CELEBRITY WATCH
Listen to "Celebrity Watch" from CNN Radio's Ken Pauli Windows Media: 28k Real Audio: 28k

From staff and wire reports

LOS ANGELES, California -- Chuck Norris' career as a tough Texas lawman has come to an end.

After eight seasons as executive producer and star of "Walker, Texas Ranger," the 60-year-old actor is calling it quits. Norris plans on enjoying more personal time and focusing on making movies.

The CBS show, in which martial arts-specialist Norris kicks, flips and generally whoops up on bad guys, will end in May with a two-hour finale. "You always want to try to quit as a winner," Norris said. "I feel very blessed that we've done eight years."

NEW YORK -- Look out, Rolling Stone and Billboard magazine. There's a new act in town.

Dennis Publishing, the home of men's magazines like Maxim and Stuff, is getting ready to launch Blender, a bimonthly music publication aimed at the twentysomething crowd.

"If someone arrived ... from another planet, he would think rock 'n' roll is dead by looking at existing music magazines,' said Stephen Colvin, president of the New York-based publisher. "Blender is going to breathe some life into rock 'n' roll."

NEW YORK -- Are you tough enough? If so, MTV and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) want you.

The two companies have hooked up to produce "Tough Enough," a prime-time series touted as "Real World" meets "Survivor." The show will feature 12 athletic men and women who will endure a nine-week, basic-training-style competition until only one man and woman are left. The reward? A wrestling contract with the World Wrestling Federation.

"Tough Enough" is the WWF's second reality show. The company recently inked a deal with Paramount Network TV to create the reality show "Manhunt" for UPN. The show puts contestants on a Hawaiian island where they'll be "hunted" by bounty hunters.

BEVERLY HILLS, California -- And the envelope please ...

Nomination ballots and a list of 242 films eligible for the best picture Oscar were to be mailed Tuesday to the 4,253 voting Academy members in California.

Films submitted for the documentary, foreign language (non-English) and short film categories have different eligibility requirements than best picture, and are chosen by special voting panels of academy members.

Nominations for all categories will be announced February 13. The Academy Awards will be presented March 25 in Los Angeles, California.

Monday: Bush impersonator hits jackpot with election
Friday: 'The Weber Show' cursed after all
Thursday: Grammys get invited back to Gotham
Wednesday: Spielberg reins in plans for equestrian facility
Tuesday: Actress Kate Hudson marries rocker Chris Robinson