Rihanna/Chris Brown Update: The two are said to be back together.

Filming the unfilmable 'Watchmen'
"I mean, it's a weird movie," says "Watchmen" director Zack Snyder. "There's no two ways about it." Never was a truer word spoken about the graphic novel adaptation that has taken 23 tortuous years to get from the page to the screen.
Rihanna/Chris Brown Update: The two are said to be back together.
*From the "why are we not surprised" department, we find that Rihanna and Chris Brown are an item again. According to People.com, a source told them, the pair are back together almost three weeks after Brown, 19, allegedly gave Rihanna, 21, a beatdown the morning of the Grammy awards in the Hancock Park section of Los Angeles

Knock, Knock! Who's Wearing THAT?
Who's hiding under the pink bubble and wearing fishnet stockings?

'Waltz with Bashir' documentary electrifies

First Superman comic could fetch $400,000
After being hidden away for years, a copy of the original "Superman and Friends" comic book will make a comeback -- at a price of about $400,000, a comic expert said Thursday.
Gisele Bündchen &Tom Brady: The Secret Wedding!
Sexy Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen and NFL star Tom Brady tied the knot in an intimate ceremony on Thursday in Santa Monica, Calif.

'Waltz with Bashir' documentary electrifies
If you expect documentaries to be dry doctoral dissertations with talking heads and archival film footage, prepare to be electrified. The Israeli animated war documentary "Waltz with Bashir" is a phantasmagorical record of Mideast chaos, a cartoon that echoes the hallucinatory power of "Apocalypse Now.

Matt Groening looks to the future

Matt Groening looks to the future
Matt Groening laughs -- a lot. Sometimes it's a chuckle of uncertainty, but mostly it's a big, rollicking guffaw. It's the sound of a man who still can't quite believe how much fun he gets to have at work -- work that includes "The Simpsons," still going strong after 20 years, "Life in Hell" and "Futurama."
Could octomom's Money Troubles be Over?: Mother of many offered $1 million to do XXX porn film.
*If you were in Octomom's shoes and all of a sudden you had the opportunity to make a MILLION dollars if you did a porn film, would you do it? That's the interesting situation that Nadya Suleman, finds her self in. According to TMZ, adult film studio Vivid Entertainment has made Suleman, the cash-strapped mother of fourteen, a $1 million offer, plus a year of health insurance, in exchange for doing whatever they need her to do in a XXX film.

'Pretty Pretty' is bloody variation on 'Thelma and Louise"
Outrageous may be too tame a description for Sheila Callaghan's "That Pretty Pretty; or The Rape Play," but it's warning enough if you're sensitive to "adult" language or content. It may be raw, wild and off the wall, but in spite of its excesses and deliberately provocative staging, it kept me in an amused state of shock throughout.

New York Post drops gossip writer Liz Smith

New York Post drops gossip writer Liz Smith
Which gossip writer has been let go from a New York tabloid?
Lip-Synch Cloud Over Beyonce's Oscar gig: Academy rep won't comment.
*Within hours of the Academy Awards wrapping Sunday night in Los Angeles, the blogosphere was awash with talk that Beyonce appeared to have lip-synched her song and dance number with host Hugh Jackman. "While Jackman's breathing and laughter could be heard at times during the performance and he appeared to be singing live (as did the rest of the cast), Beyoncé's vocals seemed to be mimed," reported MTV.com.

Salmon makes healthy sense
February is American Heart Month and the American Heart Association is urging people to eat more fish, especially fish that is high in omega 3 fatty acids. These fats are referred to as good fats because they lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol.

EUR This N That | Octomoma s Ex Wants To Do Right By Her

Clooney's quest for peace in Darfur
On Monday night, CNN's Larry King had an exclusive interview with actor George Clooney, who returned from the strife-torn Darfur region of Sudan and just finished meeting with Vice President Joe Biden.
EUR This N That | Octomoma s Ex Wants To Do Right By Her
Remember the scene in the Eddie Murphy film "Life" when the Superintendent comes to find out from the inmates who his "chocolated" grandson belongs to? Well, in that scenario, this guy would be Bernie Mac..."I da pappy!" The octomom's ex showed up out of nowhere on Good Morning America Monday morning to set the record straight. He gave a bird's eye view into their past relationship and his account of who she was when they were dating. This brother from the fifth floor who said they were together "three" years between 1997 and 1999 has some math classes to take and some interesting things to tell the world about the mother of all mothers

Marcy Playground to release new studio album and rarities collection this year
If one of the songs from Marcy Playground's forthcoming "Leaving Wonderland" LP seems familiar to the band's longtime fans, it's because, well, it should seem that way.The song "Memphis" originally appeared as a b-side on the "Sex And Candy" single.

'Slumdog' claims historic Oscar night success

'Slumdog' claims historic Oscar night success
"Slumdog Millionaire" won best picture Sunday night, earning a total of eight Oscars at the 81st annual Academy Awards. Sean Penn won best actor, Kate Winslet won best actress and the late Heath Ledger won best supporting actor.

Behind the scenes at the Academy Awards

Behind the scenes at the Academy Awards
When you're at home, you can sit back and be critical. When you're inside the theater, the whole show seems to work, especially the big production numbers.
John Legend Wants Celebs To Stiffarm MY Post: Singer's open letter condemns chimp cartoon.
*Count John Legend among those expressing outrage against the New York Post in the wake of its editorial cartoon that some black leaders feel compares President Obama to a crazed chimpanzee that was shot by police. The cartoon appeared several days after the police shooting of a chimp that had viciously mauled a woman in Stamford, Connecticut. In a statement, the newspaper says the drawing was intended to "mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill. Period. But it has been taken as something else -- as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism. This most certainly was not its intent." In response to the Post's statement, Legend released the following open letter on Friday

Opening nights

SAG turns down 'final offer' from studios
The board of the Screen Actors Guild rejected the "last, best and final offer" by producers Saturday night, continuing a months-long deadlock over contract talks.
SAG rejects 'final offer' from producers

The Screen Actors Guild board of directors on Saturday rejected the 'last, best and final offer' by Hollywood producers for a new contract.

The contract was rejected by 73 percent of SAG's board members, spokeswoman Pamela Greenwalt said in a statement.

SAG called the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers' demand for the contract to run for three years instead of two, 'regressive and damaging.'

Producers insist the three-year contract would start when it is ratified, instead of when the last one expired, which would mean SAG would not be able to join with the writers' and directors' guilds to increase their bargaining power when their contracts expire in 2011.

Opening nights
Brewster Theater Company's production of Ira Levin's suspenseful mystery "VERONICA'S ROOM" opens Friday night at 8 in the Cerebral Palsy Headquarters Building, 15 Mt. Ebo South, Brewster, N.Y.Levin may be better known for such creepy works as "Deathtrap," "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Stepford Wives," but one should not discount "Veronica's Room" for chilling drama.

Conan says bye to New York with some old friends

Conan O'Brien said goodbye to New York and NBC's 'Late Night' by passing out shards of his stage, enjoying one last rub from Will Ferrell and promising fans he wouldn't grow up for an earlier time slot.

O'Brien is heading to Los Angeles, where NBC will fulfill a promise it made five years ago to make him 'Tonight' show host. That new gig begins in June.

O'Brien took a sledgehammer and ax to his stage set this week, giving fans souvenirs. On his last show, taped Friday evening and aired at 12:35 a.m. ET, a construction vehicle was used to tear down a pillar of lights, which was cut up offstage.

Pinki brings a smile to the Oscars
While all eyes seem to be on "Slumdog Millionaire" for the Oscars, the eyes of a very courageous little girl will be focused on another India based film at the ceremony.
'Fired Up' is lamely raunchy, entertaining
I didn't half-mind "Fired Up," but half a mind is more than it deserves. It's "Wedding Crashers" with high school seniors and bras and panties, as opposed to Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson and copious toplessness. Now and then, though, somebody says something funny.

Leaked pic appears to show bruised Rihanna

Leaked pic appears to show bruised Rihanna
Los Angeles police have launched an internal investigation to determine who leaked a picture of a bruised and battered Rihanna to the media.

Ledger loss would be 'unthinkable'

Ledger loss would be 'unthinkable'
The idea that Heath Ledger won't win in the best supporting actor category for "The Dark Knight" is unthinkable, CNN.com's Tom Charity says. See what other predictions he has.

Kind Buds to perform Friday in Bridgeport

Leaked pic appears to show bruised Rihanna
Los Angeles police have launched an internal investigation to determine who leaked a picture of a bruised and battered Rihanna to the media.
Photo of Beaten Rihanna All Over Internet: Someone leaked pic to TMZ; LD launches investigation.
*It's the picture of Rihanna we've been waiting to see ever since the infamous beating of her, allegedly by singer/dancer Chris Brown, went down the morning of the Grammy Awards on February 8. The photo, obtained by ... surprise, TMZ.com, shows just how brutally the pop star/singer was beaten. If her attacker is indeed Chris Brown, the evidence against him is even more overwhelming than we imagined. But that's a whole other issue. The problem here is that the release of the photo is unauthorized and LD is not happy.

Kind Buds to perform Friday in Bridgeport
Bud & Budd, aka The Kind Buds, will perform at the Acoustic Cafe in Bridgeport on Friday at 10 p.m. The duo, who will play original tunes and covers, have played various festivals including Sunshine Daydream at the Killington Ski Resort, and have opened for such artists as Jefferson Starship and The New Riders of the Purple Sage.

'Lydia' is turbulent portrait of family dysfunction

Black actors still face Oscar challenges
On a winter evening in early 1940, Hattie McDaniel became the first black performer to win an Oscar, a best supporting actress honor for her performance as Mammy, the servant in "Gone With the Wind."
TNT Lifts Barkley Suspension: Chuck will return this week following forced leave due to DUI.
*Charles Barkley is off punishment at TNT. The network has ended his time out and the analyst will return to his "NBA on TNT" gig this week, Turner Sports announced Tuesday. The former NBA star had been on a forced leave since January after a drunken driving arrest in Arizona.

'Lydia' is turbulent portrait of family dysfunction
"Lydia," a new play by Octavio Solis that premiered last year at the Denver Center Theatre Company, is making its East Coast debut at Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven.Solis, a native of El Paso, Texas, has drawn from his Spanish roots and childhood experiences in that border town to tell the story of a dysfunctional Mexican-American family locked in a life of disappointments.

Chris Brown Hires Paris' Jail Flack: Damage control began with 'sorry and saddened' statement.

Why Annie Lennox is ready to move on
Annie Lennox's Eurythmics days seem like a lifetime ago for the Scotland-born singer-songwriter, especially when you consider the successful solo career she's enjoyed since her partnership with Dave Stewart. It's that body of work -- songs like 'Why" and "No More 'I Love You's' " that are showcased on her newest album.
Chris Brown Hires Paris' Jail Flack: Damage control began with 'sorry and saddened' statement.
*The publicist who handled press during Paris Hilton's post-jail stint has been hired to do similar damage control for Chris Brown following his alleged violent incident with girlfriend, Rihanna. Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman has already weighed in with a column critical of Mike Sitrick, Brown's new spin doctor who apparently has a bad history with the press.

Who wants to be famous? News-Times seeks society photos
The News-Times welcomes submissions of quality photos taken at your fancy function or charity event. These will appear on a new Society Page starting Feb. 22 in our Sunday paper. Photos must be sent as a jpeg attachment and be accompanied by caption information in the body of the e-mail.

Octuplet mom PR: We got death threats

Octuplet mom PR: We got death threats
Joann Killeen is president of the Killeen Furtney Group, the Los Angeles, California-based public relations firm that represented octuplet mom Nadya Suleman.

New Simpsons credits

The new opening of The Simpsons reminds me of the re-release of the original Star Wars films.

George Lucas inserts various special effects, seemingly just because he could with advances in digital technology.

Mostly these are new creatures and spaceships or old ones given a makeover.

In the case of the desert planet of Tatooine these do little than more clutter the original sparse western feel of the scenes in the originally released movie.

In the first (pre-prequel) Star Wars there is even a whole new scene where the digital Jabba the Hut rehashes, to no dramatic purpose, the same plot exposition with Han Solo as occurred in the cantina with the bounty hunter sent to kill him.

Like many a directors’ cut, there is little gained by the altered and reshot footage, other than to bloat and even dilute a leaner piece of film-making.

The reworking of the 20-year-old Simpsons credits kick off with a self-conscious Bart blackboard joke that HDTV is worth the money.

To prove it the new opening gives you more gags, while essentially going through the same narrative of the Simpson family heading home at the end of the day towards the couch.

But again more sometimes seems like less.

For instance, Homer’s terrified run to escape Marge’s oncoming car now concludes with the punchline of him being sent through the garage wall, jagged outline and all.

This was the sort of humour The Simpsons early on parodied but restricted to its wonderful Itchy and Scratchy take on Tom and Jerry/ Warner Bros cartoon violence.

Undoubtedly The Simpsons deserves to be mentioned as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, comedy shows on TV.

For a number (how many is the subject of much nerdish debate) of seasons it was a brilliantly sustained satire that forensically observed a US lower middle-class family with recognisably “real” challenges and sympathetic characters.

But that seems far removed from today’s offerings from Springfield, which rely heavily on slapstick, grotesques and frenetic fantastic plots, sometimes chopped and changed mid-program.

The reworked credits are not a new beginning but another sign of Homer and co’s slow decline.

Jay-Z Says 'We Should All Support' Rihanna: Plus, Will and Jada have 'reached out to both of them.'

Tyler Perry is still looking for respect
Tyler Perry wants to take his character Madea to Europe, but he's been told that audiences there won't relate to his stories about African-American lives. The challenge to conquer Europe has "sat in my spirit," Perry wrote in a newsletter to his fans.
Jay-Z Says 'We Should All Support' Rihanna: Plus, Will and Jada have 'reached out to both of them.'
*Rapper Jay-Z, the man who signed Rihanna to Def Jam during his tenure as president, has made his first public comments about the singer's recent domestic dispute involving her boyfriend Chris Brown. "This is a real situation," he told People.com Saturday in Phoenix at the Sprite Green presents the Third Annual Two Kings dinner with Jay-Z and Lebron James, as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend.

3 Doors Down frontman: Scoring No. 1 hits is always a great feeling
Lead singer Brad Arnold of the rock band 3 Doors Down said when the song "It's Not My Time" from the band's self-titled album hit No. 1 in 2008, it was just as special a feeling as it was when the band scored its first No. 1 hit, "Kryptonite," eight years earlier.

Musical odd couple finds harmony

Musical odd couple finds harmony
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Once upon a time, the iconic lead singer of Led Zeppelin and the golden girl of bluegrass would never have been mentioned in the same sentence. But since they won five Grammy awards, their names have been inextricably linked.
Chris Brown Speaks!: Says he's 'sorry and saddened.'
*Chris Brown, who was arrested a week ago in connection with the alleged beating of his girlfriend, Rihanna, released a statement Sunday expressing remorse over his actions, according to reports. "Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person," the singer said in a statement issued through publicist Michael Sitrick.

Dollhouse premiere ratings even worse than expected

Dollhouse premiere ratings even worse than expected

The series premiere of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse was seen by just 4.7 million viewers on Friday night and earned a 2.0 preliminary adults 18-49 rating and 6 share, below even the network's modest expectations for the series.

Growing up isn't always easy
Imagine finding yourself alone in a space shuttle, far from earth. Unless you're a pilot, it's safe to say the vast majority would have little-to-no knowledge of how to operate the space craft. Hopefully your radio is working and that ground control can assist you in a safe flight.

Maher: Obama still has learning curve

Maher: Obama still has learning curve
Barack Obama is smarter than the average president, but he still has a lot to learn, according to comedian Bill Maher.
Chris Brown's Father Says Singer is "Remorseful"

Chris Brown's father says the R&B star is remorseful, following his arrest on suspicion of attacking a woman widely believed to be pop star Rihanna, People magazine reported on its Web site on Friday.

Eight successes grateful they got canned

Eight successes grateful they got canned
In our tough economic climate, it's worth reminding ourselves that losing a job might not be the end of the world. Sure, it never feels good, but for these well-known folks, getting the boot from their gigs provided the impetus for them to reach even greater successes.

Maher: Obama still has learning curve

Maher: Obama still has learning curve
Barack Obama is smarter than the average president, but he still has a lot to learn, according to comedian Bill Maher.
EUR This N That | Dishin' Dirt on the NAACP Image Awards, 50 Cent, T.D. Jakes' son and More
What's up y'all?! Here is the dirt ... The 40th NAACP Image Awards kicked off with a BANG!! I enjoyed every minute of it. It was an emotional roller coaster. One minute I was tearing up (yeah, I'm a punk) and the next I was tickled pink. Tyler Perry and Halle Berry did an AWESOME job hosting this year's event. Overall I love the show. However, there were three wins that made be believe that the NAACP was SELLING awards to the highest bidder.

Two actor-comedians coming to Danbury
Comedians Jeff Norris and Rob Falcone will perform at a dinner and stand-up comedy show Feb. 20 at the Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Road, Danbury.Stage Door Productions is presenting this night of entertainment, which begins with a dinner buffet from 6:30 to 8 p.

Attempted Murder Charges for C. Brown?: Plus, explain of 'further investigation' order from DA.

Mandy Moore engaged
Mandy Moore is getting a license to wed rocker Ryan Adams.
Attempted Murder Charges for C. Brown?: Plus, explain of 'further investigation' order from DA.
*EUR has learned that the Los Angeles Police Department is taking seriously an allegation by pop star Rihanna that her boyfriend, Chris Brown, threatened to kill her during their violent altercation early Sunday. We are told by a source close to the investigation that police may suggest attempted murder charges against Brown when the case is handed over to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. As previously reported, the LD presented their case against Brown to the DA, but a spokeswoman said county prosecutors are asking detectives to investigate further.

'Long Day's Journey' is earnest, but uneven
Eugene O'Neill's wrenching autobiographical drama, "Long Day's Journey Into Night," is a daunting challenge for any theater company. If the production at the Warner Theatre in Torrington doesn't have the impact the four-hour long work can deliver, it is still worth seeing for O'Neill's powerful writing and some earnest, if uneven, performances.

Lawmakers upset by TM-LN merger

Lawmakers upset by TM-LN merger
Two lawmakers are urging the Obama administration to block the proposed merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation, which they said would create a "near monopoly" in concert ticketing.

Stories behind 20 Muppet characters

Stories behind 20 Muppet characters
Like a lot of people, I grew up on Sesame Street and the Muppets. But did you ever stop to wonder where they came from?
Rihanna Out of Hospital; More Injuries Detailed: Plus, singer cancels Malaysia gig due to incident.
*Rihanna was discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Monday night in a clandestine operation that involved a back exit and a decoy to throw off the media, reports E! News. The pop star, who is now reportedly back in her Barbados hometown, was hospitalized for injuries suffered during an assault early Sunday morning, allegedly at the hands of her boyfriend, singer Chris Brown.

Valentine's Day meal on a budget
Not wanting to dish out serious cash at a restaurant doesn't have to doom you to a dull Valentine's Day dinner. Cooking a special meal for that special someone is a surefire way to show some love. And with the right recipe you can achieve gourmet results at a fraction of the cost of eating out.

Where 'Lost' intends to go

Where 'Lost' intends to go
Across the street from a neatly tended cemetery on the island of Oahu, there is a gated lot where the past, present, and future of "Lost" all come together. The Others' submarine, Henry Gale's hot-air balloon, Locke's outrigger -- all beached on the grass like so many Black Rock shipwrecks.

Stories behind 20 Muppet characters

Stories behind 20 Muppet characters
Like a lot of people, I grew up on Sesame Street and the Muppets. But did you ever stop to wonder where they came from?
Cops Value Witness In Chris Brown Case: Authorities look to 911 caller in continued investigation.
*The Los Angeles Times says the 911 call alerting police to the alleged assault involving Chris Brown and Rihanna may be an important key in the investigation. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the unidentified person who phoned was unaware of the couple's celebrity when he or she reported the violent altercation, which took place around 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the ritzy Hancock Park section of Los Angeles.

Sisters lead Eyes Set To Kill onstage
Eyes Set To Kill lead singer and lead guitarist Alexia Rodriguez said in a recent interview that the idea of playing in a band without her younger sister, Anissa, was simply unthinkable."I guess it has to do with being comfortable because I've known her for so long," Alexia said.

Steve Wozniak to Hoof It on Season 8 of "Dancing With the Stars"

Plant and Krauss win five Grammys
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss won five Grammys Sunday night, including album of the year for "Raising Sand" and record of the year for "Please Read the Letter." Coldplay was also a big winner on a night overshadowed by allegations facing Chris Brown.
Steve Wozniak to Hoof It on Season 8 of "Dancing With the Stars"
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has been mostly quiet since his highly publicized break-up with comedienne Kathy Griffin (as shown on her "reality" show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List), but he's about to venture out onto the public airwaves again, as he will be a contestant on season 8 of ABC's Dancing With the Stars.

Mating game has consequences in 'I Love You"
Lemmings rush to the sea; swallows go back to Capistrano, but the love sick will go ANYWHERE in search of Mr. or Ms. Right. With billions of people on earth why is it so hard to find a romantic partner -- one that will last past Saturday night -- as the old song goes?

David Archuleta Debuts as an Actor (Sort Of)
David Archuleta is best known as his appearances during the seventh season of American Idol. But can he act? Well, if saying "hob knocker" is acting, the answer is yes.

Bale apologizes for 'Terminator' tantrum

Actor James Whitmore dies
Craggy-faced film, television and stage actor James Whitmore has died at 87, the Los Angeles County, California, Sheriff's Department confirmed Saturday.
Bale apologizes for 'Terminator' tantrum

Christian Bale wants everyone to make fun of him for his profanity-filled tirade against a crew member on the set of "Terminator: Salvation."

Choral concert Sunday in South Salem
SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. - Camerata d'Amici will present a choral concert Sunday at 4 p.m. in South Salem Presbyterian Church, 111 Spring St. The group of 40 auditioned singers includes Susan Ahern and Victoria Secunda of Danbury.Because Valentine's Day is near, the concert will feature several pieces that celebrate and explore the emotion of love.

Grammys hoping for excitement

Grammys hoping for excitement
As a concert, the Grammy Awards are often well worth watching. As awards? Not so much. So can the often staid honors mocked as the "Grannies" get some excitement into their night?

More turning to Web to watch TV, movies

More turning to Web to watch TV, movies
When Corey Wynsma's wife got laid off a few months ago from her graphic design job, the couple did an inventory of their household budget.
Etta Changes Tune About Beyonce Comment: Says it was a joke: 'I wasn't doing it to be hateful.'
*After her disparaging comments about Beyonce and President Obama jumped from the Internet to mainstream media on Thursday, Etta James has come forward to say it was all just a joke. An audio tape of James slamming Beyonce for singing her signature song at the first Inaugural Ball, and ridiculing Barack Obama for allowing it to happen, were not meant to be taken seriously, according to James.
Who will win at the Grammys?
Lil Wayne and Coldplay were the kings of the music industry last year. They had the No. 1 and No. 2 best-selling CDs, respectively, and come into this year's Grammys leading the pack in nominations, with Lil Wayne's eight, and Coldplay's seven. But when it comes to the key category of album of the year, their dominance will likely end, thanks to the unlikely collaboration between Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

The music powerhouse you've never heard of

The music powerhouse you've never heard of
With 17 Grammys, five gold records and -- by his count -- almost 130 albums, polka superstar Jimmy Sturr might just be the most successful musician you've never heard of. Sturr and his orchestra, superstars in the polka world, are one of a multitude of musical acts nominated this year in some of the lesser-known Grammy categories.

Diddy Leaves Club To Avoid Gun Search?: He couldn't get around NYPD and allegedly 'went nuts.'

The Grammy powerhouse you've never heard of
With 17 Grammys, five gold records and -- by his count -- almost 130 albums, polka superstar Jimmy Sturr might just be the most successful musician you've never heard of. Sturr and his orchestra, superstars in the polka world, are one of a multitude of musical acts nominated this year in some of the lesser-known Grammy categories.
Diddy Leaves Club To Avoid Gun Search?: He couldn't get around NYPD and allegedly 'went nuts.'
*When Sean "Diddy" Combs learned he and his posse would have to be searched for weapons upon entering a New York club Monday night, the mogul reportedly decided to take his friends and go elsewhere, according to the New York Post.

This one requires simmering onions, plus patience

Top 10 cop cars of all time
Ever get the feeling the cops are driving a much cooler car than you?
Beanie Babies maker retires Sasha & Malia monikers in the wake of First Lady's statements.
*The company that makes the popular Beanie Babies has decided to ditch the names "Marvelous Malia" and "Sweet Sasha" from its Ty Girlz collection following an earful from the First Lady. (Read on/click thru to learn more.)
This one requires simmering onions, plus patience
If you wonder why French cooking enjoys such enduring popularity, consider today's soup. This humble combination of bread, cheese, onions and broth -- once the early-morning breakfast of purveyors at the old Les Halles market in Paris -- is a classic.

Director: Talked-about film had to be 'hard R'

Director: Talked-about film had to be 'hard R'
A yellow smiley-face badge, smeared with blood, has become the trademark for "Watchmen," the most critically revered of all comic books -- but it could also represent its troubled journey from page to big screen.

'867-5309' bids up to $365,000

'867-5309' bids up to $365,000
Jenny's number -- scribbled on a fictional bathroom wall and burned into your mind by a 1982 pop song -- has ignited a fierce online bidding war.
Tiffany 'New York' Pollard Goes to Atlanta via L.A. to deliver a 'Vagina Monologue.'
*New York may be the town that never sleeps, but New York, known in serious dramatic & reality show circles as Tiffany Pollard, is always working. The actress who gained fame on the first season of "Flavor of Love" with Flava Flav, then with her own love search reality series, "I Love New York." Well, New York is now in Los Angeles, pursuing an acting career. But next up for the reality fave is Atlanta, for Eve Ensler's Obie-award winning play 'The Vagina Monologues.'
Jessica Simpson plans to make more country albums
In terms of her goals on the country music scene, singer-songwriter Jessica Simpson simply hopes to continue making music fans will enjoy."It's not just a one-album thing for me," she told me in a recent interview. "I'm always writing, so I've already started jotting down some ideas for the next record.

'The day the music died'? Hardly

'The day the music died'? Hardly
The plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper has echoed through rock 'n' roll history for 50 years, representing, if not the end of rock 'n' roll itself, the close of an era. On Monday night, the anniversary of the trio's deaths, a huge tribute concert is taking place.

EUR This N That | Dishin' Dirt on Michael Phelps, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Rowland & More
What's up, y'all?! I may as well tell you about "Olympic Great" Michael Phelps and his hitting the pipe. The Associated Press is reporting that some pictures of Michael smoking a marijuana pipe surfaced around November of last year. Apparently Michael was at a house party near the University of South Carolina and decided to fire up the old peace pipe. The clincher is that ...

New Jersey DJ Selling Famous 'Jenny' Phone Number

A New Jersey-based man is selling his DJ business on eBay, but it's the phone number attached to it that's the real attraction: 867-5309, as immortalized in the song "867-5309 " by Tommy Tutone .

Springsteen calls Wal-Mart deal a mistake

Springsteen calls Wal-Mart deal a mistake

The Boss is owning up to a mistake. In an interview with The New York Times, Bruce Springsteen says he shouldn't have made a deal with Wal-Mart. This month, the store started exclusively selling a Springsteen ...

So much depends on neighborhood
Q. My 10-year-old daughter is very anxious to start staying home alone and/or begin babysitting for short periods of time. She has just finished fourth grade. What are your thoughts about how old children should be before allowing them to stay home by themselves and/or babysit on their own?