FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, May 25, 2004

GUILTY! Courtney Love pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of her arrest last October. Love is likely to get off with a slap on the wrist when she's sentenced July 16.

UNLUCKY STAR: Madonna postponing tonight's concert in Los Angeles because she has the stomach flu and was ordered by her doctor to take the night off. Tickets for Tuesday's show will be honored Wednesday.

NO THREATS: Madonna's rep denying the singer nixed a concert in Israel because of death threats. Liz Rosenberg told the New York Daily News Madonna considered playing Tel Aviv "months ago," but "never committed to any dates." General violence in the region was also cited as a factor.

IT'S A TREND: Missy Elliott canceling a concert in Indonesia after the U.S. Embassy warned Americans about potential terrorist attacks in this country, the singer's rep said Tuesday.

WEDDING BELLS: The West Wing's Allison Janney has announced her engagement to Richard Janik, her boyfriend of two years. No wedding date has been set.

BELLY UP: Phish have announced it is breaking up, according to a statement on the band's official Website. The group still plans to tour this summer in support of its upcoming album "Undermind," in stores June 15. It'll wrap up the tour in August in its native Vermont.

LOVE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE: The New York Post reporting that Brittany Murphy and the Firm's Jeff Kwatinetz have called it quits after being engaged for a year. Kwatinetz is allegedly the one who nixed the nuptials.

NOT TONIGHT, DEAR: Kim Cattrall bowing out of a Sex and the City reunion movie citing scheduling conflicts, confirms her rep. As a result, HBO had pulled the plug on the entire project.

BUTTERFLY EFFECT: Formerly ugly duckling Rachel L., a 27-year-old newlywed from Sammamish, Washington, was crowned the winner of Monday night's Swan finale pageant. She won a modeling contract, a new wardrobe and a scholarship for her plastic-surgery troubles.

57 CHANNELS AND NOTHING ON: MTV to launch LOGO, a new cable television network targeted at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender viewers, on Feb. 17, 2005.

HANGING WITH THE KIDS: Walter Cronkite in talks with MTV about the possibility of an on-air role during the conventions and election night, reports Newsday.

THE HARD WAY: NBC giving the greenlight to The Biggest Loser, an eight-episode reality series that pits plus-size contestants against one another in a weight-loss battle that doesn't include any nips, tucks or lipo sucks.

DINNER FOR NONE: NBC scheduling two remaining episodes of The Restaurant back-to-back Saturday. Meanwhile, the finale will air June 5.

THE BOSS UPDATE: Fans won't be able to get their hands on Bruce Springsteen's medical records after all. The documents, which were scheduled to be auctioned off by a New York auction house, were turned over to his lawyers at their request, per the Smoking Gun Website.

A MIGHTY GOOD MAN: Victoria Beckham telling Britain's Marie Claire magazine "David's never cheated on me...I really do believe deep down that I have the most faithful husband I could hope for." Riiight.

TRIAL FILE: Michael Jackson's father, Joe, has hired lawyer Debra Opri to keep him up to speed on developments in the child-molestation case against his son. Opri said she will serve as an "extra pair of eyes," but will not be a part of Jackson's defense team.

SPLITSVILLE: Snoop Dogg has filed for divorce from his wife, Shante Broadus, citing "irreconcilable differences." The couple married in 1997 and have three children together.

SIDELINED: Marc Anthony postponing his Nada Personal Tour until November due to production delays on his twin albums, according to a statement from the popster.

CALLING IT QUITS: David Gest's divorce lawyer Raoul Felder resigning, because he allegedly had troubled getting his client on the phone. Gest is currently holed up in Hawaii.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Toby Keith raising about $250,000 through celebrity golf tournament for pediatric cancer patients in Oklahoma.

KUDOS: Carlos Santana being honored in August as the Latin Recording Academy's Person of the Year for his professional, cultural and social accomplishments.

HONORED: Meryl Streep receiving the American Film Institute's 32nd Life Achievement Award this summer. The gala event will air on USA Network June 21.

LIKEWISE: The American Cinematheque will salute Steve Martin during its annual benefit gala in November.

LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE TALKING: After tonight's American Idol episode, broadcast from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and featuring three songs each from Diana DeGarmo and Fantasia Barrino, fans will have four hours to vote for their favorite. The winner will be announced Wednesday night, also from the Kodak Theater.

THE BEAT GOES ON: American Idol producer Simon Fuller teaming up with Dick Clark to revive American Bandstand for summer 2005. A search for a new Bandstand host is underway.

REUNITED: Ocean's Eleven (and Twelve) costars Matt Damon and George Clooney are in talks to reteam for the political thriller Syriana. Clooney is also expected to produce through his shingle.

IN STORES NOW: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King DVD hitting stores Tuesday at $30 a pop.

RECYCLED: Sony Pictures Television remaking Mad About You and Married...with Children for Spanish-speaking audiences in Chile and Colombia, respectively, per the Hollywood Reporter.

REMEMBERED: Richard Biggs, who starred in several soaps including Days of our Lives and Guiding Light and was best known as Dr. Stephen Franklin on Babylon 5, died Saturday of undetermined causes. He was 44.

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