Morning Briefing:
Kanye cleared of copyright charges: After less than a day of deliberation, a New York jury ruled that rappers Kanye West and Ludacris were not guilty of violating another group's copyright on their 2003 smash hit "Stand Up." "I hope the plaintiffs enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame," said Ludacris after the judgment. "The only thoughts and ideas I borrow from are those of my own." The lawsuit had been filed by the New Jersey group I.O.F., who claimed that the superstar rappers had stolen lyrics and beats from a 2001 I.O.F. song called "Straight Like That." Jeff Billingsley, I.O.F.'s manager and a plaintiff in the lawsuit, told reporters that his group is planning to appeal the verdict. (E! Online)
Roger Ebert to undergo cancer surgery: Film critic Roger Ebert will undergo surgery on June 16 to remove a cancerous growth from his salivary gland. "It's not life-threatening and I expect to make a full recovery," said the 63-year-old Ebert, who has had three cancer-related operations since 2003. "I'll continue to function as a film critic during this time." (Associated Press)
Kim to Alec: "Zip it!" Actress Kim Basinger is reportedly trying to prevent ex-husband Alec Baldwin from publishing his book "A Promise to Ourselves" -- a work that would divulge details of the couple's acrimonious divorce. Basinger claims that the Baldwin-penned book would be a violation of the court order banning him from speaking to the media about the couple's personal lives and is threatening to sue the book's publisher, St. Martin's Press. Baldwin says the book is an attempt to show fathers how the legal system is weighed against them in custody cases. (Female First)
"Mummy" star becomes a mommy: Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz became the proud mother of a baby boy Wednesday night in New York. This is the first child for Weisz and her fiancé, director Darren Aronofsky. (People via E! Online)
Also:
Brit-rock bad boy Pete Doherty was detained on a flight from London to Barcelona after a blood-filled syringe was found in the plane's toilet seat. (AFP via Breitbart) ... Former "The Brady Bunch" star Christopher Knight, 47, married "America's Next Top Model" winner Adrianne Curry, 23, on Monday in Joliet, Ill. VH1 filmed the ceremony for a special to be broadcast later this year. (National Enquirer) ... Doctors have given Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, who suffered a concussion after falling out of a tree while on vacation in Fiji, the go-ahead to resume touring. (BBC News) ... Monaco's Prince Albert II has acknowledged that a 14-year-old girl living in California is his illegitimate daughter. (People) ... After allegedly spending a million dollars on clothing and accessories last year, Lindsay Lohan is reportedly seeing a hypnotist to cure her shopping addiction. (MSNBC) ... Not to be outdone in the starlet shrink sweepstakes, Jessica Simpson was spotted looking glum after leaving a Beverly Hills psychiatrist's office. (Magic Morning Show)
Money Quote:
Kevin Federline tells Us Weekly that he and Britney Spears will make sure their kids keep it real: "My kids are going to have to learn what a real job is, what life is. You don't have it easy with me. Period. My kids are going to work at Taco Bell, dammit." (Us via the Mirror)
-- David Marchese
Turn On:
On Friday, the N debuts a new bikini show, "Beyond the Break" (8:30 p.m. EDT), starring "Baywatch's" David Chokachi as a coach for four young women training as pro surfers, and airs Part 1 of the season finale for "Degrassi: The Next Generation" (8 p.m. EDT). Saturday, J.J. Abrams is the subject of the "Icons" (G4, 7:30 p.m. EDT) season premiere, and E! presents "Child Star Confidential Mini Moguls" (5 p.m. EDT), sans Olsens. Sunday, HBO wraps up both "The Sopranos" (9 p.m. EDT) and "Big Love" (10 p.m. EDT), and it's the season premiere of "The Simple Life" (E! 10 p.m. EDT).
On the Talk Shows:
Charlie Rose (PBS, check local listings): John Lasseter, Vince Vaughn
Jay Leno (NBC, 11:35 p.m. EDT): Hugh Jackman, Imogen Heap (repeat)
David Letterman (CBS, 11:30 p.m. EDT): Tom Hanks, Kanye West (repeat)
Conan O'Brien (NBC, 12:35 a.m. EDT): Charlize Theron, Cameron Crowe, Tariq "King Flex" Nasheed (repeat)
-- Lamar Clarkson
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