Lauper plays a psychic on episode of ‘Bones’

Lauper plays a psychic on episode of ‘Bones’

NEW YORK — Cyndi Lauper says she downplays a psychic she portrays on tonight’s season five premiere of Fox’s “Bones” (8 p.m., Fox). That means no flamboyant fashions or clothing with a celestial theme.

“I didn’t think she should look like Rhoda from the ’70s,” jokes Lauper, referring to the TV character made famous by Valerie Harper.

The singer and occasional actress plays Avalon Harmonia, a medium who leads stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz to a crime scene and then becomes a suspect.

The 56-year-old says she enjoyed working on the show because she’s a fan of detective stories and enjoys picking up on a character’s speech. “When I sing it’s all about rhythm. In acting there’s rhythm in the dialogue. Everyone has rhythm of speech and I like to find the rhythm of a character.”

Griffin again hosts the technical Emmys

LOS ANGELES — Kathy Griffin has a history with the Creative Arts Emmys. She once gave an acceptance speech so provocative that the Catholic League condemned it.

So naturally, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences invited her back — as host.

“I’d like to think that that’s why I got the gig — that I was so offensive and shocking last year that they thought maybe I could put this thing on the map,” the comedian joked about hosting the lesser-known Emmy ceremony, which honors technical and other achievements. Griffin, who’s won two of the awards, maintained her tradition of irreverence in the telecast. She shared a film clip of her writhing naked in anguish after losing an Emmy. She also joked about getting intimate with Jon Gosselin and knocked “American Idol” exec Nigel Lythgoe down to the ground with her dance moves.

Unlike most Hollywood awards shows, the Creative Arts Primetime Emmys aren’t televised live. Saturday’s ceremony was taped as it stretched on for four hours. (An edited version is set to air Friday on E!)

Today’s birthdays

Actress Elvira is 58. Comedian Rita Rudner is 56. Actor Matthew Settle (“Gossip Girl”) is 40. Rapper Vinnie of Naughty by Nature is 39. Singer Anastacia is 36. Drummer Chuck Comeau of Simple Plan is 30. Bassist Jon Walker (Panic at the Disco) is 24.