Friday, May 12, 2006 Edition: #3281
The Mother of All Show Prep!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
TODAY Oprah makes a first-ever guest appearance on ABC-TV’s gabfest, “The View”, purportedly to plug her upcoming MAY 15th special, “Oprah Winfrey’s Legends’ Ball” (but more likely just to gloat over who has more daytime viewers) . . . SATURDAY Indigo Books & Music salutes Leonard Cohen and his new collection of poetry, “Book Of Longing”, by presenting him with a hand-bound book of notes & letters from Canadians at its flagship Toronto store . . . SUNDAY the 2-hour “Survivor Panama: Exile Island” finalé airs, followed by a live reunion show in NYC’s Ed Sullivan Theater, home of the “Late Show With David Letterman” (is there anyone left who’ll bet against Terry Deitz?) . . . SUNDAY NBC’s “The West Wing”, once the best-written show on TV, airs its series finalé after 7 seasons, in which the original cast returns to couple up, have kids, live happily ever after, etc; the final episode is preceded by the initial 1999 episode (theme song is here, near the bottom of the page . . . http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/The_West_Wing_(television) ) . . . Actor Vince Vaughn wants to have children, but admits he has yet to discuss it with his girlfriend Jennifer Aniston (hey Vince, wouldn’t that be step 1?) . . . In a deal with authorities, the “CCC” nightclub in Detroit MI where rapper Proof was shot to death is closing down for a year (it’s not like people were beating down the door to get in anyway) . . . And late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain has been named the ‘Greatest Hero in Rock ‘n Roll History’ in a reader poll by music magazine “NME” (also named ‘Best Shot’).
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Billy Joel – His life story is being turned into a Showtime TV series titled “Big Shot”, a weekly 1-hour drama that details his early years and rise to fame. Along with Joel, “Will & Grace” star Sean Hayes is a co-producer.
• Brooks & Dunn – TONIGHT their “Long Haul” tour kicks off in Charlotte NC, also featuring Jack Ingram and Sugarland.
• Elvis Presley – Talk about a mommy’s boy. He slept in the same bed with his mother, Gladys, until he reached puberty.
• 50 Cent – He’s lined up another film role, this time in the heist film, “Live Bet”, about underground clubs in NYC that take bets on illegal car racing.
• Hoobastank – TONIGHT they perform on the “Tonight Show With Jay Leno”.
• Madonna – Why’s she such a hovering mom? Maybe because her mother died when she was 5-years-old.
• Metallica – Did you know they always take their own chiropractor on tour with them? TONIGHT frontman James Hetfield receives the “Stevie Ray Vaughan Award” for his support of the MusiCares MAP Fund, which helps people in the biz get addiction treatment.
• Ne-Yo – A free concert won by students at Mercy High, a Catholic girls school in suburban Detroit MI, has been cancelled because officials consider some of his lyrics too explicit. That’s just “So Sick”!
• Paul Simon – TOMORROW he’s the musical guest on NBC-TV’s “Saturday Night Live”, hosted by “SNL” and “Seinfeld” alum Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
• Snoop Dogg – British authorities have only issued him with a ‘caution’ over that recent brawl at Heathrow Airport, but British Airways has banned him from future travel on the airline.
TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “Just My Luck” [ PG-13 Romantic Comedy ]: Lindsay Lohan tries to play grown-up as a socialite who is the luckiest person in NYC. But after kissing a real loser at a masquerade ball, she’s horrified to discover she and he have swapped their luck. Word has it the girl partied a tad on the movie’s New Orleans set, sparking several delays and rumors of a bad performance.
NET: Trailer & clips here … http://www.justmyluckmovie.com/
• “Poseidon” [ PG-13 Action Adventure ]: After a tidal wave causes a luxury ocean liner to capsize, a handful of survivors struggle to find a way to the surface. Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell & Richard Dreyfuss star in this remake of 1972’s “The Poseidon Adventure”. Directed by ocean disaster vet Wolfgang Petersen (“Das Boot”, “The Perfect Storm”).
NET: Theme & trailer here … http://www2.warnerbros.com/poseidon/
BS NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE:
• Although introverts may not light up the stage, they often make the best performers. Shy musicians pick up on the crowd’s energy, which creates a closer, more authentic connection. (“Psychology Today”)
• Female teachers suffer from a higher than average prevalence of bronchitis, eczema, and varicose veins; male teachers from conjunctivitis and lower urinary tract infections. (“Toronto Star”)
• By the time they are 50 years old, everyone wishes they had spent less time in the Sun, according to Boston University dermatologist Barbara Gilchrest. (“Globe & Mail”)
• A wise teacher once said if you have to cram before a final exam, you’ve been doing it wrong all semester. (“Indianapolis Star”)
• Tattoos can usually be bleached with 10 laser treatments, but only half of tattoos can be completely removed. (“Social Studies”)
WHAT WOULD JESUS DRIVE?
It seems poverty, disease, pestilence and war just aren’t serious enough topics for church leaders these days. So someone’s come up with the idea of polling them on the topic of what Jesus would drive if he embarked on his earthly ministry in the 21st Century. The top answers include ‘an environmentally-friendly electrically powered bus’ (16%) and ‘a camper van’ (17%), but the most popular answer – ‘he would still walk’ (29%). (Next week, we’ll tackle the thorny theological question, ‘What would Jesus watch on TV?’.)
– “BBC News Magazine”
WORLD’S MOST ELIGIBLE BILLIONAIRES:
5. Stefan Quandt, Germany (inherited $6.6 billion as BMW heir)
4. Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia ($6.4 billion made in metals)
3. Larry Page, USA ($12.8 billion as Google co-founder)
2. Sergey Brin, USA ($12.9 billion as Google co-founder)
1. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, Saudi Arabia ($20 billion in investments)
(Canada’s most eligible billionaires include eBay founder Jeffrey Skoll ($5 billion); Mutual fund whiz Michael Lee-Chin ($2.1 billion); and Bodog.com online casino entrepreneur Calvin Ayre ($1 billion).
– “Forbes”
BS TALES OF THE ABSURD:
• A pair of lost day-hikers in California’s San Jacinto Mountains managed to survive 3 nights in the wild after scavenging supplies from a deserted campsite thought to belong to another hiker who disappeared previously – almost a year to the day. (Creepy! When’s the movie coming out?)
• A 47-year-old man in Munich, Germany who unsuccessfully tried to kill himself by jumping in front of a train has been ordered by the court to pay compensation – for the damage he caused to a window. (Now that’s depressing!)
BS AMAZING MOTHERS DAY FACT:
The highest officially recorded number of children born to one mother is 69, to the first wife of Feodor Vassilyev (1707-1782) of Shuya, Russia. Between 1725 and 1765, in a total of 27 confinements, she gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets. 67 of them survived infancy. Typically for the time, we have no record of her name.
– “Guinness Book of World Records”
THE BULL SHEET 05.12.2K6
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1921 [85] Farley Mowatt, Belleville ON, wildlife author (“Never Cry Wolf”)/Order of Canada (1981)
1937 [69] George Carlin, NYC, ground-breaking stand-up comedian
1948 [58] Steve Winwood, Great Barr UK, classic rock musician (“Higher Love”, Spencer Davis Group-“Gimme Some Lovin’”)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2004)
1955 [51] (Leon) Kix Brooks, Shreveport LA, country singer (Brooks & Dunn-“Believe”)
1959 [47] Ving Rhames, NYC, movie actor (‘Luther Strickell’-“Mission: Impossible 1-3″)
1962 [44] Emilio Estevez, NYC, movie actor (“The Mighty Ducks”)/son of actor Martin Sheen/wed to Paul Abdul (1992-94)
1978 [28] Jason Biggs, Hasbrouck Heights NJ, movie actor (“Eight Below”, “American Pie”) UP NEXT: “Farce of the Penguins”
SATURDAY –
Tough-guy movie actor Harvey Keitel (“National Treasure”) is 67; R&B singer Stevie Wonder (“Sunshine of My Life”) is 56; TV personality Stephen Colbert (“The Colbert Report”) is 42; Country singer Lari White (“I’m No Stranger To The Rain”) is 41; Has-been pop singer Darius Rucker (Hootie & the Blowfish) is 40; Pop musician Mickey Madden (Maroon 5) is 27.
SUNDAY –
“Star Wars” movie producer/director George Lucas is 62; Movie actress Cate Blanchett (“Lord of the Rings”) is 37; Pop musician Henry Garza (Los Lonely Boys) is 28; Movie actress Amber Tamblyn (“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”) is 23.
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day”, the syndrome officially known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ‘M-E’. There were some special events planned but the M-E Association was just too burnt out to have the energy to pull them off.
• “International Nurses Day”, commemorating the 1820 birth date of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, and wrapping up “Nurses’ Week”.
• “Kite Day”, a good excuse to tell someone to go fly theirs.
• “Limerick Day”, celebrating the 1812 birthday of Edward Lear, author of the first collection of limericks, “The Book of Nonsense”. You’ll find some ‘Loony Limericks’ here …
NET: http://home.earthlink.net/~kristenaa
• “Military Spouses Day”, observed annually on the Friday before “Mother’s Day” and recognizing the courage of those on the home front.
• “Receptionists Day”, in recognition of the frontline personnel in business and education, the ones responsible for a good first impression. (And besides, they’re really bitter about “Administrative Professionals Day” a couple weeks back.)
NET: http://www.nationalreceptionists.com/pressreleasemissionstmt.html
SATURDAY –
• “Birth Mother’s Day”, observed annually on the Saturday before “Mother’s Day” and dedicated to those who, for one reason or another, have put a child up for adoption. (And then, if they’re on “Desperate Housewives”, take ‘em back!)
• “Full ‘Flower’ Moon” lights up the sky THIS MORNING at 2:51 am.
• “Table Knife Appreciation Day”. France’s Cardinal Richelieu is said to have invented the utensil on this date in 1639. Before that, hunting knives were used in a stabbing motion.
SUNDAY –
• “Dance Like A Chicken Day”. Everybody now – “Dadda dadda dadda dah, dadda dadda dadda dah, dah dah dah dah …”
• “Help Clean Up Your Street Day”. (So [co-host], guess you’re moving, are you?)
• “Mothers Day”, celebrated on the 2nd Sunday in May in Canada, the USA, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy & Turkey. The earliest celebrations can be traced back to ancient Greece in honor of ‘Rhea, the Mother of the Gods’. In the 17th century, England began celebrating “Mothering Sunday” on the 4th Sunday of Lent.
• “Online Romance Day”, a day to fall in love in a chat room (with who knows what). It’s the 9th annual excuse to encourage singles to go online.
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1937 [69] 1st-ever ‘Worldwide Radio Broadcast’ (coronation of Britain’s King George VI)
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1978 [28] National Weather Service announces hurricanes will no longer exclusively be given female names
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1992 [14] 30 men & 2 women from 9 nations all reach the summit of Mount Everest, the most climbers on the peak in a single day (at the top, they’re greeting by a Sherpa with a ‘Stop/Slow’ sign)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] Canadian Census Day
[Tues] Wear Purple For Peace Day
[Wed] 2006 Cannes Film Festival begins
[Wed] Pack Rat Day
[Thurs] Visit Your Relatives Day
[Thurs] International Museum Day
This Week Is … Historic Preservation Week
This Month Is … Senior Travel Month
BULL’S BITS
THE WEEK’S WACKIEST SUPERMARKET TABLOID HEADLINES:
• “Alien Zoo Animals Loose on Earth! Saucer Crash Sets Bizarre Creatures Free!”
• “Housewife Knits Sweaters With Lint From Her Clothes Dryer!”
• “Bigfoot vs Aliens! Hairy Hero Defends Home Turf Against Space Invaders!”
• “New Religion Proclaims: God Is a Flying Spaghetti Monster!”
• “Innovative Real Estate Company Offers New Lease on Life!”
• “Airport Haunted by Dead Hare Krishnas!”
BS ARGUMENT STARTER:
A plan to create a separate domain for explicit websites, all of which would end with the suffix ‘.xxx’, has been dropped by Internet regulator ICANN. Supporters had argued it would make it easier for surfers to find or avoid the material, and likely make it easier to block. Opponents argued it would give those type of sites more legitimacy. Who’s right?
TOP SWAPS:
The week’s most requested music files online …
5. Rick Ross – “Hustlin”
4. Sean Paul – “Temperature”
3. Ne-Yo – “When You’re Mad”
2. Rihanna – “SOS”
1. TI – “What You Know”
– Big Champagne online music measurement.
BS BLATANT JOKES:
• I’m not sure what apathy is … and I don’t really care.
• I love flying off on vacation. I’ve been to almost as many places as my luggage.
• The art of putting this show together every morning is simply finding the right wrench to pound in the correct screw.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: Though officially titled “Arrangement in Black and Gray”, THIS famous painting is more commonly known by another name.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: “Whistler’s Mother”.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Teachers, moms, and hoot owls sleep with one eye open.