Madge comes to Rosie's defense

With no end in sight for the seemingly endless quagmire that has captured the world's attention, Madonna today did what any concerned artist would do: She came to the defense of Rosie O'Donnell in the talk show host's ongoing feud with Donald Trump. The pop star, appearing on NBC's Today show to promote Arthur and the Invisibles, the forthcoming animated film in which she stars, said that criticism of O'Donnell's comments about Trump has been unfair. O'Donnell criticized Trump last month for allowing Miss USA Tara Conner to keep her crown despite allegations of underage drinking. O'Donnell said Trump, who owns the pageant, had no right to be "the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America." Trump fired back, calling O'Donnell a "loser" and a "fat pig" in various media interviews.

Madonna said she had not heard what O'Donnell said, but defended her anyway. "People are giving Rosie a hard time," Madonna said. "I wish they'd stop. I don't think it's fair. I have to hear it from the horse's mouth. Basically, I mean, she's a stand-up comic. I think all stand-up comics talk about provocative things in their monologues before shows, and I think that's a commonplace thing. I don't know exactly the content of what she said, but I have a feeling that if every stand-up comic was penalized for saying politically incorrect things or provocative things, I think they'd all be hung in the public square."

Arthur and the Invisibles is directed by Luc Besson and features voice work from Madonna, Robert DeNiro, Snoop Dogg, Mia Farrow, Harvey Keitel, and Jimmy Fallon.

Reznor talks album, questions modern music

Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor says he has been reinvigorated by his forthcoming new album, but much of modern music leaves him dumbfounded. In an interview with Kerrang! magazine, Reznor said he's got his confidence back as an artist. "I feel stronger about what I have to say as an artist, and I feel a lot less concerned about what people think about it... My best work's ahead of me." But his renewed verve doesn't make him feel like any less of an old man when he hears the bevy of new alternative rock bands. "Emo screamo!" he told the mag. "If I happen to accidentally turn the radio on...I literally can't tell the difference between one of 20 bands. Either I'm getting old, which is a fact, or I'm turning into my dad! I wonder about the person that's in a band, the young kid who just got signed or is trying to get signed--why is he doing it? Is he trying to change the world and do something different and express himself...or is it because they want to f*** Paris Hilton and be photographed outside trendy restaurants?"

Snoop holds auction to promote his pet products

Facing a lawsuit over the film and TV rights to his Snoop Youth Football League, Snoop Dogg is taking to the auction block. The rapper has teamed up with mobile entertainment provider Limbo 41414 to promote Snoop and his new line of pet products and to raise money for the league. Limbo 41414 is hosting a cell-phone-driven, text-messaging-based auction for items like signed copies of Snoop's latest album, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, Snoop Dogg pet products, and a chance to hang with the rapper at the third annual Snooper Bowl, which serves as the championship for the rapper's youth league. The line of pet products includes items like faux fur coats and hoodie sweatshirts. A percentage of the proceeds from the Snoop-themed Limbo Auction will go to the league, which has been bringing football leagues to underprivileged youth since 2004. Entrants can bid on items by sending a text message with the keyword SNOOP to 41414 for a fee of $1.99, from which $.85 will be donated to the Snoop Youth Football League.

Streep to star in film version of Mamma Mia

Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep has signed to star in the film version of the popular Abba musical Mamma Mia, according to Hollywood trade pub Variety. The film would be Streep's first musical, although she sang in the late director Robert Altman's Prairie Home Companion last year. "She was always at the top of our wish list," Mamma Mia creator and the film's producer Judy Craymer told Variety. The musical features 22 Abba songs, including "The Winner Takes It All" and "Dancing Queen." The musical has made more than $1.6 billion in ticket sales around the world.

N.O.R.E. testifies in murder trial

Bronx rapper N.O.R.E. testified in a triple murder trial this week, saying that suspect Darryl Henderson was never in the middle of violence when it took place. According to the Associated Press, N.O.R.E. said he met Henderson in the Bronx in 1998 or 1999 and brought him on concert tours as a roadie, running errands such as ordering food and beer for the performers. He said he also befriended members of Murder Unit, a Bronx street gang, but did not know that some of them had violent histories, sold drugs, and carried weapons. Henderson has been on trial for the past month in US District Court in Manhattan on charges stemming from the January 21, 2002, triple murder a block and a half from Yankees Stadium. Henderson faces a possible death penalty if convicted.

"Hard-core hip-hop tends to sell more records," N.O.R.E. said on the stand. "It's about selling an image."