Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Culture Shock:

Would you get married at a funeral home?
   Sounds creepy but it might be a trend as funeral homes try to market their facilities as more than just a place to mourn the dead. The appeal? It costs less; availability is high; and settings are well manicured and tasteful.
   One funeral home in Indianapolis now hosts a dozen events a month and has the weekends booked for nearly the rest of this year, including 99 weddings.
   Yeah, funeral homes can also host events like birthdays, anniversaries, holiday parties and proms.
   Some think it more meaningful to be married near the grave of loved one, especially if it's a parent.
   The National Funeral Directors Association says a survey last year found that almost 10 percent of the 627 funeral home owners who responded said they owned or offered a community or family center in addition to traditional funeral facilities.
   "People had tunnel vision," says one funeral director. "But I don't see a funeral home; I see an events center."
   --Nobody thinks about this the other way around. Guess what they have in churches besides weddings? (Maiman)

Like you really care:

As we told 'ya last week, ANNE HATHAWAY will be squeezing her hot, little brunette figure into a "Catwoman" costume, but nabbing the role was a bit of a stretch. Sources tell AbsoluteNow.com the actress is actually allergic to felines and is putting herself on the line to play the part. (Lee)

Rounding up the usual suspects:

Strange crime in Cookeville, TN. Police tell the Cookeville Herald-Citizen a burglar left behind a note in an apartment he'd broken into: "Eat more fish."
   The apartment dweller said he was missing liquor, a Bible and $30 in cash. Police have few clues. The burglar is still on the loose.
   Editor's note: What, those Chick-Fil-A cows are branching out? (Maiman)

Broadcast, cable and video news:

Another day, another sponsor dropping off the MTV show, "Skins."
   It's now been six days since MTV aired the first episode of the controversial show.
   Taco Bell pulled its ads from the show on Thursday, General Motors on Friday and Wrigley on Saturday. Then both Subway and Schick Hydro announced yesterday they were jerking their ads from the show as well.
   And the beat goes on.

Stars and their movies:

JON BON JOVI has joined the cast of "New Year's Eve." The Hollywood Reporter says that's a big screen ensemble comedy with a huge all-star cast. Jon is playing a rock star... big stretch... who dumped the character played by HALLE BERRY. The cast also includes ROBERT DE NIRO, MICHELLE PFEIFFER, JESSICA BIEL, SARAH JESSICA PARKER, "Saturday Night Live's" SETH MYERS and literally a dozen others. The movie is being directed by GARRY MARSHALL. (Marino)

Idiots or Insane:

Warning: Note content!
A man in Germany won a 30-thousand dollar Mini Cooper. All he had to do in return was have the car's logo tattooed on his (ahem) private parts.
   Orange.co.uk reports 39-year-old ANDREAS MULLER entered German a radio station contest. Radio hosts wanted to find the person willing to perform the craziest stunt to win the car. Witnesses say Muller screamed in agony as the tattoo artist applied the logo and the female radio host watched. Muller said, "Once I'm sitting in the car, it won't matter anymore. Then the pain will be gone and it'll be alright." (Still)