Letterman, Ferguson returning, with writers

New York – The “Late Show with David Letterman” and “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” will be back with their writers airing joke-filled new hours starting Wednesday, the shows’ production company, Worldwide Pants, announced Friday.

An interim agreement between the Letterman-owned company and the Writers Guild of America will allow the full writing staffs for both shows to return to work, even as the Hollywood writers strike continues to shutter much TV and movie production. Both of those CBS late-night shows have been airing reruns since the strike began eight weeks ago.

“I am grateful to the WGA for granting us this agreement,” Letterman said. “This is not a solution to the strike, which unfortunately continues to disrupt the lives of thousands. But I hope it will be seen as a step in the right direction.”

The deal, which restores the two shows to business as usual, gives them an enormous advantage over their competition.

NBC’s “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” as well as ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” had already announced they would resume Wednesday without the benefit of their writing teams. Similarly, Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert” planned to return writerless on Jan. 7.

Judge orders mediation over Oscar statuettes

Los Angeles – Lawyers will decide who gets these Academy Awards.

A judge has ordered mediation in a lawsuit over two Oscars presented to Mary Pickford and a third given to Charles “Buddy” Rogers, who was married to the actress.

If the mediation ordered Friday fails, a trial will be held next year.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is suing heirs of Rogers’ second wife, Beverly, to prevent the public sale of the statuettes.

The Academy claims that under its bylaws, it gets first chance to buy the Oscars for $10 each.

Pickford won the Academy Award for best actress in 1930 for “Coquette.” She received an honorary Oscar in 1976. Rogers won a humanitarian award Oscar in 1986.

Pat Green released after emergency surgery

Waco, Texas – Pat Green was out of the hospital and resting with family Friday after an emergency appendectomy earlier in the week.

The country singer was admitted Wednesday to a Dallas-area hospital and released late Thursday, publicist Heather Bohn said.

“He’s now with family and resting, so he’s doing really well,” Bohn said Friday.

Green grew up in Waco and lives in Fort Worth. With a dedicated following in Texas, he has been working to build his fan base around the country. His most recent album, “Cannonball,” was released in August 2006.

Doctors advised Green to cancel a New Year’s Eve concert as well as several days of planned studio work in Nashville, Tenn., Greg Henry, president of Austin Universal Entertainment Inc., said in a story Thursday on the Waco Tribune-Herald Web site.

Miss France keeps title despite racy photos

Paris – Miss France 2008 will keep her crown, despite racy photos that appeared recently in a gossip magazine, but will not compete in the Miss World or Miss Universe pageants.

Valerie Begue, 22, will not be stripped of the title she won Dec. 8, but will not be allowed to take part in upcoming international competitions, Miss France organizers said Friday.

Begue described the outcome as “a compromise which satisfies all parties.”

The pageant’s criteria stipulates that candidates must “never have posed or exhibited (themselves) in dubious outfits or poses, partially or totally nude.”

Photos published in Entrevue magazine last week included one of a bikini-clad Begue lying on a cross in a swimming pool and one of her licking what appeared to be yogurt or evaporated milk.

Billy Joel to debut with Philadelphia Orchestra

Philadelphia – The Piano Man will make his Philadelphia Orchestra debut next month.

Billy Joel will perform with the orchestra Jan. 26 to celebrate the 151st anniversary of the Academy of Music, it was announced Thursday.

The program, led by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach, will also include the Blue Man Group, soprano Disella Larusdottir and pianist Conrad Tao.

Joel, 58, will play a selection of his own songs, and the orchestra will present the world premiere of his classical composition “Waltz No. 2 (Steinway Hall)” in a new orchestration.

The Academy of Music was the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1900 to the opening of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in December 2001.

A portion of the concert proceeds will support the orchestra’s Billy Joel Endowment Fund for Education.

Annual street festival to salute Ricky Martin

San Juan, Puerto Rico – A decades-old street festival in San Juan’s colonial district will dedicate its 2008 celebration to Ricky Martin.

Martin’s international singing career and charitable work for children will be saluted at the San Sebastian Street Festival, which kicks off Jan. 17, organizers announced Thursday.

The popular festival, now in its 38th year, is a raucous four-day celebration that attracts thousands to the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan. Martin, 36, said in a statement that he is thrilled to receive the honor.

The ex-Menudo member has long been one of Puerto Rico’s top-selling artists. His hits include “Livin’ la Vida Loca” and “She Bangs.”

Martin created the nonprofit Ricky Martin Foundation to advocate for children’s rights.