BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
It’s been revealed that actor Sean Connery turned down the role of ‘Gandalf’ in the “Lord Of the Rings” film franchise – even though offered $10 million per film plus 15% of box office – because he didn’t understand the role (works out to a 180 million-dollar oops!) . . . “Facts of Life” child star-turned-“Survivor” contestant Lisa Whelchel is battling West Nile Virus since returning from her stint on the reality competition (we won’t find out if the show made it worth her while until Season 25 ends) . . . “American Chopper” has been cancelled by the Discovery Channel after 10 years and 233 episodes on-air (concludes with a 2-part live special December 10-11) . . . Animal wranglers who worked on the upcoming Peter Jackson film “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” say the production company is responsible for the deaths of up to 27 animals, one claiming he personally buried 3 horses, 6 goats, 6 sheep, and a dozen chickens (that’s nothing compared to the number of animals EATEN on the set) . . . Turns out the guy who accused Kevin Clash, voice of ‘Elmo’, of underage relations was paid a $125,000-settlement to change his story, stating the relationship was adult and consensual, but now he’s said to be having 2nd (3rd?) thoughts and may renege on the deal (what the heck is it this guy wants?) . . . Daniel Craig is set to become the top earning ‘James Bond’ of all-time after signing a new $49-million to appear in the next 2 installments of the franchise (is it the actor or the script that’s made “Skyfall” a hit?) . . . And Jessica Simpson has apparently completed her obligation as a Weight Watchers spokesperson by losing over 60 lbs in the 6 months since she gave birth (wouldn’t a $3-million fee motivate you?).

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Chelsea Lately” (E!) – Pitbull (“Global Warming”).
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Flo Rida (“Wild Ones”). Rerun.
• “Dancing With the Stars All-Stars” (ABC/CTV2) – The Wanted perform a medley of “I Found You”/”Glad You Came”; 2 more couples are eliminated.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Kelly Clarkson (“Greatest Hits – Chapter 1”).
• “George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight” (CBC) – Nelly Furtado (“The Spirit Indestructible”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Andy Allo (“Unfresh”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Pitbull again.
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni1) – Tegan & Sara perform the new single “Closer” (“Heartthrob”, out January 29th).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Wanda Jackson (“Unfinished Business”).
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Country music legend Willie Nelson.
• “The Voice” (NBC/CTV) – Rascal Flatts (“Rascal Flatts: All Access & Uncovered”) performs; 2 singers from each team are eliminated.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• The Beatles – Production company OVOW has begun a worldwide search for amateur and professional footage to make a new film called “The Beatles Live!”. It will combine live footage, images, music, and interviews chronicling their 250 concerts in 116 cities from 1963-66.
• Black Sabbath – Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath has been voted ‘Most Influential British Rock Act of All-Time’ in a new poll by the British Phonographic Industry. (Ahead of Led Zep?)
• Interpol – Today they celebrate the 10th anniversary of their 1st album, “Turn On the Bright Lights”, with a remastered reissue, packaged with a 2nd disc of B-sides and rarities; and a book of previously unreleased photos.
• Ke$ha – Today her illustrated memoir entitled “My Crazy Beautiful Life” is published. The book provides the 25-year-old’s take on her quick rise to fame in less than 3 years. Her 2nd full-length album, “Warrior”, is slated for release December 4th.
• Metric – A repackaged version of their latest album “Synthetica” is out digitally today. “Synthetica Deluxe” includes 5 extra tracks including an acoustic version of “Breathing Underwater”. The physical release of the new set is out December 4th.
• Nicki Minaj – “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up” is out today. The 2-disc new version of the album includes 8 new tunes, with appearances from Lil Wayne, Ciara and others. A 90-minute behind-the-scenes DVD is also included.
• Nirvana – Movie director Brett Morgan is planning a documentary on Kurt Cobain which is expected to be out in 2014. Morgan tells “New York Post” it will be a sort of autobiography, as if Cobain was still around and making a film about his own life.
• Taylor Swift – 14 shows for her 2013 “Red Tour” have sold out within minutes. In response to demand, extra concerts have been added in Boston, LA, and Toronto. The tour will now include 11 stadium stops, for a total of 62 shows in 45 cities in 29 US states and 3 Canadian provinces.

TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “The Expendables 2” ( R-Rated Action Adventure ): The old fogies reunite for what should be an easy gig, but when one of their men is murdered, their quest for revenge puts them up against an unexpected threat. Stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jet Li and, of course, Sylvester Stallone.
• “Inside John Lennon” ( NR Music Biography ): An unauthorized and intimate account of the life and career of the most controversial of The Beatles, originally released in 2004. Includes revealing stories from his sister, Julia, as well as The Beatles’ first manager, Allan Williams. And there is frank, witty, and sometimes blunt commentary from Lennon himself.
• Also released today: “Ken Burns: The Dust Bowl” (Documentary); “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Complete Series” (Vintage TV); “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups” (Family); and “Transformers Prime: Season 2” (Animation).

GIVING FISH LEADERSHIP:
Robot fish convincing enough to lead groups of real fish around are being developed by mechanical engineers at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University. The goal is to be able to use the robots to influence the behavior of fish, ie: to steer them away from pollution, oil spills, or underwater turbines. They could also help scientists learn more about how real animals behave. Interestingly, tests show that robotic fish can make real fish like them simply by waving their artificial tails in a special way. (Seems guys aren’t the only ones seduced by a little tail.)
– LiveScience.com

WATCH YOUR WHEATIES:
In his “New York Times” best-selling book, “Wheat Belly”, Dr William Davis reveals that the wheat that was once good for us is now actually killing us. Why? Because, according to Davis, greedy corporations and processed food manufacturers have genetically altered wheat to produce higher yields at lower costs, thus rendering the former staple nutritionally bereft. Davis insists that cutting wheat out of your diet will reduce your chances for illness, disease, and a gut that resembles the spare tire for a combine harvester. (Less wheat, more bark and sawdust … mmm!)
– TheToiletPaper.com

MOVIES YOU’LL NEVER SEE ON A PLANE:
You can be sure airlines will never screen these, and if you’re the type who gets the heebie-jeebies while flying you should avoid them as well …
✗ “Airplane!” (1980)
✗ “Alive” (1993)
✗ “Cast Away” (2000)
✗ “Die Hard 2, Die Harder” (1990)
✗ “Flight” (2012)
✗ “Passenger 57” (1992)
✗ “Snakes On a Plane” (2006)
✗ “The Terminal” (2004)
✗ “Twilight Zone” (1983)
✗ “United 93” (2006)
– CNN.com

OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD COMPUTING:
Imagine a computer that you wear on your head and interact with through voice commands. That’s what an actual product that’s scheduled to go on sale in the new year does. The ‘HC1’, made by Motorola Solutions, looks like a massively overgrown telephone headset with overtones of a cycle helmet and a gasmask thrown in. There’s an adjustable cradle that affixes the device to your head and the computer itself is a metal bar that curls around the side of your head. A miniature screen is located out front, which can be viewed just below eye level. (A must-have for the stylin’ geek in 2013!)
– BBC News

TRUE COLORS:
A cure for color blindness might be in the offing. Vision scientist Jay Neitz and his colleagues at the University of Washington are building on their 2009 breakthrough in which they restored red-green vision to a pair of color blind squirrel monkeys by inserting a missing gene into a virus and injecting it into their retinas. Now, 4 years later, the monkeys still pass daily vision tests, identifying colors on a computer screen correctly. They also have a newfound liking for green M&Ms. (This is all cool and everything, but are you ever going to opt for a needle to the eyeball?)
– “Wall Street Journal”

BS AMAZING FACT:
Almost 1.2 billion people on Earth are underfed … the same number of people that are overweight to the point of obesity.
– DidYouKnow.org

BS CHRONOMETER 11.20.12

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1942 [70] Joe Biden, Scranton PA, US Vice President since 2009/US Senator (Delaware) 1973-2009

1947 [65] Joe Walsh, Wichita KS, classic rock guitarist (“Life’s Been Good”, Eagles-“Hotel California”)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1998)

1965 [47] Mike D (Diamond), NYC, rap/rock musician (Beastie Boys-“Ch-Check It Out”, “You Gotta Fight for Your Right To Party!”)

1975 [37] Dierks Bentley, Phoenix AZ, country singer (“5-5-0”, “Am I the Only One”)

1975 [37] Davey Havok (Passaro), Rochester NY, alt-rock singer (AFI-“Medicate”, “Miss Murder”)

1977 [35] Josh Turner, Hannah SC, country singer (“Time Is Love”, “All Over Me”)

1986 [26] Jared Followill, Mt Juliet TN, rock bassist/pianist (Kings of Leon–“Use Somebody”, “Sex On Fire”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “African Industrialization Day”, an annual UN initiative to encourage deployment of new technologies in order to raise living standards on the continent and build industries of the future.
NET: http://www.un.org/en/events/africaday/

• “Globally Organized Hug a Runner Day” (G.O.H.A.R.D.), the 2nd annual day of support for those who challenge themselves through long-distance running. The day’s motto: ‘Hug a Runner and Share the Sweat!’

• “Mexican Revolution Day”, celebrating the anniversary of the date in 1910 when the uprising to overthrow dictator Porfirio Díaz began.
NET: http://www.inside-mexico.com/revolucion.htm

• “Name Your PC Day”, a good day to ask listeners what pet names they’ve bestowed on theirs.

• “National Child Day in Canada”, first recommended by the UN  in 1989 as a day to highlight the importance of young people in our society.
NET: http://www.unac.org/en/news_events/un_days/children1.asp

• “Transgender Day of Remembrance”, the 14th annual commemorating those who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender bias, prejudice, or hatred.
NET: http://www.transgenderdor.org

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1982 [30] Drew Barrymore first hosts “Saturday Night Live” … at age 7

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1947 [65] Britain’s  Princess Elizabeth weds Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey in London (today is QE2 & Prince Philip’s ‘Sapphire Anniversary’)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1982 [30] University of California football team wins an improbable last-second victory over Stanford U by completing 5 lateral passes … amidst the Stanford Cardinals Marching Band which wanders onto the field early to celebrate an expected upset

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] “Life of Pi”; “Red Dawn”; “Rise Of the Guardians”; “Silver Linings Playbook” open in movie theaters
[Wed] World Fisheries Day
[Wed] World Television Day
[Thurs] Thanksgiving Day (USA)
[Fri] Black Friday
This Week Is … Better Conversation Week
This Month Is … Pet Cancer Awareness Month

BULL’S BITS

WHAT YOUR CHOICE OF SOAP BAR SAYS ABOUT YOU:
• Caress – You have a healthy ego and are very concerned with your appearance. You would never go to work in un-ironed clothes.
• Coast – You like a strong perfume or cologne. You tend to be an early riser and are at your best in the morning.
• Dial – An extra confident person, you are attracted to wood, as in woodworking or chopping wood.
• Dove – You are a late bloomer, you probably lived with your parents as a young adult and maybe still do. If you are a guy, you likely lived or currently live in a houseful of women.
• Irish Spring – Those who like this scent were probably in a fraternity or a sorority in college. Or you belong to an exclusive club of some sort now.
• Ivory – You are the expert at household chores in your home. Cooking, cleaning and laundry are your expertise. You want some help but think your partner always does it wrong.
• Safeguard – You are a neat freak. You can’t stand a mess. You shower right after exercise and lovin’. You don’t like to go camping because it is unsanitary to you.
• Shield – This is the warrior soap. You are an outdoors-y person who enjoys hunting or hiking, anything to do with conquering.
• Zest – You are attracted to the medical profession. Maybe you work in a doctor’s office or you are a nurse. Maybe you are in love with someone who works in the medical profession. You are a little bit of a hypochondriac as well.

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ The skipping rope, the bicycle, jacks, Slinky, and Mr Potato Head are already in. What other toys should be in the Toy Hall of Fame?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I know it all … I just can’t remember it all at once.

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
At least 17 people are electrocuted each year by which?
a. Toasters.
b. Hair dryers. [CORRECT. Read that warning label – “Do NOT use in shower!”]
c. Smartphones.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Shania Twain was the 1st to perform at halftime of both a Grey Cup game (2002) and at a Super Bowl (2003); and THIS is the only other act to do so.
Answer: Black Eyed Peas. (Grey Cup 2005; Super Bowl 2011.)
– Wikipedia.org

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Only mediocre people are always at their best.