Friday, February 23, 2007       Edition: #3474
More From the Sheethouse!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
TODAY actor Ben Stiller picks up the annual “Hasty Pudding Award”, handed out by the Harvard University student drama group to actors who’ve made a ‘lasting & impressive contribution to the world of entertainment’ (Scarlett Johansson picked up the female award a week ago) . . . TODAY a Florida judge is finally expected to rule on where Anna Nicole Smith will be buried after a local Medical Examiner warned that her remains are decomposing quicker than expected (plastic doesn’t like humidity) . . . SATURDAY in London, British autograph hunter Alan Robinson is auctioning of his collection that includes every single Oscar-winning actor & actress since 1927, as well as signed pics from Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe & Steve McQueen . . . SATURDAY the 27th annual “Golden Raspberry Awards” (aka the “Razzies”) are announced in LA, recognizing the worst films & performances of the year (Sharon Stone’s “Basic Instinct 2” & The Wayans brothers’ “Little Man” lead nominations with 7 apiece) . . . SATURDAY at the annual “Independent Spirit Awards” for indie films in LA, “Little Miss Sunshine” & “Half Nelson” lead nominations with 5 apiece, and late filmmaker Robert Altman is up for a ‘Best Director’ award for his final film, “A Prairie Home Companion” . . . SUNDAY on “The Amazing Race: All-Stars” (CBS/moved to MONDAY on CTV), a 2nd team is eliminated in Chile (ratings are sagging – are we tired of the same old faces?) . . . “American Idol” producers Nigel Lythgoe & Ken Warwick have been signed to hopefully bring some much needed ratings pizzaz to the “Emmy Awards”, which are moving to FOX-TV this SEPTEMBER (LAST YEAR’s show lost 13% of the audience from the year before) . . . ABC-TV is developing a “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff centered on Kate Walsh’s character, ‘Dr Addison Montgomery-Shepherd’, with a 2-hour pilot expected to air in MAY (this is how show’s die – breaking up the team!) . . .  And talk about toadying up before awards night – DreamWorks has taken out a full-page ad in  trade papers on behalf of its Oscar-nominated movie “Dreamgirls”, apologizing if Jamie Foxx’s less-than-savory character ‘Curtis Taylor Jr’ is mistakenly thought to be based on real-life Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr (any resemblance is just a co-inky-dink don’t you know).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Arcade Fire – TOMORROW Canada’s buzz band is the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” (NBC), hosted by TV actor Rainn Wilson (“The Office”).
• Brandy – She’s now facing a 2nd wrongful death lawsuit over her DECEMBER freeway accident that killed a woman, this time on behalf of the victim’s parents who would also like some money please.
• Gavin DeGraw – TONIGHT he’s a guest on “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC).
• Gwen Stefani – SUNDAY she performs on the TV special “ Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards” (ABC), which will also feature visits from Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres and talk show host Dr Phil McGraw.
• Jennifer Hudson – TODAY the Oscar nominee chats with the Oscar host on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CityTV).
• John Mellencamp – TONIGHT he guests on the “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/A Channel).

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “The Abandoned” ( R-Rated Horror Thriller ): An adopted woman returns to her native Russia to visit the family farm she never knew. Once there, she begins to unravel a nightmarish family secret. No-name cast. Directed by Spanish short-film maker Nacho Cerda. Cool SFX & trailer …
NET: http://www.theabandonedonline.com/
• “The Astronaut Farmer” ( PG Drama ): Billy Bob Thornton stars as an astronaut who opts to retire in order to save his family farm. But when he begins to tinker on a rocket in his barn, his neighbors get curious, the media gets interested, and the government gets concerned. Co-stars Virginia Madsen & Bruce Dern. Trailer here …
NET: http://theastronautfarmermovie.warnerbros.com/
• “The Number 23” ( R-Rated Mystery Thriller ): Jim Carrey stars as a guy who becomes obsessed with a book that appears to be based on his life, though it concludes with a tragedy that has yet to occur in the present. Virginia Madsen co-stars again … apparently it’s a Madsen film festival weekend. Creepy music and clips here …
NET: http://www.number23movie.com/
• “Reno 911!: Miami” ( R-Rated Comedy ): In this bigscreen version of the “Reno 911!“ TV series (Comedy Central), the ‘Washoe County Sheriff’s Department‘ from Reno NV is summoned to Miami Beach FL after a terrorist plot disrupts the city’s national police convention. Stars Cedric Yarbrough, Niecy Nash, Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon, Carlos Alazraqui & Wendi McLendon-Covey, all from the TV cast. Here’s the trailer …
NET: http://www.reno911movie.com/

79TH ACADEMY AWARDS:
SUNDAY Ellen DeGeneres hosts live from the Kodak Theatre in LA (ABC/CTV). A few highlights …
• “Dreamgirls” leads nominations with 8 (but not ‘Best Picture’), followed by “Babel” with 7.
• Presenters include George Clooney, Cameron Diaz, Eva Green, Hugh Jackman.
• The “Dreamgirls” trio of Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson & Anika Noni Rose will perform together. Other nominated songs will be performed by Melissa Etheridge, Randy Newman & James Taylor.
• Many advertisers who have bought spots on the show (at $1.7 million for 30 seconds) have launched websites to tie in with their ads.
• 3 Canadians have key nominations: Ryan Gosling for ‘Best Actor’ in “Half Nelson”; Paul Haggis for ‘Best Screenplay’ for “Letters From Iwo Jima”; and director Deepa Mehta for ‘Best Foreign Film’ for “Water”.
• Perpetual loser Martin Scorcese has a 7th Oscar nomination for ‘Best Director’, this time for “The Departed”.
• In Britain, bookmaking firm William Hill is already paying out on bets for Helen Mirren to win ‘Best Actress’ for “The Queen”. The odds are 66-to-1 in her favor and the betting house is so sure she’ll win, it doesn’t want to take any more wagers on it.

LEAST DESERVED STATUETTES:
Highlights of a new poll on the most unworthy winners of Oscars past …
• Least Deserved Best Film Oscar: “Shakespeare In Love” (1999). Runners-up include “Chicago”, “Titanic”, “Rocky”, and “Crash”.
• Least Deserved Actress Oscar: Gwyneth Paltrow (“Shakespeare In Love”, 1999). Others mentioned include Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”), Helen Hunt (“As Good As It Gets”), Judi Dench (“Shakespeare in Love”), and Nicole Kidman (“The Hours”).
• Least Deserved Actor Oscar: Jack Palance (“City Slickers”, 1992). Other unworthies include Cuba Gooding Jr (“Jerry Maguire”), Don Ameche (“Cocoon”), Jack Nicholson (“As Good As It Gets”), and Russell Crowe (“A Beautiful Mind”).
• Worst Acceptance Speech: Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”, 2002) who tearfully referred to herself as “a vessel through which this blessing might flow”. Director James Cameron (“Titanic”, 1998) is runner-up for shouting “I’m the king of the world!” immediately after a somber minute’s silence to honor those who died in the ship disaster.
– MSN Movies

SOD ON TOP:
European-style ‘green roofs’, aka ‘living roofs’ or ‘eco-roofs’, are beginning to catch on in North America. Planted with grass, weeds, tree seedlings and ground cover, the roofs are being used to top hospitals, schools, office buildings and some private homes. Planted roofs have several advantages: they absorb up to 70% of rainwater, thereby reducing runoff; they last longer because they don’t expand & contract according to temperature; and they can lower air-conditioning bills by 10% or more. (On the downside … now you gotta mow your roof, too.)
– “Philadelphia Inquirer”

MIGHTY MITE:
Japan’s newest competitive eating superstar is Natsuko Sone, a 21-year-old woman who can eat up to 20 pounds of food in a single sitting. She rose to fame after beating all the other female competitors on Japan’s “Gluttonous King” TV show. Amazingly, the big appetite is housed in a teeny, tiny body … Sone stands just 5-foot, 4-inches tall and weighs only 95 pounds! (Think you could consume 21% of your body weight?)
– “Curious Times”

FAST FLIGHT:
NASA and Virgin Galactic will work together to develop a hypersonic rocket that could carry passengers between London and NYC in less than 2 hours. The US space agency will lend Virgin Galactic its research facilities in return for help in testing equipment and training astronauts aboard ‘SpaceShipTwo’, Virgin’s private spacecraft which begins flying NEXT YEAR. The joint study will investigate types of craft and fuel, and work towards building a hypersonic rocket for long-haul flights between continents. (“Would you like coffee, tea or a soft … oops, sorry. Fasten your seatbelt, we’re there!”)
– “The Observer”

HIGH TIMES DOWN UNDER:
A sleeping pill marketed under the name Stilnox has been causing some unusual behavior since going on the market in Australia in 2000. The country’s health department has received over 100 reports of hallucinations, several involving some really random strangeness. One user, for instance, claims she woke up to find that she’d been painting her house during her sleep. Another says she gained 23 kg (51 lbs) over 7 months because she’d been binge-eating while asleep. And 2 separate users say they ended up driving a car after taking the drug and then sleeping like a log. (Around here the only thing we do in our sleep is … this show.)
– “Sidney Morning Herald”

BS AMAZING FACTS:
• It is estimated that over 1 billion people worldwide (1-in-6) will watch the “Academy Awards”.
• Americans eat an average of 18 acres of pizza every day.

THE BULL SHEET 02.23.07

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [58] Marc Garneau, Quebec City QC, Canada’s first astronaut (Space Shuttle Mission 13-1984)/President of the Canadian Space Agency (2002-05)/defeated Liberal MP candidate (2006)/Carleton University Chancellor since 2003

1952 [55] Brad Whitford, Winchester MA, rock guitarist (Aerosmith-“I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing”, “Crazy”)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2001)

1955 [52] Howard Jones, Southampton UK, classic rock singer (“Things Can Only Get Better”, “No One Is to Blame”)

1965 [42] Michael Dell, Houston TX, founder & CEO of Dell Computer

1994 [13] Dakota Fanning, Conyers GA, movie actress (“Charlotte’s Web”, “War of the Worlds”)

SATURDAY –
TV actor Dominic Chianese (“The Sopranos”) is 76; Canadian movie/TV actress Helen Shaver (“The Color of Money”) is 56; CEO Steve Jobs (Apple/Pixar) is 52; CNN news anchor Paula Zahn (“Paula Zahn Now”) is 51; Country singer Sammy Kershaw (“Love of My Life”) is 49.
 
SUNDAY –
Movie actress Tea Leoni (“Fun With Dick & Jane”) is 41; Prop comedian Scott ‘Carrot Top’ Thompson is 40; Movie actor Sean Astin (“Lord of the Rings”) is 36; Pop singer Daniel Powter (“Bad Day”) is 36; Twin movie actors James & Oliver Phelps (“Harry Potter”) are 21.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Canada Winter Games” open up and slide through March 10th in  in Whitehorse YT.
NET: http://www.2007canadagames.ca/
• “Curling is Cool Day”, celebrating the winter sport of curling. Think it’s only a game for old fogies? Nopers. The 2007 Ana Arce international curling calendar features buff babes that also just happen to be cute curlers.
NET: http://www.thecurlingnews.com/calendar.html
• “Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day”. A recent poll of pet owners finds that fully 34% of us have eaten dog food at one time or another, most likely just to see what it tastes like.
• “International Chili Day”, when we’re encouraged to enjoy a steaming bowl to ward off the cold of winter. What’s your secret ingredient? We use Dante’s Inferno Sauce.

SATURDAY –
• “Flag Day” in Mexico (“El Dia de la Bandera”), celebrating ‘La Bandera Mexicana’ created in 1821 when the country gained independence.
• “Tortilla Chip Day”. Well, that certainly makes planning tonight’s dinner a lot easier, doesn’t it?

SUNDAY –
• “Don’t Utter a Word Day”, because the world is made up of talkers and listeners … and the listeners really could use a rest.
• “Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries Day”. Does that make the next day the pits?
• “Lumberjack Day”, honoring a tough job that’s become a popular sport … ‘logging games’.

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1970 [37] Canada’s national music awards are first presented in Toronto (the ‘Juno Awards’ are originally called the ‘RPM Gold Leaf Awards’)

2000 [07] Carlos Santana ties “Grammy Awards” record by picking up 8 trophies for his multi-platinum album “Supernatural” and its first #1 single “Smooth”

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1886 [121] World’s 1st ‘Classified Ad’ appears in “The Times of London”

1905 [102] 1st ‘Rotary Club International’ established in Chicago, so-named because members rotate through various duties (like Shriners, only without the funny hats)

1997 [10] Scientists in Scotland announce the 1st successful cloning of an adult mammal, “Dolly” the sheep

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1906 [101] 5-foot, 7-inch Canadian Tommy Burns (real name Noah Brusso of Hanover ON) defeats Marvin Hart in 20-round bout in Los Angeles to become ‘Shortest-Ever World Heavyweight Boxing Champ’

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Mon] For Pete’s Sake Day
[Tues] International Polar Bear Day
[Tues] Spay Day USA
[Wed] Floral Design Day
[Wed] Tooth Fairy Day
[Wed] Repetitive Strain Injuries Awareness Day
This Week Is … Build A Better Trade Show Image Week
This Month Is … Heart Month

BULL’S BITS     

BS OSCAR QUIZ:
• Which is the most-nominated person ever for acting achievement?
a. Jack Nicholson.
b. Katherine Hepburn.
c. Meryl Streep. [CORRECT. She has another ‘Best Actress’ nomination THIS YEAR for “The Devil Wears Prada”, her 14th nomination.]

• For a decade now, since 1997, every ‘Best Actress’ winner has shared what common trait?
a. They’ve been divorced at least once.
b. They’ve been under 40-years-old. [CORRECT. You have to go back all the way back to March 1996 to find a ‘Best Actress’ over 40 – Susan Sarandon, who at the time was 49.]
c. They’ve slept with Ralph Fiennes.

• Which actor in which decade starred in the most ‘Best Picture’ winners?   
a. Clark Gable in the 1930s. [CORRECT. He starred in 3: “It Happened One Night” (1934), “Mutiny on the Bounty” (1935) and “Gone with the Wind” (1939).]   
b. Al Pacino in the 1970s.   
c. Tom Hanks in the 1990s.

• Which celebrity has Ellen DeGeneres promised she won’t be making jokes about at THIS YEAR’s Academy Awards?
a. Britney Spears, who won’t be attending due to her worldwide rehab center tour. [CORRECT]
b. Al Gore, whose “An Inconvenient Truth” is up for ‘Best Documentary Feature’.
c. Queen Elizabeth, who is portrayed by ‘Best Actress’ nominee Helen Mirren in “The Queen”.
– Oscars.com / MSNBC

BS PHONE STARTER:
Isn’t it strange that real estate sales reps insist on putting their mug shot on ever sign, ad and listing of houses they have for sale? You never see sales rep photos in ads for bigscreen TVs … or vehicles … or furniture. What’s up with that?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: Almost half of the women who do THIS say they only do it to impress men.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Wear high-healed shoes.        
 
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Better the shoulder to the wheel than the back to the wall.