Top Story: Ka-ching! ABC Scores on Oscar Ads

War or no war, ABC's telecast of the Academy Awards on March 23 will take in a record $78.3 million in ad revenues, Variety reports. The alphabet network will pocket an average $1.35 million for a 30-second spot, up from $1.29 million last year. ABC senior VP of program sales Geri Wang told Variety, "The Academy Awards is the telecast that pulls in heavy-hitting decision-makers among its viewers, as well as people who are generally more upscale and educated," more so than any other entertainment show during the broadcast year. Advertisers such as P&G, General Motors, McDonald's, American Express, Pepsi, Anheuser-Busch, AOL Time Warner, Kodak and MasterCard are already signed up.

Clinton and Dole to Take Up Old Stances

Variety and the New York Times reports former President Bill Clinton and his 1996 election opponent Bob Dole have struck a deal with CBS' 60 Minutes to provide 10 debate segments, reviving the commentary segment "Point-Counterpoint." The two-week installments, which begin airing Sunday, will be called "Clinton/Dole" one week and "Dole/Clinton" the next.

Hussein Translator Faked Arabic Accent

According to the Los Angeles Times, the man who translated for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein during his interview with CBS' Dan Rather last week was a hired actor, Steve Winfield, known for his talent in mimicking accents. CBS, however, told the paper they vouched 100 percent for the accuracy of the interview's translation and that the voice was compatible "with the piece."

Rolling Stones Head to China

For the first time in the rock band's 40-year history, the Rolling Stones will travel to China as part of their Forty Licks world tour, Reuters reports. They will perform in Beijing on April 4.

Grammy-winner Jones Jazzed About Montreal

Reuters reports Norah Jones, Ray Charles, Mark Knopfler and Ben Harper will headline the 24th edition of the Montreal Jazz Festival, one of the world's largest musical gatherings. The festival will dominate Montreal's downtown scene during its run from June 26 to July 6.

ROLE CALL, Part I: Urinetown Hits Big Screen; Actors Line Up for Huckabee's; Dimension Films Team with Anderson; Brittany Murphy's Little Black Book

In Variety news: The Tony-winning Broadway offbeat musical Urinetown is getting a big-screen treatment in a story about a post-apocalyptic world where you have to pay to urinate; Three Kings director David O. Russell has stars lining up--including Mark Wahlberg, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin--to join his new existential comedy about a married couple, tentatively titled I Love Huckabee's…funny guy Anthony Anderson (Cradle 2 the Grave, Kangaroo Jack) has inked a multipicture acting deal with Dimension Films… Just Married star Brittany Murphy will star in Revolution Studios' romantic comedy Little Black Book, netting her biggest paycheck to date--$4 million. She'll play an associate producer of a daytime talk show who searches through her boyfriend's Palm Pilot to learn more about his ex-girlfriends and discovers much more than she wanted to.

ROLE CALL, Part II: Bruckheimer's King Arthur; Schneider and Sandler Share Kisses

According to The Hollywood Reporter: British thesp Clive Owen will take the throne in Jerry Bruckheimer's King Arthur, with The Hours' Stephen Dillane in negotiations to play the wizard Merlin. Directed by Training Day helmer Antoine Fuqua, it's described as a demystified take on the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and promises a more realistic portrayal of Arthur than has ever been presented onscreen…meanwhile, longtime friends Rob Schneider and Adam Sandler, along with Drew Barrymore, will team up for Columbia Pictures' 50 First Kisses, about a guy who falls in love with a girl whose short-term memory problem means he must get her to fall in love with him day after day.