Oh, How I Loves Me Them Press Releases!

Possibly the best one to cross my desk in a long time:

(Denise wrote about this last month in Variety: TBS and producer Evolution Film & Tape are being sued for $3 million by non-pros John Phillips and Derek Gerard, who say producers stole their idea for a cross-dressing reality show.

According to the suit, the original concept behind "He's a Lady," for which plaintiffs have a copyright, is partially based on Phillips' experience as an "all-American" athlete who later in life decided to undergo a sex change.

Plaintiffs' agent pitched the idea -- male contestants who believe they are in a competition to become an "All-American Man" but are actually made to look and act like women and compete for a monetary prize -- to several webs, including TBS, which all passed. Project later resurfaced at the cablercabler without Phillips or Gerard attached.)

In another release, Dr. Phil does his patriotic duty:

TIVO JOINS DR. PHIL IN HONORING AMERICA'S SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

ALVISO, Calif. -- Dec. 17, 2004 -- TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), creator of and a leader in digital video recording services (DVRs) announced that it is one of the providers joining Dr. Phil McGraw in honoring America's soldiers and their families in a three-part series of his nationally syndicated show on December 15, 16 and 17. Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw will be hosting the shows, which will honor military families who currently have relatives overseas. TiVo has donated TiVo® Series2TM DVRs with product lifetime TiVo service* for Dr. Phil to distribute to military families featured on the broadcast. (For more information on these special holiday Dr. Phil episodes, go to www.DrPhil.com.)

"We're honored to participate in this program," said Matt Wisk, chief marketing officer, TiVo Inc. "We hope that this token of our appreciation will make the holidays a little brighter for the soldiers and their courageous families back home."

"By providing TiVo to family members of those that are away in the service, we hope to make it an easier transition for their loved ones when they return home and begin to catch up on their life, including the favorite programs that they missed while on duty," said Dr. Phil McGraw.

America. Baseball, apple pie, Dr. Phil and TiVo.

Speaking of shameless self-promoters, Access Hollywood EXCLUSIVELY fills us in on Geraldo's latest spawn:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GERALDO RIVERA AND WIFE ERICA LEVY EXPECTING CHILD

BURBANK, Calif. - December 16, 2004 - "Access Hollywood" has learned that Fox News' Geraldo Rivera and his wife, Erica Levy are expecting a child.

This will be the first child for Rivera with his fifth wife. Rivera has four other children.

A Rivera spokesperson tells "Access Hollywood" that the couple's bundle of joy is due in August.

Access Hollywood sent out this email under a "News Alert" banner. Once again, the terrorists have won!