John Glenn will dot the ‘i’ for Ohio State

Toledo, Ohio — The first American to orbit the Earth is joining another select group.

Former fighter pilot and Ohio native John Glenn and his wife, Annie, will dot the “i” Saturday when Ohio State hosts the Midshipmen.

The Glenns will get the honor at halftime when the Ohio State alumni band, marching in formation, spells out “Ohio” on the field.

Only a handful of non-band members have dotted the “i,” including comedian Bob Hope and golfer Jack Nicklaus.

Legendary Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes dotted the ‘i’ a few years before he died in 1988 and called it one of the highlights of his public life.

Glenn, 88, said he was surprised when he received the invitation. “It’s a a great honor,” he said Thursday from his home near Washington, D.C. “We’ll have a lot of fun.”

He said there’s no question he’ll be cheering for Ohio State on Saturday even though he was in the Naval Air Corps before becoming a Marine fighter pilot.

Ohio State’s public affairs school is named for Glenn and the retired U.S. senator delivered a commencement speech at the school this past spring.

He finished his speech with a hearty, “Go Bucks!”

‘SNL’ adds 2 new performers for fall

New York — “Saturday Night Live” will begin its fall season with two new cast members.

A person close to the show confirmed that Jenny Slate and Nasim Pedrad have joined the show. The person requested anonymity because NBC has not made an official announcement.

Both comedians have connections to the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, the New York- and Los Angeles-based comedy theater that also birthed the careers of numerous “SNL” cast members.

Slate previously partnered with Gabe Liedman for the comedy show “Gabe & Jenny.” Pedrad, born in Tehran, Iran, previously had a one-woman show, “Me, Myself & Iran.”

“SNL” premieres Sept. 26.

Fox Business Network to simulcast Imus

New York — Don Imus is moving to Fox Business Network.

The young cable network, which has been struggling to find viewers, has agreed to simulcast Imus’ radio show on weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m. It will start on Oct. 5.

RFD-TV, a Nashville-based cable and satellite network, recently stopped showing Imus after two years.

Imus will add more business reports to his mix of news, sports, commentary and comedy. FBN reporters will also contribute.

Imus’ radio show was seen on MSNBC for several years before he was fired in 2007 for offensive remarks about Rutgers women basketball players.

The FBN deal is considered a way to boost visibility for Imus and the network. But it also reduces the airtime of one of FBN’s most prominent personalities, Alexis Glick, from three hours to one in the morning.

Actor Crowe challenges columnist to bike duel

Sydney — An Australian newspaper mocked Russell Crowe for smoking and shoveling down a fatty meal during a recent bike ride, so the notoriously salty actor set out to prove he is still in gladiator shape — by challenging the paper’s gossip columnist to a duel by bicycle.

Crowe, who has been photographed looking slimmer in recent months, was apparently none too pleased by a column published in Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday entitled “Smokes and fatty foods the fitness regime for Rusty.” The paper mocked Crowe after he was photographed pausing during a recent bike ride with his personal trainer to puff on a cigarette and chow down on three tacos and a soft drink.

In a story published today, the paper said Crowe’s spokesman called up gossip columnist Annette Sharp the next day and said, “Get on your bike. Russell wants you to go riding with him. Are you ready to die?”

Sharp accepted the challenge and the pair met at dawn for a 12-mile ride through the city. Video of the race shows Sharp struggling to keep up while Crowe zooms along unfazed. At one point, Sharp fell off her bike.

Chris Brown’s service includes manual work

Richmond, Va. — Police in Virginia say singer Chris Brown will remove graffiti, pick up trash and wash cars as part of his sentence for beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna.

The 20-year-old Brown was sentenced in California last month to five years’ probation, six months of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling for the February attack. He is performing the labor in Richmond near his home.

In a letter to the judge, Richmond Police Chief Bryan Norwood outlined some of Brown’s tasks. They include graffiti removal, trash pickup, washing cars, cleaning and maintaining grounds.

Norwood said Brown will be supervised during his service, but Brown would have to pay for any additional security if the public becomes aware of his presence.

Barrymore to host skating event

Farmington Hills, Mich. — Drew Barrymore wants all movie and/or roller skating fans to join her in suburban Detroit next week for a get-together in support of her new movie.

Barrymore is making her directorial debut with next month’s “Whip It,” which filmed scenes in Michigan and is centered around the world of roller derby.

The 34-year-old actress and filmmaker will walk the red carpet and host the skating event Sept. 11 at Bonaventure Skating Center in Farmington Hills.

Barrymore also produced and appears in “Whip It,” which stars Ellen Page as a small-town Texas teenager who becomes a roller derby star.