FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, April 17, 2006

FRIENDS WITH MONEY: Oprah Winfrey denying rumors that she is throwing an $8 million wedding for Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. Aniston calling into Monday's Oprah Winfrey Show and calling the rumors "so unbelievable."

OFF THE DOCKET: A federal judge tossing a lawsuit filed against Michael Jackson by a man who claimed he was molested by the pop star more than 20 years ago.

SAD NEWS: Ashanti canceling a concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday after her cousin, Quinshae Snead, was killed in a car accident while running an errand for the singer before the show.

COSTLY COMMERCIAL: The price of a 30-second ad during the American Idol season finale swelling to $1.3 million, per AdAge.com.

MAKING AMENDS: Daniel Biechele, the former manager of Great White, writing personalized apology notes to the families of the 100 people who died in the Rhode Island nightclub fire in 2003.

SNARED: John McTiernan, director of Die Hard and Predator, agreeing to plead guilty in the Anthony Pellicano wiretapping case.

KEEPING HER PEACE: Jane Fonda saying she would like to tour the U.S. in protest of the war in Iraq, but that her controversial stance on the Vietnam war left her with "too much baggage."

MAKING NOISE: Producer Jim Diamond, who worked on the first two White Stripes albums, suing the band for a share of the royalties, claiming he helped to create the band's signature sound.

GOING FOR GOLD: Steven Spielberg teaming with Zhang Yimou to help design the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

TAKING THE STAGE: Rod Stewart performing on Wednesday's American Idol after serving as the celebrity coach for this week's competition.

HITTING THE ROAD: Jewel and Rob Thomas kicking off a joint summer tour May 23 in Clearwater, Florida.

DOING GOOD: Sopranos stars Lorraine Bracco and Aida Turturro and executive producer Ilene Landress attending the Stir, Splatter & Roll fundraiser to benefit Publicolor, a New York non-profit organization that benefits at-risk public school students.

OUT OF TUNE: Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds filing a breach of contract suit against Anita Baker, claiming she owes him more than $250,000.

NOT TO CODE: Conservative religious group Opus Dei requesting a disclaimer on the upcoming big-screen adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, which it claims offers a deformed image of the Catholic church.

HAPPY ENDING: Elton John's animated film, Gnomeo and Juliet, which was taken out of development last month by Disney, is back in action at Miramax with Kate Winslet attached to star, per Daily Variety.

REALLY GOOD SONG: The line "One life, with each other, sisters, brothers" from U2's "One," voted Britain's favorite song lyric in a poll conducted by VH1.

GOT GAME: Professional videogaming coming to cable later this year, with USA Network planning to air seven one-hour episodes featuring the pro gamer circuit and its star competitors.

BEST EASTER EVER: Scary Movie 4 grossing an estimated $41 million in its debut weekend, the highest Easter opening ever. The spoof also became the first number one hit for the Weinstein Company, the new venture founded by the former Miramax bosses.

NAMIBIAN STORK WATCH: A Namibian governor telling a local newspaper that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will have their baby in his country and are considering giving it a Namibian name.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: Gena Lee Nolin and her husband, Cale Hulse, welcoming a son, People magazine reports.

PROOF FILES: Mario Etheridge, 28, a suspect in the shooting death of rapper Proof, a hip-hop artist and Eminem confidante, was arraigned Saturday on a pair of weapons charges.