CELEBRITY WATCH
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From staff and wire reports

Today's buzz stories:

• Regis reigns supreme in the ratings
• The real 'Slim Shady' to stand up -- in court
• Survivor' sequel ads won't come cheap
• Garth Brooks and wife plan split

Regis reigns supreme in the ratings

NEW YORK --"Live! With Regis" emerged victorious last week in the ratings war against the new third hour of NBC's "Today," which airs against the popular talk show in about 80 percent of the country.

For the first four days (October 2-5) of the extended morning show, "Today's" third hour averaged a 3.0 rating, which represents slightly more than 3 million households of the estimated 108 million in the United States, according to Nielsen Media Research. It also received a 12 share in the top markets, meaning 12 percent of the households that were watching had tuned to "Today."

"Live!," according to the marketing agency, topped that with a 4.2 rating and a 16 share.

"The show hasn't skipped a beat," said Janice Marinelli, president of Disney-owned "Live!," whose longtime co-host Kathie Lee Gifford, exited the show this summer. "With all the different co-hosts -- Regis some weeks has a different person every day -- he makes them all look great. It's a testament to the show's format and to Regis."

The real 'Slim Shady' to stand up -- in court

MOUNT CLEMENS, Michigan -- Grammy-wining rapper Eminem heads to court Tuesday on charges of assaulting a man with a deadly weapon. Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, is accused of attacking a man after seeing his now-estranged wife kissing him in a bar parking lot in June.

Eminem is scheduled to appear in Macomb County Circuit Court for a pretrial hearing on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed weapon. Eminem, 27, could face up to five years in prison if convicted. In an unrelated case, he faces charges in a neighboring county of carrying a concealed weapon and brandishing a firearm in public.

The rapper should get jail time if convicted, Macomb Prosecutor Carl Marlinga said. "He's like any other defendant for us in terms of the economic consequences of his actions," Marlinga said. "He's charged with a felony, and we intend to go to trial with this case as a felony."

Survivor' sequel ads won't come cheap

ARLINGTON, Virginia -- Advertisers are ponying up the big bucks this time to plug their products during the next "Survivor."

Visa, General Motors and Anheuser-Busch are spending about $12 million to advertise on "Survivor: The Australian Outback." The ife-in-the-rough series will premiere January 28 after the Super Bowl, USA Today reports.

That's roughly three times what it cost to advertise on the original summertime ratings grabber, and it amounts to about $450,000 for a 30- second spot.

Garth Brooks and wife plan split

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Garth Brooks and his wife have agreed to end their 14-year marriage, a spokeswoman at Capitol Records said Saturday.

The country superstar, who has three children, referred to his troubled marriage in a recent interview with Billboard magazine:

"Sandy and I both agree that we need to get divorced," he said. "Right now, we're focused on the impact it will have on the children and how to handle that best, to remain parents even if we don't remain husband and wife."

Brooks hinted last year that he might leave the music business so he could spend more time with his family.