Thursday, September 11, 2008        Edition: #3855
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BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
30-year-old actor Josh Harnett is suing Britain’s “Daily Mirror “, seeking damages for defamation and a public apology over that recent story about him having a ‘dalliance’ in the library of a London hotel (too bad, the juicy story actually made him seem vaguely interesting) . . . “Cosmopolitan” magazine has launched an “American Idol”-style talent competition via YouTube for female-fronted bands & solo artists that will culminate in one act winning $10,000 cash and a 3-track demo created by a hit-making record producer (NET: http://tinyurl.com/59yp2n) . . . “Playboy’s” 2008 ‘Playmate of the Year’, 22-year-old Jayde Nicole (nee Scarborough ON), is said to be dating Brody Jenner of “The Hills” fame (we thought he was into “Bromance” these days) . . . Hard to believe but the memoir by “Beverly Hills, 90210” alum Tori Spelling, “sTori Telling”, has just reached #1 on the “NY Times” ‘Nonfiction Bestseller List’ (and they say culture is dead) . . . The UK’s “Daily Star” claims Jennifer Aniston had dinner with her ex-, Brad Pitt, at the Park Hyatt Roof Lounge while both were attending the “Toronto International Film Festival” (it would be more believable if their snitch wasn’t described as being ‘dressed as an undercover Mountie’) . . . 22-year-old former “OC” actress Mischa Barton has just revealed that she secretly checked into rehab after her DUI arrest in 2007 (she brings it up now because – she hasn’t had any publicity since) . . . A new predicto.com survey shows that 60% of us think that Hollywood couple David Duchovny & Téa Leoni will split up before SEPTEMBER 25th . . . And Bruce Blakeman, estranged husband of Paul McCartney’s GF Nancy Shevell, has announced he’s running for NYC mayor (he needs a gig because his term on the Port Authority Board of Commissioners has run out – as well as his wife of 23 years).

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Atlantic Film Festival” – The annual east coast cinema fest opens in Halifax with a slate of 254 films, including 70 from Atlantic Canada. The opening film is “Blindness”, the Canadian co-production that also opened the “Cannes Film Festival” THIS YEAR.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CityTV) – “Bleeding Love” singer Leona Lewis is on.
• “Elvis Return to Tupelo” (Biography Channel) – Kris Kristofferson narrates this 2-hour special about Elvis Presley’s early years in Tupelo, Mississippi and later move to Memphis, Tennessee.
• Jessica Simpson – She flogs her new album on both “The View” (ABC/CTV) and “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Buckcherry (“Sorry”) is onstage.
• Raffaello Follieri trial – The “Wall Street Journal” reports that actress Anne Hathaway’s fraud artist ex-boyfriend will plea-bargain a deal when he appears in court TODAY. He’s currently being held in custody as he failed to post bail, which was set at … $21 million!
• “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” (CTV) – The 2-hour debut of the Canadian version of the popular reality competition, featuring host Leah Miller (“Much On Demand”) and judges Tre Armstrong (“How She Move”) & Jean Marc Genereux (choreographer on the US version).  
• Tim McGraw – He and his band the Dancehall Doctors perform a free concert for military personnel and their families at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Aerosmith – After recently announcing plans for a 2009 tour, they may want to consider adding a stop in Hawaii in MAY. That’s when the class action lawsuit filed against them by a group of disgruntled fans is scheduled to go to trial. The fans’ beef: a last minute cancellation in 2007.
• The Beatles –  Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr have successfully blocked the re-release of the 1970-filmed documentary “Let It Be” which follows the group’s difficult period shortly before they split up. Speculation has it the 2 surviving members don’t want to be seen in a negative light.
• Brad Paisley – The country star is extending his successful “Paisley Party Tour” into 2009 by adding an additional 24 shows. Dierks Bentley will open all the new dates.
• Nirvana – In his upcoming book, “Bumping Into Geniuses: My Life Inside the Rock & Roll Business”, the grunge group’s former manager, Danny Goldberg, says the arrival of Courtney Love in late frontman Kurt Cobain’s life totally changed the dynamics of the band. For one thing, she became Cobain’s ‘mouthpiece’.
• Usher – The 29-year-old is going to be a father for the 2nd time as he & wife Tameka Foster have announced they’re expecting a sib for their 1-year-old, Usher Raymond V.

FUTURE FLICKS:
A BS selection of movies in the making …
• “The House on Sorority Row” – Celebrity spawn Rumer Willis (“The House Bunny”) and  Briana Evigan (“Step Up 2 the Streets”) star in this horror thriller that begins shooting in Pittsburgh PA NEXT MONTH. The story follows a group of sorority sisters who are stalked and killed one-by-one by a masked serial killer. It’s a remake of a 1983 fight flick.
• “The Last Pharaoh” – Will Smith is said to be eager to play Egyptian pharaoh Taharqa in this upcoming historical epic. The ancient ruler reigned over Egypt from 690 BC until 664 BC and endured fierce battles with Assyrian king Esarhaddon. A script is currently being worked on by “Braveheart” screenwriter Randall Wallace.
• “Rango” – Johnny Depp will reunite with “Pirates Of the Caribbean” director Gore Verbinski on this animated film slotted for a 2011 release. Depp will voice the lead character, a household pet that goes on an adventure to discover its true self. Depp is set to start working on the film in JANUARY.
• “A Serious Man” – Just as their “Burn After Reading” is set to open wide in theaters (TOMORROW), filmmakers Joel & Ethan Coen are ready to begin shooting their next film MONDAY in Roseville MN. The first film they’ve shot in their home state since “Fargo” (1996) is the story of a professor whose wife leaves him because his inept brother won’t move out of the house. It stars Richard Kind and Michael Stuhlbarg.

WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOUR MD:
In his newly published book, “Hippocrates’ Shadow: Secrets From the House of Medicine”, NYC emergency room physician Dr David Newman reveals some inside info your doctor would never tell you, such as …
• Doctors don’t know as much as you think. For example, they don’t know what causes most cases of back pain, or what makes it better.
• Many of the tests, drugs, and procedures they order and prescribe either do not work or have not been proven to work.
• Doctors disagree … often … about everything.
• Doctors like ordering tests better than they like listening to you.
– “USA Today“

SPEAKING BELUGESE:
Marine biologists in Japan have trained a 23-year-old Beluga whale to say 3 words. ‘Nack’ the whale uses different noises to express the words ‘bucket’, ‘diving goggles,’ and ‘diving fins’. Professor Takashi Murayam of Tokai University says the breakthrough is the first of its kind and expresses hope that humans and whales will communicate with each other someday in the future. (What Nack’s actually saying: “Let me out of the damn tank, you sadists!”)
– “The Telegraph”

BEST GAY FILMS:
A new ranking of the best all-time gay-themed movies …
5. “Maurice” (1987)
4. “Latter Days” (2003)
3. “Shelter” (2007)
2. “Beautiful Thing” (1996)
1. “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)
(What about “When Harry Met Harry”?)
– AfterElton.com

PUTTIN’ ON THE MOVES:
Inspired by reality TV dance competitions, a growing number of men are getting off the couch to learn how to strut their stuff. The Canadian branch of Fred Astaire Dance Studios reports a 25-to-40% increase in clients, particularly among single men and couples looking to emulate their favorite TV dancers. A pivotal point was apparently when former NFL player Emmitt Smith twirled his way to #1 on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2006. That led men to see ballroom dancing as a more masculine activity and encouraged many to sign up for classes. (Why mess with pansy ballroom … go straight to ballet!)
– CP

WORLD’S TOP NIGHTLIFE CITIES:
A new ranking of the best party towns around-the-world …
5. London, England
4. Amsterdam, Netherlands
3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Ibiza, Spain
1. Las Vegas, Nevada
– AskMen.com

PRICE OF GIVING A RAT’S ASS IS UP:
Cambodian media report that the price of rat meat in that country has quadrupled recently to around 5,000 riel per kilo (about 58 cents a lb) putting it out of reach of the disadvantaged. Instead, the poor are now hunting rats in order to sell the meat to richer diners in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. (Do you serve it with a red or a white?)
– Reuters

THE FORTUNES OF FOOTBALL:
In a new research paper, economist Michael Davis & psychologist Christian End contend that having a winning NFL football team increases the incomes of the people who live and work in its hometown by about $120 a year. How so? Studies suggest that winning fans are at once harder workers and bigger spenders. Buoyed by their team’s success, they work longer hours, take bigger risks and shop more avidly, all of which help the local economy. (Trouble is, that extra 120 bucks barely covers the cost of an official NFL premier team jersey … $109.99 & tax.)
– “Boston Globe”

2008’S BEST MOVIE VILLAINS:
According to a new online poll, here are the best bad-guys of ‘08 …
3. [tie] Jeff Bridges (‘Obadiah Stane’) in “Iron Man”; Tim Roth (‘Emil Blonsky’) in “The Incredible Hulk”; and Jet Li (‘Emperor Han ‘) in “The Mummy: Tomb Of the Dragon Emperor”.
2. Cate Blanchett (‘Irina Spalko’) in “Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of the Crystal Skull”.
1. Heath Ledger (‘The Joker’) in “The Dark Knight” (easily topping the poll with 95% of votes).
– Moviefone.com

FOR THE RECORD:
The publishers of the “Guinness Book of World Records” have just released “The Best Gross World Records”, a new book chock full of less-than-savory challenges. Among the icky categories: ‘Most Worms Eaten in 30 Seconds’; ‘Most Feet & Armpits Sniffed’; ‘Loudest Burp’; ‘Most Worms Removed From a Human Stomach’; ‘Longest Ear Hair’; ‘Most Big Macs Consumed’; Most Body Piercings’ (1,903); and – get ready for it – ‘Farthest Marshmallow Nose Blow’. (Penalty! That’s not all marshmallow!)
– “Curious Times”

BS AMAZING ANIMAL FACTS:
• A rabbit is not able to vomit.
• Goats do not have upper front teeth.
• Octopus and squid are thought to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates.
• On average, a beaver can cut down 200 trees a year.
– GreatFacts.com

BS CHRONOMETER 09.11.08
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1965 [43] Moby (Richard Melville Hall), NYC, techno/rock musician/producer (“18”, “South Side”)  FACTOID: His nickname is derived from his great-great granduncle Herman Melville, author of “Moby Dick”.

1967 [41] Harry Connick Jr, New Orleans LA, jazz/pop singer/composer (Grammy Awards-“When Harry Met Sally”, “We Are in Love”)/Broadway actor (“The Pajama Game”)/movie actor (“PS I Love You”, “Independence Day”)/TV actor (“Will & Grace” 2002-06)

1971 [37] Richard Ashcroft, Billinge Higher End UK, pop singer (The Verve-“Love Is Noise”, “Bitter Sweet Symphony”)

1977 [31] Jon Buckland, London UK, rock guitarist (Coldplay-“Viva La Vida”, “Clocks”)

1977 [31] Ludacris (Christopher Bridges), Champaign IL, rapper (f/Pharrell-“Money Maker”, f/Shawnna-“Stand Up”)/movie actor (“RocknRolla”, “Crash”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Honey, I Want to Start My Own Business Day”. (Tomorrow is “Get a Grip, Dreamer! We Got a Whack of Bills to Pay Day”.)

• “9-1-1 Day”, saluting the direct-dial emergency system. (In the UK it’s 9-9-9. In Australia it’s 0-0-0, aka the ‘forget-it-I’m-already-dead-because-I-still-have-a-rotary-phone system’.)

• “9/11 Remembrance Day”. 7 years ago at 8:46 am EDT, terrorists began the attack on NYC’s World Trade Center using hijacked commercial airliners. In the emotional aftermath, a US congressional vote requested the day be observed annually as “Patriot Day”, a  resolution which President Bush signed into law in December, 2001. The concept has never really caught on, perhaps because it’s misnamed? Being a victim of a horrific attack does not necessarily make one a patriot.

• “No News is Good News Day”, whose proponents claim if you don’t listen, read or watch any news for the day, you’ll feel better. (An annual observance from the ‘Head in the Sand Association’.)

• “Tricky Handshake Day”. Remember they only count if you spit on your hand first!

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1966 [42] News magazine “W-Five” premieres on CTV (back when current co-host Lloyd Robertson was 32 … no BS!)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1996 [12] 1st recording by a major artist released exclusively on the Internet (David Bowie-“Telling Lies”)

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1935 [73] 1st ‘Demolition Derby’, at Yonkers Raceway NY (now we call it ‘morning commute’)

1946 [62] 1st ‘Car-to-Car Phone Conversation’ (as 1st idiot driver weaves all over the road)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Video Game Day
[Fri] Chocolate Milkshake Day
[Fri] Day of Conception (Russia)
[Sat] Computer Programmers Day
[Sun] Pet Memorial Day
[Sun] Pregnant Women’s Day
This Week Is … Emergency Preparedness Week
This Month Is … National Impotence Month                     

BULL’S BITS
BS SIGNS YOUR GYM TEACHER IS NUTS:
• He’s made a nice little home for himself under the bleachers.
• What at first glance appears to be a mustache turns out to be purple crayon.
• Insists on being addressed as ‘Cap’n Sweaty’.
• You see him doing sit-ups … while driving.
• Comes to class wearing only a whistle.

BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the most sensual thing to shop for? (In a recent survey ‘dessert’ ranked #1.)

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
You’ve just lost an ‘aglet’. Where would you have lost it from?
a. Your mouth.
b. Your shoe. [CORRECT. It’s the plastic thingy on the end of each shoelace.]
c. Your nose.
– “Land O’ Useless Facts”

BS RANDOM JOKE:
My favorite athletes are racehorses. They never give interviews.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: THIS profession has the most people who get plastic surgery.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Lawyer.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A sandwich doesn’t taste the same if it isn’t cut in half.