CELEBRITY WATCH
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From staff and wire reports

P.Diddy to star as convict

HOLLYWOOD, California -- Rap mogul Sean Combs recently escaped conviction on charges of bribery and gun possession, but that's not stopping him from going behind bars.

Combs, who recently changed his nickname from Puffy to P.Diddy, is in final negotiations to play a prisoner put to death in "Monster's Ball," Variety reports. The Lions Gate film stars Billy Bob Thornton, Heath Ledger, Halle Berry and Peter Boyle.

Combs already has some big screen acting experience. He will appear in the mobster movie "Made," which is slated for a July release.

Dolin padded to play Bush

CULVER CITY, California -- Carrie Quinn Dolin says it takes a little help for her to play first lady Laura Bush on Comedy Central's sitcom parody "That's My Bush!"

"There's a little padding here and there. In the bustline I am definitely padded -- well," she tells AP Radio. "There's a whole thing that comes along with that, a whole sense of power and first ladyness. I don't know how that happens but it sure does."

Dolin says she also watches President Bush and the first lady on the news, to help her get in character.

"I'm not so much looking at them as the president and the first lady, but I'm looking at them as, you know, OK, what can I get from them by watching them that I can add to my character?" Dolin says. "Is there some little nuance that I could pick up?"

Dolin stars opposite Timothy Bottoms as President Bush. "That's My Bush" airs Wednesday nights.

Alabama donates $100,000

FORT PAYNE, Alabama -- The Fort Payne school system stands to lose $600,000 in state funding because of education budget cutbacks, but the town's favorite country music sons are helping to soften the blow.

Alabama has donated $100,000 to the school system, The Associated Press reports. Singer Randy Owen and guitarist Jeff Cook said at a news conference at Fort Payne high school Tuesday the money came from an annual outdoor concert called June Jam.

"We're proud of our schools, our teachers and the fine job they're doing," Owen said.

'Longest Yard,' with some changes

HOLLYWOOD, California - Paramount says it will remake the classic sports movie "The Longest Yard, " sort of.

"Rather than rehash the pigskin exploits of Burt Reynolds and cohorts, the studio has shifted the venue to a British prison and the sport to soccer," reports Variety.

The title will also be changed, to "The Mean Machine," and the studio apparently wants it to have the hip feel of the Guy Ritchie film, "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels."

What will remain the same is the premise: a former soccer star is pressed into leading an inmate team in a game against abusive guards.

Vinnie Jones and Vas Blackwood, who starred in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," are slated to star in the picture.