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BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
Today Tiger Woods is set to break his silence at a press conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida where he’ll reportedly announce his participation in an upcoming PGA Tour event and also publicly apologize for his recent behavior . . . Close friends of 50-year-old “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell have confirmed he’s engaged to 36-year-old makeup artist-girlfriend Mezhgan Hussainy and is said to be planning the ‘biggest showbiz wedding in years’ . . . British label Miss Selfridge has a licensing deal with Warner Bros to market a clothing line based on “Gossip Girl’s” stylish characters, including Blake Lively’s couture-clad socialite ‘Serena van der Woodsen’ & Leighton Meester’s ‘Blair Waldorf’ (surprising it’s taken so long) . . . Pop tart-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham is defending the use of ‘size zero’ models on the runway, suggesting ‘most of these girls are naturally thin’ and shouldn’t be discriminated against (this from someone who resembles a human Q-Tip dipped in ink) . . . Ticketmaster has agreed to refund money to some 800 customers who feel they were ripped off after buying marked-up Bruce Springsteen tickets from brokers last year (at a hundred-fifty-bucks a ducket, who doesn’t?) . . . The UK’s National Trust has announced it may launch a campaign to buy and preserve the threatened Abbey Road Studios, famed recording home of The Beatles through much of their career . . . 76-year-old actress Jane Fonda, who’s previously undergone cosmetic procedures to plump up her bosom and reduce lines around her eyes, admits going back to doctors 2 weeks ago to ‘freshen up her face’ (like a 1950s Cuban car, there’s no original parts left) . . . Best buds Ben Affleck & Matt Damon are set to sign a producing deal with Warner Bros (their collaboration on “Good Will Hunting” is still their best work so far) . . . Bad singer/worse actress Jessica Simpson will next attempt to turn a buck by designing & marketing a new collection of watches (first she’ll need to learn to tell time) . . . And famous person/perpetual Twitter fiend Kim Kardashian (“Keeping Up With the Kardashians”) has come under fire after sending a tweet from a commercial airliner saying she was sitting next to ‘Air Marshal Jim‘, thereby revealing the identity of the flight’s under-cover security (for the good of us all, some people should have their phones taken away).

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “BAFTA Awards” (BBC1) – Sunday the 63rd annual movie awards from the British Academy of Film & Television Arts are handed out at London’s Royal Opera House. “Avatar”, “The Hurt Locker”; and Brit film “An Education” lead nominations with 8 apiece.
NET: http://www.bafta.org
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Tonight Wale (“Attention Deficit”).
• “Oprah Winfrey Show” (syndicated/CTV) – This afternoon Lady Antebellum (“Need You Now”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• AC/DC – Today fans from around-the-world are gathering in Perth, Australia for a tribute to former lead singer Bon Scott, who died 30 years ago (February 19, 1980) of acute alcohol poisoning at age 33. Fans are expected to gather at Scott’s grave in Fremantle, near Perth, and will also reportedly be allowed to have pictures taken with his statue in Fishing Boat Harbor.
• Akon – He’s considering an early retirement from performing because signing Lady Gaga to his Konlive record label has set him up financially for life. He picked her up in 2007 after she was dropped by another label.
• Elton John – He tells “Parade” magazine he fell in love with long-time partner David Furnish very quickly. He also feels the need to inform us they slept together after their first date in 1993.
• Faith Hill – She’s the guest judge on the “Project Runway” (Lifetime) 7th season finalé. She attended the final fashion show, then huddled with host Heidi Klum and judges Michael Kors & Nina Garcia in a ‘secret location’ where the deliberations were filmed. An air date for the finalé has not yet been announced.
• Jay-Z – He’s been caught up in controversy following allegations in Britain’s “Daily Star” tabloid that security at his “BRIT Awards” afterparty at London’s Merah nightclub on Tuesday banned ‘white people’ from entering the VIP area.
• The Killers – Frontman Brandon Flowers’ mother Jean Flowers has died of cancer at age 64, apparently the illness behind the recent cancellation of the band’s Asian and Australian tours.
• Nirvana – Oren Moverman, the rookie director of the Oscar-nominated drama “The Messenger”, is in negotiations to rework the screenplay as well as direct an as-yet-untitled Kurt Cobain bio-film project for Universal Pictures.
• Sade – “Soldier of Love”, her 1st album in 10 years, is #1 on the “Billboard” album chart, knocking Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” into 2nd spot.
• Taylor Swift – Her new music video for the title track of her smash album “Fearless” features a collection of onstage and behind-the-scenes highlights from last year‘s world tour.
• Tool – Tonight “Blood Into Wine”, a documentary about frontman Maynard James Keenan’s winery, premieres in Scottsdale, Arizona. The film will get a limited theatrical run before being released on DVD this Spring.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “The Ghost Writer” ( PG-13 Mystery Thriller ): Ewan McGregor plays a ghostwriter hired to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister (played by Pierce Brosnan) who uncovers secrets that put his own life in jeopardy. Director Roman Polanski managed to finish post-production even after his arrest. Co-stars Kim Cattrall, James Belushi.
NET: http://theghost-romanpolanski.com/site.html
• “Shutter Island” ( R-Rated Mystery Thriller ): Leonardo DiCaprio plays a 1950s-era US Marshal investigating the disappearance of a murderess (played by Emily Mortimer) who has escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on a remote Island. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Co-stars Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Mark Ruffalo.
NET: http://www.shutterisland.com

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE:
Riding in school buses in the early morning, then sitting in poorly lighted classrooms are the main reasons students have trouble getting to sleep at night, according to new research. Teens, like everyone else, need bright lights in the morning, particularly in the blue wavelengths, to synchronize their inner, circadian rhythms. If they are deprived of blue light during the morning, they go to sleep an average of 6 minutes later each night, until their bodies are completely out of sync with the school day, say researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy NY. (Where did they find a classroom without burn-your-eyes-out fluorescent lighting?)
– “Los Angeles Times”

FUTURE TV NOW:
HBO has taken a page right out of Netflix’s business model with the introduction of ‘HBO Go’, its new video-streaming service. Here’s how it works: HBO subscribers can go online and watch the same movies HBO offers on its cable networks. And – at least for now – the service will be free. But ‘HBO Go’ is only available to the 38 million subscribers to HBO and/or Cinemax. If you don’t pay for the cable/sat channels, you won’t get online access. (How long before all TV is online? 2 years?)
– CNET.com

SCIENTISTS SAY:
A compendium of recent ‘discoveries’ …
• Scientists say that … men get dumber as they get older. Research shows that men lose large chunks of brain cells and several points of IQ between the ages of 18-and-50. (That’s scary considering the average 17-year-old guy is already a complete moron.)
• Scientists say … two-thirds of adults tilt their heads to the right when they kiss. We owe this valuable knowledge to a researcher in Germany. (In a related story, it is very easy to get a research grant in Germany.)
• Scientists say … sex with a younger woman may take more energy than some men have.  A study in the “Heart Trouble Encyclopedia” shows the risk of heart attack is far greater for men during extra-marital affairs. (The risk is also far greater of being shot in the head by your wife.)

DID YOU KNOW?
• Birds may use their feathers for touch, using them to feel their surroundings just as cats use their whiskers.
– “Earth News”
• The well-known piece of music (often played by children) called “Chopsticks” was written in 1877 by 16-year-old Euphemia Allan who called it the “The Celebrated Chop Waltz”.
– Listverse.com

BS CHRONOMETER 02.19.10

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TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1940 [70] Smokey Robinson, Detroit MI, legendary Motown singer (“Cruisin’”, “I Second That Emotion”)/songwriter (“My Guy”, “My Girl”)/recording producer/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1987)/Kennedy Center Honors (2006)

1955 [55] Jeff Daniels, Athens GA, movie actor (“Good Night, and Good Luck”, “Dumb & Dumber”)

1960 [50] Prince Andrew (Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor), London UK, Britain’s Duke of York/son of Queen Elizabeth II/Prince Charles’ little brother/single-digit handicap golfer

1963 [47] Seal (Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adelo Samuel), London UK, pop singer (“Kiss From a Rose”, “Crazy”)/married to model Heidi Klum since 2005

1967 [43] Benicio Del Toro, Santurce, Puerto Rico, movie actor (“The Wolfman”, Oscar-“Traffic”)

1975 [35] Daniel Adair, Vancouver BC, rock drummer (Nickelback-“Gotta Be Somebody”, “Photograph”)/formerly with 3 Doors Down (“Here Without You”, “When I’m Gone”)

SATURDAY –
Classic rock singer-bassist Walter Becker (Steely Dan) is 60; Fashion model Cindy Crawford is 44; Pop singer Brian Littrell (Backstreet Boys) is 35; Country guitarist Coy Bowles (Zac Brown Band) is 31; Pop singer Rihanna (“Umbrella”) is 22.

SUNDAY –
Movie actor Alan Rickman (“Harry Potter” films”) is 64; TV actor William Petersen (ex-“CSI”) is 57; TV actor Kelsey Grammar (ex-“Frasier) is 55; TV actress Jennifer Love Hewitt (“Ghost Whisperer”) is 31; Movie actress Ellen Page (“Juno”) is 23; Movie actor Corbin Bleu (“High School Musical”) is 21.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Chocolate Mint Day”, a celebration of one of the all-time great flavor pairings.
• “Jalapeno Festival”, the 32nd annual through Saturday in Laredo TX where the current record for pepper-popping is 266 jalapenos in 15 minutes. Ay, caramba!
• “Pisces” astrology sign begins. People born under the sign are said to be compassionate, adaptable, accepting, devoted, and imaginative. On the downside, they can also be oversensitive, indecisive, self-pitying, lazy, and escapist. Bottom line: they need other people to keep them grounded and on the right track.

SATURDAY –
• “Call an Old Friend Day”, a day to phone someone you haven’t talked to in a very long time. But isn’t there likely a reason you haven’t spoken in so long?
• “Love Your Pet Day”, a day to celebrate the little quirks that make ‘Muffy’ or ‘Ralph’ special and oh-so-lovable. What’s the oddest type of pet you’ve heard of?
• “Northern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day”, when you’re encouraged to go outdoors and yell ‘HOODIE-HOO!!!!’ at the top of your lungs at noon local time to relieve Winter blahs and encourage the arrival of Spring. Could make an interesting on-air bit with callers.
• “World Day for Social Justice”, which sounds like something out a superhero comic book but is actually a UN observance promoting poverty eradication, full employment, gender equality, access to social well-being, and justice for all. It’s an entire grab-bag of goodness!

SUNDAY –
• “Card Reading Day”, which either has something to do with tarot cards or getting around to reading all your Christmas cards so you can finally toss them out.
• “International Mother Language Day”, an annual UNESCO observance. (We always found Latin was a real mother.)
• “Residence Hall Student Staff Recognition Day”, aka ‘Pay Back the Weasels Day’.
• “Sticky Bun Day”, celebrating the ooey-gooey treat you can’t not eat. We’re not sure who invented them but we’d like to shake their hand … er, maybe not.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1960 [50] 1st edition of “The Family Circus” comic strip by Bil Keane (they’re middle-aged now, so how come ‘Billy’, ‘Dolly’, ‘Jeffy’ and ‘PJ’ still look the same?)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1995 [15] Clad in a white bikini, Pamela Anderson weds Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee in Cancun, Mexico (they divorce in 1998)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1996 [14] Canada’s new $2-coin is officially released (and ‘toonie busting’, separating the two metals that make up the coin, briefly becomes a national pastime)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Mon] Single Tasking Day
[Tues] Curling is Cool Day
[Wed] Inconvenience Yourself Day
[Thurs] Chili Day
This Week Is … Pay Your Bills Week
This Month Is … Marijuana Awareness Month

BULL’S BITS

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BS REJECTED WINTER OLYMPICS EVENTS:
• ‘Ultimate Overclocking’: A computer’s covered in snow, how fast can you make it go?
• ‘Commercial Jumping’: Watching 2 hours of Winter Olympic programming on TiVo in the shortest time without missing any actual content.
• ‘Geek Biathlon’: Playing a first-person videogame shooter while cross-country skiing.
• ‘Speed Texting’: Competing for highest texting speed on a Blackberry while wearing mittens.
• ‘Action Figure Snowman’: Participants are rated for speed and creativity as they recreate their favorite action figures in snow.
• ‘Downhill Wii-ing’: Playing Wii Games while sliding down the side of a mountain. Weeee!
• ‘Bobsleigh’ – Each entry must include 4 guys named ‘Bob’.
• ‘Pee Pee Dance Relay’: Contestants consume 8 liters of Gatorade while bundled up in 8 layers of clothing. Last one to stay dry wins.
– Extrapolated from BBSPot.com

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Each morning is the dawn of a new error.

BS TODDLER SUPERPOWERS:
• Hold bowel movements for weeks!
• Hear and repeat vulgar phrases uttered miles away!
• Withstand sub-zero temperatures without mittens!
• Survive without sleep or food for days!
• Reduce grown men to tears with one swift kick!
• Reduce grown women to tears with one vulgar phrase!
• Perpetual motion!
• Deafening shrieks!
• Crocodile bites!
• Unrelenting refusal!
• Iron grip!
– Thanks to Kelly Shriver

BS PHONE STARTER:
Your budget is unlimited. What would you make a documentary about?

BS WEB GOODIES:
• The tongue-in-cheek website ‘Please Rob Me’ is an attempt to warn about the dangers of social networking, in particular location-sharing. The ‘listing of all those empty homes out there’ accepts (often humorous) postings from users as they leave their homes.
NET: http://pleaserobme.com
• ‘What Happened in My Birth Year?’ is a new website that allows you to type in a year and find out the top-selling movies and books, most popular songs and TV shows, as well as significant historical events. It’s a bit verbose but could be a useful tool to tie in with oldies, etc.
NET: http://whathappenedinmybirthyear.com

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: Studies show that THIS puts us all in a better mood, regardless of age, gender, or social status.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: The weekend!

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The nice thing about standards is, there are so many to choose from.