Seacrest will anchor

Seacrest will anchor
'E!News,' make new show
"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest is about to get another job -- as if he needed one.
The TV and radio star is finalizing a seven-figure deal to become the lead anchor of "E! News" and develop a new series for the cable network, Variety reports.
Seacrest is quickly becoming the busiest man in show biz: The new gig is in addition to his duties on "American Idol," as well as his daily radio show on Los Angeles' KIIS-FM.
He also is co-hosting ABC's "New Year's Rockin' Eve" for the next few years and is expected eventually to take over the annual show for Dick Clark and host the weekly American Top 40 radio show.
Seacrest will begin his E! duties later this winter or early next spring, and he'll also be covering the red carpet for the network, beginning with this year's Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 16.
Johnny Cash movieheads to Folsom prison
NEW YORK -- "Walk the Line," the Johnny Cash biopic, will be shown at Folsom State Prison next month, nearly four decades after the Man in Black famously performed there.
Joaquin Phoenix, who plays Cash in the film, will attend the Jan. 3 screening for inmates at the Represa, Calif., penitentiary, it was announced Wednesday.
"John believed in the power of redemption and offered his unique gift to anyone who needed to find it within them, and in the process, he inspired millions," Phoenix said in a statement. "I can think of no greater way to honor him than to carry on his legacy of using music to connect to all people."
Cash's legendary performance at Folsom Prison on Jan. 13, 1968, became a popular live album. The concert figures prominently in "Walk the Line," book-ending the movie.
"Walk the Line" is nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, including best picture for a musical or comedy and best actor in a musical or comedy for Phoenix.
Brooks minces no wordsfor Times movie critic
Mel Brooks has some advice for New York Times movie critic A.O. Scott: Stick to nonfiction.
The New York Post reports that while holding court at a Greenwich Village eatery, Brooks, creator of "The Producers," was overheard making mincemeat of Scott's review of the new screen version of the smash Broadway musical (the one in which Scott slams the flick for "its utter lack of taste, charm or wit").
"I was tempted to send him an e-mail saying, 'I found your review fascinating. I adore fiction,'" said Brooks.
"Then I thought, no, it should be a real letter -- along with a note saying, 'Be sure to save this because, after you're gone, it'll be the only thing of yours people want to read.'"
Today's Birthdays
Actor Gerald S. O'Loughlin is 84. Actor Ronnie Schell is 74. Emperor Akihito of Japan is 72. Actor Frederic Forrest is 69. Actor James Stacy is 69. Rock musician Jorma Kaukonen is 65. Rock musician Ron Bushy is 64. Actor-comedian Harry Shearer is 62. Actress Susan Lucci is 59. Singer-musician Adrian Belew is 56. Rock musician Dave Murray (Iron Maiden) is 49. Singer Terry Weeks is 42. Rock singer Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) is 41. Actor Corey Haim is 34. Rock musician Jamie Murphy is 30. Actress Estella Warren is 27.