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For the first time in six years, “American Idol” got beat.

According to overnight Nielsen ratings, the Winter Olympics on NBC destroyed Fox’s talent show colossus head-to-head. In the hour when the two programs were against each other, 30.1 million people chose to watch the athletic action in Vancouver, compared to 18.4 million for “Idol.”

The Olympics became the first show to beat “American Idol” in the same hour in six years.

Americans Shani Davis, Shaun White, and Lindsey Vonn took home gold medals, helping NBC to its huge Wednesday night.

“Idol” topped the Olympics by nearly 4 million viewers on Tuesday night.

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U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir is staying at the Olympic village in Vancouver after receiving what he termed “very serious threats” from anti-fur activists.

Animal-rights activists condemned Weir last month after he decided to add white fox fur to the shoulder of his costume for the free skate at the United States Figure Skating Championships. He has previously talked about not enjoying his experience at the Olympic village in Turin four years ago.

Weir is sharing a suite with ice dancer Tanith Belbin.

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NBC announced “The Jay Leno Show” with great fanfare back in 2008, and after fewer than five months on the air, Jay Leno will call it quits tonight.

For the show’s finale, Leno will have Ashton Kutcher promoting “Valentine’s Day,” “Precious” star Gabourey Sidibe, and Bob Costas will do the “10 at 10″ from Vancouver, where he will host the Winter Olympics, beginning Friday on NBC.

While the Olympics are on, Leno’s studio will be completely redone before he (again) hosts “The Tonight Show,” starting March 1.

What are your thoughts about him calling it quits tonight?

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UPDATE – 2:00PM -

Mark Kerrigan has pled not guilty to assault charges.

Nancy Kerrigan’s brother, accused of struggling with father Daniel Kerrigan moments before the elder Kerrigan died, cried during his arraignment in Woburn District Court.

Bail has been set at $10,000.

Gossip Cop will monitor…

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ORIGINAL POST -

Nancy Kerrigan’s father has passed away, and the Olympic skater’s brother is being held in connection with his death.

Mark Kerrigan has been charged with assaulting his dad, 70-year-old Daniel Kerrigan.

The father and son struggled over a telephone during an argument. The two initially pushed “back and forth,” but when the father wouldn’t let his son use the phone, states a police report, Mark Kerrigan “put his hands around his father neck and his father fell to the floor.”

The skater’s brother thought his dad was “faking it,” but he had suffered a massive heart attack.

The police used pepper spray to subdue Mark Kerrigan, who appeared to have been intoxicated at the time.

Kerrigan’s brother faces one count of assault and battery of an elder.

Gossip Cop will update as more details emerge about this tragedy.

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(NBC.com)

NBC Universal Television Chairman Jeff Gaspin has just confirmed that “The Jay Leno Show” will end when the Winter Olympics begin on February 12.

Gaspin said pointblank, ‘’The Jay Leno Show’ will no longer air at 10 p.m.” 

As you probably know by now, the network wants Leno to do an 11:35 p.m. show, and move Conan O’Brien and “The Tonight Show” a half hour back to 12:05 a.m.

So far, as Gossip Cop was first to report, O’Brien has not agreed to the switch. And on Friday night’s show, O’Brien joked in his monologue about the sticky situation in which he and Leno are currently embroiled.

NBC said that “Dateline,” “Parenthood,” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” were among the shows that would possibly fill in the 10 p.m. time slot being vacated by Leno.

Gossip Cop will update as more details emerge…

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