BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Lady Gaga has been turned into life-size robots. Manufacturers in Japan have created hi-tech dolls of the singer featuring tracks from her new album “Artpop”. Gaga is in the country to promote the release of her latest record and came face-to-face with the robots eerily made in her likeness. According to the Gaga Doll website, music from “Artpop” blasts through a speaker hidden inside the mannequins.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/lmq7pa5
– WENN.com
★ British pop star Cheryl Cole has won a payout from the US edition of “The X Factor”. The former Girls Aloud singer was hired as a judge for the show’s 1st season in 2011 after previously sitting on the panel of the Brit version, but she was dropped and replaced by Nicole Scherzinger after filming just 2 audition rounds. She sued for $2.3 million in unpaid wages and expenses, and the case has now been settled out-of-court. Details of the settlement are secret.
– ContactMusic.com
★ And a guy selling a Lexus on eBay is banking on you paying more because Leonardo DiCaprio cavorted with Gisele Bundchen and other models in it. The current owner bought the 1999 Lexus GS 400 at a dealership in 2001 with 18,000 miles on it. The paperwork showed Leo was the prior owner who turned it in after the lease expired. Now the vehicle has a whopping 148,091 miles on it and the owner is still asking for $20,000. But apparently the stale scent of a woman doesn’t command a lot of cents … top bid so far is just $5,000.
– TMZ.com

BS WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Arsenio Hall” (syndicated) – Tonight Doug E Fresh (“Left-Right”).
• “Big Cat Week” (National Geographic Channel) – Begins tonight. Not as big as “Shark Week” yet, but this annual salute to felines in the wild is gaining ground.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Today Garth Brooks (“Limited Box Series”).
• “Garth Brooks, Live From Las Vegas” (CBS) – Tonight a 2-hour live concert chronicles the final performance of Brooks’ residency at The Wynn Las Vegas.
• “Great Performances” (PBS) – Tonight Barbra Streisand performs at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn NY. Special guests include Il Volo.
• “Jimi Hendrix: American Masters” (PBS) – Saturday performance footage and interviews provide an inside look at the life of the legendary guitarist.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Tonight Pusha T (“My Name is My Name”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight Big Sean f/Kid Cudi (“Hall of Fame”). Rerun.
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni1) – Tonight Gary Clark Jr (“Blak & Blu”). Rerun.
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (ABC/CTV) – Today Colbie Caillat (“Christmas In the Sand”).
• “Soul Train Music Awards” (BET/Centric) – Sunday comedian Anthony Anderson hosts the 5th annual gala, pre-taped in Las Vegas. Rapper Kendrick Lamar leads nominations with 6, followed by Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, Miguel, Robin Thicke, and Tamar Braxton with 5 apiece. Dionne Warwick is honored for career achievement.
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight Sting (“The Last Ship”). Rerun.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Beyoncé – She’s extended her ongoing world tour with a 2nd leg of North American dates beginning Saturday in Vancouver BC. The new trek wraps December 22nd in Brooklyn NY.
• Jay Z – Saturday the North American leg of his “Magna Carter World Tour” gets underway in St Paul MN. The 34-date engagement runs through January 31st in State College PA.
• Justin Bieber – He’s been accused of spraying graffiti on a hotel wall on Australia’s Gold Coast and been ordered by the mayor of Brisbane to repair the damage. His honor even sent along a removal kit to help the Biebs clean up his act.
• OneRepublic – Frontman Ryan Tedder has already appeared as an adviser on NBC-TV’s “The Voice” this season; now it’s announced he’ll serve as the show’s first-ever in-house producer and songwriter. He’ll work with the final 3 contestants as they prepare their season finalé performances for December 17th.
• Taylor Swift – Tonight in Auckland, her “Red Tour” opens a series of 7 shows in New Zealand and Australia. She’s the first solo female artist to undertake a stadium tour of Australia since Madonna did it in 1993.
• U2 – Today their new songs “Ordinary Love” and “Breath”, written for the film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”, are released on a limited-edition 10-inch vinyl single. Just 10,000 copies have been pressed.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENING:
“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” ( PG-13 Biographical Drama ): Idris Elba stars in this chronicle of Nelson Mandela’s life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Co-stars Naomie Harris, Terry Pheto, Robert Hobbs.
NET: http://www.mandelamovie.co.za

WHY DIDN’T SOMEONE THINK OF THIS SOONER?
Never lose your wallet again! That’s the promise of the new ‘Royce Freedom Wallet’, enabled with GPS-tracking technology. It sounds an alarm if it leaves your side and is linked to an app on your smartphone so you can follow it if it’s lost or stolen. It’s also made with RFID-blocking material, meaning it’s safe from thieves who remotely use scanners to try and swipe your credit card numbers. The hi-tech wallet is the brain-child of Andrew Bauer, the 20-year-old CEO of his family’s New Jersey leather goods company. (Cool, for just a hundred bucks you can now find your empty discarded wallet in a dumpster much faster!)
– NYDailyNews.com

TOP 5 FILM FLOPS OF 2013:
Based on their worldwide earnings compared to what they cost to make …
5. “Broken City” (starring Mark Wahlberg)
4. “Parker” (Jason Statham)
3. “Paranoia” (Harrison Ford)
2. “Bullet To the Head” (Sylvester Stallone)
1. “The Fifth Estate” (Benedict Cumberbatch)
– Forbes.com

THIS IS NO BS, HONEST:
Sony has filed a patent application for the ‘SmartWig’, the latest in wearable technology. The device would be worn in addition to natural hair, offering ability to process data and communicate with other devices. Among its projected uses: Navigation, collecting medical info, and gaming. It’s also suggested it might be used during presentations to move back and forth between slides by simply … raising the eyebrows. Sony says the wig could be made from horse hair, human hair, yak hair, buffalo hair, or any kind of synthetic material. Whatever the material, it projects that the ‘SmartWig’ will be both intelligent and fashionable. (Is there a December Fools Day? Because this sounds like it would qualify.)
– BBC News

DID YOU KNOW?
A new survey shows the average amount we plan to spend on our kids this Christmas is $224 … per child.
– Radiowave.com

BS CHRONOMETER 11.29.13

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1954 [59] Joel Coen, Minneapolis MN, movie producer-director-screenwriter (“No Country for Old Men”, “Fargo”)/brother of filmmaking partner Ethan Coen  UP NEXT: “Inside Llewyn Davis”, opening December 20th.

1955 [58] Howie Mandel, Toronto ON, TV personality (“America’s Got Talent” since 2010, “Deal or No Deal” 2005-09)/TV actor (“St Elsewhere” 1982-88)/stand-up comedian

1964 [49] Don Cheadle, Kansas City MO, movie actor (“Iron Man 2”, “Ocean’s Eleven” movies)

1968 [45] Jonathan Knight, Dorchester MA, pop singer (New Kids On the Block-“Step by Step”, “Hangin’ Tough”)

1970 [43] Frank Delgado, LA CA, rock keyboardist (Deftones-“Minerva”, “Change”)

1976 [37] Anna Faris, Baltimore MD, movie actress (“Alvin & The Chipmunks” films, “The Dictator”)

1979 [34] Game (Jayceon Taylor), LA CA, rapper (f/Lil Wayne-“My Life”, f/50 Cent-“Hate It or Love It”)

SATURDAY –
Movie director Ridley Scott (“Gladiator”) is 76; TV/Broadway actor Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”) is 61; Comedian Colin Mochrie (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”) is 56; Movie actor-director Ben Stiller (“Night At the Museum”) is 48; TV/movie actress Elisha Cuthbert (“24”) is 31; TV actress Kaley Cuoco (“Big Bang Theory”) is 28.

SUNDAY –
Movie director Woody Allen (“Midnight in Paris”) is 78; Movie actress/pop singer Bette Midler (“Wind Beneath My Wings”) is 68; Comedian Sarah Silverman is 43; TV actor David Hornsby (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) is 38; Rock guitarist Brad Delson (Linkin Park) is 36; Pop singer Mat Kearney (“Nothing Left to Lose”) is 35; Pop/soul singer-songwriter Janelle Monae (“Cold War”) is 28.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Black Friday”, the day after US Thanksgiving that’s touted as the biggest single shopping day of the year in America though that’s statistically untrue. The ‘black’ refers to retailers finally turning a profit after spending much of the year ‘in the red’. This year many retailers kicked off their annual sales on Thursday.
• “Buy Nothing Day”, a 24 hour moratorium on holiday shopping (today in North America; tomorrow internationally), created as a protest against outlandish consumption and commercialism, particularly during the holiday season.
NET: http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd
• “Electronic Greetings Day”, another excuse to junk up other people’s Facebook wall, email, texts, voicemail, etc with useless chaff you’d never think of writing down on a piece of paper.
• “Flossing Day”, a day that truly has ‘strings attached’. (Hey, is that a chunk of spinach between your front teeth?)
NET: http://www.flossing.org
• “International Day of Solidarity With the Palestinian People”, sponsored by the United Nations.
• “Record Store Day’s Back to Black Friday”, bringing with it a slew of exclusive and limited-edition releases to independent record retailers. Among them: Nirvana’s “In Utero” reissue on vinyl; a vinyl edition of Queens Of the Stone Age’s “… Like Clockwork” album; a 7-inch edition of Fall Out Boy’s recent “Pax Am Days” EP; a Dave Matthews Band vinyl box set; a Lady Gaga picture disc; and Silversun Pickups’ “Let it Decay” on 10-inch vinyl.
NET: http://www.recordstoreday.com/Home
• “Sinkie Day”, the 22nd annual salute to the time-honored tradition of eating a snack (or an entire meal) over the kitchen sink. People prone to the practice are known as ‘sinkies’.
NET: http://www.sinkie.com

SATURDAY –
• “International Computer Security Day”, to remind us to protect our computers, programs, and data at home and work. Remember to always practise safe surfin’!
• “Meth Awareness Day”, a day of education and awareness of the dangers of methamphetamine. (Is ‘Walter White’ the poster boy?)
• “St Andrew’s Day”, honoring the patron saint of Scotland who hurled his last haggis in 60 AD. It’s the wannabe independent country’s national day. Be sure to dust off your sporran!
• “Small Business Saturday”, an annual reminder to support the little mom & pop operations as well as the big malls and chains during the holiday season buying frenzy.
• “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. (Pull this stunt and you can soon stay home every day.)

SUNDAY –
• “Advent Calendar Day”, the day many kids begin opening one compartment on their seasonal calendar each day through December 24th. Hey, is that chocolate in there?
• “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 the Boomer generation is suffering ‘presbyopia’ (Greek word for ‘aging eye’).
• “World AIDS Day”, the 25th annual day of AIDS awareness and education, first declared by the UN’s World Health Organization in 1988. The official symbol of “World AIDS Day” is the red ribbon. In some communities, the occasion is observed as “Day Without Art”.
NET: http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/en/World-AIDS-Day

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2011 [02] Convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Dr Conrad Murray receives a 4-year sentence for Michael Jackson’s 2009 death

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
2001 [12] George Harrison of The Beatles dies in LA of cancer at age 58

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1997 [16] 30,000 members of Rev Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church are married or renew their vows at RFK Stadium in Washington DC (his followers are known as ‘Moonies’)

BS MONTHLY PLANNING CALENDAR . . .
[Dec 2] Cyber Monday / International Day For the Abolition of Slavery / Mutt Day / Special Education Day
[Dec 3] International Day of Persons With Disabilities
[Dec 4] “Out Of the Furnace” opens in movie theaters / Cookie Day / World Wildlife Conservation Day
[Dec 5] Hanukkah ends (Jewish) / “The Sound of Music Live!” (NBC) / Bathtub Party Day / International Ninja Day / International Volunteer Day for Economic & Social Development
[Dec 6] “Inside Llewyn Davis” opens in movie theaters / “Grammy Nominations Concert Live!” (CBS) / Miners Day / Pawnbrokers Day / Salesperson Day / St Nicholas Day / Faux Fur Friday
[Dec 7] Earmuff Day / Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day / International Civil Aviation Day / Cotton Candy Day
[Dec 8] Metallica performs in Antarctica / Kennedy Center Honors (Washington DC) / Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day / Worldwide Candle Lighting Day / World Choral Day
[Dec 9] “One Direction iHeartRadio Album Release Party” (CW) / International Anti-corruption Day
[Dec 10] “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2013” (CBS) / 2013 Billboard Women in Music Event (NYC) / Dewey Decimal System Day / Human Rights Day / Nobel Prize Day
[Dec 11] Nobel Peace Prize Concert (Oslo, Norway) / International Mountain Day
[Dec 12] Gingerbread House Day / Fresh Breath Day / Poinsettia Day
[Dec 13] “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”; “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas” open in movie theaters
[Dec 14] Day Of the Horse / International Shareware Day / Monkey Day
[Dec 15] Cat Herders Day / US Bill of Rights Day
[Dec 16] Chocolate-covered Anything Day
[Dec 17] Full ‘Cold’ Moon / Free Shipping Day / Wright Brothers Day
[Dec 18] Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day / International Migrants Day
[Dec 19] Re-gifting Day
[Dec 20] “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues”; “Walking With Dinosaurs” open in movie theaters / “Christmas In Washington” (TNT) / International Human Solidarity Day / Sangria Day / Underdog Day
[Dec 21] 1st Day of Winter / Crossword Puzzle Day / Humbug Day / Homeless Persons Remembrance Day / Yule
[Dec 22] Haiku Poetry Day
[Dec 23] Festivus
[Dec 24] Christmas Eve
[Dec 25] Christmas Day (Christian) / “47 Ronin”; “Grudge Match”; “Justin Bieber’s Believe”; “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”; “The Wolf of Wall Street” open in movie theaters
[Dec 26] Boxing Day (Canada/UK) / Candy Cane Day / Thank-you Note Day / Whiners Day
[Dec 27] “Britney Spears: Piece Of Me” debuts (Las Vegas)
[Dec 29] Tick Tock Day
[Dec 30] Bacon Day
[Dec 31] New Year’s Eve / Make Up Your Mind Day / No Interruptions Day / World Peace Meditation Day

BULL’S BITS

BS MYTHS ABOUT BLACK FRIDAY:
✗ Everyone Gets the Deals – Actually the good stuff is in limited quantities, especially electronics. Unless you’re really aggressive, you’re not going to get what’s advertised.
✗ You Have to Shop In-Store – Some deals are in-store only, but most retailers are offering the same deal online.
✗ Black Friday Offers the Biggest Deals – The best deals on toys and brand-name TVs happen later in the season. Back-to-school sales offer bigger discounts on laptops and related items.
✗ Black Friday Generates the Most Shoppers – Actually, the biggest shopping day of the year falls on the Saturday before Christmas.
✗ Cyber Monday Deals Are Just as Good – Yes, you’ll find good deals, but not as good as Black Friday.
– FoxBusiness.com

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Who’s the biggest diva of them all?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
My grandma says she has eyes in the back of her head … I hope it’s not hereditary.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Finland has more of THESE than any other country.
Answer: Islands.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all of the parts.