BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Exactly a year after it was first released in the UK, Disney’s all-conquering, Oscar-winning film “Frozen” has re-entered the box office top 10 thanks to a special new sing-along version. “Frozen” is the highest-grossing animated feature of all-time in worldwide box office, closing in on $1.3 billion, surpassing Pixar Animation’s “Toy Story 3”.
– Yahoo! News
★ Marvel has announced a full year of “Inhumans” comic book promotion. Characters from the series will appear on special covers throughout 2015 ahead of a movie in Summer 2018. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the genetically-modified “Inhumans”, which originated in Marvel’s “Fantastic Four” series. The current comic book incarnation of the concept appears in 2 series, “Inhuman” and “Ms Marvel”.
– ComicBook.com
★ HBO has picked up an as-yet-untitled 1970s rock music drama that explores the drug- and sex-fueled music biz just as punk and disco were breaking out. It stars Bobby Cannavale as a record executive trying to resurrect his label, and co-stars Olivia Wilde. Interestingly, the project is being produced by the “Boardwalk Empire” duo of Martin Scorsese & Terence Winter, alongside none other than Mick Jagger.
– “Hollywood Reporter”
★ The CIA seems fixated on NBC-TV’s new show “State of Affairs”; so much so that it’s been tweeting corrections at the same time the show airs (Mondays @ 10 pm). A spokesperson says the intention is to ‘counter popular myths and misconceptions about the agency’. For instance, this week Katherine Heigl’s character briefed the president on security issues using a stack of papers. Minutes later, the CIA tweeted that Barack Obama and other key policymakers now receive the ‘Presidential Daily Briefing’ on a tablet.
– TMZ.com
★ And world-famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking says he would like to play a ‘James Bond’ villain in the movies. The ALS-afflicted scientist, subject of the new movie “The Theory of Everything”, believes that his wheelchair and computer-generated voice would make him perfect for such a role. The idea may not be so far-fetched … he’s previously appeared on episodes of “Star Trek” and “The Simpsons”.
– Wired.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – John Mellencamp (“Plain Spoken”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Alt-J (“This is All Yours”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV) – Ex Hex (“Rips”). Rerun.
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/Omni1) – Foo Fighters w/Tony Joe White (“Sonic Highways”). Rerun.
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (syndicated/CTV) – Chris Byrne (“Irish Catholic Boy”).
• “Peter Pan Live!” (NBC) – A live telecast of the beloved JM Barrie story, starring Allison Williams, Christopher Walken, and Minnie Driver. From the producers of last year’s “The Sound of Music Live!”.
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Foo Fighters again.
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Guest co-host Cyndi Lauper (“Kinky Boots”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Adele – The 26-year-old Brit singer has enlisted the help of pop producer Greg Kurstin to work on her highly anticipated 3rd album, which suggests it may be more upbeat than her other recordings. The album is believed to be called “25”.
• Backstreet Boys – A new documentary called “Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of” will have its world TV premiere as part of the “VH1 Rock Docs” franchise in the Spring of 2015. The doc was shot over 2 years and deals with ‘fame, fortune, betrayal and renewal’.
• Ed Sheeran – There’s more proof 2014 has been a great year for him. Data just released by Spotify show that users around-the-world listened to his music 860 million times during 2014, making him the most-streamed artist.
• Pharrell Williams – His first stint as a mentor on “The Voice” has ended now that the final members of his team of artists have been voted off. Pharrell has already confirmed that he will be back next season.
• Rihanna – She’s unveiled packages being auctioned to raise money for her Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) charity. Among them: VIP tickets, a private meet & greet, and exclusive merch for one of her upcoming concerts, or Kanye West’s, or Paul McCartney’s. Bidding, which begins at $10,000, runs until December 19th.
• Robbie Williams – The Brit pop star performed an unannounced show at London’s Covent Garden this week, singing carols and Christmas favorites as fake snow poured over the surprised crowd. The gig was filmed for a TV special which airs in the UK on Christmas Day.
• Taylor Swift – The Australian leg of her “1989 World Tour” will visit Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney in 2015, making her the 1st female solo artist to play stadiums on back-to-back visits to the land Down Under.

COMING ATTRACTIONS:
A BS selection of movies in the making …
• “Ben-Hur” – Iranian actress Nazanin Boniadi (“Homeland”) has replaced Israeli actress Gal Gadot as slave girl ‘Esther’ in this upcoming remake of the 1959 epic. Gadot quit due to a scheduling conflict with “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”. The cast of the new “Ben-Hur” also includes Morgan Freeman, and Jack Huston in the title role. It’s due in February 2016.
• “Independence Day 2” – The long-anticipated follow-up to the 1996 sci-fi adventure starring Will Smith has been given the greenlight to start filming in May of next year, with a release date set for 2016. Although 46-year-old Smith hasn’t signed on to reprise his role as ‘Captain Steven Hillier’ the film’s original director, Roland Emmerich, is expected back to film the follow-up.
• “Moana” – 42-year-old actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is in talks to star in this new Disney animated film about an adventurous teenager who sets out on a seemingly impossible mission to find a fabled island. Johnson is being lured to voice the role of a demi-god known as ‘Maui’, who accompanies ‘Moana’ on her quest. The film’s due in theaters in November 2016.
• “Suicide Squad” – The cast members for this 2016 super-villain action film based on the DC comic book has been announced. Among them: Jared Leto (‘The Joker’); Tom Hardy (‘Rick Flagg’); Will Smith (‘Deadshot’); Margot Robbie (‘Harley Quinn’); Jai Courtney (‘Boomerang’); and Cara Delevinge (‘Enchantress’). “Suicide Squad” begins shooting next April in Toronto ON.
• “Unforgettable” – “Scandal” star Kerry Washington and Kate Hudson (“Rock the Kasbah”) are in early talks to star in this thriller. The story centers on a woman trying to settle into a new marriage and life as a mom who suddenly must contend with her husband’s ex, a woman who is out to get her. The film will be directed by former British actress Amma Asante (“Belle”).

MUSICIANS WITH MOOLAH:
Madonna tops a new listing of ‘World’s Richest Recording Artists’, based on data from Wealth-X. She’s amassed a net worth of $800 million from 3 decades of touring, selling 300 million records, and branching out into other business ventures in fashion, children’s books, and movie directing. Paul McCartney is #2 with an estimated net worth of $660 million, which should only continue to grow in a few years when he’ll reportedly be able to reclaim the copyright to the Beatles catalogue. Dr Dre is #3 with at $650 million, thanks to his career as a rapper and also as founder of Beats Electronics and Aftermath Entertainment. (Jay Z & Beyoncé are just shy of becoming a billionaire power couple, with a combined $950 million.)
– CNN.com

HALF-DAY FAST: THE NEXT BIG DIET?
Researchers at the Salk Institute in California have been studying differences between mice who eat whenever they want and those limited to eating only half the day. In experiments, fasting at night appears to have beneficial effects on blood sugar and cholesterol in mice. And when obese mice who’d been eating freely were moved to a restricted schedule they lost 5% of their body-weight even though they were eating the same number of calories. So researchers now believe a key to controlling weight could be sticking to a consistent 12-hour fast every 24 hours. They’re now planning human testing see if what works for mice works for us. (Inhaling a bag of Cheetos while watching TV isn’t good for you … who knew?)
– BBC News

HOW TO SPOT A FAKE:
A few tricks from pros on identifying authentic articles vs bogus knock-offs …
• Baseball Cards – Fakes are usually produced via scan-and-print, so if you can see creases, scratches, or other imperfections that aren’t actually there, it’s a dead giveaway.
• Diamonds – Fake diamonds are heavier, so heft is usually a bad sign. If you breathe on a fake, it will likely fog up. Real diamonds dissipate heat and their surfaces remain unchanged.
• Footwear – If it feels cheap to the touch, you’re being duped. Designer shoes usually come with dustbags, and the absence of these should raise suspicion.
• Gold Jewelry – If it’s a fake, the gold-colored sheen will have become worn. And try the magnet test. Gold won’t react, but if the item is gold-plated metal, it will be attracted to it.
• Handbags – Stitching should be clean with no loose threads. Thread should be of consistent color and thickness. If the zipper sticks or is difficult to pull the bag is probably a knock-off.
• Leather Goods – Look closely. Real leather has randomly-scattered pores; in synthetic imitations, pores are in an even pattern. Take a whiff … genuine leather smell is unmistakable.
• Silverware – Rub flatware with a soft white cloth. If it’s real, oxide that forms on silver will leave a blackish mark. Also, real silver flatware is often imprinted with its silver content (ie: ‘.935’).
• Sunglasses – Real designer shades have high-quality hinges. When legs are opened and folded, the motion should be smooth and feel sturdy. If they’re wobbly or open askew, beware!
• Swiss Watches – The genuine article will be marked ‘Swiss’ or ‘Swiss Made’, but never ‘Made in Switzerland’. Faux Swiss watches may also feature sloppy print and haphazard spelling.
– Condensed from MentalFloss.com

WINDSHIELD MAGIC:
If your car windows are steamy in the morning, this hack is for you. All you’re going to need is a pair of socks and some cat litter. Make sure there are no holes in the socks, as you’re going to be filling one with the kitty litter. It’s suggested you suspend the sock through the ring of a roll of tape to create a funnel for easy pouring. Fill one sock with kitty litter and then tie off the end. Then pull the other sock over it for extra protection. You can now put your little sock loaf in your car, either on the dashboard or under the seat, to absorb moisture. After a few days, fogged up windows will be a thing of the past!
NET: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t4mzMS-ZZ8
– YouTube.com

MORE BS SHOCKING FACTS THAT HAPPEN EVERY 5 SECONDS:
Every 5 seconds, 375 McDonald’s burgers are sold.
Every 5 seconds, 2 jars of Nutella are sold.
Every 5 seconds, over 35,000 Coca-Cola products are consumed.
Every 5 seconds, 35 Lego sets are sold by retailers around-the-world.
Every 5 seconds, nearly 2 Barbie dolls are sold somewhere in the world.

BS CHRONOMETER 12.04.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [65] Jeff Bridges, LA CA, movie actor (“Crazy Heart”, “The Big Lebowski”)/brother of actor Beau Bridges

1964 [50] Marisa Tomei, Brooklyn NY, film actress (“The Wrestler”, Oscar-“My Cousin Vinny”)

1966 [48] Fred Armisen, Hattiesburg MS, TV comic (“Portlandia” since 2011, “Saturday Night Live” 2002-13)/movie actor (“Smurfs” movies)/wed to Elisabeth Moss since 2009

1969 [45] Jay Z (Shawn Carter), Brooklyn NY, rap artist-producer (f/Justin Timberlake-“Holy Grail”, f/Alicia Keys-“Empire State of Mind”)/wed to Beyoncé since 2008

1970 [44] Kevin Sussman, NYC, TV actor (‘Stuart Bloom’ on “The Big Bang Theory” since 2009, “Ugly Betty” 2006-07)

1973 [41] Tyra Banks, Inglewood CA, TV personality (“America’s Next Top Model” since 2003, “The Tyra Banks Show” 2005-10)/former fashion model (“Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cookie Day”, celebrating the yummiest treat of all. As poet Edgar Guest once wrote: “I’m sorry for people, whoever they are, who live in a house where there’s no cookie jar.” What’s the best kind? Chocolate chip? Oatmeal and raisin? Peanut butter with macadamia nuts?

• “Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day”, created in 2000 as a day to pass out ‘attaboys’ to employee teams that consistently work extraordinarily well together to produce significant results for their companies or organizations. (It’s far cheaper than year-end bonuses.)

• “St Barbara’s Day”, patron saint of firemen, architects, mathematicians, fireworks, miners, sailors, and against lightning, fire, explosions, and sudden death (whew!). Tradition has it that girls should place a cherry tree twig in a glass of water on this day. According to the old custom, if it blooms by Christmas Eve, they’ll marry in the next year.

• “Santa’s List Day”, the day the big guy purportedly decides who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.

• “Wear Brown Shoes Day”, for some unknown reason. To get the full effect, make sure you wear ’em with something black.

• “World Wildlife Conservation Day”, with the aim of raising awareness and engaging conservationists in the goal of putting an end to wildlife crime. Some of the world’s best loved species are being slaughtered by criminal networks driven by a voracious demand for illegal animal parts and products.

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1992 [22] In an effort to prevent hearing loss among its fans, heavy metal group Megadeth distributes 13,000 pairs of earplugs at a concert in San Francisco, California

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1982 [32] 1st human killed by a bowling ball (Hernia? Swallowing? Were other victims … ‘spared’?)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] “The Pyramid”; “Wild” open in movie theaters
[Fri] “A Very Grammy Christmas” (CBS)
[Fri] Bathtub Party Day
[Fri] Salesperson Day
[Sat] Full ‘Cold’ Moon
[Sat] Bartender Appreciation Day
[Sat] St Nicholas Day
This Week Is … International Coelenterate Biology Week
This Month Is … Choose a Summer Camp Month

BULL’S BITS

BS THINGS KIDS HAVE ACTUALLY ASKED MALL SANTAS FOR:
✓ “A remote control buffalo.”
✓ “A unicorn that poops rainbows.”
✓ “Plutonium.”
✓ “Lasagna.”
✓ “A live octopus or shark.”
✓ “To change my name to ‘Batman’.”
✓ “A gallon jar of pickles.”
✓ “A live penguin and polar bear.”
✓ “A flying pony.”
✓ “A lifetime supply of peanut butter so my dog will lick my face forever.”
✓ “A gumball machine filled with avocados.”
✓ “Boobs like mommy.”
– Reddit.com

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• The widest ever recorded reportedly measured 15 inches (38 cm). What was it?
a. A human foot.
b. A snowflake. [CORRECT]
c. A cranberry.

• To comfort itself, what does a baby elephant suck on?
a. It’s mommy’s ear.
b. It’s own trunk. [CORRECT]
c. A really, really big soother.
– Sourced from BuzzFeed.com

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What do you spend the most money on raising a child?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I love to give homemade gifts … which one of the kids would you like?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: The tallest one of THESE is 6 ft-4 ins (1.9 m).
Answer: A cow.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you lay the blame.