FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, March 23, 2006

South Park kills off Chef, American Idol axes Kevin Covais, Jessica Simpson to sell hair extensions, more

By Sarah Hall Mar 23, 2006 8:45 PMTags

SO LONG, CHILDREN: Isaac Hayes voicing Chef one last time in Wednesday's South Park premiere, thanks to a vocal track assembled from past episodes. The character met his demise in the episode after he fell off a bridge onto rocks, was burned, impaled and mauled by a mountain lion and a grizzly bear.

BROTHERLY LOVE: R. Kelly's brother, Carey, releasing a low-budget DVD in which he puts forth a number of new allegations against his brother, including the claim that the R&B star offered him $50,000, a house and a record contract if he agreed to testify that it was actually him on the sex tape that prompted child porn charges against Kelly.

TOO REAL: Sunday's episode of The Simpsons featuring a live-action title sequence in which actors will portray the cartoon characters in the show's opening song.

SCHEDULE SWITCH: Veronica Mars moving to its former time slot on Tuesdays for the remainder of its season.

HAIRY SITUATION: Jessica Simpson teaming up with her stylist Ken Paves and launching a line of hair extensions.

LIFE IN SHAMBLES: Pete Doherty pleading guilty to seven drug charges Thursday, then kicking a reporter covering his trial in the arm.

FAST LANE: MTV ordering eight episodes of Fast Incorporated, a reality series centered on "car hunters," individuals who handle vintage and muscle car requests from celebrities, models and eccentric millionaires, per the Hollywood Reporter.

LION'S SHARE: The impoverished daughters of the late South African composer Solomon Linda, who wrote "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," winning a six-year battle over royalties, that awards them 25 percent of past and future royalties.

BACK TO COURT: A bankruptcy judge clearing the way Wednesday for Robert Blake's attorneys to seek a new trial in the wrongful death lawsuit that resulted in a judgment of $30 million against him.

MORE COURT: A judge hearing an attorney's request Thursday to have a receiver appointed to take over Suge Knight's Death Row Records and other financial affairs, after Knight has allegedly refused to make good on a $107 million judgment awarded last year to a former business associate.

SOUR NOTE: American Idol contestant Kevin Covais, aka "Chicken Little," voted off the talent search Wednesday, leaving 10 hopefuls in the running.

LIFE BEFORE IDOL: Lifetime producing a film about Fantasia's life before American Idol, showing her overcoming sexual abuse, poverty and illiteracy. The Idol winner could play herself.

IN THE KITCHEN: NBC announcing that the stars on its new reality series, Celebrity Cooking Showdown!, will include Naomi Campbell, Tom Arnold and Ja Rule.

CASTING CALL: Marcia Gay Harden joining the cast of ABC's drama pilot Drift, playing the therapist to a New York detective whose insomnia affects his work, per the Hollywood Reporter.

DANCE FEVER: The Killers and Prodigy headlining this year's Ultra Music Festival in Miami this weekend, an event expected to draw around 50,000 people.