Foxx to return as ESPYs host

Los Angeles — Jamie Foxx will return for the second consecutive year as host of the ESPY Awards, given to top athletes.

“I’m excited. We’re going to make lightning strike twice,” he said. “I had a great time last year and we’re gonna take it up a notch.”

This year’s show will be taped July 14 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. It’s scheduled to air July 18 on ESPN.

The 36-year-old comedian, who co-starred in the Oliver Stone football film “Any Given Sunday,” is an avid sports fan. During last year’s ESPYs, he saluted tennis player Serena Williams with a musical tribute titled “Can I Be Your Tennis Ball?”

Sandler’s pooch in doggy heaven

New York — Adam Sandler’s beloved English bulldog Meatball, who served as a ring bearer at the comedian’s wedding, has gone to that big doghouse in the sky.

Meatball died of a heart attack Jan. 27 at age 4, Us Weekly reported in its Feb. 6 issue.

The bulldog wore a yarmulke and a tuxedo to walk down the aisle at Sandler’s June 2003 wedding to Jackie Titone. He’s also featured in a short film on the “Eight Crazy Nights” DVD, and has his own photo and video section on Sandler’s Web site.

Meatball’s father was Mr. Beefy, the talking pooch who co-starred in Sandler’s 2000 comedy “Little Nicky.” The 37-year-old comedian also has a bulldog puppy, Matzoball, who was a wedding gift from Titone.

NBC to Trump: You’re not fired

Los Angeles — Donald Trump can look forward to job security with NBC.

“The Apprentice,” the reality series featuring business mogul Trump and contestants vying to work for him, has been renewed for a second season.

“We always knew that ‘The Apprentice’ was an original and smart alternative to other reality shows,” Trump said Friday. “I can’t wait to get back in the boardroom for season two.”

“The Apprentice,” which airs on Thursdays, was the No. 8 show last week and drew nearly 19 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Sixteen new contestants will be chosen for the competition to film in and around Manhattan, NBC said.

Fashion Week starts in N.Y.C.

New York — New York Fashion Week opened Friday with Liza Minnelli and Harry Belafonte in front-row seats at Kenneth Cole’s runway show, the first presentation on the eight-day schedule.

Cole’s collection for fall 2004, previewed at the tents in Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan, was “a mix of urban luxury with a comfortable, tailored twist,” the designer said in a statement.

More than 80 runway shows will be featured during Fashion Week, including collections by Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Badgley Mischka, Diane von Furstenberg, Betsey Johnson, Anna Sui, Vivienne Tam, Monique Lhuillier, Jennifer Nicholson and Proenza Schouler.