Monday, March 5, 2012       Edition: #4698

Sheet Happens!

WEEKEND TABLOID & BLOG BS:
• Lindsay Lohan returned for her 4th stint as host of “Saturday Night Live” (NBC) on the weekend and the reviews are a tad tepid: “Entertainment Weekly” questions whether or not she was the worst host of the year, while the “Washington Post” says it wasn’t a disaster on par with, say, Lana Del Rey, but Lohan “didn’t fully reclaim her status as a young comic performer worthy of casting in major Hollywood projects.” (Truth be told, she hasn’t had that ‘status’ since “Mean Girls” in 2004.)
– ContactMusic.com
• “Hawaii Five-O” star Alex O’Loughlin is taking a break from filming the CBS-TV show to address his dependency on prescription drugs. The Australian star, who plays police chief ‘Steve McGarrett’, has checked himself into rehab in order to wean himself off pain pills he has been taking following a recent shoulder injury. He’s expected to rejoin the cast once therapy is concluded. (Amy Winehouse, Brittany Murphy, DJ AM, Gerard Butler … the list keeps growing.)
– UsMagazine.com
• Whitney Houston reportedly had a year-long affair with Jermaine Jackson in the mid-1980s.
The late-singer – who died at age 48 last month – became close to Michael Jackson’s brother when he was brought in to work with her early on in her career in the mid-‘80s, and although he has previously claimed they had strong feelings for each other in an autobiography, it is now believed they were actually ‘lovers’. An insider says Jermaine didn’t tell half the story in his book. (She sure could pick ‘em, huh?)
– “The Sun on Sunday”
• Despite rumors to the contrary, Janet Jackson will NOT be a new judge on Simon Cowell’s talent show “The X Factor” (FOX). She says she’s flattered the show let her know she was being considered for next season but it just won’t be possible due to previous commitments to complete her “Number Ones Up Close & Personal Tour” as well as to movie studio Lionsgate. (Eh? She hasn’t had any film roles in over 2 years.)
– TheInsider.com
• 31-year-old Nick Cannon (Mr Mariah Carey) says he’s been diagnosed with an auto-immune disease. After being hospitalized earlier this year with blood clots and kidney failure, doctors have now linked the incident with a medical condition described as being similar to Lupus. He says it’s something he’ll have to live with his entire life. He hasn’t confirmed whether or not he’ll continue as host of “America’s Got Talent” (NBC) but has already stepped down from his NYC radio show. (It’s sad if true … but it always seems like he’s making this stuff up.)
– People.com
• The bigscreen adaptation of “The Hunger Games” may not be opening until March 23rd but it’s already being called “the new ‘Twilight Saga’”. Over 30 million copies of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy have been sold and the film has been voted ‘Most Anticipated Film of 2012’ in an MTV poll. And here’s a sure sign of a hit … 21-year-old star Jennifer Lawrence says Hollywood celebrities have been ‘sucking up’ to her ever since she finished filming the first instalment. (Get ready for Kristen Stewart-type fame, kid. You’ll never have a private moment again!)
– Telegraph.co.uk

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Jessie Baylin (“Little Spark”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC) – Jake Owen (“Barefoot Blue Jean Night”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS) – Lana Del Rey (“Born to Die”). Rerun.
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC) – Imelda May (“Mayhem”). Rerun.
• “The View” (ABC) – Rapper-turned-moviemaker 50 Cent.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Jason Aldean – He got a chance to live out his other dream (aside from being a country music star) late last week by practicing with his favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves. It was filmed for an upcoming segment of the reality TV show “Day Jobs” (GAC).
• Jason Derulo – He tells “NME” magazine he has a new perspective on life since accidentally fracturing his neck while rehearsing dance moves. Quote: “It’s called a hangman’s break. I’m lucky to be here.”
• Kenny Chesney – It’s been announced he’ll release his as-yet-untitled new album June 19th. That will no doubt add to his career sales totals of over 30 million albums, 20 million digital downloads, and 22 #1 country hits.
• Lady Antebellum – They’re asking high schools to submit videos explaining why their prom should host a special Lady A show. The winning school, to be announced March 20th, will receive a free concert at its Spring prom, including a meet-and-greet with the band.
• The Monkees – Following the death of 66-year-old lead singer Davy Jones, digital music provider Spotify has reported a 3,000% increase in demand for the ‘60s band’s tunes.
• Rolling Stones – They’ll issue a 50th anniversary photobook, aptly titled “The Rolling Stones: 50”, on July 12th. That’s the exact the date in 1962 when the band debuted at the Marquee Club in London’s Oxford Street.
• Taylor Swift – It’s been confirmed she & Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow did indeed dine together last week, but an onlooker says they were among a party of 5 and looked more like friends than lovers. That hasn’t stop People.com from running a poll asking readers if they’d make a great couple. 70% say ‘yes!’.
• Wiz Khalifa – The Pittsburgh PA emcee has proposed to model/singer Amber Rose, popping the question on March 1st then showing his Twitter followers the engagement ring via Instagram. And oh … she also said ‘yes!’.

FUTURE FORDS:
Bill Ford Jr, great-grandson of Ford Motor Co founder Henry Ford, has been thinking ahead to a time when there will be too many cars in the world’s major cities. Today’s traffic congestion will only will get worse, but he says technology is already developing solutions. In 5 or so years, more cars will have radar-based cruise control that automatically stops them from running into each other. More will have blind-spot monitoring systems that stop cars from changing lanes if something’s in the way. By 2025, he sees cars using these features to communicate with each other, perhaps even taking over the driving in a traffic jam to find the best way out. (Here’s a random idea on reducing congestion … how about putting more than one person in a vehicle?)
– AP

SECRETS TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE:
Experts weigh in on how to keep your union united …
• Find meaning and purpose in your individual lives through activities, interests, and commitments you are passionate about.
• Don’t push your spouse to share your pleasures. Allow yourselves space to enjoy personal time and discover the plus side of being on your own.
• Focus on the quality of your time together, not the number of hours. Make time to talk – and only talk. No watching TV or fiddling with a BlackBerry.
• Don’t suffer in silence when a hobby starts upstaging your relationship. If you’ve become a golf widow, for instance, it’s important to let your partner know what you’re feeling.
– Condensed from “Best Health Magazine”

ABODE-IN-A-BOX:
Prefab house-maker Ideabox has just previewed its first North American home, designed in collaboration with IKEA. The 1-bedroom Aktiv costs $86,500 and can be delivered to your empty lot in 1 or 2 big pieces. It arrives already constructed, with cabinets, countertops, and flooring installed; and is even partially furnished with an IKEA bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Buyers also get water-efficient pipes, energy-efficient appliances, and LED light-fixtures. They choose their own colors and surface materials. IKEA, best known as world’s largest furniture-maker, has been making prefab BoKlok ‘smart living’ homes in Sweden since 1996. (Imagine how many screws you’ll have left over after THIS assembly!)
– HuffingtonPost.com

CAR MYTHS THAT COST YOU MONEY:
How many of these do you believe?
• Change Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles (5,000 K) – For most cars built in the last decade or so, manuals recommend an oil change at around 7,500 miles (12,000 K), but synthetic oils lasting up to 15,000 miles (24,000 K) have been available for years.
• Warm Up Your Engine Before You Drive – An idling engine takes much longer to warm up, so it ends up experiencing far more cold-start wear-and-tear than if you just hop in and drive. Besides, some parts of your car don’t get warmed up until you actually get the thing moving.
• Fuel Additives Are Good for Your Engine – Gasoline now contains detergents that prevent deposits and buildups. Using an aftermarket additive is basically like rubbing 2 bars of soap together … you’re not actually cleaning anything and you look really stupid doing it.
• Get Regular Engine Tuneups – While it’s probably prudent to have a mechanic check your car every 50,000 miles (80,000 K) or so, your engine’s computer checks everything millions of times per second, tweaking things automatically for best performance.
• You Need to ‘Winterize’ Your Car – With the exception of putting on snow tires and adjusting tire pressure, your car is ready to go. Modern oil grades are designed to function in both Summer and Winter, and even ‘Summer’ engine coolants are rated to -34 F (-37 C).
• High-Octane Gasoline Is Better for Your Engine – With the exception of a small percentage of cars with high-compression engines that require high-octane fuel, using plus- or premium-grade gas won’t do anything for your car … nor your wallet.
– Cracked.com

DID YOU KNOW?
• Men are at their happiest when they reach age 65, according to a new British survey.
– BBC News
• There are 6 more Starbucks coffee shops in London than there are in NYC.
– PopBitch.com

BS CHRONOMETER 03.05.12