Called Off

Dr. Phil McGraw has canceled his plans to devote an upcoming episode of his talk show to the troubles of Britney Spears, telling Entertainment Tonight that the "situation is too intense at this time" to proceed. "Britney and her family are in our prayers and we ask that they be in yours," McGraw added.
 

Late-Night Update

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are due to return to the airwaves Monday night for the first time since the writers' strike began Nov. 5. Meanwhile, Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel will appear on each other's shows on Thursday, providing a one-night solution to the problem of booking guests who are reluctant to cross picket lines.

Leading Lady

British newcomer Gemma Arterton has been cast as the new Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig in the latest installment of the 007 franchise, the film's producer said. The film, which goes by the working title of Bond 22 for now, is currently shooting in London.

More Snipes Gripes

Wesley Snipes' lawyers filed a motion with a federal appeals court in Atlanta Friday, again seeking to have the actor's tax-evasion trial relocated from Ocala, Florida. Snipes' legal team has argued he will be unable to receive a fair trial in the central Florida city because of racial prejudice in the area.

Baby Makes Four

Jack Black and his wife, Tanya Haden, are expecting their second child together, the actor said during a press event for his latest film, Be Kind Rewind. The twosome, who wed in March 2006, also have a one-year-old son, Samuel Wyatt Black.

Free at Last

Britney Spears was released from Cedars-Sinai early Saturday, just slightly more than one day into her planned three-day medical hold. Hospital officials released the singer after administering several physical and psychological tests and determining she no longer posed a danger to herself or others.

A Lose-Lose Situation

A court commissioner awarded sole legal and physical custody to Kevin Federline and suspended Britney Spears' visitation privileges following the singer's "custodial dispute" standoff with police Thursday night, which resulted in her being hospitalized for several days to undergo physical and psychological evaluation. Even upon her release, Spears will not be allowed contact with her sons at least until the next custody hearing, set for Jan. 14. "I'm not happy about any of these events," Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said after court Friday. "There are no winners here."

Courtin' K-Fed

Kevin Federline somehow managed to sneak in to Los Angeles Superior Court this morning without getting caught by the throng of press surrounding the building. Britney Spears' ex is expected to testify in an emergency hearing this afternoon, in which he's seeking to strip the singer of all her remaining custody and visitation rights. 

Montana Mediation

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has referred a lawsuit filed by veteran comedy writer Buddy Sheffield, who alleges he has not been properly compensated by Disney for pitching the original idea for the smash show Hannah Montana to the cable net, to mediation. A tentative trial date of Aug. 26 has also been set, should the two sides not be able to resolve the case with the help of a mediator.

Custody Battle

Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, met with Court Commissioner Scott Gordon for roughly half an hour Friday morning in an effort to strip Britney Spears, currently in a minimum 72-hour lockdown at Cedars-Sinai undergoing psychological evaluation, of all remaining custody and visitation rights. He's expected back in the courtroom at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon. 

Fleeing Bobby Brown

Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston both failed to appear in court Friday for a postdivorce hearing, with Brown's attorney, Stacy Phillips, also opting not to show up for the proceedings. Ironically, the hearing was to determine whether the judge would approve Phillips' request to be removed as Brown's counsel, a request that has now been dismissed as a result of her no-show. Houston's attorney, meanwhile, did show but said the singer couldn't make it to court due to illness. 

Under Lock & Key

Jayden James and Sean Preston returned to K-Fed's Tarzana home early Friday morning after one-year-old Jayden was given the all-clear by doctors at Cedars-Sinai. The boy was checked out as a precaution after cops were called to Spears' Studio City home after the singer locked herself in a room with him and refused to relinquish custody to Federline's bodyguards. Full Story

Chaotic, to Say the Least

Britney Spears was transported via ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center late Thursday after cops, paramedics, lawyers and, of course, press descended on her gated Studio CIty home after cops responded to a "custodial dispute" that lasted roughly three hours. According to Us Weekly, the cavalry was called in after Spears refused to hand over tots Sean Preston and Jayden James to Kevin Federline's bodyguard, as ordered by court, at 7 p.m. 

Brit Happens

Spears remains hospitalized in Cedars-Sinai as of Friday morning, after being detained and "taken in for evaluation," according to LAPD spokesman Officer Jason Lee. She was transported to the medical center after cops arrived at her home to deal with the domestic disturbance and found her to be under the influence of an unknown substance.

Holding Pattern

Not long after her arrival at Cedars-Sinai, Spears was placed on a "medical hold"—i.e., was detained as doctors check her out both physically and psychologically.

Torn Apart

Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia, best known for the late '90s single "Torn," announced she is separating from her hubby of four years, Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns. "While we are very sad that our marriage has ended, we want to make it clear that our parting is amicable and we remain friends." The duo has been together since 1999. 

The Kids Are Alright

Kevin Federline took sons Sean Preston and Jayden James back to his Tarzana home early Friday after the trio spent the late night and early morning hours at Cedars-Sinai. The one-year-old Jayden James was reportedly admitted to the hospital along with his mother Thursday night, though there's no word on what, if anything, he was treated for.

Like Clockwork

7 p.m.:  Two of Kevin Federline's bodyguards arrive at Britney Spears' Studio City home to pick up Sean Preston and Jayden James at the usual court-mandated time after the boys spent the day in a court-monitored visit with their mother. Spears refuses to hand her sons over.

8 p.m.:  Officers are called to Spears' home to deal with what they deem a "custodial dispute." K-Fed attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan arrives at the home.

9 p.m.:  Kaplan leaves Spears' home.

10:30 p.m.:  Six police cars, two ambulances, several police cars, one fire truck and an untold number of press vans arrive at Spears' home.

10:50 p.m.:  Spears finally turns over her children to Federline's bodyguards.

12:30 a.m.:  Spears arrives at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after being transported by ambulance. She is currently on "medical hold." A second ambulance, reportedly containing one-year-old Jayden James, arrives at roughly the same time.

Not Normal

"In a normal case, when someone shows up with a certified court order saying the kids need to be somewhere else, the police see to it that the order is obeyed. But that is in a normal case."
—Spears' soon-to-be-former family attorney, Sorrell Trope, told Us Weekly of his client's refusal to turn over the Federtots at the court-ordered time. Trope filed a court order Wednesday to be relieved as Spears' counsel, citing a "breakdown in communication."