FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, March 22, 2004

AILING: Aretha Franklin was admitted to a Detroit hospital Saturday for an undisclosed illness. She remained hospitalized in stable condition Monday.

RELEASED: Bobby Brown released from Georgia jail Monday--three days earlier than scheduled--because he has been ordered to appear at an emergency family court hearing Wednesday in Virginia.

ON THE OFFENSIVE: Michael Jackson seeking more than $10 million from a man he says is selling Jackson family memorabilia and exploiting his fame. The entertainer filed a federal lawsuit Monday.

JACKSON WATCH: District Attorney Tom Sneddon considering asking the boy who first accused Michael Jackson of child molestation to testify against the entertainer. The boy reached an out-of-court multimillion-dollar settlement with Jackson in the '90s and no charges were ever filed.

DEAD ON: Dawn of the Dead munched up $27.3 million as the new box-office champ, knocking off The Passion of the Christ, which fell to second place with $19.1 million after three weeks on top.

AGE IS A FACTOR: Prosecutors on Robert Blake's murder trial want advance testimony from an elderly man who worked as a private investigator for Blake because he could die before the case goes to trial.

ON THE MEND? On Air host Ryan Seacrest reporting that Britney Spears is being fitted for a special knee brace following last week's injury. Doctors will monitor the singer during rehearsals today to determine if she's able to perform Tuesday night in Atlanta.

RUSH DECISION: Rush frontman Alex Lifeson charged with two counts of battery three months after a New Year's Eve brawl with police at a Florida hotel. If convicted, Lifeson could face up to 10 years in prison.

DEAR DAD: George Clooney helping his father to raise more than $200,000 this weekend for Democrat Nick Clooney's congressional campaign for the 4th District seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas.

JUSTICE TERMINATED? Arnold Schwarzenegger won't have to testify in a libel suit filed against him by a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her on set--his camp responded by telling reporters she had a criminal record, which she didn't. Instead, the governor will answer written questions submitted by her attorneys.

IN THE CLEAR: A judge ruling Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1996 movie Jingle All the Way was not based on a high school teacher's script, reversing a $19 million judgment against Twentieth Century Fox from 2001.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Madonna kicking off her upcoming tour May 24 in Los Angeles. The show will include several North American stops, 12 dates in Europe and a performance in Israel.

SONG AND DANCE: Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey getting an ABC TV special April 11 called The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour. Guests will include Jewel, Babyface, Kenny Rogers, Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, Mr. T, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? CSI creator Anthony Zuiker telling the Philadelphia Inquirer he hopes to have a different version of the show airing every night.

DAMAGE CONTROL: Attorney's for Pete Townshend trying to prevent the BBC from airing a documentary about his arrest and questioning for child porn.

WHEN THEY'RE DOWN: PETA releasing its annual Worst Dressed list, topped by convicts Diana Ross and Martha Stewart. Other dis-honorees include Kobe Bryant, Donatella Versace, Celine Dion.

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER: Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine in talks to play the witch and warlock parents of Samantha, played by Nicole Kidman in the big screen version of Bewitched, per the Hollywood Reporter. Will Ferrell has already signed on as Darren.

IN THIS CORNER: George Foreman joining Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard on NBC's prize-fighting reality series The Contender.

LOVE HURTS: A photographer claims she was injured when Courtney Love dove off the stage during a performance Thursday night. The woman was treated at the hospital for a bruised and swollen neck. Love was arrested for assault Thursday after flinging a microphone stand into the audience during the show.

OOPS!: Britney Spears injuring her knee during a concert in Moline, Illinois, Thursday night, forcing her to cancel two weekend dates.

WHOA! Paris Hilton thrown from a horse and kicked in the stomach while filming The Simple Life 2 in Florida. She was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital as a precaution.

HEY YA! OutKast winning R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below Saturday at the 18th annual Soul Train Music Awards. Luther Vandross won Best R&B/Soul Single, Male for his "Dance With My Father."

STERN REMINDER: Howard Stern fans protesting outside the Federal Building in Los Angeles over a $27,000 indecency fine the FCC imposed against Infinity Broadcasting for a Stern show that was broadcast in Detroit.

MORE TUBE TALK: Gina Gershon inking a deal to star in ABC's Hot Mama about a hip wedding planner-single mom and her more conservative daughter.

LOYAL TO THE END: Fans of the WB's Angel renting a billboard truck to drive around Los Angeles protesting the show's cancellation, per the Hollywood Reporter.