NEWSMAKERS | Lohan enters plea in necklace theft

NEWSMAKERS

Lohan enters plea in necklace theft

LOS ANGELES

A lawyer entered a no-contest plea Wednesday for Lindsay Lohan in the theft of a necklace, setting the stage for a summer of confinement, counseling and community service. Defense attorney Shawn Holley made the plea for the actress, who did not appear in court in the case involving a $2,500 necklace stolen from an upscale shop in the Venice area of Los Angeles.

Lohan, 24, did not acknowledge guilt through the plea, but the court will log the case as a conviction.

Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner ordered Lohan to serve a 120-day jail sentence and remain on probation in a 2007 drunken-driving case while she completes 480 hours of community service and undergoes psychological counseling.

Lohan also must complete an anti-shoplifting class.

The “Mean Girls” star was expected to actually serve a fraction of the jail time due to overcrowding. She might be eligible for house arrest, but that decision won’t be made until Lohan reports for jail on or before June 17.

Hugh Grant weighed as Sheen replacement

LOS ANGELES

Hugh Grant has been weighing a big move: replacing the fired Charlie Sheen on CBS’ “Two and a Half Men.”

A person familiar with the situation said Wednesday the British film actor was in negotiations to join the sitcom as its new leading man. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because producer Warner Bros. and CBS hadn’t authorized public comment, said the talks had stalled without resolution.

But it was unclear whether Grant’s hiring was a closed issue, the person said. Reports that Grant had been offered $1 million an episode were inaccurate, the person said, adding any Sheen replacement would be paid less than that.

Sheen was among TV’s highest-paid actors at a reported $1.8 million an episode.

Philbin is nominated for a Daytime Emmy

NEW YORK

Regis Philbin has the chance to go out a winner at the Daytime Emmy Awards. Philbin, who has announced he’s leaving “Live With Regis & Kelly” later this year, was nominated for a best talk-show host Emmy on Wednesday. His long-running show, which has never won a Daytime Emmy, was nominated for best talk show on entertainment.

“General Hospital” led the way with 21 Daytime Emmy nominations.

The 38th annual awards show will take place June 19 at the Las Vegas Hilton. It will be televised on CBS.

ABC’s “All My Children” earned 13 nominations and “One Life to Live” had 12. ABC has canceled both soap operas.

Burt Reinhardt dies; driving force at CNN

ATLANTA

Burt Reinhardt, one of CNN’s first presidents and a television pioneer who is credited with helping to build the global news network in its formative years, died at his home near Atlanta on Tuesday. He was 91.

Reinhardt suffered from a series of strokes before his death in Marietta, Ga., said his daughter, Cheryl Reinhardt.

“Without Burt Reinhardt, it is doubtful that CNN would exist today,” said Tom Johnson, who in 1990 succeeded Reinhardt as the 24-hour network’s chief.

Reinhardt joined CNN in 1979 as the start-up network prepared to launch, his daughter said. Turner Broadcasting founder Ted Turner named Reinhardt as president in January 1982. During his tenure, he oversaw the beginning of “Larry King Live,” which just ended its run late last year, and much of the network’s expansion.

Museum to pay $5M for stake in work

VIENNA

An Austrian museum says it will pay $5 million to the granddaughter of a Jewish woman for her stake in an Egon Schiele painting seized by the Nazis.

The painting — “Houses by the Sea” — belonged to Jenny Steiner whose assets, including art, were confiscated by the Nazis in 1938. In 1941, it was bought by Josefine Ernst at an auction in Vienna. Her son sold it 14 years later to the late Rudolf Leopold, who is credited with assembling Austria’s largest and most important private art collection.

The Leopold Museum Private Foundation said Wednesday that Steiner’s granddaughter, whose name has not been released, holds a one-third stake in the painting and thanked her for her efforts during settlement talks.

Vindicator wire services