Star Power

The weeds are sky-high in Times Square. Deer run the avenues, hopscotching around abandoned cars. Mass graves fill Central Park. Manhattan, in the year 2012, is a ghost town. Not even Rudy Giuliani could save the place. But maybe Will Smith can. In I Am Legend , a big-budget adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 sci-fi novel (and two film versions: the 1964 Last Man on Earth and the 1971 Charlton Heston-starring Omega Man ), Smith plays Robert Neville, a military scientist who seems to be the last man in Manhattan.

JERUSALEM - They spent their journalistic careers analyzing, covering, and skewering Israel's politicians. Now, a striking number are vying to join their ranks. Four prominent Israeli TV anchors and news pundits are leaving their jobs and running for parliament in Israel's coming elections, reflecting the rising star power of media personalities for an electorate that has long had a penchant for retired army generals. The recent surge of journalists-turned-politicians reflects in part a desire for new blood in a political scene long dominated by the same faces.

ALL THE MONTHS of preparation, all the millions of dollars, all the hopes of the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers come down to this: Ivan Nova vs. Doug Fister for a berth in the ALCS. Just 3 months ago, one was demoted to the minors and the other was languishing with a 3-12 record for last-place Seattle. "Obviously it's not something I foresaw going on," Fister said yesterday, the day after the Yankees stretched the ALDS to the limit with a 10-1 rout in Detroit. On the first off-day of a series interrupted by rain in New York last weekend, there was a cloudless blue sky over Yankee Stadium.

MLS COMMISSIONER Don Garber ventured via regional rail from New York to Philadelphia yesterday to announce that PPL Park would be the venue for this year's All-Star Game. It was a surprisingly unusual way for Garber to travel, but considering rumor and speculation all but confirmed that the Union won hosting rights before his arrival, it's possible his mindset was on saving a buck, even as he confirmed MLS' worst-kept secret. Inside the Mayor's Reception Room at City Hall, Garber said this year's event, against an opponent to be announced "within the next 60 days," will be held at the Union's picturesque stadium on Chester's waterfront.

LOS ANGELES - Reality shows have taken over much of television. This weekend, the unscripted genre is the focus of the inaugural Reality Rocks Expo. "The stars today on television are reality stars," said Robert Sunshine, one of the producers of the two-day event and the senior vice president of the Film Group, who added that he's "surprised there was nothing done on a national scale" to recognize the power of the format. But like many unscripted shows, the event - which organizers hope will draw 15,000 people to the Los Angeles Convention Center and will include panels, performances and workshops about reality television - has run into some casting issues.

NEW YORK - Kelly Clarkson is a multiple nominee at next month's Grammy Awards, but what she's really excited about is another event where she'll be joined by Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Usher, and Brad Paisley. Oh, and the president. President Obama's inauguration is shaping up to be an event as star-studded as any red carpet, with dozens of heavy hitters lining up to perform - and the promise of a few surprises to liven up the weekend. "I think it's going to be the coolest thing ever to look back with my grandkids and go, 'I was a part of that and I'm proud of that.

SO MUCH television, so little time: _ With anchor Katie Couric reportedly poised to announce her too-much-talked-about departure from "The CBS Evening News," could we all finally agree that the person reading the news to us isn't nearly as important as the news itself? A 22- minute newscast is all about making day-to-day choices, a truth that's too often been lost in the five years or so of sporadic will-she-or-won't-she discussions involving Couric. The CBS anchor, whose contract's up in June, has, after a bit of a rough start, presided over a pretty good newscast, one I wouldn't expect to be hurt by her departure as long as the people behind the scenes and in the field continue to do their jobs.

Claude Giroux stood there, his arms folded, gently stroking his ginger playoff beard and trying to come up with an answer. The assembled press corps was eager for Giroux's take on why the recently dubbed "best player in the world" dropped off from a type of first-round series that would satisfy most players for an entire playoff run to just one point in three games against the New Jersey Devils. Giroux, 24, shrugged off the questions. "We were one goal away from us leading 2-1," Giroux said.

Lots of love to the Phillie Phanatic, who's belly-shaken his way through 34 years of Phillies games as of Wednesday. Few in this city can generate the adulation and love that this OG Green Man can. And there's no sign that Philly's favorite son is slowing down. Check his recent cameo on "30 Rock," where star and Upper Darby gal Tina Fey literally jumped for joy when she saw the Furry One in the flesh, for further proof of the Phanatic's star power. WIP "Professor" Glen Macnow talks his way to 57 Monday.

I'M AFRICAN-AMERICAN, and I have some criticism of African-American star power. Unlike famous blacks of old (Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Harry Belafonte and others), today's stars won't speak out on political issues. For example, when President Obama is attacked on race or insinuation of race, I hear crickets. (As when Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn used the phrase "tar baby. ") Where was the black star power speaking out demanding this knucklehead get the boot? When Mel Gibson made some anti-Semitic remarks, notice how swift the response was?

NEW YORK - Kelly Clarkson is a multiple nominee at next month's Grammy Awards, but what she's really excited about is another event where she'll be joined by Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Usher, and Brad Paisley. Oh, and the president. President Obama's inauguration is shaping up to be an event as star-studded as any red carpet, with dozens of heavy hitters lining up to perform - and the promise of a few surprises to liven up the weekend. "I think it's going to be the coolest thing ever to look back with my grandkids and go, 'I was a part of that and I'm proud of that.

A SPURS fan/attorney is suing the franchise after he attended a Nov. 29 game against the Heat in which San Antonio rested four of its top players. Larry McGuinness filed a class-action suit in Miami-Dade County, claiming Spurs coach Gregg Popovich "intentionally and surreptitiously" sent Tim Duncan, Danny Green, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili home without regard for the fans or the league. "It was like going to Morton's Steakhouse and paying $63 for porterhouse and they bring out cube steak," McGuinness said, according to ESPN.

NEW YORK - Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni's old team, the Knicks, used his run 'n gun style to beat his new one. Of course, many have used this tactic in beating the Lakers. New York ran away from L.A. in a 116-107 victory Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks (17-5) have the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Lakers (9-14) have lost four in a row. This one was seemingly over at halftime, with the Knicks leading, 68-49. The Knicks led by 41-27 after the first quarter.

JERUSALEM - They spent their journalistic careers analyzing, covering, and skewering Israel's politicians. Now, a striking number are vying to join their ranks. Four prominent Israeli TV anchors and news pundits are leaving their jobs and running for parliament in Israel's coming elections, reflecting the rising star power of media personalities for an electorate that has long had a penchant for retired army generals. The recent surge of journalists-turned-politicians reflects in part a desire for new blood in a political scene long dominated by the same faces.

A fledgling theater group in Chester County has landed a bit of big-time help from showbiz dynamo Tina Fey. The Upper Darby High grad turned TV and film star filmed a surprise unpaid pitch for Facetime Community Theatre, a Phoenixville nonprofit that offered its first program this summer - a theater camp for children. "Hi, I'm domestic television personality Tina Fey, coming to you from here, the set of 30 Rock in New York City," the former Saturday Night Live star begins.

Join the conversation after every Eagles game with the Daily News. Send reactions by email to bausmac@phillynews.com ; use the hashtag #eaglesaftermath on Twitter or visit the Daily News Facebook page and leave a comment. Here is a sampling of your comments after the Eagles' win over the Giants:   GRADE IT a W for Win, anything else is not acceptable. - Frank Hutton, commenting on Daily News' Facebook page   On a night to honor Weapon X, the Eagles played inspirational football.

If somebody told you Pete Townshend, Thomas Keller, Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith, David Byrne, Jose Garces, and Martin Amis were going to the same place within the next few months, you'd say that hot spot was hosting some great gatherings, where wit flowed like wine. If that same swinging location turned out to be the Free Library's Central Library on Vine Street you might be shocked - unless you're one of the audience members who fill the library's ticketed events and free readings with increasing frequency.

MEDINAH, Ill. - Rory McIlroy has gone from being a rookie in the Ryder Cup to a marked man at Medinah. McIlroy is the first European in nearly 20 years to go into the Ryder Cup as the No. 1 player in the world, although the star power of this 23-year-old from Northern Ireland is defined by much more than a computer ranking. He already has won two majors, with a record score in the U.S. Open last year at Congressional and a record margin at the PGA Championship last month at Kiawah Island.

The Emmys are over and the new TV season has begun in earnest. Release the Kraken! Fox and CBS are rolling out their new Tuesday series this week, adding enough variety to vault the evening past Thursday as the week's biggest smorgasbord. Ben & Kate (8:30 p.m. on Fox29) is a choice serving of screwball, although Fox seems to be confused about the ingredients in its own show. For months, the network has been pitching this as a battle between a control-freak single mom (Dakota Johnson)

File this one under: Things We Found Out Watching the Season Debut of The X Factor . Britney Spears is a Gorgon. Like the female monster of Greek mythology, she can apparently wreak devastation with just a look. You had only to witness that poor disconsolate guy backstage after being dismissed by the judges. He was sobbing uncontrollably, collapsing to his knees again and again and wailing: "Did you see Britney's eyes? Did you see Britney's eyes?" Oh, the horror! Shriveler of souls she may be. Unfortunately, Spears is not the electrifying personality Simon Cowell was hoping for when he ponied up $15 million to get the baby-diva on his also-sang reality show.