Jackson's doctor charged

ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS HAVE SOME FUN Singer Sheryl Crow, 47, is going back to acting. ABC confirms she'll be in several upcoming episodes of Cougar Town. Entertainment Weekly says Crow will play Grayson Ellis's new girlfriend. Crow has done some acting, and the last time she was on a sitcom was last May on 30 Rock. She played herself.

Michael Jackson's doctor was charged yesterday with involuntary manslaughter, capping an exhaustive investigation into the pop star's stunning death last summer and setting up the prospect of another sensational celebrity courtroom drama.

Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died June 25 at his rented Los Angeles mansion, is accused of acting "unlawfully and without malice" in bringing about Jackson's death, according to a complaint filed by prosecutors. The complaint said Murray acted "without the caution and circumspection required" when he administered a powerful sedative to Jackson in an effort to help him sleep.

The charge was expected and Murray's attorney, Ed Chernoff, said his client planned to surrender to authorities. "We'll make bail, we'll plead not guilty and we'll fight like hell," Chernoff said before the charge was filed.

Jackson hired Murray to be his personal physician as he prepared for a series of strenuous comeback concerts in London. Officials say the singer died after Murray administered the powerful general anesthetic Propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep. Los Angeles investigators were methodical in building a case against Murray, wary of repeating missteps that have plagued some other high-profile celebrity cases, most notably O.J. Simpson and actor Robert Blake, both of whom were acquitted of murder.

After reviewing toxicology findings, the coroner ruled Jackson's death at age 50 a homicide caused by acute intoxication of the powerful anesthetic Propofol, with other sedatives a contributing factor. Propofol is only supposed to be administered by an anesthesia professional in a medical setting, because it depresses breathing and heart rate while lowering blood pressure.

Murray appears to have obtained the drug legally and its use is not in itself a crime. To show the doctor was negligent in his care, detectives spoke to more than 10 medical experts to see if his behaviour fell outside the bounds of reasonable medical practice.

Many witnesses have been interviewed by police, including those who were present during Jackson's last days, those who worked with him in preparation for his series of comeback concerts and members of his personal entourage, including his security guard and personal assistant.

WASN'T MEANT TO BE

Jamie Lynn Spears, 18, sister of Britney Spears, has split from the father of her child. The teenager gave birth to her daughter Maddie in 2007 when she was just 16 and has been in an on/off relationship with the father Casey Aldridge ever since. She moved back in with her mother, Lynne Spears, six weeks ago. A source said: "She did a lot of growing up but he didn't. She put up with more than she cared to."

FROM WEREWOLF TO TOY BOY

Those on Team Jacob might already consider Taylor Lautner to be a superhero. But the Twilight star is about to play a character that's really billed as a superhero in an upcoming movie. Lautner will star as Stretch Armstrong in a 3-D adventure to be released in 2012. Stretch Armstrong is based on the Hasbro action figure that came out in the 1970s.

NOBODY'S PERFECT

Megan Fox used a hand double in a raunchy new advert. The star of Jennifer's Body can be seen reclining in a bubble bath in the promotional clip for Motorola -- which debuted during the Super Bowl -- but bosses employed a model for close up shots of her playing with the new Blur smart phone. The model was brought in because Megan has a genetic condition called brachydactyly, which means she has clubbed thumbs.

Gary has short day in court

Former child television star Gary Coleman has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour criminal mischief charge related to a domestic violence incident last April in Utah.

In a deal with the prosecutor, Coleman entered the plea at a hearing yesterday, his 42nd birthday, in Santaquin, 105 kilometres south of Salt Lake City. Court clerk Jane Swan says the original charge of domestic violence assault was dropped. Judge Sharla Williams sentenced Coleman to 31 1/2 days in jail. The Diff'rent Strokes star will serve the time only if he fails to complete a domestic violence course and pay a $595 fine.

Coleman was arrested Jan. 24 at his Santaquin home on a warrant for failing to appear in court. He spent a night in jail before a fan paid his $1,725 bail.

Judge allows Sheens to meet again

A judge has modified a protective order allowing actor Charlie Sheen and his wife, Brooke, to see each other as Sheen faces domestic violence allegations.

Prosecutors filed charges of felony menacing, third-degree assault and criminal mischief against Sheen stemming from his arrest Dec. 25 at his Aspen home. He faces up to three years in prison on the menacing charge.

He did not enter a plea yesterday. Further proceedings are scheduled for March 15.

The couple hugged after the hearing and left the courthouse in separate vehicles.

BUT THE KIDS WERE ALL RIGHT

Pete Townshend of The Who is used to playing in front of stadiums filled with rabid fans who know every note of the British band's songs. He didn't get that at the band's Super Bowl gig, but he's OK with that too.

While the crowd was involved, and some held up their cellphones to illuminate the night as instructed by the stadium announcers, they were somewhat subdued, and it was clear it was not a Who event.

Backstage after their show, Townshend, 64, laughed and said: "You know, you could kind of tell from the stage the crowd is really here for the game. It was nice for that reason. It was nice to feel a part of something and not having it all to be about us."

NO WAY, JOSE

Jose Feliciano, 64, believes someone is trying to scare him. Feliciano, who is blind, filed an incident report with the sheriff in Lee County, Fla., saying he has received two cellphone calls from a male telling him he had to "get out." A caregiver also reported receiving similar calls directed toward Feliciano. An investigation is ongoing.

Brad, Angelina go on the offence

A London law firm says Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are suing a British tabloid that reported that they were to split.

Keith Schillings, of Schillings lawyers, said in a statement yesterday the celebrity couple had begun legal proceedings against the News of The World newspaper.

The newspaper reported Jan. 24 that Pitt and Jolie had agreed to divide their assets and made arrangements over the custody of their children.

Schillings, whose firm is representing the unmarried couple, said the report involved "false and intrusive allegations." He said the tabloid failed to meet a demand for a retraction and apology.

He also said Sorrell Trope, a divorce lawyer in Los Angeles, denied claims she had been in contact with the couple.

JUDDS WILL TURN IT LOOSE AGAIN

Wynonna, 45, and Naomi Judd, 64, are getting together for more than just family dinners. They're reuniting as The Judds and they'll go on a final tour. Details about this new tour are not available yet. In the 1980s The Judds were a hot ticket. They toured and made several studio country albums and as a duo won five Grammys. It came to an abrupt end in 1991 when Naomi had to fight off hepatitis C. Wynonna and Naomi have reunited a few times since then but not for a tour.

FROM SUPERSTAR TO AFTERNOON SNACK

Jack Nicholson is considering being picked to death by vultures when he dies. The 72-year-old actor has become fascinated with the traditional sky burials carried out by some Native Americans which involve the deceased's body being hung from a tree or wooden scaffold and being left for scavengers.

"I've had several ideas. Once I thought it would be nice to be buried under a large statue. Then I liked the nature of the Indians who haul their bodies up into the trees so that they are eaten by the birds."

LITERARY CRAZY TRAIN

Ozzy Osbourne's book has hit number two on The New York Times bestseller list. His autobiography, I Am Ozzy, was kept out of the top spot on the hardcover nonfiction list by Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, a book about the 2008 presidential campaign.