FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, May 9, 2006

OOPS, SHE DOES IT AGAIN: Britney Spears making a surprise appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman Tuesday to confirm that she is, indeed, expecting her second child with Kevin Federline, and is not just getting fat.

CARRYING A TORCH: Nicole Kidman telling Ladies' Home Journal that her divorce from Tom Cruise was a "major shock" and that she "still love[s] him." No word on whether she backed up her statement by taking in Mission: Impossible III over opening weekend.

WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT: Now that she has your attention, what Kidman really wants you to know about is her work with UNIFEM, the United Nations Developing Fund for Women. The actress is a goodwill ambassador for the organization, something she told LHJ she sees as a "much bigger picture than acting." Great--now tell us, what's going on with Keith Urban?

KEEP ON PAYING: The New York Supreme Court declining Tuesday to hear Sean "Diddy" Combs' appeal of a lower court ruling ordering him to shell out more than $19,000 a month in child support payments to the mother of his 12-year-old son, Justin. That's one hell of an allowance.

BURNING RUBBER: The Weinstein Co. adapting Knight Rider to the big screen, according to the trades. Though David Hasselhoff has, in the past, claimed to be attached to the project, the most recent reports make no mention of his name. Sounds like the Hoff might need to update his acting C.V.

NO DEAL: Ron Howard refusing Opus Dei's request that he add a disclaimer to The Da Vinci Code that labels it a work of fiction, because he said that is already obvious. The group has complained it is wrongly portrayed as a murderous sect of religious fanatics in the film. For Howard's sake, he better hope it's all fiction.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: Plans for a West Wing retrospective scrapped after castmembers demanded too much money, Daily Variety reports. Instead, NBC will reportedly air the show's pilot episode along with the series finale Sunday. May as well save the cash--it's not like anyone's going to be watching anyway.

LATE REGISTRATION: Kanye West being sued for more than $53,000 for failing to return his 2003 Mercedes-Benz G500 to the dealer at the end of its lease. West was supposed to turn in the car in January, according to the lawsuit. We're guessing he was too busy seeing red over losing the Record of the Year Grammy to Green Day to remember to relinquish his ride.

NOT GIVING UP: Robert Blake announcing his intent to appeal the $30 million wrongful death verdict awarded to the family of his slain wife by a civil jury. The latest action comes after Blake's request for a new trial was turned down by an L.A. County Superior Court judge last month. Should that fail, we hear O.J. Simpson is always looking for golf partners in Florida.

HUMAN PRUNE: A wrinkly and rash-covered David Blaine being pulled from his giant goldfish bowl after passing out and having convulsions while trying--and failing--to set a new world record for holding his breath. However, after his week under water, the illusionist may have managed to set a new record for least attractive human being.

ON THE DOWNLOAD: Warner Bros. announcing a deal to sell TV shows and movies to BitTorrent Inc. for legal download from the Website that was once blamed for aiding illegal file sharing. Users will be able to download shows and films to their hard drives for a fee, but will not be able to burn them to DVD. Eh...

BIG WHOOP: Whoopi Goldberg signing with Clear Channel Communications Inc. to host a live morning radio show called Wake Up With Whoopi, she said Tuesday. Judging from Goldberg's proposed subject matter, the show may be better at putting listeners to sleep. "I don't want to put anyone down or talk mean about people," she said. "The thing I really want to know is where to get a great hot dog."

SAY WHAT?! "I have a great deal of empathy for Jennifer Aniston."
--Dean McDermott's ex-wife Mary Jo Eustace to Toronto's Globe & Mail. Sure, honey, but your ex is no Brad Pitt, and Tori Spelling has nothing on Angelina Jolie.