the early-evening news

Due to Illness, This Weekend’s Scheduled Sex Jams Will Be Performed by a Slightly Different Singer

Photo: Getty Images

Janet Out, Mariah In: Citing the flu, Janet Jackson has canceled her appearance on Saturday Night Live this weekend. Luckily, Mariah Carey, too, is in the midst of promoting an album fully of smutty R&B jams, and she’s agreed to perform in her stead. [AP]

Wooden Actor to Be on Funny Show: According to OK!, Josh Hartnett is in talks to appear in four to six upcoming episodes of 30 Rock as “a potential love interest for Tina [Fey]’s character.†[OK! via Defamer]

Superman Returns 2: Bryan Singer confirmed to Empire today that work is under way on a sequel to 2006’s Superman Returns, which was boring. [Empire]

Take a Seat, David, You’re Safe: According to DialIdol.com, a site that attempts to predict the results of American Idol by counting the number of busy signals users get when they try to vote for each contestant (or something), Vulture’s Idol, David Archuleta, will definitely not be voted off tonight. Phew! [DialIdol.com]

Want To See a Puppy Lip-synching to Death Metal? We thought so. [Break.com]