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'Buffy' creator receives award at Harvard

By Mark Shanahan & Meredith Godlstein
April 11, 2009
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TV wunderkind Joss Whedon, creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Dollhouse," was at Harvard last night to receive the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism. (Previous winners include author Salman Rushdie and Bad Religion singer Greg Graffin.) "Joss's shows talk about how to live a deeply ethical, moral life without traditional religion," explained Greg Epstein, the humanist chaplain at Harvard. "The older crowd in our community has no idea who he is, but to the younger crowd, he's one of the biggest heroes in their lives." Chatting briefly before his talk at the Memorial Church in Harvard Yard, Whedon said, "I consider myself an absurdist above all things. But, really, I identify myself very strongly as a humanist because it's written, not because it's a polemic." He also gave a shout-out to "Buffy" star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who is expecting her first baby with husband Freddie Prinze Jr. "Alyson Hannigan just had a baby, too," he said. "It's great . . . the wheel keeps turning."

J. Geils Band revved to play in the Motor City
For now at least, the J. Geils Band isn't thinking about the future. The group, which reunited for a sold-out show opening the new House of Blues in February, has a few more dates lined up but no plan for a proper tour. "We'll see," Peter Wolf's writing partner, keyboardist Seth Justman, told us this week. "It's been amazing how we've been able to walk into a room, pick up our instruments, and sound like we never left." In addition to a second House of Blues gig April 28, the Boston band is playing two shows at the Fillmore Detroit April 24 and 25. "Detroit is really hurting right now, and we want to do our part," said Justman. "Hopefully, this will be two nights of raw, lean, [expletive] rock 'n' roll. . . . It'll be that won't-stop-till-we-drop type of thing." The lineup includes original members Wolf, Justman, Jay Geils, Magic Dick, and Danny Klein, supplemented by drummer Marty Richards and guitarist Duke Levine.

Thicke's Grand time
R&B crooner Robin Thicke hosted a raucous party at Shrine following his performance this week at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods. Alan Thicke's handsome son kicked back with fans and a few sips of Grey Goose, tonic, and lemon. When the DJ spun Jamie Foxx and T-Pain's "Blame It on the Alcohol," the singer jumped up, grabbed the mike, and belted out the words to the song. Thicke's touring with Jennifer Hudson, who's performing at tonight's black-tie benefit for the Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center.

Perry to rule at Paradise
Could Joe Perry be the next Simon Cowell? Word is the Aerosmith ax man will channel his inner "Idol" judge at the Paradise Tuesday when he critiques seven college rock bands, with the winner getting a record deal. Perry, whose band is hitting the road this summer with ZZ Top, will be joined at the Rolling Stone-sponsored event by Incubus's Mike Einziger. Vying for the deal with Veritas records will be the Ben Kultgen Band (Harvard), Gerard Mellen (BC), Kids With Kites (BU), SEX! (Berklee), The Pears (MIT), The Hollow Sound (Emerson), and FunkSoulLove (Tufts).

Mosley visits 'GBH
"Devil in a Blue Dress" writer Walter Mosley stopped by the studios of WGBH yesterday to tape an episode of "Basic Black." Mosley talked up the Obamas and took a jab at Wall Street, calling the bankers "thieves." Mosley's murderous new book is called "The Long Fall."

Mad about Slattery?
How would you like to have lunch with Boston-bred actor John Slattery, the silver fox who plays Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"? Slattery is among several actors auctioning themselves off to raise funds for the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a nonprofit that supports female filmmakers. Others offering to eat lunch with you include Slattery's "Mad Men" costar Jon Hamm, Paul Rudd, Gina Gershon, David Schwimmer, Rachel Dratch, and Keri Russell. (Bidding for a bite with Hamm is up to $1,425.) Shelly was an actress, writer, and director who was murdered in 2007.

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