Bully For You!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
“Advertising Age” reports that ABC-TV is selling 30-second ads for the 3-hour series finalé of “Lost” on May 23rd for about $900,000-a-pop (there’s still time to organize a viewing party for your listeners!) . . . After barely edging out David Letterman for 2 weeks following his return to the “Tonight Show” (NBC), Jay Leno is beginning to open up a ratings gap (must be that clever ‘Headlines’ feature he crutches on) . . . “Bleep My Dad Says” is the toned-down working title of the upcoming CBS-TV adaptation of a wildly popular Twitter feed (it will star that untalented bleep William Shatner, who’s now as old as bleep) . . . The price of movie tickets has shot up by about 8% in 3-D theaters and $5 across-the-board at IMAX locations (still good value for your entertainment buck?) . . . A re-release of the little-seen 2009 film “Motherhood” (Uma Thurman, Minnie Driver, Anthony Edwards) at a single theater in London’s West End over the weekend managed to attract a combined audience of 12 and a total gross $150 (Sunday’s admissions: 1) . . . Music mogul Simon Cowell’s upcoming wedding to fiancée Mezhgan Hussainy will reportedly be themed around the painting “The Persistence of Memory” by Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali, complete with angels & melted clocks (he has almost enough money to bring Dali back) . . . And TLC has just announced it’s picking up Sarah Palin’s TV series that’s cleverly tentatively-titled “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” (which will join other quality TLC programs such as “World’s Heaviest Man Gets Married” and “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant”).
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “American Idol” (FOX/CTV) – Usher mentors the 10 finalists as they prepare to perform.
• “Dancing With the Stars” (ABC/A Channel) – Beach Boys perform; a celebrity is eliminated.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Miley Cyrus (“The Last Song”); Erykah Badu (“New Amerykah Part Two”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Snoop Dogg (“More Malice”); Keane (“Night Train”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS) – Alan Jackson ( “Freight Train”, his 18th album, out today).
• “Live With Regis & Kelly” (syndicated/CTV) – Daughtry (“Leave This Town”).
• “Lopez Tonight” (TBS) – Ludacris (“Battle Of the Sexes”).
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Black Eyed Peas – Tonight’s “The E-N-D World Tour” concert at LA’s Staples Center will be broadcast to nearly 500 movie theaters. Cinema viewers will see the entire live performance as well as 30 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage including band interviews, all for about $15.
NET: http://www.blackeyedpeas.com/home/events/323
• Carrie Underwood – Her single “Temporary Home” has risen to the top of the Mediabase chart this week.
• Dierks Bentley – He’s raised over $1 million for hospitals of the Children’s Miracle Network.
• Janet Jackson – Today her new single “Nothing” is released, from the soundtrack of “Why Did I Get Married Too?” (opening Friday), a movie that she also acts in.
• Lady Gaga – She’s now the only artist of the digital era to top the 5 million sales mark with her first 2 singles (“Poker Face”, “Just Dance”). Her next single will be “Alejandro”, the 3rd release from “The Fame Monster”.
• Melissa Auf Der Maur – Today the Montréal-based musician/writer/photographer releases “OOOM” (‘Out Of Our Minds’), a multimedia project that’s part novel, part album, and part film.
• Phil Collins – Due to nerve damage after neck surgery, he’s had to tape his drumsticks to his hands. Despite that, he’s still putting the finishing touches on a new album of Motown covers.
• Rob Thomas – Today he releases the digital EP “Someday” exclusively via iTunes. It includes 4 previously unreleased tracks plus “Sunday Morning New York Blue”.
• Shakira – The 33-year-old says she plans to settle down and start a family with longtime boyfriend Antonio de la Rua next year after she completes her upcoming “She Wolf” world tour.
• Tegan & Sara – Today 17 different remixes of the same song, “Alligator” from their “Sainthood” album, are being offered as a package exclusively through iTunes.
TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakuel” ( Animated Comedy ): In this follow-up to the 2007 film, ‘Alvin, Simon & Theodore’ return to school and are tasked with saving the music program by winning the $25,000-prize in a battle of the bands. Voice cast includes Amy Poehler, Christina Applegate, Jason Lee, Jesse McCartney. “Kids’ Choice” winner for ‘Favorite Movie’.
• “An Education” ( Drama ): Sally Hawkins, Emma Thompson, and Peter Sarsgaard star in the story of a teenage girl coming-of-age in 1961 London. Just as her family’s long-held dream of getting their brilliant daughter into Oxford University seems within reach, she’s tempted by another kind of life. Nominated for 3 Oscars.
• “Sherlock Holmes” ( Crime Thriller ): Director Guy Ritchie’s re-imagining of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective features Robert Downey Jr as ‘Holmes’ & Jude Law as stalwart partner ‘Watson’, who engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England. Co-stars Rachel McAdams. Nominated for 2 Oscars.
• “Under the Sea 3-D” ( Documentary ): This IMAX adventure visits some of the most exotic and isolated undersea locations on Earth, providing face-to-face encounters with various mysterious and stunning creatures. BS FACTOID: The first 3-D TV systems have hit stores this month. Panasonic’s version sells for about $2,500; the special eyeglasses cost circa $150 a pair.
• Also released today: “Afghan Star” (Documentary); “The Backyardigans: Escape From the Tower” (Animation); “The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty” (TV); “Steven Seagal: Lawman – The Complete Season One” (Reality TV); and “The Vans Warped Tour 15th Anniversary” CD/DVD set (Music Concert).
LIQUID COURAGE:
Perhaps surprisingly, students who write exams the morning after a night of heavy drinking do not end up with lower marks, according to a new study. A team of researchers from Boston University & Brown University have tested close to 200 students, aged 21-to-24. Over 4 days, with medical supervision, they were given either beer or non-alcoholic beer and wrote exams and mock quizzes the next day. Their scores were unaffected. However, the study notes that binge-drinking can affect other types of performance, such as essay writing. (Of course, this is all dependent on someone who’s been boozing all night actually showing up.)
– “Globe & Mail”
LIFE BY THE NUMBERS:
A BS breakdown of who we are and what we do …
• 70% of parents admit they’ve talked on a phone while driving their teens somewhere.
• 68% of shoppers are annoyed by ‘extended warranty’ pitches.
• 31% of marriages survive after an affair has been admitted or discovered.
• 26% of women would rather endure the pain of surgery than go to a gym.
• 20% of married men have never seen their wife without makeup … not even in bed.
• 14% of us have talked to a co-worker with stuff stuck in our teeth.
JOB DE-TRAINING:
British civil servants are being given counseling manuals advising them how to deal with … a lack of work. A booklet from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport suggests stress-related boredom could be caused by having ‘too little work or responsibility’ and urges pressured workers to take up a hobby to alleviate anxiety. The Department for International Development’s booklet warns workers to avoid becoming lethargic from ‘too little pressure’ but also to allow for 20% more time to complete tasks they feel could add to stress. ‘Breathe in and out heavily a few times and imagine yourself being successful’, it advises. (This would all be funny except … they aren’t kidding!)
– “Daily Telegraph”
HEALTHY FOODS YOU’RE NOT EATING:
• Chocolate Milk – The same bone-building nutrients as white milk, plus 16 healthful nutrients.
• Cinnamon – Helps prevent blood clots; has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Cloves – A single gram contains the same amount of antioxidants as a half-cup of berries.
• Flax Seed – Contains anti-inflammatory powers; helps reduce risk of hormone-related cancers.
• Kiwi Fruit – High in vitamin C as well as vitamin E.
• Passion Fruit – Great source of fibre and antioxidants; reduces cholesterol levels.
• Red Cabbage – Thought to help protect against cancer and improve brain function.
• Spirulina – A blue-green algae available at health-food stores; a promising immunity-booster.
• Swiss Chard – Good source of lutein, which helps prevent age-related macular degeneration.
– Condensed from BestHealthMag.ca
MAXI-PAD:
Apple has temporarily sold out of iPads, pre-selling hundreds-of-thousands of the tablet device which doesn’t even officially launch until April 3rd and has a base price of $500. The overwhelming demand for the iPad indicates what recent polls have suggested – business professionals have big plans for the gadget. A survey commissioned by Sybase has found that the top reasons consumers would use an iPad-type device is for working on-the-go, far more than plan to use it for watching movies or playing games. (Another factor: There are a lot of consumer lemmings who will buy just about anything with that half-eaten fruit logo on it.)
– PCWorld.com
DID YOU KNOW?
• There’s a 75% increase in the risk of developing melanoma by being exposed to tanning beds before age 30.
– WebMD.com
• Austria has Europe’s hairiest women, with only 38% of them regularly shaving their legs and underarms.
– Halife.com
BS CHRONOMETER 03.30.10
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1945 [65] Eric Clapton, Ripley UK, classic rock singer/guitarist (Grammy Award-“Change the World”) who’s made it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with The Yardbirds (1992), Cream (1993), and as a solo performer (2000)
1964 [46] Tracy Chapman, Cleveland OH, folk/pop singer (“Give Me One Reason”, “Fast Car”)/4 Grammy Awards
1965 [45] Piers Morgan, Newick UK, TV personality (“America’s Got Talent” since 2006, “The Celebrity Apprentice” 2008 winner)/former tabloid editor (“News Of the World”, “Daily Mirror”)
1968 [42] Celine Dion, Charlemagne QC, pop singer (“Because You Loved Me”, “My Heart Will Go On”)/best selling female artist of all-time (over 200 million albums worldwide)/Canadian Walk of Fame (2003)
1979 [31] Norah Jones (Shankar), Brooklyn NY, pop/jazz singer (“Until the End”, “Don’t Know Why”)/10 Grammy Awards
1984 [26] Anna Nalick, Glendora CA, pop singer/songwriter (“Shine”, “Breathe [2 AM]”)
1984 [26] Justin Moore, Poyen AR, country singer (“Backwoods”, “Small Town USA”)
BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Badminton Day”, honoring the sport anyone can play in their backyard … badly. It never really caught on when first introduced in the early 1800s, perhaps because it was then known as … ‘Poona’.
• “Doctors Day”, an observance dating back to 1933 that commemorates the first use of anaesthetic during surgery by one Dr Crawford W Long in 1842. He got the idea by observing party-goers hammered on nitrous oxide and sulfuric ether.
• “Full Moon” of March, known as the ‘Worm Moon’ as earthworms reappear after Winter, heralding the return of the robins. It’s also been called the ‘Crow Moon’, the ‘Sap Moon’, and the ‘Sugar Moon’.
• “Hot Dog Day”, in celebration of the marvellous invention of the tube steak, also known as the frank, weenie, wienie, wiener, dog, or red hot. In 1987, the city of Frankfurt, Germany celebrated the 500th birthday of the frankfurter but the invention didn’t become a ‘hot dog’ until someone sandwiched it in a bun, an idea attributed to German immigrants selling from pushcarts in NYC during the 1860s.
• “Pencil Day”, observed on the anniversary of the ‘Pencil with Attached Eraser’ being patented 152 years ago (1858) by Hyman Lipman. (Thereby giving us all something to chew on.)
• “Take a Walk In the Park Day”, to encourage us to take the time for calming and therapeutic exercise that’s so darn easy to do … until you get mugged.
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1990 [20] “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” opens in movie theaters
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1935 [75] 1st ‘Newfie Time’ as Newfoundland changes zone to 3.5 hours West of Greenwich
1954 [56] Canada’s 1st mass transit ‘subway’ opens in Toronto
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] “The Last Song” opens in movie theaters
[Wed] Bunsen Burner Day
[Wed] She’s Funny That Way Day
[Thurs] April Fools Day
[Thurs] Fun at Work Day
[Thurs] St Stupid Day
[Fri] “Clash of the Titans”; “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?” open in movie theaters
[Fri] Good Friday (Christian)
This Week Is … Root Canal Awareness Week
This Month Is … Caffeine Awareness Month
BULL’S BITS
BS WAYS TO TELL A GUY HIS FLY IS UNZIPPED:
• You’ve got Windows on your laptop.
• Sailor Ned’s trying to take a little shore leave.
• You need to bring your tray table to the upright and locked position.
• The Buick is not all the way in the garage.
• You’ve got a security breach at Los Pantalones.
• The cucumber has left the salad.
• Paging Mr Johnson … paging Mr Johnson …
– Adapted from saviodsilva.net
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
What do fitness experts suggest adding to your bath to soothe sore muscles?
a. Hot Sauce.
b. Ground Ginger. [CORRECT. Add 2 tablespoons and soak for 15 minutes.]
c. Sage.
– “Fitness Magazine”
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Here I am again in front of a microphone. This is how the trouble usually starts.
BS WORD OF THE DAY:
In the interest of promoting more erudite language as well as general goofiness, here’s a truly weird word from “Foyle’s Philavery: A Treasury of Unusual Words” for you to toss around for the day (award callers for tying it in with whatever they’re talking about) …
• ‘Ninnyhammer’ … A fool or a silly person.
BS PHONE STARTER:
What movie have you recently rented (or downloaded illegally) that was so bad you turned it off part-way through?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: According to “Men’s Health” magazine, THIS is the most deceptive word used in food advertising.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: ‘Healthy’.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The sooner you fall behind, the more time you’ll have to catch up.
