HOLLYWOOD - Mickey Rourke is set to play a famous barbarian's father in the feature film "Conan," the fantasy franchise that made Arnold Schwarzenegger a star. The project will shoot in Bulgaria, and the plot is that Conan sets out to avenge the slaughter of his people. It's all a bit complicated at the moment, as is the career of that other Conan, last name O'Brien, who traveled from New York to California to host a TV show. ... And speaking of TV shows, I truly wonder why Letterman thinks it's entertainment and fun to drop things from tall buildings to the street below. Recently, huge weights were dropped from a rooftop onto the top of automobiles below, completely destroying the vehicles.

Aside to Gisella T. of Santa Monica, Calif.: You ask how Oscar got the name. As far as I know, when the little gold man was created and shown to Academy members, Margaret Herrick, a prominent member, said, "He looks just like my Uncle Oscar." From then on, that's what the Academy Award prize has been named.

Ozzy's Book Full of his Memories, Some of Them Untainted by Reality

The first thing Ozzy Osbourne does to set the record straight in his autobiography, the best-selling "I Am Ozzy," is to acknowledge that his recollections of the past may differ from those of, well anyone and everyone else.

"Over the past 40 years," writes heavy metal's Prince of Darkness, "I've been loaded on booze, coke, acid, Quaaludes, glue, cough mixture, heroin, Rohypnol, Klonopin, Vicodin, and too many other heavy-duty substances to list in this footnote. On more than a few occasions I was on all of those at the same time. I'm not the (expletive) Encyclopaedia Britannica. ... What you read here is what dribbled out of the jelly I call my brain when I asked it for my life story. Nothing more, nothing less."

HOLLYWOOD - Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Sinatra? Yup, Leo will play "Ole Blue Eyes" in a film directed by Martin Scorsese. But Leo will NOT do the singing. I'm told Sinatra recordings will supply the music. I knew Frank. Personally, I would never have picked Leo for the part, but we'll wait and see if he can pull it off. P.S. They were much more alike in their personal lives. Both Frank and Leo had, and have, a No. 1 priority -- GIRLS.

Yes, the town is still praising John Travolta for his trip to Haiti bringing food, medicine and many other needs to that ravished country. AND in the many interviews he has been undergoing on TV, radio and in newspapers, the sadness of losing his son, Jet, has not been mentioned -- hopefully not to bring up his hurt. AND take it from someone who knows, he has really been hurting.

I'm not a big Conan O'Brien fan, but I feel he got a raw deal from the Peacock Network. After bringing him out here from the East and having him bring his family, they kick him off and say he can't appear elsewhere. I don't know what the situation is at this point, but he does have my sympathy.

The Long Hello: Zac Brown Band

LOS ANGELES — The Zac Brown Band made history in at least two ways when it won Best New Artist honors at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 31.

The six-man group became the first country-music band — as opposed to solo artist — to ever win a Best New Artist trophy at the Grammys. Equally notable, this year's Best New Artist winner isn't exactly new, although Grammy Award rules are flexible in defining who qualifies for such a designation.

That's a good thing for Brown, who formed his Atlanta-based band in 2000, several years after launching his music career, and released his group's first album on his own label in 2003.

Or, as the bearded singer-guitarist said backstage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where the Grammys were held: "We've been very blessed to do what we love for a living. After 13 years, to be recognized on this level is one of the greatest pleasures of my life."

HOLLYWOOD - There is some news beside Oscar. How's this for a combination: Kathy Bates and Whoopi Goldberg? The ladies have joined the cast of "Earthbound." The film stars Kate Hudson and is shooting in New Orleans. And speaking of my hometown, it has certainly been in the news what with the Saints winning the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras and all those big names in film located in The Big Easy. When I lived there, it was known as The City That Care Forgot.

Then along came Hurricane Katrina, and that title was "forgot." Now it's Hollywood on the Mississippi, what with Brad and Angelina, Sandra Bullock, Nicolas Cage, Helen Mirren, Frances Ford Coppola, John Goodman and others having homes there.

Rob Reiner has come a long way from the role of Meathead in "All In the Family." He has been receiving all manner of awards for all manner of "doings."

Heart of 'Darkness': Gibson's Tough Cop

It's been eight long years since Mel Gibson has been the marquee star of a major motion picture, and a lot has happened to put some stubborn stains on his reputation. So it's understandable if you resist rushing to the theater to see "Edge of Darkness," Gibson's first starring role since 2002's "Signs." But please note the irony here because it is just that — Gibson's presence — that makes "Edge of Darkness" a relatively watchable film.

* It was American journalist, author and humorist Don Marquis who made the following sage observation: "Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday."

* A giant carnivorous plant has recently been discovered on a remote mountaintop in the Philippines. The second largest pitcher plant on record, nepenthes attenboroughii secretes a nectar that lures insects, frogs and even rats into its trap, where enzymes and acids break down the animal and digest it.

* There has been a lot of debate about whether older drivers should be required to pass driving tests in order to renew their licenses, with failing sight and diminished judgment being cited as reasons for the more stringent requirement. However, statistics tend to indicate that, as a group, teenagers are the more dangerous drivers, with their auto-accident death rate roughly triple that of the elderly.

Q: I am excited for the "Sex and the City" movie sequel. Can you give me any hints as to what this movie has in store for Carrie and company? -- Ginny G., via e-mail

A: SPOILER ALERT! Rumors are swirling that Carrie will have an "indiscretion" with John Corbett's character, Aidan, as John was spotted in Morocco at the same time that "Sex and the City 2" was filming there. While there is, of course, no official comment from anyone involved with the movie, as they don't want to give away major plot points, I'm thinking Aidan is going to give Big a run for his money!
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Q: I recently rented "Apocalypto" on DVD and really loved the movie, as well as Mel Gibson's direction. I was wondering, however, when we'll get to see Mel in front of the camera again. -- Fanny E., West Palm Beach, Fla.

A: You don't have long to wait. The 54-year-old new father can be seen next on the big screen on Jan. 29 when his thriller "Edge of Darkness" is released. Mel plays homicide detective Thomas Craven, who is investigating the death of his activist daughter. In the process, he not only uncovers her secret life, but also a corporate cover-up and government collusion that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence.
It also was announced recently that Mel plans star in a crime comedy that he wrote called "How I Spent My Summer Vacation," as well as direct Leonardo DiCaprio in an as-yet-untitled Viking flick.
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Q: I saw a picture of Eliza Dushku wearing a cast on her arm. Is she OK, or was that just a costume for her show, "Dollhouse"? -- Layla F., via e-mail

A: That cast is the real deal. Eliza "earned" it during a fight sequence on the set of "Dollhouse" when she fractured her radial head. She will have to wear the cast for a few weeks while it heals. The show will shoot around her injury, hiding the cast with long-sleeved wardrobe and such. Eliza told fans not to worry, saying, "I can still hold a shotgun and save the world!"

¥ It was Soviet-born American professor and science-fiction author Isaac Asimov who made the following sage observation: "The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom."

¥ If you ever travel to the British territory of Bermuda, you might want to stop off in Ely to see the world's smallest drawbridge. Somerset Bridge is less than 20 feet from one embankment to the other, and when the draws are raised, there's barely enough room for a single small sailboat to pass.

¥ Early in its history, the Catholic Church decreed that imbibing coffee was sinful. It was Pope Clement VIII who, in 1592, declared it to be a Christian drink.

Q: Is it true that someone is making a film about Facebook? How is it possible to turn that into a film? -- Frank J., via e-mail

A: Production has begun on "The Social Network," which stars Rashida Jones, Justin Timberlake and Jesse Eisenberg, and is directed by David Fincher ("Fight Club," "Se7en," "Panic Room" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"). Shelby Young ("Days of Our Lives" and "Wild Child") recently finished shooting her supporting role in the film. While she couldn't tell me much about the movie or her role in it (they have all signed confidentiality agreements so the story doesn't leak out), what she could tell me is that the movie is about the founders of the social-networking site Facebook. Like many of the film's stars, Shelby admits, "I am such a huge fan of 'Fight Club,' so the chance to work with David Fincher, I just couldn't pass that up." Look for "The Social Network" in theaters come October.
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Q: At the end of last season it was stated that "Friday Night Lights" was coming back this year. Has that changed? I haven't been able to find anything about it. -- Phillis M., via e-mail

A: Season Four of "FNL" is slated to premiere Friday, April 30, on NBC. Per an agreement with DirecTV, the fourth season already aired on The 101 Network from October 2009 through this past February, with NBC re-airing the season coming next month. If you want to be surprised by what happens this season, beware of online spoilers from those who already saw the episodes on The 101!
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'Island' is Psychological Thriller Worthy of Hitchcock

Aboard a ferry in the choppy Boston Harbor, U.S. Marshals Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) approach a looming rock of an island where a hospital for the criminally insane awaits them. The year is 1954 and they are coming to investigate a missing inmate who mysteriously escaped her locked cell. A storm is approaching as the men step off the boat. They are greeted by officers who disarm them and deliver strict guidelines of behavior. Get your straitjackets ready. You're now on "Shutter Island," the new movie from director Martin Scorsese.

As the marshals interview the hospital's chief psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley) and staff, Teddy knows something isn't right with the story. He begins having disturbing flashbacks to when he was a soldier liberating Nazi concentration camps and visions of his dead wife (Michelle Williams). As the storm becomes a hurricane, Teddy starts to wonder if he hasn't become a prisoner there himself. Where is that straitjacket again?

HOLLYWOOD ... Still a mystery how all those lovely ladies in little-nothing dresses and no wraps didn't get pneumonia walking the Golden Globes red carpet in the cold. Also, those who will admit, do admit that the show was a bit long and more than a bit boring. And wait, all ye award-show watchers, there are more to come.

This is not really Hollywood news, but it's news. I was never a Katie Couric fan until now. After watching her on "The Charley Rose Show" tell about her coverage of the Haitian disaster, and the young 13-year-old lying in the street who held on to her while they set both his broken legs, I say "Congrats, Katie." It must have really been a "tough go."

And please, please George, and I mean Clooney, please get rid of that hairy facial stuff. You are gorgeous clean-shaven, but under that hirsute adornment -- No!

Q: Al Pacino is one of my all-time favorite actors. Can you tell me what he's been up to lately and what I can see him in next? -- Paul G., Vero Beach, Fla.

A: The most recent Pacino news has Al taking on the title role in the movie "You Don't Know Jack," which is based on the life of assisted-suicide advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian. The multi-award-winning star, who turns 70 in April, stars alongside Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Danny Huston and Brenda Vaccaro in the Barry Levinson-directed biopic, which will be released later this year. He also just began production as King Lear in "King Lear" and has a half-dozen movies waiting in the wings for him to star in.
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Q: I absolutely love the procedural dramas like "Criminal Minds" and "Law & Order." I heard that there are even more spin-offs of these shows in the works. Is that true? I hope so! -- Patty J., via e-mail

Jeff Bridges Superb in Gritty, Strong 'Crazy Heart'

"I used to be somebody / But now I'm somebody else."

Seldom has a line sung in a film captured the essence of its main character — and the movie itself — so well as the above couplet, which is performed in "Crazy Heart" by a washed-up, way down on his luck country troubadour by the name of Bad Blake.

More sad than bad, Blake is a chain-smoking alcoholic who is 57 and, as the film starts, has $10, a vintage acoustic guitar and a battered pickup truck to his name. Once a country-music star, he now barely can stumble through life at the best of times. Then again, there seem to be no best of times, only less worse times, for this grizzled country-music archetype (who looks like Kris Kristofferson and is based in part on Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, by way of Hank Thompson and Townes Van Zandt).

* On Dec. 24, 1851, a devastating fire at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., destroys about two-thirds of its 55,000 volumes, including most of Thomas Jefferson's personal library. Today, the collection, housed in three enormous buildings in Washington, contains more than 17 million books.

* On Dec. 23, 1888, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cuts off the lower part of his left ear with a razor while staying in Arles, France. He later documented the event in a painting titled "Self-Portrait With Bandaged Ear."

* On Dec. 27, 1900, prohibitionist Carry Nation smashes up the bar at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kan., causing several thousand dollars in damage and landing her in jail. Nation became famous for carrying a hatchet and wrecking saloons as part of her anti-alcohol crusade.

* On Dec. 21, 1937, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" debuts. The film, created by Walt Disney's animation company, was the first feature-length animated movie. The film became a classic, and box-office receipts recouped the film's cost of $1.5 million by the end of its first year in circulation.

* On Dec. 26, 1946, in Las Vegas, mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel opens The Pink Flamingo Hotel and Casino at a total cost of $6 million. The 40-acre facility wasn't complete. Because gamblers had no rooms at the hotel, they took their winnings elsewhere. The casino lost $300,000 in the first week of operation.

* On Dec. 22, 1952, the first Corvette sports car, a running production-ready prototype, is completed. The name "Corvette" came from a type of small, maneuverable warship used by Allied forces in World War II.

* On Dec. 25, 1996, 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey is killed in her Boulder, Colo., home. John and Patsy Ramsey, her parents, called police at 5:52 a.m. the following morning to report their daughter missing. JonBenet's body was found under a blanket in the basement that afternoon.

(c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

Q: Is it true that Lindsay Lohan is dating "How I Met Your Mother" star Jason Segel? -- Barbara S., via e-mail
A: Lindsay, who split from girlfriend Samantha Ronson earlier this year, has taken to her Twitter account to dispel all rumors of romance. She brands the rumors as ridiculous, stating she was merely "meeting at a co-worker's home." As of this writing, the project they are working on together is unknown.
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Q: I can remember when we had new episodes for TV shows from fall to spring. Now the networks have winter finales for their shows. Why is that? -- Theo J., via e-mail
A: There are a few reasons for this new, "winter finale" trend. One, of course, is money. Many people are traveling and very busy during the holiday season, so the networks don't want to "waste" new episodes when fewer people are watching. This is also a good time to air holiday-themed programs. Another reason is they want to give midseason shows a chance to strut their stuff.
For instance, Fox put "Glee" on hiatus Dec. 9 (to return April 13), "Fringe" takes a break on Feb. 4 (to return April 1), and "Lie to Me" returns in late spring as well. This makes room for shows like the Mark Valley action-drama "Human Target," reality series "Our Little Genius," thriller "Past Life" and comedy "Sons of Tucson." Fox is reporting that "'Til Death" will be back in the new year as well.
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Q: I absolutely love Michelle Forbes in just about every role she is in. What can I watch her in next? -- Marti F., Altoona, Pa.