Thursday, January 20, 2011        Edition: #4429
Sheet For Brains!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
Reports vary on whether or not Brit comedian Ricky Gervais has been banned from the “Golden Globe Awards”, but it may be a moot point – he says he doesn’t want to host the gala again (one thing the whole episode has proven – there are a lot of show biz types who take themselves a tad too seriously) . . . Hollywood romance fixer and Bravo-TV’s “Millionaire Matchmaker” show host Patti Stanger claims that 52-year-old actor Alec Baldwin and 39-year-old sometime actress Denise Richards (ex-Mrs Charlie Sheen) are ‘meant for each other’ (she likely meant that in a good way, no?) . . . Sources say that Lindsay Lohan (whose next court date is February 25th) has passed as many as 10 random drug & alcohol tests over the past 2 weeks (damn, looks like we’re out 20 bucks) . . . Movie actor Robert Pattinson says shooting the sex scene for “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” (opening November 18th) was like ‘doing Twister’ (games night must be fun at his house!) . . . And 79-year-old Regis Philbin just announced he’s retiring on Tuesday and already the race is on to find his replacement as co-host of “Live With Regis & Kelly” (should be simple – how many guys have that weird name?).

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “American Idol” (FOX) – The 2-night season premiere continues as more hopefuls perform for the judges in round 2 of auditions.
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Aloe Blacc (“Good Things”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Ra Ra Riot (“The Orchard”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Jimmy Eat World (“Invented”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/A Channel) – Dismemberment Plan (“A People’s History of the Dismemberment Plan”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/Omni) – Wanda Jackson w/Jack White (“The Party Ain’t Over”).
• “Lopez Tonight” (TBS) – My Chemical Romance (“Danger Days: True Lives Of The Fabolous Killjoys”).
• Sundance Film Festival – The annual 10-day exhibition of independent film kicks off in Park City UT. The opening night gala is for “The Music Never Stopped”, the story of an estranged son who tries to reconnect with his brain-damaged father through the music of 1960s rock bands, particularly the Grateful Dead.
NET: http://www.sundance.org/festival/
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/A Channel) – The Decemberists (“The King Is Dead”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Brad Paisley – Tonight his newly-renamed “H2O Frozen Over Tour” cranks up in Green Bay WI. Darius Rucker & Jerrod Niemann are the opening acts. The original “H2O Tour” played to more than 750,000 fans in 2010.
• Elton John – He & David Furnish are debuting their new baby boy Zachary on the covers of both “Us Weekly” and “OK!” magazines this week.
• Jason Aldean – His 4th studio album, “My Kinda Party”, has been certified Platinum for sales of 1 million units. That brings his total album sales to 5 million since his debut 5 years ago.
• Justin Bieber – Plans for a Justin-themed superstore at Los Angeles CA shopping mecca The Grove have fallen through.
• Lily Allen – Today the Brit pop singer undergoes surgery to remove all 4 of her wisdom teeth, thereby making it easier to “Smile” … eventually. (Likely not today.)
• Linkin Park – Tonight their 2011 North American tour gets underway in Sunrise FL. Every concertgoer receives a complimentary download of the live recording of the show they attend.
• Melissa Etheridge – Her split from former partner Tammy Lynn Michaels has been messy but Etheridge has now found a new girlfriend: Linda Wallem, creator of Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie”, who ironically served as ‘Best Man’ at Etheridge’s 2003 wedding to Michaels.
• Motley Crue – Vince Neil has been sentenced to 15 days behind bars for a DUI charge last June when he failed 3 sobriety tests and registered blood-alcohol 3 times the legal limit.
• U2 – 50-year-old bassist Adam Clayton has become a first-time dad, according to a new report that claims he & his unnamed French girlfriend secretly welcomed a baby boy a year ago.

COMING ATTRACTIONS:
A BS selection of movies in the making …
• “American Idiot” – It seems likely that agreement on a film treatment is just a matter of time as long-running talks to turn Green Day’s Broadway musical into a movie are ongoing. It’s said to be a ‘no-brainer’ that Billie Joe Armstrong will play ‘St Jimmy’ in the film version, as he has for extended periods onstage.
• “The Dark Knight Rises” – Some of Hollywood’s hottest actresses are reportedly vying with some up-and-comers for the 2 female leads in Christopher Nolan’s hotly anticipated sequel to the ‘Batman’ story. Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel, and Keira Knightley are said to be interested in the yet-to-be-revealed roles. The film is due to debut in July 2012.
• “Dynasty” – Former TV star Joan Collins is tipping Brit actress Gemma Arterton to take on her famous ‘Alexis Carrington’ character in the upcoming bigscreen prequel to the 1981-89 TV series about a rich oil family in Colorado. Late actor John Forsythe starred in the original version as oil tycoon ‘Blake Carrington’.
• “Peabody & Sherman” – Robert Downey Jr has signed to star as ‘Mr Peabody’ in this new animated feature about a genius dog & his pet boy ‘Sherman’, who travel through time using the ‘WABAC’ machine to visit some of history’s greatest figures. Their adventures first appeared as part of TV’s “Rocky & Bullwinkle Show” (1959-64).
• “The Night Stalker” – Prolific actor James Franco will play satanic serial killer Richard Ramirez and also direct a movie version of this true-crime story. The “127 Hours” star, making his directing debut, will start shooting this Summer while on a break from studies at Yale University.
In 1985, Ramirez went on a rampage of assault and murder throughout Southern California.

FOODS THAT BOOST BODY HEAT:
One of the best ways to battle freezing temps outside is to warm yourself up on the inside. A few ‘thermogenic’ foods that help you do that …
• Ginger – Gets its thermogenic quality from its combination of 2 pungent compounds: gingerol and shogaol. For extra warmth, try a cup of ginger tea.
• Coconut Oil – It definitely isn’t a low-fat food but it’s touted for a long list of health benefits, including increased immunity, speedier healing, and thermogenic properties.
• Green Tea – Thanks to its high level of caffeine, a steamy mug of green tea will pick you up as it warms you up.
(A couple they missed: A generous shot of Remy Martin Coeur De Cognac, or perhaps a generous shot of Mad Dog Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce.)
– Excerpted from Planetgreen.com

SCENT & THE CITY:
There’s something in the air that makes women swoon. The Chicago-based Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation has researched women’s scent preferences in 10 major American cities and found that girls in each love their guys to have a particular smell. Some scents make perfect sense: New Yorkers dig men who smell like coffee and California girls love the scent of the beach, while others aren’t so obvious – who knew that Philly females love laundry or that Houston women crave the smell of BBQ? (What aroma should turn women on in your town?)
– Condensed from “Men’s Health”

BOOZE SHOT:
Chilean researchers are developing a vaccine against alcoholism that could be tested on humans as early as next year. It’s hoped the vaccine will work by neutralizing enzymes that metabolize alcohol and are therefore responsible for alcohol tolerance. About 20% of the Asian population lacks these enzymes and thus experiences strong reactions to alcohol, such as nausea and accelerated heartbeat, which discourage consumption. It’s thought that blocking these enzymes in other populations would lead to a similar distaste for booze. (Party poops!)
– Agence France-Presse

THE SECRETS HE’S NOT TELLING YOU:
Even if you think you have an honest, open relationship, there are things your man’s not telling you. Odds are he’s not hiding a heroin addiction or a mistress, just moments of his life for which he wants to claim sole ownership. Things like …
• How much crap he eats when you’re not around. Whether it’s coming out of the fridge or from a pub while he’s out on the town, it likely doesn’t mesh with your health-conscious diet.
• What’s on his fix-it list. If he told you everything that’s busted around the house and then had to fix it all, he wouldn’t have time to watch football for the next 3 years.
• That he can’t deal with being out-earned. On the outside, he may seem cool about having a partner with a more satisfying and better-paying career, but deep down inside it drives him nuts.
• Occasional unexplained medical issues. Whether it’s a tingling in the arm, lower back pain, or shortage of breath, odds are he won’t go to the doctor for it … and he won’t tell you about it.
• The details of a night out with the guys. It’s a release, a few hours to pretend he’s a teenager again. He figures as long as he’s pulling his weight the next day, it’s none of your business.
• That he flirts with others. Nothing serious, just an occasional banter with women he runs into. He’s likely okay if you talk to other guys too … he just doesn’t want to hear about it.
– Condensed from “Redbook” magazine

DID YOU KNOW?
The home foreclosure crisis in America has helped resurrect an ancient tradition … ‘house cleansing’. Buyers of long-vacant houses are increasingly turning to witches, psychics, priests, and feng shui consultants, among others, to bless or exorcise a purchased dwelling before they move in.
– “Wall Street Journal”

BS CHRONOMETER 01.20.11

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1952 [59] Paul Stanley (Eisen), Queens NY, classic rock guitarist/singer (KISS-“Rock & Roll All Night”, “Beth”) who’s released over 30 albums with KISS

1956 [55] Bill Maher, NYC, TV talk show host (“Real Time With Bill Maher” since 2003, “Politically Incorrect” 1994-2002)/documentary maker (“Religulous”)

1963 [48] James Denton, Nashville TN, TV actor (‘Mike Delfino’ on “Desperate Housewives” since 2004)

1965 [46] Greg K (Kriesel), Glendale CA, punk rock bassist (Offspring-“You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid”, “Hit That”)

1965 [46] John Michael Montgomery, Danville KY, country singer (“Sold”, “I Swear”)/rehab veteran

1966 [45] Rainn Wilson, Woodinville WA, TV actor (‘Dwight Schrute’ on “The Office” since 2005)/movie actor (“The Rocker”, “Juno”)

1971 [40] Questlove (Ahmir Thompson), Philadelphia PA, rock/hip-hop drummer (The Roots, house band on NBC-TV’s “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon”)

1979 [32] Rob Bourdon, Calabasas CA, rock drummer (Linkin Park-“What I’ve Done”, “In the End”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Penguin Awareness Day”, to highlight conservation of natural resources by increasing awareness of the interrelationship between humans and marine animals. (Not sure where the official celebration is being held, but you can bet they’ll be wearing tuxes!)

• “Philately Day”, aka “Stamp Collecting Day”. As a hobby, you just can’t lick it! (Er, maybe you can.)

• “Women’s Healthy Weight Day”, the 18th annual observance honoring size diversity, particularly in advertising and the media. It confirms that beauty, health, and strength come in all sizes. The day is an annual feature of “Healthy Weight Week”.
NET: http://www.healthyweightnetwork.com/hww.htm#women

• “Women in Blue Jeans Day”, celebrating women who embrace the rural lifestyle. It’s an excuse for an annual 3-day conference at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell SD.
NET: http://www.womeninbluejeans.org

• “Take A Walk Outdoors Day”, because spending the entire Winter mall-walking can turn you all pasty-white.

• Zodiac sign of Aquarius (the ‘Water Carrier’) begins. Aquarians are said to be stubborn, opinionated, unpredictable, and conceited, but also far-sighted, visionary, original, and innovative.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1982 [29] “Late Night With David Lettermen” debuts on NBC-TV (previously, his daytime “David Letterman Show” lasted just 5 months on NBC in 1980)

1993 [18] Oscar-winning actress Audrey Hepburn (“Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, “My Fair Lady”) dies of cancer at her home in Switzerland at age 63 (she’s arguably an even bigger icon today, with her image plastered on all kinds of products)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1982 [29] Rocker Ozzy Osbourne is forced to undergo rabies shots after biting the head off a dead bat thrown at him during a concert in Des Moines IA (he apparently thought it was plastic)

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1982 [29] 1st ‘Camcorder’ is developed (leading to stacks of recordings that you never watch stuffed in a closet)

2001 [10] George W Bush is sworn in as 43rd president of the USA

2009 [02] Barack Obama is inaugurated as 44th president of the USA

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] “The Company Men”; “No Strings Attached” open in movie theaters
[Fri] Hugging Day
[Sat] Fancy Rat & Mouse Day
[Sat] Answer Your Cats Questions Day
[Sat] Celebration of Life Day
[Sun] Handwriting Day
This Week Is … Fresh Squeezed Juice Week
This Month Is … Family Fit Lifestyle Month

BULL’S BITS

BS SIGNS YOU’VE JOINED A BAD GYM:
Every year fitness club memberships skyrocket in January, thanks to New Year’s resolutions. A few signs your choice of club perhaps wasn’t the best …
• Walking to the workout area, you pass several memorial plaques on the wall.
• Before every workout, your personal trainer insists you ‘practice your grunts’.
• No ‘StairMaster’, just 30 flights of stairs.
• McDonald’s is conveniently located between the aerobics area and the free weights.
• The towel guy always delays handing you a towel so he can ‘check you out’.
• There’s a security guard … for the sauna.
• Your trainer makes you ‘hit the showers’ after each individual push-up.
• That carpet in the locker room? Really bad shower mold!

BS RANDOM JOKE:
A minor operation … one performed on somebody else.

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
The first e-mail was sent over the Internet in which year?
a. 1991
b. 1981
c. 1971 [CORRECT. Ray Tomlinson of Digital Equipment Corporation is generally credited as having sent the first email across a network, initiating the use of the ‘@ ‘sign to separate the names of the user and the user’s machine in 1971.]
– “Wired”

BS PHONE STARTER:
What profession do you hate the most? (A recent poll was topped by telemarketers, politicians, bouncers, real estate agents, and people on reality TV shows.)

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: A new study says the more of THIS you do, the more weight you’ll lose on that diet.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Sleep. (CNN.com)

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
In times like these, it’s helpful to remember that there have always been times like these.