FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, April 27, 2005

STRAIGHT UP MAD: Paula Abdul's lawyer firing off a letter to ABC warning the network to back off unsubstantiated allegations about the American Idol judge in its upcoming exposé, Fallen Idol.

SHOCKER: American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis eliminated from competition Wednesday.

IDOL TIME: The 10 American Idol finalists heading out on the Pop Tarts Presents American Idols Live! tour, kicking off July 17 in Florida.

JACKSON WATCH: Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe taking the stand Wednesday afternoon and--in a blow to the prosecution's case--testifying that she was never asked to make a rebuttal videotape for Jackson following the damaging documentary Living with Michael Jackson.

OZ CAUSE: Velvet Revolver signing on for Ozzfest 2005. Tour kicks off July 15 in Boston.

FUNNY BUSINESS: Ricky Gervais signing on with HBO to produce comedy series Extras, which will debut on BBC Two this summer.

PRETTY WOMAN Julia Roberts landing the cover of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" issue for a record third time. The actress has been featured on the list nine times in all. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were voted most beautiful male and female via an online poll.

THIS JUST IN... Saturday Night Live "Weekend Update" anchor Tina Fey and her hubby, SNL composer Jeff Richmond, expecting their first child in September.

STREET SIGN: The O'Jays may have a street in their hometown of Canton, Ohio named after them.

CHART TOPPER: Rob Thomas's solo album Something to Be topping the Billboard 200; 50 Cent's Massacre slipping to number five.

FITNESS FANS: Halle Berry, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Marcia Cross serving as cohosts of the 12th Annual Revlon Run/Walk For Women at the Los Angeles Coliseum on May 7.

NEWLY INVESTED: Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey buying a $1 million condo in Las Vegas, per People magazine.

ON THE CATWALK: Ashton Kutcher, Cindy Crawford, Ray Romano and other celebs participating in the third Annual Runway for Life May 1 to benefit St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

FAT LAWSUIT: Veteran bluesman Andrew "Jr. Boy" Johnson suing Showtime for improper use of his song "Big Leg, Heavy Bottom" in an episode of Fat Actress.

FEELING THE LOVE: "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'," written by Barry Manilow, Phil Spector and Cynthia Weil, being honored as the Towering Song at the 2005 induction ceremony of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

GOING GLOBAL: Jimmy Buffet, Dave Matthews and Paul Simon among the participants in the second annual Chevy Chase Earth Day Auction.

HONORED: Elton John receiving the 14th Annual ELLA Award from the Society of Singers on Oct. 10.

RUN FOR THE BORDER: Antonio Banderas joining Jennifer Lopez for the indie thriller Bordertown, marking the stars' first big-screen collaboration, per the Hollywood Reporter.

DOWN TO A SCIENCE: Courteney Cox Arquette signing on to play a scientist in the upcoming comedy Zoom, per the Hollywood Reporter. Tim Allen also stars.

THEIR PREROGATIVE: Bravo launching a reality show featuring Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston June 30, as well as seven other series between now and Labor Day in its most aggressive season schedule ever, per the Hollywood Reporter.

ONE GOAL: Bono bunking at Bill Gates's Seattle home last weekend while U2 was in town for the Vertigo 2005 Tour. Both men share a passion for Third World relief efforts.

KUDOS, Y'ALL: Erika Jo, an 18-year-old high school student, becoming the first female to win Nashville Star Tuesday night.