FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, January 21, 2004

FOCK IT: Dustin Hoffman set to play Ben Stiller's dad in Meet the Fockers, the sequel to the 2000 comedy hit Meet the Parents. Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner and Teri Polo also return in their original roles.

SOUND OF SIRENS: Art Garfunkel, of folk duo Simon and Garfunkel, charged with possession of marijuana after police pulled his limo over for speeding in upstate New York, and discovered pot on the musician. Garfunkel was scheduled to appear in court January 28 on the charge, which carries a possible $100 fine.

HE'S ALIVE! Martin Scorsese teaming up with author Dean Koontz to produce a new version of Frankenstein for the small screen. The USA Network weekly series will be set in the modern world and will debut next fall.

DIDDY DUTIES: Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' ex, fashion stylist Misa Hylton-Brim, heading to family court Tuesday to ask a judge for a $30,000 hike in child-support payments for their nine-year-old son, the New York Post reports.

NOT DOING WELL: The cancer-striken child who's accused Michael Jackson of molesting him is reportedly in ill health, according to a former attorney for the boy's mother. The family's now in seclusion.

JACKSON ADD: Police in Santa Maria, California, promising better crowd control and accusing Jackson of putting people's safety at risk by climbing up on the roof of his SUV to dance after his arraignment.

YET ANOTHER AWARD: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King winning Best Movie and Peter Jackson, Best Director in Premiere magazine's inaugural Movie Awards.

NICE SHOT: Project Greenlight producers Ben Affleck and Chris Moore announcing a worldwide digital photography contest titled "You Take Five!" at Sundance. The winner gets the chance to become an on-set photographer for the third Greenlight movie as well as earn a walk-on role.

GLOBETROTTERS: Jennifer Aniston, Susan Sarandon, Gwen Stefani, and Elijah Wood tapped as presenters at the 61st annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live January 25 on NBC.

IT'S A DEAL: Air Force pilot Scott O'Grady, who was shot down over Bosnia and escaped to become a hero, settling his suit against 20th Century Fox for giving the false impression he endorsed its movie Behind Enemy Lines, which was loosely based on his story. Terms were not disclosed.

BLAKE UPDATE: The prosecution in the Robert Blake murder case asking a judge to toss some evidence that could paint slain wife Bonny Lee Bakley in a negative light.

KUDOS! Diane Keaton set to pick up the AFI Star Award while playwright August Wilson will receive the Freedom of Speech Award at the 10th annual U.S. Comedy Arts Festival next month.

IDYLLIC NUMBERS: The season premiere of American Idol drawing a whopping 29 million viewers Monday night--the biggest debut of any show so far this TV season. Meanwhile, Fox's My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé also scored, with 19.6 million viewers, according to preliminary ratings.

DOUBLE DOSE: American Idol alums Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken teaming up for the joint nationwide Independent Tour. The two pop stars will alternate headlining duties on the tour, which kicks off in Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 24.

SNOOPS UP: The USA Network's comedy series Monk reaching a ratings high as the opening episode of the second portion of its second season drew 6 million viewers, its largest audience yet.

NO LOVE LOST: Courtney Love being sued by a California law firm that claims the rocker owes $228,926 in legal fees in connection with a since-settled suit against her former record label.

NICE SHOOTIN': The pilot for HBO's supernatural Dust Bowl drama Carnivale snagging two nominations for TV camerawork from the American Society of Cinematographers.

BACKING RUSH Three medical organizations filing a friend-of-the-court brief joining the American Civil Liberties Union in supporting Rush Limbaugh's attempts to keep his medical records sealed in his drug case.

WHATEVER THAT MEANS: Cosmopolitan magazine naming Friends star Matthew Perry its Fun Fearless Male for 2004 and actress Alicia Silverstone its Fun Fearless Female.

NEW ADDITION: Evanescence lead singer Amy Lee telling Australia's UndercoverNews Website that former Cold guitarist Terry Balsamo will permanently replace member Ben Moody on the guitar after Moody abruptly exited the band's European tour last October.

MOURNED: Jerry Nachman journalist and former editor of the New York Post turned MSNBC talk show host who was also the cable network's editor-in-chief, died Tuesday of cancer. He was 57.