‘Idol’ runner-up signs deal

New York – Don’t feel bad for Katharine McPhee for losing in the “American Idol” finals.

McPhee signed a record deal with music mogul Clive Davis in conjunction with 19 Recordings Unlimited, the label managed by “Idol” creator Simon Fuller, it was announced Tuesday.

The 22-year-old California native’s recording of two songs – “Over the Rainbow” and “My Destiny” – will be released in stores and through digital outlets on June 27.

Pee-wee’s big return

Los Angeles – After being shuttered for more than 15 years, the doors to “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” are being reopened.

The Emmy Award-winning show will get new life on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim channel, which will air all 45 original episodes beginning July 10, company officials announced Monday.

“I’d say this is a dream come true,” actor Paul Reubens said in a statement.

Reubens, 53, created the bow-tie wearing character in 1978 as a member of the L.A.-based comedy troupe, the Groundlings. Known for his big laugh and small suit, Pee-wee gained worldwide fame in 1985 as the star of his own movie, “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” directed by Tim Burton.

The film’s success led to “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” which originally aired Saturday mornings on CBS beginning in 1986.

In 1991, a year after production wrapped on the final season of “Playhouse,” Reubens was arrested in Florida for indecent exposure.

Ring tones silenced

Detroit – Eminem’s publishing companies have settled a lawsuit filed in what they said was an effort to illegally sell the Grammy-winning rapper’s songs as cell phone ring tones.

Michigan-based Eight Mile Style and Martin Affiliated filed the lawsuit last October in U.S. District Court against five companies. The lawsuit asked for an order to prohibit the companies from illegally selling Eminem song ring tones on the Internet.

Eminem’s representatives reached an undisclosed settlement last week with one of the companies – Colorado-based Cellus US – and asked U.S. District Court Judge Gerald E. Rosen to approve the deal, The Detroit News reported Tuesday.

Cellus lawyer Mary Margaret O’Donnell said the company agreed to stop distributing the ring tones, but declined to say whether it had paid any money to settle the lawsuit.

Howard Hertz, a lawyer for Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, said illegal Eminem ring tones bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.