Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Mar 17, 2011

Sick bay:

Another day, another star in rehab. This time the honors go to SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT of "American Pie" fame. TMZ.com reports the real-life "Steve Stifler" checked into treatment to address "health and personal issues." Although right before he went into rehab, he agreed to join JASON BIGGS and EUGENE LEVY for another movie in the "Pie" franchise. People.com reports THOMAS IAN NICHOLAS, TARA REID, CHRIS KLEIN, MENA SUVARI and JENNIFER COOLIDGE are also in negotiations to return as well. Producers say the movie, which begins production shortly, should not be a problem for Sean despite his stint in rehab. (Lee)

The President at play:

PRESIDENT OBAMA has filled out his March Madness brackets once again, picking Kansasto win the National Championship.
   But his picks --made in front of ESPN cameras-- are drawing some criticism this year. Some pundits say the president should have refrained from making his picks this year due to the ongoing tense situations in Lybia and Japan, as well rising gas prices and continued high unemployment here at home. (Pacelli)

Three famous Irishmen on St Paddy's Day:

   --ARTHUR GUINESS, who opened his brewery in Dublin in 1759.
   --JOHN JAMESON, who opened his distillery in Dublin in 1780.
   --Whoever invented Bailey's Irish Cream. Gilbeys of Ireland reportedly introduced the mixture in 1974 to prop up their international sales. Although legend has it the drink was created by ANDREW BAILEY of the R-A Bailey Company, PETER O'CONNOR of Bailey's says "There's no Mr or Mrs Bailey. We wanted a name that was Irish, but not 'show' Irish. The R-A Bailey was a way of putting a name behind the factory, a way of getting across that the product comes from Ireland."

Big Money, Big Problems:

Here come higher ATM fees. Most of the new fees will be for consumers who go outside their own bank networks to withdraw cash. The Wall Street Journal says JP Morgan Chase is testing a $5 fee for non-customers.
   The move is the latest example of extra charges imposed by banks. The industry is trying to replace billions of dollars in revenue lost when new federal rules on overdraft charges and debit cards take effect. (Maiman)

Sucking the life out of the wire services:

Yesterday, Hollywood trade papers reported that $100 million lawsuit that CHARLIE SHEEN filed could be all but a memory.
   Turns out Charlie had a clause in his contract that any legal issues would be resolved by a private arbitrator --who decided Tuesday that they'll be in charge of the dispute --and the case will not go to the LA Superior Court.
   That's a blow for Charlie and a big plus for Warner Brothers and CHUCK LORRE, since the disagreement would be heard privately, and not the big, media circus that Charlie's lawyer, MARTY SINGER, has been angling for.
   Next step for Charlie: the Hollywood Reporter says if he wants to stop the case from being privately arbitrated, he'll have to figure out a way to get the LA Superior Court to issue an injunction to stop any arbitration from happening.

Meanwhile, the Hollywood Reporter estimates CHARLIE SHEEN will make a cool $300-thousand for the first two shows on his "Torpedo of Truth/Defeat Is Not an Option" tour.
   So the trade magazine says he'd have to do around ten shows to make up for his missing $1.2 million "Two and a Half Men" salary. The tabloid also says he could supplement his take by selling t-shirts and other memorabilia to his warlock fans as well.
   Interestingly, about half the tickets to the first, Chicago appearance are for sale on StubHub, for between $50-$125.

Broadcast, cable and video news:

It's official --the BBC America cable channel will cover the wedding of PRINCE WILLIAM and KATE MIDDLETON live and commercial-free here in the U-S. Daily Variety says the show will be a simulcast of BBC One's broadcast in England. The wedding itself is scheduled to begin at 11 am in London (which is 6 am in New York and 3 am in LA). There will likely be coverage preceding the actual wedding as well, so look to get up really early if you've got to see every second.
   TLC will also be doing live coverage of the wedding, beginning at 5 am (Eastern), as well as specials in the week preceding the ceremony as well.