Sheridan trial starts over loss of Edie

Nicollette Sheridan was fired from “Desperate Housewives” for standing up to the series’ creator after he struck her in the head, her attorney said Wednesday during opening statements in her wrongful termination trial.

Mark Baute said the show’s creator and executive producer, Marc Cherry, struck Sheridan hard on the head in September 2008 and fired her after ABC cleared him of wrongdoing. Sheridan is seeking roughly $6 million in damages.

Baute said Cherry acknowledges touching Sheridan, but claims he was tapping her head to give her artistic direction.

The ABC series’ stars, Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman and …

Nicollette Sheridan was fired from “Desperate Housewives” for standing up to the series’ creator after he struck her in the head, her attorney said Wednesday during opening statements in her wrongful termination trial.

Mark Baute said the show’s creator and executive producer, Marc Cherry, struck Sheridan hard on the head in September 2008 and fired her after ABC cleared him of wrongdoing. Sheridan is seeking roughly $6 million in damages.

Baute said Cherry acknowledges touching Sheridan, but claims he was tapping her head to give her artistic direction.

The ABC series’ stars, Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross are all listed as potential witnesses.

Attorneys for the show claim killing off Sheridan’s character, Edie Britt, was a creative decision, but the actress said she was wrongfully fired for complaining that Cherry struck her during a fight.

Ben and Jen add Samuel to family

Ben Affleck used Facebook to announce the birth of his son with wife Jennifer Garner.

The actor posted on his timeline that he and Garner are “happy” about the arrival of Samuel Garner Affleck, born Feb. 27. He describes the baby as “healthy.”

Affleck and Garner were married in 2005, and this is the couple’s third child and first son. Samuel joins sisters Violet, 6, and Seraphina, 3.

Lady Gaga kicks off youth foundation

Lady Gaga has launched a youth foundation by urging young people to “challenge meanness and cruelty.”

The singer spoke Wednesday to a crowd of more than 1,100 students, faculty and invited guests at Harvard University.

Oprah Winfrey, U.S. Health and Human Service Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and others joined her in kicking off the Born This Way Foundation. It’s named after her 2011 hit song with lyrics that promote self-empowerment.

The singer says the foundation’s goal is to empower youth and inspire bravery. She urges students to do “simple acts of kindness” in their communities. Earlier Wednesday, Lady Gaga caused a sensation on the Ivy League campus when she arrived in Harvard Yard in a sleek black dress, tall hat and platform shoes.

The birthday bunch

Singer Harry Belafonte is 85. Singer Mike D’Abo (Manfred Mann) is 68. Actor Alan Thicke (“Growing Pains”) is 65. Actor-director Ron Howard is 58. Actress Catherine Bach (“The Dukes of Hazzard”) is 58. Actor George Eads (“C.S.I.”) is 45. Actor Javier Bardem is 43. Actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar (“NYPD Blue”) is 38. Singer Justin Bieber is 18.