Getting back at the ex? JC Chasez will be the new opening act for Britney Spears' Onyx Hotel Tour starting April 27th. Last year, Britney's ex, Justin Timberlake toured with Brit's rival Christina Aguilera. Memo to Justin and Britney: Just "reunite" already. It'll feel so good…

The Cruz(ise)es: Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz are no longer dating, according to Tom's long-time sister turned recent-publicist. You mean to tell me Tom Cruise is incapable of staying in a relation (with a woman)? Gosh, that's surprising.

The Apprentice's Katrina, who was honest about using her charm and sexuality to help do business, got the big "You're Fired" from Donald Trump last night. Guess she wasn't that good at it.

CBS has just announced a new reality show that will search for, basically, the new Martha Stewart, the next diva of domesticity. Is the title, I'm Superior, Get Out of Here already taken?

American Idol's ratings are hotter than ever. Tuesday night's show was seen by 54 million eyeballs (that's 27 million people for the "math-hatas" in the house), the biggest Tuesday night for FOX ever.

Ruben Studdard's got a cameo in Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, playing a nightclub singer in the flick's finale. The movie's producer was so confident he'd win that he booked Roo for the shoot, even before he won American Idol.

You can check out Brandy's comeback single, "Talk About Our Love," co-written and produced by Kanye West, today on AOL Music's First Listen Program.

What you see when The Simple Life 2 airs will hardly be what really happened. Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie are filming now, and will be shown driving across the country in a pink truck with no cell phones or credit cards. When the cameras are turned off, word is the girls jump into a chauffeured minivan and use their cell phones (!) to call ahead to nearest hotel for accommodations.

NBC's also planning an answer to Average Joe called Plain Jane where a bunch of average-looking women complete with some hot chicks for the affection of a prized bachelor. Won't this show be over after the first episode?

There's a reason they call her the Material Girl: Tickets for the best seats on Madonna's upcoming Reinvention tour will cost $300. The "cheap" seats? Only 90 bucks!

In theaters today: Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed; Jersey Girl (Ben Affleck); The Ladykillers (Tom Hanks).

--Greg Valentine

Where ya gonna be in May of 2007? If yer a Spider-Man fan, you'll be at the cineplex for the third installment of the Tobey McGuire franchise, whose release date has been set before Spider-Man 2 even hits theaters.

Rich-slapped: exercise guru Richard Simmons slapped a dude at the Phoenix airport after the guy said, "Hey everybody. It's Richard Simmons. Let's drop our bags and rock to the 50s." Simmons was cited for misdemeanor assault. Hopefully, the other guy got ticketed for "weak wisecrack." (C'mon, how hard is it to make fun of Richard Simmons??!)

Former college footballer Matt Rogers was told to take a hike last night on American Idol.

Did Simon flip off Paula on last night's Idol? I thought he did. Simon says no. Take a look for yourself.

The publicist for Christina Aguilera is unhappy about rumors that the singer is engaged to her boyfriend. Why, because the rumors are true? No, because the publicist says it's "absolutely untrue."

Eminem's ex, Kim Matthews, is behind bars again after failing to complete a court-ordered drug treatment program.

Wanna sneak peak at the next Harry Potter movie? The trailer for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is here.

From our WTF? Department: Tyra Banks, whose starting a singing career, has the same vocal coach as William Hung. Are you sure you want people to know that?

Hilary Duff won't be hooking up with CBS for a planned sitcom. Duff pulled out of the deal because the network failed to come up with a viable vehicle for the young singer (i.e., all the scripts sucked).

One rumor says Beyonce's little (and now married) sis, Solange Knowles, may be pregnant. Not much more is known--their pops has been trying to keep the story out of the press.

Can't ig-Norah: Norah Jones tops the Billboard album chart for a sixth consecutive week. She'll have big competition next week from Usher's CD Confessions, which came out Tuesday and is expected to sell a million copies its first week.

Ouch: A dude recently approached Britney Spears at a Chicago nightclub, and told the singer she looked like someone famous--"just like Jessica Simpson."

Paula Abdul is on Letterman tonight.

--Greg Valentine

Wednesday, March 24th, 2004

Everybody's favorite American Idol reject William Hung will release his album Inspirations on April 6th. Yes, it'll include Ricky Martin's "She Bangs." Also "Y.M.C.A.," and R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly."

Inspirations is the name of the CD? I think they missed some better album titles. How 'bout Hung Like Me. Or It's Great To Be Hung. Or Watch Out for the Hung Man.

Yoanna House was named America's Next Top Model last night on the Tyra Banks UPN show.

Whitney Houston has bolted from drug rehab after just five days. When she sobered up, she must've realized where she was!

It's all good again, and MTV's The Real World will film its 15th season in Philadelphia after all.

Early word is Usher's new album, Confessions, will knock Norah Jones from the top spot on the Billboard magazine album charts.

Meanwhile, Usher is denying reports that he's a daddy--and that his confession of infidelity and paternity to TLC's Chilli led to their breakup.

Rumors are circulating that Christina Aguilera is engaged to her boyfriend Jordan Bratman.

Here's some more info on Jessica and Nick's upcoming variety special for ABC. Jessica Simpson will sing duets with Jewel and Kenny Rogers. Nick Lachey will team up with Babyface for a version of Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life."

Everybody you think got a nomination has been nominated for an MTV TRL Award. 50 Cent, Clay Aiken, Missy Elliot, Alicia Keys, Nelly and Hilary Duff will appear on the show April 13th.

70s and 80s rocker David Lee Roth appears in The Sopranos Sunday night, playing poker with Tony. Seems like that guy hadn't been seen for years--I just figured he was "sleeping with the fishes."

US Weekly reports that Jennifer Lopez will return her $2.5 million Harry Winston engagement ring to Ben Affleck. But she's not ready to see Ben, so she'll have someone else take it to him. Hope that person doesn't (winkwink) "lose" it.

Recently-inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince has signed with Columbia Records, ending his self-imposed eight-year exile as an independent artist. Musicology will be released April 20th.

Next 70s TV show to hit the big screen? Could be The Love Boat. I nominate George Huff to play Issac!

Kimberly Locke performs her number one single, "8th World Wonder," on tonight's American Idol Results Show.

Blondie's on David Letterman tonight (and it's not even a repeat from 1981!).

--Greg Valentine

Monday, March 22nd, 2004

Zombies top Jesus: Dawn of the Dead munched its way through $27.3 million worth of movie-goer brain over the weekend, knocking three-week champ The Passion of the Christ out of first place.

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey are getting a TV special on ABC. The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour airs April 11th, with eclectic guests Jewel, Babyface, Kenny Rogers, Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, Mr. T, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Donny and Marie would be proud!

Despite word that her tour would resume there, Britney Spears postponed last night's Detroit concert due to the knee injury she suffered late last week. The Onyx Hotel Tour should (apparently) pick-up in Atlanta tomorrow night.

Outkast won big Saturday night at the 18th Annual Soul Train Awards, snagging trophies for R&B/Soul/Rap Album of the Year (Speakerboxxx/The Love Below), R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video ("Hey Ya") and the male award for Sammy Davis Jr. Entertainer of the Year.

George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard and Sylvester Stallone have signed an NBC upscripted show called The Contender, an American Idol-type search for an up-and-coming boxer. The thing that's kinda funny about this "reality" show? Stallone's an actor, not a real boxer.

Idol does it again: Last season's third-place finisher on American Idol, Kimberly Locke, has the number one single on the Billboard singles chart. And she did this without the benefit of performing the song, "8th World Wonder," on AI (although, she will do that, too, this Wednesday).

It's official now: Film director Quentin Tarantino will be a guest judge on American Idol the week of April 12th. We don't know if this means the contestants will be singing the hipster tunes featured in Tarantino flicks--but you can't help and wonder what Jon Peter Lewis' "Jungle Boogie" dance will look like!

If you have AOL for Broadband, you can watch Usher's concert at New York City's Webster Hall tomorrow night (AOL Keyword: Broadband Rocks).

Kayne West is being sued by the man who he collided with in the now-infamous 2002 car accident he raps about in his hit "Through The Wire."

VH1 debuts a new show tonight called You Rock With…, where fans audition to perform a song with their favorite band. Matchbox Twenty is featured in the premiere.

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo (The Neptunes) bring their side-project N.E.R.D. to late night TV, performing tonight on Letterman. Jay Leno has Prince.

--Greg Valentine

More Showbizz Buzz