Holy grail!

Actor Richard Chamberlain, a part-time Island resident, will play King Arthur when the Tony Award-winning "Monty Python's Spamalot" plays Jan. 20 to Feb. 1 in the Windy City.

Chamberlain, the king of TV miniseries with six under his belt, ranging from "Shogun" to "The Thorn Birds," has had an enviable show biz career, dating to 1961 when he starred in the "Dr. Kildare" TV series. His varied films include "The Three Musketeers" series; he earned a Golden Globe as best actor for "Shogun," a People's Choice award for "The Thorn Birds"; and his stage credits include Professor Higgins in "My Fair Lady" and the king in Hawaii Opera Theatre's "The King and I."

"Spamalot" is based on the the classic film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," and will be staged in the Auditorium Theatre at Chicago's Roosevelt University.

— Wayne Harada, Advertiser entertainment writer

FAITH HILL TAPES CHRISTMAS SHOW

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Faith Hill finally has that Christmas gift she's always wanted.

She performed her favorite holiday songs with a 31-piece orchestra, nine-member choir and an elaborate stage set for a new PBS special.

"It has always been a dream of mine, both as a little girl and as a performer," Hill said in an e-mail.

The taped performance will be shown on the "Soundstage" series during Thanksgiving week, and repeated through December.

GARNER GETS BAN ON ALLEGED STALKER

LOS ANGELES — Jennifer Garner has won a restraining order against a man she says has been stalking her for years.

An attorney for Garner appeared in a Los Angeles court yesterday morning and won three years of protection for the actress, husband Ben Affleck and their daughter, Violet.

Garner says 36-year-old Steven R. Burky has been harassing her since 2002. Garner wrote in a sworn statement that she believes Burky's "obsessive, threatening and stalking behavior" poses a threat to her and her family.

HOUGH GIVES UP CELEBRITY DANCING

NEW YORK — Julianne Hough says she's not returning to "Dancing With the Stars" next season.

In an interview on Ryan Seacrest's radio show, the 20-year-old professional dancer said she needs time to concentrate on her country music career.

Hough, who's nabbed two titles in four seasons on ABC's popular dance competition, said yesterday: "I really, really want to focus on the music and, you know, kind of be taken seriously a little bit."

This year, she released a self-titled country album and a holiday album.

The Utah native and her celebrity partner, Cody Linley, were eliminated from the show Tuesday night.

MADONNA DIVORCE IN COURT TODAY

LONDON — A judge will likely grant Madonna and Guy Ritchie an initial divorce decree today, according to the schedule for London's High Court.

The court lists "Ciccone M L v Ritchie G S" as one of 17 cases for "matrimonial and civil partnership causes for pronouncement of decree." That means a judge is to grant the couple a preliminary divorce decree.

After six weeks and a day, they will probably be granted a decree absolute and the divorce will become final.

British media reported yesterday that the celebrity pair had reached a settlement that would see the pop superstar keep the majority of her estimated 300 million pound ($445 million) fortune and share custody of two of her children with her film-director husband.