CAST: "Spider-Man" romantic interest Kirsten Dunst, 20, is in final talks to join Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," written by Charlie Kaufman ("Being John Malkovich"), Variety reports. Shooting is due to start in January, after Dunst finishes "Mona Lisa's Smile" with Julia Roberts. In "Mind," which is about memory erasure, Carrey tries to forget an ex-girlfriend. Dunst will play the receptionist in the office of the memory eraser.

ENGAGED: Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, 58, and his longtime companion Judith Nathan are getting married, the ex-mayor told CNN's Larry King Wednesday. Giuliani had a very public divorce this year from his wife of 20 years, Donna Hanover. No wedding date has been announced, though Giuliani said the ceremony would be very private.

DEPARTED: "American Idol" co-host and sometimes Coca-Cola pitchman Brian Dunkleman will not join Ryan Seacrest for a second season of the hit Fox show, Variety reports. In a statement Thursday, Dunkleman said: "I have decided not to return for season two in order to pursue other opportunities in the world of TV and feature films." Seacrest recently signed a six-figure deal for a second season of "Idol," while judge Simon Cowell is also due to come back.

MOURNED: Fashion designer, novelist and historian John Weitz, 79, died in New York Thursday, the Associated Press reports. Weitz was among the first American fashion designers to enter licensing deals in the 1950s, and his name could be found on men's socks, neckties and fragrances. His sons Paul and Christopher Weitz were the co-directors and producers of the movies "American Pie" and "About a Boy."

SELECTED: After a year of painstaking scientific research into more than 40,000 jokes from 70 countries, the British Association for the Advancement of Science has announced the world's funniest joke, Reuters reports. It goes as follows: Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other man pulls out his phone and calls 911. He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator in a calm, soothing voice replies: "Take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the hunter says, "Okay, now what?"