BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Today actresses Lupita Nyong’o and Julianne Moore are among the philanthropic honorees at the “Power of Women: New York” celebration. Nyong’o is being applauded for her efforts with Mother Health International; Moore is known for her campaign work with Everytown for Gun Safety. The Oscar-winners are being  fêted as ‘Lifetime Impact Honorees’ alongside ballet star Misty Copeland, fashion designer Vera Wang, and FOX News journalist Megyn Kelly. The gala recognizes the entertainment industry’s most inspiring and charitable females.
– Variety.com
★ LAPD detectives are investigating allegations that Charlie Sheen threatened his former fiancée, porn star Brett Rossi, just days after she won a restraining order against him. A criminal investigation has been launched after officers visited Sheen’s home and served a search warrant in connection with the investigation. The troubled star’s former girlfriend, real name Scottine Ross, was granted a restraining order a day after reporting an altercation between herself and Sheen.
– “Los Angeles Times”
★ The chair in which JK Rowling sat while writing the first two ‘Harry Potter’ books has sold for $394,000 at a Heritage Auctions sale in NYC. Rowling used the chair in her Edinburgh council flat in the mid 1990s. It’s the third time the seat has been sold at auction, with the current seller Gerald Gray of Worsley UK purchasing it for $29,000 back in 2009. The latest sale has massively surpassed expectations. 10% of proceeds are going to charity, according to the seller.
– CNN.com
★ Tom Cruise is planning to move into Saint Hill Manor, the former estate of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard. The actor is a devoted follower of the controversial religious movement, and is reportedly moving into the $16-million mansion in East Grinstead, England where Hubbard once resided. Cruise put his own home in the English town up for sale last year, but is apparently not planning to abandon the area, which is Scientology’s British base.
– “Daily Mail”
★ And organizers of Iceland’s Secret Solstice Festival are offering up a $1 million package to see Radiohead and Of Monsters & Men. Promoters sold two $200,000 tickets for the festival in 2015, and now one fan can experience “the ultimate festival experience” for themselves and 5 pals at the event in Reykjavík this June. In return for a million bucks, the fan will get a return flight in a private business jet from anywhere on the planet, round-the-clock access to 2 luxury cars for a week, and complete access to the Secret Solstice 2016 event. Regular tickets start at $200.
– ContactMusic.com

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction (Brooklyn NY) – Today the 2016 inductees are honored at Barclays Center. Among them: Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple, NWA, and Steve Miller. The Black Keys, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Rock, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, and Rob Thomas are taking part in the ceremony. HBO will televise highlights later in the Spring.
NET: http://www.rockhall.com
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Today Iggy Azalea (“The PinkPrint”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Tonight Lukas Graham (” Lukas Graham”). Rerun.
• “Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS/M3) – Tonight X Ambassadors (“VHS”). Rerun.
• “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global) – Tonight New Order (“Music Complete”). Rerun.
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (syndicated/CTV) – Today Charlie Puth (“Nine Track Mind”).
• “MTV Movie Awards” (MTV) – Sunday Dwayne Johnson & Kevin Hart host the 25th annual pop culture awards. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” leads nominations with 11 (after being snubbed at the Oscars), followed by “Deadpool” with 8. Oddball categories include: ‘Best Fight’ and ‘Best Gut-Wrenching Performance’. Melissa McCarthy is being saluted with the ‘Comedic Genius Award’; Will Smith picks up the ‘Generation Award’, honoring his Hollywood legacy.
NET: http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards
• “Outlander” (Starz/Showcase) – In the Season 2 debut (Saturday on Starz/Sunday on Showcase), ‘Jamie’ & ‘Claire’ (Sam Heughan & Caitriona Balfe) are in Paris, France on a mission.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC/Global) – Host Russell Crowe (“The Nice Guys”, out May 20th); musical guest Margo Price (“Midwest Farmer’s Daughter”).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight 1960s doo-wop singer Dion.
• “Wendy Williams” (syndicated) – Today LA Reid (“Sing to Me: My Story of Making Music, Finding Magic, and Searching for Who’s Next”). Rerun.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Aerosmith – 68-year-old Steven Tyler tells “Rolling Stone” he’s planning to regroup the band to hit the road again next year for what will likely be a farewell tour. The band is currently on hiatus while Tyler takes a stab at becoming a solo country music act.
• Chris Brown – He’s being sued (again), this time by a graffiti artist for trademark infringement. Andre Khazrei claims he’s been using the tag name ‘Konfused’ since 2003, and registered it for use on T-shirts and other merchandise long before Brown started using a similar moniker for his street art.
• Deftones – Today the veteran rockers release their new album, “Gore”, the band’s first new release since 2012. Deftones play the Carolina Rebellion and Shaky Knees festivals in May, then do a European tour in June.
• Guns N’ Roses – Tonight & tomorrow the reunited band plays the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas NV as a tune-up for their headline slot at the Coachella festival the next 2 weekends. Alice in Chains is the opening act for the Vegas dates.
• Kesha – A NYC judge has dismissed her motion to overrule a February verdict that refused to terminate her contract with Sony. The court is not issuing a reversal, even though Kesha’s lawyers have argued the contract is tantamount to ‘slavery’.
• The Lumineers – Today the folk-rockers release their sophomore album, “Cleopatra”. The trio is on the road playing the UK and Europe through May. Their North American trek begins on May 21st in Houston TX and winds up in Chicago IL on June 19th.
• Pearl Jam – Their 2016 North American dates kick off tonight in Fort Lauderdale FL and include headline slots at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Bonnaroo. The trek wraps in August with 2 nights each at Fenway Park in Boston MA and Wrigley Field in Chicago IL.
• Selena Gomez – Her latest single, “Hands to Myself”, is in the #1 spot at ‘Top 40 Radio’ this week. It’s the 3rd consecutive chart-topper from her album “Revival”. Gomez begins her highly anticipated “Revival World Tour” in Las Vegas NV on May 6th.
• Tegan & Sara – Today the lead single “Boyfriend” debuts from their upcoming album “Love You to Death”. The 10-track album arrives June 3rd.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “The Boss” ( R-Rated Comedy ): Melissa McCarthy plays a former titan of industry who is sent to prison after she’s caught for insider trading (sounds like Martha Stewart, no?). When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget. Written and directed by McCarthy’s husband Ben Falcone. Co-stars Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage, Ella Anderson.
NET: http://www.thebossfilm.com
• “Hardcore Henry” ( R-Rated Sci-fi Adventure ); A first-person action film from the eyes of ‘Henry’, who’s resurrected from death with no memory. He must discover his identity and save his wife from a psychotic villain with telekinetic powers who has hatched a plan to bio-engineer soldiers. Stars Sharlto Copley, Tim Roth, Haley Bennett, Danila Kozlovsky.
NET: http://stxmovies.com/hardcorehenry
• Also opening in limited release: “Demolition” (Dramedy); “The Dying Of the Light” (Documentary); “The Invitation” (Horror); “Louder than Bombs” (Drama); “Mr Right” (Romantic Comedy); and “Wedding Doll” (Drama).

THE 10 STAGES OF DINNERTIME WITH TODDLERS:
Getting young children to eat can be a long and frustrating process. Here are the steps …
1. Play it cool. (“This is fun isn’t it, eating a meal?”)
2. Ask politely. (“Please eat your dinner for Mommy.”)
3. Bribery. (“If you eat your dinner you can have ice cream.”)
4. Scare tactics. (“If you don’t eat your dinner you will not grow big and strong.”)
5. Emotional blackmail. (“You don’t want me to feel sad, do you?”)
6. Encourage them to feel fortunate. (Mention kids in Africa, Pago Pago, etc.)
7. Get firm. (“If you do not eat your dinner there is nothing else for you to have.”)
8. Beg. (“Please, please just half of your dinner?”)
9. Desperation. (“Eat one single pea and we’ll call it a day.”)
10. Wine. (You have lost … again. Give the kid a yoghurt and pour yourself a glass.)
– Adapted from “Metro”

BS AMAZING FACT:
In the world of online dating, a 5-foot 8-inch male has to make $146,000 more a year than a 6-foot-tall man in order to get the same number of dates.
– “Wired”

BS CHRONOMETER 04.08.16

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1962 [54] Izzy Stradlin (Jeffrey Isbell), Lafayette IN, rock guitarist-singer (co-founder of Guns N’ Roses, who is not part of the band’s current reunion/ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2012)

1966 [50] Robin Wright, Dallas TX, TV actress (‘Claire Underwood’ on “House of Cards” since 2013)/movie actress (“Forrest Gump”)

1968 [48] Patricia Arquette, Chicago IL, movie actress (2015 Oscar-“Boyhood”)/TV actress (‘Avery Ryan’ on “CSI: Cyber” since 2015, “Medium” 2005-11)

1981 [35] Taylor Kitsch, Kelowna BC, movie actor (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”)/TV actor (“True Detective” 2015, “Friday Night Lights” 2006-11)

1984 [32] Ezra Koenig, NYC, indie rock singer-guitarist (Vampire Weekend-“”Unbelievers”, “A-Punk”)

1993 [23] Jamie Sierota, Chino CA, indie pop guitarist (Echosmith-“Bright”, “Cool Kids”)

1997 [19] Sadie Calvano, LA CA, TV actress (‘Violet’ on “Mom” since 2013)

SATURDAY –
“Playboy” magazine founder Hugh Hefner is 90; Movie actor Dennis Quaid (“GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra”) is 62; Movie/TV actress Cynthia Nixon (“Sex & The City”) is 50; Rock guitarist Albert Hammond Jr (The Strokes) is 36; Movie actress Kristen Stewart (“Snow White & The Huntsman”)is 26; Movie actress Elle Fanning (“Maleficent”) is 18; TV actor Isaac Hempstead Wright (“Game of Thrones”) is 17.

SUNDAY –
Pop singer/producer Babyface is 57; Rock guitarist Mike Mushok (Staind) is 47; Movie/TV actor Charlie Hunnam (“Sons of Anarchy”) is 36; Rock bassist Bryce Soderberg (Lifehouse) is 36; TV actress Chyler Leigh (“Supergirl”) is 34; Indie rock bassist Andrew Dost (fun.) is 33; TV actress Shay Mitchell (“Pretty Little Liars”) is 29; Movie actor Alex Pettyfer (“Magic Mike”) is 26; Movie actress Daisy Ridley (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) is 24.

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).
• “Dog Fighting Awareness Day”, initiated by the SPCA to increase awareness and encourage animal-lovers to take action against this brutal form of cruelty.
• “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.
NET: http://bit.ly/alpvPG
• “Trading Cards For Grown-ups Day”. After all, why should adults have to give up their precious trading cards just because they get older?

SATURDAY –
• “Baby Massage Day”, observed annually on the 2nd Saturday in April to salute the growing practice that is said to soothe, relax, and stimulate babies.
NET: http://www.babymassage.net
• “Cherish an Antique Day”, one of the few things that increases in value the older it gets.
• “Name Yourself Day”, a day for anybody with a name they hate to tag themselves with a brand new label. Ziggy perhaps?
• “Slow Art Day”, an annual global all-volunteer event designed to enable more people to appreciate art. Why ‘slow’? When we look slowly at an artwork we make discoveries, without need of any ‘expertise’.
NET: http://www.slowartday.com

SUNDAY –
• “Encourage a Young Writer Day”, because it’s an investment in our future. Some of the most famous authors began writing as children.
• “Farm Animals Day”, to raise awareness about the plight of slaughter animals, as well as to find homes for abandoned and abused farm animals.
NET: http://www.farmanimalsday.com
• “Golfers Day”, honoring everyone who walks a mile chasing the little white ball, on the 100th anniversary of the 1916 founding of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA).
• “Siblings Day”, celebrating brothers and sisters who are living, those who aren’t … and perhaps those who shouldn’t be.
• “SPCA Day”, honoring the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the organization that looks out for our furry little friends. It was chartered on this day in 1866.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2014 [02] WWE Hall of Fame wrestler ‘Ultimate Warrior’ (James Hellwig) dies of a heart attack at age 54 in Scottsdale AZ (the latest in a long line of wrestlers to die prematurely)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1994 [22] 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)

2006 [10] Rolling Stones make their China debut, performing a 2-hour show in front of 8,000 fans at the Shanghai Grand Stage

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2013 [03] ‘ISIS’ is created as the Islamic State of Iraq enters the Syrian Civil War by declaring a merger with the Al-Nusra Front under the name ‘Islamic State of Iraq & ash-Sham’

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2015 [01] World’s oldest living person, Gertrude Weaver of the US, dies at age 116, just 5 days after the death of the previous record holder, Misao Okawa of Japan, who died at age 117

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Mon] Pet Day
[Mon] Teach Children to Save Day
[Tues] Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
[Tues] Be Kind to Lawyers Day
This Week Is … Week Of the Ocean
This Month Is … Adopt a Greyhound Month

BULL’S BITS

BS DIFFERENCES AT A BALL GAME IN JAPAN:
• Players always politely bow before scratching themselves.
• Louisville Slugger bats replaced with Baltimore Chopsticks.
• Players remove cleats before entering dugout.
• Infield chatter replaced with ‘haiku’.
• Local team is called the ‘White Sakes’.
• Catchers’ masks have Bluetooth.
• 7th-inning stretch is banned for promoting laziness.
• EVERY night is ‘Camera Night’.
• “Sushi! Get your ice cold sushi right here!”

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Do you read the comments on websites? What the heck for?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Long ago when people cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today it’s called golf.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: The average person does THIS 13 times a day.
Answer: Laughs.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Acting is merely the art of keeping a large group of people from coughing.