Stars of David

June 18, 2009 - Michael Elkin, Arts & Entertainment Editor

You think "American Idol" singers are moving human targets for Simon Cowell? Wait until you see who comes up for target practice when "AI" resumes in January -- and this has nothing to do with the contestants! In what is inarguably the top TV real estate spot on the market right now -- the prime time following the "AI" results show -- Philly guy Jon Steinberg has pulled off a coupe that would leave Paula Abdul speechless. The co-creator of "Jericho" has scaled the wall to the very top of the game this time out: He's written the pilot and is exec producing -- with Brad Kern, McG and Peter Johnson -- "Human Target," based on the DC Comic classic about a guy who lends himself out as a human shield, assuming the ID of his clients. TV gurus have already ID'd this as one to watch on Fox, whose executives liked it so much that not even Cowell would complain about its pitch. By the way, speaking of human targets, wonder if Jon has to dart amid handfuls of tossed oatmeal yet since he and wife Rebecca recently became first-time parents; the future TV exec is named Madelyn Grace. ... "Grease" is the word -- and the choice for opening the new

B.J. Forman

Broadway/ Philadelphia season when the classic musical slides into the Academy of Music early next month. Riding the slick of the show starring Taylor Hicks is Lower Merion's own B.J. Forman, its production stage manager. If you squint real hard, you may recognize him from his appearance a l-o-n-g time ago at the age of 5 on "The Gene London Show."

Rick Fisher

... Lights, cameras ... lights! Havertown's Rick Fisher is indeed in the spotlight these days, taking home the Tony Award at the June 7 event for the lighting design of "Billy Elliot" -- which is really magical since every time "Stars" sees the show he could swear a different kid's playing Billy. Must be the lighting. Nice touch -- Rick dedicated the Tony to his folks, still living in Delaware County; sis Ellen is publisher of the Philadelphia Women's Yellow Pages. ... With the tape of Hudson River-headed USAir Flight 1549 released just last week at the Washington gathering of the National Transportation Safety Board, it seems so appropriate that "Sully" Sullenberger's first question to his co-pilot as they approached the water was revealed to be a cool one: "Got any ideas?" Well, apparently Sully's had a good one since, too: He just signed up with Jeff Zaslow -- whose response to "Author! Author!" is "Success! Success!" as reported here last month -- whose latest news is that he and the pilot are penning a book-length splashdown-to-be: Sky-writing destined for the bestseller list. ... Keep on shuckin'! That's the order of the day as another member of the Mink fam -- Sam -- has reopened what was once known as their Sansom Street Oyster House, now Oyster House, the fish fave in

Marc Erlbaum

Center City ... "Star" bucks? That may be what's in Marc Erlbaum's wallet: The leading light of filmdom's Nationlight Productions, Philadelphian Erlbaum's been shooting "Cafe" around town, with super -- supernatural -- stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jamie Kennedy (both of TV's "Ghost Whisperer") in the indie set in a West Philly coffeehouse.Latte interest in this one, Nationlight's first.

Contact the writer at: melkin@jewishexponent.com (215-832-0735).