SIGNING OFF: Tom Brokaw choking up during an appearance on NBC's Today Show Wednesday, where he was toasted by his staff in recognition of his last day as NBC Nightly News anchor. Brokaw will be replaced by Brian Williams.
BLAKE WATCH: A jury empaneled for Robert Blake's murder trial Wednesday. Five women and seven men make up the panel and three women and three men were selected as alternates. The jury will hear opening statements Monday morning.
THE YEAR'S BEST: The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures naming Finding Neverland the Best Picture of 2004. Annette Bening was named Best Actress and Jamie Foxx was named Best Actor.
CONTROVERSY: Viacom's CBS and UPN networks rejecting a paid advertisement from the United Church of Christ in which an announcer says "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we," deeming it too controversial for network television because the ad touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minorities by other groups.
REMEMBERED: Passions star David Bailey drowned in a swimming pool accident at his Los Angeles apartment last week, police said. He was 71.
USING THE FORCE: George Lucas donating $100,000 to California State University, Long Beach to be used for film department scholarships and equipment. Though Lucas attended the University of Southern California, his close friend, Steven Spielberg, attended Cal State Long Beach.
CRACKING THE CODE: Tom Hanks set to star in The Da Vinci Code, making his third collaboration with director Ron Howard. Sony Pictures said Tuesday that it plans to release the film on May 19, 2006.
SPIDEY DVD HAS LEGS: Spider-Man 2 sold more than six million combined DVD and VHS units on its first day out, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
BOMB-ING THE CHARTS: U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb topping the charts with nearly 840,000 copies sold in its first week of release, per Nielsen SoundScan data.
KUDOS: Beach Boy Brian Wilson to be named the MusiCares 2005 Person of the Year in recognition of "his accomplishments as a musician and humanitarian," it was announced Wednesday. Wilson will receive the honor Feb. 11 at a ceremony in Los Angeles.
STORK WATCH: Joe Piscopo welcoming his third child with wife, Kimberly on Monday, per Access Hollywood. Piscopo also has a son from a previous marriage.
PUBLIC BACHELOR: Bill Maher filing court papers asserting that he is a "very public" bachelor who never promised to marry and support ex-girlfriend Coco Johnsen, who is suing him for $9 million.
BAD VIBE: Police investigating allegations that Suge Knight was involved in the Nov. 16 attack on Dr. Dre at the Vibe Awards, per the Los Angeles Times. Knight has denied any connection. Meanwhile, Dre met with Santa Monica police Monday and demanded that the man who struck him be charged with assault and battery.
SO SIMPLE: Fox announcing that Simple Life 3: Interns, starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, will premiere Jan. 26. 24 is due to return on Mondays, beginning Jan. 10, and Bernie Mac will return for Friday nights, starting Jan. 14.
BACK TO SCHOOL: Curb Your Enthusiasm star Cheryl Hines teaming with cable channel Oxygen to develop Campus Girls, a series based on improvisational comedy, per the Hollywood Reporter. Hines is set to executive produce.
SWAN SONG: Luciano Pavarotti announcing that he plans to embark on a 40-city tour that will end with his retirement. The tenor had no date in mind for his final performance, but said he planned to do two to three concerts per month.
NANNY 911: Radio host Don Imus slapped with a lawsuit by a former nanny he fired and allegedly called a "terrorist" on the air after discovering she was carrying a pocket knife and a cap gun while caring for his 5-year-old son last year.
SUPER PICKUP: FX ordering six one-hour episodes of Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock's documentary series pilot, 30 Days, per Daily Variety.
IF IT MAKES HIM HAPPY:: A New York jury on Tuesday acquitted Ambrose Kappos, the man accused of stalking Sheryl Crow. It took the jury less than three hours to deliver their verdict, which could have sent Kappos, who said he was Crow's "spiritual twin," to jail.
WHAT IS LOSER, ALEX? Jeopardy! whiz Ken Jennings' 74-game win streak coming to an end after he failed to answer a question correctly in Final Jeopardy. Jennings walks away as the biggest winner in game-show history, having earned more than $2.5 from a remarkable run that began June 2.
STAYING UPBEAT: According to her rep, Elizabeth Taylor is coping well and remains cheerful despite being diagnosed with congestive heart failure, in which the heart fails to pump enough blood through the body, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath.
KUDOS! Alicia Keys, Usher and OutKast leading the list of finalists for this year's Billboard Awards, airing live Dec. 8 on Fox from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest and feature performances by Gwen Stefani, Nelly and Green Day.