Hollywood Docket Top 5: Charlie Sheen's leverage; being John Malkovich's lawyers; product placement disclosures

• Will Charlie Sheen actually leave CBS' "Two and a Half Men," or is it a negotiating tactic? TV's highest-paid star still has a bunch of leverage despite his arrest for domestic violence and checking himself into rehab. [THR] RELATED: Our prior post on who might end up paying for Sheen's absence following his winter troubles.

• The U.S. Commerce Department has offered its support for legislation that would require radio stations to pay performers a fee when airing their songs. Broadcasters remain fiercely opposed to the Performance Rights Act, currently under consideration in the House and Senate judiciary committees. [National Journal]

• John Malkovich has filed papers in Manhattan bankruptcy court arguing for a bigger share of the liquidation of securities run by Bernard Madoff. Malkovich seeks $2.23 million. He's one of many entertainer victims of Madoff's fraud. [Reuters]

• NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker wrote a letter to a U.S. senator reviewing the proposed Comcast takeover, defending the way the network decided to present the Winter Olympics online. NBC limited live streaming to third party multichannel video programming distributors. [B&C]

• Viewers can see disclosures as required by law about product placement on TV shows like "Modern Family." They just need to look very, very closely. [LAT]