The J.C. Penney Co. once paid the family of the boy Michael Jackson is accused of molesting $137,500 to settle a lawsuit alleging that security guards beat the boy, his mother and brother in a parking lot. The boy had left the store with clothes that hadn't been paid for.

A woman says she was raped at the house in San Diego where the upcoming season of MTV's The Real World is being filmed. Neither the woman or her accused attacker are Real World cast or crew. Police are investigating.

Brooke Shields returns to television for a three-episode stint on That 70s Show.

Country singer Glen Campbell is apologizing for his recent DUI and aggravated assault arrest. "Even at my age I learned a valuable lesson. I apologize to my wife, my family, my friends and my fans." What about the police officer whose ass you tried to kick?

Angry Idol: American Idol fans may have noticed Justin Guarini wasn't a part of the big Christmas special on Fox Tuesday night. Guarini refused to appear because he was angry at RCA records for not doing a better job promoting his album. As mentioned here, Guarini has been dropped by RCA.

Aerosmith is lined up to perform on the pre-game show for the Superbowl in January.

Justin Timberlake: Down Home in Memphis airs Friday night on NBC.

Mary J. Blige, who says she's getting married Friday, must have all the wedding prep finished--cuz she's working on Thanksgiving. Blige performs at halftime during the Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers game.

In theaters now: Bad Santa; The Haunted Mansion; Timeline; The Missing.

Madonna's a "sit down" guest and Nelly Furtado performs tonight on Leno. Jay-Z's on Letterman. Moby's on an all-new Letterman Thanksgiving night.

Farm Aid 2003 airs tomorrow night on PBS. The concert was filmed last summer, and features among others Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Hootie and the Blowfish.

Once, I misspelled it "Hottie and the Blowfish," and I liked the band a lot more! (Thanks for letting me share.)

--Happy Thanksgiving, Greg Valentine

Michael Jackson's lawyer is outraged that he and his client were secretly videotaped by the charter plane company that flew the two from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara last week the day Michael turned himself in. Mark Geragos has been granted a temporary order barring the company from selling the footage.

Actor Michael Caine has signed on to play Alfred the Bulter in the re-charged Batman franchise. Shooting starts next year, with a 2005 release planned.

Mary J. Blige announced on Ellen that she's getting married this Friday to music producer Kendu Isaacs.

Country singer Glen Campbell was busted yesterday in Phoenix, Arizona for DUI--plus aggravated assault against an arresting officer. Country dudes… always living their songs!!

The Source recently broke the story about a racially-insensitive Eminem song written a decade ago. Marshall Mathers is firing back (musically) against the magazine's founder with a song leaked on the Internet over the weekend, called "Bully."

Santana will release a limited-edition CD on December 16th called Ceremony: Remixes and Rarities, a collection of songs from the sessions for his last two records.

The Goo Goo Dolls will head into the studio in spring to record a new album, says singer Johnny Rzeznik.

C.S.I. … New York?? Looks like The Big Apple is ripe for the crime drama's next spin-off. Is it a bit much? Only if they call it C.S.I.: Law & Order: S.V.U.!

Beyoncé, Clay Aiken, Evanescence, Foo Fighters and Shania Twain join No Doubt and Sting as performers at the 2003 Billboard Music Awards, taking place December 10th. The show airs on Fox.

In stores today: Nelly Furtado, Folklore; Puddle of Mudd Life on Display; Enrique Iglesias, Seven; Madonna, Remixed & Revisited; No Doubt, The Singles 1992-2003.

Puddle of Mudd play on Letterman tonight. Bette Midler sings on Leno.

--Greg Valentine

Monday, November 24th, 2003

Despite so-so reviews, moviegoers coughed up 40.1 million furballs over the weekend to make Dr. Suess' The Cat In The Hat the country's number one flick. Halle Berry's scary movie, Gothika snagged $19.6 million to finish second.

It wasn't me: Michael Jackson has proclaimed his innocence in a statement he's issued via a special new website he's established.

"Absolutely innocent." So says Elizabeth Taylor, defending her good friend Michael Jackson. The actress also chastised the press for their treatment of the accused child molester.

Apparently due to the controversy, a marching band from Indiana won't be performing Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in the upcoming Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Or maybe they just realized it's about the wrong holiday!

Sopranos fans, the wait is… almost over. The show's fifth season will debut March 7th on HBO.

Outkast have two songs in the top five on Billboard's Hot 100 chart ("Hey Ya" and "The Way You Move"). That's the first time a group has done that since 1995 (TLC, "Creep" and "Red Light Special").

Gay mix-tape? Capitol records plans to release a series of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy albums--the first is called What's That Sound and hits stores in February.

Carmen Electra and Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro were married in Los Angeles over the weekend. Your invitation got lost in the mail? It was filmed for an upcoming MTV reality miniseries.

Mötley Crüe is planning a 2004 reunion tour with all four original members. Could be some great soap opera--Vince Neil and Tommy Lee still haven't spoken in years, even after agreeing to do this tour.

The flipside of fame: Justin Guarini has been dropped by RCA records. The American Idol runner up from the first season only sold 57,000 copies of his debut album.

Second season American Idol runner up Clay Aiken picks up his diploma from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte during their December 20th graduation ceremony. Aiken's receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education.

Clay Aiken performs tonight on Letterman. Nelly and Ron Isley are scheduled to sing together on Leno.

--Greg Valentine

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