BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
✳ Tonight in Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil resumes performances of “Ka”, 17 days after a cast member fell to her death during the show. The final aerial battle scene, which saw 31-year-old performer Sarah Guillot-Guyard fall 90 feet to her death, will no longer be a part of the show. Coroner’s officials have ruled that the Paris-born Guillot-Guyard’s death by blunt force trauma was an accident. She was still in her harness when she fell. Tonight’s show will be dedicated to her memory.
– TheWrap.com
✳ “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy has revealed the FOX-TV show’s cast is holding their own private memorial service to remember late star Cory Monteith at the Paramount Pictures lot where “Glee” is filmed this week. Murphy also says he plans to address Monteith’s death in the new season this Fall with a tribute episode to his character, ‘Finn Hudson’. After that episode is shot, the show will go on indefinite hiatus.
– E! News
✳ Classic comic book character ‘Archie Andrews’, who made his first appearance in 1941, will be confronting our modern obsession with zombies in the “Afterlife with Archie” series, expected this October. In the new series, the usually light and breezy town of ‘Riverdale’ is under threat of being overrun by the undead, and ‘Archie’ friend ‘Jughead’ and his pet ‘Hot Dog’ are at least partially to blame.
– RelaxNews.com
✳ A new report suggests Lindsay Lohan’s mother Dina Lohan has been banned from taking part in Lindsay’s rehab treatment at the Cliffside rehab center in Malibu CA. Word has it Dina has not been allowed to contact her daughter again after she made a drunken phone call to the facility. The staff member who received the call allegedly felt Dina was not sober and did not pass the call on to Lindsay. It’s apparently since been decided mom and daughter should not speak until Lindsay’s rehab is complete in early August.
– TMZ.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “America’s Got Talent” (NBC/CityTV) – 12 acts perform for the audience.
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – The 1975 (“IV”).
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Psy (“Gangnam Style”). Rerun.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Pharrell Williams (“Blurred Lines”, “Get Lucky”). Rerun.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Tift Merritt (“Traveling Alone”); Twenty One Pilots (“Vessel”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Emeli Sandé (“Our Version of Events”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni1) – Jason Isbell (“Southeastern”).
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (ABC/CTV) – Broadway cast of “Motown: The Musical”.
• “Rock For Oklahoma” (Oklahoma City OK) – A benefit concert for the victims affected by the tornado that ripped through Moore OK in May. Performers include Flaming Lips, Grace Potter, Jackson Browne, Kings of Leon. (Why are disaster fundraisers seemingly always held where the event occurred? Aren’t they the needy ones?)
NET: http://tinyurl.com/mv8ejoq
• “So You Think You Can Dance” (FOX/CTV2) – The hopefuls face elimination as they perform for the judges, including guest judge Carly Rae Jepsen.
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Selena Gomez (“Stars Dance”, out today, a new 11-track album featuring the single “Come & Get It”).
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – J Cole (“Born Sinner”).
• “Who Do You Think You Are?” (TLC) – Season 4 debut of Lisa Kudrow’s investigative family tree show revealing the surprising histories of celebrities. Tonight: Kelly Clarkson.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Avicii – The Swedish producer and DJ has broken sales records in the UK with his single “Wake Me Up”, now atop the Brit pop chart. It’s the UK’s fastest-selling single of 2013 so far.
• Backstreet Boys – They’ve signed a new deal with BMG, which will release “In a World Like This” July 30th, the 1st album to include all 5 original members since 2006.
• Elton John – He’ll be the 1st recipient of the inaugural ‘Brits Icon Award’, a new annual honor dedicated to the achievements of a single artist. An offshoot of the UK’s annual “Brit Awards”, the ceremony will be broadcast on ITV this September.
• Kanye West – LAPD has launched an investigation into his airport scuffle with a photographer on Friday. He was caught on camera wrestling a paparazzo to the ground outside LAX in an apparent attempt to grab the snapper’s video camera. West has yet to comment.
• Luke Bryan – He’ll launch his 5th annual “Farm Tour” this Fall with 8 concerts, including 5 in his home state of Georgia. The 2013 edition kicks off October 2nd in Statesboro GA.
• Radiohead – A rare demo from their early days is going up for auction in September. The cassette tape, from the pre-Radiohead era under the name On A Friday, is expected to fetch over £1,000 ($1,500).
• Smashing Pumpkins – As part of their continuing series of reissues from Virgin Records, an expanded version of the 1996 box set “The Aeroplane Flies High” is out today. It includes a whopping 90 bonus tracks of unreleased demos, alternate versions, and live recordings.

TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “Ginger & Rosa” ( PG-13 Drama ) – In 1962 London, 2 teenage girls who are inseparable rebel against their parents and then find themselves going in different directions as the Cuban Missile Crisis escalates and it seems the world may come to an end. Stars Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Oliver Platt, Annette Bening.
• Rock For the Rising Sun” ( NR Music Documentary ) – Aerosmith’s new doc chronicles their 2011 tour of Japan following the devastating earthquakes and tsunami that hit the country. The behind-the-scenes film also details the group’s reconciliation after a turbulent period in their history. Its their first live performance video release in 9 years.
• “Trance” ( R-Rated Thriller ) – James McAvoy plays a fine art auctioneer who teams up with a criminal gang to steal a $27-million Goya painting, but after suffering a blow to the head during the heist, he awakens to discover he has no memory of where he hid the artwork. Directed by Danny Boyle. Co-stars Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel.
• “Twixt” ( R-Rated Horror Thriller) – A writer on a book tour gets caught up in a murder mystery involving a young girl in a small town, a story that could be the source material for his next novel. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Stars Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning, Ben Chaplin.
• Also released today: “Dragons: Riders of Berk” (Animation); “Duck Dodgers: Deep Space Duck – Season 2” (Animation); “How the States Got Their Shapes: Season 2” (TV); “The Jack Benny Program: The Lost Episodes” (Classic TV); “Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXVII” (TV); “Super Friends: A Dangerous Fate – Season 5” (TV Animation); “Superjail!: Season 3” (TV); and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Season 3 (TV Animation).

PERSPIRATION INSPIRATION:
A machine that takes sweat-laden clothes and turns the moisture into drinking water is in use in Sweden. It was built for UN children’s charity UNICEF to highlight the fact 780 million people in the world lack access to clean water. The device spins and heats the fabric to remove the sweat, and then passes the ensuing vapor through a special filter. Since its launch last week in Gothenburg, more than 1,000 people have drunk someone else’s sweat. Might seem gross, but the liquid is actually cleaner than local tap water. (I’m thirsty! Can I borrow your gym shorts?)
– BBC News

YOUR WEIGHT IN GOLD:
Government officials in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates are offering gold for … flab. For every kilo (2.2 lbs) shed by August 16th, residents can score a gram of bullion. Participants must be overweight and drop at least 2 kg (4.4 lbs) to qualify for the challenge. The 30-day program is part of a campaign to fight obesity in Dubai, where growing wealth and a proliferation of fast-food chains have added inches to local waistlines. One other rule to this contest … no gastric bypasses allowed! (What about amputation?)
– “Globe & Mail”

PAY WITH YOUR FACE:
The world’s first facial recognition payment system lets you ditch your credit card and pay via your appearance. Finland-based company Uniqul’s new technology uses military-grade recognition software; instead of swiping a card, you just gaze into a camera. Within seconds the system processes biometrical data to locate your account within the database that links faces to major credit card accounts. Payment transaction time can take less than 5 seconds. (‘You look like a million bucks’ may soon be more than just a compliment.)
– PopSci.com

BEANIE BABY BUBBLE BURSTS:
Beanie Babies, the series of stuffed toys produced by Ty Toys in the 1990s, were originally envisioned as a set of inexpensive, high-quality stuffed animals with prices set around $5, low enough to seem affordable. But one of the reasons they became wildly popular was the claim that they were an investment. So-called ‘investment-grade’ Beanies were projected to dramatically increase in value. However, buyers of ‘rare’ Beanies like ‘Stripes’ the tiger at $250 have now lost 96% on their investment, as even a mint condition example sells for $10 or less. (Remember warning people about this at the time? The believers would not listen.)
– TheWeek.com

BS AMAZING FACT:
Plants and insects can catch sexually transmitted diseases.
– “Smithsonian Magazine”

BS CHRONOMETER 07.23.13

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1961 [52] Woody Harrelson, Midland TX, movie actor (“No Country For Old Men”, “White Men Can’t Jump”)/former TV actor (“Cheers” 1985-93)  COMING UP: “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, opening November 22nd.

1965 [48] Slash (Saul Hudson), London UK, rock guitarist (ex-Velvet Revolver-“Slither”, ex-Guns N’ Roses-“Sweet Child O’ Mine”)

1967 [46] Philip Seymour Hoffman, Fairport NY, movie actor (“Moneyball”, 2006 Academy Award-“Capote”)

1971 [42] Alison Krauss, Decatur IL, country/bluegrass musician-singer-songwriter-producer (“Paper Airplane”, w/Robert Plant-“Raising Sand”)/27 Grammy Awards, more than any other female artist

1976 [37] Jonathan Gallant, Mississauga ON, rock bassist (Billy Talent-“Stand Up & Run”, “Rusted From the Rain”)

1980 [33] Michelle Williams, Rockford IL, R&B/dance singer (“The Greatest”, “We Break the Dawn”)/pop singer (Destiny’s Child-“Say My Name”, Bills Bills Bills”)

1982 [31] Paul Wesley (Wasilewski), New Brunswick NJ, TV actor (‘Stefan Salvatore/Silas’ on “The Vampire Diaries” since 2009)

1989 [24] Daniel Radcliffe, London UK, movie actor (“Harry Potter” films)/Broadway actor (“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”, “Equus”)

1990 [23] Neil Perry, Ridgeland MS, country music drummer (The Band Perry -“Better Dig Two”, “If I Die Young”)

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Gorgeous Grandma Day”, honoring every kid’s favorite spoiler. (Kind of a creepy name when you think about it.)

• “Hot Enough For Ya? Day”, when it should be legal to assault anyone who asks you that overused, plain-as-the-end-of-your-sweat-dripping-nose question.

• “Vanilla Ice Cream Day”, celebrating the favorite flavor of the masses … by far.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2007 [06] Comedian Drew Carey is signed to replace retiring game show legend Bob Barker on CBS-TV’s “The Price is Right”

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1988 [25] Guns N’ Roses rock anthem “Sweet Child O’ Mine” hits #1 (since voted onto all-time greatest lists by “Rolling Stone”, “Blender”, the RIAA, and the BBC)

2003 [10] US National Registry of Historic Places declares Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee a historic landmark (original home to Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash)

2011 [02] British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse dies of alcohol poisoning (her album “Back to Black” subsequently becomes the UK’s best-selling album of the 21st century)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1982 [31] Introduction of ‘Diet Coke’ (the sensible accompaniment to your whopper & fries)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2000 [13] Tiger Woods wins the “British Open” to become the youngest golfer (24) to win a career ‘Grand Slam’ of golf (The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and British Open)

COMING UP . . .
[Wed] “Let It Be” opens on Broadway (NYC)
[Wed] Cousins Day
[Wed] Drive-Thru Day
[Wed] Tequila Day
[Thurs] Chili Dog Day
This Week Is … Restless Leg Syndrome Education & Awareness Week
This Month Is … Hot Dog Month

BULL’S BITS

LEAST POPULAR RETAIL FRANCHISES:
✗ Mr Sweaty’s Pre-Owned Socks
✗ World of Non-Functional TVs
✗ Bed, Bath and Belly Lint
✗ All-Wood Amish Cellphones
✗ The Pampered Roach Cockroach Food & Accessories
✗ Abra-Cadaver: Your One-Stop Magic Shop & Mortuary
✗ Everything Itchy

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Just remember, no matter what the weather is – hot, cold, wet or dry – it’ll always find a way to mess up your hair.

TRUTH OR BS?
• Banana skins can take 2 years to biodegrade. [True.]
• The famous “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster was never actually used during World War II. [True.]
• Tattoos have been created using another person’s ashes. [True.]
• Cholesterol in eggs is bad for the heart. [BS. It’s saturated fat that’s the bad guy.]
• Napoleon was short. [BS. He was actually taller than the average Frenchman at the time.]
• Breaking wind is a bookable offence in soccer. [True.]
• Vikings wore horned helmets. [BS. The idea was popularized by costume designers for Wagner operas in the late 19th century.]
• Facebook was originally called ‘The FacebooK’. [True.]
• You can get arthritis from cracking your knuckles. [BS.  There is no evidence of any association.]

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ How do you spoil your partner?

BS WEB GOODIE:
Be the megalomaniac! Now you can nuke the city of your choice … in 3-D.
NET: http://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap3d/

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Laptop computers are the most likely devices to need repair after the warranty expires, followed by THESE.
Answer: Refrigerators, specifically the side-by-side ones with water and ice dispenser.
– “Consumer Reports”

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The most solid stone is the lowest one in the foundation.