Oprah, Uma? No, Oprah, Howard
In the battle of the big-name satellite radio franchises, XM has snagged Oprah Winfrey.
Winfrey, who has conquered television, film, books and magazines, announced Thursday that she’s signed a three-year, $55 million deal with XM Satellite Radio to launch a new radio channel in September.
Oprah & Friends will feature programming about fitness, health and self-improvement with folks familiar from her “Oprah & Friends” TV show and O magazine, such as Bob Greene, Dr. Mehmet Oz and Nate Berkus. There also will be a weekly show with Winfrey and best friend Gayle King.
Winfrey’s deal still pales in comparison to the $600 million, five-year contract that rival satellite broadcaster Sirius has with shock-jock Howard Stern.
Too hot to handle
Sarasota High School sent a valentine to Jerry Springer – then took it back.
The talk-show host had accepted an invitation from his hometown school’s cheerleaders to headline the “Hollywood Nights” dance Saturday.
But administrators withdrew it Wednesday, saying that Springer, whose TV guests include unfaithful lovers and brawling friends, was not an appropriate role model for students.
To the big house
A housekeeper has pleaded guilty to stealing valuables from her celebrity employers, including a leather jacket and cameras from Candice Bergen and diamond earrings and shoes from Robert De Niro‘s wife.
Lucyna Turyk-Wawrynowicz, a 35-year-old native of Poland, tearfully pleaded guilty to grand larceny, identity theft and forgery. Under the terms of a plea deal, she will be sentenced to one to three years in prison.
Road rage
Britney Spears now realizes she “made a mistake” by driving with her baby son sitting in her lap instead of a car seat, she told “Access Hollywood” on Thursday.
Several photos published this week showed Spears driving her sport utility vehicle with 4-month-old Sean Preston perched on her lap. The 24-year-old pop star said she was trying to protect him from paparazzi.
On the road again
Willie Nelson has introduced California to “BioWillie,” his brand of clean-burning fuel made from soybeans.
It went on sale Wednesday at an alternative fuel station in San Diego, where the 72-year-old singer filled his tour bus from a pump emblazoned with a picture of himself strumming a guitar.
BioWillie also is sold in Texas, South Carolina and Georgia.
The birthday bunch
Actor Robert Wagner is 76. Singer Roberta Flack is 67. Country singer Lionel Cartwright is 46. Actress Laura Dern is 39. Country singer Dude Mowrey is 34.