Ah, the Sweet Smell of BS!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
Emmy-winning HBO musical-comedy series “Flight Of the Conchords” will not return for a 3rd season, the principals involved releasing a statement saying they’re proud of the 2 seasons they made and they like the way the show ended (wow, how often does this happen?) . . . Procter & Gamble set up a media company in 1933 to promote its detergents in the first ‘Soap Operas’ but the last remaining ‘soap’ in its stable, “As The World Turns”, has just been canceled after 54 years (ends next September) . . . The Iraq War drama “The Hurt Locker” is 2009’s ‘Best Picture’, according to the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and also makes the year’s top 10 list from the American Film Institute (George Clooney’s “Up in the Air” is LAFCA runner-up) . . . “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” has won ‘Game Of the Year’ at the “Spike TV Video Game Awards”; “The Beatles: Rock Band” has won ‘Best Music Game’ . . . And with 3 weeks to go, 2009 is already off the charts as a record movie box office year and is on track to be the first $10-billion year for the biz – and potential blockbusters “Avatar” and “Sherlock Holmes” are still to come (recession, what recession?).
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Colbert Report” (Comedy Central/CTV) – Alicia Keys (“The Element of Freedom”, her 4th studio album being released today).
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/A Channel) – John Mayer (“Battle Studies”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Michael McDonald (“Soul Speak”).
• “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS) – The Broken West (“I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS) – Leona Lewis (“Spirit”).
• “Live With Regis & Kelly” (syndicated/CTV) – Fergie (Black Eyed Peas).
• “Tavis Smiley (PBS) – Boyz II Men (“Love”).
• “Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien” (NBC/A Channel) – Norah Jones (“The Fall”).
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Snoop Dogg (“Malice N Wonderland”).
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Bruce Springsteen – He’s publicly backing a New Jersey bill that would give gays and lesbians the right to marry.
• Chris Brown – He’s lashed out via Twitter at retailers that are ‘blackballing’ his new album “Graffiti” by refusing to stock it in their stores. (Well that’s a real slap in the face, isn’t it pal?)
• Garth Brooks – For the weekends he performs in Las Vegas, he’s flying in his new private plane from his home in Oklahoma.
• Green Day – They’ve swept “Rolling Stone” magazine’s ‘Decade End Readers’ Poll’, taking top honors in 3 categories: ‘Artist Of the Decade’, ‘Best Album’ (“American Idiot”), and ‘Best Song’ (“Boulevard of Broken Dreams”).
• Keith Urban – He’s home again, bringing his “Escape Together World Tour” to Australia, the first time he’s toured Down Under in nearly 2 years.
• Lady Gaga – Today she releases a “Super Deluxe Fame Monster Pack” containing “The Fame” and “The Fame Monster”, plus a collector’s edition art book, pictorials, pull-out posters, a paper doll collection, 3-D glasses, and … a lock from one her wigs.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/yh5uhvn
• Mariah Carey – She’s announced her first major tour in over 3 years. Following a New Year’s Eve kick-off at NYC’s Madison Square Garden, the ‘Angels Advocate Tour’ begins January 2nd in Atlantic City NJ.
• Miley Cyrus – She’s recording a new take on Poison’s 1980’s rock ballad “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and has apparently been working in the studio with Poison frontman Bret Michaels, who may play guitar on the track.
• Susan Boyle – She says she’s ‘far too busy’ for a boyfriend. (Is there a line-up to date the ‘hairy angel’?)
• Taylor Swift – CMT reports her “Fearless” album now has 5 million copies in the retail pipeline.
TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “G-Force” ( Fantasy Adventure ): A specially trained squad of guinea pigs is dispatched to stop a diabolical billionaire from taking over the world. Critics say it’s not one of the best pseudo-live-action Disney films but it generates some laughs. Cast includes Bill Nighy (“Pirates Of the Caribbean: At World’s End”), Will Arnett (“Arrested Development”), and Zach Galifianakis (“The Hangover”). Also comes in a ‘Deluxe DVD + Digital Copy’.
• “The Hangover” ( Comedy ): Justin Bartha (“National Treasure” films), Ed Helms (“The Office”) & Bradley Cooper (“He’s Just Not That Into You”) star in this latest incarnation of the ‘bro-com’. During their drunken misadventures in Las Vegas, 3 groomsmen lose their about-to-be-wed buddy, forcing them to retrace their steps in order to find him in time for the big day. “The Hangover 2” is already in the works. Available in a ‘2-Disc Digital Copy Special Edition’.
• “Inglourious Basterds” ( War Drama ): Quentin Tarantino’s long-in-the-works satire about an American-led killing squad known as ‘The Basterds’, who terrorize the Nazis in German-occupied France during World War 2. Stars Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger (“National Treasure: Book of Secrets”), and BJ Novak (“The Office”). Loosely based on 1978’s “Inglorious Bastards”. Also comes in a ‘2-Disc DVD Special Edition + Digital Copy’.
• “Taking Woodstock” ( Musical Comedy ): Director Ang Lee turns the clock back to the Summer of 1969 and the lead-up to the landmark music festival in upstate New York. Demetri Martin stars as the young guy who helps the event find a venue (Max Yasgur’s farm) and land a permit. To put the passing of 40 years in perspective – the cost of a ticket to the festival was $8.
• Also Released today: “George Lopez: Tall, Dark & Chicano (HBO Comedy Special); “Fallen Idol: The Yuri Gagarin Conspiracy” (Documentary); “Rise & Fall Of the Berlin Wall” (Documentary); “Robot Chicken: Season 4” (Animation); and “The Tudors: The Complete 3rd Season” (TV).
LAUGH YOUR WAY TO LUNGS:
Recent research finds that women who laugh heartily at least 5 times-a-day are less likely to be flat-chested than those who rarely laugh. Experts say laughing increases the flow of oxygen to the chest and boosts circulation, which in turn leads to a bigger bosom. (Another reason to keep your lady laughin’!)
– “Focus”
HOW TO BE HAPPY:
What does it take to be truly happy? A lot less than you might think. A panel of experts from a variety of disciplines – a psychologist, psychotherapist, social entrepreneur, an economist, and 2 workplace specialists – worked together to come up with a 10-point plan. Do all of these things regularly and they promise you’ll soon be smiling …
• Plant something and nurture it.
• Count your blessings – at least 5 – at the end of each day.
• Take time to talk. Have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week.
• Phone a friend with whom you have not spoken for a while and arrange to meet up.
• Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it.
• Have a good laugh at least once a day.
• Get physical. Exercise for half-an-hour 3 times a week.
• Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day.
• Cut your TV/online time by half.
• Spread kindness. Do a good turn for someone every day.
– BBC News
LIFE BY THE NUMBERS:
A BS breakdown of who we are and what we do …
• 90% of households have dental floss but less than half use it.
• 55% of us say we’d be comfortable asking a complete stranger to swap airline seats.
• 49% of Americans now agree that the US should mind its own business and let other countries get along the best they can on their own.
• 47% of us would like to ban the word ‘whatever’ from all conversation.
• 11% of blondes surveyed say they’d sleep with Tiger Woods if they had the chance.
• 6% of men have dressed up as Santa … in the bedroom.
MORE JOY, LESS STRESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS:
Occasional contributor Robyn Bentley (‘The Feng Shui Diva’) offers up some timely ideas on how to reduce your stress during the holiday season …
• Tap Into Your Happy Childhood – Go through your old photos when you were a carefree kid, excited about the holidays. Display them in frames or mini-posters as decorations.
• Watch the Clutter – If you have to step over it, duck under it, or squeeze by, its going to add more stress to your holidays.
• Chuck the Negative Stuff – Put away anything in your home, including seasonal decorations, that gives off a negative emotional response due to memories attached to it.
• Get a Good Night’s Dark – Melatonin is the hormone that controls our mood and our sleep. It is produced by the pineal gland … but only if you are sleeping in complete darkness.
NET: http://www.fengshuidiva.com
BS AMAZING MEDICAL FACTS:
• An estimated 30 million North Americans have ‘diastima’, that little gap between the 2 front teeth. (Actually an advantage when it comes to whistling and spaghetti-eating.)
• According to a recent study, women taller than 5′-5” are 3 times more likely to break a hip than shorter women. (Timberrrrrr!)
• The average human has about 5 million hair follicles, 1 million of them on the head. There are hair follicles all over the outside of our bodies except for the soles of our feet and the palms of our hands. (Mom always warned if I didn’t stop, it would grow there too.)
WIDE AWAKE DRUNKS:
Downing a cup of coffee may be the worst thing you can do to try to sober up, a new study suggests. Research at Philadelphia’s Temple University has found that a mug of java may make you feel like you’re coming to your senses but it’s only an illusion – co-use of alcohol and caffeine can actually lead to poor decisions with disastrous outcomes. That’s because it may make you feel awake and competent enough to handle potentially-harmful situations, such as driving while intoxicated. (In that case Kaluha must be extra dangerous!)
– WebMD.com
DID YOU KNOW?
Tiger Woods was originally named ‘Eldrick’ but he was quickly nicknamed ‘Tiger’ after a Vietnamese soldier friend of his father’s.
– BBC Sports
BS CHRONOMETER 12.15.09
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1933 [76] Tim Conway, Willoughby OH, TV funnyman (“SpongeBob SquarePants”, 4 Emmy Awards-“Carol Burnett Show”)/movie actor (“McHale’s Navy”)
1949 [60] Don Johnson, Flat Creek MO, former TV actor (“Nash Bridges” 1996-2001, “Miami Vice” 1984-89)/movie actor (“Tin Cup”)/married & divorced actress Melanie Griffith … twice
1955 [54] Paul Simonon, Brixton UK, classic rock musician (The Clash-“Rock the Casbah”, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2003)
1979 [30] Adam Brody, San Diego CA, movie actor (“Thank You for Smoking”, “The Ring”)/TV actor (“The OC” 2003-07)
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cat Herders Day”, inaugurated to honor all of the people in the world whose lives can be compared to the impossible task of herding cats. This time of year, especially, most of us can end up feeling as if we’re chasing after a bunch of independent-minded felines.
• “Firefighters Day”, honoring those who risk their lives to save people from infernos … then take their shirts off to pose for calendars.
• “Zamenhof Day”, the beginning of “International Language Week” celebrated by the International Esperanto League. The international language ‘Esperanto’ was invented by Dr LL Zamenhof in 1887 to solve the world’s language barrier, but never really caught on. Get some useful phrases in ‘Esperantese’ here …
NET: http://www.esperanto.ca/kurso/phrases.htm
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1939 [60] World premiere of “Gone With the Wind”, in Atlanta GA (later wins 10 Oscars)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1956 [53] The phrase ‘Elvis has left the building’ is first uttered by radio host Horace Logan in Shreveport LA on his show “Louisiana Hayride”
1990 [19] Rod Stewart marries model Rachel Hunter in Beverly Hills CA (whoa, did that prove expensive!)
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1854 [155] 1st ‘Mechanical Street Cleaning Machine’ (the kind that wakes you up at 3 am)
1964 [45] Canada adopts the maple leaf flag
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1984 [25] 250-lb cyst removed from a 600-lb Pennsylvania woman (ouch!)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
[Wed] Re-Gifting Day
[Thurs] Wright Bros Day
[Thurs] Underdog Day
[Fri] Islamic New Year
[Fri] International Migrants Day
[Fri] “Avatar”; “Did You Hear About the Morgans?” open in movie theaters
This Week Is … Gluten-Free Baking Week
This Month Is … Bingo’s Birthday Month
BULL’S BITS
BS HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIPS FOR GUYS:
• A vacuum cleaner is not a ‘personal’ gift.
• Odor-eaters are TOO personal a gift.
• She won’t want a Skil saw.
• Never give a diamond in a Home Shopping Club box.
• If the store wraps it, don’t try to pretend you did.
BS RANDOM JOKE:
My favorite type of girl (guy) was always one that would go out with me … twice.
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• When were electric lights first used to decorate Christmas trees?
a. 1882. [CORRECT, just 3 years after Edison invented the light bulb. The original Christmas lights were red, white & blue.]
b. 1923.
c. 1951.
• What’s the actual title of the traditional holiday poem that begins: “’Twas the night before Christmas”?
a. “Here Comes Santa Claus”
b. “A Visit From St Nicholas” [CORRECT. Clement C Moore’s classic was first published in 1822.]
c. “A Christmas Tale”
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s your best bet to cure a hangover? (Seattle WA naturopathic practitioner Cathy Rogers says getting rid of a headache is as simple as placing a cold compress on your forehead and putting your feet in a hot tub of water. According to UCLA research, taking 2 tablets of activated charcoal before bedtime will substantially lessen a hangover.)
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: We do THIS about 125 times a year.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Sneeze.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Due to budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.
