Sony stepped up to the plate and put the Brad Pitt baseball film "Moneyball" back into development after hiring writer/producer Aaron Sorkin ("The West Wing") to rework the script, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Pitt remains committed to starring as Billy Beane in the movie, based on Michael Lewis' book about the general manager of the Oakland A's, the source said yesterday, adding that the studio will replace director Steven Soderbergh.

Sony Pictures Entertainment stopped the movie just days before filming after Soderbergh revised the script.

AEG URGED TO PAY CITY FOR JACKSON EVENT

A Los Angeles City Council member yesterday called on AEG Live to pay some of the estimated $1.4 million cost of policing Michael Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center.

Dennis Zine told Fox 11 that the city's taxpayers "are getting ripped off" because the owner-operator of the Staples Center profited by charging media up to $50,000 to use risers outside the venue.

AEG president Tim Leiweke said Zine is out of line, because AEG helped solicit donors for the Lakers' NBA victory parade last month. The cost of city services for the Lakers' parade was about $1 million. Donors covered about $850,000 of that. The Lakers and AEG spent another $1 million to produce the parade and rally at Memorial Coliseum.

CLOONEY, MURRAY VISIT ITALY QUAKE RUINS

George Clooney has toured the ruins of Italy's recent earthquake and confirmed to survivors that he'll shoot part of a film in their mountain region.

The actor viewed crumbled buildings during a visit on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in L'Aquila. The April 6 quake left thousands homeless and killed nearly 300 people. Actor Bill Murray accompanied Clooney to help draw attention to the quake victims.

Clooney said in September that he'll film part of a thriller — about a killer hiding out in an Italian town — in the area, to help the local economy.

MAYS INFOMERCIALS JUST KEEP ON GOING

Death won't still the voice of Billy Mays or his mighty powers of persuasion. Viewers will continue to find the boisterous, bearded TV pitchman hawking household products for the indefinite future. And at least one of his commercials is being introduced posthumously.

"Just stretch, wrap and it fuses fast," says Mays, demonstrating Mighty Tape on a kitchen drain pipe in the new commercial that will begin airing July 20. Mays' ads for other Mighty brand products returned to the air this week, after being pulled when Mays died June 28.

NO DIVORCE AFTER ALL FOR ARQUETTE, JANE

"Medium" series star Patricia Arquette and "Hung" series star Thomas Jane will remain married.

Court records show Arquette yesterday was granted a dismissal of the divorce case she filed in January.

The one-page dismissal didn't indicate a reason for the change of mind. The couple, married in May 2006, have a daughter, Harlow Olivia Calliope Jane.