Bet Awards

Tuesday's 2006 BET Awards show scored a 4.92 rating within BET's coverage universe, which translates to 6.6 million TV viewers (4.1 million households). Among African-Americans, the show now stands as the No. 1 cable telecast of all time with 31.94 rating among black households.

Subway ads say it's the official sandwich of Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, swimmer Michael Phelps, speed skater Apolo Ohno, and other star athletes. But not Michael Vick. On Sunday night, however, lots of people apparently got the impression that the sandwich chain was all behind the Eagles quarterback being an honoree on the BET Awards. That's because he won what was called the Subway Sportsman of the Year award (edging out basketballers LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony)

Kate Gosselin: Rumors 'disgusting' In a new wrinkle in the tiresome reality-TV marital spat, Kate Gosselin, who juggles her hubby and eight kids for entertainment on TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8, tells People that rumors she has carried on with family bodyguard Steve Neild "are disgusting, unthinkable, unfathomable" and part of a tabloid smear campaign. This bit of dirt follows reports that Kate's better half, Jon, has had an affair with a 23-year-old schoolteacher. (He denies it.) The New York Daily News says TLC suits are scrambling to find a way for the show to capitalize on the couple's strife.

Can you still be said to storm the gates if somebody swings them open and invites you in? Live 8 organizers Sir Bob Geldof and Bono, who have called on a million activists to march on next week's G-8 summit at the tiny Gleneagles golf resort near Edinburgh, Scotland, have been asked in for a cuppa and will address economic leaders of the world's eight richest countries. So reported British Web site contactmusic.com yesterday, quoting Geldof: "It is going to happen but we still have to negotiate the when and the how. It will probably be July 6 or 7. "We will say to these eight men sitting at a table to just do this thing.

Just deserts? Indeed. Annoying Naked Guy, who was annoyingly loutish - and naked - for five weeks+ on the debut edition of Survivor, was sentenced yesterday to 51 months in prison for not letting Uncle Sam wet his beak in the $1 mil he won on the CBS show. U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres told A.N.G. (Richard Hatch) his sentence was longer than expected because Hatch committed perjury during his trial in Providence, R.I. Hatch, 44, who was convicted in January, said he thought CBS would pick up his tax tab. (Which it should, since the much-touted "$1 million prize" amounts to only, like, $600K.

Former North Carolina State basketball star Lorenzo Charles , 47, who scored the winning basket to give the Wolfpack the 1983 national championship, was killed Monday when a bus he was driving crashed in Raleigh, N.C. Elite Coach general manager Brad Jackson said Charles was driving a company bus on Interstate 40. Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said there were no passengers aboard. Charles grabbed an errant 30-foot shot by Dereck Whittenburg and dunked it for the winning basket in the Wolfpack's 54-52 win over the University of Houston in the NCAA title game in Albuquerque, N.M. COLLEGES: After seven years as the Temple women's rowing coach, Tim Hagan resigned.

IF AND WHEN Charlie Sheen is forced to serve any time for allegedly assaulting his soon-to-be ex-wife, he'll at least have a job when he gets out. The oft-troubled actor has signed back on with "Two and a Half Men" for two more seasons. Reports say that Sheen asked for a mere $2 million an episode with a bargaining position something like, "Hey, I don't need this job. If you don't want me back I'll just do blow, have sex with hookers and maybe go to jail. " The strategy worked.

ONE MINUTE Britney Spears threatens legal action against the Star for saying she's snorting coke in Miami, the next she gives the mag an exclusive interview. We don't pretend to understand. But here are highlights. On Justin: "He totally made me laugh. " Hey, us too. On booze: Brit's drinks are pineapple flavor Malibu and Amaretto sours. She says she gets drunk after just two drinks. Hey, us too. Unless it's pineapple flavor Malibu at which point we get sick after two sips.

Two of our favorite entertainers-turned-tabloid fodder are facing legal woes. RadarOnline says the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services this week paid Britney Spears a visit to investigate a complaint that Brit has abused her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James . Spears and her ex, Kevin Federline , have denied the allegations, saying they originated from a "disgruntled employee," former Brit bodyguard Fernando Flores...

"They sang their butts off. " A friend of mine hollered that out only minutes into last night's BET Awards. And while my girl's characterization was crude, she was right. If you saw the show, you know exactly what she meant. The show opened with Jennifer Hudson in a white cocktail dress standing alone onstage bellowing out those trademark lyrics, "And I'm telling you . . . " Then, she graciously turned the stage over to "my dream girl, the true dream girl, Miss Jennifer Holliday," a classy move considering how irked Holliday was about not having a role in the film version of "Dreamgirls.

Subway ads say it's the official sandwich of Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, swimmer Michael Phelps, speed skater Apolo Ohno, and other star athletes. But not Michael Vick. On Sunday night, however, lots of people apparently got the impression that the sandwich chain was all behind the Eagles quarterback being an honoree on the BET Awards. That's because he won what was called the Subway Sportsman of the Year award (edging out basketballers LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony)

Former North Carolina State basketball star Lorenzo Charles , 47, who scored the winning basket to give the Wolfpack the 1983 national championship, was killed Monday when a bus he was driving crashed in Raleigh, N.C. Elite Coach general manager Brad Jackson said Charles was driving a company bus on Interstate 40. Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said there were no passengers aboard. Charles grabbed an errant 30-foot shot by Dereck Whittenburg and dunked it for the winning basket in the Wolfpack's 54-52 win over the University of Houston in the NCAA title game in Albuquerque, N.M. COLLEGES: After seven years as the Temple women's rowing coach, Tim Hagan resigned.

Two of our favorite entertainers-turned-tabloid fodder are facing legal woes. RadarOnline says the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services this week paid Britney Spears a visit to investigate a complaint that Brit has abused her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James . Spears and her ex, Kevin Federline , have denied the allegations, saying they originated from a "disgruntled employee," former Brit bodyguard Fernando Flores...

After a burst of reports late Tuesday night, John Travolta 's website ( www.travolta.com ) seems to confirm that JT's wife, Kelly Preston , is pregnant. "It's impossible to keep a secret," says the site " . . . especially one as wonderful as this. We want to be the first to share this great news with everyone that we are expecting a new addition to our family. " Almost everyone in the world was taking that to mean that Kelly is with child, except the Associated Press. The AP pointed out that the statement didn't say what sort of addition the couple is expecting.

IF AND WHEN Charlie Sheen is forced to serve any time for allegedly assaulting his soon-to-be ex-wife, he'll at least have a job when he gets out. The oft-troubled actor has signed back on with "Two and a Half Men" for two more seasons. Reports say that Sheen asked for a mere $2 million an episode with a bargaining position something like, "Hey, I don't need this job. If you don't want me back I'll just do blow, have sex with hookers and maybe go to jail. " The strategy worked.

Kate Gosselin: Rumors 'disgusting' In a new wrinkle in the tiresome reality-TV marital spat, Kate Gosselin, who juggles her hubby and eight kids for entertainment on TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8, tells People that rumors she has carried on with family bodyguard Steve Neild "are disgusting, unthinkable, unfathomable" and part of a tabloid smear campaign. This bit of dirt follows reports that Kate's better half, Jon, has had an affair with a 23-year-old schoolteacher. (He denies it.) The New York Daily News says TLC suits are scrambling to find a way for the show to capitalize on the couple's strife.

"They sang their butts off. " A friend of mine hollered that out only minutes into last night's BET Awards. And while my girl's characterization was crude, she was right. If you saw the show, you know exactly what she meant. The show opened with Jennifer Hudson in a white cocktail dress standing alone onstage bellowing out those trademark lyrics, "And I'm telling you . . . " Then, she graciously turned the stage over to "my dream girl, the true dream girl, Miss Jennifer Holliday," a classy move considering how irked Holliday was about not having a role in the film version of "Dreamgirls.

Tuesday's 2006 BET Awards show scored a 4.92 rating within BET's coverage universe, which translates to 6.6 million TV viewers (4.1 million households). Among African-Americans, the show now stands as the No. 1 cable telecast of all time with 31.94 rating among black households.

Just deserts? Indeed. Annoying Naked Guy, who was annoyingly loutish - and naked - for five weeks+ on the debut edition of Survivor, was sentenced yesterday to 51 months in prison for not letting Uncle Sam wet his beak in the $1 mil he won on the CBS show. U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres told A.N.G. (Richard Hatch) his sentence was longer than expected because Hatch committed perjury during his trial in Providence, R.I. Hatch, 44, who was convicted in January, said he thought CBS would pick up his tax tab. (Which it should, since the much-touted "$1 million prize" amounts to only, like, $600K.

It was a straight-up skinny-girl move for Mo'Nique to pass up a real woman's breakfast (pancakes! omelettes! sausage!) in favor of a cup of Earl Grey with honey. Enough to even consider having her big-girl card revoked. But she is easily forgiven. It would take more than turning down breakfast for Mo'Nique - former star of UPN's The Parkers, a Queen of Comedy, host of Showtime at the Apollo, and creator of the Oxygen network beauty pageant Mo'Nique's F.A.T. (fabulous and thick)