Buzz Notes

Buzz Notes

What's the beef between rapper-cum-"Crash" actor Ludacris and Oprah Winfrey? At the Charlize Theron -hosted party for her Africa Outreach charity in L.A. the other night, organizers supposedly panicked when the "Chicken and Beer" rhymer showed up. "Oprah was supposed to come, and there is some sort of a rift between her and Ludacris," our source explained. "Her people let it be known she would not enter the room if he was there. Luckily, Winfrey didn't show, avoiding a nasty scene." Others at the bash, where Mary J. Blige performed, included Matthew Perry, Heidi Klum and Macy Gray. (continue)

Playwright-turned-filmmaker Tyler Perry has signed a deal with independent firm Debmar-Mercury to distribute his original comedy series "House of Payne" in first-run syndication. According to trade reports, the half-hour sitcom centers on the comical situations that pop up when a multigenerational family lives under one roof. Perry, whose "Madea's Family Reunion" opened at No. 1 last weekend with $30 million, is serving as director, executive producer and one of the writers on "Payne" but will not star in the show. It is understood, however, that he may make occasional guest appearances. (continue)

Jermaine Jackson feared his kid brother Michael might be guilty of child molestation, but backed him at trial because he thought the pop star would commit suicide in prison, according to a bombshell book proposal obtained by the Daily News. In a tell-all outline shopped to publishers just weeks after Michael's arrest in November 2003, Jermaine described the Pop King as a sometimes out-of-control drug and booze abuser with a calculating mean streak and "a thing for young children." (continue)