The timing might be a bit off for Florida tourists hoping to waste away in Margaritaville. But that doesn't bother Jimmy Buffett.

The singer — whose tunes are as much a part of life in Pensacola Beach as fried grouper sandwiches, Land Shark beer and the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels — is planning to open a 162-room Margaritaville Hotel in a week.

As tar balls came ashore yesterday from an oil plume shooting out of the floor of the Gulf of Mexico, Buffett said he had no plans to delay the opening.

"This will pass," he said as he walked along the city's beachfront and fishing pier with Fla. Gov. Charlie Crist.

The "Cheeseburger in Paradise" singer's $50 million hotel sits on the Gulf near the main section of Pensacola Beach. The hotel also sits on land where Hurricane Ivan destroyed a previous hotel in 2004.

SHEEN PLEA DEAL MAY INVOLVE THEATER

A Colorado theater's artistic director said Charlie Sheen's lawyers have approached her about having the actor work at the theater as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.

Theatre Aspen artistic director Paige Price said Friday that Sheen could work with the nonprofit theater's education programs and help with three summer shows.

Authorities said earlier this week that Sheen has reached an agreement with authorities over menacing, criminal mischief and assault charges stemming from an argument with his wife on Christmas Day at an Aspen home.

The proposed plea deal is scheduled to be presented to a judge tomorrow.

LIFE WAS A REHEARSAL FOR HIS MTV GIG

Aziz Ansari says he's spent his whole career preparing to host the MTV Movie Awards.

The 27-year-old actor and comedian, a star of NBC's "Parks and Recreation," has been making short films and doing standup since college. He'll get to do both at today's show, along with a big musical number that he says is in the style of his R&B hero, R. Kelly.

The show will be broadcast live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City.

Viewers also can expect a short film starring "The Hangover" star Zach Galifianakis and a joke about British Petroleum that brought the house down during rehearsals.

'GOSSIP GIRL' HUNK FACING POT CHARGE

Texas authorities say "Gossip Girl" heartthrob Chace Crawford faces a marijuana possession charge after being arrested in the Dallas suburb of Plano.

Police spokesman Rick McDonald said Crawford was arrested in a parked vehicle early Friday morning. He was booked and later released on a misdemeanor charge of possessing less than two ounces of marijuana.

The 24-year-old actor plays the hunky Nate Archibald on the CW teen drama. He's slated to star in an upcoming remake of the 1984 film "Footloose."