PEOPLE WATCH

Guns N’ Connick: Crooner Harry Connick Jr. was freed Monday in New York after spending a night in jail for trying to take an unlicensed, unloaded automatic pistol onto a TWA plane headed for New Orleans. Connick was released on his own recognizance and given a Jan. 12 court date to face the misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Police called Connick very cooperative and said he “was not trying to pull a fast one.” He was nabbed at Kennedy International Airport after telling authorities he had the gun, which he said was a Christmas gift. During his night in jail, the 24-year-old singer signed autographs and ate ice cream and potato chips supplied by his lawyer.