FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, November 9, 2001

ROCK DJ: British pop star Robbie Williams snagging Best Male Singer honors and Jennifer Lopez picking up Best Female Singer Thursday at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Frankfurt, Germany. Limp Bizkit and Gorillaz also were big winners.

MIRACLE MAKERS: Billy Crystal dressing like a turkey, and Robert De Niro donning a pilgrim outfit for the latest New York tourism ad campaign. The new TV spots also feature Barbara Walters, Woody Allen, Kevin Bacon, Ben Stiller, Yogi Berra and Henry Kissinger, and end with Mayor Rudy Giuliani urging viewers to be part of "the New York miracle."

THE RUDY CHRONICLES: HBO planning to finance a documentary focusing on Giuliani and the way he and his City Hall team dealt with the September 11 terror attacks.

NOT FORGOTTEN: Nicole Kidman in talks to star in Revolution Studios' The Forgotten, about a man and woman in their thirties who team up to investigate the abductions of children, Variety, reports.

BATTLEFIELD SANTA MONICA: Actor Forest Whitaker (Ghost Dog, Battlefield Earth) arrested Saturday in Santa Monica on drunk-driving charges, according to an arrest release obtained by TheSmokingGun.com. Whitaker posted $12,500 bail and is due back in court December 5.

SAMBURU SWITCHEROO: As promised, producers of Survivor: Africa "shattering" tribal alliances Thursday by making three members from each tribe switch sides. Kelly, Lex and Tom became members of the Samburu tribe, while Silas, Teresa and Frank joined Boran. Thanks to the shakeup, Silas ended up getting the boot.

THE CLOONEY FACTOR: George Clooney speaking to E! News Daily's Jules Asner about his angry letter to Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly. "It doesn't matter that he attacked us," Clooney says, in an interview that will rerun Friday on E! at 9 a.m. ET/PT and 6:30 p.m. ET/PT. "It's about attacking something that's working and good."

UNITED WE...WHOOPS: The United Way confirming that 240 of the one million pledges made during the all-star telethon America: A Tribute to Heroes, were missing decimal points. For instance, one donor who pledged $100 was contacted and asked to verify a gift of $10,000.

PARADISE FOUND: 'N Sync performing in a CBS concert special November 23. 'N Sync Live! The Atlantis Concert actually won't be live, but it will be taped at the Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

OOPS!...I'M BETTY GRABLE: Britney Spears requesting that her live HBO concert on November 18 air siumltaneously on Armed Forces radio and TV free of charge. Britney Spears: Live From Las Vegas will take place at the MGM Grand hotel and casino.

TINSELTIME: Rob Reiner, Anjelica Huston and Randy Newman on Friday helping officials celebrate the opening of Hollywood & Highland, the $615 million entertainment complex and home to next year's Oscars, the Kodak Theater.

MERRY PRANKSTER PRAYERS: Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and pioneering figure from the psychedelic '60s, in critical condition at a Eugene, Oregon, hospital, recovering from surgery for a tumor on his liver.

EVERYBODY IS A STAR: Sly & the Family Stone and soul legend Al Green among the honorees Thursday at the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Awards. The ceremony, held at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, also honored Motown hit songwriter Brian Holland and dance group the Emotions.

HARRY & REBA SYNERGIZE: Warner Bros. airing a special 1-minute, 45-second preview of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone during an episode of Reba Friday at 9 p.m. on the WB.

VANISHING: One week before its release, tickets already disappearing for Harry Potter, with advance sales reportedly surpassing all other films this year.

PASSING: Eunice Simpson, the mother of O.J. Simpson, has died of natural causes at her San Francisco home. She was 80.