Dushku's true calling

Jennifer Lopez wasn't the only celeb who staggered to the finish line of the Nautica Malibu Triathlon over the weekend. Running, biking, and swimming alongside JLo was Watertown's own Eliza Dushku, who turned on the afterburners at the end and left Marc Anthony's significant other in the dust. Dushku, a former smoker who'd never competed in a triathlon, finished third in the women's celebrity division, behind Malibu, Calif., mayor Pamela Conley Ulich and "The Bold and the Beautiful" actress Heather Tom. (Lopez finished fifth.) Dushku completed the half-mile ocean swim, 18-mile bike route, and 4-mile run in 2 hours and 22 minutes. "My whole family and most of my friends thought I was totally nuts when I signed up last week without any training," the actress wrote us in an e-mail yesterday. "It was pure adrenaline and making up for long lost time." (Other celebs taking part in the fund-raiser for Children's Hospital included "Baywatch" beefcake and Plymouth native David Chokachi, and actors William H. Macy, Jon Cryer, Scott Foley, and Matthew McConaughey.) As for "Dollhouse," Dushku's much-anticipated new show with "Buffy" creator Joss Whedon, the actress reports all's well. " 'Dollhouse' is NOT in danger/suffering," she wrote. "We, the network, and FOX all are PSYCHED for the next episode . . . It's beyond dope."

Big Papi's field of dreams

When Tiffany and David Ortiz called the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and said they wanted to donate their bed to the charity, staffers were a little shocked. "We were like, aye yi yi," development director Cheryl Kane admitted. "Tiffany and David have been very supportive of us. But the bed was a bit of a surprise." The first question: what to do with it? The organization has been busy trying to raise $3.5 million, the last bit of cash needed to complete its new Mass. Ave. health center. So they decided to auction off the king-size maple headboard and frame online, starting tomorrow. Which means they needed a promo photo, which they snapped at Fenway a few weeks ago, during batting practice. It was pretty wild, Kane said. "All of the sudden, all the players are walking by - Julio Lugo, Josh Beckett. And then Big Papi comes out and he's sitting on the bed. And the players were teasing him, sending balls over." Ortiz even signed the headboard with #34 B.P. Hey, if Manny Ramirez could hawk his neighbor's grill online, why not sell Papi's bed for a good cause?

Celebrating 'Lonely Street'

Actor Kevin Chapman hosted a screening of his movie "Lonely Street" at the Boston Film Festival, then mugged for the cameras at the after-party at Tavern on the Square in Cambridge. Chapman's biker buddy Steven Tyler was on the guest list, but the Aerosmith screamer was a no-show.

Goodbye, 'SNL'

Burlington native Amy Poehler (inset) will take a break from "Saturday Night Live" after the November election to give birth to her first child. Poehler told Men's Vogue in its new issue that " 'SNL' was dangerous, late-night, last-minute and star-studded, but like any good drug, you need to know when to put it down." And she's not coming back to "SNL" after maternity leave. Instead, Poehler is preparing to star in her own NBC series from the executive producers of "The Office." (Los Angeles Times)

Clock ticks on 'TRL'

Start the countdown clock on MTV's "Total Request Live," which will soon leave the air after 10 years. Dave Sirulnick, executive producer of "TRL," said yesterday that the music video countdown show will conclude in a two-hour special on a Saturday in November. "TRL" debuted in September 1998. (AP)

Hudson engaged

For her 27th birthday, Jennifer Hudson got a big surprise: an engagement ring. Hudson's beau, David Otunga, popped the question while celebrating the actress-singer's big day in Los Angeles on Friday, her publicist said yesterday. The couple have not yet set a wedding date. (AP)

Bidding for a good cause

Sean McDonough's fund-raiser for children's charities raised an estimated $375,000 over the weekend. One well-heeled guest at Sunday's soiree at the Boston Harbor Hotel bid $25,000 to have dinner with Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana, at next month's One X One gala in San Francisco. (And it wasn't Damon's dad, Kent, who attended the party with wife Celeste.) Other VIP guests included Olympic speedskater Dan Jansen, Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, former CBS sportscaster Billy Packer, Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, and Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.

Life on the Emmy list

Comedian Kathy Griffin took the trophy for Outstanding Reality Program for "My Life on the D-List" at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards Saturday, once again leaving the folks at "Antiques Roadshow" empty-handed. (The Primetime Emmys air this Sunday on ABC.) "We've had six noms, zero wins," lamented executive producer Marsha Bemko. "We're not breaking through." Even worse, Griffin seems to have some strange beef with the WGBH treasure hunters. "I want to take down 'Antiques Roadshow' once and for all," Griffin told People. The comedian ended up taking down all her competitors, which surprised Bemko, who admitted that her producer posse - including Sam Farrell and Dan Farrell (no relation) - thought "Dirty Jobs" or "Intervention" would win. Still, for Bemko, win or lose, the awards gala is always worth the trip. This year, she saw Sarah Silverman be hilarious, Jennifer Beals strut the carpet, and Elaine Stritch peel out after losing to Kathryn Joosten for Guest Actress in a Comedy. But Bemko's husband won't go with her anymore. "He says it takes too long and at the end of it, we don't win."

Los Lonely Boys dropped by the WGBH studio in Brighton over the weekend to tape an episode of "Maria Hinojosa: One-On-One." Afterward, Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza hosted a preview of the documentary "Los Lonely Boys: Cottonfields and Crossroads."

Suited up

Those matching shirts worn by Shonda Schilling and Cindy McCain at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway over the weekend? They were designed by Chix Appeal, a Florida company for whom Curt Schilling's younger sister Allison Ward works. We're told Shonda showed up wearing the navy blue McCain/Palin shirt styled with Swarovski crystals, and Cindy said she wanted one. Conveniently, Shonda had an extra. . . . Congrats to Gloucester actress Heidi Dallin, who was named Outstanding Lead Actress at the recent Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York. Dallin won for her role in "Hillary and Monica," in which she plays Hillary Clinton. The Midtown International Theatre Festival featured more than 60 plays from around the world.

Fix dinner and problem

Boston chef-to-the-stars Todd English (inset) will roll out the victuals for a star-studded pre-Emmy charity dinner Saturday in Hollywood. "The Evening Before," which raises money for "less fortunate members of the entertainment industry," is led by Jeffrey Katzenberg and guest-hosted by Mark Wahlberg, Ellen Pompeo, Jon Stewart, Patrick Dempsey, Tina Fey, and others. We wonder who gets the money. Daniel Baldwin? Amy Winehouse?

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