Johnny Depp wins 2nd ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ title

New York — Get lost, Hugh Jackman. This year’s “Sexiest Man Alive” is once again Johnny Depp.

Depp nudged aside Jackman to get the coveted endorsement from People magazine Wednesday. It’s the 46-year-old actor’s second time as “Sexiest Man Alive.” He also won in 2003.

Kate Coyne, senior editor at People, said on CBS’ “Early Show” that Depp has achieved an almost “iconic status in terms of sexiness.”

Says Coyne: “Johnny Depp was someone who was sexy 10 years ago. He’ll be sexy 10 years from now. He’s someone who appeals to multiple generations of women.”

Depp joins other double winners Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Richard Gere.

Matt Bomer, who stars in USA’s “White Collar,” was named “Sexiest Rising Star.”

Williams lauds Cronkite in award acceptance

Phoenix — NBC newsman Brian Williams said Wednesday he’s not sure if Walter Cronkite would have succeeded in the age of cable news, blogs and Twitter.

“I am convinced that had he come along today, I don’t think he would have cracked through. I think there’s too much noise, too much to cut through for a modest man from Missouri,” Williams told an audience in Phoenix. “But God and history combined to give him to us right when we needed him.”

Williams spoke at a luncheon, where he was given the Cronkite Award from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. The ceremony included videotaped congratulatory messages from Jon Stewart and fellow New Jersey native, Bruce Springsteen.

Richie hospitalized for pneumonia

Los Angeles — Nicole Richie has been admitted to a Los Angeles hospital and is being treated for pneumonia. Her representative says she’s doing well.

Publicist Nicole Perna said Wednesday the 28-year-old actress checked herself into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Richie was in a Los Angeles courtroom earlier this week after asking for a restraining order against two celebrity photographers. A judge granted that request.

Richie costarred with Paris Hilton on the television show “The Simple Life” and is the daughter of singer Lionel Richie. She has since become a fashion and jewelry designer and occasional actress.

Richie gave birth to a son, Sparrow James Midnight Madden, in September. She and her partner, rocker Joel Madden, have a daughter, Harlow, who turns 2 in January.

Cage visits Kenyan jail to talk to pirates

Mombasa, Kenya — Film star Nicolas Cage has visited a Kenyan prison holding suspected Somali pirates awaiting trial to highlight the problem of piracy in the Indian Ocean.

Inmates danced for the movie star and shook his hand as he toured the Shimo La Tewa prison in the Kenyan coastal town of Mombasa. The prison has become a model for other jails in the country because of the reform work of its chief warden, Wanini Kireri.

Cage, a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador on Drugs and Crime, told The Associated Press Television News on Tuesday that he wanted to meet with some of the suspected Somali pirates, hear their stories and understand what is fueling piracy off the Somali coast.

“Then I’m in a position where I can actually make some sense and talk about it when I go back to the States where I go talk to different U.N. councils and discuss the matter,” Cage said.

2010 Primetime Emmy Awards set for August

Los Angeles — NBC has scheduled next year’s Emmy Awards for August, instead of September when they’re usually aired.

The network says the decision to slot the TV awards show for Sunday, Aug. 29, was made early to get a head start on planning.

The event is typically held in September, right before the start of the fall TV season. NBC airs NFL games on Sunday nights in September, so scheduling the Emmys in August avoids a conflict.

The network said its August 2006 airing of the awards show was the highest-rated Emmy broadcast of the past four years.

Nominations for the 62nd Prime-time Emmy Awards will be announced in July.

Swift to debut greeting card line in spring

Cleveland — Fresh off her triumph at the Country Music Association Awards, Taylor Swift has netted a deal to create a line of greeting cards.

American Greetings Corp. CEO Zev Weiss says Swift’s abilities as a storyteller and songwriter make her a natural for writing cards that will appeal to all ages.

The Cleveland-based company said Tuesday that cards, gift wrap, stationery, online greetings and other related products overseen by Swift will begin appearing in the spring.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In a statement, Swift calls the opportunity to write and design greeting cards “a wonderful experience.” The 19-year-old Swift, who was named the 2009 CMA entertainer of the year, says she has always been fascinated by feelings and how people express them.