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TomKat & McPhee?

June 02, 2006

Rumors are flying that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have asked Katherine McPhee to perform at their wedding.

So now the truth just might be out: Cruise and Holmes are Idol fans. Cruise is well-known as a Scientologist and Hollywood.com is reporting that Holmes met McPhee at a Scientology seminar. So, the planets have aligned such that a power balladeer will croon for the power couple.

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Sanaa Lathan Joins Nip/Tuck

Sanaa Lathan is set to join the cast for the next season of Nip/Tuck.

She won't be "The Carver" -- thank God that's over -- but she could be the new evil foil on the show. Lathan will come in as part of a husband/wife team that takes over the McNamara/Troy practice.

Entertainment Weekly is also reporting the impending arrival of Rosie O'Donnell for an arc on the show next season. Assuming it won't interfere with her new View duties....

The Office Revives Comic Relief

June 01, 2006

Well, maybe not. But is it just a coincidence that Comic Relief was just mentioned on “The Office” and now it’s back?

For those of you who missed the recent episode, Michael (Steve Carell) claimed he would be giving charitable winnings to Comic Relief and was informed by his staff that it no longer exists.

Now -- after an eight-year hiatus -- the charity has a live benefit on the slate for November 18 that will air on HBO, TBS and AOL.

Founder and President Bob Zmuda made the announcement during a Q&A luncheon with news anchor Brian Williams, another NBC connection. Spooky!

Taylor Hicks Signs Record Deal

That was fast!

Industry icon Clive Davis got young master Hicks to sign a deal just yesterday. And, striking while the iron is hot, plans to release recordings of Hicks's "Idol" songs in just two weeks.

On June 13, Hicks’s renditions of “Do I Make You Proud” and The Doobie Brothers's “Takin’ It to the Streets” will be available in-stores and online. So, for those of you burning up your TiVo rewatching Hicks sing these ditties (how many of you are there?), you can soon buy fresh copies.

Bill Maher in the Amazon

The long-time gabber will debut a new online-only show on Amazon.com called “Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher.” It will air live on Thursday nights beginning today through August 17.

First up for a chat with Maher: the Dixie Chicks, Ludacris and Dean Koontz.

The catch? Guests of the show must have goods available via Amazon. Which only leaves -- oh … all writers, musicians, movie stars, and makers of anything, anywhere -- for later shows.

Katie Battles Paula Abdul for Crying Championship

May 31, 2006

She last 42 minutes. On Katie Couric’s final day as co-host of the “Today” show, America’s sweetheart kept her eyes dry for more than a half hour. Then the floodgates opened.

Katie stopped crying as she revisited an inspiring school principal, a woman raped in Central Park, survivors of the Columbine school shooting, and the World Trade Center bombing families, as well as the parent of a boy who died of brain cancer.

But then it was back to morning television banter and tears. Co-host Matt Lauer said: “People talk about chemistry, but I’ve never been able to define it. From my end it came from genuine love and respect and I’m going to miss you.”

Next stop for Ms. C… the CBS Evening News.

New Order for “Law & Order” Cast

Silver fox Dennis Farina is leaving the greatest (or just most popular) whodunit on television, “Law & Order.” Coming on the heels of the death of actor Annie Parisse’s character in the season finale, this means relatively big changes for the series.

Farina replaced the beloved Jerry Orbach after he passed away in 2004. According to Farina’s peeps: “He’s leaving to pursue other offers and projects being developed by his production company.”

Mega-small-screen-stardom just wasn’t enough for him?

Ana Lucia is Magic

At this point, we’re sick of Michelle Rodriguez and her jailhouse adventures. But we have to mention that the ex-“Lost” castaway was released from her 60-day sentence after less than one day. The reason? Overcrowding in L.A. prisons.

“We are not happy about it, but that is the sad reality of our overcrowded jails,” said an L.A. County Jail spokesperson. A friend of Rodriguez told People magazine that “Ana Lucia” understood the severity of her situation and that this was not a “get out of jail free” experience.

No word about the thousands of other non-violent probation violators locked up. Any of them getting out free?

Sexy Drama Begins Again on Other BBC

May 30, 2006

While the ladies on Wisteria Lane take their summer break, the “Footballers Wive$” are taking over. Starting this Sunday, and then running for nine weeks, the British drama about young wealthy athletes and their trashy lives will unfold its fourth season.

“The show panders to the basic elements of any good drama,” says Brian Park, executive producer. “Lust, greed, avarice, comeuppance, envy: all the sins. No sin is knowingly undersold.”

Park credits “Dallas” and “Dynasty” for paving the way for “Footballer’s” success. But let’s face it. When Tanya (played by Zoe Lucker, left) screwed her husband to death last season, the imported show dug its fingernails into our subconscious even further. The shenanigans on the show have been called “amazing skullduggery.” We call it brilliant — and, luckily, not yet cancelled.

Horses for Peace

Americans may be currently trapped in a we-love-horses moment — thanks to Barbaro’s tragic injury. For original Trekkie William Shatner, equine love is nothing new.

Shatner has long been involved with Ahead With Horses, a California charity that works with physically and mentally disabled children through horseback riding. “We know that the use of a horse in their therapy takes them beyond their handicapped body,” Shatner says, “and into another area of health.”

Next up, the Middle East. Shatner and friends are raising $10 million to build 30 riding programs in Israel. He believes the program will help foster peace in the Middle East.

I Love Lucy…in Jail

Charlie’s sister may need her own 5-cent psychiatric help. The voice Lucy is now an animal rights activist — cool, right? We love Snoopy, too. But she and her husband took their pro-canine protesting a little too far.

Pamelyn Ferdin (Lucy) and her husband Jerry Vlasak were convicted of handing out leaflets outside a shelter owner’s front door -- at his home! The law says you need to stay 100 feet from a person’s residence while protesting.

Ferdin said the conviction represents “a real sad time in our history,” and then compared her conviction to anti-Communist witch-hunts of the 1950s. Alrighty then, here’s 5-cents. Now go get some help!

J. Lo "Moves" to TV

May 29, 2006

MTV has given the go ahead for Jennifer Lopez’s new reality show, “Moves.” The self-inspired show will follow six motivated dancers as they shake their booties for rent money. Jenny from the Block will make appearances, offering words of wisdom and sharing personal stories from her own path to success. Lopez is an executive producer on the eight-episode showcase, set to air in the fall. Let’s hope they’ve already filmed this “Fame”-meets-“Flashdance” reality, since rumors of baby-Lo are gaining traction.

Snapshots of the superstar baring grey roots and the unexplained cancellation of her summer tour all point to Lopez’s earlier promise that if she were to get pregnant, her health would trump her career. Advice to dancers: First impressions will count with Jenny, since that may be the only time you’ll get to see her!