In the winners' circle

We all know that Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen have no difficulty hitting their shots. Now comes word that the Celtics Big Three can hit their marks like seasoned Hollywood pros. The C's are among the NBA All-Stars featured in new playoff ads that run the length of the 20-second timeouts. The spots were filmed by "Little Miss Sunshine" directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who told us that the guys in green were easier to deal with than some big-name stars they've worked with over the years. "KG was so focused . . . almost fierce," Dayton said. "You can see a bit of his on-court personality come across as soon as he starts to work." Ferris said it's apparent these guys spend a lot of time taking direction from coaches. "Paul just got his instructions and went to work," Ferris said. "Ray Allen was the same way. He just hit his mark perfectly." In Garnett's segment, he's shown with LeBron James. Other players in the spots include Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Dirk Nowitzki.

Diehard fans?

Bruce Willis will start filming "The Surrogates," the futuristic action pic based on Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele's popular graphic novel, next week and is expected to spend much of the summer in the Boston area. Wednesday, however, it was all fun as Willis and his girlfriend, Emma Heming, watched the Celtics beat the Hawks at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Food for thought

"People think all vegan food is bland or boring," said Deirdre Imus, who was at the Four Seasons Hotel yesterday for a luncheon to celebrate the release of her second book on green living, "Growing Up Green!" "It doesn't have to be, and today's event proves that." That comment was music to the ears of the hotel's executive chef, Brooke Vosika, who prepared yesterday's three-course lunch. "I know we have a reputation of following the strict French cuisine especially with [Aujourd'hui,]" Vosika said. "But it shouldn't be that hard for a restaurant to make someone a good meal regardless of their cooking tradition." Imus, who is married to radio host Don Imus, acknowledged that trying to live "green" can be overwhelming. "Start with one thing," she said. "There are many shades of 'green.' Pick what feels right for you and your family."

A familiar pitchman

Jordan's Furniture pitchman Eliot Tatelman threw out the ceremonial first ball at yesterday's afternoon tilt at Fenway Park.

Mike Carson is back running things at WHDH-TV (Channel 7) in the wake of general manager Randi Goldklank's arrest at Logan International Airport. Goldklank, who was placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday, is "undergoing medical treatment," according to a statement from Channel 7 owner Ed Ansin. Carson, who was the GM at Channel 7 before Goldklank arrived last summer, has been working as a consultant to WHDH and its sister station, WLVI-TV (Channel 56). State police arrested Goldklank, 40, Sunday night on charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and assault and battery on a police officer. Police said Goldklank, smelling of alcohol, struck a police officer, referred to herself as "a bigshot in Boston," and threatened to call news crews to the airport. "She is a close friend of mine, and my heart goes out to her," Ansin told the Globe. "This is a very unfortunate circumstance."

South End resident James Costa has landed Heather Mills to host a May 17 New York gala for the animal-rights group Farm Sanctuary. A longtime animal-rights activist, the former Mrs. Paul McCartney is launching a vegan health food line. Costa has been spending time in LA and NYC organizing events for animal and environmental causes. The locals he's corralled for the fete include Norwell native Jennifer Coolidge, BU alum Emily Deschanel, and True Whitaker, daughter of Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker and his wife, Keisha, a North Shore native. Other celebs on the guest list for the black-tie gala at Cipriani Wall Street are: Kristen Bell, Rachael Leigh Cook, Swoosie Kurtz, Persia White, and Esai Morales.

Life imitated art yesterday when two crew members working on Kevin James's new comedy "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" tackled a shoplifter between takes. Director Steve Carr and his team were filming at the Burlington Mall when two members of the wardrobe department spotted the alleged thief fleeing the Sharper Image and foiled the getaway. Meanwhile, a sneak peek of the film has found its way to the Internet. A new video on YouTube that shows skateboarding hotshot Mike Vallely doing his thing features James fully in character as a mall cop. The clip had more than 10,000 views by late yesterday. James has been filming for several weeks at malls in the Boston area, and if the video is any indication, he seems to take to his uniform-wearing, Segway-riding character nicely. Even when being spray-painted by Vallely.

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