Pop Stand

One can only imagine what the recently announced Charlie Sheen live shows will be like, but people want to see them. After Sheen announced late last week that he plans live shows in Detroit on April 2 and Chicago on April 3 on what he is calling "My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option" tour, tickets for both shows sold out in minutes when they went on sale Saturday. The Detroit show, where tickets cost between $35 and $80, sold out in about 18 minutes Saturday morning, and the Chicago show did the same. Sheen took to Twitter and said: “Fastball; Detroit/Chicago sold out in minutes... Thanks to Sheen’s Cadre..! #WINNING." Plans are reportedly in the works to add 20 to 30 more Sheen dates throughout the country and as far away as Europe and Australia, E News is reporting. "Madison Square Garden is trying to book a date," a source told E! News. "That's not the ideal venue size, but Charlie is open to it." There are few details of what Sheen will do on stage, but Ticketmaster.com lists Sheen’s show under its “Comedy” category. The source said, "Charlie is first and foremost an actor," the source said. "There will be a lot of scripted material, plus videos, interactive audience material, the whole range of things that play off Charlie's strengths. There will be light and dark moments. People will not be disappointed." Tickets to the shows -- as well as his new T-shirts printed with his catchphrase, "Duh, winning" and other sayings -- seen above on Sheen and his remaining goddess -- are available at CharlieSheen.com. Sheen says he will donate $1 from each ticket to the Red Cross Japanese Earthquake Relief Fund.

• • •

But Alec Baldwin, who has had some hot-headed public moments of his own, has some advice for Sheen. "Take a nap. Get a shower ... And then beg for your job back. Your fans demand it," the "30 Rock" star tells Sheen in a piece written for The Huffington Post and  headlined "'Two and a Half Men' Is Better Than None." Baldwin writes about why he ended his role playing Jack Ryan in the movies made from Tom Clancy novels: "The studio cut my throat." He writes, "When executives at studios and networks move up to the highest ranks, they are given a book. The book is called 'How to Handle Actors.' And one principle held dear in that book is that no actor is greater than the show itself when the show is a hit. And in that regard, they are often right," Baldwin continues. "Add to the fact that the actor who is torturing their diseased egos is a drug-addled, porn star-squiring, near Joycean Internet ranter, and they really want you to go." Baldwin writes, "Go on Letterman and make an apology," he suggests. "Sober up, Charlie. And get back on TV, if it's not too late. Beg for America's forgiveness. They will give it to you." He finishes with this P.S. referring to Sheen's costar: "Buy [Jon] Cryer a really nice car."

• • •

Sheen's new lifestyle doesn't leave much room for his kids -- two daughters with ex Denise Richards and twin sons with ex Brooke Mueller. Three of the youngsters celebrated birthdays over the weekend, and Sheen didn't attend either of the parties. Richards scheduled daughter Sam's 7th birthday party at a gymnastics studio, and Mueller set up Max and Bob's second birthday part at Kathy Hilton's house. "Kathy [Hilton] wanted to throw Max and Bob a birthday party at her house," a source tells E! "Brooke wanted the boys' birthday party to be early from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. because Sam's party is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m." Mueller still has a restraining order against Sheen, but he was not expected to celebrate with Sam either. Sources said, "There is no plan for Charlie to attend either party." After the twins' party, attended by about 50 people, a source told People, "The party is a casual and child friendly celebration. It's all about Max and Bob and their friends. They seem to be having a great time, and so is Brooke." Mueller's parents, who had been living in Florida, were reportedly looking for a permanent home near their daughter and grandsons so they could help out with child care.

• • •

Victoria Beckham won't be the only female in the family after July. Husband David Beckham, father of the couple's three sons, has announced that the new addition will be a girl. "We're very lucky to be expecting again and this is the first time I'm going to say it — it's a little girl," the L.A. Galaxy midfielder announced. "We're still in shock," said Beckham. "Having three boys, you kind of expect another one — so finding out a little girl is in there is surprising. Obviously we're over the moon. Our three boys are happy and excited and Victoria is doing well." The couple's sons are Cruz, 6, Romeo, 8½, and Brooklyn, 12.

• • •

Longtime couple Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have called it quits, and people are already speculating that Timberlake's "Friends with Benefits" costar, Mila Kunis, was the cause. But a source close to Timberlake says it's not true. "Mila had nothing to do with their break-up," the source says. "In fact, no one came between them. They decided their relationship ran its course and it was time to move on." Of Kunis and Timberlake, the source says, "They're not in a relationship," the source says. "They star in a movie called 'Friends with Benefits,' but they're just friends. That's it. They are not together." Since the couple's breakup, Biel looked happy as she attended a birthday party for her younger brother at a Hollywood club.

-- Anne Neville

Charlie Sheen has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against "Two and a Half Men" creator Chuck Lorre, left, and Warner Brothers for breach of contract in Los Angeles Superior Court. The papers, filed Thursday by Sheen's attorney Marty Singer, indicate he's seeking more than $100 million for actual and punitive damages, not only himself for the episodes of the sitcom that were canceled, but on behalf of the show's crew. Sheen Tweeted, "#Fastball; Torpedo away... You corporate Trolls were warned. And now you've been served!" The lawsuit is written with the same personal and vindictive tone Sheen has taken in his interviews and webcasts. It says, "Lorre, one of the richest men in television who is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, believes himself to be so wealthy and powerful that he can unilaterally decide to take money away from the dedicated cast and crew of the popular television series 'Two and a Half Men' in order to serve his own ego and self-interest, and make the star of the Series the scapegoat for Lorre's own conduct." The papers claim that Sheen put up with years of Lorre "humiliating, harassing and disparaging" him. In response to Warner Bros.' claims that Sheen's addiction is causing him to deteriorate physically and emotionally, the lawsuit argues the firing violated his employment rights for "alleged physical or mental disability." Lorre's attorney responded, "The allegations in the complaint against Mr. Lorre are as recklessly false and unwarranted as Mr. Sheen's rantings in the media." Lawyer Howard Weitzman continued, "These accusations are simply imaginary. This lawsuit is about a fantasy 'lottery' pay-day for Charlie Sheen. Chuck Lorre's concern has been and continues to be about Mr. Sheen's health."

• • •

Kelly Preston, now married to John Travolta, is sticking up for her former fiance, Charlie Sheen. The pair, seen at left, were together for a year until 1990, when their engagement ended after a bizarre, still mysterious incident in which Sheen accidentally shot Preston in the arm. Preston said, "My heart just goes out to him, and all of his family. He's such a good person underneath all of it, he really is." Preston said, "We were together for a year, and he wasn't drinking, and he wasn't doing drugs. And there's a beautiful person in there. He really is a great man." Preston says she has hope Sheen can recover from his current public meltdown. "I think there's a way back for anyone," she said. "I always have hope, and my prayers are with him."

• • •

Hinting that he has some self-awareness of his bizarre rants in the past week, Sheen poked fun at himself by filming a video for the web site Funny or Die. Wearing a tiger-striped chef's hat and an apron with the phrase "WINNING recipes" on it, Sheen chain-smokes as he says, "Face it, I am living the life of a rock star Vatican assassin." He calls a spatula as a "cooking wand" and a bowl a "cauldron of awesomeness," and makes a  "tomato winning salad." "Winners stalk and kill their own food without earthly weapons," he says. "I'm not some mouth-breather at a drive-through, gorging my pie hole on mass produced monkey grub. My body is a lockbox of diamonds, uranium and assassin nobility."

• • •

In court Thursday, Lindsay Lohan again rejected the district attorney's offer of a plea deal to the felony grand theft charge in connection with the removal of a $2,500 necklace from a jewelry store on Jan. 22. The sticking point is apparently that the district attorney insists Lohan must serve some jail time. Thursday's hearing in front of Judge Keith Schwartz lasted just a few minutes. Schwartz set a preliminary hearing date of April 22 in front of Judge Stephanie Sautner, who will decide both whether Lohan can be tried on the theft charge and whether she's in violation of her probation in her DUI case. Or Lohan could choose to return to Schwartz's courtroom March 25 to accept the plea deal and settle the case before her preliminary hearing. For Thursday's appearance, Lohan again chose another sexy outfit, a tight-fitting nude-colored leather minidress, left. A jury consultant tells People that Lohan's wardrobe choices are mistakes. "Clearly the tightness of the attire and shortness of dresses she's had, and … her little [finger] nail faux pas when she had "F-you" on her nail -- all of those don't get missed by anybody in a courtroom, and particularly a judge," says  Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, a jury consultant who has worked on many high-profile cases. "I've done a lot of cases involving celebrities, and celebrities can get by with a little more than you or I in a courtroom, but she's gone way past that," Dimitrius says of Lohan. "She has demonstrated no remorse and no respect for the court."

• • •

Annette Funicello and two other people, identified as her husband and her nurse, were treated for smoke inhalation after a fire early Thursday in Funicello's suburban Los Angeles house. The blaze at the Encino, Calif., home was reported ar 7:21 a.m. The 68-year-old Funicello, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and was in a wheelchair, was taken by ambulance to a nearby medical center, along with the man and woman. All three were reportedly in good condition. Photos of the fire-damaged house published by TMZ show movie posters and othe show business memorabilia survived the blaze.

• • •

It's not exactly a surprise that Tony Danza is ending his marriage of 24 years. He and wife Tracy split in 2006. The "Who's the Boss?" actor cites "irreconcilable differences" as the reason behind the split, says the report. The pair married wed in 1986 and have two daughters: Katherine, 23, and Emily, 17. Danza also has a son, Marc, from his early-'70s marriage to Rhonda Yeoman.

-- Anne Neville

Am I the only one who, hearing the latest gossip about volatile movie star Charlie Sheen, can't help thinking of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, pictured at left?

OK, I figured I was the only one.

But I am not crazy! There is a vital connection. Without Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Charlie Sheen would not be Charlie Sheen. He would most likely be Charlie Estevez, like his brother, Emilio.

You may have read about this, because I have: Charlie's dad, Martin Sheen, chose Sheen as his acting name in tribute to the charismatic Archbishop, whose radio broadcasts he loved. Fulton Sheen was popular, witty and apparently very compelling: Wikipedia reports that he was personally responsible for a lot of people becoming Catholic, including agnostic writer Heywood Broun, politician Clare Boothe Luce, automaker Henry Ford II, actress Virginia Mayo, and debonair violinist and composer Fritz Kreisler (who became a good friend of his).

But back to the Hollywood Sheens. Martin Sheen's sons took divergent paths. His son Emilio, entering the acting biz, stuck with his dad's original last name, Estevez. Charlie went with Sheen.

Given the current situation, you have to wonder how Archbishop Fulton Sheen, now up for sainthood, feels about the doings of his namesake. Well, you can kind of guess, judging from the Fulton Sheen Web site, which lets you browse and listen to his radio talks.

A word of warning to Charlie:

Fulton Sheen has shown evidence of supernatural powers. Not only are miracles attributed to his intervention, but a famous story focuses on how he made ominous pronouncements about Joseph Stalin, and the dictator died within a week. The story is true, according to Snopes.

It might be a good idea to clean up your act, just to be on the safe side.

-- Mary Kunz Goldman

 

 

 

 

Opera diva Renee Fleming is engaged. The Rochester-born diva is planning on tying the knot with corporate lawyer Tim Jessell. The two have been dating two years, and it has been a long-distance relationship, with Fleming in New York and Jessell in Washington, D.C.

That is the happy couple pictured at left, in a picture taken at Carnegie Hall.

Fleming was married once before, to an actor named Rick Ross whom she met while both were at Juilliard. She has two children from that marriage. The singer met Jessell on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend, author Ann Patchett. Fleming is said to have been the inspiration for the singer heroine in Patchett's novel "Bel Canto."

Fleming and Jessell are reportedly planning a small wedding in New York in the fall.

Fleming is a favorite of opera fans all over the world, but she is especially beloved in her home turf of Western New York. Her mother teaches voice at the Eastman School of Music, and Fleming has made several appearances in the area, most notably at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's season-opening gala of 2002, singing Richard Strauss' emotional "Four Last Songs."

Her engagement was written up on Page Six of the New York Post.

-- Mary Kunz Goldman

 

A machete-waving Charlie Sheen isn't backing down from a confrontation with Warner Bros., which fired him Monday from his job on the hit sitcom "Two and a Half Men." In a text to People, Sheen wrote, "Put yourself in my shoes for one warlock nanosecond. At some point there is nothing to say. Only war to wage … The winds are howling tonight. The gods are hungry. The beast is alive. And awake. And deadly." After encountering paparazzi during a smoke break from a business meeting to discuss merchandising with Live Nation in Beverly Hills Monday, Sheen, accompanied by "Goddess" Natalie Kenley, left, swigged from a bottle and then waved a shiny machete in the air. In a message, Sheen said he would use the machete to destroy anyone who threatened his family. As possible as it seems that Sheen just carries a machete around, it was actually a prop handed to him by a Live Nation executive after paparazzi spotted Sheen on the roof during the break. "Charlie grabbed it and was like, 'Cool. Viva la revolución!'" a source said. Sheen immediately began telling people he wanted to get a similar sword for his "warlock arsenal."

• • •

First Sheen lashed out at "Two and a Half Men" creator Chuck Lorre, now he's castigating his co-star, Jon Cryer, whom Sheen says has not contacted him with a message of support. "Like I said: You're with me, or you're with the trolls," Sheen told E! News. "Obviously he's with the trolls." Sheen said, "Jon has not called me. He's a turncoat, a traitor, a troll. Clearly he's a troll. He issued a statement. Is it gonna take me calling him a 'traitor, juvenile and scared' for him to get it?" But Cryer has not commented publicly; a Tweet originally attributed to him was called a hoax. And a source close to Cryer says Cyrer did reach out to Sheen and the two have communicated, but that out of respect, Cryer will not comment publicly on his former costar's troubles. Sheen says some other actors and members of the cast of the show are "not trolls" because they have called him, including young actor Angus T. Jones, Conchata Ferrell (Berta the housekeeper), Melanie Lynskey (Rose the neighbor), Marin Hinkle (Judith Harper) and show director Jamie Widdoes. But Sheen says it's too late for Cryer. "What's there to say? I'll tell him 'You're a little late. Goodbye, troll.' When I'm starring in multimillion-dollar films and he's begging me for a supporting role I'll say, 'You left me out in the cold with all of your guilt and stupidity.' "

• • •

In an 11-page letter explaining their decision to fire Sheen, Warner Bros. spokesmen call the star a sick and self-destructive addict who is rejecting all help -- including an airplane standing by to take him to drug rehab -- while he continues to behave erratically in public. Specifically, the letter says there is a clause in Sheen's contract saying Warner Bros. can fire a performer who commits "a felony offense involving moral turpitude." The letter says, "There is ample evidence supporting Warner Bros. reasonable good faith opinion that Mr. Sheen has committed felony offenses involving moral turpitude (including but not limited to furnishing of cocaine to others as part of the self-destructive lifestyle he has described publicly) that have 'interfere[d] with his ability to fully and completely render all material services required' under the agreement." The letter also says that those close to the star should "focus your energies on what no one so far has been able to do: get your client the sustained, rigorous and effective treatment he so urgently needs. ... It is clear that [Sheen] has no intention of agreeing to the intensive evaluation and treatment that his condition requires. ... It is also clear he does not believe he has a problem and that he will continue to conduct himself in a destructive manner."

• • •

Fast living may have caught up with Mike Starr, the original bassist for Alice in Chains and "Celebrity Rehab" participant who was found dead Tuesday in Utah. The cause of the 44-year-old's death has not yet been released. Starr battled drug addiction and appeared on the third season of "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" in 2009 and said he was clean for some months afterward. But Starr was arrested last month in Salt Lake City on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance. Police said Starr had six Xanax pills and six tablets of the painkiller Opana. Starr, who left Alice in Chains in 1993 and was replaced by Mike Inez, admitted on "Celebrity Rehab" that he had been booted from the band because of his drug problem.

• • •

Lindsay Lohan has met with her attorneys to discuss suing the Kamofie & Company jewelry store, claiming they had no right to sell the surveillance tape that shows her trying on and then leaving the store with a necklace, because she never gave them the right to use her image for profit, TMZ is reporting. Sources connected to the surveillance video say Kamofie sold the rights to distribute the tape to the Associated Press for at least $40,000, and the AP has since struck a deal with "Entertainment Tonight" in which the show got exclusive rights to air the tape for one week.  A rep for Kamofie told TMZ, "We regret to hear there is trepidation by Miss Lohan in connection with the video. ... We hope that everyone understands that this is beyond our control, the flood of the requests to see this video were simply too overwhelming.  It was truly necessary to put it out."

• • •

Photos that appear to show the daughter of Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston leaning over a pile of white powder have drawn a denial from her dad. Bobby Brown says Bobbi Kristina Brown, 18, doesn't do drugs. When asked about the photos, originally published in the National Enquirer, Brown said, "I don't know anything about that. My daughter, she doesn't, she doesn't do that." Bobbi's mother, Whitney Houston, has not commented on the photos, which were reportedly supplied to the tabloid by a former boyfriend. Bobbi Kristina defended herself on Twitter after the photos came out, saying she was "set up" by a money-hungry ex-boyfriend after "a horrible relationship that went sour." She wrote, "It’s really not what it looks like."

• • •

Pete Wentz has filed papers contesting the divorce and custody requests of Ashlee Simpson, asking for joint custody of their 2-year-old son, Bronx Mowgli. Last month, when she filed for divorce, Simpson asked for joint legal custody of their son but sole physical custody for her, with visitation for Wentz. In his filing, Wentz is asking for both legal and physical custody to be shared jointly. Simpson also asked that her soon-to-be-ex pay both parties' attorneys fees, but Wentz is asking that they split the legal bills. The two agree that their split is due to irreconcilable differences.

-- Anne Neville

   It's fashion week in Paris -- with much going on. For one thing, a dinner party was held 
Monday night in honor of designer Michael Kors, who is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his
brand and just opened a store there -- his biggest in the world.

Check out what some familiar faces wore:

 
 Jennifer Hudson


 
Claudia Schiffer

 
Mary J. Blige (who also performed)

 
Amber Heard

 
Zoe Saldana (with the designer)

 
Carmen Kass

Here are some highlights of what to watch on TV this week:

MONDAY

8 PM on Channel 2

The Event

The much-hyped yet ratings-challenged drama gets a two-hour midseason relaunch as the
intelligence community tries to decrypt Thomas' (Clifton Collins Jr.) message as he launches a
surprise attack. A politician (guest star Virginia Madsen) threatens to reveal information
about the Mount Inostranka detention center on TV. Sean and Leila (Jason Ritter, Sarah Roemer)
get a lead on Samantha in "And Then There Were More; Inostranka." (14)

 

9 PM on Channel 29

The Chicago Code

Teresa (Jennifer Beals) must enlist the help of Alderman Gibbons (Delroy Lindo) after
Detectives Wysocki and Evers (Jason Clarke, Matt Lauria) encounter uncooperative locals while
investigating the death of a teenager in Chinatown. Teresa's brother-in-law (guest star
Rockmond Dunbar) gets involved with a shady business deal. Liam (Billy Lush) goes deeper under
cover in the new episode "O'Leary's Cow." (14)

 

10 PM and Midnight on OXYGEN

All About Aubrey

This new docuseries chronicles the ups and downs of former Danity Kane band member … and
disgraced P. Diddy protegee … Aubrey O'Day as she searches for love and attempts to prove to
the world that she really does have what it takes to make it in the music industry. (PG)

 

10 PM and Midnight on VH1

Behind the Music

The Emmy-nominated series returns with a profile of three-time Grammy winner and hip-hop
superstar Nelly, who for the first time opens up about the death of his sister and his
relationship with singer Ashanti, who also is interviewed. The episode also chronicles Nelly's
triumphs and trials over his decade-long career, as well as his rise to stardom from humble
beginnings. (PG)

 

 

TUESDAY

8 PM on Channel 23

One Tree Hill

After a wild night out for her bachelorette party, Brooke (Sophia Bush) and the gang blearily
struggle the next morning to remember what happened. James Lafferty, Bethany Joy Galeotti and
Robert Buckley also star in "The Drinks We Drank Last Night." (PG)

 

9 PM on Channel 23

Hellcats

Marti (Aly Michalka) deals with the tense consequences of her confession that she hooked up
with Dan (Matt Barr). When Alice's (Heather Hemmens) father (guest star Mario Van Peebles)
unexpectedly arrives to watch her fly at sectionals, she blackmails Savannah (Ashley Tisdale)
into giving up her spot as a flier. Robbie Jones and Gail O'Grady also star in "Papa, Oh
Papa." (PG)

 

10 PM on TLC

Tiniest Tween: Kenadie's Story

The extraordinary … and extraordinarily challenging … life of primordial dwarf Kenadie
Jourdin-Bromley, aka "The Littlest Angel," enters another chapter as she is confronted with
the prospect of early-onset puberty, although she is only 7 years old, 33 inches tall and 17
pounds. On a more mundane level, Kenadie must deal with her severe fear of scary Halloween
costumes as her school prepares for the fall holiday. (PG)

 

10 PM on HISTORY

Top Shot

The remaining marksmen compete in a head-to-head speed-shooting showdown. The contestants get
surprise visitors to help train them while using a Colt .45 and the rarely seen Razorcat
Racing Gun in the new episode "Quickfire Face-Off." (PG)

 

10 PM on USA

White Collar

In the season finale, Neal (Matt Bomer) confronts the evil mastermind behind the death of his
old flame, Kate, and also learns the answer to one of the greatest mysteries in history in the
new episode "Under the Radar." Hilarie Burton ("One Tree Hill"), Andrew McCarthy and Gloria
Votsis guest star; Tim DeKay also stars. (PG)

 

 

WEDNESDAY

8 PM on Channel 29

American Idol

The competition moves into yet another phase as this season's finalists perform live for the
first time for judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, as well as the people
who really control their immediate fate: the viewers at home. Ryan Seacrest hosts. (PG)

 

8 PM on Channel 23

America's Next Top Model

There's plenty of drama in this new episode as the models spend a day getting makeovers with
hair stylist Laurent D and photographer Troy Jensen. At the next photo shoot, fashion stylist
Lori Goldstein outfits the models in couture dresses, but more than one meltdown ensues as
Pamela Hanson shoots them in small groups. One model keeps pushing everyone's buttons before
Goldstein joins the judging panel to decide which girl will be going home.

 

9 PM on Channel 7

Modern Family

A frustrated Claire (Julie Bowen) becomes determined to stop a car that speeds through the
neighborhood. Phil (Ty Burrell) copes with a difficult client. Jay (Ed O'Neill) teaches Manny
(Rico Rodriguez) to ride a bike. Mitchell and Cameron (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet)
meet a charming neighbor who is a bit of a mystery. James Marsden and Jami Gertz guest star in
the episode "Slow Down Your Neighbors." Sofia Vergara also stars. (PG)

 

10 and 11 PM on FX

Justified

His hunt for a killer puts Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) on a collision course with the Bennett
clan, while Boyd (Walton Goggins) plots a heist with some decidedly treacherous new partners
in the new episode "Cottonmouth." (MA)

 

 

THURSDAY

11:15 AM and 9 PM on HBO

Movie: The Blind Side

A true story that had a major box-office impact, this drama from director-screenwriter John
Lee Hancock ("The Rookie") became an Academy Award contender for best picture and also gave
Sandra Bullock her first Oscar nomination for best actress. She and country music star Tim
McGraw play a Southern couple who take in troubled youth Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) and give
him the opportunity to become a football standout. Kathy Bates co-stars.

 

8 PM on TNT

NBA Basketball

In what could very well be a preview of the NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers
visit Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. The Heat beat the Lakers 96-80 on Christmas Day in L.A.,
thanks to a triple-double from LeBron James and an uninspired effort by the Lakers. The second
game of the TNT doubleheader has the Denver Nuggets visiting the Phoenix Suns.

 

8 PM on Channel 23

The Vampire Diaries

Johnathan Gilbert's (guest star David Anders) return to Mystic Falls doesn't thrill Elena,
Jenna and Damon (Nina Dobrev, Sara Canning, Ian Somerhalder). At Caroline's (Candice Accola)
urging, Stefan (Paul Wesley) reaches out to a conflicted Tyler (Michael Trevino). Bonnie
(Katerina Graham) has a disturbing conversation with Jonas (guest star Randy Goodwin). Jules
(guest star Michaela McManus) takes a hostage in "Daddy Issues." (14)

 

9 PM on Channel 23

Nikita

Alex and Nikita (Lyndsy Fonseca, Maggie Q) plot to derail Alex's first mission, the
assassination of the prince of Georgia. Unfortunately, Nikita puts her trust in the wrong
person, foiling their plan and causing Division to be alerted to her whereabouts. Percy
(Xander Berkeley) sends in Michael (Shane West) to kill her in "Coup de Grace." (14)

 

10 PM on USA

Fairly Legal

The lead singer (guest star Chris Vance) of a 1990s band that had only one hit turns to Kate
(Sarah Shahi) for help when he wants to cash in on a hefty offer to use the song in a
commercial. Unfortunately, his former bandmates (guest stars Jonathan Potts and Jennifer
Copping) are adamantly opposed to the idea. Richard Dean Anderson also guest stars in the new
episode "UltraVinyl." (PG)

 

 

FRIDAY

6:45 PM on SHOWTIME

Movie: Sling Blade

Billy Bob Thornton won a writing Oscar for this 1996 drama, which he also directed and starred
in. He plays a mentally challenged man institutionalized for killing his mother and her lover
when he was 12. Newly released and employed, he has no desire to kill again until he befriends
a boy (Lucas Black, "American Gothic") whose mother (Natalie Canerday) is hooked up with an
abusive, obnoxious drunk (Dwight Yoakam). John Ritter and Robert Duvall also star.

 

8 PM on TCM

Movie: All Quiet on the Western Front

An excellent adaptation of an exceptional novel by Erich Maria Remarque, this 1930 film tells
the story of a young German soldier facing death in the First World War. He and his brothers
in arms enlist with idealistic views of right and wrong, which are soon proven incorrect. Lew
Ayres, Louis Wolheim, John Wray and Beryl Bercer star.

 

8 and 10 PM on AMC

Movie: From Dusk Till Dawn

"Pulp Fiction" mentor Quentin Tarantino wrote the screenplay for director Robert Rodriguez's
("Desperado") considerably violent 1996 tale, in which Tarantino also stars with George
Clooney. They play larcenous brothers who take the family of a preacher (Harvey Keitel)
hostage, then run afoul of vampires. Juliette Lewis and Cheech Marin co-star.

 

9 PM on SHOWTIME

Movie: Leaves of Grass

Tim Blake Nelson ("O Brother, Where Are Thou?") wrote and directed this mesmerizingly quirky
yet largely overlooked 2009 drama that casts Edward Norton in a dual role as Ivy League
professor Bill Kincaid and his twin brother, who lures Bill back to his Oklahoma hometown to
help with a scheme to take down a drug lord. Nelson also co-stars, along with Susan Sarandon
and Richard Dreyfuss.

 

9 PM on HBO

The Ricky Gervais Show

Ricky reads predictions of the future as reported in an academic study, prompting Karl to
share his theories. Stephen wonders what the guys would do with their last day if the end of
the world were at hand in the new episode "Future." (MA)

 

9 PM on Channel 23

Supernatural

Bobby and Dean (Jim Beaver, Jensen Ackles) nervously wait to see if Death (guest star Julian
Richings) was able to restore Sam's (Jared Padalecki) soul without driving him to insanity.
Dean must prove himself worthy of receiving the only weapon in the world that can slay one of
the dragons that is behind a spate of kidnappings in "Like a Virgin." (14)

 

10 PM on MTV

Movie: Legally Blonde

Reese Witherspoon graduated into the league of top screen actresses with this 2001 comedy,
which succeeds largely on her performance as a law-school novice. She plays sorority girl Elle
Woods, who is dumped by her blue-blooded beau (Matthew Davis), then follows him to Harvard,
intent on winning him back. Instead, she finds a new cause while surprising her professors.
Luke Wilson, Selma Blair and Victor Garber ("Alias") co-star.

 

 

SATURDAY

7 and 10:45 PM on BRAVO

Movie: The Green Mile

Stephen King is as good at touching folks' hearts as he is at scaring them out of their wits.
Exhibit A: "The Shawshank Redemption." Exhibit B: this 1999 drama, also set in a prison.
Oscar-nominated Michael Clarke Duncan plays a mentally challenged man sent to death row for a
double murder in 1935 Louisiana. As the head guard (Tom Hanks) gets to know him, he realizes
that not only is this new inmate innocent, but he has some very special powers.

 

9 PM and Midnight on FOOD

Bobby's Ireland

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, Bobby Flay gets Food Network fans into the Irish spirit
with this new hourlong special that takes viewers on a gastronomic journey through Ireland,
exploring the new Irish food culture and meeting the people who are shaping it. Bobby's
culinary expedition serves up breathtaking scenery, amazing food, unexpected guests and a
healthy dose of Irish humor.

 

9:30 PM on HBO

Runnin' Rebels of UNLV

One of the most successful basketball programs in NCAA history came during the 1973-92 reign
of coach Jerry Tarkanian at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. In his time at UNLV,
Tarkanian's Runnin' Rebels went to the Final Four four times and won the national championship
in 1990, though not without controversy. This documentary looks back over those years,
incorporating interviews with Tarkanian, his former players, reporters, NCAA officials and
others. (PG)

 

10 PM on CINEMAX

Movie: Get Him to the Greek

The "him" is a hugely unpredictable rock star … played by the appropriately unpredictable
Russell Brand … who becomes the assignment of a record industry novice (Jonah Hill), ordered
to accompany him from England to a scheduled concert at Los Angeles' Greek Theatre, in this
often-raucous comedy co-produced by Judd Apatow. The show is designed for Brand to steal,
which he predictably does among a cast that also includes Rose Byrne and Sean "Diddy" Combs.

 

10 PM on TNT

Movie: Gladiator

Maximus (Russell Crowe), a great Roman general, is marked for death for refusing to support
the new emperor (Joaquin Phoenix), who got the job by killing his own father. He manages to
escape, but the emperor executes his family. Devastated by his loss and wounded during his
flight, Maximus is easily captured and sold into slavery, putting his military training to
good use as a gladiator. Derek Jacobi also stars.

 

 

SUNDAY

11 AM and 8 and 11 PM on VH1

Basketball Wives

A new two-part reunion special brings the women back together to discuss the events of the
recently concluded second season, which saw Jennifer and Eric debating the future of their
marriage, Shaunie and Tami letting go of the past and moving on, and Royce and Evelyn finding
new loves. Part 2 airs Monday. (14)

 

8 PM on Channel 2

America's Next Great Restaurant

In this new episode, the contestants must create logos and hire executive chefs for their
restaurants. The big challenge, however, happens when they and their new chefs are assigned to
cook for thousands of people at Universal Studios Hollywood's CityWalk. Bobby Flay, Curtis
Stone, Steve Ells and Lorena Garcia judge the results. (PG)

 

8 PM on Channel 29

The Simpsons

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong voice their cartoon likenesses in this new episode, which brings
Cheech and Chong to Springfield on tour. While Chong is suffering a bit of burnout, Homer is
on fire, so Cheech invites him to tour with him as "Cheech and Chunk." Don't count Tommy out,
though. He's got a new partner: Principal Skinner. Marge tries to help a cat lady break her
hoarding habit in "A Midsummer's Nice Dream." (PG)

 

9 PM on Channel 2

The Celebrity Apprentice

Now here are some tough judges. In the new episode "Child's Play," the contestants must write
a children's book based on one of their teammates and perform it for an audience of 4- and
5-year-olds. Actress Holly Robinson Peete, who knows something about children's books (she
wrote one) and "The Celebrity Apprentice" (she was the Season 3 runner-up), helps pick the
winner. (PG)

 

10 PM on Channel 4

CSI: Miami

Insert your "I'm game" joke here. Horatio (David Caruso) and his team discover a hunting club
with an unusual agenda: The members hunt other humans. Adam Rodriguez, who plays Eric Delko on
the show, wrote and directed the new episode "Hunting Ground." Emily Procter and Jonathan Togo
also star. (14)

 

All was not well briefly over the weekend with one of Charlie Sheen's two "goddesses" at what he calls "Sober Valley Ranch." Rachel Oberlin, who appears in porn films as Bree Olson, had "left the building," he wrote on his Twitter page Saturday. "We're sad … Over it. … Applications now being accepted! #Winner" he wrote. Hours later, Sheen told People, "She's back!" Sheen later explained the spat this way to TMZ, "I chipped one of my warlock fangs on a great white shark I had to murder. Pissed me off and like an ass I took it out on her." Oberlin, 24, been sharing Sheen's affections with Natalie Kenly during the actor's surreal media-filled week. Oberlin's mother disapproved of the situation, saying, "I just don't want to see her hurt." But Oberlin told People last week she was happy, adding, "I've always felt that a man should be able to be with as many women as he likes."

Sheen also took a swipe at estranged wife Brooke Mueller on his Saturday night webcast with a message apparently directed at their twin sons, Max and Bob: "If you're watching, tell mom to leave the room. It's on." He later told the twins, who turn 2 next month, "Daddy loves you." More than 100,000 people tuned in to the webcast, which Sheen conducted with a group of friends that included goddess Natalie Kenly. He revealed a new left wrist tattoo of his catchphrase "winning," bashed Dr. Drew Pinsky and Nancy Grace and displayed his affection for "winners" Colin Farrell and Sean Penn. Meanwhile, police say they will not be investigating the threats Sheen reportedly made that resulted in Mueller getting a temporary restraining order. "We cannot act on a report in her TRO," LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman says. "Unless she comes in and does a report, we can't do anything." Mueller says Sheen threatened to behead her, but sources close to her have told E! News that she hopes to reach a custody deal with Sheen and won't be going to police. Attorneys for both sides were reportedly working out details of a custody arrangement over the weekend.

First Mel Gibson reached out to Sheen, now Gary Busey says he is worried about Sheen and praying for him. "Charlie is in a tailspin," Busey, who appeared on the premiere of "Celebrity Apprentice" Sunday night, says, "Charlie's got to understand what the truth is. The beautiful thing about the truth is that it requires no questions."  Busey says he's known Sheen for 30 years. "I want Charlie to get up out of the mud and reclaim his life and I'm praying for him," Busey says. "The advice I have for him is to look at himself and the truth in his heart, because what he's doing is not true to his heart."

 Busey also says, contrary to what viewers might think of him, "Most people do think I'm difficult. That was 20 years ago," he said. "I'm giving with love. I'm really alive with love."

• • •

The jewelry store from which Lindsay Lohan reportedly walked off with an expensive necklace has sold the security tape showing the incident to several media outlets, which may jeopardize the case, according to TMZ. RadarOnline reports that Entertainment Tonight bought the tape for $35,000 -- a still from the tape is shown at left -- and The Spencer Co. has set up a web site and promises to post the video. The sale of the tape from security cameras at Kamofie & Co. has been "causing fits for the lawyers in the case, particularly the prosecutor," says TMZ. "If the jeweler is called to the stand and admits this was just a convenient way of scoring some quick cash from the media," the jeweler's credibility will be damaged. In the next few days, Shawn Holley, Lindsay's lawyer, and prosecutor Danette Meyers will meet in chambers with Judge Keith Schwartz. Holley is reportedly trying to get the judge to commit to a short jail sentence if Lohan pleads guilty to a reduced charge.

• • •

After several days of silence, David Birney forcefully denied ex-wife Meredith Baxter's allegations in her memoir that he struck her during their 16-year marriage. In a statement to People, Birney  calls her claims "an appalling abuse of the truth" and derided her new memoir, "Untied: A Memoir of Family, Fame and Floundering," as "a kind of fairy tale." After their divorce 20 years ago, he says, Baxter "conducted a relentless and brutal assault" for eight years against the shared custody of their three children. "During that time she arrived in court repeatedly with various lawyers and several therapists, 'recovered memories,' accusations of abuse -– a common charge in custody disputes -– and tales of our life together that bore little resemblance to truth -– a mean spirited process that battered us all, especially the children," he says. "The court denied her suit on every occasion." The pair shared custody until their children went to college. Birney also says he found it "immensely sad and truly absurd" that in the memoir Baxter "is unable to reclaim a single instance of joy or pleasure in all that time, not one occasion of love or delight or accomplishment in our entire life together as we built a family."

• • •

Phil Collins says his music career is over after years of drumming caused severe health issues, including hearing loss, a dislocated vertebrae and nerve damage in his hands. The Genesis drummer and vocalist won seven Grammys and an Oscar, had 13 hit singles and sold  than 150 million albums sold as a solo artist. Collins has moved to Switzerland, where he lives in a remote town with his two sons.

-- Anne Neville

Shortly after Charlie Sheen Tweeted that he and estranged wife Brooke Mueller had reached a verbal agreement and they won't be headed to court Monday to fight over custody of their 23-month-old boys, sources close to Mueller say the deal is off because Sheen just can't shut up. First Sheen Tweeted, "not sure what all the legal noise is about... just verbally reached a deal with B. no court mon. yay...." He then added, "..yet the opposition felt it necessary to still harass me with old gibberish.... odd? perhaps. transparent? you betcha'!" He concluded with his new catchphrase, "WINNING!" But shortly afterward, TMZ reported that the first term in the deal was that Sheen not talk about the agreement. Mueller's lawyers were reportedly "scratching their heads in amazement that Charlie immediately violated that term by tweeting about it and talking about it on a Philadelphia radio station." Sources also say that the deal required that a monitor be present when Sheen had the twins. In any case, Mueller's temporary restraining order against Sheen seems to remain in force and will until the pair return to court on March 22.

Sheen is new to Twitter, which he said he joined Tuesday because it's a "cash cow." Other stars pull in big bucks through Twitter ads -- Kim Kardashian reportedly makes $10,000 per tweet. Pressed for details of his deal, Sheen said to TMZ, "I'm unemployed!" He also says he was not paid for the Twitter picture he posted of himself and Bree Olson holding bottles of juice and chocolate milk, above, which resulted in tons of free publicity for the dairy. Guinness World Records said Sheen set a record for hitting a million followers on Twitter, which he did in 25 hours and 17 minutes. He was well on his way to 1,500,000 today.

Although many were shocked by photos of Sheen's two lovers holding his twin sons, he says the presence of the two, model/nanny Natalie Kenly and porn star Bree Olson, whose real name is Rachel Oberlin, was not a problem for Mueller. However, other reports say that Mueller wants the two women drug-tested before they can care for her sons with Sheen. "Brooke doesn't want the girlfriends around her sons," a source told RadarOnline. "One is a porn star, and the other is a marijuana magazine cover model. Brooke is seeking to control who is around the boys when Charlie has custodial time with them."

• • •

Lindsay Lohan, who is on probation for DUI and could be facing felony theft charges, is reportedly "shocked and upset" to hear that her father, Michael Lohan, signed up for "Celebrity Rehab" ... telling friends she's worried he'll embarrass the family. TMZ reports that Lohan is most upset that her dad began taping the show without letting her know and swears she will never make an appearance on the show. Lindsay also says her father should take some of the money he's getting paid to star in the reality show, because "he should be paying his child support for Ali and Cody."

• • •

Alejandra Jackson, who has children with two of Michael Jackson's brothers and lives with them in the Jackson family compound in Encino, Calif., just won't take the hint. Katherine Jackson is trying to evict Alejandra and her boys, but new court papers filed by Alejandra say that the Katherine Jackson is being "pressured" by the executors of Michael Jackson's estate to boot her out. Alejandra says the executors told her she had to get out so they could fumigate the house, turned off the gas, changed the locks and even packed up all the food. Alejandra, the former wife of Jermaine Jackson, left, and former girlfriend of Randy Jackson, has two children with Jermaine (Jaffar and Jermajesty) and two children with Randy (Genevieve and Randy Jr.). She and Jermaine also adopted son Donte during their marriage. In her legal papers objecting to the eviction, Alejandra claims the executors are trying "to advance ulterior and pompous interests, which are not consistent with the wishes and values of Michael Jackson." Estate lawyer Howard Weitzman calls Alejandra's allegations "preposterous."

• • •

Paula Abdul's rep says things have improved between the star and a mystery man after she called 911 from a car he was driving during an argument on Valentine's Day. "Arguments with loved ones are often times heated," Abdul's rep says in a statement. "After the call was made everything was worked out." In thr 911 call, obtained by TMZ.com, Abdul can be heard  gasping, sobbing and begging to be let out of the car, which she said was on the freeway near Santa Barbara. "I want out of this car and he won't let me!" Abdul tells the operator, then asks the driver, "Are you gonna drop me off? Are you gonna drop me off, 'cause I have emergency on the phone." Then she says, "He's dropping me off." The identity of the man has not been learned. Police did check with Abdul later that evening and she said she was fine and did not want to make a police report.

-- Anne Neville

A judge removed the 2-year-old twin sons of Charlie Sheen from his house after his ex-wife, Brooke Mueller, reported to the court that Sheen had threatened her, saying, "I will cut your head off, put it in a box and send it to your mom." Monday, an ABC 20/20 report showed the boys, Max and Bob, being held by Sheen's two girlfriends, one a porn star and the other a model and nanny, left. Mueller went to the police Tuesday in Los Angeles in an attempt to get the boys back.  Mueller, who as late as last weekend was the third woman traveling with Sheen, was first granted an emergency restraining order against Sheen, ordering him to stay 100 yards away from her and have no contact with her. Sheen told TMZ, "Great.  I was already planning on staying 100 parsecs away from her."  A parsec is a "Star Wars" term for 3.26 light years, according to the web site. On the Today show Wednesday, Sheen addressed a remark to Mueller: "I'm sorry you felt this had to be done in this way, but this does not display any responsible parenting."

Sheen describes his relationship with the two women, porn star Bree Olson (real name Rachel Oberlin) and nanny and model Natalie Kenly, whom he called "the goddesses," as "a polygamy story" that makes Hugh Hefner look like "an amateur." Sheen quipped, "Maybe the three of us will get married. I don't know." Sheen told ABC's Andrea Canning that he considers Olson and Kenly to be mother figures to the boys.

• • •

Sheen's claims that Mel Gibson has called him a couple of times have been confirmed by a source close to Gibson, who says he has been reaching out to the "Two and a Half Men" actor "for some time now. ... Mel's trying to save this guy's life." During his marathon of interviews Monday and Tuesday, Sheen told CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight that Gibson called him to offer support, adding, "He's a stone cold dude." Sheen confirmed the story to Howard Stern, saying, "Mel's a rock star. I love him ... I'm a huge fan and I think he's a beautiful man." Sheen also says Sean Penn and Colin Farrell have contacted him. "Sean Penn was over [at my house] the other night and we had a few laughs," he told Morgan

• • •

Christina Aguilera won't face any charges after being arrested for public intoxication early Tuesday morning and jailed for her own safety until she sobered up, police say. Her boyfriend, Matthew Rutler, who was driving the car in which the singer was riding, will face charges of DUI. The pair were stopped at 2:45 a.m. when police noticed the car swerving. and Aguilera was held at the West Hollywood sheriff's station until about 7:30 a.m., according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore. "We have no desire to prosecute, none whatsoever. It just for a public safety issue," says Whitmore. "When she was able to navigate and to think on her own and make her own way, she was released." Whitmore says Aquilera "was not capable to taking care of herself. She was incapacitated. She was cooperative. She was not belligerent in any way whatsoever. She was just intoxicated." After several hours, "As she got better, she just said, 'I would like to leave,' " says Whitmore, and deputies freed her. Whitmore said police did not intend to release Aguilera's mug shot, but EOnline managed to get a photo of the photo, above.

Friends have reportedly been worried about Aguilera's hard-partying lifestyle since she filed for divorce from husband Jordan Bratman in October, saying that she and new boyfriend Rutler have been seen throwing back shots at clubs and parties. Us Weekly reports that the pair got a bit too cozy in a bathroom at a family party. Meanwhile, singer Pink took to Twitter to gloat about her fellow singers' records -- not the musical kind. The mom-to-be Tweeted, "Out of Myself, Britney and Christina- didn't everyone think I was gonna be the troublemaker? LOOK MA!!! No CUFFS!!!"

• • •

In her new tell-all memoir, "Family Ties" star Meredith Baxter says her ex-husband and onetime co-star, David Birney, struck her while they were married between 1974 and 1989. The couple, who had three children, also starred together in the 1970s sitcom "Bridget Loves Bernie." In her memoir, titled "Untied: A Memoir of Family, Fame and Floundering," Baxter says Birney struck her on more than one occasion. (Birney did not comment directly, but reportedly denied the allegation to the Today Show.) Recalling one incident, Baxter writes: "It was so sudden and unexpected, I couldn't tell you which hand hit me, or even how hard. I do recall thinking, 'I'd better not get up because he's going to hit me again.'" Baxter  writes that she coped by drinking heavily; she has been sober since 1990. In 2009, she revealed that she is a lesbian.

• • •

Provocative fashion designer John Galliano, left, was fired by French label Christian Dior after a video showing him drunkenly saying, "I love Hitler" and warning that a young woman's ancestors would have been "gassed" went viral online. Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman, the new advertising face of the Miss Dior Cherie perfume line, expressed fury over the remarks. ""I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano's comments that surfaced," said Portman. "In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way." Last week, Galliano was arrested in Paris and suspended by Dior after a couple said he attacked them in a cafe and spewed anti-Semitic comments. At the time, Galliano's lawyer, Stephane Zerbib, said the designer "formally denies the accusations of anti-Semitism made against him."

-- Anne Neville