Ally McBeal News Archive Part 2

Sightings

Quite the social butterflies, Dancing with the Stars super-couple Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy celebrated Nobu West Hollywood's one-year anniversary at a star-studded bash inside the restaurant. The dancing pros showed up early for dinner and drinks, and worked the room. Meanwhile, Nicky Hilton stuck by boyfriend David Katzenberg, and Christina Ricci and beau Owen Benjamin shared their dinner side-by-side at a table in the corner of the dining room.

Unlike corporate character, de Rossi's better off acting

If forced to climb the corporate ladder, Portia de Rossi probably would fall on her face.

"I went to law school for a year thinking I was going to do that for a living before I went to acting. To think that that could have been my life is pretty shocking to me," says de Rossi, 36. "You're just trying to get ahead and be successful, but at the same time, if you're working for a company like this, it's so immoral. It doesn't care about people, it doesn't care about you, but you're striving to achieve this great career."

The company she's talking about is the fictional Veridian Dynamics, which employs de Rossi's character on the new ABC series Better Off Ted. In the office comedy, premiering Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET/PT), de Rossi's ruthless, efficient Veronica oversees the titular Ted, who heads research and development.

"She really doesn't care about how other people feel or how they interpret what she's saying," de Rossi says. "That's what is so fun for me, because I'm always worried about how I'm coming off or if someone will be offended by something I've said."

Veronica's job is her life. As for de Rossi, who moved from her native Australia to England and then to Los Angeles in her 20s, "I'd rank my career as a good, healthy third of my life. It's important, and without this third, I wouldn't feel whole. But it's not important for me to be engaged in it 12 months of the year.

"I need to find my projects and I need to feel like I'm being challenged and I need to feel creative. But when this is over, I'll be just as happy to ride my horses and paint."

De Rossi does plenty of that at home with her wife, syndicated talk-show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres. The two live with a black poodle named Mabel and a mutt named Wolf, plus felines.

"It's our dream that we'll end up in a sweet country town on a farm. I love horses and riding and love animals, and Ellen loves animals. It would be lovely for us," de Rossi says. "It's what we're going to do when we're not working anymore."

DeGeneres and de Rossi tied the knot in a small wedding at their L.A. home in August. Both wore Zac Posen, exchanged Neil Lane rings and ate vegan red velvet cake.

De Rossi, who played legal eagle Nell Porter on Ally McBeal and most recently perished on the operating table on FX's plastic surgery drama Nip/Tuck, gamely answers questions about her wife and doesn't begrudge any public interest in their relationship.

"It's pretty great that we're a gay couple and people want us to be happy and do well and be successful. That means a lot. It's like with the wedding, when we were thinking of giving photos to a magazine. We didn't want to sell them — we'd never do that. But we thought we should give them because it's a pretty significant thing to have a gay wedding. It was the happiest day of our lives, and we wanted people to see that."

One thing people won't be seeing anytime soon? A DeGeneres/de Rossi baby, online speculation notwithstanding.

"It's the same thing every single year — that I'm trying to get pregnant. And I'm not," de Rossi says. "Maybe one day I'll want to have kids, but it's not something we've talked about recently."

She does hope to add one thing to her life: the long-gestating Arrested Development movie, based on the Fox series that aired from 2003 to 2006. De Rossi played terminally self-involved mom and wife Lindsay Bluth Fünke.

"It really is going to happen. We haven't locked down any dates yet and I haven't seen a script yet, but I'm definitely on board and all the cast really want to do it."

Hayden Panettiere denies wanting Milo Ventimiglia fired from 'Heroes'

Hayden Panettiere isn't too pleased about reports that there's tension on the set of "Heroes" with her ex Milo Ventimiglia.

"Milo and I are very close," the 19-year-old insists to OK! magazine. "We have enjoyed and continue to enjoy working together."

Earlier, the celeb rag reported that Panettiere refused to share the set with Ventimiglia, to the point of trying to get him kicked off the show.

Although the indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet is an icon for the NBC drama, it's a bit of stretch to think that one person in a strong ensemble cast has the power to change major storylines for such petty, unprofessional reasons.

"Heroes" creator Tim Kring confirms that personal reasons do not sway him or the writing staff.

"The final decision about which characters live and die on 'Heroes' rests with me," he says. "I've made no announcement yet as to who will return and who won't."

Ventimiglia and Panettiere had been dating publicly since late 2007 and split up in February this year.

Since the split, the actress has been linked to a string of men including rocker Anthony Kiedis, 46, her ex Stephen Colletti, 23, "300" actor Gerard Butler, 39, and actor/singer Jesse McCartney, 21.

It's a Baby Boy for Anne Heche!

Anne Heche is letting her classical training show.

The actress has given birth to a son, her second, who joins older brother Homer with a name borrowed from ancient Greece. Atlas Heche Tupper was born over the weekend and weighed 6 lbs., 12 oz., the actress's rep tells PEOPLE.

"They are ecstatic," the rep says of the new parents.

Heche and the boy's father, actor James Tupper, met on the set of ABC's Men in Trees and began dating in 2007. They announced they were expecting in December last year.

Heche's other son, Homer, 7, is from her marriage to Coley Laffoon, which officially ended Wednesday.

Heche and Tupper recently picked up a few baby boy items at the Boom Boom Room's Children's Gifting Wonderland in Los Angeles, including a pair of Robeez Guitar leather booties and a blue MiGi baby blanket.

"Days" Star Dates the Cheerleader

Despite having broken up with co-star Milo Ventimiglia, it looks like "Heroes" cheerleader Hayden Panettiere is keeping things in the greater NBC family. On Monday, Hayden was photographed de-planing at LAX airport with "Days of our Lives" star Darin Brooks.

Darin, who plays bartender/racecar driver/all-around hottie Max Brady on "Days," joined Hayden in Hawaii for the grand re-opening of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Hayden, 19, broke up with 31-year-old Milo Ventimiglia back in February. Darin's only 24, so it looks like Hayden's getting closer and closer to dating someone her own age.

Also, how's this for irony; Hayden and Milo's relationship was slightly odd considering he played her uncle on "Heroes." Meanwhile, Darin's character Max is currently dating his (adoptive) niece Chelsea on "Days." We could live without this becoming a trend; just observing.

Hayden Gets Snappy

SAUCY "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere wasn't just hot at a Hawaiian fund- raiser over the weekend, she was hot-tempered. Us Weekly reports that while the 19-year-old starlet walked the red carpet at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation event in Honolulu, she yelled at photographers, "Back up!" and, "Don't you ever touch me!" She was then overheard screaming at the throngs of reporters and paparazzi, "You all make my life miserable!"

Anne Heche Officially Single

Anne Heche has already exercised the privileges of singledom, but now she's free to couple up again.

A judge has signed off on her divorce from Coley Laffoon, making both the pregnant actress and her ex marriage material once again.

Per the official dissolution of marriage filed March 4 in Los Angeles Superior Court, the duo will continue to share legal custody of their 7-year-old son Homer. The youngster will continue to attend school and live primarily in Los Angeles (View the lawsuit).

Heche will continue to pay Laffoon $3,700 a month in child support, as the once embattled duo agreed upon last June.

But though the majority of Heche and Laffoon's issues had been swept under the rug by last summer, it was still an opportune time to turn the page (and file the papers).

The erstwhile Men in Trees star is expecting her first child with boyfriend and former costar James Tupper. They were outed as a couple not long after Laffoon filed for divorce two years ago.

Courtney Thorne-Smith: No Plans for Melrose Place Visit

Will the new Melrose Place (Ashlee Simpson-Wentz included, natch) feature some old-timers?

While Heather Locklear may be having conversations with producers to return as witch-in-heels Amanda Woodward, it's unclear who else may or may not have already been approached for a resurrection.

"I think it's really for the younger generation," Courtney Thorne-Smith, who played Allison Parker on MP, told us yesterday at the John Varvatos seventh annual Stuart House benefit in West Hollywood. "I don't think there's much place for us old folks."

But that doesn't mean Thorne-Smith wouldn't consider an offer if one came through.

"It's not something I'm looking for, but I never say never to anything," she said.

If nothing else, Thorne-Smith would love a reunion show. "I run into [former costars], but we haven't got together or anything," she said. "I really wish we would, though, because that would be so much fun. Years ago, Fox did a reunion show with 90210. They should really do that for Melrose…But we all have kids now, so we'd have to do it at Chuck E. Cheese or something."

In the lastest MP casting news, the CW confirmed this morning that Ashlee Simpson-Wentz has signed on to play sexy fresh-off-the-bus Violet Foster.

Second Career

LUCY Liu is multitalented. The "Charlie's Angels" star is now an artist. Liu, under the pseudonym Yu Ling, painted a large acrylic portrait on linen of two people kissing. The work is being sold by the Eli Klein Fine Art Gallery at the Scope art fair here for a whopping $28,000. So far, no takers, but we're sure it won't last long.

Sightings

Hayden Panettiere, showing off a new do – a sleek blonde bob – at West Hollywood's Apple Lounge. And the single starlet was quite the hot ticket, with potential suitors approaching the Heroes actress and her three girlfriends. "She was swarmed by guys all night," says an onlooker. "She loved the attention." Before their big night out, Panettiere and her crew stopped for dinner on the back patio at Koi, drinking soda and munching on crispy rice and baked crab hand rolls.

We Hear...

THAT Jane Krakowski, Kim Raver and Kelly Rutherford will join Modern Bride tomorrow night at Hammerstein Ballroom to support Project Bridesmaids, which collects bridesmaid gowns for high school girls in need of prom dresses

Write On! Bon Jovi book coming out in the fall

Bon Jovi is ready to spill. The multiplatinum rockers are marking their 25th anniversary with "Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful," an "insider portrait" that includes previously unpublished photographs and text by the band members.

"The book offers unprecedented insights into the members' lives on stage, on the road, and at home, as well as intimate reflections on the highs and lows of their 25 years together," according to a statement issued Tuesday by publisher HarperCollins.

The book comes out next fall, when a documentary of the same name is released.

Bon Jovi's many hits include "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (3/22)

"Missing" - Desperate to get through to Tommy before his legal troubles worsen, Nora reaches out for help to the person whom he hurt most deeply. Meanwhile, Ryan Lafferty gets a bit too close to Rebecca for Justin's comfort, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MARCH 22 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Ken Olin as David Caplan, Luke Grimes as Ryan Lafferty, Matt Lescher as Alec, Luc Charbonnier as Ben, Eric Christian Olsen as Kyle DeWitt, Will McCormack as Ethan Tavis, Megan Follows as Maggie Stephens, Joe O'Connor as Harvey Childs, Beth Kennedy as Dr. Flackett and Pamela Shaddock as the board member.

"Missing" was written by Jason Wilborn and Nancy Won and directed by Michael Schultz.

Bon Jovi, Roger Cook Lead Songwriter Inductees

"Who Says You Can’t Go Home" authors Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora and British native Roger Cook, who’s written hits for Don Williams and George Strait, are among the 2009 inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The ceremony is slated for June 18 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York, where the new additions join such previous inductees as Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Cole Porter, Bob Dylan and Burt Bacharach. While Bon Jovi is primarily a rock band, Jon and Richie made their way to No. 1 on the country charts when Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles joined them for a duet on "Who Says You Can’t Go Home." Roger Cook, a British-born composer now living in Nashville, had already established himself as a successful pop writer before he authored Don Williams’ "I Believe In You" and George’s "One Night At A Time." He’ll be inducted alongside his former writing partner, Roger Greenaway. The two Rogers co-wrote Crystal Gayle’s "Livin’ In These Troubled Times" as well as the Hollies’ "Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)," White Plains’ "My Baby Loves Lovin’" and Carol Douglas’ "Doctor’s Orders." Roger Greenaway also wrote Tom Jones’ only No. 1 county hit, "Say You’ll Stay Until Tomorrow."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (3/15)

"Spring Broken" - Kevin and Justin take Tommy on a getaway to help him make a decision about his legal future. Meanwhile, Kitty and Evan retreat to Nora's to get acquainted with her new half brother, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MARCH 15 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Luke Grimes as Ryan Lafferty, Corey Mendell Parker as Adam, Patricia Martinez as the spring break girl, Deprise Brescia as the shot babe, Adrian Qui–onez as the shot stud, Desiree Hall as Tessa, Leslie Karpman as Hanna, Camilla Greenberg as Sabrina and Todd Julian as Van.

"Spring Broken" was written by Sherri Cooper-Landsman and Brian Studler and directed by Coad.

Who's Smooching Hayden Now?

It's official. The Hayden and Milo rumors are out of control.

After multiple outlets reported the Heroes couple broke up because of their age difference (she's 19 and he's 31), the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting the two called it quits because of a pregnancy scare.

And yet, when we reached out to our own sources who work on the show, one of them told us, "They're still together." And a second insider, who was on set when they shot a scene together recently, insists, "They seemed very happy together. Actually, there was never a time when I saw them unhappy."

So what's the real story? And who's Hayden kissing now?

According to a source close to the couple, "Milo and Hayden are an intensely private couple, so everything out there in the press is speculation and hearsay. Only they know what's really going on. They never acted 'together' on set, and they still aren't acting 'together' now."

So that settles that, right? Of course not. And the rumors will keep on keeping on.

Still, as Heroes fans, we're still much more intrigued by the new hottie who's playing tonsil hockey with Hayden on the show...Aquaboy!

Last week, Clairebear (Hayden) put her own life in danger to save comic-book geek/sexy surfer boy Alex (Aquaboy), played by former Everwood hottie Justin Baldoni. We just checked in with Baldoni himself, who dished that he and Hayden will share a steamy underwater kiss in the March 2 episode, "Exposed."

"I can breathe underwater," Baldoni explains. "It's every guy's fantasy to have a superpower, and I'm so happy I got this part."

Breathing underwater is every guy's fantasy? Hello, you're making out with Hayden Panettiere!

Last week, there did seem to be a little Bonnie and Clyde-like energy. They weren't robbing banks, but they were escaping from the Man, and Baldoni told us this crisis is going to bring the two together. "There was definitely some on-screen chemistry," he said. "She's the best actress I've ever worked with, and we really connected."

Hmmm...Could there be a real-life love connection that led to the rumors of Hayden and Milo's breakup? No way. Baldoni told us he has a longtime girlfriend. So you can officially cross that theory off the list.

As for how long Fishface (Adam) will be sticking around, Baldoni said that's up to you. "We'll see what the fans think, but it's definitely a show that I would love to be a part of." So if you're digging the new Aquaman, hit the comments to keep him around. (And if you really can't resist, we suppose you can share your theories on Milo and Hayden, too.)

Hayden Panettiere & Milo Ventimiglia Split

Heroes stars Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere have ended their relationship, PEOPLE has learned.

"They lead different lifestyles. He's 31, she's 19. She still has growing up to do and he's very low-key," a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE. "The relationship never seemed like it had legs."

The couple, who spent part of 2007 trying to hide their relationship, is still on amicable terms, another source says.

Reps for both actors would not comment.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (3/8)

"Taking Sides" -- Even in the wake of a life threatening medical crisis and the excitement surrounding the birth of his son, Robert remains steadfast in his drive to run for governor, despite the damage that it may do to his marriage. Meanwhile, Saul and Sarah go to extremes to hide Tommy's legal troubles from Nora, and Ryan gets a bit too close too fast for anyone's good, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MARCH 8 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Ken Olin as David Caplan, Luke Grimes as Ryan Lafferty, Paul Keeley as James Friedman, Traber Burns as Judge Arthur Gray, Caroline Rich as the court clerk, Marin Hinkle as Courtney McCallister, Max Burkholder as Jack McCallister, Justine Dorsey as Sophie McCallister and Sarah Lilly as the D.A.

"Taking Sides" was written by Michael Foley and Beth Schwartz and directed by Michael Morris.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (3/1, Repeats 3/7)

"Troubled Waters," Parts 1 & 2 - In a special two-hour television event, the Walker family experiences the thrill of a new life born and the desperation and terror of loss when one of their own has a life-threatening crisis. Meanwhile, Rebecca turns to her father (guest starring Ken Olin) for help when she discovers some information that could destroy the family business and send one of the Walkers to prison, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MARCH 1 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Ken Olin as David Caplan, Luke Grimes as Ryan Lafferty, Sonja Sohn as Trish Evans, Michanne Quinney as the secretary, Maia Danziger as the ER nurse, Kristina Lear as Dr. Pat Michaels, Tyrees Allen as Dr. John Massey and Amol Shah as paramedic.

"Troubled Waters," Parts 1 & 2 were written by Molly Newman and David Marshall Grant and directed by Ken Olin.

Bon Jovi returns to New Orleans for 2009 Jazz Fest

Bon Jovi will rock the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for the first time this year, returning to Louisiana after donating $1 million in 2005 to build homes for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

"I'm thrilled," Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis said Thursday, calling the group "one of the greatest American rock bands of all time."

In the wake of Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast in August 2005, Bon Jovi gave $1 million to help build 28 homes for low-income families displaced by the storm.

The homes were built in Houma, a coastal community roughly 50 miles southwest of New Orleans, through Habitat for Humanity and Oprah's Angel Network.

"That really says something about this group's sense of humanity and responsibility," Davis said. "It says that they're unique and extraordinary, that they have a spirit and a soul ... to be that generous."

Bon Jovi formed in the early 1980s with lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres. The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

The group will join Dr. John, Kings of Ten, The O'Jays, Cowboy Mouth and more than a dozen other acts performing on May 2. In all, Jazz Fest spans seven days over two weekends — April 24 to 26 and April 30 to May 3.

Others slated to perform at the festival's 40th anniversary are Wynton Marsalis, Joe Cocker, Henry Butler and Trombone Shorty. They will entertain audiences on different stages April 24, the festival's opening day. Other first weekend acts include Irma Thomas, James Taylor, Wilco, Erykah Badu, Pete Seeger and Etta James.

Performing the second weekend are Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris, Sugarland, Tony Bennett, Bonnie Raitt, Allen Toussaint and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.

Like last year, the Neville Brothers will be the festival's closing act on May 3.

'Master Mind' Contemplates Downey Jr., Fey, Stiller

Who will be the "Master Mind"?

Robert Downey Jr., Tina Fey and Ben Stiller are in talks to lend their voices to DreamWorks Animation's superpowered movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The story would revolve around a supervillain who searches for the meaning of life after accidentally killing his do-gooder opponent. No word on which characters the three would voice.

"Master Mind" has a tentative November 2010 release date.

Downey Jr. and Stiller, both 43, starred together in 2008's " Tropic Thunder." Fey, 38, is the star of television's "30 Rock."

Ellen & Portia's Biggest Marital Problem: Half-Finished Drinks

Though Ellen DeGeneres is at a good place in her life, the TV host still dreams of greener pastures, saying in one of those humorous deadpan non-sequiturs of hers, "I like peace and I like houses."

Now, if she can just get her wife, Portia de Rossi, to clean up after her drinks.

Speaking to Ladies' Home Journal for its March issue on the day after Barack Obama was elected – and California voters put a knife into the heart of the state's same-sex marriage law – DeGeneres, 51, said that she felt her most beautiful on "the day I got married" to de Rossi in August 2008.

In fact, the recollection of that day (and the ramifications of California's Proposition 8) sent DeGeneres into tears – and running from the room.

When she returned, she said, "It's just very emotional. You find the person you love, you think you've come this far … and anyway, I never thought I'd have a wedding, and I did, and it meant more than I imagined."

Their One Big Issue

While the magazine compares the looks exchanged by de Rossi and DeGeneres as similar to those shared by Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, Michelle and Barack Obama – and notes that the two really haven't been married long enough to develop any major complaints about one another – it does get de Rossi to reveal their biggest domestic squabble.

"I do leave half-finished beverages everywhere," says the actress, 36, who is also developing a line of vegan, non-leather shoes. "I usually have three cups of tea going at once. I'm Australian. That's just what we do."

Living in America won't change that, either. Says de Rossi: "I was going to thank her in our vows, for picking up all the glasses – and say that she'd have to do that for the rest of her life. She took that on. But she's very good about it."

Apparently this responsibility has caused no schism. On display in the art studio inside the couple's house is a canvas that has been painted, and then carved, with the message from DeGeneres to de Rossi: "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU."

Downey digs Oscar adulation, but also knows it's fleeting

Robert Downey Jr. is grooving on the great irony of being nominated for a supporting Oscar as Tropic Thunder's Kirk Lazarus, a pretentious Aussie actor who is so Method that he dyes his skin to play a black character.

"It's so funny to me that the role is a guy who is an Oscar-seeking moron. His whole motivation is Oscars," he says during a shooting break. He's starring in the first major big-screen version of Sherlock Holmes in more than 20 years, which moved from the streets of London to Brooklyn last month and wraps this week.

He then adds, "Irony is synonymous with pretty much everything that is going on."

If he is talking about his career, that is certainly true. At 43, Downey has gone from being an oft-brilliant yet erratic talent who bounced from rehab center to jail cell to being one of the most bankable and popular male stars around.

That he has accomplished this feat not in low-budget, high-art vehicles but in a blockbuster like Iron Man, last year's No. 2 grosser at $318 million, and in the raucously profane comedy Thunder, is fairly unprecedented.

"What I am doing is really quality films," he says. "The trend is turning back to commercial films that are actually, more often than not, where the quality happens."

That's what he is hoping for with his still-brainy yet brawnier re-imagining of England's famous Victorian sleuth, with Jude Law as a dashing Watson and Rachel McAdams as the deceptive Irene Adler. The PG-13 adventure opens this year during the competitive month of November.

"I was the picking-at-the-leftovers kid for the first 221/2 years of my career, and it changed because life is like that," he says of his good fortune after five years or so of sobriety. "Sooner or later, once you pull the one-armed bandit enough, you are going to get some gold bars."

Downey is clearly pleased that his efforts have led to his second Academy Award attempt after a lead nomination for 1992's Chaplin.

He's told that the only other actor to be in the running while in blackface for an entire performance — or nearly, as in Downey's case — was Laurence Olivier in 1965.

"Ohhh," he says as the fact dawns on him. "For Othello."

The late Heath Ledger is all but guaranteed to take the gold for his Joker in The Dark Knight. But if the impossible happens, it would be hard to be the actor who took it away.

"It's weird, because what you have is real life, and then you have the movies," Downey says. "When they intersect, it becomes disquieting that it also becomes something to discuss. But that's part of the deal. Anything that happens privately is public."

Couple Watch

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, throwing a joint birthday party – the talk show host turned 51 on Jan. 26, and de Rossi turned 36 on Jan. 31 – at their Beverly Hills house. Since it was DeGeneres's party, she wanted everyone to dance, and Samantha Ronson (who flew back from Florida for the occasion) spun tunes as guests like Jennifer Aniston mingled in the backyard. A party guest tells us: "It's a very special party to them." Earlier in the week, the couple struck out to celebrate DeGeneres's birthday at the Chateau Marmont.

New Jersey to Jon Bon: You give us a good name

A note from New Jersey to Jon Bon Jovi: You may have been snubbed by the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, but you're still wanted in the Garden State.

Bon Jovi and 12 others — including NBA star Shaquille O'Neal and civil rights activist Paul Robeson — were named to the New Jersey Hall of Fame on Monday. The honor is meant to highlight positive contributions made to a state often stereotyped as a land of corrupt politicians, belching refineries and gangsters.

"This group of hall of famers embodies the spirit of New Jersey, a combination of drive, determination and creativity that has led them to greatness," Gov. Jon Corzine said in a statement.

The winners were chosen by New Jersey residents, who had months to pick their favorites online, and by the hall's voting academy, made up of 100 state organizations. All inductees have deep ties to the the state.

Other inductees to the hall's second class include funnymen Bud Abbott and Lou Costello; astronomer Carl Sagan; Yankee shortstop Phil Rizzuto; novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald; poet Walt Whitman; comedian Jerry Lewis; tennis star Althea Gibson; inventor Guglielmo Marconi; and writer William Carlos Williams.

Failing to make the cut this year were actor Jack Nicolson, President Woodrow Wilson, musician Count Basie and novelist Philip Roth.

Bon Jovi, a New Jersey native, is building affordable housing in Newark and other cities through his charitable foundation. Robeson, a celebrated scholar, athlete and performer, was among the first African-American students at Rutgers University.

"The New Jersey hall should serve as a reminder that the people of New Jersey strive for excellence and engage in myriad productive and rewarding activities that help society and give back to mankind," Corzine said.

Asked about his induction to the hall, O'Neal, a Newark native who plays for the Phoenix Suns, called the award a "great and humbling honor."

"I hope that through this wonderful museum, my accomplishments both in the NBA and in the classroom can be an inspiration to others," he said.

For Bon Jovi, the award could be especially sweet. Despite having sold millions of records in a career spanning more than 25 years, he was snubbed by the Rock Hall by failing to gain a nomination last year, his first year of eligibility.

The induction ceremony will be held in May at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

Inductees last year included Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Albert Einstein, Toni Morrison and Yogi Berra.

The hall has a virtual home but no permanent physical location. Plans are in the works for two satellite museums and a mobile museum that will travel around the state.

The hall is supported by private funds but operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.

Heart of Iron

"IRON Man" likes the iron heart. Robert Downey Jr. was having brunch at the Cub Room in SoHo last week when, in front of the restaurant lounge, he saw the large iron sculpture of a twisted heart by David Hacker. When told the artist's inspiration was a line from T.S. Eliot's poetry, Downey, who's in town shooting the lead role in "Sherlock Holmes," said, "Well, that gives new meaning to the word 'twisted.' "

Ellen & Portia Celebrate B-Days With Joint Bash

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi know how to double their fun!

The couple celebrated their birthdays with a joint bash at their Beverly Hills house Saturday, PEOPLE has learned.

DeGeneres turned 51 on Jan. 26. Five days later on Jan. 31, de Rossi celebrated her 36th birthday.

The party kicked off around 8 p.m., with many guests partying in the backyard, where deejay Samantha Ronson, who brought along girlfriend Lindsay Lohan, spun her own mix for the birthday pair.

According to a partygoer, "This is their first big party together as a married couple. [Ellen] and Portia seem very excited to have all their friends here."

Those pals included Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox Arquette and husband David Arquette, Drew Barrymore, Ben Stiller and wife Christine Taylor and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Guest were served a vegan dinner. Mindy Weiss, who also planned DeGeneres and de Rossi's wedding, coordinated the party.

Earlier in the week, the happy couple celebrated DeGeneres's 51st birthday at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood.

Laugh, Please!

WINNING a SAG award is supposed to be a good thing. But "30 Rock" star Jane Krakowski didn't feel that way last weekend after accepting the Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series honor on behalf of the cast. According to a source, "Jane was pouting and miserable the entire night . . . Nobody really laughed when she gave her speech and it really upset her." We heard that Tina Fey wrote the monologue, but Krakowski didn't blame her - "She was mad at herself, not Tina," said our tipster.

Philadelphia Soul ex-manager sues Bon Jovi, others

The former sales manager for the Philadelphia Soul arena football team is suing club owner Jon Bon Jovi and his partners for nearly $125,000 he says he's owed.

Joseph Krause of Jenkintown alleges that rock singer Bon Jovi and other team officials told employees they would receive two weeks of severance pay. The Arena Football League is canceling the 2009 season as it creates a better business model for tough economic times.

Krause says he is owed commissions of more than $83,000 for the 2008 season and more than $41,000 for the canceled 2009 season.

Interim general manager Paul Korzilius, when reached by KYW-AM, declined to comment because of the pending lawsuit.

Bon Jovi and the others named in the suit didn't respond to requests for comment.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (2/15)

"Lost and Found" - Nora decides it's time that she connect in-person with Ryan, Rebecca disappears to find her father in New York, and Tommy's plan to get regain control over Ojai Foods hits a major road block, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Ken Olin as David Caplan, Luke Grimes as Ryan Lafferty, Andrea Grano as Barbara Whitaker, Jim Gleason as Walter Geary, Patty Yu as the female barrista, Subhash Mandal as the cab driver and Carole Gutierrez as the B&B owner.

"Lost and Found" was written by Michael Foley and Jennifer Levin and directed by David Paymer.

SAGs Red Carpet Quotes: They Said That?

"I've used a little Silly Putty today. It works wonders."-30 Rock's Jane Krakowski, on how she plans to keep her breasts from upstaging her dress

Brad Pitt Doesn't Google Himself...So Who Does?

Newsweek gathered up some nominees for their 13th annual Oscar roundtable. The group therapy session included Best Actor nominees Brad Pitt, Frank Langella, Mickey Rourke, Best Supporting Actor nom Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, who is up for Best Actress, and Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins from Happy-Go-Lucky, who was just there to chill.

One of our favorite questions posed to the actors: “Do any of you guys ever Google yourself?”

Brad Pitt immediately replied, “Dear God. No. Never. First of all, I don't really know how to operate a computer.” We’re inclined to believe him—it’s probably impossible to get any computer time with Maddox on there Googling weapons all the time.

Almost everyone else—Hathaway, Hawkins, Langella—also chimed in with their own no ways. Rourke said nothing. But leave it to RDJ to fess up to the truth:

“Oh, I love all that s--t, personally. Sorry. I love just it. Because it's a hoot. Some people overstate their support, like they know you. Other people are busy doing something else and just want to go on this chat site and say some despicable character assassination, which I honestly think they kind of nailed it. I do have that shortcoming. It's really fun.”

This inspired Anne to stop pretending she was above a little self-Googling and admit:

"OK, I have a confession. I lied before when you asked if I Googled myself. I do. I'm embarrassed by it because I know how terrible it is...For a while, it cracked me up. I found a ton of humor in it. But recently it's changed. There's a big difference now where information is being reported as news. And I'm very uncomfortable with that. And what you were saying, Brad—and God knows you deal with it worse than anyone—the idea that you blink your eyes and it's all over the Internet? It's a strange thing to be part of."

From there, the discussion went on to the publicity machine that Hollywood has become and how annoying it is to deal with.

Hayden Panettiere's Father Pleads No Contest to Beating Wife

Hayden Panettiere's father pleaded no contest Thursday to misdemeanor battery for allegedly hitting his wife, and was sentenced to two years probation.

Alan Lee Panettiere, 49, also was ordered by the Beverly Hills Superior Court judge to complete 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling and pay $400 in fines.

He was arrested in August at the family's West Hollywood home for investigation of striking the actress's mother, Lesley Vogel, in the face during an argument following a benefit event hosted by Hayden.

Shortly after he was released on bail, Alan Panettiere told Extra the incident was a "misunderstanding" and that "nothing actually happened." And Hayden, 19, said, "It was blown way out of proportion by a sheriff who wanted his 15 minutes of fame."

In October, a judge issued a protective order requiring Alan Panettiere not to "harass, strike or threaten" Vogel.

2009 Academy Awards Nominations

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, "Milk"
Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

Sightings

History buff Jon Bon Jovi took in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and ended up on display himself when folks recognized him.

Portia de Rossi Is a Changed Woman Thanks to Marriage

Five months after her wedding to Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi is declaring that marriage has "completely changed my life."

"Marriage is a different way of being together," the actress told PEOPLE Friday while promoting her upcoming ABC series Better Off Ted at the Television Critics Association event in Pasadena, Calif.

Even though the couple have been together since 2004, tying the knot strengthened their bond. "There's a peace to [being married] and a sense of togetherness that we just didn't have before. And I didn't even realize it would change as much as it has, but it's so lovely," said the actress.

"It's legal, and it's real, so there's that kind of formality to it that makes it very valid," added de Rossi. "I think the emotions that went with that as a gay woman kind of surprised me – that I would be that relieved to have my mother be present at the ceremony to bless the union, and to call [Ellen] her daughter-in-law.”

The actress said she's also emerged as a more confident woman in recent years, both in her life and her career. "It's so important to live an honest, open life and I didn't really realize that until I started doing it," she said.

De Rossi also holds out hope that other gay and lesbian couples will ultimately be able to enjoy the right to be legally married, a right that was repealed in California last fall shortly after their nuptials. "Every day of our lives is a protest against the passing of Prop 8," she said. "We're a happily married couple. It was kind of devastating, actually, when it passed."

One element of their post-wedding life de Rossi isn't looking forward to is taking the hot seat as a guest on DeGeneres's daytime talk show, which she will "unfortunately" do to promote her new series.

"I say 'unfortunately' because it just seems like a very awkward kind of interview. She'll make it flawless, and I'm excited to talk about the show," she said. "I just hope she doesn't ask any personal questions. That's off limits!"

But doesn't her spouse already know all the intimate personal details? "No, she doesn't," de Rossi said laughing. "That's what I'm worried about. She could ask anything she wanted."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (2/8)

"Owning It" - Rebecca's loyalties between Holly and the Walkers become more divided than ever when she discovers Tommy's plan to drive her mother out of the family business. Meanwhile Nora gets a surprise phone call from an important person in William's past, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Ken Olin as David Caplan, Luke Grimes as Ryan Lafferty, Nigel Havers as Roger Grant, John Rubinstein as Dr. Marc Wilson, Scott Klace as Kent Barnes, S.E. Perry as Winston, Michael B. Silver as Stu Orenbacher, John Glover as Henry Mittner and Kaitlin Doubleday as Chelsea Yeager.

"Owning It" was written by David Marshall Grant and Cliff Olin and directed Bethany Rooney.

'Swingtown' lothario is Addison's new man

It isn't enough that Private Practice's Addison (Kate Walsh) can't go a week without a guy; now, it seems, she can't go a week without more than one. Though in tonight's episode, she and beau Kevin attempt to resolve their relationship issues, and she takes a closer look at Wyatt, the show has just cast yet another love interest for her! Swingtown's Josh Hopkins has signed on for five episodes as the latest surgeon with whom our lead MD will play doctor.

Celebrities make Obama-inspired service pledges

"Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria Parker swore off plastic water bottles and "Charlie's Angels" actress Lucy Liu also vowed to help the environment by riding the subway when she's in New York.

In a show of support for President-elect Barack Obama's call for community service, more than 50 Hollywood celebrities have pledged to take positive action, in a video from husband-and-wife acting duo Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore.

The video will premiere on social networking website MySpace.com by next Monday, the day before Obama's inauguration.

"There's an assumption that this one man is going to take on his new job full-time and somehow wave a magic wand of change, and I don't believe that to be true," Kutcher, 30, told Reuters.

"I think that we have to be the leaders, and that's not celebrities -- I think that we as citizens have to be leaders of the movement that we want to create," said the actor, best known for playing a dim-witted stoner in the teen sitcom "That '70s Show."

Obama has appealed to Americans to help better their communities and he has promised to expand national service programs like AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps.

It's no surprise celebrities are among the first to respond, as Hollywood figures eagerly lined up behind Obama during his presidential campaign. But so far, few celebrities recording pledges have promised to sign up for programs Obama is expanding, preferring a more varied platter of projects.

Nominations for British Academy awards

Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"; Brendan Gleeson, "In Bruges"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"; Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"; Brad Pitt, "Burn After Reading"

Anne Heche Expecting Another Son?

Anne Heche has offered some blue clues of the gender of her baby.

At the Boom Boom Room's Children's Gifting Wonderland in Los Angeles on January 9, the actress and her boyfriend James Tupper chose a pair of Robeez Guitar leather booties in pastel blue, a dozen blue Happy Heinys reusable diapers and a blue MiGi baby blanket.

"She told people she was having a boy," says a source about the actress, 39, who is also a mom to Homer, 6, from a previous marriage. "They were so excited to be picking out things for a little boy."

The couple met on the set of ABC's Men in Trees and began dating in 2007. They announced they were expecting in December.

Hayden Booted From Bar, Calls Cop for ID Back

After being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time—and most unfortunately, at the wrong age—Hayden Panettiere had to make do as her own hero last month.

The 19-year-old Heroes star had to call police to a Suffern, N.Y., nightclub on Dec. 23 after getting kicked out of a 21-and-over venue and having her driver's license confiscated.

Panettiere, accompanied by six girlfriends, entered the NV Lounge at roughly 9:15 p.m. via the employee entrance and lasted about 10 minutes before security spotted and carded her.

"At that time we asked her and her friends to leave," NV Lounge owner John Reznick tells E! News, adding that the actress cooperated by giving her license to an employee.

It was at that point, Reznick says, that Panettiere was informed of venue's policy to hand over confiscated IDs to the Suffern Police Department.

Hence her need to call the cops to the scene to retrieve her license ASAP.

"When my officers arrived on the scene we questioned Panettiere," Det. Craig Long tells E! News. "I asked her if she tried to buy alcohol and she denied it. Panettiere told me that someone opened the side door of the nightclub so she could go inside and say hello to friends, not buy drinks."

The detective says his officers "examined the ID and verified that it was proper ID for Panettiere [and] we then returned the ID to her. She said she needed it to travel to California the next day."

From California, her pressing travel plans ostensibly included hopping a flight with costar-boyfriend Milo Ventimiglia, as the duo spent several days in Bora Bora over the holidays.

There was no comment from Team Panettiere on the ID snafu.

But while no doubt an unpleasant experience, the incident did no lasting damage to Panettiere's record: NV Lounge did not press charges against the actress, maintaining that the club was only following proper procedure to protect its liquor license.

Still, while Panettiere may now regret the nighttime pit stop, the feeling is not unanimous.

"We were all excited to have her there," says Jon Turco, whose band was headlining the NV Lounge that night. "It's a shame she didn't get to stay and enjoy the show."

PARROT REVIVAL

IT'S official - the Blue Parrot, the beloved Tex-Mex joint in East Hampton, will reopen in May after being dark for two years. Ronald Perelman, Jon Bon Jovi and art dealer Larry Gagosian, who all own houses in the area, bought the lease last week from Lee Bieler, the Porsche-driving surfer/actor who owned the restaurant for 25 years before moving to Ha waii. "It'll have the same old honky-tonk vibe," said a source who loved the boite's potent margaritas and karaoke nights. "They won't modernize or go trendy." Perelman, who owns Revlon and Panavision, is also an investor in Graydon Carter's Monkey Bar.

A view from inside the Golden Globes

As they posed for a photo together, Robert Downey Jr. told Paul Giamatti that his award was "Very well accepted." "Aw, thanks," Giamatti replied sheepishly.

Bon Jovi to sing at a new York City Hillary Clinton fundraiser

The final note of Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign may very well be sung by Jon Bon Jovi.

The musician is performing at a fundraiser for the former presidential candidate as she tries to close out her campaign debt, which stood at $6.3 million as of last month.

The Jan. 15 performance at Manhattan's Town Hall is being billed as "a final evening in support of Hillary Clinton for President Debt Relief."

Ticket prices range from $75 to $1,000.

The former first lady and New York senator has been working to pay down her debt to clear the way for confirmation as President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of state.

Federal ethics rules prohibit Cabinet officials from actively soliciting campaign contributions.

Clinton wrote off $13.1 million in personal loans to the campaign.

Sighting

Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia, picking up gift wrap and ribbon at the Container Store in Manhattan before the holidays. "They looked very happy and smiley together," a source says. "Milo even carried the bags out for Hayden."

Reese & Jake Take a Hike - with Robert Downey Jr.

Santa must've brought someone new sneakers this Christmas!

Just after the holiday, Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal were geared up and power walking the hills in Ojai, near Witherspoon's farm getaway.

The couple's surprise dates? Gyllenhaal's Zodiac costar Robert Downey Jr. and his wife, Susan.

"It was cute, they were all wearing hiking gear," says a source, "They seemed really relaxed. There were no kids around and they seemed like they were having a great time."

Not to fear, the couple brought Jake's dog and also squeezed in time to engage in another trademark routine: grabbing a morning cup of coffee together.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/18)

"It's Not Easy Being Green" - Just as Greenatopia gets the green light, Sarah's business partner breaks some startling personal news. Meanwhile, Nora rekindles a romance with an old flame (guest starring Nigel Havers as Roger), on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Nigel Havers as Roger Grant, Eric Christian Olsen as Kyle DeWitt, Will McCormack as Ethan Tavis, David Brisbin as Senator Wade Newman, Cotter Smith as Gordon Alexander, Kaitlin Doubleday as Chelsea Yeager, Dileep Rao as Arlo Natterson and Kim Delgado as the businessman.

"It's Not Easy Being Green" was written by Sherri Cooper-Landsman and Peter Calloway and directed by Laura Innes.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/11)

"Sibling Rivalry" - Kitty goes public with her tell-all book on an appearance on "Live with Regis & Kelly" (guest starring Regis and Kelly as themselves), but suspects that Robert is keeping a very big secret. Meanwhile, Sarah runs into some serious financial trouble that could keep Greenatopia from making it off the ground, and Tommy allies with Saul to push Holly out of the family business, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JANUARY 11 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Regis Philbin as himself, Kelly Ripa as herself, Nigel Havers as Roger Grant, Eric Christian Olsen as Kyle DeWitt, Will McCormack as Ethan Tavis, Leonard Wu as Christopher Chao, Cotter Smith as Gordon Alexander and Deborah Knox as the loan officer.

"Sibling Rivalry" was written by Josh Reims and Liz Tigelaar and directed by Jeff Melman.

Nominations for 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

The awards air Jan. 25 on TNT and TBS.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire

Sighting

TRUNK SHOW: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, helping a pal celebrate her birthday at Electric Karma, an Indian restaurant on Los Angeles' über-trendy Third Street. Joking about wrapped gifts in the back of their car, DeGeneres said, "We sell art from the trunk of our car just to make a little extra cash."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/4)

"A Father Dreams" - Elizabeth's illness and her uncle's sacrifice cause a volatile and emotional confrontation between Kevin and Tommy that could make or break their relationship as brothers. Meanwhile, Saul reintroduces a high school crush (guest starring Nigel Havers as Roger Grant) to Nora, and Justin finally decides to leave the nest, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JANUARY 4 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Nigel Havers as Roger Grant, Paula Rhodes as Miss Mitchell, Gayla Johnson as Janet, Michael Edwin as employee #1, Tymberlee Chanel as Vanessa, Ellery Sprayberry as the girl, Marley and Spencer Barth as Elizabeth Walker.

"A Father Dreams" was written by Jennifer Levin and Michael Foley and directed by Tom Amandes.

Sighting

JUST DEUX IT: Hayden Panettiere, Sean Kingston and Jesse McCartney, checking out Akon's performance at Les Deux in Hollywood.

Golden Globe nominees

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Tom Cruise, "Tropic Thunder"; Robert Downey, Jr., "Tropic Thunder"; Ralph Fiennes, "The Duchess"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"; Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight."

Bon Jovi Named 2008's Top Touring Band

Blaze of glory, indeed.

Bon Jovi has been named the top touring band of 2008, according to Billboard magazine.

The band's Lost Highway tour brought in $210.6 million, just edging out Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – which grossed $204.5 million. (The magazine based its finding on the period between Nov. 14, 2007 and Nov. 11, 2008).

Rounding out the Top 10 were Madonna ($162 million), the Police ($150 million), Celine Dion ($91 million), Kenny Chesney ($86 million), Neil Diamond ($81.2 million), the Spice Girls ($70 million), the Eagles ($56.6 million) and Rascal Flatts ($55.8 million).

Sighting

30 Rock's Jane Krakowski, dining at the Palm in New York's Tribeca neighborhood, where she sat in a booth beneath her own caricature! "She loved her picture and couldn't believe how lifelike it was," an eyewitness tells us. The actress posed next to her likeness while her mom took a picture of her with her iPhone.

David E. Kelley: ABC Shunned Boston Legal; "Satisfied" with Series Run

Boston Legal closed its doors for the final time Monday night, ending a five-year run and a two-decade-old era in the process. With its two-hour bow, Legal's goodbye means it'll be the first time in 22 years that television is without a topical David E. Kelley program on air.

But it didn't have to end this way.

"ABC didn't want us back," Kelley told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It's as simple as that. They didn't even want us back for this year at all. We had to fight to get back on with 13. It's not a product they care to market."

Even though it was developed as a spinoff of Kelley's critically acclaimed The Practice, Legal got the bastard child treatment from the Alphabet from the very beginning, Kelley felt. "Five years into the show, if anyone has ever seen the show at ABC, they've yet to bring it to my attention," he said.

The apathy stems from Legal's production studio, 20th Century Fox Television — which means ABC does not own the series, giving it more reason to push it off to the side and focus on their own development slate.

Though never a ratings hit, Legal did nab five Emmys, was the stomping ground of over-50 well-known actors and actresses, made more meta-references than you can count, and created a character in and of itself out of a balcony.

And while Kelley would love to have gone for Season 6, he is not bitter at having his Alan Shore-Denny Crane idiosyncratic love affair of sorts cut short.

"I feel satisfied we had run a good course," he said.

Lucy Liu Turns 40, Gets Humanitarian Award

Lucy Liu has received a special 40th birthday present: a Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award from UNICEF.

"I feel overwhelmed and incredibly happy," the Dirty Sexy Money star said at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball in New York Wednesday night, where guests included Téa Leoni, first daughter Barbara Bush, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Liu's birthday was actually Tuesday, but that didn't stop the many guests at the event from wishing her well.

She also got a special birthday tribute from Oscar-nominated songwriter Jon McLaughlin, who sang "Happy Birthday" to her before performing his single "Beating My Heart."

The actress lost her voice before the event, but still participated in the evening's auction. She donated $10,000 for a raft to carry supplies over water.

Another star who had auction fever: Leoni, who made one of her first public appearances since her October announcement that she had separated from husband David Duchovny. (The Californication star entered treatment for sex addiction in August.)

Leoni (who has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2003) convinced her father, UNICEF Board Chair Tony Pantaleoni, to donate $25,000 for a new car to transport supplies. Then, when Chefs Marcus Samuelsson and Charlie Trotter offered to make dinner for 10 people, the actress kicked off bidding at $10,000. But after some back and forth, Leoni surrendered at $27,500.

The event drew a crowd of over 500 people and raised $1.7 million. But for Liu, her contribution has only just begun.

"I feel like there's so much more to be done," she told the crowd when she accepted the award for her work as a UNICEF ambassador. "When they called me about the award, I didn't call them back. I kind of felt like, I still have many years to go."

Don't expect the actress to stop working any time soon. When asked how she relaxes, she said, "I haven't, that's why I lost my voice."

By Jove! Downey Jr. Downed On Sherlock Set?

Managing to keep the A-list star of your big-budget movie in a conscious state? It's elementary, my dear Ritchie.

Robert Downey Jr.'s rep tells E! News that the actor is back in fighting form despite a report in Britain's Sun tabloid claiming the star was knocked out during filming on Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes.

There was no immediate comment from the film's studio, Warner Bros. But, according to the ever-reliable Sun, the 43-year-old Iron Man went down like a feather Saturday while shooting a fight scene with 25-year-old, 7-foot costar Robert Maillet.

One of Maillet's fists accidentally connected with Downey's chin, rendering him "out cold" and "drooling blood," per the tab, citing an unnamed onset source.

Downey reportedly received six stitches to the mouth, but refused a trip to the hospital.

Watson might want to watch his back.

"He's fine," the rep said.

Star Spotting in Vancouver

While her current projects aren't Vancouver-centric, on Monday night during the Vancouver Canucks game against the Detroit Red Wings, Anne Heche had a run in with the Canucks' mascot, Fin (a giant Orca) and they snuggled up for the big screen while he delivered a patented head "bite". Heche is no stranger to Vancouver, having lived here while starring in Men in Trees. It's good to see stars enjoy all that the city has to offer - from dining experiences to winning hockey games against the reining Stanley Cup champions.

Hayden Panettiere Turns Handbag Designer for Dooney & Bourke

The Heroes star isn’t just saving the world from evil on TV — she’s helping to bring good design to your closet, too. Hayden Panettiere, who is Dooney & Bourke’s spokesmodel, has teamed up with the label’s designer Peter Dooney to create the perfect bag for Spring 09. Named after the star herself, the “Hayden Clutch” is made from Italian calfskin and fastened with a 24 carat gold plated lion head, inspired by her astrological sign the Leo. The bag will come in a variety of colors including blue, red, black, white, brown, hot pink and purple. The Hayden Clutch, $295, will hit Dooney & Bourke stores nationwide in December. The Hayden Clutch isn’t the first bag by the young star. Hayden also lent her skill to the Hayden Bag, a large patent number, for the Fall 08 collection.

Bon Jovi writing new songs for hits set

With Bon Jovi's latest world tour completed, guitarist Richie Sambora says the New Jersey rockers are looking ahead to plenty of new projects.

"We've been filming a documentary and are in the process of mixing a live DVD of last year's 'Lost Highway' concert tour," Sambora told Billboard.com.

"Also, I think we're looking at doing a greatest hits album next year. Jon (Bon Jovi) and I are writing some new songs for it and to just load up for the next Bon Jovi record."

Bon Jovi's last hits set, the 14-track "Cross Road," came out in 1994.

Sambora expected the DVD and latest best-of effort to come out next fall. The Nashville-tinged "Lost Highway" was a critical and commercial success, but Sambora said the band won't necessarily return to that style again.

"No, we have to change," he said. "We have to do something different. I don't know what that's going to be. As we get into the writing process and continue on, we'll see what that's going to look like. I think it comes to stylistically what songs you're writing. What kind of music is coming out of you, and what's the mood of those songs. You have to color those little drawings with the right production value and the right music."

Outside of Bon Jovi, Sambora is staying active with various extracurricular opportunities. He recently joined B.B. King on stage in Chicago for the taping of a PBS special, and took part in a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum tribute concert for guitar icon Les Paul last Saturday in Cleveland.

"I've also been doing multiple sessions out here, some odd recordings with Kid Rock and T.I., some crazy stuff," Sambora said. "So I've been busy. Also, I'm going to be scoring some movies and TV shows. One of the movies is 'The Tournament' with Ving Rhames."

Sambora was also looking ahead to next year, when Bon Jovi will become eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

"I hope so," Sambora said with a laugh. "Time flies, man. But yeah, there's talk and rumors. Boy, that would be nice. It's something certainly I've been shooting for all my life. I think if you have a career in the music business, you want to get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum."

Sighting

FAMILY AFFAIR: Calista Flockhart, Bridget Moynahan, Kate Beckinsale, Ricki Lake and Krista Allen, bringing their kids to the Express Yourself benefit for P.S. Arts at Santa Monica's Barker Hangar.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (12/7)

"Just a Sliver" - The Walkers encounter some scheduling conflicts on Thanksgiving, leaving Nora and Sarah to celebrate alone, until Elizabeth endures a medical emergency that brings the family together, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Dierdrie Henry as Dr. Williams and Kim Rowe as the lab tech.

"Just a Sliver" was written by David Marshall Grant and Molly Newman and directed by Michael Schultz.

FILMS THAT TURNED ON THE STARS

Robert Downey Jr., "The Bad News Bears" - ["It's] about a bunch of weirdos winning, and I really got off on that."

Sighting

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, celebrating a friend's birthday at Prive Las Vegas. The couple arrived around midnight with a large group of friends, taking up an entire VIP section. While their friends got a little more wild – dancing and drinking until 3 a.m. – Ford and Flockhart stayed a bit more mellow, sitting next to each other and swaying to the music in their seats.

Sighting

JON Bon Jovi eyeing Warhols and Basquiats at Sotheby's prior to a contemporary art auction.

Sighting

UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN: Hayden Panettiere (ex-Lizzie), making the winning $30,000 bid for a one-week vacation in Italy during the Alfred Mann Foundation fundraiser in L.A

Nominees for the 2009 People's Choice Awards

This year's ceremony will air on CBS on Wednesday, Jan. 7.

FAVORITE MOVIE
"The Dark Knight"
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
"Iron Man"

FAVORITE ACTION MOVIE
"The Dark Knight"
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
"Iron Man"

FAVORITE MALE MOVIE STAR
Robert Downey Jr.
Harrison Ford
Will Smith

FAVORITE MALE ACTION STAR
Christian Bale
Robert Downey Jr.
Will Smith

FAVORITE SUPERHERO
Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man
Will Smith as John Hancock

BROTHERS & SISTERS (11/30)

"Unfinished Business" -- Nora recruits the family to deconstruct her new charity money pit; Kitty and Robert take a giant but overwhelming step forward in the adoption process; Sarah takes a big risk and eats crow with her new business partners; and Holly drives Tommy to his limit when she offers Rebecca a high level executive position at the winery without consulting him, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Sonja Sohn as Trish Evans, Steven Weber as Graham Finch, Eric Christian Olsen as Kyle DeWitt, Will McCormack as Ethan Tavis, Jesse Henecke as Chris Ward and Maura Soden as Dr. Barbara Riley.

"Unfinished Business" was written by Nancy Won and Jason Wilborn and directed by Michael Morris.

Sienna Miller & Balthazar Getty in Splitsville

Controversial couple Sienna Miller and Balthazar Getty have called it quits.The actress spilled the Splitsville news to Usmagazine.com at a London charity event:

"I'm single at the moment, and I'm completely happy with that. It's nice not to have a relationship that the press constantly want to scrutinize and discuss. I'm cool with being on my own."

But she was definitely hot with Getty, perhaps generating too much heat when a topless Miller was photographed smooching her guy on a boat in Italy while the actor was still married. Getty, a star of TV's Brothers and Sisters, separated from his wife a couple of months later. And the publicity glare hasn't done much for Miller either, with her London home vandalized in August with the word, "Slut."

This is clearly a case where that old truism about how "there's no such thing as bad publicity" is definitely more of a false-ism.

Sightings

JON Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea, arriving for dinner at Lure Fishbar, followed by Mayor Bloomberg and Diana Taylor, then Teddy Forstmann and movie producer Rick Schwartz . . . JANE Krakowski at the IAC Building for Audi's A4 launch party, telling everyone that "Gossip Girl" is her guilty pleasure just as Penn Badgley walked in.

Robert Downey Jr. Going the Distance With Iron Man

Here's some Stark reality for you.

The rejuvenated Robert Downey Jr. has inked an extensive deal with Marvel Studios that will have him not only suiting up for two more Iron Man films, but also reprising the role of Tony Stark and his heavy-metal alter ego in the upcoming superhero all-stars film The Avengers, reports Variety.

While planning for Iron Man 2 has been in full swing for some time, with the most recent announcement being that Don Cheadle will be playing Col. James Rhodes instead of Terrence Howard, Marvel had not confirmed that Downey and director Jon Favreau would be back.

Well, not only will Favreau be behind the camera again, but he will also serve as a producer on The Avengers, featuring the Marvel characters Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America and Thor (and not to be confused with the laughable 1998 film of the same name starring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman).

But really, why wouldn't he and Downey want to give it another go?

In addition to mainly positive reviews, Iron Man grossed nearly $580 million worldwide and sequel talk began before the movie had earned even half as much.

Iron Man 2 is currently slated for a May 7, 2010, release, while The Avengers is tentatively set to unspool July 15, 2011.

Downey, who after Iron Man made a splash this summer in the raunchy Tropic Thunder, is currently in London shooting his role as the titular sleuth in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes, costarring Jude Law and Rachel McAdams.

Hayden Panettiere Asks for (Online) Help Saving the Whales

Hayden Panettiere had already made a commitment to saving the whales, and now the Heroes star – and animal activist – is asking for your help. In a new video, Panettiere urges viewers to sign up on SocialVibe.com and select Whaleman Foundation as a charity of choice. The actress also hopes to get one million signatures for her petition to stop commercial whaling and to enforce the global whaling moratorium.

Panettiere is not just speaking out – she's also acting out. On Oct. 26, she held an event on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for the Save the Whales Again campaign. "Protecting and preserving whales and dolphins is something that we're all very passionate about," she told a small crowd of people at the rally.

The gathering ended with everyone lying down on the grass to form the outline of a giant human whale and the word, "VOTE" for an aerial photo.

Last October, an arrest warrant was issued after Panettiere protested on a surfboard in Taiji, Japan. The actress was attempting to protect pilot whales caught by fishermen. Watch here!

BROTHERS & SISTERS (11/16)

"Going Once ... Going Twice" - Kevin overcompensates for his recent pay cut by snatching Nora's dream house out from under her as a gift to Scotty. Meanwhile Justin cooks up a plan to set Saul up with an unlikely candidate for a date (guest starring Dave Foley as Paul), on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Dave Foley as Paul, Cloie Wyatt Taylor as Vicki and Rob Zabrecky as the auctioneer.

"Going Once ... Going Twice" was written by Beth Schwartz and Brian Studler and directed by Karen Gaviola.

Sighting

Anne Heche, treating son Homer to some gelato at N'iceCream in Venice, Calif.

Collecting with the stars: celeb trading cards

These days, most celebrities trade on their fame for fashion lines, fragrances, reality shows and blogs. Now, some 40 famous folks — from Scarlett Johansson to Jared Leto — will be able to trade their fame with each other.

A new line of celebrity trading cards — yes, the little cardboard ones baseball fans used to hoard — officially sanctioned by the stars themselves is being launched by entertainment product company A-List Global Media.

Called PopCardz, the celebrity trading card line is theSonia Freeman brainchild of Ted Kurie and Christian Troy, who once represented A-listers as an agent at Creative Artists Agency. To personally acquire celebrities' permission for the cards, Troy dug deep into his CAA contacts.

"I started going around town to agents, managers, publicists and lawyers that I knew in these artists' lives," said Troy. "I pitched it as a simple and great idea, using these movie and TV stars' likeness to reach a young demographic in a really special way. We were really looking for artists who were credible and popular — but not because of scandal."

So don't except Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears cards this go 'round.

The star power in the celebrity trading card collection is sprinkled with tween powerhouses (Cole and Dylan Sprouse, Ashley Tisdale, Raven-Symone), starlets (Megan Fox, Jessica Biel, Hayden Panettiere, Jessica Alba, Christina Ricci) and a few leading men (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Anton Yelchin, Giovanni Ribisi, Chris Evans).

PopCardz will be sold in stores in five-card packs beginning in November. Proceeds will given to the celebrities' charities. Each card will have a unique 10-digit access code printed on it that will provide additional online content at PopCardz.com.

The back of the cards list celebrities' birth dates, hometowns and mottos as well as a favorite charity, movie, song, book, place, sport, food — and a secret. "Kath & Kim" actress Selma Blair revealed, for instance, that she wore an eye patch for a year when she was 7 because she was embarrassed about her amblyopia — lazy eye syndrome.

"Tabloids are so prevalent," said Blair. "I think this is way for kids — or whoever is collecting them — to find something out about their favorite celebrities, and find out really positive things about them."

Blair, who accumulated "Wacky Packages" and "Superman" trading cards growing up, was one of the first celebrities to agree to be immortalized in the collection. The "Hellboy" and "Cruel Intentions" actress said she was excited the cards would benefit and prominently feature celebrities' causes.

"It's a benevolent, cool thing," said Blair.

Her only concern? How her card will fare among traders once it's released.

"I'm sure everyone will be like, 'I'll give you 20 Selma Blairs for 1 Scarlett Johansson,'" Blair joked.

Whitney gala stars hint at fall TV plots

As an array of actors, models, designers, artists and socialites dripping in diamonds descended on the Whitney Museum of American Art for a fundraising gala co-chaired by Donatella Versace and special guest Patrick Dempsey on Monday night, talk on the red carpet turned to the new television season.

When asked if there would be wedding bells for his Dr. Derek Shepherd and Ellen Pompeo's Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy, Dempsey, who is featured in Versace's advertising campaign, replied, "There may be. I think so. I don't think it will be a typical marriage. Rumor has it something might be happening. I think they have to. It's time for them to get together."

30 Rock's Jane Krakowski beamed when talking about how co-star Tina Fey's impersonations of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live might help their ratings-challenged NBC show. She didn't see Alec Baldwin or Fey at work on Monday but did catch the most recent SNL skit.

"It was really hilarious," said Krakowski, wearing a strapless blue Versace dress. "It's so wild how 30 Rock and how everyone is so involved because of Tina and Alec. It's exciting times. I hope all of the people that enjoy Tina doing Sarah Palin will tune into 30 Rock, as well."

Another reason to tune in when the new season premieres Oct. 30 is the guest stars. Oprah Winfrey appears in the second episode, airing Nov. 6.

"It's the magic of Oprah. She plays herself," Krakowski revealed. "We just mention Gayle (King) but she's not on the show. It's really a great episode. Oprah was really funny and so great. We were lucky to have her on the show."

Jerry Seinfeld, Megan Mullally, Jennifer Aniston and Will Arnett also will have their turn on 30 Rock this season.

"I think it's going to be the year of the amazing guest star on our show," Krakowski said.

Becki Newton, in a purple Versace frock, made a mad dash to the event after finishing on the Ugly Betty set. But she was tight-lipped on plot developments in the show.

"In the next few episodes we can see Betty's new apartment life gets invaded by an unwelcomed visitor," Newton said, choosing her words carefully. "It's not a new person. That's all I can give you. No more. Done!"

Lindsay Lohan returns and reprises her role as Kimmie. "She comes back into Betty's life and may or may not come into Mode and make some friends and make some enemies," Newton said. "We had a really good time working with her."

Mariah Carey, in a floor-length Versace gown with a slit up to her thigh, and husband Nick Cannon, had little time for the press.

Cannon said marriage (is) "amazing. It's the best thing ever." He guest deejayed at the chic party held after the black-tie gala ended.

The event, which raised more than $3 million to support emerging artists, also attracted director Julian Schnabel, Sting, who performed, and wife Trudie Styler, Juliette Lewis, Helena Christensen, Christina Ricci, Emma Roberts and Katie Lee Joel.

"Versace has always been connected with art," host Donatella Versace said. "My brother Gianni started the connection with great, great artists. I want the legacy to continue. It's very important."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (11/9)

"Do You Believe in Magic?" - Tommy and Julia celebrate their wedding anniversary in a magical way while Justin and Rebecca get spooked about their own romance, and Kitty's neuroses endanger the McCallisters' shot at adoption, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Sonja Sohn as Trish Evans, David Andrews as George Lafferty, Eric Christian Olsen as Kyle DeWitt, Will McCormack as Ethan Tavis, Rose Abdoo as Miss Clara, Michael B. Silver as Stu Orenbacher, Tymberlee Chanel as Vanessa and Ramon De Ocampo as Spencer Travis.

"Do You Believe in Magic?" was written by Sherry Cooper-Landsman and Jennifer Levin and directed by Michael Morris.

Bon Jovi Raises (Mc)Cain Over Palin Tune

Add Bon Jovi to the ever-growing list of liberal-leaning artistes taking umbrage at being used as pied pipers for Sarah Palin.

Avowed Democrat Jon Bon Jovi, who earlier this year threw a fundraising dinner at his New Jersey home for Barack Obama, has spoken out against the Republican candidate appropriating his band's tunes for her Middle America stump stops.

"We are surprised to hear that our song, 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' was used by the McCain campaign at rallies yesterday and today," the rocker said in a statement. "We wrote this song as a thank you to those who have supported us over the past 25 years."

It's a sentiment that's been gaining ground in recent months, with the Republican suffering a string of highly-publicized backlash after selecting one politically-opposed rallying cry after another.

The good news for the McCain-Palin ticket is that Bon Jovi, unlike some other musical dissidents, has not yet threatened legal action.

"The song has since become a banner for our home state of New Jersey and the de facto theme song for our partnerships around the country to build homes and rebuild communities," he said. "Although we have not asked, we do not approve of their use of 'Home.' "

Just yesterday, Survivor joined the bashing bandwagon, requesting that the McCain-Palin campaign stop playing the band's hit Rocky theme, "Eye of the Tiger," for appearances by John McCain; last week, the Foo Fighters issued a terse statement demanding that the GOP contender refrain from using "My Hero."

Last month, Heart issued a cease-and-desist notice to the campaign after their hit "Barracuda" was twice used at Palin's campaign theme, including being used at the Republican National Convention. In August, Van Halen groused about "Right Now" being used at rallies, while John Mellencamp protested the lifting of "Pink Houses" and "Our Country." Jackson Browne even filed a copyright infringement suit against McCain and the Republican National Committee for using his biggest hit, "Running on Empty," in campaign ads.

There is, of course, a light at the end of the tunnel to the onslaught of negative publicity deriving from the Republican party's ill-advised song selections: The campaign's nearly over.

NBC Lands David E. Kelley Show

The bidding war over David E. Kelley's next series project turned out be short and rather decisive.

NBC has won the rights to the "Ally McBeal" and "Boston Legal" creator's new show by giving a series commitment to the project, the showbiz trade papers say. It will be his first scripted collaboration with the network since his time as a writer and producer on "L.A. Law" in the late 1980s and early '90s.

The new show will revolve around a father and daughter who are both attorneys. Like several of Kelley's other series, it's expected to mix comedy and drama.

Word of Kelley's script -- the first he produced under the deal he signed with Warner Bros. TV earlier this year -- making the network rounds surfaced last week. CBS and NBC were both interested in the show, but NBC's series order won out.

Kelley was an executive producer of NBC's unscripted series "The Law Firm" in the summer of 2005, but he hasn't worked on a scripted show for the network since departing "L.A. Law." He's currently overseeing the final episodes of "Boston Legal" on ABC, which will end its five-season run later this fall.

The series order comes as NBC faces the end of "ER" this season. The bench isn't looking especially deep at the moment either. The network's two new dramas this fall, "Knight Rider" and "My Own Worst Enemy," have pulled only mediocre ratings so far, with a third, "Crusoe," set to debut Friday. Several other dramas, including "Kings" and "The Philanthropist," are slated for midseason.

James Marsden a quirky leading man

Hollywood's leading men are usually perfect physical specimens. Those who aren't become character actors.

Except James Marsden. He's pursued quirky characters despite his leading-man looks. Marsden is the guy on the sidelines, the goofy one who doesn't get the girl. So his face is familiar but not immediately identifiable.

"Most people are like, 'Didn't we go to high school together?"' said the 35-year-old actor, whose screen credits include "Superman Returns," "The Notebook" and three "X-Men" movies.

Marsden is taking a "slow-burn" approach; choosing roles that appeal to him in the hope that a gradual and meandering ascent will lead to a long and varied career.

"In going for the movie-star thing, the lead-guy thing, I've managed to have this whole sidetrack thing going where I'm playing these silly roles and doing great, offbeat, different things," he said. "It was just to have fun being an actor, entertain yourself while you're going for the gold. There was the career path and the work path. And now the work path has sort of become the career path."

After his roles in big-budget movies such as "Hairspray" (he played Corny Collins), "Enchanted" (he was the prince who lost his princess to Patrick Dempsey) and "27 Dresses" (where he finally got the girl), Marsden plays a foul-mouthed bigot in the independent teen comedy "Sex Drive," in theatres Friday.

He steals every scene as Rex, an overbearing tough guy who mercilessly teases his virginal younger brother.

Director Sean Anders had reservations about casting Marsden.

"I thought, 'Oh no, this is some pretty-boy actor who wants to be in a comedy and thinks he's funny but isn't,"' Anders said.

Then he saw an audition tape that Marsden recorded for a different movie. Marsden was so ego-less and goofy, he used his computer Web cam to film himself reading lines for the role he wanted.

"By the end of it, I was like, 'Can we really get this guy?"' Anders said.

Marsden wanted to do comedy, especially after his turn as Cyclops in the "X-Men" movies. Even after "Hairspray" and "Enchanted," though, he longed for something edgier. With "Sex Drive," he could see the character in his mind: the muscle shirts, the highlighted hair.

Marsden said he also hoped the part might catch the eye of Judd Apatow, director of "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."

"This is completely over the top, and it's so different from anything you've seen me do," he said. "Now I feel like people will go, 'OK, he's funny. He can do comedy. But then I've got to put the brakes on a little bit and remind people I can do other things."

Though he happily plays quirky roles, Marsden hasn't taken his eye off the leading-man prize. "I'd be lying to you if I said I didn't aspire to that," he said. "I want to be a version of that. ... But I'm more like these weirdo, wacky, stupid characters I keep playing in these movies."

The Oklahoma native began acting in junior high. After a brief stint in college, he headed to Los Angeles, where he had a string of small parts before landing a role in 2000's "X-Men." The following year, his wife, actress Lisa Linde, gave birth to their first child.

"I just sort of loosened up a little bit and stopped trying to navigate every little point, all of this career trajectory," he said. "I just started having more fun with the roles and choosing more fun roles."

He's a bit daunted about being the leading man; to play, as he puts it, a nuance of himself rather than a caricature.

But Anders said it's inevitable.

"He's going to become more of a leading man as time goes by because everyone who works with him is so impressed with what he does," he said. "He is great-looking, yet you can still laugh at him and laugh with him. He's got such a real quality about him that guys aren't put off by him. Everybody's seen how great he is in other genres, and how he can be so funny in 'Enchanted' and 'Sex Drive.' The guy's got range."

The slow-burn approach suits Marsden just fine.

"I just want to stay in the game and keep working," he said. "The ideal career for me is to be able to let whatever inspires you creatively dictate what you choose to do, then the financial stability and all that stuff follows."

Bon Jovi Sued For $400 Billion

Rockers Bon Jovi are being sued for a whopping US$400 billion after an American musician filed a lawsuit accusing the band of plagiarism. In court documents filed on Thursday, Massachusetts-based musician Samuel Bartley Steele alleges the group of copied lyrics from his 2004 song '(Man I Really) Love This Team' - used as the anthem for his hometown's baseball team, The Red Sox.

Steele alleges the group's frontman Jon Bon Jovi heard the song while campaigning for U.S. Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004, and used its lyrics to create his hit song I 'Love This Town' which was later used as a promotional track for Major League Baseball.

Steele calls the rocker's composition an "unauthorised derivative version" of his song in the federal suit, reports Antimusic.com. In court documents reportedly obtained by the website, Steele adds, "As intent will be easy to prove, we are seeking the statutorily authorised amount of $100,000 per CD sold. Just under 4 million CDs have been sold to date. This totals almost $400 billion."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (11/2)

"Bakersfield" - Nora goes on a quest to learn more about William's son and also to beat Holly to the punch, while Kitty and Robert wait for a birth mother, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are David Andrews as George Lafferty, Eric Christian Olsen as Kyle DeWitt, Will McCormack as Ethan Tavis, Holly Maples as the moderator and Chase Kim as the waiter.

"Bakersfield" was written by Molly Newman and Peter Calloway and directed by Gloria Muzio.

HERO WORSHIP

Hayden Panettiere and James Woods, among a group of friends having dinner at Katana in L.A.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/26)

"You Get What You Need" - Rebecca's trust in her mother is put to the ultimate test when a file on Ryan Lafferty turns up in Holly's possession. Meanwhile, Kevin has an uncomfortable first outing with Scotty's conservative and disapproving parents, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Michael O'Keefe as Wally Wandell, Jayne Brook as Bertha Wandell, Mitch Pileggi as Browne Carter, Ned Vaughn as Michael Gradstein, Andy Hoff as Aaron Ziven, Elizabeth Prestel as the paralegal, Kulap Vilaysack as Gail, Howard S. Miller as the senior partner, Tom Kopache as Berkeley Goldschmidt, Vinny Chibber as the waiter, Maia Danziger as Dierdre Holder and Geoffrey Wade as the board members.

"You Get What You Need" was written by David Marshall Grant and Cliff Olin and directed by Chad Lowe.

David E. Kelley Shops New Series

It looks like David E. Kelley won't be taking too much of a break after " Boston Legal" finishes its run later this season.

The prolific writer and producer is already lining up a new project. Not surprisingly for the creator of "Ally McBeal," "The Practice" and "Boston Legal," it's a drama about attorneys and their cases.

Warner Bros. TV, where Kelley signed a deal in the spring, is shopping the script to networks, and CBS and NBC are both interested, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Kelley has had several shows on CBS in the past, most recently the short-lived "Brotherhood of Poland, N.H." in 2003. He had better success with "Picket Fences" and "Chicago Hope" in the 1990s. At NBC, he was a writer and exec producer of "L.A. Law" and produced the unscripted show "The Law Firm" in 2005.

"Boston Legal" will end its five-season run on ABC later this year. The network hasn't announced a date for the finale -- which will be the show's 100th episode -- but barring any pre-emption or hiatus, it should air sometime in December.

Details about the new show, other than the fact that it's a legal drama, are scant at the moment.

Jessica Alba 'Muzzles' Hayden Panettiere in New Vote Ad

The muzzling continues! (Watch here)

Jessica Alba – who has already been "silenced" in two shocking ads for Declare Yourself – is back, starring in a new video that encourages young people to vote. And this time she's joined by Hayden Panettiere.

In the satirical video clip, Alba hosts a mock home-shopping show selling "The Muzzler 2008." (It's the same Hannibal Lecter-type mask the actress modeled in her most recent ad.)

The Heroes star comedically chimes in, praising the device's ability to mute voters' voices. (The clip also features Tristan Wilds from 90210.)

"Jessica and Hayden have an amazing ability to connect with young adults," Marc Morgenstern, executive director of Declare Yourself, said in a statement. "Behind all the humor of the PSA lies a very serious message of what it actually means to sit out the election and effectively silence oneself."

Jesse L. Martin Fills 'Philanthropist' Bill

Former "Law & Order" star Jesse L. Martin is returning to the NBC fold, eyeing a role in the network's midseason drama "The Philanthropist."

Martin left "L&O" toward the end of last season, which was his ninth with the show as Detective Ed Green. He's now in negotiations to star opposite James Purefoy in "The Philanthropist," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The show centers on Teddy Rist (Purefoy), a billionaire who uses his wealth to help people in need, often going outside official channels to do so. Martin will play Rist's long-time friend and business partner.

NBC announced earlier this week that production of "The Philanthropist" will be based in London. Production is scheduled to begin in the relatively near future, with filming also taking place in South Africa and the Czech Republic.

With the securing of its lead actors and a timetable to start production, the series appears to be on track for its midseason slot; NBC has it scheduled for Monday nights. However, the show's behind-the-scenes turmoil -- " Battlestar Galactica's" David Eick took over as executive producer after original EP Tom Fontana split over creative differences -- and long search for a star means the show probably won't debut until spring.

Because of that, the HR says, the show's original 13-episode order will be trimmed by a few episodes.

Downey to play Sherlock Holmes as studio eyes series

Robert Downey Jr. is to play Victorian super sleuth Sherlock Holmes in an upcoming blockbuster that studio Warner Bros. hopes will become a lucrative new franchise.

The 43-year-old said one reason he was chosen for the role may have been his involvement in action movie "Iron Man," which earned over $570 million in global ticket sales this year, and he promised his Holmes would be the best screen portrayal ever.

"In case you aren't aware I had a hell of a summer, and it's made me much more viable to play a lead role than I might have (been) in the past," Downey Jr. told reporters in London, where shooting on "Sherlock Holmes" is about to begin.

When asked what he could bring to a character portrayed countless times on film and television, he joked: "Clearly I'm going to do it better than it's ever been done.

"The more I read about it the more overwhelmed I was by the weight of it and the amount of people who will be watching to see if it's gotten right."

Director Guy Ritchie said "Sherlock Holmes" was his biggest movie "by a long shot" in terms of budget.

Producer Joel Silver would not name the figure, but he called the budget "healthy" and said plans had not been affected by recent turmoil on the financial markets.

"What we've done is hopefully launched a franchise of Sherlock Holmes stories," he said.

Warner Bros. may be hoping the series can replace Harry Potter, which has three films left to go and could end in 2011. The franchise based on J.K. Rowling's boy wizard tales has grossed $4.5 billion at worldwide box offices so far.

"TRUE TO ORIGINAL"

The new Sherlock Holmes film is based on an original story by Lionel Wigram inspired by the Arthur Conan Doyle books.

"I really knew Sherlock Holmes from tapes -- I wasn't a very good reader," said Ritchie. "What I had imagined in my mind was not exactly what I'd seen previously manifested on film.

"I am a fan of many of the previous productions of Sherlock Holmes. I just think we can have a different take and I'd like to think a better take."

He added: "We're trying to be as authentic as we can to what we see as the original Sherlock Holmes. We are also specifically keen on keeping it authentic to Conan Doyle."

The director said he had never considered involving his wife Madonna in the new movie, and originally thought Downey Jr. may be too old for Holmes.

As well as bringing more action sequences to the story, the dynamic between Holmes and loyal assistant Dr. Watson looks set to differ from what audiences are used to with the casting of heartthrob Jude Law in the part.

Silver was aware that the announcement of Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes project came soon after another film based on the 19th century detective was unveiled starring Sacha Baron Cohen in the lead and Will Ferrell as Watson.

He said the movies would be released at different times -- Sherlock Holmes has a tentative release date of 2010 -- and Ritchie joked: "We've done as much as we can to sabotage Sacha Baron Cohen."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/19)

"Everything Must Go" - Nora prepares for her new charity venture by making a clean sweep of all of William's belongings; a time capsule brings together two estranged siblings; Robert interviews candidates to fill Kitty's very big shoes, and Holly begins her own investigation into the whereabouts of William's lost son, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Marty Ryan as Mike, Doug Purdy as Sean Spicer, Michelle Ongkingco as Dawn McCarty, Tymberlee Chanel as the female staffer, Emil Beheshti as the mail staffer, Barbara Allyne Bennet as the female customer and Gayla Johnson as the secretary.

"Everything Must Go" was written by Nancy Won and Michael Foley and directed by Michael Schultz.

Hayden Panettiere's Father Charged with Misdemeanor Battery

Hayden Panettiere's father, Alan, has been formally charged with misdemeanor battery after he allegedly assaulted his wife last month, the L.A. County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

Panettiere, 49, faces arraignment on Oct. 11. If convicted, he faces up to a year in county jail.

Alan Panettiere was arrested Aug. 11 at the family's West Hollywood home after he "struck his wife (Lesley Vogel) one or two times on the cheek causing bruising with a closed fist," a sheriff's spokesman said.

The couple had returned from a charity event hosted by their daughter.

Another sheriff's official confirmed that alcohol was involved.

Shortly after he was released on bail, Alan Panettiere told Extra the incident was a "misunderstanding" and that "nothing actually happened."

And daughter Hayden, 19, downplayed the incident, saying, "It was blown way out of proportion by a sheriff who wanted his 15 minutes of fame."

ALL-STAR CAST OF NBC'S HOLIDAY SPECIAL 'A MUPPETS CHRISTMAS: LETTERS TO SANTA'

Uma Thurman ("Kill Bill"), Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock"), Nathan Lane ("The Producers"), Jesse L. Martin ("Law & Order"), Petra Nemcova ("A Model Life") Paul Williams ("Georgia Rule") and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg have joined the all-star cast of NBC's upcoming holiday special "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" airing Wednesday, December 17 (8-9 p.m. ET).

They join the previously announced cast members include Whoopi Goldberg ("The View"), Richard Griffiths ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"), Tony Sirico ("The Sopranos"), Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos") and Madison Pettis ("Cory in the House").

In "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa," the Emmy and Grammy-award winning Muppets deliver an all new one-hour special filled with song and dance, mayhem and heaps of holiday high spirits. On Christmas Eve the Muppets mistakenly avert three letters from making their way to Santa Claus in the North Pole--leaving three Christmas wishes at stake.

Kermit rounds up his fearless friends to get to the North Pole before Santa makes his rounds on Christmas Eve and as usual, nothing—not even Miss Piggy's planned trip to the tropics can stand between the Muppets and a joyful Christmas. In typical Muppets fashion, chaos and humor ensue as they try to find a way to the North Pole, but will they make it in time? The cast in alphabetical order is:

Mayor Bloomberg - himself
Whoopi Goldberg - Cab driver
Richard Griffiths - Santa Claus
Jane Krakowski - Claire's mom
Nathan Lane - Officer Meany
Jesse Martin - Postal worker
Petra Nemcova - Beaker's girlfriend
Madison Pettis - Claire
Steve Schirripa - Mafia guy
Tony Sirico - Mafia guy
Uma Thurman - Joy the ticket clerk
Paul Williams - Elf

In the special, Jesse L. Martin, who plays a postal worker, opens the program with a song and dance number along with the Muppets in the post office as they are waiting in line to mail their Christmas cards. Later on, Jane Krakowski, who plays the Mother to Claire (Madison Pettis), tries to assuage her daughter --who is feeling lonely during the holidays, from befriending the Muppets who happen to live in the same building. Claire is disappointed when Gonzo reveals none of the Muppets will be around during Christmas as they are all going on vacation, leaving Claire alone with her Mother. The Muppets soon realize that the spirit of the holidays is more important than vacation, and they must do all they can to get the three letters to Santa in time for Christmas. They high-tail it in Whoopi Goldberg's taxicab to the airport, where they encounter a friendly ticket agent, Uma Thurman and a bitter airport security guard, played by Nathan Lane. Will they find a flight to reach the North Pole in time or get caught up in last minute security issues? Tune in to find out, and bring the spirit of the holidays into your living room.

"A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" is executive produced by The Muppets Studio and produced by Martin G. Baker. The writers are Hugh Fink, Andrew Samson, Scott Ganz and Paul Williams, with songs by Paul Williams (songwriter for "The Muppet Movie").

Hayden Declares Herself With Help From Danity Kane

Hayden Panettiere partied with a purpose last night. The Heroes starlet hosted Declare Yourself's Domino Effect bash at the Green Door. While Declare Yourself is a nonpartisan campaign encouraging young people to vote, sounds like Hayden's on Team Obama. "I'm a Democrat, so..." she answered when asked which candidate is getting her vote. Danity Kane performed at the party, and Aubrey O'Day even dyed her poor puppy, Ginger, for the occasion. Her little white dog was sporting red and blue fur...oy. "I'm voting for Hillary!" she joked, before adding she was really backing Obama. So what does the self-proclaimed porn lover think about gay marriage? "I'm for anything gay," she said. "I adore gay men, gay women, gay everything. I think I was gay in a past life."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/12)

"Tug of War" - Holly takes her authority at Ojai Foods too far and pushes Saul and Sarah to their limits. Meanwhile Kevin encounters homophobia in the work place for the first time, and Justin struggles with a hero's welcome from a soldier whose life he saved in Iraq, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Mitch Pileggi as Browne Carter, MJ Karmi as Cynthia Carter, Brandon Gunn as the passer-by, Rick Worthy as Officer Collins, Dane Garretson as the potential recruit, Benny Ciaramello as Anthony Lewis, Carmen Corral as Maggie Lewis, Christine Avila as Anita Lewis, Terry Bozeman, Pamela Shaddock and S.E. Perry as the board members, John Prosky as Ron Robinson, Wylie Small as Connie Robinson and Justin Alvarez as the bartender.

"Tug of War" was written by Liz Tigelaar and Josh Reims and directed by Gloria Muzio.

Live Earth climate change concert heads to India

Jon Bon Jovi and Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan will perform at this year's Live Earth concert, when the music extravaganza aimed at raising awareness of climate change heads to India.

Last year's Live Earth spanned four continents and 150 acts were performed over a 24-hour period. But organizers Al Gore and Kevin Wall decided this year to stage only one event in India, in the hopes of bringing their message to the developing world.

"India is not the country that created the climate crisis, but it is a developing nation and we need to open doors for local environmental organizations to create consciousness here," Wall, an Emmy-winning concert producer, told The Associated Press.

While China overtook the U.S. in carbon dioxide emissions in 2006, environmentalists worry about developing countries that struggle with more cars on already-choked city roads, greater demands for fuel and high pollution levels in rivers.

"India will be among the leading powers of the global economy in the coming decades," Gore said as he announced via satellite that the concert will be held in Mumbai in December. "India has a major role to play in leadership by example for the climate crisis and sustainable development."

The 2007 concert series raised concerns that the events would create trash and contribute to emissions. But Wall said the Live Earth team was committed to implementing last year's guidelines including recycling, minimizing waste, and using Indian lighting, staging and video companies to reduce waste in transportation.

The concert's proceeds will go to charities including Light A Billion Lives, a nonprofit organization headed by Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, who shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Gore for sounding the alarm on global warming.

The organization is installing solar power units in energy-starved Indian villages and aims to link understanding climate change with alleviating poverty.

Nicholson, Bon Jovi, Shaq nominated for NJ Hall

Actor Jack Nicholson, rocker Jon Bon Jovi and NBA star Shaquille O'Neal are among 30 nominees to the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Members of the public will help select the 10 inductees for the hall's second class by voting online through Nov. 30.

"As with our first class of nominees presented in 2007, this assemblage of New Jersey Hall of Fame nominees is indeed impressive," Bart Oates, chairman of the hall's board of commissioners, said Tuesday in announcing the nominees.

The nominees are from the fields of arts and entertainment, sports, history and enterprise. Only people who lived in the Garden State for at least five years are eligible, though current residency is not required, hall spokesman Don Smith said.

Last year, the hall inducted 15 members into its inaugural class, including Bruce Springsteen, Yogi Berra and Frank Sinatra.

This year's nominees include political activist Paul Robeson, writers F. Scott Fitzgerald, Walt Whitman and Philip Roth, entertainers Jerry Lewis, Count Basie and Bud Abbott, and athletes Althea Gibson (tennis) and Carl Lewis (track).

The nominees were culled from a list of more than 160 potential Hall of Famers compiled over three years. The organization's Voting Academy, made up of more than 100 state organizations, whittled the list to 30 names.

Public voters will elect five people, and the academy will choose the other five inductees.

The goal of the hall is to highlight the often-derided Garden State's positive contributions, a lofty endeavor for a state renowned for corrupt politicians, belching refineries, stereotypical gangsters and novel smells.

The hall has a virtual home but no permanent physical location.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/5)

"Book Burning" - Much to the chagrin of her mother and siblings, Kitty decides to publish a tell-all memoir about Robert's unsuccessful Presidential race and the trials and tribulations of the Walker family. Meanwhile, Justin slows his relationship with Rebecca to a near stand still, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Cathy Ladman as Carla Hanson, Karl T. Wright as Alan Simms and Marty Ryan as Mike.

"Book Burning" was written by Jennifer Levin and Sherri Cooper-Landsman and directed by Laura Innes.

Ellen & Portia Share the Wedding Day Love

No bridezillas here. Not too many dry eyes, either.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi let the cameras roll and emotions flow on their big day last month, chronicling the before, during and after of their home wedding in footage that aired yesterday on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

And lest there be any doubt as to whether DeGeneres' funny bone runs in the fam, the chat host also released "Ellen and Portia's Wedding Song" on her website, a ditty penned and sung by her brother, former Daily Show correspondent Vance DeGeneres.

All together now: Awww. Watch a clip here.

Hayden Panettiere Loves the 'Little Things'

One needn't possess super powers to win the heart of Hayden Panettiere. The Heroes star tells PEOPLE she knows what she likes in a relationship.

"I think little things are what counts. I think flowers, or just little things that say they care," Panettiere, 19, said on the red carpet before the fifth annual Fashion Rocks concert at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall.

"When you wake up, and you've got a note posted on your mirror, and it says, 'I love you, have a great day' – that's, like, the best."

In fact, one certain boyfriend once took the note-writing to the extreme.

"One time, a boyfriend went out of town, and he left notes all over the house in places he knew I'd find them," recalled Panettiere. "And they just said little things like, 'I love you.' And under my pillow, one said, 'Sweet dreams.'"

Was this special messenger her current beau, costar Milo Ventimiglia?

"I don't know," Panettiere replied coyly. "I don't think I've ever said I have a boyfriend."

Sighting

Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia, dining in the living room of West Hollywood's Chateau Marmont at a dinner party for new Web site Talenthouse.com. The Heroes costars (and real-life couple) stopped into the curtained-off dinner early in the evening – and while they avoided being photographed together, they sure were affectionate. Panettiere sat on her beau's lap, and the two held hands before the meal was served, an onlooker tells us.

Bon Jovi has best shot at 2008 Rock Hall of Fame induction

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is proud to induct Canada's weirdest band, Skinny Puppy ...

OK, that's not a likely scenario, even if the industrial experimentalists are finally eligible. But when the nominating committee for the Rock Hall sits down today in New York to hash out nominees, the first step in the process that will elect the class of 2009, it will be choosing from a relatively unappetizing menu of first-time prospects.

The closest thing to the Madonnas, R.E.M.s, Van Halens and U2s that have starred at recent inductions is probably Bon Jovi.

Another leading prospect is the late blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, but the rest of the crop — including Cyndi Lauper, k.d. lang, Billy Bragg, and metal extremists Slayer — are more marginal prospects.

Which means the committee will need to turn to holdovers — those previously eligible artists who have yet to gain sufficient support. Among them are previous nominees Chic, Donna Summer and the Beastie Boys, all of whom must confront the "Is disco or rap really rock?" conundrum that regularly polarizes voters and fans.

"If people are adamant in their disregard for disco," says MSN senior music producer Sam Sutherland, "Chic is in trouble. But talk about a band with crazy chops who used a rock vocabulary … they should be in."

Sutherland feels Bon Jovi has the inside track for induction. "They have just enough rock legitimacy among critics and sales power that it's hard to see skipping them," he says.

A number of perennial fan favorites long ignored by the Hall — Rush, the Moody Blues, Chicago — shouldn't raise their expectations, Sutherland says. Their disconnect with the critics and executives who dominate the nominating committee is still in strong effect. But he holds out hope for one long-overlooked legend, Neil Diamond.

"He's got his credibility back, working with (producer) Rick Rubin," Sutherland says. "All those years of spangled shirts and summer shed performances obscured his '60s Brill Building credentials. But now he's got a much better shot than he did 10 years ago."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (9/28; SEASON PREMIERE)

"Glass Houses" - Secrets can't be kept for long in the Walker family, as Rebecca and Justin try unsuccessfully to hide their feelings for each another and the Walker siblings hatch a plan to reach out to their long lost brother, Ryan, while keeping it from their mother, Nora. Meanwhile, Kitty calls upon her family to lend support, as she and Robert begin the process of adopting a child. And just as Kevin and Scotty begin their life partnership together, Kevin's career is put in jeopardy by a member of his own family, on the third-season premiere of "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Michael Adler as Doug Manning, Mitch Pileggi as Browne Carter and Kulap Vilaysack as Gail.

"Glass Houses" was written by Molly Newman and David Marshall Grant and directed by Tucker Gates.

Parrot Rehatch

BLUE Parrot, the beloved Tex-Mex restaurant in East Hampton known for its potent margaritas and its karaoke nights, has been closed for two years. But Jon Bon Jovi and billionaire pal Ronald Perelman are in talks to buy the eatery with plans to reopen it next summer much the way it used to be . . . relaxed, fun and not too pricey. Perelman has become a restaurateur in addition to all his other businesses, like Revlon and Panavision. He is said to be a backer of Graydon Carter's Monkey Bar, and almost bought Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett a couple years ago.

Rocker Bon Jovi hosts Obama fundraiser

Unlike his Republican opponent, Democrat Barack Obama is still raising money for his presidential campaign, and he turned Friday to rock legend Jon Bon Jovi for help.

Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea, hosted more than 100 people for dinner on their mansion lawn by the Navesink River in Middletown, N.J. The price was $30,800 a person, to be divided between the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

"When I look at Barack, I see an old man," Bon Jovi said in introducing his guest. Obama is 47, Bon Jovi is 46.

Obama spoke for about eight minutes before greeting guests individually. He vowed to fight Republican attacks on his character and background more fiercely than John Kerry did in his losing campaign four years ago.

"We're not going to be bullied, we're not going to be smeared, we're not going to be lied about," Obama said. "I don't believe in coming in second."

Earlier in the evening, Obama attended a $2,300-per-person reception at the nearby home of veteran party fundraiser Phil Murphy. About 200 people, including the Bon Jovis and New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, attended.

Republican nominee John McCain can raise no more campaign money because he accepted about $84 million in public funding and the restrictions that go with it. Obama turned down the public funding, figuring he can raise and spend more on his own.

Sighting

HAYDEN Panettiere, after taping the David Letterman show, eating tuna truffle sandwiches at Geisha with her makeup artist, hair dresser and colorist

Bon Jovi to help build homes for AIDS patients in New Jersey

New Jersey's governor, the mayor of the state's largest city and one of its best-known rock 'n rollers are teaming up to promote the construction of 51 residences that will cater to homeless people who have AIDS.

Jon Bon Jovi was in Newark Tuesday to announce the HELP USA Newark Initiative.

The public-private partnership, with Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, will build the Genesis Apartments, 51 new units of affordable housing.

Gov. Jon Corzine and Newark Mayor Cory Booker were also scheduled to attend.

Guitar Hero

Jon Bon Jovi, winning Sting’s guitar from his final Police concert during an auction at Take Note’s Hamptons fundraiser benefiting Mercy Corps’ work in Darfur.

Caught in the Act!

The Radiohead show – the second of a two-night stand – drew plenty of celebrity fans: Mary-Kate Olsen was spotted, and Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl stuck around for an afterparty at the outdoor venue. At the bash, Grohl drank a beer, posed for pictures with fans and cracked everybody up. Keanu Reeves took in the show as well. And the night before, newlyweds Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi were among the stars rocking out to the British band.

Downey Jr. shoots down 'Dark Knight'

Robert Downey Jr. apparently wasn't impressed by The Dark Knight.

In a recent interview with moviehole.net the actor went over his concerns with the movie.

"My whole thing is that that I saw 'The Dark Knight'. I feel like I'm dumb because I feel like I don't get how many things that are so smart. It's like a Ferrari engine of storytelling and script writing and I'm like, 'That's not my idea of what I want to see in a movie.' I loved 'The Prestige' but didn't understand 'The Dark Knight'. Didn't get it, still can't tell you what happened in the movie, what happened to the character and in the end they need him to be a bad guy. I'm like, 'I get it. This is so high brow and so f--king smart, I clearly need a college education to understand this movie.' You know what? F-ck DC comics. That's all I have to say and that's where I'm really coming from."

Hayden: Dad's Arrest 'Blown Out of Proportion'

Hayden Panettiere insists her father's recent arrest was much ado about nothing.

Speaking publicly for the first time about his arrest two weeks ago for alleged felony domestic violence, she blames attention-seeking police for making it a big deal.

"It was blown way out of proportion by a sheriff who wanted his 15 minutes of fame," the Heroes actress, who turned 19 last Thursday, tells Extra.

"My family is wonderful – they are so very happy. So…we're all great."

Panettiere's father, Alan, was arrested Aug. 11 at the family's West Hollywood home after allegedly striking his wife, Lesley Vogel, in the face. He was released on bail and reunited with his wife that same day.

At the time, he told Extra that "nothing actually happened" and called the incident a "misunderstanding."

Washington, Van Peebles and Liu turn out for Obama party

Celebrities aren't always coy about their love affairs.

Jamie Foxx, Fran Drescher, Lucy Liu and Isaiah Washington were among the stars who proclaimed their love for Barack Obama Thursday night at a swanky soiree.

VIP donors paid $2,300 each to attend the Black and White Gala for Barack Obama at a private home in Beverly Hills.

Mario Van Peebles and other guests munched on croissants, crudités, olives and eggplant while a seven-member gospel choir performed.

They set the evening's tone with a rousing song: "Time for a change. We are the people, we can do it."

The party raised more than $200,000 for the Obama campaign, said Theresa DeBell, who hosted the event with her husband, Robert Siegel.

Foxx, who is set to appear at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, greeted congressmen and other guests at a table in the corner, his teenage daughter by his side. "Dancing With the Stars" runner-up Melanie Brown, in a bejeweled black gown, chatted with actress Nia Long, who has been following Obama's campaign for the past year.

"This is the first election where I've actually paid attention to every single thing, and I think it's because I'm a mom now," Long said. "I just think Barack is amazing... I admire him. I admire Michelle."

Drescher, a women's-health advocate who worked with Obama on the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act, was mistress of ceremonies. Drescher said she originally supported Hillary Clinton but now is fully behind Obama.

"He stands for everything that I believe in," she said. "I think he's inspirational, and that's what this country needs right now."

Drescher, who is set to speak at the women's caucus at the DNC, said she still hopes Obama might pick Clinton as his running mate.

Comedian Kathy Griffin also was rooting for Clinton as vice president.

"If not, I'm going to go with one of the Lohans," she said. "I think Ali has a bright, new future. But maybe Cody could really get the job done."

Ellen & Portia: We Talk about Having Kids

With their weekend nuptials now behind them – and chronicled in words and exclusive pictures in the new issue of PEOPLE – Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are contemplating their future together.

They may not be alone.

"We go back and forth," de Rossi, 35, tells PEOPLE about the prospect of having children. "I don't know if it's our immediate future. It's something we talk about every few months."

"It's something we would never take lightly and just say, 'That would be fun.' It's a lot of work and we recognize that," says DeGeneres, 50. "In a way, we want to be selfish because we love our life, but we know how much that adds to it."

And, Ellen adds, "If they would be as pretty as Brad and Angelina's kids, we might."

For the complete story on Ellen and Portia's wedding, including intimate photos from the celebration, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

Ellen & Portia's Wedding Album

Saturday evening was full of love, laughter, and a few tears for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who exchanged personal wedding vows in front of their closest family and friends at their home in L.A.

In an exclusive interview and photos, DeGeneres, 50, and de Rossi, 35, share the most romantic moments of the night with PEOPLE.

"What can I say? I'm the luckiest girl in the world," says DeGeneres. "She's officially off the market. No one else gets her. And now she'll cook and clean for me."

Amid candles and flowers by Mark's Garden, both brides, wearing designs by Zac Posen, sat on floor pillows along with author Wayne Dyer, who officiated the ceremony.

After exchanging Neil Lane rings, the couple and their guests sat down for an all-vegan menu prepared by their personal chef David Silberkleit while Sweet Lady Jane created a vegan red velvet cake for the celebration.

"The love we felt from the people surrounding us, and the love we have for each other, made this the most beautiful and emotional day," says de Rossi. "And one that we'll never forget."

For the complete story, including intimate wedding photos, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday

Ellen & Portia: Lunch, Yes. Honeymoon, No

The honeymoon is over. Well, sort of.

Just two days after tying the knot, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi took a leisurely postwedding stroll in West Hollywood Monday afternoon as they headed to Real Food Daily for lunch.

"This is it," Ellen revealed, when asked where the newlyweds would be going for their honeymoon. "I have to go back to work."

The talk-show host kept mum about the couple's nuptials, but she did tell photographers that "it feels great to be married."

Ellen & Portia's Wedding Singer Gushes Over Ceremony

Singer/songwriter Joshua Radin was elated to serenade Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi on Saturday during their private nuptials.

“I cannot imagine topping that experience," Radin told PEOPLE exclusively of his performance for DeGeneres, 50, and de Rossi, 35. "I've never played a wedding before, and I probably won't again until it's my own.”

For his performance, Radin – who was hand-picked by DeGeneres as a surprise for de Rossi – sang acoustic renditions of several new tracks, including the ballad "They Bring Me To You."

But Radin isn’t the only one to share his happiness for the newlyweds: Congratulations have started flooding in. "I wish her all the best, all the happiness, all the joy that comes with that certificate in hand," Katherine Heigl, a self-proclaimed fan of DeGeneres, said upon hearing the news.

America Fererra added that she has no advice for the couple, only well-wishes. "I'm just so happy that they get to love each other in such an official way."

Grey's Anatomy star T.R. Knight also sent his congrats along with his relief that same-sex marriage is now legal in California. "I happy that they’re happy," said Knight. "I’m happy that they’re allowed to get married."

For more on Ellen and Portia's wedding and exclusive personal photos, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday.

Sightings

JON Bon Jovi pulling up in a 1966 blue convertible Chevy Malibu SS with white racing stripes and Jersey plates to pick up ribs, chili and baked beans to go, at Townline BBQ in Sagaponack

Ellen and Portia Get Married

Ring the wedding bells!

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have tied the knot.

"Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi were married tonight in an intimate ceremony at their home in Los Angeles," their spokesperson tells PEOPLE exclusively.

DeGeneres, 50, and de Rossi, 35, both wore Zac Posen and exchanged rings by Neil Lane during the Saturday ceremony. Their big day also featured arrangements by L.A. florist Mark's Garden.

The intimate ceremony was attended by 19 guests, including DeGeneres's mom Betty and de Rossi's mother Margaret Rogers (who flew in from Australia for the occasion), who witnessed the couple exchange handwritten vows.

The couple have been dating since December 2004. DeGeneres announced her plans to wed de Rossi during a taping of her talk show in May after California's Supreme Court ruled a previous ban on gay marriage to be unconstitutional.

The following month de Rossi showed off a 3-carat diamond ring set on a pink pavé band DeGeneres presented to her for their upcoming nuptials when the pair attended the Daytime Emmy Awards together.

"She's taught me lessons about myself, and I feel like I've taught her," the TV host said of de Rossi last year. "We've both changed and grown, and we just feel like, 'Oh, okay, this is completion.'"

Blushing Brides

DAYTIME sweetheart Ellen DeGeneres is going to wed her gorgeous girlfriend, Portia de Rossi , tomorrow in Los Angeles. An insider told Page Six, "Their wedding is definitely happening," and Saturday is the big night. "Twenty people were invited," said the source, who noted, "Portia is wearing a flowing, form-fitting dress by Zac Posen." We're guessing DeGeneres will opt for a pantsuit.

Hayden's Dad: Arrest Was a 'Misunderstanding'

Hayden Panettiere's father, Alan, says his recent arrest was a "misunderstanding."

Following his release on bail Monday, Alan "Skip" Panettiere played down the alleged altercation with his wife, Lesley Vogel, telling Extra that "nothing actually happened."

After a conversation with both Alan and Lesley, Extra host Mario Lopez, a friend of the family, says: "Lesley wasn't even aware that Skip had been arrested. Hayden found out about her dad's arrest when he called her from jail."

Panettiere, 49, was arrested at the family's West Hollywood home in the early hours of Monday morning and was booked on a charge of felony domestic violence following a fight with Vogel.

But just hours after Panettiere was released from police custody, the couple united for a very public display of togetherness, smiling as they walked their dogs near the family home on Monday afternoon.

Says Lopez: "They love each other very much and want everyone to know that the matter was completely blown out of proportion."

Hayden Panettiere's Father Released on Bail

Hayden Panettiere's father, Alan, was released from custody on $50,000 bail Monday afternoon after being arrested for allegedly striking the actress's mother.

Panettiere, 49, was arrested at 3:15 a.m. at the family's West Hollywood home and spent about 10 hours in Los Angeles County sheriff's custody. He was booked on a charge of felony domestic violence following a fight with wife Lesley Vogel, 52, deputies said.

On Sunday evening, the couple attended a Hollywood charity benefit for the Whaleman Foundation hosted by their daughter at Beso restaurant, and the pair were seen arguing.

A sheriff's spokesman says that Alan struck Lesley one or two times on the cheek causing bruising. Another sheriff's official says that alcohol was involved in the incident.

An observer at the party tells PEOPLE: "When they were both about to leave, they had a heated argument outside the restaurant. They were doing a good amount of yelling."

Robert Downey Jr.'s risky role in "Tropic Thunder"

When Robert Downey Jr. put on dark make-up for film comedy "Tropic Thunder," the actor ventured into the racially charged territory of blackface, an old showbiz convention that is no laughing matter.

Downey said he initially worried that his portrayal of a white actor playing a black man could hurt his career, and he bristled at being given what he thought would be the most controversial role in the film directed by Ben Stiller.

But so far, "Tropic Thunder," which opens on Wednesday, has generated no backlash against the 43-year-old star of "Iron Man."

Hollywood's history with blackface, a style of wearing wigs and makeup to caricature slaves or ex-slaves in the 19th and early 20th centuries, dates to the start of the movie industry but has largely stopped except in cases of satire and comedy.

Downey told reporters in recent interviews that his role was a satirical send-up of actor narcissism, and different from older uses of blackface that reinforced harmful stereotypes.

"It's entertainment that's set up by people who are high-minded enough to not be racist or offensive," he said.

"The whole film is based on the idea that what we (actors) do at some level is offensive and who we are, at some level, is despicable and pathetic, which is the truth and not the truth. But the part of it that is the truth, is entertaining."

Downey portrays an Australian actor named Kirk Lazarus who is playing a black army sergeant in a war movie being filmed in the jungle. When one of the characters is kidnapped by drug dealers, his buddies must rescue him by acting, in real life, the way their characters were acting in the movie.

In the case of Lazarus, he continues playing the sergeant even after filming stops, and his overzealousness earns him mockery from a real black actor played by Brandon T. Jackson.

LONG HISTORY

In Hollywood, many stars appeared in blackface until it fell out of favor during the 1950s civil rights movement.

Comic icons the Marx Brothers put on blackface in the 1937 movie "A Day at the Races," as did actors Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in the 1941 movie "Babes on Broadway."

A hundred years ago, immigrant audiences from countries such as Italy and Ireland -- who often were not considered "white" by native-born Americans -- went to blackface shows to laugh at outsiders and feel white, said Mark Golub, an expert on blackface who teaches at Scripps College in California.

But blackface was not only popular with immigrants, it also played into widespread racist sentiments, experts said.

"By the supremacy of whiteness, blackness had to, by necessity, be its foil, be its opposite," said Darnell Hunt, director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Najee Ali, president of the Los Angeles-based civil rights group Project Islamic HOPE, said he saw "Tropic Thunder" in a screening and that Downey avoided being offensive by rising above buffoonery. But Ali, who is black, said he worries it could lead to more offensive portrayals.

"Blackface is still blackface, and I think it's important that we have to stop allowing ourselves to be perceived as clowns to the rest of the world," he said.

Director Stiller, 42, said he thought about casting a black actor playing a white man for the role, but changed his mind.

"A white guy playing this black role to challenge himself the most in a way that's wrong-headed and going too far, to me that was the funnier idea," Stiller said.

Hayden Panettiere's Dad Arrested for Domestic Violence

Hayden Panettiere's father, Alan, was arrested early Monday morning at the family's West Hollywood home for felony domestic violence, sheriffs confirm to PEOPLE.

"There was a domestic argument between the mother and father," Sgt. Scott Wolf of the West Hollywood sheriffs said. "He got upset and struck the mother in the face one or two times on the left cheek which caused some bruising. From what I'm told, he hit her with a closed fist.

"The mother called police shortly before 3 a.m., and Mr. Panettiere was taken into custody," Sgt. Wolf added. "He's been cooperative. Earlier, they were at a party and the husband apparently felt disrespected by his wife."

On Sunday evening, Hayden hosted a benefit for the Whaleman Foundation at Eva Longoria's Beso restaurant in Hollywood, also attended by her parents.

Wolf said that Alan Panettiere, 49, who has not yet given deputies his version of events, was arrested on the felony charge instead of a misdemeanor because "there were visible signs of injury" on 52-year-old Lesley Vogel's face. TMZ.com first reported the incident.

It's unclear whether either party was intoxicated or if anyone else was home at the time.

Alan Panettiere is currently in custody, pending $50,000 bail.

"Iron Man" to hit DVD stores on September 30

The superhero smash "Iron Man" will be released September 30 on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, distributor Paramount Pictures said Friday.

With North American sales of $316 million, the Robert Downey Jr. movie is the second-biggest movie of the year, behind "The Dark Knight."

"Iron Man" is the second in what could be as many as 18 theatrical features to be announced for the home entertainment market in the lucrative fourth quarter, and its arrival in stores one day before the official start of the fourth quarter indicates it likely will be the first.

Another big film to be slotted for the fourth quarter, Fox's "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!" has a December 9 DVD and Blu-ray release date attached to it. At $153.4 million, "Horton" is the year's No. 7 movie.

The two releases, coming at opposite ends of the holiday-selling season, reflect two different philosophies at the home entertainment divisions of the major Hollywood studios. Come out early and benefit from the first rush of consumers to stores; come out late and you'll hit stores at the same time as the last-minute impulse buyers.

Paramount is releasing "Iron Man" as a two-disc "Ultimate Edition" on DVD and Blu-ray. Each includes a seven-part making-of documentary and a six-part feature on the origins of the Marvel superhero.

Other extras include a documentary on the film's visual effects; Robert Downey Jr.'s original screen test; deleted and extended scenes; a photo gallery of concept art; and behind-the-scenes images on the set.

The Blu-ray presentation also offers several additional extras, including a "Hall of Armor" that lets viewers zoom in on any of the three Iron Man suits, or Iron Monger, and then activate digital 3-D schematics to check out every weapon. They also can fly around each suit to explore it in great detail. Also included is a BD-Live Web application, "Iron Man IQ," that lets users create and share new multiple-choice quizzes based on clips from the film.

A single-disc "Iron Man" DVD also will be issued, with just the movie and the deleted and extended scenes.

Robert Downey, Jr. Say What?!

"I'm such a work in progress at the moment, it's crazy, and life wants me on edge, I swear to you. But as long as I don't forget the past, I'm cool. One must always be mindful, just like you might forget that old girlfriend who tried to slit your throat, but she's really still hot. If you remember the stitches more than you remember the p--sy, you're going to be just fine."—Robert Downey Jr., in a careening, crazy-cool interview in the new issue of Rolling Stone, which hits newsstands Aug. 8

Robert Downey Jr. Checks His Ego for Iron Man 2

Before Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. was a punch line for any celebrity rehab story. Now he's considered the mastermind of the greatest comic-book movie ever. Well, for a couple months until The Dark Knight opened.

Going into Iron Man 2, Downey is playing the humble card. "I also have to let go, because there's an aspect, particularly after the success of things, I noticed my narcissism got dialed up," said Downey while promoting his latest film, Tropic Thunder.

"Suddenly, for a minute, I felt like everyone needed to take a knee and listen to what I had to say, because I f--kin' made it, and my way works and all this stuff. Then I go home and I go, 'Oh my God, what's happening to me? I gotta get grounded here.' "

Downey got Tropic cowriter and actor Justin Theroux the gig writing Iron Man 2. Theroux is just crawling out from under the pile of Iron Man comics as we speak.

"I've just stopped marinating in all the Iron Man lore that I didn't know, and I'm sort of firing up the chainsaw and ready to attack it," said Theroux. "You're writing for Robert Downey Jr., so, at the end of the day, that's an enormous amount of fun."

The new collaboration has Downey all fired up to slip into the gold suit again. "I'm stoked," he said. "I'm into it. I'm excited to do another Iron Man right."

Lucy Liu joins Samuel L. film

Lucy Liu is set to embrace her inner warrior.

The 39-year-old actress will lend her voice to "Afro Samurai: Resurrection," a two-hour sequel to the animated series starring Samuel Jackson, Spike TV announced Thursday.

Liu will play Sio, a seductive and sadistic mastermind out to destroy Jackson's samurai.

"When we first created the character of Sio, we knew that Lucy Liu would be perfect for the role," said executive producer Leo Chu. "We thought we owed it to ourselves to at least ask her, never dreaming that she would say yes."

Liu's most recent animated outing was in this summer's "Kung Fu Panda." Other credits include "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and TV shows such as "Ally McBeal" and "Cashmere Mafia."

Mark Hamill is also slated to star in "Afro Samurai: Resurrection," playing a servant and protector to Liu's character. The movie is set to premiere on Spike TV in January.

Robert Downey Jr. postpones memoir

The "Iron Man" will not be wielding a pen: Robert Downey Jr. has postponed plans to write a memoir and has returned his advance to publisher HarperCollins, a spokeswoman for the actor told The Associated Press.

Britney Ross of Rogers & Cowan declined to say Tuesday why Downey wouldn't be writing the book, originally scheduled to come out this year. HarperCollins had billed it as a "candid look at the highs and lows of his life and career" when the publisher announced the project two years ago.

Downey, 43, has struggled often with drug abuse, but has also received much acclaim for his acting, including an Academy Award nomination for his starring role in "Chaplin" and strong reviews for his title performance in "Iron Man," one of this year's biggest hits. He next will be seen in "Tropic Thunder," along with Ben Stiller and Jack Black.

Hayden Panettiere: My Summer Vacation

This summer has been about growing up for Hayden "the Cheerleader" Panettiere, who's busy breaking in her first multimillion-dollar Hollywood Hills mansion. (We say “first” because there will be others. There are always others.)

The Candie's-sponsored “Wake Up Call” singer tells E! News she has been concentrating on decorating her “contemporary” home as well as squeezing a huge 14-by-14 couch into her living room.

And while Hayden lives alone for now—her best friend from back home will be moving in with her soon—she still has one source of comfort when things go bump in the night and it's not Milo (at least not all of the time)...

“My parents are, like, down the street," says the Heroes star. "So when it's late at night and I don't feel like being by myself, I'll be like [on the phone], 'Hi Dad,' and he'll be like, 'Just come over,' and I'll be like, 'Oh, OK. Pull my arm. Twist my arm. OK.' "

Awww, how cute. The cheerleader requires saving in real life, too. Granted, it's from a $4 million mansion and not some crazy dude who slices people's skulls open and steals brains, but you know what we're saying.

Costar Praises Robert Downey Jr. for Race-Bending Role

Though Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of black soldier in the comedy Tropic Thunder is sure to turn heads, he already has one fan – his African-American costar, Brandon T. Jackson.

"To be honest, he played a black dude better than anybody I've seen!" Jackson raved about Downey's performance in the Ben Stiller-directed film.

But that doesn't mean Jackson didn't have initial hesitations.

"When I first read the script, I was like: What? Black face? But when I saw him [act] he, like, became a black man," Jackson says.

In the film, Downey, 43, plays Kirk Lazarus, an Academy Award-winning actor who is cast in the most expensive Vietnam war film ever. But Lazarus's character, Sgt. Osiris, was originally written as an African-American. Lazarus decides to dye his skin to play the role.

"It was just good acting," Jackson says. "It was weird on the set because he would keep going with the character. He's a method actor."

Hayden Panettiere's "Wake Up Call" with Candie's

She’s one of Hollywood’s hottest superheroes, and now Hayden Panettiere is setting her sights on singing — and she’s letting Candie’s in on the action. The footwear giant has just announced that as part of the Heroes actress’s second season as a spokesmodel for their juniors line, they will feature Hayden’s first-ever music video, “Wake Up Call,” as a television commercial spot. And although the single from her debut album won’t be available to download from iTunes until August 5, she’s giving PEOPLE a first look and listen. Find yourself craving the styles she shows off in the video and print ads? You’re in luck. The items will be available as part of Candie’s back-to-school collection exclusively for Kohl’s. You’ve seen, you’ve heard. Tell us: What do you think of Hayden’s single?

Bon Jovi's Soul keep on rocking toward title

Jon Bon Jovi's next stop on the road has nothing to do with his band's tour. Fresh off a free concert in Central Park, Bon Jovi is taking a break.

The rocker's Arena Football League team keeps on going. Up ahead for the Philadelphia Soul — the San Jose Sabercats in the ArenaBowl XXII in New Orleans. Bon Jovi will be there, but he'll leave his guitar and his greatest hits behind.

"I'm going there as the owner of the Soul," Bon Jovi said on Tuesday.

Jon Bon Jovi was set to meet with the Soul and the coaching staff before the band's final concert Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The team planned to present Bon Jovi with the National Conference trophy.

"It's really rewarding," he said by phone hours before the final show. "We're proud of the whole organization. We've built a team of character. Coach (Bret) Munsey has been everything that we've hoped for. Fingers crossed, one more to go."

The Soul won their first nine games and the Eastern Division title, and beat the Cleveland Gladiators 70-35 on Saturday to advance to their first title game. San Jose has won three of the last six ArenaBowl's and is looking to become the first repeat champions in 12 years. The Soul defeated San Jose 58-57 back in April.

They get at least a night to celebrate with their famous boss.

"Then they can go back and get to work," Bon Jovi said.

Sure, San Jose has all the titles, but it doesn't have the worldwide recognition that Bon Jovi gives the Soul on every tour stop. He wears the Soul jersey at packed arenas around the globe and even dedicated a tune to the band at Saturday night's free concert in front of 60,000 fans on the park's Great Lawn.

While the concert started hours after the Soul won the conference title, Bon Jovi was too jittery to watch. He caught a replay of league MVP Matt D'Orazio leading the Soul to victory after the concert was finished.

"It was impossible for me to consider watching it live," he said. "I would have been too caught up in it. So I shut off the phones and the computer and television, closed the doors and just concentrated on playing Central Park that night."

Bon Jovi then performed at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Tuesday as part of its "Lost Highway" tour.

"I feel like a prize fighter answering that bell for the 15th round and I've got to go to the Garden," he said.

One arena the band likely won't play again is the Spectrum in Philadelphia. The Spectrum, once home to title-winning 76ers and Flyers teams, will close in 2009 and be demolished to make way for an entertainment development. Bon Jovi, whose band played there 14 times, called the arena's closing a "sad day."

"It's a dark day in Philadelphia," he said. "It's a great piece of history. Some of my favorite (memories), some of my greatest, both as the owner of the Soul, as a performer, and even as a concert goer (were there)."

Bon Jovi planned a short vacation before heading to New Orleans. Bon Jovi — who has become as much of a philanthropist as he has a rock star — once donated $1 million to Oprah's Angel Network to help aid in relief of victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Serving as the face of his band, his football team and his charitable foundation tires Bon Jovi, but he has no plan to give up any of his jobs. He wants to own an NFL team one day, though he has no plans of selling the Soul.

"It's been a lot of fun, it really has," he said. "We're really made an impression now in Philadelphia and the league. We're certainly one of, if not the premier team in the league. We're the team that's best known."

As for Tuesday's tour finale? It's not curtains on the band yet. Bon Jovi said the band plans to keep on rocking for as long as the fans are belting out all the songs, filling stadiums and buying the music.

"I don't envision myself necessarily living out of a suitcase at 64 like (Mick) Jagger, but (the Rolling Stones) are the benchmark," he said. "When they decide to call it a day, then the rest of us can look at our calendars and decide how to take it. As long as we're having No. 1 albums and you can't get a ticket to the show, why should I quit?"

Hayden Panettiere Calls Debut Album 'Eclectic'

Hayden Panettiere is gearing up for one superhuman task – releasing her first album.

The Heroes star played her first single, "Wake Up Call," on Ryan Seacrest's KISS-FM radio show Tuesday – and opened up about the "very different, very diverse" songs comprising the album.

"They're a little bit eclectic," Panettiere, 18, said. The actress described the experience of hearing her music on the radio as "scary" and "terrifying," but told the talk show host that she's put a lot of effort into the songs on her debut disc. In fact, the project has been four years in the making.

"[The music] changed so much over the years," she says, "just because my life experiences and who I am as a person is obviously reflected in the music."

When it comes to her own musical tastes, the actress says her listening habits are equally eclectic, name-checking everyone from Luciano Pavarotti to rapper Nas. Panettiere also hopes that spirit permeates her music. Her wish for the disc is simply "[to make] sure that music didn't all sound the same."

With her album on the horizon, Panettiere shows no signs of slowing down. She's already filming the third season of her popular NBC drama. The cast has completed six episodes already.

"Everyone's so excited about it," she says of the upcoming season, which debuts Sept. 22. "It's the same action, the same high-intensity as the first season."

As for juicy plot points, all the actress would say was, "a couple of us actually get to play two different characters [because] for a second we go back and forth between the present and future and our future characters are very different."

Liu says `Kung Fu Panda' is an improv adventure

Lucy Liu had some trouble learning her lines for the hit summer animated film "Kung Fu Panda." But that wasn't her fault — a lot of the time, she said, there weren't any lines to learn.

"Working without knowing what you are doing from start to finish is very difficult," Liu said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It was really improvisation. It was exciting. It keeps you on your toes."

Liu was in Japan on Tuesday with comedian Jack Black and other members of the film's cast and crew for Kung Fu Panda's Japan premiere.

Liu, also known for her roles in "Charlie's Angels" and "Kill Bill," plays Master Viper in the movie, which is about an overweight panda who aspires to be a kung fu master. Along with Black, who plays the panda, Po, the film features the voices of Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman and Angelina Jolie.

Liu said she is particularly happy to be in a movie about China — both of her parents were from Taiwan before moving to New York, where she was born and raised.

"It didn't take me long at all to decide I wanted to do this," she said.

China seems to be glad she made the film, too.

The movie, which opened in China on June 20 to rave reviews, has made more than $15 million at the box office there — meaning it has crossed the threshold for what is considered a big hit in that country.

Before that, the movie, which is distributed by Paramount for DreamWorks Animation, pulled in $60 million in ticket sales to debut as the No. 1 movie in North America.

"It has a global message," Liu said.

Liu said although she chose to be in "Kung Fu Panda" because she was attracted by the China angle, she does not want to be limited to playing roles that specifically require an Asian actor, and added that Hollywood is gradually becoming more diverse in the array of parts that are available.

"I think there are more filmmakers out there who are doing more colorblind casting," she said. "I'm hoping it will continue to expand. But it is a long process."

Christina Ricci headed to "Saving Grace"

Christina Ricci has signed on for three episodes of TNT's Holly Hunter crime drama "Saving Grace," which begins its second season on Monday.

Hunter stars as Grace Hanadarko, an intense Oklahoma City police detective whose wild personal life translates into a no-holds-barred approach to her detective work.

Ricci will play a young detective who temporarily partners with Grace, whose current partner, Ham Dewey (Kenneth Johnson), is going on a leave of absence. The actress most recently appeared in the film "Speed Racer."

Actresses trade quips ahead of Emmy nominations

Serious Emmy candidates don't feign nonchalance -- for them, a peer honor is a genuinely exciting prospect, a fact that became clear during a recent candid discussion with seven of TV's top actresses.

Four are past Emmy nominees: Kyra Sedgwick of TNT's "The Closer," Minnie Driver of FX's "The Riches," Jenna Fischer of NBC's "The Office" and Calista Flockhart of ABC's "Brothers & Sisters." One is a previous winner: Felicity Huffman of ABC's "Desperate Housewives."

Also on hand were contenders Tichina Arnold of the CW's "Everybody Hates Chris" and Brooke Shields of NBC's "Lipstick Jungle."

Ahead of Thursday's announcement of the Primetime Emmy nominees, the group elaborated on everything from receiving Emmy attention, to working in TV vs. film, to the challenge of navigating Hollywood in a youth-fixated culture.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: FELICITY, YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE IN THIS ROOM WHO HAS WON AN EMMY. HOW DID IT CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

FELICITY HUFFMAN: Wow. I guess people take my phone calls more.

MINNIE DRIVER: Yes, it helps Felicity when she makes the calls. "Hello? Emmy winner here."

HUFFMAN: In this business, you work a lot, and then you don't work forever. It's feast or famine. You're worth something, and then you're worth absolutely nothing. It comes and goes. And so when it actually does come, the acknowledgment is nice, even though at the same time you know it's very ephemeral.

TICHINA ARNOLD: If I got a nomination, I'd make everyone in my life start calling me "Emmy." All of us in this room work extremely hard. The audience sees the end result: the show. But no one sees the process involved in getting those accolades, that recognition. It's beyond stardom. And it doesn't come often in an actress's lifetime.

BROOKE SHIELDS: You have to look at these awards as translating into more opportunity, that there will be another job.

DRIVER: We actors are so wrapped up in that whole notion of approbation. We base so much on it. We'd like to think that isn't what it's about, but of course it is.

THR: YOU'RE NOT TOO SUCCESSFUL AND JADED TO CARE ABOUT GETTING AN EMMY NOMINATION?

KYRA SEDGWICK: I don't think it's cool at all when people get up there and aren't excited about getting their award. People get really angry and disdainful of that. A certain amount of appreciation is important.

SHIELDS: And it's cool that win or lose, your bio still lists you forever as a nominee. No one ever remembers who won that year, anyway.

THR: KYRA AND MINNIE, YOU WORK IN CABLE, WHICH MEANS YOU GET TO DO FEWER EPISODES AND --

DRIVER: You get to say "s---."

THR: YOU ALSO DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING CANCELED AT MIDSEASON THE WAY NETWORKS DO.

SEDGWICK: The idea of only having to do 15 episodes instead of 22 or 23 was one of the reasons I took the job on "The Closer." But, yeah, being able to say "s---" and being able to make things edgy and truthful and more like real life is also really important to me. You also don't have so many cooks putting their fingers in and diluting it.

THR: MOST OR ALL OF YOU HAVE SHIFTED BETWEEN ROLES IN FILM AND TV. IS THAT WHOLE STIGMA OF BEING A TV PERFORMER GONE?

DRIVER: There still is this kind of cachet to being a movie star and all of that. But the quality of the product no longer justifies that image, whereas on TV I feel that, particularly with actresses, it's constantly supported.

SHIELDS: Television is one of the first places that rolled out the welcome mat for me way back when. To me, it wasn't a stepping stone back into movies but a place to grow as a performer, to have more opportunity and become something. And as for any stigma, I have to believe it's long gone.

THR: THERE CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE FAR MORE QUALITY ROLES FOR WOMEN ON TV THAN ON THE BIG SCREEN. AGREED?

DRIVER: Oh God yes. Women are doing more on television than they ever have.

CALISTA FLOCKHART: Absolutely, you see women getting more interesting roles, playing more protagonists, more vivid characters.

SEDGWICK: We're no longer just the girlfriend or the wife.

ARNOLD: Personally, I go where the work is and the project I believe in, whatever medium it is. My new motto is, "If my daughter can't watch it, I don't do it."

THR: SPEAKING OF WHICH, YOU ALL HAVE THE RARE LUXURY OF BEING ABLE TO PICK AND CHOOSE ROLES. BUT YOU'RE ALSO ALL IN YOUR 30S AND 40S. HAVE YOU COME UP AGAINST ANY AGEISM?

SEDGWICK: Not per se. But America is so obsessed with youth. You go to Europe, and it's not that way at all. As actresses, we're forced to simply accept that and adjust. We are the age we are. And the irony, of course, is that unquestionably every actor gets better as he or she gets older.

DRIVER: I hate the idea of reaching a certain age and being put in this box that forces actresses to become these battle-axes who speak out against youth culture. F--- you! Every woman gets stronger and progressively more beautiful as she ages, and I swear that television is representing that as a direct countermovement to magazines and movies. On the other extreme, young women get squashed into hideous roles showing most of their bodies and become infantalized. We need to start celebrating who we are and where we're at instead of loading up on plastic surgery to survive.

SHIELDS: As someone who was one of those infantalized people when I was still a child, I became mentally almost separated from my body. It was surreal to watch that whole pubescent obsession from the inside. I realize now how profoundly it fuels our society and our industry. This is a business that doesn't want young actresses to improve their craft, but remain pretty and dumb.

THR: IS THERE A SPECIFIC AGE AT WHICH ACTRESSES TEND TO GET REJECTED AS TOO OLD?

SEDGWICK: I had an agent who told me I was I too old at 28.

ARNOLD: I was on soap operas at 18 and graduated to starring on "Martin." But then after that I didn't work consistently for 10 years.

DRIVER: The crap that's waiting for you as a 25-year-old starlet convinces me I wouldn't want to be 25 anymore. It's just bollocks. I'll take my show on FX any day. It's the best part I've ever had in my life.

SHIELDS: There are so many reasons they give for tossing you out as an actress: too tall, too short, too blonde, not blonde enough, too pretty, not pretty enough, too fat, too thin, too old. There's always something you aren't going to be.

THR: DO ALL OF YOU HAVE THE CLOUT AT THIS POINT TO APPROACH YOUR SHOW'S WRITERS TO ALTER DIALOGUE?

DRIVER: They trust us when we go in with a valid challenge. It's only about making the ultimate outcome better, not pulling rank. So it feels good to have that respect. I don't take it for granted.

FLOCKHART: We as actors are given the chance to ask questions at the script roundtable. We read it out loud and try to find the balance between when you have to buckle down and make it work and when you feel the need to kind of get in there and ask why a certain scene is in a script. If the justification is there, you just have to go in and do your work and make the scene as good as you can. That's how it is on "Brothers & Sisters." I was also once on a show for a very long time where there was very little collaboration, but we also had one incredibly talented writer in charge.

THR: I IMAGINE HAVING SECURE JOBS ON TV SERIES IS NOT TAKEN FOR GRANTED. BUT NOW YOU HAVE TO BE CONCERNED THAT YOUR UNION MAY GO ON STRIKE. HOW WORRIED ARE YOU?

SEDGWICK: This industry was so crushed by the writers strike that I just don't think we'll let it happen.

FISCHER: The thing that really scares me is, I think there is no public goodwill left in this town to support another strike. But we would still be striking for the same very important things that the writers did. I just hope we aren't pushed to where we have to make that choice.

THR: WHAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT THE WHOLE FAME THING? DOES IT HAVE A HORRIBLE DOWNSIDE?

ARNOLD: Oh man! I love the free gifts! I love 'em! Look here, I got this watch for free! Check out these diamonds!

SEDGWICK: It's really about freedom. As an actor you feel so tenuous and on tenterhooks all the time. What fame gives you in the best sense is the freedom to choose.

SHIELDS: I've generally found fame to be this unbelievably fascinating, precarious concept. It provides opportunity and opens doors. But on the flip side, it deteriorates your soul.

FISCHER: You become an actor because you have this little need to be loved or seen or whatever. And fame has given me the exact opposite of that. Connecting with people becomes very hard. On the other hand, fame has granted me amazing access to experiences I wouldn't otherwise have had. I was able to take my mom to a White House reception.

THR: WHILE WE'RE ON THE FAME SUBJECT, WHAT'S THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS TABLOID STORY YOU'VE EVER READ ABOUT YOURSELF?

DRIVER: That my brother is the father of my child. I had never told anyone who the father of my child is because it's nobody's f---ing business. Then one of these s--ty, revolting magazines ran a pic of me and my brother walking the streets of New York, and they identified him as the father. It's just insane.

FISCHER: I just had it happen to me, a total and complete lie. They said I was getting a divorce -- which is true -- but also that I'd gone out on a date with David Spade. I've never even met him! I'd just gotten separated and told my ex-in-laws at brunch that I wasn't seeing anyone else. That planted a seed of doubt, and it hurt me a lot.

SHIELDS: The tabloids once wrote that I'd smuggled drugs into Cannes. My parents were tracking me all over Europe convinced that I'd finally stumbled onto the wrong path.

THR: SO YOU'RE TELLING US THAT YOU DIDN'T SMUGGLE DRUGS INTO CANNES?

SHIELDS: (Laughs.) Well, not that time.

Bon Jovi performs for thousands in Central Park

Bon Jovi rocked Central Park on Saturday.

The rock group gave a free concert on the park's Great Lawn, delighting tens of thousands of fans who sang along with the lyrics on a glorious summer evening.

The New Jersey rockers' opened with "Livin' on a Prayer" and belted out songs including "Born to be my Baby," "Lost Highway," and "Runaway."

New York City officials gave away 60,000 tickets for the concert. Some 50,000 people were expected to attend. The free tickets were reportedly being hawked by scalpers on eBay for as much as $1,500 a pair.

Hundreds of fans lined up early — in some cases as many as six hours before the show's 8 p.m. start.

For some, it was a family affair. Josephine Ribaudo-McGrane, 34, of Queens, arrived at 1 p.m. wearing a well-worn Bon Jovi concert T-shirt she bought in 2006. She came with her mother, 12-year-old son, 8-year-old daughter, an adult sister and her best friend.

"They've gotten me through a lot of rough times," she said, adding that her iPod is stocked with 200 Bon Jovi songs. "I don't think there's a song that I don't like."

The show was billed as a prelude to the Major League Baseball All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. The game on Tuesday will mark the final season at the Bronx ballpark. A new stadium is being built.

The band joins other greats who have performed on the Great Lawn, including Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand and Pope John Paul II. Garth Brooks also played the park's North Meadow.

Bon Jovi performs at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Tuesday as part of its "Lost Highway" tour. Those shows require paid admission.

The quartet has been rocking for more than two decades and has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Robert Downey Jr. Is Sherlock's 100-Percent Solution

Robert Downey Jr. has elected to put this role in his pipe and smoke it.

E! News confirmed Wednesday that the Iron Man star has commited to playing the titular sleuth in the upcoming Sherlock Holmes, which Guy Ritchie plans to direct for Warner Bros.

This is not to be confused with the other awesome-sounding Arthur Conan Doyle-inspired film Judd Apatow is producing for Columbia Pictures, with Sacha Baron Cohen and Will Ferrell set to star as Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Which, incidentally, will be a comedy.

Variety reports that Downey, who had shown early interest in the flick, decided to take up mystery solving after Ritchie showed him the Anthony Peckham-penned script rewrite.

In addition to Conan Doyle's tales, Ritchie's film will also incorporate the Sherlock Holmes comics series, which painted the detective as more of a muscly action hero who just happened to be far more brilliant than his peers—and, most importantly, his adversaries.

Which sounds like a job for Iron Man to us.

Cameras are set to roll in October with an eye on a 2010 release date.

Scalpers cash in on free Bon Jovi tix

Bon Jovi's concert in Central Park this Saturday is free. But that isn't stopping some scalpers from trying to sell tickets for as much as $1,500 a pair - despite a warning they cannot be resold.

New York City has distributed 60,000 tickets, with each person limited to two freebies. The performance is billed as a prelude to the July 15th All-Star baseball game, which will highlight the final season at Yankee Stadium.

The New York Post reports that it found 267 listings for tickets on eBay Monday. Prices ranged from 99 cents to $1,500 a pair.

Kimberly Spell, a spokeswoman for NYC Marketing, says lawyers will be contacting eBay officials to make them aware of the situation.

Bon Jovi helps bring down a house in Detroit

Jon Bon Jovi is giving some people who are living on a prayer something a bit more substantial.

The Grammy winner was in a neighborhood on Detroit's East Side Monday to announce the building of five new homes as part of a partnership among his Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, Saturn and Habitat for Humanity Detroit.

People gathered and cheered "knock it down" as construction workers busted a hole in the roof of the last remaining house on the block to be razed. Detroit-area Saturn retailers then raised the first wall of a new home.

"I wanted to come back and give something back to you," Bon Jovi told the crowd.

Bon Jovi, 46, is an owner of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul. His charitable foundation focuses on providing affordable housing to needy communities.

Bon Jovi was in town for a performance at the Palace of Auburn Hills Monday night as part of his band's "Lost Highway" tour.

After a short speech, he told the audience he had to go.

"I have to go to my day job now," he said with a smile.

Bon Jovi nearing the end of "Lost Highway"

Things are starting to get "a little bit" sentimental around the Bon Jovi camp as the New Jersey rockers enter the home stretch of their 2007-08 world tour, according to guitarist Richie Sambora.

Bon Jovi kicked off a final North American leg Sunday in Sarnia, Ontario, and will finish with two shows at New York's Madison Square Garden on July 14-15. Bon Jovi will also play the Major League Baseball All-Star Game concert on July 12 in New York's Central Park.

By the time it wraps the "Lost Highway" tour will have played to an estimated 966,000 fans worldwide since it began last October in New Jersey. The tour promoted the 2007 album "Lost Highway," which was Bon Jovi's first No. 1 debut on The Billboard 200 and has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide, according to Universal.

"Each tour is the end of an era and it's an end of a journey," Sambora told Billboard.com. "The journey starts out with Jon (Bon Jovi) and I sitting in the room with a couple of pieces of paper and a pen and a guitar, and the songs start the whole thing. And it ends up in the studio with the band and then on the promotional tour ... and then the fun part, taking it to the people. So this'll be the end of the 'Lost Highway' era -- and the beginning of a new one, absolutely."

Bon Jovi is starting to plot its next moves, too. One project in the offing is a documentary commemorating the band's 25 years. Oscar-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple ("American Dream," "Harlan County, USA") has been on the road with the band this year. There's also talk of a second greatest hits album, for which Bon Jovi might record some new songs.

"I'm not quite sure where to go -- "Is it 'Greatest Hits, Vol. 2' or is it time for a solo record -- or is it time to walk away?" says Bon Jovi, who will also be focusing on the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League team he co-owns with Sambora. "I don't know what it'll be yet. I'm thinking about it but not thinking about it, y'know? I'm still too caught up in this touring process to think."

Sambora, meanwhile, says he'd be surprised if there's much time away from Bon Jovi. "I wouldn't foresee much of a break, no," says the guitarist, who recently guested on a new song ("Baby") for rapper LL Cool J and is doing music for a blues film that also includes B.B. King and Dr. John.

"We need to take a little bit of a breather and decompress, and then we'll get back together and see what's going on," he says. "Jon and I, we start woodshedding, we start writing pretty quickly. There's lots of other stuff to do, but Bon Jovi's the number one priority, no matter what."

Hayes, Krakowski bring "Damn Yankees" to NY stage

There's an unwritten rule: Major stage shows just don't open in this town in the summer, which makes this coming New York weekend sound particularly inviting.

Opening on Saturday at the City Center is "Damn Yankees," starring Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Cheyenne Jackson and Randy Graff and directed by John Rando. It's the second attraction in the "Encores!" summer series that began last year with Patti LuPone in "Gypsy."

The big change here is that unlike the usual "Encores" runs of only four or five days, productions in the "Summer Stars Encores!" series play longer -- three weeks in the case of "Yankees." It not only adds pizzazz to the summer showbiz season but also harks back to a mouth-watering era when summer at the City Center regularly meant a full slate of musical revivals and play retreads at bargain prices, often with exceptional casts, running the gamut from Jennifer Jones, Franchot Tone and Rip Torn in a revival of the angst-saturated "The Country Girl" to such do-re-mi's as "Brigadoon" and "The King and I."

Jose Ferrer once dominated the summer City Center season by starring in four different plays back-to-back, including "Cyrano de Bergerac" (Arlene Dahl was his Roxanne), "Charley's Aunt" and "The Shrike"; he directed several of them as well. That particular showoff sensibility inspired Betty Comden and Adolph Green to satirize Ferrer's indefatigability by writing a Ferrer-like theater whirlwind into their witty screenplay for the 1953 Fred Astaire-Cyd Charisse musical "The Band Wagon."

In that movie, Jack Buchanan played an eccentric, madly busy Broadway man-of-many-hats frenetically, ambitiously (and ill-advisedly) turning what was to be a little song-and-dance show into an epic-sized musical version of "Faust." All of it was based on Ferrer's wild summer at the City Center -- not long after he also staged four or five shows concurrently on Broadway (and starred in one as well).

As for "Yankees," the last time it was staged in a New York house was 1994-95, when it played for 718 performances in a revival at the Marquis with Victor Garber, Bebe Neuwirth and Jerrod Emick in the leads, after which Jerry Lewis, amid much publicity, took over Garber's role of the Devil.

Also ignoring that no-summer-openings credo: the new Hunter Bell-Jeff Bowen musical called "(title of show)," which begins previewing Saturday at the Lyceum.

Bon Jovi to play at free NYC concert

NEW YORK - New York City officials say Bon Jovi will play at a free concert in Central Park this summer.

The concert will be held July 12th.

The concert is billed as a prelude to the July 15th All-Star baseball game, which will highlight the final season at Yankee Stadium.

LAVISH WEDDING PLANS

ELLEN DeGeneres and her girlfriend, Portia de Rossi, will tie the knot in a big way. Now that gay marriage is legal in California, the couple have set a wedding date, although they haven't said when. Now an insider tells Page Six they plan to hold the nuptials at the Riviera Resort and Spa in Palm Springs. "They didn't sign the contract yet, but they're working out final details and security," said the source. "The hotel is doing $70 million in renovations that will be done in October. They said they wanted to have the ceremony in the tropical gardens by the pool and the reception in the grand ballroom. They will also close a significant portion of the hotel, so it looks big."

Ellen Gives Portia Pink Diamonds for 'Dream Wedding'

Ellen DeGeneres gave Portia de Rossi a glittering ring with pink diamonds for their upcoming wedding that will air in part on DeGeneres's talk show.

"Yes, we have set a wedding date," said DeGeneres, who walked the red carpet with de Rossi at Friday night's 35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

De Rossi wore a green satin Lanvin gown and a Neil Lane ring on her wedding finger. The ring was a marquis cut diamond set with pink diamonds.

DeGeneres, 50, who won an Emmy for outstanding talk-show host for the fourth year in a row, announced her plans to wed longtime girlfriend de Rossi, on her show back in May, shortly after California's Supreme Court ruled the previous ban on gay marriages as unconstitutional.

The two stars are in the midst of preparations for what DeGeneres calls "the dream wedding."

"Planning a wedding is very stressful," says DeGeneres. "It is crazy. My gardener is now invited."

The comedienne remained tight-lipped on the major details of her upcoming nuptials to de Rossi, 35, only revealing that "incredible people" would be performing, and that she would air part of the ceremony on her show.

But there are no signs of any pre-wedding jitters for DeGeneres.

"I can't wait to be married. I feel like it is long overdue," she said. "And I think someday people will look back on this like women not having the right to vote and segregation and anything else that seems ridiculous like we all don't have the same rights."

The two stars began dating in December 2004.

'Walk of Fame' announces new stars

Hollywood will enshrine an eclectic bunch in its famous curbside Walk of Fame next year, including Hugh Jackman, Ben Kingsley, The Village People and Tinkerbell.

Recipients of the sidewalk stars also include Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Cameron Diaz, Robert Downey Jr., Tim Burton, Leslie Caron, Charles Durning, Ralph Fiennes, William Petersen, Kyra Sedgwick, John Stamos, Mark Burnett, Chuck Lorre, Kenny (Baby Face) Edmonds, Dave Koz, The Miracles, Doug Morris, Rush, Shakira, KFI radio personality Bill Handel and KCRW host Harry Shearer, who also provides voices for characters on "The Simpsons."

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's Walk of Fame Committee chose the recipients, who were ratified by the board of directors Thursday.

2008 Teen Choice Award Nominees

This is the 10th annual incarnation of the adolescent-friendly kudos, which spreads the wealth among film, TV, music, comedy, sports and fashion. Fox will broadcast the two-hour bonanza Aug. 4.

MOVIES

Choice Movie: Action Adventure
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Speed Racer
The Forbidden Kingdom
Choice Movie: Drama

Choice Movie Actor: Action Adventure
Emile Hirsch, Speed Racer
Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Jackie Chan, The Forbidden Kingdom
Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man
Shia LaBeouf, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Choice Movie Actress: Action Adventure
Abigail Breslin, Nim's Island
Christina Ricci, Speed Racer
Diane Kruger, National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Gwyneth Paltrow, Iron Man
Rachel Bilson, Jumper

Choice Movie Actor: Comedy
Ashton Kutcher, What Happens in Vegas
James Marsden, 27 Dresses; Enchanted
Jonah Hill, Superbad
Michael Cera, Superbad; Juno
Will Ferrell, Semi-Pro

TELEVISION

Choice TV Show: Action Adventure
Heroes
Lost
Prison Break
Smallville
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Choice TV Actress: Action Adventure
Hayden Panettiere, Heroes
Ali Larter, Heroes
Evangeline Lily, Lost
Kristen Kruek, Smallville
Summer Glau, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

FASHION

Choice Female Hottie
Blake Lively
Hayden Panettiere
Megan Fox
Rihanna
Vanessa Hudgens

Choice Red Carpet Fashion Icon Female
Carrie Underwood
Hayden Panettiere
Jessica Biel
Kate Hudson
Lauren Conrad

Downey saddling up for "Cowboys"

Newly minted A-lister Robert Downey Jr. is in negotiations to star in DreamWorks/Universal's "Cowboys & Aliens," a pulpy mix of the sci-fi and Western genres that could serve as a potential 2010 tentpole release.

The deal would be Downey's first since propelling Marvel Studios' "Iron Man" to $500 million-plus in worldwide loot (and growing). He next will be seen in the comedy "Tropic Thunder" in August, followed by the drama "The Soloist" in November, both for DreamWorks.

"Cowboys & Aliens" derives from a graphic novel written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley from an original idea by Rosenberg. The story centers on an Old West battle between the Apache and Western settlers, including a former Union Army gunslinger named Zeke Jackson (Downey), that is interrupted by a spaceship crashing into the prairie near Silver City, Arizona.

The story draws a parallel between the American imperialist drive to use advanced technology to conquer the "savage" Indians and the aliens' assault on earthlings, who must join together to survive the invaders' attack.

The project has been in development at several studios over the past 10 years. Among the writers who have drafted versions of the adaptation are David Hayter ("X2: X-Men United"), Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer ("Sahara"), Jeffrey Boam ("Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"), Thompson Evans ("Wedlocked"), Chris Hauty ("Never Back Down") and Steve Oedekerk ("Evan Almighty").

The most recent draft, by "Iron Man" and "Children of Men" writers Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus, clearly hit the right notes, as the project looks poised to gain its major players quickly.

2008 Forbes Celebrity 100 Power List

Rank Name Pay ($mil) Web Hits Press Mentions TV Mentions
1 Oprah Winfrey 275 2 5 1
2 Tiger Woods 115 12 1 3
3 Angelina Jolie 14 1 9 15
4 Beyonce Knowles 80 3 32 14
5 David Beckham 50 10 3 18
6 Johnny Depp 72 17 19 36
7 Jay-Z 82 6 43 41
8 The Police 115 15 20 51
9 J.K. Rowling 300 23 27 64
10 Brad Pitt 20 4 8 7
11 Will Smith 80 26 39 32
12 Justin Timberlake 44 5 24 17
13 Steven Spielberg 130 34 23 60
14 Cameron Diaz 50 13 50 45
15 David Letterman 45 42 34 10
16 LeBron James 38 32 13 13
17 Jennifer Aniston 27 21 67 49
18 Michael Jordan 45 38 45 29
19 Kobe Bryant 39 28 18 24
20 Phil Mickelson 45 87 12 23
21 Madonna 40 15 20 67
22 Simon Cowell 72 65 47 40
23 Roger Federer 35 40 2 26
24 Alex Rodriguez 34 51 7 6
25 Jerry Seinfeld 85 79 72 38
26 50 Cent 150 69 68 88
27 Kanye West 30 8 28 28
28 Celine Dion 40 27 44 54
29 Bruce Willis 41 45 41 47
30 Dr. Phil McGraw 40 82 55 2
31 Tom Cruise 13 7 10 9
32 Jay Leno 32 41 36 5
33 Sean "Diddy" Combs 35 19 59 30
34 Stephen King 45 33 54 86
35 Miley Cyrus 25 11 49 19
36 Kimi Raikkonen 44 53 14 90
37 Jeff Gordon 32 73 26 11
38 Ronaldinho 37 24 6 98
39 Shaquille O'Neal 32 36 29 34
40 Judge Judy Sheindlin 45 99 88 4
41 Howard Stern 70 52 90 68
42 Tyler Perry 125 94 83 80
43 Fernando Alonso 33 30 4 92
44 Leonardo DiCaprio 45 68 65 77
45 Donald Trump 30 48 40 12
46 George Lucas 50 66 74 85
47 Keira Knightley 32 37 42 82
48 Jerry Bruckheimer 145 96 94 96
49 Nicolas Cage 38 56 51 70
50 Spice Girls 21 14 37 25
51 Matt Damon 21 39 31 20
52 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 31 84 25 37
53 Bon Jovi 25 18 48 59
54 Jennifer Lopez 7 9 35 22
55 Ben Stiller 40 77 75 72
56 Kevin Garnett 29 67 30 55
57 Nicole Kidman 13 22 16 39
58 James Patterson 50 95 84 100
59 Rush Limbaugh 33 57 73 56
60 Reese Witherspoon 25 49 70 61
61 Maria Sharapova 26 61 15 69
62 Ryan Seacrest 31 72 79 33
63 Gwen Stefani 27 25 69 76
64 Daniel Radcliffe 25 62 52 74
65 Alicia Keys 15 20 53 46
66 Gisele Bundchen 35 74 99 94
67 Gwyneth Paltrow 25 50 62 78
68 Tyra Banks 23 47 81 53
69 Serena Williams 14 64 17 43
70 Eva Longoria Parker 9 31 58 21
71 Ellen DeGeneres 20 60 64 35
72 Sarah Jessica Parker 18 54 66 50
73 Katherine Heigl 13 63 61 31
74 Regis Philbin 21 91 71 8
75 Tom Clancy 35 78 96 99
76 Rachael Ray 18 80 80 16
77 Cate Blanchett 12 44 22 62
78 Heidi Klum 14 46 78 57
79 Carrie Underwood 9 35 63 44
80 Jon Stewart 14 58 60 51
81 Justine Henin 12.5 75 11 58
82 Judd Apatow 27 88 76 97
83 Kate Moss 7.5 29 33 81
84 Patrick Dempsey 13.5 83 77 66
85 Charlie Sheen 20 86 87 63
86 Drew Carey 12 90 89 27
87 Steve Carell 5 81 56 42
88 Lorena Ochoa 10 92 38 75
89 Jonas Brothers 12 55 86 84
90 Howie Mandel 14 100 98 65
91 Wolfgang Puck 16 98 91 83
92 Zac Efron 5.8 70 85 79
93 Annika Sorenstam 11 93 46 89
94 Ashley Tisdale 5.5 43 95 91
95 Gordon Ramsay 7.5 76 57 93
96 Jennifer Love Hewitt 5 59 93 71
97 Lauren Conrad 1.5 71 100 95
98 Vanessa Williams 4.5 89 92 48
99 Tina Fey 4.6 85 82 73
100 Paula Deen 4.5 97 97 87

Lucy Liu joins 'Dirty, Sexy Money'

Dirty girl Lucy Liu is swapping partners.

The 39-year-old actress, currently voicing a martial-arts-fighting viper in Kung Fu Panda, confirms she's joining ABC's Dirty, Sexy Money now that the network's Cashmere Mafia is sleeping with the cashmere fishes.

Who will she be playing on Money? Is it a regular role? Recurring? Or a guest stint, like her arc on Ugly Betty?

Liu says she isn't even sure. "Honey, you have to tune in. I mean, you know, you work on something and you don't even know if you made the final cut."

Fair enough. Besides which, Liu acknowledges, she's still feeling the sting of Mafia's cancellation. "We had such a fun time on it and I felt like it was really a great thing to be a part of because it was something that I hadn't seen on TV myself."

Liu came to fame on TV's Ally McBeal a decade ago, but has until recently almost exclusively been making films. Still, she doesn't consider her return to prime-time turf a step backward. "To me, it's not about the idea of what's the medium. It's just what I find character-wise more interesting. And creatively for me, too. Because when I was doing Ally McBeal, I was able to do tons of different movies too."

Anne Heche Reaches a Settlement in Her Divorce

Anne Heche reached a settlement Friday in her contentious divorce from Coley Laffoon, agreeing to pay her ex-husband a $275,000 lump sum and $3,700 per month in child support for their 6-year-old son, court papers show.

The agreement marks a sharp reduction in the temporary $15,000-a-month support that the Men in Trees stars had been paying – but said she could no longer afford because she was out of work.

Under the settlement, Heche, 38, also will pay 75 percent of son Homer's private school tuition and half of "agreed-upon extracurricular activities" for the boy, according to L.A. Superior Court papers.

Laffoon, 34, filed for divorce in February 2007, and the fight quickly became nasty, with Heche portraying Laffoon as a deadbeat who watches porn and frequents strip clubs, and Laffoon calling Heche mentally unstable.

Panettiere, fashion label team on album

Fashion brand Candie's didn't have to look far to find its new pop-music "it girl": "Heroes" star and Candie's spokeswoman Hayden Panettiere.

As part of the latest deal linking its teen clothing line to a young female music act, Candie's will help promote the song "Wake Up Call" from Panettiere's forthcoming album from Disney's Hollywood Records.

While financial terms were not released, Hollywood says Candie's will absorb the "majority of the cost" of the single, which will include a multimillion-dollar ad buy on cable and network TV, a print campaign and a music video.

The ad campaign will begin at the end of July, while the song will be released digitally August 5. "Wake Up Call" will appear on Panettiere's still-untitled debut album, which is slated for 2009.

Candie's announced an advertising and marketing pact with Panettiere in February. The brand's incorporation of her music into the campaign follows in the footsteps of its deal last summer with Interscope and Fergie, whose songs "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Glamorous" were promoted in Candie's TV commercials.

The brand also used Hilary Duff's "Wake Up" and "Supergirl" as part of an ad campaign in 2005-06. In the Fergie and Duff ads, the performer received a chyron at the start of the spot identifying her, the song and the title of the album featuring the track.

Candie's has had a long history of using female music stars in its advertising. Earlier campaigns have featured Destiny's Child, Ashlee Simpson, Ashanti, Ciara and the Dixie Chicks.

"When we look for our talent, we always look for the 'it girl' in pop culture," says Dari Marder, chief marketing officer for Iconix Brand Group, parent company of Candie's. "We really feel our customer connects with music . . . it's a great formula."

While best-known to audiences as world-saving cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC's "Heroes," Panettiere's record deal with Hollywood precedes her prime-time success from the past two years, according to Hollywood Records senior VP of marketing Ken Bunt.

"We had to work within her crazy schedule to determine what direction she wants to go with her music," Bunt says. "Wake Up Call" is a reggae-flavored pop song that was written by Andreas "Quiz" Romdhane and Josef Larossi, who have previously written tracks for Geri Halliwell, Diana Ross, Il Divo and Westlife.

"They gave us a couple of songs, and when we heard this song we knew immediately," Marder says. "It's a girl power summer anthem . . . you can understand all the words and jam with it on the radio. It's the kind of song that really gets in your head."

The print campaign, music video and TV spot will all take place within the context of Iconix's overarching back-to-school campaign advertising Candie's shoes at Kohl's department stores. In the TV ad, Panettiere performs the song at a club in front of a crowd of fans -- all wearing Candie's shoes. Panettiere eventually rallies the audience out into the street.

"What was exciting for us was really featuring Hayden as a musical artist," Marder says. "A lot of people know her as an actress, and in this she's really seen as a top 40 pop star."

The ad will air on "anything that appeals to our Candie's demographic of 18- to 24-year-olds," Marder says, including Fox, the CW and MTV. It is entirely possible, then, for Panettiere's video for "Wake Up Call" to appear on MTV immediately following the ad featuring the song.

The video and commercial were shot by Chris Applebaum, who has previously directed videos for Duff, Rihanna and Jessica Simpson -- as well as Paris Hilton's bikini-clad hamburger-slurping commercial for Carl's Jr.

Candie's has long been known for its cheeky approach to advertising -- a print campaign in1997 featured actress Jenny McCarthy sitting on a toilet in her Candie's shoes. In the "Big Girls Don't Cry" video, Fergie stands by a backyard clothesline and removes a pair of underpants with "Candie's" emblazoned on the rear in sequins.

Downey Jr. to play Hefner?

From one womanizing, monstrously rich superhero to another.

Now that he's starred as Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man, reports are circulating Robert Downey Jr. may next portray Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in a biopic of the publishing legend.

The Chicago Sun-Times says Hefner has given his blessing to the production -- and the potential casting of Downey Jr. -- which is currently entitled Playboy.

When the project was announced last year, Leonardo DiCaprio was reported to be circling the Hef-ty role while Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) was attached to direct. However, now it looks like both DiCaprio and Hefner are out, with the script being rewritten in the hopes of luring Downey Jr. Should the 43-year-old actor choose to don the slippers and smoking jacket, it will most likely be after he bolts himself back into Stark's crimson-and-gold armour. Marvel has announced a May 2010 release for a sequel, meaning cameras will probably start rolling in early 2009.

Downey Jr. has a nose for newspaperman roles

He may be Hollywood's hottest superhero, but Robert Downey Jr. wants you to know he can play bookish types, too.

Like reporters.

In The Soloist, due Nov. 21, he plays Steve Lopez, a real-life Los Angeles Times columnist who discovers a homeless musical prodigy (Jamie Foxx) living on Skid Row.

"I've loved every part of Iron Man," says Downey, who will reprise his role in the comic book sequel, out in 2009. "But the last thing you want is to be seen as that guy, who just does that role."

If he's not careful, that role may be reporter. He played Paul Avery, the real reporter tracking a San Francisco serial killer, in last year's Zodiac. The irony is not lost on Downey, who had his issues with journalists who hounded him during his brushes with the law and publicized bouts of drug rehabilitation in the late 1990s.

"Mainly, I think the parts are great," he says of his turns as journalists. "But who knows? Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment."

Producer Kelley leaving studio after 22 years

One of the longest and most prolific producing collaborations in television is coming to an end.

After more than two decades at 20th Century Fox TV, Emmy-winning writer-producer David E. Kelley is moving to Warner Bros. TV with a three-year deal.

Under the pact, said to be worth around eight figures, the man behind such shows as "Boston Legal," "Ally McBeal" and "The Practice," will develop series for broadcast and cable as well as digital projects.

Kelley's deal with 20th Century Fox TV expires in June, and the final series under that deal, "Boston Legal," is in production for its final season 13-episode order at ABC.

He has been at Fox his entire TV career, since joining the writing staff of "L.A. Law" in 1986. He went on to become one of the most prolific producers in television, creating the Emmy-winning series "Picket Fences," "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal."

The pact with Warner Bros. is a more traditional overall writer deal, a departure from the quasi-studio status David E. Kelley Prods. had at Fox, where it had its own business-affairs and production departments. It is understood that the change was prompted by Kelley's desire to deal less with administrative issues and focus on creating shows.

Fox had put an offer on the table for a new deal with Kelley but he ultimately opted to go to Warner Bros., partly because of his relationship with studio president Peter Roth, who used to work with him at Fox.

Co-Stars Join '24' Prequel

A trio of co-stars have joined the cast of FOX's "24" prequel telefilm, set to air this November.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Eric Lively, Tony Todd and Gil Bellows will appear in the two-hour special, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 23 as a bridge between the sixth and seventh seasons of the Emmy-winning drama.

When the prequel special begins, Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer is in South Africa handling an international crisis. Back at home, the newly elected president (series newcomer Cherry Jones) is preparing for her inauguration day. Part of the prequel is being shot in South Africa and Sutherland told advertisers at the FOX upfront that the story would, indeed, be in real time.

The trade paper says that Lively ("The L Word"), brother of "Gossip Girl" star Blake, will play the president's son, while Bellows will play a State Department officer with a subpoena to serve to Bauer. Todd is set as Gen. Juma, a cruel African dictator.

Robert Carlyle was previously cast in the prequel.

Bellows' credits include "Ally McBeal" and "The Agency," while Todd, always and forever the star of the "Candyman" franchise, has most recently been recurring on "Chuck."

MEN IN TREES (6/11)

"Taking the Lead" - As everyone prepares for the First Annual Elmo Talent Show, the townsfolk display some very unlikely talents. Meanwhile, Marin receives a hefty check for her latest book, but the money may come between her and Jack when she wants to do something expensive for him. While Jane and Sam (Ty Olsson) drive from New York to Elmo, his budget-friendly ways frustrate her. Sara has fantasies about other men, but not about her boyfriend, Eric (Nicolas Lea). And Patrick goes to extremes to rekindle his romance with Annie, on the season finale of "MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Currie Graham as Kick, Nicolas Lea as Eric, Ty Olsson as Sam, Peter WIngfield as Dr. Harbeck and Michael Adamthwaite as plumber.

"Taking the Lead" was written by Jennifer Shaklan and directed by Bob Berlinger.

MEN IN TREES (6/4)

"Surprise, Surprise" - Marin celebrates the completion of her book by taking a spa trip to Anchorage. While there, she is surprised to see Julia's (Kelli Williams ) husband, Jim (Josh Stamberg), with another woman and wonders if she should tell Jack. Now that his memory has returned, Patrick gets several surprises when he comes home to Elmo: Annie and Ivan (Diego Klattenhoff) have grown closer and Celia has redecorated his bedroom - for her new dog. Meanwhile in New York, Sam (Ty Olsson) becomes an unlikely hero and Jane wonders if all the attention has gone to his head, on "MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Josh Stamberg as Jim, Ty Olsson as Sam, Kelli WIliams as Julia, Diego Klattenhoff as Ivan, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Colin Lawrence as slick announcer guy and Suzanne Bastien as alarmed lady.

"Surprise, Surprise" was written by Cara DiPaolo and directed by Jeff Melman.

Robert Downey Jr. to Present MTV Movie Awards

With Mike Myers hosting, this year's MTV Movie Awards is upping its A-list roster with musical guests Coldplay and such nominees as Zac Efron and Johnny Depp.

On Monday, the network also announced some top-name presenters, among them Steve Carell, Jack Black and Lindsay Lohan, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway and Mark Wahlberg.

Airing Sunday, June 1, at 8 p.m. (7 Central), the ceremony will air live on the cable network from the Gibson Ampitheatre in Southern California's Universal City. The trophies come in the form of golden popcorn boxes.

In a promotional video for the upcoming event, in which Lohan makes a cameo appearance, host Myers can be seen donning a pair of wings and a Speedo, proclaiming, "I am shameless promotion." With luck, he'll also be the show's guardian angel.

Ellen DeGeneres to wed gal pal

Ellen DeGeneres is putting the California Supreme Court ruling in favour of gay marriage into action - she and Portia de Rossi plan to wed, DeGeneres announced during a taping of her talk show.

DeGeneres was taping the episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Thursday, the day the state's high court struck down California laws against gay marriage, and it was to air Friday, a person close to the production said.

The person, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Citing the court's ruling, DeGeneres said she and girlfriend de Rossi ("Ally McBeal," "Nip/Tuck") would be getting married.

De Rossi, 35, who was in the studio, and DeGeneres, 50, were applauded by audience members, the person close to the production said.

Calls and e-mails late Thursday to DeGeneres' publicist were not immediately returned.

The court ruling means same-sex couples could tie the knot in as little as a month. However, religious and social conservatives are seeking to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would undo the Supreme Court ruling and ban gay marriage.

Ricci to star in "Long Time Gone"

Christina Ricci will star in the drama "Long Time Gone," playing a mysterious woman who enters the life of a dysfunctional family and turns it upside down, one member at a time.

Anjelica Huston, Josh Lucas and Justin Bartha also star. Adam Davidson will direct the GreeneStreet Films project from an adaptation of April Stevens' 1994 debut novel "Angel Angel." Davidson won an Oscar for his 1989 short "The Lunch Date."

Everybody was 'Kung Fu' smiling in this star-studded cast

There are two bulging bellies in the room, and both of the owners are pregnant — sort of.

Angelina Jolie, carrying twins, sticks out her round midriff and presses it against the basketball-size stomach of Jack Black. "I came as a panda," she says, a reference to the chubby black-and-white bear Black plays in their animated comedy Kung Fu Panda.

"To compete?" Black asks.

Dustin Hoffman and Lucy Liu, who also supply voices for the film, are watching, so Black pushes out his gut to maximum effect, determined to best Jolie as they go bellybutton to bellybutton. "That'll make the front pages," Hoffman says.

The stomach standoff took place Wednesday in a penthouse at the Hotel Carlton, overlooking the bustling start of the Cannes Film Festival along the waterfront below.

Kung Fu Panda, one of the featured films, premieres tonight and opens Stateside on June 6.

When Jolie entered the room, she immediately congratulated Black, who also is expecting. His wife, Tanya Haden, is pregnant with their second. Jolie mentions twins casually, as though it were already common knowledge and not the subject of intense speculation about whether she and companion Brad Pitt are adding one or two more children to their brood of four.

When talk turns to Black's son, Sam, who is almost 2, Jolie asks, "Terrible 2's?"

The actor shakes his head. "I don't see it as terrible. He does act out, but I have to not smile sometimes when he's naughty because I don't want him to know I'm enjoying it. … But I am, inside."

Anne Heche: I Can't Afford Child Support

Anne Heche says she can no longer afford to pay the nearly $15,000-a-month in child and spousal support because she's unemployed after the cancellation of Men In Trees.

"I am continuing to look for work, but I have no offers pending and the impending strike by the Screen Actors Guild reduces my prospects for work even further," Heche, 38, writes in court papers.

A judge Wednesday gave her a temporary break, saying she didn't have to pay her next support payment to her ex Coley Laffoon, 34, covering the month of July. But Superior Court Judge Gail Ruderman Feuer ordered the actress to provide updated income and expense information.

In a court declaration, Heche indicated her financial straits were dire and that she can no longer afford to pay the $14,798 in monthly support, along with private school tuition for her 6-year-old son Homer, the mortgage on her house in Canada where Men In Trees filmed, rent on her Los Angeles home and car expenses.

"Since January 18, 2008, I have been unemployed and had no income from employment except for one very short-term contract for a movie role for which I received a total of $65,000, approximately the amount I received for one episode of Men In Trees, she writes.

She adds: "I do receive some residuals from previous acting work. However, the amounts are nominal and are offset by recurring business expenses that must be paid whether or not I am working."

BROTHERLY LOVE

Jon Bon Jovi, hosting the launch party for Philadelphia Style magazine at Philly’s City Hall Atrium.

Voodoo Lesson

"THE chicken lady says hi," said "Jersey Boys" star Jared Spector to Jon Bon Jovi at the launch party for Philadelphia Style magazine. When Philly Mayor Michael Nutter and publisher Jason Binn scratched their heads, Bon Jovi smiled and Spector explained that the chicken lady is their mutual voice coach, Katie Agresta, who has also helped Lenny Kravitz, Cyndi Lauper and Steven Tyler, and who has become known for her "Voodoo Voice" techniques. "It's been said that all she has to do is rip a chicken's head off and you'll be cured of anything," said Spector.

ABC's New Schedule Features Stability, 'Scrubs'

Most of your favorite ABC shows will return for the 2008-09 season in their familiar time periods, as the network's Tuesday (May 13) scheduling announcement included very few major changes.

In total, ABC's upfront presentation showcased only five new shows, three of which won't premiere until midseason and one of which is the long-running "Scrubs," making its endlessly rumored journey across the dial from NBC.

ABC's only new drama and the network's only new scripted fall series is "Life on Mars," which sees the "October Road" team of Josh Applebaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg taking the reins on the adaptation of the BBC format focusing on a modern day police detective (Jason O'Mara) mysteriously transported back to 1973. ABC has given "Life on Mars" its finest available time slot, putting it at 10 p.m. on Thursday nights after "Ugly Betty" and "Grey's Anatomy."

The remaining new show on ABC's fall docket is the Ashton Kutcher produced traveling game show "Opportunity Knocks," which will kick off Tuesday nights, leading into "Dancing with the Stars" results and the transplanted legal drama "Eli Stone."

From there, viewers will notice an awful lot of stability on ABC's schedule.

Monday nights will still see "Dancing with the Stars" boost ratings for "Samantha Who?" and "Boston Legal," which will be in its final season.

Wednesdays will see the season season returns of "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money," which will all have been on a rather extended hiatus since the writers strike.

Fridays will be "Wife Swap," "Supernanny" and "20/20," college football will air and Saturdays and Sunday's "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters" remaining untouched.

"We're returning our dominant core group of shows from last fall," says ABC President Stephen McPherson in the morning's programming statement. "The few openings we had we've filled with the kind of quality programming viewers have come to expect from ABC, and we have a very strong bench. As always, our focus is on delivering the best stories and most memorable characters on TV every day of the week, every week of the year."

Returning at various yet-to-be-determined midseason points are "According to Jim," "The Bachelor," "Lost" and ABC News' "Primetime: What Would You Do?"

Also for midseason, ABC will find a place for the new animated comedy "The Goode Family," from Mike Judge, a beauty pageant from Ashton Kutcher and Tyra Banks, plus "Scrubs," as the ABC Studios comedy swaps networks.

Of course, in order that new life might bloom, there must be casualties. ABC's cancelled shows include "October Road," "Men in Trees" and "Miss Guided," as well as the less bubble-worthy comedies "Carpoolers" and "Cavemen."

ABC opts for "Life on Mars"

"Life on Mars," the story of a 21st century cop transported to the 1970s, will be developed as a series for ABC, which on Monday closed a deal to pick up the show.

The network also renewed freshman drama "Eli Stone," which stars Jonny Lee Miller as a lawyer who has visions.

ABC and officially canceled the dramas "October Road" and "Women's Murder Club."

ABC had sought to put "Life on Mars" on its schedule, but any deal had to be blessed by David E. Kelley, who penned the pilot and owns the rights to the property, an American version of the BBC series.

ABC's Sunday deal with Kelley to renew his series "Boston Legal" paved the way to a "Life on Mars" pickup.

Hayden Panettiere: Postmortem Proclamations?

Yeah, yeah, we know. By saving the cheerleader, we can save the world.

But the world may need to save Hayden Panettiere from possibly believing she really is the indestructible rah-rah girl she portrays on the boob tube.

In the June issue of Teen Vogue, the Heroes heroine chats about the tabloids and how evasive they can be when it comes to her personal life.

"Nothing is private," she says. "And when they write about you, it's almost completely false."

Of course, when pressed if she's referring to stories about her rumored romance with costar Milo Ventimiglia, the tiny TV titan insists: "I'll not comment until the day I die!"

Um, Hayden, despite what your alter ego Claire is capable of doing, from what we hear, voicing the truth after you've passed on tends to be a wee bit difficult.

MEN IN TREES (5/28)

"New Dogs, Old Tricks" - Marin helps a nervous Jack as he prepares for his first lecture as a college professor in Anchorage. Upon his return, he brings Marin a gift -- four puppies that she ends up taking care of - and which keep her from getting any of her book writing finished. Meanwhile, as Annie puts together auditions for Elmo's First Annual Talent Show, she thinks she might be falling for Ivan (Diego Klattenhoff). In New York, Patrick is unclear about Pilar's (Sofía Vergara) advances toward him, on "MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Sofía Vergara as Pilar, Currie Graham as Dick, Kelli Williams as Julia, Diego Klattenhoff as Ivan, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Denalda Williams as Joan, Jordan Parker as sleazy man and Ben Geldreich as man.

"New Dogs, Old Tricks" was written by Jennie Snyder and directed by Wendey Stanzler.

Philly Phobia

JON Bon Jovi loves when "Living on a Prayer" and "Wanted: Dead or Alive" blast on the radio - but doesn't feel the same about the tracks on his 1985 album, "7800 Degrees Fahrenheit," like "Tokyo Road" or "Secret Dreams." Bon Jovi told Philadelphia Style magazine that if one album makes him wince, it's "Fahrenheit," adding, "My whole second album I try to avoid. The one I recorded in Philly, as a matter of fact."

Portia de Rossi cast in comedy pilot

Portia de Rossi ("Arrested Development") will co-star in a comedy pilot for ABC.

The project, from "My Name Is Earl" writer-producer Victor Fresco, is a single-camera office comedy that centers on a moral guy trying to do right in an amoral world.

De Rossi recently had a recurring role on "Nip/Tuck."

Buttered Up

AFTER an incredible, $201 million worldwide opening weekend for "Iron Man," Paramount president Brad Grey wants to lock up "Iron Man 2" - and isn't above overt shmoozing. Earlier this week, Grey took Marvel Studios chairman David Maisel, Robert Downey Jr., Downey's wife, Susan, and co-star and director Jon Favreau to Mr. Chow in LA. At the dinner, Grey gave a five-minute speech/tribute to Downey and said, "As much as I admire [Downey] for the job he did in the film as an actor, the true Iron Man is [Downey] in his real life. He persevered and righted his life after some rough and trying years." That and a heftier paycheck should seal the deal.

'Speed Racer' a lemon

As entertaining as a sugar-addled 5-year-old, Speed Racer left me feeling like I'd been in a hit and run with a box of Crayolas.

Did anybody get the number of that Burnt Sienna?

As with the ambitious but impotent Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and 1982's Tron -- the first movie to transport audiences inside a mainframe's neon-gilded guts -- here is a film distinguished solely by its disconnection to reality. That may be fine for some -- presumably those who require adult accompaniment to the restroom -- but for many others, it will amount to a pulverizing riot of primary colours, brain-dead dialogue and flesh-and-blood actors stranded in a wash of eye-gouging artifice.

This isn't the first time the gifted but indulgent Wachowski Brothers have dabbled in world-making -- they created The Matrix, after all, and then scuttled their own franchise dreams with the gobbledygook of the sequels Reloaded and Revolutions -- but their Speed Racer, while undeniably gorgeous, is also so overpoweringly manufactured it's virtually impossible to invest in.

Into the Wild's Emile Hirsch stars as Speed, middle child of the aptly-surnamed Racer clan: mechanical genius Pops (John Goodman), Mom (Susan Sarandon), big brother Rex (Scott Porter) and mischievous youngest sibling Spritle (Paulie Litt, whose antics with pet chimp Chim Chim run the gamut from infantile to juvenile). Theirs is a super-saturated, over-designed world obsessed with motor sports.

For the Racers, it's a passion whose purity is forever being compromised by the greed of the world's corporations. Years earlier, Rex was killed in a high-velocity crash, possibly at the clutches of the same conniving capitalists who now want Speed to join their dubious ranks. Specifically, he's being wooed by the treacherously dapper Royalton (Roger Allam).

When Speed refuses the job offer, it's all-out war. If that wasn't narrative enough, subplots and supporting players abound: from sports-corruption buster Inspector Detector (Benno Fuermann), to an Asian racer (Korean pop star Rain) with an agenda of his own, to ninjas and buffoonish gangsters, to a racing vigilante Racer X (Matthew Fox) who may or may not be Rex reincarnated.

Why is a film aimed at kindergarteners so dense with indigestible plotting? That's just one of the many head-scratchers Speed Racer poses.

Among others? Why does it race past the two-hour mark? And given that the movie is itself a merchandising juggernaut (tie-ins range from McDonald's to Lego) and produced by Time Warner, isn't the rage-against-the-machine message disingenuous?

And while the racing sequences themselves are as dazzling as a fit of epilepsy, why is there no sense of jeopardy? Is it because digitized back-flipping cars have no sense of physicality and are therefore no more thrilling to watch than any other random collection of gigabytes?

As for the actors, they all do what they can -- as Speed's girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci) is best served by her nearly-3D features -- but they're working against the undertow of both the all-green-screen environment and some alarming shifts in tone, from slapstick to camp to drama.

It's no wonder that by the end the storytelling gears -- and the patience of most movie-goers -- are stripped altogether.

Just a minute with Christina Ricci on "Speed Racer"

Actress Christina Ricci, who first hit the big screen opposite Cher in "Mermaids" at age 10, has been a Hollywood fixture for nearly two decades.

In her latest project, "Speed Racer," Ricci stars as Trixie, the title character's precocious girlfriend.

The action-packed family film about race car drivers is Ricci's biggest movie in years. For most of her adult career the actress has mainly acted in low-budget independent films.

Over pasta and iced tea at a Los Angeles restaurant, Ricci, 28, talked to Reuters about "Speed Racer," getting older, and what she would do if she wasn't acting.

Q: You've been acting since you were 10. Did you ever think about doing anything else?

A: "Sometimes you are like -- worst case scenario: what other skills do I have? And I always think I'm good at listening to people. I could be a therapist ... I could be a life coach. I'm good at telling people what to do. I really enjoy that immensely."

Q: Are you like that in your own life, too?

A: "I like fixing my own clothes and holes and buttons. (In) most of my house, any of the projects that were done in there were done when I had nothing to do. I have to do two things at once. I can't just watch television or watch a movie. I also have to be doing a project at the same time."

Q: Does that make you want to work a lot too?

A: "I would definitely love to go from one movie to the next, but I haven't necessarily been in a position where I could do that and still be discerning. So, I think all my projects and fix-it things have been so I can be patient and wait for something I am really interested or believe in."

Q: In "Speed Racer," you play a young character, and yet you are nearly 30. Do people think of you as a perpetual teen?

A: "This kind of movie is kind of perfect for me because people are like 'It doesn't matter how old she is.' A lot of people have trouble getting their head around, 'Well she doesn't look old enough to be a professional, but we know that she is almost 30.' So it's difficult sometimes in casting.

"I do totally agree with what they are talking about. There is no part of me that is like 'I would be completely believable as an FBI agent."'

Q: Do you feel like you are getting older?

A: "I never did before, and then I saw this picture and I was like 'Oh my God, I am not impervious to age.' I think I always believed it wouldn't happen. So yeah I do feel like I'm getting older, but in the weirdest way because I don't feel older. I still dress the same, so now I'm worried. Do I have to start dressing older? Because I don't want to be one of those freaky people that looks old but dresses like they are a teenager."

Q: You've appeared on "Grey's Anatomy" and a few other TV shows. Do you like doing TV?

A: "Television is fun because you move so fast and the hours are really long and intense. It's sort of like, get in there and do your job."

Time-traveling cop show "Mars" in ABC's orbit

ABC is close to picking up David E. Kelley's pilot "Life on Mars" for series production.

"Mars" stars Jason O'Mara as a 21st-century detective who finds himself working as a cop in the 1970s.

The show, which had been dormant since the pilot was shot in summer 2007, has been gaining momentum in the past week, with talks ongoing with a number of producers.

But sources indicated that no deals can be made without the blessing of Kelley, who created the U.S. version of the British series and owns the rights to it.

Meanwhile, Kelley is reevaluating his involvement in the project as it goes forward.

Review: `Speed Racer' just spinning its wheels

The Wachowski brothers have tumbled into a matrix of their own with "Speed Racer," one which has rendered them completely out of touch with the outside world.

In adapting the 1960s Japanese anime television series, writer-directors Larry and Andy Wachowski have created a noisy, overlong, mind-numbing extravaganza that seems tailor-made for nobody but themselves and their twisted sensibilities.

Their longtime producing partner Joel Silver insists in the production notes (which are almost as lengthy as the movie itself): "`Speed Racer' is for everybody."

Seriously?

At two hours and 15 minutes, it's way too long for little kids, the only ones for whom this explosion at a crayon factory would seem even vaguely entertaining. Adults seeking the nostalgia of their own childhood will just be disappointed, because "Speed Racer" the movie bears little resemblance to "Speed Racer" the TV cartoon.

And even racing fans will have trouble following the races, because they're edited in such a way that it's impossible to tell who's in the lead, who's gaining and where the finish line is (not to mention that the Wachowskis have obliterated the laws of gravity and physics, therefore negating the sport's innate logic). With "The Matrix" trilogy, this tactic of toying with reality was considered bold and innovative, and it put the notoriously reclusive Wachowskis on the map — whether they wanted to be there or not. Here, it just feels distractingly nonsensical, which makes it hard for the audience to connect with the material.

It's not like you can rely on the performances to make the experience worthwhile, either. "Speed Racer" wastes of the talents of people who truly can act and are capable of far more than functioning as cogs within such candy-coated chaos.

Emile Hirsch stars as Speed Racer, who likes to race and still misses his older brother, Rex (Scott Porter), who died suspiciously in competition years ago. That's about all we know about him — and because his character is so underdeveloped, it's impossible to care whether he wins, loses, breaks any of Rex's records or even ends up in one piece.

Christina Ricci co-stars in the inert, thankless role of Speed's girlfriend, Trixie (though her enormous brown eyes and severe pixie cut do seem appropriately cartoonish), with Susan Sarandon and John Goodman as Mom and Pops Racer.

The story has something to do with the corrupt mogul Royalton (Roger Allam), who fixes races and wants to drag Speed over to the dark side of the sport.

Kids will love that!

But Speed is loyal to the family business, one of the few independently operated racing organizations, and he royally angers Royalton by turning down his lucrative offer. He then must defend himself against this corporate crook's schemes by teaming up with Racer X (Matthew Fox), who looks and drives suspiciously like Speed's deceased brother, and Japanese rival Taejo Togokahn, played by Korean pop star Rain in his first American film role.

Speed also gets help, somewhat, from his pesky younger brother Spritle (Paulie Litt), who has a knack for showing up at all the wrong times and all the wrong places with the family's pet chimpanzee, Chim-Chim. Basically, the two provide wedged-in moments of unfunny slapstick humor between the races.

It is kinda cute in one scene, though, when Spritle is wearing Paul Frank pajamas with the designer's signature monkey heads on them, and Chim-Chim is wearing an identical set decorated with little-boy heads. The costumes and production design do make "Speed Racer" tolerable at times with their evocative sense of mid-century kitsch, from the furniture and wallpaper to the dresses and even the tiny barrettes Trixie wears in her silky hair.

But "Speed Racer" is, of course and unfortunately, mainly about the races — a never-ending blur of lights and color, an overlapping cacophony of drivers and announcers, flying car parts and flailing crowds.

Afterward, the last thing you'll want to do is get into your own car. But you may have a craving for Skittles.

"Speed Racer," a Warner Bros. Pictures release, is rated PG for sequences of action, some violence, language and brief smoking. Running time: 135 minutes. One star out of four.

Christina Ricci returns to Hollywood blockbusters

Turns out Christina Ricci, who has become a darling of independent film fans, isn't so 'indie' after all.

The actress, who gained fame as a child actor in "Mermaids" and "The Addams Family," says people have her all wrong if they think she intentionally shied away from blockbuster Hollywood flicks in her adult years. Her newest film, Friday's big-budget "Speed Racer," is Ricci's proof.

"I wanted to do big movies for a long time but I haven't necessarily been given the opportunity," she told Reuters. "I just haven't gotten those kinds of parts."

Leaving films like "Casper" behind, Ricci took on increasingly more complex roles as a teenager in human dramas such as director Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm" (1997) and as a young adult in "The Laramie Project," (2002) which dealt with the hate crime murder of a young gay man, Matthew Shepard.

But this summer, the 28-year-old Ricci is starring as Trixie, the title character's girlfriend in "Speed Racer." Based on a popular 1960s cartoon, the movie tells of a young race car driver, Speed, who learns that wealthy corporations are using their profits to pay off drivers and fix races.

Speed, along with Trixie, his family and a rival driver, Racer X, vow to expose the scheme and save his beloved sport.

The action-packed film promises to be Ricci's biggest movie since 1999's "Sleepy Hollow," in which she starred opposite Johnny Depp. And while fans may view "Speed" as a departure from her indie reputation, Ricci doesn't agree.

"I know it seems incongruous ... of course, the only thing people can really think about you is what they see in your work," she said. "But I like big movies -- and I'm kind of silly -- and I like cheesy television."

RICCI'S IRONY

Ricci said she is a fan of reality TV shows such as "America's Next Top Model" and "The Real Housewives of New York City," and when she goes to the movies, she enjoys being transported to other worlds.

One of her favorite films, she said, is 1995 science fiction fantasy "Twelve Monkeys," which starred Brad Pitt and told of a strange virus that nearly wiped out mankind.

Ricci acknowledges, however, that more often than not, she stars in films that make people think hard and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Recent roles have included a woman with a pig's nose who struggles to gain self-confidence in teen fable "Penelope," and a hard-living woman seeking redemption in "Black Snake Moan."

"I have a little bit of unrealistic, childlike morality issues. I really respond to things that have a strong moral stance," she said. "When I'm passionate about something I tend to be better in a meeting and then better in an audition."

Even "Speed Racer," Ricci said, is a "back-to-basics moral story" about staying true to yourself and not selling out -- a theme that struck a chord with the actress who said she has become pickier about the roles she takes on.

"The last couple of years I've gotten to the point where I'm like 'All right, I've done a lot of working for its own sake. Now I think I might be a little more selective."

The bottom line on "Speed Racer," Ricci said, was that with "The Matrix" directors Andy and Larry Wachowski making the film, she felt sure it was going to have artistic integrity, while still being fun for families.

Fast-talking: Hirsch, Ricci share thoughts on `Speed Racer'

"Speed Racer" stars Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci are better known for smaller independent movies than summer blockbusters.

Yet they could not pass up the chance to work with Larry and Andy Wachowski on the brothers' first writing-directing effort after "The Matrix" trilogy.

After the lesbian thriller "Bound" and their science-fiction franchise, all dark R-rated affairs, the Wachowskis have gone the family route with the PG-rated "Speed Racer," a live-action and computer-animated update of the TV cartoon series.

Hirsch, who starred last year in Sean Penn's acclaimed drama "Into the Wild," plays Speed, the young phenomenon of the Racer family, who gets behind the wheel to take on a corrupt corporate honcho ruining auto racing.

Ricci, most recently seen as a pig-faced girl in the fairy-tale romance "Penelope," plays Speed's girlfriend Trixie, who flies the skies in her helicopter to scout out the race course.

With the Wachowskis reteaming with "Matrix" producer Joel Silver, "Speed Racer" also stars John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox and a pet chimpanzee that's constantly getting into trouble.

Hirsch, 23, and Ricci, 28, chatted with The Associated Press at March's ShoWest theater-owners convention, where distributor Warner Bros. showed off footage of "Speed Racer." The movie opens Friday.

AP: Given the more serious films the two of you often do, a big summer action movie doesn't seem like an obvious choice.

Ricci: But this is the coolest, because it's the Wachowski brothers, and also, it's not your average cheesy big blockbuster. It's really awesome.

Hirsch: There's something just so wonderfully rebellious about the idea of being like some serious actor and having to just do those kind of movies, where I wanted to spit on the idea and just do something so wrong. But it's so right.

Ricci: And so much about choices for me is about what's going to be fun. This sounded like so much fun. You get to go do an action-y film and a really stylized character. To me, that's fun.

AP: The racing sequences were created by computer animation. Was there any actual driving involved?

Hirsch: I'd skateboard around set, but I don't think I actually drove a car once the entire time. ... But the thing they put us on, they put us on this thing called a gimbal, which is basically a braced piece, like a rollercoaster car, suspended up in the air with a hydraulic rig. That has a lot of power. If they crank that thing max it could break your neck from the force, the G force is that strong. They would just thrash us around. I think I spent a total of 20 days on the gimbal.

AP: Out of how many days?

Hirsch: Out of 60.

Ricci: I was only in there one day, in the gimbal. ... It happened to be a Saturday, so the brothers were in charge of how fast and hard the car was getting punched, instead of, like, a second-unit director. And they got really into it. I was just like, OK, whatever, we'll go with this. But I like being bruised up. I actually had to get out of the car and vomit and get back in.

AP: What was the most fun thing about s ting "Speed Racer"?

Hirsch: There was this chimpanzee on the set. "Fun" may not be the proper word for it, but he was the part that just directed all my attention to it. I loved the chimpanzee. We all did.

Ricci: I didn't.

Hirsch: Yeah, he did some Michael Jordan hang time on one of Christina's hoo-haws.

Ricci: In my first shot in the movie, he leapt over and grabbed my left breast with the kind of grip that only an animal or a very young, angry child can have. And I have to like, hang there saying, "Help," quietly until anyone noticed and got him off ... .

Hirsch: This is the first scene, first take of the movie.

Ricci: Before that, I didn't really like monkeys much, but I'm not going to be Debbie Downer. I'm going to get over this and be like, "Oh, isn't he cute in his little outfit," and all that stuff. But then he did that, and it was like, "Well, I'm perfectly justified now in disliking monkeys."

AP: Were you surprised to learn the Wachowskis were doing such a family-friendly film?

Ricci: I wasn't, because I knew they wanted to make a kids movie.

Hirsch: What the Wachowskis originally did when they stunned the world with "The Matrix" was they did the unexpected, and they gave people things they hadn't seen before. But you would really have to go to a completely different genre, because if you approached an R-rated kind of mind-bending action drama, it would always have the echo of "The Matrix." So to really do what they did with the first "Matrix," it had to be this, in a strange way.

AP: The Wachowskis are notoriously press-shy. Did you get any sense about why they don't do interviews?

Ricci: I think they really kind of believe that their work is making the film, and any sort of attention that comes to them as people really takes away from the distance of making the film for them.

Hirsch: Plus, they're in the awesome position of they don't have to. They've got Joel Silver, who's a really great speaker to kind of speak, as well as the actors, on their behalf. They're not interested, and I think probably more than anything, they value their anonymity. You get very smart, somewhat shy people, they don't necessarily want to be famous just because they're writers.

AP: Are you car enthusiasts?

Ricci: I used to be, but I'm not anymore. It's too much work. I had a '67 Firebird, and my first car ever was a 1964 Ford Falcon Futura station wagon. Then I had the Porsche 911, the year 2000 model. I was kind of into cars, but it's just too much work. The vintage ones break down, and they don't pass the smog-emissions checks.

AP: What do you drive now?

Ricci: I won't say. It's bad for the environment.

AP: Emile, car enthusiast?

Hirsch: Only the new-technology cars that are absolutely good for the environment. I have a Toyota Prius. I don't have an interest in any car that isn't good for the environment, other than maybe an aesthetic quality in a picture book.

Ricci: See, I got my three-year lease on my car before I saw the Al Gore movie ("An Inconvenient Truth"), then immediately went, "Oh, no." So I'm waiting for my three-year lease to be up, and I'm going to get a green car. I feel really bad about my car. ... I got my car because I thought it was hilarious ...

Hirsch: What, do you have like a clown car?

Ricci: No, I have a really big sedan like some old, fat Italian grandfather would have. I think it's hilariously funny, but it's not worth the humor. Not a lot of people get the joke, so it's not worth abusing the earth for it.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (5/25)

"States of the Union" - With Nora along for the ride, Kitty and Sarah's attempt at a spa escape quickly becomes an entangled mess. Meanwhile, Tommy crosses a dangerous line in search of companionship, Rebecca grows concerned with Justin's impossibly speedy recovery, and Kevin presses Saul to make a confession about his past, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MAY 25 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/21/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Michael Nouri as Milo Peterman, Eamon Roche as Neil Burke, Shi Ne Nielson as the spa worker, Brandon Fobbs as Nick, Ryan Kyler Bailey as the hotel employee, Joseph Julian Soria as Garret Perez, Josh Stamberg as Cliff and Benjamin Patterson as the masseur.

"States of the Union" was written by Sherri Cooper-Landsman and Liz Tigelaar and directed by Michael Schultz.

Robert Downey Jr.: Hoopin' and Hollerin'

Well, he certainly has a lot to cheer about.

While Robert Downey Jr. was no doubt rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers as they played the Utah Jazz on Sunday, the actor had to be jazzed himself, given that his new flick Iron Man managed to shoot and score big at the box office this weekend.

As a result, rival leading man Patrick Dempsey's Made of Honor, which debuted at a distant second, has now been retitled Made of Alloy.

Christina Ricci on 'Speed Racer'

If topless Miley Cyrus is new, the sexualization of young women isn't.

Just ask Christina Ricci who played a rape victim in last year's Black Snake Moan only to be infuriated by a marketing campaign that portrayed her character as a cut-offs-clad, chained-up sex-bomb.

"The movie is all about the exploitation of this girl, this child, and the idea of the exploitation of women -- and then what do they do? They exploit the character who's a rape victim," says the still-peeved former child star. "The intention was to be very honest about what can happen to women and children who aren't treated and are used and dismissed as a slut and ignored ... I can't express my displeasure enough with that ad campaign."

Presumably she is more content with the promotion of her new family-friendly film, Speed Racer, which finds her far from the darker, indie-flavoured films she tends to be identified with.

"I've always wanted to be part of something that was big and fun and everyone would see. One of the problems with doing movies that are smaller is that you do a lot of work and not a lot of people see it. So the chance to have your work seen comes from being in big movies. I've been looking for something like this for awhile."

And it is perfect casting, says producer Joel Silver, noting Ricci's uncanny resemblance to her anime alter-ego. "She looks like Trixie."

Now 28, Ricci has been a cinematic constant since she was cast as Winona Ryder's younger sister in 1990's Mermaids. Since then her acting credits have ranged from The Addams Family and Casper to such adult fare as The Opposite of Sex, Sleepy Hollow, Monster and The Ice Storm. More remarkable than her resume, though, may be the fact she never segued into the cycle of rehab and scandals that vexes many tween-and-teen-aged actresses. For that, she credits her mother.

"My mother was a big asset to me. She was wonderful on set. Producers and directors loved working with her because she was very level-headed. She always said if acting became a disruptive thing in my life, we're not doing this anymore.

"She was very rational. She never got into any of the weird stuff stage mothers do. She taught me how to handle myself in a professional situation. She was a very smart woman and very good at navigating a professional world. She gave me all those tips and traits and smarts."

Qualities, adds Ricci, she would like to pass on to young women, whether it be as an advocate for feminist issues or simply making a big-budget entertainment like Speed Racer that, for all its cartoonish action, she believes can empower girls.

"I care very much about women's issues ... and want to be helpful to the cause -- whether it's making a movie that puts a spotlight on the effect of sexual assault on girls or whether it's playing a part like this -- which I think is a good character to have out there.

"So that if a girl is sitting with her brothers in the theatre, she can think, 'See, I can do everything the boys can do and I don't have to be a tomboy or a girly-girly. I can be whoever the hell I want to be.' (Trixie) is this ultimate feminist character because she's as girly as she wants but also capable of doing all that the boys do. And that's without it being wink-wink -- 'She's a girl and she's flying a helicopter.' She's a good role model for little girls. It's a nice image."

"Iron Man" opens with box office bang

Comic book adventure "Iron Man" proved its mettle at the North America box office and topped expectations, kicking off the summer movie season with estimated weekend ticket sales of $100.75 million and marking a commercial rebound for its star, Robert Downey Jr.

The tally far exceeded expectations of an opening in the $70 million to $80 million range for the three-day period beginning Friday. All told, the film produced by Marvel Studios grossed $104.25 million, counting receipts from Thursday evening previews, according to studio figures issued on Sunday.

"Iron Man's" U.S.-Canadian haul fell just shy of the $114.8 million grossed by "Spider-Man" -- perhaps the most famous Marvel superhero of all -- in the first weekend of May 2002. That tally stands as the biggest domestic opening ever for a non-sequel film.

"Spider-Man 3" still holds the record for the biggest opening weekend of all time -- $151 million in the first weekend of May 2007.

Distributed through Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures, the film is the first self-financed production from Marvel Studios, a division of Marvel Entertainment Inc. Costing about $150 million to make and $75 million to market, the film is being closely watched as the first major release of the summer movie season.

"It's the perfect way to start the new studio, to blast it off," Marvel Studios Chairman David Maisel told Reuters. "We're fortunate to have this powerful Marvel brand which means something for moviegoers around the world."

FROM PLAYBOY TO SUPERHERO

Drawing largely favorable reviews, "Iron Man" stars Downey, 43, as billionaire industrialist and playboy Tony Stark, who wrestles with a mid-life crisis as he invents a high-tech suit of armor that transforms him into a superhero.

The film was directed by Jon Favreau and co-stars Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow as Stark's personal assistant, Pepper Potts.

Previously, with films like the "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" series, Marvel merely licensed its properties to one of the major studios, Columbia Pictures or 20th Century Fox, respectively, and received a royalty. This time, it has much more exposure to any potential profits.

Paramount Pictures paid for the film's marketing and will receive a fee for its efforts.

For Downey, perhaps best known for his Oscar-nominated turn as Charlie Chaplin in 1992's "Chaplin," "Iron Man" easily marks his biggest picture yet, at least in commercial terms.

His promising career floundered in the 1990s when he succumbed to drug addictions that ultimately landed him in prison for a year. He was arrested twice more in the months following his August 2000 release but ultimately completed court-ordered rehab and has been on the comeback trail since.

His most recent films, such as "Zodiac," "Fur" and "Good Night, and Good Luck," were mostly acclaimed but largely flew under the mainstream radar.

The success of Iron Man is almost as important to Hollywood as a whole as it is to Marvel, Paramount and Downey.

Its opening marks the official start of the lucrative summer movie-going season, an 18-week stretch from May through August that can account for as much as 40 percent of the year's total box office receipts.

Going into this weekend, North American movie receipts were down 3.5 percent and attendance was off 6.5 percent from 2007.

The weekend's only other new release, "Made of Honor," opened at No. 2 with $15.5 million for distributor Columbia Pictures, a unit of Sony Corp.

The romantic comedy, starring Patrick Dempsey, a.k.a. McDreamy from the hit ABC television drama "Grey's Anatomy," attracted a mostly female audience for its opening weekend.

Last weekend's box office champ, the Tina Fey comedy "Baby Mama," fell to No. 3 with $10.33 million. The "Odd Couple"-style surrogate-pregnancy romp was released by Universal Pictures, a unit of General Electric Co.

Robert Downey Jr.'s career on high-flying track in "Iron Man"

It took comic book heroics and major studio clout but when "Iron Man" debuts in movie theaters this week, Robert Downey Jr. will have completed a roundtrip from showbiz boy wonder to fallen star and back again.

Downey, 43, is happy about it, not so much for being back in business because, in recent years, he has been working steadily in many low-budget and independent movies.

Rather, he is happy because he is back in a starring role in a big Hollywood flick -- the first major release of the summer season -- with the kind of marketing muscle that means "Iron Man" will be seen by millions of fans.

It is the kind of attention he has not enjoyed in years.

"You want to reach an audience and you want some surety that all your work did not all go for naught," Downey told Reuters. "'Iron Man' has this big, gigantic PR (public relations) machine. It's been a wild ride and I feel we made a quality product."

Downey was born to act. He is the son of New York filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. who began his career in his father's films and grew up to claim a spot on TV's "Saturday Night Live."

By 1987, he had burst onto the Hollywood scene as a highly touted young actor in "Less than Zero." In 1992, at age 27, he was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of screen legend Charlie Chaplin in "Chaplin."

Then, Downey's life spiraled downward from alcohol and drug abuse, and in 1997 he was jailed for violating probation on drunk driving, drug possession and a weapons charge.

"SUBVERSIVE SENSIBILITY"

About six years ago, Downey has said he realized it was time for him to get his real-life act together. He found work on TV's "Ally McBeal" and in little-seen movies like "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints."

Then, along came "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau and Marvel Studios, which owns the comic book character and made the movie.

They were casting for a 40-ish actor to play Tony Stark -- the genius chief executive officer of a weapons maker who, after being captured in Afghanistan, decides to make a super high-tech suit of armor to defend the defenseless.

"He brings a subversive sensibility to this very mainstream film. It adds other dimensions to it -- humor and humanity," Favreau said, likening Downey's offbeat casting to Johnny Depp in the hugely popular "Pirates of the Caribbean" films.

Downey likens the role of Tony Stark to that of Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) in the "Bourne Ultimatum" and "Bourne Supremacy" movies that pair big Hollywood action with a flawed central character who is complicated and struggling to find himself and his place in the world.

"This is someone who is literally and figuratively almost destroyed by their own (mistakes)," Downey said.

In the movie, Stark (aka Iron Man) eventually sees hope and redemption when he looks in the mirror and into the eyes of his devoted assistant, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). And "Iron Man" is not with out its action -- there are plenty of battles.

Yet "Iron Man" is winning good early reviews not so much for the action but mainly because of Downey's performance.

Downey, who moved into an office next to Favreau to work closely on the film, said he just wants the film to be seen.

"I just want to make good movies that people are going to see," he said.

Review: `Iron Man' a blockbuster with a brain

Much of the allure of "Iron Man" comes from the fact that we are indeed talking about a man — a real man who has lived a life and made mistakes and experienced regret — not some scrawny, teenage boy who received his superhero powers through a bite from a radioactive spider.

No offense to Spidey, the other Marvel Comics hero who's already provided billion-dollar summer blockbuster fodder. But there's just something more relatable about Tony Stark, even though he's a playboy industrialist of staggering wealth and arrogance.

And in the hands of Robert Downey Jr., he's absolutely riveting. Downey may have seemed an unlikely casting choice at first, but it's difficult to imagine any other actor in the role; he's so quick-witted and he makes such inspired decisions with dialogue that, at times, might have seemed corny otherwise. Throughout his eclectic career — from "Less Than Zero" and "Chaplin" to "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" and "Zodiac" — he's always been capable of both great charisma and vulnerability, and both are beautifully on display in this, the biggest movie of his life. "Iron Man" is a blast, too — the perfect start to the summer with its shiny mix of visual effects, elaborate set pieces and plenty of humor within its intelligent script.

This is also the biggest movie of director Jon Favreau's life following "Made," "Elf" and "Zathura," and he juggles all the complicated, expensive toys deftly. The visual effects come courtesy of the venerable Industrial Light & Magic, with Matthew Libatique ("Requiem for a Dream," "Inside Man") providing the crisp cinematography

Stuff gets blown up real good, to the tune of AC/DC's "Back in Black" and, appropriately, Black Sabbath's "Iron Man," but beneath the requisite spectacle is an issue-laden storyline with heart to go along with its brains. Tony's weakened heart has always been his Achilles heel, but it's also what gets him out of trouble and inspires his rebirth.

The first moments of "Iron Man" give us a telling glimpse of Tony: a close-up of his hand, cradling a tumbler of Scotch on the rocks, as he rides in the back seat of a Humvee that's rumbling across the Afghanistan desert. He's the brilliant and talented head of Stark Industries, the leading supplier of weapons to the U.S. military, and he banters comfortably with the soldiers who have been assigned to protect him during a trip to demonstrate his latest missile. They, in turn, are in awe of his high-flying ways.

(The Iron Man comic-book character was partly inspired by billionaire industrialist Howard Hughes, but the similarities to Downey's own life are unmistakable: the well-documented highs and lows and, now, the shot at complete redemption. The subtext provides both knowing laughs and a sense of substance.)

But things go awry almost immediately. The Humvee is attacked by insurgents and Tony is abducted. While in captivity, with a battery attached to his heart to keep him alive, he's ordered to reconstruct the missile. Instead, with the help of the doctor who saved him (a graceful Shaun Toub), he's crafty enough to create a suit of armor and become a weapon himself to escape.

Tony returns home to his monstrosity of a mansion that's carved into the face of a Malibu cliff but looks more like an old set from "The Jetsons." He's a changed man, and the changes he has welcomed to his life and company also bring enemies. His top executive Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges, deliciously villainous with a shaved head and devilish goatee) is appalled at Tony's new purpose — to no longer make weapons. But Stane insists, "What we do keeps the world from falling into chaos."

It's an anti-war argument in the multilayered script from the writing teams of Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, and Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, but the delivery is hardly heavy-handed. The original "Iron Man" comic book that inspired the film took place in the 1960s during the Vietnam War, and Tony Stark was relevant, functioning as an important, fervently anti-communist cog within the military-industrial complex. Moving the film's action to Afghanistan and the present day makes it just as relevant in its own way.

In his tricked-out underground workshop, his own personal bat cave, Tony creates his Iron Man uber-suit, even though he's not quite sure what to do with it once he's finished: the right thing, perhaps, for the first time in his life?

His right-hand woman, Pepper Potts, stuck by him and kept his life organized when he was a shallow pig, but seems to like the more enlightened Tony better. (In another unexpected bit of casting, Gwyneth Paltrow brings understated smarts and class to the role.) Meanwhile, his best friend, Rhodey, an Air Force colonel played by an underused Terrence Howard, just seems confused by this person he no longer thinks he knows.

Tony undergoes plenty of trials and errors on the road to becoming Iron Man, which are both amusing and thrilling. But the moment he finally climbs inside that streamlined, rocket-propelled, red-and-gold suit — with its perfectly intertwined pieces that lock together like the most comfy, high-tech pair of ski boots — will surely cause the hearts of geeks and non-geeks alike to go pitter-patter.

But because the build up is so successfully engaging, the ending feels like a letdown. It's just plain silly watching versatile, Oscar-nominated actors behave like a couple of middle-aged Transformers.

That's merely one bump in an otherwise satisfying ride, though. And there's plenty of opportunity for improvement: The last line clearly sets up a sequel. But you knew that was ironclad from the beginning.

"Iron Man," a Paramount Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content. Running time: 126 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

Christina Ricci Revs Up Nerds

We hear a moan comin'—and it ain't from a black snake.

When Christina Ricci cruises into theaters as Trixie May 9 in the big-budget, live-action Speed Racer, she'll no doubt acquire a whole new fan base as the globe's geeks descend upon their local multiplexes.

"I try not to think of that stuff," Christina told E! News at the film's L.A. premiere Sunday. "I just go about my business."

But the 28-year-old, who—thanks to smaller films such as Monster, Pumpkin and Prozac Nation—already has quite the cult following, admits it wasn't always just business.

There was a time that she "went to lots of clubs" but still managed to stay out of the gossip rags:

"At that time, there weren't as many paparazzi," she says. "There wasn't as much media attention then, so I was actually able to go through that phase without people paying attention to it."

Fair enough, but this next remark definitely got our attention. When asked about who she thinks looks good in the sand...

"Jessica Biel has a pretty nice body. She's got that perfect volleyball-playing-at-the-beach body. She belongs at the beach, really."

That moan we spoke of earlier just came and went.

Downey flies high in "Iron Man"

You gotta love a middle-aged wreck as a superhero. Iron Man may not make the A-list of Marvel Comics' stable -- home to Spider-Man, X-Men and the Hulk -- but he may be the cinema superhero for the rest of us.

No spider bite or genetic mutation produces him. Rather he springs from good old American ingenuity, the brainchild of his creator and impersonator, Tony Stark, a character modeled in part on genius-playboy Howard Hughes. Tony wears his character flaws like badges of honor yet Iron Man represents a midlife correction.

"Iron Man," the first self-financed production from Marvel Studios, should catch box office lightning in a bottle, thanks to Marvel Comics aficionado Jon Favreau's turn as director, and to the supersmart casting of Robert Downey Jr. as the conflicted protagonist. The betting line about opening weekend grosses really pales in significance to the real question: Will the film imitate its hero's ability to blast into the stratosphere for many weeks? The guess here is a big yes.

The entire film, written by Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway, is devoted to how Tony Stark, the top U.S. weapons manufacturer and all-around playboy, becomes Iron Man. A kidnapping by insurgents in Afghanistan forces Tony to invent a crude prototype to escape captivity. (His captors are a little too dumb for belief to think he is actually assembling a weapon for them.)

Back in his Malibu home, having witnessed U.S. soldiers slaughtered with his weaponry, he declares himself out of that business for good. While his partner Obadiah Stane (a marvelously malevolent Jeff Bridges) seizes control of the company, Tony perfects his red-and-gold weapons suit with a somewhat ill-defined plan to use it for good.

The film neatly borrows from a raft of both real and science-fiction technologies as well as previous sci-fi movies to propel the fast-paced two-hour film. In his home basement (think Bat Cave), Tony can talk to his computers and robotics (think R2-D2) while his suit starts to resemble RoboCop on human growth hormones. The space flights and acrobatics over Los Angeles evoke Spider-Man. Yet the whole package is distinctly its own, a tale originated in the '60s cleverly and logically transposed into today's world.

Downey plays off his own bad-boy image wonderfully. The writers give him great lines to work with and ditto that for his Girl Friday, Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts, whose own svelte lines cannot be improved on.

Key disappointment is a climatic battle between different Iron Man prototypes, which is both illogical -- how did Tony's nemesis learn how to use the suit? -- and derivative of many other superhero climaxes. Never mind. Marvel has several more sequels to upgrade "Iron Man."

Cast:
Tony Stark/Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr.
Jim Rhodes: Terrence Howard
Pepper Potts: Gwyneth Paltrow
Obadiah Stane: Jeff Bridges
Yinsen: Shaun Toub
Raza: Faran Tahir

'Dirty Sexy Money' Courts Lucy Liu

"Cashmere Mafia" is on shaky ground for renewal next season, but star Lucy Liu is likely headed back to ABC regardless of the show's fate.

Liu is in talks to join the cast of "Dirty Sexy Money" next season. She would become a regular on the soapy drama, which stars Peter Krause as the attorney for a filthy-rich family in New York.

Officially, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "Dirty Sexy Money" would be a second priority to "Cashmere Mafia," should the latter series return for another season. Those prospects look fairly dim, though: The series averaged 6.7 million viewers per episode during its brief run in January and February (and only 6.1 million in its regular timeslot). Its adults 18-49 average was a middling 2.6.

"Dirty Sexy Money" was one of three new ABC shows -- along with "Pushing Daisies" and "Private Practice" -- that received second-season pickups during the writers' strike. The network is planning to relaunch all of them in the fall.

If Liu joins "Dirty Sexy Money," she will have booked three ABC series in the past two years. In addition to "Cashmere Mafia," the "Charlie's Angels" and "Kill Bill" actress also did a guest arc on "Ugly Betty."

How Speed Freak Ricci Plays the Paparazzi

Christina Ricci totally has a way with the press. The Speed Racer star—she's Emile Hirsch's girlfriend Trixie in the Wachowski brothers flick—explains to me how she plays it so cool all the time. Also check the clip for her dish on Britney, Real Housewives and why she hasn't always been so friendly with the paparazzi.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (5/11)

"Prior Commitments" - Kevin and Scotty make a commitment to be life partners, Saul finally deals with his identity in a public way, and the family discovers that William (guest starring Tom Skerritt) kept yet another painful secret from his family, on the season finale of "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MAY 11 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Luke MacFarlane as Scotty Wandell, Michael Adler as Doug Manning, Michael O'Keefe as Wally Wandell, Jayne Brook as Bertha Wandell and Parvesh Cheena as Jordan.

"Prior Commitments" was written by Greg Berlanti, Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker and directed by Ken Olin.

Robert Downey Jr.: Sarah Jessica Parker Tried to Help Me

Robert Downey Jr. says his drug abuse and drinking led to his breakup with Sarah Jessica Parker after a seven-year relationship – even as she tried to help him cope.

"I liked to drink, and I had a drug problem, and that didn't jibe with Sarah Jessica, because it is the furthest thing from what she is," Downey Jr., 43, who stars in Iron Man (May 2), says in an interview with Parade. "She provided me a home and understanding. She tried to help me. She was so miffed when I didn't get my act together."

The future Sex and the City star "would pull me out of a hangover, and we'd go pick out furniture together," he continues. "I was in love with Sarah Jessica . . . and love clearly was not enough. I was meant to move on. And, after some heartache, she was meant to find her home with a great star."

Downey, who broke up with Parker in 1991, is now married to his second wife, producer Susan Levin, whom he credits with changing his attitude about life.

"Before I met Mrs. Downey, I just didn't give a god----. What changed is that I cared," he tells the magazine. "I'm learning the business of building a life. Instead of getting instant gratification by getting high, I push my nose as far into the grindstone as I can. The honey, the reward, is the feeling of well-being, the continuity, the sense that I am walking toward a place I want to go."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (5/4)

"Moral Hazard"- In a surprising twist of fate for the Walkers, Holly becomes the only saving grace for Ojai Foods after a major international business deal goes bad. Meanwhile, Justin delivers some heartbreaking news about a family member, Saul makes a stunning confession and Kevin and Scotty share a life-changing moment, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MAY 4 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Luke MacFarlane as Scotty Wandell, Justine Dorsey as Sophie McCallister, Max Burkholder as Jack McCallister, Matt Fletcher as the cashier, Tom Virtue as Dr. Bob Rosen and Paula Rhodes as the B-movie victim.

"Moral Hazard" was written by Sherri Cooper-Landsman and Jason Wilborn and directed by Michael Morris.

Harrison Ford: Calista Best Mother in the World

After nearly 20 years, Harrison Ford is returning to the role of Indiana Jones. But at home, he's reprising a part he played earlier in his 65 years: father.

Being a parent again, the leading man tells Reader's Digest for its May issue, has "made me just a bit less self-centered."

The actor's companion since 2002, Calista Flockhart, 43, adopted the youngster in Ford's life, son Liam, in 2001.

"She's brought a child back into my home," Ford says of Flockhart. "My youngest, other than Liam, is 17. It's a wonderful opportunity to be part of a child's growing up, which is always an endless springtime. You see the blossoming and the growing and the nurturing and the payoff."

Ford, who was PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive in 1998, also has four older children – Benjamin, 40, and Willard, 39, his two sons with first wife Mary Marquard (to whom Ford was married from 1964 to 1979), and a boy and a girl with his second wife, E.T. screenwriter Melissa Mathison (to whom he was wed from 1983-2004): Malcolm, 21, and Georgia, 17.

'Best Mom in the World'

Asked what sort of mother Flockhart is, Ford replied: "The best in the world. She's a mother by choice – she adopted Liam before we met, as a single parent, which is an awesome responsibility to take. She's devoted herself to Liam and has done a really wonderful job raising him. I'm happy to now have a part of the job."

But is he different with Liam than he was with Benjamin, Willard, Malcolm and Georgia? "Naturally enough," Ford replies, "I'm a little bit more mature."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (4/27)

REBECCA'S TEST RESULTS ARE IN, ON ABC'S "BROTHERS & SISTERS" "Double Negative"- Robert is seriously contemplating a future in politics, Kitty's fertility treatments become increasingly more aggressive, Kevin has an epiphany about his relationship with Scotty and Rebecca reveals information about her paternity test. Meanwhile, contrary to Sarah's direction, Saul makes a very risky business move that could affect the future of Ojai Foods, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, APRIL 27 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Luke MacFarlane as Scotty Wandell, Steven Finch as Graham Finch, Ken Olin as David Caplan and Ken Howard as Boyd Taylor. Other guest cast TBD.

"Double Negative" was written by Josh Reims and Liz Tigelaar and directed by Michael Schultz.

MEN IN TREES (4/23)

MARIN ASKS JACK IF CASH CAN CONVALESCE IN THEIR HOUSE, PATRICK ENDS UP IN NEW YORK WORKING FOR JANE AND MEETS PILAR, AND BUZZ TRIES TO PAY OFF HIS GAMBLING DEBTS, ON ABC'S "MEN IN TREES" Sofía Vergara Guest Stars as Pilar "Kiss and Don't Tell" - When Cash is discharged from the hospital, Marin asks Jack if it would be OK to let him convalesce in their house. Patrick's life discovery trip takes him to New York, where he gets a job with Jane's company. Meanwhile, Jane is trying to woo Pilar (Sofía Vergara) who, like Marin, writes relationship books. Back in Elmo, Celia adjusts to the newly-separated Mai living in her home, and Buzz takes a job at the inn in Patrick's absence to try and pay off his gambling debt, on "MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Sofía Vergara as Sofía, Scott Elrod as Cash, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Deanna Milligan as pointy shoes, Denalda Williams as Tippy and Janet Pinnick as waitress.

"Kiss and Don't Tell" was written by Chris Dingess and directed by Sandy Smolan.

Panettiere and Long join "Alpha" family cartoon

Hayden Panettiere and Justin Long will voice the title characters in "Alpha and Omega," an animated family feature whose lineup also includes Christina Ricci and Danny Glover.

"Alpha and Omega" follows two bickering wolves -- one a disciplined, Alpha-bred wolf (Panettiere) and the other a fun-loving, comical Omega wolf (Long) -- who are captured and taken thousands of miles from their home.

Determined to rejoin their pack, the two mismatched wolves begin a dangerous trek across unfamiliar terrain, battling the odds, the elements, the bears and one another -- and finding love along the way.

Anthony Bell ("The Boondocks") and Ben Gluck ("Brother Bear 2") are directing. Production is underway. Lionsgate will distribute the film in North America and the U.K. in 2010.

Christina Ricci: I Want Jessica Biel's Butt

Move over, Justin.

Jessica Biel has found a new No. 1 fan in Christina Ricci.

The 5-foot-tall actress – who had to fill out a pair of barely-there hot pants for her upcoming role in Speed Racer, directed by The Matrix's Andy and Larry Wachowski – is full of praise for Biel's famously fit physique.

"I asked my trainer, 'Can you give me Jessica Biel's butt?'" the actress – who starred with Biel's beau Timberlake in last year's Black Snake Moan – tells the U.K. edition of Elle. "I want a bigger butt."

Alas, because of her tiny frame, "they said I couldn't," she laments. "Everyone wants what they can't have!"

She may never be bootylicious, but Ricci – who battled anorexia as a teenager – says she's learned to love her body nonetheless.

"Young girls have body issues and I was not exception, except that I happened to be famous," the 28-year-old says. "I conquered it, but it stays with you. I do not starve myself now – my weakness is candy and sweets. It's my only vice!"

In fact, the Addams Family alum said she given up weighing herself.

"I do not want to waste one more minute of my life feeling bad about the way I look," she explains. "If you're obsessed with how you look in your bikini, you're not going to have much fun at the beach."

Fox Atomic Trying to 'Kiss' Hayden Panettiere

Fox Atomic has acquired "Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List" as a possible starring vehicle for Hayden Panettiere.

The project focuses on the latest cumbersomely titled novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, the duo behind "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" (soon to be a Sony Pictures release).

Naomi (Panettiere, if Fox Atomic has its way) and her gay best friend Ely make a list of people they can't kiss, but then when Ely kisses Naomi's boyfriend (presumably somebody on the list), bad things happen to their friendship.

According to Variety, Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer will adapt the book for the big screen.

Fox Atomic and Panettiere are already working together on "I Love You, Beth Cooper."

The "Heroes" cheerleader has also been attached to "Daydream Nation," while working on an album for Hollywood Records.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (4/20)

"Separation Anxiety" - Kitty and Robert make a life altering decision when the Presidential race takes a dramatic turn. Meanwhile, the Walker siblings are shocked by Nora's reaction to a surprise proposal from Isaac, and Rebecca further investigates the identity of her father, when "Brothers & Sisters" returns to ABC, SUNDAY, APRIL 20 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Ken Olin as David Caplan, Danny Glover as Isaac Marshall, Steven Weber as Graham Finch, Evie Peck as Gail and Bruno Oliver as the lab technician.

"Separation Anxiety" was written by David Marshall Grant and Molly Newman and directed by Gloria Muzio.

MEN IN TREES (4/16)

"Wander/Lust" - Since Marin has yet to meet Julia (Kelli Williams), Jack invites her and her husband, Jim (Josh Stamberg), to their home. Over dinner the couples learn some surprising things about themselves. Meanwhile Jane has mixed feelings about the diamond engagement ring that Sam (Ty Olsson) gives her from the sanitation department's lost & found, Mai learns some disappointing news about Buzz, and Annie finds Patrick in a compromising position with Ivan's (Diego Klattenhoff) wingwoman, Greta (Bayne Gibby), on "MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Ty Olsson as Sam, Kelli Williams as Julia, Diego Klattenhoff as Ivan, Josh Stamberg as Jim, Don Thompson as Cabbie, Bayne Gibby as Greta, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Trevor Roberts as Joe, Crystal Verge as department head and Teach Grant as bookie.

"Wander/Lust" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by John Badham.

Sightings

LUCY Liu rushing out after drinks with five friends at Greek eatery Periyali in the Flatiron District.

Hayden Panettiere Awarded For Trying to Save Dolphins

Heroes star Hayden Panettiere cried Saturday night as the Humane Society gave her an activism award for protesting the annual dolphin slaughter in Southwestern Japan last year.

Hayden received the Gretchen Wyler Award, given annually at the Genesis Awards to a celebrity who brings attention to animal causes. Wyler, who founded the awards and was also an actress, died last May from breast cancer, two months after presenting the first award to Paul McCartney.

Hayden’s parents and her boyfriend – and Heroes costar – Milo Ventimiglia were in the audience and watched a video of the actress and others paddling out on surfboards and confronting fishermen, who trap and kill dolphins to protect their fish supply. They then gave a standing ovation as Hayden took the stage.

"As an actress, you always dream of getting awards like the Golden Globe award, but I never expected to get an award that is this special and important to me as this," Hayden said through tears. "There are people who dedicate their entire lives to preserving the environment and defending animals, they are so much more deserving of something like this."

After the brief speech, she went straight from the stage to the bathroom for several minutes to regain her composure, and then was escorted back to her seat by Ventimiglia.

Hayden skipped the afterparty, having to return in the morning to shooting the movie I Love You, Beth Cooper. Panettiere stars in the Chris Columbus comedy, being shot in Vancouver.

"She’s an inspiring example to her generation, using her compassion, courage and celebrity to help animals in a very effective way,” said Beverly Kaskey, Senior Director of the Humane Society’s Hollywood Office.

Other celebrity attendees included Emily Deschanel, Eric Roberts, Bill Maher and Anderson Cooper.

Going For China Gold

NOT all celebrities are shunning China over the country's support for Sudan's genocidal rulers and for shooting Tibetan monks - some are even heading to China in search of valuable freebies. Ginnifer Goodwin, Christina Ricci and Jennifer Jason Leigh are "just a few of the American celebs boarding flights for Shanghai this week to celebrate Ferragamo's 80th anniversary!" screams a release from the luxury goods line.

'Superman,' 'Virgin' Actors Get 'Nailed'

James Marsden, Catherine Keener and Tracy Morgan are about to get "Nailed."

Boy, that's a pun that we're never going to tire of.

In any case, those three actors are in final negotiations to join Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel in the wacky sounding David O. Russell ("Three Kings") comedy "Nailed."

Written by Russell and Kristen Gore, "Nailed" focuses on a woman (Biel) who gets a nail shot into her head and begins to experience erratic behavior (the original Hollywood Reporter story on the movie said the nail caused "wild sexual urges," which sounded more exciting). When she heads to Washington to lobby for better health care, she becomes involved with a fresh-faced Congressman (Gyllenhaal), who has to decide whether to help her or take advantage of her.

The trade paper now says that Marsden will play the small town boyfriend of the main character, with Keener as an unscrupulous legislator. The trade adds that Morgan will likely play another victim of a bizarre injury who joins the main character's cause.

Marsden, best known for "Superman Returns" and the "X-Files" movies sung his way through 2007 in "Hairspray" and "Enchanted." He started 2008 off right with the romantic comedy hit "27 Dresses."

"The 40-Year-Old Virgin" co-star Keener earned award buzz for her turn in "Into the Wild."

Morgan stars on NBC's "30 Rock" and the upcoming "Superhero Movie." He was last seen in "First Sunday."

Report: 'October Road,' 'Men in Trees' Seek New Homes

It doesn't necessarily means that they're on the verge of cancellation, but ABC dramas "October Road" and "Men in Trees" are reportedly seeking new homes.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, ABC sent tapes of both bubble shows to Lifetime, but the trade paper says that the cable network has already ruled out picking up either series.

What will be the next option for "October Road" and "Men in Trees"?

"October Road" is in particular danger. After spending its first season in the safe confines of Thursday nights at 10 p.m. after "Grey's Anatomy," frequently drawing over 10 million viewers per episode, the coming-of-age drama moved to ABC's Monday 10 p.m. trouble spot this year. After premiering with just over 6 million viewers, the show has been struggling to reach 5 million viewers in recent weeks and its last two episodes, airing on March 10, averaged a 1.8 rating in the 18-49 demo.

Fans have already begun the requisite Save-our-Show campaign.

And can anybody say with absolutely certainty what day or time "Men in Trees" is on? It's our job to know and we aren't totally sure. Either blessed or cursed with a seemingly endless supply of episodes in the can, "Men in Trees" has bounced around ABC's schedule as if floating on a whim, delivering a less-than-impressive 1.7 demo rating for its March 12 episode.

Because of its proven scheduling versatility and the show's relative star-power, "Men in Trees" is said to have a better chance of renewal than "October Road."

The final word on both shows won't come down until ABC presents its fall line-up to advertisers at its upfront presentation in May.

MEN IN TREES (4/2)

MORGAN FAIRCHILD COMES TO ELMO AND DECIDES SHE WANTS TO BUY MARIN'S LIFE RIGHTS FOR A MOVIE, KIDNEY DONOR TERRI WANTS TO BOND WITH CASH, AND SARA DISCOVERS THAT ERIC'S BAND HAS A FAN CLUB --THE PASTORETTES -- ON ABC'S "MEN IN TREES" "Get a Life" -- Morgan Fairchild comes to Elmo to sing the national anthem at the opening game for Ben's hockey team. After running into Marin and getting swept up by how living in Elmo has changed her life, she decides she wants to buy Marin's life rights for a movie. Also, now that Terri (Mario Cantone) will be donating his kidney to Cash (Scott Elrod), Terri wants them to bond before the transplant surgery. Meanwhile Sara discovers Eric's (Nicholas Lea) band is more popular than she thought -- especially when she meets his fan club, The Pastorettes; Patrick meets a wing woman who has designs on him; and Buzz breaks his promise to Mai and bets on the hockey game, on "MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Morgan Fairchild as herself, Mario Cantone as Terri, Scott Elrod as Cash, Nicholas Lea as Eric, Diego Klattenhoff as Ivan, Bayne Gibby as Greta, Timothy Webber as Jerome, April Amber Telek as pushy broad, Peter Huck as hot guy and Tiffani Timms as hot blonde.

"Get a Life" was written by Anna Fricke and directed by Joanna Kerns.

Robert Downey Jr. tries new role as superhero

No matter the movie, Robert Downey Jr. is incapable of turning in an uninteresting performance.

While his films -- most recently "Charlie Bartlett" and "Zodiac" -- haven't always found large audiences, the May 2 Paramount Pictures release "Iron Man" promises to connect Downey with the masses.

Downey, 42, recently chatted about comic-book movies, working out and action figures.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: WHEN YOU THINK OF ROBERT DOWNEY JR. THE ACTOR, "ACTION HERO" ISN'T THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND. WHAT DREW YOU TO "IRON MAN?"

Robert Downey Jr.: (Jon) Favreau was directing it. And when I went (to the Marvel headquarters) to meet with ... all the bigwigs there, I walked down the halls and saw certain of my peers in all these big, crazy, cool posters and stuff, and I'm like, "This has got to be fun." Plus, no one who was in a really successful superhero franchise has ever said to me, "Boy, I really wish I hadn't done that."

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: WHAT KIND OF PHYSICAL TRAINING PROCESS DID YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO PLAY TONY STARK (THE BRILLIANT INVENTORS WHOSE SUIT OF ARMOR MAKES HIM INVINCIBLE)?

Downey: My job was just to get in shape like I was in my mid-20s, which was kind of hilarious and also pretty effective. I've done martial arts for years, so I knew I could get in shape without injuring myself. The point of the story is that (Stark) puts on a suit, and this suit gives him this power that he didn't have access to before, so I didn't want to get all huge. But I also didn't want to look like a schlub. So I worked my ass off, and then the three or four days where I was supposed to look like I was in shape, I pretty much ended up looking that way. It was probably 1,500 hours of effort for 11 seconds of screen time.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR "IRON MAN" ACTION FIGURE YET?

Downey: I have. It looks pretty good. We actually had an "Iron Man" mask on top of our Christmas tree this year. I'm not worshiping false idols -- it was almost more like the reason we were having a good Christmas. He was kind of like the patron saint of there being big boxes under the tree. For reasons that shouldn't be too difficult to calculate, I'm incredibly grateful to have the opportunities that I do. It doesn't take much for me to be stoked.

Rocker Unloads

JON Bon Jovi finally sold his West Side condo - but for less than he wanted. The Post's Braden Keil reports the Jersey rocker has unloaded his 28th-floor, four-bedroom residence at 111 W. 67th St. for $5.484 million, after first listing it in 2006 for $6.95 million. Still, it's not a bad resale considering he bought it for just $1.85 million in 1998. Bon Jovi, who moved into a $24 million SoHo duplex penthouse last June, rented out the uptown pad for $30,000 a month while waiting for a buyer.

Concert Review: Bon Jovi

Talk about making a memory.

Bon Jovi triumphantly kicked off a three-night-stand at the Air Canada Centre last night that continues tomorrow night before wrapping up with a record-setting fifth night at the hockey hangar on Thursday, as the veteran New Jersey rockers played two earlier shows from their so-called Lost Highway tour at the ACC in early December.

And apparently they want to make that fifth and final night special, randomly giving away prizes to concertgoers ranging from a trip for two to see the band in London, England to a jersey signed by all of the members.

Just to keep things interesting, Bon Jovi -- who are actually breaking their own earlier four-night record at the ACC that tied with U2, the Spice Girls and The Police -- returned to Canada with a new multi-million-dollar stage that featured four state-of-the-art flat screen video screens that dropped down from above and later fanned out like venetian blinds during Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen From Mars.

The group opened with the rollicking title track from their latest, country-tinged album Lost Highway, fleshed out by the presence of a female fiddler, before delving into the first '80s-era crowdpleaser of the night, You Give Love a Bad Name, that spawned an audience singalong.

"I've decided I'm just going to make this Canada week in Toronto," said lead singer Jon Bon Jovi to huge cheers while strumming an acoustic guitar before launching into I Get a Crush.

As has been their way for the last 25 years, much of Bon Jovi's appeal in a live setting comes from the interplay between the charismatic lead singer and his songwriting partner and guitarist Richie Sambora.

Last night, the two didn't disappoint, sometimes sharing a microphone (even on a small stage on the floor for the ballad I'll Be There For You), and often smiling at one another, with Sambora eventually going it alone to sing lead on These Days.

And a special mention should be made, too, of drummer Tico Torres, reportedly in severe pain, wearing a back brace and on medication, but refusing to cancel last night's show.

"God bless Tico," said Jon, who explained his condition as the two-hour-and-30-minute show came to a close.

Some genuine song surprises included an abbreviated cover of Bob Dylan's Knockin' On Heaven's Door, which led into one of the set's highlights, Blaze Of Glory, with opening act Chris Daughtry trading verses with Jon, and Sambora delivering a standout solo after he traded in a sharp looking purple coat for a black hat.

Jon also paid tribute to Leonard Cohen, who he called "Canada's greatest songwriter," and commemorated his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night in New York City with a cover of Hallelujah during the encore. Toronto also got a major shoutout in the final song of the night, I Love This Town, with a video montage of the city's sights and sports teams, including the Maple Leafs.

"Your friendship and support doesn't go unnoticed," said the singer, recalling the first time the band played to about 50 people at the El Mocambo.

Of the new material, We Got It Going On, a collaboration with the band's "country cousins, Big & Rich," and the slower ballads (You Want to) Make a Memory and 'Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore, the latter two featuring Jon alone on that small stage on the floor, fit in the best alongside such classic arena rock anthems as It's My Life, Bad Medicine (with a snippet of Shout), Keep the Faith, Livin' On a Prayer, and Wanted Dead Or Alive.

MEN IN TREES (3/26)

A Tale of Two Kidneys -- Upon Marin and Jack's return from New York , they discover Cash is in the hospital and needs a kidney transplant. Terri (Mario Cantone) still feels guilty for Patrick's being struck by lightning because of the bobby pin he put in his hair at the wedding. Patrick continues to be upset with Celia for putting him in jail, and Celia is having issues with Dick's (Currie Graham) smothering ways. Meanwhile, Ben's sexy, young, new hockey player, Ivan (Diego Klattenhoff), arrives in Elmo and is immediately enamored with Annie, on " MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Mario Cantone as Terri, Currie Graham as Dick, Scott Elrod as Cash, Kelli Williams as Julia, Diego Klattenhoff as Ivan, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Andrew Friedman as Dr. Thompson, Roman Podhora as coach and Lossen Chambers as nurse.

"A Tale of Two Kidneys" was written by Michael L. Kramer and directed by Bob Berlinger.

Bon Jovi to mark ACC shows with fan prizes

Veteran rockers Bon Jovi are thanking their Canadian fans for giving them an unprecedented five shows at the Air Canada Centre.

The New Jersey boys say their fifth performance at the Toronto arena Thursday will feature prizes including a trip for two to London, England, and a flat-screen TV.

Randomly selected fans could also score a pair of Toronto Raptors basketball tickets, a spa gift certificate and a $100 voucher for band merchandise.

Maple Leaf Sports, which runs the arena, says Bon Jovi is the first artist to play five shows at the venue on the same tour.

The band behind hits such as "Wanted Dead or Alive, "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer" played two shows there in December.

It wraps up its Toronto run with opener Daughtry on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Three local radio stations are also offering prizes, including a party suite for Thursday's show and an autographed drum kit, guitar, bass and keyboard.

It's the heyday of hot starlet Hayden Panettiere

Fans of NBC's Heroes have to wait till fall for new episodes, but they can catch up with Hayden Panettiere in April's Seventeen (out now) and Cosmopolitan (out Tuesday). USA TODAY checks out what the 18-year-old actress, who is dating Heroes' co-star Milo Ventimiglia, 30, has to say:

What she looks for in a guy

Seventeen: "I have to be with someone who's driven. When they're not, it becomes difficult. In a lot of relationships, you get in and you spend every waking moment with that person. But I've figured out that the healthiest relationship is where you each have your own life, but they meet in a nice point in the middle."

Cosmo: "I need somebody who is very secure. In this business, I'm constantly standing next to gorgeous people. My job is to make out with [attractive] men. Like, hello, who wouldn't be completely threatened by that? But at the end of the day, you have to realize that it's just a job."

Her self-image

Seventeen: "I know myself much better now than I did. And my opinions of things and my morals — I am not as easily swayed as I used to be. And when you learn to accept yourself, the more you learn to be OK with yourself and know yourself, the easier it is to love somebody and allow them to love you."

Cosmo: "I think that people look at me as just another one of those girls who's going to screw up, like 'She's going to get into drugs, and she's going to get into the parties.' I have the occasional glass of champagne when I'm celebrating something, but generally, I don't drink. I'm a pizza-and-a-movie girl." She calls herself a "good bad girl."

Her friends — and her body

Seventeen: "Hilary [Duff] is one of the closer people to me in the business. She's a very down-to-earth person. She's humble, very sweet — she's low-key."

Cosmo: "I don't have a model's body. But I'm not one of those crazy girls who thinks that they're fat. I'm okay with what I have. I can rock this body, you know?"

Downey Jr. changes race in new movie

In "Tropic Thunder," one of three summer films featuring Robert Downey Jr., the actor appears on screen as a black man.

Downey Jr. plays overly committed actor Kirk Lazarus, a white man cast to play a black soldier in a satire of the performing profession. The film also stars Jack Black and Ben Stiller, who co-wrote, directed and produced it.

"If it's done right, it could be the type of role you called Peter Sellers to do 35 years ago," Downey told Entertainment Weekly magazine. "If you don't do it right, we're going to hell."

Stiller said he was "trying to push it as far as you can within reality," with the intent of satirizing over-the-top actors, not African-Americans.

"I had no idea how people would respond to it," Stiller told the magazine. But at a recent screening, black viewers liked the film, he said.

Downey explained that he kept the character from becoming a caricature because he "dove in with both feet."

"If I didn't feel it was morally sound," he said, "or that it would be easily misinterpreted that I'm just C. Thomas Howell in ("Soul Man"), I would've stayed home."

Paramount is set to release "Tropic Thunder" Aug. 15.

Academy of Country Music Awards Nominees

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson, "Because of You"
Tracy Lawrence with Tim McGraw & Kenny Chesney, "Find Out Who Your Friends Are"
Kenny Chesney & George Strait, "Shiftwork"
Bon Jovi & LeAnn Rimes, "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore"
Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow, "What You Give Away"

Anne Heche subs for actress in comedy feature

Anne Heche is set to star opposite Ashton Kutcher in the indie romantic comedy "Spread," replacing Jennifer Jason Leigh.

The "Punk'd" star and "Call Me Crazy" author will mix it up in the tale of a womanizer and the lover he scorns.

Leigh dropped out of the project February 21 for undisclosed reasons. News reports have suggested that Leigh and her husband, "Margot at the Wedding" director Noah Baumbach, are expecting a child.

Heche has had a career resurgence on ABC's "Men in Trees." The series returned to the air Wednesday with 11 episodes in the can, giving Heche free time before the show likely resumes shooting in the summer.

With only a minor hiccup in the recasting, the Los Angeles-based production is set to begin this week. David Mackenzie directs.

Heche's feature credits include the "Psycho" remake, and "Six Days Seven Nights" with Harrison Ford.

'Penelope' catches a whiff of fairy-tale fun

A pleasant but slightly bland Christina Ricci stars in a contemporary fairy tale about overcoming a curse and accepting oneself. But that ground has been covered more entertainingly by the Shrek franchise. Though the film has a strong cast, humor and a satirical take on celebrity culture, the story is spotty.

Penelope is born with a silver spoon in her mouth but a cursed countenance, thanks to a vengeful witch. She sequesters herself in her parents' estate and stays buried in books and music. Her mother (Catherine O'Hara) is determined to lift the curse, which can happen only if Penelope finds love.

A tabloid reporter (Peter Dinklage) hires Max (James McAvoy) to pose as a suitor. Max and Penelope bond, but he pulls out of the deal. Upset, she ventures out, meeting the free-spirited Annie (Reese Witherspoon).

While uneven, this Ugly Duckling redux is hipper and funnier than a Disney movie, and the positive message to young girls can't be discounted.

ABOUT THE MOVIE: Penelope
* * 1/2 (out of four)
Stars: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Reese Witherspoon
Director: Mark Palansky
Rating: PG for thematic elements, some innuendo and language
Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes.
Opens Friday nationwide

Can ABC'S quirky 'Men in Trees' climb higher?

In the tiny Alaskan town of Elmo, the setting for ABC's Men In Trees, no one seems to want for love. Writer Maris Frist falls for someone before she even has a chance to unpack her suitcase. The lonely town sheriff, Celia, finds love with a fellow officer. Even the local barfly, Jerome, manages to kindle romance.

Now if Trees could just get some love from viewers and network schedulers. The series, which returns tonight (10 ET/PT) in a fractured sophomore season, has been shuffled from Fridays to Thursdays to Fridays, and now Wednesdays.

"We've been all over the place, and we need to be somewhere people can find us and fall in love with us," says show creator Jenny Bicks. "We thought we'd found a great spot after Grey's Anatomy on Thursday nights, but then we were bumped for October Road and pulled from the air for eight months." Trees returned in October and left again in December.

But this time, Bicks says, the show might be able to turn the effects of the Hollywood writers' strike to an advantage. They continued filming and have a fresh batch of episodes. "Our hope is that we'll gain some ground while other scripted shows are in reruns," says Bicks, one of the Emmy-winning writers of HBO's Sex and the City. "We have 11 new episodes back-to-back, and I hope it's enough to build a bigger core audience."

The show's fan base is small (6.1 million viewers this season) but dedicated. "Our fans have sent us lots of 'hugs,' and I'm appreciative," says star Anne Heche. She's referring to Trees for Life, a fan movement that buys a tree in a hungry nation for every dollar contributed to support the show. So far, fans have bought 5,000 trees and hope to collect enough to persuade ABC to give the show a third season.

Heche's Marin is a successful relationship expert who becomes disenchanted with love and hides out in Elmo to nurse her wounds. Although she's determined to keep love and the town at arm's length, she can't help but make connections, especially with a shy biologist, Jack Slattery (Jake Tupper).

"Elmo is a community of people that rally behind each other when the chips are down," Heche says.

And the town casts a similar spell on anyone who stops by. Marin's book editor, Jane (Seana Kofoed), falls for a local named Sam (Ty Olsson), aka "Plow Guy." Annie (Emily Bergl), a wide-eyed fan of Marin, meets the love of her life, the naïve Patrick (Derek Richardson).

That magic extends to the cast's off-camera relationships. "We're all very close," says Heche, who has been dating co-star James Tupper for a year. "Sometimes I think that this show happened so that (James and I) could meet. We all hang out, too. For my son Homer's (fifth) birthday, I threw a baseball party and everyone came."

Bergl and Richardson recently went public with their relationship. And Suleka Mathew, who plays ex-prostitute Sarah, and Nicholas Lea, her love interest Pastor Eric, were a couple before they were cast.

Heche and Bicks hope viewers discover the same sort of enchantment in Trees. "There's warmth to this show," Heche says. "It's like a fireplace you want to curl up to."

GET INTO THE SWING OF 'TREES'

Unlike brain twisters such as Lost and 24, viewers can pick up the branches of Men in Trees immediately. Catching up with some of the couples and their conundrums:

-Marin (Anne Heche) and Jack (James Tupper). These two can't seem to get their timing right. Although Jack calls off the wedding to his pregnant girlfriend Lynne, he takes a research job on the Bering Sea for nine months. Unknown to Marin, the ship sinks. As he and co-worker Julia await rescue on a lifeboat, Marin fends off suitors.

-Ben (Abraham Benrubi) and Theresa (Sarah Strange). Ben, who owns Elmo's watering hole The Chieftain, buys a hockey team and spends more time watching practice than tending to the bar and his friends -- much to wife Theresa's chagrin.

-Sarah (Suleka Matthew) and Eric (Nicholas Lea). For now, while Pastor Eric is still a man of the cloth, the new couple have to resist their physical urges. Sarah's ex and father of her son, Matty, returns to Elmo asking to become a part of his life.

-Annie (Emily Bergl) and Patrick (Derek Richardson). Their wedding plans have been cursed. Although they make it down the aisle, a lightning bolt to Patrick's head prevents the couple from saying "I do." He now suffers from amnesia, and despite Annie's best efforts to jog his memory about their relationship, his attention (and devotion) to Annie wanders.

`Penelope': This little piggy's adorable

No offense intended, but a pig snout is very becoming on Christina Ricci.

The actress is lovably adorable in the adorably lovable "Penelope," a fairy-tale romance that's a perfect mix of Ricci's oddball sensibilities and her inherent sweetness.

The film further establishes the tremendous range of James McAvoy, proving that the co-star of such heavy dramas as "Atonement" and "The Last King of Scotland" is just as engaging as a leading man in a sunny comedy.

Adding to the fun is producer Reese Witherspoon popping up in a small role and clearly having a blast just hanging in the background as the story of Penelope the pig-faced girl plays out.

You could hardly find a more different role than the one Ricci played in her last release, "Black Snake Moan," in which she spent much of her time chained to a wall by Samuel L. Jackson, who was trying to mend her character's slutty ways.

Like a storybook of old, "Penelope" offers a pithy prologue establishing long-ago events and the repercussions they have in the present.

An ancestor in the patrician Wilhern family gravely wrongs a servant girl, bringing down a gypsy curse that all female heirs to the clan will be born with the face of a pig. The only cure to their affliction: To earn the love of one of their own.

Five generations pass with only male heirs, until Penelope (Ricci) is born to Jessica and Franklin Wilhern (Catherine O'Hara and Richard E. Grant). Horrified by her daughter's appearance, Jessica keeps the girl in hiding until adulthood, when packs of potential suitors that might lift the curse come calling — and just as quickly run screaming at their first glimpse of Penelope's snout.

One such suitor (Simon Woods) goes public with tales of a fanged pig creature at the Wilhern mansion. His story grabs the attention of Lemon (Peter Dinklage), a news photographer whose encounter with the Wilherns years earlier cost him an eye.

Lemon enlists the help of down-on-his-luck aristocrat Max (McAvoy) to pose as a suitor and obtain photos of the monster.

What follows is a smart, funny, endearing twist on "Beauty and the Beast," with Ricci and McAvoy showing boundless charm and chemistry as possible lovers whose secrets run much more than skin deep.

Witherspoon turns up as a saucy, Vespa-driving messenger who befriends Penelope when she goes on a "Red Riding Hood" quest into the big, bad real world. The two short, effervescent actresses could be sisters, Ricci's bubbly manner and intonations reflecting Witherspoon's own girly disposition.

The movie touches on current issues — paparazzi and celebrity culture — but this is a story out of time and place, unfolding in a bubble where a dwarf with an eye patch can stalk a girl with a pig's nose without attracting undue attention.

First-time director Mark Palansky and screenwriter Leslie Caveny, a TV sitcom veteran, spin a breathlessly paced little ditty that doesn't have an empty moment and offers a few pleasant surprises along the way.

One of the best comic actresses ever, O'Hara takes on a part that could have been a flat, tedious mom role but which she turns into a hilarious whirlwind of misguided motherhood. Nicely complementing O'Hara's bluster is Grant's matter-of-fact resignation that he's got a little piggy for a daughter.

"Penelope" also shows that filmmakers need to find more uses for Dinklage, the star of 2003's "The Station Agent" who, like O'Hara, takes what could have been a plain old heavy-with-a-heart character and makes him a sympathetic person.

Ricci's Penelope is such a sweetheart — yearning but realistic, cynical but hopeful — that anyone who stuck with her through even the beginnings of a conversation quickly would overlook her snout, which actually is more pug-nosed cute than bestial (Witherspoon rivals her for cuteness in one scene when she goes to a costume party dressed as a bee).

The whole beauty lies within thing is the movie's timeworn message, but it unfolds in such an original and unassuming fashion that "Penelope" feels springtime fresh.

"Penelope," a Summit Entertainment release, is rated PG for thematic elements, some innuendo and language. Running time: 90 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

Oscar Parties Truly Awesome

The annual Vanity Fair Oscars after-party may have been canceled, but the outrageous bashes thrown by Madonna and Prince more than filled the void.

Madonna's spectacular gathering at her manager Guy Oseary's Westside Hills home Sunday night drew Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, fresh-out-of-rehab Eva Mendes, Owen Wilson, Christian Slater, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi (who came from Elton John's fund-raiser), Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz, all of whom boogied to music by DJ JusSke.

"There were Le Tourment Vert absinthe fountains flowing all night - it was insane," said one partygoer. "Diddy grabbed the mike rallying everyone to dance. Elton John and David Furnish were getting down," said our source.

By midnight, everyone had siphoned off to Prince's $15 million Beverly Park mansion, where the Klipsch-sponsored bash continued until 6 in the morning. "Every single Oscar winner except for Daniel Day-Lewis was there," said our insider.

Outside at the pool area, Sean Penn and his new gal pal Petra Nemcova held hands and "snuck kisses" for hours, said our spy.

Best Supporting Actor winner Javier Bardem changed into beat-up jeans, an old T-shirt and baseball hat for the party, but still carried around his Oscar. "He played pool for hours," according to our witness. He also danced with Penelope Cruz, who stayed in her gown all night at the Citizens of Humanity dance club downstairs.

Socialite Ana Anisimova was robbed of her suitcases at Prince's party and chased the thief barefoot - but he disappeared into the back yard and has not been caught.

Orlando Bloom and Rumer Willis arrived at Prince's place together, but "acted weird" the rest of the night - chatting closely with each other, then avoiding one another. Bloom is said to be dating Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr, who was nowhere in sight.

Wesley Snipes flirted for a while with much younger singer Christina Milian while surprise guest Stevie Wonder joined Prince onstage and sang "Superstitious." "The Coen brothers and Frances McDormand went bananas," said our spy.

Harrison & Calista's Oscar-Night Sheriffeur

On Sunday night, some stars opted for limos, others a green-friendly Prius. But for Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, only the back of a squad car would do.

As originally reported by E! Online senior editor Marc Malkin, the Hollywood heavies were forced to hitch a ride with Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies after a little postkudos partying at Elton John's star-studded bash.

Upon leaving the rocker's annual AIDS Foundation benefit party, which this year raised a record $5.1 million for John's charity, the camera-ready couple was faced with the only-in-Tinseltown indignity of being unable to locate their limo driver.

A spokesperson for the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department told E! News that while Ford and Flockhart fruitlessly called for their car, fellow revelers began to descend on the duo en masse, supposedly leaving an on-duty deputy no choice but to offer the couple a ride away from the madness.

Taxpayers will be pleased to know the sheriff-powered shuttle was only offered to Ford and Flockhart after deputies deemed it a necessary "public safety measure," lest anything happen to the once and future Indiana Jones.

The couple were chauffeured to the Sunset Tower Hotel on Sunset Boulevard, less than a mile away from John's party locale. Ford and Flockhart, safe and sound, were able to pay a visit to some friends.

Earlier in the evening, Ford appeared onstage at the Oscars, where he presented the award for Best Original Screenplay to Juno's Diablo Cody.

He also cozied up to Barbara Walters, appearing on her Oscar special to discuss Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and his own lack of a golden statuette.

"You know, the Oscar represents the respect of your peers," he said on the show. "But I respect my peers, the people I work with, and I'd rather earn their respect on the set day by day—that means more to me than an award."

MEN IN TREES (3/19)

"Read Between the Minds" -- Jack is feeling very amorous towards Marin, but she fears that it may be for the wrong reasons. After Patrick's adventure-seeking stunt, Celia throws him in jail and he takes full advantage of his "right to remain silent." Marin, Jack and Jerome are off to New York to celebrate Sam and Jane's wedding. And Sam is surprised when he learns the truth about Jane's parents (Debbie Lee Carrington and Danny Woodburn), on "MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Jason O'Mara as Stuart, Scott Elrod as Cash, Ty Olsson as Sam, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Debbie Lee Carrington as Karen, Peter WIngfield as Dr. Harbeck, Danny Woodburn as Steve, Ian Smith as father and Eby Luking as mother.

"Read Between the Minds" was written by Padma L. Atluri and directed by Tom Verica.

MEN IN TREES (3/12)

"Home Seized Home" - Jack and Marin decide to move in together, but the happy couple doesn't anticipate the difficulty of merging their different lifestyles. Meanwhile, Jane is on a mission to get her marriage to Sam announced in the coveted New York Times; Patrick gets an adrenaline rush while flying Buzz's plane and wants to experience more, much to Celia's chagrin; and after doing a favor for Sara, Theresa has a surprise announcement for her unsuspecting husband, Ben, on "MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Scott Elrod as Cash, Ty Olsson as Sam and Timothy Webber as Jerome.

"Home Seized Home" was written by Jennie Snyder and directed by Dean White.

More 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Lost' in April

ABC will close the 2007-08 season with several new episodes of its most popular scripted shows, including "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost."

The network announced its post-strike plans Wednesday afternoon, becoming the last of the big broadcasters to slot the return of its scripted series. Seven shows are going back into production and will air between four and seven new episodes each starting in April. (The network also has new seasons of "Dancing with the Stars" and "The Bachelor" debuting Monday, March 17.)

First up is the comedy "Samantha Who?," which will return for six episodes on Monday, April 7, in the post-"Dancing" spot that served it well in the fall. "Boston Legal" airs the first of six new shows the following night.

Also returning are "Brothers & Sisters" on Sunday, April 20 and "Ugly Betty" on Thursday, April 24. "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost," which will move from 9 to 10 p.m., also come back on the 24th; all three Thursday shows will have five new episodes. "Lost" fans will have to wait about a month between the final pre-strike episode and the debut of the new installments.

"Desperate Housewives," meanwhile, will squeeze in seven new hours of shooting, including a two-hour season finale. Its first episode back is scheduled for Sunday, April 13.

The pre-strike Wednesday lineup of "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" won't be back this spring, but ABC has picked up all three series for the 2008-09 season.

Bon Jovi Caught Up In School Shooting

Bon Jovi were forced to scrap rehearsals for the start of their new U.S. tour after a school shooting tragedy brought Dekalb, Illinois to a standstill.

The group was on its way to Dekalb, where the rehearsals were scheduled to take place, when former student Steve Kazmierczak shot and killed five people, wounded more than a dozen others and then turned the gun on himself.

Jon Bon Jovi tells Billboard.com, "We didn't get any further than the airport. When we landed we were just told to get back on the plane and go home. But our crew and the stage and everything was there. Once things settled down they just packed everything up and headed to Nebraska. What else can you do? It's a shocker, just devastating."

MEN IN TREES (3/5)

"Sonata in Three Parts" -- The town of Elmo hopes for the best when they learn that Jack's life may be in danger. Eager to stay positive, a hopeful Marin focuses her energy on helping Cash through his illness; Patrick decides to take life by the horns and asks a young girl out; Annie discovers surprising news about Jerome's past life; and tensions arise between Sara and Pastor Eric when Eric's church group catches Sara in a compromising position, on "MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Scott Elrod as Cash, Nicholas Lea as Eric, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Grayson Golka as Matty, Elyse Levesque as Tricia and Keith Gordey as man.

"Sonata in Three Parts" was written by Cara DiPaolo and directed by Joanna Kerns.

Bon Jovi performing cancer cure concert

Bon Jovi is headlining a concert series to raise funds for lung cancer research — a cause that became personal for the New Jersey rockers after bandmate Richie Sambora's father died of the disease last year.

The group was dedicating the kickoff concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan on Tuesday night to the guitarist's father, Adam Sambora. It came days before the opening of the band's "Lost Highway World Tour."

Funds raised during the yearlong concert series will go to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where Sambora's father received treatment.

The series, organized by Stand Up for a Cure, also will feature performances by Jerry Seinfeld, Andrea Bocelli and other artists. Future concert dates have not yet been announced.

The non-profit group also has commissioned three mobile care centers in the New York area, which will be named after the rocker's parents, Adam and Joan Sambora.

According to the National Cancer Institute, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among both men and women in the U.S., and will kill more people this year than breast, prostate and colorectal cancer combined.

ABC PICKUPS UP NINE SERIES FOR NEXT SEASON

ABC Entertainment announced pickups for nine of its most popular shows "Brothers & Sisters," "Desperate Housewives," "Dirty Sexy Money," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost," "Private Practice," "Pushing Daisies," "Samantha Who?" and "Ugly Betty."

"The strength of our schedule this fall was unprecedented and speaks for itself," said Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment. "We're looking forward to building on that success."

On average during Fall 2007 (10 complete weeks: 9/24-12/2/07), ABC was the No. 1 network among Adults 18-49 (3.9/10), delivering the top position in the key young adult sales demo on 7 of the first 10 weeks of the season and ranking No. 1 during the November Sweep for the third consecutive year. In addition, ABC claimed eight of the Top 20 highest-rated TV shows among young adults during the fall, including five of the Top 10 freshman series.

MEN IN TREES (2/27; NEW DAY AND TIME)

"Charity Case" - With Jack still away at sea, Marin gets an unexpected visitor -- Cash (Scott Elrod) re-enters her life in a big way and brings with him a shocking secret. Sara provides a temporary haven for Eric (Nicholas Lea) while he re-builds his church, but complications quickly arise for the celibate couple. Buzz's efforts to help Patrick regain his memory produce nearly disastrous consequences. And Sam (Ty Olsson) discovers Jane's controlling side when, unbeknownst to him, she throws out one of his favorite flannel shirts, on "MEN IN TREES," WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Mario Cantone as Terri Romano, Scott Elrod as Cash, Nicholas Lea as Eric, Ty Olsson as Sam, Timothy Webber as Jerome and Lesley Ewen as hospital woman.

"Charity Case" was written by David S. Rosenthal and directed by Bob Berlinger.

Panettiere gets passport for "Nation"

"Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere has signed on for the teenage comedy "Daydream Nation."

Kieran Culkin ("The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys," "Igby Goes Down") is in negotiations to star as well.

Panettiere will play an acerbic teen, and Culkin will portray her oblivious boyfriend.

The film will mark the directorial debut of screenwriter Michael Goldbach, who co-wrote the 2004 Canadian production "Childstar" with Don McKellar. The producers of "Daydream Nation" -- Michael Besman ("About Schmidt") and Cameron Lamb of Lila 9th Prods. -- hope to reinvent the coming-of-age story for the 21st century, calling the film an intellectual comedy a la "Juno" and "Election."

Hayden Protects Mom's Modesty

HAYDEN Panettiere and her mom, Lesley, were party pals Wednesday night at the Old Navy bash at Eyebeam Atelier on West 21st Street. The "Heroes" hottie, wearing bright red lipstick and a tight pencil skirt, dirty-danced with guys in the VIP area to Natasha Bedingfield's live performance, while her mother stood nearby, sipping screwdrivers and keeping an eye on her girl. "Hayden was constantly pulling her mom's dress down because it kept hiking up too high," said our witness. Also on hand for the event were Kristen Bell, Sophia Bush, and Chace Crawford and Blake Lively from "Gossip Girl."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (2/17)

"Compromises" - Nora discovers that Isaac is not the man she had hoped he was, and Graham helps Sarah gain some closure. Meanwhile, Robert and Jason have a long overdue confrontation, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Ken Olin as David Caplan, Danny Glover as Isaac Marshall, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Denis O'Hare as Travis March, Steven Weber as Graham Finch, Eric Winter as Jason McCallister, Nicholas Gonzalez as Mario, Parvesh Cheena as Jordan, Mitch Silpa as Quinn, Adam Pilver as the messenger, Justine Dorsey as Sophie McCalliser, Max Burkholder as Jack McCallister, Enrico Colantoni as Evan and Christopher Allport as Governor Michael Bryant.

"Compromises" was written by Cliff Olin and Peter Calloway and directed by David Paymer.

CASHMERE MAFIA (2/13)

"Yours, Mine and Hers" - Mia and Caitlin search Jack's apartment for a revealing sex tape Mia made with him, even as the ex-couple continue to fight their feelings for one another. Meanwhile, just as Caitlin warms up to the idea of being a mother, Alicia stuns her by revealing how she wants to raise her baby; Zoe battles to land a new billionaire client, but her unappreciated efforts force her to make a life-changing decision; and the nasty divorce battle for property ownership heats up between Juliet and Davis, on "Cashmere Mafia," WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Cashmere Mafia" stars Peter Hermann as Davis Draper, Lucy Liu as Mia Mason, Frances O'Connor as Zoe Burden, Miranda Otto as Juliet Draper, Julian Ovenden as Eric Burden and Bonnie Somerville as Caitlin Dowd.

Guest starring are Tom Everett Scott as Jack Cutting, Lourdes Benedicto as Alicia Lawson, Noelle Beck as Cilla Gray, Kevin Kilner as Clayton, Jeffrey DeMunn as Henry Gorham, Daniel Gerroll as Clive Hughes, Kate Guyton as Tracy, Dan Butler as Maxwell Tate, Randy Graff as Blair Spillman, Liz Morin as Tara Westwood, Dana Shiraki as geisha, Saundra Santiago as Dr. Jane, Kelly Deadmon as Olivia Case, Beth Chamberlin as Cynthia Tate, Viola Harris as Mrs. Albert, Harris Yulin as Rafe Gropman, Purva Bedi as Purva/Juliet's assistant, Daryl Edwards as Dr. Byrne, Jeremiah Wiggins as colleague, Mark Bellows as man in a suit, Thomas Higgins as Zach, Marie-France Arcilla as geisha no. 2 and Rob Falcone as policeman.

"Yours, Mine, and Hers" is written by Claudia Lonow and Terri Minsky and directed by Matt Earl Beesley.

Bon Jovi Back On Top

Rockers Bon Jovi's first Australian stadium tour in seven years has given the band a local sales boost. The group recently played sold out shows all over Australia, prompting fans to rush out and buy up their back catalogue.

Eight Bon Jovi albums have crashed into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Top 100, with the group's 'Slippery When Wet' CD hitting the new countdown at 28.

'Keep The Faith' and 'New Jersey' also make the new top 50, while live album 'Cross Road' re-enters the chart at 57, followed by 1995's 'These Days' at 58 and the band's eponymous 1984 debut at 59.

Christina Ricci: I'm 'Obsessed' with Gambling

Speed Racer's new Trixie says she gets plenty of thrills at the track – with only a 1-horsepower engine.

"I've learned to love gambling," Christina Ricci told PEOPLE at the grand opening party for the Palazzo Las Vegas. "I was in Australia for a few months and gambling is like a national pastime there, so I learned to love betting on horses, and now I even put in a few football bets and I'm kind of obsessed and into it. Gambling is pretty good."

Thursday night, blackjack was her game of choice. When she wasn't sitting on her boyfriend's lap, Ricci was doubling down and splitting aces with Angie Harmon, her hubby Jason Seyhorn and Jerry O' Connell.

Ricci, 27, seemed to find a way to win at Palazzo's blackjack tables. Horse racing was another matter.

"I have no strategy (with horses) and I never pick winners," she says. "But it's still fun."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (2/10)

"The Missionary Imposition" - A surprise visit from Jason forces Kevin to rethink his future and his romantic life, while Nora and Isaac grow more content in each other's company, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. "Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Danny Glover as Isaac Marshall, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Denis O'Hare as Travis March, Steven Weber as Graham Finch, Eric Winter as Jason McCallister, Dana Lee as Simon Lao, Andy Mackenzie as Flatline Jack, Holly Maples as the moderator, Kevin Daniels as Sam, Tamara Gorski as Yvonne Kalo and Evelyn Reese as the elderly woman.

"The Missionary Imposition" was written by Daniel Silk and Brian Studler and directed by Michael Morris.

Hayden Panettiere waving more pom-poms in comedy

Hayden Panettiere may be wearing a new cheerleading uniform.

The "Heroes" actress is in negotiations with 20th Century Fox's genre label Fox Atomic to star in the teen coming-of-age movie "I Love You, Beth Cooper."

Chris Columbus is in talks to direct, and will also serve as a producer. The studio is aiming to start filming in the spring. "Beth Cooper" is based on the novel by Larry Doyle, a former writer for "The Simpsons" who now works for the New Yorker.

Panettiere would play Beth, the school's hottest cheerleader who shows nerdy valedictorian Denis Cooverman the best night of his life after he proclaims his love for her during his graduation speech.

Best known as cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC's "Heroes," she recently wrapped filming "Fireflies in the Garden" for Senator International, which stars Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds and Willem Dafoe.

Columbus, who is gearing up to produce "Night at the Museum 2: Escape From the Smithsonian" for Fox, was most recently in the director's chair for 2005's "Rent."

Meet the Sexy Cashmere Mafia Quartet

They play Manhattan's most powerful gal pals; get to know the ladies of Cashmere Mafia (tonight at 10 pm/ET, ABC).

Miranda Otto: PLAYS Juliet Draper, the classy, serene chief operating officer of a giant hotel chain. Behind closed doors, however, she's dealing with a cheating hubby (Peter Hermann, real-life husband of Mariska Hargitay) and a rebellious teen daughter.
YOU KNOW HER FROM The Starter Wife and the Lord of the Rings films.
MIRANDA SAYS "She's different from me," notes one of the cast's two imports. (She's Australian, Frances O'Connor is British) "It's a challenge to play someone who is much more held back. That's what appealed to me about the character."
FASHION STYLE Juliet's the elegant member of this fashion-forward gang. Her sophisti­cated wardrobe, consisting of sleek, sensuous separates, is the envy of every woman on the Upper East Side.
411 When Juliet discovers that her husband is carrying on with a woman she knows, she declares her intention to even the score.

Lucy Liu: PLAYS Mega-competitive Mia Mason, the recently promoted publisher of a Manhattan magazine conglomerate.
YOU KNOW HER FROM Ally McBeal and the Charlie's Angels movies.
LUCY SAYS "The character was interesting to me because Mia's very different from other roles I've played — she's not really a barracuda. She's really good at her job, but she's really into fashion and her girlfriends, too."
FASHION STYLE A true trendsetter, Mia's likely to wear what's in style next season and pair it with sky-high Christian Louboutin heels.
411 Jack (Tom Everett Scott) was Mia's rival at work and fiancé at home, but Mia's success could have put an end to them. Could Jack be prime time's new Mr. Big?

Bonnie Somerville: PLAYS Caitlin Dowd, whose career has kicked into high gear — she's a marketing whiz for a cosmetics company — but whose love life sucks. Things start heating up, though, when she falls for Alicia (Lourdes Benedicto).
YOU KNOW HER FROM NYPD Blue, The O.C. and as Mona on Friends.
BONNIE SAYS "It's interesting to play someone who happens to like a person and it happens to be a girl. She's trying to find herself in so many areas, including love. I think a lot of people in their early thirties can relate to that."
FASHION STYLE The hipster of the group, Caitlin isn't afraid of color and is usually clad in designer sportswear with an urban edge.
411 Caitlin is still trying to figure out if she can really make things work with another woman, but a situation arises that will pose major problems for the couple.

Frances O'Connor: PLAYS Zoe Burden, a harried business exec, mom of two and wife of a hottie architect hubby (Julian Ovenden).
YOU KNOW HER FROM HBO's Iron Jawed Angels and Steven Spielberg's A.I.: Artificial Intelligence.
FRANCES SAYS "[This] series is different from anything I've ever done. This is like settling in. I'm still trying to find out who [Zoe] is, but I love her."
FASHION STYLE Zoe suits up in som­ber tones for her job but steps out in feminine, form-fitting dresses after hours.
411 Although Zoe's husband is mostly happy to stay in the background while Zoe nabs the career spotlight, a sexy school mom tempts him to stray.

Where art thy Romeos? Look no further than Dempsey, Marsden

Everyone is always looking for the next Julia Roberts when it comes to romantic comedies.

But what about finding the new Hugh Grant? Especially since ol' flutter eyes was looking a mite frayed around the edges in last year's Music and Lyrics.

Matthew McConaughey, next seen in Fool's Gold on Feb. 8, seems to be stuck in lover-boy overdrive.

And the promotion of Jack Black and Seth Rogen as objects of desire was just a joke. (Right?)

The Enchanted boys just might come to the rescue.

No kiss was necessary to awaken female moviegoers to the romantic potential of James Marsden (best known as Cyclops in the X-Men movies) and Patrick Dempsey (the '80s relic reborn as Dr. McDreamy on TV's Grey's Anatomy) in Disney's fairy-tale spoof. Amy Adams might have been the star attraction, but her suitors — Marsden's royal loony 'toon and Dempsey's cynical divorce lawyer — both proved to be princely charmers.

Now the actors are saying "I do" to one of Hollywood's most formulaic genres: the wedding farce. First up is Marsden as Kevin, a reporter who pursues Katherine Heigl's perennial bridesmaid in 27 Dresses, opening Friday. Dempsey takes the lead as a dedicated womanizer who falls for his soon-to-wed best friend (Michelle Monaghan) in Made of Honor, due May 2.

"The girls are already on Marsden," says Variety.com deputy editor Anne Thompson, whose 18-year-old daughter "loves" the actor. "This guy is going to be a star. He's young and will only get better."

Audiences of both sexes are drawn to his boyish appeal. As Thompson notes: "His role in Superman Returns was thankless. But instead of rooting for Brandon Routh's superhero, you felt sympathy for James."

As for Dempsey, who has been around the romantic-comedy block before, in his early 20s, "a little aging suits him," Thompson says. "Sometimes, men come into their own with a little maturity and gravitas. Like George Clooney."

Anne Fletcher, the director of 27 Dresses, saw Marsden in a new light when she was the second unit director on Hairspray.

"He was there when I got the call that I won the job on 27 Dresses. He jokingly said, 'If you have any small roles for a guy like me, keep me in mind.' A light bulb went off. I thought, 'You are Kevin to the nines.' "

As for why he hasn't done romantic leads before, Fletcher' s theory is he might be too cute. "That's why I messed up his hair and put him in rumpled clothes. With those chiseled teeth, people couldn't see his potential. Now they can. His range is gigantic."

Dempsey, on the other hand, proves he can take a pratfall like a pro in Made of Honor as he attempts to undermine Monaghan's nuptials.

"Patrick is quite a little comic," says director Paul Weiland (City Slickers II). "As well as looking like that, he is quite funny."

Dempsey already was attached to the film when the British filmmaker, a Mr. Bean veteran eager to work with someone fresh and different, signed on.

"When he was younger, he was kind of geeky," Weiland says. "Now he has turned into a swan. He is a kind of a Cary Grant. He would make a good James Bond. And he looks great in a tux."

If Marsden and Dempsey are embraced as box-office Romeos, perhaps other untested candidates will be willing to step into Hugh Grant's well-worn shoes.

Right now, there seems to be a dearth of recruits.

As Thompson observes, too many actors are quick to love 'em and leave 'em for a higher-paying male-oriented genre once they've scored a chick-flick hit.

Speaking for all who appreciate a good onscreen courtship, she says, "we need all the romantic leads we can get."

'ANATOMY' VS. THE 'X' FACTOR

There's little denying that both James Marsden, on the rise, and Patrick Dempsey, on the comeback trail, are easy on the eyes. But they don't necessarily attract the same audiences.

"I would much prefer to see Patrick Dempsey in more movies," says Tracey Hardesty of Neoga, Ill. "I love him in Grey's Anatomy. And to think this is the same guy who was in Can't Buy Me Love, which was one of my favorite movies in high school. Makes you think twice about turning down the skinny, nerdy guy for a date."

Maybe it's the X-Men factor, but men tend to enjoy Marsden more.

"Personally, I don't get the McDreamy thing," says Dave Melges of Battle Creek, Mich. "But I can clearly see which has more talent. That would be Marsden. His over-the-top performances in Hairspray and Enchanted show he'll stretch a role, where just about anybody could have played Dempsey's parts."

A tad harsh, perhaps. But variety is the spice of life and a little spice never hurts when it comes to comedy.

ABOUT THE GUYS

-Patrick Dempsey
Age: 42
Family life: Married to makeup artist Jill Fink. Father to Talula, who turns 6 this month, and twin sons Darby and Sullivan, 1 year old next month.
Previously cast as: A youthful lothario who pursues older women in In the Mood (1987) and Loverboy (1989).
Secret weapon: Can be sexy even when performing neurosurgery on Grey's Anatomy.
Best feature: Those McDreamy eyes
Quote: "One day my 3-year-old daughter said, 'You're very handsome, Poppy.' That was the best compliment ever."-

-James Marsden
Age: 34
Family life: Married to actress Lisa Linde. Father to Jack, nearly 6, and Mary, 2.
Previously cast as: The guy who doesn't quite get the girl in the X-Men movies (2000-06), The Notebook (2004) and Superman Returns (2006).
Secret weapon: Can sing and act at the same time, as revealed on TV's Ally McBeal and in last year's Hairspray and Enchanted.
Best feature: That dazzling smile
Quote: "If you're an attractive guy, everyone thinks you're successful just because of the way you look. I hate that."

Lucy Liu returns to television

"It was never a goal to be out of television or in television," says Lucy Liu of her return to TV in ABC's "Cashmere Mafia."

It's her first as a series regular since 2002 when her wicked turn as the fiery Ling Woo on "Ally McBeal" ignited a film career — though it had never been the bigger screens or leading roles she was after.

"If someone says, `Do you want to do a cameo in `Chicago?' I look at the script and think, `What can I bring to it?" she says referring to her five-minute appearance in the Academy Award-winning film. "Even if it's a two-hour movie and I'm the lead, I'm not going to do it just for the face time. I want to be able to bring something that's somewhat memorable."

Certainly she has had her share of unforgettable moments, be it in the "Charlie's Angels" movies or in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill: Vol. I" where the actress showed herself to be a tough chick with mean kicks.

"I love doing action movies, I love kung fu, but that doesn't express who I am as an artist. What about the acting part of it?" the 39-year-old New York native muses. "There's no green screen in this. It's just bare-bones work."

She gets down to business in "Cashmere Mafia" (Wednesdays, 10 p.m. EST), leading an ensemble that includes Frances O'Connor, Miranda Otto and Bonnie Somerville. Liu plays aggressive publishing executive Mia Mason who, despite being head-to-polished-toe together, has a troubled personal life.

"I didn't want her to be this confident person who had everything together," says Liu. "It's more interesting when somebody is flawed. You can find so many other gifts that they have to discover within themselves and overcome."

If you saw the pilot, you may have noticed something very "Sex and the City" about "Cashmere," what with it being centered on the lives and loves of four successful women in Manhattan. That, and its pedigree: Darren Star of "Sex and the City" executive-producing and wardrobe designer Patricia Field outfitting the cast.

"This show stands alone from `Sex and the City,'" says Star. "This show is very much about the paradigm that has shifted in that balance of power between men and women in the workplace and how women are dealing with that."

Which sounds similar to the upcoming NBC drama, "Lipstick Jungle," produced by "Sex and the City" author Candace Bushnell about three New York businesswomen.

"This one is really about the lie of having it all," offers Sharon Hall, senior vice president of development at Sony Pictures Television which produces "Cashmere." "At the end of the day having it all, for these women, is that they have each other."

Considering the notion of "having it all," Liu shakes her head. "It's all very confusing because I think what you want changes."

These days she's focused more on her humanitarian efforts with UNICEF and "contributing to society globally."

And while she says she's not as career-driven as she had once been, she has been doing more behind-the-scenes lately. First producing a documentary, and next she'll executive-produce and star in "Charlie Chan" for 20th Century Fox. So it's not surprising to learn that she's collaborative on "Cashmere" as well.

"She challenges us to really keep it real, to keep it current and reflect real life," says creator and executive producer Kevin Wade.

"Lucy's brought a sense we don't have — and I think this is really key," Wade continues, "that she doesn't ever want to play — nor should she be written — as hard-driving and tough-at-work and hard-driving and tough-with-men, or conversely as sort of a wallflower or subservient in her love life or social life."

Still, not all of Liu's suggestions are heeded. For instance, in the pilot, Mia's fiance is warned never to utter the "R-word" to his ambitious bride-to-be — the "R-word" meaning "relax."

"I was like, I don't agree with that scene — that a woman would just flip out over somebody telling her to relax. But the men," she says, emphasizing the "men" who produce the show, "felt very strongly that `relax' was something that really sparked people to get all incited about, like `Don't use that word!'"

Later she suggests that the battle of the sexes behind the scenes of "Cashmere" could be its own show, "and maybe we will if the strike continues," says Liu, who supports the Hollywood writers.

If the work stoppage continues, however, it could prove detrimental to the future of "Cashmere," which completed just seven episodes by the time of the walkout.

"What's happening now with the strike is incredibly important, and sometimes it leads to better things even though there's going to be a lot of sacrifices in the meantime," Liu says.

Musicians To Boycott Grammys Over Writer's Strike?

Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, 50 Cent and Jon Bon Jovi are considering boycotting this year's Grammy Awards ceremony in support of the Hollywood writer's strikes.

The annual ceremony is under threat of cancellation after celebrities from the music industry pledged their allegiance to the Writers Guild of America union members.

Prince, Alicia Keys, Fantasia, Nelly Furtado, Tim McGraw, Kelly Clarkson, The White Stripes, Fergie and Usher are also threatening to boycott the event. But a spokesman for the WGA says, "As of now, the Guild has not taken a position on the Grammys."

CASHMERE MAFIA (1/30)

"Stay with Me" - Zoe and Eric struggle to find time to celebrate their tenth anniversary, as Zoe meets up with a ruggedly handsome colleague in Southampton. Meanwhile Juliet and Davis, whose marriage is already under fire, discover a provocative photo of Emily on the Internet; Alicia drops a bomb on Caitlin that may change their relationship; and, under mounting pressure at work, Mia is anxious about a new relationship with Jason, even as Eric and Zoe's sexy new manny, Adam, becomes a tempting distraction to her, on "Cashmere Mafia," WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Cashmere Mafia" stars Lucy Liu as Mia, Frances O'Connor as Zoe, Miranda Otto as Juliet, Bonnie Somerville as Caitlin, Peter Hermann as Davis and Julian Ovenden as Eric.

Guest starring are Lourdes Benedicto as Alicia Lawson, Addison Timlin as Emily Draper, Val Emmich as Adam Carter, Kate Levering as Katherine Cutler, Daniel Gerroll as Clive Hughes, Chris Beetem as Sam, Scott Cohen as Nicholas Branch, Jack Yang as Jason Chun, Nicholas Reese Art as Luke Burden, Peyton List as Sasha Burden, Jason Antoon as Todd Braun, Ted Koch as Warren, Griffin Matthews as Patrick, Mary McCann as Fiona Waters, Harris Yulin as Rafe Gropman and Kate Guyton as Tracy.

"Stay with Me" is written by Kevin Wade and directed by Steve Gomer.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/27)

NORA TAKES DESPERATE MEASURES TO HELP JUSTIN WITH HIS RECOVERY, ON ABC'S "BROTHERS & SISTERS" Marin Hinkle Guest Stars as Courtney McCallister "History Repeating" - Nora and Rebecca hatch a plan to help Justin cope with pain while Julia tells Tommy she needs to take some time away with their infant daughter. Meanwhile, Kevin and Scotty Wandell (Luke McFarlane) share an impromptu dinner, and Kitty confronts Robert's ex-wife (guest starring Marin Hinkle as Courtney McCallister), on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JANUARY 27 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/14/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Marin Hinkle as Courtney McCallister, Denis O'Hare as Travis March, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Bill Smitrovich as Ben Ridge, Tess Harper as Beth Ridge, Jerry Lambert as Officer Phipps, Eileen Barnett as the judge, Shvona Lavette as the waitress and James Geralden as Principal Clark.

"History Repeating" was written by Jon Robin Baitz and Jennifer Cecil and directed by Matt Shakman.

Sightings

LUCY Liu, Jay-Z and marketing mogul Steve Stoute dining at Harry Cipriani

Courtney Thorne-Smith Has a Boy

Courtney Thorne-Smith and husband Roger Fishman welcomed a son, Jacob Emerson Fishman, on Friday, the actress's rep tells PEOPLE.

This is the first child for the According to Jim star and Fishman, who owns a media company.

"Mother and dad are thrilled," the rep says. "They say the baby is absolutely gorgeous."

Thorne-Smith, 40, and Fishman, 47, were married on New Year's Day 2007.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/20)

"An American Family" - While Kevin, Kitty and Nora take a road trip to pick up Justin, Kitty balances personal and political issues with her future husband. Meanwhile, Tommy can't seem to get fatherhood right, and the truth finally comes out between Sarah and Rebecca, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/7/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe Whedon, Denis O'Hatre as Travis March, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Tom McGowan as Luther Reeves, Tom Choi as the steward, Sonia Leslie as Private 1st Class Mandeville and Phill Lewis as Dr. Peter Edwards.

"An American Family" was written by David Marshall Grant and Molly Newman and directed by Gloria Muzio.

The women of 'Cashmere Mafia' suit themselves

Just call them Suits and the City.

Four years after the seminal singles series Sex and the City ended its run on HBO, another quartet of blunt, bodacious and bold ladies will stride through Manhattan in killer heels: ABC's Cashmere Mafia, premiering Sunday (10 ET/PT) and then shifting to its regular slot Wednesday at 10.

This time, the focus shifts from the boudoir to the boardroom.

Mia Mason (Lucy Liu) is a publishing whiz with a shaky personal life, Zoe Burden (Frances O'Connor) is an investment banker with two kids she barely sees, Juliet Draper (Miranda Otto) works as a hotel executive while dealing with major marital issues, and Caitlin Dowd (Bonnie Somerville) is a marketing pro who finds herself attracted to another woman.

Cashmere and Sex share the same executive producer in Darren Star, as well as costume designer Patricia Field and location. But unlike Sex, which focused primarily on the relationship exploits of its four stars, Cashmere zooms in on the cutthroat corporate side of Manhattan, where a family crumbles when the nanny quits and an executive vies with her fiancé for a promotion.

Liu, the marquee name in the series, describes the show as "an exploration of women in modern society. The idea of how you balance out and juggle what you want, and what is actually reality. How do you live your life and still have time for yourself — and is there time for yourself?"

Cashmere has seven completed episodes, with production of the remainder of the season on hold because of the ongoing writers' strike.

On Feb. 7, the Cashmere clique gets major competition from NBC's Lipstick Jungle, another series about a heavy-hitting trio of Gotham women starring Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price. It is based on the book by Candace Bushnell, the author of the Sex and the City book.

And in May comes the holy grail of girl power: the long-awaited, just-wrapped Sex and the City movie, featuring the original foursome and hitting a cineplex near you after an endlessly chronicled shoot in Manhattan.

A question of competition

Talk to anyone involved in Lipstick or Cashmere, and you hear the refrain: There's plenty of room on the small screen for two network shows about strong women.

"It's such a strange question," Liu says. "People ask, 'What do you think of these shows coming up, and is it your competition?' No! Why does it have to be your competition? Why can't there always be shows about women? No one asks a man if it's difficult to have another show about men."

Timothy Busfield, producer of Lipstick Jungle, dismisses any rivalry with Cashmere. "Our competition is going to be Without a Trace (on CBS) and whatever else ABC puts up against us on that night. There can be a couple of shows about women in New York."

Plus, if there's enough room on TV for multiple hospital and police dramas, "we'll be all right," Busfield says. "I don't know what competition is all about. We are appearing somewhere along the same time. And we both have beautiful women."

Yes, but aesthetics don't guarantee a hit. One show doesn't cancel out the other and both could thrive, says Variety TV editor Mike Schneider, as scrubs dramas Chicago Hope and ER both did when they premiered in 1994. But, he says, the long-term outlook is questionable, because "it's a landscape where few shows survive beyond the first season. And are people exhausted with the whole concept of single women living in the big city?"

Still, Cashmere could have an edge over Lipstick, simply by virtue of being first. "The feeling is, the first to air has the natural benefit," Schneider says. "If people are turned off by that show, it's going to make it that much more difficult for Lipstick Jungle to come on and make much noise. You're playing the odds. ABC has much more success with female-driven dramas lately. They're going to able to promote the show."

Certainly, there's a surge in women-centric programming on television, with an increase in strong roles for women, even as powerful, memorable leading parts decline for actresses in films.

There's Glenn Close on FX drama Damages, Holly Hunter in TNT's Saving Grace, Sally Field at the center of ABC family drama Brothers & Sisters and Mary-Louise Parker on Showtime's Weeds, all nominated for Golden Globes; the standout female doctors on ABC's Grey's Anatomy and the suffering spouses on Desperate Housewives, TV's No. 2 and 3 scripted series; and for die-hard fans, the sanitized singles on TBS' cleaned-up reruns of Sex.

Networks "realize, wow, women can sell television. It's not new," says Cashmere's Somerville. "But women sell movie tickets. Women sell ideas. Women are an integral part of the business world. I've always worked on shows with women. There have been more hits recently, and that's why people are paying attention more."

According to Nielsen Media Research, women 18 and older watch nearly an hour more of television daily, on average, than men. And, says Busfield, once women fall in love with a show, they'll keep tuning in. "Women are busy. To make a contract with a TV show, to say that 'with the little bit of time I have in my day, I'll sit and watch a TV show,' when they find that show that they like and can relate to, they'll say they want to come back to it next week."

Executive producer Star certainly hopes that holds true for Cashmere Mafia, which had its pilot retooled to make the women more likable and more believable as college friends. And if you want to liken Cashmere to a beloved show such as Sex and the City, bring it on.

"It's an apt comparison. It's a show about women in New York," he says. "I certainly hope we get the Sex and the City audience, but it's a different show. It's a drama. Sex and the City, I created that as a comedy about sex from a female point of view. This is more about the lives of women who are working and how they juggle their responsibilities in positions of power. With Sex and the City, we consciously avoided doing stories about work."

If Carrie climbed the ladder

Perhaps the best way to think of Cashmere is to ponder where Sex's columnist Carrie Bradshaw would have ended up had she pursued a writing and editing career at Vogue and steadily strutted her way up the corporate ladder in those Manolos. Then, her wardrobe would likely be hip but more understated, like the women's clothing on Cashmere.

"The show is glamorous and stylish. If you miss your Sex and City clothing, you'll get your fix with the show," Somerville says.

You see the women navigating tough meetings, firing employees, dealing with cheating spouses and grappling with unruly kids, but you never — unlike Sex — see them scooping up Christian Louboutins during a spending spree.

"We've never shopped," Liu says. "There's a highlight on fashion, but you never see us going out and buying stuff. We try to focus on the inside of the office, the outside of the office and the family home. We meet up in a place, a restaurant, to vent or powwow. But we never go to the store and buy shoes."

These women get their kicks in other ways.

Here's the scoop on 'Cashmere Mafia' princesses

What you can expect from TV's newest fab four:

MIA MASON
Played by Lucy Liu

Marital status: Tenuously engaged.

What's next: "She can't externalize her feelings at work. People are saying she'd walk right over her fiancé. I don't think she lets go of her feelings for him. She is holding onto something that doesn't allow her to move forward."

Liu signed on to do a series because: "You can continue something and explore it, as opposed to two hours and it's finished."

There's something about Mia: "Her whole character was originally Caucasian, blond and, in some ways, a little more one-dimensional. I really wanted to bring more of a vulnerable side to her and try that. She doesn't have any boundaries."

In real life: Liu is the only New York-based actress and mostly rides her bike around the city. She says the stars hang out in their spare time, going to "the museum or (to) have something to eat in a restaurant."

ZOE BURDEN
Played by Brit Frances O'Connor

Marital status: Married with two kids and in desperate need of a nanny.

What's next: "Her job becomes a lot more stressful. Her home life and work life start to really clash and she tries to make that work."

O'Connor, who played Fanny Price in 1999's Mansfield Park, zoomed in on Zoe because: "I related to her the most. I can relate to becoming a mom and going back to work. I like her personality. She's forthright. If I get into a chaotic situation, I have to laugh. That's quite Australian.That aspect is like her."

In real life: O'Connor has a son, Luka, 2, with actor boyfriend Gerald Lepkowski. "It's an age when they want their mums a lot. You feel like your head's a bit split, and it's hard making it work." And, unlike her character, she'd say no to being a corporation's chief operating officer. "I'm not that way. I'm a little bit bohemian and artsy."

CAITLIN DOWD
Played by Brooklyn-born Bonnie Somerville

Marital status: Single, possibly lesbian.

What's next: "She struggles with making this decision and coming out per se and dealing with that."

Caitlin appealed to Somerville because: "At first I auditioned for Lucy's role. They approached me about Caitlin, and I thought this would be a challenging role, edgy and different. … I feel similar to her in a lot of ways, being in my 30s and very successful in my business career but not in a place where I've gotten married."

Doesn't care about playing gay: "I have so many gay and lesbian friends. I thought I could do this and do a good job at it. I liked that this character just falls in love with somebody who happens to be a woman."

In real life: Yes, the actresses really do like one another. "We get along. Just like on our show, women can get along, be friends and work together."

JULIET DRAPER
Played by Australian Miranda Otto

Marital status: Married, major issues.

What's next: "The marriage is going to take a few dives. It's up and down but not going away at the moment. I thought it was an interesting compromise. I've pushed as much as I could to keep it that way, that you can be unhappy with something but handle it."

Otto went to prime-time from The Lord of the Ringstrilogy because: "The best roles for women are on TV. I was in L.A. two years ago looking at film scripts, and there wasn't much there. And when the character was there, it was very underdeveloped."

She'd rather dabble in girl power: "My mother worked, and I was brought up to believe that women can do anything men do. Anything you want to do."

In real life: Juliet is "much more of a lady than I am. There's a part of me that's quite refined, but another part of me that's just sitting on the floor, watching TV, eating ice cream out of a bucket."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/13)

“The Feast of the Epiphany” – Tommy and Julia struggle to repair their damaged marriage while Rebecca’s connection with David (Ken Olin as David Caplan) raises some questions about her mother’s past. Meanwhile, Nora and Isaac (guest starring Danny Glover) have a very uncomfortable first date, and Graham (guest starring Steven Weber) helps Sarah regain some of her confidence with the opposite sex, on “Brothers & Sisters,” SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

*EDITOR’S NOTE: This episode originally was scheduled to air Sunday, January 6, but did not air.

“Brothers & Sisters” stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Ken Olin as David Caplan, Danny Glover as Isaac Marshall, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Denis O’Hare as Travis March, Steven Weber as Graham Finch, Anderson Goncalves as Private John Jimpson, Alan Toy as Trent, Al Coronel as Brad and Jim Jansen as Governor Clay Adamson.

“The Feast of the Epiphany” was written by David Marshall Grant and Jason Wilborn and directed by Laura Innes.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/6)

"The Feast of the Epiphany" - Tommy and Julia struggle to repair their damaged marriage while Rebecca's connection with David (Ken Olin as David Caplan) raises some questions about her mother's past. Meanwhile, Nora and Isaac (guest starring Danny Glover) have a very uncomfortable first date, and Graham (guest starring Steven Weber) helps Sarah regain some of her confidence with the opposite sex, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Ken Olin as David Caplan, Danny Glover as Isaac Marshall, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Denis O'Hare as Travis March, Steven Weber as Graham Finch, Anderson Goncalves as Private John Jimpson, Alan Toy as Trent, Al Coronel as Brad and Jim Jansen as Governor Clay Adamson.

"The Feast of the Epiphany" was written by David Marshall Grant and Jason Wilborn and directed by Laura Innes.

Hayden Still Saving the World

Heroes may be on hold, but the world-saving efforts of one cast member are still as strong as ever.

Hayden Panettiere kicked off the Weather Channel's inaugural Forecast Earth Summit in Washington, D.C., Friday, speaking to a group of high school students about climate and environmental literacy and her involvement with the Save the Whales Again! and Declare Yourself campaigns.

The three-day summit brought together 22 winning "eco-ambassadors" selected through a nationwide essay contest and put them in contact with environmental leaders, scientists and enthusiasts, the latter of which Panettiere presumably falls into.

During the event, the 18-year-old addressed her fellow green teens, speaking about last month's headline-grabbing efforts in Japan to save a fleet of dolphins from local fisherman and the subsequent arrest warrant that was issued in her name.

Before her appearance at the summit, Panettiere continued her efforts to bring attention to the cause, issuing an open letter to the Japanese Government Fisheries Agency, responding to their defense of the nation's whaling practices.

"To say that Japan is carefully managing marine living resources for the future is a joke," she wrote in a letter Friday to the agency's "bogus scientists" on her MySpace blog. "In regards to dolphins and whales, Japan's blatant disregard for these species is unfathomable...There is no humane way to kill a dolphin or whale, and scientific research shows that dolphin and whale meat is unhealthy for human consumption.

"Do you realize how ignorant Japan looks to the rest of the world?...We are determined to end Japan's brutally cruel and needless slaughter of dolphins and whales, and I will do everything within my power to ensure this."

If Panettiere's global do-gooding sounds reminiscent of another passionate, goodwill-spreading thespian, it may not be a coincidence.

The 18-year-old TV star told People at the summit that Angelina Jolie "was definitely one of my inspirations growing up, and she was definitely somebody I looked up to."

She also told the magazine that while her success on Heroes has allowed her to shine spotlights on her various philanthropic endeavors, it also puts a crimp on her social life.

"It completely ruined my personal life," she said. "I mean, you walk out the door, and you've got 10 cameras in your face. Obviously, everything in my life is on display, whether it be true or false—99 percent of it false."

Panettiere was joined at the event by Guster singer and guitarist Adam Gardner, who spoke at the summit about environmental philanthropy and sustainability.

As for the actress, she's keeping busy this week and will be on hand with the Hollywood Foreign Press Thursday morning to announce this year's batch of Golden Globe nominees.

MEN IN TREES (12/28)

"A Tree Goes in Elmo" - To help Marin get rid of issues that weigh her down, Cash takes her to visit a guru. On the way back down the mountain trail, an arctic cyclone erupts. Jack goes out to look for them and a pregnant Lynn can't do anything to stop him. Everyone hunkers down at the Chieftain to wait out the storm, and they learn some surprising things about each other. Mai and Buzz argue over his first choice of a wife, the engaged Patrick and Annie see her competitive spirit at work, Celia and Dick take their relationship to a new intimacy level, and Sara tells Ben about her mysterious court summons - much to the chagrin of wife Theresa -- on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/12/07)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Currie Graham as Dick, Scott Elrod as Cash, Timothy Webber as Jerome and Grayson Golka as Matty.

"A Tree Goes in Elmo" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by Bob Berlinger.

Hayden: Angelina Jolie Is 'One of My Inspirations'

When it comes to activism, just call Hayden Panettiere the next Angelina Jolie.

"Absolutely, I would take that," Panettiere told PEOPLE Friday night in Washington, D.C. for the Forecast Earth Summit by The Weather Channel, where she spoke to a group of 22 high school students from across the country who were honored for their environmental outreach.

"She was definitely one of my inspirations growing up and she was definitely somebody I looked up to," the 18-year-old Heroes star says.

However, while Jolie is a strong advocate for humanitarian causes, the Heroes star is making headlines for her work to Save the Whales. An arrest warrant was issued for Panettiere in Japan after she and other activists paddled on surfboards into a cove in an attempt to protect dolphins facing slaughter from local fishermen.

"I grew up near the Hudson River in New York. I didn't grow up in the water; I don't surf. People think I surf because of the footage. I was just in a panic and happened to paddle really fast – I was hauling butt!" she said.

Reflecting on the experience, she later told PEOPLE, "It caused a great amount of stir." In a town where "people like to see young girls in Hollywood get arrested," Panettiere said there's been discussion of returning to Japan, but "we don't have a reason why we would, and we don't know of any good that could come of it at the moment... [but] I don't mind getting arrested."

'Everything in My Life Is on Display': She credits the success of Heroes with helping to give her the power to bring attention to these types of issues. But, she adds, the show's success can be viewed in yet another way: "It completely ruined my personal life. I mean, you walk out the door and you've got ten cameras in your face. Obviously everything in my life is on display whether it be true or false – 99 percent of it false."

For now, Panettiere says her job is her social life, and she prefers a quiet night at home over the club scene. "At home in bed with a movie and pizza and good friends," she described as her ideal Friday night. "I'd probably be watching Little Britain, a BBC TV show. It is phenomenal."

Not a Chain-Dater: And her dating life since she turned 18? "I'm not really a chain dater, and I'm not someone who kind of gives herself easily. So, I think it's attracting creepy old men, but I guess it's changed a little bit," she said. When asked if she has anyone special in her life, Panettiere coyly responded: "I don't know. I have a lot of special people in my life."

Much Love for Jennifer Love Hewitt: Meanwhile, she is more vocal on how she deals with the pressures of body image as a young woman in Hollywood, particularly amidst criticism of Jennifer Love Hewitt's recent bikini shots.

"Did you see TMZ the other day where I bent over and they took a picture of me, and there was a whole conversation on whether I had cottage cheese thighs or not?" she asked. "It makes me feel awful. I'm sorry, but no woman looks good under overhead lighting. It was not good lighting.

"I'm a teenage girl and I have the same body issues," she adds. "There are parts of my body that I don't mind, and there're parts of my body that I absolutely can't stand. And I don't need somebody pointing them out to me, because trust me, I know they're there. You don't need to tell anyone else about it. It doesn't need to be strewn across a magazine. It's my business. And the fact that you don't have anything better to talk about than my thigh fat is absolutely absurd. It just goes to show you the pathetic people in this world. I give Jennifer Love Hewitt all the support in the world. She's beautiful."

Hayden Panettiere to Announce Golden Globe Nominees

Hayden Panettiere will announce Golden Globe nominations next week in Los Angeles, PEOPLE confirms.

The Heroes actress,18, will be joined at the early-morning announcement Dec. 13 by at least one other star who has yet to be revealed.

There's a good chance she'll announce her own show. Last year, NBC's Heroes ended up in the running for drama series but lost to Grey's Anatomy.

The 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards will be televised Jan. 13 on NBC.

Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow on Special Olympics DVD

Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow and John Mellencamp are among the artists featured on the first DVD from the A Very Special Christmas series. The disc, which benefits the Special Olympics, is a compilation of Christmas music videos and live performances. Other participating artists include Tracy Chapman, Eric Clapton, Wyclef Jean, No Doubt, Run DMC, Sting, U2, Vanessa Williams and Stevie Wonder. This is the 20th anniversary of the first CD in the A Very Special Christmas series.

Hayden Panettiere: Girls Need a Role Model

The paparazzi are out to get Hayden Panettiere – with their cameras – but one thing they won't catch the Heroes star doing is behaving like another young star.

"For God knows what reason, they compare me with Lindsay Lohan!" Panettiere, 18, tells Teen magazine for its winter issue. "It's kind of become, 'All right, you guys can stay there and try knocking me off my horse.' I want to prove them wrong now."

To that end, the actress-activist – who had a warrant out for her arrest after she protested against fisherman in an attempt to help save the dolphins in Japan – says she's also trying to help young Hollywood present a better image to the world.

"I think that, now more than ever, young girls need a good role model," she says. "My mom always says, 'You are the books you read and the people you surround yourself with."

Panettiere says those who surround her share her same aspirations and goals.

And, next up? A singing career. "I've been working on an album for a long time," Panettiere says, promising to make "my CD as diverse as possible."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (12/16)

"Home Front" - A year after losing their larger than life family patriarch and three weeks since hearing from Justin in the Middle East, the Walker family struggle to find cheer in celebrating Kitty's birthday. Sarah fights to salvage what's left of her failing marriage; Kevin learns the hard way about the sacrifices that true love brings; Tommy is at a loss as to how to provide the emotional support needed by his overwhelmed wife, Julia, after the death of their newborn son, while Kitty gets a first hand look at the challenges of being engaged to a U.S. senator (Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister). Meanwhile, Saul questions his identity after a visit from an old friend, and the family's newest member, Rebecca, tries desperately to find her place in this very complex family puzzle, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 9/30/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe Whedon, Eric Winter as Jason McCallister, Michael Nouri as Milo Peterman, Kimberly Atkinson as Amy, Amy Motta as Lexie, Joyce Brew as Monica, Bella Shaw as the reporter, Greta Sesheta as the store clerk, Emil Beheshti as the staffer, Mary Ann Jarou as the hostess and Dana Snyder as the office worker.

"Home Front" was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker and directed by Ken Olin.

Marisa Tomei Tops Best Nude Scenes of 2007

Sure it was her comedic timing that won Marisa Tomei her Oscar 15 years ago, but it's her casual, topless talents that won Mr. Skin's highest commendation for 2007.

The year's films made skinematic history as Mr. Skin, as featured in "Knocked Up," was presented with such a wealth of nakedness on the silver screen, he had to compile his Top 20 list of films in which talented actresses took it off.

"2007 was a surprisingly strong year for big-screen nudity," noted Mr. Skin from his Chicago headquarters. "In fact, you could say it ranks among this decade's very breast!"

Topping the list was Tomei in Sidney Lumet's crime drama "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead." In the film, she's seen opening the movie with some nudity topside and later similarly displays herself to advantage after an illicit tryst. Oh yeah, and Ethan Hawke and Philip Seymour Hoffman also star in the heist movie.

Not one to be labeled an anglophobic philistine, Mr. Skin traveled across the pond to celebrate British beauty Keeley Hazell in the art house flick "Cashback." The former Page 3 girl gets her assets unveiled in the film when a supermarket clerk takes advantage of his newfound ability to freeze time.

The remainder of the Top 20 are as follows:

3. Natalie Portman in "Hotel Chevalier" - The acclaimed actress gets cheeky when she drops her drawers for this short film that's a companion piece to "The Darjeeling Limited."

4. Christina Ricci in "Black Snake Moan" - Her skimpy top can't contain her talent in this Southern gothic potboiler, even if she is chained to a radiator.

5. Sienna Miller in "Factory Girl" - Twenty-one minutes into the film about Andy Warhol's muse, Miller soaks naked in a tub.

6. Roselyn Sanchez in "Yellow" -The actress' character just wants to be a Broadway dancer, but of course, must strip in order to get there.

7. Malin Ackerman in "The Heartbreak Kid" - An acrobatic sex act opposite Ben Stiller allows this actress to show off more than just her flexibility.

8. Eva Mendes in "We Own the Night" - Very early into the film, the starlet shows one reason why she deserves to be on this list. Yep, just one, but it's a compelling one.

9. Lena Headey in "300" - Sure, the men got to show off their abs, but Headey shows she's no slouch in the skin department during a poetic love scene.

10. Stormy Daniels and Nautica Thorne in "Knocked Up" -Lapdancers in Vegas give the main character and his pal an eyeful up close and personal.

11. Alexa Davalos in "Feast of Love" - Selma Blair and Radha Mitchell also get naked, but it's Davalos' full frontal that makes her stand out.

12. Chelan Simmons in "Good Luck Chuck" - Seven different women take off their tops for the camera, including the "Kyle XY" cutie.

13. Wei Tang in "Lust, Caution" - This Ang Lee follow-up to "Brokeback Mountain" takes a while to build up, and then watch out. The Chinese starlet engages in lots and lots of sex to take down a political figure, and her dedication is on display fully from the front and back.

14. Ashley Judd in "Bug" - Mental illness, gasoline and frontal and dorsal nudity.

15. Olivia Wilde in "Alpha Dog" - Three other actresses show skin, including Amanda Seyfried ("Mean Girls") for a skinny-dipping adventure, but Wilde got the mention for her motel tryst.

16. Ana Claudia Talancon in "Alone With Her" - A peeping Tom's use of high-tech spying gadgetry pays off many, many times, including once with a steamy shower.

17. Danielle Harris in "Halloween" - More skin than the original.

18. Heather Matarazzo in "Hostel: Part II" -If you like your nudity disturbing, bloody and hung upside down, this is the movie for you.

19. Amber Valetta in "The Last Time" -This supermodel isn't wearing haute couture or doing runway.

20. Lucy Liu in "Blood Hunter" -Nudity in a vampire flick? Bloody likely! Cameron Richardson and Samaire Armstrong take it off, but it's Liu's topless turn in a lesbian tussle with Carla Gugino.

Mr. Skin and his team of "skinvestigators" view all non-adult titles for their nudity content and rates them on their "skintensity."

Jon Bon Jovi to headline charity concert

Bon Jovi fans will have a chance to see the group's frontman perform at a charity concert next month.

New Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi will headline "The Hope Concert III" on Dec. 21 at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, the theater said on its Web site.

Other New Jersey artists slated to perform are Bobby Bandiera, Tim McLoone and The Shirleys, The Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue, Mark Pender & Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg, Gary "U.S." Bonds and Southside Johnny.

Proceeds will go to The Valerie Fund, an organization that helps children with cancers and blood disorders.

Jon Bon Jovi performed at a similar benefit concert last year at the Count Basie Theatre along with Bruce Springsteen.

Ticket prices range from $100 to $500.

Sightings

LUCY Liu arriving at Arena to shoot scenes for ABC's "Cashmere Mafia."

Celebs serve holiday meals to homeless

Kirk Douglas, Harrison Ford and other celebrities shared the Thanksgiving spirit Wednesday by serving hot meals to homeless people on Skid Row.

Wearing red aprons and plastic gloves, they stood alongside volunteers at the annual feast at downtown's Los Angeles Mission, doling out turkey drumsticks, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, vegetables and pumpkin pie.

Actresses Nia Long and Calista Flockhart and "The Hills" reality TV star Spencer Pratt were among others passing out almost 3,000 plates of food to lines of men, women and children.

"It's very grounding," said Long, who dished out vegetables and rolls with her 7-year-old son. "I feel grateful for all the things I have."

A house band pounded out music as people sipped on bright green and orange punch at rows of tables outside.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who said he has volunteered at the event for nearly a decade, said he cleaned the feet of some of the homeless.

"He washed my feet, and it was so special," Skid Row resident Yasmine Villalobos said. "I will remember it forever."

The air of festivity sparkled in contrast to the harshness of Skid Row, where hunger is the norm and sleeping bags dot the sidewalks.

Douglas, who helped develop the mission's Anne Douglas Center for Women, noted the event's affect on celebrities.

"Their involvement will help their souls as much as it helps the guests being served," he said in a mission press release.

Ne-Yo on Hayden Panettiere: 'She's Cool People'

Ne-Yo admits it: He was holding Hayden Panettiere's hand Monday night as the two hit a New York City nigtclub, but the two are not dating. He swears.

"Hayden and I just met yesterday. We've only known each other for one day," Ne-Yo told PEOPLE at the Ronald McDonald House Charity's World Children's Day event Tuesday, where Panettiere, 18, also made an appearance. "She was hanging out with some friends and invited me to come out."

As for the hand holding, "I was helping her out of the car!" says the singer, 28. "She had these shoes – they were cute – but they were torture devices, so I had to help her."

The duo only spent 48-hours together as they toured Ronald McDonald Houses in Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, and New York, but they definitely hit it off. "I'm a fan of Hayden's show Heroes, so I was excited to know she was going to do this with me," the singer continued. "Hayden is cool people. She's a little silly. But silly is good."

Having gotten along so well, there may be a business collaboration in their future. "We talked about me possibly writing a song or two," for Panettiere's long-delayed album, says Ne-Yo, who is also working on the upcoming Michael Jackson album. "I'd do it if she needed me to."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (12/2)

"Holy Matrimony!," - A political scandal and a severe case of cold feet threaten Kitty and Robert's highly anticipated wedding day. Meanwhile, Isaac (guest starring Danny Glover) distracts Nora from her romance with Stan (guest starring Chevy Chase) and Holly gets a surprise visit from an old friend (guest starring series executive producer and real life husband Ken Olin), on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Ken Olin as David Caplan, Danny Glover as Isaac Marshall, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Denis O'Hare as Travis March, Garry Marshall as Major Jack Wiener, Chevy Chase as Stan Harris, Steven Anderson as the officiant, Justine Dorsey as Sophie McCallister, Max Burkholder as Jack McCallister, Alejandro Cardenas as the waiter and Cassius Willis as the agent.

"Holy Matrimony!" was written by Alison Shapker, Monica Owusu-Breen and Mark B. Perry and directed by Rob Lieberman.

MEN IN TREES (12/7)

"Sweatering It Out" - Jack's ship has gone down in the Bering Sea, but Marin doesn't know this and is upset by his lack of communication. And when she finds herself being romantically pursued by her publisher, Stuart (Jason O'Mara), she must decide whether or not the possibility of Jack is worth waiting for. To complicate matters further, Patrick, still suffering from amnesia, also takes an interest in Marin - which proves very upsetting for Annie. Meanwhile, on a trip to a snowplow convention, newlyweds Jane and Sam (Ty Olsson) come up with a unique living arrangement; Sara and Eric take a step forward in their relationship, which also means a step back; and, adrift at sea, Jack must make a very tough decision to save his life and Julia's (Kelli Williams), on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, DEC. 7 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Kelli Williams as Julia, Jason O'Mara as Stuart, Nicholas Lea as Eric, Ty Olsson as Sam, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Santo Lombardo as Gary, Grayson Golka as Matty, Michael P. Northey as Mark and Christopher Russell as Lonny.

"Sweatering It Out" was written by Chris Dingess and directed by Dean White.

Comic Book 'heroes'

“Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere and her brother and fellow actor, Jansen, go to the Big Apple National Comic Book convention at Penn Plaza Pavilion over the weekend

Both Sides Speak Out on Hayden Arrest Warrant

Neither side appears to be letting up in the Hayden Panettiere versus Japanese fisherman controversy that began last month, when the Heroes star participated with others in a confrontation with the fisherman during a dolphin hunt.

The situation was exacerbated Thursday, when an arrest warrant was issued in Japan for Panettiere.

Later that day, the actress-activist, 18, told Access Hollywood in a statement: "Obviously this issue has generated defensive behavior on the part of both the Japanese authorities and fishermen."

For her part, Panettiere said, "I have grown up hearing – and adhering to – this phrase: 'Condemnation without investigation dooms one to everlasting ignorance.' "

Moving forward, "We must unite as a world to solve our increasing international environmental crises. We can no longer hide [behind] outdated, senseless cultural traditions and lazy, bad habits that are resulting in the annihilation of our planet's resources and the extinction of our species," she said.

Fisheries Respond: On Oct. 30, Panettiere joined other activists in paddling on surfboards into a cove near Taiji in southwestern Japan, in an attempt to interfere with a dolphin hunt there. The incident drew worldwide attention when video of it – including footage of Panettiere weeping on shore after being turned back – reached the Internet.

In response to that protest, Takumi Fukuda, a spokesperson for the Fisheries Attaché at the Embassy of Japan released a statement to Access Hollywood. It said, "Generations of people in Taiji have relied on fisheries for their livelihoods, and their catches are carried out in a sustainable manner."

Adding that "The population of dolphins has been healthily maintained for many years," Fukuda statement goes on to say, "While respecting Ms. Panettierre's personal feelings towards dolphins, I hope that your viewers will be reassured by the fact that Japan is carefully managing marine-living resources for the future."

Milo Ventimiglia: Hayden and I Are 'Close Friends'

Since cozying up at an Emmys party in September, Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere have dodged rumors that they are dating.

Two months later, the duo some call "Halo" are still close, hanging together at Wednesday's Race in the Fight Against Epilepsy fundraiser, in Calabasas, Calif. But could these Heroes be a couple?

When asked about the reports of romance, Ventimiglia, 30, chuckled then paused. After a few seconds, he answered, "She and I are close friends. It's only natural that people are going to couple us together."

The actor and Panettiere, 18, hung together outside the bash while awaiting their fellow Heroes costars. And although they spoke closely in a shadowy corner, they remained strictly hands-off. (Once inside, the two were ushered into a private VIP room.)

In September, Heroes costar James Kyson Lee, who plays Ando on the NBC series, told PEOPLE of the prospective pairing, "The rumor is not true. Let's just end it there."

Panettiere and Ventimiglia attended Wednesday's party to support costar Greg Grunberg, whose son Jake suffers from epilepsy.

Report: Arrest Warrant for Hayden Panettiere in Japan

An arrest warrant has been issued in Japan for Hayden Panettiere, the Heroes star says in an interview.

"I learned today that I have an arrest warrant out for me in Japan because of what I did for Save the Whales," Panettiere, 18, is quoted as telling E! News.

Late last month, the actress-activist participated with others in a confrontation with fisherman during a dolphin hunt.

Asked what the repercussions might be from the warrant, Panettiere said, "Potentially jail, but I doubt it. ... I guess they could come here and get us, but probably not."

On Oct. 30, Panettiere joined other activists in paddling on surfboards into a cove near Taiji in southwestern Japan, in an attempt to interfere with a dolphin hunt there. The incident drew worldwide attention when video of it – including footage of Panettiere weeping on shore after being turned back – reached the Internet.

Would Do It Again: Panettiere said the arrest warrant does not faze her. "I'd do it again," she said of the protest. "Very possibly, might do it again."

The actress added that the personal risks involved paled in comparison to the potential good that could come from the activists' actions.

"I was very excited that people were interested in what we did," she said. "In [Hollywood], you tend to only get publicity for not wearing underwear or going to rehab."

Early To Bed

IT'S amazing how many leading men lost their virginity at young ages. In his new book on sexual facts, "Where Do Nudists Keep Their Hankies?" just out from HarperEntertainment, Mitchell Simons reveals that Clint Eastwood, David Duchovny, Bruce Willis and Jerry Hall gave up their innocence at 14. Topping them are: Johnny Depp, James Caan and Jon Bon Jovi, who were just 13. Don Johnson was a mere 12. And Sean Connery confessed, "I was 8, but I can't recall with whom."

JON'S NEXT JOB?

JON Bon Jovi could be planning one day to run for governor of New Jersey. That's why he's keeping his house in Red Bank, even though he and his wife, Dorothea, and their four kids have moved to SoHo. That's why he performs regularly at fund-raisers for Democrats like Al Gore and John Kerry. And that's why he hired p.r. guru Ken Sunshine, who was once the chief of staff for ex-Mayor David Dinkins. "Jon has been approached many times about running for office," said Sunshine, who denied the rocker has any political plans. "His day job is going too well, and this way he can keep the house."

Actors lend support to writers' strike

Calista Flockhart (Brothers and Sisters). "It's terrible. Deeply depressing. I'm really hoping they'll get into a room and come up with some sort of solution. We are feeling the void and missing our writers a lot. It's not helping the show."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (11/25)

"Something New" - Robert enlists the help of a musical icon (guest starring Lyle Lovett as himself) to fend off Kitty's bout with cold feet. Nora reconnects with a man from her past (guest starring Chevy Chase as Stan Harris) and Sarah has mixed emotions about agreeing to have dinner with a new business consultant (guest starring Steven Weber as Graham Finch). Meanwhile, Tommy is overwhelmed by guilt when Sarah and Lizzie return home, and Justin pursues a new romance with someone with questionable intentions, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Scotty Wandell as Luke Macfarlane, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Denis O'Hare as Travis March, Steven Weber as Graham Finch, Jordi Caballero as Mario, Yesenia Adame as Martena, Chevy Chase as Stan Harris, Linda Bisesti as the tailor, Lyle Lovett as himself and Karl Christina as the choreographer.

"Something New" was written by Jennifer Cecil and Sherri Cooper-Landsman and directed by Michael Morris.

Portia de Rossi nips at new TV challenges

Watching Portia de Rossi, one of Hollywood's most high-profile lesbians, playing Joely Richardson's self-assured girlfriend on Nip/Tuck, you might think she was just being herself.

You'd be wrong.

"I hate gratuitous sex scenes. I'm a prude, I really am," says de Rossi, 34. "I related to (Richardson's) character so much more than my own. She was having a really hard time with her sexuality, and it was difficult for her to tell people she was gay. To hear her struggle like that was very emotional for me."

In real life, de Rossi has been in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres for the past three years. She did have a few qualms about playing a lesbian for the first time on the FX series (tonight, 10 p.m. ET/PT).

"My relationship with Ellen is so public, and I thought, 'Am I going to play a romantic lead again?' I had that one moment of, 'Does this mean I'll be typecast as a lesbian?' And (Ellen) turned to me and said, 'So what?' And I thought, 'Oh, yeah, right, so what?' " says de Rossi. "I was offered romantic lead roles, and I turned them down because the lesbian seemed more interesting to me."

On Nip/Tuck, the series' two plastic surgeons refer to her by a choice assortment of homophobic slurs, something new for de Rossi. "It's so crazy because I never faced any kind of discrimination. Here, it's all scripted, but it still stings," she says. "It was a very interesting thing for me to experience. I'd walk away at the end of the day not feeling very good."

Going under the knife to feel better isn't something she'd do. "It's hard to be against it when you need it," she says. "I've never really thought about it, honestly. It certainly wouldn't be right now," says de Rossi, who's the epitome of city chic in a tan Dolce & Gabbana coat, paired with a matching brown Birkin bag and a champagne-colored cashmere turtleneck.

The Australian actress, who became shockingly thin during her 1998-2002 stint on the series Ally McBeal and later admitted to having anorexia, looks healthy today during a lunch of french fries, a tuna sandwich and Coke.

She says she stays in shape by competitively riding horses, going to the barn about three days a week. "People ask me how I recovered from my eating disorder, and I have to say that horses really helped me. It shifted my focus and got me out to nature," she says. "It was a passion and interest that was completely outside myself. It made me lighten up on everything."

And, adds de Rossi, "It's great to muck out a stall every once in a while."

Contrary to tabloid reports, she and DeGeneres are still very much together; they live in Los Angeles with their dog, Wolf, and three cats. De Rossi calls their union "lovely. We manage to have a very normal, very happy life together. We've created it."

Still, DeGeneres has made headlines lately, most recently for continuing her syndicated talk show during the writers' strike. And last month, the couple dealt with controversy over a dog adoption gone wrong and DeGeneres' emotional reaction.

"We're just two people who tried to do the right thing by a gorgeous little dog (Iggy). It became about us breaking a contract and about Ellen's level of emotion. It wasn't about that. It was about the right home for that dog and just to make sure that dog was happy and safe and healthy," she says with a sigh.

Ultimately, says de Rossi, "the thing I hope that Iggy has done is make people more aware that there are a lot of animals that need to be adopted and that adoption is the best choice you can make."

She hasn't yet made up her mind about a family with DeGeneres. On Nip/Tuck, de Rossi is the single mother of a troubled young woman. On the home front, however, she's torn about having kids.

"It depends when you ask us. A few months ago, we were thinking about it. I wouldn't want to say never, but at this point, it's not something I think we're going to do," she says. "But there are times when I think I'd be really selfish to not adopt a child so we'd share our life with somebody, a little child that really needs a home."

Hayden Talks About Being a Real-Life Heroine

Hayden Panettiere said Thursday that she might never have been involved in trying to save the dolphins in Japan without the inspiration and influence she's gotten through her hit TV series Heroes.

The NBC show "is about being a hero. And you know, it's kinda rubbed off on me," the 18-year-old actress said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "I don't think if I was as recognizable in the public eye that it would have made as much of an impact."

Panettiere took part in an anti-whaling protest in Japan last month with a group called Sea Shepherd. The activists paddled on surfboards to confront fishermen who slaughter dolphins for food but were driven back – and in a video shot by Sky News, Panettiere was seen weeping on the shore.

On Thursday, Panettiere said she was afraid of the fishermen, and of possible sharks in the water, until she saw the dolphins.

"Every ounce of fear disappeared just watching those animals," she said. "They know exactly what is going to happen, and as soon as they felt our presence, and knew that we were coming in peace. ... All we wanted to do was go and cut them out of [their enclosure], and we couldn't."

Degeneres, a self-proclaimed animal lover, told Panettiere, "I admire you and respect you and all the people who do that for a living for being able to witness it."

Panettiere added that the group's mission goes beyond interfering with the dolphin hunts.

"We are trying to educate the Japanese people that whale and dolphin meat is actually highly toxic," she said. "They are basically poisoning themselves by eating them."

Anne Heche Says Love Scenes Are Easier with Her Beau

Anne Heche, who is dating her Men in Trees co-star James Tupper, says onscreen love scenes are "less challenging" with a real-life boyfriend.

"Usually when you're doing a love scene with somebody you're not in love with, it’s like you kiss and you kiss and then you think, 'Oh, great.' And then they yell, 'Cut,' and you just split apart right away and act like you don't really like the person," she tells Extra.

However, during her scenes with Tupper, she says, "when they yell, 'Cut,' we just lay there and wait for the next take to go!”

As for their relationship, which made headlines earlier this year, Heche says she's relieved that it's out in the open.

"We're so much more comfortable now that our feelings are exposed and everybody knows about them," says the actress, who has a five-year-old son, Homer, with ex-husband Coleman Laffoon.

Asked whether she'll expand her family, the 38-year-old actress responds, "Gotta leave it open, ya know what I'm saying?"

MEN IN TREES (11/23)

"Sea Change" - With Jack away on a research ship, Marin begins to question the terms of their relationship - especially when she finds a mysterious woman's phone number amongst his things. Meanwhile, attempts to jog Patrick's memory fail, and Celia suggests that Annie go to extreme lengths to help him remember his old life. Theresa questions Ben's priorities when he continually puts his newly-purchased hockey team ahead of his friends and family. And, as sparks fly between Jerome (Timothy Webber) and Mary Alice (Annie Potts), Buzz and Mai offer them dating advice, on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Currie Graham as Dick, Annie Potts as Mary Alice, Kelli Williams as Julia, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Daniel Boileau as perp, Santo Lombardo as Gary and Susan Hogan as Donna (O.C.).

"Sea Change" was written by Anna Fricke and directed by Jeff Melman.

Hayden's Heroic Dolphin Crusade

Save the dolphins, save the world?

Hayden Panettiere attempted to play real-life hero, teaming with the Save Japan Dolphins coalition in trying to disrupt the annual slaughter of dolphins by Japanese fisherman, who kill an estimated 23,000 of the sea creatures each year.

Despite international outcry, dolphin hunting is still considered culturally acceptable in parts of Japan, where many locals believe the mammals should be treated like fish.

The 18-year-old Heroes star recently joined activists from the U.S. and Australia in paddling out on surfboards to try and reach a pod of dolphins before it was driven into a nearby cove and massacred.

But before the well-intentioned surfers could reach the cetaceans, they were intercepted by a fishing boat intent on blocking their path.

Video footage of the confrontation shows the angry fisherman using the boat's propellers to halt the surfers' progress and even lashing out at them with a boat hook, eventually forcing them to return to shore.

"It was really frightening," Panettiere said. "Some of us were hit by the boat hook. But in the end, all we really worried about was the dolphins."

Growing emotional, the actress said they were close enough to the dolphins to see them "sky-hopping, jumping out of the water to see us.

"One little baby dolphin stuck his head out and kind of looked at me, and the thought that it's no longer with us is really difficult to take," she said, tears streaking down her face.

After returning to shore, Panettiere and her activist friends headed directly to Osaka and left the country to avoid being arrested for trespass by the Japanese national police.

Panettiere has since returned to Los Angeles.

Sightings

LUCY Liu and the huge crew of ABC's "Cashmere Mafia" shooting late into the night on Cornelia Street.

Sightings

NATALIE Portman, Brooke Shields, Lucy Liu, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard at the Prada party at Café Carlyle.

MEN IN TREES (11/16)

"Nice Day for a Dry Wedding, Part II" - Marin has second thoughts about her feelings for Jack and invites him to be her wedding date. Patrick and Annie's wedding is threatened by dangerous and unforeseen events. Meanwhile, Jane flies in for their nuptials and has an impulsive reaction when she sees Sam (Ty Olsson) with his date; Mary Alice (Annie Potts) develops a relationship with a very unlikely Elmoian; Dick (Currie Graham) and Celia become way too attached; Sara helps Eric (Nicholas Lea) deal with the fallout of his actions toward his congregation; and Cash (Scott Elrod) returns to Elmo, on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Annie Potts as Mary Alice, Nicholas Lea as Eric, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Mario Cantone as Terri Romano, Currie Graham as Dick, Scott Elrod as Cash, Colm Meaney as Bob, Josh Randall as Danny, Ty Olsson as Sam, Adrian Hough as doctor, Erin Borgfjord as Laurie and John Treleavan as captain.

"Nice Day for a Dry Wedding, Part II" story by Jenny Bicks & Chris Dingess, teleplay by Jenny Bicks and directed by Jeff Melman.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (11/11)

"36 Hours" - The Walker family pulls together for better or worse when Justin reaches a critical new low point with his addiction, while Kitty and Robert move toward their future together with a renewed perspective, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Denis O'Hare as Travis March, Martha Boles as Melanie, Mark Daniel Cade as Dr. James Kendall, Justine Dorsey as Sophie McCallister, Eric Gavika as the drug dealer, Ned Bellamy as Cutler Weeks and Jason Kim as Phil.

"36 Hours" was written by David Marshall Grant and Molly Newman and directed by David Paymer.

Sightings

BON Jovi and wife Dorothea shopping for motorcycle jackets at Armani Exchange in SoHo.

Bon Jovi rocks new arena in Newark

Singing the title song from their latest album, "Lost Highway," Bon Jovi christened a glistening $380 million arena pegged as a hope to help revitalize the struggling city of Newark.

"I'm a Jersey Devil and this is my new house," the band's frontman, Jon Bon Jovi, said Thursday night. "It looks good with all you people in it. Welcome to `The Rock' here in Newark, N.J."

Just hours earlier, workers had put the final touches on the new Prudential Center, as they dumped dirt into planters and vacuumed a red carpet. Police patrolled the streets nearby on horseback and on foot.

Some concertgoers arrived hours before Bon Jovi took the stage for the opening-night performance, the first of 10 shows.

The downtown arena opened amid hopes that crowds attending concerts and sporting events would help revive a city whose image has been tarnished by violent crime, poverty and high unemployment.

"It's our first time in Newark," said Michelle Payne, 41, who drove nearly two hours from South Jersey with her 16-year-old daughter, Ashley. "So far so good."

As concert time neared, Mayor Cory A. Booker walked the red carpet with Chanda Gibson, his date for the evening.

Several New Jersey celebrities soon followed, including former New York Giant Tiki Barber and several stars of HBO's "The Sopranos," including Aida Turturro and Robert Iler.

"I am a huge Jon Bon Jovi fan," Barber said. "He's a big Giants fan."

Gov. Jon S. Corzine said Newark's renewal will be built by momentum and credibility.

"Not only will we get to hear Jon Bon Jovi tonight, which is always a thrill," he said, "but this is a milestone."

E-Mails Detail Ellen & Portia's Iggy Saga

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's saga over Iggy, the dog they adopted then gave away to a friend's family, is detailed in a set of e-mails posted online.

The correspondence, posted on the Smoking Gun, reveals the couple's initial love for dog, their decision to give him away, and the shock expressed by pet-rescue agency Mutts & Moms at that development.

A partner at Mutts & Moms, Marina Baktis, tells the couple that Iggy's relocation constitutes "a betrayal of our trust" and a violation of the contract, to which de Rossi replies, "Your email is truly heartbreaking to many people."

There is also one e-mail from DeGeneres's hair stylist, Cheryl Marks, who pleads that after two weeks, Iggy is "bonded and loved by our family." Unmoved, Baktis insists he must be returned.

A rep for DeGeneres had no comment on the e-mails.

Bon Jovi plays Newark starting Thursday

The music of Bon Jovi battled with the din of saws and drills in the Prudential Center as the New Jersey rockers prepared for 10 shows at the downtown Newark facility.

Bon Jovi is the first act to perform at the new arena, starting Thursday.

According to media reports, the band praised the facility, even as last-minute construction was being finished Tuesday.

Jon Bon Jovi, the band's frontman, said the shows will hopefully help invigorate Newark's economy.

Due to the large number of shows, Bon Jovi has been practicing many songs they haven't performed in years.

Their latest album is the country-influenced "Lost Highway," on Island Records.

MEN IN TREES (11/09)

"The Girl Who Cried Wolf, Part I" - In the first of a two-part story arc, wild wolves descend on Elmo, which leads to a heated fight between Marin and Jack. A series of ill-fated events threaten to ruin Patrick and Annie's wedding, including a beauty blunder that leaves Annie looking less than picture perfect. Meanwhile, Annie's mother, Mary Alice (Annie Potts), comes to town to prepare for the wedding and finds that three "moms" is a crowd; Ben's new purchase of a hockey team could lead to possible disaster; and the congregation at Pastor Eric's (Nicholas Lea) church questions the nature of his relationship with Sara, on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Annie Potts as Mary Alice, Nicholas Lea as Eric, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Paul Jarrett as Steve and Shaw Madison as button-down man.

"The Girl Who Cried Wolf, Part I" story by Jenny Bicks & John Mankiewicz, teleplay by Cindy Chupack & Anna Fricke and directed by Rick Wallace.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (11/4)

"Two Places" - When the Walkers suffer a very tragic, private loss, Kitty brings in an expert (guest starring Danny Glover as Isaac Marshall) to advise Robert on his campaign, and Sarah is forced to reevaluate her custody agreement, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe Whedon, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Emily rose as Lena Branigan, Denis O'Hare as Travis March, Jordan Baker as Dr. Sara Toni, Christine Lucas as the nurse and Danny Glover as Isaac Marshall.

"Two Places" was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Shapker and directed by Gloria Muzio.

MEN IN TREES (11/02)

"I Wood If I Could" -- Romance finds its way back into Marin's life in the way of gifts from Jack, as well as her publisher, Stuart Maxson, who'd like to pick up where they left off. She also juggles being both maid of honor and best man for Patrick and Annie while trying to make their dreams come true for their bachelor and bachelorette parties. Meanwhile, Sara struggles with minister Eric's (Nicholas Lea) church policy of no sex outside of marriage, and Ben, feeling off his game since his heart scare, considers purchasing a professional hockey team, on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Nicholas Lea as Eric, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Dot-Marie Jones as Sapphire and Grayson Golka as Matty.

"I Wood If I Could" was written by Chris Dingess & Cara DiPaolo and directed by Joanna Kerns.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/28)

"Domestic Issues" - Sarah faces the most difficult obstacle of her life when Joe puts up a tough custody battle. Meanwhile, Kitty drops a Halloween bombshell that will alter the future of the Walker family, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Emily Rose as Lena, Denis O'Hare as Travis March and Paul Cassell as Gary Morris.

"Domestic Issues" was written by Peter Calloway and Cliff Olin and directed by Ken Olin.

Jon Bon Jovi Admits He's Been 'No Saint'

He's been married to his childhood sweetheart, Dorothea, for 18 years, and they have four children. But Jon Bon Jovi admits he's waded into the "shallow pool" of the rock-star life over the years.

"I've been in one of the biggest rock bands in the world for 25 years, and I'm not a saint, and I have not been a saint," Bon Jovi, 45, tells Best Life magazine for its November issue. "I missed tons of birthdays and school plays. But it's not like Dorothea came in halfway through the movie and didn't know who she got."

Bon Jovi has spent years on the road – and is preparing for yet another tour, which kicks off Oct. 25 in New Jersey, in support of the band's latest record, Lost Highway. But through it all, he says, he's been committed to wife and family.

"I don't look at this week's hot starlet and think about trading in or trading up," he says. "I don't have a mistress on the side or another family across town. You're never going to read that story about me. I have no regard for that whole lifestyle."

He adds: "It's a shallow pool, man. When you've been at it this long, you know it's a real shallow pool."

The former John Francis Bongiovi got a taste of that wild life at a very early age. "I was in eighth grade, very young, and the guy the [older women in the neighborhood] came to see," he says. "I was a boy toy. ... My mom wasn't too happy with some of the things she witnessed. It was pretty wild. One good-looking kid and housewives. ... Anyhow, I'm not going to go into that. It was a long time ago."

Goodbye to Drugs

Another thing that he quit early on: the drugs portion of the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll experience.

"I did the drug thing very young and wised up very young too, because I was into drugs a little too much," he says. "I've never been a drug guy. I've always felt I didn't have the mental stability to handle drugs."

He did, however, find a measure of stability in his personal life. He and his wife married in 1989. They have a daughter, Stephanie, 14, and three sons – Jesse, 12, Jake, 5, and Romeo, 3. And they enjoy – as much as possible – a normal family life.

"I'm the one with the dad voice, and if you've got to use the dad voice, I can bring it out," Bon Jovi says. "I have a temper. Definitely. I'm not an angry dad. I'm not like that. But you do get your buttons pushed."

Yet for all his emphasis on family and commitment, Bon Jovi remains a bit mystified that his rock-star persona doesn't get more play.

"Family man, what a concept," he says. "I mean, how'd I end up the poster boy for that?"

Anne Heche Talks About Being a Long-Distance Mom

The man with whom Anne Heche shares a log cabin in real life – her Men in Trees costar James Tupper – is "adorable," but he has nothing on the guy who flies into her arms: 5-year-old son Homer.

"Homer flies a lot ... twice a month to see me," Heche said on Wednesday's episode of The View. Homer's father, Hollywood cameraman (and Heche's ex-husband) Coley Laffoon, shares custody with the actress. Twice a month, Heche also flies from Vancouver, Canada, to L.A. to be with her son.

Meanwhile, Heche explains, she gives him a lot of love over the phone. "It's hard," she admits. "You've got to open up your heart as if he's right in front of you."

Laffoon and Heche wed in 2001, and the marriage ended in February 2007, with the blame falling on her then-budding relationship with on-camera love interest Tupper (known as "McTreemy" on the Men in Trees set), who split from his wife late last year.

"I'm so happy," Heche said on The View before quickly clarifying her remark to say, "I don't think anybody says, 'Yay, divorce. That was a lot of fun.' "

View host Barbara Walters, who has interviewed Heche on several occasions in the past, admitted to her guest about the union with Laffoon, "I didn't think that marriage was going to last."

When Heche asked to know the reason, Walters replied, "I don't think you always think with your head."

Sightings

JULIANNE Moore and Lucy Liu celebrating the gala launch of Chivas' 25-year-old whiskey at the New York Public Library.

MEN IN TREES (10/26)

"No Man Is an Iceland" - Now that Lynn has left town, everyone in Elmo assumes that Marin and Jack will get back together. Mai's cousin, Lucy (Emy Coligado), an ice skating star, comes from China to visit. Mai wants her to stay, so George (Orlando Jones) offers to marry her -- much to Terri's (Mario Cantone) dismay. Meanwhile, Annie and Patrick are having trouble planning their wedding, and once Celia discovers that her boyfriend, Dick (Currie Graham), is much younger, she wonders what the consequences will be, on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Orlando Jones as George, Mario Cantone as Terri Romano, Currie Graham as Dick, Scott Elrod as Cash, Ty Olsson as Sam, Emy Coligado as Lucy Woo, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Darcy Laurie as Rusty, Gary Little as fisherman and Mark Redsky as fisherman #2.

"No Man Is an Iceland" was written by Anna Fricke & Tim Davis and directed by Rick Wallace.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/21)

"States of the Union" - With Nora along for the ride, Kitty and Sarah's attempt at a spa escape quickly becomes an entangled mess. Meanwhile, Tommy crosses a dangerous line in search of companionship, Rebecca grows concerned with Justin's impossibly speedy recovery, and Kevin presses Saul to make a confession about his past, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Michael Nouri as Milo Peterman, Eamon Roche as Neil Burke, Shi Ne Nielson as the spa worker, Brandon Fobbs as Nick, Ryan Kyler Bailey as the hotel employee, Joseph Julian Soria as Garret Perez, Josh Stamberg as Cliff and Benjamin Patterson as the masseur.

"States of the Union" was written by Sherri Cooper-Landsman and Liz Tigelaar and directed by Michael Schultz.

MEN IN TREES (10/19)

"Chemical Reactions" - When Marin and Cash (Scott Elrod) make a bet to see who can make the best stew, Marin ventures into the forest to find a special root. She gets lost and Jack, who is filming a nature documentary, finds her. Meanwhile, the newly-engaged Lynn (Justine Bateman) wishes Jack would exhibit more passion toward her, like what she sees in Ben and Buzz toward their wives; Patrick wants to change his surname to better reflect who he really is; and Sara, who is no longer in the "service" business, gets a summons from her ex-husband, who now wants full custody of their son, on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn Barstow, Scott Elrod as Cash, Currie Graham as Dick, Nicholas Lea as Eric, Callum Keith Rennie as Jeff, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Colin Cunningham as Jeff's lawyer, Alvin Sanders as judge, Joyce Kren as old lady, D. Harlan Cutshall as delivery man and Grayson Golka as Matty.

"Chemical Reactions" was written by Padma L. Atluri and directed by Seith Mann.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/14)

"History Repeating" - Nora and Rebecca hatch a plan to help Justin cope with pain while Julia tells Tommy she needs to take some time away with their infant daughter. Meanwhile, Kevin and Scotty Wandell (Luke McFarlane) share an impromptu dinner, and Kitty confronts Robert's ex-wife (guest starring Marin Hinkle as Courtney McCallister), on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Marin Hinkle as Courtney McCallister, Denis O'Hare as Travis March, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Bill Smitrovich as Ben Ridge, Tess Harper as Beth Ridge, Jerry Lambert as Officer Phipps, Eileen Barnett as the judge, Shvona Lavette as the waitress and James Geralden as Principal Clark.

"History Repeating" was written by Jon Robin Baitz and Jennifer Cecil and directed by Matt Shakman.

The Comeback Kids of 'Brothers & Sisters'

Before the 2006-07 TV season started, "Brothers & Sisters" was that season's Troubled Show, having undergone major revisions both in front of and behind the camera.

The surgery on the pilot pushed back the shooting schedule, eliminating some of the workshopping time shows normally get before they premiere. Consequently, its cast and crew were figuring things out while the show was on the air.

"We were creating parts of the show as we were going along," says executive producer Greg Berlanti, who came aboard about a month before "Brothers & Sisters" premiered. "We didn't know -- what does our best episode look like and feel like? What dynamics feel real? ... One of the elements of this show, for sure, is it's a family show, but it's sort of like a family show on crack.

"So if from time to time we rush stuff and it feels more accelerated and has more of that kind of energy, it was us trying to find that."

A funny thing happened to this Troubled Show as it premiered, though: It was good. Wary critics warmed to the Walker family, and audiences took to it as well; it averaged a little under 11 million viewers last season and finished among the top 40 shows on television. Earlier this month Sally Field won an Emmy for her portrayal of matriarch Nora Walker.

The show thus begins its second season Sunday (Sept. 30) in a much more stable position, at least off screen. On screen, the Walkers continue their tumultuous lives. When we last saw them, youngest son Justin (Dave Annable) was off to Iraq, family rock Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) was seeing her marriage crumble and eldest daughter Kitty (Calista Flockhart) got engaged to a senator (Rob Lowe, now a cast regular).

"I know I'm planning a wedding, I know that eventually Rob and I are meant to get married," Flockhart says during a visit to the show's set in late July. "Whether we actually do, that's another story. But I think it will be fun to explore -- when you're in a new relationship and there are kids and stepkids and his big family. ... There are a lot of things to play with, so that'll be good."

On the other side of the marital scale, Sarah is trying to figure out how her marriage imploded, which Griffiths said will not be easy for her normally decisive character. The fact that Sarah is "effective," as Griffths put it, was a big part of what drew her to the role after five years of playing the eternally wavering Brenda Chenowith on "Six Feet Under."

"I loved playing Brenda, but she never got anything done," Griffiths says. "... This just felt like a great relief to actually play a woman who's effective. She can make a decision and most of the time is successful in realizing her choices. Which I think is why it's hard for her to accept the marriage [falling apart]. I think it'll be a journey for her -- when she makes a choice, she thinks she can will it to be."

Both actresses say they were aware of the "troubled" talk early last season, although they note that no one on set ever questioned the quality of the work they were doing.

"I think we made some changes that were really great, but every show does that," Flockhart says. "You start off going in one direction, you say 'That doesn't work, but this works. And this works, but that doesn't' -- you kind of just fudge. The problem is, we had to do it on the air. So I think we just got labeled with that because we were an easy target. But I never took it seriously."

Almost to a person, the cast and crew say that within a couple of episodes, the show had found its rhythm. Creator Jon Robin Baitz, heading up his first series, credits Berlanti's gift for organization and the cast's ability to handle the show's mix of comedy and drama.

"What do I know, you know?" Baitz says of the early struggles. "I believe everything is a process, and I knew that if we found our footing the audience would be patient with us, and it would turn around. And that's exactly what happened.

"It was absolutely a struggle, it was absolutely frustrating. It was absolutely heart-breaking at times. But we all decided to fight for it as hard as we could. We knew what the potential was."

Sightings

JON Bon Jovi wearing a Mets cap and a look of concern as he and his wife, Dorothea, had breakfast at Lenny's on Columbus

"Good Day" for Heche in Court

Anne Heche had a "good day." Ex-husband Coley Laffoon's was "very satisfied."

Neither, though, was willing to go into details about what transpired behind closed doors at a Los Angeles courthouse Wednesday during a custody hearing over their five-year-old son, Homer.

The pair, who currently have joint custody, have been warring over their child since Laffoon filed for divorce in February, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split, but then quickly advancing to accusations of poor parenting on Heche's part.

The Men in Trees star responded with her own allegations of Laffoon's laziness and affinity for Internet poker and porn.

With those turbulent days perhaps behind them, Heche told reporters that she had a "good day in court" and that she accomplished everything she had been hoping to resolve.

Laffoon echoed those sentiments but stopped to say that today's proceedings were "part of the process" and not at all fun.

"It's painful," said the freelance videographer, who met Heche in 2000 on the set of a documentary about her former partner Ellen DeGeneres.

"Anybody who has been divorced knows about it," Laffoon told Extra outside the courthouse. "I'm looking forward to it being over."

Added Laffoon's attorney, Jon Summers: "We are very satisfied with what happened in court today. There were minor disputes…about custody. We went to the judge and he resolved them and we're satisfied with what happened." Next, "[we] work to finalize the divorce and hopeful they can go their merry way."

Heche filed a request in August to modify the previous arrangement that required her to inform Laffoon two weeks in advance when she planned to spend time with Homer. She instead wanted to be able to give a week's notice, saying that she'd like to be able to jet down from Vancouver to L.A. when she has time off from the Men in Trees set and that never knows more than seven days beforehand when such a break is going to occur.

Otherwise, the 38-year-old actress has every other weekend with Homer while she's in Canada, and will have every other week with him when she's back in L.A., which the court has designated as Homer's permanent residence.

She and Laffoon unloaded the Hollywood home they used to share earlier this month.

Love Denials: Hayden-Milo Rumors Nixed, Helena Scoffs at Heath Stories

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt – it was also the across-the-board response PEOPLE received Tuesday night regarding romance rumors between two recent are-they-or-aren't-they pairs: Milo & Hayden, and Heath & Helena.

First, a costar of Heroes' Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia shot down recent rumblings (as well as a YouTube video that was closely analyzed by fans) that the 18-year-old actress and her 30-year-old costar were getting closer.

"The rumor is not true," costar James Kyson Lee, who plays Ando, told PEOPLE at Tuesday's Lift Up America Meet Me in Miami premiere in Hollywood. "Let's just end it there."

He added about the romance talk: "I think we were just surprised because they're 12 years apart – for people to even conceive that. I know there have been a lot of jokes, Hayden turning 18 and whatnot. At some point, you just have to let it go, and respect their privacy."

Also on rumor control Tuesday night was Helena Christensen, who scoffed at reports that she recently hooked up with newly single Heath Ledger.

"It is so annoying," the model, 38, told PEOPLE at the premiere of Control in New York. "I can't even tell you. The funny thing is that they write, 'just out of a relationship with Josh [Hartnett] and now with Heath [Ledger].' Josh is one of my dearest friends. ... And in several different tabloids they wrote that we were biting each other's faces off or something like that."

Cedric gets a wife in ABC comedy pilot

Regina Hall will star opposite Cedric the Entertainer in the comedian's family pilot for ABC.

The project centers on a family man (Cedric) who has always been the proud breadwinner and has difficulty adjusting when his wife's (Hall) hobby turns into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

Hall, who co-starred on Fox's "Ally McBeal," has appeared in such features as "The Honeymooners" and the "Scary Movie" franchise.

O'Grady & Germann land cable TV roles

Gail O'Grady, Greg Germann and Robert Mailhouse will star in the Hallmark Channel original movie "All I Want for Christmas."

The movie, set to premiere December 1, centers on a single mother (O'Grady) with no time for dating who suddenly finds herself with thousands of potential suitors.

MEN IN TREES (10/12; SEASON PREMIERE)

"A Tree Goes in Elmo" - To help Marin get rid of issues that weigh her down, Cash takes her to visit a guru. On the way back down the mountain trail, an arctic cyclone erupts. Jack goes out to look for them and a pregnant Lynn can't do anything to stop him. Everyone hunkers down at the Chieftain to wait out the storm, and they learn some surprising things about each other. Mai and Buzz argue over his first choice of a wife, the engaged Patrick and Annie see her competitive spirit at work, Celia and Dick take their relationship to a new intimacy level, and Sara tells Ben about her mysterious court summons - much to the chagrin of wife Theresa -- on the season premiere of "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Currie Graham as Dick, Scott Elrod as Cash, Timothy Webber as Jerome, TBD as Master Todd and Grayson Golka as Matty.

"A Tree Goes in Elmo" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by Bob Berlinger.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS (10/7)

"An American Family" - While Kevin, Kitty and Nora take a road trip to pick up Justin, Kitty balances personal and political issues with her future husband. Meanwhile, Tommy can't seem to get fatherhood right, and the truth finally comes out between Sarah and Rebecca, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe Whedon, Denis O'Hatre as Travis March, Emily Rose as Lena Branigan, Tom McGowan as Luther Reeves, Tom Choi as the steward, Sonia Leslie as Private 1st Class Mandeville and Phill Lewis as Dr. Peter Edwards.

"An American Family" was written by David Marshall Grant and Molly Newman and directed by Gloria Muzio.

Walker On By: Brothers & Sisters Season 2 Preview

The Brothers & Sisters ensemble (sans the actors who play Nora, Robert, Kitty and Sarah) recently walked a red carpet outside the San Antonio Winery (where the show has filmed on occasion) in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the release of the prime-time serial drama's Season 1 DVD release. TVGuide.com was on the scene to get the scoop on that as well as Season 2, which debuts on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 10 pm/ET, on ABC.

Arguably, the biggest shock twist at the end of the show's freshman year was Uncle Saul possibly being gay. (Those longing looks with guest star Michael Nouri sure implied it, didn't they?) Does Ron Rifkin (Saul) know anyone who dealt with their sexual preferences later in life? "Are you kidding?" he responds rhetorically to TVGuide.com. "All of us [know someone like Saul]." That is, if Nora's brother turns out to be gay. "I still don't know [if that's where they're going]," he says. "But the possibilities are enormous."

Matthew Rhys (Kevin), dressed in a sports coat and jeans, couldn't help but taunt his TV brother Dave Annable (Justin), who was decked out in a dark DKNY suit (which he may have gotten free or borrowed from the show's wardrobe department). "How much did you pay for that, Dave?" Rhys teasingly asked. "I hate you," Annable playfully seethed in return. Do the Walker brothers mess with each other like this a lot? "Mercilessly," Rhys gleefully revealed. "It's gotten to a bit of a boiling point. They said to us at the show today, OK, stop it now, the three of you!'"

Rhys says one of his favorite scenes from Season 1 was Rachel Griffiths (Sarah) doing a dance at a roadside bar patronized by a group of hot army men. By the way, how realistic did Rhys think it was that Kevin chatted up a Vin Diesel-type enlisted man, who went ahead and offered to hook up with Kevin right within earshot of his fellow soldiers? "Yes, well, my thought is that it was something [irresistible] that [Kevin] was exuding," deadpans Rhys, adding, "in all good TV, there's a bit of dramatic license that we take — and I took it."

With Viva Laughlin's Eric Winter taking his character Jason (Robert McCallister's gay minister brother) off the canvas, Kevin will be a single man — unless that buzz about him reconnecting with Luke McFarlane's Scotty turns out to be true. "That's possible," hints Rhys. "The door's [also] open for [Jason] to return, too. The beauty of it is when a script is forced to go one way, the drama can benefit from Eric's prolific career."

Speaking of soldiers, while Justin left for the war in Iraq in the finale, viewers can expect to see him stateside very shortly. "I come back early on in the season, which is great for me," says a relieved Annable. "I hope to be here next season."

While Brothers & Sisters is a serialized drama, don't expect it to use a cliché like bringing Tom, the late Walker patriarch (Tom Skerritt) who died in the pilot, back from the dead. But that doesn't mean the Emmy-winning actor won't be making more appearances via flashback like he did last year.

Balthazar Getty's (Tommy) character could use a dad to talk to given the traumatic loss of his own newborn son last season. Will Tommy and Julia's marriage dissolve or will their surviving daughter be the glue that keeps them together? "They end up having a turbulent time," previews Getty. "We're excited about it. There are some bumps along the road. [Julia] goes into a depression and [Tommy] ends up making mistakes."

Also up for grabs in terms of survival is Joe and Sarah's union, which struck a sour note when Sarah's half sister Rebecca and Joe shared a smooch last season during a guitar lesson. Preview clips indicate that Joe and Sarah have some great makeup sex, but will it do the trick? "Makeup sex is always the best," chuckles John Pyper-Ferguson (Joe). "[But] I don't know that redemption is in the cards for Joe. He's got a big hill to climb. Forgiveness is a big thing. Betrayal is [also] a big thing."

Ferguson says a favorite scene of his on the DVD is when Joe and Sarah finally cleared the air over the unplanned peck. "It came out of passion, anger and love," says the actor. During the hiatus, Ferguson filmed an episode of The L Word. "It was a blast working with Jennifer Beals and Marlee Matlin," he enthuses. So what's next for the actor, who this year was bumped to recurring status on the ABC drama? "I'm looking," he says.

So just who was at fault in the whole Joe-Rebecca kiss? "It was 50/50," maintains Emily VanCamp, who plays Rebecca, the love child of the late Tom and his mistress Holly. "I think it came across that way. It was just a bad mistake that two adults made."

Are there any other Walker-sibling marriages that Rebecca plans on mangling this year? "Yes, I'll actually be having an affair with Rachel Griffith's character [Sarah] this season," VanCamp jokes. "Oh, wait. I forgot. This isn't HBO." On a more serious — and cryptic — note the actress says, "I know there's a love story that's going to be happening, but I can't say what it is and I'm not even sure it will [happen]. But there's a twist that could be happening." Hmm… could said twist be that Rebecca is not actually Tom's daughter? If so, Rebecca could be paired romantically with any of her TV "brothers."

Patricia Wettig's Holly might disagree that Rebecca could turn out to be a good girl — no matter who her dad is. She certainly gave Nora a strong warning last season that Rebecca was trouble with a capital "T." Was the admonition an overreaction, or is Rebecca really more like the spawn of Caroline Reynolds (Wettig's evil political character on Prison Break)? "What's interesting is that certain things are decided at [one] time… and then things end up happening [that contradict that]," Wettig says. "We'll see if that actually comes to be. I think things are changing with [Emily's] character."

If Wettig sounds protective of the show's creative team changing course, there's a good reason. Her husband, Ken Olin, is one of the show's executive producers and their son is one of the writers. (Daughter Roxy played a short-term role on the show, too.) The Olin-Wettig professional dynamic is explored in a DVD extra — "The Family Business," which shows the real clan behind the success of Brothers & Sisters. Does the feature detail how the brood manages to work together and remain sane? "Did I say we were sane?" jokes Wettig. "Watch the DVD and judge for yourself."

Brothers & Sisters: The Complete First Season, which also includes an exclusive unaired episode, a Walker family tree, bloopers, deleted scenes, and a behind-the-scenes set tour by the Walker brothers, goes on sale Tuesday, Sept. 18.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (9/30; SEASON PREMIERE)

"Home Front" - A year after losing their larger than life family patriarch and three weeks since hearing from Justin in the Middle East, the Walker family struggle to find cheer in celebrating Kitty's birthday. Sarah fights to salvage what's left of her failing marriage; Kevin learns the hard way about the sacrifices that true love brings; Tommy is at a loss as to how to provide the emotional support needed by his overwhelmed wife, Julia, after the death of their newborn son, while Kitty gets a first hand look at the challenges of being engaged to a U.S. senator (Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister). Meanwhile, Saul questions his identity after a visit from an old friend, and the family's newest member, Rebecca, tries desperately to find her place in this very complex family puzzle, on the second Season Premiere of "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe Whedon, Eric Winter as Jason McCallister, Michael Nouri as Milo Peterman, Kimberly Atkinson as Amy, Amy Motta as Lexie, Joyce Brew as Monica, Bella Shaw as the reporter, Greta Sesheta as the store clerk, Emil Beheshti as the staffer, Mary Ann Jarou as the hostess and Dana Snyder as the office worker.

"Home Front" was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker and directed by Ken Olin.

Heroes' Masi Oka: Hayden Panettiere Is Looking Out for Me

Hayden Panettiere may be just getting over a breakup (from boyfriend Stephen Coletti), but she doesn't need any advice from her Heroes costar Masi Oka.

"[Stephen] was a good guy," Oka, 32, told PEOPLE during the Emmys celebrations over the weekend. "But I'm really in no place to give her advice because I'm looking for love myself and I haven't had much luck there. I'm single and available.

"She's the one that gives advice," the Emmy nominee adds of his 18-year-old costar. "I remember one day we went to this premiere and I didn't realize it was a press event and they were taking pictures and Hayden came up to me and said 'Masi, you have a hickey! We have to cover you up!' And I was like, 'Whoa. I didn't know that.' Hayden always takes care of all of us."

Oka, Panettiere, costar Milo Ventimiglia and the rest of the Heroes cast partied together all weekend – starting with the Emmy Nominees Reception Friday and on through Sunday night's Emmys post-parties – with Oka and Panettiere singing and dancing to Duran Duran during the ET/PEOPLE Emmy Party at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

BROTHERS & SISTERS: FAMILY ALBUM (9/23)

"Brothers & Sisters: Family Album" recaps the exposed secrets, hilarious adventures and dramatic stories that made the series a breakout hit last season. Exclusive one-on-one interviews with the star-studded cast, including Sally Field, Rob Lowe and Calista Flockhart, as well as with the series executive producers, reveal the casts' favorite moments, hilarious outtakes and sneak peeks at what's in store for America's most loved TV family in Season Two. The one-hour special airs SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Balthazar Getty as Thomas Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia Walker, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

The series is executive-produced by Ken Olin ("Alias," "thirtysomething"), Jon Robin Baitz ("The Substance of Fire," "The West Wing"), Greg Berlanti ("Dirty Sexy Money," "Everwood") and Mark B. Perry ("Party of Five," "The Wonder Years"). It's produced by ABC Studios.

Jane Krakowski Is Jenna-rous with 30 Rock Preview!

It literally is Jenna Malone like you have never seen her before when NBC's freshman hit 30 Rock returns for a new season on Oct. 4. Until then, fans of the super-funny sitcom can relive last year's best moments via the DVD set now in stores, as well as cozy up to this Q&A with Jane Krakowski, who Jenna-rously shares a peek of the fresh hilarity to come.

TVGuide.com: Are you still shooting the season-opener with Jerry Seinfeld in it?

Jane Krakowski: We were the other day, yeah, but he's done now. He was hilarious. I'm hoping maybe they’ll "supersize" the episode because they did so much good stuff with Jerry, I feel like the rest of us won't be in it! [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: He's playing himself?

Krakowski: He is, yeah, which is fun. Our show tip-toes that whole fine line between the reality of what's going on at NBC and our fictional world of "The Girlie Show," that blend I really love.

TVGuide.com: Did I hear that when the new season picks up, Jenna will have spent her summer doing "Mystic Pizza: The Musical," and as a result has gained some weight?

Krakowski: That is true, and I think it's genius! I love the idea that she has done "Mystic Pizza: The Musical." It's such a great play on her world and my world. She had to eat four slices of pizza on stage for each performance, so that’s why she gained 40 pounds.

TVGuide.com: Was "Mystic Pizza" regional theater or at least, like, off-Broadway?

Krakowski: Oh, no, it was Broadway! [Laughs] In the script it was stressed to say "Broadway," because Broadway is the street. Broadway is the theater world.

TVGuide.com: Does she turn to pilates to get back into shape?

Krakowski: It's hard to explain but she becomes quite famous for being one of those "bigger girls" on TV and being proud of her curves, and because of that she becomes happier, her self-confidence goes up and she ends up losing a lot of the weight naturally — which is detrimental to her career!

TVGuide.com: What else might we learn about Jenna this season?

Krakowski: She was once a Mouseketeer! I love that she was engaged to David Blaine and a Mouseketeer. I really don’t think I'll ever get a character better than this to play. [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: Was she a Mouseketeer at the same time as Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears?

Krakowski: She doesn’t say, but unfortunately I think I'm a bit older than they are. But I like the pedigree of being a Mouseketeer!

TVGuide.com: From where you're coming from, what is Jenna outright dumb about, and what is she smart about?

Krakowski: Oh, that’s a tough question. Um... gosh.... Part of it is Jenna thinks she's smart about all of the things, and thinks she is making the right choices....

TVGuide.com: Do you consider her morally casual?

Krakowski: [Laughs] Is she morally casual? Ohh... I don’t think she is, and then there are scenes where she slept with that extra by accident. And she uses her "sexuality"....

TVGuide.com: Right, I remember when she told Liz she would have to "use her sexuality" to solve something....

Krakowski: "Yeah, when has that ever worked?"

TVGuide.com: Hey, it got her into the White House.

Krakowski: [Laughs] That’s right!

TVGuide.com: Are we going to see as much of Alec Baldwin this season? That whole thing with what he said on The View hasn’t actually gotten him a reduced workload?

Krakowski: I don’t think so. It's full-on Alec Baldwin. As much as last year, maybe even more. He's in great spirits, being hilarious. It's a genius character. It's all good and back to normal. It's like last year but a little bit better. We have real towels instead of paper towels... moving on up!

TVGuide.com: I just got the Season 1 DVD set here at work. What extras are on it?

Krakowski: I have been told that there is a really funny reel of outtakes. Those are usually reserved for just insiders, so I'm surprised they released that. And there are interviews with all of us from throughout the year.... We filmed a lot of things that were going to be on the Internet last year that didn’t necessarily make it onto the Internet, so some of those might be on there....

TVGuide.com: I recently talked to Tina Fey about the 30 Rock's amazing laughs-per-page ratio. Does a pro such as yourself still break when shooting a scene?

Krakowski: Oh, yeah, because the scenes are so funny and written so well. That’s part of what keeps the energy going on the set.

TVGuide.com: Ever have trouble getting a line out, because it's so absurdly funny?

Krakowski: Oh, that happened just the other day and now I'm trying to remember what it was.... During "Mystic Pizza," I had to sing sincerely about anchovies and how they can change my life, and it was like an out-of-body moment where I saw myself from the outside and I was like, "Oh my god, I am really doing this." So I did lose it singing about anchovies completely and sincerely. Oh, and with Dr. Spacemen — I go to him to lose the weight....

TVGuide.com: Because weight loss is one of his 18 specialties.

Krakowski: [Laughs] Exactly! But he has such genius lines. I go, "Thank you, Dr. Spacemen," and he goes, "Oh, don’t call me 'Dr.' That’s my father. I'm Leo." He suggests I go on crystal meth because it's a very effective weight-loss program.

TVGuide.com: Any other guest stars to tease for the coming season?

Krakowski: Will Arnett is back....

TVGuide.com: With his "beard."

Krakowski: With a beard, that is absolutely correct. How do you know all this?!

TVGuide.com: It's TV Guide, baby.

Krakowski: Geez! And I know Elaine Stritch is going to be back.... We've got amazing people coming on.

TVGuide.com: But no Prince Gerhardt.

Krakowski: [Sadly] Nooo, he died. We shot it two ways, one where he slipped into a coma, but I think they chose the one where he was dead, so I don’t think he can come back. That was a fun episode to do. Paul [Reubens] could come back as someone else, he was so heavily disguised. Tina nicknamed that episode "Goodbye, America" because she really didn’t think we would make it past that one.

TVGuide.com: Have you had a chance to see Broadway's Xanadu yet?

Krakowski: I haven’t gone yet, because I was away most of the summer. But I've got to go. I hear it's great.

TVGuide.com: How hard was it for you to not star in the production, having created the role in workshop?

Krakowski: It's difficult. It's hard because you put a lot into it and a lot of your ideas get into the final production.... I'm glad people like it, but it is hard. I really love to do live theater, so it's hard not to do it. But Tina is letting me roller-dance on the show, so.... [Laughs]

Bon Jovi Hosts Supergroup At Party

Singer Jon Bon Jovi has formed a special supergroup to celebrate the Labor Day holiday, comprising Billy Joel on piano, Jimmy Buffett on guitar and Sir Paul McCartney and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters on vocals.

The impromptu performance took place a party Bon Jovi threw on Sunday night at his Long Island, New York home.

The rock legends performed Bon Jovi and Beatles tunes, along with many of Joel's own songs.

MEN IN TREES (9/20)

"The Indecent Proposal" - When Marin lets the sexy and free-spirited Cash (Scott Elrod) temporarily move into her cabin in exchange for repairing it, she must get used to his lifestyle. Meanwhile, Marin finds herself unprepared for some surprising news she hears about Jack and Lynn. And Patrick wants to officially propose to Annie by asking her father for her hand in marriage, so she takes him to New York to meet her parents and other family members, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 2/15/07)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Scott Elrod as Cash, Annie Potts as Annie's mother, Mary Alice, Nicolas Lea as Eric, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Lesley Ewen as instructor, David Beairsto as facilitator, Kevin Blatch as male nurse, Jonathan Chambers as Joe, Teri Lee as pregnant woman, Penelope Cardas as Samantha and Tanya Champoux as woman. Other guest cast TBD.

"The Indecent Proposal" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by Sanaa Hamri.

New Zone Channel in UK

Zone Romantica is to launch on the UK satellite platform next week with a raft of well known US content to appeal to a female audience.

David E Kelley creations Ally McBeal and Chicago Hope have been acquired from 20th Century Fox Television Distribution for the channel, and will feature alongside the UK premiere of Kelley's drama series Snoops.

Snoops centres around an unconventional LA detective agency, run by Glenn Hall - played by Gina Gershon (Pretty in Pink, Showgirls) - who is more than willing to bend the rules for her clients.

Iconic US soaps - Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, Guiding Light - will also air on the channel, which broadcasts from 8am to 3am daily, with teleshopping from 3am-5am.

Kathy Fairburn, head of programming and acquisitions at Zonemedia, said: "We believe Zone Romantica is a long-overdue addition to the TV landscape in the UK, offering a mix of good escapist fun and emotionally charged drama. The channel provides the perfect home for long-running series and feature films tailor-made to appeal to women, and we are confident it will garner the same following in the UK as it has throughout Europe and the rest of the world."

Owned by global media group Chellomedia’s channel operator Zonemedia, the channel will be available on Sky channel 146 from Monday September 3.

Zonemedia also operates Zone Reality, Zone Club, Zone Horror, Zone Fantasy and Extreme Sports Channel, which broadcast in over 125 countries in 24 languages.

'Iron Man' Star Makes 'Soloist' a Duet

Robert Downey Jr. will join Oscar winner Jamie Foxx in the heartwarming triumph-over-adversity drama "The Soloist."

Set up at DreamWorks, the project is being directed by Joe Wright ("Atonement") from a script by Susannah Grant ("Erin Brockovich").

"The Soloist" is based on a 12-part series of columns by Los Angeles Times scribe Steve Lopez. Foxx will play Nathaniel Ayers, a cello and violin prodigy who ended up homeless and schizophrenic on the streets of Los Angeles, but never lost his dream of playing with the L.A. Philharmonic.

Variety reports that Downey will play Lopez, whose relationship with Ayers forms the backbone of the film.

Production will begin in January.

Most recently seen in "Zodiac," Downey has "Charlie Bartlett" on tap for release later this year. The "Chaplin" Oscar nominee will make a big splash next summer playing Tony Stark in Marvel's big screen version of "Iron Man."

MEN IN TREES (9/13)

"Nice Girls Finish Frist" - When Marin can't get her construction crew to do what she wants on her run-down cabin, she meets a sexy loner named Cash (Scott Elrod), a local handyman. As Buzz learns George's (Orlando Jones) secret -- the son he hasn't seen since the boy was eight -- his attempts to be supportive fall short and threaten their family reunion. Meanwhile, Marin must decide if she should attend Lynn's (Justine Bateman) baby shower, and, in order to spend time with Sam (Ty Olsson), Jane tries to establish her New York business in Elmo, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 2/8/07)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Orlando Jones as George, Mario Cantone as Terri Romano, Scott Elrod as Cash, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Ty Olsson as Sam and Charles Zuckermann as workman.

"Nice Girls Finish Frist" was written by Anna Fricke and directed by Jeff Melman.

Hayden Panettiere Scores a 'Got Milk?' Ad

Who knew? One of Heroes star Hayden Panettiere's superpowers: lactose tolerant.

The actress, who celebrated her 18th birthday on Tuesday with a party on the beach, is the latest mustachioed face of those "Got Milk?" ads.

"You don't have to be a hero to feel invincible. That's why I drink milk," she says in the ads, part of a campaign to get teens to drink three glasses of low-fat or fat-free milk a day.

The ads, debuting Sept. 10, were shot in May by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz and show Panettiere in a sleek red dress holding an exploding glass of milk.

On Monday, the actress joked to David Letterman on his Late Show about her milestone birthday: "I don't think much changes when you're 18 – maybe the way people treat you. But I think the only things I can do is buy cigarettes, porn and, if I get in trouble with the law, I'm kind of screwed."

Anne Heche, James Tupper Move in Together

Anne Heche's Men in Trees costar James Tupper recently bought a new home in West Vancouver, where he's living with the actress – a situation he says "feels a little bit like heaven," he tells his local newspaper.

"We are just exploring our relationship and it has been going very well," Tupper, 42, says to the Vancouver Sun. "Where is it going? I don't know. Ask me again in a year."

As for their current situation together, Tupper says, "Canadians are so respectful, they really leave us alone a lot. We have experienced nothing but generosity and openness."

Before going back to work on the second season of the ABC show about a big city therapist in a small Alaskan town, Tupper and Heche, 38, spent three-and-a-half months in Los Angeles with Homer, Heche's 5-year-old son from her former marriage to Hollywood cameraman Coley Laffoon.

"He is unbelievable," Tupper says of Homer. "We had a cast baseball game on the weekend and he came off and slugged it over the short stop. He has got a preternatural swing."

It was while shooting the show that Tupper and Heche first became friends who, he says, kept very clear boundaries.

"In that friendship, we kind of discovered we saw the world in a somewhat similar way," says Tupper, who's originally from Nova Scotia. "I think we both made decisions that were based on the relationships we were in. "

Yet the friendship eventually blossomed into something more, and the couple started dating last January.

As for his costar on and off the screen, Tupper says, "I wish people could meet her in person. She has such a sparkle and such a love for people and she works so hard. She is so dedicated to all the good things."

Hayden Panettiere Jokes: Turning 18 Means Cigarettes & Porn

Hayden Panettiere plans to celebrate turning 18 with a big party – and notes that the milestone also allows her to indulge in a few previously forbidden vices.

Asked by David Letterman on his Late Show Monday what the big birthday means to her, the Heroes star answered: "I don't think much changes when you're 18 – maybe the way people treat you. But I think the only things I can do is buy cigarettes, porn and, if I get in trouble with the law, I'm kind of screwed."

After a momentary thought, she added that one additional bonus of being 18 is being able to tell her parents during a fight, "You can't talk to me like that, I'm an adult."

When Letterman expressed some disappointment in her response, saying that he was "hoping for something a little more inspirational," and asked about the ability to vote, Panettiere said she planned to register on Tuesday.

The actress is getting involved with Norman Lear's "Declare Yourself" campaign. As Panettiere explained, "It's stressing how important it is to vote and to be part of your election, so I'll be registering to vote."

As for how she plans to celebrate her natal day, she said, "We're going to have a big party. I think it will be me biggest party yet – except for when I was 2, my mom used to get the big [inflatable] Moon Bounces and we had a hell of a party."

MEN IN TREES (9/6)

"Bed, Bat & Beyond" - Marin is excited to move into her rustic mountain cabin, but discovers that her new place is not quite ready for her when she encounters some unexpected visitors. Jane unintentionally neglects Sam, aka Plow Man (Ty Olsson), to support Marin's new move, Patrick is concerned that he will not be able to give Annie the wedding of her dreams, Celia (Cynthia Stevenson) finally admits to dating her boss, Richard (Currie Graham), and Theresa has mixed feelings about Sara helping out at The Chieftain while Ben recuperates; and Lynn (Justine Bateman) senses that Jack may still have feelings for Marin, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 1/25/07)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Currie Graham as Richard, Ty Olsson as Sam, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Antony Towe as Korean man, Winnie Hung as Korean woman and Brett Delaney as salesman.

"Bed, Bat & Beyond" was written by Tim Davis and directed by Matthew Diamond.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (9/2)

"Matriarchy" - As Justin counts the days and hours until his return to active duty in the army and readies himself to go to war, he reaches out to everyone in the family individually, trying to spend time with all of them. Nora plans an engagement party for Kitty, who announces her plans to move out of the house. At the engagement party we meet more McCallister relatives and learn more about Saul's secret romantic life, as Sarah tries to come to terms with her marriage and where it's headed, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 5/20/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring is Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister.

"Matriarchy" was written by Jon Robin Baitz and Greg Berlanti and directed by Ken Olin.

Sightings

JON Bon Jovi and George Stephanopolous sharing an appetizer called "Ants Climbing a Tree" with their wives at Wei Fun in East Hampton.

Courtney Thorne-Smith turns novelist

In Courtney Thorne-Smith's debut novel, "Outside In," the characters include a vulnerable TV star, a philandering husband and a callous mom. None of them is plucked directly from her own life, the actress says firmly.

"I know people are going to think it's autobiographical," Thorne-Smith said. But the cad is not her ex-husband and the dreadful mother is "so comically not my mom. My mom would crawl over hot coals to have lunch with me."

The actress, whose career includes her breakout role in "Melrose Place" and her current gig opposite Jim Belushi in the ABC sitcom "According to Jim," says she deliberately avoided writing about herself.

"I got out of autobiography because my story is, I was famous, it was hard for me, I got into therapy. I had trouble with food, I got a nutritionist," she said, referring to her "Ally McBeal" days of obsessive thinness. "There's no story there."

Instead, she wanted to create an actress adrift and alone, someone who didn't have the kind of supportive family and friends who Thorne-Smith says got her through rough patches.

"There's so many young women today who look so lost. And I feel like, of course they're lost. They have no one around them to give them real, authentic reflection. Nowhere they can go and say, `I'm having a hard day,' where someone's not going to say, `Well, you have to work anyway because you're paying my bills.'"

Although Thorne-Smith doesn't name names, it's easy to conjure up sad images of Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears as she talks.

"You need someone to say, `I'm sorry. That's too bad.' It seems so simple but it's very isolating, especially at a young age, to be famous," Thorne-Smith told The Associated Press.

Her own life seems well-ordered. She's awaiting not only the September publication of her novel but the arrival of her first child this winter, with new husband Roger Fishman. She's also fitting in a seventh year of "According to Jim," scheduled to return at midseason.

Looking barely older than when she played Alison Parker on "Melrose Place" in the 1990s, the actress with the wide-eyed gaze and ready, throaty laugh clearly is relishing her circumstances — especially the prospect of parenthood.

She was lucky, at age 39, to meet "my guy," the man with whom she wanted to have a family. She and Fishman, 46, who's in marketing, married this year on New Year's Day.

"It's such an amazing moment for both of us, because we both sort of had to say, `I don't know if this is going to happen for me.' The fact it's happening is just astounding," she said.

When it comes to her other baby, "Outside In" (Broadway Books), there's no getting around the fact that it's based in Thorne-Smith's world even if she scrupulously avoids attaching real celebrity faces to the characters.

The tone is wryly comedic, but also touching — and it's chaste. Sex just didn't figure into her heroine's journey, Thorne-Smith said, but the sequel already under way could be different.

The star of "Outside In" is Kate, an insecure actress who's got a tenuous grip on her self-esteem, career and marriage to Hamilton, a Svengali who's also her manager. Sapphire Rose is the nemesis who's threatening Kate, both personally and professionally.

Isolated Kate has few resources to muster: At her lowest emotional point, Kate's mom tries to use her celebrity daughter as a party auction item. Kate does find solace in the friendship of makeup artist Paige, who dispenses support along with coats of lipstick.

They may be fictional, but the characters embody Hollywood misbehavior Thorne-Smith has encountered.

For example, Sapphire Rose, a narcissistic diva, is "an exaggerated composite of every frustration I've ever had on set," she said.

"I've had people acting out in what I considered spoiled behavior. I've waited on set hours and hours for a variety of people for a variety of reasons, and it makes me crazy," she said. "Unfortunately, the problem in Hollywood is (such conduct) is supported and allowed to go on."

Thorne-Smith seems to have come to grips with the downside of her business — and extracted a measure of satisfaction by targeting the guilty parties in "Outside In."

But it's Kate and Paige who are at the heart of the book, Thorne-Smith said.

"It's really a story about female friendship and how that first connection helped her to find herself," she says of Kate.

There's another message Thorne-Smith would like to convey, one stemming from her own struggle to overcome her doubts about being a writer.

She'd kept journals for years and briefly turned out articles on beauty and health for magazines including Allure and Self, but those were assignments that failed to reflect her view. She realized fiction was the right vehicle and finally pursued it with encouragement from her husband and close gal pals.

Getting published wasn't the point; investing herself in the work was, she said.

"Go after your dream for an hour a day, whatever it is, whether anybody ever sees it," she advises. "You want to write poetry, whatever it is, just do it. Give yourself that gift. It's life-changing."

Heche's Homeric Odyssey Continues

Anne Heche is looking to add more quality time to her datebook.

The actress filed a request Wednesday to modify the existing child-custody order between her and estranged hubby Coley Laffoon, which currently states that Heche must give her ex two weeks' notice when she plans to spend time with their five-year-old son, Homer.

Heche would like to quash that stipulation, due to her hectic work schedule, and instead be required to give a week's notice if she doesn't plan to see the child, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. (View the filing.)

"Occasionally I have breaks in my work schedule that would permit me to travel to Los Angeles for up to four days," Heche's declaration reads. "I request an order that when one of these breaks occurs, I may spend the time with Homer in Los Angeles on seven days advance notice to Coley. I never have more than seven days advance notice of such breaks and therefore cannot give more notice."

The Men in Trees star, who's currently shooting the ABC comedy's second season in Vancouver, also wants to switch their previously scheduled time together around so that she is taking care of him from Aug. 21-28, when Laffoon is scheduled to move out of the Hollywood home they used to share.

Heche also wants access to the house starting Aug. 31, so that she can remove whatever possessions she hasn't already hauled away.

Laffoon agreed Wednesday to move out of the Las Palmas Avenue residence, which has been sold by Sept. 2, per Heche's filing. They are scheduled to close escrow on Sept. 7.

A Los Angeles judge granted Laffoon and Heche joint legal custody of Homer, with the actress getting every other weekend with him while she's in Vancouver, but ruled that L.A., where he attends school, would continue to be Homer's primary residence.

When both parents are living in L.A., Homer will spend every other week with mom, according to the court order.

Heche was also ordered to pay $14,798 a month in child and spousal support, kick in 90 percent of the cost of Homer's private-school tuition, medical bills and extracurricular activities, and pay the $9,877 monthly mortgage for their Hollywood abode.

The almost-exes have also been ordered to express their frustrations and/or exchange information via email or telephone and quit using Homer as a mouthpiece.

MEN IN TREES (8/30)

"History Lessons" - Marin, who is suffering from writer's block and getting over Jack, volunteers to help at Elmo's fundraising rummage sale. Her publisher, Stuart (Jason O'Mara), makes an unexpected visit to help critique her book's second chapter. Meanwhile, Jack tries to pick up where he left off with former girlfriend Lynn (Justine Bateman), Sara comes back to town and is surprised to see Ben and Theresa back together, and Patrick's storybook proposal to Annie goes awry, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, AUGUST 30 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, Justine Bateman as Lynn, Jason O'Mara as Stuart, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Minnie Black as Minnie, Ralph Alderman as Lloyd, Lesley Ewen as Dr. Sachs, Karina Carreck as woman and Betty Phillips as volunteer.

"History Lessons" was written by Bruce Miller and directed by Wendey Stanzler.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (8/26)

"Mistakes Were Made," Part 2 - Sarah, Tommy and Kevin hit the road in search of William's lost treasure and discover his most shocking secret, and Justin returns from the hospital and makes a startling revelation about his enlistment. Meanwhile, Kitty forms an unorthodox alliance with a Senator, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/19/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest stars include Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Kerra Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry cotton as Cooper Whedon, Jay Huguley as White Peyton, David Burke as Jack Bishop, David Morton as Treat Williams, Keri Lynn Pratt as Amber Trachtenberg, Shawn Michael Patrick as Jordan Lisco, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Michelle Noh as Michelle, Jamie Martz as Dan, Stephen Bishop as Rick, Alex Reznik as the doctor, Michael Dempsey as Ed and Kathleen M. Darcy as the loan officer.

"Mistakes Were Made," Part 2 was written by Marc Guggenheim and Greg Berlanti and directed by Ken Olin.

Sightings

JAMES Marsden (Corny Collins in "Hairspray") needing help from actor pals Greg Bello and Josh Hopkins to keep adoring female fans at bay at the new Martini Park in Chicago

Over-energetic

JON Bon Jovi's efforts to shut down a new energy drink called Mijovi may have backfired. Publicity generated by the controversy has sales of the coffee-based beverage shooting through the roof in Red Bank, N.J. - a stone's throw from his mansion. "One store had people coming and getting their pictures taken with the drink And it's even spawned a cocktail named the 'Angry Rocker,' " our spy said. Last month, Bon Jovi had his lawyers fire off a letter to Mijovi owner Marcos Carrington demanding he change the name because it was too similar. Carrington insists he named it after his girlfriend, Jovita.

MEN IN TREES (8/23)

"The Darkest Day" - Now that Jack has admitted to Marin he's falling in love with her, she decides to bide her time and wait for his ex-girlfriend, Lynn (Justine Bateman), to leave Elmo. Meanwhile Annie thinks Patrick won't be ready for a relationship until he unties himself from his mother's apron strings, Celia gets a visit from her out-of-town boss, Sara comes back to town and is surprised to see Ben and Theresa back together, and Jane wonders if she wants to keep a long-distance relationship with Sam (Ty Olsson), aka Plow Guy, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, AUGUST 23 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 1/11/07)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Currie Graham as Richard, Ty Olsson as Sam, Timothy Webber as Jerome and Todd Allen as nervous guy.

"The Darkest Day" was written by Cara DiPaolo and directed by Rick Wallace.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (8/19)

"Game Night" - The Walkers challenge their all-too-perfect lifelong nemesis family, the Jones (guest starring Susan Sullivan as Miranda Jones and Jenna Elfman as Lizzie Jones-Baker), to a long overdue game night rematch and cautiously begin to embrace Rebecca as their sister. Meanwhile, Kitty soon regrets introducing Kevin to the Senator's brother (guest starring Eric Winter as Jason McCallister), on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 4/15/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Eric Winter as Jason McCallister, Paul Cassell as Gary Morris, Perry King as Curtis Jones, Susan Sullivan as Miranda Jones, Jenna Elfman as Lizzie Jones-Baker, Elina Madison as Stephanie Jones-Reed, Kim Murphy Zandell as Donna Jones, Duffy Dibley as Doug Jones, Clint Carmichael as Ken Baker, Bryan Krasner as Roger Jones, James Ritz as Wallace, Jack Ritter as Ken Junior and Darcy Rose Byrnes as Gwyneth.

The story for "Game Night" is by Peter Calloway and Cliff Olin and the script written by Molly Newman. The episode was directed by Matt Shakman.

MEN IN TREES (8/16)

"New York Fiction," Part 2 -- The series of emotional events that will decide Marin and Jack's future continues: While anxiously awaiting Marin's return to Elmo, Jack is caught off guard when someone from his not so distant past, his ex-girlfriend, Lynn (Justine Bateman), comes to town with a secret. Meanwhile, Annie is still upset with Patrick that he neglected her at Thanksgiving dinner, Jane and Sam -- aka Plow Guy (Ty Olsson) -- spend romantic time in New York, Theresa and Ben wonder what's next for them, and Buzz faces a medical crisis, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, AUGUST 16 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 12/7/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, Ty Olsson as Sam, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Jonathan Walker as Doctor Bowen, Iris Quinn as Marjorie and Dwight Koss as Jimmy.

"New York Fiction, Part 2" was written by Jenny Bicks & Anna Fricke and directed by Jeff Melman.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (8/12)

"All in the Family" - In an effort to restore life to normalcy, Nora invites her deceased husband's illegitimate daughter to a family dinner and has a romantic encounter with her college professor (guest starring Peter Coyote as Mark August). Meanwhile, Senator McCallister makes a surprising introduction, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 4/1/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Cooper Whedon as Maxwell Perry Cotton, David Paymer as Donald Dudley, Peter Coyote as Mark August, Diva Zappa and David Carmon as Nora's classmates, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Justine Dorsey as Sofia McCallister, Max Burkholder as Jack McCallister and Kate Connor as the waitress.

"All in the Family" was written by Sherri Cooper-Landsman and David Marshall Grant and directed by David Paymer.

Summer Lovin': Anne Heche Focuses on Son Homer

As a bitter and very public divorce from estranged husband Coley Laffoon rages on, Anne Heche says she's trying to see that the couple's 5-year-old son, Homer, has "the best summer of his life."

"[I hope] that we can stay focused on the love and blessings of my life," Heche, 38, told PEOPLE at the ABC Television Critics Association party in Beverly Hills Thursday night. "Summer has been about providing [Homer] with that."

The Men in Trees star said that the pair engaged in typical summer activities – sports and reading.

"I hope that I learn from the things that I go through and hopefully I can be a loving parent – certainly for Homer, who's had the best summer of his life," Heche said.

Heche's personal life over the past several months – which brought about a romance with Trees costar James Tupper – has been tumultuous. In February, Laffoon, 33, filed for divorce.

Now that Trees has resumed production in Vancouver, Heche says it's a relief to be away from the attention of her marital breakup and spend this quality time with Homer.

"I'm so glad to be back at work," she said. "These beautiful cast members that I'm running around with are like playmates and I have [Homer] riding around on his bike on the set, playing hide-and-seek in everybody's trailers."

Jenny Bicks, the show's creator, indicated season two will focus on Heche's character's love life.

"I'm into it!" Heche said of Bicks's transforming her "into a sex symbol."

MEN IN TREES (8/9)

"New York Fiction - Part 1" - In the first of a two-part story arc, emotions between Marin and Jack escalate when Marin goes home to New York during Thanksgiving week, where Jane has arranged for her to meet with various editors about publishing her new book. She is thrilled to be back in familiar surroundings but misses her life back in Elmo, particularly Jack. He is ready to make his move with her, but an unexpected twist throws a wrench in his plans, ending in a cliffhanger. Meanwhile Patrick must choose between spending Thanksgiving with Annie in New York or with his new family, and Ben hopes Theresa will help in the preparation of their annual "Orphan Thanksgiving" for Elmoians, on "MEN IN TREES", THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/30/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Lauren Tom as Mai, Ever Carradine as Liza, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Jason O'Mara as Stuart, Ty Olsson as Sam, Geoff Gustafson as Quentin, Karin Konoval a Ms. Frankel, Michael Antonakos as Hispanic man, Erin Karpluk as Amanda and Anwar Hasan as New York guy.

"New York Fiction - Part 1" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by Arvin Brown.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (8/5)

"The Other Walker" - News of William Walker and Holly Harper's illegitimate daughter, Rebecca, shakes the Walker family to the core, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 3/4/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Parry Shen as Dan Silk and Emilio Rivera as the sponsor.

"The Other Walker" was written by Alison Schapker and Monica Owusu-Breen and directed by Gloria Muzio.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (7/29)

"Valentine's Day Massacre" -- On Valentine's Day, Kitty and Senator McCallister (special guest star Rob Lowe) find it difficult to resist one another. Meanwhile, Kevin has more companionship than he bargained for and Nora has dinner with a wayward friend (guest starring Margot Kidder as Emily) and finds herself in a bit of trouble, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 2/11/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, Margot Kidder as Emily Craft, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Roxy Olin as Michelle, DW Moffett as Michael Pellington, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Sky Soleil as the policeman and Judy Shekoni as the hostess.

"Valentine's Day Massacre" was written by Cliff Olin & Peter Calloway and directed by Michael Schultz.

UGLY BETTY (8/9)

"Icing on the Cake" - Betty impulsively asks her orthodontist, Dr. Farkas, to be her date when Henry insists she come to Charlie's birthday party. Meanwhile, Wilhelmina tries to drive a wedge between Daniel and Alexis when Daniel hides the fact that he's the one who hired Grace Chin to defend their dad -- whom Alexis wants to fry -- and Amanda catches the eye of a very unusual designer who declares she's his "muse," on "Ugly Betty," THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 3/15/07)

Lucy Liu returns as "The Chin," and Jesse Tyler Ferguson ("The Class") guest stars as Dr. Farkas. Christopher Gorham and Jayma Mays reprise their roles as Henry and Charlie.

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Lucy Liu as Grace Chin, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Dr. Farkas, Christopher Gorham as Henry and Jayma Mays as Charlie.

"Icing on the Cake" was written by Dailyn Rodriguez and directed by Jeff Melman.

"Boston" lands Kelley back in Emmy court

The long Emmy drought for David E. Kelley came to an abrupt end bright and early Thursday morning, but not as early as it should. See, he forgot that the nominations were happening -- seriously -- and nobody thought to call to awaken him with the news that "Boston Legal," the ABC hour that he created and executive produces, had landed its first nomination for outstanding drama series in something of an upset.

"I found out when I got into the office just after 8," Kelley says. "And I mean, I was really thrilled. Surprised? Oh, absolutely. The fact I'd forgotten the nominations even were happening tells you how far the Emmys have fallen off of my radar."

It also tells you how distanced Kelley has grown from an awards process he once fairly dominated. That the nom Thursday for "Boston" was his first in six years is more than a bit astounding. Consider that in the six years beginning 1995, the esteemed producer had hauled in 11 nominations, winning three, including (famously) the statuettes for both top drama and comedy in the same year, for "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal" in 1999.

Kelley boasts 26 noms over the past 19 years (before 2007) along with 10 wins. In an illustrious career, Kelley has been honored for "L.A. Law," "Picket Fences" and "Chicago Hope" in addition to "Ally" and "Practice." A win with "Boston" on September 16 -- admittedly a long shot -- would allow him to surpass the Emmy victory total of his esteemed mentor Steven Bochco, who also has 10. Seven of Kelley's triumphs came for either top drama or comedy series.

But when Kelley repeats that old saw "It's an honor just to be nominated," you tend to believe him. It's been so long since he felt the TV academy's loving embrace that he's happy just to be invited back to a party that had removed him from its A-list. Not that his feelings were hurt.

"I'll definitely show up," Kelley promises. "I have to say, what's especially sweet about this one isn't just the fact I've kind of had a dry spell personally. It's that this show had a kind of very quiet beginning and for the most part existed without a lot of fanfare. We just kind of chugged along. Making it into Year 4 is nice enough. To get this Emmy nomination is truly gratifying."

Not that "Boston" has gone completely unrecognized. It now has a total of 15 noms to show for its three seasons, including seven in 2006 and six this year, as well as four wins (including Emmy triumphs for lead actor James Spader and supporting actor William Shatner).

But uncharacteristically for a Kelley series, it had been passed over for inclusion in drama series during its first two seasons, at least in part because it couldn't be decided just what the series was: drama, comedy or a confounding hybrid. "Boston" even was submitted for comedy consideration at the SAG Awards in 2006, earning four nominations but no wins.

"We've had to address the question of what we are annually," Kelley says, "and we finally concluded we were slightly more dramatic than comedic. But that doesn't necessarily instill confidence in your getting Emmy attention."

Nonetheless, here it is, giving Kelley the unlikely designation of the Comeback Kid.

He adds: "I'll tell you what's best about this: Back in the days of 'L.A. Law,' it was hard to find five shows worthy even of being nominated. Now, there are so many quality dramas that a lot of great ones get left off the list. I have to say, it makes this one pretty great."

Bon Jovi objects to name of energy drink

Jon Bon Jovi wants the owner of the Mijovi energy drink to change its name, arguing it is too similar to his famous moniker.

But Marcos Carrington says his coffee-based energy drink is named after his girlfriend, whose name is Jovita, not the 45-year-old rocker.

In a Jan. 22 letter, Los Angeles lawyer Peter Laird, representing Bon Jovi, objected to the word "Mijovi" as well as other words "itsmijovi" and "itsmilife" that appear in the company's marketing materials and on the can. Rather than use Carrington's spelling, the letter used the phrases, "It's My Jovi" and "It's My Life."

"As you should be aware, one of Bon Jovi's most popular songs is entitled `It's My Life,'" the letter states. "We hereby demand that you immediately cease and desist all further use of the name `Mijovi' and `It's My Life.'"

Carrington said the words "itsmijovi" and "itsmilife" are meant to mean "it's my jovial life." The full phrase on the can is "itsmienergy.itsmijovi.itsmilife."

"It is just unfair," Carrington, 37, told the Asbury Park Press for Thursday's newspapers. "It is unfair because Mijovi has nothing to do with Bon Jovi."

A spokeswoman for Bon Jovi declined comment when contacted by the newspaper.

Carrington said he started Mijovi in August 2004 as a way to raise funds for an environmental consulting business.

He said there were no coffee-based energy drinks even though coffee is one of the best-selling beverages in the U.S. Working with a flavor company, he developed Mijovi, a coffee drink that contains taurine, B-vitamins and caffeine.

Carrington says he's willing to stop using "itsmilife" on cans once an inventory of 3,000 cans is used up. But he says he's keeping the faith — and the name Mijovi.

Anne Heche Gets Stuff Out of the House

That yellow armchair is going to look great in Vancouver.

A Los Angeles judge ruled Tuesday that Anne Heche can, for now, hang onto the furniture, statues and artwork she has removed from the Hancock Park home she used to share with estranged hubby Coley Laffoon.

The freelance videographer, however, gets "temporary exclusive use and occupancy of the residence" where he has been living with their five-year-old son, Homer, until the home is either sold or until further notice from the court, according to court documents signed by L.A. County Superior Court Judge Frederick Shaller.

Another hearing on the matter is set for Aug. 15, until which Heche can't take anything else from her once-shared digs. Also included in yesterday's filing was a notation that Heche's request for a temporary domestic violence restraining order has been withdrawn.

Earlier this month, Laffoon petitioned the court to make Heche return a number of items she took from their house on Las Palmas Avenue, as well as enjoin her from moving anything else, seeing as he was already bereft of the master bed, his desk, the yoga room rugs and various other things.

Laffoon also said that, when he was packing for a trip, he discovered that several pairs of pants were missing from his closet and that the buttons had been yanked from 19 of his shirts.

Heche countered immediately (didn't mention the buttons, however), saying that everything she had taken from the residence was there before she swapped vows with Laffoon in September 2001.

Documents filed Friday included a declaration from photographer Art Streiber, who snapped pictures of the house July 30 and July 31, 2001, for an InStyle spread.

Streiber stated that everything Heche listed as belonging to her before she married Laffoon—the Balinese statues, the antique desk and chair, the pink bedding, the library table, the buffet table, etc.—were all there six years ago.

Heche stated in papers filed July 6 that she had repeatedly asked Laffoon for an inventory of the community property he wanted to keep, but that he kept putting her off.

So, she took what she felt belonged to her anyway to furnish her house in Vancouver, where she's currently filming the second season of the ABC sitcom Men in Trees.

"Even without my furniture, the Las Palmas residence is fully furnished," Heche stated in documents filed yesterday.

Laffoon filed for divorce in February and the pair have been at it practically ever since. The mightily divided duo are currently sharing custody of Homer, with Heche getting every other weekend with him while she's in Canada and then every other week while she's in Los Angeles, which the court has determined to be the boy's primary residence.

Hayden Panettiere to Sing with Greg Grunberg's Band

Heroes cheerleader Hayden Panettiere – who is also a budding singer – will make a guest appearance with fellow cast member Greg Grunberg's all-star Band From TV this weekend, she confirms to PEOPLE.

"I sang with them at the wrap party for our show," Panettiere, 17, told PEOPLE Tuesday at a party in L.A. celebrating NBC's fall season. "I saw them and said, 'Anytime you guys want me to perform with you I'm totally up for it.' "

Panettiere, who has an album on the way and recently made headlines with her rendition of the National Anthem at the July 4 fireworks ceremony in Washington, D.C., will take the stage with Grunberg and his fellow actor/musicians on Saturday in Orange County, Calif. at Cal State Fullerton, after the Orange County Flyers baseball game.

The celeb-heavy Band From TV is a rock 'n' roll cover band featuring Grunberg on drums, Desperate Housewives' James Denton on guitar, House's Hugh Laurie on piano and both Bachelor star Bob Guiney and Kitchen Confidential actress Bonnie Somerville on vocals. (All the proceeds from the band's concerts and upcoming CD and DVD projects go to charity.)

Panettiere says she'll jump at any chance to practice singing onstage. "I have terrible stage fright and [with an album coming out] I'll need to go on tour at some point – so I need to practice."

How serious is Panettiere's stage fright? "The Fourth of July performance in Washington, D.C., was so nerve-wracking that I'm surprised I even made it on stage," she tells PEOPLE.

But Grunberg later laughed off Panettiere's claims. "Give me a break," he said. "She just played in front of like 500,000 people!"

This weekend's audience is expected to be closer to 5,000, according to Grunberg.

"That's like the biggest audience we've played. It's really exciting," he says. "We're going to do a whole set, and then [Hayden] is going to do two amazing songs."

So what exactly will Panettiere sing? "I'm singing Meredith Brooks's 'Bitch,' and then I'm singing Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic,'” she says. "It'll be fun!”

(Tickets to the event are $20 and are still available at orangecountyflyers.com.)

MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION (8/4; PREMIERE)

Four thought-provoking tales of present and future Earth are brought to life in the all-new anthology series, featuring a stellar lineup of actors and directors, and narrated by acclaimed physicist Professor Stephen Hawking. "Masters of Science Fiction," from Starz Media in association with Industry Entertainment and its Vancouver partner, Reunion Pictures, is based on some of the genre's most popular and highly regarded short stories.

Academy Award(r) nominee and Emmy(r) nominee Sam Waterston, two-time Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner Judy Davis, Anne Heche (ABC's "MEN IN TREES"), internationally renowned star Malcolm McDowell, Terry O'Quinn (ABC's "Lost"), Elizabeth Rohm ("Law & Order"), two-time Tony Award winner and Emmy winner Brian Dennehy, two-time Academy Award nominee John Hurt and James Denton (ABC's "Desperate Housewives") star the four installments of the series.

In the premiere episode, "A Clean Escape," set somewhere in the not-so-distant future, psychiatrist Dr. Deanna Evans (Judy Davis) doggedly interrogates a distinguished man (Sam Waterston) who appears to be suffering from a lapse in memory. Why can't he remember - and why is it so important that she uncover the secret he holds deep inside? The episode airs SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Starring are Judy Davis as Deanna, Sam Waterston as Havelman, Allison Hossack as Kelley, Malaya Cooks as the technician, Peter Bryant as Dr. Gavin, Tom Butler as Geslow, McKye Kelly as Claire, Burkely Duffield as Will, Peter Hall as Nick and Robert Moloney as Pierce.

"A Clean Escape" is based on Nebula Award-winning author John Kessel's short story. Award-winning director Mark Rydell ("On Golden Pond," "The River," "The Rose") directed from a script by Sam Egan ("The Outer Limits").

"Masters of Science Fiction" is filmed on location in Vancouver, B.C., and is from Starz Media, in association with Industry Entertainment and Reunion Pictures. John Hyde is executive producers for Starz Media. Industry Entertainment's Keith Addis, Brad Mendelsohn and Andrew Deane are executive producers. Sam Egan and Lisa Richardson are co-executive producers. Industry's Ben Browning and Adam Goldworm are co-producers.

MEN IN TREES (8/2)

"The Menaissance" - Unbeknownst to Marin, Jane leaked an excerpt from Marin's new book on men to The New Yorker magazine. Now Marin is forced to defend her career to Jack, the unwilling subject of her work. Meanwhile singer-songwriter Jewel stops into the Chieftain when her car breaks down, and runs into Theresa, who turns out to be her former bandmate, and Patrick's mom, Celia and his new step-mother, Mai, go head to head in an alpha showdown for the role of "top mom," on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/10/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Jewel as herself, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Lauren Tom as Mai, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Debbie Podowski as Cheryl, Lori Triolo as Merril, Ty Olsson as Sam and Adrian McMorran as Carl.

"The Menaissance" was written by Padma L. Atluri and directed by Rick Wallace.

UGLY BETTY (8/2)

"Derailed" - Family matters force Daniel to reconnect with Grace Chin (guest star Lucy Liu in the first of a two-episode arc), a girl he once stood up for a date in college. She's now known as "The Chin," NYC's most powerful lawyer. Meanwhile, Betty makes a new friend, Charlie (guest star Jayma Mays), a likable out-of-towner she meets in the Mode cafeteria, only to find out Charlie is Henry's girlfriend. And a blizzard descends on the city and derails plans, as Christina, trapped in the office with Marc, struggles to put together a gown for Sarah Jessica Parker; Wilhelmina and Alexis get stranded in a sports bar; and Hilda, Santos and Justin get stuck on the subway on the way to see Justin's favorite musical, "Hairspray," on "Ugly Betty," THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Jerry O'Connell guest stars as Joel. Also, the winning entry in the "Ugly Betty" "Design a Dress" contest will be seen in tonight's episode. (Rebroadcast. OAD 2/15/07)

"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Lucy Liu as Grace Chin, Jerry O'Connell as Joel, Judith Light as Claire Meade, Christopher Gorham as Henry, Jayma Mays as Charlie, Kevin Alejandro as Santos and Bailey Chase as Beckett "Becks" Scott.

"Derailed" was written by Cameron Litvack and directed by James Hayman.

Courtney Thorne-Smith Expecting a Baby

According to Jim actress Courtney Thorne-Smith is expecting a baby, her spokesperson confirms to PEOPLE.

The child, who is due this winter, will be the first for the actress and her husband, Roger Fishman, who owns a media company.

The couple will also have something else to celebrate during the winter: The first anniversary of their marriage is on Jan. 1, 2008.

But wait, there's more. This September Smith, 39, whose credits include Melrose Place and Ally McBeal, will publish her first book, a novel titled Outside In.

Anne Heche, Coley Laffoon Battle Over Furniture

A footstool, rugs and a king-size bed have taken center stage in the divorce battle between Anne Heche and her estranged husband Coley Laffoon.

In documents filed in L.A. Superior Court, Laffoon accuses Heche of taking a number of items – including the master bed and yoga-room rugs – from the L.A. home they share. (Under the terms of a judge's temporary order, they alternate use of the house while Heche is in Los Angeles.)

He's now asking that the court order the actress to return the property and prohibit her from removing any more items.

Laffoon also alleges that when he returned to the home July 1 and found the furniture missing, he also "discovered that [Heche] had gone into my closet and ripped the buttons off of 19 of my shirts and removed some of my pants."

Heche denies Laffoon's claims, and says that all the items she took – her list includes four pillows from Bali, pink bedding and a "picture of saint" – were hers before their marriage.

"All of the furniture, furnishings, artwork, etc. that was acquired during marriage and paid for with funds earned during the marriage remains" at the residence, she says in court documents. Heche adds that the items she removed were intended for her unfurnished residence in Vancouver, where Men in Trees begins shooting later this month.

The furniture fracas comes weeks after a judge ruled the former couple's 5-year-old son Homer will live with his father in Los Angeles while Heche films in Canada, and have alternate weekend visits with Heche while she shoots the ABC show.

Laffoon, 33, a former videographer who married Heche in 2001, filed for divorce in February, triggering a war of words and custody dispute. He has questioned Heche's parenting skills and sanity, and accused the actress of resorting to lies to win custody of – and destroy his relationship with – their son.

Heche, who is dating her Trees costar James Tupper, has defended her parenting and accused Laffoon of making outrageous financial demands.

Sightings

CALISTA Flockhart on the uptown No. 4 train with her adorable son and a blond man en route to Yankee Stadium.

MEN IN TREES (7/26)

"The Buddy System" - Marin's efforts at coaching Patrick and Buzz on how they can build their relationship has mixed results -- now that Celia has told them that they're related. Marin and Annie need a "maintenance day" and go in search of a beauty salon; and while Sara prepares for her EMS exam, she struggles with what her future may hold. Meanwhile, Elmo is experiencing earthquake tremors that trigger an avalanche, putting Marin and Jack on the mountain in search of trapped friends, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, JULY 26 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/27/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Lauren Tom as Mai, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Mario Cantone as Terri, Wendy Noel as administrator and Adrian McMorran as Carl.

"The Buddy System" was written by Chris Dingess and directed by Matt Shakman.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (7/22)

"Sexual Politics" -- Kevin falls for a soap opera actor (guest starring Jason Lewis as Chad Berry) who is confused about his own sexuality. Meanwhile, Kitty and Nora dearly regret being sucked in by the sales pitch of an executive matchmaker, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JULY 22 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 1/14/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Caroline Aaron as Elise, Mark Harari as the instructor, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Rachel Montez Collins as L.A. babe, Paul Cassell as Gary Morris, Ryan Michelle Bathe as Noreen, Sophia Rachel Garcia as Nicole, Susan Santiago as Vanessa, Sulekah Naidu as the hostess, Jim Anzie as the waiter, Robert Michael Morris as Lawrence Magill, Christian Keyes as the bouncer, Chris Flanders as the reporter and Roxy Olin as Michelle.

"Sexual Politics" was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker and directed by Sandy Smolan.

MEN IN TREES (7/19)

"Ladies Frist" -- The town of Elmo throws Marin a huge birthday celebration, but the unexpected arrival of her fun-loving younger sister, Liza (Ever Caradine), conjures up some unexpected insecurities for Marin. Now that Ben has asked Theresa to move out, tensions rise between Theresa and Sara, whom Ben is now dating. Meanwhile, Buzz finds Patrick's father's plane that had disappeared 26 years ago - opening up Patrick's hope that the father he has never known could have survived and be alive somewhere -- on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, JULY 19 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/20/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Ever Carradine as Liza, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Adrian McMorran as Carl, Colby Johannson as Gary and Matt Anderson as younger guy.

"Ladies Frist" was written by Cindy Chupack and directed by Tamra Davis.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (7/15)

"Family Day" - The Walker family airs its dirty laundry in Justin's rehab group therapy session, and Kitty considers a tantalizing proposition from Senator McCallister, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JULY 15 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 1/7/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Tyler Posey as Gabriel Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Sasha Craig as Maya, Romy Rosemont as the counselor, Jeanette Brox as Claire Feller and Irene White as the staff member.

"Family Day" was written by Molly Newman and David Marshall Grant and directed by David Petrarca.

ABC renews Belushi's 'According to Jim'

After mulling the fate of "According to Jim," ABC decided to bring the James Belushi sitcom back next year. The network said Wednesday it has ordered 18 episodes to air in midseason.

ABC presented its 2007-08 schedule in May to advertisers but didn't say whether "According to Jim" would be renewed. The comedy, which also stars Courtney Thorne-Smith, averaged about 6.6 million viewers last season airing in different time slots.

The series, which debuted in 2001, drew about 10 million weekly viewers in its first season.

While "According to Jim" fits the mold of a traditional family comedy, Walt Disney Co.-owned ABC will be trying out a few offbeat sitcom approaches next season — most notably one derived from the Geico "Cavemen" commercials.

Bon Jovi scores first No. 1 album since 1988

Bon Jovi topped the U.S. album charts for the first time since 1988 on Wednesday, while rock duo the White Stripes scored a personal best with a No. 2 debut for their latest release.

Bon Jovi's "Lost Highway" sold 292,000 copies in the week ended June 24, the rock troupe's biggest one-week sum since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales data in 1991. The Island/Mercury Nashville set is Bon Jovi's third No. 1 album, joining 1988's "New Jersey" and 1987's "Slippery When Wet."

Sales were fueled in part by the group's new country fanbase, wrangled in with the Grammy-winning 2006 hit "Who Says You Can't Go Home" featuring Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles.

The White Stripes' "Icky Thump" sold 223,000 copies. Jack and Meg White have enjoyed increasing success with each new album: 2005's "Get Behind Me Satan," started at No. 3 with 189,000, 2003's "Elephant" peaked at No. 6, and 2002's "White Blood Cells" topped out at No. 61. "Icky Thump" also opened at No. 1 in Britain, their second chart-topper after "Elephant."

Brad Paisley's fifth studio album, "5th Gear," bowed at No. 3 with 197,000 units, the country singer's best sales week ever. Last week's champ, Toby Keith's "Big Dog Daddy" slid to No. 4 with 73,000, suffering a 64% sales hit.

Paul McCartney's "Memory Almost Full" fell two to No. 5 in its third week with 64,000, while Linkin Park's former chart-topper "Minutes to Midnight" sat tight at No. 6 with 63,000.

Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" rose three places to No. 7 with 62,000, Maroon 5's "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" dropped four to No. 8 also with 62,000, and Fabolous' "From Nothin' to Somthin"' tumbled seven to No. 9 with 59,000 in its second week. T-Pain's "Epiphany" fell five to No. 10 with 56,000.

Powered by the hit single "Party Like a Rockstar," rap combo Shop Boyz' debut album "Rockstar Mentality" opened at No. 11 with 52,000. Other big debuts included Lifehouse's fourth album "Who We Are" at No. 14 with 49,000, rapper Huey's "Notebook Paper" at No. 26 with 29,000, Chrisette Michele's "I Am" at No. 29 with 26,000, and Mandy Moore's "Wild Hope" at No. 30 with 25,000.

Album sales were down 7.1% from last week's total at 8.9 million units and down 5.2% compared to the same week last year. Overall album sales for the year are down 15% compared to last year at 221 million units.

De Rossi playing lesbian on "Nip/Tuck"

Portia de Rossi will play a lesbian in the upcoming fifth season of FX's "Nip/Tuck," a role that should not prove too much of a stretch.

The Australian actress, the real-life partner of Ellen DeGeneres, will recur as a manipulative mother whose teen daughter wants to have plastic surgery.

De Rossi, who rose to fame as man-eating lawyer Nell Porter on "Ally McBeal," most recently starred in "Arrested Development."

MEN IN TREES (7/12)

"Talk for Tat" - The town of Elmo experiences a record heatwave and Marin realizes the energy bars she's been feeding the raccoon living in her closet are making him sick. She turns to Jack for help and finds herself attracted to him, but doesn't know if she - or even Jack - is ready for a relationship. Across town passions stir between Patrick and Annie, and much to Theresa's surprise, between Ben and Sara, as things heat up, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, JULY 12 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 2/14/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Timothy Webber as Jerome, Adrian McMorran as Carl and Daryl Shuttleworth as Doug.

"Talk for Tat" was written by Cara DiPaolo and directed by Joanna Kerns.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (7/8)

"Mistakes Were Made," Part 2 - Sarah, Tommy and Kevin hit the road in search of William's lost treasure and discover his most shocking secret, and Justin returns from the hospital and makes a startling revelation about his enlistment. Meanwhile, Kitty forms an unorthodox alliance with a Senator, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JULY 8 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/19/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest stars include Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Kerra Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry cotton as Cooper Whedon, Jay Huguley as White Peyton, David Burke as Jack Bishop, David Morton as Treat Williams, Keri Lynn Pratt as Amber Trachtenberg, Shawn Michael Patrick as Jordan Lisco, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Michelle Noh as Michelle, Jamie Martz as Dan, Stephen Bishop as Rick, Alex Reznik as the doctor, Michael Dempsey as Ed and Kathleen M. Darcy as the loan officer.

"Mistakes Were Made," Part 2 was written by Marc Guggenheim and Greg Berlanti and directed by Ken Olin.

Sightings

A grumpy-looking Harrison Ford celebrating Father's Day with his dad and son at Da Silvano, while flame Calista Flockhart and her son, Liam, were apparently several states away visiting with her father.

MEN IN TREES (7/5)

"Power Shift" -- While Marin adapts to her new small town environment -- which includes being a relationship adviser on Patrick's radio show and being followed by a stray raccoon -- she gets surprising advice from the men in Elmo as to what she should do to get over her fiancé. Meanwhile, Jane helps Marin cancel her wedding in New York; Sara takes Marin to a sweat lodge to sort out her problems; Annie settles into town by getting a job working for Jack; and Marin accidentally blows out the town's power using her hairdryer, which inadvertently opens the door to new romance with a handsome stranger -- who is no stranger to Elmo -- on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, JULY 5 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 9/15/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Ed Kerr as Ian Slattery, Tobias Slezak as Graham, Colby Johannson as Gary, Dave Lantaigne as fisherman, Shawn MacDonald as cake store helper, John Boncore as medicine man aka George, Alex Kliner as Cappy and Adrian McMorran as man no. 1.

"Power Shift" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by Allison Anders.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (7/1)

"Mistakes Were Made," Part 1 - Justin is shaken to the core and his resolve to stay clean is weakened by a disturbing letter that could dramatically alter his future, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JULY 1 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/12/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest stars include Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Tyler Posey as Gabriel Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Annie McKnight as the mail woman, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Treat Williams as David Morton, Alejandra Flores as Rosa, Suzanne Whang as Carly, Diego Villarreal Garcia as Shawn, Shawn Michael Patrick as Jordan Lisco, Laura Jordan as Fawn.

"Mistakes Were Made," Part 1 was written by Jon Robin Baitz and Craig Wright and directed by Michael Lange.

Bon Jovi channels turmoil in new CD

They still look like the Bon Jovi of old — with their leather jackets and jeans. And they still act like the boys from New Jersey, proud of their musical brotherhood that spawned numerous hit albums and No. 1 singles.

But still, there is something different, something unexpected from one of the biggest rock bands of the past few decades. At first listen, it's their sound. It's well ... different. And perhaps even more surprising, it's intentional, they say.

Fresh off their crossover success with a country remake of "Who Says You Can't Go Home" with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, which earned them the sole Grammy of their 25-year career, Bon Jovi is releasing the country-influenced album "Lost Highway" on Tuesday on Island Records. And nobody in the band seems sure what the reception will be — from their fans to the country music industry.

"Who knows? This record might be over in three weeks. Or it might have 10 singles on it," Jon Bon Jovi said during a recent interview.

"I just found myself listening to this kind of music, and finding that they were telling stories. That's something we've been doing our whole career," he said. "So it was very much a fit for us."

But while the albums of Bon Jovi's career have tended in the past decade to be more socially or politically influenced ("Bounce" was inspired by 9/11, "Have a Nice Day" followed the presidential election), this album appears to be personal, filled with stories inspired by the band members' lives, loves and losses. And for a group that has made every effort to avoid tabloid headlines and VH1-style "Behind the Music" stories, the band has had more than enough of those moments to go around in the past few years.

It was the inspiration behind the album, which despite its lukewarm reception from critics has already received a fair amount of airplay for its first single "(You Want to) Make a Memory."

"Richie (Sambora) and David (Bryan) suffered a lot in the last year, a lot of pain. In what had been a very peaceful decade and a half, suddenly there was a lot of pain in the organization," Bon Jovi said. "I think it was cathartic for Richie to express with me or through me the hell he has been dealing with: losing his dad, losing the wife. And David, it's the same thing. So it was an easy record to write."

Bryan, who broke up with his wife recently, said Bon Jovi is always looking for musical subject matter. "There's some personal turmoils that showed up on this record. It's a cleansing process, I think."

In what Sambora told the AP was one of his first sit-down interviews in two years, following the breakup with his wife, Heather Locklear, and his romance with her friend Denise Richards (the two have since split), he said the songs reflect the heartache.

"It's interesting, the changes I've gone through in my life. I think I've brought a lot of the dramatics here within the lyric in a bunch of different places — just from the stuff that's been going on with me. I think even the songs I didn't write with Jon, I think he used me as his muse."

Sambora said the band closed ranks around him during the recent death of his father, who died of lung cancer, to help him get through it.

"They were unbelievable. We're a tight group. Everybody goes through their own stuff, and everybody supports each other while they go through it no matter what it is."

During the interview, he was joined by drummer Tico Torres.

"It's all part of a relationship. You get through it, together," he said, looking over at Sambora. (A short time after the interview, Sambora entered a Los Angeles-area rehabilitation center for an undisclosed condition. The band has said he will be joining them this month for a scheduled performance.)

It's perhaps this relationship among band mates that is laid open in the song "A Whole Lot of Leaving," a song that clearly invites the country music influence onto the album.

Bon Jovi said he knows the success of the country remake of "Who Says You Can't Go Home" laid a welcome mat of sorts for them in Nashville, Tenn. But he added: "I'm not a carpetbagger."

He quickly pointed out that he and Sambora have been making trips to Nashville for years to meet with artists, producers or to find inspiration for their musical storytelling.

And he dismissed the "Bon Jovi goes country" label.

"Listen to it. I don't think it's that different than a Bon Jovi record. It's not a Bon Jovi does country record," he said. "I think I was at fault for trying to explain myself, for misrepresenting us, for saying we're going to Nashville to make a country record."

Country music, he said, is the music of Alan Jackson and Vince Gill. He said "Lost Highway" is much more in tune with country-to-rock crossover artists such as Sugarland and Big & Rich, who also make an appearance on the album's rocking "We Got It Going On" number.

As the band readies to release its new album, the irony of a rock band winning its only Grammy in a country music category for a remake is not lost on Bon Jovi.

"We were a nine-time Grammy loser. Nine times," Sambora said. "The juxtaposition is really crazy."

Music Review: Bon Jovi gets country

Bon Jovi, "Lost Highway" (Island)
Yo, Jonnie! I see you been spending some time in Nashville lately, and as one Jersey Guy to another (I'm Exit 90, you're Exit 109), I gotta tell you some stuff.

I was kinda worried when Bon Jovi started doing a country-inspired album. Now I can't argue with success, and you guys sure sold a buncha records last year doing "Who Says You Can't Go Home" with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, which even won a Grammy. So another duet, this time on "Stranger" with LeAnn Rimes, sounds like a smart career move.

And I hear some slide guitars snuck in here and there; is that a banjo on the title track?

But I am glad to see you kept the faith with New Jersey on songs like "Summertime," a big, brash, bombastic stadium rock anthem with power chords that reach from Carteret to Cape May.

And "We Got It Going On" is pure Bon Jovi rock candy, with a danceable beat and another incarnation of Richie Sambora's famous voice-box wah-wah chords that made "It's My Life" so tasty.

From the fast lane (actually is there any other kind?) of the New Jersey Turnpike, we can only hope you're talking about Sayreville or East Rutherford or even Newark for that matter when you sing "I Love This Town," and not Nashville or Tupelo or Branson.

We've already lost The Sopranos this year. We gotta hold on to what we got. And I guess it doesn't make a difference if it's country or not. But please, Jonnie: Remember where you came from. I'm just sayin'.

Billboard Album Review

ARTIST: BON JOVI
ALBUM: LOST HIGHWAY (Mercury Nashville)
Inspired by the crossover success of "Who Says You Can't Go Home," a No. 1 hit on country radio, Bon Jovi gives its open-hearted stadium rock a Nashville makeover. "Lost Highway" is a collection of carefully country-flavored, classic-sounding tunes emphasizing acoustic guitars and personal storytelling -- from the regretful "Whole Lot of Leaving" and the breezy "Any Other Day" to the charming "Seat Next to You." Making new friends, the boys party-rock with Big & Rich ("We Got It Goin' On") and slow-dance with LeAnn Rimes on "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore," an intimate duet. Old fans may gasp at the fiddles on the opening title track, and somewhere out there, Keith Urban will blush. But this is an exciting new chapter for Bon Jovi, one that started more than 20 years ago with the line, "I'm a cowboy/On a steel horse I ride."

Bon Jovi rocks a country album

When Jon Bon Jovi visited Nashville in 1991, he had what he thought at the time was an epiphany. Sitting in a restaurant near Music Row — the nerve center of the country music industry — Bon Jovi thought to himself, "I'll be the rock guy who comes down here, captures that storytelling essence and takes it to that next level and makes it rock. I'm brilliant."

Then he flipped over the menu and saw the list of performers who had preceded him to the restaurant.

"It went from Hank Williams Jr. to Madonna," he recalls. "And I said to myself, 'At least I'm not the last one.' "

Bon Jovi waited more than a dozen years before making a serious run at the country charts. Last year, his band became the first rock group to top Billboard magazine's country singles chart, teaming with Jennifer Nettles of country duo Sugarland for Who Says You Can't Go Home. Emboldened by that surprise success, the group went to Nashville to cut a new album —Lost Highway, out Tuesday — with arrangements that borrow from modern country and guests that include LeAnn Rimes and Big & Rich.

Since Bon Jovi's initial crossover success, several other performers who established their names in the rock world have made forays into country. John Mellencamp released two singles, Our Country and The Americans, to country radio. John Waite reprised his 1984 hit Missing You with Alison Krauss. Don Henley did a duet with Kenny Rogers. Sheryl Crow sang on singles with Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill.

Two current country duos have rock ties. The Wreckers, who had a No. 1 country hit in 2006 with Leave the Pieces, features pop singer Michelle Branch, and Van Zant consists of brothers Donnie and Johnny Van Zant, from .38 Special and Lynyrd Skynyrd, respectively. Both have singles on the country charts.

Hootie & The Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker has signed with Capitol Records Nashville and started working with Brad Paisley producer Frank Rogers. Jewel, who recently co-hosted the TV talent search Nashville Star, has been shopping an album produced by Big & Rich's John Rich.

"If you heard You Were Meant for Me today, you'd think it was a country song," says Jewel, who has recorded in Nashville previously. "I don't think I'm changing as much as the new alternative radio is country radio. You can hear really diverse things, from traditional, hard-core country sounds to more modern pop sounds like Rascal Flatts, which is almost more pop than I am."

Universal Music Group Nashville chairman Luke Lewis, whose division is promoting the new Bon Jovi project to country radio, sees the potential for artists coming in from other genres.

"Jon has a better shot than most," he says. "A lot of his fans have gravitated over to country (as they get older). We're trying to reach those folks, then build some incremental audience for him."

A little bit country

Bon Jovi recorded Lost Highway with John Shanks, who produced 2005's Have a Nice Day, and Nashville producer Dann Huff, who has cut records with Keith Urban, Faith Hill and Rascal Flatts. The album includes (You Want to) Make a Memory, which peaked at No. 35 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in April. Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora wrote with top Nashville songwriters such as Brett James and Hillary Lindsey, whose credits include Carrie Underwood's Jesus, Take the Wheel.

"From a lyrical standpoint, there's not that much of a difference," Sambora says. "From a musical standpoint, it's just adding the country flavors, like a pedal steel and more mandolins than usual. But the guitars are still heavy at times. I played a lot more slide on this record. I played some Dobro. I had a chance to extend myself and evolve."

The title track, for instance, sports subtle touches of fiddle and pedal steel, as might be heard on an Urban record, while Whole Lot of Leavin' begins with an acoustic guitar pattern and that steady four-on-the-floor rhythm that Waylon Jennings used to favor. But those are minor variations.

All of the Bon Jovi trademarks are still present — the shout-along choruses (I Love This Town) and even the voice box (We Got It Going On).

"I don't necessarily feel it's a full country record," says Steve Bartels, president of Island Records, Bon Jovi's label. "It's more an album that is inspired by Nashville."

Even after the success of Who Says You Can't Go Home— which earned the band its sole Grammy — Bon Jovi knew he needed to tread carefully while courting the country audience, which can be intensely loyal but highly suspicious of outsiders. He delivered the keynote presentation at this year's Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, and the band showcased new songs and old hits during a private show for programmers and industry executives.

"You don't want to feel like you're carpetbagging," Sambora says. "That's why we refrained from doing this before."

Story songs carry over

When Bon Jovi announced plans to make a "country" album, "the perception out there was I was going to make an Alan Jackson/Vince Gill record," he says. "The truth was, I was only thinking Sugarland/Keith Urban/Big & Rich. Because that style of music is, to me, what we already have done for 25 years. It's just storytelling with great choruses."

"The kind of songs we write are story songs," Sambora adds. "When you think about Livin' on a Prayer, I'll Be There for You, songs like that, their kinds of stories are very similar."

The band wrote some songs with a more traditional country bent but decided against releasing those. "I didn't want anyone misconstruing that … like we were pandering to an audience," Bon Jovi says. "That would be a big mistake."

He compares it to the early '90s, when grunge took over for arena rock.

A lot of his peers "started to pretend they were from Seattle," he says. "Those bands looked silly, in retrospect, jumping into somebody else's game."

While Bon Jovi has maintained a following for its arena rock, the band hasn't always had a radio format. Now, it has several, even though it's no longer a core act at any, the way it was in the '80s and '90s. In addition to cracking the Top 40 at country radio, (You Want to) Make a Memory also made appearances on Billboard's Pop 100 and Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks charts.

That cross-format appeal may help market Lost Highway. Bon Jovi will relaunch MTV's Unplugged— the series inspired by Bon Jovi and Sambora's acoustic performance during the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards — on June 22. Sister networks VH1 and CMT will air versions tailored to their audiences on subsequent nights.

Sambora entered a Los Angeles treatment facility the day after the Unplugged taping — and a week after speaking with USA TODAY — but a label publicist says he's expected to perform next week in TV appearances to promote the album.

Natural suspicions

Of course, Bon Jovi's country move is not without its detractors.

"There's always been this sense, particularly from the radio guys, that if somebody wasn't contributing to the format in a long-term way, they were going to have a hard time," Lewis says. "Particularly if they're a big artist from outside."

Bon Jovi gets that. "There's a certain segment that's going to say, 'The first time was cute. Here's your Grammy. Go home,' " he says. "But, like my country cousins Big & Rich say, it's music without prejudice. If (people) like it, they'll respond."

Even if artists from outside the format create more competition for airplay, Bon Jovi's duet partner on Who Says You Can't Go Home considers the attention a blessing.

"For me," Nettles says, "it can only be a good thing. If people accept it, it frees me up to write in ways more open and more exploratory. If it doesn't, I'm still enjoying having that moment of stretching out."

Back To Girls?

IT seems Anne Heche's messy divorce from Coleman Laffoon is driving her to seek the company of women. On Saturday night, Heche was spotted "getting very cozy" with club promoter Voula Duval at the Gramercy Park Hotel's Rose Bar. Then, Sunday night, Heche was spotted flirting with "Six Degrees" star Shiri Appleby, 28, at a Tony Awards after-party at Bryant Park Hotel. A rep for Heche, who dated Ellen DeGeneres before she married Laffoon, did not return calls.

Anne Heche's Hubby Gets Custody, Cash

Anne Heche has to pay up, in more ways than one.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge awarded the actress' estranged husband, Coley Laffoon, primary physical custody of their five-year-old son, Homer, and an unspecified amount of child support.

Heche, who's headed back to Vancouver next month to start shooting the second season of Men in Trees, will have alternate weekend visits with the boy.

A source told E! News, however, that Laffoon—who was originally gunning for $33,000 a month in spousal and child support to maintain the "marital standard of living" to which he had become accustomed—got "far below his original demands."

The freelance videographer and stay-at-home dad, who filed for divorce in February, petitioned the court in early May for joint legal custody and primary physical custody of Homer, stating in his filing that Heche had "poor parenting skills" and had exhibited "bizarre and delusional behavior" that made him wary of leaving Homer in her care.

Laffoon alleged that he was the one who had created a stable home life for Homer and requested that Heche be required to undergo a psychological evaluation.

Heche, who went public with her longtime struggle with mental illness in her 2001 memoir Call Me Crazy, fired back, saying that, yes, Laffoon might spend more time at home than she does, but only because she's out earning a living and home is where he could engage in his favorite hobbies—playing ping-pong, playing poker, checking out online porn and masturbating.

"Coley does stay at home while I am working, but not to parent," she stated in court documents.

Requesting full legal and physical custody of Homer, Heche accused Laffoon of resorting to "lies and distortions" after she refused his request for support in the amount of $45,000 a month.

The cloud of animosity seemed to lift a bit last month when the two sides agreed on a temporary custody arrangement and promised to stop insulting each other in front of their son. That short-lived deal had Heche and Laffoon shuttling Homer between them every few days. Heche also agreed to give her hubby $19,000 in support for the month of May, according to court documents.

As part of this arrangement, Laffoon had been planning to bring Homer to Vancouver next month, where he would spend the summer with his mom. There's no word yet on how the new terms will affect that plan.

MEN IN TREES (6/28)

"Pilot" -- Relationship coach and bestselling author Marin Frist feels confident that, when it comes to men, she knows what to look for, what to avoid, and what will make her happy. But after her own relationship falls apart, she finds herself stuck in a small Alaskan town full of the one thing she really doesn't need -- available men. Amid the amazingly beautiful world surrounding her, Marin, for the first time in her life, now has a chance to stop, breathe and take a look at her real self, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, JUNE 28 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 9/12/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring in "Pilot" are Tobias Slezak as Graham, Claudette Mink as Kiki, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Françoise Yip as Alice K, Mar Andersons as Dave, John Boncore as old Tlingit man, Gina Doty as 40-something woman, Rose Pate as 20-something woman, Esme Lambert as old lady on plane, Brent Chapman as bearded man, Greg Anderson as affable man, Trevor Carroll as book store cashier and Adrian McMorran as man no. 2.

"Pilot" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by James Mangold.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (6/24)

"Northern Exposure" - Kitty and Warren's quiet weekend in the country turns out to be anything but quiet, while Tommy and Julia, unable to conceive, consider unorthodox alternatives, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JUNE 24 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/5/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest stars include Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Jay Huguley as Whit Peyton, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Treat Williams as David Morton, Keri Lynn Pratt as Amber Trachtenberg, Shawn Michael Patrick as Jordan Lisco, Ruben Garfias as Henry Martinez and Maya Hazen as Amy Chang.

"Northern Exposure" was written by David Marshall Grant and Molly Newman and directed by Lawrence Trilling.

Bon Jovi, Ticketmaster bundle digital album, tickets

In what's being billed as a first, Bon Jovi is bundling a digital iTunes copy of the band's upcoming album, "Lost Highway," with advance tickets for October concerts in Newark, New Jersey.

The stand, which begins October 25 and may be expanded beyond the initial five shows, will open the new Prudential Center in Newark.

The online presale program will be available exclusively to American Express cardholders beginning June 12 through June 14, and to the general public from June 15 through June 22. Tickets without the digital album download will then be available for purchase by the general public beginning June 23.

Fans who purchase the Lost Highway Ticket Package will receive a code from Ticketmaster that enables them to download "Lost Highway" from iTunes beginning on its June 19 release. The ticket/album package will be priced at $9.99 higher -- the price of the album on iTunes -- than those later sold outside the package. Album sales in the bundle will count toward SoundScan and the album's Billboard chart position.

For those fans who have already pre-ordered "Lost Highway" from BonJovi.com or iTunes, Bon Jovi and Ticketmaster have arranged for iTunes to provide a passcode that will enable them to purchase a single presale ticket for $9.99 less without adding the digital album.

The program is similar in concept to previous Ticketmaster initiatives with acts like Bob Dylan, Maroon 5 and Daddy Yankee. The difference is that the other programs offered albums and tickets in two separate sales via two separate sites.

The Bon Jovi deal is the first "all-in" presale that bundles together a ticket and a digital album as a single transaction sold via Ticketmaster.com. In this way, the promotion is more a digital version of Prince's 2005 Musicology tour, which included with the ticket price a physical version of his new album, to be picked up at the venue.

The $375 million, 18,000-capacity Prudential Center will be managed by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and booked by its live entertainment division, AEG Live.

Anne Heche's Ex Claims She's 'Mentally Unstable'

In the latest salvo in Anne Heche's bitter divorce battle, her estranged husband Coley Laffoon questions Heche's parenting skills and accuses the actress of resorting to lies to win custody of – and destroy his relationship with – their 5-year-old son Homer.

In an L.A. Superior Court filing released Thursday, Laffoon calls Heche's previous declaration – in which she insists she has a close relationship with her son despite her show-business obligations – "replete with blatant falsehoods."

According to the papers, "[Heche's] credibility should also be called into question as a result of her mental instability which was highly publicized in her [2001] autobiography entitled Call Me Crazy."

Laffoon, 33, a former videographer who married Heche in 2001, maintains he has always been Homer's primary caretaker. Now, he says, in an attempt to gain full custody of their son Heche, 38, is "desperately trying to throw mud against the wall hoping that something will divert the eyes of the Court away from the true facts of this case."

The legal documents, which contain declarations from friends and nannies praising Laffoon's relationship with his son, detail incidents including several in which Laffoon says Heche was drunk and belligerent.

Laffoon's declaration also claims Heche allowed her son to sleep in bed with her and new boyfriend (Men in Trees costar) James Tupper, breaking a previous agreement with Laffoon not to tell Homer that Tupper was her boyfriend.

The filing seeks to refute many of Heche's earlier claims – among them that Laffoon frequents strip clubs, plays poker and ping-pong and watches online porn.

"The truth is that [Heche] loves to play poker, too," Laffoon states, describing the former couple's regular Thursday "Heche-Laffoon poker nights."

Answering allegations that he had a penchant for porn, Laffoon claims: "I have never been preoccupied with sexually graphic material...[Heche] and I occasionally watched porn when we were together.

As for the strip clubs, Laffoon states that the last time he visited a strip club was with Heche, Tupper and Tupper's then-wife, as well as several Trees cast members. "I did not know at that time that [Heche] was having an affair with James, nor did James' wife," he says in the filing."

Heche's rep declined to comment .

Anne Heche Defends Her Parenting Skills

Anne Heche denied claims from her ex-husband she's a bad parent, saying she has a close relationship with her 5-year-old son despite her show-business obligations.

Heche, 38, is seeking full custody of son Homer, according to a Superior Court filing released Friday in her bitter divorce battle with Coley Lafoon.

The actress says that from the very beginning she bonded with their son.

"We hired a baby nurse before he was born, but before she came through our front door, I asked Coley to let her go," Heche writes in the filing. "I wanted the responsibility. I changed his diapers. I burped him. I bathed him. I held him close to my body all day, keeping him in a sling around me even when I was cooking or walking."

She maintained the mother-son bond, she says, even after she began shooting her TV series Men in Trees in Vancouver, where Homer would come for visits.

"Homer has strong relationships with each of the cast members and a lot of the crew members who play with him," she writes. "Each director calls Homer the 'little director,' letting him call 'action' and 'cut' for my scenes."

But when Laffoon showed up, Homer "cried and screamed and wrapped his arms around my neck, and screamed, 'I wanna stay with mommy,'" Heche says.

Laffoon, 33, filed for divorce in February. In his court papers, he claimed Heche has made poor parenting decisions and has repeatedly demonstrated "bizarre and delusional behavior."

The two are scheduled for mediation June 5, and for a hearing on June 11.

MTV's "Unplugged" reborn with Police, Bon Jovi

MTV's on-again, off-again "Unplugged" program will return in a big way this summer, with new episodes featuring the Police, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Mary J. Blige and John Mayer.

This time around, however, the show will be rolled out on a variety of related channels and platforms, including VH1, CMT and MTV.com.

Bon Jovi will usher in the 2007 edition of the series beginning June 22 on MTV. The next two evenings, VH1 and CMT will air a version of "Unplugged" specifically tailored to those channels' audiences.

Bon Jovi is credited with inspiring the "Unplugged" format after its stripped-down performance on the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards. The group's appearance coincides with its new country-tinged album, "Lost Highway," due in stores June 19.

No information has yet been unveiled about the other tapings, although the Police will reportedly hold their "Unplugged" show in mid-July in Miami.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (6/3)

"Date Night" -- Nora's date with a younger man (guest starring Treat Williams) is marred by several surprises, while Kitty initiates a very awkward double date, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JUNE 3 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/22/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Matthew Settle as Jonathan Sellers, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Treat Williams as David Morton, Keri Lynn Pratt as Amber Trachtenberg and Nicki Micheaux as Michele Yearwood.

"Date Night" was written by Molly Newman and David Marshall Grant and directed by Allison Liddi-Brown.

Anne Heche and Hubby Call Custody Truce

Anna Heche and Coley Laffoon are firmly entrenched in separate corners but they're willing to meet in the middle, at least as far as their child is concerned.

The estranged couple have agreed on a short-term custody arrangement for their five-year-old son, Homer, and have agreed to stop lashing out at each other in front of the boy, according to court documents filed May 22 in Los Angeles Superior Court and released Wednesday to E! News.

From now until July 22, when Heche heads back to Vancouver to start filming the second season of the ABC comedy Men in Trees, she and Laffoon will transport Homer back and forth between them every few days. After which, Laffoon will bring Homer to Canada, where the child will spend the summer with his mom.

The soon-to-be ex-spouses also agreed to "refrain from making derogatory remarks" about each other in front of Homer.

This temporary resolution comes after Laffoon alleged in court papers filed earlier this month that Homer has been suffering from nightmares since returning from his last Vancouver visit. Laffoon also expressed concern over Heche's allegedly "poor parenting skills" and requested that she undergo a psychological evaluation.

The freelance videographer, who stated that he quit working to be a stay-at-home dad and has been his son's primary caretaker since the child was born, is asking for $33,000 a month in child support and joint custody.

Heche, who chronicled her struggle with mental illness in her 2001 memoir Call Me Crazy, fired back by accusing her hubby of five and a half years of resorting to "lies and distortions" to get her to shell out more money, putting the original figure he had asked for at $45,000. She stated in a court filing that Laffoon was more likely to leave Homer with nannies while he went about a life of leisure—which included such pursuits as playing ping-pong, backgammon and poker, looking at Internet porn and "going to strip clubs all day."

The 37-year-old actress also said in a statement issued by her publicist that Laffoon was trying to get back at her because "she would not cave in to his astronomical money demands."

Instead, Heche will fork over $19,000 for the month of May, according to the newest filing.

She and Laffoon are due to participate in mediation June 5 and a hearing is scheduled for June 11.

Heche says estranged husband is a liar

Anne Heche wants sole custody of her 5-year-old son, saying her estranged husband is a liar who is trying paint her as a bad mother. In a Superior Court declaration filed Monday, Heche, 37, said Coleman Laffoon made "heinous false statements" and was not a proper stay-at-home parent.

When their son, Homer, stays with Laffoon in Los Angeles, he sends the boy to preschool or leaves him with nannies and baby sitters while he "plays pingpong, backgammon and poker and views pornography online," Heche stated.

"He holds a poker game at his home every Thursday night and allows Homer to participate," Heche contended.

Heche wants a judge to grant her temporary sole custody of Homer and permit him to attend kindergarten this fall near her home in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she films the TV show "Men in Trees."

A call to Laffoon's attorney, Jon S. Summers, early Thursday was not immediately returned.

In court filings this month, Laffoon claimed Heche left Homer in the care of a procession of nannies in her trailer during visits to Vancouver. He also claimed to be the main caregiver for Homer, while Heche said in her documents that the couple have been alternating time with the boy.

Laffoon and Heche were married Sept. 1, 2001. He filed for divorce Feb. 2, citing irreconcilable differences, and is seeking joint custody and more than $30,000 a month in spousal support.

Heche wants no spousal support awarded.

Anne Heche Divorce Papers: Poker, Porn, Strippers

Firing back in her divorce case, Anne Heche asks for full custody of her son and claims her ex-husband, Coley Laffoon, craves porn, poker and money.

Heche says in court papers that although Laffoon claims to be a stay-at-home dad, he actually leaves their 5-year-old son Homer "with nannies and babysitters while he plays ping-pong, backgammon and poker and views pornography online.

"He holds a poker game at his home every Thursday night and allows Homer to participate," the Men in Trees stars says in a Los Angeles Superior Court filing released Thursday.

She adds that Laffoon bragged to cast members of her show, taped in Vancouver, that he "knew each strip joint in town."

Heche asks the judge to grant her sole legal and physical custody of their son, to give Laffoon visitation privileges, and to deny his request for support.

The judge can expect arguments from each side that the other parent is psychologically unfit.

In his court filing last week Laffoon, 33, said that Heche, 37, demonstrates "bizarre and delusional behavior."

"I have serious concerns about whether she is psychologically capable of caring for Homer for an extended period of time,? says Laffoon, who filed for divorce in February.

The former videographer, who says he quit a $6,000-a-year job to take care of Homer, is seeking primary custody and at least $33,000 a month in support, according to his filing. Heche claims that he's actually seeking $45,000 a month.

Laffoon's lawyer, Jon S. Summers, tells PEOPLE that "any suggestion that the statements were financially motivated is not only false, it's obscene."

I In his court papers, Laffoon writes that he is entitled to child and spousal support "in the amount sufficient to maintain the marital standard of living and child support consistent with (Heche's) income."

Hot Night Out

ANNE Heche had a whale of a time at the Entertainment Weekly bash at The Box the other night with her new man, "Men in Trees" co-star James Tupper. Spies said Heche - who also partied with "Lipstick Jungle" star Lindsay Price, series creator Candace Bushnell, Danny Masterson, newly engaged Kate Walsh, Justin Chambers and Ellen Pompeo - had so much fun, she had to be helped out of the club in the wee hours.

Anne Heche's Ex Calls Her 'Bizarre and Delusional'

Anne Heche has shown "bizarre and delusional behavior" and lacks the time and parenting skills to care properly for her child, her estranged husband alleges in court papers.

Coley Laffoon, 33, who filed for divorce from Heche in February after a five-year marriage, is seeking at least $33,000 a month in child support and primary custody of their 5-year-old son, Homer, according to the Los Angeles Superior Court filing.

"Clearly, [Heche's] anger toward me has clouded her ability to think rationally about what is in Homer's best interest," says Laffoon's papers, which were filed May 2 and released on Thursday.

"[Heche] has at times exhibited bizarre and delusional behavior for which she refuses to seek professional help," the papers add.

Laffoon says that Heche, during a trip to New York to appear on the Late Show with David Letterman, called him to says she "did not know where she was and that she needed help. She sounded confused. I was extremely frightened for her safety." Laffoon contacted her publicist, who agreed to look for Heche at the airport, he says.

The next day, Heche returned from the trip and "acted as if nothing ever happened" and "never acknowledged the seriousness of her actions," says the filing.

Laffoon says that Heche earns $81,000 an episode on Men in Trees, a show that films in Vancouver, leaving her with "little time available from her busy schedule to spend time with Homer."

"Due to [her] lack of attention to Homer's needs and poor parenting skills, Homer's emotional stability has been detrimentally affected," the papers say.

In contrast, Laffoon quit his $6,000-a-year job as a videographer to raise their child, the papers say.

Heche's rep wasn't immediately available for comment.

Heche, 37, is now in a relationship with her co-star James Tupper, who told PEOPLE their off-screen romance didn't begin until they both were single. Tupper, 41, separated from his wife late last year.

Heche dated Ellen DeGeneres for several years before they broke up in 2000. In 2001, she published an autobiography, Call Me Crazy, in which she detailed her struggles with mental illness.

Spring 2008 on ABC Primetime

"Cashmere Mafia"

Four ambitious and sexy women, who've been best friends since business school, try to balance their glamorous and demanding careers with their complex personal lives in the city that never sleeps. They've created their own "boys club" to protect each other and discuss their ups and downs as they try to have it all. What good is it to break the glass ceiling without girlfriends to share in your success?

Cast:
Lucy Liu ("Ally McBeal"): Mia
Frances O'Connor ("Windtalkers"): Zoe
Miranda Otto ("War of the Worlds"): Juliet
Bonnie Somerville ("NYPD Blue"): Caitlin
Peter Hermann ("Law & Order: SVU"): Davis
Julian Ovenden ("Related"): Eric
Credits:
EP: Gail Katz ("The Agency")
EP: Darren Star ("Sex and the City")
EP/Writer: Kevin Wade ("Maid in Manhattan")EP/Director: Peyton Reed ("The Break-Up")
Production Company: Sony Pictures Television

ABC's 2007-08 Primetime Schedule

MONDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars"
9:30 p.m. "Sam I Am" (new comedy series)
10:00 p.m. "The Bachelor"

TUESDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Cavemen" (new comedy series)
8:30 p.m. "Carpoolers" (new comedy series)
9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show"
10:00 p.m. "Boston Legal"

WEDNESDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Pushing Daisies" (new drama series)
9:00 p.m. "Private Practice" (new drama series)
10:00 p.m. "Dirty Sexy Money" (new drama series)

THURSDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty"
9:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy"
10:00 p.m. "Big Shots" (new drama series)

FRIDAY:
8:00 p.m. "MEN IN TREES" (Anne Heche)
9:00 p.m. "Women's Murder Club" (new drama series)
10:00 p.m. "20/20"

SATURDAY:
8:00 p.m. "Saturday Night College Football"

SUNDAY:
7:00 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos"
8:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
9:00 p.m. "Desperate Housewives"
10:00 p.m. "Brothers & Sisters" (Calista Flockhart)

BROTHERS & SISTERS (5/27)

"Patriarchy" -- Kitty Walker returns home to California after having been estranged from her mother for three years. Meanwhile, William Walker brings Sarah into the family business, where she soon discovers some glaring financial discrepancies that could undermine the Walker family's way of life, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MAY 27 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 9/24/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Matthew Settle as Jonathan Sellers, Tyler Posey as Gabriel Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Jay Huguley as White Peyton, Michael Beach as Noah Guare, Laura Jordan as Fawn, Stana Katic as Karen Wells, John C. Moskoff as Leo, Ryan Michelle Bathe as Sasha, Laraine Newman as Lyla, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Daniel Edward Mora as Jorge and Angela Sargeant as Gladys.

"Patriarchy" was written by Jon Robin Baitz and directed by Ken Olin.

Christina Ricci Says She's Ready to Wed

Christina Ricci says she's ready to commit to her relationship – she's just not sure about the wedding part.

"I'm definitely more at a time in my life where I want to settle down," Ricci, 27, who dates actor-director Adam Goldberg, tells the UK's Tatler in its June issue.

When it comes to walking down the aisle, "I think about that a lot," she says. "Sometimes it sounds really good, but then I'm not actually sure I'd want to go through with the wedding. Although I feel like if we didn't have a wedding, my family would be mad at me, and Adam's family would be mad at him."

She adds, laughing: "That's just a whole thing – I don't want to deal with it because you know you're going to get in trouble. I just want to be married, or just engaged. Basically, I just want a ring. And the tax break."

She and Goldberg have been together off and on since he directed her in the 2003 movie I Love Your Work. They reportedly split in 2005 and sold their house, only to get back together last year. (They currently live around the corner from each other, though Ricci tells the magazine she thinks they'll probably move back in together "in a couple of years.")

On the subject of another man, Ricci says her Black Snake Moan costar Justin Timberlake was "was great, really sweet and very silly. We had a really fun time."

They had several sex scenes together, but, she says: "He also never acted like anything I was doing was weird. In one scene we did together I had no underwear on, just a shirt, and later he told me he'd been really shocked by that. But he acted, God bless him, like it was totally normal what I was doing, so that was sweet of him."

He did, however, refuse to teach her how to dance. "I wanted to know how to pop and lock," she says, "but apparently that's not appropriate terminology, so he said, 'No, I can't.' "

BROTHERS & SISTERS (5/20)

"Matriarchy" - As Justin counts the days and hours until his return to active duty in the army and readies himself to go to war, he reaches out to everyone in the family individually, trying to spend time with all of them. Nora plans an engagement party for Kitty, who announces her plans to move out of the house. At the engagement party we meet more McCallister relatives and learn more about Saul's secret romantic life, as Sarah tries to come to terms with her marriage and where it's headed, on the Season Finale of "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MAY 20 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring is Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister. Other guest cast TBD.

"Matriarchy" was written by Jon Robin Baitz and Greg Berlanti and directed by Ken Olin.

Bon Jovi to rock new New Jersey arena

New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi will be the first act to rock "The Rock," the state's newest arena, officials announced Wednesday.

The band will play several shows at the Prudential Center starting Oct. 26, said Pat Smith, a spokesman for AEG New York/New Jersey, part of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which is booking concerts and special events for the arena. The number of shows has not been determined, he said.

The $365-million arena, which will be home to the New Jersey Devils of the NHL, is under construction in downtown Newark. It can seat 19,500 for concerts.

The band, whose hits include "You Give Love a Bad Name," includes lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, a native of Sayreville.

The arena gets its name from Prudential Financial Inc., the Newark-based financial services and insurance giant whose symbol is the Rock of Gibraltar.

Tickets for Bon Jovi go on sale in mid-June.

Bon Jovi Makes an 'Idol' Memory

Life and love and loss and freedom.

That's how Jon Bon Jovi describes the themes of his band's new album, "Lost Highway," due June 19. The band will perform a new single, "(You Want to) Make a Memory," on FOX's "American Idol" Wednesday, May 2, following performances of its songs by contestants on the previous night's show.

No one is more surprised than Bon Jovi that the band has another record so soon after the overwhelming success of "Have a Nice Day," featuring the crossover hit "Who Says You Can't Go Home" with country band Sugarland.

"If you would ever have told me I would have a record in the fourth quarter of last year, having just completed a world tour," Bon Jovi says, "I would have said you can bet all the tea in China, it's just not going to happen.

"But because of the circumstances around our lives, they were very fruitful, and a lot of the inspiration was watching what was happening in Richie's life (bandmate Sambora split with wife Heather Locklear and is dating Denise Richards), compounded by all the good things that were happening in all our collective lives."

Bon Jovi says "Lost Highway" isn't a conscious attempt to capitalize on the crossover success of "Who Says," which won a Grammy and became the first song by a rock band to hit No. 1 on the country charts.

"But the feeling came, and when it does, you have to know to go with it," he says. "And we went to Nashville in September, and by December, 10 of the 12 songs were written and recorded and ready for mixing. It was just in the last couple of months that, because I always do this, I pulled the record back and wrote five more, two of which made the record."

Bon Jovi thinks the crossover appeal of "Who Says" and the new album is the result of country radio getting closer to the band's sound, not the other way around. Two of the songs feature Big & Rich and LeAnn Rimes, and Bon Jovi says his country influences are new artists as much as the "real gods," including Johnny Cash.

"Different people, different reasons," he says. "It's all a big soup. Everybody adds a little ingredient, and that's what makes the next generation go on. You can't be a rip-off of one guy. You don't find an influence; you find your influence's influence. You take a little piece of that and a little piece of this and a little piece of the other thing, and then that's what makes you and how you get to be here for 25 years."

Today, longevity in the music industry also requires embracing multimedia opportunities to connect with audiences, such as "American Idol," which Bon Jovi just recently watched for the first time.

"It's not that I didn't want to; I just didn't," he says. "I've had a lot of guys cover our songs on it, and then giving them songs subsequently for their records, but (had) never seen it. That's 30 million that watch TV, so these days, being on 'American Idol' certainly isn't a bad thing.

"You got to get music out there however you can," Bon Jovi continues. "Radio is getting smaller and smaller; the record business is getting smaller and smaller. There are things that are fantastic, like the Internet, [but] it's tough because it's created something none of us knew 10 years ago, and you have to learn to roll with those punches. But it's not the way it used to be; it's not the record business that I grew up in."

"American Idol" is among just a handful of TV shows and odd performance dates in support of the album until the world tour next year. Yet Bon Jovi is busier than ever.

"Sort of like Levis, man, we're everywhere," he says, laughing.

This is even more true of Bon Jovi himself, who appears in Kenneth Cole ads to raise money for the Philadelphia Soul Foundation, named after the arena football team he co-owns (with Sambora and others), which builds houses for people who need them.

In September 2005, he presented Oprah Winfrey with a $1 million check from the entire band on her show to aid her Angel Network's Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

"I knew that with our determination we could make a difference," he says, "and families live in 28 homes that we paid for by the one-year anniversary. And in the Lower Ninth, as you can tell, it still isn't rebuilt, but you get some powerful people like Oprah behind you, and they tend to get things done.

"There's a lot of wonderful causes and none of them is more important than the next, but you can't be at everything, you can't do everything, and you've got to find things that you think you can make a difference in. And for me, it's been affordable housing through the Soul Foundation because ultimately, I don't need scientists to come up with a cure. I can do this with time, effort and money. It's something that we as just average guys can really make a difference."

Bon Jovi also continues to squeeze in some acting. His favorite TV show is "The Sopranos," and he recently appeared at a benefit for cast member Michael Imperioli's New York theater company, Studio Dante. Playwright Adam Szymkowicz raved about his performance in a blog the next day.

"You know that classic line from 'The Godfather,' 'Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in'?" Bon Jovi asks. "That's how I feel about the acting. Now I'm getting more offers than I can shake a stick at. And they're really good studio pictures. I'd like to do more; it's just that, thank God, I have a very successful day job."

Bon Jovi fans around the world, both old and new, can't get enough of the band's signature blend of big sound, optimistic lyrics, showmanship and sex appeal. During a concert in Albany, N.Y., on the most recent tour, a lucky few had a very nice day when they found themselves embraced by Jon, and their adoration could be seen and felt across the arena.

"I started every show in the audience on that last tour," he says, "and it's good because as we play these bigger and bigger and bigger and multiple nights at football stadiums, sometimes it's hard to see the people. let alone touch them. So it was an idea that I'd get out there among the crowd and play 'Last Man Standing' and let the folks in the back have the front-row seats for the first song. We've always been about inclusion with our audience, and I think that's probably another facet to our success. That was just one of the examples of it."

"Blood Hunter" a stylish vampire thriller

It's a little mysterious as to why the Tribeca Film Festival decided to include "Rise: Blood Hunter" in its roster, considering it's the sort of routine horror flick that opens week after week without even being screened for the press.

That said, this Lucy Liu starrer about an intrepid reporter who becomes the victim of vampires and rises from the dead to track down the sect that killed her contains definite B-movie pleasures that are enhanced by the stylish direction of Sebastian Gutierrez (who also scripted) and a first-rate cast.

It is set for a June 1 release through Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Tracking down a story about the murder of a local cop's (Michael Chiklis) daughter, reporter Sadie Blake (Liu) becomes a victim at the hands of a pair of particularly sexy vampires (James D'Arcy, Carla Gugino). Waking up in a drawer at the morgue, Sadie -- now, of course, a vampire -- decides to seek revenge, even while needing to fulfill her newfound thirst for blood.

Thus begins a series of graphically violent encounters, with Sadie efficiently dispatching her nemeses with a crossbow and sending them off with such declarations as "See you in hell!" (Male viewers will enjoy the frequent opportunities for ogling because she is consistently forced to remove her bloody garments.) Eventually, she winds up in an uneasy partnership with the grief-stricken cop, whose reunion with his supposedly dead daughter goes less well than he might have hoped.

It's all pretty familiar stuff, but the handsome visual style and the committed performances by the uncommonly impressive cast help it rise above the usual level of schlock horror efforts. The film, which includes a cameo by Robert Forster as a would-be victim, also marks the last screen appearance of the distinguished Japanese actor Mako, here playing the vampires' loyal manservant.

Billboard single review

ARTIST: BON JOVI
SINGLE: MAKE A MEMORY
Still pumped from last year's sold-out "Have a Nice Day" tour, Bon Jovi readies a new studio album, "Lost Highway," due in June. Lead single "(You Want To) Make a Memory" is a surprisingly sparse and intimate ballad about two long-ago lovers getting in touch again. Over a pulsing crescendo of acoustic guitars, piano and strings, Bon Jovi delivers his most soulful vocal in years, sounding relaxed and nostalgic as he offers '80s-soaked lines like "I dug up this old photograph/Look at all the hair we had." It's a classic Bon Jovi anthem -- simple, well-crafted and enormously melodic -- with guitarist Richie Sambora singing open-hearted harmonies.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (5/13)

"Favorite Son" -- Tommy and Julia have to make a life and death decision for their newborn twins, while Sarah and Joe come to grips with the fate of their marriage, and an unlikely candidate helps Justin face his impending future as he prepares to leave his family to go off to war, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MAY 13 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring is Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister. Other guest cast TBD.

"Favorite Son" was written by Benjamin Kruger and Daniel Silk and directed by Jason Moore.

Hayden Panettiere keeps feet firmly planted

Not everyone is out to "save the cheerleader."

Playing pom-pom princess Claire Bennet on NBC's Heroes, actress Hayden Panettiere must stay in fighting form to save the world. That's why Hollywood's newest "it" girl can often be found pumping iron at the celeb-friendly gym Crunch, with its brightly colored walls and hall of showers with translucent doors.

After working up a sweat, Panettiere takes a breather at a coffee shop. "Crazy" is the word she uses to describe tonight's episode (9 ET/PT), which flashes five years into a possible future with the heroes having failed in their season-long mission to save New York from devastation.

As the season reaches its climax May 21, Panettiere teases, "Claire has to make a very hard decision. She is put in a position of serious power — to stop (destruction) in a pretty heartbreaking way. Or not."

Less than six years ago, Panettiere lived through a nightmare scenario similar to tonight's "what if" episode. Up until this year, her family lived in New York, and her father, Skip, retired as a fire department lieutenant just six months before the 9/11 attacks.

The family mourned many lost friends.

Panettiere was left with an enriched appreciation for life. "I want to go crazy," the 17-year-old says of her own future.

Uh-oh.

With Hollywood already heavily stocked with hard-partying ingénues whose craziness has led them into rehab, could Panettiere be the next Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears or Nicole Richie?

No way, she says, calling the recent rehab craze "like a publicity stunt."

Panettiere prefers her own definition of "crazy": "Discovering who I am and enjoying myself. I'm not talking drugs. I'm talking about traveling the world and seeing different things. Possibly doing what Angelina Jolie does — to go over there and bring food."

Before rolling your eyes, consider that Panettiere spent several months living in South Africa while shooting the 2005 family film Racing Stripes.

After the project ended, Panettiere chose to stay in Africa to complete her freshman year of high school.

"It was definitely eye-opening, seeing shantytowns," she says. "It makes you thankful for what you have, but at the same time you admire how simple life is in other places."

Austin provided her a different kind of simplicity. She recently spent a week there shooting a small role in the art-house feature Fireflies in the Garden. The drama stars Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds and Emily Watson, with Panettiere playing a younger version of Watson's character.

The shoot provided a brief but refreshing break from tabloid shutterbugs, who Panettiere believes are working hard to portray her as the next out-of-control party girl.

Helping shape that image is her merlot Porsche Cayenne SUV and 21-year-old boyfriend of nearly a year and a half, actor Stephen Colletti, who became a reality star on MTV's Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.

But Panettiere says appearances can be deceiving. "Paparazzi will take pictures of me coming out of a club, and they'll say I'm partying, that I'm drinking underage at a place I'm not supposed to be," she says.

"But they have absolutely no idea what they're talking about. At El Scorpion the other night, I had a lime juice and Sprite, and I was looking at it thinking, 'Somebody's going to take a picture of this and say I'm drinking.' So I put it down and grabbed a bottle of water."

But how exactly does a 17-year-old get into a nightclub where alcohol is served?

Close friends with Rumer Willis (18-year-old daughter of Bruce and Demi) and an "acquaintance" of Lohan and Paris Hilton, Panettiere says it is not difficult.

"When you have a 'name,' they want you to be in the club," she explains. "When celebrities are seen at a certain place, it all of a sudden becomes a mob scene. And it's a given that people have fake IDs." And "once you're in, you're in," meaning, she says, that underage celebs are routinely served booze.

But for the most part, Panettiere says, clubs aren't her scene.

Having gone to parties with her look-alike mom — former soap opera actress Lesley Panettiere (All My Children, Loving) — Panettiere says, "I usually want to leave long before she does."

She stays grounded, she says, by heeding these words of wisdom from Heroes co-star Adrian Pasdar (Nathan): "Always wear my undershorts, never go nude or buzz my head. Unless it's for an Oscar."

Downey forges a bond with 'Iron Man' role

Robert Downey Jr. is hardly the obvious choice to play an iconic crime fighter.

After all, this is the guy who became a poster boy for Hollywood excess, serving a year in prison on drug and alcohol-related charges and checking in and out of rehab like it was the Four Seasons.

But it is exactly that past, says director Jon Favreau (Elf), that makes Downey the only choice to play playboy millionaire and recovering alcoholic Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, the comic-book superhero who hits multiplexes next year.

"We didn't want to just go with a safe choice," Favreau says from the set of the film, due in theaters May 2, 2008. "The best and worst moments of Robert's life have been in the public eye. He had to find an inner balance to overcome obstacles that went far beyond his career. That's Tony Stark. Robert brings a depth that goes beyond a comic-book character who is having trouble in high school, or can't get the girl. Plus, he's simply one of the best actors around."

For his part, Downey is trying to become an iron man. At 42, he lifts weights five days a week and practices martial arts to get in shape to play the hard-bodied Stark, an arms manufacturer who uses his ultimate weapon, a jet-powered, missile-launching suit of armor, to fight evil.

More important, Downey says, he's been working on his emotional stamina since coming out of rehab in 2002. His supporting roles in Good Night, and Good Luck and Zodiac have earned critical raves.

And anchoring a big-budget summer film such as Iron Man could go a long way toward cementing that return.

"I'm more diligent than I used to be," Downey says. "I want to show Jon he was right to have faith in me. Whatever questions might have arisen about my life weren't issues with him."

Nor with many fans, says Rob Worley of Comics2Film.com.

"Fans need the heart of the comic to be in" the movie, he says. "Tony Stark had a substance abuse problem. He was built up and torn down many times. I think when people heard Robert Downey was going to play the part, there was actually a big relief."

Downey knows a thing or two about comics, and he can get downright geeky when discussing them. He prefers Marvel to D.C. comics. He liked Iron Man, "but mainly through his appearance with Avengers." His favorite early heroes, he says, were the relatively obscure Sgt. Rock and Sgt. Fury.

It wasn't until Downey matured that he came to appreciate the man in the iron suit.

"He struggles with his lifestyle, he struggles with the drinking," Downey says of Stark. "He faces the same issues a lot of people do."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (5/6)

"Grapes of Wrath" - A celebration of Tommy's new business venture turns to chaos, and Nora takes Holly to task when she gets just a bit too close, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MAY 6 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Peter Coyote as Mark August, Eric Pierpoint as Stanley Hancock and Pat Destro as Staci Hancock.

"Grapes of Wrath" was written by Sherri Cooper-Landsman and David Marshall Grant and directed by Michael Morris.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (4/29)

"Bad News" - Sarah finds it very difficult to get past her husband's alleged indiscretions with another woman, and Kitty and Robert reach an impasse as the shock of the tragic accident sinks in, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, APRIL 29 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Peter Coyote as Mark August, Paul Cassell as Gary Morris, Zeb Newman as Steve Cohen and Dele Ogundiranas the waitress.

"Bad News" was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker and directed by Jason Moore.

Bon Jovi courts Nashville again with new album

For the last few months, there's been a buzz around Music Row that Bon Jovi's next album would be a country record.

Some folks were skeptical and others ready to celebrate. After all, Bon Jovi made history last year when "Who Says You Can't Go Home" with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles soared to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, making them the first non-country act to hit that summit in decades. They won a Grammy for the tune in February, the group's first.

Will history repeat itself? The new single, "Make a Memory," which previews the band's June 19 Island/Mercury Nashville release "Lost Highway," debuted at No. 39 on Hot Country Songs earlier this month and is currently No. 35.

Yet Jon Bon Jovi is quick to clarify that "Lost Highway" is not a country album but a "Bon Jovi record influenced by Nashville."

Six of the tracks were produced by John Shanks, and six -- including "Make a Memory" -- by Nashville's Dann Huff, known for his work with Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban. Bon Jovi also tapped further into the Nashville creative community, co-writing with Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson and Brett James, and recording duets with Big & Rich and LeAnn Rimes.

The result is a collection of songs that strike a perfect balance -- rock enough to appeal to longtime Bon Jovi fans, yet with a Nashville flavor that should satisfy country fans who loved "Who Says You Can't Go Home."

"The line is so blurred between new country and (adult top 40), it wasn't a difficult leap," Bon Jovi says. "We had to just make sure we weren't patronizing the true country format. Could you have imagined me walking into an award show where 15 or 25 other artists are and saying, 'Howdy, y'all,' with straw in my teeth and a cowboy hat on? I would have expected them to run me out of Dodge."

Bon Jovi has been visiting Nashville regularly, and says the city's creative community inspires him. "If you would have asked me at the end of the tour last August to do a record in September, I would have said, 'Not for all the tea in China. I don't have anything to say,"' he says. "I didn't like what I heard on the top 40. I had nothing in common with any of that stuff. But when I listened to Keith Urban, Gary Allan and Big & Rich, I heard the same kind of stories I'd been writing for 25 years. I thought, 'I get it: Write a record, go back to your storytelling days and say something about yourself."'

As a result, much of "Lost Highway" reflects some of the turmoil band members were facing. "I was watching my friend going through a very painful divorce and his father had stage four cancer," Bon Jovi says of guitarist/songwriting partner Richie Sambora. "We were dealing with a lot. Dave (Bryan), my keyboard player, was going through a terrible divorce at the same time. So it was all around me. That's how I got the idea for "Whole Lot of Leavin'."

"Until We're Not Strangers" is a sultry duet with Rimes. "I wanted somebody with a strong voice who could pull it off dramatically because I knew it was a dramatic lyric," Bon Jovi says. "I didn't want a young girl that couldn't provide the sexuality in the lyric. She has a seasoned voice. She may be a young woman, but she's been around for a long time and she knows how to translate a lyric."

Among the more upbeat fare on the record is the title track, which was featured in the John Travolta motorcycle comedy "Wild Hogs." "We Got It Going On" is a duet with Big & Rich that is serving as the theme song for the Arena Football League season on ESPN, while the catchy "I Love This Town" celebrates the frontman's enthusiasm for Nashville.

The new album's visibility will be boosted by key TV appearances: April 16 in Nashville at the CMT Awards, May 1 on "American Idol" and June 19 on "Today." Bon Jovi says there are also plans for the band to tape an "MTV Unplugged" that will air simultaneously on CMT, MTV and VH1.

Though there aren't any plans for a major tour, Bon Jovi says the band will play select dates, among them the Frontier Days festival in Cheyenne, Wyo., and the new O2 arena in London.

Already, Bon Jovi served as keynote speaker for this year's Country Radio Seminar in Nashville and the band played a special show to give country programmers a taste of the new music. "We're very respectful of it," Bon Jovi says of the country format. "All I can ask for is, 'Give us a chance and don't judge the book by its cover."'

We Hear...

THAT Jon Bon Jovi will perform at the opening of the Tribeca Film Festival on April 25 at Borough of Manhattan Community College.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (4/22)

"Sexual Politics" -- Kevin falls for a soap opera actor (guest starring Jason Lewis as Chad Berry) who is confused about his own sexuality. Meanwhile, Kitty and Nora dearly regret being sucked in by the sales pitch of an executive matchmaker, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, APRIL 22 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 1/14/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Caroline Aaron as Elise, Mark Harari as the instructor, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Rachel Montez Collins as L.A. babe, Paul Cassell as Gary Morris, Ryan Michelle Bathe as Noreen, Sophia Rachel Garcia as Nicole, Susan Santiago as Vanessa, Sulekah Naidu as the hostess, Jim Anzie as the waiter, Robert Michael Morris as Lawrence Magill, Christian Keyes as the bouncer, Chris Flanders as the reporter and Roxy Olin as Michelle.

"Sexual Politics" was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker and directed by Sandy Smolan.

Half of Bon Jovi turned into action figures

Jon Bon Jovi's female fans will soon be able to take the cuddly rocker to bed with them.

The frontman for New Jersey band Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora are the latest musicians to join McFarlane Toys' line of action figures, which will hit stores in August and sell for $10-$12.

The Tempe, Ariz.-based firm worked closely with the Bon Jovi principals to select the proper pose, accessories and facial expressions. However, Bon Jovi second bananas drummer Tico Torres and keyboardist David Bryan did not get downsized.

In the past, McFarlane Toys has issued action figures of such groups as Kiss, Metallica and Motley Crue -- with all the members of those bands' lineups getting dolled up.

Hayden Panettiere Has Something to Cheer About

Hayden Panettiere rocketed to fame as the self-healing cheerleader Claire Bennet on Heroes – but the 17-year-old is just getting started.

Since becoming the focal point of the show's "save the cheerleader, save the world" plot line, Panettiere has also started filming the drama Fireflies in the Garden with Julia Roberts and is gearing up to promote her debut pop album this fall.

"With singing I get to be myself," she tells PEOPLE in its new issue.

Later this spring, Panettiere will celebrate another milestone – high school graduation. "Thank God!" says the Nyack, N.Y., native. "School was difficult; when you come and go, you miss out on a lot. Cliques are formed and you're just lingering."

In L.A. Panettiere has found a BFF in Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's daughter Rumer, 18 ("I stole my pink belly-button ring from Rumer," she admits), and a boyfriend in Laguna Beach's Stephen Colletti, 21, whom she's been dating for more than a year.

But Panettiere and Colletti are so low-key (their nights out usually consist of dinner and a movie) that the actress feels guilty about not giving gossipmongers more to work with.

"I had paparazzi on my street for a while," she says. "I think I bored them to tears. I'm no fun to watch."

Bon Jovi to perform at Frontier Days

It will be country with a little bit of rock 'n' roll when Bon Jovi and Def Leppard perform at this summer's Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Bon Jovi will perform July 20, the first night act of the 10-day Western celebration and rodeo, also known as the Daddy of 'em All.

"Who Says You Can't Go Home," Bon Jovi's duet with Jennifer Nettles, won a Grammy Award in February for best country collaboration with vocals.

Def Leppard will perform July 28.

Introducing more rock music to a traditionally Western event is good business, Joe Lopez, CFD contract arts chairman, said recently.

"The request has always been there to mix it up," Lopez said. "I think down the road we're going to see some different entertainers come to Cheyenne Frontier Days."

The concert series will also feature Big & Rich, Cowboy Troy, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, LeAnn Rimes, Gretchen Wilson and Los Lonely Boys.

Kelley's "Wedding" cut short

The honeymoon is over for David E. Kelley's midseason Fox series "The Wedding Bells."

Production will be shut down after completion of the seventh episode.

After receiving decent sampling in its premiere behind "American Idol," "Bells" quickly faded when it moved into its regular Friday time slot, most recently drawing 4.5 million viewers.

"While we've been pleased with the show creatively, and David's writing was first-rate, ('Bells') just didn't secure the ratings we'd hoped for," Fox said in a statement.

Four episodes of "Bells" have aired. For now, the network said it intends to air the remaining three segments.

"Bells" starred Teri Polo, KaDee Strickland and Sarah Jones as three sister running a wedding-planning business.

Manual Labor

NEW Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi will lend his celebrity hand to the borough of Brooklyn tomorrow. The rocker will don his tool belt to help finish renovating an energy-efficient, three-story condo complex on Halsey Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Delta Airlines' new global initiative, "Force for Global Good," and Habitat for Humanity plan to host the ceremony, which will kick off final construction of the affordable housing units. The apartments eventually will be rented to low-income locals.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (4/15)

"Game Night" - The Walkers challenge their all-too-perfect lifelong nemesis family, the Jones (guest starring Susan Sullivan as Miranda Jones and Jenna Elfman as Lizzie Jones-Baker), to a long overdue game night rematch and cautiously begin to embrace Rebecca as their sister. Meanwhile, Kitty soon regrets introducing Kevin to the Senator's brother (guest starring Eric Winter as Jason McCallister), on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, APRIL 15 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Eric Winter as Jason McCallister, Paul Cassell as Gary Morris, Perry King as Curtis Jones, Susan Sullivan as Miranda Jones, Jenna Elfman as Lizzie Jones-Baker, Elina Madison as Stephanie Jones-Reed, Kim Murphy Zandell as Donna Jones, Duffy Dibley as Doug Jones, Clint Carmichael as Ken Baker, Bryan Krasner as Roger Jones, James Ritz as Wallace, Jack Ritter as Ken Junior and Darcy Rose Byrnes as Gwyneth.

The story for "Game Night" is by Peter Calloway and Cliff Olin and the script written by Molly Newman. The episode was directed by Matt Shakman.

'Heroes' Cheerleader Catches 'Fireflies'

Hayden Panettiere is joining yet another large ensemble cast for her latest film project.

The "Heroes" actress and four other actors -- Willem Dafoe ("Spider-Man"), Ioan Gruffudd ("Fantastic Four"), Shannon Lucio ("The O.C.") and George Newbern ("Father of the Bride") -- have signed on for Senator Entertainment's "Fireflies in the Garden."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the story is based on Dennis Lee's screenplay that's based loosely on his life and examines love and commitment in a family tested by an unexpected tragedy. There's no indication of who will play what role.

"We are quite fortunate to have secured an ensemble with such talent and global boxoffice track record," says Senator's Marco Weber, who is producing with Vanessa Coifman and Sukee Chew. "Their desire to be involved with this film clearly shows the quality of the script."

The fivesome joins the already cast Julia Roberts, Carrie Anne Moss, Ryan Reynolds and Emily Watson.

Lee will also make his directorial debut on the project. Production is scheduled to begin April 3 in Austin.

Panettiere is best known as the indestructible teenager on NBC's "Heroes." Her film credits include "The Affair of the Necklace," "Raising Helen," "Racing Stripes," "Ice Princess" and the straight-to-DVD release of "Bring It On: All or Nothing."

Sightings

JON Bon Jovi with his wife, Pierce Brosnan with his brother and Emma Thompson with art dealer Donald Rosenfeld at Nello

MEN IN TREES (4/12)

"Chemical Reactions" - When Marin and Cash (Scott Elrod) make a bet to see who can make the best stew, Marin ventures into the forest to find a special root. She gets lost and Jack, who is filming a nature documentary, finds her. Meanwhile, the newly-engaged Lynn (Justine Bateman) wishes Jack would exhibit more passion toward her, like what she sees in Ben and Buzz toward their wives; Patrick wants to change his surname to better reflect who he really is; and Sara, who is no longer in the "service" business, gets a summons from her ex-husband, who now wants full custody of their son, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, APRIL 12 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn Barstow, Scott Elrod as Cash, Currie Graham as Dick, Nicholas Lea as Eric, Callum Keith Rennie as Jeff, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Colin Cunningham as Jeff's lawyer, Alvin Sanders as judge, Joyce Kren as old lady, D. Harlan Cutshall as delivery man and Grayson Golka as Matty.

"Chemical Reactions" was written by Padma L. Atluri and directed by Seith Mann.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (4/8)

"Three Parties" - Nora's romantic life takes an upturn when her troublemaking friend (guest starring Margot Kidder as Emily Craft) convinces her to take a chance with her professor (guest starring Peter Coyote as Mark August). Meanwhile, Chad comes to terms with his sexuality at Kevin's expense and Justin steps up to protect his half-sister, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, APRIL 8 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Margot Kidder as Emily Craft, Peter Coyote as Mark August, Paul Cassell as Gary Morris, Zeb Newman as Steve Cohen, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Alexandra Staden as Juliet, Jason Singer as the manager, Kathryn Meisle as Alice Webb, Juan Carlos Cantu as the diner's owner, Chris W. King as Doug, Diego Torres as Mike, Parry Shen as Dan Silk and David Rogers as Jon Lewis.

"Three Parties" was written by Marc Guggenheim and Jon Robin Baitz and directed by Sandy Smolan.

ABC bringing 14 series back

Getting a jump in planning for next season, ABC announced on Wednesday that it had ordered new episodes for 14 programs that will return in the fall.

They include three series that debuted this season: the surprise hit "Ugly Betty," the drama "Brothers & Sisters" and Anne Heche's Alaskan sojourn "Men in Trees."

Most of the other returnees are no surprises. "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives," "Lost" and "Boston Legal" will all be back.

ABC is also committed to several of its successful reality shows, including "The Bachelor," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Dancing With the Stars," "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Supernanny" and "Wife Swap."

The late-night "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will also be back in the fall, said ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson.

None of the network's comedies, including long-running series like "According to Jim" or " George Lopez," received an early commitment for next fall. The broadcast networks all announce their fall schedule to advertisers in May.

ABC is averaging just under 10 million prime-time viewers, down from 11.4 million a year ago. The network argues that some erosion was expected with the departure of "Monday Night Football," but it has also been hurt by the unexpected decline of "Lost" in its third season.

The network's biggest move, shifting "Grey's Anatomy" to Thursdays, has been a big success.

Bon Jovi going a little bit country with new CD

New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi are courting Nashville with their new album, "Lost Highway," which is due in stores June 19.

The CD will be released by their longtime Island Records label in conjunction with its country arm Mercury Nashville.

Bon Jovi will perform the first single "(You Want To) Make a Memory" during country music's CMT Awards in Nashville on April 16, and will also visit "American Idol" on May 2, and NBC's "Today" the day the album comes out.

One of the tracks, "We Got It Going" featuring country duo Big & Rich, serves as the theme for ESPN's coverage of the Arena Football League, in which front man Jon Bon Jovi co-owns a team. One of the album's producers, Dan Huff, previously worked with country stars Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts.

The title track, though, is not related to the country classic popularized by Hank Williams. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora wrote it with the album's other producer, John Shanks, and it can be heard in the surprise box office hit "Wild Hogs."

Bon Jovi recently won the first Grammy in its career, in the country category, for its collaboration with Jennifer Nettles of the band Sugarland. "Who Says You Can't Go Home" hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, the first time in almost 30 years that a top billed non-country artist has reached No. 1 with its first attempt at the country chart.

"Lost Highway" is the follow-up to 2005's "Have a Nice Day," which has sold 1.4 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Bon Jovi has yet to announce tour plans; the group finished 2006 with the No. 3 tour according to Billboard Boxscore, grossing $131 million.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (4/1)

"All in the Family" - In an effort to restore life to normalcy, Nora invites her deceased husband's illegitimate daughter to a family dinner and has a romantic encounter with her college professor (guest starring Peter Coyote as Mark August). Meanwhile, Senator McCallister makes a surprising introduction, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, APRIL 1 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Cooper Whedon as Maxwell Perry Cotton, David Paymer as Donald Dudley, Peter Coyote as Mark August, Diva Zappa and David Carmon as Nora's classmates, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Justine Dorsey as Sofia McCallister, Max Burkholder as Jack McCallister and Kate Connor as the waitress.

"All in the Family" was written by Sherri Cooper-Landsman and David Marshall Grant and directed by David Paymer.

ABC's 'Mars' Mission Pushed Back

ABC has decided to delay its pilot "Life on Mars," hoping a later start will give the project a better pick for its lead role.

The network and producer David E. Kelley were having trouble finding the right actor to play the lead role, the showbiz trade papers report, and so decided to push the pilot, an adaptation of a BBC series, back to midseason 2007-08. Doing so will allow Kelley and Co. to pick from a bigger pool of actors than are currently available in the crush of pilot casting.

"Life on Mars" centers on a present-day detective who finds himself transported back to the early 1970s, when policing relied on brute force more than careful analysis of evidence. Though he's stuck in the past, he uncovers clues that may help solve the abduction of his girlfriend in the present day -- provided he can get back there.

The British show, which stars John Simm ("State of Play"), debuted last year and is currently in the middle of its second season on the BBC. The first season aired on BBC America last summer.

Rachelle Lefevre ("What About Brian") is thus far the only actor cast in the ABC version. She is set to play the lone female detective in the '70s-era department.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (3/25)

"Family Day" - The Walker family airs its dirty laundry in Justin's rehab group therapy session, and Kitty considers a tantalizing proposition from Senator McCallister, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MARCH 25 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 1/7/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Tyler Posey as Gabriel Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Sasha Craig as Maya, Romy Rosemont as the counselor, Jeanette Brox as Claire Feller and Irene White as the staff member.

"Family Day" was written by Molly Newman and David Marshall Grant and directed by David Petrarca.

Kelley takes plunge in 'Wedding Bells'

Spring brings wedding season, and producer David E. Kelley is back with a new take on nuptials in The Wedding Bells, a romantic comedy about three sisters and their family wedding business.

Bells premieres Wednesday on Fox (9 ET/PT) before settling into a regular Friday-at-9 time slot. "There's something just very familiar and inviting about a wedding," Kelley says. "It brings back pleasant memories; you go to a wedding with a certain degree of optimism about love and idealism, about the institution of marriage itself."

Unlike Ally McBeal or The Practice, "we're not going to be attacking big social issues in an aggressive way," he says. "The trick of this series is to keep it funny enough so that it's entertaining and keep it real enough so that the sisters are ultimately relatable" to viewers.

With Ally, he says, "we were not afraid of outright lunacy. This show will be a little more grounded than that."

But it retains the over-the-top Kelley touch, seen first with the writing stint on L.A. Law that led to his first solo series, CBS' Picket Fences, in 1992. "I tend to be a little grand in terms of storytelling," he says. "I've never been limited by anybody's sense of reality."

Kelley remains involved with ABC's Boston Legal, a spinoff of The Practice that's now in its third season. And he is readying an ABC pilot, Life on Mars, based on a British series about a time-traveling detective.

But Bells marks his first entirely new series since the very short-lived CBS drama Brotherhood of Poland, N.H. in 2003, and as usual, he's writing all 13 initial episodes.

Stories veer from the bride-of-the-week guest star to personal stories of the three Bell sisters, played by Teri Polo, KaDee Strickland and Sarah Jones, owners of the Wedding Palace.

The pilot's Bridezilla, a frazzled control freak played by Missi Pyle, becomes a series regular as she invests in the business.

Bells has a precursor: The DeMarco Affairs, a failed pilot developed for ABC three years ago by Kelley and Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights). "It didn't work out all that well," Kelley says. "I don't think it was funny enough."

So he rewrote the script, recast the actors and last fall sold it to Fox, which was struggling to fix another planned but ultimately scrapped midseason drama, The Wedding Album, which starred Bruno Campos as a photographer.

For a romantic-comedy hour to work, Kelley says, "it has to be somewhat whimsical and contagious, and probably the operative word is fun."

That could be the ticket for Fox on Fridays, a dead zone for the network since The X-Files in 1993.

"It feels like a good show for Friday night," says Fox's Craig Erwich, who is aiming for female fans of former weekend hits such as NBC's Providence. "It delves into questions of marriage and love, and David is adept at exploring social and moral issues."

Did Kelley draw on his nearly 14-year marriage to actress Michelle Pfeiffer for inspiration? He recalls his own wedding day, which he says she tightly controlled. "I was sitting back there not knowing what was about to happen, thinking, 'This is what marriage must be, sitting in the dark.' She keeps me more informed now."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (3/18)

"Mistakes Were Made," Part 2 - Sarah, Tommy and Kevin hit the road in search of William's lost treasure and discover his most shocking secret, and Justin returns from the hospital and makes a startling revelation about his enlistment. Meanwhile, Kitty forms an unorthodox alliance with a Senator, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MARCH 18 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/19/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest stars include Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Kerra Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry cotton as Cooper Whedon, Jay Huguley as White Peyton, David Burke as Jack Bishop, David Morton as Treat Williams, Keri Lynn Pratt as Amber Trachtenberg, Shawn Michael Patrick as Jordan Lisco, Rob Lowe as Senator Robert McCallister, Michelle Noh as Michelle, Jamie Martz as Dan, Stephen Bishop as Rick, Alex Reznik as the doctor, Michael Dempsey as Ed and Kathleen M. Darcy as the loan officer.

"Mistakes Were Made," Part 2 was written by Marc Guggenheim and Greg Berlanti and directed by Ken Olin.

Downey joins cast of Stiller comedy

Robert Downey Jr. and Jay Baruchel have signed on to star in the comedy "Tropic Thunder," which Ben Stiller will direct.

In the DreamWorks film, everything goes wrong during the making of a big-budget war movie, and the actors end up becoming the commandos they are playing.

Downey will play Kirk Lazarus, the greatest actor of his generation and a four-time Oscar winner. Baruchel will play Kevin Sandusky, an unknown actor on the set.

Shooting is set to start in July.

Downey stars in the upcoming "Zodiac" and "Iron Man," while Baruchel next appears in Judd Apatow's "Knocked Up." Stiller, in theaters with the worldwide box office smash "Night at the Museum," last directed the 2001 comedy "Zoolander."

Lucy Liu joins "Cashmere Mafia" pilot

Lucy Liu will star in ABC's one-hour drama pilot "Cashmere Mafia," which revolves around four successful female executives.

Liu, who most recently appeared on ABC's "Ugly Betty," will play one of them. "Cashmere," from Darren Star, marks Liu's first full-time series gig since "Ally McBeal" ended in 2002.

Also on board "Cashmere Mafia" are Frances O'Connor and Miranda Otto.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (3/11)

"Mistakes Were Made," Part 1 - Justin is shaken to the core and his resolve to stay clean is weakened by a disturbing letter that could dramatically alter his future, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MARCH 11 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/12/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest stars include Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Tyler Posey as Gabriel Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Annie McKnight as the mail woman, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Treat Williams as David Morton, Alejandra Flores as Rosa, Suzanne Whang as Carly, Diego Villarreal Garcia as Shawn, Shawn Michael Patrick as Jordan Lisco, Laura Jordan as Fawn.

"Mistakes Were Made," Part 1 was written by Jon Robin Baitz and Craig Wright and directed by Michael Lange.

Seen & Heard on the Oscar Red Carpet!

Portia de Rossi, proudly saying that partner – and Oscar host! – Ellen DeGeneres "is excited and well prepared. She knows how to do this."

Pig Vs. Elaine's

THE crowd at Elaine's for Enter tainment Weekly's 13th annual Oscar-viewing party there put its money where its mouth was last night. Guests at some tables filled out ballots and put up $5 a head into a winner-take-all pool while keeping their eyes on the storm. The betting fever was hot at the "Law and Order" table where Chris Noth and Christopher Meloni held court and at the well-informed table where Darren Aronofsky, Tatum O'Neal, Emily McEnroe and Erica Christiansen were handicapping the nominees. Ashley Ban field, six months pregnant with her second child, ad vised another pregnant guest, "You just go in, come out, it's like McDonald's." Jane Krakowski was shocked because she was rooting for Eddie Murphy to win the statuette that went to Alan Arkin. Down town, Sen. Chuck Schumer was the star of New York magazine's viewing bash at Spotted Pig in the West Village. "Al Gore may have done more with that movie ["An Inconvenient Truth"] than he did with the vice presidency," Schumer told Page Six, adding that he was pulling for "The De parted" and "Little Miss Sun shine." Also there were Liev Schreiber, Kurt Andersen, Nic ole Miller, the cast of "Jersey Boys," Ted Allen of "Queer Eye" and Michael Stipe, who said he's thrilled to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month with his band R.E.M.

Bon Jovi Plans Rock 'N' Roll Scent

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi is the latest celebrity to ditch his day job to dabble in cosmetics. The singer is launching his own aftershave, following showbiz scents from Kate Moss, David and Victoria Beckham, and Paris Hilton. Bon Jovi has teamed up with cosmetic company Coty Inc to develop the signature scent, due to hit shops later this year.

MEN IN TREES (3/8)

"The Buddy System" - Marin's efforts at coaching Patrick and Buzz on how they can build their relationship has mixed results -- now that Celia has told them that they're related. Marin and Annie need a "maintenance day" and go in search of a beauty salon; and while Sara prepares for her EMS exam, she struggles with what her future may hold. Meanwhile, Elmo is experiencing earthquake tremors that trigger an avalanche, putting Marin and Jack on the mountain in search of trapped friends, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, MARCH 8 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/27/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Lauren Tom as Mai, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Mario Cantone as Terri, Wendy Noel as administrator and Adrian McMorran as Carl.

"The Buddy System" was written by Chris Dingess and directed by Matt Shakman.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (3/4)

"The Other Walker" - News of William Walker and Holly Harper's illegitimate daughter, Rebecca, shakes the Walker family to the core, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, MARCH 4 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Parry Shen as Dan Silk and Emilio Rivera as the sponsor.

"The Other Walker" was written by Alison Schapker and Monica Owusu-Breen and directed by Gloria Muzio.

Vegas Grand Prix charity gala to feature Jon Bon Jovi and Jay Leno

The Vegas Grand Prix will host an April 5 charity gala featuring superstar performances by Jon Bon Jovi and Friends and Jay Leno.

Proceeds raised during the event's silent and live auction will be donated by the newly formed Jenyon Foundation, Inc. to Keep Memory Alive - the foundation for the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, a local organization that funds research to help find a cure to Alzheimer, Huntington, Parkinson, ALS and memory disorders - among others.

The gala, to be held at the Bellagio, will feature numerous celebrities. Jon Bon Jovi and Friends will be the headline musical entertainment with comedian and "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno doing stand-up. Hit country duo Big & Rich along with Cowboy Troy will also perform at the event. The gala will also feature international cuisine, appearances by Champ Car World Series drivers and A-list Hollywood celebrities and a live auction hosted by auctioneer company Barrett-Jackson with an accompanying high-end silent auction. Auction items include an exclusive winemaking and cooking apprenticeship in Tuscany, Italy with winemaker Roberto Stucchi; a stay in a waterfront condo in Kauai, Hawaii; a walk-on appearance on NBC's hit show "Medium"; VIP racing experiences with the American Racing Academy and rides in an L39 fighter jet.

Attendance at the event is by invitation only, with seating beginning at $5,000 for a table of 10. Prices progress to the Pole Position, the title sponsorship, which at $350,000 includes three VIP tables to the gala, private meet and greet with Jon Bon Jovi, premium champagne and wine on tables and numerous other benefits.

"The Vegas Grand Prix Gala will be one of the most spectacular evenings for our sponsors and VIP guests to enjoy," said Bradley Yonover, co-owner of the Vegas Grand Prix. "It will be a night to remember, beginning the moment guests enter the cocktail reception through the Jon Bon Jovi and Friends concert."

The Jenyon Foundation, Inc. is named after the owners of the Vegas Grand Prix, Dale Jensen and Yonover. Their company, DDB Ventures, is also putting on the Grand Prix Arizona, a similar event, in December 2007. The foundation will work with similar charities for the Arizona festival. The foundation will also donate money raised at the celebrity poker tournament to be held at Binion's Gambling Hall on Wednesday, April 4, to benefit Keep Memory Alive, among other charitable organizations.

"The Vegas Grand Prix will prove to be a big help to so many people in Southern Nevada and beyond," said Jensen, partner with Yonover in DDB Ventures. "We're proud to be a part of the Las Vegas community and honored to be able to help those in need at the same time."

Keep Memory Alive works hard to raise research dollars, develop a cure for Alzheimer's disease and build a state-of-the-art facility designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, which broke ground last week. Since being founded in 1996, the foundation has raised $50 million toward the goal of opening the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute in downtown Las Vegas. The center is named in honor of Lou Ruvo, father of foundation founder Larry Ruvo, who died from Alzheimer's disease. For more information, visit www.keepmemoryalive.org.

About Vegas Grand Prix

The Vegas Grand Prix is a three-day festival of speed and entertainment being held April 6-8, 2007 that will encircle the heart of downtown Las Vegas. The weekend will feature rock concerts, a celebrity poker tournament, Easter services, an impressive Easter egg hunt and culminate in the internationally televised 2007 series opener for the Champ Car World Series.

The racing portion of the weekend will also present a Historic Grand Prix with legendary open-wheel racers participating as well as the season opener for Champ Car Atlantic - Champ Car's support series. The temporary street circuit is a 2.44-mile, 12-turn course through the heart of "Glitter Gulch." Champ Cars generate nearly 750 horsepower and can reach speeds up to 180 miles per hour on the Vegas street course. It is expected to be one of the largest events in the history of downtown Las Vegas.

What's Ahead for Men in Trees' Marin and Jack?

TVGuide.com recently invited fans of ABC's Men in Trees (Thursdays at 10 pm/ET) to hit series creator Jenny Bicks with your best shots — the questions about Marin, Jack, Annie et al that you ache to have answered. Faster than you can say "Elmo, Alaska," Bicks came through. Here is her exceptionally qualified take on one of the TV season's most enjoyable and frothy hits.

Men in Trees is my favorite show, I love it. The only part I do not like is Lynn (played by Justine Bateman) and Jack (James Tupper). It doesn't make sense that he would change his life just because an old girlfriend that hurt him came back to town pregnant. I keep hoping the father of the baby shows up and takes her away. [That said] I like that I feel good while watching this show, and I love me some Plow Boy.
Jenny Bicks: Thanks for watching! And who doesn't love a little Plow Guy? (Don't fret, he'll be back.... ) Now, you may not like Lynn and Jack together (because — and I am glad to see so many of you feel this — Marin and Jack belong together), but I think it absolutely makes sense that Jack chose to try it again with Lynn. She had only left four months ago, he had a very long history with her, and in some ways he had to try again to see if it was right. He and Marin had not decided they were in a relationship. I know the "other man's baby" thing is hard to get past — it was hard for Jack, too — but a big part of the Jack-Lynn dynamic is that he takes care of her. His stepping up for this baby is just one more way he is showing his (misplaced?) loyalty to her.

Plow Boy and Jane so rock that I'm very happy when we're seeing their story. Please don't ruin this relationship! And I loved when Patrick was telling Buzz about the sperm donation and Buzz said something about, "When I said to 'man up,' I didn't mean all over the place." With this and the excellent Grey's Anatomy, I have me some yummy TV. I really have no questions, Jenny, just have to say thanks.
Bicks: Stay tuned on Jane and Plow Guy. They are rocked, but not over....

[Last week] was another delightful episode. That said, I really do hate Jack and Lynn together. Question: Is Plow Guy the same actorwho plays/played Captain Kelly on Battlestar Galactica?
Bicks: Good eye! Yes, our lovely Ty Olsson did play LSO Capt. Aaron Kelly on Battlestar.

Why do you keep Jack and Marin apart? I started watching because I like Anne Heche, and the chemistry between Jack and Marin kept me coming back. Lynn for an episode or two would have been OK, but now it is just too much. I never watched Sex and the City [on which Bicks was a writer] because watching vapid women is not my thing, and Marin seemed so intelligent, as did Jack. It would have been more fun to watch their relationship grow because of their own insecurities. No man in his right mind goes for the poor, pregnant brunette when they can have a beautiful, intelligent, rich blonde. Just ask my husband.
Bicks: Wow. This comment saddens me on so many levels. I'm sorry you didn't like Sex and the City because I am really proud of the work we did on that show to portray single women as thinking, feeling, complex, smart creatures. So to hear you, a woman, take down a female character because she doesn't look glamorous, well.... That seems a wee bit vapid on your part, don't you think?

My question is this: How did you find such great supporting actors?
Bicks: Thanks for noticing the actors. We have a hugely talented cast. I made it a big priority of mine to find the best actors for each role, not actors that I always felt were "known." This Thursday, Annie Potts and Colm Meaney join the cast as Annie's parents. They were my first choice, and I am really lucky I got them. They are hysterical with Patrick and Annie.

More Jane and Plow Guy! Please have Jane move to Elmo....
Bicks: Not all at once, people! Jane can't move to Elmo till we get Marin a bit more situated. But she'll be back, I promise. In fact, look for her this Thursday night and in the finale in Elmo!

Jack isn't going to be tempted to do anything beyond living with Lynn, is he? He's not going to be tempted to propose, is he? When is Lynn's baby due? Will she have it before the end of the season? Will Jack's brother or Marin's sister make another appearance? Will Sara get a love interest? Will she get back together with Ben? Is her son coming back to Elmo? Will there be anymore quaint, small-town festivals/celebrations/traditions in upcoming episodes?
Bicks: OK, that's a lot of questions! Let's see.... Yes, Sara gets a love interest. You will meet him this Thursday; his name is Eric, and he has a secret. Here's something fun: Eric is played by Nick Lea (of X-Files fame), who happens to be the real live-in boyfriend of Suleka Mathew (Sara). This is the first time they have acted together, and I am happy to report they have great on-screen chemistry. Sara's son has come back to Elmo (see the baby-shower conversation she had with Marin), and you will meet him in Episode 117, "Chemical Reactions." Jack's brother will be back before the end of the season to shake things up, and Lynn is due now in about two months (real time).

Hi, Jenny. I really love the show and look forward to it every week. I don't know if it was part of the master plan or not, but I was amazed at how hard I took Jack's breakup with Marin. You would think I was the one being passed over for the old girlfriend! Even following your story line in its new direction is sad. I've seen a few forums where it seems I'm not alone. My questions are: Are you surprised by the reaction? Do you see it as good or bad for the show? And has it had an impact on where you are taking the story?
Bicks: I have known exactly how this whole season was going to go before we started shooting. As showrunner, you must pitch all the character arcs to the network before you start. So I know exactly what is going to happen with Jack, Lynn and Marin, and so does the network and studio. No, I have not changed it. If I started changing the story because it made the audience uncomfortable, that would be a very slippery slope. The nice surprise is that so many of you guys hooked into Jack and Marin as a possibility early on. They are really great together. So I guess I was pleasantly surprised on two fronts: that my two romantic lead characters could have a possible life together past Season 1, and that you guys care enough about that to be angry, upset, etc, about Lynn. I guess I have been a little surprised at the vitriol aimed directly at me over Lynn, but I also know that it makes for good storytelling when your audience is rooting for two people to be together. I also agree with many posters who say you can put a couple together and create tension from that relationship alone, without a third party. But the goal of this show is five seasons. You can't have it all right away.

If we can't have Jack and Marin as a couple, can we at least have Jack waking up in a cold sweat where he was dreaming about Marin, and him in a hot and steamy situation giving him "food for thought"?
Bicks: Hmm... stay tuned. When you hear the words "wild garlic," you'll be getting closer.

I love Men in Trees! There hasn't been a dud episode yet, but I just don't get the Jack-Lynn relationship, and why he feels the need to "be there" for her. Are we going to find out more about why Lynn left? Or about her baby's daddy?
Bicks: I think I made a bad film-editing choice early on — we often have to make cuts for time — when I lost a sentence where Lynn explained that the father of her baby — no, it isn't Ian or Jack or even Buzz! — wanted nothing to do with the baby. Lynn really is alone on this. Jack is Lynn's only real family, so he does feel responsible for her and for the baby. This will be explained more on this week's episode.

Have we seen the last of Stuart (Jason O'Mara)? I'd love to see more of him! Maybe have Stuart and Marin try a relationship with strings?!?
Bicks: You will get more Stuart!

In light of recent events in the last four episodes, I have several questions I would like to ask. The first one, obviously, is about Marin and Jack. In an interview, James Tupper said that Jack had a few things to figure out. My question is, will he? And if/when he does, will he and Marin have a chance to reconcile?
Bicks: Yes, Jack will figure his stuff out. But it doesn't happen overnight. And if he and Marin have a shot in the future, trust me, she isn't going to just take him back. He did a bit of a number on her, so I'd like to see him have to fight for her.

We Hear...

THAT Sting and Bon Jovi will speak out tomorrow in L.A. when Al Gore and Live 8 producer Kevin Wall announce an upcoming "global climate crisis" concert.

MEN IN TREES (3/1)

"Power Shift" -- While Marin adapts to her new small town environment -- which includes being a relationship adviser on Patrick's radio show and being followed by a stray raccoon -- she gets surprising advice from the men in Elmo as to what she should do to get over her fianci. Meanwhile, Jane helps Marin cancel her wedding in New York; Sara takes Marin to a sweat lodge to sort out her problems; Annie settles into town by getting a job working for Jack; and Marin accidentally blows out the town's power using her hairdryer, which inadvertently opens the door to new romance with a handsome stranger -- who is no stranger to Elmo -- on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, MARCH 1 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 9/15/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Ed Kerr as Ian Slattery, Tobias Slezak as Graham, Colby Johannson as Gary, Dave Lantaigne as fisherman, Shawn MacDonald as cake store helper, John Boncore as medicine man aka George, Alex Kliner as Cappy and Adrian McMorran as man no. 1.

"Power Shift" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by Allison Anders.

Team Downey Riding The Wagon

ROBERT Downey Jr. says people still worry he's about to fall off the wagon any second now. The recovering drug addict, who did a year in the slammer, tells the March issue of Esquire: "I can have the yoga teacher come to the door, and if I don't answer it and he's waiting outside for me, he goes, 'I thought you were [bleeping] dead.' " Still, sobriety remains a round-the-clock job. "I am surrounded, like an MIT prodigy, with teams and squads of experts and supporters," Downey says. "How much support do I need? Uh, tons?"

Relative Chaos: What's Next for the Brothers & Sisters?

When we first met the Walkers back in September, it was like watching home videos: They reminded us of our own relatives, but with 10 times the drama and wittier banter. Here, we've got the inside scoop on the twists and turns coming up on ABC's Brothers & Sisters (Sundays at 10 pm/ET). Just make sure to check your issues at the door — the Walkers already have plenty to go around.

Nora Holden Walker (Sally Field)
Who she is: After suddenly losing her husband, William, to a heart attack and then discovering he had a mistress, Nora's become the ultimate meddling mom.

What's coming up: "Nora's defined herself as a wife and a mother for 40 years and now it's time for her to rediscover herself," says executive producer Greg Berlanti. "By the end of the year she'll figure out what she wants." A new man, perhaps?

Kitty Walker (Calista Flockhart)
Who she is: A conservative politico, Kitty returned home to Los Angeles to be a pundit on a TV show. But now she's moved on to a new job — and a new relationship — with Sen. Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe).

What's coming up: Though we'll continue to see Kitty prosper in her career, love is also high on her agenda. "Kitty's going to have a real romance with the senator," says series creator Jon Robin Baitz. (Baitz writes a celebrity blog for TVGuide.com.) "He's a bit of a soul mate for her." So does that mean we can look forward to a wedding during May sweeps? Says Baitz, "Let's go through the fun of the chase first!"

The Whedons: Joe (John Pyper-Ferguson), Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), Gabe (Tyler Posey), Cooper (Maxwell Perry Cotton) and Paige (Kerris Lilla Dorsey)
Who they are: Sarah, the eldest of the Walker kids, became president of the family's produce company, Ojai, when her father died. Her husband, Joe, is a stay-at-home dad who takes care of their diabetic daughter, Paige, their son Cooper and occasionally Gabe, his son from a previous marriage.

What's coming up: Think "war on the home front": "There will be some roller-coaster rides for Sarah's family," Baitz says. "There's a discrepancy between where Sarah and Joe are in their lives — she's a working mother who's trying to do everything, and he has a different pace to his life. That's going to become a more pointed issue."

Justin Walker (Dave Annable)
Who he is: The baby of the family, Justin's been battling with drugs and alcohol ever since he returned from Afghanistan. Things only got worse when he received a letter from the army calling him back to duty in Iraq.

What's coming up: The big question is, will Justin go off to war? "I think it's doubtful we'll postpone it twice," Berlanti says. "It's the reality of his character's situation." And Annable's OK with that — sort of. "At first I was excited, but then I was like, ‘Wait, didn't they kill [Ian Somerhalder] off Lost in the first season?' This could suck."

Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys)
Who he is: The most levelheaded Walker when it comes to family matters, he's less together when it comes to romance. Though Kevin's out of the closet, he's not always comfortable with his sexuality.

What's coming up: "The personal aspects of Kevin's life take over more of his story line," Rhys says. Though he'll continue to date closeted soap star Chad (Sex and the City's Jason Lewis) for a few more episodes, Baitz says Kevin "will get his heart broken. But he's going to be learning how to love, and there will be real surprises there."

Saul Holden (Ron Rifkin)
Who he is: Nora's brother, Saul, helps run Ojai. Despite his loyalty, he went against the family when he pursued a relationship with William's mistress, Holly (Patricia Wettig).

What's coming up: Get ready for more Saul/Holly/Nora drama. "There will be more collisions and confrontations, and it will come to a head," Baitz says. "We're moving toward a climactic season finale with big cliff-hangers as far as the future of the family."

Tommy Walker (Balthazar Getty) and wife Julia (Sarah Jane Morris)
Who they are: First, Tommy is passed over for the CEO title, and then he finds out he's sterile. Julia was artificially inseminated with sperm from both Justin and Kevin and may have a baby before the end of the season.

What's coming up: "Holly's going to imply to Tommy that his dad had much bigger plans for him before he passed away, and Tommy's going to have to deal with those revelations," Berlanti says. "Tommy and Julia discover that they might not be having only one child. I'm not going to say 10, but I'm not going to say one." And if that's not enough, Julia's pregnancy isn't going to be easy. This is Brothers & Sisters, after all.

ABC's 'Brothers' shows signs of maturing

Few things in life can make you happier, or drive you crazier, than family.

So it's probably only fitting that the same can be said about TV's best family drama, ABC's Brothers & Sisters. Overstuffed and a bit of a mad jumble it may be, but after a stumbling start, this talent-rich hour has coalesced into one of the season's most joyfully endearing and entertaining series.

As often happens with new shows, particularly those from TV newbies, it took a while for Brothers to find its way. Created by playwright Jon Robin Baitz, Brothers had a notoriously rough gestation process, with producers, actors and plotlines coming and going with abandon.

Yet as notable as it may have been for its problems, Brothers was always even more notable for its promise — built upon Baitz's generous, all-inclusive approach to the strengths and weakness of modern family as interpreted by a cast and crew any show would envy.

On screen you had Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Ron Rifkin, Patricia Wettig, Balthazar Getty, Matthew Rhys and, as the family matriarch, Sally Field. Behind the scenes you had Ken Olin, thirtysomething star turned producer/director. And to both complete and improve the picture, you have two very smart post-premiere additions: Rob Lowe as a love interest/star, and Everwood's Greg Berlanti as a producer.

You can see the improved results of their combined efforts Sunday in a witty Valentine's Day episode dedicated to the vagaries of love, sex, and '60s nostalgia. As an added treat, it boasts an amusing guest shot by Margot Kidder as a friend who leads Field's Nora Walker down a garden path she quickly comes to regret.

Anyone who hasn't watched Brothers since its earlier outings may be surprised by how well the family gets along these days. The original mystery/tragedy (the death of the Walker patriarch and his pilfering of the family business's pension account) has been dumped, along with much of the angst it provoked.

There are still business troubles galore, many driven by dad's mistress (Wettig). But freed from family secrets, the battles now feel more organic and real.

Equally wise has been the rehabilitative work done on Flockhart's Kitty, who has left her job as a conservative talk-show star to work for a Republican senator (Lowe). It's a much better fit for Flockhart, who never seemed either flamboyant or aggressive enough for talk-show fame, and it has allowed the show to jettison most of its political diatribes. Brothers still explores the family's political divides, but it does so in a way that is far less argumentative and preachy.

Actually, Kitty herself kicks off Sunday's parade of Valentine's Day massacres, waking up in bed with her boss and immediately calling her sister, Sarah (Griffiths, whose radiant warmth will shock those who only know her from Six Feet Under).

As the family phone tree spreads, we find out that Kevin (Rhys), the gay brother, and Justin (Dave Annable), the troubled brother, have both made iffy choices. Best of all, Mom has made a choice that landed her in jail. ("This family should have a bat signal for things that good.")

The comedy and crisis are, as usual, exaggerated for effect. But they're built upon a foundation of universally recognizable family truths, from the siblings' skill at mixing support and criticism in the same sentence, to the mother's struggle to adapt to age and change and grief. The skill and strength Field brings to that struggle is not to be missed.

And while you're watching, note the matter-of-fact equivalency granted to Kevin's relationships. Neither neglected nor highlighted, they're treated with as much seriousness, or lack thereof, as any other.

Brothers still has a fondness for chaos, veering from the silly in one scene to the melodramatic in the next. But as other problems resolve, those tonal shifts may lessen as well. Or they'll just become one of those quirks you learn to accept, and maybe even to like.

Which is how family works sometimes.

To Err Is Mel

MEL Gibson alienated a lot of people in Hollywood with his anti-Semitic tirade when he was arrested, but he's got Robert Downey Jr. on his side. Downey, whose dad is Jewish, told W magazine, "What occurred, in my estimation, was that somebody was caught in the act of being an imperfect human being." As for all the Gibson haters in Tinseltown, Downey smirked, "I really didn't know that we had 8 million morally sound people in this town. Wow, I really didn't know that. I guess I've been dining at the Ivy with, like, living saints."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (2/18)

"Love Is Difficult" -- Some intel from the office staff may sway Kitty's vote about her future with Senator McCallister. Meanwhile, Sarah and Joe dive further into therapy (guest starring Joel Gray as Dr. Jude Bar-Shalom), and Tommy has a chance encounter with a distant relative that will change everything for the Walker family, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18 (10:03-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Joel Grey as Dr. Jude Bar-Shalom, Naz Deravian as Dr. Colleen Singh, Ryan Michelle Bath as Noreen, Paul Cassell as Gary Morris, Susan Santiago as Vanessa, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Roxy Olin as Michelle and Cad Olivas as the little kid.

"Love Is Difficult" was written by Jon Robin Baitz and Molly Newman and directed by Michael Schultz.

Anne Heche's husband files for divorce

Anne Heche's husband has filed for divorce after five years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. In documents filed Thursday, Coleman Laffoon asked the court to award him spousal support and joint custody of the couple's 4-year-old son, Homer.

The filing lists as separate property his earnings from the date of separation and "miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects."

Heche, 37, and Laffoon, a motion picture cameraman, were married in September 2001. The couple met while working on a documentary about Ellen DeGeneres' return to standup comedy.

An after-hours message for Heche's publicist, Lisa Kasteler, was not immediately returned Friday. Kasteler announced the couple's separation nearly a week ago, but did not elaborate on the reason for the split.

Heche had a high-profile relationship with DeGeneres for more than three years. They announced their separation in August 2000.

Heche currently plays a relationship guru who relocates to Alaska in the ABC television drama "Men in Trees." Her film credits include "Wag the Dog," "John Q" and "Donnie Brasco."

MEN IN TREES (2/15)

"The Indecent Proposal" - When Marin lets the sexy and free-spirited Cash (Scott Elrod) temporarily move into her cabin in exchange for repairing it, she must get used to his lifestyle. Meanwhile, Marin finds herself unprepared for some surprising news she hears about Jack and Lynn. And Patrick wants to officially propose to Annie by asking her father for her hand in marriage, so she takes him to New York to meet her parents and other family members, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Scott Elrod as Cash, Annie Potts as Annie's mother, Nicolas Lea as Eric, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Lesley Ewen as instructor, David Beairsto as facilitator, Kevin Blatch as male nurse, Jonathan Chambers as Joe, Teri Lee as pregnant woman, Penelope Cardas as Samantha and Tanya Champoux as woman. Other guest cast TBD.

"The Indecent Proposal" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by Sanaa Hamri.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (2/11)

"Valentine's Day Massacre" -- On Valentine's Day, Kitty and Senator McCallister (special guest star Rob Lowe) find it difficult to resist one another. Meanwhile, Kevin has more companionship than he bargained for and Nora has dinner with a wayward friend (guest starring Margot Kidder as Emily) and finds herself in a bit of trouble, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, Margot Kidder as Emily Craft, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Roxy Olin as Michelle, DW Moffett as Michael Pellington, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Sky Soleil as the policeman and Judy Shekoni as the hostess.

"Valentine's Day Massacre" was written by Cliff Olin & Peter Calloway and directed by Michael Schultz.

Ellen: Portia Is 'My Perfect Fit'

Ellen DeGeneres says she's been happy in relationships before – but not the kind of happy that she feels with Portia de Rossi.

DeGeneres, who is set to host the Academy Awards on Feb. 25, tells The Advocate in its new issue that she's reached a different level of contentment with her actress girlfriend of two years.

"I could say the same thing I've said in every relationship: 'I'm happy.' But there's happiness and there's love, and then there's completion," the Emmy-winning talk-show host says. "It doesn't take away from any of the relationships that I've had, 'cause I've had amazing relationships. ... But I feel like I found my perfect fit."

DeGeneres, who turned 49 Friday, and de Rossi, who will be 34 on Wednesday began dating in late 2004.

One key to their happiness, says DeGeneres, is that they learn things from each other. "She's taught me lessons about myself, and I feel like I've taught her," says DeGeneres. "We've both changed and grown, and we just feel like, 'Oh, OK, this is completion.' "

In September 2005, de Rossi told The Advocate that her relationship with DeGeneres was "very loving, peaceful," adding, "I really feel not alone for the first time in my life."

In the new interview, DeGeneres also reveals how jazzed she is to be hosting the Academy Awards. "There's a nervousness, but there's also an excitement," she says. "You want to do your best, naturally, but it's also just letting it happen once you're out there."

The hosting gig means she won't get to walk the red carpet with de Rossi. But actually, that's OK, says DeGeneres: "When we're together and she's in her heels, I always feel like Tom Cruise next to Nicole Kidman."

Anne Heche Splits with Husband

Anne Heche, the star of ABC's "Men in Trees," has split from her husband of five years, Coley Laffoon.

The 37-year-old actress and Laffoon, 33, "have decided to separate," Heche's rep says in a statement to People. "They have requested that they be allowed their privacy at this time."

Meanwhile, "Entertainment Tonight" is reporting that Heche and her "Men in Trees" co-star, James Tupper, have begun dating. Neither actor, per their representatives, is commenting on the alleged romance. The two play on-screen lovers in the ABC series, which is set in a small town in Alaska.

Tupper and his wife separated in November, "ET" says.

Heche and Laffoon married in September 2001, a year after she ended a three-year relationship with comedian Ellen DeGeneres. They have a 4-year-old son, Homer.

"Men in Trees" airs at 10 p.m. Thursdays on NBC.

MEN IN TREES (2/8)

"Nice Girls Finish Frist" - When Marin can't get her construction crew to do what she wants on her run-down cabin, she meets a sexy loner named Cash (Scott Elrod), a local handyman. As Buzz learns George's (Orlando Jones) secret -- the son he hasn't seen since the boy was eight -- his attempts to be supportive fall short and threaten their family reunion. Meanwhile, Marin must decide if she should attend Lynn's (Justine Bateman) baby shower, and, in order to spend time with Sam (Ty Olsson), Jane tries to establish her New York business in Elmo, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Orlando Jones as George, Mario Cantone as Terri Romano, Scott Elrod as Cash, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Ty Olsson as Sam and Charles Zuckermann as workman.

"Nice Girls Finish Frist" was written by Anna Fricke and directed by Jeff Melman.

Kelley: Wife kept wedding plans a secret

For someone writing a TV series about wedding planners, David E. Kelley can't speak from experience. He had nothing to do with putting together his 1993 wedding ceremony to Michelle Pfeiffer.

"My wife was so worried that the paparazzi would ruin the wedding party that she kept the details of the wedding secret from everyone, including me," Kelley told reporters Saturday. His new romantic comedy will appear on News Corp.'s Fox network sometime this spring.

Fortunately, he was filled in on the time and place of his own nuptials.

"I remember sitting backstage at the wedding and not knowing exactly what was about to happen," he recalled.

Kelley, 50, is the creator and executive producer of the ABC-TV series "Boston Legal." Pfeiffer, 48, has been nominated for Oscars for her roles in "Love Field," "The Fabulous Baker Boys" and "Dangerous Liaisons."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (2/9)

"Something Ida This Way Comes" - Nora and Saul's not-so-loving mother, Ida (guest starring Marion Ross), makes an unwelcome visit to celebrate a milestone in her daughter's life, on "Brothers & Sisters," FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 (9:01-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 1/21/07)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, Marion Ross as Ida Holden, Susan Pari as Sparky, Mario Piccirillo as Pietro, Romy Rosemont as the counselor, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Hutchi Hancock as party staffer, Danny Lopes as the delivery guy, Stephon Fuller as the video editor, Adrian N. Roberts as the state trooper and Cheryl Tsai as the waitress.

"Something Ida This Way Comes" was written by Sherri Cooper-Landsman and David Marshall Grant and directed by Michael Lange.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/26; PROGRAM CHANGE)

"Sexual Politics" -- Kevin falls for a soap opera actor (guest starring Jason Lewis as Chad Berry) who is confused about his own sexuality. Meanwhile, Kitty and Nora dearly regret being sucked in by the sales pitch of an executive matchmaker, on "Brothers & Sisters," FRIDAY, JANUARY 26 (9:01-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 1/14/07)

Editors note: This episode replaces "Something Ida This Way Comes" which had been scheduled to repeat at this time. "Something Ida..." will now repeat Fri., Feb. 9 (9:01-10:00 p.m., ET)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Caroline Aaron as Elise, Mark Harari as the instructor, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Rachel Montez Collins as L.A. babe, Paul Cassell as Gary Morris, Ryan Michelle Bathe as Noreen, Sophia Rachel Garcia as Nicole, Susan Santiago as Vanessa, Sulekah Naidu as the hostess, Jim Anzie as the waiter, Robert Michael Morris as Lawrence Magill, Christian Keyes as the bouncer, Chris Flanders as the reporter and Roxy Olin as Michelle.

"Sexual Politics" was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker and directed by Sandy Smolan.

MEN IN TREES (2/1)

"Take It Like a Man" -- When Marin's New York publisher, Stuart (Jason O'Mara), unexpectedly invites her on an overnight ski trip, she wonders if she can be like "one of the guys" and accepts his invitation with no strings attached. Meanwhile, a nervous Jack accompanies Lynn for a sonogram; Patrick tells Annie that he once made a sperm bank donation; Jane and Sam (Ty Olsson ) teach each other some of life's secrets, and Buzz comes face to face with a part of his past, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben Thomasson, Emily Bergl as Annie O'Donnell, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz Washington.

Guest starring are, Justine Bateman as Lynn, Jason O'Mara as Stuart, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Ty Olsson as Sam, Orlando Jones as George, Ellie Harvie as clerk and Wayne Charles Baker as fisherman.

"Take It Like a Man" was written by Chris Dingess and directed by Dean White.

Bon Jovi to play Pa. inaugural concert

Bon Jovi will headline a slate of entertainers with strong Pennsylvania ties for Gov. Ed Rendell's inauguration, the Democrat's inaugural committee said Saturday.

Also scheduled to perform at Tuesday's $100-per-ticket concert are former teen idol Frankie Avalon and The Trammps of disco fame.

The concert will be held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show complex in Harrisburg after the Democrat is sworn in for his second four-year term.

Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi is a New Jersey native with strong ties to Philadelphia, where Rendell served two terms as mayor. Bon Jovi is co-owner of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul and he was given the City of Brotherly Love Award last fall for his work with Habitat for Humanity.

Avalon, a Philadelphia native, was a popular recording artist in the 1950s who built a second career as an actor in the '60s, appearing in films that included the "Beach Party" movies with Annette Funicello.

The Trammps began as a Philadelphia group and won a Grammy Award for their "Disco Inferno" album.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/28)

"Northern Exposure" - Kitty and Warren's quiet weekend in the country turns out to be anything but quiet, while Tommy and Julia, unable to conceive, consider unorthodox alternatives, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JANUARY 28 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/5/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest stars include Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Jay Huguley as Whit Peyton, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Treat Williams as David Morton, Keri Lynn Pratt as Amber Trachtenberg, Shawn Michael Patrick as Jordan Lisco, Ruben Garfias as Henry Martinez and Maya Hazen as Amy Chang.

"Northern Exposure" was written by David Marshall Grant and Molly Newman and directed by Lawrence Trilling.

Courtney Thorne-Smith weds agent

Courtney Thorne-Smith, who stars on ABC's "According to Jim," married her boyfriend, agent Roger Fishman, on New Year's Day, her spokesman said Wednesday.

Thorne-Smith, 39, and Fishman wed "at her home in a small, private ceremony," said publicist Jim Broutman. He declined to give further details.

Thorne-Smith was briefly married to Andrew Conrad, a genetic scientist.

She also has starred in TV's "Ally McBeal" and "Melrose Place."

MEN IN TREES (1/25)

"Bed, Bat & Beyond" - Marin is excited to move into her rustic mountain cabin, but discovers that her new place is not quite ready for her when she encounters some unexpected visitors. Jane unintentionally neglects Sam, aka Plow Man (Ty Olsson), to support Marin's new move, Patrick is concerned that he will not be able to give Annie the wedding of her dreams, Celia (Cynthia Stevenson) finally admits to dating her boss, Richard (Currie Graham), and Theresa has mixed feelings about Sara helping out at The Chieftain while Ben recuperates; and Lynn (Justine Bateman) senses that Jack may still have feelings for Marin, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Justine Bateman as Lynn, Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, Currie Graham as Richard, Ty Olsson as Sam, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Antony Towe as Korean man, Winnie Hung as Korean woman and Brett Delaney as salesman.

"Bed, Bat & Beyond" was written by Tim Davis and directed by Matthew Diamond.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/21)

"Something Ida This Way Comes" - Nora and Saul's not-so-loving mother, Ida (guest starring Marion Ross), makes an unwelcome visit to celebrate a milestone in her daughter's life, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Editors note: This program will repeat Fri., Jan. 26 (9:01-10:00 p.m., ET)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Marion Ross as Ida and Jason Lewis as Chad Berry. Other guest stars TBD.

"Something Ida This Way Comes" was written by Sherri Cooper-Landsman and David Marshall Grant and directed by Michael Lange.

Sightings

JANE Krakowski and Cheyenne Jackson at the Roxy practicing their roller-skating for the upcoming Broadway version of "Xanadu." "They were actually pretty good," said our spy. "They finally left after people kept coming up to them and wouldn't leave them alone."

MEN IN TREES (1/18)

"History Lessons" - Marin, who is suffering from writer's block and getting over Jack, volunteers to help at Elmo's fundraising rummage sale. Her publisher, Stuart (Jason O'Mara), makes an unexpected visit to help critique her book's second chapter. Meanwhile, Jack tries to pick up where he left off with former girlfriend Lynn (Justine Bateman), Sara comes back to town and is surprised to see Ben and Theresa back together, and Patrick's storybook proposal to Annie goes awry, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, JANUARY 18 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, Justine Bateman as Lynn, Jason O'Mara as Stuart, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Minnie Black as Minnie, Ralph Alderman as Lloyd, Lesley Ewen as Dr. Sachs, Karina Carreck as woman and Betty Phillips as volunteer.

"History Lessons" was written by Bruce Miller and directed by Wendey Stanzler.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/14)

"Sexual Politics" -- Kevin falls for a soap opera actor (guest starring Jason Lewis as Chad Berry) who is confused about his own sexuality. Meanwhile, Kitty and Nora dearly regret being sucked in by the sales pitch of an executive matchmaker, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Caroline Aaron as Elise, Mark Harari as the instructor, Jason Lewis as Chad Berry, Rachel Montez Collins as L.A. babe, Paul Cassell as Gary Morris, Ryan Michelle Bathe as Noreen, Sophia Rachel Garcia as Nicole, Susan Santiago as Vanessa, Sulekah Naidu as the hostess, Jim Anzie as the waiter, Robert Michael Morris as Lawrence Magill, Christian Keyes as the bouncer, Chris Flanders as the reporter and Roxy Olin as Michelle.

"Sexual Politics" was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker and directed by Sandy Smolan.

MEN IN TREES (1/11)

"The Darkest Day" - Now that Jack has admitted to Marin he's falling in love with her, she decides to bide her time and wait for his ex-girlfriend, Lynn (Justine Bateman), to leave Elmo. Meanwhile Annie thinks Patrick won't be ready for a relationship until he unties himself from his mother's apron strings, Celia gets a visit from her out-of-town boss, Sara comes back to town and is surprised to see Ben and Theresa back together, and Jane wonders if she wants to keep a long-distance relationship with Sam (Ty Olsson), aka Plow Man, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, JANUARY 11 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Currie Graham as Richard, Ty Olsson as Sam, Timothy Webber as Jerome and Todd Allen as nervous guy.

"The Darkest Day" was written by Cara DiPaolo and directed by Rick Wallace.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (1/7)

"Family Day" - The Walker family airs its dirty laundry in Justin's rehab group therapy session, and Kitty considers a tantalizing proposition from Senator McCallister, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Tyler Posey as Gabriel Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Sasha Craig as Maya, Romy Rosemont as the counselor, Jeanette Brox as Claire Feller and Irene White as the staff member.

"Family Day" was written by Molly Newman and David Marshall Grant and directed by David Petrarca.

"Wedding" belles for Kelley, Fox

Teri Polo, Sarah Jones and KaDee Strickland will star in "The Wedding Planners," David E. Kelley's new Fox series about three sisters in the nuptials business.

Polo will play Jane, the oldest sister, known as the "conservative one." She is attractive, smart, practical and sensible. Jones will play Sammy, the youngest sister. She is a free spirit, the most romantic of the three. Strickland will play Annie, a natural-born leader. She is tough, fit and not afraid of a fight, verbal or physical.

Michael Landes also has been cast in the project as David, who works at the wedding-planning company as a photographer. He is self-deprecating and charming and has a talent for calming jittery brides.

"Wedding" is slated to premiere in the spring.

Polo, best known for playing Ben Stiller's wife in the "Meet the Parents" films, has worked with Kelley before. She had a recurring role on "The Practice," his legal drama for ABC, and guest-starred on "Chicago Hope," his medical drama for CBS.

Jones recently recurred on HBO's "Big Love" and Showtime's "Huff," while Strickland's feature credits include "Fever Pitch" and "The Grudge." Landes recently did multiple episodes on CBS' "Ghost Whisperer."

MEN IN TREES (1/4)

"The Darkest Day" - Now that Jack has admitted to Marin he's falling in love with her, she decides to bide her time and wait for his ex-girlfriend, Lynn (Justine Bateman), to leave Elmo. Meanwhile Annie thinks Patrick won't be ready for a relationship until he unties himself from his mother's apron strings, Celia gets a visit from her out-of-town boss, Sara comes back to town and is surprised to see Ben and Theresa back together, and Jane wonders if she wants to keep a long-distance relationship with Sam (Ty Olsson), aka Plow Man, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, JANUARY 4 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Justine Bateman as Lynn, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Currie Graham as Richard, Ty Olsson as Sam, Timothy Webber as Jerome and Todd Allen as nervous guy.

"The Darkest Day" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by Arvin Brown.

MEN IN TREES (12/28)

"Ladies Frist" -- The town of Elmo throws Marin a huge birthday celebration, but the unexpected arrival of her fun-loving younger sister, Liza (Ever Caradine), conjures up some unexpected insecurities for Marin. Now that Ben has asked Theresa to move out, tensions rise between Theresa and Sara, whom Ben is now dating. Meanwhile, Buzz finds Patrick's father's plane that had disappeared 26 years ago - opening up Patrick's hope that the father he has never known could have survived and be alive somewhere -- on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/20/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Ever Carradine as Liza, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Adrian McMorran as Carl, Colby Johannson as Gary and Matt Anderson as younger guy.

"Ladies Frist" was written by Cindy Chupack and directed by Tamra Davis.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (12/24)

"Date Night" -- Nora's date with a younger man (guest starring Treat Williams) is marred by several surprises, while Kitty initiates a very awkward double date, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/22/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Matthew Settle as Jonathan Sellers, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Treat Williams as David Morton, Keri Lynn Pratt as Amber Trachtenberg and Nicki Micheaux as Michele Yearwood.

"Date Night" was written by Molly Newman and David Marshall Grant and directed by Allison Liddi-Brown.

Downey Jr. Offers Help To Urban

Robert Downey Jr. has offered his support to 'Fur' co-star Nicole Kidman's country star husband Keith Urban as he battles his alcohol problems. Urban recently checked into rehab after revealing he'd suffered a relapse in his battle with alcoholism, and actor Downey Jr., who has fought his own addictions, wants to help. A source reveals the 'Chaplin' star has reached out to Kidman to help her cope with her husband's issues and has offered to support the singer when he's out of rehab. The insider says, "Robert knows exactly what Keith is going through... He volunteered to call Keith with encouragement, but she suggested they wait until he's out (of rehab) so they can all sit down for a long talk."

MEN IN TREES (12/21)

"The Caribou in the Room" - Marin explores whether men and women can just be friends once they've slept together. Eager to test her theory as well as to enjoy a trip to a "big city," she convinces Jack to accompany her to Anchorage. Meanwhile, Patrick doesn't understand why Annie wants to limit their romantic time together, and Sara, Ben and Theresa work on coming to terms with their triangular relationship, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/13/06)

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Ed Kerr as Ian Slattery, Biski Gugushe as Anchorage doctor and Julius Chapple as snooty bartender.

"The Caribou in the Room" was written by Tim Davis and directed by Rick Wallace.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (12/10)

"Light the Lights" - Sarah, Tommy and Saul make a crucial misstep in their approach to retrieve funds to save the family's business, and Nora overcompensates for the family's loss for the holidays, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Jay Huguley as Whit Peyton, David Burke as Jack Bishop, John Benjamin Hickey as Major Guinness, Kevin T. McCarthy as the Christmas tree man, John Berg as university president, Elaine Kagan as Judge Driscoll, Bob Pescovitz as Rabbi Rothholtz and Ron Canada as Brigadier General Hendricks.

"Light the Lights" was written by Peter Calloway and Cliff Olin and directed by Fred Toye.

Thanksgiving

Robert Downey, the wife Susan and his 13-year-old son Indio will feast in Palm Desert, where Susan's mom lives. But, says Robert, "I will not come empty-handed. I'm bringing an option on the pecan pie."

MEN IN TREES (12/14)

"Talk for Tat" - The town of Elmo experiences a record heatwave and Marin realizes the energy bars she's been feeding the raccoon living in her closet are making him sick. She turns to Jack for help and finds herself attracted to him, but doesn't know if she - or even Jack - is ready for a relationship. Across town passions stir between Patrick and Annie, and much to Theresa's surprise, between Ben and Sara, as things heat up, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Timothy Webber as Jerome, Adrian McMorran as Carl and Daryl Shuttleworth as Doug.

Sightings

ELLEN DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi drawing a crowd as they shopped at Dior on 57th Street

BROTHERS & SISTERS (12/3)

"Affairs of State " -- William Walker's indiscretions are made painfully public, and Nora reveals that she's not as naIve as her family has always believed. Meanwhile, the Walker siblings all feel the burden of their own secrets, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/8/06)

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Matthew Settle as Jonahan Vaughn, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Laraine Newman as Lyla, David Burke as Jack Bishop, David Cheaney as the caterer and Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell.

"Affairs of State" was written by Jon Robin Baitz, Craig Wright and Emily Whitesell and directed by Tucker Gates.

MEN IN TREES (12/7)

"New York Fiction," Part 2 -- The series of emotional events that will decide Marin and Jack's future continues: While anxiously awaiting Marin's return to Elmo, Jack is caught off guard when someone from his not so distant past comes to town with a secret. Meanwhile, Annie is still upset with Patrick that he neglected her at Thanksgiving dinner, Jane and Sam -- aka Plow Guy (Ty Olsson) -- spend romantic time in New York, Theresa and Ben wonder what's next for them, and Buzz faces a medical crisis, on "MEN IN TREES," THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Lauren Tom as Mai Washington, Ty Olsson as Sam, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Jonathan Walker as Doctor Bowen, Iris Quinn as Marjorie and Dwight Koss as Jimmy. Additional cast TBD.

"New York Fiction, Part 2" was written by Jenny Bicks & Anna Fricke and directed by Jeff Melman.

MEN IN TREES (11/30; NEW NIGHT AND TIME)

"New York Fiction - Part 1" - In the first of a two-part story arc, emotions between Marin and Jack escalate when Marin goes home to New York during Thanksgiving week, where Jane has arranged for her to meet with various editors about publishing her new book. She is thrilled to be back in familiar surroundings but misses her life back in Elmo, particularly Jack. He is ready to make his move with her, but an unexpected twist throws a wrench in his plans, ending in a cliffhanger. Meanwhile Patrick must choose between spending Thanksgiving with Annie in New York or with his new family, and Ben hopes Theresa will help in the preparation of their annual "Orphan Thanksgiving" for Elmoians, on "MEN IN TREES", FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Lauren Tom as Mai, Ever Carradine as Liza, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Jason O'Mara as Stuart, Ty Olsson as Sam, Geoff Gustafson as Quentin, Karin Konoval a Ms. Frankel, Michael Antonakos as Hispanic man, Erin Karpluk as Amanda and Anwar Hasan as New York guy.

"New York Fiction - Part 1" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by Arvin Brown.

It's all in this family

Family. There's a lot of it on the set of Brothers & Sisters.

The ABC drama (Sundays, 10 p.m. ET/PT) is all about one, the Walkers, a Southern California clan struggling with a financial scandal, addiction, infertility and infidelity after its patriarch's death.

But that's only a fraction of the story. The cast has quickly formed a family-like bond, evident during an exclusive visit to the set. And the man principally responsible for the series comes with deep TV family connections: Ken Olin, who played Michael Steadman on thirtysomething, TV's classic angst-ridden drama.

This time around, he's behind the camera, as co-creator and executive producer, working with an all-star cast. Sally Field is widowed mom Nora to the titular siblings, played by Calista Flockhart (Kitty), Rachel Griffiths (Sarah), Balthazar Getty (Tommy), Matthew Rhys (Kevin) and Dave Annable (Justin).

"What I love is that we've sort of taken on a real family status," says Rhys, on break from a long workday that began at 6 a.m. "Sally tells us to 'shut up' whenever we get too boisterous. And Rachel and Calista, as the older sisters, laugh the first two times we tell a joke, and then tell us 'shut up' whenever we milk it."

Serious family dramas were once a TV staple but have become increasingly rare in recent years, and rarely successful. ABC's critical favorite Once and Again struggled, and others have been dressed up with visits from God (Joan of Arcadia) or as period pieces (American Dreams).

Brothers & Sisters is the No. 2 new show among the key 18-49 demographic (behind NBC's Heroes), averaging 13.4 million viewers. But it loses a significant chunk of Desperate Housewives' lead-in. Still, its numbers have grown in the past few weeks, and ABC has given it a full season pickup.

Producers hope two 9/11-themed shows, airing Nov. 19 and Dec. 3, will help boost the audience. They'll feature flashbacks to the tragedy and the days after, when black-sheep daughter Kitty (Flockhart) returns to Los Angeles from New York.

Microcosm of a messy world

The politically minded Field, whose liberal matriarch often goes head-to-head with conservative daughter Kitty and will soon be seeing son Justin go off to Iraq, views the Walkers as a microcosm of the world. "The show is really about family, and there are factions of the family that war with each other, just as there are in this country. But these two sides have to hear each other because they are so bonded and dependent upon each other. Even if they don't agree, they have to find a place where they can meet."

Remembering the effect 9/11 had on their own families, cast members believe the episodes will provide new viewers an opportunity to get to know, and hopefully empathize, with the Walkers.

"It shows an appreciation of family and explores emotions you feel toward people you may or may not know," says Tom Skerritt, who returns in flashbacks as patriarch William Walker. "In this case, we almost lost a daughter. We didn't know for hours if we lost Kitty. Now we're so grateful she's here."

Even when the drama's topics are somber, children make for a lively set. The actors' kids are all familiar faces on the show's Disney lot. "It's like a little Fantasyland here" for them, Getty says. Griffiths says the young ones "look for Minnie Mouse trees and Walt Disney statues."

Flockhart, who turns 42 on Saturday, is raising son Liam, 5, with her partner of five years, Harrison Ford. (Despite reports to the contrary, she says they are not engaged.) Griffiths, 38, has Banjo, who turns 3 this month, and Adelaide, 1. Getty, 31, who along with his large family manages the fortune left by late oil mogul Jean Paul Getty, is dad to Cassius, 6, Grace, 4, and Violet, 3. And Field, 60, is grandma to eight after raising sons Peter, Eli and Sam.

The actresses, especially, have bonded over their real-life roles as mothers.

"We definitely clicked," says Flockhart, who was deeply concerned about how her return to television after a nearly five-year absence would affect her son. But TV's former Ally McBeal says Liam's adjustment has been "very smooth." He is now in kindergarten seven hours a day, and when at home bonds with Ford, the only father he has ever known.

"It's all about the mom for so long when they're little, so it's been really great that they've had this one-on-one time without me in the picture," Flockhart says. "I had a harder time than (Liam) did. But I still get to put him to bed and take him to school most every morning."

Griffiths respects Flockhart's decision to take a break from acting to raise her son. "It's amazing for a woman at the height of her career to go take time off for her kid. She's such a sweetheart."

And then there's Field, brought in to replace Eight Is Enough stepmom Betty Buckley because, Olin says, Buckley "didn't feel like a mother."

"The great strength about Sally is that she has been a mom," says Griffiths. "That's in every fiber of her being."

And she brings that to the set. She enjoys preparing her own recipes whenever her character, Nora, is called to the kitchen.

"Sally makes a really mean guacamole," raves Flockhart.

For the Thanksgiving show, Field will be required to make pies and is particularly looking forward to rolling the dough. Just one problem: "They haven't connected the oven yet, so I can't bake them," she says. "I need to have an oven!"

In the almost-too-perfect kitchen set, Field sits at a table needle-pointing fairy and mermaid pillows for her granddaughters. (She's a modern grandma, though, and multi-tasks, checking her e-mail, too.)

Boys will be boys

The actors who play the Walker sons have formed what Getty calls "a big fraternity." They can be heard chanting the Rocky theme song as they march off set, hop on bicycles and ride off toward the studio commissary.

"When you put us together, it's trouble," says Annable, 27, who finds himself taunted unmercifully by Getty, or "Balty," as they call him.

Adds Rhys, 32: "We keep complaining, 'Why don't you write more brother scenes?' and they say, 'Because they take so long to shoot because you're like the Three Stooges.' "

One of their running gags is feigning horror and saying "Dad's dead?" each time a script references the death of their father.

"We've kept that joke going much to the annoyance of Sally and Calista," confesses Rhys. With Skerritt back on set, the joke goes: "Wait — Dad's not dead?!"

An easy camaraderie comes through on the set. The soundstage is thick with smoke, ordered up to create an ethereal flashback feel. That requires tropical temperatures, and some cast members are perspiring. Griffiths shares that the thermostat setting, like in many families, is a recurring debate: "There's usually a fight between the skinnies and the fatties, and the skinnies usually win," she jokes.

There are behind-the-scenes family connections as well. Olin cast his wife and former thirtysomething co-star Patricia Wettig as the dead father's mistress, Holly. There's more: Olin and Wettig's son, Cliff, 23, works as one of Brothers & Sisters' writers, and daughter Roxy, 21, who studies acting in New York, will audition for the role of Holly's daughter, Rebecca.

"There's certainly a degree of nepotism involved, but it's incredible," says Olin, sporting a big smile.

Olin and fellow executive producer Greg Berlanti have plenty of issues bubbling for the Walkers.

There's Rebecca's paternity. The location of the embezzled millions (to be answered Dec. 3). And Kitty's search for true love, which will be complicated by the departure of actor Josh Hopkins, who plays Flockhart's political show co-host, and the arrival of Rob Lowe as a newly divorced Republican senator.

"That's always fun," says Flockhart, recalling how her old character Ally "knocked 'em out week to week. But Kitty's not as crazy about boys as Ally was."

The prospect of exploring a grown woman's dating life is particularly appealing to Field, who celebrated her 60th birthday this week. She has been single since 1993, but on the show is dating Treat Williams. "I haven't been dating lately; I don't have any time," she says. "I'm sort of living through Nora now."

And while Flockhart is enjoying "the experience of having a large family," Griffiths is most "interested in playing the ups and downs of a good marriage."

Sounds like this thirty-sixtysomething offers something for everyone. Even Flockhart's tough-guy Ford, 64. "He watches the show," she says. "And he likes it!"

Men In Trees On The Move

"MEN IN TREES" is moving to Thursday nights at 10:00 p.m., ET, as of November 30, ABC Entertainment announced today. In addition, the series has been picked up for a full season order. "MEN IN TREES" will air in that timeslot through December, and "Six Degrees" will return with all original episodes in January 2007.

"We love these two shows and are excited at the promise they have shown," said Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment. "Thursdays will be a great platform for 'MEN IN TREES' to reach a larger audience."

"MEN IN TREES" follows Marin Frist (Anne Heche), a famous thirtysomething self-help/dating guru to Elmo, Alaska. After she finds out that her fianci has cheated on her, she calls off the wedding and decides to stay in Elmo. Here, she questions her life, her love and who she is as she makes a new existence for herself up north, helping the abundant, available men there with their relationships.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack and John Amos as Buzz.

"MEN IN TREES" was created by Jenny Bicks ("Sex and the City"). Bicks, James Mangold ("Walk the Line") and Cathy Konrad are executive producers. The series films in Vancouver and is from Tree Line Films, Perkins Street Productions and NS Pictures, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television.

A new acting `Break' for Taye Diggs

"Hey, man, look. It's you," one of the producers says, handing Taye Diggs a copy of the National Enquirer.

Inside is a full-page ad for "Day Break," featuring the actor, buffed and stoic. Diggs' eyes light up. "I'm simply too excited," he says. But right now, just days before the show's premiere, the 34-year-old isn't imbibing the hype.

"I just don't want to get my hopes up too high for fear of them being smashed to the pavement," he says in a momentary respite on a sound stage in this Los Angeles suburb. "I have a good feeling about it. I have a good feeling."

ABC's also optimistic about "Day Break." The high-concept thriller is replacing "Lost" for 12 weeks beginning Nov. 15 at 9 p.m. EST with a two-hour premiere. Diggs stars as Brett Hopper, a cop who must relive the same day over and over in order to clear himself of murder. Think "Groundhog Day" meets "24."

It's Diggs' latest TV turn since his short-lived run as a lothario lawyer in "Kevin Hill," which aired in 2004-2005 on the now-defunct UPN network. "We were considered a black show, and (UPN) wanted to go in a different direction," he says.

Diggs, too, has been trying to go in a different direction and break out of the black box.

"After college, I realized I could be successful at this because Spike Lee was coming out," says Diggs, a native of Rochester, N.Y., where he lived with his four siblings and his mom, a student of theater who inspired his acting aspirations.

"On TV, there was always the black friend and I thought, `OK, I can be that guy.'"

Then came his breakout role as Angela Bassett's young Jamaican lover in 1998's "How Stella Got Her Groove Back."

From there, he appeared in the urban romantic comedies "The Wood," "The Best Man" and "Brown Sugar." He also landed mainstream parts in the Oscar-winning "Chicago" and the big-screen rendition of "Rent," reprising his role from the 1996 Broadway hit where he met his wife, actress Idina Menzel.

"Day Break" is his first role as an action lead. "It's the kind of thing where you want to do something different and stretch your muscles," he says, "and at the same time, it's good for the cats in the industry, and the public, to see you in a different light."

But Diggs also acknowledges that it's not all about him, that there could be a down side for black actors if the series is successful.

"African American folks, we're not yet in the position of power," he explains. "If this show were to succeed, white folks could just sit back on their laurels and say, `Oh well, he's the one. We don't need to work with anybody else.'

"If every black dramatic actor were to fall off the face of the Earth, people would mourn Denzel and Morgan Freeman. But they would still have the Tom Cruises. Until we get to a point where we can control things in Hollywood, and I'm confident we'll get there, we're still in a position where we kind of have our hands out."

Still, Diggs was the actor the "Day Break" producers came to first. "I approached him long before the script was done. I just felt he was an action star in waiting," says executive producer Matthew Gross.

"Certainly he's got the physique and the fortitude to be an action star," Gross continued. "But there's a sensitivity to him. You really feel for his predicament. People are going to see a broad range of Taye as an actor."

But even casting some of the biggest marquee names hasn't been enough to bring audiences to this season's plethora of complex, serialized shows.

"The bottom line is it's not about Taye Diggs. It's about `Day Break,'" says MediaWeek columnist Marc Berman. "He certainly is an asset, but I think ABC made a mistake in scheduling. They would have been better starting the fall with `Day Break' and (returning) `Lost' in midseason.

"To take an established hit, put it on for six weeks, and take it off until January may cause some bad feelings," Berman continues. "And the audience may go check out CBS' `Criminal Minds' because that show is really heating up now."

Says executive producer Jeffrey Bell: "If the `Lost' audience gives us an opportunity, they'll enjoy our show. We're different from `Lost,' but if you like puzzles, there's a lot to love. You're going to get a satisfying conclusion, we believe, to this day."

Kidman, Downey cough up a "Fur"-ball

"Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus" announces itself as a biography by another means.

This portrait of visionary artist-photographer Diane Arbus (1923-1971) is a fairy tale that, as opening titles proclaim, "invents characters and situations that reach beyond reality to express what might have been Arbus' inner experience on her extraordinary path."

Thus, Arbus' startling discovery of her rich imagination becomes a metaphorical Alice in Wonderland adventure in which she falls not down a rabbit hole but up a stairway into the strange abode of a beguiling fellow tenant in a New York apartment building in 1958. It sounds more interesting than it is.

The conceit by director Steven Shainberg and writer Erin Cressida Wilson is infected by the extremely banal notion that the photographer's famous fascination with outsiders -- transvestites, circus performers, people with physical or psychological abnormalities -- means that "Fur" must be a freak show. While Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr. give brave performances in this insular and slow-moving tale, their marquee value will not expand "Fur" beyond urban art houses.

The filmmakers take known facts about Diane Arbus and load these into a fictional character called "Diane Arbus." She is the privileged, obedient, repressed daughter of a wealthy New York furrier and his wife -- Harris Yulin and Jane Alexander, pitch perfect as nose-in-the-air snobs. Married with two daughters, Diane has achieved success in the fashion world, with her husband, Allan (Ty Burrell), acting as photographer and she as his stylist.

The arrival of a new tenant in the flat above the Arbus' home and photography studio intrigues Diane. At first sight, he looks like H.G. Wells' Invisible Man, bundled in a hat and coat and wearing a mask. When she eventually ventures up the stairs she learns why. Lionel Sweeney (Downey) has a rare condition that covers his entire body in fur. This is the first of the movie's blatant jokes: Furrier's daughter meets the Fur Man.

Fascinated, Diane all but abandons family life to enter into the Fur Man's world. He takes her on an outing to watch a dominatrix entertain a client and to parties with circus "freak" pals. She invites Lionel to supper with her stunned family. Allan, correctly sizing up Lionel as a rival for his wife's favors, immediately grows a beard.

The movie depicts Lionel's half-hidden, half-forbidden world as a secret, superior society where art, imagination and dark obsessions can flourish. You wish that filmmakers who spent years developing a film and reportedly months in the editing room struggling to find their picture would acknowledge that real art springs from hard work and sweat, not secret societies.

Kidman gives Diane a wide-eyed yet tentative demeanor as she moves through this wonderland. The role is rather reactive for a title heroine and contains nary a hint that this woman one day will kill herself. Downey, looking a bit like Jean Marais' furry anti-hero in Jean Cocteau's 1946 "Beauty and the Beast," delivers a smart, scene-stealing performance with his voice and eyes.

But "Fur" is a misfire by the talented people who four years ago gave us "Secretary," whose tongue-in-cheek approach might have served this film better, taking the edge off much of its pretensions. Bill Pope's resourceful camera and Amy Danger's upstairs/downstairs contrasting quarters cannot disguise the fact that we seldom venture from these tiresome flats.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (11/19)

"Mistakes Were Made" - Sarah, Tommy and Kevin hit the road in search of William's lost treasure and discover his most shocking secret, and Justin returns from the hospital and makes a startling revelation about his enlistment, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest stars include Tom Skerritt as William Walker. Other guest cast TBD.

"Mistakes Were Made" was written by Marc Guggenheim and Greg Berlanti and directed by Ken Olin.

Kelley Plans a Midseason 'Wedding' for FOX

With many of its new dramas struggling in the post-baseball returns, FOX is pushing ahead on a slew of midseason hopefuls including a wedding-planning show from David E. Kelley.

According to the industry trade papers, FOX has ordered 13 episodes of "The Wedding Store," from David E. Kelley Prods. and 20th Century Fox. The addition of this series to FOX's slate means the death of "The Wedding Album," which the network presented to advertisers back in May.

At the time "The Wedding Album" starred Bruno Campos as a wedding photographer, but almost immediately after upfronts, FOX announced first that Campos was being recast and then that the entire creative direction of the pilot was being overhauled by "Pepper Dennis" scribes Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts.

Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox was also going back to its vaults and looking at "The DeMarco Affairs," a pilot that Kelley and Jason Katims did for ABC in 2004. That pilot, which didn't make the ABC cut, starred Selma Blair, Sabrina Lloyd and Lindsay Sloane as three sisters working at the family's wedding emporium in Long Island. The company liked the basic idea there and asked Kelley to revamp the pilot (Katims is currently working as showrunner on NBC's "Friday Night Lights").

The reconceived "Wedding Store" will focus on a group of wedding planners who are dedicated to keeping their clients happy. The sister angle from "DeMarco" won't make the cut.

After a slow couple years, Kelley is having a busy development season. He's adapting the BBC hit "Life on Mars" for ABC and executive producing the comedy pilot "We the July" for FOX.

We Hear...

THAT Balthazar Getty will perform at tonight's Penguin Store opening on Melrose Avenue in L.A. alongside Jessica Biel, Lindsay Lohan and Robert Downey Jr.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (11/12)

"Glass Jumps" - Justin is shaken to the core and his resolve to stay clean is weakened by a disturbing letter that could dramatically alter his future, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest stars include Tom Skerritt as William Walker. Other guest cast TBD.

"Glass Jumps" was written by Jon Robin Baitz and Craig Wright and directed by Michael Lange.

MEN IN TREES (11/17)

"New York Fiction," Part 1 - In the first of a two-part story arc, emotions between Marin and Jack escalate when Marin goes home to New York during Thanksgiving week, where Jane has arranged for her to meet with various editors about publishing her new book. She is thrilled to be back in familiar surroundings but misses her life back in Elmo, particularly Jack. He is ready to make his move with her, but an unexpected twist throws a wrench in his plans, ending in a cliffhanger. Meanwhile Patrick must choose between spending Thanksgiving with Annie in New York or with his new family, and Ben hopes Theresa will help in the preparation of their annual "Orphan Thanksgiving" for Elmoians, on "MEN IN TREES", FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Lauren Tom as Mai, Ever Carradine as Liza, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Jason O'Mara as Stuart, Ty Olsson as Sam, Geoff Gustafson as Quentin, Karin Konoval a Ms. Frankel, Michael Antonakos as Hispanic man, Erin Karpluk as Amanda and Anwar Hasan as New York guy.

"New York Fiction" was written by Jenny Bicks and directed by Arvin Brown.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (11/5)

"Northern Exposure" - Kitty and Warren's quiet weekend in the country turns out to be anything but quiet, while Tommy and Julia, unable to conceive, consider unorthodox alternatives, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest stars include Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Jay Huguley as Whit Peyton, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Treat Williams as David Morton, Keri Lynn Pratt as Amber Trachtenberg, Shawn Michael Patrick as Jordan Lisco, Ruben Garfias as Henry Martinez and Maya Hazen as Amy Chang.

"Northern Exposure" was written by David Marshall Grant and Molly Newman and directed by Lawrence Trilling.

MEN IN TREES (11/10)

"The Menaissance" - Unbeknownst to Marin, Jane leaked an excerpt from Marin's new book on men to The New Yorker magazine. Now Marin is forced to defend her career to Jack, the unwilling subject of her work. Meanwhile singer-songwriter Jewel stops into the Chieftain when her car breaks down, and runs into Theresa, who turns out to be her former bandmate, and Patrick's mom, Celia and his new step-mother, Mai, go head to head in an alpha showdown for the role of "top mom," on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Jewel as herself, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Lauren Tom as Mai, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Debbie Podowski as Cheryl, Lori Triolo as Merril, Ty Olsson as Sam and Adrian McMorran as Carl.

"The Menaissance" was written by Padma L. Atluri and directed by Rick Wallace.

Sold On Modern

"I ALWAYS thought that modern art was anything you put on your wall after you got to be rich," Robert Downey Jr. told the black-tie crowd the other night at the Cooper Hewitt Museum's seventh annual National Design Museum award gala. "But when I saw the collection of Craig Robins, I changed my opinion." The Miami-based real estate developer/arts patron was honored at the event. Downey, who will soon be starring in "Iron Man," told writer Gregory Speck beforehand, "Actually, I'd rather be knitting jerseys for the NFL in Bermuda."

Bon Jovi, James Brown set for U.K. honors

American stadium rockers Bon Jovi and soul legend James Brown will be inducted into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame on November 14.

Both acts are expected to perform at the ceremony, which will for the second successive year will take place at London's Alexandra Palace.

Other inductees already named for this year's event are Brian Wilson, Dusty Springfield, Led Zeppelin and Rod Stewart. These artists will join Beatles producer George Martin, who this year will be lauded with honorary membership in recognition of his exceptional contribution to British music.

"BROTHERS & SISTERS" PICKED UP FOR A FULL SEASON

ABC's new hit series "Brothers & Sisters" was picked up for a full season order, Stephen McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment, announced today. The critically acclaimed drama marking Calista Flockhart's triumphant return to primetime television focuses on the Walker family, five complicated adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. The series is executive-produced by Ken Olin, playwright Jon Robin Baitz and Greg Berlanti.

"'Brothers & Sisters' is a great addition to our Sunday night lineup and has given us a strong complement to 'Desperate Housewives,'" said McPherson.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/29)

"For the Children" - The most private personal and business struggles of the Walker family are exposed in a very embarrassing public forum, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Keri Lynn Pratt as Amber Trachtenberg, Meredith Baxter ("Family Ties") as Margaret Packer, Robert Foxworth as Harry Packard, Luise Heath as Alexandra Troy, Shawn Michael Patrick as Jordan Lisco, Al Fardis as Dr. Bernard Kruger, Dougald Park as Patrick and Roz Witt as the attendant.

"For the Children" was written by Jon Robin Baitz and Jessica Mecklenburg and directed by Fred Toye.

Calista Flockhart Gets Back to Work

Returning to a full-time job isn't an easy decision for any mom to make. So when Brothers & Sisters executive producer and director Ken Olin approached her, Calista Flockhart had many, many questions.

"She loved the script," Olin tells PEOPLE, "but then she'd go, 'What is the schedule going to be? And what are the expectations?'"

Olin patiently waited for her to decide – the role was written with her in mind – but was just about ready to begin searching for someone else when Flockhart finally said yes.

She was intrigued by the role: a conservative talk show host at odds with her liberal family. And she could not resist the challenge of playing someone "whose political views are fundamentally different than mine," she said in July. "That definitely attracted me to the part." Plus, she told Olin, "I miss acting."Away from the cameras, she settled into a new life with Harrison Ford, 64, whom she met at the Golden Globes in 2002, and her now 5-year-old son Liam.

It was a much-needed break. During her Ally McBeal years, the spotlight burned bright – and hot. Her controversial character on the show, a brainy attorney, was criticized for also being neurotic and boy-crazy. And speculation over whether Flockhart was getting too thin also provided years of media fodder. Then there was the nonstop schedule.

"She worked her a-- off 24/7 on Ally," says Elizabeth Stewart, her stylist and pal of eight years. "Now she's in a great relationship and she has an amazing kid. She's much more relaxed. Her life is more balanced."

But after being a stay-at-home mom for the better part of four years, Flockhart liked the idea of going back to work. "I love being a mom, but as any mother will tell you, if you stay home with a (toddler) 24/7, you get mush brain," Flockhart said. "You start wishing you were working. Then when you're working, you’re wishing that you’re home. It's a tough dilemma."

Flockhart still finds time for the things she loves: cooking at her and Ford's L.A. home, taking piano lessons, reading (she's currently into Fiasco, a critique of the Iraq war by Washington Post correspondent Thomas Ricks) and spending a lot of time outdoors with her son.

And when she’s stuck on-set for those long days of shooting, Flockhart gets a piece of home delivered to her when Ford comes to visit. "He and Calista are fantastic together," says Dave Annable, who plays Flockhart's brother Justin on the show.

For more on Calista Flockhart, pick up PEOPLE on newsstands now.

No hope for "Planet Earth" in absurd TV movie

Hallmark Channel's "Final Days of Planet Earth" is a sci-fi thriller-cum-camp extravaganza that envisions a world where your Blackberry cannot save you in a pinch and your friends may sprout slimy appendages at a moment's notice.

Produced by the ubiquitous and deep-pocketed Robert Halmis senior and junior, "Earth" is as slickly produced a doltish journey as you're likely to see this century. The film is all babble and pretty much no action through its first half. We don't even get to the mantis-dismantling until much farther in, which raises the even more frightening scenario that the planet will implode on its own lame dialogue.

Daryl Hannah stars as Liz Quinlan, an astronaut who is minding her own business when one day her body is taken over by an alien queen with an annoying penchant for turning her host into a mantis at will. Gil Bellows of "Ally McBeal" fame co-stars as an archaeologist who slowly uncovers the horrible truth that only the imprisoned Commander William Phillips (Campbell Scott) really knows.

It's all supposed to take place within a three-year period, with bizarre disappearances and strange accidents aplenty. But the packaging is so clunky that it's not altogether clear why any of this is taking place. And director Robert Lieberman appears to have instructed his actors to treat their lines as if the movie were called "Final Days of Your Career." If this is what the end of the world as we know it might look like, we can only pray that the real thing would be better scripted.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/22)

"Date Night" -- Nora's date with a younger man (guest starring Treat Williams) is marred by several surprises, while Kitty initiates a very awkward double date, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Matthew Settle as Jonathan Sellers, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Treat Williams as David Morton, Keri Lynn Pratt as Amber Trachtenberg and Nicki Micheaux as Michele Yearwood.

"Date Night" was written by Molly Newman and David Marshall Grant and directed by Allison Liddi-Brown.

MEN IN TREES (10/27)

"The Buddy System" - Marin's efforts at coaching Patrick and Buzz on how they can build their relationship has mixed results -- now that Celia has told them that they're related. Marin and Annie need a "maintenance day" and go in search of a beauty salon; and while Sara prepares for her EMS exam, she struggles with what her future may hold. Meanwhile, Elmo is experiencing earthquake tremors that trigger an avalanche, putting Marin and Jack on the mountain in search of trapped friends, on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Lauren Tom as Mai, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Mario Cantone as Terri, Wendy Noel as administrator and Adrian McMorran as Carl.

"The Buddy System" was written by Chris Dingess and directed by Matt Shakman.

Philly Lovefest

BILL Clinton and Jon Bon Jovi sure know how to stroke each other's egos. At a Philadelphia press conference to announce his charity to help renovate 15 decaying homes in one of the city's roughest areas, Bon Jovi said of Clinton, "It's been a long time since I opened for anyone, but in my eyes, this man is the biggest rock star in the world." Then it was the ex-president's turn: "I love Jon Bon Jovi - which is difficult for me to say because I've gotten pretty tired of my wife and daughter telling me he's the most beautiful man alive."

'Heros' Gets Full-Season

NBC has given a full-season order for 2006-07 to "Heroes" (Mondays, 9-10 p.m. ET) - the critically acclaimed and #1 new series this Fall in adults 18-49 (tied with ABC's "Brothers & Sisters") -- it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.

"'Heroes' has delivered exceptional ratings since it's premiere and we're even more impressed with the quality of the upcoming episodes," said Reilly. "We have complete confidence in creator-executive producer Tim Kring. The best is yet to come over the course of a full season with this newest drama sensation."

"Heroes" is averaging a 5.7 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49 and 13.5 million viewers overall, making it the #1 new series this Fall in adults 18-49, tied with ABC's "Brothers & Sisters." "Heroes" is the #1 show in its competitive Monday 9-10 p.m. (ET) slot in adults 18-49, generating a 43 percent increase on NBC's non-sports average for the time period last season.

From creator-executive producer Kring (NBC's "Crossing Jordan") comes "Heroes," an epic drama that chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities.

They include a genetics professor (Sendhil Ramamurthy, "Blind Guy Driving") in India who is led by his father's disappearance to uncover a secret theory - that there are people with super powers living among us. Also featured are a young dreamer (Milo Ventimiglia, "Gilmore Girls") tries to convince his politician brother (Adrian Pasdar, "Judging Amy") that he can fly. A high school cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere, "Ice Princess") learns that she is totally indestructible. A Las Vegas single mother (Ali Larter, "Final Destination") struggles to make ends meet to support her young son (Noah Gray-Cabey, "My Wife & Kids") and discovers that her mirror image has a secret.

In addition, a fugitive from justice (Leonard Roberts, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") continues to baffle authorities who twice have been unable to contain him. A gifted artist (Santiago Cabrera, "Empire"), whose drug addiction is destroying his life and relationship with his girlfriend (Tawny Cypress, "Third Watch"), can paint the future. A down-on-his-luck Los Angeles beat cop (Greg Grunberg, "Alias") can hear people's thoughts, which puts him on the trail of an elusive serial killer. In Japan, a young man (Masi Oka, NBC's "Scrubs") develops a way to stop time through sheer will power.

Their ultimate destiny is nothing less than saving the world.

Joining Kring as executive producer are Dennis Hammer (NBC's "Crossing Jordan") and Allan Arkush (NBC's "Crossing Jordan"). The drama is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio.

Bon Jovi, Bill Clinton announce plans to restore decaying Philadelphia homes

When Jon Bon Jovi told former president Bill Clinton about a new plan to restore homes in one of Philadelphia's most blighted neighbourhoods, his pal was all ears.

Clinton "was intrigued enough that he offered his services, and said, 'If I can help you in any way, don't hesitate.' And we didn't," Bon Jovi told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Clinton stood beside the rocker in Philadelphia on Thursday as he announced his project, called the Phase V Homeownership Project.

Plans are to renovate 15 decaying homes on two blocks on the city's north side, described by Bon Jovi as "messes of row homes."

Bon Jovi, co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League and creator of the team's charity foundation, teamed up with Habitat for Humanity, the Saturn automobile company and a local charity for the effort.

He's been on a philanthropy kick lately. Last year, he and fellow Bon Jovi bandmate Richie Sambora surprised Oprah Winfrey with a US$1 million donation to her Angel Network and Habitat for Humanity to build 28 homes in the hurricane Katrina-ravaged town of Houma, La.

"I mean, it gives me great joy," he said of his charity work. "There's just too many haves and have nots in the country."

Senior Sirens

AGING sex symbols Raquel Welch, 66, and Dyan Cannon, 69 - last seen together in 1973's "The Last of Sheila" - are teaming up again. Hollywood insiders say the former hotties are pinning their comeback ambitions on a semi-autobiographical reality/drama TV show that "will follow a pair of 50-plus ex-sex-symbol stars growing old disgracefully in Beverly Hills." But sadly, network execs weren't as excited as we were about the prospect. A rep for Welch said, "That was in the works, but a hold has been put on that project."

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/15)

"Family Portrait" - Kitty finds herself torn between two men, Justin's new job is more than he bargained for, and Sarah and Joe face their greatest challenge yet as parents, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Matthew Settle as Jonathan Sellers, Tyler Posey as Gabriel Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Jay Huguley at Whit Peyton, Marika Dominczyk as Tyler Altamirano, David Burke as Jack Bishop, James Hornbeck as Harry Dodelson, Janet Carroll as Sloane Dodelson, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Ryan Eggold as Randy Stewart, Judith Moreland as Dr. Kate Allenby and Michael Canavan as David Silver.

"Family Portrait" was written by Craig Wright and Jon Robin Baitz and directed by Ken Olin.

MEN IN TREES (10/20)

"Ladies Frist" -- The town of Elmo throws Marin a huge birthday celebration, but the unexpected arrival of her fun-loving younger sister, Liza (Ever Caradine), conjures up some unexpected insecurities for Marin. Now that Ben has asked Theresa to move out, tensions rise between Theresa and Sara, whom Ben is now dating. Meanwhile, Buzz finds Patrick's father's plane that had disappeared 26 years ago - opening up Patrick's hope that the father he has never known could have survived and be alive somewhere -- on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Eve Caradine as Liza, Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Adrian McMorran as Carl, Colby Johannson as Gary and Matt Anderson as younger guy.

"Ladies Frist" was written by Cindy Chupack and directed by Tamra Davis.

Marvel's 'Iron Man' Suits Downey

Marvel is resting its high profile "Iron Man" franchise on the shoulders of Oscar nominated, and occasionally volatile, leading man Robert Downey Jr.

"Iron Man" premiered in 1963 and stands as one of the most popular Marvel offerings not to get the big screen treatment. The independently financed feature will be distributed by Paramount and directed by Jon Favreau.

The Iron Man character, alias Tony Stark (Downey), was the son of a wealthy industrialist. Stark was sent on a non-military research mission in Vietnam, where he was taken prisoner and forced to build an electrically powered suit of armor for the Communists. He stole the armor and, in his new guise, began fighting America's enemies first overseas and at home. He also, in a realistic touch, battled alcoholism.

According to media reports, the new "Iron Man," written by Art Marcum & Matt Holloway and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby, will be contemporary, rather than mirroring the original's Vietnam themes. It's also being reported that Stark's alcoholism won't be a major plotline in the first "Iron Man" feature, which will be Marvel's first self-financed feature under its recent agreement through Merrill Lynch.

Marvel hopes to have "Iron Man" in front of cameras by February. The film already has a May 2008 release date staked out.

Downey's in the midst of a busy career stretch. The "Chaplin" Oscar nominee has appeared in "Good Night, and Good Luck," "A Scanner Darkly" and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" in the past year. He has turns in "Fur" and "Zodiac" upcoming.

Fox, Kelley partner on legal comedy

Fox has teamed with writer-producer David E. Kelley for a legal-themed comedy.

The network has committed to shoot a pilot for the untitled project, which chronicles the lives of a group of jurors on a high-profile trial who are sequestered in a motel.

Kelley, on board as an executive producer, will oversee the comedy's co-creators, Steve Baldikoski and Bryan Behar, who will write the pilot script.

He recently supervised "Five Finger Discount," a comedy script for Fox, and helped develop a potential half-hour spinoff of his Emmy-winning legal drama "The Practice," starring Camryn Manheim.

Kelley's main priority is "Life on Mars," the sci-fi crime drama he is writing for ABC. His legal drama "Boston Legal" is in its third season on ABC.

MEN IN TREES (10/13)

"The Caribou in the Room" - Marin explores whether men and women can just be friends once they've slept together. Eager to test her theory as well as to enjoy a trip to a "big city," she convinces Jack to accompany her to Anchorage. Meanwhile, Patrick doesn't understand why Annie wants to limit their romantic time together, and Sara, Ben and Theresa work on coming to terms with their triangular relationship, on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Cynthia Stevenson as Celia, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Ed Kerr as Ian Slattery, Biski Gugushe as Anchorage doctor and Julius Chapple as snooty bartender.

"The Caribou in the Room" was written by Tim Davis and directed by Rick Wallace.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/8)

"Affairs of State " -- William Walker's indiscretions are made painfully public, and Nora reveals that she's not as naIve as her family has always believed. Meanwhile, the Walker siblings all feel the burden of their own secrets, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Matthew Settle as Jonahan Vaughn, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Laraine Newman as Lyla, David Burke as Jack Bishop, David Cheaney as the caterer and Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell.

"Affairs of State" was written by Jon Robin Baitz, Craig Wright and Emily Whitesell and directed by Tucker Gates.

'Heroes' has the power to engage and confuse

You can practically hear the Heroes cult forming.

Dense, dark, a little dreary and yet oddly intriguing, Heroes seems destined to attract an audience that is more loyal than large. A distinctive, dark-knight comic book brought to life, Heroes clearly isn't for everyone, but that's all right: Every show doesn't have to be for everyone. What matters is that Heroes is likely to please viewers who like genre series, even when those series take themselves a tad too seriously.

They will, however, have to get past a pilot that is so devoted to setting a tone that it ignores the need to establish its characters or move along its story. And the pretentious twang to that tone is set by the opening credits, with their Star Wars-type graphic crawl and the promise that we are entering Chapter One, Volume One of an "epic tale." It's hard enough to get people to take high-concept shows seriously; there's no need to actually invite derisive laughter.

The concept here is that a group of people scattered around the globe have evolved to a higher genetic level and developed superpowers. They don't all understand their powers and they may not all put them to heroic purposes. Over time, however, many of them will realize that it's their destiny to save the world.

Like Six Degrees, destiny seems to be a large part of the Heroes mythology, as the characters continually cross paths — no easy task considering how spread out they are at the start.

Mohinder (Sendhil Ramamurthy) is a genetics professor in India; Peter (Milo Ventimiglia, finally playing a likable character) is a nurse in New York; Hiro (Masi Oka) is an animé fan in Tokyo; Claire (Hayden Panettiere) is a cheerleader in Texas.

All of them speak English, except for Hiro, whose dialogue requires subtitles, yet another demand from a show that makes an awful lot of them.

The show spends much of its first two episodes revealing the characters' powers, so it seems unfair to give them away here. Let's just say some are more mental — telepathy, empathy, an ability to stop time or see into the future. Some are more physical, from an ability to fly to an inability to be hurt. And some either haven't been revealed or I haven't figured them out, which may explain why some of the characters are of much greater interest than others.

And that's part of the problem with Heroes: It isn't always clear whether the show is being intentionally mysterious or is simply unintentionally confused. Heavily serialized fantasies like Heroes are particularly hard to carry off, and you don't leave the first three episodes convinced that the actors and producers are up to the challenge.

Yet you don't leave bored, either, and that's no small accomplishment. If nothing else, Heroes shows an early knack for coming up with the kind of surprise, episode-ending cliffhangers that will keep some viewers coming back for more.

Make no mistake, it will attract a cult. Whether the cult will be large enough is a question only one of the Heroes could answer.

NBC has hit on its hands with "Heroes"

Part sci-fi, part mystery and wholly unique, "Heroes" is one of TV's most imaginative creations and might, with luck, become this year's "Lost." Its mix of danger, humor, drama, romance and science creates a unique and surprising flavor of programming. At the same time, it fills scene after scene with characters that wouldn't or couldn't easily fit into any other show.

Creator-writer Tim Kring is anything but coy about his ambition. An advisory at the start of the pilot tells viewers that "Heroes" is about "a seemingly random group of individuals" who "will not only save the world but change it forever." The opener mostly introduces us to people in the midst of discovering their superpowers (or "special abilities," as Kring puts it); the following episode spells out the nature of a huge disaster they soon must prevent.

Among others, there's Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia), a nurse who can't shake the feeling that he can fly; Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere), a Texas high school cheerleader who instantly heals from any injury; Isaac Mendez (Santiago Cabrera), an artist who unconsciously paints future disasters; Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka), a Japanese office drone who can bend the space-time continuum; and Niki Sanders (Ali Larter), a sexy Vegas webcam girl and single mother who, when she blacks out, is capable of unimaginable strength and brutality.

Some embrace their powers; others fear them. Hiro rejoices that he is no longer just a cipher. Claire is bummed that her recuperative power sets her apart from her schoolmates. The varying reactions are as much a part of the series as any future small or large battles between good and evil. What's more, Kring has repeatedly said these heroes will remain, for the most part, individuals and not become members of some"X-Men" or "Justice League of America" consortium.

The only certain thing they have in common is an indirect link to Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy), a geneticist from India who is pursuing the work of his murdered father in the fields of mutations and human potential. Dad was figuring out how to identify and locate these mutant people. Mohinder tries to make sense of the research, fully aware that he is being observed and menaced by someone whose interest in the subject is less benign.

"Heroes" has been smartly cast, but the story is king. People connect with one another at odd times and in unpredictable ways. Scenes jump from place to place halfway around the world, but director David Semel keeps it from getting confusing.

Cast:
Peter Petrelli: Milo Ventimiglia
Mohinder Suresh: Sendhil Ramamurthy
Simone Deveraux: Tawny Cypress
Niki Sanders: Ali Larter
Claire Bennet: Hayden Panettiere
Nathan Petrelli: Adrian Pasdar
Hiro Nakamura: Masi Oka
Isaac Mendez: Santiago Cabrera
Micah Sanders: Noah Gray-Cabey

Executive producers: David Semel, Tim Kring, Dennis Hammer; Producer: Skip Beaudine; Co-producer: Lori Motyer; Director: David Semel; Teleplay-creator: Tim Kring; Director of photography: Adam Kane; Production designer: Curtis Schnell; Music: Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman; Set designer: Crista Schneider; Casting: Jason La Padura, Natalie Hart.

`Heroes': fresh and skillfully executed

A man throws himself from a 15-story building in downtown Manhattan. He survives the fall (as he was sure he would) thanks to a timely display of human levitation.

After school in a small Texas town, a teenager still in her cheerleader's uniform takes a fall of her own, then dashes into a burning building. Within moments, her broken bones and sizzled flesh repair themselves, confirming her fearful suspicions.

A nerdy Tokyo office worker convinced he's meant for better things is training his mind for higher functions. One grand day he teleports himself to bustling Times Square.

What do these people have in common?

For starters, they're characters on the new mystic thriller "Heroes," which premieres at 9 p.m. EDT Monday on NBC.

But they're not the only ones. A drama that rightly bills itself as epic, "Heroes" is loaded with seemingly ordinary people from all over who bear out the theory of a genetics professor in India. His Human Genome Project declares that minute variations in genetic code are exhibiting themselves more and more — and turning more lives upside down.

A Las Vegas stripper and single mother discovers that her reflected image in mirrors has startling secrets to share. An artist is haunted by the realization that he can paint the future.

The professor was working on a systematic formula for identifying these "special" people. But then he is murdered by villains who are out to use his research for their own evil purposes. Now they are after his defiant scientist-son. Who are they, and what's at the root of their sinister mission? Will it put the people who display these eerie gifts in danger — and mobilize them to fight back?

The first episode of this fascinating series sets forth its trippy premise and introduces a number of its newly empowered (the huge ensemble includes Adrian Pasdar, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Milo Ventimiglia, Ali Larter, Santiago Cabrera, Masi Oka and more).

What happens next, and how the paths of these chosen might cross, are questions left hanging by the premiere. And they're delicious ones to ponder.

"Heroes" is, on the one hand, a meditation on unsuspecting humans who, to their delight or horror, are vaulted to extraordinary levels of potential. How will they cope with it? How will they make use of it? Is this some sort of legion of superheroes in the making?

At the same time, their process of self-discovery appears to be unfolding in an apocalyptic context. Something bad seems to be on the horizon. Are they meant to be a global rescuing force?

There seems plenty in just the first hour to snag a viewer's interest — and start the questions flowing. And at least one dandy twist will whet the appetite of conspiracy theorists in the audience.

The expansive vision and population of "Heroes" offers boundless promise for what may lie ahead. It's a show whose freeform, existential mysteries could trigger scores of fan sites.

Something fresh and skillfully executed, "Heroes" is like nothing else on TV. Unless it's an obsessed-upon ABC hit about a large group of people likewise trying to make sense of their world under pressure. With "Heroes," could NBC have found its "Lost"?

"Brothers & Sisters" a conventional family soap

For most of its turbulent existence, "Brothers & Sisters" has been described as a primetime soap, which seems like a dismissive label when you consider the quality and star wattage of this cast, many of them veterans of "Alias." But after looking at the pilot, with its familiar family conflicts, you have to concede that the description is fairly accurate.

The producers claimed, through forced smiles a couple of months ago, that ABC loved this show so much that the network encouraged wholesale changes in cast and perspective to get it right. That was just a little before showrunner Marti Noxon quit in exasperation and was replaced by Greg Berlanti. Seeing the pilot now, a messy reunion of a family divided as much by politics as personalities, you have to wonder what this project looked like before it got its extreme makeover.

"Brothers & Sisters," created by celebrated playwright Jon Robin Baitz, has all the traditional themes of unhappy marriage, unmet parental expectations, unexpected financial chicanery and (possibly) unfaithfulness. It deals with them convincingly, though not with any great depth or insight.

The wild card in this game is politics but, at least in the pilot, the story takes a cautious approach. It shows the card and then buries it in the deck.

Calista Flockhart stars as Kitty Walker, the most estranged of five adult children of Nora (Sally Field) and William (guest star Tom Skerritt), who operate a California farm, though mostly from a great distance. Kitty hasn't talked to her mother for three years, during which time she's become a right-wing talk-radio star.

Asked to interview for a righty-lefty TV gabfest, she flies out to Los Angeles for what she expects will be an awkward family reunion and an unappealing job offer. Instead, she gets caught up in the family drama and tempted by the job. (And the lefty is so handsome, you just know there's a Mary Matalin-James Carville thing embedded in the season outline.)

The family stuff is packed with guilt and recriminations and secrets. My favorite is the part where Kitty's family suggests she should accept a little of the blame for younger brother Justin (Dave Annable) being a traumatized Afghan vet because it was her right-wing rants that fueled his enlistment. It's a stretch, but at least it's an original stretch.

Still, of all the dramatic elements, the politics could be the freshest. Could be, that is, if Kitty wasn't such a humorless conservative and the dialogue wasn't so carefully written to avoid offending anyone, unlike in real political arguments.

ABC is doing everything it can for the series. It not only scheduled the show to follow "Desperate Housewives," but cannily lengthened the hit soap to run a minute long, making it inconvenient to switch channels. And yet I have this feeling that some people will.

Cast:
Kitty: Calista Flockhart
Sarah: Rachel Griffiths
Nora: Sally Field
Saul Holden: Ron Rifkin
Holly: Patricia Wettig
Thomas: Balthazar Getty
Justin: Dave Annable
Kevin: Matthew Rhys
Joe: Hohn Pyper-Ferguson
Julia: Sarah Jane Morris
William: Tom Skerritt

Executive producers: Ken Olin, Jon Robin Baitz, Greg Berlanti, Scott Chambliss; Co-executive producers: Emily Whitesell, Sarah Caplan, Molly Newman, Craig Wright; Producers: Michael Morris, Suzanne Geiger; Co-producer: Jessica Mecklenburg, Nicole Carrasco; Director: Ken Olin; Teleplay: Jon Robin Baitz; Director of photography: Thomas Yatsko; Production designer: Denny Dugally; Editor: Kristin Windell.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (10/1)

"An Act of Will" -- The reading of William Walker's will threatens to cause a rift in the family, on "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris as Julia.

Guest starring are Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Michael Beach as Noah Guare, Laura Jordan as Fawn, Angela Sargeant as Gladys, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, George Gerdes as Vincent Johanssen, Chris Owen as the droll clerk, Brent Jennings as Officer Dunnigan, Alexander Agate as Josh Wong-Bates and Hemky Madera as the worker.

"An Act of Will" was written by Marti Noxon and Jon Robin Baitz and directed by Matt Shakman.

MEN IN TREES (10/6)

"Talk for Tat" - The town of Elmo experiences a record heatwave and Marin realizes the energy bars she's been feeding the raccoon living in her closet are making him sick. She turns to Jack for help and finds herself attracted to him, but doesn't know if she - or even Jack - is ready for a relationship. Across town passions stir between Patrick and Annie, and much to Theresa's surprise, between Ben and Sara, as things heat up, on "MEN IN TREES," FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Timothy Webber as Jerome, Adrian McMorran as Carl and Daryl Shuttleworth as Doug.

"Talk for Tat" was written by Cara DiPaolo and directed by Joanna Kerns.

Sightings

ANNE Heche on an Alaska Airline flight to L.A. making enemies who described her as "rude" and "obnoxious"

Anne Heche heats up Alaska with "Men in Trees"

What might happen if prissy barmaid Diane from "Cheers" wandered into the town of eccentrics depicted in "Northern Exposure?" It could look a lot like the premiere episode of "Men in Trees," a surprisingly refreshing romantic comedy drama full of appealing characters.

The series seems all the more charming and even whimsical against this season's primetime background of crime procedurals, serialized dramas and angst-ridden lawyers.

Anne Heche plays Marin Frist, a relationship coach and best-selling author who could be a close relative of Shelley Long's smug, know-it-all Diane, right down to their blond tresses. Marin is riding a wave of success as she flits from well-attended book signings to sold-out lectures. With humorous patter and traffic signs as props, she tells women that they, too, can find the perfect guy. Meanwhile, after a year's courtship, she's making wedding plans.

Predictably, it's all too good to be true. En route to a lecture in tiny Elmo, Alaska, she discovers that she accidentally grabbed her fiance's laptop. A slideshow on his monitor reveals incriminating evidence of an affair. While both the Alaskan lecture and the tell-tale slideshow tax credulity, if that's what it takes to set this delightful series in motion, so be it.

Stuck in the tiny town for a few days, Marin quickly learns she can't size up these men and neatly categorize them as easily as she had believed. She quickly becomes fascinated by the assortment of unpretentious males who vastly outnumber the women. Even though, as one woman warns, "the odds are good but the goods are odd," Marin recognizes that Elmo may be the perfect place to start over.

The premise pilot, a nice blend of humor, emotion and irony, introduces viewers to some of the townsfolk, including conservation officer Jack (James Tupper), whose studied indifference to Marin in the pilot marks him as the love interest. It ingeniously drops hints about the backstories of several characters, whetting viewer appetites for new episodes when the show moves this week to its regular time period at 9 p.m. Friday.

Heche, who is in virtually every scene, brings a zeal and vulnerability to the role that elevates the clever dialogue by creator Jenny Bicks, a former improv performer and Emmy winner for "Sex and the City." The rest of the ensemble is similarly well-cast and appealing. Director James Mangold, also an exec producer, takes full advantage of the natural beauty in and around Vancouver to suggest the remote and pristine Alaskan frontier.

Cast:
Marin Frist: Anne Heche
Ben: Abraham Benrubi
Annie: Emily Bergl
Jane: Seana Kofoed
Sara: Suleka Matthew
Patrick: Derek Richardson
Theresa: Sarah Strange
Jack: James Tupper
Buzz: John Amos

Executive producers: Jenny Bicks, Cathy Konrad, James Mangold; Producer: Stuart Besser; Director: James Mangold; Teleplay/creator: Jenny Bicks; Director of photography: Phedon Papamichael; Production designer: Brent Thomas; Editors: Michael McCusker, John Murray; Music: Peter Himmelman; Set decorator: Leslie Beale; Casting: Lisa Beach, Sarah Katzman, Sean Cossey, Stuart Aikins.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (9/24; PREMIERE)

"Brothers & Sisters" is a compelling, new one-hour primetime drama from executive producers Ken Olin and Jon Robin Baitz about the California-based Walker family. In the series, we meet five complicated adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. The series premieres SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER, 24 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

In the premiere episode, "Patriarchy," Kitty Walker (Calista Flockhart) returns home to California after having been estranged from her mother (Sally Field) for three years. Meanwhile, William Walker (Tom Skerritt) brings Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) into the family business, where she soon discovers some glaring financial discrepancies that could undermine the Walker family's way of life.

The series follows the Walkers through the maze of American life today -- the pressures, limitless options and the struggle to grow beyond our backgrounds into ourselves. Through these fascinating siblings -- Sarah (Griffiths), the corporate VP who returns to the family business so she can give to her marriage as much as she does to her career; Tommy (Balthazar Getty), the loyal son trying to live up to his father's expectations; Kevin (Matthew Rhys), the gay lawyer cautiously learning about love; Justin (Dave Annable), the baby of the family, grappling with war trauma and addiction; and Kitty (Flockhart), right-wing radio host turned TV pundit who has always been daddy's little girl -- the show explores what it means to be a family in the 21st century, and how these brothers and sisters balance their own lives as they strive to accept their parents as people -- flawed, contradictory and forgivable -- rather than just as a father and mother. The parents are Skerritt as William Walker, the larger-than-life patriarch and president of the family business, and Field as Nora Holden, the opinionated wife and mother to the five Walker siblings. Then there's Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Nora's brother; John Pyper-Ferguson as Sarah's husband, Joe; Sarah Jane Morris as Tommy's wife, Julia; and Patricia Wettig as Holly, a woman who's history with William could bring the Walkers and their company down.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart ("Ally McBeal") as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths ("Six Feet Under") as Sarah, Sally Field ("Norman Rae") as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin ("Alias") as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig ("thirtysomething") as Holly, Balthazar Getty ("Alias") as Thomas, Dave Annable ("Reunion") as Justin, Matthew Rhys ("Titus," "Love and other Disasters") as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson ("Unforgiven," "Nightstalker") as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris ("Felicity") as Julia.

Guest starring are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Matthew Settle as Jonathan Sellers, Tyler Posey as Gabriel Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Jay Juguley as White Peyton, Michael Beach as Noah Guare, Laura Jordan as Fawn, Stana Katic as Karen Wells, John C. Moskoff as Leo, Ryan Michelle Bathe as Sasha, Laraine Newman as Lyla, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Daniel Edward Mora as Jorge and Angela Sargeant as Gladys.

"Patriarchy" was written by Jon Robin Baitz and directed by Ken Olin.

MEN IN TREES (9/29)

"For What It's Worth..." - Marin's struggle to come to terms with the fact that she is now indeed a single woman is more difficult than she thought. Meanwhile, she's been asked to host the town's charity Bachelor Auction... Little did she expect to be spending all her money on one particular guy. Patrick takes a nervous Annie to meet his over-protective mother, Celia (Cynthia Stevenson), and Ben and Theresa's relationship gets more complicated, on "MEN IN TREES", FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC television network.

"MEN IN TREES" stars Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick Bachelor, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack Slattery and John Amos as Buzz.

Guest starring are Lauren Tom as Mai, Timothy Webber as Jerome, Adrian McMorran as guy, Donna White as older woman, Heather Feeney as hot brunette, Sheelah Megill as leather jacket woman, David Paul Grove as handsome man, Chelah Horsdal as pretty redhead, Jennifer Kitchen as red sweater woman and Chelan Simmons as Tiffannii.

"For What It's Worth..." was written by Chris Dingess and directed by Rick Wallace.

Sightings

HARRISON Ford and Calista Flockhart sipping apple martinis at the bar at Intermezzo.

BROTHERS & SISTERS LEADSHEET

"BROTHERS & SISTERS" (Sundays from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET)

"Brothers & Sisters" is a compelling, new one-hour primetime drama from executive producers Ken Olin and playwright Jon Robin Baitz about the California-based Walker family. In the series, we meet a collection of incredibly intertwined and somewhat damaged adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. In the days ahead, they will navigate waves of temptation, deception and grief.

"Brothers & Sisters" follows the Walkers through the maze of American life today -- the pressures, limitless options and the struggle to grow beyond our backgrounds into ourselves. Through these fascinating siblings -- Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), the corporate VP who returns to the family business so she can give to her marriage as much as she does to her career; Tommy (Balthazar Getty), the loyal son yet charming womanizer; Kevin (Matthew Rhys), the gay lawyer cautiously learning about love; Justin (Dave Annable), the baby of the family, grappling with war trauma and addiction; and Kitty (Calista Flockhart), right-wing radio host turned TV pundit who has always been Daddy's little girl -- the show explores what it means to be a family in the 21st century, and how these brothers and sisters balance their own lives as they strive to accept their parents as people -- flawed, contradictory and forgivable -- rather than just as a father and mother.

The parents are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, the larger-than-life patriarch and president of the family business, and Sally Field as Nora Holden, the opinionated wife and mother to the five Walker siblings. Then there's Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Nora's dandyish brother; John Pyper-Ferguson as Sarah's husband, Joe; Sarah Jane Morris as Tommy's wife, Julia; and Patricia Wettig as the mystery woman who could bring the Walkers and their company down.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Calista Flockhart ("Ally McBeal") as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths ("Six Feet Under") as Sarah, Sally Field ("Norman Rae") as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin ("Alias") as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig ("thirtysomething") as Holly, Balthazar Getty ("Alias") as Thomas, Dave Annable ("Reunion") as Justin, Matthew Rhys ("Titus," "Love and other Disasters") as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson ("Unforgiven," "Nightstalker") as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris ("Felicity") as Julia.

Ken Olin ("Alias," "thirtysomething") and Jon Robin Baitz ("The Substance of Fire," "The West Wing") are executive producers. The series is produced by Touchstone Television.

KEN OLIN, executive producer/director
Ken Olin, actor, director and producer, has established himself as one of the most multi-faceted professionals in network television.

Olin grew up in Chicago and attended the Putney School before going to the University of Pennsylvania. From 1987-1991 he had a leading role in the critically acclaimed, Emmy, Golden Globe and People's Choice Award-winning drama series, "thirtysomething." His acting credits also include "Hill Street Blues," "EZ Streets" and "LA Doctors."

Olin began his directing career during the filming of "thirtysomething." His long list of directorial credits include multiple episodes of "Felicity," "The West Wing," "Freaks and Geeks" and "Breaking News." He was an executive producer and director of "Alias," the hit ABC television series, for five years.

JON ROBIN BAITZ, creator/executive producer
Jon Robin Baitz was born in 1961 in Los Angeles and grew up in Brazil, South Africa and Southern California. He is the author of several acclaimed plays, including "The Substance of Fire," "A Fair Country" and "Ten Unknowns," all of which were produced by Lincoln Center Theatre in New York. His most recent play, "The Paris Letter," was part of the 2004 opening season at The Mark Taper Forum's Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles, before its New York premiere at The Roundabout Thatre. It received L.A. Drama Critics and Ovation Awards, as well as a Lucille Lortel nomination for the New York production. His earlier work includes "The Film Society," "Mizlansky/Zilinsky" and "Three Hotels," as well as a new version of Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler," for The Geffen Theatre, which was produced with Annette Bening in 1999 before a Broadway run starring Kate Burton in 2001. Baitz is the recipient of a Rockefeller Foundation Award, an American Academy of Arts & Letters fellowship and a Drama Desk Award, and is a Guggenheim Fellow and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for "A Fair Country." He won a Humanitas Award for the PBS "American Playhouse" version of "Three Hotels," which he also directed.

Baitz's film work includes "People I Know" (2003), which starred Al Pacino, and "The Substance of Fire" (1996), starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Ron Rifkin and Timothy Hutton, which Baitz also produced. For television he has written episodes of "The West Wing" and "Alias."

'Ally' Cat Krakowski Joins '30 Rock'

Former "Ally McBeal" star Jane Krakowski is getting back into the TV-series game, courtesy of Lorne Michaels, Tina Fey and "30 Rock."

Krakowski has joined the cast of the new NBC comedy, playing the star of a fictional variety show run by writer Liz Lemon (Fey). Rachel Dratch, like Fey a "Saturday Night Live" alum, played a similar role in the show's original pilot; she'll continue to be involved with the show, but will play different characters from episode to episode.

"Jane is enormously talented, and everyone is thrilled that she is joining the cast," Michaels says. "I think it's going to be a perfect fit."

The show, named for NBC's New York headquarters, revolves around the clashes Fey's character has with new network executive Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin). In the pilot, Jack coerces Liz into bringing volatile movie star Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan, another "SNL" veteran) into the cast of her series, "The Girlie Show."

Krakowski, who played oversexed secretary Elaine Vassal on "Ally McBeal," won a Tony Award in 2003 for her performance in the Broadway musical "Nine." Her TV credits also include NBC's "A Christmas Carol" musical, guest spots on "Everwood" and "Law & Order: SVU" and the Lifetime movie "Mom at Sixteen." She also starred in the CBS pilot "Sex, Power, Love & Politics" this year.

On the big screen, she's appeared in "Alfie," "Pretty Persuasion" and "Go."

"30 Rock" is scheduled to premiere Oct. 11 on NBC.

Actor Josh Hopkins nabs 2 TV gigs

Josh Hopkins, who most recently starred opposite Rebecca Romijn on the WB Network's short-lived "Pepper Dennis," has landed recurring roles on two new dramas, Fox's "Vanished" and ABC's "Brothers & Sisters."

"Vanished" chronicles the disappearance of a senator's wife. Hopkins will play an old flame of the missing woman.

"Brothers" is a family soap about adult siblings starring Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths and Sally Field. Hopkins will play a love interest to Flockhart's character.

BON JOVI DODGES EX'S IMAGE

CONSPICUOUSLY absent at the "Hollywoodland" premiere in Southampton last weekend was Jon Bon Jovi. The Jersey-born rocker has a place in East Hampton and has been a fixture on the swanky South Fork social scene this summer. But he had good reason to skip this movie, which stars Ben Affleck as original TV "Superman" George Reeves, and Diane Lane as the movie mogul's wife Reeves was having an affair with when he died under mysterious circumstances in 1959. When Bon Jovi split from his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley, in the mid-'80s, he had a torrid love affair with Lane that ended very badly. In fact, he wrote "You Give Love a Bad Name" about Lane: "An angel's smile is what you sell/ You promise me heaven, then put me through hell." The heartbreak drove Bon Jovi back into the arms of Hurley, who married him in 1989 and bore him four children.

Behind-the-scenes drama on new Flockhart series

Calista Flockhart's new ABC family soap "Brothers & Sisters" is spawning its own real-life drama.

The show, which also stars Rachel Griffiths, was given a makeover last month when Sally Field replaced Betty Buckley, who had played the family matriarch in the pilot. Additionally, Matthew Rhys was hired to play one of the brothers, replacing Jonathan LaPaglia.

In the latest development, Marti Noxon officially exited as executive producer/showrunner Tuesday after weeks of rumblings about friction with the series' creator, Jon Robin Baitz.

"Brothers & Sisters" is expected to continue production as scheduled, with filming on the fourth episode slated to begin Wednesday. It will debut in the fall, in the coveted Sunday 10 p.m. slot behind "Desperate Housewives."

Denton, Heche among sci fi "Masters"

Judy Davis, Sam Waterston and Anne Heche are among the long list of actors who have signed on to star in episodes of ABC's upcoming anthology series "Masters of Science Fiction."

Malcolm McDowell, James Cromwell, John Hurt, Sean Astin and Brian Dennehy also have signed on to star in installments of the six-episode series, which is based on short stories by some of the sci-fi genre's top writers. The hour-long show is set to air during the 2006-07 season.

Other actors starring in episodes are Terry O'Quinn (ABC's "Lost"), Elisabeth Rohm (NBC's "Law & Order"), Clifton Collins Jr. (ABC's "Alias"), Kimberly Elise (CBS' "Close to Home") and James Denton (ABC's "Desperate Housewives").

In addition, physicist-professor Stephen Hawking will introduce each episode of the show, which is filmed on location in Vancouver, B.C.

Seniors have sex on the "Beach"

While a quick scan of the assembled cast might suggest "Dinner Theater: The Movie," truth be told "Boynton Beach Club" (aka "Boynton Beach Bereavement Club") is a thoughtful and nicely observed comedy-drama about a group of seniors grappling with life, loss, love and -- gasp -- sex in a south Florida "active adult community."

Coming from director Susan Seidelman, it is certainly a distinct change of pace from the woman who forged a reputation two decades ago with the restless youth movies "Desperately Seeking Susan" and "Smithereens," but she successfully serves a romantic comedy with a little more meat on its bones than the standard "Grumpy Old Men"-type offerings.

Hitting it home is a crack cast of seasoned pros, including Len Cariou, Sally Kellerman, Dyan Cannon, Joe Bologna, Renee Taylor, Michael Nouri and a particularly effective Brenda Vaccaro, who could teach the kids a thing or two about finely tuned, understated performances.

Already a proven hit with the Boynton Beach crowd (where it was filmed), the Roadside Attractions/Samuel Goldwyn release is initially being targeted to retirement communities like Palm Springs, where it should live long and healthy.

The film actually has Seidelman's mother, Florence, to thank for its genesis, who found inspiration in the stories told to her by her late friend's husband about his fellow bereavement class members who were suddenly finding themselves back on the dating scene after a very long absence.

Among those desperately seeking solace in the fictionalized version is the recently widowed Jack (Cariou) who is shown the ropes by resident player Harry (Bologna).

Although instantly catching the eye of decidedly forward Sandy (Kellerman), Jack prefers to go things a bit slower, as does Marilyn (Vaccaro), whose late husband Marty (Mal Z. Lawrence) was run over by the brassy Anita (Taylor) while gabbing on her cell phone.

Moving decidedly faster is Lois (Cannon) who feels like a kid again after striking up a relationship with younger man Donald (Michael Nouri), who has passed himself off as a successful developer.

As their lives and experiences intersect, the screenplay (penned by Seidelman and Shelly Gitlow) forgoes the temptation to shtick it to its audience in favor of some knowing truths, particularly when dealing with the usually verboten mainstream movie topic of sex between seniors.

She also has no trouble coaxing uniformly strong performances out of her game ensemble, but Vaccaro has the slight edge here in a funny and tender turn that is equal parts no-nonsense authority and aching vulnerability.

And though some of the obligatory "reveals" aren't as effective as others -- a plot development between Cariou and Kellerman's characters feels less than convincing -- the occasional downtime affords an ideal opportunity for viewers to survey all those well-preserved physical specimens and weigh in on the old who's-had-what-done game.

Cast:
Harry: Joe Bologna
Lois: Dyan Cannon
Jack: Len Cariou
Sandy: Sally Kellerman
Donald: Michael Nouri
Anita Stern: Renee Taylor
Marilyn: Brenda Vaccaro

Director: Susan Seidelman, Screenwriters: Susan Seidelman, Shelly Gitlow; Executive producers: Deborah Shantz van Eck, Blair Treisman Rosenfeld; Producers: Florence Seidelman, Susan Seidelman; Director of photography: Eric Moynier; Production designer: Kevin Kropp; Editor: Keiko Deguchi; Costume designer: Sarah Beers; Music: Marcelo Zarvos.

Le Gros, Chabert find the "Way"

James Le Gros and Lacey Chabert will star as an odd couple in "Sherman's Way," an indie comedy-drama set in California's Napa Valley.

The story centers on an eccentric Olympic has-been (Le Gros) who prefers leisure to work and finds himself stuck with a rigid, pre-law Yale student (Chabert) who has no time for wasting time. Between skinny-dipping and stealing cars, they learn that balance is the key to finding love, getting the job and getting a life.

Enrico Colantoni ("Just Shoot Me," "Veronica Mars") rounds out the cast. Craig Saavedra ("Rhapsody in Bloom") directs.

Le Gros recently starred in Showtime's terrorist drama "Sleeper Cell." Chabert, famed for her role on "Party of Five," most recently appeared in the Lindsay Lohan hit "Mean Girls."

Cash Hamptons

SEN. Hillary Clinton is barnstorming the Hamptons this weekend to fill her campaign coffers with the help of her hubby, Bill. Last night, Michael Recanati co-hosted a dinner in East Hampton with Ira Statfeld at $4,200 per head, the max under federal law. Today's brunch thrown by Lisa Perry in Sag Harbor costs $2,000. Tonight, the ex-president joins Hillary at the East Hampton home of Michele and Bill Nuti, where Jon Bon Jovi will perform. Tickets are $300, but $1,000 will get you a backstage pass. If some of these names don't ring a bell, there's an explanation. As one Dem said, "Every time you think she's hit up everybody she could find, she comes up with new people."

Calista Flockhart returns to TV with Field, Griffiths in tow

Calista Flockhart says it's time to get back to work. The Ally McBeal star has spent the past five years caring for her boyfriend Harrison Ford and her five-year-old adopted son.

She returns to TV this fall as a right-wing radio host turned pundit in the new drama Brothers & Sisters. The show, which co-stars Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths, debuts Sept. 24 on ABC.

"I really want to go back to work. It just seemed like the perfect time and the perfect project," Flockhart told the Television Critics Association's summer meeting this week.

She said she was especially happy to find a show with an ensemble cast of top actors.

"I wasn't going to be responsible for carrying the show and I would have a better schedule," she said.

Field also has kept a lower profile in recent years.

"It's a very interesting time in television," she said. "Television obviously is having to compete with a lot of other things and it's having to change and grow and try new things."

Griffiths has taken time off for motherhood.

"I was thinking of not doing television for a while for many reasons, mainly the kind of schedule and being away from my homeland," the Aussie actress said. "Calista was a big draw for me. She's an icon. I watched that show (Ally McBeal) and it carried me through my lonely 20s, and so it just felt right."

Robert Downey Jr. and the art of the chatterbox; stars in A Scanner Darkly

In a scene in the new film A Scanner Darkly, Robert Downey Jr.'s character enters the house he and his friends live in, wheeling a mountain bike on its hind wheel. He is stoked.

"Total, total, total, totally, total, total ... total providence," says Barris (Downey), a conspiracy theory-riddled man with no apparent job. Barris is excited because he's just purchased the new 18-speed from a neighbour for just $50.

It devolves into a comic scene, where he and his friends (played by Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves) become paranoid that Barris has been ripped off. It concludes when he decides to "abort the plot of these albino shape-shifting lizard bitches."

Such verbal gymnastics are Downey's calling card - an actorly trademark he has sharpened over the years, one that's become increasingly prevalent in his films.

Downey's motor-mouthed dialogue fills pages and pages of script in the Philip K. Dick, animated adaptation A Scanner Darkly, just as it did in last year's hyper-verbose noir Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. He also chats for almost his entire time on-screen in 2005's Eros, a three-part film for which Steven Soderbergh directed Downey's segment.

At 41, Downey says he's hit a "great period" in his career, and recognizes a big reason for that is his particular gift for the gab. Last week, he announced plans to publish a memoir - and that sense of reflection permeated a recent interview.

"Eighty-five per cent of communication is nonverbal, but that 15 per cent verbally, I was able to hone over a series of years for a variety of reasons," he says. "I just really dig it. I pride myself on it because I'm ... good at it. You got to pride yourself on what you're good at - what else do you got?"

Downey, wearing a bright orange jacket with matching sneakers, generally speaks as rapidly and as energetically as his characters - and, likewise, sometimes comes precariously close to blather.

When it's pointed out how his characters' jibber-jabber can both reveal and conceal their nature (Barris, in Scanner, shows his true colours in the only scene where he is silent, whereas Harry Lockhart in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a rambling open book), Downey replies:

"Absolutely. Is one the on or the off position? It depends."

He continues, rapping on the rhythm of speech: "And then, what does 101 mean? And what about ten-ten? And what about triple-0, triple-one, ten-ten? That to me, is where it starts getting really cool, because there's a math to it."

There is, in fact, method to Downey's madness. Though he often appears to be ad-libbing on-screen, it's usually the result of intense study. To memorize his dense dialogue, Downey writes the first letter of each word on a note.

He says that he sits, staring at the letters "until you can do it backwards and forwards, in your sleep, patting your head with someone knocking at the door and the TV on, while you're brushing your teeth."

Downey, whose performance in 1992's Chaplin was Oscar-nominated, admits his preparation was not always so thorough.

"It's that cruddy, molassesy step between really being prepared beyond a shadow of a doubt, and doing just enough, just in time," he says. "Both of them work, just one of them feels better."

Scanner director Richard Linklater is mystified by Downey's practice.

"I never quite got it," Linklater says. "It never would have helped me memorize anything. But for him, it worked. Robert's got a really fascinating brain and a really fascinating process."

Downey proves his memorization, too, by gleefully reciting (verbatim) a line he learned two years ago for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which is about a two-bit New York thief that gets wrapped up in a Hollywood murder mystery.

"What's wrong with the girls out here?" he quotes, referring to Los Angeles women. "It's like somebody took the East Coast and shook it, and all the normal girls managed to hang on."

Downey currently lives in Los Angeles with his second wife, producer Susan Levin. He also has a 12-year-old son from his previous marriage to Deborah Falconer.

He is, of course, well known for his drug problems through much of the '90s, which included several trips to rehab and prison. That period ended in 2002; since then, a clean and sober Downey has enjoyed a vibrant career.

Later this year he'll star in Fur with Nicole Kidman, and he's currently shooting Zodiac, directed by David Fincher.

With A Scanner Darkly largely about a futuristic drug called Substance D and the culture of drug abuse, it's a film that invites journalists to ask Downey about his drug-addicted past. Why revisit a troubled time?

"It's an old adage, if you're really OK ... that you don't regret the past or wish to shut the door on it. Which is to say" - Downey pauses, grabs a pen and writes, "T-N-S-I-M-G."

Holding up the pad, he smiles and translates: "There's no shame in my game.

Actor MacNicol joins "24" numbers

Peter MacNicol's schedule is about to become even busier as the "Numbers" cast member is joining Fox's "24" next season as a series regular.

The actor will portray a high-ranking government official in the real-time drama, which kicks off its sixth year at midseason.

MacNicol has been a cast member on CBS' "Numbers" since the drama premiered in January 2005. He will shoot "24" and "Numbers" simultaneously.

MacNicol earned three supporting actor Emmy nominations for his role as stuttering attorney John Cage on Fox's "Ally McBeal," taking home the award in 2001.

His other credits also include ABC's "Boston Legal" and CBS' "Chicago Hope," along with voice roles in such series as Adult Swim's "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law" and WB Network's "The Batman."

Standing Room

JAMES Marsden didn't realize he needed to buy tickets in advance to see himself in "Superman Returns." When he arrived at the Sony IMAX theater on West 68th Street the other night, the ticket-counter girl informed him he was out of luck. "But I'm in the movie!" Marsden yelled. A manager summoned to the counter recognized him and escorted him inside, where the star stood in the back and watched the rest of a showing already under way.

Robert Downey Jr. to write about 'highs and lows' in memoirs

Robert Downey Jr., whose own life story at times has been gripping, intends to write his memoirs.

The 41-year-old actor has signed a deal with HarperEntertainment, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, the company announced Thursday. The book is set to be released in 2008. The publisher, which did not disclose the terms of pact, promised a "candid look at the highs and lows of his life and career."

"He has an intelligence which shines through all his performances, revealing his intellect as well as his acting abilities," Marjorie Braman, an executive with the publishing company, said Thursday.

"His dramatic personal life, often at odds with his career, adds a layer of complexity to who he is," Braman said.

Downey suffered from recurring drug and alcohol problems in the 1990s, prison time, court-ordered rehab and probation that ended in 2002.

Downey, whose TV and film credits include Chaplin, Ally McBeal, Good Night, and Good Luck, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, stars as a drug user in the new movie A Scanner Darkly, which opens Friday.

Still wanted: Bon Jovi live

Faced with continuing declines in attendance and a potentially disastrous void as the cash-cow classic acts from the '60s and '70s retire, concert promoters searching for answers might do well to examine the enterprising route taken by Jon Bon Jovi.

Along with Madonna, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw and Dave Matthews Band, Bon Jovi and his eponymous band have emerged this summer, perhaps surprisingly to some, as one of the few sure things on the road. Business is so strong that the group is bypassing arenas and amphitheaters in favor of much larger outdoor stadiums, at roughly 50,000 seats per show. In recent years, only Matthews, a resurgent Green Day, Metallica and a handful of others have been able to attract that many fans.

This month alone, the band is expected to earn more than $25 million from nine dates, with grosses for the entire tour (which launched in November with the first of about 90 dates) exceeding $100 million.

While most free-spending, over-40 concertgoers now seem to prefer comfortable indoor shows to the event-style concerts in football stadiums that once ruled, for some acts the big outdoor show remains very much a part of the equation. For Jon Bon Jovi, a guy mistakenly written off years ago as little more than a big-haired '80s novelty, regularly filling such venues worldwide seems testament to the more unorthodox decisions he has made through the years.

DETAIL-ORIENTED

"His mind is always turning," says Ron VanDeVeen, associate general manager of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, N.J., where the band will close out the final leg of its Have a Nice Day tour July 29 with the last of three Giants Stadium shows. "He thinks like the customer. He knows the specifics of every deal down to the last dime."

That attention to detail -- along with a hummable catalog, accessibly priced tickets, alliances with pro sports (he's majority owner of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul) and a willingness to stay the course while ignoring traditional promotional advice -- has kept the band strong for nearly 24 years.

Sturdy new material, high-profile charity work and a reputation for exuberant live performances also have helped Bon Jovi make a major leap in recent years -- from mere lucrative rock group to the kind of career act that's relatable across genres and generations.

"We did 'em in 2000 and 2003, and now we're doing more of them," Bon Jovi said of his various stadium runs during a recent phone call from London, where he was finishing up the European tour leg that included gigs at 17 soccer stadiums. "Last tour, we did Philly, Detroit, Boston and New York; this year we've added Chicago (Soldier Field), Pittsburgh (Heinz Field) and Montreal (Parc Jean-Drapeau)."

'HOME' RUN

In April, Bon Jovi became the first rock band to top Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, landing the No. 1 spot with "Who Says You Can't Go Home," a collaboration with Jennifer Nettles of the rising country band Sugarland. The song also is part of a breezy tourism campaign on behalf of New Jersey, where Jon Bon Jovi still lives.

"Not only does Jon have great business sense, but he gives you the feeling that he's a good guy," says Bernie Dillon, general manager of the 5,600-seat Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla., where the band will kick off this tour leg Monday with a rare small-hall show. "People like that about him."

Continually expanding the audience, rather than simply playing to their original fans, also has been paramount. During the height of the boy-band frenzy of the late '90s, Bon Jovi and sideman Richie Sambora (now 44 and 46, respectively) unabashedly exploited their movie-star looks, targeting older but no less passionate female fans -- half-jokingly calling themselves "a man band."

Suggestive film roles, Jon Bon Jovi's stint on "Ally McBeal" and Sambora's Hollywood romance with Heather Locklear had already been resonating with women. When radio and MTV dried up for the band, they took their music direct to housewives via home shopping channel QVC. More recently, the band engineered productive partnerships with AOL and XM Satellite Radio, both of which have beamed concerts live.

"They have always found a way to reach their fans. And it doesn't hurt that they've discovered the fountain of youth," Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, promoter of the tour, says of the guys' devotion to fitness and clean living. "But the fact is this band still sells a lot of records." Their 2005 Island Records release "Have a Nice Day" sold 200,000 units in its first week.

"We have always been aware of the future coming," Bon Jovi said. "When some radio conglomerate says you're not relevant anymore, we went to a lot of places that no one else would go, like Asia and Central and South America, knowing we'd always have some place to play."

Phillips noted that the band's careerlong decision to hold the line on ticket prices also has been smart. Tickets now routinely exceed $300 a pop for some superstars, but Bon Jovi is charging $35-$125 per show (excluding the Hard Rock gig).

"I do know how to run our business," Bon Jovi said. "There are so many other (entertainment) options today -- and I remember very well what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck."

Tidbit

Robert Downey told Webster Hall's Baird Jones: "My father's real name is Elias. I'm Jewish. I have 'Elias' tattooed to my ankle"

'Vanished' Draws 'Dennis' Dude

The new FOX drama "Vanished" has recruited "Pepper Dennis" leading man Josh Hopkins for a multi-episode arc.

"Vanished," which will air on Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET this fall, focuses on the mysterious disappearance of the wife (Joanne Kelly) of a prominent senator (John Allen Nelson) and the investigation into her whereabouts. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hopkins will play a man with information about the missing wife's past.

Hopkins is currently playing out the string as anchor Charlie Babcock on The WB's departing "Dennis." His other credits include arcs on FOX's "North Shore" and CBS' "Cold Case."

The actor's "Pepper Dennis" colleague Pooch Hall has also found additional work, landing a regular role on "The Game," The CW's new "Girlfriends" spinoff.

In other casting news, Virginia Williams will take the lead role in Lifetime's primetime soap "Bianca." Williams has appeared on shows like "The Inside," "How I Met Your Mother" and "Veronica Mars."

Cinematic synapses misfire in "Scanner Darkly"

This film involved a painstaking animation process that required up to 500 hours to create one minute of screen time. And, with each minute of screen time, it has delivered back all that pain to the viewer -- in multiples, because the indie-heaven cast and the hand of Richard Linklater promises so much.

Audiences compelled by professional obligation will be this film's most likely outreach, with those sitting in the middle of the rows most likely to last the duration. Commercially, "A Scanner Darkly" should be quickly remaindered to video, though on the upside, it may rejuvenate interest in Philip K. Dick's novel to see exactly what inspired all these talented people to perpetrate this.

Throughout his creative life, Dick battled his own demons of drug addiction, and the work upon which this trippy film is based is one of the author's best-sellers. Characteristically set in the Dick universe of the near future, "Scanner" centers on the institutional fight against drug addiction, as an undercover cop is assigned to spy on his friends, and -- in the complex convolutions of the plot -- eventually to spy on himself.

The story itself is a mind-bender of big issues: addiction, surveillance, paranoia and personal rights. Unfortunately, Linklater gets swamped by the book's grand philosophical pinions and resorts to verbal explication rather than dramatization.

Indeed, movement-wise, there is nothing animated about this animated feature. It is static. Scene after scene of verbose fiddle-faddle: Characters orate at each other, while sitting in cars, sitting at dining tables, sitting in living rooms, sitting at office desks. The film might be better titled "The Big Sit."

What is going on? Well, a lot of verbiage about the ravages a drug dubbed Substance D is perpetrating on beautiful downtown Anaheim. Unfortunately, Linklater further befuddles the works by allowing the actors histrionic excess. Not surprisingly, the most entertaining is Robert Downey Jr.'s hyperactive performance as a fey and haughty friend of the undercover cop. Popped way over the top, Downey delivers what William F. Buckley Jr. might seem like if plied with uppers. Fortunately, other performances are more subdued, namely Keanu Reeves' myopic turn as the undercover cop. Remarkably, Reeves seems to be doing an imitation of Clint Eastwood, mumbling in the soft cadence of early Dirty Harry. In short, audiences will have to seek out their own peculiar diversions in order to last the whole course of this demi-dud.

Visually, this "Scanner" is no phantasmagoria, unlikely to inspire comparison to great animated head trips of the '60s. The film's muted palette of pastels, while well suited to bath soaps, is less than dynamic as a filmic eye-grabber. While acknowledging the craftsmanship and creativity of the animation team, "Scanner's" colorings and shadings make the real-life characters look like wood carvings.

Cast:
Bob Arctor: Keanu Reeves
James Barris: Robert Downey Jr.
Ernie Luckman: Woody Harrelson
Donna Hawthorne: Winona Ryder
Charles Freck: Rory Cochrane

Credits: Screenwriter-director: Richard Linklater; Based on the novel by: Philip K. Dick; Producers: Anne Walker-McBay, Tommy Pallotta, Palmer West, Jonah Smith, Erwin Stoff; Executive producers: George Clooney, Steven Soderbergh, Jennifer Fox, Ben Cosgrove, John Sloss; Director of photography: Shane F. Kelly; Production designer: Bruce Curtis; Music: Graham Reynolds; Editor: Sandra Adair; Animators: Sterling Allen, Evan Cagle, Nick Derington, Christopher Jennings, Lance Myers.

Jon Bon Jovi: Working class

Jon Bon Jovi is like any typical dad with four kids under the age of 12.

Except that when he leaves home in northern New Jersey to go to work in New York City, he takes a helicopter.

But that has more to do with the singer's busy schedule than it does with him living a decadent lifestyle.

"I live in Jersey. There's no Joneses to keep up with," Bon Jovi said while driving his BMW to fetch his son. "I'm not out mowing the lawn, but I am picking up my kid and then hopping in the chopper and flying up to New York. My time is so busy, that's the only way."

Bon Jovi, this NJ dad's group, has been one of the top-selling rock acts for nearly two decades, following the skyrocketing release of its breakthrough 1986 album "Slippery When Wet," which has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide. They have played on almost every continent and have toured relentlessly. But it was all in the name of getting their music out to the masses, according to the act's namesake.

"We earned our living playing live and we weren't afraid to go places like Africa, Asia and South America - the old adage was, `if you don't have electricity, we'll bring our own,'" he said. "That's how we built our reputation and sold 100 million albums."

On top of that, their song, "Who Says You Can't Go Home," from Bon Jovi's 2005 release "Have a Nice Day," landed at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in April. Country? It was a first for any rock band. Ever.

"It's pretty neat and groundbreaking," Bon Jovi said with a nod of modesty. "I appreciate that because ultimately it's a testament to a good song that defies formats."

The song shot to the top thanks in some measure to a smart collaboration with country singer Jennifer Nettles, who fronts the country band Sugarland. Initially, Bon Jovi and his bandmate and writing partner, Richie Sambora, shopped the video to Country Music Television to see if they could make it fly without any associated promotion. Then they approached Nettles and ultimately made history.

Making history is becoming commonplace for the band, which also includes Tico Torres and David Bryan. A few years ago, Bon Jovi (the man, not the band), purchased the Philadelphia Soul, an Arena Football League franchise. What set this team apart from others in professional sports is their willingness to give back, not only money but also manpower, to their community.

The Soul is now the top-rated team in the league with their philanthropic work serving as a model for the AFL, according to Bon Jovi.

He's accomplished a lot. But even with his larger-than-life persona, Jon Bon Jovi still sees himself as a regular guy involved with his family and his community.

Just like any other dad. Who happens to be a rock star.

"I guess the joke is that everyone wants to be a rock star," he said. "I got to be one."

ABC Announces Fall '06

Brothers & Sisters (Drama, Sundays 10pm)

Premise: Family secrets and lies are exposed are exposed when siblings come together to celebrate a birthday and soapy repercussions follow.

Stars: Calista Flockhart ("Ally McBeal"), Ron Rivkin ("Alias"), Balthazar Getty ("Alias"), Rachel Griffiths ("Six Feet Under"), Dave Annable ("Reunion"), Patricia Wettig ("Prison Break"), John Pyper-Ferguson ("Smallville"), Sarah Jane Morris ("Felicity"), Jimmy Pinchak ("CSI")

Studio: Touchstone Television

Producers: Jon Robin Baitz ("The Substance of Fire"), Ken Olin ("Alias"), Marti Noxon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer")In Case of Emergency (Midseason Comedy)

Premise: Four friends from high school are reunited and discover that their lives hadn't turned out exactly as planned.

Stars: Jonathan Silverman ("The Single Guy"), David Arquette ("Scream"), Greg Germann ("Ally McBeal"), Kelly Hu ("CSI: NY"), Lori Loughlin ("Summerland"), Nicholas Roget-King ("Yours, Mine and Ours")

Studio: Touchstone Television

Producers: Howard J. Morris ("According to Jim"), Emile Levisetti ("Hope & Faith"), Jon Favreau ("Elf")

ABC Orders New Show For Greg Germann

"In Case of Emergency," starring David Arquette, Greg Germann and Jonathan Silverman, follows a group of high school friends who reunite when their lives face comic crises.

Bon Jovi finds a country "Home," makes chart history

Bon Jovi has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 four times in its hit-studded career. But recently, it notched a first -- not just for the band, but for music history. The hit "Who Says You Can't Go Home" made Bon Jovi the first rock band to land atop Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart -- a position it now holds for a second week.

The road to its first country hit began when the band's Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora created two versions of the song, both of which appear on their current album "Have a Nice Day" (Island). The band-only version is a hit on the adult top 40 and adult contemporary charts. The country version features Jennifer Nettles, lead singer of country act Sugarland.

At the time the duet was recorded, Sugarland was little known. Since then, the band's album "Twice the Speed of Life" (Mercury) has sold 1.9 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and the group has landed three other top 10 songs.

But it was Keith Urban, not Nettles, whom the band initially approached as a duet partner. Jon Bon Jovi asked Urban to sing and play banjo on the track. The collaboration wasn't what either artist had in mind, however. "Our voices were too similar," Bon Jovi says. "A banjo wasn't really the way to go. But I now had the idea that this could really work."

Bon Jovi says he didn't want his group seen as "carpetbaggers who were going to say they're a country band suddenly."

In fact, Bon Jovi already had some familiarity in Nashville. Jon Bon Jovi has made multiple trips to Music City for songwriting collaborations, and the group has recorded and performed there many times, including laying the tracks for the "These Days" album.

Jon Bon Jovi even spent five weeks on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1998 on a duet with Chris LeDoux, "Bang a Drum," and Bon Jovi's hit "Wanted Dead or Alive" was recorded by country artist Chris Cagle on his 2005 Capitol Records Nashville set, "Anywhere but Here."

"Who Says You Can't Go Home" is available as a digital download. Starting May 23, the single and video will be available exclusively through Target as a CD shrink-wrapped with Sugarland's album, "Twice the Speed of Life."

Photographer Says Dame Edna Punched Him

Internationally renowned comic character Dame Edna Everage's alter ego, Australian actor Barry Humphries, punched a photographer who pursued him outside a Sydney restaurant Wednesday, his publicist said.

The 72-year-old — who has found enduring fame in the United States, Britain and Australia on stage and screen through the purple-haired housewife character he has been playing since the 1950s — struck celebrity freelance photographer Malcolm Ladd, 54, publicist Suzie Howie said.

Humphries became upset when Ladd followed him from Dee Bee's Cafe in Sydney's exclusive Double Bay where the actor had lunch with musical director Andrew Ross, Howie said.

"I can confirm to you that Barry did hit him," Howie said. "He was obviously very upset."

"But at least he didn't throw a phone," added Howe, referring to Australia-based Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe who was given a conditional discharge by a New York court last year after pleading guilty to throwing a phone at a hotel receptionist.

New South Wales state police had not received a complaint about the punch, a police spokeswoman said on the unusual condition of anonymity.

Ladd's photographs of Humphries at lunch appeared in early Thursday editions of News Corp. newspapers in Australia.

Ladd has declined to comment to media outside News Corp.

But he told News Corp. Humphries punched his face as Ladd attempted to take a close shot outside the restaurant.

"It knocked my glasses off. It was a good punch — it still hurts," Ladd was quoted as saying.

The photographer said he was in shock and was weighing up whether to complain to police.

"It's the first time I've been attacked and I've photographed just about everyone before," he was quoted as saying.

Scorsese, Bon Jovi to Be Honored

Martin Scorsese and Jon Bon Jovi will be honored by Help USA, a national nonprofit organization, at its annual tribute dinner, to be held May 4 at Gotham Hall.

"Jon Bon Jovi and Martin Scorsese are two public figures who view their success as a platform to give back and do so in ways consistent with Help USA's 20 years of job and housing assistance and mentoring," Maria Cuomo-Cole, co-chair of the dinner, said Tuesday in a statement.

Help USA was formed by former federal Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo to aid the homeless and victims of domestic abuse.

Scorsese, 63, is in post-production for "The Departed." The film, set for release in November, stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.

Bon Jovi, the 44-year-old singer, is on tour with his band, Bon Jovi. Their latest album, "Have a Nice Day," was released in September.

Help USA will hold an online auction on the eBay Web site from mid-April through May 7, with items including donations from celebrities.

Flockhart Admits Eating Disorder

Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart has admitted she suffered from anorexia while filming the hit law-firm TV comedy.

After years of claiming her skinny figure was due to being "small-boned," the actress has finally revealed grueling work schedules and the stress of finishing the show, which was axed in 2002, made her stop wanting to eat.

Flockhart says, "At the time of all that, I was seriously stressed. I was working 15-hour days on the set and then I was dealing with the end of the show, which was basically my life.

"I started under-eating, over-exercising, pushing myself too hard and brutalizing my immune system. I guess I just didn't find time to eat.

"I am much more healthy these days."

Flockhart Rubbishes Ford Engagement Rumors
Actress Calista Flockhart has denied rumors she and boyfriend Harrison Ford plan to marry, because they are perfectly happy as they are.

The 41-year-old Ally McBeal star claims she is indifferent to marriage and is happy to continue living with the 63-year-old two-time divorcee and caring for her adopted son Liam, 5.

She says, "We really haven't discussed it. He's had two long marriages before. "But we're just very happy and content with the way things are. To be honest I can go either way."

Sightings

ROBERT Downey Jr. and his son, Indio, throwing grapes into one another's mouths by the pool at the Delano in South Beach, then pretending to be seals when they caught them...

First Look canonizes Sundance hit 'Saints'

"A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," Dito Montiel's autobiographical drama starring Robert Downey Jr., Chazz Palminteri, Dianne Wiest and Rosario Dawson, has been acquired for worldwide distribution by First Look Studios.

A September platform release is planned for the film, which took home two awards at this year's Sundance Film Festival -- the dramatic director award for first-time helmer Montiel and a special dramatic jury prize for best ensemble performance.

Downey, who also serves as co-producer, became involved in the project through a mutual friend he shared with Montiel. Taking an interest in Montiel's memoirs about growing up in a rough Queens, N.Y., neighborhood, Downey brought on producer Trudie Styler and eventually her husband, Sting, as an executive producer.

Montiel started working on his memoir nine years ago, then began shooting short clips based on memories, finishing up his book just before September 11. After his friend Jonathan Elias showed a seven-minute short to Downey four years ago, Montiel shot another short film with the actor. Downey and Styler then encouraged Montiel to join the Sundance Institute labs. "I said, 'This is free? Why are you guys doing this?"' the director recalled. "It sounded like a scam, but it ended up being like a movie version of Wonkaville."

Initially, Montiel fought against hiring his high-profile cast for the $2.5 million production. "I hate independent movies with famous people," said the director. "It goes against everything I represent."

Instead, Montiel went roaming his old neighborhood at midnight looking for unknowns. "I approached underage actors and said, 'You have a chipped tooth. You'd be good,"' he recalled. "I found a white girl to play Laurie, and the producers wanted Rosario Dawson. They said 'Are you really upset Rosario Dawson wants to play this role?' They couldn't believe it." Eventually, though, Dawson got the part.

Montiel ended up filming just a portion of his book. Shia La Beouf and Downey portray him at different ages, with Channing Tatum and Eric Roberts playing Elias.

Nabbing "Saints" is something of a coup for First Look Studios CEO Henry Winterstern and First Look Pictures' new president, Ruth Vitale. It's the first theatrical acquisition initiated during Vitale's tenure at the company, which intends to put out eight to 12 movies a year.

Up next for Montiel is "The Clapper," a comic look at a paid audience member hired to clap during TV show tapings. Montiel has just finished the book, which he hopes to release this fall, and its screenplay, which he plans on directing.

Bon Jovi Changes British Concert Venues

Bon Jovi said they have changed the venue for two live shows in Britain this summer because of concern the new national stadium at Wembley wouldn't be ready in time.

"After contact with Wembley, it is evident that the stadium will not be ready for the Bon Jovi shows in June," the rock band said in a statement Thursday on their Web site.

"Having closed the original Wembley Stadium, it would have been a fitting honor to open the new one. However, the most important element was always the live concerts themselves," said lead singer Jon Bon Jovi in the statement.

The rock band's June 10-11 concerts will be held at the nearby Milton Keynes Bowl.

It was the latest bad news for the Wembley Stadium, which had been scheduled to open with English soccer's FA Cup final May 13. Construction delays forced that event to be switched to Cardiff.

British pop group Take That also said they were moving their June 24- 25 shows to Milton Keynes.

Multiplex, the Australian firm constructing the new stadium, has yet to give a date for completing the 90,000-seat venue, which will be operated by Wembley National Stadium Ltd.

The stadium had been expected to be finished by late last year. The deadline was extended to January and then to March.

"Dame Edna" returns to LA after five years

Some people read tea leaves, others read palms. Dame Edna Everage, Australia's gift to the civilized world, reads shoes taken directly from the feet of audience members. That's just one of the many talents that separates Dame Edna from the rest of humanity in her splendid new show, "Dame Edna: Back With a Vengeance!"

Dame Edna, of course, is Barry Humphries, the Australian man for all seasons who paints, writes and acts when he isn't wearing a dress in public. Humphries has been doing Dame Edna for about 50 years, so he's got her act down just about right. On opening night at the Ahmanson Theater, Edna was on a roll. Not five minutes into the show, and her unique bag of tricks already was spilling over into the audience, which can't wait to be humiliated by one of the world's foremost practitioners of the art.In most ways, Dame Edna's act hasn't changed that much. Although nearly five years have passed since her last visit to Los Angeles, the great Dame doesn't look that different, except for a slight droop in the right side of her mouth and a little less oomph when she throws gladiolas to the audience at the end of the show. The garish dresses, purple hair ("I'm the only woman with a purple bikini line.") and trademark rhinestone spectacles still make her look like your favorite nutty aunt putting on the dog.

But still, there is a difference this time. Call it the "vengeance" factor. Edna, the poor dear, is getting older. Perhaps because she is getting older, she's also getting nosier and -- to put the matter as delicately as possible -- more dirty-minded. Her interest in other people's private lives has taken a distinct turn toward the prurient and voyeuristic, much to the delight of the audience, which apparently loves to see one of their own squirm in the hands of a master.

On opening night, this strategy worked to perfection. Stacy and Steve offered themselves up for some impromptu marriage counseling that included an amusing phone call to Stacy's mother in Simi Valley. This was followed by a staged reading with five audience members of a scene from Edna's early married life. In both cases, Edna's choices could hardly have been better. Or funnier. If the goal is to make an audience laugh and roar its affection, Dame Edna clearly is at the top of her game.

Adding to the merriment are Wayne Barker's expert accompaniment at the piano and the delectable Ednaettes, Teri DiGianfelice and Michelle Pampena.

Devised and written by: Barry Humphries; Additional material: Andrew Ross; Production designers: Brian Thompson, Harley Medcalf; Lighting designer: Jane Cox; Costume designers: Stephen Adnitt, Will Goodwin; Choreographer: Jason Gilkinson. Cast: Dame Edna Everage, Wayne Barker, Teri DiGianfelice, Michelle Pampena.

We Hear...

THAT Maria Cuomo Cole did some arm-twisting and persuaded Martin Scorsese and Jon Bon Jovi to be guests of honor at the HELP U.S.A fund-raiser May 4 at Gotham Hall.

Earth to ABC: Kelley preps 'Mars' attack

"Boston Legal" creator David E. Kelley is going back in time with an ABC project based on the BBC's 2006 sci-fi crime drama "Life on Mars."

The show, targeted for fall 2007, follows the exploits of a 21st century detective who, following a car crash, mysteriously finds himself working as a cop in the 1970s.

Kelley is set to write the pilot script and to executive produce the pilot. It marks his first stab at the crime drama genre since the short-lived 1999 series "Snoops," also on ABC.

"Life on Mars," named after the David Bowie song, debuted on BBC 1 on January 9 with an initial run of eight episodes. It stars John Simm.

Kelley's other credits include "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal."

Sightings

COLIN Farrell accidentally crashing the "Lucky Number Slevin" premiere at the Royalton when he showed up for dinner with pals. After dessert, he joined Bruce Willis, Josh Hartnett, Ben Kingsley and Lucy Liu . . .

Sightings

JON Bon Jovi tending bar during the party for his Have a Nice Day tour at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas . .

Ford and Flockhart get engaged - report

Harrison Ford has reportedly proposed to long-term girlfriend Calista Flockhart.

The Indiana Jones star is said to have popped the question by hiding a huge diamond ring in a bakery bag while the pair enjoyed their breakfast coffee and croissants.

A source claimed: "When Calista reached in the bag she found a gorgeous two-carat diamond from Tiffany's."

A friend revealed Calista, who has been dating the star for two years after he split from his former wife, screenwriter Melissa Mathison, is thrilled they are finally engaged, saying: "Calista is ecstatic."

Earlier this month, the Star Wars actor revealed he hates his hair so much he wants to be bald.

He said: "I have always wanted to be older than I am, and I always wanted to be bald.

"You have to f**k with hair - I hate hairdressing. Every movie, I try desperately to do something so people aren't f***ing picking at it all the time."

De Rossi blames Ally McBeal for eating disorder

Actress Portia De Rossi developed anorexia while starring in Ally McBeal, because she used co-star Calista Flockhart and the other thin women on the show as her role models.

The actress hit her lowest point in 1999, when she starved herself down to a life-threatening 82 pounds.

She reveals in the April issue of Vogue magazine, "I've often wondered if I wasn't on that show if it (anorexia) may not have happened.

"I didn't really know at that point what it was like to be a celebrity, and the only people I knew at the time who had a similar experience were these women whom I worked with.

"They became my role models."

The actress decided to come clean about her anorexia with the help of her girlfriend, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

She adds, "We've talked a lot about this. I'm not proud of this struggle.

"(While anorexic) it just seemed like I literally wanted to disappear. And now I would like to reappear."

Acting with 'Conviction'

Though it comes from "Law & Order" mastermind Dick Wolf, the cases in NBC's new legal drama "Conviction" won't always have life-or-death stakes. Here's how Julianne Nicholson, who plays one of the show's young assistant district attorneys, puts it:

"I may have a silly case one week -- the other day I was walking around, basically holding a mannequin by her butt -- and the next week it'll be, a girl has jumped off a building."

That means, in turn, that Nicholson has just as broad a canvas to explore her character, rookie prosecutor Christina Finn -- not to mention the fact that unlike the "Law & Order" shows, "Conviction" follows its characters outside the office as well.

"I don't think I would have wanted to do the show if it was just at the workplace," she says. "When you can see people in different parts of their lives, it's so much more informative as to who they are. And how they behave at the office is different than how they behave on a blind date -- which I have."

Nicholson started work on the series within a couple weeks of getting the part, so she didn't have a great deal of time to spend following a real-life counterpart at the Manhattan DA's office. The show's writers, however, did set up a couple of meetings between the cast -- which also includes Eric Balfour, Milena Govich, J. August Richards and Jordan Bridges -- and a group of ADAs.

"They had us all go out a couple of times, just for drinks," she says. "Which is kind of the best way to do it, because you could just -- it came up in conversation, and we were just having a great night out with people we didn't know. ... It was so much fun to really find out about what these people do. To be around people who have that passion for what they do is really infectious."

"Conviction" is Nicholson's first series since CBS' "Presidio Med" in 2002 (she's since done the feature films "Kinsey" and "Seeing Other People," among others), and she says she's still getting used to the faster pace of work in television. "But I really like it," she says quickly. "I like knowing where I'm going to be day to day, and I like working on the same character for a longer period of time."

In the show's premiere last week, Christina tried her first case and won almost in spite of herself, leaving evidence unguarded in the courtroom and looking thoroughly flustered in the face of a wise-cracking defendant. The character has gained a little confidence since then, Nicholson says.

"The more you do it, definitely the easier it becomes. I think that's what's crazy and exciting about her job -- and ours, I guess. Each case is different. There's no format to follow that guarantees a win. You just have to kind of wing it each day and do your best, and hope it works out all right."

Like the case with the mannequin, for instance. "I think it's better if you just see it," Nicholson says with a laugh. "But she's really hot; I will say that. It's an extremely attractive mannequin."

----"Conviction" airs at 10 p.m. ET Fridays on NBC.

Envious Of Axl

JON Bon Jovi is disgusted that rock rival Axl Rose gets more media attention than he does, because the reclusive Guns N' Roses frontman "hasn't made a record in 13 years." Jon can't seem to get over the fact that the press will always be more fascinated with the bad boy legacy of GNR than they are with the comparatively bland Bon Jovi, reports contactmusic.com. He fumes, "You know what I've done in 13 years? A lot. But they have continued to write about the freak show aspect of him. Because he's a recluse. That makes him interesting, right?"

Bon Jovi Baffled By J.Lo Success

Bon Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi remains baffled by Jennifer Lopez's musical success, because she can't play an instrument. The rocker is grateful for the recent resurgence of rock, following years of pop from manufactured acts that rely on teams of producers and songwriters to create their number one hits. And he names the singer as the dominant culprit. Bon Jovi rants, "It was so sickening to see some of these people - I've got to say her name - like J.Lo, sitting at a piano in a video, thoughtfully 'writing' a lyric. I was so frustrated. "I wanted to say to her, 'Hey J.Lo, here's my guitar honey. Sing me a song,' and see what would happen. "There's J.Lo having number one movies and albums and I'm thinking, 'What the f**k! Who is going to find the next Bob Dylan?'"

Griffiths, Flockhart in 'Sisters' act

Golden Globe winners Rachel Griffiths and Calista Flockhart have been tapped to star in ABC's drama pilot "Brothers & Sisters."

The project is a family soap centering on adult siblings.

Previously cast in the pilot -- written by Jon Robin Baitz and to be directed by Ken Olin -- are Ron Rifkin, Balthazar Getty and Dave Annable.

Griffiths won a Golden Globe in 2002 for her role as Brenda on Alan Ball's acclaimed HBO drama "Six Feet Under," which also landed her two Emmy nominations. On the feature side, she was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in "Hilary and Jackie."

For Flockhart, the casting marks a return to series television four years after Fox's "Ally McBeal" went off the air. Her stint on David E. Kelley's dramedy earned her a Golden Globe Qward in 1998 and three Emmy nominations. She next appears in the feature "Fragile."

Germann Lands Pilot

Former "Ally McBeal" star Greg Germann and Kelly Hu ("X2") have signed onto ABC's comedy "In Case of Emergency," which already has a six-episode commitment, revolves around four former high-school friends who are reunited in their 30s -- two of whom will be played by Germann and Hu. Germann also stars in the upcoming Sci Fi Channel series "Eureka"; Hu had a recurring part on "CSI: NY" earlier this season.

Panettiere Lands Pilot

Jay Hernandez, fresh off being hacked to bits in "Hostel," will have a slightly less horrific experience in his next acting gig.

Hernandez has signed on to the ABC pilot "Six Degrees," joining a sizable list of actors picking up work in the latest round of casting. That list also includes Ali Larter and Hayden Panettiere in NBC's "Heroes," "Star Trek: Enterprise" vet John Billingsley in an ABC drama and three leads -- Matt Bomer, Aaron Stanford and Logan Marshall-Green -- in the Alphabet's "Traveler."

"Six Degrees," from executive producer J.J. Abrams ("Lost") and writers Raven Metzner and Stu Zicherman ("Elektra"), will focus on six New Yorkers who don't know each other but whose lives are nonetheless intertwined. Hernandez, whose credits also include "Friday Night Lights" and the upcoming Oliver Stone 9/11 movie "World Trade Center," will play one of the six, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Also at ABC, Bomer ("Tru Calling"), Marshall-Green ("The O.C.") and Stanford ("X2") will play the three friends at the center of "Traveler," two of whom must dodge the authorities after the third frames them as terrorists. The project is a bounce-back for Bomer, who was cast as the lead in The WB's "Cult" before it was scrapped by that network's successor, The CW.

Billingsley, who played Dr. Phlox on "Enterprise," is joining an untitled drama at ABC from Hank ("Without a Trace") and K.J. Steinberg, about nine people who were taken hostage in a bank robbery and how it affects their lives. Owain Yeoman ("Kitchen Confidential") has also been added to the cast, which already includes Chi McBride and Scott Wolf.

Additionally, John L. Adams ("The Dead Zone") has joined Angie Harmon in ABC's drama "Secrets of a Small Town." He'll play a cameraman who accompanies Harmon's TV reporter to her hometown, where a high-school girl has been murdered.

At NBC, meanwhile, Larter and Panettiere lead five additions to the pilot "Heroes," about a group of people who discover they have superpowers. Santiago Cabrera ("Empire"), Tawny Cypress ("Jonny Zero") and Masi Oka ("Luis," "Scrubs") have also joined the show; former "Alias" regular Greg Grunberg was previously cast.

Larter is best known for "Varsity Blues" and "Final Destination 2"; "Heroes" would be her first regular TV work. Panettiere's credits include "Remember the Titans," "Ally McBeal", "Guiding LIght" and the Lifetime movie "Lies My Mother Told Me."

Krakowski in the mood for "Love" at CBS

Former "Ally McBeal" co-star Jane Krakowski has signed up for CBS' comedy pilot "Sex, Power, Love & Politics," which revolves around Capitol Hill staffers.

Krakowski, who won a Tony Award in 2003 for the Broadway musical "Nine," recently earned a Laurence Olivier nomination for her role in the London production of "Guys and Dolls."

Meanwhile, Cole Hauser ("2 Fast 2 Furious") has landed a lead role in Fox's drama pilot "Damages," which revolves around a group of lawyers and explores how their professional lives and cases affect their personal relationships.

Norman Reedus has been cast in another Fox drama pilot, "13 Graves," which centers on a man ( Matthew Lillard) whose search for his missing brother leads him on a treasure hunt throughout the U.S. Reedus will play a treasure hunter with a dark past.

And Fred Willard has joined the CBS comedy "Play Nice," which revolves around a brother-and-sister odd couple who together run a family toy company. Willard will play the company's legendary owner.

Hayden enters 'Kingdom II' video game

Zach Braff, James Woods, Haley Joel Osment and Mena Suvari will lend their voices to the video game "Disney's Kingdom Hearts II," which hits U.S. stores on March 30.

The game franchise blends well-known characters from classic Walt Disney Co. films with original characters from Japanese game maker Square Enix. In this sequel, for example, Braff again will star as Chicken Little, Woods brings Hades to life, and Ming Na will play a virtual Mulan, The original "Kingdom Hearts" game, which shipped in 2002, has sold more than 5 million units worldwide. Osment will reprise his role as Sora, the lead character in the role-playing game, who journeys through Disney film worlds accompanied by Goofy and Donald Duck. He will be joined by David Gallagher as Riku and Hayden Panettiere as Kairi. Christopher Lee, Brittany Snow and singer Jesse McCartney also play featured characters.

Suvari will portray Aerith, a popular character from Square Enix's best-selling "Final Fantasy VII" game. Other big-screen talent joining her include Steve Burton and Rachael Leigh Cook.

In a first for the franchise, the new game will add characters from such live-action movies as "Tron" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." A trailer at last year's E3 video game convention showed the likeness of Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow within the "Kingdom Hearts II" game world, for instance.

"Kingdom Hearts II" also features the worlds of "Hercules," "Beauty and the Beast," "The Lion King," "Aladdin" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

In addition to the original game, a Game Boy Advance spinoff called "Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories" sold 2.5 million copies worldwide to date. "Kingdom Hearts II" shipped December 22 in Japan (minus the Hollywood voice talent) and has sold more than 1.1 million units. Square Enix expects the worldwide total of this game to sell 10 million units by the end of its run.

Jesse L. Martin is Gaye

"Rent" star Jessie L. Martin is in place to play legendary singer Marvin Gaye in the long-gestating biopic "Sexual Healing."

Only the oft-discussed Janis Joplin biopic has been tied to more potential directors and stars that the story of Gaye's troubled life and tragic death. "Sexual Healing" will be an independent production to be written and directed by Lauren Goodman.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will look at the last years of Gaye's life, after his battles with drugs and his exile from Motown. The film will cover his relationship with promoter Freddy Cousaert, the recording of "Midnight Love" and his 1984 death, the day before his 45th birthday. The decision to stray from the earlier part of Gaye's career stems from rights issues with the owners of his Motown catalogue.

The film is being produced by Efuru Flowers and A. Davis of Ayru Entertainment, Julia Verdin and Bill Kravitz of Rough Diamond Prods. and David Lancaster, along with Martin.

The trade paper expects production to begin in May.

Martin is best known from his run on NBC's "Law & Order," though his first big break came in the original Broadway run of "Rent," a gig he reprised in this fall's feature adaptation. He also got to show off his pipes in NBC's "A Christmas Carol" telefilm.

Lucy Liu Tours Quake-Battered Pakistan

Lucy Liu, the high-kicking star of "Charlie's Angels," showed her softer side Wednesday touring areas in Pakistan devastated by the Oct. 8 earthquake.

The 37-year-old actress, who arrived Tuesday and was to depart Thursday, didn't speak to the media as she visited the disaster zone with UNICEF, the U.N. children's agency.

Her visit comes after Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie went on a three-day tour of the area in late November. Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N., also met with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

The quake killed about 87,000 people in Pakistani Kashmir and the country's northwest.

Bon Jovi Plane Skids Off Runway in Canada

An airliner carrying members of Bon Jovi skidded off a runway early Saturday after landing in severe weather.

The Boeing 707 carrying the band and its touring staff overshot the runway at Hamilton International Airport.

A spokeswoman said the 14 passengers and flight crew were arriving from Buffalo, N.Y., where the band played Friday. No one was hurt.

Shows scheduled for Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at Toronto's Air Canada Center were expected to proceed as planned, she said.

Billboard Single Review

ARTIST: BON JOVI
SINGLE: WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME
"Who Says You Can't Go Home" proves that Bon Jovi has run out of tricks. The formula of releasing an arena rock anthem followed by a midtempo track about urban cowboys is all too transparent. And it does not help that this second single from platinum "Have a Nice Day" offers chintzy, tongue-twister lyrics: "Like a blind dog without a bone, I was a gypsy lost in the twilight zone/I hijacked a rainbow and crashed into a pot of gold." Meanwhile, the original album version, which features Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, is already working its way up the country radio charts, a first for the band. Perhaps it will pull off one last trick -- finding a new audience.

We Hear...

THAT Jon Bon Jovi - whose personal life is considered tame because he has been married to wife Dorothea since 1989 and doesn't do drugs - is trying to sell a "tell-all" autobiography for $2 million, according to Crain's.

YOU GIVE HEALTH-CARE REFORM A BAD NAME

Jon Bon Jovi will guest-star on NBC's The West Wing, playing himself and performing part of the Bon Jovi song "Welcome to Wherever You Are." The episode is slated to air March 26, reports Variety. In the story line, the rocker will throw his support and lush mane behind presidential hopeful Sen. Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits).

Back To George

GEORGE Clooney and Lucy Liu appear to have rekindled their romance, at least briefly. The "Syriana" star and Liu left Downtown Cipriani the other night and began lip-locking in his waiting limo. "She looked like she was going to devour him," a witness said of the 37-year-old starlet. She and Clooney reportedly hooked up in 2000 after Liu plied him with oysters and champagne. Asked about the reunion, Liu's flack, Steve Huvane, eloquently responded, "It's none of your business." But Liu should not count on Clooney - we hear he's also close pals with Teri Hatcher.

Sightings

LUCY Liu at Club Monaco on Fifth Avenue with a handsome male companion and picking out two pairs of pants for him...

Bon Jovi D.C. show goes wireless

Bon Jovi's December 17 show at Washington, D.C.'s MCI Center will become the live first full-length concert streamed via Sprint's wireless video delivery system.

The carrier's customers with Sprint TVSMmultimedia devices and subscribers of Sprint MobiTV will have access to the event free of charge on Sprint TV channel 33 in the "music video" category. Sprint PCS Vision subscribers can see the concert for the cost of standard data access charges.

Sprint is the title sponsor of the U.S. leg of Bon Jovi's Have a Nice Day tour, which opened November 2 in Des Moines, Iowa. Dates are on the books through a March 11 show in Las Vegas; a European leg of the tour opens May 13 in Dusseldorf.

As part of the sponsorship relationship, Sprint customers with Power Vision phones have access to exclusive Bon Jovi content and full digital tracks via the Sprint Music Store.

Bon Jovi in New York -- Big hair! Tight jeans!

New Jersey's population dipped considerably Monday night, as 20,000 screaming fans packed Madison Square Garden in New York to jump, sing and dance along to the anthemic bombast and power balladry of Bon Jovi at the first of two sold-out nights.

As his bandmates took the stage in front of an enormous video screen, singer Jon Bon Jovi appeared on a small stage near the soundboard clutching an acoustic guitar, opening with "Last Man Standing" from the new album, "Have a Nice Day" (Island).

Rushing through the crowd flanked by security, the vocalist returned to the main stage to belt out the opening lines from "You Give Love a Bad Name." From then on, it was anthems, ballads and hit after hit. Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist Dave Bryan, bassist Hugh McDonald and drummer Tico Torres were in excellent form all evening.

It hardly seems like 20 years since Bon Jovi first conquered the pop charts. Somewhere in a mansion in Jersey, locked away for eternity, there's a collective portrait of the group withering away in decrepitude. Lyrically, the band hasn't matured beyond defiant teen angst, pathos and sexual frustration, but Bon Jovi's songs are epic. Never in the history of the Garden has "Whoa-oh!" been shouted so often and with such rapturous enthusiasm. The band might not be as socially relevant as Springsteen or U2, but its songs are so deliriously contagious that even the most self-conscious, socially awkward middle-aged white man could not keep still.

The crowd was completely locked in through the big choruses and slick riffs of "Runaway," "Born to Be My Baby," "Livin' on a Prayer," "It's My Life," "Always," "Blaze of Glory" and the excellent new song, "Story of My Life." Toward the end of the set, they led the audience through the Young Rascals' "Good Lovin'," then keyed up the opening to "Bad Medicine." Jon Bon Jovi could have phoned in the entire performance, but he made great use of the stage, running about making goofy faces at the crowd.

The band closed with "Wanted Dead or Alive" and waved goodbye. The applause was well-earned: frivolous, well-coifed and still able to fit into tight jeans after all these years, Bon Jovi still knows how to rock.

Calista: Why I Was So Skinny

She was the Ally McBeal star who became more famous for being skinny than her acting successes.But five years after leaving the comedy show, a healthier-looking Calista Flockhart has revealed why her weight plummeted.Talking to Grazia magazine, the 41-year-old actress said long filming hours, no time for muscle-toning at the gym and a self-imposed junk-food ban made her drop the dress sizes.

"When I was doing Ally, I remember at one point it was like a runaway train and I thought, 'What's going on?'" she tells the magazine.

She adds that the press accusations that her bony frame encouraged her co-stars to start slimming were particularly hard to bear.

"At first I think I was just shocked. I took it personally so it hurt me a great deal. I was afraid it would damage my career," she confessed.

Now happier and looking healthier, Calista is settled in a relationship with Harrison Ford, 22 years her senior, who she met after spilling red wine on him at the Emmy awards in 2002.

She has come back from her extended acting break to film horror flick Fragile and is embracing motherhood with four-year-old adopted son Liam.

"Suddenly I'm watching Bob The Builder and there's a whole world of 'kid-dom' that I didn't know about before," she explains.

Calista and Harrison have also agreed to become carers for Harrison's ex-wife Mary Marquardt who is debilitated by Multiple Sclerosis.

"Since I've become a mother I find myself being even more empathetic," Calista adds.

Sightings

LUCY Lui walking her chocolate lab on 22nd and Fifth Avenue.

Nicholson, Mount get 'Conviction'

Julianne Nicholson and Anson Mount have been cast in "Conviction," NBC's midseason drama series from "Law & Order" guru Dick Wolf.

The project focuses on young assistant district attorneys in New York. Nicholson and Mount will play two of the ADAs.

Nicholson's series credits include CBS' "Presidio Med," Fox's "Ally McBeal" and NBC's "The Others." Mount, who co-starred on the series "The Mountain" for WB Network and "Line of Fire" for ABC, appears in the feature "In Her Shoes."

Jovi-al Family

JON Bon Jovi revealed between songs at the Hard Rock on Sunday that his two oldest children are uninterested in his career. When he invited them to a recent rehearsal, they declined. "So I'm cutting them out of my will," he joked. As for his secret to staying married: "My wife tells me that if I ever decide to leave, she is coming with me." Bon Jovi later helped Warner Music biggie Lyor Cohen raise a fortune for the deaf at Time Warner Center, with Edgar Bronfman Jr., Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons, and Jay-Z and Beyoncé.

Tidbit

DONNA KARAN has rounded up Portia de Rossi, Mandy Moore, Julianna Margulies and James Denton to host her benefit for UNICEF on Nov. 8 at the Madison Avenue DKNY store. Stars such as Whoopi Goldberg and Susan Sarandon will work up special inspirational messages. These will be sold to help UNICEF's cause. (Donna's message is engraved on bottles of her Be Delicious fragrance) . . .

Simon, Bon Jovi to play at country music awards

Paul Simon and Jon Bon Jovi will add some local flavor to the 39th annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, which will take place for the first time in the Big Apple on November 15 at Madison Square Garden.

Simon will perform a song with Willie Nelson, and the pair will also present the song of the year award. Reprising a duet they performed recently on "CMT Crossroads," Bon Jovi and Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles will deliver "Who Says You Can't Go Home."

The event, broadcast live on CBS, will also include an appearance by actor James Gandolfini of HBO's "The Sopranos."

Other performers newly added to the CMA Awards include Alison Krauss + Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Miranda Lambert and Julie Roberts. They join a lineup that already boasts hosts Brooks & Dunn, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Lee Ann Womack.

'Weather' blows hot and cold as midlife portrait

In "The Weather Man," Nicolas Cage doesn't so much play a protagonist, warts and all, as he plays a protagonist who is all warts.

While not thoroughly unlikable, Cage's David Spritz, a weatherman for a local Chicago TV station, is the kind of guy who makes eyes roll. He seemingly can't avoid social blunders no matter how many warnings he gets -- and ignores. So the challenge writer Steven Conrad and director Gore Verbinski face is how to get audiences to invest emotionally in such a schmo. They don't always succeed.

Cage brings so much positive baggage to his roles these days that he can redeem even the most antisocial of antiheroes, as he did last month in "Lord of War." But David Spritz appears to have baffled him, too, so he takes the approach that David is simply not too bright. Therefore, the challenge faced by Paramount's marketing team is to sell a film, directed by the maker of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and starring Cage and Michael Caine, to mainstream audiences when the film probably should have been made by Paramount Classics. For this is a Sundance film gussied up with studio production values and big stars. It will be a hard sell.

In the opening shot, Cage wears such a sad-sack look you just know that, all superficial evidence to the contrary, David is one unhappy dude. Professionally, he is an overachiever, making far too much money working a couple of hours each day to deliver the usually bad weather news to Chicago viewers. He even has a promising feeler from a national morning show in New York. But not too deep below this surface lies a wealth of insecurities and pain, which has little to do with the fact his "fans" love to throw the remnants of fast food at him on the street.

David is divorced, and unhappily so. Despite the shrill and condescending manner of ex-wife Noreen (Hope Davis, in a continuation of her smug bitch in "Proof"), he wants to get back together with her. He struggles just as fruitlessly to win the approval of his dad, Robert Spritz (Caine), a prize-winning novelist who might have a fatal illness. His son (Nicholas Hoult, the youngster in "About a Boy") is in counseling for marijuana use, and the boy's counselor (Gil Bellows) shows signs of being a pedophiliac. Meanwhile, David's overweight daughter (Gemmenne De La Pena) feels sad and lonely most of the time. To bond with her he takes up -- archery?

The most depressing thing for David, though, is his job. With his father as a role model, he expects more of himself than being a TV weatherman. He is not even a meteorologist, for Pete's sake. A real meteorologist explains to him the risks of predicting weather: "It's just wind. It blows all over the place."

The movie blows all over the place, too. Its meandering plotlines do flesh out this portrait of a success who believes himself a failure, but never expand any further. You understand that David is absentminded, self-absorbed and tries so hard to do the right thing that he inevitably does the wrong thing. How many illustrations of these lamentable facts do you need in a movie, though?

Somehow, at the end, clouds lift and the sun shines down and you're not sure why. David's big revelation is that it's OK to be a weatherman and not a Great Novelist. That, and his father for once speaks to him without weary disappointment in his voice.

Cage brings intelligence to his playing of a man sorely lacking in same. David often acts like an ass***e, but the real problem is a lack of inner resources to confront and defeat the challenges he faces. Caine's exasperated father is his exact opposite, a man with few self-doubts and a novelist's facility for noticing the tiniest nuances in behavior. The young actors who play David's kids do wonderful jobs of expressing youthful confusion in their encounters with the pathetic world of adults.

Since the movie is set in Chicago and briefly in New York, winter weather certainly plays its role. Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael makes you feel the cold even as he finds genuine beauty in the patterns of clouds, ice on Lake Michigan and bundled pedestrian traffic on chilly streets. Designer Tom Duffield contrasts the various environments of David's life, from the sterile steel and glass of his apartment, noticeably bereft of hearth and family, with the comfy digs of his former suburban house and his dad's well-upholstered mansion. Hans Zimmer's music, often with an emphasis on the xylophone, is alternately cheerful and melancholy.

Cast: David Spritz: Nicolas Cage; Robert Spritz: Michael Caine; Noreen: Hope Davis; Don: Gil Bellows; Russ: Michael Rispoli; Shelly: Gemmenne De La Pena; Mike: Nicholas Hoult.

Director: Gore Verbinski; Screenwriter/co-producer: Steven Conrad; Producers: Todd Black, Steve Tisch, Jason Blumenthal; Executive producers: David Alper, William S. Beasley, Norm Golightly; Director of photography: Phedon Papamichael; Production designer: Tom Duffield; Music: Hans Zimmer; Costumes: Penny Rose; Editor: Craig Wood.

'Bang Bang' Shoots Kilmer and Downey Back to Fame

"If we were in Vegas you'd be Sammy right?" says Val Kilmer to his "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" co-star Robert Downey Jr. "And I'd be Dino."

Out promoting their new film, a juicy slice of post-modern noir parody from Shane Black, Kilmer and Downey have, indeed, taken on the guise of a classic comedy duo. Kilmer enters the room at the Four Seasons chiding co-star Michelle Monaghan about her new "Mission: Impossible" co-star (his own "Top Gun" colleague) Tom Cruise.

"I haven't taken you to any meetings, have I?" Kilmer says by way of comparison to the famous Scientologist. It's only minutes later that he realizes that mocking the famously litigious church may not have been the best idea for his future prospects.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Downey says. "With everything that's occurred, you think that's gonna tip the scales? You're Val Kilmer."

With roughly 40 years of acting between the two of them, many of those years spent fighting highly publicized substance abuse problems or widespread rumors of on-set attitude, Kilmer and Downey are on the verge of a career renaissance after toplining a film that could have easily gone awry in the wrong hands.

"Isn't it funny that we're the right hands?" asks Downey, who whips out a cigarette before the conversation with the press even begins.

With vivid characters and hard-boiled dialogue, "Kiss Kiss" features the best performances either actor has given in years, largely because it's the best material either had gotten in years, a fact both admit to.

"I'm sick of most of what Robert does," Kilmer quips.

Downey responds, without missing a beat, "When I can't sleep I watch your last three films on loop."

Somewhere there's a smart writer prepared to kickstart a new "Road To..." franchise starring this mini mutual admiration society, though Kilmer and Downey initially didn't start out as friends.

"We met at an MTV Awards," Kilmer begins. "And to hear Robert tell the story -- who was on Vicodin -- he thought I was acting standoffish. I was just being shy and I just don't do those things well."

Downey responds, "You looked like an alien. You had these big black glasses on."

"I was Batman," is Kilmer's defense. "I was living the life."

Getting straight answers out of the pair is a little complicated, with Downey making fun of Kilmer's active dating life and Kilmer mocking Downey's Oscar nomination and various addictions, but the respect between the two is obvious.

"He's just getting started," Kilmer says of Downey. "Now he can remember what happened yesterday. I do want to say something truthful about Robert. There are just not that many actors this good, because actors are self-aware or self-possessed or both. And he knows who he is and has a sense of humor about it. And it's a hard business and to have things happen when they are bad, but to have to go through it with everyone asking questions about it all day long is really tough."

For his part, Downey attempts to drum up a round of applause for Kilmer's work as Doc Holliday in "Tombstone" and pays particular tribute to his performance in "Heat."

"You know that scene where he looks up and there is the heat and you have to decide whether you can let it go like that?" Downey asks, sounding a bit like a Chris Farley "SNL" character. "And it was on his eyes and he saw her and it was on his face and you saw that he was never going to go back again? I think that was one of the ten greatest screen moments I've ever seen. You're just that f***in' good dude. I just want to have a heart-felt moment in the middle of all of this."

"Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" opens in select markets on Friday (Oct. 21) and will go wider in subsequent weeks.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is as much fun as the title suggests: review

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is as much fun as the title suggests, and packed with banter that rolls off the tongue just as easily.

Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer - known for their strong personalities both on and off screen - bounce off each other with the ease and comfort of an old comedy team. The delivery is often so quick and deadpan, you may have to go back and see it a second time, just to catch the lines you missed while you were laughing.

Downey plays thief-turned-actor Harry Lockhart, who unexpectedly finds himself cast as a detective in a movie screen test; Kilmer is a private eye known as Gay Perry (because he's gay, hence the name), who works as a Hollywood consultant and has been hired to train him.

Together they end up having to solve a real murder in Los Angeles with the help of Harmony Faith Lane (the kittenish Michelle Monaghan), a femme fatale/wannabe actress who happens to have been Harry's childhood crush when they were growing up in a small Indiana town - with dreams of stardom, naturally.

It would appear that all the elements are in place for a stylish, old-school film noir, but writer Shane Black, directing for the first time, subverts the genre while simultaneously embracing it. That idea alone could have been overbearingly smug in its self-aware hipness; look no further than the title, which the film shares with a collection of reviews by none other than the late, great Pauline Kael. Instead, the result is a comedy-thriller hybrid that's silly, smart and never, ever dull.

This should come as no surprise coming from Black, who pioneered the concept of such cinematic cross-pollination when he wrote the original Lethal Weapon, a mix of fast-paced action and even faster laughs, of two cops with nothing in common but the bad guys they're chasing. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is, however, surprising in itself - or at least in the absurdity of some of its imagery.

Just to give you an idea, this is a movie in which a woman's body is wrapped in a sheet, dropped from the roof of a boutique hotel, then shoved in the trunk of a car - and it's played for laughs. It's a movie in which a character's finger is cut off not once but twice before being consumed by a shaggy dog who presumes it's a treat - then gets a sad, needy hug from the finger's former owner. It's a movie that features a barely seen supporting figure named Flicka, seemingly for the sole purpose of setting up a "My Friend Flicka" joke.

Harry, as our narrator - "My name is Harry Lockhart, I'll be your narrator," he congenially announces at the film's start - is fully aware of the conventions of the hard-boiled detective tale he inhabits, and he's aware that we're aware of them, too. And he has such a good time playing with them, it's impossible not get swept up in the movie's manic energy.

Harry and Gay Perry naturally don't like each other at first, but even the way they argue has a certain fondness about it. "Stop dripping," Perry suggests matter-of-factly when a soaking-wet Harry drips all over the interior of his car. "Die," is the cheery way he bids Harry good night.

The beauty of the way Perry is written - and the way Kilmer plays him - is that he's never a flamboyant stereotype; he's a veteran detective who just happens to like other men. And it's easy to forget that long before his better-known heavy roles in movies like The Doors, The Saint and Wonderland, Kilmer got his start with rapid-fire comedies in the mid-'80s like Top Secret and Real Genius.

Downey, meanwhile, has always shown himself to be a master of dry, low-key humour - look at Wonder Boys, the underappreciated Two Girls and a Guy or his Emmy-nominated supporting work on Ally McBeal. He's an ideal fit for this kind of role: a sort of damaged figure whose dark sense of humour keeps him together.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, gets too dark itself toward the end, in a way that makes it feel like an entirely different movie, and seems irretrievable. But it recovers, and ultimately goes out with a bang.

Three stars out of four.

Bon Jovi eyeing show on military base

With another world tour slated to begin November 2 in Des Moines, Iowa, Bon Jovi has hunkered down at New Jersey military base Fort Monmouth to rehearse. Guitarist Richie Sambora told Billboard.com the band hopes to show its appreciation by performing a special military personnel-only show later this week.

"The Army guys were kind enough to give us their big theater they have there, and at the end of the rehearsals, we're going to do a show for all of the (soldiers) and their families," Sambora said. "It's not open to the public. We're just doing anything we can do. Really, it's just any time you can give back to those guys who are out there fighting for our freedom, for God's sakes."

While it remains to be confirmed, the show could be broadcast on the Armed Forces Network and cybercast on AOL.

Sambora recently showed his support for the troops by performing at "Rockin' the Corps," which was taped in the spring at Camp Pendleton and is out now on CD/DVD. Among the other performers were Destiny's Child, Hootie & the Blowfish, Godsmack, Ted Nugent, KISS and Cedric the Entertainer.

"My father-in-law was a U.S. Marine colonel, and he was stationed on the base that we played at," Sambora said. "There were about 68,000 Marines and families. We were raising money because when these kids go away and then come home in a body bag, their family gets $12,000 and they get kicked off the base a month later."

Guitarist Sambora, who said Bon Jovi plans to tour through next summer in support of the Island album "Have a Nice Day," already is planning to record his third solo album sometime next year.

"About two weeks before I left (to promote the new album), God just hit the creative gas pedal on me and I wrote like 14 new songs," Sambora said. "So I have an album sitting in my pocket."

While a street date remains far off, Sambora plans to invite a few familiar names to participate in the project.

"I always have a great bunch of guys coming in," Sambora said. "On my first album (1991's 'Stranger in This Town'), I had Eric Clapton and Tony Levin from (Peter) Gabriel's band. And the last record (1998's 'Undiscovered Soul') had Steven Tyler and Billy Preston. So it's whoever is around that week that I'm recording in the studio. You never know what is going to happen."

Jill Clayburgh roars back to Broadway with two back-to-back plays

Over a leisurely lunch, Jill Clayburgh lets slip a rather smashing idea for a new TV show.

Take two working actresses and make them live in a cramped Manhattan apartment. Now make one a mom, and the other her up-coming daughter. Add laugh track. "Start the sitcom now, baby," Clayburgh says.

Actually, her idea turns out to be more a reality show.

Clayburgh, who lives in Connecticut, is indeed currently sharing a sublet with her 23-year-old daughter, Lily Rabe, while mom stars in A Naked Girl on the Appian Way - the first of back-to-back Broadway shows - and Lily appears in off-Broadway's Colder Than Here.

Their living arrangement is set: the bedroom is Lily's and mom has a bed in the living room. The two decided to bunk together since Lily couldn't afford the rent alone and mom also needed a place.

"It's very comforting. It's very nice," Clayburgh says, smiling. "She said something cute. She said, 'Well, you're the coolest person I know, Mom.' "

Cool perhaps, but what happens when the sink piles up with dirty dishes? Who exactly does the washing up - the two-time Academy Award-nominated star of An Unmarried Woman and Starting Over, or the young upstart at the beginning of her career?

"We both have to think about the dishes," Clayburgh says diplomatically.

At 61, Clayburgh looks remarkably unchanged from her heyday in the 1970s. She's still lithe and unfussy, and her slightly upturned nose is unmistakable. A well-read, unrepentant lefty, she sighs when it comes time to talk about herself. She insists there are much more interesting people than herself.

Clayburgh's Broadway credits include Noel Coward's Design for Living, the original production of Tom Stoppard's Jumpers, and the Tony Award-winning musicals Pippin and The Rothschilds.

In many ways, Clayburgh gave up much of her career while she raised Lily and younger brother Michael, her two children from her 27-year marriage to Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. The irony that her daughter Lily is now an actress is not lost on her.

"Your imagination has to be absorbed by it. You have to be thinking, and creating and pushing. It has to be pleasurable. You can't be thinking, 'Oh, I have to get home because Mickey has a soccer game at three o'clock and I don't want to miss that,' and 'Oh, gosh I was supposed to wash the uniforms and bring the lemonade!' I just couldn't do it."

Over the past few years, that's changed. Since 2002, she's appeared in the film Never Again, made appearances in TV shows like Fraiser and Ally McBeal, landed an Emmy Award-nominated part in Nip/Tuck and did the upcoming film adaptation of Augusten Burroughs' Running With Scissors.

And after her run in Naked Girl, Clayburgh returns to the stage almost immediately with Patrick Wilson, Amanda Peet and Tony Roberts for a revival of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park.

"I'm just sort of a lucky duck this season," she says. "You know, one of the funny things about actors is that people look at their careers in retrospect, as if they have a plan.

"Mostly, you just get a call. You're just sitting there going, 'Oh, my God. I'm never going to work again. Oh, God. I'm too old. Maybe I should go and work for Howard Dean.' And then it changes."

Part of that change was due to professional fans reaching out to her. Director Doug Hughes, who had directed her in a production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons at the Westport Country Playhouse two years ago, called her for Naked Girl.

"That she has the time to do a run of a play is just an extraordinary boon because I've had the pleasure of seeing her play a bona fide tragic American role beautifully, and I have had the pleasure of directing her in a very, very smart light comedy and be utterly brilliant in that," he says. "This is a real piece of goods."

In Naked Girl, Tony Award-winner Richard Greenberg's new comedy, Clayburgh plays a celebrity chef married to a distracted author played by Richard Thomas. Together they are living the liberal high life, having adopted three now-grown children. But when two of their children return from a year of European travel, they reveal some surprising news and the whole family's smug, surface calm is completely upended.

Clayburgh, who describes the comedy as "light depth," says it poses such questions as: "What is love? Where do you find it and how do you define it? What are the limits of it? And who can love who?"

It was projects like this that hastened Clayburgh's return to the stage. "I started doing things for my own pleasure, doing work that I liked."

There was another reason: Lily's career was taking off and son Michael was past the age of needing mom.

Lily Rabe gets an earful from her mother about what it takes to be a professional actress. "I'm an endless source of free advice," Clayburgh says. "You know, 'Don't do this, do this.' "

Initially, though, she was more hesitant.

"Parents want their children to do things that fulfil them. I was only negative about it because it's not that easy. It's mostly rejection - 90 per cent rejection. That's the hard part of being an actress. If it weren't so fun - and so much of a druggy, great experience - no one would bother with the pain," she says.

Twisted 'Domino' should recover box office bounty

Hyperkinetic cinematography, staccato editing, saturated colors and hipster-cool characters aren't enough to put across this twisted tale of real-life people in a fictionalized crime caper. What's missing from this trickster's Reality Show called "Domino" is any sense of reality. It looks and acts like "Ocean's Thirteen," as director Tony Scott borrows freely and unashamedly from Oliver Stone, Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, Elmore Leonard and Guy Ritchie.

Thanks to dynamic performances by Keira Knightley, Mickey Rourke, Edgar Ramirez and a strong cast -- sometimes all but buried beneath irksome stylistic flourishes -- this dark and absurd melodrama certainly has raw energy. As is the case here, a bad movie is sometimes more watchable than a mediocre or just-OK movie. So one can anticipate strong business for this nonstop actioner from New Line, especially among young males.

The movie is inspired by the turbulent life of Domino Harvey, who died June 27 in West Hollywood at the age of 35, the victim of a suspected drowning after a drug overdose. The beautiful daughter of the late film star Laurence Harvey, Domino made her living as a gun-toting L.A. bounty hunter. Richard Kelly's screenplay, in Scott's words, "manufactured the story but left the characters as real, breathing people."

Not quite true. Before her death, Harvey was reportedly unhappy with a story that wrote out any mention of her drug use or bisexuality. More crucially, the movie resolutely avoids examining the sadness of a life, begun in privilege, that found its only excitement in the adrenaline rush of banging down doors with a shotgun in hand. Scott's movie merely wants to exploit that life, putting the movie on a par with "The Jerry Springer Show" and a reality TV program, both comically portrayed in the movie.

"Domino" begins at the end of a big case gone horribly wrong. Knightley's tattooed and bloodied Domino tells her life story in prison to a criminal psychologist (Lucy Liu, in a successful against-type casting). Her narrative rushes through her father's death -- when she was 4 -- her failures at boarding schools, a sorority, in modeling and as a socialite. By the time her mother, ex-model Pauline Stone, marries Hard Rock Cafe founder Peter Morton -- everyone's name other than Domino's is fictionalized -- Domino is bored and restless in Los Angeles.

An ad for a seminar recruiting bounty hunters catches her eye. Her future boss, the tough ex-con Ed (Rourke), immediately sees the advantages of having an English-accented blonde in his band of brothers that includes sullen Choco (Ramirez), who adores her, and Alf (Rizwan Abbasi), an Afghan driver obsessed with demolition.

Implausible adventures follow, including one in which Domino extricates her fellow hunters from a tense situation by performing a lap dance for a gang leader. Corny motifs run throughout the movie, too: Domino sees the deaths of goldfish as signs from above. And she likes to flip coins in the air while murmuring, "Heads, you live. Tails, you die."

Then a producer (Christopher Walken) of a reality TV show and his harried assistant (Mena Suvari) approach the bounty hunters about starring in a show called "The Bounty Squad." The movie's funniest gimmick has "Beverly Hills, 90210" stars Ian Ziering and Brian Austin Green play themselves as the show's hosts.

A plot contrivance finds the squad's longtime bail bondsman (Delroy Lindo) and his girlfriend (Mo'Nique) desperate for a quick $300,000 needed for a life-saving operation for a granddaughter. This sends the Bounty Squad into a fateful, blood-soaked caper that involves a stolen armored car, Mafia money, a Las Vegas billionaire and an FBI investigation.

At one point, the Squad unwittingly winds up on hallucinogenic drugs in the desert. When Tom Waits abruptly materializes as a Wanderer from above, the whole movie goes on one bummer of an acid trip.

Under Scott's direction, his crew finds so many ways to annoy, from the manipulated color scheme and jarring cinematography to TV commercial-style editing. A soundtrack of hip-hop, rap and a few oldies is the only truly hip, edgy thing about this movie.

Cast:
Domino Harvey: Keira Knightley
Ed: Mickey Rourke
Choco: Edgar Ramirez
Alf: Rizwan Abbasi
Claremont Williams: Delroy Lindo
Lateesha: Mo'Nique
Taryn Mills: Lucy Liu
Kimmie: Mena Suvari
Mark Heiss: Christopher Walken
Pauline Stone: Jacqueline Bisset

New Line Cinema and Samuel Hadida present a Scott Free Prods./Davis Films production in association with Metropolitan Filmexport.

Director: Tony Scott; Screenwriters: Richard Kelly; Story by: Richard Kelly, Steve Barancik; Producers: Samuel Hadida, Ridley Scott; Executive producers: Lisa Ellzrey, Toby Emmerich, Victor Hadida, Barry Waldman, Zach Shiff-Abrams, Skip Chaisson; Director of photography: Dan Mindel; Production designer: Chris Seagers; Music: Harry Gregson-Williams; Costumes: B.; Editors: William Goldenberg, Christian Wagner.

Bon Jovi To Open New Wembley Stadium

American rockers Bon Jovi have fended off competition from music legends The Rolling Stones to land themselves the first ever gig at Britain's brand new Wembley Stadium. The band, who were also the final act to play the historic venue prior to its demolition, are overjoyed by the decision. The big event is scheduled for 11 June and frontman Jon Bon Jovi says, "Returning to open the new Wembley is a great honour. "The old stadium was magical and holds a lot of special memories for us. "The band and I are looking forward to performing and creating new memories with our fans for the future. It's going to be an incredible night."

Bon Jovi ties Beatles' Japanese chart record

Bon Jovi has just matched an international chart record set by the Beatles.

The New Jersey band's latest album, "Have a Nice Day," opens this week at No. 1 on Japan's Original Confidence (Oricon) charts, becoming its third album to do so. The Beatles are the only other international act to claim such a hat trick.

Universal Music Japan reports that the album has sold more than 200,000 copies since its Sept. 14 release. Bon Jovi's first No. 1 in the land of the rising sun was "Cross Road" (1994), which sold 1.1 million there; the second was "These Days" (1995), which sold 800,000-plus.

Kelly Stays Put At FOX

Writer-producer David E. Kelley is keeping his oddball lawyers, and whatever else may spill forth from his mind in the next few years, at the studio he's called home for close to two decades.

The "Boston Legal" creator and multiple Emmy winner has renewed his eponymous production company's deal with 20th Century Fox TV through 2008, the Hollywood trade papers report. He'll continue at the helm of "Legal," which begins its second season on ABC next week, and keep developing new projects for the studio.

"I used to be the youngest producer on the lot. Now I'm the oldest," Kelley says in a statement. "They'll never get rid of me."

The new deal extends a relationship that began in 1986, when Kelley became a writer on "L.A. Law." Terms weren't disclosed, but Kelley reportedly has long enjoyed an arrangement that gives him a significant portion of his shows' back-end profits.

The studio, unsurprisingly, is glad to have David E. Kelley Productions remain on its lot. "While there isn't a sure thing when it comes to developing for network television, a show from David Kelley is as close as it gets," says Gary Newman, co-president of 20th Century Fox TV.

At the moment, "Boston Legal" is the only Kelley show on the air. The WB passed on "Halley's Comet," a drama about a med-school student that Kelley executive produced, this spring, and his foray into unscripted TV, "The Law Firm," was shunted off to Bravo after flopping on NBC this summer.

He's currently developing a drama about a network morning show, most likely for NBC.

New 'Day' dawns for Bon Jovi

To Jon Bon Jovi, each new Bon Jovi album is a musical diary chronicling moments in time. But for the band's new set, "Have a Nice Day," the veteran rocker says he looked further within himself and at the world than he has in the band's 20-year history.

"There are songs that are socially conscious, especially in light of what happened both (in the) pre- and post-election period in our country, when I witnessed polarization that I have never seen before," Bon Jovi says. On a personal level, he says, "songs like 'I Wanna Be Loved' are more introspective than I've ever been."

It is that combination of personal revelations and universal themes that has attracted a global audience and spurred record sales past the 100 million mark worldwide for the quartet.

And now, the band that has always been a lot rock 'n' roll may even be a little bit country. The title track of the Island Def Jam album -- which will hit stores Tuesday (September 20) -- is No. 17 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and No. 12 on the Heritage Rock chart. And there are plans for IDJ's sister label, Mercury Records Nashville, to promote the song "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" to country radio. The song is a duet with Jennifer Nettles, frontwoman for hot country group Sugarland.

Bon Jovi and bandmates Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres taped an episode of "CMT Crossroads" with Sugarland that is airing repeatedly on CMT in September. The album will include versions of the song with and without Nettles, who Bon Jovi calls "an incredible talent."

In part, via the country exposure, Bon Jovi hopes the new CD will find a wide audience but says he does not create music with that goal in mind. "The magic is, we don't gun for anybody," he says. "What happens, happens naturally ... We were as surprised as anyone when 'It's My Life' found a whole other generation of people, really young kids. Who knew?"

He sees such new songs as "Welcome to Wherever You Are" and "Last Man Standing" (a tribute to Bob Dylan) appealing to adult listeners while Bon Jovi's 10-year-old son "and his friends on their surfboards are cranking 'Have a Nice Day' and will play that next to a Green Day record."

RADIO IMPACT

Though there are multiple marketing components fueling the album's launch, Bon Jovi feels radio is still crucial. He quantifies radio's impact by saying a hit record makes the "difference between stadiums and arenas. When we have hits, we can sell two or three nights at Giants Stadium, and when we don't have a hit single, (we) can do one. That's not too shabby, but a hit makes a difference."

The band's last top 40 hit was "It's My Life" in 2000.

The night before the album's release date, Bon Jovi will be the first band to play the new Nokia Theater Times Square. The show will be broadcast live to AOL users, XM Satellite Radio subscribers and to 100 movie screens.

There is also an innovative campaign involving the video for "Have a Nice Day" and the smiley-face graphic that has been dubbed "smirk face" and pops up throughout the video. Island Def Jam is launching a Web site, smirkwatch.com, where fans can report sightings of the graphic.

"Have a Nice Day" will be the first DualDisc from Island Def Jam, and that CD/DVD version goes on sale Tuesday (September 20) as well. It will include five live performances, the video for "Have a Nice Day" and an electronic press kit.

The band will be highly visible with a slate of media appearances, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Today." Jon Bon Jovi will gain additional visibility with his latest acting role, in the film "Cry Wolf," which opened Friday (September 16).

The band kicks off its tour November 2. As much as he enjoys the road work, Bon Jovi is not sure he wants to follow the Rolling Stones' example.

"I don't know if I'm going to want to be touring like this at 62 or 65," he says. "I'm not an applause junkie. What excites me more than anything is writing the song. If it's a good one, you'll know it will be there forever. That, to me, is the magic."

Graham, Alda, de Rossi Added to Emmys

"Gilmore Girls" was snubbed in the Emmy balloting this year, but at least star Lauren Graham will get to attend the awards and snag a gift bag.

Graham is among the latest group of presenters added to the 57th annual awards, which air Sunday (Sept. 18) on CBS. Supporting actor nominee Alan Alda ("The West Wing"), Jesse L. Martin ("Law & Order"), Conan O'Brien, Portia de Rossi ("Arrested Development") and the Blue Man Group will also help hand out awards.

Graham has earned a Golden Globe nod and two Screen Actors Guild award nominations for portraying single mom Lorelai Gilmore on The WB's "Gilmore Girls." The show began its sixth season this week to solid ratings.

Alda, a five-time Emmy winner as a writer, director and star of "M*A*S*H," currently plays the Republican candidate for president on "The West Wing." He'll face on in the fictional election with Jimmy Smits, who's also on tap to present at Sunday's Emmys.

O'Brien, who hosted the Emmys in 2002, has been nominated for numerous Emmys as part of the writing staff for NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "Saturday Night Live," winning with "SNL" in 1989. Martin is set to return to "Law & Order" this fall after taking some of the spring off to film "Rent," which he also starred in on Broadway.

De Rossi plays half-hearted activist Lindsay Bluth Funke on "Arrested Development," which will defend its outstanding comedy series title at the Emmys. Blue Man Group also has a connection to the show; a recurring plot thread last season had Lindsay's husband, Tobias (David Cross), trying to join the performance-art troupe.

We Hear...

THAT Jon Bon Jovi just snagged a $1.5 million bungalow in Peter Morton's $1.4 billion condo expansion of his Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas

Downey Jr., Kilmer jokey at junket for new film

Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer were in top spirits Friday, despite the early-morning junket to promote their movie Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang at the Toronto International Film Festival.

"I've seen the way Val works," Downey joked of his co-star. "It's immoral and disgusting and self-indulgent and fantastic in the aftermath. And what would you like to say that's wildly intuitive about me, Val?" "Umm, you're a very good kisser," Kilmer lobbed back.

The veteran actors are at the festival - along with writer/director Shane Black, producer Joel Silver and newcomer co-star Michelle Monaghan - to present the low-budget thriller comedy, which screened late Thursday.

Shot in only 35 days for a mere $15 million, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang tells the story of Harry Lockhart (Downey), a petty thief running from the cops. He hides out in a movie audition where he gives a reading that propels him to Hollywood.

To research his breakthrough role, Harry teams up with Perry van Shrike (Kilmer) a gay, high-end private eye.

One thing leads to another and soon there are bodies to dispose of, thugs to contend with and a deadly, devious plot to uncover.

And during this whole thing, Harry manages to fall in love with his childhood sweetheart, aspiring actress Harmony Faith Lane (Monaghan).

For the cast and crew, the film seems to have been more a labour of love than the promise of big bucks.

"It's a very smart and heartfelt movie and that's why, I think, we're all drawn to it," Downey said. "We really showed up for this with this collective idea that it was really ambitious, but we felt we all really had something to gain from it."

."This was a hard movie to make," admitted Silver, whose producing credits include the Lethal Weapon and Matrix franchises. "We didn't have a lot of money ... and Shane had his work cut out for him. He had to have actors that would just go in there and do it. He didn't really have time to work through the process. ... We got a lot of movie up there. It feels like a bigger movie than what it cost."

Tidbit

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. and Susan Levin selected their eventual wedding venue, an Amagansett estate, from Web site Hamptons Locations. Web site owner Nancy Grigor schlepped the couple to see the place, then worked round the clock to organize details and get permits. But, bound to confidentiality, she was just overheard at Bruce's Bakery & Restaurant loudly, earnestly, profusely apologizing to close pals for not leaking word in advance. I mean, with what the world's going through, did civilization really care about this biiiig hoo-hah?

Film review: Good Night, Good Luck

George Clooney's deeply felt docudrama "Good Night, and Good Luck" provides a snapshot of the moment in history in which a major American television personality named Edward R. Murrow took on the malevolent power of a muckraking U.S. senator named Joseph McCarthy and won.

Shot in black-and-white in a brisk "you are there" 90 minutes, the film, which screened in competition, lovingly re-creates the studios and backrooms of 1950s New York journalism at the CBS television network, where the men wore white shirts and dark suits, the women fetched the coffee and the morning papers and everybody smoked all the time.

Clooney is the star name (as legendary producer Fred Friendly) in a fine ensemble cast featuring the previously unsung David Strathairn as Murrow, a career-defining role guaranteed to put him in the running for major awards.

Murrow is deservedly the patron saint of broadcast journalism, and it's clear that Clooney and producer and co-writer Grant Heslov share that veneration. Moviegoers who know their American political history will respond to the film's immediacy and forgive the film's tight focus and narrow view. Anyone hoping for an entertaining drama about newsmen and politics along the lines of "All the President's Men" will be disappointed.

The film is framed by an excoriating speech given by Murrow in 1958 when he was saluted by the Radio and Television News Directors Assn. Television, he said, was "fat, comfortable and complacent" and was used to "detract, delude, amuse and insulate us." It's a message Clooney and Heslov obviously wish to reiterate.

Murrow had become a star on radio, broadcasting from Czechoslovakia just before World War II and memorably from London during the Blitz. In the '50s, he and his partner Friendly adapted their radio news program "Hear It Now" to the new medium of television. The result was titled "See It Now," an evenhanded public affairs program that ran from 1951-58.

McCarthy had become notorious in 1950 for a speech in which he falsely claimed to have a list of people working for the State Department who were known to be members of the Communist Party. Later, as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy targeted the military in the same witch-hunting manner.

"Good Night" flashes back to the time when McCarthyism -- infamously fomented by the House Un-American Activities Committee -- had put a clamp on freedom of expression and association in the U.S.

When Murrow and Friendly do a story on a military man whose family is falsely accused of being communist sympathizers, McCarthy -- seen entirely in newsreel footage -- attacks in his usual way. Murrow and Friendly respond by creating one of the most esteemed TV news shows in history, an edition of "See It Now" on March 9, 1954, in which McCarthy is allowed to hang himself with his own words.

Clooney and Heslov, with expert help from production designer Jim Bissel, cinematographer Robert Elswit and editor Stephen Mirrione, do a wonderful job of creating the smoky and tense environment in which Murrow and Friendly operated.

If the film fails to resonate entirely it might be that even when Murrow made his insightful speech in 1958, his observant hectoring had become viewed as pedantic. Not long afterward, he left CBS to run the U.S. Information Agency, a poacher who became a game warden.

Warner Independent Pictures, 2929 Entertainment, Participant Prods. in association with Davis Films, Redbus Pictures and Tohokushinsha present a Section 8 production.

Cast: Edward R. Murrow: David Strathairn; Fred Friendly: George Clooney; Joe Wershba: Robert Downey Jr.; Shirley Wershba: Patricia Clarkson; William S. Paley: Frank Langella; Sig Mickelson: Jeff Daniels; Don Hollenbeck: Ray Wise; Jessie Zousmer: Tate Donovan; Palmer Williams: Tom McCarthy; Eddie Scott: Matt Ross; John Aaron: Reed Diamond; Charlie Mack: Robert John Burke; Don Hewitt: Grant Heslov.

Director: George Clooney; Screenwriters: George Clooney, Grant Heslov; Producer: Grant Heslov; Executive producers: Steven Soderbergh, Ben Cosgrove, Jennifer Fox, Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Marc Butan, Jeff Skoll; Director of photography: Robert Elswit; Production designer: Jim Bissell; Editor: Stephen Mirrione.

DOWNEY'S SIDE OF WED STORY

ROBERT Downey Jr. and his bride, Susan Levin, released a statement yesterday denying they had to move their wedding Saturday at the last minute because Ronald Perelman didn't want them selling photos of his house. "While the Perelmans are perfectly entitled to their point of view, the actual reason for our decision to move the wedding to another venue has little to do with anything as base as they may continue to believe. Suffice to say, Mrs. Downey and I choose to enjoy our honeymoon without engaging in any further dispute or blame throwing . . . As for my disinvitation of Ron and Ellen [Barkin], I'll do them a final favor and say, unlike their spokespeople, they wished us somewhat less than all the happiness in the world. Regardless, our sincere thanks to all our friends and family who made this abrupt and necessary change so seamless and celebratory."

Sightings

HARRISON Ford arriving at Bloomie Nails on Seventh Avenue at 18th Street with a summer hat for Calista Flockhart, who was having a manicure/pedicure. "It looked lovely — better than the baseball cap she had on" . . .

Snubbing Stars

RONALD Perelman and Ellen Barkin, who were going to host Robert Downey Jr.'s wedding to Susan Levin Saturday, ended up not even being invited as guests. Perelman has never allowed photos of The Creeks, his magnificent Georgica Pond spread, to be published. "A week before, Downey mentioned, 'By the way, we made arrangements to sell the photos to OK! magazine,' " an insider told PAGE SIX. "That was not OK with Ronald and Ellen." Then, Perelman suggested that guests agree not to sell their snapshots. Downey told Perelman he'd wed elsewhere. Perelman wasn't told the new location, a house in Amagansett (where Downey wore tennis shoes!, left). A spokeswoman said, "Ronald and Ellen wish them all the happinesss in the world."

We Hear...

THAT to prepare for his wedding yesterday to Susan Levin, Robert Downey Jr. got his hair cut at the Frederic Fekkai salon on West 57th.

Actor Robert Downey Jr. marries producer-People

Actor Robert Downey Jr. married his girlfriend, Susan Levin, a movie producer he met on the set of the film "Gothika," on Saturday, People magazine reported.

Downey, who has starred in more than 50 films including "Less Than Zero," "Chaplin" and "Wonder Boys," has a reputation as a talented but troubled actor.

The guest list at the wedding on Long Island, New York included actor Keanu Reeves and musicians Sting and Billy Joel, who were to perform.

Downey and Levin, 31, met in 2002 and were engaged in November 2003 when Downey presented her with an engagement ring of diamonds and a rare African sapphire, People magazine said.

Downey stars as a petty thief caught up in a Los Angeles murder investigation in the Warner Bros. comedy thriller "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang," set to open in mid-September.

Downey, 40, struggled with drug addiction during the 1990s and had several well publicized run-ins with the law.

For six years, the award-winning actor was in and out of prison and rehabilitation programs after police found heroin, crack and an unloaded gun in his car. In 1999, he served a year in prison for cocaine possession and was arrested twice for the same offense within months of his release.

The fallout from those incidents cut short a budding comeback for the actor, who won Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for his role in the TV series "Ally McBeal."

PRIVACY RULES

THE wedding reception of Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Levin just wasn't private enough for Revlon billionaire Ron Perelman and his wife, Ellen Barkin. We hear the real reason why Downey abruptly moved his wedding from Perelman's East Hampton estate was because the intensely private cosmetics mogul decreed that no photos of the couple on his estate were allowed to be released to the media. "Ronald has never let anyone take pictures inside his house and is uncomfortable with a lot of people outside of it," said one source. Downey and Levin, who wanted to shop at least one marital photo to the press, will wed today at a rented house in Amagansett instead.

LEISURE PURSUITS

ROCKER Jon Bon Jovi ditched a Hamptons benefit concert claiming to be too busy to perform — but was then spotted around the East End enjoying several leisure activities. Organizer Garland Jeffreys asked Bon Jovi to perform with Foreigner and Suzanne Vega at the East Hampton High School benefit last Tuesday, but he declined, opting to work out at the East Hampton gym and then shop in town instead, infuriating Jeffreys. Bon Jovi's rep responded: "He never agreed to do this event and he is on vacation."

We Hear...

THAT Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Levin won't get married tomorrow after all at Ellen Barkin and Ronald Perelman's East Hampton estate because of all the publicity surrounding their nuptials. They'll tie the knot at an undisclosed location in Amagansett instead. . .

We Hear...

THAT Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Levin will be tying the knot Saturday at a small, ultra-private ceremony and soiree at The Creeks, the magnificent Georgica Pond estate of Ronald Perelman and Ellen Barkin . . .

Sightings

STING, wife Trudie Styler and Robert Downey Jr. sharing a table at Bette . . .

Miller Beer Holds 150th Anniversary Bash

When it's Miller Time, Miller Brewing knows how to party. The nation's second-largest and oldest major brewer threw a 150th birthday bash Saturday with more than 100 descendants of the Miller family attending.

Lured by the Goo Goo Dolls, Bon Jovi and Miller beer, the invitation-only event called "The Big Brew-Ha" was expected to draw about 35,000 people to Miller Park, less than a mile from the brewery.

"This celebration has been 150 years in the making, and it's one that no other major American brewing company is able to celebrate," said Miller Brewing President and CEO Norman Adami. "We are here to celebrate a major milestone, but more importantly, we are here to celebrate the employees, past and present, who made the last 150 years possible."

Adami read a letter from President Bush, who called the story of Miller a testament to innovation.

Tailgating began early in the afternoon as people listened to bands outside the ballpark.

"It's been long overdue," said Todd Bandy, sipping a Miller beer with his wife, Trudy, on their 19th wedding anniversary. "Milwaukee needed something like this."

The Bandys praised Miller for keeping close to its heritage.

"They didn't close the factory, they didn't move it to Mexico," Todd Bandy said. "When you know Miller is involved, it's done right."

Miller, which established light beer, relished the underdog role, even back to its roots in 1855 when the brewery began on the outskirts of Milwaukee.

In 1903, the company unveiled High Life — dubbed "The Champagne of Bottle Beer" — and its sales skyrocketed, even at a premium price. A family feud split the business in half before both were ultimately sold to tobacco giant Philip Morris Inc. by 1970.

The company's ad campaigns highlighted "Miller Time" as the time after work for the common man to enjoy a cold beer.

Then came Miller Lite. The brewer launched the low-calorie beer nationwide in 1975 and brought up the famous "tastes great-less filling" ad spots with celebrities like comedian Rodney Dangerfield spearheading the campaign.

Lite moved Miller from the seventh leading brewer in the nation in 1970 to second behind Anheuser-Busch by 1977. Now, Miller holds about 18.5 percent of the market share, compared with half by Anheuser-Busch.

Miller was taken over by South African Breweries plc three years ago and now operates under the name SABMiller plc, and recent ad campaigns have reversed a 15-year sales decline.

"We've waited for 150 years," said Miller sales representative Matt Baumann, "we've got to pack a lot of partying in today."

Stable Spouse

ROBERT Downey Jr. is tying the knot again the weekend of Aug. 28. Downey and Susan Levin, a film producer, are walking down the aisle "somewhere on the East Coast" according to a pal. This will be the actor's second marriage and Levin's first. He has a son, Indio, by his first wife, Deborah Falconer. Levin has helped Downey with his sobriety by being supportive and adding "stability," the friend says. Downey's rep declined to comment.

Producer Kelley targets morning TV with new show

Hot off the yellow legal pad of David E. Kelley is a pilot script that has generated considerable buzz around town.

Sources said the project is an hourlong comedy-drama in the vein of Kelley's "Ally McBeal" set behind the scenes at a network TV morning show. It's understood that the first place the show was pitched was NBC -- which had its share of morning-show drama on "Today" this year -- but sources cautioned that the Kelley camp and the network are in the discussion stage and far from any formal deal.

NBC and Kelley pacted last year on reality show "The Law Firm," but the unfavorable Nielsen verdict on the first two episodes, which aired this month, spurred NBC to grant a change of venue (namely sister cable network Bravo) for the remaining installments. Representatives for Kelley and 20th declined comment Thursday.

Sightings

RON Perelman breaking bread with Jon Bon Jovi at East Hampton hotspot JL East . .

Dylan song 'changed the world' - poll

Bob Dylan's song "Like a Rolling Stone" topped a poll on Friday to find the 100 songs, movies, TV shows and books that "changed the world" in the opinion of musicians, actors and industry experts.

Dylan's 1965 single beat Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" into second place in the survey for "Uncut" magazine.

Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher, Robert Downey Jr, Rolling Stone Keith Richards and Lou Reed were among those who gave their views for the poll.

"I absolutely remember where I was when I first heard it. It got me through adolescence," rocker Patti Smith said of the winning song.

Ex-Beatle McCartney picked "Heartbreak Hotel" as his number one choice.

"It's the way (Presley) sings it as if he is singing from the depths of hell," McCartney said. "His phrasing, use of echo, it's all so beautiful. Musically, it's perfect."

The Beatles' song "She Loves You" ranked at number three, followed by the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" emerged as the most influential film at number five, followed by "The Godfather" and "The Godfather II" films in sixth place.

"The Prisoner" was the top-ranking TV series at number 10, while Jack Kerouac's novel "On the Road" was the highest-ranking book, in 19th place.

Actor Edward Norton and ex-Beach Boy Brian Wilson also took part in the poll, marking the magazine's 100th issue.

David E. Kelley Lays Down the Law

Once upon a time, executive producer David E. Kelley pronounced reality TV "junk," and was understandably miffed that it was drawing eyeballs away from his shows like Ally McBeal, The Practice, Boston Public and Boston Legal. But the onetime lawyer would like to retract that statement now that he's the big name behind The Law Firm (premiering Thursday at 9 pm/ET), NBC's contest in which real litigators compete for a $250,000 cash prize. How does Kelley explain his change of heart?

"Some reality television I quite like — the first one being American Idol — but most of the fare I felt disrespected the medium and... degraded its contestants," Kelley explains. "This particular series I don’t think will do either. It’s not a forum to exploit or ridicule the lawyers who are part of this franchise. It’s just the opposite."

In the show, a dozen lawyers are divided into teams and given real cases to try in front of judges. The clients come from all over the country, and the outcome of their televised arbitration is legally binding. Infamous trial attorney Roy Black (whose notorious clients include Rush Limbaugh and William Kennedy Smith) oversees their work and makes cuts each week, based on individual performance, not on whether they win or lose the case.

"When I was doing The Practice, my greatest fear was that someone was going to come along and tell [stories] with real clients, real lawyers and actually binding verdicts," Kelley admits. "As a scripted-television producer, I knew we couldn’t be as compelling as a series that had real cases."

The Law Firm's attorneys quickly proved that theory, and Kelley never once longed for a script to control the on-screen action. "It was thrilling to watch these people perform as lawyers. I'm a bit of a voyeur when it comes to watching lawyers and legal cases, so there was never a time where I was saying, ‘Wow, I wish we had an actor in that person’s place.'"

The admiration runs in the other direction, too. "I teach a course at the University of Miami law school, and I show some excerpts from The Practice because [the arguments] are so well done," says Black, who sees little difference between lawyers and screenwriters. "[In a trial] you have to be able to get [your] points across in an interesting and dramatic way. If it’s boring, people stop listening in the first few minutes and click you off like they do a TV show."

Interestingly, The Law Firm won't follow The Apprentice's formula and isn't giving the winner a job — which is actually a good thing, according to Black, since these natural show-offs will be fielding offers soon enough. "I think when other lawyers see [the contestants, they] will want to hire them or work with them. I’ve tried to hire two of them, and unfortunately the producers refused to allow me to do that until the show airs."

Liu Joins the Chan Clan

Charlie Chan's No. 1 granddaughter will be taking up the family business.

A long gestating project will star Lucy Liu as the Chinese-American detective's granddaughter in an update of the popular series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The "Charlie's Angels" actress will also executive produce.

"It's a reinvention of the franchise that credibly passes on the baton to Lucy Liu as the lead character and lead of the franchise," says TV executive-turned-screenwriter Dan McDermott who will write the screenplay for Fox.

Charlie Chan, created by Earl Derr Biggers, became a popular low-budget movie fixture in the '30s and '40s. As a detective for the Honolulu Police Department, Chan (in his signature white fedora and suit) would stumble upon a murder mystery in an exotic locale and solve the case in spite of the bumbling efforts of his No. 1 or No. 2 son.

Today, many decry the films for using Caucasian actors -- such as Warner Oland, Sidney Toler or Roland Winters -- to portray Chan in "yellow face." Also, the older films often perpetuated stereotypes with Chan's mangled take on English-language proverbs such as "Owner of face cannot always see nose" or "Shot in dark sometime find eye of bull."

Besides the numerous early Chan films, a Hanna-Barbera animated series called "The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan" sprang up in the early '70s featuring a mix of Asian voice actors and Jodie Foster as Anne Chan.

Although Liu hasn't been seen on screen since playing the ill-fated O-Ren Ishii in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill, Vol. 1," she's been busy with an upcoming slate that includes Tony Scott's model-turned-bounty hunter film "Domino," the indie drama "3 Needles," the thriller "Lucky Number Slevin," the vampire film "Rise," New Line's comedy "The Cleaner" and indie thriller "Devil to Pay."

Showbiz people briefs

Anthony LaPaglia, Viola Davis, Isabella Rossellini and Hayden Panettiere (ex-Lizzie, Guiding Light/ex-Maddie, Ally McBeal) star in the indie film "All Fall Down," currently shooting in New York. The film, written and directed by Matthew Tauber ("Rosen's Son") is about a conflict between an architect and an activist, who has to live in a dangerous complex the architect designed. It is set up at HDNet Films, which makes high-definition projects with the aim of releasing them simultaneously on the big screen via Landmark Theaters, and on TV via HDNet Movies Network. All the companies are owned by tech entrepreneur Mark Cuban's 2929 Entertainment.

Worthy Cause

JON Bon Jovi brought a little bit of Jersey to the Hamptons the other night. Days after performing at Live 8 in Philadelphia, Bon Jovi and his band hopped a private jet to play a surprise gig at Stephen Talkhouse in Amangansett. The hush-hush show on Wednesday raised money for Soldier Ride - a charity that assists injured soldiers coming home from Iraq. There to show support were Kelly Klein, Ron Perelman and Ellen Barkin, Lorne Michaels, Steve Kroft and Howard Stern.

Doggin' Downey

THESE are hairy times for Robert Downey Jr., but not for the usual reasons. Besides co-starring in the remake of Disney's "Shaggy Dog," the actor with nine lives plays a hypertrichosis-afflicted character in the Diane Arbus biopic "Fur," starring Nicole Kidman. Downey's hair-covered character is based upon an intimate of the dark-spirited photographer, who committed suicide in 1971. Since doing time for drug possession, Downey's been thrown plenty of other meaty bones. He stars in David Fincher's "Zodiac"; buddies up with Val Kilmer in "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang"; co-stars with Keanu Reeves in "A Scanner Darkly"; and has a leading role in George Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck."

Liu Films Two

Lucy Liu is keeping busy on the big screen, lining up consecutive features to fill those hot summer months.

The Summer of Liu will begin with a supporting role in "The Cleaner," a New Line comedy set for production in August. Cedric the Entertainer stars as a janitor with amnesia who becomes convinced that he's an FBI agent. Liu will play an FBI agent who poses as a waitress to keep an eye on him. Les Mayfield ("Flubber") will orchestrate the hilarity.

After production on "The Cleaner" ends, the "Charlie's Angels" star will shift gears to the independent thriller "Devil to Pay." According to The Hollywood Reporter, Liu will star in the project as a single mom forced to rob the bank where she works after her children are kidnapped. She's also expected to executive produce.

Norwegian director Trygve Allister Diesen will direct the film, currently slated to being shooting in October.

Liu, last seen guest starring on NBC's "Joey" and as O-Ren Ishii in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill: Vol. 1," has completed work on Tony Scott's bounty hunter drama "Domino" and is shooting the vampire drama "Rise" with Michael Chiklis.

Lucas: Man of the gala

A chorus line of dancing Stormtroopers kicked up their heels like Rockettes Thursday night at the American Film Institute's 33rd Life Achievement Awards gala saluting Star Wars creator George Lucas (airing June 20 on the USA Network, 9 p.m. ET/PT).

William Shatner, who led the splashy musical salute at the Kodak Theatre, joked, "Star Trek changed everything, and aren't these conventions wonderful?"

Among the celebrities in attendance at the star-studded performance were Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Richard Dreyfuss, Billy Dee Williams, Chewbacca and Hugh Hefner, who escorted a posse of 10 playmates,, including one with her hair done up in Princess Leia buns.

The most emotional moment of the evening came when original Star Wars players Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Chewy, C-3PO and R2-D2, backed by composer John Williams' original score, performed a re-creation of the closing medal ceremony scene from Episode IV: A New Hope.

A muffled gasp was heard during a film-clip salute to Lucas featuring King Kong director Peter Jackson, who has shed not only his scraggly beard but also 100 pounds.

Earlier during dinner, Fisher approached Jimmy Smits to introduce herself as his "daughter," Princess Leia. (In the latest Star Wars installment, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Smits' character, Senator Bail Organa, adopts baby Leia.)

"Jimmy's a lot better looking than any of the stepfathers I ever had," cracked Fisher, whose mother, Debbie Reynolds, married and divorced three times.

Added Hamill: "Carrie and I are still trying to figure out how such good-looking parents as Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman ended up with us."

Fisher then chatted up her on-screen Star Wars love, Ford, and his real-life lady, Calista Flockhart, who were seated at Lucas' table with Steven Spielberg, Robert Duvall and Lucas' three adopted children, Amanda, 24, Katie, 17, and Jett, 12.

Ford was approached by Daniel Logan, 18, who played young Boba Fett in Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Lucas said Logan's character may be included in his live-action Star Wars TV series, which is in the works.

Spielberg said writer Jeff Nathanson (Speed 2, Rush Hour 2 and 3) is readying a script for Indiana Jones 4 by summer's end. Asked whether Flockhart would play Indy's new leading lady, Ford said, "She would of course make her own decision."

Flockhart said she's up for a 2006 adventure. "Oh, yes," she said. "If I could kick his (butt), absolutely!"

Sightings

JON Bon Jovi skipping his boss L.A. Reid's birthday party in New York to attend Lara Shriftman's book party for "Fete Accompli Workbook! The Ultimate Party Planning Guide" at Metro Kitchen + Bar in Miami

Sightings

ELLEN DeGeneres and gal pal Portia di Rossi canoodling at Amanda Scheer Demme's chic new poolside bar, Tropicana, at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood . . .

Downey, Kilmer Step Into Gumshoe Roles

Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer have turned gumshoe with "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang," a murder mystery that could have been called "Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink" for its relentless yet loving tweaks at Hollywood film-noir conventions.

The film, which debuted Saturday at the Cannes Film Festival, both mocks and embraces the cliches of the hard-boiled private eyes of years past — taking to nearly outlandish levels the genre's improbable coincidences, impossible action, and detectives who take endless lickings yet keep on ticking.

"This is a drunk movie," "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" writer-director Shane Black told The Associated Press. "This is just a movie that had too many."

Downey stars as petty crook Harry Lockhart who, through bizarre chance, stumbles into a casting call and is flown to Hollywood to audition for a cop movie. To prepare for the audition and lend authenticity to his performance, Harry is teamed with private detective Perry van Shrike (Kilmer), known as Gay Perry for his sexual preference.

During a supposedly harmless stakeout, Harry and Perry end up the keepers of the body of a beautiful dead woman that keeps coming back to haunt them.

At the same time, Harry has an unlikely reunion with Harmony Faith Lane (Michelle Monaghan), his dream girl from high school, a wannabe actress in need of a private eye to look into the suspicious suicide of her sister.

Figuring that playing the hero could win Harmony's heart, Harry pretends he and Perry are partners and takes on her case, blundering into a tangled mystery that wittily plays with the car chases, tenuous clues and high body counts of classic detective stories.

"Growing up, I loved those fast-talking, loose-jointed, shambling-rhythm, chain-smoking, womanizing kind of guys," said Black, a screenwriting prodigy in his early 20s with "Lethal Weapon," now making his directing debut. "On the other side, I love very disturbing, psychological, edgy stories. I wanted to do it all.

"To put it all in a movie, already you're sort of stacking your movie. So I thought, let's just throw in the kitchen sink. Let's start standing some cliches on their head. If I'm going to make a bizarre little movie, let's make it really bizarre."

Black was especially influenced by mystery writer Raymond Chandler, whose story titles the filmmaker borrows as chapter headings for "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang," which opens in U.S. theaters this fall.

Throughout the film, Harry not only narrates the action, but also denigrates it at times, commenting on improbable plot twists and groaning over moments of outlandish action.

"It's a movie that knows it's a movie," said Joel Silver, producer of "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang," who also made the "Lethal Weapon" movies.

"Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" presents a sly parody of the ubiquitous buddy-cop flicks Black helped usher in with "Lethal Weapon." It also gives viewers the action they've come to expect in those movies along with a house-of-cards puzzle with enough blind alleys to tease the most avid mystery fan.

"It's that regard for anyone's intellectual ability to assimilate something and figure it out and work with it," Downey said. "That's what makes it so different."

'Eureka,' Sci Fi's Filming It

The Sci Fi Channel is starting production on a two-hour movie called "Eureka" that it hopes will become a weekly series.

Shooting was set to begin Tuesday (April 26) in British Columbia on the two-hour movie, which will also serve as a series pilot. "Eureka" stars Colin Ferguson ("Coupling," "Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber") as a U.S. marshal who crashes his car in the seemingly idyllic town of the title.

He comes to discover, though, that Eureka is in fact a place where the government has for years been relocating the brightest minds in the world and their families. The resulting collection of brainpower has led to a way of life years ahead of the rest of the world, but the town sometimes has trouble controlling its innovations, as Ferguson's character soon finds out.

The movie also stars Joe Morton ("Paycheck," "Terminator 2"), Salli Richardson-Whitfield ("Antwone Fisher"), Greg Germann ("Ally McBeal"), Debrah Farentino ("EZ Streets") and Jordan Hinson. Andy Cosby ("Haunted") and Jamie Paglia wrote the film, which Peter O'Fallon ("Wonderfalls," "Party of Five") will direct.

"Eureka" is one of two movie/pilot projects Sci Fi has in the works. The other is "Painkiller Jane," which is based on the comic book of the same name and stars Emmanuelle Vaugier ("One Tree Hill," "Smallville") and Tate Donovan ("The O.C.").

Smoke Kills

Not everyone knows how to behave at a party.

Hollywood producer Brian Grazer and his wife, author Gigi Levangie Grazer, hosted an elegant book party Monday night for producer Ron Howard's wife Cheryl Howard Crew at their Pacific Palisades mansion, along with Renee Zellweger and guests Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi and Lara Flynn Boyle.

Crew joined the book club with her tome "In the Face of Jinn."

But one poor guest got "really drunk," according to another spy, and paused to have a smoke in the house. After carefully removing a pen and paper from a vase, she began casually tapping ash in it.

"I didn't know I had a $40,000 ashtray," Grazer quipped when he noticed her, causing the embarrassed woman to flee the premises.

'Bells' Ringing with Heche for CBS, Hallmark

CBS is getting in the holiday spirit early with a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of "Silver Bells," to star Anne Heche.

Based on the novel by best-selling author Luanne Rice, "Silver Bells" centers on widow Catherine Tierney (Heche), a corporate librarian in Manhattan who takes a teenage boy under her wing after he runs away from his father, a Christmas tree farmer.

Jim McGrath penned the script, with Dick Lowry attached to direct. Production is slated to begin April 28 on the Paramount lot.

"Silver Bells" marks the second book by Rice to be adapted to the small screen as a Hallmark Hall of Fame production for CBS. Their previous collaboration, the 2001 film "Follow the Stars Home," also was directed by Lowry.

Hallmark Hall of Fame is flying high this season, with its previous presentation, the Keri Russell starrer "The Magic of Ordinary Days," ranking as one of the most-watched telefilms of the season.

Next for the franchise is the premiere of "Riding the Bus With My Sister" on May 1. Rosie O'Donnell and Andie MacDowell star in the movie, which was directed by Anjelica Huston.

"Silver Bells" extends Heche's relationship with CBS in the longform arena. In October, she toplined the network's original movie "The Dead Will Tell."

This development season, Heche is starring in the WB Network comedy pilot "True." She also has a recurring role this season on the WB drama "Everwood."

Last year she was nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of a drug-addicted mother in the Lifetime original movie "Gracie's Choice" and for a Tony for her role in the revival of "Twentieth Century."

Gyllenhaal, Downey Align for 'Zodiac'

Mark Ruffalo is in negotiations and Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey have signed on to "Seven" director David Fincher's long-gestating thriller "Zodiac."

Gyllenhaal will play Robert Graysmith, the journalist and author of the two books, "Zodiac" and "Zodiac Unmasked," upon which the film is based. Downey will play fellow reporter Paul Avery, and Ruffalo would play the San Francisco homicide inspector in charge of the case.

The books revolve around the real-life tale of a serial killer known as the Zodiac Killer, who terrorized San Francisco for 25 years. Graysmith and Avery worked at the San Francisco Chronicle, which the killer used as a conduit to communicate with authorities.

James Vanderbilt is adapting the books for the project, which Phoenix Pictures is producing.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures are co-financing the picture, with Paramount handling domestic distribution while Warners oversees international output. Warners is the lead studio on the project.

Ruffalo just wrapped the remake of "All the King's Men" for Columbia Pictures. His recent credits include "Collateral," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "We Don't Live Here Anymore." His upcoming releases include the Rob Reiner-directed comedy-drama "Rumor Has It" and the romantic comedy "Just Like Heaven."

Gyllenhaal has appeared in "The Day After Tomorrow," "The Good Girl," "Moonlight Mile" and "Donnie Darko." His upcoming film work includes the screen adaptation of David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Proof," the Ang Lee-directed "Brokeback Mountain" and "Jarhead," directed by Sam Mendes.

Downey's screen credits include "Gothika," "The Singing Detective," "Wonder Boys," "Two Girls and a Guy" and his Oscar-nominated lead performance in "Chaplin." He's currently onscreen in the art-house film "Eros." Upcoming films include "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" and "Goodnight, and Good Luck," a drama about broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow, directed and written by George Clooney.

Lucy Liu Bites into Vampire Flick

After dying a grisly death in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill, Vol. 1," Lucy Liu will play the undead in her next project.

The 36-year-old actress will star in Ghost House Pictures' thriller "Rise," report news sources.

The project centers on a journalist who wakes up in a morgue and realizes she's now not among the living thanks to some unsavory vampires. Angered, she vows revenge and hunts them down.

"Gothika" scribe Sebastian Gutierrez will direct from his own script. Production will begin in the summer.

Liu's film credits include "Shanghai Noon," the "Charlie's Angels" films and "Chicago." Her upcoming films include "Domino," "Lucky Number Slevin" and "3 Needles."

  • Kidman, Downey Starring in Film Together

    Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr. are to star in a film about photographer Diane Arbus to be shot at Brooklyn's new Steiner Studios.

    Douglas C. Steiner, chairman of the Hollywood-style complex in the borough's former Navy Yard, announced Tuesday that "Fur" is to be directed by Steven Shainberg, in agreement with River Road Productions.

    Set construction for "Fur" begins immediately on a 16,000 square foot sound stage at Steiner — one of two to be used for the film. Shooting is scheduled to begin next month, continuing through July.

    Based on Patricia Bosworth's "Diane Arbus: A Biography," the screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson presents an imaginary portrait of the life of the late New York fashion photographer known for her photo images of eccentric personalities from the 1950s and 1960s. She committed suicide in 1971.

  • Fun and fundraising mix together nicely

    Three funny ladies of the tube turned up Sunday night at the old Henry Fonda Theatre to help raise money for tuberous sclerosis (TS), a genetic disorder that causes tumors.

    Teri Hatcher, Calista Flockhart and Patricia Heaton provided much-needed intentional laughs. One unintentional chuckle came courtesy of a techie who accidentally played a DVD of Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War in place of a taped acceptance speech by absent honoree Billy Bush, the president's cousin. (The Access Hollywood host was out of town celebrating his wedding anniversary.)

    The red-carpet photographers were most snap-happy for Hatcher, who said she attended a fundraiser at the same venue a year ago (before her Desperate Housewives resurgence) and no press came.

    Despite being one of the most sought-after celebs of the moment, Hatcher has made the unique decision to not hire a publicist to shield her from the media.

    "It was with a lot of thought," explained Hatcher, who has been courted by every PR firm in town. "I feel like when you embrace that, you're sort of subconsciously saying you want to be part of this 'no comment' game that goes on. And I don't want to be. I don't feel like I have anything to protect myself from. I'm a person who tries to do everything right. I treat people nicely and I behave well.

    "If someone's wondering something, they can call and ask me and I can tell them. I mean, if I need a publicist to protect me from Hollywood, how can we figure out the Middle East?"

    Plus, that's one fewer person to eat away at Hatcher's new supersized salary. Hatcher came dressed in a kelly green Dolce & Gabbana top - very similar to the one her character wore on Sunday's Desperate Housewives. On her arm was a diamond bracelet by Martin Katz that was auctioned off later for $10,000.

    Heaton shelled out $8,000 in the live auction for a guitar signed by Jackson Browne. At last year's fundraiser, Heaton got into a heated bidding war with Jennifer Love Hewitt for a guitar signed by Richie Sambora. Heaton planned on presenting the instrument to her son, who is taking guitar lessons.

    Flockhart made one of her few public appearances to raise money for a disease that has made her extra-appreciative to be the mother of a healthy son. The actress said she's lucky to be able to take 4-year-old Liam to the park while mothers of TS kids are stuck in hospitals for treatment of their children's tumors and seizures.

    "Now that I'm a mother, I have a tremendous amount of empathy for children," the former Ally McBeal star said.

    Liam, she said, "is brilliant and beautiful. He's in preschool, and I think he's going to be fairly athletic. But we don't do any sports yet. He's still running around on the furniture. I want to work, but I'm really enjoying being a mom. And you can never get this time back."

  • Greg Germann joining a Sci Fi Channel pilot

    "Ally McBeal" regular Greg Germann is joining a Sci Fi Channel pilot. Germann has signed on to the Sci Fi pilot "Eureka," about a town populated by brilliant minds who work at a government think tank. He'll play the town's mayor. In addition to "Ally McBeal," Germann has appeared in "Ned and Stacey" and "Sweet November."

  • New Start?

    ROBERT Downey Jr. is burying some skeletons in his closet. Last weekend, he took his fiancée, Susan Levin, to the new Jonathan Adler-designed hotel, The Parker Palm Springs. That raised eyebrows as the Parker used to be the Merv Griffin Givenchy Hotel & Spa — "where Robert's last drug bender and arrest took place," said our spy. "He either had no clue or was really trying to put the past behind him."

  • BACKFIRE EFFECT

    WILLIAM Morris president Dave Wirtschafter didn't do his agency or himself any good when he trashed his clients in this week's New Yorker. Sources tell us that Lucy Liu promptly ditched the agency. Also supposedly upset are Sarah Michelle Gellar, whom Wirtschafter belittled as "nothing" before "The Grudge," and Halle Berry, who was passed over in favor of Alicia Keyes as Wirtschafter's favorite client. Time will tell if they stick with WMA.

  • Sightings

    LUCY Liu at Ballato's telling everyone she was dumped by her boyfriend.

  • Ricci Can Relate to 'Joey'

    Christina Ricci, who will soon be seen fighting werewolves in movie theaters, will also drop in on "Joey" later this month.

    Ricci will guest-star on the Thursday, Feb. 24 episode of the NBC sitcom, playing Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) sister Mary Teresa. Visiting Joey and her sister Gina (Drea de Matteo) in Los Angeles, Mary Teresa won't let her siblings forget that she's become a socialite and that she's loaded.

    Laughs will presumably ensue.

    The guest spot -- one day before the release of her latest film, the Wes Craven werewolf movie "Cursed" -- is a fairly rare one for Ricci, whose previous series work consists only of a "Malcolm in the Middle" guest appearance and a recurring part on "Ally McBeal" in 2002.

    She also may not the first actress to play Mary Teresa. Mimi Lieber is credited as playing Joey's sister "Mary Therese" in the "Friends" episode "The One Where Chandler Can't Remember Which Sister," which aired in 1997.

    In addition to "Cursed," Ricci's recent movie work includes "Monster," opposite Oscar winner Charlize Theron, Woody Allen's "Anything Else" and the indie film "Pumpkin."

  • TIFFANY TREAT FOR LOVER ELLEN

    SEXY starlet Portia de Rossi has given her new lady love, Ellen DeGeneres, a Tiffany wedding band as a sign of her everlasting devotion.

    As we were the first to report, de Rossi threw over her longtime lesbian lover, Francesca Gregorini, to move in with DeGeneres last month.

    As a surprise for DeGeneres' 47th birthday on Wednesday, de Rossi, 31, gave her a beautiful platinum band from the famed Fifth Avenue jeweler. She bought a matching band for herself. Plain Tiffany platinum bands range in price from $450 to $1,200.

    "It signifies their commitment to each other," a source close to the couple told PAGE SIX's Jared Paul Stern. Since same-sex marriages aren't legal in California, insiders say it's doubtful the pair will hold a wedding ceremony that wouldn't be officially recognized.

    As we reported last month, de Rossi has been having laser treatments to remove an "F.G." tattoo — for Gregorini's initials — from her ring finger. Gregorini got a similar tattoo when the pair decided to demonstrate their devotion. It will take several sessions for the ink to be erased completely.

    The rings aren't the only gift de Rossi has bestowed on her new lover. She also bought DeGeneres a mint condition '80s-vintage Porsche for Christmas. It's identical to a model DeGeneres used to own and holds special significance for her.

    Meanwhile, de Rossi has gotten rid of her longtime publicist, David Lust, and signed with DeGeneres' reps at I/D PR. Although some observers assume Ellen was behind the move, DeGeneres' rep, Kelly Bush, insists her client has nothing to do with the "Arrested Development" beauty's career.

    Lust did not return calls, but de Rossi's longtime manager, Joan Hyler, also denies that Ellen was responsible for the switch.

    Bush declined to comment on the ring exchange since her firm does not discuss clients' personal lives.

    DeGeneres and de Rossi appeared in public together recently when they made the rounds of the Golden Globes after-parties.

    Before hooking up with de Rossi, DeGeneres was involved with photographer Alexandra Hedison, who is said to be devastated by the de Rossi development.

  • Tidbits

    TONY WINNER Jane Krakowski opens the second part of Lincoln Cen ter's American Songbook series on Feb. 1, in the spectacular Allen Room at the new jazz space in Columbus Circle. Her program is titled "Better When It's Banned," a collection of songs which were "banned" or altered way back when. Ditties like "Love For Sale," "But in the Morning No" and "Mad About the Boy." Call (212) 721-6500.

  • TV Review: Numbers

    Who says TV producers lack creativity? When it comes to crime procedurals, they've been able to slice and dice the genre in ways so fine that physicists who split atoms should be jealous.

    Just this month, we got a sleuth who solves crimes with psychic powers ("Medium"), and now we have an FBI (news - web sites) agent who calls on his genius brother to track down bad guys with math. What next? A blind detective? Oh, that's right, there is one in ABC's "Blind Justice," scheduled to premiere in March.

    "Numbers" stars Rob Morrow and David Krumholtz as brothers Don and Charlie Eppes. Don is a hard-working, dedicated FBI agent who, in the premiere, heads up a task force to find a serial rapist who, of late, has decided to add murder to his criminal repertoire. Charlie, straight out of "A Beautiful Mind," is an absent-minded mathematical genius who can fill a blackboard with numbers and symbols faster than a College Bowl team can calculate the length of a hypotenuse.

    That's good and that's bad. It's good because it offers a new way to look at a tired genre and presents an unconventional but interesting relationship, albeit one without large amounts of chemistry. It's bad because, at least in the opener, the focus of creator-writers Nick Falacci and Cheryl Heuton is so clearly on crime solving and the two brothers that it squanders the talents of one of the finest casts assembled for any series. Sabrina Lloyd does little but play Officer Frank Smith to Morrow's Sgt. Joe Friday. As for Judd Hirsch (the father of the brothers), Peter MacNicol (Charlie's physicist friend) and Anthony Heald (Don's boss), they represent some of the most talented window dressing seen in years.

    There are a few other problems. The show, set in Los Angeles, creates a world in which city crime is tackled exclusively by the FBI. Charlie travels everywhere by bicycle. Hello. This is L.A. What's the mathematical probability of that happening? There's also a beautiful foreign student (Navi Rawat) working on her thesis with Charlie, but she says little and mostly just follows him around. A love interest? Maybe, maybe not. The premiere is annoyingly vague on her availability.

    Production qualities are excellent, and graphics and special effects never let you forget the math component in the story. Exec producer Mimi Leder, who directed the premiere, frames the action tightly and well. Still, the series, a replacement for "Dr. Vegas," faces long odds against NBC's popular "Medical Investigation" and ABC's veteran "20/20."

    Cast: Don Eppes: Rob Morrow; Charlie Eppes: David Krumholtz; Terry Lake: Sabrina Lloyd; Alan Eppes: Judd Hirsch; David Sinclair: Alimi Ballard; Larry Fleinhardt: Peter MacNicol; Walt Merrick: Anthony Heald; Amita Ramanujan: Navi Rawat; Kate Silber: Karen Norby.

    Executive producers: Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Brooke Kennedy, Alex Gansa; Co-executive producers: Nick Falacci, Cheryl Heuton, David W. Zucker; Creators-teleplay: Nick Falacci, Cheryl Heuton; Director: Mick Jackson; Director of photography: Ivan Strasburg; Production designer: Richard Hoover; Editor: Jan Northrop; Casting: Mark Saks.

  • 'Numb3rs' looks like a winn3r

    Clearly, CBS thinks there's safety in numbers.

    The math-to-the-rescue crime show Numb3rs brings the number of CSI-inspired procedurals on the network to a pushing-its-luck seven. Viewers hardly have time to count them all, let alone watch them.

    Still, on the off chance you have room on your schedule for another high-speed, high-tech mystery, Numb3rs would be an excellent choice. Yes, in essence, Numb3rs is just CSI with mathematics standing in for forensics. But that cleverly used math twist, combined with an excellent cast and a very un-CSI interest in the characters' family dynamics, provides enough separation to make Numb3rs worth watching on its own.

    Produced by filmmakers Ridley and Tony Scott, Numb3rs stars Rob Morrow (Northern Exposure) and David Krumholtz (The Trouble With Normal) as mismatched siblings. Don (Morrow) is a tough, driven FBI (news - web sites) agent; younger brother Charlie (Krumholtz) is a brilliant but socially awkward mathematician. They love each other, but their lives and interests don't intersect.

    That pattern is about to change, thanks to a visit with their father: Judd Hirsch, doing a subdued, funnier version of his meddling dad from Independence Day. Charlie reads Don's file on a rapist-turned-murderer and insists he can use math to solve the crime.

    "Everything," he explains, "is numbers." Not quite. But the trick Numb3rs uses to explain Charlie's theory is visually and intellectually satisfying. The show's point - that math fits into our daily lives in ways we may not imagine - is novel and well made.

    Luckily, show creators Cheryl Heuton and Nick Falacci have another point to make, one that is more common on TV but equally interesting. Charlie has to learn that math is not everything, that humans can be an unpredictable variable. The lesson is taught by Charlie's father and by the show's most original character: a mentor, friend and sometimes exasperated colleague ably played by Peter MacNicol.

    Don's standard-issue crime-show colleagues are far less original creations. Still, one of the agents is played by Sports Night's Sabrina Lloyd, and it should prove fun to watch this fine comic actress work against type.

    As strong as the supporting cast may be, Numb3rs is run by its two stars and their quirky fraternal energy. You may not instinctively picture Morrow as an agent, but few actors are better at creating smart, complex characters with a bad habit of getting in their own way. And Krumholtz, after a string of failed series, finally has found a character that allows him to be appealing rather than annoying.

    Sunday's crime is a little too, well, by the numbers, and the grisliness of its attacks on women is more than a little tiresome. The producers promise, however, that different kinds of crimes are on the way.

    Cut the gore and sharpen the focus on the family, and Numb3ers could add up to another CBS hit.

  • Anne Heche a 'True' WB Star

    Anne Heche is set to star in the WB Network's comedy pilot "True."

    Heche plays a young woman whose boyfriend breaks up with her while she is in labor with their baby, and she has to move back in with her parents. While the man doesn't leave her life completely, the ordeal is a wake-up call for the new mother, who has been procrastinating her entire life, staying in school for as long as possible to delay stepping into the real world.

    Getting Heche on board lifts the contingency off the project, which originally was picked up on a cast-contingent basis. The casting also extends the actress' relationship with the WB. This season, she has a recurring role on its family drama "Everwood."

    Last year, Heche was nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of a drug-addicted mother in the Lifetime original movie "Gracie's Choice," and for a Tony for her role in "Twentieth Century."

  • Marsden, Laurie Offering Super Support

    Director Bryan Singer is going with some familiar faces in his Superman movie.

    James Marsden, who played Cyclops in Singer's two "X-Men" movies, and Hugh Laurie, who stars in Singer's Fox medical drama "House," are joining the cast of the Warner Bros. film.

    Marsden, last in theaters with "The Notebook," will play Lois Lane's love interest, Richard White. Laurie is in final negotiations to play Perry White, editor in chief of the Daily Planet. The two characters are related, though the studio declined to say if they were father and son.

    Brandon Routh is set to play Clark Kent/Superman, while Kevin Spacey, who won a supporting actor Oscar for his performance in Singer's "The Usual Suspects," is set to play Lex Luthor. Kate Bosworth, Spacey's co-star in "Beyond the Sea," is in negotiations to play Lane.

    Marsden next appears in Sony Pictures Classics' "Heights," which debuts at the Sundance Film Festival this month. Laurie was recently in theaters with the "Flight of the Phoenix" remake

  • Lucy Liu Donates to Tsunami Relief

    Lucy Liu has been inspired to give financial support to the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

    The "Kill Bill, Vol. 1" actress donated $200,000 to the tsunami disaster relief, following the lead of Egyptian millionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, report British news sources.

    "Mohamed has given more than #150,000 and as a UNICEF ambassador, it was the least I could do," she says. Liu helped open Al Fayed's Harrods department store in London on Monday, Jan. 3.

    Al Fayed is the father of Dodi Fayed -- Princess Diana's boyfriend who died with her in the August 1997 car crash.

    A massive tidal wave, triggered by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean in December 2004, claimed approximately 150,000 lives -- about a third of them children -- in 11 countries, including Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Indonesia. Thousands are still missing.

    Liu, 36, has starred in "Shanghai Noon," the "Charlie's Angels" films and "Chicago." Her upcoming films include "Domino," "Lucky Number Slevin" and "3 Needles."

  • Film Review: Racing Stripes

    The amazing and hilarious achievement of director Chris Noonan and his team of animal trainers and CGI whizzes in the 1995 hit film "Babe" becomes more apparent every time someone else attempts a sequel or knockoff.

    "Racing Stripes," directed by Frederik Du Chau, copies the formula of a farm animal unaware of its own identity. But the results don't come close to duplicating Noonan's charming and gentle barnyard fable. At best, "Racing Stripes" should play nicely to youngsters with the cutoff for enjoyment extending no further than midteens.

    Instead of a pig who believes he is a sheepdog, "Racing Stripes" concerns a zebra who thinks he is a race horse. Like Babe, the zebra named Stripes converses with other animals on the family's Kentucky farm. This is achieved again with a mix of real animals, computer technology and animatronic doubles.

    Stripes is named by the young daughter (Hayden Panettiere) of a former horse trainer (Bruce Greenwood (news)) who rescues the lost foal. Once the humans retire from the barn, all the animals begin to chatter up a storm. Three years later, the daughter gets the idea she would like to ride the zebra, every bit as much as Stripes would like to be ridden because he thinks he can run in races against horses. But, in a bit of unconvincing melodrama, Dad won't allow this because his late wife lost her life after being thrown from a horse.

    David Schmidt's screenplay switches back and forth between the two story lines of the animal kingdom and the horse race movie, but the narratives never really merge as the story lines never play off each other. Famous voice actors do inject a bit of whimsy into the barnyard banter, especially Dustin Hoffman as a cantankerous Shetland pony, Whoopi Goldberg (news) as a sagacious goat and Joe Pantoliano as a Mafioso pelican on the lam from the big city. Meanwhile, Frankie Muniz and Mandy Moore (news) give Stripes and his filly girlfriend, Sandy, a coltish innocence.

    The human actors including M. Emmet Walsh as a racetrack junkie do respectable work with the stock characters in the "National Velvet" story line, though Wendie Malick is over the top as the coldblooded doyenne of the Kentucky racing circuit. Two well-animated horseflies with a penchant for breaking into song and dance, played with unapologetic zeal by Steve Harvey (news) and David Spade, take the film south into poo humor so beloved by youngsters. They are not, however, the only offenders.

    Du Chau is better at integrating the racing footage -- which must have been tricky given that zebras really aren't racers -- with the animation and animatronics. The CG work allowing the animals to mouth dialogue blends well into the live action. David Eggby's cinematography and Wolf Kroeger's sets make the South African locations look convincingly American.

    Cast: Nolan Walsh: Bruce Greenwood; Channing Walsh: Hayden Panettiere; Woodzie: M. Emmet Walsh; Clara: Wendie Malick; Stripes: Frankie Muniz; Sandy: Mandy Moore; Tucker: Dustin Hoffman; Franny: Whoopi Goldberg; Goose: Joe Pantoliano; Buzz: Steve Harven; Scuzz: David Spade; Reggie: Jeff Foxworthy.

    Warner Bros./Alcon Entertainment.

    Director: Frederik Du Chau; Screenwriter: David Schmidt; Story by: David Schmidt, Steven P. Wegner, Kirk DeMicco, Frederik Du Chau; Producers: Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Ed McDonnell, Lloyd Phillips; Executive producer: Steven P. Wegner; Director of photography: David Eggby; Production designer: Wolf Kroeger; Music: Mark Isham; Costumes: Jo Katsaras; Editor: Tom Finan.

  • Tidbits

    Jane Krakowski and Ewan McGregor to star in London's "Guys and Dolls."

  • Doctor's Order

    WB has picked up Halley's Comet, an hour-long dramedy from David E. Kelley about a female med student who recently overcame a life-threatening illness. This is the first Kelley project to land at WB.

  • STAR MEMORIES YULE CHERISH

    Robert Downey Jr.: "We had a bunch of friends over, and I came down the stairs as Santa Claus and it was not a 'ho, ho, ho' situation. People were really scared. The children were like, 'Why is Santa so on edge? Why is he drunk?' They told them, 'Santa's been in the chimney for three weeks!' "

    Christina Ricci: "I was discovered when I was 7 years old in a Montclair, N.J., school Christmas play. A boy was originally cast in my role, but I provoked him to punch me, and then I snitched on him. As part of his punishment, he had to forfeit the role. And the rest is history."

  • ELLEN'S NEW LOVE ERASES PAST

    PORTIA de Rossi is removing all traces of the lesbian lover she ditched for Ellen DeGeneres.

    As we were the first to report a few weeks ago, de Rossi and DeGeneres jettisoned their respective longtime lady loves to move in together. When de Rossi was "engaged" to gal pal Francesca Gregorini, she had her lover's initials "FG" tattooed on her ring finger as a sign of devotion, and they planned to get "married," pals say.

    Now de Rossi has made an appointment with a dermatologist to have the mark lasered off, a source close to the actress told PAGE SIX's Jared Paul Stern. If it can't be done, she'll try to have it covered up or altered a la Johnny Depp, who changed his "Winona Forever" tattoo to "Wino Forever" after his bust-up with Winona Ryder.

    De Rossi has been "gushing about Ellen to anyone who will listen," we're told, while Gregorini is left hanging. De Rossi and Gregorini had planned to spend the holidays together in de Rossi's native Australia, but the blond bombshell will now be staying in L.A. to celebrate with DeGeneres.

    Meanwhile, de Rossi, the sexy "Arrested Development" star, was disappointed at not being nominated for a Golden Globe. She was hoping her new high-profile romance might give her an added push with the publicity-hungry Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which dispenses the awards.

    "She's devastated," we're told. De Rossi campaigned hard and thought the Golden Globe judges would salivate at the prospect of her and DeGeneres posing together on their red carpet.

    And tabloid reports that de Rossi and DeGeneres are planning to have a baby are baloney, our sources insist. "Portia has said many times she does not want to have a baby," we're told. "She's only interested in her career right now and doesn't really even want kids in the long run. Francesca wanted a baby badly, and that was a huge issue for them."

    Another tabloid tale that Gregorini plans to sue de Rossi for "galimony" also appears to be nonsense. Gregorini, daughter of Bond girl Barbara Bach and stepdaughter of Ringo Starr, has plenty of her own dough, we're told. There will be an issue over their lavish house in Los Feliz, however, which Gregorini and de Rossi bought together.

    De Rossi's rep could not be reached for comment, while DeGeneres' rep declined to discuss her client's personal life.

  • Dame Edna to Make Guest Appearance at Met

    Possums, beware. Dame Edna Everage, one of Australia's most exotic imports, will make a guest appearance in the Metropolitan Opera's New Year's Eve gala performance of Rossini's comic opera "Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)."

    Known for her purple hair and oversized rhinestone eyeglasses, Dame Edna (aka impersonator Barry Humphries) will appear in Act II and sing during the "music lesson scene" in which the beautiful Rosina (Katarina Karneus) and Count Almaviva (Matthew Polenzani) are found in a lovers' tryst, it was announced Monday.

    Dame Edna is starring in "Dame Edna: Back With a Vengeance!" on Broadway. Her first Broadway gig, "Dame Edna: The Royal Tour," was a Tony-winning hit.

  • Food For Thought

    Calista Flockhart starts the day with egg whites, spinach, yogurt, oatmeal with banana and honey. . . .

  • WHY ELLEN AND GAL PAL SPLIT

    TITILLATING TV stars Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are shacking up after ditching their longtime lady loves.

    On Friday it was reported that DeGeneres had split with her girlfriend of four years, photographer-director Alexandra Hedison.

    We're told the real reason for the break is that DeGeneres is now deeply in love with de Rossi, the Australian-born "Arrested Development" diva. De Rossi recently dumped her longtime gal pal, singer-songwriter Francesca Gregorini (Ringo Starr's stepdaughter) to be with DeGeneres, a source close to the new couple told PAGE SIX's Jared Paul Stern. The pair are now in DeGeneres' house in the Hollywood Hills which Hedison left a couple weeks ago.

    DeGeneres, 46, and de Rossi, 31, first met nine months ago on a photo shoot, we're told. They fell "instantly in love," de Rossi gushed to pals at the time. But DeGeneres remained loyal to Hedison, whom she often credited with "saving her life" at a time of crisis. However, when DeGeneres and de Rossi met up again at VH1's "Big in '04" awards gala in L.A. on Dec. 1, events took their natural course.

    Their respective girlfriends were absent, and this time there was no stopping the lusty ladies. They managed to find a private spot and "things got so hot and heavy between them that they raced to a limo and fooled around for hours," our source reports.

    The very next day de Rossi left Gregorini, saying she was madly in love with DeGeneres, and DeGeneres asked Hedison to move out of their house, though we're told the pair plan to make it seem they were already single in order to minimize the fallout.

    Reps for DeGeneres and de Rossi could not be reached for comment.

    "Alexandra and Francesca are both devastated," says a source close to the women. "Neither of them had any idea what was coming."

    There is obviously some bitterness, and while some friends speculate that DeGeneres and de Rossi were secretly seeing each ever since they first met, others snipe that de Rossi is out for all the publicity she can get with a new high-profile relationship.

    "People who know Ellen well feel she is going through a midlife crisis, dumping Alexandra for a hot, younger woman," says our snitch. "They predict Ellen will come to her senses and dump Portia to go back to Alexandra in the near future."

  • Diggs, Wife Receive Death Threats

    "Kevin Hill" star Taye Diggs and his wife, Tony Award-winning actress Idina Menzel, have become the target of death threats because of their interracial marriage. New York police are investigating several handwritten letters, each carrying a different postmark, that threaten Diggs, who is African American, and Menzel, who's white. The most recent of the letters arrived at a theatrical producers' group on Wednesday, Dec. 1, according to several news reports. The other letters were mailed to the theater where Menzel is performing in the musical "Wicked." The letters "go on and on about their marriage" and threaten harm to Diggs, apparently because he and Menzel are in an interracial marriage, a source tells Newsday. Authorities haven't yet determined whether the same person sent all three letters, which carried postmarks from New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Menzel, who won a Tony this year for her starring role in "Wicked," performed in the show over the weekend, albeit under tight security. Several plainclothes officers accompanied her to the theater and took up posts outside the stage door. Diggs, who plays the title role in UPN's well-reviewed first-year drama "Kevin Hill," and Menzel have been married for nearly two years. They met while performing in the Broadway production of "Rent."

  • JOEY'S NEW FRIEND

    Lucy Liu is reuniting with her Charlie's Angels squeeze Matt LeBlanc on Joey. According to Variety, Liu will guest-star in at least two episodes as the tough-talking exec producer of the nighttime soap where Joey recently scored a role. She'll first turn up on screen in late December.

  • CBS Runs Friday 'Numb3rs' Game in January

    Get ready to permanently subtract "dr. vegas" from your Friday schedule and add a drama with an equally quirky title, as CBS attempts to divide the 10 p.m. ET primetime audience and eat away at a fraction of NBC's "Medical Investigation" audience. Get ready to solve some important equations and fill in those unknown variables as CBS premieres "Numb3rs" (their typographical silliness, not ours) this January.

    The new drama, which comes from filmmaking siblings Ridley Scott and Tony Scott, will launch on Friday, Jan. 21 in the 10 p.m. slot "dr. vegas" vacated before the start of the November sweeps period.

    The series features David Krumholtz ("The Lyon's Den," "Grounded For Life") as a mathematics genius enlisted by his FBI agent brother (Rob Morrow of "Northern Exposure") to use his gift with numbers to solve complicated Los Angeles-based crimes for the Bureau. "Numb3rs" co-stars Peter MacNicol ("Ally McBeal"), Judd Hirsch ("Taxi"), Sabrina Lloyd ("Sports Night") and Alimi Ballard ("Dark Angel").

    Originally developed for a fall launch, the "Numb3ers" pilot, written by Cheryl Heuton and Nick Falacci, was somewhat reconceived. Actors Michael Rooker and Gabriel Macht exited from the initial cast, with Morrow joining on board. CBS ordered 12 episodes of the drama at the beginning of the month.

    In its five airings on Friday night, "dr. vegas" averaged 8.16 million viewers, somewhat overshadowed by NBC's freshman medical procedural, which has settled in with 9.13 million viewers.

  • Downey Finds Singing Harder Than Acting

    Consider it one of the 12 steps: baring your soul and pouring your heart out to all who'll listen.

    That's what Robert Downey Jr. has done with "The Futurist" (Sony Classical), his first full-length album, which hit stores this week. On Tuesday night, Downey made a brief appearance at the Hollywood Virgin Megastore to sign copies for about 100 fans and speak about his new direction.

    The roots of the album go back "probably 15 years ago in New York," he told AP Television News, looking fit and fresh. "My friend Jonathan Elias had a big studio there. He's a composer ... And he said, 'That song you were just tinkering around on: There could be a song there.'"

    The bulk of "Futurist" is original material, with six songs penned by Downey alone and two other Downey collaborations. The subject matter skips from romantic dysfunction to coming of age to self-hatred and self-acceptance. It's a little Billy Joel here, a lot of Dave Matthews there. He's jazz, he's rock, he's blues. The term "alt pop" may fill the bill.

    "I'll take that!" Downey said with a big smile. "We've been looking for some way to sum it all up. It's so funny when you go to classify things . . . there are so many influences."

    While he's sung before for film and TV projects (notably the soundtracks for "Chaplin," "Ally McBeal" and "Two Girls and a Guy"), "The Futurist" proved to be something completely different and, for Downey, considerably harder than acting.

    "Because it's so autonomous, you know?" he said. "I can't say, 'My God! I've got this director who didn't know what he was doing.' Or, 'God! Can you believe those words I had to say? This guy who wrote those things is a real hack.'"

    The 38-year-old Downey, as we all know, has long struggled with drug addiction, even doing some jail time as a result. He said the music helped him out of that madness.

    "Music is great therapy," he explained. "It really is. I don't know anyone who isn't in the midst of some transition, or whether it's positive or negative, and you'll see they'll start gravitating toward new stuff or certain old stuff that's resonating for them."

    The album's title "means a lot of things, if you look at its definition," Downey noted. "But, essentially, to me, it means I'm not as I was before. And I look forward to everyone being able to express themselves in ways they wouldn't have imagined possible."

  • Elway, Bon Jovi in AFL Movie Short

    John Elway and Jon Bon Jovi are at it again. The Hall of Fame quarterback and the rocker, both owners of Arena Football League teams, have joined the cast of NBC's "Las Vegas" for a second AFL movie short, "Rumble in the Montecito."

    The short, the second starring Elway and Bon Jovi, will be shown nationwide in 430 theaters next month.

    Elway's Colorado Crush and Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul meet in a game on the set of Las Vegas' fictional Montecito Resort & Casino in a sequel to last year's "Rumble in the House."

    "Las Vegas" actors Josh Duhamel, Nikki Cox and James Lesure are featured. Four AFL players also appear: quarterback Tony Graziani and fullback-linebacker Chris Ryan for the Soul, plus quarterback John Dutton and offensive specialist Damian Harrell for the Crush.

    "It's always fun shooting with Jon Bon Jovi," Elway said. "I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. I think it's even better than last year's and I hope people enjoy it."

  • Robert Downey Jr. dreams of music stardom

    A few days after playing a gig in Los Angeles that he called "possibly the most exciting four hours in my life," actor Robert Downey Jr. told Billboard, "nothing would please me more than if I could all but quit my day job and go play the Mint or the Pantages."

    Even though he has been writing songs for more than 20 years and he sang on TV's "Ally McBeal," on the "Chaplin" soundtrack, and in the movie "The Singing Detective," it is only now that his own album is coming to record stores. "The Futurist," on which Downey sounds remarkably like Peter Gabriel, comes out Nov. 23 on Sony Classical. Eight of the songs were self-penned.

    But just as quickly as he declared that he could possibly trade acting for the concert stage, Downey endearingly admitted that the world is not waiting for him to come to town. "I do have a real busy film career and I'm a dad, and I don't necessarily see that a tour is beneficial to the public at large or my desires in the music industry."

    Music, and the writing of these songs, served in many ways as a "healing factor" for Downey, who waged a high-profile battle with drugs in years past. But he said it would be wrong to believe that all the tunes are confessional. "I'm not necessarily speaking about myself," he says. "I get images in my head."

    Furthermore, he admitted with a self-deprecating laugh, as nice as the emotional benefits of creating the music have been, he will be watching the sales. "Do I have much of an attachment to its material success?" he asks. "Well, sadly, I do. I'm that shallow."

  • Ally McBeal Vamp Paws Jude Law

    As Elaine Vassal, the sex-crazed secretary on Ally McBeal, Jane Krakowski found herself in spicy situations on a weekly basis. Next up, the 36-year-old actress enjoys a steamy backseat dalliance with Jude Law in Alfie (in theaters Friday). In fact, their lurid limousine ride opens the film.

    "I read the first scene," smirks Krakowski, "and thought, 'That's great.' What girl wouldn't want to do that?"

    Still, it's never easy stripping down to nearly nothing on one's very first day on set. "I showed up [at] 7 am," she recalls, "met the Jude Law. And [we're like,] 'All right, now what are we going to do?' — knowing what was ahead of us.

    "There have been a lot of sex scenes in limos before," Krakowski continues. "[Director Charles Shyer] didn't want it to look like all of the others. He wanted to get in the car with the camera and see bodies and everything you need to see. We spent an hour discussing things we'd always wanted to do in a limo and how we could do it. It made it a lot easier."

    That said, the Tony-winning pro adds blushingly: "There were definitely moments where I had reality checks. I thought, 'I am doing this for 12 hours with Jude Law. I think I might need to call some friends!'"

  • 'Numbers' Up For CBS Midseason

    With a cast laden with familiar television faces and a creative team headed by Ridley Scott ("Gladiator") and Tony Scott ("True Romance"), CBS has confidence in "Numbers." Television's top network has picked up 12 episodes of the midseason series.

    "Numbers," like so many of CBS' hits, features a heavy dose of procedural crime solving, but forget about forensics and cold cases and missing people. The series features David Krumholtz ("The Lyon's Den," "Grounded For Life") as a mathematics genius enlisted by his FBI agent brother (Rob Morrow of "Northern Exposure") to use his gift with numbers to solve complicated Los Angeles-based crimes for the Bureau.

    The cast also features Peter MacNicol ("Ally McBeal"), Judd Hirsch ("Taxi"), Sabrina Lloyd ("Sports Night") and Alimi Ballard ("Dark Angel").

    The series comes from CBS' corporate sibling Paramount Network TV and is executive produced by Tony Scott and Ridley Scott. CBS publicity calls it the first television drama series from the brothers, which suggests that the Showtime anthology series "The Hunger" is being forgotten. The brothers, best known for their feature work, are also executive producing a new adaptation of "The Andromeda Strain" as a Sci Fi miniseries. Alex Gansa and Brooke Kennedy are also executive producing for Scott Free.

    Written by Cheryl Heuton and Nick Falacci, who will co-executive produce, "Numbers" was originally developed for CBS for the fall season. The pilot was somewhat reconceived, with actors Michael Rooker and Gabriel Macht exiting and Morrow coming on.

    It's unclear when or where "Numbers" will join CBS' schedule, though there may be a home on Friday nights at 10 p.m. ET, where freshman drama "dr. vegas" just went on hiatus for the November sweeps period.

  • American Music Awards Merits Bon Jovi

    Jon Bon Jovi, who has been moonlighting in movies for the past decade, will be given the Award of Merit at the 32nd American Music Awards.

    He and his band will join the eclectic mix of Alabama, The Beach Boys, Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael and Janet Jackson, Loretta Lynn, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, James Brown, Whitney Houston , Prince, Tammy Wynette, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel and Garth Brooks who are among the 31 past recipients of the honor, which will be handed out Sunday, Nov. 14 on a live ABC show broadcast from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

    Bon Jovi, which has topped 100 million record sales and performed more than 2,500 concerts in more than 50 countries, will perform at the show.

    The Award of Merit trophy reads: "For outstanding contributions to the musical entertainment of the American public. For being the embodiment of rock music for the last 20 years, for inspiring countless musicians to follow in their footsteps and for elevating all of us with their musicianship and artistry."

    Lead singer, Jon Bon Jovi, has two movies coming up: the Arthur Hiller comedy "National Lampoon's Trouble with Frank" and the thriller "Cry Wolf."

  • Springsteen, Bon Jovi Play Kerry Rallies

    Rocker Bruce Springsteen is joining Sen. John Kerry in the final days of his bid to become the nation's boss.

    Springsteen plans to play a song or two at campaign rallies Thursday in Madison, Wis., and Columbus, Ohio, both in battleground states likely to determine the winner of the election. He'll join Kerry in Cleveland the night before Election Day.

    Springsteen's song "No Surrender" has been one of several played daily at Kerry's campaign stops.

    Jon Bon Jovi , another rock musician supporting Kerry, played a few songs to open rallies Michigan and Wisconsin on Monday and expects to rejoin the Massachusetts Democrat later this week. As he leaped atop a stage in a hotel parking lot at a late-night rally in Green Bay, Wis., Bon Jovi said, "Surprise," to several hundred chilled Kerry supporters.

    "Thanks for coming out tonight," he said. "Eight days from now, you get the microphone. The world's going to be listening."

  • New Bon Jovi studio album, tour due next spring

    A new Bon Jovi album due in the spring will be a "loud guitar, big rock record," Jon Bon Jovi told Billboard in a recent interview. "We're very excited about it, and I'm very confident it's going to be a big record for us."

    Guitarist Richie Sambora added the band will launch a world tour in the late spring to support the album, dates for which have not yet been announced.

    "I think we stumbled upon something again on this particular record, kind of like what happened with 'It's My Life,"' Sambora said. "When (that) came out, it seemed to give Bon Jovi a whole new audience. We've always had a vast audience base, but with this new record, what I'm feeling (is) it's kind of a new direction. It sounds very fresh, yet it sounds like us."

    "It's My Life" was the first single from Bon Jovi's 2000 album "Crush," which went double-platinum (shipments in excess of two million copies) in the United States.

    The band worked with producer John Shanks (Michelle Branch, Melissa Etheridge), who also co-wrote tracks with Jon Bon Jovi and Sambora. The album was recorded late this summer.

    Jon Bon Jovi noted changes in the climate of the country, and the state of the music business, influenced the songwriting on the new album.

    The songs reflect "personal and introspective views on issues I may have had growing up that I certainly would have never discussed publicly before. I've always kept this 'chin up, glass is half-full' kind of optimism, and (now) I showed some chinks in the armor."

    The song "Last Man Standing" depicts the band leader's unhappiness with the music industry. He said it reflects his "disgust of the music business in general, and its lack of true vision when it comes to supporting the artistry of developing a song, the songwriter and the bands on the road."

    "Instead of creating what Andy Worhol once called '15 minutes of fame,' I think it's down to just three minutes and 30 seconds," he says. "I don't know how this industry is ever going to have another Bob Dylan when it's all about the single, (not) the album and the vision and that inspiration. (It's) all for the sake of a 99-cent download so they can sell bulk and make their bonuses. It's heartbreaking."

    A four-CD/one-DVD box set, "100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong," will be released Nov. 16 via Island.

    In conjunction with its release, the band will stage a Nov. 21 concert at the Borgata in Atlantic City, N.J. The show will be the basis of the premiere episode of "INHD's Center Stage," which will be broadcast live on the high-definition cable network INHD and its spinoff INHD2. It will also be cybercast on Samsung Electronics America's Web site.

    Bon Jovi is also confirmed to make a Nov. 23 appearance on NBC's "Today" morning show.

  • 'Dead' Speaks to Heche

    Anne Heche is no stranger to battling inner demons.

    That's a big reason the film and stage actress -- who detailed her past travails in her 2001 autobiography "Call Me Crazy" -- was attracted to "The Dead Will Tell," an eerie CBS movie airing Sunday, Oct. 24. Heche also co-produced the supernatural drama, based on the work of medium James Van Praagh and focusing on a very modern New Orleans resident (played by Heche) whose engagement ring gives her visions of its previous owner (Leigh Jones).

    That woman may have been murdered, prompting the Heche character to launch her own probe, and leading her fiance (Jonathan LaPaglia, "The District") and others to begin questioning her sanity. Kathleen Quinlan ("Family Law") and David Andrews ("JAG") co-star as her prospective in-laws; Eva Longoria (whose ABC series "Desperate Housewives" airs opposite the movie) and Chris Sarandon also appear. Van Praagh, whose experiences also inspired the 2002 CBS miniseries "Living With the Dead," is credited as an executive producer.

    Heche asserts the paranormal world is "not necessarily what the movie is about, even though that's what makes it interesting and scary. To me, it's about the bigger question of where our minds take us and what we choose to follow, especially during an extremely emotional time. It's about what happens to people based on where they are and what they need to deal with, so that they can move to the next place. This woman is asked to marry this man, and up comes all this emotion about her past that she hasn't dealt with. Then this mystery unfolds, then it becomes paranormal.

    "Whether I believe in that, I don't know ... but I do believe people have connections to certain things, especially when they're in highly emotional states. I'm definitely drawn to the complexities of the human mind, and I'm sure that's why this came to me. I'm interested in exploring all levels of consciousness." Thus, Heche was intrigued to meet Van Praagh when he visited the set: "He actually has a cameo in the movie. You can see him if you watch closely."

    "The Dead Will Tell" isn't Heche's only TV job these days. She's also a new regular on the Monday-night WB Network series "Everwood," playing the wife and caretaker of an ex-seismologist (Jason Beghe) robbed of most of his communication skills by a stroke. "It's beautifully written," Heche says. "How lucky I am to be a part of such a wonderful show. To work with Treat Williams is just mind-blowing, but they're all so rich and funny as actors, the kids as well as the adults. It's one of the strongest shows I've seen, so I was proud to be asked to be part of it."

    Heche also appreciates developing a role over a longer period than a movie or play affords. "You're taking a different ride as an actress because you don't know what you'll be doing from week to week. I know the full story but I don't know the details, so it's always a surprise. I cannot wait for the next script to come. It's also a matter of figuring out how to have an audience latch on in a different way than they would in a movie. I get to take a calmer approach and let people get comfortable with me, because they're already friends with the other characters on the show. It's really cool."

    Recently Emmy-nominated for the Lifetime movie "Gracie's Choice," Heche is pleased to be working in TV again after her recent Broadway run in a revival of "Twentieth Century," which netted her a Tony Award nomination. Before doing feature films like "Donnie Brasco," "Volcano," "Six Days, Seven Nights" and the remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho," Heche won a Daytime Emmy as twins Vicky and Marley on the long-running serial "Another World" (now seen in repeats on SoapNet). She also had a story arc on "Ally McBeal" that she agreed to extend because she enjoyed the process.

    "I love that people have forgotten that I was a TV actress, but I also love reminding them," Heche notes. "I would never want to limit myself to any one medium, and I'm very blessed that I get to work in all of them. I had been wanting to do a TV series since having a baby, and I had been talking to Warner Bros. for a few years. I've been really aware of their shows, and talk of my possibly joining 'Everwood' came up about a year ago. It was fun that we were all so excited about it."

    A regular work schedule suits the actress' personal life, too. Ellen DeGeneres' companion in the late 1990s, Heche has a two-year-old son with her cameraman husband. "I've had my family all over the planet this year," she reflects. "We went to Broadway, then we went to New Orleans to shoot this movie, and I really wanted a job that would let them be at home more. Utah (where 'Everwood' is filmed) is only an hour-and-a-half flight away. It's really a beautiful life to work in TV, and I like working quickly, so it was a perfect match for me."

  • Liu, Walken Fall for 'Domino'

    A slew of actors are matching up to their roles for the action film "Domino."

    Big names such as Lucy Liu, Christopher Walken, Mickey Rourke and Jacqueline Bisset have joined the cast of the Keira Knightley-starring project, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    The story centers on the daughter (Knightley) of actor Laurence Harvey, named Domino Harvey, who left her lucrative career as a Ford model to become a bounty hunter.

    Liu will play a psychologist, while Walken will portray a reality TV producer. Rourke will be Domino's bounty hunter boss and mentor, and Bisset will play her mother.

    Also in talks to star are Dabney Coleman, Delroy Lindo, Edgar Ramirez, singer Macy Gray and Shondrella Avery to play twins Lashindra and Lashandra, and Mo'Nique to play Lateesha.

    Mena Suvari recently signed on to play a producer's assistant.

    "Man on Fire" director Tony Scott will shoot the film, based on the script by "Donnie Darko" filmmaker Richard Kelly. The New Line Cinema film is shooting in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

    Liu last starred in "Kill Bill, Vol. 1" and is prepping to begin shooting "Lucky Number Slevin" opposite Josh Hartnett. Walken next stars alongside Michael Caine and Josh Lucas in "Around the Bend," which opens in limited release on Friday, Oct. 8. Rourke stars in the upcoming ensemble drama "Sin City," based on the popular graphic novels. Bisset's more recent credits include "Dangerous Beauty," "Latter Days" and "Swing."

  • NBC's 'Firm' Appoints a Partner

    David E. Kelley's formerly untitled legal reality series now has both a name and a star. Now creatively dubbed "The Law Firm," the eight-episode series will star trial attorney Roy Black as "The Managing Partner."

    Black is familiar to NBC viewers from his long run as a legal analyst for NBC News, a gig that has included regular appearances on "The Today Show" and across the network's cable siblings. A partner in the Miami-based law firm of Black, Srebnick, Kornspan & Stumpf, P.A., Black's clients have included William Kennedy Smith, Rush Limbaugh and artist Peter Max. He's also been listed in five consecutive editions of the tome "The Best Lawyers in America," which is apparently a larger honor than making it to "Who's Who of American High School Students."

    For the past 30 years, Black has taught at the University of Miami School of Law.

    On "The Law Firm," Black will be responsible for choosing which of 12 legal hot shots will be eliminated on a weekly basis after the contestants try a variety of cases ranging from First Amendment issues to wrongful death cases. Each week verdicts will be rendered by a distinguished judge, sometimes with the help of a jury.

    The top attorney will receive $250,000.

    Kelley ("The Practice"), a frequent mocker of unscripted programming, will executive produce "The Law Firm" along with David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe ("Blind Date") and Jonathan Pontell ("Boston Public").

  • Rarities Highlight Bon Jovi Box

    "I Get a Rush," "Miss Fourth of July" and "Garageland" are a few of the previously unreleased cuts that will highlight the forthcoming five-disc box set "100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong."

    Due Nov. 16 via Island, the set will feature 38 recordings that have never seen the light of day, 12 rare non-album tracks and a DVD of previously unseen interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

    The songs on the box cover 1985 to 2003 and include dozens of leftover tracks from recording sessions for Bon Jovi albums. Other songs set for inclusion are "Why Aren't You Dead?," "The Radio Saved My Life Tonight," "Outlaws of Love," "We Rule the Night" and "Rich Man Living in a Poor Man's House," which Jon Bon Jovi (news) wrote with former Eurythmics principal Dave Stewart (news).

    The set will come with a 64-page book featuring fan testimonials and "personal content" compiled by the band.

    With the release of "100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong," the band is launching American XS Platinum, a premium level of membership in its fan program that allows participants to gain access to exclusive footage online as well as passwords for pre-sales on concert tickets.

    Here is the track listing for "100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong":

    Disc one:

    "Why Aren't You Dead?" (outtake, 1994)

    "The Radio Saved My Life Tonight" (outtake, 1992)

    "Taking It Back" (outtake, 1992)

    "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night (Demo)" (demo, 1994)

    "Miss Fourth of July" (outtake, 1992)

    "Open All Night" (outtake, 1994)

    "These Arms Are Open All Night" (outtake, 1998)

    "I Get a Rush" (outtake, 1996)

    "Someday Just Might Be Tonight" (outtake, 1999)

    "Thief of Hearts" (outtake, 2003)

    "Last Man Standing" (outtake, 2003)

    "I Just Want to Be Your Man" (outtake, 1994)

    Disc two:

    "Garageland" (outtake, 1999)

    "Starting All Over Again" (bonus track for Japan release, 1992)

    "Maybe Someday" (outtake, 1999)

    "Last Chance Train" (outtake, 1998)

    "The Fire Inside" (outtake, 1994)

    "Every Beat of My Heart" (outtake, 1992)

    "Rich Man Living in a Poor Man's House" (outtake, 1998)

    "The One That Got Away" (outtake, 1999)

    "You Can Sleep While I Dream" (outtake, 1999)

    "Outlaws of Love" (outtake, 1992)

    "Good Guys Don't Always Wear White" ("The Cowboy Way" soundtrack, 1994)

    "We Rule the Night" (outtake, 1985)

    Disc three:

    "Edge of a Broken Heart" (from "Disorderlies" soundtrack, 1986)

    "Sympathy" (outtake, 1992)

    "Only in My Dreams" (outtake, 1994)

    "Shut Up and Kiss Me" (outtake)

    "Crazy Love" (outtake, 1998)

    "Lonely at the Top" (B-side, 1995)

    "Ordinary People" (B-side, 1999)

    "Flesh and Bone" (outtake, 1994)

    "Satellite" (outtake, 1999)

    "If I Can't Have Your Love" (unreleased Richie Sambora solo track)

    "Real Life" ("EDTV" soundtrack, 1999)

    "Memphis Lives in Me" (from musical "Memphis," 2003)

    "Too Much of a Good Thing" (outtake, 1999)

    Disc four:

    "Love Ain't Nothing But a Four Letter Word" (outtake, 1992)

    "Love Ain't Nothing But a Four Letter Word" (demo, 1992)

    "River Runs Dry" (outtake, 1996)

    "Always" (demo, 1994)

    "Kidnap an Angel" (outtake, 1999)

    "Breathe" (B-side, 2002)

    "Out of Bounds" (outtake, 1986)

    "Letter to a Friend" (outtake, 1994)

    "Temptation" (B-side, 2000)

    "Gotta Have a Reason" (outtake, 1993)

    "All I Wanna Do Is You" (outtake)

    "Billy" (outtake, 1992)

    "Nobody's Hero" (outtake, 1994)

    "Livin' on a Prayer" (demo, 1986)

  • 'Boston Legal,' signature Kelley

    Every David E. Kelley show has one important star you never see: David E. Kelley.

    That's not to diminish the contributions of his visible stars - in this case, newly minted Emmy winners James Spader and William Shatner, repeating their Practice roles of Alan Shore and Denny Crane. But what ultimately distinguishes Kelley's series - from hits such as Ally McBeal, Picket Fences and The Practice to flops such as Snoops, Girls Club and The Brotherhood of Poland New Hampshire - is the singular, extravagantly inventive voice of their creator.

    Though fan sentiment is split, I tend to prefer that voice when it's more restrained and muted, as it was in the first few years of The Practice. That's why I had no particular use for the Shore and Crane duo when they were shoehorned into The Practice, pushing aside old favorites and depriving them and their show of a fitting finale.

    Still, whatever one thought of Practice last season, Boston Legal is a separate show - and it should be viewed with a clean slate. Taken on its own purposely outrageous terms, Boston succeeds as a decent legal comedy led by two broadly amusing characters. Their act isn't for everyone, but there's no denying Spader and Shatner are well-matched scene-stealers.

    Sunday's premiere reintroduces us to the flamboyant lead lawyers while adding to the mix brisk-talking Brad Chase (Mark Valley of the late and lamented Keen Eddie). Brad is horrified by the team's behavior, not to mention another partner's appearance without pants at a morning meeting. ("Demagnetize his parking pass," says an unsympathetic Denny.)

    Brad's job is to rein in the uncontrolled Denny, which brings him into instant conflict with Alan. It doesn't help, of course, that Alan and Brad have both had romantic relations with Sally (Lake Bell).

    Like Ally, the cases range from serious to frivolous, and it's not always clear at first glance which is which. Alan, for example, gets pressed into representing an African-American girl who is suing because she was not cast as the lead in Annie. Silly as the case starts out to be, the issues involved get a more sensible airing than you might imagine.

    Sexual politics usually play a part in Kelley's dramas, and Boston is no exception. You have a partner who is sleeping with the wife of a client, which somehow leads to Lori (Monica Potter) recruiting Tara (Rhona Mitra) to flirt with the client - something she'd be good at because she's "nasty hot." There's also a custody case that is resolved by, you guessed it, sex.

    As with all Kelley shows, Boston is likely to provoke strong and opposite reactions, sometimes from scene to scene. The show undoubtedly goes too far, but that's Kelley's signature style.

    You hire a star, you get the star's act.

  • Downey to Record Album on Sony Classical

    Robert Downey Jr. is moving from the big screen to the music scene. The "Gothika" and "Chaplin" star has signed an exclusive recording contract with the Sony Classical label.

    "Robert is a brilliantly gifted songwriter who writes lyrics that are wise and moving," Sony Classical President Peter Gelb said Wednesday in a statement. "His burnished, smoky voice is an expressive and touching medium for the songs that he has written."

    Downey's debut CD, not yet titled, will include two covers — "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin and "Your Move" by Yes — and eight pop ballads written, sung and played on the piano by the actor.

    Downey, 39, has written songs for three of his films ("Too Much Sun," "Two Girls and a Guy" and "Friends & Lovers") and sang during his 2000 stint on the TV show "Ally McBeal."

    The debut CD is set for a Nov. 23 release.

  • Lucy Liu 'Lucky' in Gangster Love

    Lucy Liu may not have fared so well in her recent role as O-Ren Ishii in "Kill Bill, Vol. 1," but she's about to get lucky.

    The 35-year-old actress is in talks to star opposite Josh Hartnett in the noir-ish "Lucky Number Sleven," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    The film revolves around a conflict between black and Jewish gangsters. In the middle of all this, Lynda (Liu), an attractive coroner, falls for Sleven (Hartnett), who she helps to stage his own death.

    Scottish director Paul McGuigan will reunite with Hartnett on this project after their collaboration on the romantic thriller "Wicker Park," which open on Friday, Sept. 3.

    Before getting sliced up in "Kill Bill," Liu kicked butt in "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and appeared in the big-screen musical adaptation of "Chicago."

  • We Hear...

    THAT Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria surprised guests at his daughter Samantha's weekend wedding with Jon Bon Jovi, who sang "Wanted Dead or Alive" and The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" as part of a 40-minute acoustic set. The crowd was so pumped up, they requested that the band, Marc Stevens and the Hank Lane Orchestra, end the night with Bon Jovi's classic "Living on a Prayer"

  • Bon Jovi Empties Vaults for Boxed Set

    Bon Jovi is raiding its vaults for a boxed set boasting three discs of previously unreleased material, a disc of previously released rare tracks and a DVD of unseen film and video footage.

    The package, dubbed "100 Million Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong," is due out Nov. 16 via Island Records.

    Among the vault tracks set for inclusion are "Gotta Have a Reason," "Why Aren't You Dead?" and "One to Say Goodbye." The set will also revive such cuts as "Real Life" (from the 1999 "EDTV" soundtrack), "Good Guys Don't Always Wear White" (from the 1994 "The Cowboy Way" soundtrack), the B-side "Temptation" and a demo of the 1994 No. 4 pop hit "Always" will also be featured.

    The liner notes for "100 Million" will be bolstered with reminiscences from fans, which the band is soliciting via e-mail at tellus@bonjovi.com.

  • Heche Enters Into Therapy for 'Everwood'

    "Everwood's" Dr. Andrew Brown may be about to find love. Tony-winner Anne Heche has joined the cast of the WB Network's acclaimed family drama as a regular, playing a love interest for star Treat Williams.

    "Everwood," which enters its second season this fall, chronicles the life of Dr. Brown (Williams), who is raising his two children in the small town of Everwood, Colo., while coping with the death of his wife.

    Heche will play Amanda Carver, the patron saint of Everwood whose husband was stricken with aphasia that left him paralyzed and unable to communicate. Dr. Brown offers to teach Amanda new methods of communication using color and music therapies. As they work together, Dr. Brown and Amanda develop a close friendship that teeters on the verge of something more.

    Heche is nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of a drug-addicted mother in the Lifetime original movie "Gracie's Choice." In 2000, she did a memorable three-episode arc on Fox's "Ally McBeal." This year, the actress received a Tony for her starring role opposite Alec Baldwin in "Twentieth Century."

  • Marsden Gets Mobbed Up

    James Marsden, who's known as the freedom-fighting mutant named Cyclops in the "X-Men" films, has gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd.

    The 30-year-old actor will star in the mafia film "10th & Wolf" for director Bobby Moresco, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    The project centers on Tommy Santaro (Marsden), a member of a Philadelphia street crew who cuts a deal to join the military in order to avoid jail time for involvement in a mob hit. He falls back in his old ways, however, in an attempt to save his brother from going to prison.

    The story is written by Moresco, Chazz Palminteri and Joe Pistone, the real-life former FBI agent whose experiences were the basis for 1997's "Donnie Brasco."

    "Wolf" will begin shooting in Pennsylvania in mid-September.

    Marsden currently stars opposite Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in "The Notebook." His upcoming films include the romantic comedy "Alibi" and the drama "Heights."

  • Flockhart Back to Film Biz for Indie 'Fragile'

    After taking a break to raise her son and spend time with Harrison Ford, former "Ally McBeal" star Calista Flockhart has signed up for her first major film role since her TV series ended in 2002.

    She will play a nurse in the independent Spanish feature "Fragile," which starts shooting in Barcelona at the end of the month.

    Flockhart's character takes a new job at a desolate children's hospital during its closing days. She struggles to keep the kids safe and uncover the mystery behind apparent attacks of an unknown origin that hurt the kids so that they cannot leave the premises. Jaume Balaguero directs from a script he wrote with Jordi Galceran.

    Flockhart next appears in a small role opposite Matthew Broderick in the Disney release "The Last Shot." Her feature credits include 1999's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and 2000's "Things You Can Tell By Looking at Her."

  • FOX Reairs 'Development' Pilot With New Howard Intro

    Given the paltry audiences for FOX's critically adored "Arrested Development," it's possible that many viewers missed seeing the way it all began. Fortunately, just one month before the comedy goes for Emmy gold, FOX will rebroadcast the much-lauded premiere episode on Sunday, Aug. 15.

    The first episode, fittingly titled "The Pilot," will get a special introduction from executive producer Ron "Opie" Howard and even if you've seen the episode, the introduction is guaranteed to be brand new to you.

    Many of the show's Emmy nominations stemmed from that first episode, which earned nods for outstanding writing for a comedy Series (Mitch Hurwitz, outstanding directing for a comedy Series (Joe and Anthony Russo) and outstanding single-camera picture editing for a comedy Series (Lee Haxell). "Arrested Development" is also up for the outstanding comedy series Emmy.

    The first episode, of course, explains how George Bluth Sr. (Emmy-nominee Jeffrey Tambor) is arrested, leaving Michael (Jason Bateman) to help pick up the pieces and try to keep his family sane.

    One of the few shows in FOX's schedule to get the gift of reruns this summer, "Arrested Development" will have its second season premiere on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

  • Sightings

    ROBERT Downey Jr. buying two slim-fit dress shirts at Thomas Pink at Time Warner Center

  • Sightings

    In New York: Calista Flockhart talking on a cellphone and reading a "No.1 Ladies Detective Agency" book by Alexander McCall Smith as she got a manicure/pedicure at Bloomie Nails on Seventh Avenue near 17th Street.

  • Sightings

    JANICE Dickinson, Jane Krakowski and Rose McGowan simultaneously at various cosmetic counters at Henri Bendel.

  • Heche Sees Dead People for CBS

    Anne Heche has signed to star in the CBS movie "The Dead Will Tell," playing a woman who has visions of a dead woman.

    Jonathan LaPaglia ("The District") and Kathleen Quinlan ("Family Law") have also joined the cast. Stephen Kay ("Get Carter") will direct, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    "The Dead Will Tell" is based on the readings of psychic James Van Praagh, whose book "Living with the Dead" became a successful CBS miniseries in 2002. Heche stars as a soon-to-be-married woman who starts seeing visions of a beautiful young woman when she receives an antique engagement ring.

    LaPaglia, the younger brother of "Without a Trace" star Anthony, will play Heche's fiance. Quinlan, an Oscar nominee in 1996 for "Apollo 13," plays his mother.

    Heche's recent credits include "John Q" and the Lifetime movie "Gracie's Choice." She's also appeared in "Wag the Dog," "Donnie Brasco" and "Six Days Seven Nights."

  • Bon Jovi Eyes Boxed Set

    Bon Jovi guitarist/songwriter Richie Sambora says the band is considering releasing a boxed set.

    "We found four albums' worth of songs people have never heard before," Sambora says.

    There isn't a timetable for the boxed set, Sambora says. First, the band has to get to know the new leadership at Island, its label.

    He says he likes new label head L.A. Reid, adding, "We're going to see about the boxed set when his new regime comes in and if they get it. We're hoping it's going to be great."

  • Showbiz People Briefs

    Lucy Liu has signed with the William Morris Agency. She was most recently represented by Creative Artists Agency.

    Since making her name on TV's "Ally McBeal," Liu has built up a big-screen repertoire with credits including the "Kill Bill" and "Charlie's Angels" films, "Chicago," "Payback" and "Shanghai Noon." Liu also has signed to star in and produce the upcoming "Charlie Chan" film franchise for 20th Century Fox.

  • Performs Live

    THE 4 p.m. flight from LAX to Newark Wednesday was a voyeur's delight. Portia de Rossi and her girlfriend Francesca Gregorini were "snuggling, making out and holding hands" in row one of first class, a witness reports. De Rossi's "Arrested Development" co-star Jeffrey Tambor came aboard with his own food, which he handed to the flight attendant. "Portia jumped up and kissed him on the mouth . . . Tambor mentioned that he is selling his house 'furnished' . . . then Omar Epps came aboard, also with his own food [spaghetti in a Tupperware container], which he ate while his seatmate dined on American Airline filet mignon."

  • Pizza Face

    ROBERT Downey Jr. has ditched the mansions of Los Angeles for a pizza joint in Queens, and he doesn't seem too happy about it. The actor was spotted the other day at Dino's pizzeria in Astoria. "He was busy writing out checks," says the spy. "He looked disheveled and his skin was in bad condition. He was very unfriendly." The actor was there filming "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," Dito Montiel's memoir about going from the mean streets of 1980s Queens to becoming a Calvin Klein underwear model and lead singer of punk band Gutterboy. Downey is reportedly financing the pic with Sting's wife, Trudy Styler, for $2.5 million.

  • Ryder, Downey Join 'A Scanner Darkly'

    Winona Ryder, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson and Rory Cochran are joining the cast of "A Scanner Darkly," Warner Independent Pictures' sci fi film starring Keanu Reeves.

    Based on a novel by Philip K. Dick, who wrote the short story that "Bladerunner" is based on, the film will be directed by Richard Linklater, who also adapted the script. Linklater's credits include "Slacker," "Dazed and Confused," "Waking Life" and the Jack Black comedy, "School of Rock." Warner Independent is also releasing the sequel to Linklater's "Before Sunrise," titled "Before Sunset," this July. "A Scanner Darkly" is tentatively slated for a 2005 release.

    Like "Waking Life," "A Scanner Darkly" will blend real-life with animation. Linklater will shoot the actors in scenes, that will later be animated, reports Scifiwire.com.

    In the film, Reeves plays an undercover officer in the future, after America has lost its war on drugs, who is addicted to the popular Substance D, which causes its users to develop a split personality. Reeves' character, Fred, for instance, is also Bob, a notorious drug dealer. Along with his superiors, Fred sets up an elaborate scheme to catch Bob and tear down his operation.

  • Lucy Liu To Marry

    Lucy Liu and Zach Helm have announced that they are planning to get married. The couple has been dating for 10 months. The Charlie's Angels star and her playwright fiance haven't chosen a date yet, but agree that their nuptials will be a small quiet affair.

  • Actor Robert Downey Jr. Ends 12-Year Marriage

    Actor Robert Downey Jr. and his estranged wife, actress-model Deborah Falconer, have officially ended their 12-year marriage, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

    The couple, who have been separated for eight years, filed divorce papers this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court, publicist Alan Nierob said.

    "This is more or less just a formality," he told Reuters.

    Downey, 39, and Falconer were wed in 1992 after a 42-day courtship. Their 10-year-old son, Indio, will continue to live with his mother, but Downey "remains very involved in the upbringing of his son," Nierob said.

    Downey, who earned an Oscar nomination for his role in the 1992 film "Chaplin," recently became engaged to film producer Susan Levin. The two met while working together on last year's psychological thriller "Gothika."

  • We Hear...

    THAT Anne Heche and hubby Cooley Laffoon thought PM lounge is so 21st century, she invited owners Unik and Kyky to see her on Broadway in "Twentieth Century"

  • Calista Cleans Up

    Calista Flockhart phoned a few galpals, told them to dress casual for a "girls' day out" -- then drove them to a Brentwood park and passed out giant garbage bags and rubber gloves. "We're cleaning up the park, ladies," chirped Calista. "I come here every day with my son, but it's filthy -- so I volunteered to clean it up!" The girls were flabbergasted -- but cheered up when Calista gave them the GOOD news! "As soon as we're finished, I'm treating you all to lunch in Malibu."

  • Krakowski Joins NBC's 'Carol'

    Tony winner Jane Krakowski is the latest addition to NBC's star-studded musical adaptation of "A Christmas Carol."

    The "Ally McBeal" co-star will play the Ghost of Christmas Past in the production, which is based on the stage production presented at New York's Madison Square Garden.

    Krakowski, best known from her FOX legal dramedy, is one of the project's first stars to come from outside of the NBC family. "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer is set to play Ebenezer Scrooge, with "Seinfeld" co-star Jason Alexander and "Law & Order" co-star Jesse L. Martin also taking prime parts.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, production on the project will begin in June in Budapest, Hungary with a November premiere date on the horizon.

    This is a busy time for Krakowski, one of the stars of CBS' comedy pilot "Taste." Richard Ruccolo ("Two Guys and a Girl") and Rufus Sewell ("Dark City") co-star in the pilot, about a culinary school graduate who gets her first big restaurant job.

  • Sightings

    HARRISON Ford and Calista Flockhart snacking on prawns, tuna and lamb at the bar of the Biltmore Room . . .

  • Cold Comfort

    TIMES are tough for Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford. The graying action hero is still smarting from having to fork over a reported $118 million to ex-wife Melissa Mathison. That was followed closely by his mother's death in February. Maybe that's why he had little sympathy for a devastated Flockhart when her beloved mutt Webster recently had to be put down. "Harry really loves Calista," a source told InTouch magazine, "but he just doesn't think losing a dog is that big of a deal."

  • Cannon Thankful to Escape Kitchen Fire

    Dyan Cannon said she "dodged a bullet" in escaping a kitchen fire at her condominium.

    She was treated at a hospital for mild smoke inhalation after the fire Sunday morning but said Monday she felt healthy and "filled with gratitude" to firefighters and others who helped her.

    "They told me I got out just in time, and a couple of minutes later I would've been dead," Cannon told The Associated Press. "When you hear something like that you just say a prayer. ... I dodged a bullet."

    Cannon planned to stay with friends for a few days before living in a hotel for several months while her condo is repaired.

    She called the damage to her kitchen "extensive" but said the fire mostly had been confined to that room. Fire officials estimated damage to her condo at $100,000 and damage to nearby units at $10,000.

    Cannon, 67, was awakened by a smoke detector before 8 a.m. Sunday and initially believed it was one of the building's many false alarms. She went to the balcony with her two dogs when the smoke became heavy.

    "I could hardly make my way back to the door," she said. After braving the smoke-filled room, Cannon left her apartment, borrowed a robe from a neighbor and evacuated the building with about 200 other residents.

    The elevators were shut off, so she walked down the stairs. At the bottom, "I said, 'I'm fine,' then stood up and fell over," she said.

    Cannon was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and released later that day.

    The fire was put out in about 15 minutes. A preliminary investigation indicated it may have been started by an electrical short in the vent above a stove, said fire Inspector Ricardo Rodriguez.

    Cannon starred with Warren Beatty in the 1978 hit film "Heaven Can Wait" and appeared more recently on the TV series "Ally McBeal."

  • Fire in Dyan Cannon's Apartment Building

    Dyan Cannon rarely misses a Lakers home game, but the actress was absent from the stands Sunday after a fire broke out in her condominium, briefly forcing residents to evacuate the high-rise building.

    Los Angeles County fire officials received a call around 8 a.m. of smoke coming from the building and discovered a fire in Cannon's eighth floor condo. They put out the blaze in about 15 minutes, said fire dispatcher Brendon Peart.

    Local television stations reported the 67-year-old actress was taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation but was in good condition. About 200 residents were evacuated. Most of the damage was confined to Cannon's condo, fire officials said.

    "According to Ms. Cannon, she was sleeping at the time, and it appears that a fire started, perhaps electrical, in her kitchen," said fire Capt. Steve Martin. "The smoke detector woke her and her dogs up and, luckily, she got out safe," he said.

    Peart said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

    Cannon was featured in last year's film, "kangaroo Jack," and starred with Warren Beatty in the 1978 hit film "Heaven Can Wait." She is among a number of Hollywood actors and directors who live in the building.

    Actor Danny Woodburn, of the 2002 film, "Death to Smoochy," and actress Suzanne Pleshette, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 "The Birds," also live in live in the high-rise.

  • Bon Jovi, Wife Have Baby Boy, Romeo Jon

    There's a new addition to the Jon Bon Jovi family. Bon Jovi's wife, Dorothea, gave birth to a boy, Romeo Jon, the couple's fourth child, Monday morning at a hospital near their home in Middletown Township, according to the singer's Web site.

    "Romeo Jon joins sister, Stephanie Rose, and brothers Jesse James Louis and Jacob Hurley. All are healthy and everyone is ecstatic," the Web site said.

    There were no other details.

  • Thorne-Smith Likes Life with 'Jim'

    According to her, Courtney Thorne-Smith wasn't ready to be a sitcom wife and mother when the opportunity arose.

    Three years later, the "Melrose Place" and "Ally McBeal" actress is happy to have her role on "According to Jim," the Tuesday-night ABC series that is all but certain to start its fourth season this fall.

    Many critics malign the show, but it has proven itself an all-purpose player, with extra airings often used to fill holes in the ABC schedule. In fact, the network has ordered several episodes beyond the standard 22 for the soon-to-end year of "Jim." The recent two-parter filmed aboard one of Disney's cruise ships only can be taken as a good sign for the comedy's future.

    "I go out to dinner with other adults and they say, 'I really enjoy your show,' which is lovely," Thorne-Smith says of playing Cheryl, the wife of contractor Jim (Jim Belushi), mother of three, and sister to frequent houseguests Dana and Andy (Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Larry Joe Campbell). "This show is one of the things I've done that I'm the proudest of. I think that it's funny and that it has a good heart, so I'm confused by the perceived critical reaction to it. I don't know why anyone wouldn't like it.

    "I do know that family shows are hard to pitch," Thorne-Smith adds, "and a show with heart probably isn't cool enough for the 'in' crowd. We keep a solid fan base, though, which is really flattering. People can connect and relate to the show, and that's what feels so good. We work very hard to keep it real."

    Evidence can be seen in the characters' relationships. Thorne-Smith acknowledges, "In the beginning, it was pretty much about Jim and Cheryl, but now we're really getting into the entire family. All of us have siblings, so we work on bringing in those times when we were little and got pressured or manipulated. Kimberly, Larry and I really feel like siblings now. We even have private games while we're doing the scenes. Larry will always stand just a little too close, and that's such a little-brother thing to do. You see him inching toward you, and you want to yell at him -- but you can't, because that'll stop the scene."

    Nevertheless, Thorne-Smith maintains the "According to Jim" cast and crew are "a loving group. No bratty stuff goes on off-character, but we bring it all into what we do when the cameras are rolling. I'll say, 'Does this scene have to be about Kimberly?' It's that sister stuff we get to play with, but the reality is that we're all looking out for each other and making sure everyone has enough to do. There have been some Jim-and-Andy storylines, but I think a really solid Cheryl-and-Dana story would be great fun for Kimberly and me."

    Belushi likely would champion such a tale, since Thorne-Smith says, "Jim fights tooth-and-nail every day to protect our show. He is so committed to this, it's really fun to watch him work. Not long ago, he had really strong ideas about one of our scripts, and he basically acted out the entire thing for the writers. He really works hard with [ABC programming executive] Lloyd Braun, and I feel the network is always behind us. The first year, we had a great time slot behind 'My Wife and Kids,' then they thought we were ready to go off on our own. I felt supported the whole way."

    Such backing eased Thorne-Smith's initial concerns about switching her image to "housewife" mode. "Every time I see the head of casting at ABC, he teases me by saying, 'So you don't want to play a mom, huh?' When I was first approached about doing this, I said, 'I know one thing: I'm not ready to play a mom.' The truth is that it's appropriate. I'm in my mid-30s, and in a traditional life pattern, I would be married with a few kids by now. Often, if you stay out of your own way, things work out right. Jim and I connected immediately. I met him for the first time at a 10 a.m. meeting, and I was cast by 3 p.m. that afternoon. We just knew."

    Cheryl, Jim and their clan can claim something rather unique for a TV family: They have no known last name. "They're determined to go through life without one," Thorne-Smith jokes. "It's so funny, especially in scenes when Jim and Cheryl have to visit their kids' teachers. Since there's no last name, the teachers will say things like, 'Hi, Ruby's mom.' I think the show's producers didn't give us a last name just for their own entertainment."

    Thorne-Smith finds the response to "According to Jim" vastly different from the heat that surrounded "Melrose Place," the trendy 1990s FOX serial on which she played Alison Parker for five seasons. "That was a certain time in people's lives," she reflects."Our fan base was so young, and they were just crazy about it." The actress muses that the current repeats of the show on Style let her "see a lot of bad hair days again. I've been watching 'The O.C.' lately, and it brings back so many 'Melrose' memories."

    Actually, Thorne-Smith is hoping to make a few more: She wants to initiate a on-air "Melrose Place" reunion "like the 'Beverly Hills, 90210' cast did. I recently ran into Daphne Zuniga (who played Jo Reynolds in 'Melrose') and we talked about getting everybody back together. I said, 'Yeah ... but let's get somebody to pay us to do it.' I'm still very good friends with a vice president at FOX, so I'm going to pitch it to her. Wouldn't a 'Melrose' TV movie be hysterical? I think we should all have the same clothes and the same hairstyles and be living in the same apartments. Nobody would be surprised."

  • 'McBeal,' 'Just Shoot Me' Co-stars Return to Primetime

    Familiar television veterans Jane Krakowski and Wendie Malick have signed on for pilots, leading the latest round of casting news. Other established names looking for new primetime homes include Jonathan Silverman, Marley Shelton, Hugh Laurie and Omar Epps.

    Krakowski, a Golden Globe nominee for her work as Elaine on FOX's "Ally McBeal," will take the lead role in CBS' comedy "Taste," about a cooking school graduate dealing with the pressures of her first big job. Krakowski was nominated for a Tony Award in 2003 for her work in "Nine."

    Also at CBS, Louise Lombard has joined the cast of "Wanted," playing a new member the LAPD's fugitive apprehension division. Lombard can currently be seen on the big screen in "Hidalgo."

    Over on ABC, Malick will take a supporting role in the drama "Kate Plus One." According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series focuses on a young publicist (Marisa Coughlan) who finds new responsibilities when she's forced to raise her young nephew. Malick, who earned two Emmy nominations for playing Nina on NBC's "Just Shoot Me," will play the head of Coughlan's PR firm.

    David E. Kelley's ABC drama "The DeMarco Affairs" has added "Single Guy" star Jonathan Silverman to the cast. The show focuses on three sisters (Sabrina Lloyd, Selma Blair and Lindsay Sloane) who run a full-service wedding-planning business. Silverman (Showtime's "Deacons for Defense") will play the insecure boyfriend of Lloyd's character.

    Chris William Martin ("Felicity") will play Blair's boyfriend, a budding rock star.

    Also at ABC, Missi Pyle ("Along Came Polly") will appear in an untitled comedy starring Tom Everett Scott as a man who reconnects with his dad when they become fathers at the same time. Pyle will play the father's wife.

    On The WB, Marley Shelton becomes one of the first announced cast members in the gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows." The "Sugar & Spice" star will play Victoria Winters.

    Over on FOX, Hugh Laurie, Omar Epps, Jesse Spencer ("Uptown Girls") and Lisa Edelstein ("Leap of Faith") lead the cast of the network's untitled medical drama about a team of doctors at a Boston teaching hospital. Epps ("Against the Ropes") will play a neurologist with Laurie ("Stuart Little") as the team's supervisor.

    In other casting news, Shemar Moore (CBS' "Reversable Errors") has joined UPN's lesbian private eye drama "Nikki & Nora."

  • MacNicol Dials 'Numbers' Pilot for CBS

    Peter MacNicol, the Emmy-winning co-star of "Ally McBeal," is in final negotiations to join the CBS crime drama pilot "Numbers."

    The project centers on two brothers, a mathematician at MIT (David Krumholtz) and an FBI agent (Gabriel Macht), who work together on cases. MacNicol will play an MIT professor.

  • We Hear...

    THAT Jon Bon Jovi showed his support of Sen. John Kerry by performing at a fund-raiser hosted by Jane Rosenthal and John Sykes last night. The guest list included Robert De Niro, Serena Altschul, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Tina Brown, Wendy Wasserstein, Ron Delsener and Donny Ienner . . . THAT six masked robbers burst into L'Hermitage Hotel in Milan - where many of the top agencies house their models during the collections - and beat up the concierge late Sunday night. Then they went upstairs, woke up the frightened mannequins and ransacked their rooms

  • Downey Jr. Receives Hasty Pudding Award

    Actor Robert Downey Jr. had to dust off his cane and re-enact his role as Charlie Chaplin before he could be crowned Hasty Pudding's Man of the Year on Thursday.

    Two Harvard students in drag, one wearing a pink and blue plaid dress with a matching hat, the other in a sparkly red dress and blonde wig, joined Downey on stage where he had to prove he loved one more than the other using Chaplin's famous Little Tramp persona.

    Downey, 38, was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in "Chaplin," in 1992.

    He rejected the student in the plaid dress by poking her in the rear with the cane, while at the same time showing his affection for the other by giving her a romantic dip.

    Actress Sandra Bullock received the Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Award last week. The awards are given to performers who have made a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment" by Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the nation's oldest undergraduate drama troupe.

    After receiving the pudding pot, Downey said he was "doubly blessed in that not only am I the man of the year, but this is the first time that a convicted felon has received this award."

    Downey's career has been plagued by well-publicized drug and alcohol problems, including a year spent in prison and a stay at a rehab center.

    His most recent film credits include "Gothika," with Halle Berry and Penelope Cruz, "The Singing Detective" and "Wonder Boys."

    Downey also appeared on TV's "Ally McBeal," playing a role that won him a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award as well as an Emmy nomination.

    Last year's Hasty Pudding honorees were actress Anjelica Huston and director Martin Scorsese.

  • Downey Gets Tattoo of Himself

    It's a classic mistake. If you tattoo your lover's name on your body, you're guaranteed to break up.

    Finding a clever loophole in the practice, actor Robert Downey Jr. is confidently sporting an image of his current object of affection -- himself.

    The 38-year-old star has adorned his left bicep with a muscular, superhero version of himself, reports US Magazine. He reportedly went to West Hollywood's Shamrock Social Club tattoo parlor in January for his portrait.

    Downey also has the name of his son, Indio, inked nearby the new tattoo.

    The actor met his real love interest and fiancee, producer Susan Levin, on the Montreal set of his most recent movie, the dark thriller "Gothika" with Halle Berry.

    Downey has been married once before to actress Deborah Falconer.

  • Thorne-Smith Dumps Fiance

    She plays a happily married woman on TV but Courtney Thorne-Smith's real-life relationships haven't gone as smoothly.

    The According to Jim star just split with her fiancé of two years, cardiologist Robert Andrews.

    "Robert and I have amicably decided to call off our engagement," said Thorne-Smith in a statement from her rep. "We remain good friends."

    There has been no word on why the couple split, but a National Enquirer article suggests the 36-year-old thesp is something of a control freak who had problems with the doctor's take-charge attitude.

    "She likes to be the one in charge. She and Robert had been arguing, so she abruptly decided the engagement was off," said the tab's source.

    In contrast to the actress' cool-as-a-cuke statement, the Enquirer claims Thorne-Smith kicked her fiancé to the curb without warning as she embarked on a 10-day cruise to the Bahamas and Key West with her TV costars.

    Andrews reportedly moved his belongings out of her Brentwood home while Thorne-Smith was away on vacation.

    The actress and the medicine man reportedly met on a blind date and got engaged on Thanksgiving in 2002. They were due to be married this June.

    It would have been a second walk down the aisle for Thorne-Smith, who was married once before to genetic scientist Andrew Conrad.

    That relationship went bust in 2001, after only seven months of (not so) wedded bliss--the same week Thorne-Smith appeared as the blushing cover bride of In Style magazine's wedding issue.

    At the time of that breakup, Thorne-Smith sang a similar tune, saying the two "would remain good friends" in addition to sharing custody of their dogs.

    Tab reports blamed the separation on kids, or lack thereof. She wanted them. He didn't.

    That thorny issue was apparently never resolved before the onetime twosome swapped vows on June 1, 2000, in a mountaintop garden on the Hawaiian island of Lanai.

    California native Thorne-Smith first surfaced in the 1986 TV series Fast Times and feature films such as Lucas and Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise.

    She got her big break as the long-suffering Allison Parker on Melrose Place and then jumped to Ally McBeal as attorney Georgia Thomas--a gig she gave up at the end of the third season to pursue a sitcom career.

    Thorne-Smith is midway through her third season on ABC's Jim, playing the straight woman to wisecracking TV hubby Jim Belushi.

  • Sightings

    FORMER Vice President Al Gore and his wife Tipper, with Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea, at the St. James' Theatre for Friday night's showing of "The Producers." Bon Jovi and Dorothea got up and left during the first act.

  • Bullock, Downey Jr. to Get Hasty Awards

    Sandra Bullock and Robert Downey Jr. will receive this year's Hasty Pudding awards at Harvard University.

    The awards, announced Thursday, are given to performers who have made a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment" by Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the nation's oldest undergraduate drama troupe.

    Bullock will lead a parade through the streets of Harvard Square on Feb. 12 with Harvard students dressed in drag. Downey will appear Feb. 19 at the opening night of the Hasty Pudding production, "As the Word Turns."

    Bullock's breakthrough role came in the 1994 hit movie, "Speed," followed by "While You Were Sleeping," which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

    Bullock, 39, has also starred in such films as "Hope Floats" and "Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood." Her most recent role was opposite Hugh Grant in the romantic comedy "Two Weeks Notice."

    Downey, 38, was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in "Chaplin" in 1992. More recent film credits include "Gothika," with Halle Berry and Penelope Cruz.

    Downey also appeared on the television program, "Ally McBeal," earning a Golden Globe award and an Emmy nomination.

    Last year's Hasty Pudding honorees were actress Anjelica Huston and director Martin Scorsese.

  • Jon Bon Jovi hopes for blaze of glory in arena football

    Putting singer Jon Bon Jovi's name on the marquee has been good for business.

    Now, Bon Jovi is hoping his name attracts fans to something other than a concert. He's a co-owner/promoter of the Arena Football League's expansion Philadelphia Soul. "My job's to get them in the door, then let these guys be celebrities in their own right," said Bon Jovi, dressed in black from his leather coat to his shoes.

    Bon Jovi has already started well as he makes the transition from arena rock to arena football, helping the Soul sell more than 10,000 season tickets in only four months and giving them an identity in an already gluttonous sports city.

    "Jon is there to lend support, to help shine the spotlight on the team and to give it some recognition in a community that doesn't know a lot about it," co-owner Craig Spencer said. "Without Jon turning on that spotlight so heavily, I think we would do well, but it would have taken us a lot longer to get to where we are today."

    Maybe the AFL could have used a few more people with star power - and financial clout - when it started 17 years ago. Instead, it's only now starting to reap some rewards from being the crown jewel of the second- tier sports leagues.

    The AFL has a unique 50-50 television agreement with NBC in which no rights fees were paid. The games drew a modest 1.1 rating last year and NBC will air 70 to 80 games this season on Sundays.

    The network's two-year deal expires at the end of the season, though it has a series of four-year options.

    "We're going into the year with every intention of going forward and with the intention of doing everything we can to make certain that we create a set of conditions in which the question is not difficult to answer," said Ken Schanzer, president of NBC Sports.

    This year, the AFL also will have a weekly television program on Fox Sports Net.

    The league is expecting growth in attendance.

    It totalled 135,347 fans during the inaugural 12-game 1987 season; 1,458,830 fans for 128 games a year ago. Still, the average attendance was 11,279 in 1987 and only 11,397 last year. Last year's mark was the first time since 1999 that the league went over an average of 10,000.

    One way to boost interest was to include Bon Jovi, who wrote a song for a commercial that paired him with another famous AFL owner, John Elway of the Colorado Crush. Elway was part of an expansion ownership group last year.

    "We now have more credibility than we've ever had as a league," commissioner David Baker said.

    The AFL opens its season Thursday in eight of the top 10 media markets with 19 franchises and 27 teams in its minor league.

    San Jose plays at Detroit on Thursday, and there are single games on Friday and Saturday before a six-game schedule on Sunday - including a meeting of expansion franchises when the Soul play the New Orleans Voodoo.

    The Tampa Bay Storm are the defending AFL champions.

    Baker also has hopes for as many as 32 teams in North America, including franchises in Canada and Mexico.

    Toronto had a team, the Phantoms, which ceased operation after the 2002 campaign after just two seasons in Canada.

    Barker is also looking at a European division and a Pacific rim division.

    What better way, then, for Bon Jovi to promote a new album or tour with ads all over team Web sites and stadiums around the world?

    Bon Jovi said a love of football and a desire to be involved in the sport are the reasons ownership piqued his interest.

    "This was exciting," he said. "It was something else to do to stretch out as an individual."

    Bon Jovi, a New York Giants season-ticket holder who counts New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick among his friends, tried to get his band to buy a team, but they passed, except for guitarist Richie Sambora. He has a two-per-cent stake in the Soul.

    Bon Jovi and Spencer, CEO of real estate management company The Arden Group, have hired former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski as team president. Michael Trigg, who won a championship with Grand Rapids in 2001, is the coach.

    Jaworski tried to bring an Arena team to Philadelphia for nearly 10 years and was on the brink in 1998, but his ownership group could not secure dates in the Wachovia Center or the Spectrum.

    "There's no doubt Jon has brought some sizzle to the team," Jaworski said. "But we are in an incredible market. No city is as close to Philadelphia in their passion about football."

  • ABC's Wedded to New Kelley Series

    Looking to shore up a deficit of family-centered dramas, ABC has given a pilot order to a new series from David E. Kelley ("The Practice") and Jason Katims ("Relativity").Kelley and Katims, who worked together on FOX's "Boston Public," are developing the untitled drama for the fall of 2004.

    ABC Entertainment President Susan Lyne interrupted a Thursday (Jan. 15) afternoon panel at the semiannual Television Critics Association press tour to announce the deal.

    "It was the single most entertaining pitch we heard all season," Lyne said of the Kelley-Katims idea.

    The series focuses on three young adult women working at a Long Island wedding palace. Lyne promises that it will feature both individual episodic elements, as well as the potential for season-long story arcs.

    Earlier in the day, ABC Chairman Lloyd Braun addressed the issue of why ABC's comedy development has focused on family shows, while the network's drama development hasn't followed that trend.

    "We will have a couple of shows that, I think, fit into that description, although all of them have a twist," Braun said. "They're not sort of the conventional family dramas that maybe you've seen on ABC in the past or you've seen on other networks."

    Between the swift demise of CBS' "The Brotherhood of Poland, NH" and a major viewership drop for "Boston Public," this has been a mostly disappointing season for Kelley, but his revitalization of "The Practice" has offered one of the ABC's few drama bright spots. After a major casting purge over the summer, the show has made a relatively successful return to Sunday nights with James Spader as the new lead.

    "'The Practice' was able to work this year really because David Kelley is a genius," Braun gushed. "He pitched this character us -- that James Spader plays so brilliantly -- before Spader was even in David's head... David Kelley, I think, showed us all once again why he is as good as it gets."

    Praise aside, Braun stopped short of promising that "The Practice" would be back next season, saying only that the network was in discussions with Kelley and that they were "hopeful."

  • Perfect View

    THE audience at the Manhattan Theater Club's benefit show Monday got more than their money's worth. Our spywitness says that while "Nine" star Jane Krakowski writhed atop a piano and sang, her skin-tight miniskirt rode up a bit too high, revealing her pink undies. Feeling a sudden breeze, the leggy actress bolted upright but winked at her admirers. "You got the good seats, didn't you?" she quipped to the front row, which burst into applause.

  • Harrison Ford's divorce from wife of 18 years finalized in Los Angeles court

    Harrison Ford is officially unhitched.

    The actor's divorce from his wife of 18 years, screenwriter Melissa Mathison Ford, became final this week. Papers filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court did not detail the divorce settlement or custody arrangement for the couple's teenage son and daughter. Television news magazines Entertainment Tonight and Extra both reported the filing Wednesday.

    The Fords, who met on the set of the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, filed for a separation in August 2001 after living apart for nearly a year. They cited irreconcilable differences.

    Ford has had a nearly two-year relationship with actress Calista Flockhart.

  • Bon Jovi to Promote Arena Football League

    A two-minute minimovie starring Jon Bon Jovi and John Elway that will preview the upcoming Arena Football League season will be distributed in movie theaters this month.

    Bon Jovi and Elway both own teams in the indoor league, which begins its 18th season in February. Bon Jovi, whose hits include "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "It's My Life," is co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul.

    Elway is co-owner of the Colorado Crush.

    The AFL and Regal CineMedia have announced an agreement that will run the entertainment segment in nearly 400 Regal Entertainment Group theaters nationwide from Jan. 9-29.

    In the feature, Elway goes to Bon Jovi's house to welcome him to the AFL. The greeting isn't well received and both men decide to "take it inside" and play a game between their teams inside Bon Jovi's house.

    After Colorado's quarterback is injured, Elway puts on a uniform, leading to a spectacular conclusion.

    "It was fun to put the pads on again," Elway said in a statement this week. "The spot captures the essence of Arena Football: rough, but a lot of fun. AFL fans will really enjoy it and it will entertain moviegoers unfamiliar with the AFL."

  • Portia De Rossi/Arrested Development Clips

    As you may already know, there is a new show called Arrested Development, starring Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, David Cross, and Portia De Rossi. Its a very funny show that's developing a dedicated following. We have some hilarious clips from past episodes on our mini-site for people who haven't seen it, and we feature exclusive sneak previews of future episodes! You can see them here: http://www.buzztone.com/arresteddev/

  • Robert Downey Jr. Back On Top!

    Robert Downey Jr. is telling friends that he's on top of the world -- and enjoying his best year ever, with a new fiancee, a host of new movies and a newly found freedom from the drug addictions that once plagued him and even landed him in prison.

    "I don't regret anything from my past, it's part of who I am today," Downey, 38, said at the Nov. 13. Los Angeles premiere of Gothika, in which he plays a doctor."Nothing is easy, but through it all, I've always had great support from the industry and fans. I notice that people are asking me 'How are you doing' a lot. And now I say 'Better than ever.'"

    SUDDENLY SUSAN

    Downey Jr. said that he is definitely engaged to his Gothika producer Susan Levin. "There is no date set as of yet," he stressed.

    The actor met his fiancee last spring, on the Vancouver set of Gothika, and proposed on her 30th birthday on Nov 6.

    Levin showed off her ruby and platinum engagement ring at the Gothika premiere and was giddy with excitement. "This is a big night for me," Susan was overheard telling Robert at the star-studded after-party for the thriller held at the upscale Pearl nightclub in West Hollywood. "This is a big night for us," Robert shot back.

    A party guest told Star: "He and Susan acted like it was their first-ever movie premiere, the way they whispered and giggled with each other."

    POSITIVE INFLUENCE

    Successful in her own right, Susan certainly doesn't need to be with Robert for the publicity. She is a senior vice president of Joel Silver's Silver Pictures and co-produced Cradle 2 the Grave and Ghost Ship. "She's with him because she loves him," says one of Susan's high school friends. "But Robert Downey Jr. is the last person in the world we would have expected Susan to fall in love with. She was absolutely the straightest arrow -- she still is. She's an extremely hard worker and she definitely doesn't party!"

    Downey Jr., who is now sober but still spends about 12 hours a week attending drug therapy, knows that to use drugs again would certainly mean losing the stabilizing new influence in his life. In a recent interview, he admitted it's her way or the highway. "Susan said, 'Don't do any more [drugs] or I'm splitting.'"

  • Downey Meets Fiancee on Set of 'Gothika'

    "Gothika" is a dark thriller, but the movie had a happy ending for Robert Downey Jr.: He met his fiancee on the set in Montreal.

    Susan Levin was a producer on the film, in which Downey co-stars with Halle Berry and Penelope Cruz.

    "She's smarter. I like that," the 38-year-old actor said during an interview on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," airing Tuesday.

    "I thought, 'Oh this is great, but she's the producer and I'm working here,'" Downey said. "But anyway, the point is we got to know each other, we really got to know each other as you tend to on location and not in that 'Gross, you're on location, you're supposed to do something dysfunctional and sleep with the producer' (way). I did that, but it was different."

    Downey said he and Levin haven't set a wedding date; in the meantime, they're planning to spend Thanksgiving with her family.

    "I'll be going to Palm Springs and I won't be getting arrested while I'm there," he joked, referring to his November 2000 arrest for drug possession at a Palm Springs resort. A judge dismissed the charges in 2002 after determining that Downey had stayed clean and sober for 14 months.

    This will be the second marriage for Downey; he was married for four years to Deborah Falconer, with whom he has a son, Indio.

  • Craven Revives 'Cursed' with De Rossi

    Director Wes Craven's "Cursed" will be back up and running this week, with Portia de Rossi added to a cast that includes Christina Ricci, Skeet Ulrich, Omar Epps, Shannon Elizabeth and Scott Foley.

    The former "Ally McBeal" actress, who now stars in the Fox series "Arrested Development," will appear in the film's opening sequence, whose specifics are being kept under wraps.

    The Dimension Films project -- from the "Scream" team of Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson -- was put on an extended hiatus during the summer so the filmmakers could plan for more special effects than originally anticipated and further develop the ending.

    A modern, hip twist on the classic werewolf tale, "Cursed" marks a reunion of sorts for de Rossi, Craven and Williamson: The Australian actress' first U.S. role was in Dimension's "Scream 2."

  • Bon Jovi Revamps, Rerecords Past Hits

    Sitting in the control room at Los Angeles' Henson Studios earlier this fall listening to mixes for "This Left Feels Right" -- a collection of Bon Jovi hits radically revamped by the band -- Jon Bon Jovi admitted, "I don't know if anyone's gonna buy this."

    The album, which came out Nov. 4, features songs revisited in ways that are startling at first: leadoff single "Wanted Dead or Alive" becomes a Led Zeppelin-like stomp, while "It's My Life" morphs into a wistful ballad. But the tunes quickly show themselves sturdy enough to withstand the upheaval.

    "The children started to grow by themselves, so to speak," says guitarist Richie Sambora (news), who co-produced the album with Bon Jovi and Patrick Leonard. "To actually be able to reinvent your songs and be happy with them, I can't recall any band in history exactly ever doing that."

    Originally, the band planned to release an acoustic live album, and it recorded the tunes, many of them with an orchestra, last January in Japan.

    But somewhere along the way, the group decided to turn the songs on their ears.

    "I just thought, 'Why not?"' Bon Jovi said of the decision to scrap the acoustic Japanese session and turn the project into "Left."

    "This is just the beginning of yet another chapter," he said. "'Keep the Faith' was the beginning of the second chapter, is now closed. It's obvious we're not going to try to write those songs again. It's time to go left and find another avenue."

    As for what the next 10 years will bring, that's yet to be determined, but Bon Jovi said he knows what it won't be. "I don't know yet what it will entail, but I think I've been honest with myself and with anyone else that this will never be a nostalgia band knocking on the '80s door and putting one of those bills together."

    In fact, Sambora said the group's ability to revisit its past in such a fresh fashion is one of the keys to its longevity.

    "This album is going to show people that the reason we're still around after 20 years is because we're not afraid to do this kind of and that these songs are really, really good and they hold up."

    To help push "This Left Feels Right," the band has linked with Samsung, which will Webcast Bon Jovi's Nov. 15 Atlantic City, N.J., concert live through samsungusa.com. The Web site also is conducting a sweepstakes to win a guitar autographed by the band.

    Additionally, the electronics company is promoting the project with ads on more than 350 consumer and business Web sites that push the new Samsung/Napster (news - web sites) MP3 player.

    Bon Jovi is also appearing in commercials for Duracell as part of a $30 million commercial campaign for the battery maker.

  • Downey Down the Aisle?

    Now that Robert Downey, Jr. has made his latest comeback to film in "The Singing Detective" and the upcoming "Gothika," reports are circulating that his love life is also on an upswing.

    The 38-year-old actor is reportedly set to marry his girlfriend Susan Levin, a producer on "Gothika," according to British media sources.

    Downey credits Levin with helping him kick his alcohol and drug habits by making sure he goes to therapy. "She has a real life, and she's really organized," he says in a USA Today interview. "It's really cool."

    Downey will allegedly divulge his plans to wed on an episode of UK's "The Frank Skinner Show," which will air this Saturday, Nov. 15, say British newspapers.

    Representatives for Downey tell Zap2it.com that they "haven't been able to confirm this [report] because he's out of the country."

    Downey has a son, Indio, with his ex-wife actress Deborah Falconer.

    "The Singing Detective" opened in limited release on Oct. 24. Downey next appears opposite Halle Berry in "Gothika," which opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, Nov. 21.

  • Downey: Calmer and wiser but with energy to burn

    Spend just five minutes with Robert Downey (news) Jr. and you'll understand why, despite relapse after relapse, the actor has so many pals rooting for him.

    When the guy's on, he's on fire. Downey, 38, pulsates with more energy than a Britney Spears (news) video. He rubs his palms together. He rolls the oversized cuffs of his striped Paul Smith shirt up, then back down, then up again. He runs his hands through his unstyled, nearly black hair. He unpacks his little grooming kit, filled with Chinese herbs, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and explains just how his priorities have shifted since he concluded nine months in a rehab program in March.

    "Right now, I'm primarily concerned with my true self. And my gal. And my kid. And his mom. And my family. What I'm doing careerwise is becoming more and more and more important, but it's still not in the ballpark." (Related item: Downey talks more about Detective)

    Still, Downey is back in the game. The Singing Detective, which he shot in 35 days last spring (it opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday), has him singing and dancing when he's not dealing with a chronic skin disease. His pal and Singing Detective producer Mel Gibson (news) brought the project to him, persuaded him to do it and served as his personal cheerleader. "Gibson was always like, 'I believe in you, man, you're gonna get through this,'" Downey says. "And I was like, 'Yeah!'"

    The cynical among us could shrug and say we've heard it all a million times. But this time, Downey means business.

    "All that stuff before, where part of the game was the 'I promise,' it was all kids' stuff," he acknowledges. "All 'cry wolf' stuff. It wasn't important to me to change. But I'm into this."

    This includes workshops on Chinese herbs and meridian therapy, or acupressure. The high school dropout reads books on Eastern philosophy. "I'm interested in medicine," he says. "Not my old medicine but actual medicine."

    Downey, those around him say, has grown up. Katie Holmes (news), who worked with him on 2000's Wonder Boys and Singing Detective, says he's "lovable and funny, but wiser."

    Absolutely, Detective director Keith Gordon agrees. He first met Downey while co-starring in the 1986 comedy Back to School, but he never saw him do drugs and recalls that Downey was "like an energetic puppy. He was a wacky kid." He's still fun, "but he's very self-reflective now. He's one of the most lovable people you'll ever meet. You want to mother and father him. He broadcasts a certain amount of innate goodness, and he's sweet and vulnerable."

    Downey is pleased with his new movie, sores and all, but puffs up with paternal pride when bragging about the athletic achievements of his son, Indio, 10. Downey married Indio's mother, Deborah Falconer, in May 1992, and the two split up in April 1996. Now, Downey takes his son to school, goes on camping trips and screams at soccer matches. "He's the star of his team. If you think it's a big deal to him, you should see when I need to practically be escorted off the field by law enforcement."

    Downey's drug busts, the repeat arrests, the dual jail terms have been so unremittingly publicized that hiding his past from his son is hardly a viable option. Downey says Indio "understands it well enough to be unencumbered by it. I grew up really quick, and I wouldn't condemn it, nor recommend it, but my childhood is not Indio's childhood, and that comforts the hell out of me."

    His girlfriend, Susan Levin, a producer who met Downey while he was shooting Gothika, makes sure he goes to therapy and calls him when he's done. "She has a real life, and she's really organized," he says. "It's really cool."

  • Veteran TV Lawyers Find New Courtroom on 'Lyon's Den'

    Peter MacNicol and Kelli Williams aren't lawyers, but they're not strangers to playing them on TV. The David E. Kelley veterans will return to the courtroom on NBC's legal soap opera "The Lyon's Den."

    MacNicol will play Darrell Nix, a genius computer mogul. Battling schizophrenia, he enlists Jack Turner (Rob Lowe) to help him maintain control of his company. Opposing Turner in the Nix case will be Monica Crane (Williams), a corporate lawyer who will be a worthy adversary. While MacNicol is only slated for one episode, Williams is signed for two further appearances.

    In 2001, MacNicol won an Emmy for his performance as John "The Biscuit" Cage on Kelley's "Ally McBeal" (he was nominated two other times). He previous worked with Kelley as a regular on "Chicago Hope." His film credits include "Ghostbusters 2," "Baby Geniuses" and "Sophie's Choice."

    Williams left Kelley's "The Practice" as part of the major cast purge that preceded this season. She has made appearances on "Scrubs," "Sisters" and on Kelley's "Picket Fences."

    The episode of "The Lyon's Den" featuring the two actors will air later this fall. For the season, the Sunday night drama is averaging just over 10 million viewers per episode.

  • Bon Jovi Readying 'This Left Feels Right'

    Bon Jovi will release their greatest hits album on November 4, titled This Left Feels Right, which will feature 12 versions of their biggest hits redone in new and original stylings, as well as two new studio tracks, "Last Man Standing" and "Thief of Hearts."

    Singer Jon Bon Jovi is a part owner of the Arena Football League's newest team the Philadelphia Soul, along with his band-mate Richie Sambora, among others.

    If you think you have what it takes to play on Bon Jovi's team, an open tryout for prospective players will take place on Sunday (October 5) at the Pennington Field in Bedford, Texas. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at a cost of $50, cash only, and is open to all positions. A Philadelphia tryout date is currently in the works as well.

    The track listing for This Left Feels Right is as follows:

    "Wanted Dead or Alive"
    "Livin' On A Prayer"
    "Bad Medicine"
    "It's My Life"
    "Lay Your Hands On Me"
    "Last Man Standing"
    "You Give Love a Bad Name"
    "Bed of Roses"
    "Everyday"
    "Born To Be My Baby"
    "Keep The Faith"
    "I'll Be There For You"
    "Thief Of Hearts"
    "Always"

  • Jane Krakowski Sitcom

    CBS is developing a sitcom for fall 2004, starring Ally McBeal alum Jane Krakowski. FX has axed The Orlando Jones Show...

  • Bon Jovi Will Be Co-Owner of AFL Team

    Jon Bon Jovi is bringing arena rock to arena football. Just don't expect him to perform during games.

    Bon Jovi will be co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul, an expansion Arena Football League team that will play next season in the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum.

    His partner is developer Craig A. Spencer, whose properties include the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia, where Bon Jovi spoke Monday.

    "I love football, always have," said Bon Jovi, a New Jersey native. "It's the only sport I really live and breathe."

    Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora has a stake in the team.

    The Soul become the league's 18th team and second expansion team this year, following the New Orleans VooDoo. A team in Austin, Texas, is expected to enter next season.

    Bon Jovi has sold upward of 100 million albums worldwide, but he had to overcome skepticism among league executives. The 41-year-old rocker quickly impressed with his business acumen, work ethic and football knowledge, league commissioner David Baker said.

    "We're driving on our way to a concert and he's asking me about the emergency quarterback rule," Baker said. "Nobody ever asks me about the emergency quarterback rule."

    Arena football is a fast-paced version of the outdoor game that sent quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Tommy Maddox to the NFL. The 17-year-old AFL debuted last season on NBC, drawing 65 million viewers while attendance increased 15 percent to an average of more than 11,000.

    The value of a typical AFL team has gone from $400,000 six years ago to about $16 million, said Baker, who declined to put a price tag on the Soul.

    The Soul's president is Ron Jaworski, who once quarterbacked the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl. The coach is Mike Trigg, who won an ArenaBowl title with Grand Rapids.

    "This is a very sports-minded town," Bon Jovi said. "You know what they think of their sports teams: They love them, they love to hate them. But they'll love you if you try, if you give everything you have."

    He'll require players to sign autographs, visit elementary schools and, generally, behave.

    Bon Jovi will hold a private performance for season ticket-holders. But that's all the singing he'll do, at least for now.

    "I'm not going to be the halftime entertainment," he said. "I'm going to sit in the owners' box."

  • FANTASY WORLD

    STEVEN Gaines is still waiting for that proverbial check in the mail. It was announced this week that Tony-winning "Nine" star Jane Krakowski was going to play Liza Minnelli opposite Alec Baldwin as Halston in the movie version of Gaines' best seller "Simply Halston." But Gaines says Christine ("Far From Heaven") Vachon and her Killer Films production company allowed the option rights to lapse long ago, and Gaines has moved on to other producers. "Halston lived in a fantasy world, too," he shrugged. "Why shouldn't those people?" The author sent Vachon a letter warning, "My agent is contacting your attorney." Vachon was traveling in Turkey and could not be reached.

  • Internet Auction Employs Star Power to Help Animals

    Pick up autographed goodies from today’s hottest stars and help protect animals at the same time. WSPA (The World Society for the Protection of Animals) kicks off its internet auction to benefit animals at www.GoBid.ca, starting October 1st until midnight October 31st!

    Shop your way through “over 130 auction items:

    1- Calista Flockhart (“Ally McBeal” Star) Autographed 8”x 10” B&W Photograph

  • Emmy Presenter

    Courtney Thorne-Smith will be a present at the Emmy's Sept 21 on FOX

  • Lucy Liu Finds Strength in Martial Arts

    Lucy Liu (news) practices kali-eskrima-silat, a martial art involving sticks and knives. And while she's shown off her skills in the "Charlie's Angels" movies and "Shanghai Noon," she's never had to use them to defend herself in real life.

    "Thank God, no, but it has made me more aggressive," the 5-foot-3-inch actress told Jane magazine for its October issue.

    "If somebody is confrontational or rude, it makes me more confident. It's like, 'No, you don't treat somebody that way.' It gives you an inner strength And that's what martial arts should be; it should come from inside."

    After seeing Liu in action, Quentin Tarantino (news) wrote a character for her in his upcoming martial-arts film, the two-part "Kill Bill."

    "Quentin has an incredible knowledge of cinema," the 34-year-old actress said. "And to have somebody like that come up to you and tell you, 'Hey, I wrote this role for you. What do you think?' It makes you feel like you've done something right."

    "Kill Bill Vol. 1," starring Uma Thurman (news) and David Carradine (news), opens Oct. 10. The second half is scheduled for release in February.

  • Kelley could write comeback tale

    Four years ago this week, David E. Kelley made Emmy history, winning the top two awards for best comedy (Ally McBeal) and best drama (The Practice), the first by a producer in a single year.

    He'd captured the late-'90s zeitgeist with Ally, a whimsical series about the romantic foibles of a slightly daffy attorney, and The Practice, a more conventional legal drama that deftly dealt with moral and ethical quandaries.

    Kelley was unstoppable: That same fall, his Chicago Hope began its sixth season on CBS, private-detective drama Snoops bowed on ABC and a repackaged collection of Ally McBeal clips, dubbed Ally, popped up on Fox.

    But take a look at his track record since then:

    Snoops and those Ally clips were canceled within three months.

    Hope faded the next spring, while Ally McBeal whimpered to a finish in 2002.

    Last season brought more trouble: New drama Girls Club failed after a mere two episodes, and The Practice Kelley's most popular series won a last-minute reprieve in May after losing nearly half its peak audience.

    Renewed by ABC for half its previous cost, Kelley was forced to fire five of eight lead actors, including stars Dylan McDermott (news) and Lara Flynn Boyle (news), and now the overhauled series must win back viewers in its eighth season.

    "The failure of Girls Club was so spectacular that I found it somewhat liberating, (because) it gave me the sense that none of us know what kind of show is going to work," Kelley says in his office at the sprawling Raleigh studios where his shows and those of rival producer Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI) are based. "I said, 'OK, I've succeeded and I've failed, and where I've succeeded is when I've sat down to write a project that was really in my heart to write.' "

    Next week comes that project: CBS' The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H., a drama about three overweight 40ish brothers in a small New England town, played by Randy Quaid (the police chief), John Carroll Lynch (the mayor) and Chris Penn (news) (the unemployed black sheep).

    Poland has been gestating in Kelley's mind for years, but in some ways marks a crucial test of whether he still has the magic touch. A family drama that traffics in marital strife, small-town values and eccentric townsfolk, it's both a departure from his recent emphasis on legal shows and a contrast to the crime- and forensics-heavy CBS lineup.

    The show conjures comparisons with Kelley's first solo effort, CBS' early-'90s small-town drama Picket Fences. The two share a bucolic feel, and for Brotherhood, Kelley trucked an old-fashioned train-car-shaped diner to a cavernous soundstage not far from L.A.'s airport.

    "Picket was very, very whimsical, more comical, certainly moreoutrageous," Kelley says. "This town is more relatable," and viewers are instantly plunged into the lives of its three families, all in crisis mode.

    Finally reaching viewers (Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT), it's a dark horse to succeed, not only because of its premise and somewhat downbeat tone, but also its unconventional leads.

    "He's got a conflicted inner life," says Quaid of his troubled character, Hank Shaw, who beats up a motorist in the first scene of the pilot and later reveals a Katie Couric fetish to his flummoxed wife. "He's confused and disillusioned and is clinging to his own set of values, but at the same time he's seeing his town and his world disintegrate before him."

    Hank's brother Garrett, played by balding Lynch, has his own troubles as a long-ago infidelity threatens to harm his wife (Elizabeth McGovern (news)) and family, while Penn's pudgy Waylon, naive but more content with his lot in life, struggles to find his way.

    With that as a backdrop, Kelley doesn't peg Poland to be the next Ally McBeal. "We're not really a high-concept show or a flashy show; it's not a show that figures to make magazine covers," he says drily.

    Poland is also CBS' biggest worry. It's scheduled in one of TV's toughest time slots, opposite NBC's Law & Order, and will fight with ABC's stylish new crime drama, Karen Sisco, for viewers.

    "The fact that we have no idea how it's going to be received is a good thing," says an optimistic executive producer Michael Pressman, a longtime Kelley collaborator. "It could be the very thing that makes a show that seems dangerous, creative."

    All of which proves how difficult it is for even the most successful writer-producers to maintain momentum. Kelley's mentor Steven Bochco, who changed the face of TV drama with Hill Street Blues, hasn't had a hit since NYPD Blue (news - Y! TV) premiered 10 years ago. And the creators of Friends have managed only to come up with a pair of losers in Veronica's Closet and Jesse.

    "It's pretty obvious that creating one hit television series during an entire career is extremely difficult to do," says Sandy Grushow, chairman of Fox Television Entertainment Group, which distributes Kelley's shows. With a few under his belt, "He's allowed his failures. I'd still take his batting average over anyone else in our business." (Grushow passed on Brotherhood as a bad fit for his network.)

    Ad buyers, too, admire Kelley's track record, even if they're uncertain about Poland's prospects. "David's still a top producer, but he's no guarantee of success," adds Tim Spengler, top network ad buyer at Initiative. "I don't know if those characters are that compelling. Unless the writing makes it really interesting and quirky, it would probably be a long shot. But the show has a better chance of succeeding with him behind it than anyone else. He'll get attention for anything he does."

    He has before. After chucking his law career to write a screenplay (1987's unremarkable From the Hip), Kelley, 47, was hired by Bochco to write for L.A. Law and with him created Doogie Howser, M.D. Then Kelley set out on his own with Fences, establishing his reputation for quirky, oddball characters and humor-laced drama. Fences was never a big hit, but the show won two best-drama Emmys and lasted four seasons, suffering only when Kelley moved to the hospital ward for Chicago Hope.

    No other TV writer is so prolific: Usually, series creators craft story arcs for a season, then parcel out scripts to a team of staff writers. But Kelley famous for scrawling in longhand on legal pads single-handedly wrote the first two episodes of this fall's Boston Public (a show he's no longer actively involved in); expects to write 14 of 22 Practice episodes, and will pen 15 to 17 installments of Poland, assuming it lasts that long.

    (He also is trying an unprecedented rescue of The Practice, adding James Spader (news) as a rival attorney who joins the firm after he's caught embezzling, and Sharon Stone (news), who appears in three episodes as a lawyer suing her firm for wrongful termination.)

    But in some ways, the shy, soft-spoken Kelley is hurt by his own penchant for being a virtual one-man script machine. In success, say some industry supporters, he's become more sheltered and distant from the subjects of his shows.

    "He's worth $100 million, he's married to Michelle Pfeiffer (news) and he lives behind gates in a $15 million house," says one. "How do you stay connected? So he writes about fetishes."

    And in an age where "authentic" headline-ripped crime stories on CSI and Law & Order sit atop the Nielsen charts, does Kelley's fantasy approach, which served him so well on Ally, feel forced?

    "I'm the beast that I am and I'm never going to change," he says of his taste for eccentric stories. "I have to sit down and listen to my own instincts and if that's terrible, then that's the way it is."

    Did CBS raise any red flags about Poland? Well, the network did ask Kelley to tone down the more depressing aspects of the pilot: He cut a scene in which a character (off camera) shoots himself in the head, and ended the episode on a more hopeful note. Much of the pilot was reshot when Penn replaced another actor.

    "If they had one concern," he says, "it's that as we go forward, will it be a town that people will want to go back to every week? If it appears that the characters don't like their lives and their world, then why will the audience like their lives and world?"

    Kelley concedes that with the changes, "things go wrong, but I think there's hope in this town and these people." He's injected subsequent episodes with more humor. And he makes no apologies for his outlandish style, or his stubborn insistence on writing want he wants to refusing to chase fickle viewers' latest fads as long as the networks will let him.

    "I've done it for 16 years. If I'm lucky I'll get to be outlandish for 16 more."

  • John Ritter Inspired Colleagues, Friends

    John Ritter, the sitcom star who died suddenly of an undetected heart problem, is being remembered by colleagues as an inspiration for his ability to coax big laughs out of pratfalls and punchlines.

    Ritter, 54, became ill Thursday while working on his ABC series "8 Simple Rules ... For Dating My Teenage Daughter" and underwent surgery at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank for a tear in his aorta. He died shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday, publicist Lisa Kasteler said.

    "I learned so much from him. ... He was the best physical comic I've ever watched," actress Suzanne Somers (news), who co-starred with Ritter in "Three's Company," said Friday.

    "All my physical comedy in 'Freaky Friday' is due to him," said actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

    The son of Tex Ritter, a Western film star and country musician, Ritter was an effortless funnyman who — given the chance — could handle drama as well. Friends recalled him as loving and buoyant.

    "It's like there is a big tear in the world's heart," actor Henry Winkler (news) told "Entertainment Tonight" on Friday. "He was extraordinary in every aspect of his life, especially as a father. His children were there at every moment of his life."

    Winkler co-starred with Ritter on Broadway in Neil Simon's "The Dinner Party" and was to make a guest appearance on the ABC sitcom. He was on the set Thursday for rehearsal when he was told Ritter had taken ill.

    "He was more than a comic," Simon said in a statement. "He was a real actor with a genius for comedy. I loved his performance in 'The Dinner Party.'"

    "I'm shocked and heartbroken and so sad for his family. I cannot find words to express my sorrow — such a great loss to the joy in the world," Joyce DeWitt (news), who co-starred in ABC's "Three's Company," told "Entertainment Tonight."

    The sitcom, which aired from 1977-84 and brought a new level of risque humor to TV, was the No. 1 comedy in the 1979-80 season and regularly part of the top 10.

    Ritter played a handsome but goofy bachelor who hinted he was gay so he could live with his two female roommates without raising eyebrows. Sexual double-entendres were the order of the day.

    Behind the scenes, Somers' money demands led to clashes with Ritter and DeWitt, and she was eventually written off the show. In a statement Friday, Somers said she and Ritter reconciled at the request of his wife, actress Amy Yasbeck.

    "If we had not, today would be unbearable for me," Somers said. "I am glad I knew him. I am privileged to have worked with him. I am unbelievably sad for his family, and I will miss him."

    Ritter, a Southern California native who lived in Beverly Hills, had appeared in more than 25 television movies and a number of films.

    The youngest son of Tex Ritter and actress Dorothy Fay, he graduated from Hollywood High School and earned a degree in drama from the University of Southern California.

    "I was the class clown, but I was also student body president in high school," he told The Associated Press in a 1992 interview. "I had my serious side — I idolized Bobby Kennedy, he was my role model. But so was Jerry Lewis (news)."

    He received an Emmy, Golden Globe and other awards for his "Three's Company" role and was honored by the Los Angeles Music Center in June with a lifetime achievement award.

    Ritter appeared in more than 50 plays nationwide and won critical acclaim for his recent nine-month run in Simon's production. He had a memorable turn in Billy Bob Thornton (news)'s 1996 film "Sling Blade."

    Ritter's youngest child, Stella, turned 5 the day he died. His 55th birthday was next Wednesday. He was surrounded by producers, co-workers, his wife and his 23-year-old son, Jason, when he died, said Susan Wilcox, his assistant of 22 years.

    Ritter was married from 1977 to 1996 to Nancy Morgan, the mother of his three oldest children. He married Yasbeck in 1999. He is also survived by two other children: Carly and Tyler.

    No decision had been made Friday about the future of "8 Simple Rules ...," which was to begin its second season Sept. 23, an ABC spokesman said.

  • Arrested Development

    Portia de Rossi (Nelle, Ally McBeal) can be seen in the new FOX Comedy 'Arrested Development' starting November 2 (9:30 Sundays)

  • Free Spirit

    LUCY Liu may be hot and heavy with L.A. playwright Zach Helm, but the "Kill Bill" star doesn't rule out the possibility of lesbian love. Liu says her Michigan dorm room was festooned with shots of nude chicks. "I think if I happen to fall in love with a woman, everyone's going to make a big deal out of it," Liu tells Jane magazine. The 5-foot-3 actress admits her on-air kiss with Calista Flockhart on "Ally McBeal" was not her first sapphic smooch.

  • Woody Recast

    Robert Downey Jr.'s past drug problems are coming back to haunt him. The actor has dropped out of Woody Allen's next film after producers were unable to reach a workable solution to cover the collateral on his insurance premium, Variety reports. Jason Biggs is in talks to replace him.

  • Animated Personality

    Charlie's Angels and Ally McBeal diva Lucy Liu has joined the cast of Game Over, a CGI-animated midseason comedy on UPN. She'll do the voice of Raquel Smashenburn, a secret agent and mother of two. The show's other celebrity voices currently include SNL's Rachel Dratch and Seinfeld's Patrick Warburton.

  • Krakowski Tries on Minnelli Role for 'Halston'

    Recent Tony Award winner Jane Krakowski will play Liza Minnelli in "Simply Halston," which stars Alec Baldwin in the title role as the famed fashionista.

    Additionally, the former "Ally McBeal" co-star has joined the cast of Paramount Pictures' untitled remake of the 1966 romantic comedy "Alfie," starring Jude Law.

    "Halston" centers on the life and times of Halston and his long-term friendship with Minnelli. Dan Minahan will direct from a script he co-wrote with James Lecesne. The project is aiming to start production by year's end and is currently out to financiers.

    The "Alfie" update, penned by director Charles Shyer and Elaine Pope, stars Law as Alfie, a womanizer forced to rethink his superficial existence. Krakowski will play a woman who has an affair with Law's character. Susan Sarandon, Marisa Tomei, Sienna Miller and Nia Long also star.

    Krakowski won a Tony earlier this year for featured actress in a musical in "Nine" opposite Antonio Banderas. She also appears in the Paramount comedy feature "Marci X," opening Friday.

  • Do you hear wedding bells for the 'Flockharts'?

    I'M GOING OUT ON A LIMB, KIDS . . . but here's news to warm your gossipy little hearts: By the powers vested in me as your Guru of Gossip, I officially predict wedding bells for superstars Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford! How do I know? Well, I don't, really . . . I'm predicting! But about a week ago, the Ford in Calista's future showed up at Glendale Infiniti, checked out a decked-out SUV, and jokingly ID'd himself to the awestruck salesman as "Mr. Flockhart." He was in a happy mood, so the salesguy courageously asked, "Are you going to marry her?" Replied the witty heartthrob: "Well, if I'm buying her a new car, I guess I am moving in that direction!" YOU HEAR THAT, GOSSIP FANS?? That's more than a definite "maybe"! Here's the kicker -- Ford bought the SUV for Calista and registered it in HER name! Trust me, people -- order the rice NOW!

  • Lucy Liu's lucky charm

    Demi Moore laid a beautiful silver charm bracelet on Lucy Liu after "Charlie's Angels 2" -- complete with dangling teddy bear and a baby bottle, because Demi thinks there's a stork in her new pal's future! Thrilled Lucy dubbed it "my good luck charm" -- then freaked when she lost it on an LA-NY flight! After arrival, the plane was searched for half an hour while teary-eyed Lucy waited -- then an attendant found it under a pillow slipcover. Lucy tried to tip the angel $100, but was told: "Just to see the smile on your face is enough!"

  • Alec Baldwin hot for Ally McBeal star

    Did a stage kiss spark a real-life romance between Alec Baldwin and Jane Krakowski?

    Those who watched Baldwin throw a long, lingering lip-lock on the "Ally McBeal" beauty during a play reading in New York City are convinced the buss was more than make-believe.

    Moments after their sizzling kiss, the two left the building together as Baldwin, 45, flirted with and fussed over voluptuous Jane.

    "The chemistry between them was so intense that when the elevator arrived for a crowd of people, everyone decided to let the two of them get in alone so they could have their privacy," a witness told The ENQUIRER.

    The two stars were among several actors seated around a table reading lines from a play called "Twentieth Century" when Baldwin suddenly grabbed Jane and kissed her long and hard.

    "They reached the part of the play where their characters announce they are getting married," the source recalled. "But everyone was startled when Alec gave Jane a long, long kiss because the script didn't call for them to kiss.

    "From what everyone could see, they both really enjoyed it, though, and it seemed to ignite a spark in Baldwin."

    Afterward, the two disappeared together into the night, the source said.

    Tony Award-winning Jane, 34, played sex-obsessed Elaine on "Ally McBeal." She's currently kissing another man, hunk Antonio Banderas, on the Broadway stage every night in the hit show "Nine: The Musical" and has been romantically linked to English lyricist Charles Hart, whose credits include the score for "Phantom of the Opera."

    Baldwin, once married to Kim Basinger, was rumored to have been romancing "Sex and the City" star Kristin Davis.

  • Bellows, Westfeldt Get Set for 'Distance' Close-Up

    "Ally McBeal" alumnus Gil Bellows is teaming up with "Kissing Jessica Stein" star Jennifer Westfeldt to star in writer-director Stu Pollard's indie dramedy "Keep Your Distance."

    Christian Kane, Kim Raver, Elizabeth Pena, Stacy Keach, Jamie Harrold, Rick Overton and Cynthia Martells round out the cast. Shooting is under way in Kentucky.

    "Distance" is described as a character-driven project centering on a radio talk-show host (Bellows) and what happens when he meets a pharmaceutical sales rep from out of town (Westfeldt).

    They accidentally form a bond based on something lacking in all of their other relationships -- trust.

    Pollard, a native of Kentucky, is producing the $1.2 million-budgeted feature along with producer Christina Varotsis. He made his directorial debut in 1999's "Nice Guys Sleep Alone."

    Westfeldt recently wrapped another indie, "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." Bellows next stars in "Blind Horizon."

  • R&B's Barry White dies in L.A. at age 58

    Velvet-voiced R&B crooner Barry White, renowned for his lush baritone and carnal lyrics that oozed sex appeal on songs such as Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe, died Friday morning, his manager said.

    White, who had suffered kidney failure from years of high blood pressure, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center around 9:30 a.m., said manager Ned Shankman. He was 58. White had been undergoing dialysis treatment and had been hospitalized since last September.

    His work epitomized seductive disco music, also known as "make-out" music. The heavyset musician enjoyed three decades of fame for songs like You're the First, the Last, My Everything and It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me.

    White's canyon-deep, butter-smooth vocals and throbbing musical tempos emphasized his songs' sexually charged verbal foreplay. His 1975 song Love Serenade began with the purring, first-person lyrics: "I want you the way you came into the world/I don't want to feel no clothes . . ."

    Although his popularity peaked in the 1970s, White received belated recognition for his work in 2000 when he won his first two Grammys for best male and traditional R&B vocal performance for the song Staying Power.

    Born Sept. 12, 1944, in Galveston, Texas, to a single mother, White and his younger brother, Darryl, spent most of their childhood in south-central Los Angeles. He said he had a lifelong love for music. During his early teenage years, he began singing in a Baptist church choir and was quickly promoted to director.

    In 1990, White told Ebony magazine that his voice changed overnight from the squeaky tones of a preadolescent to the rumbling bass that made him famous.

    "It scared me and my mother when I spoke that morning," he said. "It was totally unexpected. My chest rattled. I mean vibrations. My mother was staring at me, and I was staring at her. The next thing I knew, her straight face broke into a beautiful smile. Tears came down her face and she said, 'My son's a man now.' "

    He was jailed at age 16 for stealing tires, a punishment he credited with helping him straighten out his life and dedicate his efforts to music.

    Inspired by the Elvis Presley song It's Now or Never, White joined the Upfronts soul group as bass singer and cut six singles. For several years, he stayed away from performing and focused on work behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer.

    He married a childhood sweetheart, identified only as Mary in his autobiography, and fathered four children with her before they separated in 1969 and later divorced.

    White discovered the female trio Love Unlimited - which included his future second wife, Glodean James - and produced their million-selling 1972 single Walkin' in the Rain With the One I Love.

    The next year, White returned to performing with the song I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby, which topped the R&B chart and hit No. 3 on the pop chart.

    He is credited by some for helping launch the disco phenomenon with his orchestral Love's Theme in 1973, which he conducted with his group, The Love Unlimited Orchestra.

    In 1974, his album Can't Get Enough climbed to the top of the pop charts on the strength of the signature hits Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe and You're the First, the Last, My Everything.

    That year he also married James. The couple had four children together and collaborated on the 1981 album Barry & Glodean, which featured the songs I Want You and You're the Only One for Me. They divorced in 1988, but he said they always remained good friends.

    White suffered a family tragedy in 1983 when his brother, Darryl, was shot and killed in a dispute with a neighbour over change from a $20 bill. In his 1999 autobiography, Love Unlimited: Insights on Life and Love, Barry White said music likely spared him a similar fate.

    After working on more than a dozen albums in the 1970s, his career waned over the next decade as he attempted small comebacks with the albums The Right Night & Barry White (1987) and The Man is Back! (1989.)

    He enjoyed a larger resurgence with 1994 album The Icon Is Love, and his ballad Practice What You Preach became his first No. 1 hit in 17 years. Toward the end of the 1990s, his songs were regularly featured on the Fox comedy series Ally McBeal and he made an appearance on the show as himself.

    His single Staying Power, off a 1999 album of the same name, won White two Grammys and proved he hadn't tamed his libidinous lyrics. "Put on my favourite dress, the one that oozes sexiness," he cooed in the title track's opening lines.

    That year White's chronic blood pressure problem forced him to cancel several live performances with the group Earth, Wind & Fire and he was briefly hospitalized.

    White's survivors include eight children, grandchildren and his companion Catherine Denton.

  • Nelle Married?

    THE BUZZ in L.A. over the weekend was that former "Ally McBeal" star Portia de Rossi "married" her longtime girlfriend Francesca Gregorini. (The latter is the daughter of actress Barbara Bach.) All this buzz happened during L.A.'s Gay Pride festivities, where there was probably a bit of wishful thinking in the air. As of the moment, Mlles. de Rossi and Francesca are still legally single.

  • Flockhart OK With Age Gap With Ford

    Calista Flockhart has been quiet about her romance with Harrison Ford for the past year and a half, but not anymore.

    The "Ally McBeal" star was positively mushy about the 60-year-old actor in an interview with People magazine.

    "I like the way he looks first thing in the morning," Flockhart tells the magazine for its June 23 issue. "It's not handsome. It's more cute. He looks like a little boy. You know how when you wake up in the morning and you're kind of puffy and rumpled and you look kind of vulnerable? That's what he looks like."

    The 38-year-old actress says the age gap between her and the "Indiana Jones" star has never bothered her. The two met at the Golden Globe Awards in January 2002; Flockhart and her 2-year-old son, Liam, moved into Ford's Los Angeles home earlier this year.

    "It doesn't faze me," she said. "Sometimes I even say, `Wow, I keep forgetting that he's (22) years older than me.' It doesn't factor into our relationship at all."

    Ford's latest film, "Hollywood Homicide," opens Friday.

  • Harrison Ford Admits His Love for Flockhart

    Harrison Ford has admitted it. He loves Calista Flockhart. "I'm in love," the famously taciturn Indiana Jones star told the latest issue of People magazine.

    "Romantic love is one of the most exciting and fulfilling kinds of love and I think there is potential for it at any stage of your life.

    "I was not surprised that I was able to fall in love, and I wasn't surprised that I did. But I'm very grateful," Ford, 60, said of his "commingled" life with former "Ally McBeal" star Flockhart.

    Ford and Flockhart have been the subject of tabloid gossip since they hooked up at the January 2002 Golden Globe awards (news - web sites) but until now their relationship has elicited mostly terse "no comments" from Ford.

    Flockhart, 38, who moved into Ford's Los Angeles home with her adopted 2-year-old son Liam earlier this year, told People the age difference did not faze her.

    "It doesn't factor into our relationship at all...I like the way he looks first thing in the morning. It's not handsome. It's more cute. He looks like a little boy," she said.

    Ford separated from his second wife, screenwriter Melissa Mathison, in 2001. His first marriage ended in divorce in 1979.

  • Bon Jovi Parties for 'One Wild Night'

    Jon Bon Jovi will star in "One Wild Night" for Universal Pictures. The film, to be directed by Dylan Kidd ("Roger Dodger"), is based on the singer/actor's original pitch to the studio.

    The story centers on four wealthy couples who indulge in a night of spouse-swapping and afterwards see their lives and marriages shaken, reports Variety.

    Dario Scardapane ("Posse") was commissioned to write a script, and Kidd is rewriting that draft. Bon Jovi will share writing credit.

    Bon Jovi, who had a recurring role in the television series "Ally McBeal," was last seen on the big screen in John Carpenter's "Vampires: Los Muertos." He also appeared in the movies "U-571," "The Leading Man," and "Pay it Forward."

    No production date has been set yet for "One Wild Night."

  • Liu Warns: Kill Bill Will Make You Ill

    Stunner LUCY LIU is warning sensitive fans to avoid her new movie KILL BILL - because the dramatic violence will make them physically ill.

    The CHARLIE'S ANGELS babe stars alongside UMA THURMAN in cult director QUENTIN TARANTINO's long-awaited fourth film, and predicts audiences will either flee from the cinema or vomit in their seats when they watch the extreme action - even if she thinks the violence is artistic.

    She says, "It's so violent. People will leave the movie theatre or get sick in the movie theatre. But there's so much violence that it becomes not numbing, but almost comedic.

    "There's a scene where there's so much violence that the colour of the film goes into black and white, so that the blood looks like oil. It's cinematic, it's art.

    "You can take it to a different level, and show what violence is, in such a heightened manner that you don't think of it as violence anymore, you think of it as a language.

    "If you go to Kill Bill, you know there's going to be violence."

  • Calista's Surgery Rumors

    ALLY MCBEAL actress CALISTA FLOCKHART has been spotted out and about with two very black eyes amid rumors she has had cosmetic surgery.

    The little lady, who is dating Hollywood lothario HARRISON FORD, was spotted leaving a Beverley Hills clinic with a baseball cap pulled down low over her face to hide the bruises.

    It is thought she has had surgery to remove wrinkles from around her eyes.

  • Downey Learns to Recognize His Saints

    Robert Downey Jr. (“Wonder Boys”) has signed on to star in “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” based on the autobiography by Dito Montiel who will also be directing the picture. The film is being produced by Trudie Styler's Xingu Films.

    Montiel, a Calvin Klein model and lead singer of punk-metal band Gutterboy, grew up in Astoria, N.Y., during the 1980s. As his friends ended up dead, on drugs or in prison, he came to believe he was saved from their fate by various so-called saints. He will be directing from his own script.

    Downey plays the lead character as an adult, looking back over his life, reports Variety.

    Downey, who is currently filming Mathieu Kossovitz’s “Gothika” with Halle Berry, and Tony Scott’s “Man on Fire” with Denzel Washington, will be starring next in Keith Gordon’s “The Singing Detective” opposite Robin Wright Penn.

    Production on “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints” is set to begin in October.

  • HBO, Bochco Lure Nicholson Into 'Marriage'

    Julianne Nicholson is in talks to take the female lead the the Steven Bochco drama "Marriage." The show will debut next fall on HBO.

    Nicholson will star opposite Jonathan Cake ("The American Embassy") in the drama, which is created, written and executive produced by Bochco and Alison Cross. They'll play a couple married for five years and dealing with the intimate complications of their relationship. The series takes place entirely within the confines of their apartment.

    A regular on the CBS doctor drama "Presidio Med," Nicholson has also appeared on "Ally McBeal" and in the miniseries "Storm of the Century." She received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her work in the feature "The Truth About Tully."

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jill Clayburgh will also join the "Marriage" cast, playing Nicholson's mother. Clayburgh was nominated for Oscars for her work in "An Unmarried Woman" and "Starting Over." She recently starred in the NBC comedy "Leap of Faith" and in the feature film "Never Again."

  • William Morris Wins the Kelley Pursuit

    Hollywood's talent agents can stop dialing David E. Kelley.

    The creator of such Emmy-winning TV shows as "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal" signed with the William Morris Agency on Wednesday afternoon, just five days after leaving his longtime handlers at Endeavor.

    As one of the most successful TV writer-producers of the past decade -- his credits also include Fox's "Boston Public" -- Kelley was aggressively courted by top firms, meeting with Creative Artists Agency just Wednesday morning, a source said.

    But William Morris essentially sealed the deal when it met Kelley earlier this week. Former Endeavor agent-turned-manager/producer Marty Adelstein -- who has helped guide Kelley's career since 1986 -- is close to William Morris president and co-CEO Jim Wiatt and was instrumental in setting up the deal, a source said.

    William Morris already handles such TV luminaries as "Sex and the City" creator Darren Star, "Dawson's Creek" creator Kevin Williamson and "Smallville" creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar.

    In addtion to his duties on "The Practice" and "Boston Public," Kelley is working on the CBS drama pilot "The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H."

  • Downey Jr. Set For Comeback

    Actor ROBERT DOWNEY JR. is elated to learn his movie comeback in MEL GIBSON's THE SINGING DETECTIVE has finally been given a release date.

    The release of the film was reportedly put back after disappointing reviews at this year's SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL.

    But according to PARAMOUNT CLASSICS representative HEATHER HARKER, the movie adaptation of British playwright DENNIS POTTER's quirky story, in which Downey Jr plays DAN DARK, a hallucinating hospital patient suffering from a skin disease, will hit screens this autumn.

    Gibson appears in the flick as the enigmatic DR GIBBON, the hospital psychiatrist who dares to take on Dark's tortured mind.

  • 300G For Actor's Fund

    'YEAH, UNCLE TOM'S Cabin!' "

    That was Harrison Ford's reply to a reporter who asked the mega- star if he and Calista Flockhart will ever make a movie together? The question and answer occurred at the after party for the Actor's Fund one-night-only stage revival of the 1950 movie classic, "All About Eve" in L.A. Calista had played the conniving Eve Harrington, opposite Stockard Channing as the star Margo Channing, whose life she covets. (These two were up against the Oscar-nominated memories of Anne Baxter and Bette Davis.)

    But forget career queries, Miss Flockhart had already made it clear there were to be no questions about her private life. Calista and her man were seated with their parents. Now that's kind of sweet. And significant.

  • All About Eve

    SO, IT is the willowy Calista Flockhart, ex-"Ally McBeal," who'll play Eve Harrington and current paramour Harrison Ford who'll co-star in the March 30 stage version of "All About Eve" in L.A. Recent SAG-winner Stockard Channing sweeps through the Bette Davis role of Margo.

  • MacNicol Going 'Crazy'

    CBS has added Emmy winner Peter MacNicol to its fall pilot comedy slate and Theresa Randle to a high profile drama.

    MacNicol will topline "Crazy Love," a sitcom from Touchstone Television and CBS Prods. The pilot was written by Bob Stevens ("Malcolm in the Middle") and will be produced by Stevens and Jamie Tarses. According to The Hollywood Reporter, MacNicol, who will also serve as producer, will play the male half of a couple who adopt a Chinese girl.

    Best known for his performance as eccentric lawyer John "The Biscuit" Cage in David E. Kelley's "Ally McBeal," MacNicol has appeared in films including "Baby Geniuses" and, more successfully, "Sophie's Choice." His extensive resume of voice-over work features "Balto 2" and "The Secret of NIHM 2."

    Randle will join Jennifer Esposito as star of the drama pilot "Violent Crime," about a pair of detectives in Boston. Randle co-starred in "Bad Boys" and will appear in the upcoming "Bad Boys 2." Other credits include "Girl 6," "Jungle Fever" and "Malcolm X" for Spike Lee.

    In other CBS news, Mel Winkler ("Doc Hollywood" ) will join the still-untitled Jerry Bruckheimer-Meredith Stiehm pilot about cold case detectives, which last week added Kathryn Morris as star.

    Also, Alexander Chaplin ("Spin City") will join the ensemble of the comedy "All Grown Up."

  • De Rossi Is 'Arrested' for TV Pilot Cast

    Portia de Rossi's development has been "Arrested," Tate Donovan plans a move to "The O.C.," Jaime Pressly (news) has found "Alligator Point" and Duane Martin will lead "All of Us."

    Their deals were among many that closed Wednesday as television pilot castings continued at fever pitch.

    De Rossi ("Ally McBeal") has joined Jason Bateman in the cast of the Fox comedy pilot "Arrested Development," from 20th Century Fox TV and Imagine Entertainment.

    She'll portray the sister of Bateman's lead character, a straight-laced man who must take over his family business when his father goes to jail. The actress recently starred as Caroline Bessette Kennedy in TBS movie "America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story." She also had a guest turn on NBC's "Mister Sterling."

    Also fresh from "Mister Sterling," Donovan has joined Fox drama pilot "The O.C.," from Warner Bros. TV and Wonderland Prods., playing the father of Mischa Barton (news)'s character. Adam Brody ("Gilmore Girls (news - Y! TV)," "Once and Again") has been cast as Peter Gallagher (news)'s son.

    "The O.C." revolves around a street-smart teen who winds up in the high-class society of Orange County. Doug Liman is directing the pilot episode.

    Meanwhile, after fielding offers for several half-hours this pilot season, Martin ("Deliver Us from Eva") has snagged the male lead in "All of Us," the UPN pilot loosely based on the lives of Will Smith (news) and Jada Pinkett-Smith (news). The wife counterpart to Martin has not been cast.

    Stan Lathan is directing the Warner Bros. and Overbrook TV half-hour, which centers on a husband and his second wife, both of whom raise his son from his first marriage -- with the ex-wife still in the picture.

    Pressly ("Not Another Teen Movie") has been cast in the role of Gina for NBC's comedy pilot "Alligator Point," starring Nathan Fillion (news). The project, from Kelsey Grammer (news)'s Grammnet Prods., is set at a restaurant in the Deep South and focuses on the lives of a fisherman, his ex-wife and an eccentric cast of characters.

    Also joining the cast of the Paramount TV production are Jim Rash ("The Naked Truth") as Preacher and James McDaniel ("Taken") as Garfield.

  • Obvious Truth

    "ICE Storm" star Christina Ricci will get naked for her next role as Charlize Theron's lesbian lover in a serial-killer flick. Theron stars as prostitute Aline Wournos, a.k.a. "The Damsel of Death," who killed seven men in Florida before she was executed last year at age 46, and Ricci plays her sex-crazed gal pal. "I'm pretty [bleep]ing naked," Ricci tells the London Sun about her role in "Monster." "My agent persuaded me to go for it. She keeps saying, 'You have beautiful breasts.' "

  • Kelley Plots Reality Shot

    Producer David E. Kelley is preparing to launch a broadside against reality TV -- and he's recruited some of television's top executives to help him do it.

    The scribe is putting the finishing touches on an episode of his ABC drama "The Practice" that's tentatively titled "Les Is More," according to numerous industry insiders who've seen a draft script.

    In the episode, a deranged woman takes CBS Television president Leslie Moonves hostage and tries to sell CBS a reality show about the kidnapping -- and a possible execution of the network president.

    While ex-thesp Moonves has made several cameo appearances on various CBS shows over the years, his part on "The Practice" is described as a meaty part that will feature him throughout the episode. 20th Century Fox TV president Sandy Grushow and, if he's asked to take part, NBC programming chief Jeff Zucker, will likely be seen in a brief fake news report in which the two offer comments on the situation. Zucker hasn't been formally approached about making the cameo, but a part has been written for him, insiders said. (20th Century Fox TV produces the series.)

    The script is expected to take shots at all the networks. Insiders said the plot will likely have Fox executives offering a plan to save Moonves' life but in a way that would allow the network to score big ratings. NBC likely also will take some hits.

    Curiously, no ABC executives have been asked to take part in the episode. Network officials are aware of the episode and have approved it.

    Kelley was furious with ABC earlier this year when the network decided to move "The Practice" to Mondays at 9 p.m., where the series immediately ran into the reality juggernaut that was "Joe Millionaire." The Emmy-winning legal drama has taken a major ratings hit since shifting into its new slot, though its numbers edged up a bit this week.

    A 20th Century Fox rep said the studio had no comment on future "Practice" plotlines.

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    Mo 4/14: Courtney Thorne-Smith, Mike O'Malley

  • Jane Co-Hosts with Regis

    Jane Krakowski (Elaine, Ally McBeal) will be filling in for Kelly Ripa on "Live with Regis and Kelly" from March 3 to 7.

  • Downey, Arkin Join Soderbergh Segment of Omnibus Film

    Robert Downey Jr. and Alan Arkin have joined the cast of Steven Soderbergh's segment of "Eros," a three-part ensemble film for Rome-based Fandango films. Committed to direct the other two tales about human love and sexuality, are Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni and Hong Kong-based filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai.

    Soderbergh is substituting for Pedro Almodovar who quit the project in November, according to Variety. The Spanish director gave no reason for quitting the project, but will, however, be creating a visual "framework" for the project.

    Downey Jr., who hasn't starred in a feature film since Curtis Hanson's "Wonder Boys" three years ago, will be appearing next in Keith Gordon's "The Singing Detective" opposite Mel Gibson. He'll soon begin production on Mathieu Kassovitz's "Gothika" with Penelope Cruz and Halle Berry.

    Alan Arkin last appeared in Jill Sprecher's "Thirteen Conversations About One Thing" with Matthew McConaughey.

    The actors will begin shooting their leg of "Eros" this week.

  • Cox, Germann, and Fisher Return With Pilots

    Old faces pop up in new places,as Nikki Cox, Greg Germann and Joely Fisher will all be featured in fall pilots.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cox, last seen as a Vegas dancer on The WB's "Nikki," will return to Sin City as the star of a currently-untitled drama on NBC. Produced by NBC and DreamWorks TV, the show will feature Cox as an escort who operates out of a casino and helps the building's surveillance team. She has to work with a team member (played by Josh Duhamel) who had a crush on her in high school.

    Cox got her start on ABC's "General Hospital," but may be best know from the seminal WB sitcom "Unhappily Ever After." She also appeared on "Blossom" and "The Norm Show."

    Germann will topline the FOX's "The Mallards." In the family comedy, produced by Imagine TV and 20th Century Fox TV, Germann will play the head of the Mallard family, a snobby clan turned upside down by the return of Germann's illegitimate teenage son.

    This will be Germann's first series since he co-starred as Richard Fish on FOX's "Ally McBeal. Besides the five years he spent on David E. Kelley's legal comedy, Germann has appeared on " Ellen" and " Ned and Stacey and in feature films including "Down to Earth" and "Jesus' Son.

    Another " Ellen" veteran, Fisher will take the lead in the Lifetime drama " Wild Card" playing a former Vegas blackjack dealer who becomes an insurance fraud investigator after her sister's mysterious death leaves her raising a young niece and nephew.

    This will be Fisher's first stab at television drama after sitcoms like " Grosse Pointe" and " Baby Bob." While Fisher is doing this pilot, " Baby Bob" remains a possible midseason replacement for CBS.

    In other casting news, James Denton (" Philly") and Kelly Rutherford (" Melrose Place") will star in the rama " Threat Matrix" as ex-spouses working to protect homeland security."

  • Writers Guild To Honor David E. Kelley, John Gay

    The Writers Guild of America, west (WGAw) will honor John Gay and David E. Kelly with awards for excellence. The awards will be presented at the 55th Annual Writers Guild Award ceremony on March 8, 2003.

    Gay will receive the Edmund H. North Award. This award recognizes both Gay's body of work in film and television and his contributions to the guild itself. A veteran of television's early days, Gay got his start writing for anthology programs like "Lux Theatre" and "Goodyear Television Playhouse."

    Moving to features, Gay adapted the submarine drama "Run Silent, Run Deep" and his script for "Separate Tables" was nominated for an Academy Award. Returning to television, Gay penned TV movie versions of classics including "Ivanhoe" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" .

    A member of the WGAw since 1958, Gay served on the guild's board of directors twice and as its vice president from 1985 to 1987.

    "John Gay epitomizes what it means to be a great writer and a great member of the guild" said Victoria Riskin, president of the WGAw. "Not only is his body of work awe-inspiring, but he has given countless hours to the betterment of his fellow writers."

    Kelley will receive the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television. The Chayefsky Laurel is the guild's highest award for television and past recipients have included LArry Gelbart, Carl Reiner and Rod Serling. Last year Glen and Les Charles won the Laurel.

    Kelley shifted from a career in law to television after his feature "From the Hip" was noticed by Steven Bochco. Kelley joined Bochco's writing staff on "L.A. Law" in 1986 and during his time with the show he won three Emmys for writing and producing. With Bochco he co-created "Doogie Howster, M.D" and he has gone on to write and produce shows including "Chicago Hope," "Picket Fences" and "Boston Public."

    In 1999 Kelley-produced shows won Emmys for Outstanding Drama ("The Practice") and Outstanding Comedy ("Ally McBeal"), an unprecedented achievement.

    "David E. Kelley has changed what we see on television," said Riskin. "His writing is so unique and distinctive that it has redefined television drama."

  • Heche: Too Many Personalities

    IN her memoir "Call Me Crazy," formerly gay actress Anne Heche claimed she had multiple personalities. She got to see 14 of them in the flesh last week. Heche stopped by the Hudson Avenue Theater in Los Angeles to catch a performance of "Call Us Crazy: The Anne Heche Monologues," a well-reviewed - and unauthorized - take on Heche's book which features 14 actresses "performing" passages from the autobiography. Included in the show are monologues based on Heche's breakup with Ellen DeGeneres and the time she roamed the California desert on ecstasy, claiming she was from outer space and had to take the drug in order to board her spaceship. Heche and hubby Coley Laffoon decided to check out the play after seeing a sign advertising it, but left early. According to L.A. gossip site Filth2go.com, the Laffoons "exited the theater in horror" as Heche exclaimed, "This is sick."

  • Courtney Thorne-Smith's: Strong Fit and Healthy

    Courtney Thorne-Smith's (ex-Georgia) new book entitled Courtney Thorne-Smith's: Strong Fit and Healthy is available for pre-order now. Click here to order it. If you missed her recent appearance on "The View" you can click here to watch it online.

  • Downey Jr. in Talks to Join 'Gothika' Cast

    Actor Robert Downey Jr. ("Wonder Boys") is in talks to star in "Gothika" for Dark Castle Entertainment. Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz ("The Crimson Rivers," "Hate"), the supernatural thriller stars Halle Berry and Penelope Cruz.

    Written by Sebastian Gutierrez ("The Big Bounce"), the film centers on a female psychiatrist (Berry) who wakes up as a patient in the asylum for the criminally insane where she works and finds that she is being charged with a murder she has no memory of committing. As she wrestles to regain her memory, she finds that she is the pawn of a vengeful spirit. Cruz plays Chloe, a charismatic yet deranged patient at the facility.

    Downey Jr. will play a psychiatrist and colleague of Berry's character, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    Downey Jr. will be starring next in Keith Gordon's "The Singing Detective" opposite Robin Wright Penn and Mel Gibson, who is also producing the picture.

    Production on "Gothika" is set to begin in April.

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    Mo 2/17: Jay Leno, Jim Belushi, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Evan Marriott, guest co-host Leah Remini

  • FOX, NBC Pilots Add to Casts

    Former "Ally McBeal" regular Josh Hopkins is back in the FOX fold, landing the lead role in a futuristic cop-show pilot from Steven Bochco.

    Hopkins will star in "NYPD 2069" as New York City detective Alex Franco, according to The Hollywood Reporter. After someone tries to murder Franco in the present day, he's cryogenically frozen and not reanimated until 2069. He then rejoins the police force and searches for the man, now elderly, who tried to kill him.

    In addition to "Ally McBeal," Hopkins has appeared on "New York Undercover" and had a recurring role on "Jack & Jill."

    Kevin Dunn ("Gleason" ) has also joined the cast of "2069," which was created by Bochco ("NYPD Blue"). He will play the man in charge of bringing Franco up to date with what's happened during the time he was frozen. Danny Pino and Mark Pellegrino also have roles in the pilot.

    Also at FOX, Brooke Langton ("Melrose Place," "Swingers" ) has taken the lead female role in "The Break," a drama set in Hawaii. She will play the sister of a cop (Dylan Bruno) who moves back to Hawaii from the mainland to raise his son.

    NBC's pilot "EDNY," about a group of prosecutors in New York, has added Jacob Vargas ("Greetings from Tucson") to its ensemble. He'll play an Immigration and Naturalization Service agent. However, if The WB renews "Tucson" for a second season, he would step away from the NBC project.

  • Heche delivers supporting role for FL's 'Birth'

    Anne Heche is in negotiations to join Nicole Kidman, Danny Huston and Lauren Bacall in Fine Line Features' "Birth" for filmmaker Jonathan Glazer (news), sources said.

    The Manhattan-set dramatic mystery follows the story of a 10-year-old boy who falls in love with an older woman (Kidman). He then becomes convinced that he is the reincarnation of the woman's late husband, causing her to question her past. Heche would star as a close friend of Kidman's character.

    Jean-Louis Piel and Wang Wei are producing along with Nick Morris and Lizie Gower through Glazer's Academy Prods. Glazer penned the script with Jean-Claude Carriere and with a rewrite by Milo Addica.

    Heche is repped by WMA and attorney Kevin Yorn at Barnes, Morris, Klein, Mark & Yorn. She was last seen on the big screen opposite Denzel Washington (news) in New Line Cinema's "John Q." She recently completed a long run on Broadway in "Proof" and next stars in the Miramax Films drama "Prozac Nation."

  • Shopping With The Stars

    Usually when caught buying things, celebrities are doing it for themselves. But Robert Downey Jr. bought up a whole passel of duds while in Sundance for his ex-wife, Deborah Falconer. Downey was overheard raving that her career as the lead singer in a band was about to take off. He couldn't have seemed more pleased and proud.

  • Taye Digs Weds

    CHICAGO actor TAYE DIGGS has wed his longtime girlfriend - in the same location where he made his movie debut.

    The former ALLY McBEAL star tied the knot with actress and singer IDINA MENZEL on 11 January at Montego Bay, Jamaica's picturesque Round Hill resort, which is also where he shot 1998's HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK alongside ANGELA BASSETT.

    A small group of family and friends attended the nuptials.

    The two met while performing in the original Broadway production of RENT.

  • Cinematography Nominees

    In addition to being the biggest hit on TV, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" is also one of the best-looking shows on the air, with all its dark shadows and neon lights of Las Vegas at night.

    Accordingly, episodes of the show -- and the people who filmed them -- are up for two awards at the American Society of Cinematographers' annual honors. The series' crossover episode that launched the spinoff "CSI: Miami" is also nominated.

    The society's annual awards honor cinematographers in three categories: episode of a regular series; broadcast movie, miniseries or pilot; and cable movie, miniseries or pilot. CBS -- the three "CSI" episodes -- and NBC programs each earned three nominations, while FOX and ABC each got two. Seven other networks -- The WB, UPN, TNT, HBO, Showtime, Hallmark Channel and Sci Fi -- each earned one nod.

    Michael Barrett, who shot one of the two nominated "CSI" episodes as well as the "CSI: Miami" pilot, is nominated in two categories. He's only the second cinematographer to be nominated in more than one category.

    The society will hand out its awards Sunday, Feb. 16. Below is a full list of nominees ("ASC" after a name denotes a member of the society):

    EPISODIC

    Michael Barrett, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (episode "Snuff" ), CBS
    Michael Bonvillain, "Alias" (episode "Page 47" ), ABC
    Frank Byers, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (episode "Fight Night" ), CBS
    Thomas Del Ruth, ASC, "The West Wing" (episode "Holy Night" ), NBC
    Billy Dickson, ASC, "Ally McBeal" (episode "Reality Bites" ), FOX
    Robert Primes, ASC, "MDs" (episode "Wing and a Prayer" ), ABC
    Bill Roe, ASC, "The X-Files" (episode "Release" ), FOX

    BROADCAST MOVIE/MINISERIES/PILOT

    Michael Barrett, "CSI: Miami" pilot ("Cross Jurisdictions" ), CBS
    Victor Goss, ASC, "Carrie," NBC
    Clark Mathis, "Birds of Prey" pilot, The WB
    Brian J. Reynolds, "American Dreams" pilot, NBC
    Peter Wunstorf, "Haunted" pilot, UPN

  • Robert Downey Says Jail Made Him Older, Wiser

    Actor Robert Downey (news), Jr., whose bouts with cocaine addiction have been front-page news, said he still battles drug dependency but that his experiences in jail and drug rehabilitation have made him wiser.

    Talking to reporters this weekend at the Sundance Film Festival where he premiered his first movie since completing court-ordered drug rehabilitation in July, Downey said he believed the public saw him as more human now, due to his troubles.

    "I'm a little older. I'm mildly wiser," Downey, 37, said. "My frequent appearances on (cable TV show) Court TV have brought me to another level than just always 'the acting guy' ... I think I've become very, I don't want to say real, but I'm very tangible to people ... because of my fallibility."

    Downey spent a year in prison starting in 1999 for cocaine possession, then landed a plum role on TV's "Ally McBeal" within a week of his August 2000 release.

    Yet, his good fortune could not keep him out of trouble. He was arrested on drug charges twice more over the next few months.

    After ending drug rehabilitation last year, he got his career back on track, lip-syncing a music video for Elton John and now starring in dark comedy "The Singing Detective" along with Robin Wright Penn (news), Katie Holmes and Mel Gibson.

    He plays a mystery writer who is paralyzed in the hospital and fantasizes about being a suave detective.

    Downey said that working again helps keep his mind off drugs. "It's not like I'm under the ridiculous illusion I can control this chemical compound past a certain point," he said, adding: "I definitely think it's better to be working."

    He acknowledged having a tendency to go to extremes.

    "I always want higher challenge. I'm always out for a good, hard time if that has to do with visiting various institutions or visiting various studios," he said.

  • Voyeur Alert

    Note to Harrison Ford: Get some curtains! The star of blockbusters like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Air Force One" has unwittingly been providing live entertainment for his swishy neighbors across the street from his Chelsea penthouse. At least one gay couple can see right into the actor's apartment, and they've been inviting grateful friends over for impromptu Ford-watching parties. "We collectively run there, especially when he's in his boxers," one male guest tells the new issue of New York magazine. "We just sit in the dark and ogle." The peeping toms never get a glimpse of Ford and his girlfriend, Calista Flockhart, au naturel, as the bedroom is "tucked in the back."

  • CBS Goes Home with David E. Kelley

    CBS is betting that the quick demise of David E. Kelley's "girls club" was an aberration.

    The network has given a 13-episode commitment to a new series from the prolific writer-producer ("Boston Public," "The Practice") that will focus on three brothers in a small New England town.

    Because Kelley has a production deal with 20th Century Fox TV, the FOX network got first crack at the project. The network turned it down, opening the door for another to take it, according to The Hollywood Reporter. ABC and NBC also expressed interest but were outbid by CBS.

    "Without question, everyone at CBS is extremely excited to be back in business with David E. Kelley," CBS president and CEO Les Moonves says.

    CBS was home to the first series Kelley created, "Picket Fences," which ran for four seasons and was a two-time Emmy winner for best drama. Kelley also created "Chicago Hope" for the network.

    The new series, which doesn't have a title yet, will revolve around three brothers in their late 30s and early 40s in a fictional town in New Hampshire. One brother is the town's mayor and another a police officer. "It's a place where everything that happens becomes more explosive because everybody knows each other," 20th Centry Fox TV president Dana Walden says.

    Kelley is writing the pilot script and will seve as executive producer.

  • Edna 'Squares' Off

    THIS WEEKEND, "Hollywood Squares" will be taping two weeks worth of shows starring its newest and most outrageous Center Square - none other than Barry Humphries, a.k.a. Dame Edna.

    The Australian-born Barry is riding higher than Dame Edna's corset these days. He has his advice column in the posh magazine Vanity Fair and he is also appearing as a real live actor in the movie "Nicholas Nickleby." There he is on screen gussied up as a dowager lady of a bygone Charles Dickens era. He is one of the great pleasures of this very fine film. Barry's turn has sparked amusing speculation about a Best Supporting Oscar, but would he get it as an actor or as an actress? 'Tis a puzzlement.

    The funniest touchstone of Barry's incredible career comes from the fact that years ago, in Australia, he created the idea of Dame Edna as a character for his fellow student, the wonderful Zoe Caldwell, to play. But Zoe had other plans and couldn't take on Dame Edna. It was left for Barry to step into Edna's large-size high heels and the rest is history!

  • Mad Max Role For Downey Jr.

    Troubled Hollywood actor ROBERT DOWNEY JR looks set to land a part in the upcoming MAD MAX 4 movie, courtesy of good friend MEL GIBSON.

    The ALLY McBEAL star - notorious for his drug offences - has remained close to Gibson since working together on AIR AMERICA in 1990.

    Director of the new movie, GEORGE MILLER, says, "Mel has an idea to put Robert Downey Jr in a role and I myself would love to see some of the faces from earlier return, be it TINA TURNER or EMIL MINTY."

    Downey Jr's friendship with BRAVEHEART star Gibson has paid off previously too - he is soon to be seen in the lead role in THE SINGING DETECTIVE, which was made by Gibson's ICON PRODUCTIONS.

  • Portia de Rossi Weds a Kennedy!

    The series finale of Ally McBeal proved a dull downer, but in our humble opinion, Portia de Rossi was the best thing about that dramedy right up until the very end. "Oh, really?!" she exclaims to TV Guide Online. "Listen to me, I'm shocked. That's so lovely!"

    Though the Aussie actress — who turns 30 this month — has trouble taking the compliment, she finds our Ally criticism dead-on. "I don't think [the final episode] was the most generous approach to an audience who stuck with us for five years," de Rossi admits. "Like, have Ally go back to Boston to be with Larry! You know, make it sweeter. To see Ally McBeal walk down the street on her way to New York City, one of the loneliest cities in the world, where she doesn't know anyone, was sad.

    "But," she chuckles, "I think Calista Flockhart meeting Harrison Ford in her personal life made everyone happier! She's so happy with him and her baby, Liam."

    In her own life, de Rossi reportedly is the longtime girlfriend of singer Francesca Gregorini, who's the daughter of Bond girl Barbara Bach and stepdaughter of Ringo Starr. "Let's just say I'm spoken for," she teases. "I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to let paparazzi dictate where I went and with whom. I live my life freely. As far as my private life goes, there's a public interest and I get that, but I cherish my private life and put it above my career. It's precious and I can't talk about it."

    She sounds nearly as press shy as the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, whom she portrays in America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story (airing Sunday at 8 pm/ET on TBS). "There was a split second where I thought, 'I may not do this role,'" she says. "The last thing I wanted to do was jump in the bloody tabloid circus and tell a story from some horrible sensational slant. But then I felt, 'Oh my God, what if the person who ends up playing her never met her?' I felt very protective of her memory all of a sudden.

    "I met Carolyn at a White House Correspondents dinner," de Rossi explains. "I got a sharp tug on my pony tail, and I turn around and it's Carolyn Bessette! She said, 'What, are you trying to look like me?' And we started talking about Ally McBeal because she was a huge fan. She was so vivacious, cheeky and fun! I was shocked at how extremely different her public persona was from her actual self."

  • De Rossi On Talk Shows

    LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY, NBC
    Fr 1/17: Dermot Mulroney, Portia De Rossi, Mike Birbiglia, Sugarcult

    THE CAROLINE RHEA SHOW, syndicated
    We 1/8: Oliver Platt, Portia De Rossi

  • De Rossi Struggled With JFK Jr. Wife Part

    Actress Portia de Rossi couldn't fathom letting someone who had never met Carolyn Bessette play John F. Kennedy Jr.'s wife in a new TBS Superstation movie airing Sunday.

    "I met her a couple of times and had a really good sense of who she was," said de Rossi, best known for playing Nelle Porter on Fox's "Ally McBeal."

    "She created this character who was quite cold and shy and aloof, which gave her an air of mystery and elegance, kind of befitting a royal character," De Rossi told The Associated Press. "She really charmed the pants off everybody who came into contact with her."

    De Rossi and newcomer Kristoffer Polaha, who plays Kennedy, struggled with how they would portray the couple who died in a plane crash along with Bessette's sister in July 1999.

    "We wanted to do this, but then we didn't," she said. "Kris is like, `I can't believe the thing that's going to put me on the map is going to occur because this man was killed tragically.' We couldn't think about that. We had to think we were celebrating their lives."

    The movie "America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story" shows Kennedy's devotion to his wife, mother and sister, de Rossi said.

    "It does give the audience empathy for a Kennedy for the first time," she said. "It's just so bloody tragic."

  • Perfect Gent

    WE like to think of Harrison Ford as a macho hero, like Han Solo or Indiana Jones, who doesn't kowtow to political correctness when he teases Princess Leia with funny put-downs. That's why we believed it when a source said Ford - ordering dinner at Babbo - had referred to Calista Flockhart as "my accessory." But Ford never said any such thing. So to prevent any further unhappiness, we hereby retract our story from Nov. 6. Let the record show, Ford is a perfect gentleman with a highly refined sense of equality between the sexes.

  • Jon Bon Jovi Helps School Raise Funds

    Jon Bon Jovi (news) took a break from his international tour to help a high school group raise $36,500 for a local medical clinic.

    Bon Jovi, whose band played shows in Australia earlier this week, performed 10 songs during his appearance Thursday at Rumson-Fair Haven High School. The show was benefit performance for the Parker Family Health Center, a Red Bank-based free clinic that counts the singer and his family among its benefactors.

    Bon Jovi performed some of his best-known hits, a few numbers from his new CD, "Bounce," and his version of the Elvis Presley (news) song "That's All Right, Mama." Bon Jovi, who lives in nearby Middletown Township, was backed by a five-piece band that included two musicians — keyboardist Dave Bryan and bassist Hugh McDonald — who regularly perform with his group.

    "We're here to make a difference," Bon Jovi told the crowd that packed into the Monmouth County school's 750-seat auditorium. The $35 tickets for the event, sponsored by the school's Spanish Honor Society, were sold mostly to students, although some parents and faculty also came out.

    Eugene Cheslock, the clinic's director, said Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea, held a party at their home last year to raise money that was used to buy land for an expanded clinic. The new facility, expected to open next year, will replace the trailer that now houses the clinic.

    Bon Jovi said he receives numerous requests to appear at charity shows, so he tries to attend events that will have a broad impact.

    "Thirty percent of Americans don't have health insurance," the singer said. "There's an astronomical need for places like this."

  • New Role For Calista

    Petite actress CALISTA FLOCKHART is putting her ALLY McBEAL heartbreak behind her - to star as a wannabe actress in a new film about the Mafia.

    McBEAL has accepted the role in PROVIDENCE, based on a real-life sting operation in Providence, Rhode Island that caught numerous mobsters.

    Flockhart, 38, has been dating K-19 star HARRISON FORD, who is 22 years her senior.

    Her long-running off-beat legal show was cancelled earlier this year due to falling ratings.

  • Endquote

    "I WAS doing a sex scene with this guy once and he got up in the middle of it and said, ‘Can I take a shower after this?' It was sort of offensive and embarrassing. I found out later he meant a cold shower, but at the time I didn't know." - Christina Ricci in London's Daily Mirror

  • Trio nabs roles in 'Providence'

    Calista Flockhart, Tim Blake Nelson (news) and Toni Collette (news) are in talks to join the cast of the mob feature "Providence" for the Walt Disney Co. and director Jeff Nathanson.

    The film, which also stars Alec Baldwin and Matthew Broderick, was inspired by the true story of a sting operation in Providence, R.I. It revolves around a young filmmaker (Broderick) who is given millions of dollars to make his first movie by a mysterious benefactor (Baldwin) on the condition that he shoot it in Providence. But the filmmaker eventually discovers that his film's producer is an undercover FBI (news - web sites) agent.

    Flockhart will play a wannabe actress with an on-again, off-again relationship with Broderick's character. Nelson will play a washed-up Hollywood writer, and Collette will play a gifted actress trying to rejuvenate her career.

    Nathanson, who is making his directorial debut on the project, also penned the script. It is being produced by David Permut through Permut Pictures, Larry Brezner through MBST Entertainment and David Hoberman through his Disney-based Mandeville Films. Production is being overseen by Disney production exec Jeff Clifford.

    Flockhart, best known for her work on the long-running Fox television series "Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV)," has appeared in such feature films as "The Birdcage," "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Quiz Show." She is repped by UTA.

    Nelson, who previously worked with Disney on "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" recently appeared in 20th Century Fox's "Minority Report" and Fox Searchlight's "The Good Girl." He can also be seen in the upcoming Lions Gate biopic "Wonderland." Nelson is repped by UTA, the Firm and attorney Mark Glick.

    "Providence" reunites Collette with Disney, for whom she appeared in the blockbuster "The Sixth Sense." Her other recent feature credits include Universal's "About a Boy" and Paramount's "Changing Lanes." She also appears in the upcoming Paramount drama "The Hours." Collette is repped by UTA and Anne Churchill Brown of Shanahan Management.

  • This Ally McBeal Blonde Had Less Fun

    As Ally McBeal fans recall, Billy went platinum blonde before croaking from a brain tumor. "That's definitely a time I want to forget," his portrayer, Gil Bellows, tells TV Guide Online. "I couldn't stand the blond hair. I was excited about the change, but I thought it was an external manifestation that would disappear quickly — it was eight months of dyeing my hair every two weeks. It wasn't fun."

    Bellows thinks Billy's bleach burn was symptomatic of a larger problem on David E. Kelley's now-defunct legal dramedy. "I thought the hair was pretty funny for about a week," he says. "What I loved about the show was the serious heart and all the goofy stuff. As it got goofier and goofier, though, I liked it less and less. That was my personal critique, and it seems to me that a lot of people agreed with that."

    Did Bellows find Ally's farewell episode as forced and unemotional as we did? "I showed up out of good will," he sighs. "I felt like not showing up would've been a bad thing. My sense is that the beat of the music changed and [the show] lost its way."

    His recent exit from CBS's The Agency also left a bad taste in Bellows's mouth. Why was his CIA agent Matt Callen really killed off? Shying away from specifics, he chalks it up to "creative differences" with the show's new honchos. 'Nuff said.

    This year, Bellows hopes to land another TV series, but he's keeping busy in the meantime. Tonight, he co-stars with Jon Voight and Teri Polo in the football drama Second String (airing on TBS at 8 pm/ET). Next year, he'll star in First To Die — an NBC miniseries based on James Patterson's serial killer novel. He's also shooting Blind Horizon with Val Kilmer and Neve Campbell for the big screen. Pretty fly for a dead guy.

  • Independent Spirit Awards

    2003 IFP Independent Spirit Award Nominations:

    Supporting Female
    Viola Davis, "Antwone Fisher"
    Jacqueline Kim, "Charlotte Sometimes"
    Juliette Lewis, "Hysterical Blindness"
    Emily Mortimer, "Lovely & Amazing"
    Julianne Nicholson, "Tully" (ex-Ally McBeal)

  • Irish Eyes Smiling As Kelley Shops Pilot

    David E. Kelley isn't wasting any time jumping back into the series development game.

    While his Fox drama "Girls Club" failed to ignite much interest among viewers earlier this fall, the Emmy-winning writer-producer of "Boston Public" and "The Practice" has already penned a pilot script for a new hourlong drama, and it's being shopped to potential network buyers for the 2003-04 season. Details are few, but insiders say it's a family drama built around an Irish-American clan.

    Under the terms of 20th Century Fox TV and Fox Broadcasting's mammoth multiyear deal with Kelley, the Fox network has a first-look right to any Kelley-created project. But both the scribe and Fox Entertainment president Gail Berman quickly decided the project wasn't right for Fox. As a result, Kelley's reps have taken the project to the open market.

    Several networks have already expressed interest in the script, which would be produced by 20th Century Fox TV and David E. Kelley Prods. and will no doubt fetch a major financial commitment. The good news for the Fox network: Kelley's nothing if not prolific. In addition to the family drama, industry insiders believe he will find time to create another show -- this one targeted for Fox's 2003-04 schedule.

  • Bon Jovi Calls George W. A Lunatic

    Jon Bon Jovi shares a common world sentiment about the US President. He says he is a lunatic. "George W. Lunatic" to be exact.

    Bon Jovi volunteered his attack on the US Prez to a gathered throng of media just prior to performing the opening night show of the Bounce World Tour at the Rumba Festival in Melbourne.

    Jon was blunt with his opinion. "George W. Lunatic" he stated in reference to the current war policy of the United States Government.

    Bon Jovi were supporters of Al Gore's Presidental campaign in the last election. Gore lost marginally after recounts in the state of Florida leaving many Americans doubtful that their elected choice is really their elected choice.

    George Double Ya on the other hand immediately deflected focus away from the US economy by declaring his war on terror leaving many Americans now questioning run down local issues.

    Bon Jovi backed Al Gore in that last election and performed 'Livin' On A Prayer' at rallies for him. "I wrote that song during the Reagan era and the trickle-down economics are really inspirational to writing songs, so I don't really need to write songs like that anymore. I want to write really upbeat happy prosperous songs about what's going to be happening right now today and tomorrow" Jon Bon Jovi told US media at the time.

    The show last night in Melbourne marked the start of the Bounce World Tour with Bon Jovi slatted to spend most of 2003 on the road, returning at some stage to Australia to perform a full set on their own show.

    The Bon Jovi Rumba setlist was:

    Bounce, You Give Love A Bad Name, Everyday, It's My Life, Wanted Dead Or Alive, Misunderstood, Livin' On A Prayer, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, Bad Medicine, Shout

  • We Hear

    THAT Robert Downey Jr. is still best buds with his estranged wife, singer Deborah Falconer. The pair is hosting Flaunt magazine's fourth-anniversary party at the W Hotel in Union Square tomorrow. Falconer - who had a son, Indio, 9, with Downey before they split - will perform some of her songs.

  • Fur-Get It

    AXL Rose never got to the birthday party photographer David LaChappelle threw for his transsexual muse, Amanda Lapore, at Spa Thursday night. The Guns N' Roses frontman arrived at about 3 a.m., but he was wearing a fur coat, and the club has a policy against fur. One of the women in Axl's entourage checked her fur at a nearby parking garage, but angry Axl stalked off as his friends went in to find Robert Downey Jr., who confessed he was a big fan of LaChappelle's photos of Lapore's fake breasts. Downey asked if he could kiss them. Sure, she said. So he did.

  • 'GMA' Pulls A Switch On Viewers, Bon Jovi

    Did "Good Morning America" producers pull a fast one on Bon Jovi?

    Last week, hosts Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson announced that the New Jersey rockers would perform when the show aired live from Miami Friday. Best of all, viewers would get to choose from a list of five songs the group would play.

    All week long, votes poured into ABCnews.com for "Wanted Dead or Alive," "You Give Love a Bad Name," "I'll Be There for You," "It's My Life" and "Misunderstood," from the band's new album, "Bounce."

    Voting ended Thursday night, with the plaintive ballad "I'll Be There for You" the clear winner.

    But when Jon Bon Jovi took the stage, he was told the winner was the raucous "It's My Life" and that's what the guys played, as Sawyer and Gibson bopped away.

    "The voting was very close, and I made a decision to go with 'It's My Life,' " "GMA" producer Shelley Ross said. "You're right that the ballad won out. It was a last-minute decision that I made to go with an upbeat song that is a fan-based favorite."

    A spokesman for Jon Bon Jovi told us, "I think they should invite him back to play the real winner."

  • Ricci In Talks to Become Lesbian Lover for 'Monster'

    Christina Ricci is in talks to play the lesbian lover of Charlize Theron in the story about serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster" for MDP Worldwide.

    Considered the first female serial killer in the United States, Wuornos worked as a prostitute in Florida since she was a young teenager. When she was arrested in 1990, she confessed to having killed six of her customers, the first murder dating back to 1989. In her defense, Wuornos explained that the killings were carried out in self-defense. The fact that Wuornos was a lesbian did not help endear her to the Florida courts; she was executed by lethal injection last month.

    Wuornos’ story has been the subject of three books, an opera and two movies, including a documentary by Nick Broomfield ("Biggie and Tupac"). This project, directed by first-time helmer Patty Jenkins from her own script, stars Theron as the serial killer in a story that concentrates on Wuornos' relationship with her lover and her final days before her arrest, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    Ricci, 22, most recently starred in Brian Gilbert’s "The Gathering." She’ll be appearing next in Woody Allen’s "Anything Else" and is also working on her directorial debut, "The Speed Queen."

    Production on "Monster" is set to begin in January.

  • Bon Jovi & Vanessa Carlton Tapped For NFL Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show

    Bon Jovi and pop singer Vanessa Carlton will play the halftime show of the Detroit Lions' Thanksgiving Day (November 28) football game against the New England Patriots. The two acts will be joined by 1,000 volunteers from the United Way, which is sponsoring the halftime show.

    It will be Bon Jovi's second gig for the NFL this year: The group helped the league kick off its new season with shows in Times Square and at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in early September.

    The NFL will announce a national anthem singer and other entertainment for the Thanksgiving Day game shortly.

  • Fulfillment Fund

    THE Fulfillment Fund. A mentor program in L.A. that funds scholarships to students. Last night it honored Peter Chernin, president and COO of the News Corp., which owns this paper and me. Previous honorees were Jeffrey Katzenberg, Bob Iger, a couple of Bronfmans, Aaron Spelling. Dinner chair was Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. Also Rupert and Wendi Murdoch. Serena Williams escorted by the tennis bracelet she got from Harry Winston arrived. Garry Shandling emceed. Ringo Starr's kid Zak Starkey entertained. Calista Flockhart showed.

  • At 40, Jon Bon Jovi Just Can't Believe His Luck

    At the ripe old age of 40, Jon Bon Jovi (news) just can't believe his luck -- album sales are heading for 100 million and fans show no signs of wearying of one of the world's most enduring supergroups.

    The rock veteran shows every sign of growing old with a twinkle in his eye. For Bon Jovi impishly admitted that the big attraction at this year's MTV Music Awards in Barcelona is seeing what outfit raunchy pop diva Christina Aguilera (news) will be sporting on pop's big night.

    Both will be performing before a television audience of up to one billion people around the world at Thursday night's awards and Bon Jovi, speaking to Reuters Television on the eve of the ceremony, said that crossing the Atlantic was well worth his while when it came to record industry love-ins.

    "Most of the European awards are fun. The American ones are uptight and boring," said the singer celebrating a career that shows no signs of flagging after the critical acclaim that has greeted the band's latest album, "Bounce."

    In addition to the day job leading one of the world's top rock bands for the last 20 years, Bon Jovi has carved out a career in acting, ranging from the 1995 movie "Moonlight and Valentino" to a string of appearances in the "Ally McBeal" show on television before it folded.

    The band's album sales have now topped 95 million and, with the 100 million milestone now in sight, he said of the latest album: "I am very pleased with the reaction to it. To be still here after all these years is great and I don't even know how to dance."

    He had no doubt which was the most achievable ambition when asked which he would prefer -- getting off with Christina Aguilera or selling 100 million albums. "Reaching 100 million is much more likely," he said ruefully.

    On the cover of her latest album "Stripped," the sultry Aguilera appears naked from the waist up. As one admiring American critic wrote: "a couple of strategically placed hair extensions are the only thing standing between her and a guest spot on the next 'Girls Gone Wild' video."

    Bon Jovi, the handsome lead singer in one of rock music's longest-lasting supergroups, was full of admiration for her obvious charms. But it was all light-hearted stuff, a rock idol playing up his image in a hedonistic world of excess where rock icons are so often surrounded by eager groupies.

    Adoring fans may throw their bras and panties on stage when he is performing but this is a man who has been married to his wife Dorothea since 1989.

    Dorothea certainly helps to keep his mind on his priorities. She has a black belt in karate and once famously told him that if he strayed from the marital path "OK, go ahead. But as soon as you're done, I'll be the one with the kids and I'll be the one shagging Tom Cruise (news)."

    Bon Jovi argues that "Trying to seduce an audience is the basis of rock 'n' roll." But the love affair is confined to the stage. "All I do now is talk and look," he says.

    So how then does marriage fit in with the wild image of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll? Bon Jovi had no doubts about his priorities, saying simply but confidently of his marriage: "It works."

  • Plaza Sweet

    DON'T even think about trying to get a suite at the Plaza Hotel this week. Jon Bon Jovi and his bandmates are taking over the historical hotel for four days to prepare for their Nov. 7 concert for the Robin Hood Foundation at the Roseland Ballroom. The benefit, hosted by Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, is almost sold out, but a few tickets remain.

  • There Ain't Nothing Dame Edna

    DAME EDNA, Australia's gift to the world, not only keeps winning American hearts as their favorite "old girl" ("she" is, of course, privately Barry Humphries) but B'way gave "her" a Tony Award the last time "she" appeared in the hit show where "she" insulted audiences night after night.

    Now Barry loves his new life in the U.S. But he says when watching American TV, he thinks we are "all Martians." He has just written his life story "My Life as Me: A Memoir."

    It should hearten Dame Edna fans - both those who saw Edna live in concert and also those who only saw her on the last of the "Ally McBeal" shows - to know that there is a Dame Edna TV series in the works.

    In his book, Humphries tells a tale about his drinking days and how he left London in 1970, leaving a large outstanding bill at a place called the Wine Lodge. This was on his conscience and when fame came at last he vowed to pay up. But the bar owner came to see him at the theater and congratulated him afterward. When Humphries brought up the outstanding bill, the owner laughed it off. "The truth is ... we used to charge you in round figures. When you had a few too many, we sometimes used our imaginations ... It could just be, Barry, that we owe you."

    P.S. Barry H. is said to be hilarious in the coming movie "Nicholas Nickleby," wherein he plays a Victorian lady opposite such as Nathan Lane, Jamie Bell, Christopher Plummer, Alan Cumming, Anne Hathway, Edward Fox, Tom Courtenay, etc. He is so good, there's already talk of awards - Golden Globes and such. But will Barry be recognized in the Best Actor, or Best Actress category?

  • Singer Barry White Planning for Kidney Transplant

    Soul singer Barry White, battling kidney failure, is resting comfortably while doctors conduct tests to find a suitable transplant donor among his eight children, a spokesman said on Thursday.

    The 58-year-old entertainer was hospitalized last month for kidney dialysis, but he is now at home and undergoing dialysis ever other day on an out-patient basis as his condition improves, White's manager, Ned Shanker, told Reuters.

    "He's doing really great. I was with him last night, and things are going really well," Shanker said, adding that the hefty singer has been dieting and has gotten his high blood pressure under control.

    He said tests were being performed to determine whether any of White's children would make a suitable organ donor to provide a kidney to their father for a transplant.

    "He's got eight kids," Shanker said. "They're doing tests. I don't think we're going to be doing a nationwide search (for a kidney). I think we've got it pretty well covered."

    White's label, the Island Def Jam Music Group, disclosed in September that White was undergoing dialysis for kidney failure caused by a history of high blood pressure.

    The singer, known for his rich bass vocals and musical love-maestro persona, has provided "the mood" for countless candlelight dinners and late-night trysts with such ballads as "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," and "You're the First the Last, My Everything."

  • Fox Disbands 'Girls Club' After Two Episodes

    After two airings, Fox has returned its verdict on its legal drama "Girls Club," and the news is not good for the defendant.

    The network canceled the heavily promoted show on Tuesday, after it posted a significant decline from its already weak premiere episode.

    That first showing finished fifth in its time slot, according to Nielsen Media Research, and was 82nd for the week out of 131 total rated programs.

    The second episode was down 16 percent in total viewers from the first show and down 16 percent in the ratings among audiences aged 18 to 49, a key demographic for advertisers.

    "Girls Club" was the latest drama from famed producer David E. Kelley. The show was dogged by negative reviews and largely failed to draw young women, its target audience.

    Fox had counted on the show as the successor to another Kelley legal drama, "Ally McBeal," which was a hit for the network before ending its run last season.

    Kelley, best-known for shows like "L.A. Law" and "Picket Fences," has two other shows on air this season: "Boston Public (news - Y! TV)" Monday nights on Fox and "The Practice" Sunday nights on ABC.

  • Upcoming Josh Groban Appearances
    (From Monique367)

    JOSH GROBAN ON PBS GREAT PERFORMANCES
    The premiere of Josh's PBS Great Performance special, "Josh Groban in Concert," will premiere on November 23rd. It will also repeat on local PBS stations throughout the November-December annual pledge drives.

    JOSH IN THE MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
    Keep your eyes for Josh on the Maytag float of the 2002 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28th. The parade will be broadcast on NBC between 9:00am and 12 noon for all time zones.

    20/20 INTERVIEW
    Catch the rebroadcast of Josh's 20/20 interview on ABC - November 29th. This repeat will include additional interview footage not seen before!

    ROCKEFELLER CENTER TREE LIGHTING
    On December 4th, Josh will be peforming two songs on The Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting ceremony, which will air on NBC.

  • Jennifer Holiday

    JENNIFER HOLLIDAY appears one night only at Town Hall on Oct. 28, belting out songs from "The Wiz," "Bubbling Brown Sugar," "Purlie" and, of course, "Dreamgirls." Holliday's night of hits benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Call (212) 840-0770, ext. 268.

  • Actress Calista Flockhart calls Los Angeles police to report prowler

    Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart called police last week to report a prowler calling her name outside Harrison Ford's home, authorities said. Los Angeles police responded to the home in the Brentwood area west of downtown but were unable to find anyone, Officer Jason Lee, a police spokesman, said Friday.

    "There was no indication of any kind of crime," he said.

    A spokesman for Flockhart didn't return a call Friday, but Ford's manager, Pat McQueeney, said the report turned out to be "nothing."

    Flockhart called police at about 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 10.

  • Bon Jovi Faces Off With Elvis

    Bon Jovi's new album, Bounce, is expected to debut in the upper regions of the Billboard 200 on Wednesday (October 16). Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora told LAUNCH that he expects the album to battle Elvis Presley's Elvis: 30 #1 Hits for the top spot.

    "You know I'm anxious to see how it's going down. Obviously it's being well received everywhere else. And right now from what I'm hearing we're neck-and-neck with the King right now. He's up yesterday, we're up today, and it's like, literally [the difference is] 7,000 records, which is not a lot of records," he said. "So we have a chance at coming in Number One and after 20 years of being in a band that's pretty cool."

    The first single from Bounce is "Everyday," which Sambora said is an ode to making every minute of life count.

    Bon Jovi will play three dates in Australia in December and then in January the band will tour Japan. The band recently did a promotional tour of New York for various outlets, but Jon Bon Jovi had to cut his promotional time for Bounce down due to a family emergency.

  • Taye Diggs's Parallel Universe

    Ever since he helped Angela Bassett get her groove back, Taye Diggs has been Hollywood's go-to African-American romantic lead. So, it was only a matter of time before the 30-year-old dreamboat (oh that voice, those teeth) started repeating himself.

    Take his latest film, Brown Sugar. The flick bears a striking resemblance to his 1999 effort, The Wood. Not only are both helmed by director Rick Famuyiwa, but they also feature leading lady Sanaa Lathan and revolve around nuptials. What gives?

    "I thought it was different," he says of Sugar, which opens Friday. "And I'd never seen anything like the way they paralleled hip-hop with the relationship. I thought that was very interesting and very clever.

    "I never read a script and think, 'This is another romantic lead,'" adds the actor, who's currently starring on Broadway in Chicago (he'll appear in the film version later this year as well). "It's the character and where the character fits in the story and the challenges set in the script [that attract me]. Then, I take it from there."

    Incidentally, romance and weddings are currently dominating Diggs's real life, too. The onetime Ally McBeal guest star is engaged to theater actress Idina Menzel. Does the future Mrs. Diggs mind that her man has such an intense (read: obsessed) female following? Grins the former soap stud: "We can afford the mortgage, so I don't think she's complaining."

  • Bon Jovi "Bounces" into Stores

    Up until a few days ago, Bon Jovi was livin' on a prayer that the band's latest disc would hit stores as scheduled today. Now they're livin' on a court order.

    The New Jersey crew led by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora needed an 11th-hour reprieve to get their new album, Bounce, on shelves Tuesday after an Internet company sued to block the release.

    Fortunately for the band, a federal judge on Friday shot down (minus the "blaze of glory" part) DownloadCard Inc.'s request to block Universal Music Group's sale of Bounce. U.S. District Court Judge Chares Haight ruled that an injunction could harm the CD's sales and cause significant financial loss to Universal's Island Def Jam label.

    The New York-based DownloadCard, a technology company that puts together online advertising packages, filed a lawsuit against Universal claiming the music company ripped off DownloadCard's idea.

    The Internet company said it created a promotion based on a unique PIN that comes stickered on each album and allows fans to access exclusive online content. By offering bonus goodies on the Web accessible only by those who purchase the disc, the reasoning goes, fans will be more apt to plunk their money down for a legitimate copy, rather than resort to MP3-swapping. DownloadCard claimed it worked with Universal on similar promos for artists like Shelby Lynn and Rusted Root, and pitched the program for use for future releases.

    Univeral ultimately turned down the idea for Bon Jovi. But, DownloadCard claims, the record company then launched its own "American XS" promotion with Bounce using, according to the suit, "precisely the program" DownloadCard created and offered to Universal.

    The American XS promo allows those who buy Bounce the ability to log on to the Bon Jovi Website (www.bonjovi.com) and be able to purchase concert tickets early, listen to unreleased tracks and streamed concert footage from the band's upcoming world tour, receive discounts on merchandise and have the chance to join the band onstage during one of its shows.

    The goal, according to the band's Website, is to introduce "the concept of the 'living album,' giving fans a real, on-going relationship with the artist."

    In his decision Friday, Haight determined that if Bounce were bounced, Universal and Bon Jovi would stand to lose more than DownloadCard. However, the judge determined the lawsuit raised enough questions to go to trial, if DownloadCard so choses.

    And it sounds like the company will. "We remain confident in the merits of the suit and plan to go forward aggressively," attorney Stephen Kramarsky told Reuters.

    Universal seemed satisfied with the initial ruling, releasing a statement saying, "Download's claims are completely without merit and should never have been brought in the first place."

    Bounce is the eighth studio album released by Bon Jovi. The now reformed hair band hit big in the 1980s but petered out in the '90s as members pursued solo projects and Jon Bon Jovi (news) got bitten by the acting bug. The Jersey boys reunited for 2000's Crush, which sold 7.5 million albums and reestablished them as a bankable band. The group also put out a live album, One Wild Night--Live 1985-2001 last year.

  • Ally's Vonda Shepard Signs With Edel

    The American singer and songwriter Vonda Shepard has signed a recording contract for Europe with Hamburg/Germany based edel records, a company of the edel music group. edel will release Vonda Shepard's new album "Chinatown" throughout Europe before the end of the year.

    Vonda Shepard, well known from her performance in the famous TV series "Ally McBeal", has sold more than nine million solo albums and TV soundtracks worldwide. In addition, she has become a renowned performing artist who - thanks to German concert promoter Marek Lieberberg - has done several successul tours in Europe. In Germany, all sixteen dates during her last tour in June 2002 were sold out.

    Jörg Hellwig, Managing Director edel records, comments: "Vonda Shepard has gained an artistic status that extends far beyond her TV popularity. We are very excited to have such a great artist in our roster who is well established as a chart act in all European markets."

  • Barry White Needs Kidney Transplant

    Deep-voiced soul singer Barry White needs a kidney transplant due to complications from years of chronic high blood pressure, his record label said.

    White, 58, is undergoing dialysis treatment to stabilize his condition, Island Def Jam Music Group said in a statement Friday.

    The singer's family refused to say whether he is hospitalized or is undergoing treatment at his Los Angeles home.

    White is known for such romantic songs as "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" and "You're the First, the Last, My Everything."

    He had been working on a new studio album, said Sheila Richman, spokeswoman for Island Def Jam.

    White was hospitalized in August 1999 for a blood pressure problem, which forced him to cancel several live performances with the group Earth, Wind & Fire.

    Despite reaching his peak of popularity in the 1970s, White won his first two Grammys in 2000 for best male and traditional R&B vocal performance for "Staying Power."

    He also has made appearances on the TV shows "Ally McBeal" and "The Simpsons."

  • Bon Jovi Album Release Could Be Delayed By Lawsuit

    The new Bon Jovi album, Bounce, which is due October 8, may not see release on that date because of a lawsuit filed over anti-piracy technology in the record packaging. An anti-piracy service, DownloadCard, is suing the band's parent company, Universal Music.

    As previously reported by LAUNCH, the Bon Jovi album will include a serial number in the CD packaging, which will allow users to access exclusive content from the band's website. DownloadCard has filed a claim that it created the program used for access and offered it to the record label.

    DownloadCard is seeking monetary compensation for damages. At press time, Universal Music had no comment on the lawsuit or any delay of the release; while Bon Jovi's label, Island/Def Jam, stated the album would still be issued on the original release date.

  • Soul Singer Barry White Undergoes Kidney Dialysis

    Soul singer Barry White, battling kidney failure brought on by years of high blood pressure, is undergoing dialysis and is hoping to receive a kidney transplant, his record label said on Wednesday.

    At the request of White's family, no details about his condition were disclosed, and it was not revealed whether he was hospitalized or living at home while receiving treatment on an out-patient basis.

    "Doctors confirm that Barry White has a history of hypertension (high blood pressure), which has led to a decline of kidney function," according to a statement from Island Def Jam Music Group. "He has started a course of maintenance dialysis therapy. Once stabilized, he will be a candidate for a kidney transplant."

    A spokeswoman at the label said White had suffered kidney failure.

    The hefty 58-year-old performer, known for his rich bass vocals and musical love-maestro persona, has provided "the mood" for countless candlelight dinners and late-night trysts with such ballads as "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe," and "You're the First, the Last, My Everything."

    He won the first two Grammys of his 40-year career 2 1/2 years ago for the album "Staying Power."

  • Ally Alumna's New Female Trouble

    Actress Julianne Nicholson is tired of playing "not a girl, not yet a woman" roles on TV. In 2000, she was the psychic college coed on NBC's satisfyingly spooky but short-lived series, The Others. Then, she did 11 episodes of Ally McBeal as junior attorney Jenny Shaw — sort of a younger Ally clone. Now, she's finally "grown up" as pediatrician Jules Keating on CBS's Presidio Med (debuting tomorrow at 10 pm/ET).

    "Even in Ally, [my character] was a grown up," Nicholson tells TV Guide Online. "She was a lawyer... but it was still sort of under somebody's wing, making mistakes." In Med, she says, "I feel like a grown up. [Jules] is there, she's doing her stuff — it's not goofy, it's not silly. You're saving babies' lives. It's the next level! I'm really, really excited about that."

    She wasn't so jazzed about the end of her Ally run. Asked why creator David E. Kelley cast her and other fresh faces like James Marsden, only to drop 'em so soon, she says: "I have no idea." Back then, reports talked of negative viewer feedback to Cage & Fish's new, younger crop of lawyers. Or did Kelley just prefer writing for drag queen Dame Edna Everage over her?

    "I think that would be a leap," Nicholson laughs. "You know, the show was called Ally McBeal. They needed to have her there more, and I think that taking some of my stuff away would definitely give [Calista Flockhart] more screen time again." The actress goes on to admit that her firing "didn't feel good. But I felt bad for like a day and then I was fine."

    Anyway, she can't dwell on past drama — not while she's busy with Dr. Keating's upcoming cancer scare on Med. "A thirtysomething woman, not married, no kids, wants those things. And now one of her ovaries has to get removed. It's fairly intense."

  • Lucy Insists Murray No-show Is Not Her Fault

    Charlie's Angels star Lucy Liu insists she's not responsible for Bill Murray's decision to pull out of the film's sequel Halo.

    The couple reportedly failed to get along on the set of the 2000 action movie, and Murray has now said no to a sequel.

    Liu says, "I think Bill Murray is amazingly talented and funny and he added to all our characters and would bring amazingly funny lines to it and would give us some direction for where he thought a scene should go.

    "It was such a shame when I heard he wasn't coming back but I hope to work with him again in the future."

  • Kelley's 'Girls Club' Debuts to Dismal Ratings

    The biggest problem with "Girls Club," the latest TV show from vaunted producer David E. Kelley, is that few young women tuned in to watch it.

    Those viewers had been the target audience for the new Fox network drama that premiered Monday night and was intended to replace Fox's former hit show, "Ally McBeal," which was also created by Kelley.

    But "Girls Club," about three young female attorneys in a San Francisco law firm, has been dogged by mostly negative reviews and was a ratings dud in its debut outing, according to preliminary figures on Tuesday from Nielsen Media Research.

    The show's first episode ranked a distant fourth place among the four major networks in the Monday 9 o'clock hour, averaging a lackluster 6 million viewers. That's nearly 5 million fewer than last year's season premiere of another Kelley show about single young lawyers in a big city, "Ally McBeal," in the same time slot.

    The new show did especially poorly among viewers aged 18 to 49, the young-adult demographic most coveted by advertisers, registering a lowly 2.6 rating. By comparison, "Ally McBeal" drew twice that number in its season debut last year. Worst of all, perhaps, were the Nielsen ratings for viewers targeted as the show's principal audience -- a dismal 2.9 rating for women aged 18 to 49 and a 3.6 rating for women aged 18 to 34.

    There was no immediate comment from Kelley's production company or from Fox officials, though network executives were believed to be huddling to decide the show's future.

    A hasty demise of "Girls Club" would leave Fox, a unit of News Corp. Ltd., with a gaping hole in its schedule on a night that has long been a bright spot for the network, with marquee shows such as "Melrose Place" and "Ally McBeal."

    "Girls Club," featuring movie actress Gretchen Mol, was supposed to be the heir apparent to "Ally," the Emmy-winning sensation starring Calista Flockhart that captured a devoted female audience but ended its five-year run last May after sinking steadily in the ratings.

    The inauspicious launch of "Girls Club" marks another disappointment for Kelley, who sprang to prominence as the executive producer behind such landmark shows as "L.A. Law" and "Picket Fences." He currently has two other prime-time series on the air -- the high school drama "Boston Public," also on Fox on Mondays, and legal drama "The Practice" on ABC Sundays.

    TV Guide chief critic Matt Roush said the problem with the new series was that it lacked either "the power or the quirkiness of a David E. Kelley show. ... It's just kind of blah."

    He added the apparent flop also demonstrates the limited value of having a brand-name producer like Kelley attached to a series if the show is of subpar quality and facing stiff competition. "He's certainly not the media darling that he used to be," Roush said.

    The stumble of "Girls Club" comes as another much-acclaimed writer-producer, Aaron Sorkin, faces declining ratings for his show, Emmy-winning political drama "The West Wing," which many critics also see has having hit a rut in its fourth season.

    Kelley's latest show aired opposite "Monday Night Football" on ABC, the NBC police and fire drama "Third Watch" and CBS sitcoms "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Still Standing."

    CBS is a unit of Viacom Inc., ABC is a division of Walt Disney Co. and NBC is owned by General Electric Co.

  • These Kelley 'Girls' are no 'Ally'

    David E. Kelley's shows usually start out well, then collapse.

    With Girls Club, he has cut to the chase.

    Setting a distressing creative low for Kelley, even counting Snoops, this dull, vulgar hokum about three nubile ''girl'' attorneys is what you might have gotten had Charlie's Angels gone to law school instead of the police academy. To call it ill-conceived is to give it undue credit: It hardly seems to be conceived at all, beyond ''Let's come up with a fast replacement for Ally McBeal.'

    Unfortunately, where Ally began with a lovably original character and a fabulous star, Girls Club counters with three unlikable pests played by barely distinguishable actresses.

    Never mind that these women are never even remotely convincing as three new attorneys in an old-line San Francisco law firm -- they don't resemble any employees in any job anywhere.

    They should be thankful they don't fit in with the ''Boys' Club'' that runs the firm and gives the show its unpunctuated title. If the partners were as selfish, stupid and incompetent as these young ladies seem to be, who would earn the fees that pay their salaries?

    Like the Angels, the girls come in three different hair colors. Chyler Leigh is Sarah, the naive brunette; Gretchen Mol (news) is Lynne, the ringleader blonde; and Kathleen Robertson (news) is Jeannie, the sassy redhead. Pray they never trade dyes or we'll be lost forever.

    The three share a palatial apartment and, it seems, almost every waking moment. They're linked at the vocal cords, comparing notes on makeup (Jeannie wears too much), boyfriends (Sarah's might be gay) and clients (Lynne's is fantasizing about her). They also complain about the partners (led by a miscast Giancarlo Esposito (news)), who are so uniformly badly drawn that the American Bar Association could have a cause of action.

    Most insulting and condescending of all is an older female attorney the girls call the ''Praying Mantis'' (one of the show's rare nicknames we're able to print). If nothing else, the Mantis should forever put an end to the idea that Kelley writes well for women. Beautiful, neurotic girls, maybe. But real women? No.

    Like its increasingly preposterous older cousin, The Practice, Girls Club has no apparent interest in character consistency, plot continuity or recognizable human behavior.

    One moment, Lynne is convinced that her client is innocent; the next, she acts as if she never doubted his guilt. In one episode, a male partner manhandles Jeannie in an unimaginably blatant example of sexual harassment. In the next, she questions whether she misinterpreted his actions.

    And then there's Sarah, who screams out a homophobic epithet at another lawyer. In the middle of a law firm. In San Francisco.

    Any club that would have these girls as members, you don't want to join.

  • Lucy Liu On Last Call

    Friday September 20, 2002 on Last Call with Carson Daly: Lucy Liu (ex-Ling, Ally McBeal)

  • Pfieffer & Kelly Buy Up Next Door

    Movie star MICHELLE PFEIFFER and writer husband DAVID E KELLEY have bought the house next door to their Brentwood, California, home for $7 million.

    The couple bought their new two-acre home in 2000 for $15 million and have spent the last two years renovating the property.

    And now they've purchased the next-door property to secure ultimate privacy - and a historical home.

    The new place is 62 years old and comes with an additional acre of land.

  • Lucy Liu On Leno

    Wednesday September 18, 2002 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Lucy Liu (ex-Ling, Ally McBeal)

  • Josh Groban

    Singing sensation Josh Groban's voice is heard in Verizon's new 90-second TV ad, reflecting the events of Sept. 11. Filmed at the Statue of Liberty, the spot features the faces of children of all races - including Middle Eastern. Groban will also perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" on NBC's "Concert for America" tomorrow night.

  • Harrison & Calista Stay Close

    HARRISON FORD and CALISTA FLOCKHART have started clinging to each other at parties and premieres - after losing each other in a crowd of paparazzi.

    The couple, who have been keen to keep their romance quiet, stepped out officially together at the Los Angeles premiere of his new movie K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER last month, but refused to pose together.

    Instead, Calista stood yards behind the movie star, refusing to chat to fans or the press.

    But the couple discovered keeping their distance at premieres wasn't such a great idea at the VENICE FILM FESTIVAL in Italy at the weekend.

    During a crush upon arrival on Sunday afternoon the two lost each other in the crowd and spent Sunday night's gala clinging to each other instead.

  • Rumor Has It

    Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford want to do a film together.

  • Chasing Ford and Flockhart in Venice

    Pandemonium greeted Harrison Ford and girlfriend Calista Flockhart as they arrived at the 59th Venice Film Festival over the weekend, PEOPLE reports.

    The couple's boat was hotly pursued by paparazzi intent on photographing the pair as they made their way to Venice's Lido. Nor did the photogs let up at a press conference, where Ford, 60, defended the poor North American ticket sales of his Cold War submarine adventure, "K-19: The Widowmaker."

    "I'm proud to be here to represent the film," said the star. "I do not consider the box-office showing to be a true measure of the effect of the film. I think it's going to be around a long, long time."

    Possibly so. But what does seem on sturdier ground is Ford's relationship with the former "Ally McBeal" star, 36. Ford and Flockhart ---- joined by "K-19" costar Liam Neeson and his wife, Natasha Richardson -- could hardly keep their eyes off each other at the Venice premiere of the movie.

    Also in Venice: Screen legend Sophia Loren, 67, took to the red carpet for a second time, after wowing the crowds at the festival's opening night last week.

    This time the promenade was for the premiere of her 100th movie, "Between Strangers," a tale of three generations of women directed by Loren's son, Edoardo Ponti, 29, and also starring Gerard Depardieu and Mira Sorvino.

    Despite the film's favorable reviews (the movie marks Ponti's directorial debut), Mamma Loren cautioned that her son still "had a long way to go" in his career as a director. Edoardo's reaction? "Always a mom."

  • Jami Gertz: Still at It

    After hamming it up as twitchy neurotic Kimmy on Ally McBeal and showing her dramatic chops as ailing comedienne Gilda Radner in Gilda: It's Always Something, Jami Gertz needed a break! But unlike some of us, her idea of chilling out was re-entering the sitcom fray with CBS's upcoming King of Queens clone Still Standing.

    "I was away for seven weeks with Gilda in Toronto," explains the Los Angeles resident, who plays the wife of a toilet-bowl salesman (The Full Monty's Mark Addy) and mother of three. "As a mom, I needed to be here... And so when I happened upon [Still Standing], I kind of forced my way in."

    This is a brave move for the 36-year-old Square Pegs alum, who still appears to be nursing wounds from her last foray into TV comedy, 1991's short-lived Sibs. "It really never worked from the beginning," she laments of the late ABC laffer. "And it was kept [on the air] for some reason. I think professionally for me it was not a great experience. Ultimately, it wasn't funny."

    Now, with an Emmy nomination under her belt (for her stint on Ally), she's hoping to draw on her own experience as a child at heart and a real-life mother of three to make the potentially cookie-cutter Still Standing (premiering Sept. 23) stand out. "What I love about these characters and what I think about myself — which I'm not proud of — is that [we're] still 21 in our mind," she confesses. "You still want to [think you can] go to the Cheap Trick concert."

  • Lucy Liu's Bald Tomboy Past

    Actress LUCY LIU is stunned that men find her so attractive - because she was a bald tomboy when she was growing up.

    The former ALLY McBEAL star, who hails from New York, was never much of a glamour girl when she was growing up, preferring instead to play with - and like - the boys.

    She says, "I had short hair, like, no hair at all, and was stick-thin - a guy, practically. I hung out with my brother's friends, hiding in trash cans and playing handball in summer.

    "I never thought of myself as a female at all. So it was kind of weird when, a few years later, those guys were suddenly like, 'Hey, she's kind of cute.'

    "I thought they must have liked me because of my personality, when the reality was that it had nothing to do with my personality!"

  • Four set to 'Die' for NBC miniseries

    Gil Bellows, Pam Grier, Carly Pope and Sean Young have signed on to star in NBC's three-hour miniseries "1st to Die."

    The four join Lindsay Boxer in the project based on James Patterson's best-selling novel of the same name.

    The mini centers on a homicide inspector (Boxer), her best friend (Grier) -- the city's chief medical examiner -- an ambitious young newspaper reporter (Pope) and a female assistant district attorney who form a "Women's Murder Club" to catch a serial killer who dispatches newlyweds on their wedding nights.

    Bellows will play Boxer's love interest, a police captain, and Young stars as the mysterious ex-wife of a famous author who becomes a critical figure in the murder investigation.

    Russell Mulcahy will direct the miniseries from a script by Michael O'Hara. Shooting is scheduled to begin Sept. 3 in Vancouver. Michael O'Hara Prods. is producing in association with NBC Studios, with O'Hara and Steve White executive producing.

    Bellows ("Ally McBeal") toplined CBS' drama "The Agency" this past season. He next stars in TNT's football-themed telefilm "Second String."

    Bellows is repped by ICM and manager Emily Gerson Saines.

    Grier, a Golden Globe nominee for "Jackie Brown," co-stars in Showtime's lesbian-themed drama pilot "Earthlings." She is repped by Gold/Liedtke and managers Darryl Marshak and Susan Zachary.

    Pope, repped by WMA, is best known for her role on the WB Network's "Popular."

    Young's recent credits include "Sugar & Spice" and "Out of Control."

  • Taye Diggs 'Midsummer' Rave Pic

    Taye Diggs tops the ensemble cast of "A Midsummer Night's Rave," a Shakespeare-based romantic comedy about twentysomethings influenced by a drug dealer named Puck.

    The cast also features Andrew Keegan, Sunny Mabrey, Corey Pearson, Chris Owen, Jason London, Greg Zola, Ted Stryker, Carrie Fisher, Lauren German, Chad Lindberg, Matt Czuchry and Will McCormack.

    Diggs, who got his big break in 1998's "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," returns to theaters in October with "Brown Sugar."

    Gil Cates Jr. is directing "Rave" from a script by Robert Raymond. Cates produces with Summer Forest Hoeckel, who previously produced "Rise," Julie Drazen's documentary about the New Orleans rave scene. She also published a book on rave flyers and compiled the tech music CD "Defining Tech."

    Cates' "The Mesmerist," starring Neil Patrick Harris, Howard Hesseman and Jessica Capshaw, will be released in October via Seventh Art Releasing.

  • Eads, Krakowski Lost in ABC Family's 'Park'

    George Eads and Jane Krakowski exude individual charm, but the bad chemistry between them makes impossible anything beyond the predictable in ABC Family's mistaken-identity story "Just a Walk in the Park."

    Penned by "Door to Door" scribes Mark S. Kaufman, William H. Macy and Steven Schachter, telepic flops as a beguiling romantic comedy but does address the ever burgeoning ennui of the Gen-X crowd.

    Eads and Krakowski portray two New Yorkers caught adrift in a world where success is measured by bank accounts and social status and where personal happiness is low on the list of priorities. Adam (Eads) has convinced himself that he is in fact proud of his job as a Manhattan dog walker. Despite offers for more lucrative work from family members and friends, Adam goes on his daily rounds, encountering a menagerie of colorful characters in varying degrees of dysfunction. One of his more high-profile clients, A.J. Preston, a wealthy businessman in the midst of a nasty separation from his wife, hires Adam to dog and penthouse sit when a business trip comes up.

    While staying in A.J.'s fabulous home, Adam keeps running into Rachel (Krakowski), a beguiling but confounding young woman who mistakes him for Preston. Adam is at first too embarrassed to correct her, and after Rachel confides in him that a bad relationship has left her unable to make decisions or trust men, Adam decides not to reveal the truth about himself.

    He then works overtime to keep up the charade and does such a convincing job, a private investigator hired by the real A.J. Preston's wife follows him around documenting his every move. When everything blows up in his face, Adam and Rachel must come to terms with the personal fears that have been holding each of them back from realizing their true destiny.

    This "Lady and the Tramp" for grown-ups has its appealing moments, most of them courtesy of Adam's overactive imagination. His gig as a dog walker is a clever vehicle for bringing in an interesting array of clients, but most, like Brenda Vaccaro as the eccentric Selma, are not used to maximum benefit.

    Eads shows a penchant for comedy but hasn't quite mastered how to balance goofy and serious. His Adam behaves far too stupidly to redeem himself in any credible fashion.

    Krakowski has a certain Carol Lombard quirkiness about her, which helps to propel a tired concept. But even "Ally McBeal's" Elaine Vassal didn't have as much baggage as Rachel.

    Technical credits were unfinished.

    Adam ....... George Eads

    Rachel ..... Jane Krakowski

    Selma ...... Brenda Vaccaro

    Filmed on location in Montreal by Von Zerneck/Sertner Films. Executive producers, Frank von Zerneck, Robert M. Sertner; producer, Randy Sutter, Peter Sadowski; director, Steven Schachter, writers, Mark S. Kaufman, Schachter, William H. Macy; camera, Eric Cayla; editor, Paul Dixon; music, Patrick Williams; casting, Billy Hopkins, Suzanne Smith, Kerry Barden, Rosina Bucci.

  • Ally Alum Eyes Kelly Ripa's Throne

    Kelly Ripa went on vacation this week, which meant guest co-hosts on Live With Regis and Kelly. On Thursday, Ally McBeal alumna Jane Krakowski revisited the hot seat next to Regis Philbin, and loved it. The actress — who auditioned for Ripa's coveted co-host role last summer — says she's happy to pinch-hit, since all this practice is priming her for her own chatfest!

    "I have been offered to do some talk shows," Krakowski, 33, tells TV Guide Online. "I think when I feel the exact right one comes up, I might take a stab at it. There's such a glut of daytime talk shows. I don't know if right now is the time. And really, nobody does it better than Regis and Kelly."

    Having wrapped up Ally's final season this spring, Krakowski — who played the slutty secretary Elaine Vassal — already misses her co-stars. However, she relished the returns of dearly departed stars like Gil Bellows and Courtney Thorne-Smith in the final episode. "I have a soft spot for all of the original characters on the show because that's when the show obviously was created, but also, to me, thrived.

    "To have them back made it a bit more emotional," she adds. "We worked together so closely for so long and went through so much that I know we'll be friends for many years."

    Currently, Krakowski is readying to return to Broadway in 9, an adaptation of Fellini's 8 1/2 co-starring Antonio Banderas. She's also romancing CSI heartthrob George Eads in the ABC Family movie Just a Walk in the Park (airing Sunday at 8 pm/ET). "When I found out he was doing [the movie], I admittedly went on the Internet Movie Database and looked him up. He admitted it to me that he did the same." See, kids? Even the stars have to do their homework.

  • Cletis Tout

    Cletis Tout starring Portia de Rossi is now in theatres in limited release. Check your local listings for the time and place near you. Tim Allen, Richard Dreyfuss & Christian Slater also star in the film.

  • Celebrities Donate Shirts Off Their Backs

    Banana Republic is hoping to raise $10,000 for the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) by selling white shirts autographed by celebrities.

    For one day only, shirts signed by such stars as Tom Cruise, Kevin Spacey, Tom Hanks, Sharon Stone, "The West Wing's" Rob Lowe, "Six Feet Under's" Rachel Griffiths and Robert Downey Jr. will go on sale for $150 each. To purchase autographed shirts, shoppers must visit bananarepublic.com on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

    Banana Republic spokesperson, Kim Sobel says of the fundraiser, "We chose the classic white shirt as the focus of this initiative because it is a quintessential Banana Republic piece that everyone needs, so it provides a significant opportunity to raise money for EIF."

  • Bon Jovi, for your everyday bounce

    From the Bounce track by track we learn "'Everyday' is the first single from the album and reinforces the need to live each day to its fullest. The lyrics acknowledge the harshness of life but encourage listeners to brush themselves off, get back up on their feet and get on with life. The video for EVERYDAY reinforces this global message (as well as the international superstar status of BON JOVI) by setting the band's performance at the Very Large Array (VLA) in Socorro, New Mexico. The massive radio antennas in the background seemingly transmit the band's performance to locations around the world and we witness people from all corners of the planet watching this broadcast. (The band's performance was filmed in July; there are two secondary film crews, about to complete their worldwide treks, capturing real footage of people watching BON JOVI live.)"

  • Target Selected

    CHRISTINA Ricci is dying to sink her claws into movie hunk Josh Hartnett. "I know he's got a girlfriend, but I could so corrupt him," the man-eating moppet boasts to the London Sunday Times. "He would be a hot date, and that is what I need right now. I have met him, so I know what I am talking about here. He's a nice, home-loving boy with a great body and great eyes. And when he reads this, he's probably going to run a mile."

  • Sad Day In Hollywood

    "Passions" star Josh Ryan Evans passed away due to complications stemming from a long-time congenital heart condition in a San Diego hospital on Monday afternoon (Aug. 5). He was 20.

    Evans played Timmy, a doll created by the show's resident witch, Tabitha Lenox, who was then turned into a real boy. The character died on Monday's show in an episode which was taped last month. After his passing, future episodes of "Passions" were re-edited to remove any scenes including Evans' character "Timmy."

    The diminutive actor broke into the entertainment industry at an early age. Without telling his parents, a 12-year old Evans printed his own business cards and hired an agent. This led to a nationally aired commercial for Dreyer's/Edy's Ice Cream, which won a Cleo Award and earned Evans the attention of casting agents.

    His first feature film role was in "Baby Geniuses" with Kathleen Turner. Evans also played the young Grinch in Jim Carrey's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" in 2000.

    The actor's television credits include appearances on "Ally McBeal " and "7th Heaven." He was also featured in the A&E miniseries " P.T. Barnum," in which he played the lead role of General Tom Thumb.

    He is survived by his mother Cheryl, his father Chuck, his older brother James Evans and his grandparents Belle and Gene Riding. At the family’s request, donations may be sent in Josh’s name to the Make-a-Wish Foundation in lieu of flowers. Donations may be made via phone at 1-866-880-1382, online at www.makeawish.org or by mail to Make-a-Wish Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 29119, Phoenix, AZ, 85038-9119.

  • Elaine on Regis
    Live with Regis & Kelly, Thursday August 15 2002 Guests include Jane Krakowski (Elaine, Ally McBeal) and BBMak.

  • Kelley Leaves 'Public' School
    Creator David E. Kelley will be stepping down as executive producer and head writer of "Boston Public," according to The Hollywood Reporter. He is shifting his focus away from the FOX high school drama to focus on his other two series, "The Practice" on ABC and the new legal drama, "girls club" on FOX.

    Kelley won't be abandoning the show entirely; he will be an executive consultant on "Boston Public" from now on. Kelley adds, "I believe that this is in the best interest of all of these shows. I still expect to write episodes for 'Boston Public' and will continue to contribute to the show on a regular basis."

    Writer-producer Jason Katims will be replacing Kelley. No stranger to high school angst, Katim developed and executive produced the teen alien drama, "Roswell." In 1994, he was a writer on ABC's cult hit teen drama, "My So Called Life." Katim will be the show's new head writer and will executive produce "Boston Public" along with longtime Kelley collaborator Jonathan Pontell ("Ally McBeal," "The Practice").

  • Kelley comes back with 'Girls Club'
    Although the pilot episode is not yet complete -- some of it will be reshot this week -- Girls aims for a tone ''between Ally McBeal and The Practice'' that is ''probably more realistic than both,'' Kelley says.

    But it more closely resembles L.A. Law, the NBC drama that launched the TV career of Kelley, a former lawyer and the protagae of Law creator Steven Bochco. (Kelley went on to create CBS' Picket Fences and Chicago Hope before hitting it big with his current series.)

    ''Ally was very fantastical and whimsical,'' Kelley says. ''We were never asking the audience to believe that it was a real law firm or even a real courtroom.'' And on The Practice, ''they have murder trials every single week, a crime happens on a Saturday and they're in court the following Friday.

    ''We take a lot of dramatic licenses that we probably won't be taking on this show,'' he says. ''If we're to succeed with this series, we very much have to establish it as a real arena.''

    He wants to tap his own memory as a nervous young lawyer, defending an accused bicycle thief in his first case. ''I'm looking to capture both the nerves of a young associate and also the gender politics that go on inside big corporate law firms,'' Kelley says.

    Gretchen Mol, Chyler Leigh and Kathleen Robertson star as the Girls, premiering Oct. 21 and airing Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT in Ally's former slot. Giancarlo Esposito is among the co-stars as a partner and mentor in the firm.

    Unlike The Practice, Girls Club's plots won't hinge on the courtroom. And unlike Ally, silly courtroom theatrics aren't a big part of the show. ''The focus is definitely on the characters and how the cases affect the characters as opposed to the other way around,'' says co-executive producer Jack Bender.

    Kelley acknowledged that both Ally and The Practice slipped last season, and not just in the ratings, where both were part of their networks' overall woes.

    With Ally, ''every episode was really a bit of a plank walk,'' Kelley says. ''And sometimes you sailed and sometimes . . . bloody nose.''

    His offhand remark, early in Ally's run, that the show's quirkiness would give it a shorter shelf life proved prophetic. Episodic television ''puts a limit on originality to a certain extent,'' he says now, ''because some things that are very bold, very different, will wear out after 10 hours, 15 hours, 20 hours. The originality luster will fall off.''

    He now expects The Practice will ''return to the character stories that have been missing for two years'' as the legal drama sought increasingly over-the-top murder plots -- some written by Kelley -- that stretched the boundaries of credibility. ''The problem with those stories is, how do you keep topping . . . killers dressed up as nuns?"

    ABC has asked him to spend more time writing The Practice, but he says he'll spend most of his time shepherding Girls. Struggling ABC already pays $6.5 million an episode for The Practice, so its return after this season -- when current contracts expire -- is iffy unless there's a creative and ratings rebound.

    Cast changes are afoot on Boston Public, which will see a greater emphasis on students. Out are Jessalyn Gilsig and Rashida Jones, while Jon Abrahams (Scary Movie) joins as a new teacher, and a student played by Cara DeLizia becomes a series regular.

  • Boy Wonder
    21-year-old singer Josh Groban, will have his tonsils removed next week. Don't panic - his golden notes will not be harmed. (But, his appearance with John Williams at Tanglewood has been nixed.) This kid's hot. Celine Dion and Barbara Cook love his talent. His fans call themselves Groban-ites. His album is a Top 10, double-platinum smash. Josh will star in a coming PBS special and he will recover in time to appear on the Tom Brokaw-hosted Concert for America at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 9.

  • Bon Jovi To Kick Off NFL Season
    Bon Jovi will kick off the coming pro football season with two special events in and around New York City. The band, in conjunction with the National Football League (NFL), will play a special hour-long event dubbed NFL Kickoff Live From Times Square on Thursday, September 5.

    The concert, which marks the opening day for the NFL this year, will include a New Year's Eve-style ball drop and countdown to the start of the football season, and it will include recognition and support of New York City's September 11 memorial events.

    At the show, the band will perform its new single, "Everyday," for the first time in front of a live audience, which it's estimated will top 750,000 people. "Everyday" hits radio August 19, while the new Bon Jovi album, Bounce, comes out October 8.

    Following the Times Square gig, the members of Bon Jovi will board a helicopter and fly across the Hudson River to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where they'll play at halftime of the New York Giants-San Francisco 49ers game, the first contest of the NFL season and the only game that night. The halftime gig will also include a performance of "Everyday."

    Both events will receive masses of attention. Things get underway with a 90-minute edition of MTV's TRL at 3:30 p.m. ET that day, with VH1 carrying the NFL Kickoff show live from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. MTV and ESPN will cut into regular programming at points during the Times Square event, and both networks will also show Bon Jovi's halftime performance from the game, which ESPN is broadcasting. Finally, CBS will air a one-hour special the following evening (September 6), and VH1 will re-air its coverage on Saturday (September 7).

    The NFL actively sought Bon Jovi's participation for the events, and the band is extremely happy and proud to be included.

    Despite a published report in the New York Post, sources tell LAUNCH that U2 is not now, nor has the band ever been, involved in the planning of NFL Kickoff.

  • Mel's Gift to Downey Jr.
    Generous MEL GIBSON has treated actor pal ROBERT DOWNEY JR to a new BMW motorbike as a congratulatory gift following the troubled star's clean up.

    Downey Jr, who is starring in Gibson's movie adaptation of DENNIS POTTER's THE SINGING DETECTIVE, was set free from his 14-month enforced stint in drug rehab last week, and the Aussie hunk decided to treat him.

    Gibson snapped up three of the cool motorbikes in total - he plans to keep two of them for himself.

  • Hall Set for WB's Kennedy Picture
    Regina Hall, a former season regular on "Ally McBeal," has signed for the female lead in an untitled feature starring Jamie Kennedy.

    The Warner Bros. project is based on one of Kennedy's characters from the WB network sketch comedy series "JKX: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment." The cast also includes Taye Diggs and Blair Underwood. Shooting begins early next month. John Whitesell will direct from a script by Nick Swardson.

    Hall plays a young woman from Compton who aids in a kidnapping in order to get the money to open her own beauty salon. She will next star in Dimension Films' late summer release "Paid in Full." She also had a leading role in "Scary Movie" and its sequel.

  • We Hear...
    Robert Downey Jr. spent most of the West Coast "Austin Powers" premiere talking with a mini-she who'd been sitting in the same row as Mini-Me ...

  • Matinee Mutterings
    Whoopi Goldberg and "Tadpole" star Bebe Neuwirth are the latest additions to the stellar roster of actresses who will share the role of Fanny Brice in the Actors' Fund benefit concert of "Funny Girl" on Monday, Sept. 23, at the gorgeous New Amsterdam Theatre. Peter Gallagher will play Nicky Arnstein to the Fannys of Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster, Ana Gasteyer, Jane Krakowski, Ricki Lake, Audra McDonald, Megan Mullally, Donny Murphy and Lillias White. Yours Truly gets to do a little "shtick" and if I'm lucky, all those gals can rain on my parade

  • Kelley Leaves Boston for 'girls club'
    Writer-producer David E. Kelley had no grand design in mind when he set his new series, "girls club," in San Francisco.

    "It was fairly arbitrary," Kelley said Monday (July 22) at the TV Critics Association press tour in Pasadena. "I wanted a cosmopolitan city."

    San Francisco certainly fits that bill, as does Boston, where current Kelley series "Boston Public" and "The Practice," along with the recently departed "Ally McBeal," are set. But in moving away from Beantown, Kelley, a native New Englander, also had a practical goal in mind.

    "[I] wanted [a city] close enough that we might be able to actually get there and shoot," he says. All of Kelley's shows film primarily in Los Angeles, and he says it's been a struggle to get across the country to shoot footage in Boston.

    "I'd been deluding myself ... that if we have multiple shows [set] in Boston, we can economize and go an shoot for two or three shows in one trip, and the reality is it's still just too expensive," he says.

    The setting for "girls club" -- which stars Kathleen Robertson ("Beverly Hills, 90210"), Gretchen Mol ("The Thirteenth Floor" ) and Chyler Leigh ("That '80s Show") as young associates in a male-dominated law firm -- could alleviate some of those headaches. Kelley hopes the cast and crew can make it to the Bay Area every few episodes.

    "girls club" takes "Ally's" former timeslot at 9 p.m. ET Mondays on FOX in the fall.

  • Bon Jovi Completes 'Everyday' At The Very Large Array
    New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi recently completed the music video for "Everyday," the first single and music video from the band's upcoming Island Records album, Bounce, due October 8 in the U.S.

    The music video was shot at the Very Large Array (VLA) in the plains of San Augustin, 50 miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. VLA is a Y-shaped installation of 27 radio telescopes, and one of the world's premiere astronomical radio observatories. It is operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The VLA may be best known to the general public for its prominent placement in the 1997 movie Contact starring Jodie Foster.

    The concept for "Everyday" has the band performing among the 81-foot wide radio satellite dishes, which carry their music around the world. The production required three camera crews to be sent on a global mission to capture footage from various exotic locales and intersperse it throughout the video.

    Completing the clip was no easy task thanks to some nasty weather conditions that came courtesy of Mother Nature. Bon Jovi narrowly escaped a severe lightning storm during the final take of the "Everyday" music video. The last take involved a helicopter taking an aerial shot of the band. As the storm approached, the band was at risk of being electrocuted, and all "non-essential" personnel were evacuated from the set, leaving the producer, the cameraman, and the band to quickly wrap things up. The band fled the set unharmed in their vehicles as a fierce torrential rain storm moved in.

    Luke Ebbin, Jon Bon Jovi, and Richie Sambora co-produced Bounce, the band's eighth studio album. The album is the follow-up to Bon Jovi's multiplatinum 2000 album, Crush, which was also co-produced by the same trio. Crush has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, and it spawned the hit singles "It's My Life" and "Thank You For Loving Me".

  • Short Cuts
    Jennifer Aniston, Bernie Mac, Pamela Anderson, Kid Rock, Lucy Liu, Michael Keaton and George Foreman are among the celebs lending their voices to Fox's King of the Hill this season

  • Sightings
    Christina Ricci being chased down the street by a waitress from Clove after the bug-eyed actress left without her wallet.

  • Judge Cuts Downey Slack
    A judge went "out on a limb" for actor Robert Downey Jr. yesterday, declaring him well on the road to sobriety and dismissing his drug case.

    The ruling by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Randall D. White brings down the curtain on Downey's arrest during Thanksgiving weekend of 2000.

    Downey completed one year of drug rehab after cops busted him with cocaine inside his posh suite at a Palm Springs resort after an anonymous tipster called police.

    Prosecutors asked that the actor spend six more months on probation and in an after-care program.

    "I think you've learned a few things in the past year," White told Downey before dismissing the case. "I'm going out on a limb for you."

    Downey had pleaded no contest to one felony count of cocaine possession and one misdemeanor count for being high on drugs.

    But under a measure approved by California voters just weeks before Downey's bust, non-violent drug offenders must be given the chance to complete rehab rather than jail.

  • WB adds Diggs, Underwood to Kennedy comedy
    Taye Diggs and Blair Underwood are set to star in Warner Bros. Pictures' untitled Jamie Kennedy project for director John Whitesell. Shooting begins in early August.

    The project, previously known as "Suckaz," is based on one of Kennedy's characters from the WB Network hidden camera/sketch comedy series "JKX: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment." It centers on Gluckman (Kennedy), a white would-be rap star from Malibu whose wealthy father is running for governor and is not pleased about having a son who walks and talks like he is from the 'hood. The father and his campaign manager (Underwood) hire two Juilliard-trained actors -- one of which is Diggs -- to portray actual "gangstaz," take the boy to the 'hood and scare the urban attitude out of him. The film will co-star Nick Swardson as Gluckman's sidekick Mocha.

    Swardson and Kennedy came up with the idea for "Suckaz," with Swardson writing the script. Warner Bros. optioned the material with Fax Bahr, Adam Small and Kennedy rewriting the material.

    "Suckaz" will be produced by Karz Entertainment, which produces "JKX." Mike Karz is producing with Bahr and Small.

    Diggs and Underwood are repped by WMA. Underwood will next star in Miramax Films' "Full Frontal" for director Steven Soderbergh. Diggs has numerous projects in the can including Fox Searchlight Pictures' "Brown Sugar," Miramax's "Chicago: The Musical" and Sony Pictures Entertainment's "Basic."

  • One Last Emmy Nomination
    Nominations for the 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards for the period of June 1, 2001, through May 31, 2002, will be announced today (July 18) by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Ally McBeal got one nomination.

    Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series:

    Alias • Truth Be Told (Pilot) • ABC •
    Ally McBeal • Reality Bites • FOX •
    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation • Identity Crisis • CBS •
    Six Feet Under • Driving Mr. Mossback • HBO •
    The West Wing • Bartlet For America • NBC •

  • Nelle on Leno
    Monday July 29: Dennis Miller, Portia DeRossi, Lamya

  • A Fine Romance
    It must be love between Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart. She was on Harrison's arm at the premiere of his "K-19: The Widowmaker" in L.A. Monday and will be at tonight's New York screening of the submarine thriller. Of course, the couple could slip out when the lights go down and grab a hearty steak and potatoes because "Ally McBeal" still needs to put on a few more pounds. The movie co-stars Liam Neeson and a hot newcomer, 21-year-old Juilliard graduate James Ginty. Tonight's show benefits Harrison's longtime cause Conservation International.

  • Out & About
    The long-rumored romance between HARRISON FORD and CALISTA FLOCKHART seems to have finally gone public. Only two days after they attended Paramount's 90th anniversary party on Sunday, the two stars walked hand in hand down the red carpet at the premiere of Harrison's new movie, 'K-19: The Widowmaker.' When I asked Harrison if we could consider the relationship official, he still played it coy and changed the subject with a laugh. Harrison's co-star, LIAM NEESON, was a little surprised by their public appearance, but was a bit more vocal about the new couple. "Health and happiness to them," he wished.

  • Paramount Pictures' amazing 90 years
    (From Mary Hart of Entertainment Tonight)

    It was a night I'll never forget. There were so many celebrities, having fun and celebrating Paramount Pictures' amazing 90 years, that even the stars were starstruck. HILARY SWANK got it right when she said, "It's like the Oscars without the pressure." And along with Hilary, there were Oscar winners galore. MICHAEL DOUGLAS with his wife, CATHERINE ZETA-JONES, mingled with JANE FONDA, SALLY FIELD, HELEN HUNT and AL PACINO, to name just a few.

    And with so many stars, it was fun to see who was chatting with whom. HARRISON FORD and his date, CALISTA FLOCKHART, rubbed elbows with Michael and Catherine, while MATTHEW PERRY and DAVID SPADE traded compliments -- and one-liners. DEMI MOORE, looking as fabulous as ever, arrived with her friend, the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' ANTHONY KIEDIS. JIM CARREY showed up with a brand-new look. He explained, as only Jim can, that he was inspired by his trip to Africa to let his hair grow long.

    It's not often that TOM CRUISE, FLORENCE HENDERSON, DR. PHIL McGRAW, CATHERINE BELL, our own LEONARD MALTIN and all those I've mentioned, get together. In order to commemorate the moment, we all all lined up for a big class photo taken by none other than ANNIE LEIBOVITZ

  • 'Ally,' 'Friends' Banned in Malaysia

    Kylie Minogue, "Ally McBeal" and "Friends" have fallen victim to Malaysian censors for containing too much controversial material, a Home Ministry official said Friday.

    The official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said that 195 items have failed to make the cut under censorship laws passed April 1 tightening rules against overt violence, sex and obscenity.

    The Film Censorship Board, which is under the authority of the Home Ministry, assigns viewer ratings — or bans — entertainment fare before it is released to cinemas and television networks.

    Australian pop star Minogue's "Live in Sydney" music video was adjudged "too hot," The Star newspaper reported Friday. Other snipped titles were an episode each of the series "Friends" and "Ally McBeal."

    Censorship Board Chairman Shaari Mohamad Noor was quoted by The Star as saying strict monitoring of foreign entertainment shows helps protect family values.

    "In order for us to instill good morals and values in our people, we have to stop importing films that are not appropriate for our country," Shaari was quoted as saying.

    Possession, distribution or selling the banned titles in the form of video discs or tapes is punishable by a maximum $7,900 fine and a three-year jail term.

  • Portia Moves in with Her Lover

    Former ALLY McBEAL star PORTIA DE ROSSI and her lesbian lover FRANCESCA GREGORINI have taken their romance to a new level - by buying a house together.

    The actress and RINGO STARR's musician stepdaughter have bought a home in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, for just over $2 million.

    The five-bedroom Spanish villa-style home was once owned by silent movie star RAYMOND GRIFFITH.

  • Ricci Talks about Producing Her Own Films

    Christina Ricci is joining the new trend in Hollywood as she follows the steps of Alicia Silverstone, Kirsten Dunst and Drew Barrymore.

    At 22, Ricci is one of the most respected young actresses who is making her debut as a producer in the upcoming movie "Pumpkin."

    During the pre-production, directors Adam Larson Broder and Tony R. Abrams suggested that Ricci would also be a perfect match for the starring role.

    "I was attracted to the material when I read it and really admired the script, but I didn't immediately imagine myself in the role of Carolyn," says Ricci.

    The film is about an unconventional love affair between Carolyn McDuffy (Christina Ricci) and a mentally challenged athlete nicknamed Pumpkin (Hank Harris). Carolyn is the stereotypical Californian blonde who attends Southern California State University. Her sorority, ambitious to win Sorority of the Year title, takes on the Challenged Games as its off-campus charity. They agree to help train Riverside County's physically and mentally challenged athletes for their annual match against Orange County. Carolyn starts mentoring a challenged athlete named Pumpkin and strangely finds herself attracted to him.

    "It's a love story, but one about people from completely separate worlds who find themselves able to see each other for who they really are," Ricci explains. "One of the things I liked so much about the script is that it was nonjudgmental, though it was about two people normally judged so readily: a perfect sorority girl and a physically and mentally challenged boy."

    Executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola, "Pumpkin" also stars a newcomer Hank Harris. Ricci had to spend some time on the phone in order to persuade Coppola to agree on casting of Harris.

    "We auditioned different people for the role. Hank flew to New York for the audition. I had to haggle with Coppola to let us cast an unknown. I found myself arguing with him but in the end, it all worked out OK," Ricci says to Zap2it.com in an interview at Sundance Film Festival.

    Also first timers are the directors Broder and Abrams, who are grateful to Francis Ford Coppola for giving them a free reign to have fun making their film.

    "A lot of movies today seem over-developed, over-professionalized, and lacking spontaneity. Francis was terrifically generous in letting us explore our ideas and go with our instincts, like films were made in the past," says Broder.

    Many times having two directors on a film set might cause problems. However this time, the uniqueness of the two directors' friendship and collaboration quickly became one of the project's strong points.

    "We didn't want to confuse people, so we made sure we had distinct responsibilities. Though we consulted with each other about all decisions, the film is Broder's vision. He mostly dealt with the actors, the director of photography, and the designers, and I dealt with everything else," Abrams says.

    For Harris, one of the highlights of the project was to be able to work with Ricci. He's been watching Ricci's work closely over the years.

    "I had to tell her 'You know, you're someone I admired since I was very young, and it never crossed my mind that I might meet you.' It was strange, because I felt like I'd known her for ten years because I watched her grow up in her films, and she's only known me for about two weeks. I had to try not to be really dorky about it," confesses Harris.

    Harris found inspiration in "Pumpkin" and tried to keep his character as innocent as possible.

    "I love Pumpkin's purity of intent. He's like a seed waiting to grow, and when he meets Carolyn she's like the water. Pumpkin's honesty with Carolyn is what makes her realize that so much of what she's always believed is false," Harris says.

    Overall, Ricci sees a lot of humanity in the film.

    "Everybody in the film is very human, everybody had problems, but everyone is basically good," she says.

    "We were lucky to have a cast of really wonderful people, so even when they are playing a character with negative qualities, their goodness still comes through."

    And for its directors, "Pumpkin" is very much a story of awakening.

    "In many ways Carolyn and Pumpkin are two sides of the same coin. They both start the movie suppressed by the world around them and help each other to blossom into fully individualized human beings," says Broder.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, July 1, 2002

    CBS kept its lead at 9 p.m. with "Everybody Loves Raymond," 7.9/14, and "Becker," 7.2/12. NBC's "Dog Eat Dog" was second with a 6.1/11 and was the highest-rated show of the night among adults 18-49. ABC stayed consistent with "Sling Blade," as did The WB with a second "7th Heaven." Repeats of "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" averaged 2.7/4 for UPN, while "Ally McBeal" managed only a 1.9/3 for FOX.

  • After taking year off from acting, Anne Heche returns to stage in Proof

    You might think a play about madness would be the last thing Anne Heche would want to do these days. You'd think that delving into the torturous relationship between an insane father and his on-the-edge daughter wouldn't appeal to Heche after her much-publicized breakdown two summers ago. You'd think wrong.

    On Tuesday, Heche replaces Jennifer Jason Leigh in the Broadway production of Proof, the Tony Award-winning play by David Auburn that promises to blur the line between the actor and her newest role.

    "We've definitely walked into metaphor land for Anne's life," says Heche after a recent rehearsal in Times Square. "There are many, many parallels in here."

    Heche plays Catherine, the daughter of a math genius whose once-sharp mind deteriorates. It is Catherine's fear that just as she shares her father's flair for numbers, she also will inherit his madness.

    That fear Heche knows all too well: In her autobiography published last year, she revealed that she had been molested as a child by her father, a secretly gay strict Baptist who died of AIDS in 1984.

    "I know that I have a close connection, certainly, to the fear of being my father that Catherine has. Even though my father was never diagnosed with schizophrenia, there was certainly a thought that he might be. And even though I was never diagnosed, there was a thought that I might be.

    "The funny thing is, there's an understanding of madness in this play that comes from the father after he's dead. I think what's unique about my personal story is that I've understood my madness while I'm alive," she says.

    As she talks, Heche is putting the finishing touches on a homemade Father's Day card for her husband, cameraman Coleman Laffoon. The couple produced little Homer Heche Laffoon in March.

    Heche, 33, gleefully folds pieces of construction paper and scatters store-bought stickers of stars and circles around her crude drawing of a necktie.

    "I think he'll love it," she says, inspecting her work.

    It's the very picture of family bliss, far from the turmoil of her childhood and unhappiness following the end of her three-year relationship with comic Ellen DeGeneres.

    "To me, the difference between sanity and insanity is that insanity means that you can't connect the dots of your life. You are out in an unreachable place," Heche says.

    "At moments in my life, I was unreachable. I figured it out, put it all together and connected all the dots by the time I was 33 and understood it. Now, I'm on the other side of it."

    These have been a remarkable last few years for Heche. There was the breakup with DeGeneres, a mental meltdown, her surprise marriage, the tell-all book and a gurgling baby.

    DeGeneres and Heche announced on Aug. 19, 2000, that they were splitting up. Just hours later, police were called after Heche wandered into a rural home near Fresno, Calif., appearing shaken and making strange comments to the homeowners.

    She later explained in her autobiography, Call Me Crazy, that she had had a breakdown and that sexual abuse by her father drove her insane, leading her to believe she had a split personality named Celestia.

    "I look at my life and I joke about it as being pre- and post-Fresno," Heche says. "It's like when I truly say that I understood. That was THE moment of my life. Then everything fell in place."

    After taking a year off from acting, Heche says she has recovered from her mental illness and is itching to perform again. The Heche theatregoers will see, she says, will be someone they may not recognize.

    "I was hiding when I was acting before and I was good at the hiding," says the star of Six Days, Seven Nights, Volcano and Gus Van Sant's remake of Psycho.

    "I would become the character completely and fully because I didn't want Anne to be seen. But now I have nothing to hide and I can walk on stage with myself on board," she says. "I'm all stars and glitter right now in my head. So I really need characters to leap into."

    With Proof, the actor is returning to New York, where her career began aboard the soap opera Another World in the ironic double role of twins - one good, one evil. So convincing was her portrayal that she won an Emmy.

    She has titled her latest adventure, Anne on Broadway.

    "There's no turning back," she says. "Certainly, there's no going to my trailer if it doesn't work, there's no, 'Can we have another take?'"

    Heche follows in the footsteps of Leigh and Mary-Louise Parker, who originated the role Off-Broadway and who won a best actress Tony for her Broadway performance. Gwyneth Paltrow is playing the part in London and is slated to star in the movie version, to be released by Miramax Films.

    "Every day, there's a new discovery and a new fear," Heche says. "Today's fear was, 'Oh, my god. Even if I can play this, how am I going to do it for 3½ months?'"

    Despite that fear, Heche studiously avoided seeing Leigh's interpretation, though it was tempting. She even shuts her ears when Leigh's performance is described.

    "I didn't want to be walking side-by-side with someone that I'd seen. I love Jennifer Jason Leigh - I think she's terrific," she says. "I would either have a hard time not getting her out of my head or a hard time trying to separate."

    The audience, meanwhile, may find it difficult to separate Heche from her post-Fresno revelations, a fact of which Heche is well aware. "Leave your preconditions at the door," she advises.

    "Because I've gone off the path of actress into some places that people don't like me to go, will they be able to come back to the fact that I'm an actress? I don't know. ...

    "Hopefully, they will understand and be able to see how far I've come ... that my life has led me to the richness and fullness of being able to do this show."

    As for the turmoil in her past, Heche says it's just that - in the past.

    "It's a part of me, don't mistake that," she says. "I don't deny it. I just embraced it. And now the colour has changed from black to clear."

  • Crying Shame

    CHRISTINA Ricci nearly started popping Prozac herself during the grueling shoot for "Prozac Nation." "The filming was incredibly draining," Ricci tells Webster Hall curator Baird Jones. "During the entire shoot, which ran for eight weeks, there were only five days in which I was not being filmed weeping. The crying came as part of my character. I didn't have to use any actor's cliché trick like imagining my dog had died to get the tears to come. It was just total hell."

  • Harrison Ford Says Flockhart Won't Be 'Indiana Jones'' Leading Lady

    While may be Harrison Ford's love, she won't be Indy's.

    Ford, appearing on "Access Hollywood" Tuesday night, denied rumors that he had demanded the former "Ally McBeal" actress get a part in the fourth update to "Indiana Jones," which is still in the early development stages.

    At this point, Ford says he isn't yet ready to pick up the whip yet.

    "I'll wait until I get a script I can commit to, then I'll pick up the whip again," Ford said in a recent press conference for his new film, "K-19: The Widowmaker."

    Ford also bristled recently about the idea that he plays heroes.

    "I don't play heroes; I play people who have particular dilemmas and they're dramatized. If it comes off as heroic then that's a cultural definition of the behavior," he says. "But I don't play heroes, I play guys that behave well under difficult circumstances."

    In "K-19," Ford plays Russian Captain Alexi Vostrikov, who is in charge of the country's first nuclear ballistic submarine, which suffered a malfunction in its nuclear reactor on its maiden voyage in the North Atlantic in 1961.

    The actor says the film allows us to go back to the time of the cold war and examine some of the decisions, not only made by the Russian, but Americans as well.

    "I think its' always important to reflect on your history and the choices you made as a nation," Ford tells Zap2it.com. "We had opened a Pandora's Box of nuclear potential that we had opened under Truman. The whole concept of balance of power obtained by mutually assured destruction is an idea that we should certainly thing about and revisit often because it's not necessarily the best way of doing things," he laughs.

  • Talk Show

    Late Show With David Letterman, CBS: Fr 6/28: Christina Ricci, comic Daniel Tosh

  • Flockhart to Join Harrison in Indiana

    Skinny actress CALISTA FLOCKHART is to team up with boyfriend HARRISON FORD in the next INDIANA JONES movie.

    Filming on INDIANA JONES IV is due to begin in May 2004, with the film looking more adult than its 1980s predecessors.

    A source says, "Harrison Ford had only one demand when he was approached about doing a fourth Indiana Jones movie - that Calista be written into the new movie.

    "Luckily, STEVEN SPIELBERG and GEORGE LUCAS loved the idea. They think Calista will be a perfect romantic interest for Indiana."

    And having the ex-ALLY MCBEAL star on board solved one problem for the filmmakers.

    The source says, "The Indy team had no idea what to do with Indy for the fourth movie. Bringing Calista on board gave them inspiration and they dreamed up the whole story in just a few hours. Getting Calista into the movie was the kick-in-the-pants the guys needed."

  • TBS Takes Over JFK Jr. Movie

    Former "Ally McBeal" star Portia de Rossi and Jacqueline Bisset will star in a movie about the life of John F. Kennedy Jr. for TBS.

    "America's Prince: The JFK Jr. Story" is set to begin production in August, with its premiere targeted for December or January. The script is based on the book "The Day John Died" by Christopher Andersen.

    "This is a first movie to look at just JFK Jr. as apposted to all the other ones that look at the whole family," Tana Nugent Jamieson, TBS vice president of original programming, tells The Hollywood Reporter. "The Kennedys are a bit of America's royalty, and I think that JFK Jr. was our generation's prince."

    Bisset will play Jackie Kennedy Onassis, JFK Jr.'s mother. It's a part she's played before, in the 1978 movie "The Greek Tycoon," which told the story of Jackie Kennedy's romance with Aristotle Onassis. De Rossi will play Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Kennedy's wife. The role of JFK Jr. hasn't been cast yet.

    The movie, being produced by Fox TV Studios, was originally set for broadcast on the FOX network as an adaptation of another book, Wendy Leigh's "Prince Charming: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story." TBS picked up the project after FOX decided to eliminate its TV-movie division last fall.

    By starting this summer, the TBS movie will beat another film about Kennedy's life to the screen. CBS is working on an adaptation of Richard Blow's controversial biography "American Son."

  • Bernadette Peters Makes Solo Radio City Music Hall Concert Debut

    Throngs of Bernadette Peters fans will unite June 19 to catch the two-time Tony Award winner's solo Radio City Music Hall concert debut at 8 PM.

    The former Annie Get Your Gun star will offer an evening of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein tunes, including songs from her new Angel Records CD, "Bernadette Peters Loves Rodgers & Hammerstein." The one night-only event will also include several additional Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes not found on the recording as well as an original overture written by Tony winner Jonathan Tunick, who will conduct the orchestra.

    Peters promises that there will be some other wonderful surprises as well. Richard Jay-Alexander, the acclaimed director who helmed her solo Carnegie Hall concert debut, will also direct the Radio City performance, which will boast such R&H classics as "Some Enchanted Evening," "If I Loved You," "It Might As Well Be Spring," "Mister Snow" and "You'll Never Walk Alone."

    In a statement, the Queens-born Peters had this to say about her upcoming night at Radio City: "I'm a native New Yorker, so it has always been my dream to perform at Radio City Music Hall. It's one of the most gorgeous, architecturally grand theatres this fabulous city has to offer, and it is such an integral part of New York's rich cultural history. I'm thrilled to perform Rodgers and Hammerstein's amazing songs in this historic music hall as 'June is bustin' out all over' and the Richard Rodgers Centennial is in full swing."

    Tickets, which are priced at $44.50, $49.50, $64.50 and $79.50 (including the $4.50 per ticket facility charge), are still available by calling TicketMaster at (212) 307-7171 or by logging on to www.radiocity.com.

    Bernadette Peters earned Tony Awards ( news - web sites) for her work in Broadway's Song & Dance and Annie Get Your Gun as well as Tony nominations for her performances in Sunday in the Park With George, The Goodbye Girl, Mack and Mabel and On the Town. She received an Emmy nomination for her guest stint on "Ally McBeal ( news - Y! TV)" and will be seen in the upcoming Michael Douglas film "A Few Good Years," scheduled for a December 2002 release. Peters will also star in the highly anticipated revival of Gypsy, which will be mounted on Broadway in 2003 featuring direction by Sam Mendes. She was recently on the stage of Radio City Music Hall co hosting the 56th Annual Tony Awards telecast.

  • Flockhart Avoids the Press

    CALISTA FLOCKHART has been on the receiving end of reams of negative press - so she's learned to ignore it.

    The ALLY McBEAL actress was an object of media fixation for a while when concerns about her tiny frame prompted speculation of anorexia. And now that she's hooked one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors, HARRISON FORD, she's even more of a target for curious paparazzi.

    She says, "Occasionally people run out and try to take my picture, but I try not to pay attention.

    "I've learned that someone can write a story about you and it can be completely untrue. Then people start putting the pieces together and it has nothing to do with reality."

  • From 'Ally' To Adolf

    'SPRINGTIME FOR Hitler and Germany ..." so goes the famous musical refrain from "The Producers."

    Speaking of the Feuhrer, reports from London that Robert Downey Jr., who once brilliantly interpreted Charlie Chaplin, is being courted to star as the maniac who incited World War II, Adolf Hitler.

    It will be a BBC production focusing on Hitler's days as a young down-and-outer in Vienna with a script from novelist William Boyd. "I think anyone would kill for the part of Hitler," exclaims Boyd with what I assume is gallows humor. He declares Downey would be a "perfect" Hitler, "but we will have to work on getting the insurance."

  • Gimme Shelter

    Portia's pad! 2BR, 2BTH apartment near Hollywood's Sunset Strip. Price $1.2 million. Ally McBeal co-star Portia de Rossi is saying bye-bye to the penthouse perch she bought just two years ago. Purchased for about $600,000, the three-story, 2,600-square-foot apartment stretches up to the top floor of the legendary building where Marilyn Monroe & Rock Hudson once lived. The seven-story, French Normandy-style 1930 structure has a pool, a spa, a private garden, and a doorman. (re/Max's Brian & Laura Moore have the listing) De Rossi is moving to another L.A. home.

  • Heche B'Wway-Bound

    ANNE Heche is stepping into the hit play, "Proof." So here's our chat on the subject: How many times have you been on Broadway before?

    "I think the best way for me to describe this to you is to say I've done zero Broadway shows before."

    But "Proof" is a really heavy drama.

    "Right. But, still, my experience before this is zip. It's my first time."

    So, Anne, let's cut to the chase, have you had any stage experience?

    "We-ell, if you put it that way - yes. I guess if you want to be absolutely honest, then you could say this is my second time on a stage. My first was in Swainton, N.J. Dinner theater. It was 'Music Man.' And I was 12. But, somehow, I never have considered Swainton really close to Broadway."

  • Sightings

    ANNE Heche, in town to do "Proof," with Coley Lafoon and their baby Homer, checking out the Ron Galella photos in the windows of Barneys.

  • Holden's Dealt a Role in Mandy Moore Pic

    HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Alexandra Holden (Ross' student girlfriend on "Friends") will star in the Mandy Moore vehicle "How to Deal," which begins production June 24.

    Holden will play the best pal of Moore, a teen who is surrounded by examples of love gone wrong and decides it doesn't exist.

    Two young-adult novels by Sarah Dessen, "That Summer," and "Someone Like You," provided the genesis for the New Line project. Claire Kilner ("Janice Beard: 45 Words Per Minute") will direct.

    Holden recently wrapped Disney's "The Hot Chick" opposite Rob Schneider. Her other TV credits include recurring roles in "Once and Again" and "Ally McBeal ( news - Y! TV)," which were both recently canceled.

  • Harrison Wants to Stay a Bachelor

    HARRISON FORD has refused to move in with his TV star girlfriend CALISTA FLOCKHART - because he's enjoying his space.

    The 59-year-old INDIANA JONES star began dating the ALLY McBEAL actress after they met at the GOLDEN GLOBE awards in January.

    Their relationship was thought to be blossoming, but according to American tabloid NATIONAL ENQUIRER, Harrison is reluctant to give up his bachelor lifestyle.

    The magazine says 37-year-old Calista was hoping to spend more time with Ford and her 17-month-old adopted son LIAM after Ally McBeal was canceled last month.

    But, although he's keen to keep up his romance with the petite actress, Ford - having only recently divorced his second wife MELISSA MATHISON - doesn't want to be rushed into raising a third family.

  • Robert Downey Jr. Hits a High Note

    Actor ROBERT DOWNEY JR. has been busy perfecting a new craft he's set to unleash on his fans - his singing career.

    The former ALLY McBEAL star is currently putting together an album of original songs and friends say he's very excited about its release.

    One friend says, "It's something he's always wanted to do."

    Another source, who has heard some of the album's "very soulful" tracks, says, "Not only does Robert have a lovely voice, he's also a great songwriter who plays piano, bass and drums.

    "People will be really impressed when he finally finishes the album."

    But the completion of his album could be a while, since 37-year-old Downey only records when he has time off from THE SINGING DETECTIVE, a film he's shooting in Los Angeles, California, with MEL GIBSON, in which he plays a novelist.

    At the moment, there's no release date set for Downey's vocal debut.

  • Is Robert Downey Switching Careers?

    Hollywood's favorite bad boy is recording an album. Robert Downey, Jr., who is currently filming "The Singing Detective" with friend Mel Gibson, is currently putting together a record of original songs.

    "It's something he's always wanted to do," a friend of Downey Jr.'s tells the London Sun, adding that the songs on the album are "very soulful. Not only does Robert have a lovely voice, he's also a great songwriter who plays piano, bass and drums. People will be really impressed when he finally finishes the album."

    The album is being recorded in a studio in Los Angeles, where 37-year-old Downey Jr. goes when he's not working on the movie. No release date has been set for the recording.

  • Fans Buy Ally Stuff Online

    Studio executives at TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX aren't wasting any time in selling off cancelled TV show ALLY McBEAL's clothes and props - but it's all for a good cause.

    The top lawyer's CHANEL jacket, her bed and 38 other items from the show were auctioned off on Internet auction site eBay over the weekend to raise cash for various charities.

    Ally's bed sold for over $1,700, while the jacket went under the cyber hammer for $720.

    The highlight of the sale was a replica of the onyx and sapphire necklace, which was presented to McBeal (CALISTA FLOCKHART) by castmate JOHN CAGE (PETER MACNICOL) in the show's finale, which aired in America last month.

    The jewelry item, which was designed by Ally creator DAVID E KELLEY's sister-in-law RONA PFEIFFER, featured a pendant in the shape of the WORLD TRADE CENTER in New York. That raised $3,500 for the WORLD TRADE CENTER RELIEF FUND.

  • Tony Calista

    It looks like Calista Flockhart is following the script of the "Ally McBeal" finale by moving to New York. She was oh-so-glamorous in Missoni and a million buck's worth of Harry Winston diamonds at the Tonys and is spending some quality Manhattan time with beau Harrison Ford, who wouldn't let himself be dragged out to the awards show but caught Calista's bit on TV. Some think the couple will soon be shopping Winston for a ring that she'll keep forever, but that's probably a bit premature at this point. I thought the other high fashion note from the Tonys was the very Manhattan, sleek black look adopted by Laura Linney ("The Crucible") and Jeffrey ("The Goat") Carlson in their head-to-toe Prada outfits.

  • Final Yearly Ratings

    Ally McBeal finished the season in #61 down 23% from last season with an average 9.3 million viewers per epiode. Last season Ally finished 40th. Shows that finished just behind Ally include The X-Files, The Drew Carey Show & The 70's Show while just ahead were Weakest Link (Sunday), The Bernie Mac Show & Dateline NBC.

  • Affleck Laughs Off Relationship Rumors

    OSCAR-winning actor/writer BEN AFFLECK finds media reports of his lovelife hilarious - because he hasn't met most of the women he's alleged to have dated.

    The PEARL HARBOR hunk has been linked with some of the world's most desired women - BOND girl FAMKE JANSSEN, SANDRA BULLOCK, CHELSEA CLINTON, BRITNEY SPEARS, NICOLE KIDMAN and CALISTA FLOCKHART - but denies romance with any of them.

    Affleck laughs, "I have been linked to anybody I've run into, or sometimes never met. Somebody asked me if I was really dating Calista Flockhart, and I don't even know her!

    "I've so stopped worrying about who I'm linked to."

  • Internal Politics

    Former Ally McBeal actor Gil Bellows is checking out of CBS's The Agency. Bellows's field officer character — who was shot in the season finale — was reportedly a casualty of the show's shift in focus from the CIA's field operations to the politics between the agency and Washington. Meanwhile, USA Today reports that co-star Gloria Reuben (ER) may be next on the chopping block.

  • Sightings

    Portia de Rossi (Nelle) arriving hand-in-hand with lesbian "fiancee" Francesca Gregorini, to the opening night of the Warhol Retrospective sponsored by Angeleno Magazine at MOCA in Los Angeles. The couple ended up in a hissy fit and bolted the party after an uninformed reporter asked de Rossi "who her friend was".

  • Christina Ricci's Size Issues

    Actress CHRISTINA RICCI is certain she's recovered from her eating disorder - yet she's still obsessed with her weight.

    The SLEEPY HOLLOW star appears in the June issue of America's VOGUE magazine, and boasts that she now wears "size 0" clothes.

    Ricci, 22, insists that her battle with anorexia is behind her, saying, "Once you're in it, you're so involved in whatever the mind-shift is that you can't see clearly.

    "The second a therapist finally explained to me what I was doing, I was just like, 'Oh, this is ridiculous!'"

    But despite no longer suffering from the disorder, Ricci told Vogue that she has special ways of making sure she stays slim.

    Ricci says she dons only "a sports bra on top" and ankle-length stretch pants for workouts, explaining, "You know why I don't wear anything else? Because I might want to quit after half an hour.

    "So I look in the mirror, and because I can see my stomach, I'm like, 'Got to keep going.'"

  • In A Hurry

    When Harrison Ford wants something, he wants it now. When Ford and his honey, Calista Flockhart, arrived at the Comfort Diner in Midtown the other day, "there was a line and Harrison tried to get a table right away," our source said. "The manager said it would normally be around 15 minutes, but he could probably get them seated in five." That wasn't good enough for the duo, and they walked out.

  • Ally Gets Trade Center Gift in Series Finale

    Ally McBeal creator David E. Kelley gave his TV lawyer a bizarre send-off gift in the series finale on Monday night - a necklace made up from the rubble of the World Trade Center.

    Ally's pal John Cage, played by Peter MacNicol, presented the ditzy legal eagle with the odd gift as a going-away present when Calista Flockhart's character announced she's quitting the company and leaving Boston.

    The bizarre finale also featured the return of departed stars Courtney Thorne-Smith, Lisa Nicole Carson and Gil Bellows, who came back from the dead as Billy to wish his ex-lover well on her travels and share a last kiss.

    There was also a dream wedding sequence, which saw Ally saying 'I do' to Billy, a cameo for holograms of Bill and Hilary Clinton, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and baseball star Babe Ruth, and a farewell performance by Barry White.

    More than 11 million viewers tuned in for the last ever episode.

  • Ally Guest Star On The View

    The View, ABC- We 5/29: Josh Groban (Malcolm, Ally McBeal)

  • Bygones

    Click here! to read a review of Monday's Ally McBeal "Bygones" (May 20, 2002) and post your thoughts on the episode on our Message Board.

  • Flockhart Dates Ford for His 'Talent and Brains'

    Ally McBeal actress Calista Flockhart is dating Indiana Jones hunk Harrison Ford for his "talent and brains".

    The super-thin star has been enjoying a romance with the ageing movie icon for the past few months - and is happy with her love life, and the opportunities presented to her by the cancellation of her American TV legal comedy-drama.

    She says, "Dating is hard for everybody, I look for talent, brains, a good-hearted person. That guy sounds perfect.

    "I am sorry to see Ally McBeal end, but I'm excited about the future."

  • Review of Series Finale for `Ally McBeal'
    (From Infobeat)

    It started as the spiffiest new series in fall 1997. It won the comedy series Emmy in 1999. Then it fell into stunning decline, its once-stylish quirkiness sliding into sophomoric silliness. Ally McBeal expires Monday after an exasperating five-year run.

    Creator David E. Kelley - does the E stand for egregious? - made so many missteps this season that neurotic Ally (Calista Flockhart), her law firm and its unisex bathroom were headed for oblivion.

    He introduced four bland regulars, wrote vulgar material for Dame Edna Everage and desperately added a surprise daughter for Ally.

    As a love interest for Ally, Jon Bon Jovi had zero chemistry with Flockhart. Other signs of desperation: the weirdly frisky appearances by Heather Locklear, Lara Flynn Boyle and Christina Ricci.

    The series finale, at 9 p.m. Monday, will bring back former regulars Courtney Thorne-Smith, Lisa Nicole Carson and Gil Bellows, whose death as Billy was the series' nadir.

    Carl Reiner will play a minister, and Greg Germann has revealed that his character, Richard Fish, will marry. Robert Downey Jr., the finest foil for Flockhart, evidently won't return.

    The luminous Flockhart deserved better. She retained her dignity as the show turned insufferably cute with its music, fantasies and innuendo. A prediction: These reruns will not age well.

  • "Ally" Limps to Conclusion

    Time for the dancing baby's last waltz.

    After five years as TV's predominant waif-like, neurotic lovelorn lawyer, Fox's Ally McBeal finally bids adieu Monday night at 9 p.m. Expected to return for the one-hour finale are former cast members Gil Bellows, Lisa Nicole Carson and Courtney Thorne-Smith. (Sorry, no Robert Downey Jr. (news - web sites) in sight.)

    To many, the end comes about two years late: Critics have complained that creator David E. Kelley's quirky, groundbreaking comedy starring Calista Flockhart lost its way, deteriorating into a string of ridiculous, nose-whistling idiosyncrasies, stunt guest stars (like The Love Boat, but without Charo) and tired storylines.

    "It is David E. Kelley's peculiar gift that people are happy to see his shows arrive, and even happier to see them go," writes USA Today critic Robert Bianco, not weeping too hard with his own eulogy. "Ally reigns as the prime example of his inability to maintain a series, because it was Kelley's most culturally resonant creation."

    No doubt about that. Despite all the recent analysis of its downfall (Did it "jump the shark" after Billy died? Or when Downey left?), it might be easy to forget that Ally's pouty mugshot once graced the cover of Time magazine--part of a story evaluating the state of feminism in America.

    While academics debated that stuff, the show itself (costarring Greg Germann, Peter MacNicol and Lucy Liu) quickly became a pop-culture phenomenon, breaking new ground in how relationships are portrayed on television and, with its bizarre dream sequences, changing the way networks handled comedies.

    The series scored a Peabody honor in 1998 and a year later, became the first one-hour program to win an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.

    But over the past two seasons, Ally has struggled, especially after the departure of Robert Downey Jr., who earned a Golden Globe as Ally's love interest, until his own troubles with drugs led to his departure from the show last year.

    Since then, producers have filled the holes with stunt casting and guest appearances from the likes of Anne Heche, Elton John, Sting, Mariah Carey and Jon Bon Jovi, among many others. As the show struggled creatively, viewers fled. This season, Ally averaged just 8.8 million viewers, and Kelley and Fox finally pulled the plug after a two-hour episode featuring Matthew Perry and Christina Ricci failed draw viewer interest.

    While Monday night may mark the end of Ally, it certainly doesn't mark the end of Kelley. He's still plugging away on The Practice and Boston Public (news - Y! TV). And next fall, Fox is replacing Ally on Mondays with yet another Kelley creation, girls club, a series revolving around--yep, you guessed it--female lawyers and their love lives.

  • Anne Heche Bound for Broadway

    New mom ANNE HECHE is in negotiations to take over from JENNIFER JASON LEIGH in PULITZER PRIZE-winning play PROOF on Broadway, New York.

    GWYNETH PALTROW is currently playing the lead in the play in London and reportedly cannot take over when Leigh's run ends on June 30 due to filming and promotional commitments, and so Heche is being approached.

  • Trailblazer 'Ally' Bids Farewell

    Unlucky-in-love Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV) has botched the last and most important relationship of her life: The one with television viewers.

    Enough already, the audience seemed to chorus as ratings for Fox's 5-year-old series slipped despite newcomers including Jon Bon Jovi and Christina Ricci.

    Enough neuroses, said one former fan, Suzanne Smith: "Ally wasn't just quirky anymore. She was unpleasant."

    Enough rampant male chauvinism, said another, Charla Delgado: "The portrayal of the workplace bothered me."

    Once hot, now cold, "Ally McBeal" airs its final episode 9 p.m. EDT Monday. But the show — which had the power to provoke a Time magazine cover story asking "Is Feminism Dead?" — remains influential despite its decline.

    It's the style, however, and not the substance of "Ally McBeal" that resonates. Witty fantasy sequences, an ear for music and innovative cinematography are part of the legacy of creator David E. Kelley's Emmy-winning series.

    When it comes to the depiction of contemporary women — which made "Ally McBeal" the watercooler darling, or villain, of its heyday — the medium already has moved on.

    Played by Calista Flockhart, Ally was a 30-ish Boston lawyer obsessed more with mating than her professional accomplishments. In 1998, Time called her a symbol of feminism turned vapid and part of "a popular culture insistent on offering images of grown single women as frazzled, self-absorbed girls."

    Don't look for her TV progeny, said Bonnie J. Dow, author of "Prime-Time Feminism: Television, Media Culture, and the Women's Movement Since 1970" (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996).

    "We have more shows built around powerful female lead characters than we've had in years. ... We have competent women who are not as emotionally (flawed) as Ally is," said Dow, a University of Georgia associate professor in speech communication.

    She ticks off examples: "Providence," "Judging Amy," "Crossing Jordan" and "Philly" (the last, a legal drama starring Kim Delaney, canceled this week by ABC).

    While "Judging Amy" can be found among the top 20 prime-time programs, "Ally McBeal" lingers closer to No. 60. It has dropped from a 1998-99 high of 17 million weekly viewers to 9.4 million for the season to date.

    In 1997, the series and its then unknown star, Flockhart, were welcomed as fresh, offbeat newcomers. Ally's tiny skirts and oversize neediness were marvels, as was Kelley's unorthodox take on the war of the sexes and hot-button issues such as workplace equality and marital infidelity.

    The emphasis on music was a draw, with Elton John, Al Green, Sting, Barry White, Tina Turner, Barry Manilow and Gladys Knight among the pop stars who appeared. Vonda Shepard was resident muse, the pianist-singer at the lounge frequented by Ally and her circle.

    Also intriguing were the fantasy vignettes, now a TV staple on shows as varied as the NBC sitcom "Scrubs" and HBO's drama "Six Feet Under." As Ally's thoughts played out on-screen, we saw a dancing baby — a taunt about her then childless state — and encounters with absent boyfriends, one dead (Gil Bellows), and another who deserted her (Robert Downey Jr. (news - web sites)).

    That was part of the show's original blend of comedy and drama; in 1999, it became the first hourlong program to win an Emmy as best comedy series.

    The prolific Kelley, who had a hand in virtually every script for "Ally McBeal" (as is the case for his other series, "The Practice" and "Boston Public (news - Y! TV)"), said in a 1997 interview that he wrote by personality, not gender.

    "I try to incorporate some things that may be more germane to women than men in drawing women characters," he said. "But, for the most part, the dirty little secret is that I fail to distinguish them.

    "The flaws or the strengths that I look for in drawing male characters, I do the same things for female characters."

    But it was Ally, not her equally needy, neurotic male law partners, who drew attention — inevitably, Dow argues, because she was the rare female lead character on TV. There is a 30-year tradition, beginning with "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," of making such shows a barometer of women's progress, Dow said.

    She's glad to see the Fox series depart. It "trivializes what the agenda is for women at the turn of the 21st century," Dow said.

    But she does give "Ally McBeal" credit for contributing to social discourse: Those who used the show to disparage feminism started a backlash among supporters eager to defend its gains and goals.

    The series deserves kudos on other grounds, said Tom Denove, a veteran cinematographer and adjunct professor at the film school of the University of California, Los Angeles.

    Denove, who worked on two episodes of the series, credits colleague Billy Dixon with an unorthodox approach to filming that relied on telephoto-type lenses, even for close-ups. It gave "Ally McBeal" a distinctive, intimate look.

    "You're so focused on the person and almost looking right into their soul," Denove said. "It's very personal. It doesn't look like a TV show at all in that respect alone."

    And while others may have tired of the series, for Denove it's once in love with "Ally," always in love with "Ally."

    "I hate to see it go," he said.

  • Another Gig For Lucy

    Charlie's Angels star Lucy Liu (Ally's Ling Woo) is in talks to play the title character in a modern-day version of Charlie Chan, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

  • Fox to Auction 'McBeal' Necklace as Series Ends

    Fox's quirky and often-dumped "Ally McBeal" may be headed for the dust bin of television history, but fans can still get a piece of the show before its scheduled May 20 finale.

    The necklace to be worn by Calista Flockhart's character Ally -- better known for her high-cut miniskirts and sorry love life than her jewelry -- will soon go on the block at a Fox site hosted by online auctioneer eBay Inc..

    The 18-karat gold necklace laced with diamonds, sapphires and onyx is the only item from the show up for sale, and will go on sale on Tuesday at (http://www.allymcbealauction.com). Proceeds will benefit the World Trade Center School Relief Fund.

    The show about a quirky law firm where relationships often go on trial -- both inside and outside the court room -- will end its five-year run with the May 20 finale amid flagging ratings.

    Concurrently, Fox, a unit of News Corp. Ltd., will also auction off three pieces of its "real time" series "24," the critically acclaimed action drama whose fate is up the air as network officials prepare to announce their schedule for the upcoming fall season later this week.

    The three "24," items available at (http://www.24-auction.com) include a shirt worn by the characters Kim Bauer, a tie worn by David Palmer, and the Rolex watch worn by Jack Bauer, the main character played by Kiefer Sutherland.

    Bidding began for all three items on Monday, but as of late afternoon the tie had yet to attract an offer. The shirt had attracted three bids, the last at $76.42, while the Rolex had attracted eight bids, the last $152.50.

    The show in which Kiefer Sutherland's character races to foil an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate will end its first season with a May 21 finale.

  • Calista: Downey Jr. Could Have Saved Ally McBeal

    CALISTA FLOCKHART is convinced co-star ROBERT DOWNEY JR could have saved her TV show ALLY McBEAL from being axed.

    TV bosses cancelled the show last month after a five-year run.

    OSCAR-nominated Downey Jr. ended a year long run on the hit comedy last year after being arrested for drug offences.

    But ratings soared during his spell on the legal comedy drama and audiences lapped up his onscreen romance with Flockhart's lead character Ally.

    And Calista, who will shoot the final episode on MAY 20, has told how the hellraising actor could have saved the show, if he'd stayed out of trouble.

    The 37-year-old actress says, "It was a wonderful script and storyline for Robert and myself.

    "But, unfortunately, it wasn't good timing with his problems, which was a shame because people really seemed to like him."

    Flockhart, who has remained pals with Downey Jr. as he battles addictions in rehab, is now preparing for life away from the legal series.

    She adds, "I'm actually looking forward to digging my teeth into something that is very different to Ally McBeal.

    "I would definitely like to do some more theatre work and movies too."

  • Ahoy Matie

    The Practice" hunk Dylan McDermott is slapping on an eye patch to play notorious club kingpin Peter Gatien in "Party Monster." What's more, we hear Lucy Liu has auditioned to play the role of Gatien's common-law wife, Alessandra. Shooting begins next month on the hotly anticipated flick about club kid-killer Michael Alig, who will be portrayed by Macaulay Culkin. Chloe Sevigny, Marilyn Manson, Natasha Lyonne, Seth Green, Wilson Cruz and Daniel Franzese have already signed on.

  • Bon Jovi and Wife Have Third Child

    Rock star-turned-actor Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea gave birth to their third child Tuesday (May 7), reports the Associated Press.

    The couple were in New Jersey when they gave birth to a boy, named Jacob.

    Bon Jovi married the former Dorothea Hurley on April 29, 1989, Las Vegas, Nev. They gave birth to their first child, Stephanie Rose, on May 31, 1993 and their second child, Jesse James Louis, on Feb. 19, 1995.

    The 40 year-old singer was the frontman for the group Bon Jovi and had a string of hits in the 1980s, including "Blaze of Glory," the theme song to the 1990 wild West movie "Young Guns II."

    This season, Bon Jovi had replaced Robert Downey Jr. as the love interest to the title character on "Ally McBeal." He's also starred in a handful of movies over the last ten years, including "Moonlight and Valentino," "U-571" and "Pay It Forward."

  • Ford Dotes on Flockhart's Baby

    Movie veteran HARRISON FORD took over the role as father on a day out with girlfriend CALISTA FLOCKHART and son LIAM.

    The WHAT LIES BENEATH actor has been dating the former ALLY McBEAL star since February and some pals have claimed the two have discussed marriage.

    During a weekend stroll with the TV actress, Harrison happily played around with young 16-month-old Liam and calmed the toddler down when he threw a tantrum.

    As little Liam screamed, fatherly Harrison picked a flower from a nearby bush and gave it the young boy, as Calista looked on proudly.

  • How Should Ally End

    When Ally McBeal's last episode airs on May 20, how would you like to see Ally McBeal end? I personally would like to see Ally marry Larry Paul (Robert Downey Jr.), with all the original cast members in attendance (including Billy's ghost). Larry's son Sam could be the ring bearer, Maddie the flower girl, and John Cage as Ally's maid of honor. What would you like to see? Click here to tell us.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, June 3, 2002

    CBS had its best hour at 9 p.m. with "Everybody Loves Raymond," 9.8/16, and "Becker," 8.7/14. The conclusion of "Fear Factor," 6.0/10, and "Spy TV," 5.7/9, again gave NBC second. The first hour of "The Hamptons" drew a 5.3/9 for ABC, while "Ally McBeal" managed only 2.5/4 for FOX. "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" averaged 2.7/4 on UPN, a few tenths ahead of The WB's "Angel" repeat.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, May 20, 2002

    CBS kept the lead at 9 p.m. with "Everybody Loves Raymond," the top-rated show of the night at 12.5/19, and "Becker," 10.9/16. "Ally McBeal" closed its five-year run on FOX with a 7.4/11, while the conclusion of "Fear Factor" and the start of the special "20 Years of Must See TV" averaged a 6.9/11 for NBC, three-tenths of a point in front of ABC's movie. "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" averaged 3.8/6 for UPN, edging The WB's "Angel," 3.7/5.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, May 13, 2002

    In the 9 o'clock block, CBS again led the way with "Everybody Loves Raymond" (12.6/19) and "Becker" (10.3/15), followed by NBC's "Third Watch" (8.0/12), FOX's "Ally McBeal" (5.4/8), The WB's "Angel" (3.6/5) and UPN's "The Parkers" (3.5/5).

  • Bon Jovi: It's Hard to Resist the Groupies

    Rocker BON JOVI admits it's been difficult to refuse all the offers of a bed for the night from the many beautiful women who have seen him perform.

    But the LIVIN' ON A PRAYER star, now happily married, has learnt just to talk and look.

    The sexy singer admits, "I'm not saying I've always been a saint. This girl came up to me on a Dutch TV show recently and said, 'You know, I lost my virginity to SLIPPERY WHEN WET.

    "So I'm checking her out, going 'Hmmm, tell me a little more. Details please.' Oh, I love that.

    "I recently returned to my hotel room to find a girl had pushed a note under the door which read, 'Jon, I've been kissing your door for the past hour. Don't worry I'll be back later.' Now that's scary!"

  • Ally Catch

    While "Ally McBeal" has only three weeks to go before dying of anorexia or whatever, former co-star Portia de Rossi has just scored a plum role in a forthcoming film about the misadventures of Frank Sinatra Down Under. Aussie actress de Rossi (real name Mandy Rogers) will play a journalist to whom 0l' Blue Eyes refers to as a "dollar and a half hooker" during his 1974 Antipodean tour. In the movie, Sinatra will be played by John Turturro and Melanie Griffith appears as Barbara Marx, who became Frank's last wife and does, in fact, quite closely resemble Griffith

  • This Screen Fight Is Liu Liu

    Tongues are wagging about Salma Hayek's on-camera catfight with Lucy Liu in Mike Figgis' new movie, "Hotel."

    The hot-blooded actresses are said to have gotten carried away during an improvised fight scene.

    "Salma lunges at Lucy, grabs hold of her and shakes her," says our source.

    "Then they started shoving each other. Salma was in kind of a bad mood that day and was very fatigued. When they were filming it, some people on the set were afraid it was turning into a real fight. It looked very real."

    The "fight" - which might be the hottest on-screen scratchfest since Charlize Theron took on Teri Hatcher in "Two Days in the Valley" - erupted at the end of a grueling five-week shoot on the island of Lido Di Venezia outside Venice.

    Hayek, Liu, David Schwimmer, Burt Reynolds, John Malkovich, Rhys Ifans and Saffron Burrows lived, rehearsed and improvised scenes under one roof for the flick, which premiered last night at the Brooklyn International Film Festival.

    But co-producer Annie Stewart insists that while the scene was well-acted, the actresses were doing nothing more than following Figgis' suggestions.

    "They did a really great job," Stewart tells us. "It does look like they are really fighting, but I can assure you that no one lost control.

    "Earlier that day, Mike suggested they push each other, and that some of the other actors pull Salma off Lucy to make it look more realistic. They were just doing what actors do."

    Figgis - best known for directing Nicolas Cage and Elizabeth Shue in the acclaimed "Leaving Las Vegas" - shot the fight scene twice, but he liked the first improvised imbroglio so much, he kept the scuffle in the movie's final cut.

    The arty "Hotel" is a sequel of sorts to Figgis' low-budget digital movie "Time Code," in which Hayek also starred.

    Aside from Hayek squaring off with Liu, the quirky "Hotel" features Malkovich as a guest forced to eat the flesh of dismembered hotel guests in a jail cell, Ifans as a comatose guest who has sex with Valentina Cervi, and "Friends" star Schwimmer as a sleazy cameraman.

  • Bye-bye, dancing baby
    (From Salon via Monique)

    Poor Ally McBeal. Off she goes, slinking past a volley of critical abuse on her way to oblivion (or syndication). She's got her sunglasses on, a magazine hiding her face. "Give us a pout, Ally!"

    When Fox announced the imminent cancellation of "Ally McBeal" two weeks ago, the news precipitated a flurry of gleeful, gloating postmortems. The New York Times' Anita Gates was doubtless speaking for a horde of critics and viewers when she wrote on Sunday that "the news that her namesake one-hour comedy series won't be back next fall after five seasons is sort of a relief. Take this woman off television. Please." You could just see the people crowding outside the palace, calling for Ally's head on a stake, then realizing that Ally's head on a stake would look no different from Ally's head on her body, then cackling and pitching a few tomatoes.

    Isn't it easy to bash Ally? Aren't we glad to see her go? She was so skinny, so whiny, so girly, so rubber-lipped and pouty, and her skirts were so short. She was so ruled by her emotions, so possessed by her fantasies, so annoying. What kind of woman was she supposed to be, anyway? Was she supposed to be us? Were we supposed to be her? Was she some kind of elaborately coded backlash insult?

    "What 'Ally McBeal' represents," Gates wrote, "is an absurdist view of the nightmare that some men predicted a few decades ago: You let women into the courtroom -- or the newsroom or the Capitol Building -- and things will never be the same. Sure, 'Ally McBeal' is a comedy, but I've never felt it was laughing with me."

    It's a valid point, save for the fact that Ally's co-worker, the impossibly neurotic, nose-whistling, tree frog-loving, hole-dwelling, mariachi-singing Porky Pig-voiced John Cage, was also meant to pass as a brilliant lawyer (while the conventionally slick and reptilian Richard Fish was not) and was never confused with a symbol for men in general, or single men in general, or single men in the city in general. Still, Gates' opinion jibes with the dominant, politically sanctioned view, epitomized by the are-they-serious? headline that accompanied a photo of Ally on the cover of Time magazine a few years ago. "Is Feminism Dead?" the magazine asked, in a way that left little room for equivocation. If so, it implied, Ally had killed it.

    It's easy to prop Ally up as a straw woman and take her to task for her fly weight, her vertiginously short skirts, her bad love obsessions, her repetitive behavior patterns, her uncontrollable impulses (she once tripped a woman in the supermarket to get at the last can of Pringles) and all the other tics and insecurities that characterized her. Not surprisingly, this view of Ally as feminism killer is popular. A week earlier in the Times, Ginia Bellafante pointed out that although Ally predates flawed, addled, romantically obsessed heroines like Bridget Jones and her endless parade of imitators, we eventually grew tired of her and blamed her for the whole irritating invasion. Ally may have been an original once (this argument goes), but she quickly became a type. As Bellafante wrote: "Ultimately, her trademark neuroses became Ally's downfall. Her internal dialogues were too many; she made happiness too elusive; her narcissistic torment became too grating to watch. At least 'Sex and the City's' Carrie Bradshaw understands what a few good confidantes and a new pair of shoes can do for serotonin levels."

    It's all true, of course (although it says something about the times we live in that boosting one's re-uptake with a pair of $700 Manolos is somehow more laudable than a tendency toward brooding introspection). Among other things, Ally was a depression artist, a poster girl for Prozac if ever there was one. For a time, she was touted as the "new woman," then she was castigated for just being another version of the bad, old woman. Ally had a gift for self-inflicted misery that rivaled Emma Bovary's. She trudged through the streets like an underfed calf to the slaughter, trench coat moodily cinched around her X-ray body. She called in "old" on her birthdays. She pined for years for her ex-boyfriend Billy, while continuing to work side by side with him and his beautiful wife, Georgia. She obsessed over the baby she might never have. Defying the holiest of self-help axioms, Ally refused to live in the moment, uncomfortably straddling the past and the future. "My life has always been about tomorrow," she once told her therapist. "The idea that life is now is horrible."

    Something about all this Ally bashing is unnerving. It's unsettling to see how few, if any, farewell-to-Ally pieces have been written by women that do not emphatically put a disgusted distance between themselves and the skinny, nervous ditz in micro-minis. (Entertainment Weekly's Nicholas Fonseca was far kinder in his send-off than the two New York Times writers.) Ally may have pioneered the now stale girl-in-the-city genre, both on television and in fiction, but this doesn't really explain why all these stories consistently get lumped together and dismissed.

    Nor does it explain why each of these characters should bear the weight of gender representation on her scrawny shoulders. In fact, save perhaps for what has been called "the Nick Hornby man" -- a feckless, idle, noncommittal, eternal adolescent -- there is no male equivalent in the popular culture of this class of fictional womanhood so utterly lacking in gender consciousness, this "lumpenfeminitat," to coin a phrase. Yet Ally's male co-workers were as consistently neurotic, flawed, vain and self-absorbed as she was. So what are we supposed to conclude from this? That the modern world has not altered them at all? That the boys are all right?

    Ironically, "Ally McBeal" gave us Fish, an unrepentant womanizer with a thing for hiring impossibly beautiful lawyers and then hitting on them, whose big dramatic moment will probably involve the thunderous occasion of his finally meeting his love match in the nefarious Eliza Bump (recent guest star Christina Ricci). It also gave us John Cage, the lovable but emotionally stunted dork, who is as neurotic and damaged as Ally, if not more so.

    And, of course, it gave us Billy, resident "nice guy" and the love of Ally's life (until Robert Downey Jr. came along), who was not exactly deserving of the honor. After all, Billy and Ally, childhood sweethearts, didn't just break up. Billy unceremoniously dumped Ally after meeting Georgia at a party and quickly marrying her. And unlike Ally, Billy got off easy (although, after he also ran out on Georgia, the show's producers swiftly smote him with a fatal brain tumor). "Ally McBeal" served up these characters in equal proportion; it was up to others to parse and categorize them. No one, for instance, put Richard Fish on the cover of Time magazine and asked, "Is Chauvinism Alive?"

    Ultimately, it has always seemed to me that "Ally McBeal" was neither a comedy nor a drama but an allegory about modern urban life and the noxious dreams that thrive there. What was the law firm of Cage, Fish and McBeal, anyway, if not a sort of "Animal Farm" for the lonely urban professional set? The cases Ally and her colleagues took to trial often hinted at a seemingly pandemic longing on the part of their clients to have order imposed on the chaos of their emotional lives, to have their dreams legally enforced in the wake of their disappointed expectations.

    When clients sued on "Ally McBeal," they did so to try to bridge the emotional distance between them and others, especially those they loved or used to love. How else to explain the parade of cases in which women sued their husbands for leaving them, men sued their plastic surgeons for causing their lovers to leave, men sued rock stars for arousing feelings in their wives that they themselves would never be capable of arousing, and lawyers filed class action suits against phone company telemarketers because the phone kept ringing all night and it was never him?

    In fact, the show might have been better had it forgone the fantasy sequences that telegraphed these emotions and turned them into sight gags. After all, Ally was never much more than a neat sum of all female neuroses, an unchecked id run rampant. The things Ally and her colleagues blurted out in meetings, on dates and in court were precisely the sorts of things most people strain to repress in meetings, on dates and in court. As if playing a part in a Greek play, Ally expressed and acted on everything that she thought and felt. There was no psychology mediating her impulses at all.

    Fantasy permeated all the characters' lives and made real life seem paltry by comparison. Characters like Ally, Cage, Elaine and Jenny always seemed to lack a membrane between their outer selves and their inner lives. Those who didn't -- Nelle, Ling, Fish, Eliza -- seemed to lack an inner life entirely, or at least anything one might call a soul. In this way, "Ally McBeal" played like an extended anti-fantasy public service announcement. ("Dreams destroy dreams," the tag line might have read.)

    Maybe we were never meant to take Ally -- or her colleagues -- at face value. Rather than sport an individual personality, Ally simply embodied certain ideas about late 20th century living, personifying such existential abstractions as loneliness, regret, longing and melancholy, just as, in the medieval morality play "Everyman," the characters personified "fellowship" or "good deeds." But Ally also emphasized the tensions between those ideas and her own will and desires. As she told her newest boyfriend Victor, after he rather vengefully bought her a ticket to Detroit so that she could go "resolve her issues" with her ex-boyfriend Larry, "This mess is my life."

    Poor Ally. She's been consigned to a type, dismissed offhandedly as a grotesque mutation of what postfeminist womanhood should have been. It's easier to blame her and characters like her for making us all a little uncomfortable than it is to take a look at the compendium of toxic notions that women are asked to filter daily, and wonder how they manage not to choke. After all, that dancing baby was never more than a hologram -- a mocking, ugly one at that. And it's not like she didn't know it.

  • Wilson to Replace Downey Jr. in 'Alex & Emma'

    Luke Wilson will be co-starring in Rob Reiner's "Alex and Emma" in a role that was initially intended for Robert Downey, Jr.

    The film, produced by Franchise Pictures, will be based on Feodor Dostoevski's autobiographical dramatic short story "The Gambler," about a man's seemingly insurmountable addiction to the gaming hall and his equally destructive infatuation with a proud young Russian woman whom he pursues around Europe.

    Scripted by Jeremy Levin, "Alex and Emma" will be set in modern times during which the writer (Wilson) is unable to deliver his next book because of his gambling addiction. In order to help ease the process, he hires a stenographer (Kate Hudson) but soon finds himself falling in love with her.

    Wilson will soon begin shooting Larry Charles' "Masked & Anonymous" opposite Bob Dylan and Penelope Cruz, and has recently agreed to reprise his "Charlie's Angels" role as Cameron Diaz's boyfriend in the film's sequel.

    Wilson will be seen next in Todd Phillips' "Old School."

  • Bidding "Ally" Adieu Tonight On E.T. (May 1)

    Even for me, it was a little eerie to walk where many of the "Ally McBeal" offices used to be. The cast still has four more days left of shooting, but crews were literally tearing the walls down around them. So, I thought, the cast must be having it really tough. After all, they have spent the last five years here making 111 episodes of their groundbreaking series. But they seemed to be taking it all in stride. Although, GREG GERMANN did half jokingly say, "They can't wait to get us out of here."

    Former cast members LISA NICOLE CARSON and COURTNEY THORNE-SMITH are back for the finale. Courtney said it all came back immediately: "We did a scene in Ally's office and it was like déjà vu." What Courtney didn't remember were the hours that "Ally" required. "This is Day 2. I'm like, 'Wait, this is four days in two! '" She's more than content to keep up with what she calls her "sitcom hours" on her new series, "According to Jim."

    Making a special appearance is the master of romance, BARRY WHITE. Why the need? Entertainment Tonight has learned there's a wedding in the works. Tonight on ET, my stroll down memory lane on what's left of the set of "Ally McBeal."

  • Familiar Faces Return for 'Ally' Finale

    Gil Bellows' character on "Ally McBeal" may be dead, but he's still coming back for the series finale.

    "Ally's" final episode will air Monday, May 20, and several former stars of the show are returning to give the show its sendoff.

    FOX isn't saying much about the plot, other than "Ally’s daughter Maddie (Hayden Panettiere) struggles at home and school as Ally contemplates the future. Meanwhile, the rest of the attorneys at Cage, Fish & McBeal go through some changes of their own."

    In addition to Bellows, who played Ally's (Calista Flockhart) colleague, friend and former lover Billy -- the character died during the show's third season -- Courtney Thorne-Smith and Lisa Nicole Carson will return for the finale as Billy's widow, Georgia, and Ally's former roommate Renee, respectively.

  • Jami Gertz: Goofy as Gilda

    What a difference an Emmy nod makes, huh? Best known as the resident bombshell in so many '80s angst-bombs (Less Than Zero, Solarbabies), Jami Gertz never got the props she deserved. We first met her as überprep Muffy Tepperman on the cult gem Square Pegs. Since then, she's handed in handfuls of strong turns, including a brief visit to ER as head shrinker Nina Pomerantz.

    But it wasn't until the stunner stunned us with her Emmy-nominated stint as Ally McBeal misfit Kimmie Bishop that folks finally realized she is one funny honey. Now, she's ready to be taken seriously, playing one of comedy's greatest gals in tonight's Gilda Radner: It's Always Something (airing 9 pm/ET on ABC).

    "I read her book and remember when she died [of ovarian cancer in 1989], thinking, 'God, this shouldn't happen. She's so young.' She was so great," Gertz recalls to TV Guide Online, pointing to Radner's SNL breakouts Emily Litella, Lisa Loopner and Roseanne Rosannadanna. "She was so willing to make herself funny — the goofier the better. So, in doing her characters, I really had to get them down."

    Thankfully, there were tons of Gilda goodies to guide Gertz from glam to goofy. "A lot of [Gilda's] stuff was on film. I even had her audition tape," she says, adding that talks with widower Gene Wilder and fellow SNLer Laraine Newman offered a better sense of the woman behind Baba Wawa. And? "I think the fact that she was fearless really made her stand out."

    As for Gertz, she didn't fear playing such a beloved icon, but does admit that the six-week shoot had its downside. "It wasn't easy to leave my three kids and husband, but the role was worth it," she says. "I love making people laugh."

    Sounds like Gilda would approve.

  • Robert Downey Jr. Betting on 'Alex and Emma'

    Directors Rob Reiner is hot to trot for and Robert Downey Jr. and Kate Hudson to play the leads in his upcoming "Alex and Emma." Both actors are currently in negotiations to star in the Franchise Pictures film.

    The film will be based on Feodor Dostoevski's autobiographical dramatic short story "The Gambler," about a man's seemingly unresolvable addiction to the gaming hall and his equally destructive infatuation for a proud young Russian woman whom he pursues around Europe.

    Scripted by Jeremy Levin, "Alex and Emma" will be set in modern times during which the writer (Downey, Jr.) is unable to deliver his next book because of his gambling addiction. In order to help ease the process, he hires a stenographer (Hudson) but soon finds himself falling in love with her.

    Hudson is currently shooting James Ivory's "Le Divorce," and Downey, Jr. is wrapping up Keith Gordon's "The Singing Detective" opposite Mel Gibson and Robin Wright Penn.

    Production on "Alex and Emma" is scheduled to begin this fall.

  • That Late-Nineties Moment
    (From NY Times via Monique)

    "Ally McBeal," we will someday recall, was an hour-long television comedy about lawyers you would never hire and a woman you would never date. And as the show comes to the close of its five-year run on the Fox network at the end of this season, it immediately becomes one of those chronological markers that defines, however superficially, its own moment. The very thought of a dancing baby or any of the other visual gags that gave "Ally McBeal" its notoriety in its first season seems even now to transport us back to a different time and place called the late Nineties. A chapter closes with the demise of "Ally McBeal," not a very long or very significant chapter perhaps, but a chapter nonetheless. O.K., maybe a paragraph.

    What's striking now isn't the show itself, which in an effort to keep viewers has turned itself inside out in a kind of postmodern chicanery. It's the fact that "Ally McBeal" was taken so seriously, so sociologically, when it first appeared. Television has always loved to show us the difference between its characters' outer and inner lives. Ally McBeal, played by Calista Flockhart, belonged to a venerable tradition that includes Eddie Haskell, from "Leave It to Beaver." She got to play two characters at once, Ally and Ally's addled id.

    And so now "Ally McBeal," the show that made a fetish out of middle-aged wattles, goes into the late-Nineties time capsule, along with Monica's dress. It's the kind of time capsule that's a little too near in time as yet for anyone to open purposely. But the weeks and months will pass and then something will remind you, inexplicably, of the coed bathroom at Ally McBeal's law firm. Suddenly, the late Nineties will come flooding back, seeming like a very long time ago. If they don't already.

  • Ally McBeal SOS (Save Our Show)

    A petition has been started by some devoted Ally McBeal fans to try and save the show. To add your name visit www.petitiononline.com/AllySOS/petition.html.

  • Calista InStyle

    In the May issue of InStyle magazine you will find a picture of Calisa Flockhart (Ally) in a Missoni mini-dress. Sele Ward (Sisters, Once & Again) graces the cover.

  • Calista Weeps as Show's Axed

    Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart broke down in tears when she was told the show was axed due to low ratings.

    The actress, 37, who has been the subject of criticism in the past for her skinny frame, was devastated by the end of the sitcom after a solid five year run.

    In the show Calista played neurotic lawyer Ally, who holds down a top career while struggling to find a man.

    A spokesman for 20TH CENTURY FOX reveals, "There were tears. It was emotional."

    And an onlooker adds, "Calista was particularly upset, but who can blame her? Ally McBeal's been a huge part of her life and it's a role people will always associate with her."

  • Reunited

    Courtney Thorne-Smith and Lisa Nicole Carson will return for Ally McBeal's series finale on May 20, a Fox spokesperson confirms to TV Guide Online. And what about Robert Downey Jr.? Responds the rep: "There are no plans for Mr. Downey to return."

  • No More Dancing Babies

    David E. Kelley is doing the only humane thing — he's putting Ally McBeal out of its misery. The prolific producer announced on Wednesday that his Fox dramedy — which has struggled in the ratings this year — would not return for a sixth season in the fall. "It's sad to say goodbye to something you love, even when perhaps it is time," Kelley said. If Fox is smart, they'll lure Robert Downey Jr. back for the final episode — slated to air on May 20.

  • 'Ally' Says Adieu

    "Ally McBeal" creator David E. Kelley has decided to pull to plug on the FOX dramedy, ending its five year run. The producer told the cast and crew of his decision Wednesday (April 17) afternoon.

    The series, which followed the personal and professional life a young lawyer in Boston who is given to flights of fantasy has had a bumpy ride.

    Once the darling of the network, rumors of anorexia plagued star Calista Flockhart. The second and third seasons introduced more and more eccentric characters who were given nothing to do, and original series regulars Gil Bellows ("The Agency") and Courtney Thorne-Smith ("According to Jim") both left to pursue other projects.

    "Ally" was revitalized in its fourth season with the addition of Robert Downey Jr. as the lead character's love interest, Larry Paul. However, Downey's personal problems and numerous arrests, eventually wore out Kelley's patience and he was dropped.

    Lisa Nicole Carson, who played Ally's roommate, also left at the end of the fourth season following a brief stint in an institution and admitted problems with substance abuse.

    Without Downey, this season has floundered more than ever; bringing in Jon Bon Jovi as a love interest, and giving Ally a daughter haven't helped. Lucy Liu dropped to a recurring role, while James Le Gros left. James Marsden and Julianne Nicholson were added to the cast, only to be dropped a few weeks later.

    Following a six-week hiatus, "Ally McBeal" returned on Monday (April 15) with a two-hour episode guest-starring Matthew Perry and adding Christina Ricci to the cast. It still only managed to average a mundane 5.6 rating/9 share.

    Kelley, who also serves as executive producer for ABC's legal drama "The Practice," will put his creative energies into another show for FOX this fall. "The Girls Club," will also have a law-based setting and focus on three young women in San Francisco.

    So far, only Giancarlo Esposito has been cast.

    The season, now series, finale of "Ally McBeal" will air Monday, May 20 at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

  • Fox Pilot Pairs Jill Clayburgh, James Caan

    HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Jill Clayburgh (Ally's mom), currently on NBC's "Leap of Faith," will star opposite James Caan in an untitled comedy pilot set up at Fox.

    She will portray the wife of Caan's character, a conservative stepdad who clashes with his stepson (Hamish Linklater) after the young man returns home from the Peace Corps. Clayburgh's deal is in second position to her deal for "Leap of Faith."

    She got her start on the stage in the late 1960s and was Oscar nominated for her work in the films "An Unmarried Woman" and "Starting Over." Among her most recent credits was the feature "Never Again."

  • The verdict is in: 'Ally' to end run

    LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- It's case closed for David E. Kelley's Emmy-winning dramedy "Ally McBeal" after five seasons on Fox.

    Late Wednesday afternoon, Kelley appeared on the set of the 20th Century Fox TV series, which was filming its second-to-last episode of the season, and made a brief announcement that the series would end its run next month.

    The news came as a surprise to the cast and crew, and witnesses said there were tears on the set in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Kelley will now work on penning the May 20 series finale for the series, which stars Calista Flockhart as a neurotic, commitment-phobic lawyer in Boston and features an ensemble of quirky supporting characters.

    "David E. Kelley is one of television's visionaries. His 'Ally McBeal' became a landmark series for Fox and for the television industry," said Fox entertainment president Gail Berman, who also cited the "singular talent" of star Flockhart. "It will be impossible to replace them, but we are fortunate to continue our relationship with David and his team."

    "Ally" was an overnight pop culture sensation in its debut in fall 1997, but its Nielsen numbers have lagged during the past two seasons as its production costs climbed. Sources said Fox brass recently decided that the show, which won a Peabody honor in 1998 and the Emmy for best comedy series in 1999, had run its course.

    "It's sad to say goodbye to something you love, even when perhaps it is time," Kelley said in a statement. "They're bringing 'L.A. Law' back (for an NBC reunion movie next month), so I remain hopeful."

    Rumors about a possible end to the series intensified this year after Kelley committed to do a new one-hour series for Fox next season centering on three young female lawyers. In addition to the show being described as "Ally"-ish, it would have been the fourth for Kelley, who also produces ABC's "The Practice" and "Boston Public (news - Y! TV)" for Fox.

    "David's genius is his ability to tap into the zeitgeist," 20th Century Fox TV president Gary Newman said. "More than just an overnight success, 'Ally McBeal' was a cultural phenomenon that reinvented a genre and redefined water cooler television."

    Dana Walden, president of 20th alongside Newman, hailed Kelley's talent as well as series star Flockhart.

    "With (Flockhart) at its center, the show brilliantly captured the struggles of a contemporary woman seeking success in her personal and professional life," Walden said. "It was a show that in so many ways was both of its time and ahead of its time."

    The departure of "Ally" leaves another big hole in Fox's primetime schedule next season as the network also is preparing a sendoff for "The X-Files (news - Y! TV)" next month. It's widely speculated that Kelley's new offering will land on Monday night in "Ally's" 9 p.m. slot.

    Through its five seasons, "Ally" has been a magnet for guest stars. Among those who had star turns on the show were Robert Downey Jr. (news - web sites), who earned a Golden Globe for the role last year, Tracey Ullman, who earned an Emmy for her work, Anne Heche, Bruce Willis, Elton John, Sting, Tina Turner and, most recently, Jon Bon Jovi and Matthew Perry. Former series regulars Lisa Nicole Carson and Courtney Thorne-Smith are among those set to return for the finale.

    "This show was a tough franchise to maintain," said Marty Adelstein, Kelley's manager. "What (Kelley) did with this show was something no other human being could have done. He wanted it to go out with dignity."

  • Fox Cancels 'Ally McBeal'

    LOS ANGELES (AP)- "Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV)," the Emmy-winning TV series that set feminists spinning with its depiction of a flighty, man-hungry attorney, is ending its five-year run on Fox, the network said Wednesday.

    The decision was made by Fox, and creator David E. Kelley agreed, according to a source close to the show who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

    Kelley made the announcement on the set Wednesday.

    "There were tears. It was emotional," said a spokesman for producer 20th Century Fox Television. The final episode of the Emmy-winning series, which had slipped in the ratings, will air May 20, the network said.

    Calista Flockhart starred as Ally, a smart but emotionally needy lawyer who focused as much on her love life as her case load. With her biological time clock ticking, she was bedeviled by an image of a dancing baby.

    "Ally McBeal" became a hot water-cooler topic. In 1998, a Time cover displayed Flockhart opposite feminist icons such as Susan B. Anthony and asked in its headline: "Is Feminism Dead?"

    The actress took exception.

    "I mean, this is a comedy about an exaggerated character, and to compare her to Susan B. Anthony is outrageous," she told TV Guide at the time. She also said she was offended that people confused her with her neurotic character.

    McBeal's colleagues at her fictitious Boston law firm were equally quirky. One man had a fetish for throat wattles; another went by the embarrassing name of "The Biscuit."

    Kelley, one of Hollywood's most prolific TV writer-producers, had a hand in creating most of the scripts. The show reflected his offbeat, often dark sense of humor and romance. It won the best comedy series Emmy in 1999.

    He had characters break out in courtroom song, had Ally visit with her dead boyfriend and generally created a world where fantasy, if not happy endings, ruled.

    McBeal's great love was portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. (news - web sites), whose own real-life troubles with drugs led to his departure from the show.

    Musical stars were also a fixture of the show, with Elton John, Barry White, Barry Manilow, Mariah Carey and others making guest appearances.

    Kelley told the AP last fall that he knew the character-driven "Ally McBeal" was a more perishable commodity than his other legal series, the more plot-oriented "The Practice" on ABC.

    "I always thought the series would end after six years," he said then.

    Fox and Kelley decided against another year as the ratings fell. The show, which once scored close to the top 20, recently finished 43rd in the ratings.

  • 'Ally' adjourned

    Kelley decides to end program. It's over for "Ally McBeal." Series creator/exec producer David E. Kelley has decided to end production on his hourlong Fox dramedy, wrapping the show's five-year run on Fox.

  • We Hear...
    (From Page Six)

    That Calista Flockhart is eating healthy, judging by orders Harrison Ford gets delivered from Nino's Positano on Second Avenue to his digs at Trump World Tower.

  • Sightings
    (From Page Six)

    Kilmer showed up at Lotus with pal Jon Bon Jovi. Moments after easing into their corner banquette, Val and Jon were basking in the adoration of a group of comely Tennessee co-eds in town for spring break. Mets slugger Mo Vaughn joined the table when he showed up after 2 a.m.

  • Ricci: I Learned Anorexia From TV

    Christina Ricci says she learned how to be an anorexic in her teens by watching TV movies about eating disorders — which are supposed to dissuade people from such behavior.

    "I did get all my tips from a Tracey Gold Lifetime movie on anorexia. It taught me what to do," the 22-year-old actress says in the May issue of Jane magazine.

    "There was also one on HBO, starring Calista Flockhart when she was really young. She was bulimic and anorexic. She'd vomit into Tupperware containers and keep them in her closet. It was so crazy to me that for some reason it was appealing."

    Now at 5-foot-1 and 98 pounds, she says she doesn't struggle with food anymore. "No more than anyone else does — like the rest of the ... women in the world."

    Ricci, a new guest star on Flockhart's series "Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV)," stars in the upcoming movie "Prozac Nation," based on Elizabeth Wurtzel's book about her battle with depression.

  • Caught On Tape

    Today's New York Post (Thursday April 4) features a photo of Harrison Ford and Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart holding hands while shopping in Santa Monica, Calif. — all but confirming rumors that the two are an item. Maybe we should just let them be now.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, May 6, 2002

    "Everybody Loves Raymond," 12.4/19, was the night's highest-rated show and combined with "Becker," 10.3/16, to win the 9 p.m. hour for CBS. NBC's "Third Watch" averaged 7.2/11 to finish second, with "Notting Hill," 6.1/10, beating FOX's "Ally McBeal." "Angel," 3.8/5, put The WB in fifth, while UPN's "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" averaged 3.5/5.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Apr 29, 2002

    NBC scored a rare win at 9 p.m. with "Third Watch," 11.0/16, which featured a crossover story with "ER" that brought Stringfield's Dr. Susan Lewis to New York. The CBS duo of "Everybody Loves Raymond," 11.1/16, and "Becker," 9.5/14, finished second. ABC's movie "It's Always Something: The Gilda Radner Story," 6.4/10, was third, followed by FOX's "Ally McBeal," 5.0/7. The WB's "Angel," 3.7/5, finished two tenths ahead of UPN's "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends."

  • Ally's Mom To Star With Former New Kid

    Appearances by actress Jill Clayburgh and former New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre and his mother, Judith, as well as a return of the Boston Theatre Works production of ``The Laramie Project,'' highlight the Gloucester Stage Company's 23rd season.

    The season opens with Conor McPherson's ``The Weir'' (June 5-23) directed by Michael Morris, managing director of London's Old Vic Theatre. ``The Weir'' will be followed by ``Berlin to Broadway With Kurt Weill: A Musical Voyage'' (June 26-July 14), followed by a double bill of world premieres (July 17-Aug. 4) focusing on the events of Sept. 11 - ``Speaking Well of the Dead'' by Israel Horovitz and ``Safety'' by Frank Pugliese - starring Clayburgh and directed by David Wheeler.

    The McIntyres will star in Frank Gilroy's ``The Subject was Roses,'' directed by Eric Engel (Aug. 7-25), followed by Yasmina Reza's ``The Unexpected Man'' (Aug. 28-Sept. 8) and ``The Laramie Project'' (Sept. 11-22). Call 978-281-4099.

  • Lara Flynn Boyle Set for Lesbian Romp on Ally McBeal

    Lara Flynn Boyle and Heather Locklear's cameo on hit TV show Ally McBeal is set to shock fans - because they play lesbian lovers. A week after Friends star Matthew Perry appeared on the Calista Flockhart-fronted show on Monday night, the sexy actresses will feature as prospective clients for the manic law firm.

    But Boyle, who once dated veteran actor Jack Nicholson, is refusing to give away too many details of the upcoming screen soiree, simply stating, "I play woman who has had a relationship with another woman."

  • Talk Show Appearances

    Rosie- Tu 4/16: Josh Groban (Malcolm)
    Leno- We 4/17: Dame Edna (Claire)
    Rosie: Th 4/18- Vanessa Williams
    Maher: Th 4/18- Jami Gertz (Kimmy)
    Kilbourn- Fr 4/26: Christina Ricci (Liza)

  • Song Claire & Jerome Sang

    The song Claire & Jerome sang at the bar was "Somethin' Stupid". Brit pop star Robbie Williams & actress Nicole Kidman do a great version of is of William's CD "Swing When You're Winning".

  • Perry Asked for an Ally Return

    Ally McBeal bosses are so impressed with Friends star Matthew Perry's guest appearance, they've invited him back for more. Creator David E. Kelley is determined to ensure the last few shows of the legal comedy's current season are hits, so he's piling up the guests - for what might be the program's last episodes. Heather Locklear, Vanessa Williams and Lara Flynn Boyle are also set for cameos, while former stars Lisa Nicole Carson and Courtney Thorne Smith will return for the finale. As for the future of the show, a spokesman for Ally McBeal says, "A decision has yet to be made."

  • Former Stars Headed Back

    According to Entertainment Tonight, Lisa Nicole Carson (Renee) and Courtney Thorne-Smith (Georgia) with reprise their roles in the season finale on Ally McBeal. They also mentioned that FOX has yet to decided wether to bring Ally back for another season.

  • Can Matthew Perry save ''Ally McBeal''?

    After a five-week vacation, ''Ally McBeal'' returns on Monday, April 15, (Fox, 8-10 p.m.) with a little help from a Friend. In the two-hour episode, Matthew Perry guest-stars as a hotshot lawyer applying for a job at Ally's firm. ''He brings out the competitiveness in Ally, and he also forces her to question her relationship with Victor [Jon Bon Jovi],'' says executive producer Bill D'Elia. ''While Victor's not her usual type, Matthew's character reminds her of the guys she's dated in the past.''With luck, Perry will summon the vitalizing spirit of Ally ex Robert Downey Jr. (''Ally'''s ratings have drooped since the troubled star's departure last season; the show regularly lags behind CBS' ''Everybody Loves Raymond'' and NBC's ''Third Watch.'') But with a sixth season at stake, ''McBeal'' producers are pulling out the all-star stops to boost ratings leading into May sweeps. In addition to Perry, ''Sleepy Hollow'' star Christina Ricci begins a multiple-episode arc as a rival lawyer; and next week, Heather Locklear stops by.

  • Ally Guest Star Gets A New Gig

    Jami Gertz ("ER," "Ally McBeal") has scored the female lead opposite Mark Addy ("A Knight's Tale," "The Full Monty" ) in "Still Standing," a comedy pilot for CBS. Gertz will portray a tough and pragmatic working mother who occasionally loses patience with her husband's (Addy) childish behavior.

  • Renee Coming Back?

    Lisa Nicole Carson has been approached about reprising her role as Calista Flockhart's roommate on Fox's Ally McBeal, the New York Post reports.

  • Nicholson Gets A New Gig

    Julianne Nicholson ("Ally McBeal," "The Others") and Vyto Reginis ("The Fast and the Furious" ) have joined the cast of "Presidio Med," the latest offering from producer John Wells. Nicholson will play a young doctor on the San Francisco-based medical drama.

  • Presidio Med

    Julianne Nicholson, who had a recent arc on "Ally McBeal," and Vyto Ruginis ("The Fast and the Furious") will play doctors in the medical drama "Presidio Med."

  • Harrison Ford Makes Calista Flockhart Want Less of 'Ally McBeal'

    Harrison Ford's new lady is so obsessed with him that she is demanding her hit television show make time for the relationship.

    According to Us Weekly, Calista Flockhart has asked "Ally McBeal" producers to diminish her role in the hit television series so she can spend more time with her new boyfriend.

    "She specifically asked that her part be written so that she would appear in only the first few scenes of the show and that they taped in three days, so she could spend time with Harrison," explained one source.

    Harrison, who received a lifetime achievement award at the recent Golden Globes, separated from his second wife, screenwriter Melissa Mathison, last August.

  • Judge Gives Downey Good Marks at Review

    Robert Downey Jr. is on his way to recovery, a judge decided after seeing the actor in court Tuesday (March 19).

    "He's drug free, he's working and he seems to be staying out of trouble," says Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Tamara Capone.

    Wearing a purple shark-skin suit, Downey appeared before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Randall White for a progress report, according to Reuters. The actor has been arrested twice on drug charges since his release from prison in 2000

    The judge heard a status report from the Downey's probation officers, which showed the actor had remained drug-free and in compliance with the drug treatment program Downey entered after his most recent arrest last spring.

    Downey, who turns 37 next month, will return to court for another review on July 19, at which time the judge may dismiss charges.

    Meanwhile, Downey is putting his full attention to his acting career. The actor is set to start shooting "The Singing Detective" next month for Mel Gibson's production company, Icon Productions. It will be Downey's first role since he was placed on probation last July after being arrested for cocaine possession. It will also be his first feature film since he was released from prison.

    Three months after his release, Downey was arrested on a charge of felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance. In January, he was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to remain in a live-in drug program for at least a year after pleading no contest to the charges.

    The arrest was reportedly part of the reason why he left FOX's "Ally McBeal" at the end of last season.

  • Bon Jovi Prepare to "Bounce"

    After taking five years between These Days and 2000's Crush, Bon Jovi are back in a New Jersey studio at work on Bounce, the follow-up to their Grammy-nominated comeback album.

    The band has written twenty-six songs and finished thirteen demos and in a recent online chat described the upcoming record as having an "upbeat kinda vibe." Luke Ebbin, who worked on with the band on Crush, will co-produce with singer Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora. The album is scheduled for a fall release.

    A Box Set is also in the works for the band. Currently scheduled for release next year, the set will coincide with Bon Jovi's twentieth anniversary.

  • Liu Helps Fill Tarantino's 'Bill'

    Daryl Hannah has come on board and Lucy Liu is in final talks to join a high-wattage ensemble cast for Quentin Tarantino's long-anticipated next directorial effort, "Kill Bill."

    The Miramax Films project stars Uma Thurman as a woman who is shot by her husband, the title character, played by Warren Beatty. She emerges from a coma several years later to get her revenge, which puts her on a collision with murderous associates. His second-in-command, played by Hannah, is Thurman's nemesis. Liu plays Oren Ishi, queen of the Tokyo Yakuza.

    Tarantino, the picture's writer and director, and producer Lawrence Bender, also have cast Michael Madsen as Bill's brother. The two were huddled in casting Thursday and couldn't be reached by press time.

    Jacqueline Bisset also is rumored to be contemplating a part in the picture.

    "Kill Bill" now has a start date in June, and will shoot in California, China, Japan and Mexico.

  • Ice Age

    Jane Krakowski (Eliane, Ally McBeal) lends her melodic voice to the new feature Ice Age. Krakowski plays a female sloth in the animated adventure of several prehistoric creatures. The movie opens nationally on March 15.

  • Boyle Returns to 'Ally McBeal' Along with Locklear

    Lara Flynn Boyle will return to FOX's "Ally McBeal" on April 22, but it won't be in the same role as last time.

    In 1997, Boyle stopped by David E. Kelley's other show as her character Helen Gamble from ABC's "The Practice" to trade barbs about sharing a cookie with the equally svelte Calista Flockhart.

    This time around she will play Tally Cupp, a witness for the prosecution in a bigamy case. Additional guest stars for the episode include Heather Locklear ("Spin City") as the defendant, and Christina Ricci as her lawyer.

    "David E. Kelley continues to attract the very best actors to guest on 'Ally,' and we are thrilled to be working with both Heather and Lara Flynn," says executive producer Bill D'Elia. "We never expected that it would be our good fortune to have both of these talented actresses in the same episode."

    Locklear made a career comeback in the early '90s when she joined the cast of FOX's primetime soap "Melrose Place."

  • Robert Downey, Jr. to Star as Mel Gibson's 'Singing Detective'

    Troubled actor Robert Downey, Jr. will be working for his "Air America" co-star Mel Gibson, starring as the title character in "The Singing Detective," reports Variety.

    The film, based on the famous BBC television series, will be the first feature Downey has made since 2000's "Wonder Boys." The movie will be produced by Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey's Icon Productions, and will be directed by Keith Gordon ("Waking the Dead").

    Based on scripts by late British playwright Dennis Potter, the six-part "The Singing Detective" starred Michael Gambon as a fiction writer stuck in a hospital bed and writing a fiction novel. The action pretty much all took place in the protagonist's brain, as his fever made him delusional, thrusting him into a strange world of Nazis during World War II.

    Production on "The Singing Detective" begins April 23.

  • Ally McBeal's Little Lady

    As Maddie, Calista Flockhart's long-lost test-tube baby on Ally McBeal, Hayden Panettiere came as quite a surprise to viewers. (Not to mention Ally, who orders a DNA test in tonight's episode, airing at 9 pm/ET on Fox.) Of course, the former Guiding Light soap starlet must be an old pro at handling paternity shockers by now, right?

    "Yes," Panettiere tells TV Guide Online, "but it's kind of different because on soap operas, you can go right from one story to the next. Something can pop up so easily. Like, just like that, I have leukemia and I'm dead! In a series, you have to work up to it, which is fun because you get to see the ins and outs and stuff."

    While exploring Ally's instant motherhood to Maddie has been fun, Panettiere's glad her real-life mama is nothing like the lady lawyer. "My mom needs positively no help in raising a kid," the 12-year-old says. "She's very strong." Giggling, she adds: "Ally's a little ditzy! Just a little bit. And sometimes she can be a little overprotective, like in the sleepover episode that just aired last week, when she was tucking us in. But I think she's going to turn out to be a good mother."

    What's Panettiere's fave perk about joining the Ally cast? (She'll be a series regular at least until the end of this season.) "I was so excited to meet Jon Bon Jovi," she gushes wildly. "I absolutely love him! It's so amazing to me how much of a down-to-earth person Jon can be. How can he be so nice? He's a huge star and people bug him every day. Doesn't he get sick and tired of it? He was so nice and so friendly for a big rock star."

  • Portia de Rossi to Wed Later This Year

    The confusion has finally been cleared up over Portia de Rossi's reported marriage to her lesbian lover Francesca Gregorini.

    Earlier this month British tabloid The Daily Star claimed the Ally McBeal blonde had tied the knot with her longtime girlfriend, who's the daughter of Bond girl Barbara Bach and step-daughter of former Beatle Ringo Starr.

    But is has now emerged that the pair only became engaged - and plan to wed later this year.

    A source explains, "The two celebrated their engagement and Portia's birthday at Portia's home in LA on February 1 with a handful of close friends."

    The source adds that at the party, Gregorini and De Rossi discussed their plans to have a wedding ceremony later this year - even though California doesn't recognize same-sex marriages.

  • David E. Kelley to Develop a New Legal Series for FOX

    Creator and executive producer David E. Kelley has committed to develop a new series for FOX and 20th Century Fox Television that sounds suspiciously like his current FOX series "Ally McBeal."

    The project, still in the beginning stages, will center on the lives of three female lawyers who live together in San Francisco, according to The Hollywood Reporter. When it debuted in 1997, "Ally" centered on a lawyer, living with a fellow lawyer roommate, who worked at an eccentric law firm in Boston.

    FOX has given the project a 13-episode commitment, as part of its development deal with Kelley. The creator is also attached to executive producer another FOX drama project for the fall called "The Understudy," created by "Ally McBeal" showrunner Bill D'Elia and writer-producer Ivan Menchell.

    Kelley also created and executive produces FOX's "Boston Public," which airs with "Ally McBeal" on Monday nights.

  • 'Ally' co-star's gay romance is talk of the town

    First we had Ellen Degeneres, then Rosie O'Donnell, now Hollywood is about to focus on a new gay romance--but with a different twist.

    "Ally McBeal" co-star and sexy L'Oreal cosmetics spokeswoman Portia de Rossi may be one of the first overtly feminine, "lipstick" lesbians to take the romance spotlight. Though de Rossi's publicist tells the New York Post those London press reports of a lesbian "marriage" between the actress and girlfriend Francesca Gregorini are not true, de Rossi's relationship with Ringo Starr's step-daughter is now confirmed. Gregorini, a singer who has been dating de Rossi for about six months, is the daughter of the former Beatle's wife, Barbara Bach.

  • Ally McBeal Axe Two Stars to Welcome Back Downey Jr.?

    Rumor has it that the reason bosses on the TV show ALLY McBEAL have sacked two lead stars is to make room for the return of drug-addled actor ROBERT DOWNEY JR.

    Ruthless executives at the ailing American legal comedy-drama, starring CALISTA FLOCKHART, cut JAMES MARSDEN and JULIANNE NICHOLSON so they could afford to pay Downey, who returns to the show after well-publicized drug arrests.

    A McBeal insider is quoted in Britain's MIRROR newspaper as saying, "They're trying to make room for his salary. That's why they let cast members James (GLENN FOY) and Julianne (JENNY SHAW) go."

  • More Music Stars Hit Ailing McBeal

    Tina Turner, Gladys Knight and Gloria Gaynor are being drafted in to upcoming episodes of Ally McBeal - in a new bid to bring back fans. The legal comedy has been consistently losing viewers since the departure of Robert Downey Jr's character, Larry Paul, last year - and even Jon Bon Jovi's arrival as Ally's latest love interest has failed to win over fans.

    Past storylines including performances by Al Green, Barry White, Elton John, Mariah Carey and Sting have proved successful and now the show's creator, David E Kelley, is hoping to boost the program's ratings in America with more musical guests. Producer Steve Robin says, "When David came up with the concept of the show, he felt music was a great vehicle to help tell stories. "You get the feeling sometimes the song comes first, and David writes the story and script around it."

  • Song Malcolm Sang

    Josh Groban (Malcolm for last season's prom episode) and Monday's Christmas Episode sang the song "To Where You Are" off his new album. For some background on Josh click here. You can order Josh Groban's new CD Here!

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Apr 22, 2002

    A repeat of "Everybody Loves Raymond," 9.5/14, and a new "Becker," 8.6/13, kept CBS on top at 9 p.m. "The Bachelor," 8.6/13, scored its best rating yet, putting ABC in second for the hour, in front of NBC's "Third Watch," 7.5/12. FOX's "Ally McBeal," 5.4/8, was fourth. A new "Angel," 3.6/5, on The WB, finished ahead of reruns of "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" on UPN.

  • Tom Dooley

    Click here! to read a review of Monday's Ally McBeal "Tom Dooley" (April 22, 2002) and post your thoughts on the episode on our Message Board.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Apr 15, 2002

    NBC averaged a 7.8 rating/13 share among households for the night, finishing .1 ahead of CBS, 7.7/13. ABC, 6.1/10, was third, and the return of "Ally McBeal" put FOX, 5.5/9, in fourth. The WB averaged a 4.9/9 in the metered markets, while UPN trailed with a 3.0/4.

    NBC also won among adults 18-49 with a 4.7 rating. CBS and FOX each averaged a 3.7 in the demographic, while ABC earned a 3.3.

    "Fear Factor," 7.8/13, won the 8 p.m. hour for NBC, finishing ahead of CBS' slightly reshuffled comedy lineup. "The King of Queens" had the night off, making room for "Yes, Dear," 6.9/12, and "Baby Bob," 7.0/12. The WB's "7th Heaven" scored an impressive 6.3/10 in the metered markets. The first half of a two-hour "Ally McBeal" on FOX, 5.2/9, just beat a repeat of "America's Funniest Home Videos" on ABC. Repeats of "The Hughleys" and "One on One" averaged a 2.9/4 for UPN.

    CBS claimed the top spot at 9 p.m. with a rerun of "Everybody Loves Raymond," 10.1/16, and "Becker," 8.9/14. "The Bachelor," 7.6/12, moved up to second place for ABC, in front of NBC's "Third Watch." The second hour of "Ally" improved to 5.9/9. "Angel" returned to The WB with a 3.5/5, while repeats of "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" averaged 3.3/5 on UPN.

  • Lisa Nicole Carson May Return to 'Ally'

    The cast of "Ally McBeal" may undergo yet another change before the season is out.

    Lisa Nicole Carson, who left the show at the end of last season, may return to the FOX dramedy -- possibly in time for the season finale. A source close to the show tells the New York Post that "I wouldn't be surprised" if Carson does, in fact, come back to the show.

    Carson played Ally's (Calista Flockhart) slightly more grounded roommate, Renee, for the show's first four seasons. She also had a recurring role on "ER" as Carla Reese, Dr. Benton's (Eriq La Salle) lover and mother of his son.

    Carson also has a history of emotional troubles, which came to a head when her mother had her committed to a New York psychiatric hospital for eight days in 2000, during which time she called tabloids from a pay phone. She's been hospitalized several times since then.

    Her castmates have always been fond of her, however, and Carson attended the party celebrating "Ally McBeal's" 100th episode earlier this season.

  • Ally Alum Pans Moulin Rouge

    It isn't easy being ugly. Just ask Harland Williams, the lesser-known "girl" in Sorority Boys (opening Friday). The comedian — who dresses in drag alongside pretty boys Barry Watson (7th Heaven) and Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville) in the film — admits that, unlike his co-stars, he's no dreamboat!

    "I ain't pretty as a guy, so I sure as hell ain't going to be pretty as a girl," laments Williams, who describes his scene-stealing character as "Kenny G. with a red wig on." In — or out — of the girlie getup, he cracks, "I wasn't going to try and have any illusions that I was a hottie... I'm not going to make the pages of Penthouse magazine anytime soon, I'll tell you that!"

    The Canadian-born actor, whose credits include Freddy Got Fingered, The Whole Nine Yards and The Geena Davis Show, says the biggest drag about cross-dressing "was just assembling all the pieces. Sometimes you'd get everything on and realize you'd forgot to put your bra on."

    And what about the biggest advantage? "Sometimes the brassiere got a little tight, but it was almost a comforting experience," he admits. "Like I was being hugged by a koala!"

  • Did Portia Marry Lady Love?

    "Ally McBeal" stunner Portia de Rossi is gaga over girlfriend Francesca Gregorini - but they did not get hitched in a secret lesbian wedding.

    London's Daily Star reported that de Rossi exchanged vows with Gregorini, the step-daughter of Ringo Starr, at De Rossi's 29th birthday bash last week. But Portia's mouthpiece, Heidi Schaefer, denied to PAGE SIX that the couple walked down the aisle.

    "There was no ceremony," Schaefer said. "There was a cake, Portia blew out the candles. [Gregorini] was there, but there was no marriage."

    Asked whether de Rossi and Gregorini are lovers, Schaefer said, "They are friends, yes."

    Sources say de Rossi, who plays man-chasing lawyer Nelle Porter on the hit show, has been dating Francesca, a singer, for six months. Their romance went public after they were photographed smooching in Los Angeles last November, and the pictures were picked up by the supermarket tabs.

    But not surprisingly, de Rossi's sapphic smooching was largely ignored by the mainstream press.

    For years, Portia, whose real name is Mandy Rogers, has displayed a Rosie O'Donnell-like coyness when it came to whether or not she is a lesbian.

    The Australian-born actress was once linked to Hugh Grant, her co-star in the 1994 movie "Sirens." At the time, Grant shot down rumors of a romance by saying: "Do you understand how funny that is?"

    Openly gay Francesca, 33, is the daughter of ex-Beatle Ringo's wife Barbara Bach. She has an apartment in Hollywood, but usually stays at Portia's pad, the Daily Star reports.

    In contrast to Ellen DeGeneres, Portia is the first high-profile "lipstick lesbian" to come out of Hollywood in quite some time. The ravishing blonde L'Oreal spokesmodel has the kind of stick-thin frame that drives fuller-figured women mad

  • Ricci Joins McBeal Cast

    FOX is turning to some star power to draw viewers in the second half of the season. In addition to Jon Bon Jovi joining "Ally McBeal" for nine episodes starting next week, Christina Ricci will join the legal dramedy for five episodes later this year. "The show is really wonderful and I'm having a great time doing it," Bon Jovi told reporters Friday (Jan. 11) at the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif. Bon Jovi noted that while he does enjoy acting (as he has done in films over the last decade), he won't be giving up his day job quite yet. "Not until it pays as well," he laughs.

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  • Heche: From Mothership to Motherhood

    If it were a girl, would she have named her Celestia?

    We'll apparently never know, as actress Anne Heche and husband Coley Laffoon welcomed their first child over the weekend--a baby boy named Homer Heche Laffoon.

    Little Homer was born Saturday at an undisclosed Los Angeles hospital, weighing in at an even 7 pounds, Heche's spokesman confirmed Monday.

    "Parents and baby are doing fine," he said.

    Fine, of course, is all relative for Heche, after what was an insane couple years (literally) for the actress and onetime galpal of Ellen DeGeneres. Heche, 32, tied the knot with Laffoon, 27, in Los Angeles last September--little more than a year after her breakup with DeGeneres and her legendary ecstasy-induced meltdown in Central California.

    Since then, the star of Psycho and Six Days, Seven Nights has written a book about her brush with "The Fourth Dimension" titled Call Me Crazy, and bared all to the likes of Barbara Walters and Jules Asner. Heche famously explained to Walters that she had developed another personality named "Celestia," created a secret language and wandered through Fresno waiting for a spaceship to pick her up.

    "I believed I was from another planet," Heche said. "I think I was insane."

    Nowadays, however, Heche can be seen costarring with Denzel Washington in the HMO-bashing flick John Q, currently in theaters.

  • Heart and Soul

    Click here! to read a review of Monday's Ally McBeal "Heart and Soul" (March 4, 2002) and post your thoughts on the episode on our Message Board.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Mar 4, 2002

    "Everybody Loves Raymond," 13.9/21, and "Becker," 11.9/17, were the two top-rated shows of the night and easily won the 9 p.m. hour for CBS. NBC's "Third Watch" averaged a 7.8/11, followed by "Ally McBeal," 6.0/9, on FOX. "Angel" on The WB moved up to fourth with a 4.0/6, followed by "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" on UPN. "The Chair" sank in its new timeslot, averaging only 3.2/5.

  • Anne Heche Has Baby Boy
    (From Monique)

    The 32-year-old actress gave birth to Homer Heche Laffoon over the weekend, said her publicist, Brad Cafarelli. The baby weighed 7 pounds.Parents and baby are doing "absolutely fine," Cafarelli said.The baby, born at 1:54 a.m. Saturday in Los Angeles, is Heche and Laffoon's first child.Heche and Laffoon, 27, were married in September. The couple met while working on a documentary about Ellen DeGeneres' return to stand-up comedy.Heche, who co-stars with Denzel Washington in the movie "John Q," had a high-profile relationship with DeGeneres for more than three years. They announced their separation in August 2000.

  • Harrison Falls for Ally Mcbeal

    Serial Romeo Harrison Ford has set tongues wagging again - after being spotted with Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart.

    The Indiana Jones star has enjoyed a string of romances since splitting from wife Melissa Mathison last year - most recently with British actress Minnie Driver.

    Now reports of a new romance are rife after Ford and Flockhart were seen strolling down New York's Madison Avenue together.

    But the 59-year-old's representative Pat McQueeney claims, "Harrison and Calista are friends. Harrison and Minnie are also friends - Harrison has a lot of friends."

  • 'Friends' Star Perry Seals 'McBeal' Deal

    Matthew Perry has a new lawyer in his life: "Ally McBeal."

    The "Friends" star, who just signed for a ninth and final season of the hit sitcom, is closing in on a deal to guest star in two upcoming episodes of David E. Kelley's Fox comedy-drama. It marks one of the few times that Perry has appeared in a television series other than his own show, where he plays newlywed Chandler Bing.

    He will play a "cocky, successful and opinionated attorney who wreaks havoc on Ally's personal and professional lives," a spokesman for the show said. His two episodes will be combined into a special two-hour "Ally" event set to air in April.

    As always, the Kelley camp is keeping mum on specifics of the Perry episodes. However, Perry's appearance is set to coincide with that of another previously announced guest thesp, Christina Ricci.

    "Matthew Perry displays a strong presence and natural comedic ability on his other TV project, which makes him a natural choice for 'Ally McBeal'," said "Ally" co-executive producer Alice West.

    Perry is the latest in a long line of guest stars to do turns on "Ally" this season, the show's fifth. Others who've made appearances include Jon Bon Jovi, Jami Gertz, Tom Berenger, French Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey.

    Perry's recent feature credits include "Swordfish," "The Whole Nine Yards" and "Fools Rush In."

  • It's time to repeal 'McBeal'

    After weeks of careful consideration, here are all the reasons I could come up with for why Fox's "Ally McBeal" should continue beyond this season:

    1.

    2.

    3.

    4.

    5.

    OK, so sue me. Try as I might, I cannot think of a single reason why this show should not wrap up in May after five uneven but sometimes terrific seasons.

    Hey, if recent episodes are any indication, I'm not the only one bereft of ideas when it comes to Ally these days. Even those who would benefit financially from more "McBeal" seem to have run out of inspiration.

    At least when "Ally McBeal" was going downhill, it was going somewhere. It's not even doing that anymore.

    It wasn't so long ago that you couldn't pass a newsstand without seeing Ally (or at least Calista Flockhart) staring at you. Almost no one talks about "Ally McBeal" these days, except to say that it's not any good or that they can't remember the last time they watched it.

    You're better off investing in Enron. It has more of a future.

    You'll figure out what those mLife ads during the Super Bowl meant before you make sense of what's gone on so far this season, after Robert Downey Jr. revived the moribund franchise last year only to be lost to the real-life woes that plague him. Like Ally herself, this season hasn't been quirky so much as it's been erratic and unstable.

    Last week, for example, Ally got a kid through a series of ridiculous circumstances and logic so pretzel-like that it would choke George Bush and most of us wouldn't even try to swallow it.

    The episode before that, the series' 100th, had a cancer patient somehow fly off the roof of his childhood home under his own power, only to drop dead of a heart attack on landing, while Nell Carter led the cast in serenading the dateless John Cage (Peter MacNicol) with "We Gotta Get You a Woman."

    A lot of us have nightmares that resemble this.

    Remember Steven Bochco's short-lived musical series "Cop Rock"? "Ally McBeal" has evolved into Bochco protege (and "Ally" auteur) David E. Kelley's answer to it, and frankly the best thing about the song-and-dance routines is that it means these characters aren't babbling to each other.

    The only person, it seems, who hasn't had to sing or dance of late on the show is rocker Jon Bon Jovi. He's had a recurring role as Ally's latest lust object, not that we haven't seen how that sort of thing plays out.

    Fact is, we've seen just about everything on "Ally McBeal" before, and that's too bad because this was once a cutting-edge show that looked like nothing else on television. It deserves credit for helping to make the fantasy cutaway now commonplace on shows such as NBC's "Scrubs" and the WB's "Maybe It's Me," but "Scrubs" is doing it better.

    Kelley himself seemed to know he was beginning to repeat himself, so he brought it an Ally-like character at the start of the season in Jenny Shaw (Julianne Nicholson) for Ally to mentor, thinking that would freshen up the material and characters. The problem is that Jenny was a little too much like Ally for our comfort or Ally's, and Ally quickly grew weary of her tics the way we have become weary of Ally's. So Nicholson has been given her walking papers.

    Creative issues aside, the ratings have been dreadful on Fox this season and, even more foreboding, the reruns have proved such a bust on cable's FX that the cable network quickly moved them out of prime time, meaning there's no huge appetite for more reruns.

    Fox hasn't completely abandoned the series yet, though it plans to yank it off the air for six weeks beginning March 11 so it can try out "American Embassy," which stars Arija Bareikis as an Ally-esque young woman named Emma Brody. Christina Ricci has been signed for five episodes of "Ally," and a rumor published in this very paper has Downey possibly returning to the program, though everyone denies it.

    It's probably just wishful thinking, but it would be nice to see him back for one episode to tie up loose ends in May. That would make a nice series finale.

  • Ally Gets A New 'Friend'

    Matthew Perry, 32, will perform double duty. The NBC "Friends" star is due to appear as a guest star on two upcoming April episodes of Fox's "Ally McBeal," reports Variety. He will play a "cocky, successful and opinionated attorney who wreaks havoc on Ally's personal and professional lives," said a show spokesman.

  • He's At It Again

    David E. Kelley has just inked a deal to create a new legal series for the Fox network set to debut next fall, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Practice creator, who already fills Fox's Monday night lineup with Ally McBeal and Boston Public, will be adding to his workload with a tale about three female lawyers living in San Francisco.

  • Short Cuts

    Ally McBeal alum James LeGros — who romanced a transsexual on the Fox dramedy — appears on the March 7 episode of Friends, TV Guide Online has learned. He scores a date with Lisa Kudrow's Phoebe, only to annoy her with sleazy trash talk

  • Calista On Letterman

    Thursday February 14, 2002 Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart will be on The Late Show with David Letterman to promote Ally McBeal.

  • Ally McBeal Alum Is McWicked!

    Swept away by the drama of Robert Downey Jr.'s departure from Ally McBeal last season, many overlooked the quiet exit of James LeGros. As the blue-eyed actor — who played lawyer Mark Albert — tells TV Guide Online: "It was a hugely dramatic year! But you know what? For me, it was a really good way to leave... very quietly. I'm grateful that's how it was done.

    "Ultimately, your goals and those of the people who make the show don't always go the same way," he adds diplomatically. "They treated me well. I don't miss doing the show, but I do miss the people."

    Some Ally aficionados felt cheated by the failed romance of Mark and his transsexual lady love, Cindy (Lisa Edelstein). While he fondly recalls their storyline, LeGros hates that Cindy revealed her, um, concealed weapon to Mark by grinding up against him on a dance floor, saying, "Surprise!"

    "I know they revealed her mystery the way they did for comic purposes," he says. "But that was the only thing I had a little bit of regret about. I don't think that that would've happened. It just kind of smacked a little bit of a device. I felt Lisa Edelstein had wrought a character of such integrity, it could've been more tactfully done."

    There's off-kilter comedy aplenty in LeGros's new indie movie, Scotland, PA (opening Friday). The quirky satire of Shakespeare's Macbeth finds him and ER's Maura Tierney playing the McBeths, a conniving couple who murder their way to the top of the food chain at a drive-thru burger joint. Set in the early '70s, Scotland finds LeGros wearing eye-poppingly tight jeans and an enormous hairdo!

    "That was a wig," he laughs. "I think I was going for a Warren Beatty in Shampoo look." And what about those mean jeans, James? (They make Ally's aforementioned "surprise" look downright tame!) "I had to cover my body with Vaseline and take a plunge from a second-story window to get into those," he cracks. "My opinion is, if the hair is right, the performance and everything else falls into place. But yeah, that's what we liked about Joe McBeth — nice hair and nice package."

  • Ally Gone 6 Weeks

    FOX's new hour-long drama "The American Embassy," will premiere on March 11, and air for six weeks in "Ally McBeal's" Monday timeslot.

  • Perry On E.T.

    Ally McBeal guest star Matthew Perry will be on Entertainment Tonight today (April 11), along with a clip of one of his Ally McBeal scenes from Monday's episode.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Apr 1, 2002

    The first half of the NCAA title game between Indiana and Maryland scored a 13.4/21 on CBS at 9 p.m. NBC's "Third Watch" kicked off a run of new episodes with a solid 8.3/13, while ABC's "The Bachelor," 7.0/11, had a decent second week. "The American Embassy," however, suffered its lowest ratings so far, 3.8/6. A second "7th Heaven" beat out UPN's "The Parkeers," 2.9/4, and "Girlfriends," 2.7/4.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Mar 25, 2002

    In the 9 p.m. hour, "Everybody Loves Raymond" received the best number of the evening, pulling in a 13.8/21 for CBS, followed by "Yes Dear" with a 10.9/17. ABC's premiere of "The Bachelor" received an inaugural 6.9/11. FOX's "The American Embassy" scored a 3.8/6 and The WB's "Glory Days" pulled in a 2.3/3. On NBC, "Just Shoot Me" received a 5.9/9, followed by "The Colin Quinn Show" with a 3.8/6. And on UPN, both "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" scored a 3.5/5.

  • Leftover Globules

    Here's a moment after the awards: Calista Flockhart, standing with Harrison Ford, drops a glass of red wine all over her dress, his hand and his Golden Globe. She seemed embarrassed as the No. 1 leading man kissed her on the cheek. "She's a beautiful girl," he said after, wiping off his award.

  • Golden Globe Award Results

    Best Television Series- Musical or Comedy

    a. Ally McBeal
    b. Frasier
    c. Friends
    d. Sex And The City- Winner
    e. Will & Grace

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series- Musical or Comedy

    a. Calista Flockhart, Ally McBeal
    b. Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm In The Middle
    c. Heather Locklear, Spin City
    d. Debra Messing, Will & Grace
    e. Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City- Winner

    The Golden Globes will be broadcast at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 20 on NBC.

  • Calista's Son Is Superbaby

    Actress Calista Flockhart insists her adopted son Liam has supersonic hearing. The Ally McBeal star admits little Liam, who turned one on New Year's Day is always amazing her with what he can hear. She says, "He'll be playing with a ball and he'll point to the sky and say airplane, and 10 minutes later you'll hear a plane going over. He's got bionic ears."

  • ''Ally'' reruns seek new home

    Psst: Is there any cable network out there that's interested in picking up reruns of ``Ally McBeal?''

    That's the sotto-voce line a couple of salespeople at the show's syndicator, Twentieth TV, are whispering to Lifetime, WE: Women's Entertainment and Oxygen Media, three networks that would be far more appropriate outlets for the quirky comedy series than its current cable address, FX.

    ``Ally McBeal,'' which premiered to great fanfare on Twentieth sister company FX last August in a three-hour nightly block with reruns of ``Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ``The Practice,'' two other Twentieth TV series, never attracted an audience on the network.

    FX paid the strapping license fee of $675,000 an episode for exclusive rerun rights to ``Ally,'' and the network has now relegated it to the 11 p.m. slot Monday through Friday.

    Although FX declined to comment, other networks said they got the impression that if they were willing to pay even close to the original license fee, FX would be prepared to let it go without any fuss. FX let Twentieth TV pull ``NYPD Blue (news - Y! TV)'' off the network last year when TNT and Court TV stepped up and paid a joint license fee of $825,000 an episode -- more than double the FX license fee.

    But in this sluggish advertising climate, many cable networks are cutting back on their program commitments. Even a high-rated net like Lifetime may not be ready to pay the big bucks it would take to pry ``Ally'' away from FX.

  • Downey targets ``Bullets''
    (From Variety)

    Robert Downey Jr. (news - web sites) has got another shot in Hollywood, this time through a life of crime: He is in negotiations to star in ``Six Bullets From Now,'' the story of the biggest hotel heist in history. Stephen T. Kay (``Get Carter'') will direct the film, which is inspired by the events of New Year's Day 1972, when five gunmen stole more than $10 million in cash and jewels from the Pierre Hotel in New York City in broad daylight. The theft led to a massive FBI (news - web sites) manhunt. The $20 million film is slated to begin shooting this spring in Montreal and New York. Director Ridley Scott (''Black Hawk Down'') will serve as a producer via his Scott Free Prods. shingle.

    DreamWorks has a competing project based on Ira Berkow's 1988 book about the same event, ``The Man Who Robbed the Pierre.'' Downey, last seen on the big screen in Curtis Hanson's 2000 drama ``Wonder Boys,'' was sentenced to three years probation last year after pleading no contest to drug charges.

  • X-man Trashed For Ally Exit
    (From Page Six)

    The further the ratings and morale at "Ally McBeal" fall, the tougher David E. Kelley gets with his anorexic, stressed-out cast.

    Several "Ally" actresses complained last year there was "pressure to lose weight," and now one actor who decided to leave was hurt when it was "leaked" to the media that he was fired.

    Last week, "X-Men" stud James "Jimmy" Marsden was shocked when he read in Entertainment Weekly that he was a "Loser of the Week" for being fired from "Ally McBeal" after filming just a few episodes.

    Marsden was hired for the 2001-2002 season along with three others - Julianne Nicholson, Regina Hall and Josh Hopkins - to help spice up the show after popular stars Robert Downey Jr., Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs left.

    "Jimmy quits the show after one season, and the next thing he knows it is being leaked that he was fired. He left on his own. He was not fired," said a Marsden pal.

    Marsden decided to leave "Ally," whose title character is played by famously famished-looking Calista Flockhart, for several reasons, according to his friends.

    "First of all, they fired Julianne out of the blue and that was supposed to be Jimmy's love interest on the show. They promised him a certain storyline and didn't deliver. He wasn't really doing anything - so he wanted out. The show has horrible ratings and he didn't want to be there any more. So he quit and then they retaliated," the pal said.

    "If someone is fired, they can get a bad reputation and it can hurt their future work," said another pal.

    A rep for Kelley denied the producer had anything to do with the leak, and said: "Jimmy was great on 'Ally McBeal.' We loved working with him, and look forward to the opportunity to work together again soon."

    A rep for "Ally" also denied leaking the story, and insisted the decision for Marsden to leave was mutual. The rep noted that while Marsden didn't want to stay, Hall, Hopkins and Jon Bon Jovi do. "Jon will become a permanent part of the cast as will Dame Edna," the rep said.

    The show has had a revolving door of "special guests" including Bon Jovi for several years, but the only reprieve it enjoyed from sagging ratings was when Downey Jr. was on. He was fired after repeatedly falling off the sobriety wagon. Last week, Mariah Carey guest-starred as a woman who was "undateable."

    Meanwhile, Marsden is back to focusing on his movie career. The hot actor is in negotiations to do the sequel to "The X-Men" and will appear in "Interstate 60" later this year.

  • Josh Groban CD Giveaway!

    If you haven't heard of Josh Groban by now, you're totally not cool. He's got killer pipes and, after appearing on Ally McBeal in December, his debut album is flying outta stores!

    Kidzworld wants you to stay on top of music trends so we're giving away Josh's new album to five lucky peeps. We're also throwing in an autographed picture! Yeah, we're cool - now you can be too! Click here to enter!

  • Interview with Josh Groban

    Today on the MadBlast streaming entertainment show of love we talk with the outstandingly gifted singer Josh Groban about his brand new self-titled album.

    Find out why Josh is the talk on the town, his experiences working Celine Dion, Charlotte Church, The Corrs, Barbra Streisdan, and legendary producer David Foster. We'll also find out how he ended up on Ally McBeal and much more. Click here to listen to the interview. and You can order Josh Groban's new CD Here!

  • More Cast Changes at 'Ally McBeal'

    "Ally McBeal's" revolving cast door continues to turn as two of the show's newest cast members, Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden, will leave after the first 13-episodes, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The two actors joined the cast of "Ally" this fall. Nicholson is expected to return to the legal series as a guest-star for additional episodes, while Marsden will be busy filming the sequel to "The X-Men."

    In addition, Dame Edna Everage is returning to the set of "Ally." The flamboyant Australian comedian will play a recurring role on the David E. Kelley FOX series, reprising the role of Claire Otoms that she played in two episodes this fall.

    The casting changes are due to the show's dip in ratings since getting a late launch this season. So far this season, "Ally" is off about 2.8 million viewers from the comparable period last year. Not only has "Ally" had trouble retaining viewers from its "Boston Public" lead-in, but the drama has regularly finished in second or third place during its timeslot in adults 18-49, following CBS' "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Becker."

    Hoping to increase the show's numbers, Jon Bon Jovi will be making guest appearance as a recurring character who is a love interest for Ally (Calista Flockhart) on Monday, Jan. 14.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Mar 18, 2002

    At 9 p.m., "Everybody Loves Raymond," 13.4/20, and "Becker," 11.7/18, gave CBS the highest-rated hour of the night. NBC was second thanks to the last half-hour of an expanded "Fear Factor," 9.9/15, but dropped off sharply with "The Colin Quinn Show," 4.8/7, at 9:30. "The American Embassy" earned a 5.5/8 for FOX, followed by a "Before They Were Stars" special on ABC. UPN moved up to fifth with "The Parkers," 3.3/5, and "Girlfriends," 3.5/5, while The WB's "Glory Days" trailed with a 2.3/3.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Mar 11, 2002

    The final half-hour of "Fear Factor," 11.0/17, managed to beat a rerun of "Everybody Loves Raymond," 10.8/16, but CBS still won the 9 p.m. hour on the strength of "Becker," 10.7/16 at 9:30. The premiere of "The Colin Quinn Show," 4.8/7, lost more than half of the "Fear Factor" audience. The debut of "The American Embassy" on FOX averaged 5.5/8, similar numbers to "Ally McBeal," which normally airs in the timeslot. The ABC News special "The Hunt for Osama bin Laden" put ABC in fourth. "The Parkers," 3.1/4, and "Girlfriends," 3.3/5, on UPN beat The WB's "Glory Days," 2.3/3, which wasn't helped by a move from Wednesday to Monday.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Mar 4, 2002

    "Everybody Loves Raymond," 13.9/21, and "Becker," 11.9/17, were the two top-rated shows of the night and easily won the 9 p.m. hour for CBS. NBC's "Third Watch" averaged a 7.8/11, followed by "Ally McBeal," 6.0/9, on FOX. "Angel" on The WB moved up to fourth with a 4.0/6, followed by "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" on UPN. "The Chair" sank in its new timeslot, averaging only 3.2/5.

  • Calista On Rosie

    Friday February 15, 2002 Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart will be on The Rosie O'Donnell Show to promote Ally McBeal.

  • 'Ally McBeal' Turns 100, Fish Still Standing

    David E. Kelley's "Ally McBeal" turns 100 tomorrow night (Monday, Jan. 21) and in looking back it hasn't always been a great run. Much of the cast has come and gone through the revolving door, and the plethora of guest stars that I have stopped by have been gratuitous just as often as they have been inspired.

    Along with star Calista Flockhart and nosy secretary Elaine (Jane Krakowski), Ally's boss Richard Fish is the only remaining regular original cast member.

    Greg Germann plays Fish, the self-center, wattle-obsessed founder of Ally's firm Cage/Fish & Associates. In addition to his throwback attitude to the "greed is good" '80s, the character is known for his words to live by, more affectionately known as "Fish-isms."

    Among them:

    "Helping people is never more rewarding than when it's in your own self interest."

    "I didn't become a lawyer because I like the law. The law sucks. It's boring. But it can also be used as a weapon. You want to bankrupt somebody? Cost him everything he's worked for, make his wife leave him, even cause his kids to cry? We can do that."

    "... if you want to be rich, you better get the money before the scruples set in."

    "Let me tell you something about women. Don't talk to them. They talk back. Women should be obscene and not heard."

    "... remember reunions are meant to allow the more successful graduates to inform the less successful that that's what they are. Less than."

    "The only thing you can really take to the bank ... money. Make enough money and everything else will follow."

    "With me, we go to anthropology, you know, nature, man is conditioned to spread his seed ... when we sleep around, we're really doing God's work."

    "By-gones."

  • Calista & Jane InStyle

    In the Febuary 2002 issue of InStyle magazine (with David E. Kelley's wife, Michelle Pfeifer on the cover) you will photos of Calista Flockhart (Ally) in a MIssoni dress and one of her in a D&G shirt and Christine Perrin skirt. There's also a photo of Jane Krakowski (Elaine) in a Luca Luca dress.

  • Bon Jovi Won't Sing

    Rocker Jon Bon Jovi won't be singing as part of his nine-episode stint on legal comedy Ally McBeal - because he wants to be taken seriously as an actor.

    The Bon Jovi frontman plays a handyman who falls in love with McBeal, played by Calista Flockhart.

    But he won't be joining past musical guests Sting, Elton John, Barry White and Mariah Carey by performing a song on the show.

    And though he won't reveal too much about his new character, Bon Jovi admits he's fallen for unlucky-in-love McBeal in real life.

    He says, "In this fictional world I wouldn't let her go. I'd be holding on with two hands. She's such a beautiful girl."

  • Ally Guest Stars Olympic Bound

    Two Ally McBeal guest stars will be apart of the closing ceremonies at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City on February 24. Jon Bon Jovi (with his bandmates) and Josh Groban (Malcolm from the prom episode) will each perform at least one song. Other performers will include Harry Connick Jr., Charlotte Church, *NSYNC and Christina Aguilera. Tickets range in price from $320-$885. They are available from 1-800-Tickets or at saltlake2002.com. You can order Josh Groban's New CD here! and Bon Jovi's latest here!

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Feb. 26, 2002

    "Everybody Loves Raymond," 13.9/21, scored the highest ratings of the night for CBS at 9 p.m., while its lead-out, "Becker," drew an 11.3/17. NBC's "Third Watch," 7.1/11, beat out FOX's "Ally McBeal," 6.6/10, and the ABC movie "Practical Magic," 5.3/8, was fourth. "Angel," 3.7/5, finished a few tenths ahead of UPN's "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends."

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Feb. 18, 2002

    NBC's Olympic coverage had its strongest hour at 9 p.m., averaging 17.3/25. Despite that, reruns of "Everybody Loves Raymond" (9.2/13) and "Becker" (7.9/12) still managed to draw solid ratings for CBS. A new "Ally McBeal," 5.5/8, was third for FOX, a few tenths of a point ahead of "Indiana Jones" on ABC. The WB's "Angel" averaged a 3.5/5, beating out UPN's "The Parkers" (3.2/4) and "Girlfriends" (3.1/4).

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Feb. 11, 2002

    At 9 p.m., repeats of "Everybody Loves Raymond," 9.7/14, and "Becker," 8.3/12, drew relatively strong numbers for CBS opposite NBC's 20.3/29 for the Olympics. "Ally McBeal" averaged a 5.2/8, ahead of a special "7th Heaven" repeat, 4.4/6, the second half of ABC's movie, 3.6/5, and UPN's "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends," each of which scored a 3.6/5.

  • Ally McBeal Pregnant? TV Mom Says Yes

    There may be a baby coming to "Ally McBeal," and it's not the dancing, computer-generated kind. Actress Jill Clayburgh, who has guest-starred as Ally's (Calista Flockhart) mom on several episodes of the FOX series, let it slip Wednesday (Jan. 9) that Ally might become pregnant.

    She was speaking to reporters at a Television Critics Association press conference for NBC's midseason comedy "Leap of Faith" when someone asked if she would be returning to "Ally." She said yes, then added, "I'm going to be a granny. Can you believe it?" Clayburgh said nothing more about the possible development, and FOX officials didn't return calls for comment. All that's known for sure that Jon Bon Jovi is joining the cast on Monday's (Jan. 14) episode as Ally's new love interest, a contractor who's hired to help bring the house Ally buys up to code.

    Ratings for "Ally McBeal" have fallen somehwat in this, its fifth season; the show is averaging 10.3 million viewers after consistently drawing about 12 million viewers last year. The cast has gone through major upheavals as well. Regulars Peter MacNicol, who won an Emmy in November for his portrayal of eccentric lawyer John Cage, and Lucy Liu, have left or cut back their roles. New cast members Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden are being written out after the first 13 episodes, although Nicholson may return as a guest star.

  • Case Dismissed

    This is just the ratings-boosting stunt Ally McBeal could have used right now. A spokesperson for Robert Downey Jr. is denying widespread rumors that his client will return to the Fox dramedy during May sweeps. "There are no plans for him to return at this point," Alan Nierob tells TV Guide Online. Adds an Ally rep: "While the show is fond of him and has never ruled out his returning, there are no plans to have him return in May or any other time this season."

  • Playing with Matches

    Click here! to read a review of Monday's Ally McBeal "Playing with Matches" (January 7, 2002) and post your thoughts on the episode on our Message Board.

  • Songs Mariah & Nell Sang

    Mariah Carey sang "Lead the Way" from her new CD Glitter. Click Here to purchase the CD.

    Nell Carter sang "Match Maker" & "You Make Me Feel like Dancing". Nell can be heard on the CD Mathis on Broadway.

  • Ally Jerk's Big Stretch
    (from TV Guide)

    Don't tell Greg Germann that the corporate weasel he portrays in the current Tim Allen comedy Joe Somebody is basically a clone of Richard Fish, the, um, corporate weasel he portrays every week on Fox's Ally McBeal. "Oh no he's not," the actor mock-protests to TV Guide Online. "That's not true!"

    Alright, we'll bite: How are the two characters different? "Jeremy in [Joe Somebody] is a slimeball with no ethics at all. Richard Fish — for all of his opportunism — is a pretty straight-up guy," Germann argues. "He's not going to screw you over for the sake of screwing you over. Jeremy is a little bit more pathetic. He's much more of a loser than Richard Fish." Pausing, he adds with a wink: "And they walk differently."

    All joking aside, the 39-year-old Texas native concedes that when he was first handed the Somebody script, the similarities between Jeremy and Fish were not lost on him. "But then a part of me feels like if I can carve a niche out [as a swarmy white-collar type], I'll carve it."

    With Ally in a bit of a ratings tailspin this season, now might be a good time for Germann to see if his sleazy shtick plays well on the big screen. Not that he's ready to give up on the five-year-old, Emmy-winning dramedy. "We're hoping that our ratings pick up after the first of the year," he says, citing the show's recent Golden Globe nod as a hopeful sign. "Five years is a long time to have any job, so I think [creator] David [E. Kelley]'s always trying to figure out ways to keep it fresh."

    To that end, Kelley is listening to critics and dropping new castmembers James Marsden and Julianne Nicholson (they'll go off to create their own law firm), and bringing back the sublime Dame Edna Everage in a plot that could give Ally just the boost it needs. "It's a powerful romance [with Fish]," Germann deadpans. "The shower scenes are really going to be something. We'll get the ratings up with that."

  • Calista InStyle

    There are photos of Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) wearing Christina Perrin at the Emmy Awards and after party shots in the January 2002 edition of InStyle Magazine. Vanilla Sky's Penelope Cruz graces the cover.

  • Joe Somebody

    Look for 'Joe Somebody' in theaters today (Friday, Dec. 21) co-starring Greg Germann (Richard Fish, Ally McBeal). The comedy stars Tim Allen (Home Improvement) and Julie Bowen (Ed).

  • MacNichol Joins USO

    Peter MacNichol (John Cage) has join the war effort. He is apart of the USO tours that has gone over to help entertain the troops and show our support. Other celebrities on the tour include Jessica Simpson, Wayne Newton, Bo Derek & Ally guest star Rob Schneider. Newton is taking over for Bob Hope as tour leader.

  • Kelley puts pen aside to guide Fox 'Understudy'

    David E. Kelley Prods. is spreading its wings.

    Kelley has signed on to executive produce the drama project "The Understudy" for Fox Broadcasting Co. that will be co-created by Bill D'Elia, currently showrunner on "Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV)," and writer-producer Ivan Menchell. Kelley will supervise the project, produced through David E. Kelley Prods. and 20th Century Fox Television, but he will not write the pilot.

    Executives at David E. Kelley Prods. have long said they intended to expand the company's development efforts beyond the series that Kelley personally spearheads, Fox's "Ally McBeal" and "Boston Public (news - Y! TV)" and ABC's "The Practice (news - Y! TV)." Two years ago, Kelley created the ABC series "Snoops" with the intent of giving day-to-day oversight of the show to other producers, but the detective drama wound up having a short run in the 1999-2000 season.

    Representatives for Kelley, Fox and 20th Century Fox TV declined comment late Monday on "The Understudy," which is in the early stages of development.

    Sources said Kelley was intrigued by the concept D'Elia and Menchell have been developing for "The Understudy." Set in the world of New York theater, the show focuses on a 21-year-old actress who moves to the Big Apple to pursue her dream of appearing on Broadway. The show will feature musical elements and thus require a cast with vocal chops.

    D'Elia, who will direct the pilot, is a veteran of the Kelley stable, having earned Emmy nominations for his work on CBS' "Chicago Hope" and "Ally McBeal." Menchell comes from a legit theater background. He wrote the play "The Cemetery Club" and penned the 1993 feature adaptation. His TV credits include the CBS sitcom "The Nanny" and Fox's "Time of Your Life."

    D'Elia and Menchell are repped by Artists Management Group, while D'Elia also is with UTA. Kelley is repped by Endeavor and attorney Michael Gendler.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Feb. 4, 2002

    At 9 p.m., CBS pulled ahead with an overall 12.6/19 for the hour behind "Everybody Loves Raymond," 13.5/20, and "Becker," 11.6/17. NBC snagged second place from FOX, with "Third Watch" taking a 7.7/12 to "Ally McBeal's" 7.6/11. ABC aired the Robin Williams' movie "Patch Adams," averaging a 6.1/10 from 9 to 11 p.m. Creator Joss Whedon returned to write and direct "Angel," taking a 4.0/6 for the hour, while UPN comedies "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" averaged a 3.6/5.

  • Jon Bon Jovi On Leno

    Thursday February 7, 2002 actor/singer Jon Bon Jovi will appear on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno to promote Ally McBeal and his band's (Bon Jovi) upcoming Olympic performance.

  • Portia de Rossi and Mystery Girl Pictures About to Emerge

    A set of raunchy pictures of Ally McBeal star Portia De Rossi and a mystery woman are set to blow the lid on the actress' love life.

    Australia's New Idea magazine has won a bidding war for the exclusive national rights to pictures of de Rossi getting up close and personal with a female friend.

    People who have seen the shots say the photos are "hot" and could shed new light on the Ally McBeal star, formerly known as Mandy Rogers.

  • Calista's Nappy Problems

    Kind-hearted Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart gave a woman a $100 reward after they mixed up their shopping.

    The waif-like beauty was in Los Angeles' POTTERY BARN with baby son LIAM when she bumped into another young mother with exactly the same diaper bag.

    After posing for pictures with Flockhart, the two women accidentally switched.

    The actress had left her keys and wallet in the bag, but the other woman returned the contents. And Flockhart insisted in giving the honest mother a cash reward for the good deed.

  • Calista Flockhart Comes to Terms with Fame

    Actress CALISTA FLOCKHART has just returned from a three month vacation to Hawaii and has never felt better.

    It was the first holiday the skinny ALLY MCBEAL star has taken since she accepted her TV role four years ago.

    She now admits the pressure of fame was too much for her to handle, she says, "In the beginning of Ally I was lonely and I didn't understand why. I don't know if my experience was unique but it might have been a little unprecedented.

    "I was really hounded for a couple of years and it happened really fast. I think it was overwhelming and a bit frightening." After sunning herself in Hawaii over the summer she says she's finally coming to terms with her fame, she says, "I actually think that this vacation that I just took, the time off and the sleep and all of that, really helped me to concentrate on other parts of my life.

    "All the stories in the press had such a tabloidian feel to it. It's all about dirty laundry and it's uninteresting. I understand the agenda.

    "It's about ratings and money. It has nothing to do with people."

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Jan. 21, 2002

    At 9 p.m., CBS pulled away with an overall 11.0/17 for the hour behind "Everybody Loves Raymond," 12.2/18, and "Becker," 9.8/15. NBC and "Third Watch" was second for the hour, 7.5/12, while FOX's "Ally McBeal" celebrated its 100th episode and came in third with a 7.0/11. ABC's airing of "Alien Resurrection" took a mere 3.9/6 for the hour, barely ahead of a new episode of "Angel" on The WB, 3.5/5. "Angel" tied with the UPN comdies "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends," which also averaged a 3.5/5 for nine o'clock.

  • 'Ally' Guest Star Roy Brocksmith Dies

    Roy Brocksmith, a familiar character actor who also staged theater works in his own home, died Sunday (Dec. 16) from complications of diabetes. He was 56. Brocksmith founded the California Cottage Theatre out of his home in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley in 1987. He and another actor were looking to stage a monologue called "A Cold Day in Hell" but found the cost of renting an Equity-waiver theater to be prohibitive. They set up shop in Brocksmith's living room instead, and the "theater" staged seven productions over the following years.

    "Over 8,000 people have been in our house -- and never was anything stolen," Brocksmith's widow, Adele, tells the Los Angeles Times. "We had such a wonderful time doing it." Brocksmith played school Principal Michael Oslo on the CBS series "Picket Fences." The show's creator, David E. Kelley, had worked with him before on "L.A. Law" and later cast the actor in guest roles on "Ally McBeal." He also appeared on "Seinfeld" and "Murder One" and in movies "Total Recall," "Arachnophobia" and "The Road to Wellville," among numerous others.

  • Regina on Kilborn

    Monday January 21, 2002 Regina Hall (Coretta) is on CBS' Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn to promote Ally McBeal (repeat)

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Jan. 14, 2002

    At 9 p.m., CBS pulled away with an overall 12.4/18 for the hour behind "Everybody Loves Raymond" (13.4/20) and "Becker" (11.5/17). NBC and "Third Watch" was third for the hour, 6.8/10, barely ahead of FOX's "Ally McBeal" (6.7/10). The first half of ABC's movie "Forces of Nature" was fourth (it took a 5.0/8 from 9-11 p.m.), while The WB managed to edge UPN for the hour with a 3.6/5 for "Angel" to a 3.5/5 for the hour for "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends."

  • People Make Their Choice

    This year's nomination for a People's Choice Award did not turn out to be a winner for Ally McBeal. In the category for 'Favorite Female Television Performer' Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) and Oprah Winfrey (The Oprah Winfrey Show) lost out to Jennifer Aniston (Friends). The ceremony was broadcast Sunday, Jan. 13 on CBS.

  • Golden Globe Awards

    Best Television Series- Musical or Comedy

    a. Ally McBeal
    b. Frasier
    c. Friends
    d. Sex And The City
    e. Will & Grace

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series- Musical or Comedy

    a. Calista Flockhart, Ally McBeal
    b. Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm In The Middle
    c. Heather Locklear, Spin City
    d. Debra Messing, Will & Grace
    e. Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City

    The Golden Globes will be broadcast at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 20 on NBC.

  • Calista On Leno

    On Tuesday January 15, 2002, Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) will be on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

  • Hopkins on Kilborn

    Monday January 14, 2002 Josh Hopkins (Raymond) is on CBS' Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn to promote Ally McBeal

  • People Make Their Choice

    This year's nominees for the 28th Annual People's Choice Awards have been announced. Ally McBeal is up for one award.

    Favorite Female Television Performer:
    1. Jennifer Aniston (Friends)
    2. Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal)
    3. Oprah Winfrey (The Oprah Winfrey Show)

    The ceremony which will be broadcast Sunday, Jan. 13 on CBS.

  • Fast Affiliate Ratings for Monday, Jan. 7 2002

    ABC took the final day of the first week of the new year with the last "Monday Night Football" of the season leading the way. The network pulled an approximate 12.3 rating/18 share, followed by CBS' 10.1/15. NBC was third with a 7.8/12, followed by FOX's 6.8/10. The WB slipped past UPN for fifth with a 3.4/5 to 3.1/4. Among adults 18-49, ABC will likely have the lead when the final numbers are in, so far scoring a tentative 5.9/14, but CBS scored a strong 5.7/13, followed by NBC's 4.9/12 and FOX's 4.7/11. Due to the live nature of "Monday Night Football" its numbers are preliminary. CBS took the 9 p.m. hour behind the duo of "King of Queens," 10.4/16, and "Yes, Dear," 9.4/14. ABC's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" was second for the hour with a 9.4/14, while the premiere of new episodes of NBC's reality show "Fear Factor" took a 7.3/11. The show had great growth over the hour, going from a 6.6/10 in its first half-hour to an 8.1/12 in its second, jumping nearly 23 percent. The show was also second among adults 18-49 for the hour with a 5.4/13. FOX was fourth with "Boston Public's" 6.9/10, followed by The WB's "7th Heaven" (4.5/6) and UPN's duo of "The Hughleys" and "One on One" (3.3/5 over the hour). At 9 p.m., ABC and the season finale of "Monday Night Football" (Baltimore Ravens vs. Minnesota Vikings) battled for the hour, but CBS appears to have the edge with its comedies "Everybody Loves Raymond" (13.7/20) and "Becker" (11.4/17). NBC kept third place with a 7.2/11 for "Third Watch," while FOX's "Ally McBeal" featured Mariah Carey on its way to a 6.7/10. UPN edged The WB for fifth with a 3.0/4 for the hour for "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" over The WB's "Angel" repeat (2.5/3). The last half of "Monday Night Football" led the 10 p.m. hour, while NBC's "Crossing Jordan" was second with an 8.7/14. CBS was third for the hour with "Family Law," 7.9/13. Ratings information provided are from fast national data, except for UPN and The WB, which are the results of the overnight metered markets (the top 50 markets across the country). All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

  • All About Ally

    Spend an hour behind the scenes of the popular TV series "Ally McBeal" starring Calista Flockhart on Monday, January 7 at 3:00PM on E!- Entertainment Television.

  • Liu to produce drag comedy for Uni, Jersey

    LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Universal Pictures has laid down a whopping $1 million against $2 million for an untitled action-comedy pitch from Les Firestein and P.J. Pesce, with Lucy Liu and studio-based Jersey Films on board to produce. Liu's deal, which is still being finalized, marks the actress' first outing as a producer.

    The pitch revolves around a man on the run who dresses up in drag to elude a group of thugs and the authorities only to wind up being mistaken for a mail-order bride. Firestein and Pesce will pen the screenplay.

    Although Liu will not star in the film, it's too early to say whether she will take a smaller role. Jersey principals Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher are understood to be taking producing credits, with Jersey senior vp production Pamela Abdy also overseeing for the company. Liu's manager Maryellen Mulcahy also will produce with associate producer Shannon Ratcliffe. Universal chairman Stacey Snider shepherded the deal for the studio with president of production Scott Stuber.

    Liu, repped by ICM and Framework Entertainment, recently completed her final episode as a series regular on Fox's "Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV)." She is set to start filming a starring role next month opposite Antonio Banderas in the Kaos-directed actioner "Ecks vs. Sever" and can be seen next year in the indie features "Company Man" and "Hotel." She also is in negotiations to reprise her role in the sequel to "Charlie's Angels." Firestein, repped by UTA and attorney Tom Hoberman, was an executive producer on the television series "The Drew Carey Show" and "In Living Color." Pesce, repped by Broder Kurland Webb Uffner and attorney Carlos Goodman of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols & Adler, has worked as a writer and director. He wrote and directed "The Desperate Trail" and directed "The Hangman's Daughter."

  • Songs Sung By Elton

    For those who don't know, the three songs that Elton John sang on Monday's episode were "I Want Love", "The Wasteland" and "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting". To purchase these on CD just click the title.

  • No Don't Tell Me

    'ALLY McBeal" is suddenly starved for ratings.

    The quirky, working-girls comedy has taken a serious downturn and the reason can probably be summarized in four words - no Robert Downey Jr.

    David E. Kelley's five-year-old drama, which airs Mondays at 9 p.m., was burning brightly last year when Downey joined the cast - but has lost as much as one-fourth is audience since its season premiere last month.

    What's ironic is that "Ally" was crucial last season in helping to launch Kelley's newest hit, "Boston Public." Now "Public" is out-pulling "Ally."

    It is an ignominious predicament for a series that just a few season ago won the Emmy award for best comedy.

    "David E. Kelley has to pull another rabbit out of his hat - namely someone as good as Robert Downey Jr. or Anne Heche," says industry analyst Paul Schulman of Advanswers PHD.

    "He's got to add some element to the show because right now it appears to be stale."

    Downey's role earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination - but he wasn't asked back due to his continuing drug woes.

    Heche guest-starred on several highly rated "Ally" episodes last season.

    So far this fall, "Ally" has been averaging about 6.8 million households, compared to the 9 million households it averaged last year at this time.

    TV analysts attribute "Ally's" downturn to uninspired storylines. The show, written and produced by Kelley, follows the misadventures of a mini-skirted lawyer (Calista Flockhart) and her partners at a Boston law firm.

    To be fair, the show has been hurt this season by suddenly much-tougher competition on Monday nights.

    Among its competitive headaches this year has been ABC's "Monday Night Football" - which historically drains away male viewers from "Ally" until January - and CBS' "Everybody Loves Raymond," arguably TV's second-most-popular comedy behind "Friends," and which has been drawing bigger audiences nearly every year.

    One TV industry analyst warns that "Ally" needs to gain altitude fast.

    "I think it's definitely heading towards the end," says a ratings expert who asked to remain anonymous. "Obviously the show peaked a few years back and, I would assume, it's probably in its last season unless the ratings pick up."

    Despite the grim prediction, Fox officials claim "Ally" is just fine. They say that the show's core audience of 18-49 year-old females has stuck with the show this season.

    And they say that tonight's show - rumbling with A-list superstars Jacqueline Bisset and a musical performance by Elton John - will help "Ally" turn a corner.

    "We believe the show is headed for another, at least creatively, strong season," says Preston Beckman, Fox's executive vice president for program planning.

    "It's like Fox in general - this is a network takes a while to build up a head of steam - so we're looking forward to a good year for the show.

    "David E. Kelley is probably if not the best, one of the two finest writers and producers in the business and at the network we always have the advantage of knowing where a show is going for the rest of the season," Beckman says.

    "And we think that the stories moving forward are going to appeal to the 'Ally McBeal' viewer."

    John is actually the first of at least three high-profile singers who will appear on "Ally" this season.

    Jon Bon Jovi will stick around for a nine episodes later this season, and troubled songstress Mariah Carey will guest star in January.

    "If Kelley comes up with the spark that Robert Downey Jr. was last year, 'Ally' could get right into the groove," Schulman says. "Kelley is an important player for Fox and if he wants 'Ally' to be on next fall, it will be."

    Fox is a division of News Corp., which also owns The Post.

  • Gertz To Play Gilda

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jami Gertz (Ally McBeal, Twister) will play comedian Gilda Radner in an ABC biopic tentatively titled "It's Always Something: The Gilda Radner Story. The movie will begin production in January, and is expected to premiere in May.

  • Heche Could Still Be Gay

    Four-months pregnant actress Anne Heche isn't turning her back on homosexuality, just because she's happily married to cameraman Coley Laffoon.

    The former girlfriend of comedienne Ellen Degeneres has spoken to American gay magazine The Advocate about her thoughts and feelings - and she hasn't ruled out the possibility of returning to a lesbian lifestyle.

    The 32-year-old actress says, "I have been very clear to everybody that just because I'm getting married, doesn't mean I'm straight."

  • Robert Downey's Long Road to Recovery

    Troubled star Robert Downey Jr. looked haggard and paranoid on a supervised day trip from his California rehab.

    The Chaplin star is currently undergoing a year long sentence at Malibu's Promises clinic for drug convictions.

    And the actor looked nervous while grabbing a bite to eat at Malibu's swanky Cafe Cuvee.

    According to American tabloid National Enquirer, the star insisted on facing the street at a sidewalk table, even though it meant passers-by kept spotting him.

    A manager suggested he turn around with his back to a wall and offered to put two tables together to give him more eating room. But Downey got agitated saying, "No! That way I wouldn't be able to move fast if something went down!"

  • Downey Focusing on 'Recovery,' He Tells Judge

    Robert Downey Jr. is focusing his energies on recovering from drug addiction and spending time with his family, the actor told a judge Thursday during a hearing to determine the Emmy-nominated actor's progress since he was placed on probation for drug charges last July.

    "Furthering my endeavor in recovery ... is really my priority for right now,'' Downey said, according to the AP.. " I've been able to re-establish contact with my family. That's the only privilege I consider myself really to have at this point."

    Riverside County Superior Court Judge Randall D. White ordered Downey to return next March for another evaluation hearing.

    " With some humility I'd like to let the court know I appreciate your allowing me to continue," Downey responded.

    The actor's attorney, James Epstein, added that Downey has turned down numerous acting offers during his recovery, but that Downey would eventually return to the camera.

    " You'll have Robert again, I promise, on the screen. But for now, he's focusing on his personal life," Epstein said.

    Downey was arrested last year at Merv Griffen's Resort Hotel and Givenchy Spa in Palm Springs after police found drugs in his hotel room. He later pleaded no contest to cocaine possession and for being under the influence, to which a judge sentenced him to a year at a live-in rehabilitation center and three years of probation.

    Downey was nominated for an Oscar for his work in " Chaplin" and an Emmy Award for playing a recurring role on " Ally McBeal" last season."

  • Rod Stewart Wanted for Ally Mcbeal

    Veteran rocker ROD STEWART is being courted by Ally McBeal creator David E. Kelley to appear in the hit TV drama. Kelley, husband of Hollywood beauty Michelle Pfeiffer, wants the gravel voiced smoothy to take a cameo appearance in the Calista Flockhart show. If Stewart agrees to the offer he will be following in the footsteps of a number of aged crooners, including Barry White, Sting, and Sir Elton John, who have all guest stared on the hit program.

  • Courtney Thorne Smith's New Love

    Ally McBeal star Courtney Thorne Smith has found new love - with a handsome doctor her mum helped her to meet. The 34-year-old actress instantly fell head-over-heels for her mother Lora's hunky cardiologist Dr. Jamie Doucet.

    A thrilled Courtney told her friend, "That man saved my mum's life and I will be forever grateful. Our relationship is all my mother's doing." Courtney's mother was on the operating table when she started quizzing Dr Doucet as to whether or not he was single. Then she started concocting a scheme to make sure her daughter would meet the dreamboat doctor.

    She made her daughter fly out to see her, faking a medical emergency, but Courtney was relieved to discover her mother was making a full recovery and only wanted to play matchmaker. A friend of Courtney's says the actress will be forever indebted to the man who saved her mother's life.

  • Downey Jr. Contemplates Return to Ally

    Robert Downey Jr. is contemplating returning to the hit comedy series Ally McBeal.

    The troubled star is currently undergoing a year long sentence at a Los Angeles Rehab Center - but he's allowed to leave the treatment clinic during the day to work.

    Downey Jr. portrayed Ally McBeal's onscreen love interest before he was arrested on drug charges.

    Speaking at the Emmy Awards over the weekend, he admitted, "I love that show, it was great to do it.

    "I will be surprised if I didn't show up at the show again at some point. We'll have to wait and see."

  • Downey Dresser

    Now that Robert Downey Jr.'s marriage to Deborah Falconer is kaput, the beleaguered actor is looking for love. And he seems to have found it. Spies in L.A. said the drug-addled Downey has been quietly dating Kristy Bauer Jordan - a blond single mother he met while she was working at Hugo Boss dressing celebs. Hugo Boss recently shut down its publicity operation on the coast, so now Jordan is out of a job, but Downey doesn't seem to mind. His rep declined comment.

  • Mariah's Second Chance

    Apparently David E. Kelley didn't read those scathing Glitter reviews. The prolific TV producer has tapped troubled pop diva Mariah Carey to guest star on an episode of Ally McBeal to air Jan. 6. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Carey — who will sing "Lead the Way" from her new Glitter album during the installment — will figure into a plot involving the return of Jami Gertz's Kimmy Bishop. Her episode also coincides with the introduction of Jon Bon Jovi, who is joining the cast as a love interest for Ally (Calista Flockhart). Meanwhile, Carey's comeback from her emotional breakdown was further set in motion with a performance at Friday's taping of the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards, which will air Tuesday night on VH1.

  • Jami Gertz Back At Ally

    Jami Gertz, who garnered an Emmy nomination for her four-episode stint last season on Ally McBeal, will reprise her role for an episode this season as an old law school classmate of Ally's,

  • Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her

    This movie is now available for home viewing on DVD & VHS. The film stars Calista Flockhart, Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Cameron Diaz & Amy Brenneman. The acting is top-notch and the screenwriting is amazing. Pick up your copy today.

    DVD or VHS

  • Robert Downey Jr. Finds Love

    Troubled actor ROBERT DOWNY JR has found love again with a mystery blonde.

    The former ALLY MCBEAL star was spotted publicly smooching with the beauty while on a rare day out from the rehab centre he calls home.

    Downey is staying at Promises Rehab Centre in Malibu after suffering a drugs relapse earlier this year.

    An onlooker says, "They're clearly romantically involved. They were kissing and holding hands as they walked down the street. "It's nice to see him happy again after all the troubles he's had."

  • Today Show

    Tuseday, January 1- 7:00 AM ET/PT on NBC's Today Show you can catch a musical performance by Josh Groban (Malcolm, Ally McBeal) and crooner Harry Connick Jr (not together).

  • Ratings for Monday, Dec. 17 2001

    Preliminary Fast National Ratings for Monday, Dec. 17 2001. Continuing their see-saw of the past few weeks, ABC took back the No. 1 spot on Monday night with an 11.8 rating/19 share to CBS' 10.5/17. NBC didn't have to battle FOX for third this week, taking a 6.2/10. The WB came in fourth with 1 3.9/6, while UPN followed in fifth with a 3.6/5. FOX rounded out the networks for the night with a 3.5/5.

    CBS' comedies "The King of Queens," 11.1/18, and "The Ellen Show, 9.4/15 (thanks to a special appearance from Mary Tyler Moore), led the eight o'clock hour, followed by " Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" on ABC, 9.7/16. NBC was back in third place with " Weakest Link" taking a 5.9/10, while The WB's " 7th Heaven" was close on its heels with a 5.1/8. Repeats of UPN's comedies " The Hughleys" and " One on One" averaged a 3.6/5 four the hour, while the premiere of the new Rankin/Bass Christmas special " Santa Baby!" was a decided flop for FOX, taking a mere 3.4/5.

    After a week at No. 2, ABC's " Monday Night Football: St. Louis Rams at New Orleans Saints" was back in front at 9 p.m. (10.4/20 average from 9 to 11 p.m.), followed by CBS' comedies " Everybody Loves Raymond," 14.0/21, and " Yes, Dear," 11.6/18. NBC was in third place with Part 2 of " Titanic" (6.4/10 average from 9 to 11 p.m.), while FOX's " Ally McBeal" and the UPN comedies " The Parkers" and " Girlfriends" tied for the hour with a 3.7/5. A repeat of " Angel" on The WB came in last with a 2.8/4. At 10 p.m., ABC finally held the lead, with CBS' " Family Law" coming in second with an 8.6/14. The conclusion of " Titanic" on NBC held steady in third.

    Ratings information provided are from fast national data, except for UPN and The WB, which are the results of the overnight metered markets (the top 50 markets across the country). All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

  • FOX to Repeat Groban on 'Ally McBeal'

    Due to popular demand, FOX is re-airing this Monday's (Dec. 10) episode of "Ally McBeal," featuring singer Josh Groban. FOX officials say they received a number of phone calls and e-mails regarding the episode and Groban, whose new self-titled CD doubled in sales the day following the airing. The episode has Ally (Calista Flockhart) trying to help a grieving minister (guest star Tom Berenger) who stopped believing in God after the murder of his wife. Ally soon learns that his son is Malcolm Wyatt (Groban), the teenager she escorted to his high school prom last May. The episode features Groban singing "To Where You Are" from his new CD. The episode, titled "Nine One One," will repeat on Christmas Eve, Monday, Dec. 24 at 9 p.m.

  • CBS Snatches Win from ABC on Monday

    Preliminary Fast National Ratings for Monday, Dec. 10 2001. ABC's return to the No. 1 spot on was a brief one, with CBS taking back the title on Monday night with a 9.2 rating/14 share to ABC's 9.0/14. NBC and FOX continue to battle it out for third and fourth, with NBC coming out on top this time with a 6.7/10 to FOX's 6.5/10. The WB, 5.4/8, and UPN, 3.6/5, rounded out the networks for the night.

    CBS' comedies "The King of Queens," 8.7/14, and "The Ellen Show, 7.3/11, led the eight o'clock hour, followed by " Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" on ABC, 7.7/12. The WB's " 7th Heaven" made a move from fifth to third place with a 7.1/11, while FOX's " Boston Public," 6.9/11 handily beat NBC's " Weakest Link," 5.8/9. Repeats of UPN's comedies " The Hughleys" and " One on One" were in last place for the hour.

    CBS' " Everybody Loves Raymond," 12.6/19, and " Becker," 10.7/16, joined forces to beat the first hour of ABC's " Monday Night Football: Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins," 9.6/15. NBC's " Third Watch," 6.4/10, beat a new " Ally McBeal" on FOX, 6.1/9, while a new " Angel" on The WB, 3.9/6, came out ahead of repeats of the UPN comedies " The Parkers" and " Girlfriends" (3.6/5 for the hour).

    At 10 p.m., ABC finally took the lead with a 9.9/16 for the hour. NBC and CBS tied for second, each receiving an 8.0/13 for " Crossing Jordan" and " Family Law" respectively.

    Ratings information provided are from fast national data, except for UPN and The WB, which are the results of the overnight metered markets (the top 50 markets across the country). All numbers are preliminary and subject to change."

  • The View

    On Monday, December 17 Greg Germann (Richard Fish) is scheduled to appear on ABC's The View. He'll be out promoting his new movie Joe Somebody and Ally McBeal. Check your local listings for the time it airs in your area.

  • Congrats Peter, Robert Was Robbed

    Congratulations to Peter MacNichol (John Cage) who took home the trophy for 'Best Supporting Actor in A Comedy Series' last night at the Emmy Awards. It should have been Robert Downey Jr.'s but congratulations never the less. In other Emmy news Calista lost out to Patricia Heaton of "Everybody Loves Raymond" in the category 'Best Actress in A Comedy Series', which I think should have gone to Sarah Jessica Parker.

  • New Josh Groban CD

    Remember last season's final episode? Well Malcolm who sang the song "You're Still You" is putting out his self title debut CD on November 20. You can order Josh Groban's new album Here right now!

  • Chat With Ally & Malcolm

    Tuesday, December 11 at 10:30pm ET/7:30pm PT. Join Calista Flockhart for her very first chat along with pop vocalist Josh Groban who appears in the Christmas episode of Ally McBeal. Chat with them about this special show and Josh's new self-titled CD at MSN.com. Click here! for more info & to join in on the chat. You can order Josh Groban's new CD Here!

  • ABC Takes Back Monday Night

    Preliminary Fast National Ratings for Monday, Dec. 3 2001. Following last week's suprise defeat (care of CBS' Carol Burnett special), ABC was back in the No. 1 spot on Monday with a 10.3 rating/16 share. CBS dropped to second with a 9.5/15, while FOX and NBC once again battled it out for third and fourth with a 6.9/10 and 6.7/10 respectively. The WB, 4.1/6, and UPN, 3.7/5, rounded out the networks for the night.

    Yet another celebrity edition of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" led the 8 p.m. hour with a 9.2/14, followed by the CBS comedies "The King of Queens," 8.0/13, and "Yes, Dear," 7.4/11. FOX's "Boston Public" came in third with a 7.5/12, while NBC rose to fourth place with "Weakest Link," 6.4/10. A repeat "7th Heaven" brought home a 5.2/8 for The WB, while UPN's comedies "The Hughleys" and "One on One" were in last place (3.8/6 for the hour).

    ABC won the nine o'clock hour with the first half of "Monday Night Football: Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars," 11.0/17, enought to beat the CBS' comedies "Everybody Loves Raymond," 11.6/17, and "Becker," 9.3/14 (10.5/16 for the hour). NBC's "Third Watch," 7.5/12, beat a new "Ally McBeal" on FOX, 6.3/10, while the UPN comedies "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" (3.6/5 for the hour) beat out The WB "Angel" repeat, 2.9/4.

    At 10 p.m., ABC took back the hour from last week with a 10.9/18, while CBS' "48 Hours" was a close second with a 10.3/17. A special Monday night airing of a new "Ed" finished things up for NBC with a disappointing 6.2/11.

    Ratings information provided are from fast national data, except for UPN and The WB, which are the results of the overnight metered markets (the top 50 markets across the country). All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

  • Carol Burnett and CBS Rip Monday Night from ABC

    Preliminary Fast National Ratings for Monday, Nov. 26 2001

    A Carol Burnett special helped CBS snatch the No. 1 spot from ABC Monday with the network taking a 14.3 rating/21 share for the night. ABC came in second with a 10.8/16, while FOX and NBC battled it out for third and fourth with a 7.5/11 and 7.3/11 respectively. The WB, 5.1/7, and UPN, 3.4/5, rounded out the networks for the night.

    CBS led the 8 p.m. hour with "King of Queens," 10.0/15, and "Yes, Dear," 10.1/15, followed by ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," 9.7/15. FOX's "Boston Public" came in third with a 7.8/12, while The WB rose to fourth place with "7th Heaven," 7.4/11. NBC's "Weakest Link" set is phasers on stun with a "Star Trek" edition taking a 6.9/11, while UPN's comedies "The Hughleys" and "One on One" were in last place (3.5/5 for the hour).

    CBS took first place at 9 p.m. with "Everybody Loves Raymond," 15.3/22, and "Becker," 13.1/19, averaged a 14.2/21, enough to beat the first hour of ABC's "Monday Night Football: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at St. Louis Rams," 11.6/17. FOX's "Ally McBeal" also managed to beat NBC's "Third Watch," 7.3/11 to 7.0/10 for third, while the UPN comedies "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" (3.3/5 for the hour) beat out The WB special "Teen People's What's Next," 2.8/4.

    At 10 p.m., an hour ABC usually takes, the CBS special "The Carol Burnett Show: Show Stoppers" took a whopping 18.8/30 for the hour, while the second half of the game gained slightly to an 11.3/18. Part 2 of Chris Noth's appearance on "Crossing Jordan" ended the night for NBC with an 8.1/13.

    Ratings information provided are from fast national data, except for UPN and The WB, which are the results of the overnight metered markets (the top 50 markets across the country). All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

  • Malcolm Spends Christmas With Ally

    Josh Groban (Malcolm for last season's prom episode) will be appearing on the Ally McBeal Christmas Episode. This is his second appearance on the show, and will sing "To Where You Are." His character is key to the storyline & the episode was written around the song. For some background on Josh click here. You can order Josh Groban's new CD Here!

  • Jane on Kilbourn

    On Wednesday November 21, Jane Krakowski is scheduled to be on the Late, Late Show with Craig kilbourn on CBS. The show airs after the Late Show with David Letterman in most markets but check your local listings to be sure.

  • Calista On Allure

    Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) is on the cover of November's "Allure" magazine. Be sure to pick up your copy before it sells out.

  • Groban To Sing Anthem

    20-year-old Warner Bros. recording artist Josh Groban (Malcolm, Ally McBeal) will sing the national anthem prior to the NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, November 22 which is scheduled to air at 12:30 p.m. ET on Fox.

  • ABC Wins Monday, NBC Slips to Fourth

    Preliminary Fast National Ratings for Monday, Nov. 19 2001

    Another strong match-up on "Monday Night Football" helped ABC to win Monday night with a 10.7/17, though due to the live nature of the broadcast, final ratings are definitely subject to change. CBS was second with a 10.3/16, while FOX was third, 7.0/11. NBC was fourth with a 6.9/11, while The WB, 5.9/8, and UPN, 3.6/5, rounded out the networks for the night.

    CBS led the 8 p.m. hour with "King of Queens," 9.4/15, and "Yes, Dear," 9.4/14, followed by ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," 8.7/14. FOX's "Boston Public" came in third with a 7.7/12, while The WB rose to fourth place with "7th Heaven," 7.3/11. An all-comedian "Weakest Link" sank NBC to fifth place with a 6.5/10, while UPN's comedies "The Hughleys" and "One on One" were in last place for the hour (3.6/5 for the hour).

    CBS took first place at 9 p.m. with "Everybody Loves Raymond," 14.3/21, and "Becker," 12.0/18, averaged a 13.2/20, enough to beat the first hour of ABC's "Monday Night Football: New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings," 11.5/17. FOX's "Ally McBeal" also managed to beat NBC's "Third Watch," 6.4/10 to 6.2/9 for third, while The WB's "Angel" (4.6/7) had a slight edge over the UPN comedies "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" (3.7/5 over the hour) to take fifth place.

    ABC and "MNF" had no problem at 10 p.m., followed by CBS' "Family Law," 8.6/15, edging out Part 1 of a special "Crossing Jordan" guest-starring Chris Noth on NBC, 8.1/14.

    Ratings information provided are from fast national data, except for UPN and The WB, which are the results of the overnight metered markets (the top 50 markets across the country). All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

  • Women Rock! Girls & Guitars

    Sheryl Crow, Nelly Furtado, the Dixie Chicks, Pat Benatar, Mary J. Blige, and others took to the stage at L.A.'s Wiltern Theatre Thursday night (October 18) to tape the Lifetime network television special, Women Rock! Girls & Guitars. The show, a second annual incarnation, aims to heighten breast-cancer awareness.

    The four-hour taping, which will be edited down for broadcast on the cable network on October 26, also featured Emmylou Harris, Shea Seger, and Beth Nielsen Chapman.

    Musicians were introduced by familiar faces from film and television, including Patricia Arquette, Peri Gilpin (Frasier), Sharon Lawrence (Wolf Lake), and Jane Krakowski (Ally McBeal).

  • ABC Leads Monday With Football

    Preliminary Ratings for Monday, Nov. 12 2001

    Another strong match-up on "Monday Night Football" helped ABC to a win in the overnight ratings, though due to the live nature of the broadcast, final ratings are definitely subject to change. CBS was second on the night, 9.8/15, while NBC was third, 7.7/12. FOX was fourth with a 7.3/11, while The WB, 6.1/8, and UPN, 3.7/5, rounded out the networks for the night.

    CBS led the 8 p.m. hour with "King of Queens," 9.3/14, and "Yes, Dear," 9.0/13, followed by ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," 9.0/13. FOX's "Boston Public" and NBC's WWF-themed "Weakest Link" tied for third, 7.8/11 and 7.8/12, respectively. The WB's "7th Heaven" also scored a strong 7.8/11, while UPN's comedies "The Hughleys" and "One on One" were in last place for the hour (3.6/5 for the hour).

    CBS took first place at 9 p.m. with "Everybody Love Raymond," 13.9/20, and "Becker," 11.3/16, averaged a 12.6/18, enough to beat the first hour of ABC's "Monday Night Football: Baltimore Ravens-Tennessee Titans," 11.4/17. FOX's "Ally McBeal" managed to beat the return of NBC's "Third Watch," 6.8/10 to 6.7/10 for third, while The WB's "Angel" (4.5/10) had a slight edge over the UPN comedies "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" (3.7/5 over the hour) to take fifth place.

    ABC and "MNF" had no problem at 10 p.m., followed by NBC's "Crossing Jordan," 8.7/14, and "Family Law" on CBS, 7.6/13.

    Ratings information provided are from fast national data, except for ABC, UPN and The WB, which are the results of the overnight metered markets (the top 50 markets across the country). All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

  • Courtney On Leno

    November 16, Courtney Thorne-Smith (ex-Georgia, Ally McBeal) is a guest on The Tonight Show. (NBC)

  • New Ally Hunk Playing the Field

    Note to Ally McBeal's man-hungry Elaine (Jane Krakowski): There's a new hunk in town — and he's available. Josh Hopkins joins the cast of the Fox dramedy tonight during the show's fifth season premiere playing lawyer Raymond Milbury. But Elaine better be willing to share: Hopkins tells TV Guide Online that he doesn't want to see his alter ego settling down with any one of Cage and Fish's comely counselors.

    "I want to be dating all of them at the same time and not have any of them know it," winks the actor, whose credits include playing Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in the TNT film Pirates of Silicon Valley and a recurring role on the WB's Jack & Jill. "You can't really go wrong. They're all beautiful and talented, so just point me in a direction."

    Hopkins will have some competition in the romance department from X-Men hottie James Marsden, who also arrives on the scene tonight as a new hotshot lawyer. (Julianne Nicholson and Regina Hall round out the slate of new Ally regulars.) All matters of love and sex aside, does the son of former U.S. Representative Larry Hopkins feel any pressure to maintain the Emmy-winning show's creative and ratings resurgence from last season?

    "I absolutely don't feel any pressure," he insists. "There's pressure put on yourself each time you start a new character, [but] as far as pressure to keep a show's momentum [going], I don't feel it rests on one of us or me personally.

    "I'm just really excited to start to say [Ally creator] David E. Kelley's words and to work with a great ensemble cast," he adds. "I'm really excited more so than feeling any kind of pressure."

  • Ally Falls for X-Men Mutant

    Further proof that movie stars in search of quality roles are turning to TV in increasing numbers: James Marsden — who played visor-wearing mutant Cyclops in the box-office smash X-Men — joins the cast of Fox's Ally McBeal on Oct. 29 when the show kicks off its fifth season.

    For his part, Marsden sees little difference between the two mediums. "I've always been a big fan of good work, and I don't think it needs to be separated by television and film," he tells TV Guide Online. "And [Ally creator] David E. Kelley was [someone] that I've always really wanted to work with, because as an actor, you want good dialogue... it helps you shine.

    "I still have every intention of maintaining a film career as well," adds the 28-year-old actor, who has an eight-month-old son with his wife, former Days of Our Lives star Lisa Linde. "So, hopefully I'll be able to balance the two."

    Well, Kelley has never been one to hold his castmembers back from pursuing extracurricular activities — Robert Downey Jr. being an obvious exception. "[He] knows that it can be helpful to the show as well," he says. "Instead of being threatened by an actor going off and doing other movies, [he realizes that] it's great press for the show. He welcomes that."

    Marsden already has one outside project lined up: He will slip back behind those dark shades for the upcoming X-Men sequel (due in 2002). But even if the follow-up is as big a hit as the original, the onetime Party of Five guest star concedes that he'll likely be better known for his new TV gig than for Cyclops. "A lot more people watch the show than go see the movies," he points out. "And people will be able to see my eyes now."

  • Lucy Liu Films Final Ally Episode

    LUCY LIU has officially recorded her final episode of ALLY McBEAL - but she didn't realize until it was over.

    The actress has decided against renewing her contract on the hit legal comedy, but her final day on the set wasn't as ceremonious as she'd imagined.

    She says, "It was really sad, we didn't finish until really late, 11 or 11.30pm, I didn't even realize it was my last shot until the director shouted out that it was, and everyone stood up and clapped and I said goodbye to everybody."

  • Anne Does Interview With Gay Magazine

    ANNE HECHE bravely gave the gay mag The Advocate a comprehensive, exclusive cover-girl interview at her own peril. (Gays aren't crazy about the actress since she left Ellen DeGeneres, then got married and pregnant. They feel she deserted them or something.) Refusing to categorize herself as either gay or straight, Anne gave as good as she was asked. She says she has just been following her heart.

    But in the end, the actress-author of "Call Me Crazy" lost her cool when asked sex questions about hubby Coley Laffoon. Anne retorted that it was none of the magazine's business to ask such a question.

    She stated that she considered herself "a gay activist" and that she'd given them "complete and forthright honesty, love, compassion, support for you, for your magazine, for the gay community. I stand by every single thing I have ever said in support and love for this community, and that is why I did this article. I expect respect back. This is an article about me. I put myself on the line. That is my choice. My choice."

  • Downey's Ally Cohort Promoted

    When Ally McBeal kicks off its fifth season on Monday (9 pm/ET on Fox), Regina Hall's legal eagle Corretta Lipp will be sans her trusted associate, Robert Downey Jr.'s Larry Paul. "It's a whole new ballpark for ol' Corretta," admits the actress, now a series regular. "She's got a new [job at Cage and Fish] and a new attitude."

    Hall says that she hasn't spoken to Downey since he abruptly exited the Emmy-winning dramedy last spring following his drug-related arrest. "It was basically a professional relationship," she concedes. "He's in my prayers for a continued recovery... [He'll] definitely be missed."

    Downey isn't the only Ally castmember MIA this season: Taye Diggs, James LeGros and Lisa Nicole Carson all have left, and Lucy Liu will exit after a handful of episodes. Still, Hall remains optimistic that the injection of some new blood — James Marsden, Julianne Nicholson and Josh Hopkins will be joining Hall at the firm — will keep the momentum going.

    "There are a lot of changes, and in some ways it's a little bit intimidating," she confesses. "Obviously, the show has a following, so you hope that that following will be receptive to the new characters and the changes that are subsequently gonna have to happen. But I think we're gonna handle it."

    Incidentally, Hall — best known for her film work (Love & Basketball, The Best Man and both Scary Movies) — was reluctant to commit herself to a full-time TV gig. "I'd be lying if I said I [wasn't], but I balance that with what the show had to offer," explains the rising star, whose Ally contract is for two years. "So much of it is about the writing, and I felt like I wouldn't get bored — and that's one of the things I always hate to do: get bored. Also, at this point, there still is a lot for me to learn."

    On the top of her list? Finding out who Corretta is going to be paired with romantically. One thing Hall's certain of: With Diggs gone, she winks, "there's gonna have to be some interracial love."

  • 7th Annual California On Location Awards

    The California Film Commission and its 57 FLICS (Film Liaisons in California, Statewide) proudly announce the winners of this year's California On Location Awards. Various industry leaders, including California State Senator Sheila Kuehl, presented the awards to location professionals and filmmakers at a ceremony held at the Castaways in Burbank on Sunday, October 21.

    Winners included the Production Company of the Year for Television: David E. Kelley Productions - "Ally McBeal" and "Boston Public"

  • Calista Piles on the Pounds

    ALLY McBEAL star CALISTA FLOCKHART has silenced the critics who said she was too skinny - by piling on the pounds and showing off a curvy new figure.

    TV bosses had become concerned when the wafer-thin star collapsed on the set of the hit TV series two years ago.

    But friends say that her relationship with LARRY SANDERS star GARRY SHANDLING and being mum to 10-month-old son LIAM has settled her down.

    A friend of the sexy actress said, "Calista is a new woman - physically and mentally."

  • Heche Goes Crazy

    Wanna get Anne Heche all riled up? Ask her about her husband's sexuality. In an interview with the gay and lesbian mag The Advocate, Ellen DeGeneres's ex went ballistic when the reporter inquired whether her new groom, Coley Laffoon, ever had a same-sex experience. After calling the question "completely out of line," Heche nearly stormed off in a huff. "I'm finished with this conversation," she scowled. "You have got to be kidding me, after everything I have given [your magazine], you are now asking me about my husband's sexuality? This is flooring to me... This is an article about me." The mom-to-be also threw a fit when the interviewer asked whether it would be difficult for her if her child grew up to be gay or lesbian. "Hasn't anybody heard anything I've said? Of course not. My child is free to love who they want to love. Amazing to think that would even be asked." All together now: Simmer down, Celestia! Meanwhile, here's something else that probably won't sit well with the eccentric actress-author: USA Today reports that all of the major networks have passed on her Warner Bros. TV sitcom vehicle, and the project now appears dead.

  • FOX Cancels Cable Network

    FOX has canceled plans to launch a Fox Classics 24-hour digital network due to the slowing economy, reports Variety.

    The new network would have consisted of series reruns and movies from the 20th Century Fox library.

    Jeff Shell, president and CEO of Fox Cable Networks Group, which also owned FX and Fox Movie Classics, says the there's little demand among cable operators right now for a new network given America's current economic environment.

    In fact, FX is currently struggling with the low ratings of the reruns of "Ally McBeal" and "The Practice," which premiered three weeks ago. Airing every weeknight at 8 p.m., "Ally" has averaged a 0.5 ratings in the first two weeks, the same number drawn by "NYPD Blue" reruns in the time period a year before. "The Practice," has not fared any better, pulled a low 0.4 rating at 9 p.m. in the first two weeks, 20 percent below last year's performance of "The X-Files" in the same time period.

    The cable network paid a license fee of $675,000 for each episode of each series, and the shows' low ratings could end up costing the network. Shell recently issued an internal memo itemizing a list of cost cuts, including everything from an overall hiring freeze to a clampdown on cell-phone expense reports to advance approval of all business meals.

  • NHL and Hollywood team up to fight cancer

    NEW YORK - Celebrities from the television, film and music industries are lending their talent to one of the NHL's most important initiatives, Hockey Fights Cancer, by designing and painting NHL-licensed goalie masks provided by ITECH. The Hockey Fights Cancer Celebrity Masks will be auctioned as part of the 2002 Hockey Fights Cancer On-Line Charity Auction, which will culminate at the 2002 NHL All-Star Weekend at Los Angeles, Feb. 1-2, 2002. Hockey Fights Cancer, which has raised money and awareness for cancer organizations and children's hospitals throughout North America, is the joint charitable initiative founded by the NHL and NHL Players' Association.

    Celebrities participating in the initiative include: Drew Barrymore and Tom Green; Pierce Brosnan; Calista Flockhart and the Cast of Ally McBeal; James Gandolfini and the Cast of The Sopranos; Mel Gibson; Gene Hackman; Jay Leno; Rob Lowe and the Cast of The West Wing; Ricky Martin; Dylan McDermott and the Cast of The Practice; Alyssa Milano; Martin Sheen; and Britney Spears.

    "As cancer is a disease that has touched all of our lives in one way or another, The West Wing family is honored to join the NHL in the quest for a cure," said Llewellyn Wells, producer of the Emmy-award winning series, The West Wing.

    Over the past two years, with the help of the Hockey Fights Cancer On-Line Charity Auction, the NHL has raised more than $4 million for cancer research and children's hospitals in North America. The on-line auction encompasses a wide array of unique memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime hockey experiences, such as lunch with an NHL player, rides on the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine, and the opportunity to be a stick boy or girl during a game. In addition, a collection of more than 100 pieces of autographed merchandise will be available for bidding, including Mario Lemieux's game-worn 2001 NHL All-Star jersey. Further details on the Hockey Fights Cancer Online Charity Auction, including the URL, will be released in January.

    The goaltender mask traditionally has been a fitting symbol of hockey. NHL goaltenders wear personally-designed masks that often reflect their personality and the city in which they play. New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter wears a mask that features a design of the Statue of Liberty, while the one worn by Washington Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig features both the Capitol dome and the Pentagon. All of the Hockey Fights Cancer Celebrity Masks were donated by ITECH, the "Official Goalie Mask of the NHL" and leader in the goaltender mask category worldwide with more than 75 percent of the total market share.

    The NHL will unveil some of the Hockey Fights Cancer Celebrity Masks at Kenneth Cole's Rockefeller Center store in Manhattan on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

    The 2002 NHL All-Star Weekend will take place in Los Angeles, CA from Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002 through Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002. The 52nd NHL All-Star Game on Saturday, Feb. 2, will be broadcast live on ABC in the United States and CBC in Canada (3 p.m. ET / 12 noon PT).

  • Attack Plots

    Two David E. Kelley-produced shows — Ally McBeal and The Practice — are planning storylines inspired by the Sept. 11 attacks, USA Today reports. Ally's episode — a Christmas-themed outing slated to air in December — revolves around a town official who wants to block a holiday parade, arguing it's not appropriate to celebrate after a fictional tragedy claimed several local firemen. On The Practice, the law firm represents an Arab-American who claims he's being unfairly detained as a witness in a terrorist act. The episode will air later this fall.

  • Surreal Snaps

    EITHER Robert Downey Jr. is researching a really weird movie, or he's a really weird guy. The oft-rehabbed actor was spotted last week taking pictures of the medical oddities inside Philadelphia's Mutter Museum, which showcases the cancerous growth removed from Grover Cleveland's jawbone and an 8-inch horn snipped off a 70-year-old woman. After Downey, who was with his father, Robert Downey, started snapping away, a guard told him no cameras were allowed. "I'm done," Downey said as he headed out. "Sorry!"

  • Ally on Extra

    On Friday November 9, "Extra" is on the set of "Ally McBeal." We're with the stars for the 100th episode party and John Bon Jovi's first day on the job. Check your local listings to find EXtra in your area.

  • Judge Ling

    Click here! to read a review of Monday's Ally McBeal "Judge Ling" (November 5, 2001) and post your thoughts on the episode on our Message Board.

  • ABC's Football and CBS' Comedies Win Monday

    Preliminary Ratings for Monday, Nov. 5 2001

    Not having had enough of sports, ABC led the way on Monday night with a 10.9 rating/17 share. CBS was a close second with a 10.2/15, while NBC trailed in a distant third with a 7.6/12. FOX was fourth with a 7.3/11, while The WB, 5.6/8, and UPN, 4.2/6, rounded out the networks for the night.

    ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" led the eight o'clock hour, while CBS' comedies "King of Queens," 9.2/14, and "Yes, Dear" came in second. FOX's "Boston Public" dipped from second place last week to third this week with a 7.6/11. The WB's "7th Heaven" rose to fourth with a 7.0/10, while NBC's newsmagazine "Dateline NBC" only managed fifth place. UPN's comedies "The Hughleys" and "One on One" were in last place for the hour.

    CBS took first place at 9 p.m. with "Everybody Love Raymond," 13.7/20, and "Becker," 11.2/16, averaged an 12.5/18, enough to beat the first hour of ABC's "Monday Night Football: Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders," 11.4/17. Part 2 of NBC's WW2 miniseries "Uprising" came in third, while FOX's "Ally McBeal" dipped to fourth. The WB's "Angel" had a slight edge over the UPN comedies "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends" to take fifth place for the hour.

    Among the Big Three, ABC was clearly the winner from 10 to 11 p.m. CBS' As usual, "Family Law" lost some more of the network's audience, but still managed to beat the conclusion of NBC's "Uprising" which ended the night with an 8.2/14.

    Ratings information provided are from fast national data, except for UPN and The WB which are the results of the overnight metered markets (the top 50 markets across the country). All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

  • Good News, Bad News

    Fox's Monday night dramas returned to mixed results: Boston Public debuted strongly with 13.8 million viewers, but Ally McBeal averaged a disappointing 10.8 million viewers. Paging Robert Downey Jr

  • Chubby's Mad At Ally

    When Chubby Checker was asked recently to guest on "Ally McBeal," he thought he was being recognized for his contributions to popular music. His elation turned to frustration, however, when a character on the show read the line, "Gee, I thought Chubby Checker was dead."

    "That was it for me," Checker said Tuesday from Boston, where he was performing. "I wanted to make sure everyone knows I'm not dead."

    Checker, who turned 60 on Wednesday, may have gone a little overboard. He certainly seems to have some, er, twisted ideas. He bought a full-page ad in Billboard magazine declaring himself the most important figure in the history of rock and roll. He also asked the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland to erect a statue of him in their courtyard because he invented "dancing apart to the beat," a concept he describes as "the wheels that rock rolls on."

  • Quentin Tarantino Casts Lucy Liu in 'Kill Bill'

    While attending the Indpendent Feature Project's Gotham Awards in New York, Quentin Tarantino confirmed to Fox News' Roger Friedman that "Kill Bill," his first picture since 1997's "Jackie Brown," is nearing production with Warren Beatty in the title role and Uma Thurman, who was on-hand at the event to receive the Actor Award.

    Tarantino also revealed that Lucy Liu and Michael Madsen will join the cast of the revenge-themed neo-noir, though deals haven't been finalized yet.

    "I finished the script in August," said Tarantino. "Now we're in pre-production, waiting for Uma to have her baby. We'll start next spring."

    Once filming on "Kill Bill" is complete, Tarantino will start shooting "Inglorious Youth," a guys-on-a-mission World War II movie. "We'll be editing one and filming the other," he explained.

    That means Tarantino will likely have two movies opening back-to-back in 2003.

  • Calista Pissed At Paparazzi

    CALISTA FLOCKHART resents being unable to enjoy the simple joys of motherhood because of her fame.

    The ALLY McBEAL star can't even take her adopted baby son LIAM for a walk in the park without being chased by photographers.

    She says, "It's an invasion of privacy and I've been frightened. People have got out of their cars and chased me down the street. And it's very scary when I'm with the baby.

    "It really disturbs me when people try to get close-ups of Liam. But what can you do? I just do the best I can to pretend it isn't happening and try not to let them change my plans or my life."

  • Slippery When Wet

    Former Melrose Place-Ally McBeal star Courtney Thorne-Smith sported an arm cast on today's Live with Regis and Kelly. The actress — out promoting her new ABC comedy According to Jim (debuting tonight) — explained that on Sept. 13, she slipped and broke her wrist while taping a bathtub scene.

  • Jon Bon Jovi Drops Mcbeal to Sing for Victims

    Rocker JON BON JOVI has pulled out of shoots for the new series of ALLY McBEAL to concentrate on raising money for victims of the terrorist attacks.

    The BED OF ROSES hunk is playing a series of Stateside concerts, including the 20 October gig at New York's MADISON SQUARE GARDENS organized by SIR PAUL McCARTNEY.

    He says, "I want to lend my name and support to as many of these benefits as I can, so I told them, 'Either delay it a month, or I have to withdraw.'

    "I met the widows at the firehouses and spent some time with them. This whole thing was a tragedy.

    "These rescue workers lost their lives protecting others. These guys were real heroes. They weren't afraid to run into a burning building to try to get people out of there, not knowing if there was anyone in there or not.

    "So for me to have done the telethon and then to sing AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL for the NFL, those were the most difficult and rewarding things I've ever done in my career. For me to play these benefits is nothing compared to what the real heroes did."

    The singer will return to complete his five-month stint on the popular legal series when he has completed the benefit gigs, and will then concentrate on his new album.

  • Jon Bon Jovi Joins 'Ally McBeal' For Nine-Episode Stint

    Rocker and sometime-actor Jon Bon Jovi will join the Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV) cast for nine episodes this season. He will start shooting in early November and his episodes will begin airing in January 2002.

    Ally McBeal executive producer and creator David E. Kelley announced the casting Monday (October 1) and said, "I'm excited that Jon has decided to join our cast this year. We have been trying to bring him on board for some time, and we're finally able to make it work out for everyone. We are thrilled that Jon has chosen Ally McBeal as his episodic television debut."

    Bon Jovi said, "I know a little about acting and a lot about love. This is an exciting challenge for me, I'm looking forward to working with Calista Flockhart and the entire cast. And I'm grateful that David Kelley has faith in my contributing to the show."

    Specifics about Bon Jovi's character have yet to be announced. Bon Jovi has previously appeared on the small screen in guests spots on Sex And The City and Unsolved Mysteries. His feature film credits include Pay It Forward, U-571, and Homegrown.

  • Elton John To Sing for 'Ally'

    The one and only Rocket Man will be paying a guest visit to FOX's "Ally McBeal" this fall. Elton John will appear on the series Nov. 19, stopping in to sing a song at the bar where the eccentric group of lawyers frequent.

    "Ever since I was young I've been a fan of Elton John's and I'm thrilled to have him on the show," says series creator and executive producer David E. Kelley.

    John appears in the episode called "I Want Love," along with actress Jacqueline Bisset. Bisset will play the mother of Jenny (played by Julianne Nicholson, "The Others"), who hires the law firm to represent her in a wrongful termination suit. Ally (Calista Flockhart) and new Cage & Fish lawyer Glenn (James Marsden) take the case, leading Ally to ponder her own love live.

    The world-famous rock star will perform elements from three songs: the new releases "Wasteland" and "I Want Love" as well as his classic hit "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting."

    "Ally McBeal" returns for its fifth season premiere on Monday, Oct. 29 at 9 p.m.

  • Elton Joins Ally McBeal

    Singing sensation SIR ELTON JOHN is to make a guest appearance on hit TV legal show ALLY McBEAL. The DANIEL hitmaker is to appear after being persuaded by his new friend ROBERT DOWNEY, JR., a former show regular. A friend of the singer said, "Robert was going on about how great it would be if he did a one-off episode." The two men became close after discovering that they had a lot in common.

  • Edna, Bissett Join Ally

    DAME EDNA EVERAGE and movie siren JACQUELINE BISSET have been added to the cast of ALLY McBEAL.

    Everage, aka Australian comic BARRY HUMPHRIES, will play a plaintiff in the new series, which is set to open in America next month.

    Bisset will play new character JENNY SHAW's mum - an investment banker who comes to her daughter for representation in a wrongful-dismissal lawsuit.

  • ABC Wins Monday, FOX Premieres Shine

    Preliminary Ratings for Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2001

    Not having to choose between baseball and football, sports fans enthusiastically tuned into ABC on Monday night, giving the network a 10.4 rating/16 share. CBS was second with a 9.9/15, while FOX was back in third place with an 8.1/12. NBC came in fourth with a 7.4/12. The WB, 4.8/7, and UPN, 4.0/6, rounded out the networks for the night.

    CBS' comedies "King of Queens," 9.2/14, and "Yes, Dear" took the eight o'clock hour, averaging out to a 9.1/14. The season premiere of "Boston Public" on FOX tied with ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" for second with an 8.8/13. NBC's "Weakest Link" was fourth and The WB's "7th Heaven" came in fifth. UPN's comedies "The Hughleys" and "One on One" were in last place for the hour.

    CBS also managed to take 9 p.m., by the slightest of margins. "Everybody Love Raymond," 13.0/19, and "Becker," 10.5/16, averaged an 11.8/18, enough to beat the first hour of ABC's "Monday Night Football: Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers," 11.1/17. The season premiere of "Ally McBeal" took third place with a 7.4/11, while NBC's "Third Watch" slumped to fourth. The WB's "Angel" tied for the hour with UPN's comedies "The Parkers" and "Girlfriends."

    Among the Big Three, ABC was clearly the winner from 10 to 11 p.m. CBS' "Family Law" lost some more of the network's audience, but still managed to beat NBC's "Crossing Jordan," which gained significantly from "Third Watch" at 9 p.m., ending the night with a respectable 8.4/14.

  • Calista To Present Emmy

    Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) is once again scheduled to be an Emmy presenter. The awards are set to take place November 4th on CBS.

  • 2001 Emmy Nominations

    The 2001 Emmy Nomination were announced this morning. Ally McBeal is up for 7 AWards this year, here's the breakdown:

    Actress, Comedy Series:
    Calista Flockhart, "Ally McBeal," Fox
    Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox
    Debra Messing, "Will & Grace," NBC
    Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex in the City," HBO
    Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS

    Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comdey Series
    Peter MacNicol, "Ally McBeal", FOX
    Robert Downey Jr, "Ally McBeal" FOX
    Peter Boyle, "Everybody Loves Raymond" CBS
    David Hyde Pierce, "Frasier", NBC
    Sean Hayes, "Will & Grace", NBC

    Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
    Bernadette Peters, "Ally McBeal" FOX
    Jami Gertz, "Ally McBeal" FOX
    Jean Smart, "Frasier", NBC
    Susan Sarandon, "Friends", NBC
    Cloris Leachman, "Malcolm in the Middle", FOX

    Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series
    Ally McBeal, FOX
    Ed, NBC
    Frasier, NBC
    Sex & The City, HBO
    Will & Grace, NBC

    Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series
    Ally McBeal, FOX
    JAG, CBS
    Law & Order, NBC
    The Practice, ABC
    The West Wing, NBC
    The X-Files, FOX

    David E. Kelley's The Practice also got 7 nominations while his other FOX show Boston Public got 2. The Fox Network got a total of 40 nominations.

    The Emmy Awards air on CBS September 16th.

  • The Agency Starring Gil Bellows

    There is a new mailing list to discuss CBS's upcoming series, The Agency, which goes inside the doors of the Central Intelligence Agency. The show stars Gil Bellows, and will air this fall at 10 pm on Thursday nights. Produced by Wolfgang Petersen (of "The Perfect Storm" and "Air Force One" fame) and Shaun Cassidy (former Hardy Boy!), the show also stars Andrea Roth, Will Patton, Ronny Cox, Paige Turco, and Rocky Carroll. Former E.R.star Gloria Rueben has also signed on to guest star on 6 episodes. Any info and discussion is welcome.

    To sign up email AgencyCBS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AgencyCBS

  • Sheen, Alba, Flockhart to present Emmys

    LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Martin Sheen, Calista Flockhart and Jessica Alba have ensured they will make it to the podium at this year's Emmys -- one way or another.

    The stars of, respectively, "The West Wing," "Ally McBeal," and "Dark Angel" have been added to the list of presenters at the "53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards."

    The trio join a roster of presenters that includes James Gandolfini, Edie Falco and Lorraine Bracco of "The Sopranos"; Marg Helgenberger and William Petersen of "CSI" ; "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer; and "Once and Again's" Sela Ward.

    Sheen and Flockhart are nominees as well -- Sheen for lead actor in a drama and Flockhart for lead actress in a comedy.

    The Emmys will air at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 16, on CBS. Ellen DeGeneres is handling the hosting duties.

  • Heche Marries Cameraman

    LOS ANGELES (AP) - Actress Anne Heche has married a cameraman she met while working on a documentary about her ex-girlfriend Ellen DeGeneres, Heche's publicist said.

    Heche, 32, and Coleman Laffoon, 27, were married Saturday in a ceremony attended by 75 friends and family members, publicist Brad Cafarelli said Sunday. The ceremony was held at a villa near downtown Los Angeles.

    Heche and Laffoon met while working on a documentary about DeGeneres' return to stand-up comedy after the cancellation of ``Ellen,'' her ABC sitcom.

    Heche and DeGeneres announced their separation in August 2000. They were together for more than three years.

    Heche has starred in such films as ``Six Days, Seven Nights'' and ``Wag the Dog.'' She appears in the forthcoming film ``John Q'' and is developing a TV series for Warner Bros., Cafarelli said.

    DeGeneres, 43, is set to star in a new CBS sitcom and will be the host of the Emmy Awards in September.

  • Downey Time

    ROBERT Downey Jr. is managing to keep busy since he was booted from "Ally McBeal" and several movies after his latest drug bust. Downey just optioned the rights to Dito Montiel's book, "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," about Montiel's journey to New York to start a band. Meanwhile, Downey's rep assures us that despite press reports, his client has not been in the Malibu rehab center Promises for "over 10 years!" Downey has in fact checked into another rehab center in the Los Angeles area.

  • Welcome Back

    ELLEN Degeneres' former bedmate Anne Heche is washing the Sapphic lust right out of her hair. Now that she's marrying cameraman Coley Laffoon on Saturday, "Anne's days as a lesbian have been purged from her memory," a friend of Heche's told a British news service. "She has spent most of August running around with copies of bridal magazines, seating plans and photos of wedding cakes. Anne's wedding is a celebration of her re-entry into the world of heterosexuality."

  • Lucy Liu's Breast Cancer Scare

    WENN--Ally McBeal star Lucy Liu has been transformed from a complacent young woman to a caring crusader - after a shocking brush with cancer.

    The Charlie Angels actress had a big scare when she discovered a lump in her breast. And although she found the lump not to be cancerous, the then 23-year-old beauty had a chilling wake-up call, and realised how lucky she was.

    A friend says, "It scared the living daylights out of Lucy. It's always on her mind. She goes for frequent check ups and lives with the fear that the next lump will be cancerous.

    "Her cancer drama actually changed her life for the better by making her appreciate every waking moment.

    "She's been dedicated to helping others ever since."

    Liu is now the spokeswoman for the Lee Company's National Denim Day out later this year.

  • Downey to attend Emmys

    Considering the year he's had, it wouldn't have been at all surprising if Emmy-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr. ("Ally McBeal") had decided to skip the awards ceremony next month. However, according to the actor's publicist, Alan Nierob, he'll be there.

  • And Baby Makes Three

    It's been a big week for Anne Heche. Just days after marrying cameraman Coley Laffoon, the former Mrs. Ellen DeGeneres has revealed that she is three months pregnant with her first child. The news was broke during last night's 20/20, in which Heche opened up to Barbara Walters about being sexually abused by her late father, her struggle with mental illness and her break-up with DeGeneres.

  • 2001 Tech Emmy Winners

    Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
    Bernadette Peters, "Ally McBeal" FOX
    Jami Gertz, "Ally McBeal" FOX
    Jean Smart, "Frasier", NBC- Winner
    Susan Sarandon, "Friends", NBC
    Cloris Leachman, "Malcolm in the Middle", FOX

    Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series
    Ally McBeal, FOX- Winner
    Ed, NBC
    Frasier, NBC
    Sex & The City, HBO
    Will & Grace, NBC

    Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series
    Ally McBeal, FOX
    JAG, CBS
    Law & Order, NBC
    The Practice, ABC
    The West Wing, NBC - Winner
    The X-Files, FOX

    The regular Emmy Awards air on CBS September 16th.

  • Heche Sitcom Goes to CBS -- Without Heche

    It seems nothing is very simple when Anne Heche is involved. Just ask Warner Bros. Television.

    The studio was making the network rounds with a comedy starring Heche and created by writers Rob Greenberg ("Frasier") and Les Firestein ("The Drew Carey Show"), according to Variety. NBC expressed interest but wouldn't make a full commitment, so Warner Bros., which has a deal with the actress/author/mother-to-be, went elsewhere.

    Heche later decided she didn't want to be part of the Greenberg-Firestein series. The studio then went calling to CBS, which, because it has a sitcom starring Heche's ex-partner Ellen DeGeneres, wasn't interested in developing a show starring Heche. With the actress no longer attached to the project, however, CBS bought the script and is developing the series.

    Which leaves Warner Bros. back where it started. The studio is now talking to several other writers, with the hope of finding a project for Heche.

  • Emmys Pushed To October

    The new date for the 53rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards is Oct. 7 — three weeks after it was originally scheduled to take place on Sept. 16. Execs at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences felt America needed the extra time to grieve in the wake of the deadly terrorist attacks.

  • Bon Jovi, John ready to rock with 'McBeal'

    LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Fox's "Ally McBeal" is loading some heavy music guns this season.

    Rocker-actor Jon Bon Jovi, who won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for his song "Blaze of Glory" from the movie "Young Guns II," is in negotiations to join the David E. Kelley Prods./20th Century Fox TV series as a recurring.

    In addition, following the guest appearance of Sting last season, another British music star, Elton John, is set to make a guest shot in the fall.

    The exact number of episodes in which Bon Jovi will appear is yet to be determined, but the scope of his presence is said to be in line with Robert Downey Jr.'s role last season. Bon Jovi's character is still being polished by the show's creator/executive producer Kelley, but sources indicate that, unlike Downey's Larry Paul, he won't be a legal eagle. A romantic relationship between him and Calista Flockhart's longing-for-true-love McBeal, however, is a safe bet.

    John will appear as himself and perform in an episode set to air Nov. 19 that also stars Jacqueline Bisset, who recently signed on to do a multiepisode arc.

    "Ever since I was young, I've been a fan of Elton John's, and I'm thrilled to have him on the show," Kelley said.

    Bon Jovi's most recent acting credits include the features "Pay It Forward" and "U-571." His TV series experience includes a memorable guest appearance on HBO's "Sex and the City."

    Bon Jovi, who next stars in "Vampires: Los Muertos," is repped by CAA and Talent Entertainment Group.

  • Juile Moran with Lucy Liu on her Cancer Scare

    "I was completely terrified," Lucy Liu told me. She was only 23 years old, brand new to Los Angeles and alone when a doctor said to her four of the most terrifying words a woman can hear, "You have breast cancer." "The first thing that went through my mind was to get it out immediately," she said. Within two days, Lucy was laying on an operating table having a lump in her breast removed. It was only after the surgery that she found out the mass was benign.

    That frightening experience was ten years ago and now Lucy has decided to speak out to help other women. At the time, Lucy told me, she didn't know to get a second opinion or ask about an ultrasound or mammogram. As spokesperson for Lee's National Denim Day, which supports early detection and research, she hopes to educate all women about the options available to them.

    Amazingly, Lucy doesn't look at the cancer scare as a negative experience. Instead she learned from it. "I think anything can be turned into a cathartic experience," she explained, "(It) taught me so much about myself and it has caused me to really think about things before I do them." And she said, "If I can help one woman navigate these potentially dangerous waters … then this campaign will be a success."

  • Courtney on Kilbourn

    Tuesday October 16, on The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilbourn: actress Courtney Thorne-Smith.

  • Bellows on The View

    Tuesday, October 9, on The View: A double dose of "Hot Topics"; actor Gil Bellows (The Agency); Kelci Stringer, wife of the late Korey Stringer (lineman for the Minnesota Vikings) shares her story of grief and glory in "Star's Heart to Heart."

  • Telethon A Go

    It's official: The four big broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC) are teaming up for a live, two-hour commercial-free telethon to "salute the American spirit" and raise money for the post-terrorist attack relief effort. The unprecedented event — dubbed "America: A Tribute to Heroes" — will take place in New York and Los Angeles and air Friday at 9 pm live in the Eastern and Central time zones and tape-delayed in the Mountain and Pacific time zones. Other broadcast, cable and radio networks are being invited to carry the feed as well. Confirmed participants include: Bon Jovi, Amy Brenneman, Jim Carrey, George Clooney, Sheryl Crow, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, The Dixie Chicks, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Calista Flockhart, Dennis Franz, Kelsey Grammer, Tom Hanks, Faith Hill, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Conan O'Brien, Tom Petty, Ray Romano, Julia Roberts, Paul Simon, Will Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Sela Ward, Robin Williams, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young.

  • Courtney on Regis

    Wednesday October 3, Live with Regis & Kelly will feature guests Courtney Thorne-Smith. Courtney will be there to promote her new sitcom.

  • Courtney on Conan

    Tuesday October 2, NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien will feature guests Ethan Hawke, Courtney Thorne-Smith and Nick Lowe. Courtney will be there to promote her new sitcom.

  • Walters Crazy About Heche Bio

    BARBARA WALTERS hits the ground running next Wednesday. First show on the, pardon the phrase, virgin outing in the new time slot where "20/20" will now air instead of its forever always Fridays, where it forever always won its time period.

    It's Anne Heche's interview on her soon-due bio. Knowing this has the regulation my-parents-abused-me-as-a-child junk, I asked why this guest? Who'll rush to the TV to watch Anne Heche? What's so great about Heche's memoir, other than her 10-minute Ellen DeGeneres affair?

    "This is one of the most appalling, terrifying, fantastic stories you'll ever read," said Barbara.

    "Ellen DeGeneres is only a tiny portion of it. The title, 'Call Me Crazy' sounds like a funny, daffy tale, right? Wrong. Anne truly believes that she was two people. That she's been insane all her life. That she only came together exactly one year ago this month, when she was found wandering in Fresno, out of her head, supposedly babbling about how she has to board a space ship."

    So she got healthy just in time to get a book advance, just in time to get a TV show, just in time to do this sit-down with you, just in time to dump Ellen and find a guy to marry?

    Barbara ignored me, like I'm not too bright. "She was insane, and nobody knew it. How she found her sanity is what she tells on the show. She's now engaged, getting married, grateful to be alive, and she wrote this book all herself. And says things in it about her life and family and what she survived that are truly horrible."

    You believe her?

    "Absolutely."

    You like her?

    "Absolutely. I first met her with Ellen and sort of liked her. And when I got this manuscript, I thought it would be another usual tell-all, telling mostly about Ellen. No!"

    She also tell about her once-upon-a-love affair with Steve Martin?"

    "Listen, just tune in Sept. 5."

    ABC has committed big money, big ads and a big push to this show. The interview will run 20 minutes. Barbara's spending her Labor Day weekend cutting, trimming and manicuring it. And priming for promo shots on ""Live with Regis & Kelly," "Larry King Live," "Good Morning America."

  • Broken Promises

    NOW that Robert Downey Jr., everybody's favorite recovering addict, is ensconced in L.A.'s cushy Promises facility, non-celeb old friends are saying that the "Less Than Zero" actor is snubbing them - even the ones who don't do drugs. Grumbles one pal, who has seen Downey making the rounds at celeb-friendly restaurants and movie parties, "He gives you a hug and a smile, and then beelines to the nearest director. I can't even get his phone number." Downey doesn't have to go far to find someone to relate to: Ben Affleck also calls Promises his home away from home.

  • Bon Jovi Ally's New Love?

    There are rumors circulating in the New York papers that Jon Bon Jovi will be replacing Robert Downey Jr. as Ally's love interest on "Ally McBeal".

  • ER Pulls The Plug On Carson

    Lisa Nicole Carson is about to go from having two high-profile acting gigs to none. According to the new US Weekly, the 32-year-old actress — who was recently taken off contract at Ally McBeal — will be discharged from ER this season when her character dies in a car crash. Producers of the medical drama were reportedly fed up with Carson's erratic behavior.

  • Flockhart Outrages at Porn Send-Up

    Calista Flockhart was fuming last night over a sex-ridden spoof of her hit series Ally McBeal.

    The actress is outraged by the antics of an on-screen rival called Ally McSqueal, a micro-skirted lawyer more interested in orgasms than her career. Now bosses of the UK's Adult Channel are coming under legal pressure to axe their raunchy lesbian heroine, who is totally addicted to sex with other equally beddable young babes.

    Adult Channel supremo Jeremy Yates insists, "We have no plans to drop Ally McSqueal from our schedules. This is a British-made series which combines humour and lots of explicit lesbian sex. It does borrow a little from Ally McBeal but the environment and storylines are totally different."

  • Dame Edna to guest on Ally

    Entertainment Weekly reports cross-dressing comedian Dame Edna will guest star on the second new episode of FOX's Ally McBeal this fall.

  • Heche will star in WBTV series

    LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Anne Heche will make her debut as the star of her own television series for Warner Bros. Television.

    Sources said Heche is finalizing a one-year talent deal with the studio to topline a WBTV series project targeted for fall 2002. The pact is valued in the $1 million range.

    Heche wants to do a comedy, but it hasn't been determined yet whether she will do a half-hour or a one-hour show, sources said.

    Heche conceived the idea of doing a television series following her experience on David E. Kelley's dramedy for Fox "Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV)," in which she did a multi-episode guest arc last season.

    After a long round of meetings with studios and networks executives, Heche last week narrowed her choice of a TV home to WBTV, Studios USA and 20th Century Fox TV (HR 7/3).

    Heche began her screen career with a role on the NBC daytime drama "Another World."

    Her TV credits also include HBO's "If These Walls Could Walk," in which she co-starred, and "If These Walls Could Talk 2," in which she wrote and directed a segment starring Sharon Stone and Ellen DeGeneres.

    On the feature side, Heche's credits include "Wag the Dog," "Six Days Seven Nights," "Psycho" and "Donnie Brasco." She will next be seen in "Prozac Nation."

    Heche, who is repped by WMA and manager Lauren Lloyd, is working on New Line Cinema's "John Q," in which she stars opposite Denzel Washington.

  • Downey has a prayer

    Troubled actor Robert Downey Jr., who's been recovering from chemical dependency at Promises Malibu rehab center in California, gives thanks on the roof of a car yesterday as his parents look on.

  • Vonda Shepherd Falls Victim to Ally Slimming Curse

    VONDA SHEPHERD has fallen victim to the ALLY McBEAL slimming curse - her co-stars are all so skinny they make her feel constantly paranoid about her weight.

    Shepherd, who has been with the show since the beginning, says working on Ally, famed for its dangerously thin looking actresses, has driven her into a state of constant obsession about her weight.

    Shepherd says, "I say I'm slender and normal - and I am - but when I walk down that red carpet with all those women at the Emmys, I feel enormous.

    "I'm standing next to the most beautiful in-shape women on the planet, I just can't hold up against that.

    "So I feel constantly under pressure. Being on Ally McBeal, of course there's pressure. It's something I'm obsessed with. It's something that's on my mind at some point every day. Every day of my life. I think about it a lot, and it drives me crazy."

    But singer Shepherd, who landed her slot on the show when her pal MICHELLE PFEIFFER introduced her to her husband, Ally creator DAVID E KELLEY, says, contrary to reports, the show's super-thin star CALISTA FLOCKHART isn't anorexic.

    Shepherd says, "She eats, she loves food. She's just one of those naturally skinny people. She eats like you can't believe, and she can't gain weight."

  • Liu on 'Sex & The City'

    Look for Lucy Liu (Ally McBeal's Ling Woo) on an upcoming episode of HBO's 'Sex & The City'. Liu's character has a few words in a restaurant with Samantha Jones who is played by actress Kim Catrall.

  • Robert's Back At Work

    Robert Downey Jr. was back at work, in front of the cameras.

    On Tuesday, he filmed a music video for the song ``I Want Love.'' It's the first single from Elton John's CD of all-new material, ``Songs From the West Coast'' (Universal), written by Elton and longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin. The album will be on the stands Oct. 2. The airdate of the single to be set; it was shot at the Greystone Manor in Beverly Hills, with Sam Taylor-Wood directing Downey as he lip-synchs to Elton's singing most appropriate lyrics.

    Downey's agent, International Creative Management's Ed Limato, has been receiving several important offers for Downey to return to film and TV roles. Downey, Emmy-nominated as a supporting actor in a comedy in ``Ally McBeal,'' will attend the Sept. 16 awards ceremony in Pasadena.

  • Character Names

    Julianne Nicholson's new character will be named Jenny Shaw and she describes her character as Ally in the first season. She'll be a new lawyer at the firm. James Marsden's new character will named Glen Foye and will also be a new lawyer at the firm and possible Ally love interest.

  • Ally McBeal Shocker

    Had Robert Downey Jr. not gotten arrested last April on drug charges, he and Calista Flockart would have walked down the aisle on the season finale of Ally McBeal. "I don't know that [Larry and Ally] were actually going to get married, but there was going to be a ceremony and then something was going to happen," former Ally star Gil Bellows tells TV Guide Online. Downey's arrest, however, forced series creator David E. Kelley to pen a hasty exit for the troubled thesp. Also in the original script, Bellows's deceased Billy character was to give Flockhart's Ally "counsel" prior to the nuptials. Responds a show rep: "We only comment on the final scripts that are shot."

  • Liu back in action as 'Ecks' agents

    Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu are in negotiations to topline Franchise Pictures' action film "Ecks vs. Sever," which will mark the North American feature directorial debut of Thai filmmaker Kaos. The project will begin shooting in the fall.

    The project reteams Banderas and Liu, both of whom starred in Touchstone Pictures' 1999 "Play It to the Bone" for director Ron Shelton.

    Chris Lee ("Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within") is producing the project, which is described as "Bad Boys" meets "The Professional." Written by Alan McElroy ("Spawn"), "Ecks vs. Sever" is the story of two Terminator-like undercover agents named Ecks (Banderas) and Sever (Liu) who think they are competitors but find that they have a common enemy.

    Chris Lee Prods. vp Greg Frankovich brought the script to the company, where it was developed in-house before being set up at Franchise with Kaos attached (HR 9/24/99).

    Banderas, repped by CAA, most recently starred onscreen in Dimension Films' "Spy Kids." He has wrapped back-to-back roles in Dimension/Columbia Pictures' "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," Miramax Films' "Frida" and the Brian De Palma feature "Femme Fatale," which is fielding offers from several domestic distributors. Banderas next stars in MGM's "Original Sin" opposite Angelina Jolie.

    Liu, repped by ICM and manager Maryellen Mulcahy, is best known for her role on the Fox series "Ally McBeal" and for the feature film "Charlie's Angels." She next stars in Miramax/Pandora's "Company Man."

  • Diggs Could Co-Star In 'Brown Sugar'

    Taye Diggs (Ally McBeal) is in talks to co-star with Sanaa Lathan (Love & Basketball) in the FOX SEARCHLIGHT romantic comedy BROWN SUGAR. Diggs would play an A&R rep for a hip-hop label who falls for a magazine editor played by Lathan. Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood) will direct BROWN SUGAR from a script by Mike Elliot.

  • Goodbye Cage, Hello Larry?

    According to Entertainment Tonight, just like Lucy Liu (Ling), Peter MacNicol who plays Ally McBeal's John Cage will also leave the show after the first few episodes. As for Robert Downey Jr. (Larry), he maybe allowed out of rehab to work which opens the door for him to comeback to the show as a gueststar.

  • Ally Star Disses Calista

    Have actress Regina Hall's onscreen antics in Scary Movie 2 offended the star of her new series, Ally McBeal? Only time will tell. If you haven't yet seen director Keenen Ivory Wayans's gross-out flick, here's the sitch: One scene finds Hall being chased by a skeleton she derisively compares to Calista Flockhart. Then, she proceeds to tear the gaunt ghoul limb from limb!

    "I know!" winces Hall, who is now an Ally regular. "I'm blaming that one on Keenen. Can somebody put that in quotes? 'I'm sad and I didn't write it.'" Turning slightly more serious, the actress adds: "Hopefully, she'll know it's all in fun."

    Ah well, what's a little more fuel added to the fire that Hall leapt into on her first day at Ally's set? "My first scene was with Robert Downey Jr. and Sting," she marvels. "It was a little intimidating to be new, and I said to [producer] David [E. Kelley]: 'You didn't give me a read-through, there's no rehearsal — I just get a script in the mail and a call time!' They did nothing [special to prepare me]. So they made me feel like I was as professional as they were, and I think that's what was great about it. They threw their confidence into it, so I thought, 'I must be fine.'"

    Even so, Robert Downey Jr.'s sudden exit from the Ally cast must have been jarring. Offers Hall, who plays spunky lawyer Coretta: "Originally, I joined to be a member of Robert's firm... um, but that changed. I'm going to move to the other firm there, Cage & Fish." Wisely diplomatic after her Flockhart faux pas, she has nothing but praise for the series' other headliner. "Robert was fine," she says. "He was wonderful to work with and he was very like, 'Are you okay?' during scenes. Such a generous actor."

  • 'Ally' Expands Cast

    LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - David E. Kelley is adding four new members to the cast of "Ally McBeal," perhaps in an effort to make up for the absence of departing cast members Lisa Nichole Carson and James LeGros, as well as recurring actor Robert Downey Jr.

    The new players are James Marsden ("X-Men"), Regina Hall ("NYPD Blue"), Josh Hopkins ("Pirates of Silicon Valley" ) and Julianne Nicholson ("The Others" ), FOX announced at Tuesday's (July 17) Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena, CA.

    "These new characters are an exciting addition to what we fell is already one of the best ensemble casts on television," says Bill D'Elia, executive producer on the series. "'Ally' has enjoyed a great track record introducing new characters over the last four seasons (Ling, Nelle and Larry). We feel these latest additions will be welcomed and embraced by our audience as we enter our fifth season."

    Hall will continue the role she played on "Ally" last season in a three-episode arc as Downey's associate, while Marsden may be a new love interest for McBeal. Nicholson and Hopkins will play attorneys.

    Marsden, who played Cyclops, is the second cast member from the feature film "X Men" be featured on "Ally." Famke Janssen played Robert Downey Jr.'s ex-wife in two episodes last season.

    "Yeah, now we just have to get Hugh Jackman to come on," Marsden tells Zap2it.

    While Carson is leaving the show as a regular cast member, she is expected to make guest appearances on the series next season reprising her role as Ally’s roommate Renee.

    "Ally McBeal" returns to the air Monday, Oct. 22 at 9 p.m.

  • 2001 Emmy Nominations

    The 2001 Emmy Nomination were announced this morning. Ally McBeal is up for 7 Awards this year, here's the breakdown:

    Actress, Comedy Series:
    Calista Flockhart, "Ally McBeal," Fox
    Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox
    Debra Messing, "Will & Grace," NBC
    Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex in the City," HBO
    Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS

    Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comdey Series
    Peter MacNicol, "Ally McBeal", FOX
    Robert Downey Jr, "Ally McBeal" FOX
    Peter Boyle, "Everybody Loves Raymond" CBS
    David Hyde Pierce, "Frasier", NBC
    Sean Hayes, "Will & Grace", NBC

    Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
    Bernadette Peters, "Ally McBeal" FOX
    Jami Gertz, "Ally McBeal" FOX
    Jean Smart, "Frasier", NBC
    Susan Sarandon, "Friends", NBC
    Cloris Leachman, "Malcolm in the Middle", FOX

    Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series
    Ally McBeal, FOX
    Ed, NBC
    Frasier, NBC
    Sex & The City, HBO
    Will & Grace, NBC

    Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series
    Ally McBeal, FOX
    JAG, CBS
    Law & Order, NBC
    The Practice, ABC
    The West Wing, NBC
    The X-Files, FOX

    David E. Kelley's The Practice also got 7 nominations while his other FOX show Boston Public got 2. The Fox Network got a total of 40 nominations.

    The Emmy Awards air on CBS September 16th.

  • New Role For LeGros

    Diane Ladd, Regina King, James LeGros (Mark, Ally McBeal) and Michelle Clunie (``Queer As Folk'') will star with Adam Arkin and Laura Dern in the Showtime TV movie ``Damaged Care,'' set to air on the cabler in 2002. The film follows the journey of a female doctor seduced into the lucrative world of HMOs.

  • Just Four More For Lucy

    It looks like four will be Lucy Liu's magic number. The New York Daily News reports Ally McBeal executive producer David E. Kelly has struck a deal with Liu's agents for her to appear as Ling Woo in only four episodes this upcoming season, giving the Charlie's Angels co-star ample time to concentrate on her feature-film career. In a statement released by her spokesman, Liu said, "I am especially grateful to David for giving me this incredible opportunity and for making it possible for me to do the other projects I've been able to do over the past two years." Given her reduced Ally workload, it's likely Liu won't be back at all during the 2002 season.

  • Downey Jr. To Avoid Jail Time With Plea Bargain

    LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - "Ally McBeal" costar Robert Downey Jr. has agreed to plead no contest to drug charges Monday as part of a plea bargain which ensures he will receive no jail time. Instead, Downey will continue live-in drug treatment, his lawyer told Reuters.

    The 36-year-old actor, who picked up his first Emmy nomination for "McBeal" last week, will appear in an Indio, Calif. court Monday to face charges related his arrest Nov. 25 for cocaine use.

    Downey has been living in a residential drug rehabilitation program since a second arrest in April, in which he was found to have been using cocaine. While no charges were made against him, the arrest helped get him dropped from "McBeal."

    According to attorney James Epstein, Downey's progress has been "excellent" in the treatment program, and the terms of the pleas bargain will have him taking part in it for one year, along with three years probation.

  • Snake Pit
    (From Page Six)

    TROUBLED "Ally McBeal" actress Lisa Nicole Carson had another bizarre breakdown in L.A. last week. Carson had to be hauled away after she melted down outside Gaucho Grill on the Sunset Strip, reports the weekly Globe. Witnesses told the tabloid Carson came out babbling, "I have a snake on me! It's biting me! It's in my mouth!" Cops held Carson down for 20 minutes until the ambulance came. In January 2000, Carson's mother had her committed to a psych ward for eight days at Lenox Hill. Carson's rep did not return calls.

  • Rent Reunion

    "RENT" had an impromptu cast reunion at the Cutting Room the other night. "Ally McBeal" hunk Taye Diggs and his sexy chanteuse girlfriend Idina Menzell joined former castmates Jesse Martin and Adam Pascal and "Rent" creator Jonathan Larson's dad Al Larson, who flew in from Albuqerque, N.M., to catch a performance by songstress and former "Rent" star Daphne Ruben Vega. Also in attendance were Luke Perry and Ana Gasteyer, who co-star in "The Rocky Horror Show."

  • Germann is Staying

    According to Entertianment Tonight actor Greg Germann (Richard) will remain with the show thru the end of season despite reprots to the contrary.

  • Ally Gets Syndicated

    Look for Ally McBeal re-runs this fall on FOX's cable station FX.

  • Get Ally Script At An Auction

    RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) is holding an online auction in conjunction with an event being held in Washington, DC. One of the items donated was a script from the pilot episode of Ally McBeal signed by the whole cast. 100% of the proceeds go to RAINN, and will ensure that the hotline remains available to those who need it.

    The auction can be viewed by going to allstarcharity.com and clicking on the "Live Auctions" icon.

  • Taye Diggs Rocks Across America

    Jenna Lewis, of "Survivor" pseudo-fame, is officially a groupie.

    Lewis will hang out with Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews, Sugar Ray, Jane's Addiction, Stone Temple Pilots and other rock stars when she hosts VH1's "Rock Across America." Premiering June 30 at noon ET, the concert series hypes summer gigs in ten cities, offering info about the musicians' CDs and videos.

    Celebrity co-hosts, including Jenna Elfman and Taye Diggs ("Ally McBeal"), will join Lewis and her musically inclined friends.

    The show should also include plenty of chilling on the beach -- but no rats, unless one counts the occasional sleazy drummer.

  • The Anne Show?

    Former lesbian Anne Heche is moving in on her ex's territory. Ellen DeGeneres's onetime companion wants to star in her own TV series, and plans to meet with heads of networks and studios next month to discuss just that, Variety reports. Heche apparently was bitten by the boob-tube bug while guesting on Ally McBeal this past season.

    Other Ally guest stars already have deals on the go. CBS has ordered six episodes of the Joely Fisher sitcom Baby Bob for midseason, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Meanwhile, the network is looking to redevelop its Cheri Oteri comedy project, which failed to secure a space on the fall schedule.

  • The Awful Truth (E! Online)

    Oh, the hullabaloo on who is--and isn't--returning to Ally McBeal. Jeez. Why would they on for more? So, you can watch yourself get watered down into some kind of mushy neurotic who gurgles and grunts inexplicably?

    Whatever. The show still has some balls, I suppose--including those on James LeGros' g-f (Lisa Edelstein), a sitch I liked in partic.

    However, as you may have heard, J.L.G. will not be returning next season. Nor will Lisa Nicole Carson (kinda sorta). And even though Fox tells me Lucy Liu "will be back," her rep says not so fast.

    "In negotiations," was the the old verbal standby chosen by the flack, who had bupkus to say about the AM dirt I've heard. Something about the Asian spitfire wanting to concentrate on the big screen.

    And what about that boy with the biggie booty Taye Diggs? Further on-set scuttlebutt--forgive me--is that T.D. (boy-toy to various female McBeal attorneys) won't be returning either, due in part to what he considers excessive strip scenes.

    Fox claims Taye was never meant to be more than a "recurring character" and wasn't signed for more scenes, skin or otherwise.

    However, Diggs's manager, Abe Hoch, claims the producers of the show asked if his client would consider being a "regular character." No go. Client wants to be movie star, was the reply (even though the proverbial back door has been left open for occasional stints, says Hoch).

    As for the epidermis complaint, Diggs' press rep would only say, "Would you have a problem revealing yourself if you had a body like that?

    Wrong exhibitionist to ask.

    Hitch P.S.: Hearing yet more tawk that there were plans for Robert Downey Jr. and Calista Flockhart to wed on the show. In fact, Ally snoopers tell me set construction on the couple's post-wedding house had already begun before R.D.J. deconstructed himself once again.

    "We are really not commenting on anything involving Robert or the time that we spent with him," said a Fox rep, rather ominously. "Other than that we wish him the best."

    Me, too.

  • The Anarchist Casting

    According to The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, the ensemble indie THE ANARCHIST will be lead by a cast that includes Devon Gummersall (My So-Called Life, Roswell), Gina Phillips (Ally McBeal), and Katherine Towne (Evolution). Dylan Bruno, John Savage, Steve Van Wormer, and Johnny Whitworth also star in the dramedy about a self-proclaimed anarchist (Gummersall) and the like-minded people he lives with.

  • Television Critics Association Award Nominees

    The 17th Annual Television Critics Association (TCA) Awards will take place on Saturday, July 21 at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena, California. Ally McBeal is up for one award.

    Individual Achievement in Comedy
    Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle)
    Robert Downey Jr. (Ally McBeal)
    Chris Isaak (The Chris Isaak Show)
    Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle)
    Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond)

  • Lucy On Live

    Lucy Liu (Ling) will be on 'Live with Regis & Kelly' Friday July 20th

  • Robert Downey Jr.'s Porsche Sells for $100,002

    LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - It's the vicarious way to live life in the fast lane: Take a spin in Robert Downey Jr.'s Porsche.

    A Colorado resident going by the online handle "alan_pea" purchased the "Ally McBeal" actor's 1958 Porsche Speedster for $100,002 at www.bidz.com Saturday (June 16).

    According to BidZ.com, there were 62 bids placed on the car, and a record 12,145 page views. Bidding for the car started at $1 on June 6 and lasted 10 days.

  • Intimate Portrait of Calista Flockhart

    Monday June 18 at 7pm on Lifetime you can tune in for an Intimate Portrait of Calista Flockhart. From her early days on Broadway ("Glass Menagerie") to her success with "Ally McBeal" and subsequent media scrutiny, actress Calista Flockhart chats about her life and career, and how she has managed to stay true to herself.

  • Downey Dad: New RX Gives My Son Hope
    (From NY Post)

    ROBERT DOWNEY Jr.'s father believes his son can lick his drug addiction by using a new regimen of nutritional supplements to eliminate his destructive cravings.

    "The last I spoke to Robert a few days ago, he said he's up for it if we can put it together," said film director Robert Downey Sr. in his first interview in three years.

    "I have a lot of hope. If he can stay focused and beat this, he can help himself and a lot of other people through his example."

    Downey says he believes his Oscar-nominated son, currently facing cocaine-possession charges, will be able to stay out of jail and go into a rehab program.

    He's encouraging his son to undergo extensive therapy using amino acids and herbal supplements to boost his dopamine levels, which are often impaired in addicts.

    "His blood needs to be tested to see if this is appropriate," he said. "But in a third of cases, this works for people with addictions like his."

    Downey Sr. prays the new approach will work where other therapies have failed.

    "The truth is, if he hadn't been sent to jail, he'd probably be dead by now.

    "Life is too easy when you're a movie star. People will do anything you want and get you anything you want.

    "Hollywood is a horrible place and I wish he wasn't forced to live in California because of his legal problems," said Downey, who lives in New York.

    Downey Sr. measures his words carefully.

    He's shunned the press, trying to spare his son further pain.

    The gregarious 64-year-old angrily talks about "my son's sycophantic so-called friends, who have been so quick to spill all the beans on him in the supermarket tabloids."

    Yet Downey, who was teaching a master class in directing at the Lake Placid Film Forum over the weekend, seems eager to acknowledge all of the kind words of encouragement for himself and his son, who won a Golden Globe for his role in "Ally McBeal" earlier this year.

    "He's doing great, thanks," he quietly tells a well-wisher, sadly acknowledging that sometimes he almost wishes junior wasn't such a brilliant actor in movies like "Wonder Boys."

    "People like him sometimes feel bad or confused about their natural gifts, and that may be a big part of his problem" he said.

    Years ago, Downey Sr. survived his own struggle with drugs.

    He became a cult figure after directing "Putney Swope," a scathing 1969 satire about blacks taking over an advertising agency. But he hit bottom when his career foundered in the 1970s.

    "Ten years of cocaine around the clock. I didn't beat it until '81, until my late wife gave me an ultimatum. I officially quit in front of my son.

    "He keeps reminding me about it. I tell him, ‘If it made such an impression on you, then why can't you do the same thing?'"

  • Cindy Adams of Page Six

    Calista Flockhart to me on the matter of her brand-new instant mommyhood: "I have a baby. I just have no husband. Liam's 6 months so, now, more than anything I want to stay home and take care of him. And I want more children. It's the most precious thing that ever happened to me. I guess it would be nice to have a husband, too, and if you know where I might find the right one, let me know. But, meanwhile, the baby is all I really want."

  • Ally Gets A Makeover
    (From TV Guide)

    Big changes are afoot at Ally McBeal. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lisa Nicole Carson and James LeGros are on their way out, and Josh Hopkins (The Perfect Storm) and Regina Hall (Scary Movie) are on their way in. What's more, James Marsden (X-Men) and Julianne Nicholson (The Love Letter) are in final talks to join the Fox dramedy next season as well. Meanwhile, despite rumors that Lucy Liu and Peter MacNicol also were jumping ship, the trade paper reports that both actors are still in negotiations. And although Carson won't be a series regular, she's expected to make occasional guest appearances.

  • Carson Exit Part Of 'Ally' Cast Shakeup
    (From Zap2it)

    LOS ANGELES- Lisa Nicole Carson and James LeGros will not return next season on the Fox dramedy “Ally McBeal,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    Carson, however, is expected to make guest appearances on the David E. Kelley series next season reprising her role as Ally’s roommate Renee. Regina Hall, who starred in a three-episode arc as Robert Downey Jr.’s associate at the end of last season, will return in the fall along with Josh Hopkins. Still in negotiations with the studio are James Marsden (“X-Men”) for a role as Ally’s love interest, and Julianne Nicholson ("The Love Letter" ) as an attorney.

  • Downey Jumps Rehab
    (From Zap2it)

    Actor Robert Downey Jr. has left the drug rehabilitation program at Cedars Sinai Medical Center to return to a program run by a friend of the actor's, reports Reuters.

    The unidentified "friend" has served as Downey's drug counselor since his release from prison last August, including when the actor was arrested last November and in April for drug-related charges.

    Cedars Sinai psychiatrists feel that the unnamed counselor should not be included in Downey's recovery process and the actor's attorneys apparently agreed, leading to their dismissal and Downey hiring new lawyers earlier this week as he neared a plea bargain in the November arrest for felony cocaine possession.

    The plea bargain would keep Downey out of jail, but would require him to spend a year in a lock-down rehabilitation facility.

    Meanwhile, Downey's parole officers have expressed no concerns that the actor is not receiving the best possible care. Rather they maintain that the new facility meets "the proper standards of care."

  • Downey's drug rehab program called into question
    (From Reuters)

    Robert Downey Jr. has quit a rigorous drug rehabilitation plan recommended by psychiatrists after his latest arrest and entered a program that doctors and his attorneys considered too lax, a source close to the case said Friday.

    Differences between Downey and his attorneys over his drug treatment appear to have spurred the actor's surprise decision this week to hire new lawyers as he neared a plea bargain that would spare him from prison but keep him in a lock-down rehabilitation facility for at least a year, the source told Reuters.

    A spokesman for the 36-year-old Oscar-nominated actor declined to comment.

    The source said Downey's current rehab program is supervised by a friend of the actor who has served as his drug counselor since his release from prison last August and whom psychiatrists at Cedars Sinai Medical Center thought should be excluded from further involvement in Downey's treatment.

    It was this drug counselor, the source said, who was managing Downey's recovery during relapses that led to drug arrests last November in the California desert resort of Palm Springs and on April 24 in the Los Angeles suburb of Culver City.

    Earlier this week, Downey's new attorneys said the actor had signed off on a tentative agreement with Riverside County prosecutors in which he would plead no contest to one felony cocaine possession count and a misdemeanor stemming from his arrest Nov. 25 at a posh hotel in Palm Springs.

    Prosecutors in Los Angeles County declined last month to bring charges against the actor in connection with his April arrest in Culver City.

    CHECKED INTO CEDARS SINAI

    A state Corrections Department spokeswoman confirmed that following his arrest in Culver City, Downey checked himself into Cedars Sinai for detoxification and treatment under the care of hospital psychiatrists, including the chairman of the Cedars' psychiatric department, Dr. Peter J. Panzarino.

    However, sometime before he was discharged from the hospital 20 days later to enter another private facility, Downey and Cedars' psychiatrists had ``a parting of the ways,'' Corrections spokeswoman Margot Bach told Reuters.

    Bach said, ``There was some disagreement about the treatment, and Mr. Downey felt he belonged in this other (program),'' which was run by ``the fellow who was working with Mr. Downey before,'' she said.

    The source said that program is far less rigorous than the one Panzarino had outlined for Downey and which the actor initially had agreed to, along with his parole agents and his drug counselor. Among other things, the Cedars plan called for Panzarino, a physician, to direct Downey's ongoing treatment and specifically barred Downey's previous drug counselor from further involvement in his rehabilitation.

    Nevertheless, Downey checked into the brand new rehab facility run by his counselor and within days -- with the acquiescence of parole officials -- had withdrawn from the Cedars treatment plan without consulting doctors there, the source said.

    PAROLE AGENTS SATISFIED WITH NEW FACILITY

    Panzarino sent letters to Downey's parole officers seeking an explanation for the switch but received no reply, the source said. The actor also failed to heed the advice of his original lawyers that he stick to the regimen prescribed by Cedars or at least allow Panzarino or another medical doctor to supervise his treatment.

    Panzarino declined comment.

    Corrections spokeswoman Bach said parole agents are satisfied with the new treatment facility as it meets ``the proper standards of care.'' She said the facility has a temporary state license to operate as a ``sober living'' facility and is accredited by Los Angeles County to provide community-based drug treatment under California's new Proposition 36, an initiative that refers nonviolent drug offenders to rehab rather than jail.

    The source said no licensed medical professionals were on staff at the facility, and Bach said she did not ``know if there are any medical doctors on the premises.

    Neither she nor the source would divulge the identity of the counselor who runs the facility, which is incorporated under the name Wavelengths International, Inc. A spokesman for the facility could not be located and the phone company said it had no listing for a facility under that name.

    Downey's Palm Springs arrest came three months after he was freed from a one-year prison stay in California on a prior drug conviction and has threatened to derail what started out as a remarkably swift career comeback.

    Within a week of his release from prison, Downey had landed a recurring guest role on the popular Fox television show ``Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV),'' playing the latest love interest of series star Calista Flockhart. That role earned him Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild (news - web sites) awards. He also received an Oscar nomination for his title role in the 1992 film ``Chaplin.''

    But the Palm Springs arrest cost him a role in a high-profile film, ``America's Sweethearts,'' starring Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Billy Crystal.

    His subsequent arrest in Culver City left the producers of ''Ally McBeal'' scrambling to finish the season without him. The season finale last Monday left open the possibility of Downey's character returning at a later date.

  • InStyle Magazine

    Inside the June issue of InStyle Magazine with Nicole Kidman on the cover you'll photos of Lucy Liu in Carmen Marc Valvo Couture and Calista Flockhart in Badgley Mischka.

  • Ex-Lesbian Heche To Wed
    (From Page Six)

    ELLEN DeGeneres' ex-lover plans to wed her cameraman. Anne Heche - who dated a long list of Hollywood heavies, including DeGeneres and Steve Martin - agreed to marry Coley Laffoon last Friday on her 32nd birthday. L.A. spies spotted her gushing to neighbors and anyone who would listen about how Laffoon proposed to her, "and I got engaged!" Heche even whipped out her ring to show passersby. No sooner had Laffoon popped the question than Heche was shopping for bridal wear. Her manager confirmed the engagement. The couple met last summer while Heche, then still with DeGeneres, was making a documentary about her partner's stand-up comedy tour. She and the cameraman fell in love - prompting Heche to split from DeGeneres and reclaim her heterosexuality. Though Laffoon makes a lot less than Heche, she probably won't force him to sign a pre-nup. He's from a wealthy East Coast family and isn't being supported financially by Heche.

  • Downey to Plead No Contest, Accept Rehab
    (From Zap2it.com)

    LOS ANGELES - Robert Downey Jr. has agreed to plead no contest to two drug charges in connection with his arrest last November at a Palm Springs, CA, hotel, according to People.

    The sometime Ally McBeal star’s lawyers reached a tentative agreement with Riverside County prosecutors that would allow Downey to spend up to a year in a drug rehabilitation center in lieu of a return to prison.

    Downey checked himself into rehab shortly after his arrest last month in a Culver City, CA, alley on suspicion of taking drugs. Prosecutors declined to file charges in that case.

    In the Palm Springs case, police say they found cocaine and the prescription drug Valium in his hotel room. The actor was charged with one felony count of drug possession and two misdemeanors.

  • De Rossi, Cain Get 'Glow'
    (From Zap2it)

    Portia de Rossi ("Ally McBeal") and Dean Cain ("Lois & Clark" ) are getting that "Glow." The actors will star in the FOX TV movie "The Glow," which is shooting in Toronto, Canada, and is slated to premiere next season.

    "Glow" is a thriller about a young New York-based couple who are financially struggling, when a chance meeting with some elderly benefactors leads to immediate and profound results.

    Also appearing in the project are Hal Linden, Dina Merrill, Joe Campanella and Grace Zabriskie.

    De Rossi recently wrapped production on the film "Cletis Tout," starring Tim Allen, Richard Dreyfuss and Christian Slater. She is also set to appear in the romantic comedy "Love Smarts," which begins production later this year in de Rossi's native Australia.

    Cain will next be seen in "Rat Race," which is set to open in theaters this August.

  • The Awful Truth (E! Online)

    Oh, the hullabaloo on who is--and isn't--returning to Ally McBeal. Jeez. Why would they on for more? So, you can watch yourself get watered down into some kind of mushy neurotic who gurgles and grunts inexplicably?

    Whatever. The show still has some balls, I suppose--including those on James LeGros' g-f (Lisa Edelstein), a sitch I liked in partic.

    However, as you may have heard, J.L.G. will not be returning next season. Nor will Lisa Nicole Carson (kinda sorta). And even though Fox tells me Lucy Liu "will be back," her rep says not so fast.

    "In negotiations," was the the old verbal standby chosen by the flack, who had bupkus to say about the AM dirt I've heard. Something about the Asian spitfire wanting to concentrate on the big screen.

    And what about that boy with the biggie booty Taye Diggs? Further on-set scuttlebutt--forgive me--is that T.D. (boy-toy to various female McBeal attorneys) won't be returning either, due in part to what he considers excessive strip scenes.

    Fox claims Taye was never meant to be more than a "recurring character" and wasn't signed for more scenes, skin or otherwise.

    However, Diggs's manager, Abe Hoch, claims the producers of the show asked if his client would consider being a "regular character." No go. Client wants to be movie star, was the reply (even though the proverbial back door has been left open for occasional stints, says Hoch).

    As for the epidermis complaint, Diggs' press rep would only say, "Would you have a problem revealing yourself if you had a body like that?

    Wrong exhibitionist to ask.

    Hitch P.S.: Hearing yet more tawk that there were plans for Robert Downey Jr. and Calista Flockhart to wed on the show. In fact, Ally snoopers tell me set construction on the couple's post-wedding house had already begun before R.D.J. deconstructed himself once again.

    "We are really not commenting on anything involving Robert or the time that we spent with him," said a Fox rep, rather ominously. "Other than that we wish him the best."

    Me, too.

  • Cindy Adams of Page Six

    Calista Flockhart to me on the matter of her brand-new instant mommyhood: "I have a baby. I just have no husband. Liam's 6 months so, now, more than anything I want to stay home and take care of him. And I want more children. It's the most precious thing that ever happened to me. I guess it would be nice to have a husband, too, and if you know where I might find the right one, let me know. But, meanwhile, the baby is all I really want."

  • The Anarchist Casting

    According to The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, the ensemble indie THE ANARCHIST will be lead by a cast that includes Devon Gummersall (My So-Called Life, Roswell), Gina Phillips (Ally McBeal), and Katherine Towne (Evolution). Dylan Bruno, John Savage, Steve Van Wormer, and Johnny Whitworth also star in the dramedy about a self-proclaimed anarchist (Gummersall) and the like-minded people he lives with.

  • Germann is Staying

    According to Entertianment Tonight actor Greg Germann (Richard) will remain with the show thru the end of season despite reprots to the contrary.

  • Television Critics Association Award Nominees

    The 17th Annual Television Critics Association (TCA) Awards will take place on Saturday, July 21 at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena, California. Ally McBeal is up for one award.

    Individual Achievement in Comedy
    Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle)
    Robert Downey Jr. (Ally McBeal)
    Chris Isaak (The Chris Isaak Show)
    Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle)
    Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond)

  • Ally Gets A Makeover
    (From TV Guide)

    Big changes are afoot at Ally McBeal. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lisa Nicole Carson and James LeGros are on their way out, and Josh Hopkins (The Perfect Storm) and Regina Hall (Scary Movie) are on their way in. What's more, James Marsden (X-Men) and Julianne Nicholson (The Love Letter) are in final talks to join the Fox dramedy next season as well. Meanwhile, despite rumors that Lucy Liu and Peter MacNicol also were jumping ship, the trade paper reports that both actors are still in negotiations. And although Carson won't be a series regular, she's expected to make occasional guest appearances.

  • Carson Exit Part Of 'Ally' Cast Shakeup
    (From Zap2it)

    LOS ANGELES- Lisa Nicole Carson and James LeGros will not return next season on the Fox dramedy “Ally McBeal,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

    Carson, however, is expected to make guest appearances on the David E. Kelley series next season reprising her role as Ally’s roommate Renee. Regina Hall, who starred in a three-episode arc as Robert Downey Jr.’s associate at the end of last season, will return in the fall along with Josh Hopkins. Still in negotiations with the studio are James Marsden (“X-Men”) for a role as Ally’s love interest, and Julianne Nicholson ("The Love Letter" ) as an attorney.

  • Downey Jumps Rehab
    (From Zap2it)

    Actor Robert Downey Jr. has left the drug rehabilitation program at Cedars Sinai Medical Center to return to a program run by a friend of the actor's, reports Reuters.

    The unidentified "friend" has served as Downey's drug counselor since his release from prison last August, including when the actor was arrested last November and in April for drug-related charges.

    Cedars Sinai psychiatrists feel that the unnamed counselor should not be included in Downey's recovery process and the actor's attorneys apparently agreed, leading to their dismissal and Downey hiring new lawyers earlier this week as he neared a plea bargain in the November arrest for felony cocaine possession.

    The plea bargain would keep Downey out of jail, but would require him to spend a year in a lock-down rehabilitation facility.

    Meanwhile, Downey's parole officers have expressed no concerns that the actor is not receiving the best possible care. Rather they maintain that the new facility meets "the proper standards of care."

  • Downey's drug rehab program called into question
    (From Reuters)

    Robert Downey Jr. has quit a rigorous drug rehabilitation plan recommended by psychiatrists after his latest arrest and entered a program that doctors and his attorneys considered too lax, a source close to the case said Friday.

    Differences between Downey and his attorneys over his drug treatment appear to have spurred the actor's surprise decision this week to hire new lawyers as he neared a plea bargain that would spare him from prison but keep him in a lock-down rehabilitation facility for at least a year, the source told Reuters.

    A spokesman for the 36-year-old Oscar-nominated actor declined to comment.

    The source said Downey's current rehab program is supervised by a friend of the actor who has served as his drug counselor since his release from prison last August and whom psychiatrists at Cedars Sinai Medical Center thought should be excluded from further involvement in Downey's treatment.

    It was this drug counselor, the source said, who was managing Downey's recovery during relapses that led to drug arrests last November in the California desert resort of Palm Springs and on April 24 in the Los Angeles suburb of Culver City.

    Earlier this week, Downey's new attorneys said the actor had signed off on a tentative agreement with Riverside County prosecutors in which he would plead no contest to one felony cocaine possession count and a misdemeanor stemming from his arrest Nov. 25 at a posh hotel in Palm Springs.

    Prosecutors in Los Angeles County declined last month to bring charges against the actor in connection with his April arrest in Culver City.

    CHECKED INTO CEDARS SINAI

    A state Corrections Department spokeswoman confirmed that following his arrest in Culver City, Downey checked himself into Cedars Sinai for detoxification and treatment under the care of hospital psychiatrists, including the chairman of the Cedars' psychiatric department, Dr. Peter J. Panzarino.

    However, sometime before he was discharged from the hospital 20 days later to enter another private facility, Downey and Cedars' psychiatrists had ``a parting of the ways,'' Corrections spokeswoman Margot Bach told Reuters.

    Bach said, ``There was some disagreement about the treatment, and Mr. Downey felt he belonged in this other (program),'' which was run by ``the fellow who was working with Mr. Downey before,'' she said.

    The source said that program is far less rigorous than the one Panzarino had outlined for Downey and which the actor initially had agreed to, along with his parole agents and his drug counselor. Among other things, the Cedars plan called for Panzarino, a physician, to direct Downey's ongoing treatment and specifically barred Downey's previous drug counselor from further involvement in his rehabilitation.

    Nevertheless, Downey checked into the brand new rehab facility run by his counselor and within days -- with the acquiescence of parole officials -- had withdrawn from the Cedars treatment plan without consulting doctors there, the source said.

    PAROLE AGENTS SATISFIED WITH NEW FACILITY

    Panzarino sent letters to Downey's parole officers seeking an explanation for the switch but received no reply, the source said. The actor also failed to heed the advice of his original lawyers that he stick to the regimen prescribed by Cedars or at least allow Panzarino or another medical doctor to supervise his treatment.

    Panzarino declined comment.

    Corrections spokeswoman Bach said parole agents are satisfied with the new treatment facility as it meets ``the proper standards of care.'' She said the facility has a temporary state license to operate as a ``sober living'' facility and is accredited by Los Angeles County to provide community-based drug treatment under California's new Proposition 36, an initiative that refers nonviolent drug offenders to rehab rather than jail.

    The source said no licensed medical professionals were on staff at the facility, and Bach said she did not ``know if there are any medical doctors on the premises.

    Neither she nor the source would divulge the identity of the counselor who runs the facility, which is incorporated under the name Wavelengths International, Inc. A spokesman for the facility could not be located and the phone company said it had no listing for a facility under that name.

    Downey's Palm Springs arrest came three months after he was freed from a one-year prison stay in California on a prior drug conviction and has threatened to derail what started out as a remarkably swift career comeback.

    Within a week of his release from prison, Downey had landed a recurring guest role on the popular Fox television show ``Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV),'' playing the latest love interest of series star Calista Flockhart. That role earned him Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild (news - web sites) awards. He also received an Oscar nomination for his title role in the 1992 film ``Chaplin.''

    But the Palm Springs arrest cost him a role in a high-profile film, ``America's Sweethearts,'' starring Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Billy Crystal.

    His subsequent arrest in Culver City left the producers of ''Ally McBeal'' scrambling to finish the season without him. The season finale last Monday left open the possibility of Downey's character returning at a later date.

  • InStyle Magazine

    Inside the June issue of InStyle Magazine with Nicole Kidman on the cover you'll photos of Lucy Liu in Carmen Marc Valvo Couture and Calista Flockhart in Badgley Mischka.

  • Ex-Lesbian Heche To Wed
    (From Page Six)

    ELLEN DeGeneres' ex-lover plans to wed her cameraman. Anne Heche - who dated a long list of Hollywood heavies, including DeGeneres and Steve Martin - agreed to marry Coley Laffoon last Friday on her 32nd birthday. L.A. spies spotted her gushing to neighbors and anyone who would listen about how Laffoon proposed to her, "and I got engaged!" Heche even whipped out her ring to show passersby. No sooner had Laffoon popped the question than Heche was shopping for bridal wear. Her manager confirmed the engagement. The couple met last summer while Heche, then still with DeGeneres, was making a documentary about her partner's stand-up comedy tour. She and the cameraman fell in love - prompting Heche to split from DeGeneres and reclaim her heterosexuality. Though Laffoon makes a lot less than Heche, she probably won't force him to sign a pre-nup. He's from a wealthy East Coast family and isn't being supported financially by Heche.

  • Downey to Plead No Contest, Accept Rehab
    (From Zap2it.com)

    LOS ANGELES - Robert Downey Jr. has agreed to plead no contest to two drug charges in connection with his arrest last November at a Palm Springs, CA, hotel, according to People.

    The sometime Ally McBeal star’s lawyers reached a tentative agreement with Riverside County prosecutors that would allow Downey to spend up to a year in a drug rehabilitation center in lieu of a return to prison.

    Downey checked himself into rehab shortly after his arrest last month in a Culver City, CA, alley on suspicion of taking drugs. Prosecutors declined to file charges in that case.

    In the Palm Springs case, police say they found cocaine and the prescription drug Valium in his hotel room. The actor was charged with one felony count of drug possession and two misdemeanors.

  • Let's Make A Deal
    (From TV Guide)

    It appears Robert Downey Jr. won't do jail time for drug charges stemming from his Thanksgiving weekend arrest in Palm Springs. The 36-year-old actor has agreed to plead no contest and spend up to a year in drug rehab. He'll enter the plea at a court hearing on July 16 — four days after he's expected to receive an Emmy nomination for his work this season on Ally McBeal.

  • Downey Up Again
    (From Monique367)

    Robert Downey Jr. may escape time behind bars for his Thanksgiving arrest on drug charges. Downey had faced up to four years in state prison if convicted on all three counts stemming from the Palm Springs, Calif., incident: felony possession of cocaine, misdemeanor being under the influence of drugs and a misdemeanor of possessing prescription medication (Valium) without a prescription. Sources said Downey has reached a tentative agreement with prosecutors in which he'll plead no contest to at least two of the three charges filed against him. In exchange, he will not be sentenced to any jail or prison time, and will instead remain in a Southern California residential drug treatment center for six months to a year. Barring any last-minute snafus, the deal is expected to be announced at Downey's next court date, on July 16. Deputy District Attorney Tamara Capone declined to comment on the plea deal, except to say that a plea was expected to be entered on that date. Downey's attorneys declined to comment. In April, Downey turned down a deal that could have landed him in jail for a year. Soon thereafter, he was arrested in an alley in Culver City, but Los Angeles prosecutors announced on May 14 that they would not file charges in that incident, treating the case instead as a parole violation (for his original 1996 conviction on drugs and weapons charges). Downey checked into detox at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he stayed for nearly three weeks, until May 13. The week of May 14, he went to a residential drug treatment facility somewhere in Southern California, where he is reportedly hooked up to an electronic ankle bracelet to monitor his movements. What this means for the fate of Downey's character on "Ally McBeal" (not to mention Ally's love life) is anyone's guess. Right now he is off the show, for which he won a guest star Emmy, and has no other professional commitments.

  • Robert Downey Jr. On CNN

    People's The ups and downs of Robert Downey Jr. on CNN. Saturday June 2 at 11am EDT or Sunday June 3 at 8:30pm EDT.

  • 2000-2001 TV Ratings

    Ally McBeal finished in 42nd out of 162 shows this past season. It tied The Mole, Primetime Thursday & Malcolm in the Middle with an average rating of 8.0. Ally finished slightly ahead of Third Watch, The X-Files & What About Joan and slightly behind the Simpsons, Three Sisters & The Drew Carey Show.

  • Downey Close To Plea Bargain

    Robert Downey Jr. (Larry, Ally McBeal) pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of drug possession stemming from his Thanksgiving Weekend arrest. County prosecutors say the two sides are very close to reaching a plea agreement which would keep Downey out of prison.

    Robert didn't speak in his first appearance since his arrest last month but he looked fit and tanned. He was dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt and tie.

    Downey's next court appearance will be July 16 and when asked if Downey's current six-month stay in a rehab center could satisfy the requirements of prosecutors in the plea bargain deputy district attorney Tammy Capone said: "Possibly, yes."

    Robert is expect to stay between 6 & 9 months in rehab where he is only allowed to leave under supervision and is not allowed to work.

    In other Robert Downey Jr. news he was questioned by police for an hour, 2 days ago in the death of a 20 year old Russian girl and police said he was extremely helpful. Robert who was in jail at the time of the girl's murder is not a suspect but he was with her boyfriend when arrested in April.

  • De Rossi, Cain Get 'Glow'
    (From Zap2it)

    Portia de Rossi ("Ally McBeal") and Dean Cain ("Lois & Clark" ) are getting that "Glow." The actors will star in the FOX TV movie "The Glow," which is shooting in Toronto, Canada, and is slated to premiere next season.

    "Glow" is a thriller about a young New York-based couple who are financially struggling, when a chance meeting with some elderly benefactors leads to immediate and profound results.

    Also appearing in the project are Hal Linden, Dina Merrill, Joe Campanella and Grace Zabriskie.

    De Rossi recently wrapped production on the film "Cletis Tout," starring Tim Allen, Richard Dreyfuss and Christian Slater. She is also set to appear in the romantic comedy "Love Smarts," which begins production later this year in de Rossi's native Australia.

    Cain will next be seen in "Rat Race," which is set to open in theaters this August.