Gervais to be a star voice in animated comedy

Gervais to be a star voice in animated comedy

NEW YORK — HBO says Ricky Gervais will be a star voice in a 13-episode animated comedy series early next year.

The cable network said Tuesday that “The Ricky Gervais Show” will be based on his popular podcasts.

Voices will include Gervais, longtime collaborator Stephen Merchant and their friend Karl Pilkington. Pilkington’s musings often inspire the series’ offbeat storylines.

Gervais has appeared on HBO in the series “Extras,” which won him an Emmy as best comedy actor. He also created and starred in the British TV series “The Office,” from which the hit NBC version was adapted.

His new show will debut Feb. 19. He is also hosting NBC’s broadcast of the Golden Globes Awards on Jan. 17.

Mullally to hit Broadway in ‘Lips Together’

NEW YORK — Megan Mullally will return to Broadway in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of “Lips Together, Teeth Apart,” Terrence McNally’s comedy about two married couples sharing a Fourth of July weekend at a Fire Island beach house.

Patton Oswalt is also in the cast. Two other actors will be announced.

Roundabout artistic director Todd Haimes says the production will open April 29 at the American Airlines Theatre. Preview performances begin April 9. The director is Joe Mantello.

Mullally played Karen Walker on the TV sitcom “Will & Grace.” She was last on Broadway in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” in 2007. Oswalt, a standup comedian, was on TV’s “The King of Queens.”

Cher’s home in Hawaii to be auctioned in Jan.

HONOLULU — Cher’s six-bedroom Hawaii home overlooking the Pacific Ocean is set to be auctioned Jan. 18.

Concierge Auctions estimated the three-quarter-acre property with views of the Hualalai Golf Course was worth about $8 million to $12 million.

A Web site set up for the sale says the property has a main residence and five freestanding bungalows totaling 8,821 square feet. Four have bedroom suites, and the fifth is a media bungalow with a bar.

It says the residence was designed by Cher and “balances modern sophistication with traditional Balinese style.”

In all, it has six bedrooms, six bathrooms and two half baths.

Today’s birthdays

Actor John Amos is 70. Guitarist Mick Jones of Foreigner is 65. Singer Tracy Nelson is 65. Actor Gerard Depardieu is 61. Singer Karla Bonoff is 58. Actress Tovah Feldshuh is 57. Guitarist David Knopfler of Dire Straits is 57. Drummer Jeff Bryant (Ricochet) is 47. Actor Ian Gomez (“Felicity,” “The Drew Carey Show”) is 45. Actress Eva LaRue is 43. Guitarist Matt Slocum of Sixpence None the Richer is 37. Actor Wilson Cruz (“My So-Called Life”) is 36. Actor Masi Oka is 35. Actress Emilie de Ravin is 28. Singer Hayley Williams of Paramore is 21.