Buzz Briefs: Amy Winehouse, Oprah

Winehouse Husband Loses Appeal Over Jail Sentence

A British court on Monday rejected an appeal by the husband of singer Amy Winehouse over his sentence for assault and obstructing justice.

Blake Fielder-Civil was sentenced in July to 27 months in prison for beating up pub manager James King and then offering him a bribe to keep quiet about it. Fielder-Civil, who had spent nine months in jail awaiting trial, was released earlier this month on condition he live at a drug rehabilitation center.

Two Court of Appeal judges turned down an appeal against the sentence. Judge Christopher Pitchford encouraged Fielder-Civil to continue his drug treatment, saying it was only if "these attempts are successful that he has a worthwhile future."

Winfrey Asks Court To Dismiss Defamation Lawsuit

Oprah Winfrey wants a court to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by the ex-headmistress of her girls school in South Africa.

Nomvuyo Mzamane is suing Winfrey in federal court in Pennsylvania over remarks she made on her Chicago-based talk show about a sex-abuse case at the school.

A dorm matron who worked under Mzamane is charged in South Africa with abusing six students at the school for poor girls. The ex-headmistress lives in the Philadelphia area and says she cannot find work because of Winfrey's comments.

Winfrey says she and her defendant companies have no business ties to Pennsylvania and should not be sued there.

Winfrey also says the school contract calls for arbitration in such cases.

Kevin Spacey Honored For Reviving London's Old Vic

Kevin Spacey won a drama award Monday for reviving London's historic Old Vic Theatre.

Spacey, an Oscar winner for "American Beauty" and "The Usual Suspects," was given a special prize at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards "for bringing new life to the Old Vic."

Spacey took charge of the Old Vic in 2003, reviving the 190-year-old theater with a series of acclaimed and popular productions. The award judges cited a recent, critically acclaimed revival of David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow" starring Spacey and Jeff Goldblum, and the theater's current production of Alan Ayckbourn's comic trilogy "The Norman Conquests."

Hollywood Lawyer Gets 3 Years In Wiretap Case

A prominent Hollywood attorney was sentenced Monday to three years in federal prison for his role in a wiretapping scheme orchestrated by a private investigator.

Lawyer Terry Christensen was sentenced for his convictions of conspiracy to commit wiretapping and aiding and abetting a wiretap.

Christensen and private eye Anthony Pellicano and Christensen were accused of recording phone conversations of Lisa Bonder Kerkorian, the ex-wife of MGM mogul Kirk Kerkorian. They were trying to disprove her claims that the studio magnate was the father of her young daughter.

Pellicano also was convicted of illegal wiretapping and racketeering in a separate case earlier this year and is set to be sentenced next month.

Christensen remains free pending an appeal.

Springsteen Gives Fans A Bargain

Bruce Springsteen's new single can be downloaded free of charge - for one day.

Springsteen is offering free downloads of "Working on a Dream" on iTunes and his official Web site. The track will have a fee attached on iTunes from Tuesday, Nov. 25 through Dec. 9.

It's the first offering from Springsteen's upcoming album, also titled "Working on a Dream," which will be released Jan. 27, five days before the rock star and the E Street Band perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in Tampa, Fla.

Rapper MC Breed Dies At Age 37

Michigan rapper MC Breed, who burst onto the national scene with the 1991 hit "Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin'," has died at age 37.

A Washtenaw County medical examiner's spokesman says Eric Breed was pronounced dead Saturday at a friend's home in Ypsilanti, about 30 miles southwest of Detroit.

Toxicology reports are pending, but officials say no foul play is suspected.

The Detroit News and The Flint Journal say Breed had suffered from kidney failure.

Breed grew up in Flint, and "Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin"' contained several references to the city. He moved to Atlanta in the 1990s.

Between 1991 and 2004, Breed recorded 13 albums and collaborated with artists such as Tupac Shakur.

Vegas Resort To Honor "Old Blue Eyes"

Fans of Frank Sinatra will get a kick out of a new Italian restaurant planned for the Las Vegas Strip.

Casino mogul Steve Wynn tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal that a restaurant at Encore, his newest resort, will be named Sinatra.

Wynn says the singer's family has loaned him Sinatra's Oscar and Grammy Awards, which will be featured prominently in the restaurant.

He says Paul Anka has promised the gold record that he won for writing the English lyrics for "My Way," which Anka wrote with Sinatra in mind.

Encore is scheduled to open Dec. 22.

China: New Guns N' Roses Album A Plot From The West?

A newspaper published by China's ruling Communist Party is blasting the latest Guns N' Roses album as an attack on the Chinese nation.

Delayed since recording began in 1994, "Chinese Democracy" hit stores in the U.S. on Sunday, although it is unlikely to be sold legally in China, where censors maintain tight control over films, music and publications.

In an article Monday headlined "American band releases album venomously attacking China," the Global Times said unidentified Chinese Internet users had described the album as part of a plot by some in the West to "grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn."

Chris Brown: Madonna Is My "Dream Duet"

Chris Brown wants Madonna on his next album.

The 19-year-old crooner says the Material Girl would be his dream duet for a track on his upcoming CD "Graffiti," which is due out next year. He says he would also love to work with Coldplay. He has collaborated with Jordin Sparks, David Banner and girlfriend Rihanna in the past.

Brown predicts that "Graffiti" will be a bigger project for him. Speaking from the red carpet at the American Music Awards, the platinum-selling R&B star says: "It's going to be my stepping stone from Chris Brown to superstar."

Brown took home trophies at the Sunday awards show for favorite pop-rock and soul-R&B male artist while Rihanna won favorite pop-rock and soul-R&B female artist awards.

Miss America On A Mission To Feed NYC Homeless

Here she comes, Miss America, with a roasted turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and a pumpkin pie for New York City's homeless.

Miss America Kirsten Haglund is honorary host as the city's Rescue Mission serves traditional Thanksgiving meals, provides gospel entertainment and raises awareness about homelessness.

Haglund says participating in outreach missions has always been a part of celebrating the holidays for her, whether with her family in suburban Detroit or through her church youth group.

Organizers say volunteers scheduled to help Haglund at the lower Manhattan mission include Kathie Lee Gifford and police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

There's a national effort by rescue missions to serve 500,000 meals this week.