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Sideshow: Chris Brown rejects plea deal

Brown rejects plea deal Mild-mannered Chris Brown and his bodyguard Chris Hollosy rejected a plea deal Wednesday in a Washington court. The deal involved pleading guilty to the original charge of misdemeanor assault. The two were charged after a man said they struck him outside the W hotel in October. Another hearing is set Feb. 20.

Singer Chris Brown, arrives at the District of Columbia Superior Court in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, for a status hearing in a case in which he's accused of hitting a man outside a Washington hotel. The R&B singer was arrested in October after a man said the singer hit him outside the W Hotel. Brown and his bodyguard each face a misdemeanor assault charge. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Singer Chris Brown, arrives at the District of Columbia Superior Court in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, for a status hearing in a case in which he's accused of hitting a man outside a Washington hotel. The R&B singer was arrested in October after a man said the singer hit him outside the W Hotel. Brown and his bodyguard each face a misdemeanor assault charge. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)Read moreAP

Brown rejects plea deal

Mild-mannered Chris Brown and his bodyguard Chris Hollosy rejected a plea deal Wednesday in a Washington court. The deal involved pleading guilty to the original charge of misdemeanor assault. The two were charged after a man said they struck him outside the W hotel in October. Another hearing is set Feb. 20.

SNL diversity continues

Not only did Saturday Night Live just hire Sasheer Zamata, their first African American lady full-timer in five years. Wednesday, the show announced the signing of two ladies of African heritage, LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones, as writers. They were discovered by audition and will join the crazy crew at SNL Monday.  

The marvelous Emma

At Tuesday's National Board of Review gala, luscious, witty Emma Thompson received the best actress nod for her work in Saving Mr. Banks. (Oscar talk! Oscar talk!) As usual, Em was very funny. Noting the frigid weather, she said: "It's such a cold night and it's the only time I've actively been grateful for menopause." She also launched a world campaign against a clothing item, namely, high heels. "Why do we wear them? They're so painful and pointless, really. I would really like to urge everyone to stop it. Just stop it. Don't wear them anymore." I won't. I promise. I'm a man, and I wouldn't do that. Nor would I wear a bikini. I promise.

Much madness out there

These are the days of cougar madness. Among celebs seen with younger talent recently are Demi Moore and Madonna. Not that either of them haven't been trolling for youth before, just sayin'. . . . Tennis great Lindsay Davenport announces the arrival of daughter Haven Michelle, her fourth child with husband Jonathan Leach. Haven joins sibs Kaya Emory, 2; Lauren Andrus, 41/2; and Jagger Jonathan, 61/2. . . . These are also the days of Bikini Wars!!! With so many photogs around, taking pictures of everything 15 times over, the stars make sure to shove themselves into all-but-nonexistent beachwear whenever possible. Recently, the world witnessed Reese Witherspoon in a nice number. Gwyneth Paltrow could fit into anything without much complaint from us, and did, as she cavorted with hub Chris Martin in Hawaii. Marg Helgenberger, now into her mid-50s, shows she, too, can rock a 'kini. . . . And now here comes, whoa!, Wendy Williams? Really? I mean, really? Well, she claims the photo in question is real. She Instagrammed a flattering shot of herself, posing in aquamarine, seemingly tropical waters, with a new blond hairdo. And a bikini. No Photoshop about it, she swears. Who are we to judge? By the way, Wendy has a novel out April 1 (apparently it's no fooling), a romancer titled Hold Me in Contempt. . . . Anyone else think Dennis Rodman's jaunt to North Korea with a bunch of b-ball buddies, to celebrate the birthday of his pal, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, is a little weird? Oh, everybody does? OK. Just asking. . . . Zoe Saldana is set to star in an NBC made-for-TV remake of Rosemary's Baby. James Wong and Scott Abbott will write the script, and Agnieszka Holland (Treme) will direct. They're talking about other remakes, too, including one of Stephen King's Tommyknockers, and, strangest of all, a sequel to The Bible (there was a sequel?) titled A.D.: Beyond the Bible. [Your joke here.]