FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, May 13, 2005

THE FORCE IS STRONG: Fans on Thursday turning out in cities across the country from New York to San Francisco and paying $500 a piece to attend the premiere of Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge of the Sith. The proceeds went to charity.

BOLDLY GONE: The final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise airing tonight on UPN. After Enterprise beams out, it will be the first time in two decades a first-run Star Trek series hasn't been on TV.

JACKSON WATCH: Former Michael Jackson attorney Mark Geragos testifying Friday that Jackson admitted sharing his bed with accuser but said that nothing sexual had happened. Geragos, who appeared in court under threat of arrest warrant, said he felt Jackson was a "target" of the boy's family.

FINAL FOUR: Civil rights attorney Caryn Groedel voted off Survivor: Palau Thursday, leaving a final four of Katie Gallagher, Jennifer Lyon, Ian Rosenberger and Tom Westman. The finale is Sunday night.

THAT'S HOT? Paris Hilton to star in a TV commercial for fast-food chains Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. The ads begin running next week.

FIDDY STAYS FREE: 50 Cent avoiding jail time Friday for allegedly trampling two women and punching a third during a concert last year. The rapper must not commit any crimes for two years and stay drug free as part of his plea deal.

MUGGLE ALERT! Scholastic Inc. announcing a record first printing of 10.8 million copies of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth book in J.K. Rowling's beloved fantasy series due out in July.

HIT ME, BABY: Britney Spears sued for copyright infringement by songwriter Steve Wallace, who claims he wrote the song "Sometimes," which appears on Spears' albums ...Baby One More Time and Greatest Hits: My Prerogative.

CAMERA SHY: Cameron Diaz suing Britain's Sun and threatening possible legal action against the National Enquirer after the tabs ran stories with grainy pictures purportedly showing her making out with a married MTV producer. Diaz and the producer deny any hanky-panky.

BLAKE ADD: A California judge ruling Friday Robert Blake's first wife can testify in a deposition as part of wrongful-death lawsuit filed against the actor.

DON'T MESS WITH WARREN: Warren Beatty filing a $30 million lawsuit Friday against a Chicago-based company that is allegedly trying to break an agreement that gives him rights to the Dick Tracy character.

UNDER THE KNIFE: Justin Timberlake undergoing throat surgery to remove benign nodules from his vocal cords, People magazine reports.

RUSH TO JUDGMENT: Rush Hour star Chris Tucker pleading guilty to charges stemming from a high-speed chase in Georgia last month. He was fined $7,000.

SLAMMER TIME: A judge sentencing a California minister to a minimum of 28 months in prison for trying to extort millions of dollars from Celine Dion's husband.

IN CHEAP: Hilary Duff signing on for 20th Century Fox's Cheaper by the Dozen 2, reprising her role as Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt's daughter, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The comedy also stars Eugene Levy.

DANCING ON AIR: Elton John attending Thursday's London premiere of the new musical Billy Elliot, for which he wrote the music. Also in the audience were Hugh Grant, Elizabeth Hurley and Jamie Bell, who starred in the hit movie version.

NEWSWORTHY: CNN international correspondent Christiane Amanpour announcing she plans to quit her part-time gig as a contributor to CBS' 60 Minutes, saying the arrangement had "run its course."

HONORING HANK: The town of Oak Hill, West Virginia, planning to transform a former Pure Oil service station into a museum for Hank Williams. The gas station is where the country legend was found dead by his chauffeur.

INCONCEIVABLE! Actor-playwright Wallace Shawn snagging a literary prize awarded by the PEN American Center, which will be presented on May 23 in New York.

NEW WILLIE: Willie Nelson set to release Countryman, a country album covering reggae songs, on Aug. 2.

WEDDING BELLS: Country crooner Terri Clark, best known for her hits "Girls Lie Too" and "I Just Wanna Be Mad," getting engaged to longtime friend and tour manager Greg Kaczor. The couple will tie the knot in the fall.