KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Jason Aldean celebrated his second consecutive Number One hit from his current Wide Open album with a party in Nashville on Tuesday (September 29th). "Big Green Tractor" dominated the country singles charts for four weeks, giving Aldean the third overall chart-topper of his career.

Aldean has seen quite a bit of success with songs about tractors, which he tells us might make people wonder. "I think with the fact that we had 'Amarillo Sky' and now 'Tractor' I think people are probably thinkin' we got some kind of tractor fetish or something, but it really is just kind of coincidence, you know what I mean? I mean, I grew up in Georgia where there was a lot of rural area and farms and my cousin had about a 200 acre farm that I used to help him on when I was a kid and things like that, so, I mean, I'm kind of drawn to those songs a little bit."

Aldean says these tractor songs have a special place in his heart, especially if they're hits. He tells us he might even consider cutting another such tune. "I am kind of drawn to like the blue collar-type songs a little bit for whatever reason, but I don't know. We'll see. Jim Collins wrote 'She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy' and now this one. If he's got another one I'll just have him send it over to me and we'll see what happens."

• Aldean new single, called "The Truth," is climbing the charts.
• The singer will be among those performing at the We're All For The Hall fundraiser at the Sommet Center in Nashville on October 13th. The sold out show also features performances by Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Vince Gill, Taylor Swift and headliner Keith Urban.

Brooks & Dunn will perform their greatest hits as well as new music from their album, #1s...And Then Some, on the newest installment of CMT's Invitation Only, debuting on October 30th at 10 p.m. ET. The show was taped in Nashville just days after the duo announced their split. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn perform and take questions from fans in the audience who wanted to know about their decision to part ways, among other things.

• Brooks & Dunn's set list includes "Boot Scootin' Boogie," "My Maria," "Neon Moon," "Honky Tonk Stomp" and "Cowgirls Don't Cry."

FAST FACTS

• Brooks & Dunn's last U.S. show of the year is on October 4th in Tucson, Arizona.
• Their final tour as a duo, called the Last Rodeo tour, will happen in 2010.

As this year's recipient of the Academy of Country Music's (ACM) Humanitarian Award, LeAnn Rimes is teaming up with volunteers from The Home Depot, ACM, KaBOOM!, the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon counties and Murfreesboro, Tennessee community members on October 7th to build a playground in just one day at Spring Valley Apartments. Each year, the winner of this award receives a KaBOOM! playground donated by The Home Depot to be built in the city of their choice. Rimes selected Murfreesboro as the site for her playground build.

• Rimes received the Humanitarian Award back in April during the ACM Awards in Las Vegas. At the time, Rimes told us how important it is for her to give back. "It makes me feel good, you know? It's part of, I think, my responsibility as a human being, but also as a celebrity to be able to do good for other people."
• Past recipients of the Award include Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Neal McCoy, Martina McBride, Lonestar and Reba McEntire.

FAST FACTS

• The Home Depot provides financial support, materials and volunteers. By the end of 2009, The Home Depot will have built and funded more than 1,500 KaBOOM! play space projects.
• Rimes lends her time to such organizations as Children's Miracle Network, Camp C.O.P.E., Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, and Nashville Humane Association.

Good Morning America co-host and breast cancer survivor Robin Roberts will help the Grand Ole Opry go pink during its two peformances on Friday (October 2nd). She will announce during a portion of the night's first show, including introducing special guests like Carrie Underwood and Terri Clark. During each of the night's shows, Underwood will take the stage to flip the switch and turn the Opry's signature barn backdrop pink in support of the groups Women Rock for the Cure and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The shows will also include performances from Underwood, Clark, Jo Dee Messina and Lorrie Morgan.

• Five dollars from the sale of every ticket to these special shows will be donated to Women Rock for the Cure and the Greater Nashville affiliate of Susan G. Komen when purchasers mention or enter the code "OPRYPINK" when ordering tickets over the phone or online.

FAST FACT

• Roberts was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer in 2007.
• That same year, Clark's mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer.

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Dwight Yoakam will perform at the concert in conjunction with the 26th annual Love Ride on Sunday, October 25th at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California. The show concludes the Love Ride, the largest one-day motorcycle charity fundraiser.

• Jay Leno will preside as Grand Marshal, as he's done since the Ride's inception, when approximately 20,000 bikers from around the world start their engines.
• In addition to Leno, celebrity riders include Honorary Grand Marshals Peter Fonda, Robert Patrick and Willie G. Davidson.
• Love Ride has raised over $21 million for charity since 1984.

SIDE NOTE

• Yoakam will perform at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Thursday (October 1st) at the All For The Hall fundraiser to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum located in Nashville. He will be joined by Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Melissa Etheridge, among others.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. What was the name of the band that Troy Gentry, Eddie Montgomery and John Michael Montgomery played in together before John Michael's solo career?
A. Early Tymz

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 12:00PM (ET)
Miranda Lambert, Mark Wills

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW/SYN (check local listings)
Brad Paisley

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?/CMT 8:00PM (ET)
Tom Arnold

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Kris Kristofferson

SOUNDSTAGE/GAC 9:00PM (ET)
Sugarland

REBA: ON THE SET OF STRANGE/GAC 10:00PM (ET)

THE JAY LENO SHOW/NBC 10:00PM (ET)
Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS

• Marty Stuart (51)
• Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery Gentry) (46)
• Deborah Allen (56)
• Johnny Mathis (singer, "Misty" and "Chances Are") (74)
• Marilyn McCoo (singer, The Fifth Dimension, married to Billy Davis Jr) (65)
• Angie Dickinson (actress, Police Woman's Sgt. Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson) (78)
• Fran Drescher (actress, The Nanny) (52)
• Jenna Elfman (actress, Dharma & Greg ) (38)
• Martina Hingis (Pro tennis player) (29)
• Barry Williams (actor, The Brady Bunch's Greg) (55)
• Monica Bellucci (actress, The Matrix Reloaded, The Passion Of The Christ) (45)
• Vondie Curtis-Hall (actor, Chicago Hope) (53)
• Basia (singer) (55)
• Patrice Rushen (jazz/R&B singer, composer, and pianist) (55)
• Eric Stoltz (actor, Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Mask, Pulp Fiction, Chicago Hope) (48)
• Cissy Houston (member of Sweet Inspirations and mother of Whitney Houston, aunt of Dionne Warwick) (76)
• Trey Anastasio (singer-guitarist, Phish) (45)
• Lacey Chabert (TV actress, Party Of Five, Daddy Daycare) (27)
• Debrah Farentino (actress, NYPD Blue, Eureka) (50)
• Marion Cotillard (actress, La Vie En Rose, Public Enemies, Big Fish) (34)
• Kieran Culkin (actor, Father of the Bride Parts I & II, Igby Goes Down, brother of Macaulay Culkin) (27)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

• Frances Preston and George Jones were elected to the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1992.
• Earl Thomas Conley's Greatest Hits album was released in 1985.
• George Strait topped the Billboard chart with "Give It Away" in 2006.
• Billy Currington's self-titled debut album was released in 2003.
• The Judds climbed to Number One on the Billboard country chart with "Let Me Tell You About Love" in 1989.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

JON CRYER ADOPTS DAUGHTER: Jon Cryer and his wife have adopted a baby girl. A rep for the Two and a Half Men star confirmed to People magazine that the couple is now parents to an infant named Daisy, who was born on August 11th. This is the first child for the couple, however Cryer has a nine-year-old son from a previous relationship.

SCARLETT JOHANSSON BLASTS WEIGHT RUMORS: Scarlett Johansson is still furious about reports earlier this year, suggesting she'd dropped 14 pounds for her role in Iron Man 2. She told Glamour magazine, "There was this rumor mill cranking out stories that I had lost 14 pounds -- I could never lose 14 pounds. I can't look at somebody who is 6 feet tall and 120 pounds and say, I'm going to get that body. That's just never going to happen." The normally secretive star also addressed her marriage to Ryan Reynolds, saying, "I never really thought about getting married -- it just kind of happened," she says. "You hope that a relationship makes you better, that you learn things about yourself....I feel more confident to explore things within myself that I hadn't thought about in the past."

TORI SPELLING HOSPITALIZED WITH STOMACH PAIN: Tori Spelling was readmitted to a Los Angeles hospital on Tuesday (September 29th), a day after she spent time there because of abdominal pain. Her rep told Life & Style magazine, "They released her last night. She wasn't feeling better today so she returned to the hospital for more tests." After she was initially released on Monday, Spelling's husband Dean McDermott tweeted, "Just out of the hospital. After a battery of tests, no conclusive answers. She still feels terrible. Hope it passes soon. She's in a lot of pain."

EDDIE FURLONG ESTRANGED WIFE GETS RESTRAINING ORDER: Terminator 2 actor Eddie Furlong's estranged wife just obtained a temporary restraining order after alleging that he threatened to hire people to beat her, TMZ.com reports. Rachael Kneeland, who filed for divorce from Furlong in July, claims the actor "grabbed me, bruised me, pushed me, made threats of more violence, left messages saying he would hire people to come and beat me with chains and bats." Kneeland also claims Furlong "is smoking cocaine and doing other various drugs." The restraining order states that Furlong must stay at least 100 yards away from Kneeland.

JAMIE KENNEDY DENIES CHEATING REPORTS: Jamie Kennedy has slammed reports that he is cheating on girlfriend Jennifer Love Hewitt. After PerezHilton.com reports that the pair had broken up because Kennedy was cheating with his ex-girlfriend Shannon Funk, a rep for the comedian told Usmagazine.com, "This is a completely fabricated story made up by a disgruntled former employee, terminated for cause. Jamie and Jennifer are happy and still together."

PATRICK SWAYZE MEMORIAL TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY: A private memorial service for Patrick Swayze will be held this Sunday (October 4th). RadarOnline.com reports that the memorial is set to take place at Sony Studios in Culver City, CA and the family is asking that donations be made to The Patrick Swayze Pancreas Cancer Research Fund. The actor died after a battle with pancreatic cancer earlier this month.

PAMELA ANDERSON SAYS SHE'S NOT BROKE: Pamela Anderson is denying reports that she's broke and more than $1 million in debt. The former Baywatch babe says that she is locked in a dispute with the contractors who told tabloid magazines that she owes them hundreds of thousands of dollars, but that isn't the case. In a statement she said, "These reports are crazy and I cannot believe this has become a media issue. I am actually touched at how much concern has been expressed for me over this. It is true that I am in a dispute with some of the contractors working on my home. This is because after paying millions of dollars to build the house I continue to get bills from the contractors. My lawyers are reviewing the work done to see if the bills are fair. If they are, they'll be paid. If they aren't, they won't be."

PARIS HILTON'S BOYFRIEND SUES FORMER LANDLORD: Paris Hilton's boyfriend Doug Reinhardt filed a lawsuit on Tuesday (September 29th), claiming that his former landlord is refusing to give back the portion of his security deposit that he is owed. Reinhart says that he agreed to pay over $2,332 for repairs, but the landlord will not return the rest of his $24,000 deposit. He's asking for the $21,668 balance in addition to court costs.

ANDREW SHUE ENGAGED TO 'TODAY' ANCHOR: Former Melrose Place star Andrew Shue is engaged to Today Show anchor, Amy Robach. People magazine reports that the two -- each of whom is divorced -- were introduced by mutual friends this past spring. Both celebrities split from their former spouses last year.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

JOHNNY DEPP 'PIRATES' RUMORS UNTRUE: Despite rumors, Disney is not planning to replace Johnny Depp as the star of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. A spokesperson for Disney said that gossip about Depp's role is "completely unfounded." Online rumors circulating earlier this week suggested that Depp might not reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the film's next installment, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

DAN RATHER'S CBS LAWSUIT DISMISSED: An appeals court has dismissed Dan Rather's $70 million lawsuit against his former employer, CBS. The newsman sued CBS and its executives for breach of contract in 2007, claiming that he was removed as the CBS Evening News anchor due to controversy about a report he made on President George W. Bush's military service. Rather's lawyer said he is disappointed at the unanimous ruling for dismissal and said he will ask the state's Court of Appeals to review the decision.

RYAN SEACREST TO MAKE NEW KARDASHIAN REALITY SHOW? Ryan Seacrest is reportedly considering producing a reality show centered on newlyweds Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom. When asked about the possibility, the television personality told TMZ.com, "I mean, come on, the producer side of me is thinking [it] could be a good reality series. Today's about celebration, tomorrow's about production." Kardashian already has two series under her belt; E!'s Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami.

MORE SOAPS GETTING CANCELED? Another long-running soap opera is reportedly biting the dust. TV Guide reports that One Life to Live is on the chopping block, while As the World Turns is in danger as well. A source told the publication, "One Life will be canceled next year barring a ratings miracle."

GOSSELIN REALITY SHOW BECOMING KATE PLUS 8

Jon Gosselin is being dropped from the title of his family's reality show. TLC announced on Tuesday (September 29th) that the program will be renamed Kate Plus Eight as of November 2nd, when it will put a "deeper focus" on Kate's role as a single mother.

Although TLC's president Eileen O'Neill said Jon will still be involved with the show, People magazine reports that he will no longer appear on the program. A source told People, "Given Jon's recent antics, there was no way the show could continue to portray him as a doting Dad, not while all this other crap was going on."

O'Neill said, "Given the recent changes in the family dynamics, it only makes sense for us to refresh and recalibrate the program to keep pace with the family. The family has evolved and we are attempting to evolve with it."

JON REPORTEDLY WANTS TO DELAY DIVORCE

Meanwhile Jon is reportedly asking that the finalization of his divorce from Kate be delayed.

• In Touch magazine claims that he said in a statement, "Even though we were heading for a divorce, it appeared that Kate had been suffering from this divorce as much as I had. That's why I asked my attorney to put the brakes on this divorce so I could try to regain control over the future of our family. So Kate and I could join on a cooperative course that would benefit our family -- not destroy it...I regret my conduct since Kate and I separated [on June 22]. I used poor judgment in publicly socializing with other women so soon."

KATE THINKS SHOW COULD END SOON

Meanwhile, Kate recently suggested that the show could entirely disappear in the near future. The New York Post reports that Kate wrote on Facebook, "With ratings falling, this might be the last season of Jon & Kate Plus 8. I'm not sure yet."

MEL GIBSON REPORTEDLY WANTS DUI REMOVED

Mel Gibson plans on asking a judge to dismiss his 2006 DUI. TMZ.com reports that the actor's lawyer will go to court next week and ask the judge to remove the blemish from Gibson's record as he's successfully completed the terms of his three-year probation.

• Gibson was arrested for DUI in Malibu back in 2006, at which point he infamously went on an anti-Semitic tirade.
• TMZ.com believes Gibson's lawyer will be in court next Tuesday (October 6th).

BRUNO BANNED IN MALAYSIA

Malaysia has banned Bruno from airing in the country because it highlights gay life and contains gay sex scenes. An official from Malaysia's Film Censorship Board said, "It's banned because the story is based on gay life ... There are a lot of sex scenes. It's contrary to our culture."

Censors were also reportedly bothered by the inclusion of sex toys, politically incorrect comments and jokes about religion.

• The Associated Press reports that gay sex or "carnal intercourse against the order of nature," is punishable by up to 20 years in jail and whipping in Malaysia.
• Ukraine has also banned the film while star Sacha Baron Cohen's first offering, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, was prohibited from being shown in Kazakhstan and Russia.
• Malaysia also banned Halloween II earlier this month, citing gory scenes and excessive violence.

HUGH JACKMAN INTERRUPTS BROADWAY SHOW

Hugh Jackman interrupted his performance in Broadway's A Steady Rain last week after an audience member's cell phone started ringing during the show. Reuters reports that after the phone went off, Jackman said in character, "You want to get that?"

He continued, "Grab your phone, it doesn't matter. Come on, just turn it off ... we can wait. Just get the phone."

• The audience reportedly began applauding as he added, "Don't be embarrassed. Just grab it.
• Jackman co-stars with Daniel Craig in the show, which is scheduled to run until December 6th.

CHECK IT OUT:

• See footage from the incident: http://tinyurl.com/y9yvj2y
• Cell phone etiquette: http://tinyurl.com/y99ko3u

KATHY IRELAND WALTZES OFF DANCING WITH THE STARS

Beauty and grace weren't enough to keep Kathy Ireland on Dancing With The Stars. The former model was voted off the show last night (Tuesday, September 29th) after turning in a performance the night before that the judges thought was elegant but too cold. Ireland said she enjoyed her short time on the show, telling host Tom Bergeron, "I wouldn't change a moment of it." Ireland also thanked her professional partner, Tony Dovolani.

• Actress Debi Mazar and her professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy were in the bottom two with Ireland and Dovolani. It was somewhat of a surprise since Mazar ended Tuesday night in a three-way tie for third place after the judges voted.
• There are now 13 couples left to compete.
• Joss Stone, Selena Gomez, dancers from Stomp the Yard and the USC Trojans performed on last night's show.

ROMAN POLANSKI APPEALS EXTRADITION

Roman Polanski's lawyers lodged an appeal with a Swiss court on Tuesday (September 29th), contesting his arrest on a U.S. extradition warrant to face sentencing for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. The Swiss Federal Penal Court said it will make a decision on the appeal within the next few weeks.

A lawyer for the 76-year-old filmmaker told Reuters that his client is "fine," however his current detention is very difficult. His lawyer declined to say how long Polanski is expected to stay in prison. A Swiss justice ministry spokesman said earlier in the week that it's possible Polanski could be released on bail, although it's very unlikely.

• U.S. judicial sources said earlier in the week that the extradition process could take years if Polanski challenges it.
• Meanwhile, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and more than 100 other filmmakers, actors and industry types, have signed a petition objecting to the director's arrest and demanding his release from a Swiss jail.

HEADLINES

AT LEAST 82 KILLED BY TSUNAMI IN SAMOA: A tsunami created by a powerful Pacific Ocean earthquake killed at least 82 people in Samoa and American Samoa yesterday (September 29th), with dozens still missing. The quake struck around dawn about 125 miles from the South Pacific island nation of Samoa and the neighboring U.S. territory of American Samoa with a magnitude of between 8.0 and 8.3. Four tsunami waves 15 to 20 feet high roared ashore soon afterward, reaching up to a mile inland and sweeping cars and people out to sea.

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE REJECTS PUBLIC OPTION: The Senate Finance Committee yesterday (September 29th) twice rejected including a government-run public option in the health insurance reform measure they are working on, with five conservative Democrats in one vote and three in the other joining all the Republicans in opposing it. However, supporters said the public option is far from dead, predicting it will have greater success when the full Senate takes up health insurance reform legislation, and in the House of Representatives, where the three versions of reform legislation that have been approved by committees all contain a public option. Republicans say the public option would drive the private insurance industry out of business, while Democratic supporters say it will give the public more choices and, by providing competition to the private insurers, bring prices down.

TERRORISM SUSPECT ZAZI PLEADS NOT GUILTY, REMAINS JAILED: Suspected al-Qaida operative Najibullah Zazi pled not guilty Tuesday (September 29th) to plotting a bomb attack in New York City, entering his plea to conspiracy charges in a Brooklyn courtroom. The 24-year-old resident of suburban Denver was ordered held without bail. Meanwhile, New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the threat was neutralized, and there's nothing to fear from Zazi's three alleged accomplices, declaring that the scheme, quote, "has been broken up." Kelly wouldn't elaborate, and AP cited a former federal prosecutor as saying Kelly's silence might mean the alleged accomplices have fled the country or are already secretly cooperating. Prosecutors say Zazi received al-Qaida explosives training in Pakistan last year, and bought beauty supplies in Denver containing hydrogen peroxide and acetone that could be used to make bombs. He was also found to have a laptop computer with bomb-making instructions. Zazi drove from Denver to New York just before September 11th, and prosecutors believe he may have intended to carry out his attack on the 9/11 anniversary. His trip led to raids on several apartments in Queens where he'd been staying, and he was arrested a week later.

TODAY'S FYI:

TOYOTA RECALL OVER FLOOR MATS TO BE ITS BIGGEST EVER IN U.S.: Toyota said yesterday (September 29th) that it will recall 3.8 million vehicles in the U.S. because of a problem with a removable floor mat that could cause the accelerator to get stuck. Toyota said it was still working with the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration to find a fix for the problem, and that owners could be notified of the recall -- Toyota's largest-ever in the U.S. -- as early as next week. A spokesman said that until a fix is found, owners should take out the floormat on the driver's side and not replace it. The NHSTA said it had received reports of 102 Toyota incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck. The vehicles affected are:

• 2007-2010 model year Camry -- top-selling passenger car in the U.S.
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius -- top-selling hybrid
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2007-2010 Lexus ES350
• 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350

EX-DEMOCRATIC FUNDRAISER HSU SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS: Former Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu, whose donations became an embarrassment for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, was sentenced yesterday (September 29th) to more than 24 years in prison on charges of fraud and violating campaign finance laws. The 58-year-old Hsu raised money for Clinton and other Democrats before his decade-long Ponzi scheme collapsed and he was arrested in September 2007. The judge said Hsu stole more than $50 million from hundreds of investors in his scheme, in which he'd claim that clothing or high-tech ventures would pay returns of up to 20 percent. Instead, he spent the money on himself or made charitable contributions to enhance his image. Hsu also used clients of his Ponzi scheme as straw donors to make thousands of dollars in illegal campaign donations.

• Clinton returned more than $800,000 to donors linked to Hsu after his arrest.

COLLEGES URGED TO TREAT GAMBLING LIKE ALCOHOL, DRUGS: A national gambling task force said Tuesday (September 29th) that colleges and universities should do more to reduce gambling by students, treating the problem like drug and alcohol abuse. The Task Force on College Gambling Policies, established by a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and the National Center for Responsible Gaming, said colleges should treat gambling as a health issue, setting up policies to restrict gambling on campus and treat students who develop addictions. According to the task force, nearly half of college students surveyed reported gambling during the past year, but a 2005 report found that only 22 percent of colleges have written gambling policies.

INDIA TO BE HONORED WITH FIRST OBAMA STATE DINNER: India will be honored with the first state dinner of President Obama's administration, which will be held on November 24th as Prime Minister Mahmohan Singh arrives for a state visit. The responsibility for all the elaborate planning belongs to First lady Michelle Obama and her staff, who will handle things including assembling a guest list, overseeing the menu, choosing the decor, seating, place settings and entertainment. Why choose India for the first state dinner? As the U.S. has become more engaged with Pakistan -- India's archrival -- focusing on greater military cooperation in dealing with Islamic extremists there and in Afghanistan, the honor may help ease some concerns, as well as the perception that Pakistan has surpassed India as America's closest friend in South Asia.

• India was also honored with a state dinner in July 2005, under President George W. Bush.

DISNEY TO REWARD VOLUNTEERS WITH FREE ADMISSION: Disney kicked off a new promotion yesterday (September 29th), offering one day's free admission to any park at Disneyland or Disney World to one million guests who do a day of volunteer work in 2010. Disney is partnering in the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" promotion with HandsOn Network, a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities, to connect people with projects and certify that the work was done. Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, told AP that promotion is "very timely," citing the increased needs of nonprofits in the weak economy, as well as President Obama's national volunteering initiative.

SPORTS:

RED SOX CLINCH AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD: The Boston Red Sox have clinched the American League wild card, ensuring they'll be in the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years. Even though the Red Sox lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 8-7 yesterday (September 29th) for their fifth loss in a row, the wild card was secured when the Los Angeles Angels later beat the Texas Rangers 5-2.

PHOENIX BEATS INDIANA 120-116 IN GAME 1 OF WNBA FINALS: The Phoenix Mercury took Game 1 of the best-of-five WNBA Finals last night (September 29th) at home over the Indiana Fever with a 120-116 win in overtime. The game was the highest-scoring in WNBA history. Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor both scored 23 points for the Mercury, and league MVP Diana Taurasi added 22 points for the winning team. Game 2 will be played Thursday (October 1st).

(Headline News, FYI and Sports stories were compiled in part from reports by the Associated Press and Reuters.)

ON THE TUBE

CBS

• THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE - Richard and Christine are shocked when they realize how much their college buddies have aged.
• GARY UNMARRIED - When Allison's new boyfriend offers to take Louis on a birthday trip to New York, Gary shouts out an unrealistic gift of his own.
• CRIMINAL MINDS - The team searches for a disturbed man after he kills several people at a pharmacy, hoping to learn what set him off before he harms anyone else.
• CSI: NY - The team searches for a cyberkiller who seems to be targeting health care workers; the case turns personal when a suspect mentions Mac's father.

NBC

• MERCY - Veronica and Mike move back in together but realize the house is as much of a mess as their mess as their marriage; Sonia gets an attractive cop to help her find the identity of a patient.
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT - Stabler and Benson suspect a sugar daddy of murder when a young woman's body is found stuffed inside a suitcase.
• THE JAY LENO SHOW - Adam Corolla, Steve Carell, Vince Gill & Emmylou Harris

FOX

• SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE - Dancers from across the country compete.
• GLEE - Will tries to give a glee club more of an edge by bringing in a former classmate (Kristin Chenoworth).

ABC

• HANK - (series premiere) An entrepreneur has to downsize and move his family back to his wife's hometown.
• THE MIDDLE - (series premiere) Sue auditions for show choir; Brick asks Frankie to come to his class presentation dressed in a costume.
• MODERN FAMILY - Phil is determined to help Luke prove he is responsible enough to have a new bike; Jay and Manny have some father and son time.
• COUGAR TOWN - Jules makes a fool of herself when she ignores the advice of her best friend and tries to keep up with the hard partying twentysomethings.
• EASTWICK - Roxie tries to protect Mia from her ex-boyfriend; Kat ends her marriage to Raymond.

CW

• AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - The contestants try to stand out when Tyra wraps them in vibrant fabrics and photographs them; China Chow serves as a guest judge.
• MELROSE PLACE (repeat)

MTV

• REAL WORLD/ROAD RULES CHALLENGE - (season premiere) Twenty-eight competitors arrive in Thailand; old rivalries and broken romances come to the surface.

DAY TIME TALK SHOW

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW - Heidi Klum, Brad Paisley
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW - Girl talk about 'good' hair with Chris Rock
THE VIEW - Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith

LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS) - Madonna, Harry Connick Jr.
THE JAY LENO SHOW (NBC) - Adam Corolla, Steve Carell, Vince Gill & Emmylou Harris
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH CONAN O'BRIEN (NBC) - Kate Walsh, Brad Paisley
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (ABC) - Rebecca Romijn, Joseph Fiennes, Alice in Chains
THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON (CBS) - Jenna Elfman, Dom Irrera
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON (NBC) - Dennis Hopper, Amy Brenneman, Owen Benjamin
LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY (NBC) - Chris Pratt, Ted Ligety, the Like
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Jon Krakauer
THE COLBERT REPORT (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Richard Dawkins

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

MAN ROBBED OF HOT DOG AT GUNPOINT: Police say a man with a pellet gun approached another man sitting under a tree in a Massachusetts park and demanded that he surrender his hot dog. The weiner thief was later arrested with mustard on his shirt and was said to be carrying the pellet gun and a pocket knife. Police say the man has a criminal record of assault and vandalism and has now been sentenced to 18 months in prison. (AP)

WOMAN GOES ON TREASURE HUNT AFTER FINDING NOTE: An Illinois postal worker recently found a key and note under an antique chair she was refinishing that promised $250 in gold coins buried in a chest in Springfield. The envelope had the words "Finders Keepers" printed on it along with a map with the location of the chest. After agreeing with the property owner to split half of whatever was found, she began digging, but has found nothing so far. The woman says she plans to continue the search. (AP)

PSYCHIC CHARGED WITH LYING ABOUT ASSAULT BY RIVAL PSYCHICS: Police have arrested a Connecticut psychic on charges including reporting a false incident after they said she lied to them about an assault. The woman accused a group of rival psychics with orchestrating the attack after they left her threatening phone messages, but she could not tell the police what their names were. After police noted inconsistencies in her story, they concluded that she must have been assaulted by someone she knew, though her attorney says his client stands by her story. (AP)

STUDENTS SET ROBOT DANCING RECORD: 318 Australian college students gathered on the lawns of the University of Melbourne to set a world record for the largest ever robot dance. The previous record, held by 276 students at Britain's University of Kent, was broken by the Australians' five-minute routine, which featured students in robot costumes and even pirate gear. The event was organized by a group called "Robogals" whose aim is to encourage more women to study engineering and computer science. (AFP

DID YOU KNOW?

ECONOMIC DEPRESSION GOOD FOR OUR HEALTH? Researchers studying health in the Great Depression found that death rates dropped in the lean days of the early 1930s and increased when the economy expanded. Many of the biggest killers, including heart disease and cancer, caused fewer deaths in the slump. The Daily Mail noted that only suicide bucked the trend, with rates rising in line with unemployment. Researchers believe our well-being blossoms in hard times because we are forced to cut back on indulgences such as rich foods, drinking and smoking. We may also spend more time with friends and family, boosting morale. And, without early starts and overtime, we may sleep better.

IS FAMILY'S HAPPINESS DEPENDANT ON THE WIFE? Michelle Obama recently said in an interview with Prevention magazine, "Throughout my life, I've learned to make choices that make me happy and make sense for me. Even my husband is happier when I'm happy." She added, "So I have freed myself to put me on the priority list and say yes, I can make choices that make me happy, and it will ripple and benefit my kids, my husband and my physical health."

KIDS OF WORKING MOMS ARE UNHEALTHY: A study by Britain's Institute of Child Health found that kids of working mothers were more likely to eat unhealthy snacks and watch a lot of TV. Jezebel.com reports that the study looked at 12,500 five-year-olds, and controlled for factors like socioeconomic status and mothers' education. Researchers found that children of working mothers were more likely to drink soda and eat junk food between meals, and less likely to snack on fruits and vegetables, than their peers with stay-at-home moms. Kids whose mothers worked were also more likely to be driven to school, rather than walking or biking, and more likely to spend two or more hours a day watching TV or using the computer.

CHECK IT OUT: http://awkwardyearbooksignatures.com/

RENT-A-FRIEND COMPANIES POPULAR IN JAPAN: Japanese rent-a-friend companies allow people to pay for pretend friends, relatives, work colleagues, or even best men. Sometimes single mothers hire fake husbands so kids stop bullying their children at school for having absent fathers. TheFirstPost.co.uk reports that the "agents" are trained to know an extensive backstory since if rentees give any hint that they're aren't really the people they're pretending to be, it could mess up the clients' lives. Prices average around $250 per appearance.

BENEFITS OF STAYING SINGLE (AskMen.com)

Your Career Will Benefit: When a guy is climbing the corporate ladder, he can't think twice about staying late at the office or hitting the strip club with the boss. Girlfriends demand quality time -- as they should -- but you won't be able to give it to her if you want that corner office.

• You Never Need To Make Plans For Two: Happiness means never having to ask permission. The benefits of having a significant other -- the nurturing and sharing and all that other crap -- all go out the window as soon as your buddy asks you to go to Las Vegas and you realize you need to check with your girlfriend first.
• You'll Be Healthier: The first thing a guy does upon locking down a girlfriend or tying the knot is let himself go. There's no need to eat right or exercise if you're not chasing tail. Once you sit down on the couch to watch a Hugh Grant movie with your significant other, you aren't getting up -- ever.
• Weddings Are More Fun: Marriage is a celebration of love, commitment and the opportunity to nail lonely women. I like the little program you get when you arrive for the ceremony. I immediately look for the list of bridesmaids. The marriage of a man and woman who love each other often leads to premarital sex between a man and woman who barely know each other.
• You Can Enjoy Your Personal Space: If you're an absolute slob, then I guess there's some benefit to living with your girlfriend. But if you can maintain some modicum of cleanliness, you will be ever thankful you're single, live alone and can go to the bathroom with the door open.
• You'll Save Money: Bachelors spend a lot of money on women for sure: on taking them out, on buying them the occasional gift and especially on buying enough drinks for ourselves to work up the courage to talk to them in the first place. But no one spends more than a married guy. Redoing the living room, taking trips to Ft. Lauderdale to visit her family and (gasp!) even having a kid.
• The Sex Is Better: There are certainly benefits to sleeping with the same girl night after night: You get to know your significant other's likes and dislikes, and she yours. And she'll eventually make peace with you falling asleep immediately afterward. But that's about it.
• You Can Watch Whatever You Want: Never underestimate the power of wielding complete control over the remote. True bliss is not getting dirty looks from your girlfriend just because you want to watch a Megan Fox movie on mute.
• You Can Spend More Time With Your Friends: Guys who are about to get married are very fond of telling their boys that "nothing is going to change; we're still gonna hang out." When guys get out of a relationship or get divorced, the first thing they do is get the old band back together. That's because guys need quality time with their friends. For bachelors, every night is a guy's night out.

According to AskMen.com, what do the initials for the tabloid site TMZ stand for?

A: "30-mile zone"

• Launched in 2005 by AOL and overseen by former Los Angeles area legal correspondent Harvey Levin, TMZ.com has become one of the most visited celebrity news sources on the web, thanks to having been the first to break several huge stories -- including the death of Michael Jackson. The name itself stands for "30-mile zone," an area where many celebrities live that radiates out in 360 degrees from the corner of Beverly and La Cienega boulevards in L.A.

Is it ever OK to ask a co-worker out on a date.

According the the experts, it is alright, but there are some rules that you have to follow because of the underlying threat of sexual harassment. CareerRamblings.com offers six office dating do's and don'ts:

1. Do not repeatedly ask the same co-worker to go on a date if he or she has said no even one time. No means no. Period. Move on.
2. Do get to know your potential date well before you ever go out. Sharing the same work environment means there are far more potential consequences if the date goes bad. As much as possible, know what you're getting into.
3. Do start out slowly. If you take things slowly in the beginning, the chances of a bad ending are lessened.
4. Do agree to set up relationship rules. Here's an example: No flirting at work.
5. Do not be afraid to talk about sexual harassment. Be open and honest with each other by candidly discussing the issues on your mind--even those that might be a bit scary to address out loud.
6. Do be ready to address the rumors in the office! Gossip thrives in every workplace, large or small. Be prepared to address the rumors with your employer. Tell the truth and promise you will keep your relationship professional when you're at work. If you make your employer feel comfortable with the relationship, all should be fine.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Miranda Lambert's third studio album, called Revolution, sees release on Tuesday (September 29th). The 15-song CD includes Lambert's current single, "White Liar," as well as "Dead Flowers," which was released earlier this year.

Lambert wrote all but three songs for Revolution. She tells us the new songs distance her somewhat from the material on her last album, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which was released two years ago. "I have changed in my life a little bit. I've settled into life a little bit. I've grown up a little bit more. I surprised myself and got to know myself through this project because I feel like I was getting shoved in a corner a little bit being the crazy, wild-eyed girl that did 'Kerosene' and 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' and 'Gunpowder & Lead,' and that's still so much a part of who I am, but I have a lot to say. I have a very full life and it has everything from crazy, psychotic temper tantrums to bein' in love, and I think that it's all portrayed on this album."

• Lambert will celebrate the release of Revolution with appearances on Good Morning America on Tuesday and The Late Show With David Letterman later that night.
• Later in the week, Lambert will stop by Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

Fans can download a track from Dierks Bentley's Feel That Fire album for free. The song "Beautiful World," featuring Patty Griffin, is available at cmt.com. Bentley hopes this gift to fans helps raise awareness about his nationwide Miles & Music For Kids fundraiser, which is sponsored by CMT One Country and benefits local hospitals in the Children's Miracle Network.

• Bentley said, "This is definitely one of my favorite songs, not just from the last album, but probably that I've ever written and recorded. The whole premise is that if you watch the news or read the headlines, there is a lot of really negative stuff happening out there that can pull you down, but if you choose to follow the good and believe in something better, then it is a 'Beautiful World.'"
• The Miles & Music For Kids fundraiser is expanding to six markets, with events taking place in Nashville, Tennessee; Bentley's hometown of Phoenix, Arizona; Seattle, Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas and Chicago, Illinois throughout 2009 and 2010. All proceeds from these events will benefit the Children's Miracle Network hospitals in those areas.
• This year's kick off event will be held at Nashville's Riverfront Park on October 11th. It will feature performances by Bentley and Capitol Nashville labelmates Darius Rucker and Eric Church, along with Wynonna, Heidi Newfield and Michelle Branch. The Nashville event will once again benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Luke Bryan will make a whirlwind promotional tour visiting nine cities in as many days in support of his new album, Doin' My Thing, which is due in stores on October 6th. The album launch will kick off on October 5th in Statesboro, Georgia, where Bryan will host his first-ever Farm tour, and continues on to Leesburg, Georgia (October 6th); Charlotte, North Carolina (7th); Greenville, South Carolina (8th); Tampa, Florida (9th); Atlanta, Georgia (10th); Augusta, Georgia (12th); Chicago, Illinois (13th); and finally Minneapolis (14th). In each city, Bryan will visit local radio stations and meet-and-greet with fans in addition to putting on a show.

• Bryan will perform a full concert in his hometown of Leesburg. The town won the show through an online contest. The event will take place on the local high school's football field. Bryan said, "The last time I sang on that field, I had written a song for graduation. It will be nostalgic to go back and now play a full show."
• After wrapping his album launch, Bryan will prepare for his first headlining tour. The Doin' My Thing run begins on October 30th in Jacksonville, Florida.
• The first single from Doin' My Thing, called "Do I," is a Top 20 hit on the country charts.

FAST FACTS

• Bryan co-wrote "Do I" with Lady Antebellum members Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood.
• Lady A member Hillary Scott sang backgroud vocals on the song.

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Carrie Underwood will receive the Harmony Award during the Symphony Ball at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville on December 12th. Presented by the Nashville Symphony, the honor recognizes Underwood's musical contributions to helping the city keep it's unofficial title of "Music City USA."

• Previous Harmony Award winners include LeAnn Rimes, the Judds, Steve Winwood, Martina McBride, Dolly Parton and Rascal Flatts.

FAST FACTS

• Underwood will co-host the upcoming CMA Awards with Brad Paisley in Nashville on November 11th.
• Her new album, called Play On, will be released on November 3rd.
• The debut single, "Cowboy Casanova," is the fastest-climbing single of Underwood's career.

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New trio Love And Theft are slowly adjusting to fame. Between touring with Taylor Swift last year and having their current single, "Runaway," a hit at radio, the guys are getting used to being recognized by strangers. Eric Gunderson tells us he recently got the star treatment while shopping in Nashville. "I was at the mall, and there's these two little boys and their mom walk past me, and both little kids kind of point and say, 'I think that guy's in Love And Theft,' and that was kind of the first time that's ever happened, especially in Macy's. (laughs) It was pretty cool, and then the mom came back after like 10 minutes. I think they'd been like watching me from the corner. She asked if I was in Love And Theft and if I could have a picture, so it was kind of cool."

Love And Theft members enjoy being approached by people wherever they are, according to Brian Bandas. "We like people and we like meeting people, and that's why we got into it. It's an opportunity to be nice and improve somebody's day."

• "Runaway" is a Top 15 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
• Love And Theft's debut CD, World Wide Open, is in stores everywhere.

Holly Williams and her drummer, Chris Coleman, tied the knot on Sunday (September 27th) at an historic farm estate in Nashville. Williams' famous dad, Hank Williams, Jr., walked her down the aisle, while Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus and Kid Rock both sang at the ceremony. According to reports, Williams also sang a bit -- she serenaded Coleman with the Stevie Wonder classic "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours."

• Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill also attended the nuptials.
• Williams and Coleman's first dance was to Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler's "I Dug Up a Diamond". According to People magazine, the tune has special meaning to the newlyweds, as Williams had to dig up her engagment ring as part of a scavenger hunt Coleman had planned for her early this summer.

FAST FACT

• Williams' current CD, Here With Me, was released in June.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. In what famous prison did Merle Haggard serve a three-year sentence for attempted robbery?
A. San Quentin

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

GOOD MORNING AMERICA/ABC 7:00AM (ET)
Miranda Lambert

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?/CMT 7:00PM, 11:30PM (ET)
Paula Deen

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Miranda Lambert, Mark Wills

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN/CBS 11:35PM (ET)
Miranda Lambert

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS

• Jerry Lee Lewis (rock-and-roll pioneer; cousin of former televangelist Jimmy Swaggart and club owner & country performer Mickey Gilley) (74)
• Bryant Gumbel (TV host/sportscaster) (61)
• Jill Whelan (Actress, Love Boat's Vicki Stubing) (43)
• Natasha Gregson Wagner (Actress, Two Girls And A Guy) (39)
• Andrew Dice Clay (Comedian) (52)
• Ian McShane (actor, Deadwood's Al Swearengen) (67)
• Erika Eleniak (actress, Baywatch, Under Siege, The Beverly Hillbillies; Playboy Playmate Of The Month in July 1989) (40)
• Ken Norton Jr. (former NFL player and son of boxer Ken Norton) (43)
• Mackenzie Crook (the British version of The Office, Pirates Of the Caribbean) (38)
• Ken Weatherwax (actor, Pugsly on The Addams Family TV series) (54)
• Cindy Morgan (actress, Caddyshack's Lacey Underall) (55)
• Mike Post (musician, composer of music for many TV shows, including Rockford Files, NewsRadio, Hill Street Blues, The A-Team, The Greatest American Hero, Magnum, P.I., CHiPs, Hardcastle & McCormick, Doogie Howser, M.D., Quantum Leap, Remington Steele, Wise Guy, Murder One, NYPD Blue, L.A. Law, Hunter, and Law & Order) (65)

ON THIS DAY

Leon Russell's version of "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" debuted on the charts in 1973.

• Garth Brooks' No Fences album entered the Billboard chart in 1990.
• Reba McEntire's Rumor Has It album entered the Billboard chart in 1990.
• Willie Nelson was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993.
• Rose Maddox made her first performance as a Grand Ole Opry regular in 1956.
• Kitty Wells recorded the Top Five single, "Making Believe," in 1955.
• Ronnie Milsap's Greatest Hits album was released in 1980.
• Alabama's The Touch album was released in 1986.
• Alabama's Just Us album was released in 1987.
• The Judds' Christmas Time with the Judds album was released in 1987.
• Lorrie Morgan married Sammy Kershaw in 2001.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

LIAM HEMSWORTH SAYS HE AND MILEY CYRUS ARE ONLY CO-STARS: According to recent reports, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth are something of a secret couple, though Hemsworth is now saying they are only co-stars. At a press event in Australia on Monday (September 28th), when asked if he and Miley are a couple, he paused before saying, "We just made a movie together. That's it."

AARON CARTER SAYS HE'LL WIN DWTS: Aaron Carter isn't shy about his chances at winning this season's Dancing With The Stars. Carter boasts in a radio interview, "There are no if's, and's or but's or possibilities or chances, I'm going to win Dancing with the Stars." In the interview, Aaron also confirms that he is not dating his DWTS partner Karina Smirnoff, he says, "She's beautiful, but I've got to keep it professional."

EMMY ROSSUM'S HUSBAND FILES FOR DIVORCE: Emmy Rossum's husband, Justin Siegel, filed for divorce Friday (September 25th) after a year-and-a-half marriage. A source tells People that the couple split in August. Siegel cited irreconcilable differences and is seeking spousal support from the 23-year-old actress.

CLAIRE DANES AND HUGH DANCY ARE MARRIED: Claire Danes, age 30, and Hugh Dancy, who is 34, got married quietly in France a few weeks ago, a source who attended the wedding tells PEOPLE magazine. The pair met while filming the movie Evening in Newport, R.I., and announced their engagement in February.

FRED DURST'S THREE-MONTH MARRIAGE ENDS: And they said it wouldn't last! The Limp Bizkit frontman interrupted his honeymoon with Esther Nazarov to announce on Twitter that, well, the marriage is over. The couple tied the knot in Las Vegas, but their marriage foundered during a grueling month-long retreat in the mountains, where Durst was working on a new recording. "We cannot go back and start a new beginning, but we can start today and make a new ending," Durst wrote on Twitter. Sweet.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

SIMON COWELL TO BRING X FACTOR TO U.S.: Television's "Mr. Nasty" is bringing another of his British talent shows to America. The London Mirror newspaper reports Tuesday that Simon Cowell has sealed a deal worth a reported 107 million dollars to create a version of The X Factor for Fox Television. His negotiating tactics reportedly including refusing to re-up as a judge of American Idol if Fox didn't buy X Factor. Fox Television declined to comment.

THE HILLS STARS RAKE IN BIG BUCKS: Kristin Cavallari makes 90,000 dollars per episode as a cast member of MTV's The Hills. But Audrina Patridge makes $100,000 per episode. And Heidi Montag makes close to $100,000. Whoa! Somebody leaked all the cast salaries to The Daily Beast. Spencer Pratt is only making $65,000 per episode, because he just joined the cast last year, and Brody Jenner makes $45,000. This ought to liven up the backstage chatter among cast members. Former star Lauren Conrad got paid more than any of them, at $125,000 per episode.

DR. PHIL SHOW SUED: The Dr. Phil Show is being sued by five fans who were on a bus that crashed on the way to a taping of the show in December 2007, TMZ reports. According to the lawsuit, the brakes on the bus "failed and lost power, making the bus unable to stop" ... causing it to collide with "another vehicle, two concrete curbs, an iron fence and two trees." Five women are asking for unspecified damages against Dr. Phil's production company, Peteski Productions, claiming the show "negligently hired" the faulty bus to pick them up.

SAY GOODNIGHT TO THE CLEANER: The A&E Network has axed its drama The Cleaner, starring Benjamin Bratt, after the recent end of its second season. The network now has no scripted dramas. Its only other dramatic show was The Beast, starring the late Patrick Swayze. Looks like they'll be sticking to gripping real-life dramas like Dog The Bounty Hunter and Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

KIM KARDASHIAN AND REGGIE BUSH ARE BACK TOGETHER

Kim Kardashian is officially back together with NFL running back Reggie Bush, after a couple of months apart. They got together just a day after Kim's little sister Khloe married L.A. Lakers player Lamar Odom. A source close to the couple told PEOPLE magazine, "They're totally back together for real." The source added, "Kim and Reggie spent a few months apart getting their priorities together and figuring out who they were as individuals so they can make it work together."

How close are they? Close enough that Bush's parents were among the guests at Khloe's wedding.

• The couple amicably split in July.

IS THERE LIFE AFTER LARRY KING

Speculation is rife that the apparently eternal talk-show host Larry King may retire when his contract with CNN expires 18 months from now. King, now 75 years old, has repeatedly said he has no desire to retire. He's been hosting Larry King Live since 1985. But The New York Post says there is already talk behind the scenes about who might be the new Larry. The newspaper says CNN's first choice is Ryan Seacrest, but his big-bucks American Idol deal has made him way too expensive. They also like Diane Sawyer, but then she got a hot-shot new gig as anchor of the ABC Evening News. Also on the list: Joy Behar, a frequent guest host for Larry, who just got her own talk show on CNN's sister channel, HLN, formerly Headline News.

JEFF GOLDBLUM SURVIVES MASSACRE AT CRIMINAL INTENT

Only Jeff Goldblum will be left standing! The makers of Law & Order: Criminal Intent are planning a major overhaul of the cast of the long-running series, and that means curtains for some of the show's most familiar faces. USA Network confirms weekend rumors that star Vincent D'Onofrio will leave the series soon, during the two-parter that kicks off its ninth season. D'Onofrio, who plays Detective Robert Goren, will surrender his badge as top detective on the Major Case Squad to new regular Jeff Goldblum. And later in the season, Kathryn Erbe, Eric Bogosian and Julianne Nicholson all will be phased out. Nicholson will be replaced by Saffron Burrows.

DANCING WITH THE STARTS RECAP

The pop stars ruled last night (September 29th) on Dancing With The Stars as Mya and Aaron Carter topped the leaderboard at 27 points each and Donny Osmond came in third at 25. Kathy Ireland and Tom Delay were the bottom two with 18 points each and the remaining contestants were in the 19 to 21 range.

• Director Baz Luhrmann was this week's guest judge, sitting in for Len Berman.
• Joss Stone and Selena Gomez will be the musical guests on tonight's (September 29th) results show.
• Tonight will also mark the show's biggest dance number yet when 62 performers including dancers from Stomp The Yard and members of the USC Trojans Marching Band performe as part of the Macy's Stars Of Dance series.
• Taylor Swift, Michael Buble and Colbie Caillat are some of the musical guests scheduled this season.

Here's how it all went down on last night's performance show:

Joanna and Derek

Last week she topped the women's leaderboard and this week the judges liked her energy, but not her technique. They pointed out that she didn't have the precise footwork necessary for a good jive.

Score: Jive - 20

Natalie and Alec

Olympic swimmer Natalie was out to prove she's not a fish out of water by relaxing and breathing during the quickstep. The judges said they like her personality, but she still needs to relax and breathe. Carrie Ann says Natalie is one of her favorite competitors, though.

Score: Quickstep - 21

Chuck and Anna

The judges thought last week's fox trot had too much testosterone, so the mixed martial artist had a lot to work on to find his romantic side in the tango. The judges liked it, acknowleging the work he put into it and enjoying the fact that it was sexy -- and a little scary.

Score: Tango - 19

Melissa and Mark

Last week the judges thought Melissa's waltz was prim and proper and teased her for being nervous. The judges said she improved, but that she's still got more work to do.

Score: Jive - 19

Michael and Anna

Michael had great showmanship on the dance floor and stayed light on his feet. The judges loved it, Bruno called it a "proper quick step" and Carrie Ann said compared to last week this was a "touchdown!"

Score: Quick Step - 20

Debi and Maks

Max and Debi's love/hate relationship worked very well for them in the tango. The judges loved that she's a "drama queen" -- in a good way. Now she just needs to work on her subtler moves.

Score: Tango - 21

Louie and Chelsie

The youngest couple this season was determined to turn some heads. Carrie and Baz loved the joy the couple showed in performing, but Bruno said he thinks Louie is capable of a lot more.

Score: Jive - 19

Aaron and Karina

Aaron was the top man last week and this week he stayed there. Karina and Aaron danced to the theme from The Muppet Show and their performance featured cameos from the muppets Animal and Gonzo. Karina wore pink and Aaron wore green to represent Miss Piggy and Kermit. Bruno thought it was spectacular and called Aaron a "mini-Fred Astaire" in command of the performance.

Score: Quickstep - 27

Kelly and Louis

This week Kelly stayed with the blonde bombshell and it worked for her, but she had too many mistakes in her routine.

Score: Tango - 19

Kathy and Tony

Kathy was out to improve on last week's soggy salsa which landed her in the bottom two. This week, Ireland looked like a princess in her ballgown and jewels. But, the judges said she needs to stop being so cautious and warm up her performance more.

Score: Quickstep - 18

Mark And Lacey

Mark and Lacey wanted to at least keep the top 3 placement they earned last week. Mark did some amazing jumps in the routine, but the judges said his footwork could have been more precise. The judges gave him a lot of credit for recovering quickly after he slipped on the floor, though.

Score: Quick Step - 21

Mya and Dmitry

The judges split last week over their Viennese Waltz (Len gave them a 5 for the choreography, but the other 2 judges gave them 8s). This week Dmitry was going for a technically perfect routine. Mya looked super-sexy in a fringed mini dress as she tried to seduce Dmitry dressed as a nerdy guy. The judges loved that they told a story without sacrificing technique.

Score: Jive - 27

Tom and Cheryl

Tom showed off his "wild" side in last week's performance and this week he tried to be strong and sexy. Unfortunately he could barely hold on to Cheryl in their final pose and almost dropped her on the floor. The judges said that he came out looking proper and correct, but it basically fell apart. Tom was also suffering from an injured foot.

Score: Tango - 18

Donny and Kym

Donny was out to prove that a man in his 50s could dance the fast-paced jive. The audience loved it and so did the judges. They said it had all the elements and Baz added that Donny proved "dance has no age."

Score: Jive - 25

FRANCE AND POLAND ASK FOR POLANSKI RELEASE

While Roman Polanski cools his heels in a Swiss jail, diplomats in France and Poland are pressing their American counterparts to let the him go. The director was born in Poland but has lived in France since 1977. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and his Polish counterpart Radek Sikorski have written to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying they hope Polanski can be quickly freed on bail. "In the same way that there is a generous America that we like, there is also a scary America that has just shown its face," said French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand.

• The 13-year-old victim in the case, Samantha Geimer, recently filed a formal request asking Los Angeles prosecutors to drop charges against Polanski. The New York Daily News quoted Geimer as saying: "I have survived, indeed prevailed, against whatever harm Mr. Polanski may have caused me as a child. I got over it a long time ago." The incident occured at the home of actor Jack Nicholson.
• Now 76, Polanski directed movie classics like Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby.
• Polanski fled the United States in 1977 to avoid prison time after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl. He was arrested Saturday when he arrived in Switzerland to accept a lifetime achievement award from a film festival. The arrest warrant was issued by Los Angeles authorities.

OUT ON DVD AND BLU-RAY TODAY

Movies

Away We Go - Maya Rudolph, John Krasinski

Monsters Vs. Aliens - Voices of Reese Witherspon, Seth Rogen

The Brothers Bloom - Adrien Brody

Management - Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn

The Girlfriend Experience - Sasha Grey

The Wizard Of Oz Ultimate Collector's Edition

Saturday Night Live's Maya Rudolph and The Office's John Krasinski star in the comedy Away We Go, new on DVD today (Tuesday, September 29th). They play a young couple traveling across the United States in search of the perfect place to raise their family. The film also stars Allison Janney, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Academy Award winner Sam Mendes directs.

Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogen and Will Arnett are just some of the big-name celebrities lending their voices to the DreamWorks animated film Monsters Vs. Aliens, out on DVD today (September 29th). When a meteorite from outer space hits a young California girl named Susan Murphy -- voiced by Witherspoon -- and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years. Under orders from the President, this motley crew of monsters is called into action to combat invading aliens and save the world from imminent destruction.

Monsters Vs. Aliens also features the voices of Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert, Renee Zellweger, Hugh Laurie, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski and Paul Rudd. It was directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon.

New On Blu-Ray

Dark Crystal (1982) - Muppets

Labyrinth (1986) - David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly

TV

The Unit: The Complete Series

The Chris Rock Show: Season 1 & 2

CSI NY: Season 1-5

Life On Mars: The Complete Series

How I Met Your Mother: The Legendary Season Four

HEADLINES

IRAN TESTS LONGER-RANGE MISSILES: Iran tested its longest-range missiles Monday (September 28th), warning they can reach any place that threatens the country, including Israel, parts of Europe and U.S. military bases in the Middle East. The launch of the medium-range missiles that can reach up to 1,200 miles was the last of three rounds of missile tests that began Sunday, two days after the U.S. and its allies disclosed that Iran had been secretly developing an underground uranium enrichment facility, and was condemned as a provocation by Western nations. It also came ahead of a key meeting later this week between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, including the U.S., and Germany over its nuclear program. After strong condemnations from the U.S. and its allies, Iran said Saturday it would allow U.N. nuclear inspectors to examine the newly-discovered site.

AT LEAST 240 DEAD IN PHILIPPINES FLOODING: The death toll from massive flooding in the northern Philippines rose to 240 Tuesday (September 29th) as rescuers recovered more bodies, as is expected to go higher. The worst flooding to hit the country in more than 40 years was caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana, which roared through over the weekend, inundating the homes of some 1.9 million people in the capital and surrounding areas. Officials have asked for international aid, while worrying about two new storms that could hit the Philippines later this week and early next week.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF KEEPING SON IN CLOSET FOR YEARS: An Oklahoma City woman has been arrested after her 14-year-son told police he escaped from a home where he'd been kept for four-and-a-half years, locked in a bedroom closet for most of the time. Police said Monday (September 28th) that a security guard at a National Guard facility called them Friday after the boy showed up malnourished and with many scars and other signs of abuse and asked for a nearby police station. He told police his scars were from being tied up, hit with an extension cord and choked, and having alcohol poured on him and set on fire. The boy's mother, 37-year-old LaRhonda Marie McCall, and a friend, 38-year-old Steve Vern Hamilton, were arrested on child abuse and child neglect charges. Six other children living in the home showed no signs of abuse.

TODAY'S FYI:

SECRET SERVICE INVESTIGATING 'KILL OBAMA' FACEBOOK POLL: The Secret Service is investigating after a poll was posted on Facebook Sunday (September 27th) that asked users if President Obama should be assassinated. The survey said, "Should Obama be killed?" and had the possible answers "no," "maybe," "yes," and "yes if he cuts my health care." Facebook employees removed the poll when they were alerted to it, and spokesman Barry Schnitt told Fox News that a third-party application allowed a user to create it. He said, "The application was immediately suspended while the inappropriate content could be removed by the developer and until such time as the developer institutes better procedures to monitor their user-generated content."

PALIN MEMOIR IS DONE, DUE OUT IN NOVEMBER: Just four months after her book deal was announced, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has finished her memoir and publisher Harper has moved up its release date from next spring to November 17th, just in time for the holiday shopping season. The 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate worked on the 400-page book, called Going Rogue: An American Life, with writer Lynn Vincent. The phrase used in the title, "going rogue," was famously used by members of John McCain's presidential campaign to describe Palin's reported refusal to follow the script outlined for her. Palin made her first public appearance last week since resigning as governor in July with more than a year left in her first term, giving a paid speech in Hong Kong to business leaders.

OBAMA TO BOOST CHICAGO OLYMPIC BID IN DENMARK: President Obama will be traveling to Denmark later this week in support of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, a reversal after he initially said he couldn't make the trip because of the ongoing health care debate in Washington. Obama will only be in Copenhagen for a few hours, flying overnight Thursday (October 1st), making a presentation to the International Olympic Committee members Friday, and returning to the U.S. the same day. Obama's presentation will boost his adopted hometown against competitors Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. Appearing for their countries will be Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and new Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. This is the first time a U.S. president has appeared before the IOC to lobby for an Olympics.

• First lady Michelle Obama was already planning to travel to Copenhagen as co-leader of the U.S. delegation.

SULLENBERGER RETURNING TO FLYING: Hero Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who safely landed his US Airways jet in the Hudson River when both engines were knocked out in a collision with geese just minutes after takeoff, will soon be returning to flying. The airline said Monday (September 28th) that Sullenberger will pilot flights and join US Airways' flight operations safety management team. The 58-year-old Sullenberger wrote about the January 15th ditching in the Hudson in a book due out next month called Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, written with Jeffrey Zaslow.

LOSING WEIGHT CAN IMPROVE SLEEP APNEA: A new study suggests that obese people who have sleep apnea can triple the chances of getting rid of the sleep disorder by losing weight, HealthDay News reported Monday (September 28th). Lead author Gary Foster, head of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University, said a weight loss of about 10 percent of total body weight in the study subjects was enough to bring about total or near-total remission. People who are overweight or obese are much more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea, in which a person's breathing stops or becomes very shallow, sometimes several hundred times a night and sometimes for as long as a minute. It's caused by the soft palate in the back of mouth falling down and blocking the airway. Sleep apnea can lead to cardiovascular problems, including stroke, and can raise the risk for dying prematurely.

SPORTS:

COWBOYS BEAT PANTHERS 21-7 IN 'MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL': The Dallas Cowboys beat the Carolina Panthers 21-7 in Monday Night Football last night (September 28th), getting the win at home after being booed by fans at halftime as they were down 7-0. With just a six-point lead as the fourth quarter wound down, Dallas got a boost when Terence Newman returned an interception 27 yards with 5:07 left in the game, and rookie linebacker Victor Butler then got two sacks of Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme and forced a fumble.

ANGELS CLINCH AL WEST: The Los Angeles Angels clinched the American League West title last night (September 28th) for the third year in a row with a 11-0 victory over the Texas Rangers. Los Angeles will open at home in the first round of the playoffs next week, most likely against the Boston Red Sox, who need either a win or a Texas loss to clinch the American League wild card.

(Headline News, FYI and Sports stories were compiled in part from reports by the Associated Press and Reuters.)

WHAT IS ON THE TUBE!

CBS

• NCIS - An investigation into the bizarre death of a Marine and two friends seems linked to Gibbs' past.
  NCIS: LOS ANGELES - Sam leanrs that his former Navy SEAL colleagues are involved in the case of a murdered drug dealer.
• THE GOOD WIFE - Alicia represents a stripper who says she was raped at the bachelor party of a wealthy businessman.

NBC

• THE BIGGEST LOSER - Contestants get an offer that is very hard to refuse; players face their first temptation; one contestant is eliminated.
• THE JAY LENO SHOW - Julia Louise-Dreyfus, Billy Crystal

FOX

• HELL'S KITCHEN - The remaining chefs compete in their first individual challenge by attempting to create a dish that looks as good as it tastes.
• SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE - Dancers from across the country audition in hopes of impressing the judges.

ABC

• SHARK TANK - A housewife from South Carolina charms the male sharks; a college student pitches a product made from soy.
• DANCING WITH THE STARS - A celebrity is eliminated.
• THE FORGOTTEN - The team tries to solve the murder of a Jane Doe who was found strangled and left in an alley.

CW

• 90210 - Sasha and Dixon drive to Napa for the weekend; Annie makes a shocking discovery; Liam finds a way to reveal the truth to Naomi and get revenge on Jen.
• MELROSE PLACE - Sydney's sister come to Melrose Place and makes an announcement; Lauren decides to take her side job to the next level.

FX

• SONS OF ANARCHY - When the MC heads north they find more than just bike trouble when they cross state lines; Gemma is left in a compromising position with The League.

MTV

• THE HILLS - (season premiere) Kristin attempts to reconnect with friends, but angers Audrina by flirting with Justin; Heidi and Spencer go house hunting.
• THE CITY - Olivia takes a job at ELLE; Whitney goes back to work for Kelly; Roxy comes to town need a job and a home.

DAY TIME TALK SHOW

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW - Drew Barrymore
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW - Dr. Oz Reports: Prescription Pill Intervention
THE VIEW - Harry Connick Jr., Farnoosh Torabi, guest co-host Gloria Estefan

LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS) - Kelsey Grammar, Alyson Hannigan, Miranda Lambert
THE JAY LENO SHOW (NBC) - Julia Louise-Dreyfus, Billy Crystal
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH CONAN O'BRIEN (NBC) - Patton Oswalt, John Krasinski, Quinn Dahle
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (ABC) - Ricky Gervais, the latest Dancing with the Stars castoff, Alice in Chains
THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON (CBS) - James Spader, Cobie Smulders, Laura Isobar
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON (NBC) - Jude Law, Felicia Day, Sunny Day Real Estate
LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY (NBC) - Tucker Max, Naked Girls, Wild Light
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Ron Paul
THE COLBERT REPORT (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Matt Latimer

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

GOLFER SINKS TWO HOLES-IN-ONE IN SAME ROUND: An amateur golfer in North Dakota shot two holes-in-one in the same round. Troy Radermacher of Ellendale, North Dakota was playing with family and friends when he shot a 135-yard hole-in-one on the fifth hole and completed the rare feat with a 116-yard shot on the fifteenth hole. Golf Digest magazine says the calculated odds of two holes-in-one in the same round are 67 million to one. Only two other people have accomplished this impressive feat. (AP)

NAKED MAN STEALS TRUCK AND CRASHES INTO DITCH: Authorities say a man in Alabama stole a truck and later crashed into a ditch, where he was arrested. The man, who was not wearing any clothes was said to be shouting "somebody's trying to kill me" when he jumped into the back of the truck and broke the back window. The driver abandoned the truck, and the naked man drove away. (AP)

WOMAN TRIES TO STEAL CHIHUAHUA AT GUNPOINT: An Australian woman who showed up for an appointment to buy a chihuahua held up the family at gunpoint. The woman was subdued by people at the house, who included an off-duty police officer and was charged with armed robbery and possession of a prohibited weapon. (AFP)

SOUTH AFRICAN MAN MARRIES FOUR BRIDES 'TO SAVE MONEY': A man in South Africa, where polygamy is legal, married four brides "to save money" and prevent cheating. A local government employee, the man told reporters that he loves each bride equally and there is good competition for his love at a large reception on a sports field. He has seven children with the four brides combined, and three from previous relationships. The man was quoted as saying, "It doesn't help to have one wife and 30 girlfriends that drain you so much you end up with no money." (AFP)

ADVICE FOR THE KARAOKE-PHOBIC

If you usually say no when your invited to a karaoke bar or if you do tag along but hang in the back of the room, we've got some advice for you.

Raina Lee, author of "Hit Me With Your Best Shot: The Ultimate Guide to Karaoke Domination" offers the following tips to LemonDrop.com:

1. Ham it up - So what if you can't sing? The audience will love you as long as you make up for it with an all out performance. Show off your dance moves, flirt like crazy and serenade the shyest member of the audience.
2. If you can't sing it, say it - It's corny but it works: instead of singing the song, just speak the words in a dramatic, comic or at least just plain interesting manner. It's worked for William Shatner on sappy ballads and for B-52's lead singer, Fred Schneider on songs like "Love Shack." Be as campy as you wanna be.
3. Chooses your songs wisely - Sing only the songs you absolutely love and know really well (including the verses, not just the chorus!) That way you can concentrate on your dance moves instead of being glued to the scrolling lyrics on the screen. Also, make sure to pick songs that are fairly well-known so your friends can sing along.
4. Don't pick a song that's too long - Even if you're a great singer, you still might end up making the crowd restless with songs like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "American Pie."
5. Hold the liquor - it seems like having a few drinks would help you get over stage fright, but the truth is your voice will dry out with alcohol and with too many drinks you'll just make a fool out of yourself. Make 2 cocktails your limit and then switch to water.
6. Mind your manners - Here are some standard rules of etiquette for the karaoke bar.

• DON'T repeat a song someone else has already sung.
• DON'T hog the mic, storm the stage, or invite yourself to a duet without the original singer's permission.
• DON'T ever heckle.
• DO applaud more enthusiastically than is necessary.
• DON'T take yourself too seriously. This is karaoke, not "Fame."
• DO commiserate with the hottie at the end of the bar over your shared love of "Cabaret."
• DON'T cut the line or try to bribe the karaoke master into letting you sing ahead of others

HOW TO FEND OFF A STALKER (cosmo.com)

You don't have to be a celebrity to have a stalker following you. Here's some advice from Cosmo about what to do if this happens to you.

1. Trust Your Instincts - Don't downplay the danger or tell yourself you're overreacting. If you feel unsafe, you probably are.
2. Keep Evidence - Save e-mails, phone messages, notes; write down the time, date, and places of contact. Documentation will help you obtain a protection order.
3. Don't Communicate - You might be tempted to say something - anything - to stop the stalker's upsetting behavior, but any response may be misread as encouragement.
4. Contact a Hotline - The National Center for Victims of Crime line is 800-FYI-CALL. Consultants can help with legal options and a safety plan (which might include changing your routine, moving temporarily, and/or having friends go places with you).
5. Tell Everyone You Know - Inform roommates, coworkers, friends, and security staff at home and work so they can watch out for you.
6. Call the Police - Every state has stalking laws, and bringing in law enforcement is a key step in building your case.

Sources: National Center for Victims of Crime; Stalking Resource Center

Texas Tech Football Coach Bans Players From Using Twitter

Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach said Monday (September 28th) that he's banned his players from using Twitter and will be monitoring their Facebook pages so they don't share information about the team. Leach imposed the ban one day after linebacker Marlon Williams tweeted about the coach being late to a team meeting, asking why he was still in a meeting room when, quote, "the head coach can't even be on time." And on Saturday, after Texas Tech lost to Houston 29-28 for the second loss in a row, offensive lineman Brandon Carter wrote on his Twitter page, "This is not how I saw our season." Leach said players don't need Twitter or Facebook, which he called stupid distractions. "I think that a guy who plays college football gets enough attention," he said. It's "a bunch of narcissists that want to sit and type stuff about themselves all the time. We'll put mirrors in some of their lockers if that's necessary, but they don't have to Twitter."

HOW TO GET OUT OF DEBT!

Here's how to get out of debt, according to Stacy Johnson, author of the book "Life Or Debt: A One-Week Plan For A Lifetime Of Financial Freedom."

• Curb spending. First and foremost, be able to account for every dollar you spend.
• Cancel credit cards. Cut up all but one or two credit cards so you can start paying them off.
• Only keep credit cards with the lowest interest rates and no annual fee.
• Track where your money is going every month. Cut back on all those extras, including services for call waiting or extra cable channels.
• Look for lower rates on car insurance, phone or Internet service.
• Pay cash if possible. Paying of merchandise over time can cost you triple, once you factor in interest and late-payment penalties.
• Don't borrow money to pay off debts. Home equity loans can put you even deeper in the hole.
• Make a list of your debts, then pay them off in order of the fastest possible payoff. Get rid of the small ones first and always pay more than the minimum required.
• Pay off outstanding car, bank and mortgage loans quicker by doubling up on payments and attacking the principal amount.
• Call your creditors and ask if they'll discount what you owe. If you can offer a lump-sum payment, they'll sometimes settle for as little as 50 cents on a dollar.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Tim McGraw's upcoming CD, Southern Voice, is another collaboration between the superstar and his road band, the Dancehall Doctors. McGraw has found that recording with these guys in the past has made a difference in the overall sound of the record, as he tells us: "It's always great when I get to go in an cut and album with my band for everybody to get to hear how great they are too, so the combination of the songs and how great my band's playin' and the way we work together. . . it's just a neat process, and I think it really adds a lot to the music."

Ronnie Milsap was joined by some Tennessee firefighters and local Nashville police outside Capitol Records in Nashville late last week to protest. The problem started when Capitol decided to pull Milsap's new single, called "My First Ride," from both radio and iTunes. The song, which was recorded as a fundraiser for the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the International Association of Firefighters' (IAFF) disaster relief fund, also features Trace Adkins, who is on the Capitol Nashville roster.

A couple of weeks ago, Capitol issued a cease and desist letter to BLEVE Music, the company behind the charity album featuring "My First Ride." The legal notice told the company that they were being charged with "unauthorized use and exploitation of Trace Adkin's performance and name and dilution of the value of Capitol's valuable property."

• According to BLEVE CEO Mickey Milam, Adkins had received permission from his management company to record the song with Milsap. The management company had reportedly gotten permission from Capitol for Adkins to record the song, but the label allegedly had no knowledge of it being released as a single.
• Milsap told musiccitytv.com, "It's always about money. If Capitol had a piece of this that we're doing right now[...]what I want out of this is to make sure the firefighters and police get the money and not Capitol Records."
• So far, Adkins has not commented on the situation.
• Adkins currently has a Top 20 hit on the charts with "All I Ask For Anymore."
• His new video debuts on GAC and CMT this week.

Jake Owen gives a little shout out of sorts to his twin brother, Jarrod, in his latest single, "Eight Second Ride." Jake wrote the song several years ago when his brother had a nasty habit that made for a good line in the song, he tell us: "At the time my brother and I both had big trucks, and Jarrod does a lot of spittin' tobacco and he always had a cup that sat on the console, and I'd climb in his truck and he'd be like, 'Hey man, watch out. I've been spittin' in that cup,' so there's a line in the song about, 'Climb on up but honey watch the cup where I've been spittin' my dip inside.'"

• "Eight Second Ride" is the second single from Owen's latest CD, Easy Does It.

Gretchen Wilson has been added to the line up of performers at this year's Farm Aid. The 2009 event takes place on Sunday, October 4th at theVerizon Wireless Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Wilson joins Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews at the show, along with Jason Mraz, Wilco, Jamey Johnson, Phosphorescent, Billy Joe Shaver, and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, among others.

• Tickets for Farm Aid are available at livenation.com, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Box Office or at participating Blockbuster stores.
• The show will also air on DIRECTTV.

FAST FACT

• Wilson is planning to release a new album on her self-owned Redneck Records.

Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris will promote their L.A. All For The Hall fundraiser for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum with an appearance on The Jay Leno Show. The two will perform a duet on the new NBC prime time hit on Wednesday (September 30th). The All For The Hall show will take place on Thursday (October 1st) at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Other performers during this special "guitar pull" style show include Dwight Yoakam and Melissa Etheridge.

• The Country Music Hall of Fame is located in Nashville.
• Keith Urban will headline an already sold out We're All For The Hall show in Nashville next month.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. On what television show was Dolly Parton nationally introduced to the public for the first time? A. The Porter Wagoner Show

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

AQUAPALOOZA ON LAKE MARTIN/CMT 9:30AM (ET)
Alan Jackson

TOP 20 COUNTRY COUNTDOWN/GAC 10:00AM (ET)
Miranda Lambert

JASON ALDEAN: WIDE OPEN/GAC 5:00PM (ET)

SOUNDSTAGE/GAC 7:00PM (ET)
Sugarland

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?/CMT 8:00PM, 11:00PM (ET)
Melissa Peterman

THE JAY LENO SHOW/NBC 10:00PM (ET)
Brad Paisley

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS

Brigitte Bardot (French actress, And God Created Woman) (75)

• Janeane Garofalo (comedienne-actress-radio host, The Larry Sanders Show, Reality Bites, The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle) (45)
• Hilary Duff (actress, Lizzie McGuire, Agent Cody Banks, The Lizzie McGuire Movie) (22)
• Naomi Watts (actress, The Ring, King Kong) (41)
• Mira Sorvino (actress, Mighty Aphrodite) (42)
• Bam Margera (skateboarder/daredevil, Jackass: The Movie and Jackass Number Two) (30)
• Carre Otis (actress-model, Wild Orchid; former wife of Mickey Rourke) (41)
• Sylvia Kristel (Dutch actress best known for her controversial title role in Emanuelle) (57)
• Jeffrey Jones (actor, Easy Money, Amadeus, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Beetlejuice, Ed Wood, Stuart Little, Deadwood) (63)
• Grant Fuhr (hockey goalie, first African-Canadian to be inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame) (47)
• J.R. Villarreal (actor, Akeelah And The Bee) (17)
• Frankie Jonas (singer, The Jonas Brothers) (9)

ON THIS DAY

• Garth Brooks's Ropin' The Wind album entered the Billboard 200 chart at Number One in 1991.
• Hank Williams Jr.'s Man Of Steel album was released in 1983.
• George Strait's Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind album was released in 1984.
• Garth Brooks's In The Life Of Chris Gaines album was released in 1999.
• Rascal Flatts' Feels Like Today album was released in 2004.
• Diamond Rio scored a Number One single in Billboard with "Beautiful Mess" in 2002.
• The Recording Industry Association of America awarded a gold album for Jamie O'Neal's Shiver in 2001.
• John Michael Montgomery's debut album, Life's A Dance, was released in 1992.
• Ronnie Milsap climbed to Number One with "Lost In The Fifties Tonight (In The Still Of The Night)"
• Waylon Jennings' "I'm A Ramblin' Man" claimed the Number One spot on the Billboard country chart in 1974.
• Jeannie C. Riley went to Number One in Billboard with "Harper Valley P.T.A." in 1968.

WEEKEND MOVIE WRAP-UP

The animated family movie Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs was at the top of the box office for the second weekend in a row, dropping just 19 percent from last week to fend off three new wide releases. The Bruce Willis robot action thriller Surrogates opened in second place, while Fame, a remake of the 1980 musical about students at a high school for performing arts in New York City, debuted at Number Three. Fame stars Kelsey Grammar, Megan Mullally, Charles S. Dutton and Naturi Naughton.

• The science fiction horror film Pandorum, starring Dennis Quaid, opened in sixth place.
• Michael Moore's newest documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story, opened strongly in limited release in just four theaters in New York City and Los Angeles. Moore's investigation of the financial meltdown, which mixes interviews with people losing their homes and jobs with his trademark stunts -- such as wrapping crime scene tape around Wall Street -- will expand nationwide Friday (October 2nd).

THIS WEEKEND'S TOP TEN MOVIES -- SEPTEMBER 25-27

1. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, $24.6 million
2. Surrogates, $15 million
3. Fame, $10 million
4. The Informant!, $6.9 million
5. Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself, $4.8 million
6. Pandorum, $4.4 million
7. Love Happens, $4.3 million
8. Jennifer's Body, $3.5 million
9. 9, $2.8 million
10. Inglourious Basterds, $2.7 million

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

GISELE BUNDCHEN NOT FINDING OUT SEX OF BABY: Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady have chosen to keep the sex of their baby a secret until he or she is born. The 29-year-old newlywed told the Brazilian magazine Caras, "We decided not to know. We will only know when it is born, in December. I want the emotion of finding out then if it is a boy or a girl."

TRAVOLTA EXTORTION ATTEMPT CAUGHT ON TAPE: People magazine reports that a tape exists capturing the alleged extortion attempt a paramedic and former Bahamian senator made of John Travolta. The magazine reports that Travolta's lawyer asks paramedic Tarino Lightbourn "Where the hell did you get a number of 25 million bucks?" after the intial demand. He responds, "I was poor all my life." After eventually agreeing to $15 million on tape, they make arrangements for the money hand-off. The trial is ongoing.

'BIG RUSS' DIES: The father of the late Tim Russert died last Thursday (September 24th) at the age of 85 of natural causes. The elder Russert, known as "Big Russ," was made famous by his son's best-selling 2004 book, Big Russ & Me, about the lessons the journalist learned from his father.

NICOLE KIDMAN LOOKS LIKE NICOLE KIDMAN: Nicole Kidman almost got mistaken for, Nicole Kidman. Sources tell the New York Post that a Starbucks cashier in Manhattan recently told the actress, "You know who you look like -- that lady who used to be married to Tom Cruise. What's her name?" The manager reportedly chimed in, "Nicole Kidman? That's it, you look just like Nicole Kidman: tall, the blue eyes, the hair . . . anyone ever tell you that?"

PLAYMATE SUES JOE FRANCIS: 2008 Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole is suing Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis for $1 million. The model -- and girlfriend of Brody Jenner -- is alleging "assault and battery" stemming from an incident at Hollywood club last month, which Nicole claims left her with a "black-eye, swollen face, bruised ribs, sore and bruised abdomen region, bruised arms and legs, ripped-out hair, and utter emotional distress and humiliation." Francis hit back, telling Fox News's Pop Tarts, "Jayde Nicole is a total liar! Her lawsuit is completely bogus and without merit. I would never hit a girl in my life. Ever! All of Jayde's accusations in her lawsuit are completely contradictory to the actual security camera footage from the club that night." He also said he is planning a counter-suit.

TAWNEY KITAEN GETS ARRESTED FOR A DUI: The Celebrity Rehab alum was taken into custody Saturday (September 26th) afternoon in California on suspicion of driving under the influence. According to the Associated Press, police say the 48-year-old former actress/reality star allegedly, "made contact with officers after operating a vehicle while under the influence."

HAILEY GLASSMAN JOINS GOSSELIN WEBSITE: Jon Gosselin's girlfriend, Hailey Glassman, is now mentioned on the Gosselin family's website. According to RadarOnline, the site features the 22-year-old's official Twitter name and a statement that she does not have a Facebook account. The site's message notes: "Please disregard any vulgar or rude postings from fake accounts. If you're receiving messages from her name [on Facebook] it is NOT from Hailey."

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

'JON & KATE PLUS 8' RATINGS SLIDE: The ratings for Jon & Kate Plus 8 are continuing to slide in the wake of the couple's divorce announcement. RadarOnline.com reports that last Monday's (September 21st) episode hit an all-time low, attracting just 1.714 million viewers. 10.6 people tuned in to watch the couple announce their split back in June and that number has consistently slid since as each parent films separately with their eight children.

VINCENT D'ONOFRIO LEAVING 'LAW & ORDER'? Vincent D'Onofrio is reportedly close to leaving Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Sources close to the production told the Associated Press that the original cast member is poised to leave as a series regular early in the ninth season on USA Network next spring. The insiders also revealed that Jeff Goldblum, who joined the series last season, may remain as lead detective and could be joined by Saffron Burrows, replacing Julianne Nicholson. Deals with Goldblum and Burrows have yet to be signed.

NEVE CAMPBELL CONFIRMED FOR 'SCREAM': Neve Campbell has signed on to reprise her role as Sidney Prescott in the upcoming Scream IV. RadarOnline.com reports that the fourth installment of the franchise is set to begin filming in spring of 2010 and will supposedly be the first in a new trilogy. David Arquette and wife Courteney Cox, who met on the original film, are also reported to have signed on.

SOCIALITE GETS REALITY SHOW: New York socialite Tinsley Mortimer is getting her own reality show on the CW. The Hollywood Reporter announced that the network has ordered eight half-hour episodes of the show. Mortimer, who is separated from the great-grandson of an oil heir, has made a guest appearance on Gossip Girl and served as a guest judge on Bravo's Fashion Show.

MILEY CYRUS CONFIRMED FOR 'SATC': Sources tell GossipCop.com that the Hannah Montana star will have a role in Sex And The City 2. In one scene, Kim Catrell's Samantha character is spotted wearing the same dress as Cyrus to a red carpet event. In the script, Mario Cantone's character Anthony responds by saying, "Mother of God: She is wearing the same dress as Hannah Montana." There's no word on if Cyrus will have a speaking part.

PAULA ABDUL TO APPEAR ON 'SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE'? The ex-American Idol judge might be making an appearance on So You Think You Can Dance? Her former boss, ex-American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe, Tweeted: "I saw Paula @ the 'Power of Women' event yesterday. I asked her to come on SYTYCD again and she said she would. I hope she means it?" Lythgoe -- producer and judge on the show -- met with Abdul at Variety's 1st Annual Power of Women event in Los Angeles on September 24th.

CONAN O'BRIEN EXPECTED TO RETURN TO WORK AFTER HEAD INJURY

Conan O'Brien is expected to return to work today (Monday, September 28th) after hitting his head on Friday (September 25th) during a Tonight Show stunt. The Associated Press reports that he's resting comfortably at home. O'Brien fell during a skit being taped for for Friday's episode and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. A source tells E! News that the talk show host was running down a flight of stairs when he slipped and banged his head, reportedly resulting in a concussion. O'Brien said, "Last thing I remember I was enjoying the play with Mrs. Lincoln, and the next thing I knew I was in bed being served cookies and juice." Actress Teri Hatcher, who was on the set as a guest that day, said, "We did this bit and at the very end, when we ran in to cross the finish line, he slipped as he was crossing the finish line and hit his head. He didn't get off the floor right away, but then he [seemed] like he recovered and [pulled] it together, and they did an instant replay, and you could really see his head hit the floor." She added, "He did go to the hospital and he does have a concussion."

• NBC aired a rerun with guest Jeremy Piven on Friday.

IT'S A WRAP FOR "THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE"

The new CW series, The Beautiful Life, has been cancelled after just two episodes. It attracted just 1.1 million viewers during the second episode, so the network decided to give the Ashton Kutcher-produced show the boot on Friday (September 25th). According to Variety, the Wednesday night timeslot will be filled by reruns of the new Melrose Place, starring Ashlee Simpson-Wentz. The show followed the trials and tribulations of the modeling world and starred Mischa Barton, Sara Paxton, Elle MacPherson and others. Production problems hit the show from the start with Barton's hospitalization for emotional exhaustion and post-op pain in July. This marks just the start of canceled shows for the season.

KHLOE KARDASHINA AND LAMAR TIE THE KNNOT

Khloe Kardashian and Los Angeles Laker Lamar Odom got married yesterday (Sunday, September 27th) at a private residence in Beverly Hills. People.com reports that the 25-year-old Kardashian -- wearing a Vera Wang gown -- walked down the aisle with her stepfather, Bruce Jenner, along with her sisters Kim and a pregnant Kourtney. Her bridal party included half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and actresses Khadijah Haqq, Malika Haqq and Lauren London. There were about 250 guests at the wedding, including Ryan Seacrest, Kelly Osbourne, Kobe Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, as well as TV personalities Chelsea Handler, Lara Spencer, Brittny Gastineau and Lala Vazquez. The black-tie affair featured a Hollywood nightclub-themed reception that included a four-course meal and a DJ. The wedding was filmed for an upcoming episode of E!'s Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

• Khloe and the 29-year-old NBA star have been dating for about a month.
• Last week, Khloe got ready for her wedding by choosing items for her registry and celebrating with a bachelorette party, which were both filmed for the reality show.
• According to TMZ.com, the pair reportedly rushed the wedding because the producers of Kardashian's reality show are footing the bill in exchange for the chance to feature the wedding on the series. The couple also had a pre-wedding ceremony on Saturday (September 26th) at a lobster restaurant in Los Angeles.
• RadarOnline reports that Bruce Jenner made a speech that brought guests to tears.
• Odom reportedly sought to get a prenuptial agreement signed over the weekend.

BRUCE WILLIS NOT RUSHING TO BREEDING WITH NEW WIFE

Bruce Willis may be a newlywed, but he and wife Emma Heming are not thinking ahead to babies. He told Usmagazine.com last week, "It's been suggested we begin breeding immediately. [But we're taking it] just a day at a time. Really slowly."

Willis has three daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore.

• Breeding may not be a priority for the couple since they're completely focused with each other. Willis admitted, "I hear so many people in relationships say, 'I just need a couple of days away, or even an hour away.' But I don't want to be away from Emma at all. It's the most singular relationship I've ever had in my life."
• He added, "We're sickening. We make out in public."

MACKENZIE PHILLIPS AND SISTER DEAL WITH AFTERMATH

Mackenzie Phillips' half-sister Chynna Phillips, appeared with her on Friday's Oprah Winfrey Show to comment on Mackenzie's bombshell revelation of a sexual relationship with their father, John Phillips. Mackenzie, however, appeared via satellite as Chynna didn't want to be on stage with her. Chynna explained,"The thing I worry about is my words being convoluted. I wanted to be able to have this seat with you so that I could tell you where I'm coming from. Because you know how when you have too many cooks in the kitchen, it just doesn't turn out right and things can become twisted and convoluted".

During the broadcast, the sisters both said they loved each other.

• Chynna said she knew Mackenzie was going to write about the incestuous relationship but said the lack of communication about the fact bothered her. She said, "That was the only thing that hurt my feelings. I felt like if I had been privy to the information a tad bit sooner, you know, at least maybe I could have prepared myself emotionally for the firestorm."
• Meanwhile, Mackenzie's half-sister Bijou Phillips also commented on the situation, telling Us Weekly, "Mackenzie's history with our father is hers, but also clouded with 30 years of drug abuse. ... I hope she can come to terms with this and find peace. The life I had with my father was very different. He was Mr. Mom, encouraging and loving. The man that raised me would never be capable of doing such things, and if he was, it is heartbreaking to me to think that my family would leave me alone with him. I understand Mackenzie's need to come clean with a history she feels will help others, but it's devastating to have the world watch as we try and mend broken fences, especially when the man in question isn't here to defend himself."

DIRECTOR ROMAN POLANSKI ARRESTED

Director Roman Polanski was arrested on Saturday (September 26th) in Switzerland on a 31-year-old warrant. He was on his way to the Zurich Film Festival where he would have received a Lifetime Achievement Award when he was stopped and detained by police. The 76-year-old Polish director fled the United States in 1978 after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in California. The New York Times reports that he's being held on an arrest warrant issued when he left the U.S. more than 30 years ago before his sentencing. Polanski, who's a French citizen, has never returned to the U.S. since then and has tried to have the case dismissed. The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police said that a decision to extradite him to the U.S. is subject to judicial procedure.

• A friend tels People.com, "Why now? We don't understand. Roman has been to Switzerland before so we don't understand why he's been arrested this time."
• Polanki's' films include Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown and The Pianist.
• He's married to French actress Emmanuelle Seigner. The have two children, Morgane and Elvi

NEWBIE JENNY SLATE DROPS F-BOMB ON SNL DEBUT

Saturday Night Live kicked off its 35th season with newcomer Jenny Slate dropping the F-bomb during a skit. She slipped during a parody of a talk show, called "Biker Chick Chat," which featured tough talk from its participants, played by Slate, Kristen Wiig and guest host Megan Fox. During the sketch, Slate said, "You know what? You stood up for yourself, and I (expletive) love you for that." She seemed to realize her mistake, and the skit continued with no interruptions. Throughout the sketch the women were using less vulgar words in place of expletives. According to the Associated Press, NBC declined to comment on the incident, but did say that the word had been changed to "freakin'" for the show's replays in western time zones.

• The last time the F-word was heard on SNL was when cast member Charles Rocket slipped in 1981.
• Slate is an actress and comedian who this summer appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. She's part of the comedy duo Gabe and Jenny.
• The sketch aired live at about 12:40 a.m. ET -- following prime time, when use of expletives can be punished by the FCC.

CHECK IT OUT: Here's a clip to the skit:

http://www.tmz.com/2009/09/27/saturday-night-live-f-bomb/

JUDE LAW DOESN'T PLAN TO SEE NEWBORN

Jude Law isn't planning on meeting his new baby daughter Sophia until Christmas-time. Sources told 3am.co.uk that the actor's priority right now is performing in Broadway's Hamlet -- not the child he fathered with a 24-year-old model after a brief fling.

• A source told the website, "Sadly, Jude will not be able to see Sophia until he finishes work on Hamlet on Broadway in December. Jude is keen to see Sophia and will make sure that he visits her before he returns to Britain. Jude thinks that if he goes to Florida immediately, it will be a media circus. He doesn't see why he should give the paparazzi the pleasure."
• Law has three children with his ex-wife Sadie Frost.

CHECK IT OUT: How to be a good dad: http://tinyurl.com/ybzs7al

SIMON COWELL PENS LETTER TO HIMSELF

Simon Cowell seems to be in a reflective mood as his 50th birthday approaches. The American Idol judge, who's about to celebrate his birthday on October 7th, wrote a long letter to his younger, arrogant self in Britain's Daily Mail over the weekend. In the note, he discusses how he handled things throughout his career, noting: "Look at you. You look like a complete idiot. Could you be any worse? You are about as bad an example of Eighties' excess as you could possibly be. You are overconfident, far too cocky and dressed from head to toe in expensive designer gear. Armani and Versace. Oh, nothing but the best for you Simon! It hasn't dawned on you yet, you idiot, that you can't afford any of this stuff." He tells a young Cowell, "And romance comes second to career. "You never married, but you have no regrets about that. Family life would be a problem now. You almost never stop working, or thinking about work."

CHECK IT OUT: Here's Cowell's letter:

http://tinyurl.com/y98te9q

THE NASCAR REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 28th, 2009

JOHNSON WINS SPRINT CUP AAA 400 AT DOVER

Unofficial Standings For Sprint Cup AAA 400

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Mark Martin
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Juan Pablo Montoya
5. Kurt Busch
6. Jeff Gordon
7. A.J. Allmendinger
8. Kasey Kahne
9. Tony Stewart
10. Ryan Newman

Johnson was dominant, leading the race for 271 laps in his quest to become the points champion for a record fourth straight time. He beat Hendrick Motorsports teammate Martin, the points leader, to the checkered flag by nearly two seconds.

It was Johnson's fifth win at The Monster Mile as he sweeps the wins at Dover for 2009 and his fourth overall win this season.

ALL ARE FINE AFTER DOVER CRASH

Red flag at lap 32 after the 96 car of Bobby Labonte took the inside line in front of Joey Logano who checked up his 20 car and Tony Stewart sent his former car for a wild ride. Mangled race cars were Robby Gordon, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, and Reed Sorenson. All drivers have been released from the infield care center and are fine.

Here's video of the crash and interview with a relieved Joey Logano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdPDKcU35IQ

Joey Logano talks about the crash: "I'm fine. It scared the heck out of me that's pretty much what the biggest thing was. I'm not sure what happened. The spotter was clearing me low. I got down there and then they checked up getting into the corner. I guess I got hit from behind, I'm not really sure. I haven't seen a replay yet. I'm not sure I want to see a replay [smiles]. It was like it started rolling and I was in there like please make this thing stop and it just kept going and going. I'm fine. It goes to show how safe these cars are. I think we had a pretty good Home Depot Toyota. We took off good. We lost a few stops after the first pit stop but it was early in the race for that. It just startled me. I'm fine. That's the big part." HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH? "It was the wildest ride I've ever been on. You can't go on a rollercoaster worse than that [smiles]. I'm just still shaking, that's all but I'm fine. I'm not even sore which is really surprising after all that. I'm just happy to land on my wheels. When I was on my side that was when I was getting worried for a minute. The good Lord was with me on that one."

JOHNNY SAUTER GETS FIRST TRUCK SERIES WIN

Unofficial Standings For Las Vegas 350

1. Johnny Sauter
2. Matt Crafton
3. Jason White
4. Todd Bodine
5. Timothy Peters
6. Ron Hornaday
7. Mike Skinner
8. Aric Almirola
9. Brian Ickler
10. Taylor Malsam

Sauter, a rookie in the trucks who has three wins in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, passed Crafton for the lead on the outside exiting Turn 2 on the 130th of 146-laps on the 1.5-mile track and steadily pulled away to win by 2.47 seconds.

"It's unbelievable, man," Sauter said. "This is a big deal for me. Last year at this time, all I was doing was start-and-parks in the Nationwide Series. We've had speed all year, but we haven't been able to close the deal. Our truck has been phenomenal for the last two months."

Sauter, driving a Chevrolet, became the first rookie to win in the truck series since Scott Speed on May 30, 2008, at Dover International Speedway.

BOWYER SLAYS THE DOVER MONSTER

Unofficial Standings For Dover 200

1. Clint Bowyer
2. Mike Bliss
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Kyle Busch
5. Carl Edwards
6. Jason Leffler
7. Reed Sorenson
8. Scott Speed
9. David Reutimann
10. Jason Keller

Mission accomplished. After passing polesitter Kyle Busch for the lead on Lap 118 at Dover International Speedway, Bowyer led the final 83 laps of the Nationwide Series Dover 200 and beat Mike Bliss to the finish line by 1.319 seconds to win his second series race of the season and the eighth of his career.

On a day that didn't fulfill the promise of rain until the race was over, Busch, who came home fourth and widened his series lead to 211 points over fifth-place finisher Carl Edwards, wasn't the lightning rod for controversy this time. That distinction went to third-place finisher Brad Keselowski, and Denny Hamlin, who spun into the wall on Lap 190 after contact from Keselowski's Chevrolet.

After the race, Hamlin confronted Keselowski on pit road, but crew members broke up the shoving match before it could escalate.

Team owner Richard Childress asked Bowyer to replace Stephen Leicht in the No. 29 and run a three-race stretch starting at Dover to establish a baseline of consistency for the car. Bowyer, who won the NASCAR

HEADLINES

IRAN TEST-FIRES MISSILES AFTER SECRET NUKE FACILITY REVEALED: Iran successfully test-fired short-range missiles Sunday (September 27th) in a display of force meant to show it is prepared to crush any military threat from another country. The missile testing came just two days after the U.S. and its allies disclosed that Iran had been secretly developing a previously unknown underground nuclear facility to enrich uranium, and warned it must open the site to international inspection or face stronger sanctions. After the strong condemnations, Iran said Saturday it will allow U.N. nuclear inspectors to examine the site. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on CNN's State of the Union yesterday that pressuring Iran economically and diplomatically would have a better chance of changing its policies than military strikes against the nuclear site. He said, "The reality is, there is no military option that does anything more than buy time."

GATES SAYS WILL BE TOUGH TO CLOSE GITMO BY DEADLINE: Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged on ABC's This Week Sunday (September 27th) that it would be difficult to meet President Obama's January 22nd deadline for closing the Guantanamo prison. Asked directly whether the deadline would be met, Gates said, "It's going to be tough." He elaborated, "I actually was one of those who said we should [set a deadline] because I know enough from being around this town that if you don't put a deadline on something, you'll never move the bureaucracy. But I also said and then if we find we can't get it done by that time but we have a good plan, then you're in a position to say it's going to take us a little longer but we are moving in the direction of implementing the policy that the president set." Plans to close Gitmo have been slowed by legal, political and diplomatic issues involving the some 223 detainees still at the detention facility.

RECESSION BOOSTS SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS: Job losses due to the recession have contributed to a rise in applications for retirement and disability benefits, meaning Social Security will pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes the next two years -- to the tune of $10 billion in 2010 and $9 billion in 2011 -- the first time that's happened since the early 1980s. Applications for retirement benefits are 23 percent higher than last year, while disability claims have risen by about 20 percent. Boosting those number are people eligible for retirement and early retirement who would have preferred to keep working, but were forced to apply for benefits because they lost their jobs. Similarly, a lot of people who had been working despite their disabilities are applying for benefits after losing their jobs.

GERMAN CHANCELLOR MERKEL WINS SECOND TERM: German Chancellor Angela Merkel won a second four-year term Sunday (September 27th), as well as a new center-right majority in Parliament. The conservative Merkel's Christian Democratic Union got 33.8 percent of the vote, while her new coalition partner, the Free Democrats, got 14.6 percent. The main left-wing party, the Social Democrats, got 23 percent, its poorest showing since World War Two, sending it into the opposition after 11 years in government.

TODAY'S FYI:

COLUMNIST WILLIAM SAFIRE DEAD AT 79: Conservative columnist William Safire, a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon who also wrote about the English language, died Sunday (September 27th) of pancreatic cancer. He was 79. Safire wrote a conservative Op-Ed column for the New York Times for 32 years, until 2005, as well as his "On Language" column in the New York Times Magazine from 1979 until shortly before his death, in which he examined the origins and uses of words and everyday phrases. As a speechwriter in the Nixon White House, Safire wrote Vice President Spiro Agnew's famous phrase "nattering nabobs of negativism" about Vietnam War defeatists, and he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1978 for his columns on Carter White House budget director Bert Lance, who resigned amid allegations of bank fraud. Safire also wrote four novels and a political dictionary. He's survived by his wife, two children and one grandchild.

SURVEY: AMERICANS SAY SPENDING HABITS PERMANENTLY CHANGED: A majority of Americans questioned in a Citigroup survey out Friday (September 25th) say that they've permanently changed their spending and savings habits in response to the financial crash and the severe recession. Some 63 percent said the way they spend and save has, quote, "forever changed," with just 29 percent saying they'd go back to their previous spending and saving habits. The survey also found:

• 80 percent of those making less then $50,000 a year said they'd most likely cut back on everyday expenses, as did 68 percent of those making $75,000 to $150,000.
• 62 percent said they'd cut back on credit card purchases, and 61 percent said they'd continue to do so.
• 57 percent said they'd cut down their debut, while 63 percent said they planned to do so in the future.
• 34 percent said they were saving or investing more, while 60 percent said they'd invest or save more in the future.

WOMAN WHO GAVE BIRTH TO WRONGLY-IMPLANTED EMBRYO CALLED 'GUARDIAN ANGEL': A woman who on Thursday (September 24th) gave birth to a child that had been wrongly implanted in her as an embryo by a fertility clinic was called a "guardian angel" Saturday by the baby boy's biological parents, who were immediately given their son. Carolyn Savage has said that she and her husband never considered terminating the pregnancy or fighting for custody when they were told by an Ohio fertility clinic that she'd been mistakenly implanted 10 days earlier with another couple's embryo. Paul and Shannon Morell of Michigan said in their statement, "We will be eternally grateful for [our son's] guardian angel, Carolyn Savage, and the support of the entire Savage family." In their own statement released Friday, the Savages congratulated the Morells and asked for privacy, saying, "Our family is going through a very difficult time." The Savages have said they've hired attorneys who are working to make sure the fertility clinic accepts responsibility."

MANSON FAMILY KILLER SUSAN ATKINS DEAD AT 61: Susan Atkins, one of Charles Manson's followers who was involved in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders, died late Thursday (September 24th) of brain cancer, less than one month after a request for compassionate release from prison was denied. She was 61. Atkins was the first of the convicted Manson killers to die, with Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten, Charles "Tex" Watson, and Manson himself all serving life sentences. Atkins admitted her guilt while testifying during the penalty phase of her trial after she'd been convicted. She said she was high on acid during the murders, and described stabbing pregnant actress Sharon Tate, saying, "I don't know how many times I stabbed her and I don't know why I stabbed her. She kept begging and pleading and begging and pleading and I got sick of listening to it, so I stabbed her." Atkins said she felt no guilt, declaring, "It was right then and I still believe it was right." When asked how it could be right to kill, she answered, "How can it not be right when it's done with love?" In the decades since, Atkins has apologized many times, and said she found redemption in Christianity.

SPORTS:

NFL SCORES -- WEEK 3: Here are the results of this week's National Football League games (Home teams are listed in italics):

• Baltimore Ravens 34, Cleveland Browns 3
• Detroit Lions 19, Washington Redskins 14 -- The win ended Detroit's 19-game losing streak, with their previous last win on December 23, 2007.
• Jacksonville Jaguars 31, Houston Texans 24
• New England Patriots 26, Atlanta Falcons 10
• Green Bay Packers 36, St. Louis Rams 17
• New York Giants 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0
• New York Jets 24, Tennessee Titans 17
• Philadelphia Eagles 34, Kansas City Chiefs 14 -- In his first regular-season game since 2006, quarterback Michael Vick had a gain of 30 yards in 11 plays.
• Minnesota Vikings 27, San Francisco 49ers 24
• New Orleans Saints 27, Buffalo Bills 7
• Chicago Bears 25, Seattle Seahawks 19
• Cincinnati Bengals 23, Pittsburgh Steelers 20
• Denver Broncos 23, Oakland Raiders 3
• San Diego Chargers 23, Miami Dolphins 13
• Indianapolis Colts 31, Arizona Cardinals 10

Tonight's Monday Night Football games on ESPN:

• Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys (8:30 p.m. ET)

WHAT'S ON TV???

CBS

• HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER - Ted realizes that the girl he goes on a blind date with is someone he dated years earlier and that they still have nothing in common.
• ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE - Billie finds somethings surprising when she snoops through Zack's belongings in an effort to get to know him better.
• TWO AND A HALF MEN - Chelsea convinces Charlie to let Alan's girlfriend move in.
• THE BIG BANG THEORY - Penny and Leonard try to recover from an awkward hookup; Howard and Sheldon make a high stakes bet.
• CSI: MIAMI - Horatio must submit to a gunman's bizarre request in order to save hostages when the lab is attacked.

NBC

• HEROES - Peter meets a reluctant new hero; Claire tries to adjust to college life.
• TRAUMA - (series premiere) Tragedy hits close to home for the trauma team at San Francisco City Hospital, changing the lives of the entire group.
• THE JAY LENO SHOW - Bill Maher, Brad Paisley & Sheryl Crow

FOX

• HOUSE - House has surprising news for Cuddy; Foreman tries to get House's job.
• LIE TO ME - A woman (Erika Christensen) with multiple personalities could be a killer or a murder witness; the Lightman group interrogates a possible Supreme Court nominee.

ABC

• DANCING WITH THE STARS - The teams perform; Baz Lurhman serves as a guest judge.
• CASTLE - When two murders happen on the same night, Castle bets that he and Beckett can solve their case before Esposito and Ryan, but strange twists force the teams to work together.

CW

• ONE TREE HILL - Nathan and Clay disagree on how to handle the scandal; Haley starts to question Nathan's loyalty.
• GOSSIP GIRL - Blair and Chuck sets their sights on an item for bid at Sotheby's; Vanessa grows suspicious of Scott.

TLC

• JON & KATE PLUS 8 - Kate and the girls go for a carriage ride and visit a tearoom.

DAY TIME TALK SHOW

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW - Rebbeca Romijn
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW - Meet the most famous people in the world
THE VIEW - Arianna Huffington

LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS) - Felicity Huffman, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Avett Brothers, a Top Ten list presented by Brody Jenner
THE JAY LENO SHOW (NBC) - Bill Maher, Brad Paisley & Sheryl Crow
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH CONAN O'BRIEN (NBC) - Drew Barrymore, jockey Joe Talamo, Paramore
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (ABC) - (repeat) Courteney Cox, Jessica Capshaw, Dancing with the Stars castoff Ashley Hamilton
THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON (CBS) - Chris O'Donnell, Paula Poundstone
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON (NBC) - David Duchovny, Kimbo Slice, Dirty Projectors
LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY (NBC) - (repeat) Jesse Metcalfe, Caleb Aero, Metric
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Bruce Bueno De Mesquita
THE COLBERT REPORT (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Sheryl WuDunn

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

JUDGE ORDERS LAWYER TO DRESS WELL: A federal judge in Brooklyn, New York dismissed a complaint by a lawyer that he had the right to wear jeans and a baseball cap in the courtroom. The lawyer showed up to court in the outfit and was told by the judge that he was dressed inappropriately. The man decided to sue the judge and county clerk claiming that his right to wear the clothes were protected under the first and fourteenth amendments. However, it is within the law that a judge can set reasonable limits on litigants' behavior to enforce courtroom civility. (Reuters)

PILOT STALKED EX-GIRLFRIEND WITH PLANE: California Police arrested a man they claim was stalking his ex-girlfriend by flying his plane at a low altitude over her house. The man was arrested after an evening where neighbors called police to complain about a low flying plane making several passes over the area. He was arrested shortly after landing the aircraft. The police say they have been investigating a low flying plane in the area for over a year. The man is facing charges of felony stalking and violating a restraining order. (AP)

AMERICAN MARRIES RICKSHAW DRIVER: An American woman traveling in India hitched a ride in a rickshaw and married the driver a week later. The woman from Chicago says upon arriving in the city of Jaipur she hailed a rickshaw and hired the man as her driver for the week. On the third day, the man proposed to her and she accepted. After meeting on a Saturday they were wed in a small ceremony that Wednesday. The man is said to be fluent in English, despite being a school dropout. (AFP)

"DEAD" BABY WAKES UP AT FUNERAL WAKE: A baby that was born sixteen weeks prematurely and pronounced dead by doctors in Paraguay, woke up before its funeral wake. Doctors originally said the baby had been stillborn, but when the parents left the hospital with the baby it began to cry and move its limbs. The hospital is investigating the matter and the baby is now in stable condition in an incubator. (Reuters)

DID YOU KNOW?

MCDONALDS IS EVERYWHERE: The farthest point from a McDonalds in the U.S. is 107 Miles. Asylum.com reports that a spot in South Dakota is 107 miles away from a Mickey D's, the longest distance in the Lower 48. It's located between the tiny towns of Meadow and Glad Valley, and is actually 145 miles by road. This was determined by blogger Stephen Von Worley, who mapped all 13,000-odd McDonald's and calculated the distance using geolocation software. Besides a few dead areas, if you are east of the Mississippi, and have a craving for a Big Mac, you should be able to get one before lunchtime is over.

CHECK IT OUT: http://www.mypetfat.com/

CHALLENGES OF REVEALING YOU'RE GAY AT A YOUNG AGE: The New York Times magazine profiled young teens who have come out as being gay. The article shows how these girls and boys have to deal not only with being judged at a hard point in any teenagers life, but also with the skeptism some friends and family members offer, telling them it's just a phase or saying "How do you know you're sure?"

COMPUTER ENGINEERS ARE BAD DRIVERS:

Churchill Car Insurance has analyzed claims data from the last three years and found that computer engineers top the list of motorists with the worst accident records. At the other end of the scale, farmers will be pleased to hear that they top the list of safest drivers in the U.K., with the least number of car insurance claims. According to the new research, there is a significant correlation between certain professions and the likelihood of having a car accident. Tony Chilcott, Head of Churchill Car Insurance, comments, "The poorer claims experience associated with computer engineers, sales managers, chefs and doctors most likely reflects the long hours they work in a very stressful job. As a result, they are more likely to be tired when driving and possibly distracted. Estate Agents make lots of journeys in their cars during the day -- dashing to see clients in urban areas and often parking wherever they can when they arrive."

Churchill's top ten most frequently claiming occupations are:

• Computer Engineer
• Sales Manager
• Chef
• Student
• Doctor
• Estate Agents
• Surveyor
• Customer Advisor
• Hairdresser
• Social Worker

Drivers with the lowest claim frequency are:

• Farmer
• Aircraft Fitter
• Stores Personnel
• Ambulance Driver
• Laboratory Technician
• Pilot
• Caretaker
• Agricultural Engineer
• Green Keeper
• Mechanical Engineer

SIGNS YOU'RE BAD AT DATING (TheFrisky.com)

• You Can Go To A Crowded Bar And Not Meet Someone: Hot stuff, all you gotta do is smile at some guy and he'll melt like butter. Bonus points if you can actually get a sentence out.
• Funky Chicken: If you're self-conscious about the way you dance, you are no fun to screw. Well, at least that's what peeps who are watching your awkward moves think. If you wanna do the horizontal mambo, you've gotta start by letting yourself get down vertically. Confidence is more seductive than high heels, lingerie, and money.
• So Close, Yet So Far Away: Do you ever go up to the bar alone and order next to a stud? Luck is being in the right place at the right time, and so is getting 'er done. If you expect fate to drop a man in your lap, you don't see how many have already landed around you.
• Don't Get Jealous, Get Even: Do you have a friend who gets it twice as much as you and you don't understand how? If so, start using her as a wingwoman. And take notes if you like what you see.
• You're Bad At Breakups: If you can't leave a guy you're not into, well, then you're a settler, sinking in the soft relationship quicksand. No dates for you!
• Just Teasin': Are you a tease? If your answer is no, you're doing it wrong. The brain is the biggest erogenous zone. If you don't know how to mess with a man's mind a little, you'll never be his fantasy girl. And I'm not talking about game playing; I'm talking about straight-up sexy repartee.
• Dead On Approach: Do you say hi to people you pass by every day, like security guards, the dude that toasts your bagel, and the checkout girl at the drug store? Well, you should. It not only makes you approachable to them, but other sexy people around will notice that you're friendly, open, and easy to talk to.
• Change Clothes And Go: Do not always go out in the same clothes you go to work in. I'm not saying look like the other kind of working girl for happy hour drinks, but you need to feel sexy to look it. And that's just not going to happen in that button-up blouse and comfy office loafers.
• You're A Bitter Betty: If you've uttered phrases like "Men suck," "Will these guys ever grow up?" and "I'm so sick of men," well, your mantra is pretty negative. It's easy to get jaded, but turning to straight-up chauvinism isn't going to land you one of those guys you stereotype and belittle out of frustration.

When Should Aging Action Movies Stars Hang It Up?

Action movie stars in their 20s and 30s and even into their 40s can bring people into the movie theaters in droves, earning the envy of men and admiration of women. But just when should the realities of aging lead them to leave those role to younger actors, and are there too many graying action stars out there who just can't seen to give it up? The website GetBack.com asked that question, noting that 54-year-old Bruce Willis is starring in Surrogates, an action flick that opened this past weekend. The site put together a list of one-time action heroes it judged to be now too old for those roles, even many of them are still churning them out:

• Steven Seagal, 58
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, 62
• Clint Eastwood, 79
• Harrison Ford, 67
• Sylvester Stallone, 63
• Jean-Claude Van Damme, 49
• Mel Gibson, 53
• Jackie Chan, 55
• Nicolas Cage, 45

FOOD DRIVE UPDATE

It hasn’t been 2 full weeks yet and H&R Block is thrilled with the fact that they have collected OVER 4000 cans already!! They will continue to distribute these cans between: WestCare, the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul and HELP. This FOOD DRIVE is to replenish the much needed Food Banks at these four local charities, so "PLEASE" drop off as many cans as you can, as often as you can!!! We have 4 more weeks and there are over 140 businesses, including all of our area School districts, that have a collection box, but if you aren't sure where to take your cans, just call H&R Block at (928) 763-3400 or (928) 763-3444. There is always someone there to help you!

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Darius Rucker is already gearing up for his next album, the follow up to his platinum-selling debut country release, Learn To Live. Rucker tells us he's got several songs ready to record, a few of which were written with his famous friends. "I've written a lot of songs for the new record. I've written with Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan. Luke and I wrote a great, great funny song like you would think Luke would write, and I'm writin' with a bunch of guys, but we're gonna start recording at the end of the year. I don't know if we're gonna put it out early next year or late next year but I'm sure it'll be out next year."

Rucker says the new CD won't follow the same theme as Learn To Live. "Nah . . . You know, I wasn't goin' for the my life's groove on this record. I didn't really set out to write a record that was all about my life until I finished it and went, 'Wow! This is all about my life!' I'm not a theme record guy. I want the 13 best songs and then we drop out the one that's not as good. That's just how I am."

• Rucker continues to tour with Rascal Flatts in addition to performing his own headlining shows. He plays in Greensboro, North Carolina and Columbia, Maryland this weekend.

Wynonna, Heidi Newfield and Michelle Branch have all signed on to participate in Dierks Bentley's fourth annual Miles & Music For Kids celebrity motorcycle ride and concert on October 11th in Nashville. Previously announced riders and performers include Bentley's labelmates Darius Rucker and Eric Church.

• Miles & Music will provide an afternoon tailgating experience with live music, food and family fun on the river before the Tennessee Titans take on the Indianopolis Colts later that evening.
• Bentley said, "My idea of the perfect Sunday afternoon includes live music, motorcycles, beer and football...but you also have to have girls...can't forget about them. It's awesome that Wynonna, Michelle and Heidi want to come help us raise some money that day...it should be a blast."
• Tickets start at $20 and are still available for the ride and concert through Ticketmaster.
• The ride begins at Cool Springs Harley Davidson and will travel through Williamson County, Tennessee and downtown Nashville, culminating in a jam session at Riverfront Park.
• In the three previous years, "Miles & Music for Kids" has raised over $500,000 for the Monroe Carell Jr. Childrens Hospital at Vanderbilt.

SIDE NOTE

• This year, Bentley has joined forces with Nationwide Insurance, CMT ONE COUNTRY and the Children's Miracle Network to expand the Miles & Music for Kids event to six cities across the country in 2009 and 2010, with all proceeds benefiting Children's Miracle Network hospitals in those areas.

Lady Antebellum are taking advantage of today's technology to expand their fan base. The trio regularly post webisodes of everything from being in the studio, on the bus and on stage, most recently with Keith Urban in Calgary. They also make good use of Twitter. Well, actually Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood take the lead on that. Charles Kelley is not a fan, as he tells us: "We, from the get go, knew that the internet is just growing and growing and growing. I mean, gosh, you look at all these -- to me which is some of the most annoying little things, all those Twitters and stuff. (Scott) I love Twitter! (Kelley) I hate Twitter. Oh my gosh, it's so narcissistic, but we're on it! For us, though I will say all these outlets are just a great way to create awareness of the band, and it's cool for us to kind of let fans know what we're doin'."]

• Lady A continue their Canadian run with Urban on Saturday (September 26th) in Winnipeg.
• Their new single, "Need You Now," is climbing the country charts.

The video for Trace Adkins' lastest single, "All I Ask For Anymore," makes it debut on CMT and CMT.com on Monday (September 28th) and on GAC and CMT Pure both beginning on Tuesday (September 29th).

The clip was shot on location at the Tennessee Air National Guard in Nashville and features real soldiers and their families. Adkins' wife, five daughters, granddaughter and son-in-law make cameo appearances as well.

SIDE NOTE

• Adkins will perform at the Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride at Nashville's Loveless Barn on Friday (September 25th).

Luke Bryan, Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar, Heidi Newfield, Joey & Rory and songwriters Jeffrey Steele and Tony Mullins will all perform at the 5th annual Stars For Second Harvest benefit on September 29th at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The event, which benefits the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, will again be hosted by hit songwriter Craig Wiseman.

• Tickets are now on sale for $35 at ticketmaster.com. For preferred seating, contact the Second Harvest Food Bank at 615-329-3491.

Crystal Gayle will receive her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 2nd. Tanya Tucker will be the guest speaker during the ceremony, which will take place near Vine Street and Sunset Boulevard. Gayle's will be the 2,390th star on the Walk.

FAST FACTS

• Crystal Gayle was born Brenda Gail Webb in Paintsville, Kentucky.
• Her older sister, Loretta Lynn, suggested the name Crystal because there was already a recording artist named Brenda Lee.
• Gayle became the first female artist in country music history to achieve platinum album sales with her fourth album, We Must Believe In Magic, which featured the huge hit "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue."

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. What country legend named his guitar "Trigger"?
A. Willie Nelson

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN/CMT 11:00AM (ET)
Miranda Lambert

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 12:00PM (ET)
David Nail, Ricky Skaggs

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?/CMT 8:00PM, 11:30PM (ET)
Emily West

TOP 20 COUNTRY COUNTDOWN/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Miranda Lambert

RON WHITE: THEY CALL ME TATER SALAD/CMT 9:00PM (ET)

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS

• Michael Douglas (actor, husband of Catherine Zeta-Jones) (65)
• Catherine Zeta-Jones (actress, wife of Michael Douglas) (40)
• Mark Hamill (actor, Star Wars' Luke Skywalker) (58)
• Heather Locklear (actress) (48)
• Will Smith (actor/rapper) (41)
• Cheryl Tiegs (model and actress) (62)
• Barbara Walters (broadcast journalist) (80)
• Michael Madsen (actor, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill) (51)
• Aida Turturro (actress, The Sopranos' Janice) (47)
• Anson Williams (actor-director, Happy Days' Potsie) (60)
• Hal Sparks (actor-comedian, Queer As Folk, Dude, Where's My Car?) (40)
• T.I. (rapper/actor, American Ganster, ATL) (29)
• Tate Donovan (actor, Damages, The O.C.) (46)
• Clea DuVall (actress, Can't Hardly Wait, The Faculty, She's All That, The Astronaut's Wife, Girl, Interrupted) (32)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

• Connie Smith debuted on the chart with "Once A Day" in 1964. The song spent eight weeks in the Number One position.
• Keith Urban's former band, the Ranch, made their chart debut with "Walkin' The Country" in 1997. Urban was the trio's lead singer and guitarist.
• Alan Frizzell filed for divorce from Shelly West in 1983.
• Sugarland kicked off their first headlining tour at the North Charleston Coliseum in South Carolina in 2007.
• Gretchen Wilson's All Jacked Up album was released in 2005.
• Dierks Bentley earned his first Number One single in Billboard with "What Was I Thinkin'" in 2003.
• Diamond Rio's "How Your Love Makes Me Feel" went to Number One on the Billboard country singles chart in 1997.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

JENNIFER ANISTON ISN'T STILL CRYING OVER BRAD PITT: Jennifer Aniston's rep is denying a report that the actress recently help up production on The Bounty because she was crying over Brad Pitt. A source had told the paper that Aniston tearily told an assistant, "I need a moment. This scene reminds me of Brad and me." Her rep clarified to GossipCop.com, "It is absolutely false."

JESSICA BIEL HIKING KILAMANJARO: Jessica Biel is going to hike Africa's highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro. The 27-year-old, along with fellow actors Lupe Fiasco and Isabel Lucas, have signed up for the climb to raise awareness about the need for clean water worldwide. Biel said in a statement that she's proud to have joined the team "to help any way I can in order to raise awareness toward the life-threatening clean water crisis happening not only in Africa but around the world." Boyfriend Justin Timberlake may be joining her as he recently told GQ magazine that he's preparing for a major mountain climb.

JULIE CHEN GIVES BIRTH: Julie Chen gave birth to her first child on Thursday (September 24th). The Early Show host and her husband, CBS Corporation President and CEO Les Moonves named their son Charlie. Les has three children from his first marriage.

PAMELA ANDERSON REPORTEDLY IN DEBT: Pamela Anderson is reportedly in debt. Star magazine reports that the former Baywatch babe owes more than $1.2 million to creditors including construction companies she supposedly stiffed after they remodeled her home. Jay Bruder of Bruder Construction told the magazine, "A lot of people are owed a lot of money." In June, he filed a $674,043 lien against Anderson for the cost of "labor and materials and subcontractors to remodel main house, construct foundations for guest house."

JENNIFER JASON LEIGH REPORTEDLY PREGNANT: Jennifer Jason Leigh is reportedly pregnant. The National Enquirer reports that the actress and her director husband Noah Baumbach are expecting their first child. A source told the publication, "Having children is something they have wanted for some time. They are overjoyed with the news. Jennifer wanted to play it safe and not tell anyone until she was past the three-month mark. But now that she has reached that stage, she has been telling some of those close to her." The baby is reportedly due in March.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

HEIDI MONTAG TO GUEST-HOST 'THE VIEW': Heidi Montag will guest-host The View on October 1st. The show announced that additional guest hosts who will be filling in for Elisabeth Hasselbeck when she's on maternity leave include Lisa Ling, Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz, The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco and American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi.

SIMON COWELL BRINGING 'X-FACTOR' TO AMERICA? Simon Cowell is reportedly working on a deal to bring The X Factor to the United States. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Cowell is hammering out a deal with Fox. Cowell is currently in the last year of his deal with American Idol -- and X Factor is reportedly one of the major points he is hoping to include in a new deal. It is rumored that Cowell could earn about $50 million a season for Idol and that a successful X Factor might bring him an additional $50 million a cycle.

LINDSAY LOHAN TO HOST SINGAPORE CONCERTS: Lindsay Lohan will host three days of concerts in Singapore featuring Beyonce Knowles and the Black Eyed Peas. The shows, which coincide with Sunday's (September 27th) Singapore Grand Prix, were supposed to be hosted by Pussy Cat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who dropped out at the last minute. Lohan said, "It's a bunch of amazing performers whom I'm a really big fan of."

JENNIFER MORRISON REPORTEDLY LEAVING 'HOUSE': Jennifer Morrison is leaving House. EW.com reports that Morrison, who played Dr. Allison Cameron on the Fox drama, shot her last scene earlier this week. That final episode will reportedly air in November.

'MELROSE PLACE' STAYING ALIVE: Despite low ratings, the CW has ordered more episodes of its freshman series Melrose Place. The Hollywood Reporter said that executives are holding out that viewers will still discover the program, especially as Heather Locklear is making an appearance come November. The CW has also given a full season order to One Tree Hill and has ordered additional episodes of The Vampire Diaries.

BARBIE MOVIE IN THE WORKS: Universal pictures is developing a live-action film featuring the iconic doll, Barbie. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Laurence Mark -- whose credits include Jerry Maguire and Julie & Julia -- is producing the film. Toy-maker Mattel has been very protective of Barbie in the past, with this project marking the first time she will appear on the big screen. It's unclear how Barbie's story will translate as she's "sometimes a high school teen, but at times a pilot, military officer, teacher or astronaut."

MACKENZIE PHILLIPS RETURNING TO OPRAH

Mackenzie Phillips is returning to the Oprah Winfrey Show on Friday (September 25th), where she and half-sister Chynna Phillips will address the incest revelations that made headlines earlier this week. On Thursday's show Winfrey said, "You heard the bombshell from child star Mackenzie Phillips. Now she's back for the reaction, and her half-sister Chynna is speaking out." It's unclear if they will be live in studio.

Phillips revealed that she had a decade-long sexual relationship with her father, John Phillips, of the Mamas and the Papas. She said, "It started very early on in my life. And this was the mother of all difficult experiences. I was 17, 18. I wasn't a small child, but I'll tell you something, it was one of those things where you tell yourself, 'Don't look.' ... I felt so alone. And I think my father was not a bad man. It's kind of a testimony to what drugs and alcohol [do]."

• Chynna has said that she does not doubt her sister's story but Mackenzie's stepmother, Genevieve Waite Phillips, denies the claims. She said in a statement, "John was a good man who had the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction. He was incapable, no matter how drunk or drugged he was, of having such a relationship with his own child."

RANDY QUAID AND WIFE ARRESTED

Randy Quaid and his wife Evi were arrested in Texas on Thursday (September 24th) for defrauding an innkeeper -- a charge that stems from allegedly skipping out on a $10,000 hotel bill. TMZ.com reports that Randy assaulted the arresting deputies both physically and verbally and resisted arrest.

• Sources added that a screaming Evi had to be wrestled to the ground upon her arrest.
• The arrest warrant came from California, where officials want the couple extradited.

SARAH JESSICA PARKER AND KIM CATTRALL NOT SPEAKING!

Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall have reportedly reignited their long-running feud on the set of the second Sex and the City movie. A source told the UK version of OK! magazine that the women refuse to even talk with one another, making the rest of the cast and crew feel uncomfortable on set.

An insider said, "While the cast is all smiles on the outside, the level of dislike is unbelievable. No-one is having a good time on this shoot."

• Parker's rep denied the story, telling GossipCop.com, that it is "false on every level."
• Spies also said that Parker is letting the stress of work and motherhood get to her. The source added, "The crew have taken to calling her 'Carrie Sadshaw'. When she doesn't have to be 'on' in her scenes, she looks so sad."

EVA LONGORIA PARKER GOING BACK TO SCHOOL?

Eva Longoria Parker is going back to school. The 34-year-old Desperate Housewives actress said she plans to enroll in a master's program in Chicano studies and political science.

In Hola magazine's Mexico edition, the actress is quoted as saying that she wants to "learn more about the history of the country we come from." She didn't specify what university she plans on attending.

• Longoria Parker was in Mexico City last month, taking on a Spanish-speaking role for the first time in a kidnapping film called Days of Grace.
• Meanwhile, Eva reportedly wants to renew her wedding vows. The actress, who married NBA star Tony Parker in 2007 is quoted by ShowbizSpy.com as having said, "It seems like yesterday. We want to get married again. Our wedding went by so fast and, with the frenzy surrounding it, it felt like an out-of-body experience. We want to do it again -- something a bit more intimate -- because we love being married."

WEDDING FOR RATINGS?

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom are getting married on Sunday (September 27th). The reason behind the couple of one month's rushed nuptials has been a source of speculation and sources tell People magazine it has to do with Khloe's E! reality show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

An insider told People that Khloe is taking a page from the book of Kendra Wilkinson, whose recent E! wedding earned her reality show its highest ratings. The source said, "It creates a lot of buzz that the wedding is being planned and happening within such a short period of time. It's going to make for huge ratings, and Khloe and Lamar are sure about everything, so they all figured, 'Why not?!' "

• Another source said, "It's happening so quickly because of the show. They want to create some drama for the cameras. Meetings and decisions are being delayed to the last minute."
• Despite the supposed ratings-push, the source said the couple is ready to be husband and wife. The insider explained, "It may seem like it's a quickie wedding to everyone else but Khloe knows what she wants. She and Lamar started talking about getting married really soon after they met. They knew this was it, and they're just having fun with this whirlwind."

THE NASCAR REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 25th

NASCAR Sets 2010 Testing Policy

NASCAR announced today its 2010 testing policy for its three national and two regional touring series.

The policy will again prohibit testing at tracks which host NASCAR national series events, by teams in the following series: NASCAR Sprint Cup; NASCAR Nationwide; NASCAR Camping World Truck; NASCAR Camping World East; and NASCAR Camping World West.

In 2010, however, testing will be allowed at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks that host a regional touring event but do not host a national series event.

No. 18 Team Penalized For Low Car at New Hampshire

NASCAR has issued penalties to the No. 18 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as a result of a rule infraction found last Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The No. 18 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.8 1B (the height of the car at the left front fender did not meet the required specification; too low in post-race inspection) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book.

Crew chief Steve Addington has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Driver Kyle Busch and car owner Joe Gibbs have been penalized 25 championship driver and 25 championship owner points, respectively.

---

NASCAR On TV This Weekend
Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races are at Dover
Camping World Truck Series race is in Las Vegas
(All Times Eastern)

• Sprint Cup AAA 400 Practice - Friday, September 25th at 11:00 a.m. (Speed)
• Nationwide Series Dover 200 final practice - Friday at 1:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
• AAA 400 qualifying - Friday at 3:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
• Dover 200 qualifying - Saturday, September 26th at 10:30 a.m. (ESPN2)
• AAA 400 final practice - Saturday at 7:00 p.m. (tape delay) (ESPN2)
• Dover 200 race - Saturday at 3:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
• Camping World Truck Series Las Vegas 350 race - Saturday at 9:00 p.m. (Speed)
• AAA 400 - Sunday, September 27th at 1:00 p.m. (ABC)

HEADLINES

TERROR SUSPECT SAID TO HAVE BOUGHT BOMB INGREDIENTS: Federal authorities charged Thursday (September 24th) that 24-year-old Afghan immigrant Najibullah Zazi, who received explosives training from al-Qaida, bought large quantities of hydrogen peroxide and nail-polish remover near his home in Denver with the help of associates from New York in a plot to build bombs for attacks in the U.S. Zazi, a shuttle driver at the Denver airport, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. Investigators have found bomb-making instructions on his computer's hard drive and said he used a Colorado hotel room to try to make the explosives a few weeks ago before a trip to New York earlier this month. Zazi was arrested last weekend, charged originally along with his father and a New York City imam with lying to investigators. Zazi's cross-country drive from Denver to New York led to a September 14th raid on several Queens, New York, apartments and his eventual arrest. Since then, transit systems, stadiums and hotels across the country have been warned to be on heightened alert.

UNRELATED TERRORISM ARRESTS IN ILLINOIS AND TEXAS: Two men, one an American convert to Islam and the other a Jordanian national, have been charged in unrelated cases after attempting to detonate what they thought were bombs. The cases are also not related to the major terrorism investigation going on in Colorado and New York. Michael Finton, who also went by the name Talib Islam, was arrested Wednesday (September 23rd) after he allegedly attempted to set off explosives in a van outside a federal courthouse in Springfield, Illinois. The 29-year-old Finton converted to Islam while in prison, and idolized "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh. In Dallas, 19-year-old Hosam Maher Husein Smadi was arrested yesterday (September 24th) after allegedly putting what he believed to be a car bomb in a parking garage beneath a 60-story office building. In both cases, fake devices were given to the men by FBI agents posing as al-Qaida operatives.

POLICE CLASH WITH PROTESTERS AHEAD OF G-20 SUMMIT: As world leaders gathered in Pittsburgh Thursday (September 24th) ahead of the start of the G-20 summit today, police clashed with protesters in the streets about a mile from the convention center, firing pepper spray and smoke after the protesters responded to calls to disperse by rolling trash bins and throwing rocks. Meanwhile, in a shift recognizing the rising influence of China, Brazil and India, the leaders of the world's top 20 wealthy and developing nations decided that the G-20 will take over the role of leading council on global economic cooperation. For more than 30 years, that role had been played by the smaller G-8 group of leading industrial countries. However, the G-8 will continue to meet on matters of common importance such as national security.

SECURITY COUNCIL BACKS GOALS FOR STOPPING SPREAD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS: The United Nations Security Council yesterday (September 24th) unanimously endorsed a broad strategy aimed at stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and ultimately eliminating them. President Obama presided -- since the U.S. is Council president for the month -- as the 15-nation body adopted the U.S.-initiated resolution at the first such Security Council gathering of world leaders to deal with nuclear nonproliferation. The agreement didn't authorize any concrete measures, but it urged action on many proposals, including: negotiation of a treaty banning production of fissile material for nuclear bombs; establishment of internationally-supervised nuclear fuel banks to keep potential bomb material out of more hands; and ratification by nations of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty banning all nuclear bomb tests. It encourages countries to take stronger steps to keep potential bomb material out of terrorist hands, including imposing stricter guidelines for exporting nuclear technology and doing more to detect and disrupt nuclear trafficking.

TODAY'S FYI:

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS DAY FOR THE ECONOMY: Reports out yesterday (September 24th) on unemployment and home sales provided both good and bad economic news. The Labor Department said that the number of workers filing new unemployment claims last week fell unexpectedly by 21,000 to a seasonally adjusted 530,000. Analysts had expected to to increase to 550,000. However, the National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes fell 2.7 percent in August to an annual rate of 5.10 million, below expectations of an increase to a 5.35 million pace.

KENNEDY CONFIDANT CHOSEN TO TEMPORARILY FILL HIS SEAT: A close friend of the late Senator Edward Kennedy who is the executor of his will was chosen by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick yesterday (September 24th) to fill Kennedy's seat until a special election in January. Kennedy's widow and sons had encouraged Patrick to appoint 71-year-old Paul G. Kirk Jr., who served on Kennedy's staff from 1969 to 1977 and is a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Patrick announced Kirk's appointment one day after the Democratic-dominated Legislature changed the state's succession law to restore the governor's power to appoint an interim replacement. The appointment of Kirk will once again give Democrats the crucial 60 votes in the Senate needed to overcome a Republican filibuster, with would be particularly important for health insurance reform legislation. Massachusetts Republicans have gone to court in a last-ditch effort to prevent Kirk from being sworn in today.

GINSBURG HOSPITALIZED AFTER FEELING FAINT: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized Thursday evening (September 24th) after she felt faint in her office after undergoing treatment earlier in the day for an iron deficiency anemia that was diagnosed in July. Although an examination found the 76-year-old justice to be stable, she was given fluids and taken to the hospital as a precaution. Ginsburg underwent surgery in February to have a small, malignant tumor removed from her pancreas, at which time doctors found no spread of the cancer. Anemia is a common side of effect of the kind of chemotherapy Ginsburg underwent for pancreatic cancer.

• Ginsburg was nominated by President Bill Clinton and seated on the Supreme Court in August 1993.

STUDY LOOKS AT WHAT WORKS WHEN JOB HUNTING: With so many Americans out of work, researchers at the University of Missouri set out to find out what makes for a successful job hunt, studying the efforts of 327 job-seekers ranging in age from 20 to 40. U.S. News and World Report says the researchers found that developing and following a plan at the start of a job search, and having positive emotions during the process had a significant impact on success. The researchers said that being conscientious seems to be key, writing, "Perhaps, conscientious job seekers conducted better quality job searches by scrutinizing their fit with prospective employers more carefully or more effectively following up with employers." Having positive emotions may have helped job seekers behave more confidently or cope better with stress, quote, "thereby responding more skillfully in interviews than job seekers with less positive emotions," according to the researchers. While acknowledging that people can't change their personalities, the researchers say that job seekers can change their behaviors and the display of their emotions.

BURGER NAMED IN HONOR OF MICHELLE OBAMA: Washington, D.C.'s Good Stuff Eatery unveiled a new turkey burger yesterday (September 24th) named after First lady Michelle Obama called the "Michelle Melt." The burger is made of fresh, locally grown ingredients that promote healthier eating, and the same herbs that are in the White House garden started by Mrs. Obama. It's made of free range turkey, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, ruby red tomato, lettuce and South Lawn herb garden mayo all on a wheat bun. The burger was developed by Good Stuff Eatery chef Spike Mendelsohn -- a former contestant on TV's Top Chef -- in collaboration with White House chef Sam Kass. Proceeds from sales of the burger will go to D.C. Central Kitchen, which provides food for the homeless.

SPORTS:

GRETZKY RESIGNS AS COYOTES COACH: Wayne Gretzky resigned yesterday (September 24th) as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, making the announcement on his website. Hours later, the Coyotes announced that he'd be replaced by former Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett. Gretzky's announcement comes amid the financial turmoil surrounding the team, as the court battle between Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie and the NHL over the sale of the team continues after owner Jerry Moyes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May. Gretzky wrote, "We all hoped there would be a resolution earlier this month to the Coyotes ownership situation, but the decision is taking longer than expected. Since both remaining bidders have made it clear that I don't fit into their future plans, I approached general manager Don Maloney and suggested he begin looking for someone to replace me as coach." Gretzky's tenure as as Coyotes' coach from 2005 to 2009 was not much of a success, as they finished with a 143-161-24 record and missed the playoffs in all four seasons.

• Gretzky, the leading scorer in NHL history, owns a small piece of the Coyotes franchise.

(Headline News, FYI and Sports stories were compiled in part from reports by the Associated Press and Reuters.)

SEASON PREMIERES TONIGHT

CBS

• GHOST WHISPERER - (season premiere) Melinda gives birth to a son who has inherited her gift for seeing spirits, though his gift has an important difference.
• MEDIUM - (season premiere) Allison and her family cope with the outcome of her brain surgery.
• NUMB3RS - (season premiere) A job protecting a high profile activist turns into a manhunt as the team searches for a sniper.

NBC

• LAW & ORDER - (season premiere) When a war verteran is found dead, Lupo and Bernard connect the murder to an attorney who used to work for the Department of Justice.
• DATELINE NBC - Investigative journalism.
• THE JAY LENO SHOW - Hugh Laurie

FOX

• BROTHERS - (series premiere) Retired NFL player Mike Trainor leaves the high life behind when he is called home to deal with family issues, only to find the change of scenery has become a necessity when his financial situation suddenly changes.
• DOLLHOUSE - (season premiere) Echo marries a wealthy businessman connected to one of Ballard's open cases; Echo and Ballard make a deal.

ABC

• FLASHFORWARD (repeat)
• MODERN FAMILY (repeat)
• COUGAR TOWN (repeat)
• 20/20 - Investigative reporting.

CW

• SMALLVILLE - Clark wants to start training with Jor-El; Lois meets John Corben (Brian Austen Green), a new reporter at the Daily Planet.
• AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (repeat)

USA

• MONK - A voodoo curse seems to be at work when dolls sent to San Francisco residents accurately predict inexplicable deaths; Meat Loaf guest stars.

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

ARKANSAS WOMAN GETS PREGNANT...WHILE ALREADY PREGNANT: Doctors say a woman in Arkansas is pregnant with two children, conceived several weeks apart. The second child is said to have been conceived approximately two weeks later than the first. While it is an extremely rare occurance, known as superfetation, the woman's doctor said that it is nearly impossible to know if it happens more often. While the second child will be born prematurely, the two week difference is not expected to cause any medical issues. (Mom Logic)

GARBAGE MEN BEING TRAINED TO HELP FIGHT CRIME: The Volusia County Sheriffs Office is training garbage men to be on the lookout for crime. The initiative, known as BOLO (Businesses on the Lookout) will teach workers to spot signs of wrongdoing and prevent crimes, such as residential burglaries, illegal animals, and illegal hazardous waste disposal. They will also be trained to spot signs of suspicious people, like "tattoos and scars". (Click Orlando)

DRUNK DRIVER CRASHES INTO POLICE DEPUTY HOUSE WHILE TEXTING: A Florida man who was driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.14, double the legal limit, was doubly impaired, as he was also text messaging when he crashed through a fence and into the house of a police deputy. The deputy said he heard a loud noise and then saw that the man had crashed his minivan into the bedroom. (Sun-Sentinel)

DID YOU KNOW?

HE/SHE TOO YOUNG TO DATE? According to Wikipedia, "The "half-your-age-plus-seven rule" is a rule of thumb used by some in Western cultures defining a mathematical formula to judge whether the age difference in an intimate relationship is socially acceptable." The rule goes -- take your age, divide it by two and add seven. If your potential love interest is at least that age, you're good to go!

WOMEN GET FREAKED OUT BY PARKING: If you're a woman, you're twice as anxious as a man about parking and twice as likely as a guy to ask another driver to park your car for you, according to a new study reported in the Daily Telegraph. According to the paper, "The gap in women's confidence behind the wheel extends to backing into a space: 75 percent say it can be too tricky even when there's enough room, and 22 percent admit to feeling hopeless to back up under any circumstances."

HOW TO TIP TO IMPRESS: According to AskMen.com, "A 10 for the doorman, a 20 at the door (not for quid pro quo, but just for thanks), $5 per drink to the barman, and a discrete $5 to the busboy. This will announce your presence and get you the sort of attention, service and (perhaps) comps that would otherwise be reserved for the likes of someone more well-known. The kind that will leave your date in a state of bemused wonder. (Just a side note: Men always pay cash at the bar. Don't be tapping at keys like a secretary).

AUGUST HAS HIGHEST MORTALITY RATE IN U.K. HOSPITALS: August is the most dangerous time to be admitted to accident and emergency, a study suggests. London's Daily Mail reports that researchers found hospital mortality rates rise by six percent on the first Wednesday in August. Perhaps not coincidentally, that is also the day newly qualified doctors, fresh from medical school, begin working in NHS hospitals.

HOW TO BECOME FAMOUS (eHow.com)

• Lots of time to spend online: To become famous, you're going to have to give people a reason to care about you or what you're doing. Is there something unique about you, your work or your interests? Do you have a special insight into something that a lot of people are interested? Basically, you need to figure out what you have to offer the world.
• Next, you need a gimmick: Several people have gotten famous online solely off a gimmick, but it's rarely been a lasting fame. You could be the guy that straps a webcam on his head just because that's his gimmick (what's his name?), or you could use that gimmick to get more people interested in what you have to offer, creating a much wider audience.
• Once you've got your mission and your gimmick, it's time to get going: Dedicate as much time as you can to your pursuit of fame. Blog, post on other blogs, upload YouTube videos and go viral with as much content about you as possible. You need to literally flood the Internet to get even a trickle of fame.
• Network with other blogs and build a community around yourself wherever you can: Host chats, setup a forum about yourself, let everyone know what's up with you using Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc.
• Digg yourself and use whatever other free promotion tools you can: Consider advertising with Google Adsense or another service if you can afford it.
• Consider branching out into other media, pitch stories about your celebrity to traditional print, broadcast and other outlets: Give lectures, readings, throw parties or host other events to get your name out there.
• Hire an agent and take over the world: So long, Oprah!

TWITTER FAUX PAS (Daily Telegraph)

• Mock surprise at your own success: Self-promotion is one of the main reasons to join Twitter and is central to its continued success, so we can all drop the false modesty. Tweets like "stunned by the great response to my blog, keep it coming guys" may sound charmingly coy in your head, but people can see through the self-deprecation.
• Group tweeting on a night out: "If everyone around the table feels the need to dive to their phones to tell the internet how much fun they're having, they can't be having that much fun. People who strain to look popular just appear incapable of enjoying an experience without audience validation."
• Anything, anything, anything about sex: "That message may sound erotic to you, the person who joined Twitter just to stalk you, and (if you're lucky) the person you joined Twitter just to stalk. But remember that it will be read by dozens of people double and half your age who don't wish to see you as a sexual object. If you wouldn't say it out loud on a packed train carriage, you're best off not pressing enter."
• 'So bored': You're on the internet, go learn something.
• RIP : Tweets that merely record your awareness of someone's death smack of me-tooism, and are of zero interest or value to your followers. Since Michael Jackson's passing, certain Twitter users seem to take delight from the thrill of being the first of their friendship group to "announce" a celebrity death. It's morbid and it's scaring Jeff Goldblum's family, so stop.
• Intimate family moments: The occasional tweet about family life makes a pleasant change to updates about work and pop culture, but does your daughter really want hundreds of her mother's acquaintances to know that she's having trouble at school?
• Public feuds: It's impossible to fight on Twitter and not look like a stroppy eight-year-old. And as both parties want to have the last word the spat can eat up entire afternoons.
• I'm a celebrity and I'm friends with other celebrities and we're just too witty: The little people did not join Twitter to bask in the glow of your fabulously glamorous lives, famous people. The direct message feature was created for prolonged two-way conversations.
• 'Inspirational' quotations: One man's motivational motto is another's saccharine guff. Your followers may start to mistake you for one of the spambots that fire out nuggets of Deepak Chopra wisdom to tempt clicks.
• One household chore, several vapid tweets: Assembling a chest of drawers from Ikea is an excellent subject for a tweet, whether it's written with pride in success or confusion and sorrow at failure. But some twitterers fall down by opting for a blow by blow account: "Can't find the nail". "Ah, there it is". "Hmmmmm". "Getting there. Slowly but getting there". Why not wait until the end of the task and wrap up the whole giddying experience as a single update, complete with a triumphant Twitpic?
• Funerals: It should go without saying that live-blogging a burial is insensitive and inappropriate, but there have been instances. In 2008 the Rocky Mountain News sent a reporter to tweet the funeral of a three-year-old boy who had been killed in a car crash. The coverage included the tweet "family members shovel earth into grave".
• One word tweets: With the possible exceptions of "dying" or "help", no single word can justify a tweet. If you're not prepared to put in the effort to compose something of interest to your followers then there is no reason to trouble them. Thinly-disguise appeals for @replies - such as "thinking" or "worried" - are particularly reprehensible.
• Too many tweets: If you think you might have Twit-horrea, try deleting two out of every three tweets before pressing update. Increase this to three out of three if you've been drinking.

LAUGH REVEALS PERSONALITY

Your laugh tells more than what you find funny... it's also tells about your personality.

• Booming -- Passionate, make decision quickly, but with a sensitive side.
• Cackling -- Practical, down to earth and a good judge of character.
• Weepy -- You care deeply for others, and handle complex situations well. A zest for life.
• Squeaky, high pitched -- Young in spirit, love surprises, emotional, trustworthy, energetic optimistic.
• Chuckling, low pitched -- Sensuous, romantic, a flirt who can influence others.
• Tinkling, soft -- Conscientious, kind, considerate, dependable and you try hard to please. You make others feel good.
• Giggling -- Hard worker with high personal standards. Lots of energy, creative, imaginative.
• Variable -- If you have a different laugh for every occasion, your versatile, good with people and fit in everywhere.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

There are few acts in the entertainment business that can boast a career like that of Reba McEntire. She's released 26 studio albums, selling some 50 million units worldwide, and she's successfully tackled the worlds of television, movies and theater. Talent is certainly a necessary ingredient to maintaining such a career, but McEntire tells us it also takes passion. "When I went to Broadway, I mean that was a project that I was so passionate about, portraying Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, and in the same year, the script -- well, it was called Sally in the beginning -- the TV show, I went out to LA to do that and was very passionate about it, but to reinvent myself and to do different things other than just music, although when I was on Broadway I was singing along with acting, and when I went to LA to do the Reba TV show I was touring all the time, and I had three albums out during that time."

McEntire adds that taking advantage of different opportunities keeps her career fresh year after year. "It's reinventing, keeping creative, having that wonderful team around you that think new things up for you, and having the good Lord comin' up with things for you, too. That sure does help, but havin' the, I guess the want to to keep on doin' different things and to want to have a job that you absolutely love, which is music. I do love music, and I love to get on stage. I love to perform, I love to record, so I feel like I'm a very blessed person to have a job I love."

• McEntire's latest single, "Consider Me Gone," continues its climb up the country charts.

Taylor Swift has made history yet again, this time as the first artist ever to score two Number One records at Top 40 radio with a country crossover hit. Swift locked down the top spot on the Top 40 Mediabase chart this week with "You Belong With Me."

• "You Belong With Me" is Swift's second consecutive Number One at Top 40, and her 4th consecutive chart-topping country single. Her first, "Love Story," topped the charts earlier this year. The song became the first ever country crossover recording to hit Number One on the Top 40 Radio format in the almost-two decade history of the radio platform, according to Mediabase.
• Swift is happy for any radio airplay, no matter the genre, but she says that her loyalty to country music never waivers. "I'm a country artist and I write country music. But I'm also believer that the new generation is not really a fan of genres as much as it's fan of good music. And I think good music resonates, and hopefully my music is good and can be played on my many different stations."
• Swift recently won an MTV award for Best Female Video for "You Belong With Me," making her the first country artist ever to win a Video Music Award in the history of the annual event.
• The Fearless Platinum Edition, including special DVD/CD bonus features and several new songs, will be released on October 27th.

Eric Church will perform as part of pre-race festivities for the NASCAR Banking 500 race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 17th. His concert will take place outside of the Turn 2 Diamond Tower Terrace prior to the race. Admission to the concert is free with the purchase of a NASCAR Banking 500 ticket.

• Church said, "Having grown up in North Carolina, being a NASCAR fan is a given. I've been to this very race many times with my dad. To be able to go back and play is a very special homecoming for me. I know a lot of my fans love NASCAR and a lot of NASCAR fans love country music. I guess the only question to be answered is, who is louder? The guys and their cars or me and the band. I can't wait to find out!"
• College students can see the concert from a special viewing area with the purchase of a $49 Carolina CollegeFest 2009 package. The package includes five hours of live music, gift packs, prize giveaways and a reserved seat for the NASCAR Banking 500.
• Church's "Love Your Love The Most" is a current Top 10 hit.

FAST FACTS

• Church's first album, Sinners Like Me, was released in 2006.
• His latest CD, called Carolina, was released in March.
  

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Pat Green has parted ways with BNA Records Nashville. Green recorded two albums for the label, the first of which, Cannonball, was released in 2006. The project produced the Top 13 hit "Feels Just Like It Should." His latest CD, What I'm For, was released in January. Three singles were released, but the album's title track was the only one to break through to the Top 12.

FAST FACTS

• Green previously recorded for Universal/Republic.
• The singer continues to tour, with a show on Thursday (September 24th) in Montgomery, Alabama.

Jewel and her non-profit charity, Project Clean Water, want you to "Give A Drop" -- a drop of clean drinking water for people in a village in Africa. The charity has partnered with the Voss Foundation and Virgin Unite to launch the campaign. Their first venture is to help provide water to the village of Pel in Dogon, Mali.

• The Give A Drop campaign works through website and text donations. Visit giveadrop.com, or test the word "DROP" to phone number 85944 to make a $5.00 donation.
• Jewel said, "When I was homeless, I became ill and couldn't afford to buy the bottled water I needed for my sick kidneys. I realized then that it was hard to get clean drinking water in the United States, and discovered it was a huge problem globally."

FAST FACTS

• Jewel founded Project Clean Water in 1997.
• To date, Project Clean Water has helped more than 30 communities overcome their individual drinking water problems in 13 different countries on five different continents.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. In what year did Reba McEntire make her debut on the Grand Ole Opry?
A. 1977

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

INTRODUCING: ZAC BROWN BAND/GAC 12:00PM (ET)

SOUNDSTAGE/GAC 4:00PM (ET)
George Jones

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?/CMT 8:00PM, 11:30PM (ET)
Jack Ingram

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Ricky Skaggs, David Nail

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS

Gordon Clapp (actor, NYPD Blue's Detective Greg Medavoy) (61)

• Kevin Sorbo (TV star, Hercules and Andromeda) (51)
• Nia Vardalos (actress, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, My Life In Ruins) (47)
• "Mean" Joe Greene (NFL Hall Of Famer) (63)
• Alan Colmes (co-host of Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes) (59)
• Lou Dobbs (CNN anchor) (64)
• Gerry Marsden (singer-guitarist, Gerry & the Pacemakers) (67)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

Brenda Lee, Harlan Howard and Cindy Walker were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997.

• Loretta Lynn's Coal Miner's Daughter was released in 1973.
• The Eagles' The Long Run album was released in 1979.
• Sara Evans climbed to Number One on the Billboard chart with "A Real Fine Place To Start" in 2005.
• Lee Ann Womack's self-titled debut album was certified platinum, while her follow-up, Some Things I Know, went gold in 1999.
• Lonestar collected its first platinum album for Lonely Grill in 1999.
• Joe Diffie's "Third Rock From The Sun" earned the Number One position on the Billboard country singles chart in 1994.
• Mark Chesnutt received his first gold album for his debut, Too Cold At Home, in 1991.
• Clint Black picked up his first gold album for Killin' Time in 1989.
• The Sons Of The Pioneers received a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1976.
• Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs recorded "The Ballad Of Jed Clampett," the theme for The Beverly Hillbillies, in 1962.

BABY NEWS

JUDE LAW HAS A DAUGHTER: Jude Law is a father again. Samantha Burke, a 24-year-old aspiring actress with whom Law had a fling, gave birth to the actor's daughter on Tuesday (September 22nd) night. The source told People magazine, "Samantha is doing well," adding, "I doubt Jude was there" for the birth. "Besides the financial support, he's not involved." The child's name is Sophia.

ELLEN POMPEO GIVES BIRTH: Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery are the parents of a baby girl. A rep for the Grey's Anatomy star confirmed to Usmagazine.com that Pompeo gave birth to Stella Luna Pompeo Ivery on September 15th in Los Angeles. Ivery was recently accused of cheating on his pregnant wife but the couple has maintained a united front in spite of the rumors.

SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR WELCOMES DAUGHTER: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. welcomed their first child last Saturday (September 19th). A spokesperson confirmed that Gellar gave birth to a daughter, who they named Charlotte Grace Prinze. The couple met in 1997 while filming I Know What You Did Last Summer and later married in 2002.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

MEGAN MULLALLY RECOVERING AFTER CAR ACCIDENT: Megan Mullally is recovering from minor injuries sustained in a Beverly Hills car crash last week. TMZ.com reports that the former Will and Grace star was involved in a two-car accident last Wednesday (September 16th), causing enough injury to cancel two performances of the play she is currently performing in. The site noted that Mullally was back on stage last Saturday (September 19th), but was sporting a brace on her wrist. Police have yet to determine who was at fault in the accident.

ERIC DANE AND WIFE SUING OVER RACY TAPE: Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart filed a lawsuit in L.A. County Superior Court on Wednesday (September 23rd), in response to the release of their " naked non-sex threesome tape." TMZ.com reports that the couple claims that Gawker.com had not only unlawfully posted almost four minutes of the private video that was shot behind closed doors, but "maliciously" distributed the video and included nude shots of the couple along with former beauty queen Kari Ann Peniche. They are demanding over $1 million in damages.

JENNIFER ANISTON NOT PREGNANT: Jennifer Aniston still is not pregnant. Although the latest cover of OK! magazine blares, "Pregnant at 40!" over a picture of the actress, her rep told Usmagazine.com, "Jennifer is not pregnant." Even inside OK! magazine, no proof of the pregnancy is offered. The piece merely quotes an insider as saying that she "wants to have a baby soon."

RENEE ZELLWEGER TO WEAR A FAT SUIT? Instead of packing on the pounds for the upcoming installment of the Bridget Jones series, Renee Zellweger will likely be donning a fat suit. PerezHilton.com reports that the actress is concerned about how long it took her to lose the extra 30 pounds after the last film wrapped, and is beginning to worry about how the rapid gain-loss is affecting her body.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

SIMON COWELL DEVELOPING DANCE SHOW? Simon Cowell is reportedly planning to launch a new dance show on television. A source told Usmagazine.com that the American Idol judge "is secretly in talks to start his own dance show with Ian Burton, a UK friend who used to run a record label with him and has managed dancers." Sources claim that Cowell's intention is to go head-to-head against Nigel Lythgoe. The insider added, "It's his own SYTYCD show. He is always trying to do his own thing to compete with the Idol team. Now he is trying to steal the SYTYCD thunder."

SAMANTHA RONSON TO APPEAR ON '90210': Samantha Ronson will appear in an upcoming episode of 90210. People magazine reports that Lindsay Lohan's on-off gal pal taped an episode of the CW show, which will air on November 3rd. Ronson's scenes reportedly take place in a club and she will be offering love advice to Michael Steger's character Navid.

DIABLO CODY ADAPTING 'SWEET VALLEY HIGH': Diablo Cody is reportedly adapting the popular teen novel series, Sweet Valley High into a movie. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Universal pictures is negotiations to pick up the rights to the series, with Cody attached to adapt. The publication reports that Cody's formative years were influenced by the books, which centers on a pair of teenage twins living in California. The novels debuted in 1983 and the 150-plus books have been printed more than 60 million times.

J.J. ABRAMS REPORTEDLY DEVELOPING COMEDY? J.J. Abrams is reportedly developing a new half-hour comedy for Fox. The Hollywood Reporter announced that few details about the project have been revealed, except that it will be "a comedic medical show." Abrams most recent project is Fox's sophomore sci-fi drama Fringe.

NEW STEPHANIE MEYER BOOK BEING ADAPTED TO FILM: A Stephanie Meyer book that's not part of the Twilight saga is reportedly being adapted into a film. Variety reports that several producers used their own money to acquire screen rights to The Host, which is a love story set in the near future on Earth, which has been assimilated by an alien species that call themselves "Souls."

HOLLY MADISON GETTING REALITY SHOW: Holly Madison is getting her own reality show. PerezHilton.com reports that the former Girl Next Door will begin shooting Planet Holly, on October 12th in Las Vegas. According to Holly, "It will have some docu-drama, but it's the perfect excuse for me to be normal in a lighthearted comedy romp. Think Mary Tyler Moore. In fact, I just hooked up my DVD player so I can look at all the episodes of her old TV show. But Planet Holly also will have an empowering message for women showing that however crazy the ideas you might have, they can be achieved."

STUNT DOUBLE, NOT JACKYN SMITH, SUFFERS GUNSHOT WOUND

Jaclyn Smith is alive and well despite reports that she'd suffered a gunshot wound in Honduras. Smith's name was mixed into the incident because the victim in question is a woman named Sandra Franklin, who worked as Smith's stunt-double on Charlie's Angels.

After the news spread -- mostly via PerezHilton.com -- Smith took to her Twitter to shoot down the rumor. She wrote, "Jaclyn is fine. Those reports are FALSE. Jaclyn is safe and home with her family. She is not in Honduras. It is a lie."

• Her rep, Jay Schwartz, also spoke out, telling E! News, "This is absolutely not true. I just spoke with her today. She is fine and in Los Angeles." He clarified, "It was her Charlie's Angels stunt-double, Sandra Franklin, but details are unknown at this time."
• The radio station HRN reports that Sandra Franklin was shot while in her home on Roatan Island, off the Honduran coast and suffered a wound to her abdomen. She is reportedly in stable condition.

JOHN TRAVOLTA TESTIFIES IN EXTORTION TRIAL

John Travolta appeared in a Bahamian court on Wednesday (September 23rd) where he testified about a document two defendants are accused of using in an attempt to extort $25 million from him. Travolta was forced to recount his 16-year-old son Jett's tragic death as the document in question is a liability release he signed because the family considered flying Jett to the United States for treatment after he suffered a fatal seizure.

The document -- which Travolta testified he did not read -- was reportedly a refusal of treatment, which is why a paramedic on the scene, Tarino Lightbourne, and former Bahamian Senator Pleasant Bridgewater, allegedly though they could profit from it.

RadarOnline.com reports that Travolta looked "nervous and emotional" as he testified, while his wife Kelly Preston seemed "distraught."

• Travolta testified, "My son was autistic and suffered from seizure disorder. Every five to 10 days he suffered seizures which lasted 45 seconds to a minute." He said that on the day of Jett's death, a nanny alerted him of his son's condition and he and one of the nannies who works for his family continued to give Jett CPR as Kelly held their son's head.
• He said that approximately 35 minutes passed from the time he entered the room where Jett was, to when the ambulance arrived.
• The distraught dad then said Jett was put on a gurney and taken to an ambulance, with the nanny continuing chest compressions as they were taking him out.
• Travolta is expected to return to the stand on Thursday (September 24th).

HOWARD K. STERN FACES ADDITIONAL CHARGES

Anna Nicole Smith's longtime companion Howard K. Stern was charged with five additional felonies relating to her death on Wednesday (September 23rd). The added charges include four counts of obtaining a prescription for opiates under a false name or address and one count of prescribing, administering or dispensing controlled substances to an addict. Stern was already facing six other charges stemming from Smith's fatal overdose in 2007. Stern has pleaded not guilty to them all.

• Similar charges had already been filed against Smith's psychiatrist, Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, and her internist, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor.
• It's alleged that they are responsible for Smith's drug intake as the doctors prescribed an excessive number of drugs to Smith and in excessive dosages, even while she was pregnant with her baby.

DOCTOR AND SMITH REPORTEDLY HAD SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP

Dr. Kapoor is further under investigation as People reports that he's accused of having a romantic relationship with Smith, in violation of medical ethics. Evidence reportedly includes video of a shirtless Dr. Kapoor kissing Smith at a nightclub.

STERN'S ATTORNEY ADDRESSES CHARGES

Stern's attorney addressed the new charges, saying, "They are using a shotgun approach. Throw everything at the wall and see what sticks and the answer will be nothing sticks."

• Outside the courtroom he said Smith was "not an addict" -- adding Anna's health was Howard's "main concern."

NEXT STEP IN THE CASE

A preliminary hearing to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to proceed to trial is set for October 5th, but the Los Angeles Times reports that prosecutors plan to ask for an eight-day delay to evaluate handwriting samples taken today from Stern and Kapoor.

MACKENZIE PHILLIPS SAYS ABORTION EVENTUALLY ENDED SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH DAD

Mackenzie Phillips told Oprah Winfrey about her incestuous relationship with her father on Wednesday's (September 23rd) show, revealing that the only reason it ended was because she might have been pregnant with his child.

Mackenzie said that she and John Phillips had been sleeping together for ten years, beginning when she was 19. She claimed that after becoming pregnant, she was unable to discern if the child was in fact her father's or that of her then-husband Shane Fontayne. The elder Phillips eventually paid for her abortion and then she "never let him touch me again."

• In response to Mackenzie's allegations, her former stepmother, Genevieve Waite released a statement directly to the Oprah Winfrey Show saying, "I am stunned by Mackenzie's terrible allegations about her father. I would often complain about her overly familiar attitudes towards him, and he said it was just her way. John was a good man. ... He was incapable, no matter how drunk or drugged he was, to have sexual relations with his own child."

CHECK IT OUT: See Phillip's Oprah appearance: http://tinyurl.com/n6gpg9

ANDERSON COOPER DENIES HE'LL REPLACE REGIS PHILBIN ON "LIVE"

Contrary to reports, Anderson Cooper is not being groomed as Regis Philbin's replacement on Live. According to reports on PerezHilton.com and other blogs, insiders supposedly suggested that the CNN anchor is ABC's first choice to join Kelly Ripa when Philbin decides to retire in a year or two.

• Cooper himself told People magazine, "It's completely made up. I have no idea where it came from. Regis is not retiring, and I'm very happy with what I'm doing."
• He speculated, "I occasionally fill in for Regis, which is maybe how this came about. I love filling in for him, I love working with Kelly Ripa. ... It's nice to exercise different muscles."

NIGERIA UPSET OVER PLAN 9 FILM

The box office hit District 9, a sci-fi film set in Johannesburg, South Africa, is stirring up anger in Nigeria over the film's depiction of Nigerians as thieves, gangsters, prostitutes, and cannibals. In addition, the leader of the Nigerians in District 9 shares a name with the country's former president, Obasanjo. Nigeria has banned cinemas from showing the film and has contacted the producers, asking that references to Nigeria be removed.

• "It is a Hollywood film, shot in South Africa and acted mainly by South Africans. We protested because it showed Nigeria in a very bad light," Information Minister Dora Akunyili told Reuters. "There is no country that does not have prostitutes and criminals but definitely most countries don't have cannibals, and we don't have cannibals in this country. We don't eat human flesh, it is definitely unacceptable."
• Akunyili is currently spearheading an image re-branding campaign in Nigeria, which has been characterized worldwide as the center of corruption and e-mail fraud. The campaign uses the slogan "Nigeria: Good People, Great Nation."
• The country has also asked Sony to remove an ad for its PlayStation 3 gaming console in which a customer asks the price, and was told: "You can't believe everything you read on the internet, otherwise I'd be a Nigerian millionaire by now."

ASHLEY HAMILTON AND MACY GRAY FIRST TO LEAVE DANCING

Actor Ashley Hamilton and singer Macy Gray were voted off Dancing With The Stars last night (Wednesday, September 23rd) making them the first casualties of the show's ninth season. Gray got the lowest score when the ladies performed Tuesday and Hamilton tied for the lowest score with ex-football star Michael Irvin on Monday.

Dancing With The Stars returns next Monday night at 8:00 p.m. ET for a two-hour performance show. The one-hour results show will air Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. ET.

• Last night's results show included a tribute to the late Patrick Swayze, who began his career as a professional da
  Publish Post
  ncer.
• This season started off with 16 contestants, the most in the show's history.
• High scorers this week included reality star Kelly Osbourne swimsuit model Joanna Krupa, and singers Aaron Carter, Donny Osmond, and Mya.

HEADLINES

VACCINE HELPS PREVENT HIV INFECTION: An experimental vaccine has for the first time prevented infection with the AIDS virus, a breakthrough result after recent failures had led many scientists to think a vaccine might never be possible. Researchers announced Thursday (September 23rd) that the vaccine cut the risk of becoming infected with HIV by more than 31 percent in the world's largest AIDS vaccine trial involving more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand. The study was conducted by the Thailand Ministry of Public Health and sponsored by the U.S. Army and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The institute's director, Dr. Anthony Fauci, told AP that there's still a long way to go, but said, "It gives me cautious optimism about the possibility of improving this result" and developing a more effective AIDS vaccine.

OBAMA TELLS U.N. AMERICA CAN'T SOLVE WORLD'S PROBLEMS ALONE: In his first speech before the United Nations General Assembly, President Obama yesterday (September 23rd) challenged national leaders to do more to help fix the world's problems, while saying the previous administration's go-it-alone approach is over. Obama said, "Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone," Speaking to the packed hall, Obama promised the U.S. would reach out in, quote, "a new era of engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect." But he condemned, quote, "an almost reflexive anti-Americanism which, too often, has served as an excuse for collective inaction. Nothing is easier than blaming others for our troubles and absolving ourselves of responsibility for our choices and our actions." Obama also spoke about specific issues, including North Korea and Iran's nuclear programs, the Middle East conflict, and global warming.

GADHAFI, AHMADINEJAD SPEAK AT U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Among the national leaders speaking before the United Nations General Assembly yesterday (September 23rd) were the controversial figures Moammar Gadhafi of Libya and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. Gadhafi delivered a rambling, 96-minute tirade in which he denounced the U.N. Security Council, saying it should be called the "Terror Council," and slammed U.S. policies from the Grenada invasion in 1983 to the current war in Afghanistan. About half of the people in the chamber, which had been packed for President Obama, emptied out as Gadhafi spoke. Also speaking was President Ahmadinejad, who portrayed himself as a champion of the developing world against unbridled capitalism. He lashed out at Israel and the West, accusing Western nations of hypocrisy, saying they preach democracy but violate its fundamental principles. Ahmadinejad didn't mention his country's nuclear program, which is the focus of world attention, but instead called for global nuclear disarmament. The delegations of the U.S., Canada and Israel boycotted Ahmadinejad's speech over his continued Holocaust denial.

RUSSIA MAY BACK IRAN SANCTIONS AFTER OBAMA MISSILE MOVE: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev suggested yesterday (September 23rd) that his government may back potential sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, in the wake of President Obama's decision to scrap a missile defense system that was to be based in Poland and the Czech Republic that Russia had strongly opposed. Both sides denied there was a quid-pro-quo, but Medvedev told the U.N. General Assembly that Obama's decision, quote, "deserves a positive response." And Obama's chief Russia adviser, Mike McFaul, told reporters, "Is it the case that it changes the climate? That's true, of course. But it's not cause-and-effect." Russia, which has strong economic ties with Iran, has stood in the way of stronger action against the Islamic nation in the past, so a unified U.S.-Russian stance on new sanctions would put Iran under added pressure.

CENSUS WORKER FOUND HANGED WITH 'FED' ON HIS CHEST: The FBI is investigating whether a U.S. Census worker was the victim of an attack based on anti-government sentiment after he was found hanged from a tree near a Kentucky cemetery with the word "fed" scrawled on his chest. The body of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old part-time Census field worker and substitute teacher, was found September 12th in a remote area of the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural Kentucky. The Census Bureau has suspended door-to-door interviews in Clay County, where the body was found, pending the outcome of the investigation.

TODAY'S FYI:

LAWMAKERS VOTE TO ALLOW INTERIM KENNEDY REPLACEMENT: Massachusetts lawmakers yesterday (September 23rd) granted Democratic Governor Deval Patrick the power to appoint an interim replacement for the late Senator Edward Kennedy until the special election in January. Just five days before he died in August, Kennedy sent letters to Patrick and the state Senate president and House speaker urging them to amend the succession law to allow an interim replacement. With the appointment of a Democrat by Patrick, the party would once again have the crucial 60 votes it would need in the U.S. Senate to overcome a Republican filibuster of health insurance reform legislation. Massachusetts Democrats had revoked the governor's power to fill Senate vacancies just five years ago, fearing then-Governor Mitt Romney would appoint a fellow Republican to Democratic Senator John Kerry's seat if he was elected president.

• Kennedy's sons, Edward Kennedy Jr. and Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, have reportedly urged Patrick to appoint former Democratic National Committee chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. to the interim post replacing their father. The 71-year-old Kirk was close friends with the senator, knows the late senator's staff well, and wouldn't be a threat to any of the candidates vying in the special election.

SURVEY: RECESSION LEADING WOMEN TO DELAY PREGNANCY, LIMIT NUMBER OF CHILDREN: Economic worries amid the recession have affected the decisions about motherhood made by many women in the U.S., with nearly half saying in a new survey that they want to delay pregnancy or limit the number of children they have. The survey from the Alan Guttmacher Institute of nearly 1,000 low- and middle-income women found at the same time, however, that about 25 percent said they were having a harder time paying for birth control, so they were either skimping on it, switching to a cheaper method, or even going without to save money.

PALIN GIVES SPEECH IN HONG KONG: Sarah Palin delivered a speech in Hong Kong Wednesday (September 23rd) to a packed audience of financial professionals in her first major public appearance since abruptly resigning as Alaska governor in July. In her first visit to the region, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee was critical of President Obama's administration on health insurance reform, spending and recently imposing duties on Chinese tires. She decried the growing U.S. deficit, and offered tax cuts as the solution to economic problems, saying, "If you want real job growth, you cut taxes and reduce marginal tax rates on all Americans . . . Cut payroll taxes, eliminate capital gains taxes, slay the death tax." She also spoke about China, calling for a, quote, "more robust" relationship with the U.S., but also speaking of its poor human rights record.

• Palin's speech was closed to the media, but news organizations such as AP and Reuters were able to obtain recordings of it.

DALAI LAMA VISITS SITE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING ASSASSINATION: The Dalai Lama on Wednesday (September 23rd) visited the site where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, describing it as sad but inspirational. The Tibetan spiritual leader said, This history event gives us conviction today the struggle for justice, against inequality, discrimination . . . despite many difficulties and obstacles, can be won." He also said he often invokes King as an example of a freedom fighter who was a true practitioner of nonviolence. The Dalai Lama was in Memphis to receive the International Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum, which incorporates the Lorraine Motel, were King was killed.

SPORTS:

RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE TO BUY NEW JERSEY NETS: Russia's richest man, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, said Wednesday (September 23rd) that he has a deal to buy 80 percent of the New Jersey Nets, and 45 percent of of a project to build a new arena for the NBA team in Brooklyn. The deal would make the 44-year-old former amateur basketball player who's worth an estimated $9.5 billion the NBA's first non-North American owner. The NBA will review the proposal, with the deal having to be approved by three-fourths of its board of governors.

BOBBY COX TO RETIRE AS BRAVES MANAGER AFTER NEXT SEASON: Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox announced Wednesday (September 23rd) that he will retire after next season, ending his long and successful tenure leading the team. The 68-year-old Cox said, "I've never lost the love to manage, period. But you have to make a decision. At my age, you have to make a decision. Somebody a little younger can start up." The four-time Manager of the Year led Atlanta to 14 consecutive division titles from 1991-2005, five National League pennants, and the 1995 World Series title. He will have a five-year consulting agreement to advise the Braves in baseball operations after stepping down as manager.

• Cox began as a Major League manager with the Braves from 1978 to 1981, before going to the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He returned Atlanta as general manager in 1986, and the went back into the dugout for good to manage in 1990.
• Cox has 2,409 regular-season wins as a manager, fourth on the all-time list behind Connie Mack (3,731), John McGraw (2,763) and Tony La Russia (2,550).

(Headline News, FYI and Sports stories were compiled in part from reports by the Associated Press and Reuters.)

SEASON PREMIERES TONIGHT

CBS

• SURVIVOR: SAMOA - A twist gives a contestant a chance to make friends with the opposing tribe.
• CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION - (season premiere) Sara Sidle returns to help the team investigate when a famous young actress dies as the result of a suspicious car accident.
• THE MENTALIST - (season premiere) Jane and Lisbon are stunned to discover that the Red John case has been assigned to another team.

NBC

• SNL WEEKEND UPDATE - Political comedy.
• PARKS AND RECREATION - Tom and Leslie discover marijuana planted in the community garden; Ann gets permission from Leslie to go on a date with Mark.
• THE OFFICE - Jim has a request that leaves Michael feeling insecure; Pam works on the guest list for the wedding; Toby and Dwight go under cover.
• COMMUNITY - Jeff's attempt to become Britta's partner for a class project backfires.
• THE JAY LENO SHOW - Rush Limbaugh, Smokey Robinson with Joss Stone

FOX

• BONES - Booth and Brennan investigate when a man is murdered for the undisclosed contents of his briefcase; the team looks for an alternate funding for Wendell.
• FRINGE - A construction worker goes missing after he is mysteriously drawn into an underground tunnel full of human remains.

ABC

• FLASHFORWARD - (series premiere) A normal day turns to chaos when everyone on Earth blacks out for 2 minutes, 17 seconds and sees events from their own futures.
• GREY'S ANATOMY - (season premiere) Members of the staff find a unique way to deal with George's death; George's mother decides what to do with his organs.

CW

• THE VAMPIRE DIARIES - Tyler's attempt at embarassing Stefan backfires; an act of violence shocks the town.
• SUPERNATURAL - Sam thinks about giving up hunting; Dean and Castiel search for Raphael.

FX

• IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA - The gang tries to expand its horizons by going on a road trip to the Grand Canyon.

ABC's new sci-fi drama FlashForward premieres tonight (Thursday, September 24th). Executive producers David S. Goyer (co-writer of The Dark Knight) and Brannon Braga (24, Star Trek: Enterprise) present the show based on the novel by Robert J. Sawyer about a mysterious global event that causes everyone to black out simultaneously for two minutes and seventeen seconds. During the blackout, every person sees a glimpse of their future six months from now. At first, many believe it to be a coincidence, but soon discover that there may be something more mysterious going on. Los Angeles FBI Agent Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes) leads an investigation to uncover what caused the event, and begins a project called "The Mosaic Collective" designed to compile people's visions of the future into a database. Once the connections begin to emerge, no one is sure if things will play out for better or for worse, but one thing is certain: everyone will be affected.

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

OFFICERS CAUGHT PLAYING NINTENDO WII AT CRIME SCENE: Several police officers could face discipline after they were caught on video surveillance playing Wii bowling at the scene of a crime. The Florida anti-drug force police officers had just finished raiding a convicted drug dealer's home and had taken the suspect into custody. In the video, one officer can be seen taking breaks from cataloging evidence to bowl frames, and another is seen jumping up and down in celebration. The incident is currently under review by the police department. (AP)

MAN DRIVES DRUNK TO POLICE STATION: French police say a man drove to their station drunk to distribute alcoholics anonymous fliers. Upon arrival police officers said they smelled alcohol on the man's breath. A test showed the man's blood-alcohol level was nearly double the legal limit. His license was confiscated and he was released after being ordered to appear in court. The man had a previous drunk driving conviction on his record and now faces up to four years in prison. (AFP)

INDONESIAN WOMAN GIVES BIRTH TO NEARLY 20 POUND BABY: A woman has given birth to the largest baby to ever be born in Indonesia on record, weighing in at 19.2 pounds. The child is said to be 24.4 inches in length and was born by cesarean section on Monday. While the baby appears to be healthy, doctors say his large size may be due to his mother having diabetes. (AFP)

DID YOU KNOW?

MANNERS ARE 'OUT': Seventy-five percent of Americans think we are getting less civil. A Rasmussen Reports Poll found that only ten percent of adults believe manners are improving. Women under 40 feel strongest about the decline in civility, though a similar response showed up among every demographic group. Americans are reportedly blaming the decline in manners on the pervasiveness of cell phone use and text messaging during social events.

CHECK IT OUT: http://myparentswereawesome.tumblr.com/

INDIAN CRICKET PLAYERS ADVISED TO HAVE SEX: India's cricketers at the Champions Trophy in South Africa are being encouraged by their coach to have sex to boost their on-field performance. The Hindustan Times said in a front-page report that the benefits of sex feature prominently in a secret document circulated among players by coach Gary Kirsten and mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton. The document said, "From a physiological perspective, having sex increases testosterone levels, which cause an increase in strength, energy, aggression and competitiveness."

ARE WOMEN DOCTORS BETTER THAN MALES?: Women doctors are far less likely to be suspended over poor work, according to a new study reported on in the Daily Mail. Meanwhile, their male counterparts are two-thirds more likely to be investigated over poor diagnostic or communication skills or drug and alcohol misuse. The gap is most prominent among GPs, surgeons and gynecologists, according to the report from the National Patient Safety Agency.

DINING WITH FAT PEOPLE BETTER MAKES ONE EAT LESS: The Daily Mail reports that researchers found dining with a thin person who eats a lot makes other people round the table eat more portions than they normally would. But sitting opposite a fat person at mealtime leads to them eating less than normal, said the university team looking into consumer habits. Surprisingly, the portion sizes remain the same but the amount they actually eat varies depending on the size of the person they are dining with, it revealed. If a fat diner orders a large portion, so will their friend, but the friend will not necessarily eat it all.

REASONS TO UNFRIEND YOUR SPOUSE ON FACEBOOK (MSN.com)

• Too many details: Jack, a new patient who has been married for eight years with two young sons, rails against Facebook: "Let's see, yesterday my wife: Felt bloated, realized she has nothing to wear, posted yet another adorable photo album of our boys dressed as Jedi warriors, was missing Michael Jackson and, oh yeah ... DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH ME!"
• Jealousy: Another patient, Katrina, complains that her husband is constantly tracking her every Facebook move. "He's always been the jealous type, but now he's like a stalker. Every new friend is an interrogation." Out of exasperation, she's decided to deactivate her account, but feels angry and smothered. "It's like I'm being monitored by the thought-police!"
• Realization of mundane life: Fred complains that every time his wife posts something to her Super Wall, he realizes just how boring their lives have become. "Do I really need to know that my wife is about to do something totally nutty like go have a second cappuccino? What happened to the wild woman I fell in love with?"

BOTTOM LINE

• According to the article's author, "Sure, it may have been a little scary to wonder if the phone was going to ring, or if you'd like each other's friends, but it also was thrilling. A sense of separateness and "not knowing" is scary, but it's also essential to attraction. The conventional wisdom tells us that in relationships there should be no secrets, there should be nothing to hide -- but if nothing is hidden, then what is there to seek? When you're in a long-term relationship, you don't need more information about your partner, you need less."

What Will Be the Most Popular Halloween Costumes This Year?

Summer may have just ended, but Halloween is only a little over a month away, so it's a good time to start thinking about costumes, both for the kids and for you. Spirit Halloween, the country's largest seasonal Halloween retailer, has released its annual prediction of which costumes will be the most popular this year:

Musical Mania

• Michael Jackson
• Britney Spears
• Lady Gaga

Almost Infamous

• Kate Gosselin
• Sarah Palin
• Bernie Madoff

From the Big Screen

• Vampires
• G.I. Joe
• Transformers

For the Little Ones

• Star Wars
• Yo Gabba Gabba
• Light-up fairy and princess costumes

Fun for the Whole Family -- Matching adult and child costumes

• Sesame Street
• Teletubbies
• Nintendo
• Nina Turtles

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Is it any surprise that Carrie Underwood has another hit on her hands? The superstar's brand new single, "Cowboy Casanova," is not only the fastest climbing country single of her career, but also the fastest rising hit of the year at country radio. It climbs to Number 11 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart only one week after its official release date.

• "Cowboy Casanova" is now available digitally.
• The song is the first release from Underwood's upcoming third album, called Play On. The CD will be in stores on November 3rd.

FAST FACTS

• Underwood will co-host the CMA Awards with Brad Paisley on November 11th in Nashville.
• She is nominated for Top Female Vocalist and Music Event of the Year for "I Told You So" featuring Randy Travis.

Justin Moore scores his first Number One hit this week with "Small Town USA." The song claims the top of both the Billboard and USA Today/ Country Aircheck Country Singles charts this week. Moore is the only new artist to reach Number One on the Country Singles charts in 2009.

• Moore said, "It is extremely humbling to have the Number One song in the country. There are a lot of great artists that never get to experience this feeling. I am forever indebted to everyone at country radio, and all the fans for this moment. This record has changed my year, my career, and ultimately...my life! Thanks to all!"
• Moore's "Small Town USA" makes the Arkansas native the first solo artist to have a song from a debut album go to Number One since Taylor Swift's "Our Song" in December 2007.

SIDE NOTE

• Moore is also celebrating the news that he is going to be a father. The singer recently announced that he and his wife will welcome a daughter early next year.
  

Rascal Flatts is quickly making their way through their American Living Unstoppable tour. The guys have little more than a month left of shows, and then its home to Nashville to be with their families. While the fans make everything worthwhile, Jay DeMarcus tells us the hardest part of being entertainers is the time spent away from loved ones. "The best thing is being face-to-face with the fans that support you and give you your job. The worst thing is obviously the sacrifice and the time away from family, but we could all think of other jobs we could have that would be a lot worse than what we're doing, and thankfully we're at a place now where we only have to tour on the weekends, and we get to spend a few days at home and be fathers and husbands."

• Rascal Flatts' last show this year falls on October 30th in Portland, Oregon.
• Their brand new single, "Why," was just released earlier this week.

Montgomery Gentry's latest single, "Long Line Of Losers," sounds pretty autobiographical to Eddie Montgomery. The only part of the song that has no factual basis in his life is the part about "Mama" who "got caught at the local motel with the preacher man." Montgomery said he caught some flack from his mother about that line because she didn't want to be the subject of rumors.

Troy Gentry tells us that Montgomery managed to stay on his mother's good side because, as he pointed out to her, he didn't write the song. "That's the saving grace on that song is the fact that the song was already written and actually had already been performed by (songwriter) Kevin Fowler down in Texas. He's been playing that song for a couple of years now, so that is the one out for Eddie is that we had nothing to do with the creation of that song."

• "Long Line Of Losers" is the fourth single from Montgomery Gentry's Back When I Knew It All CD.
• The duo will join Lee Ann Womack and Phil Vassar to perform at the 6th Annual American Freedom Festival at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia on Saturday, November 7th. The concert will benefit the American Freedom Foundation, an organization which honors veterans of America's armed forces.

A man accused of stalking singer Jewel has been arrested for allegedly trespassing on the Texas ranch she shares with her rodeo champion husband, Ty Murray. The Stephenville Empire-Tribune reports that the 50-year-old Michael Lawrance Kozelka was busted last week. According to police reports, Murray found the man on their 2000-acre home on September 14th and warned him not to come back. But Kozelka allegedly returned to the couple's main residence the next morning, carrying a knife. That's when Murray called the cops. The stalker supposedly said he was on a mission from God, which had led him to the ranch. Kozelka was arrested for a misdemeanor trespassing and felony stalking, which could land him 10 years in prison. Bond was set at $30,000.

• Jewel kicks off an acoustic tour next month.

Billy Ray Cyrus has started shooting a new holiday movie for the Hallmark Channel. Filming on Christmas In Canaan recently began in Vancouver. The film is reportedly based on a novel co-written by Kenny Rogers.

• The plot is of two boys -- one white and one black -- who bond over their mutual concern for an injured puppy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Cyrus plays the father of one of the boys.
• Christmas In Canaan is set to air in December.

SIDE NOTE

• Cyrus also stars alongside Amber Valletta and Jackie Chan in the upcoming action-comedy The Spy Next Door. The movie is due out in January.

Dolly Parton's sold out two-night stint at London's O2 Arena last year has been immortalized on a new DVD and two-disc CD set coming out on November 10th. Dolly: Live From London features 15 of her hits performed in concert, along with the first DVD of Parton's live performance shot by 13 Hi-Def cameras.

• In between song footage is exclusive intimate interview footage with Parton, who introduces viewers to the various members of her staff and takes cameras behind the scenes at her soundcheck.
• Dolly: Live From London is the third project release from Parton's own Dolly Records.

FAST FACTS

• Songs performed by Parton on the live CD and DVD include "Here You Come Again," "I Will Always Love You," "Two Doors Down," "9 to 5," Islands in the Stream," "Jolene," "Better Get To Livin,'" "Backwoods Barbie" and "Jesus and Gravity."
• Parton is currently working a dance album, called Dance with Dolly, as well as a four-CD career-spanning boxed set which will feature 99 songs. That project is due for release on October 27th.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. Who was the first woman elected to the Country Music Hall Of Fame?
A. Patsy Cline in 1973

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

BACKSTORY: BLAKE SHELTON/GAC 12:00PM, 5:00PM (ET)

SOUNDSTAGE/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
George Jones

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?/CMT 8:00PM, 11:30PM (ET)
Bucky Covington

INTRODUCING . . . ZAC BROWN BAND/GAC 10:00PM (ET)

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH CONAN O'BRIEN/NBC 11:35PM (ET)
Wynonna

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS

• Jason Alexander (actor, Seinfeld's George Costanza) (50)
• Julio Iglesias (Spanish singer) (66)
• Mickey Rooney (actor, born Joe Yule Jr., and married eight times) (89)
• Bruce Springsteen (rock singer) (60)
• Jermaine Dupri (producer and music executive) (37)
• Neal Smith (former drummer, Alice Cooper) (62)
• Elizabeth Pena (actress, Down And Out In Beverly Hills, La Bamba, Jacob's Ladder, Rush Hour, Resurrection Blvd., the voice of Mirage in The Incredibles) (48)
• Ani DiFranco (independent musician) (39)
• Chi McBride (actor, Gone In Sixty Seconds, The Kid, Boston Public, Undercover Brother, I Robot, Roll Bounce) (48)
• Mary Kay Place (actress, Private Benjamin, The Big Chill, Captain Ron, The Rainmaker, Being John Malkovich, Girl, Interrupted, Sweet Home Alabama) (62)
• Melanie Oudin (tennie player) (18)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

• Elvis Presley, Tammy Wynette, George Morgan and Bud Wendell were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame of 1998.
• George Strait recorded his Number One hit, "All My Ex's Live in Texas," in 1986.
• Big & Rich and Cowboy Troy made their Grand Ole Opry debut in 2006.
• Mindy McCready was checked into Nashville's St. Thomas Hospital after swallowing about 30 anti-depressant pills in 2005.
• Rodney Crowell went to Number One on the Billboard country chart with a remake of Buck Owens' "Above And Beyond" in 1989.
• Conway Twitty's version of "I Can't Stop Loving You" climbed to Number One on the Billboard country chart in 1972.
• Hank Williams recorded "Take These Chains From My Heart," "Kaw-liga" and "Your Cheatin' Heart" in his final recording session at the Castle Studio in Nashville's Tulane Hotel in 1952.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

NEW GUY FOR KATE WALSH? Kate Walsh has a new man. The actress, who is going through a messy divorce from film executive Alex Young, brought actor Neil Andrea as her date to Sunday's (September 20th) Emmy Awards. When asked about her beau, Walsh told People magazine, "I'm not going to talk about that! I know you have to ask, but it's super top-secret! It's in the vault!"

DID LINDSAY LOHAN KNOW HER BURGLAR? There's a connection between Lindsay Lohan and the 18-year-old man suspected of burglarizing her home. TMZ.com reports that Nicholas Prugo, who has been arrested in connection with the crime, is the son of Frank Prugo -- the former vice president of First Look Studios. The website reports that First Looks is behind the Lohan film, Labor Pains, which was released on television earlier this year.

TV STARS REPORTEDLY DATING: Jason Segel and Chloe Sevigny might be Hollywood's latest couple. E! reports that the How I Met Your Mother star and Big Love actress were spotted kissing in a corner during a post-Emmy party on Sunday (September 20th) night. A witness noted, "They stopped locking lips once they realized people were watching them."

ZAC EFRON REPORTEDLY SCARES COURTENEY COX'S DAUGHTER: Zac Efron reportedly terrified Courteney Cox Arquette's young daughter, Coco. StarPulse.com reports that Courteney said, "Coco gets these huge crushes on people. One day we decided to surprise her and invite Zac Efron over. We didn't tell her he was coming -- she just loves him. We had a video camera up and we told her to close her eyes, (then said) 'Open them now!' She freaked out. She was traumatized and ran to her room... She was like, 'Oh no! I don't want to go out there!' I was trying to help her and she said, 'Well, it's his face!'"

'HARPER'S ISLAND' STAR GIVES BIRTH: Harper's Island star Elaine Cassidy gave birth to a daughter on September 16th. The Irish actress revealed the news to People magazine adding that she and husband Stephen Lord named their first child Kila. She said, "Stephen and I are absolutely delighted."

ANNA NICOLE SMITH'S PRE-DEATH DRUGS CALLED 'PHARMACEUTICAL SUICIDE': Unsealed documents relating to Anna Nicole Smith's death revealed that a Los Angeles pharmacist told Smith's internist that the drugs the internist prescribed to the model after her son died were "pharmaceutical suicide." The Los Angeles Times reports that the documents show that Smith's doctors were warned about prescription drugs by three pharmacists. Two of Smith's physicians and her boyfriend and attorney Howard K. Stern have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to illegally provide her with controlled substances. Smith died of an overdose in February of 2007.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

'DANCING WITH THE STARS' RATINGS DROP: The Dancing With the Stars ninth season premiere ratings were down 19 percent from the previous season. PerezHilton.com pointed out that the show still came in first place in its time slot, but the drop-off was significant.

HEATHER LOCKLEAR GOING BACK TO 'MELROSE': Heather Locklear will reprise her character, Amanda Woodward. on the new Melrose Place. The show's executive producers announced on Tuesday (September 22nd), "We're ecstatic to have the chance to bring Amanda Woodward back to Melrose Place. Heather's involvement in the show is something we've been working on for some time as we couldn't imagine creating and producing this show without the iconic character's inclusion." Her episode is scheduled to air on November 17th. Locklear joined the original show during its first season and remained on until it went off the air in 1999.

SUSAN BOYLE DOCUMENTARY? A documentary about Susan Boyle is reportedly in the works. London's The Sun reports that film crews followed the singer during her recent trip to America and production companies are now "clambering" to get their hands on the footage. A spokesperson for the Britain's Got Talent star is quoted as having said, "There are various offers from TV companies interested in Susan. But nothing concrete has been decided yet. She's still busy recording her album."

BRAD PITT IN TALKS FOR 'SHERLOCK HOLMES' SEQUEL: Brad Pitt is reportedly in discussions with the producers of Sherlock Holmes to star in a sequel as the detective's nemesis Moriarty. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that negotiations were ongoing and made it clear that no deal was yet in place. Robert Downey Jr. stars in the title role of the film, which is due to be released on Christmas Day. The picture is directed by Guy Ritchie and also stars Jude Law as Watson.

BIJOU PHILLIPS HAS SEXY SCENES WITH FIANCES BRO.

Bijou Phillips was forced to film intimate scenes with her fiance's brother for a new role. The New York Post reports that Danny Masterson stars in Made for Each Other alongside his fiance and brother Chris, and had to watch as the cameras rolled during the unlikely pair's passionate scenes.

A source told the Post, "They definitely have a lot of sexual chemistry on screen. It made for some interesting moments on set when Danny had to watch his brother and fiance go at it."

CHECK IT OUT: Should you date your sibling's ex? http://tinyurl.com/n36tyy

JOHN TRAVOLTA EXTORTION

A jury began hearing arguments today in a Bahamian extortion trial centered around John Travolta. Although People magazine reported that the actor was prepared to testify on Tuesday (September 22nd) that the two defendants demanded $25 million in exchange for a document relating to his son's Jett's death, CBS reported that he was not in the courtroom when the proceedings began.

Jett's condition at the time paramedics responded to emergency calls was the focus of Tuesday's proceedings. The paramedic partner of defendant Tarino Lightbourne revealed that the 16-year-old, who had suffered a seizure, was unresponsive when they arrived and showed "no sign of life" when they examined him.

• The partner testified, "Jett was lying down on his back. And there was no sign of life. He was not responding. I checked him for carotid pulse. I checked ABC -- air, breathing, circulation."
• Lightbourne and former Bahamian senator Pleasant Bridgewater are accused of demanding the money from Travolta in exchange for the document, which was reportedly a release form saying that the actor wanted Jett taken directly to the local airport instead of the hospital. CBS noted that it was unclear why Jett Travolta was not taken to the airport, and why the defendants allegedly believed the actor would pay to keep it secret.

PHOTOGRAPHERS SUING TOM BRADY & GISELE BUNDCHEN

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen are being sued by two photographers who claim the couple's bodyguards shot at them after the superstars' wedding celebration in Costa Rica. earlier this year. TMZ.com reports that the photographers claim they had clearance to take pictures from a nearby property, but one of the guards approached them anyway, demanding a camera and memory cards.

One snapper says he was able to escape but the other claims he was "grabbed by the bodyguard, his arm twisted behind him and immobilized."

After eventually being freed -- supposedly to pick up his "escaped" cohort -- the men say they drove away rather than return to the guards as asked, and that's when "the Brady/Bundchen bodyguards opened fire with pistols."

• In the suit, the photographers claims Brady and Bundchen were negligent in hiring and training the security team and allowed the guards to "discharge firearms with intent to kill or wound."
• No one was hurt, although the snappers claim the bullets shattered the rear window of their car and narrowly missed their own bodies.
• The photographers are seeking over $1 million in damages.
• In other news, Bundchen -- who is six months pregnant -- is due to get her pilot's license in the next month. An aircraft company president in Boston confirmed that the 29-year-old has been taking lessons so that as part of her work as a new goodwill ambassador for the UN's Environmental Programme, she can focus on finding an alternative source of jet fuel.

ELLEN ON IDOL

Ellen DeGeneres is addressing the public's reservations about her addition to the American Idol judge's panel. On Tuesday's (September 22nd) episode of her talk show, Ellen said, "Apparently, there's a lot of debate going on right now, whether I'm qualified or not to be the new judge on 'American Idol'... I'll tell you right now, how I know I'm going to be a great judge -- because I've spent my whole life being judged. So, I know what it's like. So, I will be kind. I will be compassionate. I will be empathetic, and I will be truthful. I will be an honest judge without being mean."

She added, "I'm very excited to be on the show. I will tell you that right now. I just continue to be excited every single day. I knew people would have opinions, and I did not want to know what they were because why should I take that stuff in? I try not to watch anything that I think is going to be talking about me...."

• DeGeneres also recently commented on Paula Abdul's impression of her at last week's VH1 Divas show, joking, "I have nothing but love for you too Paula -- but I want my wig back. I really do. Give it back."

DETAILS EMERGING ABOUT KHLOE KARDASHIAN'S LAST MINUTE WEDDING

The details are coming together quickly for the Sunday (September 27th) nuptials of Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom. Sources tell E! that despite only a week's notice, about 250 people are expected to attend the soiree, which will be held at the Bel Air residence of music mogul Irving Azoff, who is a friend of the family.

Most of Odom's Los Angeles Lakers teammates are expected to attend, although Kobe Bryant has yet to RSVP. In addition to Khloe's famous family, fellow E! star Ryan Seacrest will reportedly be on hand as well.

• Although the insider acknowledged that a prenup "has been discussed," there's no confirmation whether a document is being signed.
• The source reiterated that the whirlwind wedding is not due to a pregnancy while someone close to Odom explained, "He got to that point in life where he wanted to settle down then she came into his life not long after."

CHECK IT OUT: See the couple's wedding registry! Go to http://bit.ly/YKFGx and enter Kardashian's name!

MEL GIBSON'S PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND NOT THINKING ABOUT MARRAIGE

Mel Gibson is fine with having his girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, give birth out of wedlock. The 39-year-old singer told a British television show on Tuesday (September 22nd), "Actually we have no plans to marry whatsoever. I haven't thought about it -- we haven't spoken about it."

• Grigorieva, who is due in December, is calm about the impending arrival. She added, "I have a 12 year old, so I've been a mother for 12 years -- and of course, there is no first time mother's trepidation as such. So naturally it's more relaxed, and I'm very dynamic so the pregnancy falls into my work schedule."
• The child will be the eighth for Gibson, who officially split from his wife of 30 years in April, just weeks before stepping out with Grigeorieva.

CHECK IT OUT: Why do unmarried couples opt out of wedlock? http://tinyurl.com/29z8oy

HEADLINES

SECURITY BULLETINS FOR HOTELS, SPORTS STADIUMS: Counterterrorism officials have issued security bulletins about terrorist interest in attacking sports stadiums, entertainment complexes and hotels, with the FBI and Homeland Security Department sending two bulletins Monday (September 21st) to police around the country. While they know of no specific plots against such sites, the bulletins say they remain attractive targets to groups like al-Qaida. The memos don't mention the ongoing investigation of a possible terrorist plot involving a Colorado man and associates in New York City that led to an alert to mass transit systems across the country.

AHMADINEJAD SAYS WILL SEEK LENIENCY FOR U.S. HIKERS: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in an Associated Press interview Tuesday (September 22nd) that he will seek leniency for three American hikers who strayed across the Iranian border in July. The Iranian leader, who is in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly, said he'll ask the Iranian judiciary to treat the case with, quote, "maximum leniency." The three have been held for 52 days since they apparently strayed into Iran while hiking in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region.

FLORIDA MAN CHARGED IN MURDER OF WIFE, CHILDREN: Mesac Damas has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder in the killings of his wife and five children in their Naples, Florida, home, police said Tuesday (September 22nd). Damas was in police custody in Collier County after being released by authorities in his native Haiti, where he flew Friday (September 18th) after allegedly committing the murders, and where he was caught by Haitian police. As Damas was being led out of jail in Haiti, he told a reporter from the Naples Daily News, "I am going to be buried next to my family. Yes, I killed them." The bodies of Damas' wife, Guerline, and their five children, aged 11 months to nine years, were found in their home Saturday. A family member told AP their throats had been slit. There had been a history of domestic abuse by Damas against his wife.

TODAY'S FYI:

PANEL FINDS RACISM IN PENN. SWIM CLUB INCIDENT: The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has found probable cause of racial discrimination at a suburban Philadelphia swim club that asked a group of mostly black and Hispanic children not to return in a June incident. The Valley Club has denied any racial motive behind its actions that day, when the children from the Creative Steps day camp were also refunded their payment for the summer. The club says there were simply too many children for the number of lifeguards on duty and that many of the children couldn't swim. Its lawyer yesterday (September 22nd) blamed the panel's finding on the, quote, "media firestorm" that followed the incident and said the club will appeal. Included in the report were e-mail messages, including from one club board member to the rest of the board that said, "Race is an issue, since every email of complaint mentioned race." One girl reported hearing a club member say, "What are all these black kids doing here?" and, "I am scared they might do something to my child." The report also noted that other large groups that came to the swim club did not cause the same reaction.

SCHILLING SAYS WON'T RUN FOR KENNEDY'S SENATE SEAT: Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling announced last night (September 22nd) on HBO's Joe Buck Live that he won't run for the U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts that had been held by the late Senator Edward Kennedy, who died last month of brain cancer. Schilling, who retired in March, had expressed interest earlier this month in running for the seat, but he said last night, "Regardless of the amount of support and outreach that's been given to me, it just did not make sense." Schilling publicly backed George W. Bush for re-election in 2004, and stumped for John McCain last fall, both Republicans, but he has said he also voted for Democrat Bill Clinton.

• Schilling helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2004 and 2007.

DISGRACED EX-REP. MARK FOLEY NOW RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley, who left Congress in 2006 when it was revealed that he'd sent salacious e-mails and instant messages to teenage male congressional pages, is now trying his hand at being a radio talk show host. The Florida Republican debuted last night (September 22nd) on political talk station WSVU in North Palm Beach with his show, Inside the Mind of Mark Foley. The station says the show will offer an inside look at the inner workings of Washington.

COPS FIRED WHO TASERED ELDERLY MAN IN PARADE: Two police officers who Tasered a 76-year-old man driving an antique tractor in a parade have been fired, the police department in Glenrock, Wyoming, announced Tuesday (September 22nd). Bud Grose was shocked five times near the end of the town's annual Deer Creek Days parade on August 1st, outraging many in the community. The officers chased and Tasered Grose after he disobeyed a traffic command and headed toward the town park rather than the end of the parade. One officer claimed he was hit by the tractor, but Grose denied that. The decision came after a consultant's internal investigation and a probe by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. However, no charges will be filed in the incident. An attorney for the officers said they will appeal.

L.A. RESIDENTS ALLOWED ONE ROOSTER PER HOUSEHOLD: You probably don't think of Los Angeles as a place where there'd be a lot of roosters, but there are actually enough of them that the City Council acted yesterday (September 22nd) in response to complaints over hygiene and the noise from roosters crowing, as well as concerns over illegal cockfighting. Under an ordinance passed by the Council, Los Angelenos are now allowed to have only one rooster per household. Violators of the law, which will take effect in November, face fines of up to $250.

SPORTS:

BURRESS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN JAIL: Former New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress was sentenced to two years in jail Tuesday (September 22nd) on a weapons charge and was immediately led away to begin serving his sentence, tearfully saying goodbye to his pregnant wife and young son. With time off for good behavior, he'll likely serve 20 months. Burress was at a Manhattan nightclub last November when a gun he'd tucked into his waistband slipped down his leg and fired, wounding him in the thigh. The gun wasn't licensed in New York or in New Jersey, where Burress lived, and his license to carry a concealed weapon in Florida had expired in May 2008. He'd been indicted on two counts of weapons possession and one count of reckless endangerment, but agreed to a single, lesser charge of attempted criminal possession of a weapon under a plea deal. Burress told ESPN he hopes to resume his NFL career when he gets out of jail.

• Burress became a Giants hero when he caught the winning touchdown over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in the final minute of the 2008 Super Bowl.

HENIN RETURNING TO TENNIS: Former world number one Justine Henin has decided to return to tennis, less than two years after retiring in May 2008, saying she no longer had any passion for the game. The 27-year-old Belgian told VTM television yesterday (September 22nd), "The past 15 months I have been able to recharge my physical batteries, mental batteries [and] emotional batteries." The seven-time Grand Slam winner said she was inspired by the spectacular comeback of Kim Clijsters, who won the U.S. Open earlier this month after only being back to pro tennis for a few weeks. Henin plans to return to the tour in January.

SOTOMAYOR TO THROW OUT FIRST PITCH AT YANKEE STADIUM: New Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium Saturday (September 26th) before the game between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The Bronx native and Yankee fan is doing the honors as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.

(Headline News, FYI and Sports stories were compiled in part from reports by the Associated Press and Reuters.)

Ban Goes Into Effect on Clove and Flavored Cigarettes

The Food and Drug Administration's ban on candy, clove and other flavored cigarettes went into effect Tuesday (September 22nd), the first action taken by the FDA under legislation passed in June giving it power to oversee the manufacturing and marketing of cigarettes and other tobacco products, including regulating ingredients and limiting advertising. The goal of the new ban is to help prevent children and teenagers from smoking, since the flavored products are seen as a gateway to becoming regular tobacco users. The ban doesn't include menthol cigarettes, however, since the bill excluded them and instead called for the FDA to study the issue. Although flavored cigarettes are just a small share of the market, some 12 million Americans smoke menthol cigarettes.

MPOSSIBLE QUESTION

According to AskMen.com, what is the longest-running ad jingle in TV history?

A: Slinky

Written by ad men Homer Fesperman and Charles Weagley and first heard in a 1963 television commercial, the jingle for the Slinky has not changed since that original premiere and continues to be used to sell the toy, which was first invented in the 1940s. Since its launch, more than 300 million Slinkys have been sold worldwide.

The jingle lyrics varied slightly from one commercial to another, but the basic lyrics go:

• "What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, and makes a slinkity sound?
  A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing! Everyone knows it's Slinky.
  It's Slinky, it's Slinky. For fun it's a wonderful toy.
  It's Slinky, it's Slinky. It's fun for a girl or a boy.
  It's fun for a girl or a boy!"

DID YOU KNOW?

LEFTIES MORE LIKELY TO BE TEACHER'S PETS: According to the Daily Mail, a new study suggests left-handed children have a warmer relationship with teachers. A spokesman for Stabilo, the pen company that conducted the study, said, "For years people have made the assumption that left-handed children struggle at school more than right-handed kids. However, this study shows that actually left-handed children seem to embrace school more and actually have a more positive relationship with their teachers."

CHECK IT OUT: Personality traits of lefties: http://tinyurl.com/d9v3gz

ALCOHOL COULD HELP CURE BRAIN INJURIES: NewScientist.com reports that alcohol may one day be given to people with brain injuries to help them recover. The idea has arisen from a study of 38,000 people with head injuries, which found that those with alcohol in their blood were more likely to survive. For every 100 people who died when stone-cold sober, only 88 died with ethanol -- the kind of alcohol in drinks -- in their veins. Investigators concluded, "The finding raises the intriguing possibility that administering ethanol to patients with brain injuries may improve outcome."

MICROCHIP COULD HELP ELDERLY PEOPLE REMEMBER TO TAKE PILLS: The Daily Mail reports that the Swiss pharmaceutical group Norvatis has created a microchip that will go into the shoulders of elderly patients to remind them to take their medicine. Older people will be given pills containing a harmless microchip that sends a signal to the chip in the shoulder when the pill is taken. But if the pill is not taken by the forgetful patient, the chip in the shoulder will then send a text to a caregiver or the patient to remind them.

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

MEN FISH OUT $87,000 IN CASH: Two Australian teenagers found $87,000 in their fishing net, but contacted police after receiving legal advice from an adult. Police say they suspect the money could be linked to crime, but have found no clues in the area where the boys recovered it. The teenagers may be able to keep the money if a legitimate claimer does not come forward. (AP)

POSTAL WORKER ADMITS STEALING 30,000 DVDS: A Massachusetts postal worker admitted to taking more than 30,000 DVDs being mailed to customers by Netflix during 2007, as many as 100 a week. Federal prosecutors say an investigation produced video of the man taking DVDs out of packages and putting them into his backpack. The man faces 10 to 16 months in prison and restitution costs of about $38,000. (AP)

PRIEST ROBS BANK IN POLAND: A priest has been arrested on suspicion that he robbed a bank by threatening a cashier with a knife. He made out with only about $350 and was apprehended about an hour later. Prosecutors say the man is indeed a priest from northern Poland, but that he is not currently assigned to any parish. (AFP)

CURVY MANNEQUINS BANNED FROM SHOP WINDOWS IN IRAN: Iranian police have warned shopkeepers that they will be arrested for displaying mannequins with body curves as well as headless mannequins without veils. Iran's moral security police have stepped up efforts to crack down on violations of their religious dress code since President Ahmadinejad took office in 2005. Other violations include the selling of women's underwear by men, tight pants for women, and "spiky" hairstyles for men, which could lead to being detained and being made to take "guidance classes" after repeat offenses. (Reuters)

SEASON PREMIERES TONIGHT

CBS

• THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE - (season premiere) Christine and Matthew fly to the Bahamas to help Barb get an illegal visa.
• GARY UNMARRIED - (season premiere) Gary decides to pursue his dream of becoming a radio sports announcer.
• CRIMINAL MINDS - (season premiere) The team profiles a killer targeting an emergency room doctor; Hotch goes missing.
• CSI: NY - (season premiere) A shooting and its aftermath drastically change the life of one member of the team.

NBC

• MERCY - (series premiere) Veronica is caught by the hospital's new doctor; Sonia thinks she has found a man who can live up to her expectations.
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT - Officer Nate Kendall (Wentworth Miller) helps a woman in trouble and gets put on a rape case; the team think they may be looking for a serial rapist. Christine Lahti guest stars as new A.D.A. Sonya Paxton.
• THE JAY LENO SHOW - Vince Vaughn, Al Michaels, Bob Costas

FOX

• SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE - Auditions continue.
• GLEE - Kurt tries out for the football team; two members of the glee club receiving life-altering news.

ABC

• DANCING WITH THE STARS - Tribute to Patrick Swayze; Sean Kingston performs; two celebrity dancers are eliminated.
• MODERN FAMILY - (series premiere) Jay has grown children, grandchildren and a gorgeous young wife and all together they must bridge the generational, cultural and social gaps.
• COUGAR TOWN - (series premiere) A recently divorced single mother explores the honest truths about dating and aging in beauty and youth obsessed culture.
• EASTWICK - (series premiere) In the seaside village of Eastwick, three women discover bewitching talents they never knew they had.

CW

• AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - The contestants meet with Miss J. to prepare for their first runway show; Jaime Rishar serves as a guest judge.
• THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE: TBL - Chris thinks his modeling career is over; Isaac confronts Vivienne; Marissa invites Raina's brother to a party.

NBC's new hospital drama Mercy premieres tonight (September 23rd). The show follows the lives of Mercy Hospitals nurses who each bring something unique to their expertise. Veronica (Taylor Schilling), who has just finished a tour of Iraq is the staff's most experienced nurse, Sonia (Jaime Lee Kirchner), who's given up on love, and Chloe (Michelle Trachtenberg) a brave newcomer who's in way over her head, must all band together to get through the drama and trauma of the hospital and their lives outside of it. The cast also includes Mike (Diego Klattenhoff), Veronica's ex-husband, Dr. Chris Sands (James Tupper), Nurse Angel Lopez (Guillermo Diaz), and Dr. Harris (James Le Gros).

The 11th season of Law & Order: SVU premieres tonight (September 23rd) with guest turns by former Prison Break star Wentworth Miller as officer Nate Kendall and Christine Lahti as tough-as-nails A.D.A. Sonya Paxton. It's a new day and time slot (9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT) for the show.

In the premiere, Kendall ends up involved in an SVU case after a rape victim runs into a crime scene he's working. While Detectives Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) believe that Kendall is not right for the case due to his unstable personality, Executive ADA Paxton joins the team, bringing evidence of a common thread among three other rape cases. With Paxton's help, the team might expose a serial rapist -- that is, if everybody can get along.

Modern Family premieres tonight (September 23rd) on ABC. The Pritchett-Delgado-Dunphy family star in this mockumentary style show about a complicated but all-in-all normal extended family all living under one roof. The family consists of Jay (Ed O'Neill), his Columbian second wife Gloria (Sofia Vergara) and her enthusiastic son Manny, Jay's daughter from his first marriage, Claire (Julie Bowen), her husband Phil (Ty Burrell), who tries too hard to be as cool as their three kids, and Jay's openly gay son, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) with his spouse Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and their newly adopted Vietnamese daughter, Lily. Sounds complicated, right? You might just find that this unique family is more like your own than you think.

ABC's new show, Cougartown premieres tonight (September 23rd), starring Courteney Cox as Jules Cobb. Jules is a recent divorcee with great friends, a successful business, and a loving son. While it seems Jules has it all, love and relationships have never come easy to her. Now she'll try to regain the wild years of her 20s that she never had, and learn that being comfortable in her own skin as a newly single 40-something means embracing everything that goes with it.

Premiering tonight (September 23rd) on ABC is the new show Eastwick. Based on the story by John Updike, Eastwick follows the lives of three very different women brought together by the discovery of their otherworldly powers. The women realize their power when a wealthy bad-boy, Daryl (Paul Gross), moves to Eastwick and stirs the women's most wicked desires. Joanna (Lindsay Price), a timid local reporter, Kat (Jamie Ray Newman), a stressed out full-time mom, and Roxie (Rebecca Romijn), an eccentric artist, team up to show this quiet New England town a wicked good time.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Kenny Chesney closed out his Sun City Carnival tour at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis on Saturday (September 19th) where he played to more than 45,000 fans. Highlights of the show included a duet with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles on "When The Sun Goes Down," a collaboration with Miranda Lambert on "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" and the Zac Brown Band's covers of Alabama's "Dixieland Delight" and Steve Miller's "Space Cowboy."

• Chesney was emotional as the show came to a close, particularly because he recently announced plans to take at least the next year off from touring. He said, "It's hard to believe we're putting this thing up on blocks. The response from the fans, out in the crowd and the internet, it makes you feel like people understand, and that they know we're not gone for good, it's just a breather...
• He added, "This doesn't mean there will be no shows or no music. It means I'm not going to be staging a major tour - I'm not going to take two weeks off and be meeting with people to build a stage, to start thinking about how we can do the lights different an what the video's gonna be. This isn't just a show. This is a major production... and it's not just decide what to play, rehearse for a couple weeks and get out there. I need a break from that, so I can get back inside from a fresh place - and I'm really looking forward to that, because I don't know anyone who keeps their foot on the gas like this for eight years."
• Chesney is continuing work on a new CD, which is scheduled for release sometime this spring.

FAST FACTS

• Chesney kicked off the Sun City Carnival tour on April 17th in Uncasville, Connecticut.
• He is nominated for three CMA Awards -- Entertainer, Male Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year for "Down The Road" with Mac McAnally.
• Chesney has won the Entertainer award for the past three years.

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The latest single from Taylor Swift's multi platinum-selling Fearless CD offers some important advice to the singer's largest fan base -- teenagers. Swift tells us she wrote "Fifteen" about the consequences of love, or at least what seems like love, at a young age. "The song 'Fifteen' is a song I wrote by myself and I wrote it about my freshman year of high school and how you don't really think the choices you make at 15 are gonna affect you for the rest of your life but they are, and it's crazy when you're 15, you're in your freshman year and you think you know everything."

• Swift attended the Tommy Hilfiger show in New York City's Bryant Park on Thursday (September 17th) during Fashion Week. She sat alongside fellow celebs Naomi Watts, Emily Blunt, Rosario Dawson and Mary-Louise Parker.
• Swift's sold out Fearless tour plays in Dallas, Texas on Friday (September 25th).

Chris Young is experiencing the biggest single of his career with "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)." Young co-wrote the song, which he readily admits was an attempt to appeal to the ladies, but he tells us he wanted the guys to appreciate it as well. "It is a sexy love song. It doesn't really hide anything, but at the same time the way we wanted to write this song -- and I really think it came across the right way -- is it's written to women and men. We've had couples come up after the show and be like, 'Hey, this is our song for each other now,' and it makes you feel good as a writer to hear that."

Young is happy with the balance he and his co-writers were able to achieve. "We also wrote it with that love song vibe in it, too. You know, you can tell these people have been together for awhile and they're sittin' there eyein' each other across the table, so it leaves the sexy vibe in there, but we tried to do it in like a tasteful way, too."

Joe Nichols will participate in a musical tribute to Merle Haggard during the ACM Honors event on Tuesday (September 22nd) in Nashville. Haggard is being presented the Poet's Award at the second annual ACM Honors. Other honorees include Dolly Parton, the late Jerry Reed, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Hank Williams, Jr., and the late Harlan Howard.

On Wednesday (September 23rd), Nichols heads to Memphis, Tennessee to perform his current single, "Believers," at The Missing Peace Concert honoring the Dalai Lama. Nichols will join several artists, including Natalie Cole, who will perform with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra at the city's Cannon Center.

• Nichols said, "It just doesn't get any better than this. A performance for a legend like Merle Haggard one night, and then the following day being on the same stage as Natalie Cole, and meeting the Dalai Lama. I'm just a country boy from Rogers, Arkansas. Stuff like this doesn't happen every night."

FAST FACTS

• "Believers" is the lead single from Nichols new CD, Old Things New, set for release on October 27th.
• Nichols' latest CD, Real Things, was released in 2007.

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Randy Houser recently made a special stop at the NASCAR-themed Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, North Carolina. The camp caters to chronically ill children ages six to 16. While there, Houser filmed a PSA for Victory Junction which will begin airing on ESPN during select televised races this fall.

• Victory Junction was founded by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife, Pattie.
• Houser said, "Victory Junction Camp was unbelievable. The Pettys have built a special place for kids to have fun and create memories that wouldn't be possible. I'm just happy they let me come hang out for the day!"
• Houser's single, "Boots On," is a Top Two hit on the country charts.

FAST FACTS

• Houser was recently nominated for both New Artist and Video of the Year for "Boots On" at the upcoming 43rd Annual CMA Awards show.
• He is gearing up to co-headline CMT on Tour 2009 with Jamey Johnson. They will visit 30 markets across the United States beginning on October 8th in Brooklyn, New York.

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George Jones will be the Spotlight Artist for the new show Opry Country Classics taking place at the Grand Ole Opry on Thursday (September 24th). Some of his biggest fans and fellow singers will take the stage to salute the legendary entertainer, including Jamey Johnson, the night's host, Vince Gill, Little Jimmy Dickens, Lorrie Morgan, and Tanya Tucker.

• Johnson said, "George Jones has always been a hero of mine. I grew up listening to him and to be sharing the stage, honoring such a legend is just humbling and exciting."
• Gill said, "If anyone were to ask me to define country music, I would tell them to listen to a George Jones record."
• Opry Country Classics shows are held every Thursday through October 29th.

FAST FACT

• Jones' new CD, called A Collection of My Best Recollection, is available exclusively in Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations nationwide.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. What are the names of Dierks Bentley's dogs?
A. Jake and George

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!