‘Shrek 2’ clobbers box office

Los Angeles — It’s a humongous “happily ever after” for “Shrek 2.”

The animated fairy tale satire collected an estimated $104.3 million at the weekend box office, the second-biggest three-day tally in movie history behind 2002’s “Spider-Man,” which took in $114.8 million.

“Shrek 2” also scored the biggest opening ever for an animated film, easily topping “Finding Nemo’s” $70.2 million.

Other estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.:

2. “Troy,” $23.8 million.

3. “Van Helsing,” $10.1 million.

4. “Mean Girls,” $6.9 million.

5. “Man on Fire,” $3.5 million.

P. Diddy to launch political show

New York — Fresh from his Broadway debut in “A Raisin in the Sun,” Sean “P. Diddy” Combs is heading back to MTV. Only this time, the hip-hop impresario plans to get political.

In a new show tentatively called “Project Change,” Combs hopes to grill President Bush and likely Democratic nominee John Kerry. Combs told the New York Post he would scout the streets of Harlem, Brooklyn and Detroit for “real people” to ask the questions.

“The people who usually ask the candidates questions are screened, and I’m going to use real people off the streets to get their questions out there,” Combs told the paper. “I’m going to make Kerry and Bush squirm.”

Combs, 34, said he hoped to encourage a record number of young people and minorities to vote.

Affordable seats

Fairfield, Conn.– Blues fans at a small Connecticut club were treated to a surprise performance by Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards.

The guitarist jumped on stage at The BoxCar on Friday night for some off-the-cuff music with 89-year-old David Honeyboy Edwards and Rocky Lawrence.

“That’s right, this is my neighborhood, too. At least part of the time,” Richards, who owns a home in nearby Weston, told the crowd.

Richards signed a Telecaster guitar for the bar’s owner, Kevin Kiekel. It is displayed in a case behind the bar.

“Half of my dream has been fulfilled already,” Kiekel said. “Now I want to get Eric (Clapton) in here.”