CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG made her network TV debut singing "Trick Pony" at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Not sure about the werewolf in the background.

TED LEO & THE PHARMACISTS played the World Cafe on Friday; you can stream the whole gig on demand.

THE XX stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set, streaming on demand.

RAIN MACHINE: Kyp Malone (TVotR) did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter.

PRINCETON did three free songs for Daytrotter, including a cover of Yo La Tengo's "Sugarcube."

BROKEN BELLS, a/k/a The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Mouse, drop a video for "The High Road."

SCOTT MILLER of Game Theory and the Loud Family talks to MBV about his careers, bands he's listening to now, and more...

NEIL YOUNG was officially minted as the Recording Academy's "MusiCares Person of the Year" Friday night; the Toronto Star covers his philanthropy.

OWEN PALLETT talks to ChartAttack about his new album, how he measures himself to Neko Case, how he's crazy for Lady Gaga and how at the end of the day, all he wants are some slightly bulging biceps.

RONNIE WOOD is back in rehab. Eighth time is the charm, I hear.

THE GRAMMYS went to these folks. Yeesh. Congrats to Phoenix, though.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Avatar tops the chart for a seventh weekend with another 30 million, on a mere 14 percent drop. In all likelihood, it will pass Titatnic's record domestic total this week; its wordwide total nears two billion dollars.  Edge of Darkness, Mel Gibson's return to acting, debuted in second with 17 million. Considering his last star turn was 2002's Signs, followed by some richly-deserved bad PR, that's probably not bad, especially competing with Avatar -- but against an 80 million budget, it's not good, either.  When in Rome opened in the third slot with 12 million, which again is not bad -- if the budget was under 30 million.  Tooth Fairy held onto the fourth slot with ten million, which is a comment on the competition as much as the movie.  Rounding out the Top Five is The Book of Eli with 8.8 million, and a 73.4 million total that comes close to the production budget.  Below the fold Legion plunged 61 percent, from second to sixth -- but has recouped its production budget already.  Sherlock Holmes will likely hit 200 million next weekend.  Overall, typical end-of-January doldrums at the cineplex.

RIP TORN was arrested Friday night for allegedly breaking into a Main Street bank intoxicated, armed with a loaded revolver.

BRITTANY MURPHY: The L.A. County Coroner's Office is now trying to fill in some critical gaps in the medical history of the late actress.

MICHAEL JACKSON: The D.A. is ready to charge Dr. Conrad Murray in the singer's death, multiple law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

CHARLIZE THERON has reportedly spilt from Stuart Townsend after nine years as a couple.

ANGELINA JOLIE and... LADY GAGA? Too good to check!

BRAD PITT is a fine drinking buddy, according to Inglourious Basterds co-star Samm Levine.

THE GREEN HORNET will be scored by Danny Elfman.

THE DIRECTORS GUILD AWARDS went to these folks. Congrats to Katherine Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) for beating out her ex, James Cameron. Congrats also to Lesli Linka Glatter for an excellent episode of Mad Men, "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency."

IRAN: The US is dispatching Patriot defensive missiles to four countries - Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait - and keeping two ships in the Gulf capable of shooting down Iranian missiles. Washington is also helping Saudi Arabia develop a force to protect its oil installations.

AFGHANISTAN: As if US troops and diplomats didn't have enough to worry about in trying to understand Afghan culture, a new report suggests an entire region in the country is coping with a sexual identity crisis. An unclassified study from a military research unit in southern Afghanistan details how homosexual behavior is unusually common among men in the large ethnic group known as Pashtuns -- though they seem to be in complete denial about it.

GEN. PETRAEUS covered Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Iran with the Times of London.  Not headlined is more good news about the upcoming election in Iraq.

EATING LIVE OCTOPUS: Let's go to the video.

PIGLET rescued with mouth-to-snout resuscitation.

CATS compete in agility competitions... when they want to.

TWO ADULT TIGERS escaped from an enclosure at the Assam State Zoo in Guwahati, India, triggering panic among nearly 10000 visitors.