BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
✳ Former TV series “Airwolf”, “Knight Rider”, “Miami Vice”, “Punky Brewster”, and “Saved By The Bell” are set for a return to pop culture in the form of … comic books. The shows, which aired on NBC-TV during the 1980s and 90s, are being revived by Lion Forge Comics. Digital versions will be available as ebooks later this year. It’s hoped the once-popular characters such as ‘Crockett & Tubbs’, ‘Zack Morris’, and ‘Punky Brewster’ will find a whole new generation of fans. David Hasselhoff … probably not so much.
– “San Jose Mercury News”
✳ Pop singer-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham has taken part in a race against other moms at her son Cruz’s school sports day but was beaten to the finish line of the 100-meter sprint by rival designer Stella McCartney, whose children attend the same London school. However, the family honor was restored when her husband David Beckham won the fathers’ version of the event and picked up a gold medal. A bystander says, “Becks easily won the race. He beat the other dads by miles.”
– OneNewsPage.co.uk
✳ Actress Kristen Stewart is said to be devastated that former boyfriend Robert Pattinson has moved on from their split-up in May with one of her former co-stars. Pattinson is said to be dating Elvis Presley’s actress-granddaughter, Riley Keough, who co-starred with Kristen in the 2010 film “The Runaways”. She was spotted at the actor’s LA home last weekend and a friend says they are ‘glued to each other’s side’, trying to spend all their time together before Rob jets off to Toronto next Monday to start work on the David Cronenberg film, “Maps To the Stars”.
– “Daily Mirror”
✳ And Jay-Z & Beyoncé have reportedly spent over $7,500 on baby gifts for Kanye West & Kim Kardashian’s 2-week-old daughter North. They apparently included personalized Christian Dior baby booties and a 3-piece sterling silver Elsa Peretti Padova baby set with the tot’s name on it. Kanye is one of Jay-Z’s closest friends so he wanted to be sure to impress; and with an 18-month-old daughter themselves, Mr & Mrs Carters knew what to look for. They also brought their Blue Ivy over to meet North as she’s old enough now to be interested in babies.
– TheSun.co.uk
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “A Capitol Fourth” (PBS) – Tom Bergeron (“Dancing With the Stars”) hosts a celebration of Independence Day from Washington DC. Performers include Barry Manilow, Candice Glover, Darren Criss, and Scotty McCreery.
NET: http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/concert.html
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Fall Out Boy (“Save Rock N Roll”). Rerun.
• Essence Festival (New Orleans LA) – Today through Sunday this 19th annual event at the Superdome and Convention Center features performances by Beyoncé, Brandy, Jill Scott, Keyshia Cole, LL Cool J, Maxwell, and New Edition.
NET: http://www.essence.com/festival
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Miley Cyrus (“We Can’t Stop”). Rerun.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Blitzen Trapper (“American Goldwing”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Kelly Rowland w/Wiz Khalifa (“Talk a Good Game”). Rerun.
• “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” (NBC) – Nick Cannon hosts as starbursts blaze above NYC. Performances by Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw.
• Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland) – The 47th annual event on the shores of Lake Geneva runs 18 days through July 21st. Founded in 1967, it has a long tradition of showcasing non-jazz acts, including the Rolling Stones. The 2013 roster: Bonnie Raitt, Deep Purple, Green Day, Joe Cocker, Leonard Cohen, Prince, Sting, and Kraftwerk performing a special 3D show.
NET: http://www.montreuxjazzfestival.com/2013/en
• Ottawa Bluesfest (Ottawa ON) – This 10-day fest has an eclectic lineup that includes BB King, the Dixie Chicks, fun., Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Skrillex, Tegan & Sara, The Tragically Hip, Weezer, and Wu-Tang Clan.
NET: http://ottawabluesfest.ca
• “The Talk” (CBS) – Steven Tyler (Aerosmith). Rerun.
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – She & Him (“Volume 3”). Rerun.
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Little Big Town (“Tornado”). Rerun.
• Philly 4th of July Jam (Philadelphia PA) – This free annual concert, part of a week-long “Independence Day” celebration, features Demi Lovato, Grace Potter, J Cole, John Mayer, and Ne-Yo, with The Roots serving as the house band. The show airs on VH1 tonight.
NET: http://www.welcomeamerica.com
• “White House Down” – Today the Channing Tatum movie is screening free for active US military personnel and veterans with military ID. Each military attendee is allowed 1 guest.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Jay-Z – His new album, “Magna Carta Holy Grail”, drops today via an app for Samsung smartphone users; it’s available to the rest of the world Sunday. It includes collaborations with Drake, Justin Timberlake, Nas, and Raekwon. The bonus track “Holy Grail” is interspersed with lyrics from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.
• Katy Perry – She’s been working on 4 songs with pop singer/songwriter Bonnie McKee, who also helped Perry write “California Gurls” and a slew of other hits. McKee tells MTV News the material is more ‘grown up’ than their previous collaborations.
• Kellie Pickler – Her 2013 “Dancing With the Stars” mirror ball trophy and her finalé costume from the competition are now on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville TN.
• Maroon 5 – Frontman Adam Levine has sold off his former LA home in Bronson Canyon for $3.5 million, making a tidy profit of just over $300,000. The ranch-style villa was featured in a 2012 issue of “Architectural Digest”. His new Beverly Hills estate cost $4.83 million, but it’s more than 3 times the size. Thank-you, “The Voice”!
• Toby Keith – This week his tour bus caught fire near Lebanon, Indiana en route to Nashville after the driver looked in a side mirror in the wee hours of the morning and saw flames shooting out the rear. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Toby was not even aboard.
COMING ATTRACTIONS:
A BS selection of movies in the making …
• “The Crow” – James O’Barr, creator of the original graphic novel, has come on board as a consultant for this upcoming reboot of the film. The original 1994 movie was based on O’Barr’s story of a musician revived from the dead to avenge the murders of himself and his fiancée. Luke Evans is starring in the make-over, with shooting set to begin in early 2014.
• “Grapes of Wrath” – DreamWorks is in early talks with John Steinbeck’s estate to acquire the rights to the author’s classic novel which was previously turned into a 1940 movie starring Henry Fonda. The story follows the ‘Joads’, a poor family who move west after drought forces them to leave their Oklahoma farm. If the deal goes through, Steven Spielberg will produce.
• “Magic Mike 2” – Star/producer Channing Tatum, whose own stripper past formed the basis for the 2012 breakout hit, says the film’s follow-up will be a road movie and it will be more ‘crazy and fun’ than the original. The sequel is currently in development but original director Steven Soderbergh is unlikely to become involved, insisting he’s done making movies.
• “Mean Moms” – Beth McCarthy-Miller is set to direct this similar-vein comedy to 2004’s “Mean Girls”, although it’s not a direct sequel. It’s based on Rosalind Wiseman’s book “Queen Bee Moms & King Pin Dads: Dealing With the Parents, Teachers, Coaches & Counselors Who Can Make – or Break – Your Child’s Future”. The story follows the trials of suburban housewives.
• “Pirates Of the Caribbean 5” – Producer Jerry Bruckheimer says the latest film in the franchise will begin shooting at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, with Norwegian directors Joachim Roenning & Espen Sandberg (“Kon-Tiki”) at the helm. Screenwriter Jeff Nathanson, the scribe behind “Catch Me If You Can”, has already penned the script.
INFIDELITY GAP NARROWS:
New stats show that women are catching up to men in at least one area … cheating on their spouses. The percentage of wives having affairs has risen almost 40% during the last 20 years, according to the latest data from the Opinion Research Center’s General Social Survey. 14.7% of women now admit to extramarital affairs. The percentage of men has held constant at 21%. Researchers think the reason for the increase is twofold: Wives with their own jobs have less to lose economically from a divorce, and social media have made it easier to engage in affairs. Bottom line: Men are still more likely to cheat, but the gender gap is closing.
– Bloomberg.com
WHAT’S MOST AMERICAN?
Just in time for the 4th of July, NYC-based research firm Brand Keys has surveyed 4,500 consumers asking them which brand name is the most American of all. The top 10 ‘patriotic’ brands, selected from a list of 197 in 35 categories …
10. [tie] Budweiser / Marlboro (88%)
9. [tie] New Balance / Harley-Davidson (89%)
8. [tie] Kodak / Gillette (90%)
7. Ralph Lauren (91%)
6. Wrigley’s (92%)
5. Zippo (93%)
4. Colgate (94%)
3. [tie] Levi Strauss / Walt Disney (95%)
2. [tie] Hershey’s / Coca-Cola (97%)
1. Jeep (98%)
(Surprising names that didn’t make it: Apple, Chevrolet. And maybe Hooters?)
– USA Today
STUBBY AIN’T SEXY:
People with slightly longer legs are more attractive to the opposite sex, a recent study suggests. After purposely distorting pictures of people, Polish researchers at the University of Wroclaw found that both men and women prefer photos in which the legs are manipulated to be 5% longer than real-life. Extremely long legs don’t fare as well. Legs stretched to be 15% longer prove less of a turn-on than the original, normal pair. The conclusion: Long legs are appealing as they subconsciously signal health to our evolutionary brains.
– “New Scientist”
FOR THE RECORD:
• Jonathan Rice is a fan of ‘heat running’, running in stifling hot temperatures. He’s the originator of the so-called “Darth Valley Challenge”, a personal goal to run a mile through Death Valley, California during a heat wave … while dressed as ‘Darth Vader’. His most recent attempt took place Sunday when the temperature was 129 F (54 C) but he still completed the mile in 6 minutes, 36 seconds. He’s hoping that’s accepted as a new Guinness World Record for ‘Hottest Verified Run’.
– “Longmont Times-Call”
• A rockfish believed to be at least 200-years-old has been caught in Alaska by insurance adjuster Henry Liebman from Seattle, Washington. It is believed to be the oldest fish ever caught in the state, and at 41 inches (104 cm), it is certainly the largest ever recorded. The ancient monster weighed in at 39.08 lbs (17.7 kg).
– “Daily Sitka Sentinel”
DID YOU KNOW?
• Cloudy apple juice is healthier than clear, containing almost double the antioxidants which protect against heart disease and cancer.
• Two cups of spearmint tea a day is thought to control excessive hair growth for women.
• Harvesting rhubarb in candlelight helps preserve its flavor.
– Magazine Monitor
BS CHRONOMETER 07.04.13
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1971 [42] Al Madrigal, San Francisco CA, actor/comedian (regular correspondent on “The Daily Show” since 2011)
1982 [31] Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, Staten Island NY, reality TV personality (“Jersey Shore” 2009-12, “The Choice” 2012, “Dancing With the Stars” 2010)
1983 [30] Melanie Fiona (Hallim), Toronto ON, R&B singer (w/Cee Lo Green-“Fool for You”, “It Kills Me”)
1998 [15] Malia Obama, Chicago IL, US presidential daughter/first offspring of Barack & Michelle Obama
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Barbecue Day”, celebrating the time-honored tradition of roasting flesh over an open flame.
• “Country Music Day”, celebrating the roots music movement that began in America some 80 years ago with the advent of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Country is actually a mishmash of several other music styles, including traditional folk, Celtic, blues, gospel, hokum, and old-time music. (How come there aren’t any ‘All Hokum’ radio stations?)
• “US Independence Day”, celebrating the country’s declaration of nationhood in 1776. Among the more unusual 4th of July festivals: “Sidewalk Egg-Frying Challenge” in Oatman AZ; “World’s Greatest Lizard Race” in Lovington NM; and the vegan-inspired “Independence from Meat Day”.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1982 [31] Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne marries Sharon Arden, his manager
2001 [12] A US federal judge orders music file-sharing service Napster to cease and desist all operations immediately
2002 [11] Elvis Presley’s remixed “A Little Less Conversation” hits #1, 25 years after his death
2003 [10] Soul singer/songwriter/music producer/keyboardist/arranger Barry White (“Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe”) dies in LA of kidney failure at age 58
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1996 [17] ‘HotMail’, the free Internet email service, begins (later bought out by Microsoft)
2012 [01] The discovery of particles thought to be Higgs boson (the ‘god particle’) at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider is announced in Geneva, Switzerland
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1993 [20] Some 2,000 naked participants attend the “Nude Chili Cookoff” in Devore, California
COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Calgary Stampede begins (Calgary AB)
[Sat] Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert (Norman OK)
[Sat] Rolling Stones play Hyde Park (London)
[Sat] International Cherry Pit Spitting Day
[Sat] International Kissing Day
[Sat] International Day of Cooperatives
[Sat] Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day
This Week Is … Beans & Bacon Days
This Month Is … Share a Sunset With Your Lover Month
BULL’S BITS
BS REASONS AMERICANS THINK THEY HAVE THE BEST COUNTRY ON EARTH:
• No dress code.
• Invented a holiday where all they do is blow up stuff.
• Every American, no matter race, creed, or country of birth, has the same chance to have their mortgage foreclosed.
• They can go to any Gap and try on as many pants as they want.
• Even an eavesdropping Hawaiian can become president.
• Life, liberty, and Lohan!
BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Which actor made the best US president on TV or film. And worst?
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
Whose MLB baseball uniform number was the first to be ‘retired’?
a. Babe Ruth.
b. Lou Gehrig. [CORRECT. The NY Yankees retired his #4 74 years ago today in 1939. The Yankees have retired a total of 16 numbers, more than any other team.]
c. Cy Young.
d. Arnold Lipschitz.
– Wikipedia.org
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Actually this is pretty nice weather for a town this size.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: In the average household, it’s the woman who does THIS 78% of the time.
Answer: Makes the bed.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
You’ll never get dizzy doing a good turn.
