BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ The deputy chief coroner who presided over Robin Williams’ autopsy has defended his decision to go public with details about the star’s death following a backlash from critics. Apparently under California law, all the information released is considered ‘public’ and the coroner’s office is precluded from denying access to it. For the same reason, the 911 phone call received from Williams’ residence on Monday will likely also be released. A private memorial is being planned by Williams’ wife Susan Schneider.
– E! News
★ 26-year-old movie actor Michael Cera (“Juno”) has released a surprise album online via Bandcamp. The album, which is free to stream and also available to download, is titled “True That”, and is described as a largely instrumental lo-fi folk album. According to Cera’s Bandcamp page, the 18-track project was released last Friday, but wider knowledge of its existence came via a tweet this week from Cera’s fellow actor Jonah Hill (“22 Jump Street”).
– “Telegraph”
★ Harrison Ford is set to return to the UK later this month to resume filming “Star Wars: Episode VII” after bouncing back from a broken leg. He sustained the injury on the set in June and the production schedule was subsequently altered to give him time to recover from surgery. Filming was also suspended for 2 weeks this month so director JJ Abrams could rework shooting in Ford’s absence. Filming on “Star Wars: Episode VII” is expected to finish in the Fall.
– “Daily Mirror”
★ And reality TV star Kim Kardashian’s planned book of ‘selfie’ photos might feature a handful of saucy shots she initially intended for boyfriend-turned-husband Kanye West’s eyes only. The “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star, is planning to release a photo album full of her cellphone shots – of herself – and she admits some of them could be a little risqué.
– “Extra”

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “America’s Got Talent” (NBC/CityTV) – Sunday 12 acts perform for the judges.
• “Arsenio Hall” (syndicated) – Tonight Martina McBride (“Everlasting”). Rerun.
• Canadian National Exhibition (Toronto ON) – Today through September 1st, a late summer tradition since 1879. This year’s performers include April Wine, Gord Bamford, Hanson, Platinum Blonde, Tom Cochrane, and the 65th Canadian International Air Show.
NET: http://www.theex.com
• “George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight” (CBC) – Tonight Slash (“Nothing Left to Fear”).
• “Good Morning America” (ABC) – Florida Georgia Line (“Here’s To the Good Times”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Tonight Banks (“Goddess”). Rerun.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Tonight K Flay (“Life As a Dog”). Rerun.
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/Omni1) – Tonight The Black Keys (“Turn Blue”). Rerun.
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (syndicated/CTV) – Today Phillip Phillips (“Behind the Light”).
• Pacific National Exhibition (Vancouver BC) – The 104th edition Saturday-through-September 1st. This year’s entertainment includes Air Supply, Boyz II Men, Gavin Degraw, Glass Tiger, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Leann Rimes, Phillip Phillips, Plain White T’s, Three Days Grace.
NET: http://www.pne.ca
• “Today Show” (NBC) – Today Neon Trees (“Pop Psychology”).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight Demi Lovato (“Demi”).
• Uproar Festival Tour – Tonight the 2014 Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar tour kicks off in suburban Detroit MI. On the bill: Buckcherry, Godsmack, Seether, and Skillet among others. Tour dates have been announced into late September.
• V Festival (Hylands Park, Chelmsford & Weston Park, South Staffordshire UK) – Saturday & Sunday the 2-site event features Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers, Lily Allen and more.
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Today 1980s group New Edition. Rerun.
• “Wendy Williams” (syndicated) – John Legend (“Love In the Future”). Rerun.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Celine Dion – She’s putting her career on hold to care for her ailing husband. That means cancelling her upcoming tour of Asia as well as her Las Vegas residency. Dion’s 72-year-old husband & manager Rene Angelil had a cancerous tumor removed in December of last year.
• Death Cab For Cutie – They’ve announced they are parting ways with longtime producer and multi-instrumentalist Chris Walla after 17 years, although he will continue to tour with Death Cab for the rest of this Summer. Their new album is due out early next year.
• Elvis Presley – Today his Rolls-Royce Phantom V is scheduled to be sold by Bonhams at the Quail Lodge Auction in Carmel CA. In 1963, whenever Elvis left the building, it was most likely to climb into the back of this customized white Rolls. It’s expected to fetch $300,000.
• Goo Goo Dolls – They’re partnering with Live Nation and Yahoo to live-stream their Sunday concert at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Philadelphia PA. This is one of 365 concerts to stream over a 12-month period on the Live Nation Channel at Yahoo Screen.
• “Guardians Of the Galaxy” – Its soundtrack titled “Awesome Mix Vol 1” is atop the new Nielsen SoundScan sales chart. According to “Billboard”, it’s the first #1 soundtrack made up entirely of previously-released songs, as it only features hits from the ’60s and ’70s.
• Madonna – Movie star Lauren Bacall, who died this week at age 89, was the last remaining icon mentioned in Madonna’s 1990 hit “Vogue”. Others included Bette Davis, Ginger Rogers, Grace Kelly, Greta Garbo, Marilyn Monroe, and Rita Hayworth … all of whom are deceased.
• Michael Jackson – The video for the new single “A Place With No Name” has become the first music video to premiere on social networking site Twitter. The track comes from his posthumously released album “Xscape”.
• Taylor Swift – She plays ‘Rosemary’ in the new film “The Giver” (see below). While in the book the character is only remembered in the past tense, the movie shows her as a hologram playing the piano.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “The Expendables 3” ( PG-13 Action Thriller ): The team of action-genre chestnuts has taken out dictators, rogue agents, and arms dealers, but what can they do about the ‘Expendables’ co-founder? That’s the question facing ‘Barney’ (Sylvester Stallone) and company as they head out on this 3rd, apparently final mission. Co-stars Jason Statham, Jet Li, Antonio Banderas.
NET: http://theexpendables3film.com
• “The Giver” ( PG-13 Sci-Fi Drama ): In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the ‘real world’. Stars Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift. An adaptation of Lowis Lowry’s celebrated 1994 young adult novel.
NET: https://thegiverfilm.com
• Opening in limited release:  “Frank” (Mystery Comedy); “Jake Squared” (Dramedy); “Life After Beth” (Horror Comedy); and “The Trip to Italy” (Dramedy).

ICE IS HOT:
The so-called ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ for Lou Gehrig’s disease (aka ALS) is catching on big-time. The simple challenge is designed to shame people into either giving $100 or taking a cold shower by dumping a bucket of ice on their heads. The catch is, those who do the deep freeze get to name 3 people to repeat the douse-or-donate scheme. Among celebs who’ve done the deed: “Today” host Hoda Kotb; model Chrissy Teigen; singer Justin Timberlake; “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon and his band The Roots; TV personality Michael Strahan, and country singer Blake Shelton. It’s part of a month-long effort to fight Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which infamously killed NY Yankees’ Lou Gehrig in 1941. The Twitter and Facebook-fueled campaign has so far raised over $4 million. (So simple, so effective! And hot weather helps.)
– “Daily News”

TOO MUCH IS NOT SO GOOD:
Listen up, marathoners! Running more than 4 miles-a-day could be bad for you, a new study suggests. But since this research was only done on heart attack survivors, it may not apply to the population at large. Experts generally recommend 2-and-a-half hours of moderate exercise per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. But for those who’ve had heart attacks, the benefits begin to decline among those who run more than 30 miles per week or walk more than 46 miles per week (6.5 miles per day). Competitive running events also appear to increase the risk of an ‘acute event’ … in other words, a heart problem. (Fortunately, we are not within several dozen miles of getting anywhere near this danger.)
– AFP

BS AMAZING FACT:
All dinosaurs were either covered with feathers or had the potential to grow them.
– “BBC News Magazine”

BS CHRONOMETER 08.15.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1964 [50] Melinda French Gates, Dallas TX, wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates/philanthropist (co-founder & co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

1968 [46] Debra Messing, Brooklyn NY, TV actress  (“Smash” 2012-13, “Will & Grace” 1998-2006)/movie actress (“Lucky You”, “The Wedding Date”)

1972 [42] Ben Affleck, Berkeley CA, movie director (“Argo”, “The Town”)/movie actor (“State of Play”, “Pearl Harbor”)/screenwriter (Oscar-“Good Will Hunting”)/wed to actress Jennifer Garner (2005)

1974 [40] Natasha Henstridge, Springdale NL, TV actress (“The Secret Circle” 2011-12, “Eli Stone” 2008-09)/movie actress (“The Whole Nine Yards”, “Species” films)

1989 [25] Joe Jonas, Casa Grande AZ, pop singer (Jonas Bros-“Burnin’ Up”)/TV actor (“Camp Rock”)

1990 [24] Jennifer Lawrence, Louisville KY, movie actress (“Silver Linings Playbook”, “The Hunger Games”)

SATURDAY –
Retired sportscaster Frank Gifford (“Monday Night Football”) is 84; TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford (“Today”) is 61; Filmmaker James Cameron (“Titanic”) is 60; Pop singer Madonna (“Hung Up”) is 56; Movie actor Steve Carell (“Anchorman: The Legend Continues”) is 52; Country singer Emily Robison (Dixie Chicks) is 42; Pop singer Vanessa Carlton (“A Thousand Miles”) is 34; TV personality George Stroumboulopoulos (“Hockey Night in Canada”) is 42; Rock bassist Robert Hardy (Franz Ferdinand) is 34; Country singer Dan Smyers (Dan+Shay) is 27.

SUNDAY –
Movie actor Robert De Niro (“The Godfather II”) is 71; Movie actor Sean Penn (“Milk”) is 54; Pop singer Donnie Wahlberg (New Kids On the Block) is 45; TV actor Mark Salling (“Glee”) is 32; Indie rock singer Matthew Shultz (Cage the Elephant) is 27.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Acadian Day”, celebrating the French who settled areas of Canada now called Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island in the early 17th century. Many Acadians were later banished by the British to Louisiana, where the name became contracted to ‘Cajun’.
• “Best Friends Day”, a day to salute our BFFs for being there … when nobody else is.
• “Lemon Meringue Pie Day”. OK, we’re in! Just a small piece this time.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/3osh9j9
• “Men’s Grooming Day”, when participating salons and barbershops host a day of special events for men.
• “Relaxation Day”, a day to think about and encourage new forms of relaxation. Meditation? Yoga? Beer?

SATURDAY –
• “Black Cat Appreciation Day”, an annual event encouraging the adoption of black and B&W cats. Like black dogs, they are usually the least popular choice at animal shelters.
• “International Geocaching Day”, celebrated on the 3rd Saturday each August to salute the popular recreational activity in which participants use GPS to discover hide-and-seek containers (caches) hidden worldwide.
• “International Homeless Animals Day”, observed on the 3rd Saturday of August every year.
• “Natural Chimneys Jousting Tournament” in Mt Solon VA, staged annually on the 3rd Saturday of August. It’s the 193rd edition, making it the oldest, continuously-held sporting event in the USA, replete with horses, lances, swords, and body armor … just like in medieval England!
NET: http://tinyurl.com/mbj2qdb
• “Roller Coaster Day”, celebrating every amusement park’s fast-track to fun. The idea for the roller coaster was first patented by LaMarcus Adna Thompson on this date in 1885.
• “World Honey Bee Day”, observed annually on the 3rd Saturday of August. It was started in 2009 by beekeepers to create awareness of the importance of the bee industry and the various factors that threaten it.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/k6n3xca

SUNDAY –
• “Archeology Day” … can you dig it?
• “Sandcastle Day”, an annual celebration of the enjoyment provided by granular construction.
• “Thriftshop Day”, a big day for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. What’s the best deal you ever scored in one when you only had twenty dollars in your pocket?

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1939 [75] Hollywood premiere of movie musical “The Wizard Of Oz” at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, which is declared a dud but becomes a classic anyway (the film had already screened in several small-town test markets)

1979 [35] “Apocalypse Now”, the acclaimed Vietnam War film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Martin Sheen, opens in movie theaters

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1969 [45] “The Woodstock Music & Art Fair” opens, attracting some 450,000 rock fans to watch 2 dozen bands on a wooden stage in the middle of Max Yasgur’s farm near Bethel NY

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1914 [100] Panama Canal opens to traffic, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans

2004 [10] In Athens, Greece the US men’s basketball team loses 92-73 to Puerto Rico, its 1st Olympic defeat since adding pro players from the NBA

TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
1974 [40] In Phoenix AZ, a team of 6 gymnasts records the longest team trampoline bouncing marathon … 1,248 hours (52 days)

2002 [12] ‘Slowest Police Chase on Record’ as cops in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania charge a 30-year-old man for public drunkenness after he’s spotted cruising down a street on a child’s Fisher Price Power Wheels car … at 3 mph (makes OJ Simpson seem like an Indy champ)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Mon] Bad Poetry Day
[Mon] Cupcake Day
[Tues] Aviation Day
[Tues] World Humanitarian Day
[Tues] Photography Day
[Tues] Soft Ice Cream Day
This Week Is … World Money Week
This Month Is … Psoriasis Awareness Month

BULL’S BITS

SHAKESPEARIAN INSULT OR MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY EXHIBIT?
William Shakespeare could craft insults that were both cleverly cutting and perfectly poetic. Ask a contestant to decide which of the following are Will’s witticisms and which are display animals at Harvard University’s Museum of Natural History …
• Giant Otter-Shrew [Animal]
• Brindled Weasel [Animal]
• Greasy Tallow-Catch [Insult]
• Mongrel Bitch [Insult]
• Moldy Rogue [Insult]
• Snipe Eel [Animal]
• Cream-Faced Loon [Insult]
• Embossed Carbuncle [Insult]
• Scaly-Breasted Thrasher [Animal]
• Blue-Footed Booby [Animal]
– Thanks to Elizabeth Bastos

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What was your favorite season of your all-time favorite TV series?

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
You’re in a snooty restaurant where the sommelier opens the wine you ordered and hands you the cork. What are you supposed to do with it?
a. Sniff it to detect any sign that the bottle has gone skunky.
b. Check the logo on it to verify the bottle wasn’t refilled with plonk after it left the winery. [CORRECT]
c. Lick it to get an accurate sampling of the dryness of the wine.
– “Rocky Mountain News”

BS RANDOM JOKE:
This morning I’m cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Employees experience less stress and customers report a happier experience with companies and businesses that have THIS.
Answer: Pets on the premises. (Yeah, like that friendly junkyard dog.)

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A synonym is a word you use in place of one you can’t spell.