NBC’s sci-fi hit “Heroes” was able to beat super-agent Jack Bauer in the ratings. You think that would make them invincible, right? Nope. There is still one man who can out-do the Heroes: Charlie Sheen of CBS’s “Two-and-a-Half Men.”

From 9 to 10 p.m., Heroes averaged 14.9 million sci-fi-fantasy fans to 24’s 14.5 million doomsday enthusiasts.

The most watched man of the hour, though, was Sheen, whose low-tech CBS sitcom, Two and a Half Men, occupied 15.9 million during its 9-9:30 p.m. time slot.

Maybe NBC needs to get Sheen’s brother, Emilio Estevez, and ramp up the competition!

“The Children of Hurin,” a prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy “The Lord of The Rings” is selling like hotcakes. The book was left unfinished when Tolkein died in 1973, and his son Christopher spent 30 years editing and finishing the manuscript. Reviews are favorable, so maybe we’ll be seeing another Middle-earth film soon.

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office announced Monday that it has recommended a vehicular manslaughter charge be brought against the pop star. Brandy was involved in a car accident on December 30th, which resulted in one death.

The charge under review is a misdemeanor, the city attorney’s office said. It carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The accident occurred when Brandy failed to slow her 2007 Land Rover on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles, and rear-ended the car ahead of her.

Billy Crystal, comedian, actor, and frequent host of the Academy Awards, will be awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center Honor ceremony in October. Previous recipients of the honor include Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Simon, and Steve Martin.

“To be given the same award as Richard Pryor, Steve Martin and Neil Simon is a great honor,” said the 59-year-old Crystal. “I told my granddaughter, who is 3, that I won the Mark Twain prize, and she said … `I have one too.’”

You can read more here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070501/ap_en_mo/people_billy_crystal_4

On Sunday, Angelina Jolie announced that her mother, former actor Marcheline Bertrand, has died of cancer. She was attended at the time of her death at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Jolie’s brother, James Maven. Bertrand had battled cancer for seven years. She was 56 years old.

Jolie indicated that a private funeral was being planned and asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Women’s Cancer Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai.

After Jennifer Aniston was seen leaving the office of a plastic surgeon, rumors quickly circulated. Did she have a nose job? Her boobs done? Aniston quickly cleared things up: she had a procedure done to correct a deviated septum. So really, the only dirt here is that she used to snore. And what is her response to those who insist her bustline has been magnified?

“As far as all the other [rumors], as boring as it sounds, it’s still mine. All of it. Still mine.”

But how does she explain side-by-side photos purporting to show “before” and “after” comparisons of her cleavage? Answer: she doesn’t.

“Short of letting everybody have a feel, I don’t know what else to do. I really am pretty happy with what God gave me.”

Japanese film distributors Gaga Communications have reported that at least 15 people have complained of symptoms of nausea after watching the film “Babel” starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. The scene in question involves flashing strobe lights in a nightclub.

“This feature presentation includes some highly stimulating effects and some customers have complained of feeling ill,” reads part of the warning, which the distributors have added to their Web site and also requested be displayed on posters at about 300 cinemas.

Read the whole article here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070502/od_nm/japan_movie_health_odd_dc_1

J. K. Rowling has announced the release date of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh installment in the mega-popular series. July 21, 12:01 a.m. signals the beginning of Pottermania. And though she did give up the release date, she didn’t give up much else. No hints about character or plot. We’ll just have to wait to have book in hand. I, for one, have already pre-ordered my copy!

Sure, Tyra Banks may have put on about thirty pounds since her catwalk days, but don’t you dare call her fat! Weighing in at 161 pounds and 5 feet 10 inches, her weight is healthy, the talk show host says.

Banks also pointed out that even in her slimmer days, her curvy body still carried 20 to 30 pounds more weight than most supermodels.

“That’s a positive thing,” she told Good Morning America on Wednesday. “And I think it’s so bad that people are saying that’s bad.”

Russell Crowe will star as the Sheriff of Nottingham and hunt Robin Hood in a movie that turns the famous legend upside down. In Imagine Entertainment and Universal Pictures’ version, Nottingham is the good guy, and Robin Hood and his Merry Men are the criminals. The film is set to begin shooting at the end of this year or in early 2008. So will movie-goers accept Robin Hood as the villain?