BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t let his seemingly insignificant 39th birthday pass him by as he celebrated until 4 am Tuesday morning at NYC club TAO. 2Chainz and Kanye West performed, whom Leo even danced with onstage. Other guests included A-Rod, Benicio del Toro, Busta Rhymes, Derek Jeter, Nicky Hilton, Orlando Bloom, and Tobey Maguire. The birthday bash was said to be reminiscent of the trailer for his new movie, “The Wolf Of Wall Street”, which is opening Christmas Day.
– “Daily Mail”
★ A rep for George Clooney claims the media are taking the movie star’s comments about his basketball buddy Leonardo DiCaprio in a new “Esquire” magazine interview out of context. Clooney is quoted as saying it’s important to have someone in your life to tell you what’s what, adding: “I’m not sure if Leo has someone like that.” Clooney’s flack is now saying George was only referring to smack-talk during pick-up basketball games.
– “Us Weekly”
★ How much are Hollywood’s biggest names actually worth? To find out the-numbers.com examined movie & video sales data from the past 3 years to compile a ‘Bankability Index’. Steven Spielberg is the most prolific revenue-generator, bringing in $27.4 million-a-year, about $13.7 million per movie. He’s followed by actor Samuel L Jackson, Johnny Depp, and Tom Cruise. One surprise is composer Hans Zimmer (“Pirates Of the Caribbean” films, “Man of Steel”) who ranks 6th, his movies bringing in $22.6 million-a-year. Among those who make way more than they bring in: Robert Downey Jr, Channing Tatum, and Hugh Jackman.
– “USA Today”
★ Soap opera “All My Children” has apparently been cancelled for a 2nd time in as many years. The long-running ABC-TV daytime drama came to an end in 2011 after 41 years. Then, thanks to a passionate campaign by fans, it was revived in a new Internet format on The Online Network (TOLN) earlier this year. Though there’s yet to be official confirmation, veteran cast members Debbi Morgan and Cady McClain have both tweeted that the party is now truly over.
– WENN.com
★And it seems Lamar Odom is being advised by … Bruce Jenner. The former NBA star, whose marriage to Khloe Kardashian has been rocked by allegations he’s addicted to crack cocaine, has been spending a lot of time with his estranged wife’s stepfather in Malibu, and the former Olympian has been counseling Lamar on ‘various life issues’, including how to stay clean and who in his social circle to avoid. Jenner has been telling friends that Lamar is now clean and sober and working out with a view to relaunching his NBA career.
– TMZ.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Arsenio Hall” (syndicated) – RZA (“Shaolin Soul Selections 1″).
• “Colbert Report” (Comedy Central/CTV) – Blind Boys of Alabama (“I’ll Find a Way”).
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – MIA (“Matangi”).
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Kellie Pickler (“The Woman I Am”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – The Killers (“Direct Hits”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Tame Impala (“Lonerism”).
• “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS) – Kellie Pickler again.
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Thomas Rhett (“It Goes Like This”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Gary Allan (“Set You Free”).
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Trisha Yearwood (“The Sweetest Gift”).
• “The X Factor” (FOX/CTV2) – Voting results are announced; the remaining hopefuls perform songs from the ‘80s.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Barbra Streisand – The 71-year-old singer stunned attendees at the recent 22nd annual Baron Funds Investment Conference at NYC’s Lincoln Center when she took the stage as the surprise performer. For less than an hour’s work, she reportedly banked $2.3 million.
• Britney Spears – She’s been named an ambassador for VH1’s ‘Save the Music’ program alongside Cher Lloyd,  Diane Birch, Hunter Hayes, and Taye Diggs. The program raises money for music education programs in elementary and middle schools.
• Brooks & Dunn – Former country duo member Kix Brooks stars in the Western movie “Ambush at Dark Canyon”, available now on demand, at Walmart in January, and at all retailers in March. It’s his first lead acting role.
• Celine Dion – She tells “Weekend”magazine she’d like to become a mother again at the age of 45 in the hope of adding a baby girl to her brood. She and 71-year-old hubby Rene Angelil have 3 sons, 12-year-old Rene-Charles and 3-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson.
• Justin Timberlake – He tells the “GQ” magazine ‘Men Of the Year’ issue: ”Listen, I’m not cool. Being cool is about keeping your blood pressure steady. So no. Don’t be cool. Be passionate. Be dedicated. Be tenacious. Be uncompromising. Be pissed. Be happy. Be sad.”
• Kanye West – Civil rights activist Al Sharpton is leading a boycott against him after the rapper declared he has ‘reclaimed’ the Confederate flag from racists and emblazoned the symbol on merchandise for his current “Yeezus” tour.
• Ylvis – The Norwegian comedy duo, who have created the biggest viral hit since “Gangnam Style”, are set to release a children’s book based on their successful song “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)”. The picture book will be out December 10th, just in time for Christmas.

FOOD MASK:
Small mouths, or ‘ochobo’, are considered attractive in Japan, and it’s considered well-mannered to cover your mouth while eating. So a fast-food chain called Freshness Burger has created a giant paper sleeve called the ‘Liberation Wrapper’ to hide ladies’ faces while they chow down. The wrapper is printed with a closed, smiling female mouth. Since introducing the innovation, sales of the chain’s giant-sized Classic Burger are up 213%. (Apparently it’s OK for men to shove food in their faces, uncovered.)
NET: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zcd5qU-08jo
– iVillage.ca

BS BUZZWORDS:
New cutting-edge vocab …
✓ ‘Flatform’ – A shoe with a very thick, flat sole. It’s the ultimate ugly shoe that just will not die. In 2011, clumpy flatforms debuted on the catwalk for the likes of Chanel, Prada, and Vivienne Westwood.
✓ ‘Glowing Rectangle’ – A mocking reference to a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer screen. (“I dumped Facebook after deciding to have real friends instead of just names on a glowing rectangle.”)
✓ ‘Undownloading’ – The deletion of an ebook or similar download, sometimes by the provider if you travel where it holds no rights to the content. (“I downloaded a new phone app, then undownloaded it right way because it didn’t do what it claimed it would.”)

SKINNY JEANS:
Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch claims to have made what just might be the world’s most desirable pair of jeans. They’re made from hi-tech ‘beauty denim’ that combats cellulite. Howzat? The Sao Paulo designer says it harnesses body heat and turns it into infrared rays that stimulate cellulite-combating micro-circulation. He claims that 5 years of research into the product shows it is effective, but medical experts caution that there is no miracle cure for cellulite. The jury is still out. (Wrapping your legs in plastic film such as Glad Wrap will likely be just as effective.)
– AP

CONNECTING COUPLES:
Some new ways to stay wired to that special someone …
• ‘Avocado’ – A social network that lets you message each other, keep a shared calendar and to-do list. Plus send hugs & kisses by placing your phone against your chests or lips. Free.
• ‘Between’ – This app enables couples to send text messages with stickers and emojis (symbolic images), swap pics and texts, and create a special ‘memory box’. Free.
• ‘Couple’ – This app lets couples share lists, important dates, photos, sketches, and virtually touch one another with ‘thumbkisses’. Free.
• ‘Grocery Smart’ – Create and share grocery lists over multiple devices and cross items off the list or make changes, which will be synced across all of the connected devices. Free.
• ‘Kindu’ – Shy? Here’s an app that collects responses to questions about hundreds of different intimate ideas and lets you know which of your desires match up with your partner’s. $1.99
– RelaxNews.com

FROM THE BS POLL VAULT:
A statistical look at who we are and the things we do …
• 52% of men lie about their height.
• 47% of our pets have a middle name.
• 35% of us think the worst food to eat while driving is salad.
• 26% of us have a nickname for our vehicles.
• 10% of us love the taste of licking an envelope.
• 5% of us check our smartphones every 5 minutes.

HARMLESS BOOZE:
A UK scientist says he’s found a new way to get drunk without a hangover … or even any alcohol. David Nutt of Imperial College London says his research team has developed a drug that targets the brain’s neurotransmitters to mimic the effects of drinking without the risk of addiction or other negative effects. The drug could be consumed as a cocktail, then later reversed by taking an antidote, allowing users to sober up and drive home or even return to work after a faux-boozy lunch. (This could do for drinking what e-cigarettes have done for smoking … allow people to be irresponsible without risk.)
– “The Independent”

EAU DE POT:
Actor-turned-perfumer Richard Grant’s newest project is a new fragrance that smells like … marijuana. He says he’s been working on the scent for 2 years after being taught at the knee of ‘a nose’ in Paris. The perfume will come in British post-box red packaging and smells of lime, clove oil, and mandarin over base notes of white musk, tobacco, and pepper oil. The interesting touch here is, of course, the marijuana infusion. The ganja scent is launching at luxury London department store Liberty in April. No news yet on how much the perfume will cost. (If it’s the good stuff … expect it to run $125 an ounce.)
– AFP

DID YOU KNOW?
• There hasn’t been an instrumental #1 hit in any major music market so far in the 21st century.
– PopBitch.com
• The highest-ever recorded score at Scrabble was 392 for the word ‘caziques’ at a tournament in Manchester UK.
– “Daily Telegraph”
• Getting as close to the urinal as possible to allow a smooth, unbroken stream is the most effective way for men to reduce ‘splashback’.
– BBC News

BS CHRONOMETER 11.13.13

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1954 [59] Chris Noth, Madison WI, TV actor (‘Peter Florrick’ on “The Good Wife” since 2009, “Sex & The City” 1998-2004, “Law & Order” 1990-95)/movie actor (“Sex & The City” films)

1955 [58] Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Johnson), NYC, TV personality (“The View” since 2007, “Hollywood Squares” 1998-2002)/movie actress (“Sister Act”, “Ghost”)

1967 [46] Jimmy Kimmel, Brooklyn NY, TV host (“Jimmy Kimmel Live” since 2003, “The Man Show” 1999-2003, “Win Ben Stein’s Money” 1997-2001)

1969 [44] Gerard Butler, Paisley, Scotland, movie actor (“Coriolanus”, “300″)  COMING UP: “How to Train Your Dragon 2″ (2014).

1978 [35] Nikolai Fraiture, NYC, rock bassist (The Strokes-“Juicebox”, “Hard to Explain”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Ashura” begins at sundown, the 10th day of Muharram on the Islamic calendar that’s commemorated by Shia Muslims. In some regions (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan) it’s a national holiday in which most local communities participate.

• “World Kindness Day”. (Sponsored by the ‘Global Society of Eternally Hopeless Optimists’.)
NET: http://www.randomactsofkindness.org

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
2005 [08] Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are awakened by Paul McCartney singing “Good Day Sunshine” live from his concert in Anaheim, California

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1952 [61] 1st ‘Press-On Nails’ are marketed

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1995 [18] World’s only known ‘Green Cat’ is confirmed by a veterinary hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark, a condition vets say may be caused by a metabolism defect

COMING UP . . .
[Thurs] International Girls Day
[Thurs] Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day
[Thurs] Pickle Day
[Fri] “The Best Man Holiday”; “Nebraska” open in movie theaters
[Fri] Recycling Day
[Sat] Fast-Food Day
[Sun] Unfriend Day
This Week Is … Dear Santa Letter Week
This Month Is … Impotency Month

BULL’S BITS

This week the subway in Moscow, Russia is free for anyone who can crank out 30 reps of bodyweight squats. It’s their way of boosting Olympic spirit before the Sochi Winter Games, which are just 3 months away. A few other crazy fitness rules that should exist …
HEALTHY PRACTICES THAT OUGHTA BE:
• If you order a Big Mac, drop and give us 20. Ever seen an overweight person do 20 perfect pushups? We haven’t either.
• Before you purchase luggage with wheels, perform a ‘suitcase walk’. That’s where you carry a dumbbell that equals half your bodyweight by your side for 100 yards.
• Sure, go ahead and buy that Big Gulp. But swim 30 laps – the same number of ounces in your drink – before you take a sip.
• If you take a taxi fewer than 10 blocks, push it for 2 of those blocks. Anyone who can push a cab that far easily has the cardiovascular fitness to walk 100 blocks.
• Use the elevator at work? You better be able to walk up 5 flights of stairs before you can take it again.
• Walk to your coworker’s office to relay a message or ask them a question. Only if they’re not there can you shoot them an email.
• Every time you order a beer, hold the pint at arm’s length for 90 seconds before you drink it. Spill? The clock starts again.
• Before hitting snooze on your alarm clock, complete 25 jumping jacks.
– MensHealth.com

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I never knew what happiness was until I got married … and then it was too late.

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
Which measures 8 feet, 6 inches?
a. Joan Rivers’ mouth on “Fashion Police”.
b. Reuben Studdard’s waistline on “The Biggest Loser”.
c. The wheel on TV game show “Wheel of Fortune”. [CORRECT]

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What did you try once and then quit forever? (A recent survey is topped by ‘rollerblading’, followed by ‘golf’.)

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: More than half of us never finish THIS after we start.
Answer: Online purchases. [We put the purchase in the ‘cart’, but change our minds and don’t check out.]

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Never lend people money. It gives them amnesia.