BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Pop star-turned-designer Victoria Beckham has said she’d like to keep the celebration of her 40th birthday (April 17th) a low-key affair. But it seems her retired soccer star-hubby David Beckham has different ideas. An insider says Becks (38) thinks that turning 40 is a big milestone and should be celebrated properly. He’s said to be inviting over 100 guests to a lavish birthday bash, including chef Gordon Ramsay, interior designer Kelly Hoppen, and actress-friends Eva Longoria and Kate Beckinsale. (Dude, she wants to let 40 slide by … you’re gonna set off a powder keg!)
– “Hello! Magazine”
★ Veteran movie/TV actress Diahann Carroll has decided NOT to make her Broadway return in a revival of “A Raisin In the Sun”. The 78-year-old was set to portray Denzel Washington’s mother in a new version of the play, her first Broadway role in 30 years. But Carroll has now bowed out, citing the vigorous schedule as the reason. Actor Samuel L Jackson’s actress-wife, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, will replace her in the role of ‘Lena Younger’. (Playing 59-year-old Denzel’s mom will require some solid acting … she’s just 5 years older.)
– HollywoodReporter.com
★ Take note, “Saved By the Bell” fans: ‘Zach’, ‘Slater’, ‘Screech’ and the rest of the ‘Bayside High’ crew are back together for freshman year … at least in comic book form. Roar Comics has released a new comic book based on the iconic NBC-TV series (1989-93), in celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary. If “Saved By the Bell” wasn’t your pre-teen cup-o’-tea, maybe you’ll be interested in the new Roar comic based on “Punky Brewster”, debuting tomorrow. (Which TV show from your younger days was your fave?)
– TheWrap.com
★ Kanye West & Kim Kardashian are reportedly planning to turn their wedding into a week-long event in Paris this May that will be featured on Kim’s reality TV series “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” (E!). According to a report, they’ve hired wedding planners who are trying to line-up Lady Gaga and Fergie to perform, alongside music legends Stevie Wonder and Wu-Tang Clan. The huge event is also rumored to feature fire-dancers, acrobats, and fireworks; and will have its own currency for guests to spend at a Vegas-style casino. (Or alternatively, they could fund an entire 3rd World country for a year.)
– TheSun.co.uk

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Toni Braxton w/Babyface (“Love, Marriage & Divorce”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Crosses (“+++”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni1) – John Grant (“Pale Green Ghosts”). Rerun.
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Kelly Rowland (“Talk a Good Game”). See Celebirthdays.
• “Winter Olympics” (CBC/NBC) – Women’s Speed Skating; Figure Skating: Pairs Short Program; Men’s Halfpipe; Freestyle Skiing; Ski Jumping.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Adele – Records show she paid herself more than £7 million (circa $11.5 million) last year following the ongoing success of her album “21”. Her company Melted Stone made a net profit of nearly £14 million in 2013, more than 3 years after the album’s release.
• Black Eyed Peas – Fergie tells “Extra” that actor-husband Josh Duhamel is a great dad to their 5-month-old son Axl Jack and a very supportive partner. She says her spouse is hands-on when it comes to caring for their boy, and deserves to be ‘Dad Of the Year’.
• Calvin Harris – The Scottish DJ has gifted his girlfriend, Brit singer Rita Ora, with a $150,000-Mercedes in order to encourage her to pass her driving test before she moves into his Beverly Hills CA mansion. The 23-year-old had been taking back-to-back lessons with a London driving instructor, but right now she’s filming “Fifty Shades of Grey” in Vancouver BC.
• The Doors – Guitarist Robby Krieger is looking to assemble a group of musicians for a memorial concert this Summer in honor of late bandmate Ray Manzarek. His death last year brought Krieger and his estranged bandmate, drummer John Densmore, back together.
• Eric Church – Today he releases the new album “The Outsiders”. He’ll return to Europe to do a brief tour in support later this month, beginning in Dublin, Ireland on February 24th.
• The Roots – Drummer Questlove is set to write a follow-up to his 2013 memoir, “Mo Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove”. And he is currently writing “Soul Train: The Music, Dance & Style Of A Generation”, about the long-running music TV show (1971-2006).
• Whitney Houston – Her former New Jersey estate is up for sale for $1.5 million, a real deal considering it cost her $2.7 million to have it built 26 years ago. The house, which features several circular rooms, has been on-and-off the market several times since her 2012 death.

TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
Out today on Netflix and/or other video providers …
• “All Is Lost” ( PG-13 Drama ): Robert Redford stars in this open-water thriller about one man’s battle for survival against the elements after his sailboat is destroyed at sea. Using only a sextant and nautical maps to chart his progress, the ever-resourceful sailor soon finds himself staring his mortality in the face.
• “The Best Man Holiday” ( R-Rated Comedy ): In this follow-pup to 1999 s “The Best Man”, college friends reunite after 15 years and discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited. Stars Monica Calhoun, Morris Chestnut, Melissa De Sousa, Taye Diggs. A cast reunion dinner get-together is said to have brought about this sequel.
• “Blue Is the Warmest Color” ( NC-17 Drama ): The sensation of the Cannes Film Festival and most controversial film of 2013 charts the relationship between 2 women over the course of several years. It made cinema history as the first film ever awarded the Palme d’Or to both its director and its actresses. Stars Adèle Exarchopoulos, Léa Seydoux.
• “The Counselor” ( R-Rated Crime Thriller) – Michael Fassbender plays a lawyer who finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in a treacherous drug deal in order to make  some quick cash. Directed by Ridley Scott. Co-stars Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz.
• “Ender’s Game” ( PG-13 Sci-Fi Adventure ): When the ‘International Military’ seek out a leader who can save the human race from an alien attack, ‘Ender Wiggin’, a brilliant young mind, is recruited and trained to lead his fellow soldiers into a battle. Stars Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin. Based on the Orson Scott Card novel.
• Also released today: “The Americans: Season 1” (TV); “The Armstrong Lie” (Documentary); “Dallas: The Complete 2nd Season” (TV); “Diana” (Biographical Drama); “Newhart: The Complete 2nd Season” (Vintage TV); “Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer” (Documentary); and “Sherlock: Season 3” (TV).

POP-UP COFFEE-SHOP ART:
Calling itself a ‘work of parody art’, a café called ‘Dumb Starbucks Coffee’ has been handing out free drinks and pastries in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. The new outlet cropped up over the weekend and uses the same logo and offers similar product as the Starbucks chain, but simply inserts the word ‘dumb’ in front, ie: ‘Dumb Iced Coffee’, ‘Dumb Espresso’, ‘Dumb Brewed Coffee’, etc. The coffee sizes are dumb tall, dumb grandé, and dumb venti. This, they claim, makes it a parody venture and means they can’t be sued for violating a trademark. It is not known who’s behind the ‘artwork’ or how long it will remain open. (The publicity is unlikely to hurt Starbucks. In fact, maybe the chain cooked this up?)
– USAToday.com

SEXTING FACTS:
Highlights of a new “Love, Relationships & Technology” study conducted by security software firm McAfee …
• 70% of those aged 18-to-24 have received some kind of racy message, photo, or video on their phone.
• 54% of those aged 18-to-54 have used their cellphones to send or receive provocative material.
• 45% of sexting participants have saved and stored the risqué content they’ve received.
• 10% admit to sending raunchy content to a complete stranger.
• Men are more likely than women to send racy material.
– NBCNews.com

WOMEN LIKE WIDE GUYS:
When it comes to their faces, that is. A new Singapore Management University study finds that women perceive men with wider faces to be more attractive and dominant, likely the reason they are chosen for short-term flings. On the flipside, because a wider face has been linked to negative traits like aggression, the study suggests that women are less likely to consider wide-faced men for long-term relationships. (So using that premise, actors Gerard Butler or Johnny Depp might be considered for an affair, but Benedict Cumberbatch or Jake Gyllenhaal would be more marriageable.)
– RelaxNews.com

BIRD FLAP:
The sudden popularity of hit mobile app ‘Flappy Bird’ isn’t the only thing soaring. Several auctions on eBay featuring iPhones that include an installed copy of the game have attracted bids of thousands-of-dollars. ‘Flappy Bird’ has been removed from app stores by its developer after it skyrocketed to the top of download lists. The game’s Vietnam-based creator Dong Nguyen says he’s uncomfortable with the sudden attention it has attracted. Quote: “Press people are overrating the success of my game. It is something I never want. Please give me peace.” (Things are going too well so I’m checking out. Weird.)
– NYDailyNews.com

DID YOU KNOW?
The ancient Romans used crushed mouse brains as toothpaste. (Now with minty mousy flavor … mmm.)
– Buzzfeed.com

BS CHRONOMETER 02.11.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1962 [52] Sheryl Crow, Kennett MO, pop singer (w/Kid Rock-“Picture”, “All I Wanna Do”)

1969 [45] Jennifer Aniston, Sherman Oaks CA, movie actress (“Just Go With It”, “The Break-Up”)/former TV actress (“Friends” 1994-2004)/ex-Mrs Brad Pitt (2000-05)  UP NEXT: “Horrible Bosses 2”, opening November 26th.

1977 [37] Mike Shinoda, Agoura CA, rock singer-songwriter (Linkin Park-“Numb”, “In the End”)

1979 [35] Brandy (Norwood), Macomb MS, pop singer (w/Monica-“The Boy Is Mine”, “Have You Ever?”)/TV personality (“Dancing With the Stars”, “America’s Got Talent”)

1981 [33] Kelly (Kelendria) Rowland, Atlanta GA, pop singer (w/Nelly-“Dilemma”, Destiny’s Child-“Lose My Breath”)/TV personality (“The X Factor”)

1992 [22] Taylor Lautner, Grand Rapids MI, movie actor (“Grown Ups 2”, “Twilight Saga” films)  COMING UP: The action thriller “Tracers”, opening later this year.

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day”, an annual reminder that everyone screws up now and then. It’s a day to  be optimistic, think positive, look on the bright side, and find something good in whatever happens.

• “Get Out Your Guitar Day”, a day to pull you axe out of the attic, dust it off and, if you’re lucky, find someone who can tune it.

• “Inventors Day”, honoring the birth date of prolific inventor Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), who single-handedly patented some 1,200 inventions.

• “Pro Sports Wives Day”, the 9th annual declared by the Professional Sports Wives Association. In the USA alone, there are some 500,000 married to pro athletes and coaches.
NET: http://www.prosportswives.com

• “Satisfied Staying Single Day”, for those who choose to live independently and are quite happy doing so, thank-you every much.

• “Shut-in Visitation Day”, encouraging us to brighten the day for someone who is unable to get out and about. Observed concurrently with “World Day Of the Sick”.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2008 [06] In the latest of a series of legal battles involving JRR Tolkien’s beloved trilogy “The Lord Of the Rings”, several Tolkien heirs join a group of publishers in filing a $150-million lawsuit against New Line Cinema (pocket change … the films made over $1.6 billion)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
2012 [02] On the eve of the Grammy Awards, singer Whitney Houston accidentally drowns in her bathtub at LA’s Beverly Hilton Hotel due to effects of chronic cocaine use and heart disease

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
2011 [03] The 1st wave of the Egyptian revolution culminates in the resignation of president Hosni Mubarak after 18 days of protests

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1977 [37] ‘Heaviest Known Crustacean’ is caught off Nova Scotia, a 44.5-lb (20.2-kg) lobster which measures 3.5 ft (1 m) from claw-tip to tail-fan (and requires 13 lbs of liquified butter)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] “RoboCop” opens in movie theaters
[Thurs] Employee Legal Awareness Day
[Thurs] Get a Different Name Day
[Thurs] World Radio Day
This Week Is … International Flirting Week
This Month Is … Marijuana Awareness Month

BULL’S BITS

ALTERNATIVE WINTER OLYMPICS:
Synchronized snowmobiling.
Freestyle snowball-fight.
Frostbite marathon.
Snowbank pole vault.
Alpine pole lick.
Speed ice sculpting.
Avalanche downhill.
Dynamite ice-fishing.
Garbage-bag luge.
Snow angels.
Shoveling.
– Thanks to Dominique Ritter

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Which is the ‘happiest’ smell? Here’s one listing …
1. Birthday candles that are about to be blown out.
2. Warm laundry right out of the dryer.
3. Hair after a bonfire with friends.
4. Freshly mowed grass.
5. Warm cinnamon rolls on a Sunday morning.
6. Puppy paws.
7. Sweet baby smell.
8. Dirt after rain.
9. Cotton candy at a carnival.
10. Your significant other’s pillow.

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
Which of the following has NOT been a symbol of Valentines Day?
a. Hearts.
b. Gloves.
c. Tomatoes.
d. Salami. [CORRECT]

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I used to snore so loud I woke myself up, but not any longer. Now I sleep in a different room.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: The #1 killer of birds in North America is domestic cats; so what is #2?
Answer: Windows.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Drama is life with the dull bits cut out.