Piers Morgan

Contradicting testimony by Piers Morgan, a former reporter said in a British inquiry that phone hacking was considered a "standard journalistic tool" at the tabloid once run by the CNN host. Former Daily Mirror business columnist James Hipwell's testimony on Wednesday clashed with Morgan's insistence a day earlier that he did not know the practice was used at the tabloid during his time as editor from 1995 to 2004. Hipwell, who was fired from the paper in 2000 and later convicted of buying low-priced shares before recommending them in his popular City Slickers column, is now a freelance writer.

A roundup of entertainment headlines for Monday. It was a very good night for Harvey Weinstein at the Golden Globes. Four of his films won at the awards show. ( Los Angeles Times ) Strangely, Ricky Gervais was well-behaved during the show. ( Los Angeles Times ) Elton John seemed to have a beef with Madonna at the Golden Globes. ( Idolator ) Singer Lana Del Rey had an awkward introduction to the world on "SNL" over the weekend. ( Los Angeles Times )

After months of speculation, Piers Morgan, the British newspaper editor best-known to U.S. audiences as a judge on NBC's "America's Got Talent," has finally completed talks to take over Larry King's weeknight talk show on CNN. CNN, hoping to bolster its flagging prime-time lineup, has settled on Morgan after delicate and wide-ranging negotiations that cleared numerous obstacles, from the host's visa status to his role as a judge on NBC's summer...

Contradicting testimony by Piers Morgan, a former reporter said in a British inquiry that phone hacking was considered a "standard journalistic tool" at the tabloid once run by the CNN host. Former Daily Mirror business columnist James Hipwell's testimony on Wednesday clashed with Morgan's insistence a day earlier that he did not know the practice was used at the tabloid during his time as editor from 1995 to 2004. Hipwell, who was fired from the paper in 2000 and later convicted of buying low-priced shares before recommending them in his popular City Slickers column, is now a freelance writer.

Piers Morgan, the former tabloid editor turned CNN personality, said at an inquiry by the British government into journalism ethics that hacking into the phones of prominent personalities was not something he engaged in when he was running the Daily Mirror or working at News of the World. Testifying via video from the United States, where he hosts a low-rated nightly talk show for CNN, Morgan acknowledged that hacking into phones by the tabloids was a "widespread practice. " However, he said he had never sanctioned or practiced such behavior himself.

After months of speculation, CNN announced Wednesday that it had hired Piers Morgan, the British newspaper editor best known to U.S. audiences as a judge on NBC's "America's Got Talent," to take over its 9 p.m. talk-show slot currently hosted by Larry King. Hoping to bolster its flagging prime-time lineup, the Time Warner-owned network settled on Morgan after delicate and wide-ranging negotiations that cleared numerous obstacles, including the host's visa status and his role on "America's Got Talent," which he is expected to continue.

A roundup of entertainment headlines for Monday. It was a very good night for Harvey Weinstein at the Golden Globes. Four of his films won at the awards show. ( Los Angeles Times ) Strangely, Ricky Gervais was well-behaved during the show. ( Los Angeles Times ) Elton John seemed to have a beef with Madonna at the Golden Globes. ( Idolator ) Singer Lana Del Rey had an awkward introduction to the world on "SNL" over the weekend. ( Los Angeles Times )

The Early Show (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina perform; Greg Grunberg. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. KABC Rachael Ray Nick Jonas. 9 a.m. KCBS Live With Regis and Kelly Ellen Barkin; Buddy Valastro; Haley Reinhart performs. (N) 9 a.m. KABC The View Bobby Cannavale; Bobby Flay; Giada De Laurentiis. (N) 10 a.m. KABC The Doctors Food swaps; Hollywood's latest fitness craze; Chevy Chase.

? Do you have to be bad to be a good TV talent show judge? Up until now, that's been the thinking behind "American Idol," home of the original mean judge, Simon Cowell. Over the last nine seasons, the smug and acerbic Brit with the snug V-necks has become famous for comparing one contestant's singing to "a cat being thrown off a skyscraper," telling another, "Don't mean to be rude, but you look like the Hulk's wife," reducing dozens of hopefuls to their worst ugly cry ? and propelling the show to the No. 1 spot in the ratings.

Larry King back on CNN In his first CNN special since stepping down from his nightly talk show, Larry King visits a Las Vegas clinic where Alzheimer's disease is studied. He is accompanied by former President Ronald Reagan's son Ron. King's special, "Unthinkable: The Alzheimer's Epidemic," airs Sunday at 8 p.m. on CNN. It features interviews with several celebrities touched by the disease, including Maria Shriver, whose father, Sargent Shriver, had it, and actor Seth Rogen.

Piers Morgan, the former tabloid editor turned CNN personality, said at an inquiry by the British government into journalism ethics that hacking into the phones of prominent personalities was not something he engaged in when he was running the Daily Mirror or working at News of the World. Testifying via video from the United States, where he hosts a low-rated nightly talk show for CNN, Morgan acknowledged that hacking into phones by the tabloids was a "widespread practice. " However, he said he had never sanctioned or practiced such behavior himself.

Looks like "America's Got Talent" is getting raunchy — Howard Stern will join the judges' table. The famed shock jock will replace CNN host Piers Morgan, alongside Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne. Shooting will start in February, and the talent contest will return in the summer to NBC's schedule, where it has typically sat atop the ratings. The producers — including Simon Cowell, who created the series — opened their bank vault to snag Stern, whose profile has dipped since he moved his radio program to satellite.

Herman Cain has a critical summit meeting Friday with a house leader. His house. Cain is decamping back to Georgia for a sit-down with wife Gloria over the subject of Ginger White, the Atlanta woman who claims she was Cain's mistress for over a decade, and he said the two will discuss the future of his struggling presidential campaign. Cain is slated to open his national campaign headquarters in Atlanta on Saturday and, at least as of now, is expected to go through with it. But the lease had better be month-to-month.

It's gut-check season in American politics. For the next 12 months, candidates will stake out their positions on topics ranging from farm subsidies to foreign policy. And as they do, they will play up their differences, hurl invective and underscore the sagacity of their own proposals. Whatever their views, though, they will frequently cite an unlikely source of wisdom: their guts. Consider this exchange during Herman Cain's recent appearance on CNN. After the show's host, Piers Morgan, questioned the presidential candidate's assertion that being gay is "a personal choice," Cain came back with a challenge: "What does science show?"

Morgan exits 'Talent' Piers Morgan's talent is apparently not juggling two shows — he announced Wednesday evening on his CNN show that he will not be returning to NBC's "America's Got Talent" when the show comes back next year. After announcing the news, Morgan later tweeted: "I'm leaving America's Got Talent after 6 wonderful years. Turned out that juggling's harder than it looks, so I'm going to focus on CNN. " He followed with: "It's been a blast. " Morgan, 46, has been judging on the NBC talent show since 2006, and he was also a judge on the British version of the show with Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell.

A roundup of entertainment headlines for Thursday. Former Delaware Senate candidate and current not-witch Christine O'Donnell walked off Piers Morgan's CNN show over gay marriage questions. ( Los Angeles Times ) "The Lone Ranger" may still go before the cameras. ( Los Angeles Times ) An autopsy confirms that "Real Housewives' " Russell Armstrong did indeed commit suicide. ( Los Angeles Times ) A "Man of Steel" casting call has revealed the first hints of the top secret film's plot.

It's gut-check season in American politics. For the next 12 months, candidates will stake out their positions on topics ranging from farm subsidies to foreign policy. And as they do, they will play up their differences, hurl invective and underscore the sagacity of their own proposals. Whatever their views, though, they will frequently cite an unlikely source of wisdom: their guts. Consider this exchange during Herman Cain's recent appearance on CNN. After the show's host, Piers Morgan, questioned the presidential candidate's assertion that being gay is "a personal choice," Cain came back with a challenge: "What does science show?"

Morgan exits 'Talent' Piers Morgan's talent is apparently not juggling two shows — he announced Wednesday evening on his CNN show that he will not be returning to NBC's "America's Got Talent" when the show comes back next year. After announcing the news, Morgan later tweeted: "I'm leaving America's Got Talent after 6 wonderful years. Turned out that juggling's harder than it looks, so I'm going to focus on CNN. " He followed with: "It's been a blast. " Morgan, 46, has been judging on the NBC talent show since 2006, and he was also a judge on the British version of the show with Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell.

The Early Show (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina perform; Greg Grunberg. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. KABC Rachael Ray Nick Jonas. 9 a.m. KCBS Live With Regis and Kelly Ellen Barkin; Buddy Valastro; Haley Reinhart performs. (N) 9 a.m. KABC The View Bobby Cannavale; Bobby Flay; Giada De Laurentiis. (N) 10 a.m. KABC The Doctors Food swaps; Hollywood's latest fitness craze; Chevy Chase.

Larry King back on CNN In his first CNN special since stepping down from his nightly talk show, Larry King visits a Las Vegas clinic where Alzheimer's disease is studied. He is accompanied by former President Ronald Reagan's son Ron. King's special, "Unthinkable: The Alzheimer's Epidemic," airs Sunday at 8 p.m. on CNN. It features interviews with several celebrities touched by the disease, including Maria Shriver, whose father, Sargent Shriver, had it, and actor Seth Rogen.