Bully For You!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
First his feisty wife Brooke Mueller checked herself into a ‘Wellness Program’, now 44-year-old Charlie Sheen himself has followed her into an undisclosed rehab facility, his rep confirms (even better – it means he’s taking time off from “Two-and-a-Half Men”) . . . Tiger Woods & wife Elin Nordegren have issued a letter of apology to parents for all the paparazzi attention to Florida private school Premier Academy, where their 2-year-old attends daycare (how snooty must this place be?) . . . Famous person Paris Hilton may be a fun party girl but not if you’re a server – she reportedly didn’t tip a cent after guzzling 5 bottles of champagne at a private bash in LA’s Tea Room recently (she puts the tight in wad) . . . “Jersey Shore” star JWoww has reassured fans she’s not going to be getting bigger breast implants (probably only because they don’t make them any bigger) . . . In what’s likely a fashion first, British designer Burberry streamed this week’s “London Fashion Week” show online in 3-D to audiences in Dubai, LA, NYC, Paris, and Tokyo, where fans wore special glasses to get the affect (unfortunately, all the flat models are only in 2-D) . . . Director James Cameron has won yet another trophy for his sci-fi epic “Avatar”, picking up ‘Best Live-Action 3D Feature Film’ at the 3D Society’s inaugural “Lumiere Awards” in LA (uh, what other film would be in the running?) . . . And at a product unveiling this week, 44-year-old actress Sarah Jessica Parker described her new signature fragrance SJP NYC as a ‘snapshot of (“Sex & The City’s”) Carrie Bradshaw walking down any New York City street at an idyllic time of year in a floral-print dress on her way to meet somebody or to do something, or surrounded by her women friends’ (whew, now that’s a complicated scent!).
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “American Idol” (FOX/CTV) – 4 contestants are eliminated; Kris Allen performs; Allison Iraheta performs.
• “Bonnie Hunt Show” (syndicated/CityTV) – Katharine McPhee (“Unbroken”).
• “The Hour” (CBC) – Joey McIntyre of New Kids On the Block.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – VV Brown (“Travelling Like the Light”).
• “Soundstage” (PBS) – Willie Nelson & his 8-piece band preview his upcoming country classics’ album, “Country Music”, out April 20th.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• AC/DC – They’ve surpassed U2 to set a new attendance record for an outdoor gig in Australia. Their just-completed 3-show stand at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium sold close to 213,000 tickets, and grossed more than $25 million. Add to that an estimated $4 million in merchandising.
• The Beatles – This week the iconic Abbey Road Studios were officially declared a historic building by English Heritage, a move that will preserve the cultural landmark. Rather than selling the property, owner EMI Group now says it’s looking for money to revitalize the facility.
• James Otto – The “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” country singer and wife Amy are expecting their first child in August, according to “People” magazine. They were wed in 2005.
• Leona Lewis – She says ‘sexting’ someone other than your partner is a ‘dumpable’ offence.
• Prince – He’s being sued for $2.3 million in losses for a canceled concert in Dublin, Ireland. He allegedly pulled out of the Croke Park show just 10 days before the scheduled date in 2008.
• Snoop Dogg – He’s in trouble with the IRS again after allegedly failing to pay over a half-million dollars in back taxes.
• Sting – Live Nation has announced he’ll embark on a world tour this Summer, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, in which he’ll perform his most celebrated songs re-imagined for symphonic arrangement. The tour begins June 2nd in Vancouver.
COMING ATTRACTIONS:
• “Red Tails” – Producer George Lucas is reportedly re-shooting scenes for this World War II drama because he was unhappy with the original takes by director Anthony Hemingway. The fictional story is about America’s first all-black air fighting unit and features Daniela Ruah, Cuba Gooding Jr, and Terrence Howard. Barring further setbacks, the film’s still scheduled for a 2010 release.
• “Scream 4” – 70-year-old director Wes Craven will personally direct the 4th installment of the horror franchise which begins shooting this May. Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courteney Cox are set to reprise their roles in the series, which last hit screens in 2000. Kevin Williamson, who wrote the franchise’s first 2 films, confirms he’s already working on “Scream 5” and “Scream 6”.
• “Things Fall Apart” – 50 Cent has been given the greenlight to bring an original screenplay he wrote to the bigscreen. He’s also losing a stunning 65 lbs in order to star in the film as a college football player suffering from cancer. Shooting begins in Michigan in May after he completes his latest tour. Fiddy previously wrote the script for the 2009 crime drama “Before I Self Destruct”.
• “Unbreakable 2” – 54-year-old actor Bruce Willis (“Cop Out”, opening Friday) is hoping to re-team with director M Night Shyamalan to make a sequel to their 2000 thriller in which Willis played a man who discovers he has superpowers. The film was intended to be the first of a trilogy. In part 2 the film’s superheroes go head-to-head. So far, the project is still in the idea stage.
NO GUYS ALLOWED:
Starting next month Japan’s All Nippon Airways (which previously asked passengers to use lavatories before boarding so as to reduce overall aircraft weight) will designate one restroom on most international routes as ‘female-only’. A 2007 online survey found that 90% of respondents liked the idea. Stats also show that demand for women-only toilets is especially high on long-haul flights. The restricted facilities will be available to female passengers from all classes and will be located near the rear of aircraft. (The line-up will proceed up the aisle, around the flight attendant station, into first class …)
– “China Daily”
TITULAR TITTERS:
“Afterthoughts Of a Worm Hunter”, author David Crompton’s musings on his career as a parasitologist, is emerging as early favorite to take “The Bookseller” magazine’s 2010 prize for the ‘Oddest Title of the Year’ after landing a place on the shortlist. The oddly titled tome’s competition includes: “The Changing World of Inflammatory Bowel Disease”; “Collectible Spoons Of the Third Reich”; “Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous Robots”; and “I Stopped Sucking My Thumb … Why Can’t You Stop Drinking?”. (Last year’s winner: “The 2009-2014 World Outlook for 60-milligram Containers of Fromage Frais”.)
– Guardian.co.uk
ANATOMY OF A SUCKER:
Researchers at the UK’s University of Cambridge have boiled down the principles that make smart people fall for stupid cons …
• The Distraction Principle: While you are distracted by something created to capture your interest, hustlers can do just about anything to you and you won’t even notice.
• The Herd Principle: Even suspicious marks will let their guard down when everyone next to them appears to share the same risks. Safety in numbers? Not if they’re all conspiring against you!
• The Deception Principle: When things and/or people are not what they seem, hustlers know how to manipulate you to make you believe that they are. Often we can be ‘blinded by familiarity’, latching onto a term or process we’ve previously experienced.
• The Need & Greed Principle: Your needs and wants make you vulnerable. Once hustlers know what you want, they can easily manipulate you. Often they’ll find out what marks want more than anything, then simply offer it to them.
– MSN Money Central
THE HISTORY OF ‘THE BIRD’:
Experts researching the origins of the raised middle finger as a physical expression have now traced the gesture as far back as ancient Greek and Roman times. The sexual meaning of ‘the finger’ has always been roughly the same and has always been considered rude. The latest findings debunk a common legend that ‘flipping the bird’ got its start at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. All of this landmark research can be found in the book, “The Finger: A Comprehensive Guide to Flipping Off”.
NET: http://www.ooze.com/finger/html/toc.html
– Ooze.com
THANKFUL THIRDS:
Third-place Olympians take heart! Research by a trio of US academics shows that bronze-medal winners are happier on average with their finishes than silver medalists. Win silver, and you tend to fixate on the near miss. Score bronze, and you are thankful you were not shut out altogether. Cornell University psychologist Thomas Gilovich, one of the study’s co-authors, says it’s the most natural thing in the world to look upward when you come in 2nd. The thought process is described as ‘counterfactual thinking’. (BS translation: Dammit!)
– USAToday.com
FOR THE RECORD:
A “Star Trek” fan has set a world record by naming all 79 episodes of the original TV series in broadcast order from memory in a time of 1 minute, 38.9 seconds. Mack Elder performed the feat at a World Record Appreciation Society event held at Joe’s Pub in NYC. (Get a life!)
– SciFiWire.com
BS AMAZING FACT:
China is loaning a pair of pandas to Japan’s Ueno Zoo in Tokyo for $1 million. So the answer to the question “How much does it cost to rent a panda?” apparently is … $500,000.
– PopBitch.com
BS CHRONOMETER 02.25.10
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1965 [45] Carrot Top (Scott Thompson), Rockledge FL, clown-haired comedian who relies on wacky props/bad cosmetic surgery victim
1966 [44] Tea Léoni, NYC, movie actress (“Fun With Dick & Jane”, “Jurassic Park III”)/long-suffering wife of actor David Duchovny
1971 [39] Daniel Powter, Vernon BC, one-hit-wonder pop singer (“Bad Day”)
1971 [39] Sean Astin, Santa Monica CA, movie actor (“Lord Of the Rings” trilogy, “50 First Dates”)
1976 [34] Rashida Jones, LA CA, TV actress (‘Ann Perkins’ on “Parks & Recreation” since 2009, “The Office” 2006-09)/movie actress (“I Love You, Man”, “Little Black Book”)
1987 [23] Eva Avila, Gatineau QC, pop singer (“I Owe It All to You”, “Meant to Fly”)/”Canadian Idol 4” winner (2006)
BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Chili Con Carne Day”, when we’re encouraged to enjoy a steaming bowl to ward off the cold of Winter. What’s your secret ingredient?
• “Clam Chowder Day”. If you don’t like chili, add a little heat with some chowder … a bit of bacon, onion, and flour; some diced potatoes and a can of clams, simmered in clam juice and milk. Add lots of black pepper. Nummers!
• “Don’t Utter a Word Day”, because the world is made up of talkers and listeners … and the listeners need a rest.
• “Lumberjack Day”, honoring a tough job that’s become a popular sport … logging games.
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2004 [06] Mel Gibson’s controversial film “The Passion Of the Christ” is independently released in about 2,000 theaters (thanks to grassroots promotion the $30-million film goes on to gross over $600 million worldwide)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1995 [15] Madonna’s biggest hit, “Take A Bow”, reaches #1 on pop charts and stays 9 weeks
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1940 [70] 1st ‘Televised Hockey Game’ (NY Rangers vs Montréal Canadiens on W2XBS-TV in NYC)
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1896 [114] ‘Largest Chicken Egg’ on record is laid by a Black Minorca hen in England (the 5-yolk egg weighs nearly 12 ounces and measures 12.25 inches around the long axis and 9 inches around the short axis)
COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Muhammad’s Birthday (Muslim)
[Sun] XXI Olympic Winter Games close (Vancouver)
[Sun] Chinese Lantern Festival
[Sun] Full ‘Snow’ Moon
[Sun] International Sword Swallowers Day
[Sun] Purim (Jewish)
This Week Is … Eating Disorders Awareness Week
This Month Is … Return Shopping Carts To the Supermarket Month
BULL’S BITS
BS HORRIBLESCOPES:
Use ‘em all at once or one-at-a-time as the zodiac reading of the day …
• Aries – This is an excellent day to de-worm your dog. Or your cat. Or a close friend.
• Taurus – You’ll meet someone tall, dark and handsome. Too bad he’s an assassin and there’s a price on your head.
• Gemini – Beware! Cross-dressing purse thieves are watching your every move.
• Cancer – Today is an excellent day to wink slyly at people just as they are turning away. When they do a double take, smile innocently.
• Leo – Be on guard against sitting on rusty razors.
• Virgo – After negotiating with the boss, remember to wipe the walls down.
• Libra – Today you will discover it’s unwise to look a gift horse in EITHER end.
• Scorpio – If the ale is a funny color, leave it alone.
• Sagittarius – Today you’ll finally discover the elusive ‘bluebird of happiness’. Unfortunately, your cat will get it.
• Capricorn – Beware of goats with one testicle.
• Aquarius – Today you will discover a really cool technique of whistling through your nose. Oddly, nobody will be terribly enthusiastic about your new talent.
• Pisces – Don’t take anything at face value today. Check the butt too.
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Actually, that’s pretty nice weather for a town that size.
BS INVENTIONS THAT NEVER MADE IT:
This month is “Worldwide Innovation Month”, a good excuse to check some of the least successful ‘innovations’ …
• New Formula Chapstick with Super Glue
• McDonalds Depressing Meal
• Aerosol Pork
• The Mesh Parachute
• Combination Salad Dressing/Motor Oil
• The Steel Bristle Retina Brush
• Chunky-Style Mayonnaise
• The Tub Toaster
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
Which is the only kind of fish to have eyelids?
a. Electric Eel
b. Shark [CORRECT, according to “Focus” magazine.]
c. Mascara Fish
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the absolute weirdest herbal or natural cure you’ve ever tried? Did it work?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: Over the past 40 years, the number of people who have THIS has increased by 66%.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Nearsightedness.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
He who hesitates is probably right.
