BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
✳ Despite being photographed going out for sushi together recently, actors Seth MacFarlane and Charlize Theron are not dating. Charlize is, however, the lead in Seth’s next movie, “A Million Ways to Die”. An inside source says they will remain just friends because … “she’s not his type”. (Yep, you heard that right … she’s not HIS type!)
– E! News
✳ 55-year-old former “30 Rock” actor Alec Baldwin is said to be in talks with NBC-TV about taking over the late-night slot currently occupied by “Last Call With Carson Daly”. It seems network chiefs have been impressed with his “Here’s the Thing” podcast series produced in conjunction with WNYC public radio, in which he’s conducted intimate interviews with the likes of Billy Joel, Chris Rock, David Letterman, and Kristen Wiig. (On radio he looks less grumpy.)
– “NY Daily News”
✳ AMC is said to be considering a “Breaking Bad” spinoff centered around sleazy lawyer ‘Saul Goodman’, played by Bob Odenkirk. Why? The popular series is heading into its final 8-episode run this Summer and producers are exploring ways of keeping the franchise alive. The potential  “Better Call Saul” spinoff could end up being a half-hour comedy. (Seems like a breaking bad idea.)
– Deadline.com
✳ British “Vogue” has become the 1st fashion magazine to sign a code of conduct outlining the rights of its models. The 10-point code promises that models receive prompt payment and are made aware of hours of work, breaks, food, transport, nudity & semi-nudity, temperature, and changing rooms. It also bans girls under 16 from being photographed in shoots aimed at adults. (Welcome to the 19th century, fashion industry!)
– “Evening Standard”
✳ Now 48-year-old actor Robert Downey Jr has been given a birthday gift to remember during a trip to China. While promoting his new movie “Iron Man 3”, he was presented with an enormous card boasting more than 5,000 signatures from fans, which breaks the Guinness World Record for ‘Most Signatures on a Single Birthday Card’. Downey was seemingly amazed by the gift, saying “This is unforgettable.” (BS translation: What the heck am I gonna do with this thing?)
– ContactMusic.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “American Idol” (FOX) – Top 6 live results show features first-ever “Idol”, Kelly Clarkson, performing the new single “People Like Us”; season 10 winner Scotty McCreery also performs.
• “Conan” (TBS) – Dropkick Murphys (“Signed & Sealed in Blood”).
• Country Thunder (Florence AZ) – The annual 4-day country music festival gets underway. On the bill: Brantley Gilbert, Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Lee Brice, Toby Keith and more.
NET: http://www.countrythunder.com
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated) – The Band Perry (“Pioneer”).
• “Go On” (NBC) – In the 1st season finalé of Matthew Perry’s comedy, his character ‘Ryan’ heads to NYC to pursue a career opportunity.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC) – Ke$ha (“Warrior”); Paramore (“Paramore”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Joshua James (“Build Me This”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC) – Major Lazer (“Free the Universe”, out April 16th).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS) – Emmylou Harris w/Rodney Crowell (“Old Yellow Moon”). Rerun.
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC) – Tegan & Sara (“Heartthrob”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Adele – New stats reveal that “Someone Like You” is the most-downloaded song ever in Britain. The track, which topped the UK charts in 2011 and went on to become the 2nd-best-selling single of the 21st century, has been downloaded 1.46 million times.
• Avril Lavigne – She’s revealed her upcoming wedding to Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger will be a smallish affair for close friends & family. She says there’s a theme to it but even her fiancé doesn’t know everything.
• Christina Aguilera – She’s looking svelte these days but, contrary to a recent tabloid report, she has not been trying to shed pounds in time for a Summer wedding to boyfriend Matthew Rutler. An insider says there’s no such plan, she’s simply been doing it for herself.
• Kanye West – 8 years after his huge hit “Gold Digger” he’s being sued over a sample in the song. The family of the late David Pryor is asking for ‘millions of dollars’ in damages for an alleged unlicensed sample from the 1974 tune “Bumpin’ Bus Stop” by Thunder & Lightning.
• Lee Brice – He takes over the #1 position on both the ‘Billboard Country Songs’ and Mediabase country charts this week with “I Drive Your Truck”. Brice will join Brad Paisley this Summer on his “Beat This Summer Tour”.
• Rihanna – She & Chris Brown have reportedly split up (again) after photos of him getting flirty with a blonde surfaced, but she doesn’t seem too heartbroken. She’s Instagrammed a photo with the caption “Evidence of an epic night!” after being spotted at a Hollywood club where her ex-boyfriend Matt Kemp happened to be hanging out.
• Rolling Stones – They’ll play a 2nd show at Hyde Park in London on July 13th after the 65,000 tickets for their July 6th concert sold out in less than 5 minutes. The performances will be their first at that location since 1969.
• The Roots – Drummer Questlove has confirmed the band will be sticking with Jimmy Fallon when he changes jobs and moves to NYC to host “The Tonight Show” next year. Quote: “Basically, it’s going to be the same show” (as “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon”).

COMING ATTRACTIONS:
A BS selection of movies in the making …
• “Crimson Peak” – Jessica Chastain, Oscar-nominated for “Zero Dark Thirty”, is reportedly in negotiations with filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro to star in his new thriller alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, Charlie Hunnam, and Emma Stone. The modern-day ghost story, set in a haunted house, will go into production in February 2014.
• “Dracula” – 33-year-old Luke Evans (“Fast & Furious 6”) will take on the role of the title character in this latest take on the classic vampire tale based on Bram Stoker’s iconic gothic horror novel. The story follows young ‘Prince Vlad’, who aims to protect his family from a bloodthirsty sultan but in doing so becomes the first vampire. Shooting begins later this year.
• “The Expendables 3” – Wesley Snipes has already landed his first post-prison role after a 27-month stint behind bars for tax evasion. Sylvester Stallone has written in a part for him in the next installment of his action series. The two actors have worked together before, co-starring in “Demolition Man” (1993). Filming is likely to start late this year for a 2014 release.
• “Hands of Stone” –  Edgar Ramirez and  Robert De Niro have signed on to play champion boxer Roberto Duran and his trainer Ray Arcel in this upcoming bio-pic. Duran was among the world’s elite boxers during his heyday, with many well-remembered bouts vs boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard. Filming is due to begin in Panama this September.
• “Hercules 3-D” – “Twilight Saga” actor Kellan Lutz has the lead role in Renny Harlin’s upcoming film about the mythological Greek demi-god after impressing the director while auditioning for the role. The $70-million flick is expected to center around a love story involving ‘Hercules’ and the mortal Princess of Crete. Production is due to start in Bulgaria next month.

‘THOUGHTING’-ON TO COMPUTERS:
Scientists at University of California at Berkeley say they’re studying the feasibility of brainwave-based computer authentication as a substitute for passwords. Recent developments in biosensor technologies could make using electroencephalograms (EEGs), or brainwave measurements, possible. Experiments have already shown the principle of ‘passthoughts’ can actually be workable. (Trouble is, most people’s passthought will be … ‘1-2-3-4’.)
– United Press International

GAMING NEWS:
You’ve seen it in the news, now play it! A mobile-game programming system that allows 3-D depictions of real-life news events to be introduced into the action is being developed by MultiPlay.io. The British startup says the technology could make game play more current and provide new ways for designers to make cash … perhaps by selling ‘news injection’ rights to news agencies, TV stations, or newspapers. (Would you play “Call of Duty: Syrian Civil War”?)
– “New Scientist”

PORK PERCENTAGES:
Most popular pork products …
• Ham … 31% of all pork consumed in North American homes.
• Sausage … 20%.
• Bacon … 18%.
(When it comes to the list of popular pork, pigtails bring up … the rear.)
– WebMD.com

RIGHT TIME TO SHOP:
If you want to get the best values for your money, you need to hit store sales before noon to guarantee you make wise purchasing decisions. How so? Experts say judgment and processing skills are at their sharpest in the morning. Plus, knowing there is more time left in the day means you won’t feel  pressured into making snap decisions. (Worst time to go shopping: 2:30 in the morning … online … after 4 glasses of wine.)
– “Call Of the Mall”

TOO MANY BEEPS:
Constantly beeping alarms from devices that monitor the vital signs of the critically ill have ‘desensitized’ hospital workers, who sometimes ignore the noise leading to dozens of deaths each year. The beeping devices include those that measure blood pressure and heart rate, among other things. Some beep when there’s an emergency; some when they’re not working. There’s no standardization for what a beep signals. (Could mean they’re gaming at the nursing station.)
– Associated Press

ZERO TV:
What’s happened to telephone landlines and CD sales is coming to TV. Increasingly, people have had it with the 100-plus channel universe and timing their lives around network TV schedules. And they’re tired of the expensive monthly bills. These people are increasingly watching shows and movies online, sometimes via smartphone. Last month, audience ratings firm AC Nielsen started labeling the people in this group ‘Zero TV’ households. (This is happening faster than you might think, thanks to free websites like Megashare.info.)
– Yahoo! News

POWERED BY POND SCUM:
A new building in Germany gets its energy from what’s growing inside it. The 5-story residential building in Hamburg is covered by panels filled with algae, a fast-growing form of biomass. When the sun shines, the algae multiplies as a result of photosynthesis. The system collects the residue, then converts it to bio-gas, which is burned in a boiler. Together with a heat recovery system and solar panels on the roof, the building is completely energy independent. (Someday utility companies will be billing you by the pound … for scum.)
– Fastcoexist.com

DID YOU KNOW?
The most ‘urban’ job in North America (that is, with the highest concentration in metro areas) is flight attendant.
– “The Atlantic”

BS CHRONOMETER 04.11.13

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1964 [49] Steve Azar, Greenville MS, country singer (“Sunshine [Everybody Needs a Little]”, “I Don’t Have To Be Me [‘Til Monday]”)

1979 [34] Chris Gaylor, Stillwater OK, rock drummer (All-American Rejects-“Gives You Hell”, “Dirty Little Secret”)

1987 [26] Joss Stone (Joscelyn Stoker), Dover UK, pop-soul singer (“You Had Me”, “Fell In Love With a Boy”)/TV actress (“The Tudors” 2009-10)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Barbershop Quartet Day”, honoring the 1938 founding of SPEBSQSA (‘Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America’) in Tulsa OK. It’s the 75th anniversary, so altogether now … hmmmm.

• “8-Track Tape Day”, a time for nostalgic memories of the old cartridge tape format of the 1970s. Get listeners to flip through their dusty tapes and call in some of the weirder titles.

• “Pet Day 2013”, sponsored by the Animal Miracle Network to celebrate the joy that furry friends bring to our lives and a reason to ‘paws’ and consider the plight of the many animals in shelters awaiting a home.
NET: http://www.petdayusa.com/about.htm

• “World Parkinson’s Disease Day”, to boost awareness of the disorder and to spur new research and treatment innovations. The red tulip is the official flower of “World PD Day”.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2004 [09] Nick Lachey & Jessica Simpson debut “The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour” on ABC-TV (lasts 1 episode)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
2002 [11] Aretha Franklin and several Motown recording stars are honored with street names in Detroit’s new low-income housing project (“You can’t miss it, I live at the corner of Aretha and Smokey …”)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2004 [09] After 11 years as a pro, golfer Phil Mickelson wins his 1st major championship, The Masters

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2003 [10] Detroit Tigers set MLB record by becoming the first team ever to start the baseball season with 9 consecutive losses … twice … in-a-row

COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
[Fri] International Day of Human Space Flight
[Fri] Licorice Day
[Sat] Baby Massage Day
[Sun] “MTV Movie Awards” (MTV)
[Mon] Boston Marathon
This Week Is … Health Information Privacy & Security Week
This Month Is … International Guitar Month

BULL’S BITS

BS WAYS  DOGS ARE BETTER THAN MEN:
✓ Dogs don’t have problems expressing affection in public.
✓ Dogs understand what ‘no’ means.
✓ You are never suspicious of your dog’s dreams.
✓ You can force a dog to take a bath.
✓ Middle-aged dogs don’t feel the need to abandon you for a frisky pup.
✓ Dogs feel guilt when they’ve done something wrong.
✓ Dogs understand if some of their friends aren’t allowed in the house.

BS RANDOM JOKE:
If you’re 35 and your job still requires you to wear a name tag, odds are you’ve made a serious vocational error.

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
Back in 1904, ‘Longacre Square’ received a new name. What do we call it these days?
a. Trafalgar Square.
b. Times Square. [CORRECT]
c. Rice Krispies Square.
– “Fascinating Facts”

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What annoying sound does a co-worker make that drives you crazy? (One of the worst has to be sniffing.)

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 70% of people who own THESE talk to them.
Answer: Their vehicles.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Support bacteria … it’s the only culture some people have.