Jennifer Lopez to star in TLC reality series

New York – Jennifer Lopez is no stranger to reality television: She’s made cameos on Fox’s “American Idol” and MTV’s “DanceLife,” which she produced, about six aspiring dancers struggling to make it.

But this time, the full attention will be on J.Lo.

Lopez has signed on to star in an unscripted series for TLC following the stylish actress-singer-dancer-businesswoman as she juggles her career with mommy duty.

Lopez, 39, and husband Marc Anthony, 38, welcomed twins Max and Emme in February. Lopez took months to publicly confirm her pregnancy last year, yet waited only weeks after giving birth to publicly display the babies on the cover of People magazine.

Lopez, who has three fashion lines, is also an executive producer on the TLC program, which will show the star launching a new fragrance to add to her collection of namesake perfumes.

“Jennifer is unbelievably passionate about life and will be an incredible role model for our audience,” TLC President Angela Shapiro-Mathes said.

Lopez said: “I’m looking forward to sharing this exciting journey together.”

Carmen Electra engaged to musician

NEW YORK – The third time could be the charm for Carmen Electra.

The 36-year-old actress is engaged to musician Rob Patterson, Electra’s publicist, Brit Reece, said Thursday.

The former “Baywatch” star divorced rocker Dave Navarro in February 2007 after more than three years of marriage. The exes chronicled their coupledom on MTV’s “‘Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave.”

Electra also had a brief union with former pro basketball star Dennis Rodman. They married at a Las Vegas chapel in 1998 and called it quits after less than five months of marriage.

British court rejects Snoop Dogg visa ban

London – A British court has overruled the government’s decision to deny Snoop Dogg a visa after he was involved in an airport lounge brawl in 2006.

The Guardian newspaper says a panel of immigration judges has rejected an attempt by Britain’s Home Office to keep the 36-year-old U.S. rapper out of the country.

A lower court ruled in January that Snoop hadn’t started or been responsible for any public disorder.

Police arrested Snoop and five members of his entourage after a brawl at British Airways’ VIP lounge at London’s Heathrow airport. The rapper, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus, was given a warning.

Media seeks access to R. Kelly’s hearings

Chicago – An attorney for two newspapers and The Associated Press says singer R. Kelly’s celebrity status doesn’t justify news media being barred from pretrial hearings in his pornography trial in Chicago.

The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and the AP are seeking transcripts of closed pretrial hearings and asking that a gag order on attorneys be lifted.

Kelly’s attorneys want more time to respond.

Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan set another hearing on the motion for May 8, a day before jury selection begins and after any pretrial hearings would be held.

The 41-year-old singer faces charges he videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl. He’s denied the allegations.

Roger Ebert misses start of film festival

Champaign, Ill. – Roger Ebert’s wife, Chaz, kicked off his 10th annual film festival with an apology for holding the event without the man it’s named after.

“I’m an Ebert, but I’m no Roger Ebert,” she said Wednesday.

Ebert, 65, is recovering from a hip injury. The Chicago Sun-Times movie critic has also had a series of cancer-related surgeries in the past few years. One left him unable to speak.

“A broken hip adds to my tour of medical adventures. My current plan is to take it easy, obey the doctors’ orders, and start writing reviews again,” he wrote on his blog. “In the meantime, my heart will be in Urbana.”

The crowd cheered when Chaz Ebert said her husband might be well enough to show up later for Ebertfest, which runs through Sunday.

Snipes gets 3-year sentence in tax case

Ocala, Fla. – Actor Wesley Snipes was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison for refusing to file federal tax returns.

The decision in federal court here came after a daylong hearing. A federal judge earlier heard objections from an attorney for Snipes, as the defense struggled to keep the actor out of prison.

When the sentence was read, Snipes had no expression at all on his face; neither did his wife, who was sitting in the front row behind him.

When a reporter asked whether he wanted to say anything, Snipes just spread his arms as if to say, “Like what?”

He was with Dan Meachum, his legal counsel, who replied: “Not now.”