Pop beauty Jessica Simpson was briefly hospitalized on Monday, after she was struck down with a stomach virus. The 24-year-old Irresistible singer was filming a segment for Oprah Winfrey's hit chat show, when she suddenly fell ill. Simpson's representative Brad Cafarelli tells People magazine, "While Jessica was in Chicago shooting a segment for Oprah, she contracted a stomach virus and became dehydrated. She is already feeling better after being checked into, and released from, a local hospital for rehydration before flying back to Los Angeles." Simpson was well enough to return to Los Angeles yesterday. According to the website for The Oprah Winfrey Show, Simpson will appear on a segment entitled "Red Carpet Makeovers with Jessica Simpson" to be aired on Friday - two days before the 77th Academy Awards. Other stars listed on the show's schedule for that day are singer Ashanti and actress Lara Flynn Boyle.

The judge in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial assured prospective jurors yesterday morning the singer really had been ill and there was no plot to put off proceedings. The trial was delayed for a week while Jackson, who returned to court today, recovered from influenza. Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville told prospective jurors he understood their frustrations over "a couple of false starts". Besides Jackson's illness, an earlier delay was caused by the death of defense attorney Thomas Mesereau's sister. He told prospective jurors that the delays were not part of a calculated attempt by anyone to slow down the trial. He said, "Mr. Jackson really was sick. He really did have the flu. I talked to his doctor... I wouldn't let anyone take advantage of us that way." Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting the boy, plying him with wine, and conspiring to hold his family captive.

Upcoming 77th Academy Awards host Chris Rock is standing by controversial remarks he made calling the award ceremony a "fashion show" which holds no interest for black men unless they are gay. The Head Of State funnyman sparked a storm of controversy after his anti-Academy Awards tirade was published in magazine Entertainment Weekly, but he remained unrepentant during an appearance on American chat show The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. The 40-year-old joked, "I did not say that. I said only gay people watch the Tonys!" Before continuing more seriously, "I really don't know any straight men who aren't in show business that have ever watched the Oscars. What straight black man sits there and watches the Oscars? The awards don't really affect anybody's lives in the crowd."

British actor Christian Bale is bracing himself for an onslaught of attention when Batman Begins is released in June - despite the fact he usually strives to keep himself out of the public eye. Bale, who plays the Caped Crusader in director Christopher Nolan's movie, understands how high-profile his latest role is and accepts being continuously spotted is a part of the job. He says, "Of course, I'll be recognized walking down the street much more. And that's going to lead to some bizarre things happening on occasion. There may be a couple of months of madness when it first comes out. But I just feel like, if you're not pursuing that elitist, rarified Hollywood life, which I'm not and which I really do not ever want to be a part of, I believe it'll be OK."

Hunter S. Thompson's ashes will be fired across his Colorado estate by a cannon, in keeping with his final wishes. The journalist and author committed suicide at his secure compound in Woody Creek on Sunday. He was 67. The Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas author wanted a simple, but bizarre funeral, during which his body is cremated and his ashes blasted across the ranch, according to his lawyer George Tobia Jr. Thompson's friend, journalist Troy Hooper explains, "I believe he wanted to be shot out of a cannon. I understand it's in his will. That's Hunter's style. That's how he would want it. He was a big fan of bonfires and explosions and anything that went bang and I'm sure he'd like to go bang as well."

Entrapment star Sean Connery has been slapped with a $30 million lawsuit from a New York neighbor, who accuses him of using bully tactics to oust him from the townhouse they share. Dr. Burton Sultan, an ophthalmologist, lives with his wife and daughters on the lower four floors of a six-story Tudor townhouse on Manhattan's East Side. Connery and his wife live on the top two floors. Court papers claim renovations the Connery's are carrying out, which began in September 2001, are a source of constant noise, foul fumes, water leaks and a rat infestation. The lawsuit claims damage to the Sultans' home extended to their collection of Victorian and early 20th century wicker furniture. The court papers say "Notwithstanding the cinematic James Bond image of consummate finesse, the defendant Connery, in true Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde fashion, acts the part in real life of a bully who ignores norms of neighborliness and decency." The lawsuit also claims Connery is harassing the Sultans "by playing loud music at all hours" and "stomping about". On April 7, 2002, one of the Sultans' daughters allegedly knocked on Connery's door and requested quiet. The court papers state, "Connery's appearance and behavior was that of a rude, foul-mouthed, fat old man. Cursing and otherwise using indecent language Connery demeaned Marla's father, refused to lower the noise and slammed the door in her face." The court papers say the Connerys also owe $15,747 in maintenance and utility payments - another ploy "to harass the Sultans" out of their home. The lawsuit includes a letter, purportedly from the Connerys' lawyer, Robert P. Lynn Jr, stating, "I think if we tie him up in several lawsuits, hopefully this will either permanently subdue him or drive him out of the building." A spokesman for the actor has hit back at the claims, arguing the couple are "rarely" at the New York home.

Star Wars star Ewan McGregor has attacked the penultimate movie in the sci-fi series, insisting Episode II: Attack Of The Clones was "unsatisfactory". It's not the first time the Scottish actor has criticized the George Lucas- directed franchise - he dubbed Episode I: The Phantom Menace "disappointing" following its release in 1999. But McGregor - who plays Obi Wan Kenobe - is far happier with the final movie, Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith, which premieres in May. McGregor says, "The fighting in Episode II was unsatisfactory, I think. I don't think the fight was nearly as good as it should have been and I certainly didn't have as big a crack of the whip as in the first one. I made up for it in number three. We fight our a**ses off in that film."

The dance floor John Travolta strutted across in Saturday Night Fever is expected to fetch $80,000 when it goes up for auction. The multi-colored floor, which featured in the 1977 movie classic, has been retrieved from a doomed Brooklyn nightclub, which closed last week, and will be up for sale on April 1 to bidders on internet auction eBay. Organizer Brian Chanes says, "We're getting international interest from all sorts of people. We have interest from private collectors who want the dance floor for themselves, and from club owners who know the commercial value of having the floor made famous in Saturday Night Fever." The 2001 Odyssey nightclub's former owner Jay Rizzo adds, "Over the years, we've had thousands of people who come here just to see it. It is incredibly popular with tourists - particularly from Europe. It has literally been the heartbeat of this club."

Veteran actress Imelda Staunton hopes her Best Actress Oscar nomination will increase her public appeal because she is rarely recognized in the street. The Vera Drake star - who's been recognized for her superlative performance in Mike Leigh's controversial tale of a 1950s back street abortionist - feels neglected by the UK public despite ranking alongside Kate Winslet and Hilary Swank for this year's prestigious Academy Award. Staunton says, "No one recognizes me - more's the pity. One person on a bike did shout at me the week after the nominations were announced, but that has been it."

American TV show CSI: Miami has been attacked by a top scientist for misleading jurors with its unrealistic portrayal of the capabilities of forensic experts and the boundaries of science. Lawyers fear the popular drama has precipitated the "CSI effect" by giving the public unrealistic expectations of what can be achieved in forensic laboratories - and that forensic testimonies are beyond reproach. West Virginia University expert Max Houck says, "Defense attorneys now worry about the CSI effect because they think the jurors view science as this juggernaut, this infallible, objective method that is always right, always accurate and that spells doom for their client."