THE BUZZ.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

FROM TRAGEDY TO DRAMA: Tonight's season finale of ``Law & Order'' is based on the real-life Metrolink tragedy that killed 11 people and injured nearly 200 others in Glendale last January. In the episode, titled ``Locomotive,'' a commuter train is derailed when it strikes an SUV parked on the tracks, resulting in 11 deaths. Detectives Fontana (Dennis Farina) and Falco (Michael Imperioli of ``The Sopranos'') sift through the wreckage until they find the tragedy was caused by a depressed construction worker who claims he parked on the tracks in a halfhearted suicide bid.

The alleged suicide driver in the real incident, Juan Manual Alvarez, 26, of Compton, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on 11 counts of murder, including the special-circumstance allegations of multiple murder, train-wrecking and arson, in the deadliest U.S. train crash since 1999. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty. Witnesses testified that Alvarez doused his Jeep Cherokee with gasoline, then abandoned it on the railroad tracks near Glendale, where it triggered a chain-reaction crash involving two Metrolink trains and a rail car. The real-life victims of the Jan. 26 crash have begun to file claims against the railroad and Alvarez.

POPPING THE QUESTION: A pregnant Britney Spears appeared with husband Kevin Federline on ``Ellen'' Tuesday - the first television interview for the couple together. Wearing a loose, pink-and-beige dress, Spears only slightly showed signs of her pregnancy, which she announced in early April. The 23-year-old pop star said that it was she that popped the question to Federline, who turned her down. ``I kind of got slapped down,'' Spears said. She and Federline, a 27-year-old former backup dancer, married last September.

``I told her that it's not right for the woman to ask the man. The man's supposed to get on one knee and do it right,'' Federline said. ``It took me about five minutes, and then I turned around and asked her.''

Of course, the couple will be getting plenty of airtime in the UPN reality show ``Britney and Kevin: Chaotic,'' which premiered Tuesday. The six-episode series features private home videos during their courtship, engagement and wedding. MTV announced Tuesday that the network will re-air the shows at 10 p.m. Thursdays, beginning May 26.

MINOGUE FIGHTS CANCER: Australian pop star Kylie Minogue has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will undergo immediate treatment, her management team said. Her tour of Australia was postponed following the announcement.

YOU CAN STILL GET 'ARRESTED': Fox has removed one of the biggest mysteries of its fall schedule announcement, saying it has renewed the Emmy-winning comedy ``Arrested Development'' for a third season.

The quirky show starring Jason Bateman has been a hit with critics, but not with viewers. It ranks No. 122 on the Nielsen list. Already-canceled shows like ``8 Simple Rules'' did better. But Peter Liguori, the new Fox entertainment president, said he was making it his first official series pickup since taking the job.

`` 'Arrested Development' is one of the best comedies on television,'' Liguori said. ``The decision to order another season becomes easy when you consider its amazing cast, creative brilliance, critical acclaim and advertiser appeal.'' Fox unveils its fall schedule Thursday.

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(1 -- color) One man, one Muppet

Jon Stewart, who picked up a Peabody for his ``Daily Show'' on Comedy Central, poses with Kami, the HIV-positive Muppet from the South African version of ``Sesame Street,'' at the awards luncheon on Monday in New York.

Fernando Leon/Getty Images

(2 -- color) Ellen DeGeneres, center, presents parents-to-be Britney Spears and Kevin Federline with a customized baby carriage complete with neon lights, spinners and a DVD player during the taping of Tuesday's ``Ellen.''