Dan Gross: Cataldi bowled over by human piranha

Takeru Kobayashi, Japan's famed hot-dog-eating machine, will be chomping chicken at Wing Bowl XX next week. (ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

By Dan Gross

Posted: January 26, 2012

"IT'S ALMOST SURREAL to me that he is part of our stupid wing-eating contest," said Sportsradio 94 WIP's Angelo Cataldi about Japanese eating machine Takeru Kobayashi's participation in Wing Bowl XX on Feb. 3 at Wells Fargo Center.

Kobayashi, a longtime champion of the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, had been Cataldi's white whale. "For the last 10 years I've wanted Kobayashi in the event," Cataldi said yesterday.

Cataldi saw Kobayashi inhale Twinkies on the "Wendy Williams Show" but does question his endurance. "I don't know. He's never eaten for this long in his great career," Cataldi said.

"From what I understand he is intensely training on it. It would bring shame to him if he would lose," Cataldi said, noting that the Japanese love the pro eater.

Cataldi's co-host and Wing Bowl creator Al Morganti says that the girls are usually more interesting than the eating but that Kobayashi has reinvigorated Cataldi's interest in the outcome. He's looking forward to seeing Jonathan "Super" Squibb take on Kobi and also five-time Wing Bowl champion Bill "El Wingador" Simmons.

Said co-host Rhea Hughes: "I want to see if Kobayashi can eat wings. I'm curious to see if the crowd reacts to him as a villain or a superstar because they love El Wingador."

Three-time Wing Bowl champion Joey Chestnut, a longtime rival of Kobi's, asked, "Is he a Wingette?" when we told him of Kobayashi's Wing Bowl debut. He was referring to the scantily clad cheerleaders who escort the eaters.

Help a vet

Liberties Bar (705 N. 2nd) will host a fundraiser for Vietnam veteran Edward Schaefer, who was savagely beaten by teen thugs last week in Olney. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 1 and costs $30 at the door. Proceeds benefit Schaefer's medical bills. For info, call Joe Eastman 609-290-8803

'Otis! My man'

"Animal House" party band Otis Day & the Knights perform Feb. 18 at a Toga Party at the Blockley (38th & Chestnut). The group will, of course, perform "Shout" and "Shama Lama Ding Dong." Patrons, who are strongly encouraged to wear togas, can take advantage of drink specials and of contests offering copies of "Animal House" on DVD.

DJs Adrian Hardy and Outlaw Booker will spin Motown/funk and soul before and after the group's set. The show starts at 9. Tickets are $15 and are available in advance at TheBlockley.com.

Fox's new weather face

Bucks County native meteorologist Caitlin Roth joins Fox 29 as a weekend weather anchor. Roth, who replaces SallyAnn Mosey, studied meteorology at Penn State, where she worked as an intern for the National Weather Service. Since then she has worked at the NBC affiliate in Omaha, Neb., and is happy to return to her hometown. The station has not named a replacement yet for former lead meteorologist John Bolaris.

Stars on bikes

Inquirer movie critic Steven Rea is soon out with Hollywood Rides a Bike: Cycling with the Stars, a collection of photos of old Hollywood stars riding vintage bicycles. The book, to be released by Angel City Press, is a 160-page hardcover featuring 125 pictures accompanied by stories about the actors and the bikes.

It's inspired by Rea's blog: RidesABike.tumblr.com.

Local co-star for Jonas

First it was "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe; now Nick Jonas is paired with Mount Airy native Rose Sezniak Hemingway in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," on Broadway. The actress is a Mount Saint Joseph Academy graduate.

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow @PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or email grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit philly.com/DanGross.