Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Edition: #3719
Can You Believe This Sheet?
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
No one’s talking about it but Bruce Gowers, who’s directed “American Idol” since its debut, may be leaving the show at least temporarily due to some unnamed incident that occurred on-set (he finally lost it and slapped Simon?) . . . Inside word has it that actor Matt Damon has agreed to reunite with director Paul Greengrass for a 4th movie in the ‘Jason Bourne’ series, with a probable release in 2009 or 2010 (3 Oscars didn’t hurt the cause) . . . Paris Hilton has a new boyfriend (for the week), Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden, who split with his 18-month fiancée, Australian actress/singer Sophie Monk, earlier THIS MONTH . . . Said to be a hot new Hollywood romance: Oscar-winner Javier Bardem & actress Penelope Cruz (“Hoy chiquita, joo want to speak Spanich wit me?”) . . . Another buzz-worthy couple spotted partying: newly-single actor Sean Penn & way-too-pretty-for-him model Petra Nemcova . . . PETA is steamed with actress-turned-fundraiser Sharon Stone for showing up at Elton John’s Oscar party wearing a broach made from – an actual rat’s paw (a “Ratatouille” souvenir?) . . . Actress & partly-clad cover girl Lindsay Lohan is back in Italy (you know what that means – let the random hook-ups begin!) . . . The movie-mad Belvedere Vodka Lounge in LA’s Four Seasons Hotel is serving a new drink called the ‘Juno Virgin Fizz’ (it’s non-alcoholic) . . . And Working Wardrobes, a non-profit organization that helps outfit adults in need with business attire, has just accepted a pair of custom-made Jimmy Choo shoes from 11-year-old “Definitely, Maybe “/”Little Miss Sunshine” actress Abigail Breslin (perfect for the down-at-the-heel exec – who’s 3-ft or under).
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Bob Dylan – For a new recording project, he’s asked the likes of Jack White (White Stripes) & Willie Nelson to put music to unfinished songs by late country legend Hank Williams.
• Christina Aguilera – Reports say she’s thrown a massive tantrum and fired her manager, an assistant, and PR firm BWR. Why the rage? The issue of “People” magazine with the new mom on the cover & the first pics of her 5-week-old son Max was not a big seller. Hon’, you already got the $1.5 million-fee … what is your problem?
• Elton John – His partner David Furnish is re-releasing his 1996 documentary, “Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras”, in a revamped version that includes more behind-the-scenes footage. The Canadian filmmaker shot some 140 hours of film for the original production.
• Fergie – She’s signed to be the new face of Calvin Klein, joining actress Eva Mendes as a spokesperson for the company.
• J Holiday – The “Bed” singer (real name Nahum Grymes) has been arrested in Maryland for possession of marijuana after cops pulled him over for ‘driving in tandem with another vehicle at a high rate of speed’. In other words, street racing.
• Ne-Yo – Not to be outdone, the “So Sick” hitmaker (real name Shaffer Smith) has been busted in Cobb County GA for driving well over 100 mph in his Range Rover. He’s been charged with reckless driving and failure to produce a valid license.
• Nickelback – Even though they have 3 more albums left on their contract with Warner Music subsidiary Roadrunner Records, they’re looking for a new deal that includes rights to master recordings. Their leverage: total sales of 16.3 million albums. Guys, nobody signs an 8-album contract … what were you thinking?
• Oasis – Guitarist Noel Gallagher has reportedly put his $11-million villa on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza [ee-BEETH-uh] up for sale because he can’t stand his neighbor … James Blunt.
• Rihanna – She’s working with DKMS international donor network to find an urgently needed bone marrow donor for a NYC woman suffering from leukemia. Nice to see her charitable side.
• Rolling Stones – A painting by guitarist Ronnie Wood is among high profile artwork going under the hammer in London THIS WEEK in a charity auction for the Royal Academy of Arts.
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SCHED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) – Mary J Blige makes an appearance.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly (NBC) – “Lean Back” rapper Fat Joe is a guest.
• “Late Show With David Letterman (CBS) – Hip-hop artists Chingy & Ludacris (“Gimme Dat”) perform.
• Spice Girls – “Return of the Spice Girls World Tour” wraps in Toronto.
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC) – “Superstar“ rapper Lupe Fiasco is Jay’s musical guest.
TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “Beowulf” ( Fantasy Adventure ): Director Robert Zemeckis uses the motion-capture animation technique he perfected in “The Polar Express” to bring this Old English heroic epic poem about the monster ‘Grendel’ to life. Cast includes Ray Winstone, Crispin Glover, and Angelina Jolie. Also available in an extended ‘Director’s Cut’.
• “The Darjeeling Limited” ( Dramedy ): Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Adrien Brody play dysfunctional brothers who set off on a train trek across India in an attempt find themselves and bond with each other after not speaking for a year. Things don’t quite go as planned. Shot entirely in India.
• “Goya’s Ghosts” ( Historical Drama ): The painter Goya (Oscar-winner Javier Badim) becomes involved in the Spanish Inquisition when his muse (Natalie Portman) is arrested by the church for heresy. Directed by Milos Forman. Shot entirely in Spain.
• “30 Days of Night” ( Horror ): Josh Hartnett plays the sheriff in the far-northern town of Barrow, Alaska where the sun never rises for an entire month in the dead of winter. What better place for vampires to show up and go on a feeding frenzy? Shot in New Zealand.
• Also released TODAY: “Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale” (TV); “Justice League: The New Frontier – 2-Disc Special Edition (Animation); “Led Zeppelin – The Song Remains the Same (Collector’s Edition)”; and “The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 1” (Animation).
CHROME DOME HOME:
Scientists have identified a gene which plays a key role in hair growth by studying a Saudi Arabian family whose members suffer from a rare form of baldness. 10 siblings in the family have all inherited hyptotrichosis simplex, a condition that causes hair-loss from an early age and affects fewer than 1-in-200,000 people. The discovery could lead to more effective treatments for the shiny-pated. (Does it look better when balding guys shave off everything or should they hang on to whatever they’ve got left?)
– UPI
LUNCH WITH LEGS:
There’s a growing movement to use insects as a way to help feed the world. Proponents claim that bugs are as healthy as traditional livestock but don’t have the negative environmental impact. Sandor Ellix Katz, author of “The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved”, claims grasshoppers are surprisingly filling and taste a bit like popcorn; crickets are high in calcium & potassium; roasted grubs are a good protein snack; earthworms can be used to make a nutritious flour; and raw ant eggs taste like couscous. (What, nothing tastes like chicken?)
– “Curious Times”
SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME:
In Japan, where many girls grow up on Western fairytales, Butlers Café in Tokyo is tapping into the popular fantasy that they will someday meet their ‘Prince Charming’. Female customers are served by handsome ‘butlers’ who rush to their tables at the tinkle of a bell. There, the server gets down on one knee and asks: “Yes, my princess?” The ‘butlers’ are all foreigners who also offer English lessons on the side. (And who knows what else.)
– “China Daily”
THE TAPEWORM DIET:
Hong Kong medical officials have issued a warning about a product being promoted online as a diet aid which contains … parasitic worm eggs. Rather than help you lose weight, the health department warns, ingesting the parasitic worms can cause pain, nausea, and diarrhea and may become difficult to get rid of. In fact, the warning says, the worms can invade organs such as the lungs and prove fatal. (Then you really lose weight quickly. Okay, who wants breakfast?)
– AFP
FILMS TO HELP YOU GET LUCKY:
Sometimes getting your partner in the mood can be difficult. Renting these video classics may help – and they’re all ‘mainstream’ movies …
• “And God Created Woman” (1956) – Brigitte Bardot became an international star after this superb performance. She’s the very definition of a ‘sex kitten’.
• “Betty Blue (1986) – Beatrice Dalle became an overnight sensation after a stunning debut in this French film about a wild & unpredictable young woman who spices up the life of a handyman.
• “Bound” (1996) – While trying to rip off the Mafia, Jennifer Tilly & Gina Gershon have a steamy girl-on-girl affair.
• “Dangerous Liaisons” (1988) – Lust, seduction, and revenge in 18th-century France. John Malkovich, Glenn Close, and Michelle Pfeiffer take turns heaving their bosoms.
• “Secretary” (2002) – James Spader & Maggie Gyllenhaal play boss & admin assistant. Hijinks ensue.
• “Stealing Beauty” (1996) – In Bernardo Bertolucci’s coming-of-age film, Liv Tyler goes to Italy where she ‘loses her innocence’.
• “To Catch a Thief” (1955) – Cary Grant & Grace Kelly swap innuendos & double entendres in Hitchcock’s superb 1955 film.
– Adapted from Hecklerspray.com
YOU LIKE ME, YOU REALLY LIKE ME:
Marketing Evaluations, a company that measures the familiarity & likeability of celebrities,
says its highest ‘Q-score’ ever was registered by Bill Cosby when “The Cosby Show” was at its peak back in the late ‘80s. Why did people like him so much? Analysts suggest it’s because he portrayed someone who was warm, genuine, objective, and funny. Advice from a range of experts suggests that the trick to making others like you is to smile, listen, and be sincere. (Even if you have to fake it.)
– “Boston Globe“
NUTTY ENERGY:
THIS WEEK the first commercial airline flight powered partly by biofuel flew from London to Amsterdam, running on a combination of traditional jet fuel and the oil from … 150,000 coconuts. Virgin Airlines mogul Richard Branson is behind the experiment which he hopes will open the way for eco-friendly air travel, although he’s first to admit the technology has a long way to go before becoming commercially viable. (“This is the captain speaking. We’re going to be making a brief unscheduled stop in Fiji as we’ve run out of coconuts …”)
– “Guardian”
THE KEY TO SALES:
In recent experiments, researchers have found that consumers whose posture & speech are mimicked by a salesperson consistently rate the product higher and are more apt to use it. The scientists conclude that mimicry can be a powerful tool of persuasion. Even though consumers attempt to resist a salesperson’s pitch, being mimicked makes it more appealing. (As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.)
– “Journal of Consumer Research”
DID YOU KNOW?
• The average household now receives about 104 television channels … but watches only 16 of them on a regular basis.
BS CHRONOMETER 02.26.08
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1928 [80] Fats (Antoine) Domino, New Orleans LA, oldies singer (“Ain’t That a Shame”, “Blueberry Hill”)/among the first inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1986)/Hurricane Katrina survivor
1953 [55] Michael Bolton (Bolotin), New Haven CT, overwrought pop singer (“When a Man Loves a Woman”, “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You”)/engaged to TV actress Nicollette Sheridan (“Desperate Housewives”)
1968 [40] Tim Commerford, Irvine CA, rock bassist (Audioslave-“Be Yourself”, Rage Against The Machine-“Guerrilla Radio”)
1971 [37] Erykah Badu (Wright), Dallas TX, R&B singer (“Love of My Life”, “Bag Lady”)
1979 [29] Corinne Bailey Rae, Leeds UK, pop singer (“Like a Star”, “Put Your Records On”)
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “For Pete’s Sake Day”, which asks the pressing question, ‘Just who the hell is Pete, anyway, and why would we do anything for his sake?’
• “Levi Strauss’ Birthday” (1829-1902), the man who created the first Levi’s blue jeans for California’s gold miners in 1850. Without him, many of us wouldn’t have a wardrobe.
• “Pistachio Day”, apparently honoring people addicted to having pink dye all over their mouths. Bet you can’t eat just one!
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1909 [99] 1st ‘cartoon’ shown in a movie theater (nowadays instead of cartoons before the main feature, you get 27 preview trailers and ads for the snack bar)
1962 [46] Broadway show with the longest name opens – “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m Feeling So Sad” (turns out to be the year’s ‘Best Play’ winner)
1998 [10] An Amarillo jury rejects a lawsuit by Texas cattlemen who claim Oprah Winfrey’s televised comments about Mad Cow Disease caused the beef market to plummet, costing them millions (biggest result from the case: Oprah befriends a witness named … Dr Phil McGraw)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1983 [25] Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album reaches #1, then spends a total of 37 weeks there
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1882 [126] 1st commercially manufactured breakfast cereal … ‘Shredded Wheat’
1936 [72] 1st ‘Volkswagen’ factory opens, in Germany
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] International Polar Bear Day
[Thurs] International Floral Design Day
[Thurs] Tooth Fairy Day
[Thurs] International Repetitive Strain Injuries Awareness Day
[Fri] Leap Year Day
[Fri] “The Other Boleyn Girl” and “Semi-Pro” open in movie theaters
This Week Is … Eating Disorders Awareness Week
This Month Is … Spunky Old Broads Month
BULL’S BITS
BROADCASTING 101:
A nugget of know-how to help encourage you to get back to basics …
• Quit talking about yourself all the time. Nobody wants to listen to you rant on & on about personal likes & dislikes and your everyday life experiences … it ain’t that interesting! Radio is all about the listener. Turn your comments around 180 degrees so they’re less about ‘I, me & my’ and more about ‘you & your’, ie: “When you head out the door this morning, you’ll notice …”; “Did you catch the awards on TV last night?”; “You’ll likely agree that if there’s one thing you don’t need, it’s …”.
BS PHONE STARTER:
Who’s the hottest all-time babe from cartoons? ‘Betty Boop’? ‘Jessica Rabbit’? ‘Wilma Flintstone’?
BS HANDY TIPS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER:
• Clothes dryer softener sheets can be used in stored sneakers & shoes to make them smell better.
• When chopping onion, take a sip of water & keep it your mouth. There’s less chance of tears.
• If you drop an egg on the floor, add some salt and leave it for 5 minutes. It’s easier to clean up.
• If you get lipstick on your clothes, put some Vaseline on it before washing and it will disappear.
• If you need a Phillips screwdriver but don’t have one, try the point of a potato peeler.
• If you walk to a supermarket, use a hand basket instead of a shopping cart. Then you’ll know if the contents become too heavy to carry home.
• Before leaving for a vacation, email yourself details of your passport, flights, credit cards, etc. If anything bad happens, you can log on from anywhere to retrieve your info.
– “The Abacus”
BS RANDOM JOKE:
My inferiority complex just isn’t as good as yours.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: 43 is the average age of someone who does THIS for the first time.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Starts a business.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A big enough hammer can usually fix anything.
