Women have selected Johnny Depp, star of the hit summer film "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," as the celebrity they most fantasize about during sex. According to tootimid.com, Depp led the pack that included Brad Pitt, Colin Farrell, Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington.

A French-produced version of Dick Wolf ’s "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," using European actors and original scripts, will debut in France next year, NBC announced Monday at the TV critics’ summer meetings in Los Angeles. Reruns of "CI," and of "L&O: Special Victims Unit" are already hits in France, Wolf said. No title yet, but it will include "Paris," where the new series is set.

After two episodes, Fox’s new reality show "The Princes of Malibu" has been beached. Reruns of "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" will take over the Sunday slot.

James Marsters, best known as vampire Spike on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," will sink his teeth into the WB’s "Smallville" as the evil Brainiac in the fall.

Santa Barbara, Calif., prosecutors were ordered last week to return Michael Jackson ’s possessions, which include his extensive pornography collection, since a verdict was returned of not guilty on all counts in his child-molestation trial. According to MTV.com, the items seized also included computers, books, syringes, Demerol and prescriptions for drugs in different people’s names.

Troubled rocker Courtney Love was praised by a Los Angeles judge for making progress in court-ordered rehab. If she successfully completes the program, a misdemeanor drug charge will be wiped from her record, according to USA Today. Love regained custody of Frances Bean, 12, her daughter with late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, earlier this year.

Theinsideronline.com reports that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie may be doing a book together. But not about their purported love affair. It wil be a picture book, done by British photographer Steven Klein, of the shots he did of the twosome for W magazine. (The W spread depicted the "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" stars at Jolie’s estate in Buckinghamshire, England.)

Is Eminem headed for retirement - or just taking a break?

In a posting on its Web site, MTV quotes Eminem as saying, "I’m not retiring," and also denying that "Encore" is his last album. Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, is quoted as saying: "When I say I’m taking a break, I’m taking a break from my music to go in the studio and produce my other artists and put their albums out."

An East Rutherford, N.J., woman has been accused by authorities of amassing more than $12,000 in free merchandise by claiming she was Jessica Simpson ’s assistant. Courtney Handel, 23, was arrested Friday and released Sunday. Police said she faces charges of theft by deception, fraud and trademark infringement. Police said Handel sent e-mails and faxes to companies posing as Simpson assistant CaCee Cobb.

Beware of reports that begin with "Word is ... . " Such as: Word is, Usher is expecting a baby. Could supermodel Eishia Brightwell really be three months pregnant with his baby? Could a wedding be far off? Word: Denial. "It was a story fabricated by a total idiot that spread over the Internet," E!Online quotes an Usher rep as saying.

Quashing a New York Post report, Pamela Anderson says that she is totally "not (re)engaged to (re)marry" former hubby Tommy Lee.

A judge has issued a permanent injunction banning two members of the Doors from using the band’s name and any likeness of late frontman Jim Morrison to promote a renewed version of the band. A superior court judge in a judgment released Friday sided with Doors drummer John Densmore, who sued keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger in February 2003 for breach of contract. Manzarek and Krieger have been under the name The Doors of the 21st Century.

Mikalah Gordon, the wailing 2005 "American Idol" finalist, has been cast in a recurring role in Fran Drescher ’s new WB sitcom, "Living With Fran." Gordon will play "cousin Brianna," who’ll sing at a bar mitzah in the premiere episode.

The lead singer of Megadeth has sued the band’s former bass player for allegedly using the name of the group without permission in an ad for musical equipment. David Mustaine claims in the lawsuit filed Monday that he and bassist David Ellefson entered into a settlement agreement in February that restricts the guitarist’s use of the band name.

Mustaine is seeking unspecified compensatory, punitive and exemplary damages.