‘Daily Show’ lines up presidential candidates

New York – Four presidential candidates are lined up to visit Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show” over the next three weeks as Comedy Central’s satirical news review ramps up its “Indecision 2008” coverage.

Sen. Joseph Biden, the Delaware Democrat, is first up this Wednesday. Biden appeared on “The Daily Show” last winter.

Republican John McCain makes his 10th appearance on Aug. 16, followed by another Republican, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, on Aug. 20.

On Aug. 22, Democratic contender Barack Obama comes back to the show for a second time, his first as a declared candidate.

“It’s sort of an open invitation for candidates,” said Michele Ganeless, Comedy Central’s executive vice president and general manager. “Jon makes these guys feel comfortable. He provides them with an opportunity to reach an audience they don’t always reach, which is young men.”

Victim of dog attack at actor’s home identified

Los Angeles – A man who died in a dog attack at the home of actor Ving Rhames was identified Saturday as Jacob Adams, 40, of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County coroner’s officials, who released the man’s identity, said the exact cause of death was unknown pending an autopsy.

Adams had been living on Rhames’ Brentwood property for about two years as a caretaker for the actor’s dogs when he was attacked Friday morning, police said.

Two mastiffs, each weighing about 200 pounds, apparently attacked Adams, whose body had numerous bite marks when it was found on the front lawn by officers, police have said.

Adams might have been mauled to death, but he also might have died of heart failure during the attack, coroner’s officials said.

Three bull mastiffs and an English bulldog were seized by animal services following the attack, police said.

Rhames, 46, an action star, was not home at the time of the attack.

‘Raising Sand’ combines vocals of Plant, Krauss

Nashville, Tenn. – More than a few people in town wondered what was up when rock legend Robert Plant was spotted in recent months at the Grand Ole Opry and at the popular bluegrass club The Station Inn.

The former Led Zeppelin frontman’s album with bluegrass star Alison Krauss, “Raising Sand,” will be released Oct. 23 on Rounder Records, the label announced Friday.

Recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles and produced by T Bone Burnett, the album finds the two interpreting lesser-known material from blues, R&B, country and folk songwriters including Mel Tillis, Townes Van Zandt, Tom Waits, Gene Clark, Doc Watson, Little Milton Campbell and the Everly Brothers.

“You’ve got two singers that can handle a wide range of material – storytellers. So you look for the stories,” Burnett said in the release.

Brown presses Murphy to help raise daughter

Los Angeles – A day after Eddie Murphy confirmed that he is the father of Melanie Brown’s baby, the former Spice Girl’s lawyer complained that Murphy isn’t accepting his parental responsibilities.

“He has not indicated in his statement or to us that he plans to visit the baby,” attorney Gloria Allred said Saturday.

Brown’s primary concern is that Murphy “see his child, spend time with her, hold her, love her and bond with his daughter,” Allred said.

Murphy, 46, “always has and will continue to honor his responsibilities as a father,” according to a statement released Friday by his publicist, Arnold Robinson.

“He acknowledges paternity of the child Angel and has paid child support to Ms. Brown, as well as covering the expenses of her pregnancy,” Robinson said.

Murphy considers the matter private and planned to have no further comment, he said.

‘Bourne Ultimatum’ thrills audiences

Los Angeles – Superspy Jason Bourne delivered more than an ultimatum as the third in a series of spy thrillers topped box office charts and delivered the biggest August opening of a film ever.

“The Bourne Ultimatum” took in $70.2 million this weekend, far surpassing the openings of both of the earlier Bourne films based on novels by Robert Ludlum.

The opening also pushed last week’s top film, “The Simpsons Movie,” to second place, with $25.6 million. The big-screen version of the animated TV show has topped $315 million worldwide for distributor Twentieth Century Fox.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released today.

1. “The Bourne Ultimatum,” $70.2 million.

2. “The Simpsons Movie,” $25.6 million.

3. “Underdog,” $12 million.

4. “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry,” $10.5 million.

5. “Hairspray,” $9.3 million.

6. “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” $9.3 million.

7. “No Reservations,” $6.6 million.

8. “Transformers,” $6 million.

9. “Hot Rod,” $5 million.

10. “Bratz,” $4.3 million.