To train for the marathon is impressive. To do that while raising money for a cause is a lot to take on," Bruschi, who suffered a stroke in February 2005, told us yesterday while meeting with members of his team at Gillette Stadium. "I'll be tracking them and cheering loudly for them." Among those running is 23-year-old Ashley Girard, who underwent open heart surgery two years ago to correct a problem that could have led to a stroke. "It means a lot to be on his team," said the Northeastern University alum. "Everyone here has a personal connection to someone who has been affected by a stroke. We're not just running for ourselves." After starting his Marathon team three years ago with about a dozen runners, Bruschi has expanded his Patriots Day events to include a pre-run fete on Saturday with several of his Pats teammates.

As promised, ex-publisher Jane Daniel has filed a complaint against Holocaust hoaxer Misha Defonseca of Dudley and coauthor Vera Lee. In 1997, Daniel published Defonseca's "memoir" of trekking across Europe during World War II - protected by wolves - after her Belgian Jewish parents were arrested by the Germans. Defonseca and Lee later sued Daniel for breach of contract, alleging that the publisher hid profits and failed to promote the book as promised. In 2001, a Middlesex Superior Court jury agreed and awarded them a $33 million breach-of-contract judgment. In February, Defonseca admitted that her story was a hoax, that she isn't Jewish, and that she had spent WWII in Brussels. Now, Daniel, who lives in Gloucester, is asking the court to overturn the earlier judgment on grounds that Defonseca breached the publishing contract by claiming that the substance of her book was true.

The rapper Common and Ken Casey and the Dropkick Murphys will headline Tufts University's annual "Spring Fling" concert April 26. The Dropkick Murphys, who have been on tour in Europe, signed to play the Medford concert last month but stipulated that the news couldn't be released until this week, the Tufts student paper reported.

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