Dane Cook-Julia Stiles Broadway play 'Fat Pig' postponed

"Fat Pig," the Neil LaBute play starring comedian Dane Cook and Julia Stiles, has been postponed to the 2011-2012 Broadway season.

The play was scheduled to open at the Belasco Theatre this spring, but its producers cited the "last-minute fallout of a key investment" as the reason for the delay.

"This did not leave the producers enough time to reacquire the necessary capital and begin rehearsals on schedule to open prior to the Tony Awards cutoff date," a spokesman said in a statement.

"It's our dream to keep this terrific cast and stunning creative team intact as we work to reschedule 'Fat Pig' for next season," added producers Aldo Scrofani and Heather Provost. "The current financial situation did not leave adequate time to maintain the integrity of the show and its marketing campaign. This play deserves to be seen on Broadway and we remain very much committed to that goal."

Josh Hamilton and HeatherJane Rolff were also set to star in the LaBute-written and -directed play.

The blunt-force comedy revolves around a man who falls for an obese woman, which causes a backlash against her among his friends. It was performed off-Broadway in 2004 in a production that starred Jeremy Piven, Andrew McCarthy, Keri Russell and Ashlie Atkinson. In 2007, the Geffen Playhouse mounted a production with a cast that included Scott Wolf and Chris Pine.

Cook's polarizing brand of comedy aimed at the college crowd and LaBute's productions, with their controversial subject matter and colorful language, had been seen as a perfect match. Earlier reports said Ashton Kutcher was in talks for the play.

But fans will have to wait a little bit longer for this show to go on. Previews for the Broadway show were set to begin April 12, with the official opening April 26. Ticket holders are being allowed to get a full refund or exchange their tickets for a different date.

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-- Nardine Saad
Twitter.com/NardineSaad

Photo: Dane Cook at Spike TV's Video Game Awards on Dec. 11, 2010, in Los Angeles. Credit: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press

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MTV VMAs: Selena Gomez is there for you, Taylor Swift

The MTV Video Music Awards bring out the biggest and brightest stars in the music industry -- Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Drake were just some of the performers passing by on the white carpet Sunday evening. (Click the picture of Usher, right, to launch a photo gallery of arrivals.)

But the awards show also attracts some more, er, random guests. Case in point? Lakers player Ron Artest, who was on hand to promote a new musician he's working with, Shin Shin.

"She's an artist coming real soon, so everybody watch out," he told us. As for more pertinent issues, like the Lakers' prospects of taking home the national championship again next year, Artest had only this to say: "It's gonna be hard. But we gonna try."

Comedian Dane Cook was also on hand to promote something un-VMA-related: his upcoming greatest hits album. But he insisted he felt comfortable around the musicians because he "does music stuff as well."

"I actually feel pretty much at home being around these guys," he said, glancing at Akon, who was standing directly to his right. "Comedy, music, it really is that thing about connecting with the crowd."

It's also where he gathers material for his comedy act.

"Oh yes, you're constantly looking around trying to figure out what you can be talking about," he said. "But you have to change the names to protect the innocent. Nobody wants to be roasted. I can't talk about a lot of the things I see, but I'll write a book when I'm like 60, and nobody will hold it against me."

He admitted having a bit of a thing for the evening's hostess, Chelsea Handler.

"I think she's hilarious. And I want to make love to her. Sweet, sweet love," he smiled. "She is a sexy broad, I think I can say that."

Someone who did seem in her element was the ever-cheery Selena Gomez, who has a close friendship with Taylor Swift -- who of course was dissed by Kanye West while accepting her award onstage at last year's show.

No matter what happened between the two this year, Gomez said she was prepared to console Swift.

"I'm here for her," Gomez said. "I'm here to be her best friend."

-- Amy Kaufman

Twitter.com/AmyKinLA

Top photo: Lady Gaga arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Credit: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press

Second photo: Usher arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in L.A. Credit: Matt Sayles / Associated Press

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