Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

He's dead, Jim:

movie mega-producer DINO DE LAURENTIIS, who made over 500 films during his life. The industry Database, IMdB.com, lists 166 of them, beginning in 1941. He left home at age 17 to enroll in film school, supporting himself as an actor, extra, propman, or any other job he could get in the film industry.
   By the time he did "Barbarella" with JANE FONDA in 1968, he'd already done 75 films. He worked with director FREDERICO FELLINI and producer CARLO PONTI for a number of films. And he did blockbusters like "Dune," "Hurricane" and "King Kong," (which were never successes) and films like "Serpico," "Ragtime" and "Blue Velvet," which were.
   He also did ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER's "Conan the Barbarian" and CHARLES BRONSON's "Death Wish." He was 91 at the time of his death. His survived by several children, and grandchildren, among them grand-daughter, GIADA DE LAURENTIIS, who's got a show on the Food Network.

In Rehab:

BUTCH PATRICK, better known as "Eddie Munster" from the 60s TV show, "The Munsters." Butch's agent yesterday confirmed that he's in a rehab center in New Jersey, but did not say where.
   Butch told the RBR early in October that he had formed a relationship with DONNA McCALL, a woman from the Philadelphia suburb of West Chester, PA, who'd corresponded with him back in "The Munsters" era and had written him earlier this year.
   They reconnected and met in May at a Dracula convention. He was very excited and had plans to marry her, and moved to Pennsylvania to be near her. He made a couple of appearances at local haunted houses during October, or as he put it, "his busy month." Then, towards the end of the month, she announced that it hadn't worked out and they had split.
   TMZ.com reports Butch is reportedly in rehab to deal with a 40-year addiction to alcohol, cocaine and marijuana.

Ready to tie the knot:

former wrassler HULK HOGAN and his fiancée, JENNIFER McDANIEL. TMZ.com says the Hulkster applied for a marriage license in Florida which is good through Jan 11, 2011. He's 57, she's 35 --which is (carry the one) 22 years younger. Hulk divorced his wife, LINDA, last year.

Political Racket /Dirty Tricks:

SARAH PALIN's Alaska" debuts Sunday night, on TLC.
   The eight-episode show features Palin doing all the things you might expect in Alaska --mostly outdoor stuff-- as well as the family life that includes being a mother of five.
   Early previewers note that she slips her politics into the mix (and "she never has to face a question that she doesn't like") but producer MARK BURNETT of "Survivor" fame says the show "is completely non-political.
  Others characterize it as the most expensive presidential campaign ad ever made. "It's definitely one big cable buy," says a GOP strategist. (Maiman)

Drug Bust of the Day:

Warning: note content. Really!
Bizarre police call in Oconee County, South Carolina.
   Sheriff's deputies responding to a reported burglary found their suspect naked and drugged, with a mouse stuck in his butt. There he was, 24-year-old NOAH SMITH, lying face down in the doorway of the victim's home.
   When the deputies tried to revive him, he woke up with a start and slapped one of the cops. Out came the taser. That didn't work --the guy was still going bonkers. Then he bolted for the bedroom.
   Cops called for back-up. They arrived, tried to cuff him but he jumped up on the bad and started kicking at everyone. Out came the pepper spray. No effect. He was still kicking at the cops.
   Finally, someone nailed him with a baton. Down on the bed, cops tried to grab him but he was biting at anyone who came near him.
   They threw a blanket on his head and mouth and finally wrestled him down long enough to hog-tie his arms and legs in shackles.
   Keep him mind he was naked all this time. Even better, cops never knew he had a mouse in his butt. No one found that out until they examined him at the hospital and one of the medical personnel found a mouse tail sticking out. The rest of it was... well... in there.
   He swears he can't remember what had happened to him. He's in the county jail now. Charges include indecent exposure, assault, resisting arrest and burglary.
   Editor's note: Whatever his story, it pales next to the mouse's.
   --Meanwhile the mouse has been charged with illegal entry.
   --He was drugged and they found a mouse in his butt. Sounds like someone slipped him a Mickey. (Maiman)