Don Imus back on the air

Don Imus back on the air

NEW YORK — The I-man cometh — back. But will the shock be gone from the jock? Eight months after denigrating the women’s basketball team at Rutgers with a racially loaded remark, Don Imus is set to return to the airwaves Monday at 6 a.m. with a special broadcast live from Manhattan’s Town Hall on his new morning home, WABC-AM. After calling the Rutgers players “nappy headed hos” last April, Imus’ simulcast on MSNBC was pulled, followed soon after by his WFAN-AM morning show. The real question for many radio-watchers, though, is whether the chastened Imus will continue to push the envelope or if he will be too cautious for listeners accustomed to his brand of early morning raunch. Imus’ new bosses at WABC promise that drive-time listeners will get the I-Man of old. But Brian Maloney, who runs the industry blog, “The Radio Equalizer,” doesn’t see that happening. “He won’t be within 10 miles of controversy,” he said. “He’s going to turn it into dullsville public affairs programming and have him stick with fluffy interviews.”

Witherspoon is top paid

LOS ANGELES — Even though her latest film, “Rendition,” was a flop, Reese Witherspoon is a moneymaker. The 31-year-old Academy Award winner commands $15 million to $20 million a movie, placing her at the top of The Hollywood Reporter’s annual list of the highest-paid actresses. Angelina Jolie came in second with similar salary demands, though the animated “Beowulf” earned the 32-year-old actress far less — just $8 million. Cameron Diaz was third, with a $15 million-per-movie price tag. Nicole Kidman dropped to fourth place, two spots lower than last year, with an asking price of $10 million to $15 million a film. Renee Zellweger and Sandra Bullock also get $10 to $15 million paychecks. So does Julia Roberts, who hasn’t appeared on the big screen since 2004. Her next film, “Charlie Wilson’s War,” is due in theaters in December. Rounding out the top 10 are Drew Barrymore and Jodie Foster, who ask $10 million to $12 million per project, and Halle Berry, who gets $10 million a picture.

Today’s birthdays

Actor-director Woody Allen is 72. Golfer Lee Trevino is 68. Singer Dianne Lennon (The Lennon Sisters) is 68. Rock singer-musician Eric Bloom (Blue Oyster Cult) is 63. Rock musician John Densmore (The Doors) is 63. Actress-singer Bette Midler is 62. Singer Gilbert O’Sullivan is 61. Actor Treat Williams is 56. Actress Charlene Tilton is 49. Actress-model Carol Alt is 47. Actress-comedian Sarah Silverman is 37. Rock musician Brad Delson (Linkin Park) is 30.