Chicago Police Department getting their own reality show?
Listen up!
Sneed hears the Chicago Police Department is this/close to starring in a reality TV show.
Fact: Sneed is told . . .
• 1) Chicago native Gary Sherman, who directed action thriller "Vice Squad" and the horror films "Death Line" and "Dead & Buried," has sold a TV pilot titled "Missing Persons: Chicago" to the A&E Television Network. Sherman was executive producer of a similarly titled scripted show that was filmed here in 1993-94.
• 2) The reality TV project has gotten a thumbs up from Police Supt. Jody Weis.
• 3) The show, which will have TV crews following Chicago cops in their search process, is awaiting approval by the City Council. It must first go before the Council's Police Committee on Nov. 17. Committee Chairman Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th) told Sneed: "We are delighted because the show will present a positive light on the Chicago Police Department, which is extremely successful in finding missing persons."
• 4) The show, which has been seven years in the works, will capture the remarkable work the police do day in and day out, said Carothers.
Reality check: Phenom hit novel The Help wasn't an instant success. This first novel by author Kathryn Stockett was rejected by about 50 agents before it found a publisher!
Hmmm. . . . I suppose it should come as no surprise Diane Sawyer's exclusive ABC News interview with the singer Rihanna, who was beaten by former beau Chris Brown, was conducted shortly before Rihanna's new CD, "Rated R," comes out.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's dance card is slim these days.
• To wit: "Right now he doesn't have any public appearances -- other than doing his radio show," said Blago's publicist Glenn Selig. "He might have some book signings coming up, but nothing is set in stone."
Shades of CSI: A forensic entomologist, a k a insect scientist, from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History is attempting to determine the date of death of decomposed bodies found in the Cleveland home of rapist Anthony Sowell. (Death can be determined by using insect evidence near a corpse.) "He's our bug guy," said museum spokesman Marie Graf.
Vince Vaughn and fiancee Kyla Weber lunching at RL Tuesday . . . Ex-White Sox slugger Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas putting a hurt on some pork chops at Hugo's Frog Bar Saturday night . . . Chicago Bears Jay Cutler and Lance Briggs being low-key at the Underground late Sunday . . . Injured Chicago Bear Brian Urlacher at Lux Bar on Sunday night.
Hmmmm. Is the hope of a marital and financial comeback behind the apology Jon Gosselin made to estranged wife, Kate, via his meeting with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Sunday in New York?
• Backcheck: Their hit show has been canceled -- and only a reconciliation can get it back on the air? Right? Jon doesn't have a job; Kate is trying to renew her nurse's license, and the kids probably miss the attention from the TV crew.
Monkeyshines: Wondering what actress Lindsay Lohan, whose addiction battles have lessened the old paycheck, is doing to make a few bucks these days? Getting paid to go to parties.
• Bash blather: Lohan attended a posh hotel opening in Morocco last weekend, which cost $26 million --and featured trained monkeys passing out roses to each of the female guests.
Today's birthdays: Jo Minow, ageless; Loretta Swit, 72; Ralph Macchio, 48; Markie Post, 59; Matthew McConaughey, 40, and belated wishes to Bert Hastings, ageless.