EXPANDING HIS KINGDOM: Howard Stern launching a film festival as part of his "commitment to democratize entertainment," In Demand Networks announced Wednesday. The top three films in the Howard Stern Film Festival competition will receive cash prizes and air on Howard TV On Demand.
NOT SHOCKING: The use of profanity on Stern's satellite radio show increasing 34 percent from January to February, FamilyMediaGuide.com reported.
DRIVING IMPAIRED: Tracy Morgan placed on three years probation stemming from his December drunk driving arrest and ordered to attend alcohol awareness classes, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office reported.
SKYPING WITH THE STARS: Matthew McCounaughey, Brooke Shields and Rachel Bilson among the celebs auctioning off a 10 minute Skype session with a fan on eBay to benefit the Art of Elysium. To bid, visit www.ebay.com/skypeaceleb.
INDENTIFIED: Authorities confirming that the body found in paparazzo Todd Kevin Wallace's Brentwood apartment earlier this month belonged to the photographer, who had been facing charges stemming from a run-in with Reese Witherspoon.
ON THE MEND: ABC anchor Bob Woodruff slowly making progress after being injured in Iraq last month, ABC President David Westin said Thursday, adding that Woodruff still has "a long way to go."
SOUNDS LIKE A PARTY: Brazil's government giving a packet of condoms and anti-AIDS information to Bono, who praised the country's anti-AIDS campaign.
SCREEN IDOL: ShoWest naming American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson its Female Star of Tomorrow. Hudson making her film debut in Dreamgirls, slated for a December release.
ALONG CAME A PLEA DEAL: James Bond director Lee Tamahori placed on three years probation, fined $390, and told to attend an AIDS education course after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass. As part of the Die Another Day director's plea deal, two misdemeanor counts of unlawfully soliciting an act of prostitution and loitering with the intent to commit prostitution were dismissed.
MORE PLEADING: Brad Renfro pleading guilty to attempted possession of heroin stemming from his arrest in December and placed on three years probation. Renfro will also enter drug rehab.
PRICE IS WRONG: Colin Farrell suing former Price is Right spokesmodel Candace Smith for allegedly conspiring with his ex-girlfriend Nicole Nahrain to sell the actor's sex tape.
MORE MEN IN TIGHTS: Warner Bros. Pictures already gearing up for sequels to Batman Begins and Superman Returns, with respective directors Christopher Nolan and Bryan Singer in line to return, Daily Variety reports.
ON THE DOWNLOAD: Apple announcing Thursday that one billion songs have been legally downloaded from its iTunes Music Store since it was launched less than three years ago. The billionth song downloaded was Coldplay's "Speed of Sound."
MR. NOT-SO-BRIGHTSIDE: The Killers' former manager, Braden Merrick, suing the band for $16 million for alleged breach of contract, claiming he was fired last May once the band began to gain success.
BABY MONKEY: Former Love Monkey star Tom Cavanagh and wife Maureen welcoming their first child together Feb. 10, a daughter they named Alice Ann.
ROCK FOR A CAUSE: Michael Stipe, Bright Eyes, Chuck D and Rufus Wainwright among the artists signing on for "Bring 'Em Home Now," a Mar. 20 concert at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom.
SLAP HAPPY: Officials declining to charge Joe Pesci for allegedly punching a fan who photographed him in a shopping-center parking lot.
SLIP OF THE NIPPLE: Federal regulators standing by their decision to fine CBS $550,000 for Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at the 2004 Super Bowl and planning new sanctions against Fox, NBC and CBS for other decency standard violations.
NOT A GOOD THING: Donald Trump continuing his attack on Martha Stewart in interviews with Extra and Inside Edition Wednesday, calling the home-making maven "ridiculous" and saying he felt he deserved an apology. Stewart used her talk show to address the issue, saying she felt "disappointed," "hurt" and "really upset."
DOUBLE EXPOSURE: American Idol contestant Becky O'Donahue appearing with her twin sister, Jessie, in a series of sexy photos on Maxim magazine 's Website that were taken two years ago for an online fantasy baseball game.
PORN CALLING: Jenna Jameson lending her voice to Samurai Love God, a new animated series from Comedy Central that will be delivered to mobile-phone users, the network announced Wednesday.
ANIMATION SEGREGATION: China banning television shows that combine animation with live actors in the hopes of benefitting its domestic animation industry. Currently, 90 percent of the nation's animation market is occupied by foreign producers.