Tuesday, November 9, 2004 Edition: #2905
Good Morning, Sheetheads!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
TONIGHT the FOX-TV reality series “The Rebel Billionaire” premieres in which Brit mega-mogul Richard Branson will give away $1 million and ‘his job’ running the Virgin empire to one of 16 contestants (Branson’s like Trump, only with flair – and much better hair!) . . . TONIGHT former “American Idol” contestant Tamyra Gray makes her Broadway debut in the musical “Bombay Dreams” for a limited engagement of 12 weeks (while they scope out her marketability) . . . TONIGHT Madonna’s $125-million-grossing “Re-Invention Tour” will be honored as the ‘Top Tour of the Year’ at the “Backstage Pass Awards” in NYC; Prince’s “Musicology” tour will be named top draw (1.47 million tickets) and Josh Groban will win ‘Top Small-Venue Tour’; Canadian promoter Michael Cohl will be presented with the inaugural ‘Legend of Live Award’ . . . London-born “OC” star Mischa Barton must give up one of her joint British-Irish citizenships in order to become a US citizen – and has decided to let go of her Irish papers . . . Once again, rumors are circulating that 35-year-old actress Renee Zellweger & 29-year-old White Stripes frontman Jack White will announce their engagement at a lavish Christmas party at her Hollywood home . . . The Indian version of “American Idol” is underway, and it even includes a sarcastic, acid-tongued judge (a la Simon Cowell) in the person of director/composer Anu Malik (“You sound like a Banshee in heat and move like a sacred cow …”) . . . “According to Jim” star Jim Belushi is suing his next-door neighbor, aging actress Julie Newmar, for $4 million in damages, accusing her of a ‘campaign of harassment’ designed to drive his family from their upscale Brentwood CA home; among her alleged tantrums – destroying a fence, ruining landscaping, making defamatory statements, spying on his family, and playing loud music directed at his backyard (kids, kids can’t we play nice?).
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Gretchen Wilson – TODAY a ‘Limited Edition’ CD/DVD package of her double-platinum debut album “Here for the Party” will be released that includes music videos, a behind-the-scenes documentary and live versions of several tunes.
• Shania Twain – TODAY she releases her 21-song “Greatest Hits” album that includes all of her top 10 hits, as well as 3 new tracks. “Party for Two” is included twice, the current hit version with Billy Currington plus another featuring Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath.
• Beastie Boys – 37-year-old Mike D’s mother, the fabulously wealthy Hester Diamond, widow of art dealer Harold Diamond, has sold off a substantial chunk of her art collection for $65 million.
• Nelly – TODAY he’s on ABC-TV’s daytime talk show “The View”.
• U2 – Their new album “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb”, not due until NOVEMBER 23rd, has been leaked on the Internet. Bono previously said that if that happened, the album would be released immediately as a legal download on iTunes, with hard copies to follow ASAP.
• Mariah Carey – Her first new tune in 2 years will be released NEXT MONTH. “Say Something” features Snoop Dogg & Pharrell Williams. It’s from her as-yet-untitled 10th studio album being produced by Jermaine Dupri & Kanye West for a MARCH 1st release.
TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “The Stepford Wives” (Sci-Fi Thriller – DVD): In this comic remake of the 1975 thriller, Nicole Kidman plays a recently fired TV exec who is talked into a new start by her well-meaning husband (Matthew Broderick) in the strangely bucolic town of Stepford CT where things are not as they seem. It’s the wives – they’re just too perfect! Co-stars Bette Midler, Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, Jon Lovitz.
• “The Clearing” (Suspense Thriller – DVD): A high-living executive (Robert Redford) is kidnaped at gunpoint by a disgruntled employee (Willem Dafoe). While his wife (Helen Mirren) awaits the ransom, the exec negotiates for a life he finds himself forced to defend.
• “Ju-On” (Horror – DVD): The original Japanese horror flick by director Takashi Shimizu that was the basis for current box office smash “The Grudge”, also directed by Shimizu and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. In Japanese with optional dubbed English soundtrack or subtitles.
• “Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas” (Family – DVD/VHS): ‘Mickey Mouse’, ‘Minnie’, ‘Goofy’, ‘Pluto’, and even stubborn ‘Donald Duck’ (who resists the holiday spirit) rediscover the meaning of Christmas in this straight-to-video special, the first computer-animated ‘Mickey Mouse’ film.
• “Before Sunset” (Drama – DVD): A sequel to 1994’s “Before Sunrise”, the story picks up 9 years later as the once-young lovers (Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy) meet for the first time since their initial Vienna romance. This time they make moony-eyes while wandering around Paris.
• Also out today – the 1939 multi-Oscar winner “Gone With the Wind”, in a remastered 4-disc “65 Anniversary Special Edition” box set.
2004 COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION AWARDS:
TONIGHT Brooks & Dunn host the 38th “CMA Awards” on CBS-TV live at 8 pm ET from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville TN. Highlights …
• Alan Jackson has 7 nominations, including ‘Entertainer of the Year’, to lead the list of nominees. Kenny Chesney and newcomer Gretchen Wilson have 5 apiece.
• Performers include Toby Keith, Shania Twain, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, Terri Clark, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Montgomery Gentry.
• Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Trivia: George Strait is the most-nominated artist in CMA history with 73 total nominations.
NET: http://www.cmaworld.com
GAME ON:
TODAY’s release of the Xbox game “Halo 2″ may be the most anticipated and most hyped video game release ever. It was also meant to be the most secretive – media people were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements before being given review copies – but a leaked French copy was on the Internet weeks ago. There’s so much hype surrounding the game, some retailers opened at midnight to handle the expected rush of fans. There’ll also be ‘Xbox Live Halo 2′ online. Music is said to be a major component of the game. Along with Incubus’ exclusive 4-movement suite “The Odyssey”, the game and companion soundtrack album feature the new Breaking Benjamin track “Blow Me Away” and Hoobastank’s “Connected”.
– “Toronto Sun”
CORNY CDs:
Japanese electronics company Pioneer Corp has created a Compact Disc made from a polymer derived from corn. The ‘Blu-Ray’ optical disc is designed to store 25 gigabytes of data, may be written once and, unlike regular CDs, is fully biodegradable. The company has not announced when the disc will be available to consumers.
– “CMT News”
WHEN THE AX FALLS:
A poll of corporate executives asks which work-related goof-ups are ‘forgivable’ and which are ‘fireable’. See if you agree …
• Frequently late for work. [Fireable]
• Surfing the Internet. [Forgivable]
• Frequent personal phone calls. [Fireable]
• Sending jokes via email. [Forgivable]
• Dating a co-worker. [Forgivable]
• Frequent long lunches. [Fireable]
• Gossiping. [Forgivable]
• Drinking too much at a company event. [Forgivable]
• Taking frequent sick days. [Fireable]
– “Glamour”
BEWARE THE WHITE STUFF:
A new study at the Cancer Council in Victoria, Australia has found that eating white bread and other starchy foods can give you type 2 diabetes. The study of some 36,000 people finds that those who consume the most white bread, more than 17 slices per week, have the highest risk of diabetes. According to researchers a diet with a lot of high glycemic foods, such as white bread and white potatoes, causes insulin resistance which can lead to diabetes. (Even worse – it’ll make you real fat!)
– WebMD
SMELLS LIKE TIME FOR WORK:
Now you can really wake up and smell the coffee! The ‘Progression Wake Up Clock’ coaxes you out of bed with the smell of fresh java, just when you want it most. But be forewarned – this $50-alarm clock is NOT a coffee maker and by the time you’re cognizant enough to figure out you’ve still got to get up brew a pot – it might smell like a good time to slam the ol’ snooze button!
– ABC News
NET: http://www.hammacher.com/publish/70460.asp
BS AMAZING FACT:
If you rearrange the letters in the name of fake CEO ‘Mr N Paul Todd’ from the new FOX-TV reality show “My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss” you get … Donald Trump.
– “Winnipeg Sun”
AND WE QUOTE:
“I am known as this retard. I want to grow up. I don’t want to be the drunk girl. It hurts my feelings when stuff is written about me.”
– Infamous party-Viking and sometime actress Tara Reid, saying she’s fed-up with her reputation. (Well honey, why not try keeping your top on for 5 minutes?)
THE BULL SHEET 11.09.2K4
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1948 [56] Robert David Hall, East Orange NJ, TV actor (Medical Examiner ‘Dr Al Robbins’ on “CSI” since 2000) FACTOID: He uses prosthetics due to amputation of both legs following an auto accident in 1978.
1973 [31] Nick Lachey, Harlan KY, TV personality (“Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica” since 2003)/former pop singer (98 Degrees-“I Do Cherish You”)/Mr Jessica Simpson since 2002
1978 [26] Sisqo (Mark Andrews), Baltimore MD, hip-hop artist (“Thong Song”, Dru Hill-“These Are The Times”)
BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
TODAY is “Chaos Never Dies Day”. (The reason there’s a CNN.)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1967 [37] 1st issue of “Rolling Stone” magazine comes with free ‘roach clip’ (John Lennon on cover)
1990 [14] Kevin Costner’s Oscar-winning “Dances With Wolves” opens in theaters (wasn’t that his last hit?)
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1907 [97] 1st game for ‘Edmonton Rugby Foot-ball Club’ (forerunner of Eskimos) as team loses to ‘Calgary City Rugby Foot-ball Club’ (forerunner of Stampeders) 26-5
1911 [93] Frenchman Georges Claude patents the ‘neon sign’ after experimenting with passing an electrical charge through gas (Las Vegas is glad he did!)
1938 [66] 1st ‘Sadie Hawkins Day’ created by “Lil’ Abner” cartoonist Al Capp (when girls ask guys out)
COMING UP . . .
[Wed-Sun] Canadian Finals Rodeo (Edmonton)
[Wed] “The Polar Express” opens in movie theaters
[Thurs] Remembrance Day
[Thurs] Veterans Day
[Fri] “After the Sunset” and “Seed of Chucky” open in movie theaters
[Sun] 32nd American Music Awards
[Sun] Operating Room Nurse Day
[Mon] Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
This Week Is . . . Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
This Month Is . . . Cozy Cuddles for Kids Month
BULL’S BITS . . .
ALL-TIME TOP COMMERCIAL JINGLES:
1. “You Deserve a Break Today” (McDonald’s)
2. “Be All That You Can Be” (US Army)
3. “Pepsi Cola Hits the Spot”
4. “M’m, M’m, Good” (Campbell’s Soup)
5. “See the USA in Your Chevrolet”
6. “I Wish I Was an Oscar Meyer Weiner”
7. “Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun” (Wrigley’s Doublemint Gum)
8. “Winston Tastes Good Like a Cigarette Should”
9. “It’s the Real Thing” (Coca-Cola)
10. “Brylcreem – A Little Dab’ll Do Ya”
– “Advertising Age”
BS TABLOID TEASERS:
2 of the following are actual headlines from supermarket tabloids. One’s a total BS fake … but which?
GAME #1 –
• “Forget About the Face on Mars, NASA Probe Has Spotted the Butt on Mars!”
• “Rich Idiot Gives Her Sharpei Botox Injections!”
• “3-Legged Man Rents Himself Out as Movie Camera Tripod!” [FAKE]
GAME #2 –
• “Lose 50 Pounds A Week on the New Air Diet!” [FAKE]
• “Henpecked Hubby Removes Wife’s Voice Box!”
• “Suspected Shoplifter Collapses after Hiding a Frozen Chicken Under Her Hat!”
GAME #3 –
• “Naked Accordion Player Arrested in Laundromat!”
• “12-Year-Old College Grad Plans to Retire at Age 21!” [FAKE]
• “Giant Cod Swallows Fisherman’s Head!”
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: Somewhere in the world, THIS happens every 3 seconds.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: A baby is born.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The road to success is always under construction.