Sources close to the couple cited the reason as Chad Lowe being Chad Lowe.

· Universal and Paramount's international distribution split is amicable, but now they've got to figure out how to divide up custody of their favorite fifteen children (foreign markets). Yeah, we're getting tired of the divorce metaphor too, but it's pretty hard to get psyched about international distribution entities. [Variety]
· Rupert Murdoch continues to base his internet acquisitions on the advice of his 16 year-old nephew, as News Corp. follows up its recent MySpace purchase with a $650 million buy of videogame-related company IGN Entertainment. Hey, Rupe, stay the hell away from Gawker Media. Nick Denton doesn't give us any stock options. [THR]
· Natural disaster and untold suffering prove huge for the networks, as Hurricane Katrina coverage results in some nice Nielsen numbers. If only there were a way to flood a major city every summer... [Variety]
· Hilary Swank hires producer Mark Burton to help run her and househusband Chad Lowe's production company, Accomplice Films, and to make sure Lowe doesn't eat too many cookies while she's out working. [THR]
· The Weinstein Co. hires "colorful kung-fu specialist" Bey Logan to oversee its Asian acquisitions and co-production operations, assisting the Brothers Weinstein in more efficiently plundering the cinematic booty of the Far East. [Variety]

Yesterday, we speculated that Hilary Swank's joint production of Celebrity Charades with stay-at-home spouse Chad Lowe might be a stealthy attempt at feeding her husband-humilation jones. We fear we might be right, as Rush & Molloy reports on Swank's drive-by snubbing of Lowe and his celebrity pals:

It's nice to see that Hilary Swank is using the spoils of fame to keep perennially emasculated hubby Chad Lowe a productive member of society in between infrequent acting gigs. From Variety:

Two-time Oscar winner and international fruit-smuggling scofflaw Hilary Swank has finally been brought to justice. A New Zealand court denied her appeal of a $150 fine for failing to declare an apple and an orange that she illegally brought into the country during a recent visit.

The press has been following breathlessly all of the post-Oscar comings and goings of everyone's favorite up-from-Camaros-on-blocks, two-time winner Hilary Swank: her victory meal, her vacation plans, and now, her fruit-smuggling and subsequent protest of fruit-smuggling fines. All of this attention has resulted in a wave of SwankLash which has become so pervasive that even Katie Couric is taking shots at her on the Today Show. Notes a reader: