BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ The first full Monty Python show in 30 years has sold out in 43.5 seconds, prompting more dates to be added to the bill. The July gig at London’s O2 Arena has now been extended from 1 to 5 days. It was announced last week that John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, and Terry Jones were going to reunite and perform together. It will be the first time the comedy troupe has even appeared together since 2009 when they celebrated their 40th anniversary in NYC. (Think Cleese can do his ‘Ministry of Silly Walks’ bit after a double hip replacement?)
– Sky News
★ Egypt’s first hijab-wearing rapper, 18-year-old Mayam Mahmoud, has won a place in the semi-finals of the TV talent show “Arabs’ Got Talent”. Mahmoud has been rapping since she was 10-years-old, addressing the issues that Egyptian girls face. She says she has always had the support of her family and her father always encourages her to rap ‘about something with value’. If you’re one who thinks rap sounds bad in English, ch-ch-check this out …
NET: http://tinyurl.com/k9vke4z
– Telegraph.co.uk
★ “Gossip Girl” star Leighton Meester and former “The OC” star Adam Brody are engaged. Brody (33) is said to have popped the question earlier this Fall after more than a year of dating Meester (27). The couple, who worked together on the 2011 romantic comedy film “The Oranges”, secretly celebrated with close family and friends at an engagement party in Los Angeles. (Will they keep their maiden names or change to ‘Mr & Mrs Hasbeen’?)
– UsWeekly.com
★ TV personality and media maven Oprah Winfrey has some rather detailed requests in her appearance rider. Among those laid out for her recent engagement in Britain: A La-Z-Boy ‘Tulsa’ recliner in chocolate leather; LED lighting only in private and wardrobe areas; Flipz brand white fudge-covered pretzels in unopened packets; LAN-only high-speed Internet, not WiFi. (Actually, compared to Bevoncé and Mariah Carey, this is a piece of cake. Low-cal, gluten-free cake served on a Waterford crystal platter, mind you.)
– PopBitch.com
★ And they said it wouldn’t last. Clint Eastwood’s 20-year-old daughter Francesca & actor Jonah Hill’s brother Jordan Feldstein are having their marriage annulled …. after a week. Feldstein manages Adam Levine, Maroon 5, and Robin Thicke. They were wed by an Elvis Presley impersonator at the Simple Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas on November 17th, but sources close to the couple say it was all a ‘drunken mistake’. Word has it Francesca had immediate regrets. (When she sobered up in bed next to a sweaty fat guy.)
– Bang Showbiz

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Arsenio Hall” (syndicated) – Trombone Shorty (“Say That to Say This”).
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Jake Owen (“Days of Gold”). Rerun.
• “Dancing With the Stars” (ABC/CTV2) – In the 17th season finalé, Lady Antebellum performs; Ylvis performs; the eliminated celebrities return; the winner is crowned.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – 2 Chainz (“BOATS 2# Metime”).
• “Good Morning America” (ABC) – One Direction (“Midnight Memories”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Linkin Park w/Steve Aoki (“Recharged”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – The Neighbourhood (“I Love You”).
• “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS) – American Authors (“American Authors”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Kelly Clarkson (“Wrapped in Red”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni1) – Pitbull (“Global Warming: Meltdown”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Luke Bryan (“Crash My Party”).
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Kellie Pickler (“Woman I Am”).
• “The Voice” (NBC/CTV) – The artists face elimination.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Alan Jackson – He’s joined several other prominent music people to rehab the Acme Building on Lower Broadway in Nashville TN, turning it into an entertainment complex.
• Beastie Boys – They’ve threatened legal action over a toy company’s viral advertising video that features a version of their song “Girls”. In the ‘Goldieblox Princess Machine’ ad, 3 young girls sing alternative lyrics to the tune.
• Bruce Springsteen – He’ll release his 18th studio album, “High Hopes”, on January 14th. It will include contributions from the E Street Band as well as guitarist Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) and many additional players.
• Dave Matthews Band – They have begun work on their next studio album. Matthews tells “Rolling Stone” he’s been trying to come up with new material that doesn’t sound like the past.
• Hinder – They’ve parted ways with lead singer Austin Winkler but the band will continue on with a new singer to be announced. Earlier this year, Winkler left Hinder’s tour due to personal reasons, and the group continued to tour with guest vocalists helping out.
• Lady Gaga – She’s been confirmed as the new face of Versace. Gaga, who is close friends with the Italian fashion house’s chief designer, Donatella Versace, will front the Spring/Summer 2014 campaign.
• OutKast – They’re in talks to reunite next year for the 2014 edition of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. The April 11th gig in Indio CA is expected to be the start of a reunion trek that will include additional festival dates. OutKast has been ‘on hiatus’ since 2007.
• Pharrell Williams – He’s released what’s being called the first 24-hour music video, for the song “Happy” from the movie “Despicable Me 2”. Viewers can fast-forward and rewind the clip on a clock face. The day-long video features appearances from Magic Johnson, Steve Carrell, Steve Martin, Tyler the Creator and others.
NET: http://24hoursofhappy.com
• Robbie Williams – He’s scored the 1,000th #1 album in UK music history. Ironically, the 1st #1 back in 1956 was Frank Sinatra’s “Songs For Swinging Lovers”, while Williams’ latest chart-topper is his Sinatra-influenced “Swings Both Ways”.

TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “Getaway” ( PG-13 Crime Thriller ): Ethan Hawke plays a former race-car driver who is pitted against the clock when his wife is kidnapped by a mysterious villain. He commandeers a young woman’s car and takes her on a high-speed race against time. Co-stars Selena Gomez, Jon Voight, Paul Freeman.
• “JOBS” (  PG-13 Bio-Drama ): Ashton Kutcher stars as Steve Jobs, the iconic Apple innovator and groundbreaking entrepreneur. The film chronicles Jobs’ early days as a college dropout through his rise as co-founder of Apple Computer Inc. Co-stars Dermot Mulroney, Josh Gad, JK Simmons, Matthew Modine.
• “RED 2” ( PG-13 Action Comedy ): In this sequel to the unexpected 2010 hit, Bruce Willis returns as retired black-ops CIA agent ‘Frank Moses’ and reunites his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device. Co-stars John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins. Shot in  Montréal. “RED 3” is already planned.
• Also released today: “Bill Cosby: Far from Finished – Live in Concert” (Comedy); “Breaking Bad: The Final Season” (TV); “Le Joli Mai” (Documentary); “Mystery Science Theater 3000: 25th Anniversary Edition” (Sci-Fi TV); and “Wolf Children” (Family Animation).

WHY TROPHY WIVES?
Men are such a superficial lot, aren’t they? A new survey indicates that the physical attractiveness of one’s spouse plays a more important role in marital satisfaction for men than for women. Researchers at Southern Methodist University surveyed 450 couples over a 4-year period and found that husbands who had physically attractive wives reported more continuous satisfaction in their marriages. At the same time, the study showed that the physical appeal of a woman’s husband played virtually no part in women’s satisfaction with marriage. (If nothing else, the research confirms that men are predictable.)
– CBS News

LEAST INFLUENTIAL CELEBRITIES OF 2013:
According to a new ranking of celebs who have proven ‘uninspiring to the general public’ over the past year …
3. Politician Anthony Weiner, who just can’t quit sexting no matter what office he’s running for.
2. Celebrity chef Paula Deen, who fell from grace thanks to her foul mouth.
1. Former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who has garnered attention for his controversial friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Also making the top 25: Barack Obama, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Ryan Reynolds, and Will Smith … and his entire family.
– “GQ Magazine”

BANKING AGAINST THE BLUES:
A brisk daily walk is not only good for your heart, it could also prevent depression in your golden years.  A team from the University of Toronto reopened a quarter-century of data from 30 previous depression-related studies and were surprised to discover that 25 of them showed a strong link between lack of activity and a depression diagnosis later in life. The new analysis suggests that light physical activity not only has the ability to treat depression, but can actually prevent it from happening. (Clearly a step in the right direction!)
– Mail Online

HOTTEST TOYS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:
A checklist of the toys, games, and gadgets expected to drive big business in the next month …
✓ ‘Disney’s Infinity Game’ – A videogame that uses toys with what’s called ‘near-field communication technology’. Actual toys show up in the game, but if you want to play as, say, ‘Buzz Lightyear’, you have to buy a ‘Buzz Lightyear’ toy first. Sells for circa $60 … toys extra.
✓ ‘Ever After High Dolls’ – After the success of ‘Monster High’ dolls, Mattel has expanded into the realm of fairytales, re-imagining popular characters and casting them in a high school setting, ie: ‘Apple White’, ‘Hunter Huntsman’, and ‘Madeline Hatter’. About $20.
✓ ‘Imaginext Batcave’ – Kids (or ‘Batman’-obsessed adults) can monitor ‘The Joker’ on the Batcomputer, fly around in the Batwing glider, and even drive ‘Batman’ around on the Batcycle. The ‘Batcave’ retails for about $40 … but does not come with superpowers.
✓ ‘Minion Dave Talking Action Figure’ – “Despicable Me 2” was one of the biggest box-office hits of the year, so it’s no surprise it’s spawned a line of popular toys. This one is retailing for as much as $70. That’s because it talks, changes expressions, and features … ‘super fart sounds’.
✓ ‘PlayStation’ / ‘Xbox One’ – The new game consoles are upgrades of systems that have been around for more than 6 years, which means gamers are eager for new specs, better graphics, and improved game play. PS4 is about $400; Xbox One closer to $500.
– InvestorPlace.com

MILKSHAKE WITH BLING:
A chic new cocktail bar called The Powder Room in Hollywood CA is offering a milkshake … for $500. Created by award-winning mixologist Adrianne Biggs, the spiked shake, listed on the menu as ‘The Velvet Goldmine’, contains premium liquors, rich Belgian chocolate, and edible gold. A Swarovski Crystal ring, which retails for $190, tops the drink as an added bonus for bar guests to take home. The concoction is said to be perfect for ‘a bachelorette party or special occasion’. (Or for shallow show biz celebs with more money than they know what to do with.)
– HollywoodReporter.com

DID YOU KNOW?
• It’s impossible to tickle yourself by pretending someone else is doing the tickling.
– NewScientist.com
• A man can outrun a cheetah over a distance of 4 miles (6.4 km), but only during the hottest time of the day.
– BBC News

BS CHRONOMETER 11.26.13

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1976 [37] Joe Nichols, Rogers AR, country singer (“Gimme That Girl”, “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off”)

1981 [32] Natasha Bedingfield, London UK, pop singer (“Unwritten”, “These Words”)

1984 [29] Ben Wysocki, Denver CO, rock drummer (The Fray-“You Found Me”, “How to Save a Life”)

1984 [29] Mike Gossin, Utica NY, country singer-guitarist (Gloriana-“Kissed You Good Night”, “Wild at Heart”)

1990 [23] Rita Ora (Sahatçiu), Pristina, Yugoslavia, Brit R&B singer-songwriter (“How We Do”, f/Tinie Tempah-“RIP”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cake Day”, an annual salute to the classic dessert that’s the climax of many a celebration. What’s the best kind? Angel Food? Black Forest? Red Velvet? Double Chocolate Fudge?

• “Don’t Utter a Word Day”, a reminder to talkers that listeners usually get tired of listening long before talkers get tired of talking.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2002 [11] Actor and major Elvis fan Nicholas Cage divorces Lisa Marie Presley after less than 4 months, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’ (she refused to call him ‘Daddy’?)

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1896 [117] 1st ‘Football Huddle’ (University of Chicago players gather to discuss the babe in the 4th row)

1956 [57] 1st edition of (still-running) TV game show “The Price is Right”

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1992 [21] 14-month-old Tegan Banville of Huntington Beach, California out-crawls 12 other babies to win the national ‘Huggies/NFL Happy Baby Derby’ (the babes race 12 feet before 61,000 screaming fans at halftime during a Dallas Cowboys game)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] “Black Nativity”; “Frozen”; “Homefront”; “Oldboy” open in movie theaters
[Thurs] “Lady Gaga & The Muppets Holiday Spectacular” (ABC)
[Fri] “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” opens in movie theaters
[Fri] Black Friday
[Fri] Buy Nothing Day
[Sat] Small Business Saturday
This Week Is … Farm-City Week
this Month Is … Inspirational Role Models Month

BULL’S BITS

IT PAYS TO BE IGRANANT:
Contestant must get all 10 questions WRONG to win. The trick is to answer with something so outrageous, it couldn’t possibly be correct. Way tougher than it seems!
• The food that is healthiest for you.
• What you wear to bed.
• The best advice Grandma ever gave you.
• The top recording artist of 2013.
• The body part most often tattooed.
• The most common name for Hollywood movie actresses.
• The team most likely to win the Super Bowl.
• The most popular Fall fashion color.
• The last book you read.
• The best-looking person on the radio.

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Which would you choose … more money or more time?

BS I SPY A LIE!
Two of the following statements are true, while one is an out-and-out lie. But which?
• Leonardo da Vinci invented the parachute in 1515. [True]
• Telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell phoned his mother every day. [BS. He NEVER phoned her … she was deaf.]
• A Swiss inventor came up with the idea for Velcro after studying the way burrs attach to clothing. [True]

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I have a decaffeinated coffee table. You’d never know it to look at it.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: The average one of THESE will travel 30,000 miles (48,000 km) before being retired.
Answer: Shopping cart.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
It’s not how good your work is, it’s how well you explain it.