– Peter Jennings’ name was dropped Monday night from ABC’s “World News Tonight.” In a message, David Westin, the president of ABC News, referring to Jennings’ wife, Kayce Freed, said: “After consulting with Kayce and the family, we concluded that leaving the broadcast’s title as it was through last Friday was an appropriate tribute to Peter. But, of all people, Peter insisted on accuracy. As much as we would have it otherwise, from now on `World News Tonight With Peter Jennings’ will be known as `World News Tonight.”‘ Jennings died Aug. 7.
– Dick Clark’s planning a comeback. He and Ryan Seacrest will co-host the 34th edition of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” live from New York’s Times Square on Dec. 31. Clark, 75, has been recovering at his Malibu home from a Dec. 6 stroke.
– Ashlee Simpson may return to “Saturday Night Live” to host–and perform, The Washington Post reports. The appearance would coincide with the October release of her new album. “It’s not confirmed yet, but I want to do it,” Simpson told Billboard.
– A specialist in Indian art and architecture was named Monday as new director of the J. Paul Getty Museum. Michael Brand, 47, a native of Australia, succeeds Deborah Gribbon, who resigned in October.
– Fiona Apple’s “Extraordinary Machine” will be released Oct. 4, Epic Records announced Monday. Last year, 11 Apple tracks were leaked onto the Internet. The album, her first in six years, now has 12 songs, including nine new versions of material that was leaked.
– Harry Connick Jr. will make his Broadway theatrical debut in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of “The Pajama Game,” which is to open in a limited engagement on March 2.
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The Personals page was compiled by Cristi Kempf from Tribune news services and staff reports.
