The son of Michael Jackson's former housekeeper has told jurors the pop star molested him during a tickling game in 1990. The 24-year-old man was called to the stand yesterday as prosecutors in Jackson's child molestation case began trying to prove the 46-year-old has a history of abusing young boys. The witness said that over several years, Jackson twice touched his groin over his clothes during tickling games at Jackson's Los Angeles home - and in a third incident reached under his clothes at the star's Neverland ranch. Jackson gave him $100 after each of the first two incidents but nothing after the third one, he claimed. While fighting back tears, the witness, who prosecutors say received a $2.4 million settlement from Jackson in 1994, told the court, "He was tickling me. I was wearing shorts again... He reached on my leg and I'm still laughing and he reached up to my - privates." The appearance of the young man was allowed under last week's ruling that prosecutors may present evidence suggesting Jackson molested or otherwise behaved inappropriately with five boys before the current allegations took place. Jackson has pleaded not guilty to 10 felony charges of child molestation, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiracy involving allegations of child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. The trial continues.

The stars of Desperate Housewives turned into desperate divas on the set of their Vanity Fair cover shoot when Marcia Cross took offense at the star treatment lavished on Golden Globe-winner Teri Hatcher. According to writer Ned Zeman, who was present when the bust-up occurred, Cross "lost it" when Hatcher was moved into the center of the group shot, despite publicists' demands that photographers treat cast members as equals. Zeman says, "ABC (TV) publicity demanded that, in all the different set-ups that the women would be posed for photographs, Teri Hatcher absolutely was not to be in the center of the women. There had been some tension on the set over who's getting the awards and who's getting most of the magazine covers - that would be Teri Hatcher." And when Hatcher seemed to be taking over the shoot, through no fault of her own, Cross showed off her fiery side. Zeman adds, "She screamed (the publicist's) name and said, in essence, 'I want you to get over here and do your bleeping job...' Then she launched into this profanity-laced tirade. Teri was most visibly upset and got very emotional and was tearing up and was on her cell phone seeking comfort from someone." Hatcher insists the spat has been blown out of proportion: "However it comes off, I believe that everyone is as grateful to be on the show as I am." Meanwhile, cast mate Eva Longoria claims the fight was sparked by over-the-top primping and preening: "They forget we just shot a 16-hour day the day before and when someone's tweaking every little hair, it's like, 'Stop touching us, just shoot the picture.'"

All bets are off about the new James Bond - it looks like Pierce Brosnan may be back as the suave super spy after all. According to Internet reports, Sony bosses want Brosnan to return as 007 in the next Bond film Casino Royale, and they're keen for him to star in one more movie after that. A source tells website Darkhorizons.Com, "All the stuff we heard about Brosnan being out is just a ploy from both camps. The negotiations between Brosnan and Eon (Bond production company) came to an end because, in the last year, things were up in the air, thanks to all the organizational changes taking place. Brosnan/Eon camps are still going through the motions of bluffing each other: an echo of the old poker game that Cubby Broccoli (former Bond boss) went through with Roger Moore - Moore frequently announced that he wouldn't be back. The mood around Sony is that Brosnan will be back. Hence, the reluctance of the filmmakers to come right out and announce that they have parted ways with Brosnan. Sony are not in a gambling mood. They could lose more with an unknown actor, or with an experienced but unpopular actor. They're well aware that you just can't place any actor in this role."

Screen veteran Lauren Bacall has launched another attack on today's actresses - accusing them of being skinny, talentless and money-obsessed women who sacrifice everything for fame. The 80-year-old Birth star insists she's glad she put her movie career on hold to marry actor Humphrey Bogart, because her generation rightfully believed family and happiness was more important than the ruthless quest for money and celebrity status. And she fears movie star status has been cheapened by the influx of talentless women who win film and TV roles because they're thin and attractive. She complains, "I put my career in second place throughout both my marriages and it suffered. I don't regret it. You make choices. If you want a good marriage, you must pay attention to that. If you want to be independent, go ahead. You can't have it all. Today, women with minuscule talent are willing to sacrifice everything for their careers. Actors today go into TV, which I don't consider has a lot to do with acting. They only think of stardom. If you photograph well, that's enough. I have a terrible time distinguishing one from another. Girls wear their hair the same, and are much too anorexic-looking. We live in an age of mediocrity. Stars today are not the same stature as Bogie (Humphrey Bogart), Jimmy Cagney, Spencer Tracy, Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart."

Kim Cattrall has rubbished reports she was the victim of an attempted burglary at her rented London home. The former Sex And The City actress was starring in West End stage show Whose Life Is It Anyway? when the alleged incident at her Chelsea apartment took place on March 12. But Cattrall insists there was absolutely no truth to the reports that surfaced in America. She says, "That's a fabrication. The most astounding piece of news. I mean, it's so crazy, I had no idea. Someone told me from the States that someone had got into my bedroom. I thought, 'How did that happen?'"

Desperate Housewives beauty Eva Longoria has been presented with a $1.9 million contract to be the new face of cosmetics giant L'Oreal. The Texan actress, 30, will join a succession of celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Natalie Imbruglia and Beyonce Knowles who have starred in posters and adverts for the make-up company, saying the famous slogan "Because I'm worth it", reports British newspaper The Sun. A close friend says, "She's been told she was picked for her stunning face and figure, but also for her beautiful, glossy hair. She will probably be doing lots of shampoo adverts like Jennifer Aniston did at the height of her Friends fame. It's a huge contract and a real coup for her - when you look at the other stars who have worked for L'Oreal you realize what a big deal this is." Longoria will be officially named as the new face of L'Oreal later this week.

Pamela Anderson was taken to the New York City set of a talk show by police escort on Friday, after her vehicle she was traveling in got a flat tire. The former Baywatch star made an appearance at the New York Stock Exchange in the daytime before making her way to comedian Conan O'Brien's show for an interview. But after suffering a setback brought on by car troubles, Anderson arrived on the show in a raincoat and sunglasses, rather than her usual sexy attire. She explained to her disappointed host, "This is not what I was going to wear on here. I'm so disappointed. I saved my favorite outfit for you and they got a flat tire."

Veteran singer Barbra Streisand has reunited in the studio with Bee Gees star Barry Gibb, 25 years after they first teamed up. Gibb has agreed to write and produce 12 songs for Streisand's upcoming disc, due to hit record store shelves in September. The duo first worked together on the Guilty album in 1980, which went on to sell five million copies in America and spawned the hit single "Woman In Love." Fans of Streisand's original material will be particularly excited about her collaboration with Gibb - in 2003 she released an album of movie theme tunes, insisting she was bored of singing her own songs.

The son of famed daredevil Evel Knievel is jumping into reality television with a new US cable series. Knievel's Wild Ride, starring motorcycle stuntman Robbie Knievel, is scheduled to debut tonight. It follows the 42-year-old stunt rider, family members and crew as they work and travel. The first episode features a jump over 25 police cars at a New Jersey car dealership. The elder Knievel shot to fame in the 1970s for riding his motorcycle over everything from vehicles to alligators while wearing a red, white and blue jumpsuit.

Pop star Justin Timberlake is being groomed to play Bruce Willis' son in Die Hard 4.0. Willis was so impressed with the "Cry Me A River" hunk's acting skills in new movie Alpha Dog, he's trying to persuade Timberlake to sign up for his action movie's fourth installment. Movie gossip website Moviehole.Net reports, "John Jr, John McClane's son, was featured in the original Die Hard. In the next film, he'll be older - and, with his sister Lucy, he gets entangled in dad's latest adventure."