Tyler Perry's Starfleet, The View and More News Briefs

Tyler "Madea" Perry has been tapped to play the man (I presume the man, anyway) in charge of Starfleet Academy in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek prequel.... Elisabeth Hasselbeck returns to The View on Monday, with her newborn son in tow. Oops, did I spoil the "surprise guest"?.... "Torn" crooner Natalie Imbruglia, having "simply grown apart" from her husband of four years, Silverchair singer Daniel Johns, has split from him.... Barney & Friends marks 20 years of gangly kids lip-synching badly with the direct-to-DVD special Celebrating Around the World, streeting Jan. 29. Have I mentioned that I take a certain pride in having never exposed my sons to the purple dino? - Matt Mitovich