PORN AGAIN: Rick Solomon, Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriend and sex tape costar, filing the first lawsuit in the video scandal. Solomon is suing the Hilton family and their publicist for slander, claiming they have portrayed him as a criminal.
KING OF SWEEPS: CBS airing a one-hour sweeps special on the career of Michael Jackson; the November 26 show will include a new video for Jackson's latest single, "One More Chance."
WISE CRACKING: Actor Jason Schwartzman tapped to star in Fox's midseason comedy Cracking Up opposite Molly Shannon, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Production on the series is due to begin soon.
JOINING UP: Actor Scarlett Johansson is close to joining the cast of Synergy, the next film by director brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, Daily Variety reports. Dennis Quaid also stars.BUSTED! Wynonna Judd arrested in Nashville Thursday morning for driving under the influence. A cop pulled her over for going 47 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone--she then registered more than twice the legal limit on a breath test. She has been released on bail.
JUDD ADD: Judd releasing a statement following her arrest, saying, "I know there is never a situation where drinking and driving is acceptable and I take full responsibility for my error in judgement...I am always thinking about the safety of others and that of my family and have learned a very serious lesson. "
HIGH TIMES: Cypress Hill announcing that they'll donate a portion of the proceeds from the ticket sales for their Smoke Out festival in San Bernadino, California this weekend to the Red Cross in support of California wildfire victims. The festival is in its sixth year and features deejay sets and live music.
DANCE SUIT: Jennifer Lopez sued by a dancer who claims that the music video for Lopez's song "I'm Glad" is an unauthorized depiction of her life. Maureen Marder served as the inspiration for the movie Flashdance, which in turn inspired J. Lo's video.
BUNNY POWER: Cameron Diaz to play one of three Playboy centerfolds who completed the Eco-Challenge, the most grueling adventure race reality show on television, reports Variety.
A SPOONFUL OF MAGIC: Julie Christie joining the cast of the next Harry Potter flick due out next summer. The actress plays a barmaid named Madam Rosmerta in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
MORE POTTER: Meanwhile, the trailer for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban made its debut on the Internet and will begin its run in theaters Friday. The film opens in June 2004.
SURF'S UP: Former Beach Boy Al Jardine winning an appeal to sue ex-bandmate Mike Love over the right to tour under the Beach Boys name. A trial date is expected in mid-2004.
PAY UP! Rosie O'Donnell trying to recover $8 million in legal fees from her court battle with the former publisher, Gruner+Jahr, of her eponymous magazine.
COVERING UP: The Barbi Twins suing Larry Flynt to prevent him from using sexually explicit photos taken of the two of them together. Flynt's rep calls the move a publicity stunt.
PARIS, UNCENSORED: Don Thrasher, the man who sold Paris Hilton's sex tape, says her ex-boyfriend Rick Solomon, the tape's other star, was involved in its duplication and sale, Celebrity Justice reports. Solomon's lawyer says his client denies the charges and plans to sue Thrasher for stealing the tape.
MORE PARIS DENIALS: Girls Gone Wild head office denying it is behind the Paris Hilton sex tape. "Girls Gone Wild was indeed approached about a Paris videotape," said a statement released Thursday, adding, "We would have absolutely nothing to do with an improperly attained video and told the person approaching us such."
BENNIFER BACK ON? Women's Wear Daily is claiming Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are re-planning their wedding at an "impenetrable" California estate.
IN HER PANTIES: Meanwhile, J.Lo launching a lingerie line in fall 2004 inspired by her own style.
DOLL PLEA: Courtney Love pleading innocent to felony drug possession charges in Los Angeles today. Before the hearing, the singer-actress rambled to reporters about money, flings with married men and throwing a sleeping pill at a police officer.
GUEST GONE WRONG: A onetime guest is suing Dr. Phil claiming false imprisonment before the taping of a show led to injuries and the amputation of her leg.
STARS & STRIPES SQUABBLE: Jethro Tull scratched from the playlist of a New Jersey radio station after frontman Ian Anderson criticized displays of the flag. "It's easy to confuse patriotism with nationalism. Flag waving ain't gonna do it," Anderson told the Asbury Park Press.
YO, ADRIAN! Chuck Wepner, the former boxer who claims to be the inspiration for Sylvester Stallone's Rocky character, suing the actor for $15 million in damages for continuing to use his name in promoting the movies.
STICK TO THE DAY JOB: Satirist Al Franken considering running against Minnesota's Republican Senator Norm Coleman in 2008.
GOING SOLO: JC Chasez announcing five December club dates to promote his solo CD Schizophrenic, which is scheduled for release on January 27, 2004.
MATERIAL WORLD: Madonna inking a deal to develop dolls, apparel, accessories, cosmetics, stationery, room decor and back-to-school products aimed at 7- to 12-year-olds.
HONORED: President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush presenting the National Medal of Art awards at the White House Wednesday; this year's recipients include George Strait, Ron Howard, Buddy Guy, Tommy Tune and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
RETURN TO MAYBERRY: A whopping 21.6 million viewers tuning in for The Andy Griffith Show Reunion on Tuesday, according to Nielsen Media Research.
EXTREME TV: ABC ordering six episodes of Extreme Makeover: The Home Edition, which features a group of designers and workmen rehauling a house in seven days.
ROCK ON: UPN giving a full season pickup order to its sitcom Rock Me Baby, starring Dan Cortese.
SO SORRY: CBS sending an open letter of apology to Carol Burnett after a tribute to her was left out of the network's 75th anniversary special last week.
LOOKING MAHVELOUS! The Friars Club in New York dedicating its downstairs lounge to Billy Crystal. The Billy Crystal Room will be decorated with rare photos of the funnyman's career.
RED LETTER DAY: Bob Hope getting a post office in Burbank, California, named in his honor.
REMEMBERED: Dorothy Fay Ritter, mother of the late John Ritter and wife of singing cowboy Tex Ritter, died November 5 of natural causes. She was 88.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Because of John Ritter's death, Disney is changing the name of ABC's sitcom from 8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter to simply 8 Simple Rules.