Thursday, June 9, 2011 Edition: #4524
Sweet Sheet!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
21-year-old “Harry Potter” actress Emma Watson has opened up to “Style Magazine” about why she left Brown University in April, and it wasn’t bullying as speculated but the discovery she was ‘in denial’ about being famous and finally accepting that finding ‘normality’ was impossible (wait 5 years and we’ll be saying Emma who?) . . . The Bel Air CA mansion belonging to ailing 94-year-old actress Zsa Zsa Gabor has been put up for sale with an asking price of $15 million (her husband, Frederic Prinz Von Anhalt, is also planning to auction her collection of gowns, shoes, and antiques) . . . 38-year-old actress Cameron Diaz, who’s in England filming the movie “Gambit”, has reportedly become ‘gym buddies’ with Britain’s Prince Harry (“I don’t care who you are, wipe down that machine!”) . . . Meantime, “The People” reports Prince Harry has been spotted meeting Pippa Middleton, younger sister of Kate Middleton, at a London pub (sounds like a movie: “The Prince & The Pippa”) . . . Actress Sean Young (“Blade Runner”), Lindsay Lohan’s father Michael, and former Guns ‘N Roses rocker Steven Adler are among those checking into the next season of “Celebrity Rehab” (VH1), hosted by Dr Drew Pinsky (premieres June 26th) . . . According to Britain’s “Star” magazine, the shoe collection of Suri Cruise, Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes’ 5-year-old daughter, is worth over $150,000 (sick) . . . “CSI” (CBS) producers are reportedly hunting for a replacement for actor Laurence Fishburne, whose contract is not being renewed due to sagging ratings (they should have let the series die 2 years ago when William Petersen left) . . . And France’s broadcast regulator has just banned the words ‘Facebook’ and ‘Twitter’ from being used on-air because, as brand names, they qualify as ‘product placement’ (on-air personalities now have to suggest listeners follow them ‘on social networking sites’).
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• Bonnaroo Festival (Manchester TN) – The 10th annual 4-day music & arts festival is SRO. It features Arcade Fire, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Mumford & Sons, My Morning Jacket, Robert Plant, The Strokes, Wiz Khalifa, and many more.
NET: http://bonnaroo.com
• CMA Music Festival (Nashville TN) – The 40th annual 4-day fan fest features performances by
Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, Trace Adkins, and Zac Brown Band among others. ABC-TV again films the fest for airing later this Summer.
NET: http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-music-festival/index
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Jessie & The Toy Boys (“Push It Featuring Yelawolf: The Remixes”).
• Concert 4 NYC (Central Park) – Black Eyed Peas headline this benefit for the Robin Hood Foundation and its mission to fight poverty in NYC. Guest performers include Carole King, Debbie Harry, MC Hammer, Natasha Bedingfield, and Taylor Swift. Even though the massive show is free, concert-goers had to enter a lottery to get one of 50,000 tickets. The show’s 6,000 VIP tickets (at $500 apiece) sold out after the announcement of Swift’s appearance.
NET: http://blackeyedpeasnyc.eventbrite.com
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/A Channel) – Alison Krauss & Union Station (“Paper Airplane”).
• “Gayle King” (OWN) – Toni Braxton (“Pulse”).
• “Great Performances” (PBS) – Billy Joel performs with special guests Garth Brooks, Paul McCartney, and Tony Bennett.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CHCH) – Friendly Fires (“Pala”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Interpol (“Interpol”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/A Channel) – Robbie Robertson (“How to Become Clairvoyant”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/NTV/Omni) – Neil Peart (Rush).
• “Live With Regis & Kelly” (syndicated/CTV) – Natasha Bedingfield (“Strip Me”).
• “Lopez Tonight” (TBS) – Barry Manilow (“15 Minutes”).
• “So You Think You Can Dance” (FOX/CTV) – The top 20 finalists perform.
• “Tavis Smiley” (PBS) – Barry Manilow (“15 Minutes”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/A Channel) – Selena Gomez (“Kiss & Tell”); Tinie Tempah (“Disc-Overy”).
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• AC/DC – Frontman Brian Johnson says they may tour and release a new album to celebrate their 40th anniversary next year.
• Def Leppard – The “Pour Some Sugar on Me” rockers are set to work on new material for release next year, but say they aren’t likely to write a full-length album as they don’t feel consumers in today’s MP3-driven market are interested.
• Ja Rule – Yesterday he turned himself in to authorities to begin serving a 2-year prison sentence. It’s been 4 years since he was charged with having a loaded gun in his car after leaving a NYC concert. In recent months he’s been putting the finishing touches on his new album “The Renaissance Project”.
• Michael Jackson – His iconic “Thriller” jacket is expected to fetch as much as $400,000 when it goes under the hammer at a music memorabilia sale June 25-26 in Beverly Hills CA. More than 600 other items will be auctioned, including the denim jacket worn by Bruce Springsteen on his “Born to Run” tour.
COMING ATTRACTIONS:
A BS selection of movies in the making …
• “Capital” – This banking drama follows the CEO of a European bank (Mathieu Kassovitz) that’s the target of a hostile takeover by US hedge funds. The movie is an adaptation of Stephane Osmont’s satirical novel, published in 2004. Gabriel Byrne is attached to co-star. Shooting starts in late September in Paris, London, Miami, NYC, and perhaps Tokyo.
• “Django Unchained” – Leonardo DiCaprio (“Inception”) is in talks to join Quentin Tarantino’s new spaghetti Western-style film as evil ranch owner ‘Calvin Candie’. Will Smith is now thought to have dropped out of the running to play the title character, leaving Idris Elba, Jamie Foxx, and Chris Tucker in contention for the role. It’s not yet known when filming on the project will begin.
• “GI Joe: Cobra Strikes” – Dwayne ‘Stop Calling Me The Rock’ Johnson is in negotiations to play ‘Roadblock’ in this upcoming 3-D sequel. Besides being a heavy machine-gunner, ‘Roadblock’ is an aspiring gourmet chef. The action-adventure is scheduled to hit theaters in August 2012.
• “The Place Beyond the Pines” – Bradley Cooper (“The Hangover Part II”) will co-star in this multi-generational crime drama as a cop who crosses paths with a professional motorcycle rider (Ryan Gosling) who turns to bank robberies to support his newborn son. Principal photography is expected to start this July in Schenectady NY.
• “Who Invited Her?” – 35-year-old actress Reese Witherspoon (“Water For Elephants”) is set to produce and star in this comedy about a woman who insists on tagging along on a guy’s bachelor party weekend. Novelist Sascha Rothchild is writing the screenplay, based on her book “How to Get Divorced by 30”.
UNFAIR FARE?
The International Air Transport Association says leisure travel fell 3.5% worldwide between last November and March this year, with Europe suffering the most as recession-hit passengers decline to accept ticket prices driven higher by the increasing cost of oil. The IATA says carriers have had no choice but to hike fares because the cost of jet fuel has risen by more than 50% over the past 12 months. (We have hybrid cars, why not airliners?)
– “The Guardian”
WAYS TO START SUMMER NOW:
It’s not quite here officially, but these ideas are guaranteed to get a guy’s Summer rolling right away …
• Pitch horseshoes, beer in hand.
• Bombard some kids with water balloons.
• Make out in a car.
• Have a watermelon-seed-spitting contest.
• Use your forearm as a napkin.
• Rub sunscreen on as many women as possible.
• Shave your head.
• Rent a convertible for a weekend.
• Go to a stock-car race.
• Sleep in a hammock.
– Adapted from “Men’s Health”
HITTING THE COMIC BOOKS:
Japan’s Kyoto Seika University is launching the first doctoral program in … ‘Manga Studies’. The private university in western Japan is well-known for its manga and anime programs and established a master’s degree course in manga comics last year. The university plans to enroll 4 doctoral students starting next year. (“I’m majoring in manga , with a minor in sumo.”)
– Associated Press
DATING RULES YOU SHOULD BREAK:
A few outdated romance credos that are just begging to be forgotten …
• If you’re divorced, wait 1 month for each year you were married before dating.
• A woman should never ask a man out.
• Never talk about your ex on a date.
• Always avoid touchy subjects like religion and politics.
• If you don’t feel an immediate sexual spark, forget it.
• Don’t reveal your desire for children, a new career, or any other life goal.
• The guy should always pay.
• Don’t have sex on the first date, but be prepared to jump into bed on the 3rd.
– Condensed from WomansDay.com
BS AMAZING FACTS:
• Alcohol causes nearly 4% of all deaths worldwide, more than AIDS, tuberculosis, or violence, according to the World Health Organization.
– Alternet.org
• A woman identified only as YouTube user susyj87 has spent months having a ‘Social Tattoo’ inked on her arm. It includes 152 of her friends’ Facebook default profile pics. Unfriending someone is going to be really painful!
– CBS News
BS CHRONOMETER 06.09.11
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1961 [50] Michael J Fox, Edmonton AB, movie actor (“Back To the Future” films)/ex-TV actor (“Spin City” 1996-2000)/founder Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research/Order of Canada (2011)/Hollywood Walk of Fame (2002)/Canada’s Walk of Fame (2000)
1963 [48] Johnny Depp, Owensboro KY, movie star (“Alice in Wonderland”, “Pirates Of the Caribbean” films) NOW FILMING: “Dark Shadows” (2012).
1977 [34] Peja (Predrag) Stojakovic, Belgrade, Serbia, NBA basketball forward (Dallas Mavericks)
1978 [33] Matthew Bellamy, Cambridge UK, rock guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist (Muse-“Resistance”, “Uprising”)/actress Kate Hudson’s baby daddy
1978 [33] Michaela Conlin, Allentown PA, TV actress (‘Angela Montenegro’ on “Bones” since 2005)/movie actress (“The Lincoln Lawyer”)
1980 [31] Udonis Haslem, Miami FL, NBA basketball forward/team co-captain (Miami Heat)/NBA Championship (2006, 2011?)
1981 [30] Natalie Portman (Hershlag), Jerusalem, Israel, movie actress (Oscar-“Black Swan”, “Thor”)
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Donald Duck Day”, marking the cartoon character’s debut on this day in 1934 as a bit player in the Walt Disney cartoon “The Little Wise Hen”.
• “Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day”, honoring the popular pie that mixes the sweet and the tart. Nummers!
• “Superman Celebration”, the annual 4-day weekend full of ‘super’ events in Metropolis, Illinois.
NET: http://www.supermancelebration.net
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2006 [05] Animated movie blockbuster “Cars” debuts in theaters (“Cars 2” opens June 24th)
2006 [05] Official first photos of ‘Brangelina’ offspring Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt appear in “People” magazine in North America (for $4.1-million), “Hello!” magazine in Britain/Spain, and in Australia’s “New Idea”
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1923 [88] 1st ‘Armored Car’ is introduced by the Brinks Co (leads directly to ‘heist movies’)
1973 [38] Secretariat wins the Belmont Stakes to become the 1st horse racing Triple Crown winner since Citation in 1948 (mile-and-a-half time of 2:24 is a world record many believe will never be broken)
1989 [22] Jane Foster & Deanna Brasseur become Canada’s 1st female fighter pilots available for combat roles (possibly the world’s first)
TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
1944 [67] A record litter of 23 puppies is born to ‘Lena’, a foxhound (Ambler PA)
1965 [46] A newborn baby in New Zealand is given a world-record 2,310 first names (you ought to see his driver’s license!)
1993 [18] Last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup, as Montréal Canadiens beat LA Kings 4 games to 1 for their record 24th championship
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Iced Tea Day
[Fri] “Judy Moody & The NOT Bummer Summer”; “Super 8” open in movie theaters
[Sat] Corn On the Cob Day
[Sat] Belmont Stakes (Queens NY)
[Sun] World Wind Day
[Sun] Montréal Grand Prix
[Mon] Queen’s Official Birthday (UK)
This Week Is … Carp Week
This Month Is … Perennial Gardening Month
BULL’S BITS
PET PEEVES OF CONSTRUCTION SITE FLAGMEN:
• The more politically correct ‘flag people’ is a dumb name.
• Blisters from spinning that ‘Stop/Slow’ sign all day.
• Really hot days when your plastic orange vest melts to your skin.
• All those people’s lives in your hands and you’re getting a lousy 10 bucks an hour.
• Buying sunscreen by the drum.
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Guess what I made for dinner? Reservations.
BS ADVERTISING TERMS EXPLAINED:
• ‘New’ – Different color from previous design.
• ‘All New’ – Parts not interchangeable with previous design.
• ‘Field-Tested’ – Manufacturer lacks test equipment.
• ‘Direct Sales Only’ – Factory had big argument with distributor.
• ‘Maintenance-Free’ – Impossible to fix.
• ‘High Reliability’ – We made it work long enough to ship it.
• ‘New Aerospace Technology’ – One of our techs was laid off by NASA.
BS PHONE STARTER:
According to the book “Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us”, researchers have determined that the most universally annoying thing ever is listening to someone talk on a phone. But there are things far more annoying than that, right? Tell us about it!
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: They used to be common but now only 1-in-4 teenagers owns one of THESE.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: A watch.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
In a democracy you can say anything you want to … but nobody has to listen.