BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Alec Baldwin and MSNBC have parted ways. A statement says: “We are jointly confirming that ‘Up Late’ will not continue on MSNBC.” The decision comes in the wake of Baldwin aiming a homophobic slur at a photographer. His weekly show, “Up Late With Alec Baldwin”, was originally pulled off the air for 2 weeks, then the sides reportedly ‘mutually agreed’ to end it. A source says Baldwin’s ‘diva-like behavior’ toward co-workers didn’t help his cause. (BS translation: The guy’s a bigoted, loudmouth jerk.)
– PageSix.com
★ Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt (34) and Brian Hallisay (35) became first-time parents on Tuesday when Hewitt gave birth to a baby girl, Autumn James Hallisay. The couple began dating in 2012 when they reconnected on the set of the now-cancelled TV drama “The Client List”. In confirming the baby news, the actress’ publicist has let it slip that the couple is now married. A source reveals the newlyweds recently exchanged vows in a private ceremony. (“James’ … an odd middle name for a girl, no?)
– UsWeekly.com
★ The curtain will fall on “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” in January after 3 years on stage during which it suffered numerous delays and setbacks, as well as a ballooning budget which made it the most expensive Broadway production of all-time. But U2 frontman Bono says he’s convinced his troubled musical will survive for years to come and still become a huge success. How so? Producers plan to open the show in Las Vegas and also in Europe (… where they’ve missed all the bad press).
– WENN.com
★ And Charlie Sheen has ignored a court-appointed gag order and blasted officials at the LA County Department of Children & Family Services for allowing his former brother-in-law, Scott Mueller, to take over as temporary guardian of his twin sons. In a new Twitter rant he writes: “Judge anus-brain, you may have gagged me temporarily, but mark my unspoken words, anything happens to my boys, and you will get to know me, know who I truly am, a loving father. Tag … I’m it.” (He sure manages to pack a lot of vitriol into 140 characters, doesn’t he?)

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Arsenio Hall” (syndicated) – Flo Rida (“The Perfect 10”). Rerun.
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Thompson Square (“Just Feels Good”). Rerun.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Daughtry (“Baptized”). Rerun.
• “Lady Gaga & The Muppets Holiday Spectacular” (ABC) – Gaga hosts a variety special that features Elton John’s 1st appearance with The Muppets since 1978, when he dueted with ‘Miss Piggy’ on “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”. Other guests include Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kristen Bell, and RuPaul.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Pierce the Veil (“Collide With the Sky”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Ariana Grande (“Yours Truly”); Carrie Underwood (“The Sound of Music Live!”).
• “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (CBS/NBC) – Performers in this morning’s 85th annual NYC celebration include Ariana Grande, Austin Mahone,  Carrie Underwood, Cher Lloyd, Fall Out Boy, Fifth Harmony, Gavin DeGraw, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Kellie Pickler, Lady Antebellum.
• “National Dog Show” (NBC) – Actor John O’Hurley hosts the annual pooch party that regularly attracts an audience of 20 million or more.
• “The Talk” (CBS) – Daughtry again.
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Christina Aguilera (“The Voice”).
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – The Rascals (“Once Upon a Dream”); Trisha Yearwood (“The Sweetest Gift”).
• “Wendy Williams” (syndicated) – John Legend (“Love In the Future”). Rerun.
• “The X Factor” (FOX/CTV2) – The acts face elimination; Demi Lovato performs; Michael Bublé performs.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Bon Jovi – Taylor Swift and Britain’s Prince William joined them onstage to belt out an impromptu version of “Livin’ On a Prayer” at this week’s Winter Whites Gala in London, which supports the homeless charity Centrepoint.
• Britney Spears – Her new album “Britney Jean” is streaming in full on iTunes for a week before its December 3rd release.
• Garth Brooks – Today  exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club he releases the covers box set, “Blame It All On My Roots”, a title derived from the lyrics of his 1990 hit “Friends in Low Places”. Here’s what you get for $24.96: 6 CDs, 2 DVDs, and a photo booklet.
• Kanye West – He’s revealed he is already working on his next album, saying he hopes to have it out as soon as Summer 2014. He’s also inked a deal with Adidas for a clothing line after parting ways with Nike due to royalties issues.
• Kelly Rowland – She’s become engaged to her manager, Tim Witherspoon, a source confirms to “Hollywood Reporter”. There is no word on when and where the nuptials will take place.
• Natalie Imbruglia – The “Torn” pop singer will make her stage debut in a new production of “Things We Do For Love”, opening at the Theatre Royal Bath in April 2014.
• One Direction – They’ve announced dates for the North American leg of their worldwide “Where We Are 2014” stadium tour. The 21-city trek kicks off on August 1st, 2014 in Toronto and runs until October 5th in Miami.
• Selena Gomez – She’s spending Thanksgiving in her home state of Texas, where she will perform during the halftime show at the Dallas Cowboys game, kicking off the Salvation Army’s 123rd Red Kettle Campaign.

COMING ATTRACTIONS:
A BS selection of movies in the making …
• “Bad Santa 2” – Actor Billy Bob Thornton has agreed to reprise his role as a con man who masquerades as Santa in this sequel to the 2003 crime comedy. Thornton blames numerous delays in starting production on script troubles, but says the follow-up is finally due to start filming early next year. That likely means the flick will hit screens in time for Christmas 2014.
• “Gold” – ‘Harry Potter’ actor Daniel Radcliffe will play 1980s British Olympian Sebastian Coe in a new biopic. The film will focus on the runner’s track rivalry with fellow Brit athlete Steve Ovett, whose role is yet to be cast. The movie is being adapted from Pat Butcher’s book “The Perfect Distance”. Filming is scheduled to begin in the UK and Russia next Spring.
• “Napoleon” – Director Rupert Sanders is set to direct a new biopic about famed French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte. Sanders, who began his career directing commercials, made headlines when he was caught romancing his “Snow White & The Huntsman” star Kristen Stewart. The affair ended his marriage to model/actress Liberty Ross.
• “Temple Run” – The popular iPhone/Android game is set to follow “Angry Birds” into the movies, with the producer of the “Harry Potter” films set to work on it. It’s thought the concept will be turned into an ‘Indiana Jones’-style adventure, only using the “Temple Run” name to give it a boost. The game has proven so popular, a followup has been developed …”Temple Run 2”.
• “Harry & The Butler” – Michael Caine, who played ‘Bruce Wayne’s devoted butler in the “Dark Knight” trilogy,  is set to return to service on the bigscreen after signing on to play Samuel L Jackson’s butler in this 2015 film. Jackson will play an alcoholic former jazz musician who discovers he has hired the services of a manservant after a night out celebrating an inheritance.

WANNA POKE IN THE EYE?
What’s called a ‘Jewel Eye’ is becoming the latest trend in body fashion. That’s where a tiny platinum figure is surgically implanted underneath the cornea of the eye. The procedure, said to be popular in Europe and LA, costs circa $3,000. The procedure involves making a small incision between the sclera (the white part of the eye) and the conjunctiva (the clear membrane that covers it). If you get bored with your eye bling after a while, you can have it swapped out for $1,000. While the procedure is touted as being safe, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is warning consumers not to have the surgery. (Gives new meaning to the phrase ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’.)
NET: http://tinyurl.com/nshsjo9
– Fox News

LOW-STRESS BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING:
This year the traditional Black Friday shopping frenzy is eroding into Thursday, with many retailers kicking off their holiday sales later today. A few tips on how to survive the crush …
• Have a Plan – Scour websites and store ads to find out where the best deals are going to be. Make note of ‘door-buster’ specials that may only last for the first few hours.
• Do Your Homework – Double-check store opening times and sale times. Use this info to map out what stores you’ll visit and in what order.
• Go With a Friend – A shopping buddy can hold your place in a long line, help you make decisions, and offer dressing room feedback when you try on clothes. You can also carpool.
• Go in With the Right Attitude – Don’t be one of those people who pushes and shoves to get at a deal or gives dirty looks when someone beats them to it. This should be fun, not a battle!
(Our tip to lower stress … stay home, chill, have another nog.)
– iVillage.ca

REGRETS, SHE’S HAD A FEW:
When it comes to sex, women have more regrets than men, according to a new University of Texas study. The most common regrets for women are losing their virginity to the wrong partner (24%), cheating on a partner (23%), and moving too fast sexually (20%). For men, top regrets include being too shy to make a move (27%), not being more sexually adventurous when young (23%), and not being more sexually adventurous during their single days (19%). Also, more women (17%) than men (10%) regret having sex with a physically unattractive partner. A similar pattern is found amongst gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. (Guys worldwide are all the same … if it moves, do it!)
– AFP

TAB’S SET:
New research from digital consultancy Canalys suggests that tablet computers will make up more than 50% of all computers sold in the world next year. Android-based tablets are expected to outsell Apple iPads by a factor of 2-to-1. However, Apple is one of the few companies making a lot of money from the tablet boom, as premium products attract high value consumers. There will be around 285 million tablets sold around-the-world next year. That contrasts with a sales prediction of 192 million laptops and just 98 million desktops. Canalys expects the tablet figure to grow even more, to 396 million by 2017. (Just as we’ve all bought them, they’ll become has-been hi-tech.)
– CBC.ca

BS AMAZING FACT:
The first margarine was made from cattle fat combined with chopped sheep or pig stomach.
– Bloomberg News

BS CHRONOMETER 11.28.13

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [64] Paul Shaffer, Thunder Bay ON, TV bandleader (“Late Show With David Letterman” since 1993)/Letterman’s sidekick since 1982

1950 [63] Ed Harris, Tenafly NJ, movie actor (“National Treasure: Book of Secrets”, “A History of Violence”)/4 Oscar nominations

1962 [51] Jon Stewart (Leibowitz), NYC, TV personality (10 Emmy Awards-“The Daily Show”  since 1999)

1962 [51] Matt Cameron, San Diego CA, rock drummer (Pearl Jam-“Last Kiss”, Soundgarden-“Black Hole Sun”)

1974 [39] apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo Jr), Angeles City, Philippines, pop musician (Black Eyed Peas-“I Gotta Feeling”, “Where Is the Love?”)

1983 [30] Rostam Batmanglij, Washington DC, indie rock keyboardist (Vampire Weekend-“Cousins”, “A-Punk”)

1983 [30] Tyler Glenn, Temecula CA, rock singer-keyboardist (Neon Trees-“Everybody Talks”, “Animal”)

1984 [29] Trey Songz (Tremaine Neverson), Petersburg VA, rapper/producer/singer-songwriter (“Can’t Be Friends”, f/Nicki Minaj-“Bottoms Up”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Decorate Your Dog Day”, to help your pooch get into the holiday spirit. (Tomorrow is “Get Back At the Master By Leaving a Present in Her Slipper Day”.)

• “French Toast Day”. Either bread dipped in egg and fried in butter or perhaps a big ol’ glass of Champagne … that’d be perfect for a French toast, right?

• “Hanukkah”, the 8-day Jewish “Feast of Lights” or “Feast of Dedication”. The menorah, holding 8 candles, is a symbol of the holiday. Traditional foods include latkes, jelly doughnuts.

• “Thanksgiving Day” in America, a yearly tradition on the 4th Thursday of November since 1879. NFL games are as much a part of Thanksgiving as turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. This year’s slate of Turkey Day football …
» Packers at Lions (12:30 pm ET on FOX)
» Raiders at Cowboys (4:30 pm ET on CBS)
» Steelers at Ravens (8:30 pm ET on NBC)

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2010 [03] Movie actor Leslie Nielsen (“Naked Gun” films, “Scary Movie” films) dies of pneumonia in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at age 84

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
2001 [12] ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin sues a tabloid for $50 million after it claims she has a drinking problem (looking for a little “R-E-SP-E-C-T”)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1979 [34] 1st NHL goaltender to score a goal (Billy Smith of NY Islanders vs Colorado Rockies)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1985 [28] Errol Bird of Lisbon, Northern Ireland sets world record with 26 hours of continuous yodelling (he’s never invited to a party again)

COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Buy Nothing Day
[Fri] Day of Listening
[Sat] Meth Awareness Day
[Sat] Small Business Saturday
[Sun] “2013 Soul Train Awards” (BET)
This Week Is … Game & Puzzle Week
This Month Is … World Sponge Month

BULL’S BITS

DELIGHTFUL FLAPPER-ERA WORDS FOR ‘AWESOME’:
In any language it’s always handy to know the word for ‘cool’. You may have heard the 1920s slang expressions ‘That’s the cat’s pajamas’ or ‘Ain’t it just the bee’s knees?’. Here are a few others that meant something was really, really good …
✓ The Kitten’s Vest
✓ The Caterpillar’s Kimono
✓ The Ant’s Pants
✓ The Gnu’s Shoes
✓ The Fly’s Thighs
✓ The Sardine’s Whiskers
✓ The Snake’s Hips
✓ The Snugglepup’s Bow-wow
– MentalFloss.com

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Would you rather marry someone for their money or their looks?

BS WEB GOODIE:
Which side of your brain is more dominant, the ‘creative’ side or the ‘logic’ side? Take this quickie brain test and find out …
NET: http://en.sommer-sommer.com/braintest/

BS RANDOM JOKE:
My neighbors don’t like it when I talk to my plants … I use a megaphone.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: THIS is the most common nickname drivers give to their cars.
Answer: ‘Baby’.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The easier it is to do, the harder it is to change.