Daybreak Daily’s afternoon study of the pop-culture world finds a dictator, an alleged thief, other things, and the mystery music video.

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DICTATORIAL: Call Sacha Baron Cohen the the master of self-promotion, per the Los Angeles Times, with video, “(His) plan to show up at Sunday's Oscar ceremony in character as Adm. Gen. Shabazz Aladeen, the focus of his upcoming movie "The Dictator," may have been scuttled by the Academy. . . but Cohen (or at least his character) isn't taking the slight quietly. He's taking the fight to the media. Cohen called into NBC's "Today" show on Friday morning, in character as Aladeen, upset about being banned from the Oscars red carpet.” http://lat.ms/wTyTam

CHRIS BROWN: Normal people don’t do this, per TMZ, with video, “The woman who claims (he snatched) her cell phone was captured on video obtained by TMZ, clearly agitated as she tells cops, "He snatched my phone." . . . Brown is being investigated for the crime of "robbery by sudden snatching." If he's arrested, authorities in L.A. could move to violate his probation in the Rihanna beating case, and that could land him in California prison for 4 years.” http://bit.ly/xuzzgX

’FRIENDS’ REUNION?: Jennifer Aniston says it’s highly doubtful, per the Hollywood Reporter, “I can’t imagine how you would do it, unless you did it years from now. Then it would be: “Who are these guys? What are we watching?” I can’t imagine what that would be. It’s not normal. Friends is in your living room; Friends is not in a movie theater. It doesn’t make sense to me. I think it would be going against its authentic self.” http://bit.ly/Am3Ot0

ONE-TWO OSCAR PUNCH: This is a smart take – and preview, per the New York Times, “All season long Michel Hazanavicius and Bérénice Bejo, the husband-and-wife writer-director and star of “The Artist,” have been recording their adventures on the awards circuit, whipping out their smartphone or digicorder at each ceremony and red carpet. It’s a memento for their kids, to show what mom and dad have been up to for the last few months. Well, the family is going to have a whopper of a home movie after Sunday if, as expected, “The Artist” wins best picture, and Mr. Hazanavicius, best director, at the Oscars.” http://nyti.ms/z34Xqv

STAY PUT: Conrad Murray’s not going anywhere, per the AP, “A judge who presided over the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor refused Friday to release him on bail, saying he would be a danger to any community where he might try to practice medicine.” http://apne.ws/AexNQZ

GOOD READ: It’s an in-depth piece on model-turned-rich businesswoman Kathy Ireland built her empire, per Forbes, “Given the likely cash flow—figure $35 million on that $50 million or so in royalties—Kathy Ireland Worldwide is worth, based on public licensor comparables, somewhere around $300 million.” http://onforb.es/wXP2c3

GREENPEACE: Lucy Lawless (Xena) takes a stand, per PerezHilton, “The actress and six other environmentalists climbed on top of a 174 foot drilling tower on a drilling ship owned by Shell off the coast of New Zealand. The protesters hung banners from the drilling derrick reading, “Stop Shell” and "#SaveTheArctic." http://bit.ly/yYO8Us

AND FINALLY: Today’s mystery music video. http://bit.ly/ghmxF

--Skip Wood (Follow me on Twitter @DaybreakSkip)