Let's Get This Party Started: Top Stories for Wednesday 07/12/06

One thing's for sure: Star Jones ain't FOXy: FOX News says today that it has "no interest" in hiring the recently fired TV personality, and the fired "View" co-host hasn't had any conversations with CNN.

Over at "The View," insiders say that the post-Jones era has had a "liberating" effect on the survivors, namely Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and that they might not look to fill Star's spot permanently for some time.

After her high-profile firing two weeks ago from ABC, says In Touch Weekly, Star has been approached by cablers CNN and FOX News for a hosting job. But both networks deny that that's the case. A FOX News spokeswoman, in fact, said the network had "no interest" in hiring her, according to the Associated Press, and CNN said there haven't been any conversations with Jones, though the possibility might exist in the future.

Meanwhile, her current TV gig – hosting the HGTV series "House Hunters" in segments taped before her firing – has been a boon for HGTV, boosting the ratings for show 36 percent over what it had been averaging this year, even though she actually appears on screen for only a fraction of the show. HGTV has no immediate plans to use Star again, according to a spokeswoman, but they "wouldn't rule it out."

And elsewhere, the Star-free "View" has become a happier place, according to show insiders, especially for Elisabeth Hasselbeck, according to the New York Post. Hasselbeck "can finally get a word in edgewise, and you can see how she's opened up." What's more, "Barbara and Joy are joking around a lot more. It's definitely a looser atmosphere now."

It'll certainly be a perk-off next Monday when recent American Idol contestant Kellie "Calamari" Pickler sits in as a guest-host.

Foxy Brown a No-Show In Court But Avoids Arrest

The trouble-prone rapper Foxy Brown missed a court date yesterday in Jersey City, NJ, but avoided an arrest warrant when the woman accusing her of "terroristic threats" and "harassment," among other things, went to the wrong courtroom, according to Lloyd Grove.

Rasheeda Ellis, a former assistant to Brown, born Inga Marchand, alleges that her former boss "continously calls [her] cell phone and E-mails her with verbal abuse, causing the complainant to fear for her safety," and that Brown has threatened her with physical abuse as well. Ellis went to Hudson County Superior Court instead of Jersey City, and as a result, an arrest warrant wasn't issued for Brown, even though she failed to show herself.

Neither side provided comment yesterday, and the trial has been rescheduled for August 23. Brown already faces charges in Manhattan Criminal Court of assaulting a New York manicurist from over a year ago, and that case has yet to be resolved.

Jackie Interrupts Concert, Tries To Sing, Endures Abuse

For his latest stunt, action star Jackie Chan allegedly jumped up on stage at a concert Monday night in Hong Kong and tried to sing with the performing artist, only to find himself on the wrong end of abuse from the audience.

Allegedly admitting to the crowd at singer-songwriter Jonathan Lee's concert in Hong Kong that he was intoxicated, Chan abruptly took the stage and demanded to perform a duet with Lee, and tried to conduct the band, but managed only to stop and restart the music awkwardly. As the very uncomfortable interaction continued, fans began to heckle Chan, whereupon Chan hurled insults right back at them. A Chan rep had no comment on the incident.

Cruise-Bashing "South Park" Episode Returns

Even though baby Suri might be missing in action, the episode of "South Park" that lampoons her dad Tom Cruise has been found, and will air on July 19 on Comedy Central, according to this morning's Daily Variety.

The episode, called "Trapped in the Closet," was removed from the network's repeat schedule in May, which angered show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who said that they were told that the network took it off the air to placate Cruise, whose "Mission: Impossible III" was being released in theaters at the same time – and just happened to be distributed by Viacom, Comedy Central's corporate overlord.

But last week, "Trapped in the Closet" received an Emmy nomination, and putting the show back on the air will likely help repair the relationship between Stone and Parker and network brass.

"Idol" Begins Anew

Hard though it is to believe, the annual rite of amateur entertainer passage known as audition season for "American Idol" will begin again in less than a month. Show producers announced that tryouts will begin on Tuesday, August 8th, and will continue through September 19 in a variety of cities, including San Antonio, Minneapolis, Memphis, and Birmingham, where this year's winner Taylor Hicks, season two champ Ruben Studdard, and season four runner-up Bo Bice all began their journey.

Meanwhile, "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says that he's already working on getting Carole King and (oh dear) Andrew Lloyd Webber to appear as mentors to the next group of Idol finalists.

"Rock Star: Supernova" Gets Sued By Punk Band Called...What Else?

An Orange County-based band called Supernova has filed a complaint alleging unfair competition and trademark infringement against Mark Burnett Productions, CBS, and other producers behind "Rock Star: Supernova."

But, according to the lawsuit, Burnett's company filed seven US trademark applications to corner the name Supernova, as well as two more for the title "Rock Star: Supernova," the CBS show in which Tommy Lee and cohorts go looking for a new frontman. Lawyers for Burnett et al. say that the original Supernova's case is "without merit."