FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, November 25, 2002

MAKING HIS DAY: Die Another Day, the 20th James Bond movie, scored $47 million atop the weekend box-office chart, the best-ever opening in the 40 year franchise. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets earned $42.2 million in second place in its second week.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: A European museum exhibit devoted to 007 making its U.S. debut next year in Dearborn, Michigan. Bond, James Bond, which features more than 100 objects from 20 Bond films, will be on display at Dearborn's Henry Ford Museum from June 20 through December 31.

COMIC RELIEF: A Los Angeles appeals court last week clearing the way for comedian Paula Poundstone to have her first unmonitored visit with her three adopted children since losing custody of them 17 months ago.

REMEMBERED: Actor Parley Baer, best known for playing the mayor of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show as well as voicing the Keebler cookie elf in TV ads, died Friday after suffering a massive stroke two weeks ago. He was 88.

FUTURE PRO? Tennis champion Pete Sampras and his wife, actress Bridgette Wilson-Sampras welcoming a baby boy last week, their reps confirm. Christian Charles Sampras was born November 21 in Los Angeles and, the rep says, "Everyone is doing fine."

SPLITSVILLE: Supermodel Heidi Klum and her husband, celeb hairstylist Ric Pipino, announcing their "mutual and amicable" separation Monday on Access Hollywood. The couple had been married for five years. A divorce is in the works.

CELEB COURTHOUSE: Whitney Houston joinging hubby Bobby Brown in a Georgia courtroom Monday, where a judge ordered Brown to stand trial on a DUI charge stemming from a 1996 traffic stop. Brown is due back in court January 21.

ON DEADLY GROUND? Action star Steven Seagal and a Los Angeles private detective linked to a bizarre harassment episode against a Los Angeles Times reporter who was investigating alleged connections between Seagal and the Mafia. An affidavit by an FBI informant alleged the private eye hired by the actor in turn hired an ex-con to threaten Times' Anita Busch.

SPEAKING OF THE MOB: Sopranos actor Joe Pantoliano, whose character, Ralphie Cifaretto was killed off two weeks ago, costarring with Rosie Perez in Broadway's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune beginning January 1. They'll replace another Sopranos star, Edie Falco, and Stanley Tucci.

HIT ME BABY LIKE LUCCA BRAZZI: The New York Post reporting that Britney Spears' cajun-themed Big Apple eatery, Nyla, is switching to Italian after New Yorkers failed to embrace its menu.

TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting that Otis Redding's widow and former manager are suing the author of a biography written about the R&B legend for $15 million, claiming the book, Otis! The Otise Redding Story, assassinated both his character and their reputations.

LOVE HIM TENDER: Elvis Presley Enterprises, the business arm of Graceland, reversing its previous decision to sever its support of festivals featuring Elvis impersonators after both fans and clones of the King wrote letters of protest.

BIG-SCREEN-BOUND: Paramount Pictures looking to jumpstart a feature film version of Fox's 21 Jump Street, the series that launched the career of Johnny Depp. No word yet whether the actor will come aboard for the film.

ALSO MAKING THE JUMP: Saturday Night Live veteran Jimmy Fallon on board to star in a remake of the acclaimed French comedy Tanguy, marking his first feature headlining job. The Miramax project follows a 28-year-old man who lives alone with his parents and is rapidly overstaying his welcome.

ON A RAMPAGE: ABC's Dinotopia making its debut as a series with back-to-back episodes set to premiere on Thanksgiving.

CONSPIRACY AFOOT: Filmmaker Jonathan Demme in talks to reunite with his Philadelphia star Denzel Washington in a remake of The Manchurian Candidate. Shooting starts next fall.

STAYING PUT: Despite reports of its imminent demise, MSNBC saying it will support Donahue at least until the New Year. The chatfest has shown signs of life in the ratings after moving to NBC's Rockefeller Center headquarters in New York and switching formats to a live studio audience.

GAME LAND: The Game Show Network acquiring the prime-time version of Weakest Link and Love Connection, both of which begin airing in January.