ABC says Sawyer’s last ‘GMA’ broadcast Friday

New York — ABC’s Diane Sawyer says goodbye to “Good Morning America” this week after 2,881 shows — not that she’s counting.

Sawyer announced on Monday’s show that her last day will be Friday. It will give her one week off before she switches to the evening, taking over as anchor of ABC’s “World News” for the retiring Charles Gibson on Dec. 21.

The “Good Morning America” stint was probably some 2,700 shows more than she expected. With the show in serious ratings trouble a decade ago, Sawyer and Gibson agreed to a temporary stint as co-anchors. Things went so well they agreed to stay on indefinitely, and Robin Roberts replaced Gibson when he went to “World News.”

The show was already in nostalgia mode on Monday, showing a clip of Sawyer driving a car and using red lights as mere suggestions, as colleague Chris Cuomo put it.

Shakira gives address to Oxford Union

London — Michael Jackson and Mother Teresa. Stephen Hawking and the Dalai Lama. And now Shakira.

The Colombian pop singer — famous for hits like “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Whenever, Wherever” — joined a diverse group of luminaries when she addressed the Oxford Union on Monday.

The 32-year-old, who is also a UNICEF ambassador, used her speech to hundreds of Oxford students to stress her belief in education for all. Many students had waited in the rain to see the pop star’s appearance at the university’s famous debating society.

“I was born in Colombia, growing up in the developing world where education is perceived as a luxury and not as a birthright,” she said.

The pop star runs a charity that builds schools for poor children in Colombia. Shakira said her singing career has helped her campaign.

“I think those two paths have been so parallel in my life,” she said. “My career gives me an enormous opportunity to communicate issues that I believe strongly should be communicated.”

Oxford Union spokesman Conan McKenzie said Shakira’s philanthropy was one reason to invite her, but added that “she’s an immensely popular singer with a large fan base among Oxford students. And the Oxford Union has a tradition of inviting a wide variety of speakers.”

Weezer cancels tour dates after bus crash

Weezer has canceled its remaining December tour dates after a tour bus crash early Sunday left lead singer Rivers Cuomo with three cracked ribs.

The accident occurred about 40 miles west of Albany, N.Y., on Interstate 90, according to the band. The bus driver was described as losing control after hitting a patch of black ice.

Cuomo’s injuries are described as “mostly minor but very painful internal damage.” His assistant and nanny were also reportedly injured in the accident, but the rest of the band, as well as Cuomo’s wife and daughter, appear to have survived the crash without any major injuries.

One-hit wonder award goes to Daniel Powter

New York — As far as one-hit wonders go, Daniel Powter is king of them all — for this decade, at least.

Powter, whose hit “Bad Day” reigned on top of the Billboard pop charts for five weeks in 2006, was named as the decade’s top one-hit wonder by Billboard.

The magazine describes one-hit wonders as acts whose second hit did not reach the top 25; they included acts only from 2000 to 2007, since someone from last year might just be taking a break.

No. 2 on their list is the Terror Squad for “Lean Back”; No. 3 is Crazy Town with “Butterfly”; No. 4 is MIMS with “This Is Why I’m Hot”; and No. 5 is D4L — remember them? — with “Laffy Taffy.”

Billy Joel’s daughter better after pill scare

New York — A publicist for Alexa Ray Joel says the daughter of Billy Joel is feeling better two days after being hospitalized in New York for a possible overdose of pills.

Claire Mercuri says that the daughter of Joel and supermodel Christie Brinkley is with her family and looking forward to getting back on track.

She says the 23-year-old singer-songwriter thanks “everyone for their outpouring of love and support.”

Mercuri didn’t say where Joel was staying since her release from a Manhattan hospital. Her parents have separate homes in New York City and on Long Island.

Police received a 911 call Saturday saying Joel had taken several pills. Officials didn’t know whether she had accidentally overdosed or attempted suicide.

Al Pacino to play Shylock in Central Park

New York — Al Pacino meets William Shakespeare next summer in New York City’s Central Park.

The 69-year-old Pacino will portray Shylock in “The Merchant of Venice,” one of two offerings by the Public Theater’s 2010 Shakespeare in the Park series, running June 9-Aug. 1.

Artist director Oskar Eustis says the series will also include “The Winter’s Tale,” which will alternate in performance with “Merchant.” Among the actors who will appear in both plays: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jesse L. Martin, Lily Rabe, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Max Wright. Pacino will appear only in “Merchant.”