Wednesday, November 7, 2007 Edition: #3650
Our Sheet Don’t Stink!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
The cast of “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC/CTV) is worried that if the Hollywood writer’s strike isn’t resolved quickly their season could come to a halt at Christmastime (they don’t need a written script, just a handy storage closet & 2 hot ‘n heavy cast members) . . . Another Hollywood child has instantly qualified for schoolyard bullying as “Resident Evil“ actress Milla Jovovich has named her new baby girl – ‘Ever Gabo Anderson’ (someday the kid will ask, “Mommy what were you on?”) . . . Fremantle Media, producer of “American Idol” & “America’s Got Talent”, is bringing the new talent competition “Can You Duet?” to CMT NEXT SPRING, with the aim of finding the best new country music duet (Small & Poor?) . . . 27-year-old Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen is now demanding she be paid in euros rather than ever-sinking US dollars, even to appear in ads for Pantene hair products in the USA (she not only has a figure but a head for figures!) . . . “Vogue” magazine’s latest listing of the ‘World’s Most Glamorous Women’ includes models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, plus – Britain’s 81-year-old Queen Elizabeth II (thanks to those sensible brogue shoes?) . . . And Australia Post has just released a commemorative postage stamp honoring late environmentalist & “Crocodile Hunter” star Steve Irwin a year after his death (it’s the next step toward sainthood).
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Beyoncé – She & bf Jay-Z will hit the stage for the opening of his new 40/40 Club in Las Vegas on DECEMBER 30th.
• Finger Eleven – A free HD concert download is available to Xbox 360 users for 60 days. The 58-minute set, recorded at the Berkeley Church in Toronto, is highlighted by their mega-hit “Paralyzer”.
• Garth Brooks – He’s just been certified by the RIAA as the #1 selling solo artist of all-time, edging past Elvis Presley.
• Led Zeppelin – The release of their greatest hits collection, “Mothership”, is being hyped with a series of image displays on the sides of some of London’s best-known landmarks, such as Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. The box set drops MONDAY in the UK, a day later elsewhere.
• Rolling Stones – Don’t buy them rocking chairs quite yet. Mick Jagger says they’re considering tour dates in India and other countries in Asia for 2008.
• Rosanne Cash – Johnny Cash’s singer/songwriter daughter has announced she’s about to undergo brain surgery for a ‘rare but benign condition’ that she has chosen not to identify. She plans to resume her “Black Cadillac“ tour NEXT SPRING.
• Sum 41 – They’ve postponed all tour dates for the rest of the year due to Deryck Whibley suffering a herniated disk in his back.
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• Babyface – The producer/performer is on “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS).
• Enrique Iglesias – He appears on “The Young & the Restless” (CBS/Global) as himself, singing “Somebody’s Me” while stopping by the fictional ‘Indigo’ jazz club on the daytime soap.
• Gary Allen – The “Watching Airplanes” country star does “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC).
• “Giller Awards Gala” – The 14th annual celebration of the best in Canadian fiction airs (CTV), . The winner gets $40,000 cash. One of the few opportunities for Canadian authors to share the limelight was taped TUESDAY at Toronto’s Four Seasons Hotel.
NET: http://www.scotiabankgillerprize.ca/home.htm
• Keyshia Cole/Missy Elliott/Lil’ Kim – They perform on “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS). Did you know that Keyshia was once a backup singer for flash-in-the-pan rapper MC Hammer?
• “Rock ‘N Roll Fantasy Camp“ – The 10th annual get-together for pretend rockers gets underway in Las Vegas through SUNDAY. Among the geezer-rockers passing along tips ‘n tunes as camp counselors – Alan White (Yes); Joe Walsh (Eagles), Paul Stanley (Kiss); Roger Daltrey (Who); Simon Kirke (Bad Company), Slash (Velvet Revolver), and Vince Neil (Motley Crue). The 5-day camp ain’t cheap – it’ll set back wannabe rock stars $9,500 each.
NET: http://www.rockandrollfantasycamp.com/website_/vegas.html
• Seal – He guests on “Live With Regis & Kelly” (syndicated/CTV).
CMA AWARDS:
TONIGHT the 41st “Country Music Association Awards” are handed out at the Sommet Center in Nashville TN (ABC). A few highlights …
• LeAnn Rimes and Sara Evans are among several artists who share hosting duties.
• Brad Paisley and George Strait lead nominations with 5 apiece. Alison Krauss, Kenny Chesney, and Martina McBride follow with 4 each.
• Nominees for ‘Entertainer of the Year’ are Brad Paisley, George Strait, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, and Rascal Flatts.
• Performers include Alison Krauss, Big & Rich, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Jason Aldean, Josh Turner, Kellie Pickler, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts (w/Jamie Foxx), Reba McEntire (w/LeAnn Rimes), Rodney Atkins, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, and – for the first time ever at the CMAs – The Eagles.
THE QUIT SMOKING DIET:
New Duke University research suggests that what you eat can impact your urge to smoke cigarettes. Psychologist Joe McClernon says most foods & beverages affect the taste of cigarettes. Studies show that alcohol, coffee, soft drinks, and meat help smokers enjoy the taste; while milk, cheese, yogurt, water, fruits, and vegetables make cigs taste yucky. Although researchers know which foods have an effect, they still haven’t figured out why. It’s thought there may be some sort of chemical reaction between something in dairy products and the 4,000-odd chemicals that make up tobacco smoke. (Worst food/cig combo? Corn Flakes?)
– Ivanhoe Broadcast News
I ROBOT, YOU MASTER:
At Britain’s University of Hertfordshire, robots are learning lessons in ‘robotiquette’ – how to behave socially so they can better mix with humans. The idea is to develop a code of social behavior for robot-human interaction. Among issues being addressed, it’s hoped that robots can learn to respect humans’ personal space and to treat people as human beings, not other robots. However, according to researchers, building a robot which will make full use of ‘robotiquette’ for human interaction will take at least another 20 years. (Naw … he’s already in the White House.)
– BBC News
TOO STUPID FOR US TO MAKE UP:
• They say that within the next few years we’ll all have a separate life online alongside our own. Take 49-year-old Freeman Williams, for instance, who manages a dental practice in Houston TX by day. At night, he prowls crime-ridden streets and battles ne’er-do-wells in the online video game “City of Heroes” as his virtual alter-ego … a female superhero named ‘Robotrixie’. He calls the hobby his catharsis, an escape from the work world. (Nice to see cross-dressing, middle-aged men aren’t limited to teen chat rooms anymore.)
• The US Environmental Protection Agency has dropped its warning for New Jersey residents not to eat … squirrels. A case of lead poisoning in a squirrel believed to be caused by its proximity to a toxic waste dump has proven to actually be due to a defective part in a blender that was used to process its tissue. (A squirrel in a blender. The answer to the old joke, “What’s red and brown, red and brown, red and brown …”).
– “Daily News”
• 44-year-old Vince Mattingley of Britain had his chest tattooed with Chinese writing to spell out his name when he was an impulsive young lad of 18 … at least, he thought he did. Back then he asked the staff at his favorite Chinese restaurant to render his name in Chinese symbols for the artwork but while visiting Thailand this year a local bartender informed him he had ‘Coca-Cola’ tattooed on his chest. (Maybe he can get 26 years of advertising royalties?)
– “Social Studies”
• NYC chef Frank Tujague of The Westin New York hotel has created what is believed to be the first … $1,000-bagel. How do you make a humble bagel worth a grand? By adding white truffle cream cheese and goji-berry-infused Riesling jelly with golden leaves on top of it, of course. It was designed in part to raise funds for Les Amis d’Escoffier Scholarship, which provides scholarships to students of the culinary arts. (And we wonder why Third World countries hate the West.)
– “China Daily”
NEVER SPIKE YOUR BULL:
Experts are warning that mixing vodka & Red Bull can be deadly. One says mixing booze with energy drinks is like ‘mixing cocaine with heroin’. Another compares it to ‘getting into a car and stepping on the gas pedal and the brake at the same time’. Whatever the analogy, it seems mixing the stimulant caffeine with the depressant alcohol makes for a dangerous mix. Particularly college-age students regularly consume the cocktail variously known as an ‘RBV’, ‘Eyeopener’, ‘Dagger’, or ‘Heart Attack’ in order to drink more, and to drink longer. Some of the consequences, according to a new study …
• They’re twice as likely to be hurt & require medical attention.
• They’re twice as likely to travel with a drunk driver.
• They have almost double the risk of being taken advantage of sexually.
• They drink up to 36% more than others around them.
• They report twice as many episodes of weekly drunkenness.
A Red Bull spokeswoman refuses to comment until the study results can be examined, but does advise that we drink Red Bull ‘responsibly’. (Or at least make sure your syringes are sterile.)
– Reuters
BS CUTTING-EDGE VOCAB:
New terms leaking into the lingo …
• ‘Dropout Factory’ – The term for a high school where only 60% of students who start as freshmen make it to their senior year. About half the high schools in Florida & South Carolina qualify. (“Let’s go DF High, DF High go …”)
• ‘Tattoo Regret’ – Feelings of embarrassment or remorse about having one or more tattoos. 50% of tattooed respondents in a recent survey admit they wished they had never gotten themselves inked.
• ‘Womenomics’ – A newly-coined word that highlights the increasing role that women now play in economic life. Financial publication “The Economist” claims the future of the world economy lies increasingly in female hands. Women, it argues, may be the world’s most under-utilized resource, particularly in undeveloped countries.
DID YOU KNOW?
Dryer lint is a leading cause of home fires. Leaving home while the dryer is on can be a very dangerous practice.
– “Globe & Mail”
SHE SAID IT:
“My dream is to be a highly fulfilled and productive stay-at-home mom and wife.”
– Julia Roberts, suggesting to “Vanity Fair” magazine that her acting days may be over (at least, until the writers’ strike ends).
BS CHRONOMETER 11.07.07
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1918 [89] (William Franklin) Billy Graham, Charlotte NC, evangelist who’s preached to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history (over 210 million in more than 185 countries & territories)
1942 [65] Johnny Rivers (John Ramistella), NYC, oldies singer (“Poor Side of Town”, “Baby I Need Your Lovin”)
1943 [64] Joni Mitchell (Roberta Anderson), Fort McLeod AB, pop/folk singer/songwriter (“Big Yellow Taxi”, “Both Sides Now”)/Canadian Music Hall of Fame (1981)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1997)/Canadian Walk of Fame (2000)/Companion of the Order of Canada (2002)/Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2002)
1973 [34] Yunjin Kim, Seoul, South Korea, TV actress (‘Sun Kwon‘ on “Lost” since 2004)
BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day”. Hey, chocolate with whatever is a good excuse to celebrate. An Oxford University study finds that when chocoholics eat chocolate or even just look at pictures of it, it turns on pleasure centers in their brains. It’s a feeling that’s apparently not experienced by those who don’t crave chocolate.
• “Notary Public Day”, honoring the officers who administer oaths and statutory declarations, witness and authenticate documents, and perform certain other acts varying from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Almost as exciting as “Accountant’s Day”!
• “PMS Stress Day”, originally founded in 1995. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. If not, get the hell out of the way!
• “Take Our Kids to Work Day”, the 13th annual national program instigated by The Learning Partnership where hundreds-of-thousands of Grade 9 students spend the day at workplaces experiencing a wide variety of career options. More than 1.5 million young Canadians and tens-of-thousands of workplaces nationwide have participated in the program since 1994.
NET: http://www.takeourkidstowork.ca/
• “World Community Day”, celebrating the diversity of world cultures and religions. Not a good day to hold a debate on the topic … it’ll likely break out into a war.
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1965 [42] The ‘Pillsbury Doughboy’ (aka Poppin’ Fresh) is unveiled, popping out of a can of Pillsbury refrigerated dough in a TV commercial for crescent rolls (within 3 years, 87% of the population recognizes his name & likeness)
NET: http://www.uspto.gov/go/kids/kidsound.html (giggle sound effect under ‘Pillsbury’)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1991 [16] Michael Jackson’s controversial “Black & White” video debuts on TV worldwide
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1885 [122] Canadian Pacific Railway, Canada’s first transcontinental railroad, is completed as the ‘Last Spike’ is driven at Craigellachie BC
2000 [07] Hillary Rodham Clinton is elected to the United States Senate, becoming the 1st former First Lady to win a public office in the United States
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1982 [25] 1st pro QB to pass for 5,000 yds in a single football season (Warren Moon-Edmonton Eskimos)
1944 [63] Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected to an unprecedented 4th term as US President (no longer possible due to term limits)
1975 [32] John Anderson of Los Angeles plays guitar non-stop for record 114 hours, 17 minutes (until his neighbors finally beat him senseless)
COMING UP . . .
[Thurs] 8th Latin Grammy Awards (Las Vegas)
[Thurs] Cook Something Bold & Pungent Day
[Thurs] Parents As Teachers Day
[Thurs] International Tongue Twister Day
[Thurs] Dunce Day
[Fri] Guinness World Record Day
[Fri] US Marine Corp Birthday
[Fri] “Fred Claus”; “Lions for Lambs”; “P2” open in movie theaters
[Sun] Veterans Day (USA)
[Sun] Remembrance Day
This Week Is … World Kindness Week
This Month Is … Alzheimer’s Disease Month
BULL’S BITS
BS SIGNS YOU NEED TO STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER:
• You don’t remember what the rest of your house looks like.
• You see your leg muscles atrophying like in a time-lapse video.
• Your mouse asks you to stop touching it.
• Your beard has grown so long it’s interfering with your typing … and you’re a girl.
• Your last 2 birthday parties have featured an animated cake and balloon GIFs.
• Your fingers have become fused to the keyboard.
• The police officer says so.
– BBspot
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the most embarrassing product to ask for in a store?
BS WEB GOODIE:
Audio features about the movie “Lions For Lambs” (opening FRIDAY), directed by Robert Redford and starring Robert Redford, Meryl Streep & Tom Cruise are available here, including interviews with all of them.
NET: http://www.entertainmentnewsfeed.com/
BS RANDOM JOKE:
It’s good to explore all of your options before making a stupid decision.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: You only have a 1-in-5 chance that a stranger will do THIS to you.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Perform CPR on you if you happen to need it.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A second class effort is a first class mistake.
