FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, July 17, 2001
PC POLICE: Late Night with Conan O'Brien under fire from the Media Action Network for Asian Americans after comedian Sarah Silverman used the term "chinks" during a comedy bit on the July 11 show. The advocacy group is demanding an apology.
CRUISING! Tom Cruise spotted vacationing at the same exclusive resort in Fiji that his estranged wife Nicole Kidman left just days ago with longtime pal Russell Crowe. The news comes a day after his publicist confirmed the actor had been dating Penélope Cruz.
FACING THE MUSIC: A California judge sentencing Robert Downey Jr. to one year in drug rehab and three years' probation for his Palm Springs drug bust last Thanksgiving. The actor agreed to a plea deal that kept him from returning to prison.
SOPRANOS UPDATE: Sopranos godfather David Chase signing $15 million deal to return to the HBO Mafia hit for a fifth season, according to the Hollywood Reporter. He had previously said the upcoming fourth season would be the last.
THE BOSS IS OUT THERE: X-Files mastermind Chris Carter agreeing to come back and produce the ninth season of Fox's sci-fi series next year.
KICKING HIMSELF: A letter from one very unlucky record executive who turned down Madonna at the start of her career among the Madonna memorabilia up for auction on Sotheby's.com Wednesday. "I do not feel that she is ready yet, but I do hear the basis for a strong artist. I will pass for now, but I will wait for more," reads the letter.
SLAY 'EM! Buffy debuting on UPN with a two-hour special October 9. The cast will also perform a musical episode of the show for November sweeps.
DITTOHEADS REJOICE!: Rush Limbaugh reportedly signing the richest deal in radio. The conservative commentator will keep talking through 2009 on Premiere Radio Networks in a pact worth as much as $250 million with a $35 million signing bonus.
WING WINGED: Reps for West Wing stars Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer and Bradley Whitford telling the Hollywood Reporter the actors' attempts to get a hefty pay raise have stalled. However, the actors did show up for work Monday, preventing a show shutdown.
PULLING THE PLUG: Police in Toledo, Ohio, shutting down a concert by rap group Insane Clown Posse after more than 100 fans rushed onto the stage.
GOING INTERACTIVE: Public Enemy posting rerecorded versions of such seminal raps as "Public Enemy #1" and "Arizona" on Chuck D's new Website, SlamJamz.com, and asking fans to write new music for the tracks.
CODA: James Bernard, famous British composer who wrote the eerie scores for such classic horror films as 1957's The Curse of Frankenstein and 1958's Dracula, has died. He was 75.
FINAL CREDITS: Longtime Disney animator Ted Berman, who created characters for Bambi, Alice in Wonderland, Lady and the Tramp and Peter Pan, has died in Los Angeles. He was 81.






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