FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, December 16, 2003

OZZY UPDATE: Sharon Osbourne telling Britain's ITV Television that husband Ozzy Osbourne is up and joking with nurses, even asking two to marry him, but said it will be "probably about six months" before he's fully recovered from his injuries stemming from last week's ATV crash.

FALLING AND BREAKING IN HAWAII: Journalist Hunter S. Thompson recovering after falling and breaking his leg while in Hawaii covering the Honolulu marathon. Thompson still needs surgery, which he will undergo back home in Aspen, Colorado.

SIR IDOL: Sir Elton John making a guest appearance on the final results show of World Idol, an international version of American Idol, that will pit 11 contestants of various nationalities against one another in a singing competition. The two-part show will air on Fox on December 25 and January 1.

REGISTERED: The Library of Congress adding 25 landmark cinematic works to its National Film Registry. Selected films range from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to a documentary about giraffe hunting in Africa. The 25 new additions bring the number of films registered to 375.

GAMES ON...AND ON: NBC Sports locking in Olympics pro Dick Ebersol for five more Olympic games, or through 2012.

ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL! The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King set to unspool tonight at midnight with 2,001 midnight screenings. The film goes even wider Wednesday.

KUDOS! Lost in Translation, Cold Mountain and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King among the films nominated for Best Picture by the Broadcast Film Critics Association. The group's Critics' Choice awards will be handed out at January 10 in Beverly Hills, with the ceremony telecast live on E!

WHO'S BAD? Santa Barbara prosecutors announcing plans to officially file child molestation charges against Michael Jackson either Thursday or Friday. Meanwhile, the D.A. has also hired a Los Angeles-based PR firm to help handle media questions.

THE WAY HE MAKES THEM FEEL: According to a new Gallup poll, 58 percent of people want the embattled popster to continue making music, even if 51 percent think he's guilty of the sexual abuse charges that are expected to be filed against him later this week.

GET THE PUCK OUTTA HERE! Comedian and hockey fan Denis Leary offered a one-game contract by the Columbus stars of the United Hockey League. A portion of the game's proceeds will be donated to the Leary Firefighters Foundation.

GOOOOOD MORNING BAGHDAD! Robin Williams entertaining the troops with a raunchy routine at Baghdad International Airport on Tuesday as part of a tour of U.S. bases in Iraq. Other celebrities turning up included actress Shannon Tweed, wrestler Curt Angle and stock car driver Mike Wallace.

WALK THE LINE: Country singer Wynonna Judd will forfeit her driver's license for one year and must perform 200 hours of community service after pleading guilty Tuesday in a Nashville court to drunken driving.

OFF THE HOOK: Authorities in Switzerland have dropped a criminal inquiry against Marilyn Manson after finding no evidence the singer riled up a crowd during a February 2001 concert in Zurich.

DONE DEAL: Lions Gate Entertainment announcing on Monday it had officially completed its $200 million-plus merger with Artisan Entertainment. Lion's Gate will now own the Artisan film library, which includes more than 6,000 films, including The Blair Witch Project and Buena Vista Social Club.

HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE: NBC Entertainment president Jeff Zucker set to oversee NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, and Bravo once the merger of NBC and Universal is complete.

HIS LAST MOVIE: Fans of the late John Ritter can see the comic actor in one of his last movie roles as a wealthy honoree at a dinner party in the improvised dramatic-comedy Man of the Year, which is expected to get a limited engagement in the coming year.

ON THE OFFENSIVE: Embattled conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh asking a court Monday to seal his medical records, claiming that police violated his privacy by seizing them in their investigation into alleged drug connections.

COMEBACK KID: Luther Vandross, who is recuperating in a rehabilitation center after suffering a debilitating stroke last April, hoping to attend the Grammy ceremony February 8 in Los Angeles. He's nominated for five awards.

F%#! IT: Angry that rock star Bono used profanity on live TV and the FCC declined to act on it, California Republican lawmaker Doug Ose, introducing the Clean Airwaves bill last week, which would punish television and radio broadcasters if they aired any of eight specific swear words and phrases.

BUSTED? White Stripes frontman Jack White may face assault charges after allegedly punching a Detroit musician in the face at least seven times at a Motor City nightclub Saturday night, per the Smoking Gun Website.

DOGG HOUSE: An actress who appeared on Snoop Dogg's MTV show Doggy Fizzle Televizzle is suing the rapper and the music network for making it appear she was naked and having sex with another actor.

BAD HELP: The maid of Beverly Hills, 90210 star Ian Ziering sentenced to a year in jail and three years probation after being convicted of grand theft for stealing from the actor.

HIGH MARKS: Winona Ryder being commended for good behavior by a Beverly Hills judge at a progress report hearing in her shoplifting case. The actress, who's on probation for three years, will return to court May 26 for her next progress report hearing.