12.18.08

 SHOW PREP DECEMBER 18, 2008

 

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

 

Macaulay Culkin and his siblings in their large family are reeling from the traffic accident death of their sister Dakota, their manager tells PEOPLE. “They’re heartbroken. That I can tell you. They’re just absolutely heartbroken,” says Emily Gerson Saines, who manages Macaulay, Rory and Kieran Culkin. The brothers were working on separate projects when they received the news that Dakota, 29, died after she was struck by a car Dec. 9 in West Los Angeles. Macaulay, 28, was shooting the new NBC drama Kings, Kieran, 26, was busy on the set of the movie Paper Man (with Ryan Reynolds), and Rory, 19, was doing interviews to promote Lymelife, which will be premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January. All of them have put their work on hold temporarily to deal with the tragedy. The family also has brothers Christian, 21, and Shane, 32, and sister Quinn, 24. (People)

 

Aides of Jennifer Aniston actively searched for a new boyfriend for the Friends star so she wouldn’t have to promote her new film single. Jennifer Aniston’s ‘people’ were actively looking for a boyfriend for the star so she wouldn’t have to promote new film Marley And Me single the New York Post claim. “She didn’t want to face the glare of being unattached while Brad Pitt toted Angelina Jolie around,” an insider claims. “She did not want to be single when her movie opened. A friend of her agent was calling around asking for young men whom they could set her up with.” Jennifer got back together with boyfriend John Mayer in October. (Handbag)

 

She broke up with Marilyn Manson last month, but Evan Rachel Wood insists she’s not ready to wade back into the dating pool. “I’m not really looking for any kind of guy now,” she told PEOPLE Monday night at the premiere of her new film, The Wrestler. “I just got a new boy cat. He’s the only man in my life right now.” What’s his name? “Nicodemus, after the king of the rats in the Secret of NIMH,” said the actress (who recently denied rumors linking her to costar Mickey Rourke). A cat named after the King of the Rats. He’s all I need right now.” Wood also had nothing but kind words for her rocker ex – and says she has no regrets about the relationship. “I’ve learned so much about myself and even had deal with the outside world,” she added. “I’m just so much stronger. … I’m ready for the next chapter.” (People)

 

“Gossip Girl” star Kelly Rutherford might not be uncomfortable talking about breast-feeding, but the rest of us are uncomfortable hearing about it. The 40-year-old pregnant mother told Us Weekly she still nurses her walking, talking 2- year-old son, Hermés. “It’s an amazing bond with your child,” she said, even pointing out that the experience mostly benefits her body – not her kid: “I was thinner after my pregnancy than before, and I think a lot of it was the nursing.” (Page Six)

 

Brad Pitt says that the Christmas presents he and Angelina give their children are usually small-scale and inexpensive. “We do exchange gifts, although we don’t feel any pressure to make them big or expensive gifts,” the Ocean’s Eleven actor said. “The kids don’t ask for big gifts for the reason that they don’t see a lot of the American cartoon television, which is packed with all those manipulative commercials for big toys that look so fantastic.” Pitt also revealed that the couple encourage their children to make presents for each other: “‘So we have gifts, but we try to keep the money spent to a minimum. The rule is that everyone’s got to make something for someone else, you got to put time into it.” (British Glamour)

 

Jodie Sweetin is locked in a custody battle so ferocious that her estranged husband called for an emergency hearing yesterday morning to get access to their 8-month old daughter ASAP. TMZ has learned the 26-year-old “Full House” star and her soon-to-be-ex Cody Herpin are currently facing off in an Orange County courtroom. Jodie, who played Stephanie Tanner on the show, filed for divorce in November — just 17 months after they tied the knot. Their daughter Zoie was born back in April. Story developing… Jodie Sweetin is not allowed to see her 8-month-old daughter without supervision. Moments ago, an Orange County, Ca. judge made the explosive ruling after Sweetin’s estranged husband Cody Herpin accused the “Full House” star of being an unfit mother — citing an alleged incident where Sweetin drove intoxicated with their baby in the car. The couple faced off in open court today for an emergency custody hearing at Cody’s request.  Jodie, an admitted meth addict and alcoholic who lives with her parents, will not be allowed to be with the child unless one of her folks is present. A doctor also took the stand and claimed that Jodie had recently fallen off the wagon. However, the doc confirmed Jodie has been in touch with her sponsor and is attending AA meetings. The doctor said she does not believe the baby is at risk at the moment. A judge ordered both Cody and Jodie to submit to drug tests before the next hearing. (TMZ)

 

A rep for Saved By The Bell alum Tiffani Thiessen is slamming a new tabloid report claiming that the actress, 34, is expecting. Star is reporting that Thiessen and her husband of three years, actor-artist Brady Smith, “are over the moon.” According to the tabloid, the two wanted a baby so badly they even went to a Los Angeles fertility center for treatments. Not so, says her rep. “She is not expecting,” she tells Us. “They would love to have a family someday in the near future, but right now she is focused on working.” Thiessen recently signed on to co-star in a new USA Network drama pilot, White Collar. She plays an accountant married to an FBI agent (Tim DeKay). (US Weekly)

 

The new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands tomorrow, reveals the behind-the-scenes crisis going on in Jennifer Lopez’s third marriage to Marc Anthony. Rumors swirled that Lopez’s marriage was on the rocks after she showed up to the premiere of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button last week without her 8-carat diamond engagement ring, wedding band – or ever present husband, Marc Anthony (who was spotted in Las Vegas sans wedding band the weekend before). Multiple sources confirm to Us Weekly their marriage is at a breaking point. “They both didn’t wear their rings on purpose,” a mutual pal of the married couple of four years (who renewed their vows in October) tells Us. “Nothing Jennifer does is without purpose.” While Anthony’s rep insists to Us, “They are doing great,” a source tells Us deep trouble has been brewing. “He’s very, very controlling of her,” a close Anthony pal tells Us. “The skirts aren’t as short. You don’t see so much of that booty anymore.” The new Us Weekly also reports that Anthony also picks out Lopez’s clothes and keeps tabs on her phone calls. But Lopez — who once claimed she “loved getting his opinions” — has become less interested in his approval since the birth of their 10-month-old twins, Max and Emme. “She walks in from work, washes her hands and grabs the babies,” a longtime friend tells Us. “With him, it’s almost like, ‘Ugh, they’re crying again?’” Another problem: Lopez — who once commanded $15 million per film — “blames Marc for her career going down the tubes,” says a mutual pal, adding that she’s bitter about the failure of their 2006 drama, El Cantante, which only grossed $7.5 million. (Her 2002 flick Maid in Manhattan earned over $94 million.) “Jennifer looked around and said, ‘This is my life now? I’m a Long Island housewife?’” a pal says. “She hates that everything she worked for went down the tubes.” Lopez isn’t the only one with growing resentment toward her husband. Her best friend, Leah Remini, also can’t stand him. “It if was up to her, Leah would just break them up today,” a pal says. Anthony has also been badmouthing his wife. One night after their tense family Thanksgiving in which the couple “didn’t sit together,” Anthony hit NYC hotspots Bungalow 8 and Marquee, where he was spotted with his hand on a woman’s thigh and overheard complaining about his wife to a group of women, “telling them, ‘She’s making me miserable,’” a source says. His club spree didn’t stop there: The next night, he was photographed by TMZ.com partying sans wedding band with pal Eva Longoria Parker and Russell Crowe in Las Vegas. (A source says, “According to Jennifer, he didn’t cheat.”)  The pair, who hadn’t been spotted together since Oct. 23 — and the very public removal of their wedding bands — had dinner Tuesday at Beverly Hills restaurant Luau, which they left holding hands.  (Lopez is no stranger to shows of strength, though: after she and Ben Affleck called off their first wedding, they had dinner at the paparazzi-laden Ivy restaurant in L.A.) (US Weekly)

 

Supermodel Kate Moss is to visit a Thai stress management course. Kate Moss has booked herself on to a seven-day stress management course in Thailand sources have told the Mirror. “Kate’s had a hectic 2008 and feels everything’s got on top of her of late,” the insider claims. “She wants to shift half a stone and totally de-stress. The spa she’s booked into is one of the strictest and most stringent in the world, she won’t be cut any slack because of her A-list status. She’s not even allowed to take her mobile phone. She’s having stress management based on equilibropathy techniques. Here, the navel and stomach – the areas where stress, tension and negative emotions accumulate – are massaged. When this area is knotted up, the whole energy of the body is blocked. Kate’s been told this will help her with any digestive problems which, combined with a strict vegetable and fruit detox diet, should also help her lose weight.” (Handbag)

 

Perpetually troubled country crooner Mindy McCready has more problems than we knew about. The jail-loving singer, was arrested (again!) this year for violating her probation for prescription drug fraud. Then, in July McCready checked into rehab. It was apparently due to a suicide attempt after supposedly suffering a miscarriage. Well, unfortunately it seems like the treatment didn’t seem to fully work. McCready has just been hospitalized in an apparent suicide attempt Wednesday morning. Police spokeswoman, Kris Mumford, confirmed that McCready was taken to a Nashville-area hospital for “treatment of wounds to her wrists.” Mumford added, “We responded to a ‘10-63,’ that’s a suicidal person call. Mindy McCready was at the house. Apparently she called the mother of her roommate and said some things that caused the mother concern. She called authorities. We responded with paramedics, who took her to a local hospital.” It seems that the stress from this entire year is catching up with McCready and led her to this recent suicide attempt. This time, she should go back to rehab and stay there for a much longer time. (Perez Hilton)

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

 

A collection of photographs of Marilyn Monroe taken for Vogue magazine the year she died has been auctioned in New York for nearly $150,000. A spokeswoman for Christie’s auction house says the 36 photos taken by Bert Stern sold for $146,500 on Tuesday. The pre-sale estimate was $100,000 to $150,000. Christie’s says the photos from a 1962 shoot were the last professional images taken of Monroe before she died that year of a drug overdose. They ran in Vogue instead as a memorial. They’re among more than 100 Monroe images being offered for sale at Christie’s. The sale continues Wednesday. Also at Christie’s Tuesday, four Helmut Newton photographs, titled “They’re Coming, Paris (Naked and Dressed),” sold for $662,500. The buyers were anonymous. (Daily Record)

 

Celebrity can get you into a lot of places – but not Barack Obama’s Inauguration, it seems. Eva Mendes said that she was refused a ticket to the White House event despite being one of the world’s most famous women. “Hottest ticket party in town. I thought I had some pull – I usually do, and I’ve been shut down. It’s the hardest party to get into,” the Hitch star said. “We are still working on it, but I understand the whole thing. They don’t want to make (it) a celebrity studded event because I understand this in an extremely crucial time in our history and in our world right now. And I understand not wanting to make (it) a star-studded event; I completely understand that. But of course, I would love to go and be there.” (British Glamour)

 

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have issued a statement saying both are happy with the financial agreement reached in their divorce – but they aren’t telling you or anyone else about the details. On Monday, Madonna spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg told The Associated Press in an e-mail that Madonna would pay Ritchie a settlement in the range of 50 million to 60 million pounds (about $76 million to $92 million). But the divorcing couple said Wednesday that Rosenberg’s statement contained inaccurate information about the financial settlement. Their latest joint statement says settlement details of their divorce will remain private. The pop star and the British film director were married in a lavish ceremony in Scotland in December 2000. Their divorce is expected to be finalized in January. (Daily Record)

 

Glamour model Katie Price has described fellow model Dita Von Teese as “rank”. Model Katie Price has called Dita Von Teese “rank” in a new interview with OK! magazine. Katie is said to be keen to do more racy shoots after taking a break but she insists that after seeing Dita’s recent Playboy shoot she’s not so sure. “I’d love to do Playboy,” she explained. “Although I just saw Dita Von Teese’s cover and it’s cr*p. The woman is rank. It’s not my cup of tea that she’s so pale. I think the pictures look a bit Readers’ Wives. It didn’t look like Playboy.” (Handbag)

 

Not all gays are gaga over Sean Penn’s portrayal of homosexual martyr Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant’s biopic “Milk.” In a cover story in this month’s The Advocate, writer James Kirchick slams Penn for his political leanings, arguing that any adulation he receives from the gay community should be tempered because of his affection for Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chávez and Cuban strongman Raul Castro. Chávez and Castro are guilty of flagrant human-rights abuses, Kirchick writes: “Gay rights are human rights, as Milk said, and Penn discredits both when he rationalizes illiberal ideologies as ‘anti-imperialist’ and rushes to the defense of thugs who posture as victims of the West.” Penn has long been a supporter of the dictator duo. In this month’s issue of The Nation, he lavishly praises both Chávez and Castro after paying them a recent visit. He asserts, for example, “It’s true, Chávez may not be a good man. But he may well be a great one.” Kirchick’s story includes a quote from Human Rights Foundation President Thor Halvorssen, who says: “That Sean Penn would be honored by anyone, let alone the gay community, for having stood by a dictator who put gays into concentration camps is mind-boggling.” Penn’s publicist, Mara Buxbaum, tells Page Six: “Kirchick’s commentary about Sean Penn’s cover story neglects to include that Penn in fact addressed the issue of oppression toward homosexuals in Cuba in his full essay which was printed on the Huffington Post site on Dec. 1. “The Nation printed an adapted excerpt only, but made it clear that the full article was on Huffington. James Kirchick didn’t do his homework.” (Page Six)

 

There will be plenty of laughs in Washington, DC, next month. Comedians Dave Chappelle, Dane Cook and Paul Rodriguez were invited to entertain guests at various events celebrating Barack Obama’s inauguration. We’re told they’ve been practicing their punch lines at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. Chappelle said: “The economy is so bad, terrorists are bombing their own countries because they can’t afford to come here.” (Page Six)

 

Carmen Electra graces the cover of Playboy’s 55th anniversary issue, but Hugh Hefner tells Extra he wouldn’t have minded seeing “either Angelina Jolie or Scarlett Johansson. When shown Jennifer Aniston’s nearly naked January GQ cover, Hefner, 82, remarks, “This looks like the cover of Playboy. I’m much impressed by Jennifer. “Is it just me, or is Jennifer Aniston getting hotter?” he says of the 39-year-old actress. “Never seen her in this light before.” Hefner also elaborates more on his split from Holly Madison. “Holly was looking for something more than I could give her,” he says of his ex, who is currently dating Criss Angel. “She was looking for marriage and children.” Hefner wasn’t heartbroken for too long — thanks to his new girlfriends, 19-year-old twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon. “Within two weeks, a pair of twins arrived and … they were interested in being my girlfriends,” he says. “Several girlfriends are easier to handle than one wife.” Lastly, Hefner adds that he wouldn’t mind if Robert Downey Jr. portrayed him on the big screen. “He’s a very good actor,” Hefner says. “Would be natural.” (US Weekly)

 

“You take the good, you take the bad …” — It’s almost impossible NOT to sing along with the “Facts of Life” theme song, but yesterday in Brentwood, Mindy Cohn wasn’t havin’ it … even when the entire crowd around her started busting it out! (TMZ)

 

George W. Bush’s number one fan Elisabeth Hasselbeck whined yesterday morning about not getting invited to the White House Xmas party. Well, it worked — she got invited. The Hass got a call from Bush HQ, and the President’s office actually apologized to her, according to a “View” rep. Bush’s people “explained that she and her husband were indeed invited to the White House for Christmas and were sorry that it did not arrive.” Nothing like being on the JV list for a party. (TMZ)

 

After donating three hours’ use of their venue at no cost to benefit Charity Water, it’s no wonder Metropolitan Pavilion organizers wanted to clear the space for a money-making endeavor. Monday night, Adrian Grenier hosted the benefit, but at 10:20, the Met Pavilion “flipped the lights on and off, turned off the music, and kicked everyone out. They were scheduled to host a bat mitzvah.” Even with the time constraints (and co-host Jessica Stam out with the flu), Grenier raised $40,000 before heading off to the VIP party at RDV, while most guests were herded over to Kiss n’ Fly. (Page Six)

 

It seems like no one is immune to the current economic situation! Not even fancy designers like Betsey Johnson or Carmen Marc Valvo, who have both decided independently of each other to skip the Bryant Park tents this season. For Betsey Johnson this will be the end of a 5 season run there, while for Valvo it signals the end of a 10 year history. Johnson’s camp wouldn’t comment on the designer’s reasons for the decision, but Valvo admitted that they are looking for a less expensive way to unveil the Fall 2009 collection since a typical show runs up a bill of $150,000 to $200,000. The designer is looking into an intimate cocktail party, where the 200 guests could see the collection up close off the runway, cutting expenses by nearly 50%. The house isn’t the only one to look into a smaller alternative. DKNY, Vera Wang, and J. Mendel are all considering similar off-runaway presentations, with many more designers expected to follow “suit.” (Perez Hilton)

 

Whitney Houston is being sued by her stepmother in a legal battle over the wishes of Houston’s deceased father. According to court records, Barbara Houston claims the 45-year-old singer improperly kept the proceeds from John Houston’s $1 million insurance policy after he died in 2003. The lawsuit says the singer was supposed to use $723,000 to pay off the mortgage on her father’s Fort Lee condominium. She holds the mortgage on the condo. The stepmother, who still lives in the condo, claims that Whitney Houston was also supposed to return the remaining insurance money to her. Lawyers for Whitney Houston and her stepmother declined to comment on the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Newark. (Daily Record)

 

The Screen Actors Guild meeting Monday night at the Westin Hotel turned nasty as New York actors raged against SAG executives who are calling for a strike. “30 Rock” star Alec Baldwin led the charge against SAG president Alan Rosenberg and executive director and chief negotiator Doug Allen, calling for them to step down. Other actors, according to deadlinehollywooddaily.com, called them “liars,” “inept” and “Hollywood-centrics . . . insensitive to concerns of New York brethren.” Some members later apologized to the SAG leaders for the hostile tone. Allen told Page Six, “We respect our members’ right to express their opinion . . . more than 2,000 members, including more than 50 stars, have signed the statement of support for the strike authorization.” The pro-strike stars include Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep and Warren Beatty. Against a strike are Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren and Kevin Spacey. (Page Six)

 

Scottsdale police say they arrested a Phoenix man early Wednesday after he allegedly pushed a nightclub security guard while trying to get close to actress Lindsay Lohan. Police say Lohan and gal-pal Samantha Ronson were trying to leave the Jackrabbit Lounge nightclub and security guards were trying to hold back the crowd. The bouncers told police that’s when the 38-year-old fan tried to get around them, pushed one of the guards and became disruptive. Police say in a news release that the man was detained and then turned over to officers. He was booked on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge and later released. Officers say they contacted Lohan and Ronson at a nearby hotel and they said they didn’t know the man. (Daily Record)

 

 

MUSIC . . .

 

Usher is craving some fresh, young blood. No, he hasn’t become a vampire. He’s looking for an aspiring teen filmmaker to direct a music video for his new album, out next year. “It gives me another way to give back, inspire young people and also reinvent music videos,” the Grammy winner said in a statement. (Launch)

 

Take That star Gary Barlow has said he thought Coldplay were joking when they offered to support the boy band. Gary Barlow has said he thought Chris Martin was “taking the p***” when he said Coldplay would support the reunited boyband. Earlier this year Chris took to his band’s website to offer their services saying, “I’d like to use this forum, the Coldplay website, to announce that if Take That want us to open for them, we’ll do it.” However, Gary has said he didn’t take the offer seriously. “It’s amazing! I think Chris wrote it on his website,” He told Star magazine. “We thought he was taking the p*ss, but he wasn’t. He’s genuinely a fan.” (Handbag)

 

Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em is telling parents he’s sorry for his vulgar words. The 18-year-old rapper became a sensation and started a dance craze last year with his Grammy-nominated hit “Crank That (Soulja Boy).” Some of the language and subject matter in that hit was risqué, and on some of his YouTube videos, he’s used some naughty words. So in an interview this week, Soulja Boy apologized to parents and says he is going to try harder to set a positive example for his young fans. “Over the past few months, I’ve had a chance to meet a lot of my fans face to face and it made me realize that I got a large fan base of kids that look up to me,” he said. “I have a greater responsibility to the kids that want to be like Soulja Boy (and) I need set a positive example for them.” Though Soulja Boy apologizes for his public behavior, he’s not quite ready to become the ideal role model for kids. “I wouldn’t say a role model because I think parents or a guardian should be a kid’s main role model, but from now on, I’m going to make sure that every kid that looks up to me will get a positive image that the kids and parents can trust,” he said. Soula Boy just released his new CD, “iSouljaBoyTellem,” this week. (Daily Record)

 

Anthony Kiedis’ scar tissue isn’t just a song. Turns out, it’s a real-life medical drama, too. The Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman had a bit of a health scare this past summer when his kidneys came close to failing, prompting him to seek medical attention. The New York Daily News quoted sources close to Kiedis as saying years of partying and heavy drug use had caught up with the rocker—to the point where he was forced to pay several visits to Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for kidney treatment. “Anthony’s health was pretty bleak,” one insider told the paper. “Organ failure was a possibility. There was talk of how to get him on a transplant list, to cover all the bases, but that opened up a whole new can of worms because people with histories of drug and alcohol abuse are less likely to receive the organs they need.” Kiedis, 46, has opened up over the years about his struggles with drug addiction, whether through songs such as the Peppers’ 1991 hit “Under the Bridge” or in 2004’s aptly titled memoir Scar Tissue, in which he discussed getting high on the streets of L.A. and essentially living the junkie life. He’s reportedly been clean since 2000, become a full-fledged vegetarian and taken up yoga. Since the singer’s purported hospital stints this summer at Cedars-Sinai, another pal told the Daily News the “general consensus is that the treatments helped, and he’s getting better.” A spokesman for Kiedis could not be reached for comment, but the crooner’s camp has previously smacked down the story. Kiedis’ early struggles with substance abuse are expected to be dealt with on the small screen however as HBO is developing Scar Tissue, a TV series about his childhood growing up with a drug-dealing dad and their move from Michigan to California. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, meanwhile, are taking a hiatus from touring after the release of their latest album, Stadium Arcadium, though bass player Flea is planning on joining Rod Stewart and Rolling Stones guitarist  Ron Wood for a reunion of ’70s band Faces. (Launch)

 

Everyone knows Bill O’Reilly is quitting his radio show to concentrate on his Fox News TV program. Now, Page Six has learned the leading candidate to succeed him is Rudy Giuliani. Westwood One, which syndicates the O’Reilly show, is negotiating with the former mayor. Giuliani, who doesn’t suffer fools gladly, famously ridiculed a ferret owner on the radio in 1999, calling him “deranged.” Some wonder if Rudy could sit for three hours a day chitchatting about politics. The other question is how it might affect his possible gubernatorial run in 2010. Giuliani’s office did not return calls. (Page Six)

 

Two members of Fall Out Boy – bassist Pete Wentz (husband of Ashlee Simpson) and singer Patrick Stump - tried to perform an unplugged concert in Washington Square Park Monday to promote their new album. But they were stopped by the police. The rockers brought their guitars, but cops threatened to arrest them if they played their instruments there without a permit. “They improvised and did one song with Patrick singing a cappella and Pete Wentz doing air guitar. The crowd was into it,” said a witness. “After they sang the a cappella song, Pete went over to his guitar case like he was going to say ’screw it’ and just get out his guitar and start playing, but his manager, or his security, or some man on his team told him, ‘No, Pete, don’t do it – you can’t.’ ” (Page Six)

 

As we mentioned last month, Gwen Stefani announced that No Doubt would be getting back together for a reunion tour and new album. The goal was for them to start touring in 2009 and then finish working on the album. However, we’ve just learned some sad news from ND drummer Adrian Young.  During a recent interview, Young said there will be no new music from the group in 2009. Booo!!!!! Young says, “We’ve been working on a new record off and on now for a bit of time, and we’re going to continue to work on a new record next year. We’re going to start touring in the spring of ‘09 through the summer, and we’re going to continue to work on music while we’re traveling.” According to Young, they’ll have a mobile studio on the bus and will eventually get to recording a new record. This would be their first new music together in over seven years. As for their musical style now, Young said, “It seems like we’ve always come from an eclectic background musically. But we seem to always gravitate towards reggae. I can’t say that’s what our record is going to be like, ’cause it’s too early to tell, but what makes us feel really good is reggae music. I can play reggae music to my grave.” As for the success of the new album, Young says, “It’s a little daunting to put out a record for a successful group. I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re going to see.” Don’t keep us waiting that much longer! (Perez Hilton)

 

In a week without a top 10 debut, Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” reclaims the top spot on The Billboard 200, inching up 2-1 thanks to a 29% sales increase to 249,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. “Fearless” debuted at No. 1 five weeks ago with 592,000 and has shifted 1.5 million so far. Last week’s chart-topper, Britney Spears’ Jive set “Circus,” falls to No. 2 with 200,000 (-60%). Beyonce’s “I Am … Sasha Fierce” (Music World/Columbia) holds tight at No. 3 for a second week on a 4% increase to 159,000. With a 17% increase to 156,000, Nickelback’s “Dark Horse” (Roadrunner) ascends 5-4. The Chop Shop/Atlantic soundtrack to “Twilight” climbs 6-5 with 132,000 (-1%) as Kanye West’s “808s & Heartbreak” (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) slips 4-6 with 127,000 (-10%). Rebounding 9-7 on a 27% sales boost, the multi-label hits compilation “Now 29″ moves 114,000 units. AC/DC’s Wal-mart exclusive album “Black Ice” (Columbia) re-enters the top tier 11-8 on a 30% sales increase to 110,000. The soundtrack to Disney’s “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” falls 8-9 despite an 18% sales boost to 107,000. David Cook’s self-titled 19 Recordings/RCA debut rounds out the top 10, staying put at No. 10 with 104,000 (+19%). Music Soulchild’s “onmyradio” (Atlantic) debuts at No. 11 with 91,000 copies. The soul/R&B singer has two prior No. 1s, including 2007’s “Luvanmusiq.” Entering at No. 12 is Common’s “Universal Mind Control” with 82,000. The G.O.O.D./Geffen set comes on the heels of the rapper’s 2007 album “Finding Forever,” which peaked at No. 1. Other debuts this week include Brandy’s Koch/Epic set “Human” at No. 15 with 73,000 and Avant’s fifth, self-titled album from Capitol at No. 26 with 52,000. (Billboard)

 

Lawyers for rapper Lil Wayne are seeking more time to turn over documents for a lawsuit that accuses the artist of copyright infringement. A federal lawsuit filed in May claims Lil Wayne didn’t have permission to sample Karma Ann Swanepoel’s song “Once” in one of his own songs, “I Feel Like Dying.” The suit says Lil Wayne’s record label, Cash Money Records, tried but failed to negotiate a license to use Swanepoel’s song before millions of people downloaded “I Feel Like Dying.” A court filing yesterday (Dec. 16) by Lil Wayne’s attorneys asks a judge in New Orleans to extend a Friday deadline for turning over documents and other material requested by lawyers for Urband & Lazar Music Publishing. (Billboard)

 

Reports of Hootie & the Blowfish’s demise in the wake of frontman Darius Rucker’s country music success this year have been greatly exaggerated, according to Rucker himself.  “To be honest with you, we’re not even split up right now, and we’re not really thinking about splitting up,” Rucker tells Billboard.com. “We have four shows coming up in March. But it was more the group wanted to stop touring every summer, to not go on the road every summer just ’cause we can. People wanted to do other things with their lives. “We’re still a band. Even if something were to happen and we didn’t play for years, we would still consider ourselves a band. We’ve been doing this more than half of our lives.” Rucker also predicts that the Blowfish, whose last album, “Looking for Lucky,” came out in 2005, will “make a record some time down the road. It’s not going to be this year or next year, but I’m sure we will.” The singer, meanwhile, has plenty on his plate thanks to “Learn To Live,” his second solo album and first country venture, which spawned the hit “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” the first country chart-topper by an African-American artist since 1983. Rucker, who prepared 60 songs for the project, says he can’t wait to start working on the follow-up. “I’m ready to start writing and ready to record,” Rucker reports. But, he adds, his label, Capitol Nashville, “has a lot of single ideas for this record, so we’re just gonna play it by ear. I’m just gonna keep putting out singles as long as they want and stay on the road.” Rucker will perform his song “If I Had Wings” at tonight’s “Christmas in Washington,” which will be broadcast on TNT. In 2009 he’s doing a three-week tour with Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley, and he’s in talks for “a really big” summer tour that, for the moment, he “can’t say anything about. But it’s a really great tour. It’s gonna be fun and really exiting, and I really hope it happens.” (Billboard)

 

Hip-hop star Akon pleaded guilty Wednesday to harassment for tossing a fan off stage at an upstate New York concert last year. He will serve no jail time as long he performs 65 hours of community service and pays a $250 fine, according to the plea bargain in Fishkill Town Court. The 35-year-old singer threw a teenage boy off the stage during a June 2007 concert at a minor league baseball stadium near Poughkeepsie. Another concertgoer said she suffered a concussion when the teen landed on her. Witnesses said a spectator threw something at Akon during the show at Dutchess Stadium. After he asked the crowd to point out the culprit, a security guard picked up a 15-year-old boy and sent him up to the stage. Akon hoisted the teen onto his shoulders and flung him into the crowd. The incident was caught on videotape. After the plea, Akon shook hands with Anthony Smith, the now 16-year-old fan, and apologized to him and his parents. Akon declined comment as he left, but Andrea Zellan, his lawyer, issued a written statement saying, “We are pleased that the case has been resolved and Akon looks forward to putting this unfortunate incident behind him.” Akon, born Aliaune Thiam, was originally charged with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, a violation. Dutchess County Assistant District Attorney Anthony Parisi could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday morning. Before the New York incident, Akon drew criticism when he was videotaped simulating sex onstage with a teenage girl during an April 2007 concert in Trinidad. He later apologized and said he hadn’t know the girl was underage. His third album, “Freedom,” was released earlier this month. (Daily Record)

 

Interscope Records is looking to capitalize on the Internet craze over Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em with the label’s first webisode effort based on the rap artist. The characters in “Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em: The Animated Series” will be introduced in the first music video that follows this week’s release of Soulja Boy’s second album. Scheduled to be released in late January, three episodes of the Web series will mix animation and live action. The narrative follows an animated version of Soulja as he returns to high school. Alfonso Ribiero (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) plays the principal; all of the kids in the series will be animated. Soulja Boy’s self-produced single “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” spawned a viral sensation that drew more than 400 million streams to the collection of videos on his YouTube channel. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

 

MOVIE . . .

 

Meryl Streep has sunk the Titanic in international waters. The unflagging cheerfulness of ABBA conquered the red-hot chemistry between Leo and Kate this week as Mamma Mia! nudged aside the 11-time Oscar winner as the top-grossing film of all time at the U.K. box office. The light ‘n fluffy musical, en route to earning $571.7 million worldwide, has taken in $107.7 million across the pond after 22 weeks in theaters. Titanic held the record for 10 years after bagging 69 million pounds (about $107.5 million in today’s currency) in 1998. “Mamma Mia! is pure escapism, proving a fun and inexpensive way to forget about the state of the economy for a couple of hours,” Universal Pictures International president David Kosse said Tuesday, calling the film a “true phenomenon.” DVD sales also went through the roof, with the jaunty romantic comedy selling 1.7 million copies its first day out. But not to worry: Titanic’s record of $1.8 billion in global ticket sales will go on… and on. (Eonline)

 

Twilight star Taylor Lautner is reportedly battling to play Jacob Black in the hit film’s sequel New Moon – after rival actors Michael Copon and Ben Barnes showed an interest in taking over the role. Lautner played the Native American character in the box office smash, and was expected to continue his portrayal of the part in the movie’s highly anticipated follow-up – in which Black becomes a pivotal character. But moviemaker Chris Weitz, who has taken over the director’s chair from Twilight’s Catherine Hardwicke, is planning to offer the part to a more established actor, according to industry reports. Prince Caspian star Barnes and Scorpion King 2 actor Copon are reportedly both in the running to take over from Lautner. And a representative for the franchise admits the film’s castings are not yet set in stone. A spokesperson tells MTV, “The casting decision in regards to the character Jacob Black has yet to be made.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Will Robert Pattinson be joining Johnny Depp‘s band of buccaneers in the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean installment? An unsourced rumor claims the Twilight highlight might be in line to join the franchise, but we will remain properly skeptical until somebody connected with the Pirates film confirms it. Or we go see the movie and he’s actually in it. That said, it did get us thinking, and that can only mean one thing: a poll! (Eonline)

 

Harrison Ford as Regis Philbin? Well, not quite. But the billion-dollar action star has been cast as one of the personalities of “Morning Glory,” a Paramount comedy that takes place in and around a morning talk show. Rachel McAdams is in final negotiations to join the cast as well. Roger Michell (“Venus”) is attached to direct, and J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing through their Bad Robot banner. Sherryl Clark and Guy Riedel will executive produce. Aline Brosh McKenna (“The Devil Wears Prada”) wrote the script about a grizzled old-school anchor in the Ted Koppel mold (Ford) who quits in disgust with the gossip-heavy direction of the evening newscast. He is then recruited by a hot up-and-coming producer (McAdams) to help revive a morning talk show, only to be paired with his rival. Bad Robot, which typically focuses on just one production at a time, has been eyeing “Morning Glory” all summer as McKenna polished her script. Now that the company’s “Star Trek” is nearing completion, Paramount has been keen on pushing “Glory” as Robot’s next project. The 66-year-old Ford hasn’t been showcased in a comedic role since “Sabrina” and “Working Girl.” But the newsroom has often supplied the context for trenchant comedy, from “His Girl Friday” to “Network” and “Broadcast News.” (The less said about the 1996 Robert Redford-Michelle Pfeiffer vehicle “Up Close & Personal” the better.) The filmmakers had been discussing the producer role with Reese Witherspoon, but McAdams, repped by UTA, is now in line to play the part. The “Wedding Crashers” star will next be seen in “State of Play” and “The Time Traveler’s Wife.” The UTA-repped Ford will next be seen in Wayne Kramer’s immigration drama, “Crossing Over.” The CAA-repped Michell has also helmed “Enduring Love,” “Changing Lanes” and “Notting Hill.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Jason Reitman and producing partner Daniel Dubiecki are exec producing “The Wedding,” a romantic comedy that visits the perils and peccadilloes of young love. Jesse Eisenberg is attached to star in the project as a young man who crashes the wedding of a 30-ish woman he is infatuated with. Anna Friel, who stars on ABC’s “Pushing Daisies” and in Universal’s upcoming adventure tale “Land of the Lost,” plays the bride. Max Winkler is penning the script for “Wedding.” The UTA-repped writer has “The Ornate Anatomy of Living Things” set up with Reitman and Dubiecki’s Hard C. A number of studios and financiers are eyeing “Wedding,” though none has come aboard yet. Reitman has collaborated on a number of projects with Fox Searchlight, including “Juno” and the ninja picture “Bonzai Shadowhands,” which is in development with Reitman attached to produce and potentially direct. The WMA-repped Eisenberg, who made his name with the divorce drama “The Squid and the Whale,” stars in “Adventureland,” the Greg Mottola coming-of-age story that Miramax will release next year. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Marcel Sarmiento and Gadi Harel are attached to write and direct a remake of the Danish thriller “Murk”/”Mørke” for Gold Circle Films. Gold Circle president Paul Brooks will produce alongside Bridge Films president Matthew Riklin. Scott Niemeyer and Norm Waitt will executive produce. Guy Danella and Brad Kessell will oversee the project for Gold Circle. “Mørke,” released in 2005, details a journalist’s investigation into his sister’s mysterious death on her wedding night and the whereabouts of her missing fiancé. Anders Thomas Jensen co-wrote the original film with Jannik Johansen, who also directed. Sarmiento and Harel, repped by the Gotham Group, plan to add a high-tech twist to the update. The pair’s debut film, “Deadgirl,” premiered in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival in September and will be released next year by Dark Sky Films. The low-budget horror film scripted by Trent Haaga, about two high school buddies who find a (kind of) dead girl in the basement of an abandoned mental hospital, polarized audiences with its disturbing story line. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

 

TV . . .

 

The People’s Choice Awards says Carrie Underwood will perform at its 35th annual ceremony next month. The awards show, airing Jan. 7 on CBS, will be hosted by Queen Latifah at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, organizers said Wednesday. The People’s Choice trophies go to fan favorites in TV, movies and music. Underwood went from “American Idol” winner to a country music star whose hits include “Just a Dream” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” (Daily Record)

 

Jessica Alba is to star in the American version of The Office this February. The Fantastic Four star will make a cameo appearance in an hour-long episode due to be aired following the American Super Bowl on 1 February. In the show, called Stress Relief, some of the office workers secretly bootleg a Hollywood movie starring Jessica alongside Jack Black. (British Glamour)

 

On Tuesday’s Late Show With David Letterman, Tom Cruise poked fun at himself by reading the top 10 “Craziest Things People Say About Tom Cruise on the Internet” (watch clip, above). “I’ve always wanted to do this,” he told Letterman before revealing the list. “I have done a lot of things in my life — and definitely this is on the bucket list.”

The top 10:
10. I sleep upside-down suspended in a special bat – like harness.
9. During the filming of Days of Thunder, on a dare, I ate a tire.
8. I still wear those underpants from Risky Business.
7. My real name is Tom Blagojevich.
6. I once Heimliched a koala.
5. Once a month, I take the Universal tour naked.
4. I believe all emotional and psychological disorders can be cured with Vicks Vapo Rub.
3. I’m a power mad ego maniac who’s completely insulated from reality – oh wait, that’s Letterman.
2. After jumping on her couch, Oprah hammer-locked me until I coughed blood.
1. I keep a cell phone in my pants so I can tell friends to call my [expletive]. (US Weekly)

 

X Factor judge Simon Cowell has revealed he may not helm the talent show beyond 2010. Simon Cowell has hinted that he may leave the X Factor after the next series due to his other TV commitments. Simon currently appears as a judge on American Idol and Britain’s Got Talent as well ITV’s flagship talent show. “It looks like I’m only going to be doing it until 2010. I’ve really felt it this year. When you do three shows a year it’s tiring and something’s got to give,” he told Showbiz Spy. “I’m contracted to do one more series and then I’ll make a decision. I’ll see how I feel in the New Year. I’m going to sit down in January and ask everyone if they want to come back on the show – because I’m not sure everyone does. Dannii and I have genuinely never discussed her coming back. I’ve not sat down with anyone and discussed coming back—including her. If Dannii says no then there’s always someone new, and that applies to everyone,” he added. (Handbag)

 

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag don’t appear to be any closer to getting legally hitched. A brief tease for the fourth season finale of MTV’s “The Hills” that aired Monday seemed to indicate that the reality TV couple have made their unofficial Mexican wedding ceremony a legitimate marriage in California. The pair were shown walking into a courtroom with Pratt’s sister, Stephanie Pratt, while a judge smiled down on them from the bench. “I, Heidi, take thee, Spencer,” Montag coos in the preview. Despite all the official trappings, the tease of legitimate nuptials for the pair may be just that. A Los Angeles Superior Court official said Tuesday that MTV was recently granted permission to shoot in a courtroom in Beverly Hills, but it was done after hours – and that’s not one of their judges sitting on the bench in “The Hills” footage. MTV was granted permission to film “what purported to be a wedding outside of court hours” at the Beverly Hills courthouse, court spokesman Allan Parachini said Tuesday. He did not know who the participants were in the wedding, but Parachini said court officials wanted the filming to be treated as a news event. The preview for next week’s season finale features a wood-paneled courtroom with the California state seal perched on the wall behind a judge. Civil ceremonies are sometimes performed at the Beverly Hills courthouse, but not in the manner portrayed in the brief preview. If a judge does preside, it is typically in chambers during a break, Parachini said. Pratt, 25, and Montag, 22, acknowledged that their Nov. 19 marriage ceremony near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, was entirely symbolic, despite appearing on the Nov. 26 cover of Us Weekly with the headline “Heidi & Spencer Elope!” Monday’s episode of “The Hills” depicted the pair spontaneously agreeing to exchange vows after downing several shots of tequila. “In my mind, it’s as legal as the ring on my finger,” Pratt told Us Weekly. A check of marriage records last week did not reveal any filings by Pratt or Montag in Los Angeles County, although the couple could get married in any county in California as well as opt for a confidential license. Officials at two courthouses in neighboring Orange County said they have not received requests from MTV to film in their facilities. The couple and MTV did not immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday. (Daily Record)

 

Nigel Lythgoe has set the barre (pronounced: bar) high for his new series, “Superstars of Dance.” “We’re bringing class to NBC,” he says. Lythgoe’s global dance competition, which premieres Jan. 4, will bring together leading professionals from eight nations for judging by a panel of judges from around the world. Co-hosts are Susie Castillo (“House of Payne”) and Michael Flatley (“Lord of the Dance”), who Lythgoe hails as “the world’s best-known dancer.” Lythgoe, an executive producer, is best known to viewers as a judge on his Fox dancing contest, “So You Think You Can Dance.” The countries scheduled to participate on “Superstars” are Ireland, India, Argentina, China, Russia, South Africa, Australia and the United States. Flatley describes it as “an intoxicating mix of cultures.” (Daily Record)

 

The Dec. 16 premiere of “Momma’s Boys,” brought to you by Ryan Seacrest Productions, was in danger of being blocked. A Turkish reality show claimed that the NBC show “willfully appropriated” the format of “The Perfect Bride,” which aired in Turkey in 2004. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC.) “Momma’s Boys” features three single men looking for love, with the caveat that the mothers of the three men get to weigh in on potential brides. “Perfect Bride,” which has been a hit in Turkey and other countries, also involves mothers of unmarried men having a say in the women their sons choose to date. Evans Anyanwu, the lawyer who filed the suit in Manhattan Federal Court,  said, “It’s like me having a talent show and saying: We’re going to pick the next ‘American Idol.’ ” Never fear though, “Momma’s Boys” saw the light of day. According to an NBC rep on Tuesday, “NBC prevailed in court this morning in a copyright and trademark lawsuit over NBC’s new reality show “Momma’s Boys.” The judge in the federal court in New York rejected the plaintiffs’ request to prevent “Momma’s Boys” from premiering tonight. NBC will seek dismissal of the case.” Reps for Ryan Seacrest had no comment. (Scoop)

 

“Grey’s Anatomy” star T.R. Knight might not be leaving the show (yet) but he’s left the country. Knight was spotted Dec. 16 at the gravesite of Argentine legend Eva Peron in Buenos Aires’ Recoleta Cemetery. At least one fan asked for a picture, and Knight obliged. “He posed with a woman who asked him in English with a Spanish accent if he would pose with her, and he was kind,” says an eyewitness. “He bent over to look at a scraggly kitty that was lying in the scorching sun. Then he disappeared.” (Scoop)

 

Oprah Winfrey’s new media frontier? Pay cable. After 20 years at ABC, Winfrey’s Harpo Films has inked a three-year exclusive deal with HBO to develop and produce scripted programming, including series, miniseries, movies and documentaries. “This is truly a dream come true for us,” Harpo Films president Kate Forte said. “It’s part of the natural evolution of our company.” Harpo’s deal with HBO was sealed after two meetings — one at CAA, which reps Harpo, and one at Winfrey’s estate in Montecito, Calif.  “It sounds corny, but it was almost love at first sight,” HBO’s West Coast chief Michael Lombardo said. “The more we talked, the more we realized that our companies are very similar in sensibilities.” The pact starts Jan. 1, after the expiration of Harpo’s current first-look longform pact with ABC. As part of Harpo’s long-term relationship with ABC, the company produced a slew of acclaimed and highly rated TV movies and miniseries under the “Oprah Winfrey Presents” banner, including the Emmy-winning “Tuesdays With Morrie” and “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Harpo also made its first foray into unscripted programming on ABC this year with “Oprah’s Big Give,” produced by Harpo Prods.  ABC approached Winfrey and Forte about extending their deal, but Harpo opted to go to HBO.  “ABC was always incredibly supportive of us. It is much more about the opportunity HBO offers us,” Forte said. “There are natural limitations to network TV, including being driven by ratings and commercial sponsorship.” With the longform genre close to extinction at the broadcast networks, it also is understandable for Winfrey to look for a new partner, with the dominant player in the field, HBO, being a natural choice. While Harpo used to produce at least one TV movie for ABC every year, the frequency decreased in the past decade, with only two films premiering in the past seven years.  Forte declined to elaborate on the type of programming Harpo will develop for HBO but said it would be “an eclectic mix.” On the feature side, Harpo Films recently produced “The Great Debaters,” directed by and starring Denzel Washington. Additionally, Winfrey’s umbrella company Harpo Inc. is set to launch OWN, a basic cable network focused on unscripted programming done in partnership with Discovery Communications. Meanwhile, Harpo Prods. is behind several syndicated talk shows, including its flagship, “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Disney is to launch a free-to-air channel in Russia in an attempt to bolster its presence in what the company describes as “an extremely important market.” Disney is partnering with local broadcaster Media-One Holdings and aims to have the channel up and running across the network of 30 stations that Media-One operates across Russia with Disney output and Russian-produced content. Anchored by Disney programming for children and family, the channel also plans to air original Russian programming, Disney said. The launch is slated for 2009, pending regulatory approval from Russian government authorities. Disney will invest cash and provide programming and marketing expertise and content acquisition support in return for a 49% stake in the joint venture company. Media-One will provide knowledge and operational experience in the Russian market, its local broadcast station portfolio and its advertising sales expertise.  Media-One will be the majority shareholder and will appoint a majority of the joint venture company’s board of directors. “Russia is an extremely important market for Disney, and this new Disney channel is a great way for us to expand our brand and business,” Disney president and CEO Bob Iger said. Media-One CEO Ivan Tavrin said: “We believe that the combination of Disney’s unparalleled media experience and content capabilities and our knowledge of the local television market will enable us to create a unique channel that is predestined for success. We set ourselves the goal not only to become a popular kids and family focused free-to-air television channel in the country, but also to produce attractive financial results in a relatively short time frame.” Disney’s CIS managing director Marina Jigalova-Ozkan described the move as “one the most significant steps for the development of the Disney brand in Russia.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

TV’s top breakfast cast is heading to a one-time-only slot after dinner. NBC’s “Today” is prepping a primetime special for Dec. 22. The hourlong “2008: Today Looks Back, a Holiday Special” will begin at 8 p.m. As the name implies, the program will review the year with the five top news stories, “moving moments” and personalities. It’s the first time in 13 years that “Today” has gotten a spot in primetime. “It was such an incredible year, with the economy and the election and the Olympics, just for starters,” said executive producer Jim Bell. “There were a range of emotions and stories that resonated, in particular on the ‘Today’ show.” The idea came several months ago when Ben Silverman called and asked if “Today” would be interested in doing a primetime special. Bell said Tuesday that the crew was enthusiastic about being in primetme. Several producers have been working on the show for weeks; senior producer Don Nash is in charge of the special. It will be hosted by Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry, who will work in the evening this week — in addition to their day jobs — to put the show together. It won’t be live. Also appearing are other “Today” staffers including Lester Holt, Amy Robach, Willard Scott, Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford. One segment will be on “Today” bloopers, of which there are likely to be many. “When you’re doing four hours of TV (live) a day, you inevitably end up with a lot of material for outtakes and blooper reels,” Bell said. Who knows? The primetime show could become an annual event. “I suppose but I don’t know if we’re going to have another year like we did in 2008,” Bell said. “I really think it was the year that called for it, too. There was such incredible material. But you never know. We’re always here to help.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

The BBC has said the phone-line controversy of the Strictly Come Dancing final was “unforgivable”. The controversial outcome of Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing semi-final was “unforgivable” a BBC spokesman has said. During the weekend’s show judges awarded equal points to both Rachel Stevens and Lisa Snowdon meaning Holby City star Tom Chambers couldn’t avoid a dance off regardless of the viewer vote. Producers deemed this unfair and decided to let all three couples through to this weekend’s final prompting nearly 1,800 complaints from disgruntled viewers. “That’s the unforgivable thing about this – we should’ve seen it coming,” Jon Beazley, the BBC’s Head of Entertainment Productions, told BBC Breakfast. “The fact is we didn’t so we’re doing whatever we can now to sort it out.” He said there were many contingencies on the show, “but nobody had planned for the exceptional circumstances of a tie at the top of the leaderboard”. (Handbag)

 

 

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . .  (Internet)

 

Q.  It’s estimated that at least 10,000 people will do this in front of the Christmas Tree this year. What is it?

            A.  Get engaged

 

 

TODAY’S QUOTE  (By Grace Hansen)

 

“DON’T BE AFRAID YOUR LIFE WILL END, BE AFRAID THAT IT WILL NEVER BEGIN.”

 

 

MIND BOGGLERS . . .  (QuickTrivia)

 

Q.  The last five words of the song “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”?

            A.  If only you will wait

            B.  If only in my dreams  ****

            C.  If it doesn’t snow

            D.  If I can find a cab

 

Q.  Named for the Tunisian town near which the sequences were filmed, what was Luke Skywalker’s home planet?

            A.  Alderaan

            B.  Tatooine  ****

            C.  Hoth

            D.  Yavan

 

Q.  In 1652, George Fox founded what religious group?

            A.  Quakers  ****

            B.  Amish

            C.  Shakers

            D.  Methodists

 

Q.  What was the original home of the Chargers?

            A.  Chicago

            B.  St. Louis

            C.  Cleveland

            D.  Los Angeles  ****

 

Q.  Which Paddy Chayefsky TV play went on as a motion picture to win four Oscars and the Cannes Golden Palm?

            A.  Rear Window

            B.  Marty  ****

            C.  On the Waterfront

            D.  Network

 

Q.  Cannae was the site of a remarkable victory by which military leader?

            A.  Napoleon

            B.  Patton

            C.  Hannibal  ****  (To this day, historians use the victory as a point of reference for a very decisive victory)

            D.  Alexander the Great

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

 

TRAVEL-FRIENDLY PDAs:

 

Many PDAs are becoming increasingly travel-friendly, so now frequent fliers now can rely on their personal digital assistants for more than just scheduling meetings and making calls. With the Blackberry or the Palm Treo, you can now access Orbitz mobile service. This lets you check hotel vacancies in 20 U.S. cities for the same night and call the hotel to confirm your reservation by just pushing one button. If you type in the three-letter airport code into your PDA’s FlightStats application, you can find out how long the airport’s security line will be, based on data from the TSA. Some PDAs can activate GPS tracking, which can give you turn-by-turn directions to get where you need to go. Other features on these PDAs will help you translate a language, check the weather, find restaurants and even find places to dance—that is, if you have any energy left after all that.

 

(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 . . .

 

—1778  Acrobat/Clown Joseph Grimaldi (d. 5-31-1837)

—1886  Baseball’s Tyrus “Ty” Cobb (d. 7-17-1961)

—1916  Actress Betty Grable (d. 7-2-1973)

—1917  Actor Ossie Davis (Do The Right Thing) (d. 2-4-2005)

—1932  Actor Roger Smith (Mr. Ann-Margaret)

—1938  Musician Chas Chandler (The Animals) (“House Of The Rising Sun”) (d. 7-17-1996)

—1941  Sam Andrew – guitarist for Big Brother and The Holding Company (“Piece Of My Heart”)

—1943  Musician Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones) (“Get Off Of My Cloud”)

—1943  Musician/Saxophone Bobby Keys

—1946  Producer/Director Steven Spielberg (Schindler’s List)

—1950  Movie Critic Leonard Maltin (Entertainment Tonight)

—1953  Guitarist Elliott Easton (The Cars) (“Moving In Stereo”)

—1955  Actor Ray Liotta (Goodfellas)

—1959  Musician Robin Hild (Scarlett & Black)

—1961  Musician Ken Foreman (Thrashing Doves)

—1963  Baseketball’s Charles Oakley

—1963  Actor Brad Pitt (Ocean’s Eleven)

¾1965  Wrestler/Actor “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (Nash Bridges)

¾1968  Actor Casper Van Dien (I Married A Princess)

¾1978  Actress Katie Holmes (Dawson’s Creek)

¾1980  Singer Christina Aguilera

 

 

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

 

—1737  The most famous violin maker of all time, Antonio Stradivarius, (born 1644) died in Cremona Italy.

—1777  The Continental Army, under command of General George Washington, took up winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

—1823  Georgia passed the nation’s first law requiring registration of all births.

—1862  The first orthopedic hospital was organized in New York City. It was called the Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled.

—1865  The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution went into effect, abolishing slavery. (This was  AFTER the Civil War; there were slave-owners in the Northern states throughout the conflict.)

—1890  The world’s first electric underground railway, the City & South London Railway, opened in London.

—1956  TV premiere of the long-running game show “To Tell the Truth.”

—1961  “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens peaked at #1.

—1966  Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” aired for the first time on CBS.

—1970  The Beatles release “From Them To Us,” a Christmas album for their fan club. It’s the Fab Four’s last recording as a group.

—1975  Rod Stewart announces that he’s leaving the Faces for a solo career.

—1981  A concert at the LA Forum featuring Rod Stewart, Kim Carnes, and Tina Turner is broadcast live worldwide in 23 countries. The broadcast is the first of its kind since Elvis Presley’s “Aloha from Hawaii” in 1973.

—1983  Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) marries model Patricia Hansen in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Mick Jagger is best  man at the ceremony.

—1984  The top U.S. single is Madonna’s “Like A Virgin,” her first number one hit.

—1985  “Beverly Hills Cop” became the top movie grosser of the year with $229.9 million in tickets sold. “Back to the Future” with Michael J. Fox was second, followed by “Rambo: First Blood, Part 2.”

—1989  Amy Grant gives birth to a second child, a girl named Gloria Mills (Millie) Chapman.

—1992  A woman sues Rick James for $1 million claiming he broke a contract allowing her to record two of his songs.

—1995  It’s announced that the reformed Eagles had the highest concert gross for the year. More than $60 million for their 58-show “Hell Freezes Over” tour.

¾2006  Wolfgang Puck (57yrs old) welcomed a son into the world, with girlfriend Gelila. Their son, Alexander weighed in at 7lbs. 03 ozs.

 

 

RADIO ONLINE® DAILY SHOW PREP™ . . .

 

ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1719 Thomas Fleet of Boston, MA, published his mother-in-law’s tales in the book, “Mother Goose.” How about a little Modern Mother Goose?

Jack & Jill went up the hill
To have a little fun
Stupid Jill forgot the pill
And now they have a son.

Mary had a little lamb
Her father shot it dead
Now it goes to school with her
Between two hunks of bread.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the kings horses and all the kings men
Had scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast.

Hickory dickory dock
Three mice ran up the clock
The clock struck one
And the others got away with minor injuries.

Mary had a little lamb
It walked into a pylon
10,000 volts went up its… well, you know
and turned its wool to nylon.

On this date in 1787, New Jersey became our country’s third state and adopted the official state slogan, “Stop! Wait! No, come back! Where you going?”

In 1813, the British took Fort Niagra. Eventually, we made them put it back.

On this date in 1849, a photo of the moon was taken through a telescope for the very first time. The guy doing the mooning was arrested.

In 1932, the Chicago Bears beat the Portsmouth Spartans, 9-0, in the first NFL playoff game. There was quite a half-time scandal, when the featured singer flashed her ankle to the crowd. The game was sponsored by Sarsaparilla Light.

TODAY IS

Christina Aguilera celebrates number 28 today. Please, no more “Mr. Clean” for a birthday gift. She’s already seen that “Genie in a Bottle” gag way too many times.

Katie Holmes turns the big 3-0 today. She’s trying to catch up with Tom. As a birthday treat, Tom is going to give her the day off from mind-meld therapy.

Find a Friend, Be a Friend Day — Have somebody call a brand new friend or acquaintance, someone they don’t know really well and ask them for a huge favor. “Can you lend me money? Can you watch my kids? Can I have a kidney?” It’s very funny!

Play Bingo Day — Have listeners design their own playing “cards” with your call letters at top and 4 blanks on the left side leaving 16 open squares in the middle. In the 4 blanks down the left side the listener writes the last 4 digits of their phone number. Announce letter/number combinations like “Z4″. First to get a “line” (diagonal vertical horizontal) wins.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

·         Time magazine has named President-Elect Barack Obama their “Man of the Year.”

·         No Doubt has pushed back the release of their next album until 2010 so they can concentrate on a 2009 tour.

·         The Roman Catholic church is peeved at Playboy over the cover of its Mexican edition, which features a photo of a scantily-clad busty Argentine model, Maria Florencia Onori, who seems like a depiction of the Virgin Mary. Playboy Mexico insists that is not the case.

·         Macaulay Culkin was shooting the NBC drama “Kings” when he was told that his sister had been killed by a car.

·         Country star Tim McGraw says the rumors that he will run for governor of Tennessee in 2010 are false.

·         Tough times, even for celebrities: Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of TLC is facing foreclosure on her Georgia home.

·         Hilary Duff says she was misquoted when she told journalists she was still a virgin at the age of 19. The 21-year-old former Disney star told Maxim magazine, “You know what? I was quoted saying I was a virgin, but I absolutely did not say that. That’s nobody’s business but my own. Somehow it turned into a bad thing!”

·         Jessica Alba will guest star along with Jack Black in the post-Super Bowl episode of “The Office.”

·         NBC’s “Today” is preparing an hour-long primetime special for December 22.

·         If you care what Hugh Hefner says, he told a reporter the other day that “several girlfriends are better than one wife.”

·         A Pennsylvania couple named their son Adolph Hitler Campbell when he was born 3 years ago. Why are we hearing about this now? A grocery store manager refused to decorate his birthday cake with his full name.

·         That tie Jennifer Aniston is wearing on the current cover of GQ (and, by the way, it’s the only thing she’s wearing) is from Brooks Brothers.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

A national survey of over 1,000 children and adults ranked “It’s A Wonderful Life” as one of the top holiday films. Adults were asked to update the classic film with contemporary casting. Respondents would like to see:

·         George Clooney as George Bailey

·         Jennifer Aniston as Mary Hatch Bailey

·         Jack Nicholson as the villainous Henry F. Potter

·         Robin Williams as angel Clarence Odbody

·         Dakota Fanning as daughter Zuzu

For those still shopping, children were asked what gift they would choose if they could only receive one this holiday season. The number one answer was a Nintendo Wii, followed by Nintendo DS, Sony Playstation 3 or a bike.

A recent Entertainment Weekly online poll asked, “What’s your favorite holiday TV special?”

·         “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” 33%

·         “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” 28%

·         “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” 23%

·         “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” 9%

·         “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” 4%

·         “Frosty the Snowman,” 3%

Woman’s Day found that 14% of you will be doing holiday shopping on Christmas Eve. The magazine also reports that 64% of kids say mom does most of the work preparing for Christmas. Only 1% say dad does his fair share, according to KidzEeys Holiday Wish List and Habits survey.

As Santa makes his list this holiday season, he may want to consider paper or plastic as an option as 52.1% say they would rather receive a gift card or cash, according to the American Pulse Survey. Why? It seems consumers do not like gifts that were chosen for them (45.4%), while others (46.3%) say they hate to return gifts because it is a hassle. Want more?

·         69.4% say they would rather give than receive.

·         70.9% like it when employees wish them a “Merry Christmas” while shopping

·         92.6% feel malls, stores and parks should be allowed to display the Christian Nativity Scene during the Christmas season.

·         82.4% say gift cards are a smart gift alternative for people they don’t know well

·         10.5% have “re-gifted” gift cards received, while 22.5% have “re-gifted” gifts received

·         22.7% like to exchange gifts for things they would rather have

·         13.5% have received gift cards that they’ve never redeemed

·         16.1% have received gift cards that they’ve only partially redeemed

7 years is the average age that we stopped believing in Santa Claus, according to Women’s Health. How did Saint Nick get outed? We caught Mom and Dad with the presents.

PHONE TOPICS

·         Which relative needs to be banned from the family Christmas?

·         Finish this sentence: Christmas is GREAT! Except for…

·         Who plays Santa every year? Any funny stories?

·         Best thing to get stuffed in your stocking?

·         At what age does it “all start going downhill”?

·         What’s your favorite holiday food?

·         Has your pet ever done anything heroic?

·         Ladies, if your guy gave you the gift certificate for more juggles would you be happy or angry that he would suggest it?

·         Anyone currently in the middle of a huge fight with their next door neighbor over something stupid? Really great calls!

·         Any holiday traditions unique to your family? Something nobody else does?

·         Does anyone send Christmas cards anymore?

·         Best place to hide Christmas gifts.

·         Do you feel guilty snubbing the Salvation Army outside supermarkets?

·         Anyone have a holiday tattoo?

·         How many Christmas cards do you mail out each year?

Is the Governor of NY really just upset over the SNL episode from last weekend? Is that why he’s upping everyone’s taxes? What do you think. Here’s what’s happening: Gov. David Paterson’s first state budget threatens to affect just about every New Yorker. Even those online. He proposed this week a budget that would increase spending by $1.3 billion. Much of the growth is revenue from 88 new or higher fees and will hit New Yorkers in many areas, from downloading music to sipping drinks to fishing. One of the proposed hikes is a so-called “iPod tax,” which would tax the sale of downloaded music and other “digitally delivered entertainment services” by 4 percent. There also would be higher taxes on gas, taxi rides, cable and satellite TV service, cigars, beer, movie and sports tickets, and health spa visits, to name a few items. Even diet coke, which he says leads to obesity.

Are Christmas cards ancient history? Do you still send out Christmas cards? How long does it take you to fill out the yearly cards? What kind do you like to send? If the traditional Christmas dinner doesn’t fill you up this yuletide, a company has come up with a novel alternative – eat the Christmas cards. The eco-friendly cards are made from potato starch, signed in edible ink and feature a giant image of some festive Brussels sprouts. Do you think edible Christmas cards is a tasty idea?

Did you, or do you still swear by the cold remedy Airborne? I used to take it all the time, but I stopped after experts said it was just a fizzy treat that couldn’t really prevent a cold. In fact, Airborne has agreed to pay $7 million to settle allegations by 32 attorneys general that it made false claims about its products. What other drug store “remedies” do you think are a croc?

My co-host is a bad person. At least that’s what I tell her. You see, her friend broke up with a boyfriend about a month ago. Now, my co-host has started to see her ex! Plus she hasn’t told her friend about it yet. It’s getting serious too. Phoner: Is it wrong to date a friend’s ex-boyfriend? Have you ever dated a friend’s ex? How much time should have to go by before their ex is “fair game?”

I have a few friends of mine who have been together for 14 years, and there’s no ring in sight. I keep asking my buddy if he’s going to pop the question anytime soon, and he always says, “Why? Things are going so well, why ruin it?” Phoner: Is marriage just not important anymore? Everyone knows about the ball that gets dropped on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. But you may not have heard about the dropping of the sausage, or the gumbo pot, or the giant Peep, a 25-pound fiberglass replica of the famed marshmallowy candy made in Pennsylvania. TripAdvisor.com has assembled a list of these and other quirky New Year’s Eve events to create a top 10 list of wacky things that get lowered on Dec. 31 around the country to mark the arrival of the new year:

·         The Peep show is in Bethlehem, Pa., marking the third time the city has dropped the illuminated treat from a crane at midnight as part of a family-friendly First Night celebration.

·         Also in Pennsylvania, in the town of Lebanon, a 7 1/2-foot edible bologna made by the Weaver-Kutztown Bologna Company is lowered at midnight and then donated to area charities.

·         In Key West, Fla., there are three such countdown celebrations: a conch shell lowered on a pole to the roof of Sloppy Joe’s Bar, the lowering of “Drag Queen Sushi” in a 6-foot-tall shoe at the Bourbon Street Pub, and the descent of a costumed pirate “wench” from a schooner in the harbor.

·         In Port Clinton, Ohio, the self-proclaimed “Walleye Capital of the World” drops a 20-foot, 600-pound fiberglass walleye fish at midnight.

·         In Elmore, Ohio, there’s a sausage fest, inspired by a local business,Tank’s Meats. A lit-up 18-foot sausage drops to welcome in the New Year, but there’s also a sausage toss and a sausage-eating contest.

·         Mount Olive, N.C., has a pickle drop with a 3-foot-high glowing pickle plunging down the Mount Olive Pickle Company’s flagpole into a tank.

·         Raleigh, N.C., lowers a massive copper acorn weighing 1,250 pounds from atop the city’s civic center as part of a First Night event.

·         A giant gumbo pot is lowered in New Orleans to mark the New Year, along with fireworks on the Mississippi.

·         In Easton, Md., a giant crab is what gets lowered as part of a First Night celebration, and in Plymouth, Wis., it’s a great big hunk of cheese — though not an edible hunk.

Lots of people are using Self Storage Bays to hide their gifts from Santa this year. We’ve heard that several women rented the “Santa Closets” this year to house large presents like big-screen TVs and recliners for their husbands. Where did you hide your Christmas gifts for your spouse or your kids? Where’s the best place?

More than nine out of 10 Americans, men and women alike, have had premarital sex, according to a recent study. The high rates extend even to women born in the 1940s, challenging perceptions that people were more chaste in the past. Ask your celibate listeners why they waited and if the “wait was worth it”.

We took a bunch of phone calls today on cool home remedies to cure your sickness. Duct tape for warts? Toothpaste for zits? Did you know that more people search online for home remedies than for symptom checkers? Some of the home remedies we heard were supposed to treat acne, earwax, stretch marks and constipation. Do you have a great home remedy to cure something?

My co-host says that she’s lost all interest in sex with her husband. She says that he’s a great guy, very sweet, and she loves him… but when he touches her, she says she wants to just run away. Is her relationship over? Is this feeling normal? What can someone do to regain their sex drive before having to get a divorce?

Is it a good or bad idea to propose under the mistletoe, in front of the family on Christmas/Christmas Eve? Doesn’t this put everyone in an uncomfortable position? What if she says, “No.” Or “Let’s go outside and talk.” Doesn’t this run the risk of being the worst Christmas ever? And if she knows it’s coming, the cheese factor is very high… and will she get another gift, or is the ring “it?”

What’s the funniest warning label on a product that you’ve ever seen? Here are some wacky label winners:

1.      A warning on a small tractor that reads “Danger: Avoid Death” has been chosen as the nation’s wackiest warning label by an anti-lawsuit group.

2.      A label found on an iron-on T-shirt transfer that warns: “Do not iron while wearing shirt.”

3.      A label on a baby stroller featuring a small storage pouch that warns: “Do not put child in bag.”

What’s the funniest or strangest warning label that you’ve ever seen? I remember seeing a TV ad for a sleeping pill that warned, “may cause drowsiness.” Ironic huh?

This time of year there are a lot of Christmas performances, we asked parents to call in the best stage fright or other performance nightmare stories. It is always so cute when the kids “mess up” their lines or come out on stage and just talk to their loved ones in the audience. We even heard about a kid who just picked his nose the whole performance. Hilarious stuff!

Now this was good too. “How do you cat-proof or child-proof a tree?” Everyone has a different home remedy for accomplishing this. Some really good ideas, and callers swear they all work.

One of our listeners baked us some Christmas cookies this year, and my co-host won’t eat them. He says he never eats something that someone else bakes for him. Especially if he doesn’t know the person really well. He says what if they make the batter in their undies, smoking a cigarette, and let their cat lick the bowl. The thought of things like that freaks him out. I told them he’s crazy. See if your listeners would eat baked goods from an “almost” stranger.

My friend’s Christmas light display, now consumes almost $400 in electricity a month, 20 times the average bill. Every night, crowds gather in front of the house, bathed in the glare of more than 100,000 lights. With all the worry about energy consumption in the U.S., is it OK for someone to use so much electricity for Christmas lights? Or is it worth the joy it brings?

What is your antidote to a frantic day’s Christmas shopping? In China, one of the de-stressing options available to rich and poor alike is to go for a foot wash. It’s a popular new trend. What do you do to pamper yourself when you’re really stressed out?

WEIRD NEWS

Bah Humbug NYPD!
Not much holiday spirit coming from the NYPD these days. They ticketed Santa Claus — while he was delivering gifts to children! Chip Cafiero, who was playing the #1 elf at the time says he’ll fight the $115 ticket he received in Brooklyn on Black Friday when he was dressed as Santa. The 60-year-old retired schoolteacher was riding a horse-drawn carriage and handing out toys and candy canes. An SUV carrying the toys and protecting the horse from traffic was double parked next to him. Santa says he yelled “Ho! Ho! Ho!” to get the traffic agent’s attention because the SUV wasn’t blocking traffic. But in his words, “This Grinch just went ahead and fined me.” No comment yet from the NYPD or the officer who gave the ticket — who can clearly expect nothing but coal in his stocking this year. (Daily News)

Throwing Shoes Is Good For Your Career
The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush during a press conference in Baghdad has received offers of a job and an offer of $10 million for one of the shoes! 29-year-old Muntadhar al-Zeidi has been offered a job by the Lebanese TV channel NTV and if he takes it they say his salary will be retroactive to the day he threw his shoes at Bush — last Sunday. A manager of NTV also said the station is willing to post bail for Zeidi should he decide to accept the offer. Zeidi is currently under Iraqi police custody and is facing a two-year imprisonment for insulting a visiting head of state. In the meantime, a 60-year-old Saudi entrepreneur reportedly offered $10 million bucks for one of Zeidi’s shoes thrown at Bush. An Iraqi businessman also said he’ll pay any price for the footwear that has become a symbol of the Iraqi people’s disgust over what they see as Bush oppressive policies against them. (AHN News)

Smoking Causes Cancer — and Oh Yeah, You’ll Get Fat!
If the cancer risk isn’t enough to make you stop smoking, maybe this will get your attention. A new study from the Department of Public Health in Helsinki, Finland, says teenage girls who smoke are at an increased risk for developing not only lung cancer later in life, but thicker waistlines as well! Girls who smoke 10 cigarettes or more a day as teens have an increased risk of developing a wide waistline later in life teenage boys don’t appear to have the same risk. Girl smoker’s waist sizes averaged 1.34 inches larger than nonsmokers’ waists as young adults. The study followed thousands of teens and will be published in the February 2009 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. (AHN News)

Christmas Bowling Comes Early
In Sheboygan, Wisconsin, brothers Ed and Tom Shircel are avid bowlers and just got a big Christmas bowling present early! While they have bowled 10 perfect games as a duo in their bowling careers, now they’ve reached another milestone: each rolling perfect games while bowling side by side. Both Ed and Tom rolled a 300 while bowling Monday night at Lakeshore Lanes for the same team and in the same game. 57-year-old Ed said it’s tough to guess what the odds on that are. Tom said, “We always talked about hitting good on the same nights. We’ve had 700s together, but nothing like this.” (The Sheboygan Press)

Your Egg Beater Or Your Life
That must be one special egg beater! In Tampa, Florida, police say two suspects entered another man’s home and demanded his eggbeater. No kidding. And they were quite serious. One of the suspects was holding a pistol while the other brandished a knife to the resident’s neck. Police caught the egg beating egg heads outside the home and both are now in jail. Police found the eggbeater one of the suspect’s left pocket. (The Tampa Tribune)

Man Wins Lottery Eleven Times!
In Hampton, Virginia, a man won the Virginia Lottery’s Cash 5 top prize of $100,000, and won it, and won it, and won it. His grand total was $1.1 million as he played the same exact numbers 11 times for 11 $100,000 wins! Lottery officials won’t identify the winner, until he comes forward to claim the prize with the winning tickets. All 11 of them! (The Virginian-Pilot)

No Lady — You Can’t Have 27 Dogs!
In Spanish Springs, Nevada, Colleen Spailoni had planned to go to the Animal Shelter to adopt a new dog to replace the one she had lost. But when she got there, her heart took over and she ended up taking 27 dogs home — all which were to be euthanized. Colleen said, “After I lost my dog who gave me so much unconditional love, I couldn’t leave these dogs to die.” Her haul included 10 Chihuahua mixes, one purebred Chihuahua, a Jack Russell, a poodle, two shepherd mixes, two miniature pinschers and an Australian cattle dog mix. Animal control officers helped her load the dogs in her pickup. Some fit in the cab, the others rode in the truck bed with a down blanket and a tarp over the top. But that’s when the trouble began. Once home neighbors complained of all the barking and that’s when she found out a local ordinance prohibits more than three dogs per household. Fortunately the media picked up the story and as of Tuesday Colleen had found homes for all but four of the dogs. She’s hopes to find homes for the remaining dogs before her husband, who is out of town, returns home later this week. (Reno Gazette-Journal)

Get Rich! Post on YouTube!
You may not know it, but for some people, the web site YouTube has moved far beyond just being a hobby of tech savvy youth. It’s become an incredible source of income during troubled economic times. The financial reward of posting videos on the site is the result of YouTube’s invitation for members to become partners by adding advertising to their videos for them to earn on the side. Some YouTube posters are now earning as much as six figures! YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, splits the advertising revenues with the video posters. Because of the popularity of YouTube videos, even federal agencies like the Internal Revenue Service has posted on the Website 30-second public announcements to inform taxpayers how to claim their tax rebates. (Ananova)

HOLE IN THE HEADLINE

·         “Pizza Delivery Man Uses ____ To Evade Thieves!” (Pie)

·         “Burglar: I Was Held Captive By ____ For 3 Days!” (Ghost)

·         “Cops Follow Snow Tracks To Nab ____ Thieves!” (Pizza)

·         “Man Sprays ‘Toilet-Papering’ Teens With Fox ____ !” (Pee)

·         “Woman Ignites Ex’s Clothes, Burns ____ Unit!” (Storage)

·         “Man Handcuffs His ____ To The Bed, Loses Key!” (Wife)

·         “Christmas Comes Early: No Rabies Shots For ____ !” (Santa)

·         “Actor Hurt When Fake ____ Turns Out To Be Real!” (Knife)

·         “Police Flush Man From ____ Ceiling!” (Bathroom)

·         “NYC Man Spends $7,500 To Fight $____ Ticket!” (115)

·         “Woman Smuggles ____ To U.S. Under Blouse!” (Monkey)

·         “Nagging Wife, ____ Help Man Win Lottery!” (Sausage)

GET IT RIGHT OR ELSE

Here’s a twist for your next trivia contest. Get the question right and win a prize. Get it wrong and we give out your cell phone number (or an embarrassing piece of info).

TOP FIVE SIGNS YOU’VE HAD ELVES IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR

1.      Stalk of celery being used as a tiny coat rack

2.      Frankly, I don’t want to know what they’ve been doing in that butter.

3.      “Someone’s been using the Jell-O as a trampoline again!”

4.      Groomed ski trails in the ice cream

5.      Tiny footprints in the pudding

HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter

Christmas is one week from today. Hard to believe it’s only 6 more days until I start my shopping.

New York’s Governor Patterson is proposing a new budget that includes 88 new fees and taxes… like a tax on downloading music, a movie tax, a sporting event tax. Protesters would be gathering outside the state capitol, but they refuse to pay the protest tax. Wait, isn’t that redundant?

The tax that has most people upset is the Tax Tax.

Why not a tax everyone would like to see? Like an A-Rod/Madonna tax.

The Federal Reserve has lowered their benchmark lending rate to its lowest level in history. It’s so low… it’s actually lower than President Bush’s approval rating.

SLOGAN OFF

Classic Edition

·         “The mark of a man” (Old Spice)

·         “Behold, the power of _______” (Cheese)

·         “_________ remembers” (Pepperidge Farms)

·         “Cover the earth” (Sherwin Williams paint)

·         “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” (United Negro College Fund)

Modern Edition

·         “That was easy” (Staples)

·         “What’s in your wallet?” (Capitol One)

·         “Drivers wanted” (Volkswagen)

·         “It’s hospital recommended” (Tylenol)

·         “Better snaking” (Sunkist)

PRETTY WOMAN

Which male member of your show do you think would make the prettiest women? Ask the question, fight over it and then have a make up artist come in and do you both up like a lady so you can see. Or use the women on your show to do it.

NEED A DATE?

You know the free newspaper in your town with all the personals in the back where you can leave a free solicit for yourself to get dates? You and your partner do it on the air and check your messages each day for a week. Or better yet, sign up for one of those Internet matchmaking service. The one who gets more responses wins. If one of you is single go out on a date and record the entire thing for the air.

BUTT REALLY

Cosmopolitan says a guy’s rear view can provide clues to his personality:

·         Square Booty — Broad and square, this behind is flatter than other shapes. These aggressive guys will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.

·         High Heinie — This booty is so compact and round it seems to sit on his lower back and form a small shelf. Shy but sweet, you can always count on this down-to-earth guy.

·         Apple Tush — The upper area quadrants of the butt are fleshier than the bottom areas. These men are looking for an emotional connection with a woman and can be very sensitive, so handle them with care.

·         Bubble Butt — This full, rounded bum really fills out a pair of jeans. This guy is the life of the party and can charm the pants off just about anybody.

BETTER BY THE POUND

Get a scale and invite people to bring their driver’s license and then weigh themselves. Whomever’s weight is furthest/closest to the weight on their license wins a prize.

PICK YOUR PURSE

We’re using a purse, but this could be done with any container. We invite fans to listen at 7:20am when listeners are then told the exact hour to Pick Your Purse. When given the cue-to-call, the 20th caller gets to pick the purse of their choice. Each purse has a special prize inside like cash, iPods, concert tickets and more.

TRIVIA

·         Federal authorities announced they were charging the Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich, with, among other alleged wrongdoings, attempting to “auction” the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Obama. In his complaint, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald referred to potential Senate candidates by numbers; who was “Senate Candidate 5,” who allegedly discussed a “pay to play” deal with Blagojevich? (Jesse Jackson Jr. – an Illinois congressman).

·         Federal prosecutors charge that the Illinois governor was also using his control over state funds to pressure a local newspaper. What is the same of the newspaper, which has been critical of Blagojevich in its editorial pages? (Chicago Tribune)

·         After a weary looking O.J. Simpson made a rambling appeal for leniency during his sentencing for an armed robbery at a Las Vegas hotel, he was sent to jail for up to how many years? (33)

·         President-elect Obama continued to fill his management team, announcing the nomination of retired Gen. Eric K. Shinseki as his veterans affairs secretary. The appointment added to the growing diversity in the incoming Cabinet; what is Shinseki’s ancestry? (Japanese)

·         Barring any last-minute glitches, the New York Yankees will be the proud owners of the most expensive pitcher in baseball, having agreed to a seven-year, $161 million deal for left-handed hurler CC Sabathia. For which team did he play last season? (Milwaukee Brewers)

·         The late Heath Ledger garnered a supporting-actor nod for his role as the Joker in the latest Batman movie, “The Dark Knight”; how many other nominations did the film receive? (None)

·         Jubilant workers agreed to a $1.75 million settlement that ends their six-day occupation of a shuttered Chicago factory that previously had made what? (Windows)

·         Which professional sports league is cutting more than 10 percent of its headquarters staff in response to the downturn in the nation’s economy? (NFL)

·         The average price of U.S. gasoline fell 22 cents a gallon during the past two weeks, bringing it to its lowest level in nearly five years at $1.75 a gallon. But in what city can you still pay $2.54 cents a gallon, the highest in the country? (Anchorage)

·         What company, best-known for its newspaper ownership, filed for bankruptcy? (Tribune)

·         Madonna’s split with film director Guy Ritchie has become one of the most costly celebrity divorces of all time, but isn’t even in the top five, which is led by the $168 million that Michael Jordan paid to Juanita Jordan at the time of their divorce. At $150 million, which celeb had the second most-costly divorce on the list? (Neil Diamond)

·         Who was named Billboard’s top artist of 2008? (Chris Brown)

·         He may be older than your average survivor, but that didn’t keep 58-year-old Bob from bobbing away with the million dollars and the “Survivor Gabon” crown after he received how many votes from the seven-member jury? (Four)

·         Which contestant had a benign tumor removed from her breast after she was eliminated from this past season’s “Dancing with the Stars”? (Toni Braxton)

·         Bettie Page, the 1950s secretary-turned-model whose controversial photographs in skimpy attire — or no attire at all — helped set the stage for the 1960s sexual revolution, who just died at age 85 was a native of what state? (Tennessee)

·         One fan spent how much money in an auction to get the real light saber prop that Mark Hamill used in the first two movies in the original “Star Wars” trilogy? ($240,000)

·         Rosie O’Donnell’s variety of a variety show didn’t work, but that isn’t stopping what network from trying out the very special Ozzy, Sharon, Jack and Kelly Osbourne in a variety show of their own? (Fox)

·         Is each different colored piece of Froot Loops cereal a different flavor? (No)

·         What year was Diet Coke invented? (1982)

·         What breed of dog is Snoopy? (Beagle)

GORSEFEATHERS by Patrick Gorse

Freezing temperatures are causing problems across the country. Last night; it was colder than a transvestite gravedigger’s breast in a brass bra.

Energy workers in Hawaii accidentally drilled so low, they hit a pool of hot volcanic magma. The workers said they knew they were getting pretty low when they found a copy of Barack Obama’s Kenyan birth certificate.

Eva Longoria says that her plans for a week of sex with her injured NBA husband Tony Parker have been scrapped because Tony has decided to accompany the San Antonio Spurs on their current road trip, despite the injury. In a related story, Madonna said, “Sorry Eva. Your loss is my gain.”

Yesterday, $50 billion-dollar Ponzi scheme swindler, Bernie Madoff was placed under house arrest by police, and his wife Ruth agreed to turn over the deeds to homes in New York, and Palm Beach, Florida, if he flees. A lot of Madoff’s investors would gladly agree to a deal that gave up the two home’s addresses.

So Bernie Madoff is under house arrest in his $7 million-dollar Park Avenue apartment. That’s gotta hurt. What…is he going to be wearing a solid-gold, diamond-encrusted electronic monitoring bracelet?

Have you seen those commercials for Official Commemorative Barack Obama Plates on cable TV? Well, John McCain is offering his own set of commemorative plates. With McCain, for $19.95, you get the upper plate, the lower plate, and they throw in a tube of PoliGrip for free.

A Minnesota man named Darnell Frazier who told police his name was Darnell Lewis was arrested after the cops found the name Darnell Frazier tattooed on his neck. Well… down goes Frazier!

On Tuesday, Barack Obama said that “a third of all fourth graders can’t do basic math.” Of course, the real problem is a fourth of all sixth graders are doing their math teacher.

Former NASDAQ chairman Bernard Madoff has admitted to a scam in which he swindled investors out of $50 billion. Or as I like to call Bernie Madoff, “Ponzi Scum.”

Bernie Madoff took $50 billion in investor’s cash and made it disappear–Or as they call that at CitiBank… Thursday.

I tell ya’, the economy is bad. People who used to have hedge funds are now living in bushes.

Because of the bad economy, Mel Brooks’ play, “Young Frankenstein,” is closing on Broadway. This is horrible news. Not only can we not stimulate the economy… we can’t reanimate Frankenstein anymore.

The Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates to almost zero to try and stimulate the economy. They’ve thrown every tool in the book at the problem, but nothing works. At some point, doesn’t this begin to look like Dr. Frankenstein trying to reanimate dead tissue? “It’s alive!!!!!!”

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has hired the same attorney who got R. Kelly cleared of charges that he video-taped sex with an underage girl. The attorney claimed it wasn’t R. Kelly on the tape. It’ll be harder to get Gov. Blagojevich cleared with all the tapes they have on him. Who else has that haircut?

At a press conference to introduce his new Energy Secretary, President-elect Barack Obama said, “Consistently, California has hit the bar and then the rest of the country has followed.” To be fair, California is home to Andy Dick, Kiefer Sutherland and Pat O’Brien. So when it comes to hitting bars, we get a big head start.

Nobel Prize-winning Climate Sciences Professor Michael Oppenheimer of Princeton University said on “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer” Monday night that Barack Obama “is a president who can walk and chew gum at the same time.” That’s as opposed to President Bush who can’t chew gum at the same time.

Energy workers in Hawaii accidentally drilled so low, they hit a pool of hot volcanic magma. The workers said they knew they were getting pretty low when they found a copy of Barack Obama’s Kenyan birth certificate.

THE TOP 10 MEMORABLE QUOTES OF 2008

Here are the top 10 quotes of the year, according to the editor of the “Yale Book of Quotations”:

1.      “I can see Russia from my house!” –Comedian Tina Fey, while impersonating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on the TV comedy show “Saturday Night Live,” broadcast September 13.

2.      “All of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years.” –Palin, responding to a request by CBS anchor Katie Couric to name the newspapers or magazines she reads, broadcast October 1.

3.      “We have sort of become a nation of whiners.” –former Sen. Phil Gramm, an economic adviser to Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, quoted in The Washington Times, July 10.

4.      “It’s not based on any particular data point, we just wanted to choose a really large number.” –a Treasury Department spokeswoman explaining how the $700 billion number was chosen for the initial bailout, quoted on Forbes.com September 23.

5.      “The fundamentals of America’s economy are strong.” –McCain, in an interview with Bloomberg TV, April 17.

6.      “Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.” –the Treasury Department’s proposed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, September 2008.

7.      “Maybe 100.” –McCain, discussing in a town hall meeting in Derry, New Hampshire, how many years U.S. troops could remain in Iraq, January 3.

8.      “I’ll see you at the debates, bitch.” –Paris Hilton in a video responding to a McCain television campaign ad, August 2008.

9.      “Barack, he’s talking down to black people. …I want to cut his…off.” –Rev. Jesse Jackson, overheard over a live microphone before a Fox News interview, July 6.

10.  “There are no atheists in foxholes and there are no libertarians in financial crises.” –Krugman, in an interview with Bill Maher on HBO’s “Real Time,” broadcast September 19.

WAYS TO ADD 30 YEARS TO YOUR LIFE

(Netscape.comHow long will you live? 70% of your longevity is determined by your lifestyle. So, in a way, you are in control of your destiny. Taken together, all of the following lifestyle changes will help you live as much as 30 years longer. Here are tips from Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s book “Chasing Life,” Dr. Thomas Perls’ livingto100.com and Health.com.

·         5 years: Don’t smoke — It’s not cool to smoke. You smell, your teeth turn yellow, your skin looks like leather and your voice gets low and raspy. It also gives you lung cancer. Ick.

·         5 years: Eat power foods — It’s all about the antioxidants. Every day you should eat a handful of dark chocolate and almonds, as well as fruits, vegetables, garlic and even a glass of wine.

·         4 years: Skip the fast food — Drive past the McDonald’s and Wendy’s without stopping and you’ll live a lot longer since you’re not ingesting all that fat and cholesterol.

·         3 years: Get moving — Run for 30 minutes, five days a week and you can live up to four years longer. If you walk, you’ll add three years.

·         3 years: Get married — Numerous studies have shown that married people are happier and healthier. Why? They take care of each other. Face it, most men see a doctor because their wives made the appointment and told them to go.

·         3 years: Eat salmon twice a week — Eating fatty fish that contains omega 3 fatty acids, such as wild salmon, herring, mackerel and sardines, not only appears to lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but also helps control triglyceride levels and inflammation.

·         3 years: Lose the fat — You’ll not only look and feel better, but you’ll be healthier if you lose weight. Being overweight increases your risk of death by 20 to 40 percent. Now that’s motivation!

·         3 years: Have sex — Having sex two to three times a week helps you live longer by cutting in half your risk for heart disease and stroke. How? Sexual intercourse burns about 200 calories, which is the same as running for 30 minutes.

·         1 year: Floss daily — The greatest benefit of regular flossing is healthy gums. Research has shown that gum inflammation is linked to heart disease. Keep your gums healthy and your heart may follow.

HOW TO TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF THE HOLIDAYS

The holidays don’t have to stress you out. You can have a holly jolly Christmas with more “ho, ho, ho” and less “go, go, go,” says top psychiatrist Dr. Anthony Pietropinto. Here are the doctor’s simple tips for de-stressing the holiday:

·         Rent some Christmas videos — Invite friends over or share a movie night with your family. Watching timeless classics like “White Christmas,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street,” help us relax and remember what Christmas is all about.

·         Trim down your shopping list — You don’t need to buy an excessive number of gifts. Make an agreement with family members to limit the exchange to one gift per person.

·         Cut back on your Christmas card list — Drop folks you haven’t seen or thought about in years. Send cards only to people who are really close to you.

·         Take a vacation day — If you can manage it, take a day or two off from work so that you can relax and do your Christmas chores at a leisurely pace. If you’re a homemaker, get someone to watch your kids for an afternoon.

·         Build on your past successes — Think back on Christmases that went well and figure out what made them good — then try to recapture that. Usually it’s the family and friends around you, the good times you had — not the presents you received.

·         Don’t go crazy on the wrapping — The kids are going to tear it off in seconds anyway. So use simple paper and labels — or just labels and no wrapping at all.

·         Don’t skip meals — If you skip lunch or dinner on your way to shop, blood sugar levels will drop and make you feel even more tired and taxed. Eat a snack at your 4pm coffee break or a bowl of soup in the mall food court before you hit the stores.

·         Watch what you drink — Even mild overindulgence can give you a next-day low, adding to your feelings of being overwhelmed. Then you can make the mistake of drinking too much coffee, which can make you feel jittery and disrupt your sleep.

·         Do what feels good — Does chocolate pick you up? Have one. Such foods in small doses won’t hurt and may even help by making you feel less stressed or deprived.

·         Get enough sleep — Too many late night parties, Christmas concerts and wrapping and baking marathons will seriously deplete your ability to handle stress.

·         Read a favorite Christmas story — Find a quiet corner, a cup of cocoa and favorite blanket and curl up and read the story you most loved as a child. Try “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS ——————————– Search for the person who can recite the entire ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas poem the fastest! The world record is something like 49 seconds (although you should probably check that with the latest edition of The Guiness Book Of World Records). Extra cash if they can beat the world record!

SAPPY MOMENTS

Cosmopolitan magazine poll shows just how sentimental guys really are about holiday traditions compared to girls:

·         Decorating the tree: Him-50%, Her-50%

·         Buying the perfect present for your partner: Him-79%, Her-85%

·         Receiving a thoughtful gift: Him-79%, Her-93%

·         Taking a stroll to check out the festive lights in town: Him-60%, Her-75%

·         Singing carols on Christmas Eve: Him-17%, Her-21%

·         Attending your family’s annual holiday party: Him-66%, Her-73%

·         Kissing under the mistletoe: Him-62%, Her-54%

CRAPPY CHRISTMAS GIFT EXCHANGE

We haven’t done this in a few years, but may bring it back. Basically, people bring in their un-wanted gifts and exchange them for other gifts or station merchandise. We usually have a pretty high turn-out and some really off-the-wall gifts! Make sure to alert the news media (TV, newspaper, etc.) because there’s usually some pretty interesting people who turn out for it.

Blogged with the Flock Browser