BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Actor Charlie Sheen has joined the “Duck Dynasty” controversy, by ordering Phil Robertson to apologize for his comments about homosexuality. Sheen wrote a piece on his Twitter account, threatening Phil with a media attack and saying he is in the “crosshairs of a MaSheen-style media beatdown”. Sheen claims he’s decided to get involved because Robertson’s recent comments hurt many of his gay friends.
– “Daily Mail”
★ Meantime, Sheen claims to have married again. In a Twitter feed he maintains they tied the knot with girlfriend Brett Rossi in Iceland. A tweeted photo shows them in front of a building in Reykjavik, where a Cold War summit was held in 1986. 48-year-old Sheen has been married 3 times previously, is father to 5 children, and also has a granddaughter.
– QMI
★ And in her new book about hygiene and health issues, “The Body Book”, actress Cameron Diaz tells ladies not to shave ‘down there’. She claims the idea that a hairless state makes for the ideal look is a recent phenomenon. Quote: “All fads change, people.” She also opens up about her private battle with acne, admitting she had ‘terrible, terrible, skin’. Looking back, she says, she didn’t need prescriptions, potions, or creams; she just needed to listen to her body.
– Canoe.ca
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Kid Ink (“My Own Lane”, out today).
• “Cougar Town” (TBS) – Yep, it’s still on. Courteney Cox and Busy Philipps return to star in the 5th season debut.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Sara Bareilles (“The Blessed Unrest”).
• “Intelligence” (CBS/CTV) – Debut of a new drama centered on a hi-tech intelligence operative (Josh Holloway) who is enhanced with a super-computer microchip in his brain. Co-stars Meghan Ory, Marg Helgenberger (ex-“CSI”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Xolie Morra & The Strange Kind (“The Great Social Experiment”).
• “Justified” (FX) – Timothy Olyphant returns as ‘US Marshal Raylan Givens’ in the 5th season premiere, an episode entitled “A Murder of Crowes”.
• “Killer Women” (ABC/CityTV) – Debut of a new crime drama starring Alberta-born Tricia Helfer as ‘Molly Parker’, the only woman in the notoriously male Texas Rangers. Actress Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”) is one of the new show’s producers.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – White Denim (“Corsicana Lemonade”).
• “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS) – Jake Bugg (“Shangri La”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – John Newman (“Tribute”).
• “Pretty Little Liars” (ABC Family) – 5th season premiere.
• “Tavis Smiley” (PBS) – 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Linda Ronstadt (“Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir”). Rerun.
• TFCA Awards (Toronto ON) – Tonight the Toronto Film Critics Association awards prizes for the top films of 2013. The Coen Bros’ “Inside Llewyn Davis” wins ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Actor’ (Oscar Isaac); Alfonso Cuaron gets ‘Best Director’ (“Gravity”); and Cate Blanchett ‘Best Actress’ (“Blue Jasmine”). The gala is just one more precursor to the Oscars (March 2nd).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Salaam Remi f/Akon (“ONE: In the Chamber”).
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Beyoncé – The reason behind her sexually-charged new videos? It could be to show off the 65 lbs she’s shed since giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy. She says she weighed in at 195 lbs at the time she gave birth January 7, 2012 … 2 years ago today.
• Blake Shelton – He’ll be part of a ‘special Grammy moment’ at the Grammy Awards on January 26th, performing with country music legends Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson.
• Daft Punk – The French electronic duo will duet with Stevie Wonder at the Grammys later this month. They’ll also be joined by “Get Lucky” collaborators Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers.
• Jack White – He’s announced he’ll have a new solo album ready for release by the end of the month. His debut solo effort was 2012’s “Blunderbuss”. No title has been revealed but he says the project won’t be tied down to any one musical style.
• Justin Timberlake – “The 20/20 Experience” was the best-selling release last year. “Billboard” reports it was the only album to sell over 2 million copies, notching up a total of 2.43 million.
• The Kinks – The 1960s’ Brit rockers (“You Really Got Me”, “All Day & All Of the Night”) may reunite to mark their 50th anniversary in 2014. Frontman Ray Davies says a reunion is “as close as it’s ever been to happening”.
• Led Zeppelin – Jimmy Page says the deluxe reissues of Led Zep’s catalogue should start rolling out soon. The classic rockers’ first 3 albums should be remastered and re-released some time in 2014.
• Rick Ross – He’s suing LMFAO over their 2011 hit “Party Rock Anthem”, claiming the hook is derivative of his 2006 single “Hustlin’”. According to the lawsuit, they simply changed the lyric “everyday I’m hustlin’” to “everyday I’m shufflin’”. Apparently it took him 3 years to notice.
• Taylor Swift – She was the highest-grossing country touring act in 2013, according to Pollstar. Swift grossed $131 million in her worldwide “Red” tour.
TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
Out today on Netflix and/or other video providers …
• “Closed Circuit” ( R-Rated Crime Thriller ): Eric Bana & Rebecca Hall play 2 ex-lovers on a criminal defense team working on a high-profile terrorism case. It not only tests the limits of their loyalties but places their lives in jeopardy. Co-stars Jim Broadbent, Ciarán Hinds.
• “Runner Runner” ( R-Rated Crime Thriller ): When a poor college student in an online poker game goes bust, he arranges a face-to-face with the man he thinks cheated him, a sly offshore entrepreneur. Stars Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake, Gemma Arterton.
• “Thanks For Sharing” ( R-Rated Comedy ): Pop singer Pink! is among the cast of this dramedy directed by the writer of “The Kids Are All Right”. She plays a ‘free spirit who bonds with a sex addict’, played by Josh Gad. Co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins.
• Also released today: “Archer: The Complete Season 4” (TV Animation); “Being Human: Complete 3rd Season” (TV); “Duck Dynasty: Season 4” (Reality TV); “The Following: The Complete 1st Season” (TV); “House of Lies: Season 2” (TV); “Inequality for All” (Documentary); “Kiss the Water” (Documentary); “Linsanity: The True Story of Jeremy Lin” (Documentary); and “Murph: The Protector” (Documentary).
NEW GIZMOS & GADGETS:
The annual 4-day unveiling of the latest tech toys, the International Consumer Electronics Show, gets underway today in Las Vegas NV. Among this year’s innovations …
✓ Lenovo’s ‘Horizon 2’ is the company’s newest attempt at kickstarting the ‘tabletop’ market. The 27-inch touchscreen is essentially an enormous Windows 8 tablet that, when paired with keyboard and mouse, operates like a desktop PC. Coming in June, starting at $1,499.
✓ Belkin is showing off a raft of new connections for its ‘WeMo’ home automation line. The device can be used to remotely power on-and-off a variety of household items (lights, slow cooker, HVAC, etc) using an Android or iOS app.
✓ Fitbug has new personalized fitness programs for its ‘Fitbug Orb’ tracker. The 12-week fitness regimes work like a personal trainer, helping you to achieve your fitness goals via the ‘Orb’ and its companion app.
✓ Schwinn has a low-cost ($59.99) GPS unit for cyclists. The satnav clips to your bike’s handlebars and directs you using flashing lights and voice prompts. You use an iOS or Android app to determine your route, which you then send to your Schwinn via Bluetooth.
✓ The ‘PrioVR’ is basically a motion-capture suit designed to replicate your body’s movements on-the-fly during videogames, letting you become your own controller. The suit failed to make its recent Kickstarter goal, but YEI Technology is pushing onward with it anyway.
– CNET.com
REAL FOOD – WHAT A CONCEPT!
General Mills has announced it has stopped using genetically modified ingredients in its popular breakfast cereal Cheerios. Many activists have cited studies showing that genetically modified (GM) crops are not safe for people and animals who consume them. However, the company says its decision on ingredients is not driven by safety concerns or pressure from critics; it’s simply hoping that ‘consumers may embrace’ its decision to move away from GM ingredients. (God forbid they actually embraced the idea of producing healthful foods simply because it’s the right thing to do.)
– NYDailyNews.com
DA PLACE TA PARTY:
Today the new book “101 Places to Get F—ed Up Before You Die: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Partying Around the World” is published, a bucket list of some of the weirdest and wildest annual bashes. Some of the top free-for-alls, as selected by an online travel magazine …
✓ Boryeong Mud Festival (Boryeong, South Korea) – 2 million or so ex-pats, locals, and tourists muck it up, slathering themselves in mud while slinging beer and soju in Ziploc bags. There’s also mud-skiing, a ‘Mud King’ contest, as well as fireworks at night. Held each July, dates vary.
✓ Carnaval Humahuaqueño (Jujuy, Argentina) – Starts on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday when a rag doll devil is unearthed, signifying party time. There’s dancing in the streets while communal cups filled with local brew are passed around 24/7 … for 8 days.
✓ Zilina, Slovakia – This ‘youthquake’ city is home to oodles of bars and the infamous Stanica Zilina-Zariecie cultural arts facility that hosts various bizarre events including a ‘sick-ass dance concert’ in the Summer. Some say you can’t call yourself a hipster until you’ve been to Zilina.
✓ Full Moon Party (Koh Phangan, Thailand) – Up to 10,000 flock to the crescent-shaped Haad Rin Nok Beach on this island each month for a bash saluting the Full Moon. Bucket stands sell pails of 10 shots of liquor topped off with Thai Red Bull & Coke.
✓ Whistler, British Columbia – High in the mountains Whistler Village is picture perfect, but as for the scene there? The cobblestone streets are crowded with bars, dance clubs, and lounges that are said to attract a ‘hot mess of beautiful young people’. It goes on all Winter long.
– Matador Network
TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN:
The ‘Free Days Planner’ by design enterprise Half Three strips 2014 down to Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays so you can see all the days you don’t have to work in one place. The calendar completely ignores all workdays and reduces the year to just weekends and public holidays. The printable non-work planner in wall-chart format is available as a free download for users to print off themselves. Separate versions are available for the Australia, Canada, the UK, and USA. (Great idea, unless you work retail … every stinkin’ weekend of the year.)
NET: http://halfthree.co
– RelaxNews.com
DID YOU KNOW?
Mothers typically think their youngest child is shorter than he/she actually is, despite correctly estimating the height of their other children.
– “New Scientist”
BS CHRONOMETER 01.07.14
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1946 [68] Jann Wenner, NYC, magazine publisher (“Rolling Stone”, “Us Weekly”)
1957 [57] Katie Couric, Arlington VA, TV talk show host (“Katie” since 2012)/former TV news anchor (“CBS Evening News” 2007-11, NBC-TV’s “Today Show” 1991-2007) COMING UP: Debuts as ‘global news anchor’ for Yahoo News later this year.
1964 [50] Nicolas Cage (Coppola), Long Beach CA, movie actor (“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”, “Leaving Las Vegas”)/ex-husband of Patricia Arquette & Lisa Marie Presley/movie director Francis Ford Coppola’s nephew UP NEXT: “National Treasure 3”.
1965 [49] John Ondrasik, LA CA, pop singer (Five For Fighting-“The Riddle”, “100 Years”)
1971 [43] Jeremy Renner, Modesto CA, movie actor (“The Bourne Legacy”, “The Hurt Locker”)
1974 [40] John Rich, Amarillo TX, country singer (“Shuttin’ Detroit Down”, Big & Rich-“Lost In this Moment”, ex-Lonestar-“Amazed”)
1982 [32] Lauren Cohen, Philadelphia PA, TV actress (‘Maggie Greene’ on “The Walking Dead” since 2011, “The Vampire Diaries” 2010-12)
1983 [31] Brett Dalton, San Jose CA, TV actor (‘Grant Ward’ on “Marvel’s Agents of Shield” since 2013)
1985 [29] Lewis Hamilton, Stevenage UK, racing driver (youngest-ever Formula One World Champion)/boyfriend of Nicole Scherzinger (ex-Pussycat Dolls)
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “I’m Not Going to Take It Anymore Day”, a day to stand up for your rights.
• “International Programmers Day”, honoring the geeks behind many of today’s technological conveniences, pastimes, and work tools.
• “Orthodox Christmas” in many countries worldwide. Why? Both Eastern Orthodox Churches and Oriental Orthodox Churches use the old Julian calendar.
• “Tempura Day”, celebrating the Japanese cooking tradition of dipping seafood or vegetables in a thin batter of flour and water, then frying them in oil.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/bfsagap
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2005 [09] Actor Brad Pitt & actress Jennifer Aniston announce they are separating after 4 years of marriage
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1999 [15] Rod Stewart & model Rachel Hunter publicly announce the dissolution of their 8-year marriage
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1999 [15] Impeachment trial of president Bill Clinton, formally charged with lying under oath and obstructing justice, begins in the US Senate (“I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms Lewinsky.”)
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1964 [50] Pro bowler Dick Weber rolls the highest-ever bowling score … aboard an airliner
COMING UP . . .
[Wed] “People’s Choice Awards” (CBS)
[Wed] “Chicago PD” debuts (NBC)
[Wed] “Parks & Recreation” season debut (NBC)
[Wed] Bubble Bath Day
[Wed] English Toffee Day
[Wed] Midwives Day
This Week Is … Bowling Week
This Month Is … Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month
BULL’S BITS
BS THINGS NOT TO BRING TO A GUNFIGHT:
✗ A knife.
✗ A fork.
✗ A cease-and-desist order.
✗ Tim Gunn.
✗ The Dalai Lama.
✗ NERF anything.
✗ Charlton Heston’s cold, dead fingers.
✗ Gum.
– Thanks to Ian Carey
BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Should airplanes have designated quiet areas (ie: no smartphones, no kids, etc)? Would you be willing to pay extra for it?
BS RANDOM JOKE:
When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
Which should you use to cut your pet elephant’s hair?
a. Barber’s Scissors.
b. Hedge Clippers.
c. Blowtorch. [CORRECT. Anyone who’s sat on one knows why … the hair is hard and spiky.)
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Once we do THIS at work, 46% of us will never do it again.
Answer: Change our voicemail greeting.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can break your heart.
