Taking Names

Vet stalking suspect

Reports reveal that Chidi Uzomah Jr., 25, who is in police custody under suspicion of stalking Ryan Seacrest, is a sergeant with the Army Reserve under the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion, part of the Army’s Special Forces, People.com reports.

Mr. Uzomah, who entered the offices of E! Entertainment Television on Friday armed with a knife to find the “American Idol” host, served in the Army National Guard from 2005 to 2009 before being honorably discharged. Soon after, he transferred to the Army Reserve.

“We apologize to Ryan Seacrest. Pending the outcome of the local investigation, the Army will decide what further action to take. We take all matters of our personnel seriously,” Army spokesman Lt. Col. Nathan Banks told TMZ.

Mr. Uzomah already is on probation following a September incident in which he attacked one of Mr. Seacrest’s bodyguards after he was denied a meeting with the radio-TV host. He faces a three-year restraining order as well as possible Army discipline, People said.

Mr. Uzomah pleaded not guilty to one count of felony stalking and two misdemeanor counts of violating an earlier court order to stay away from Mr. Seacrest, Seattlepi.com reports.

Music a hit for ’It’

Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” won the box office easily last weekend, so it should be little surprise to find the concert film’s soundtrack topping the Billboard 200, too, Entertainment Weekly notes.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, the King of Pop’s posthumous release sold 373,000 copies in its first week on shelves.

Law’s ’Hamlet’ a hit

Jude Law and his fellow cast mates in the Broadway production of “Hamlet” have no reason to be melancholy: They are an official hit.

Producers of the Shakespeare classic, playing at the Broadhurst Theatre, said Wednesday that they have recouped the show’s $2.5 million costs in less than three months.

“It’s heartening to see that Shakespeare can be a commercial success on Broadway, as well as seeing so many young audience members at the Broadhurst experiencing their first Shakespeare production,” said Arielle Tepper Madover, the show’s producer.

Performances began Sept. 12 and continue through Dec. 6, Associated Press reports.

Mr. Law has been joined on Broadway this season by two other film stars seeing large box-office crowds: Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig in “A Steady Rain.”

Brad eyes new bike

Brad Pitt says he’s in the market for a new motorcycle.

The actor, in Tokyo to promote his latest movie, “Inglourious Basterds,” said he trashed his favorite bike recently while trying to escape overzealous photographers.

“I had a little mishap,” he said. “No injuries, except my ego. I was trying to get away from some paparazzi and instead gave them a good story. It was my favorite bike, so that is really sad.”

Mr. Pitt, a well-known motorcycle buff, was involved in a minor accident in Los Angeles last month after a paparazzo reportedly cut him off in traffic. He said that while he is in Tokyo, he will be looking for a replacement, Associated Press reports.

“I will definitely be looking at motorcycles,” he said. “You’ve got some of the best builders right here.”

“Inglourious Basterds,” directed by Quentin Tarantino, premiered Wednesday in Tokyo.

Van Lee tapped

You can add another local name to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities: Washington Performing Arts Society board member Reginald Van Lee, who was appointed on Monday to serve on the panel by President Obama.

The committee, which, advances the White House’s arts and humanities objectives by working directly with the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, will be co-chaired by George Stevens Jr. and Margo Lion.

Mr. Van Lee, executive vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, a leading strategy and technology consulting firm, is vice chairman of the board of WPAS. Earlier this year, he was corporate chairman of the spring gala featuring his friend trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. He has been a WPAS board member since 2007.

Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from staff, Web and wire reports