Fans of superspy Ethan Hunt and the IMF, mark your calendars for Memorial Day weekend, 2011: Tom Cruise is gearing up for "Mission: Impossible IV." Paramount announced today that J.J. Abrams, who directed and co-wrote "M:I III," and Cruise will produce the film, have collaborated on the story, and are searching for a director.

Obviously, Paramount has faith that Abrams can revive a flagging franchise: his reboot of "Star Trek" last year brought in $385 million in worldwide box office, four Oscar nominations, and generally good reviews.  Not that the "M:I" films are failing – the first three combined for $1.4 billion worldwide, though "M:I III," back in 2006, had the biggest budget and the lowest grosses of the trio.  No word yet whether Ving Rhames will return as Ethan's longtime pal and cohort (and my favorite character in the series), smooth computer expert Luther Stickell.

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In recent years, Bonnaroo - the Manchester, Tennessee, music, arts and let-it-all-hang-out festival - has welcomed Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Al Green, the White Stripes, Of Montreal, Kings of Leon, the Police, Metallica, Aimee Mann and B.B. King ... just to name a (very) few.

This year, the lineup will include Weezer, Jeff Beck, OK Go, John Fogerty, Norah Jones and the Flaming Lips - some veterans of the festival, others playing it for the first time.

Bonnaroo has been releasing its artist roster in dribs and drabs through Twitter, MySpace and its own Web page, with some artists confirming their participation independently. But as Rolling Stone observes, the slow release has allowed some artists - and non-artists, for that matter - who aren't playing the festival at all to tweet that they are performing.

The full lineup will be released Tuesday night. Tickets for the festival, set for June 10-13, are now on sale.

Update, 10:30 p.m. ET: Other acts playing this year's festival include the Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, the Dead Weather, Jimmy Cliff, the Avett Brothers, Tori Amos, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, GWAR, the Melvins and They Might Be Giants, according to Bonnaroo's official site.

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The newest judge on the block spoke with the show’s host, Ryan Seacrest, Tuesday morning on his radio show and had nice words about the notoriously critical Brit.

"I think he's a funny guy and I think he's a smart guy," she said before going on to joke that “I like Simon. I like him on Wednesdays I think. I can’t remember which day I like him.”

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Lou Gossett Jr. announced today he's in the early stages of prostate cancer. It gave me pause, because I had a chance to spend some time with him this past November.

Gossett was a guest at the taping of the CNN Heroes show at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Our unit in Los Angeles helped squire celebrities from their limos to their seats; we were essentially Hollywood herders. Because we are immersed in the world of celebrity, it's not often we are starstruck. It's a business, a job.

A couple of weeks before the show, I received a call on my cell: a Beverly Hills area code, and a number I didn't recognize. I generally do not give out my cell phone number, so I was curious.
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Rapper Lil Wayne was scheduled to be sentenced to a year-long prison term Tuesday, but the court session has been adjourned until March 2 due to dental work. The updates below are from CNN's Andrea Mineo, reporting from the courtroom.

2:42 p.m.: When asked about the adjournment, Lil Wayne's attorney, Stacey Richman, said she thinks the judge "made the proper health decision for Mr. Carter."

2:33 p.m.: When asked how Wayne is holding up, Richman told CNN that Wayne is "a strong man" with a "strong mind."

2:21 p.m.: The judge presiding over the case said, "Last adjournment are we clear?" Wayne must be ready on March 2 at 2:15 p.m. The adjournment is due to dental work he is having in Florida.

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A few weeks after Conan O'Brien bid a star-studded farewell to the "Tonight Show" - complete with a performance from Neil Young - Jay Leno's time has also come.

Not to leave the network, mind you, just to close the curtain on NBC's failed prime-time experiment, "The Jay Leno Show," tonight at 10 p.m.

It's kind of like deja vu, but instead of handing off the mic to another comedian, Leno's going right back to where he started. "Leno" will soon be just a memory.

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Angelina Jolie has already donated $1 million to Doctors Without Borders for Haitian earthquake relief, and now the actress is planning a visit to the devastated nation as a goodwill ambassador with the UN's refugee agency.

Jolie was in the Dominican Republic Monday speaking with hospitalized earthquake survivors, and will travel to Haiti later today, UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic said.

Details of Jolie's trip can't be disclosed for security reasons, but it's expected that she will spend her time meeting with more people affected by earthquake.

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It's hometown date time, and Jake is packing for his first trip in a hotel room surrounded by censored artwork.  I didn't know the motel art industry was that sensitive over what's shown.

Jake says there's a lot at stake here, as he's apparently just realized that proposing to one of these women is a "huge thing."

Our first stop is New York, where Jake connects with Gia.  The two take a boat ride around Manhattan, where Gia proudly notes that the Empire State Building is the one with the "pointy thing" on top.  She's also failing the little-known vocabulary competition of the show, courtesy of her frequent use of the world "like." Read the rest of this entry »

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Attention Bauerites, you know the drill. You know each season of "24" has its customary episode where the story simply does not dictate much heart-pounding action. We've seen it before right? So, was THIS the one?

It seemed like it as President Taylor and President Hassan negotiated terms. I barely batted an eye.

The Dana/Kevin debacle continues, and my annoyance with that storyline has officially reached critical mass. I've reached the point where I can check my voicemail messages (sans Bluetooth), boil eggs and/or do laundry simultaneously whenever Dana and Kevin are on screen. I enjoy those two that much.

As a reader commented a few weeks ago, this duo is the show's equivalent to Jar Jar Binks in "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" and I agree completely. They are worthless. Read the rest of this entry »

More than a month after their alleged Christmas Day fracas, Charlie Sheen finally has been charged with domestic violence against his wife, Brooke Mueller.  Today in Colorado, the "Two and a Half Men" star was charged with a felony count of menacing, as well as two misdemeanors: third-degree assault and criminal mischief.  Court documents allege Sheen had a knife in the pre-dawn tussle.

Sheen wasn't required to enter a plea today, and he didn't.  He and Mueller were both in court, and even hugged and kissed before leaving the courthouse.  The restraining order has been loosened, and they can live together as the process goes forward, though restrictions in the order against firearms, alcohol, and drugs remain in force.

So now what?  Sheen's next hearing is March 15, and between now and then, it's a safe bet Sheen's attorney and the district attorney will be negotiating a plea deal.  Mueller's attorney says his client committed to getting whatever help she needs, and that Mueller hopes all of the charges will be dropped.  Stay tuned.