Gene Simmons sighting likely a local impersonator

A man who, behind dark glasses, favors Gene Simmons about the kisser was recently taking pictures with some pretty girls at a Chisago County restaurant.

"I was wondering if you could confirm any Gene Simmons sightings in Minnesota" the weekend of May 21, Janet Brobjorg asked via e-mail. "Our daughter, Justina Brobjorg, was working at the Rustic Inn in Stacy. It sure looks like him!" Brobjorg sent along photos of Justina and a friend, identified by Janet only as "Corbin," with the Simmons lookalike.

This guy's skin and nose don't resemble those of the Kiss bassist and vocalist. And I'll bet if he took off those dark glasses, we'd instantly know it was not the star of A&E's "Family Jewels," which strangely enough is starting a new season June 14.

When I called the Rustic Inn, another employee told me they don't believe Simmons was there.

I'm guessing this was a Don Werman sighting, because the Twin Cities man, who did not return my phone call, seems to enjoy the faint resemblance he shares with Simmons with the help of a hairstyle embellished with dark glasses and a sign of the horns.

The Strib snapped a photo of Werman in August 2010 when the tribute band The Kiss Army was playing in the metro. That was a month after a July item I wrote about another "Simmons" sighting that I concluded was bogus because of info from various sources.

Alas, the guy at Rustic Inn might have led on Janet Brobjorg but he couldn't fool Goggles, which did not recognize the man in the photo Brobjorg e-mailed. However, Goggles had no problem identifying the man in dark glasses in a photo of the real Gene Simmons.

Broadway bound?

Word has it that two Broadway landlords are coming to check out "The Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour" when it stops at the State Theatre on June 18.

Obviously, they'll be checking out the viability of taking the show to Broadway, which sounds like a no-brainer because it's sold out in L.A., where more shows reportedly had to be added and has had huge advance sales in Chicago.

The tour is being headlined by comedian and radio talk show host Stephanie Miller, heard in the Twin Cities weekdays from 8-11 a.m. on AM950, along with her Wednesday radio cohost, comedian and actor Hal Sparks, and her Friday cohost, comedian and actor John Fugelsang.

Politics, politics

"Palin and Trump shared a pizza and claimed they weren't seeking publicity. Ha," said Fancy Ray, writing on Twitter.com. "If she wants to avoid attention, she should eat with Tim Pawlenty."

The self-proclaimed "Best Looking Man in Comedy" finally tweets a joke that merits a chuckle (from me) about ex-governors Pawlenty and Sarah Palin and the publicity tramp Donald Trump, whose HR woman never returns my call or e-mail trying to find out how many people of color there are in upper management of Trump corporations.

Pawlenty can never show it, but he has to be very annoyed with empty suits like Palin and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann sucking the air out of rooms.

If it's any consolation, Jerry Springer told CNN he thinks Republicans will eventually get serious and the campaign for the presidential nomination will come down to Pawlenty and Mitt Romney.

Marriage made for TV

Don't do it, Kim Kardashian!

Rico, a Rudy Luther Toyota employee, said you should not change your name, an established brand, and take the last name of your soon-to-be-husband, Kris Humphries.

Rico agrees with your mom, Kris Jenner, who reportedly told Popeater.com: "I don't think she should change her last name and be Kim Humphries. She needs to be Kim Kardashian because she's worked hard to get where she is."

Various websites now claim that Kim has reversed herself and will keep her well-known last name.

I was shocked when it looked as though Jenner might be losing Round 1 of this fight, as the boy from Chaska probably smiled beatifically on Kim.

In related news, Humphries fits right into the Kardashian and extended family music vacation video, as can be seen at www.startribune.com/a456. The Jezebel.com review: "Yes, [this] video is poorly edited, the syncing between the mouth and lyrics is entirely off, and it sure is goofy -- but if it wasn't, it would feel kind of voyeuristic, don't you think? And the Kardashians wouldn't want that."

On cue, when Perry sings "Kiss me, infect me with your love, and fill me with your poison," Kris and Kim smooch.