Friday, March 28, 2008        Edition: #3742
100% Canada #1 Grade A Bull!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
“American Idol” judge Paula Abdul has cornered “Dancing With the Stars” host Tom Bergeron and let him know she wants to appear on the show’s next season (as a former choreographer, would she be a ‘star’ or a ‘professional dancer’?) . . . A female Japanese “Sex & the City” fan has bid $52,100 in an eBay charity auction for a pair of VIP tickets to accompany Kristin Davis down the red carpet at the NYC premiere of the bigscreen version this MAY (the winner also gets a makeover & a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes – well worth the 50-grand, no?) . . . “American Idol” producer FremantleMedia is set to launch a celebrity edition of “Family Feud”, slated to premiere on NBC-TV in primetime as soon as THIS SUMMER (the game show has appeared in 3 incarnations previously, beginning with the Richard Dawson-hosted version 1976-85 – “You said! The survey said!”) . . . FOX-TV has pulled the plug on low-rated sitcom “Jezebel James”, starring Parker Posey, after just 3 episodes (is that a record?) . . . The first episode of the continuation of “The Hills” 3rd season (MTV) was watched by a record number of viewers for the show – 4.8 million (seems the fact the ‘reality’ show is reenacted and staged doesn’t bother anybody) . . . Actors Penelope Cruz (“Volver”) & Javier Bardem (“No Country For Old Men”) are no longer hiding their relationship, stepping out together in Nice, France while on vacation (she’s finally with a guy who can understand what she’s saying!) . . . And the first TV series to have every single episode of every single season since its launch (1997) available online is – Comedy Central’s “South Park” (nice to see quality TV is being preserved for posterity).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Bob Dylan – He’ll celebrate his 67th birthday MAY 24th during a performance at Mile One Centre in St. John’s NL. Tickets for the concert go on sale TOMORROW.
• Bon Jovi – Cops have confirmed that 3 females (2 of them minors) were in the vehicle when Richie Sambora was pulled over for driving erratically THIS WEEK in Laguna Beach CA. One of them was his 10-year-old daughter via ex-wife Heather Locklear. (You gotta feel bad for little Ava. First, someone calls 911 on her mom, then her pop gets busted for DUI. At least Denise Richards isn’t her step-monster anymore.)
• Hank Williams Jr – TODAY a new exhibit honoring him and his legendary father Hank Williams opens at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville. It’s titled “Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy”.
• Kenny Chesney – He’s announced a “Big Star” competition in which local bands vie to open his concerts during the 2008 “Poets & Pirates” tour. The grand prize winner gets $25,000, an audition with Sony BMG, and the chance to travel by tour bus to open some of his shows.
• Mary J Blige – She’s just snapped up a $12-million estate in Saddle River NJ, replete with 8 bedrooms, a movie theater, a fitness center, and a wine-tasting room. Her new neighbors include Wyclef Jean and Ja Rule.
• Neil Young – SATURDAY his rock opera “Greendale”, based on his 2003 album of the same name, has its world premiere at the Undermain Theatre in Dallas TX.
• *NSYNC – JC Chasez is vehemently denying he and Carrie Underwood’s ex-bf Chace Crawford (“Gossip Girl”) are ‘involved’. It seems they might actually just be roommates.
• Pearl Jam – The guitar Eddie Vedder used to write “Love Boat Captain” has sold for $8,000 at an auction to help jailed youths, ‘The West Memphis 3′, defend themselves against murder charges.

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Canadian Idol” – SATURDAY & SUNDAY auditions move to the Cunard Centre in Halifax NS.
• “Cold Case” (CBS/CTV) – SUNDAY there’s finally a new post-strike episode.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC): TONIGHT System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian promotes his solo project.
• “Kids’ Choice Awards” (Nickelodeon) – SATURDAY Jack Black hosts the annual awards voted on by kids, live from UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion. Appearances by Chris Brown, Harrison Ford, Heidi Klum, Miley Cyrus, Ryan Seacrest, Shia LaBeouf, and Steve Carell. “Shrek the Third” leads all categories of nominations with 4.
• “Live With Regis & Kelly” (syndicated/CTV) – THIS MORNING kd lang performs, then TONIGHT she’s the musical guest on the “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC).
• “The Real World Hollywood” (MTV): SATURDAY, just before the 20th season debut, “The Real World Awards Bash: Roast ‘Em & Toast ‘Em” airs, handing out tongue-in-cheek honors to cast members from previous seasons.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC/Global) – Wilco is the musical act as “Juno” actress Ellen Page hosts (rerun).
• “The Tudors” (Showtime) – SUNDAY is the 2nd season debut of the steamy show that re-enacts the life & loves of Britain’s fiery King Henry VIII. The 10-episode series stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers. (CBC viewers don’t get to see the new season until THIS FALL.)

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “Flawless” ( PG-13 Crime Drama ): Michael Caine plays an about-to-retire janitor who convinces a disgruntled female executive (Demi Moore) to help him steal some loot from their employer … the London Diamond Corporation. Filmed in England, France, and Luxembourg.
NET: http://www.flawlessfilm.com/
• “Run Fatboy Run” ( PG-13 Romantic Comedy ): Simon Pegg (“Hot Fuzz”) & Thandie Newton (“Crash”) star in the story of a hefty guy who trains to run in a marathon in an attempt to win back his true love 10 years after he left her standing at the altar. This feature film directorial debut for David Schwimmer (“Friends”) was shot entirely in England.
NET: http://www.runfatboyrunmovie.com/
• “Stop-Loss” ( R-Rated Drama ): Ryan Phillippe plays a soldier back home in a small Texas town after his tour of duty in Iraq is officially over. When he and an army buddy (Channing Tatum) are called back to active duty, they struggle to decide whether to follow orders. Co-stars Aussie actress Abbie Cornish (rumored to be expecting a child w/co-star Phillippe) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“3rd Rock from the Sun”).
NET: http://www.stoplossmovie.com/
• “Superhero Movie” ( PG-13 Action Comedy ): In the tradition of the “Scary Movie” films and “Meet the Spartans”, this satire sends up the superhero genre, including “Spider-Man”. Drake Bell plays an average teen who gains superpowers after he’s bitten by a genetically-altered dragonfly. Co-stars spoof-film veteran Leslie Nielsen (“Naked Gun” movies).
NET: http://www.superhero-movie.net/
• “21“ ( PG-13 Drama ) – Loosely based on a true story, Jim Sturgess (“Across the Universe”) plays an MIT math whiz who’s recruited by a shifty professor (Kevin Spacey) for a shady blackjack-card-counting team that makes a ton of dough in Vegas … until casino security figures out their game. Kate Bosworth co-stars.
NET: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/21/

LIFE BY THE NUMBERS:
A BS snapshot of who we are and what we do …
• 82% of women say they’d be willing to have relations with an attractive stranger for $1,000. (Most guys would PAY the grand.)
• 76% of us have at least 1 list somewhere in our homes. (Otherwise, we’d be listless.)
• 50% of women aged 25-34 spend at least 50% of every dollar they earn on debt.
• 40% of us say we feel more attractive when we’re wearing sunglasses. (Especially great big ones that cover our faces.)
• 19% of married people say their spouse’s laugh is the most annoying thing about them.
• 16% of us have lost an ATM card at a bar or nightclub. (Something to do with booze maybe?)

THE KEY TO HAPPY MARRIAGE:
A new study suggests happier marriages result from … attractive women wedding uglier men. University of Tennessee psychologists say men who see themselves as better looking than their wives are more likely to be disgruntled and have negative feelings about marriage. On the other hand, most men who wed attractive women are happy to bask in the glory of their partner’s beauty, enjoying the prestige of having a beautiful wife. In fact, men are rated as more likeable and friendly by others when they have a wife who is very attractive. (Maybe this explains Catherine Zeta Jones & Michael Douglas?)
– UPI

RECORDING ROOKIES OF THE YEAR:
According to a new “Forbes” magazine ranking, these are the hottest new music stars of the past year …
5. Flo Rida (“Low”)
4. J Holiday (“Bed”)
3. Colbie Caillat (“Bubbly”)
2. Sean Kingston (“Beautiful Girls”)
1. Soulja Boy (“Crank Dat Soulja Boy”)
– Forbes.com

HOW TO LOOK ATTRACTIVE:
Looking straight at people and smiling increases your attractiveness, according to a newly published study. Participants who looked at paired photos of the opposite sex rated a smiling face with a direct gaze fully 8 times more attractive than an unsmiling face. The study also suggests a shy smile while staring at the floor won’t get you as far as a smile paired with eye contact. (So forget playing coy … let your look linger.)
– “Women’s Health“

DID YOU KNOW?
Vehicle accidents are the #1 killer of young people aged 10-to-24 worldwide. Overall, 1.2 million people die in road accidents annually, making it the 7th biggest killer in the world, ahead of diabetes and malaria. It’s estimated that wearing a seatbelt would save half of all car occupants who die in crashes.
– “The Observer”

BS CHRONOMETER 03.28.08

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1955 [53] Reba McEntire, McAlester OK, country singer with 30 #1 singles, 14 #1 albums (w/Kelly Clarkson-“Because of You”, “Somebody”)/TV actress (“Reba” 2001-07)/Broadway actress (“Annie Get Your Gun”)

1969 [39] Rodney Atkins, Knoxville TN, country singer (“Cleaning This Gun”, “If You’re Going Through Hell”)

1970 [38] Vince Vaughn, Minneapolis MN, movie actor (“Wedding Crashers”, “Old School”)/Jennifer Aniston’s ex-bf

1976 [32] Dave Keuning, Pella IA, rock guitarist (The Killers-“When You Were Young”, “Mr Brightside”)

1981 [27] Julia Stiles, NYC, movie actress (“The Bourne Ultimatum”, “Save the Last Dance”)

1986 [22] J-Kwon (Jarrell Jones), St Louis MO, rapper (“Tipsy”, w/Bow Wow-“Fresh Azimiz”)

SATURDAY –
Comedian/actor/writer/composer Eric Idle (“Spamalot”) is 65; Rock singer Perry Farrell (Satellite Party, ex-Jane’s Addiction) is 49; Country singer Brady Seals (Hot Apple Pie, ex-Little Texas) is 39.

SUNDAY –
Movie actor/director/producer Warren Beatty (“Reds”) is 71; Classic rock singer/guitarist Eric Clapton (“Change the World”) is 63; Folk/pop singer Tracy Chapman (“Fast Car”) is 44; Pop singer Celine Dion (“My Heart Will Go On”) is 40; Pop/jazz singer Norah Jones (“Don’t Know Why”) is 29.

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Hot Tub Day”, time to soak yourself in a steaming hot tub and bust the stress. Yum, human stew!
• “Something on a Stick Day”, celebrating corn dogs, shish kebabs, Popsicles, ice cream bars, and anything else that’s served on a stick. It’s estimated there are more than 3 dozen foods regularly served on a stick at fairs and carnivals, including deep-fried candy bars, deep-fried Twinkies, and chocolate-covered bananas. Beersicle, anyone?

SATURDAY –
• “Global Earth Hour” – Cities around-the-world turn off their lights from 8-9 pm local time to raise awareness of climate change. LAST YEAR’s inaugural event was held in Australia, when an estimated 2.2 million Aussies participated to reduce demand on the power grid by 10%. In Toronto, Nelly Furtado performs a ‘carbon-free’ free concert as part of local celebrations. She’s been named Canada’s first ‘Earth Hour Ambassador’.
NET: http://www.earthhour.org/
• “Mom & Pop Business Owners Day”, honoring family-run small-time business operations. Ask listeners for the most unusual combination of services offered by a single business that they’ve come across, ie: “Al & Flo’s Roofing & Dry Cleaning”.
• “Vietnam Veterans Day”, honoring those who served in one of America’s least popular wars. The last American troops left Vietnam 35 years ago TODAY in 1973. (35 years from now, will there be an “Iraq Veterans’ Day”? And will the war be over?)

SUNDAY –
• “Badminton Day”, honoring the sport anyone can play in their backyard … badly. It never really caught on when it was first introduced in the early 1800s, perhaps because it was then known as ‘Poona’.
• “Doctors’ Day”, commemorating the 1st use of anaesthetic during surgery by Dr Crawford W Long in 1842. He got the idea by observing party-goers inebriated on ether.
• “Hot Dog Day”, in celebration of the marvellous invention of the tube steak, aka frank, weenie, wienie, wiener, dog, or red hot. In 1987, the city of Frankfurt, Germany celebrated the 500th birthday of the frankfurter, but the invention didn’t become a ‘hot dog’ until someone sandwiched it in a bun, an idea attributed to German immigrants in NYC during the 1860s.
• “Seward’s Day”, the anniversary of the 1867 US purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million or less than 2 cents an acre. At the time it was called ‘Seward’s Folly’ because Secretary of State William Seward was considered crazy for promoting the deal.
• “Take a Walk in the Park Day”, to encourage us to take the time for calming and therapeutic exercise that’s so darn easy to do … until you get mugged.

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1930 [78] Turkish cities of ‘Constantinople’ and ‘Angora’ are renamed ‘Istanbul’ and ‘Ankara’

1994 [14] 1st ‘Eggvertising’ as a phone company ad is printed on eggs in Britain (and that’s no yolk!)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Mon] Bunsen Burner Day
[Mon] Tater Day
[Tues] April Fools Day
[Tues] “Hell’s Kitchen 4” season debut (FOX)
[Wed] “Criminal Minds”/”CSI: NY” (CBS) new post-strike episodes
[Thurs] “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation/”Without a Trace” (CBS) new post-strike episodes
This Week Is … Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week
This Month Is … Caffeine Awareness Month

BULL’S BITS

MORE BS QUESTIONS PLAGUING HUMANITY:
• Do I get to add up the IQs of all my personalities?
• Isn’t the ‘Big Bang’ when you lose your virginity?
• When Bill Gates got married, did he just skip over the part about ‘richer or poorer’?
• Why do DVDs show us parts of the movie that we’re ABOUT TO WATCH?
• If car racing is a sport, isn’t everyone on the highway an athlete?

BS PHONE STARTER:
Would you pay $35 a ticket to watch a movie in a luxury theater? (That’s what Australian media company Village Roadshow will charge when 50 of its deluxe Gold Star Cinemas open across the US. The theaters feature just 40 reserved seats, special parking, and upscale food service from waiters. The company already has about 100 venues in Australia, Greece, and Singapore.)

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
Herb Peterson has just died at age 89 in Santa Barbara CA. What’s he credited with inventing?
a. The ‘Electric Egg Beater’.
b. ‘Omega-3 Enriched Eggs’
c. The ‘Egg McMuffin’. [CORRECT. The McDonald’s franchise owner created it as a way to introduce breakfast to his restaurants.]

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: If you want your child to grow up academically and financially successful, experts say THIS will help.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Raising them in a neat home.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
People who always stick to their plan become what they used to want to be.

Monthly Planning Calendar in Monday’s Edition of “BS”!