BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Cue up “Bittersweet Symphony”! A “Cruel Intentions” sequel may be headed to the small-screen. NBC-TV has announced it’s ordered a pilot for a sequel series based on the popular 1999 teen drama. The story picks up 15 years after the events of the movie and follows the beautiful and cunning ‘Kathryn Merteuil’ as she vies for control of ‘Valmont International’ as well as the soul of ‘Bash Casey’, the son of her brother. The film starred Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillipe, and Reese Witherspoon.
– EW.com
★ Movie star Melissa McCarthy is claiming she has never been asked to reprise her role as ‘Sookie St James’ in the much-anticipated Netflix revival of the beloved TV series “Gilmore Girls”. Original castmembers Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Kelly Bishop, and Scott Patterson have all signed up for the reboot and “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino claims she had indeed reached out to McCarthy about joining in. Not so, claims McCarthy, saying she has never been invited. Hmm, somebody’s seemingly not speaking the whole truth.
– TVLine.com
★ Actress/singer Hilary Duff is officially unattached after finalizing a divorce from former NHL player Mike Comrie. According to legal documents, Duff must pay Comrie over $2.4 million to settle their financial split, and she gets to keep the former couple’s Beverly Hills CA estate and other property. Comrie retains their 2014 Bentley coupe and a 2013 Mercedes G-Class SUV. They will share joint custody of their 3-year-old son Luca. Duff’s biggest hit “So Yesterday” now takes on whole new meaning.
– TMZ.com
★ 31-year-old “Orange Is the New Black” star Laverne Cox (‘Sophia Burset’) has reportedly embarked on a new romance with film & theater executive Jono Freedrix. It seems they’ve known each other a while, having been photographed together at the 2014 Emmy Awards. This past weekend transgender star Cox brought Freedrix as her date to the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the couple was seen ‘getting affectionate’ at the Weinstein Company/Netflix after-party. Cox’s reps have not commented on the rumors.
– “Us Weekly”
★ And Caitlyn Jenner has revealed she had her boobs removed for Kris Jenner in 1990. The 66-year-old transgender role model says she started transitioning from her former self, Bruce, in the late 1980s, growing breasts up to a size 36B, but she halted her plans when she met future wife Kris. They wed just 5 months later and went on to have 2 children together, Kendall (20) and Kylie (18). Caitlyn says she had an agreement with Kris about indulging in her female side. Quote: “Don’t dress up, certainly around the house. If you really need to do that, when you’re on the road, take stuff and do that.”
– ContactMusic.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “American Idol” (FOX) – Fan-favorite singers return to mentor and sing with the contestants; contestants are eliminated.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Elton John (“Wonderful Crazy Night”, out Friday); Lionel Ritchie (“Tuskegee”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – On An On (“Give In”). Rerun.
• “Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS/M3) – 5 Seconds Of Summer (“Sounds Good Feels Good”).
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV) – JoJo (“#LoveJo2”); LA Reid (“Sing to Me: My Story of Making Music, Finding Magic, and Searching for Who’s Next”).
• “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global) – Wilco (“Star Wars”).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Wiz Khalifa (“Khalifa”, out Friday).
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo) – Charles Kelley (“The Driver”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Coldplay – In a new “Glamour” interview, Gwyneth Paltrow continues to paint the sunniest of pictures of life after her ‘conscious uncoupling’ with Chris Martin. Quote: “We’re still very much a family, even though we don’t have a romantic relationship. He’s like my brother.”
• Guns N’ Roses – The rock supergroup’s classic line-up, including Slash, Axl Rose, and Duff McKagan, is headlining this year’s Coachella festival over two weekends in April, and now they’ve added a Mexico City concert in between the 2 Indio, California gigs.
• Kelly Clarkson – Her doctor has ordered her to choose between attending the Grammys and serving as a guest judge on “American Idol” as she nears the due date of her 2nd pregnancy. Kelly has opted for appearing on the 15th and final season of “Idol”, where her career was jump-started as the show’s first-ever winner.
• Lady Gaga – She’s been lined up to sing the pre-game anthem before Sunday’s Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara CA. The Grammy-winning singer and “American Horror Story: Hotel” star will be accompanied by actress Marlee Matlin performing the anthem in American Sign Language.
• Lee Brice – Tonight in Salisbury MD he embarks on his “Life Off My Years” North American tour. Opening act Tyler Farr is on vocal rest due to having surgery to remove a polyp on his vocal cords, so Maddie & Tae, Jerrod Niemann, and Clare Dunn have been added to the bill.

COMING ATTRACTIONS:
A BS selection of movies in the making …
• Diego Maradona documentary – “Amy” director Asif Kapadia’s next subject for a feature documentary is the longtime controversial Argentine soccer star. The filmmaker, who also shot a doc about tragic Brazilian Formula 1 hero Ayrton Senna, will focus on Maradona at the height of his career in the late 1980s.
• Robert Mapplethorpe bio-pic – Matt Smith (“Doctor Who”) plays the avant-garde photographer, with Zosia Mamet as punk icon Patti Smith, his onetime lover and lifelong friend. The film chronicles how Mapplethorpe stunned the art world with his elegantly composed, sexually explicit images. This year marks the 25th anniversary of his death from AIDS at 42.
• “The Something” – Zach Galifianakis, Seth Rogen, and Bill Hader are set to star in this sci-fi comedy. The story follows a group of astronauts, who, after being stuck in space for years, come upon another ship. Rodney Rothman, who wrote the scripts for “22 Jump Street” and “Grudge Match”, has penned the pic and will make his directorial debut with this film.
• “Star Wars: Episode IX” – Director Colin Trevorrow (“Jurassic World”) says filming for the 9th “Star Wars” installment might actually take place … in space. The 39-year-old recently signed on to helm the final instalment of the sci-fi saga, due in 2019. He’s already submitted a request to the International Space Station to shoot scenes there and is awaiting an answer.
• “Stronger” – Jake Gyllenhaal is developing a film about the Boston Marathon bombing. The actor is not only starring in the drama but will also produce it. The movie is based on the book by Jeff Bauman, a survivor who lost both legs in the 2013 attack while waiting at the finish line  for his girlfriend (played by Tatiana Maslany of “Orphan Black”). Filming begins in April.

HOW MUCH WORK GETS DONE AT WORK?
Very few office workers actually work the full 8 hours they spend at their desks. There are coffee breaks and watercooler chats; texts and emails that just have to be dealt with immediately; and, of course, the cat videos that must be watched and shared around the office. In between, some work might get done. But just how much slacking off at work is normal? At least 34 minutes a day, according to a new report from the National Bureau of Economic Research. That’s pretty good fodder for the notion that if you want to get more done, you should actually reduce the hours you spend on-the-job. The study finds that the longer people spend at work on a regular basis, the more of that time they spend goofing off. (4 hours is plenty, right?)
– NYMag.com

AWESOME ACCOMMODATIONS:
Wondering where to stay on your next vacation? TripAdvisor has just released its annual list of the world’s best hotels based on reviews by its users. Here are the top 10 …
1. Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur in Jodhpur, India ($734 per night).
2. Shinta Mani Resort in Siem Reap, Cambodia ($199)
3. Bellevue Syrene in Sorrento, Italy ($562)
4. Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa in Hanoi, Vietnam ($109)
5. Achtis Hotel in Afitos, Greece ($100)
6. Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Great Milton, UK ($1,162)
7. Mirihi Island Resort in Mirihi, Maldives ($1,059)
8. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Aruba in Palm-Eagle Beach, Aruba ($468)
9. Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa in Lance aux Epines, Grenada ($806)
10. Hotel Ritta Hoppner in Gramado, Brazil ($185)
(Keep in mind the actual crème de la crème hotels in the world are so exclusive they are patronized by people who’d never stoop to use TripAdvisor.)
– TripAdvisor,com

WHAT DAILY POT USE DOES TO YOUR MEMORY:
Marijuana may have no effect on a teen’s IQ, but a new study suggests cognitive problems will appear in time with daily use. Researchers at Switzerland’s University of Lausanne have studied the marijuana habits of 3,400 participants beginning as young adults via data compiled over 25 years. While they’ve found no link between pot exposure and brain function, they have found that verbal memory slackens slightly after the equivalent of 5 years of daily marijuana use. Each year of exposure adds more damage. Researchers say more study is needed but it’s possible that marijuana’s active ingredient, THC, affects how the brain processes memory. (“Wow, this is the pizza joint? Um, I forget why I called …”)
– MedicalDaily.com

SIMPLE WAY TO SUCCESS:
We tend to focus on the future a lot, and on our careers, which can be good. However, if we’re always thinking about the next thing we’ve got going on, and trying to check the next thing off our to-do list, we’re actually hampering our productivity. This is because we become less able to focus on what’s happening right now. What to do? Some simple advice on how you can become more mindful in your day-to-day life. The trick lies in your breathing: By taking long, deep breaths, you can slow your heart rate, calm your nervous system, and quiet your brain. This way, you can focus on the now … and stop worrying about what’s next. (Wait … I’m blacking out!)
– TechInsider.io

NORTH AMERICANS LOVE TIPPING:
According to a recent poll of 3,000 North Americans conducted by Horizon Media, fully 81% of restaurant-going adults support tipping. The study comes on the heels of an anti-gratuity movement that aims to cease tipping in order to raise wages for service industry employees, increasing job stability and minimizing employee turnover. Opinions on tipping differ significantly by age. While a full 29% of 18-to-34s believe that tipping is an outdated practice, only 13% of 50-to-64s feel the same way. According to Horizon, those in favor of tipping want to be able to reward positive service experiences, and are concerned that the eradication of tipping might negatively affect customer service. (In France, rather that 15-or-20%, you leave loose change.)
– Eater.com

BS AMAZING HEALTH FACTS:
• People who jog live almost 6 years longer than people who don’t.
• Every cigarette you smoke reduces your life expectancy by 11 minutes.
• People who have a solid community of friends live nearly 4 years longer than those who don’t.
– Condensed from List 25.com

BS CHRONOMETER 02.04.16

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1948 [68] Alice Cooper (Vincent Furnier), Detroit MI, classic rocker (“School’s Out”, “Eighteen”)/syndicated radio personality (“Nights With Alice Cooper”)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2011)

1969 [47] Duncan Coutts, St Catharines ON, rock bassist (Our Lady Peace-“Heavyweight”, “Somewhere Out There”)

1975 [41] Rick Burch, Mesa AZ, rock bassist (Jimmy Eat World-“Pain”, “The Middle”)

1977 [39] Gavin DeGraw, South Fallsburg NY, pop singer (“Not Over You”, “I Don’t Want to Be”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Homemade Soup Day”, a day to chop and blend and simmer, creating yummy goodness in a bowl all on your own. AllRecipes.com has over 1,000 recipes for homemade soup.

• “Medjool Date Day”, honoring the flowering plant of the palm family that’s cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Dates brighten your smoothies, breakfast bars, desserts, and appetizers all year long. Take this day to salute the humble date!

• “Thank a Letter Carrier Day”, your chance to say thanks to the person who delivers your junkmail.

• “USO Day”, honoring the 75th anniversary of the United Service Organization, which continues to provide support for American troops and their families worldwide.

• “World Cancer Day”, an annual observance to encourage prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. It’s led by the International Union Against Cancer, a global consortium of more than 280 cancer-fighting organizations in over 90 countries.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2004 [12] Online social networking site Facebook is founded by Mark Zuckerberg (and how many thousands of hours have you wasted since?)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
2009 [07] Robert Plant says Led Zeppelin can never reunite for a full tour because the band feels incomplete without late drummer John Bonham

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2007 [09] Indianapolis Colts (led by QB Peyton Manning) defeat Chicago Bears 29-17 to win Super Bowl 41 in Miami FL, their 1st championship in 36 years (when they were in Baltimore)

COMING UP . . .
[Fri] “Sleepy Hollow” season debut (FOX)
[Fri] Weather Forecasters Day
[Sat] Girl Scout Cookie Day
[Sat] Take Your Child To the Library Day
[Sun] Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbors Day
[Sun] Dump Your Significant Jerk Day
This Week is … Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week
This Month Is … International Boost Self-Esteem Month

BULL’S BITS

BS VALENTINE CARDS FOR LONG-TERM COUPLES:
• “With Just a Couple Exceptions, You’re More Beautiful Than the Day We Met.”
• “I Want You … To Put the Trash Out”
• “You Know Valentine, Beauty Is Only a Light Switch Away.”
• “We’ve Been Through a Lot Together … And Most Of It Was Your Fault”
• “You’re My Kind of Weird, Hon'”
• “I Will Shave My Legs for You … But Only on Date Night”
• “You Put Up with My [Sheet] … And I Like That”
• “If You Were a Booger, I’d Pick You First.”
• “Happy Valentines Day to My Ex. Hope You like the Heart-Shaped Box Full of Angry Hornets.”
• “I Love You … Even Though You Fart in Bed”
– Adapted from BuzzFeed UK

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Tell us about your most heartwarming celebrity encounter.

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
Where in the world can you find the most plants?
a. In tropical forests.
b. In the oceans. [CORRECT. 85% of all plant life is in the water.]
c. Yellowing on office desks.

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I know what Victoria’s Secret is. The secret is that nobody older than 30 can fit into their stuff.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: A new study says that college & university students spend 20% of their day at school doing THIS.
Answer: Using their cellphones.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A meeting is an event where minutes are taken and hours wasted.