In The News ...

Good Marriage: In an interview, Carmen Electra said she and Dennis Rodman are still married, but they almost never speak, they virtually never see each other and apparently have not had sex since their wedding. In fact, today, she legally changed her name to Hillary Rodham Electra. (Steve Voldseth)

Safe at Any Speed: Swedish automaker Volvo is in talks to take over Italian automaker Fiat. They say their goal is to create the world's safest non-functioning car. (Voldseth)

Fire Up the Presses: Time and Newsweek have interviews with suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden. "Why is it Time and Newsweek can track this guy down, but the FBI and the CIA have no idea where he is? Why don't we just pay Time and Newsweek to kill the guy?" (Jay Leno)

I Declare: A recent poll showed that only 29 percent of the people asked knew that "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" comes from the Declaration of Independence ... The other 71 percent thought it was from President Clinton's 1996 campaign platform. (Bill Williams)

Role Playing: Elizabeth Dole may run for president. "The role for Bob Dole is a bit unclear. What would we call him - the first man? The first gentleman? The first lean love machine?" (Kenny Noble Cortes)

On the Newsstand: Barbra Streisand's wedding was among the top-selling issues of People magazine in 1998. "Among the worst-selling issues: Burt Reynolds and Marv Albert in the Great Toupee Debate." (Bob Mills)

Next!: The price of a stamp has gone up to 33 cents. "That's a helluva deal ... By the time the letter gets where it's going, it's less than a penny a day. (Leno)

Tune In Next Time: "Touched By An Angel" was the No.1 show on TV last week. "The bad news for the show? God now wants a 300 percent increase in salary next season." (Daily Scoop)

Cash and Carry: President Clinton announced the government had a record $76 billion surplus. "A lot of Democrats were urging him to spend that money on aid to unwed mothers. Or, as Clinton calls it, 'hush money.'" (Leno)

Loose Change: European Union countries adopted a new currency, the Euro, this year. "In a setback, some Eastern European countries mistakenly adopted the Yugo as their currency." (Michael Feldman)

True Confessions: Cher admitted to a London newspaper that she has had plastic surgery. "You could've knocked me over with a feather.'" (Leno)

No Bones About It: But Cher denied she had a rib removed to make her waist smaller. "She said she had a rib removed so scientists could make Calista Flockhart." (Conan O'Brien)

Scary: And oh, boy, it looks like Larry Flynt may have found a skeleton in Strom Thurmond's closet. Strom Thurmond. (Voldseth)

Going, Going: They auctioned off Mark McGwires' 70th home-run baseball for $3 million. Which sounds like a lot to pay for a baseball, but it turns out the guy who bought it also gets to host the 2002 Winter Olympics at his house. (Voldseth)

One Problem: Pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer Inc. says it has filed for a patent on a *_nasal-spray_* version of its anti-impotence drug Viagra. They just need to work on fixing a little side-effect known to researchers as "The Pinocchio Problem." (Jim Rosenberg)

Blockbuster: A U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Friday that John Hinckley, who shot President Ronald Reagan 17 years ago, can be granted supervised release. The cured Hinckley says he plans to just relax -- maybe rent "Contact," "Silence of the Lambs," "Little Man Tate," and perhaps "Nell." (Rosenberg)

Burned: As part of the settlement of a recent tobacco lawsuit, all cigarette ads must be removed from Times Square. "Don't worry, folks. It's still OK to smoke crack there." (O'Brien)

Nice Work If You Can Get It: Julia Roberts is now asking $20 million a movie. "Even if it means working eight and nine hours a day for weeks at a time." (Voldseth)