BS SHOWBIZ BUZZ:
★ Jennifer Lopez is being sued for $10,000 by a man who claims she persuaded him to … send her naked photos in the mail. Rodrigo Ruiz filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles, alleging J-Lo began professing her love for him and asking him to send nude pics in a series of letters back in 2008. He also claims she asked him to send her a demo in order to help him launch a music career. (This is obviously bogus – no one sends nude shots by snail-mail anymore.)
– TMZ.com
★ Troubled actor Shia LaBeouf has paid $25,000 for a second skywriting stunt to send a message to his critics. Embroiled in a plagiarism scandal after he was accused of basing his short film “Howard Cantour” on a graphic novel by Daniel Clowes, LeBeouf announced on Friday he plans to retire from Hollywood. He also hired a fleet of skywriting planes to spell out the message ‘Stop Creating’ in huge letters above LA. (Looney Of the Year candidate?)
– WENN.com
★ And socialite Paris Hilton is stepping up her music career by reportedly signing a deal for a DJ residency at a casino in Atlantic City NJ. The hotel heiress has dabbled with DJing in recent years at dance clubs on the Mediterranean party island of Ibiza. Now she’ll play a 4-gig residency at The Pool at Harrah’s Casino in a deal said to be worth around $100,000 per show. (The money’s not for her ‘talent’, it’s for the number of curious onlookers she attracts.)
– NYPost.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Arsenio Hall” (syndicated) – Musical family Toni, Evelyn, Tamar, Towanda, Traci & Trina Braxton.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – John Newman (“Tribute”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – The Fray (“Helios”, due February 25th).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Run River North (“Fight to Keep”); Starf—er-“Miracle Mile”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Bruce Springsteen (“High Hopes”, out today).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni1) – Jennifer Nettles (“That Girl”, out today).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Chris Isaak (“Beyond the Sun”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Big & Rich – The country duo have formed their own record label, leaving Warner Bros after 4 studio albums. Their next album is being recorded in Nashville and produced by Big Kenny and John Rich themselves. It will be out later this year.
• Broken Bells – Today they release the new album “After the Disco”. They’ll tour in support of the new project beginning February 28th in Minneapolis MN.
• Bruce Springsteen – Today The Boss’ 18th studio album, “High Hopes”, is officially released after portions leaked online 2 weeks ago. It features contributions from members of the E Street Band, as well as Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) and others.
• Cee Lo Green – He tells “Rolling Stone” his new solo album, “Girl Power”, could be out as soon as late February or March of this year.
• J Cole – Tonight a 10-date extension of his 2013 “What Dreams May Come” tour gets underway in Vancouver BC. The trek includes 7 Canadian dates before returning to the US for additional shows in NYC, Washington DC, and Mashantucket CT.
• KISS – The geezer rockers donned their iconic band make-up and some sharp suits to walk the runway for designer John Varvatos’ show during Milan Fashion Week in Italy.
• Panic! At the Disco – Tonight their “Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!” headline tour gets underway on in Seattle WA and runs through February 16th in LA. They’ll then head overseas for dates in Australia in February-March, and in Europe in April-May.

TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
Out today on Netflix and/or other video providers …
• “Carrie” ( R-Rated Horror Drama ): A re-imagining of Brian De Palma’s 1976 thriller about a shy girl who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town. Stars Chloe Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore. Based on a Stephen King novel. Also comes in a 2-film “Carrie Combo Pack”.
• “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” ( PG-13 Bio-Drama ): Lee Daniels (“Precious”) directs Forest Whitaker in this account of a butler’s long tenure as a White House servant. Co-stars David Oyelowo, John Cusack, Lenny Kravitz, Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard.
• “Riddick” ( R-Rated Sci-Fi Thriller ): In this 3rd instalment, ‘Riddick’ (Vin Diesel) battles an alien race of predators after being left for dead on a sun-scorched planet. Co-stars Karl Urban, Katee Sackhoff, Jordi Mollà. Also available as part of “Riddick: The Complete Collection”.
• “20 Feet From Stardom” ( PG-13 Documentary ): Director Morgan Neville shines a spotlight on the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 20th and 21st centuries. Includes interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Sting and more.
• Also released today: “Marvel Knights: Wolverine vs Sabretooth (Animation); “Pride & Prejudice: Keepsake Edition” (2-Disc Compilation); and “Scooby-Doo & The Vampires” (Animation).

WISH YOU WERE A CAT?
Who wouldn’t want to experience the life of a cat? The naps alone would make it worthwhile. Try playing with this first-person mischievous cat simulator where your sole goal is to knock as many of your owner’s belongings to the floor as you can in 2 minutes. For now, you have to content your kitty self with just your owner’s bedroom, but the developers of the indie game ‘Catlateral Damage’ are planning to add more rooms and levels of difficulty to the game soon.
NET: http://www.catlateraldamage.com
– GeekoSystem.com

RÉSUMÉ SECRETS THAT GIVE YOU AN EDGE:
Recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds reviewing a candidate’s résumé before they make an initial assessment, according to a recent study. A few tips to help you spit-shine your CV so you make the most of that minimal face time …
• Researchers have found that most hiring managers scan résumés in an F-shaped pattern, meaning your most impressive and relevant accomplishments need to appear in the top-left portion.
• Drop in an achievement stat between your former employers’ names and the dates you worked for them. That way you’ll force the reader to see your successes even if they only scan where you worked and when.
• Emphasize numerical rankings if you’re part of an elite list, such as the ‘Top 10’. Just make sure you’re not on the outside of a round number. For example, if you’re #11 it may be better to say you’re ‘in the Top 20’.
• Don’t hide your time off after college. Employers will likely see this break as a sign of your ‘flexibility’, a trait that’s especially valued in creative fields like entertainment, marketing, or architecture.
– MensHealth.com

BRAS MAKE BREASTS SAGGIER:
At least, that’s what a 15-year French study concludes. Women who took off their bras for good experienced a 7 mm lift in ‘trajectory’ each year. Lead researcher Jean-Denis Rouillon, a sports science expert from the University of Besançon, claims that bras are a false necessity. Quote: “Medically, physiologically, and anatomically breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity.” The study also finds they do little to reduce back pain. While that may be so, researchers admit that women who’ve been wearing bras for a long time are not likely to gain much benefit from stopping now. (A guy says bras aren’t needed … how typical.)
– Connexion.org

IS IT THE FLU OR JUST A COMMON COLD?
The National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases says the differences include …
• Fever. Rare for a cold, common with flu. Fevers with flu can go over 102 F degrees (39 C), especially in children, and can persist 3 or 4 days.
• Headache. Rare for a cold, common in flu.
• Aches and pains. Mild with a cold, often severe with flu.
• Fatigue. Sometimes occurs with colds, but flu usually starts with a period of exhaustion lasting 2-or-3 weeks.
• Sneezing, stuffy nose, sore throat. The most frequent symptoms of a cold also occur sometimes with flu.
• Chest discomfort, cough. Mild to moderate with colds, but can be severe with flu.
– Condensed from “USA Today”

THE YOUNG AND THE REST-LESS:
Calling all whippersnappers: Most senior citizens say they feel less tired than younger people do. A recent study of 13,000 subjects of all ages by the London School of Economics analyzed their lifestyle, employment, family life, hours slept each day, and general health. To the surprise of researchers, the youngest group in the study – those between 15-and-24 – reported the most fatigue. On a scale measuring ‘tiredness’, the difference between young people and seniors is close to a full point lower for the elders. (Could one reason be social media, since older people are less inclined to stay up all hours of the night interacting online?)
– Reuters.com

BS AMAZING FACT:
1-in-10 women cares more for a fictitious male character than for her actual partner.
– “Quite Interesting”

BS CHRONOMETER 01.14.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1948 [66] T Bone (Joseph Henry) Burnett, St Louis MO, singer-songwriter/record producer (Diana Krall, Elton John w/Leon Russell, Gregg Allman, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, etc)

1963 [51] Steven Soderbergh, Atlanta GA, movie director (“Magic Mike”, Oscar-“Traffic”)/movie producer (“Good Night, and Good Luck”, “Michael Clayton”)/TV director (“Behind the Candelabra”)

1968 [46] LL Cool J (James Todd Smith), Bay Shore NY, Grammy Awards host since 2012/TV actor (‘Sam Hanna’ on “NCIS: LA” since 2009)/movie actor (“Last Holiday”, “Charlie’s Angels”)/former rap artist (“Luv U Better”, “Mama Said Knock You Out”)

1969 [45] Dave Grohl, Warren OH, rock singer-guitarist (Foo Fighters-“The Pretender”, Them Crooked Vultures-“New Fang”, Nirvana-“Smells Like Teen Spirit”)

1969 [45] Jason Bateman, Rye NY, movie actor (“Up In the Air”, “Juno”)/TV actor (“Arrested Development” 2003-06, 2013; “Silver Spoons” 1982-84, “Little House On the Prairie” 1981-82)

1982 [32] Caleb Followill, Mount Juliet TN, rock singer-guitarist (Kings of Leon-“Use Somebody”, “Sex on Fire”)

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Assembly Line Workers Day”, observed on the anniversary of the 1st ‘Automobile Assembly Line’, created by Henry Ford 100 years ago today (1914).

• “Caesarean Section Day”, commemorating the 1st successful procedure of the kind, performed in 1794 by Dr Jesse Bennet in Edom VA on his wife. (To celebrate, leave your house this morning by going out through a window.)

• “Dress Up Your Pet Day”, a day to assert our dominance over the dumb creatures of the animal kingdom by humiliating them in human attire … then laughing at them. Don’t forget to Photoshop a monkey’s head on and post it online so the world can also laugh at them.

• “Makar Sankranti”, the mid-Winter festival of India & Nepal that marks the transition of the Sun beginning it’s northward journey, what’s called the ‘Uttarayan’. The event is marked by flying kites. Hey, if it means Spring is getting a bit closer … we’re all for it!

• “Muhammad’s Birthday” (“Mawlid al-Nabi”), a celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam. He was born at Mecca, Arabia circa 570 CE.

• “Work at Home With Your Spouse Day”, to encourage couples to make the most of their relationship and skills by starting a business together. Ways to do it without killing each other …
NET: http://bit.ly/9tMkrV

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1954 [60] Movie bombshell Marilyn Monroe marries NY Yankees baseball superstar Joe DiMaggio (lasts 9 months)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1989 [25] The movie soundtrack “Dirty Dancing”, which consists mainly of classic oldies, reaches Diamond status (sales of 10 million+ copies)

1999 [15] After 9 years of marriage, fashion model Jerry Hall files for divorce from Rolling Stones’ frontman Mick Jagger

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1973 [41] Last ‘Perfect NFL Season’ as Miami Dolphins beat Washington Redskins 14-7 at Super Bowl VII in Los Angeles to finish with a 17-0 record (members of that Dolphin team still celebrate when the last undefeated NFL team finally loses each season)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] “American Idol” season debut
[Wed] Full ‘Wolf’ Moon
[Thurs] Sundance Film Festival begins (Park City UT)
[Thurs] “Critics’ Choice Movie Awards” (CW)
[Thurs] Women in Blue Jeans Day
This Week Is … Fresh Squeezed Juice Week
This Month Is … International Child-Centered Divorce Awareness Month

BULL’S BITS

LITTLE-KNOWN SHORT-CUTS TO WEIGHT-LOSS:
✓ If you spend a third of the day jumping up in the air, you can cut your weight by a third, because for a third of the day your weight is zero. This method only works if you use the daily-averaging method of weight control.
✓  Prancercize. Spin Class? Nah. Kickboxing? Don’t think so. Prancing around the front yard like a horse? Yes! That sounds great! This is what happens when you spend too many years on medical marijuana.
✓ Try standing on your toes to decrease your Body Mass Index. Seriously, an extra 3 inches can give you another 7 lbs of leeway.
✓ Sack out! Those who sleep less than 5 hours a night have a 73% chance of becoming obese. That’s because the hunger hormone ghrelin increases when you sleep less. And think about it – you can’t eat when you’re comatose.
✓ Only weigh yourself on the Moon. 130 lbs on Earth is just 22 lbs on the Moon. Avoid Jupiter, however … you’ll be 307 lbs.
✓ Exercise less! Working out more than 45 minutes can stimulate production of the stress hormone cortisol, which may lead to fat production. To be safe maybe you should avoid the dangers of exercise altogether.
✓ Having sex can burn up to 400 calories per hour (or more realistically 20 calories in 3 minutes). We’re just saying, hon’.
– Adapted from BennyDesk.com

BS RANDOM JOKE:
If I agreed with you we’d both be wrong.

BS FIND THE FAKE:
Some show biz stars who dated … and one couple who didn’t. Which of these relationships never happened?
GAME #1
a. Ashton Kutcher & January Jones. [Real, when the model-turned-actress 1st moved to LA.]
b. Conan O’Brien & Lisa Kudrow [Real. Tried to develop a relationship, ended up just friends.]
c. Tom Cruise & Cher [Real. In the 1980s, when he was still trying to make a name for himself.]
d. Charlie Sheen & Julia Roberts & Ernest Borgnine. [Um …. BS]

GAME #2
a. Oprah Winfrey & Roger Ebert. [Real. But only for 2 dates.]
b. Nature Boy Ric Flair & Nick Lachey. [C’mon, seriously? BS]
c. Justin Timberlake & Fergie. [Real. He was 16; she was 23.]
d. Robert Downey Jr & Sarah Jessica Parker [Real. Yep, they were in love in the mid-‘80s.]
– Compiled from FOX News info

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What is the most overused word/phrase on the Internet?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 3-out-of-4 dog owners believe their pooches can do THIS better than a professional.
Answer: Predict the weather.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
All work and no play will make you a manager.