A-Rod: Madonna and I Are 'Friends - That's It'  —  While speaking to PEOPLE about his latest charitable efforts, Yankees star Alex Rodriguez commented for the first time on his relationship with Madonna.  —  “We're friends,” Rodriguez, 33, says.  —  Asked if there is any romance between them at all …

Boy George guilty of imprisoning escort  —  LONDON, England — Former Culture Club singer Boy George has been convicted of falsely imprisoning a male escort.  —  Norwegian Audun Carlsen, 29, said the frontman with the 1980s band beat him with a metal chain as he tried to flee his London flat after a naked photo shoot.

‘Gossip Girl’ spinoff in development  —  CW seeks tentpole project for next season  —  The CW may utilize an episode of “Gossip Girl” later this year to test the spinoff waters.  —  According to netlet insiders, one of the hit teen skein's segs later this season may double as a backdoor pilot for a “Gossip Girl” spinoff.

TV Alert: Watch the Duggars Welcome Baby No. 18!  —  The Duggar family  —  Sure, Angelina Jolie has her hands full raising six children.  But she's got nothing on Michelle Duggar: She and husband Jim Bob are about to welcome their 18th child - and they're inviting viewers to watch.

Steve-O — Jackass in the Ballroom?  —  Have you ever watched “Dancing with the Stars” and thought to yourself, “Man, this show needs a guy who will staple his testicles to his thigh”?  Well your wish just might come true.  —  TMZ has learned Steve-O (who has been sober for nine months) …

Guitarist Satriani accuses Coldplay of plagiarism  —  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rock guitarist Joe Satriani has sued British band Coldplay, accusing the Grammy-nominated stars of plagiarizing one of his songs.  —  Satriani's copyright infringement suit, filed on Thursday in Los Angeles federal court …

Jennifer Hudson Calls Grammy Noms ‘Truly a Blessing’  —  Jennifer Hudson, suffering the murders of her mother, brother and nephew, expressed gratitude Thursday for her four Grammy nominations for her debut album.  —  “It's been a childhood dream of mine to release an album,” she said in a statement …

Britney Flips the Switch on L.A. Christmas Tree  —  Britney Spears in L.A.  —  Topping off a celebratory week that included her 27th birthday and the debut of her new CD Circus, Britney Spears was the surprise guest who lit the tree at Thursday's launch of L.A. Live! for the premiere performance …

JUST TOO SPOOKY  —  THE rental listing of the SoHo apartment where Heath Ledger accidentally overdosed has been pulled without a taker willing to cough up $26,000 per month.  The Post's Braden Keil reports the three-bedroom loft at 419 Broome St., which was officially relisted in late July …

Excl: Hancock 2 coming?  —  Despite mediocre reviews, HANCOCK did pretty well at the box office, but I still never thought we'd really see any further adventures from Will Smith's superhero in the future.  Apparently, I was wrong.  We just got done talking to Will Smith, who's promoting SEVEN POUNDS …

Tearjerker: Dog Saves Dog!  —  Warning: this video will make your cinder heart cry a million tears and then spontaneously grow a patch of wild daisies for these precious dogs to run through.  —  In the video, one pooch is running along the highway and gets hit by a car.

Oprah Winfrey tops THR's Power 100 List  —  Oprah Winfrey, chairman of Harpo, has been named the most powerful woman in entertainment on The Hollywood Reporter's 17th annual Women in Entertainment: Power 100 special issue.  —  Published under separate cover today, the Power 100 List honors …

The two faces of Isla Fisher... adoring mother and swimsuit model … She made her name with a role on the popular Australian soap Home & Away.  —  But Isla Fisher has come a long way since she left the TV programme in 1997, following a three-year stint as Shannon Reed.

Yes!  Yes!  Yes!  —  SINGER AMY WINEHOUSE gave junkie hubby BLAKE FIELDER-CIVIL a “farewell bonk” in hospital before he returned to jail, pals said last night.  —  The Sun revealed yesterday that Fielder-Civil, 26, dashed to the ailing star's bedside on Tuesday night after failing a drug test in rehab.

Marisa Miller's Got Long Luscious Legs  —  If you want to get attention for a product inviting Marisa Miller to the unveiling is probably a good idea.  Here she is with the Harley Davidson V-Rod Muscle at “The Evolution of the Icon” launch.  After her half-naked appearance …

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Find out Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating Person of 2008  —  No. 2: Tom Cruise, who talked to Walters about wanting more children with wife Katie Holmes.  —  Of Holmes, he said.  “She is just magic.  And I really think that all men should celebrate their women. ...  They should all jump on couches for them. ...

Shia Quits Film Over Smashed Hand  —  Indiana Jones would probably call him a wuss.  Actor Shia LaBeouf has been forced to drop out of a new film because of his smashed hand.  —  LaBeouf was supposed to star in director Neal Burger's new feature, “Dark Fields.”

Kathy Griffin on Clay Aiken: “He Was Not Very Nice”  —  Los Angeles (E! Online) - Kathy Griffin really wants to be friends with Clay Aiken, but it doesn't sound like the American Idol warbler wants anything to do with her.  —  The loudmouth comedian says she tried to make good with Aiken …

Warrant Out for DMX  —  If you happen to see DMX today, call the cops — dude is a wanted man.  —  A Maricopa County judge just issued a bench warrant for the rapper's arrest, after D missed a scheduled court appearance in Arizona to face drug, identity theft and animal cruelty charges.