Little friend on the way

Courteney Cox has found a way to fill her spare time post-“Friends.” The star is expecting her first child with husband and fellow actor David Arquette, reports E!Online.

No other details were released by the couple’s publicist.

The couple talked publicly about their infertility woes with “20/20’s” Barbara Walters last fall.

Fox to don ‘Scrubs’

New York — Sitcom veteran Michael J. Fox will appear in two episodes of NBC’s “Scrubs” next month as a doctor who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Fox, whose television appearances have been limited because of his Parkinson’s disease, is reuniting with Bill Lawrence, executive producer of “Scrubs” and creator of Fox’s last series, “Spin City.”

“His presence gives great credibility to the show,” Lawrence said. “I haven’t seen the cast this giddy since we got the news the show had been picked up.”

Author Evanovich offers fans chance to be in book

Trenton, N.J.– A New Jersey native who writes best-selling crime novels set in the state’s capital city has given her fans a chance to help catch real criminals.

Best-selling author Janet Evanovich will name a character in her 10th Stephanie Plum book after the winner of a raffle benefiting the nonprofit Crime Stoppers of Greater Trenton. A $5 donation buys one chance.

Entries will be accepted by mail, e-mail or the Internet at www.trentoncrimestop pers.com until Tuesday, the day of the drawing. The book, “Ten Big Ones,” is due out in June.

“I think crime is everyone’s responsibility,” Evanovich, who now lives in rural New Hampshire, told The Times of Trenton.

Super Bowl singer selected

New York — Beyonce Knowles will sing the national anthem before the Super Bowl in her native Houston, the NFL announced Tuesday.

Super Bowl XXXVIII is scheduled for Feb. 1 at Reliant Stadium and will be televised on CBS.

A week later, on Feb. 8, Knowles is up for six Grammy Awards, including record of the year for “Crazy in Love” featuring her boyfriend, Jay-Z.

Toast to baby Chardonnay

London — Jack and Emily were the most popular names given to babies born in England and Wales in 2003, but less traditional monikers such as Chardonnay and Lemar are creeping up the list, thanks to influential TV shows.

Jack has been the most popular name for boys for the past nine years, the Office for National Statistics said Monday. The rest of the top five — Joshua, Thomas, James and Daniel — have shared those places in varying order for the past eight years.

The most popular names for girls were similarly traditional. Emily was followed by Ellie, Chloe, Jessica and Sophie.

Chardonnay, the name given to 91 girls, was inspired by one of the characters on the drama “Footballers’ Wives.”