BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
✳ Today 57-year-old actor Bryan Cranston is awarded the 2,502nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His “Breaking Bad” sidekick, Aaron Paul, and his former “Malcolm in the Middle” co-star, Jane Kaczmarek, deliver tributes to his career during the ceremony. Cranston rose to fame on classic sitcom “Seinfeld” and had roles in Oscar-winning films “Argo” and “Saving Private Ryan”. He wraps up his role as chemistry teacher-turned-drug kingpin ‘Walter White’ in the final episodes of “Breaking Bad’s” season 5, which begin airing August 11th. (One of the most versatile actors in Hollywood, the guy deserves the accolade.)
– WENN.com
✳ 28-year-old pop star-turned-TV personality Kelly Osbourne (“Fashion Police”) has confirmed she and long-term boyfriend Matthew Mosshart (29) are engaged. The vegan pastry chef apparently proposed during a recent vacation in the Caribbean. Her engagement ring was designed to resemble an earring that her rocker-father Ozzy Osbourne once wore. The engaged duo first met at model Kate Moss’ 2011 wedding to rock musician Jamie Hince. (He ain’t pretty, but then neither is she. Ah, there’s someone for everyone.)
– “Hello! Magazine”
✳ 23-year-old actress Kristen Stewart has reportedly struck up a romance with 32-year-old “Boardwalk Empire” actor Michael Pitt (‘Jimmy Darmody‘) following her split from Robert Pattinson. The pair apparently became close after meeting during Paris Fashion Week in France last month. A source says Kristen had vowed to throw herself into work and be single for the Summer, but when she met Michael they immediately hit it off. They both are said to hate the spotlight and are ‘smart bookworm types’. (Stewart ‘smart’? Now that’s acting!)
– TheSun.co.uk
✳ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the hospital in West Hollywood where many of the rich and famous go for treatment, has fired 6 staffers after 14 patient records were ‘inappropriately accessed’ by unauthorized personnel between June 18th and 24th. It’s the medical facility where new parents Kim Kardashian & Kanye West spent thousands receiving exclusive care ahead of daughter North West’s birth. It’s unconfirmed if their records were among those leaked, but TV/online gossip monger TMZ claims that it’s so. (Likely because it paid for them.)
– ContactMusic.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “America’s Got Talent” (NBC/CityTV) – Hopefuls audition for the judges in Las Vegas.
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Mikal Cronin (“MCII”).
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Carly Rae Jepsen (“Kiss”). Rerun.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Iron & Wine (“Ghost on Ghost”). Rerun, because Jimmy’s on his honeymoon.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – A Silent Film (“Sand & Snow”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Mayer Hawthorne (“A Strange Arrangement”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni1) – Pokey LaFarge (“Live in Holland”).
• “MLB Baseball All-Star Game 2013” (FOX) – The 84th edition from Citi Field in Queens NY, 1st time the NY Mets have hosted the event since 1964. “American Idol” winner Candice Glover performs the pre-game anthem; Marc Anthony sings during the 7th inning stretch.
• “Perfect Score” (CW) – Debut of a new dating game hosted by Arielle Kebbel (“The Vampire Diaries”). Players not only have the chance to win a date, but also to win cash if they can successfully identify their ‘perfect match’ based on compatibility tests.
• Polaris Music Prize – Today the shortlist is announced for the 2013 cash prize honoring the best Canadian album of the year. Among the 40 acts who might make it: Metric, Tegan & Sara. The winner is announced September 23rd.
• “The Talk” (CBS) – Sara Evans (“Stronger”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Talib Kweli f/Nelly & Abby Dobson (“Prisoner of Conscious”).
• “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (CW) – A reboot of the improv game show that ran 1998-2006 on ABC-TV, and 1988-98 on Britain’s Channel 4. Comedian Aisha Tyler hosts; improv actors Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, and Wayne Brady return, along with a special guest each episode.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• The Beatles – Tonight the musical “Let It Be” begins previews at the St James Theater on Broadway in NYC. July 24th is the official opening night for the limited run through December 29th. The production features more than 20 Beatles songs, including “Help!” and “Hey Jude”. The original London production continues its run at the Savoy Theatre.
NET: http://www.letitbebroadway.com
• Court Yard Hounds – Today Emily Robison & Martie Maguire release their 2nd album, entitled “Amelita”. The duo are also two-thirds of the Dixie Chicks.
• Imagine Dragons – Frontman Dan Reynolds reveals he broke 2 bones in his hand by … punching a drum. The flamboyant gesture came to him spontaneously as the band was wrapping up a gig. But when he attempted to wave goodbye to the audience afterward, he says his hand was ‘like a gummy worm’.
• Jason Aldean – Selling more than 70,000 tickets, he notched a pair of venue attendance records at Fenway Park over the weekend. He broke both Paul McCartney’s single night record for the legendary Boston stadium, plus Dave Matthews’ 2-night attendance record set in 2006.
• Jay-Z – He’s achieved his 1st-ever #1 album in the UK with “Magna Carta Holy Grail”.
• Madonna – This week she’s a topic of discussion at a convention in Poland for European exorcists. Part of the conference of priests trained in the art of defeating demons is dedicated to hidden subliminal messages. It’s a topic inspired, according to an organizer, ‘by the woman who dares to call herself Madonna’. (Uh, it’s her real name.)
• Radiohead – Thom Yorke has pulled both his solo songs and those made with his side project Atoms For Peace from music streaming service Spotify over the company’s royalties policy, which he claims is unfair to small labels and new artists.
• Robin Thicke – He tells BBC Radio 1 he wrote the follow-up single to mega-hit “Blurred Lines” with Will.i.am, whom he says isn’t the easiest guy to get along with because he’s so eccentric. He recorded “Give It 2 U” with Kendrick Lamar.
• Rolling Stones – Mick Jagger doesn’t officially turn 70 until July 26th but lots of famous faces turned out to celebrate at an early birthday party in London after the Stones wowed crowds at their weekend concert in Hyde Park. Keith Richards didn’t make the bash … he slept through it.

TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “Bullet To the Head” ( R-Rated Crime Thriller ): After watching their respective partners die, a New Orleans hitman (Sylvester Stallone) and a Washington DC detective (Sung Kang) form an alliance in order to bring down a common enemy. Co-stars Jason Momoa and Christian Slater, in his first major role in a theatrical film in 8 years.
• “Evil Dead” ( R-Rated Horror ): Five friends head to a remote cabin, where the discovery of a “Book Of the Dead” leads them to unwittingly summon up demons living in the nearby woods. Stars Jane Levy (“Suburgatory”); co-stars Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas, Lou Taylor Pucci. Filmed in Detroit, Michigan and Auckland, New Zealand.
• “42” ( PG-13 Sports Biography ): Little-known actor Chadwick Boseman stars in the life story of baseball legend Jackie Robinson and his history-making signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers under the guidance of team executive Branch Rickey (played by Harrison Ford). Co-stars Christopher Meloni, Nicole Beharie, TR Knight.
• Also released today: “Alphas: Season 2” (TV); “An Affair Of the Heart: Rick Springfield” (Music Documentary); “Combat!: The Complete 4th Season” (Vintage TV); “Damages: The Final Season” (TV); “Femme Fatales: The Complete 2nd Season” (TV); “Hell on Wheels: The Complete 2nd Season” (TV); “Matlock: The Final Season” (Vintage TV); and “Tom & Jerry: No Mice Allowed!” (Animation).

MORE EXTREME EATS:
Real items from fast-food menus, guaranteed to torpedo any diet …
✗ ‘Bacon Sundae’ – Burger King’s discontinued experiment included a blend of vanilla soft serve with fudge, caramel, bacon crumbles, and a delectable piece of bacon chilling on the edge.
✗ ‘Grilled-Cheese Burger Melt’ –  Friendly’s hefty beef patty with lettuce and tomato comes sandwiched between … TWO grilled cheese sandwiches. 1,500 calories and 97 grams of fat.
✗ ‘Kit Kat Pops’ – Miniature Kit Kat candy bars covered in pizza dough and coated liberally with sugar. This 2012 menu addition by Pizza Hut Middle East is either a breadstick wannabe or a genius dessert.
✗ Mac-and-Cheese Bites – Deep-fried balls of mac and cheese mixed with bacon. Introduced in 2012, KFC Philippines sells them as bite-size treats in packs of 5.
– AdAge.com

POSTNUPS PICKING UP:
Similar to ‘prenups’, ‘postnups’ for couples already married are gaining popularity. In fact, 51% of lawyers say they’ve seen a significant increase. Some couples do postnups simply because they ran out of time for a prenup. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch & his wife Wendi signed a new postnup after each of their daughters was born. The agreements can cover everything from how to divide financial assets in divorce to limits on partners’ weight gain. They sometimes are initiated if one party receives a large inheritance, such as a family vacation home, with strings attached. The bottom line is, a postnup makes a divorce agreement easier to reach. (Practical maybe, but not very romantic.)
– CNBC.com

SLEEPING BETTER TOGETHER:
Top tips for couples from sleep expert Dr Michael Breus …
• Snoring is often due to congestion, so do everything you can to help reduce the congestion, including nasal decongestants. Use ear plugs, sound machines, and a pillow wall to minimize disruption.
• The stress from emotional discussions can cause sleeplessness, so schedule time for them at least a few hours before bedtime.
• Consider a 30-minute time where you both meditate or relax, in the dark, in bed. This should involve little conversation.
• Consider a new mattress. Many times a mattress will exaggerate nighttime movements.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages for 3 hours before bedtime to help reduce snoring.
(And what’s your best tip?)
– TheSleepDoctor.com

WHAT ABOUT PANTS PULLED UP TO THE NECK?
In a survey for Just for Men hair coloring, about 75% of those polled say the most notable sign of aging for men is … out-of-style clothing. Some of the more undesirable ensembles: ‘White shoes, white belt, and after-dinner-mint-colored polyester jacket’. Or how about ‘greying ponytail, faded rock concert T-shirt, and jeans’? (Hello, Willie Nelson!)
– TheGlobeandMail.com

BS AMAZING FACTS:
• Singing in a choir is good for your heart.
– “New Scientist”
• Adding milk to tea negates the health-giving effects of a hot brew.
– BBC News Magazine

BS CHRONOMETER 07.16.13

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1943 [70] Jimmy Johnson, Port Arthur TX, sports analyst (“Fox NFL Sunday”)/former NFL coach (Miami Dolphins, 2 Super Bowls-Dallas Cowboys)

1952 [61] Stewart Copeland, Alexandria, Egypt, classic rock drummer (Police-“Every Breath You Take”, “King of Pain”)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2003)

1967 [46] Will Ferrell, Irvine CA, movie actor (“Blades of Glory”, “Old School”)/ex-TV comic (“Saturday Night Live” 1995-2002)  COMING UP: “Anchorman: The Legend Continues”, opening December 20th.

1971 [42] Ed Kowalczyk, York PA, rock singer (Live-“Lightning Crashes”, “Turn My Head”)

1979 [34] Jayma Mays, Bristol TN, TV actress (‘Emma Pillsbury’ on “Glee” since 2009)/movie actress (“Paul Blart: Mall Cop”, “The Smurfs” movies)

1990 [23] James Maslow, La Jolla CA, TV actor (‘James Diamond’ on “Big Time Rush” since 2009)/boy-band pop singer (BTR-“Windows Down”, “Boyfriend”)

BS REASON TO PARTY . . .
• “Closet Space Appreciation Day”, a day of awareness of that giant double-door or walk-in closet that allows you to store so much useless stuff.

• “Fresh Spinach Day”, an occasion to make use of some healthful leafy greens in your favorite recipes. Spinach & sharp cheese omelette, anyone?
NET: http://www.zanyholidays.com/2008/07/fresh-spinach-day.html

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1999 [14] Magazine publisher John F Kennedy Jr (“George”), his wife Carolyn, and sister-in-law Lauren are killed when the plane he’s piloting crashes off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1996 [17] Michael Jackson receives somewhere between $15-and-20 million for his performance at the Sultan of Brunei’s private birthday party

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1935 [78] 1st ‘parking meter’ is installed, in Oklahoma City OK

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1981 [32] Shukuni Sasaki spins a record 72 plates on poles simultaneously (only he can understand what it’s like trying to hold this show together!)

COMING UP . . .
[Thurs] Comic Con begins (San Diego CA)
[Thurs] “Country Thunder” begins (Twin Lakes WI)
[Fri] “The Conjuring”; “RIPD”; “RED 2” open in movie theaters
[Sat] Celebration Of the Horse Day
[Sun] Ice Cream Sunday
This Week Is … Avoid Boredom Week
This Month Is … Herbal Prescription Awareness Month

BULL’S BITS

BEST GAMES KIDS PLAYED BEFORE THE INTERNET:
10. Catch … back and forth, back and forth and no one’s keeping score.
9. Hopscotch … you need chalk and a sidewalk. C’est tout!
8. Marbles … trade you 2 cat’s-eyes for your taw?
7. Mother May I? … you get to order the other kids around like a parent. “No, you may not!”
6. Red Rover … too violent for today’s wimpy kids.
5. Four Square … not the social network, the chalk on pavement game.
4. Red Light/Green Light … the training ground for future traffic cops.
3. Hide and Seek … the world’s oldest game? “1-2-3 on Ziggy!!!”
2. Kick the Can … equipment needed: 1 soup can.
1. Tag … there must be 18,000 versions. Freeze tag, flashlight tag, water tag …
– ListsOPlenty.com

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Which all-time TV shows are binge-worthy? (On our list: “All In the Family”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Breaking Bad”, “China Beach”, “Hill Street Blues”, “Homeland”, “Larry Sanders Show”, “My So-Called Life”, “The Walking Dead”, “The Wire”.)

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Some days you’re the pigeon, some days you’re the statue.

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
How many trees do you need to have before they can officially be called an ‘orchard’?
a. 20.
b. 5. [CORRECT]
c. 1.
– BBC.co.uk

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: If you’re an average 45-year-old, you have owned approximately 1,350 of THESE.
Answer: Pairs of socks.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The dead outnumber the living by more than 30-to-1.