Five standouts of the stage, screen and studio will receive the 33rd annual Kennedy Center honors, the performing arts center in Washington said Tuesday. Country great Merle Haggard, Broadway composer-lyricist Jerry Herman, choreographer and director Bill T. Jones, singer-songwriter Paul McCartney and television producer, host and actress Oprah Winfrey will receive their honors from the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts Dec. 5, the center said in a release. "The Kennedy Center celebrates five individuals who have spent their lives enriching, inspiring and elevating the cultural vibrancy of our nation and the world," Kennedy Center Chairman David Rubenstein said.

America Ferrera, known as the title character in "Ugly Betty," will host the PBS series "Independent Lens," the producers said in San Francisco Tuesday. The Emmy Award-winning "Independent Lens" begins its ninth season Oct. 19. "We're so pleased to welcome America Ferrera as the host for the ninth season of 'Independent Lens,'" series producer Lois Vossen said in a release.

U.S. actor John Travolta decided to drop his case against two alleged Bahamian extortionists, saying he wants to move on from his son's 2009 death. Ambulance driver Lightbourn and former politician Bridgewater were accused of trying to extort $25 million from Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, after their 16-year-old son, Jett, died in January 2009 after a seizure while vacationing with his family in the Bahamas. The original case against Lightbourn and Bridgewater ended in a mistrial in October.

Mark David Chapman, convicted of killing former Beatle John Lennon in front of his New York City apartment, is up for parole this week, officials said. The New York parole board began its meeting Tuesday, CNN reported. The last time Chapman was eligible for parole, in 2008, the New York State Division of Parole said his request was denied "due to concern for the public safety and welfare."

Travolta extortion case dropped in Bahamas NASSAU, Bahamas A judge in the Bahamas dismissed charges Monday against two people accused of trying to extort money from John Travolta after the actor decided he no longer wanted to face the pain of a new trial stemming from the death of his teenage son on the island chain. "The Travolta family has said that this matter has caused them unbelievable stress and pain and they wish to put this whole thing behind them," Braithwaite told the court after a jury had been picked to hear the case.

The Emmy(R) Award-winning PBS series "Independent Lens" announced today that critically acclaimed actress America Ferrera will host the upcoming 2010/2011 season, making her debut when the series premieres on Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 at 10 PM (check local listings). Ferrera is the latest in the distinguished company of "Independent Lens" presenters, including Susan Sarandon, Terrence Howard, Edie Falco, Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, and most recently Maggie Gyllenhaal. "We're so pleased to welcome America Ferrera as the host for the ninth season of 'Independent Lens,'" said series producer Lois Vossen.

Sept. 07--WHILE ONE scandal closes for John Travolta, another one tries to inch its way forward. In the closing scandal, a judge in the Bahamas dismissed charges yesterday against Tarino Lightbourne and Pleasant Bridgewater, both accused of trying to extort money from the "Hairspray" star after he chose not to face the pain of a new trial stemming from the death of his teenage son, Jett. "The Travolta family has said that this matter has caused them unbelievable stress and pain and they wish to put this whole thing behind them," Braithwaite told the court after a jury had been picked.

Sept. 07--The struggling economy didn't stop local residents from donating more than a million dollars for the fourth year in a row to the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon. The tote board stood at $1,007,038 when the local portion of the telethon, which was joined in progress at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, ended at 7 last night. Nationally, MDA officials say contributions and pledges from this, the 45th annual telethon, totaled $58.9 million, down from $60.5 million last year and a record $65 million in 2008.