FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, October 6, 1998

STALKER ADD: "This is a sad ending to a confused life," Letterman said, in a statement.

RATINGS RACE: CBS topples NBC--again, winning the primetime week ended Sunday. The Peacock's ER was the No. 1 show.

BATTLING BIG BIRD: Consumer activist Ralph Nader criticizing PBS kids' show Sesame Street for accepting its first sponsorship--a deal with a playground company.

MUNSTER MIFFED: Grandpa Munster Al Lewis, 88, loses a bid to add "Grandpa" to his name on New York state's ballot. He's running for governor.

U2 CAN WORK WITH MEL: Mel Gibson to star in indie film The Million Dollar Hotel, co-written by rocker Bono, reports say.

MORE MARLON: Marlon Brando set to star in a movie about a one-armed boxer--based on Tennessee Williams' One Arm. For more casting news, see Dotted Line.

REVISION: Final box-office tally shows Antz made $17.2 million (up $400,000 from estimates) last weekend--a new record for an October opening.

THANKS FOR SHARING: Brad Pitt on his relationship with Jennifer Aniston in Vanity Fair: "I have no idea what to tell you. No idea."

BOSS UPDATE: That long-awaited Bruce Springsteen box set to be released November 10. It's dubbed Tracks, and it'll feature 66 tracks--56 previously unreleased.

BOSS ADD: Springsteen in a London court today fighting to block a British label from releasing its own CD of early Bruce music.

PLAY ON: The U.S. Supreme Court refuses to toss a lawsuit that claims Andrew Lloyd Webber ripped off the main Phantom of the Opera theme from another composer.

EXIT: Bassist Stuart Zender resigning from pop-funk outfit Jamiroquai, the band announced today.

LARRY BIRD, CALL YOUR AGENT: Failed talk host Magic Johnson launching a record label, Magic's 32 Records, to be distributed by giant MCA. No word yet on artists.

TATTLER I: The Spice Girls' ex-chauffeur fighting in court for the right to write a tell-all about the popsters.

TATTLER II: Martha Raye widower and frequent Howard Stern guest Mark Harris threatening to write his own tell-all about the radio/TV talker.

CLASH OF TITANS: Howard Stern, meanwhile, declaring war on air today against Rupert Murdoch. He's angry about recent articles about him in the mogul's New York Post.

BIGGER THAN THE BEATLES: David Bowie named the top music star of the last 30 years in a music industry poll by London's Time Out magazine.

SICK BAY: Ailing country great Johnny Cash, 66, back at home following a hospitalization for pneumonia.

SHUFFLE: Craig Kilborn to depart Comedy Central's Daily Show on December 13; Jon Stewart's debut likely on January 11.

A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE: Brandy's TV alter ego, Moesha, meets Brandy on tonight's Moesha season premiere. All clear?

HARD SELL: TV talker Roseanne still in the get-Monica Lewinsky game. She stood behind a pile of cash on Monday's show and offered the Sexgate star $2 million to do a guest shot.

RUN REDUX: A 25th-anniversary, boxed-set version Paul McCartney and Wings' semi-seminal Band on the Run to be released January 26, Billboard Bulletin says.

REMEMBERING RODDY: Cable's American Movie Classics to host a mini-Roddy McDowall marathon tomorrow, starting at noon (EST). Turner Classic Movies checks in with one next Monday.