Quick Takes: Art heist in Netherlands

Thieves broke into a Rotterdam museum on Tuesday and walked off with works from the likes of Picasso, Monet, Gauguin and Matisse potentially worth hundreds of millions.

The heist at the Kunsthal museum is one of the largest in years in the Netherlands, and is a stunning blow for the private Triton Foundation collection, which was being exhibited publicly as a group for the first time.

“It’s every museum director’s worst nightmare,” said Kunsthal director Emily Ansenk, who had been in Istanbul on business but returned immediately.

She declined to reveal any details of how the thieves got in and out with the paintings.

Willem van Hassel, the museum’s chairman, said its security systems are automated, and do not use guards on site.

—Associated Press

A Kardashian joins ‘X Factor’

Score another X for the Kardashian sisters.

Kim Kardashian’s fame was launched by an X-rated sex tape. Now sister Khloe can add an X to her résumé: She’s just been named co-host of Fox’s “The X Factor.”

Khloe Kardashian and former “Saved by the Bell” star Mario Lopez will join forces as the hosts of the singing competition when live shows start airing in November.

“The worst-kept secret in Hollywood is out,” said “X Factor” creator Simon Cowell. “Mario and Khloe are our hosts ... and I couldn’t be happier.”

The duo will replace original “X Factor” host Steve Jones, who was let go at the end of the first season.

—Greg Braxton

New date for NYC film critics

The New York Film Critics Circle upset the awards-season apple cart last year when its chairman, John Anderson, spearheaded a move to leapfrog every other critics group and announce its prizes on Nov. 28.

That date was ultimately pushed back a day to accommodate David Fincher’s “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” But it was still too early for members to see another high-profile kudos candidate, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” prompting some to note that the New York group seemed more interested in being first than considering all the possible candidates.

In truth, few of the members liked the early date.

So Tuesday’s announcement that the New York critics panel will vote on Dec. 3 is something of a compromise. The date is late enough to include such December releases as “Les Miserables,” “Zero Dark Thirty” and “The Hobbit,” but probably still too early for some of the group’s more diligent members to see everything they’d like to consider.

—Glenn Whipp

Beyoncé gets Super Bowl gig

All the single ladies will be watching the upcoming Super Bowl along with football lovers. That’s because Beyoncé is the halftime show performer.

The NFL confirmed the news Tuesday after Beyoncé posted a photo of herself sporting eye black, with “Feb. 3” written on one and “2013” on the other, on her Tumblr page.

The Super Bowl is set for Feb. 3, 2013 in New Orleans.

Beyoncé, 31, a 16-time Grammy winner, sang the national anthem at the 2004 Super Bowl in her hometown of Houston when the New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers.

—Associated Press

Depp dips into book publishing

Johnny Depp is bringing a dash of cool to the book world.

Depp will help run a publishing imprint with the same name as his production company, Infinitum Nihil, meaning “Nothing is forever.”

Already on the list of books is “The Unraveled Tales of Bob Dylan,” which aims to set the record straight on the songwriter’s enigmatic life and career and will be based in part on interviews with Dylan by historian Douglas Brinkley.

The imprint will be part of HarperCollins Publishers.

—Associated Press

A bachelorette once more

Televised dating might not be the right fit for Emily Maynard.

The single mom’s second turn on ABC’s “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” series has ended in a broken engagement.

After weeks of rumors, Maynard and Jef Holm confirmed their split to People.com on Tuesday.

Maynard competed on the 15th season of “The Bachelor,” where she accepted Brad Womack’s proposal in the season finale. They, too, broke up a few months later.

—Associated Press

Finally

Renewed: Fox has ordered a fourth season of its Sunday night animated show “Bob’s Burgers.”