Scott Weiland in crash

Scott Weiland in crash

LOS ANGELES — Scott Weiland was arrested for driving under the influence of a drug after he crashed his car, but his publicist says it was a minor accident and denies the allegations. The Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver singer, who has a history of drug problems, was driving on a state highway Nov. 21 when he had the accident. The singer was arrested after an officer noticed he showed “signs of impairment” and failed field sobriety tests, according to a police report obtained by TMZ.com. Weiland, 40, was taken to the Van Nuys Jail where he refused to take a blood or urine test, according to the police report. He was booked and released on $40,000 bail. His next court appearance is Dec. 13.

Chappelle sets record

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Dave Chappelle has broken his own Laugh Factory endurance record. The 34-year-old comedian topped his record of six hours and seven minutes, set in mid-April, by taking to the stage Sunday and telling jokes for six hours and 12 minutes. “Dave was determined to keep his record because he recently heard that Dane Cook was planning on trying to break [his] record,” club owner Jamie Masada said Monday. Masada said Cook held a record of three hours and 50 minutes in early April. The mark had stood at two hours and 41 minutes, set by Richard Pryor in 1980.

Crowe subs for Pitt

LOS ANGELES — Russell Crowe is pinch-hitting for Brad Pitt. Crowe has taken over the lead role Pitt backed out of in “State of Play,” the political thriller co-starring Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman. Pitt, 43, who dropped out of the film last month, had wanted to make the movie but wasn’t pleased with the script, according to Hollywood trade paper Variety. Crowe, 43, will play a former political consultant who is now a journalist investigating a murder linked to a congressman whose campaign he once ran.

Today’s birthdays

Singer Little Richard is 75. Author Calvin Trillin is 72. Opera singer Jose Carreras is 61. Rock singer-musician John Rzeznik (The Goo Goo Dolls) is 42. Comedian-actress Margaret Cho is 39. Actor Frankie Muniz is 22.