Yes! Clooney, Margulies expected to reprise 'ER' roles this spring
The rumors this week that George Clooney will make a cameo appearance on ER appear to be true, as People magazine posted yesterday a photo of Clooney attired in the scrubs of Dr. Doug Ross, the role he played on NBC's long-running hospital drama that will end this spring.
Julianna Margulies, who played his love interest, nurse Carol Hathaway, is also expected to return.
Neither the actors' representatives, NBC nor producer Warner Bros. would confirm the rumors, but People reported that series co-creator John Wells recently ordered a closed set for a Clooney appearance Thursday.
Clooney and Margulies were among original cast members when ER premiered in September 1994; Clooney left in February 1999, although he made a brief appearance in the May 11, 2000, episode - Margulies' last.
Former cast member Noah Wyle will return for four episodes as Dr. John Carter.
Landing the pilot
Katie Couric has landed the first interview with pilot Chesley Sullenberger, who brought his distressed plane down in the Hudson River on Jan. 15 with no loss of life.
The interview with Sullenberger and his crew will be shown on CBS' 60 Minutes on Feb. 8.
It's a coup for Couric - and it may have come at the expense of her old show. Sullenberger had been set to speak first to Matt Lauer of NBC's Today show, but that interview was postponed during the investigation of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 and its water landing.
Alleged Travolta extortion
Authorities in the Bahamas have detained an island lawmaker and a paramedic in an alleged plot to extort money from actor John Travolta after the death of his 16-year-old son, police said yesterday.
One of the suspects, ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne, was detained yesterday. Earlier, he had been quoted as describing efforts to revive Jett, who died of a seizure this month at Travolta's vacation home on Grand Bahama.
Authorities did not reveal what the alleged extortion involved. Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston have returned home to Florida, and his publicist Paul Bloch said yesterday he has no comment.
Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater, an attorney from Grand Bahama, has been held for questioning since Thursday, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames told the Associated Press.
Not empty-handed
Aretha Franklin did more than sing "America" at President Barack Obama's inauguration. She also came bearing gifts.
