Letterman’s apologies bring big ratings

New York — David Letterman’s apologies to his wife and staff for having sex with co-workers meant another big night in the ratings for the late-night talk-show host.

The Nielsen Co.’s overnight measurement of the nation’s 56 biggest markets netted Letterman’s “Late Show” on CBS a 4.2 rating — higher than anything rival NBC had in prime-time.

Nielsen didn’t immediately have an estimate Tuesday of the size of Letterman’s audience. The overnight rating was slightly less than last Thursday’s show, when 5.8 million people watched Letterman say he had been the victim of a $2 million blackmail threat that led him to reveal he had sex with staff members.

Monday’s show was the first Letterman had taped since Thursday.

In its 7th season, CBS’ ‘NCIS’ hits the top spot

New York — The opposite of an overnight success, Mark Harmon’s military crime-solving drama “NCIS” has ascended to the position of television’s most popular scripted show in its seventh season on the air.

Both weeks of this new TV season, it was the most-watched program, according to the Nielsen Co. Last week’s audience of 21.4 million viewers was its largest ever.

During its first season in 2003-04, “NCIS” was only a moderate success, averaging 11.8 million viewers per week and ranking 26th among all programs. It took off last season, after more viewers were exposed to the series through reruns that began airing on cable’s USA.

“NCIS” has even given this season’s new spinoff, “NCIS: Los Angeles,” a running start. The new series, starring Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J, follows the mother ship on Tuesday night and was the second most popular drama of the week, Nielsen said.

Fans might also wish to move fast if they want to check out a handful of other shows that may not be around much longer if their ratings don’t improve. Among them: ABC’s “Shark Tank,” NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” “Community” and “Heroes.”

Gibson’s drunken driving conviction expunged

Los Angeles — A judge has ruled that Mel Gibson’s conviction stemming from his notorious 2006 drunken driving arrest is being expunged.

The ruling Tuesday came after his lawyer had requested the dismissal. The actor-director successfully completed the terms of his three-year probation following the misdemeanor drunken driving arrest in which he made derogatory comments about Jews and women.

As part of his no-contest plea, Gibson was sentenced to three years of probation, paid about $1,600 in fines and had to attend Alcoholics Anonymous and other meetings.

Gibson has repeatedly apologized for making the derogatory comments about Jews to the sheriff’s deputy who arrested him in 2006 in Malibu, Calif.

Elizabeth Taylor tweets about heart procedure

Los Angeles — Elizabeth Taylor says she’s headed to the hospital for a heart procedure.

The 77-year-old actress tells her followers on Twitter that she is to undergo a “very new” procedure to improve heart function that “involves repairing my leaky valve using a clip device” rather than open-heart surgery.

“Any prayers you happen to have lying around I would dearly appreciate,” Taylor wrote Tuesday, adding that she plans to inform her 155,944 Twitter followers when the procedure is complete. She did not say when or where she is having treatment.

A representative for Taylor did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment.

Ky. honors native son Clooney with arts award

Frankfort, Ky. — Kentucky is honoring native son George Clooney with an award from the governor.

Clooney’s parents, Nick and Nina Clooney, were at the Kentucky State Capitol on Tuesday to receive the award on their son’s behalf. The actor won the “national award” category in the 2009 Kentucky Governor’s Awards in the Arts.

The award is given each year to a Kentucky-born artist who has gained national or international recognition.

Clooney was born in Lexington, Ky., and graduated from high school in Augusta in northern Kentucky.

Man held in death of ‘Housewives’ ex-fiance

Atlanta — A strip club worker is being held without bond in the death of a “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member’s ex-fiance.

Ashley “A.J.” Jewell died at a hospital after a scuffle at the Atlanta strip club Friday night. He was engaged to Kandi Burruss, the newest member of the Atlanta housewives cast, until August. He appeared in several episodes of the hit reality show, which follows metro Atlanta socialites.

Magistrate Sylvia McCoy has ordered Frederick Richardson held on a voluntary manslaughter charge in Jewell’s death.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Richardson’s attorney, Dennis Scheib, tried to persuade McCoy to dismiss the charges because no cause of death has been determined.

‘Idol Gives Back’ fundraiser returning

Los Angeles — “Idol Gives Back” is back.

Producers of “American Idol” say the show’s charity effort will return next year, with “Idol Gives Back” set to air April 21.

The fundraising program will benefit national and international charities, including Malaria No More, Save the Children and the United Nations Foundation, Fox said Tuesday.

“Idol Gives Back” has raised $140 million since its inception in 2007.

The “Idol” singing competition series returns for a new round in January.