Bully For You!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
Simon Cowell will reportedly receive a knighthood from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in her birthday honors list next month for his charity work and achievements in the entertainment industry, thereby officially making him ‘Sir Simon’ (just what he needs, another ego boost) . . . Just a few days after blabbing that “Transformers 2” was a total mess, movie actor Shia LaBeouf has told reporters he thinks “Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of the Crystal Skull” was an unworthy sequel and he doesn’t care if Steven Spielberg hears his criticism (well he’s right but – he’ll never work in this town again!) . . . The off-network TV rerun rights to “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) have reportedly been sold off for $2 million an episode, shattering the million-dollar-an-episode record set by “Seinfeld” (a lot of moolah for a middling hit) . . . Less than 2 weeks before the release of “Sex & The City 2”, it’s still unclear whether the film will be shown in Abu Dhabi, the scripted setting for the sequel, as it’s yet to be cleared for local theaters (seems you can spend money there but not make it) . . . “Vampire Diaries” actor Paul Wesley is dating “One Tree Hill” actress Torrey DeVito; and “Supernatural” actor Jensen Ackles has wed “One Tree Hill” actress Danneel Harris (is it a rule that CW actors can only hook up with one another?) . . . Actor Jonathan Rhys Myers (“The Tudors”) has now been officially banned from flying United Airlines after a recent episode of ‘belligerent’ and ‘disruptive’ behavior aboard a NYC to LA flight, fueled by ‘pounding drinks’ in the first-class lounge (he’s giving Irishmen a bad name) . . . And word has it actor Kevin Costner turned down the chance to own the famous Iowa baseball diamond featured in his 1989 hit movie “Field of Dreams”, which has since become a popular tourist destination, so current owners Don & Becky Lansing have now listed it on the real estate market for $5.4 million (apparently believing that if you sell it, they will come).
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “American Idol” (FOX/CTV) – The top 3 finalists each perform 2 songs, including one chosen by the judges.
• “BMI Pop Awards” – John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is honored as a BMI Icon for a ‘unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers’ at the 58th annual gala being staged at LA’s Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
• “Dancing With the Stars” (ABC/A Channel) – Miley Cyrus performs; Sarah McLachlan performs; another couple is eliminated.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/A Channel) – James Taylor & Carole King (“Troubador Reunion Tour”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Dirty Heads (“Any Port in a Storm – Special Edition”).
• “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS) – Jakob Dylan (“Women & Country”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/A Channel) – Ray Wylie Hubbard (“A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment. Hint: There is No C”)
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS) – Janelle Monae (“The ArchAndroid”).
• “Lopez Tonight” (TBS) – Common (“Go!: Common Classics”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/A Channel) – Joe Nichols performs “Gimmie That Girl”,
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Chickenfoot – They’ve already started work on a sophomore album with a Spring 2011 release planned.
• Chris Young – “The Man I Want to Be” has become his 2nd country chart-topping hit. His first #1 single, “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)”, topped the chart last October.
• Neil Young – Tonight he kicks off his new “Twisted Road Tour” in Albany NY.
• Oasis – Liam Gallagher is taking a break from music to work on a new movie based on Richard DiLello’s book, “The Longest Cocktail Party”, about the last days of The Beatles.
• The Rolling Stones – Today is the much-hyped re-release of the 1972 album, “Exile On Main Street”, featuring 10 previously unreleased tracks from the original recording sessions.
• Slash – He admits he’s become a ‘Twitter junkie’ since signing up to promote his debut solo album.
• Triumph – A new best-of set from the 1970s-80s band, “Greatest Hits: Remixed”, is out today. It includes 14 classics, such as “Lay It On the Line,” “Hold On”, and “Fight the Good Fight”.
TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “Extraordinary Measures” ( Drama ): Brendan Fraser, Keri Russell, and Harrison Ford star in the true story of a couple’s efforts to find a researcher to develop a cure for their children’s rare genetic disorder. The first film since “Return Of the Jedi”(1983) in which Ford’s name isn’t listed first in the credits. Shot in Vancouver BC and Portland OR.
• “Invictus” ( Bio-Drama ): Clint Eastwood’s look at the life of Nelson Mandela is set after the fall of apartheid in South Africa and during his first term as president when he campaigned to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Stars Morgan Freeman as Mandela, and Matt Damon as the real-life rugby player at the center of the story.
• “John Lennon: Rare & Unseen” ( Documentary ) – An inside look at the rock musician, singer/songwriter, and peace activist who made it as one of the world’s most successful solo artists after his departure from The Beatles in 1969. Features rare footage from films, videos, newsreels, and photographs.
• “The Spy Next Door” ( Action Comedy ): Jackie Chan plays a former CIA spy who takes on the tough assignment of looking after his girlfriend’s 3 bratty kids. When one of them accidentally downloads a top-secret formula, a Russian terrorist pays a visit to the family. Co-stars Amber Valletta, Billy Ray Cyrus, George Lopez.
• “Valentine’s Day” – An ensemble comedy following the intertwining romantic storylines of a diverse group of Los Angelinos over the course of one Valentine’s Day. The big-name cast includes Anne Hathaway, Bradley Cooper, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Julia Roberts, Kathy Bates, Patrick Dempsey, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, and Taylor Swift.
• Also released today: “Barney: Let’s Play Outside” (Animation); “Curious George: Goes To a Birthday Party” (Animation); and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent – The 5th Year” (TV).
TOP TV FINALÉS:
The highest-rated TV show-enders ever …
5. “Survivor Season 1” (2000): 51.7 million viewers wanted to see if ‘The Snake’ or ‘The Rat’ would win.
4. “Friends” (2004): 52.5 million viewers wanted to know what would happen with ‘Rachel & Ross’, ‘Monica & Chandler’, ‘Phoebe & Smelly Cat’. Everyone lived happily ever after.
3. “Seinfeld” (1998): 76.3 million viewers tuned in for the final ‘show about nothing’.
2. “Cheers” (1993): 80.4 million viewers witnessed the return of ‘Diane’ (Shelley Long).
1. “M*A*S*H” (1983): 105.9 million watched the Alan Alda-directed “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” episode.
– Excerpted from “Mental Floss Magazine”
ON HOLD:
A study by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer of almost 13,000 cellphone users over 10 years has proven inconclusive. Scientists were hoping to find out whether mobile devices cause brain tumors but say their research has given no clear answer. While the results don’t indicate there is any risk associated with mobile phone use, they say it’s premature to say that there is no risk as more study is needed. (As well as grant money.)
– Reuters.com
SAVANNA AIR:
A private jet company is developing a small plane that will allow tourists to fly to short dirt airstrips in Africa, then slide out an open-air viewing platform so passengers can enjoy a look at the wildlife. The safari jets will hit the market next year, costing $24 million a pop. (Now you can go on safari without getting your shoes dirty.)
– NYPost.com
FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL DUDS:
According to a new online poll by a travel website, these are the world’s favorite ‘traditional clothing’ items …
3. Hawaiian Luau Grass Skirt
2. Japanese Kimono
1. Scottish Kilt
Least popular: German Lederhosen, considered ‘very unfashionable’ by 87% of respondents.
– Sunshine.co.uk
GENETIC FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH:
Scientists at Leiden University in the Netherlands have discovered that living to the ripe old age of 100 may have less to do with the lifestyle you lead and more to do with the type of genes you have. For the lucky carriers of the so-called ‘Methuselah genes’, worries over smoking, eating unhealthily, and not getting enough exercise may not be as prevalent as those of us without the rare DNA pattern. (How long before some pharmaceutical giant patents them?)
– DailyMail.co.uk
TOO STUPID FOR US TO MAKE UP:
• South Lake Tahoe CA – A high school girl’s softball coach has apologized for requiring 8 players who struck out during a recent game to drink soda pop out of a team member’s shoe.
– news.Yahoo.com
• Tokyo, Japan – The first wedding ceremony performed by a robot has been led by ‘I-Fairy’, a 4-foot-tall seated ‘bot with flashing eyes and plastic pigtails.
– AOLnews.com
• Buffalo NY – A local homeowner is facing drug charges after he called cops to report that 2 teens had broken into his garage … to steal his pot plants.
– Interceder.net
• Guangzhou, China – A shopping mall is getting flack for staging a contest to see how quickly contestants could unhook bras on 8 models using one hand. A woman won – in 21 seconds.
– Orange.co.uk
BS AMAZING FACTS:
Australia’s largest international airline, Qantas, has confirmed its plastic cutlery is being reused as many as 30 times before being thrown away.
– DailyTelegraph.com.au
BS CHRONOMETER 05.18.10
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1952 [58] George Strait, Poteet TX, country singer (“I Gotta Get to You”, “It Just Comes Natural”)/most #1 hits of any country artist (57 and counting)
1955 [55] Chow Yun-Fat (Yun-Fat Chow), Hong Kong, China, movie actor (“Bulletproof Monk”, “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”)
1970 [40] Tina Fey, Upper Darby PA, TV actress/writer/producer (“30 Rock” since 2006, “Saturday Night Live” 1997–2006)/movie actress (“Date Night”)/winner of 7 Emmys, 3 Golden Globe Awards, 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards, and 4 Writers Guild of America Awards
1975 [35] Jack Johnson, North Shore HI, pop singer/songwriter (“If I Had Eyes”, “Upside Down”)
1979 [31] David Nail, Kennett MO, country singer (“Turning Home”, “Red Light”) BS FACTOID: He’s the focus of a new 6-part CMT webisode series titled “Making the Team”, which documents his try-out for the St Louis Cardinals during baseball spring training. New episodes are posted each Friday.
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “International Museum Day”, established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums to draw attention to the world’s museums, no matter how large, small or strange. Here’s a few truly odd ones …
– Dog Collar Museum, Leeds UK: A ‘unique collection of historic & fascinating collars’.
– Currywurst Museum, Berlin: All about the German culinary delight that is sausage.
– Museum of Bad Art, Boston: The world’s only museum dedicated to terrible art.
– Paris Sewers Museum, Paris: Trust the French to make even city sewers chic.
– Parasite Museum, Tokyo: 300 varieties of parasites, including a 30-foot tapeworm.
– Torture Museum, Amsterdam: Documenting the ‘history of human cruelty’.
• “No Dirty Dishes Day”, if nothing else a convenient excuse to eat 3 meals in a restaurant.
• “Send an Electronic Greeting Card Day”, because nothing says ‘Oops, I forgot!’ better than a cheesy freebie greeting delivered via email.
• “Shavuot” begins at sunset, the celebration of the Jewish people receiving ‘The Torah’ on Mount Sinai more than 3,300 years ago. The word Shavuot means ‘weeks’; it marks the completion of a 7-week counting period after “Passover”.
• “Visit Your Relatives Day”, a day to renew relationships with seldom-seen relatives. Um, maybe there’s a reason they are seldom seen?
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1927 [83] Silent movie actress Norma Talmadge begins a tradition by preserving her hand prints and signature in cement at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood (legend has it that it only occurs because she accidentally tumbles into wet cement)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1999 [11] Backstreet Boys release “Millennium” album (1.13 million copies sell the first week)
TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
1986 [24] Chung Kwung Ying performs 2,750 ‘Hand-Stand Push-Ups’
2004 [06] Arizona Diamondbacks’ 40-year-old lefty Randy Johnson becomes ‘Oldest MLB Pitcher to Throw a Perfect Game’, beating Atlanta Braves 2-0
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Employee Health & Fitness Day
[Thurs] Weights & Measures Day
[Fri] Bike to Work Day
[Fri] Wait Staff Day
[Fri] Brad Paisley’s “H2O World Tour” begins (Virginia Beach VA)
[Fri] “MacGruber”; “Shrek Forever After” open in movie theaters
This Week Is … Backyard Games Week
This Month Is … Arthritis Awareness Month
BULL’S BITS
BS TRUTH ABOUT GOLF:
• Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing.
• When your shot has to carry over a water hazard, you can either hit one more club or two more balls.
• Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts.
• The shortest distance between any 2 points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree.
• A ball you can see in the rough from 50 yards away is not yours.
• Since bad shots come in groups of 3, a 4th bad shot is actually the beginning of the next group of 3.
• If you want to hit a 7 iron as far as Tiger Woods, try to lay just short of a water hazard.
• If there is a ball in the fringe and a ball in the bunker, your ball is in the bunker. If both balls are in the bunker, yours is in the footprint.
PHONE STARTER:
If you put your partner up for sale on eBay, what would your ad say?
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I can tell you’re lying. Your lips are moving.
BS WEB GOODIE:
A UK website is selling pubic lice … for payback. While the disclaimer states the site’s creators ‘do not endorse giving people lice’ and the lice are for ‘novelty purposes only’, it also talks about using them for ‘revenge’.
NET: http://crabrevenge.com
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
‘Pooler Jones’, ‘Lazy Plate’, ‘Jayne Hill’, ‘Untorn Ribbon’, ‘Buckthorn’, ‘Barber Perfect’, and ‘Underwood Tack’ are names of what?
a. Racehorses.
b. Poker games.
c. Barbed wire. [CORRECT. They are among numerous varieties that are actually collected.]
– Barbed Wire Collectors Association
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: The average child consumes 15 lbs (6.8 kg) of THIS in a year.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Breakfast cereal.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A diamond is just a lump of coal that made good under pressure.
