Mob scene in Southie

Dana White isn't into subtlety. That was obvious yesterday as he talked about the two-hour TV pilot he's filming in Dorchester. "This isn't some poetic love story," said White, rubbing a hand over his shaved head. "This is about [expletive] gangsters."

The Spike TV pilot, whose working title is "War of '04," is inspired by Boston's Irish mob. It's about a Whitey Bulger-esque mob boss and the explosive battle that erupts when he abruptly disappears.

"We've all seen the movies about New York gangsters and the Las Vegas mafia. Well, this is Boston's story," said White, the show's executive producer and co-writer. "And we're shooting it here - we're really in South Boston."

If there were any doubt, a couple of real-live wiseguys, albeit retired ones, were on the set yesterday. While actors Kevin Chapman, Matthew Marsden, and David Patrick Kelly were filming a scene inside the Boston Winery building on Ericsson Street, two former Bulger boys, Jimmy Martorano and Pat Nee, were chatting nearby.

"They're guys who paid their dues and did their time," said White, lowering his voice. "They're both gentlemen."

This is White's first foray into series television - he's president of Ultimate Fighting Championship - and he's determined to make a splash. He was a big fan of "The Sopranos," but he thinks the HBO show went soft after a few seasons. And don't even get him started on NBC's ill-fated organized-crime series "The Black Donnellys."

"You see that? The kids looked like [expletive] Abercrombie & Fitch models," he said. "If they ever tried to extort money from you, you'd kick the [expletive] out of them."

White said his pilot, which he hopes to parlay into a series, is unapologetically pitched to men between the ages of 18 and 34. And it's got all the elements: violence, sex, and loads of bad language.

"But I like it because my character doesn't just sleep, eat, and drink crime," said Chapman, the Boston-bred actor who played a perfect bad guy on "Brotherhood." "He's a businessman by day and a mobster by night."

The pilot is being directed by Walter Hill, whose impressive resume includes "The Warriors" and "48 Hrs." (He last worked in Boston as an assistant director on "The Thomas Crown Affair" in 1968.) Yesterday, Hill was wearing a puffy winter coat as he arranged actors for a heist scene.

"I've got a terrific cast and crew and there haven't been any fistfights yet," said Hill. "I will say it's been a little nippy by the standards of West LA."

White, who lived in South Boston for several years but resides now in Vegas, looked delighted yesterday as he watched Chapman and the others tote handguns and talk tough.

"I'm pushing the envelope big time," he said, "but I want to make sure we're delivering what we're selling."

WGBH isn't immune to economic tough times. Just ask the folks at "Basic Black," the station's long-running public affairs program for and about African-Americans. Word is a producer has been laid off, making the show's already tiny staff even smaller. 'GBH spokeswoman Lucy Sholley wouldn't comment on any job cuts, but did say "WGBH is reviewing projects and activities with an eye to working as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. 'Basic Black' is among the many projects that are considering creative new ways to serve audiences while achieving cost savings." That said, Tavis Smiley will be a guest on the episode that tapes Dec. 12.

The Newbury Street Chanel Boutique drew some of Boston's most fashionable men last night with a "Tie One On" party that celebrated fancy neckwear and cocktails. On the guest list: Harvard arts and sciences communications director Robert Mitchell, "Real World" star Randy Barry, hair guru Dirk Diegel, Radius partner Christopher Myers, Hill Holiday VP Greg Winter, and Matthew Burns of the Aquitaine Group.

Legendary chef (and BU adjunct professor) Jacques Pépin will grace the Museum of Fine Arts today, first delivering a sold-out lecture, then signing his cookbooks at the MFA shop.

Not to be outdone by the Pats ladies coat collection last week, the Celtics Women's Group delivered more than 200 donated jackets and other winter clothing items, along with $3,000, to Cradles to Crayons in Quincy Monday. Generous fans pitched in with coat donations during the Celtics home game just before turkey day.

Stephen Aiello was the surprised winner of a new Honda Civic Hybrid, courtesy of furniture moguls Bernie and Phyl Rubin. The Cranston, R.I., man made a prize-winning video for the couple's Jingle Video Contest. His entry, featuring a live band and party scene, was picked from hundreds of entries.

Children's Hospital hosted its Champions for Children's dinner last night, raising money for patient care, research, and community programs. Pats QB Matt Cassel and defensive lineman Vince Wilfork (at left, with Cassel) were recognized with "Champion Awards" for their work with the hospital, and the crowd was filled with athletes and sports brass. On the guest list: Olympic gymnast Alicia Sacramone; Celtics Glen Davis, Kendrick Perkins, Patrick O'Bryant, and Brian Scalabrine; Bruins P.J. Axelsson, Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, Phil Kessel, Milan Lucic, Marc Savard, Mark Stuart, Tim Thomas, Shawn Thornton, Aaron Ward, Blake Wheeler, and Dennis Wideman, and Revolution fullback Jay Heaps. Celtics team president Rich Gotham was also expected, along with team co-owner Wyc Grousbeck and his wife, Corinne, a hospital trust board member.

Cartier threw its annual holiday bash at its Newbury Street store Monday night, tempting guests with little trifles like the $511,000 gold and diamond High Jewelry necklace, guarded closely by Santa Claus. Among the merry were Boston Ballet artistic director Mikko Nissinen, Tonya Mezrich, WGBH's Jared Bowen, and French Consul Francois Gauthier.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.