BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Selling his Beats headphone empire to Apple made Dr Dre 2014’s highest-paid musician. In fact, Dre’s $620 million total is more than any musician has EVER made in a year. The #2 spot on the Forbes.com list goes to Beyoncé at $115 million on the strength of her surprise, platinum-selling iTunes release, a sold-out tour, and various endorsement deals. Right on her heels are The Eagles, Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen, in case you’d forgotten just how much money can be raked in from nostalgia. Toby Keith is the top-earning country singer with $65 million, good for 10th place.
– TheVerge.com
★ Author JK Rowling’s 2013 book “The Cuckoo’s Calling” is being adapted as a BBC-TV series. The novel skyrocketed to the top of bestsellers’ lists when it was revealed that it was she who’d penned it under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Following the success of the 1st novel, Rowling followed with the “The Silkworm”, and both books are being used as the basis of a drama series about a war veteran who decides to embark on a career as a private investigator after losing a leg in Afghanistan.
– ContactMusic.com
★ And “Independence Day” actor Bill Pullman is planning a return to Broadway … as Sarah Jessica Parker’s dog. The actor will get down on all fours for the show, about a man obsessed with his pet. The play, entitled “Sylvia”, is about a guy experiencing mid-life crisis who gets a new dog and finds himself more involved with the pooch than his wife (Parker). Presumably he and the dog evolve to become one and the same. The production, said to be a very funny and touching, is due to open in Fall 2015.
– WENN.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “American Country Countdown Awards” (FOX) – Honoring the year’s best country music; Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley & Tyler Hubbard host.
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Interpol (“El Pintor”).
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Nicki Minaj (“The Pinkprint”).
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV) – 50 Cent (“Animal Ambition”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/Omni1) – Bob Seger (“Ride Out”).
• “Meredith Vieira Show” (syndicated) – Jessie J (“Sweet Talker”).
• “The Talk” (CBS) – Barry Manilow (“My Dream Duets”).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Idina Menzel (“Frozen”).
• “The Voice” (NBC/CTV2) – The 4 remaining vocalists perform in hope of advancing to tomorrow night’s finalé.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Charli XCX – Her 2nd studio album release, “Sucker”, is released today. It features her recent single, “Break the Rules”.
• Coldplay – Their new song “Miracles” is included in today’s release of the “Unbroken Soundtrack”. Angelina Jolie’s movie about Olympian and war hero Louie Zamperini opens on Christmas Day.
• 5 Seconds of Summer – Their new live album “LIVESOS” arrives today, featuring 15 tracks recorded in different venues around-the-world. Included is a cover of Green Day’s “American Idiot”. The band will kick off a North American headline run on July 17, 2015 in Las Vegas.
• Garth Brooks – He’s again #1 on the ‘Billboard Hot Country Albums’ chart for this week with “Man Against Machine”. Impressive, considering the ranking reflects only physical sales as the album’s not being streamed.
• James Blunt – His new digital EP called “Smoke Signals” becomes available today. It includes 5 tracks featured on his international album “Moon Landing: Apollo Edition”, which were never before available in North America.
• Joe Ely – Today his Rack ‘Em Records releases a long-lost duet single with Linda Ronstadt on iTunes. “Where Is My Love” was recorded with Ronstadt in 1987 at an LA studio.
• Nicki Minaj – Her long-delayed 3rd studio album, “The Pinkprint”, is finally released today. It includes guest spots from Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Drake, and Lil Wayne among others. It’s also available in a 19-track deluxe version.
• Tim McGraw – He sits atop this week’s ‘Billboard Hot Country Songs’ chart with “Shotgun Rider”. This is the 25th #1 song for McGraw.
• Rush – A deluxe reissue of the debut album from the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers came out in April this year, and 14 more of their albums will see similar treatment in 2015. Starting with “Fly By Night” in January, the reissues will be re-released in multiple high-quality formats.

AN UNSCIENTIFIC RANKING OF BELOVED CLASSIC CHRISTMAS TV SPECIALS:
Well here’s an argument starter if nothing else …
8. “I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown”
7. “Frosty the Snowman”
6. “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
5. “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”
4. “A Garfield Christmas”
3. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
2. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
1. “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas”
– Uproxx.com

ALL OF THE OTHER REINDEER:
The tradition of reindeer at Christmas came about with the publication of “A Visit from St Nicholas” (aka “Twas the Night Before Christmas”) by Clement C Moore in 1823. This poem named the original ‘8 tiny reindeer’: ‘Dasher’, ‘Dancer’, ‘Prancer’, ‘Vixen’, ‘Comet’, ‘Cupid’, ‘Dunder’, and ‘Blixen’ (since 1950 or so, known as ‘Donner’ and ‘Blitzen’). But as years have progressed there have been many more, including …
• 1939 – ‘Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is created by Robert L May as an advertising gimmick for Montgomery Ward department store in Chicago IL.
• 1962 – The Ray Stevens song “Santa Claus is Watching You” adds 15 more reindeer to the herd, namely ‘Ace’, ‘Bill’, ‘Blackie’, ‘Bruce’, ‘Cletus’, ‘Clyde’, ‘Do-right’, ‘George’, ‘Leon’, ‘Marvin’, ‘Prince’, ‘Queenie’, ‘Rover’, ‘Slick’, and ‘Spot’.
• 1974 – Loretta Lynn releases a holiday ditty titled “Shadrack, the Black Reindeer”, who helps an aging ‘Rudolph’ lead the team.
• 1995 – Joe Diffie releases a seasonal song called “Leroy the Redneck Reindeer”, who leads the team when ‘Rudolph’ has a cold.
• 1997 – “Olive, the Other Reindeer” is the subject of a book and later a 1999 Christmas special produced by Matt Groening (“The Simpsons”).
• 2001 – “Robbie the Reindeer” is introduced as the son of ‘Rudolph’ in a BBC-TV comedy special that spawns sequels in 2002 and 2007.
– Adapted from “Mental Floss Magazine”

BS MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE FLU:
A few common beliefs debunked …
✗ FLU ISN’T THAT DIFFERENT FROM A BAD COLD – The Hong Kong flu killed about 1 million people in 1968-69. Ever seen a cold do that?
✗ FLU VACCINE DOESN’T REALLY WORK – According to the CDC, it is effective in preventing flu about 60% of the time. Its effectiveness depends on your age and your health.
✗ FLU VACCINE CAN GIVE YOU THE FLU – A 2012 survey found 35% of people believe that. Wrong! Injections use ‘inactivated’ vaccines, which essentially have been killed with chemicals.
✗ ANTIBIOTICS HELP FIGHT THE FLU – Antibiotic drugs only work against bacteria; they don’t have any impact on viruses such as the ones that cause influenza.
✗ KIDS CAN GET AUTISM FROM A FLU SHOT – Untrue. A 1998 article in the British medical journal “The Lancet” suggested that. Subsequent investigation has led to a complete retraction.
✗ GOING OUTSIDE IN COLD MAKES YOU LIKELY TO CATCH FLU – The opposite is true. Winter flu season is when we stay indoors more, exposed to sneezing & coughing from others.
✗ IF YOU DON’T CATCH IT BY DECEMBER, YOU’LL AVOID IT – February tops the list in 14 years studied. And the next 2 months when flu infections peak are January and March.
✗ IF YOU GOT VACCINATED LAST YEAR, YOU’RE PROTECTED – Wrong. Immunity can last months, but different flu seasons require different types of vaccines for different virus strains.
– HowStuffWorks.com

BARBARA WALTERS’ “MOST FASCINATING PEOPLE” YOU MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN:
Last night Walters 20th ABC-TV special interviewed her choice of the top 10 newsmakers of the year. Here are a few who’ve been featured in past years that you may not recognize anymore …
• James Freed, an architect whose partner IM Pei (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame) became more famous.
• Stan Winston, a special effects expert who made the dinos come to life in “Jurassic Park”.
• Oksana Baiul, the 16-year-old Ukrainian who won figure skating gold at the 1994 Winter Olympics.
• Ian Wilmut, an embryologist responsible for ‘Dolly’, the world’s first cloned sheep, in 1997.
• Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia, Carson Kressley, and Jai Rodriguez, the 5 guys who co-hosted the Bravo-TV style show “Queer Eye For the Straight Guy” 2003-07.
– Condensed from OmniFeed.com

SIBLING RIVALRY:
The Princess of Monaco is expecting twins. So which will be the heir? In 2002, with the middle-aged Prince Albert II of Monaco still a bachelor without an eligible heir (previous children born out of wedlock don’t count), Monaco’s parliament amended the constitution to allow royal power to pass from a reigning prince with no descendants to his siblings. Their worries were unfounded it seems. Albert wed former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock in 2011, and now ‘Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene’ is due to give birth to twins later this month. Although they’ll share a birthday, the babes won’t have equal claim to the throne. If it’s 2 boys, whichever is born first (even if by a single minute) is the heir. If it’s a C-section, first out is prince-in-waiting. And if it’s a girl 1st and a boy 2nd, the male wins. (How 12th century.)
– CTV News

BS AMAZING FACTS:
• Reindeer eyes change color over the course of a year. The change helps reindeer cope with extreme differences in light levels between seasons.
– “The Independent”
• In Utah, it’s legal to marry a dead man.
– FOX News

BS CHRONOMETER 12.15.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [65] Don Johnson, Flat Creek MO, TV actor “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” 2014, “Eastbound & Down” 2010-12, “Nash Bridges” 1996-2001, “Miami Vice” 1984-89)/movie actor (“The Other Woman”, “Django Unchained”, )

1955 [59] Paul Simonon, Brixton UK, classic rock musician (The Clash-“Rock the Casbah”, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2003)

1979 [35] Adam Brody, San Diego CA, movie actor (“Scream 4” , “The Ring”)/former TV actor (“The OC” 2003-07)

1980 [34] Sergio Pizzorno, Newton Abbot UK, alt-rock guitarist (Kasabian-“Fire”, “Empire”)

1981 [33] Michelle Dockery, London UK, (‘Lady Mary Crawley’ on “Downton Abbey” since 2010)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cat Herders Day”, a day of sympathy for anyone who feels their job, or even their life, is like trying to herd cats.

• “Zamenhof Day”, the beginning of “International Language Week” celebrated by the International Esperanto League. The international language ‘Esperanto’ was invented by Dr LL Zamenhof in 1887 to solve the world’s language barrier, but never really caught on. Get some useful phrases in ‘Esperantese’ here …
NET: http://www.esperanto.ca/kurso/phrases.htm

ONE YEAR AGO . . .
2013 [01] California-based evangelist, author, and radio host Harold Camping (“Family Radio”) dies at age 92 after multiple failed predictions of dates for the ‘End Times’, including once in 1994 and twice in 2011 (you’d think he would have seen this coming)

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1939 [75] World premiere of the movie classic “Gone With the Wind” in Atlanta, Georgia (later wins 10 Oscars)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1956 [58] The phrase ‘Elvis has left the building’ is first uttered by radio host Horace Logan in Shreveport, Louisiana on his show “Louisiana Hayride”

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2009 [05] Boeing’s new ‘787 Dreamliner’ makes its maiden flight from Seattle WA

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] “Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas” (NBC)
[Tues] Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
[Tues] Chanukah begins at sunset (Jewish)
[Wed] “The Gambler”; “The Hobbit: The Battle Of the Five Armies” open in movie theaters
[Thurs] “The Colbert Report” series finalé (Comedy Central)
[Thurs] Regifting Day
[Thurs] Free Shipping Day

THIS WEEK IS . . .
Christmas Bird Count Week / Gluten-Free Baking Week / Halcyon Days

BULL’S BITS

BEST OF BS:
Highlight bits culled from 21 years of “Bull Sheet” back issues …
BS RULES FOR RE-GIFTING:
• Update the wrapping from the paper that you already tore open.
• Keep track of who gave it to you first, so you don’t end up giving it back.
• Don’t give partially-used gift cards.
• Don’t give something you’ve owned and used for a while.
• Check for engravings. Anything engraved with something personal is out of the re-gifting pool.
– First published in “BS” 2011.

BS HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIPS FOR MARRIED GUYS:
• A vacuum cleaner is not a ‘personal’ gift .
• Odor-eaters are TOO personal a gift.
• Trust us, she won’t want a Skil saw.
• Never give a diamond in a Home Shopping Club box.
• If the store wraps it, don’t try to convince her you did.
– First published in “BS” 1993.
NET: http://www.FreeRadioPrep.com

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Remember, alcohol and calculus don’t mix. Never drink and derive.

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s the first-ever Christmas gift you can remember receiving as a child?

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
The idea of hiding something in a Christmas pudding comes from a tradition in the Middle Ages of hiding a bean in a cake that was served on Twelfth Night. Whoever found the bean became ‘king’ for the rest of the night. What do the following found objects supposedly predict?
• Button … bachelorhood.
• Coin … wealth.
• Ring … marriage.
• Thimble … ‘spinsterhood’.
(They forgot one: Finger … clumsiness on the part of the cook.)
– TriviaPark.com

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: A majority of us have at least one of THESE that we never use but we just can’t bring ourselves to throw away.
Answer: Cassette tape.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A successful diet is the triumph of mind over platter.

NOW ON OUR SHEET LIST:
Carolina Cadillo @ Carolina Cadillo podcast, NYC; Keem Watson @ VIBE103 FM Devonshire, Bermuda; Dean Wendt @ The New NCK 94-9 [KNCK] Concordia KS; Tony Murrell @ Rise FM Mpumalanga, South Africa; and Brendan Landry @ B70R Online, Houma LA.