FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, June 12, 2001

1001 THINGS TO DO WITH RICE: Survivor Keith Famie hosting Taste the Adventure for the Food Network. Famie will emcee the eight-day-long special beginning June 22. He's also in talks to do his own cooking show.

WE SAW THIS COMING: The Los Angeles Zoo now says it's rethinking its policy of allowing VIPs special access to exhibits. The move comes just days after Sharon Stone's husband was mauled by a Komodo dragon at the zoo. He remains hospitalized.

CLARIFICATION: Eric Clapton now saying his current tour won't be his last--just his last world tour. The iconic rocker says he might play shorter circuits in the future so he can focus on recording and home life.

FATHER KNOWS BEST? Robert Downey Jr.'s father telling the New York Post that he thinks nutritional supplements may help his son kick his drug habit.

JOINING THE COVEN? Scream's Rose McGowan in talks to replace Shannen Doherty in the WB's witchy drama Charmed, possibly playing Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs' long lost sister.

SPLITSVILLE: The Washington Post quoting Heather Graham's manager, says the actress and A Knight's Tale stud Heath Ledger have broken up.

NURSERY NEWS: Actress Lauren Holly and her husband, Francis Greco, have adopated a baby boy named Alexander. It's their first child.

NURSERY NEWS, PART DEUX: Former L.A. Law star Blair Underwood and his wife, Desiree, welcoming a baby boy, Blake Ellis Underwood, Sunday in Los Angeles. The couple already have a young son and daughter.

EXECUTIVE SHUFFLE: UPN programming boss Tom Nunan is on the outs after four years at the network, according to trade reports. No word on candidates for his successor. Meanwhile, Susanne Daniels, the copresident of the WB, is also leaving.

FOREIGN INVASION: Pearl Harbor generating big bucks overseas, taking in $26.1 million over the weekend and pushing its total abroad to $44.3 million in more than 22 markets.

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE: Rap mogul Russell Simmons convening his three-day Hip-Hop Summit today in New York. A slew of rappers will sit down and discuss the genre's influence on society--both good and bad.

GET TO THE SOURCE: Eminem, OutKast and Snoop Dogg among the artists receiving multiple nominations for the 2001 Source Hip-Hop Music Awards Monday.

SOURCE RELATED: Meanwhile, hoping to avoid a repeat of a brawl at last year's awards, organizers have moved the event to Miami and plan to distribute tickets by invitation only, as well as reduce the audience by 1,500 people. UPN plans to broadcast the show with video director Hype Williams signing on as creative director.

GROWING UP: The Cartoon Network planning "Adult Swim," a new block of animated programming targeted at viewers age 18 to 34 and airing between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Sunday and Thursday nights. The block will include five new series and new episodes of the cult hit Space Ghost Coast to Coast.

TURN UP THE LIGHT: Jeff Lynne bringing back his one-man '70 rock-cello outfit, Electric Light Orchestra, after a 15-year layoff with a new album and plans for a North American tour.

GOOD ALUM: Gene Wilder and his brother-in-law, Gilbert Pearlman, donating a collection of Wilder's scripts and other material, including rare drafts of Young Frankenstein, Stir Crazy and the telefilm The Lady in Question, to Wilder's alma mater, the University of Iowa.

HANGING UP HIS MIKE: CNN correspondent Charles Bierbauer says he'll retire when the current U.S. Supreme Court term ends, probably later this month. The 58-year-old reporter has been with the network since 1981.