Pop Stand

Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, is in Los Angeles meeting with his defense attorneys and could appear in court as early as this morning to face an charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of the King of Pop, TMZ is reporting. It's not known whether police will take Murray into custody or whether he will be allowed to turn himself in. The charges against him will have to be officially filed before he can appear in court.Murray gave Jackson a dose of the anesthetic propofol on the morning he died.

The messy divorce of Paul and Anna Anka, left, got messier when the singer-songwriter accused his estranged wife of defamation for saying that he forged her name on their prenuptial agreement. In the papers, which also allege slander, libel, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, Paul claims Anna married him only "to leverage [his] celebrity status to get herself a television show" in her native land called "Swedish Hollywood Wives." Paul also says Anna was irrational, becoming obsessed during a concert tour in the Middle East that their son, Ethan Paul Anka, would be "kidnapped and sold into slavery." The documents also cited violent incidents during the marriage, including one in November 2008 when Anna threw a chunk of ice that hit Paul in the head and caused a gash that required stitches.

The actor who played Garrett Wells for one season on "Boston Legal" died in a one-car accident in rural Wisconsin Monday, police said. Justin Mentell, 27, who played attorney Garrett Wells on the ABC show from 2005 to 2006, was found dead Monday near his crashed Jeep, which had plunged down a steep embankment near Blanchardville, Wis., and hit two trees. Police said Mentell, who was born in Texas and attended high school in Waukegan, Ill., was not wearing a seat belt. Mentell had a role in last year's movie, "G-Force" with Nicholas Cage. Mentell's "Boston Legal" costar, William Shatner, wrote on his Twitter page, "I'm deeply saddened to hear about Justin Mentell. There's no telling how far up the ladder he may have climbed. My sympathies to his family."

Redmond O'Neal, the troubled son of Ryan O'Neal and the late Farrah Fawcett, is going to rehab again. He has been in jail since Dec. 29 when he was caught under the influence of drugs after a 24-hour pass from a court-mandated rehab center. "The plan for you is severe, and justifiably so," said Judge Michael Tynan at a hearing in Los Angeles Tuesday. "We all want you to do well but it's up to you." Once O'Neal finishes rehab -- his fourth time -- he'll be placed in a sober living home. In a two-sentence note to RadarOnline, O'Neal writes, "My plan is to go back with a new attitude and leave my old ideas behind. I am committed to doing this thing."

Khloe Kardashian had a warrant out for her arrest from 2003 and didn't know about it until she had a run-in outside a club with a transgendered man who filed a police report against her. The club incident started when the man approached Lamar Odom and told him he was too young to be married -- at which point, he said, Khloe "pushed me and hit me." After interviewing both parties and witnesses, police declined to charge Khloe. But a check of the police system after the complaint turned up a bench warrant issued in 2003, when Khloe failed to pay a speeding ticket. Oddly, the warrant wasn't found when she was charged with DUI in 2007. Khloe went to court Tuesday, apologized, paid $200 in court costs and the warrant was recalled.

Gael García Bernal's rep is denying online rumors that the actor is demanding a paternity test for his 1-year-old son, Lázaro. "It's completely untrue," says a source close to the actor, adding that Bernal and his girlfriend, Argentine actress Dolores Fonzi, "are happy together and they love their son. This is totally made up." The rumors say that Bernal, who starred in "Babel" and "Motorcycle Diaries," and Fonzi, both 31, called it quits and he demanded proof that Lázaro is his child.

Many stars nominated for Oscars Tuesday morning issued statements expressing their delight and thanks at being chosen. Sandra Bullock says she slept well -- rather than staying up worrying -- before getting the early-morning call from her publicist saying she got the best-actress nod for her role in "The Blind Side." Meryl Streep, nominated for "Julie and Julia," said, "I am proud and grateful to stand with these women who have given such a range of beautiful, indelible performances this year!" Helen Mirren, nominated for her role as Leo Tolstoy's wife in "The Last Station," said, "I think Tolstoy himself would have been perplexed by all this, but Sofya, his wife, would have been over the moon. So in that spirit, I am too." Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, nominated for "Precious," said, "I am so excited and honored to be recognized by the Academy and included in such a remarkable group of actors." On the Best Supporting Actress line, Penelope Cruz issued a statement saying she was "surprised and elated" and that the nomination made her "so happy."

Morgan Freeman, nominated for Best Actor for "Invictus," said in a statement, "Thank you to Nelson Mandela for his encouragement, his blessing and his friendship – without which, this film would not have been possible." Jeremy Renner, nominated for "The Hurt Locker," called the nomination "more exhilarating than I could have ever imagined" and "a blazing stamp in the passport of an artist that can never be taken away and will always be cherished." Colin Firth, nominated for "A Single Man," said, "I thought I was managing my expectations, but on hearing the news I discovered new and unfamiliar vocal tones. Perhaps I should do another musical." The 82nd annual Academy Awards, co-hosted by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, will air live on ABC starting at 8 p.m. March 7.

-- Anne Neville