Friday, August 26, 2011        Edition: #4580
Another Sheetload of Bull!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
Today LA Lakers NBA star Ron Artest is expected to have his petition to legally change his name to ‘Metta World Peace’ rubber-stamped in court after publishing his intention for several weeks (your Ron Artest jersey is now worth squat) . . . Saturday filmmaker Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation”) weds singer Thomas Mars (Phoenix) on the grounds of her dad Francis Ford Coppola’s newly-refurbished Palazzo Margherita resort in southern Italy (the ‘newlyweds’ already have 2 children together) . . . Just 3 months after his ex, Jennifer Carpenter, filed for divorce 40-year-old “Dexter” star Michael C Hall has a secret new girlfriend who is 15 years his junior, reportedly a Showtime network employee (this is why you strive for fame, no?) . . . In a new interview with “The Sun” 36-year-old actress Angelina Jolie has revealed that her late mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, allowed her to have a live-in boyfriend – when she was just 14 (seems she ‘lost’ it at least 22 years ago) . . . Actor Jason Bateman (“Horrible Bosses”) & wife Amanda Anka are expecting another daughter, a little sister for their 4-year-old Francesca Nora (thereby making ‘60s singer Paul Anka a grandpa again) . . . 36-year-old movie star Charlize Theron tells “In Touch” magazine she wants to have a baby and would be happy if it happened ‘tomorrow’, even though she’s currently not in a relationship (volunteers?) . . . The politician and businesswoman-heavy new listing of ‘World’s Most Powerful Women’ from “Forbes” magazine also includes Lady Gaga (#11) and Beyoncé (#18) . . . And busy mom to 2 daughters Jessica Alba says she’s now looking for acting jobs that aren’t too ‘time consuming’ (ah, so that explains “Spy Kids 4”!).

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/A Channel) – Today Greyson Chance (“Waiting Outside The Lines”); Justin Bieber (“Never Say Never”); Kellie Pickler (“Kellie Pickler”). Rerun.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CHCH) – Tonight Lonely Forest (“Arrows”). Rerun.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Tonight The Knux (“Remind Me in 3 Days”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/A Channel) – Tonight Emmylou Harris (“Hard Bargain”). Rerun.
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni) – Tonight Steel Magnolia perform “Last Night Again”. Rerun.
• “MTV Video Music Awards” (MTV) – Sunday the 28th annual airs live from LA’s Nokia Theater. Katy Perry has a leading 9 nominations, followed by Adele and Kanye West with 7 apiece. Perhaps surprisingly, Lady Gaga has just 4, but she’ll open the show. This year’s gala pays special tribute to late Brit singer Amy Winehouse and perennial VMA winner Britney Spears. Other performers include Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Pitbull, and Young the Giant.
NET: http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2011/
• “Reading & Leeds Festivals” (UK) – Tonight the 3-day, 2-site event get underway, featuring over 150 acts on 6 stages including Interpol, Jane’s Addiction, Jimmy Eat World, Muse, My Chemical Romance, The Offspring, Rise Against, The Strokes, 30 Seconds to Mars, and many more.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC/Global) – Host Paul Rudd (“Our Idiot Brother”); musical guest Paul McCartney (“Paul McCartney Live in Los Angeles”). Rerun.
• “Today” (NBC) – This morning Train performs (“Save Me San Francisco”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/A Channel) – Tonight  Raphael Saadiq (“Stone Rollin’”). Rerun.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Jay-Z / Kanye West – Their “Watch the Throne” album has stayed atop the sales chart for a 2nd straight week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
• Kenny Chesney – Tickets for his Saturday show at Gillette Stadium near Boston, Massachusetts sold out in just 8 minutes when they went on sale back in November. A 2nd show was added for Sunday, but it’s been moved to tonight due to a hurricane warning. Also on the bill for the final shows of his “Goin’ Coastal” tour: Billy Currington and Zac Brown Band.
• Kings of Leon – Betty Ann Murphy, mother of Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill and aunt to Matthew tells “Star Magazine” they all sometimes drink more than they should but none of them needs rehab. The band’s not breaking up, she promises, and will be back better than ever.
• K’Naan – The singer-songwriter-rapper has headed back to his drought-plagued homeland of Somalia in a bid to help the starving population. After meeting with U2’s Bono and members of the Somalian community in the US, he decided he’d be most useful on the front line.
• Lil Wayne – He’ll digitally release his new album, “Tha Carter IV”, at midnight Sunday soon after his performance at the “MTV Video Music Awards”.
• OneRepublic – Frontman Ryan Tedder tells RollingStone.com he’s signed a franchise deal with NYC’s Southern Hospitality BBQ with the intent of expanding the chain to other major cities.
• Randy Houser – The “Boots On” country singer has proposed to fellow singer-songwriter Jessa Lee Yantz with a stunning diamond ring composed of almost 5.5 carats of brilliant-cut diamonds (more than 300 stones) set in 18-karat gold with a double diamond halo. How’s a one-hit-wonder pull this off?
• Taylor Swift – She’s purchased an historic home in Nashville, Tennessee called the Northumberland Estate for $2.5 million, according to a real estate website. Built in 1934, it was most recently owned by the Universal Music Group chairman, who renovated and restored it.

TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “Colombiana” ( PG-13 Action ): Zoe Saldana (“Avatar”) plays a young women raised in the US by her uncle to be a top-notch assassin. Now she’s looking to settle up with the Colombian drug lord who executed her parents when she was just 10-years-old. Co-stars Michael Vartan.
NET: http://www.colombiana-movie.com
• “Don’t Be Afraid Of the Dark” ( R-Rated Horror Thriller ): A young girl (Bailee Madison) sent to live with her father (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend (Katie Holmes) discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own. Shot in Melbourne, Australia.
NET: http://www.dontbeafraidofthedark.com
• “Our Idiot Brother” ( R-Rated Comedy ): In this indie comedy Paul Rudd plays a homeless and unemployed free spirit who divides his time by couch-surfing at the homes of his 3 sisters (Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer, Zooey Deschanel).
NET: http://www.ouridiotbrother.com/#/home

TANOREXIA FOR REAL:
New research from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center reveals that brain changes in frequent tanners mimics the same effects from other things that it interprets as rewards, such as money, food, or drugs. The new findings add to growing research that suggests indoor tanning may be addictive. Close to 30 million Americans frequent indoor tanning salons every year, despite the well-known fact that tanning beds are linked to skin cancer. Why? Experts say tanorexics live in fear of their tan fading. (Freak them out by commenting, “Well, you’re looking less orange today.”)
– AHN

BULL’S INTERNATIONAL MOOS:
• Moscow, Russia – Passengers panicked when 2 hives of bees smuggled onto a plane for a 10-hour flight across Russia escaped mid-flight and began swarming the cabin. Air stewards eventually managed to seal the bees inside the closet in the plane’s business section by sealing it with tape. But now the carrier could be stung with a massive bill for fumigating the Boeing 757 jet and compensating passengers for delays. (At last, a sequel for “Snakes On a Plane”!)
– Orange.co.uk
• Manama, Bahrain – Police in the Kingdom of Bahrain say they have issued the first-ever citation to a motorist who was allegedly guilty of … having bad breath. They say the motorist himself admitted to being less than pleasant-smelling. (In related news, we’re making a citizen’s arrest here in the studio this morning …)
– “Gulf News”
• Prague, Czech Republic – A kangaroo is in trouble after escaping from its owner and going on … a panty raid. ‘Benji’ bounced from yard-to-yard, collecting ladies lingerie from clotheslines as he went. He was only caught when one victim looked out of her kitchen window and saw the 2-year-old marsupial hopping off with her undies. The ‘roo’s 35-year-old owner swears, “He certainly didn’t pick up the habit from me!” (“Benji, what’s that in your pocket?”)
– “Metro”

FRESH AS A ROCK:
University of Minnesota researchers have discovered a naturally occurring agent called bisin, which they say is capable of destroying the bacteria that cause meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products to rot. They believe it could extend the life of perishables such as milk, sandwiches, open wine, and fresh salad dressing – in some cases for years. And they might not even need refrigeration. (Not to put a damper on this guys, but this is nothing new … there’s a package of Twinkies that’s been on the shelf at the local 7-11 for 3 decades.)
– “Times of London”

FOR THE RECORD:
Emporia State University in Kansas will try to set a Guinness World Record on September 1st for ‘Largest Zumba Class’ with at least 1,500 participants. ‘Zumba’ is the Latin-dance-inspired fitness program that involves both dance and aerobic elements.
– UPI.com

BS AMAZING FACT:
We’re most likely to pack on the pounds in the 2 years after a marriage starts or ends, according to a new study by the American Sociological Association. Newly married women are at the greatest risk of large weight gains.
– NYPost.com

BS CHRONOMETER 08.26.11

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1966 [45] Dan Vickrey, Walnut Creek CA, rock guitarist/vocalist (Counting Crows-“Accidentally in Love”, “Einstein On the Beach”)

1969 [42] Adrian Young, Long Beach CA, rock drummer (No Doubt-“It’s My Life”, “Hey Baby”)

1975 [36] Tyler Connolly, Delta BC, rock singer/guitarist (Theory Of a Deadman-“Bad Girlfriend”, “No Surprise”)

1980 [31] Chris Pine, LA CA, movie actor (“Unstoppable”, “Star Trek”)

1986 [25] Cassie (Cassandra Ventura), New London CT, one-hit-wonder pop singer (“Me & U”)

SATURDAY –
Country musician Jeff Cook (Alabama) is 62; Rock musician Alex Lifeson (Rush) is 58; TV actress Chandra Wilson (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 42; Rock musician Tony Kanal (No Doubt) is 41; R&B singer Mario  (“Let Me Love You”) is 25.

SUNDAY –
Pop/country singer Shania Twain (“You’re Still The One”) is 46; Movie actor Jack Black (“Kung Fu Panda”) is 42; Country singer Leann Rimes (“How Do I Live”) is 29.

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Great American Duck Race”, the annual staging of the ‘World’s Richest Duck Race’ through Sunday in Deming NM. No little rubber duckies here, these are real live quackers competing for prize money.
NET: http://www.demingduckrace.com
• “Make Your Own Luck Day”, a day to take affirmative action to gain control of your life. Taking responsibility for your own actions … what a concept!
• “National Dog Day”, established in 2004 to support, rescue, and help dogs in need.
NET: http://www.nationaldogday.com
• “Women’s Equality Day”, celebrating the civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls NY.

SATURDAY –
• “Just Because Day”, a chance to do something spontaneously without rhyme or reason. Most often in life, we do things because we have to, we want to, or they’re expected of us. None of those reasons apply on this day.
• “Petroleum Industry Appreciation Day”, honoring the first successful American oil well, drilled near Titusville, Pennsylvania 152 years ago today (1859). That’s when many of today’s problems began.

SUNDAY –
• “Crackers Over the Keyboard Day”, honoring the time-honored tradition of snacking and surfing. What’s the worst thing you’ve spilled on your computer keyboard?
• “Little League Baseball World Series Championship” (ABC), 3 pm ET in Williamsport PA.
NET: http://es.pn/awrt42
• “Radio Commercials Day”, commemorating the 1st-ever radio ad, broadcast on this date in 1922. Queensboro Realty received 10 minutes of air time on NYC station WEAF for $100. (In honor of the occasion, we’re airing a festival of our best current commercials all day!)

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1996 [15] Electronics giant Philips unveils the 1st ‘Flatscreen TV’, which can be hung on a wall

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1978 [33] Frankie Valli’s movie theme “Grease” hits #1 on pop charts

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1961 [50] ‘Hockey Hall of Fame’ opens in Toronto, Ontario

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2009 [02] Country singer Jack Ingram breaks world record for ‘Most Consecutive Radio Interviews in 24 Hours’ with 215

COMING UP . . .
[Mon] According to Hoyle Day
[Mon] More Herbs, Less Salt Day
[Tues] Eid-Al Fitr begins (Muslim)
[Wed] La Tomatina (Bunol, Spain)
[Tues] Holistic Pet Day
[Tues] Toasted Marshmallow Day
[Wed] “The Debt” opens in movie theaters
[Wed] Love Litigating Lawyers Day
This Week Is … Save Your Smile Week
This Month Is … Cataract Awareness Month

BULL’S BITS

BS REASONS YOUR CAT WILL NEVER BE A YOUTUBE STAR:
Cute kitties doing cute things in videos are a daily meme online. Yours likely won’t be if …
• He’s so fat your cat-carrier was made by ‘Caterpillar’.
• She only seems content when suction-cupped to your car’s rear window.
• She gets ticked off whenever you bother her while she’s taking a break … from having a nap.
• He’s always so blotto-ed on catnip, Charlie Sheen’s cat staged an intervention.
• Doesn’t do funny stunts. In fact, she gets winded purring.
• Oddly, she seems aloof and disinterested at times.

BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s your favorite number and why? (British author & math enthusiast Alex Bellos has collected more than 30,000 responses to that question so far. As of this month, ‘7’ remains the global favorite, but he says ‘11’ and ‘13’ are creeping up.)
– NPR.org

BS RANDOM JOKE:
That just goes to prove you’re never too old to learn something stupid.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: According to a recent survey, the 2nd-most-attractive skill a man can have is playing a musical instrument; and THIS is #1.
Answer: The ability to cook.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Hospitality is making your guests feel like they’re at home, even if you wish they were.