FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, February 26, 2002

ALL APOLOGIES: Riverhead, a division of Penguin Putnam, buying the rights to publish the notebooks of late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain for close to $4 million. The diaries contain black-and-white drawings as well as lyrics and lists of musicians who influenced him over the years.

MAN IN THE MOVIES? Michael Jackson investing between $15 million and $20 million in MDP Worldwide Entertainment Inc., a Montreal-based film producer and distributor. All movies at the company will now carry his Neverland Entertainment film banner.

JACKSON ADD: Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Grammys saying the self-proclaimed King of Pop will not be performing on Wednesday night's live CBS telecast of the music industry's highest honors.

BACK IN BUSINESS: Robert Downey Jr. set to star in The Singing Detective, a remake of the famed BBC series. Shooting starts April 23.

MORE CONAN? NBC considering shopping a repeat run of Late Night with Conan O'Brien to cable networks to try to pay for the $8 million it's shelling out to the host in his new four-year contract.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Turning 70 today, ailing country legend Johnny Cash telling the Associated Press he's finishing work on a new album, American IV, and would like to perform again.

FINDING WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR? U2 frontman Bono traveling to Africa next month with U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill on a fact-finding mission as part of his latest drive to secure debt relief for the world's poorest nations.

FREEEK OUT: E! News Daily broadcasting the world premiere of George Michael's newest video, "Freeek," on Tuesday's show, which begins at 6:30 p.m. The George Michael: True Hollywood Story debuts at 8 p.m.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE: Saying he's too busy to travel to Australia, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst offering to testify through a video link at the inquest into a young fan's death at his band's gig at last January's Big Day Out concert in Sydney.

CHILD SLAVES? The Florida Department of Labor investigating former 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys producer Lou Pearlman after a complaint that he made two members of now-defunct group Take 5 work overtime in violation of child labor laws. Pearlman denied the charges.

GETTING ANIMATED: Executive David Stainton taking over as president of Walt Disney Television Animation overseeing the Mouse House's animated television specials and series and video premieres.

TRIBUTE: The Writers Guild of America posthumously honoring Frasier cocreator David Angell, who died aboard a hijacked plane during the September 11 terrorist attacks. Angell will be awarded the Valentine Davies Award, which recognizes those who have "brought dignity and honor to the profession of writing," during a dinner on Saturday.

TRIBUTE ADD: Russian-born comic and occasional painter Yakov Smirnoff teaming up with a group of New York City schoolchildren to create a Lower East Side mural honoring the spirit of New Yorkers in the wake of WTC disaster.

IT'S A DEAL: The Los Angeles Times reporting that the Screen Actors Guild and reps for the Association of Talent Agents have reached a tentative three-year agreement that would allow talent agents to make and receive investments in companies involved in production.

KUDOS: Singer-pianist Diana Krall named Musician of the Year and Best International Musician, as well as winning Record of the Year for The Look of Love at Sunday's inaugural National Jazz Awards held in Toronto.

BRANDE-LICIOUS! Baywatch star and Playboy playmate Brande Roderick hosting an $11 million auction for famed San Francisco artist Alexander Presniakov on February 27 to benefit the Twin Towers Fund.