Friday, November 30, 2007        Edition: #3667
December Planning Calendar in Today’s Issue!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
TODAY a  USO tour that includes Victoria’s Secret models Adriana Lima, Marisa Miller & Selita Banks heads to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to entertain US troops (the only American tourists in Cuba for years) . . . In the wake of his “Dancing With the Stars” win, Helio Castroneves has called off his engagement, former fiancée Aliette Vazquez admitting she hasn’t even talked to him in 2 months (see what dancing can lead to, kids?) . . . Celeb chef Emeril Lagasse’s “Emeril Live” has apparently run its main course, being canceled from the Food Network although his “Essence of Emeril” will continue to air (after 10 years, they dump ya just like that – “Bam!!!”) . . . 20-year-old actor Zac Efron is the final cast member to be signed for “High School Musical 3“ (a movie version), finally agreeing to a $3-million payday (far more than any of the other ‘East High’ alumni because – he makes the girlies squeal) . . . And identical duo Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen have just re-listed their 12-room Greenwich Village penthouse condo in NYC (which they purchased for $7.3 million in 2004, then never lived in) and this time they’ve jacked the asking price to a smidgen under $12 million (only in NYC, if it doesn’t sell – you raise the price!).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Christina Aguilera – She admits she was so fearful for her unborn child during her world tour earlier THIS YEAR that she wore a carefully-hidden heart monitor in case of emergency.
• 50 Cent – Lindsay Lohan’s loser dad claims she’s been talking with Fiddy about collaborating on her musical comeback, in order to give her pop pap some ‘edge’.
• Josh Groban – His festive album, “Noel”, is the first Christmas-themed album to hit #1 on the “Billboard” chart since Kenny G’s “Miracles” in 1994.

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• Annie Lennox – TOMORROW her AIDS benefit recording for the Treatment Action Campaign, “Sing”, is released. It features guest vocals from Celine Dion, Dido, Faith Hill, Fergie, Joss Stone, kd lang, KT Tunstall, Madonna, Pink, Sarah Mclachlan, and Shakira.
• Avril Lavigne – SUNDAY afternoon she performs a free concert at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby BC as part of the grand opening of a local Best Buy store. Will she be playing white sales in malls next?
• “Kennedy Center Honors” – SUNDAY in Washington DC the annual honorees for lifetime achievement in entertainment are film director Martin Scorsese, actor/comedian/playwright Steve Martin, singers Diana Ross and Brian Wilson, and pianist Leon Fleisher. They’ll have dinner at the White House then attend a gala performance. The show will be taped for airing on CBS-TV DECEMBER 26th.
• “Movies Rock” – SUNDAY Beyoncé, Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, and Elton John are among performers for this first-ever concert celebrating the relationship between music and film at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles (pregnant Jennifer Lopez has cancelled). The concert will be taped and broadcast on CBS-TV next FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7th.
• Ozzy Osbourne – TODAY he & wife Sharon kick off a 2-day auction in Beverly Hills of furnishings, art & memorabilia from their 3 homes in California and England. Sort of an upscale yard sale. Apparently Sharon is into downsizing while Ozzy wants to keep it all. Guess who wears the pants?
• Rascal Flatts – THIS AFTERNOON they make their 1st appearance on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” (syndicated/CTV), performing “She Goes All The Way” with actor Jamie Foxx. Also appearing on the holiday-themed show: Amy Grant, Vince Gill, and Kenny Rogers.
• Spice Girls – SUNDAY their much ballyhooed reunion tour kicks off at General Motors Place in Vancouver. The tour was first announced by Simon Fuller, their original manager, back on JUNE 21st. So far, the plan is to hit 18 cities worldwide. The big question: Will they actually sing or just lip-sync? A story a few months back suggested they’d use a new technology that electronically tweaks live singing and automatically puts it in key.
• Steve Azar – SUNDAY the “I Don’t Have to Be Me (‘Til Monday)” country singer does a free pre-game concert at the San Francisco/Carolina NFL game in Charlotte NC. He’ll also perform the anthem before kickoff.
• “World AIDS Day Concert” – TOMORROW the 5th annual organized by Nelson Mandela’s 46664 campaign is staged in Johannesburg, South Africa. Some 3 dozen international artists perform, including Annie Lennox, Corrine Bailey Rae, Goo Goo Dolls, Ludacris, and Peter Gabriel.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENING:
“Awake” ( R-Rated Drama ): Hayden Christensen plays a wealthy young man suffering from a debilitating illness that only a risky procedure can cure. During the surgery, he experiences ‘anesthetic awareness’ whereby he can hear the doctors plotting his death on the operating table but he’s rendered helpless while his new wife (Jessica Alba) is forced to make life-altering decisions. Co-stars Lena Olin and Terrence Howard.
NET: http://www.awakethemovie.com/

THE PERFECT SMILE:
Researchers at California’s Loma Linda University School of Dentistry have come up with the formula for the perfect smile …
• The width of the ideal smile should be at least half the width of the face.
• The 2 central upper teeth should be the most dominant feature.
• Too much gum can give a ‘horsey’ look. The lip line should show no more than a sliver of gum.
• The upper and lower lips should be symmetrical.
• And teeth should be the same color as the whites of the eyes, not ‘toilet bowl white’ the way so many have over-bleached theirs these days.
– “Social Studies”

VIP DAY IN BRITAIN:
TOMORROW in London’s West End is ‘Very Important Pedestrians Day’ as all traffic is being banned from 3 of the major shopping areas: Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Bond Street. The New West End Company, representing 600 retailers, wants to close Oxford Street to traffic every SATURDAY in the run-up to Christmas. (It already costs you a minimum $16 per day just to drive in Central London due to the ‘Congestion Charge’, so taking the subway’s a better idea anyway.)
– “The Guardian”

TOO STUPID FOR US TO MAKE UP:
• Olympics organizers in Beijing have launched a new campaign to teach citizens … how to cheer. Instructors are touring factories, community centers, and even seniors’ homes to teach the Chinese how to cheer in a ‘disciplined and orderly way’. At Olympic venues, it’s hope that core cells of those who’ve been properly trained will initiate the ‘polite noise of rhythmic clapping and drumming’ from a pre-approved roster of 20 chants.
– “Daily Telegraph”
• Mall officials in Anchorage, Alaska have had so much difficulty finding Santas for the holiday season they’ve had to import them from out-of-state. One mall, which ironically lies in the same area code as the North Pole, has had to bring in a Santa from that hotbed of ‘Jolly Old Elfdom’ … New Mexico.
– “NY Post”
•  A British toy designer has launched a new line of stuffed … road-kill animals. There’s ‘Twitch’ the raccoon, which comes in a body bag to keep the maggots out. A tire print runs across his back and a zipper allows kids to remove the poor little guy’s innards and stuff them back in again. Soon, there’ll also be ‘Grind’ the rabbit, ‘Splodge’ the hedgehog and ‘Pop’ the weasel.
– Ananova News
• Police in Bensalem PA have busted one Harry Hackert after he allegedly drove past an idling cruiser with sirens blaring, pulled over a motorist and jumped from his car with a gun in hand. Problem is … Hackert isn’t a cop. He’s been charged with impersonating a police officer.
– AP
• Veterinarians in Tamworth UK have conducted emergency surgery on a dog named Taffy, after the 18-month-old Springer spaniel swallowed … his owner’s pants. The operation to remove the young boy’s pants was successful after 2 hours but it’s not the first time Taffy has wolfed down foreign objects. In the past, he’s eaten 300 socks, 15 pairs of shoes, and the electronic key fob for the family car.
– AHN
• As far as anyone knows, a pair of brothers in Ayapan, Mexico, are the only 2 people left in the world who speak the tribal language of Zoque. But there’s a big problem … the brothers aren’t speaking to each other, so experts are afraid the language will die out. The Mexican Institute for Indigenous Languages is trying to patch up the differences between the feuding sibs in hope of saving the dialect.
– “The Sun“

FOR THE RECORD:
• A spectacular diamond-encrusted Fabergé egg made for the Rothschild banking family has been sold for $18.5 million after a fierce bidding battle between Russian buyers at a Christie’s auction, thereby breaking the world auction record for the one-of-a-kind creations.
– “GQ”
•  A ‘bubbleologist’ has set a new world record in London by squeezing 50 children inside a single soap bubble. ‘Sam-sam Bubbleman’ Heath used a 40-ft wand to create the bubble around the kids, who each had to be more than 5-feet-tall for the record to count.
– “Globe & Mail”

BS AMAZING FACT:
DECEMBER is the most popular month for nose jobs. (“All I Want For Christmas Is a Brand New Beak …”; “I’ll Have Nose for Christmas …”; “Deck Your Face with Rhinoplasty …”)

BS CHRONOMETER 11.30.07

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1929 [78] Dick Clark, Mount Vernon NY, TV producer (“American Music Awards”, “Golden Globe Awards”)/TV host (“New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” since 1972)/suffered a stroke in 2004

1937 [70] Ridley Scott, South Shields UK, movie producer/director (“American Gangster”, “Gladiator”)

1955 [52] Billy Idol (William Broad), Stanmore UK, classic rock singer (“Mony Mony”, “Cradle of Love”)

1957 [50] Colin Mochrie, Kilmarnock, Scotland [raised Vancouver BC], improv comedian (“This Hour Has 22 Minutes” 2001-03, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” 1998-2004)/TV host (“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”)/former member of the Toronto Second City troupe

1965 [42] Ben Stiller, NYC, movie actor (“Night at the Museum”, “Meet the Fockers”)

1971 [36] Sandra Oh, Nepean ON, TV actress (‘Dr Cristina Yang’ on “Grey’s Anatomy” since 2005)/movie actress (“Sideways”)/Golden Globe Award (2006)/2 Genie Awards (1999,1994)

1978 [29] Clay Aiken (Grissom), Raleigh NC, pop singer (“The Way”, “Solitaire”)/2003 “American Idol” runner-up

1982 [25] Elisha Cuthbert, Calgary AB [grew up Longueuil QC], movie actress (“Captivity“, “Old School”)/TV actress (‘Kim Bauer‘ on “24” 2001-06)

SATURDAY –
Movie director Woody Allen (“Annie Hall”) is 72; Pop singer/movie actress Bette Midler (“Wind Beneath My Wings”) is 62; Comedian Sarah Silverman (“The Sarah Silverman Program”) is 37; Rock guitarist Brad Delson (Linkin Park) is 30.

SUNDAY –
Rock bassist Rick Savage (Def Leppard) is 47; Rock bassist Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters) is 39; Movie actress Lucy Liu (“Kill Bill”) is 39; Pop singer Nelly Furtado (“Promiscuous”) is 29; Pop singer Britney Spears (“Gimme More”) is 26.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “International Computer Security Day”, to remind us to protect our computers, programs and data at home and work. Remember, always practise safe surfin’!
• “St Andrew’s Day”, honoring the patron saint of Scotland who hurled his last haggis in 60 AD. Be sure to dust off your sporran!
• “Stay Home Because You’re Well Day”, a day to call in ‘well’ instead of having to fake sickness in order to get a day off. Yeah right, try this stunt and you can stay home EVERY day.

SATURDAY –
• “Bifocals at the Monitor Day”, a day of lamentation for all those forced to tip their heads back open-mouthed in order to use a computer, thanks to their need for bifocal lenses. Gradually more and more of Canada’s 10 million Baby Boomers are suffering ‘presbyopia’ (Greek word for ‘aging eye’).
• “Eat a Red Apple Day”. Sure, now all the Granny Smiths will be protesting.
• “Let’s See What We Find In the Fridge Day”, a day to be brave and eat something from the back of the refrigerator. So what did you find?
• “Pie Day”, honoring the popular culinary creation as an ‘art form’. It works better as a weapon.
• “World AIDS Day”,  the 19th annual day of AIDS awareness and education, first declared by the UN’s World Health Organization in 1988. The UN estimates that 5 people worldwide die of AIDS every minute of every day. HIV has hit every corner of the globe, infecting more than 42 million men, women and children. The official symbol of “World AIDS Day” is the red ribbon. In some places, the occasion is observed as “Day Without Art”.
NET: http://www.worldaidsday.org

SUNDAY –
• “Fritters Day”, honoring the yummy treat made by frying up small cakes of dough in butter or oil.
• “Pan American Health Day”, saluting the Pan American Health Organization which works to improve health and living standards in all the countries of the Americas.
• “Play Basketball Day”, honoring the game invented in 1891 as a YMCA pastime that’s evolved into big biz where players get a bazillion bucks a bucket.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2004 [03] After amassing $2,520,700 on TV quiz show “Jeopardy!”, contestant Ken Jennings is finally knocked off by real estate agent Nancy Zerg on a question about taxes (during his record 75-game run, he gives correct responses to over 2,700 clues)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1970 [37] 1st-ever ‘Triple Album’(George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass”)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1887 [120] 1st ‘Softball Game’ (as ‘Indoor Baseball’ is played in Chicago using a broomstick for a bat and a boxing glove for a ball)

BS MONTHLY PLANNING CALENDAR . . .
[Dec 2] Fritters Day / Pan American Health Day
[Dec 3] International Day of Disabled Persons / Roof-Over-Your-Head Day / Coats for Kids Day
[Dec 4] Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day / Cookie Day / Wear Brown Shoes Day / “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show“ airs (CBS) / Hanukkah begins
[Dec 5] International Volunteer Day / Bathtub Party Day
[Dec 6] Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women / St Nicholas Day / Pawnbrokers Day / Grammy Awards nominees announced / Christmas Lights Across Canada 2007
[Dec 7] International Civil Aviation Day / “The Golden Compass” opens in movie theaters
[Dec 8] Bad Hair Day / Brownie Day / Take it in the Ear Day
[Dec 9] Pastry Day
[Dec 10] Led Zeppelin reunion concert (London) / International Human Rights Day / Dewey Decimal Day / Children’s Memorial Day
[Dec 11] Nobel Peace Concert (Oslo, Norway)
[Dec 12] Poinsettia Day / Ding-A-Ling Day / “The Perfect Holiday“ opens in movie theaters
[Dec 14] Bouillabaisse Day / “Alvin and the Chipmunks”; “I Am Legend”; “The Kite Runner” open in movie theaters
[Dec 16] Chocolate Covered Anything Day / Las Posadas begins (Mexico)
[Dec 17] Maple Syrup Day / Underdog Day
[Dec 18] Bake Cookies Day
[Dec 21] Humbug Day / Look at the Bright Side Day / Flashlight Day / “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”; “PS I Love You”; “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”; “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” open in movie theaters
[Dec 22] Abilities Day / Winter begins
[Dec 24] Christmas Eve / Egg Nog Day
[Dec 25] Christmas Day / “Aliens vs Predator – Requiem”; “Charlie Wilson’s War”; “The Great Debaters”; “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep” open in movie theaters
[Dec 26] Kwanzaa begins / Boxing Day / Whiner’s Day / Recyclable Packaging Day / Awful Tie Day
[Dec 27] Fruitcake Day
[Dec 28] Card Playing Day
[Dec 31] New Year’s Eve / Make Up Your Mind Day / World Peace Meditation
[Jan 1] New Year’s Day
[Jan 3] “Celebrity Apprentice” premieres (NBC)
[Jan 8] 34th People’s Choice Awards
[Feb 3] Super Bowl XLII (Phoenix AZ)
[Feb 10] 50th Grammy Awards

[Dec 3] International Day of Disabled Persons / Roof-Over-Your-Head Day / Coats for Kids Day
[Dec 4] Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day / Cookie Day / Wear Brown Shoes Day / “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show“ airs (CBS) / Hanukkah begins
[Dec 5] International Volunteer Day / Bathtub Party Day
[Dec 6] Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women / St Nicholas Day / Pawnbrokers Day / Grammy Awards nominees announced / 2007 Christmas Pageant of Peace opening (Washington DC)
[Dec 7] International Civil Aviation Day / Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day / “The Golden Compass” opens in movie theaters
[Dec 8] Bad Hair Day / Brownie Day / Take it in the Ear Day
[Dec 9] Pastry Day
[Dec 10] Led Zeppelin reunion concert (London) / International Human Rights Day / Dewey Decimal Day / Children’s Memorial Day
[Dec 11] Nobel Peace Concert (Oslo, Norway)
[Dec 12] Poinsettia Day / Ding-A-Ling Day / “The Perfect Holiday“ opens in movie theaters
[Dec 14] Bouillabaisse Day / “Alvin and the Chipmunks”; “I Am Legend”; “The Kite Runner” open in movie theaters
[Dec 15] US Bill of Rights Day
[Dec 16] Chocolate Covered Anything Day / Las Posadas begins (Mexico)
[Dec 17] Maple Syrup Day / Underdog Day
[Dec 18] Bake Cookies Day
[Dec 21] Humbug Day / Look at the Bright Side Day / Flashlight Day / “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”; “PS I Love You”; “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”; “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” open in movie theaters
[Dec 22] Abilities Day / Winter begins
[Dec 24] Christmas Eve / Egg Nog Day
[Dec 25] Christmas Day / “Aliens vs Predator – Requiem”; “Charlie Wilson’s War”; “The Great Debaters”; “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep” open in movie theaters
[Dec 26] Kwanzaa begins / Whiner’s Day / Recyclable Packaging Day / Awful Tie Day
[Dec 27] Fruitcake Day
[Dec 28] Card Playing Day
[Dec 31] New Year’s Eve / Make Up Your Mind Day / World Peace Meditation
[Jan 1] New Year’s Day
[Jan 3] “Celebrity Apprentice” premieres (NBC)
[Jan 8] 34th People’s Choice Awards
[Feb 3] Super Bowl XLII (Phoenix AZ)
[Feb 10] 50th Grammy Awards

BULL’S BITS

BS BAND NAMES:
Before starting up a band, you should know that the following names are taken … honest!
• The Diuretics
• Gag Reflex
• Special Ed
• Hitler Can’t Dance
• His Boy Elroy
• Buddha’s Love Handles
• Finding Emo
• Unibrow
• Short Bus Riders
• The Well Hungarians

BS PHONE STARTERS:
Dumb things we do in Canada:
– We allow Ottawa to launch expensive & seemingly endless inquiries into things (Mulroney’s money, Air India disaster) that eventually accomplish little other than taking politicians off the hot seat. Remember the Gomery Commission? Remember any relative outcomes from it?
– We mimic Americans (badly) in an attempt to seem patriotic. Why a military display and mega-gigantic maple leaf flag at the Grey Cup? What do they have to do with a football game?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Concerts are where they ruin all the songs you enjoyed on the radio.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: About twice as many men as women do THIS naked.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Talk on the phone.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered desk drawer.