Buzz Briefs: Mischa Barton, Ed Asner
Mischa Barton Pleads No Contest To DUI
Mischa Barton has pleaded no contest to drunken driving following a December arrest in West Hollywood.
The former star of TV's "The O.C." wasn't present in a Beverly Hills courtroom Thursday as her lawyer entered no-contest pleas on her behalf to misdemeanor driving under the influence and driving without a license.
The 22-year-old actress was arrested Dec. 27 after sheriff's deputies saw her car straddling lanes and failing to signal for a turn.
Lawyer Anthony Salerno says Barton will be fined, placed on three years' probation and must attend an alcohol education program.
Salerno says Barton assumes full responsibility for her actions.
Ed Asner Orders Estranged Wife To Stop Mooching Off Of Him
Cindy Asner filed for legal separation from the 77-year-old actor last year after nearly a decade of marriage.
On Tuesday, Ed Asner's lawyers filed a court document telling his wife that she has an obligation to become self-supporting and if she doesn't, Asner may ask a judge to consider that in deciding whether to end her support.
A call to his wife's attorney seeking comment wasn't immediately answered Thursday.
CBS' "Secret Talents of the Stars" Is Off The Air
The first airing Wednesday had former "Star Trek" actor George Takei singing "On the Road Again." Only 4.6 million people tuned in - and thousands tuned away as the hour continued.
The reality show also had Clint Black doing standup comedy and Mya tap-dancing. Danny Bonaduce is among the celebrities whose secret talents will be kept to himself.
CBS officials say news programming is expected as a temporary replacement.
Dolly Parton Helps American Bald Eagle Return To The Wild
The eagle was blown from its nest several weeks ago in Florida. On Thursday, it was returned to the wild by the American Eagle Foundation, which is based at the 62-year-old singer's Dollywood theme park.
Some 90 eagles have been released from the same spot since the 1990s. But this marked the first time that their country music benefactor was there to see it in person.
Before she helped open the cage and watched the bird soar away, Parton named it "Liberty."
"I thought that sounded better than Baldy," she said.
David Beckham Gets Traffic Ticket While Driving In Hollywood
The Los Angeles Galaxy star got a traffic ticket Tuesday afternoon when he was pulled over off of Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Hollywood, Beckham spokesman Glenn Lehrman told The Associated Press.
Beckham, known for his eerily accurate long-range free kicks, was driving a Cadillac Escalade when a motorcycle-riding sheriff's deputy stopped him.
"There was a traffic incident that took place," Lehrman said. "It was a minor offense and David complied with the officer."
Lehrman declined to give details about why Beckham, 32, was pulled over. No one else was in his car at the time, Lehrman said.
Sheriff's Department spokesman Deputy Hugo Macias said his office had no information immediately available about the ticket.
Sean Penn And Robin Wright Penn Withdraw Divorce Petition
Sean Penn and his wife, Robin Wright Penn, have withdrawn their divorce petition.
A Marin County Superior Court commissioner has dismissed the divorce proceedings between the couple, who call the community of Ross, Calif., their home.
Neither attended Tuesday's hearing, and no comment has been released on the latest development.
The dismissal came a day after they attended an Eddie Vedder concert at the University of California at Berkeley, where the actor reportedly went on stage to dedicate a song to Wright Penn.
They filed for divorce in December.
Snoop Dogg Settles Lawsuit With Former Record Label
Snoop Dogg has settled a lawsuit with his former record label.
At issue in the suit with Priority Records were fees and advances for a 1998 recording deal.
About all Snoop's lawyer would say is that the litigation has been "amicably resolved."
An attorney for Priority Records says there wouldn't have been a settlement unless both sides were happy with the out-of-court deal. Neither side would discuss the terms of the agreement.
Snoop sued Priority in November, 2006 claiming it owes him $2 million in fees under the record deal, and for releasing a greatest hits disc without consulting with him.
Michael Jackson Dropped From Wrongful Death Suit
Some good news from a courtroom for Michael Jackson.
A judge in Santa Maria, Calif., has dropped the singer from a lawsuit filed by the family of a woman who died at a hospital soon after she was moved to make room for Jackson.
Judge Rodney Melville made the move to drop Jackson from the suit after a request was made by Jackson's lawyers. However, the judge rejected a similar motion by an attorney for the hospital.
The family of Manuela Gomez Ruiz sued Jackson and Marian Medical Center claiming she was kept from critical care after she suffered a heart attack.
The heart attack took place on the same day Jackson was brought in with flu-like symptoms during his 2005 child molestation trial. Jackson was acquitted.
Tiger Woods' Quest For Grand Slam Begins At Masters
You can't win four in a row if you don't win the first.
That's the challenge facing Tiger Woods as the Masters Tournament gets under way Thursday in Augusta, Ga.
He is already the world's No. 1 player. And he has gone on record as saying that winning golf's Grand Slam was "easily within reason."
The Masters is the first of those majors.
Woods is considered an even-money favorite to win his fifth Masters this weekend. The smart money seems to make sense at this point. Woods has won eight of his last 10 tournaments.