BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ FOX-TV is ready to start the clock on “24: Legacy”. The network has tapped “Straight Outta Compton” breakout star and “Walking Dead” actor Corey Hawkins to take over the lead role in the reboot of the franchise previously fronted by Kiefer Sutherland. The make-over features an all-new cast of characters but will be structured in the style of the original series. “24: Legacy” revolves around a military hero’s return to the US and the trouble that follows him back.
– “Hollywood Reporter”
★ Well, Woody Allen’s TV show just got even more interesting. The 80-year-old Oscar-winning film director has now cast 23-year-old Miley Cyrus and 83-year-old Elaine May in his upcoming 1960s-set Amazon series. Allen, who will serve as writer and director on the project, will also co-star in the 6-episode series. Amazon Studios already boasts such original shows as “The Man In the High Castle”, “Mozart In the Jungle”, and “Transparent”. Allen’s new series is due by the end of the year
– Deadline.com
★ “Modern Family” actress Sofia Vergara is suing for at least $15 million from beauty company Venus Concept for using her photo without permission. The Colombian starlet claims the firm has been promoting its services with one of her Instagram photos and says the mega-million-dollar figure represents her starting point for endorsing a product. The actress admits she had a skin tightening massage done by Venus in 2014 and shared a pic of the procedure online. She now claims the treatment was a “waste of time and money with little in the way of any results.”
– TMZ.com
★ And the late Robin Williams’ California wine country estate has finally sold for $18.1 million after spending over 3 years on-and-off the market. The sprawling property, which features a mansion and a working vineyard, was originally listed in 2012 for $35 million, then became available again in 2014 for $29.9 million. The estate, named ‘Villa Sorriso’, has now been purchased at the discounted new price by French winemakers Alfred & Melanie Tesseron of Chateau Pontet-Canet.
– “Wall Street Journal”

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “American Idol” (FOX) – The best vocalists from the auditions come to Hollywood to perform for the judges.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Banners (“Banners”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Lightning Bolt (“Fantasy Empire”); Metz (“II”). Rerun.
• “Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS/M3) – Justin Bieber (“Purpose”).
• “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global) – Baauer (“ß”).
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (syndicated/CTV) – Shawn Hook (“Analog Love”).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Sia (“This Is Acting”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Carrie Underwood – She’s planning to keep fit on her upcoming tour by taking a mobile gym on the road. She’s set to embark on her 4-month “Storyteller Tour: Stories In the Round” this Saturday. With the help of her trainer Eve Overland, she now has a ‘gym bus’.
• Future – His bodyguard has been shot and killed. 27-year-old Michael Tanner Phillips was at his Jonesboro GA home with his pregnant wife at the time of the incident, but she was not in the same room at the time of the murder. Neighbors report hearing an argument and some gunshots. Future has yet to respond to the news.
• Justin Bieber – He’s become the 17th act in the ‘Billboard Hot 100’s history to land the #1 (“Sorry”) and #2 (“Love Yourself”) hits in the same week. The Weeknd was the last artist to score the one-two punch in September last year.
• Kesha – She has to wait a little longer for her day in court thanks to the massive snowstorm that hit NYC. The “Tik Tok” singer was hoping to learn if her bid to rip up a Sony contract with producer Dr Luke was successful on Tuesday. The court date is now scheduled for February 19th due to “travel problems caused by the weather”.
• Zac Brown Band – Frontman Zac Brown is venturing into the wine business after teaming up with winemaker John Killebrew to create the ‘Z Alexander Brown’ brand. The collection will feature red wines, kicking off with a Cabernet Sauvignon and a proprietary red blend.
NET: http://www.zalexanderbrown.com/wines.html

LET’S GIVE HIM A HAND:
A UK musician is giving sci-fi-style gloves that make music a trial. The hi-tech musical gloves have been invented by “Harry Potter” film composer Imogen Heap. Her ‘Mi.Mu’ mitts contain sensors that recognize hand movements and make sounds geared to each. She’s called upon several musicians, including Britain’s Kris Halpin, to try out the new technology. The gloves have allowed him to carry on performing despite suffering from shaky hands because of his cerebral palsy. (This instrument needs a better name. Ideas, anyone?)
NET: http://tinyurl.com/ky7k4we
– BBC News

MOM IS SPECIAL:
A mother is even more important to baby development than previously thought. A new study published this week says that a woman’s health, long before she becomes pregnant, is important to her future baby’s health. The 3-year research finds that information layered on top of a mother’s DNA (epigenetic data) is intrinsic to how the placenta develops. The placenta nourishes the fetus through the umbilical cord. Researchers say the results suggest that the usual health guidelines women are supposed to follow when pregnant – not smoking, not drinking, eating healthy, taking folic acid – should be followed even earlier. (Keep that in mind when you’re out clubbing at 3 am.)
– @NYDailyNews

FRIENDS ARE FEW:
Social media may make managing friendships logistically easier, but perhaps unsurprisingly, Facebook and other online networks aren’t actually helping you grow your circle of true friends. That’s the conclusion of analysis of research conducted among more than 3,000 people aged 18-to-65. While women typically have larger social circles than men, the average number of Facebook friends among this sample turns out to be 150. But the average number of friends people say they can truly count on in a crisis is just … 4. These ‘offline’ friend numbers are remarkably consistent across backgrounds, gender, and age. (What’s that old saying … a friend in need is a pain the ass?)
– CNET.com

FROM THE BS POLL VAULT:
A statistical look at who we are and the things we do …
• 66% of single women say they’d rather receive a promotion at work than a wedding proposal.
• 55% of guys say they keep cologne in their car.
• 26% of moms say they have tried to lose weight by eating baby food.
• 15% of people surveyed say that sarcasm is a huge turnoff.
• 14% of parents have almost crashed their vehicle while disciplining their kids.
• 6% of us do not know how to ride a bike.

MOUSE EARS … LITERALLY:
There’s cool – and/or creepy – news out of Japan where researchers at the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University have created a human ear … on the back of a rat. The researchers use stem cells that grow into ear cartilage, shaping them into an ear by putting them in what’s called ‘biological tubing’. The ear-shaped cartilage is then implanted under a rat’s skin, where it’s allowed to grow for 2 months. The tubing eventually dissolves and a 2-inch-long ear is left behind. The researchers believe the technology could be used to treat people born with no ears, smaller-than-normal ears, or have ears that have been disfigured in accidents. (Mickey Mouse is threatening to sue.)
– “Discovery News”

BS BUZZWORDS:
Cutting-edge vocab …
• ‘Jihottie’ [jihadist + hottie] – Tabloid term for a good-looking woman or man who supports or engages in terrorist activities.
• ‘Media Snug’ – A small, comfortable space to read, watch, play, or listen to media in habitations that are too small for a full-fledged ‘media room’. Real estate lingo to hype small apartments.
• ‘White Ink Tattoo’ – Tattoos that make use of white ink instead of black or other dark colors. Said to look ultra-cool under black light or UV light.

HERB CURE?
Could a Chinese herb stop you drinking so much? A supplement called kudzu is an ancient Chinese remedy for heart disease but it turns out it may also help us cut alcohol consumption as it’s said to allow you to get a pleasurable buzz while drinking less. The plant is a type of vine that is native to Southeast Asia. Traditional uses, going back 2,000 years, are for coughs, colds, and flu; and also for blood pressure, hypertension, and angina. But it’s also been used since at least AD 600 to help prevent alcohol abuse. In a recent trial, it’s been found that taking kudzu extract can cut alcohol consumption by up to 57% among heavy-drinking men. (The plant is an invasive roadside species in North America. Now watch it become an expensive pharmaceutical.)
– “Trust Me I’m A Doctor”

BS AMAZING HEALTH FACTS:
• People living in penthouses are more likely to die of a heart attack. (It’s not about living high in the sky; it’s about medics being able to get emergency access.)
– “Toronto Star”
• People breathe in more bugs from tap water than from the toilet. (And who did they get to test this out?)
– “New Scientist”
• Two-thirds of all the people in history who have managed to survive beyond age 65 are alive today. (The most amazing of all being Keith Richards.)
– List 25.com

BS CHRONOMETER 01.27.16

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1957 [59] Frank Miller, Olney MD, graphic novelist/artist (“300”, “The Wolverine”)/movie director (“Sin City” films)

1959 [57] Cris Collinsworth, Dayton OH, NFL TV analyst (“NBC Sunday Night Football” since 2009, “Inside the NFL” since 2008)/former NFL WR (Cincinnati Bengals 1981-88)

1965 [51] Alan Cumming, Aberfeldy, Scotland, TV actor (‘Eli Gold’ on “The Good Wife” since 2010)/movie actor (“The Smurfs” movies, “Any Day Now”)

1968 [48] Tracy Lawrence, Atlanta TX, country singer (“Find Out Who Your Friends Are”, “Paint Me a Birmingham”)

1968 [48] Mike Patton, Eureka CA, alternative metal singer-songwriter (Faith No More-“Sol Invictus”)

1986 [30] Matt Sanchez, San Antonio TX, indie rock drummer-vocalist (American Authors-“Believer”, “Best Day of My Life”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Chocolate Cake Day”, for some unknown reason. But then … do we need one?

• “International Holocaust Remembrance Day”, an annual memorial day commemorating the victims of the holocaust initiated by the WWII Nazi regime and its collaborators.

• “International Mobile Phone Recycling Day, the 2nd annual to bring awareness of environmental problems in the Congo Basin caused by heavy mining for minerals used in cellphones. A project of the Jane Goodall Institute.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/gwf2vot

• “National Geographic Day”, marking the 1888 foundation of the National Geographic Society in Washington DC by a diverse group of geographers, explorers, teachers, lawyers, cartographers, military officers, and financiers.

• “Punch the Clock Day”, a day to calmly do your job stress-free, then go home and enjoy your real life. (“I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted paychecks.”)

• “Thomas Crapper Day”, in honor of the man who invented the toilet flush mechanism, on the anniversary of his death in 1910. Thomas Crapper & Co became engineers by appointment to the English ‘throne’.

• “Vietnam Peace Day”, observed on the anniversary of the 1973 peace deal signed in Paris, France that brought an end to America’s (then) longest war.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2010 [06] “The Catcher In the Rye” author JD Salinger dies, after years of seclusion

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
2015 [01] Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne are given a songwriting credit on Sam Smith’s hit single “Stay With Me”, due to its similarities with Petty’s 1989 track “I Won’t Back Down”

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2010 [06] Apple CEO    Steve Jobs unveils a new invention, a tablet PC called the ‘iPad’, at a press conference in San Francisco CA

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2004 [12] 13-year-old New Zealand actress Keisha Castle-Hughes (“Whale Rider”) becomes the youngest actress ever nominated in the ‘Best Actress’ category of the Academy Awards

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Data Privacy Day
[Thurs] Kazoo Day
[Fri] “The Finest Hours”; “Kung Fu Panda 3” open in movie theaters
[Fri] Curmudgeons Day
[Fri] Fun at Work Day
[Fri] Pre-School Fitness Day
[Sat] “SAG Awards” (TBS/TNT)
This Week Is … International Hoof Care Week
This Month Is … Unchain a Dog Month

BULL’S BITS

BS MOVIES MY SPOUSE WATCHES WHILE I’M TRYING TO SLEEP:
• “Explosions II”
• “2½ Hours of Babies Crying”
• “Full Throttle Rage: The Screamfest”
• “Explosions III”
• “Loud Sex & Mariachi Music”
• “Sudden Changes in Volume”
• “3½ Hours of Engines Revving”
• “Car Door Slam Party”
• “Feature-Length Pit Bull Music Video”
– Thanks to Rachel Goldschmid

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s your worst audition horror story?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Ever decide to run a red light, and the driver in front of you chickens out?

BS NHL QUIZ:
• Which were the 4 founding teams of the NHL in 1917? (Montréal Canadiens, Montréal Wanderers, Québec Bulldogs, Ottawa Senators. Note: Québec was replaced by Toronto Arenas when play began.)
• Which team was the NHL’s first American franchise? (Boston Bruins, admitted in 1924.)
• How long was the first NHL season: 11, 22, or 44 games? (22)
• How many times have the Ottawa Senators won the Stanley Cup? (4 times during the team’s original incarnation from 1917-1934.)
– “NHL Guide & Record Book”

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: The average woman does THIS 8 times per day.
Answer: Criticizes herself.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Creativity is the art of concealing your sources.