NEW YORK Julie Andrews is going from "The Sound of Music" to hosting one of music's biggest annual events.

NEW YORK NBC says "ER" will treat its last patients during a two-hour series finale set to air March 12.

NEW YORK Miles O'Brien will soon be leaving CNN after 16 years.

'THE PHILANTHROPIST' SNAGS NEVE CAMPBELL

Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Nov. 24-30. Day and start time (EST) are in parentheses:

NEW YORK Who says cartoons are for kids? "Family Guy" and "American Dad" creator Seth MacFarlane tops Entertainment Weekly's list of the 25 smartest people in television.

LOS ANGELES "Maude" and "Golden Girls" star Bea Arthur is happily poised to enter the TV Academy Hall of Fame, but she acknowledges it's her own fault the recognition didn't come sooner.

At 79, Bob Newhart could be choosy about what he does. He's had hit television shows that are considered classics, best-selling comedy albums, a long successful standup comedy career and has even been in movies.

LOS ANGELES In an era where awards shows are as commonplace as reality shows, even the top-tier events are finding it hard to stand out. So the Recording Academy is trying something different when it announces its nominees for its upcoming Grammys. Instead of its traditional morning roll call of nominee names at a staid press conference, top nominees will be revealed during a prime-time concert special to air live Wednesday on CBS.

Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen Media Research for Nov. 24-30. Listings include the week's ranking, with viewership for the week. An "X" in parentheses denotes a one-time-only presentation.

NEW YORK Rosie O'Donnell's dream of bringing back the television variety show was dashed.

NEW YORK NBC News is close to naming chief White House correspondent David Gregory as Tim Russert's replacement on the top-ranked Sunday political talk show "Meet the Press," a network executive said Tuesday.

NEW YORK "Scrubs" will have a new medical plan when it returns next month. After seven seasons on NBC, the hospital comedy will air on ABC starting Jan. 6, with Courteney Cox Arquette in a guest role as Sacred Heart's new chief of medicine.

NEW YORK The troubles that are part of imaginary life on daytime dramas are hitting those shows for real in the form of budget cuts and dismissals.

SALT LAKE CITY Gary Coleman has pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a September incident at a bowling alley.

'ER'S' PARMINDER NAGRA PREGNANT

NEW YORK Let's take a moment to savor this little tidbit: Even Victoria's Secret's handpicked "angels" ramp up the cardio and cut out the carbs before they parade around in their underwear for a nationally televised broadcast.

NEW YORK Patrick Swayze is angry about tabloid reports that say he doesn't have long to live. The actor, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year, issued a statement Tuesday affirming that so far he is winning his fight against the disease and responding well to treatment.

NEW YORK A juror was AWOL for the murder trial of a former "Sopranos" actor but he has turned up - behind bars.