FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, June 7, 2006

Wed., Jun. 7, 2006 12:35 PM PDT by Sarah Hall

NOT BAD FOR SECOND: American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee inking a record deal with 19 Recordings Limited and RCA Records on Tuesday, begging the question of whether it even matters who actually wins the contest.

STAY AWAY: Lawyers for Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards agreeing Wednesday to a three-week extension of the keep-away order preventing Sheen from coming into contact with his estranged wife. Meanwhile, Heather Locklear's request for an order preventing Richards from coming into contact with Richie Sambora was denied. Not that she really asked for one, but we're betting she'd like to.

WELL, BLOW ME DOWN: Popeye, the spinach-guzzling sailor man, coming to DVD after Warner Home Video reached a distribution deal with Hearst Entertainment and King Features Syndicate for all animated shorts and theatrical releases starring the scrawny seafarer. We imagine this is good news for the spinach industry.

WORLD EXCLUSIVE...KINDA: People magazine and Hello! each paying upwards of $4 million to publish the first pictures of Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt in upcoming issues. Unfortunately for the high-bidding publications, numerous blogs already publishing scans of the Hello! cover featuring Shiloh and her parents. Gotta love the Internet.

PASSING GO: Donald Trump and producer R.J. Cutler signing with Hasbro to create a real estate reality show based on Monopoly, per Daily Variety. No word on whether the show will reward its participants with actual currency or Monopoly money.

SOUR NOTE: Ashanti's former manager, Linda Berk, suing the singer for millions, alleging breach of contract. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Ashanti claiming Berk's contract simply expired and was not renewed. If true, we're betting Berk's feeling a bit foolish right about now.

HUNKA HUNKA BURNING MAD: Spoon-bending psychic Uri Geller all shook up after learning that the home once owned by Elvis Presley that he thought he purchased on eBay last month was actually sold to Nashville producer Mike Curb. Guess his psychic powers didn't tell him that was going to happen.

BIG 'TOON PEE-WEE: Cartoon Network adding all 45 original episodes of Pee-wee's Playhouse to its late-night sister network Adult Swim's lineup. That should bring Paul Reubens some decent exposure.

BAD HAIR DAY: Hairspray ending its run in Las Vegas after just four months due to low ticket sales, making it the second Broadway hit to flop in Sin City in two months. The musical had been expected to play at the Luxor hotel-casino for four years. Apparently, what happens in Vegas, doesn't always stay in Vegas.

CODA: Billy Preston, writer of the Joe Cocker classic "You Are So Beautiful" and the only musician to play with both the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, died Tuesday of causes related to kidney failure. He was 59.