December 29, 2008
'Watchmen' Plot Thickens As Fox, Warners Dig In
Tough talk today from both studios in "Watchmen'' case, which is rapidly turning into a cliffhanger that may well be more interesting than the film itself. An attorney for Fox...
Simon Wants Britney as 'Idol' Mentor
Here is your weekly "American Idol" news update. And don't forget, the madness starts January 13th.Grumpy judge Simon Cowell told E! that he predicts a man will win this year:...
Report: Mets making their 'pitch'
MLB.com is reporting that the Mets will make offers early this week to at least two of the following three pitchers -- Oliver Perez, Derek Lowe and Randy Wolf. Lowe...
How Far Would You Go For Love?
Starting off the work week can be a bore - especially when the work week falls between Christmas and New Year's Eve. For those of you experiencing a mundane Monday,...
STIMULUS PLAN TO AID CITY TRANSIT SYSTEM
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has announced that the Obama transition team is working on a multi-billion dollar economic stimulus package to include heavy infusions of money for New York...
LATE NIGHT FRIGHT TRAIN
The subways of Queens are already seeing an uptick in crime - but they're about to get scarier. An NYPD unit that patrols the borough's trains at night is on...
Meredith Vieira is Looking For a Good Man
Click here to find out why.
And Bye Sean
By FRED KERBERFrom first round pick to 14er. Sean Williams has been shipped out to the Colorado 14ers in the NBA D-League. Williams played in 16 games, did not distinguish...
First Look: 'Idol' Promo Sings Class
The changes keep on comin'.Instead of promoting Season 8 with the William Hung's of the audition tapes, "American Idol" is actual using its talent to rev America's voting finger into...
TWO MEN SHOT TO DEATH IN JAMAICA
Police were investigating the deaths of two men who were found murdered in Jamaica early Friday morning. Officers responded to 150-36 Shore Ave. around 1:40 a.m. after they got a...
Interest starting for Spagnuolo
BY PAUL SCHWARTZThere are times when Steve Spagnuolo looks and sounds almost sheepish at the praise he receives and the attention that is sure to come his way. It has...
Report: Red Sox sign Penny, Bard
According to a report in the Boston Herald the Red Sox have signed starting pitcher Brad Penny and catcher Josh Bard.The deal for Penny is reported one-year for $5 million...
Bye Again Curley
By FRED KERBERAt least Mo (Ager) and Larry (Lawrence Frank) are still around. But Curley will be gone for good this afternoon.As expected, the Nets won't match the Thunder's 3-year,...
Report: Cowher willing to talk with Jets
The Cleveland Browns couldn't entice Bill Cowher back to coaching, but do the Jets have a chance with the former Steelers coach?According to a report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer,...
2 DOZEN HURT IN BUS COLLISION
More than two dozen commuters were hurt yesterday when two buses collided in the Lincoln tunnel, authorities said. One of the Manhattan-bound New Jersey transit buses rear-ended the other just...
Quotes of the Year
By BRIAN LEWISKind of a (Hot)spur-of-the-moment thing, but we're taking submissions for Quote of the Year from around the soccer world. MLS, EPL, la Liga, Serie A, don't care. If...
Steven Gerrard arrested
By BRIAN LEWISFirst Steven Gerrard beat up Newcastle. Then he allegedly beat up a nightclub DJ. All in a day's work for the Liverpool captain, who scored a brace in...
JETS NEED TO FIND ESTABLISHED HEAD COACH
Weep not for Eric Mangini, who gets a lovely $2.5 million parting gift for turning the Jets into a paranoid police state the past three years. No, if you are...
Owen Owes Newcastle Nothing
Michael Owen's days the black and white Newcastle strip are numbered. Barring a miracle for the Magpies, it seems all but certain that their current captain and potent striker will...
JETS FIRE MANGINI
The Eric Mangini era is over. Acting in a sudden and swift fashion, the Jets fired their head coach hours after Sunday's season-ending 24-17 loss to the Dolphins. Jets owner...
Oscar Watch: Holy Box Office! Will Success of 'Benjamin Button' Hurt TDK's Best Pic Chances?
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'' hardly a box-office slum dunk until this weekend, will now probably top out north of $150 million domestically after a spectacular $39M opening weekend...
TODAY'S TEN: BEST VIDEOS OF 2008 ON NYPOST.COM
In 2008, there were a number of videos that told the story better than words ever could. From, most recently, an angry Iraqi throwing his shoe at President Bush to...
Mangini fired
Eric Mangini's three-year stay as Jets head coach is over. Owner Woody Johnson and GM Mike Tannenbaum announced the firing this morning at the team's New Jersey headquarters. Mangini addressed...
SKI: Where the snow is
Folks were getting cocky here back east, with early dumps providing ski resorts with some serious snow, very early in the game. It was getting kind of ridiculous: Even West...
60 SECONDS WITH DONNA DOLAN
You've been working to make New York the fourth state to pass a paid-family-leave act, mandating that workers who take a leave to care for a new child or a...
THE 3RD ANNUAL GOLDEN STAPLER AWARDS
It wasn't an uneventful year in the workplace, though in many ways it would be better if it had been. Layoffs were the big story of the year, as we...
GO TO GREG
Q: I know I speak for a lot of people when I say 2009 can't come fast enough. I'm one of the fortunate ones who is still holding on to...
DRESSED TO THE '09S
WHEN in doubt, choose booze. We do. And since penny-pinching had us stressed about picking between the prettiest New Year's Eve party dress and the perfect party, we decided we...
PULSE SALES
CALYPSO ST. BARTH815 Madison Ave., between 68th and 69th streets; 212-585-0310Sale: ongoing. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m./Sun., noon-6 p.m.Buy two sale items to receive 50 percent off your sale purchase.ACNE10 Greene...
'ISLAND' ON BIG SCREEN
THE creator of "Gilli gan's Island" has signed to make movie version of the classic TV series. And he says he wants Michael Cera, one of the stars of "Arrested...
NEW 'TREATMENT'
'IN Treatment," the HBO series about a shrink and his patients, is picking up a new face. Russell Hornsby, a star of the ABC Family channel series "Lincoln Heights," will...
HAPPY ENDINGS
'I'M drawn toward stories that remind us that once in a while, things do work out," says Ron Howard in a documentary retrospective of his work directed by Richard Schickel...
FOUR RON HOWARD MOVIES YOU NEVER HEARD OF
* "Grand Theft Auto" (1977)- Howard's directorial debut, about a rich girl (Nancy Morgan, left, with Howard) who steals Daddy's Rolls Royce and elopes. He got to make it by...
'ONE TREE HILL' CONNECTION TO CAYLEE CASE
FLORIDA authorities are in vestigating a possible link between the murder of toddler Caylee Anthony and the popular TV show, "One Tree Hill." An Orlando newscast raised the question this...
WHERE THE ELITE EAT
IT'S my jolly holiday duty to report that "A Table in Heaven," HBO's documentary (tonight, 8) on the Maccioni family's struggle to re-launch Le Cirque, is as fun to watch...
ALL'S NOT WELL WITH AL
Is Al Harrington playing differently for the Knicks than he was a few weeks ago? Coach Mike D'Antoni isn't sure. "That's up to you guys," D'Antoni said. "I don't know...
NETS SEEK JERSEY BUOY
There has to be a reason. There must be some logical explanation why the Nets have never been better in their history on the road and yet evoke visions of...
RANGERS NEED TOUGH RENNEY
IT'S fine for Tom Renney to call out "very key members of our hockey club who need to better," as he did without naming names following Saturday's 4-2 loss at...
BALKMAN MAKES 'EM PAY
Former Knicks first-round pick Renaldo Balkman's big game off the bench as a Nugget yesterday was a double whammy to team president Donnie Walsh. The Knicks are actually paying $500,000...
D'ANTONI'S CREW DROPS 6TH STRAIGHT
The Knicks are losing games and respect from their opponents. Late in the third quarter, after the Knicks rallied to take a one-point lead, Denver's Kenyon Martin bellowed from the...
FOUL-MOUTHED AMBUSH MARS PREGAME
WHAT are we doing to us, why do we continue to do it, and when, if ever, will it stop? Two minutes into Fox's one-hour pregame yesterday, host Curt Menefee...
ON TO PLAYOFFS FOR 12-4 GIANTS
MINNEAPOLIS - The sounds of celebration could be heard, even inside the basement tunnel as the Giants walked in silence into the visitors' locker room. They had just ended their...
WARD SAVORS 'GRAND' FINALE
MINNEAPOLIS - Derrick Ward has always set high standards for himself, but even he admitted yesterday he never would have imagined this. "Never, ever," he said. "I never even thought...
CARR GETS RIGHT IN GEAR
MINNEAPOLIS - David Carr took over for Eli Manning to start the second half in yesterday's 20-19 loss to the Vikings, and on his very first play scrambled for seven...
AGAIN, NO JOY IN JETS-VILLE
THE day took a grim turn early when it was clear that the Patriots weren't going to do the Jets any favors inside the wind funnel in Buffalo, that as...
OWNER'S UP IN AIR ON ERIC
Jets owner Woody Johnson had as many answers after yesterday's 24-17 loss to Miami as his team did during the game - zero. Nevertheless, Johnson has some decisions to make...
HEY, WOODY: IT'S TIME TO CAN-GINI
THIS is written somewhat reluc tantly, because Eric Mangini is a good man, and a good enough coach to take the Jets to the playoffs as a rookie when Chad...
REPORT: ROMO COLLAPSES IN SHOWER
Believe it or not, Tony Romo's day may have gotten worse after his Cowboys were annihilated 44-6 by the Eagles yesterday in Philadelphia. According to an ESPN report, the quarterback...
PLAYOFF DREAM DIES IN FINALE VS. CHAD, DOLPHINS
The official time of death for the Jets' 2008 season was 7:04 last night. That's when the Ravens completed their victory over the Jaguars, officially eliminating the Jets from the...
EAGLES IN AFTER BASHING 'BOYS
PHILADELPHIA - Eagle cornerback Sheldon Brown had taken off his uniform, showered, put on a sport coat and jeans and was headed out of the locker room for a night...
MANGINI EXPECTS TO RETURN
On the afternoon he presided over arguably the worst collapse in Jets history, Eric Mangini said he expects to return and many of his players said they hoped he did....
BRETT TO HAVE MRI
In what may well have been Brett Favre's final game, the Jets' grand old man looked far more old than he did grand. He threw three interceptions in a 24-17...
TUNA COULD SWIM NORTH
Could we see "The Return of Tuna" in New York? According to a report by ESPN yesterday, Bill Parcells may leave the Dolphins through a loophole in his contract, essentially...
SPORTS SHORTS
SPORTS SHORTSFOOTBALL: La. Tech wins Indy BowlPhillip Livas returned a kickoff 97 yards, Daniel Porter rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown and Louisiana Tech (8-5) won the Independence Bowl...
CHAD TIDINGS FOR DOLPHINS
IT might still get better than this for Chad Pennington, if the Dolphins win the Super Bowl, or when he leaves his remarkably resilient body and floats up to a...
IT'S DOOM AND BOOM FOR CLOSING SCHOOLS
At a time when most public schools are struggling to stay afloat, a group of nearly a dozen schools that are slated to close are swimming in cash, teachers and...
TREES GROW IN BROOKLYN
The condo complex One Brooklyn Bridge Park is finally about to be surrounded by, er, a park. The high-rise - the first of four slated to be built within the...
SILVER UNSWAYED ABOUT KENNEDY'S LOYALTIES
She may have sold Bloomy, but Caroline Kennedy hasn't convinced Shelly. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who last week questioned Kennedy's loyalty to Gov. Paterson, said he still has doubts about...
ZOO APE ABOUT BABIES
The stork did a little monkeying around during a recent stop at the Bronx Zoo. PHOTOS: Titi Monkeys Debut in the Bronx Two gray Bolivian titi monkeys have been delighting...
NY'S CRAZY '08
'TIS the season to name the win ners and losers in New York state politics for 2008, and what an extraordinary, downright historic year for losers it has been. The...
GUN MISFIRE FOILS SLAY BID
An Upper East Side man cheated death when a mugger jammed a gun to his head and pulled the trigger - but the weapon jammed. "Definitely, he was trying to...
HE'S YOUR MR. WRITE
Feeling blue? How about getting a "shot of love" from a stranger. Send your address to Jake Bronstein of Williamsburg, and he'll send you a love letter free. The letters...
NYPD DAILY BLOTTER
Bronx A 15-year-old boy was shot to death yesterday in a barrage of gunfire on a Longwood street that left another teen wounded. The victims were hanging out on Westchester...
TEACHERS MORE EXPERIENCED
The city's public-school teaching force has grown more experienced, new data show. Between the 2004-'05 and 2007-'08 school years, the city's teaching force shed 1,700 teachers with fewer than five...
NICE WORK & SHE GOT IT
Things are looking up for three young jobless New Yorkers. Although Christmas is usually a bad time to look for work, these women have stayed glued to their phones and...
QUINN'S 'BUDDY' $YSTEM
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has quietly been rewarding her political allies by allowing a handful of loyal lawmakers to bolster their legislative staffs with funding from her own budget,...
A SHORT LIFE OF MISERY
A Staten Island mother accused of killing her 10-year-old son abused him for years - stuffing him full of junk food and beating him with a belt buckle before finally...
BREAK FOR MAYOR'S STRONGHOLDS
Two of Mayor Bloomberg's crucial voting bases got some transit-related relief this month, just as his controversial campaign for a third term heats up. The city agreed to change the...
HOOPS STAR'S LIFE 'STOLEN' BY BULLET
The aunt of a Bronx man allegedly gunned down by a 15-year-old girl in a home invasion robbery said her family was "robbed" of the former high-school basketball star. "He...
QNS. SUBWAY NYPD BLUES
* The subways of Queens are already seeing an uptick in crime - but they're about to get scarier. An NYPD unit that patrols the borough's trains at night is...
BERNIE CASH STASH
Investigators believe that Bernard Madoff has stuffed hundreds of millions of dollars in Ponzi profits into offshore tax havens from which they could prove tricky to recover. In the weeks...
EDUCATION BOOST FOR MIKE
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he's ready to renew a state law that handed Mayor Bloomberg control over the city's public schools - but first, he wants to make sure...
PROTESTS IN GOTHAM, EUROPE
Protesters took to the streets of the Big Apple and major European capitals yesterday to demonstrate against Israel's air attacks on Gaza. In New York, some 300 people held a...
SIBS 'SLASHED' BY OLD-TIMER
An elderly ex-con slashed two brothers during a botched robbery on the Upper East Side after two good Samaritans mistook the siblings for thugs beating up on an old man,...
DEVIL IN DISGUISE
Christmas Eve wasn't the first time "Killer Santa" Bruce Pardo dressed up in a big cap and white facial hair for his family. In the chilling first picture to surface...
TANGLED UP IN ACS WEB
A British mom is still suffering through a nightmare that began one year ago on a vacation to the Big Apple - when the city's child-welfare agency seized her daughters...
PALS MOURN DAD SLAIN IN CAR-LOT ROBBERY
Cops yesterday identified the father-of-two who was slain during a botched robbery at his Brooklyn used-car lot. Bobby Carnival, 35, was gunned down at Cars on Utica near Avenue M...
ISRAEL SET FOR GROUND RAID
Israel prepared for a possible ground invasion of Gaza yesterday as its warplanes blasted a central prison and tunnels that are a major weapons pipeline for the territory's Hamas rulers,...
WEIRD BUT TRUE
Hello, Jell-O, goodbye trout. A researcher says Jell-O could be used to eliminate lake trout in Yellowstone National Park, where they were introduced illegally and threaten native cutthroat trout. Professor...
CHILL FACTOR
Top music downloads 1. Whatever You Like, T.I. 2. Can't Believe It, T-pain 3. My Life, The Game 4. Mr. Carter, Lil Wayne 5. Love Lock Down, Kanye West 6....
THE NEW CULTURE WAR
Barack Obama's election was supposed to signal the end, or at least the diminishment, of the cultural issues that the GOP had feasted on electorally for 30 years. The "wedge...
DAMNED IF THEY DO
DEAD Jews aren't news, but killing terrorists outrages global activists. On Saturday, Israel struck back powerfully against its tormentors. Now Israel's the villain. Again. How long will it be until...
LBJ THE EGG CZAR & OTHER GOV'T 'HEROES'
IN 1966, the price of eggs rose to a level that President Lyndon Johnson judged, God knows how, was too high. There were two culprits - supply and demand -...
BYE, BYE BOSOX
'I hate them," she said. "It felt good." - Yankees fan Kate Anello, dropping a Boston Red Sox poster into an industrial shredder in Times Square yesterday, as hundreds of...
HAMMERING HAMAS
How predictable. Israel's massive, and largely successful, Gaza airstrikes represented a "disproportionate" response to Hamas violence - or so say the likes of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. But what would...
TO B-LIST BRANCATO: WE DON'T BUY YOUR ACT
The citizens of New York City let officers Russel Timoshenko and Daniel Enchautegui down ("Actor Not Guilty of Cop Killing," Dec. 23). All that police officers really expect from those...
IT'S GOOD TO BE SPEAKER
One of New York's more puzzling public-policy questions has just been answered: the mystery of just why the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. continues to exist. It seems that the otherwise-useless...
ATLANTIC AVENUE
When Nielsen SoundScan releases its year-end sales figures this week, Warner Music's Atlantic Records will be at the top of the list. In a year when compact-disc sales - the...
THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE ABOUT THE ECONOMY
After a year in which two venerable investment banks have vanished, millions of borrowers are struggling to stay in their homes and an alleged Ponzi scheme has wiped out the...
MEDIA CITY: GEEK TERRITORY
Now that the gift-giving is over, and we're all trying to figure out those gizmos we got as presents, now is a perfect time to look at what some of...
JETS: BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
PLAY OF THE GAME Brett Favre saved his worst for last. Favre threw three interceptions to bring his league-high total to 22 and none was more brutal than his second-quarter...
Collapse Complete
Sitting in a dark Giants Stadium, it's sinking in. The Jets season is over. No division title. No wild card. No playoffs. I guess the team we saw beat New...
FAVRE MUM ON RETIREMENT
In what may well have been Brett Favre's final game, the Jets' grand old man looked far more old than he did grand. He threw three interceptions in a 24-17...
GIANTS: BETWEEN THE HASHMARKS
PLAY OF THE GAME: The Giants led 19-10 in the third quarter and the capacity crowd inside the Metrodome had finally quieted. The Vikings hadn't done much on offense and...
MADOFF'S OFFSHORE CASH STASH
Investigators believe that Bernard Madoff has stuffed hundreds of millions of dollars in Ponzi profits into offshore tax havens from which they could prove tricky to recover. In the weeks...
A look back at Vikings 20, Giants 19
BY PAUL SCHWARTZA look back at the Giants 20-19 loss to the VikingsPLAY OF THE GAME:The Giants led 19-10 in the third quarter and the capacity crowd inside the Metrodome...
MOM 'ABUSED' DEAD BOY, 10
A Staten Island mother accused of killing her 10-year-old son abused him for years - stuffing him full of junk food and beating him with a belt buckle before finally...