Tattle: Oprah is coming here for court case

OPRAH IS COMING to Philadelphia. But not to give away cars.

The talk-show queen and owner of much of the free world is expected at the end of March for court and could spend two weeks here defending a defamation case linked to a sex-abuse scandal at her South African girls' school.

The trial is set to start March 29.

Oprah's attorneys say in recent filings that she must attend as a named defendant and has rearranged her TV- production schedule to do so. It also appears likely that she'll testify.

Also possibly testifying? Retired bishop Desmond Tutu.

The case centers on remarks Oprah made in suspending school headmistress Nomvuyo Mzamane amid the 2007 abuse complaints.

Oprah had said she "lost confidence" in Mzamane and was "cleaning house from top to bottom."

Eduardo Robreno, the District Court judge who, in November, ruled that the secured creditors of the Daily News and Inquirer did not have an automatic legal right to credit bid for the newspapers, also weighed in here, refusing to dismiss Mzamane's suit, ruling that the former headmistress has enough evidence to pursue her defamation claims against the media mogul.

A dorm matron who worked under Mzamane was later charged with the student abuse.

Mzamane accused Oprah of suggesting publicly that she was not trustworthy. According to the October 2008 lawsuit, Oprah talked about the need for new leadership at the school and remarked that "I thought she cared about the girls of South Africa."

Oprah's attorneys argued that the remarks, made at an Oct. 20, 2007, meeting with parents and at a Nov. 5, 2007, news conference, reflected her opinions. But Judge Robreno agreed that they were potentially defamatory.

"The implication that [Mzamane] was aware of abuse by the dorm parents and did not react accordingly is capable of defamatory meaning as it ascribes conduct which would render her unfit for her profession as an educator," Robreno wrote in the 128-page opinion.

(128 pages on this? No wonder the courts are backed up.)

Mzamane, a native of Lesotho, previously held a leadership post at Germantown Friends School and returned to this area after her contract was not renewed at Oprah's school. Mzamane has said she was unable to find work because of Oprah's comments.

A second Sott at freedom

Kelly Sott, the girlfriend of actor Michael Douglas' son, Cameron, was freed yesterday following seven months in jail for her involvement in Cameron's downward drug spiral.

Federal agents arrested Sott last summer for trying to smuggle heroin to Cameron - an admitted drug addict and dealer who was under house arrest at the time - inside an electric toothbrush.

Hmm. Usually the heroin is hidden in the cavities.

Cameron pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to distribute drugs as part of a deal requiring him to cooperate with an investigation of meth suppliers. He also pleaded guilty to heroin possession - a charge stemming from the toothbrush incident.

He faces sentencing April 27.

Tattbits

* What happened to Love?

The happy couple of "Ghost Whisperer" Jennifer Love Hewitt and Upper Darby's Jamie Kennedy have split.

Hewitt told People magazine it was "a mutual decision, and we've parted as friends.

"There's no anger, there's no upset, there's no enemies," she added. "It's been totally fine. It's really a testament to who he is and to who I am. We're both grown-ups."

Hewitt's new book of relationship advice, "The Day I Shot Cupid," hits bookstores Tuesday.

* While Emily Robison and Martie

Maguire debut their band, the Court Yard Hounds, at Austin's

SXSW Festival, it's not the end for the Dixie Chicks.

All three Chicks are heading out in June on a one-month stadium tour with The Eagles and Keith Urban.

This marks the first time in four years that the Chicks will take the stage on tour together.

They'll play Citizens Bank Park June 14. Tickets go on sale to the public March 29.

* Charlie Sheen is again back at

work on "Two and a Half Men."

His agent, Stan Rosenfield, said Sheen returned to the sitcom set in Burbank yesterday morning.

RadarOnline.com said Sheen returned with a "sober coach" to make sure he stays clean.

* Former TV producer Steven

Marshall has been sentenced in Arkansas to 7 1/2 years in prison for distribution of kiddie porn.

Marshall was executive producer for the 1980s sit-com "Growing Pains"

Ick.

* Barbara Walters' man crush

Gabriel Byrne, star of the HBO series "In Treatment," has been appointed Ireland's ambassador for culture.

The honor, announced yesterday by Prime Minister Brian Cowen, means the Dublin-born actor will work with the Culture Ireland agency to promote Irish artists, shows and festivals in the United States.

* After its propaganda movie mark-

ing 60 years of communist rule was a box-office success, China's leading state-run studio is working on a follow-up timed to coincide with next year's 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.

Filmmakers are scripting and picking locations for "The Founding of a Party," China Film Group spokesman Weng Li told the Associated Press yesterday.

Wouldn't it be cool if the film was shot in 3-D? But with these glasses, both sides would be red.

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

E-mail gensleh@phillynews.com