FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, March 12, 2006

Failure takes the box office, Neverland Ranch shut down, American Idol finalists set, more

By Kerry Shaw Mar 12, 2006 6:30 PMTags

FAILURE TAKES OFF: The Sarah Jessica Parker-Matthew McConaughey romantic comedy Failure to Launch debuting atop the box office, grossing an estimated $24.6 million. The Shaggy Dog finished in second place, with $16 million.

NEVERMORE? The state of California effectively shutting down Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, citing his failure to provide his employees with health insurance. He now faces lawsuits if he doesn?t pay $400,000 in penalties and back pay owed to nearly 50 workers. Jackson is currently living in Bahrain and had no immediate comment.

SIMON SAYS: Four more wannabes eliminated on last night's American Idol, leaving the show with 12 contestants.

IDOL ADD: Fox Reality planning to air American Idol Extra, a weekly behind-the-scenes look of the popular talent contest that premieres Mar. 16.

It?s WHO YOU KNOW: Osama bin Laden's niece, aspiring singer Wafah Dufour Bin Ladin, starring in a reality show about her life and quest for stardom.

MANOREXIA: Dennis Quaid admitting he battled anorexia in the mid-90s, after losing 40 lbs. to star in Wyatt Earp, the New York Post reports.

NOT A GOOD THING: Following a stint in prison and the cancellation of her Apprentice, Martha Stewart falling off Forbes' annual list of billionaires. But George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump remain really rich.

TABLOID TALE: Both George Clooney and Teri Hatcher denying a Page Six report that claimed the newly minted Oscar winner was the purported mystery man who dumped the actress, prompting Hatcher to go public with her painful past about being molested by her uncle.

HULK OF A LAWSUIT: Former Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno suing his brother and his wife in January for trademark infringement for using the former bodybuilding champ's name and likeness to promote their fitness equipment business.

OFF THE HOOK: Prosecutors opting not to charge former Creed frontman Scott Stapp with public drunkenness after the singer allegedly showed up hammered at Los Angeles International Airport in February with his new wife on the way to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

CASE CLOSED: David and Victoria Beckham reaching a confidential settlement with the News of the World over a story that alleged the couple's marriage was a sham.

LIVE STRONG: Lance Armstrong spending Wednesday comforting Will Reeve, after the 13-year-old lost his mother, Dana Reeve, to lung cancer. Will's father, Christopher Reeve, died in October 2004.