Presi-don't Cancel 'em ...
Scratch the death match. It ain't happening!
• Translation: An appearance by former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in New York next February has been canceled due to an "overeager promoter," according to Matt McKenna, a Clinton spokesman.
• Nix 'em: The promoter "was billing the event as a debate when it was not," McKenna told Sneed. "It was supposed to be a moderated, serious discussion between the two former presidents."
• Note 'em: Bush and Clinton participated in a 90-minute peaceful panel discussion May 29 in Toronto. "Go back and check the [Toronto] clips," McKenna said. "You'll find it to be very civilized."
Chips off the old block: President Obama's half-brother Mark Ndesandjo, 43, who now lives in China, snagged some pretty impressive academic credentials.
• To wit: Ndesandjo, who is now pitching a semi-autobiographical novel about his life -- is not only the product of an American mother and a bummer father relationship -- but he earned physics degrees from Brown and Stanford universities and an MBA from Emory.
Flippin' & floppin': When word leaked out on the Washington Post's "The Fix" blog Wednesday that GOP Senate candidate Mark Kirk was seeking former GOP veepmate Sarah Palin's support, it prompted an immediate response from the Democratic Senate campaign.
• Turn of the screw: The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee pointed out Kirk told the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board in October that Palin would NOT have been his choice for GOP presidential contender John McCain's running mate.
Dubya's dugout dish: Former President George W. Bush, who once owned a baseball team, can't seem to win.
• Translation: Bush not only failed to hit home plate when he threw out the first pitch in game three of the Japanese equivalent of the World Series in Tokyo this week, but outside the stadium, anti-war protesters were carrying "Arrest Bush" and "Bush go to jail" signs.
Watch for Chicago actor Michael Patrick Thornton, who grew up in Jefferson Park and founded the Gift Theatre, to make his first TV show appearance in ABC's "Private Practice" tonight (at 9 p.m.). Thornton, 30, has been using a wheelchair since suffering a spinal stroke six years ago.
Chicago-bred actress Abby Lee, a graduate of New Trier High School who plays an American military nurse during the Vietnam War in the new flick "21 and a Wakeup," became part of a green scene.
• Translation: A helicopter scene in which Lee evacuates wounded soldiers was supposed to be filmed in San Francisco, but due to concern for native birds, the filming was moved to L.A. (Lee is the daughter of Chicago attorney Jim Feldman and artist Sheila Feldman.)
• Pig out/pig in: Thinking about a unique Christmas gift? Victoria "Posh" Beckham and hubby David just bought micro pigs for pets. The Brit press claims the couple bought two teacup-size piggies, which cost approximately $1,200 each.
• Burn 'em: Actress Nicole Kidman, who was divorced from actor Tom Cruise in 2001, told GQ mag she burned most of her diaries after she married country singer Keith Urban in 2006.
Bears Charles Tillman, Alex Brown and Desmond Clark at Texas de Brazil Monday ... Bears QB Jay Cutler lunching at Gibsons Tuesday ... Fashion designer Michael Kors dining at Gibsons later that night.
Today's birthdays: Art Garfunkel, 68; Tatum O'Neal, 46; Sam Shepard, 66, and Elke Sommer, 69.