Pitt, Jolie privacy now a government matter

Johannesburg, South Africa – Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have an entire government on their side in the latest celebrity vs. paparazzi skirmish as they await the birth of their child in seclusion at a resort in Namibia.

The Namibian Embassy in Pretoria is telling journalists seeking visas for Namibia to cover the birth of the eagerly awaited celebrity baby that they must have permission from Pitt and Jolie in writing before they will be allowed into the country.

Interest has heightened in recent weeks as photographers anticipated the due date was near. It escalated Tuesday when an e-mail Pitt sent to the Cannes Film Festival and read to reporters there said he was unable to attend because of the baby’s “imminent arrival.”

The government, which has seen its profile as a tourist destination increased by the celebrity visit, has arrested photographers, confiscated film and ringed the hotel with heavy security.

“This lady is expecting,” Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula was quoted in South Africa’s Sunday Times last month. “You guys are harassing her. Why don’t you allow her some privacy? Harassment is not allowed in Namibia.”

Ratings big for ‘American Idol’ as Hicks celebrates win

Los Angeles – Taylor Hicks wasn’t the only “American Idol” winner. Fox also scored, but in the ratings category.

Nielsen Media Research reported Thursday that just less than 43 million people were tuned in during the last half hour of “American Idol” on Wednesday night to see Hicks’ victory announced over Katharine McPhee.

The show took a leap in stature when Prince, Mary J. Blige and other big names performed during the finale. More than 63 million votes were cast in the final, host Ryan Seacrest said.

The entire show drew an audience of 35.4 million people. It was the second most-watched “Idol” finale ever, behind only 2003’s competition.

Hicks – a Birmingham, Ala., 29-year-old – said he wants to travel back home to his legions of “Soul Patrol” fans. After that? He said he’s headed straight for the studio to record a “really good” album, “with soul.”

“I’m heading to the studio as quickly as I can,” he said. “But I’ll take a few days off to clear my head.”

Celebrities, famed tree sitters try to save L.A. urban farm

Los Angeles – Joan Baez warbled from the branches of a walnut tree Wednesday as an inner-city community garden sprouted celebrities hoping to stop the landowner from reclaiming the 14 acres for development.

“No nos moveran,” Baez sang in Spanish to reporters and TV cameras.

The message – “They will not move us” – was embraced by actress Daryl Hannah, musician Ben Harper, his wife, actress Laura Dern, and famous tree-sitters Julia “Butterfly” Hill and John Quigley.

The show of support for the urban gardeners followed a failed effort to raise enough money to buy the land. “This can be thought of as a situation of the needy versus the greedy,” Hannah said.

The landowner has said he plans to build a warehouse on the site.

A week later, NBC makes big adjustments to fall schedule

New York – In an extraordinary move, NBC has revamped the fall schedule it announced only last week after seeing what its broadcast rivals had done.

NBC moved “Law & Order” to Friday nights, took “Medium” off the schedule until midseason and shifted its highly touted Aaron Sorkin show on the backstage world of a TV comedy from Thursday to Monday.

While it’s not unusual for networks to make minor tweaks to a schedule between the time it is announced and when it goes on the air, this is the first time in memory a schedule has been completely revised. NBC made changes on every night but Saturday.

Blanchett to portray Dylan

New York – Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, who has portrayed Queen Elizabeth and Katharine Hepburn, will add another legend to her resume: Bob Dylan.

The 37-year-old Australian actress is one of seven actors to play Dylan at various stages of his career in the biopic, “I’m Not There,” tentatively scheduled for release next year. She’ll portray a specific aspect of Dylan’s personality, embodied by an androgynous singer-songwriter character named Jude, according to Killer Films, the movie’s production company.

The movie will be directed by Todd Haynes, who helmed 2002 movie “Far from Heaven” and 1998’s “Velvet Goldmine,” about rock icon David Bowie.