KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Carrie Underwood has made no secret of the fact that one of the loves of her life is her Rat Terrier, Ace. He is her constant companion both on and off the road, and so it will be when Carrie ties the knot with fiance Mike Fisher this summer. Carrie told UsMagazine.com that the dog will be one of the ring-bearers at the ceremony. She said, "I don't know if I'll give him the actual ring. He would probably run away with it or eat it or something."

"He's like my kid," she continued. "It would be like if I was getting married and I had a child -- of course my child would be in the wedding!"

Carrie also said that the details of the couple's big day are coming together. She said her wedding dress is "in the works" and described it as being very her, saying, "It's girly and it's pretty and simple and glamorous."

In other Carrie news, the singer was in Manhattan yesterday (Tuesday, March 30th) to donate $10,000 to the city's Midtown East Bideawee animal shelter to support the Pedigree Pet Adoption drive.

• Carrie continues on her Play On tour, which takes place tonight (Wednesday, March 31st) in Rochester, New York.

Justin Moore says he's not at the point in his career yet where he's really making any money, so he hasn't had that first big splurge yet. He did, however, reward himself recently with an inexpensive new water toy. "You know, the biggest thing that I've bought was a boat, and it wasn't like a new, expensive boat. I've always wanted a boat, and we did like one show where we actually made a profit, and I was like, 'I'm gonna buy me a boat,' but it's not like the greatest thing ever."

Justin says that even when the money starts rolling in, he's not the type to frivolously spend. "I'm not really one to go buy stuff. I'd rather just put it in the bank, you know, cause you never know how long this is gonna last. The first thing I will do is buy some land back home when I have the opportunity to do that."

"Back home" for Justin is in the small town of Poyen, Arkansas. At last count, the town's population was just under 300 people.

• Justin will hit the road as part of Brad Paisley's H2O tour beginning on May 21st in Virginia Beach.
• In the meantime, Justin continues playing shows at clubs around the country. On Thursday (April 1st) he'll take the stage at The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan.

Miranda Lambert is a big fan of her new single, "The House That Built Me." She didn't write the song, but tells us she knew from first listen that it was destined for greatness, if not the top of the charts. "I just don't see how anyone can listen to this song and think that it's mediocre or think that it doesn't matter, because it's one of the most amazing, timeless lyrics I've ever heard, and I'm just fortunate. I'm just the artist that happened to hear it first and grab it because I know anybody that would've heard it would've taken it. It's one of those songs that's gonna be . . . it's gonna make history, definitely."

• "The House That Built Me" is the follow up to Miranda's career first Number One hit, "White Liar."
• Miranda is in the midst of her first headlining tour, called Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars. The trek features various opening acts including David Nail, James Otto, Randy Houser and Wade Bowen.
• Miranda is also slated to join the Lilith Fair tour this summer, as well as making a stop at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in June.
• The singer is nominated for six trophies at the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18th, including Top Female Vocalist and Album of the Year for Revolution. The show will air live from Las Vegas on CBS.

FAST FACTS

• Miranda won the ACM's Album of the Year award in 2007 for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
• Her next show will be on April 8th at the Taft Theatre in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dolly Parton will return to the set of Hannah Montana to play Miley Stewart's "Aunt Dolly" on one of the final episodes of the hit Disney show. This will make her third appearance on the Hannah Montana show. Dolly was originally supposed to appear in last year's Hannah Montana movie but her character wound up getting cut out of the script.

• Dolly appeared as "Aunt Dolly" on Hannah Montana in both 2006 and 2007.
• The last season of Hannah Montana is reportedly scheduled to start airing by the middle of this year.

FAST FACT

• Dolly is Miley Cyrus' godmother.

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman were spotted checking out a $12 million estate during their recent trip to Sydney, Australia. They already own homes in Nashville and the Southern Highlands in Australia.

Kenny Chesney will make a guest appearance on ESPN's Mike And Mike In The Morning show on April 7th. The two hosts' new book, called Mike And Mike's Rules For Sports & Life, will be released on April 6th. Kenny wrote the book's forward.

John Rich will headline this year's Tax Day Tea Party rally at City Hall in Hendersonville, Tennessee on April 15th.

Mark Chesnutt is scheduled to play several shows at U.S. Air Force bases in South Korea beginning on April 8th. His schedule includes stops at Camp Casey, Camp Humphreys and Kunsan Air Base.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. What reality show contest did Steel Magnolia win to land their record deal?
A. CMT's Can You Duet

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

THE EARLY SHOW/CBS 7:00AM (ET)
Gretchen Wilson

ALAN JACKSON: AQUAPALOOZA/GAC 10:00AM, 5:00PM (ET)

SUPERSTAR SESSIONS: BRAD PAISLEY/GAC 12:00PM (ET)

CMT CRIBS/CMT 1:00PM (ET)
George Jones, John Schneider

CMT CRIBS/CMT 1:30PM (ET)
Jo Dee Messina, Darryl Worley, Naomi Judd

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
John Hiatt

SOUNDSTAGE/GAC 9:00PM (ET)
George Jones

GET TO THE HEART: THE BARBARA MANDRELL STORY/CMT 9:00PM, 11:00PM (ET)

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS TODAY!

Al Gore (former Vice President, environmental activist, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize) (62)

• Angus Young (lead guitarist, AC/DC) (55)
• Herb Alpert (Jazz trumpeter) (75)
• Richard Chamberlain (actor, Dr. Kildare, The Towering Inferno, The Thorn Birds, Shogun) (76)
• William Daniels (actor, St. Elsewhere's Dr. Mark Craig) (83)
• Gordie Howe (Hall Of Fame hockey player) (82)
• Shirley Jones (actress, The Partridge Family's Shirley Partridge) (76)
• Gabe Kaplan (actor, Welcome Back Kotter's Mr. Kotter) (65)
• Ewan McGregor (Scottish actor, Star Wars Episodes I, II, and III, Big Fish, Moulin Rouge) (39)
• Rhea Perlman (actress, Cheers's Carla Tortelli and Danny DeVito's wife) (62)
• Christopher Walken (actor, Pulp Fiction, The Deer Hunter, True Romance) (67)
• Mick Ralphs (guitarist, Mott The Hoople, Bad Company) (66)
• Sean Hopper (guitarist, Huey Lewis & the News) (57)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY!

• Keith Urban's Defying Gravity album was released in 2009.
• Alan Jackson's The Greatest Hits Collection went quadruple-platinum in 1998.
• Wynonna's self-titled solo debut album was released in 1992.
• Alabama's Greatest Hits album was certified gold and platinum in 1986.
• Dolly Parton performed "9 To 5" on the Academy Awards in 1981.
• Johnny Rodriguez charted his first Number One single, "You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)," in 1973.
• Patsy Cline claimed a Number One country single in Billboard with "She's Got You" in 1962.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

RIP TORN PLEADS NOT GUILTY: Rip Torn pleaded not guilty to burglary and firearms charges stemming from a January incident when he broke into a bank with a loaded gun thinking it was his Connecticut home. Torn's attorney said on Tuesday (March 30th) that the 79-year-old is making progress in alcohol rehabilitation, and is now has moved from an inpatient to an outpatient program.

LINDSAY LOHAN'S DAD AGAIN SAYS STAR NEEDS HELP: Lindsay Lohan is livid that her father is going public -- again -- claiming that she needs professional help for a substance abuse problem. Before Michael Lohan held a press conference during which he said Lindsay was "not okay" and told all her enablers to "get the hell out of the way," Lindsay tweeted her fury. She wrote, "Anyone else have a father that sells fake stories on them for money & dates a girl that works for tabloids?"

JESSE JAMES MISTRESS LAUNCHES WEBSITE: Jesse James' first alleged mistress has launched her own website. MichelleBombshell.com will offer paying customers "naughty, naked photos" and videos of Michelle "Bombshell" McGee. Although the site doesn't yet list subscription prices, it does advertise a "limited time only sneak-a-peek" for $9.95. A message on the soon-to-be-working site reads, "To all the people that think Michelle planned this drama, we can assure that if she had planned it, we would have had our pay-site and merchandise store ready for public consumption. We were caught off guard, but we will have our full pay-site up in the next couple weeks."

'LOST' ACTRESS GETS HITCHED: Lost actress Yunjin Kim got married in Hawaii last Sunday (March 29th) to her boyfriend, Jeong Hyeok Park. The two have known each other since 2002, when he became her manager. A source close to Kim told EOnline.com, "She always said she wanted to get married when Lost ended," adding that Yunjin was shot some of her final scenes for the series the day before her wedding.

KELSEY GRAMMER SETTLES LAWSUIT FOR $10: Kelsey Grammer has settled a lawsuit over the 2008 film Swing Vote -- by paying out $10. PerezHilton.com reports that the actor gave the ten bucks to the man who claimed the ideas from his screenplay were stolen for the movie. Bradley Blakeman alleged that he gave a copy of his script Go November to Grammer back in 2006 and was surprised to see Swing Vote which he said was "extraordinary similar" to his own script. He eventually agreed to drop the case for the miniscule settlement.

COPS CALLED ON JIM BELUSHI: The cops were called to deal with Jim Belushi after the actor reportedly caused a scene on an airplane. PerezHilton.com reports that when a flight attendant woke Belushi up, "Jim made such a scene that the captain called the tower to ensure the police would be at the gate when they landed." The police decided that no crime was committed so Jim and the flight attendant were able to walk free.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

'NEW MATERIAL BY 'TWILIGHT' AUTHOR COMING OUT: Twilight author Stephenie Meyer is releasing a novella based on a character from the hit franchise. The Associated Press reports that The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner will tell the story of a newborn vampire featured in Eclipse -- the third installment of the best selling series. Meyer says the story was originally going to be included in The Twilight Saga: The Official Guide, but ended up being too long to fit. It will be released on June 5th.

JON HEDER DROPS OUT OF WILL FERRELL COMEDY: Jon Heder abruptly pulled out of starring in an upcoming sitcom produced by Will Ferrell because of "creative differences." The Napoleon Dynamite actor was supposed to play a computer geek who moves back to his small hometown to live with his parents in the untitled Comedy Central series. Heder's rep told EW.com, "Comedy Central, Gary Sanchez Productions and Jon Heder have mutually decided to part ways over creative differences with the character. Jon wishes the show nothing but success, and is very grateful for the opportunity."

'CASTLE' GETS THIRD SEASON: ABC has renewed Castle for a third season. EW.com reports that Monday (March 29th) night's episode attracted the show's largest audience to date -- 14.5 million viewers -- making reason for the renewal obvious.

TIM ALLEN LANDS HOSTING GIG: Tim Allen will host next month's TV Land Awards. The eighth annual awards will be held April 17 on the Sony lot and the show will air Sunday, April 25 at 9 p.m. Allen is stepping back into the spotlight because he's returning as the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 3, which comes out in June.

USHER MENTORS THE CONTESTANTS ON 'AMERICAN IDOL'

The Top 10 contestants performed R&B songs on American Idol last night (March 30th) with Usher Raymond as a special guest. Siobhan Magnus went up first with "Through the Fire" and gave a rough performance. Casey James, on the other hand, took on "Hold On, I'm Coming" and rocked it. Michael Lynche beautifully sang another love song, but this week Lynche showed off his guitar skills. Didi Benami and Tim Urban delivered amateurish performances, according to the judges. Andrew Garcia, however, sang Chris Brown's "Forever" and finally gained the judges' approval. Katie Stevens left the judges divided with her version of "Chain of Fools," while Lee Dewyze impressed Usher and the judges with "Treat Her Like a Lady". The show closed with Crystal Bowersox and Aaron Kelly, who both impressed the judges by taking a risk.

JAMES FRANCO ACCEPTED TO PHD PROGRAM AT YALE

James Franco wants to keep getting smarter. The Spider-Man and Milk actor, who has already studied film-making at New York University and earned a masters of fine arts diploma from Columbia, will reportedly enroll in Yale University to obtain his doctorate.

A rep has confirmed the star was accepted into "prestigious" Yale, in Connecticut, and will begin courses for his Ph.D. in September if he accepts.

• Franco received an undergraduate degree in English from UCLA.

SANDRA BULLOCK REPORTEDLY PLANNING FOR DIVORCE

Sandra Bullock is reportedly planning to divorce Jesse James. Although Bullock's rep recently dismissed reports that the Oscar-winner hired a divorce attorney, RadarOnline.com claims that the actress has indeed taken steps towards legally ending her marriage.

In the past two weeks, four different women have come forward claiming to have had affairs with James. The Radar source said that Sandra is humiliated and feels that her entire marriage was a big lie. The insider declared, "She's had enough. She's ending the marriage."

Meanwhile, Bullock's rep said that there is no truth to rumors that Sandra wants to adopt Jesse's daughter Sunny. The rep told People magazine that Sandra is not considering adopting Sunny "nor have there ever been any plans for Sandra to adopt any of Jesse's children."

• In other news -- a fifth mistress might be surfacing soon. Radar reports that another woman "has been consulting attorneys and PR the past few days," adding, "She may even come out this week."

'GLEE' IS HOLDING OPEN CASTING CALL

Glee producers have kicked off a nationwide casting call. EW.com reports that performers between the ages of 16 and 26 interested in appearing on the hit series can upload video auditions to MySpace from now until April 26th.

The videos should explain why you want to be on Glee and feature a performance of one of Glee's hit tracks, like "True Colors," "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and "Lean on Me."

• Performances can either be a cappella or with a single instrument via My Space karaoke. Videos should be only five minutes in length (one-minute intro, four-minute performance) and are limited to one per person.

FORMER 'AMERICAN IDOL' FINALIST ARRESTED AFTER STREET FIGHT

A finalist from season six of American Idol was arrested in Georgia on Monday (March 30th) night after allegedly getting into a physical fight with another female. TMZ.com reports that 22-year-old Stephanie Edwards was busted after cops noticed the singer and another woman "fighting in the middle of the street." Cops say they broke up the fight and arrested both women.

Edwards told police she had gone to the other woman's home to confront her about "harassing phone calls" and things got violent after that. Both women were brought to a local jail and Edwards has since been released.

• Police told TMZ that Edwards had scratches on her face and chest, but the other woman had a bruised right eye.
• Edwards finished in 11th place behind Jordin Sparks back in 2007.

HEIDI AND SPENCER DENY DIVORCE RUMORS AS 'THE HILLS' TRAILER SURFACES

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt say they are not headed for divorce -- despite press reports and a revealing teaser for the upcoming season of The Hills. Montag admits that she's mentioned divorce in the past but says, "I was being dramatic."

The 23-year-old told People magazine, "I'm not moving out. I love Spencer with all my heart." Pratt added, "I love my wife more now than I ever thought I could."

Heidi explained their tumultuous marriage saying, "All that we've been through has only made us work harder at our relationship and making it better. We've worked through things and will continue to work on our relationship so we're the best couple we can be. We want to fall more in love with each other every day."

• As for the impending final season of The Hills, Heidi noted, "The Hills has told the story of struggle and of finding myself in L.A., so it's time for me to hang up all the drama like fighting and divorce talk with Spencer and become the mogul I am."
• The last season premieres on April 27th.

HEADLINE NEWS!!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

OBAMA SIGNS 'FIX' MEASURE, FINALIZING HEALTH CARE REFORM: President Obama yesterday (March 30th) signed the "fix" bill passed by Congress last week containing changes House Democrats demanded to the health care reform bill passed by the Senate in December before they would approve it. Obama signed that major health care reform legislation bill last week. The "fix" bill also contains changes in student lending, making the government the primary lender to college students and cutting out the banks that had acted as middlemen for the government-backed loans. According to the president, this will save more than $60 billion over the next 10 years, which would be used to increase Pell Grants for students and reinvest in community colleges.

ABC NEWS: IRANIAN NUCLEAR SCIENTIST DEFECTED TO U.S.: ABC News reported Tuesday (March 30th) that an Iranian nuclear scientist who's been missing since last June has defected to the U.S. and is helping the CIA. Citing unnamed sources, ABC said that Shahram Amiri, who worked for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, defected as part of a long-planned operation to get him to leave Iran and resettle in America. He disappeared during a pilgrimage to Mecca. The ABC report said Amiri has helped confirm U.S. intelligence assessments about the Iranian nuclear program.

PRESIDENT TO ALLOW OIL EXPLORATION OFF VIRGINIA: President Obama will announce a plan today (March 31st) to allow exploration for oil and natural gas off the coast of Virginia. Obama, who wants Congress to move on a climate change bill, has tried to reach out to Republicans by signaling he is open to allowing offshore drilling, providing coastlines are protected. Drilling was banned in most offshore areas of the U.S. outside the Gulf of Mexico for more than 20 years because of concerns that spills could harm the environment. Congress allowed a prohibition on offshore drilling to expire in 2008.

TODAY'S FYI:

RNC STAFFER FIRED OVER $1,946 BONDAGE CLUB PAYMENT: The Republican National Committee has fired an unnamed staffer who helped organize a $1,946 visit on January 31st to a bondage-themed topless club in Hollywood, and said it will get the money back that it reimbursed for meals at the Voyeur nightclub from a donor who took part. According to an RNC memo, the Voyeur outing involved several members of the "Young Eagles" GOP group who had been in town for a meeting. A staffer who'd been warned that the money spent there didn't qualify for reimbursement has been fired. Erik Brown, a California donor/vendor who billed the RNC for the club visit, will reimburse the money.

ROVE HECKLED AT BOOK SIGNING: Karl Rove, who served as senior adviser to President George W. Bush, was heckled at a discussion and book signing Monday night (March 29th) in Beverly Hills, including being called a "war criminal," and was ultimately forced to leave the stage, according to CNN. Rove was at the appearance for his new book, Courage and Consequences: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight, before an audience of about 100 people who'd paid up to $40 to hear him. Several anti-war protesters interrupted Rove's talk to accuse him and the Bush administration of lying to Americans about the threat Iraq posed to the U.S. to take the country into war. At one point, Jodie Evans, the co-founder of the anti-war group Code Pink, rushed toward Rove holding a pair of handcuffs, saying she was going to make a citizen's arrest. Rove called one heckler a lunatic, told another to get out, and said they represented, quote, "the totalitarianism of the left." But he decided the skip the book signing portion of the evening and leave early as the disruptions continued throughout his discussion.

TEACHER WHO INSPIRED FILM 'STAND AND DELIVER' DEAD AT 79: Jaime Escalante, the East L.A. math teacher whose story inspired the 1988 movie Stand and Deliver, died Tuesday (March 30th) of bladder cancer. He was 79. Escalante, a Bolivian immigrant, transformed inner-city Garfield High School by motivating struggling students to excel at advanced math and science. Edward James Olmos, who played Escalante in the film, said, "Jaime exposed one of the most dangerous myths of our time -- that inner city students can't be expected to perform at the highest levels." Escalante left Garfield in 1991 and taught at schools in Sacramento before retiring to Bolivia in 2001.

ATOM SMASHER ACHIEVES LANDMARK: The world's largest atom smasher yesterday (March 30th) collided two proton beams traveling at super-fast speeds in conditions simulating those just after the Big Bank, a landmark in research into the origins of the universe. The crash inside the $10 billion Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, a 17-mile tunnel that's the coldest place in the universe at slightly above absolute zero, created three times more energy than researchers had created before. It also kickstarted years of research in the collider that will attempt to create particles that have been more theorized about than seen. The spokesman for the American Institute of Physics compared the collider to a time machine, telling AP, "Some of the particles they are making now or are about to make haven't been around for 14 billion years." Among the many things the coming research will investigate is the search for the hypothetical Higgs boson -- dubbed the "God particle" -- that scientists theorize gives mass to other particles and therefore to other objects and creatures in the universe.

EATING CHOCOLATE EVERY DAY CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU: There's finally some good health news for people with a sweet tooth, as a new study has found that eating as little as a quarter of an ounce of chocolate each day -- about the equivalent size of a small chocolate Easter egg -- may lower the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Although some benefit can be had from milk chocolate, the best results come from dark chocolate, while white chocolate has no effect. The benefit is believed to come from natural compounds call flavonoids, which are found in cocoa, that seem to promote artery health and reduce inflammation. At the same time, however, this isn't an excuse to scarf down a lot chocolate, since it's high in calories and eating too much can lead to weight gain. Like in many things in life, the key is moderation -- have just one small Easter egg-size piece each day.

SPORTS:

UCONN, OKLAHOMA ADVANCE TO WOMEN'S NCAA FINAL FOUR: The University of Connecticut and Oklahoma advanced to the Final Four of the women's NCAA basketball tournament Tuesday (March 30th) with their wins over Florida State and Kentucky. Top-seeded defending champion UConn crushed third-seeded Florida State 90-50, getting the largest margin of victory ever in a regional final, and stretched their record win streak to 76 games. Third-seeded Oklahoma defeated fourth-seeded Kentucky 88-68, led by Nyeshia Stevenson, who scored 31 points. They are now headed to the Final Four for the second year in a row.

• UConn will play Baylor in the semifinals in San Antonio on Sunday (April 4th), and Oklahoma will play Stanford.

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

ON THE TUBE TODAY

CBS

• THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (repeat)
• ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE (repeat)
• CRIMINAL MINDS (repeat)
• CSI: NY (repeat)

NBC

• MINUTE TO WIN IT (repeat)
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (repeat)
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT - When an investigative journalist is found murdered in her bed, Cragen recognizes tactics from a similar case 30 years earlier.

FOX

• HUMAN TARGET - Chance travels to an Alaskan island in search of a missing doctor and to expose the involvement of an industrial giant in a mining foreman's death.
• AMERICAN IDOL - Usher performsl another contestant is eliminated.

ABC

• IT'S THE EASTER BEAGLE, CHARLIE BROWN - Linus tells everyone an Easter beagle will give out candy.
• THE MIDDLE - Mike receives tickets to a basketball game that falls on the day of the funeral of Frankie's uncle; Brick tries to avoid a birthday party.
• MODERN FAMILY - The release of an new product Phil wants coincides with his birthday; Mitchell wants to toughen up; Cameron gets involved in a neighbor's marital problems.
• COUGAR TOWN - Jules thinks Grayson is overly attentive to his new girlfriend, Sara (Sheryl Crow).
• UGLY BETTY - Betty brings Hilda on an assignment to cover London Fashion Week; Bobby wonders why Justin is spending time with Austin.

CW

• AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - The girls portray vampires in a blood filled bathtub.
• FLY GIRLS - Many and Louise go to New York to visit a guy Mandy is interested in; Tasha and Nikole attempt to work at a Virgin America charity together.
• HIGH SOCIETY - Tinsley goes to the factory to check out her new handbag line; Paul finds himself at the center of a new scandal; Dale investigates his royal relations.

COMEDY CENTRAL

• SOUTH PARK - Cartman's favorite restaurant gets shut down and replaced with store that sells medicinal marijuana.
• UGLY AMERICANS - Callie goes baby crazy after Mark starts fostering a demon orphan; Twayne notices some changes in his body.

MTV

• THE REAL WORLD - TBA

DAY TIME TALK SHOW

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW - Miley Cyrus, John Corbett, James Dupre
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW - (repeat)
THE VIEW - (repeat)

LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS) - Ricky Gervais, turkey callers, the Whigs
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO (NBC) - Bill Maher, Wayne Vandenlangenberg, OneRepublic
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (ABC) - Tom Arnold, Greta Gerwig, Matisyahu
THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON (CBS) - Wanda Sykes, Anna Torv
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON (NBC) - Tyler Perry, Rosemarie DeWitt, Drive-By Truckers
LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY (NBC) - Jesse Ventura, Doves
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Roxana Saberi
THE COLBERT REPORT (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Craig Mullaney
LOPEZ TONIGHT - Omar Epps, Wendy Williams, Johnny Sanchez

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

FLA MAN ARRESTED AFTER THROWING CUP AT PATROL CAR: A man from Fort Pierce, Florida was arrested on vehicle theft and drug charges after throwing a plastic cup at a patrol car. According to police, the 24-year-old was driving early Saturday morning when he threw a plastic cup out the window, hitting the patrol car. The deputy activated his lights but the driver did not pull over. He eventually stopped and ran away but was soon caught when K-9 units found him up a tree. He is being charged with cocaine possession, vehicle theft, hit and run with property damage and littering. (AP)

MAN FLEEING POLICE JUMPS FENCE INTO PRISON: An Ohio man and his friend, who were running from a traffic violation, abandoned their vehicle and jumped a fence - landing in a prison yard. According to police, the chase started over a traffic violation on Monday and reached speeds over 90 mph. After speeding through several communities, the driver and passenger left the car and headed towards a fence. They didn't realize that they were outside a state women's prison in Cleveland. They were immediately arrested. (AP)

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR FAKE BREASTS HEIST: A woman from Orange County was arrested after using a fraudulent line of credit to purchase $12,000 worth of cosmetic surgery, including breast implants and liposuction. The 30-year-old Yvonne Jean Pampellonne pleaded guilty to grand theft, burglary and identity theft. She was sentenced to 180 days in prison followed by three years of probation. Pampellonne used a line of credit established in another person's name in order to obtain procedures at the Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery in Huntington Beach. (AP)

DEPUTY USES GOOGLE EARTH TO FIND SUSPECT: A Florida deputy was able to track down and arrest a man who illegally dumped his boat near the deputy's home by using satellite pictures provided by Google Earth. Deputy Gregory Barnes archived satellite images after finding an 18-foot boat illegally dumped just north of Pensacola. Google Earth allows you to see aerial images of communities across the world. While looking at the surrounding area, Barnes found an image of the vessel in Dwight Everett Foster's home. Foster admitted to dumping the boat. He faces a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison. (AP)

DID YOU KNOW?

MAGNETS CAN CONTROL YOUR MORALS? Scientists have discovered a real-life 'moral compass' in the brain that controls how we judge other people's behavior. The region, which lies just behind the right ear, becomes more active when we think about other people's misdemeanors or good works. In an extraordinary experiment, researchers were able to use powerful magnets to disrupt this area of the brain and make people temporarily less moral. In the first experiment, 12 volunteers were exposed to the magnetic field for 25 minutes before they were given a series of 'moral maze' style scenarios. For each of the 192 scenarios, they were asked to make a judgment about the character's actions on a scale of 1 for 'absolutely forbidden' to 7 for 'absolutely permissible'. In the second experiment, the magnetic field was applied to their heads at the time they were asked to weigh up the behavior of the characters in the scenario. In both experiments, the magnetic field made the volunteers less moral.

FUTURE BATHROOM MIRRORS SOUND MORE LIKE DOCTORS: The bathroom mirror will be able to do more than just show your reflection in ten years time. The Daily Mail reports that -- powered by broadband -- it will be able to analyze your body's vital statistics as you brush your teeth. Blood pressure, weight and heart rate will all be measured and presented back to you as text on the mirror. The model is connected to a nutritional evaluator that will be able to report any sudden changes in health direct to your GP - again connected via broadband - via emails. The projections are part of the Ideal Home Show 'House of the Future', which is sponsored by Virgin Media.

COLA BAD FOR SPERM PRODUCTION? Men who drink about a quart or more of cola every day could be causing harm to their sperm, according to the results of a Danish study. On average, these men's sperm counts were almost 30 percent lower than in men who didn't drink cola. While most of the sperm counts would still be considered normal by the World Health Organization, men with fewer sperm generally have a higher risk of being infertile. The link is unlikely to be due to caffeine, the researchers say, because coffee did not have the same effect, even though its caffeine content is higher. Instead, other ingredients in the beverage or an unhealthy lifestyle could be involved. (Reuters)

SIGNS YOU SHOULD UNFRIEND SOMEONE ON FACEBOOK (Cosmopolitan)

1. She's a firm believer that you can learn a lot about your health from your poop -- and has the status updates to prove it.

2. You've only met him once but he "likes" everything you do on Facebook. Uh, stalk much?

3. You're pretty sure she doesn't wear her dress and veil everyday, but the girl can't stop posting pics from her wedding two years ago.

4. He changed his relationship status to single instead of breaking up with you in person.

5. One word: Farmville.

6. She might not be on The Biggest Loser but for some reason she wants the entire world to know what she had for lunch, how many miles she just ran, and when she is sweating it out at the gym.

7. She has a photo album of your days as a teen beauty pageant queen, a scanner, and a passion for tagging.

8. EVERY WORD HE WRITES IS IN CAPS AND USUALLY FOLLOWED BY TONS OF EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!!

9. "So-and-So added you as a friend on Facebook" is the most you've heard from him in 10 years. Now that you've accepted the request you still haven't connected.

10. You call her Mom.

THE TYPES OF UNAVAILABLE WOMEN (Marie Claire)

I Have A Boyfriend: I can understand a woman staying with a great guy, but so many women stay with losers. I've gone for many girls who stay with a jerk who cheats on them, thinking they'll opt for me as the nicer guy. I should probably just shut off my attraction when I find out a girl has a boyfriend. But when I hear that he doesn't treat her well, or he cheats on her, or her friends all tell me they want her to break up with him, I think of myself as a savior who could sweep her off her feet and show her what it's like to be with a nice guy. But it never works that way.

I'm Out Of Your League: Whether it's true or not, we all do it: when someone's interested in us, sometimes we think we can do better. If we are fixated on a "god" or "goddess" we might miss something great right under our nose. If a girl thinks she can do better than me, even before she gets to know me, there's not much I can do. Of course, maybe she knows I'm lazy, I have cats, and I'm afraid to commit just by looking at me.

I'm In Another Town: Long distance is challenging and usually not worth the drama. But I've been into girls who live in other towns in my past. I'm guilty of sending emails, gifts, and trying to start relationships from remote locations. It's tough to start something up from far away when you can't go on dates, or go over to each other's place for a movie.

My Last Relationship Destroyed Me: People have to recover from the pain of past relationships. So, it doesn't matter how great I am if she's in recovery mode. She has to get through it at her own pace before she's emotionally available.

I Don't Want A Boyfriend: Just like men don't commit, women sometimes don't want to get in to anything too serious. When a situation gets to the critical point with a girl who doesn't want a boyfriend she just tells me it's best to "remain friends".

I Am In To Someone Else: Even if a girl is in to another guy, I play the percentages: 90% chance that he's a jerk, or does something stupid or inconsiderate. So, it doesn't necessarily deter me when I find out a girl likes another guy. But I forget, regardless of how great or bad the other guy is, if a girl likes him she probably has tunnel vision.
I'm Insane: Whether it's a little baggage or certifiable insanity, it's nearly impossible to get through to someone who isn't thinking clearly.

IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION

According to the wireless industry association CTIA and in part published in Discover magazine, how many text messages were sent in the United States in 2008?

A: 110 billion

WATER COOLER TALK

Hospital Plans to Stop Hiring People Who Smoke

People who smoke will no longer be welcome as new employees at St. Luke's Hospital & Health Networks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which has announced that it plans to stop hiring smokers. The hospital says the goal is to improve the health of its employees and reduce health insurance costs. Starting on May 1st, job applicants at St. Luke's will be screened for nicotine, and won't be eligible for hire if they test positive. Anyone who flunks will be able to take the test again in six months and be considered for a job. The rule doesn't affect current employees, however, who won't lose their jobs if they smoke.

Does Paying the Poor for Good Habits Work?

A privately-funded, experimental anti-poverty program in New York City that pays poor people for having good habits, such as going to the dentist or opening a bank account, has has mixed results so far. The first analysis was out yesterday (March 30th) of the program that began in 2007 in which participants were offered 22 different incentives, ranging from $20 to $600. When compared with a control group that didn't get incentives, 10 percent more families in the reward group had two dental visits each year, 1 percent more had health insurance, 20 percent more had bank accounts and 3 percent fewer used costly services like check cashing. But fewer people in the reward group held jobs in the first year, and the rewards had no effect on school performance or attendance for young children or for low-performing high school students, and made only modest differences for higher-achieving students. The biggest improvements were seen in parents who were more educated, more likely to be working full-time already and more likely to be married.

R&B Singer's Nude Video at JFK Assassination Site Stirs Controversy

R&B singer Erykah Badu has stirred controversy with the video for hers new song, "Window Seat," in which she strips naked at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, the site of President John F. Kennedy's assassination and then falls to the ground as if shot at the sound of a rifle being fired. Badu, herself a Dallas native who is raising her children in the city, told the Dallas Morning News the video was about awakening interest in the concept of "groupthink," in which a person is afraid to express themselves for fear of being ostracized by the wider public. She explained, "When I fall to the ground in the video, the word groupthink spills out of my head because I was assassinated by groupthink." Badu filmed the video guerrilla-style, without getting the necessary permits from the city. She said she chose Dealey Plaza because it was the most monumental place in Dallas she could think of.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. Other than Nashville, where does Billy Currington live part of the year?
A. Hawaii

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY

TODAY/NBC 7:00AM (ET)
Alan Jackson

ON THE STREETS/GAC 1:30PM, 9:00PM (ET)
Alan Jackson, Gretchen Wilson

ALAN JACKSON: AQUAPALOOZA/GAC 8:00PM (ET)

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN/CBS 11:35PM (ET)
Alan Jackson

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS TODAY!

• Justin Moore (26)
• John Astin (actor, The Addams Family's Gomez Adams) (80)
• Warren Beatty (actor, Splendor In The Grass, Bonnie & Clyde, Bugsy, Reds, Dick Tracy) (73)
• Eric Clapton (rock singer and guitarist) (65)
• Piers Morgan (British TV personality, winner of Celebrity Apprentice in the U.S.) (45)
• Celine Dion (Canadian pop singer) (42)
• Paul Reiser (actor-comedian, Mad About You) (53)
• Ian Ziering (actor, Steve on Beverly Hills 90210) (46)
• Norah Jones (singer) (31)
• Donna D'Errico (Baywatch actress and former wife of Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx) (42)
• Tracy Chapman (singer, "Fast Car", "Give Me One Reason") (46)
• Robbie Coltrane (actor, Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies) (60)
• Graeme Edge (drummer, the Moody Blues) (69)
• Dave Ball (guitarist, Procol Harum) (60)
• MC Hammer (rapper) (48)
• Mark Consuelos (actor, husband of Kelly Ripa) (39)
• Anna Nalick (singer, "Breathe (2 AM)") (26)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY

• Martina McBride and "Blessed" earned the Number One position in Billboard in 2002.
• Time magazine put Garth Brooks on the cover in 1992.
• The collaborative album Wanted: The Outlaws -- featuring Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessie Colter -- was certified gold in 1976.
• Ronnie Milsap charted his first Number One single, "Pure Love," in 1974.
• Tanya Tucker hit Number One in Billboard with "Would Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone)" in 1974.
• Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper joined the Opry in 1957.
• Johnny Cash recorded his classic single "I Walk The Line" for Sun Records in 1956.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

ALLEGED KATHRYN ERBE STALKER ARRESTED: Cops arrested a man on stalking charges last week after he allegedly bombarded Law & Order: Criminal Intent star Kathryn Erbe with love letters for more than three years. The New York Post reports that 36-year-old Charles Nagel sent the actress a series of notes in which he shared his hopes that one day they would be together. He is also said to have repeatedly turned up on the set of the hit crime program.

LINDSAY LOHAN DOESN'T WANT HELP: Lindsay Lohan is again brushing off people who think she needs professional help for her hard-partying ways. After an anonymous source close to the star told TMZ.com that "If she doesn't get help soon, she's going to die," Lindsay insisted there's nothing to worry about. She told GossipCop.com, "I'm fine . . . I'm working and healthy."

BACHELOR JAKE WANTS TO BE FAMOUS: Claims by Jake Pavelka's ex-girlfriend that the former Bachelor is "fame-obsessed" might not be far from the truth. The New York Post reports that Pavelka has hired p.r. giant Rogers & Cowan to help turn his reality celebrity into a full-fledged acting career.

'BACHELORETTE ALUM HOLDING CAST REUNION: Jesse Csincsak, the former fiance of Bachelorette DeAnna Pappas, will host his fourth cast reunion this spring in Colorado. He told People magazine, "The event is going to have 40-plus previous contestants from the show, dating all the way back to season one. We will be making the 110-mile trek from Denver International Airport to Breckenridge with an entourage of limos, and Breckenridge's Paragon Lodging has donated a $5 million, sleep-30, ski-in and ski-out ski lodge on Peak 8 for some of us to stay in." He also teased that two alums will announce their engagement at the event.

CHAZ BONO LEGALLY CHANGING HIS NAME: Chaz Bono has taken another major step in his gender transition. TMZ.com reports that Sony and Cher's offspring filed an application last week at L.A. County Superior Court to change his name from his female birth name Chastity Sun Bono -- to Chaz Bono. Chaz began the gender transition process in 2009.

WILSON BROS SUED: A paparazzo is suing Owen and Andrew Wilson over an alleged fight that he says occurred in December of 2008. TMZ.com reports that the photographer, Clint Brewer, claims he "was walking up the stairs and was pushed in the back by" Owen Wilson. Brewer claims he has suffered medical expenses in the amount of $3,251.10 and general damages in the amount of $500,000.

PUCK TALKS CAR ACCIDENT: Former Real World-er Puck is speaking out about his recent car accident. The reality alum admits he was drinking and driving -- but blames the accident on a deer. He told the National Enquirer, "I drank two shots of Jack Daniels in the car, but I also ate a sandwich. I was doing about 40 when a deer jumped out in front of me. My seat belt broke, and I was being flung around in the car. I ended up trapped, upside down, in water. I didn't know it then, but I had a broken neck. I'd also broken my clavicle, my sternum and both feet. I broke my neck in three places, and if I try to move, I could be paralyzed for life. The only reason I am alive is that my son saved me."

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

UMA THURMAN MOVIE IS MAJOR BOMB: Uma Thurman's new movie, Motherhood bombed big time in the UK. The film -- which only took in $60,000 in the U.S. last year -- opened to a paltry $132 in its opening weekend. Producer Jane Edelbaum commented on the flop, telling The Guardian, "You're kidding? We must have broken a new record for grosses! Think about how much crap succeeds at the cinema. 'Motherhood' is not bad. It's a very decent movie. I've seen movies that are not half as good."

CONAN FORCED TO TURN DOWN TONY HOST GIG? CBS reportedly asked Conan O'Brien to host this year's Tony Awards, but he was forced to turn it down because of his NBC buy-out deal. Deadline.com reported the latest in a string of jobs Conan has had to decline in exchange for accepting NBC's $45 million payout he and his former "Tonight Show" staff received. According to the contract, Conan can return to the small screen beginning September 1st.

FANS TO VOTE ON MTV MOVIE AWARDS: Fans will choose the nominees and eventual winners of the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. Yesterday, movieawards.mtv.com began accepting submissions for nominees in 13 different categories, and the site will remain open until April 9th. Viewers of the awards show can log on to movieawards.mtv.com beginning this afternoon and submit their choice nominees in 13 categories. Submissions will be accepted until April 9. Fans will also pick the winners of the show's golden popcorn trophy by voting online from May 11th to June 5th. The awards will take place on June 6th.

COMMERCIALS FOR 'LOST' FINALE COST BIG MONEY: ABC is clearly anticipating a record audience for the series finale of Lost in May. PerezHilton.com reports that a 30-second ad during the finale will cost $900,000.

'SMALLVILLE' CREATORS SUE: The creators of CW hit show Smallville, Miles Miller and Alfred Gough, reportedly filed a lawsuit on Friday against Warner Bros. that claims they have been underpaid and cheated. According to the New York Post, The suit alleges that Warner Bros. is guilty of "unfair self-dealing," meaning that they are not selling the show for "fair-market" price to it's own networks.

NEW 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' COUPLE?

Is there a new Dancing With the Stars love connection? Sources tell Hollywoodlife.com that ESPN reporter Erin Andrews "may be" dating her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Chmerkovskiy, was previously engaged to fellow dancer Karina Smirnoff, told People magazine of Andrews, "She does not hold back. She's open, and what you see is what there is. Everybody who meets her falls in love with her."

• Andrews also admitted that the two have more than a professional relationship. She said, "When Kentucky was upset (in the NCAA tournament), [Maks] texted me about it. He was like, 'You're the only person I know that cares about this.' He's been adorable."

DID JESSE JAMES PAY OFF MISTRESS NUMBER FOUR?

A fourth Jesse James mistress will not go public with any details of their affair, leading people to speculate that Sandra Bullock's husband paid her to keep quiet. Attorney Gloria Allred announced last week that she was hired to represent mistress number four, but told RadarOnline.com on Monday (March 29th) that the woman "has decided she will not tell her story."

Last week Allred announced, "I represent a beautiful model and businesswoman. She had a three-year intimate relationship with Jesse James. He pursued her and had strong feelings for her. She has proof of their relationship. The relationship JUST RECENTLY ENDED after the scandal broke."

• Just as Tiger Woods's mistress Rachel Uchitel retained Allred then decided against spilling details after news of a supposed pay-out, the development with Jesse's number four has lead the media to believe a similar transaction may have taken place.

ANTI-PIMP DEMI MOORE STARTS TWITTER FEUD WITH KIM KARDASHIAN

Demi Moore is standing up for African Americans in a new Twitter feud she started with Kim Kardashian. Moore was apparently offended after Kardashian tweeted a picture of herself with Kelly Rowland, Serena Williams and LaLa Vazquez along with the caption: "Big pimpin w @SerenaJWilliams, @LaLaVazquez @Kelly_Rowland Love u girls!"

Moore shot back, "Are you using the word 'pimpin' as in pimping? No disrespect I love a girls' night out but a pimp and pimping is nothing more than a slave owner!" She continued, "If we want to end slavery, we need to stop glorifying the 'pimp' culture. We have allowed it 2 B considered cool, but it still is what its!"

• The E! star diplomatically defended herself, saying, "Nothing wrong with dancing to Big Pimpin' by Jay Z in the club! Having a girls night out, gotta love that song. Good point! I agree! It was just a song not literal."
• Moore eventually tried to put a lid on the situation by writing, "Just so ya'll are clear, I like @KimKardashian. I was just making a point about how we have used a word and desensitized the real meaning. Clearly I stirred up a s**t storm, but 2 create change U have 2 be willing 2 take a risk and be willing 2 provoke thought & conversation."

PADMA LAKSHMI WANTS 'NOTHING TO DO' WITH BABY DADDY

Padma Lakshmi reportedly wants "nothing to do" with her baby daddy, Adam Dell. The Top Chef host never spoke about the father of her month-old daughter Krishna, but sources have confirmed Dell's identity and claim that the venture capitalist has been trying to "get back into [Lakshmi's] life."

A source told People magazine, "Her relationship with Dell was nothing more than an on-again, off-again fling. She moved on months ago. The only role he will have in her life going forward is as the biological father of her child. She wants nothing more to do with him."

• Insiders tell People that Dell has hired a publicist recently -- a move her friends call "a disgrace." A source close to Dell said he is merely "seeking more liberal visitation rights with his child," and denied that he is trying to be back in Lakshmi's life.

HEIDI MONTAG CAUSES DRAMA DURING 'THE HILLS' PHOTO SHOOT

The Hills may be ending -- but the show won't go away without drama. PerezHilton.com reports that Heidi Montag was a crazy diva at last weekend's shoot for promo pictures.

An insider told the site, "Heidi showed up with FOUR bodyguards. Audrina, Kristin, Stephanie and Lo were all shocked."

• It was unclear why Heidi felt so much security was needed as "No one from the cast spoke to her the whole time. Kristin was especially hurt because she and Heidi are friends in real life."
• The source said that Motag further alienated herself by refusing " to take part in a group shot, even though she had agreed to beforehand." Insiders said they will Photoshop her in to the photo.

TERI HATCHER LAUNCHING NEW WEBSITE FOR MODERN WOMEN

Teri Hatcher is launching a new website this spring with the goal of empowering women. Variety reports that GetHatched.com, which is in conjunction with Disney, will "provide, with humor, insight and vulnerability, solutions to the needs and obligations of today's modern women."

The actress plans to give advice in cyberspace via articles, blogs, and webisodes. Hatcher, along with a staff, will oversee the creative and editorial content. DisneyFamily.com will produce the website.

• This is not Hatcher's first foray into professional advice-giving. The actress also authored a book in 2006 called "Burnt Toast and Other Philosophies of Life," which provides family and career advice to women.

HEADLINE NEWS!

CHRISTIAN MILITIA MEMBERS WANTED TO KILL POLICE: Nine alleged members of a Christian militia group were charged Monday (March 29th) with plotting to kill a police officer and then murder many more cops by bombing the funeral. The Michigan-based group called Hutaree, which was readying for a battle with the Antichrist, hoped the slaughter would lead to an uprising against the U.S. government. Seven men and one woman were arrested in weekend raids in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, and the ninth suspect was arrested last night after a search in Michigan. FBI agents moved quickly against the group because it members were reportedly planning an attack sometime next month. The charges against the eight include seditious conspiracy, which is plotting to wage war against the U.S., and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction -- homemade bombs. Hutaree says on its website that its name means "Christian warrior" in a secret language.

U.S. TRANSIT SECURITY BOOSTED AFTER MOSCOW SUBWAY BOMBINGS: Transit security was boosted in the U.S. as a precaution Monday (March 29th) after a double suicide bombing in Moscow's subway system yesterday morning. Russian officials said two women blew themselves up during rush hour, killing more than 35 people, and the put blame on Islamic separatists in the Caucasus region. Among the cities boosting transit security were: New York, which said it was increasing coverage of the subway system; Washington, D.C., where Metro police conducted random inspections of stations and rail yards; and Atlanta, where the number of officer and patrols were increased throughout the public transit system.

REPORT: AFGHAN OFFENSIVE TO BEGIN IN JUNE: The Associated Press cited a senior military official as saying yesterday (March 29th) that NATO forces will carry out a long-planned assault on the Taliban's spiritual home in the Afghan city of Kandahar in June. The planned two-month offensive will be a major test of President Obama's new Afghan war strategy. General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said earlier this month that the Kandahar operation will be different from the one in Marjah in February. Unlike Marjah, the Kandahar operation will be a rolling series of actions and won't open with a single major offensive.

TODAY'S FYI:

RNC RED-FACED OVER $1,946 TAB AT BONDAGE CLUB: An embarrassed Republican National Committee launched an investigation yesterday (March 29th) to discover how a submitted $1,946 expense was reimbursed for meals at the bondage-themed Voyeur nightclub in West Hollywood, which features topless female dancers imitating lesbian sex. The Daily Caller website first reported finding the expense in a monthly RNC financial report for February. An RNC spokesman said yesterday that the Voyeur event was unauthorized, the expenditure was inappropriate, and that they are getting the money back. The reimbursement for the meals was made to political consultant Erik Brown of Orange, California, who was identified as a "non-committee staffer," who'd billed the RNC for the Voyeur visit.

DEAD MARINE'S FATHER TOLD TO PAY FUNERAL PROTESTERS' COURT FEES: In a decision being described as adding "insult to injury," the father of a Marine who died in Iraq is being ordered to pay the court fees of the group that protested his son's 2006 funeral. Attorneys for Albert Snyder of York, Pennsylvania, said Monday (March 29th) that the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on Friday ordered Snyder to pay $16,150 to Fred Phelps, the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church. The virulently anti-gay group has protested several soldiers' funerals, including that of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, contending that their deaths are the result of God's anger at America for its acceptance of homosexuality. Snyder was not gay. His family sued and was awarded a $5 million judgment against the protesters, but it was overturned by lower courts. Because of that, the court said Snyder should pay Phelps' court fees. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear Snyder's appeal to consider whether the Westboro Church's funeral protests are protected by the First Amendment.

STUDY: CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD NOT GETTING ENOUGH EXERCISE: A new study from the World Health Organization found that kids all over the world, not just in America, aren't getting enough exercise, and instead are spending time watching TV or on the computer. The survey of over 70,000 teens in 34 nations found that nearly one-third of them watch TV or are on the computer for three hours a day or more. One quarter of the boys and nearly 30 percent of the girls were sedentary, with girls less active than boys in every country. And just one quarter of the boys and 15 percent of the girls were found to be getting enough exercise, defined as at least an hour of exercise outside of gym class at least five days a week. Interestingly enough, which it came to being sedentary, it made no difference if the children lived in a rich or a poor country.

OBAMA TO THROW OUT FIRST PITCH AT NATIONALS' OPENER: President Obama will be continuing a presidential tradition next Monday (April 5th) when he throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals' season opener. Obama will be marking the 100th anniversary of the first presidential opening pitch, thrown by President William Howard Taft on April 14, 1910. It will also be the 48th time a president has made an opening day first pitch in the nation's capital. Obama threw out the first pitch at last year's All-Star game in St. Louis, wearing a Chicago White Sox jacket -- representing for his favorite team -- as well as an unfortunate pair of baggy jeans that were jokingly described as "Mom jeans."

SUPERMAN COMIC BOOK SELLS FOR RECORD $1.5 MILLION: A comic book sale has set a new all-time record for the third time this year, breaking records that were set just one month ago. A copy of the 1938 edition of Action Comics Number 1, in which Superman debuted, sold Monday (March 29th) for $1.5 million at the auction website ComicConnect.com. Considered the Holy Grail of comic books, another copy Action Comics Number 1 set a sales record in February of $1 million. Just days later, that new record was broken when a copy of the 1939 comic book in which Batman debuted sold for $75,000 more. Yesterday's sale, which featured a copy of the Superman debut comic that was in slightly better condition than the one sold in February, has yet again set a new record.

SPORTS:

DUKE FAVORED TO WIN NCAA TOURNAMENT: Las Vegas oddsmakers said Monday (March 29th) that Duke is the favorite among the Final Four to win the men's NCAA basketball title, while Michigan State is a longshot despite making it to the finals last year. Las Vegas Sports Consultants made Duke a 7-5 favorite, said Butler had a 5-2 chance of winning it all, put West Virginia at 2-1, and gave Michigan State 17-5 odds. The oddsmaker said either Duke or West Virginia would likely be favored over Butler or Michigan State in the finals.

BAYLOR, STANFORD ADVANCE TO WOMEN'S NCAA FINAL FOUR: Baylor and Stanford advanced to the Final Four of the women's NCAA basketball tournament yesterday (March 29th) with their wins over Duke and Xavier. Fourth-seeded Baylor beat Number 2 seed Duke 51-48 to get its second trip ever to the Final Four. Duke was defeated after leading for the entire second half until 6-foot-8 freshman phenom Brittney Griner scored a basket to put Baylor ahead with 45 seconds left to play. In the night's other game, top-seeded Stanford downed third-seeded Xavier 55-53 for a third straight trip to the Final Four. Stanford won on a game-winning basket at the buzzer by Jeanette Pohlen, who drove the length of the court for the shot after the ball was inbounded to her under Xavier's basket with 4.4 seconds left to play.

• The University of Connecticut will play Florida State today and Kentucky will face off against Oklahoma to determine the other two teams in the Final Four.

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

ON THE TUBE TODAY!

CBS

• NCIS (repeat)
• NCIS: LOS ANGELES (repeat)
• THE GOOD WIFE (repeat)

NBC

• THE BIGGEST LOSER - Eliminated contestants vie for a spot back in the competition ; a friendship begins to unravel.
• PARENTHOOD - Drew helps Adam out when Max rejoins the baseball team; Sarah makes friends with Amber's English teacher (Jason Ritter).

FOX

• AMERICAN IDOL - Usher mentors the 10 finalists as they prepare to perform.

ABC

• DANCING WITH THE STARS - The celebrity with the lowest score is sent home; The Beach Boys perform; actor John Stamos makes a special appearance.
• LOST - Sun and Jin continue to search for each other; Locke confronts his enemy.
• V - Erica is attacked at her home; the Resistance recruits a dangerous new member; Ryan's concern over Val's 'abnormal' pregnancy grows.

CW

• 90210 - Naomi butts heads with a new faculty advisor; Teddy tries to make Silver jealous; Liam catches his stepfather with another woman.
• MELROSE PLACE - Ella discovers someone is embezzling from WPK and framing her for it; Jonah throws a party; Michael tries to blackmail Lauren into sleeping with him.

USA

• LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT - TBA

FX

• JUSTIFIED - Raylan's search for a missing informant puts him into contact with two ex-cons looking to enhance their violent reputations.

MTV

• 16 AND PREGNANT - Although she is in love with her younger boyfriend, not all of Nicole's family is supportive.

TNT

• SOUTHLAND - Gangsters open fire in a crowded club; tensions rise between Sal and Gil; Sammy confronts his wife about photographing gang members.

DAY TIME TALK SHOW

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW - (repeat)
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW - (repeat)
THE VIEW - (repeat)

LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS) - Luke Wilson, Pam Stout, Alan Jackson
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO (NBC) - Joy Behar, Thomas Haden Church
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (ABC) - Miley Cyrus, the first Dancing with the Stars castoff, Erykah Badu
THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON (CBS) - Greg Kinnear, Amanda Righetti, VV Brown
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON (NBC) - Edward Norton, Chuck Liddell, Moshe Kasher
LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY (NBC) - Snoop Dogg, Keane
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Robin Williams
THE COLBERT REPORT (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Simon Johnson
LOPEZ TONIGHT - Ludacris, Clark Duke

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

MAN STREAKS OUT OF BOREDOM: A man from Tennessee was arrested on Friday for streaking in a supermarket because he was ''bored and didn't have anything else to do''. Daniel R Lee entered the IGA store wearing nothing but a face mask, and ran around the aisles. According to police, the suspect was found in the bathroom of a nearby Hardee's restaurant. Employees told officers that the 22-year-old man entered the restaurant wearing nothing but an orange sweat shirt and began asking customers for clothing. One employee gave him a pair of athletic shorts. Lee was charged with indecent exposure. (AP)

WOMAN POSES AS AN FBI AGENT: A Virginia woman was indicted by a federal grand jury for pretending to be an FBI agent and conning her neighbors into taking jobs as her assistants. Brenna Reilly, 29, told neighbors in her apartment complex that she was the FBI's director of forensics. Her neighbors agreed to be her personal assistants and gave Reilly personal information on a phony job application, including their social security numbers. According to police, she gave her neighbors tasks including writing condolence letters to family members of agents killed in the line of duty. Police say Reilly was never an FBI agent. (AP)

CHINESE MAN POISONS FROZEN DUMPLINGS: A man from China was detained after being suspected of poisoning frozen dumplings that were exported to Japan. The dumplings made 10 people sick and caused tension between China and Japan. The 36-year-old Lu Yueting put a poisonous substance in the frozen dumplings when he was working at a food plant in China's Hebei province. State media said Yueting was dissatisfied with his pay and colleagues and was acting out of revenge. Police found injectors he used to poison the dumplings and Yueting confessed. The Japanese Prime Minister praised China's efforts in the case and said the move would help develop ties between the two countries. (Reuters)

MAN THROWS CHIHUAHUA OVER BRIDGE: A man from Maryland faces up to four years in prison for throwing a stranger's Chihuahua over a bridge. David M. Beers, 35, threw the 4-pound Zoey out of his car window as he crossed Catoctin Creek on Route 464. Beers, a Marine Corp. veteran, told the police he was angry when dog's owners, the Wantzes, told him to get off their property when he stopped to make a cell phone call. Beers thought the Wantzes' driveway was a utility road. He left the property but later returned when the owners were gone, grabbed the Chihuahua and took her in his car. Beers pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty and theft. (AP)

DID YOU KNOW??

COUPLES CHECK EACH OTHER'S EMAILS AND TEXTS: Nearly a fifth of spouses admit checking their partner's emails or text messages, according to a new study. When partners were asked whether they had read their spouses emails, eight percent of men and 14 percent of women said they had. Ellen Helsper, who led the study, said, "One of the surprising findings was that surveillance was undertaken more often by wives than husbands. This contrasts with research that suggests that women are less technologically skilled than men. It seems that they are able to overcome these barriers when they feel their relationship is at stake.'' One in 10 women and six percent of men had check the browser history of their partners. (Telegraph)

CHECK IT OUT: How to suck at Facebook: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/facebook_suck

WOMEN MORE SCARED OF THEIR HEALTH THAN MEN: Women are bigger hypochondriacs than men, a new study says. However -- they're also less likely to have a fatal illness, according to a report from Britain's Office of National Statistics. The ONS, reporting on information provided in 2001 by more than 750,000 people, said, "Women were more likely than men to report that they were in 'not good' or 'fairly good' health, but they were less likely to die during the follow-up period." Also, people who had never married, or were separated or divorced, are more likely to report illness and to die in the next five years. Dr. Igor Galynker, psychiatrist at Beth Israel Medical Center, said, "Women have more empathy and are more tuned in to their own feelings. And women have a longer life expectancy because they are more attuned to their physical health."

FAST FOOD MAKES US IMPATIENT: New research shows that fast food has made us impatient. "Fast food represents a culture of time efficiency and instant gratification," said study researcher Chen-Bo Zhong of the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management. "The problem is that the goal of saving time gets activated upon exposure to fast food regardless of whether time is a relevant factor in the context." In one experiment, the researchers flashed fast food symbols, such as the golden arch of McDonald's, on a computer screen for a few milliseconds, so quick that participants couldn't consciously identify what they saw. In a subsequent task, those who had been exposed to the symbols read faster than participants not exposed to fast food, even when there was no advantage to finishing sooner. In another study, participants who recalled a time when they ate at a food restaurant subsequently preferred time-saving products, such as a two-in-one shampoo, over regular products. (LiveScience.com)

WHY WOMEN LOVE GAY MEN (AskMen.com)

Men's clothes: Many, if not most, gay men have a great sense of fashion and style. For whatever reason, it seems gay men know how to dress, and they often put us heterosexual guys to shame with their impeccable taste in clothes and high fashion IQ.

Physical fitness: Yes, it's a bit of a stereotype, but you'll probably concede that many of the gay men you know are serious about physical fitness, and that's another reason why women love gay men. Of course, heterosexual women are big fans of the carefully sculpted male form. Gay or straight, women enjoy being in the presence of a well-built man.

Sensitivity: A 2008 study published by the National Academy of Sciences revealed that gay men and straight women have similarly shaped brains: Both are symmetrical, whereas the straight male brain is asymmetrical; it is slightly larger on the right side (the same shape as the gay female brain). So, it's possible that gay men think and see the world in a way that women can relate to; that might be another reason why women love gay men.

Faithfulness: Why do women love gay men? Because women don't have to worry about their gay male friends leaving them for other women. Surely one of the things that women get out of a friendship with a gay man is male companionship without the fear of betrayal or abandonment.

Fun: We're generalizing again here, but let it be said: Gay guys are just a good time. They're funny, refreshingly frank about sex and they can dance. We recognize there must be some dull, socially awkward gay guys out there, but most of the gay guys we know are fun to hang out with, and that's another reason why women love gay men.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Before the new regulations take effect in 2011, The Daily Beast has ranked 40 fast-food standards and classics based on which are worst for your health. They measured each food item's calories, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar. The top 10 deadliest fast food meals:

1. Wendy's Baconator Triple, 1330 calories and 38 grams of saturated fat
2. Sonic's SuperSonic Cheeseburger, 980 calories and 24 grams of saturated fat
3. Burger King's BK Quad Stacker, 930 calories and 28 grams of saturated fat
4. Domino's Bread Bowl Pizza, 670 calories and 22 grams of saturated fat
5. In & Out Burger's Double Double With Onion, 670 calories and 18 grams of saturated fat
6. Arby's Large Beef n' Cheddar, 650 calories and 11 grams of saturated fat
7. Popeye's Breast-Leg-Biscuit, 640 calories and 15.5 grams of saturated fat
8. Taco Bell's Chipotle Steak Taco Salad, 900 calories and 11 grams of saturated fat
9. White Castle's Sack of 4 Cheeseburgers, 680 calories and 16 grams of saturated fat
10. Jack in the Box's Jumbo Jack With Cheese, 620 calories, 15 grams of fat

WATER COOLER TALK

Now Levi Johnston is Pitching an Alaska Reality TV Show Just one week after it was announced that TLC will air a travelogue-style reality TV show about Alaska hosted by former Governor Sarah Palin comes word that Levi Johnston, the headline-making father of her grandson, is shopping his own Alaska reality TV show. Radar Online reports that Johnston has meetings scheduled this week to pitch the show, tentatively being called Levi Johnston's Last Frontier, which will feature Johnston and his friends hanging out and doing things like hunting and fishing. Radar Online said it was being described as, quote, "sort of an Entourage on ice." Johnston told E! News that viewers would also see him being a father to Tripp, the young son he had with Palin's teen daughter Bristol. And -- get ready ladies -- it will also show Johnston getting back into the dating world. He told E! News, "I haven't dated since Bristol, so that is going to be in the show. It's going to be a part to fit -- me looking for women in California, across the world. I've got to find one, take her back to Alaska and see if she can hang."

N.Y. State Senator Launches Effort Against Saggy Pants

American Idol wannabe General Larry Platt, whose self-written song "Pants on the Ground" became a viral hit after he sang it in his televised audition, isn't the only person who has a problem with young men wearing saggy pants. New York State Senator Eric Adams of Brooklyn has launched an effort against the saggy pants trend. He's announced that he'll post six billboards around Brooklyn featuring two young men wearing low-hanging pants with the phrase, "Raise your pants, raise your image." He also hopes to spread the word through the media, the Internet and endorsements. Adams, who said the sagging pants trend came from prison culture, where inmates aren't allowed to have belts, told CNN, "It's part of a larger campaign . . . to tell our young people and our community as a whole, we are better than this." A former New York City police captain, Adams said of his time on the force, "The first indicator of whether a young person was in trouble was they way they dressed."

Sarah Palin Thanks You All for Making the "Showdown in Searchlight" a HUGE Success!

Sarah Palin's message from Twitter thanking all of you for helping to make it such a fantastic event:

So how big was the event? Well, here's an aerial view of the rally - showing JUST ONE section of the crowd:

And here's one more picture for you for now - it's another aerial shot, this time of Highway 95 leading to-and-from Searchlight. Get this: the photo was taken at 1:35 PM Pacific - more than 1 1/2 hours after the rally ended, and yet thousands of cars still were trying to get to the rally location:

(Photos courtest of AmericanPatrol.com)

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KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Tim McGraw and Dwight Yoakam have been cast in an independent comedy film called Dirty Girl. The singers will star alongside Milla Jovovich, William H. Macy and Mary Steenburgen in the film, which has already begun shooting in Los Angeles. The setting is Oklahoma in 1987, and according to Variety, the plot is about "a high school tramp seeking the father she never knew who runs away with a closeted gay boy who wants to escape going to military school." There is no word yet on when Dirty Girl will be in theaters.

Tim finds a lot of common ground between singing and acting, he tells us: "You have to find parts of yourself as an artist when you go in to record an album. There's things in your psyche, I guess, that you find to sort of help you interpret songs or you sort of get lost in the song. You have to be a great interpretor. You don't necessarily have to have lived the song but be able to put yourself into that moment, and the same thing with acting, except you sort of find a different part of yourself, I guess."

Straddling the line between movies and music has given Tim the best of both worlds. He says his acting has improved his singing, and vice versa. "After doin' movies and sort of finding a different way of approaching how to get into being somebody else, instead of interpreting it in a song, you interpret it with your whole body and not so much just your voice singin', so it does help you when you go back into the studio to record an album. You do take part of that part of your other self that you discovered in order to do that in the movies. I think they feed off each other and they help each other and hopefully makes it better."

Tim's future musical endeavors definitely includes a duets album with his wife, Faith Hill. The singer told The Vancouver Sun, "It's just a matter of time. You know, (it's) labels and all these things. Once we clear the woods a little bit, we'll (record an album), for sure."

In other Tim news, the singer is offering his support to his The Blind Side co-star and Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock, who is dealing with reports that her husband, Jesse James, has been unfaithful with multiple women. Tim told Entertainment Tonight Canada, "I haven't [reached out to Bullock]. You know, she's got a lot on her plate. I just wish her nothing but the best. She's tough," he said. "I'm not that tough."

• Tim will perform at The Players Championship golf tournament on Military Appreciation Day on May 5th in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
• The Canadian leg of his Southern Voice tour wraps up tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 30th) in Winnipeg.

LeAnn Rimes is reportedly making life very hard for actor Eddie Cibrian's ex-wife, Brandi Glanville. Brandi told E! News that although she and Eddie are trying to remain on good terms for the sake of their two young children, LeAnn is making it all but impossible.

Brandi said, "Eddie and I had planned to do something together and small for (son) Jake's upcoming birthday on April 15th, (but) he has changed his mind. He is now saying I can't see Jake on his birthday because it falls on his custodial day and it would make LeAnn uncomfortable."

Brandi adds that she has gone out of her way to accommodate Eddie and LeAnn's plans with the children, including letting them take her kids to Mexico, but the kindness is not being reciprocated.

She said, "I have already spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning alone, missing my children, and crying because I have no family near by. Jake is my son, not Leann's. He should be with both his parents on his birthday."

Brandi added, "Eddie seems to care more about LeAnn than what is best for our kids. He doesn't even come to (son) Mason's baseball games on my days because LeAnn doesn't want him around me."

• Eddie left Brandi for LeAnn last summer. Both filed for divorce from their respective spouses late last year.
• LeAnn's marriage of eight years to Dean Sheremet will officially be over in June.

Dolly Parton is one celebrity who is not afraid to publically show support for The Hills star Heidi Montag. The 23-year-old reality star recently underwent 10 surgeries, but Dolly, who has admitted to multiple plastic surgery procedures herself, can empathize. She told Access Hollywood, "Oh, I probably would have done it when I was that age if I could have afforded it and thought I needed it."

Dolly applauds Heidi for being honest. She said, "People want to know. If you ask me about it, I'd rather tell you ... I'd rather you think I had plastic surgery than to think I was a liar."

Another young starlet getting Dolly's support these days is Jessica Simpson. Jessica has been the target of unkind tabloid and internet stories, and Dolly takes it to heart. She told the show, "It hurts me. In fact, I have defended Jessica so many times, because I get so mad. I think, 'You don't even know her! ... And who has such a right to be so cruel and mean? They just seem to want to hurt her for whatever their reasons are. I've been made fun of enough in my lifetime, especially when I was a child ... It hurts and I know it hurts anybody."

• Dolly recently opened her own store, called Trinkets And Treasure, in downtown Nashville. The shop specializes in all things Dolly.
• The legendary singer is currently working on a dance CD, called Dance With Dolly. There is no word yet on when the project will be in stores.

Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw, Billy Currington, Smokey Robinson, Chris Isaak, and Sheena Easton have all signed on to perform on the television special, Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years. The show will be taped at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Ledyard, CT on April 10th. Previously announced guests include Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Alison Krauss, Wynonna Judd and The Oak Ridge Boys.

• All of the entertainers will be performing at the MGM Grand, except for Darius, Tim and Billy, who will be performing for the show from remote locations.
• Tickets to the taping are available through the MGM Grand Foxwoods or through Ticketmaster.

FAST FACTS

• Kenny has sold more than 125 million albums throughout his career.
• He also holds the distinction of having a hit single in each of the last six decades.
• His duet with Dolly Parton, "Islands In The Stream," is the top-selling duet of all time.

Glen Campbell has announced that following the release and tour in support of his upcoming album Ghost On The Canvas, he'll be retiring. Billboard reported that among the guest stars on the new set are Jakob Dylan, Chris Isaak, Dandy Warhols, Paul Westerberg, who wrote the album's title track, and former Prince bandmate Wendy Melvoin -- whose father Mike Melvoin, worked numerous sessions with Campbell in the '60s.

The album's producer Julian Raymond described the album's sound by saying, "It's not your mother's Glen Campbell. He's playing guitar better than ever, singing and writing better than ever. It's really going to be a great final statement from him."

• Campbell, who'll turn 74 next month, credits his Arkansas upbringing for turning him into the guitarist he eventually became: Uncle Boo -- he's the one that taught me that. 'Cause he used to play so fast. I don't play so fast now. I could, just 'cause of what he taught me to do. He'd have me doing calisthenics, y'know."
• Campbell, who was a member of the legendary bunch of studio session players dubbed "The Wrecking Crew" both before and after he achieved stardom, added that although he was a country player at heart, he enjoyed every minute of being a studio musician: "It didn't matter because I look at everything like that as an experience. Especially in that time period. I didn't want to miss anything. I got to play on so many kinds of music."
• There's been no release date announced for Ghost On The Canvas.
• Glen Campbell will next perform on April 10th in Choctaw, Mississippi at the Pearl River Resort/Silver Star.

FAST FACTS

• Campbell's last album was 2008's Meet Glen Campbell. the album featured such cover tunes as John Lennon's "Grow Old With Me," Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)," U2's "All I Want Is You," Foo Fighters' "Times Like These," the Replacements' "Sadly Beautiful," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Walls," and the Velvet Underground's "Jesus," among others.

Vince Gill will auction off some of his time to benefit the charity Challenge America. Fans can log onto Moontoast.com to bid on 90 minutes of one-on-one time with Vince, either in-person, on the phone or via Moontoasts's Live Video Player. The auction will run through midnight (CT) on April 16th.

• Challenge America is a national initiative to provide support to our country's returning wounded military.
• Vince and his wife, Amy Grant, helped officially launch Challenge America with a star-studded concert event to honor wounded warriors in Washington, D.C. in 2009.
• Vince will perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Friday (April 2nd) and Saturday (April 3rd).

FAST FACTS

• Vince will perform at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago on June 26th.
• He will also headline the 12th annual Jammin' to Beat the Blues concert to benefit the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee. The show will take place on April 19th at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Taylor Swift won Favorite Female Singer and Favorite Song for "You Belong With Me" at Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday (March 27th) night. Taylor was in Detroit that night for the second of two sold out shows there on her Fearless tour.

Toby Keith's recent Number One hit, "God Love Her," had been certified gold for sales of more than 500,000 copies.

Jo Dee Messina will host the CMA Music Festival's first 5k family run for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on June 12th in downtown Nashville. The St. Jude Music Fest Road Race participants are encouraged to become St. Jude Heroes by raising more that $250 in pledges to receive two CMA Fest Saturday night concert tickets. Those who raise $500 will be invited to an exclusive brunch with Jo Dee.

Gretchen Wilson celebrated tomorrow's (Tuesday, March 30th) release of her new CD, called I Got Your Country Right Here, with a party at her good friend John Rich's house in Nashville on Thursday (March 26th). She performed several songs from the record, as did some of the songwriters who contributed to the new project. The album is Gretchen's first on her own label, Redneck Records.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. What superstar worked at Glen Campbell's publishing company after first moving to Nashville?
A. Alan Jackson

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

TOP 20 COUNTRY COUNTDOWN/GAC 10:00AM (ET)
Alan Jackson, Keith Urban

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW/SYN (check local listings)
Kellie Pickler

TRUE BLUE: 10 YEARS OF BLUE COLLAR COMEDY/CMT 9:00PM (ET)

BLUE COLLAR COMEDY: 10 YEARS OF FUNNY/CMT 10:00PM (ET)
Bill Engvall, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy

CMT COMEDY CLUB: RON WHITE/CMT 11:00PM (ET)

CMT COMEDY CLUB: LARRY THE CABLE GUY/CMT 11:30PM (ET)

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS

Brady Seals (former member of Little Texas) (41)

• Jennifer Capriati (tennis player) (34)
• Astrud Gilberto (singer, "The Girl From Ipanema") (70)
• Vangelis (musician, "Chariots of Fire") (67)
• Walt "Clyde" Frazier (Naismith Memorial Hall Of Fame basketball player) (65)
• Eric Idle (British comedian, Monty Python's Flying Circus, mastermind of the Broadway musical Spamalot) (67)
• Lucy Lawless (actress, Xena: Warrior Princess) (42)
• Elle MacPherson (supermodel) (46)
• Brendan Gleeson (actor, Braveheart, Gangs of New York, Cold Mountain, Troy, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, In Bruges) (55)
• John Popper (singer of Blues Traveler) (43)
• Amy Sedaris (wacky actress of Strangers With Candy) (49)
• Perry Farrell (singer of Jane's Addiction) (51)
• Marina Sirtis (actress, Star Trek: The Next Generation's Deanna Troi) (55)
• Christopher Lambert (actor, Greystoke: The Legend Of Tarzan, Lord Of The Apes, the Highlander movies) (53)
• John McLaughlin (host of TV's The McLaughlin Group) (83)
• Bobby Kimball (singer, Toto) (63)
• Terry Jacks (singer, "Seasons In The Sun") (66)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY!

• Dierks Bentley underwent knee surgery in Nashville, nine days after an on-stage accident left him with a torn ligament and bruised knee bone, in 2004.
• Joe Nichols charted his first Number One single in Billboard with "Brokenheartsville" in 2003.
• Faith Hill's Breathe album was certified triple-platinum in 2000.
• Steve Earle's Guitar Town album was certified gold in 1999.
• Martina McBride gave birth to her second daughter, Emma Justine McBride, in 1998.
• Reba McEntire's "How Was I To Know" claimed the Number One spot on the Billboard country chart in 1997.
• The Kentucky Headhunters' "Pickin' On Nashville" long-form video was certified gold in 1991.
• Conway Twitty netted a Billboard Number One country single with "I'd Love To Lay You Down" in 1980.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP!

BETHENNY GETS MARRIED: Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel got married Sunday (March 28th) in New York City. Before the nuptials, it was reported that Frankel was due to tie the knot with fiance Jason Hoppy in a small ceremony at the Four Seasons hotel. About 70 guests were expected to attend -- including just two fellow Housewives, Alex McCord and Ramona Singer. Frankel, who is seven-months pregnant, is shooting a spin-off to the Housewives series called Bethenny's Getting Married.

KATE GOSSELIN SPENDS BIRTHAY REHEARSING: Kate Gosselin spent her 35th birthday on Sunday (March 28th) away from her eight children, in Los Angeles, where she was rehearsing for Dancing With the Stars. Usmagazine.com reports that the reality mom was with her family in Pennsylvania on Saturday, but spent a good part of the morning rehearsing there with partner Tony Dovolani. By 1 p.m., Kate was off on a plane for L.A.

JENNIFER ANISTON AND DAVID SCHWIMMER ARE STILL FRIENDS: Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer -- aka Ross and Rachel -- are still friends, despite various media reports. Rumors of a feud between the former co-stars surfaced after Aniston was asked on "Late Show with David Letterman" who Schwimmer was marrying, and she answered, "don't know." Although the Daily Mail said that Schwimmer was offended by the remark and refused to take Aniston's calls, his rep told GossipCop.com, "He's not upset."

CHLOE SEVIGNY SORRY ABOUT 'BIG LOVE' COMMENTS: Chloe Sevigny regrets trashing the latest season of her HBO hit Big Love to the media. The actress made headlines after telling a reporter, "It was awful this season, as far as I'm concerned. I'm not allowed to say that! I feel like it kind of got away from itself. I mean, I love the show, I love my character, I love the writing, but I felt like they were really pushing it this last season. And with nine episodes, I think they were just squishing too much in." Sevigny has since back-tracked, telling Entertainment Weekly, "I feel pretty terrible. I feel like what I said was taken out of context."

NO BLOCKAGE FOR 'JERSEY SHORE': A New Jersey judge has again denied a request to block the release of episodes of MTV's Jersey Shore. The New York Daily News reports that State Superior Court Judge Joseph Foster rejected the request of three people who say their reputations will be damaged because they are shown fighting with cast members. Last month, Foster denied the request of a man who said he was beaten during an episode to block the DVD release of the first season. The other two people that wanted the shows blocked are a police officer who was fired after an episode showed him in a fight with cast members, and the officer's wife.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

JON GOSSELIN EX GETTING REALITY SHOW? Jon Gosselin's ex-girlfriend Hailey Glassman might be starring in her own reality series. The 23-year-old told RadarOnline.com, "I'm moving out in August and probably moving to the Santa Monica area. I was offered to do a show called "Starting Over," which will be about me leaving New York and all the negative behind me." She's unsure if the show will materialize, but says it's time to leave her parents house no matter what. Glassman explained, "My mom is so upset, but I have to grow up. Living in my parents' house is going to keep me a little girl forever. I have to be out on my own. I need to find my passion again and figure out who I am. The world only knows me as the tabloid Hailey."

'24' IS DONE: It's official: 24 is ending after eight seasons on the air. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the action drama starring Kiefer Sutherland will air its final episode in May. Fans should take solace in executive producer Howard Gordon's confirmation that a 24 film is possible. The cancelation does not come as a surprise given the show's mounting costs and declining ratings -- audience numbers were down 16 percent this season.

'IRON MAN 3' IN THE WORKS? Iron Man 2 hasn't even been released -- but could Iron Man 3 be on the way as well? PerezHilton.com reports that Robert Downey Jr. said that he plans to star in a third film, but doesn't know whether it will be released before or after The Avengers hits theaters in 2012.

KATY PERRY GETS SLIMED; MILEY CYRUS AND TAYLOR LAUTNER WIN AT KIDS CHOICE AWARDS

Arguably the biggest surprise was that Twilight Saga: New Moon lost the prize for favorite movie to Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.Katy Perry got slimed while Taylor Lautner and Miley Cyrus took home top honors at Saturday (March 27th) night's Kids Choice Awards. The tween-heavy show was hosted by Kevin James and featured performances by Rihanna and Justin Bieber.

Lautner and Cyrus won for favorite movie actor and actress, while the individual TV faves were Dylan Sprouse of The Suite Life on Deck and Selena Gomez for Wizards of Waverly Place. iCarly won favorite TV show for the second year in a row.

Among the guests who got slimed were Jerry Trainor ("iCarly"), Jackson Rathbone ("The Last Airbender") and Katy Perry ("I Kissed a Girl"). Olympic athlete Apolo Anton Ohno set a new slime world record by being catapulted into a vat of slime, and comedians Tina Fey and Steve Carell received "slimetime achievement awards."

• There were rumors that Sandra Bullock -- a past attendee -- would surface at the show for the first time since word of her husband's supposed affairs broke, but she stayed away.

WINNER'S LIST

• Favorite Movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
• Favorite Movie Actor: Taylor Lautner (New Moon)
• Favorite Movie Actress : Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana: The Movie)
• Favorite TV Show: iCarly
• Favorite TV Actress: Selena Gomez (The Wizards of Waverly Place)
• Favorite TV Actor: Dylan Sprouse (The Suite Life on Deck)

Other winners not featured on the show:

Favorite Animated Movie: UP

• Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie: Jim Carrey (A Christmas Carol)
• Favorite Song: "You Belong To Me" (Taylor Swift)
• Favorite Music Group: Black Eyed Peas
• Favorite Male Singer: Jay-Z
• Favorite Female Singer: Taylor Swift
• Favorite Cartoon: SpongeBob SquarePants
• Favorite Reality TV Show: American Idol
• Favorite Video Game: Mario Kart
• Favorite Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

SANDRA BULLOCK REPORTEDLY HIDING OUT IN HOLLYWOOD

Sandra Bullock is reportedly hiding out in the Hollywood Hills home where she lived before marrying Jesse James. Sources told RadarOnline.com reports that the property is a 45-minute drive from the house where she's been living with James -- which the insider says she has not been back to since word of his supposed affairs broke.

A neighbor near Bullock's pre-marital home told Radar, "There have been a few cars going in and out of her gate and people going in there in the last few days. There has been more activity here in the last week than in the last year. It's usually very quiet here."

• Bullock fled to Austin, Texas in the immediate aftermath of the scandal, and has been in the Los Angeles area for about a week. At the moment, four women have come forward claiming to have slept with James in the five years he's been married to the Oscar-winner.
• There was speculation that Sandra might appear at Saturday's Kids Choice Awards, but the actress was a no-show.

ANGELINA JOLIE IN TALKS TO PLAY DISNEY VILLAIN

Angelina Jolie is in talks to play a Disney villain in a live action remake of Sleeping Beauty. The Los Angeles Times reports that Jolie might take on the role of Maleficent, Sleeping Beauty's wicked fairy godmother in an upcoming Tim Burton adaptation of the classic.

In the original animated flick, Maleficent cast a spell on Sleeping Beauty that caused her to prick her finger and sleep for 100 years, awaking only after getting kissed by a prince.

• Disney declined to comment on the casting, and Jolie's manager could not be reached by comment by the Times.

TIGER MAY NOT BE OUT OF THE WOODS YET

Just a short while ago it appeared Tiger Woods had dodged a major bullet as his wife and children had moved back into the family home and he announced plans to return to golf. Well it seems that announcement may have pushed his wife, Elin Nordegren, to the brink and now she's allegedly moving forward with plans to divorce the golfer.

• UK's Sunday Mirror reports that Elin was so upset that Tiger decided to announce his return to golf that she visited a divorce lawyer the day after the announcement. She felt that Tiger needed to focus more time on putting family first and working on his therapy.
• A source told the publication, "She thought very strongly that he needed to take care of the home front first and make sure that was in good working order before he started making big announcements. She's angry the public seem to be buying his apology when she doesn't even know if she buys it herself."
• The source added, "It's not about Tiger being happy or stopping him playing golf - it's about his not following through with all those teary promises he made."
• Woods has allegedly been spending sixteen hours a day practicing for his return to golf at next month's Masters tournament in Augusta, Georgia.

KIM AND REGGIE DENY THEY'RE DATING OTHER PEOPLE

Although Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush issued no denials about their recent split -- the two are going out of their way to refute reports that they've hooked up with new partners.

After it was rumored that Bush had spent the night with waitress January Gessart, he tweeted, "Clarification 4 the dummies aka the media, January is a long time friend of mine & has been dating my best friend for 6 months. Sorry! Lol! ALL THE LADIES, STEP RIGHT UP! If you would like to be the next person linked to dating Reggie Bush all you gotta do is stand next to him!!!

• Meanwhile, Kim was quick to shoot down reports linking her to soccer star Wayne Bridge. She in turn tweeted, "Who the hell is Wayne Bridge? LOL Someone please fill me in because I have no clue!"

FRIENDS ROAST MATT DAMON AS HE ACCEPTS AWARD

Matt Damon was roasted by his friends on Saturday (March 27th) night as he was honored in Beverly Hills with the 24th American Cinematheque Award. Pal Jimmy Kimmel joked on stage, "He doesn't deserve this award. I don't know who they weren't able to get, but I'd go with Tom Selleck before I'd go with Matt Damon."

Sarah Silverman teased that she gave Damon his "his first really big break" with her 2008 viral video hit "I'm F-ing Matt Damon."

• Damon's best friend Ben Affleck was also on hand, and told the audience, "Matt always said to me, 'Ben, there are two things that are more important to me than anything else in this world.' Folks: fame, money. You did it, Matty! You got there!"
• Even Affleck's wife Jennifer Garner got in on the action: "Ben is half of one of the greatest love stories ever told. Not with me. The actual prototype for the great Hollywood Bromance . . . Here's proof that love is alive and well in Hollywood. At least for my darling husband and my husband's darling husband."

FRAIL DENNIS HOPPER RECEIVES STAR ON HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

Dennis Hopper made a rare public appearance last Friday (March 26th) as he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 73-year-old, who is said to be losing his battle with prostate cancer, stayed seated throughout most of the ceremony, but after being assisted up to the platform, he joked that his frail condition and visible bandages were due to the paparazzi. He said, "Yesterday, I got up and out of the house and someone yelled 'Hey Dennis!' I thought I recognized the voice, so I kept walking and turned around but I didn't see the little ridgeline in the road and I took a terrible fall because I have no muscle. So I fell directly on my face, and I had my glasses in my hand. I got pretty screwed up. I know you (the paparazzi) have a tough job, but sometimes you should be a little more sensitive."

• The Easy Rider star attributed his success to his friends and family, saying, "Everything I've learned in my life, I learned from you and the wonderful world that I traveled and saw. . . well, I got it all from you. This has been my home and my school. And I love all of you. I just want to thank you. This means so much to me, and thank you very much, everyone."
• Hopper's famous friends like Jack Nicholson, David Lynch, Viggo Mortensen and Dwight Yoakam were all in attendance.
• The actor's attorney also revealed earlier this week that his star client was down to a 100 pounds and was too weak to continue chemotherapy or to be questioned by his wife's divorce attorney in their bitter split battle.

THIS WEEKEND'S TOP TEN MOVIES -- MARCH 26-28

The 3-D animated family movie How to Train Your Dragon opened at the top of the weekend box office, ending the three-week reign of Alice in Wonderland, which fell to second place. The film features the voices of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrara, Gerard Butler, Jonah Hill and Craig Ferguson in the story of a Viking teenager who learns he can become friends with a dragon instead of fighting it.

The comedy Hot Tub Time Machine, starring John Cusack, Craig Robinson and Rob Corddry as a group of losers who return to 1986 via a time-traveling hot tub, where they have a chance to change their past, opened in third place. Crispin Glover, Clark Duke and Chevy Chase co-star.

• The blockbuster Avatar finally fell out of the top 10 after 15 weeks, finishing in 11th place.
• The drama Chloe debuted in narrower release, opening in 350 theaters. It stars Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson and Amanda Seyfried in a story about a woman who hires a prostitute to tempt her husband and find out if he's cheating on her.

1. How to Train Your Dragon, $43.3 million
2. Alice in Wonderland, $17.3 million
3. Hot Tub Time Machine, $13.7 million
4. The Bounty Hunter, $12.4 million
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, $10 million
6. She's Out of My League, $3.5 million
7. Green Zone, $3.3 million
8. Shutter Island, $3.2 million
9. Repo Men, $3 million
10. Our Family Wedding, $2.2 million

The new animated film, How to Train You Dragon, with the voices of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrara, Gerard Butler and Jonah Hill, dominated the weekend box office. The film, set in a mythical Viking town, fillows Hiccup, a Viking teenager, who learns he can be friends with a dragon, instead of fighting it, and tries to show the rest of the world his point of view.

• How to Train You Dragon is rated PG and has a running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes

The new comedy, Hot Tub Time Machine, starring John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry and Cripson Glover, debuted over the weekend. The films follows four pals who get a chance to change their past after a night of heavy drinking in a hot tub leads to them waking up in 1986.

• Hot Tub Time Machine is rated R and has a running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes.

HEADLINE NEWS!!

OBAMA MAKES SURPRISE VISIT TO AFGHANISTAN: President Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan Sunday (March 28th), a six-hour nighttime visit that the Afghan government was only told about three days earlier. On his first trip as president to Afghanistan, Obama defended his decision to send more troops to fight in the eight-year-old conflict, and told President Hamid Karzai that he and his Cabinet have to follow through on promises to rein in corruption and improve living conditions. Obama also boosted and thanked the troops, telling a crowd of soldiers at Bagram Air Field, "Your services are absolutely necessary, absolutely essential to America's safety and security."

FBI CONDUCTS REPORTED MILITIA RAIDS: The FBI said yesterday (March 28th) that agents had conducted weekend raids in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio and arrested at least three people on gun charges, and AP cited a militia leader in Michigan as saying the target of at least one raid was a Christian militia group. According to AP, a spokesman for the Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia said one of his team leaders got a frantic phone call Saturday evening from members of Hutaree, a Christian militia group, saying their property was being raided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The spokesman said, "They said they were under attack by the ATF and wanted a place to hide. My team leader said, 'no thanks.'"

ALLAWI'S COALITION COMES OUT ON TOP IN IRAQI ELECTION: Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi began reaching out to other political blocs Saturday for allies to form Iraq's next government, after results of the March 7th parliamentary elections announced on Friday (March 26th) said his coalition had beat that of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki by two seats. But al-Maliki has refused to recognize the electoral results and wants a recount. Al-Maliki seems to be trying to use the legal system to block Allawi from forming a government, and the Washington Post reports that if he succeeds, it's likely to enrage Sunni Arabs, who view Allawi, a secular Shiite, as their best chance at regaining power.

TODAY'S FYI:

STUDY SUGGESTS JUNK FOOD ADDICTION MAY BE REAL: A new study suggests that it may be possible for people to actually become addicted to junk food, the HealthDay News reported Sunday (March 28th). The research found that when rats were given unlimited access to a junk food diet, including things like bacon, pound cake and candy, they not only quickly gained a lot of weight, but eating became such a compulsion that they kept scarfing up the food even when they knew they'd get an unpleasant electric shock to their foot if they did. Additionally, when the junk food was taken away from the now-obese rats and they were given a healthy diet, they refused to eat almost anything for two weeks. Scientists who looked at these animals' brains found declines in a dopamine receptor that has been implicated in addiction to cocaine and heroin. The suggestion is that a diet heavy in junk food might actually cause changes in the brain's reward system, which is a hallmark of drug addiction.

TENNESSEE MAN RAMS ANOTHER CAR OVER OBAMA BUMPER STICKER: A 70-year-old Nashville man is accused of ramming his SUV several times into another vehicle Thursday (March 25th) that had an Obama/Biden bumper sticker. Harry Weisiger allegedly made obscene gestures, repeatedly honked his horn, and pointed at the bumper sticker before he smashed into Mark Duren's Toyota Camry, in which Duren's 10-year-old daughter was also riding. When Duren stopped to calm his daughter, Weisiger rammed the Camry again and tried to push it off the road, before driving away. Police found him at a nearby grocery store. Weisiger has been charged with reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of the accident and refusing to take a field sobriety test.

BARBARA BUSH HOSPITALIZED: Barbara Bush remained hospitalized Sunday (March 28th) after being admitted to Methodist Hospital in Houston the day before for routine tests because she hadn't been feeling well for about a week. Family spokeswoman Jean Becker said doctors don't suspect anything is seriously wrong with the 84-year-old former first lady. Mrs. Bush was hospitalized in March 2009 for nine days for heart surgery, as well as in November 2008 when she had surgery for a perforated ulcer.

CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP DELAYED BY BOMB HOAX: A Carnival cruise ship was held off the Florida coast for several hours yesterday (March 28th) while it was searched after a passenger who was described as "highly intoxicated" made a bomb threat. The 31-year-old passenger, Ibrahim Khalil Zarou of Leesburg, Virginia, was arrested on a charge of making a false report of a bomb, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years behind bars. The Carnival Sensation was headed back to Port Canaveral after a three-day cruise to the Bahamas when a passenger reported hearing another passenger make a bomb threat, according to the Coast Guard. Zarou was quoted as saying, "We are jihad. Come to the top deck and watch the bomb. The bomb is going to blow."

BOOK WINS ANNUAL PRIZE FOR ODDEST TITLE: The 2009 winner of the annual Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year was crowned Friday (March 26th), as Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes claimed the title. The book got 42 percent of the vote run by the British website The Bookseller.com, with What Kind of Bean is this Chihuahua? in second place with 30 percent of the vote, and Collectible Spoons of the Third Reich following in third place with 11 percent. The other books in the top six were: Afterthoughts of a Worm Hunter; Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous Robots; and The Changing World of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The Diagram Prize was first awarded in 1978, and some memorable titles over the years include:

• 1979: The Madam as Entrepreneur: Career Management in House Prostitution
• 1980: The Joy of Chickens
• 1992: How to Avoid Huge Ships
• 1994: Highlights in the History of Concrete
• 1996: Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers
• 2002: Living With Crazy Buttocks
• 2003: The Big Book of Lesbian Horse Stories
• 2005: People Who Don't Know They're Dead: How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do About It

SPORTS:

NCAA TOURNAMENT DOWN TO FINAL FOUR: There are now only four teams left in the men's NCAA basketball tournament, after the Elite Eight played over the weekend -- Duke, West Virginia, Butler and Michigan State.

Top-seeded Duke is in the Final Four after beating third-seed Baylor 78-71 Sunday (March 28th) in the South Regional final, boosted by a career-high 29 points by Nolan Smith. The Blue Devils will be playing in the semifinals next Saturday (April 3rd) against second-seeded West Virginia, which beat top-seeded Kentucky 73-66 on Saturday in the Eastern Regional final.

Fifth-seeded Michigan State is heading to the Final Four after beating sixth-seeded Tennessee 70-69 Sunday in the Midwest Regional final on a Raymar Morgan free throw with less than 2 seconds left. They'll be playing next Saturday in the semifinals against Butler, also a Number 5 seed, which is the Final Four for the first time. Butler upset second-seed Kansas State 63-56 in Saturday's Western Regional final.

YANKEES ARE WORLD'S HIGHEST-PAID TEAM PLAYERS: A British study out Sunday (March 28th) said that the New York Yankees are the world's highest-paid players in a team sport, beating out Spain's Real Madrid soccer team, which came in second. The Yankees players had an average salary in 2009 of about $7 million, while the average salary for Madrid players was $6.3 million. Following in third place was Madrid rival Barcelona, and Premier League club Chelsea was fourth. The next seven teams in the Review of Global Sports Salaries study were all NBA teams, with the Dallas Mavericks fifth and Los Angeles Lakers sixth.

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

ON THE TUBE TODAY

CBS

• HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (repeat)
• RULES OF ENGAGEMENT - Jeff begrudgingly agrees to go to couple's therapy; Russell falls for Timmy's fiancee.
• TWO AND A HALF MEN (repeat)
• THE BIG BANG THEORY (repeat)
• CSI: MIAMI (repeat)

NBC

• CHUCK - Casey, Morgan and Awesome try to help Chuck win Sarah back.
• TRAUMA - Glenn and Nancy are caught in the crossfire when San Francisco is taken hostage by a sniper; Boone tries to get used to Tyler's new paramedic status.
• LAW & ORDER - When Dr. Oscar Silva, an environmental scientist, is poisoned, Lupo and Bernard suspect competitors from Silva's field of study.

FOX

• HOUSE (repeat)
• 24 - As the threat of mass destruction clarifies, President Taylor tasks Jack with a crucial mission.

ABC

• DANCING WITH THE STARS - All the contestants return to perform for a second time.
• CASTLE - The serial killer, still at large, taunts Castle, Beckett and Shaw to catch him.

CW

• LIFE UNEXPECTED - Lux faces her feelings for Jones when she sees him kissing another girl at a party; when a storm hits, Lux and Ryan get stranded at the radio station.
• GOSSIP GIRL - Chuck is again at odds with Jack Bass; Eleanor puts Blair in charge of making sure the fashion show is a success; Jenny finds out that Agnes will be one of the models.

FX

• DAMAGES - Patty's clients want her thrown off the Tobin case; Tom makes a risky move that jeopardizes Ellen's job with the DA.

SHOWTIME

• NURSE JACKIE - A family is sent home with false hope; Jackie covers for O'Hara.
• THE UNITED STATES OF TARA - Tara keeps her condition a secret; Max decides to flip the house.

TNT

• SAVING GRACE - (season premiere) Grace decides to have it out with God, but a mysterious stranger has something to say about it; Ham struggles with his father not that's he's dating his brother's widow.

USA

• WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW - (LIVE, 9 PM) WrestleMania results.

DAY TIME TALK SHOW

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW - (repeat)
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW - Legendary Sex Symbol Raquel Welch on Aging Brilliantly
THE VIEW - (repeat)

LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS) - Robin Williams, American Idol castoff Paige Miles, Usher
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO (NBC) - Lauren Graham, Karl Rove, Joss Stone
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (ABC) - Elizabeth Mitchell, Liam Hemsworth, Kevin Nealon
THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON (CBS) - Joel McHale, Ben McKenzie
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON (NBC) - Jeff Goldblum, Julian Casablancas
LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY (NBC) - (repeat)
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Ben Stiller
THE COLBERT REPORT (COMEDY CENTRAL) - Sen. Claire McCaskill
LOPEZ TONIGHT - Snoop Dogg, Annie Wersching, Foreigner

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

ROBBER TRIES TO DUCT TAPE SHOES: A man from Michigan, who fastened duct tape to the bottom of his shoes to conceal a robbery, was arrested after being spotted by the police. According to the Manistee County Sheriff officials, the 18-year-old admitted to robbing an All Star Pay Day Loans on Thursday. Police said he was wearing dark clothing and carrying $1,200 in cash. He faces charges including breaking and entering with intent. (AP)

DRUNK DRIVER CALLS 911 ON HERSELF: A 27-year-old woman from East Lansing, Michigan was arrested for drunk driving after having a 20 min. conversation with the 911 dispatcher. According to a recording of the March 13th call, the dispatcher asks the woman if she is intoxicated in which she replied ''Absolutely.'' She also told the dispatcher that she shouldn't be driving. The dispatcher helped officers find the woman, who was issued a citation for operating while intoxicated. She faces up to 90 days in jail. (AP)

MAN TRIES TO RESUSCITATE A DEAD OPOSSUM: A Pennsylvania man was charged with public drunkenness after he was found trying to revive a dead opossum on the highway. According to State Police Trooper, Jamie Levier, several witnesses saw 55-year-old Donald Wolfe near the animal along Route 36. The trooper found Wolfe kneeling before the animal and moving his hands as though he were conducting a seance. Another witness saw Wolfe try to give the opossum mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The animal had been dead for a while. (AP)

THIEF NABBED AFTER ASKING OFFICERS FOR DIRECTIONS: A Utah man who was accused of stealing two phones from a convenience store was arrested after asking the investigating officer for directions. According to police, John White matched a description a convenience store clerk had given to officers. The address White was asking directions for turned out to be the same one the officer was checking out. He was arrested after the police found both phones and a small amount of marijuana. Police say charges are pending. (AP)

ON THIS DATE!

Coca-Cola was created in 1886 -- mixed up over a fire in a backyard in Atlanta by a man named John Pemberton. John made Coca-Cola as a medicine to cure stomach aches, headaches and hangovers. Yes, it's true that cocaine was a very small ingredient of the beverage until Congress banned it in 1904.

• 12 million gallons of Coke are consumed around the world each day.
• Coca-Cola was originally green in color.
• Iceland consumes more Coca-Cola per capita than any other.
• It costs Coca Cola more to buy its can than to make than the drink itself.
• Ten billion plastic Coca Cola containers distributed worldwide each year.
• The 3 most valuable brand names on earth are Marlboro, Coca-Cola and Budweiser, in that order.
• Coca-Cola was advertised as "Good To The Last Drop" in 1907 way before Maxwell House Coffee started using it.

On this date in 1943, World War II meat rationing begun. This, of course, inspired the sales of Spam as that's about as far away from meat as you can possibly get. In 1968, over 3,000 hippies took over New York City's Grand Central Station. With that large of an un-washed crowd, it wasn't long untilthe place smelled like... well, Grand Central Station.

DID YOU KNOW?

LEARNING A SPORT IS GOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN: Taking up a new sport can build both body and mind. According to German researchers at the University of Regensburg, the hand-eye coordination involved in learning a new sport or activity helps develop the brain, making changes to its physiology that might continue for years. They reached this conclusion by examining brain scans of test subjects before, during and after they had begun to learn how to juggle. Researchers not only saw brain development resulting from the new activity, they also detected new paths of communication between different areas of the brain. (AskMen.com)PUT YOUR FEELINGS IN A BOX TO FEEL BETTER: Stashing your feelings away really does make you feel better -- of course, you have to do it literally. According to a recent study, the physical act of enclosing something you associate with an unpleasant experience inside a box or an envelope actually helps provide closure. (Lemondrop.com)

WEBSITE LOOKS FOR UGLY SPOKESPERSON: New dating site network Gotham Dating Partners launched a site for all the non-beautiful people in the world -- UglyPeopleDate.com. The site's tag line "you are only as ugly as you feel" is adorned with attractive model types looking sunny and in love. Now Gotham Dating Partners is on the hunt for the perfect "ugly" spokesmodel to represent its users. The position pays $5,000. When asked what the spokesmodel should look like, CEO Aaron Fraser only said "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and it's really "up to the viewer to decide." (YourTango.com)

TEENS ARE BUILT TO TAKE RISKS: Teenagers are programmed to take risks because they enjoy the thrill of dangerous situations more than others, according to British scientists. The findings may explain why adolescents engage in activities like drug-taking, fighting and unsafe sex. "The onset of adolescence marks an explosion in 'risky' activities - from dangerous driving, unsafe sex and experimentation with alcohol, to poor dietary habits and physical inactivity," said Sarah-Jayne Blakemore of University College London's Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, a co-author of the study. The results suggest teenagers are good at weighing up the pros and cons of their decisions - unlike younger children - but take risks because they enjoy the thrill of a risky situation more than other age groups, especially when they have a lucky escape. The riskiest behavior was seen in 14-year olds.

BUTT BRA AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE: A California psychologist says she has invented a strappy device that lifts a woman's butt like a bra lifts her breasts. The creation of Dr. Karin Hart's "Biniki" butt lifter was sparked by Hart's dissatisfaction with her own rear view after losing weight, the New York Daily News reports. Hart started using self-adhesive tape to lift her buttocks under clothing. When women at the gym inquired about her handiwork, the idea for the Biniki was born. The Web address is www.biniki-fashions.com

IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION

Which one of Vince Vaughn's exes -- besides Jennifer Aniston -- appeared with him in The Break-Up?

A: Joey Lauren Adams.

Wikipedia reports the two dated during the filming of 1999's A Cool, Dry Place

White House Party Crashers Get Role on Upcoming 'Real Housewives of D.C.'

Michaele and Tareq Salahi, who were in the headlines for days after crashing a White House state dinner in November, have been cast in the upcoming Bravo reality TV series The Real Housewives of D.C., according to their media representative. The Salahis were auditioning for the show when they crashed the state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, even getting their picture taken with President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Washington Post and CNN media analyst Howard Kurtz said yesterday (March 28th), "I guess the moral of the story is, gate-crashing pays. This is a naked attempt by Bravo to cash in on the notoriety and controversy surrounding the Salahis, and guess what: It's probably going to work."

First Male Prostitute Leaves Nevada Brothel

The country's first legal male prostitute has left the Shady Lady Ranch brothel in rural Nevada after a two-month stint in which he had fewer than 10 customers. The 25-year-old man dubbed the "prostitude" who worked under the name Markus was hired after the Shady Lady won state and country approval to hire a male sex worker. Bobbi Davis, the brothel co-owner who also runs it as a madam, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Markus' departure was a mutual decision, and that a replacement has already been hired. She said, "We're going to try it for a while longer." The Shady Lady's main focus remains female prostitutes who have sex with men.

What are the Unhealthiest Foods at the Mall?

It's a pretty safe bet that no-one expects to find healthy food at the mall, but people may not realize just how bad some of what they eat there is for them. David Zinczenko of Men's Health magazine did a round-up of some of the unhealthiest foods that are found in the average American shopping mall.

• Worst Drink: Jamba Juice Peanut Butter Moo'd (22 ounce) -- 770 calories, 20 grams of fat, and 108 grams of sugar
• Worst Slice of Pizza: Sbarro Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza (1 slice) -- 890 calories, 42 grams of fat, and 3,200 milligrams of sodium
• Worst Chinese Meal: Panda Express Orange Chicken with Fried Rice -- 970 calories, 38 grams of fat, and 1,540 milligrams of sodium
• Worst Sandwich: Panera Bread Full Chipotle Chicken on Artisan French -- 990 calories, 56 grams of fat, and 2,370 milligrams of sodium

And finally, the absolute Worst Mall Food in America -- a Cinnabon Regular Caramel Pecanbun, which has a whopping 1,100 calories, 56 grams of fat, and 47 grams of sugar. But Cinnabon is after all the ultimate mall food, and Zinczenko has some advice if you just can't resist that wafting scent of cinnamon goodness -- go for the Cinnabon Stix, which have a relatively modest 379 calories, 21 grams of fat and 14 grams of sugar.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Lady Antebellum returns to the top of the all-genre Billboard 200 chart this week with Need You Now. This is the third time they've held that coveted position since the CD was released back in January. So far, the project has spent four weeks in the Number One spot, and has sold more than 1.5 million copies.

Also this week, the album's title track becomes the fastest-rising country crossover, topping Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart in only 10 weeks. "Need You Now" is the second country song in the chart's history to hit the Number One spot. The first was Faith Hill's "Breathe" in 2000.

Lady A also sits at the top of Billboard's Country Digital Sales chart with "Need You Now," which has been downloaded nearly 2.8 times to date.

• The video has spent five weeks at Number One on the CMT Top 20 Countdown, and now it has also reached the top spot on VH1's Top 20 Countdown this week.
• Lady A is in Canada this week performing a string of dates on Tim McGraw's Southern Voice tour. They play in Calgary on Saturday (March 27th).
• Their first show back in the U.S. is on April 8th in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

FAST FACTS

• Lady A will perform live on the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18th. The show airs on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.
• They are nominated for seven awards this year, including Album of the Year, Top Vocal Group, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Need You Now."

Carrie Underwood showed her Canadian pride during her show in Ottawa on Wednesday (March 34th) night. She paid tribute to her fiance, NHL player Mike Fisher, by sporting his Ottawa Senators jersey during the encore.

Carrie opened the show and greeted the crowd of 10,000 by saying, "So I guess I can kind of consider this my hometown," according to the Ottawa Citizen.

Security guards told the newspaper that Mike and about 100 of his closest friends and family members accompanied him to the concert.

At the end of her album cut, "Mama's Song," a picture of Carrie and Mike flashed on the screen as the crowd cheered. Carrie asked, "Wasn't that cute?"

Later in the concert, a fan screamed out, "I love Mike Fisher!," to which Carrie replied, "No, I love Mike Fisher."

• Carrie became engaged to Mike in late December after dating for nearly a year. The two plan to marry this summer.
• Her Play On tour hits the stage at the Sun National Bank Center tonight (Friday, March 26th) in Trenton, New Jersey.
• Carrie is set to perform on the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18th in Las Vegas.
• There, she is also nominated for Entertainer, Top Female Vocalist, Album of the Year for Play On, Vocal Event with Randy Travis for "I Told You So" and Song of the Year for "Cowboy Casanova."

Easton Corbin charts his very first Number One single this week with "A Little More Country Than That." The feat makes Easton the first country male solo artist to achieve that with a debut single since 2003. His self-titled debut album was released earlier this month.

• Easton will perform "A Little More Country Than That" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on April 1st. The show airs on NBC at 12:35 a.m. ET.
• Easton will be part of Brad Paisley's H20 World tour this year, which kicks off on May 21st in Virginia Beach, Virginia and continues through September 24th in Salt Lake City, Utah.

FAST FACTS

• Easton made his debut appearance on the Grand Ole Opry last Saturday (March 20th).
• The Florida native is an avid hunter and fisher.

Martina McBride's three daughters have spent their lives growing up in the music business, hanging out in recording studios and watching their mom entertain thousands at every tour stop. It seems only natural they they would want to follow in Martina's footsteps, but she tells us the girls show no interest in being singers. "I try to provide them with as many opportunities as I can to experience all kinds of stuff and hopefully they'll find their passion like I found my passion when I was a kid, which was singing, but I can't get any of them to sing. They're great singers. They can sing. I mean, I have one daughter that is every bit as good as I was at her age. She can sing amazingly but she won't sing in front of people, and that's her choice right now."

Martina says her girls are used to people assuming they are destined for a career in music. "It's interesting. Delaney said to me the other day, 'You know, the first question people, when they find out I'm your daughter, the second question they ask is me is "Do you sing?" (laughs) So, you know, I think they kind of feel the pressure of it being expected of them, too, which of course as a child you're gonna rebel against."

• Martina has teamed up with myspace.com to help decide the musical fate of a complete stranger with a karaoke contest. Fans can post video of themselves singing Martina's songs online at http://ksolo.myspace.com/music/Martina-McBride. Twenty entries will be selected by myspace and Martina will pick the winner, who will receive travel, accommodations and tickets to see her Shine All Night tour stop in Atlanta on May 1st.
• Martina is also giving fans the chance to win tickets through scavenger hunts on Twitter.com. (@MartinaMcBride).
• The Shine All Night tour with co-headliner Trace Adkins plays in St. Louis tonight (Friday, March 26th).

Josh Turner prides himself on being a "normal" guy. He tells us he often seeks out everyday, average places to go where he can be inspired by the same people who are buying his CDs and coming to his concerts. "When you get outside of Music Row, and especially outside of the big city, you find out what normalcy is, you know? It's people workin' hard for a dollar, it's workin' paycheck to paycheck, not havin' alot, and it's just always good for me to kind of go back and hit the reset button and say, 'Okay, here's my priorities. These are the people that I'm singin' to every night.'"

As a writer and performer who wants to be able to relate to his audience, Josh says the worst thing he can do is buy into the celebrity lifestyle that goes with being a successful entertainer. "When I go to places like that I try to use those experiences to help me create music, because I think if you get caught up in the fame and the money and the success and all that kind of stuff, it's kind of hard to draw inspiration from a lot of that. I think when you get down to the nitty gritty and down to where the real normal people are, I think that's when you really discover the heart and soul of America."

• Josh recently topped the country charts for four weeks with his single, "Why Don't We Just Dance."
• His new single, "All Over Me," is headed to radio soon.
• Josh will open for Alan Jackson on his Freight Train tour, which kicks off on April 8th in Estero, Florida.

Rascal Flatts will make a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida this weekend to tape an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. They will perform their current hit, "Unstoppable," on the show, which is set to air on April 2nd.

Sugarland is back in the studio working on their upcoming album, scheduled for release this fall. Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles have posted a video on their facebook page to give fans a behind the scenes look at the making of the record. Click here to watch: http://tinyurl.com/yamlek3

Lonestar is scheduled to perform during the QVC Presents Q Sessions Live broadcast on March 31st at 6 p.m. ET. The group's new album, called Party Heard Around The World, won't be released until April 27th, but fans can pre-order the CD during the QVC broadcast. In addition, those fans will receive a special bonus disc created especially for QVC featuring six of the band's Number One hits.

Kellie Pickler has made the decision to end her fan club. The singer announced on her website that she is going to make changes that will actually benefit her loyal followers. In her letter to fans, Kellie wrote, "I want to thank you all for being such special fans and let you know that I've decided to make some changes to my website and fan club. We're moving to a new website home in April . . . Part of the website changes will give you greater access to music, photos, videos and message boards. I have felt for awhile that everyone should have access to these features without having to pay for it as a fan club member. So, as part of the website changes, we're closing the Official Fan Club. I'm really excied about this new direction and that everyone can afford to be part of it!"

• Kellie's new site at kelliepickler.com will launch in late April. The existing fan club will officially close on April 30th.
• Current members will receive a pro-rated refund on the remaining months of membership.
• Kellie continues on the road with Taylor Swift as part of her Fearless tour. They play tonight (Friday, March 26th) and Saturday (March 27th) night in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Selena Gomez is one of the latest artists added to the 2010 Lilith Tour line-up. Also -- organizers have announced venue and date details for six more cities on the touring festival, including San Diego, Los Angeles and Denver. Tickets for the new dates go on sale on April 3rd via LilithFair.com and LiveNation.com.

• This year's festival will feature Martina McBride, Kelly Clarkson, the Go Go's, Sheryl Crow, Colbie Caillat, Mary J. Blige, Norah Jones, Suzanne Vega, Jill Scott and others.
• Lilith founder Sarah McLachlan performed with Emmylou Harris last night (Thursday, March 25th) on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• McLachlan will release her new album, The Laws of Illusion, on June 15th.
• Lilith 2010 tour dates (subject to change):
  June 27 - Calgary, AB - McMahon Stadium
  June 28 - Edmonton, AB - Northlands Spectrum
  July 1 - Vancouver, BC - Pitt Meadows
  July 2 - Portland, OR - The Amphitheatre at Clark County
  July 3 - Seattle, WA - The Gorge Amphitheatre
  July 7 - San Diego, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
  July 10 - Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
  July 13 - Denver, CO - Comfort Dental
  July 17 - Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
  July 20 - Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
  July 24 - Toronto, ON - Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
  July 27 - Cleveland, OH - Blossom Music Center
  August 8 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Amphitheatre
  August 10 - W. Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre

CHECK IT OUT: For a list of artsts performing at each venue: http://www.lilithfair.com/tour

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. Keith Urban was a member of what mid-1990's country band?
A. The Ranch

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

CMT CROSSROADS/CMT 10:00AM (ET)
Jimmy Buffett, Zac Brown Band

CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN/CMT 11:00AM (ET)
Alan Jackson

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 12:00PM (ET)
Blake Shelton, Sarah Buxton

SOUNDSTAGE/GAC 2:00PM (ET)
Travis Tritt, Nickel Creek

TOP 20 COUNTRY COUNTDOWN/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Alan Jackson, Keith Urban

BROKEN BRIDGES/CMT 9:00PM (ET)
Toby Keith

ON THE STREETS/GAC 10:30PM (ET)
Kellie Pickler, The Grascals

BEER FOR MY HORSES/CMT 11:15PM (ET)
Toby Keith

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS TODAY!

Kenny Chesney (42)

• Alan Arkin (actor, Catch-22, Sesame Street, Edward Scissorhands, Glengarry Glen Ross, Little Miss Sunshine) (76)
• James Caan (actor, Dick Tracy, The Godfather, Misery, Mickey Blue Eyes) (70)
• Leeza Gibbons (talk show hostess, Robocop) (53)
• Keira Knightley (actress, Bend It Like Beckham, the Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy, Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, The Duchess) (25)
• Jennifer Grey (Actress, Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller's Day Off) (50)
• Vicki Lawrence (Actress, The Carol Burnett Show, Laverne & Shirley) (61)
• Leonard Nimoy (Actor, Star Trek's Mr. Spock) (79)
• T.R. Knight (actor, George on Grey's Anatomy) (37)
• Sandra Day O'Connor (former Supreme Court Justice) (80)
• Diana Ross (singer, formerly of the Supremes) (66)
• Johnny Crawford ("Rumors") (64)
• Nancy Pelosi (Democratic House Speaker, the first woman in U.S. history to hold the position) (70)
• Michael Imperioli (actor and screenwriter, The Sopranos, Life on Mars) (44)
• Martin Short (Actor, Father Of The Bride, Innerspace, The Three Amigos!) (60)
• Bob Woodward (Journalist who uncovered the Watergate story for the Washington Post along with Carl Bernstein) (67)
• Steven Tyler (lead singer, Aerosmith) (62)
• Richard Tandy (keyboardist, the Electric Light Orchestra) (62)
• Amy Smart (actress, Varsity Blues, Road Trip, Crank) (34)

CELEBRITY GOSSIP!

SANJAYA GETS A TICKET: Former American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar was issued a $411 ticket after police caught him speeding in Washington state. Trooper Dan MacDonald told The Seattle Times there was no one else on the freeway at the time so Malakar does not face a reckless endangerment charge for going 110 mph.

OLIVER HUDSON'S BABY NAME REVEALED: Goldie Hawn's new grandson is named Bodhi Hawn Hudson. Oliver Hudson and wife Erin Bartlett confirmed the name to People magazine. Hawn announced the birth last week via Twitter, writing, "Hurray! Baby BOY born to my son Oliver and his beautiful wife Erinn TODAY. So happy! A new life! I'm Dancin my happy dance!"

DOCTORS SUBPEONAS ISSUED IN COREY HAIM CASE: Nearly 20 doctors received subpoenas earlier this week in connection with the Corey Haim death investigation. TMZ.com reports that the names of the doctors appeared on various prescriptions written for Haim and are located in towns all around Southern California. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that seven of the doctors say they never saw Corey Haim or prescribed medications for him. Investigators believe the prescriptions for those seven may be linked to the fraudulent prescription ring currently under investigation by the State Attorney General.

'GOSSIP GIRL' DINNER CONFRONTATION: A diner in New York has accused Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick of throwing him out of a restaurant after mistaking him for a paparazzo. The man -- who says he was only taking pictures of his own table -- told the New York Daily News, "Ed came over and was like, 'Stop taking my picture!' He started shouting obscenities at me and getting in my face. He was all bitter and s**t. I thought it was a joke. He walked off in a cloud of disgust. I went over to him and asked him who he thought he was, and he dissolved into a fit of rage." He added, "Ed was snickering in the corner, because the people he was with had told the staff that I was paparazzi. So I paid my bill, and I left." A representative for Westwick admits the star dined at the restaurant, but said "there was no altercation."

TIGER WOODS TO SPEAK AGAIN AT MASTERS TOURNAMENT

Disgraced golfer Tiger Woods is easing back into the media spotlight as he attempts to get his career back on track. On Thursday (March 25th), it was revealed that Woods will speak at a press conference on Monday, April 5th, at the kickoff to the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he is set to make his return to the sport after dealing with the fallout of his sex scandal.

• The press conference, his first in five months, will put him in a room with a full crush of reporters for the first time since he crashed his SUV into a tree outside his Florida home on November 27th, setting off a wave of revelations about his rampant infidelity.
• Since the news of his affairs broke, Woods has avidly avoided the media, handpicking supporters to be present at his public apology back on February 19th and taking no questions. Last week he gave brief, five-minute interviews to two sports media outlets. He and wife Elin Nordergen also issued an apology to the parents of his children's schoolmates for the media circus his scandal created at their school.

SIDE NOTES

• According to ESPN.com, the Monday press conference at the Masters typically features a less-newsworthy golfer because most of the media and players have not yet arrived.
• Woods' last professional press conference was held on November 15th, after he won the Australian Masters in Melbourne, his 82nd career victory.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

AIDAN RETURNING TO 'SEX AND THE CITY': John Corbett, who played Carrie Bradshaw's one-time fiance Aidan Shaw in the Sex and the City series, will appear in the upcoming movie sequel. He revealed to Ellen DeGeneres, "I felt really bad because for the last six months every time somebody said, are you in this movie? I had to lie about it. I just found out I'm going to be in the trailer so I get to break the news . . . Aiden gets to come back to Sex and the City." He didn't elaborate on any plot details.

SHOWTIME RENEWS 'NURSE JACKIE' AND 'UNITED STATES OF TARA': Showtime has ordered a third season of both Nurse Jackie and the United States of Tara. Nurse Jackie's recent season premiere was up 14 percent from the previous years, while Tara was on par with its first season debut.

RICKY GERVAIS ON 'CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM'? Larry David has asked Ricky Gervais to appear on the next season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. While neither David nor HBO have confirmed that Curb will return for an eighth season, Larry's slip seems to be a good indicator. HBO recently picked up The Ricky Gervais Show for a second season.

'AMERICAN IDOL' READY TO GO OFF THE AIR?

Rumor has it that the next season of American Idol could also be the last. Star magazine claims that with both Paula and Simon gone -- the show isn't going to work.

A source said, "Producers know Simon really makes the show, and they feel like they could go only one season without him and the quality will suffer after that."

Another insider added, "By (2012), the show will have been on the air for more than a decade, and the producers figure that's long enough . . . That's the reason why FOX is planning to conclude the show in three years, and why they've signed host Ryan Seacrest to a new contract for three years."

• Fox supposedly isn't too concerned about its top show going off the air because Cowell's upcoming series The X Factor will be able to fill the void.

SARAH PALIN'S ALASKA SERIES TO AIR ON TLC

Sarah Palin's upcoming television series will air on TLC -- the same network that brought you Jon and Kate Gosselin. Mark Burnett is producing Sarah Palin's Alaska, an eight-part series about the former governor's home state.

Palin said in a statement, "Our family enjoys Discovery's networks. I look forward to working with Mark to bring the wonder and majesty of Alaska to all Americans."

• The Associated Press reported that TLC's parent company, Discovery Communications, won a bidding war against A&E for the series. Palin will reportedly be making between $1 million and $1.5 million per episode.
• A premiere date has not yet been confirmed.

NEXT SEASON OF 'THE HILLS' IS ALSO THE LAST

The upcoming season of The Hills will be the show's last. MTV announced that the popular MTV reality series will be going off the air after six seasons.

Tony DiSanto, president of programming at MTV, said, "We are lucky and honored to have worked with this cast and tell their stories for this long, and we are grateful to the many dedicated fans who have stuck with us over the years. We owe it to those fans, the cast and the show to go out on a high note. And this season will deliver on that goal in terms of drama, story, real emotion and an organic culmination of this saga."

• The final 12 episodes, kicking off on April 27th, will feature storylines including Audrina Patridge's relationship with Ryan Cabrera, Heidi Montag's plastic surgery and Kristin Cavallari's drug-use rumors.

MORE WOMEN CLAIM AFFAIRS WITH JESSE JAMES

Two more women have come forward claiming that they slept with Jesse James while he was married to Sandra Bullock. TMZ.com reports that photographer Brigitte Daguerre says she was hired in 2008 to do a photo shoot for James' West Coast Chopper shop and, after a series of racy texts, she and James ended up having four sexual encounters.

• TMZ claims that Daguerre's saved text messages show James wanted to have more trysts, but supposedly things stopped between the two after their fourth romp.

MISTRESS #4 BRINGS IN GLORIA ALLRED

Meanwhile, RadarOnline.com reports that a fourth mistress, who is remaining anonymous for the meantime, has hired attorney Gloria Allred -- who famously represented several of Tiger's mistresses -- in the wake of the scandal.

Allred told RadarOnlne.com, "I represent a beautiful model and businesswoman. She had a three year intimate relationship with Jesse James."

She added, "He pursued her and had strong feeling for her. She is in the process of trying to decide if she will come forward. She has proof of their relationship including hundreds of text messages, emails and photos. The relationship JUST RECENTLY ENDED after the scandal broke."

• Daguerre and mystery mistress number four join tattooed strippers Melissa Smith and Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, who allegedly had affairs with James.

JESSE MAKES CITIZEN'S ARREST

In other news, Jesse and a photographer he accuses of stalking made private person's arrests on each other on Thursday (March 25th). GossipCop.com reports that the photographer called police to say James had vandalized his property and when cops arrived at the scene, the photographer and James made mutual citizen's arrests. The charges are misdemeanors. There will be a police investigation, but neither man was taken into custody.

PAULA ABDUL HEADED TO BROADWAY?

Forget all of the Paula Abdul TV rumors -- the latest gossip is that she's headed to Broadway. RadarOnline.com claims that the former American Idol judge will make her Broadway debut in the 2008 Tony Award winning musical, In The Heights.

An insider told the website, "Paula will take over for Priscilla Lopez in one of the leading roles. It's always been Abdul's dream to star on Broadway. Paula has been in talks with producers for several weeks and made a special overnight trip to New York on March 17 just to see the successful Broadway show."

• High School Musical producer Kenny Ortega -- whose name was mentioned along with Abdul's in a supposed mob flash dance TV project -- is reportedly behind Abdul's Broadway gig. The source said, "Seems as if Ortega wants Paula involved in this project. Ortega is hot to have her choreograph the film version."

ANGELINA JOLIE AND KATE GOSSELIN NAMED ON CONTROVERSIAL MOM LIST

Angelina Jolie is being likened to Kate Gosselin and Octomom Nadya Suleman. Babble.com came out with a "Most Controversial Moms" list, on which Suleman and Gosselin occupy the first two spots. Jolie comes in at number nine.

Jolie's inclusion on the controversial list may be balanced by her placement as number two on the site's "Best Mom" rankings. Even though Babble.com notes it's "easy to despise someone like Angelina Jolie" -- it explains Jolie got the title because of her work as a UNCHR Goodwill Ambassador, $1 million donation to Haiti with Brad Pitt and for supporting an orphanage in Amman, Jordan.

• Michelle Obama was named the number one best mom, and the top five was rounded out by Tina Fey, Jennifer Garner and Reese Witherspoon.

JON GOSSELIN REPORTEDLY DUMPED AGAIN

Jon Gosselin is reportedly single again. In Touch magazine claims that 25-year-old Morgan Christie dumped the former reality star after five months of dating.

A source told the magazine, "They were so into each other at first; he put on the whole show for her family just like he did with Hailey Glassman and her parents. It was five months of his pure laziness and her mounting frustration. She couldn't take it anymore. He was lying around all day long, not contributing to anything and not working."

• The insider added, "He doesn't even have his own friends. He even mooched his social life off of her."

MOVIE OPENING TODAY!

Opening today (March 26th) is the new comedy, Hot Tub Time Machine, starring John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry and Cripson Glover. The films follows four pals who get a chance to change their past after a night of heavy drinking in a hot tub leads to them waking up in 1986.

• Hot Tub Time Machine is rated R and has a running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Opening today (March 26th) is the new animated film, How to Train You Dragon, with Jay Baruchel, America Ferrara, Gerard Butler and Jonah Hill lending their voices. The film, set in a mythical Viking town, fillows Hiccup, a Viking teenager, who learns he can be friends with a dragon, instead of fighting it, and tries to show the rest of the world his point of view.

• How to Train You Dragon is rated PG and has a running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes.

HEADLINE NEWS!!

HEALTH CARE REFORM "FIX" MEASURE APPROVED BY CONGRESS: The health care reform effort reached its final conclusion yesterday (March 25th) as Congress approved the "fix" measure demanded by House Democrats before they'd vote for the main legislation that they passed last Sunday (March 21st) and that President Obama signed into law two days later. The Senate voted 56-43 for the legislation, after two minor items were pulled out because the Senate parliamentarian said they violated the rules for reconciliation, the process Democrats used that required only a simple majority vote. Because of those two changes, the "fix" measure was sent back to the House that had approved it on Sunday, and it voted for it once again in a 220-207 vote. It now goes to Obama for his signature.

BIN LADEN THREATENS U.S. OVER KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED: Osama bin Laden threatened in a new audio message out yesterday (March 25th) to kill any Americans al-Qaida captures if the U.S. executes Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-professed mastermind of 9/11 attacks, or other al-Qaida suspects. Mohammed, the most senior al-Qaida operative in U.S. custody, was captured in Pakistan in 2003. He's currently being held at Guantanamo Bay, and the Obama administration is still considering whether to try him and four fellow plotters in a military tribunal or in civilian court. Bin Laden addressed Americans, saying, "The White House has expressed its desire to execute them. The day America makes that decision will be the day it has issued a death sentence for any one of you that is taken captive." Al-Qaida is not known to be holding any Americans.

MILITARY TO EASE ENFORCEMENT OF 'DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL': Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced new rules yesterday (March 25th) to ease enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving opening in the military, saying they reflect, quote, "common sense and common decency." The new guidelines, which are going into effect immediately as the military is conducting a review about repealing the ban, is meant to keep "don't ask, don't tell" from being used to launch witch hunts or settle grudges, tightening the rules for evidence when someone reports that a soldier is gay and putting higher-ranking officers in charge of dismissal proceedings. Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen both support President Obama's desire to repeal "don't ask, don't tell," but want to move slowly to ensure the changes won't hurt the military's effectiveness.

TODAY'S FYI:

MCCAIN AND PALIN TOGETHER AGAIN TODAY: Arizona Senator John McCain and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will be back on the campaign trail together again today (March 26th) for the first time since they lost the presidential election in November 2008. Palin will be campaigning for McCain, who plucked her from virtual obscurity to be his vice presidential running mate, as he faces the toughest re-election battle of his Senate career. McCain is facing a Republican primary challenge from the right from conservative former congressman and radio talk show host J.D. Hayworth, and Palin will help boost McCain's conservative credentials. The two will appear at a rally today in Tucson and hold a fundraiser in Phoenix, and then do another rally Saturday in Mesa.

EX-BUSH SPEECHWRITER LOSES JOB AFTER SLAMMING GOP HEALTH REFORM STRATEGY: David Frum, the former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, has been forced out as a resident fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank, just days after criticizing how the Republicans handled the health care reform legislation. Frum made clear that his departure wasn't voluntary, but the Washington Post reported he also said, quote, "there was no suggestion by AEI" that his criticism was the reason. After Congress approved the health care reform legislation Sunday (March 22nd), Frum wrote on his website that it was the biggest defeat in decades for the GOP, saying, "A huge part of the blame for today's disaster attaches to conservatives and Republicans ourselves. At the beginning of this process we made a strategic decision . . . we would make no deal with the administration. No negotiations, no compromise, nothing. We were going for all the marbles. This would be Obama's Waterloo . . . This time, when we went for all the marbles, we ended with none."

DESIGN REVEALED FOR EISENHOWER MEMORIAL IN D.C.: The design for a planned memorial in Washington, D.C., to former President Dwight Eisenhower was revealed yesterday (March 25th). Well-known architect Frank Gehry's design includes 13 columns that are 80 feet tall and 12 feet in diameter as well as woven metal tapestries of photos. There will also be representations of Eisenhower in stone reliefs that will sit in a small garden between columns, and blocks with Eisenhower quotes carved into them. Planning for the memorial began more than a decade ago, and the site in the National Mall area near the National Air and Space Museum was chosen in 2006. Some $80 million in funding and the approval of federal agencies is needed before the memorial can be completed, with a target finish date of 2015.

GUARDIAN ANGELS CHAPTER BEING STARTED ON INDIAN RESERVATION: Tribal leaders at the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana are starting a chapter of the Guardian Angels to deal with growing gang violence, in what will be the first-ever chapter of the citizens' crime-watch group on an Indian reservation. The Guardian Angels -- who are known for their red berets -- began in the South Bronx in the 1970s; there are now chapters in 14 countries and 140 cities. The Fort Peck chapter will start training about 50 recruits on the 3,200-square-mile reservation, which is home to 6,000 members of the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes.

HARRY POTTER THEME PARK TO OPEN ON JUNE 18TH: Universal Orlando announced yesterday (March 25th) that its much-anticipated Harry Potter theme park, based on the best-selling series of books by J.K. Rowling, will open on June 18th. Universal says that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter park-within-a-park will have scenery, attractions and souvenirs that are faithful to the books, including spots like the Three Broomsticks Restaurant -- which will serve butter beer and pumpkin juice -- the Owlery, and Ollivander's Wand Shop. The park's signature ride will be Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which starts in Hogwart's Castle and will run through Professor Dumbledore's office, the Gryffindor common room and the Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom, before soaring over the castle grounds and bringing riders face-to-face with creatures including the Hungarian Horntail, an Acromantula, Dementors, and the Whomping Willow.

SPORTS:

HALF OF ELITE EIGHT SET: Half of the final Elite Eight teams in the NCAA men's basketball tournament are set after four games were played yesterday (March 25th):

• Second-seeded Kansas State defeated sixth-seeded Xavier 101-96 in a thrilling game that went into a second overtime.
• Fifth-seeded Butler upset top-seeded Syracuse 63-59.
• Top-seeded Kentucky defeated 12th-seeded Cornell 62-45, ending the Ivy League team's Cinderella run.
• Second-seeded West Virginia beat 11th seeded Washington 69-56.

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

ON THE TUBE TODAY & THIS WEEKEND!

Friday, March 26, 2010
CBS

• COLLEGE BASKETBALL - NCAA Tournament, Regional Semifinal: Teams TBA
• COLLEGE BASKETBALL - NCAA Tournament, Regional Semifinal: Teams TBA

NBC

• WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? - Matthew Broderick looks into his family history and inadvertently helps historians solve a 150-year-old mystery.
• DATELINE NBC - Investigative journalism.

FOX

• HOUSE (repeat)
• KITCHEN NIGHTMARES - Chef Ramsay tries to help improve a family fun restaurant in Boca Raton, Florida but is frustrated by the owner's resistance to change.

ABC

• JAMIE OLIVER'S FOOD REVOLUTION (repeat)
• JAMIE OLIVER'S FOOD REVOLUTION - Jamie takes one step forward and two steps back in his quest to transform the school lunch program in Huntington, West Virginia, as he faces resistance from the school cook and city administrators.
• 20/20 - An interview with Marcus Schrenker, who tried to fake his own death; actor Steve Sipek shares his Florida home with more than 100 animals.

CW

• AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (repeat)
• FLY GIRLS (repeat)
• HIGH SOCIETY (repeat)

HBO

• THE RICKY GERVAIS SHOW - TBA
• THE LIFE & TIMES OF TIM - Tim, Stu and Rodney spend a night out at a jazz club; Amy's co-worker has buyer's remorse after purchasing Tim's favorite Irish bar.
• REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER - Journalist Christopher Hitchens; musician Rob Thomas; Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers; comic Jeff Garlin; journalist Ezra Klein.

DAY TIME TALK SHOW

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW - (repeat)
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW - Ryan Seacrest and Super Chef Jamie Oliver Team Up
THE VIEW - Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Paula Deen

LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS) - (repeat)
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO (NBC) - Craig T. Nelson, Rumer Willis, Ludacris
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (ABC) - (repeat)
THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON (CBS) - (repeat)
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON (NBC) - Bryan Cranston, Jill Scott, Morgan Murphy
LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY (NBC) - Kenny Smith, David Lynch, Black Lips

SATURDAY

NBC

• SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - (repeat)

SUNDAY

CBS

• THE AMAZING RACE 16 - The teams take a helicopter ride to a remote island where they race with a giant tortoise and look for a message in a bottle.
• UNDERCOVER BOSS - Joel Manby, president of Herschend Family Entertainment, gets an undercover job within the company.
• COLD CASE - An FBI agent once romantically involved with Stillman asks the team for help finding a serial killer who has evaded her for 30 years.

NBC

• MINUTE TO WIN IT - A contestant from Texas competes against a contestant from San Diego in hopes of advancing to the next round.
• THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE - The celebrities are asked to create a four page advertorial for a new product, but the men are hindered by a technologically incompetent teammate.

FOX

• THE SIMPSONS - Flanders invites the Simpson family to a church retreat in Jerusalem in hopes of redeeming Homer.
• THE CLEVELAND SHOW - Cleveland is wounded when he and Donna are mugged at an ATM; Roberta takes advantage of Rallo when he thinks she is dying of an illness.
• FAMILY GUY - Brian pitches his pilot script to network executives; Chris and Meg injure Stewie and try to cover it up.
• SONS OF TUCSON - Ron befriends a cop; Robby's play date interferes when the boys try to make a movie.

ABC

• EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION (repeat)
• DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (repeat)
• CASTLE (repeat)

AMC

• BREAKING BAD - Walt tries to bring his family back together; with Saul's help, Jesse makes an unexpected investment.

HBO

• THE PACIFIC - After the four month ordeal on Guadalcanal, Leckie, Basilone and thousand of their comrades land in Melbourne; Leckie becomes involved with an Australian woman; Basilone is asked to return home to help sell US war bonds.
• HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA - Darren offers to let Rachel and Edie design a hotel; Cam and Ben agree to hand out samples in order to pay off their debt to Rene; Rene agrees to meet with the owner of Rasta Monsta.

A&E

• GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS - TBA
• GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS - TBA
• KIRSTIE ALLEY'S BIG LIFE - True and Lillie plan a surprise party for Kirstie's birthday; Jim tries to protect the house from uninvited guests.
• KIRSTIE ALLEY'S BIG LIFE - Kirstie frantically preapres to launch her new weight loss line; Kyle does some detective work and learns Jim has a juicy secret.

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

NYC HOUSING CHANGES ''JAIL-LIKE'' JUNGLE GYM: Complaints have prompted New York City's public housing authority to change a jungle gym that resembles a jail. Workers removed the ''jail-like'' jungle gym on Wednesday from the Tompkins Houses in Brooklyn. Resident, Natasha Godley, is a mother of a 6-year-old boy and said she made the complaint because ''it was like promoting kids to go to jail.'' Housing Authority spokeswoman, Sheila Stainback, said the agency is trying to replace the equipment. Changes are also being made to a second fake jail. (AP)

WOMAN TOSSES BABY INTO SUV: A Dallas woman is being accused of throwing her year-old son into the back of her SUV in an attempt to stop her vehicle from being repossessed. Krystal Gardner was arrested on Wednesday on charges of child endangerment related to abandonment. Gardner did not have a driver's license or insurance. Luke Ross, a recover agent, said he saw Gardner throw the baby through an open window of a Ford Expedition. The baby was removed from the vehicle and placed in the care of his father. Texas law bans a vehicle from being repossessed if a person is inside. (AP)

FOURTH COYOTE SPOTTED IN NYC: A wily coyote, that has been evading the New York City police for two days, was finally caught in a parking garage. The coyote first escaped capture on Wednesday near the Holland Tunnel. On Thursday, the coyote was spotted on the Westside Highway. The animal was finally cornered, sedated, and taken to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Earlier this month, a coyote was spotted in Chelsea. This is the fourth coyote sighting in Manhattan this year. (AP)

TEEN ROBBER ASKED CLERK TO NOT TELL HIS MOTHER: A teenager from Salt Lake City who attempted to rob a convenience store asked the clerk to not tell his mother when the attempt failed. According to police, the teen went into the store on Saturday and approached the clerk with several items. He then tried to sneak behind the clerk and threaten him with a knife. The clerk spun around with his hands up and smacked the teen in the face, knocking him to the floor. The teen then asked the clerk not to call the police or tell his mother before he fled. (AP)

DID YOU KNOW?

FACEBOOK DISMISSES SYPHILIS LINK: Facebook has dismissed a recent report blaming the social networking site for the rise of syphilis in the UK. After widespread media reports that the venereal disease has increased fourfold in Sunderland, Durham and Teesside, the areas of Britain where Facebook is most popular, the network issued a statement saying that "Facebook is no more responsible for STD transmission than newspapers are responsible for bad vision." The social network also pointed out that the dramatic rise in social networking over the past two years meant that Facebook's rise could be correlated with any other increased trend in the UK.

BINGE DRINKING DOESN'T AFFECT TEST-TAKING PERFORMANCE: Partying all night before a big test might not be as bad as your parents said, according to a Boston University School of Public Health study. The study showed that students' performance on tests was not at all affected after late-night binge drinking the night before. The 193 students that participated in the study were given non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages over a four-day period. Those given alcohol drank until their blood alcohol level was 0.12 -- roughly the equivalent of five drinks for a 200-pound adult. The following morning all of the participants took a practice Graduate Record Exam, and a mock quiz on a lecture given the previous day. Both the students who drank alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages received similar high scores on the tests. (Fox News)

MEMORIES ARE BETTER WHEN A PERSON IS RELAXED: Stronger and more lasting memories are likely to be formed when a person is relaxed and the memory-related neurons in the brain fire in sync with certain brain waves, according to scientists. Researchers said their findings could help develop new therapies for people with learning disabilities and some types of dementia. Adam Mamelak, a neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center explained, "Our research shows that when memory-related neurons are well coordinated to theta waves during the learning process, memories are stronger." (Reuters)

AWESOME FOODS DISCONTINUED BEFORE THEIR TIME (Asylum.com)

Crystal Pepsi: This must have seemed like the most brilliant marketing ploy of all time. It was Pepsi, but you could see through it. It came at a time when people were trying to be health-conscious and Pepsi figured making their drink look clean and pure would convince you it was clean and pure.

The McRib: The most popular semi-regular food item on the McDonald's menu, people love this thing so much that when it does make reappearances, they go on tour to keep eating it in every city it pops up. Basically a formed meat patty shaped to look like ribs, the McRib is pork on a bun with barbecue sauce on it that drives people crazy. It is pretty tasty though.

Purplesaurus Rex Kool-Aid: Kool Aid is basically sugar, water and citric acid, but Purplesaurus Rex managed to take that to awesome heights by mixing lemonade and grape in the same packet. And then they took it away from us in its prime. There's something kind of sad about mixing lemon and grape on your own in an effort to re-create the magic.

Cappuccino Gum: Trident dropped a bomb a few years back when they released cappuccino-flavored gum. Traditionally people chew gum to freshen their breath in some way, which is the opposite of what coffee does. May as well have made "bottom of the ashtray" gum and hoped for the best.

3-D Doritos: You could make the argument that all food is already 3-D, but that's narrow minded. 3-D Doritos were even more 3-D than 3-D. Not quite 4-D, but it was something. Basically they were just poofy Doritos, which meant you got fewer in a bag and paid for a lot more air. But that air spread out the deliciousness and that was the point. Plus, you shouldn't eat a whole bag of Doritos anyway.

Keebler Magic Middles: Possibly the best cookie in the history of cookies, Magic Middles were bulgey cookie pockets filled with chocolate goo. Our research hasn't been able to find even a guess as to why these cookies were discontinued, so we're forced to assume their awesomeness was making everything else Keebler made look bad.

HOW TO MAKE HIS FAMILY ADORE YOU (YourTango.com)

Show up. If you put off meeting his parents, they will assume you're avoiding them. Not only that, but they'll also assume that you don't value family. Uh oh. Cheerfully accept dinner invitations, and take part in regular family traditions. You may hate that annual two-hour round trip to cut down the family Christmas tree, but he's been making that trip his entire life, and he totally looks forward to the apple cider donuts and lunch at Hot Dog Johnny's. If you grin and bear it, not only will he appreciate it, but his family will start to treat you as one of their own.

Offer to help out. Over at their house for a dinner party? Offer to put together cheese platters and/or clear the table. Meeting them at a BYOB restaurant? Bring along that great bottle of Chambourcin you picked up from a local winery just the other weekend. Is his little sis applying to post-college jobs for the first time? Ask if she'd like you to take a look at her resume, or help her with cover letters. They'll love the fact that you're making an effort.

Invite them to dinner. His fam is always inviting you over for dinner. Not only that, but they also send you home with five tupperwares full of delicious leftovers. We suggest you repay the favor, and suggest you and your guy cook them a gourmet meal of your own. Not only will this show them how grateful you are for their generosity, but it will also allow them to see that you're fully capable of someday taking care of their darling, adorable baby boy.

Be thoughtful. Make the effort to remember and honor his family members' birthdays, successes and other milestones with thoughtful gestures or gifts. While a bottle of wine is a cool gift if his parents are really into tastings (pair it with a nice wine journal for extra bonus points!), in any other situation, it's a sign that you're just not trying. Pay attention to their interests and shop accordingly.

Show an interest in their lives. This tip above will be way easier to execute if you're already engaging his family members in convos about their hobbies and interests. Is his big sis into cruises and country music? Sit through a slideshow of her vacation pics, or go line dancing with her when she extends the invite. Is his dad a runner? Travel up to Boston to cheer him on when he runs the annual marathon. If you show an interest in them, they'll be more willing to learn more about you, even if your hobbies consist of hoop dancing and sex writing.

Control yourself. OK. Maybe you shouldn't mention the sex writing. At least not at first. Give his family some time to warm up to you before letting your freak flag fly.
Accept their advice graciously. It can be easy to get defensive when his parents give unsolicited advice, but try to understand where they're coming from. Chances are they're doing it because they care, because they have more life experience behind them, and because they truly want to help. Their "meddling" does not necessarily mean that they're passing judgment on you. (Or at least that's what you should tell yourself.)

Don't be critical of of your partner. It can be tempting to take part in the hardcore teasing his family subjects him to, but tread lightly. You could be crossing a major line. When conversing with his mother, especially, try to remind yourself that this woman gave birth to your now-hottie, and has raised him for the past 30 years. If she senses that you are a threat to her baby, she will cut you.

And, for the love of god, don't be critical of them. If they have religious or political beliefs that are wildly divergent from you own, just...just let it go. If they want to engage you in a discussion, don't hide your opinions, but don't try to convince them they're wrong. A smile and a "we'll have to agree to disagree on this one" will do just fine.

IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION

Bruce Willis guest-starred on what TV show for free because of bet he lost to one of the show's cast members?

A: Friends

According to IMDB.com, because of a bet between Matthew Perry and Bruce Willis on the set of The Whole Nine Yards (2000) (which Perry won), Willis appeared in his two-episode guest role for free.

WATER COOLER TALK

Tanning Beds May Be Banned for Those Under 18

Want to use a tanning bed? You may soon have to show ID. A panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration recommended yesterday (March 25th) that it put stronger regulations on artificial tanning, ranging from requiring parental consent to banning it altogether for those under 18. A recent report from the World Health Organization led to a call for tougher rules, after it found that melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, increases 75 percent in people who use tanning beds in their teens and 20s. Tougher regulations could be a second blow to the $5 billion indoor tanning industry, which has just been hit with a 10 percent tax on tanning in the health care reform measure that was signed into law this week.

Photo of Student in 'God is Dead' T-Shirt to Appear in High School Yearbook

School administrators at a Washington state high school have decided to allow a photo of a student wearing a "God is dead" T-shirt to appear in the yearbook, after considering banning it because it might offend students and parents, The Daily Herald of Everett reported Thursday (March 25th). Senior Justin Surber of Arlington High School was wearing the shirt with the famous quote from Friedrich Nietzsche in the Debate Club photo. According to the Daily Herald, he's often worn the shirt to school since he got it in December and has never been told it violates the dress code. The yearbook will also include a story from the school newspaper about the controversy generated when Surber accused the school of censorship for considering pulling the photo.

13-Year-Old Prodigy Accuses College of Age Discrimination Over Study Abroad

A 13-year-old prodigy who's a sophomore at the University of Connecticut has filed an age discrimination complaint with the school and the U.S. Department of Education because he's not being allowed to take a class that includes summer field work in South Africa. Colin Carlson, who's pursuing a bachelor's degree in ecology and evolutionary biology and another in environmental studies, was told he's too young for the overseas course. UConn wouldn't even let Carlson enroll after her mother offered to release the school from liability and go with her son as a chaperone at her own expense. He told AP, "I'm losing time in my four-year plan for college. They're upsetting the framework of one of my majors." Once he gets his bachelor's degree, Carlson wants to get a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology and a degree in environmental law for a career in conservation science. He wants to earn both degrees by the time he's 22.

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Blake Shelton will be the guest on E!'s Chelsea Lately tonight (Thursday, March 25th), which airs at 11 p.m. ET. Unlike with most talk shows, Blake tells us he can't wait to be in the hot seat sparring with show host Chelsea Handler. "Oh, man, I like her! I may have met my match with Chelsea Handler. (I'm a) big fan of her show. You know, normally when you get a television opportunity your first response is, 'Oh man, do we get to perform? Can I bring my band? What are we doin'?' And when Chelsea Lately comes up it's like, 'No, man, I don't wanna play! I wanna sit there and throw jabs at her and have her throw 'em back at me.'"

Blake first appeared on the show back in January of last year, and he tells us his initial experience with Chelsea came as a bit of a surprise. "The only time I've done it, man, I wasn't prepared for that. I did not do my homework, and when you sit down to do an interview on national television and you're a country artist and one of the first questions you're asked is which one of the Golden Girls do you wanna have sex with, that kind of takes you back a little bit. It took me a while to recover from that one, you know, when normally you're talkin' about how you got in the music industry, but if there's anybody that's right there with me as far as my same sense of humor it's her, and I'm ready for her this time!"

• Blake's latest single, "Hillbilly Bone," a duet with Trace Adkins, topped the country charts, giving Blake his career sixth Number One hit.
• His new album, also called Hillbilly Bone, is currently in stores. The "six-pak" CD, which features six songs, sells for less than $6.
• Blake plans to release one to two more "six-paks" this year.

If you can't get to the water, Brad Paisley is ready to bring the water to you this summer. His newly announced H2O tour will reflect what Brad so loves about the season and bring it to each city, as he tells us: "Really, with this tour we had the advantage of a theme, really, that we didn't get to pick, which is the next single, 'Water,' and it's the perfect theme and it really reminded me of what my summers were and are like. I've spent so many days of the summer on a boat, so many days in a river -- I grew up next to the Ohio river, skiing on that and fishing that -- and swimming pools, and just everything that goes with really what the song is about."

Brad says the H2O shows will be the continuation of a typical summer day spent on or in the water. "I wanna do the kind of thing where these people that are my fans that are so much like me in that sense, shouldn't have to change their clothes from what they were just doing to go to this concert, cause they probably were just doing what I'm talking about. You know, don't change. Maybe put on something dry, but just get in the car. Come on out, because we are really gonna build for you, everywhere we go, a little vacation."

• The tour will feature a Water World Plaza with music stages for Brad's new opening acts Easton Corbin, Steel Magnolia and Josh Thompson, as well as a Chevy H2O FLW fishing simulator and a dunking booth.
• The H2O tour kicks off on May 21st in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
• The trek will feature special guests Darius Rucker and Justin Moore.
• Brad is partnering with the Hope Through Healing Hands campaign for access to clean, safe water. Donations will be solicited at each tour stop to help the organization dig wells and provide clean water in the U.S. and around the world.

Taylor Swift has the rumor mill buzzing about her love life. Taylor and her friend, Disney star Selena Gomez, went bowling with a group of friends in Los Angeles on Tuesday (March 23rd) night. Glee star Cory Monteith caught up with the ladies, and according to OK! magazine, he seemed to be 'very chatty and flirty' with Taylor.

Rumors of a romance between Taylor and Cory were sparked back in January when the two were spotted hanging out at Grammy parties and having dinner in Los Angeles.
At the time, sources insisted that the two were strictly friends.

Taylor has said that she'd like to make a guest appearance on Glee.

Taylor reunited with her former beau, Taylor Lautner, for a casual lunch in Beverly Hills yesterday (Wednesday, March 24th). The two were reportedly joined by their publicists and Taylor Swift's constant companion, her mother.

In other Taylor news, some Auburn University students are campaigning to get a hug from the superstar. Ryan Leander, Matthew Mahaffey and Michael Wekall are filming a documentary and series of webisodes about their quest to get a hug from Taylor, according to TheBoot.com. To check out their blogs and videos, log onto ahugfromtaylorswift.com.

Taylor has seen their videotaped quest for her affection, and in return has offered a challenge to the guys. She posted her own video saying that she wants them to do a simple good deed, get it on video and then post it to their site. Their first challenge? "Helping a little old lady across the street."

• Taylor will play the first of two sold-out shows in Auburn Hills, Michigan beginning on Friday (March 26th).

CHECK IT OUT

• Taylor's video challenge: http://tinyurl.com/ybqnuxx

Brooks & Dunn's fans will have the honor of choosing one of the songs the duo performs on next month's Academy of Country Music Awards. Fans can log onto cbs.com/brooksdunn to cast their vote for one of six of the duo's hits songs. It will be Brooks & Dunn's last time to perform on the show as a duo. The two will go their separate ways when their Last Rodeo tour wraps this summer.

• The ACM Awards will air live from Las Vegas on CBS on April 18th at 8 p.m. ET.
• Brooks & Dunn are nominated for Top Vocal Duo. They have already won a record 26 awards from the Academy of Country Music.
• The duo will also will be presented with the Academy's Milestone Award for their 20-year career during an all-star concert tribute being taped in Las Vegas on April 19th. Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Jennifer Hudson, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Taylor Swift, and Sugarland are all confirmed to perform during the concert. The show, called Brooks & Dunn - The Last Rodeo will air on CBS on May 23rd.

FAST FACTS

• Brooks & Dunn are the best-selling duo in the history of country music, with album sales of more than 22 million.
• The duo joined forces in 1990, but announced their split in August of last year.

LeAnn Rimes' list of past boyfriends includes alleged serial cheater Tiger Woods. US Weekly reports that the two went out a few times back in 2002, before each was married. Sources told the publication that LeAnn's dad put an end to the relationship because Tiger was seven years older than his daughter. An insider said, "Her dad almost had a heart attack, and he made her stop seeing Tiger."

Emerson Drive lead singer Brad Mates and his wife, Jana, are expecting their first child next month. The couple will welcome a son, whom they plan to name Tyler. The couple were married in 2008.

Jake Owen will hit the road this spring with headliners Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Sugarland. He kicks things off tonight (Thursday, March 25th) in Sioux City, Iowa with Jason on his Wide Open tour, followed by shows tomorrow (Friday, March 26th) in Lincoln, Nebraska and in St. Charles, Missouri on Saturday (March 27th).

Next up, Jake opens Miranda's Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars tour stop in Bossier City, Louisiana on April 30th.

Finally, he gets things started for Sugarland on their Incredible Machine tour dates in the Northeast in May. His previous tour with Sugarland and special guest Little Big Town produced a collaboration on the recording of "Life In A Northern Town," which earned a Grammy nod.

• Jake recently released a new single, called "Tell Me."
• The song is on Jake's current sophomore CD, Easy Does It.

FAST FACTS

• Since releasing his debut album, Startin' with Me, in 2006, Jake has charted five consecutive Top 15 singles.
• He was named Top New Male Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music Awards last year.
• Easy Does It was released in February of last year.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. What is Dolly Parton's middle name?
A. Rebecca

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 12:00PM (ET)
Jeff Bridges, T-Bone Burnett

MY MUSIC MIX: CARRIE UNDERWOOD/GAC 5:00PM (ET)

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Blake Shelton, Sarah Buxton

SOUNDSTAGE/GAC 10:00PM (ET)
Travis Tritt, Nickel Creek

CMT CRIBS/CMT 10:30PM (ET)
John Rich

CHELSEA LATELY/ETV 11:00PM (ET)
Blake Shelton

BROKEN BRIDGES/CMT 11:30PM (ET)
Toby Keith

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN/CBS 11:35PM (ET)
Josh Turner

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS TODAY!

Elton John (pop singer-songwriter) (63)

• Aretha Franklin (legendary R&B singer, the Queen of Soul) (68)
• Katharine McPhee (American Idol runner-up) (26)
• Paul Michael Glaser (TV's Starsky & Hutch's Det. Dave Starsky) (67)
• Sarah Jessica Parker (actress, Sex In The City) (45)
• Gloria Steinem (feminist activist, founder of Ms. magazine) (76)
• Debi Thomas (U.S. figure skater, won the bronze medal in the 1988 Olympics) (43)
• Lark Voorhies (actress, Saved By The Bell) (36)
• Bonnie Bedelia (actress, the Die Hard movies) (62)
• Gene Shalit (movie critic) (78, disputed)
• Richard O'Brien (actor-writer, wrote and played Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show) (68)
• Marcia Cross (actress, Melrose Place, Everwood, Desperate Housewives' Bree) (48)
• Anita Bryant (singer, one-time Florida orange juice spokeswoman, and former anti-gay activist) (70)
• James McDaniel (actor, Malcolm X, NYPD Blue's Lieutenant Fancy) (52)
• Brenda Strong (actress, Mary Alice on Desperate Housewives) (50)
• Danica Patrick (American race car driver) (28)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY!

• Country Music Hall of Famer Buck Owens died in his sleep at his Bakersfield home in 2006.
• Mindy McCready gave birth to her son, Zander Ryan McCready, in Nashville in 2006.
• Josh Gracin performed the Garth Brooks hit "Ain't Going Down (Til The Sun Comes Up)" on FOX-TV's American Idol in 2003.
• Reba McEntire took the top spot on the Billboard country chart with "New Fool At An Old Game" in 1989.
• Garth Brooks made his chart debut with "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)" in 1989.
• Randy Travis' "Forever And Ever, Amen" was released in 1987.
• Eddie Rabbitt picked up a gold record for "Drivin' My Life Away" in 1981.
• Lynn Anderson earned the only gold album of her career with "Rose Garden" in 1971.
• Johnny Cash recorded the Number One single "Ring Of Fire" in 1963.
• Roy Orbison recorded his first hit, "Only The Lonely," in 1960.
• Hank Williams' Number One single "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" charted in 1950

CELEBRITY GOSSIP!

REAL WORLD' ALUM INJURED IN DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT: Puck from The Real World: San Francisco was seriously injured last week in a San Diego car wreck. TMZ.com reports that the reality star, whose real name is David Rainey, was driving to go on a father-son fishing trip when he lost control of his car -- which rolled down an embankment and landed upside down in a creek. Puck and his eight-year-old son were transported to nearby hospitals where doctors discovered Puck had broken bones in both feet, his right hand, his neck and fractured his sternum and clavicle -- and his son had bruised several internal organs and suffered major damage to his liver. Puck's son has since been released from the hospital, but he is expected to remain hospitalized for at least another week. Police say they will arrest Puck for driving under the influence and driving without a license when he gets out of the hospital.

'ERICA HILL WELCOMES SON: Early Show anchor Erica Hill welcomed her second son, Sawyer, on Tuesday (March 23rd). Hill and husband David Yount said in a statement to CBS, "We are thrilled with the new addition to our family and so pleased he arrived at 6:26 a.m. -- just in time for The Early Show." The couple have a three-year-old son named Weston.

DENNIS HOPPER PROBLEMS CONTINUE: New court documents filed on behalf of Dennis Hopper paint a sad picture of the actor. TMZ.com reports that the cancer-stricken star, who now weighs just over 100 pounds, said he's willing to pay his estranged wife $5,000-a-mont in spousal support because that's all that he can afford. His lawyer filed a declaration from Hopper's doctor who said that "It is doubtful that Mr. Hopper will ever recover sufficiently to be subject to a deposition." Hopper has been embroiled in an ugly divorce battle with Victoria Duffy as he battles cancer.

NEW LESBIAN COUPLE? A celebrity lesbian relationship may have been outed. Sources tell PerezHilton.com that The Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels is hooking up with former 90210 actress Vanessa Marcil. Supposedly the two are "very close" and have been hooking up for some time now. Marcil is the mother of Brian Austin Green's seven-year-old son and was briefly married to Corey Feldman in the 1990s.

ROBERT CULP DIES AT 79: Actor Robert Culp died on Wednesday (March 24th) in Los Angeles. The I Spy actor's agent said that Culp died after collapsing on a sidewalk outside his Hollywood home. Los Angeles police say he hit his head while on a walk and was pronounced dead after arriving at a hospital. A preliminary investigation found that his death is accidental.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

LINDSAY LOHAN DENIES ED HARDY REPORT: Lindsay Lohan has denied reports that she's taken another job in the fashion industry. After reports surfaced that she was in talks with Ed Hardy boss Christian Audigier to design a line of handbags, Lindsay tweeted, "FYI (for your information)... I am NOT designing for Ed Hardy, JUST 6126 (my line)." 6126 is Lindsay's leggings line.

DOUG REINHARDT PRODUCING REALITY SHOW: Paris Hilton's boyfriend Doug Reinhardt is reportedly producing a "Kardashian-style" reality show for his sister Casey, who was featured on MTV's Laguna Beach. An insider told the New York Post, "Doug and Paris will also appear on the show, and E! bosses hope that an engagement will happen in the next six months." Reinhardt's agent confirmed, "Doug is producing the show, which will star his sister and her friends. But he and Paris will also make appearances."

'TWO AND A HALF MEN' REPORTEDLY SHORTENING SEASON: Producers on Two and a Half Men have reportedly nixed two planned episodes of the show on account of Charlie Sheen's recent rehab stay. However -- TMZ reports -- Charlie has a right under his contract to nix the last two episodes. Sources claim that Charlie is only contractually bound to do 22 episodes, which he will have done. He wasn't required to do 24 episodes this season, although that was the plan.

WHITNEY PORT SUED: The City star Whitney Port is being sued over her new fashion line. TMZ.com reports that Adrienne Baravetto claims she helped Port design and launch her line (then called Eve & A) starting in 2007 and had an oral agreement with Port and her father, including a $80,000 yearly salary plus a 25 percent stake in the company. Baravetto alleges that she did virtually all the design work and that the Ports haven't paid her a dime. Port's lawyer Michael A. Taitelman told People magazine, "The lawsuit is baseless and without merit."

JENNIFER BEALS LANDS NEW JOB: Jennifer Beals has landed a new TV job. The L Word alum has been tapped as the female lead opposite Jason Clarke in Ride-Along, a new drama pilot for Fox. Ride-Along revolves around a rogue cowboy cop (Clarke) and Chicago's first female police chief (Beals) who vow to clean up the streets.

JOE JACKSON PLANS TO FILE WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT

Michael Jackson's father plans to file a wrongful death suit against Dr. Conrad Murray, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the pop star's death. According to TMZ.com, the lawyer for Joe Jackson plans to file in the next 90 days, with Papa Joe asking for punitive damages, economic support, loss of companionship and loss of consortium (deprivation of family relationship). He is seeking an unspecified amount of money damages.

• The Jackson family patriarch also has an ongoing case in which he is seeking a stipend from his son's estate.

ANOTHER CONTESTANT ELIMINATED ON 'AMERICAN IDOL'

It was once again elimination night on American Idol last night (March 24th), but this time the contestants had a lot more at stake. Last night's results determined who would go on the nationwide Idol tour this summer. As usual, the show kicked off with a group performance, last night of "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go." Then the bottom three contestants were revealed: Paige Miles, Tim Urban and Katie Stevens. Before sending someone home, some of today's Disney stars took the stage. Tuesday's Idol mentor Miley Cyrus performed her new single from her upcoming movie, The Last Song. The show's next guests were Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato. Finally, the bottom contestant was revealed and Paige was sent home.

BRAD PITT GROWS BEARD OUT OF BOREDOM

Brad Pitt has revealed the reason behind his straggly beard that just won't go away. He told London's The Sun earlier this week, "It's boredom. No other reason than that."

Pitt's facial hair has been widely criticized since he began growing it about a year ago.

• He's sported several unflattering looks ranging from a mustache to a goatee-- to even a beard decorated with beads.

KATE GOSSELIN DIVA RUMORS PERSIST

As if Kate Gosselin didn't have enough to worry about -- after receiving a 16 out of 30 on her Dancing With the Stars debut -- rumors that she's a diva on set just won't stop. An insider told the New York Daily News, "Kate shows up late for hair and makeup every time."

The source continued, "The staff has warned her and lectured her about being late, but Kate just gets angry and blows them off. No one wants to deal with her."

• Luckily, the cast is sticking up for the reality mom. Whether he's being honest or not, Evan Lysacek told E!, "Kate is awesome! We all love her. She's so sweet. She was cheering everyone on. She's working so hard. I know she was nervous last night but she still looked really beautiful."
• Dancer Mark Ballas added, She's been kind, sweet and fun. She's a little bit 'deer in the headlights' because she's never danced before, so all of us are here to help."

SANDRA BULLOCK UPDATE

Michelle McGee was reportedly not the only woman Jesse James strayed with since marrying Sandra Bullock. A blonde stripper named Melissa Smith has come forward, telling Star magazine that she had a two-year relationship with James beginning in 2006.

Melissa claims he reached out to her on MySpace, explaining, "I got a message from this guy saying, 'Nice car . . . that's my godfather's.' She said that after a few exchanges, he introduced himself as Jesse James and "gave me his e-mail address with the name Vanilla Gorilla" -- the nickname Michelle referred to as well.

• She said that after traveling to his shop, making small talk about the artwork on his walls and taking photos together, "I said, 'Well, I guess I should get going,' and he said, 'You don't have to,' and moved his chair closer to me and started rubbing my leg. We ended up having sex on his couch."

SANDRA AND JESSE REPORTEDLY HAVE PRENUP

Meanwhile, if divorce is in the future for Sandra and Jesse -- at least there's a prenup in place. A source told E! News, "They keep everything separate. She has her money and he has his. They both wanted it that way."

E! also noted that the home the couple has been living in is solely in James' name, while Bullock -- who reportedly is back in Los Angeles after spending the past week in Austin -- "has always kept her own home in the Hollywood Hills."

JESSE IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT SCANDAL?

TMZ.com is reporting that James paid a female executive at West Coast Choppers $700,000 in 2007 after she threatened to sue him for allegedly making sexual advances to her. However, since the lawsuit was never filed, there is no documentation containing the claims.

'REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA' STAR ADMITS LESBIAN RELATIONSHIP

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak is reneging her initial denial and admitting that she's been in a lesbian relationship. When news broke that Kim was dating Tracy Young, the reality star said the DJ was just a friend and claimed to still be involved with fiance "Big Poppa."

Now she's changed her tune, telling Life & Style magazine, "I'm among the millions of parents who have been in a gay or lesbian relationship. It hasn't been an easy road lately, but I feel there are no mistakes in my life. Everything happens for a reason. To have the opportunity to speak for myself and to have people understand what I'm going through is really special. I myself was confused and scared at first. Being able to speak from my heart and get this all out, it's a huge relief for me."

• She opened up about the origin of their relationship, saying, "We were both going through heartbreak at the time. I had split up with Big Poppa, and she had just ended a relationship she had been in for three years. The first night we met, we just connected on a different level. We ended up talking for two hours. After that, we started working in the studio together, remixing 'Tardy for the Party.' We gradually became closer. There were sparks, but [physically] it was a gradual situation. Tracy made the first move. Our first kiss was passionate and exciting."

KATHERINE HEIGL CONFIRMS SHE'S DONE WITH 'GREY'S ANATOMY'

Katherine Heigl's tenure on Grey's Anatomy is officially over. Confirming the long-reported split, Heigl told Entertainment Weekly, "I am done. We just finalized our agreement. Everyone had been working really hard to find an amicable and gracious way of letting go and moving on. It's sad but it's what I wanted."

She explained her decision to leave, saying, "I started a family and it changed everything for me. It changed my desire to work full-time." Heigl and husband Josh Kelley adopted their daughter Naleigh from South Korea last September.

• Contrary to reports that she left to forward her film career, Heigl said, "I think I'm just gonna try and keep it a little more mellow, and be a little bit more of a mom, since that's a big part of my life now. I took those three months off and I realized how very, very important is my family is to me and I want to be more available to them."
• There will be no big farewell episode as Heigl's last was the one that aired January 21st. She acknowledged, . "I know I'm disappointing the fans. I just had to make a choice. I hope I made the right one."

CAST MEMBERS WRITING 'JERSEY SHORE' BOOK

The Jersey Shore kids are coming to a bookstore near you. New York magazine reports that JWOWW and Ronnie have signed a deal to write a "guido guide" on how to achieve their "fake-tanned, muscled-up, party-hard lifestyle."

Never Fall in Love at the Jersey Shore will be released by St. Martin's Press -- a major publisher.

• Both NYMag.com and PerezHilton.com commented that the two soon-to-be authors seem like odd choices for the project, since co-stars Snooki, The Situation and Pauly D are much more well-known.

HEADLINE NEWS!!

HEALTH CARE "FIX" MEASURE WILL HAVE TO BE SENT BACK TO HOUSE: Senate Republicans succeeded early Thursday morning (March 25th) in forcing a change in the "fix" measure to health care reform that House Democrats insisted on before they'd agree to vote for the legislation that's now been signed into law, meaning the "fix" will have to return to the House for another vote. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Republicans consulting with the Senate parliamentarian found what he called "two minor provisions" dealing with Pell grant college aid for low-income students that violate budget rules. The two provisions will be removed, and the Senate is expected to approve the measure and then send it back to the House. Senate leaders, after speaking with top House Democrats, expect the House to approve the revised measure. The development came as the Senate ended nine hours of voting on 29 GOP amendments, all of which were defeated by the Democrats.

CONCERN OVER THREATS, VANDALISM AGAINST DEMOCRATS OVER HEALTH CARE REFORM: There is growing concern over vandalism and death threats against Democratic lawmakers after the passage of the health care reform legislation. The FBI and Capitol Police briefed Democratic lawmakers yesterday (March 24th) on how to handle security threats, as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland reported at least 10 such incidents. They include death threats against members of Congress and even their children, faxes of nooses sent to two Democratic congressmen, and a coffin left on the lawn of another. This came after ugly behavior in the days leading up to the passage of the bill as well, including on Saturday, when civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis of Georgia was called the "n-word" by hecklers as he walked up the Capitol steps. Some Democrats are faulting Republicans for providing encouragement to the most extreme reform opponents through their own language. But Minority Leader John Boehner spoke out against the threats later in the day, saying on Fox News, "I've got to tell you that violence and threats are unacceptable. It is not the American way. Yes, I know there is anger, but let's take that anger, and go out and register people to vote, go volunteer on a political campaign, and let's do it the right way."

U.S., RUSSIA REACH NUCLEAR ARMS REDUCTION AGREEMENT: The U.S. and Russia reached agreement Wednesday (March 24th) after long negotiations on an historic treaty to reduce both countries' nuclear arsenals, the most significant such pact in nearly 20 years. President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are set to sign the treaty in early April in Prague. The treaty is expected to cut the number of long-range nuclear weapons held by each side to about 1,500, and raises hopes for further disarmament in the future. An important feature of the deal is that it includes a legal mechanism for verifying that each side complies. Next up is getting the treaty to win U.S. Senate ratification.

NETANYAHU SAYS PROGRESS MADE AS HE LEAVES U.S.: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ended a tense visit to the U.S. early Thursday (March 25th), saying progress had been made toward settling a dispute over new Jewish housing construction in occupied East Jerusalem. Just before boarding his plane, Netanyahu said, "We think we have found a golden way that would allow the Americans to move the peace process forward while preserving our national interests." U.S. and Israeli officials met through the day Wednesday, trying to agree on a package of goodwill gestures from Israel that President Obama hoped could persuade the Palestinians to return to peace talks.

TODAY'S FYI:

20 PERCENT OF CENSUS FORMS RETURNED SO FAR: The Census Bureau reported Wednesday (March 24th) that about 20 percent of the census forms mailed out to 120 million households last week have already been completed and sent back. That rate of return puts the Census Bureau on track to match or surpass its mail return rate of 72 percent in 2000, the last census. Daily data on mail-back participation broken down by state, county, city and zip code is being published, with Census Bureau officials hoping state and local governments will use it to promote friendly competition as to who can get the best response by the end of the mail-in period in late April. After that period ends, census-takers will go to homes from May until July that don't reply by mail to try to get the information in person. The once-in-a-decade population count will be used to distribute House seats and federal aid.

HONEYBEE CRISIS GETTING WORSE: The mysterious "colony collapse disorder" that's been causing large-scale deaths of honeybees over the last several years is getting worse, aggravated by a heavy die-off this past winter, according to a new federal survey. Experts believe that the problem, which causes adult bees to abandon their hives and fly off to die, is likely a combination of many causes, including parasites, viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition and pesticides. Scientists are concerned because of the vital role bees play in our food supply, since about one-third of the human diet is from plants that require pollination from honeybees. Pesticides are getting fresh scrutiny, after a new study found three out of five pollen and wax samples from 23 states had at least one pesticide. Overall, 121 different types of pesticides were found in 887 wax, pollen, bee and hive samples. Although none were at high enough levels to kill bees, they combination and variety of them is concerning.

U.S. MINT UNVEILS NEW NATIONAL PARKS QUARTER SERIES: The U.S. Mint yesterday (March 24th) unveiled the first five designs in its new national parks and forests quarter series, hoping to replicate the success of its 50-state quarter program. The new series will have a total of 56 quarters, one for each state and territory and the District of Columbia, with five new designs introduced each year until 2021. The sites are being put on the back of the quarters in the order that Congress put them under the care of the federal government, starting with Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas in 1832, which will go into circulation next month. The other coins this year will honor the three other oldest national parks -- Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon -- and Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon.

DNA SHOWS BONE FRAGMENT CAME FROM PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN HOMINID: Scientists were able to sequence DNA from a bone fragment that's tens of thousands of years old and discovered that it was from a previously-unknown hominid, according to a study in the journal Nature yesterday (March 24th). The bone fragment from a pinkie finger, possibly from a small child, was found in a cave in Siberia in 2008 in a layer of soil that was dated to between 30,000 and 48,000 years ago. The results point to the hominid being a distinct species in the "Homo" genus, and that it, us and the Neanderthals all shared a common ancestor who lived around a million years ago. If confirmed, it would also reshape the story of early settlement, pointing to a previously unknown wave of hominid movement out of Africa, where man first arose.

FIRST LADY AND DAUGHTERS EAT PIZZA IN BROOKLYN: First lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha had lunch yesterday (March 24th) at Brooklyn's famous Grimaldi pizzeria in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, the New York Daily News reported. Two staffers and three of the girls' schoolmates were along, and they all shared four pies: one plain, one pepperoni, one sausage, and one with peppers, mushrooms and onions. Rafal Harajda, who served the group, told the News the kids were, quote, "great . . . super polite and super well-behaved," and said of the first lady, "I was very surprised because . . . she was down to earth. I was nervous at first, but she makes you comfortable right away." Manager Joe Silvestri also had good things to say about Michelle, telling the newspaper, "Mrs. Obama looked awesome, great, even better in person than on TV."

SPORTS:

TIGER WOODS TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE BEFORE MASTERS: Augusta National released a tentative interview schedule Wednesday (March 24th) that said Tiger Woods will speak before he plays the Masters, holding his first press conference since the revelation of his multiple infidelities on Monday, April 5th. The Masters only recently began conducting a press conference on Monday of tournament week, and Woods is the only player scheduled for an interview that day.

GOODEN CHARGED WITH DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE OF DRUGS: Former Major League Baseball star Dwight Gooden has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and leaving the scene of an accident in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. The former pitcher had a child in his car at the time of the two-vehicle crash around 9 a.m. ET Tuesday (March 23rd), and was also charged with child endangerment. Although police wouldn't say whose child it was, they said no one was hurt. They also wouldn't reveal what type of drug was involved. The 45-year-old Gooden has alcohol and drugs addiction, and it was drugs and legal troubles that ultimately derailed his pitching career.

• Gooden won the Rookie of the Year award in 1984 at age 19 with the New York Mets. He helped lead the Mets to a World Series title in 1986, and was also a member of the championship New York Yankees teams of 1996 and 2000. During his stint with the Yanks, he pitched a no-hitter in 1996.

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

ON THE TUBE TODAY!

CBS

• COLLEGE BASKETBALL - NCAA Tournament, Regional Semifinal: Teams TBA
• COLLEGE BASKETBALL - NCAA Tournament, Regional Semifinal: Teams TBA

NBC

• COMMUNITY - Pierce is willing to do whatever it takes to reach a new level of ascension in his Buddhist church; Britta tries to shake her reputation as a buzzkill.
• PARKS AND RECREATION - Leslie plans a picnic lunch for Ron and former directors of the Parks Department; Tom poses for the cover of the summer events catalog.
• THE OFFICE - Michael tries to impress one of Pam and Jim's friends; Dwight reconsiders his contract with Angela.
• 30 ROCK - Liz's ex-boyfriend, Floyd, returns with big news; Jenna and Tracy spend a long day listening to Kenneth tell stories about his childhood.
• THE MARRIAGE REF - Kelly Ripa, Jerry Seinfeld and Alec Baldwin fill the panel.

FOX

• BONES (repeat)
• FRINGE (repeat)

ABC

• FLASHFORWARD - Aaron tries to figure out why a black-ops unit is looking for his daughter; Mark questions Lloyd about a conversation that occurred during their flashforwards.
• GREY'S ANATOMY - A patient's desire to end her life triggers haunting memories for Hunt; Arizona and Callie have different opinions about the future.
• PRIVATE PRACTICE - The hospital must keep a surrogate mother on life support until her fetuses are able to survive; Naomi finds out that Addison and Sam have feelings for each other.

CW

• THE VAMPIRE DIARIES - Matt is surprised by the return of his long-lost mother; Elena and Stefan worry about Damon's new attitude.
• SUPERNATURAL - Dean and Sam visit Bobby's home town when the dead begin rising from the grave to reunite with their families.

BRAVO

• THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY - LuAnn and Bethanny have a confrontation; Ramona takes her daughter to a fashion show.

LIFETIME

• PROJECT RUNWAY - TBA

DAY TIME TALK SHOW

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW - (repeat)
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW - (repeat)
THE VIEW - Jennifer Love Hewitt, Michael Feinstein, guest co-host Dame Edna

LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS) - (repeat)
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO (NBC) - Miley Cyrus, Tom Papa, Puddle of Mudd
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (ABC) - Pierce Brosnan, Craig Robinson, Sarah McLachlan & Emmylou Harris
THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON (CBS) - (repeat)
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON (NBC) - Liev Schreiber, Rob Corddry, Robert Randolph and Sacred Steel
LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY (NBC) - Mike Shinoda, Lupe Fiasco, Ronnie Faisst, the Airborne Toxic Event
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART (COMEDY CENTRAL) - (repeat)
THE COLBERT REPORT (COMEDY CENTRAL) - (repeat)
LOPEZ TONIGHT - Chad Ochocinco, Johnny Weir, Rodrigo y Gabriela

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

ALLEGED DRUNKEN TEACHER ARRESTED: A schoolteacher from Southern California was arrested for allegedly teaching while drunk. Tonya Neff, 47, was taken to the Indio Jail on Tuesday and booked for investigation of felony child endangerment. According to police, Neff had taken prescription drugs and alcohol and an alcoholic beverage was found inside a container. The school district's superintendent, Richard Medina, said that there was never any threat to Neff's seventh-grade students and the teacher was put on leave. (AP)

ROBBERS CALL BANK FOR MONEY TO GO: Two suspects in Connecticut were arrested after calling the bank ahead of time and telling the employee to get a bag of money ready. According to police, 27-year-old Albert Bailey and a 16-year-old boy planned to rob a People's United Bank in Fairfield on Tuesday. Sgt. James Perez said that the two suspects showed up at the bank about 10 minutes after making the phone call and were met by the police in the parking lot. Perez told the Connecticut Post the suspects were "not too bright." (AP)

TEEN SURVIVES BEING STABBED IN THE HEAD: A 16-year-old boy from a province in the northeastern China amazingly survived an attack by a local gang at an Internet cafe. The gang asked the teen to upload unauthorized software onto one of the cafe's computers. When the boy refused, the gang stabbed him in the left temple with a kitchen knife. Doctors at the 2nd Affiliated Hospital at Jilin University initially thought the teen was pulling a prank when he staggered into the emergency. The doctors proceeded to operate on him for two hours in order to remove the blade. "I've never seen anything like it in 23 years as a surgeon," said Prof Yan Shijun, the hospital's deputy director of neurosurgery. Shijun said the boy is conscious but may have post-surgery complications. (Telegraph.co.uk)

CAMPUS COP SHOOTS HIS OWN BUTTOCKS: A University of Illinois police officer who was off-duty is being investigated after his firearm accidentally went off injuring him in the buttocks. According to the Vernon Hills Police Department, he 39-year-old Bryan Mallin was shopping at a Best Buy in the Rivertree Court Shopping Center when .40-caliber gun tucked in his waistband went off. Although the incident is being investigated, officers believe it to be a ''true accident.'' Mallin has been an officer for UIC for five years and is currently on medical leave during the investigation. (Chicago Tribune)

DID YOU KNOW?

OLDER WOMEN NEED TO EXERCISE A LOT MORE: At least an hour of moderate activity a day is needed for older women at a healthy weight who aren't dieting. For those who are already overweight -- and that's most American women -- even more exercise is called for to avoid gaining weight without eating less, the study results suggest. Their findings are based on 34,079 middle-aged women followed for about 13 years. Most were not on calorie-cutting diets. The women gained an average of almost 6 pounds during the study. Those who started out at a healthy weight, with a body mass index less than 25, and who gained little or no weight during the study consistently got the equivalent of about an hour of moderate activity daily. Few women -- only 13 percent -- were in this category. (FoxNews.com)

'CANE WORK' HELPS DISABLED DEFEND THEMSELVES: A 61-year-old man has created a program -- called Cane Work -- which is designed for anyone over 50 or any age person with a disability. Balance-based, it employs moves from yoga and Taido, and Qigong exercises to control breathing and defend themselves effectively with a cane. "I think if you look at most societies, they would have some sort of stick fighting in their history. The lord in the castle could afford a sword -- the serf would have a stick from the hedgerow, but would copy his master's actions. Going right back to the beginning of man, I'm sure the stick or club was the first weapon he would have had." (Asylum.com)

ORTHOREXIA: FOOD SNOB DISEASE: Phobics who refuse to consume "impure" foods and lose dangerous amounts of weight may have a disorder called orthorexia. Many experts believe that orthorexia is part of anorexia nervosa, in which sufferers severely limit their food intake and body weight. And an obsession with healthy food can seem almost unheard of in a country where 34% of the population is obese and where heart disease proves fatal for 2,500 people daily, according to E: The Environmental Magazine. Orthorexia sufferers have distorted views about what good health actually means, according to ABC News medical contributor Dr. Marie Savard, and these people can wind up emaciated. Warning signs of the eating disorder are worrying and stressing out about eating certain foods, eating the same foods prepared in the same way, spending increasing amounts of time reading food labels, and social isolation, Savard says.

TYPES OF PEOPLE TO UNFRIEND ON FACEBOOK OR STOP FOLLOWING ON TWITTER (Gawker.com)

Overuser: Their thumbs are practically shackled to their Blackberry and their fingers never leave the keyboard. It's always some new update about where they are, what they're doing, or other similar inanities. It's like someone tweeting about their work out.

The Oversharer: The minute one of your followees says anything about a bowel movement, it is time to go. Period. Some people use Facebook to share what they're doing and how they're feeling in a fun and interesting way. It's like running into them at a cocktail party and getting the quick rundown. An annoying few use it for their disgusting confessional full of graphic biological, biographical, and sexual information.

The Proselytizer: These aren't just the people who are constantly sharing Bible quotes with the world, it's any person who is constantly nagging other people to join their causes, political battles, and groups. Guess what, if we cared about stopping the deforestation of the Florida panhandle, we would seek the group out and join it ourselves. We don't need you suggesting that we become a part of it every time we log on to the site!

The In-Joker: Have you ever gone to someone else's high school reunion? Unless you are the world's most patient partner, of course not, because who wants to sit through hours of people sharing stories that you can't put into context, understand, or enjoy. But that is just what following an In-Joker's Twitter feed is like. "Like Mark is totally eating a shrimp taco, wink wink @Mike Totally makes me think of that guy in Cancun: 'Por favor' Am I right?!!"

The Replyer: There is nothing more annoying than looking at someone's Twitter page and every burst of characters starts with either an @ or an RT. This is especially true if the response has no context of what the original comment was about. If we don't follow that other person, we have no idea what the reply is all about. It's like turning on a David Lynch movie 45 minutes into it. You will be lost, frustrated, and possibly on the verge of an LSD flashback.

The Meme Lover: The only person who should be sending you weird forward chain mail letters is your mom. Some strange neurotoxin must be released when a woman pushes a baby out of her body that makes her send these to her offspring years later. It can't be helped, only tolerated. However, if anyone other than your mother is bothering you with "25 Things You Don't Care to Know About Me" or #sometimesiwonder or tagging you in one of those stupid grids of Little Miss characters, then they need to be cut loose from your life.

The Fisher: These are the people whose low self-esteem needs to be bolstered by other people wanting to know the details of their life. "I just feel like crying right now" or "You're never going to believe what I just bought!" or "Can't wait to tell everyone the big news." People who say vague and leading things like that want someone else to say, "What?" or "Why?" or "How Come?" That is what The Fisher makes you do, but what they're really saying is "Tell me I'm good enough to care about."

The Nobody: Face it, everyone's Facebook friend list is bloated. It includes people from high school you haven't talked to in eons, people you met once at a cocktail party and never talked to again, people who you have 90 mutual friends with but have never actually met in person. And you have to listen to all these things that people say. More often than not, these are the folks who are the types above that you have to get rid of.

BEST DATING SITES ON THE WEB (Telegraph)

My Single Friend (mysinglefriend.com) -- A friend writes your narrative on MSF, then you comment: "Can't believe you mentioned the charity work, the lottery win and the modeling." So, someone else shows off for you, plus there's less of a stigma because you didn't sign yourself up. Clever. With 8,000 to 10,000 new members every month, this is a cracker.

Lovestruck (lovestruck.com) -- Lovestruck.com matches urban desk pilots with people in other local offices. The site's new feature is an iPhone application that buzzes when one of Lovestruck's 40,000 members who fits your criteria is nearby.

Beautiful People (beautifulpeople.com) -- You post a picture and members vote whether you're good looking enough to join. If you're a doe-eyed doxy who isn't looking for conversation, or a young man with overwhelmingly greased asymmetrical hair who pouts like an angry fish, this is the site for you.

Dating Direct (datingdirect.com) -- Another industrially massive, utterly straightforward site. Like Match.com, this is useful if you're looking for someone outside your usual cultural boundaries, and favor the shotgun technique over the sniper rifle.

Loopy Love (loopylove.com) -- Are you too zany for conventional sites and looking for a similarly off-the-wall lover? The site claims more than 1.5 million "active" members, so it's clear that there are a lot of funsters out there.

IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION

What actress, who currently stars on a network series, played the younger sister to Kirstie Alley's character, Rebecca Howe, on Cheers?

A: Marcia Cross

(Source: Wikipedia)

WATER COOLER TALK

Should People Who Post Online Comments to Newspaper Stories Have to Give Their Names? There's a debate going on at the Washington Post -- and at many newspapers across the country -- about whether readers who post online comments at the end of stories and blogs should have to give their names, instead of letting them post anonymously or with "handles." That's because a lot of the comments that are posted can be vitriolic and nasty, including being racist and sexist, and the thought is there wouldn't be as much of that if people had to identify themselves. Post columnist Gene Weingarten gave his opinion yesterday (March 24th), saying that he's ambivalent. He explained, " I LIKE hearing from the frothing nutcakes -- I think it's both entertaining and illuminating," saying it gives the pulse of the lowest common denominator. He went on, "The ideal solution is to have nearly instant editing, but it's not practical . . . I'm torn. The vile stuff is...vile. It should not see the light of day. When a newspaper allows it up there, it is passively condoning it."

Octomom to Let PETA Put Sign on Her Lawn in Exchange for Cash and Food"Octomom" Nadya Suleman, who's fighting to keep her Southern California house from foreclosure, has accepted an offer from the People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals to put a sign in her front yard saying: "Don't Let Your Dog or Cat Become an Octomom. Always Spay or Neuter." PETA, which heard that Suleman could lose the home where she lives with her 14 children, offered her $5,000 and a month's supply of veggie burgers and hot dogs in exchange for displaying the sign. Suleman is in default on a $450,000 balloon payment on her home which was due two weeks ago. Her attorney is negotiating to refinance the payment and keep her from being thrown out.

Nude Male Body Casts Being Put on NYC Roofs, Sidewalks in Art Installation Life-size nude body casts that a British artist made of himself are going to be set up around New York City's Madison Square Park as part of an outdoor art installation, called "Event Horizon," local station NBC-TV reported. The first of the 31 iron and glass fiber casts was set up on a rooftop Tuesday (March 23rd), with others set to be put on pathways, sidewalks and other rooftops for the exhibit that will begin Friday and run through mid-August. The New York Police Department is trying to get the word out, worried that it might trigger a rash of 911 calls from people thinking the rooftop sculptures were suicidal jumpers. Artist Antony Gormley said in press remarks about the installation that he wanted to, quote, "play with the city and the people's perceptions."

KFLAG COUNTRY MUSIC UPDATE

Josh Turner celebrated his recent multiple-week Number One hit, "Why Don't We Just Dance," at a party in Nashville yesterday (Tuesday, March 23rd) afternoon. Josh last graced the top of the country charts nearly three years ago with "Would You Go With Me."

Josh tells us he knows how tough it is to get on the charts these days, much less have a Number One hit. "I covet my job. I mean, this is what I've always wanted. This is where I belong, and I'm just very thankful for every day I have in it, and so anytime I get a Number One song or a song on the chart period I'm really thankful, so having it there for four weeks is just icing on the cake for me, so . . . "]

Josh said he always goes back to some sage advice he got from fellow singer and frequent co-writer, John Anderson, which reminds him to be grateful for his success. "He said, 'When you look at country music, there's only so many spots on the chart,' and he said, 'To have the opportunity to be on the chart and to be a player in this game,' he said, 'That's something that a lot of people want and a lot of people may never get.'"

• Josh's new single, "All Over Me," heads to radio soon.
• Both songs are on Josh's new Haywire CD, which was released in February.
• He hits the road with Alan Jackson next month.

FAST FACTS

• Josh's wife, Jennifer, plays keyboards and sings background vocals with Josh on the road.
• They have two sons -- three-year-old Hampton and nine-month-old Colby.

Kenny Chesney heads to the Windy City on Saturday (March 27th) for another visit with Oprah Winfrey. He'll tape a new episode with the talk show queen, which is scheduled to air on April 9th. Kenny also took a field team from Oprah with him to the Florida Keys for a very special afternoon. The singer will give Oprah and her viewers an early peek at his very first movie, called Summer In 3-D. The film will be in theaters on April 21st.

• In the meantime, Kenny is working on his next studio album.
• His current single, "Ain't Back Yet," is the end theme from Kenny Chesney: Summer In 3-D. The song was added on to his Greatest Hits II CD, which was released last year.

FAST FACTS

• Summer In 3-D is centered around five of Kenny's 2009 NFL stadium shows.
• Kenny is nominated for Entertainer, Top Male Vocalist and Vocal Event of the Year for his Dave Matthews duet, "I'm Alive," at next month's ACM Awards. The winners will be announced on April 18th in Las Vegas.

Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, and Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins are all scheduled to perform during the 45th annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas next month. The show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 18th on CBS-TV beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

• The ACM Awards will also be hosted by Reba for the 12th time in her career.

FAST FACTS

• Kenny is nominated for four awards, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. If he wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his fifth win in the category.
• Carrie is up for six awards, including Entertainer of Year. She is the reigning Entertainer of the Year, and, if she wins that category again, she will be the first female in Academy history to hold two Entertainer of the Year trophies.
• Brooks & Dunn are nominated for Top Vocal Duo of the Year. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn are the best-selling duo in the history of country music. They will also receive the Academy's Milestone Award in recognition of their 20-year record-breaking career during the tribute concert special, ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn - The Last Rodeo, which will be taped in Las Vegas on April 19th. They will also be honored for holding the record for most Top Vocal Duo wins, with 15 awards, eight of which are consecutive from 2000-2007.
• Lady Antebellum led the ACM Award nominations this year with seven nods, including Album of the Year and Top Vocal Group. In addition, Lady Antebellum was nominated for Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Need You Now."
• Blake and Trace are nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for "Hillbilly Bone."

Chris Young is quickly climbing the charts with his latest single, "The Man I Want to Be." The song is about a guy who realizes he has made mistakes but wants to be a better person after having learned from them, as Chris tells us: "This song really is all about, you know, a relationship that . . . it can kind of go either way, you know? There's been some bad stuff happen in the relationship, and you know, the guy's really talkin' to his girl sayin', 'Look, I know there's been a lot of stuff that's happened, and we're kind of at a crossroads. We have to make a decision what we're gonna do here.' But he's sayin', 'I want to be a good man.' Probably my favorite line in the song -- the first chorus says, 'I want to be a good man, a do-like-I-should man. I want to be the kind of man the mirror'd like to see.'"

• "The Man I Want To Be" is the title track of Chris' current CD.
• The singer is in the pages of the March 29th issue of Country Weekly magazine. He's included in the publication's "Hometown" feature, which is on newsstands now.
• Chris will be a special guest on Alan Jackson's upcoming Freight Train tour, which begins on April 8th in Estero, Florida.

FAST FACTS

• Chris' last single, "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)", topped the charts last year.
• It was his first Number One single.
• Chris won the reality TV competition, Nashville Star, in 2006.

Dolly Parton usually keeps her political opinions to herself, but she couldn't contain her feelings about Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker during a recent interview with a radio station in Lewisburg, Tennessee. Dolly lashed out at Corker for refusing to regulate the nation's payday loan industry, which charges a 400 percent interest rate on short-term loans to military families and unemployed workers.

Corker removed the payday loan industry from regulation under proposed legislation that would give a new consumer protection agency the power to write and enforce rules governing payday lenders and other financial companies that are not part of banks. According to TheBoot.com, Dolly said the Senator did this so that payday lenders "could continue to charge 400 percent interest rates to the men and women in the U.S. military around the world who are fighting to preserve our freedom."

She said, "For a dad and a mom trying to raise some kids on a military paycheck, a 400 percent interest rate is not just dumb, it's un-American. Growing up poor, I know the hardship and tragedy that money matters can cause to a family."

Dolly added that the U.S. Senate is considering dropping the maximum rate of interest charged for payday loans from 400 percent to 36 percent.

• Dolly's Dollywood theme park marks its 25th season when it opens on Saturday (March 27th) in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

John Rich, Wynonna and Kenny Rogers performed at the grand opening Salute Gala at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa last weekend in San Antonio, Texas. The fundraiser event honored America's military service men and women who have been injured in the line of duty. More than 25 wounded warriors and their families attended the weekend festivities.

All proceeds from the weekend's events will be donated to the national Fisher House Foundation, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

FAST FACTS

• The Fisher House Foundation donates "comfort homes," which are built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center.
• The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund was established in 2000 to provide financial support for the dependents of United States military personnel lost in the line of duty.

Mark Chesnutt will replace Tracy Byrd on the Country Rat Pack tour this spring and summer. He joins "Rat Pack" regulars Tracy Lawrence and Richie McDonald on the run, which begins on April 3rd in Fort Pierce, Florida and runs through August 15th in Webster, Massachusetts.

COUNTRY TRIVIA

Q. What is Tim McGraw's real first name?
A. Samuel

COUNTRY ON THE TUBE TODAY!

CMT CROSSROADS/CMT 12:00PM (ET)
Def Leppard, Taylor Swift

SUPERSTAR SESSIONS: TIM McGRAW/GAC 12:00PM (ET)

DATELINE: TAYLOR SWIFT/CMT 1:00PM (ET)

GAC NIGHTS/GAC 8:00PM (ET)
Jeff Bridges, T-Bone Burnett

MY MUSIC MIX: CARRIE UNDERWOOD/GAC 10:00PM (ET)

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS TODAY!

Louie Anderson (comedian) (57)

• Robert Carradine (actor, Mean Streets, Lizzie McGuire, Revenge of the Nerds) (55)
• Lara Flynn Boyle (actress, The Practice, Twin Peaks) (40)
• Alyson Hannigan (actress, How I Met Your Mother, Buffy The Vampire Slayer's and Angel's Willow, American Pie 1 and 2) (36)
• Star Jones (former co-host, The View) (48)
• Kelly LeBrock (model, actress, Weird Science) (50)
• Bob Mackie (designer) (71, disputed)
• Donna Pescow (actress, Saturday Night Fever's Annette) (56)
• Tommy Hilfiger (designer) (59)
• Peyton Manning (quarterback, Indianapolis Colts) (34)
• Keisha Castle-Hughes (actress, Whale Rider) (20)
• Nena (German pop star, "99 Luftballons") (50)
• Nick Lowe (rocker, "Cruel To Be Kind") (61)
• Dougie Thompson (bassist, Supertramp) (59)
• Lee Oskar (singer-harmonica player, War) (62)
• Curtis Hanson (director, L.A. Confidential, The River Wild, 8 Mile) (65)
• Lake Bell (actress, The Practice, Boston Legal, Pride & Glory, What Happens in Vegas) (31)

ON THIS DAY IN COUNTRY!

• Carrie Underwood was the musical guest on NBC's Saturday Night Live in 2007, performing "Before He Cheats" and "Wasted."
• Kenny Chesney's "Beer In Mexico" moved into the Number One position in Billboard in 2007.
• Buck Owens performed for the last time at his Crystal Palace theater in Bakersfield, California in 2006. He died in his sleep the following morning.
• "Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)" took Alabama to the top spot on the Billboard country chart in 1984.
• Toby Keith married Tricia Lucus in 1984.
• Anne Murray charted a Number One country single in Billboard with "I Just Fall In Love Again" in 1979.
• Tanya Tucker's first Number One single, "What's Your Mama's Name," charted in 1973.
• Elvis Presley was sworn into the U.S. Army in 1958.
• Marty Robbins' first Columbia record, "Love Me Or Leave Me Alone" b/w "Tomorrow You'll Be Gone," was released in 1952.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

AUDRINA PATRIDGE STALKER WILL BE MENTALLY EVALUATED: A Los Angeles judge has ordered a man charged with stalking Audrina Patridge to get a mental evaluation. Zachary Loring attempted to plead guilty Tuesday (March 23rd) to a felony charge that he stalked The Hills star, but his attorney objected and a judge refused to accept the plea. The Associated Press reports that the 24-year-old criticized the court in a "brief profanity-laced tirade" before being returned to custody. He is being held on $150,000 bail after his arrest outside Patridge's home in February.

CLAUDIA SCHIFFER HAVING A GIRL: Claudia Schiffer is going to have a daughter. The supermodel, who is pregnant with her third child, announced the baby's sex earlier this week on German TV channel RTL. Schiffer -- who is due in May -- and her husband, director Matthew Vaughn, are already parents to two children, Caspar, 7, and Clementine, 5.

KARDASHIAN BODYGUARDS REPORTEDLY IN PAPARAZZI SCUFFLE: The Kardashian security team reportedly had a run-in with police after bodyguards "took care" of photographers that got too close to Kourtney's baby son Mason. TMZ.com reports that as Kim, Kourtney and her baby got out of a car on Monday in Miami, the paparazzo got way too close and Kim's security went on the offensive. The website adds that cops later came to the hotel where Kim was staying and asked to speak with her security people. The cops questioned the bodyguards and left.

SACHA BARON COHEN WEDDING CONFIRMED: Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher are definitely married. Although it was widely reported that the two tied the knot earlier this week, his rep exclusively confirmed the news to GossipCop.com on Tuesday. The couple of eight years tied the knot in a private, traditional Jewish ceremony in Paris.

HOLLYWOOD NEWS

JERRY SPRINGER LANDS NEW SHOW: Jerry Springer is hosting a new program on the Game Show Network. Baggage, which debuts on April 19th, gives three contestants the chance to win the eye of a prospective date, however, the contestants have to reveal their faults. Springer said of the program, "It's just fun and lighthearted. There's no life-changing issues." He added, "I'm like the crazy old uncle. People feel comfortable telling me their secrets, that I won't be judgmental."

'SCRUBS' REPORTEDLY OVER: Scrubs is over. Star Zach Braff announced on his Facebook page that the series will be coming to an end. He posted, "Many of you have asked, so here it is. it appears that 'New Scrubs', 'Scrubs 2.0', 'Scrubs with new kids', 'Scrubbier', 'Scrubs without JD' is no more. It was worth a try, but alas... it didn't work. zb" The news isn't official though -- creator Bill Lawrence told E! that while Scrubs "hasn't been canceled, we're all just assuming it's over."

RYAN PHILLIPPE HOSTING 'SNL': Ryan Phillippe will host Saturday Night Live on April 17th with musical guest Ke$ha. Phillippe also happens to appear in MacGruber, the SNL character-based movie that is set to be released this spring. Both Phillippe and Ke$ha will be making their SNL debuts.

'CAPTAIN AMERICA' ROLE SECURED: Chris Evans has reportedly accepted the role of Captain America for the upcoming Marvel adaptation. The Hollywood Reporter announced that not only has the actor accepted Marvel's offer for the role, but that the deal-making moved so fast it's now all about taking care of the little details. Evans was offered the role in Marvel Studios' production late last week, but there was reportedly some question of whether he would accept; namely, whether the Fantastic Four veteran wanted the baggage that comes with a high-profile action role.

WILL FERRELL SAYS NO 'ANCHORMAN 2': Will Ferrell is no longer optimistic that there'll be a sequel to his hit comedy Anchorman. Although he said last year that Anchorman 2 was in the works, he's now changed his tune because former co-stars like Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell are booked up. He said, "I thought we were doing it. Now I've heard it's going to be too hard to get everyone together."

JENNY MCCARTHY WRITING BOOK WITH HELP FROM TWITTER: Jenny McCarthy is planning to write a new book on relationships. The star launched a campaign on her Twitter account to gather fans' infidelity stories that she'll use to "look inside love and sex." Some of her questions so far have included "what makes a woman stay after your man cheats?" and "what do you fantasize about when you're having sex?"

KIDS' CHOICE AWARDS PRESENTERS ANNOUNCED: Robert Downey Jr., Katy Perry and Tina Fey are among the big time celebs who will be presenters at this Saturday's (March 27th) Kids' Choice Awards. Other stars who will be on hand for the show include Steve Carell, Chris Rock, Jackie Chan, Jonah Hill, Queen Latifah, David Spade, Lea Michele, Dev Patel, Miranda Cosgrove and Shaun White. Rihanna and Justin Bieber will perform while eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno will attempt to set a new world record for being catapulted into the show's trademark green slime via the Kids' Choice Awards Slime Slingshot. Kevin James hosts the show, which airs on Nickelodeon.

ROBIN WRIGHT COMING TO BROADWAY: Robin Wright and Richard Schiff are coming to Broadway. The Associated Press reports that the actors will make their Broadway debut next season in a revival of Lanford Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Talley's Folly."

FREIDA PINTO'S REP DENIES BOND CASTING: A spokesperson for Freida Pinto has denied reports the actress has signed up to be Daniel Craig's next Bond girl. A source told the Daily Mirror, "Freida was always the dream Bond girl, but initially she was nervous about accepting it. This is going to be the most ambitious 007 yet." However, her rep clarified, "As of today, Freida Pinto has not been approached to be part of the next Bond film."

THE TOP ELEVEN TAKE ON BILLBOARD HITS ON 'AMERICAN IDOL'

The remaining contestants on American Idol sang Number Ones from the Billboard Top 100 charts last night (March 23rd) and received some help from Miley Cyrus. Lee Dewyze started the night off with "The Letter" and managed to impress all the judges except for Simon. Paige Miles and Tim Urban more than disappointed the judges with their, quote, "corny" and "terrible" performances. Aaron Kelly refreshed the judges with his version of Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing." Crystal Bowersox was told she was in "another league" after her performance of Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee." Big Mike and Casey James gave fairly safe performances, while Andrew Garcia once again failed to impress the judges. Katie Stevens finally showed the judges where she belonged, but Didi Benami's version of "You're No Good" left the judges disappointed and confused. The show closed with Siobhan Magnus singing "Superstitious," which overall pleased the judges.

OPRAH WINFREY SETTLES SUIT WITH FORMER HEADMISTRESS

Oprah Winfrey has settled the defamation lawsuit filed against her by Novuyo Mzamane, the former headmistress of her South African leadership academy for girls, where some students claimed they were abused. Mzamane claimed that Winfrey defamed her professional character through remarks made by the talk show queen after the 2007 sex abuse scandal, making it impossible for her to find another job.

The settlement, for an undisclosed figure, was announced by lawyers in the case late Tuesday (March 23rd), after Winfrey and Mzamane met in private. "The two parties met woman to woman without their lawyers and are happy that they could resolve this dispute peacefully to their mutual satisfaction," said a statement released jointly by both sides.

• A federal trial was scheduled to begin in Philadelphia on March 29th. Winfrey -- who was due to testify in the case -- had first tried to get the suit dismissed, then tried to have the trial moved to Chicago but was shot down by the judge.
• Mzamane was born in Lesotho. She had previously worked at the private Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia before heading up Winfrey's school outside of Johannesburg, where she earned $150,000 a year. After her dismissal, she returned to Philadelphia, where she filed suit against Winfrey in 2007.

SIDE NOTES

• Mzamane [em-zah-MAH-nee] claimed that after the abuse scandal came to light in 2007, Winfrey damaged her reputation by falsely implying that she wasn't trustworthy. She pointed to the media mogul's comments about the need to clean house at the school and remarks such as, "I thought she cared about the girls of South Africa."

PAULA ABDUL TO HOST FLASH MOB DANCE SHOW?

The latest rumor about Paula Abdul's next job: she'll host a new reality series set in the world of flash mob dancing.

Sources tell EW.com that the show -- which is being produced by the folks behind The Biggest Loser -- would feature Abdul and dance movie guru Kenny Ortega choreographing mass dances in public locations.

• An NBC insider made it clear that the deal is far from done and anything could happen.

REP DENIES SANDRA BULLOCK IS SHOPPING FOR DIVORCE LAWYER

Sandra Bullock's rep is denying a report that she and husband Jesse James have been interviewing divorce lawyers. TMZ.com claims that Bullock's team is keen on hiring Lance Spiegel, who handled divorces for Charlie Sheen, Heather Locklear and Michael Jackson.

Insiders say that Jesse would not be initiating the divorce, but his business people have contacted several lawyers as well, asking the attorneys "if they'd be interested in taking the case" if Sandra files.

• Sandra's people slammed the report as "completely false," but given the bombshell cheating allegations against James, it wouldn't come as a surprise.
• Last week, James publicly apologized to his wife after tattoo model Michelle McGee claimed she had a fling with him as Bullock filmed her Oscar-winning role in The Blind Side last year.

SANDRA WANTS CUSTODY OF JESSE'S DAUGHTER?

Bullock -- who is extremely close with James's daughter with his ex-wife -- is reportedly considering fighting for custody of her.

X17Online.com reports, "[Sandra] is going to go ahead and file for divorce and she is also wanting to get custody of Mr. James' young daughter. Her lawyers are telling her that there is a possibility that she could custody since the child's mother is unfit and Jesse is an adulterer. She wants that little girl and is ready to fight to get her."

BETTY WHITE FURIOUS AT JESSE JAMES

Presumably thousands of Bullock fans would line up to confront Jesse over the allegations, but one person he should especially watch out for is Betty White. A source close to Bullock's 88-year-old The Proposal co-star told PopEater.com, "Betty wants to kick Jesse James' a--. Betty is furious and just cannot understand why he would be so stupid. He had everything. A beautiful, talented wife who adored him, an amazing daughter that Sandra treats as her own, and he has thrown it all away for some floozy."

• White didn't mention the tattooed biker when talking to Entertainment Tonight earlier this week, but addressed the situation by saying, "I love her with all my heart. [She's] one of the greatest human beings on the planet. We're all deeply, deeply saddened. At such a high point in her life, it's tough, but I think the less other people have to say about it and let her work it out . . . the better."

SPOOF TAPE COMING FROM MICHELLE MCGEE?

The New York Post reports that in recent days, McGee filmed a yet-to-surface spoof video of the tabloid situation where she plays herself, a girlfriend plays Bullock and a look-alike stands in for James.

CHECK IT OUT: Reasons to get a divorce: http://tinyurl.com/yh4vqln

'DANCING WITH THE STARS' PREMIERE GETS BIG RATINGS

Dancing With the Stars premiered to big numbers on Monday (March 22nd) night. Entertainment Weekly reported that the 23.9 million viewers marked the show's highest premiere audience ever.

• PerezHilton.com speculates that Kate Gosselin -- who underwhelmed the judges with her performance -- was likely the big draw.

DIRT FROM BACKSTAGE AT THE SHOW

Vienna Girardi isn't exactly sucking up to her future in-laws, according to witnesses at Monday (March 22nd) night's taping. Sources at the show told Usmagazine.com that that Vienna ignored fiance Jake Pavelka's parents, who were there to cheer on the former Bachelor.

The witness told the magazine, "They did not speak at all or interact -- it was very noticeable to me." Former Bachelor contestant Gia Allemand, who was also in attendance, received the bulk of Vienna's attention. The source continued, "Gia and Vienna chatted throughout the entire show. They whispered and chatted. Sometimes they'd turn around and talk to [Bachelorette stars] Ed Swiderski and Jillian Harris. But they never talked to [Jake's] parents at all -- even after Jake performed!"

• In other news -- forget Kate Gosselin -- the show's resident diva appears to be Pamela Anderson. A source claims that the bombshell got bored with the post-show press and left after ten minutes. Before she took off, however, she "requested that every TV outlet wishing to interview her on camera had to have ring lights for her. She would not interview without that lighting."
• And although they may not be on top of the leader board, the early fan favorites seem to be Niecy Nash and her partner Louis Van Amstel. A witness told Usmagazine.com, "Everyone went crazy cheering for them, giving them a standing ovation. Niecy even got a little emotional over all the people cheering! They were the most likeable couple of the night."

ROSIE O'DONNELL CONFIRMS RETURN TO TV

Rosie O'Donnell confirmed widespread reports that she's returning to daytime television in 2011. The 47-year-old told Entertainment Tonight, "It's gonna be a lot different because I'm a lot older, you know. I've grown a lot and I think that it's time."

She added that the program will be "a single topic . . . an hour-long show about life, love and laughter." There will be "no desk . . . and no celebs promoting movies, [but there] may be a few giveaways."

• Producer Scott Carlin noted that the show will not be a platform for Rosie's political views. He said, "What she did on 'The View' has absolutely nothing to do with this show. Rosie's a comedian at her heart. That's very much what's going to ground and direct the material that she deals with, not that there won't be serious subjects."
• O'Donnell also confirmed that it was Oprah Winfrey's impending exit from the broadcast television market that inspired her to get back on the TV wagon. She said, "A lot of companies have asked in the few years that I've been gone, since 2002. Now all my kids are in school and I've got my days free, and with Oprah leaving there's a huge void in daytime."

'WIFE SWAP' TEEN SUING SHOW FOR MAKING HER LOOK SPOILED

A teen ex-beauty queen featured on Wife Swap is suing the show for $100 million, claiming that they intentionally ruined her life by making her look like a spoiled brat, exposing her to "ridicule, mockery and derision."

The suit, which also targets Disney, ABC and RDF Media, charges: "For their own profit, defendants purposefully, intentionally and knowingly caused severe emotional and psychological harm to a fragile 15-year-old."

Alicia Guastafarro, who is now 18, claims she was so hurt by "incessant verbal and physical assaults from her peers," that she had to finish high school in a special program.
Although the show -- which features families swapping mothers -- is billed as a reality program, Guastafarro says that much of what was shown of her on TV was scripted.

• The former Little Miss Buffalo said she was instructed to pretend to get a "Christmas present" every morning, to angrily return her cereal to her mom and to repeat such lines as "I am the most popular girl in school."
• She added that clauses in her contract "prohibited and discouraged" her from explaining her behavior and that while her mom, Karen, got $20,000 from the show, she didn't receive any compensation.

CHECK IT OUT:

• See Alicia on Wife Swap: http://tinyurl.com/3j2rh5
• Ways you're spoiling your child: http://tinyurl.com/yj5h2zt

It is a winnning Wednesday on the Jessi and Friends morning show!

YOU can win tix to see Rosanna Cash for this Sat night, 8pm at the Aquarius, or tix to the Laughlin River Stampede this Thursday thru Sunday, I even have tix to see Darryl Worley Friday night, 9pm at Harrah's and Richochet tonight thru Sunday night, 8pm ...each night at the Riverside Resort. Whew! That is a LOT of Winning on your Country Concert Connection, the FLAG!!!!

HEADLINE NEWS!!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

OBAMA SIGNS HEALTH CARE REFORM LEGISLATION: President Obama made it official yesterday (March 23rd), signing the health care reform legislation that was narrowly passed by the House on Sunday (March 21st). Democratic lawmakers cheered in a rally-like atmosphere at the signing ceremony, as Obama said, "Our presence here today is remarkable and improbable. With all the punditry, all of the lobbying, all the game-playing that passes for governing in Washington, it's been easy at times to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated thing." Now Obama will mount a post-passage effort to sell the benefits of the bill, beginning Thursday (March 25th) in Iowa City, where he announced his health care plan in May 2007 as a presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, attorneys general from 13 states filed suit to stop the legislation just minutes after it was signed by Obama. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum took the lead in the lawsuit that contends the legislation is unconstitutional because it forces people to buy insurance. The Justice Department, which is responsible for defending U.S. law in court, pledged to vigorously fight any challenges to the new health care law. Spokesman Charles Miller said, "We are confident that this statute is constitutional and we will prevail."

OBAMA AND NETANYAHU MEET AT WHITE HOUSE: President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Tuesday (May 23rd) in a two meetings at the White House amid a serious dispute about settlement construction in east Jerusalem, spurred by the announcement that was made when Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Israel two weeks ago. Obama and Netanyahu initially met for about 90 minutes in the Oval Office, a half-hour longer than scheduled. Then Obama left and Netanyahu stayed behind to consult with his staff. He then asked for a second meeting with Obama, who came back for another 35 minutes of talks. Neither side issued a formal statement on what was discussed in the meetings. The meetings came after Netanyahu received a bipartisan warm public reception from Congress. Earlier this week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Israel's expansionist housing policies erode trust and the U.S. position as an honest broker. However, Netanyahu defiantly said Israel would continue to build in Jerusalem.

TODAY'S FYI:

BIDEN CAUGHT DROPPING THE F-BOMB AT HEALTH CARE BILL SIGNING: Ah, Joe Biden. The vice president can always be counted on for an unintended chuckle, and he didn't disappoint yesterday (March 23rd), getting caught dropping the F-bomb on an open mike during the ceremony for the signing of the health care reform legislation. After introducing President Obama to a group of ecstatic Democratic lawmakers, Biden hugged the president and could be heard saying, "This is a big f***ing deal!" The White House laughed it off, with spokesman Robert Gibbs tweeting later, "And yes, Mr. Vice President, you're right." Biden fans can buy a T-shirt with the now-famous phrase at www.zazzle.com/hcr_big_fing_deal_tshirt-235071564353624757, where they were available within hours of his gaffe.

NEW RULES CRACK DOWN ON GIFT CARD FEES, EXPIRATIONS: The Federal Reserve issued new rules Tuesday (March 23rd) to protect Americans from unexpected fees or expiration restrictions on gift cards. Starting on August 22nd, people must have at least five years to use a gift card before it expires. Additionally, fees can only be imposed under certain conditions: if the card hasn't been used for at least a year; if clear disclosures are given about the fees; and if no more than one fee is charged a month. Congress ordered the Fed to issue the new rules under a law enacted last year.

STUDY: OLDER WOMEN HAVE TO EXERCISE ONE HOUR A DAY TO MAINTAIN WEIGHT: New research has found just how hard women need to work to keep off weight as they get older, with a study in today's (March 24th) Journal of the American Medical Association finding that at least an hour of moderate activity is needed for middle-aged women at a healthy weight who aren't dieting. For women who start out already overweight, they need even more exercise to keep off additional weight without eating less. Moderate exercise includes things like brisk walking, leisurely bicycling and golfing. Both men and women often put on weight as they get older, partly because their metabolism slows down. There's also a tendency to become more sedentary with age, while not changing eating habits. Additionally, hormonal changes during menopause can make women prone to gain weight, especially around the belly.

INDIA'S MILITARY TO USE WORLD'S HOTTEST CHILI PEPPER FOR WEAPON: India's military will be using the world's hottest chili pepper to make tear gas-like hand grenades that can be used as a weapon. India's thumb-sized "bhut jolokia," or "ghost chili," was named the world's spiciest chili by Guinness World Records in 2007. It has more than one million Scoville units, the measure used for a chili's spiciness. By comparison, jalapeno peppers range from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units, and Tabasco sauce has 2,500 to 5,000. R. B. Srivastava of India's Defense Research and Development Organization told AP about the new weapon, "This is definitely going to be an effective nontoxic weapon because it's pungent smell can choke terrorists and force them out of their hide-outs." He said an aerosol spray version is also in trials that could be used by the police to control and disperse mobs.

PORTION SIZE HAS INCREASED IN LAST SUPPER PAINTINGS: The size of the food portions in famous Last Supper paintings is an odd topic for research, but Cornell University food behavior scientist Brian Wansink decided to look into it, and found that they've grown substantially over the last millennium. The researchers looked at the portions in 52 Last Supper paintings -- including the most famous one of all, Leonardo da Vinci's -- and found that growing portion size is not unique to our modern society. In paintings between 1000 and 2000, they found that the size of the main dish grew 69 percent as they went from the oldest paintings to the most recent, the size of the plate 66 percent, and the bread 23 percent.

SPORTS:

NFL CHANGES OVERTIME RULES FOR PLAYOFF GAMES: The NFL on Tuesday (March 23rd) changed its overtime rules for postseason games from the sudden-death format. Starting next season, if a team wins the overtime coin toss in a playoff game and then kicks a field goal, the other team gets the ball. If that next series ends with a field goal for the other team, play will then continue under the sudden-death rules. However, if the team winning the toss immediately scores a touchdown, the game is over. Team owners voted 28-4 in favor of the change, which was backed by Commissioner Roger Goodell. The change was made because statistics show that winning the overtime coin toss has become too determinative of who wins the game.

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

ON THE TUBE TODAY & WEEKEND!

CBS

• SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS - The castaways learn that two people will be sent home in a rare double elimination; one contestant risks it all at the tribal council.
• CRIMINAL MINDS (repeat)
• CSI: NY (repeat)

NBC

• MERCY - Veronica starts to confront her PTSD; Harris and Chloe try to help a college football player with a possible brain injury.
• LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (repeat)
• LAW& ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT - When a disabled woman is beaten and raped, Benson and Stabler think someone close to the victim is responsible.

FOX

• HUMAN TARGET - Chance must protect a prize fighter being targeted by a ruthless businessman.
• AMERICAN IDOL - Miley Cyrus performs; Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato perform; another contestant is eliminated.

ABC

• MODERN FAMILY (repeat)
• THE MIDDLE - Frankie worries about her job when a motivational consultant (Amy Sedaris) is asked to speak to the sales staff; Mike gives advice to Sue's ex-boyfriend and helps Brick with a school project.
• MODERN FAMILY - Claire and Phil each take on one of kids' school projects; Gloria and Cameron bond during a night out.
• COUGAR TOWN - A wine rep sets her sights on Grayson; Jules vows to give up wine for a month.
• UGLY BETTY - After being knocked unconscious at a photo shoot, Betty has a dream in which her orthodontist shows her how her life would have been had she never worn braces.

CW

• AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Former contestant Toccara Jones tests the contestants' fashion knowledge; the contestants take part in a dance-inspired photo shoot.
• FLY GIRLS - (series premiere) Louise and Mandy attend a party with a guy they met on a flight; Farrah and Tasha prepare for the arrival of Nikole, their new roommate.
• HIGH SOCIETY - Tinsley looks for dirt on her ex-husband; Dale crashes a benefit.

COMEDY CENTRAL

• SOUTH PARK - The boys are given a controversial book that inspires them to write one of their own.
• UGLY AMERICANS - Mark tries to teach Werewolf and its victim a lesson in trust; Leonard pursues his dream of becoming a famous magician.

MTV

• THE REAL WORLD - Josh lands his first big gig; Mike and Tanner renew their commitment.

DAY TIME TALK SHOW

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW - Gerard Butler, Sonya Fitzpatrick
THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW - (repeat)
THE VIEW - Richard Lewis, Eden Sher, Atticus Shaffer, Charlie McDermott

LATE NIGHT TALK SHOWS

THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (CBS) - Tina Fey, Bryan Cranston, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO (NBC) - Ed Helms
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (ABC) - Gerard Butler, Gabrielle Union, Jamie Cullum
THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON (CBS) - Jonah Hill, Emily Proctor, Mishka
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON (NBC) - Ben Stiller, Liam Gallagher, the Clientele
LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY (NBC) - Paul riekhoff, Bad Religion, the Ravonettes
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART (COMEDY CENTRAL) - (repeat)
THE COLBERT REPORT (COMEDY CENTRAL) - (repeat)
LOPEZ TONIGHT - Eva Longoria Parker, Sinbad, Eric Andre

OFF BEAT BRIEFS

TEEN HIRES HITMAN TO KILL FATHER: An Italian woman was arrested on Tuesday for hiring two assassins to murder her overbearing father, according to authorities. Ilenia Moretti, a 19-year-old from the small town of Luzzara, was caught after the second hitman changed his mind and confessed to the police. Moretti recruited hitman Alex Grantana from a nearby town in order to ''break free from years of intimidation.'' The teenager has asked her father for 5,000 euros for a trip to America, which she then used to hire the hitman with her mother's consent. Moretti was found hiding in a nearby house and her mother is being questioned for her possible role in attempted murder. (Reuters)

MAN CAUGHT SNEAKING INTO JAIL: A man from Florida is sentenced to 15 years of prison for violating his probation and trying to break into the Brevard County Jail. Sylvester Jiles, 25, was convicted of trespassing on jail property and resisting an officer. According to authorities, Jiles tried to climb a 12-foot fence at the Brevard County Detention Center. He was caught and hospitalized from the severe cuts caused by the barbed wire. He was released a week earlier for accepting a plea on a manslaughter charge. Jiles begged jail officials to take him in, saying that he feared retaliation from his victim's family. (AP)

WOMAN CANNOT HAVE SEX INDOORS: Danielle Vincely has a sexual phobia that prevents her from having sex indoors. The 24-year-old has had this problem since the first time she had sex at the age of 18. Vincely claims that every time she attempted to have sex indoors; she would become panicky and want it to be over. Her Portsmouth doctor tried to cure her phobia with anti-depressants, but Vincely decided that she would rather continue having sex outdoors than be dependant on drugs. "Guys love it at first," said Vincely. "They think it's kinky making love under the stars in the woods, on beaches, park benches and car bonnets. But after a while they get annoyed, especially if it's raining, and dump me.'' (newsoftheworld.co.uk)

TEENS' PIZZA HEIST BRINGS ON SWAT TEAM: Teenagers in Alaska with a plot to steal a delivery man's pizza brought on a SWAT team, according to police. A man who was trying to deliver a pizza Sunday night was confronted outside a home by a man with a gun and a stick. The man said three other people attacked him from behind and grabbed the pizza without taking his money. Police spokesman, Lt. Dave Parker says the delivery man followed one of the attackers to a home where she was arrested. The other three suspects barricaded themselves in the home which prompted authorities to call in a SWAT team. All four teenagers, two boys and two girls, were arrested on charged of robbery and assault. (AP)

DID YOU KNOW?

CHILDREN ARE GOOD FOR WOMENS' SELF-ESTEEM: Having children can raise a woman's self-esteem, a new study suggests. Researchers believe that being needed by young children can increase their feelings of self-worth and can cut the chances that a woman will commit suicide. The risks fell further the more children she had, the study found. Part of the reason could be an increased sense of happiness and self-esteem that woman feel after giving birth. They added that mothers often have more supportive social networks than women who do not have children. (Telegraph)

EVEN FAT MODELS MAKE GIRLS FEEL BAD: Dove's Real Beauty ad campaigns are seen as groundbreaking forays into being a bit more realistic about how women look, while Glamour's new habit of featuring regular-sized broads is widely praised. However -- according to a new study by the University of Arizona, ads featuring bigger models don't actually make most women feel very good about themselves. Apparently, pretty much everything makes women feel like crap about how they look. According to the researchers, larger women feel better about themselves when ads don't include any models at all, average-sized ladies actually have lower self-esteem after looking at ads with plus-sized models rather than uber-skinny ones, and thin folk prefer the traditional tiny models. The study did, however, come up with one way bigger models can be used to actually influence product sales: " . . . if a normal-size woman sees moderately heavy images in ads for weight-loss products, she might feel overweight and be more inclined to buy a diet plan or gym membership." (Celebrifi.com)

BANANAS CAN STOP SPREAD OF HIV? A protein found in bananas helps prevent HIV from entering the body. BanLec, which is extracted from bananas, naturally encases HIV in a sugary-envelope. In doing so, it acts to stop the kind of viral intrusion that leads to HIV infection. In lab tests, BanLec was as effective in preventing the spread of HIV as two synthetic anti-HIV drugs. (Asylum.com)

DID YOU KNOW?

CHILDREN ARE GOOD FOR WOMENS' SELF-ESTEEM: Having children can raise a woman's self-esteem, a new study suggests. Researchers believe that being needed by young children can increase their feelings of self-worth and can cut the chances that a woman will commit suicide. The risks fell further the more children she had, the study found. Part of the reason could be an increased sense of happiness and self-esteem that woman feel after giving birth. They added that mothers often have more supportive social networks than women who do not have children. (Telegraph)

EVEN FAT MODELS MAKE GIRLS FEEL BAD: Dove's Real Beauty ad campaigns are seen as groundbreaking forays into being a bit more realistic about how women look, while Glamour's new habit of featuring regular-sized broads is widely praised. However -- according to a new study by the University of Arizona, ads featuring bigger models don't actually make most women feel very good about themselves. Apparently, pretty much everything makes women feel like crap about how they look. According to the researchers, larger women feel better about themselves when ads don't include any models at all, average-sized ladies actually have lower self-esteem after looking at ads with plus-sized models rather than uber-skinny ones, and thin folk prefer the traditional tiny models. The study did, however, come up with one way bigger models can be used to actually influence product sales: " . . . if a normal-size woman sees moderately heavy images in ads for weight-loss products, she might feel overweight and be more inclined to buy a diet plan or gym membership." (Celebrifi.com)

BANANAS CAN STOP SPREAD OF HIV? A protein found in bananas helps prevent HIV from entering the body. BanLec, which is extracted from bananas, naturally encases HIV in a sugary-envelope. In doing so, it acts to stop the kind of viral intrusion that leads to HIV infection. In lab tests, BanLec was as effective in preventing the spread of HIV as two synthetic anti-HIV drugs. (Asylum.com)