Demonstrating some serious interdenominational unity, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The WB and UPN will join forces tonight for a primetime special entitled Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast, to raise funds for those impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. The six broadcast networks will …

BREAKING: Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is being sent back to Washington from Baton Rouge, from where he has been overseeing the federal government’s response to the disaster, according to two unnamed federal officials. Brown will be replaced, according to the officials, by Coast Guard Vice …

After more than three decades and a lot of seriously toxic water over the bridge, the great, ageless roots-rocker John Fogerty — singer, songwriter, lead guitarist and producer of Creedence Clearwater Revival — has returned to Fantasy Records. Yes, you read that correctly, and hell is still pretty toasty as …

Is a natural disaster a political matter? Katrina struck on August 29 and for a couple of days the nation was jolted out of its political cubicles and its talking points were muted. It didn’t last long. As tension and tempers rose when the extent of the damage became clear …

The newly svelte Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong, his first film since the brobdingagian Lord of the Rings trilogy, is now within sniffing distance (if you are downwind), with worldwide release due December 14, 2005. Like Rings, shot in his native New Zealand and co-written by Jackson, Fran Walsh …

The American Idol wheels keep turning in unexpected ways as Mario Vazquez, who “withdrew from the competition for personal reasons” just before the ’05 finals began in March, has remained within the Idol family, at least according to them. Yesterday, Idol guru Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment Limited announced that Vazquez …

Every disaster needs a theme song; big disasters call for big egos; or, in a much less cynical vein, artists turn to art when they feel compelled by circumstances to give of themselves. Either way, new Persian Gulf resident Michael Jackson has announced through the melodiously-named Raymone K. Bain that …

When it rains it pours: William H. Rehnquist, the nation’s 16th chief justice’s casket was carried up the steps of the Supreme Court today by former clerks, poetically including John Roberts, the man President Bush nominated to succeed him. With the impending retirement of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Bush will …

The Recording Academy, through its MusicCares Foundation, which provides a “safety net of critical services for music people in crisis,” is committing an initial donation of $1 million for “music people affected by Hurricane Katrina,” the MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund. Assistance includes basic living expenses such as shelter, food, utilities, …

They caution that at this time their figures are only “wild guesses,” but economists at Standard and Poors say that although the human tragedy of Hurricane Katrina is enormous and property damage immense, the impact of Katrina on the nation’s economy is likely to be limited. “The near-term disruption should …