Comedian considers Senate run

Minneapolis — Comedian Al Franken, a Minnesota native, says he’s considering moving back to the state to run against Republican Sen. Norm Coleman in 2008.

“It’s a long way away, five years away,” Franken told the Star Tribune this week. “It might be crazy. I might not be the best candidate. Part of this is seeing what happens next year and what direction things are going.”

His possible bid for the Senate was first reported by Newsweek. When asked to respond to the story, Coleman said: “I have no comment. I don’t do comedy.”

Timberlake joins restaurant

West Hollywood, Calif. — Justin Timberlake has joined the list of celebrities dabbling in the restaurant business, but don’t look for Timberlake Tater Tots.

Dim sum is the specialty at Chi, the new Sunset Boulevard nightspot in the Hyatt Hotel.

Timberlake teamed up with Art and Allan Davis as part owner of Chi, described by the Los Angeles Times as “1930s Shanghai-meets-‘Blade Runner”‘ with indoor and outdoor waterfalls.

The brothers own three other clubs in the Los Angeles area — A.D., The Lounge and The Gate.

Love pleads not guilty to drugs

Beverly Hills, Calif. — Courtney Love pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two felony drug counts after ridiculing the charges in a rambling monologue to reporters before her court appearance.

The complaint against the 39-year-old singer-actress said she illegally possessed two painkillers when she was treated at a hospital for an Oct. 2 overdose. The two painkillers, hydrocodone and oxycodone, can be prescribed legally.

She called the charges “retarded.”

“I didn’t even break a law. I didn’t even shoplift,” Love said before the hearing at Beverly Hills Municipal Court.

The charges stem from an incident last month when Love was arrested and booked on two misdemeanor drug counts after she allegedly tried to break into the Los Angeles home of her former boyfriend.

After she was released, Beverly Hills police and paramedics were called to her home and took Love to a hospital for treatment of a drug overdose.

A thrill just to participate

New York — Gift baskets for American Music Awards participants will contain almost 150 items, including first-class round-trip airfare, vacation getaways to Jamaica, karaoke machines and gift certificates for laser eye surgery.

The value of the gift baskets is estimated at $31,000, in honor of the show’s 31st anniversary. They were assembled by Steve Stein of Hollywood Connection.

“I understand it’s going to take at least two oversized bags for each of them to carry away the ‘loot,”‘ executive producer Dick Clark said. “Heh, if it’s $31,000 now, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with when the show turns 50.”

The American Music Awards show will air Sunday on ABC-TV, with comedian Jimmy Kimmel as host. Sheryl Crow, Hilary Duff, Pink, Britney Spears, Kid Rock, Ashanti and Toby Keith are among those scheduled to perform.