Tuesday that it will be dropping its price by $30 for the Playstation 2 to $99.99. The price drop was previously leaked by an insider at retailer Kmart, who spotted a price change in his system and tipped off gaming blog Joystiq about the news Price cuts are always welcome, but it’s not quite what hardcore gamers were hoping to hear. Consumers and industry analysts have been calling for a price cut on Sony’s flagship Playstation 3 system for months now: the PS3 is the most expensive games machine on the market by a hefty margin. But Sony put a stop to that speculation in a statement today, saying “We do not have plans for a PS3 price drop, and any rumors to that effect are false and are the result of speculation.” So, is the nine year old PS2 a good deal at less than $100? Assuming you don’t already have one, there’s no question about it. Sure, it’s no match for current gen consoles like the Xbox 360 or PS3 but it has a software selection that’s absolutely superb. If you’re looking for a way to play great games on the cheap, you can’t do much better.

Taking a page from their idols the Who, Green Day is hatching a musical production based on the 2004 multiplatinum rock opera American Idiot. The punk trio’s creative force, Billie Joe Armstrong, has teamed up with director Michael Mayer, with songs written by Duncan Sheik. Armstrong and Mayer cowrote the musical’s book while Green Day contributed the entire song cycle from the Grammy winning American Idiot album as well as tracks from the upcoming American Idiot sequel, 21st Century Breakdown, hitting stores in May. “The end result will be terrific, and we’re really proud,” says Armstrong. The show chronicles the album’s antihero, Jesus of Suburbia, as he breaks away from his suburban town and heads for the big city, where he encounters a punk rock freedom fighter named St. Jimmy and a woman called “Mother Revolution,” and is forced to choose between rage and love. It will have its world-premiere run Sept. 4-Oct. 11 at the Berkeley Repertory Theater. And if all goes well in their hometown, Green Day could eventually take their Idiot act to Broadway.

The French chateau style mansion has 56,500 square feet of space on more than 4.6 acres and is the largest home in Los Angeles County. Among the neighbors are the Los Angeles Country Club and, not too far away, the Playboy Mansion. Spelling’s late husband produced hit shows such as Charlie’s Angels, Dynasty and Beverly Hills 90210. He died in 2006.”Everything there is glamorous, and is luxurious and it’s really great scale,” said Sally Forster Jones, an agent with Coldwell Banker Previews International in Los Angeles, which is co listing the property. “There really is nothing to compare it to.” Spelling told The Associated Press that she let her dog Madison, a soft coated Wheaten Terrier, help pick out the best real estate agent for the task. She had her security bring the dog into the room every time she met one of the candidate agents and watched how the dog reacted. If Madison didn’t like them, Spelling crossed them off the list. Prospective buyers won’t have to worry about passing such scrutiny, Spelling jokes. “Not at all,” she says. The three story mansion, built in 1991, is gated and features a winding driveway that leads up to the three story house, which includes ceilings that reach up to 30 feet high, Jones said. While some published reports put the tally of rooms in the mansion at well past 100, Jones couldn’t provide an exact count. Spelling says she doesn’t know either. “You’re really asking the wrong person,” Spelling jokes. “There’s a lot, the house evolved and I actually haven’t gone around and counted.” The Spellings found no shortage of uses for the many rooms in the mansion, however. There’s a bowling alley, wine cellar, wine tasting room, gift wrapping room, a humidity controlled silver storage room, China room, library, gym and media room, among many others. The screening room is one of Spelling’s favorites. “I had some really wonderful times entertaining in that room,” Candy Spelling said. “We showed movies and I still do.” The room features a movie projection system that automatically comes up from the floor at the same time that shades extend over the windows. It’s an idea that came to Candy Spelling in dream as she sought to avoid having a projection screen open all the time. “I wanted Aaron Spelling to have the best projection room anyone had ever seen, and the biggest, so I came with this solution, not realizing that we had to excavate a lot of dirt to get down that low, to have a special room that housed the screen that was totally dust free,” said Candy Spelling, 63. The Spellings also finished the 17,000 square foot attic that includes a barber shop and beauty salon. The home also includes a wing for service staff, including a kitchen and seven bedrooms, and five fireplaces and four wet bars. Lavish features also can be found outside the house, including a tennis court, fountains, a waterfall, a pool and spa, a reflection pool and a pool house with a kitchen, and 16 car ports. The estate also boasts an 18th Century style garden, a rooftop rose garden and a citrus orchard. Prospective buyers won’t have to worry much about parking when they host big parties. The property includes a winding motor court with space for more than 100 cars. Spelling plans to trade her mansion lifestyle for a luxurious, two-story condo atop a residential tower in Los Angeles that she bought last year for $47 million.

“Osbournes Reloaded,” which brings Osbourne, her heavy metal husband Ozzy and offspring Kelly and Jack back together on TV, debuts on Fox in a cushy Tuesday slot after “American Idol.” “We can do this differently because, firstly, we’re a family,” Sharon Osbourne says. “Secondly, we’re a family that’s a little bit irreverent and edgy. That kind of makes it more spontaneous … because you never know what any of us is going to do.” And she slyly observes in a masterful bit of understatement, “We don’t take well to structure.” The Osbournes pulled back the curtain on their messily entertaining family life on MTV’s “The Osbournes,” the genre making series that inspired others with various levels of fame to shed their privacy. Too many, Sharon Osbourne contends during an interview. As far as she’s concerned, her clan did it first and did it best. She believes that the variety format will benefit equally from the Osbourne touch, although she carefully notes that what they’ve created is for families with older children viewing by tender young things is not advised. From her description and a preview of the show, there’s a fair amount of bleeped expletives and raunchy humor. The format’s mix includes comedy sketches, pranks on unsuspecting studio audience members and music. One ongoing bit, “Littlest Osbournes,” dresses up two British child actors as Sharon and Ozzy and puts them in adult situations with language to match although Sharon Osbourne vows that the children are uttering milder versions of what they appear to be spewing. Each Osbourne family member contributes something unique, says the proud matriarch who is also a producer and manager, and has appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and “Rock of Love Charm School.” She has no qualms acknowledging that the family rode to fame on Ozzy’s rocker coattails but is adamant that her children deserve the spotlight.  “I’m really proud of the way my kids have turned out,” Sharon Osbourne says. “It’s very hard coming from a show business family where the mom and dad are established and so much is expected of your kids. “My kids are very talented,” she says, flashing a determined smile. “My daughter’s not there because she’s got big boobs and done a sex tape. My son’s not there because he’s a freeloader. They’re there because they deserve to have their own show. They can hold it up.”

Rihanna’s tattoo artist did the singer’s new gun tattoo located under her right arm. BigBang says in another photo post that Rihanna wanted guns on her shoulders but thought it would affect her agreement with Cover Girl. Rihanna has several tattoos already, including stars on the back of her neck and “shhh… ” on her right pointer finger

Kanye West’s kicking off a European tour in July and expects the tour to hit the United States by fall. Kanye West says he credits his dad for his risk taking attitude in music and life. He says Ray West was a salesman, and he saw his dad having to talk people into new things. West takes a similar approach in his music, especially with his latest album, “808s & Heartbreak.” That album featured almost all singing instead of his regular rapping. West says it’s important to expose people to new ideas, even if they are not ready for

The 57 year old actor had an operation to replace an aortic valve on March 13, publicists Mara Buxbaum and Chris Kanarick said. He was expected to make a complete recovery in the next eight weeks. “His heart is strong and he will have normal heart function in the coming weeks with no limitations on what he’ll be able to do,” said Dr. A. Marc Gillinov, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic. “A couple of hours after surgery, he was entertaining the medical team and making us all laugh.” Robin Williams was initially treated at the University of Miami Hospital before being transferred to Cleveland. He had been in Florida earlier this month when he was forced to cancel the remainder of his one man comedy show, “Weapons of Self Destruction,” after experiencing shortness of breath. Robin Williams, whose sold out, multi city tour is expected to resume in the fall, thanked staff at both hospitals. “I can’t thank them enough for their kindness and dedication while I was in their care,” he said in a statement. “I must also thank all the people who have expressed their love and concern for me. I have been deeply touched by their support.” Robin Williams being Williams, he couldn’t resist a comic aside. “I got some great new material for the tour and can’t wait to get back on the road,” he said. “I’m thinking the next leg of the tour will be `Weapons of Self Destruction and Reconstruction’!”

The rapper performed twice Saturday at the annual South By Southwest music conference and festival, dominating the final night of the live music event mostly populated by lesser known acts. In an expected but not officially announced show earlier in the evening, Kanye West performed beneath a tent as part of a party sponsored by Fader Magazine and Levi’s. Kanye West put on a lengthy show, mostly alternating songs with lesser known rappers from his G.O.O.D. Music record label.”It feels so good to rock for you tonight,” said West, who also streamed the concert online. Kanye West was clearly out to promote his label’s talent, including rappers Consequence and Kid Cudi, who performed his hit “Day ‘N Nite.” But the concert culminated with cameos from West’s fellow Chicago rapper Common and the R&B singer Erykah, both of whom were cheered wildly by the thousands in attendance.

Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler reversed course from his earlier decision in the Phil Spector music producer’s first trial where he refused to instruct the jury that it could consider voluntary or involuntary manslaughter against Phil Spector. That jury deadlocked 10-2 with the majority favoring conviction on second degree murder. Phil Spector, 68, is accused of fatally shooting Clarkson at his home in 2003. The defense has said Clarkson, an actress who starred in the cult film “Barbarian Queen,” killed herself. The judge acknowledged that both arguments by prosecutors the defense did not suggest involuntary manslaughter, but he thought it was possible a juror could interpret the evidence pointed toward the lesser charge. Defense attorney Doron Weinberg objected to Fidler’s ruling, saying it would confuse the jury and that there was “not a shred of factual or legal support” for involuntary manslaughter. District attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said the judge made the ruling after prosecutors brought to his attention a precedent that allows him to give an alternative to jurors. She said they did not ask for the ruling. “We are proceeding on the theory of second degree murder, as we always have, and that’s what we will be arguing,” Gibbons said. Closing arguments in the retrial were scheduled Monday.

Fuse signed a three year deal to televise the annual induction ceremony, ending the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 12 year relationship with VH1. VH1 was a music channel with its primary focus on older rock fans when the initial deal with the rock hall was made. But as it shifted to more lifestyle programming, live coverage of the induction ceremony was shunted off to VH1 Classic. “We had a good relationship with VH1,” said Joel Peresman, president of the rock hall foundation. “It’s something we probably could have continued, but the people at Fuse really stepped up.” Besides covering the ceremony, Fuse will also have programming leading up to it, and is interested in using material from past ceremonies throughout the year, the executives said. Fuse, which primarily focuses on 18 to 25 year old music fans in its regular programming, struck it lucky this year with Metallica and Run DMC as the best known inductees. Metallica is a master of heavy metal, a style that will talk eternally to teenage boys. Rappers Run DMC were prominent during the early years of what is today’s dominant popular music. In archival rock hall footage that Fuse is featuring, Fuse will use clips of younger artists, like Gwen Stefani or Eddie Vedder, who appeared at past ceremonies to honor their forebears. When the Ramones were inducted, Green Day performed their music. In a welcoming gesture to an older demographic, Fuse will subtly add more veteran artists to a program like “Loaded,” which airs five consecutive videos from a single artist, Weier said. For Fuse, the deal with the rock hall is particularly important because it is trying to establish a reputation as the place to go for music on cable television, in contrast to the MTV Networks. A big selling point for the rock hall is the effort to keep its work prominent for more than one day a year. Approaching its 25th anniversary, the hall will be marketing a DVD set this fall of highlights from past induction ceremonies, Peresman said. Because of video games like “Guitar Hero,” Fuse’s young audience is more familiar with the work of rock hall inductees than many people realize, Weier said. Peresman has seen the video game influence at the hall of fame itself, where there has been a big increase in visitors aged 15 to 20 the past few years. “These younger kids are kind of driving the whole family to go,” he said.