Leno’s testimony little help to Michael Jackson’s defense

Santa Maria, Calif. – Late-night comedian Jay Leno got some laughs Tuesday, but he didn’t deliver the punch line Michael Jackson’s defense team was hoping for when they called him to the witness stand.

Though Jackson attorney Tom Mesereau had promised Leno would paint the pop star’s accuser and his mom as scammers out for money, Leno said that wasn’t the case.

In a laugh-happy, 30-minute stint on the stand, “The Tonight Show” host said only that the boy sounded “scripted” when he spoke to him on the phone about five years ago and that he felt “suspicious” of the boy’s repeated voice-mail messages. But, he testified, “I wasn’t asked for any money.”

Those words killed the defense team’s hope that Leno would deliver on the pledge attorney Mesereau made in his opening statement Feb. 28. He claimed then the boy and his mom “called Jay Leno and tried to get money. … (Leno) told Santa Barbara sheriffs they were looking for a mark.”

It’s unclear why the defense chose to call the talk-show host, who hammers Jackson, 46, in his nightly monologues.

The defense late Tuesday also called another celebrity – “Rush Hour” star Chris Tucker – who will be the final witness before Team Jackson rests its case today, Mesereau revealed.

With that, Mesereau ended months of speculation over whether he would dare put the pop star on the witness stand.

During Leno’s testimony, he took pains not to batter the accuser’s credibility even though the boy had testified that he “never spoke to Jay Leno.”

Leno, 55, conceded the boy’s remarks in a series of voice mails to him were “overly effusive … ‘I’m a big fan, you’re the greatest, you’re wonderful, you’re my hero.’ … I’m not Batman – it seemed a little unusual,” Leno said, drawing laughs. “It sounded real scripted.”

Leno said he believes he also spoke to the boy’s mom, who simply thanked him for calling while her son was in the hospital.

Under cross-examination, prosecutors hammered home the point that the family didn’t try to scam him.

“Did anyone ask you for money?” prosecutor Ron Zonen asked.

“No, if they had, I would have sent some,” Leno said.

The lines drew laughs, and the joke was on the defense.

P. Diddy to appeal child-support order

New York – P. Diddy likes to brag about having the biggest yacht, the most expensive parties, the grandest houses and more.

Now he’s been ordered to pay what could be the biggest child support order in New York state history, and he’s not happy.

Last month, the New York State Supreme Court’s Appellate Division approved an increase from about $5,000 to $21,782 per month to P. Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Misa Hylton-Brim. Representatives of both P. Diddy and Hylton-Brim say it’s the highest child support payment in state history.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, the hip-hop mogul vowed to appeal, saying that the case was an attack on his character.

“It’s not about money. I don’t care how much money I have,” he said. “If you come at me and say I don’t take care of my child, I’m going to take care of that to the end.”

‘Sopranos’ creator hints at extending the show

Will HBO’s ingenious mob-and-therapy drama, “The Sopranos,” really end after six seasons? Speaking Monday at a panel sponsored by New Yorker magazine, show creator David Chase implied there might be more: “I really enjoy it, so why leave something like that?”

But maybe it was just a tease, since he said he’s convinced the story will fully work out in six seasons.

Chase said the sixth season, which premieres next spring, will revolve around consumerism, since that’s all his characters really care about.

“All that stuff helps them not to think about larger issues. I notice that myself. When I go shopping, I feel better. It’s like a high.”

Trump branches out into education business

New York – Call him Professor Trump.

In addition to real-estate mogul, book author, fashion designer and reality-TV personality, add teacher to the list of professions that Donald Trump is dabbling in these days.

The Donald on Monday launched his newest enterprise, an online company dubbed Trump University, promising seminars, courses and CD-ROMs designed for “practical education.”

“When I make speeches, a lot of people show up,” Trump said during a news conference at his Trump Towers. “It’s the utilization of the Internet; a lot more people can be reached.”

The for-profit venture won’t offer traditional degrees and isn’t seeking to be an accredited college.

And Trump stressed that he isn’t disparaging the traditional college degrees – in fact, the new company’s faculty and advisers come from some of the most renowned business schools, including Dartmouth College, Northwestern University, Columbia University and Yale University.

“This is supplemental to getting a great high-school and college education,” said Trump, a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. “There’s no bigger fan than me of education and universities.”

Trump, who will be chairman of Trump University, said that his main business will still be running his real estate and casino companies, but he will be featured in every course with video clips and words of advice.