Paula Abdul, 47, said Monday she has been invited to remain as an “American Idol” judge and that she’s optimistic that she’ll negotiate a new contract.

“I’ve been invited to stay the duration of the show, however long it lasts,” said the singer, whose contract hasn’t been renewed since the show’s eighth season.

No laughing matter

Dane Cook’s half brother has been indicted on additional charges that he stole more than $11 million from the comedian, prosecutors said. Darryl McCauley, 43, of Wilmington, Mass., allegedly wrote company checks to himself and transferred funds into his personal bank accounts while being paid $12,500 a month as business manager for Cook’s Great Dane Enterprises.

A grand jury indicted him last week on 20 new counts of larceny for allegedly stealing from Cook. He had pleaded not guilty.

McCauley’s wife, Erika, also has pleaded not guilty to charges that she helped her husband steal from Cook.

TV star held in DWI

An actress from the hit TV series “Three’s Company” has been cited for drunken driving.

Police say Joyce DeWitt, who played Janet Wood, was pulled over Saturday after she drove past a barricade in El Segundo, Calif.

Sgt. Danny Kim said an officer arrested DeWitt, 60, after he observed she had been drinking and gave her field sobriety tests. Kim says DeWitt was booked, cited and released.

Actor meets inmates

Oscar-winner Benicio del Toro met with convicts at a Puerto Rican prison Monday. The Puerto Rican actor interrupted his vacation in the U.S. Caribbean territory for a talk at Bayamon Regional Prison near San Juan.

“I believe everyone needs a second chance,” del Toro told 30 inmates in the theater group. “I am here to help reaffirm that as long as there is life, you can still help society in some way, you can improve yourself.”

The inmates performed a sketch for the actor.

’Bots fight enemies

The top five movies from the weekend box office:

1. “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” $42.3 million

2. “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” $41.7 million

3. “Public Enemies,” $25.3 million

4. “The Proposal,” $12.9 million

5. “The Hangover,” $11.3 million

Happy birthday

Among celebrity birthdays today: Bandleader Doc Severinsen is 82. Drummer Ringo Starr is 69. Actress Shelley Duvall is 60.