April 8, 2013

Tuesday, April 8, 2014        Edition: #5197


There’s a Difference Between Sheet and Crapola!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Just weeks after turning 50, actor Rob Lowe has published “Love Life”, his 2nd memoir. The double-entendre title reflects the book’s 2 focuses: Sweet stories about his wife & 2 sons and career & romance anecdotes. A few highlights …
✓ He was offered the ‘McDreamy’ role in “Grey’s Anatomy”, but was talked into turning it down (it went to Patrick Dempsey).
✓ He cried like a baby when his oldest son left for college; so sad he slept in the kid’s bed.
✓ He blew a chance to hook up with Madonna after a 1984 concert.
✓ Onetime Hollywood heartthrob Warren Beatty’s go-to pickup line was to tell a girl she reminded him of actress Natalie Wood.
– HollywoodReporter.com
★ RIP: Actor Mickey Rooney, who became America’s biggest movie star while still a brash teenager in the 1930s and later a versatile character actor in a career that spanned 10 decades, died Sunday at age 93. John Pinette, the portly standup comedian and actor who suffered from liver and heart disease, died of natural causes at age 50 on Saturday in his Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania hotel room.
– Reuters.com
★ And 40-year-old actress Eva Mendes has asked her ex-boyfriend, George Augusto, to look after a dog belonging to her current boyfriend, 33-year-old actor Ryan Gosling. Despite Eva spitting from George, he still works for her as an assistant and handles some of her business affairs, but he was reportedly surprised when handed a list of instructions by one of Gosling’s assistants about how to take care of the mixed-breed mutt while the acting couple travel. Word has it Augusto was humiliated, and even further so when told that Gosling’s dog is also named … ‘George’.
– RadarOnline.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Bad Suns (“Transpose).
• “The Dave Clark Five – Glad All Over, a Great Performances Special” (PBS) – Rare concert footage and performances by the 1960s British group.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Birds of Tokyo (“March Fires”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion (“Bright Examples”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/Omni1) – London Grammar (“If You Wait”).
• “The Talk” (CBS) – Nick Cannon (“White People Party Music”).
• “Tavis Smiley” (PBS) – Stewart Copeland (ex-The Police).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens).
• “The Voice” (NBC/CTV2) – The contestants perform and face elimination.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Tonight in Cincinnati OH they embark on a new slate of “High Hopes” tour North American dates that run through May 18th in Uncasville CT. The tour focuses mainly on markets skipped during the 2012 “Wrecking Ball” tour.
• Ed Sheeran – He’s announced details of his upcoming 2nd album, which is titled “x” [multiply]. The follow-up to his smash-hit debut “+” [add] will be released June 23rd. He claims to have recorded ‘about 120’ songs for the project, which obviously had to be severely whittled down.
• Emmylou Harris – Today her 1996 album “Wrecking Ball” is being reissued. Winner of a Grammy for ‘Best Contemporary Folk Album’, the critically praised work has been transformed into a new 3-disc set. (Sure seems to be a popular music title!)
• Foster The People – Today in Pomona, California they begin a tour in support of their new album “Supermodel”. The tour runs through June 8th in NYC before the band heads overseas for a series of European dates, including the venerable Glastonbury Festival in the UK.
• Linda Ronstadt – She’ll miss her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Thursday because she’s suffering from Parkinson’s disease and traveling to NYC would be too difficult.
• Susan Boyle – 5 years since she silenced Simon Cowell on “Britain’s Got Talent” with her incredible audition piece, “I Dreamed a Dream”, she’s finally doing her first tour of the UK. Her crippling anxiety and dread of performing live has prevented her from touring up until now.

THIS WEEK’S VIDEO RELEASES:
Out today on DVD, Netflix, Google Play and/or other video providers …
• “August: Osage County” ( R-Rated Dramedy ): Director John Wells’ over-the-top, occasionally uproarious tale of an extremely dysfunctional family. The star-studded ensemble cast includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Ewan McGregor, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, and Meryl Streep. Debuted at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival.
• “Grudge Match” ( PG-13 Sports Comedy ): Robert De Niro & Sylvester Stallone play a pair of aging boxing rivals who are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout … 30 years after their last match. Lots of comedic references to the stars’ previous boxing films, “Rocky” and “Raging Bull”. Co-stars Kim Basinger, Kevin Hart, Alan Arkin.
• “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” ( PG-13 Fantasy Adventure ): In the 2nd installment of director Peter Jackson’s trilogy, the dwarves, along with ‘Bilbo Baggins’ and ‘Gandalf the Grey’, continue their quest to reclaim  their homeland ‘Erebor’ from ‘Smaug’ (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch). Stars Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott.
• “Justin Bieber’s Believe” ( PG Documentary ): After 2011’s “Never Say Never” it seems unlikely we need another doc on the Biebs, but director Jon M Chu’s backstage and onstage footage takes another look at the 19-year-old pop phenom’s rise to stardom. Amid the  performances, Bieber discusses his troubled past year. Appearances by Ludacris and Usher.
• Also released today: “Bayou Blue” (Documentary); “Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded” (Documentary); “The Dog Who Saved Easter” (Family); “Earthflight: The Complete Series” (TV Documentary); “I Am Divine” (Documentary);  “Lizzie Bordon Took an Ax” (TV); “Mayberry RFD: Season 1” (Vintage TV); “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones” (Horror); and “Snake and Mongoo$e” (Sports)

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM:
Major ice cream brands are competing for your taste buds this month. Today Ben & Jerry’s is hosting its 35th annual ‘Free Cone Day’ at participating Scoop Shops around-the-world. The occasion will also be used to promote a trio of new flavors: Salted Caramel Blondie; Hazed & Confused, made with hazelnut and chocolate ice creams and fudge chips; and Cotton Candy. Then, from April 22nd-24th, Baskin-Robbins in the US will be hosting its own ‘Scoop Fest’, selling a single scoop for $1, a double for $2, and a triple for $3. (Just in time for bikini season.)
– NYDailyNews.com.

THE NEW USB:
A new reversible USB cable design has been shown off for first time. The new standardized connection for data transfers between electronic devices will be reversible, bringing an end to the everyday irritant of trying to force a USB cable in the wrong way. The new Type-C standard will be similar in size to the current MicroUSB connector, typically used for charging mobile phones and cameras. It’s expected that plans will be finalized in July, but the rollout of new ports will take some time as manufacturers gradually incorporate them into their products. That’s right, a new plug means a new port to plug it into. The smaller port is said to resemble Apple’s Lightning port. (Thereby giving Apple users another reason to get all smug and superior as all our machine become obsolete overnight.)
– TheVerge.com

BS THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU DON’T DRINK:
• People insist on knowing why you’ve chosen not to drink. They will not be satisfied with ‘I just don’t want to’.
• If you’re female, people secretly wonder if you’re pregnant.
• People make you into a project and say things like ‘do you want me to help you get drunk?’
• Parties are seriously boring when you’re not drunk.
• Sometimes people assume you just don’t like going out at all.
• People with hangovers hate you. You never wake up hung-over and can always remember the night before.
• You make every decision consciously.
• You save a helluva lot of money.
• You are always the Designated Driver.
– Excerpted from Jeobox.com

AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE?
The Los Angeles mansion where the unforgettable horsehead scene in “The Godfather” was shot is now on the market. The ‘Beverly House’ house is thought to be California’s most expensive, listed at $135 million (LA’s famous Fleur de Lys mansion sold last week for $102 million). The grounds cover nearly 4 acres atop a private knoll in Beverly Hills. The house itself has 28 bedrooms, 3 pools, 2 screening theaters, a nightclub, and a billiard room. Oh … and there’s 36 bathrooms, plus a dining room that can accommodate 400. (The decapitated horse’s head has thankfully been removed from the master bedroom.)
– LATimes.com

FOR THE RECORD:
Andrew Cowen of Rockford, Illinois is making a name for himself as the kingpin of … backward bowling. He’s already scored 280 in a single game, and now he’s aiming for a perfect 300. That would certainly solidify his niche as the ‘Best Backward Bowler In the World’. (Do NOT try this … you’ll throw your back out permanently!)
– AP

BS SHOCKING FACTS THAT HAPPEN EVERY 5 SECONDS:
• Every 5 seconds, Oprah Winfrey earns a little over $43.
• Every 5 seconds, Bill Gates earns $1,250.
• Every 5 seconds, someone working at a Nike factory in Vietnam makes $.00012.
– Adapted from BuzzFeed.com

BS CHRONOMETER 04.08.14


TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1963 [51] Dean Norris, South Bend IN, TV actor (‘Hank Schrader’ on “Breaking Bad” 2008-13, ‘Big Jim Rennie’ on “Under the Dome” since 2013)

1966 [48] Robin Wright, Dallas TX, TV actress (‘Claire Underwood’ on “House of Cards” since 2013)/movie actress (“State of Play”, “Forrest Gump”)/ex-Mrs Sean Penn (1996-2007)

1968 [46] Patricia Arquette, Chicago IL, TV actress (“Boardwalk Empire” 2013, “Medium” 2005-11)/movie actress (“Holes”, “Ed Wood”)/sister of actors Roseanna Arquette & David Arquette

1981 [33] Taylor Kitsch, Kelowna BC, movie actor (“Lone Survivor”, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”)/TV actor (“Friday Night Lights” 2006-11)

1984 [30] Ezra Koenig, NYC, indie rock singer-guitarist (Vampire Weekend-“Cousins”, “A-Punk”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Birthday Of the Buddha” (563 BC), celebrated in Taiwan, Hawaii, Korea and elsewhere. Considered the most important Buddhist holiday. The celebration is variously known as “Buddha’s Birthday” and “Hana Matsuri” (“Flower Festival” in Japan).

• “International Be Kind to Lawyers Day”, because they get a lot of grief … just for being lawyers. Jokes are made about them and they consistently rank as one of the least respected professions on the planet. Is it too much to ask to be nice to lawyers for just one day? Well …

• “International Day Of the Roma”, begun in 1990 to celebrate Romani culture and raise awareness of the issues facing Romani people, commonly misnamed ‘gypsies’.

• “International Feng Shui Awareness Day” [fung schway], celebrating the oriental ‘art of placement’ in which architecture and interiors are situated to blend with their surroundings in order to create greater harmony.
NET: http://bit.ly/alpvPG

• “Trading Cards For Grown-ups Day”.  Why should adults have to give up their precious trading cards just because they get older? (“Mom, you didn’t throw out that Hank Aaron rookie card when you cleaned out the attic, did ya?”)

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2013 [01] Former British PM Margaret Thatcher dies (Meryl Streep earns a 3rd Academy Award playing her in the 2011 film “The Iron Lady”)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1994 [20] The body of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain is found, the victim of a self-inflicted shotgun blast (it’s later determined the event occurred several days earlier, likely April 5th)

2003 [11] NBC-TV airs the concert special “Cher: The Farewell Tour” (she’s baaaack, with her current “Dressed to Kill Tour”, which played Toronto ON last night)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1993 [21] 1st MLB baseball player to switch-hit home runs in the same inning (Carlos Baerga, Cleveland Indians)

TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
1974 [40] Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s legendary record of 714 homers (his 755 career total is later beaten by [juiced up] Barry Bonds)

1996 [18] Starr Lammon of Napa CA gives birth to a 3rd daughter on the anniversary of her own birth, and that of both her previous daughters (odds 1-in-49 million)

2005 [09] Over 4 million people attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Cherish an Antique Day
[Wed] Former POW Recognition Day
[Thurs] Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Brooklyn NY)
[Thurs] Farm Animals Day
[Thurs] Sibling Day
This Week Is … Window Safety Week (practice safe opening?!?!)
This Month Is … Adopt a Greyhound Month (what are you gonna do with a bus?)

BULL’S BITS


YOU KNOW YOU’RE CANADIAN WHEN …
✓ You pour maple syrup over your pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, apples … anything that could use a bit of sweetness.
✓ No matter how much they hurt your throat and stain your fingers, you can’t get enough of ketchup chips. Everyone else is missing out.
✓ You sit on a patio dressed in full Winter gear because you’re sick and tired of being indoors.
✓ Your Winter has been so long that 10-degree weather feels like Summer.
✓ You barbecue outside even if it’s snowing. Every season is grilling season.
✓ You apologize when someone bumps into you on the street. The tables you bump into often receive your apologies as well.
✓ You do binge-shopping across the border whenever the loonie is strong.
✓ You find colorful Canadian Tire money everywhere, from your purse to the glove compartment in your car.
✓ You wear a toque in Summer.
✓ You refer to a case of beer as a two-four, and buy it to celebrate ‘May Two-Four Weekend’.
✓ You’ll choose Tim Hortons over Dunkin’ Donuts any day. Speaking of Timmy’s, it’s perfectly normal to order an iced cappuccino in below-freezing weather.
– Adapted from iVillage.ca

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Which is the best TV family of all-time?

BS WEB GOODIE:
What would your “Game of Thrones” name be? Find out your place in ‘Westeros’ with this new name generator …
NET: http://tinyurl.com/qfwylch

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Contrary to popular belief, standing a breath away from me does not make the line to the cash register smaller.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: According to a new study, you’ll argue less with your partner if you do THIS at home.
Answer: Dim the lights.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
When you start yelling, you’ve just lost the fight.

Leave a comment