Tattle: For Sasha Grey, it's not pornography, it's HBO
WRITING TATTLE these days is almost like writing for Adult Video News. First up is the story reported by TV Guide that porn star Sasha Grey ("Sasha Grey's Anatomy") will play herself (as opposed to play with herself, as she does brilliantly in her normal job) in a multi-episode arc as Vince's girlfriend on HBO's "Entourage."
WRITING TATTLE these days is almost like writing for
Adult Video News
.
First up is the story reported by TV Guide that porn star Sasha Grey ("Sasha Grey's Anatomy") will play herself (as opposed to play with herself, as she does brilliantly in her normal job) in a multi-episode arc as Vince's girlfriend on HBO's "Entourage."
"I think Sasha's going to have a very successful transition," said "Entourage" creator Doug Ellin, who was impressed by her work in Steven Soderbergh's non-porn 2009 film, "The Girlfriend Experience."
The "Entourage" storyline is inspired by Charlie Sheen's relationship with '80s porn queen Ginger Lynn, and Ellin believes that Grey could portray the perfect woman for the hard-living, bed-hopping - but sensitive - Vince (Adrian Grenier).
"You can't believe she's a porn star when you meet her," Ellin said of Grey. "I think they're going to have a very interesting relationship."
* Yesterday, our 24/7 colleague Dan Gross had an item about Kendra Wilkinson's pre-Hank Baskett sex tape.
While the first take on the story was that Kendra was mortified, humiliated and embarrassed and trying to stop the tape from being released - her reality show would of course follow her every attempt and reaction - RadarOnline.com reports that Kendra has tried to shop the tape herself.
Documents acquired by Radar confirm that Mrs. Baskett wanted to release the footage a year- and-a-half ago. Radar goes on to say that Kendra was still trying to figure out a way to milk some money and publicity from the tape even after she and Hank got engaged.
Tattbits
* Comedy Central, the network that brought you a "South Park" episode with a fatwa-defying cartoon representation of the prophet Muhammad, said yesterday that it's working on a cartoon series about Jesus (who appears regularly on "South Park," without any threats of violence).
"JC" is one of 23 potential series that the network has in development. It depicts Jesus as a "regular guy" who moves to New York to "escape his father's enormous shadow."
Dad is presented as an apathetic man who would rather play video games than listen to his son talk about his new life, according to Comedy Central's thumbnail sketch of the idea. Reveille, the production company behind "The Office," "Ugly Betty" and "The Biggest Loser," is making "JC."
The odds are against "JC" actually becoming a Comedy Central series, but it's a virtual guarantee that protests have already begun.
* Chaz Bono is officially a man and has his new name.
A judge yesterday granted a request to change the name and gender of the 41-year-old writer, activist and reality TV star. Chaz was born a girl to Sonny Bono and Cher, and underwent a gender-change operation last year.
Chaz was represented in court by attorney Kristina Wertz, of the Transgender Law Center. Wertz says that the judge's order is an important step in Chaz's transition and will allow him to reflect his new identity on a variety of official documents.
Wertz said, "Chaz couldn't be happier."
* James Gandolfini may be a hack.
HBO said that "The Sopranos" star is an executive producer of "Taxi 22," a project early in development, that's described as a half-hour comedy centering on a politically incorrect New York City cab driver who is struggling to keep his life together. It is based on the popular Canadian TV series "Taxi 0-22."
* Organizers of the Stockholm Film Festival say that director Gus Van Sant ("Good Will Hunting," "Milk") has been named the winner of this year's visionary award, hailing him as one of modern cinema's greatest American filmmakers.
Previous winners include Wong Kar Wai, Wes Anderson and Terry Gilliam.
Van Sant is expected to visit Stockholm in November to pick up the ridiculously heavy award - a 16-pound bronze horse.
Unlike other Swedish house gifts, Van Sant should be relieved to find he doesn't have to put the horse together.
Daily News wire services contributed to this report.
E-mail gensleh@phillynews.com.