Pelosi to speak at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Forum

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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi arrives at the Kennedy Center for the Mark Twain Prize for humor in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. Comedian Tina Fey was awarded the Mark Twain Prize. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

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Updated: February 20, 2012 8:57AM

S PEAKING OUT: HOUSE Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will speak at the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Forum Saturday starting at 10 a.m. By the way, look for Rev. Jesse on the “Wendy Williams Show” Friday. . . . Mayor Rahm Emanuel addressing the Illinois Commission on Diversity and Human Relations’ 44th annual “Dr. King” dinner at the Hilton Chicago Saturday . . . Actress/playwright Regina Taylor, the national spokeswoman for the Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness Org., will address at their luncheon at the Signature Room Saturday.

MORE TALKS: Sheriff Tom Dart speaks at Saint Xavier University Feb. 9 . . . The legendary Harry Belafonte speaks at the Rev. Mike Pfleger’s St. Sabina Church Feb. 10, and actress Angela Bassett, March 23.

FLICK NEWS: Filmmaker/director Spike (“Malcolm X”) Lee speaks at Chicago State University Feb. 8. It is free. Lee, who is among the honorees on the upcoming BET “Honors” show airing Feb. 13, is the producer of “Pariah” now in theaters, and his latest self-financed movie “Red Hook Summer” will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

FILMMAKER George (“Star Wars”) Lucas reportedly took $90 million out of his own deep pockets to make “Red Tails” starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard and opening Friday nationwide. Please do not let his tremendous support and dream of bringing the story of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen to the big screen be in vain. George and his longtime Chicago sweetie, Ariel Investments’ Mellody Hobson, are on the “Oprah’s Next Chapter” show on the OWN Network Sunday.

ON THE RADIO: The music industry’s George Daniels and Caryn Lee co-hosting a new weekly talk show “G Spot” on WSRB Soul 106.3 at 9 p.m. Sunday. . . . Activist Wallace Bradley co-hosting with Mancow Muller Thursday on WJJG-AM (1530).

PROMOTING VIOLENCE & Cursing: So many of the female reality shows are turning into hussy brawls . . . yet they want you to believe that they are classy dames! “Basketball Wives,” “Mob Wives,” “Love & Hip Hop” etc. are going for the ratings, that’s for sure. Those shows remind me of Jerry Springer’s, but with stilettoes and weaves!

AROUND TOWN: ABC’s George Stephanopoulos moderates “The Path to the Presidency” panel at the University of Chicago Thursday . . . Hedy Ratner, co-prez of the Women’s Business Development Center and United Scrap Metal prez Marsha Serlin receiving Athena Leadership awards Thursday at Palmer House Hilton . . . A fund-raiser for Stella Black, who is running for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner, Jan. 24 at Dick’s Last Resort.

DID YOU KNOW that NBC is debuting “Fashion Star,” a new reality show with Elle MacPherson, Nicole Richie and Jessica Simpson, on March 13 and a top Chicago fashion icon is among the contestants? That’s for real!

MUSIC NOTES: The Hyde Park Jazz Society at Room 43 Sunday with jazz bassist Marlene Rosenberg releasing her new CD “Bassprints.” . . . Vocalist Greta Pope at Benny’s Chop House on Fridays . . . Smooth George Benson and Boney James at the Chicago Theatre March 23 with tickets on sale Friday.

CITY SCENES: Gov. Pat Quinn ate at Valois in Hyde Park after speaking at Apostolic Church of God Sunday . . . Former Bull Jannero Pargo relaxed at Sawtooth. (By the way, Pargo’s wife, Malaysia, is a cast member on VH-1’s “Basketball Wives LA” and has a new bling jewelry line out for kids) . . . Bulls’ Richard “Rip” Hamilton ate hearty at Joe’s Stone Crab . . . Nielsen exec Cheryl Pearson McNeil birthday celebrated at Nacional 27. And ditto for the Seneca Hotel’s Mike Foster at Privet . . . Judge Arnette Hubbard and son, Gregory, celebrated her birthday at Mastro’s Steakhouse and on separate evenings at the eatery, State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, former Cub Eric Young, and Patrick (the former mayor’s son) Daley were in . . . The Melon Express, owned by Donna Todd, catered President Obama’s fund-raising dinner last week in Hyde Park.

BIRTHDAYS: Former Bull Luc Longley, Channel 7’s Hank Mendheim and entertainer Milt Trenier, 82, who performs Friday at Vince’s Italian restaurant. On Friday: Mike Litow and Jack LaBrasca. On Saturday: Mike Leiderman and golden sweetie Mona Hersheway, 100. On Sunday: Maxene Kotin. On Monday: Princess Caroline.