No deal for Madonna on CBS concert

No deal for Madonnaon CBS concert
NEW YORK -- Even Madonna doesn't always get what she wants.
A deal for the pop diva to show a tape of one of her concerts on CBS has fallen through.
Madonna wanted the special to air for more than two hours and be commercial-free, said CBS entertainment spokesman Chris Ender. The network wasn't willing to give up more than two hours of its prime-time schedule and insisted on commercials.
CBS had expected to tape the special somewhere during Madonna's European tour. Concert specials have become increasingly popular for broadcast networks.
A call to a representative for Madonna was not immediately returned.
A coy contestant;Who is Ken Jennings?
NEW YORK -- "Jeopardy!" whiz Ken Jennings is not answering rumors that his streak is up, but he's not denying them either.
After a report posted on TV Week's Web site that the brainy software engineer lost in a show taped Tuesday (that would air this fall), Jennings fielded questions in an interview with Ellen Degeneres on her syndicated talk show.
On the show, taped on Thursday and to air Monday, Jennings says, "Well, I think it was on the Internet and as you know, if there's something on the Internet, it's gotta be true."
TV Week reported that Jennings lost after his 75th straight win, amassing a total of about $2.5 million overall in cash and prizes.
Regardless, the man with all the answers has a very Zen approach to his book smarts. "You know, nobody thinks I'm Cary Grant, nobody thinks I'm James Bond, you know. You got to embrace your nerdhood, I think."
Willie Nelson paysPlains and Carter a visit
PLAINS, Ga. -- Willie Nelson visited former President Jimmy Carter, a longtime friend, to tape a television special and a free concert for residents of Carter's hometown.
About 3,000 people attended Nelson's concert Thursday night in Plains, and the two were brought together again for a Country Music Television special, "CMT Homecoming: Jimmy Carter in Plains."
Carter said that in recent conversations he and Nelson "couldn't think of any issue on any subject" on which the two disagreed. "We have a long friendship," Carter said.
Nelson responded: "I've always admired him. He did a great job as president."
Carter called Nelson one of the most significant country music performers in his lifetime and said he was impressed that Nelson had maintained a relationship with "working people."
Nelson is famous for his "Farm-Aid" concerts to help the nation's farmers.
"I'm still a farmer," Carter said, noting that he grows about 3,000 acres of corn, peanuts and wheat. "I'm in the field every chance I get."
CMT spokeswoman Jana Bowen said the special should air in December.
Notable deaths
Billy Davis, a songwriter who penned his share of hit songs but reached his greatest audience with the jingle-writing team that made advertising history with "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke," has died. He was 76. Davis died Sept. 2 in New Rochelle, N.Y., after an undisclosed illness.
Frank Thomas, one of Walt Disney's top artists who animated two dogs romantically nibbling a single strand of spaghetti in the 1955 Disney film "Lady and the Tramp," has died. He was 92. Thomas died Wednesday at his home, said Howard E. Green of Disney's Buena Vista Pictures Marketing.
Today's birthdays
Actress Irene Dailey is 84. Actor Dickie Moore ("Our Gang") is 79. Actor Freddie Jones is 77. Country singer George Jones is 73. Actor Ian Holm is 73. Actress Linda Gray is 64. Singer Maria Muldaur is 61. Actor Joe Pantoliano is 53. Singer-musician Gerry Beckley (America) is 52. Rock musician Neil Peart (Rush) is 52. Actor Peter Scolari is 50. Actress Rachel Ward is 47. Rock musician Norwood Fisher (Fishbone) is 39. Actor Darren E. Burrows is 38. Rock singer-musician Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five) is 38. Rock musician Larry LaLonde (Primus) is 36. Rock singer Liam Gallagher (Oasis) is 32. Actor Paul Walker is 31. Actor Benjamin McKenzie is 26. Singer Ruben Studdard ("American Idol") is 26. Singer Jennifer Hudson ("American Idol") is 23. Actress Emmy Rossum is 18.
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