E! Online - All those fireworks were not for naught. Certainly not from NBC's perspective.

AP - The colorful Olympics opening night ceremony from Beijing on NBC averaged 34.2 million viewers, making it the biggest television event since the Super Bowl.

AP - Bernie Mac blended style, authority and a touch of self-aware bluster to make audiences laugh as well as connect with him. For Mac, who died Saturday at age 50, it was a winning mix, delivering him from a poor childhood to stardom as a standup comedian, in films including the casino heist caper "Ocean's Eleven" and his acclaimed sitcom "The Bernie Mac Show."

AP - Bernie Mac blended style, authority and a touch of self-aware bluster to make audiences laugh as well as connect with him. For Mac, who died Saturday at age 50, it was a winning mix, delivering him from a poor childhood to stardom as a standup comedian, in films including the casino heist caper "Ocean's Eleven" and his acclaimed sitcom "The Bernie Mac Show."

AP - Bernie Brillstein, a Hollywood talent agent, manager, producer and studio head who over half a century guided the careers of "Saturday Night Live" comedians and helped package a slew of TV and movie hits, has died. He was 77.

E! Online - It is interesting that as kids both Jodie Foster and Lindsay Lohan starred in Freaky Friday and they both might be gay. Is there a connection?

AP - Dick Clark is still Mr. New Year's Eve — but he'll be sharing the title with Ryan Seacrest.

AP - Former "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken is a father.

E! Online - Who knew Brad Pitt would turn out to be such a Bastard? (Besides Jennifer Aniston, that is.)

AP - Katie Holmes just keeps taking it off. Mrs. Tom Cruise, who made a huge hairstyle splash when she helped fuel Hollywood's bob craze late last year, has been seen out and about in New York with a new pixie cut. Photos popping up on the Internet show Holmes sporting a shaggier version of the short 'do, with long bangs and a tapered neck.

E! Online - Britney Spears apparently isn't feeling any ill will toward MTV after her disastrous performance at last year's Video Music Awards.

AP - Former "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken is a father.