Friday, February 29, 2008 Edition: #3722
Monthly Planning Calendar in Today’s “BS”!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
Model-turned-TV-mogul Tyra Banks & actor-turned-producer Ashton Kutcher are developing an as-yet-untitled unscripted TV series for ABC that‘s centered around beautiful people living in a house together (we’ll thrill to the excitement of fights over mirror time) . . . Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen are putting together a coffee-table book entitled “Influence” to be published THIS FALL, which will feature interviews with the ‘style icons who’ve inspired them’ (they’ll never get within 100 miles of the actual work involved producing this project) . . . “Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is likely to have its official worldwide premiere at the “Cannes Film Festival” in MAY (where many of the judges will be old enough to remember the previous films in the series) . . . “Semi-Pro” star Will Ferrell has signed on to promote classic men’s fragrance Old Spice in a series of new TV ads (for guys who wanna smell like a basketball locker room) . . . Jay Leno agreed long ago to step down as host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” in 2009 but he won’t have to be out-of-work as at least 3 other companies are set to offer him deals, including Sony Pictures Television which has let it be known they’re prepared to boost his salary above David Letterman’s $30-million stipend at CBS (oh c’mon, is he really worth it?) . . . And keep this in mind when you take in a movie this weekend: a newly-released 5-year study of multiplex theaters concludes that the high price of popcorn at concession counters is what subsidizes the ‘relatively low’ ticket prices – otherwise, a movie ducket would cost you about 25% more!
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• AC/DC – “No Country For Old Men” star Josh Brolin has reportedly written a movie script centered around the legendary rock band’s late lead singer, Bon Scott, who died in 1980.
• Amy Winehouse – She’s been living in a hotel since leaving the Capio Nightingale rehab clinic, and plans to permanently relocate from her 2 London residences as part of her recovery plan.
• Billy Ray Cyrus – He’ll be the new host of the country music singing competition, “Nashville Star”, when it moves to NBC-TV THIS SUMMER.
• Culture Club – 46-year-old former lead singer Boy George has pleaded not guilty to a charge of false imprisonment at a court hearing in London. A 28-year-old Norwegian man claims he was handcuffed to a wall after he went to George’s apartment as a ‘photo model’. A trial is now scheduled for NOVEMBER.
• Erykah Badu – The 37-year-old soul singer (“Bag Lady”) is the latest face of Tom Ford’s new women’s fragrance.
• Fall Out Boy – They have recorded a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” with an unnamed ‘special guest guitarist’ for their new album, oddly titled “****”.
• Jack Johnson – He’s scored a 3rd week atop the album chart by selling another 105,000 copies of “Sleep Through the Static”.
• Motley Crue – Tommy Lee has ended speculation about his future as the band’s drummer by confirming he’ll be joining the group when they tour the world later THIS YEAR.
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• Brooks & Dunn – TONIGHT they kick off their first-ever tour of Australia with the first of 2 SRO shows in Brisbane. They’ll also play Melbourne & Sydney.
• “Canadian Idol” – SATURDAY & SUNDAY auditions trundle into Hamilton ON.
• Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala – SATURDAY the 5th annual honors are bestowed in Toronto. Inductees include oldies singer Paul Anka and jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, who’s posthumously presented the ‘Frank Davies Legacy Award’.
NET: http://www.cansong.ca/en/default.aspx
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CityTV) – THIS AFTERNOON Janet Jackson is Ellen’s guest.
• Elton John – TONIGHT he performs in Sudbury ON and TOMORROW in Kitchener ON, the only 2 Canadian stops on his current tour. Both shows are mired in controversy over free and/or reserved tickets offered to local politicians. Elton is set to spend the bulk of MARCH and the early part of APRIL performing in Las Vegas.
• “Oprah’s Big Give” (ABC) – SUNDAY is the series debut in which challengers are handed a bundle of cash & told they have to give it all away to strangers. After 8 weeks, the biggest giver wins.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC/Global) – Wilco is the musical guest as “Juno” star Ellen Page hosts.
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – TODAY “Love Song“ singer Sarah Bareilles performs.
TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “The Other Boleyn Girl” ( PG-13 Historical Drama ): Natalie Portman & Scarlett Johansson play the competitive 16th-century Boleyn sisters, Anne & Mary, who are both after the same prize … King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). Luckily for them, he isn’t choosy so he alternates between them. Trouble is, you can lose your head over a guy like him. Filmed entirely in England.
NET: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/theotherboleyngirl/
• “Semi-Pro” ( R-Rated Comedy ): Will Ferrell stars as a washed-up one-hit wonder who uses his brief moment of fame & fortune in the mid-1970s to purchase and play for the ‘Flint Tropics’ semi-professional basketball team. He quickly transforms them into the worst franchise in the league, but has a shot at redemption if he can rally them to actually win an important game. Co-stars Woody Harrelson & André Benjamin (formerly Andre 3000 of Outkast).
NET: http://www.semipromovie.com/
THE BIG LEAP:
TODAY is “Leap Year Day”, the calendar correction that occurs every 4 years. A few interesting facts …
• In Leap Years (aka ‘bissextile’ years), a day is added to bring our Gregorian calendar more into accord with Earth’s orbital period … roughly 365.2422 days.
• If we didn’t have Leap Year, our calendar would become so out-of-line it would need a major adjustment like in 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII declared OCTOBER 5th was actually OCTOBER 15th and 10 entire days instantly disappeared!
• A person born on a Leap Year’s extra day is called a ‘29er’. The odds of being born on FEBRUARY 29th are 1-in-1,461.
• “Leap Year Day” has often been celebrated as “Bachelors’ Day” or “Sadie Hawkins Day”, traditionally when girls can ask a guy out.
• “Leap Day” effects us in many ways: inmates serve an extra day in jail, but it’s unlikely your bank will give you an extra day’s interest. And this may make you want to take the day off – unless you get paid by the hour or per diem, you’re working for free today.
• What is the official name for a NON-Leap Year? It’s called a ‘Common Year’.
• The ‘Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies’ is an association with several goals, including having “Leap Day” printed on calendars like holidays are.
NET: http://www.leapyearday.com/
LOTS OF ROOM FOR LOST LUGGAGE:
TODAY a British Airways jetliner will have the honor of being the first international flight to land at the new 2.7-billion-dollar Terminal 3 at China’s Beijing Capital International Airport, now the largest airport in the world. The new terminal is an amazing 1.8 miles from end-to-end, bigger than 170 football fields or all 5 terminals at London’s massive Heathrow Airport put together. (Geez, hope they serve food on the moving sidewalks.)
– “Daily Telegraph”
MOVIE CLOSE-UPS:
German scientists have developed eyeglasses that allow movie enthusiasts to watch their favorite films anywhere. The ‘Cinemizer’ plugs into a video iPod or other portable device and promises to give wearers the impression of watching a 45-inch screen from 6-and-a-half feet away. The new video eyewear from Carl Zeiss, touted as the ‘take-along personal video screen’, can be fitted with prescription lenses if needed. The company is currently signing up ‘lead users’ to test them out for 2 weeks. The retail price is expected to be circa $400. (Meaning the ‘eye-pod’ costs even more than your iPod.)
NET: http://www.zeiss.com/cinemizer
– “Globe & Mail“
BS AMAZING FACT:
• The last time FEBRUARY had 5 FRIDAYS was in 1980.
– TimeandDate.com
• Every day in America on average, 12,400 people get married.
– “Redbook”
AND WE QUOTE:
“They have offered me more NOT to go on the show. It’s true … it’s the only contract in history where they have offered me more money NOT to do the show.”
– Simon Cowell, suggesting he may quit his role as a judge on “American Idol” after the current season. Would anyone watch without him?
BS CHRONOMETER 02.29.08
LEAP DAY CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1936 [18 or 72] Henri Richard (‘Pocket Rocket’), Montreal QC, NHL Hall of Famer who played on more Stanley Cup championship teams (11) than anybody else (Montréal Canadiens)
1944 [16 or 64] Dennis Farina, Chicago IL, TV actor (“Law & Order” 2004-06)/movie actor (“Saving Private Ryan”, “Get Shorty”)
1976 [8 or 32] Ja Rule (Jeffrey Atkins), Queens NY, rapper (f/Ashanti-“Always On Time”, f/Ashanti-“Mesmerize”)/sometime movie actor (“Shall We Dance?”, “The Fast & the Furious”)
SATURDAY –
Classic rock singer Roger Daltrey (The Who) is 64; TV actor Alan Thicke (“jPod”) is 61; Movie producer/director Ron Howard (“The Da Vinci Code“) is 54; TV actor George Eads (“CSI”) is 41; Rock guitarist Ryan Peake (Nickelback) is 35; TV actor Jensen Ackles (“Supernatural”) is 30.
SUNDAY –
Classic rocker Lou Reed (“Walk On the Wild Side”) is 66; Rock singer Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi) is 46; Movie actor Daniel Craig (“Casino Royale”) is 40; Pop singer Chris Martin (Coldplay) is 31; TV actor Robert Iler (“The Sopranos”) is 23.
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Gravity Observance Day”, best celebrated by watching any old “Roadrunner” cartoon that features an anvil.
• “International Repetitive Strain Injuries Awareness Day”, the 8th annual sponsored by the Industrial Accident Prevention Association. The organization notes that while it takes a worker an average 47 days to recover from a broken bone, a worker suffering from an ‘RSI’, such as tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome, takes an average 52 days or 71 days, respectively.
NET: http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature8.cfm?REF=116
• “International Underlings Day”, recognizing the insignificant peons that surround us. So buy your co-host a coffee.
• “RSP Deadline” for tax year 2007 in Canada. So be sure to call your investment office this afternoon at about 4:29 … they’ll love you for it.
SATURDAY –
• “Chalanda Marz” in Switzerland, when they drive away winter by ringing bells and cracking whips. Let’s try that and see if it works! [SFX].
• “Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race XXXVI” starts mushing 1,049 miles from Anchorage to Nome AK where the teams should arrive in about 10-to-17 days. Is this the world’s toughest race?
NET: http://www.iditarod.com
• “Peace Corps Day”, commemorating the 47th anniversary of the worldwide volunteer organization’s founding by President John F Kennedy.
NET: http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn
• “Peanut Butter Lover’s Day”, a good day to have phone contestants try a tongue twister or whistling a tune with a mouthful of smooth or crunchy.
• “Pig Day”, honoring the ‘most intelligent and useful of domesticated animals’. Studies show pigs are much smarter than horses … but much harder to ride.
• “Share a Smile Day”. If for no other reason, it’ll make everyone wonder what you’ve been up to!
• “St David’s Day” in Wales. The Welsh celebrate their patron saint by taking a leek … and wearing it.
• “Talk With Your Teen About Sex Month” as declared by the group “Parenting Without Pressure”, who somehow have the ill-conceived notion you know more about it than your teen.
NET: http://www.parentingwithoutpressure.com/holidays/ntwytasm.htm
SUNDAY –
• “Mothering Sunday” in England, which began during the 16th century as a day when people returned to their ‘mother church’ on the 4th Sunday of Lent. In later times, it became a day when domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother & other family members. Nowadays, it’s simply the British equivalent of “Mother’s Day”.
• “Salesperson’s Day”, honoring those gifted and creative individuals whose big kick in life is persuading others to spend a buck.
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1940 [68] Actress Hattie McDaniel becomes 1st African-American to win an Oscar for her role as ‘Mammy’ in “Gone With the Wind” (the movie wins 8 Oscars in total, including ‘Best Picture’)
2004 [04] “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” wins 11 Academy Awards, sweeping every category in which it’s nominated (ties the record haul of “Ben-Hur” and “Titanic”)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1968 [40] The Beatles win 4 Grammy Awards for their “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, including ‘Album of the Year’ & ‘Best Album Cover’
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1972 [36] 1st Major League Baseball player to make $200,000 a year (Hank Aaron, Atlanta Braves)
1996 [12] Calgary-based discount airline WestJet 1st takes to the skies
BS MONTHLY PLANNING CALENDAR . . .
[Mar 3] Conrad Black scheduled to go to prison / 28th Genie Awards (Toronto) / I Want You To Be Happy Day / Tim McGraw opens Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (TX)
[Mar 4] “Reaper” (CW) new post-strike episode / International Scrapbooking Day
[Mar 5] Avril Lavigne tour begins (Victoria BC) / Multiple Personalities Day / Unique Names Day
[Mar 5-8] 26th Canadian Music Week 2008 (Toronto)
[Mar 6] Frozen Food Day
[Mar 7] Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame Induction / Canadian Radio Music Awards (Toronto) / Stop Bad Service Day
[Mar 7-16] South-by-Southwest Festival (Austin TX)
[Mar 8] International Women’s Day / Aunts’ Day / Plant a Flower Day
[Mar 8-9] “Canadian Idol” auditions (Ottawa)
[Mar 9] Daylight Saving Time begins / Panic Day / Barbie Doll’s Birthday / Employee Appreciation Day
[Mar 10] 2008 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Indiction (NYC) / Salvation Army Day / Mario Day / Osama Bin Laden birthday / Commonwealth Day
[Mar 11] Organize Your Home Office Day / “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” 3rd season debut (A&E) / Worship of Tools Day
[Mar 12] Middle Name Pride Day
[Mar 13] Ear Muff Day / Good Samaritan Day / Open an Umbrella Indoors Day / Genealogy Day
[Mar 14] Potato Chip Day / Save a Spider Day / World Pi Day
[Mar 15] Ides of March / Buzzard’s Day / Absolutely Incredible Kid Day / True Confessions Day / Maple Syrup Saturday / National Quilting Day
[Mar 15-16] “Canadian Idol” auditions (Montréal)
[Mar 16] Everything You Do Is Right Day / Freedom of Information Day / Lips Appreciation Day
[Mar 16] Palm Sunday (Christian)
[Mar 17] St Patrick’s Day / “Dancing With the Stars“ season debut (ABC) / “How I Met Your Mother” & ”Two & a Half Men (CBS) new post-strike episodes / Submarine Day / World Maritime Day
[Mar 18] Forgive Mom & Dad Day
[Mar 20] Muhammad’s Birthday (Islam) / 1st Day of Spring / Agriculture Day / Proposal Day / Single Parents Day / Snowman Burning Day / Teacher Appreciation Day / No Homework Day
[Mar 21] Good Friday (Christian) / International Astrology Day / Children’s Poetry Day / World Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination
[Mar 22] Holi (Hindu) / International Goof-Off Day / As Young As You Feel Day
[Mar 23] Easter (Christian) / World Meteorological Day
[Mar 24] World’s Biggest Pub Crawl begins (London UK) / “CSI: Miami” (CBS) new post-strike episode
[Mar 25] Sing Out Day
[Mar 26] Make Up Your Own Holiday Day / Legal Assistants Day
[Mar 27] National Joe Day / Photography Day / Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day
[Mar 28] Something On a Stick Day
[Mar 29] Global Earth Hour (8 pm local) / Kids Choice Awards (Nickelodeon) / “The Real World” 20th season debut (MTV) / “Canadian Idol” auditions (Halifax) / Mom & Pop Business Owners Day / Vietnam Veterans Day
[Mar 30] “Cold Case” (CBS) new post-strike episode / I Am In Control Day / Hot Dog Day / Take a Walk in the Park Day / Doctor’s Day
[Mar 31] Bunsen Burner Day / Tater Day
[Apr 1] April Fools Day / “Hell’s Kitchen 4” season debut (FOX)
[Apr 2] “Criminal Minds” & ”CSI: NY” (CBS) new post-strike episodes
[Apr 3] “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” & ”Without a Trace” (CBS) new post-strike episodes
[Apr 4] “Ghost Whisperer” & ”Numb3rs” (CBS) new post-strike episodes / Toronto Blue Jays home opener
[Apr 6] Juno Awards (CTV)
[Apr 14] 2008 CMT Music Awards (Nashville)
[Mar 3] “When Women Rule the World” debuts (FOX) / I Want You To Be Happy Day / Tim McGraw opens Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (TX)
[Mar 4] “Reaper” (CW) new post-strike episode / International Scrapbooking Day
[Mar 5] Multiple Personalities Day / Unique Names Day
[Mar 6] Frozen Food Day
[Mar 7] Stop Bad Service Day
[Mar 7-16] South-By-Southwest Festival (Austin TX)
[Mar 8] International Women’s Day / Aunts’ Day / Plant a Flower Day
[Mar 9] Daylight Saving Time begins / Panic Day / Barbie Doll’s Birthday / Employee Appreciation Day
[Mar 10] 2008 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Indiction (NYC) / Salvation Army Day / Mario Day / Osama Bin Laden birthday
[Mar 11] Organize Your Home Office Day / “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” 3rd season debut (A&E) / Worship of Tools Day
[Mar 12] Middle Name Pride Day
[Mar 13] Ear Muff Day / Good Samaritan Day / Open an Umbrella Indoors Day / Genealogy Day
[Mar 14] Potato Chip Day / Save a Spider Day / World Pi Day
[Mar 15] Ides of March / Buzzard’s Day / Absolutely Incredible Kid Day / True Confessions Day / Maple Syrup Saturday / National Quilting Day
[Mar 16] Everything You Do Is Right Day / Freedom of Information Day / Lips Appreciation Day
[Mar 16] Palm Sunday (Christian)
[Mar 17] St Patrick’s Day / “Dancing With the Stars“ season debut (ABC) / “How I Met Your Mother” & ”Two & a Half Men (CBS) new post-strike episodes / Submarine Day / World Maritime Day
[Mar 18] Forgive Mom & Dad Day
[Mar 20] Muhammad’s Birthday (Islam) / 1st Day of Spring / Agriculture Day / Proposal Day / Single Parents Day / Snowman Burning Day / Teacher Appreciation Day / No Homework Day
[Mar 21] Good Friday (Christian) / International Astrology Day / Children’s Poetry Day / World Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination
[Mar 22] Holi (Hindu) / International Goof-Off Day / As Young As You Feel Day
[Mar 23] Easter (Christian) / World Meteorological Day
[Mar 24] World’s Biggest Pub Crawl begins (London UK) / “CSI: Miami” (CBS) new post-strike episode
[Mar 25] American Diabetes Alert Day / Sing Out Day
[Mar 26] Make Up Your Own Holiday Day / Legal Assistants Day
[Mar 27] National Joe Day / Photography Day / Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day
[Mar 28] Something On a Stick Day
[Mar 29] Global Earth Hour (8 pm local) / Kids Choice Awards (Nickelodeon) / “The Real World” 20th season debut (MTV) / Mom & Pop Business Owners Day / Vietnam Veterans Day
[Mar 30] “Cold Case” (CBS) new post-strike episode / I Am In Control Day / Hot Dog Day / Take a Walk in the Park Day / Doctor’s Day
[Mar 31] Bunsen Burner Day / Tater Day
[Apr 1] April Fools Day / “Hell’s Kitchen 4” season debut (FOX)
[Apr 2] “Criminal Minds” & ”CSI: NY” (CBS) new post-strike episodes
[Apr 3] “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” & ”Without a Trace” (CBS) new post-strike episodes
[Apr 4] “Ghost Whisperer” & ”Numb3rs” (CBS) new post-strike episodes
[Apr 5] 2008 NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship basketball game (San Antonio TX)
[Apr 7] OJ Simpson trial scheduled to begin (Las Vegas) / “Samantha Who?” new post-strike episode (ABC)
[Apr 14] 2008 CMT Music Awards (Nashville)
[Apr 20] Passover (Jewish)
[Apr 22] Earth Day
BULL’S BITS
MORE BS QUESTIONS THAT PLAGUE HUMANITY:
• Do you have anything to do if you work at a ‘Duty-Free Shop’?
• Do we now call them ‘wetlands’ because no one would give environmentalists money to save a ‘swamp’?
• If you go to the ‘Missing Persons Bureau’, is there anyone there?
• If a bouncer gets drunk, who throws him out?
• What exactly is ‘midair’? Is there some other part of air besides the ‘mid’ part?
• If you get cheated by the ‘Better Business Bureau’, who do you complain to?
• When will all the rhetorical questions end?
BS RANDOM JOKE:
If your dog is fat, you aren’t getting enough exercise.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: On average, we do THIS several hundred times a day as a kid but only 15 times a day as an adult.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Laugh.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Some people don’t have the discipline to relax.
