People: Apr. 23, 2007

GOOGLE NEWS HITS + GOOGLE BLOG HITS = THE SCORE 1

Photographer Larry Birkhead’s DNA beat out the laggardly genes of lawyer Howard K. Stern to win paternity of late maybe-billionaire Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter Dannielynn. Reported TMZ.COM: “Stern said Birkhead was welcome to come to the house and spend as much time with Dannielynn as he wanted.” SCORE: 3,997

2

It’s the calamity that launched a thousand Ring of Fire jokes: Johnny Cash’s 13,880-sq.-ft. lakeside house has burned down. It’s a loss to music history and a blow to the renovation plans of the house’s new owner–the Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb. But Cash’s neighbor, Oak Ridge Boys singer Richard Sterban, sees a higher power behind the disaster, telling the AP, “Maybe it’s the good Lord’s way to make sure that it was only Johnny’s house.” SCORE: 872

3

Did you know Kevin Costner had a band? Probably not. That’s why Costner is suing his music promoter for, well, nonpromotion. “The lawsuit should have profound implications … leaving promoters leery of ever taking on another [celebrity band],” notes blogsite DEFAMER, “lest Richard Gere and the Dolly Llamas sue them.” SCORE: 314

4

CNN talk-o-saurus Larry King has nominated the man he thinks could take over the reins: Ryan Seacrest, the well-coiffed host of American Idol. “He’s the classic generalist,” King tells the NEW YORK TIMES. “The only thing I don’t know … is how versed he is in politics, world affairs. Does he read the paper? Is he interested in Iraq? Because if he is, he’s going to be very good.” SCORE: 62

5

George Lucas was delighted with the Star Wars–themed dance routine performed by former ‘N Sync-er Joey Fatone on Dancing with the Stars. But he shared some Forceful costume tips with PEOPLE.COM: “He should have had a little Jedi outfit on.” SCORE: 23

TIMELINE

KITT, the car from Knight Rider, is up for auction. Bids on the ’82 Trans Am (one of four used on camera) start at $150K. But what of its ’80s TV brothers in Armor All?

“THE GENERAL LEE” The original ’69 Dodge Charger used in The Dukes of Hazzard made only one jump before heading to a Georgia junkyard (the fate of over 300 such cars). Rescued and restored in 2001, it was auctioned to an Ohio man for $20,000.

MAGNUM P.I.’S FERRARI 308 AND THE A-TEAM’S GMC VAN Their glory days as mustache-delivery system and crack-commando conveyance behind them, these ’80s alpha sleds now gather dust on the Universal Studios back lot, posing for tourist photos.

AIRWOLF Not an automobile, Airwolf was, like KITT, a product of SDI-era techno-lust. “The Lady,” a civilian Bell 222, was later sold to a German firm and used as an air ambulance. It crashed in 1991, killing three passengers.