万花筒 2009-03-05&03-06 娱乐新闻串烧（在线收听）

Britney Spears is kicking off her first tour in five years promoting her latest hit album Circus before an adoring hometown audience with jugglers, acrobats, rings of flame and lip syncing(1). The pop star is in the process of a major comeback after a high-profile meltdown that included stints in psychiatric care, an ugly divorce, shaving her head and partying without panties. The Circus-theme tour makes stops in 44 cities.

U2 just released its first album since 2004 this week. But the Irish rock band is already planning a quickie follow-up next year. Lead singer Bono says the new disc will be called Songs of Ascent and will be more mellow than the current album.

Ex-Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are reportedly said to perform together at a charity concert next month. Sir Paul will headline the event that will take place at Radio City Music Hall.

Horror flick fans will get a chance to own the score(2) to Alfred Hitchcock's classic film Psycho. The 20-page document is being auctioned later this month and includes the shrieking violin notes to the film's famous shower scene.

In Los Angeles, I'm John Russell for Reuters.