BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Tryouts for “The X Factor” in Manchester UK were delayed 2 days last week as the show’s creator-producer Simon Cowell mourned the death of his mother, Julie, who passed away July 5th. The next round of auditions was due to take place at SSE Arena in north London today, but now those sessions have also been cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances”, according to a spokesperson for the show. Speculation is that Cowell’s mother’s funeral is taking place. The auditions are set to resume on Wednesday.
– HuffingtonPost.co.uk
★ Daniel Radcliffe promises to bare his butt more often. The 25-year-old actor has beaten out competition from Idris Elba, Jamie Dornan, and tennis player Andy Murray to be named Britain’s ‘Rear Of the Year 2015’. His bare derriere is nothing new for fans, thanks to the thriller movie “Horns” in which he appears naked, and his infamous nude scenes in the stage show “Equus”. Daniel is rightly proud of the award, quote: ”Thank you to everyone who voted for me for ‘Rear Of the Year’. It’s a very prestigious honor. I promise to … get it out a lot more in the future.”
– E! News
★ Khloé Kardashian has reportedly been offered $10 million to star on “The Bachelorette”. The 30-year-old reality TV star, who split from estranged husband Lamar Odom in December 2013, is said to be seriously considering the idea because she’s eager to find a new man and also sees the opportunity as a good career (?!?) move. An insider says ABC-TV has been throwing out a lot of big numbers because they think the idea has ‘sure-fire hit’ written all over it. Khloé previously hosted “The X Factor USA” alongside Mario Lopez.
– “OK! Magazine”
★ And an anonymous Judy Garland fan has offered a $1-million reward for information leading to the location of a pair of the famous ruby slippers she wore playing ‘Dorothy’ in “The Wizard of Oz”. The shoes, one of 4 pairs used in the 1939 movie classic, were stolen from a glass case at the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota a decade ago. A museum rep says the footwear was insured for $1 million and could be worth double or triple that now. The wealthy donor from Arizona is promising the hefty reward in return for credible information about their current location.
– WENN.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “America’s Got Talent” (NBC/CityTV) – Guest judges Neil Patrick Harris, Michael Bublé, Piers Morgan, and Marlon Wayans.
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – JD McPherson (“Let the Good Times Roll”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Vince Staples (“Summertime ’06”). Rerun.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Tijuana Panthers (“Semi Sweet”). Rerun.
• “Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS/M3) – Best Coast (“California Nights”).
• Major League Baseball All-Star Game (FOX) – The 86th edition from Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati OH. Ciara sings the pre-game anthem; Josh Turner performs “God Bless America”. As has been standard since 2003, home field advantage in the upcoming World Series goes to the team whose league wins the All-Star Game.
• “The Talk” (CBS) – 50 Cent (“Street King Immortal”).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – OMI (“Cheerleader”).
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Jack Antonoff (Bleachers).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Adele – Her long-anticipated 3rd album could be postponed even longer so she can have another baby. The 27-year-old, who already has 2-year-old son Angelo with long-term partner Simon Konecki, is said to be eager to have another tot sooner rather than later.
• Beck – He & actress-wife Marissa Ribisi bought a 4-bedroom Santa Monica, California home for $2.7 million earlier this year, but subsequently had a change of heart and put it back on the market where it has now been snapped up for $2.9 million. Not a bad profit in just 5 months.
• Foo Fighters – In an interview with “Entertainment Weekly”, Dave Grohl says breaking his leg is a “blessing in disguise” because the Foos have played their “best gigs ever” since he injured himself in a stage slip in Gothenburg, Sweden June 12th.
• Journey – Drummer Deen Castronovo has been ordered to seek drug rehab treatment as he awaits trial for rape, sexual abuse, and unlawful use of a weapon. He was arrested at his Salem OR home in June. He’s expected to be released from jail for treatment sometime this week.
• Lauryn Hill – She’s cancelled yet another gig (the opposite would actually be news), this time an acoustic concert scheduled for tomorrow night in London. Her excuse may be legit as she’s claiming a ‘past legal situation’ means she is unable to enter the UK at this time.
• Madonna – Her publicist Liz Rosenberg has blasted reports that Madge was banned from a NYC theater after being caught texting throughout a performance of the hip hop musical “Hamilton”. But former “Glee” actor Jonathan Groff, who stars in the show, says it’s all true.
• Rihanna – LAPD is reportedly searching phone, computer, and social media records after a man uploaded a ‘selfie’ of himself outside her former home. TMZ.com also reports that he sent a death threat to RiRi. Police are said to be monitoring his movements online.
• Rob Thomas – He’s postponing most of the July shows of his North American “Great Unknown Tour” due to his wife Marisol’s need for brain surgery. After an MRI for something unrelated, doctors have identified what appears to be a lesion on the base of her brain.

THIS WEEK’S VIDEO RELEASES:
Out today on DVD, Netflix, Google Play and/or other video providers …
• “Ex Machina” ( R-Rated Sci-Fi ): A young programmer is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A-I (Alicia Vikander). Co-stars Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Sonoya Mizuno.
• “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” ( PG Action Comedy ): In this sequel to the 2009 comedy hit, security guard ‘Blart’ visits Las Vegas for a vacation with his teenage daughter before she heads off to college. But safety never takes a holiday and when duty calls, ‘Blart’ answers! Stars Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez, Eduardo Verástegui, Daniella Alonso.
• “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” ( PG-13 Dramedy ): In this sequel to the 2011 hit, ‘Muriel’ (Maggie Smith) is newly installed as co-manager of the hotel; fresh arrivals (Richard Gere, Tamsin Greig) find there’s only 1 vacant room; ‘Sonny’ (Dev Patel) pursues his dream of opening a 2nd hotel. Returning ensemble cast includes Bill Nighy, David Strathairn, Judi Dench.
• Also released today: “Batman: The 2nd Season 1966-67” (Vintage TV); “Can’t Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police” (Music Documentary); “Little House On the Prairie: Season 6 Deluxe Remastered Edition” (Vintage TV); “Poltergeists: Real-Life Hauntings” (History Channel Specials Compilation); “The Salt Of the Earth” (Documentary); and “WKRP In Cincinnati: Season 3 1980-81 (Vintage TV).

“MOCKINGBIRD 2”:
“To Kill a Mockingbird” will not be Pulitzer Prize-winning author Harper Lee’s only published book after all. Today “Go Set a Watchman” is released, a novel the now 88-year-old author completed in the 1950s and put aside. Rediscovered last Fall, it’s essentially a sequel to “To Kill a Mockingbird”, although it was finished earlier. The 304-page book is Lee’s first new work in more than 50 years. The novel features the character known as ‘Scout’ as an adult woman, and her father ‘Atticus Finch’, who’s surprisingly growing hostile to the civil rights movement. Publisher HarperCollins plans a first printing of 2 million copies. It reports that pre-orders for the book are the highest in company history. (This is all about the money.)
– AP

BEST ISLANDS ON EARTH:
According to a new poll of world travelers …
10. Malta, Mediterranean Sea
9. Great Barrier Reef Islands, Australia
8. Kauai, Hawaii
7. Maui, Hawaii
6. Moorea, French Polynesia
5. Santorini, Greece
4. Tasmania, Australia
3. Maldives, Indian Ocean
2. Bali, Indonesia
1. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
(Which would you add to the list?)
– “Travel + Leisure Magazine”

BEET THIS:
Want to stay trendy, but actually be healthy? Raise a glass to (and of) beet juice, now being touted as the new superfood for heart health. The bloody beverage reduces high blood pressure, according to a new study published in the journal “Hypertension”, in addition to its already heralded antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer qualities. Problem is, beetroot’s earthy flavor makes it hard for some of us to swallow. So proponents advise adding something sour to offset the savoriness. Suggested additives include lemon, orange peel, apple juice, fresh ginger, or hot peppers. (Another problem that needs to be addressed …. the stuff stains everything it touches, including your fingers!)
– “New York Daily News”

ACTUAL NOTES LEFT ON VEHICLE WINDSHIELDS:
• “Who taught you to park? Stevie Wonder?”
• “Hi. My name is Jack. I accidentally hit your car and someone saw me, so I’m pretending to write down the details. Sorry.”
• “Dear blue BMW. You look rich. You should buy yourself some parking lessons. You took TWO spots!”
• “Note: I have nothing of value in my car. But thanks for checking anyway.”
• “Park less crappily!”
• “I am putting a curse I learned online on this vehicle so that you will always find a problem parking anywhere outside your home. Forever.”
• “Please stop giving me tickets. I already have 3 this week. I am obviously broke already.”
• “Sorry! Don’t ticket me. I have to go poo.”
– List25.com

PICTURING PLUTO:
This morning we can see Pluto up close for the first time in history … and you can watch it live via NASA TV online. The public has always had an intense affection for Pluto; consider the surprisingly emotional outcry when it was reclassified as a ‘dwarf planet’ by the International Astronomical Union in 2006. Already better images of ice-covered, atmosphere-evaporating Pluto are being seen and at 7:49 am ET this morning NASA’s New Horizons probe will be just 7,800 miles above the mini-planet. It has traveled for 9 years and 3 billion miles to get this close. As the probe closes in on Pluto and its moons (most notably Charon), images will have 500 times higher resolution than any previously taken during the mission.
NET: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv
– “Mental Floss”

BS AMAZING FACT:
3-time Formula 1 world champion driver Nikki Lauda (1975, 1977, 1984) swapped all his trophies for … unlimited free car washes.
– Reuters.com

BS CHRONOMETER 07.14.15

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1960 [55] Jane Lynch, Dolton IL, TV host (“Hollywood Game Night” since 2013)/TV actress (“Glee” 2009-15)

1975 [40] Jamey Johnson, Enterprise AL, country singer (“In Color”, “The Dollar”)/country songwriter (“Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”, “Give It Away”)

1975 [40] Taboo (Jaime Gomez), LA CA, hip-hop musician/MC/dancer (Black Eyed Peas-“I Gotta Feeling”, “Where Is the Love?”)

1986 [29] Dan Smith, London UK, alt-rock singer (Bastille-“Pompeii”, “Of the Night”)  BS FACTOID: The band’s name derives from Smith’s birthday coinciding with Bastille Day.

1987 [28] Dan Reynolds, Las Vegas NV, indie rock singer (Imagine Dragons-“Demons”, “Radioactive”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Bastille Day”, the national holiday of France that commemorates the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789, when patriots stormed the Bastille prison. Off with their heads!

• “Cow Appreciation Day”, a day to celebrate the ‘beauty of the bovine’, so don’t forget to polish your shoes, check your wallet, and throw another T-bone on the grill.

• “Grand Marnier Day”,  celebrating the cognac concoction that’s used in mixed drinks (ie: Cosmopolitan) and in desserts (ie: Crêpe Suzette). It was an 1880s French invention by one Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle.

• “International Nude Day”, a serious celebration of the ‘naturist’ lifestyle.

• “Pick Blueberries Day”, or if you’re as lazy as we are, pick blueberries off the shelf at you local supermarket day. Either way, they’re good for you – high fiber, no fat, loaded with antioxidants.

• “Shark Awareness Day”, to create awareness that these magnificent creatures are more threatened by people than people are by sharks. Worldwide demand for shark-fin soup and  shark-tooth medallions combine to make sharks endangered, with millions killed each year.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2000 [15] “X-Men” opens in theaters with a then-record take of $57.5 million, the largest non-sequel, non-holiday movie opening

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1995 [20] A revolutionary new technology that makes music files small enough to be stored in bulk and/or transferred online is christened ‘MP3’ (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2011 [04] Neptune completes its 1st orbit of the Sun since the planet was discovered in 1846

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1990 [25] World’s ‘Largest Cherry Pie’ weighs in at 37,740 lbs (17,119 kg) and is served up from a 20-ft-diameter (6-m) pan in Oliver, British Columbia

COMING UP . . .
[Wed] “2015 ESPYS” (ESPN)
[Wed] Gummi Worm Day
[Wed] Pet Fire Safety Day
[Thurs] Pemberton Music Festival begins (Pemberton BC)
[Thurs] Hot Dog Night
This Week Is … Sports Cliché Week
This Month Is … Child-Centered Divorce Month

BULL’S BITS

BS SIGNS HE’S A JEALOUS GUY:
• He not so subtly tries to peep whenever you’re texting.
• He wants an invite to everything you do.
• He once almost punched a waiter for perceived flirting.
• He always finds a reason to hate on your guy friends.
• He’s constantly paranoid you’re up to something, even if you just stay an extra hour at work.
• He shows up to your place unannounced.
• When the two of you go hang out at a bar or go to a party, he doesn’t give you any space.
• He brings up comments or photos that people left on your Facebook wall in conversation.
• When he knows you’re out, he’ll text you constantly.
• If he sees someone make you laugh, he moves in and starts belittling them.
– Adapted from Cosmopolitan.com

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ Is a hot dog a sandwich? Why/why not?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
This just in: A seminar on time travel will be held 2 weeks ago …

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: THIS piece of sporting equipment was invented in Canada in 1883.
Answer: Baseball glove.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
It’s hard to make a comeback when you haven’t been anywhere.