FROM THE NEWS DESK: A ‘Hoff Update, Alicia’s ‘View’ Diss & More!

by McKay Heim and George Larrimore

‘HOFF UPDATE: On this story there are only two things that we know, without doubt, are true: (a) David Hasselhoff is going to the “American Idol” finale in Los Angeles tonight with his youngest daughter and (b) attorneys for the Hoff and the ex-Mrs. Hasselhoff (Pamela Bach) were in court this morning. Whether (a) and (b) are connected, we can’t really say for sure.

Someone we know told us that the lawyers went to court to work out some key details in the ongoing custody battle over their two daughters, in advance of a June 1st hearing. According to our source the judge said that David cannot be monitored for alcohol consumption by his employees and that blood tests, which would show if the former Baywatch star had consumed alcohol, will now be administered at random by a nurse who does not work for him.

We are also told the judge gave daughters Hayley (14) and Taylor (17) some latitude in custody/visitation arrangements that are currently in place. If there is a special occasion (like tonight’s All-Star Idol Finale for example) requiring a change in the visitation schedule then the children have to work out those arrangements with the parents.

So is this what really happened? Hasselhoff’s attorneys told us “none of this is true.” Bach’s attorney has not responded to our call.

But we’re told that Pamela is happy with the outcome of the hearing and that David is “elated.”

DID YOU SEE THAT? ABC’s “The View” proved once again today why it is the Best Show in Daytime when Rosie O’ and Elisabeth Hasselbeck Went At It. What the shouting match was about is convoluted: it had to do with the Iraq War and whether Rosie really thinks our troops are “terrorists” and whether Elisabeth sufficiently defended Rosie against that charge. It was like a political argument over the dinner table at your house. It was heated and it was real. Elisabeth showed that she won’t be beaten down, and Rosie showed that her convictions are deep. Rosie also showed, for better or worse, why she will be missed when she leaves the show in three weeks.

CLUELESS OR RUDE?: In case you missed it, Alicia Silverstone was the next guest after the Shouting Match. In case you don’t know, Alicia is a vegan, a PETA supporter. She leans decidedly to the left. So when she was introduced she walked right by Elisabeth Hasselbeck with a smirk but without so much as a handshake. Then Alicia hugged everybody else, including the guest host, whose name I still don’t know. The rudest thing we’ve seen on unscripted television in a while.

NOT SO SIMPLE: Nicole Richie is not giving a simple answer as to why there’s a photo of her at the Beau Monde treatment facility, taken on May 19th. Her people are saying she is now at her home in Glendale and has been seeing her therapist, and is not checked into rehab.

NOT TRUE: Lindsay Lohan is another young star with a history of substance trouble. So is her 21st birthday party (in Las Vegas) really being bankrolled by a vodka maker? A representative of Svedka vodka just called us to say it’s not true and they are not paying Ms. Lohan the seven figure fee that had been reported. The party is set for the Pure nightclub on July 2-3.

SUN SETS ON STONE: NBC has decided not to renew the contract of square-jawed “Dateline NBC” anchor Stone Phillips. That’s a savings to the network of a reported $7 million-a-year. And the show, which once aired as often as five nights a week, has now been reduced to three nights, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Ann Curry will continue as host, with Correspondents coming in to talk about their stories. The competition is fierce for the kinds of white collar crime stories that shows like “Dateline” live on.

DOES THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME: The defendant got eight years in the Federal pen, after the Judge said, “This is the kind of offense that cannot be tolerated in our society.” Another defendant got five years. Joya Williams apologized in court for what she did and said, “…I have expanded my consciousness through this devastating experience…I have become infamous when I never wanted to become famous.” So what was Joya’s crime? She conspired to sell Coca-Cola’s trade secrets to Pepsi.

You know the place, send us the email: McGeorge.news@nbcuni.com.