Untitled12.15.08

 SHOW PREP DECEMBER 15, 2008

 

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

 

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber welcomed their second child this weekend. A rep for Watts, 40, exclusively tells E! News, “I can confirm that Naomi and Liev had a baby boy Saturday.” The happily unmarried couple have been together since 2005. Their first son, Alexander Pete, was born July 25, 2007, in Los Angeles. (Eonline)

 

Joel Madden isn’t giving girlfriend Nicole Richie diamonds for Christmas. Believe it or not, the Good Charlotte rocker insists, the fabulously fashionable former reality-TV star is completely OK with that. ”I have no clue right now what I’m getting her, but I think it’s going to have to be creative,” Madden told me earlier today. “She appreciates more of the creative rather than something like a diamond. She’s not really into diamonds.”  As for baby daughter Harlow, who turns 1 on Jan. 11, Santa’s going to be earth-friendly. “Nicole is very organic, so probably a lot of organic toys like wooden blocks,” Madden said.  Keep reading for more on their Christmas plans, plus why Madden is really into feet these days…  They’re planning on having a low-key holiday with family and friends at home in Los Angeles. In fact, Madden said he’s turned down many offers to deejay out-of-town New Year’s parties. “I’d have to bring Nicole and the baby, so it would have to be a pretty amazing deal for me to leave,” he said. “I deejay all the time, but New Year’s is one of those things where I want to be with my family.”  Christmas and 2009 aren’t the only celebrations happening for the Madden clan right now.  Madden and his brother Benji are throwing a party tomorrow night at their DCMA clothing store in L.A. to launch their debut footwear line, K-DCMA.  The line, produced in conjunction with K-Swiss, is just a natural progression of building their street wear brand. The slip-on and laced sneakers feature their signature designs of skulls and graffiti. “We have some of the best graffiti artists in the world,” Madden said. “We have all sorts of people who have been involved in helping design for our company. It’s more of a collaborative, collective effort.”  DCMA doesn’t come with Hollywood prices. “Everything’s at a good price point where everybody can afford it,” Madden boasted. “Kids can actually afford the stuff and enjoy it.”  But don’t look for Richie to be sportin’ the goods. “She loves DCMA, but it’s not her style,” Madden said with a laugh. “We’ll leave the heels to Christian Louboutin.”  Accessories like bookbags may be next for DCMA. How about a fragrance? Madden laughed, “Uh, maybe a body spray.” (Launch)

 

A publicist says Tara Reid has checked herself into rehab. Jack Ketsoyan said Friday that the “American Pie” star went to the Promises Treatment Center. He did not specify what she was being treated for or when she entered the facility. “We appreciate your respect to her and her family’s privacy at this time,” he said in a statement. Reid, 33, earned a reputation as a drunken partier after famously being photographed on a red carpet with her breast exposed, apparently unaware that the strap of her dress had fallen off. Her film credits include “Van Wilder” and “The Big Lebowski.” She also hosted the short-lived, half-hour show “Taradise” on E! (Daily Record)

 

Houston, you have a pop star. Well, at least a high-powered Houston lawyer does. E! News has learned that Miley Cyrus is in Houston to perform at a private holiday party being thrown Sunday night by Houston attorney Mark Lanier. A source in Texas tells E! that Cyrus and her entourage arrived Saturday and she is set to perform tonight at Lanier Law Firm’s “Christmas Cheers and Charity” party, an annual fete that hosts more than 7,000 guests. (Eonline)

Scarlett Johansson is delighted she finally found love with Ryan Reynolds after a string of disastrous relationships. The Lost In Translation beauty, 24, walked down the aisle with her actor boyfriend, 31, in a secret ceremony in September in Reynolds’ native Canada. But Johansson admits she was always unlucky in love before she met the star. She tells British magazine Cosmopolitan, “I’ve been in situations before where a guy hasn’t been into me. It’s either they don’t want to commit or put in the effort, or they’re too involved in their own thing. You don’t always meet the right person at the right time and I think it’s important for people to figure out their own lives before involving someone else – to gauge where you are and work on your own issues.”  (Teen Hollywood)

 

Keanu Reeves is sure there is life on other planets, insisting it’s “crazy” to think extraterrestrials don’t exist. The actor stars in forthcoming sci-fi movie The Day The Earth Stood Still, and the filming experience left him wondering about alien beings. He says, “I?ve met people who have seen Ufos but I don?t know anyone who has been abducted. How could there not be life on other planets? The universe is so vast. “I guess a lot of people won?t believe in extraterrestrial life until they see evidence, until an alien lands in Central Park like my character does in the film, but the idea that life doesn?t exist anywhere but here is crazy.”  (Teen Hollywood)

 

Even teen pop sensations can get hand-me-downs. After earning her learner’s permit on Wednesday, Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus, who turned 16 Nov. 23, received an early Christmas present: Her mom, Tish, handed over the keys to her Porsche Cayenne. “Tish got a new car recently, so she’s giving Miley her old car,” a source tells PEOPLE. “She’s so excited. Her mom lets her drive to work when she’s with her.” Earlier this year, Cyrus told PEOPLE that her dream sweet 16 birthday gift would be “a car, but we’ll see … I don’t want to name a certain kind. I want my parents to know that I’m happy with anything that they get me. I know I’d be really lucky to even get a car.” It’s been a big week for Cyrus. Along with getting her first set of wheels, the singer also picked up her first Golden Globe nomination – for Best Original Song, “I Thought I Lost You,” from her movie Bolt. The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards will be broadcast Jan. 11 from The Beverly Hilton at 8 p.m. on NBC. (People)

The roads of Malibu got a little complicated Friday for the two young daughters of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen. Sam, 4, and Lola, 3, were being driven around by their nanny in a Mercedes SUV when the driver of a Honda made a sudden left turn, cut them off and hit two other vehicles. Charlie’s rep Stan Rosenfield tells E! News, “I spoke to Charlie and the girls are fine. He is very grateful because the accident could have been worse. He was very grateful the girls were in their car seats and for the safety features of Mercedes.” (Eonline)

 

Kate Walsh and her husband, Alex Young, are divorcing. According to court papers obtained by PEOPLE, Young, 37, petitioned for a divorce, citing irreconcilable differences in his Nov. 22 filing. “The couple remain on friendly terms and sincerely hope the media will respect their privacy during this difficult time,” the pair said in a statement Thursday. The Private Practice star, 41, wed Young – a production co-president at 20th Century Fox – on Sept. 1, 2007, in the town of Ojai, just north of Los Angeles, after becoming engaged in May. In October 2007, Walsh, then a newlywed, talked openly about their whirlwind relationship, telling Ellen DeGeneres on her show, “There was this kind of funny moment, after we were like we’re married and all of the hoopla was over and we were like, ‘What do we do now?’ ” “We’re married,” she said at the time. “Alright, I guess we just live and love and learn from each other.” (People)

 

Paul Anka’s wife got arrested after she allegedly split his head open with a piece of ice. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the alleged incident occurred on Nov 28 at the couple’s home in Thousand Oaks, just outside of L.A. We’re told that Paul and Anna, who have a kid together but married just last summer, got into an argument that turned physical. Our sources say during the brouhaha, an ice bucket hit the ground and Anna picked up a piece of ice and threw a fast ball, hitting Paul in the noggin. Paul went to the hospital, got two staples put in his head to close the wound, returned home and called the cops at 3:05 the next morning to report Anna missing. When cops arrived Anna wasn’t there but when she returned they arrested and booked her for felony domestic battery. The Ventura County D.A.’s office rejected the case, though they’re not saying why. BTW, Paul is 67-years-old and stands 5′6″ and weighs 140. Anna is 37, towers over him at 5′7″ and weighs 120 pounds. Paul Anka told TMZ “It was a stupid little event. It was nothing.” Anka said he called the cops because she was missing at the time he returned from the hospital, but cops arrested her after seeing his injuries. He says he never pressed charges, and he and his wife are “fine.” Paul says Anna has “been having a tough time with her ex over custody issues,” which has stressed her out. (TMZ)

 

Bettie Page, the ever-smiling, zaftig brunette with trademark bangs who became one of America’s most famous and notorious pin-up girls in the 1950s, died in Los Angeles Thursday after having her life support removed following a heart attack. She was 85. “She captured the imagination of a generation of men and women with her free spirit and unabashed sensuality,” her agent, Mark Roesler, said. “She is the embodiment of beauty.” Page was a 27-year-old secretary when a photographer on the beach at Coney Island discovered her in 1950. She went on to star in a series of sensual and nude photographs, including a Playboy centerfold and some that featured her in sadomasochistic poses. After disappearing from public view for decades in which she became a devout Christian and was diagnosed with acute schizophrenia, Page re-emerged again in recent years, even becoming the subject of a 2005 feature film, The Notorious Bettie Page, in which she was portrayed by actress Gretchen Mol. Page’s three marriages all ended in divorce. (People)

 

Van Johnson, whose boy-next-door wholesomeness made him a popular Hollywood star in the ’40s and ’50s with such films as “30 Seconds over Tokyo,” “A Guy Named Joe” and “The Caine Mutiny,” died Friday of natural causes. He was 92. Johnson died at Tappan Zee Manor, an assisted living center in Nyack, N.Y., said Wendy Bleisweiss, a close friend.

With his tall, athletic build, handsome, freckled face and sunny personality, the red-haired Johnson starred opposite Esther Williams, June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor and others during his two decades under contract to MGM. He proved to be a versatile actor, equally at home with comedies (“The Bride Goes Wild,” “Too Young to Kiss”), war movies (“Go for Broke,” “Command Decision”), musicals (“Thrill of a Romance,” “Brigadoon”) and dramas (“State of the Union,” “Madame Curie”). During the height of his popularity, Johnson was cast most often as the all-American boy. He played a real-life flier who lost a leg in a crash after the bombing of Japan in “30 Seconds Over Tokyo.” He was a writer in love with a wealthy American girl (Taylor) in “The Last Time I Saw Paris.” He appeared as a post-Civil War farmer in “The Romance of Rosy Ridge.” More recently, he had a small role in 1985 as a movie actor in Woody Allen’s “The Purple Rose of Cairo.”

A heartthrob with bobbysoxers – he was called “the non-singing Sinatra” – Johnson married only once. In 1947 at the height of his career, he eloped to Juarez, Mexico, to marry Eve Wynn, who had divorced Johnson’s good friend Keenan Wynn four hours before. The marriage produced a daughter, Schuyler, and ended bitterly 13 years later. “She wiped me out in the ugliest divorce in Hollywood history,” Johnson told reporters. As a young actor, Johnson had a brief run with Warner Bros. and then got a screen test and a contract with MGM with the help of his friend Lucille Ball. After a bit in “The War Against Mrs. Hadley,” Johnson appeared with Lionel Barrymore as “Dr. Gillespie’s New Assistant,” as Mickey Rooney’s friend in “The Human Comedy” and as a Navy pilot in “Pilot No. 5.” His big break, with Irene Dunne and Spencer Tracy in the wartime fantasy “A Guy Named Joe,” was almost wiped out by tragedy. On April 1, 1943, his DeSoto convertible was struck head-on by another car. “They tell me I was almost decapitated, but I never lost consciousness,” he remembered. “I spent four months in the hospital after they sewed the top of my head back on. I still have a disc of bone in my forehead five inches long.” “A Guy Named Joe” was postponed for his recovery, and the forehead scar went unnoticed in his resulting popularity. MGM cashed in on his stardom with three or four films a year. Among them: “The White Cliffs of Dover,” “Two Girls and a Sailor,” “Weekend at the Waldorf.” “High Barbaree,” “Mother Is a Freshman,” “No Leave No Love” and “Three Guys Named Mike.” Though he hadn’t lost his boyish looks, Johnson’s vogue faded by the mid-’50s, and the film roles became sparse, though he did have a “comeback” movie with Janet Leigh in 1963, “Wives and Lovers.” Also in the 1960s he returned to the theater, playing “Damn Yankees” in summer theaters at $7,500 a week. Then he accepted a two-year contract to star in “The Music Man” in London. He explained why in an interview: “Because the phone didn’t ring. Because the film scripts were getting crummier and crummier. Because I sat beside my pool in Palm Springs one day and told myself: `Van, you’ll be 45 this year. If you don’t start doing something now, you never will.’” (Daily Record)

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

 

Mario Batali is doing it. So are Gwyneth Paltrow and Salman Rushdie. These and other celebrities from the culinary, entertainment and literary worlds are donating one-of-a-kind lunchboxes they designed to help raise money for the hungry. The boxes are being sold online at http://www.thelunchboxauction.org until midnight Thursday. Bidding starts at $100. Cameron Diaz, for example, offers a green concoction. One side depicts remnants of an environmental friendly lunch of whole foods and a metal fork on one side. The other side shows a wasteful lunch: paper, plastic fork and cup, and a juice box. Each of the boxes is signed by the artist. They will benefit Food Bank for New York City and The Lunchbox Fund, which provides lunch to impoverished schoolchildren in South Africa. (Daily Record)

 

For two years, “American Idol” was giving back. Now it may be taking back. The Fox network’s Jill Hudson isn’t commenting on a report from an “Idol” fan Web site that the annual “Idol Gives Back” charity event has been canceled. Earlier this week, mjsbigblog.com quoted from what it said was an internal Fox memo declaring, “there will be no Idol Gives Back.” The star-studded special has aired for two years, soliciting donations to benefit impoverished children in the United States and Africa. Last April’s broadcast raised more than $64 million and boasted a lineup including Bono, Brad Pitt, Miley Cyrus, Fergie, Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood. The “Idol” singing competition series returns for a new round Jan. 20. (Daily Record)

 

Elliott Carter haltingly climbed up a few steps with the help of a cane and walked onto Carnegie Hall’s stage as the audience applauded. Not one, but two famous conductors were there to greet him. On a rare night, a composer was on hand to help an audience celebrate his 100th birthday. Carter even had an urbane new composition ready, “Interventions,” which was given its world premiere last week and was repeated Thursday night by James Levine, Daniel Barenboim and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The composer was presented a huge birthday cake, with musical notes on the first tier, piano keys on the second and third, and a sparkling candle on top. He poked a finger in the side to get a taste. Born a day after Olivier Messiaen, who died in 1992, Carter is still going strong, composing 16 new works in the past two years. The two-time Pulitzer Prize winner is taking on new commissions. The history of his works at Carnegie stretches out for eight pages. “I’m always proud of the ones I’ve just written,” he said recently in the living room of his New York apartment. He’s surrounded by sheet music, written in pencil, and argues with his friend and assistant, Virgil Blackwell, over whether mistakes have been made in the copying. “Such is the life of a composer,” he said, laughing. “As an old person, I get tired rather quickly. I wish I had more time to write than I do,” he went on. “I write from let’s say 9:30 to 11:30, and I go out for a walk, and eat lunch, have a nap, and then I probably sometimes work in the late afternoon. I can’t work at night. I try to read, and I drop the book on the floor.” The grandson of a Civil War veteran and the son of a lace importer, Carter grew up in New York, went to school with the sons of former Romanov diplomats and was best friends with Eugene O’Neill’s son. In January 1924, he went to Carnegie Hall with a music teacher, Clifton Furness, and heard the New York premiere of Stravinsky’s “The Right of Spring” played by the BSO and Pierre Monteux. It was a life-changing experience. “I thought it was the greatest thing I ever heard, and I wanted to do like that, too,” Carter recalled. “Of course, half the audience walked out, which was even more pleasant to me. It seemed much more exciting than Beethoven and Brahms and the rest of them.”

Furness introduced Carter to Charles Ives, who wrote a recommendation to Harvard, where Carter got his undergraduate degree. Carter’s most acclaimed works didn’t come until years later, when his second and third string quartets won Pulitzers in 1960 and 1973. His music is unfailingly modern and increasingly playful. Thursday’s premiere included a pair of brass and woodwind trios near Barenboim’s piano. “It’s hard to characterize it because I’ve always written what I’ve wanted to write,” Carter said. “I became a modernist practically from the cradle.” (Daily Record)

 

In what may have been one of the shortest Miami stays on record for Lindsay Lohan, the 22-year-old actress joined girlfriend Samantha Ronson Saturday night at Miami’s downtown club Karu & Y. The couple flew in late Saturday afternoon so Ronson could DJ at the late night boite. “Lindsay sat in the VIP area while Ronson was onstage DJ’ing,” says a source at the club. “As soon as Ronson’s obligation was met, the girls ducked out, hiding from photographers.” After, the girls were escorted straight to Louis, a glamorous new French-inspired club at the Ganesvoort Hotel South on Miami Beach, where they relaxed, smiled, held hands like a couple and texted on their cell phones. They arrived about 2:30 a.m. and were very much together for about a couple of hours. “They were happy and having fun, holding hands and looking at photos on their phones,” says a source at Louis. At 5:30 a.m., Lindsay and Sam were driven to Miami International Airport where they caught a flight back to Los Angeles. The girls are scheduled to be back in Miami on New Year’s Eve to host and DJ a party at Mansion. (Eonline)

 

Paul McCartney claims that he was the real politicized figure in The Beatles, not John Lennon, according to an interview published Sunday. McCartney was quoted as saying it was he who first raised concerns over the Vietnam war within the group and advocated their anti-war stance. Fans have long regarded Lennon, who wrote songs such as “Revolution” and – in later years – “Give Peace a Chance,” as the group’s authentic political voice. But McCartney claimed that his meeting with philosopher Bertrand Russell in the mid-1960s sparked his own – and eventually Lennon’s – curiosity about world affairs. Following his talk with Russell, McCartney said he told “the guys, particularly John (Lennon), about this meeting and saying what a bad war this was,” The Sunday Times quoted McCartney as saying in the interview. The newspaper said McCartney was interviewed in Britain’s Prospect magazine, which is published on Wednesday. McCartney’s publicist Stuart Bell was not immediately available to confirm the comments. According to the newspaper, McCartney said he believes his stance has inspired the work against African poverty carried out in recent years by Bob Geldof and U2’s Bono. (Daily Record)

More than 1,100 pieces of Bruce Springsteen memorabilia have been returned to the Asbury Park Public Library in New Jersey after library officials filed a police complaint against the men who had taken out the items. Members of the Friends of the Bruce Springsteen Special Collection took hundreds of books, articles and tour programs to be microfilmed in 2007. The group says they, not the library, own the stuff. The library disagrees. But the Friends group returned the materials after the police complaint was filed Tuesday against two members. Library officials say the charges won’t be pursued as long as the memorabilia is in good shape. (Daily Record)

 

The sleek shine of a designer gown, the gleam of a trophy, piles of gourmet food, a tipsy laugh. Award-show after-parties have always measured the glitz and glam of Hollywood, from the Golden Globes to the Grammys to the Oscars. But this season, with the economy in shambles, entertainment jobs being slashed and the looming threat of a Screen Actors Guild strike, normally lavish parties are being scaled back or scrapped faster than certain starlets ditching the paparazzi. With less bling, the words “appropriate” and “intimate” are being used more often to describe the suppressed soirees. Oscar party planners are slicing guest lists and red carpets. Sony BMG’s enormous annual Grammy after-party, which boasted 1,600 guests last season, has been canceled, said a Sony BMG spokeswoman. Label EMI has not yet announced its party plans, but last time the bash was limited only to artists, songwriters and managers, compared to past mega parties. Meanwhile, there’s cautious optimism among organizers of this season’s Golden Globe parties, which were decimated last time by the Hollywood writers strike but are likely to re-emerge in the new year, albeit in a more subdued form. “I think you’re going to see everybody being more cost conscious. There’s a line between glamorous and opulence that verges on the vulgar,” said Craig Thompson, executive director of AIDS Project Los Angeles. APLA’s 8th annual Oscar viewing party and post-awards bash at West Hollywood’s The Abbey will move forward on Feb. 22, said Thompson, but with the guest list sheared to 350 from last season’s 650. And just in case of a SAG strike, cancellation clauses are in place on vendor contracts for up to two weeks before the event. While last season’s celebrity-studded celebration was held in a huge tent strung with golden lights behind the restaurant, this February’s APLA party will move into the restaurant, similar to earlier years. “We’re going to raise less and spend half as much,” Thompson said. “We would have loved to have built off of this past year’s growing success, but that would have been irresponsible in this economy and with fear of a strike.” Last season, InStyle Warner Bros., Fox Searchlight, E! Entertainment, HBO, NBC Universal-Focus Features and the Weinstein Co. all canceled their Golden Globe after-parties at the Beverly Hilton Hotel when the awards ceremony was downgraded to a press conference because of the writers strike. SAG announced Wednesday, though, that it plans to count strike authorization votes nearly two weeks after the Globe Awards’ Jan. 11 show but one month ahead of Oscar night. HBO said its Globes party was going ahead at the Hilton’s downstairs restaurant, Circa 55, and outdoor pool area, featuring a vintage ’60s vibe. InStyle and NBC Universal said their parties were also moving forward as planned. But Kelly Striewski, a publicist who normally handles the annual E! Entertainment party, said E!, to her knowledge, was not doing its bash. Vanity Fair canceled its top-tiered Oscar party last season in solidarity with the writers strike. However, it plans to hold a down-sized version this season at West Hollywood’s smaller Sunset Tower Hotel instead of its traditional home at Morten’s restaurant. The A-list gathering, which in recent years has drawn the likes of Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Al Gore, will be “a much more intimate affair than in years past,” with a scaled-back guest list, according to editor Graydon Carter. Vanity Fair publicist Beth Kseniak said that given the leaner times, the decor will be recycled from past years, with comfort food served. As for the party being affected by a potential SAG strike, “We think a lot will depend on what’s happening at the end of February,” said Kseniak. “On the one hand, the show must go on … but only if appropriate.” Planning for the Governors Ball – the large, classy after-party held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to honor Oscar night winners – is also moving forward. So, too, is Elton John’s annual Oscar viewing and music-drenched after-party at West Hollywood’s Pacific Design Center to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Last season, it earned $5.1 million for the charity. “We’re going full steam ahead,” said party publicist Christina Lee. “It’s a way to get people’s minds off of what’s going on. But you also have to be respectful.” (Daily Record)

 

 

LAST WEEK:

 

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt has said he feels protective of partner Angelina Jolie. Brad Pitt has told Rolling Stone magazine he feels “defensive” of partner Angelina Jolie. When asked how he felt about a recent New York Times article that claimed Jolie was the boss of their relationship Brad jumped to her defense. “It sounded to me like the story made Angie out to be manipulative in some way. I get defensive. They’re talking about not only the woman I love,” Brad explained. “but one of the people on this planet who I have the greatest respect for. I think she’s as honorable as anyone I’ve ever met.” Before letting slip what his favorite Angelina film is. “Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Because you know … six kids. Because I fell in love.” Aah. (Handbag)

 

Terri Seymour, X Factor main man Simon Cowell’s ex has said she is competing against her former love. Terri Seymour has said she is fighting to be better known than her former partner, Simon Cowell. “One day, Simon’s going to be introduced as Terri Seymour’s ex,” the TV presenter told the Mirror. “Won’t that be lovely? In the States I’m really well known, and not just for being Simon’s ex-girlfriend. It will be nice when I am recognized as a star in my own right in the UK. Obviously, being with Simon raised my profile. But I’d have got there in the end, with or without him.” (Handbag)

 

Everyone expects to see plenty of the Stars and Stripes at any presidential inauguration, but this is getting ridiculous. In what may qualify as the most star-spangled inaugural event in history, celebrities from all over the entertainment spectrum are planning to flock to Washington, D.C., to welcome Barack Obama as the new president of the United States. Headliners at an inauguration ball hosted by the Creative Coalition on Jan. 20 include musicians Sting, Elvis Costello and Sam Moore. And the group says it’s already confirmed a bevy of big-name guests to the inauguration ceremony itself, including Anne Hathaway, Susan Sarandon, Marcia Cross, Tim Robbins, Seal, Adrian Grenier, Ashley Judd, Jane Krakowski, Rachael Leigh Cook, Spike Lee and Ron Howard. Rumors have it that diehard Obama supporters like Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen, and will.i.am are in talks to perform at Obama’s inauguration ceremony, as A-listers like Beyoncé, Diddy, and Mary J. Blige, according to New York’s Daily News. No More Room! But it’s the plethora of unofficial inauguration balls around D.C., like the Creative Coalition’s, that are already racking up the stars. The American Music Inaugural Ball will reportedly be hosted by Dionne Warwick; Lou Gossett Jr. will host the Purple Ball, with Ashley Judd and Patricia Arquette as guests; and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation will be entertaining Cyndi Lauper and Melissa Etheridge. Former vice president Al Gore is honorary chair of the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball, on Jan. 19. Some say the lists of stars would be longer, but that even celebrities are having troubles that regular Obama fans are grappling with as the inauguration nears: All the hotel rooms in Washington, D.C., are sold out. (People)

 

A former American Idol producer is firing back at Paula Abdul, who criticized the show for allowing alleged stalker Paula Goodspeed to audition. “You do not take somebody in that room that you believe is a danger to herself or a danger to Paula,” Nigel Lythgoe told PEOPLE at Thursday’s Superstars of Dance press day in Los Angeles. “That would not enter our heads. On Nov. 11, police discovered Goodspeed dead of an apparent suicide outside of Abdul’s Los Angeles home. “The very fact that this happened, I’m really sad for her family,” said Lythgoe. “It happened about four weeks ago. For it to come back four weeks later, I’m really sad we’re still talking about it.” Abdul, 46, said earlier this week in an XM Satellite Radio interview that she had asked Idol producers not to put Goodspeed on the program. “I said, ‘This girl is a stalker of mine. Please do not let her in.’ Everyone knew. I was shaking,” Abdul said. Producer Called Goodspeed ‘Lovely’ But that is not the way Lythgoe, who left Idol over the summer, says he remembers it.  “[Goodspeed] had been through an audition process with the producers, an audition process with the executive producers, and we were wheeling her in as a huge fan of Paula Abdul,” Lythgoe said. “This is what we knew: She was a great fan, she was a lovely girl. And a great fan of Paula.” Lythgoe said doesn’t remember Abdul’s request to have Goodspeed removed. “This is three years ago,” he said. “I honestly say I can’t remember the conversation. If Paula said, that’s what she said, I believe her.” Lythgoe added: “We’ve seen over 700,000 contestants. And one has made a terrible, terrible mistake. If you’re an odds man, they are great odds.” As for Abdul, Lythgoe said he harbors no ill will toward the Idol judge. “I’m not angry with Paula,” he said. “I think Paula’s in a position of: ‘It wasn’t my fault,’ and reaching out from that point of view. For her family’s sake, it should really be dropped.” Lythgoe, who left American Idol as a producer over the summer, is now producing, So You Think You Can Dance and January’s new series on NBC, Superstars of Dance. (People)

 

It’s getting messy between “Desperate Housewives” star Nicollette Sheridan and her former fiancé, pop crooner Michael Bolton. In May, the lovebirds bought a mansion in LA’s exclusive Hidden Hills area from Melissa Etheridge and her wife Tammy Lynn Michaels for $4.4 million – down from the asking price of $4.9 million. Bolton, madly in love, left his East Coast home and moved in with his British-born sweetheart. On Aug. 24, he finally put his huge, 9,000 square foot Westport, Conn., home, known as Della Acqua, up for sale for a whopping $11 million. Sadly for Bolton, just two days later, Sheridan “kicked him out,” our source said. And now, “he’s basically homeless – and stuck with two houses. He and Nicollette split the Hidden Hills house, but she wants to stay there and not have him anywhere near it. She also doesn’t particularly want to pay him [for] his half and thinks he should just give [the house] to her. “Michael’s kind of screwed,” our source continued. “He pulled up his longtime roots in Connecticut to live with her, and now she booted him. He’s got nowhere to go.” To make matters worse, Sheridan “has a new boyfriend,” we’re told. But her pals said, “It is not David Spade – they are just friends. He’s not her type.” Of course, we’ve heard that before. Sheridan and Bolton got engaged in March 2006 after dating just a few months. However, they knew each other for over a decade before that, and even dated for several years in the early ’90s. Blond bombshell Sheridan broke up with an earlier fiancé, fitness trainer Nicklas Soderblom, in 2005. Reps for Sheridan and Bolton didn’t return our calls. (Page Six)

 

Some fans of Gwyneth Paltrow wonder if her new curves are the result of more than her two hours a day working out with Tracy Anderson, who also trains Madonna. After checking out her cleavage on the cover of Gotham magazine, Gwynophiles are speculating she’s had breast augmentation surgery. “She didn’t use to have anything up top,” said one expert. “Now she does, and they are perky.” Paltrow, who’s been wearing micro-minis lately to show off her legs, flashes one breast in “Two Lovers,” her movie with Joaquin Phoenix opening in February. Says a fan who’s seen it: “It’s like the boob of a 15-year-old girl.” Paltrow’s rep didn’t return calls. (Page Six)

 

Someone get Axl Rose a shrink! The Guns N’ Roses singer is “anthropophobic” – afraid of people – according to music industry insiders, and has become increasingly hard to deal with. The new Guns album, “Chinese Democracy” – which Rose took 15 years to complete and release – dropped on Nov. 23, and since then, “he has fired his management company, Front Line, three times in four weeks,” one source said. To make matters worse, because of his fears, he refuses to promote the foundering album. “He hasn’t left his Los Angeles home in two months,” the source said. “He won’t give interviews, won’t do talk shows, or perform – which makes touring or promoting very difficult, obviously.” Larry Solters, a rep for the notoriously difficult Rose, disputed all of it: “He has not been diagnosed with anthropophobia. He hasn’t fired Front Line, and no interviews have been canceled.” (Page Six)

 

Tourists crowding the sidewalk on West 48th Street have been noticing the pungent aroma of marijuana wafting out of a tour bus that’s been parked outside Manny’s Music for the past four days. But only the smarter pedestrians figured out the vehicle with Florida license plates belongs to Willie Nelson. The unrepentant hippie is recording an album of jazz standards in a studio above the store and evidently uses the bus for smoke breaks. (Page Six)

 

Candace Cameron explains in the newest issue of Us Weekly how she went from what she calls a “chubby” child star to a hot mom of three! In The former Full House actress, 32, lost 22 pounds without the typical Hollywood help: trainers, surgery or a special diet prepared by a chef. Those perks, she says, are “not realistic” for most people, and she credits her own change in eating and exercise for her change. Cameron – who currently weighs 110 pounds, and is “5′2″ – says she began putting pressure on herself to lose weight as a teenager on the set of Full House. “Then when I was 16, I filmed an episode of Full House where my family goes to Disney World. I remember putting on baggy overalls just to hide my stomach,” she says. “When I watched it, I was pretty disappointed and bummed out looking at myself…I didn’t feel good about my own body.” After trying to follow a diet plan without much success, Cameron turned to diet pills and “stuff like that, which never worked.” “You try bad things here and there,” she admits. Her weight roller coaster continued after marrying Russian-born, former NHL player Valeri Bure in 1996. “When I first met Val, I would eat as much food as him – but then he would play hockey for three hours!” she says. (Bure, 34, retired from the NHL in 2006, and started Bure Family Wines.) Then Cameron – who, at her heaviest, weighed 132 pounds – struggled with weight during her first pregnancy to her daughter Natasha, who’s now 10 years old. (She’s also mom to Lev, 8, and Maksim, 6.) To stay slim, the actress now eats  an easy-to-do diet featured in the newest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now, and follows a basic program, also revealed in the magazine. Even though she’s now a size 0, Cameron still faces pressure in Hollywood to be even thinner. While filming her recent Hallmark Channel flick, Moonlight & Mistletoe, the female director would instruct Cameron to “Suck it in!” she says. To see more amazing photos of Cameron’s fit body after three kids, and get step-by-step instructions of her exact diet and workout plan, pick up the newest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now. (US Weekly)

 

In a blog entry titled, “Ring, ring, it’s the truth calling,” Pete Wentz announces that he and wife Ashlee Simpson will not be selling photos of their newborn son Bronx. The New York Post had reported Thursday that the two couldn’t fetch the right price for the shots. But Wentz writes that “like every celeb couple, we were offered mounds and mounds of money by mags, from here to Guam, to pimp out the baby. We just don’t want to go down that road with him. “We are not placing judgment on those that do, as they often use the money in a very charitable way,” he says. “However, we have made the decision to not sell Bronx’s baby pictures right now.” Wentz goes on to say that “there will be a time when we’ll share him with everyone because that insatiable curiosity [sic] becomes unsafe, or simply because we’re proud parents who want to show him off! At some time, when it makes sense, Bronx will be out in the world.” Dying to know if Bronx looks more like mom or dad? Wentz offers this much: “Trust me, he’s cute. He looks like his mommy.” (US Weekly)

 

Eric Dane says he is sad about Kate Walsh’s divorce.  “That’s terrible,” he told Entertainment Tonight at Thursday’s Marley & Me premiere in Los Angeles. According to court papers filed Nov. 22, Walsh’s husband Alex Young petitioned for a divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. “No, I haven’t seen her. I’ve got to call her,” Dane told ET of Walsh. “Thanks for reminding me that I need to call her and say, ‘That’s terrible.’” Dane also addressed rumors that his Grey’s Anatomy co-star T.R. Knight may soon be leaving the ABC doc drama. “Not that I know of,” he said when asked if Knight has quit. “I was with him yesterday working, so I don’t know. “Until [Grey's creator] Shonda Rhimes tells me he’s no longer on the show, he’s there,” Dane added. The actor went on to say that he hasn’t “gotten the feeling” that Knight “is ready to get out of there, so I don’t know what’s going to happen.” (US Weekly)

 

If Barack Obama left you a voicemail, wouldn’t you save it forever? Jeremy Piven revealed today that the President-elect had left him a message with his phone number, but that the Entourage star accidentally erased the voicemail! “I was lucky to stump for Barack in Indiana and to introduce him in Chicago. Barack left me five [phone] numbers.” he tells Extra. “It was the greatest voicemail that I’ve gotten in my life by the way… I saved it and I went back to listen to it and my BlackBerry had erased all of Barack Obama’s phone numbers. Then when I called back to try to tell them, ‘Can I get Barack’s number? He left it for me.’ They didn’t believe me and I now have nothing and I’ve been trying to find him.” The Entourage actor, who was nominated this morning for a Golden Globe for his performance on the show has another, slightly odd connection to Barack– his character, Ari Gold, is based on Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel, whose brother is Barack’s new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. With all those connections, he’s got to be able to get to the inauguration!  “I have no invite to the inauguration and I think I’m going to crash it to be honest with you,” he jokes. “I’m on stage right now doing Broadway and I’m going to miss my show to go to the White house and I don’t have a ticket.” Come on, Mr. President-elect, give the Piv a call!  (OK Magazine)

 

Maggie Gyllenhaal and husband Peter Sarsgaard are set to appear together in a new off-Broadway production. The pair has been cast in Uncle Vanva, a tragic comedy by Chekov about an old professor and his young wife Yelana, played by Gyllenhaal. Though no official date has been announced, previews will start on 17 January and the show will run till 1 March. (British Glamour)

 

Is it just us or does Simon Cowell get more and more likable every time he hits the tabloids? Speaking with the BBC, Cowell said he was “embarrassed” at some of the leaked clauses X Factor contestants agreed to when they signed their lives away to be on the show. The contract, which is enforceable “anywhere in the world or the solar system” (fails to mention universe, however) also bars contestants from saying anything “unduly negative, critical or derogatory” about the point-blank judge. Cowell claimed to be unaware of the clause, and admitted that “It sounds ridiculously hypocritical of me to slate most people who come on the show and then to go: ‘And, by the way, you’ve got to be nice about Simon’.” Hear that? It’s open season! Anther issue was the touted $1 million record deal, which actually comes to only $150,000 in prize money for the winner. But Simon said the $1 million breaks down into the several different expenses that go into recording, producing, and selling an album (which includes a music video), so the $150,000 is just a bonus in addition to the rest of the investment. It ain’t cheap making a record! (Perez Hilton)

 

The shooting death of Mark Ruffalo’s brother does not smell like a suicide or accidental death, according to our law enforcement sources. We’re told when cops arrived at the scene they recovered two loaded guns. Law enforcement also tells us the call they got was to respond to an assault, not a suicide or accidental death. Shaha Mishaal Adham, the woman who was in Scott’s apartment at the time of the shooting, told us yesterday Scott was playing Russian Roulette because he was “crazy.” But our sources say cops aren’t buying the R.R. theory. For starters, who shoots themselves in the back of the head when they’re playing Russian Roulette? Now get this — law enforcement tells us paramedics didn’t even know Scott was shot until he was on his way to the hospital. They say the wound was not apparent. As for Shaha (who was arrested as a suspect but then released) and her boyfriend, Brian Scofield, they told us yesterday they have been “vilified” and the truth will come out, acknowledging there was a mystery third person in the apartment. (TMZ)

 

The host of Bravo’s “Flipping Out” is disputing allegations that he attacked an “Ugly Betty” star at her home — by attacking her in a statement. It’s all over a lawsuit filed Wednesday by Ugly Betty’s Ashley Jensen and her husband, who claim Jeff Lewis was working on a house for his show, when he built a deck which encroached into their yard. When they refused to accept a private financial settlement, Lewis allegedly flipped out, making “aggressive threats and outrageous behavior.” But Lewis says it’s all a crock, and that the actress is using his fame and this lawsuit for attention — calling the fight a “simple encroachment dispute that should have been resolved informally.” Lewis adds, “Having apparently watched my reality show, they now feel they can exploit my personality to increase their media exposure and their alleged damages. I have never threatened either of them with physical harm, nor was I abusive or verbally threatening to either of them. In fact I have never even met Ms. Jensen. The court will decide how much the easement is worth and Ms. Jensen and Mr. Beesley will then be left having to earn media coverage on their talent alone.” (TMZ)

 

New parents and pet lovers Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz have treated their beloved bulldog to some etiquette lessons with a famed TV dog expert. Before Simpson-Wentz gave birth to the couple’s first child Bronx last month, the couple and their pooch Hemingway visited Dog Whisperer star Cesar Millan for some crucial obedience training. According to reports, Hemingway had become increasingly aggressive and the stars feared welcoming a baby into the household would make him worse. Their encounter with Millan will feature on the whisperer’s National Geographic Channel TV show in January.  (Teen Hollywood)

 

You might not see Mary-Kate Olsen smile much in photographs, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t doing it in private. When rumors surfaced that she and her beau of 11 months, Nate Lowman, were expecting a baby, the couple “found the pregnancy rumor hilarious,” reports Us Weekly. (Her rep has officially denied the rumor). The couple has been spotted out and about in Art Basel Miami, where Lowman, who is an artist, helped curate an exhibit at The Station gallery. (Scoop)

 

Tom Cruise has starred opposite a lot of leading ladies during his 25-year acting career, but will he ever make a movie with his wife Katie Holmes? “I would love it,” the PEOPLE cover subject tells Entertainment Tonight Canada. “Look at Newman and Woodward: if you find the right project … I’m not opposed to doing that. I love her work as an actress.” Cruise, who told the show that he has seen Holmes 20 times in her Broadway debut, All My Sons, has even considered following his wife to the stage. “I’ve been offered things and it’s never been the right timing,” says the Valkyrie star. “But if I can find something I would like it.” On the subject of trying new things, Cruise – whose onscreen singing experience includes warbling a few notes of an Aimee Mann song in 1999’s Magnolia, to say nothing of his memorable serenade of Kelly McGillis in 1986’s Top Gun – is looking to make a musical someday. “I always wanted to do a musical, and I’m glad musicals are now back in vogue,” says the self-proclaimed Sound of Music fan. “I gotta sing, I gotta dance and I’m going to figure all that out.” For now, Cruise has more pressing problems, such as the pressure of making Holmes’s 30th birthday next week a uniquely memorable one. “Hey man, I know pressure,” says Cruise. “I like pressure.” (People)

 

Former Vice-President Dan Quayle and former Treasury chief John Snow might be regretting their investment in Chrysler. Snow is chairman and Quayle is vice-chair of Cerberus which bought 81 percent of Chrysler for $7.4 billion. The two were at San Pietro the other night when hotelier John Coleman gave them some advice: “You’ve got to start making some good cars.” Said one witness, “Quayle and Snow were very gracious. And they didn’t seem too worried about Chrysler.” Then Coleman, who’s known for his taste in women, introduced his young date: “Honey, these are my friends. I mean, that’s the vice president, you know?” But she didn’t – Quayle was too long ago for her. (Page Six)

 

From “Lipstick Jungle” to African desert. Kim Raver is heading to Ethiopia, on behalf of Unicef. At the French consulate on Fifth Avenue, where Raver was presented with round-trip Air France tickets, she said, “When I was pregnant with our second son, who is now 1, I told my French husband, Manu Boyer, that I could not bear to see starving African children drinking from a dirty spigot.” She also told writer Gregory Speck of the grass-roots campaign to renew “Lipstick Jungle” by fans who mailed lipstick to NBC boss Jeff Zucker: “So now the network has suddenly stopped dismantling our sets . . . We think we may be given a reprieve.” (Page Six)

 

“What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day” - Phyllis Diller in Bruce Littlefield’s book, “Merry Christmas, America!” (Page Six)

 

Now that Whitney Port has fled LA for NYC, she’s gotten a taste of what Manhattan men are like, and she’s impressed. The blond starlet of MTV’s “The City” tells this Sunday’s Page Six Magazine: “I was recently in LA, and I couldn’t help but think, ‘Everyone is kind of the exact same here.’ You have all these guys in the entertainment industry who are just trying to be smooth and super-cool. The guys in New York . . . they’re more confident and know what they want.” ( Page Six)

 

At Thursday’s Los Angeles premiere of Marley & Me, Jennifer Aniston spoke out for the first time about her naked GQ cover. “I wasn’t trying to make any statement,” said the 39-year-old actress, who wears only a tie on the cover. After a reporter told her she looked hot in the January issue, Aniston replied, “So do you – hottie!” Her boyfriend John Mayer, who did not walk the carpet with Aniston, said he also thought she looked scorching. “I mean, if I have a problem with that cover, I should just get the hell out of here,” he said. When a reporter tried to get him to hold a copy, Mayer joked, “No, don’t make me hold it – you’re pimping me out! Because when I touch it, angels die.” Mayer continued, “If I have a problem with that cover, I should just pack up the Toyota and head out of town. I’m just gonna get ready to put my knuckles in the air for it.” Asked what movies he’ll be watching over the holidays, Mayer replied, “Marley and Me, of course!” In January’s GQ, Aniston said she and Mayer “care deeply for each other, and we’re just trying to figure it out.” She joked, “I am not having his baby. And I have not popped the question.” (US Weekly)

 

Mel Gibson must be angling for a comeback. He officially tried to jump on the mustache train (which includes passengers Brad Pitt and George Clooney) and now he’s glomming onto Britney Spears‘ current success. (Eonline)

 

Courteney Cox told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show that she was keen to make a film of Friends, but was unsure how it would work. “Well, it all took place around an apartment and a coffee shop so I don’t know what would we do? We went to England once, and was that great? I’m not sure,” she said. “The show was great, but I don’t know. I don’t think we’re going to do it. People keep talking about it, I wish we would.” The actress added that she doesn’t want to push her Friends co-stars into doing a film because she is worried that the media will create imaginary feuds, as they did with the Sex And The City cast. “Why do I say the words, ‘I wish we would’? Then it’s going to be like, ‘Courteney wants to do the thing (movie), but the rest of the cast doesn’t.’” (British Glamour)

 

Watch your back, actors! This weekend, a thespian named Daniel Hoeveles , who is starring in the Vienna, Austria, production of the play Mary Stuart , was the unfortunate victim of what’s presumed to be an evil switcharoo, according to a report. A fake knife he uses in a suicide scene was apparently switched out for the real thing!!!!! He slit his throat on stage with the real knife and slumped over with blood pouring from his neck while the audience broke into applause at the “special effect”. It wasn’t until he didn’t get up to take a bow that any one noticed something was wrong!! Luckly, Hoevels missed a major artery. The doctor who treated him said, “Just a little bit deeper and he would have been drowning in his own blood.” Police are questioning everyone working on the play and will be carrying DNA tests. Maybe it was the understudy?! Crazy! We thought LA actors were ruthless! (Perez Hilton)

 

And the hosting honor goes to … Hugh Jackman. PEOPLE’s reigning Sexiest Man Alive has been chosen to host the 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony, to take place Feb. 22 The Australia star, 40, who’ll be hosting the Oscars for the first time, was selected “because we want the ceremony to be fun,” says Laurence Mark, producer of the telecast. “He can hold the screen and he can hold a stage. It doesn’t hurt that he looks amazing in a tuxedo and he’s the Sexiest Man Alive.” Jackman won an Emmy in 2005 for hosting the 59th annual Tony Awards in 2004. He was also nominated as host of the Tonys in 2005. ABC will broadcast the Oscar ceremony live from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 22. (People)

 

Sam Talbot, the heartthrob finalist from Top Chef’s second season, is officially off the market. The chef and his fiancée, Paola Guerrero, got married in a secret wedding ceremony at City Hall in New York City on Nov. 17, a source close to Talbot confirms to PEOPLE. “It was just the two of them, looking low-key but gorgeous,” says the source. “They are madly in love, and he is the happiest man alive to call her his wife.” Talbot and Guerrero, a model and T-shirt designer from Colombia, met on his 30th birthday in Brazil last December. “She’s amazing. She’s stunning,” Talbot told PEOPLE last year when he announced their engagement. The newlyweds are honeymooning in Colombia, adds the source. (People)

 

A judge on Friday jailed a man who sold a newspaper footage that appeared to show Amy Winehouse taking drugs. Johnny Blagrove and his girlfriend Cara Burton admitted offering to supply drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, to the singer and other celebrities. Judge Tudor Owen ordered Blagrove, 34, jailed for two years. Burton, 22, received two years’ community service.

Prosecutors say the pair covertly filmed Winehouse at a party and sold the footage to The Sun newspaper for 50,000 pounds ($75,000). In January the paper published the images, which appeared to show the singer smoking crack cocaine and snorting a substance from a card. Detectives decided there was not enough evidence to charge Winehouse because it could not be proved what the substances were. But they charged the couple with offering to supply drugs. Police who raided Blagrove and Burton’s home found a list of celebrities they planned to film taking drugs, including Winehouse. The judge said there was no evidence they actually sold the singer drugs – a fact that saved them from longer sentences. “Notwithstanding what is clearly visible in the video, there is no evidence of drugs being supplied or even used,” he said. (Daily Record)

 

 

MUSIC . . .

 

Jennifer Hudson has cancelled the shoot for her new video – just days after she announced she was ready to go back to work following the murder of three members of her family. The Oscar-winning actress/singer was due to start shooting the promo for her latest single, If It Isn’t Love, in October but was forced to scrap the plans and return to her native Chicago, Illinois after her mother, brother and nephew were killed. Darnell Donerson and Jason Hudson were found shot dead at their home in the city. Hudson’s nephew Julian King, seven, was found dead three days later. The star’s estranged brother-in-law has been charged with all three murders. Earlier this week, Hudson announced she would begin filming the postponed project next week, but has now reportedly put the plans on hold once again, after deciding she is not yet ready to face work. A source tells Usweekly.com, “The video was set up before the tragedy and she felt like she should finish what she started, but she’s realised that she’s not ready to go back to work. It’s too early.” A representative for Hudson has confirmed the shoot will not be taking place, but insisted that plans to start filming next week were never finalised, saying: “The video shoot was never confirmed.”  (Teen Hollywood)

 

The accolades keep coming for Chris Brown – this time, he’s been named Billboard’s top artist of 2008. “It’s bigger than what I can ever imagine. It’s unexpected totally, so it’s a surprise,” Brown said in an interview Thursday. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise for Brown. He not only nabbed the Billboard honor in 2006, he had a great ‘08, with solo hits like “With You” and “Forever” as well as successful collaborations, like the Jordin Sparks duet “No Air.” Last month, he won three awards at the American Music Awards, including artist of the year.

But the 18-year-old Brown says he’s still not used to all the accolades. “I’ve had a good year but I still feel like a little insecure in those parts. I’m like, `There’s little ol’ me getting an award’ – that’s incredible,” he said. The artist’s rankings are determined by album sales as well as digital downloads, radio airplay and Internet streams. The No. 2 artist was Lil Wayne, who had a huge year thanks to hits like “A Milli” and “Lollipop”; No. 3 on the list was Rihanna, whose hits included “Take A Bow” and “Disturbia,” which was co-written by boyfriend Brown. Rounding out the top five were Alicia Keys and Taylor Swift. Billboard named Flo Rida’s “Low” as the year’s top song, followed by Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love,” Alicia Keys’ “No One,” Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” and “Apologize” by Timbaland featuring OneRepublic. Brown had three songs in the top 10: “With You,” “Forever” and “No Air” with Sparks. The rest of the charts are available on Billboard.com. (Daily Record)

 

Former Take That star Robbie Williams has admitted he’d love to rejoin the band. Robbie Williams has said he’d love to rejoin Take That. “I’m over the moon for the boys. The thing that struck me the most was how much fun they’re having. It’s more rewarding when you’re a gang. Ever since I left Take That I’ve wanted to be in a band,” Robbie wrote on his official Inner Sanctum website. “We got together a lot over the summer. It was amazing. We’ve all matured a lot since we parted. I’m very pleased to say the differences we’ve had have just melted away. I celebrated by getting a Take That symbol tattooed on my right arm. I’m proud to know the boys and I’m proud to be in the band. I’d love to be in the band again but I’ve got some unfinished business of my own.” (Handbag)

 

Billy Joel announced at his last Australian show in Sydney on Thursday, December 11, that he would be recording the song ‘Christmas In Fallujah’ and making it available in Australia only as a special commemoration of his Australian tour. (SonyBMG)

 

Leona Lewis was just one of the stars who lined up to meet Prince Charles yesterday at The Royal Variety Performance.  The singer is currently the fourth best-selling artist in the world, following her win last year on X Factor. Other celebrities in attendance included The Pussycat Dolls, Peter Kay, Duffy and Take That. Leona Lewis put forward her view about Robbie Williams re-joining the band. “He should definitely be allowed back in the band, he was one of the original members,” she said. Though the band made no mention of their other member last night, Howard Donald did tell GMTV: “You never know, I think we’d like to but at the moment we’ve got a tour next year – and at the moment he’s not a part of those plans, but you just never know when he’s going to pop out of that box.” (British Glamour)

 

Oh, how the blonde have fallen!!!! Jessica Simpson is playing the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida in March. And, compared to relative newcomer’s Taylor Swift’s $45 tickets, Simpson’s are going for only $25-30. Even redneck Jeff Foxworthy is billed higher at $35 a pop!!!! Must be tough on poor Papa Joe – no one cares about his daughters anymore, and the new cash calf doesn’t seem to be selling well either. It’s gonna be a tough Christmas in the Simpson household this year! (Perez Hilton)

 

Still riding high on the success of his 2007 sophomore Jive set “Exclusive,” which has sold 1.9 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, Chris Brown is wrapping up a banner 2008. Not only did he snare two more Grammy Award nominations — best pop collaboration (with Jordin Sparks on “No Air”) and best male R&B vocal (“Take You Down”) — he emerges as Billboard’s top pop artist of the year (click here for Billboard’s Year in Music special section). Brown says he’s content to let the album “die down,” although a new single, “Superhuman” featuring Keri Hilson, was recently released. “Then I’m going to go away for a little while so people won’t get tired of me,” he says with a laugh. “After that I’ll come back and give them some bangers.” In the meantime, Brown is plenty busy with other projects, including new music with girlfriend Rihanna. “I actually have a couple of songs written already that would be dope collaborations between me and her,” he says. “And I’m writing for her new album now.” Among other outside writing projects, Brown says he “did a couple of songs for the Jonas Brothers, but I don’t know if they took any of them. And I did a couple of songs with the Backstreet Boys and the Pussycat Dolls. I’ve also been writing songs for several new girl groups who are coming out.” But his most surprising collaboration is with Tim McGraw, on a song called “Human” which has yet to be released. “It’s incredible, he says. “I wanted to do something more along the country line. That’s a bigger and different audience for me. I also did a song with the Japanese group called the Teriyaki Boys out of Pharrell’s camp.” Next year will see the release of Brown’s first artist on his CBE label through Interscope, 13-year-old Scooter Smiff. Brown appears on Smiff’s first single, “Head of My Class.” “I will also have another label through Jive that’s still in the works,” he says. “Urban acts are the hardest to pick because of the competition level that’s out there right now. You don’t want to choose a novelty artist who’s only going to give you one record.” (Billboard)

 

Eminem has revealed details of his long-awaited new album, “Relapse,” in an exclusive interview with Billboard, conducted via email. The set is due next spring from Shady/Interscope. Eminem is working on “Relapse” with longtime collaborator Dr. Dre, who put his own album, “Detox,” on the backburner to help bring the project to completion. “Me and Dre are back in the lab like the old days, man,” Eminem says. “Just him banging away on tracks and me getting that little spark that makes me write to it. I don’t have chemistry like that with anyone else as far as producers go — not even close. Dre will end up producing the majority of the tracks on Relapse.’ We are up to our old mischievous ways … let’s just leave it at that.” A handful of songs intended for “Relapse” have leaked online, most recently “Crack a Bottle,” leaving Eminem “really heated. It wasn’t close to finished, and it even has me doing guide vocals for Dre as a suggestion of how he could lay his verses down. It’s like someone catches you peeping in your window before you got the Spider Man costume all zipped up! Nobody is supposed to see that. We are gonna finish it up though and get it out there how it’s supposed to be.” Eminem also responded to producer Swizz Beats’ recent comment that he’d submitted a track for the project described as a sequel to the hit single “Stan,” telling Billboard, “I haven’t worked with Swizz on this album. There isn’t a ‘Stan 2,’ and there won’t be,” he says. “Stan drove his car off a bridge and I’m not writing a song as Stan’s ghost. That would just be really corny.” While working on “Relapse,” Eminem was also writing his autobiography, “The Way I Am,” with Sacha Jenkins. The book has received favorable reviews and has spent time in the top 20 of the New York Times hardcover nonfiction best-sellers list. “For me, writing an album is an entirely different process from making this book,” he says. “The album requires a certain focus of mine that I can’t really explain — let’s just say it’s all I can really do while I’m doing it. With the book, the process was much more spread out, like, ‘Let’s get you together with Sacha for a few hours next week. Let’s go thru these photos and artwork, etc.’ The book was a lot more of a focus here-and-there thing as opposed to music, which totally consumes me every second.” Eminem goes into great detail in “The Way I Am” about how much he was impacted by the 2006 shooting death of fellow Detroit rapper Proof, who was one of his best friends. “Opening the book with Proof’s chapter was real important for me,” Eminem says. “Everything from my past moving into my future is marked by his passing. It’s sort of like life when Proof was with us, and life after — a real dividing factor. He means more to me than a book chapter could describe, but I’m glad I was able to put him first, like he did for me so many times.” As for Shady Records’ 2009 roster, Eminem says 50 Cent’s delayed “Before I Self Destruct” will be out in February. “He’s still working on it and getting back together with me and Dre next week to finish up,” he says. “I have a couple of tracks on there with him. It’s sick.” Afterward, Ca$his will release the follow-up to his 2007 “County Hound EP.” Says Eminem, “People are going to be surprised what he is capable of. I produced a bunch of records on there as well.” (Billboard)

 

As he prepares to roll out his side project, Nickel Eye, next month, Strokes bassist Nikolai Fraiture predicts the group members’ various solo activities will influence the music they make when they reconvene in February. “For any one of us, anything we do outside the band is our first venture away from the Strokes. We’ve never experienced anything else,” Fraiture tells Billboard.com. “I think that it’s really everybody’s way of kind of regrouping and being themselves again. That way (for) the next album we’ll feel fresh again and we’ll have new ideas.” Fraiture says he’s confident about the Strokes’ future after a two year-layoff — “We’re all on the same page,” he reports — but he adds that “no one really knows what’s going to happen” when he and his four bandmates meet again. “We’re just getting into the studio. Nothing’s set in stone yet,” Fraiture says. “We’ve all been through such different things, we’re just gonna see what happens. It’s kind of a new chapter for everyone.” Fraiture’s Nickel Eye chapter starts with the Jan. 27 release of “The Time of the Assassins,” but the idea dates back to when he was 19 and took a cross-country trip after dropping out of New York’s Hunter College. Many of the impressions from that trek are included in the lyrics, while the music is drawn from influences such as Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, the Kinks and Frank Black. “I’ve always been into music like that,” Fraiture says. “It never really found a place in the Strokes, so it was always kind of on the back burner, and now, with the time off, I had the opportunity explore it.” He recorded  “The Time of the Assassins,” with the band South — who Fraiture met through his wife — at South Studios in London; friends Regina Spektor and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner guest. Fraiture is taking Nickel Eye on the road in January; he’s lined up three shows opening for the Raveonettes and is currently booking more dates that will be announced soon. (Billboard)

 

 

MARVIN SAPP (not Warren) LEADS TOP SINGLES LIST:

If you want to create a mix-tape of the year’s best songs, here are the must-haves for 2008. (Daily Record)

1. “Never Would Have Made It,” Marvin Sapp: Of course, a gospel tome is inspirational – that’s the whole point, hello! – but Sapp’s stirring song was more than that. It moved the listener to the core, which few songs, even gospel tunes, have the power to do.

2. “A Milli,” Lil Wayne: Sapp’s song wasn’t so powerful that it made us stop listening to “A Milli,” the No. 2 song on this list. “A Milli” is filled with a-bleep-a-second verses and vulgar putdowns – but oh-so-artfully done. Even though this is perhaps one of the year’s most played songs, it never got overplayed because Wayne’s wit – and that killer beat – never got old.

3. “Lollipop,” Lil Wayne: While Wayne may be rap’s top lyricist, this X-rated slow jam highlighted his singing – off-key but grimy and gripping. His raspy voice draws you in, but it’s what he’s saying – and we can’t repeat it here – that keeps your ears burning.

4. “Sensual Seduction,” Snoop Dogg: We give this song high marks for the message alone (guys, take note). But the ’70s inspired-synths plus Snoop’s freaky crooning made this an irresistible jam.

5. “Yes We Can,” will.i.am: While the lyrics were Barack Obama’s words, will.i.am’s ingenious composition gave the inspirational speech even more power by adding an anthemic musical background and using celebrities like John Legend, Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Phillippe to recite Obama’s message. Even a Republican couldn’t deny the power of this gem.

6. “Love Song,” Sara Bareilles: This bouncy piano-driven song was made popular because of its use in a commercial, but it would have stuck in people’s minds in any case: It’s delightful and catchy, and the kind of song that wins fans across genres.

7. “Love Lockdown,” Kanye West: The first salvo from West’s singing manifesto “808s & Heartbreak” was somber and almost monotone, but the coolness of his Auto-tune enhanced voice almost added more emotion to this bitter breakup song. The feverish drumming at the end is the killer capper.

8. “The Way That I Love You,” Ashanti: No, that isn’t a misprint – Ashanti did actually make this list. While her vocal performance on this woman-scorned ballad is good, it’s the dramatic music accompanying her that is the song’s true star – it grabs you from the opening, haunting piano notes.

9. “Paper Planes,” M.I.A.: Admit it, most of you probably never understood what in the world M.I.A. was singing about and just grooved to the breezy beat – which is enough to get you hooked. But it’s when you realize that she’s expressing the frustration and anger of the illegal immigrant that the song’s true power is revealed.

10. “Need You Bad,” Jazmine Sullivan: This blend of reggae and R&B, along with Sullivan’s pleading voice, made this song an R&B treasure.

 

 

THE TOP 10 ROCK ALBUMS OF 2008:

Rock music in 2008 was dominated by relics from the past, most returning with respectable albums: Guns ‘n Roses, AC/DC, Metallica and, er, Coldplay. But there was better stuff to be found, even if it didn’t, like “Chinese Democracy,” take 17 years to create. With apologies to fans of Kings of Leon and Bon Iver, here are the top 10 rock albums of the year. (Note: Radiohead’s “In Rainbows,” given away in 2007 and released traditionally in 2008, was rated last year, when it topped this list.) (Daily Record)

1. Constantines, “Kensington Heights”: The most underrated band in North America hails from Toronto, is led by Bryan Webb’s angst-ridden growl, and is capable of leaving any beer-soaked bar crowd slack-jawed and devastated. Five years after the excellent “Shine a Light,” the Constantines are still carrying on the tradition of Bruce Springsteen with anthemic, uplifting rock dirges. What could be more vital in these troubled economic times than the pulsating and mature “Kensington Heights”? On “Credit River,” Webb sings: “I may be in the red but I’m still hungry.”

2. The Hold Steady, “Stay Positive”: Like the Constantines, the Hold Steady worship at the altar of the Boss. This is a good thing. Though their last, “Boys and Girls of America,” may have been better, the Hold Steady, ah em, hold steady with another stellar album. The glorious single “Sequestered of Memphis” is surely the first song to make the phrase “I went there on business” sound riveting.

3. Fleet Foxes, “Fleet Foxes”: The sonorous, multipart harmonies of Seattle’s Fleet Foxes bring to mind the Beach Boys, had they moved up the coast and swapped their surfboards for a wooded campfire. Half a year after their debut, they’re beginning to age like Crosby, Stills & Nash – but there are worse things.

4. Santogold, “Santogold”: You could quibble that Santogold isn’t truly “rock,” but she really defies genre categorization. “L.E.S. Artistes” and “Lights Out” were among the best rock tunes of the year. She’ll make “name droppas” of us all.

5. No Age, “Nouns”: Who knew L.A. punk existed? And that it was so good? Nothing about No Age was expected, making it all the more exciting.

6. Lykke Li, “Youth Novels”: Lykke Li is a 22-year-old Swedish pop pixie. “Little Bit” and “I’m Good, I’m Gone” were two of the most danceable songs all year – as evidenced by no less than the ever-jitterbugging Lykke Li herself. But it’s the cooing “Time Flies” that cements “Youth Novels” as an excellent album.

7. TV on the Radio, “Dear Science”: The bouncy guitar riff on “Crying” is, alone, really enough to make this one of the year’s best. The Brooklyn brainiacs’ last one (“Return to Cookie Mountain”) was better, but TV on the Radio are nevertheless the most vital, current band in America.

8. Black Keys, “Attack and Release”: The Black Keys could be anyone’s favorite band. Two goofy dudes from Akron, Ohio, who make some of the rawest, most soulful blues. This is their most dynamic and full album yet, which can be partly attributed to producer Danger Mouse. (Danger Mouse’s most famous project, as half of Gnarles Barkley, also put out one of the year’s best, “The Odd Couple,” thanks largely to Cee-lo’s powerful James Brown tribute: “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul.”)

9. Jenny Lewis, “Acid Tongue”: Like Elvis Costello (who guests on “Acid Tongue”), Lewis will likely turn out an excellent album most every year – whether as a solo act or in her band Rilo Kiley – for decades to come. The best example of her prodigious songwriting talents here is “Bad Man’s World.” Unless it’s “Acid Tongue.” Or “Carpetbaggers.” (You get the idea.)

10. Dr. Dog, “Fate”: Some find this Philadelphia group too retro. They, after all, seemingly want to, literally, be the Band. But with a bass that thumps just like Rick Danko’s, Dr. Dog stirs up life in old sounds.

Honorable Mentions: Firewater, “The Golden Hour”; Wolf Parade, “At Mount Zoomer”; M83, “Saturdays Youth”; Vampire Weekend, “Vampire Weekend”; Death Cab for Cutie, “Narrow Stairs”; Bonnie “Prince” Billy, “Lie Down on the Light”; The Walkmen, “You & Me”; She & Him, “Volume One”; Deerhunter, “Microcastle”; Mogwai, “The Hawk Is Howling”; Portishead, “Third.”

 

 

MOVIE . . .

 

Audiences sat still for Keanu Reeves’ sci-fi remake “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” making it the weekend’s top movie with a $31 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday. The 20th Century Fox release also added $39 million in 90 overseas markets for a worldwide total of $70 million. The movie updates the 1951 tale of an alien and his giant robot enforcer who come to Earth with a warning about the consequences of humanity’s destructive nature. “Audiences are moving to see `The Day the Earth Stood Still.’ It’s a visually stunning movie with timely issues everybody on this planet can relate to,” said Fox distribution executive Chris Aronson. “Basically, how we treat each other and how we treat this planet that we call home.”

The Warner Bros. holiday romp “Four Christmases” slipped to second place with $13.3 million. The Reese Witherspoon-Vince Vaughn comedy raised its three-week total to $88 million. Another seasonal tale, Overture Films’ “Nothing Like the Holidays,” opened a weak No. 7 with $3.5 million. The movie features John Leguizamo, Debra Messing and Alfred Molina in the story of a Chicago family’s holiday reunion. The overall box office plummeted compared with the same weekend last year, when “I Am Legend” opened with $77.2 million and “Alvin and the Chipmunks” debuted with $44.3 million. This weekend’s top 12 movies took in $83.3 million, down 45 percent from a year ago. “This was predestined to be a down weekend given the incredible one-two punch of ‘I Am Legend’ and ‘Alvin,’” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. “There was no way this weekend could measure up.” A rush of films opened with big numbers in limited release to qualify for the Academy Awards. Miramax’s “Doubt” pulled in $525,030 in 15 theaters, averaging $35,002 a cinema, compared with $8,708 in 3,560 locations for “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” The film stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams in a war-of-wills drama between an old-school nun and a progressive priest.

Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” played in six locations and took in $284,000 to average $47,333. The Warner Bros. film stars Eastwood as a bigot who becomes an unlikely protector for his immigrant neighbors against street thugs. The Weinstein Co. drama “The Reader” rang up $170,000 in eight theaters for a $21,250 average. The Holocaust-themed story stars Kate Winslet as a former concentration camp guard standing trial years later. Steven Soderbergh’s two-part, four-hour-plus film biography “Che” took in $60,100 in two cinemas to average $30,050. The IFC Films release stars Benicio Del Toro as Latin American revolutionary Che Guevara. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday. (Daily Record)

1. “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” $31 million.

2. “Four Christmases,” $13.3 million.

3. “Twilight,” $8 million.

4. “Bolt,” $7.5 million.

5. “Australia,” $4.3 million.

6. “Quantum of Solace,” $3.8 million.

7. “Nothing Like the Holidays,” $3.5 million.

8. “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” $3.3 million.

9. “Milk,” $2.6 million.

10. “Transporter 3,” $2.3 million.

 

Will Smith is bringing the message of his new movie “Seven Pounds” to the Midwest with a promotional tour that also turned into a fundraiser. In the film, which opens nationwide Friday, Smith portrays a suicidal man determined to change the lives of several strangers. “If there’s a message, it’s ‘you gotta help somebody.’ Even if it’s somebody’s car breaking down, use your cell phone. Something little like that. We gotta help one another to get the quality of life we’re all striving for,” he said in an interview with the Star Tribune. Smith’s appearance Friday for a local premier at a theater in suburban Edina was also a fundraiser for Second Harvest Heartland, the state’s largest hunger-relief organization. Tickets were given to the first 250 people who donated nonperishable food. He and Vikings player Bernard Berrian also donated 300 holiday dinners to the organization. “It’s cool to have the goal of being the biggest movie star in the world. But why? It’s been revealed to me that the question is: Whose life is better because you woke up today?” Smith said he realized he had drifted out of contact with everyday people on Nov. 4. “I sat there with my children and my 16-year-old son couldn’t understand how I didn’t know (the election) was over already. He was like ‘You’re out of touch,’” he said. His promotional tour also includes stops in Miami, Dallas, St. Louis, Cleveland, Denver and Charlotte, N.C. (Daily Record)

 

Carl Reiner is a kind and “normal” person, while Showtime Networks has built a successful business by pushing the envelope. Those were the sentiments expressed by a parade of stars paying tribute to the actor-writer-director-producer and the premium cable service Thursday night during the Paley Center for Media’s Los Angeles gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. The Paley galas sometimes turn into a bit of a roast for the people being honored, but Lily Tomlin, who co-starred in Reiner’s “All of Me,” perhaps summed up the sentiments of all those who paid tribute to Reiner when she said: “He’s talented and normal and creates a great working environment, which means I don’t have any lousy, juicy stories to tell.” She did tell a sweet story of going to see Reiner’s wife, Estelle, perform at a jazz club, where she observed Reiner on his “hands and knees” helping to set up for her show. “That shot Carl sky-high in my heart,” she said. Reiner’s son, actor-writer-director-producer Rob Reiner, said he idolized his dad when he was younger and pointed out that his father was on television before he even owned a television. He told of how the elder Reiner would send him and his siblings secret messages at the end of 1950s series “Your Show of Shows.” “He would tell us, ‘I can’t see you, but you can see me,’ ” Rob Reiner said. “Every Saturday night, he would bow goodbye and he’d tell us, ‘I want you to know I’m there.’ So he’d touch his tie, and that meant, ‘I love you,’ and that it was time for us to go to bed.” Carl Reiner regaled the crowd with a rant about the “awful” food served at the gala and a touching remembrance of his wife, who died in October. Of the late singer-actress, eight years his senior, he joked that he was like Ashton Kutcher, who married the 16-years-older Demi Moore. The 86-year-old also said he’d been working in TV since 1948, getting his start on a show called “The Fifty-Fourth Street Revue,” but he never imagined the then-upstart medium would grow into what it has today. “I was under contract, and I got an offer to do Broadway,” he said. “I asked if I could buy my way out of the contract. I didn’t realize how important TV would become.” After leaving the stage, Reiner recruited audience member Mel Brooks for an audience-pleasing impromptu reprisal of their classic routine “The 2000 Year Old Man.” Also honored during the event, hosted by Bonnie Hunt, were Showtime chairman/CEO Matthew Blank and president of entertainment Robert Greenblatt. “Weeds” co-stars Elizabeth Perkins and Justin Kirk said Showtime, after it launched in 1976, became a place for storytelling and characters not normally seen elsewhere on TV with shows like “Resurrection Blvd.” (centering on Latinos), “Soul Food” (African-Americans), “Queer as Folk” (gay characters) and “The L Word” (lesbians). “Showtime became a powerful microphone for often marginalized voices to entertain, inform and be heard,” Perkins said.  Blank and Greenblatt did take some ribbing from Showtime talent during a video, in which Tim Robbins (the pilot “Possible Side Effects”) congratulated the network for being honored for its “excellent lesbian programming,” while Ira Glass (“This American Life”) joked that when he first met Blank, he noticed a striking physical similarity to the boss from Reiner’s “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” Mel Cooley (Richard Deacon). Onstage, Tracey Ullman (“State of the Union”) cracked a joke about Showtime’s “The Tudors,” saying that, attending school as a youngster in England, she believed that King Henry VIII was “fat and bald. But when he’s being brought to you in the 21st century by premium cable, he’s Jonathan Rhys Meyers.” In his remarks, Blank paid tribute to Reiner, saying he was convinced his late mother never understood what he did for a living but would have been proud of his being honored on the same stage as the film and TV legend. Of his job, he said: “We get to break a lot of rules, create unique and different programming and have a lot of fun.” Greenblatt, meanwhile, referred to the “golden age” of television and said he believes that this is the “new golden age in cable. We’re allowed to do things nobody is allowed to do and push the envelope.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Dark Horse Entertainment, with a term deal at Universal, has hired Keith Goldberg as senior VP production. Goldberg will be based in the Portland, Ore.-headquartered company’s Los Angeles offices and oversee the first-look relationship with Universal as well as bring in new film projects. The Universal deal, signed this year, gives the studio access to the Dark Horse library of characters and properties while giving Dark Horse the opportunity to distribute its own movies through Universal. Calling Goldberg “the right person at the right time,” Dark Horse president Mike Richardson said: “We’ve seen explosive growth throughout our company, and the film division is no exception. With the addition of an ambitious slate at Universal to our existing film projects, we needed to expand.” Goldberg spent seven years as an executive at New Line, where he oversaw the upcoming Zac Efron comedy “17 Again”; “Rendition,” with Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep and Reese Witherspoon; and “The Number 23,” with Jim Carrey. Goldberg also is attached as a producer to several projects, including “Furry Vengeance” at Summit Entertainment with Roger Kumble directing and an untitled Kelley Sane thriller at Warner Bros. to be produced with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Tyrese Gibson is the latest talent to sign with UTA. The signing continues the spree the agency has been on since the summer, when it netted agents Theresa Peters and Louise Ward, who brought with them such actors as Kirsten Dunst, James McAvoy, Mandy Moore, Channing Tatum, Rachel Bilson and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.  In recent weeks, the agency has continued buttressing its talent and lit roster, opening its doors to Tim Robbins, Oscar-winning director Florian Henckel von Donners¬marck, Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes and director Phil Joanou, on top of recent gets Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez.  Gibson recently appeared in “Death Race” with Jason Statham and “Transformers.” The actor-producer is filming “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” reprising his role as Master Sgt. Epps, and also will star opposite Dennis Quaid and Paul Bettany in the Screen Gems thriller “Legion.”  Via his HQ Pictures banner, Gibson is developing the action film “Desert Eagle” and the thriller “Extortion.”  Gibson, who was at WMA, continues to be repped by manager Jerome Martin. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

The end of the Year of Jon Hamm is upon us, so it seems fitting to mark its passing with Hamm’s final new release of 2008, “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” The sci-fi remake is a family-friendly PG-13, and will appear in 3,400 theaters. There’s no way it’s not going to top the box office, especially considering the competition: “Delgo,” which opens in 1,800 and “Nothing Like the Holidays,” which opens in 1,500 theaters. (Scoop)

 

 

TV . . .

 

Well, Sexiest Man Alive is apparently a good enough credential for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy announced this morning that Hugh Jackman will serve as host of the 81st Annual Academy Awards Feb. 22. (Which probably makes the complete shutout of his Australia at yesterday’s Golden Globe nominations a bit more palatable.) The selection is a marked departure for the Academy, which has typically relied on comics—Jon Stewart, Chris Rock and Ellen DeGeneres were the last three emcees—making this year’s event more of an insider’s job. (Sorry, Ricky Gervais.) The likable 40-year-old X-Man is also the first host in years who could potentially find himself on the stage and at the podium, provided his Nicole Kidman-costarring, Baz Luhrmann-directed epic picks up some awards buzz. And the Aussie has some key experience. As a three-time host of the Tony Awards, 2003-2005, he helped the Broadway kudosfest to some of its biggest ratings in years. (Eonline)

 

He sings, dances, acts on stage and screen, and he’s the “Sexiest Man Alive.” Hugh Jackman does everything but standup comedy – and that’s why the first-time Oscars host fulfills the academy’s promise to shake up the show in a way that’s as tough to predict as the winners. Jackman was announced Friday as the host of the 81st Academy Awards, a marked departure from the academy’s standard of big-name comedians. Jon Stewart, who hosted in 2008 and 2006, and Ellen DeGeneres, the 2007 host, were the latest in a line of funny emcees since 1990. Billy Crystal did it eight times, Whoopi Goldberg took on four, Steve Martin did it twice and David Letterman and Chris Rock each had a shot. As the parade of A-list comedians continued, ratings were in steady decline. But with new producers, a new director, new set designer and even a new music director, the academy has been hinting for months at an all-new look and feel for this year’s Oscars telecast on Feb. 22. Having Jackman host certainly fits with that theme. Producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon called the Australian actor “a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star.” “He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion,” Mark and Condon said in a joint statement. “Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year’s movies – and to have fun doing it.” Indeed, Jackman can be a mutant superhero (Wolverine from the “X-Men” movie franchise), a flirtatious singing barker (Billy Bigelow in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical “Carousel”), a determined magician (“The Prestige”) and a dancing penguin (“Happy Feet”). The 40-year-old actor plays a roughhewn cattle driver opposite Nicole Kidman’s English aristocrat in the new Baz Luhrmann romantic adventure “Australia.” Jackman was abroad promoting the film Friday when his Oscar role was announced. “Thirty years ago when I was in Sydney watching Johnny Carson host the Oscars with my family, I never imagined that I’d one day have the chance to be up on that stage myself,” he said in a statement. “I am very grateful to the Academy for giving me this opportunity. And, excited to be working with Larry and Bill on what I know will be a fun and memorable celebration.” Having an entertainer such as Jackman host the show necessitates a change in the well-established standard of opening the show with a jokes, said Steve Pond, author of the 2005 book “The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings Backstage at the Academy Awards.” “The tricky part is that while he’s charming, he’s not the kind of guy to go out there and deliver a comic monologue at the top of the show,” Pond said. “He’s more comfortable with a song and dance, but is a song and dance at the top of the Oscars what people want to see? It’ll be tricky adopting what he does best to what works at the Oscars.” But with ratings dropping for all awards shows, it’s worth shaking things up to generate interest – and the Academy Awards telecast, which posted its lowest ratings ever in February, isn’t the only one trying something new. The Emmys added a category – best reality-show host – and divvied the show’s hosting duties among the five nominees. The results were disastrous: Critics panned the format and the show was one of the least-watched Emmys ever. The Grammy Awards spiced up its nominations earlier this month by trading its typical staid press conference for a glitzy, live concert special. Ratings-wise, the hourlong show came in fourth among prime-time contenders, behind such dramas as NBC’s “Life” and ABC’s “Private Practice.” Bringing in Jackman to host the Academy Awards is “a stretch for the Oscars, but at this stage, it’s worth taking the risk,” Pond said. “He certainly has what it takes to do the gig if some changes are made in what that gig requires.” Jackman also has award-winning hosting experience: He won an Emmy in 2005 for hosting the 58th annual Tony Awards in 2004, when he also took a best-actor Tony for his performance in the musical “The Boy From Oz.” Jackman has never been an Oscar nominee, but was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in 2001’s romantic film “Kate & Leopold.” He also served as a past presenter on the Oscar show. Jackman and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, have their own Oscar at home – their 8-year-old son, Oscar Maximillian. The couple also have a 3-year-old daughter Ava. (Daily Record)

 

Amy Poehler is officially exiting “Saturday Night Live” this time. Less than two months after giving birth to son Archie, she made a surprise return last week to the late-night comedy show where she has been a regular for eight seasons. Then, Saturday, she surprised viewers again by telling them goodbye. “This is my last show,” Poehler announced from her “Weekend Update” anchor desk. “Being able to do over 140 shows with my friends and my family has been a dream come true.” “I love you,” she told the audience, “and I will miss all of you very much.” Viewers won’t have to miss her too long. Later this season, Poehler is expected back on NBC in her own weekly sitcom. Her husband (and Archie’s dad) is comedian-actor Will Arnett. (Daily Record)

 

Russian blonde Kseniya Sukhinova has been crowned the 58th Miss World after a two-hour spectacle in South Africa that combined elements of travelogue and reality show, and the kind of flag-waving usually seen at sports events. Sukhinova beamed as she was crowned Saturday, and was composed and smiling moments afterward in a brief interview with The Associated Press. She said her immediate ambitions included meeting Russia’s president, and that she planned to return soon to her studies at the Tyumen Oil and Gas University in her home region of northwestern Siberia. “I am so happy to be here,” she said of South Africa, which was hosting its sixth Miss World final. “I am so excited. It’s amazing.” Sukhinova, who in a biography on the Miss World Web site listed becoming a super model as a goal, also had won the contest’s top model award and was third in the swimsuit competition. She was a crowd favorite – though not as popular as hometown beauty Miss South Africa, Tansey Coetzee. Coetzee made the final five. Second runner up was Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Gabrielle Walcott. First runner up was Miss India, Parvathy Omankuttan. Miss Angola, Brigite Santos, completed the top five. In addition to the swim suit and modeling segments, the 109 contestants competed in a “pentathlon” that included building a small boat and taking soccer penalty kicks; a talent show; and an event showcasing their charity work in the monthlong lead-up to Saturday’s live international broadcast. The contest was to have taken place in Ukraine, but was moved to South Africa because of tensions between Russia and Georgia and fears conflict could spread to Ukraine. South Africa has hosted more Miss World finals than any other country. South Africa, often in the news for its high violent crime rate and questions about whether it will pull off hosting the 2010 soccer World Cup, made the most of the attention. The broadcast included clips of the contestants visiting South African game parks, golf courses and pristine beaches and dancing in the famed Johannesburg township of Soweto. South Africans designed evening and beach wear and jewelry for the 109 contestants. “I’ve experienced South African culture and everyday traditions,” Sukhinova told the AP. (Daily Record)

 

Oxygen has greenlighted a series set in a California-based medi-spa and is developing a slate of four new projects as part of an aggressive push to ramp up its original programming. The cable network has ordered eight hourlong episodes of “Addicted to Beauty,” from RDF USA, which takes place in a full-service medi-spa where clients come for spray tans, Botox, tummy tucks, lip implants and other services. The series, debuting next year, will be told through the eyes of the “quirky” staff. The projects in development are: — “Hogs & Heifers,” which follows the lives of business owner Michelle Dell and her “saucy, foul-mouthed, fire-blowing bartenders.” The project is exec produced by Michael Davies and Kim Martin. — “The Girls,” a Nashville-based project that will feature three celebrity offspring — Jennifer Wayne, granddaughter of John Wayne; Tayla Lynn, granddaughter of Loretta Lynn; and Caroline Cutbirth, great-great-great-great grandniece of Daniel Boone — as they try to become country music stars. Mark Ford and Kevin Lopez exec produce. — “The Naughty Kitchen,” which follows the personal and professional life of Dallas-based chef Blythe Beck. Lauren Lexton, Tom Rogan, Brandy Menefee and Brad Hall are the executive producers.  – “Lady and the Champ,” which revolves around famed boxer “Sugar” Shane Mosley; his “fast-talking” wife, Jin; and their four young kids and extended family. Mike Fleiss exec produces. “Beauty” joins “Dance Your Ass Off” as the first two series from Oxygen’s new development team led by Amy Introcaso-Davis, senior VP original programming and development, who moved to Oxygen from sibling Bravo in April. “Oxygen’s tagline is ‘Live Out Loud’; we’re looking at big, loud, noisy boisterous characters, and all of these shows have that,” Introcaso-Davis said. “In conjunction with the relaunch of our brand, we’re looking to expand our original programming, and we’re looking at what would go great with our existing shows.” Oxygen has been seeing a ratings boost this year under Introcaso-Davis’ watch, with shows like “Bad Girls Club” and “Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood” breaking network records. Introcaso-Davis credits the decision to expand Oxygen’s half-hour shows, including “Tori & Dean” and “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency,” to an hour. She said the plan going forward is for all of Oxygen’s original series to be hourlong. As for “Beauty,” Introcaso-Davis described it as an “office docu-series,” saying it will focus primarily on the staff but also feature some clients and their procedures. “We’ve got an amazing cast of characters,” said RDF USA’s Mike Duffy, an exec producer. “It’s like a reality version of ‘The Office,’ where it’s comedic in tone because the employees are so great and funny.” Also exec producing are Chris Coelen and Greg Goldman for RDF USA, Mechelle Collins, Kevin Dill and Scott Dunlop. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

CMT has greenlighted a third season of “My Big Redneck Wedding,” one of its highest-rated series. The cable network has given “Wedding” a big Season 3 commitment with a 16-episode order, which is double the show’s eight-episode order for Season 2. “Wedding” features host Tom Arnold spotlighting the “over-the-top” nuptials of “down-home country couples.” The third season is scheduled for a Jan. 9 debut.  “Wedding” is exec produced by Kimberly Belcher Cowin and John Ehrhard of Pink Sneakers Prods. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Ed Henry, Suzanne Malveaux and Dan Lothian will become CNN’s White House reporting team when the Obama administration takes office. Henry has been at the White House for the past two years of the Bush administration. Malveaux worked at the White House previously, while Lothian has been Boston bureau chief. Jamie McIntyre has left CNN after covering the military for 16 years, saying both he and CNN thought it was time to do something new but couldn’t decide what that would be. Chris Lawrence will be the new Pentagon correspondent. Like other networks, CNN has had some layoffs, recently dismantling its science and technology unit. (Daily Record)

 

 

ACADEMY AWARDS HOSTS THROUGH THE DECADES:

Hugh Jackman isn’t the first actor – or the first Australian (Paul Hogan was a co-host in 1987) – to host the Academy Awards. Here’s a look at Oscar hosts through the years since the ceremony was first televised in 1953: (Daily Record)

- 1953: Bob Hope

- 1954: Donald O’Connor

- 1955: Bob Hope

- 1956-1957: Jerry Lewis

- 1958: Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, David Niven, Rosalind Russell, James Stewart and Donald Duck (on film)

- 1959: Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, David Niven, Sir Laurence Olivier, Tony Randall, Mort Saul

- 1960: Bob Hope

- 1961: Bob Hope

- 1962: Bob Hope

- 1963: Frank Sinatra

- 1964: Jack Lemmon

- 1965-1968: Bob Hope

- 1969-1971: no host

- 1972: Helen Hayes, Alan King, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jack Lemmon

- 1973: Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Charlton Heston, Rock Hudson

- 1974: John Huston, Diana Ross, Burt Reynolds, David Niven

- 1975: Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Hope, Shirley MacLaine, Frank Sinatra

- 1976: Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, George Segal, Goldie Hawn, Gene Kelly

- 1977: Richard Pryor, Jane Fonda, Ellen Burstyn, Warren Beatty

- 1978: Bob Hope

- 1979-1982: Johnny Carson

- 1983: Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore, Richard Pryor, Walter Matthau

- 1984: Johnny Carson

- 1985: Jack Lemmon

- 1986: Alan Alda, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams

- 1987: Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, Paul Hogan

- 1988: Chevy Chase

- 1989: no host

- 1990-1993: Billy Crystal

- 1994: Whoopi Goldberg

- 1995: David Letterman

- 1996: Whoopi Goldberg

- 1997-1998: Billy Crystal

- 1999: Whoopi Goldberg

- 2000: Billy Crystal

- 2001: Steve Martin

- 2002: Whoopi Goldberg

- 2003: Steve Martin

- 2004: Billy Crystal

- 2005: Chris Rock

- 2006: Jon Stewart

- 2007: Ellen DeGeneres

- 2008: Jon Stewart

- 2009: Hugh Jackman

 

 

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . .  (Internet)

 

Q.  They’re great Christmas Presents – 85 million of these are sold each year, only 6% of them are actually used. What are they?

            A.  Neckties

 

 

TODAY’S QUOTE (By Alfred A. Montapert)

 

“YOUR LIFE WILL BE NO BETTER THAN THE PLANS YOU MAKE AND THE ACTION YOU TAKE. YOU ARE THE ARCHITECT AND BUILDER OF YOUR OWN LIFE. FORTUNE, DESTINY.”

 

 

MIND BOGGLERS . . .  (QuickTrivia)

 

Q.  Who were the actual names (as opposed to nicknames) of the three Cartwright brothers on “Bonanza”?

            A.  Henry, William, Louis

            B.  Joe, Eric, Adam  ****

            C.  Matt, Chester, Festus

            D.  Pat, Ben, Horse

 

Q.  No doubt you’ve heard the song “Good King Wenceslas” every Christmas. But which country did the real Wenceslas terrorize into converting to Christianity?

            A.  Bohemia  ****

            B.  Saxony

            C.  Barvaria

            D.  Lithuania

 

Q.  In 1969 _____ Eleniak, actress (Under Siege, Beverly Hillbillies), born?

            A.  Ellen

            B.  Elizabeth

            C.  Edith

            D.  Erika  ****

 

Q.  Mafia bodyguard Stompanato was stabbed to death by his girlfriend’s teenage daughter. Who was the girlfriend?

            A.  Lana Turner  ****

            B.  Kim Novak

            C.  Gena Tierney

            D.  Maureen O’Sullivan

 

Q.  Pick the musical term for “Martial”?

            A.  Marzial  ****

            B.  Piacevole

            C.  Parlando

            D.  Quasi

 

Q.  Who was the first president to have a woman cabinet member?

            A.  Franklin Delano Roosevelt  ****

            B.  Chester A. Arthur

            C.  Ulysses S. Grant

            D.  John F. Kennedy

 

 

SELF MAGAZINE . . .  (December 2008)

 

• 43% of women say they have less time for reading books than they did five years ago, a Harris Poll reveals.
• 66% of females want to relive their college days where 
• 34% said no they do not want to relive their college days

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

 

SHIPPING FOOD FROM YOUR TRAVELS:

 

Remember that gelato you had in Italy, the cheese you tasted in France, or the tea you had in London?  I’ll tell you where to go to find your favorite foods from around the world. A website called Igourmet.com offers hard-to-find food specialties from all over the world, such as chorizo from Spain and indigenous tea from South Africa. Or, you can postpone your New Years’ diet resolution and order from Fromages.com which has an enormous assortment of European cheeses which puts many brick-and-mortar cheese shops to shame. A company called Lisa’s Italy will ship pasta, pastries, cheeses—and even gelato—straight from Italy to your door step. And, for those of you who prefer to see, smell and touch your products before you buy, the U.S.-based World Market chain is where you can find international brands of wines, sake, and chocolates.

 

(Peter Greenberg is North America’s preeminent expert on Travel. An Emmy Award-Winning writer and producer, Peter is the Travel Editor for NBC’S “TODAY SHOW,” MSNBC and CNBC. A Best-Selling author of the “Travel Detective” series and host of the nationally syndicated “Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio Show.” Visit WWW.PETERGREENBERGWORLDWIDE.COM to learn more about Peter Greenberg and his adventures.)

 

 

BIRTHDAYS . . .

 

—1832  Engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (designed the Eiffel Tower) (d.12-23-1923)

—1892  Industrialist John Paul Getty (d. 6-6-1976)

—1921  Disc Jockey Alan Freed (d. 1-20-1965)

¾1925  Actress Kasey Rogers (Bewitched) (d. 7-6-2006)

—1928  Artist Friedrich Hundertwasser

—1931  Author Edna O’Brien (Time and Tide)

¾1933  Actor/Comedian Tim Conway (The Carol Burnett Show)

—1939  Singer Cindy Birdsong (The Supremes)  (“Stoned Love”)

—1942  Musician Dave Clark (Dave Clark Five) (“Glad All Over”)

—1946  Musician Harry Ray (Ray, Goodman, & Brown) (d. 10-1-1992)

—1946  Drummer Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge) (“You Keep Me Hangin’ On”)

—1949  Actor Don Johnson (Nash Bridges)

—1951  Musician Nick Beggs (Ellis, Beggs, & Howard)

—1955  Musician Paul Simonon (The Clash)

—1959  Actress Heidi Bohay (Hotel)

—1961  Football’s Daryl Turner

¾1979  Actor Adam Brody (The OC)

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

 

Today is BILL OF RIGHTS DAY.

—1774  American colonists seized Fort William & Mary in New Hampshire, and the Revolutionary War began.

—1791  The first law college in America was established at the University of Pennsylvania.

—1791  The Bill of Rights became effective.

—1922  The British Broadcasting Corporation was established. Happy birthday to the BBC.

—1939  “Gone with the Wind” premiered at Loewe’s Grand Theater in Atlanta.

—1952  The first person to undergo a sex-change operation was Christine Jorgenson.

—1954  TV premiere of “Davy Crockett.”

—1965  The Beatles play their last concert in Britian.

—1965  The Byrds fly to the top of the charts with “Turn,Turn,Turn.”

—1969  John & Yoko perform at a UNICEF benefit in London and begin their “War Is Over If You Want It” billboard campaign. John Lennon and Yoko Ono play a “War Is Over” concert at the London Lyceum, Joined by George Harrison and Delaney & Bonnie.

—1973  Pirates of Caribbean ride opens at Disneyland.

—1977  Two days before a scheduled appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” the Sex Pistols are denied US entrance visas. Elvis Costello is recruited as a replacement.

—1979  “Another Brick In The Wall” from the Pink Floyd Album “The Wall” is the top single in Britain.

—1984  Band Aid’s “Do They Know Its Christmas” tops the British singles chart.

—1987  Ozzy Osbourne announces the addition of 21 year old guitarist Zakk Wylde to his band. Wylde, an unknown musician from New Jersey, replaces Jake E. Lee.

—1988  James Brown is sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted in Aiken, S.C. of aggravated assault and failing to stop for police, in connection with a high-speed chase in the South Carolina suburbs of Augusta, Georgia, three months earlier.

—1988  Musician Bruce Springsteen and Julianne Phillips are granted a divorce after three years of marriage.

—1990  Rod Stewart marries model Rachel Hunter (b.9-9-1969). They have two children together.

—1991  The Scorpions give a check for $62,500 to Mikhail Gorbachev for humanitarian aid, representing proceeds from the song “Wind Of Change.”

—1993  “Schindler’s List” opened in theaters.  Directed by Steven Spielberg.

¾2001  The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy reopens to the public after a $27 million realignment project that lasted over a decade.

 

 

RADIO ONLINE® DAILY SHOW PREP™ . . .

 

ON THIS DAY

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution (known as the Bill of rights), were ratified on this day in Virginia way back in 1791. Phoner: What’s the coolest freedom guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?

On this date in 1836, a fire destroyed the patent office in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, the fire extinguisher hadn’t been invented yet.

In 1854, the first mechanical street-cleaning machine was invented. Back then, people would forget and leave their horses parked out on the street on cleaning day.

On this date, Thomas Edison patented the phonograph. It was in 1877, just for the record. Get it?

It was on this date in 1944 that Dwight Eisenhower became a five-star general. For those not familiar with military terms, that meant he was really spicy.

Davy Crockett premiered on television way back in 1954. The show — which aired in five segments — is considered TV’s first mini-series. The show spawned the famous coonskin cap, although Crockett never wore one.

TODAY IS

The 15th… Friday… Pay Day… Yeah! “Tis the last paycheck before Christmas!

Helen Slater turns 45 today. Years ago, she played “Supergirl.” By the way, Supergirl won in overtime.

Actor Don Johnson turns 59 today. In his prime, he was one of the sockless detectives on “Miami Vice.” Today, he wears flesh-colored support socks.

Tim Conway turns 75 today. He used to play the slow-moving old man on the Carol Burnette Show. He’s now doing live shows, daily.

Underdog Day — “There’s no need to fear – Underdog is here!” How about a little “Underdog” trivia?

·         The popular 60’s and 70’s actor was the voice of “Underdog?” (Wally Cox)

·         Who is Underdog’s girlfriend? (Sweet Polly Purebread)

·         Sweet Polly Purebread was a reporter. Name her boss? (OJ Squeeze)

·         Which early 50’s sitcom starred Wally Cox prior to his voice work on “Underdog”? (“Mr. Peepers”)

·         Shoeshine Boy, Underdog’s alter ego, was “both _____ and loveable.” (humane)

·         For what television station did Sweet Polly Purebread work? (TTV)

·         Who was Underdog’s nemesis? (Overcat)

Sleep Comfort Day — According to Dr. Naomi Quenck, a clinical psychologist, here’s what those dreams mean:

·         Falling: Means you have a feeling that you’re not meeting standards set by yourself or others, and with one wrong step, you’ll fall below expectations. This kind of dream is experienced by 75% of people and they usually dream it when they are not feeling well.

·         Being Nude: This dream stems from people worrying what other people think if they saw them as they really are.

·         Being Chased: This dream usually pertains to being in a hostile environment, where we must look over our shoulders. It’s experienced by 80% of people.

·         Taking an Exam: This one stems from worries that we’ll come up short when people evaluate our competence. You’ll most likely have this dream when you’re up for a raise or if you’re dating someone new.

·         Flying: This is the only common dream to involve a positive feeling… the feeling that the world is wondrous and at your command.

Throw out to your listeners what weird dreams they’ve experienced. By the way, haven’t all of us jocks experienced the infamous “Dead Air Dream?” We just can’t find the music, and the song that’s playing is near its end… equipment suddenly doesn’t work.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

·         Kate Walsh’s husband Alex Young has filed for divorce from the actress, citing irreconcilable differences. That was 15 months, if you’re keeping score at home.

·         Usher is a dad again! Naviyd Ely Raymond was born at 2:33am Wednesday, and weighed in at 5 lbs, 13 oz.

·         A little yogurt a day could keep the dentist away. Eating the treat, which is high in lactic acid bacteria, cuts gum disease risk by 60% compared with other dairy items such as milk and cheese.

·         1950’s Playboy and pinup model Bettie Page has died at age 85.

·         The Sci-Fi Channel may be ending “Battlestar Galactica” soon, but the network has order 20 episodes of “Caprica,” a prequel.

·         In England, the town of Dartford is naming streets after Rolling Stones songs. They already have Satisfaction Street, Ruby Tuesday Drive and Sympathy Street… with more on the way.

·         P. Diddy has confessed he has a “long toe thing.” If he sees the girls foot and her second toe is longer than her big toe, there will be no second date.

·         Josh Hartnett sued a British tabloid and won $30,000.

·         KB Toys has announced they’re going out of business.

·         According to the American Journal of Health Promotion, people who reported being content with their lives were 1.5 times healthier than those who said they weren’t.

·         One source says that Paula Abdul is as good as gone from American Idol. That she is just through with the show.

·         Miley Cyrus got her learner’s permit last Wednesday… and then, later in the week, got her first car from her mom: a Porsche Cayenne. Mom had gotten a new one, so it was a hand-me-down Porsche.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Auto paint supplier PPG Industries is forecasting that blue will soon surpass silver as the number one car color. He says blue is popular because of its environmental connotations of sky and water. Blue is also perceived as being a sophisticated color. Here’s the top 8 car colors in North America in 2008:

1.      Silver, 20%

2.      White, 18%

3.      Black, 17%

4.      Red, 13%

5.      Blue, 12%

6.      Naturals, 9%

7.      Other/Niche Market Colors, 7%

8.      Green, 4%

Of all women, redheads like Kate Walsh have the most sex. That’s the conclusion sex researcher and professor Dr. Werner Habermehl of the Hamburg Medical Research Institute in Hamburg, Germany. He says he reached his decision after examining the sex lives of hundreds of German women and compared the findings to their hair color, specifically red, blonde and brunette. He also noted that women in a fixed relationship are letting their partners know they are unhappy if they dye their hair red.

Oh no. Nearly one-third of high school students have committed a crime — specifically, stealing something from a store. In addition, 64% admit they have cheated on a test. That’s the word from a survey of nearly 30,000 U.S. high school students from 100 randomly-selected public and private high schools nationwide conducted by Los Angeles-base Josephson Institute. Even though they confess to lying, cheating and stealing, the students still insisted they were good people with sound ethics.

PHONE TOPICS

·         What’s left to do on your holiday list?

·         Best deal you’ve ever found on Craigslist?

·         Who do you think should be the person of the year?

·         Did you ever sell something that you forgot had personal information on it?

·         What do you leave out for Santa to eat?

·         If you had a day to live and a hundred thousand dollars to spend, what would you spend it on?

·         The best crosstown shortcuts in town?

·         Secret free parking spaces?

·         Strange voice mail messages?

·         Who’s been fired the most?

·         Who’s had the most jobs in their life? C’mon, count ‘em up!

·         What’s the worst movie you saw this past year?

·         Is Hollywood out of ideas?

·         If you got only one Christmas cookie this year: which one?

·         Who still doesn’t have their lights up yet?

I read an article online today that Keanu Reeves wanted to play Wolverine in the X-Men movies. I just can’t see him as Wolverine. Can you? What other celebrities do you know turned down, or were turned down for movie roles.

How do you wake up your kids? Couldn’t believe how many use frozen marbles! Water bucket! Other great ideas too…

I have a dog named Butch who’s a bulldog and he always is burrowing underneath the covers of my bed. Every time I get into bed he has to get under there with me. The only problem is, I have a girlfriend now, and she’s not too fond of his sleeping habits, and sharing the covers with Butch. How should I deal with this? I feel obligated to my dog (since I’ve lived with him longer), but I love my new girlfriend. Any advice?

How about those classic father/son moments? What was it that you were handed down or experienced with your dad that made you feel like you’d reached manhood? You’ll get warm and fuzzies and dumb but funny stuff.

Where should teenagers get their information on sex from? Parents, pastors or schools? If they say parents, what happens when a parent is someone who isn’t home, and often doesn’t act like a parent? Should kids have access to condoms through school health departments?

Today we saw the release of the annual “Black List”, an index of the year’s best-liked, not-yet-produced screenplays. To compile it, more than 250 film executives were polled and each script had to be mentioned four times to warrant inclusion. Here were the top ones:

·         “The Beaver” – “A depressed man finds hope in a beaver puppet that he wears on his hand.”

·         “The Oranges” – “A man has a romantic relationship with the daughter of a family friend, which turns their lives upside down.”

·         “Butter” – “A small town becomes a center for controversy and jealousy as its annual butter carving contest begins.”

·         “Big Hole” – “An old cowboy goes on a mission to recover his money after a million dollar sweepstakes scam cleans out his entire bank account.”

·         “The Low Dweller” – “A man trying to assimilate into society after being released from jail discovers that someone from his past is out to settle a score.”

·         “$@#@buddies” – “A guy and a girl struggle to have an exclusively sexual relationship as they both come to realize they want much more.”

·         “Winter’s Discontent” – “When Herb Winter’s wife of fifty years dies, the faithful but sexually frustrated widower moves into a retirement community to start living the swinging single life.”

·         “Broken City” – “A New York private investigator gets sucked into a shady mayoral election.”

How many people do you think really wash up in the bathroom? Why don’t men wash their hands like women do? What’s the reasoning? A recent study of hand-washing habits found that among 6,000 people observed, nearly all the women washed their hands, yet only 66 percent of men did.

Who bought their own engagement ring? Is it ridiculous for a woman to buy her own ring? We took calls from listeners, one from someone who bought their engagement ring and wedding band, another from a woman who broke up with her man as soon as he asked her too, and the last one was from a guy who broke up with his wife because she cheated on him during the honeymoon with his best friend and is getting back together with her – so he made her sign a prenupt and buy her wedding ring.

My co-host was going through her closet the other day and found her “ex-box.” This is a box that she keeps that contains letters, cards, and other things like concert tickets, etc. I dogged her for having this and the phone lines blew up with people who agreed with me and thought it was stupid but there were, of course, her supporters that say you have to keep an “ex-box.” Do you keep an “ex-box” and do you think it’s okay for a woman to keep hers?

Did you know that if you start seeing a new woman and she has become friends with your last girlfriend, but she doesn’t know you used to date her and the last girlfriend is now seeing the new girlfriend’s ex-husband, you’re supposed to tell her that right away? No, I didn’t and she just found out. Hell hath no fury… The sad part is that my co-host had advised me at the beginning to come clean about that and I didn’t follow her advice. What was the last advice from a friend that you really wish you had followed?

I have a friend teaching her 15-year-old kid to drive. Blows my mind that I will be doing this some day with my child. Had phone calls from parents’ experiences teaching their teens to drive and stories from people who remember what crazy things happened as they were learning to drive. Would you rather go without sex or the Internet? I found a new online survey commissioned by Intel that finds, among other things, that 46% of women would rather go without sex for two weeks than give up the Internet for that long. Here are some more stats:

·         49% of women aged 18-34 would make that choice

·         52% of women aged 35-44 would too

·         30% of all men would swap sex for the Internet for two weeks

·         39% of men aged 18-34 willing to make that sacrifice

·         Only 23% of men aged 35-44 said they would do so

According to a recent study, one in three people write down computer passwords, undermining their security, and companies should look to more advanced methods, to ensure their systems are safe. How do you remember all your passwords? Do you always use the same one?

We started talking about who has it better “Couples” or “Single” people. Wow, here’s a good topic. Ya know you can start this by suggesting your own observations by using people on your show. Especially, if you have a combo of married and single people on the show.

If there was one thing that you could change about your life, what would it be? Would you have worked harder in school? Invested your money differently? Been nicer to that geeky girl in high school who’s now a Playboy pin-up?

Have you ever done something and then blamed it on the dog in an attempt to get out of trouble or an embarrassing situation? C’mon, everyone’s done that at least once! What did you do? Break an expensive plate or glass? Lose an important document? “Break wind?”

There was a recent survey out that says that more and more women find it sexy when they find out a man sleeps with a teddy bear. Are there any grown men out there that really sleep with a teddy bear? If so, do women really find this sexy, or is it one step away from stalker-material? Interesting calls. I said that nobody sleeps with stuffed animals any more. Wrong! Plenty of single women do, and so do quite a few guys.

WEIRD NEWS

Fastest Blu-Ray Disc
The numbers are in, and duh — “The Dark Knight” has become the fastest selling Blu-ray disc ever with a whopping 600,000 copies sold in a single day. That puts TDK on track to be the fastest-selling Blu-ray yet, easily outpacing the previous record-holder, “Iron Man,” which sold a “mere” 260,000 Blu-ray copies on its first day, and took a week to clear 500,000 copies. Experts predict “The Dark Knight” Blu-ray version will easily hit the million mark by the end of the week. What all this means to those of us who don’t have Blu-ray players — not a damn thing! TVPredicions.com)

But We Don’t Want A Workaholic Mayor
You’d think any city would be happy to have a workaholic mayor — someone who burns the midnight oil, working every waking second to improve his or her city. Not so in South El Monte, California. The City Council has approved a curfew limiting how late Mayor Blanca Figueroa can work saying they have safety and liability concerns. Mayor Figueroa frequently works until the wee hours of the morning but not anymore. She must now leave City Hall no later than 11pm. South El Monte is a city of 21,000 about 14 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. (myway.com)

Don’t Bring A Gun To a Pizza Fight
In Miramar, Florida, 40-year-old pizza delivery man Eric Lopez Devictoria fought back with the only weapon he had when a mugger pulled a gun on him — a large, steaming hot pizza! Eric flung the hot pie at the gunman, buying time as he ran for safety. At least one shot was fired as Eric fled but he wasn’t hurt and instead quickly called 911. Three teenage suspects were nabbed soon after the incident and all were charged with armed robbery. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

And He Almost Made It!
You’ve just got to cry for Alex Bellini. The Italian adventurer spent 10 months rowing more than 11,000 miles in an attempt to cross the Pacific Ocean. Alas, he didn’t make it and had to be rescued a mere 75 miles short of his goal — Australia– after rough weather zapped him of his final shreds of energy. Alex began his amazing journey in February from Peru but he contacted his wife on Friday to say he was too exhausted to row his 25-foot boat any further, despite being nearly in sight of the eastern Australian town of Laurieton. His wife contacted authorities, and an Australian tug boat towed the 30-year-old to shore. Alex says he has no immediate plans to return to the open ocean noting, “I miss my bed. I miss my home. I need to go back and settle down.” (AHN News)

Dying For Animal Rights
When it comes to choosing a coffin these days, you’ve got lots of choices. We’ve seen coffins emblazoned with the rock band KISS. Sports teams coffins. And now there’s a special final place to rest for those who love PETA! A New Mexico company is building all-wood human coffins in a partnership with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals featuring painted slogans, such as “Lifetime PETA Member” or “I saved 500 animals.” Another adds a comic twist reading: “Told You I Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead in Fur!” The coffins, which went on sale last week, are priced from $620 to $670, which includes a $75 PETA contribution. Made of wood, they are designed to be Earth-friendly, with no screws, nails, hinges or animal-based glues. They are assembled by Dienna Genther who operates a company called The Old Pine Box and although she’s not an official PETA member, she says, “I support their cause.” (myway.com)

Santa’s Got Rabies
Posing with a very large kitty turned out to be a wrong move for Jonathan Bebbington who was playing Santa at a PetsMart holiday event in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. The so-called “Santa Paws” promotion went wrong after the unusually large cat bit Jonathan on the wrist and hand. The cat and owner disappeared after the incident but at least one person thought it was a bobcat. Joan Kerr, president of Penny Angel’s — an animal rescue organization benefiting from the event said, “It had absolutely huge paws, like 3 inches around. It had very powerful jaws and big teeth.” But unless the owner returns and can produce vaccination records, Santa will have to receive rabies shots starting Thursday as a precaution. At least Rabies shots are not as bad as they used to be, when they were a long ordeal of dreaded, painful shots in the abdomen. They now consist of a shorter series of shots in the arm. (myway.com)

Bathing At the KFC
A trio of girls from Anderson, California are in hot water after taking a bath together in the sink used to wash dishes at the KFC restaurant where they work! One of the girls was stupid enough to post the photos on her MySpace page and after management learned of them, all three were suspended. The photos, which appeared to have been posted late last month, showed the girls bathing in the deep commercial sink and posing in their underwear and swimwear and were filed under a gallery called “KFC moments. Captions for the photos included “haha KFC showers!” and “haha we turned on the jets.” Just last August a 25-year-old Burger King worker in Xenia, Ohio, was fired after a four-minute video of him taking a birthday bath in the restaurant’s sink appeared on MySpace.com and YouTube.com. (myway.com)

It’s Not Just the Big Three Hurting in the Motor City
Hey the big three aren’t the only companies hurting in the Motor City. Perhaps Congress should consider a bail out for strippers there too! The city’s hard economic times have also hit Jon Jon’s Cabaret — a topless club which is now offering half-priced table dances to try to lure customers back in. A $20 dance will now only cost you $10 bucks. The dancer gets all the money plus any tips, while food and drinks generate the club’s income according to general manager Kelly Sander. Sander says business is down 50% from a year ago and she now opens the club at 6 p.m. instead of 11 a.m. Something ironic about a topless club now offering everything half off. (Detroit News)

Google Earth Is Hurting Us!
A lawyer in India is asking the Mumbai High Court to totally ban Google Earth in his country claiming that terrorists who attacked the financial center last month used maps freely available from the satellite imaging website to plan their attack. In his petition filed this week, Amit Karkhanis also sought a complete ban on similar sites, including the online map website Wikimapia, in the interest of national security. Paying subscribers to these services have access to real-time and updated maps and can see the ongoing construction of the Worli-Bandra Sealink, a bridge in Mumbai, as well as the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Naval dockyards, nuclear and oil establishments and the presidential palace in the capital New Delhi. Pending a decision, Karkhanis asked the court to compel Google Earth to blur the images of sensitive sites in India. You know — this guy may actually have a point. Does kind of make sense. Perhaps too much information is a bad thing. (AHN News)

Senate Seats For Sale on eBay
In response to allegations that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by president-elect Barack Obama — some with wicked senses of humor have started listing senate seats for sale on eBay in a mockery of the scandal. One such sale posted by an eBay member offers a folding chair with the sign “US Senate Illinois” at a starting bid price of $100,000. Another similar item got 78 bids, the last at $99,999,999 as of last week. (AHN News)

The Worst Teacher In the World
Warning cowboys and cowgirls: This story discusses the possibility that Santa doesn’t exist. Careful if you’ve got kids listening. We don’t know her name, but we award the primary school teacher who teaches 7-year-olds at Blackshaw Lane Primary School in Royton, England the “Worst Teacher in the World” award. She left her class of 25 youngsters in tears after telling them that Santa Claus — or Father Christmas in this case — did not exist and that, “It’s your parents who leave out presents on Christmas Day!” Of course parents were outraged and many complained. The school’s head teacher said the evil and clearing wrong teacher was disciplined. (Ananova)

Santa Hotline: Bonus Bit
For fun, you might want to try calling the “Santa Hotline.” Note, this is produced by the same guys who created the “Rejection Hotline” and many others. We highly advise you listen to it first before putting it on the air. There’s nothing that should get you in trouble with the FCC but we can’t speak for your own managers and it’s definitely not suitable for all audiences. You’ve been warned. The Santa Hotline is 772-257-4495.

YES OR B.S.

·         In the 1970’s, Paul Newman famously wore Beauty Mist pantyhose in TV ads. (B.S., Joe Namath)

·         A “doggerel” is a poem. (Yes)

·         Sluggrrr is the name of the green-shag ogre that is the Philadelphia Phillies’ mascot. (B.S., The Phanatic)

·         Comedian Kevin James played Max Headroom. (B.S., Matt Frewer did)

·         The Blues Brothers recorded the 1978 hit album: “Briefcase full of Blues.” (Yes)

·         Pakistan has a Hindu eagle as its national emblem. (B.S., Indonesia)

·         George Harrison was the oldest member of the Beatles. (B.S. Ringo Starr)

·         Clement Clark Moore published “A visit from Saint Nicholas” in 1823. (Yes)

·         Mary Edwards Walker, the first female surgeon in the US Army, is also the only female winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor. She served in the War of 1812. (B.S., Civil War)

·         Ban Pong is the correct name of Bangkok. (B.S., it’s Krung Thep)

·         There are 2 bedrooms in the board game Clue. (B.S., there are none)

·         Starlet is TV-talk-show host Star Jones’s real first name. (Yes)

·         The length of your vocal cords determines the pitch of your voice. (Yes)

·         Pinto beans are used to prepare Boston Baked Beans. (B.S., Navy beans)

·         Arnold Schwarzenegger was the first private citizen in the U.S. to own a Hummer. (Yes)

·         The movie, “The Color Purple” (1985) received eleven Oscar nominations, but won not a single Academy Award. (Yes)

·         Oscar Hammerstein II was the only Oscar to Win an Oscar. (Yes)

·         The last Oldsmobile model to roll off the assembly line in 2004 was the Streamliner. (B.S., it was the Alero)

·         In fencing competition, a “barrage” is a tie-breaking bout – or fence-off. (Yes)

·         Arizona’s state’s flag has a Union Jack – the flag of Great Britain – in its upper left corner. (B.S., it’s Hawaii’s – in honor of its history of friendly relations with the British)

PERSONALS FROM HELL

Read a personal ad just like it is, then say, “But they really mean…” Then, make up a much wilder version of the original. We did this and had everyone absolutely rolling.

GIVE ME 20!

How many push-ups can you do? This of course led to all kinds of outrageous claims and the “Celebrity Push-Up” challenge began. In the end our news guy won with 37. I came in second with 30. Hey-you try to do 30 cowboy! Just try!

TOP FIVE SHOWS ON THE NORTH POLE NETWORK

1.      “Really Cold Case”

2.      “The New Adventures of Old St. Nick”

3.      “30 Ice Berg”

4.      “CSI: Alaska”

5.      “Two and a Half Elves”

HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter

Finally went out and cut down a Christmas tree over the weekend. We had to wait until our neighbors went out of town. I don’t think anyone saw us.

I finally have my Christmas lights up… from the basement to the garage floor. I’m hoping for the roof by Christmas.

Congress has voted down the Auto Industry bailout plan. But they did it in a nice way, with one of those recordable Hallmark cards.

THE WRONG GAME

Round 1

·         How many eggs do you buy at a time?

·         What is Starbucks famous for?

·         What color is Santa’s beard?

·         What date is Christmas?

·         Finish the name of this Christmas song: “O Holy _______”

Round 2

·         How many nights does Santa go out each year?

·         What are you supposed to hang by the chimney with care?

·         What’s the sweet ingredient in sugar plums?

·         What’s that thing called that Santa rides around in?

·         Christmas trees are put up during which holiday?

Round 3

·         What color are goldfish?

·         What’s the major ingredient in peanut butter?

·         What’s 1 + 2?

·         What’s the name of that place with lots of sand and waves crashing on the shore?

·         What is kindling used to start?

WORDS OF LOVE

We each came up with three words to describe the others members on our show. Then we asked listeners what three words would they use to describe each member of the show. Good responses.

SHE’S HOT, NOT!

One second everything is going fine and the next, your words are hanging in the air like a stale, dank fart and she is giving you a look that could kill a puppy. AskMen.com says most guys can handle the extended stay in the doghouse that usually comes from these brain cramps, but when those silences and glares start to affect important things like your sex life. Here are ten of the most common things guys just shouldn’t say to their girlfriends:

1.      She’s hot!

2.      My ex would…

3.      Your friend is a bitch

4.      The “C-word”

5.      I’m not good enough for you

6.      If you really loved me you would…

7.      You are just like your mother

8.      I’m not in the mood

9.      I don’t like that [piece of clothing]

10.  Don’t get so emotional!

Phoner: What should not be said to a girlfriend?

INTERVIEWS/GUESTS

Have you ever wondered about your family history? Imagine if a long lost relative recorded their story on an audio CD. You could hear their story in their own words and in their own voice! Now you can record your family story on audio CD with www.HearingHistory.com. Tell upcoming generations about how you and your spouse met, or about the house you lived in, your best piece of advice, or even your favorite recipe, in your own voice. This CD makes a great keepsake for children, grandchildren, military families, the elderly, and anyone else who is interested in preserving their family history. Chris from HearingHistory.com is available for interviews and he’s also offering free interviews and CDs (worth $99). Contact him for an interview at kelloggfm@gmail.com.

LOCAL VOCALS

Here’s a bit we do where we let local listeners sing at 7am, pre-recorded of course. Right now, we’re asking for those who want to sing the National Anthem. All they need do is send in an audition tape or CD singing “The Star Spangled Banner.” We listen to the audition, and if they make the cut, we’ll schedule a time for them to come to the studios and record their song.

CALL US FOR THE PUNCHLINE

To keep the “family-friendly” feel on the show, sometimes we’ll tell an off-color joke but not do the punchline and make the listeners who want to hear it call us up for the punchline. We tell ‘em the punch and then roll on their reactions and air those. By the end of the show, the midday guy is up to his chin in people wanting the punchline.

MOST ANNOYING E-MAIL HABITS

AOL consumer advisor Regina Lewis identifies the four most annoying e-mail habits:

·         Clicking “send” too fast — Take a minute to re-read every e-mail before you send it so you can fix typos and spelling errors and insert missing words. Especially in business, you will be judged on your mistakes — even if it’s only subconsciously.

·         Unnecessary copying and forwarding — Sure, you want your boss to know how hard you’re working, but copying him or her on every e-mail you send will only be a source of irritation. Also, be wary of forwarding chain e-mails and jokes; instead of entertaining your friends, they are more likely to cause aggravation especially if that joke has an attachment with a computer virus.

·         Getting in the last word — Lewis advises you to follow the “Rule of Three”: If it takes more than three e-mail exchanges to sort out an issue, it’s better to call. Especially in business, don’t feel compelled to send an e-mail just to say “thank you” or other short phrases. It just clutters others’ e-mail boxes.

·         E-mailing on the go — Sending e-mail from your BlackBerry during meetings, family dinners and driving in the car is rude (and in the case of driving, dangerous). It sends the message that you’ve tuned out and are not engaged in the matter at hand, says Lewis.

Lewis also says to be smart with e-mail. Don’t send a message if you’re angry. Don’t use all upper case letters, because it looks like you’re shouting.

DID YOU KNOW?

NASA plans to build a permanent base on the moon by 2020. The biggest obstacle to be overcome is the cost of getting enough concrete up there to do the job by some estimates, $100,000 for every 2.2 pounds of the stuff. Houssam Toutanji, a civil engineer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, has solved the problem. He and his colleagues have proved that moon dust can be used to create instant hardening concrete that’s strong enough to withstand forces 170 times greater than those experienced here on Earth. The moon dust will be mixed with sulfur, also abundant on the moon, that’s been heated until it turns into a liquid. The mixture will dry to maximum strength in just one hour. On Earth, it takes concrete up to 28 days to get that hard. (Sun)

There’s an old riddle: “What’s the difference between a gum chewing girl and a cud chewing cow? The intelligent look on the cow’s face.” Well, the girl’s suddenly looking pretty smart. Studies have shown that chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain. Australian researchers recently found that after 20 minutes of gum chewing, alertness went up by almost 19%. Chewing gum also lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol by about 16%, according to the study. (Ladies Home Journal)

The same principles that have enabled scientists to bend light around objects just like Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak, can be harnessed to disperse giant tidal waves before they reach shore and cause damage. Stefan Enoch, of the Fresnel Institute in Marseille, France, has created a small prototype consisting of concentric rings of rigid pillars that can turn a simulated tsunami, another word for a tidal wave, into a whirlpool and send the water harmlessly off in all directions, like a rotating water sprinkler. On a larger scale, the tsunami preventing devices would look like small islands. They’d be built near vulnerable coastal areas and around structures like floating oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea.

Widows are more than two times as likely to “tithe” or donate one-tenth of their income to their church as folks with spouses, says a new report from Baylor University. About 20% of widows tithe as compared to only 8.6% of people who have a husband or wife, says the report, printed in the book “What Americans Really Believe.” And close behind the widows, about 17% of widowers also shell out the standard 10%. The donations roll in even when elderly congregants live on fixed incomes. “When people have lost a loved one, the church becomes their family,” explains the Reverend Edward Breen, the pastor of St. Edward Catholic Church in Nashville, Tennessee. One widow in the St. Edward congregation, Connie Gillespie, confirms: “I don’t give as much as I’d like to, but I give as much as I can.” (National Examiner)

Man’s best friend has an unusual knack of knowing what we’re thinking because perceptive pups have evolved a talent for face reading, scientists say. A recent study by Dr. Kun Guo, of the University of Lincoln, England, found that dogs respond differently to human faces more than any other image. They look first at the right side of a human face in order to tell how a person if feeling. Prior studies have found that humans display emotion in a lopsided way, giving clearer cues on the right side of the face. When we first meet new people, we instinctively shift our eyes to the left and scan the right side of their faces, a phenomenon known as “left gaze bias.” In the study, 17 pooches were shown pictures of monkeys, people, other dogs and inanimate objects. Only with humans did the dogs’ eyes immediately shift to the left. (Sun)

The Mayo Clinic reports dozens of studies have shown that owning a pet relieves stress and, in some cases, lowers blood pressure. Now, conclusive new research proves that keeping company with a cat can improve your cardiovascular health and even prevent a heart attack. The fascinating study followed 4,435 volunteers between the ages of 30 and 75 for 10 years. Those who had never owned a cat were 40% more likely to have a heart attack than cat owners. The non-cat people were 30% more likely to die of other heart disease than the cat people. By comparison, taking cholesterol lowering drugs reduces your heart attack risk by 29%, 11% less than adding a cat to your family. The researchers looked only at cats, not dogs, but logic dictates that what is true of felines in this regard should be equally true of canines.

Short on space? Women who live in tight quarters say with a big family in a small house are more likely to be depressed than men who do, according to new research. Men typically cope by spending time alone, but women often feel guilty about taking time for themselves, says study author Wendy Regoeczi, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology at Cleveland State University. The guys are on to something: A little solitude can help you ditch the bad mood. So instead of feeling guilty about taking an extra long shower or sneaking out to catch a movie, go ahead and indulge. A little “you time” just might make you happier. (Ladies Home Journal)

Men’s Health broke down how men deal with engagement:

·         Age the average guy gets married: 27

·         Where he’ll first meet her: High school or college

·         How long he’ll wait to propose: 3 or more years

·         Amount jewelers say the average guy should spend on an engagement ring: $5,173

·         What he’ll spend: $2,982

·         Number of men who’d buy a cubic zirconium ring if they could get away with it: 1 in 11

·         Percentage of men who get down on one knee to propose: 72

·         Percentage who ask her father’s permission first: 4

GORSEFEATHERS by Patrick Gorse

The Big Three automakers who asked for a $25 billion bailout a couple weeks back upped it to $34 billion last week after “crunching their numbers.” My question is, “How do you crunch dust?”

Barack Obama said on “Meet the Press” that the U.S. auto industry was much too slow to make the necessary changes to be profitable, but we “have seen some progress made incrementally.” See…that’s the Big Three’s problem…they’re slow…incrementally retarded.

Senator Chris Dodd has called for the firing of General Motors CEO Rick Waggoner, saying, “He has to move on.” Waggoner would still get his golden parachute, but he has to wear it on his back while jumping out of a plane.

Sean Avery of the NHL’s Dallas Stars has been suspended indefinitely for publicly referring to his ex-girlfriends as “sloppy seconds.” He could sit out the year. Talk about political correctness. You only get three minutes for high sticking.

I have to quell some of the scuttlebutt going around about Jay Leno’s new show in the fall that will air at ten P.M. There is absolutely NO truth to the rumor that his costar will be Charlie Sheen and that it will be called “Two and a Half Chins.”

In NFL Thursday Night Football last week, the Saints were beaten by the Bears in Chicago. There were 61,000 fans in the seats…all those seats sold by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Vice President Dick Cheney warned GOP Senators last Wednesday that it would be “Herbert Hoover” time if Republicans were found to be at fault for the loss of the U.S. auto industry. Fortunately for Dick Cheney, being compared to Herbert Hoover would only raise his approval rating.

Researchers in New South Wales have found that patients under 65 who suffer from a form of dementia can’t detect when someone is being sarcastic. The patients lack empathy and the ability to make good decisions. They can’t pick up on social clues, and can’t tell when others are angry or depressed. This explains how George Bush bought cooked up intelligence on Iraq, it rationalizes his behavior during Hurricane Katrina–and why he thinks history will judge him to be a great president.

National Public Radio has announced they’re laying off 64 workers and making cuts in their shows. The changes will be obvious to longtime listeners. You’ll find out Saturday while listening to “Wait, Wait… Don’t Fire Me, “Prairie Homeless Companion” and “All Things Foreclosed On.”

The John McCain campaign is selling off computers, BlackBerry’s, office equipment, TVs, and furniture to raise money to pay off McCain’s campaign debt. Everything’s gotta go, especially McCain who gets up to go once every 45 minutes.

Barack Obama held a news conference that was supposed to be about naming former Senator Tom Daschle his Health and Human Services secretary, but all the press wanted to talk about was Illinois political corruption. Obama isn’t having the best of luck. The day he picked Daschle, who’s from South Dakota, for his cabinet, guess which state was found to top the list of most politically corrupt? NORTH Dakota!

The owners of Nativity Scenes have resorted to putting Global Positioning devices inside their infant Jesus figures because thieves keep stealing them. In a related story, a living Nativity Scene in L.A. had to put a GPS device on their Little Drummer Boy because they kept finding him at Michael Jackson’s house.

The Attorney General of Illinois is trying to have Governor Rod Blagojevich declared unfit to serve so he can be impeached. There’s just one problem. If you start getting rid of all the Illinois politicians who are unfit to serve, there won’t be any lawmakers left.

A commuter ferry carrying dozens of cars and passengers stalled in the middle of the Potomac River Friday morning. Some hysterical protestors blamed the ferry getting stuck on the passage of Proposition 8.

On “Extra TV,” while interviewing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria at the Governor’s office, host Mario Lopez got into trouble when he was caught sitting in the chair behind Schwarzenegger’s desk. And Maria got into trouble because she got caught sitting in Mario’s lap.

An Austrian actor in a theater production nearly died after he mistook a real knife for a stage prop knife, and slit his throat during a suicide scene. Austrian actors aren’t known for their intelligence. A lot of people say it was career suicide when one became Governor of California.

Several actors at that Austrian theater where a real knife was left with a stage knife were not surprised. They said they knew something bad was going to happen when the theater hired an elderly, mysterious and brooding prop manager named Adolph H. Braun.

HOLIDAY POP QUIZ

·         Who was the child star in the original “Miracle on 34th Street?” (Natalie Wood)

·         In “Frosty the Snowman,” who is the little girl who helps Frosty get to the North Pole? (Karen)

·         In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” what are the names of the cop and taxi driver? (Bert and Ernie)

·         In “The Grinch That Stole Christmas,” what did Cindy Lu Who do before she went to bed? (Have a drink of water)

·         In “The Charlie Brown Christmas,” what song is sung after Linus tells Charlie Brown ‘What Christmas is all about?’ (Hark the Herald Angels Sing)

·         In “Frosty Returns,” what comedian floats in on a snowflake to narrate the story? (Jonathon Winters)

·         In “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” what is the Abominable Snowman’s job at the end of the show? (To put the star on top of the tree)

·         Who’s the big name star that plays Santa in the claymation “Santa Claus is Coming To Town?” (Mickey Rooney)

·         Who’s Ralphie’s brother in “A Christmas Story?” (Randy)

·         In “Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer,” what elf wants to be a dentist? (Hermie)

·         Who’s Rudolph’s dad? (Donner)

SNEAK A PEAK

Every year we do the Sneak a Peak Challenge. That is where we bribe a listener into opening a Christmas present under the tree early. We start out with small items and work our way up to really good stuff. The listener has to open a present from a family member, husband, parents or whoever might get a little upset.

TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE

(From Men’s Health magazine)

·         Postman: can’t accept gifts worth more than $20, so get him a couple of movie passes or a restaurant gift certificate.

·         Trashman: Five bucks each in a nice card.

·         Paper Carrier: $5 minus the cards.

·         Secretary: Work related. Fancy pen, classy desk clock or a nice organizer.

·         Co-Workers: Gift certificates, picture frames, a pretty candle.

·         Boss: Go in with everybody else for a group gift. Anything else is just schmoozing.

NAME THAT YEAR

(1962)

·         Time magazine’s cover names President John F, Kennedy, “Man Of The Year.” On the cover of “Look,” he’s seen driving a golf cart with his kids, his nieces and nephews.

·         Pope John XXIII excommunicates Cuban leader Castro.

·         21-year-old golfer Jack Nicklaus makes his first tournament appearance, comes in 50th.

·         The Beach Boys perform their first paid gig at a Richie Valens Memorial Concert in Long Beach, and are paid $300.

·         The Beatles audition for Decca Records and are turned down, so they could sign the Tremeloes instead!

·         The Shirelles took “Baby It’s You,” written by a young Burt Bacharach, and hit the top ten.

(1998)

·         Exxon agrees to buy Mobil for $73.7 billion in a deal that would create world’s largest corporation.

·         Microsoft chairman Bill Gates donates $100 million to help immunize children in developing countries.

·         Endeavour’s astronauts connect the first two building blocks of the international space station in the shuttle cargo bay.

·         A blackout in San Francisco cuts power to nearly a million people.

·         Garth Brooks is named Country Artist Of The Year at the 1998 Billboard Music Awards.

(1968)

·         First class postage jumps 20%, price of mailing a letter goes from five to six cents!

·         A couple of newborn second generation famous faces to be, Singer Cuba Gooding Sr. of the Main Ingredient has a son, and Elvis Presley has a daughter, and announces plans for a comeback special on television.

·         Daredevil Evil Kneivel fails in his attempt to jump the fountain at Caesars Palace Las Vegas on his motorcycle.

·         On TV, it’s the first “Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.”

·         Former LSU basketball player, John Fred with his Playboy Band top the charts with “Judy In Disguise.”

(1995)

·         NASA launches a U.S.-European observatory on a $1 billion-dollar mission to study the sun.

·         Fire breaks out at the Philadelphia Zoo, killing 23 rare gorillas, orangutans, gibbons and lemurs.

·         President Clinton vetoes the Republican balanced-budget plan with the same pen used 30 years ago by President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the legislation that created Medicare and Medicaid.

·         A budget impasse leads to the second shutdown of federal government.

·         “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men debuts at #1 on the U.S. top 40 chart and stayed there for a record breaking 16 weeks.

(1965)

·         Legendary Disc Jockey and pioneer of the phrase and the concept of “Rock & Roll,” Alan Freed, dies penniless in Palm Springs CA.

·         President Johnson outlines his goals for America in his “Great Society,” State of the Union address.

·         CBS buys the Fender Guitar Company for $13 million.

·         In the pages of the New York Times, Douglas Aircraft displays a picture and details of their new state of the art passenger jet, the DC-9.

·         Jets of a different kind in New York, sign the University of Alabama Quarterback Joe Namath for an unheard of $400,000.

·         Del Shannon, who put “Runaway” and “Hats Off To Larry” at the top of the charts, scores his third and final in the top ten with “Keep Searchin, (We’ll Follow The Sun).”

(1991)

·         U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, testifying at the trial of his nephew, William Kennedy Smith, denied hearing screams on the night Patricia Bowman said she was raped by Smith at the Kennedy estate in West Palm Beach, Florida.

·         American hostage Joseph Cicippo, held captive in Lebanon for more than five years, is released by his kidnappers.

·         Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev challenges Boris Yeltsin’s declaration that the Soviet Union was dead.

·         General Motors announces it would close 21 North American plants over the next four years and slash tens of thousands of jobs.

·         Brooks & Dunn hit #1 on the Billboard Country chart with “My Next Broken Heart.”

(1959)

·         Fidel Castro leads his Cuban revolutionaries to victory over Fulgencio Batista, and takes control of Cuba.

·         Alaska becomes the 49th U.S. state.

·         The Soviets launch Luna One, the first craft to leave the Earth’s gravity.

·         Top TV shows were “I’ve Got A Secret,” “The Real McCoys,” “The Danny Thomas Show,” and #1 “Gunsmoke.”

·         And Coral Records releases what would become Buddy Holly’s last single before his tragic death, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore.”

(1981)

·         180 people are killed when a chartered Yogoslav DC9 jetliner slams into a mountain while approaching Ajaccio Airport in Corsica.

·         Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first American “test-tube” baby, is born in Norfolk, Virginia.

·         Poland imposes martial law in response to the Solidarity Labor movement.

·         Israel annexes the Golan Heights seized from Syria in 1967.

·         Depeche Mode co-founder Vince Clarke leaves the group to form Yazoo.

(1971)

·         Cigarette advertisements were officially banned from U.S. television and radio.

·         Former heavyweight champ, boxer Sonny Liston found dead in his Las Vegas home at only 36 years old.

·         Casey Kasem launched the long-running radio show, “American Top 40.”

·         George Harrison’s triple LP “All Things Must Pass” top the charts.

(1988)

·         President Reagan and President-elect Bush are subpoenaed to testify as defense witnesses in the pending Iran-Contra trial of Oliver North. (The subpoenas were ultimately suppressed.)

·         The original script of Orson Welles’s “War of the Worlds” fetches $143,000 at an auction.

·         Pan Am flight 103 explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 aboard the Boeing 747 and 11 on the ground.

·         President Reagan and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev exchange New Year’s messages in which both leaders express optimism about future superpower relations.

·         “Straight Up” by Paula Abdul enters the U.S. top 40 chart.

TOP FIVE FAVORITE REINDEER GAMES

1.      “Pull my antler”

2.      “Deer Hide and Seek”

3.      “Getting Blitzened”

4.      “Run through the open meadow”

5.      “Buck. Buck. Goose”

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