$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.

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.

AWKWARD MOMENT FOR JEN  —  It all got a bit tense during a recent interview with Jennifer Aniston.  —  The star kept schtum whilst a nosey reporter ended up getting slated by Jen's latest co-star.  —  It happened when Jennifer appeared on American TV show Today, with Catherine Keener, to promote their new film Friends With Money.

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.

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 …

Garth Brooks's Ex Kidnapped at Gunpoint  —  Sandy Brooks, ex-wife of country music star Garth Brooks, was kidnapped at gunpoint by a man who worked on her Oklahoma farm, authorities said Tuesday.  —  The incident occurred after Brooks cooperated with a bail bondsman who wanted to arrest the worker on her property Monday.

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 …

'INSIDE' STAR FOILS RAPE TRY  —  April 5, 2006 — ACTOR James "P.J." Ransone became a real-life action hero Monday night when he saved a woman from a brutal rapist.  —  Ransone, currently on-screen in Spike Lee's "Inside Man," was in his Lower East Side apartment e-mailing a friend and studying …

WHO DOESN'T FEEL THE COLD?  —  It gets flipping cold in the Alps during ski season.  —  But this star has clearly heard about global warming and decided that the temperatures are fairly warm, actually.  —  Nevermind that everyone else is togged up in hefty ski jackets - probably with a bit of thermal underwear going on underneath.

STAR WORLD EXCLUSIVE: EMINEM FILES FOR DIVORCE!  —  Eminem has filed for divorce from wife Kimberley Mathers — again — after just 82 days of marriage!  —  A source close to the rap giant tells Star that divorce papers — under his birth name Marshall Bruce Mathers III …

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.

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.

'THE O.C.' MISCHA SICKOUT  —  April 5, 2006 — MISCHA Barton seems to be trying really hard to wiggle out of doing "The O.C." any longer.  —  Barton, worried about the show's spiraling ratings - and concerned about being typecast as a bratty teen - frequently calls in sick or arrives late to the set …

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.

Brad Pitt 'walks out' on Angelina  —  Looks like Hollywood's sexiest couple are on the rocks.  While some reports say that the heavily pregnant Angelina Jolie has kicked her hunky husband-to-be out of the bedroom and onto the couch, another report literally goes a few steps further — and has Brad Pitt walking out the door.