FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, March 4, 2004

BAND AID: Beyoncé's band members coming to the rescue of a 91-year-old driver by chasing down and detaining a suspected carjacker who had attacked the man at knifepoint.

MARTHA WATCH: Jurors on Martha Stewart's stock fraud trial wrapping up their second day of deliberations and indicating that they are trying to decide whether they have sufficient evidence to convict her former broker of perjury.

BROADWAY BOUND: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the musical about a flying car, is coming to Broadway in 2005. The play has enjoyed a successful run in London, and will soon begin casting for the New York production.

ANALYZE THIS: Ethan Hawke blaming ambition for his breakup with Uma Thurman on ABC's 20/20 Friday, saying "I don't know if it's just too hard to be married to a woman that wants to be a movie star. I know that she has that right to want that."

NEVER SAY NEVER: Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling not ruling out the possibility of writing more Potter books after the seventh, and previously believed to be final, installment.

TUBE TALK: Ellen DeGeneres' new talk show receiving 12 Daytime Emmy nominations. Also in the running with six nominations is Martha Stewart Living. The Young and the Restless topped the soap opera category with 16 nods. The 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will air May 21 on NBC.

THE BOY FROM OZ: Hugh Jackman to host the 54th Annual Tony Awards, his second time. CBS will air the ceremony June 6 from Radio City Music Hall.

JACKSON STUFF FOR SALE: One of the largest collections of Michael Jackson memorabilia is being sold to a European buyer. The seller reportedly acquired the goods when he paid off a storage and shipping bill owed by the Jackson family to an Oxnard, California, warehouse.

THE OTHER JACKSON: Janet Jackson to host Saturday Night Live April 10 and headline as musical guest.

FLASHING THE BAT SIGNAL: Production on Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins has begun in Iceland with Gary Oldman joining the cast as a detective on the Gotham police force. Christian Bale plays the capped crusader.

PARENT TRAP: Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin resolving a custody battle over their 8-year-old daughter, Ireland. Baldwin was reportedly successful in his bid for an "equal share" of parenting, according to Celebrity Justice.

JENNY ON THE BLOCK: Jennifer Lopez suing a construction company for doing $2 million in damage to her Hollywood Hills mansion, according to Celebrity Justice. Lopez is now reportedly showing the property to potential buyers, with an asking price of $10 million.

TOUGH BREAK: Two founding members of Martha and the Vandellas lose a court bid to break their contract with a company that sued Motown on their behalf in exchange for half their royalties.

SUE ME? SUE YOU! NBC launching a countersuit against the creators of Will & Grace on Wednesday accusing them of being "duplicitous" in their dealings with the network. David Kohan and Max Mutchnick sued three months ago claiming NBC shortchanged them on the show's license-fee deal.

AND THEN THERE WERE EIGHT: Over 25 million viewers tuned in to American Idol Wednesday night to watch Jasmine Trias and John Stevens advance to the Top 12. The final four will be chosen based on next week's episode.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? California's first lady Maria Shriver appearing for jury duty on Wednesday in a product liability case.

TSK, TSK: An ad for Elle MacPherson 's lingerie line has been banned by Britain's Advertising Standards Authority after folks complained that the model in the ad appeared to be masturbating.

BACK TO SCHOOL? Grammy-winning OutKast rapper Andre 3000 telling Rolling Stone in a recent interview that he would like to go to Juilliard in New York City and study classical music.

DATING DISH: Edie Falco and Stanley Tucci, who hooked up last April while starring in Frankie and Johnny, have called it quits, per the New York Daily News.

MORE DISH: Meanwhile, mama-to-be Heidi Klum has taken up with Seal, reports Star magazine.

NEW HIRES: NBC confirming that Donald Trump has signed on to do at least two more editions of The Apprentice, not just one as previously announced.

YOU'RE FIRED: Michael Eisner losing his title as Disney's chairman following a vote of no confidence from the company's shareholders. Eisner will retain his CEO post.

SCHINDLER'S DVD: Steven Spielberg reuniting with some of the Jews he depicted in Schindler's List to mark the movie's DVD release next Tuesday.