Tuesday, April 27, 2004 Edition: #2776
Deja Moo
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
TODAY “American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics” by the American Idol Finalists (see “Bull’s Bits”) hits music stores (when you think John Stevens, don’t you automatically think – soul man?) . . . TONIGHT’s “American Idol” guest judge is Gloria Estefan . . . “American Idol’s” Simon Cowell is set to host a new talent-search show called “The X Factor” that will initially air in Britain and focus on finding more mature talent (there’ll be no upper age limit for performers) . . . Once the superstar of ‘80s TV show “Miami Vice”, actor Don Johnson has just filed for bankruptcy in order to protect his ranch from being auctioned off . . . Courtney Love is trying to secure the half of hubby Kurt Cobain’s ashes that are in the care of her former mother-in-law, whose house is about to be repossessed (“Hey, who emptied that ashtray?”) . . . Jennifer Lopez will appear on the DECEMBER cover of “Vogue”, marking the end of a long feud with the magazine . . . “The Passion of the Christ” has now grossed over $551 million worldwide . . . Paris Hilton’s sex tape will be released JUNE 15th on video under the creative title “One Night In Paris” (rejected titles? “Made in Paris”?, “An American in Paris”?) . . . Truly weird Icelandic singer Bjork is currently working on a new album in NYC with Dokaka, a Japanese beatbox artist who remakes well-known songs in a capella form (don’t fail to miss it!) . . . Action movie star Jackie Chan is visiting victims of AIDS and land mines in Cambodia in his new role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador . . . Headbanging metal band Judas Priest will reunite for a 30-year anniversary tour (please check your guns & whips at the door) . . . And ‘70s TV show “The Partridge Family” is reportedly making a comeback, and 53-year-old former teen heart-throb David Cassidy says he’s gonna be in it (oh please … “I Think I Hate You”).
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Liz Phair – TODAY she appears on TV’s “Ellen DeGeneres Show” and TONIGHT on “Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn”.
• Lenny Kravitz – Word is he can’t find a buyer for his $14-million NYC apartment because it’s considered ‘too weird’ due to gold pillars, a glass balcony, and wacky artwork that spits real fire.
• Madonna – For her upcoming “Reinvention Tour”, she’s for some reason been receiving training in military techniques.
• Sean Combs – LAST NIGHT he made his Broadway debut in “A Raisin in the Sun”. Oh, and now that he’s a serious actor, please don’t call him ‘P Diddy’ or ‘Puff Daddy’ anymore.
• Avril Lavigne – UK’s Prince Harry reportedly personally selected her to perform at London’s huge “Party In The Park” concert JULY 11th, and has a backstage pass to meet her.
• Mary Chapin Carpenter – TONIGHT she’s on “Late Show With David Letterman”
TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “Big Fish” (Fantasy Drama – DVD): Tim Burton’s Golden Globe-nominated story of a fabled relationship between a father & son. ‘Edward Bloom’ (Albert Finney) has always been a teller of tall-tales about his oversized life as a young man (played by Ewan McGregor) when his wanderlust led him on a journey around-the-world. Billy Crudup plays the son who sets out to sort the truth from the ‘big fish’ stories. Co-stars Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter & Alison Lohman.
• “Love Actually” (Romantic Comedy – DVD): Follows the lives of 8 very different couples dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London. The all-star ensemble cast includes Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth & Liam Neeson.
• “Stuck On You” (Comedy – DVD): Another warped Farrelly Bros comedy, starring Matt Damon & Greg Kinnear as conjoined twins. Complications ensue when one decides to pursue his acting dreams in Hollywood and the other has to go along for the ride. Retired pop star Cher plays … Cher.
• “The Cooler” (Romantic Comedy): William H Macy plays the unluckiest man in Las Vegas, a guy whose bad luck is so contagious he’s used by a casino to kill high rollers’ action. That is, until he falls in love with a cocktail waitress. Alec Baldwin received an Oscar nomination as the casino director who tries to break up the romance.
• “Ghosts Of The Abyss” (DVD): James Cameron’s IMAX documentary about his own expedition to explore the world’s most famous shipwreck – and his meal ticket – “The Titanic”.
WEB POSTING:
A research team from Germany and Switzerland has made the first detailed study of a jumping spider’s ‘foot’ and discovered that a molecular force sticks the spider to almost anything. The force is so strong the spiders can carry over 170 times their own body weight while standing on the ceiling. So what’s useful about all this? The discovery could be the key to developing “Post-It’ Notes” that don’t fall off, even when they’re wet. (You remove them with TNT.)
– “Smart Materials & Structures”
WHY NOT THE DEATH PENALTY?
Russia is now considering stiff fines for weather forecasters who fudge their predictions, because the practice has cost the government money to prepare for weather emergencies that never happen.
– “NY Post”
A REASON FOR SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT:
A new product called ‘The Eyetop’ by Ingenio resembles a pair of oversized sunglasses. It has a small monitor attached to the side of the frames, which when connected to a DVD player, laptop or other portable video device, projects full-size images onto the user’s field of vision. Owning a personal virtual movie theater doesn’t come cheap though – about $500.
– “This is London”
WHAT WOMEN WANT:
Move over Brad Pitt, women want Ray Romano! A new UCLA survey finds that, while young women are attracted to muscular men for quick flings, they tend to choose scrawnier guys for husbands. Muscular guys are seen as ‘more attractive’ and ‘better in bed’, but also as ‘less faithful’, ‘less likely to treat a woman well’ and ‘less emotionally sensitive’. Other highlights …
• On a scale of 1 to 5, women rate the average male at just below 3.
• Most women report an ‘ickiness factor’ when they look at the most muscular men.
– “Health Day News”
ISN’T THIS TYPE-CASTING?
A 3-alarm fire in Vancouver’s historic Gastown district has destroyed a 3-story heritage building that housed – a fetish clothing store and a marijuana café.
– “Vancouver Sun”
I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT GANJA:
Farmers in Latvia want to introduce a local specialty to the world: dark green butter made from – cannabis seed. Latvians can buy ‘cannabis butter’ at farmers’ markets and in supermarkets because, unlike the drug cannabis, it’s legal. There are various recipes that are centuries-old but it’s usually prepared by hand in a series of 18 different steps. It can then be stored for as long as 6 months. (Delicious as a dip for Doritos, dude!)
– “Taipei Times”
HOT HANDS?
Does your ‘sweaty palm’ problem leave you embarrassed whenever you’re at your PC work station? Well, here’s just what you need – the ‘Air-Flo Mouse’ is a new hi-tech computer mouse that features built-in air-conditioning. It uses an internal fan to deliver a cool stream of air straight to your skin, and because it connects to any USB port there’s no need for any additional power. For this chilling little thrill you’ll have to hand over about 50 bucks. (Wow, a solution to a problem that doesn’t even exist!)
– “Sun”
THE BULL SHEET 04.27.2K4
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1948 [56] Katie Pierson, Athens GA, classic rock singer (B-52’s-“Love Shack”)
1951 [53] Paul (Ace) Frehley, Bronx NY, classic rock singer/guitarist (KISS-“Rock ‘n Roll All Nite”)
BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
TODAY is “National Hairball Awareness Day”. Any cat owner who’s ever stepped on a fresh wet one is already well aware!
TODAY is “Child Care Professionals Day”, to help us understand and appreciate the role of child care providers in children’s development. (That’s why those security cameras hidden in lamps were invented.)
THIS WEEK is “Canada-United States Goodwill Week”, sponsored by Kiwanis International to bring about a better understanding of the subtle differences in the Canadian and American ways of life. (Form a circle. Discuss.)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1996 [08] Actor Sean Penn weds actress Robin Wright in Santa Monica CA
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1789 [215] 1st ‘road map’ published
1953 [51] Wrestler Freddie Blassie 1st coins the useful phrase ‘pencil neck geek’
1965 [39] RC Duncan patents 1st “Pampers” disposable diapers
1981 [23] The ‘computer mouse’ is 1st marketed as part of a $16,000 Xerox computer system (Douglas Englebart had patented his ‘X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System’ way back in 1970)
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1972 [32] Mayor of Scarborough ENG gulps 500 oysters in record 48 minutes, 7 seconds
COMING UP . . .
[Wed] Kiss Your Mate Day
[Wed] Great Poetry Reading Day
[Thurs] Zipper Day
[Thurs] National Puppetry Day
[Fri] Canadian Income Tax deadline
[Fri] National Honesty Day
[Sat] Genie Awards
BULL’S BITS . . .
Just in time for round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, here’s the …
TOP ‘PUCK ROCK’ TUNES OF ALL-TIME:
• “Hockey Junkie” – Two Man Advantage
• “Clear the Track, Here Comes Shack” – Douglas Rankin & the Secrets
• “Fifty Mission Cap” – Tragically Hip
• “Please Forgive My Misconduct Last Night” – Alan Thicke
• “The Zamboni Song” – Gear Daddies
• “Gordie & My Old Man” – Grievous Angels
• “Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song)” – Warren Zevon
• “It’s Called the Todd Bertuzzi” – Heavy Eric Holmquist
• “The Breakaway” – The Zambonis
• “The Hockey Song” – Stompin’ Tom Connors
IDOL MUSIC:
“American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics” track listings …
1. “Chain of Fools” – Fantasia Barrino
2. “Me & Mrs Jones” – George Huff
3. “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” – Diana Degarmo
4. “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” – La Toya London
5. “Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye)” – Jennifer Hudson
6. “You Make Me Feel Brand New” – Amy Adams
7. “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” – Matt Rogers
8. “Midnight Train to Georgia” – Jasmine Trias
9. “My Girl” – Jon Peter Lewis
10. “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)” – Camile Velasco
11. “Betcha By Golly, Wow” – Leah Labelle
12. “You Are Everything” – John Stevens
13. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Ensemble
BS TRIVIA:
• 47 years ago TODAY (1957) Mario Gianini died. What did he invent?
a. Maraschino Cherry [CORRECT]
b. Pop Tarts
c. Weed Whacker
• Which of the following working titles was originally used for the sitcom “Friends”?
a. “Six of One”
b. “Insomnia Café”
c. “Across the Hall”
[Trick question. It was known by all of the above at one time or another.]
• Josephine Esther Mentzer has been in the news lately. By what name is she better known?
a. Jennifer Garner
b. Jessica Simpson
c. Estée Lauder [CORRECT, the cosmetics queen who died at age 97.]
BS BLATANT JOKES:
• The trouble with jogging is that, by the time you realize you’re not in shape for it, it’s too far to walk back.
• I thought Billy Joel’s career was dead, but now he’s had 3 smash hits in 2 years!
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: The average working man spends 8 minutes a day doing THIS.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Cooking.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
If at first you don’t succeed … you’ll get lots of advice.
