'Jerry Springer' May Be Unholy, But Sales Are Divine

· 50 Cent sued Taco Bell in N.Y.C. federal court claiming the fast-food chain used his name without permission in spoofy ads asking him to call himself 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent -- reflecting the prices, respectively, of their cinnamon twists, crunchy tacos and bean burritos. A Taco Bell rep told reporters the ads represented a "good faith" offer to the rapper for a one-day name switch in exchange for a charitable donation.

· Rudy Giulian i's son sued Duke University in North Carolina federal court Wednesday over his dismissal from the school's golf team. Andrew Giuliani, 22, a rising senior, claims the coach manufactured accusations against him. A Duke rep said the school will fight the suit.

· Starlet Sienna Miller sued two British tabloids and a photo agency for "breach of privacy" in London's High Court for publishing topless shots of her frolicking with still-not-unmarried actor Balthazar Getty, her lawyers told People.

· Brad Pitt threatened to sue anyone who publishes recent paparazzi photos (taken via a powerful telephoto lens) of his and Angelina Jolie 's growing brood at their French estate, the Smoking Gun reports.

No Tough Questions at This Screening

Remember the good old days when Helen Thomas drove presidents nuts?

"I think that presidents deserve to be questioned, perhaps irreverently, to bring them down a size," says the legendary White House correspondent in a forthcoming documentary. Alas, Thomas's front-row zingers have been few and far between since she stopped writing for UPI and was moved to the back at presidential news conferences.

But her dogged queries are captured for posterity in "Thank You, Mr. President," a 45-minute HBO film screened Wednesday at the National Press Club. "She's always been a hero to me," said director Rory Kennedy, daughter of Bobby and Ethel Kennedy."Simply because she asks the questions -- continually, relentlessly and singularly."

The film, which begins airing Aug. 18, was shot last year at Hickory Hill, RFK's family home in McLean. Thomas reflects on 48 years covering nine presidents, starting with John F. Kennedy (she loved him) up to George W. Bush (not so much). Her sobering take: "Access to a president doesn't mean you're gonna get the truth."

Unfortunately, the 87-year-old Thomas was too ill to attend the screening; instead, former White House press secretaries Marlin Fitzwater and Joe Lockhart and journalists Martha Raddatz and Bill Plante shared Helen stories. Said Plante: "We don't owe presidents any respect except respect for the office."