Friday, April 22, 2011        Edition: #4490
Happy Earth Day from Eco-Friendly “BS”!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
“Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” is now scheduled to return to Broadway on June 14th in a revamped version that’s expected to include new songs by Bono & The Edge, as well as a tweaked story and new choreography (and hopefully fewer injuries). . . Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has bounced back from a stay in rehab to treat Bipolar II disorder by landing a role in the upcoming movie musical “Rock of Ages”, alongside Russell Brand, Tom Cruise, Mary J Blige, Alec Baldwin, and Julianne Hough . . . Jennifer Lopez is teaming up with “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller on a new reality TV competition tentatively titled “Que Viva”, in which she & Marc Anthony will be on the hunt for new acts in Latin America . . .  Actress Kate Beckinsale is set to step into Sharon Stone’s “Total Recall” role in the upcoming movie remake by director Len Wiseman (who just happens to be her husband) . . . According to “InTouch” magazine, baseball star Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez has been shopping for engagement rings at a NYC jeweler, suggesting he’s ready to pop the question to his 1-year gal-pal, actress Cameron Diaz . . . “Desperate Housewives” actress Teri Hatcher has revealed she has a medical condition called ‘Frozen Shoulder’ which has left her unable to ‘hook a bra’ (the opposite of the syndrome suffered by fumbling teenage boys) . . . . “TIME” magazine’s new listing of the ‘100 Most Influential People’ includes the likes of actress Blake Lively (“Gossip Girl”), singer/songwriter Bruno Mars, Chris Colfer (“Glee”), Mark Wahlberg (“The Fighter”), pop star Justin Bieber, Amy Poehler (“Parks & Recreation”), and classic rocker Sting (notably absent: Charlie Sheen) . . . And cops in Anaheim, California have confirmed they’re investigating death threats against 13-year-old YouTube phenomenon Rebecca Black (“Friday”), which apparently demanded she get her music off the Internet – or else (at last, something in the news that makes sense!).

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Big 4 Festival” (Indio CA) – Saturday the so-called ‘Big 4 of Metal’ (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax) bring their show stateside for one day only at the Empire Polo Club (home of the “Coachella Festival”). They played 7 shows together in Europe last year.
NET: http://thebig4festival.com
• “Dove Awards” (GMC) – Sunday the 42nd annual Gospel Music Association awards are handed out. Francesca Battistelli wins 3 awards, including ‘Artist Of the Year’. The prerecorded gala features a performance by Kenny Rogers (“The Love Of God”).
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/A Channel) – Today Darren Criss & the Warblers (“Glee”).
• “Gayle King” (OWN) – Today The Judds (“I Will Stand By You: The Essential Collection”).
• “Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country” (CBS/A Channel) – Tonight the achievements of Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland), Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, and Reba McEntire are saluted in this 2-hour TV special recorded in Las Vegas. Performers include Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Ronnie Dunn, and Vince Gill.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Tonight Cee-Lo Green (“The Lady Killer”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/A Channel) – Tonight The Lonely Island (“Incredibad”).
• “Live With Regis & Kelly” (syndicated/CTV) – Today guest co-host Josh Groban (“Illuminations”); James Blunt (“Some Kind Of Trouble”).
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC/Global) – Host Jesse Eisenberg (“The Social Network”); musical guest Nicki Minaj (“Pink Friday”).
• “Tavis Smiley” (PBS) – Tonight Robbie Robertson (“How to Become Clairvoyant”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/A Channel) – Tonight Mary Mary (“Something Big”).
• “20/20” (ABC) – Tonight Elton John & partner David Furnish discuss their son and fatherhood.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Black Eyed Peas – They’re planning to open a music school in NYC through their charitable Peapod Foundation where teens can learn video and music production.
• Elvis Presley – ‘Graceland Randers’, a replica of his Graceland mansion in Memphis, has opened in the town of Randers, Denmark. It’s virtually identical to the original except it’s twice the size in order to house a souvenir shop, restaurant, and museum. Nearly 6,000 Elvis items are on display. Admission costs 95 kroner (about $18).
• Kings of Leon – Frontman Caleb Followill’s fiancée, Victoria’s Secret model Lily Aldridge, has revealed they’re planning a ‘traditional’ ceremony for their wedding in May. They first met when the band made their debut appearance at the “Coachella Music Festival” in 2007.
• Lady Gaga – Following an Internet outcry, she’s agreed to let Weird Al Yankovic release his parody of her song “Born this Way”.
• Lil Wayne – Select dates on his “I Am Still Music” tour are being filmed, the footage to be compiled later into a tour documentary. The trek concludes May 1st at the “Bamboozle Festival” in East Rutherford NJ.
• Rihanna – At age 23, she’s become the youngest artist to rack up ten #1 hits (“S&M” is the latest). Mariah Carey previously held the record when she was 25.
•  TV On the Radio – This week bass player Gerard Smith died at age 36 after a battle with lung cancer. He was diagnosed with it after the band finished recording their new album “Nine Types of Light”.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “African Cats” ( G-Rated Documentary ): Disneynature’s annual Earth Day offering looks to be their most intimate portrait yet. The 3rd film in the series (“Earth”, “Oceans”) is billed as a real-life “Lion King”, centering around 2 big cat families and how they teach their cubs the ways of the wild. Narrated by Samuel L Jackson.
NET: http://bit.ly/f8hNzU
• “Madea’s Big Happy Family” ( PG-13 Comedy ): When her niece (Loretta Devine) receives distressing news about her health, ‘Madea’ (Tyler Perry back in a wig and a housedress) jumps into action to share the news with the family. Co-stars Bow Wow. It may seem cheesy, but anything Perry puts out under the ‘Madea’ banner is more bankable than current A-list fare.
NET: http://madeasbighappyfamilymovie.com/index.html
• “Water for Elephants” ( PG-13 Drama ): Robert Pattinson stars as a veterinary student who falls for a circus star (Reese Witherspoon) in the 1930s. Oscar-winning actor Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds”) plays her husband, who’s cruel to animals and humans alike. Based on Sara Gruen’s bestseller.
NET: http://www.waterforelephants.com

JUST DIP IT IN BUTTER:
University of Maine researchers have developed a golf ball made from … lobster shells. Though biodegradable golf balls already exist, this is the first created from waste material – a byproduct of the lobster canning industry which usually ends up in landfills. Unlike some environmentally-sound products, it isn’t expensive. While biodegradable golf balls now on the market retail for about a buck-a-ball, a lobster-shell ball costs only about 19 cents. But don’t expect to find them in your pro shop … lobster balls have been created specifically for use on cruise ship driving ranges. Thus the emphasis on biodegradability. (Do they squeal when you hit ‘em?)
– UMaine.edu

SILLY SUDS:
To commemorate Britain’s over-hyped royal wedding next week, UK retailer Brewdog is selling a limited edition run of 1,000 bottles of ‘Royal Virility Performance’, a specially-brewed beer that contains chocolate, horny goat weed, and … Viagra. The beer’s alcohol content is also potent, at 7.5%. The brewery says it wanted to ‘take the wheels off the royal wedding bandwagon’ by creating something with a touch of sarcasm. A single bottle of the stuff costs £10 (about $16).
NET: http://www.brewdog.com/product/royal-virility-performance
– Neatorama.com

POOR PLANNING:
Global Poverty Project’s ‘Live Below the Line’ drive May 16-20 is a challenge designed to provide those in well-off countries with an insight into the challenges faced by the world’s 1.4 billion who live in extreme poverty. Those taking part are asked to try to survive on a daily budget of just $1.50, the current equivalent of what the world’s poorest have for all their food, health, transportation, and general living costs. The idea is to raise funds for anti-poverty initiatives by taking pledges during the challenge. (This is a great opportunity for your morning show. The buzz on this initiative is going to build over the next month.)
NET: http://www.livebelowtheline.com
– DigitalJournal.com

SCIENTISTS SAY:
A BS compendium of recent ‘discoveries’ …
• Scientists say … there is a gender gap when it comes to making up our minds. A  Warwick University psychology study concludes that men tend to make snap ‘all-or-nothing’ decisions whereas women are more likely to mull over the choices and hedge their bets.
– “Daily Telegraph”
• Scientists say … working longer hours makes Europeans unhappy, but Americans seem to thrive on work and actually get a slight ‘bliss boost’ from extra hours of it. Researchers speculate the difference has to do with expectations and how a person measures success.
– LiveScience.com
• Scientists say … if you have to face a judge in court, try for first thing in the morning or right after lunch. A new Israeli study suggests the likelihood of getting a favorable ruling is greater at the very beginning of the workday or after a food break than later in the sequence of cases.
– Associated Press

BS CHRONOMETER 04.22.11

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1937 [74] Jack Nicholson, Neptune NJ, movie actor (“The Bucket List”, “The Departed”)/3-time Oscar winner (“As Good As It Gets”, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Terms of Endearment”)

1950 [61] Peter Frampton, Beckenham UK, classic rock singer/guitarist (“Show Me the Way”, “Baby, I Love Your Way”)

1967 [44] Sherri Shepherd, Chicago IL, TV personality (“The View” since 2005)

1974 [37] Shavo Odadjian, Yerevan, Armenia, alt-rock bassist (System Of A Down-“Hypnotize”, “Aerials”)

1979 [32] Daniel Johns, Newcastle, Australia, rock singer/guitarist (Silverchair-“Straight Lines”, “The Greatest View”)/married to pop singer Natalie Imbruglia (“Torn”) 2003-08

SATURDAY –
Documentary director Michael Moore (“Fahrenheit 9/11”) is 57; TV actress Valerie Bertinelli (“Hot in Cleveland”) is 51; TV personality/comedian George Lopez (“Lopez Tonight”) is 50; TV actress Melina Kanakaredes (“CSI: NY”) is 44; Movie actor Kal Penn (“Harold & Kumar” films) is 34; Movie actor Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”) is 21.

SUNDAY –
Pop singer/movie actress/director Barbra Streisand (“Meet the Fockers”) is 69; Movie actor/comedian Cedric the Entertainer (“Cadillac Records”) is 47; Pop singer Kelly Clarkson (“Don’t You Wanna Stay”) is 29; Pop singer/bassist Tyson Ritter (All-American Rejects) is 27; NHL defenceman Kris Letang (Pittsburgh Penguins) is 24.

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Earth Day”, begun in 1970 and now the largest environmental event worldwide with over 1 billion people expected to participate in events that address environmental issues.
NET: http://www.earthday.org
• “Girl Guide/Scout Leader Appreciation Day”, observed since 1982 to honor the many adult volunteers who help keep the program running. Thanks ‘Brown Owl’!
• “Good Friday”, observed since about 100 AD. There are few explanations as to why it’s known as ‘Good’ Friday since it commemorates a sorrowful time in Christianity. It’s a national holiday in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK but not in the USA where it varies state-by-state.
• “Jelly Bean Day”. Originally they only came in a few colors but nowadays you can get them in lip-smacking flavors like Toasted Marshmallow, Café Latte, Margarita, A&W Root Beer, Bubble Gum, Strawberry Cheesecake, Buttered Popcorn, and Pina Colada.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/446vn5

SATURDAY –
• “Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day”, the 5th annual celebration of the droopy-cheeked dog that’s a symbol of Britain.  Is there an uglier beast on Earth?
• “Spring Cat Cleaning Day”, a day to give your cat a bath. Be careful!
• “Talk Like Shakespeare Day”, observed on the anniversary of the bard’s birth (and death). Forsooth, ‘tis a pity methinks, if no one deigns to giveth it a shot.
• “World Book & Copyright Day”, declared annually by UNESCO to promote reading & books on the death anniversary of both William Shakespeare & Miguel de Cervantes (1616).

SUNDAY –
• “Easter, the moveable Christian feast, meaning it’s not fixed to a calendar date. It falls at some point between late March & late April each year, following the cycle of the Moon. Since its origins, it has been a time of celebration and feasting. Worldwide, many traditional Easter activities involve eggs, such as Egg Rolling, Egg Tapping, Pace Egging, and Egg Decorating.
• “Pet Parents Day”, the 4th annual on the last Sunday in April, honoring those who lovingly consider their pets a part of their close-knit family.
• “World Day For Laboratory Animals”, founded by the National Anti-Vivisection Society on behalf of the – quote – ‘billions of animals who are burnt, sliced, crushed, electrocuted, gassed, poisoned with toxic chemicals, psychologically tormented, and killed each year in labs around the world.’ As opposed to those we just eat.
NET: http://bit.ly/hf7vEH

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1976 [35] Barbara Walters becomes the first female network news anchor as ABC-TV pays her a then-fortune of $1 million a year

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1990 [21] Rocker Sammy Hagar opens the ‘Cabo Wabo Cantina’ club in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (still going strong!)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1998 [13] ‘Animal Kingdom’ opens at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1994 [17] World’s ‘Largest Lollipop’ weighs in at 3,011 lbs (Olstrup, Denmark)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Mon] White House Easter Egg Roll
[Mon] Malaria Awareness Day
[Mon] Red Hat Society Day
[Tues] “The Voice” premieres (NBC)
[Tues] Hug an Australian Day
[Tues] Kids & Pets Day
[Wed] Administrative Professionals Day
[Wed] International Guide Dog Day
[Wed] International Noise Awareness Day
This Week Is … Crime Victims’ Week
This Month Is … Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

BULL’S BITS

WHY THE EASTER BUNNY BRINGS EGGS:
• Secret plan to eliminate the human race by cholesterol overdose.
• Pressure from the Egg Marketing Board.
• The Energizer Bunny got the good job.
• Would you want to hunt for waffles?
• Even a guy with big ears should get chicks at least once a year.

BS RANDOM JOKE:
No, I’m not an elitist. Why do you ask, peasant?

BS EASTER QUIZ:
• In which country did the ‘Easter Bunny’ originate: England, Germany, or France? [The bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have its origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s. The first edible Easter Bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s.]
• What species of lily is the ‘Easter Lily’: White Trumpet Lily of Japan, Canada Lily Of the East, or Humboldt’s Lily Of the West? (The White Trumpet Lily of Japan.)
• How is the date for Easter Sunday calculated: 1st Sunday after the 1st Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox, the 2nd Sunday following the Harvest Moon, or the 3rd Sunday in April? [Easter is the 1st Sunday after the 1st Saturday after the 1st Full Moon after the equinox. The equinox is quite often March 21, but can also occur on March 20 or 22. Man, who figured this all out?]
• A traditional Easter dinner often includes ham. What does the ham represent: peace, prosperity, or power? [Schwean haben, a popular German expression for ‘prosperity’, literally means ‘have a pig’.]

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: It’s a proven fact that women do THIS 3 times as much as men.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Cry.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Do unto others as they should do unto you but won’t.