HE FEELS GOOD: South Carolina officials on Tuesday pardoning James Brown for a laundry list of crimes in the state--including drug, weapons and assault charges.
PUT A STAKE IN IT: The series finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which will find our fearless Valley Girl hero battling a shape-shifter known as The First, airing tonight on UPN at 8 p.m.
POP ART: Sotheby's announcing it has settled its lawsuit with Michael Jackson over the popster's failure to pay $1.4 million for two 19th century paintings he bought last year. Terms were not disclosed.
LAUGH IN: Lily Tomlin named the winner of the Mark Twain Prize for 2003, awarded by the Kennedy Center to the country's best humorists.
GONNA LEARN HOW TO FLY? 'N Syncer Joey Fatone tapped to host NBC's Fame, a revival of the hit '80s series as a reality-based talent search competition featuring original star Debbie Allen.
BIG SHAKE-UP: Dylan McDermott, Lara Flynn Boyle and four other cast members of The Practice are leaving ABC's legal drama next season after producer David E. Kelley decided not to pick up their options. McDermott will appear in at least the first four episodes next season before his exit.
MASKED AND ANONYMOUS: Martin Scorsese signing on to direct a documentary on legendary singer Bob Dylan, who's expected to give his first full-interview in 20 years and discuss the impact his early career had on American culture.
UNMASKED: Bachelorette Hayley picking silver-masked millionaire developer Will over green-masked hypnotist Chris on last night's Mr. Personality finale.
LOVE CONQUERS ALL: The two-hour finale of ABC's The Bachelor finishing first in the Nielsens, averaging 15 million viewers to lead the night. CBS's Hitler miniseries finished third.
IT'S JUST A MOVIE: Joel Silver, producer of the Matrix Reloaded, rejecting the notion that the sci-fi fantasy series has influenced people to commit violent crimes. "I only can comment that 15 million people have seen the movie and I don't know what the links are," he said at a news conference in London.
MORE HARPO: As expected, Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey signing a new deal with King World Productions to continue as host and producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show through 2008.
MUTANT HOST: X2 star Hugh Jackman tapped to emcee the 57th Annual Tony Awards, airing live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS on June 8.
KUDOS! Singer Patti LaBelle picking up a lifetime achievement award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame's 34th annual induction and awards dinner, set for June 12 in New York.
DO THE TWIST: Singing sensations Aaron and Nick Carter lending their voices and moves to the launch of Milton Bradley's Twister Moves game, a dance version of Twister. The new game hits stores in June.
A STAR IS BORN? R.J. Helton, a finalist in the first season of American Idol, signs a recording contract with gospel label, Gospocentric/B-Rite Music.
MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE: Maxim magazine unveiling its annual Hot 100 list in an issue streeting today. Included in the Top 10: Shakira for best bed-head, Jennifer Lopez for number one money-maker, and best twang, singer Shania Twain. Christina Aguilera tops the list.
BURN THIS: Software maker Roxio announcing on Monday that it has bought for about $40 million online music service Pressplay, a venture jointly owned by Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Dixie Chicks set to perform via satellite the song "Truth No. 2" from their hometown of Austin, Texas, during the 38th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Wednesday. The Chicks are up for three awards.
TOSSED: A man who has reportedly stalked Madonna for the last few years ejected from a London television studio on May 14 as the Material One taped a performance for the BBC's Top of the Pops.
UNDER ATTACK: NBC greenlighting For Love or Money, a new relationship-based reality show similar to Joe Millionaire with a twist that will find the woman chosen at the end receiving $1 million unbeknownst to her suitor. The show debuts on June 2.