Joel Siegel, one of the most notable faces of movie criticism thanks to his position as the lead film critic and entertainment editor for the ABC talk show Good Morning America, died on Friday after a long battle with colon cancer; he was 63. Known for his succinct and common-sensical movie reviews, which featured highly quotable and pun-filled one-liners delivered with a snappy patter, Siegel was one of the first critics to parlay his writing job into a television career, alongside other famed personalities as Gene Shalit, Jeffrey Lyons, and of course, Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. Starting out as a radio DJ and newscaster, Siegel first worked for Robert F. Kennedy's campaign as a joke writer, in addition to being a book reviewer for the Los Angeles Times and a freelance critic for other publications. Siegel moved to New York in the 1970s, where he first worked for WABC and then for ABC's fledgling morning show, Good Morning America. He stayed with the show for the rest of his career, and was reportedly at work even two weeks before his death. Though he maintained a mostly sunny aura on air, his career was not without controversy -- most recently, in 2006, he vociferously left a screening of Clerks II 40 mintues into the film, inciting the wrath of director Kevin Smith. At the age of 54, as he was receiving chemotherapy for colon cancer, Siegel found out he was going to be a father for the first time, and had only a 70% chance of living to see his child. After his son Dylan was born in 1998, Siegel wrote Lessons for Dylan, a book that was part biography and part life lessons and was published in 2003. In addition to his television career, Siegel also received a Tony nomination for writing the 1981 Broadway musical The First. He is survived by his wife, Ena, and their son. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff

Actor Isaiah Washington insists the only reason he was fired from TV show Grey's Anatomy for making a homophobic remark was because of the color of his skin. Washington infamously made an offensive comment about castmate T.R. Knight last October and repeated it at the Golden Globe Awards earlier this year. But the 43-year-old claims he was fired from Grey's Anatomy earlier this month because America can't find it in its heart to forgive an African-American. He cites the examples of actor Robert Downey, Jr., who has rebuilt his career despite multiple run-ins with the police over his drug problems, and politician Arnold Schwarzenneger, who has fought allegations of sexual misconduct. Washington tells U.S. magazine Newsweek, "I apologized and showed my remorse for what I said and for the pain I caused anyone. If a black man can't get forgiveness in this country, when so many other people like Robert Downey, Jr. and the governor of California get second and third chances... I think that says a lot about race and this country where we stand."

A paparazzo accused of attempting to eavesdrop on Nicole Kidman at her home in Sydney, Australia, has had all charges against him dropped. Photographer Jamie Fawcett, 41, was charged in January 2005 with possession and use of a listening device after he was found allegedly planting the bug outside the Moulin Rouge star's mansion. He was accused by local authorities of attempting to listen in on conversations between Kidman's security guards, but Fawcett claimed he was being "unfairly targeted" because of his profession and appealed to the New South Wales state Supreme Court. They ruled that there was no evidence he had violated any law and on Thursday the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) withdrew the charges without further explanation. Speaking outside the courthouse, Fawcett said, "It was a very narrow investigation that once again targeted the photographers at a scene and I felt that was perhaps unfair. I am often asked about the feud between Miss Kidman and myself. In fact, I don't have any opinion whatsoever about Miss Kidman, other than to wish her all the best." Kidman was not directly involved in the case and refused to comment on the ruling. Her spokesperson, Wendy Day, says, "It has nothing to do with Nicole. That was something to do between the DPP and Jamie Fawcett." This is not the first time Fawcett has been in trouble with the law over Kidman - in 2005 the movie star won a temporary restraining order against the photographer and another paparazzo, before reaching to an out-of-court agreement to keep away from her home.

Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe will team up with director Ridley Scott for the fifth time in a movie thriller with an Al Qaeda plot. Leonardo DiCaprio will also star in Body Of Lies which has been written by The Departed's William Monahan and will be directed by Scott. The Gladiator star will play a CIA boss who teams up with DiCaprio as an operative trying to trap an Al Qaeda leader. According to Moviehole.net, producers have been desperate to cast Crowe for months, and although he is on board, he wants to read "a polished rewrite" before committing to a contract. DiCaprio is currently shooting the literary drama Revolutionary Road alongside Titanic co-star Kate Winslet, while Crowe will appear later this year with fellow Oscar winner Denzel Washington in American Gangster.

Troubled star Lindsay Lohan reportedly had cocaine and nearly twice the legal amount of alcohol in her system when she was arrested after crashing her car last month. The Mean Girls was charged with driving under the influence after smashing her car in Beverly Hills, California. She checked into rehab facility Promises shortly afterwards. According to website TMZ.com, Lohan was heavily intoxicated on both cocaine and alcohol at the time of the accident. Beverly Hills cops are currently sending reports on the Lohan case to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office for consideration. The Georgia Rule star's next movie is the summer thriller I Know Who Killed Me and is still attached to Shirley MacLaine drama Poor Things.

Nineties pop sensations The Spice Girls have reunited for a World Tour to take place at the end of 2007. The original five members of the group -- Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Melanie Chisholm -- made the announcement at a press conference at The O2 in London and in a statement on their website. The online briefing reads, "Hey everybody!! We're back!! Can you believe it??" The tour is due to take in 11 cities around the world starting in Los Angeles on December 7 and ending in Buenos Aires on January 24. There will also be gigs in London, New York, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Sydney, Madrid and Beijing. The band formed in 1995 and sold 55 million albums during their six year stint in the charts. Geri Halliwell left the band in 1998 and The Spice Girls eventually split in 2001.

Rapper Eve has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (DUI) following an incident in April when she crashed her car in Los Angeles. The 28-year-old - real name Eve Jeffers - was not present in Los Angeles County Superior Court for Thursday's hearing. Her lawyer Blair Berk acted on her behalf. Under the terms of her guilty plea, Eve must wear an alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet for 45 days and pay $1,400 in fines. She must also enroll in the first offender alcohol education program and serve 36 months of "informal" probation. On July 20, her attorney must prove Eve is wearing the ankle bracelet and has joined the alcohol education program, reports website TMZ.com.

American opera legend Beverly Sills is reportedly seriously ill with cancer. The New York City-born singer, 78, resigned her post as chairwoman of the city's Metropolitan Opera two years ago, citing health and family reasons. La Traviata star Sills was one of America's best-known opera stars in the 1960s and 1970s, before going on to manage the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. Sills remains chairwoman emerita of the Met, who have neither confirmed or denied reports of her illness. Sources close to the singer tell the Associated Press agency Sills is at a Manhattan hospital, with her daughter Meredith by her bedside.

Paris Hilton's post-prison chat with U.S. broadcaster Larry King on Wednesday night brought the veteran CNN talk show host his highest ratings of the season. More than 3.2 million viewers tuned in to watch the socialite's first TV interview since her release from jail on Tuesday. But although the chat brought him big ratings, King admits he wasn't sold on Hilton: "I'd have liked a bit more introspection." And King was far from impressed when his special guest lied about reading the Bible in jail. When he asked her to name her favorite passage from the good book, Hilton was lost for words and looked awkwardly away. King says, "I don't think Paris reads the Bible."

U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey is adding fashion store entrepreneur to her list of talents - she is opening a boutique shop. The famed TV legend already has a book club, magazine and chat show to her name, but is now adding fashion store owner to her talents. Construction is under way on the one-storey floor stop, which will be located where The Oprah Winfrey Show is filmed in Chicago, Illinois.

Barbra Streisand has been awarded France's most coveted prize after she was inducted into the French Legion Of Honor. The Mirror Has Two Faces star was handed her accolade by President Nicholas Sarkozy at a formal ceremony held at the Elysee palace on Thursday, following a concert in Paris. The induction is France's most prestigious civilian distinction. Streisand's Tuesday night show at the Bercy venue was attended by 10,000 fans.