$40M PUTS VIEIRA ERA NEARER  —  April 5, 2006 — Meredith Vieira is on the verge of a $40 million payday to take over for Katie Couric on the "Today" show, sources revealed.  —  The deal, which could be completed as soon as today, would put "The View" star on the couch of the No. 1 morning show next fall.

Jessica Alba's Boyfriend Is A Gentleman  —  I'm a little old school.  I open doors for women.  I'll pull out my dates chair at dinner and I'll never let the girl I'm with carry anything.  You could imagine my surprise to see little Jessica Alba lugging around garbage bags!

Rap Mogul Loses Battle in Death Row Records Case  —  Suge Knight files for bankruptcy in Federal Court  —  (April 4, 1:30PM ET) — One of Hollywood's original "Kings of Bling" has gone bust.  Marion "Suge" Knight, head of Death Row Records, has filed for Chapter 11 personal bankruptcy this morning in federal court, TMZ has learned.

Something for Holmes to chew on  —  Tom Cruise may have found a way to keep Katie Holmes from violating the precepts of Scientology and shrieking in pain when she gives birth to their child.  —  It's a specially crafted adult pacifier, reports Star magazine.

Kate Beckinsale is Probably Wonder Woman  —  British actress Kate Beckinsale is now the favorite to grab the coveted lead in Joss Whedon's upcoming film, Wonder Woman.  There have been several actresses linked to the role such as Sarah Michelle Gellar, Katie Holmes, Jennifer Connelly …

Joint casino fizzles, but  —  Clooney, Pitt not at odds  —  Don't bet the house on rumors that George Clooney and Brad Pitt have fallen out over a casino development deal.  —  A report yesterday claimed Clooney was "steamed" at his "Ocean's 11" pal because Pitt "first backed out of a plan …

Confessions Is Good For The Soul  —  At least she's tryin', y'all ... check out these pictures of Britney Spears gettin' primped and polished at a salon in Malibu, CA:  —  Ugh ... perhaps all hope is lost for good.  [Source, thanks Blair]  —  Pink reader Robin sends in this hilarious vid clip …

Ryan Seacrest's Alibi Is No Good  —  You remember those photos of the tight-lipped "kiss" between American Idol's Ryan Seacrest and Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher.  Hatcher is now saying she would rather use a dating service than put herself through another agonizing photoshoot date with Seacrest …

Whitney Houston, we have a problem  —  Plus: Is Jessica Simpson not serious about adoption?  —  Whitney Houston's woes continue.  —  Fans of the once clean-cut singer were shocked by recent photos of her that ran in tabs along with allegations of cocaine use.

Theater Pulls Trailer for 'United 93'  —  NEW YORK - A New York City movie theater has pulled the trailer for "United 93," which chronicles in real time the hijacked United Airlines flight that crashed into a Western Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11.  —  The AMC Loews Lincoln Square 12 theater …

Stamos Admitted to "ER"  —  County General is becoming a veritable full house.  —  Erstwhile Uncle Jesse John Stamos has signed on as a series regular on ER, reprising the role he tried out during a guest stint on the NBC show last fall.  —  Stamos had been in negotiations for the past month …

Pete Doherty's shopping trouble  —  Pete Doherty is in trouble for walking out of a designer store without paying for his shopping.  —  The troubled Babyshambles rocker reportedly picked out a coat, a watch and two scarves at a swanky Burberry store in Austria - then strolled out without paying for the scarves.

Michael Douglas: US men are girly  —  Michael Douglas has taken a swipe at American men - for being too girly.  —  The Hollywood heavyweight - who is married to Welsh beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones - says modern males spend too much time grooming and pampering themselves to be real men.

A History of... Sharon Stone  —  It's Tuesday.  Time for the latest episode of our series.  —  1958 God begins to plan ahead for Marilyn Monroe's death.  Knowing that mankind will need a replacement blonde icon to obsess upon, he plants Sharon Stone in Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Chris Farley Lives on Billboard  —  A very important message from Chris Farley—from beyond the grave.  —  Eight years after his fatal overdose, the late Saturday Night Live funnyman has been resurrected for a series of billboard advertisements plugging a new treatment for drug and alcohol abuse from Hythiam Inc.