‘Lost’ fans fear Obama will bump premiere

New York — These fans would truly be lost without their favorite TV show — and they’re taking their case to the top.

Fans of the ABC series about marooned plane crash survivors fear President Barack Obama will give his State of the Union address Feb. 2.

That’s the same day as the three-hour premiere of the final season of “Lost.”

Twitter comments Wednesday included “Leave my LOST alone, Skippy!” and “Come onnnn, Obama..pick another day.”

The Facebook group “Americans Against the State of the Union on the Same Night as LOST” asks “When will it end?” It notes that Obama already bumped “A Charlie Brown Christmas” for his Afghanistan speech in some markets.

The White House isn’t saying when Obama will speak. An ABC spokesman wouldn’t say whether the network would consider moving the premiere.

Smithsonian exhibits celebrate Elvis

Washington — On the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth, the Smithsonian Institution is showcasing the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll through exhibits opening in Washington and Los Angeles.

“One Life: Echos of Elvis” opens Friday at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. The small, one-room exhibit is devoted to the influence of Presley’s image after his death.

It features portraits, a gold bust of Elvis as Julius Caesar and a 1993 stamp with his likeness that became the most popular U.S. postal stamp of all time.

In Los Angeles, the Grammy Museum on Friday is opening the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit, “Elvis at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer.” The photojournalist was hired to shoot promotional images of the young recording artist before Presley made it big.

Sheen must appear in person at hearing

Aspen, Colo. — A Colorado judge has ruled that actor Charlie Sheen must appear in person at a hearing in Aspen on allegations he threatened his wife with a knife.

Pitkin County Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin said Thursday the judge denied a request by the actor’s lawyers that he should be allowed to participate on Feb. 8 by phone.

Mordkin says prosecutors did not take a position on the request.

Sheen was arrested in Aspen on Christmas Day on suspicion of felony menacing, domestic violence and other charges. Brooke Sheen told police he put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her.

Sheen denies threatening his wife with a knife. Attorneys for both husband and wife say they want to try to reconcile.

The 44-year-old actor stars in “Two and a Half Men” on CBS.

Alec Baldwin, Streep on tap for SAG Awards

Los Angeles — Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Sandra Bullock and Jane Lynch will take the stage at the Screen Actors Guild Awards later this month.

Executive producer Jeff Margolis says the stars will serve as presenters at the 16th annual ceremony. They are also nominees.

The SAG Awards will be presented at the Shrine Exhibition Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 23. The show will air live on TNT and TBS.

Mariah Carey justifies ‘that’ speech

Los Angeles — Mariah Carey jokingly blames her loony acceptance speech at the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards on director Lee Daniels.

“The thing is me and Lee hadn’t seen each other in a long time, and then he was presenting my award, so he starts off immediately with inside jokes,” Carey said backstage at the People’s Choice Awards on Wednesday night, where she was named favorite R&B artist.

“We had splashes of champagne, and I love Lee but he’s a bad influence,” the singer said and laughed.

Carey gave a long, rambling acceptance speech after being named Breakthrough Actress for her performance in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” on Tuesday. Daniels directed the movie.

Koppel considered for return to ABC News

New York — Ted Koppel may soon return to ABC News — this time during daylight hours.

The former “Nightline” host is being considered as a host of “This Week,” ABC’s Sunday morning political talk show. That’s according to two people with knowledge of the discussions who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to talk about them.

ABC is looking for a replacement for George Stephanopoulos, the new co-host of “Good Morning America.”

Koppel, who is 69, left “Nightline” in 2005.

ABC’s Terry Moran and Jake Tapper, along with PBS’ Gwen Ifill, are also considered candidates.

Source: NBC weighing Leno return to late-night

Los Angeles — NBC is mulling a scheduling shakeup that would put Jay Leno back in late-night and put an end to the experiment that brought the talk show host to prime-time.

A person familiar with discussions held Thursday said the network is considering a scenario that would include a half-air Leno show at 10:35 p.m., pushing “The Tonight Show” with Conan O’Brien to 11:05 p.m. and Jimmy Fallon’s “Late Night” to 12:05 a.m.

The person wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Leno’s nightly 9 p.m. talk and comedy show has drawn lackluster ratings and complaints from NBC affiliate stations that the show has been a weak lead-in for local late newscasts and hurt their viewership.

The proposed new lineup could go into effect after NBC concludes its Olympics coverage at the end of February.