Emmys move over for MTV Video Music Awards

Los Angeles — The Emmy Awards are being postponed by a week to avoid bumping into MTV’s Video Music Awards on September 13.

CBS and the Television Academy said Wednesday that the 61st Primetime Emmys would be presented Sept. 20 instead.

Jack Sussman of CBS said Wednesday that “it’s best for the industry and the audience that these events not compete against each other.”

Sussman said the network learned of MTV’s awards-show plans after it announced its own, and CBS “had the flexibility to move; they didn’t.”

Nominations for the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced July 16.

U.S. publication of book delayed in dispute

New York — A Swedish author’s new book is so similar to J.D. Salinger’s classic novel “The Catcher In The Rye” that a judge said Wednesday she will carefully study copyright law before ruling whether it can be published in the United States.

U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts temporarily blocked publication of the book, “60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye,” until she rules whether the book transforms Salinger’s original creation enough that it qualifies to be published as a “fair use” of a copyrighted work.

A ruling was anticipated in the next 10 days. The book was scheduled for U.S. release on Sept. 15 but the court dispute was likely to delay that.

The hearing featured spirited arguments over whether Salinger’s most famous literary character, Holden Caufield, is himself entitled to copyright protection and whether stopping publication of what some publicity materials referred to as a sequel would amount to a book ban.

Batts said she read both novels and agreed with Salinger that the new book was substantially similar to his own, published in 1951.

“The Catcher In The Rye,” which has sold more than 35 million copies, tells what happens to 16-year-old Caufield for several days immediately after he is kicked out of a prep school just before Christmas and decides to explore New York City before returning to his family home. In Fredrik Colting’s new book, a 76-year-old man, identified as “Mr. C,” escapes from a retirement home and experiences similar to those Caulfield went through decades earlier.

Crawford is People’s ‘hottest bachelor’

New York — Chace Crawford, who plays hunky Nate Archibald on the CW teen drama “Gossip Girl,” is People magazine’s hottest bachelor of the summer.

Crawford is slated to star in a remake of the 1984 film “Footloose,” which made Kevin Bacon a heartthrob.

The 23-year-old actor says he’s “not in any rush” to get into a relationship because he has the rest of his life to share with someone.

He says dating country star Carrie Underwood was “a whirlwind” — but has no regrets. Crawford adds: “I learned a ton about dating someone in that kind of spotlight.”

People’s list of sexy single men also includes Zac Efron, Robert Pattinson and Bradley Cooper.

Jane Fonda undergoes surgery to replace knee

New York — Jane Fonda has undergone surgery to replace her left knee.

The Oscar-winning actress had the operation Tuesday, and blogged about it beforehand.

In a wistful post titled “So Long Old Knee” on her Web site, Fonda wrote that her knee joint was to “be sawed out and in its place will go a titanium rod and ceramic joint.”

According to Fonda, it had been “a strong, faithful knee.” She said it helped her “up a lot of steep mountains and across rugged terrain.” And she recalled smooches by former husband Roger Vadim, who liked to kiss her knees.

The avid blogger took to Twitter as well, writing: “Drugs starting to hit. Wheeee. So long left knee. You’re toast!”

Court won’t delay

Chris Brown case

Los Angeles — The California Supreme Court has refused to intervene or delay Chris Brown’s preliminary hearing.

Court records show a petition filed by Brown’s attorney to delay the crucial hearing was denied on Wednesday.

Brown’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, had asked the state’s high court last week to intervene in the R&B singer’s felony assault case. An appeals court had already rejected a similar request.

Brown is due back in court on Monday for a preliminary hearing, after which a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence for his case to go to trial.

Brown was arrested in February on suspicion that he beat his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. The 21-year-old Barbados-born singer could testify during the hearing.

Billy Joel and third wife Katie Lee split

New York — Billy Joel and wife Katie Lee are confirming a split.

In a statement, the pair said that they remain “caring friends with admiration and respect for each other.” They got married five years ago at Joel’s mansion on New York’s Long Island.

A representative for Joel did not immediately respond to the question of whether the couple were getting a divorce.

This was the Piano Man’s third marriage, her first.

The 60-year-old Joel is one of pop’s most successful singer-songwriters; Katie Lee Joel hosted the first season of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.”

He recorded the song “All My Life” as an anniversary gift to his 27-year-old wife two years ago.