Quick Takes

Manager defends Barrino

A report released by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police on Wednesday shows they believed they were responding to an attempted suicide after "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino overdosed on pills in her Charlotte, N.C., home. Her manager says the singer was not trying to kill herself. Manager Brian Dickens said Barrino overdosed on aspirin and a sleep aid, but her injuries were not life threatening, and it wasn't a suicide attempt. The overdose came days after a woman claimed in court documents that Barrino was having an affair with her husband.

Author sues Gervais

Ricky Gervais is being sued by an author who says the British comic ripped off his ideas when he wrote his book "Flanimals." According to John Savage, his book, 1998's "Captain Pottie's Wildlife Encyclopedia," is the basis for "Flanimals," which features cartoon beasts. Both "involve a whimsical take on the animal kingdom through the use of drawings and text, which in the case of the latter is a copy, in form and substance, of the former," according to documents filed at London's High Court. Gervais denies the allegation.

Nelly turns DJ

Rapper Nelly will now be playing the hits on the radio. Program director Mickey Johnson says the rapper has joined St. Louis' WHHL-FM, 104.1 as the afternoon drive-time host. His on-air stint, during which he'll fill in for another DJ who is on maternity leave, is expected to last about a month. In addition to playing music, Nelly will conduct interviews during his 3-7 p.m. shift.

Al-Jazeera gets nod

Al-Jazeera English has earned an International Emmy nomination in the news category for its coverage of the Gaza War in January 2009. Other nominees in the category include Russia's RT Channel for its coverage of President Barack Obama's July 2009 Russian visit, Britain's Sky News for reporting from the Taliban-controlled Swat Valley in Pakistan, and Brazil's TV Globo for its look at the November 2009 Brazilian blackout.

Compiled from wire reports by Melissa Sullivan