BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Congrats to Amber Heard on her engagement to Johnny Depp; now watch out, girl! His past girlfriends haven’t always had the best of luck, like Jennifer Grey, Winona Ryder, Sherilyn Fenn, Lori Anne Allison, Kate Moss, etc. 27-year-old Heard’s engagement to 50-year-old ‘Captain Jack Sparrow’ comes on the heels of his breakup with French actress Vanessa Paradis after 14 years together … and that’s his most successful relationship. In all, the vagabond has been married once and engaged 3 times before.
– NYDailyNews.com
★ Philip Seymour Hoffman’s rehab stint last year followed 23 years of being clean & sober. The 46-year-old actor, who was found dead in his NYC apartment on Sunday, struggled with booze and drugs in his 20s but reportedly kicked the habit for over 2 decades before relapsing last year. Hoffman, who won an Academy Award for “Capote”, checked himself into rehab for 10 days in 2013 after apparently spending a week taking heroin for the first time in decades.
– ContactMusic.com
★ Retired soccer star David Beckham flew into Miami FL yesterday after attending the Super Bowl to follow up on plans to set up a new Major League Soccer team in South Florida. One of the things on his itinerary this week is finding a home for his family that will serve as their US base. His advisers have lined up several properties for him to view, one of the most promising said to be actor Matt Damon’s $19-million mansion featuring 7 bedrooms, rooftop terrace, pool, wine cellar, and cinema.
– TheSun.co.uk
★ And years after the release of “Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows”, author JK Rowling continues to reveal new background information about her characters. In a new interview with actress Emma Watson to be published in “Wonderland” magazine she says given the chance to rewrite the ending she might have done things differently and ‘Ron’ would never have ended up with ‘Hermione’. Nope, the girl should have gone to ‘Harry’ she admits. Sorry, Potterheads.
– “London Times”

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Colbert Report” (Comedy Central/CTV) – Pussy Riot (“Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer”).
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – J Roddy Walston & The Business (“Essential Tremors”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – The Crystal Method (“The Crystal Method”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – “The Best of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Digital Originals”.
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni1) – Sting (“The Last Ship”).
• “The Talk” (CBS) – Meat Loaf (“Playlist: The Very Best of Meat Loaf”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/CTV2) – Lyle Lovett (“Joshua Judges Ruth”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Bruce Springsteen – His latest album, “High Hopes”, has reached #1 in 17 countries. He’s also become the only US artist to have albums atop the US chart in each of 4 decades.
• Eric Paslay (PASS-lay) – Today the 31-year-old country singer releases his self-titled debut album featuring the top 10 single “Friday Night”, which ESPN used on weekly “College Football Friday” broadcasts last Fall.
• Garth Brooks – All 3 dates for “The Garth Brooks Comeback Special Event” in Dublin, Ireland have sold out. In fact, the entire 240,000 tickets sold in just 90 minutes. The event will take place July 25-to-27.
• Jennifer Nettles – She’s debuted at #1 on the ‘Billboard Country Albums’ chart for this week with “That Girl”.
• Red Hot Chili Peppers – Anthony Kiedis says playing a bit of pickup football at MetLife Stadium during a rehearsal before the Super Bowl was a ‘dream come true’. Kiedis says drummer Chad Smith actually threw him a touchdown pass.
• Rolling Stones – The veteran rockers are set to embark on a series of gigs as part of their “14 On Fire” tour in Asia and Australia later this month, but 72-year-old drummer Charlie Watts admits they are trying to keep their tours short these days because of their ‘tender age’.
• Shania Twain – Her July 9 concert at the “Calgary Stampede” sold out in just minutes, prompting a 2nd show to be added for July 10. That show sold out in about 30 minutes.
• 2 Chainz / Pusha T – Tonight the rappers begin their co-headlining “2 Good To Be TRU” tour in Boston MA. It winds up in Washington DC on March 24th.
• Young The Giant – Tonight in Ventura CA they embark on a tour in support of their 2nd studio album, “Mind Over Matter”. The trek continues into April.

TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
Out today on Netflix and/or other video providers …
• “About Time” ( R-Rated Comedy ): In this lighthearted British comedy Domhnall Gleeson plays a guy who can time-travel, but this rare gift means he continually meets the girl of his dreams (Rachel McAdams) over and over again … for the first time. Co-stars Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, Margot Robbie.
• “Baggage Claim” ( PG-13 Romantic Comedy ): Determined to get engaged before her youngest sister’s wedding, a flight attendant (Paula Patton) finds herself with only 30 days to find ‘Mr Right’. She racks up more than 30,000 miles and countless comedic encounters, all the while searching for the perfect guy. Co-stars Derek Luke, Taye Diggs.
• “Dallas Buyers Club” ( R-Rated Drama ): Matthew McConaughey plays real-life Texas cowboy Ron Woodroof, whose free-wheeling life is shaken up in 1985 when he’s diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live. He forms an unlikely band of outcasts that tracks down alternative treatments from all over the world. Co-stars Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto.
• “Escape Plan” ( R-Rated Action Thriller ): When a structural-security authority finds himself set up and subsequently incarcerated in the world’s most secret and secure prison, he has to use his professional skills to escape, along with a little help from the inside. Stars Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 50 Cent, Vincent D’Onofrio.
• “Free Birds” ( PG Animated Comedy ): Two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history … and get turkey off the holiday season menu for good. Voice cast includes Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler.
• Also released today: “Burton & Taylor” (Biographical Drama); “Chasing Shackleton” (Documentary); “Family Matters: The Complete 4th Season” (Vintage TV); “House of Versace” (Biographical Drama); “Joanie Loves Chachi: The Complete Series” (Vintage TV); “Laverne & Shirley: The 7th Season” (Vintage TV); and “McConkey” (Documentary).

WORDS THAT DON’T MEAN WHAT THEY USED TO:
Check out what these everyday words used to mean …
• Myriad – 10,000. (Greek mathematicians gave it the numeral ‘M’ and were very specific about what it meant.)
• Buxom – Meek, obedient. (Not how we’d describe Beyoncé.)
• Dapper – Heavy-set. (Not how we’d describe George Clooney, either.)
• Heartburn – Jealousy or hatred. (Not curable with Tums.)
• Brothel – A low-life. (Now a place where Justin Bieber hangs.)
• Inmate – A tenant or housemate (Try posting an ‘Inmate Wanted’ ad on Craigslist and see what happens.)
• Bully – Superb, wonderful. (As in, “Well bully for you!”)
• Matrix – The womb. (‘Morpheus’ was right. We’ve all lived in the ‘Matrix’.)
• Defecate – To purify something. (Care for a glass of defecated water?)
• Ejaculate – To utter suddenly and passionately; to exclaim. (Now that’s just a side effect.)
– Condensed from MentalFloss.com

TOO STUPID FOR US TO MAKE UP:
✗ A man known only as ‘Christian’ is being credited with taking the most dangerous selfie ever, during the “Houston Bull Run” (similar to the famous annual event in Pamplona, Spain). The amazing photo shows the man with a stampeding bull breathing down his neck while recording the whole thing on his smartphone. The photo has gone viral on Reddit with the caption: ‘Selfie Level 11 Achieved’.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/ky8jepl
– “Metro”
✗ Britain’s most tattooed man is struggling to get a passport after changing his name to ‘King of Ink Land King Body Art The Extreme Ink-Ite’. The 34-year-old, previously known as Mathew Whelan, was surprised when his passport renewal was rejected on the grounds his new name is not appropriate, despite the fact it already appears on his driving licence. ‘Body Art’, as he is known for short, has spent nearly £30,000 (circa $49,000) covering most of his body in tattoos. He says not being able to use the (stupid) name is a ‘breach of human rights’.
NET: http://tinyurl.com/kqpenkc
– Orange.co.uk
✗ Young people in China are paying the equivalent of thousands-of-dollars on plastic surgery to make their noses resemble … the Eiffel Tower. The elegant curves of the iconic French landmark are seen as the ideal profile for aspiring professionals. A record 7 million Chinese students graduated from university in 2013 and are facing intense competition for jobs. It’s thought a reconstructed nose can help provide an edge.
– CTV News

CHICKEN PREDICTIN’:
Chickens were, and still are, a sacred animal in some cultures. For the Romans for instance, chickens were valued for fortune-telling, especially during wartime. Chickens accompanied Roman armies, and their behavior was carefully observed before battle. If a chicken had a good appetite, it was thought that victory was likely. When one contingent of birds refused to eat before a sea battle in 249 BC, the angry Roman consul threw them overboard. History records that he was defeated in the ensuing battle. (About 1.5 billion chicken wings got eaten on Sunday … guess that was a good omen for their feathered friends the Seahawks.)
– “Smithsonian Magazine”

WEIRD WARNING LABELS:
● On airline peanut package: “Instructions: Open packet, eat contents.”
● On an insect spray can: “Warning! Harmful to bees.”
● On bicycle mirror: “Remember – objects seen in mirror are behind you.”
● On a Swedish chainsaw: “Do not try to stop chain with hands.”
● On a Korean kitchen knife: “Warning! Keep out of children.”
– “The Times of London”

REACH FOR THE MIDDLE:
Consumer studies show that most of us don’t buy the highest- or lowest-priced item, but settle for something in between. Companies take advantage of this ‘compromise effect’ to increase sales. For instance, one kitchen appliance company increased profits on its automatic bread machines by creating a slightly larger version of its basic model, then jacking the price by 45%. (Maybe your station should start selling 38-second spots?)
– PA News

DID YOU KNOW?
A single male human produces enough sperm in 2 weeks to impregnate every fertile woman on the planet.
– “QI”

BS CHRONOMETER 02.04.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1948 [66] Alice Cooper (Vincent Furnier), Detroit MI, classic rocker (“School’s Out”, “Eighteen”)/syndicated radio personality (“Nights With Alice Cooper”)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2011)

1963 [51] Noodles (Kevin Wasserman), LA CA, rock guitarist-vocalist (The Offspring-“You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid”, “Hit That”)

1969 [45] Duncan Coutts, St Catharines ON, rock bassist (Our Lady Peace-“Heavyweight”, “Clumsy”)

1975 [39] Rick Burch, Mesa AZ, rock bassist (Jimmy Eat World-“Pain”, “The Middle”)

1977 [37] Gavin DeGraw, South Fallsburg NY, pop singer (“Not Over You”, “I Don’t Want to Be”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Thank a Letter Carrier Day”, your chance to say thanks to the person who delivers your mail.

• “USO Day”, honoring the 73rd anniversary of the United Service Organization, which continues to provide support for American troops and their families worldwide.

• “World Cancer Day”, an annual observance to encourage prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. It’s led by the International Union Against Cancer, a global consortium of more than 280 cancer-fighting organizations in over 90 countries.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1987 [27] Flamboyant Las Vegas entertainer Liberace dies of pneumonia caused by AIDS at his home in Palm Springs CA (leads to a Golden Globe Award for Michael Douglas in “Behind the Candelabra”)

2004 [10] Online social networking site Facebook is founded by Mark Zuckerberg (and how many thousands of hours have you wasted since?)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
2008 [06] NASA transmits The Beatles’ “Across the Universe” in the direction of the star Polaris, 431 light years from Earth, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the song’s recording, the 45th anniversary of the Deep Space Network, and the 50th anniversary of NASA

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1982 [32] ‘Indoor Distance Record for a Paper Airplane’ set at 154 ft or 47 m (Tacoma WA)

COMING UP . . .
[Wed] Weather Forecasters Day
[Wed] Western Monarch Day
[Wed] World Nutella Day
[Thurs] Jay Leno retires from “The Tonight Show” (NBC)
[Fri] “The LEGO Movie”; “The Monuments Men”; “Vampire Academy” open in movie  theaters
[Fri] Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbors Day
This Week is … Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week
This Month Is … International Boost Self-Esteem Month

BULL’S BITS

HONEST-TO-GAWD COUNTRY SONG TITLES:
● “I Don’t Know Whether To Kill Myself or Go Bowling”
● “Get Your Tongue Out of My Mouth (Because I’m Kissing You Goodbye)”
● “Would Jesus Wear a Rolex on His Television Show?”
● “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns In the Bed”
● “How Can a Whiskey 6-Years-Old Whip a Man That’s 32?”

BS PHONE STARTER:
What food item has been gathering dust in your kitchen cupboard for more than a year? Wanna swap it with someone?

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• You may have played with toy ‘Tonka’ trucks as a kid. So what does the word ‘tonka’ mean?
a. Great [CORRECT. The Sioux word ‘tonka’, adopted in 1947 as the name for the toy company, means ‘great’ as in large.]
b. Sweat-Covered.
c. Big Mother.

• How many islands make up what we call the ‘British Isles’?
a. 5
b. 50
c. 5,000 [CORRECT. Actually over 5,500, more than any other country except Canada.]
– “Coffee News”

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Opportunity knocked. My doorman threw him out.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Heidi Klum, her ex, Seal, Jay Leno, Rachel McAdams, and P!nk have all done THIS.
Answer: Worked at McDonald’s.
 
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.