Ledger Pop Journal - Celebrity News & Sports

Amanda Bynes admits that she took full advantage of being around musical veteran John Travolta while filming the July-debuting Hairspray. "He's such a nice guy, and he's such a legend that you want to take notes and sort of pick his brain," says the gifted 21-year-old comedic actress. She adds, "We were totally singing all of the 'Grease' songs with him, and then we were all texting our friends afterwards."

Amanda Bynes Sought Musical-Making Wisdom From John Travolta

Amanda is "very excited about the movie because I got to sing and dance. It was like a dream come true," she says. She also recently wrapped "Sydney White," a modern-day take on "Snow White," in which she plays a college coed who befriends seven campus "dorks."

NOTE WORTHY: Nice guy entertainer Tony Orlando has a jammed schedule of concerts this summer and fall. But he's also going back to his roots in the record business for a spell, as a finder of fresh talent. He, along with producer Brooks Arthur, and Lamont Dozier of the legendary Motown songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland, are serving as judges for The Internet Song of the Year.

As far as Tony is concerned, the current, yearlong competition -- offering a top prize of $100,000 and a music publishing deal -- is giving tunesmiths a chance to shine. He notes that in recent times, the industry has been so focused on singer-songwriters, "if Cole Porter was around today, he wouldn't have a record deal. I don't think he was able to sing." However, "American Idol" -- with its contestants performing songs written by other people -- is helping "the door open up again."

Before becoming a music star in his own right, Orlando was a CBS Records vice president, and signed talent the likes of Barry Manilow. "I also had a hand in producing his first records, but Clive (Davis) made him a star as only Clive can," recalls Orlando.

What's in the contest for Tony? Satisfaction, he says. "I don't end up with a piece of the publishing or a piece of the song or anything. It's just, I've been very blessed for 47 years in this business, and I like the idea of reaching out to new talent. There is nothing greater than to see someone come in at the very birth of their career, accomplish their dream. Not until you are a part of someone's success do you have that feeling."

The contest is online at www.internetsongoftheyear.com. There is a $9.95 registration fee. Registered and non-registered listeners are allowed to vote, with the judges to determine the best song among finalists.

JUST TRY NOT TO DIE: "All I have to do is memorize the lines and try not to get myself killed," says Jeffrey Donovan of playing the blacklisted Special Ops agent Michael Weston in the USA Network's "Burn Notice" debuting June 28. "There's a lot of action, and I do my own stunts. In the pilot, I actually crash the motorcycle. I laid it down by mistake and tore up my ankle a little. That was a little hairy." However, audiences won't see that because he says with a laugh, "Michael was supposed to be driving that motorcycle a lot better than Jeffrey, so they cut before I crash."

Donovan quips the greatest preparation for his role as the agent trying to discover why he received a burn notice while trying to stay alive -- oh, and help others, natch -- was "growing up in a poor dysfunctional family in Amesbury, Mass., and getting in fights every day. That's my training ground."

But seriously, folks, he says, "Over the years you do every kind of job … have fights, hold a sword, hold a gun, so I didn't have to do any kind of special training, and I have a big martial arts background with a black belt in karate and aikido." He adds, he did some research for the role, but "everything is pretty much on the page. Matt Nix(cq), the genius writer/creator, worked with a government agent who knew a lot about being a field agent, and he talks to friends he has in the DEA and the FBI."

BOARD GAME: Brandon Baker, whose "Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board" movie debuts on the Disney Channel tonight (6/8), is still awed by the success of its predecessor, the 1999 "Johnny Tsunami," a family movie that also found a following among surfers and snowboarders. Before starting production on the new movie, the now-22-year-old Brandon went backpacking around Europe. "It's eight years later, and I was on the other side of the world -- Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic and Croatia. I cut my hair. And I was still being recognized from the first one," he says. "It happened a number of times. I was in Munich for the Octoberfest, getting my pint of beer, and this girl starts getting all excited, talking in German, saying, 'Johnny Tsunami! Johnny Tsunami!' It was kind of amazing."

(With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster)