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ITTY BITTY BITS: Ellen replaces Paula on 'AI'; MJ kids home-schooled; Uggams in 'Little Rock'; Mandate has a 'Dream'; Iverson tweets Memphis signing; Keyshawn ticketed.
*Fox announced yesterday that Paula Abdul'a old seat on "American Idol" will now be occupied by comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. On her show to be broadcast today DeGeneres plays up her position as being something like a fan on the panel. "Hopefully, I'm the people's point of view because I'm just like you ... I'm not looking at it in a critical way from the producer's mind. I'm looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person."
*Michael Jackson's three kids will be home-schooled this year, according to TMZ.com. "A source extremely close to the situation tells us the decision was made not to enroll Michael Jr., Paris, and Prince at the Buckley School -- where Tito's three kids attended -- so they could continue being home schooled by the same tutors they had under Michael's supervision," the site reported. "We're told the Jackson family is pulling out all the stops to recreate a 'normal' school environment -- they're even building a school yard, complete with a volleyball court, so the kids can enjoy P.E. time. The kids will also go on field trips and have a designated "lunch hour" in between classes."
*Tony-winner Leslie Uggams will participate in a staged reading of Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj's Little Rock Sept. 29 at New York's Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street). The play focuses on the "Little Rock Nine," the historic group of African-American students who enrolled at the segregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957 and were initially denied entry by the Governor, but were later officially allowed entry by President Eisenhower. The readings cast Uggams as Arkansan #5. Presentations will take place Sept. 29 at 7 p.m., and Sept. 30 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.
*Mandate Pictures has acquired the teen dance drama script "Dream On," which revolves around an aspiring Olympic gymnast who discovers the underground hip-hop scene in Atlanta. The picture is written by Jason Ubaldi for Laurence Mark to produce, reports Variety. Mark, who most recently produced "Julie and Julia" and "Dreamgirls," will produce "Dream On" with Rachel Miller, who conceived the idea.
*Veteran NBA guard Allen Iverson announced his signing with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday via Twitter. "God Chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career," tweeted the 34-year-old, who adds he met with Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley and head coach Lionel Hollins. The Memphis Commercial Appeal on its Web site cited a source saying that Iverson told the Grizzlies he is accepting a one-year offer with a $3.5 million salary and a series of incentives.
*ESPN football analyst Keyshawn Johnson, a USC football standout, was stopped by campus police on enemy territory – UCLA – for making an illegal U-turn, using his cell phone while driving (against the law in L.A.) and for failure to provide proof of insurance on his white Mercedes Benz. According to TMZ, Bruin police stopped the former Trojan at about 9:45 p.m. and he was ticketed without incident.
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