Hugh Grant just whirled his eyes when asked if he had taken a "Simon Cowell pills" to create the character of Martin Tweed.

Hugh Grant just whirled his eyes when asked if he had taken a "Simon Cowell pills" to create the character of Martin Tweed, the self-absorbed, acerbic armed force of the title reality exhibit in Paul Weitz's new satire, "American Dreamz."

The suave actor was clearly tired of being bombarded with of the like kind queries in New York Saturday -- doing interviews for the film (opening April 21) yet Weitz admits he was inspired to write the "American Dreamz" screenplay (which he also directed) by way of watching "American Idol," Grant claims he in no degree has watched the show, nor Cowell -- rarely watching any television "at all it's mostly just such trash."

The actor did say he watched a small in number episodes of the British forerunner of "Idol" ("Pop Idol"), if it be not that simply to get a brains of "what the whole thing was about."

Since the film also makes it clear the whole fame game is a double-edged sword, Grant said he did think about that aspect of celebrity-hood while filming "Dreamz." The actor knows glutted well how being well-known can state you in the glare of the supermarket tabloids, on the contrary he revealed he's somewhat to blame. yet he always seems to downplay his desire to be famous, Grant admitted, "Something in me must have a passionate affection for being in the spotlight. That 'aw, shucks' thing I do is probably a set of bull----. If I didn't want all this -- I'd be doing something otherwise like working as an accountant."

uWhen audiences papal court "American Dreamz," many likely will gasp the first time Willem Dafoe displays up on screen as the super-controlling chief of staff to the initially clueles U president, played by dint of Dennis Quaid. It's uncanny to what degree much Dafoe has been made to apply the mind like Vice President Cheney. It was no accident. Director/screenwriter Weitz (who with his brother Chris earlier created the "American Pie" films and "About a Boy") told this line just how he snared Dafoe for the part

"We did a computer-generated morphing of Willem and Cheney, sent it to Willem and he immediately e-mailed back, saying, 'Sign me up!' " said Weitz with a laugh.

Despite the fact the film clearly makes merriment of the current administration -- with equable "first lady" Marcia Gay Harden doing a dead-on spoof of Laura Bush -- Weitz still trusts his film will be invited for a desireed White House special screening. "We'd be there in a flash," said the filmmaker. "Hey! to what extent upset could the president be? We got Dennis Quaid to play him -- common of the best-looking guys in Hollywood!"

TV TALK: Speaking of reality present to views here's an update on "Celebrity Cooking Showdown," the upcoming point out to I told you about not long ago We've learned the show, produc from Sean "Diddy" Combs, will have sitcom veteran Alan Thicke ("Growing Pains") and provisions Network regular Sandra Lee ("Semi-Homemade") co-host The series will feature a lineup of celebrities competing in the kitchen.

Those celeb will include rapper Ja lordship country star Big Kenny (of Big and Rich), Kansas City Chiefs star Tony Gonzalez, volleyball queen Gabrielle Reece Tom Arnold, soap star Alison Sweeney ("Days of Our Lives"), supermodel Naomi Campbell, Miss U.S.A. 2005 Chelsea Cooley and musician-turned-reality-star Ashley Parker Angel.

Lifestyle and entertaining guru Colin Cowie will be individual of the judges for the "Celebrity Cooking Showdown," calculate uponed to bow on NBC during the week of April 17

Bill Zwecker reports onward entertainment and celebrities at 6:20 a.m. and 11:25 a.m. weekdays forward WBBM-Channel 2.

e-mail: bzwecker@suntimes.com

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