FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, May 19, 2003

MORE HARPO: As expected, Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey signing a new deal with King World Productions to continue as host and producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show through 2008.

FOND FAREWELL: The Gatlin Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow and the Oak Ridge Boys performing, while Hank Williams Jr., Kris Kristofferson, Trisha Yearwood and Ricky Skaggs joining Johnny Cash in attendance Sunday as Nashville sent off June Carter Cash, who died Thursday at 73.

MUTANT HOST: X2 star Hugh Jackman tapped to emcee the 57th Annual Tony Awards, airing live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS on June 8.

HAIR-RAISING: Hairspray dominating the Drama Desk Awards on Sunday, taking home 10 trophies in what is considered one of the best Tony Award predictors.

EMPTY CHAIRS AT EMPTY TABLES: After 16 years, 6,680 performances and $400 million in ticket sales, Broadway bid adieu to perennial hit Les Misérables Sunday night with an invitation-only final performance at the Imperial Theater.

LOVE HER TENDER: Lisa Marie Presley opening up for Chris Isaak on a 17-city U.S. tour, kicking off July 11th in Boston. She'll also perform in front of Rockefeller Plaza on June 20 as part of the Today show concert series.

HEAVILY RELOADED: The Matrix Reloaded ratcheted up $91.8 million over the weekend, the second biggest gross ever, and the best ever debut for an R-rated movie. Down with Love was a downer, however, scoring a mere $7 million in fourth place.

CALL OUT THE SENTINELS: Marcus Chong, who played Tank in the original Matrix, is suing Warner Bros. and the filmmakers for breach of contract and slander and libel. Chong says he was promised a role in the two sequels but was dropped without explanation.

STONED TEMPLE PILOT? Burbank police arresting Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland Sunday on investigation of drug possession after allegedly finding narcotics in his car during an early morning traffic stop. Weiland's out on $10,000 bail.

PARANOID ANDROID: The video for Radiohead's new single, "There There," screening all day Tuesday on the Jumbotron at the southern end of Times Square in Manhattan and airing on MTV2 at the top of every hour for 24 hours. The band's new disc, Hail to the Thief, hits stores June 10.

TWO WEEKS NOTICE: Gesine Bullock seeking a restraining order against a man already accused of stalking her movie-star sister, Sandra Bullock, over the last two years.

SO MUCH FOR FREE SPEECH: A conservative activist group called Judicial Watch petitioning MCI to drop Danny Glover as its pitchman because of his opposition to the war in Iraq.

MOURNED: Christopher Bowman, a technician who fell 42 feet and suffered severe head injuries on April 22 while testing special effects at Disneyland for a stage version of Aladdin, died on Sunday. He was 36.

TOP SUD! Celebrating its 40th anniversary, ABC's General Hospital winning three major honors at Friday's 30th annual Daytime Emmy awards, including Best Actor, Supporting Actress and Writing. CBS' As The World Turns also snagged Best Drama Series.

DAYTIME EMMYS ADD: Comic Wayne Brady picking up the trophy for Outstanding Talk Show Host, while his syndicated chatfest The Wayne Brady Show shared top talk show honors with ABC's The View, which won for the first time in its sixth nomination.

IDOL BATTLE: A Texas man filing suit in federal court claiming Fox and the producers of American Idol stole his idea. Harry T. Keane Jr, who calls himself a concert and film producer, says he dreamed up the idea in 1994.

MORE INTIMATE MARIAH: Mariah Carey downsizing her North American tour, which was originally scheduled for arenas, into smaller, more intimate venues to be closer to her fans. The trek kicks off on July 18 in Anchorage.

HELPING KIDS: Popster Ricky Martin creating the Puerto Rico-based Ricky Martin Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to helping children-focused institutions in such tasks as fighting child pornography and prostitution worldwide. The singer's first Spanish-language album in five years, Almas del Silencio. hits stores on Tuesday.

COOCHIE COOCHIE IN COURT: After quitting her gig earlier this week, entertainer Charo suing Las Vegas' bankrupt Sevilla nightclub where she performed, seeking $2.2 million in unpaid salary and damages.

INJURED: Rapper Rodney "Boe Skagz" Walker, nephew of late Run-D.M.C. turntable wizard Jam Master Jay shot in the leg last Wednesday in Queens. He was treated at a local hospital and released.