Posted at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 10

IS KATY PERRY’S “I KISSED A GIRL” THE BEST SONG OF SUMMER 2008? CAST YOUR VOTE HERE.

Katy Perry (right) will appear on “The Young and the Restless” with Michelle Stafford and Joshua Morrow. [JPIStudios photos]

Buzz gal Katy Perry makes her acting debut on the daytime drama “The Young and the Restless” on June 12.

And by acting, I mean she’ll be playing herself—but don't expect her to kiss any of the soap's female stars. In her storyline, the “I Kissed a Girl” singer will pose for the cover of “Restless Style” magazine.

Perry’s "I Kissed a Girl" recently hit No. 2 on iTunes and No. 1 on the pop singles chart. Her debut album, “One of the Boys,” drops June 17.

According to a release from Capitol Music Group, Perry will appear on “Y&R” in scenes with Nicholas and Phyllis Newman (Joshua Morrow and Michelle Stafford and Jack and Sharon Abbott (Peter Bergman and Sharon Case).

For more information and behind-the-scenes footage beginning June 12, go to RestlessStyle.com.

PHOTO: Katy Perry with “Y7R” cast members Joshua Morrow (from left), Adrienne Frantz, Michelle Stafford, Perry, Peter Bergman and Sharon Case.

Posted at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2

Ellen DeGeneres opens her Chicago show on Saturday. Click on the photo for my "Ellen in Chicago" gallery. [Michael Rozman photo/Warner Bros.]

I danced with Ellen DeGeneres on Saturday, and I got a T-shirt to prove it.

I also received a free piece of Pizano’s pizza, wet clothes and cold fingers.

About 3,000 fans attended the first-ever Chicago taping of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which took place on Michigan Avenue between Tribune Tower and the river. It featured guests Robin Williams and “American Idol” rejects Michael Johns and Carly Smithson, who sang two songs together.

Lesa Kypuros, 30, of Beecher, camped out next to Tribune Tower at 8 p.m. Friday to get in line early Saturday. She and a friend ended up with the first two stand-by tickets.

“We just want to see Ellen,” said Kypuros, who called herself a big fan. “It’s her first time in Chicago. We gotta welcome her.”

And despite the cold, wind and rain, everyone seemed to be having a great time—including Ellen. She was just as charming and funny as she is on TV. Wait, she was filming to be on TV.

“I guess the saying ‘If you don’t like the weather, stick around for five minutes,’ is not a joke,” she told the crowd, then showed a doctored photo showing what was supposed to be her in a bikini. “This is what I had on during rehearsal earlier [when the sun was out].”

At the end of the 1-hour, 25-minute taping—when the rain really started coming down—Ellen thanked the crowd for standing in the rain.

“I love this town so much.”

I don’t want to give away too many details about the show. You’ll have to tune in at 3 p.m. Tuesday on NBC5/WMAQ to see the episode. And watch for me standing behind Ellen when she introduces the “Idol” stars. I’m wearing a hat.

Some highlights from the taping:

IT’S ELLEN, MAYOR DALEY, NOT HELEN

Mayor Richard Daley fumbled his welcome for Ellen, introducing her on camera as Helen DeGeneres.

“For some reason he thinks my name is Helen,” she said, adding that he might remember her name by thinking of the city’s public transportation.

“It’s like the ‘L,’” she suggested. “‘L’—En.”

SINGING IDOLS

Rejected “American Idol” contestants Michael Johns and Carly Smithson showed that maybe they did get voted off the show too soon. They were pretty good together—singing U2’s “One” and Sam & Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Coming.” Read more at the Vital Idol blog.

NO OPRAH RIVALRY

Despite Ellen fan Brent Dansby’s feelings, there’s no rivalry between Ellen and Oprah Winfrey.

“We’re helping [Ellen] beat Oprah,” the 30-year-old told me before the taping, suggesting that was the reason he and Tucker Holley, 30, stood in line to get into the event. The Printer’s Row residents had ticket No.s 685 and 686 before the taping, and expected to be standing in the back for the show.

Oprah wasn’t there in person, but welcomed Ellen to Chicago via a taped message. She also sent Ellen and her crew Oprah’s favorite pizza from Pizano’s. Ellen upped the order—for her entire audience. (Thanks Ellen!)

ELLEN SHOWS HER BADONKADONK

One segment of Ellen’s show is right up RedEye’s Word on the Street blogger Tracy Swartz’ alley. In “What the hell are these kids talking about,” Ellen has explained to viewers the definitions of such words and phrases as shawty, boo and “drop it like it’s hot.” On Saturday, she explained what a honky tonk badonkadonk is—by wiggling her behind.

ROBIN WILLIAMS-WAAAAA!

Chicago native Robin Williams took over the show during his chat, er, monologue with Ellen. I’m not sure how much will actually make it into the episode, but his jokes—all funny—were a lot like this one: “It’s so cold even the Wrigley Building has nipples.”

HARDEST WORKING MAN IN THE BIZ

Tom Riles, the guy who warms up Ellen's audience before the show and between segments, must drink a whole lot of coffee. He hardly stopped moving from about a half hour before taping began to the end of the show, at least two hours if not more.

Tom explained all the rules—phones off, hug the person next to you, give the person in front of you a back rub, tell your neighbors you love them. He and DJ Stryker also got us on our feet and dancing. And Tom's the guy who tossed out the "I danced with Ellen" T-shirts, one of which I happened to catch.

One of the most endearing things about Tom, who is from Chicago, is how he sings the wrong lyrics to songs, or the right lyrics at the wrong times.

So he wouldn't make it on "American Idol." He does just fine on "Ellen."

Posted at 10 p.m. Friday, May 2

Ellen DeGeneres tapes a segment at Giordano’s in Chicago on Friday. Photos by Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.

Ellen DeGeneres began her invasion of Oprah territory on Friday.

The talk show host taped a segment for an upcoming episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” show at Giordano’s downtown. According to the show’s publicist, she played “Deep Dish Dig” at the restaurant.

DeGeneres will tape her show outdoors Saturday afternoon on Michigan Avenue between Tribune Tower and the Chicago River. The publicist said she expects an audience of 3,000 to attend. Sorry, no more tickets are available. I was out there on Friday, and it looks like a majority of that crowd will be standing—unless they hadn’t set up all the chairs yet.

DeGeneres will chat up Chicago native Robin Williams, as well as present a “TV exclusive” duet by “American Idol” rejects Michael Johns and Carly Smithson.

I’m going to the taping, so check back later this weekend and I’ll tell you how it went. The episode is scheduled to air at 3 p.m. Tuesday on NBC5/WMAQ.

Posted at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, March 20

As a Nebraska native, I’m not able to pass this one up.

Bajillionaire and Omaha resident Warren Buffet is set to appear on a May episode of ABC’s soap opera “All My Children.”

As you can see in the clip above, Buffett plays himself. He is asked by Opal (Jill Larson) to help Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) after she is arrested for escaping from prison. Erica recently pleaded guilty to insider trading, but she went on the run before serving her time. Buffett will use his influence to make a deal for Erica—but not until he chats will Bill Gates.