Ox Notes: January 19, 2010

Here's a Dancing with the Stars 10 cast rumor that delights me almost as much as the one about Jonathan Frakes. Producers unsuccessfully pursued NFL player Chad Ochocinco for DwtS 9, but now that the Cincinnati Bengals are out of the playoffs, he's available. You have to love a guy who legally changed his name to the Spanish pronunciation of his jersey's numerals.

NBC is reportedly ready to pay Conan O'Brien nearly $40 million to leave the network. He wouldn't be allowed to host another show on a rival network until September, and NBC would retain the rights to many of O'Brien's signature bits. The fate of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is still up in the air.

Jay Leno addressed the situation on his show last night, and comedian Louis C.K. added his two cents as well.

Rob Thomas says the long hoped for Veronica Mars movie is dead in the water.

The identities of 21 of American Idol 9's Top 24 contestants have leaked online.

This Friday, January 22, eleven cable and broadcast networks will air a celebrity telethon to raise money for Haiti. The telethon, which starts at 8 p.m. ET, will push back the series finale of Fox's Dollhouse one week to January 29.

Yesterday's Oprah dealt with the dangers of texting and talking on the phone while driving. Visit Oprah's website to sign the pledge to end distracted driving and make your car a No Phone Zone.