Pop Stand

Anna Nicole Smith was suffering physically in the days before her death, according to testimony in the drug case for Howard K. Stern and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich and Dr. Sandeep Kapoor. The three are on trial having been charged with six felonies, including prescribing, administering, and dispensing a controlled substance to an addict.

In Los Angeles Superior Court, the Florida medical examiner Dr. Harold Schueler said that Smith had abscesses all over her buttocks, causing infections at injection points. According to E! Online: "[Infections] would have had an impact on her ability to withstand the drugs," the doctor said, reducing her tolerance to the sedatives and muscle relaxers she had been taking for pain, anxiety and insomnia. "Her respiratory system could also have been compromised." This condition, Schueler said, may have contributed to her death.

Smith's former bodyguard also testified that he witnessed Stern inject the former Playboy Playmate multiple times in the days after her son, Daniel's death.

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The Michael Jackson documentary film "This Is It" is a hot ticket already with box office pre-sales.The film doesn't open for another two weeks, but advanced tickets sales already account for 1,600 sold-out show, and is the No. 1 ticket at websites Fandango and MovieTickets. "The pre-sales activity all over the world has been nothing short of extraordinary," said Steve Elzer, a spokesman for Columbia Pictures.

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As Maury would say, "Keanu Reeves... You are NOT the father!" The actor was being sued by a woman for spousal and child support, claiming that Reeves was the father of one of her four children. Karen Sala claimed that she met Reeves in the '80s and that he got her pregnant. Sala was seeking $3 million spousal support, retroactive to 1988, plus an additional $150,000 a month in child support also going back to the same date. Reeves has maintained that he has never met Sala and now A DNA test confirms that Reeves doesn't match any of the children. According to Reeves' lawyer, Sala does not accept the test results.

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Singer Leona Lewis was punched in the head at a book signing in London yesterday. At an appearance promoting her new biography "Dreams," Lewis was approached by a man for an autograph. After signing, Lewis looked up and the attacker punched her in the side of the head. Lewis was taken to an area hospital and was said to be "badly shaken" by the incident.

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Avril Lavigne has filed for divorce from her hubby, musician Deryck Whibley from the band Sum 41. The couple separated in September, and now Lavigne has made it official by filing divorce papers last week, citing irreconcilable differences.

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Actor Chris Pine took over the iconic role of Capt. Kirk in this summer's mega-hit "Star Trek." Now he has been cast in another big role, taking over the Jack Ryan character. CIA agent Jack Ryan was first played by Alec Baldwin in "The Hunt for Red October," then the role was taken over by Harrison Ford for two films, and later Ben Affleck for one. But Paramount Pictures is calling this a re-boot, trying to resurrect the franchise.

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The prosecutor in the Letterman extortion case wants the evidence to be sealed by the court. Suzanne Vieux says that her case against Robert "Joe" Halderman could be damaged, especially if witnesses get wrapped up in the media circus. Vieux is also asking that today's hearing be closed, trying to keep the wraps on this very public case.

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We're still more than two months away from the premier of American Idol, but Randy Jackson is already handicapping the race. "I think I have to give the edge going in to the girls. We haven’t had a girl winner in a long time and some interesting talented girls showed up [to audition.]," Jackson told media at a NYC music and yodeling festival.

Jackson also defends the addition of Ellen DeGeneres, who critics point to with her lack of music credentials. But Jackson says, "I think Ellen will bring an easy light kind of side to it. She isn’t that music aficionado like all of us but I don’t think the panel necessarily needed more of that."

-- Dave Valenzuela