Reeve plans trip to Israel

Jerusalem — Former “Superman” star Christopher Reeve will visit Israel this week to study the country’s treatment of spinal injuries and further his campaign for stem cell research.

Israel is a major center for stem cell study, which is championed by Reeve as offering hope for people with spinal cord injuries.

Reeve, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a 1995 horse-riding accident, is due to arrive today in Israel, Israeli officials and the actor’s charity organization said.

During the five-day trip he will visit Israeli research institutions, tour facilities for the disabled and meet Israelis paralyzed in terrorist attacks.

‘Legally Blonde’ over the pond

“Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde” star Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, rumored to be deciding where to raise their family, have decided on London’s trendy Notting Hill, IMDB.com reported.

“That’s where we want to live,” said Phillippe, who has starred in “Cruel Intentions” and “Gosford Park.” “The place has such a funky feel about it. The restaurants and bars are very cool, and we have had a look at some great houses. With all the interest in us as a couple in the U.S., we are looking for a kind of safe haven, I suppose. . . . London is a great city for families and children.”

Witherspoon and Phillippe are already parents to 3-year-old daughter Ava Elizabeth, and their second child is expected in November.

Kelly Clarkson as Brenda Lee

Los Angeles — Singers Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys and Monica will be among the guest stars on the upcoming season of the NBC series “American Dreams” set in the mid-1960s.

Clarkson, the original winner of Fox’s “American Idol” series, will play Brenda Lee and sing Lee’s hit “Sweet Nothings” in the second season premiere this fall.

Monica will portray Mary Wells and sing the former Motown star’s hit “My Guy.” Keys, a multi-Grammy Award winner, will play Fontella Bass and sing “Rescue Me.”

Acting sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff will appear as the Shangri-Las and sing one of the group’s 1960s hits.

Last year, R&B singer Usher, Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, Vanessa Carlton, Wayne Brady and Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child were among the performers who guest-starred as singers from the era.

Kidman bows out of trilogy

Nicole Kidman’s run as one of the busiest actresses in recent years may have finally taken its toll.

The best-actress Oscar winner for “The Hours” won’t be able to play the lead role in Lars von Trier’s next two movies, part of a trilogy that started with “Dogville,” because of scheduling conflicts, reports The Associated Press.

“We could not agree when the next movie was going to be shot,” executive producer Peter Aalbaek said. “She could only do it in the fall of 2004. Our financing for the filming is tied to the fact that we must have completed it by the summer 2004.”