BEN'S TURN? The New York Post reporting that Lopez and Ben Affleck "kissed, cuddled and made goo-goo eyes at each other" during her surprise 32nd birthday party Wednesday at the Park restaurant in New York.
HE CAN EXPLAIN: The Clark County, Nevada, coroner announcing Thursday that Who bassist John Entwistle died from a heart attack triggered by cocaine use. The rocker was discovered in his Las Vegas room last month. He was 57.
GOODBYE RAYMOND? Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal telling reporters that the upcoming seventh season of Ray Romano's CBS hit could be its last. "I love Les [Moonves, president of CBS], and they've been incredibly supportive," he told Daily Variety. "But when it's over, it's over. You don't want to get repetitive, and I've never seen a show get better after seven seasons."
SURVIVORS: Two former members of Destiny's Child agreeing to settle their lawsuits against the R&B group's current members, their managers and Sony Music. LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson quit the group in 2000, but they later sued for fraud, defamation and breach of contract.
THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS: The West Wing star Martin Sheen telling reporters he was "heartbroken" about the news that his costar, Rob Lowe, is leaving the Emmy-winning series after a salary dispute with producers. "I was shocked and dismayed, frankly," he said, according to the Associated Press. "And disappointed, but for selfish reasons because we keep talking about the next four years as the next administration."
THE GUARDIAN: A judge awarding Robert Blake's daughter Delinah permanent custody of Rose, his daughter with slain wife Bonny Lee Bakley. Blake, who's accused of murdering Bakley, was denied bail in a hearing earlier this week.
THREE STARS IN THE FOUNTAIN: Warner Bros. giving the green light to Pi director Darren Aronofsky's sci-fi epic The Fountain, starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Ellen Burstyn. Production begins in October.
REMEMBER: NBC announcing plans to air a prime-time concert on the first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Associated Press reports. First lady Laura Bush will appear on NBC's Concert for America at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., but no official word yet on who will be performing. ABC and CBS, meanwhile, are both planning news programming for that night.
ON THE WARPATH: The Reverend Al Sharpton filing a $1 billion libel lawsuit against HBO Wednesday after the cable network aired an FBI videotape of him being approached about a drug deal. HBO says the legal action was "unworthy of comment."
VIVA VIVES! Colombian folk singer Carlos Vives snagging a leading six Latin Grammy nominations Wednesday, including Album, Record and Song of the Year. The ceremony, which was canceled last year due to 9-11, will be September 18 in Los Angeles.
REALITY CHECK: After weeks of rumors, singer Liza Minnelli and her new husband, producer David Gest, confirming they're jumping into the reality TV fray with Liza and David, a new show which will debut on VH1 in October.
AN EVIL STAR? Austin Powers mastermind Mike Myers receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Wednesday. His latest installment, Austin Powers in Goldmember, hits theaters Friday.
LET'S GO PARTY: A California appeals court rejecting toymaker Mattel's trademark-infringement lawsuit against MCA Records for the 1997 hit "Barbie Girl," by the Danish group Aqua. The court ruled that the song is a parody protected by the First Amendment.
ROYAL DAY TRIPPER: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II making two stops in Liverpool Thursday--one to commemorate the opening of John Lennon Airport, and another to meet Paul McCartney at the Walker Art Gallery, where he was showing his paintings.
STARTING WITH THE NETWORK: ABC ordering Ultimate Makeover, a new one-hour reality special in which three participants will get their "ultimate makeover," including face-lifts and breast implants, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
IMPROVED: A civil jury awarding a talent agency $14.8 million in its case against the Walt Disney Company, which it claimed breached its contract over ABC's hit series Home Improvement and underpaid commissions during the show's eight-year run.
ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY: Willie Nelson planning a benifit concert for victims of flooding in South Texas. The show will go down August 5 at Gruene Hall, north of New Braunfels, Texas, and tickets are $100 per person.
KUDOS: Oprah Winfrey, Don Imus, Kelsey Grammer and CBS News correspondent Bob Schieffer named as inductees into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, the Associated Press reports. They will be honored at a black-tie gala November 11 in New York.
THE LORD'S WORK: ZZ Top singer-guitarist Billy Gibbons getting ordained as a minister, Launch.com reports. The "Reverend Willy G" has already performed a wedding for a friend in Houston.