George Clooney Returns To ER

Paging Dr. Doug Ross! George Clooney flashes a smile as he gets into character on the Los Angeles set of ER Thursday.

Clooney, whose career was launched by the NBC medical drama, is making an appearance on the show for its final season.

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Three Arrested in Travolta Extortion Plot

Three people have been arrested in the alleged extortion plot against John Travolta.

Police in the Bahamas have detained an island lawmaker and a paramedic in the plot to extort money from Travolta, reports the Associated Press. Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames says Senator Pleasant Bridgewater has been held since Thursday in the case.

Dames also told the AP that a second suspect is ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne, who was detained on Friday. Lightbourne was quoted in the press describing efforts to revive Travolta's 16-year-old son Jett, who died of a seizure disorder earlier this month at a family vacation home in the Bahamas.

Dames said Lightbourne was detained after police issued an alert that he was wanted for attempted extortion, was "considered dangerous and should be approached with caution."

Obie Wilchcombe, the former Minister of Tourism and member of the Bahamian Parliament, was one of three arrested.

A police official reported that Wilchcombe was initially brought to the police station under the pretext of helping authorities with the case but is now "implicated" and being held in custody.

Wilchcombe was a very close friend to the Travolta family and actually spoke about the investigation on Thursday.

Wilchcombe said that only one person -- not two, which had been reported -- was involved and that it was not a politician.

Wilchcombe had said he was approached about the extortion plot early last week and passed along the information to Travolta's lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott.

"The irony was that the Travolta family just sent a letter of gratitude -- it happened that afternoon," said Wilchcombe, referring to a Jan. 12 statement issued by McDermott, Travolta's lawyer, thanking the people of the Bahamas for their support.

"I thought it was a despicable act," Wilchcombe had said when he first heard news of the extortion plot. "One person should not destroy the character of the country."
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Jennifer Aniston plans her 40th with John

Even though her actual birthday is February 11, Jennifer Aniston is planning a big 40th birthday bash at her new Beverly Hills home on February 7, with pals Sheryl Crow and Courteney Cox among the guests.

The reason for the early festivities? According to an insider, right after the party, Jen plans to take off on a romantic getaway — which will last through Valentine’s Day — with boyfriend John Mayer. And with John by her side, 40 may be her best year yet.

When asked about her upcoming milestone, Jen recently told France’s Closer magazine, “Everyone’s been asking me if I worry about being nearly 40, but no, not really. These days I’m a lot more serene and I’m ready to embrace a new decade.”
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Kelly Osbourne Back in Rehab

Kelly Osbourne has reportedly checked herself into a treatment center in Los Angeles.

The 24-year-old "has voluntarily entered a medical facility to address some personal issues," her rep says. "Her family stands by and supports her."

No details were given for her decision to seek treatment.

The singer and reality star entered rehab nearly five years ago for painkiller addiction, People adds.

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Patrick Swayze to Pen a Memoir

The star of TV's "The Beast" has a new literary project in the works.

Patrick Swayze plans to write a memoir with his wife Lisa. Details about the memoir or a release date are not yet known.

Just last week Swayze, who is battling stage-four pancreatic cancer, returned home from the hospital after receiving treatment for pneumonia.
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Amy Poehler Bestows Bubble Wrap (and Baby?) on Ellen DeGeneres

What does a new mom get a woman who already has everything for her birthday? Bubble wrap, of course.

Amy Poehler, who gave birth to son Archie on Oct. 25, paid a recent visit to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres – gift in hand for the fellow funny lady's 51st.

"When I get a present I usually like bubble wrap that it's wrapped in," Poehler says on the show, set to air Monday. "I like to pop it, so I got you 250 feet of bubble wrap."

As for how her 3-month-old is doing, Poehler points to the bubble-wrap roll and jokes, "My baby's in there ... I just want to keep him safe."

DeGeneres – not only thankful for her present – reassures Poehler she is a "good mom" to her and husband Will Arnett's adorable son.

Poehler adds: "He's a really happy, sweet baby, and I think it's because I did so much jumping around."

Sounds like Poehler should be bound in some bubble wrap!
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Sarah Jessica Parker Tackles Marriage Rumors

Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick know how to mix business and love.

On Thursday night, they turned a visit to Broadway into a romantic evening – complete with hand holding and downplaying rumors that their marriage is in trouble.

After watching The American Plan, a play starring Mercedes Ruehl and Lily Rabe, Parker said, "This is date night. It was really lovely."

Parker, looking divine in a polka dot dress, white coat and spiky black heels, also gracefully addressed recent reports that she and Broderick were close to splitting. "We don't even bother to address them," Parker told reporters, adding that the best part of being married is "being married."

Defending their relationship wasn't the only thing on their minds, however.

The couple attended the play to support the director David Grindley, who will begin rehearsals for The Philanthropist, another Broadway play, with Broderick in six weeks.

As for the news that a sequel to Parker's hit movie Sex and the City is a done deal, Parker coyly said, "that's what I've heard but I wouldn't say that is the most official thing you'll ever read."
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The Karate Kid Gives His Blessing To Remake

The original Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio, has mixed emotions about the new version of the 1984 film that made him a teen pinup.

“You know you’re not the young guy anymore,” the actor said earlier this week at the Ray-Ban Visionary Awards at the Sundance Film Festival.

“But it’s a privilege that they’re remaking something you did,” he says of the movie, starring Will Smith and and Jada Pinkett Smith's son Jaden Smith, 10 — star of the Pursuit of Happyness — and martial arts legend Jackie Chan, 54, as Mr. Miyagi.

Jaden Smith will be “fantastic,” says Ralph, who went on to make two sequels and dozens more movies.

But a word of advice: “Be good at it because the role is special to me. Embrace it!”
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Heath Ledger's Family: "We Are All Still Nursing Broken Hearts"

On Friday - a year after Heath Ledger's death - his family gathered at one of the actor's favorite places, Cottesloe Beach near his hometown of Perth, Australia.

His sisters, Kate Ledger, Ashleigh Bell and Olivia Ledger, read from a prepared statement to reporters.

"To us ... it seems like merely yesterday, and we are all still nursing broken hearts," Kate said.

Bell praised Michelle Williams, Ledger's ex-fiancee and the mother of his daughter, Matilda.

"What an unbelievable legacy he has left for Matilda and our family," Bell said. "We will take this opportunity today to honor his wonderful life and take comfort in knowing Heath will continue to touch future generations through this amazing art form."

Ledger received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight on Thursday.

"Although we would love to have him here with us, we are so proud and so excited on his behalf," Bell said.

She added, "In Heath's words, he had the time of his life portraying the Joker and said that it was the most fun he'd ever had working on a film."
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John McCain Admits Wife Cindy Almost Did Dancing With the Stars

On Thursday's Larry King Live, former presidential candidate John McCain admitted that his wife Cindy almost did Dancing With the Stars.

Sources previously reported that the ABC show had approached Cindy, 54.

"Well, we discussed it," John told King. "...But we decided it just was not a good idea."

He said his wife has had knee replacement surgery.

"It would have been very challenging," he said. "But I'm proud of her work and charity around the world, Operation Smile, a number of other organizations -- humanitarian efforts that she's involved in and is continuing to be involved in."
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Noah Wyle Confirms George Clooney Is Coming Back to ER

Noah Wyle can't wait for George Clooney to put those scrubs back on.

"I think it’s great!" he said Thursday at the 24th annual Santa Barbara Film Festival when asked about Clooney's return. "I was on board early because I left a balance of episodes on my last contract, so I knew I would be part of the finale. It wasn't like pulling teeth."

Getting Clooney - who played Dr. Doug Ross - wasn't easy.

"There were interesting conversations to try and figure out where everyone was and how they felt about coming back and doing the final few episodes," Wyle said. "I think ultimately everyone is really excited and eager to have a sense of closure to what's been the most defining jobs of all of our lives."

Though he did not have details on Clooney's plotline, Wyle - who played Dr. John Carter - will mostly be shooting scenes with Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle).

"I'm coming back from having spent five years running a refugee camp in Darfur, and I've got a significant and serious health issue that forces me to seek treatment at the hospital where he is currently employed," he said of his character. "So we re-enter into each others lives again."
What was the mood like on the set after all these years?

"Nothing really changed," Wyle said. "It's like you lock the same people in the sound stages for 15 years. It's like opening up a time capsule!

Added the actor, "It's tempered a little bit by the waves of nostalgia that hit you when you realize there actually is an end point in sight. But I think everyone is committed to sending the show off the airwaves with some dignity and class."

ER's finale airs Apr. 2 on NBC.
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