Bosses at America's leading gay rights group are demanding a summit meeting with the producers of TV talent show American Idol after claiming the program is "increasingly homophobic." Officials at the Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) were appalled by homophobic remarks made by judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson on the first show of the new season, which aired in America on Tuesday. On the program, Brit Cowell told one effeminate wannabe to "shave off your beard and wear a dress," while Jackson asked another audition hopeful, "Are you a girl?" Both contestants were rejected. Now GLAAD bosses are fighting back, demanding an audience with Idol bosses. A spokesman tells entertainment news website TMZ.com, "GLAAD is reaching out to the show's producers to discuss our concerns and the concerns of community members and allies, who have contacted us about this matter."

Hit US TV show The West Wing will be axed when its seventh season draws to a close in May. American broadcaster NBC is disappointed with the program's recent ratings despite critical acclaim for the current series focusing on the election to find President Josiah Bartlett's replacement. The final episode will be broadcast in the US on May 14, preceded by a one-hour retrospective. The decision to pull the show was made before the death of actor John Spencer, who played chief of staff Leo McGarry, on 16 December last year. The West Wing joins hit Fox shows Malcolm In The Middle and That 70's Show in concluding in May.

Bosses at US cable channel E! are standing by controversial fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi after he was publicly criticised for risque acts and comments at the Golden Globe Awards last week. Mizrahi groped actresses Teri Hatcher and Scarlett Johansson, asked Eva Longoria about her pubic hair and insisted on prying in handbags as he co-hosted E!'s red carpet coverage. But TV executives have booked the style king for their upcoming Oscar night coverage in March. Although none of the stars have complained about Mizrahi's conduct, officials at America's Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) have complained about comments Mizrahi made to Charlize Theron about her Oscar-winning performance in Monster, during which he called her character "a scary dyke with bad teeth." A spokesman for the network says, "We wanted someone who would bring surprises." But bosses at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which runs the Oscars, are planning to discuss E!'s coverage in a bid to make sure their guests aren't insulted by Mizrahi. Spokesman John Pavlik says, "We would be extraordinarily angry if that sort of thing happened on our red carpet."

Actor Tony Franciosa has died after suffering a massive stroke. He was 77. Ironically, his death comes less than a week after that of Shelley Winters - one of his four wives. Franciosa made his movie debut in 1957's A Face In The Crowd and won a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his role in A Hatful Of Rain the same year. But, despite an impressive big screen start, Franciosa failed to live up to his initial promise and after acclaimed roles in films like The Long Hot Summer (1958) and Rio Conchos (1964), he turned his attention to TV. He found small-screen stardom on the TV series The Name Of The Game, among other shows. He returned to the big screen for roles in late 1970s/early 1980s action movies like Firepower and Death Wish II and made his last appearance on the big screen in City Hall in 1996.

George Clooney has come under fire from disgraced US lobbyist Jack Abramoff's family, after poking fun at him in his Golden Globes Best Supporting Actor acceptance speech on Monday. The movie star joked, "Who would name their kid 'Jack' with 'off' at the end? No wonder the guy's screwed up," which infuriated Abramoff's father, who was watching the awards show at home. Frank Abramoff has since fired off a letter to Clooney via newspaper the Palm Springs Desert Sun, accusing the actor of being "glib and ridiculous." Abramoff's father says, "Your glib and ridiculous attack on my son, Jack, coupled with your obscene query as to the choice his mother and I made in naming him brought shame and dishonor on you and your profession. What drove you to this lapse in lucidity, I can never know, but you need to know that your words were deeply hurtful to many innocent and decent people. Are you the heir to the dignity and greatness of Hollywood's past, or, more likely, a portent to a depressing and horrific future?" Washington DC lobbyist Abramoff has been convicted of bribery and conspiracy after admitting he bribed public officials and defrauding Native American clients.

The civil trial over the attempted distribution of actor Colin Farrell's 15-minute sex tape is to take place on July 17. The date is set a year after Farrell took legal action against his 'co-star' Nicole Narain for allegedly planning to commercially release the raunchy footage. The video reportedly shows the movie hunk engaging in sex acts with the former Playboy model during their 2003 romance. A judge also granted the Phone Booth star a restraining order banning the release or commercial exploitation of the tape. A Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent marketing of the tape in August, but a website earlier this month offered viewers a peek at his home-made sex until it was shut down at Farrell's behest.

Hollywood couple Zach Braff and Mandy Moore finally went public with their romance at the Golden Globes on Monday, with the Scrubs star declaring the beauty is "an amazing comedian." The Garden State funnyman, 30, and singer/actress, 21, starting dating exactly a year ago, but have refused to confirm they were a couple until now. However, the pair happily posed for photos at the Hollywood awards on Monday and Braff told of his excitement of Moore's guest role in Scrubs. He says, "Mandy is an amazing comedian and I don't think a lot of people have gotten the chance to see her do broad, physical comedy. It really gave her a chance to show off that side of her." Meanwhile, Braff's co-star Sarah Chalke enthuses, "They are the sweetest couple."

Jon Bon Jovi has apologized to Madonna after wrongly accusing her of exploiting her children by proudly displaying them at movie premieres. The "Livin' On A Prayer" hitmaker berated the pop superstar for allowing Lourdes, nine, and Rocco, five, to attend public events, advising her to shield them from media intrusion. But the 43-year-old soon realised his mistake after the Material Girl hit back, insisting her children had never attended a single film opening. He says, "I put my foot in my mouth recently with a comment about Madonna. Let me apologise because I don't know the woman." However, the rocker continues to express distaste for publicity hungry celebrities: "There are celebrities who will go out of their way to get their picture in the paper and I just think that is a load of rubbish." Lourdes and Rocco have since been photographed attending the Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire premiere in London on November 12.

Seventies pop icon Leif Garrett has been released from jail after telling a judge he wanted to check into a drug diversion program. The 44-year-old singer was arrested last Saturday in Los Angeles after police allegedly found heroin on his possession as they searched him after he tried to ride the subway without a ticket. The fallen idol has since been detained at the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles and held without bail because he has an outstanding warrant for his arrest for violating the terms of his probation from a prior drug arrest last March. But authorities agreed to release the troubled star on Friday after he agreed to seek counselling help in a rehab facility.

Emmy-winning actor William Shatner has raised $25,000 for a housing charity by selling his kidney stone to an online casino. Gambling website GoldenPalace.com are the lucky new owners of the 74-year-old's unique item of memorabilia. Shatner says, "This takes organ donors to a new height, to a new low, maybe. How much is a piece of me worth?" The actor passed the stone in August 2005, after he collapsed on the set of his show Boston Legal.