Entertainment Today: Showbiz News

BILLY JOEL HURT IN CAR CRASH

Pop singer Billy Joel was injured when he crashed his car into a tree on Long Island Sunday morning.

Although he refused to disclose the nature of Joel's injuries, a spokesman at Stony Brook University Hospital confirmed the 53-year-old "Piano Man" was treated and observed for several hours Sunday after his Mercedes Benz careened into a tree along a highway in Sag Harbor. He was released the same day.

Sag Harbor Village police say the accident is still under investigation, but no summonses were issued.

DARKNESS FALLS ON KANGAROO COMEDY

Last week's No. 1 film, "Kangaroo Jack," fell to second place this weekend, replaced by the new horror flick, "Darkness Falls."

"Falls," starring "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" demon Emma Caulfield, earned $12.5 million at the box office this weekend. Meanwhile, the Outback comedy, "Kangaroo Jack," took in another $11.9 million in its second weekend in release.

A bunch of shiny new Golden Globe awards -- and a wider release -- helped boost ticket sales to the musical, "Chicago," which earned $8.5 million, followed by the screwball comedies "Just Married," with $7.5 million and "National Security," with $7.4 million.

COMIC-BOOK FILM WINS TOP SUNDANCE HONOR

The tale of an underground comic-book writer nabbed the Sundance Film Festival's top dramatic prize Saturday night.

Starring "Duets" actor Paul Giamatti, "American Splendor" is the biography of comic creator Harvey Pekar. Brilliantly blending animation with live-action acting and real-life video, the film earned the grand jury prize.

The grand prize for best documentary went to "Capturing the Friedmans," the story of a family torn apart after the father and youngest son are arrested for child molestation.

LATIFAH, MARTIN BRING DOWN THE HOUSE

Queen Latifah follows her Golden Globe-nominated performance in "Chicago" with a scene-stealing role in Steve Martin's new comedy, "Bringin' Down the House."

Noting the trailer for the movie is in theaters now, the singer-actress told United Press International: "That s--- is funny. Can I say that? That s--- is funny. It's hilarious. Did you see that trailer? Yo, I'm telling you that the movie is crazy, and then, Eugene Levy is so funny in it. Betty White is hysterical and it's just one of those good comedies. It's like Steve Martin at his best, getting to ham it up and do all of that stuff we loved about him in 'The Jerk' and we loved about him on 'Saturday Night Live'. It was like, 'this is the Steve Martin that I grew to love...' and he got to be that guy in this movie again."

Asked how she fit in with that group of legendary comics, Latifah said: "I was totally comfortable. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm way more of a joker than I am a serious person. That's why 'Living Single' was so fun for me because up until that point, everyone thought that Queen Latifah was this serious, serious person and I'm like, 'That's so not me,' but you guys keep asking me serious questions, I'm going to give you a serious answer -- or because I came out with this strength in this African garb, initially, you know, people kind of took me seriously, but we had a lot of fun."

Latifah hints that, like her prison matron "Mama" in "Chicago," audiences will again see her brassy, sensual side in "Bringin' Down the House." But she warns any sexiness is tinged with comedy.

"It was like, you get to hop on top of this guy and freak him. The thought of me freaking Steve Martin was enough to crack me up. I mean, I was looking good, but it was funny to me," she laughs.

"Bringin' Down the House" is scheduled to open next month.

LET'S HOPE BABS HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR...

In "Barbra's Wedding," writer Daniel Stern addresses the question many of us have asked ourselves -- "Why wasn't I invited to Barbra Streisand's wedding?"

Best-known for his acting roles in the popular films "Diner," "Home Alone" and "City Slickers," Stern will make his playwrighting debut in New York next month with the comedy, "Barbra's Wedding."

Directed by David Warren ("Hobson's Choice," "The Dazzle,") the New York premiere of "Barbra's Wedding" stars John Pankow ("Mad About You") and Julie White ("Six Feet Under.") Presented at Manhattan's Westside Theatre, the comedy will begin performances Feb. 11 and will open March 5.

"Barbra's Wedding" is the story of celebrity-obsessed, unemployed actor and former television star Jerry Schiff (played by Pankow) who lives next door to the most famous woman in the world, Barbra Streisand.

When Babs is getting married and he has not been invited -- it triggers a madcap, comic reflection on the media culture of celebrity, including reverberations on his own marriage to wife Molly, played by White.