Kevin Bacon claims the "Today" show bumped him from a scheduled interview segment after producers realized the movie he was promoting was rated NC-17 because of a gay sex scene.

The kiss-of-death rating was assigned to director Atom Egoyan's "Where the Truth Lies" over a steamy scene involving Bacon and Colin Firth. "They had me booked on the 'Today' show today, and they canceled it because of the NC-17 rating," Bacon said on Howard Stern's radio show. "And I come to find out that none of the other morning shows will have me on."

A spokeswoman for "Today" said, "While we always enjoy having Kevin Bacon on the show, in this case he was never booked to appear." Bacon suspects that homophobia was behind the movie's NC-17 rating: "If that scene didn't end with a homosexual act, would the ratings board have given us the NC-17? I don't know. I can't answer that because I'm not behind closed doors."

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The bad blood continues between Lil' Kim and 50 Cent.

Though the rappers paired up for the 2003 smash Magic Stick, the relationship between the two quickly disintegrated, and 50 Cent dissed Lil' Kim in performances.

In a recent interview - before she entered a U.S. federal detention center to serve a year-a-day sentence for perjury - Lil' Kim made it clear there would be no duets in the future between the two. "I can't front. I don't have a lot of respect for 50 Cent because his music is hardcore ... violent," said Lil' Kim. "And I love his music sometimes, but I feel like in his personal life, his real life, he carries that on, and that's not a great message, you know what I mean? I think he promotes it."

When asked about the beef between the two, she said: "How can a man have beef with a woman? Whatever, that's just not cool," she said. "If I was selling six, seven million records, I'm not mad at anyone! How can you still be angry at people, still want to come at people? You're making money, you're selling millions of records, you should do something with that leverage," she added.

Lil' Kim knows plenty about rap feuds - it's one of the reasons why she's incarcerated. The rapper was convicted of lying to a grand jury investigating a 2001 shootout involving members of her entourage and a clique loyal to her nemesis, rapper Foxy Brown.

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Boy GeorgeÂ’s lawyer is denying that drugs found in the British singer's apartment belonged to him, the Associated Press reports.

On Friday, the singer was arrested in New York on suspicion of possessing drugs and making a false police report after he called 911 and falsely said his home had been burglarized, police say.

The British-born 44-year-old singer, whose real name is George O'Dowd, phoned police from a Little Italy apartment around 3:14 a.m. and reported a burglary, said NYPD spokesman Detective Kevin Czartoryski. Officers arrived on the scene and discovered a small amount of cocaine adjacent to a computer.

The singer was arraigned on drug charges early Saturday and then released without bail. He was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, allegedly more than an eighth of an ounce of cocaine, said Barbara Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

"It was a small amount of drugs," the singer's lawyer Lou Freeman told the New York Post. "He does not know where it came from. He's had a lot of people in his house."

George is scheduled to return to court on the drug charges on Dec. 19. On Sunday, George returned to London, where he was greeted by a throng of reporters. "I am not speaking to anybody about it," he told them. "Don't ask me any questions because you are not going to get any answers at all. It's nice to see you, though."

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John Travolta and Kelly Preston are urging Katie Holmes to have a 'silent birth' when she has Tom Cruise's baby.

Scientologists believe children should be brought into the world quietly with no expressions of pain from the mother. Kelly said: "It's just because everything in moments of pain is really recorded and you want to have that peaceful and clear of sort of suggestions or different words that can then affect them in their future."

Katie, 26, who started dating Tom in April is thought to be three months pregnant.

And in other TomKat news:

Katie Holmes has fired her publicist Leslie Sloane-Zelnick after nine years together, and has hired her fiance Tom Cruise's sister as her new spokesperson.

Since Holmes began her controversial relationship with Cruise, she has parted ways with her management company, agents and now Sloane-Zelnick. Holmes will now be represented by Cruise's sister and fellow Scientologist Lee Anne DeVette, who became the actor's spokesperson last year after he left his longtime publicist Pat Kingsley.

Sloane-Zelnick tells the New York Daily News, "We were with her for nine years. We wish her the best. She has chosen to work with her future sister-in-law. We wish her well, and congratulate her on her happy news."

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Sarah Jessica Parker has reportedly banned the word 'fat' as she doesn't want her son "learning to use it in a derogatory way."

The Sex and The City actress said: "I've forbidden the word 'fat' to be used in our home because I don't like the way it's used and I don't want him to ever use that word."

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Fashion magazine W has become the first to publicly support Kate Moss since her drugs scandal broke. W's new November issue features Kate on the cover and has eight pages of photographs of the supermodel inside.

In an article headlined Survivors, deputy editor Julie Belcove writes: "When Kate Moss burst into the fashion world in the early Nineties, few imagined she'd still be the dominant model more than a decade later.

"Her delicate frame posed a paradoxically giant challenge to the prevailing ideal, epitomized by towering, busty mannequins like Cindy, Claudia and Naomi. "But the big-eyed waif developed a womanly presence. As the world now knows, she has not come through the transformation unscathed. "A tabloid sting recently caught the 31 year old Moss using cocaine, the resulting photographs cost her several lucrative contracts.

"Moss, who was booked for this issue well before the scandal broke, has had a long relationship with the magazine, appearing on more covers - by far - than any other model or actress." W's creative director Dennis Freedman added: "She has shown courage by taking steps to deal with her personal problems and it is only natural that we would support someone that we regard as a friend."

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Happy Birthday, Juilliard!

As Juilliard celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, the school's President Joseph Polisi says much has changed since it was founded in 1905 as the Institute of Musical Art.

In his bare studio classroom at New York's famed Juilliard School, 21 drama students spar, perhaps imagining themselves as Shakespeare's Mercutio or Tybalt, as they jab, block and swipe with long black padded sticks.

"Stop, stop," cries Ivanov, unimpressed by some overly theatrical swings. "I'm so happy we don't have real swords." "It's all about aura," he tells the young students, an international bunch of men and women dressed as if for yoga. Ivanov is trying to teach them to make wide circles with the sword to avoid bringing the tip anywhere near a partner's eyes. "You're working with the partner's aura, not the body."

The stage combat class is part of a busy curriculum for the drama students at Juilliard, the performing arts school which boasts such illustrious alumni as cellist Yo-Yo Ma and actors Kevin Spacey, Laura Linney and Robin Williams.

The disciplines of dance and drama were added in 1951 and 1968 respectively, and Juilliard moved in 1969 to the city's premier arts complex, the Lincoln Center, where its neighbors include the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet.

Even Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan studied there, playing the clarinet before he turned from music to economics.

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And in the ongoing "Are they or aren't they?" dialogue, Jessica was photographed the day Us Weekly announced that she and Nick were splitsville with her wedding ring ON.

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Photographers trying to get snapshots of Brad Pitt on the Canadian set of his new flick are being met and hauled off by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Pitt is in Calgary shooting 'The Assassination of Jesse James,' where three photogs in the past few weeks have been arrested. Tuesday, an Italian photographer was found in the trees and arrested. Monday, a U.S. photographer was detained and the previous month a Canadian culprit was discovered hiding on a nearby film set and charged with mischief.

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Is it still "cheating" if the stripper keeps her dress on? Sting apparently doesn't think so.

The soft-rocking singer, who's married to Trudie Styler, spent several hours at New York Dolls strip club on Murray Street in the company of two dancers — but asked them to keep their gowns while they lavished him and his driver with lap dances and neck massages.

Rumor has it that Sting, who drank only bottled water during the fully-clothed frolic, took a special liking to a blond Slovenian sexpot named Anna. The former Police chief plunked down several hundred bucks to be pampered by Anna and an Israeli-born babe.

--Thoughts?

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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's relationship continues to progress: Now, his family is giving her a thumbs-up.

Pitt's brother Doug, who owns a computer store in Springfield, Mo., made it clear during a recent business speech to the junior Rotary organization Rotaract, "We've met Angelina, and my family really, really likes her. She's great." Doug, however, means no disrespect to Pitt's ex. "Of course," he added, "we liked Jen too."

Since Pitt's marriage to Jennifer Aniston officially ended on Oct. 2, it appears more and more plausible that Pitt and Jolie could eventually become Mr. and Mrs. Pitt, People reports in its latest issue. The couple, along with Jolie's son Maddox, 4, and daughter Zahara, 9 months, were spotted on Sept. 21 at the Galaxyland Amusement Park at the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alta.

"Maddox was looking around at all the rides and he said, 'Daddy, can we go on that?'" onlooker Sarah Gardener told People. Pitt happily obliged, escorting the boy on the whirly Rockin' Rocket ride.

A giddy Maddox "was laughing," says Kelly Glandon, who was riding with her own 2-year-old daughter Taylor. "He looked like he was having the time of his life."

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Is there trouble in paradise for Britney Spears and her hubby?

The couple has acknowledged rough patches in the early days of their marriage, and it looks like having a baby hasn’t helped things. The buzz is that Kevin Federline — who walked out on his pregnant girlfriend and child to be with Spears — isn’t taking too well to fatherhood this time around either.

Since Spears brought home little Sean Preston, his dad has been “a real brat” — hitting golf balls, partying and chatting on the phone until well into the night, an insider tells Life & Style Weekly. Spears has reportedly complained that she’s “raising two kids now.”

After one particularly nasty row, Federline moved into a friendÂ’s house for three days, according to the mag. But SpearsÂ’ mom, Lynne, has reportedly come to the rescue and is helping the couple through its tough patch. SpearsÂ’ rep didnÂ’t respond to The ScoopÂ’s request for comment.

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R&B star Ashanti has become the latest in a long line of celebrities to launch her own fragrance.

The singer follows in the footsteps of Britney Spears, Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton and, most recently, Hilary Duff with her venture, which will be named Precious Jewel.

She says, "This project was very precious to me. I wanted everything to be perfect! I must have driven the fragrance developers nuts by making sure everything was exactly how I envisioned." Her representative says of the scent, "(It's) fruity without being overpowering, powdery enough without giving a headache."

It comes in perfume, mist and shimmer stick, and is available at discount store chain Wal-Mart from this week, reports MTV News.

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NBC will air a live episode of "The West Wing" featuring a debate between presidential candidates Matt Santos and Arnold Vinick on Nov. 6.

Airing scripted TV shows live is a rarity these days, although NBC tried the attention-getting device earlier last week with the "Will & Grace" season premiere.

"The West Wing," which has lagged in the ratings with its move to Sunday nights this season, is in the midst of the campaign to replace Martin Sheen's character, President Bartlet. Jimmy Smits plays Democratic candidate Santos and Alan Alda the Republican Vinick.

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The 300 UCLA cancer biology students shifted in their seats as they waited for class to begin. Then came a loud knock on the door and in walked a surprise guest professor - Melissa Etheridge.

"Good afternoon," Etheridge said Wednesday afternoon as she smiled at the undergraduates. Some students gasped, others clapped.

For an hour, the 44-year-old singer delved into her emotional, yearlong battle with breast cancer - from the rousing performance she delivered at the Grammy Awards in February to hating chemotherapy and having to tell her children she might die.

"I've been a rock star since you were very young," said Etheridge. "But I've never encountered anything as powerful as cancer." The visit, filmed for MTV's college network mtvU, will air Oct. 17. "We're all a big fan of hers. We're looking for icons," mtvU's Stephen Friedman said.

Mostly female students questioned Etheridge, and her frank responses drew laughter - and tears. "Were you afraid to die?" asked one student. "I don't fear death. I have a lot more to do," Etheridge answered. Of what it was like to go through chemotherapy and surgery, Etheridge pointed to her scars and said even her ears hurt during treatment. "I couldn't turn music on, which broke my heart," she said.

Other guest professors on mtvU's "Stand-In" series have included Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Shimon Peres, Tom Wolfe and Marilyn Manson.

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She did it for Dr. Phil. Now, Oprah Winfrey is hoping to bring daytime talk show success to Food Network personality Rachael Ray as well.

The host of "30-Minute Meals," "$40 a Day" and "Tasty Travels" has signed a deal with Oprah's production company to host a syndicated talk show targeted to launch in fall 2006. "People know me for my love of food, but I have so much more I want to share," says Rachael. "You know the real deal when you see it, and that's exactly what Rachael Ray is," Terry Wood, president of creative affairs and development at King World and Paramount Domestic Television says. "We already know Rachael can make life easier in the kitchen, and now she'll do it for people in all other aspects of their lives. Rachael has a huge connection with the audience, and her comfortable, relatable style makes her perfect for daytime television."

The new syndicated show will be based in New York and Rachael will continue to appear on Food Network.

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Actor Ed Harris is to make his European stage debut in the Irish city of Cork next month, in the world premiere of a play titled "Wrecks," written and directed by filmmaker and playwright Neil LaBute.

Harris, currently in movie theaters with David Cronenberg's "A History of Violence," will play a man described as having a unique love for his recently deceased wife.

The play will run at the Everyman Palace Theater November 23-December 3.

--I think he's one of the best actors out there. He's fantastic in everything he does.

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There's a new little Bratt in NBC "E-Ring" star Benjamin Bratt's household. Mateo Bravery Bratt was born Monday in Los Angeles, weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces, said publicist Craig Bankey.

Bratt and his wife, Talisa Soto, have a daughter, Sophia Rosalinda, who will be 3 years old on Dec. 6.

The 41-year-old actor and his 38-year-old wife met while filming "Pinero," the story of poet-playwright-actor Miguel Pinero. Soto has also appeared in "Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever" and "Mortal Kombat." Movie credits for Bratt, who starred in the "Law & Order" TV series, include "Catwoman" and "Miss Congeniality."

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Tudor-style mansion in Pasadena that was used for a number of movie shoots has been destroyed by fire, but the house nearby where the 1960s "Batman" TV series was shot escaped damage, fire officials said on Thursday.

Early news reports said the house that burned down on Wednesday night was the historic mansion on S. San Rafael Avenue, Pasadena, 15 miles north-east of downtown Los Angeles, that served as the "Wayne Manor" of Batman TV series fame. That house was reported to have been bought by former Beatle Paul McCartney in 2005.

But the 16,000-square-foot home that caught fire was actually further down the street. Some scenes from "Rocky V" and the Peter Sellers movie "Being There" were reportedly shot there. The owners were not at home when the fire started and the cause is unknown.

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Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is launching its own brand of trendy clothing for women as part of an overall strategy to increase U.S. sales by getting more shopping dollars out of the millions of customers already in its stores.

The urban-style line dubbed Metro 7, designed with the help of Wal-Mart's trend-spotting office in New York City, will be rolled out this week in 500 of the more than 3,000 Wal-Mart stores in the United States, mainly in urban areas, the company announced Thursday. The clothes should be in about 1,000 stores by spring and is being sold online at Walmart.com.

The world's largest retailer, based in Bentonville, Ark., is not so much trying to win new customers as trying to persuade its huge existing customer base who come for staples to also buy clothes. It is part of a broader effort to revive sales and catch up with faster growing rivals like Target Corp.

"We can grow our business by getting the customer who is already in our store to buy more apparel," John Fleming, Wal-Mart's chief marketing officer, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

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