FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, October 10, 2001

EMMY UPDATE: CBS and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences considering staging the twice-postponed Emmy awards at a California military base before the end of the year. A final decision is expected by Friday.

SENTENCED: Paula Poundstone getting five years' probation Wednesday after pleading no contest last month to one count of felony child endangerment and one misdemeanor count of inflicting injury on a child. Poundstone, who was arrested in June, also was ordered to finish up her 180-day stint in alcohol rehab.

CODA: Herbert Ross, famed Hollywood director and choreographer whose credits included Funny Girl, The Goodbye Girl and Steel Magnolias, died Tuesday in New York. He was reportedly 76.

BACK WITH A VENGEANCE: The Mummy Returns wrapping up a record $90 million in sales and rentals of VHS and DVD versions of the hit sequel in its opening week, surpassing its $68 million theatrical opening last May.

HOSPITALIZED: Legendary country crooner Johnny Cash checking into a Nashville hospital Sunday for treatment of bronchitis. Doctors say the 69-year-old singer-songwriter's condition is not serious.

IMAGINE: Yoko Ono telling the New York Post she invited the surviving Beatles to last week's John Lennon tribute concert, but they all declined.

EXCUSES: Ringo Starr sending a "sweet letter" saying he had a conflict with his tour; McCartney was doing his own benefit, and George Harrison "already had enough to deal with this year," according to Ono. Julian Lennon also couldn't make it because of a medical reason, she said.

GERM WARFARE? The Washington Post reporting that Anthrax the band is unhappy about anthrax the germ surfacing in Florida. "[It] itsn't the kind of exposure we want or need," lead singer Scott Ian told the paper, noting that it's as if it's World War Two and he's a bandleader named "Freddie Hitler." He also says he bought antibiotics to avoid dying an "ironic death."

GENERAL NEWTON? Entertainer Wayne Newton appointed chairman of the USO's Celebrity Circle, in which he'll entertain troops overseas. The Las Vegas mainstay has been on several USO tours in the past, including during the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars.

SOAP STARS UNITE: Stars from The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, Passions, Port Charles, The Bold and the Beautiful and Days of Our Lives and As the World Turns joining together for "Daytime Unites," an October 20 benefit at the TV Academy with proceeds going to relief funds. For more info, see www.daytimeunites.com.

CALLED OFF: Husband-wife singer-songwriter duo Aimee Mann and Michael Penn canceling their European tour indefinitely, citing the recent terrorist attacks and bombings in Afghanistan.

A LITTLE ITALIAN STALLION: Syndicated columnist Liz Smith reporting that Sylvester Stallone and wife Jennifer Flavin are expecting. The Rocky star already has four children, two grown sons, and two little girls.

COMIC RELIEF: Jerry Seinfeld's Stand-Up for New York benefit at Carnegie Hall Monday night raising more than $1.9 million for victims of the World Trade Center tragedy.

SLIM SINGLE: Eminem's divorce to Kimberly Mathers getting finalized in Michigan. According to court papers, the rapper will pay her $1,000 per week in child support, and they will have joint custody of their five-year-old daughter.

BUT DO THEY PLAY WEDDINGS? Em's hometown posse, D12, appearing at the bar mitzvah of Ethan Weisman over the weekend in Detroit. The group, minus Slim Shady, spent a half hour meeting the 300 guests, taking pictures and signing autographs and t-shirts.

RELEASED: Sharon Stone released from a San Francisco hospital Sunday aftertreatment of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, or bleeding on the brain. Stone underwent a surgery known as endovascular coil embolization, and she's expected to make a full recovery.

BACK IN ACTION: Garth Brooks announcing he will release Scarecrow, his first country album in four years, on November 13. The record also features duets with George Jones and Trisha Yearwood.

WORKING IT OUT: The recording industry reaching a deal with songwriters and music publishers to license their music over the Internet, opening the door for two new industry-backed music distribution services to launch later this year.

MUSIC ADD: FullAudio Corporation announcing Tuesday it's struck a licensing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group to provide music for its upcoming online music service, including works from the Smashing Pumpkins and Bon Jovi, among others.

BAND ON THE RUN: MTV picking up the now-canceled reality show Making the Band from ABC and ordering 10 new episodes for its prime-time schedule. The first new episode will air January 4 at 8 p.m.