'Late Show' resumes; Williams first guest

Robin Williams will be David Letterman's first guest upon the return of his "Late Show" on CBS tomorrow. The appearance of a Hollywood A-lister may be Letterman's way of quickly trying to draw a distinction between his show and his late-night rivals, who are without writers and may have trouble booking major entertainers as guests. NBC's "Tonight" show said yesterday that Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee will appear on Jay Leno's first show back tomorrow. Letterman announced Friday that his production company, Worldwide Pants, had reached an agreement to have his show return with writers despite the continuing writers strike, which began Nov. 5. The deal also allows writers to return to Craig Ferguson's late-night show, also owned by Worldwide Pants. The late-night shows hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O'Brien are also returning tomorrow but have said little about who will appear. (AP)

Mindy McCready, who was sentenced in September for violating probation from a 2004 drug arrest, has been released from jail. The 32-year-old country singer was released Sunday morning, said a clerk at the Williamson County jail in Franklin, Tenn. The violation occurred in July when McCready was accused of scuffling with her mother and resisting arrest at her mother's home in Fort Myers, Fla. She still must serve two years' probation. (AP)

Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue and Jethro Tull founder Ian Anderson are among the names on Queen Elizabeth II's New Year's Honours list. The list is based on recommendations from the UK government. Minogue, who recovered from breast cancer to relaunch her career in 2007 with her 10th album "X," becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the annual list, for "services to music." Anderson is named as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to music. (BILLBOARD)

'They add excitement and we try to amp it up.' Film producer Jerry Bruckheimer (whose new movie is ‘‘National Treasure: Book of Secrets’’), talking about car chases