WHO'S NEWS: Comedian George Lopez, star of his own ABC TV series, has purchased a home on Lana'i. Could this be a retreat — a place to continue his wellness program following a kidney transplant (his wife Ann was the donor) more than a year ago and a likely retirement investment? ...

On a recent L.A. trip, Lance Tashima of Abbe Brewster Caffe had lunch with the cast of "Balls of Fury," a Universal film due in 2007. The cast includes localites Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Jason Scott Lee and Maggie Q, plus Christopher Walken, Aisha Tyler and that new Lana'i resident George Lopez. ...

Rip Taylor, who would like to buy an apartment here, plans to visit this fall — he wants to ride on a float (and toss confetti, of course) in this year's 60th anniversary Aloha Festivals parade. He just finished a cameo in "Jackass II" and is New York-bound to catch up on Broadway shows. ...

NAMES 'N' FACES: Back at The Kahala Hotel & Resort is Kit Samson. Sundays for the rest of the month, he will perform at the Veranda from 7:30 to 10 p.m. You may recall that Samson (with his Sound Advice) was a staple at the old Kahala Hilton for years before it became the Kahala Mandarin Oriental. Samson also has resumed his serenades at the Ala Moana hotel's Pakele lobby bar, previously called the Mahina Lounge. ...

By the way, Samson will again provide entertainment at The Advertiser's 'Ilima Awards, a benefit for Diamond Head Theatre, set for Oct. 9. He'll be joined by singers Shawna Masuda and Alfredo Romero; saxophonist, flutist and clarinetist Rocky Holmes; bassist Miles Jackson; and drummer Butch Nicholas. ...

Zenia Zambrano Moura, who played the Baker's Wife in DHT's just-pau "Into the Woods," had strep throat that was contagious, so missed Thursday night's performance. However, "Woods" spot director Nicole Sullivan was an 11th-hour sub, with just a few hours of rehearsals, and got hurrahs from the house, even if she carried her script for some scenes. Sullivan also did the Saturday to help "save" Moura's voice for Saturday night and the Sunday finale. Director John Rampage had thought of moving around his cast, but Sullivan pulled through. ...

DHT's Shooting Stars cast will stage "Into the Woods Jr.," next Monday and Tuesday — same show, kiddie troupers. ...

AROUND TOWN: Chris Rock, the actor and stand-up comic, lunched with his family at Kimo's in Lahaina. You know him from such CDs as "Bigger and Better" and "Never Scared" and such flicks as "Madagascar," "Madagascar 2," "The Longest Yard" and "Head of State." ...

Restaurateur Randy Schoch (Ruth's Chris Steak House, Romano's Macaroni Grill) and wife, Cheri, have returned to Scottsdale, Ariz. Their kids, Randall and Victoria, brought home new Hawaiian names — Kekoa and Iwalani, respectively. Entertainer Danny Kaleikini picked the names, and the kids were delighted to meet him at China Uemura's Longboard Surfing Classic. Kaleikini also was at Macaroni Grill recently to sing happy birthday to Mayor Mufi Hannemann. ...

John Noland will do morning drive on K-108 AM (1080 on the AM dial), beginning Aug. 21. It's the same station on which his mom, Teddi Medina, did a show in the 1970s. ...

Olympian Apolo Ohno, in town for the Victor Sports Awards, was a guest at the Perry & Price brunch show Saturday at John Dominis, spending a good half-hour after his appearance to sign autographs. The speed skater also went surfing for the first time — very different from being on the ice. ...

CALENDAR CUES: Az One, a Las Vegas group, will perform at 9 p.m. Aug. 16 through 19 at the Sheraton Waikiki's Esprit lounge. Former Honolulu band members Brad and Brian Tomas, Manny Sales Jr. and Jason Fernandez are in the group, which also includes singer Joi from Aura, with Ted Compehos and Don Macala rounding out the seven members. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.