Martin and Lewis: take two

Buffalo, N.Y. — The first time a Martin and a Lewis got together, they became the most famous comedy act of the post-World War II era, before breaking up in 1956.

Now the sons of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis are wondering whether lightning could strike twice.

Ricci Martin and Gary Lewis will perform together for the first time at Buffalo’s Italian Heritage Festival in a hastily arranged pairing that both say appealed to them right away.

“I just want to have fun with the whole thing,” said Lewis, on tour with his 1960s band the Playboys.

The two will sing a song together and talk about their fathers.

Not only will Saturday night’s performance be the first time the two perform together, it will be the first time they’ve ever met.

Knowles cherishes Vandross duet

New York — Luther Vandross is too ill to film a video for his new song, so Beyonce Knowles and other friends and admirers filled in for what turned out to be an all-star tribute to the ailing star.

Vandross, 52, is still recovering from an April stroke that left him hospitalized for two months. His album, “Dance With My Father,” was released last month, and it has sold almost 1 million copies.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Knowles talked about her appearance in the video and on Vandross’ album, on which the two sing the duet “The Closer I Get to You.”

Knowles, 21, said the duet showed she’d made it as a singer.

Osbourne pack loses member

New York — “The Osbournes” reality show has lost a member of the family.

Sharon Osbourne tells “Us Weekly” in its July 28 issue that her black Chihuahua, Lulu, was recently killed by coyotes that jumped a low fence at her home. “It’s so heartbreaking,” she says.

Osbourne tells the magazine the Osbournes’ Pomeranian, Pipi, was attacked earlier this month, but was saved by her husband, Ozzy.

“Ozzy heard the screams and fought and got Pip out of the coyote’s mouth,” she says.

“The Osbournes” will return for 20 new episodes on MTV early next year.

Murdoch a father again at 72

Sydney, Australia — The wife of Australian-born media magnate Rupert Murdoch has given birth to the couple’s second child.

Wendi Murdoch, 35, gave birth Thursday in New York to a girl, Chloe, Murdoch’s Australian newspapers reported. The couple’s first daughter, Grace Helen, was born in November 2001.

The 72-year-old Murdoch, who holds U.S. citizenship, is chairman and chief executive of News Corp. He has four adult children from two previous marriages.