BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Tom Cruise is reportedly dating Miranda Kerr. The movie star is said to have been smitten with the Australian model ever since meeting her at a social event. The 52-year-old actor has been single since his marriage to actress Katie Holmes broke down in 2012 but is now said to be seeing Miranda, who was previously rumored to be dating her close friend, Aussie media mogul James Packer. A pal of the 31-year-old model says Miranda loves rich men, powerful men … and Tom ticks all those boxes.
– “New Idea Magazine”
★ Actress Uma Thurman has stepped in to replace Mary-Louise Parker in an upcoming TV miniseries based on Christos Tsiolka’s 2008 best-selling novel “The Slap”. Parker has had to withdraw from the project as she recovers from a bout of pneumonia. The story centers on the shattering repercussions of a single event upon a group of family and friends. Thurman has signed on to take over the lead female role just as shooting is set to begin. “The Kids Are All Right” filmmaker Lisa Cholodenko is directing.
– TVLine.com
★ And Kevin Spacey says playing protagonist ‘Jonathan Irons’, the unhinged leader of a global private military firm, in the new videogame “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare” (released today) was unlike any acting job he’s had before. The hi-tech process used high-resolution cameras to capture his facial features and moves on an empty soundstage. Spacey signed on for the project before he’d even seen a script, which he admits was a risky move. But he claims he’s so in awe of the finished product, he’s addicted to playing the game himself.
– USAToday.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – PHOX (“PHOX”).
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Ella Henderson (“Chapter 1”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Kenny Chesney (“The Big Revival”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – The Melvins (“Hold It In”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/Omni1) – Foo Fighters (“Sonic Highways”). Rerun.
• “Marvel: 75 Years, From Pulp to Pop!” (ABC) – Host Emily VanCamp explores the 75-year history of the Marvel Universe.
• “Masterchef Junior Edition: The Next Generation” (FOX/CTV) – Some of us still can’t believe the kitchen skills of that cherubic kid Alexander, who won the 1st-ever MasterChef Jr. Judges Gordon, Joe, and Graham are back. Hopefully Chef Ramsay never has to use his swear jar.
• “Meredith Vieira Show” (syndicated) – Jewel (“Once Upon a Lullaby”).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – FKA twigs (“Lp1”).
• “The Voice” (NBC/CTV2) – The best moments of the season so far, including the blind auditions and unseen footage.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Beyoncé – Seems she’s about to serve up an encore to last December’s surprise self-titled album. An image of the tracklisting for “Volume 2” has leaked online, revealing the original 14 songs are being bundled with 11 new tunes. The package is said to be coming November 14th.
• Bob Dylan – Today he releases “The Basement Tapes”, a recording of his legendary 1967 sessions that encompasses 138 tracks on 6 CDs, including 30 tracks that Dylan fans never knew existed.
• Bruce Springsteen – Today his new children’s book, “Outlaw Pete”, is being published by Simon & Schuster. Based on a song from his 2009 “Working On a Dream” album, the story includes a bank-robbing baby. Illustrator Frank Caruso contributed the artwork.
• Calvin Harris – Today the EDM producer releases his new album “Motion”. It includes the triple-platinum hit “Summer”, and boasts cameo appearances from Big Sean, Ellie Goulding, Haim, Gwen Stefani, Tinashe and more. The album’s been streaming on iTunes for a week.
• Chris Brown – He’s now blaming his bad behavior in recent years on addiction to the ‘hood cocktail’ of codeine-based cough syrup, anxiety medication Xanax, and soda. He claims it left him out of control and struggling to keep on top of his professional commitments.
• FKA twigs – Music by the 26-year-old Brit singer (real name Tahliah Barnett) is likely to be included in the next ‘James Bond’ film. That’s thanks to her introduction to ‘Bond 24’ filmmaker Sam Mendes by “Skyfall” theme singer Adele.
• Jake Miller – Today the Miami FL rapper/songwriter releases the digital version his debut EP, “Lion Heart”, on iTunes. A physical CD will follow on November 24th. MTV has announced he’ll co-host Sunday’s US version of the “MTV EMA” telecast alongside Nick Cannon & Molly Tarlov.
• Jennifer Lopez – Her 1st book, entitled “True Love”, is out today. It’s written in the style of a personal diary and includes never-before-seen photos. Some proceeds will benefit The Lopez Family Foundation, dedicated to the health and well-being of women and children.
• Paul McCartney – Repackaged versions of the classic Wings albums “Venus & Mars” (1975) and “At the Speed of Sound” (1976) are being released today as part of the ‘Paul McCartney Archive Collection’. The new packages include bonus and previously unreleased material.

THIS WEEK’S VIDEO RELEASES:
Out today on DVD, Netflix, Google Play and/or other video providers …
• “A Most Wanted Man” ( R-Rated Thriller ):  A mysterious, tortured, and near-dead half-Chechen, half-Russian man on the run (Grigoriy Dobrygin) arrives in Hamburg, Germany’s Islamic community desperate for help and looking to recover his late Russian father’s ill-gotten fortune. The ensemble cast also includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright, Willem Dafoe.
• “Hercules” ( PG-13 Action Adventure ): Dwayne Johnson stars in director Brett Ratner’s latest bigscreen take on the mythological hero. This time the Greek demigod has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the ‘King of Thrace’ and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord. Co-stars John Hurt, Ian McShane, Joseph Fiennes.
• “Maleficent” ( PG Family Adventure ):  Angelina Jolie stars in the untold story of the villainess from Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty”. The vindictive fairy puts a curse on the infant princess ‘Aurora’ only to realize the child may be the only one who can restore peace. Co-stars Elle Fanning and Imelda Staunton, and keep an eye out for a cameo by Jolie’s daughter Vivienne.
• “Planes: Fire & Rescue” ( PG Animated Adventure ): In this follow-up to Disney’s 2013 “Cars” spin-off, “Planes”, ‘Dusty’ joins forces with fire & rescue helicopter ‘Blade Ranger’ and his team ‘The Smokejumpers’ to battle a massive wildfire. Voice cast includes: Dane Cook, Ed Harris, Julie Bowen, Hal Holbrook, Teri Hatcher.
• Also released today: “A Belle For Christmas” (Family); “Eric Clapton: Planes, Trains and Eric” (Music); “The Exes: Seasons 1-2” (TV); “Film Noir 10-Movie Spotlight Collection” (Compilation); “Genesis: 3 Sides Live” (Music Documentary); “Little House On the Prairie: A Merry Ingalls Christmas” (Vintage TV); “Merv Griffin Show: 1962-1986” (Vintage TV); “Quantum Leap: The Complete Series” (Vintage TV); “Reno 911: The Complete Series” (TV); “Sgt Bilko – The Phil Silvers Show: The Complete Series” (Classic TV); “Touch: The Complete 2nd Season” (TV); “What Is Cinema?” (Documentary); and “White Collar: Season 5” (TV).

ADDRESSING DRESS:
A new app chooses your outfit for the day. ‘Cloth’, an app for managing your wardrobe, has rolled out a redesigned version that provides personalized recommendations on what to wear based on local weather conditions, current fashion styles, and the items in your closet. Snap a photo of your outfit, tag it with a relevant category, and weather conditions (ie: ‘work’ and ‘chilly’), and the outfit is added to your digital wardrobe. Plus the app’s new ‘street style search’ allows you to browse other users’ publicly viewable looks by location, occasion, and weather. You can search very specific trends, ie: ‘rainy day outfits in Paris’. (Wow, pink plastic boots and a lime-green bandanna … stylin’!)
– Mashable.com

CARTOON CHARACTERS THAT WOULD MAKE GREAT REAL-LIFE FRIENDS:
✓ ‘Homer Simpson’ – Some days all you want to do is have a donut. We get that.
✓ ‘Boo Boo’ – The perfect sidekick from “Yogi Bear” and the voice of reason we all need.
✓ ‘Scrooge McDuck’ – If you can get on his good side, he’d probably always pick up the tab.
✓ ‘Inspector Gadget’ – Wouldn’t it be nice to activate some go-go-gadget backscratchers every now and then?
✓ ‘Garfield’ – He’s that friend that knows all the best places to eat.
✓ ‘Charlie Brown’ – Everyone needs a depressed friend in the bunch. It’s either him or ‘Eeyore’.
✓ ‘Fat Albert’ – Wouldn’t it be cool to have a pal that is always up for dessert?
✓ ‘Barney Rubble’ – Loyal and apparently really good with the ladies. You don’t get a girl like ‘Betty’ without having some skills.
– Condensed from List25.com

VIRTUAL APARTMENT HUNTING:
It’s “World of Warcraft” meets the world of real estate. Apartment hunters in NYC will soon be able to visit units that don’t even exist, thanks to new software and the hotly anticipated Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. Rubicon Media, which is developing the program, says the technology will allow buyers to ‘walk through’ a property at their own pace using a videogame controller. They can open doors, lean out the window to peer at the view, and even look around the apartment simply by moving their heads. It not only allows virtual visits to real-life vacancies, it will help market unfinished (or even yet-to-be-built) condos. (Will it allow you to discover the neighbors from hell ahead of time?)
– “New York Daily News”

FREE PARKING:
For the discerning hipster looking to travel about town and not worry about parking their fixed gear bicycle, Hungarian designer Adam Horok may have the answer. The ‘Scooter Belt’ works as a full-size scooter … but also doubles as a belt to hold up your pants. It features 2 wheels and a solid wood base that is curved so it can be wrapped around the body. When you arrive at your destination, a simple velcro tab loosens the scooter’s body, allowing it to ‘collapse’ and be fastened around waist when not in use. (“Nice belt, Gavin … wheels make such an inventive accessory.”)
– @MailOnline

BACK TO THE FUTURE A REALITY BY 2100:
Time travel, teleportation, and invisibility cloaks will become real-life possibilities ‘within a generation’ if a number of top UK scientists are to be believed. Physicists from Imperial College London and the University of Glasgow have predicted that time machines could be possible within 85 years, and “Star Trek”-style teleportation from one location to another could be in use as convenient transport by 2080. While these may seem like giant – perhaps impossible – leaps for technology, the first prototype of something akin to “Harry Potter’s” invisibility cloak has already been created using what’s called ‘adaptive camouflage’. That technology could be viable within 10 years. (Cool, but we still want one of those “Jetsons”-style flying cars.)
– Adapted from Metro.co.uk

BS AMAZING ANIMAL FACTS:
∙ Grizzly bears’ bodies mimic the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes during hibernation.
– “New Scientist”
• Sheep can recognize facial expressions and they really like smiles.
– BuzzFeed.com

BS CHRONOMETER 11.04.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1960 [54] Kathy Griffin, Oak Park IL, stand-up comedian/TV personality (“Kathy Griffin: My Life On the D-List” 2005-10)/TV talk show host (“Kathy” 2012-13)

1961 [53] Jeff Probst, Wichita KS, Emmy-winning TV reality show host (“Survivor” since 2000)/TV talk show host (“Jeff Probst Show” 2012-13)

1969 [45] Matthew McConaughey, Uvalde TX, movie actor (“Dallas Buyers Club”, “The Wolf of Wall Street”)/TV actor (“True Detectives” 2013)

1969 [45] Diddy (Sean Combs), Harlem NY, hip-hop artist (“Shake Ya Tailfeather”)/recording mogul (Bad Boy Records)/fashion designer (Sean John)/entrepreneur (Ciroc Vodka)

1970 [44] Bethenny Frankel, NYC, TV talk show host (“Bethenny” 2013-14)/TV personality (“Real Housewives of NYC” 2008-10)/lifestyle author (“The SkinnyGirl Dish”)

1975 [39] Curtis Stone, Melbourne, Australia, celebrity chef/TV personality (“Around the World in 80 Plates” 2012, “Top Chef Masters” since 2011, “The Celebrity Apprentice 3” 2010)

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Children’s Goal-Setting Day”, to encourage parents to foster goal-setting habits in their children’s lives. Children need goals, because they spend altogether too much time goofin’ around – you know – acting like kids.

• US Mid-Term Election Day, when Americans go to the polls to cast votes for their representatives in the Senate and Congress. Many political commentators believe that lawmakers who voted in favor of ‘Obamacare’ could be vulnerable to defeat.

• “Use Your Common Sense Day”, promoting the idea of making use of the knowledge and experience which we all allegedly have.

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1999 [15] Jimi Hendrix’s half-sister Janie announces plan to exhume her famous brother’s body and move it to a mausoleum where fans can view it for a price (public outcry forces her to shelve the idea)

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1939 [75] 1st ‘Air-Conditioned Automobile’ introduced by Packard (to turn the A/C on you had to shut off the engine, open the hood, and connect the belt from the compressor)

2008 [06] Barack Obama is elected the 1st African-American president of the United States

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1980 [34] Sadaharu Oh retires from professional baseball with Tokyo’s Yomiuri Giants with a record 868 career home runs (far more than Barry Bonds’ MLB record of 762 … and steroid-free)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] “48th CMA Awards” (ABC)
[Wed] Take Our Kids to Work (Canada)
[Thurs] Full ‘Beaver’ Moon
[Thurs] Men Make Dinner Day
[Fri] “Big Hero 6”; “Interstellar” open in movie theaters
This Week Is … Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
This Month Is … Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month

BULL’S BITS

BS THINGS WE ALL DO BUT NO-ONE ADMITS TO:
✓ Picture yourself on stage performing the songs you’re listening to.
✓ Wonder if people who’ve disappeared from your life still think about you from time-to-time.
✓ Cringe remembering something you did years ago.
✓ Post something on Instagram or Facebook, then delete it when it only gets 1 like.
✓ Cup your hands against your chest in the shower, let them fill with water and then drop it all at once.
✓ Have full-blown conversations with yourself in your head. Or out loud.
✓ Pick up your underwear from the floor with your toes and then toss it up and grab it.
✓ Pick your nose.
✓ See a text, imagine your reply, and then hours later realize you never actually replied.
✓ Feel really insecure at times.
– Adapted from BuzzFeed.com

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Dear women who are awesome, smart, sexy, and deeply in love with me … please start existing.

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
Aside from being birds, what do Atlantic Puffins, Black Vultures, and Swans have in common?
a. They crap purple.
b. They eat other birds’ eggs.
c. They mate for life. [CORRECT]
– MNN.com

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What has pleasantly surprised you about getting older?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: THIS has been voted the #1 rude behavior when it comes to cellphone etiquette.
Answer: Using the speaker-phone in public.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A perfect wife is one who helps the husband with the dishes.