Scene in the Tropics

Exclusive! The Hangover 2 starts pre-production in Miami

The Hangover's hilarious Zach Galifianakis had dinner at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink with a group of six last night. Apparently it wasn't his first time, having been in a few days earlier, dining at the bar with his assistant. Galifianakis, who will host SNL on March 6, wasn't just lingering from the Super Bowl, either. He's in town working pre-production of The Hangover 2 for the next four to six weeks. Bradley Cooper swoon alert:production starts in October. At last, an actual comedy being filmed down here as opposed to the comedies of errors to which we've grown so accustomed.

Jersey Shore creeping closer to South Beach & some other reality show rumors

 

Tanning salons, laundromats, Wet Willies and Mango's shouldn't get too excited over the rumors that Jersey Shore's second season on South Beach is a done deal---yet. Despite reported rumors that a house near Lincoln Road is being renovated for the inexplicably popular MTV reality smash, we can 100 % squash that one and tell you that said house is being all pimped out possibly for  HGTV's Color Splash instead. In fact we hear the show's comely host David Bromstad has moved here for it. That said, we do know locations are being scouted close to or on Ocean Drive for Jersey's most controversial gang since The Sopranos. In fact, some of the show's scouts were seen sniffing around The Clevelander recently. As much as some tourism officials may not want to admit it, Ocean Drive screams Jersey Shore. A better location may not exist for them down here, really. Think The Birdcage meets Saturday Night Fever with a bit of Night at the Roxbury thrown in and, if they continue to fry their faces in the tanning beds, Scarface, too. Says our uber inside source, the chances of the show being filmed here are "Looking solid, but not one hundred percent." 

And based on the amount of fist pumping going on at STK Miami last night when Shore-mates The Situation and Pauly D. showed up, we have a feeling South Beach, despite some protests like those made by Mynt owner Romain Zago, who refused to allow Shore scouts to film inside his club, will embrace them with open fists. According to our sources, The Sitch and Pauly "snapped pictures with every female that approached them." And, scarily, there were a lot. While Pauly stuck with water, The Sitch guzzled Grey Goose and Red Bull. The duo was overheard yapping about how much fun they had in Florida, and "how beautiful the tan ladies are." What, you expected Kafka?

Meanwhile there's an even bigger South Beach connection to Jersey Shore and that's the person responsible for Snooki, The Situation and co. None other than former crobar doorman Doron Ofir, now a hugely successful reality show casting agent, was responsible for that original-in-more-ways-than-one cast. He sure knows how to pick 'em and, if they do come down here, we guess everything really does come full circle, though he probably would never have let 'em into crobar way back when. Only now will those velvet ropes part like the Red Sea for them. Except at Mynt, of course.

In other news, although its inaugural season was not even one percent watchable, Miami Social, we hear, is not entirely dead in our waters, but if Bravo were to ever consider breathing life back into that mess, it will be with a completely new cast.  Also rumored: more Hogans in Miami, another E! reality show, and, of course, Kardashians, because Miami without them is like Miami without sand and palm trees. Stay tuned for more developments as we get them.

Audition Alert: Open call for So You Think You Can Dance

 
So here's your chance to get on TV and not just because you are a soulless, vapid ignoramus willing to expose yourself like a flasher just for a taste of fame. Producers from So You Think You Can Dance are holding open call auditions at the Arsht Center on Monday, January 18 from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. If you're called back on Tuesday you better be ready to  impress, as judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Cat Deeley will be there. Get up and boogie and while you're at it, do Miami proud. Good luck!

Wanted: dudes in dire need of a man cave makeover

 

The DIY Network is looking for a few needy men who wouldn't mind going on TV in exchange for receiving the room of their dreams. Man Caves, a show that has made over rooms for celebs including Snoop Dogg and Rainn Wilson want to turn your dreary den into a hockey hideaway, lodge bar or your very own version of Mansion. Show is filming in Miami during the last weeks of January. Men needn't be single, either. Families can apply too. Who knows, maybe Elin Woods is reading this and wants to turn Tiger's man cave into a bona fide dog house? For those interested in applying, click here and if you get picked, make sure to invite us over for the grand opening.
 

Tara Reid and Thomas Kramer walk into a restaurant....

 
We thought nothing much of the tidbit we reported that party girl Tara Reid, some pals and party man Thomas Kramer had dinner at Meat Market Tuesday night. Like two cogs in a wheel that's about to blow on a speeding train, Reid and Kramer had dinner. On a slow news day. And they didn't even cause a scene or offend anyone.  But two nights in one week? That's right, Reid and Kramer were seen together again, this time at Quattro Saturday, with a large posse of, says our spy, "table sycophants."  Something's definitely up. And not with Kramer and Reid, either. It's the notion of people sucking up to that table that's somewhat confounding and straight out of a bad reality TV show or something. Kramer has, after all, been shopping his own reality show around, Reid could use a job and South Beach certainly has no shortage of star*uckers, freeloaders and publicity whores, so we guess it all does make some sense after all. And in the We Couldn't Make This Up If We Tried Department: Following the dinner, Reid and Kramer stopped by a private house party on Hibiscus Island. The same party where none other than Vince Shlomi, aka the ShamWow guy, was seen, according to our spy, "Without the ShamWow and without a hooker."

Pack your knives and go! Top Chef auditions coming to Miami

Think you can hack it on Top Chef? Are you better than Top Chef Las Vegas's robotic brothers and you have a personality? Are you an androgynous, multi-pierced whiz in the kitchen who happens to have a tattoo addiction? Are you cocky, clever, creative or cutting? Ok, but just make sure you can cook, too. If you fit into any of the categories or are in a category of your own, run over to Club 50 at the Viceroy on Sunday, October 25, where from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. casting agents will be looking for the next foodies to tough it out on Top Chef Season 7. No need to bring your knives to this audition, but click here for details. 

WANNA BE THE NEXT BILLY MAYS (RIP)? YES, WE'RE SHOUTING

 
May Billy Mays rest in peace, but for those in this great big infomercial known as life, there are products to be shilled and for that, Media Enterprises, the company that brought you the famous Mays-approved Mighty Putty and Mighty Mendit, is holding auditions to find America's next screamer  infomercial spokespersons and products. Two lucky winners--an inventor and a spokesperson--will be selected and each awarded $100,000. Aspiring candidates should show up at the Eden Roc on Monday, October 12, or Tuesday, October 13 no earlier than 8 a.m. Inventors are asked to bring a working prototype of their product, and spokespeople should be prepared to present a pitch for the product of their choice.  Shouting is not required, but helpful, and if you audition on Monday you may get a second audition free. That's right, a second AUDITION FREE. FOR THE PRICE OF ONE. FREE. CALL NOW. AND GOOD LUCK.

Update: Deco Drive's own pitchman Buster went to the audition and from what we hear, he's a major frontrunner. Here's his audition. What do you think?

Move over Tyra, Heidi and Gisele! Victoria's Secret's looking for a new angel

Victoria's Secret is hosting a national model search to find the next Runway Angel to walk in this year's big fashion show--you know, the one that the Fontainebleau cut corners rushed to open for last year--to be televised on CBS on December 1.  And don't confuse the half naked women waiting on line at LIV for the casting. Vicky's Secret is hosting the casting at the Gansevoort South, not the Fontainebleau, on Saturday, October 10 from 8-10 a.m.  For all the official requirements go to www.vsallaccess.com. Because it would be really embarrassing if you showed up in your bra and undies for nothing.
 

Tit for tat: Miami plastic surgeon vs. the Playboy pinup

Miami plastic surgeon Lenny Hochstein can't seem to slice off this pesky lawsuit brought on by former patient, alleged escort, ex Miss Norway, Playboy model and Maxim Woman of the Year 2006, Monica Hansen, who sued the doc for using pictures of her on his practice's website allegedly without permission. The doctor and the centerfold also briefly dated and subsequently became friends until doc got engaged and suddenly the saline hit the fan.

Back in July, Hansen, who lives in LA, won a default judgement for $564,555 calling Hochstein's use of pics an ethical infringement on her rights. Hochstein denied the charge. "The bottom line is I had permission to use her images," he said. Not only did he have permission, he says, but he also admits to performing several surgeries on her over the course of several years at little or not cost as part of an agreement they had for him to use her images on her website. To bolster that, the doctor's team obtained an email from Hansen to her former employer, Hollywood madam Michelle Braun, whose own issues had her on the receiving end of a sweet plea deal with the Feds, in which Hansen admitted to giving Hochstein permission to use the photos, saying "[sic] Yes honey I did let Lenny use the pictures I am so sorry for the trouble. Just  become an issue with my agency is all but I am not going to sue."  But she did sue and although the doctor complied and removed the photos, two years later it's still not settled.

On August 3, photographer Keith Lander filed his own suit for copyright infringement. Good news is, the default judgement hearing is set for September 30 in Los Angeles and Hochstein's team tells us they hope it's lifted and allowed to be tried on its merits. The case will most likely be moved from California to Florida where Hochstein lives, works and performed all of Hansen's procedures. Hochstein isn't worried and tells us that although the situation caused him personal and professional hardships, he has faith in the legal system and believes justice will be served in the end. We asked Hansen for a comment and she directed us to her lawyer who has not returned our call.

Got talent?

 

If you so yearn for the spotlight like so many do before realizing certain kinds of exposure can ruin your life (see: Jon & Kate Plus 8) and missed the casting call for Miami Social and that Kardashian show, consider applying for a job at the soon to open downtown "experience" by Emi Guerra and Michael Tronn called Trash in the space formerly known as Park West Nightclub, whose Friday night party will be called Fame. Apparently they are looking for everyone and everything--bartenders, barbacks, hosts, door staff, acrobats, contortionists, "boys who kiss girls, girls who kiss girls and boys who kiss boys while also kissing girls."  Oh yeah, and some Elvis impersonators and bearded ladies, too. What is this Vegas? Anyway, casting is Saturday June 13 from 2-8 p.m. at 30 NE 11th St. They want you to bring headshots, resume and "anything that shows why you deserve your fifteen minutes of FAME."  If this isn't exactly the way you envisioned your big break to be, remember, you do have to start somewhere and if you happen to resemble Susan Boyle or Adam Lambert, you're already halfway there!