In reality news, Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records (and owner of Phat Farm), and Kevin Liles, executive VP of Warner Music Group, have inked a deal with The WB network to create a show similar to “The Apprentice.” Talks are under way for a hip-hop version of Donald Trump’s reality show with contestants vying for a position as a music executive by working with artists and promoting their music. The exact details have not been worked out yet. Playing the role of the godfather is Mr. Simmons, while Mr. Liles will be the head cheese in the boardroom. Mr. Liles left Def Jam Records in July. The show is expected to air sometime next fall.

Richard Branson, the British billionaire who stars in the reality show “The Rebel Billionaire,” is not giving any priceline bargains for his Virgin Galactic flight into space.Get this: The 3 1/2-hour flight will cost passengers $210,000 each. Among the 7,000-plus people who have signed up is rocker Dave Navarro. So if you want to go to space, you have four more years to think about it. Richard Branson is hoping to take off by 2008.

As I watched the cloud of smoke linger in the air on the location of “The War of the Worlds” in Newark, N.J. last week, hundreds of observers were trying to get a glimpse of Tom Cruise. The surrounding streets, from Polk Street to the Five Corners on Ferry Street, were blocked off by police. It was during the 30-minute lunch break that Tom Cruise began signing autographs for fans on dollar bills. According to my close friend, who is part of the production crew for the movie with the approved budget of $128 million, they will finish up in Bayonne and then move on to Los Angeles to wrap it up. The movie has a tentative release date of May 2005. So what is next for the eminent director Steven Spielberg?  It seems that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas have hired a new scriptwriter (Jeff Nathanson of the “Rush Hour” films) to help revive plans for a fourth Indiana Jones movie.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that if you want to have a No.1 hit on the charts, you have to record a duet with either Usher or Nelly. Country star Tim McGraw certainly knows this. Nelly’s new single, “Over and Over,” featuring Tim McGraw is No. 1 in the country. After releasing two albums simultaneously in September, Nelly is the first solo artist ever to have two new albums in the No.1 and No. 2 position. Talks are now under way for Nelly and McGraw to film the video for the smash hit song.

   Tim is the latest musician to cash into a sporting team after buying a minority stake in Arena Football team the Nashville Kats. The singer will co-own the American football team with Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams Jr. So now Tim is added to the list with Bon Jovi, who owns a piece of the Philadelphia Soul, Nelly, who's in on the basketball team the Charlotte Bobcats, Jay-Z, who owns the basketball team the New Jersey Nets, and let’s not forget Sir Elton John, who has connections with English soccer club Watford, of which he was once chairman.

Rose’s Scoop: Clive Davis is very happy these days, with the success of Rod Stewart's new album “Star-dust….The Great American Songbook: Volume III.” The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart a few weeks ago, selling 240,000 copies.

Star Gazing Book Pick of the Week: The Perricone Promise

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