BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ George Clooney certainly never stays single for long. Just a week after his ex Stacy Keibler tied the knot, the silver-haired star has been photographed in Tanzania on a romantic African safari with his rumored new girlfriend Amal Alamuddin. It’s said the safari is the first vacation the actor and the stunning British lawyer have taken after first being spotted together last Fall. Clooney also brought her as his guest to a special White House screening of his latest film “Monuments Men” earlier this year.
– People.com
★ According to former “New York Times” fashion critic Cathy Horyn, L’Wren Scott was scheduled to shut down her 8-year-old namesake clothing label on Wednesday this week, just 2 days after her apparent suicide. The longtime critic, who was a close friend of the late model-turned-stylist-turned-designer, confirms reports that the clothier’s business was indeed in trouble and had been for some time. The fashion journalist says the designer sounded run-down and discouraged in mid-February and she urged Scott to ‘put her health first’.
– “Pret-a-Reporter”
★ “Peter Pan” is getting a bigscreen reboot, but not without a bit of a ruckus. A new petition protesting the casting of Rooney Mara as ‘Tiger Lily’ in the new production “Pan” has collected thousands of signatures in just a few days. The Care2 petition notes that JM Barrie’s original story describes the character as a Native American princess, and demands that Warner Bros stop casting white actors to play multi-racial roles. The movie also stars Levi Miller (‘Peter Pan’), Hugh Jackman (‘Blackbeard’), and Garrett Hedlund (‘Hook’). “Pan” is due out in July 2015.
– “Hollywood Reporter”
★ And it appears “Flappy Bird” will take flight again. The game for iOS and Android devices surged in popularity earlier this year, topping Apple’s App Store and Google Play charts. Then it’s creator, game developer Dong Nguyen, surprised users by pulling the game down at the height of its popularity, citing its ‘unexpected effects’ of causing addiction. In a new interview, Nguyen says he’s now working on a cowboy shooter game, a flying game titled “Kitty Jetpack”, and an ‘action-chess’ game launching later this month. And yes, he’s bringing back “Flappy Bird” … but ‘not soon’.
– RollingStone.com

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “American Masters” (PBS) – Tonight “Lennon NYC”, a documentary on John Lennon’s life with his family in New York.
• “CMT Crossroads” (CMT) – Tonight the debut of a new 1-hour episode featuring Dierks Bentley and OneRepublic doing unique mash-ups on Bentley favorites and OneRepublic hits.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Today Aloe Blacc (“Lift Your Spirit”); Jennifer Lopez (“I Luh Ya PaPi”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Tonight Kongos (“Lunatic”). Rerun.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Tonight Run River North (“Fight to Keep”). Rerun.
• “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS) – Tonight Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire (“Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire”). Rerun.
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/Omni1) – Tonight Little Dragon (“Nabuma Rubberband”, out May 13th). Rerun.
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (syndicated/CTV) – Ylvis (“What Does The Fox Say?”).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight classic rocker Ann Wilson (Heart); Ty Dolla $Ign (“Beach House”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Cher – Saturday her 1st tour in 8 years, “Dressed to Kill”, begins in Phoenix AZ, with dates announced up to July 11th in San Diego CA. Pat Benatar is the opening act through April, then Cyndi Lauper for the rest of the dates.
• Fall Out Boy – After releasing their “Flappy Bird” parody game called “Fall Out Bird”, they’ve now announced a sequel, “Fall Out Bird 2.0”, coming soon on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and at the Amazon App Store. Can a lawsuit be far behind?
• “Frozen” – The Disney soundtrack has become the 1st album to sell over a million units in 2014, with total sales now standing at 1.4 million. It’s now in its 6th non-consecutive week atop the album sales chart.
• Lady Antebellum – Tonight they begin the ‘Summer leg’ of their “Take Me Downtown Tour” in Las Vegas NV. Gigs are scheduled through September 6th in York PA. Opening acts include Billy Currington, David Nail, or Joe Nichols on select dates.
• Luke Bryan – He’s debuted atop the ‘Billboard Country Albums’ chart with “Spring Break 6 … Like We Ain’t Ever”. The digital EP is also #2 on the all-genre ‘Top 200 Albums’ chart.
• Rolling Stones – Their entire 7-date Australia-New Zealand tour is now cancelled following the death of Mick Jagger’s companion L’Wren Scott. Their 1st show in Adelaide, Australia in 19 years had been scheduled for Saturday.
• Wu-Tang Clan – After a 7-year absence, their new album “A Better Tomorrow” is almost ready to ship, according to MTV News. Wu-Tang’s 6th studio album coincides with their 20th anniversary.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “Divergent” ( PG-13 Sci-Fi Adventure ): In a world divided by factions, young woman ‘Tris’ (Shailene Woodley) discovers she’s a ‘Divergent’ and there’s a plot to destroy her ilk. It’s up to her and the mysterious ‘Four’ (Theo James) to find out what makes ‘Divergents’ dangerous before it’s too late. Co-stars Kate Winslet. Based on the Veronica Roth young-adult novel.
NET: http://divergentthemovie.com
• “Muppets Most Wanted” ( PG Family Adventure ): While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped up in a European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick. Human stars include Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, Steve Whitmire. Look for a 3rd installment in the series to be announced soon after opening weekend.
NET: http://muppets.disney.com/muppets-most-wanted
• Opening in limited release: “Blood Ties” (Crime Thriller); “Cheap Thrills” (Comedy Thriller); “McCanick” (Mystery); “Nymphomaniac: Vol I” (Drama); and “Rob the Mob” (Drama).

THE ART IS IN YOUR GENES:
NYC start-up ‘Genetic Ink’ is believed to be the 1st company to sequence DNA and turn it into a piece of fine art. The company has paired with Swiss-Canadian artist-designer Mathieu Daudelin to create ‘Spark’, an artistic style that expresses the nuances found in an individual’s DNA. Clients receive a cotton cheek swab DNA collection kit which works for adults, children, and pets. The samples are then returned to Genetic Ink and an artwork created using algorithm technology. The ‘Spark Art Style’ will be available in 4 canvas sizes and 17 color schemes, with prices starting at $200. (What is that … is that a flu germ? Stylish.)
– RelaxNews.com

HOW TO SAVE ON CAR RENTALS:
Following these steps can easily save you a lot of cash on your next car rental …
✓ Don’t Pick-up or Drop-of At the Airport – You’ll save somewhere between 25%-and-35% as airport kiosks usually have inflated drop-off and pick-up fees.
✓ Skip the Big Boys – Often smaller car rental companies are able to save you more money than the big names in the biz.
✓ Tack on Dates – This may sound bizarre but sometimes adding an extra day or a weekend to your actual travel dates will result in an overall lower rate, even if you return your car early.
✓ Use a Coupon – They can be found everywhere. A favorite site for car rental coupons is Offers.com or look for the ubiquitous ‘Entertainment Book’ coupons at tourism desks.
– Condensed from WKYC.com

SMART SHOES … LITERALLY:
New ‘smart’ Lechal shoes will get you where you’re going without ever having to check your phone’s GPS or look at a map. By syncing to an app, the hi-tech kicks – also available as a shoe insert – figure out the fastest route and even count calories and steps while you’re on the move. You set a destination, put your phone back in your pocket, and just start walking. Sensors built into the footwear vibrate in the left or right shoe to tell you where to turn. The vibrations become longer as the turn gets closer. The Lechal inserts cost $100 and fit into any shoe. For every pair purchased by someone who is not visually impaired, a pair is donated to someone who is. (Technology and charity … now there’s a winning concept!)
NET: http://lechal.com/products.html/
– GizMag.com

IT’S OK, NOT OKAY:
Sunday is “Global OK Day”, as the term ‘OK’ turns 175-years-old. The 2-letter word was born during a 19th-century abbreviation craze and went on to international renown, with its own hand gesture, even. It’s been traced back to 1839, when editors at the “Boston Morning Post” signed off on articles as ‘all correct’ with a winking ‘OK’ for ‘oll korrect’ (seems that was considered clever). By 1840, it served as a slogan for US president Martin Van Buren’s unsuccessful reelection campaign. “Old Kinderhook is OK”, his posters proclaimed, a reference to his birthplace. Since then, it’s become the most frequently spoken all-purpose expression worldwide. Only France has a problem with OK, preferring “d’accord”. (And perhaps Jamaica, where ‘everyting is a-ight’.)
– Adapted from NYDailyNews.com

FOR THE RECORD:
World’s most expensive dog? A Tibetan mastiff puppy has sold for 12 million yuan ($1.9 million) at a ‘luxury pet’ fair in Hangzhou, China. The ancient breed has become a must-have for China’s wealthy, as the bear-like dogs are mythical for having ‘lion’s blood’. The record-breaking pooch, a golden-haired puppy measuring 31-inches-tall and weighing nearly 200 lbs, was purchased by a 56-year-old property developer from Qingdao.
– AFP

BS AMAZING FACT:
Computers using Windows XP represented a 29.5% market share in February. XP is still the 2nd-most-popular Operating System after Windows 7, which had a 47.3% market share. (So why are they shutting it down next month?)
– Net Applications

BS CHRONOMETER 03.21.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1958 [56] Gary Oldman, London UK, movie actor (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”, “Harry Potter” films)

1962 [52] Matthew Broderick, NYC, Broadway actor (Tony Award-“The Producers”)/movie actor (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”)/married to actress Sarah Jessica Parker since 1997

1962 [52] Rosie O’Donnell, Commack NY, TV personality (“The Rosie Show” 2011-12, “The View” 2005-07, “Rosie O’Donnell Show” 1996-2002)/movie actress (“A League Of Their Own”)

1980 [34] Deryck Whibley, Scarborough ON, rock guitarist-singer (Sum 41-“Pieces”, “Still Waiting”)/married to pop singer Avril Lavigne 2006-09

SATURDAY –
TV-movie actor William Shatner (“Star Trek”) is 83; Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (“Cats”) is 66; CNN news anchor Wolf Blitzer is 66; NBC-TV sportscaster Bob Costas (“Sochi Olympics”) is 62; Movie actress Reese Witherspoon (“Walk the Line”) is 38; Indie rock guitarist Lincoln Parish (Cage the Elephant) is 24.

SUNDAY –
Alt-rock singer-keyboardist Damon Albarn (Blur) is 46; Movie actress Keri Russell (“Extraordinary Measures”) is 38; Movie actress Michelle Monaghan (“Source Code”) is 38; Gossip blogger Perez Hilton (PerezHilton.com) is 36.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Common Courtesy Day” … if you please. Thanks for your adherence!
• “Fragrance Day” and “Flower Day”, always observed on the 1st full day of Spring.
• “Puppy Day”, the idea being to save 10,000 homeless puppies in a single day by encouraging adoptions at dog pounds and rescue centers.
• “Single Parents Day”, saluting those dedicated folks who single-handedly do the work of two in providing for their families.
• “World Down Syndrome Day”, the 8th annual to raise public awareness of the syndrome resulting from the triplication of the 21st chromosome … the reason it’s observed on 3/21.
• “World Poetry Day”, a good day to sample some ‘modern poetry’ by reading the inane lyrics to a hit song over a mushy violin background track. Find lots of dumb lyrics here …
NET: http://www.lyrics.com
Other Observances Today:
• “Day of Action On Syringe Exchange”
• “Harmony Day” (Australia)
• “Human Rights Day” (South Africa)
• “International Day For the Elimination of Racial Discrimination” (UN)
• “International Day of Forests” (UN)
• “Mothers Day” (most of the Arab World)
• “World Puppetry Day”

SATURDAY –
• “As Young As You Feel Day”, a day to quit wallowing in worry about your chronological age and start feeling peppy!
• “International Goof-Off Day”, a day to relax, be yourself, and generally just goof off. In other words … a regular day.
• “Major League Baseball’s 2014 Season Opener”. Today and Sunday the Arizona Diamondbacks host the LA Dodgers in Sydney, Australia. The trip marks the 100th anniversary of an exhibition game played by the Chicago White Sox & NY Giants at the same venue, the historic Sydney Cricket Ground. Chicago defeated NY 5-4 before 10,000 fans January 3, 1914.
• “World Water Day”, a UN observance since 1992 emphasizing the worldwide necessity of potable drinking water and proper wastewater treatment.
NET: http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday

SUNDAY –
• “Chip & Dip Day”. While North Americans might pick ‘Sour Cream & Onion’ or ‘Salt & Vinegar’ chips, the top flavors for ‘crisps’ in the UK include ‘Roast Beef & Mustard’ and ‘Smoked Ham & Pickle’. The Swiss like ‘Paprika’, while Thais choose ‘Prawn’, and in Egypt ‘Kebab’ is popular.
NET: http://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/national-chip-and-dip-day
• “World Meteorological Day”, an annual UN observance to promote understanding of how weather, climate, and water affects us all. For one thing, it seems to be our favorite topic of conversation. What overused weather clichés should be dumped?
NET: http://www.wmo.int/worldmetday

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1994 [20] “Schindler’s List” wins ‘Best Picture’ at the 66th Academy Awards; Holly Hunter is named ‘Best Actress’ (“The Piano”); Tom Hanks ‘Best Actor’ (“Philadelphia”)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1952 [62] Radio personality Alan Freed hosts the “Moondog Coronation Ball” at the Cleveland Arena, considered the 1st true ‘Rock & Roll Concert’ (25,000 fans show up, more than twice the venue’s capacity)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2006 [08] Twitter.com founder Jack Dorsey sends the 1st tweet over his new social networking site, which reads “inviting co-workers” (huh?)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2000 [14] *NSYNC’s “No Strings Attached” sets an all-time benchmark for ‘Single-Day Album Sales’ at 1.1 million units

COMING UP . . .
[Mon] Chocolate-Covered Raisins Day
[Mon] World Tuberculosis Day
[Tues] International Day of Remembrance Of the Victims of Slavery
[Tues] Pecan Day
[Tues] Waffle Day
This Week Is … Animal Poison Prevention Week
This Month Is … Cheerleading Safety Month

BULL’S BITS

ACTUAL BAND NAMES THAT DOUBLE AS EXCUSES FOR SHOWING UP LATE TO WORK:
Hangover
Bad Sushi
Broken Bus
Stolen Wallet
Trainwreck
Nine Minute Snooze
Last Night I Died
Elevators
Old Lady Drivers
Alien Conspiracy
Total Amnesia
Slept
– Thanks to Eric Elbogen

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What causes the most stress on family road trips?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: People in India do THIS for 10 hours & 42 minutes per week, most of any country.
Answer: Read.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Be the change that you want to see.