Dopes on bikes 

“Tour De Pharmacy,” a mockumentary, will premiere on HBO at 10 p.m. Saturday, July 8.  Here’s the official description: “In 1982, the sport’s most venerable, time-honored race was marred by the doping of virtually all of its competitors. Riddled with nefarious characters, that year’s competition was a hornet’s nest of moral depravity. Through the perspective of five riders, “Tour de Pharmacy” gives an inside look into the grim realities of the darkest event in a sport notoriously tainted by controversy.”

 ANDY SAMBERG, 38, and Tony winner DAVEED DIGGS, 35 (“Hamilton’”),  play two of the five riders. Those playing “documentary” interview subjects include JEFF GOLDLUM, 64, MAYA RUDOLPH, 44, and director J.J. ABRAMS, 50 (“Star Trek”). I’m not surprised that disgraced cyclist Lance “I did dope” Armstrong makes a cameo appearance. He’s proven he’ll do anything for money and camera face time.

Some Natalie news 

NATALIE PORTMAN, 36, attended when her husband’s company, the L.A. Dance Project, performed in a New York City theater from June 14-25. Also there opening night was DARREN ARONOFSKY, 48, who directed Portman in the ballet film “Black Swan” (2010). (She won the best actress Oscar for “Black Swan”). The program featured works choreographed by BENJAMIN MILLIPIED, 40, Portman’s husband, and by others.  Well-reviewed was the dance “Yag,” by Israeli choreographer OHAD NAHARAIN, 65. He’s the director of the famous Batsheva Dance Company of Israel.

Journalists with movie ties get big stories

Virtually everyone has noticed that the Washington Post has broken an incredible number of huge stories, based on great investigative journalism, since President Donald Trump took office. The New York Times is a close second. Every other media outlet is a far-distant also-ran. MARTY BARON, 62, has been the Post’s managing editor since 2014 and a lot of credit has to go to him and Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s head. In 2015, “Spotlight,” won the best picture Oscar. It recounted how Baron, then the executive editor of the Boston Globe, guided its investigative team as they uncovered the abusive priest scandal in Boston-area Catholic churches. Clearly, Baron still has the ability to coax the best of out his staff. He’s aided by the millions that Bezos has pumped into the Post and Bezos’s hands-off policy about the Post’s reporting and editorial policy. Bezos has also installed a state-of-the-art digital ad system that has greatly raised revenues. Other papers are buying it.

BUZZ BISSINGER, 62, did the blockbuster interview with tennis star Serena Williams that’s in the August issue of Vanity Fair.  Williams has never opened up so much about her pregnancy, or her life, period (photos by ANNIE LEIBOVITZ, 67). Bissinger is still best known for his 1990 book, “Friday Night Lights.” It documents the 1998 season of a high school team in Texas. It sold 2 million copies and spawned a hit movie (2004) and a TV series (2006-11) of the same name.

Cameron can come to California 

On June 21, a Manhattan federal judge approved the request of Cameron Douglas, 38, to leave the New York area and travel to California to visit his grandfather, KIRK DOUGLAS, 100. Cameron’s long history of drug abuse led to a six-year stay in prison that ended last August when he was paroled. He was almost sent back to jail in April when he tested positive for marijuana. The New York Post reports that Kirk often talks to his grandson on the phone and inquiries when he will come out and see him. Outside the court, Cameron thanked the judge profusely and said that the trip had nothing to do with Kirk’s health. “He is healthy,” Cameron said.

Email columnist Nate Bloom at [email protected].