12.17.08

 SHOW PREP DECEMBER 17, 2008

 

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

 

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber have revealed more details about their newborn son, starting with his name: Samuel Kai Schreiber. Samuel – the couple’s second child after year-old son Alexander Pete Schreiber – was born Saturday and weighed 7 lbs., 13 oz, the couple’s rep tells PEOPLE. “Both mom and baby are doing great,” the rep says. (People)

 

Australian tennis champ Lleyton Hewitt and his wife, actress Bec Cartwright Hewitt, have welcomed a baby boy, named Cruz, born Dec. 11 in Sydney. “All are doing well and are very excited about the new addition to the family,” they write in the birth announcement on their Web site. This is the couple’s second child. Daughter Mia Rebecca was born in November 2005. The parents married in 2005, after having dated for eight weeks. David and Victoria Beckham also have a son named Cruz, age 3. In June, when her pregnancy was announced, Bec said of Mia, “She understands something’s happening, and she’s really excited about it … She’ll be just over 3 when the baby arrives, and we think she’ll be a good little helper.” Cruz’s birth comes as his Wimbledon and U.S. Open champ father, 27, reportedly has resumed a rigorous training schedule following hip surgery – in a bid to return to the world’s top 10 players. (People)

 

Hollywood star Brad Pitt has leapt to the defense of his new look facial hair. Brad Pitt has spoken out to defend his new moustache. “It’s fashion. Who am I without creative facial hair?” Brad told press at the LA premiere of his new film The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. “I consider it very brave.” Pitt has grown the new look for his next film, Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming war epic Inglourious Basterds. However, the star wasn’t best pleased to learn that close friend, and fellow actor, George Clooney has also recently been spotted sporting whickers. “I cannot get this guy out of my slipstream,” Brad joked. “He calls me up and wants to know what I’m wearing – and then he shows up in the same thing. Next thing you know he’s going to have six kids. Just got to tell you it’s getting really old.” (Handbag)

 

Watch out, Harvard. She’s not even three years old, but little Suri Cruise is a bona fide brainiac, boasts her proud papa. “Her vocabulary is incredible,” Tom Cruise told PEOPLE Monday night at the New York premiere of Valkyrie. Still, his favorite words are some of the most simple. “I love hearing ‘I love you, dada,’ or, ‘I love you, mama.’ ” While his wife, Katie Holmes is busy starring in Broadway’s All My Sons, the 46-year-old mega movie star is relishing playing Mr. Mom. “I just love every moment,” he gushed. “We’ve got the teenagers and I’ve got the two-and-half year old and to have that I feel lucky.” The State of His Union The actor – recently nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in Tropic Thunder – says his two-year marriage is strong than ever. It doesn’t take a lot of effort with her,” he said, walking the red carpet solo. “Like tonight, everyone is asking, ‘Where’s Kate?’ She is hosting the family and the friends tonight.”  Cruise also admitted he’s a hopeless romantic. “I leave flowers in her dressing room all the time,” he said. “I write little love notes … wishing her well.” Growing Up Cruise In Valkyrie – his World War II thriller out Christmas Day – Cruise stars as Col. Claus von Stauffenberg and dons an eye patch over his left eye. But his youngest fan did not approve of the accessory at first. “Suri would come up to me and take it off,” he said. “So the girls in the makeup trailer got a little teddy bear with a patch on it and gave it to her and so she would play with it. That she would get used to the fact it was on me.” In fact, Suri has adapted easily to life on a movie set. “She’ll watch the monitor and talk,” Cruise explained. And if she decides to go into the family business? “I would love that,” he said. “Acting, that’s what I love. It’s a great life.” (People)

 

Kate Hudson may be “a hot ticket” in the dating world, according to her good friend, designer Stella McCartney, but the actress says she’s in no rush to jump into a relationship. “I’m actually enjoying being single right now because I really never have been,” Hudson – who’s dated Lance Armstrong and Owen Wilson – tells InStyle magazine for its December issue. “I feel good in relationships,” says the 29-year-old actress. “I enjoy them, so I feel my best when I’m in something solid. But it’s also the first time I’ve ever taken a step back and gotten a new perspective.” “So,” concludes Hudson, “I’ve made a conscious decision to try to stay single as long as possible.” McCartney, who was interviewed with Hudson for the magazine, chimes in, joking, “What’s it been – all of two weeks? Congratulations!” “Exactly,” quips Hudson, who McCartney says has “always been in demand.” There is, however, one man who will always be in her life: Ryder, her son with ex-husband Chris Robinson. The Bride Wars star says she plans to take a break next year from her busy work schedule so that she can spend more time with her son, who turns 5 next month. “When he climbs into bed with me, wraps his arms around me and says, ‘Mommy, the sun’s up! It’s a beautiful morning!’ I’m sorry, do I really want to go to work then?” she asks. “No!” (People)

 

Paris Hilton doesn’t waste her time! After her rather recent split from Benji Madden, rumors are buzzing around a new romance with Scottish hunk Gerard Butler, whom she supposedly calls “Braveheart.” The usually public Paris, however, went to great lengths to avoid being photographed alongside her new flame at LA’s Bar Deluxe on a night out. Guess she is still feeling a little bit shy. (Perez Hilton)

 

Hilary Duff says she never told Elle magazine in 2006 that she was still a virgin. “You know what? I was quoted  But Duff, 21, says that’s not the worst thing that’s been written about her. “I’ve been accused by the press of giving lap dances at clubs,” she says. “I mean, little ol’ me? It’s shocking. “People love to believe it —- it’s way more exciting to talk about than the truth! And they’re so descriptive about these lap dances,” she says. “I don’t even know how to do a lap dance!” Duff says she isn’t afraid to show her sexual side occasionally. Take her sexy new music video “Reach Me,” for instance. “I was ready to do something different,” the singer says. “The intent was not to be overtly sexual; I’m not naked. I do have little shorts on in it — but I also wear a giant tutu. It’s good to show different sides of yourself.” She says she is no longer a tween star — much to the chagrin of parents. “Mothers come up to me and say, ‘Don’t ever change; you’re such a good girl,'” she says. “I am a good girl. But how can I say I won’t ever change? That’s impossible.” At the end of the day, Duff — who is dating hockey star Mike Comrie — says, “I’m a relationship person. “Now it’s all over the Internet that I’m getting engaged to my boyfriend,” she says. “The truth is, I just like to wear rings!” (US Weekly)

 

Paul Anka wants everyone to know that he and his wife, Anna, are cool now, after a fiery dispute last month when she clocked him in the head with an ice cube and got arrested. “We have no problems. We had a little fight,” the singer told The Post. “There’s no divorce, we’re getting along, making love, we’re singing, were happily planning Christmas.” Anka, 67, got treated at a hospital after getting beaned on Nov. 28. California authorities declined to pursue charges against Anna. He says he can now laugh about it: “She has very good aim, I think.” (Page Six)

 

Katie Holmes is no snob. Even though her downtown apartment building has been deluged by paparazzi since her Broadway debut in “All My Sons,” she took time to make an appearance at the low-key Christmas party in the building’s lobby. “She was very nice, even though she always has the bodyguard with her,” said our spy. “She only stayed for about two minutes to make small talk with some of her neighbors on the way to her waiting SUV.” (Page Six)

 

Ryan Phillippe has gone Down Under for Christmas and New Year’s. He landed in Australia on Sunday with his love, Abbie Cornish, whom he met on the set of “Stop-Loss” while he was still married to Reese Witherspoon. They’ll be on Cockatoo Island for a Lloyd Klein party today before heading to Lochinvar to meet Cornish’s extended family. It’s the first time Phillippe, who spent Thanksgiving with Cornish and his children, Deacon and Ava, in the US, has been to Australia. His kids will be with Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal in LA and Tennessee. (Page Six)

 

A court document filed by Peter Falk’s daughter says the Emmy-winning actor is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Catherine Falk is seeking a court’s approval for a conservatorship of her 81-year-old father, who she claims no longer recognizes people. A hearing has been scheduled for late January. Falk is familiar to most audiences as the star of the television series “Columbo,” for which he won four Emmys. He was also nominated twice for Academy Awards for movie roles in 1959 and 1960. The petition filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court states Falk lives in Beverly Hills with his wife and recently had hip surgery and requires constant care. A phone message left for Falk’s manager was not immediately returned Tuesday. (Daily Record)

 

Rashit Yangirov, a prominent historian of the Soviet cinema whose works saved many pre-World War II emigre filmmakers from critical oblivion, has died at age 54. The scholar, who also worked for the past 14 years as a journalist for Associated Press Television News, died of cancer Sunday in Moscow, APTN colleagues said. Yangirov wrote “Slaves of the Silent,” a groundbreaking 2008 book on pioneers of Russian cinema who left their homeland after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution. His research tracked the lives of emigre actors and directors who became stars or extras in Hollywood, Berlin and Paris and helped shape the prewar film industry worldwide. “His authority in the world of film critics was indisputable,” said the Library of the Russians Abroad Foundation, where Yangirov worked as senior researcher. Yangirov wrote more than 200 articles on Russian cinema, fiction and folklore. His subjects included the cinematic cult of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin, emigre female authors, the persecution of dissident Soviet poets and references to silent films in works by writers such as Vladimir Nabokov and Mikhail Bulgakov.

Born 1954 in the city of Ufa, 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) east of Moscow, Yangirov graduated from the history department of Moscow State University in 1977. (Daily Record)

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

 

2009 will mark the start of a new era, so it’s fitting that will.i.am will celebrate it by singing “It’s A New Day” on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve special. The Black Eyed Peas frontman is set to perform the song on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest.” Will.i.am has said the song was inspired by the victory of President Elect-Barack Obama. He will join a star-studded lineup that includes the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift and Lionel Richie. While the latter three are performing from Times Square, will.i.am will join the Pussycat Dolls, Fall Out Boy and Ne-Yo in segments from Los Angeles. (Daily Record)

 

Roger Ebert is becoming an honorary life member of the Directors Guild of America. The announcement Tuesday from the top union representing Hollywood filmmakers says Ebert is receiving the honor at the guild’s Jan. 31 awards dinner. “From the blockbuster to the tiny independent film, Roger Ebert has devoted his career to sharing his love of film with generations of moviegoers,” says guild President Michael Apted. “In doing so, he’s kept directors on their toes for more than 40 years.” The Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for the Chicago Sun-Times has been host of TV’s “At the Movies” with Chicago colleagues Gene Siskel and later Richard Roeper. The 66-year-old Ebert has battled cancer and undergone surgery that has left him unable to speak but continues to write film reviews. (Daily Record)

 

Trimuphant X Factor mentor Cheryl Cole has been asked to design a range for Topshop. Cheryl Cole has been asked to design a range of clothes for Topshop the News Of The World claim. Insiders say Cheryl was approached about the project by model-turned-designer Kate Moss during her recent visit to the X Factor. “Cheryl and Kate instantly hit it off. They were both gushing about each other all night. When Cheryl said she wanted to get into high street fashion, Kate got very, very animated,” an insider claims. “It’s very likely to happen next year. Together they could make an amazingly diverse range.” Sources add that Topshop owner Sir Philip Green is now in talks with Cole over the deal. (Handbag)

 

Katy Perry may jump on the bandwagon and start a fashion line. She may also be not-so-secretly engaged to BF Travis McCoy. (Eonline)

 

It seems that in the U.K., American Idol and X Factor judge, Simon Cowell, is actually more famous than God! A recent survey showed that British kids rated the judge of mean to be more famous than God or even the Queen of England. Snubbed! This annual survey consisted of 1,600 children under the age of 10 in the town of Luton. Well, it might be safer to say then that children in Luton think Cowell is more famous that God. As for Cowell, he rose from last year’s fifth spot and took the Queen out of the top spot this year. Apparently, God came in second last year to the Queen, who is now overshadowed by Cowell.  According to the kiddies, it turns out that the “very worst things in the world” for them is “being fat.” And, when asked what they would do if they were queen or king of the world, the most popular answer what to have a “ban on divorce.” Sad, yet touching. But, Cowell being voted more popular than God, that’s just going to send his ego through the roof – more so than it already is! (Perez Hilton)

 

Legally blind New York Gov. David Paterson lambasted a “Saturday Night Live” skit for portraying him as an aimless bumbler. But those who have watched the sharp-witted Paterson over his two decades in public service know how he might have deadpanned in the past: I didn’t see it. The skit that aired Saturday featured “SNL” cast member Fred Armisen as Paterson, who must appoint someone to replace Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Armisen said he has three criteria for filling the job: economic experience, upstate influence and someone who is disabled and unprepared for the job – like himself. He held up a chart illustrating the state’s job losses upside down. “I don’t mind that they make fun of me, but I thought it was important of me to stand up for people who don’t have a voice and don’t have a job,” Paterson said. Marc Liepis, a spokesman for NBC, which broadcasts “Saturday Night Live,” said the network would not comment. Paterson has used self-deprecating humor for years, riffing on his own blindness regularly, even on national television. The patter has only increased praise from advocates for the disabled black man who worked his way through Albany’s stodgy Senate to be elected lieutenant governor and in March take over as governor. Some of Paterson’s greatest hits:  (Daily Record)

– At his inauguration after taking over for Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned amid a sex scandal, Paterson joked that he was brought in early the first time he spoke in the Assembly Hall to get used to the massive podium “so I didn’t break anything.”

– In a September appearance on “The Colbert Report,” he was asked whether he would waive host Stephen Colbert’s traffic tickets and replied: “I don’t see traffic.”

– When running for lieutenant governor with Spitzer in 2006, he described Spitzer as the idea guy and himself as the legislative technician, “because I sure don’t have the vision.”

Lee Miringoff, director of The Marist Poll, which regularly gauges public reaction to politicians, said the reaction to the SNL skit seemed out of character for Paterson and potentially unwise for any politician.

“I can’t recall the last time a politician has reacted negatively to being lampooned on ‘Saturday Night Live,'” Miringoff said. “It humanizes them. At least your name is on the marquee.”

Paterson lost sight in his left eye and much of his right after an infection as an infant. He can see shapes and usually recognizes people as they approach, but he can read for only a few minutes at a time and must hold text close to his face.

Chris Danielsen, spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind, said the portrayal suggesting Paterson was befuddled and disoriented because of his blindness is “absolutely wrong.”

 

Having played one of the “60 Minutes” producers who helped bust Big Tobacco in “The Insider,” Debi Mazar was red-faced this week after the film’s real-life hero dressed her down for lighting up. During a live interview on BlogTalkRadio, host Olivia Wilder asked Mazar, “Are you a smoker?” “I don’t have to answer that question. It’s irrelevant,” the actress replied. In the next breath, she admitted, “I smoke from time to time, but I got the facts and I don’t smoke in front of my children.” Jeffrey Wigand – the fired Brown & Williamson honcho who blew the whistle on the company for ignoring evidence that cigarettes cause cancer – was listening and called in. “You still smoking?” Wigand (who was played by Russell Crowe in the flick) asked Mazar. “I’m having a little bit here and there, yes. Is this a smoking intervention?” she said, adding, “I’ve had two kids. After the breast milk dries up, if [cigarettes] are sitting around, it’s very tempting.” (Page Six)

 

The late Heath Ledger may be up for a Golden Globe Award and rumored to be in the running for an Oscar but his ex-fiancée Michelle Williams has denied that she will be the one accepting awards on the actor’s behalf. The actress’ publicist said: “No discussions have been made for Michelle to accept nor are there any plans to take part.” Heath’s father, Kim Ledger, is also thought to be in line to accept any awards on his son’s behalf. (British Glamour)

 

He’d be many a Democrat’s dream candidate, but Tim McGraw says talk of his running for governor of Tennessee in 2010 is, for now, pure fantasy. “There’s no truth to this,” McGraw’s rep tells PEOPLE of the rumors – sparked by an item in The New Republic – that McGraw was considering a run for the gubernatorial seat. “It’s something he is interested in, but not for 2010. Later in life.” In an interview with PEOPLE earlier this year, McGraw, a Democrat who supported Barack Obama in the presidential race, admitted that politics was in his blood and could be in his future. “I grew up in Louisiana and politics is kind of a contact sport and you grow up knowing about it,” he told PEOPLE. “I’ve always been fascinated by what can be done in the public arena. And if the time comes where there’s something available and I think I can do some positive things, I’ll be glad to do it. I wouldn’t want to do it just to say I did it.” But, he added with a laugh, “I think I gotta get a lot smarter between now and then!” (People)

 

Mott’s Applesauce is tapping Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross as the face of their new marketing campaign. The brand – which has been around since 1842 – is receiving a glamorous makeover from its Dr Pepper Snapple Group owners, touting a seductive “A secret like Mott’s is worth sharing.” That secret being that one cup of Mott’s applesauce provides one whole serving of fruit, and that an 8-ounce glass of apple juice provides 2 full servings. Combined, that’s almost all of your recommended daily intake! Which is exactly why it’s the foundation for the brand’s new catchphrase. “Moms didn’t know that about the brand and were interested in hearing about it,” said Mott’s director of marketing, Allison Methvin. And who better to appeal to coddling mothers than one of the mommiest of celebrity moms?: Marcia Cross, mother of twins, “who is balancing her work and her life without surrounding herself with five nannies,” as Hans Dorsinville, Laird evp, put it. Laird+Partners, Los Angeles is shooting the print ads. Expect to see the print and online ads starting in March! (Perez Hilton)

 

Demi Lovato may be super close to the Jonas Brothers, but the Camp Rock star wants to make one thing clear: It’s a platonic friendship. “I’ve never kissed a Jonas brother, period,” Lovato, 16, tells Seventeen‘s prom/winter special issue. “That would be kind of weird. Even in Camp Rock, Joe and I never kissed.” “We’re all friends,” she says. “But they’re not the type of guys that I’d be into dating – or else I’d be dating one!” Lovato opened for the brothers on their Burning Up tour, and says that being around them all the time created a sense of family. Each Brother is Different “They’ve become like brothers to me,” she says. “I even put on my glasses and wear sweatpants around them because you wouldn’t put makeup on for just your brothers.” Lovato reveals she has different relationships with each one. She says Nick, 16, loves to talk about conspiracy theories with the actress. But she feels closest to Joe, 19. “I can definitely call Joe a best friend,” she says. “On one of the first nights of filming Camp Rock, we sat there and spilled everything, and I talked about how I was bullied in school when I was younger. It was emotional, but it brought us close. I’m able to go to all of them with my problems.” Shares Secrets with Selena Lovato, who will soon star on Disney Channel’s Sonny with a Chance, also raves another celebrity BFF: fellow Disney star Selena Gomez, 16. “I can totally go to her with any problem and she will not judge me, no matter what,” Lovato says. “I can trust her with anything, and she can trust me. We’ll definitely take each others’ secrets to the grave. Despite their successes this year, Lovato says one reason the two remain close is that they enjoy hanging out with each other – away from the red carpet. “I’ll meet other actors who are like, ‘Let’s go to a party,'” she says. “But Selena and I would rather rent a horror movie and just eat pickles. That’s our ideal sleepover. … It’s just crazy to realize that Selena and I have known each other almost our entire lives.” (People)

 

Even Queen Elizabeth is feeling the pinch. She’s begun scaling back on expenses and has even taken to almost plebian measures. According to British news outlets, she told staffers to turn off the lights in vacant rooms of Buckingham Palace and reuse leftovers from banquets. During October’s state visit to Slovakia and Slovenia, the queen had dressmakers use fabric she received 20 years ago. Even more dire, she’s asked family members, including spendthrift Princes Harry and William, to follow suit. Could all those nights out in Chelsea clubs be coming to an end? (Page Six)

 

Someone forgot to tell Kathie Lee Gifford and her “Today” co-host Hoda Kotb that it was a cash bar at the premiere of “Shrek: The Musical” [Review Here.] The free booze came later at the Plaza Hotel party. At intermission, Hoda left the bar at the Broadway Theatre with two glasses of champagne. When the bartender asked her to pay up, a member of her entourage shouted, “But she’s a celebrity!” Hoda went back and paid the $16. The audience loved the show’s pop-culture references. Christopher Sieber, who plays Napoleonic Lord Farquaad on his knees, noted in his bio that he’s never been on “Law & Order.” When Sieber made his entrance on horseback, he bellowed, “Whoa, Katzenberg,” to the delight of the crowd, which included DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. Also on hand: Ben Stiller and wife Christine Taylor, America Ferrera, Phylicia Rashad and Mario Cantone. (Page Six)

 

The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, one of the Mumbai massacre sites, is reopening on Sunday, just weeks after terrorists stormed the city and murdered more than 130 innocents. Hotel Managing Director Raymond Bickson said, “We dedicate our reopening to the city of Mumbai as affirmation of the values of courage, resilience and dignity . . . to commemorate all the innocent and brave people who lost their lives during the recent attacks. In their honor, the Taj will shine again in all its brilliance.” (Page Six)

 

There’s a drag queen in the White House … via everyone’s favorite female impersonator RuPaul. The 48-year-old drag diva posed as both Barack and Michelle Obama as part of a holiday promotion for her new drag queen competition TV series “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” That’s what you call change, people! (TMZ)

 

Pete Wentz might want to get a paternity test — his baby looks a lot like John Mayer. All the magazines reportedly passed on the Bronx Mowgli Wentz baby pics — and we were given a real treat when an unsteady Pete decided to show us a photo on his cell phone last night outside Virgin Megastore in NYC. (TMZ)

 

Documents show Dennis Quaid and his wife have agreed to a $750,000 settlement with a hospital that gave his newborn twins an overdose of blood thinner. A petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday shows the Quaids and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have agreed on the parents’ damages, but can still pursue claims for their children. The documents state Cedars-Sinai is not admitting wrongdoing as part of the settlement. Documents show the Quaids sued drug maker Baxter Healthcare Corp. in Illinois over the drug’s packaging, but that case has been dismissed. The petition filed Monday indicates Baxter may also sue Cedars-Sinai, which administered too much Heparin to several patients in November 2007, including the Quaids’ twins. (Daily Record)

 

A man banged up in Brandy’s fatal 2006 car crash is now suing the singer for allegedly causing the wreck — and suing the lady who died for allegedly contributing to the chain reaction collision. Donald Lite is going after Brandy and Awatef Aboudihaj — the married mother of two killed in the accident — claiming their disregard for road rules caused the multi-car pileup that left him with extreme physical damage. In the suit, filed last week in L.A. County Superior Court, Lite says their failure to keep a safe distance, mixed with their inability to travel at a safe speed, caused Brandy to rear-end Awatef, which sent Awatef’s car smashing into his. Lite says he’s suffered “serious and permanent injuries” that racked up a lot of hospital bills — and is suing for an undetermined amount. (TMZ)

 

The Italian ex-boyfriend of actress Anne Hathaway has agreed he owes more than $3.6 million to those he ripped off in a real-estate scam. Federal prosecutors said in New York court papers Monday that Raffaello Follieri has agreed to pay restitution of $2 million to Toronto-based Dundee Realty Corp. They say he has agreed to pay $813,000 to Yucaipa Corporate Initiatives Fund and $40,000 to an Atlantic City monsignor. Follieri is serving 4 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to cheating investors. Prosecutors say he falsely claimed Vatican connections would let him buy church property cheap. Follieri’s lawyer did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment. (Daily Record)

 

 

MUSIC . . .

 

The group Mannish Boys leads all nominees for the upcoming Blues Music Awards in Memphis with six nominations, including album and band of the year. The Blues Foundation announced the nominations Tuesday. Tied with four each: Elvin Bishop, Eden Brent, Janiva Magness, Curtis Salgado and Watermelon Slim. Buddy Guy is nominated for three awards and B.B. King for two. The awards show will be held May 7 at the Cook Convention Center. For a complete list of nominees, check out the Blues Foundation’s Web site at http://www.blues.org . (Daily Record)

 

When the holidays draw near, the first songs Aretha Franklin starts playing from her yuletide collection are “This Christmas” and “Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas (Without the One You Love).” “Those are favorites in the Franklin households,” the Queen of Soul says. These days, she’s putting her own stamp on her holiday favorites with the first Christmas CD of her legendary career, “This Christmas.” Franklin says she would have put out one decades earlier, but the powers-that-be at her old labels weren’t interested. Now that she’s a free agent, she teamed with Borders Group to release the CD – which features her trademark soulful approach to traditional Christmas classics – exclusively at Borders and Waldenbooks stores and Borders’ Web site. (Daily Record)

 

If you’re wondering how Pete Wentz feels about becoming a dad or looking for insight into his recent marriage to Ashlee Simpson, don’t expect to find any details by listening to Fall Out Boy’s new CD, “Folie A Deux.” Even though the bassist is the chief lyricist and the band’s tabloid-centric spokesman, for “Folie A Deux,” Wentz shifted the focus away from himself and turned it outward onto the world. Lead singer Patrick Stump calls “Folie A Deux” the band’s “statement record.” “(It’s) dissecting how self-motivated our culture is,” Stump said in a recent interview. “Pete on this record wrote from a very different perspective than he did on previous records.” “Folie A Deux,” French for “shared madness of two,” was released on Tuesday. It’s the third major-label CD for the emo-rockers, who became a multiplatinum success story with the release of their 2005 album, “From Under the Cork Tree,” which included the top single “Sugar, We’re Goin Down.” While Stump’s melodious falsetto anchors the band’s sound, it’s Wentz who provides the band’s emotional content (the group’s other members are guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley). In the past, Wentz has worn his heart on the Fall Out Boy’s lyrical sleeve, with songs about relationship dramas and painful splits. Over the past two years, Wentz has become a sought-after star thanks to his high-profile union with Simpson, their new baby (Bronx Mowgli), his turn as TV host on MTV’s “FNMTV” and his endless blog postings (Stump has had successful collaborations with the likes of bands like Gym Class Heroes – on Wentz’s record label – but has preferred to stay out of the limelight). But as Wentz’s reaches a new high in name recognition, musically, he decided to stop writing as much from a personal standpoint. “This record is not the standard autobiographical thing like when we first started,” says Stump, sitting with his bandmates as they prepared to tape a concert special for Fuse TV. “Autobiography loses its luster when everyone is doing it.” “Sometimes I’ve gone into a big dark cave and that’s no fun,” adds Wentz, looking a bit fatigued. “Folie A Deux” is the group’s second album in two years. While the band has become used to topping the charts, they insist their main goal is simply creating good music. But at the same time, they don’t want to overthink it. “A lot of bands sit on their hands and think, ‘We need to make the perfect record,'” Wentz says. “(They should be) taking a snapshot of the moment you’re (in) at the time.” “The Jonas Brothers can’t have all the shine,” he jokes. The band purposely cut short the amount of time set aside for recording the album. Stump said that was going back to the days when they were a young, broke band who had to finish an album before the money ran out. “There was something really interesting about that creative process when we were starting out,” says Stump. “The more time you have, the more potential you have for excess.” (Daily Record)

 

The Britney Spears comeback express shows no signs of slowing down. The singer recently took her three-ring Circus on the road to Japan, where she performed her now familiar routine on Hey! Hey! Hey!.  “I love Japan!” she said in a message posted on her Web site. “I think all the tiny cars are so cute!” The singer, 27, also made time to play tourist, sampling local delicacies at an authentic Japanese restaurant with her dad Jamie and manager Larry Rudolph. (Spears posted a video of their culinary adventures.) She also visited the country’s oldest Buddhist temple, gushing, “It was so beautiful.” (People)

 

Madonna has been asked to join Britney Spears on her upcoming world tour. Britney Spears has asked Madonna to guest star on her upcoming world tour, choreopgrapher Wade Robson has told the Metro. “There’s been talk of Madonna making an appearance and there’s so many places we could take that,” Wade explained. “At this point the main issue is timing.” Britney joined Madonna on stage in November for the Los Angeles leg of her ‘Sticky & Sweet’ tour. (Handbag)

 

Nicole Richie has denied that she’s following in the footsteps of friend Paris Hilton and working on a new album. The Simple Life star said that she’s not seeking advice from Rihanna or Kelly Osbourne, as a recent report suggested. “That’s not true. Although I think that Rihanna and Kelly Osbourne are very talented, that’s completely false,” Richie said. But, despite the denial, the socialite admits that she hasn’t ruled out music completely. “I do eventually [want to record an album], but right now I have a lot on my plate,” she says. “I’ve really been working hard – going on auditions for acting, doing design for my line, and being a mom – so that pretty much takes up my days.” (British Glamour)

 

Actors try to be musicians all the time. Most fail miserably. Hear that Joaquin Phoenix???? Jason Schwartzman, however, is one of those rare ones that actually manages to make good music. We can’t rave enough about his Coconut Records side project and Nighttiming CD. Well, now, Jason’s back with a new song, just as good, and he’s giving it away for free! Merry Xmas! Feliz Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Listen to Microphone below. And then CLICK HERE to download it for free today. (Perez Hilton)

 

For someone who has teased a new album for more than seven years, Dr. Dre sure hasn’t released many verses to tide his fans over. The Doc’s bars have been sparse, popping up on Timbaland‘s on “Bounce” for 2007’s Shock Value and on Snoop‘s “Imagine” for The Blue Carpet Treatment in 2006. A couple of weeks ago, DJs Big Mike and Neptune leaked an unfinished track called “Crack a Bottle,” on which we heard Eminem referring to rhymes by Dr. Dre. But on Monday night, somebody got their paws on more new Doc music, and on this one, the hip-hop icon actually raps. Dre appears on the remix of Kardinal Offishall‘s “Set It Off,” featuring the Clipse, which premiered on DJ Skee’s syndicated radio show on Monday. Skee said Dre recorded his rhymes for the song several months ago. After Interscope head Jimmy Iovine sent B-roll from the song’s video, Dre couldn’t contain his excitement, according to Skee, and he decided to lay down his own bars on the song. The new version of “Set It Off” was all set to be released, but the plans were derailed when Dre’s Detox LP got pushed back to 2009. According to another source, Monday’s leak was not supposed to happen. On the song, Dre boasts that getting the short end of the stick, in any circumstance, is not an option for him. “I’m about to set it off,” the legendary music man warns. “Think I’mma lose? Then bet it all.” Later, he speaks of his comeback and shoots down rumors that he was retiring. “I heard a lot of ni–as quittin’, but I ain’t done,” Dre insists. “Ring the alarm/ I make it hotter than hell (hell, yeah!) … / You clowns know who the crown belong to/ And I can set it off, if you want me to.” “Set It Off” is a single off of Offishall’s latest LP, Not 4 Sale, which came out on September 9 via Akon’s Konvict Music imprint. Offishall declined to comment for this story. According to Eminem and Interscope records, Dre’s Detox is slated to be released sometime next year, after the release of 50 Cent’s Before I Self Destruct and Slim Shady’s Relapse. (MTV)

 

The National is “pretty far into the process of writing” its next album, which the band will record starting in April in group member Aaron Dessner’s new home studio in Brooklyn’s Ditmas Park neighborhood. The new album will be the follow-up to 2007’s “Boxer” (Beggars Banquet), which has sold a career-best 147,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The National is unlikely to return to the road until summer 2009, but will hit the stage Feb. 3 for the annual Tibet House benefit at New York’s Carnegie Hall, alongside Philip Glass, Patti Smith and Vampire Weekend. As previously reported, Aaron and his brother Bryce curated the upcoming AIDS benefit album “Dark Was the Night,” due Feb. 17 from Beggars. The star-studded project boasts exclusive songs from Yo La Tengo, My Morning Jacket, Spoon, Bon Iver and Iron & Wine, among many others. In the meantime, the Dessners have been collaborating on an instrumental project “focused on taking the way we play together and developing arrangements,” Aaron Dessner tells Billboard.com. “We did a few performances over the summer while we were on tour, like at festivals in France and Italy,” Dessner says. “We performed at the White Cube Gallery in London while David Shepherd was manipulating the sound. It was really fun and inspiring.” The siblings will play again with Shepherd next month during an event at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and will also perform at the Bryce Dessner-organized Music Now Festival in Cincinnati. “We’re gearing up for possibly a really big performance together next fall, and then maybe to make a record,” Dessner says. “This feeds our brains and lets us push ourselves. Either that, or it’s incessant noodling.” At the outset, the duo was informally named Big Red Machine in a nod to the Dessners’ Cincinnati hometown, but the brothers are now just going by their own names. “We think the Reds would get pissed off,” Dessner says with a laugh. “They have the trademark.” (Billboard)

 

After an eight-year hiatus, New York band Boss Hog swung into action for a show last week at the All Tomorrow’s Parties’ Nightmare Before Christmas festival in Somerset, England, and another at New York’s Bowery Ballroom tomorrow (Dec. 17). But don’t call it a comeback quite yet. “We’re waiting until we’ve played all the shows, and then we’re going to sit down as a band and discuss the future,” frontwoman Christina Martinez tells Billboard.com. “I will say, the week we had in Europe was great, and we got a fantastic reception. But we’re also without a label deal, and it’s a weird climate right now. So, we’ll see.” Martinez, husband Jon Spencer, bassist Jens Jurgensen and drummer Hollis Queens have pursued a host of projects since Boss Hog deactivated. Martinez devoted herself to being a full-time parent, and Spencer has released albums with Blues Explosion and Heavy Trash. Queens and Jurgensen were part of a band called Lo-Hi. (Billboard)

 

For all of you who were wishing the interview-circuit-shy Axl Rose had more to say about the long-awaited debut of Chinese Democracy and why he’s still recording under the Guns N’ Roses name now that he’s the only one remaining from the band’s heyday… Be careful what you wish for. In response to fans’ questions posted on the band’s website, the Guns N’ Roses frontman unloaded over the weekend in a 4,584-word (including emoticons!) open letter addressing everything from the current state of GNR to what happened with Slash to David Bowie’s Pink Floyd preferences. (Apparently Bowie digs the Syd Barrett years.)  Saying he couldn’t divulge his secrets sooner because he “could have jeopardized whatever nonsense was going on,” Rose starts off by calling rumors that he was too unstable to take the stage during the band’s dry spell “all made up, fallacy and fantasy.”  “Had that been the case I would’ve have been cremated years ago legally, [my old bandmates] could’ve cleaned me out for the name and damages.”  Rose also says that Slash was “on the up and up” as far as handing over the GNR name to Rose and never meant to paint his fellow “November Rain” maker as the bad guy. Not at first, anyway.  “But when the reality of the breakup hit and the strategy to have me crawl back was put into play, Slash had to save face and get business team and public support. Painting me as the one who held a crowd hostage forcing the others to sign over the name worked out pretty well in that regard. I’m the bad guy and Duff, the fans and most importantly himself were the victims…  “Media and others ignorantly, wrongly and falsely harped on about it at mine and the fans expense for years and Slash has hoped to use all that to continually sue and have some sort of legal nonsense going on behind the scenes in an effort to reverse things,” Rose writes. “He wouldn’t have been able to get the support and action on the part of his various team members over the years to do so if the truth were out there, especially when the statute of limitations had run out years ago.”  As far as keeping the name of what was once a four-man partnership goes: “Why keep the name? I’m literally the last man standing. Not bragging, not proud. It’s been a f–king nightmare, but I didn’t leave Guns and I didn’t drive others out.” He calls the years-in-the-making Chinese Democracy “a Guns record [made] with the right people who were the only people who really wanted to help [him] try, were qualified and capable while enduring the public abuse for years.” And we know to what extent some fans just couldn’t wait for the finished product. Kevin Cogill, who admittedly leaked pirated Chinese Democracy tracks online before the album dropped, formally pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor charge of violating federal copyright law. Cogill is facing a maximum of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and five years’ probation. But while he obviously didn’t care with whom Rose was making music, so long as he was making music, Rose felt the need to further explain GNR’s evolution over the last decade. “I don’t see myself as solely Guns, but I do see myself as the only one from the past making the effort to take it forward whether anyone approves or not and giving beyond what many would or fight for to do so…I don’t feel any reason whatsoever I should have to throw what I’ve not only worked for but fought and suffered for away because some hurt, angry, betrayed, misguided and lied to people with a lynch mob mentality, joined by others who could care less (especially in the media), enjoying the controversy and hate, choose one over the other regardless of what’s right because they want what they want. “As to what would possibly make me change the name would be some form of evolving that I don’t feel we’ve reached yet and not in any way consciously trying to at this time. It’s really hard to say. I’d have to feel it was right for me and those involved and whatever we’re doing at that time.” Besides, he adds, Universal Music Group wanted the GNR name, figuring that was what would sell albums. “I wasn’t legally obligated, but we probably would have gotten dropped and I would have been driven into bankruptcy,” he writes. “I think it varies and happy Christmas to u and everyone.” That wasn’t the end of his letter, but it seemed to us like a good place to stop. (Launch)

 

 

MOVIE . . .

 

“Twilight” fans have a short wait for the next installment of the vampire saga. Summit Entertainment spokesman Paul Pflug says “New Moon” is following just 12 months after the first movie, opening Nov. 20, 2009, over the same weekend as “Twilight” this year. Summit has tapped Chris Weitz (“The Golden Compass”) to direct “New Moon,” based on the second book in Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling series about the dangerous romance between a teen (Kristen Stewart) and a vampire (Robert Pattinson) fighting his bloodsucking instincts. Weitz is taking over the franchise from “Twilight” director Catherine Hardwicke. “Twilight” has shot to $150 million at the box office since debuting Nov. 21. (Daily Record)

 

Fans of “The Terminator” can now own a piece of the movie franchise – if they fly to Dubai. Victor Kubicek and Derek Anderson of the Halcyon Co. are jetting there with Goldie Hawn, Salma Hayek and Laura Linney to at tend the AmFar gala at the Atlantis hotel later this month. The producers will auction off a package that includes the Suzuki prototype motor bike used in the upcoming “Terminator Salvation” and two tickets to its Labor Day world premiere. (Page Six)

 

Jennifer Lopez has signed on to star in Plan B, a new fertility-themed romantic comedy. Lopez will play a single woman who “turns to artificial insemination to answer her ticking biological clock only to meet the man of her dreams on the same day as her positive pregnancy test results,” Variety reports. Shooting begins in April or May. Lopez knows a thing or two about babies: She welcomed twins Max and Emme in February. “Max is like Marc [Anthony, her husband]. He’s got Marc’s lungs, and he screams and he’s strong, very boy,” she recently told Entertainment Tonight. “Emme’s very delicate and quiet, but you can’t mess with her!” Overall, the twin babies “are so great! They’re getting so big. They’re sitting up and have little teeth coming out.” (US Weekly)

 

As the reunited Cheech & Chong’s stand-up tour Light Up America fires out nationwide, Big Vision Entertainment said it will produce an animated film featuring the duo with Chambers Bros. Entertainment. The two companies have acquired animated film rights to the classic Cheech and Chong library held by music producer and Ode Records owner Lou Adler and will use those famous comedy bits to inspire “Cheech and Chong’s Smokin’ Animated Movie.” Big Vision founder and CEO Houston Curtis will produce along with Keith, Branden and Eric Chambers, who devised the concept. Adler, who discovered the duo in the early 1970s, will executive produce. Eric and Branden Chambers will direct the animation. The ICM-repped Big Vision, which focuses on direct-to-DVD special-interest material, will finance the project. In the ’70s and ’80s, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong released several top-selling comedy albums and starred in six films, including “Up in Smoke” and “Still Smokin’.” “It’s great to be doing a movie where Cheech and I never have to get out of bed or be on camera,” Chong said. “It’s about time that we got animated because we’ve been doing animation without the animation for years,” Marin said. “Whether you watch it smokin’ a fattie or stone-cold sober, it’s just plain funny.” (Billboard)

 

Universal Pictures International can finally boast that Phyllida Lloyd’s “Mamma Mia!” is the highest-grossing movie ever released in the U.K., sailing past the previous record holder, “Titanic.” Lloyd’s romantic musical comedy finally sank the 10-year grip “Titanic” has had on the record with her film singing its way to 69.1 million pounds ($105.8 mil million), while the James Cameron drama sailed away with 69 million pounds in 1998. “Mamma Mia!” broke the longstanding record just days after the film picked up two Golden Globe nominations for best picture (musical or comedy) and best actress (musical or comedy) for star Meryl Streep. UPI president David Kosse described the success of “Mia” as “truly phenomenal.” “This boxoffice record is a tribute to producer Judy Craymer, director Phyllida Lloyd and our brilliant cast who worked so hard on this film,” Kosse said. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

U.K. indie film distributor Dogwoof has formed a strategic partnership with New York-based Internet distribution banner IndiePix to “widen the reach of independent film” here and across the pond. The alliance, which has no contractual time constraints, will enable IndiePix to extend its movie distribution ambitions across the U.K. and enable Dogwoof to distribute its titles in the U.S. The partnership also provides opportunities for each player to extend its industry and consumer links. Financial details will be worked out on a film-by-film basis, the parties said. Dogwoof will promote IndiePix’s leading titles across the U.K. across platforms including theatrical screenings, DVD sales, TV contracts and online distribution. The documentary “End of America,” based on Naomi Wolf’s book, will be the first IndiePix title to go live in the U.K. through Dogwoof, the companies said Tuesday. It will be launched in January in the U.K. after its release in the U.S. Through the deal, Dogwoof also gains more market muscle and will look to acquire broader rights and “step up its offers for U.K. titles.” “Dogwoof has great taste and judgment in the films they are offering, and it is clear that we are simply kindred spirits in our approaches to independent film,” IndiePix Studios head Ryan Harrington said. Dogwoof CEO Andy Whittaker said: “With a competitive cost structure, a growing audience, as well as greater connectivity to digital content, this partnership will help us to continue developing a strong offering for both filmmakers and consumers alike.” IndiePix president Bob Alexander said his company’s latest move is part of a plan to form strategic link ups to build opportunities for indie film distribution. The company has struck deals with iTunes and with Snag Films for movie streaming. “This latest agreement with Dogwoof will really springboard both companies into new and target geographies and continue extending our mutual commitment to widening the reach for independent films,” Alexander said. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

A Nazi-filled Christmas is not an easy sell. That’s just one of the challenges Tom Cruise faces with his new World War II thriller “Valkyrie,” which opens Dec. 25. In the film, which portrays the seldom-recalled German resistance to Adolf Hitler, Cruise plays would-be Hitler assassin Col. Claus von Stauffenberg. It’s a risky film to make and not just because of the sensitive subject matter. Cruise has been trying to rehabilitate his image – and few PR experts regularly advise donning a German army uniform to engender warm feelings. On the other hand, “Valkyrie” is also a serious, suspenseful film. Can it help put Cruise back on top? In a recent interview, Cruise and director Bryan Singer downplayed the bad pre-release buzz for “Valkyrie.” The film’s release date repeatedly changed. Early ads showing the similar appearance of an eye-patched Cruise and Stauffenberg were mocked online. At one point, German Defense Ministry officials said the production couldn’t shoot at Berlin’s Benderblock memorial to the Nazi resistance because of Cruise’s beliefs in Scientology – which isn’t recognized as a religion in Germany. (The statements were quickly recanted and shooting went forward.) Cruise, 46, is familiar with uncontrollable spirals of bad publicity – and not just in the last few tumultuous years. He has long been dogged by rumors about his personal life and has been through productions (like 1988’s “Rain Man,” he points out) that seemed doomed before they were released. “It’s nice to be able to have people talk about the film, as opposed to us reading about the film,” Cruise said. “It is what it is. And I understand it. I do understand it.” His recent bout of bad publicity started with that fateful appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s show in 2005. Then there was the awkward interview with “Today” show host Matt Lauer. The following year, Paramount Pictures severed its 14-year relationship with him. “As I’ve said, I want an adventurous life,” said Cruise. “And yet I’ve gotten a little bit more adventure than I bargained for.” A rebound is fully in the works. Cruise revisited Winfrey – the scene of the sofa – earlier this year. On Monday, he publicly patched things up with Lauer. He started his own Web site, too. And last week, he received a Golden Globe nomination for his hilarious performance in Ben Stiller’s raunchy summer comedy “Tropic Thunder,” in which he plays a dirty-dancing, foul-mouthed studio head. With producer Paula Wagner, Cruise reformed the United Artists film studio as a boutique label for MGM. Their first film for UA, last year’s “Lions for Lambs,” was a critical and box-office failure and Wagner exited as chief executive officer in August. The more expensive “Valkyrie” – reportedly made for $90 million, though Singer said $75 million is more accurate – is a considerable gamble for both UA and Cruise. He jokes at the predicament: “Go kill Hitler on Christmas!” There were many plots to assassinate Hitler, but the one involving Stauffenberg and many other high-ranking German officers is well-known in Germany. On July 20, 1944 (six weeks after D-Day), Stauffenberg conspired to kill Hitler with a bomb and install a change-of-power scheme called Operation Valkyrie. The plot failed (Hitler would kill himself in April 1945) and about 200 were executed for their involvement. The film was written by Christopher McQuarrie and his writing partner Nathan Alexander. McQuarrie’s last collaboration with Singer was the widely admired “The Usual Suspects” (1994). After bringing “Valkyrie” to Singer, the two expected to make a “small” film for less than $20 million. “I love it when he says that,” jokes Cruise. “I laugh at him. All you have to do is read the script. It has the planes, it’s in Berlin. How is this ever a small film?” Now embracing his instinct for big movies, Singer (who also helmed “X-Men,” “X2” and “Superman Returns”) said, “You sell the small film and then you go: `We could have cardboard or we could have the metal. I’m just saying.’ It is a bit of a shell game.” McQuarrie is quick to acknowledge he never expected the film to get made, but believes the result is a “delightfully odd movie” in the tradition of taut World War II thrillers like “The Great Escape,” “The Devil’s Brigade” and “Where Eagles Dare.” Said Singer: “We always knew that it was a thriller, we always knew that it was for the mainstream. It was not something we were gunning for awards.” Early reviews for “Valkyrie” have been mixed. Variety said its commercial prospects are “so-so.” The Hollywood Reporter called it “a fine film” that “should enjoy modest success, but if Cruise’s career is seen as momentarily stalled, `Valkyrie’ is not the electric jolt he’s looking for as a jump-start.” Cruise’s Stauffenberg is, like many of the actor’s roles, an embodiment of determination. With a similar steadfastness to Ethan Hunt of the “Mission: Impossible” movies, the striving agent in “Jerry Maguire” or the more demented determination of Vincent in “Collateral,” Cruise’s Stauffenberg is resolute. “I think there is that part of me, there is that spirit of wanting to engage in life,” said Cruise. “Here’s a guy who worked under tremendous amounts of pressure, and still could be absolutely clear and lucid about his choices and try to push this and drive this forward.” Watching Cruise promote “Valkyrie,” it’s easy to see a similar indomitable pluck. On his way to a photo shoot, he rapidly changes his shirt, bare chested (and notably muscular) for a flash. Between interviews, he cheerfully autographs a movie poster for a pilot, being sure to sign it “Maverick,” alluding to his “Top Gun” character. He speaks passionately about “Valkyrie,” repeatedly explaining his interest, above all, in entertaining people and “telling stories.” “I’m a father,” said Cruise, who’s married to Katie Holmes and has three children. “You have to choose the things you want to focus on. I make movies.” Cruise won’t say if that means removing himself further from his mogul duties at UA, but he does state that he’d like to be making three films a year. (At the moment, he doesn’t have anything immediately lined up but is developing several projects.) As ever, Cruise tries to remain doggedly forward-looking. “I’m an actor first and foremost,” he said. “I have the freedom to do what I want to do.” (Daily Record)

 

Anti-Scientology group Anonymous hoped to protest the Dec. 15 New York City premiere of “Valkyrie,”  starring noted Scientologist Tom Cruise, but wasn’t so successful. For starters, just hours before the premiere, group organizers realized that the event’s location was at Jazz at Lincoln Center, which is actually located at the Time Warner Center and not in Lincoln Center itself as they’d thought. The difference of a few blocks meant a difference in police precinct jurisdictions, which in turn meant that they had to scramble to get a permit from the police to allow their protest (in the end, they did get their permit). One source close to the premiere planning says that the choice to hold it at Jazz at Lincoln Center was made in part because it would be more difficult to protest — the location doesn’t allow for a big outdoor red carpet. “Anonymous picketed outside (Cruise’s wife) Katie’s ‘All My Sons’ premiere and ruined photos by being in the background. They didn’t want the same thing,” says the source. The flip side: “Tom loves being with his fans, signing autographs. It’s really where he shines. He and the fans lose out this way.” The net result: Anonymous, along with a German camera crew that followed the group to the protest and plans to air their footage in a documentary in early 2009, gathered at the premiere “but Tom never came out to talk to us,” according to one protester. “That said, I think we stood around, and were able to get our message out about Scientology peacefully.” (Scoop)

 

 

TV . . .

 

Fox TV says Halle Berry and actor-screenwriter Tyler Perry will host the 40th NAACP Image Awards in February. Nominations for the Image Awards, which honor those who promote diversity in the arts, will be announced Jan. 7. The Feb. 12 ceremony, airing on Fox, will kick off a yearlong centennial celebration for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Berry, an Academy Award-winner for “Monster’s Ball,” and Perry, whose credits include the film “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” are former Image Award winners. Awards chair Clayola Brown said in a statement Tuesday that the two have broken entertainment-industry barriers and their success offers hope for further progress. (Daily Record)

 

Jack Black is headed to “The Office,” guest-starring in an episode slated to air during a ratings-rich time slot: after the Super Bowl. The Feb. 1 episode of the sitcom, titled “Stress Relief,” will follow the office drones as they try to secretly watch a bootlegged Hollywood movie at work. The network did not say how Black will factor into the story line. Black recently starred in “Tropic Thunder.” His other film credits include “King Kong,” “High Fidelity” and the voice of the main character in the animated “Kung Fu Panda.” (Daily Record)

 

Four hours in the morning apparently isn’t enough. NBC’s “Today” show is going prime-time, for one night only. Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry will host a one-hour review on Dec. 22 of the year’s biggest news events. It won’t be strictly serious; the show will include big moments in pop culture and “Today” show bloopers. It’s the first time they’ve tried something like this in more than a decade. With its prime-time schedule suffering, NBC is reaching toward its more successful areas for programming. Late-night king Jay Leno is moving to prime-time next fall. (Daily Record)

 

The Fox network is making a musical comedy, a somewhat unusual project for prime-time television. Fox said Tuesday it had ordered 13 episodes of “Glee,” a scripted series about a high school teacher trying to transform a glee club into a national power. The characters include a diva-in-training, a nerdy soprano and a quarterback who tries to stay cool while singing. At least three musical numbers will be performed in each show. Sound familiar? The success of the movie franchise “High School Musical” proved youngsters don’t consider musicals an anachronism. Fox said the new series will appear sometime in 2009. (Daily Record)

 

An American Idol producer has denied reports Paula Abdul is set to leave the hit reality show, insisting she is an “integral part” of the singing contest. Abdul has been mired in controversy after a crazed fan committed suicide outside her California home last month. She claimed producers failed to keep Paula Goodspeed away and let her audition on three separate occasions, knowing she had stalked the star for 17 years. Bosses denied knowing Godspeed was a threat and rumors surfaced that Abdul would be leaving the hit show. But producer Ken Warwick has flatly denied the reports, insisting the judge is “worth her weight in gold”. He tells People.com, ?America loves Paula. She’s an integral part of this program. ?There’s never been any discussion that we would want to get rid of Paula, Never have I been faced with anyone saying Paula’s got to go. She’s one of the foundation blocks of this series. She keeps Simon well in control, which is worth its weight in gold.? And Warwick is adamant he had no idea Goodspeed had a problem with Abdul – and if he had he would not have let her come face-to-face with the judge. (Teen Hollywood)

 

CBS’ comedy block surged Monday night to some of its highest ratings ever. With top competitor ABC airing holiday specials, CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” (11.4 million, 4.2) had series-high  numbers in all key measurements; “How I Met Your Mother” (11.4 million, 4.6/11) hit an all-time high in the adult demo; “Two and a Half Men” (17.9 million, 5.6/13) had its strongest performance since the evening after CBS aired the Super Bowl in 2007; “Worst Week” (12.1 million, 3.6/9) had its biggest rating since its season premiere. “CSI Miami” (14.4 million, 3.8/10) was also strong. The most impressive parties in this news are the 8 p.m. comedies — “Big Bang” and “Mother” have been among the very few returning titles to demonstrate ongoing growth this fall. “Week” continues to be a luxury problem: frustratingly low rated for the time period, yet last night tying “Heroes.” NBC placed second, with “Chuck” (7.6 million, 2.6/7) matching its best adult demo rating since premiere week. The fall finale of “Heroes” (7.8 million, 3.6/8) held steady, as did “My Own Worst Enemy” (4.1 million, 1.7/4). Fox’s “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” (5.3 million, 1.9/5) and “Prison Break” (5.7 million, 2.2/5) were on par. ABC aired one of the lesser titles in the Peanuts holiday canon, “I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown!” (7.4 million, 2.2/6) followed by a low-rated synergistic special “20/20: Drama High: The Making of a High School Musical” (3.7 million, 1.2/3). The CW aired repeats. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Fox Reality Channel has ordered a new series that puts an attention-getting gender twist on the trophy-spouse reality genre. The network has ordered nine hours of “Househusbands of Hollywood,” which follows a collection of stay-at-home spouses of successful L.A. women. The cast includes Tempestt Bledsoe (“The Cosby Show”) and husband Darryl M. Bell (“A Different World”), Jillian Reynolds (formerly Barberie, from “Good Day LA”) and her husband Grant and former Los Angeles Dodger Billy Ashley, among others. The project produced by Marilyn Wilson Prods. represents a different kind of reality show for the cable channel, which is dominated by off-network acquisitions, original competition series and the occasional docudrama. “Househusbands,” set to bow in August, falls into an ensemble soap category that’s provided ample fruit for such high-profile cable players as Bravo, VH1 and E! “We believe ‘Househusbands’ could be a breakthrough for us,” said Bob Boden, Fox Reality senior VP programming. “It’s an amusing, poignant and fascinating look at a world that has not been covered yet in reality. It’s obviously an outgrowth of a trend that’s been working in reality about docusoaps, with interesting characters with unique relationships.” Fox Reality hopes to find a new audience with the series and, if successful, expand the “Househusbands” brand beyond a single series (not unlike a certain group of “Real Housewives” on Bravo). “The concept offers many possibilities,” Boden said. “It could lead to a spinoff with a certain cast member or expansion to other cities.” Fox Reality’s highest-rated series is the psychological endurance test “Solitary.” Also, the synergistic “American Idol Extra” will return to coincide with the reality hit’s eighth season. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

 

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . .  (Mike Butts Creative)

 

Q.  Because of the bad economy, sales of these are through the roof!! What?

            A.  Cookbooks – people are eating in and no at restaurants

 

 

TODAY’S QUOTE  (By Susannah Clark)

 

“YOU’VE GOT TO SING LIKE YOU DON’T NEED THE MONEY, LOVE LIKE YOU’LL GET HURT. YOU’VE GOT TO DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING. IT’S GOTTA COME FROM THE HEART, IF YOU WANT IT TO WORK.”

 

 

MIND BOGGLERS . . .  (QuickTrivia)

 

Q.  How long does it take to cool Hershey’s chocolate into a kiss?

            A.  1 hr.

            B.  18 minutes  ****

            C.  35 minutes

            D.  5 minutes

 

Q.  In 1948 Jeremy _____, English actor (French Lieutenant’s Woman), born?

            A.  Irom’s

            B.  James

            C.  Jones

            D.  Irons  ****

 

Q.  In 1963 “Beatlemania” is coined after the Beatles appear at the ______?

            A.  Crystal Palace

            B.  Palladium  ****

            C.  Albert Hall

            D.  Royal Pavilion

 

Q.  In “The Karate Kid,” what color did Daniel have to paint Miagi’s house, as part of his training?

            A.  Green  ****

            B.  Grey

            C.  Blue

            D.  White

 

Q.  Pick the musical term for “Voice”?

            A.  Ottava (Ott.)

            B.  Voce  ****

            C.  Ein Wenig

            D.  Tranquillo

 

Q.  Which country celebrates Constitution Day when we celebrate Christmas?

            A.  Japan

            B.  Taiwan  ****

            C.  Russia

            D.  India

 

 

“THE CHRISTMAS BAILOUT” . . . (John Tesh)

 

John Tesh wrote and voiced a cool piece of Holiday spoken word audio for Christmas 2008, titled “The Christmas Bailout”… Given the state of the economy, thought it to be pretty timely this holiday season. It is posted on the following webpage . . . http://teshmedia.com/Christmas/ChristmasBailout.html.

 

Also . . . In addition to the audio (for download), also posted the text as well.  Just click on the buttons to the right of the graphic for the various download options (mp3 or WAV).  (The TeshMedia Group)

 

 

MENTAL_FLOSS . .  .

 

Our insanely interesting fact:

• Just like many human babies, puppies are often born with blue eyes that darken in the first few months of their lives. 

 

• Frogs: Just one frog has enough venom to kill 5 to 10 people.

 

• The Liger: A liger is a real animal – it’s the offspring of a female tiger and a male lion.

 

• Disney: The Jungle Book was the last movie Walt Disney personally produced. He told animators to “throw away” Kipling’s book because it was too depressing.

 

• Vice Presidents: Gerald Ford was offered the chance to run as Ronald Reagan’s VP in 1980.

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

 

CRAFT BREWERIES:

 

If you’re not into wine, you may be interested to know that many destinations are becoming known for their craft beers. Take a tour of a microbrewery for that real local flavor. You can find artisan brewing companies throughout the country, and sometimes in places that you wouldn’t expect. Napa is a wine lover’s paradise, but the nearby Mendocino Brewing Company produces more than a dozen craft-style microbrews. Take a tour or have a pint inside the 100-year-old saloon. And while Miller is king in Wisconsin, local microbreweries serve up beers you won’t find anywhere else. At the Great Dane Pub and Brewery in downtown Madison, there are traditional stouts and unusual beverages like beer spiced with habanero peppers. And if you can handle visiting several brew pubs in a day, check out Portland’s Eco Tours of Oregon, where for $45 you learn about the microbrewing process and enjoy plenty of samples.

 

(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 . . .

 

—1734  Signer of the Declaration of Independence William Floyd (d. 8-4-1821)

—1908  American educator and chemist Willard Frank Libby (d. 9-8-1980)

—1910  Composer/Arranger Sy Oliver (d. 5-28-1988)

—1917  TV Game Show Host Gene Rayburn (Match Game) (d. 11-29-1999)

—1929  Author/Journalist William Safire

—1930  Publisher Bob Guccione (Penthouse)

—1935  Baseball’s Cal Ripkin

—1936  Actor/Singer Tommy Steele (The Happiest Millionaire)

—1937  Singer/Keyboardist Art Neville (The Neville Brothers) (“Tell It Like It Is”)

—1939  Singer Eddie Kendricks (The Temptations) (“My Girl”) (d. 10-5-1992)

—1942  Musician Paul Butterfield (The Paul Butterfield Blues Band) (“Drivin’ Wheel”) (d. 5-4-1987)

—1943  Dave Dee – vocalist for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich (“Legend Of Xanadu”)

—1944  Actor Bernard Hill (Gandhi)

—1945  Actor Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters)

—1945  Actor Christopher Cazenove (Eye of the Needle)

—1946  Actor/Comedian Eugene Levy (SCTV)

—1948  Jim Bonfanti – drummer for The Raspberries (“Go All The Way”)

—1949  Singer Paul Rodgers (Bad Company) (“Shooting Star”)

—1950  Musician Carlton Barrett (Bob Marley & The Wailers) (“No Woman No Cry”) (d.4-17-1987)

—1951 – Wanda Hutchison – vocalist for The Emotions (“Best Of My Love”)

—1958  Musician Mike Mills (R.E.M.)

—1959  Basketball’s Albert King

—1961  Singer Sarah Dallin (Bananarama)

¾1972  Actor Sean Patrick Thomas (Save The Last Dance)

 

 

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

 

Today is WRIGHT BROTHERS DAY.

—1538  Pope Paul III excommunicated England’s King Henry VIII, who had not only married and divorced two wives by then, but had also declared himself head of the Church of England.

—1791  A traffic regulation in New York City established the nation’s first one-way street.

—1843  Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was first published, in England.

—1903  At Kill Devil Hill, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, bicycle makers Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful machine-powered heavier-than-air flight: 120 feet in about twelve

seconds. (New Zealanders claim that their own Richard Pearse built and flew a plane there nine months earlier.)

—1935  The first DC-3, built by Douglas Aircraft for TWA, took off from an airstrip in Santa Monica, California.

—1953  The FCC gave final approval to NBC’s system for compatible color TV.

—1957  Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” enters the chart for the first time.

—1969  On NBC’s “Tonight Show”, an estimated 50 million television viewers watch as singer Tiny Tim married his fiancé, Miss Vicky, 17. (The couple divorced a few years later).

—1977  Debbie Boone’s “You Light up My Life” is the top single for the 10^th consecutive week. The Bee Gees “How Deep Is Your Love” replaces it the following week.

—1979  Stuntman Stan Barrett became the first person to break the sound barrier on land. In a 60,000 horsepower rocket vehicle, he reached more than 739 miles an hour at Rogers Dry Lake,

California.

—1982  Karen Carpenter gives her last public performance at a Sherman Oaks, CA, elementary school.

—1982  The Who play the last date of their farewell tour at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

—1986  The Doobie Brothers Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter reunite at a Children’s Hospital benefit in northern California. The show sparks a full-scale reunion tour four months later.

—1986  Wayne Newton won a $19.2 million judgment against NBC news, which had aired reports linking Newton to mob figures.

—1988  The Rolling Stones’ documentary “Cocksucker Blues” is shown for the last time at a Y film museum. Director Robert Frank had periodically held small showings of the film, which included explicit sex and drug use, but Mick Jagger prevented the film from ever being shown commercially.

—1989  “The Simpsons” debut on American television.  The show’s 300^th episode aired 2/16/2003.

¾1994  Actress Heather Locklear (b. 9/25/1961) marries rocker guitarist Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) in Paris.

 

 

RADIO ONLINE® DAILY SHOW PREP™ . . .

 

ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1777, France became the first country to recognize the United States as a new country. Of course, they did it by flipping us off.

In 1790, an ancient Aztec calendar stone was discovered in Mexico City. It was still in mint condition, because it was one of the first flip calendars and with the pages being made out of stone, they were just a pain to flip.

It was on this date in 1843, that “A Christmas Carol” was published for the first time. Up until it came out, grumpy people would say, “Bah! Cabbage!” and it just wasn’t as effective.

On this date in 1903, the Wright brothers successfully flew a plane. The flight lasted 12 seconds… about the time it takes for the baby in the seat behind you to start crying.

TODAY IS

Bill Pullman turns 55 today. Not necessarily a great actor, but if we’re ever invaded by aliens, he’s the guy I want to be president.

Bernard Hill celebrates his 64th birthday today. He played the Captain in the movie, “Titanic.” Sort of the George Bush of his time.

Bob Guccione, the publisher of Penthouse magazine, turns 78. He’s single and always wanted to be a playboy, but that would have been a conflict of interest.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

·         Peter Falk (Columbo)’s daughter says he is battling Alzheimer’s and now needs fulltime care. He’s 81.

·         The first new Dave Matthews Band studio album in four years will come out April 14th.

·         Rachael Ray has canceled her throat surgery to remove a benign cyst. She wants to try a new vocal therapy first.

·         A 9-year-old girl in Pharr, TX, wrote Santa Claus and asked Santa to make a relative stop touching her and her sister. The letter, which the girl turned in to her elementary school, was read by a school counselor who then alerted authorities.

·         Jack Black will appear in the” The Office”‘s big post-Super Bowl episode.

·         Christina Hendricks, who plays head secretary Joan on ‘Mad Men’ has gotten engaged to actor Geoffrey Arend.

·         Caroline Kennedy has officially declared she’d like the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton.

·         Changes are coming to “American Idol” in January, including a return to “wild card” finalists picked by the show’s judges, along with less airtime for bad auditions.

·         A substitute teacher in England has been fired, after telling a classroom full of 7-year-olds that there was no such thing as Santa Claus.

·         Cameron Diaz says she’s a fan of “Shrek the Musical,” but don’t expect to see her star in it.

·         Avril Lavigne has fired her manager, after the response to her last tour and album were less than phenomenal.

·         Dennis Quaid and his wife have agreed to a $750,000 settlement with a Los Angeles hospital that gave his newborn twins an overdose of blood thinner.

·         Paul Anka says he and his wife are doing fine. The fact that she was arrested and he ended up with two staples in his head… no big deal.

·         Playboy is apologizing for putting a nude model on the cover of their Mexican edition to look like the Virgin Mary.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Guys, if you want to impress a woman, learn to cook. More women are impressed by a man’s cooking ability than the kind of car he owns, according to a survey by Great Britain’s Department of Health. The poll of those aged 16 to 24 was taken as part of the Department of Health’s 5-A-Day campaign to get people to eat more fruits and vegetables.

·         Almost one-third of young Britons lied and claimed a precooked, ready-to-eat meal was something they had actually cooked themselves.

·         Women are the worst offenders when it comes to lying about what they cooked. 40% of women had claimed food they bought in a store was homemade, compared with 22% of men.

·         7% said they regularly claim cooking credit for food they have bought that someone else made.

·         10% have never cooked a meal for themselves because they don’t know how.

Holiday shoppers can save themselves a lot of time, trouble and stress this year by just giving cash, say consumer experts. Money ranks number one on the wish list of 56% of the people surveyed by Western Union researchers. Furthermore, for these cash craving respondents, a $100 bill even beat out a $100 gift card in the present parade. The Western Union poll also reveals that 57% had already planned on giving green this season.

(DivineCaroline.com) When we experience stress in our lives, it frequently shows up in our dreams. But knowing how to interpret our dreams can be a confusing matter. Below are listed some dream symbols that can be a sign of stress in your life.

·         Nudity – foretells scandal and unwise engagements

·         Storms – symbolizes an internal storm in your life

·         Crashes – deep anxieties and fears

·         Hell – suffering from an inescapable situation

·         Death – often means the beginning of suspense or trials in your life

·         Bugs – suggests you are worried about something and are filled with anxieties and fears

·         Cats – foretells misfortune and bad luck

Unhappy people watch TV, happy people read and socialize. Those are the findings of a new study appearing in the journal Social Indicators Research. After analyzing 30 years of data and having new volunteers fill out diaries for a 24-hour period, University of Maryland sociologists John P. Robinson and Steven Martin found that despondent folks watched significantly more television in their spare time 20% more than those who are joyful. Meanwhile, contented people were more socially active, attended more religious services, voted more and read more newspapers. But those who filled out the journals rated TV watching more highly as a daily activity.

PHONE TOPICS

·         What’s your lottery betting system? How’s that working for you?

·         What’s your “snow day” comfort food?

·         Besides Bing, who does a great version of “White Christmas”?

·         Any spelling bee champs listening?

·         Who’s the biggest celeb you’ve ever snapped a photo of?

·         Strangest thing your kid did on Santa’s lap.

·         Are you in a fight with your homeowners association?

·         Weird or creepy habits your relatives have?

·         What things do your kids (or their friends) say that really make you feel old as the hills?

·         Weird things your spouse keeps in their glove box?

·         What electric-powered item could you not live without?

·         What is your greatest victory? Could be sports, love, and business of anything.

·         What’s the biggest snow storm that you remember?

·         Who have you known the longest?

·         How many shoes is enough?

We got into a debate over snapping personal photos of your kid with Santa at the mall. Is it OK to do? You see at our local mall, our Santa is not happy. He’s not feeling so jolly after watching people repeatedly sneak free pictures of him at the mall. He told us, up to three parents per day this year have bucked the system and snapped their own photos with cellphones and personal cameras, instead of paying the photography company that hired him. He says that’s equal to shoplifting. What do you think? Should you be forced to buy the “mall photos” and not take your own? I mean, Santa is on the clock, right?

This Thursday, we’re doing a “Santa Theories” Thursday. Ever wondered how Santa Claus can travel around the world in just one night on his reindeer-pulled sleigh and deliver toys to all the children? (I think he exploits the space-time continuum). How does Santa get into homes without chimneys? We posed these questions to our audience and had some fun with the adults while talking right over the kiddo’s heads!

Are you annoyed by someone you sleep with that is a persistent snorer? Are you annoyed, or just jealous? Why? Heavy snoring could help burn calories, a new study has found as, even when they are awake, snorers use up more calories than non-snorers, the research found. Those who suffered from the most serious snoring problems expended around 2,000 calories while resting every day. Phoner: Do you sleep with someone that snores? Does it keep you up, or do you get used to it?

What’s the worst thing your boss makes you do. Great phones! Everything from “I pick up his dry cleaning” to “I take his laundry home because he says I do it better than his wife does.” Best stories won a day off with pay through a temp agency we worked with.

What’s on your TiVo, or DVR list of “season passes” that you would be ashamed to admit to your friends you record and watch? What’s the best show on TV?

George Bush had two shoes hurled at him by an Iraqi journalist who wanted to make an example of the outgoing President by paying him the highest insult in Baghdad this week. In honor of the “Shoe-ter”, we mentioned this list of Top 10 ways to insult people around the world. (It’s from Mirror.co.uk):

1.      If you are handed a business card in Japan you can cause maximum offence by throwing it down on your desk or stuffing it in your back pocket as the exchange of business card here is meant to be a well thought out practice.

2.      In the Philippines a curled beckoning forefinger isn’t used to summon someone over but rather to call them a dog. But the insult is punishable by arrest and even breaking the finger that committed the offense so use with caution.

3.      In India and Africa where people use their hands to eat, it is considered an insult to use your left hand as this is thought to be ‘unclean’ and used only for a related function which follows several hours later.

4.      In Scandinavia to show distaste keep your chin down during a bottoms-up because it is understood as highly offensive to look down at your feet while drinking a toast.

5.      If you blow your nose into a handkerchief in Japan you’ll insult those around you because the Japanese word for snot literally means ‘nose sh#%’ and the idea of carrying this around all day is thought to be disgusting.

6.      To insult someone in Korea you simply have to smile because smiling at a stranger is thought to be very rude and a clear indication that you believe them to be stupid.

7.      While the thumb and forefinger forming the letter ‘O’ is a western sign for OK in Russia it is understood to be an insult with sexual connotations. This could come in handy if you need to show your unhappiness with the service in a Russian hotel when on holiday.

8.      In Buddhist countries the most offensive thing someone can do is pat a person on the head as the head is thought to be the seat of the soul.

9.      In Argentina it is considered an insult if you turn up for a dinner date on time because this is thought to be a sign of greed rather than politeness. To keep everyone happy you should turn up a little late but if you want to make a point get their early and tuck-in.

10.  In North America you’re sure to cause an uproar if you mistake an American for a Canadian or vice versa as both neighbors are very sensitive about this confusion.

What is the dumbest laziness you’ve exhibited? I noticed the other day that the door shelves in my refrigerator really needed to be cleaned, but decided not to because this fridge is probably at least 15 years old and making some weird noises now and then so why clean it if I’ll probably have to replace it soon? Who has the oldest, still working in your kitchen refrigerator?

Finish this phrase: “I would be willing to go to jail for the opportunity to punch out _____!” Britney Spears? President Bush? John Mayer? Simon Cowell? Why do you want to punch them so bad?

We got to talking about dads, and how my newsguy and I are starting to become like our dads. Remember when you were a kid, you could never touch the thermostat? Only your dad could touch the thermostat. I was 28 in a hotel before I ever touched one. I moved it just a little… I was so afraid my dad would burst into the hotel room and yell, “who touched that!” Dads always say, “I set it there for a reason!” Phoner: Are you like your dad or mom?

We took a call from a listener who is getting married soon. She described her man as sensitive, attentive, handsome and financially stable. So, what’s the problem? He’s a mama’s boy! His mom brings him his meals every day, she calls twice a day and he has a picture of mom on his nightstand. She was freaking out! Great calls from women who married mama’s boys and gals who divorced them! Very funny calls.

More and more restaurants are banning the use of cell phones because they are too distracting and just plain rude to other customers. According to the owner, the phones not only ring, but the customer’s voice gets louder when speaking to the caller. Phoner: Should cell phones be banned at restaurants?

Guys, ever wonder how to be a husband? Here are 10 steps to being a better husband (from MSN.com)

1.      Take an interest in something your wife is really passionate about. This can be especially tough for guys, because we generally feel that if someone else has interests that differ from ours, they’re morons. It’s not an easy task, and being able to show interest in something that matters to someone you love shows growth — and that’s terrifying. Good, but terrifying. Accomplish this and you’ll make her feel better about herself, and you get better insight into what makes her tick.

2.      Put the kids to bed. Once a week give her the night off and put the kids to bed by yourself. Let her take a hot bath, read a book, or check gossip on the Web and forget about the kids. I’m always amazed how happy this makes my wife. It ranks somewhere between low-end jewelry and a Hawaiian vacation.

3.      Learn to apologize. This is the easiest one, and the hardest one. A marriage is a marathon, and we all fly off the handle too quick or let our temper get the best of us sometimes. When you’re wrong, it’s best to step up and apologize. It’s amazing how fast “I’m sorry” can defuse a stupid argument about something you can’t even remember.

4.      Thank her for putting up with you. Every once in a while, just thank her for putting up with you. That’s all you have to say. Don’t launch into a list of your faults, or the story about coming home two days late from that Vegas bachelor party. Just thank her, and let her know that you understand that you’re not the easiest person in the world to live with.

5.      Clean up after yourself. Take care of that late night snack or morning cereal bowl. Setting them in the sink is one thing, but go that extra mile and actually put them in the dishwasher. After all, no one enjoys scraping bacon dip off a bowl that’s been sitting too long or smelling the chili from the night before. A beer bottle on the counter the next morning is even worse.

One of our team members and his wife are expecting. Instead of taking the traditional route of having listeners phone in baby names, we took calls advising against some names “not” to use for your kids. Wow! Lots of awful names!

Do you know someone who is addicted to their cell phone? My friend uses at least 2000 minutes a month on hers. Should cell phone use be allowed on a flight? Where’s the strangest place you’ve seen a cell phone used?

My co-host got into a fight with her husband the other day because they’re buying a new car. He wants to buy an SUV. And she wants to buy a minivan. Why? Because her girlfriend advised her to get a minivan instead. So now, her husband is upset that his wife is choosing her friend’s advice over his. Would you trust a close friend’s opinion over that of your partner? Really hot phones.

Wild animal encounters? There’s some funny stories out there. Our best ones included a woman who thought she was going to hit a deer but it just jumped onto and over her car. Then there was the guy whose car was rushed by a herd of wild turkeys.

We got great response from the topic, “How much trash is on the floor of your car right now?” Cell phone callers list the items they can see on their car floor. We’re thinking about giving away a full auto detail to the listener with the most unusual stuff.

WEIRD NEWS

You Stole What?
In Gainesville, Florida, police say a 36-year-old man was arrested for stealing a small refrigerator. But not just any refrigerator– this fridge was stocked with urine samples, including his own, and stolen from a probation office. Apparently the guy had tested positive for drug use and was trying to get rid of the evidence. Investigators tracked down the suspect at his home where they found shards of glass with blood on them. The fridge is still missing, but the man was being held at the Alachua County jail. He’s charged with arson, destroying evidence, burglary and larceny. (The Gainesville Sun)

Another Sandwich Assault
There’s been another sandwich assault in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and this time it sent the perp to jail for a month. According to police, the 20-year-old man threw the sandwich at his girlfriend’s face during an argument about auto insurance and then hit her head with his fist. He copped to throwing the food but not hitting her. Just last month, another man was arrested on a battery charge for hitting his girlfriend with a sandwich, knocking her glasses off and nearly causing a car crash as she was driving at the time. Sadly, police would not release what type of sandwich was used in either attack. Question: So why are there so many attacks like this in Port St. Lucie, Florida? Answer: Because of all the sand which is there! HA! (The Stuart News)

What Do You Mean The Gun Was Loaded?
In Sheboygan, Wisconsin, it was supposed to be just a reenactment of a shootout of a train robbery. But things turned ugly when two people actually got shot after one of the actors used a gun mistakenly loaded with real birdshot! Kind of dampened spirits at the Santa Steam Train event. 46 shotgun pellets went into the arm, leg and abdomen of 49-year-old actor Thomas E. Rumpff of Sheboygan. Two more pellets struck a 14-year-old spectator. One embedded in his index finger, and another bounced off his knee. Fortunately both victims are okay. And so are the lawyers who are just lining up and salivating over this one. (The Sheboygan Press)

The Ultimate Couch Potato
Mike Meredith is not only a Cleveland Browns fan, but the ultimate couch potato. Mike created a motorized sofa – dubbed the “Go-Kouch” –that he usually rides around a municipal parking lot for tailgate parties before games. But recently he decided to get crazy and ride the converted riding mower the extra two blocks to the Browns’ stadium for a game with Houston. While many police officers waived him on through, one didn’t and gave him a citation for driving an unregistered vehicle and having expired plates. But Mike is pleading not guilty and as part of his defense plans to introduce pictures of every officer who gave him the go-ahead during his journey. (The Plain Dealer)

Violent Video Game Begets Violence
In Elyria, Ohio, the video game Halo 3 led to severe tragedy for one family. Daniel Petric, now age 17, was so angry that his father wouldn’t let him play the violent video game that he killed his mother and shot his father, then tried to make it appear to be a murder-suicide. Petric had sneaked out of his house to buy the game but his parents caught him as he came in with it and took it away. His father, Mark Petric, who is a minister at New Life Assembly of God, testified that a while later, Daniel — then 16 — came into the room and said, “Would you guys close your eyes. I have a surprise for you.” Mark Petric said he expected a pleasant surprise. The next thing he knew, his head went numb as he had been shot in the head. His wife, Susan Petric, died of a gunshot wound to her head. Mark said the next thing he remembers is his son shoving the gun in his hand and saying, “Hey Dad, here’s your gun. Take it.” Mark later said his son told him he could hardly live with the guilt over what he did. Daniel’s lawyers told the court the boy had been under great stress because of a snowboarding accident that resulted in a severe staph infection. As a result he was homebound for a year with nothing to do but watch television and play video games. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Phoner: Do you worry about the violent video games your kids play? Are there games that are banned from your house?

Kid Is Named Adolf Hitler!
In Holland Township, Michigan lives 35-year-old Heath Campbell — a Holocaust denier whose living room is decorated with German combat knives and swastikas. It gets worse. He has named all three of his children after Nazism including a girl who turns one in April named Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell — after Schutzstaffel head Heinrich Himmler, a 2-year-old girl named JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell, and a 3-year-old son named Adolf Hitler Campbell! No kidding. And now the Campbells are angry because the local ShopRite store refused to make a birthday cake with Adolf Hitler’s name on it. A director for the Anti-Defamation League in Philadelphia applauded the supermarket’s decision. The Campbells say Wal-Mart made cakes for Adolf’s first two birthdays and a Wal-Mart spokeswoman explained that while the store won’t put anything illegal or profane on a cake, they think it’s important to respect the views of customers and employees. As to whether the Cambells have a legal case against ShopRite, Shannon Powers, of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission said they would have to prove they were denied service because of race, ethnicity or religion. She added, “It sounds like ShopRite didn’t want to offend other patrons or do something offensive to their own sensibilities and that’s totally different from discrimination.” Despite the cake incident, the Campbells said they don’t expect the names to cause problems later, such as when the children start school. Their mother, Deborah Campbell said, “I just figured that they’re just names. They’re just kids. They’re not going to hurt anybody.” Clinical psychologist Robert M. Gordon disagrees and says the names would hurt the children adding, “Certainly society is going to be hostile towards those kids, especially when they go to school.” (The Express Times)

MATCH THE MOUTH

“I’m not that great at sentimentality, but my publicist is looking forward to me crying.”

·         Tim Conway

·         Samuel L. Jackson ***

·         Bruce Willis

·         Willem Dafoe

·         Robin Williams

“The Hollywood fairy-tale romance, if you strip away all the glitz and glamour and the headlines, it’s just people living their life.”

·         Cameron Diaz

·         Meryl Streep

·         Barbra Walters

·         Jennifer Aniston ***

·         Sarah Silverman

“Books are still the best bang for your buck!”

·         Bill O’Reilly

·         John Grisham

·         Stephen King ***

·         Larry King

·         Nora Roberts

WORLD’S WORST CONTEST

Pick a concert, pick a city, pick a date. Qualify people on air. Then bring them down to the bus terminal and let the driver pick the winner. Have your stunt boy ride with them and call in from the road to the show. From the hotels, greasy spoons, etc. Set up a dedicated number so he can call and leave updates when you’re not there. Best stuff will be live from the bus. This is easy to do, cheap, fun and good content.

NAME THAT MYSTERY GUEST

Here’s a great way to recycle your previous interviews. Pull out bits and pieces of a past interview and play “Name That Mystery Guest.” You’ll have a lot of fun with this.

TOP FIVE DIRTIEST TRICKS THE ELVES HAVE EVER PLAYED

1.      Feeding Rudolph nothing but beans on Christmas Eve

2.      Calling them Lincoln logs, but they were really Coolidge logs

3.      Making hybrid Lego’s

4.      The old “Toy sack full of newspapers” trick

5.      Putting quick setting cement in Santa’s beard wax

HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter

That guy who threw his shoes at President Bush in Iraq is in police custody. That’s the difference between our two countries: there, when you disapprove of the politician, you throw your shoes at them. Here, you just give them a boot.

President Bush is back in the White House, after being attacked by that reporter over in Iraq. Gee, that just happened a few days and he’s already back here. I think I’ve discovered the secret to getting our troops back home from Iraq: just have them attacked by people with shoes.

Blind groups are really upset at the portrayal of blind New York Governor David Patterson on “Saturday Night Live” last weekend. One group gathered and was protesting in front of Hong’s One-Hour Photo, for whatever reason…

Arena Football is canceling their 2009 season. So, the recession isn’t ALL bad.

President Bush invited Miley Cyrus to the White House so that she could help light candles when “Hannikah Montanica” begins. He’s getting out just barely in time…

In Florida, a pair of men are charged with armed burglary after allegedly entering a home and demanding… an eggbeater. What some people won’t do to avoid cholesterol…

EVERY STEP YOU TAKE

Some people get a workout just by going to work. Here are six of the step-liveliest jobs, according to a study commissioned by the American Council on Exercise:

·         Mail Carriers take 18,904 steps a day on the job.

·         Custodians take 12,991 steps a day on the job.

·         Restaurant servers take 10,087 steps a day on the job.

·         Nurses take 8,648 steps a day on the job.

·         Lawyers take 5,062 steps a day on the job.

·         Teachers take 4,726 steps a day on the job.

Challenge your co-host to a walking endurance test to see who can walk the furthest. Listeners call in and give tips for protecting their feet, etc. One host says they will train for the walk through diet and exercise. The other says they will “train” by resting on the couch and eating junk food (but not really). Provide a chase car to air progress and wireless remotes so you can communicate with chase car.

AROUND THE HOUSE WITH (JOCK)

If you have kids, do a bit called around the house with (you). Just walk around and tape you trying to talk to her as the kids are screaming. In every segment make sure the kids are screaming. People with kids will relate.

SLUMBER SPEAK REVEALS PERSONALITY

The way you and your partner sleep together reveals a lot about your love life. “The positions couples adopt during their slumber speak volumes about their level of intimacy and the style and quality of their love making,” says psychologist Dr. Karl Bosuns. He bases his conclusions on an ongoing study he conducted through the years centering on the personalities, sex lives and sleeping positions of over 700 couples.

·         Too hot to handle — Couples who sleep back-to-back without touching each other, strangely enough, tend to be the wildest and most passionate in their lovemaking. “They exert so much energy and produce so much heat they don’t normally cuddle,” says Dr. Bosuns, a family and marriage counselor for 30 years.

·         Bottoms up — In this position, the man normally sleeps face down with his arms spread “as if he’s embracing the whole world. The woman adopts a tuck position, preserving the warmth she feels in the center of her body. “They fall asleep feeling like they’ve got the world by the tail,” says Dr. Bosuns.

·         Spoons — “Lovers who sleep in this position, I’ve found, are the kind of people who are extremely tactile they love to touch so much that they fall asleep in maximum body contact.”

·         Her leg over his — This could have two meanings, according to Dr. Bosuns: “either she’s unfulfilled and left wanting more, or she’s totally satisfied and is simply trying to prolong the afterglow.”

·         His leg over hers — “Men aren’t generally left unsatisfied in their lovemaking, so there’s little question what this position means for the man he’s feeling very affectionate and adopts a posture that preserves his afterglow,” says Dr. Bosuns.

DRUNKEN PERSONALS

Send the stunt runt to the bar with a recorder asking people to just do a personal ad for themselves, the ones looking to hook up. Play the next day.

INTERVIEWS/GUESTS

Veteran personal trainer, fitness expert and author Marty Tuley has done it again. For years, Tuley has promoted a no-frills, no-gimmicks, no-nonsense, not-so-subtle approach to health & fitness success. And now, Tuley has just launched the 6th Annual Top Ten Celebrity “Get Off Your Ass” List. Marty currently lives in Lawrence, Kansas, where he owns and operates an exclusive, one-on-one personal-training studio. To arrange an interview, e-mail todd@spreadthenewspr.com or call 785-842-8909. http://www.getoffyourass.biz:80/2008list.html

The original manufacturers and designers of the popular Trailer Trash Dolls announces a holiday special on our new talking, male, mullet doll, Jer Wayne Jr. For a press kit, go to http://www.redneckwarehouse.com/presskit. Contact Daniel Gibby at trashdolls@aol.com if you are interested in a holiday on-air interview with your station or show or if you are requesting promotional items. http://www.redneckwarehouse.com

HEADLINE TRUTH OR TRASH

“Car Dealer Offers Buy One, Get One Free!”
Truth! It’s going on in Belgium where general manager Ivo Willems of the Caroden car dealership said the promotion will run until December 15 and customers can choose from a range of new, full-price cars — the cheapest being a $28,930 Hyundai van — and then pick a second free vehicle from a selection that goes up to $20,000! He explained distributors in southern Europe have been so desperate to get cars off their lots that they have been selling them to Cardoen at large discounts.

“Salvation Army Bell Ringer Switches to Taser!”
Trash! But it would really inspire the donations.

“Man Spends $7500 To Fight $115 Ticket!”
Truth! 63-year-old Simon Belsky has spent $7,500 fighting a $115 parking ticket because– he’s got “nothing else to do.” Belsky, who is retired, insists he was erroneously ticketed two years ago for blocking a Brooklyn fire hydrant even though the only hydrant on the street was down the block. If he wins he’ll file a civil suit against the city to recover the $7,500 he’s spent on legal work.

“Amy Winehouse’s Letter to Santa Returned with ‘Not At This Address!’
Trash! But if he did want to avoid her, that would be the way he’d do it.

“Woman Sees Virgin Mary on Her Brain!”
Truth! Pamela Latrimore of Fort Pierce, Florida, claims an MRI scan of her brain clearly shows the image of the Virgin Mary. So what do you do with a treasured find like that? You sell it on eBay of course and that’s exactly what Pamela plans to do to help pay her rising medical costs.

“Santa Confused about Britney Spears!”
Trash! Although, she is naughty in a nice way and nice in naughty ways.

“Pastor Prays Over Deposit Slip — Get’s $1.5 Million!”
Truth! In Longview, Texas, Pastor Thomas McDaniels of the LifeBridge Christian Center filled out a bank deposit slip for $1 million bucks, then prayed over it hoping the funds would come to build a new church. And come they did. An anonymous donor wrote a check for $1.5 million and the new church is set to open in a few weeks. Honey — where’s our bank book?

“Heather Locklear Asks Santa for Michael Phelps for Christmas!”
Trash! She has, but she’s far from alone.

“Company Launches Pre-chewed Pencils!”
Truth! It’s the Concentrate Company in England and the pencils are made to look like they have already been chewed– supposedly making pupils less likely to put them in their mouths. They say it’s a cheap but effective way of encouraging youngsters to get their teeth into their lessons instead and avoid distraction.

THE TRUTH ABOUT E-MAIL

Relationships can be confusing. Combine them with e-mail, and it can even throw you further off track! Here’s how to read between the lines of a modern message.

·         The opener — If he forgoes a formal salutation, or a friendlier “Hi” or “Hey,” it’s a sign that he thinks you two really click, since he is already is chatting to you comfortably online.

·         Typos — A note riddled with errors might be an indication that the sender isn’t worried about impressing you. Or, he’s too busy top proofread, which could also mean he won’t have time to wine, dine, or woo you.

·         Emoticons — Facial expressions concocted from parenthesis, colons and other keyboard symbols indicate that he does not want you to misunderstand his cybernote… or he could just be corny!

·         Forwarded jokes — A guy who lazily passes along other people’s humorous stories is resorting to the electronic equivalent of an cheesy pick up line: it doesn’t require effort or originality. Getting an e-joke now and then is fun, but if you only receive ready-made messages, you won’t be laughing for long.

SHOP & RELAX

(Sun) The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy so why do so many of us end up pulling our hair out by Christmas Eve? Keep stress at bay with these handy tips:

·         Before you head out to shop, make a gift list organized by categories – stationary, clothing, jewelry, etc. That way, you can get a lot of presents in two or three stores and won’t be wasting time with repeat visits to the same place.

·         If you find a great gift that would suit more than one friend or relative, buy multiples. Let your fingers do the walking in catalogs. They’ll save you time, gasoline and parking hassles and may offer free shipping with a minimum order.

·         Give magazine subscriptions, tickets to a play, the movies or a sporting event, club memberships or restaurant gift certificates – no guessing on sizes or colors required.

·         For your most practical friends and relatives, how about a gift certificate or even cash, presented in a pretty envelope or gift wrapped in elegant paper.

·         Wrap gifts as you buy them, so you’re not spending an entire day wrapping while worrying about all the other holiday chores you’re not getting done.

WAYS TO RELIEVE SHOPPING PAIN!

Christmas shopping time. That usually means a terrible time for the guys who get dragged out by their spouses to participate but end up usually bored sitting on some uncomfortable stool somewhere wondering how much longer this hell will endure. Well guys-get creative. Have some fun while you’re out. Here’s some suggestions of things to do while being dragged out shopping with your spouse, significant other, girlfriend or booty call.

·         Walk up to any employee and say in a very official sounding voice: “Hey code 3 in children’s shoes!” Then just sit back and see what happens.

·         Take a package of M&M’s up to the customer service desk and ask to put them on lay away.

·         Hide inside the clothing racks and while someone browses through yell, “Pick me! Pick me!”

·         Look into the lens of a security camera and use it as a mirror to pick your nose.

·         Move the “Caution Wet Floor” sign to a carpeted area.

·         When someone asks if they can help you, yell out in a disturbed voice, “Can’t you people just leave me alone?”

·         Dart around the whole store while loudly humming the theme from “Mission Impossible!”

·         While looking over a rifle in the hunting section ask the clerk if he knows where the anti-depressants are.

·         Fill a shopping cart with so many items it’s overflowing. Then go up to the check-out lines and find a guy with just one item. Then ask if you can get ahead of them.

TOP FIVE WAYS YOU CAN SPOT A SERIOUS CHRISTMAS SHOPPER

1.      Has shopping list tattoo

2.      Shops in karate outfit with brown belt

3.      Wearing t-shirt that says “I saw it first”

4.      Spiked elbow pads

5.      Those holiday brass knuckles

WREATH TOSSING

What to do with all those left-over Christmas wreaths? Set up a large door and drive a long nail or hook into it. Get contestants to toss wreaths from a mark on the floor ten yards away. Award prizes to contestants who hook a wreath.

DICTIONARY OF HOLLYWOOD EXPRESSIONS

Verbs

·         To “schmooze” = befriend scum

·         To “pitch” = grovel shamelessly

·         To “brainstorm” = feign preparedness

·         To “research” = procrastinate indefinitely

·         To “network” = spread misinformation

·         To “collaborate” = argue incessantly

·         To “freelance” = collect unemployment

Nouns

·         Agent = frustrated lawyer

·         Lawyer = frustrated producer

·         Producer = frustrated writer

·         Writer = frustrated director

·         Director = frustrated actor

·         Actor = frustrated human

Compound Words

·         High-concept = low brow

·         Production values1 = gore

·         Production values2 = explosions

·         Entry level = pays nothing

·         Network-approved = has made them money

·         Highly qualified = knows the producer

Financial Terms

·         Net = something that apparently doesn’t exist

·         Gross = Michael Eisner’s salary

·         Back End = you, if you think you’ll ever see any

·         Residuals = braces for the kids

·         Deferral = don’t hold your breath

·         Points = see “Net ” or “Back End”

Common Phrases

·         You can trust me = You must be new

·         It needs some polishing = Change everything

·         It shows promise = It stinks rotten

·         It needs some fine tuning = Change everything

·         She got great press = She’ll never live down the embarrassment

·         I’d like some input = I want total control

·         It needs some honing = Change everything

·         Call me back next week = Stay out of my life

·         It needs some tightening = Change everything

·         Try and punch it up = I have no idea what I want

·         It needs some streamlining = Change everything

·         It’s all up on the screen = You’ll never find the money I embezzled

·         You’ll never work in this town again = I have no power whatsoever

50 YEARS ON THE JOB

The many Americans who retire this year at age 66 deserve to relax and rest since they would have started working at the high school age of 16 and will be ending 50 years of toil. And these ex-workers will have a lot in common besides finally earning the right to collect their Social Security benefits. According to an AARP profile of these Americans, the new retirees will have:

·         Heard their alarm clock ring a whopping 12,500 mornings.

·         Enjoyed 2,500 Friday night happy hour get togethers.

·         Said goodbye to one job and hello to another 10 times.

·         Possibly plunged into an office romance, a solid 40% of those in the workforce for 50 years have.

·         Maybe married your office love, 45% of new retirees ended up getting hitched to their workplace honey.

·         Used 1.2 years of their lives commuting to the job.

·         Used 1.4 years of vacation time.

·         Spent a whopping 2 years out of work due to sickness or claiming sickness.

·         Enjoyed 285 days of paid holidays.

·         Earned at least $40 a week minimum wage in 1958, which translates as $217.20 in today’s dollars.

·         Men who are 65 plus today have a weekly median pay of $686, which unfairly compares to $534 for gals.

·         Garnered lifetime earnings of $1.2 million with a high school diploma.

·         A slim chance of having put savings into a 401k retirement plan. Only 22% have these plans while only 32% of workers get a company pension.

·         Been among the 25% who have other resources to depend on along with their Social Security income.

·         An average monthly Social Security payment of $1,094 with another $390 as the average monthly SS payment for a spouse.

·         Declared, “Spending more time with family” as the number one reason for retiring.

·         Expectations of working after formal retirement 54% of folks plan to still have a job.

 

Blogged with the Flock Browser

12.16.08

 SHOW PREP DECEMBER 16, 2008

 

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

 

Christina Hendricks, 33 – who plays the bombshell head secretary on AMC’s Emmy-winning Mad Men – is engaged to actor Geoffrey Arend, her rep tells PEOPLE exclusively. Arend, 30, plays an ad man on TNT’s upcoming drama Trust Me, which premieres in January. The couple has not yet set a wedding date. (People)

 

Rumors that Mariah Carey is pregnant have gathered pace after she decided to scrap an upcoming world tour. Mariah Carey has added fuel to rumors that she is expecting her first child by canceling plans for a world tour an insider has told New York Daily News. “Costume designers and dancers were all called Wednesday and told the tour is off,” the source explained. “Most were hysterically crying because they were relying on her for a paycheck this holiday season.” While US tabloids were quick to see the connection to the cancellation to pregnancy rumors a rep for Mariah set the record straight. “A tour was discussed, but nothing was confirmed,” they explained. “I have not been told she’s pregnant.” (Handbag)

 

Who needs hot Hollywood clubs? Taylor Swift‘s birthday bash Saturday was a low-key, homemade affair. The star celebrated her 19th surrounded by family and friends – including all the members of her band – at her home in Hendersonville, Tenn., the singer’s rep tells PEOPLE exclusively. Swift, who lives with her parents and younger brother, planned the buffet dinner, which included sushi, mini beef Wellingtons and bacon-wrapped scallops. Two ice cream cakes (one chocolate peppermint, one cookie dough) came from Cold Stone Creamery. The singer entertained the crowd with a homemade video she made featuring many of her pals. Later, the 40 partygoers battled it out in a ping-pong tournament, won by Swift’s manager. (The “Love Story” singer made the semi-finals.) The night’s grand finale? S’mores (one of Swift’s faves) cooked up over an outdoor fire pit. (People)

 

Recently split Guy Ritchie and Madonna are to spend Christmas together with their children. Madonna and Guy Ritchie will spend Christmas together for the sake of their children sources have told the Daily Mail. “Madonna and Guy want the best for the kids and so she has decided to come over to the UK so they can be with their father,” an insider claims. “Guy is happiest with his kids and in the countryside. Because of what the kids have been through this year he wants to treat them to a really special Christmas with stockings of presents and a big tree. He is planning on having a traditional turkey dinner – although all the food will be organic at Madonna’s insistence. Madonna doesn’t really like Ashcombe but she thinks it’s important that they put on a united front for the kids. She will, however, be eating a different meal as she will only eat fish. She will also be working out on Christmas Day.” (Handbag)

 

Lauren Conrad. Audrina Patridge. Heidi Montag. Who’s the fairest of them all? “I think they’re all beautiful,” Brody Jenner told Usmagazine.com at the Z100 Jingle Ball 2008 concert in NYC Friday.  Jenner, 25, also has nothing but well wishes for his pal (and Lauren Conrad ex) Doug Reinhardt, who is now dating actress Amanda Bynes. “Good for them,” he said when asked about the two. “I hope they’re very happy.” Meanwhile, Jenner is gearing up for his new MTV reality show, Bromance, premiering later this month. “Bromance is about bros. It’s not really about dating,” he told Us. “People get to see what a bromance is when they watch the show. It’s a special bond between two males. There’s Punk’d elements, Superbad, fireside margaritas with these guys, awkward guy moments.” (US Weekly)

 

Rapper Kanye West is planning to move to London to study fashion. Kanye West has said he plans to move to London next year to pursue a career in fashion. “I’m going to go and take an internship and just do something that’s, like, completely normal and just rap at the weekends or something,” he told the Mirror before a friend added, “He’s applying at Louis Vuitton, Raf Simons and others. Everyone is surprised at just how seriously Kanye is taking his fashion dream. He is always in the front rows during the Paris and Milan fashion weeks, chatting away to the likes of Lily Allen. He absolutely loves London and wants to absorb the fashion over here.” (Handbag)

 

Hugh Hefner says he can’t wait to walk ex Kendra Wilkinson down the aisle at her wedding next June. “We’re going to have Kendra’s wedding and reception at the mansion — a spectacular affair!” he told Usmagazine.com over the weekend at the 55th anniversary Playmate celebration in West Hollywood. Wilkinson will officially move out the Playboy mansion next week, added Bridget Marquardt, who will serve as one of her bridesmaids (along with Holly Madison). She told Us she wants to assist Wilkinson in choosing a dress. “I’m just not home that much, but I’m trying to help her out as much as possible,” said Marquardt, who added that the ceremony will be filmed for their E! series. Now that they’re no longer living under the same roof, she said their bond has gotten tighter. “We text a lot,” Marquardt said. “It hasn’t quite hit me yet since I’m gone so much, but I feel like we’re just missing each other. All three of us have become even closer now. It’s weird.” Marquardt admitted that since Hef’s new girlfriends — 19-year-old twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon — moved in, “the feeling of the mansion is completely different. Not in a bad way, just totally different.” Did she give them any tips? “I was just talking to one of them, and she was telling me how much she cares about Hef, and I told her, ‘That’s great. If you meet somebody like that, take care of him. He’s a sweet guy.'” Marquardt said the split “is still hard” for Hef. “It goes both ways,” she said. “You know when it’s a breakup, and you meet somebody new, you feel kind of like it’s back and forth. “I know he doesn’t want my advice,” Marquardt told Us. “Hef and I have a really special relationship, and I’ll love him forever.” (US Weekly)

 

Australia star Nicole Kidman has claimed she isn’t vain. Hollywood star Nicole Kidman has insisted she is not vain. “I’m not enamored with youth. There isn’t wisdom in youth. I’m not particularly vain, I get ready in five minutes. I’m not always looking in the mirror but I like to be healthy. I want to be able to run and walk and hike,” Showbiz Spy quote the Oscar winner saying before she explains what she was like as a child. “I was always on the outside, on the periphery of things, maybe because I was so fair-skinned. I wanted to be the surfer chick, the sporty girl down on the beach, but I was the bookish girl. My mother would keep me inside and I’d read novels.” (Handbag)

 

Attention Upper East Siders: Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester is not engaged. The New York Post had reported that she and beau Sebastian Stan announced on their “secret” Facebook pages that they’re getting hitched. But Stan’s rep tells Usmagazine.com, “He is not engaged.” Another source tells Us that the supposed Facebook pages are fake. A wedding may not be far off for the couple, who met on the set of their CW hit show. In October, a source close to the actress told Us that Meester is “really in love” with Stan. Said the source, “I think this is the first time she really sees a future with someone.” (US Weekly)

 

Sharon Osbourne is under police investigation after allegedly scuffling with a contestant on her U.S. reality TV show Rock Of Love: Charm School. Megan Hauserman claims Osbourne assaulted her during a recording of the show’s reunion special on Saturday. Osbourne is said to have flipped when Hauserman insulted her by saying she is only famous because of her marriage to Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne. The rock matriarch allegedly ran across the stage, grabbed Hauserman by the hair, and scratched her. Website TMZ.com reports that the pair had to be pulled apart by security guards. Hauserman went to hospital the following afternoon and filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department that night. Authorities have confirmed Osbourne is a suspect in a minor battery allegation but that no charges have been filed.  (Teen Hollywood)

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Several thousand dollars have rolled in for a deaf Michigan couple who feared they were going to lose the home whose renovation was viewed by millions on TV in 2004. Judy and Larry Vardon say the money should help them avoid foreclosure on the Oakland County home that was refurbished to better accommodate their blind, autistic son. The family was featured on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” The Macomb Daily and The Daily Tribune reported Sunday that the couple didn’t request money, but donations started coming after media outlets this month reported on their plight. The Vardons said they were weighed down by a mortgage payment that almost doubled since the makeover, and by medical insurance that hasn’t covered autism treatment for 16-year-old son Lance. (Daily Record)

 

A new music therapy room at a hospital on Florida’s Gulf Coast is being named for AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson. Johnson and other rock stars have supported an effort to buy music equipment and provide music education for children, including those who are in the hospital. Music equipment and enhancements to the room at Sarasota Memorial Hospital are being donated by the John Entwhistle Foundation, named for the late bassist for the Who. Johnson and other rockers have worked to raise money for the charity. The man himself will be on hand at the hospital for the dedication of the Brian Johnson Music Therapy Room next week. (Daily Record)

 

Cameron Diaz says she’s a big fan of “Shrek the Musical” but has no desire to star in it. The actress, who voices Princess Fiona in the “Shrek” film franchise, raved about the musical adaptation of the animated blockbuster at its Broadway opening Sunday night. Asked whether she’d consider portraying Fiona on stage, she said: “No. Absolutely not. What they do up there … is, to me, impossible. It’s wonderful, though. They’ve done such a great job. They worked really hard, and it really pays off.” Tony-winning actress Sutton Foster plays Fiona in “Shrek the Musical,” which began preview performances last month at the Broadway Theatre. Actor Brian d’Arcy James portrays the titular smelly green ogre who lives in a swamp and falls for Fiona. “It’s hilarious,” said Diaz, sporting a white Bill Blass dress, black Dior coat and bright red lips. “There’s so many laughs. … It’s great to see all the actors playing it together, because when we do it for the animated (films), we never see each other. We don’t work together.” Diaz reprises her voice role in the fourth “Shrek” film, slated for release in 2010. Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy will return as Shrek and Donkey, respectively. Joining Diaz at Sunday’s performance were America Ferrera, Joan Rivers, Rosie Perez, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Phylicia Rashad, and Ben Stiller and his wife, actress Christine Taylor. “We are ‘Shrek’ fans at our house,” Stiller said while Taylor posed for photographs on the red carpet. “And we’re going to go check out the musical and let the kids know if it’s suitable for children.” Rivers bantered with Gifford and Kotb, who co-host the fourth hour of NBC’s “Today Show.” When Gifford asked for Rivers’ favorite “Shrek” character, Rivers responded: “Oh yeah, like I care! We’re all grown-ups! I’m thrilled to be here.” Rivers, who had a cameo in 2004’s “Shrek 2,” cracked: “I’m part of the family. But I’m not hardly, like, excited to see ‘Shrek’ (onstage).” (Daily Record)

 

It took a few years, but Tom Cruise says he regrets the tongue-lashing he gave Matt Lauer on NBC’s “Today” show the last time he was on. An apologetic Cruise returned to the morning program Monday to sit for his first interview with Lauer since criticizing Brooke Shields for taking anti-depressants in 2005. “It’s not what I had intended,” Cruise said. “In looking at myself, I thought, `man, that came across as arrogant.’ … That’s one of those things you go, OK, I could have absolutely handled that better.” That now-infamous conversation grew heated when the star told Lauer he was glib and didn’t know about psychiatry. Cruise, who has been a Scientologist for 25 years, agrees with the religion’s long-running campaign against psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry. But in hindsight, “I thought I didn’t communicate it the way that I wanted to communicate it,” the 46-year-old actor says of defending his controversial views in the interview. “And that’s also – that’s not who I am. … That’s not the person that I am.” Lauer also took a moment to clear something up: He and Cruise remained friendly following their TV debate. “There was no animosity,” Lauer said. “As a matter of fact, at the end of the interview, we got up and shook hands and put our (arms) around each other.” In October, Cruise made a surprise cameo at a Friar’s Club roast of the “Today” show host. He joked that Lauer had given him some advice before his couch-jumping episode on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show: “Go crazy. Trust me. Trust me. People will love you for it.” Cruise is making the rounds on talk-shows to promote his new movie, “Valkyrie.” He stars as a would-be assassin of Adolf Hitler in “Valkyrie,” which is to be released Dec. 25. (Daily Record)

 

Bristol Palin is expecting her first child, a son, on Dec. 20 – and her grandfather says their family has been receiving support and gifts from all over the world. “In Sarah’s mailroom, there’s 87 boxes – big boxes of mail that haven’t even been opened,” Sarah Palin’s father, Chuck Heath, 70, tells the Web site Grandparents.com. “I’ve been answering letters all day, all week. We figure there’s over a hundred thousand pieces here.” After rocketing into the public consciousness after Palin’s vice-presidential bid, Heath says his family is still dealing with their newfound celebrity – and all the scrutiny that comes with such attention. “It completely changed everything here,” he says. “[We’re] just a common, ordinary family. … All of a sudden [we] jumped into the mayhem.” Still, Heath says he and his family remain devoted to Palin’s political career. “We’re very supportive of our daughter and her family,” he says. “Anything she wants to do or undertake, we’re backing her.”  Support from Sarah As for his granddaughter, Bristol, 18, becoming a mother, Heath says that she will have the full support of Sarah Palin, whom he characterizes as a hands-on mom. “My daughter will be a great grandmother,” he says. “She’s a great mother – great daughter, great mother. I don’t know about how much time she can spend, she’s so busy. But she’ll get her licks in. Don’t worry.”  With the baby on the way, and the spotlight on his family in Alaska, Heath says he hopes Bristol’s son will be “a normal, happy, healthy kid.” And, he says, he and his wife plan to spend plenty of time with him. “My wife, Sally, is just looking forward to taking care of him,” he says. “She’s one of those good grandmother types. The grandkids and the kids come first. I come second.” (People)

 

When will young Hollywood learn their manners? At the Stand Up 2 Cancer event held at Kitson in LA on Wednesday, co-hosts Hilary Duff and Mandy Moore both demanded to “exit the rear entrance of the store,” according to one snitch. After their hosting duties, they wanted to sneak out to avoid any paparazzi, and “onlookers were shocked and appalled that they would try to leave early,” our spy said. Too bad for them, as they soon realized, Kitson doesn’t have a back entrance and they were forced to walk out the regular people’s en trance. (Page Six)

 

Earlier this year, the former Western Australia Premier, Alan Carpenter, announced that a new drama venue would be built and named in tribute to the late Aussie actor, Heath Ledger. Carpenter was even joined back then by Heath’s dad at the construction ceremony of the $87 million center and Kim Ledger told reporters his son would have been proud to have “his name” on it. However, that’s no longer the case. The new Premier, Colin Barnet, probably not a Ledger fan, has just announced that the naming has been overturned in favor of a more “diverse title.” Barnett confirmed the venue will now be called the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia. He did state that inside the new centre, the 575-seat theatre would still be named after Heath. Australia’s Culture and Arts Minister John Day added that “A great deal of consideration has been given to the name of the venue and this has involved consultation with the Ledger family, which is pleased Heath is being acknowledged in this way, and a range of stakeholders. The name, State Theatre Centre, strongly identifies the venue as a place of civic pride for all Western Australians and will be a venue where audiences can enjoy high-quality performing arts by local, national and international artists.” What do U think? Just like politicians, say one thing and do another! (Perez Hilton)

 

Opening her movie on Christmas, the same day her ex-husband’s film hits theaters, will be tough for Jennifer Aniston – but it would be much tougher promoting “Marley & Me” if Hollywood’s most talked-about single woman didn’t have a date. In interviews for her upcoming flicks (she’s also starring in “He’s Just Not That Into You”), Aniston, 39, has been open about dating John Mayer, 31. But we hear she was also scouting other candidates during a lull in their relationship. A few months ago, during a brief split between the duo, Aniston’s camp was shopping for potential dates. “She didn’t want to face the glare of being unattached while Brad Pitt toted Angelina Jolie around” on the promotional rounds for his release of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”  Aniston “did not want to be single when her movie opened,” one source said. “A friend of her agent was calling around asking for young men whom they could set her up with.” But the attempt to find a replacement for Mayer was aborted when he and Aniston soon got back together. The publicity blitz for Aniston has been fierce. A Vogue interview in which she called Jolie “uncool” for revealing that she and Pitt fell in love on the set of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (while he and Aniston were still married) was followed by a nearly nude cover photo on GQ. She admits in GQ she was clueless about Mayer before they met, and stumbles over the title to his most famous song, “Your Body Is a Wonderland.” She said, “Honestly, I did not know much about him before I met him. I’d heard, you know, uh, ‘Your Body’ – that song. But what I can say is that I had no idea what an extraordinary musician he is.” Still, the two are trying to prove they are a for-real couple. At the LA premiere of “Marley & Me” the other night, Mayer told reporters, “I’m here to support my girl.” (Page Six)

 

It’s another year at the top of Condé Nast for Vogue. Industry sources told Page Six that Anna Wintour‘s style bible “was the most profitable magazine in the company this year” – a stat that’s based on overall earnings. Vogue held the spot last year as well, though one Condé snitch told us, “It would be really hard to determine that number.” The data aren’t publicly released, but we’re told Glamour had the title in 2006. (Page Six)

 

Heath Ledger’s former girlfriend Michelle Williams and father Kim are said to be at odds as to who should collect the award if the late actor wins a Golden Globe. Following Heath Ledger‘s posthumous Golden Globe nomination former girlfriend Michelle Williams and father Kim are said to be battling over who will collect the award should the late actor win. “Kim desperately wants to do it,” a source told the New York Daily News. “But the studio and the producers would rather have Michelle receive it on behalf of Matilda – the couple’s daughter.” However a friend of the Ledgers isn’t so keen. “Why would Michelle be involved? She had nothing to do with the movie,” the friend says. “They weren’t even together when he passed away. Would you have your ex-wife accept your award? And they weren’t even married. Director Chris Nolan or star Christian Bale would make more sense. Michelle makes no sense. It’s like those rumors that she would go to the premiere of Dark Knight. That was never in the realm of possibility.” (Handbag)

 

Madonna’s spokeswoman says the singer has settled with ex-husband Guy Ritchie for at least 50 million pounds ($76 million). Liz Rosenberg told The Associated Press on Monday that Madonna has given Ritchie between 50 and 60 million pounds ($76 million to $92 million) as part of their divorce agreement. She says the figure includes the value of the couple’s country home Ashcombe in western England. She adds that while the financial component of the settlement has been worked out, custodial arrangements for the couple’s children have yet to be finalized. “I’d assume it’s one of the largest payouts ever in a divorce settlement,” Rosenberg said. A representative for Ritchie declined to comment. (Daily Record)

 

A man accused of leaking nine unreleased tracks from the Guns N’ Roses album “Chinese Democracy” has pleaded guilty to a federal copyright violation. Kevin Cogill entered the plea Monday morning in a Los Angeles courtroom. Prosecutors accused him of leaking the album online on his blog, months before Axl Rose’s long-delayed opus arrived on store shelves. A document shows they agreed to recommend probation in exchange for the plea deal. Cogill admitted he leaked nine of the 14 songs that appeared on the album, but has not publicly stated how he received the tracks. His plea agreement requires him to cooperate with investigators. According to his plea deal, Cogill could be sentenced to a year in federal prison, probation and a hefty fine. (Daily Record)

 

The actor accused in the shooting death of an off-duty policeman testified Monday that he didn’t know his alleged accomplice was armed when he went to an apartment looking for drugs. Taking the witness stand in his own defense at his murder trial in the Bronx, Lillo Brancato sought to fend off suggestions by the prosecution that his testimony – at times punctuated by vignettes about his drug-crazed downfall – was another acting job. “Is this a role you’re playing today?” his attorney Joseph Tacopina asked at the end of a daylong stint on the witness stand. “Absolutely not,” the 32-year-old defendant responded. Brancato – who got his big break playing opposite Robert De Niro in the 1993 film “A Bronx Tale” and also is known for playing a wannabe mobster on the HBO hit “The Sopranos” – is charged with second-degree murder in the December 2005 shooting death of Officer Daniel Enchautegui. Authorities say Armento and Brancato broke into the basement apartment to steal prescription drugs after a night of drinking at a strip club. Enchautegui, who lived next door, came out to investigate. Armento blasted the 28-year-old officer with his .357 Magnum, hitting him in the heart. The dying officer fired back, wounding both men. Armento was convicted earlier this year of first-degree murder. Brancato testified that there was a never a break-in. He claimed that he had known the owner, a Vietnam veteran, for several years. He also said he had permission to go inside and take painkillers and other pills whenever he felt like it, and didn’t know the man had died earlier that year. The pills were part of a drug problem that he said began when he was “introduced to marijuana” on the set of “A Bronx Tale.” He later became hooked on crack and heroin, he said. He told the jury that while suffering from judgment-impairing heroin withdrawals on the night of the shooting, he accidentally broke the kitchen window of the apartment in a desperate attempt to wake up his old pill-supplier. “I was becoming dope sick,” Brancato testified. “Mentally, I was a mess.” Brancato and Armento left momentarily to try to get drugs from a drug dealer. When that failed, they returned to the basement apartment and came face-to-face with the officer. “I heard someone say, `Don’t move,'” Brancato said. “I turned around quickly and I was shot twice.” Brancato said he ran away, not knowing he’d been shot by a police officer. When uniformed officers stopped him, he lifted up his shirt to show them he was wounded. “Please help me,” he said he told them. “I don’t want to die.” (Daily Record)

 

 

MUSIC . . .

Organizers say Aretha Franklin has given a holiday benefit concert for members of the military after missing a Times Square award presentation hours earlier. A spokesman for the concert organizers says the Queen of Soul went on as scheduled Sunday night at the Nokia Theatre, performing “New York, New York,” a medley of military tunes and her classic “Respect.” It’s unclear why Franklin didn’t show up to receive the Torch of Freedom Award earlier Sunday in Times Square. Messages left with her publicist were not immediately returned. The award was given by the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club. The evening concert was sponsored by the club and NewYork.com, an online compendium of entertainment and tourist information. (Daily Record)

 

Hip-Hop mogul Jay-Z spends so much time at his recording studio, he needs to keep a bed in there. Sources told us Hova hit up BoConcept on Madison Avenue and 30th Street to find furniture for his Manhattan “office.” We hear his purchases included a sleep-sized sofa, a bar table, bar stools and a glass coffee table, and that he dispatched his assistant to collect the goods. No word as to whether Beyoncé had any say in the decorating decisions. (Page Six)

 

Will Simon Rex (a k a “Dirt Nasty”) go the route of Chris “Ludacris“ Bridges? Bridges went from rapper to acclaimed actor after starring in “Crash” in 2004, and now Rex has “landed a serious role” in the film “King of the Avenue,” a source said. In the flick, which also stars Esai Morales, Rex plays the adopted drug-dealing son of Ving Rhames. We’re told the whole crew is now filming in Puerto Rico. (Page Six)

 

Metallica has finally confirmed “the worst-kept secret in rock’n’roll” and unveiled details of the upcoming “Guitar Hero” game devoted to the band. According to Metallica’s Web site, the game “allows you to play as us in either single instrument or band career game modes” and will likely be released in the first half of next year. Adding to the atmosphere will be famous setting associated with the band’s career, including Moscow’s Tushino Airfield, the site of the 1991 Monsters of Rock concert, and “new venues with in-the-round staging.” There will be 28 Metallica songs in all, although the full list has not yet been announced. Songs from Alice In Chains, Foo Fighters, Slayer, Machine Head and Queen can also be played. Lastly, in a feature sure to thrill Lars Ulrich devotees, “Guitar Hero: Metallica” will boast an “expert” difficulty level that employs two bass drum kick pedals. The Metallica edition follows an Aerosmith-dedicated “Guitar Hero,” which was released in June. Meanwhile, Pearl Jam will jump into “Rock Band” in a big way on March 24, the same date its 1991 debut album, “Ten,” will be reissued in expanded form by Epic/Legacy. The entire album will be available for download through “Rock Band”; the “Ten” track “Alive was previously released on the “Rock Band 2” game disc. (Billboard)

 

Some of the biggest names in independent music have banded together to record exclusive songs for “Dark Is the Night,” a double-disc album whose proceeds will benefit the Red Hot organization’s work with AIDS research. In the works since 2006, the project is due Feb. 17 from Beggars Banquet and, as previously reported, was curated by the National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner. The lineup includes Spoon, the Arcade Fire, Yo La Tengo, the New Pornographers, Bon Iver, Feist, Cat Power, My Morning Jacket and Iron & Wine, among many others. “I’ve been listening to some of these bands since I was in high school. Now they’re peers of ours but sometimes you can’t even believe that — these are people I’ve idolized and respected,” Aaron Dessner tells Billboard.com. The National contributed the song “So Far Around the Bend,” which Dessner says the band “didn’t feel would make sense” on one of its own albums. “It has this pretty crazy orchestral arrangement; it’s a little bit of a throwback song.” “Dark Is the Night” is also packed with intriguing collaborations, including Feist with Ben Gibbard and Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors with David Byrne, the Books with Jose Gonzalez, Aaron Dessner with Bon Iver and Bryce Dessner with Antony. Some of the biggest names in independent music have banded together to record exclusive songs for “Dark Is the Night,” a double-disc album whose proceeds will benefit the Red Hot organization’s work with AIDS research. In the works since 2006, the project is due Feb. 17 from Beggars Banquet and, as previously reported, was curated by the National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner. The lineup includes Spoon, the Arcade Fire, Yo La Tengo, the New Pornographers, Bon Iver, Feist, Cat Power, My Morning Jacket and Iron & Wine, among many others. “I’ve been listening to some of these bands since I was in high school. Now they’re peers of ours but sometimes you can’t even believe that — these are people I’ve idolized and respected,” Aaron Dessner tells Billboard.com. The National contributed the song “So Far Around the Bend,” which Dessner says the band “didn’t feel would make sense” on one of its own albums. “It has this pretty crazy orchestral arrangement; it’s a little bit of a throwback song.” “Dark Is the Night” is also packed with intriguing collaborations, including Feist with Ben Gibbard and Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors with David Byrne, the Books with Jose Gonzalez, Aaron Dessner with Bon Iver and Bryce Dessner with Antony. (Billboard)

 

 

MOVIE . . .

 

Will Smith has sequel fever. The box-office magnet is in talks to finalize follow-ups to both “Hancock” and “I Am Legend.” A Hollywood insider said, “He is ready to do both. Producers are just trying to get Charlize Theron to sign on for the ‘Hancock’ sequel.” As for “I Am Legend,” it will be more of a prequel as Smith’s character died at the end of the zombies-take-Manhattan movie. “It will be about how the disease spreads and the fall of the last great American city. It will also develop the relationship between Will’s character and his wife.” A rep for Smith said, “There have been talks about both of these projects.” (Page Six)

 

What does Twilight star Peter Facinelli think about director Catherine Hardwicke not returning for the vampire sequels? “Well, of course, you’re bummed,” he told Usmagazine.com over the weekend at the Z100 Jingle Ball 2008 concert in NYC. “Catherine hired me for the movie, and I had a great time with her, and I would have loved her to do the second one.  “Unfortunately, it’s not up to me,” he went on. “I don’t know her deal. I know they’ll keep the tone she set. And I also know that in franchise movies, like Harry Potter, [they use different directors].” Over the weekend, it was announced that American Pie director Chris Weitz will be directing the Twilight sequel New Moon. “I am very pleased to announce that he’s agreed to be a part of our Twilight world,” Twlight author Stephenie Meyer said on her Web site. “I’ve had the chance to talk to Chris, and I can tell you that he is excited by the story and eager to keep the movie as close to the book as possible. He is also very aware of you, the fans, and wants to keep you all extremely happy.  “I’m excited to work with Chris,” she continued. “I think he brings a lot to the table, not the least of which for me is that he wrote the screenplay for and directed one of my favorite movies of all time, About a Boy. I’m really looking forward to seeing his vision for New Moon.” (Us Weekly)

 

Fox’s remake of the sci-fi classic “The Day the Earth Stood Still” survived critics’ toxic attacks in weekend-winning style, as the Keanu Reeves starrer landed atop the domestic boxoffice with an estimated $31 million in opening grosses. Overture’s urban laugher “Nothing Like the Holidays” debuted much more modestly, with $3.5 million in seventh place. And Freestyle’s animated adventure “Delgo” never got started, debuting with just $916,000. Warner Bros.’ comedy “Four Christmases” nabbed second place over its third outing with $13.3 million and an $88 million cume. Summit’s vampire romance “Twilight” finished third over its fourth frame with an $8 million performance and a $150.1 million cume. Two wide releases tumbled from the top 10 during their second weekends. Sony’s Chess Records musical “Cadillac Records” fell 54% to $1.6 million for a 10-day cume of $5.9 million, while Lionsgate’s action sequel “Punisher: War Zone” slid a big 68% to $1.7 million with a $7 million cume.  Industrywide, the weekend’s $93 million in collective grosses marked a 42% decline from the same frame last year, according to Nielsen EDI. But year to date, 2008 is still outpacing the same portion of last year by 1%, at $9.01 billion. Additional cast on the “Day” remake — directed by Scott Derrickson (“The Exorcism of Emily Rose”) — includes Jennifer Connelly and Jon Hamm (AMC’s “Mad Men”). Many critics judged the film harshly as measured against Robert Wise’s 1951 original, but Fox execs said the PG-13 “Day” opened better than they had anticipated. “With the holiday playtime coming up, we’re going to have a great and profitable run,” Fox senior VP distribution Chris Aronson said. “Day” also registered $39 from 90 foreign territories for a worldwide gross of $70 million. Its domestic haul included $3.8 million from Imax giant-screen venues. Produced for an estimated $80 million, “Day” attracted audiences skewing 55% male, with 51% of patrons under 25.  Rated PG-13, “Holidays” played best with major-market urban audiences, but its modestly wide 1,671 playdates reflected limited traction with other demos. Helmed by Alfredo De Villa (“Washington Heights”), its ensemble cast includes Alfred Molina, Freddy Rodriguez, John Leguizamo, Debra Messing and Luis Guzman. “We wish it had done better,” Overture distribution topper Kyle Davies said. “But we’re hoping it finds its footing as a Christmas perennial.” Voice cast for “Delgo” includes Freddy Prinze Jr. in the title role. Freestyle execs acknowledged disappointment in the film’s limp bow. “This film deserved better but failed to find its target, despite a significant television advertising blitz,” Freestyle co-topper Mark Borde said.  Looking ahead, the pre-Christmas frame features three wide openers: Sony’s Will Smith starrer “Seven Pounds,” Warners’ Jim Carrey-toplined “Yes Man” and Universal’s animated family feature “The Tale of Despereaux.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Slumdog Millionaire” was named best motion picture drama and “Happy-Go-Lucky” was named best motion picture comedy or musical at the 13th annual Satellite Awards, presented Sunday at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City. The awards, voted by the International Press Academy, also chose “Slumdog’s” Danny Boyle as best director and the film’s composer A.R. Rahman for his score. “Happy-Go-Lucky’s” Sally Hawkins was hailed as best actress in a comedy or musical. The group gave its dramatic acting awards to Angelina Jolie for “Changeling” and Richard Jenkins for “The Visitor.” Ricky Gervais was chosen best actor in a comedy or musical for “Ghost Town.” Supporting acting nods for film went to Rosemarie Dewitt for “Rachel Getting Married” and Michael Shannon for “Revolutionary Road.” A complete list of winners is available on the next page. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Guy Nattiv and Erez Tadmor are pulling back the curtain on a piece of Mossad history, writing an untitled project centering on the Israeli intelligence agency for “La Vie en Rose” producer Alain Goldman. The duo also might direct. The film will follow the true story of the investigation into the disappearance of a 9-year-old boy from the streets of Jerusalem in the early 1960s. The case, known as the Yossele Case, took on major importance in Israel — still in its nascent stages as a country — which was making its mission to be seen as a country that would provide a safe haven for Jews throughout the world. The police proved to be ineffectual, and the prime minister called on the Mossad to step in.  Goldman is hoping to move fast on the project, with a spring shoot being eyed. “It’s a Mossad story and will be entertaining, but it asks the very deep question: Is Israel a state that can’t protect its children?” said Goldman, principal of Legende. “It’s the opposite of ‘Munich’: It’s the rare occasion that Mossad is called for something that does not involve killing.” He added: “I like directors who have something to say, and these guys are saying something deep. And this is the kind of movie I am moved by and as a producer want to put my money in.” Nattiv and Tadmor, repped by Principato Young, wrote and directed “Strangers,” an Israeli film that played the festival circuit, garnering a nomination for a Grand Jury Prize in Sundance’s world cinema category. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Fans of the skintight purple suit rejoice: the Phantom is back. An Australian production company on Monday announced it had secured the rights to “The Phantom Legacy,” a follow-up to the 1996 film, “The Phantom,” which starred Billy Zane as the masked hero who fights evil from his jungle headquarters. The latest adaptation, which is expected to cost $87 million, will focus on “the Father/Son relationship, and what it means to be The Phantom,” scriptwriter Tim Boyle said in a statement. “The film will be set in the present day and will deal with the concept of destiny.” Producer Bruce Sherlock, who also served as executive producer of the first Phantom movie, said the new film will be a marked improvement over its predecessor, which received mixed reviews. “It has the makings of a blockbuster,” Sherlock told The Associated Press. “There’s some surprises that will thrill the Phantom fans worldwide.” Sherlock’s Sydney-based Sherlock Symington Productions won the rights to the film. The movie will likely be shot entirely in Australia, with production set to begin within six to nine months, Sherlock said.  Producers are in talks with several “top talent” Australian and American actors, Sherlock said. He declined to provide names. The Phantom began as a daily newspaper comic strip by Lee Falk in 1936. The protagonist – alter ego Kit Walker – is the 21st in a family of men who have passed the task of fighting injustice onto their sons. The first Phantom took the job to avenge his father’s death at the hands of pirates. (Daily Record)

 

 

TV . . .

 

Bow-tied schoolteacher Bob Crowley beat “Survivor” rivals Sugar and Susie to emerge as Sole Survivor on Sunday’s season finale. At age 57 the oldest winner in “Survivor” history, Crowley will take his $1 million prize back home to Portland, Maine. Bearded, wiry and professorial-looking, he teaches high school physics in nearby Gorham. “My plan was to fly under the radar as long as I could … and be a nice guy, so that people would like me,” Crowley summed up shortly after his name was announced by host Jeff Probst, on a post-game special aired live from Hollywood. Runners-up were Susie Smith, the gabby 47-year-old hairdresser-homemaker from Charles City, Iowa, and 29-year-old Jessica “Sugar” Kiper, the blond pinup model from Brooklyn. The winner was chosen by a seven-member jury of previously expelled contestants, to whom the three finalists appealed during their all-important last tribal council. In that voting, Bob edged out Susie, 4 votes to 3, with Sugar snagging no one’s support. “I had to lie – and that’s part of the game – several times,” Sugar acknowledged while pleading her case between giggles. “And I’m sorry.” Sent packing earlier in the finale were Kenny Hoang, a 22-year-old professional video gamer from Westminster, Calif., and Matty Whitmore, a 29-year-old personal trainer from Pacific Palisades, Calif. This, the 17th edition of the CBS strategy-endurance game, was set in the West African nation of Gabon, where 18 castaways had come together when the season began. (Daily Record)

 

Changes are coming to “American Idol” when it returns in January, including “wild card” finalists picked by the show’s judges and less airtime for memorably bad auditions. Fox’s hit talent contest will open its eighth season with a two-night, four-hour premiere on Jan. 13-14 from 8-10 p.m. EST, the network said Monday. “American Idol” will cut the number of weeks featuring nationwide tryouts from four weeks to three and will bring more contestants to Hollywood to compete, 36 people versus the two dozen of past seasons, Fox says. (Daily Record)

 

It’s no joke: Amy Poehler officially left Saturday Night Live over the weekend. “This is my last show,” Poehler announced from her “Weekend Update” anchor desk. “Being able to do over 140 shows with my friends and my family has been a dream come true. “I love you,” she told the audience, “and I will miss all of you very much.” She won’t be off the small screen for long. The star — who welcomed son Archiewith husband Will Arnett in October — has signed on for NBC’s upcoming Office spin-off, set to air next year. In September, Poehler — who scored laughs as Hillary Clinton and Katie Couric on SNL this season — first announced plans to leave SNL. “It’s gonna be really hard — Boyz II Men hard — to say goodbye to yesterday,” she said at the time. “SNL was dangerous, late-night, last-minute and star-studded, but like any good drug, you need to know when to put it down.” (US Weekly)

 

Jennifer Love Hewitt is beefing up her production company. The “Ghost Whisperer” star-producer has tapped veteran TV movie producer Scott W. Anderson as producing partner at her Fedora Films, formerly LoveSpell Prods. The two met while working together on the Oxygen telefilm “Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber.” The company, newly housed in a bungalow on the Universal lot, has a pod deal at ABC Studios, which produces “Ghost Whisperer” for CBS. Fedora’s development slate includes the untitled Odessa project, an original movie for Lifetime, to which Hewitt is attached to star. In 2005, LoveSpell acquired the rights to “She Had Brains, a Body, and the Ability to Make Men Love Her,” a Texas Monthly article about a 22-year-old housewife and former homecoming queen in Odessa who became one of the city’s most popular hookers. The project originally was developed as a feature. On the feature side, Fedora is developing with Darius Films “Eboneezer Goodbye,” an indie written by Ross McCall. Additionally, Fedora has set up “Jennifer Love Hewitt’s The Music Box,” a 10-book graphic novel with IDW Comics, to be written by Scott Lobdell from a concept by Hewitt. Hewitt also has a signed a deal to pen a book for Hyperion. Anderson most recently was an executive producer at Stanley M. Brooks’ Once Upon a Time Films, where he supervised more than 50 hours of longform cable and television programming. Hewitt is repped by Endeavor, Untitled and attorney Bob Wallerstein. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Robert Carlyle has been tapped as the lead in Sci Fi Channel’s new series “Stargate Universe.” “SGU,” the third installment in the cable channel’s “Stargate” franchise, hails from “Stargate SG-1” and “Stargate Atlantis” co-creators Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, who will write and executive produce the new series. Sci Fi Channel is expected to give the MGM TV-produced “SGU” a 20-episode order. Production on the series is slated to begin in February in Vancouver. It is targeted to launch in the summer with a two-hour premiere. Described as edgier, darker and younger-skewing than its predecessors, “SGU” follows a group of soldiers, scientists and civilians left to fend for themselves when forced through a Stargate after their hidden base comes under attack. The survivors, who emerge aboard an ancient ship missing in the far reaches of space, are led by Dr. David Rush (Carlyle), who works to unlock the ship’s mysteries and return the group home but also might have ulterior motives. The network had said it was looking to cast a well-known actor as Rush and fresh faces to play the rest of the ship’s crew. “Robert Carlyle brings a depth, intelligence and complexity to his roles, which will fit perfectly with the fresh, new reinvention of this franchise,” Sci Fi original-programming chief Mark Stern said. Scotland-born Carlyle, best known for his roles in “Trainspotting” and “The Full Monty,” recently starred opposite Kiefer Sutherland in Fox’s “24: Redemption.” He is repped by Gersh, manager Jon Rubinstein and the U.K.’s Christian Hodell. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

 

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . .  (Internet)

 

Q.  A survey says that 35% of us do it in the kitchen or dining room while 27% do it in the bedroom.  What is it?

            A.  Wrap Christmas presents

 

 

TODAY’S QUOTE (By Neil Kendall)

 

“SOME PEOPLE FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS, OTHERS HUNT THEM DOWN AND BEAT THEM MERCILESSLY INTO SUBMISSION.”

 

 

MIND BOGGLERS . . .  (QuickTrivia)

 

Q.  What is the name of the dog from the Grinch Who Stole Christmas?

            A.  Max  ****

            B.  Rover

            C.  Sport

            D.  Spot

 

Q.  In the world of music, Budapest, Julliard, and Cleveland are all prominent?

            A.  Music schools

            B.  String Quartets  ****  (A traditional string quartet is composed of two violins, a viola, and a cello)

            C.  Symphony orchestras

            D.  Opera houses

 

Q.  Including TV versions, which of these people has played both Batman and Simon Templar (aka The Saint)?

            A.  Roger Moore

            B.  Val Kilmer  ****

            C.  Adam West

            D.  George Clooney

 

Q.  What Norwegian actress, known for roles in Ingmar Bergman movies, was actually born in Tokyo?

            A.  Liv Ullmann  ****

            B.  Greta Garbo

            C.  Uma Thurman

            D.  Ingrid Bergman

 

Q.  Geena Davis is an Oscar winner and a Mensa member, and in 1999 she tried out for Olympic’s in which sport?

            A.  Equestrian

            B.  Archery  ****

            C.  Diving

            D.  Fencing

 

Q.  Nominated for an Oscar, in what language did Roman Polanski make “Noz w wodzie” (“Knife in the Water”), his full-length directorial debut?

            A.  Hungarian

            B.  Russian

            C.  Czech

            D.  Polish  ****

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

 

GOURMET AIRLINE FOOD FOR SALE:

 

Many airlines are upping the standards of their coach cuisine, but you may just have to pay for it. Gourmet in-flight meals traditionally were meant for first- and business-class travelers. Now, Delta Airlines has partnered with celebrity chef Todd English to design meals for its coach customers. The menu items are available for purchase, ranging from 2 to 10 dollars and include a smoked salmon and egg salad croissant. Midwest Airlines joined forces with Chef Shawn Monroe to create its Best Care Cuisine, which is available for from 5.50 to 10 dollars. However, the airline does offer a complimentary treat: fresh, bake-onboard chocolate chip cookies served warm. Hawaiian Air has gone a step further and offers gourmet meals to its coach customers free of extra charge. The meals, chosen by Chef Beverly Gannon, include Chicken Strips with Cacciatore Sauce and Asian-inspired salads.

 

(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.)

 

 

MIKE BUTTS CREATIVE . . .

 

IF I DIDN’T HAVE PETS:

 

WHEN THE DOORBELL RANG IT WOULDN’T SOUND LIKE A KENNEL!

 

I COULD LAY IN BED SPRAWLED OUT ANYWAY I WANTED AND WOULDN’T HAVE TO LEAVE SPACE FOR FURRY-SMALLER BODIES SNUGGLING WITH ME—

 

I’D HAVE MORE MONEY—AND WOULDN’T FEEL GUILTY WHEN I WENT ON VACATION—I’D HAVE MONEY FOR A VACATION!

 

I WOULDN’T HAVE TO SPELL OUT WORDS LIKE O-U-T-S-I-D-E, C-A-R—W-A-L-K-  M-I-L-K-B-O-N-E-J

 

I WOULDN’T BE PUTTING MY VETS KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE!

 

AND I’D NEVER HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHY DO YOU HAVE ANIMALS—FROM PEOPLE WHO WILL NEVER KNOW THE JOY OF BEING LOVED

UNCONDITIONALLY BY SOMEONE AS CLOSE TO AN ANGEL AS THEY WILL EVER GET.

 

IF I DIDN’T HAVE PETS—MY LIFE WOULD BE EMPTIER!!!

 

 

DOGGIE DOWNERS DIDN’T WORK:

 

WE ADOPTED NIKKI FROM THE KENT COUNTY SPCA—I DON’T KNOW WHAT HER PREVIOUS OWNERS DID TO HER BEFORE THEY TURNED HER IN—BUT

SHE WILL NOT ALLOW US TO TRIM HER TOE-NAILS.WE TRIED THE REGULAR WAY—THEN WITH A MUZZLE AND SHE IS TRAUMATIZED AND GOES WILD

AND SCREAMS BLOODY MURDER.

 

YESTERDAY WE TOOK THE VETS ADVISE AND TRIED TO GIVE HER A SEDATIVE–STARTING OUT WITH A ¼ PILL—NO CHANGE—ANOTHER ¼ PILL..

NOTHING—AND ANOTHER ¼ PILL—STILL NOT SETTLING DOWN..FINALLY THE 4^TH QUARTER–  A FULL PILL.. NADA—NOTHING—STILL NOT

MELLOWING OUT. NEXT TIME I’LL TAKE THE PILLS AND SEE IF THAT HELPS!!

 

 

BIRTHDAYS . . .

 

—1770  Composer Ludwig Van Beethoven (d. 3-26-1827)

—1775  Novelist Jane Austen (Pride and Predjudice) (d. 7-18-1817)

—1863  Philosopher/Author George Santayana (d. 9-26-1952)

—1899  Playwright Noel Coward (d. 1973)

—1901  Anthropologist/Author Margaret Mead (d. 11-5-1978)

—1939  Actress Liv Ullmann (Scenes from a Marriage)

—1941  Journalist Lesley Stahl (Face the Nation)

—1943  Producer Stephen Bochco (NYPD Blue)

—1943  Tony Hicks – guitarist for The Hollies (“Long Cool Woman”)

—1945  Musician Anthony Hicks (The Hollies)

—1946  Musician Benny Andersson (ABBA) (“Mamma Mia”)

—1948  Actor Ben Cross (Chariots of Fire)

—1949  Musician Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) (“Sleeping Bag”)

—1951  Baseball’s Mike Flanagan

—1959  Actress Alison La Placa (The John Laroquette Show)

¾1961  Actor Jon Tenney (Fools Rush In)

—1962  Football’s William “The Refrigerator” Perry

¾1963  Actor Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order)

—1966  Basketball’s Clifton Ralph Robinson

—1971  Musician Michael McCary (Boyz II Men “I’ll Make Love to You”)

¾1988  Actress Anna Popplewell (The Little Vampire)

 

 

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

 

—1770  Beethoven’s Birthday–a holiday in Michigan–honoring the great composer (some say the greatest of all time) who was born on this day in Bonn, Germany (d. 3-26-1827). “Louis, from the beet garden,” as his name means, began losing his hearing early in life. By the time he conducted the debut of his Ninth Symphony (as the old joke goes), he was *sooo* deaf, he thought it was his Eighth!

—1773  A group calling itself “The Sons Of Liberty,” many dressed up in Indian blankets, boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor during the night and dumped 342 chests of tea overboard in protest against the new “tea tax.”

—1905  Variety, the show business weekly, was first published.

—1938  The movie, “A Christmas Carol” was released in USA.

—1951  “Dragnet” starring Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday, debuted on NBC.

—1966  Jimi Hendrix releases his first single “Hey Joe.”

—1967  Pink Floyd play their first show at an “underground” club in London.

—1971  Don McLean’s “American Pie” is released.

—1972  Joan Baez arrives in Hanoi, North Vietnam, on a peace mission just as US fighters begin bombing the city.

—1972  The Miami Dolphins, led by Larry Csonka and Bob Griese, and a great defense, became the first NFL team to go undefeated and untied in 14 regular season games by beating the Baltimore Colts 16-0. They went on to win the Super Bowl to complete a 17-0 season.

—1973  O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills rushes for 200 yards in a 34-14 victory over the New York Jets and sets an NFL record with 2,003 yards rushing for the season and the first to break the 2,000 yard barrier.

—1975  “One Day at a Time” TV comedy, debut on CBS, which introduced America to a divorced mother (Bonnie Franklin) raising two teenage daughters.

—1977  “Saturday Night Fever” starring John Travolta opened nationwide in movie theaters. (It had opened days before in New York).

—1978  After being displaced for a week by Chic’s “Le Freak”, Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond return to the top spot on the US singles chart with “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.”

—1983  The Who announce they are breaking up. 

—1985  An LA survey of record company executives finds that the most desired signee is Bruce Springsteen, followed by Prince, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, and U2. Stevie Wonder places tenth, Madonna is #20.

—1987  Madonna (b. 8-16-1958) filed for divorce from actor Sean Penn (b. 8-17-1960).

—1988  Disco star Sylvester dies of AIDS at age 42.

—1988  “Rain Man” starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise opened in theaters.

—1991  A U.S. District Judge in Settle declines to stop future productions of “Janis” a two-act play based on the life of singer Janis Joplin. Lawyers for her estate had claimed exclusive rights to Joplin’s “voice, delivery, mannerisms, appearance and dress.”

—1996  A budget impasse led to the second shutdown of the federal government.

¾1997  Singer Nicolette Larson (“Lotta Love”) died from a brain ailment.  She was 45 years old. Nicolette was born on 7-17-1952.  She was married to Rusell at her time of death and had a daughter Elise May.

 

 

RADIO ONLINE® DAILY SHOW PREP™ . . .

 

ON THIS DAY

The Boston Tea Party took place way, way back in 1773. A group of men calling themselves the “Sons of Liberty” and dressed as Mohawk Indians went to the Boston Harbor. They boarded three British ships, the Beaver, the Eleanor and the Dartmouth, and dumped 45 tons of tea into the Boston Harbor.

·         Little did the British know what was brewing.

·         After it took way too much sugar to sweeten it, they stuck to a “cup at a time” after that.

Trivia: A study by researchers in Taiwan found that people who drank tea once a week for 10 years or more had 20 percent less body fat than those who didn’t. The tea drinkers had 2 percent less abdominal fat, a special type of fat that is a known risk factor for heart disease and other illnesses. Researchers believe that tea works by boosting metabolism and reducing the body’s ability to absorb fat-producing calories.

Bit: Have your own tea party and offer a cash prize to the first listener who will drink a packet of ice tea mix! That’s right, they have to drink (actually eat) the entire packet of iced tea mix to win the prize. You might want to have some water standing by for afterwards.

On this date in 1811, Missouri suffered an earthquake that was equivalent to 12.0 on the Richter scale. Needless to say, no one had to stir paint for a week.

TODAY IS

Former NFL player William “The Refrigerator” Perry turns 46 today. He’s still running, he just makes a lot more noise these days. And his warranty expired a long time ago. Actor Benjamin Bratt turns 45 today. To think at one time he was this close to becoming Mr. Julia Roberts.

“60 Minutes” star Leslie Stahl has seven more years than minutes. (She turns 67 today.)

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day — Chocolate is good for the heart. A recent study reveals that dark chocolate increases the flexibility of the lining of the blood vessels, helping to open them, thereby promoting blood flow. The overall effect helps prevent hardening of the arteries and heart attacks. However, the study at Greece’s Athens Medical School found that only dark chocolate containing 74 percent cocoa had the effect. Dark chocolate also contains antioxidants that protect blood vessels from other kinds of danger.

Stupid Toy Day — Have listeners call in a nominate their “stupid toys.” Or you could has listeners help each other out in finding those hard to find “stupid” toys. We’ve had some pretty good calls. Lots of them too! The listeners are being really depictive in describing their frustration and telling of their encounters in the crowded stores.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

·         Madonna has settled her divorce with ex-husband Guy Ritchie with at least 50 million pounds ($76 million).

·         Olympic gold medallists Michael Phelps and Nastia Liukin guest star in the final holiday “Barney Cam” Christmas greeting from the White House.

·         Children who are born four months before the height of cold and flu season have a greater risk of developing childhood asthma than children born at any other time of the year, according to researchers from Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

·         A self-proclaimed prophet in Utah says that a disaster will prevent Barack Obama from becoming president.

·         Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber welcomed their second son into the world over the weekend.

·         Tara Reid has checked herself into a rehab center. Really?

·         In case you missed it, Van Johnson has died. He was 92.

·         Gossip lead singer Beth Ditto has dyed her hair orange and shaved off her eyebrows. Just another day at the office.

·         A “Star Wars” fan dished out $240,000 at an auction for the light saber that Mark Hamill waved around in the first two “Star Wars” movies.

·         Hugh Jackman will host the next round of the Academy Awards.

·         The Mariah Carey pregnancy rumor is making the rounds again.

·         Last Friday, Charlie Crist became the first Florida governor in 42 years to get married while in office.

·         Gobbling down your meals quickly and continuing to eat until you are full may be enough to nearly triple your risk of being overweight, reports HealthDay News of research from Japan’s Osaka University.

·         Plans are to give you an uninterrupted season 5 of “Lost” starting next month… unless a Screen Actors Guild strike gets in the way.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

(“TV Guide) Nielsen Media Research found soap opera ratings are on the decline, big time. Here’s the ratings in millions compared to 10 years ago:

·         “All My Children” in 1998 4.2 million viewers, this year 2.5 million

·         “As the World Turns” in 1998 4.6 million viewers, this year 2.6 million

·         “The Bold and the Beautiful” in 1998 5.3 million viewers, this year 3.5 million

·         “Days of Our Lives” in 1998 5.4 million viewers, this year 2.6 million

·         “General Hospital” in 1998 4.5 million viewers, this year 2.8 million

·         “Guiding Light” in 1998 4.5 million viewers, this year 2.1 million

·         “One Life to Live” in 1998 3.6 million viewers, this year 2.6 million

·         “The Young and the Restless” in 1998 7.9 million viewers, this year 4.9 million

Get this — according to Brown University, dermatologists have reported an increase in the number of cases of contact dermatitis, and that statistic has been traced to the growing popularity of cell phones. It’s not the phone itself that causes the allergic reaction, but the nickel it contains. Nickel is one of the most potent allergens in the world, and it can produce reactions ranging from mild redness to rashes and even painful and disfiguring blisters. A survey has revealed that approximately 50% of all cell phones now in use contain some level of nickel. Reactions are more common when the paint on the cell phone is chipped. (Sun)

If you’re partial to people watching on your ride to work, you may want to find another pastime. Passengers who keep busy with a book or puzzle feel less aggravated than those who rely on others for entertainment, early results from a study at Nottingham Trent University in England indicate. (Self) “If you hit this sign, you will hit that bridge” was named the funniest road sign in America in Hagerty Insurance’s second annual “Road Sign Rally.” Nearly 250 photos were submitted of not only road signs, but also local business signs and homegrown signs. Here’s a list of the top 10 funniest:

1.      “If you hit this sign, you will hit this bridge”

2.      “Extreme Fire Hazard: Don’t even fart in the forest”

3.      “Arm, Leg, First Born”

4.      “Attention dog guardians: Pick up after your dogs. Attention dogs: Grrr, bark, woof. Good dog.”

5.      “Hell Freezes over” (frozen “Hell” sign)

6.      “Eat here, get gas & worms”

7.      “Guns, wedding gowns and cold beer”

8.      “Caution Pedestrians Slippery When Wet”

9.      “Drive slow, see our village: Drive fast, see our judge”

10.  “Drop your pants here” (sign for a laundry mat)

According to a recent Lifetime Women’s Pulse Poll, 60% of women think of themselves as desperate housewives with 20% admitting they have a secret they wouldn’t want their neighbors to know. Some 16% admit they’d have an affair with their neighbor’s partner.

Turns out just saying “hello” may suffice to get a man going. A study in the journal Psychology of Women Quarterly found that men are more likely than women to interpret ambiguous or friendly behavior as a come on. Researchers asked 43 opposite sex pairs of strangers to have a 5 minute conversation, then fill out a questionnaire rating their partner’s physical attractiveness and personality. If a man found a woman attractive, he was more likely to think she was flirting, regardless of her intentions. Women, however, rated their partners as significantly less flirtatious, regardless of how attractive they found them. (Women’s Health)

40% admit they would run out of cash if they were unemployed for three months. 66% say they do not have enough cash to cover a year of unemployment.

PHONE TOPICS

·         So what makes the perfect Christmas tree? Who doesn’t have theirs yet?

·         What part of the Christmas tradition could you do without?

·         Did you ever dress as a mascot? Which one?

·         What’s the deadliest creature you’ve ever been next to?

·         What’s the strangest thing someone has thrown at you?

·         Who absolutely loves their job?

·         Which Christmas special do you watch over, and over, and over again?

·         What’s at the top of your “to do” list today? Everybody’s got something.

·         Ever appear on stage with someone famous?

·         Anyone listening ever have a child try to blackmail them? What do you do?

·         What’s the funniest sitcom of all time? Best TV dram of all time?

·         What do you depend on to tell you about the day? Horoscopes?

·         Does anyone read the comics anymore? Which ones?

·         We need a new road or freeway that runs from ____ to _____!

·         What’s the one gift you don’t want to get this year?

We talked about a single guy in Tampa, whose mom took out a newspaper ad to get him some holiday…uh, lovin. Yes, Jason’s mom took out a $500 ad in The Tampa Tribune to help him land a wife – or at least a few potential candidates – by Christmas. If you’re interested, she’s asking you to send a photo and a letter to her. She’ll respond with a thank-you note and send each reply to her son, who says he will meet with every person. Ladies is this sweet or sad?

According to a recent study, today’s text messaging relieves eases some of the pressure on dating. But is it a good thing? A buddy of mine was dumped by a girl over a text message. He texted her back a mean message blasting her for breaking up with him that way. Did she deserve a nasty return text for doing him wrong?

Did you ever get intimate in your parent’s bedroom? A friend of mine was watching their house for a few days while they were away, and wouldn’t you know, his girlfriend came over and well…ya know. Should you ever get intimate in any bed but your own? I thought it was a little too bizarre. I told him I wouldn’t have done it. Have you ever been with someone in someone else’s bed?

Are you happy in your career, or do you wish you would have followed a different path? What would you have rather done? If you could pick any job in the world, what would it be?

My cohost noticed that a lot of parents put their kids in matching outfits even when they’re not twins and asked why. I was surprised by the number of calls on that. One reason is so they don’t fight over who gets what, while others said it makes it easier to keep track of them in public. The strangest was a mother who said she’d buy matching clothes for her sons, but one set in green and the other in blue. She said they’re now out on their own and the one who preferred the green outfits lives in a green house while his brother’s house is blue.

What’s your favorite quote of 2008? Here are the Top 10 quotes of 2008, as compiled by 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 Sept. 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 Oct. 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 Sept. 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, Jan. 3.

8.      “I’ll see you at the debates, b——.” — 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.  (tie) “Cash for trash.” — Paul Krugman discussing the financial bailout, New York Times, Sept. 22.
(tie) “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 Sept. 19.
(tie) “Anyone who says we’re in a recession, or heading into one — especially the worst one since the Great Depression — is making up his own private definition of “`recession.'” — commentator Donald Luskin, the day before Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, The Washington Post, Sept. 14.

I once sold _____ to go _____. We found out in a recent conversation that one of our listeners actually sold cocaine to go to church camp. He said that his family was really poor and he didn’t really have the money to go. He felt that it was really important that he be there and he also didn’t want his friends to leave him and have all the fun so he happened upon some cocaine… he sold enough to put himself through church camp.

I once traded _____ for _____. Almost the same situation as above but a different topic… My cohost had a friend in college who traded a 6-pack of Heineken for a car. One friend had a piece car and he was going to take it to the junk yard but there was another friend who desperately needed a car. The guy said, “buy me a 6-pack of beer and I’ll give you my car!”

We did the “Worst Handyman,” a guy who thinks he knows what he’s doing and really doesn’t. We awarded dinner for two to a woman who’s husband “fixed” a small leak by turning it into a gusher, then two days later, set the top of the stove on fire while trying to “fix” the computer panel (timer, etc.). We started this by talking about how my co-host was going to try to fix his clothes dryer, and we had women calling him begging him to call a repairman.

What fan clubs did you belong to when you were younger? Lots of good phones here, too, particularly after my co-host admitted being in the Barbra Streisand club. I ‘fessed up to being in the “Star Trek” fan club in the late 60’s, and our listeners contributed Kiss, the Archies and more.

Did you ever do anything stupid or crazy when you were living single that you would never do now? What was your furniture like when you were single? What were some of the survival foods of your bachelor days? Hamburger Helper topped the list followed by Ramen noodles.

I saw a cool movie poll online, but I couldn’t find the source. So we debated it on the air. The list was of the top 10 “sexiest movie off all time”:

1.      Out of Sight (1998)

2.      His Girl Friday (1940)

3.      Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)

4.      Body Heat (1981)

5.      Bull Durham (1988)

6.      Don’t Look Now (1973)

7.      Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)

8.      The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

9.      A Walk on the Moon (1999)

10.  Before Sunset (2004)

When you were a kid, what did you do in class to pass the time? Did you ever consider dropping out cause you were so bored? Do you have a boring job now? Why is it so boring?

We got on the discussion of food that we once really liked and now can’t stand. My co-host talked about key lime pie, which for many years really enjoyed and now he can barely look at it. This was a fun topic and we received calls with plenty of food mentioned including shrimp, liver, sweet potatoes and one woman said she is disgusted by cucumbers. She said they taste like soap to her now.

What the corniest thing you did this weekend? My cohost was taking a road trip back over the weekend and he felt like he was in the mood to listen to a little “Dido.” He listened to the entire first album and then decided to come home and sit and rub his dog for an entire hour… this led us into our phoner.

We talked about The Man Rules one day (like never dissing Chuck Norris) and then took calls on The Woman Rules. That got my cohost going on how her 12-year old son, had recently explained guys’ bathroom rules to her. My favorite was, “look straight ahead…or up.” When she said those rules were stupid and women didn’t have any, the ladies started calling in with what they wished were rules. Everything from courtesy flushes to not talking to the stranger in the stall next to you. Apparently we really take our bathroom breaks seriously.

Time to vent. Co-workers who leave their cell phones unattended. Have you noticed that the more annoying a ring tone is, the more likely the owner is no where to be found? And what’s the etiquette…if a woman leaves her purse near you with her incredibly annoying phone constantly going off, is it okay to rummage through her personal belongings so you can find it? Furthermore, is it okay to destroy the phone? If they really wanted it, they would have it with them, right? Can you tell that our drive-time jock’s phone has been going off as I write this?

WEIRD NEWS

Obama: A Very Wise Man?
There’s a new addition to nativity scenes being sold in Italy this Christmas season — Barack Obama and his wife Michelle — to be added along side the baby Jesus and wise men! The production of handmade figurines for nativity scenes is big business in Italy and craftsman Genny Di Virgilio says Obama has become a top seller. Italian tradition requires that the nativity scene be built up over time until Christmas Eve, when baby Jesus is put in the manger as the very last element of the display. As always, figurine-makers provide a chance to choose a more light-hearted approach for the scene providing replicas of personalities who have made the news during the last year. Along with Obama, other top selling figurines include French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni and even Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. While cherished by many, some people say the arrival of celebrity figurines spoils the traditional sense of Christmas. (Reuters)

It’s Not My Fault I Lost $900 Million!
In Melbourne, Australia, gambler Harry Kakavas is suing the Crown Casino after losing– $909 million dollars! No kidding. But Harry says it’s not his fault and that the management targeted him after learning of his gambling addiction. Actually, Kakavas has been banned from every casino in Australia since 2007 because of his problem and his attorney claims the managers at Crown Casino knew this and just didn’t care. Court documents alleged that emails detailed a Crown plan to lure back Kakavas and if found guilty, Crown could be judged to have breached Australia’s Trade Practices Act, state gambling regulations and special laws covering the high-profile casino’s operation. (Reuters)

2,000-Year-Old Brain Discovered
In a muddy pit at the University of York in England, British archeologist Rachel Cubitt has made a most amazing find — a 2,000-yeasr-old brain. The brain is a bit shrunken but preserved very well in the skull she dug up. Researchers were amazed at how the brain dating back before the Roman conquest of Britain did not decompose. The oldest preserved brains were found in Florida back in 1986 and are dated to be 8,000 years old. (Ananova)

The Irony of Foreclosures
How’s this for irony. In Miami, one local resident has come up with his own unique solution to the twin problems of foreclosures and homeless people. Using the Internet and volunteer teams, Max Rameau uses his “Take Back the Land Foundation” to match the homeless with vacant homes that were foreclosed on. Since January he has helped six families find temporary dwellings, although his efforts are expected to generate controversy. Rameau told USA Today, “It’s morally indefensible to have vacant homes sitting there, potentially for years, while you have human beings on the street.” But Rameau is not alone in his efforts to help the homeless have temporary shelter. Housing advocates in Cleveland are attempting to tap city money to purchase abandoned houses which they plan to rent out to the homeless. Atlanta homeowners are even willing to pay the homeless to stay in the meantime in their foreclosed homes while guarding the property at the same time. (Ananova)

Too Stupid For Tattoos
If it’s possible to be too stupid to get a tattoo — 25-year-old Darnell Frazier of St. Paul, Minnesota wins the prize. Darnell was pulled over by a police officer and claimed he never had a photo ID and said his name was Darnell Lewis. The officer might have bought it had Darnell not had the word “Frazier” tattooed in large letters on the side of his neck — which kind of gave him away. After his true identity was confirmed, he was arrested on four misdemeanor warrants, including driving while disqualified and no proof of insurance. He also had at least two outstanding arrest warrants, a probation violation for bringing a stolen vehicle into Minnesota and a failure to appear in Hennepin County on a drug charge. (AHN News)

A Nutty Car
In Demotte, Indiana, Hope Wideup has a nutty car — quite literally. When she popped open her hood to find out why all her warning indicator lights were on and her windshield wipers had stopped working, she found walnuts — thousands of walnuts! She thinks perhaps a chipmunk may have found its way into her car– which had been sitting idle for several weeks– and used it as a storage depot. The total damage done will only cost her $242 so it could have been a lot worse. Hope says, “It’s funny, but it’s not.” (AHN News)

Near Naked Giants Fan
The New York Giants could use another sack — not on the football field — in the stands — to cover one fan who doesn’t like to wear much in the way of clothing. Sondra Fortunato went to Giants Stadium last week wearing a Santa Claus outfit, a tiara, fishnet stockings, a bathing suit bottom and high-heeled boots. She also had a suitcase and two 11-by-17 signs reading “Go Giants” and “Have a No Guns Christmas,” referring to the team’s wide receiver shooting himself in the leg. She insists nothing naughty was showing even though she’s “well-endowed.” As the middle-aged woman puts it, “You couldn’t even see my underwear.” But the Giants saw things a bit differently. Security guards escorted her out, saying signs and baggage weren’t allowed and telling her to cover up because there were children present. She figures other women “got jealous and complained.” (New York Post)

Cable Guy Calendar
Time Warner Cable has introduced a tongue-in-cheek new calendar in New York City for 2009. The calendar features its technicians and call center representatives posing while having fun. Mr. January grins while connecting cables for three admiring women. Mr. February forgot to button his shirt before delivering a bunch of cables formed into flowers. And Ms. September plucks remote controls from a tree as if they were fruit. So how do you get one of these must have items? You get one free — if you upgrade your cable package to include Showtime. Here’s an idea — why don’t you put a calendar with pictures showing cable guys showing up on time? Oh wait — I know why — because you could find 12 pictures of that actually happening in one year!!!!! (myway.com)

THIS OR THAT

Two choices: you gotta pick one and tell us why!

·         White Christmas lights or Multi-colored lights

·         Elves or Talking Reindeer

·         Spirit of Christmas Past, Present or Future

·         Holly or Mistletoe

·         Parking far away at a mall or Waiting in a long checkout line

·         Cleaning the Reindeer stalls or Being Santa’s personal masseuse

·         Candy Canes or Carmel Corn

·         Hot buttered Rum or a “Flaming Punch”

·         Grinch or Scrooge

·         Herbie the Elf or Yukon Cornelius

SHOW ME A SIGN

We had backstage passes and front-row seats to a concert to give away, so we asked listeners to make the most outrageous, attention-grabbing sign they could create. Then, at 6:30 Friday morning, they had to meet us at the busiest intersection in town and attract as much attention as they possibly could. The winner actually had his van painted-up, and he stood on top for an hour and a half, jumping up and down, screaming with a “honk” sign. Sounded great on the air, and the police eventually had to break it up.

REDNECK FOODS

In the South where we are, people eat some weird stuff. We sent someone to the grocery store to pick up a few of these items and sampled them during the show. We ate Triscuit crackers topped with cream cheese and pepper jelly; some potted meat, Spam and sardines. After everyone ate, we read out the ingredients to let everyone know what they just had. One person clutched the trash can after the first bite.

TOP FIVE REASONS WHY THAT IRAQI REPORTER THREW HIS SHOES AT PRESIDENT BUSH

1.      Because Dick Cheney was too far away

2.      He thought about it… his Nike’s told him to “Just do it”

3.      The reporter thought shoe repair would be a nice retirement hobby

4.      Bush has just said, “It’s time to heal” so he threw some at him

5.      He forgot to bring pies

HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter

They’ve been having record low temperatures in Denver this week. If fact, they say it’s so cold, at this Sunday’s Bronco’s game, they may not even try to start up the Zamboni.

A big cold snap has hit the Midwest. In fact, in Illinois, its so cold the governor was only selling heated seats.

Archeologists in Europe claim they’ve found a 2,000-year-old shopping mall. One of the stores was a mummifying shop called, “21 Forever.”

Everything inside the ancient mall was fairly well preserved except for the Hickory Farms Beefstick: it was just like brand-new.

FILL IN THE BLANK

·         A new study says that one of the biggest points of contention in divorce cases these days is who gets the _______. (pet)

·         In New Jersey, a man is really ticked off after discovering that his _________ was the cause of the recent fire in his home. (Comcast cable box)

·         After 25 years of Islamic rule, Sudan is going to once again allow _________ in their country. (beer)

BACK TO YOU

Get two people on the phone and give them a topic (household appliances, cars, etc.) and they have 30 seconds to go back and forth naming them. If they stumble, they lose.

CELL PHONE FUN

Get two listeners on cell phones and have them compete for a big prize. They can be in the mall, at a fast food restaurant, in their car stuck in traffic, whatever… but they need to have access to other people. So get them on and ask questions like: “Name all the Brady kids.” They, hopefully, won’t know all of them and they have to go around to those around them and ask complete strangers these questions in that panicky prize pig voice. (If the contestant does know the answer without asking — thus, putting the kibosh on the tomfoolery — you can always hang-up and pretend the cell went dead. Hey, it happens.)

RULES ARE RULES

Maxim came up with a list of Man Rules… so we decided women need a set of rules of their own.

The Man Rules (according to Maxim):

1.      Never redo a high-five. If you mess it up, let it go.

2.      The “shotgun rule” is always in effect.

3.      If you’re white, never leave the sticker on your New Era hat.

4.      Only call your girlfriend once a day.

5.      Never use the term love-making, except when you’re trying to get laid.

6.      Men should never, in any way, feed each other.

7.      Never dis Chuck Norris.

The Woman Rules (according to listeners)

1.      Never wear a jean jacket with jeans.

2.      Never take your friend’s last tampon.

3.      It’s okay to borrow a razor, but not to use for your naughty parts.

4.      Never wear shorts or short skirts without shaving your legs.

5.      Don’t date another friend’s sloppy seconds…it was sloppy for a reason.

6.      It’s sister before misters… always.

7.      In the presence of your mother-in-law, she always knows more than you, but only in her presence.

8.      You’re forbidden to look hotter than your son’s girlfriend.

9.      Never use the “C” word or the “P” word.

10.  If you plan on getting drunk, remember to wear your panties.

11.  Never use another woman’s compact without asking.

12.  Put the brush down and walk away slowly, don’t tease your bangs.

13.  Don’t wear strappy sandals with crusty feet.

14.  Never share your panties with your friends, or purchase from Goodwill.

15.  Should never tell a man you love him first.

16.  And never sleep with a man on the first date.

WRAP IT UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS

We gave movie tickets to the person who could wrap a partner with 5 rolls of toilet paper in the least amount of time. It ended up taking the winner (who wrapped up his 10-year-old daughter) just over 12 minutes to completely use up all the rolls. Made for some good laughs on the air and some great pics for the web site.

GERM WARFARE

(Men’s Health) The government says millions of Americans get sick from handborne bacteria each year, and 80,000 of them die. Which should make you approach public restrooms warily. Here’s where the worst latrine bacteria hide:

·         Sink – 500,000 bacteria per 100 square centimeters

·         Floor – 5,600 bacteria per 100 centimeters

·         Paper Towel Handle – 2,200 bacteria per 100 square centimeters

·         Urinal Handle – 1,600 bacteria per 100 square centimeters

·         Bathroom Door Handle – 1,200 bacteria per 100 centimeters

·         Toilet Seat – 1,180 bacteria per 100 square centimeters

·         Flush Handle – 510 bacteria per 100 square centimeters

The average bacteria counts on professionals clothing:

·         Teacher – 17,800 bacteria per square inch

·         Accountants – 6,030 bacteria per square inch

·         Bankers – 5,400 bacteria per square inch

·         Doctors – 2,620 bacteria per square inch

·         Lawyers – 900 bacteria per square inch

BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION

It seems like they’ve got blow-ups for every holiday now… like giant turkeys, pumpkins, heart and Santa’s. We had stunt boy drive around town with a giant blow-up of Santa on the roof to see how other drivers respond. After a while we’ll change her location and have them tell us what’s different? Could do this with a blow-up that’s out of season.

WHAT DID WE LEARN?

What did we learn with (your show) yesterday” to win $50. This is a great recycling bit to pass along a little extra mad money for spring. Tell listeners not to miss the 7am hour since that’s when you pop the “What Did We Learn” question about what you heard in the 7am hour from the previous day’s show.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES

For Men:

·         According to a new poll, which movie was rated the “sexiest of all time”? “Out of Sight” ***, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”, or “Body Heat”.

·         What are little girls made of? “Ribbons, bows and fairy toes,” “Sugar, spice and all things nice” ***, or “Chocolate, candy and all things dandy”.

·         Duran Duran sang about girls on what? Horses, Film ***, or The Run.

·         Breast implants cannot be made of what? Polyester ***, Saline, Silicone.

For Women:

·         In college football, what does the “C” in BCS stand for? College, Championship ***, or Center. (Bowl Championship Series)

·         Jim Zorn is the coach of which NFL team? Redskins ***, Cowboys, or the Raiders.

·         Which gaming system is the better seller? Wii ***, or Xbox.

·         Which type of DVD player will produce the highest quality picture? Progressive Scan, Blu-Ray ***, or one with Upconversion.

GORSEFEATHERS by Patrick Gorse

Sources are reporting that Paula Abdul is leaving “American Idol” at the end of the season. The problem is irreconcilable differences…everybody else shows up for work sane and sober.

Saturday marked the 5th anniversary of the capture of Saddam Hussein. What do you give a guy on the wood anniversary when he already has a pine coffin?

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that businessmen with ties to the Rev. Jesse Jackson met with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to discuss a deal for Obama’s Senate seat. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. said that his father would “never cross any lines.” I don’t know…when you’ve called Jews “Hymies,” paid for a child you fathered out of wedlock with charity contributions and threatened to cut off the genitals of the President-elect, I think you’ve already established your credentials as a line-crosser.

Poor Jesse Jackson Jr. He’s disadvantaged because he grew up in a very bad neighborhood–Near the Illinois statehouse.

A lot of people were shocked by the actions of Governor Rod Blagojevich, but crooked politics is a tradition in Illinois. In fact, Abraham Lincoln used to keep kickbacks stashed in his stove pipe hat. You remember his famous speech…four score and seven bleeping bribes ago.

And Barack Obama is part and parcel of the sleazy Chicago tradition. He’s always said, “A sweet Tony Rezko house deal divided against itself cannot stand.”

A political science study revealed that since 1971, 1,000 Illinois public servants have been convicted of corruption. To his credit, originally, Governor Blagojevich tried to solve that problem. But he couldn’t appoint enough crooked judges.

The auto rescue plan has stalled in Congress, and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said, “The automakers are drowning.” Ted Kennedy replied, “I had nothing to do with it.”

The bad economy is even depressing children. I put a choo-choo train under the Christmas tree. My kid parked his Hot Wheels on the tracks with a goodbye note attached to it.

Boy… early-winter freezing temperatures have gripped the nation. It was so cold in Illinois; Gov. Rod Blagojevich was selling Senate seat-warmers.

Congress lowered the pay of the Secretary of State last week to get Hillary Clinton around a constitutional hurdle that keeps lawmakers who voted for an office’s pay raise from assuming that job. The reduction will cost Mrs. Clinton $4,700 a year. Bill Clinton approved of the move saying it’s not unusual for secretaries who don’t put out to have their pay cut.

James Bond actor Daniel Craig told “Extra TV” that he has a soft side, and that he can be “moved by television commercials about toilet rolls.” ‘Moved’ in what way, Daniel? Man, it was freezing across the country this week. It was so cold—as Air Force One was preparing to leave Washington D.C., a guy threw snowshoes at President Bush.

It was so cold in Idaho; Larry Craig was tapping his toes in the restroom just to keep from getting frostbite.

The Senate’s attempts to pass the Big Three automaker rescue bill sputtered, broke down and eventually got junked. In fact, the bill was exactly like the Big Three automaker’s 2008 product line.

The Democratic Illinois Attorney General and their Democratic Lt. Governor were on “Meet the Press” Sunday discussing extraordinary legal attempts to force Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office. So the governor’s own party is disgusted and they’re trying to pull the rug out from under him. And fashion-conscious gay hairstylists are disgusted and they’re trying to pull the rug off the top of him.

While President Bush visited Baghdad on Sunday, an Iraqi news reporter was arrested after throwing both his shoes at the President and referring to Mr. Bush as “you dog.” The reporter was charged with assaulting a head of state and impersonating Randy Jackson.

During the shoe-throwing incident, the President was true to his word. Mr. Bush has always said that when the barefoot Iraqis stand up, we’ll duck down.

The first shoe completely missed President Bush, but the second one seemed to graze his hair. However, a brave Mr. Bush continued the ceremony after being pronounced unhurt by Dr. Scholl’s.

It was the first time a reporter has thrown anything at a U.S. president since Helen Thomas tossed some panties and a hotel room key at John Kennedy.

So much for Iraqi security forces being up to snuff—That reporter had time to throw one shoe and miss… than take another shoe off and throw that before being apprehended. However, Iraqi authorities are disputing that version of the events saying there was a second shoe thrower on the grassy knoll.

On ABC’s “This Week” Sunday morning, John McCain said that the southern part of Afghanistan isn’t “under control of the government” or U.S. forces.

Apparently, southern Afghanistan is a lawless area controlled by extremists and foreign influences that are willing to do anything to mess up the government. Really, it’s just like the southern region of the U.S……

Asked by host George Stephanopoulos how you get over a tough presidential loss, John McCain said, “Get busy, get busy, get busy.” Yes, because you never know when a losing moment is going to be the right moment.

The bad economy is killing the holiday shopping business. Sales are slower than Brett Favre running a quarterback sweep.

Did you watch football on Sunday? In the New York Jets win over Buffalo, 39-year-old quarterback Brett Favre had a 25-yard run. I don’t want to say Brett is slow; but the run started in the first quarter, and ended in the third quarter.

Brett Favre’s 25-yard run took forever. They gave the 2:00 minute warning during the play. Not because it was near the end of the half or the game… two minutes into the run, the refs warned Favre that he needed to pick up the pace.

WHY WE THINK SANTA’S A WOMAN

Think about it — Christmas is a big warm, organized, fuzzy nurturing social deal and I have a tough time believing a guy could pull it off.

For starters, most men don’t even think about selecting gifts until 3pm on Christmas Eve And once at the mall, they always seem surprised to find only Ronco products, socket wrench sets, and mood rings left on the shelves. On this count alone, I’m convinced Santa is a woman. Surely if he were a man, the universe would wake up Christmas morning to find a rotating Chia Pet under the tree, still in the bag.

Another problem for Santa would be getting there. First of all there would be no reindeer, because they would be dead, gutted, and strapped on to the rear bumper of the sleigh amid wide eyed, desperate claims that buck season had been extended. Blitzen’s rack would already be on the way to the taxidermist.

Even if male Santa had reindeer, he’d still have transportation problems because he would inevitably get lost in the clouds and refuse to ask for directions.

Other reasons Santa can’t possibly be a man:

·         Men can’t pack a bag

·         Men would rather be dead than be caught wearing red velvet

·         Men would feel their masculinity would be threatened, having to be seen with all those elves

·         Men don’t answer their mail

·         Men would refuse to allow their physique to be described even in jest as anything remotely resembling a “bowl full of jelly”

·         Men aren’t interested in stockings unless somebody’s wearing them

·         Finally, being responsible for Christmas would require a commitment

Is there any doubt Santa has to be a woman?

WORST CHRISTMAS SONGS

·         I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus

·         We Three Stooges

·         All I Want For Christmas Is Not To Be Impeached

·         Lick the Halls

·         Hark the Herald Angel’s Peeing

·         God Rest Ye Hairy Gentlemen

·         Oh Holy Fright

·         Silent Fart

·         It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, And I Still Have The Dress

·         The First Bowel

·         Fisty The Snowman

·         Splinter Wonderland

·         Jingle Balls

·         We Wish You A Mary

·         Oh Come All Ye Cold Sores

ROOF SIT

Last weekend we spent 72 hours up on the roof of a Wal-Mart Super Center. It was our annual “Roof Sit to Benefit Toys for Tots.” Every December, we vow to collect 10 thousand toys. This year we got 15 thousand toys and 20 thousand dollars for the cause. It was cold, wet, and windy but when you look at the good on Christmas morning it is all worth it.

WHAT OUR FEATURES SAY ABOUT US

DivineCaroline.com says physical characteristics such as eye shape and finger lengths can actually indicate certain personality traits.

Eyes

·         One way to analyze the eyes is to figure out whether you have wide-set or narrow-set eyes.

·         Narrow: Closed-minded, dependent on others, very focused

·         Wide: Open-minded, aversion to authority figures, independent

·         Balanced: Good judgment, a balanced perspective on situations

Nose

·         In Chinese face reading, the nose is related to how one deals with financial matters

·         Big Nose: Could get too caught up in money

·         Small Nose: Shy, timid

·         Wide Nose: Emotional, laid-back

·         Thin Nose: Tightly-wound, temperamental

Mouth

·         The shape of your lips offers insight into your role within the relationships you have with others.

·         Small Lips: Self-involved, stingy, greedy

·         Large Lips: Giving, affinity for the finer things

·         Full Lips: Emotional, caring, empathetic

·         Thin Lips: Logical, introverted, cut off from emotions

·         Thinner Upper Lip: Selfish, unable to give equally in relationships

·         Thinner Lower Lip: Excessively generous in relationships

TOP FIVE TOPICS AT THIS YEAR’S SANTA CLAUS CONVENTION

1.      “No one’s going to take care of your elf, but you”

2.      “Sleighs: Regular or Hybrid?”

3.      “Thatch roofs and what you can do about them”

4.      “The milk & cookie diet”

5.      “Database your list and stop checking it twice”

TOP FIVE SIGNS THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG WEEK

1.      You woke up and Lindsay Lohan is your roommate

2.      When you first arrived at work, someone asked “Is it Friday yet?”

3.      You see an ad in the paper offering your job

4.      There’s another ad offering your wife

5.      Rosie O’Donnell wants to talk with you

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Untitled12.15.08

 SHOW PREP DECEMBER 15, 2008

 

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

 

LAST WEEK:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

MUSIC . . .

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

MARVIN SAPP (not Warren) LEADS TOP SINGLES LIST:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

THE TOP 10 ROCK ALBUMS OF 2008:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

MOVIE . . .

 

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

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

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

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

2. “Four Christmases,” $13.3 million.

3. “Twilight,” $8 million.

4. “Bolt,” $7.5 million.

5. “Australia,” $4.3 million.

6. “Quantum of Solace,” $3.8 million.

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

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

9. “Milk,” $2.6 million.

10. “Transporter 3,” $2.3 million.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

TV . . .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

ACADEMY AWARDS HOSTS THROUGH THE DECADES:

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

– 1953: Bob Hope

– 1954: Donald O’Connor

– 1955: Bob Hope

– 1956-1957: Jerry Lewis

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

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

– 1960: Bob Hope

– 1961: Bob Hope

– 1962: Bob Hope

– 1963: Frank Sinatra

– 1964: Jack Lemmon

– 1965-1968: Bob Hope

– 1969-1971: no host

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

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

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

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

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

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

– 1978: Bob Hope

– 1979-1982: Johnny Carson

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

– 1984: Johnny Carson

– 1985: Jack Lemmon

– 1986: Alan Alda, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams

– 1987: Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, Paul Hogan

– 1988: Chevy Chase

– 1989: no host

– 1990-1993: Billy Crystal

– 1994: Whoopi Goldberg

– 1995: David Letterman

– 1996: Whoopi Goldberg

– 1997-1998: Billy Crystal

– 1999: Whoopi Goldberg

– 2000: Billy Crystal

– 2001: Steve Martin

– 2002: Whoopi Goldberg

– 2003: Steve Martin

– 2004: Billy Crystal

– 2005: Chris Rock

– 2006: Jon Stewart

– 2007: Ellen DeGeneres

– 2008: Jon Stewart

– 2009: Hugh Jackman

 

 

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . .  (Internet)

 

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

            A.  Neckties

 

 

TODAY’S QUOTE (By Alfred A. Montapert)

 

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

 

 

MIND BOGGLERS . . .  (QuickTrivia)

 

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

            A.  Henry, William, Louis

            B.  Joe, Eric, Adam  ****

            C.  Matt, Chester, Festus

            D.  Pat, Ben, Horse

 

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

            A.  Bohemia  ****

            B.  Saxony

            C.  Barvaria

            D.  Lithuania

 

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

            A.  Ellen

            B.  Elizabeth

            C.  Edith

            D.  Erika  ****

 

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

            A.  Lana Turner  ****

            B.  Kim Novak

            C.  Gena Tierney

            D.  Maureen O’Sullivan

 

Q.  Pick the musical term for “Martial”?

            A.  Marzial  ****

            B.  Piacevole

            C.  Parlando

            D.  Quasi

 

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

            A.  Franklin Delano Roosevelt  ****

            B.  Chester A. Arthur

            C.  Ulysses S. Grant

            D.  John F. Kennedy

 

 

SELF MAGAZINE . . .  (December 2008)

 

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

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

 

SHIPPING FOOD FROM YOUR TRAVELS:

 

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

 

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

 

 

BIRTHDAYS . . .

 

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

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

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

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

—1928  Artist Friedrich Hundertwasser

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

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

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

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

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

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

—1949  Actor Don Johnson (Nash Bridges)

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

—1955  Musician Paul Simonon (The Clash)

—1959  Actress Heidi Bohay (Hotel)

—1961  Football’s Daryl Turner

¾1979  Actor Adam Brody (The OC)

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

 

Today is BILL OF RIGHTS DAY.

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

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

—1791  The Bill of Rights became effective.

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

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

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

—1954  TV premiere of “Davy Crockett.”

—1965  The Beatles play their last concert in Britian.

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

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

—1973  Pirates of Caribbean ride opens at Disneyland.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

RADIO ONLINE® DAILY SHOW PREP™ . . .

 

ON THIS DAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

TODAY IS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

·         Who was Underdog’s nemesis? (Overcat)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONVERSATION STARTERS

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

1.      Silver, 20%

2.      White, 18%

3.      Black, 17%

4.      Red, 13%

5.      Blue, 12%

6.      Naturals, 9%

7.      Other/Niche Market Colors, 7%

8.      Green, 4%

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

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

PHONE TOPICS

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

·         Best deal you’ve ever found on Craigslist?

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

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

·         What do you leave out for Santa to eat?

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

·         The best crosstown shortcuts in town?

·         Secret free parking spaces?

·         Strange voice mail messages?

·         Who’s been fired the most?

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

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

·         Is Hollywood out of ideas?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

·         52% of women aged 35-44 would too

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WEIRD NEWS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

YES OR B.S.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PERSONALS FROM HELL

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

GIVE ME 20!

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

TOP FIVE SHOWS ON THE NORTH POLE NETWORK

1.      “Really Cold Case”

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

3.      “30 Ice Berg”

4.      “CSI: Alaska”

5.      “Two and a Half Elves”

HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter

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

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

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

THE WRONG GAME

Round 1

·         How many eggs do you buy at a time?

·         What is Starbucks famous for?

·         What color is Santa’s beard?

·         What date is Christmas?

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

Round 2

·         How many nights does Santa go out each year?

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

·         What’s the sweet ingredient in sugar plums?

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

·         Christmas trees are put up during which holiday?

Round 3

·         What color are goldfish?

·         What’s the major ingredient in peanut butter?

·         What’s 1 + 2?

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

·         What is kindling used to start?

WORDS OF LOVE

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

SHE’S HOT, NOT!

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

1.      She’s hot!

2.      My ex would…

3.      Your friend is a bitch

4.      The “C-word”

5.      I’m not good enough for you

6.      If you really loved me you would…

7.      You are just like your mother

8.      I’m not in the mood

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

10.  Don’t get so emotional!

Phoner: What should not be said to a girlfriend?

INTERVIEWS/GUESTS

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

LOCAL VOCALS

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

CALL US FOR THE PUNCHLINE

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

MOST ANNOYING E-MAIL HABITS

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

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

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

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

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

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

DID YOU KNOW?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

·         Age the average guy gets married: 27

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

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

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

·         What he’ll spend: $2,982

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

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

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

GORSEFEATHERS by Patrick Gorse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOLIDAY POP QUIZ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SNEAK A PEAK

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

TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE

(From Men’s Health magazine)

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

·         Trashman: Five bucks each in a nice card.

·         Paper Carrier: $5 minus the cards.

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

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

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

NAME THAT YEAR

(1962)

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

·         Pope John XXIII excommunicates Cuban leader Castro.

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

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

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

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

(1998)

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

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

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

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

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

(1968)

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

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

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

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

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

(1995)

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

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

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

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

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

(1965)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(1991)

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

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

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

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

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

(1959)

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

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

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

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

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

(1981)

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

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

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

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

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

(1971)

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

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

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

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

(1988)

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

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

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

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

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

TOP FIVE FAVORITE REINDEER GAMES

1.      “Pull my antler”

2.      “Deer Hide and Seek”

3.      “Getting Blitzened”

4.      “Run through the open meadow”

5.      “Buck. Buck. Goose”

Blogged with the Flock Browser

12.11.08

SHOW PREP DECEMBER 11, 2008

 

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

 

Meet Matteo and Valentino Martin! Born via surrogate in early August, Ricky Martin’s 4-month-old twin boys make their debut in this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday. A joyful Martin, 36, spoke candidly with PEOPLE at home in Puerto Rico about his desire to be a parent, the decision seek the help of a surrogate and juggling caring for twins – he has no nanny! PEOPLE: Describe this time in your life MARTIN: I’m so happy! Everything they do, from smiling to crying, feels like a blessing. Being a father feels amazing. This has been the most spiritual moment in my life. How hands-on are you as a father? I don’t have a nanny. I’m doing this on my own because I don’t want to miss a moment. I have a personal assistant who helps me, someone who takes care of me while I’m taking care of them, but I’m the one who changes the diapers, the one that feeds them, the one that bathes them, the one that puts them to sleep. For any parent, the first couple of months tend to get a little bit intense. Why did you choose to become a parent via surrogate? Adoption was one option, but it’s complicated and can take a long time. Surrogacy was an intriguing and faster option. I thought, ‘I’m going to jump into this with no fear.’ Tell us about Valetino’s and Matteo’s personalities. Valentino loves to sleep. I call him ‘Mr. Peace and Love’ because he’s so chill and serene. Matteo is more alert and active. He was up at 3 a.m. the other night and just hanging!  What is your philosophy on raising your sons? I love to read books to my sons and tell them stories. I play music for them so they develop their own personalities. I want to give them information and raise them with honesty and love, and give them self-esteem and a lot of acceptance. (People)

 

Toni Braxton had a good reason for not dancing on the finale of “Dancing With the Stars” last month: The 41-year-old singer says she had a benign tumor removed from her breast the week before. Braxton says she knew about the tumor before she appeared on the ABC show. She scheduled the surgery after being eliminated from the competition on Oct. 20. She tells Us Weekly magazine in its issue out Friday: “Getting the boot on the show was actually a blessing in disguise for me. My grandmother on my dad’s side died of breast cancer, and I have aunts on both sides that have breast cancer.” Though Braxton is still recovering, she is scheduled to appear on the “Dancing With the Stars” tour, which begins Dec. 17 in San Diego. (Daily Record)

 

Hollywood star Brad Pitt has become heavily interested in ‘spirit channeling’. Brad Pitt has become obsessed with trying to communicate with ghosts after watching a TV documentary sources have told Star magazine. “Brad is having sort of a midlife crisis. He is asking the big questions, like ‘What do I want to do with the rest of my life?’ He has also taken up deep-trance spirit channeling, trying to commune with ghosts, after watching the documentary ‘Tuning In: Spirit Channelers in America’,” the source says. “Angelina is trying to be supportive but is now worried that Brad may become obsessed. Brad is looking for a script about channeling, but Angelina is afraid that if he tries to bring it into the mainstream, people will really think he’s gone off the deep end.” (Handbag)

 

British actress Emma Watson is in a dilemma whether to pick an acting career over a university degree – because movie bosses keep plying her with roles. The Harry Potter star is keen to improve her education and has applied to a number of universities, both in the U.K. and America, to start her studies next year. But she is fearful she may be tempted to halt her degree to take on a new film. She tells Britain’s Style magazine, “I’m at a strange age. I’m not a woman yet, but I’m not a girl any more. “(Film companies) say, ‘Oh, in a couple of years you’ll be perfect for this.’ I’ll be like, yeah, but I want to be studying English then, so it’s going to be quite tough to choose between the two.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Tom Cruise has a lot to celebrate. This month his wife, Katie Holmes, turns 30; daughter Bella turns 16; son Connor, 13, is making his film debut with a small role opposite Dad’s pal Will Smith in the drama Seven Pounds; and Cruise’s new movie, Valkyrie, hits theaters. Also, this year daughter Suri turned 2. And Cruise himself marked his 25th year as a movie star. At 46, Cruise is striking – handsome and fit. And yet, in recent years, he hasn’t always looked so good. He became surprisingly vocal about Scientology and psychiatry. He tussled with Matt Lauer and Brooke Shields. And, of course, he hopped on Oprah Winfrey‘s couch. “I think I could have handled things better,” admits Cruise, laughing at the understatement. Off screen Cruise is charming but sincere; intense but cheerful; and funnier than you’d expect. In the new issue of PEOPLE, hitting newsstands Friday, the actor comments on his life and career through a series of pictures – including never before published personal snapshots. (People)

 

Everyone in the cast of “Gossip Girl” is hooking up with each other – and Chace Crawford and Taylor Momsen are at the center of the latest smooching session. A Page Six spy spotted the co-stars sneak away during their holiday party at Haven on East 51st Street to steal kisses in the corner, but Crawford’s rep denies it. We reported last week Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr were kissing in an airport, and original “GG” couple Blake Lively and Penn Badgley are still going strong. (Page Six)

 

Even Leonardo DiCaprio  loses things now and again. The “Revolutionary Road” star was at Rolf’s on Third Avenue Sunday night “turning the restaurant upside-down looking for his wallet,” our spy said. When DiCaprio and his group switched tables, it seems he left his wallet behind, and “after searching frantically for it, the staff found it in the dirty linen pile.” Earlier in the weekend, he took his on-again girlfriend Bar Refaeli – and his wallet – to Wired magazine’s pop-up holiday store on West 18th Street, where they browsed flat-screen TVs. (Page Six)

 

David Duchovny and Tea Leoni very publicly announced a split, but all signs point to a reconciliation. TMZ spies have spotted them all over New York – and not just in very public places like a Knicks game. They’ve been seen walking around their Upper East Side neighborhood, in random spots in the West Village, and, according to the Boston Herald, in New Bedford, MA, of all places, having “a great time.” DD and TL have two kids and have been married for eleven years. (TMZ)

 

Jim Carrey’s a yes man when it comes to girlfriend Jenny McCarthy and her son, Evan. In dealing with the two of them, the Yes Man star told PEOPLE at Tuesday’s London premiere of his new comedy, “I’m a pushover, absolutely.” He just can’t say no to “most things.” Carrey, 46, and McCarthy, 36, have stood united through 6-year-old Evan’s battle with autism, participating together in multiple fundraising events to raise awareness of the disease. But marriage doesn’t seem to be on the horizon for the comedic couple – an oft-stated viewpoint Carrey reiterated once again on the red carpet. Asked the craziest thing he’s ever said “Yes” to, Carrey replied, “I’ve been married twice.” (People)

 

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has been accused of having an established designer create her fashion label’s new collection. Victoria Beckham is rumored to have had significant help designing her new collection by established French designer Roland Mouret claims the Daily Mail. Sources say fashion insiders, many of whom gave Posh’s collection positive reviews, have noticed many similarities between Victoria and Roland’s dresses. “The similarities between the dresses are undeniable,” an unnamed source at Mouret’s office told the paper. “It’s been a bit of a joke as to how much Roland has been involved. We have all been convinced that Roland and Victoria must be in some kind of a business arrangement.” However, a spokesman for Victoria insists everything is above board, “Roland set Victoria up with his pattern cutter and also introduced her to his fabric suppliers.” They explained. “The seamstress atelier in Battersea was introduced to Victoria via Roland – they are a couture atelier looking after many London-based designers. There is no secret Roland has helped Victoria set up various aspects of her atelier in London.”  Interestingly both Victoria and Roland Mouret are represented by Simon Fuller at 19 management. (Handbag)

 

Jennifer Aniston has admitted she’s fed up with being famous. “I think it’s ridiculous. There’s just this insatiable need,” she told USA Today when asked about the interest in her personal life. “I am honestly getting sick of it, and I feel like telling people, ‘You know what? It’s none of your f*****g business.’ Seriously, it’s enough. It’s like we’re appealing to the lowest. And this is at a time when we should be so inspired and excited with what’s happening with the president. It’s a time to be positive and join together. We’re just trying to entertain you, man. Don’t shoot the messenger.” (Handbag)

 

Mark Ruffalo is speaking out about the tragic death of his brother. “Mark Ruffalo and his family deeply appreciate the outpouring of prayers and support during this most difficult time of the passing of Scott Ruffalo, beloved son, brother and husband,” a rep for the actor said in a statement, TMZ reports. “The funeral service will be private.”  Scott Ruffalo, 39, died Monday night, one week after he was shot in the head inside his Beverly Hills apartment.  In remembrance, the family has created a memorial fund in Scott’s name. Donations may be sent to:  (People)

Scott Ruffalo, Family Fund
c/o Altman Greenfield & Selvaggi, CPA’s
200 Park Avenue South 8th Floor
New York, NY 10003

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

 

Michael Jackson’s glittery glove is going on the auction block. The glove, which inspired countless copycats, quips and Halloween costumes after it was unveiled in the 1983 video for Jackson’s hit “Billie Jean,” will be part of a five-day auction next year, Julien’s Auctions announced Wednesday. Jackson is also unloading the grandiose gates that once led to his Neverland Ranch, along with more than 2,000 other personal items. The King of Pop’s possessions will be on display before the auction begins on April 21, 2009. Bids will be accepted in person and online. The sale is to be broadcast live on Auction Network. Jackson plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to MusiCares, a charitable organization founded by the Recording Academy to help musicians in need. The singer has been plagued by financial woes since he was acquitted of child-molestation charges in 2003. He went into default on his sprawling Neverland property earlier this year, before an investment company bought the loan. Last month, Jackson’s lawyers reached a settlement in a $7 million breach-of-contract case brought by a Bahraini sheik. As Jackson marked his milestone 50th birthday in August, the reclusive star hinted that he would be back to work eventually. “(I’m) looking forward to doing a lot of great things,” he told ABC News. “I think the best is yet to come in my true humble opinion.” (Daily Record)

 

People began lining up at midnight, five hours before the doors opened, when ABC’s “Good Morning America” sponsored a job fair last month in Chicago. It spoke not only about the troubled economy but to public response to the morning show’s effort to help viewers looking for work. Stunned by the turnout, “Good Morning America” is having another job fair Thursday near Miami. “We have every intention of serving the audience as well as we can under the circumstances,” said Jim Murphy, executive producer of ABC’s morning show. “What matters more to the American people than about what is going on with their economic life and their economic future?” The job fairs were organized by Tory Johnson, the show’s workplace contributor and founder and CEO of Women For Hire, which does job recruitment drives and offers advice to women seeking work. Johnson has been filing reports for “GMA” for four years, telling stories about women balancing work and family, returning to the work force after raising children or building businesses online. With the economy souring, “Good Morning America” is turning to her more often. Now she’s addressing questions about job security, coping with layoffs and finding work through the Internet. Johnson can relate to some of what her viewers are experiencing. She worked in public relations at NBC News in the early 1990s, and was swept out of her job as part of a housecleaning in the wake of an embarrassing scandal in which “Dateline NBC” rigged a truck crash for a story. “I was very young – 22 years old – and I thought my career had crumbled before it had even started,” she said. She eventually found other public relations work, but tired of the field and saw an opportunity to build a company that helped women seeking work. Besides getting up to 80 companies to meet with jobseekers at her “GMA” fairs, experts are on hand to help people sharpen their resumes. There have already been some successes; Aramark Uniform Services hired nine people who turned out to the Chicago job fair. Johnson instructs women who have never used the Internet to hunt for jobs, but also stresses the need for personal contact and networking. She and “Good Morning America” are helping people set up job-hunting clubs, modeled after book clubs, where job seekers get together to share experiences. Her reports are almost exclusively about women, since more than two-thirds of the morning show’s viewers after the first half hour are women. “Hiring has not come to a halt,” she said. “It’s important to sift through the headlines … and realize that opportunities still exist.” (Daily Record)

 

Should a Sitcom Star be New York’s next Senator? Maybe. We’d support congressional ambitions from Tina Fey, Holland Taylor or possibly that guy who played Balki on Perfect Strangers. (We like his fiscal policy.) But Fran Drescher? The former star of The Nanny would like to take over the Senate seat being given up by Hillary Clinton, and—ditch the laugh track—she ain’t kidding. Her publicist confirmed this, releasing a statement saying Drescher’s experience as an “actress, women’s health advocate and public diplomacy envoy for the U.S. State Department” qualified her for consideration. There was no reference to her role in Spinal Tap, which we consider a serious omission. What say you? Is she only qualified for Elected Hotties or do you see her as shaking up the staid Senate just the way she did with that stuffy Slovetzian dictator in The Beautician and the Beast? (Eonline)

 

Britney Spears has been criticized by animal rights group PETA. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have released a statement slamming Britney Spears for using an elephant in the video for her new single, Circus. “As Britney is such a victim of the paparazzi and always complaining and crying about how she hates to be held up in her guarded house and can’t feel free, she of all people should be able to relate to the horror that captive animals go through when they’re used for entertainment,” the statement reads. “Except Britney chooses to perform, and the lifestyle just comes with it. Animals are ripped away from their mothers at a young age, kept in chains, and prodded with electric shock devices to make them perform.” (Handbag)

 

Five months after the birth of Vivienne and Knox, Angelina Jolie is reportedly back on prenatal vitamins so she and Brad Pitt can try to create another set of twins. One more and they’ll have a baseball team. (Eonline)

 

Guy Ritchie’s father says that his son is worried that ex-wife Madonna will break the terms of their custody deal and keep the couple’s children in America with her. The director and singer finalized their divorce last month and have agreed to share custody of son Rocco and adopted son David, meaning the children will spend half their time between New York and London. The children are currently with their mother on the Latin American leg of her Sticky + Sweet world tour but John Ritchie said Guy is worried that Madonna won’t stick to her side of the deal. “The children are with Madonna at the moment. Our worry is that she won’t send them back and Guy hopes she won’t keep them,” he said. (British Glamour)

 

“American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino is again finding that, like the title of her autobiography, life is not a fairy tale. Court documents obtained Tuesday show one of Barrino’s houses in Charlotte is up for auction after a company said Barrino failed to repay money it loaned her to over her taxes in 2006. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office is scheduled to sell the home, valued at $1.1 million, in January. The home isn’t in foreclosure, but rather is being used to compensate the company that loaned Barrino money to cover taxes. Barrino, whose autobiography is titled “Life is Not a Fairy Tale,” has rapidly ascended to stardom after winning the third season of “American Idol” in 2004. A single mother and high school dropout from High Point, located in central North Carolina, Barrino has released two albums and debuted on Broadway playing the lead role of Celie in the musical version of “The Color Purple.” She also is nominated for a Grammy for “I’m His Only Woman,” a song she performs with fellow “American Idol” alumna and Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Hudson. Even if January’s sale proceeds, Barrino still has a house in Charlotte. The soul singer has a $529,000 home a couple miles from the one scheduled for sale in south Charlotte. Larry Goldman, a Charlotte-based attorney representing the Florida company that made the loan, said he hopes Barrino will pay the judgment before the home goes to auction on Jan. 12. “It seems like a huge waste of time and resources, and puts her home at risk,” Goldman said. “I can’t imagine that somebody is not advising her that it would be expedient to write a check and not have to deal with all the ramifications of having her home sold.” He said the two sides had contact when the complaint was initially served in January, but he’s had no formal contact since then. Goldman said he decided to go after Barrino’s larger home because it appeared to be her place of residence. Fantasia’s record label, J Records, had no comment. Court documents show that Broward Energy Partners agreed to pay more than $68,000 of Barrino’s taxes in October 2006. The company said Barrino eventually repaid $10,000 of the loan. The company later sued for full compensation, but Barrino failed to appear in court to defend the lawsuit. A judge agreed in October to allow Broward Energy Partners to recover the money from Barrino, plus 8 percent interest and court costs. That was an estimated $65,541 in September, according to the court documents. Sgt. J.W. England, supervisor of civil judgments with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, said Tuesday that deputies tried to contact Barrino by both mail and in person. “Her people never got in contact with us,” England said. “We could have gone in another direction if she would have communicated with us. I hope it doesn’t go to that extreme. We’re hoping she’ll pay this thing and we’ll be out of the picture.” (Daily Record)

 

Paula Abdul has accused her American Idol bosses of exposing her to the crazed fan who committed suicide outside her California home. Abdul claims producers on the show allowed Paula Goodspeed to audition on three separate occasions, knowing she had stalked the star for 17 years. And she accuses broadcaster Fox of shooting footage at her home, which effectively showed fans how to get access to the Sherman Oaks estate. Speaking on talk show host Barbara Walters’ Sirius Satellite radio show on Monday night, Abdul said, “She came to the audition. I said, ‘This girl is a stalker of mine. Please do not let her in.’ I was shaking. “The producers thought, for entertainment value, it would be funny. Fun for them to cause me stress. It would make good television. “If you look at the audition on YouTube, you’ll see I couldn’t even look up. “But it wasn’t just once. She showed up again in Las Vegas and she showed up the following year.” Abdul adds, “(Then) Fox broadcasting literally went to my house and gave my address away and showed how easy it is to break in.” The 45-year-old also reveals Goodspeed wrote her disturbing letters threatening her life. (Teen Hollywood)

 

Popstar Lily Allen has laid into music rival Katy Perry. Lily Allen has called Katy Perry “crass” in an explosive interview with Capital radio. “I happen to know for a fact that she was an American version of me. She was signed by my label in America as, ‘We need to find something controversial and kooky like Lily Allen.’ And then they found her,” she ranted. “I think the lyrics and stuff are a bit crass. When I met her I was bit frosty with her because someone asked her to describe herself. She’s like, ‘Aha, I’m like a fatter version of Amy Winehouse and a skinner version of Lily Allen!’. It’s like, you’re not English and you don’t write your own songs, shut up!” (Handbag)

 

Rapper DMX is back behind bars again in Miami after he was arrested by federal authorities for allegedly skipping out on a court appearance. The 37-year-old, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a warrant issued by a Phoenix judge after he wasn’t in court Friday. Attorney Charles Kozelka says the entertainer been in and out of rehab in Florida for a couple of weeks. DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was being held at the Miami-Dade County jail. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of drug possession, identity theft and animal cruelty in Arizona. DMX will be returned to Phoenix, where bond is set at $120,000. (Daily Record)

 

The wife of Travis Barker’s assistant sued several aviation companies and the estates of two pilots Tuesday over the South Carolina plane crash that killed her husband earlier this year. Otilia Villar Baker, wife of Chris Baker, filed the suit in Los Angeles Superior court, alleging negligence and wrongful death. The lawsuit was also filed on behalf of the Bakers’ young son, Sebastian. The suit claims the companies contributed to the Sept. 19 crash that also killed the two pilots and Barker’s bodyguard. Barker and musical collaborator Adam Goldstein, known as DJ AM, were severely injured. The suit seeks damages for pain and anguish Baker suffered before his death, loss of earnings, companionship, repayment of funeral and other costs. Barker sued the same companies, which include Clay Lacy Aviation, Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Bombardier Inc., Global Exec Aviation and Inter Travel & Services, last month. His lawsuit faulted the pilots, but did not name their estates as defendants. Otilia Baker’s suit seeks damages from the estates of the two pilots. Their families could not be reached for comment Tuesday night. In response to Barker’s suit, a representative of Clay Lacy said the company merely brokered the fatal flight, while a Goodyear spokesman said the suit was premature because an NTSB investigation hasn’t been completed. Bombardier said it did not respond to pending lawsuits, and representatives of the other companies could not be reached for comment. (Daily Record)

 

Police cleared a woman arrested in the shooting death of actor Mark Ruffalo’s younger brother after being shown evidence that the wound was self-inflicted, the result of playing with a gun, her attorney said Wednesday. Police records confirmed that Shaha Mishaal Adham, 26, left the Beverly Hills jail, where she’d been held without bail since surrendering Monday afternoon on an attempted murder arrest warrant. Attorney Ronald Richards said he presented evidence to detectives during a five-hour meeting Tuesday night that proved Adham did not shoot Scott Ruffalo early Dec. 1. He said Ruffalo’s gunshot wound to the head was self-inflicted – that Adham was essentially a witness to a game of Russian Roulette. “This was an accidental shooting by someone that plays with guns,” Richards said. He credited police with being “more than impartial with the facts.” Richards said Adham, a friend of Scott Ruffalo’s, had gone to the hairdresser’s condo to retrieve keys to her sport utility vehicle, then fled the scene. “A series of wrong decisions starting with her not staying at the scene of the shooting caused an incredible chain reaction of stupidity and bad luck,” Richards said. He said she received poor legal advice from other attorneys before her surrender. Richards said no charges would be pursued against Adham. A police sergeant said more information would be released Wednesday. Another man wanted for questioning, Brian B. Scofield, was released after turning himself in for questioning Monday. Scott Ruffalo, 39, died late Monday after being removed from life support at a Los Angeles hospital, police said Tuesday. His family thanked supporters and announced the creation of a fund in his honor. “Mark Ruffalo and his family deeply appreciate the outpouring of prayers and support during this most difficult time of the passing of Scott Ruffalo, beloved son, brother and husband,” the statement read. The family said the funeral service would be private. Mark Ruffalo, 41, has appeared in films such as “Zodiac,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and this year’s “Blindness.” (Daily Record)

 

 

MUSIC . . .

 

Beyoncé and Solange Knowles have canceled their Beyoncé and Solange: Hope for the Holidays benefit show, citing “irresolvable scheduling conflicts.” The concert to benefit victims of Hurricane Ike was scheduled for yesterday, December 9th, to be televised by FUSE. No word yet on when or even if the show will be rescheduled, but the record label released a statement saying, “Beyoncé and Solange regret the cancellation of their Houston-area holiday concert and urge their fans to support the efforts of The Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund and the Survivor Foundation.” “Irresolvable scheduling conflicts” sounds like a bullshit excuse to us! (Perez Hilton)

 

In need of a good chuckle this morning???? Then check out Kanye West‘s recent blog post about his new album: “THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR MAKING ‘HEARTLESS’ NUMBER ONE ON 106 AND PARK!!!! MY BOY CALLED ME FROM THE A AND TOLD ME IT’S NUMBER ONE DOWN THERE TOO. THIS IS A SONG NOBODY CAN FRONT ON!!! THE BEAT IS ON SOME RZA SHIT AND EVERY LINE COULD MAKE THE ULTIMATE RAP HOOK! I COULD SEE SOMEBODY SAMPLING…. “WE JUST GONE BE ENEMIES!!!” I’VE BEEN HEARING THAT THERE’S PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THIS ALBUM THAT NEVER BOUGHT ONE OF MY ALBUMS BEFORE. I’VE BEEN HEARING THAT STREET NIGGAS LOVE IT! STREET NIGGAS CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THEY LOVE IT! YOU KNOW GIRLS LOVE IT!! EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT FAVORITE!!! RIGHT NOW. ‘PARANOID’ IS MOST LIKELY GONNA BE THE NEXT SINGLE. IT’S NECK AND NECK WITH ‘ROBOCOP!!!’ I’M NOT GONNA RELEASE EITHER FOR AWHILE BECAUSE I WANT ‘HEARTLESS’ AND ‘LOVE LOCKDOWN’ TO SOAK INTO THE CULTURE!! I’M GONNA WALK THIS ALBUM SLOW LIKE A MORE INDEPENDENT APPROACH. I FEEL LIKE A NEW ARTIST. THERE’S ACTUALLY ARGUMENTS AGAIN. IT REMINDS ME OF THE FIRST ALBUM WHEN EVERYBODY SAID I COULDN’T RAP. I LISTENED TO ‘SAY YOU WILL’ LAST NIGHT AT MY HOUSE AND WAS DAAAMN, THIS SONG IS SOOOO DOOOPE!!! I’M A FAN OF WHAT I’VE MADE. WHEN I MADE ‘GRADUATION’ I WASN’T SATISFIED! I FELT LIKE CERTAIN RECORDS WERE KEEPING IT FROM BEING A PLAY IN EVERY ENVIRONMENT ALBUM. I WAS AT THE COOL STORE IN AUSTRALIA CALLED ASSIN THAT CARRIES RICK OWENS, LANVIN, DIOR ECT… THEY TOLD ME THEY PLAY MY NEW ALBUM IN THE STORE. IT WAS SUCH A BIG COMPLIMENT FOR ME TO HAVE SONGS THAT ARE NUMBER ONE ON 106 AND CAN PLAY RIGHT NEXT TO VAMPIRE WEEKEND, SADE OR SILVERCHAIR IN A HIGH END FASHION STORE! IT’S SUCH A TRIUMPH TO HAVE LOVE LOCK DOWN ON RADIO. WHEN IT COMES IN IT DOESN’T SOUND LIKE ANYTHING ELSE EVER MADE IN HISTORY! THIS IS NEW MUSIC! IT MIGHT TAKES SOME GETTING USE TO BUT WHEN IT SET’S IN IT WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE!” (Perez Hilton)

 

Britney Spears is a wanted woman. Oprah Winfrey says she wants Britney Spears to be on her show. Madonna loves working with Spears. And now fans have made the comeback pop princess’ new album, Circus, a hit. So you’d think that fellow pop rocker Katy Perry would jump at the chance to work with Brit, right? Well, actually, no. “She wouldn’t be the girl I would collaborate with necessarily,” Perry said Saturday at KIIS-FM’s Jingle Ball concert outside of L.A. “She’s not on the top of my list. There are other people I’d much rather work with first. I love John Legend’s record. So how about I collaborate with him?” But Perry knows never to say never, explaining she needs some face time with Spears before making any final calls. “I work with people I love,” Perry said. “I only work with them if I love them. If we click, we click, but if we clash, we clash…So I’d have to see. I’d have to meet [Spears].” Meanwhile, Perry is taking the high road when it comes to the Grammys. Much to everyone’s surprise, she received only one nomination: Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her megahit “I Kissed a Girl.” No doubt she should have also gotten noms for Best New Artist and Record of the Year. “This is my first year being up for nominations, so I’m just happy that I even got the one nod,” Perry said. “I mean, I could have been left with no nominations!” (Launch)

 

Conductor Steven Reineke (RYE’-nuh-kee) has been named music director of The New York Pops, the nation’s largest independent pops orchestra specializing in popular music.  Reineke is an established symphonic composer and associate conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. His new job begins Oct. 1, 2009. He succeeds New York Pops founder and former NBC music director Skitch Henderson, who died in 2005. Reineke is a native of Tipp City, Ohio. He conducted the New York Pops’ 25th birthday gala at Carnegie Hall earlier this year, and will lead the orchestra in the annual telecast of the 2009 Macy’s July 4 fireworks on NBC. The New York Pops was founded in 1983 to create greater public appreciation of America’s rich musical heritage. (Launch)

 

Pearl Jam has unearthed a host of unreleased tracks and special surprises from its vaults for a deluxe reissue of its fabled 1991 debut album, “Ten.” Four different editions will be available March 24 from Epic; pre-orders begin today (Dec. 10) at PearlJam.com. Each version includes a digitally remastered version of the original album as well as a completely new remix of the set by longtime producer Brendan O’Brien, who did not work on “Ten” but produced Pearl Jam’s subsequent four albums. Bassist Jeff Ament and designer Andy Fischer teamed to revamp the artwork. The O’Brien disc also includes six previously unreleased songs from the era: early versions of “Breath” and “State of Love and Trust,” “Brother” (with vocals, not the instrumental version from the 2003 rarities collection “Lost Dogs”), “Just a Girl,” “Evil Little Goat” and “2,000 Mile Blues,” a Stevie Ray Vaughan-inspired jam with improvised vocals from frontman Eddie Vedder. Band members have been asking O’Brien to take a crack at a complete remix for years, and he gave the idea a trial run when he remixed the “Ten” tracks “Once,” “Black” and “Alive” for Pearl Jam’s 2004 greatest hits album “Rearviewmirror.” “The original ‘Ten’ sound is what millions of people bought, dug and loved, so I was initially hesitant to mess around with that,” says O’Brien of the album, which has sold 9.58 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and vaulted Pearl Jam to global superstardom. “After years of persistent nudging from the band, I was able to wrap my head around the idea of offering it as a companion piece to the original — giving a fresh take on it, a more direct sound.” The “Legacy” edition of “Ten” adds a DVD of Pearl Jam’s previously unreleased 1992 performance on “MTV Unplugged,” including a never-aired version of “Oceans.” The audio has been remixed in 5.1 surround sound. Fans can also opt for a double-vinyl version featuring the original “Ten” on one LP and O’Brien’s remix on the other. But the package sure to send hardcore fans into a tizzy is the “Super Deluxe Edition,” which features two CDs, a DVD and four vinyl records. It is housed in a linen-covered, slip-cased clamshell box with a replica of an item second to none in Pearl Jam lore. In 1990, when bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard and Mike McCready were getting the nascent Pearl Jam going in Seattle, they recorded three instrumentals to send to the then-unknown Eddie Vedder, who’d been recommended by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons. Vedder, then living in San Diego, overdubbed vocals onto the tape, in the process creating the songs “Alive,” “Once” and “Footsteps” (he was invited to join the band within weeks). Poor quality bootlegs of the demo, dubbed “Momma-Son,” have circulated for years, but the “Super Deluxe Edition” will include a crystal-clear dub of the tape on a replica cassette. In addition, fans will receive Pearl Jam’s previously unreleased Sept. 20, 1992, concert at Seattle’s Magnuson Park (dubbed Drop in the Park) on two vinyl LPs and a replica of Vedder’s composition notebook packed with notes, photos and memorabilia from the “Ten” era. This version will sell for $140. The “Ten” reissue is the first piece of a two-year campaign culminating with the band’s 20th anniversary in 2011. Additional details have yet to be announced. Meanwhile, Pearl Jam is recording its ninth studio album (its first with O’Brien producing since 1998’s “Yield”), which is expected for release next year. (Billboard)

 

Kiss has reversed course and decided to hit the studio next year to record its first new album since 1998’s “Psycho Circus.” Guitarist Paul Stanley will produce. In recent years, bassist Gene Simmons has been vocal about his lack of enthusiasm about making a new album, which he attributes to the state of the business. “The record industry is in such a mess,” he told Billboard in November 2007. “There is nothing in me that wants to go in there and do new music. How are you going to deliver it? How are you going to get paid for it if people can just get it for free?” In 2006, Stanley told Billboard making a new Kiss album in the shadow of the band’s classic repertoire would be a formidable challenge. “The fact is, [fans] may tolerate the new songs, but it’s the old ones you want to hear,” he said. “I think Jimmy Page and Robert Plant found that out. The [Rolling] Stones certainly know it. The Who certainly know it. So unless you’re willing to go into the studio accepting that how your album will be received will never match your expectations, I’m not sure it’s worth the effort.” Stanley admitted complete control would change his mind. “I would consider doing it if I could do it the way I wanted to do it,” he explained, adding that his 2006 solo album “Live To Win” confirmed how he’d “like music to sound that I’m a part of. To do another Kiss album, I would not be willing to compromise my point of view perhaps as much as I have in recent years.” It’s unknown how Kiss will distribute the album, which will feature original members Stanley and Simmons alongside guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer. Following its 35th anniversary tour, which primarily played Europe this summer, Kiss is expected to hit North America at some point in 2009. (Billboard)

 

Madonna is causing “crazy enthusiasm” and “impure thoughts” on her first concert visit to Chile, a prominent retired cardinal complained on Wednesday, as he paused in a tribute to a late dictator to denounce the pop star. Roman Catholic Cardinal Jorge Medina criticized the flamboyant singer during his homily at a Mass in honor of the late dictator Augusto Pinochet, who oversaw the deaths of some 3,200 dissidents during his 1973-1990 rule. “This woman comes here and in an incredibly shameless manner, she provokes a crazy enthusiasm, an enthusiasm of lust, lustful thoughts, impure thoughts,” said Medina, the cardinal who was chosen to announce the election of Pope Benedict XVI. Hundreds of fans spent three days camping outside the National Stadium in Santiago to get good spots for Wednesday’s concert, the first of two. About 60,000 people were expected at each performance. One of those waiting in line, Roberto Lopez, told local reporters that he had quit his job in the southern city of Punta Arenas because his boss hadn’t given him time off to attend the concert. Pinochet died Dec. 10, 2006, at age 91. Medina said that some of those who claim to seek justice for violations of human rights under the dictator are actually seeking revenge. (Daily Record)

 

Blaring from a speaker behind a metal grate in his tiny cell in Iraq, the blistering rock from Nine Inch Nails hit Prisoner No. 200343 like a sonic bludgeon. “Stains like the blood on your teeth,” Trent Reznor snarled over distorted guitars. “Bite. Chew.” The auditory assault went on for days, then weeks, then months at the U.S. military detention center in Iraq. Twenty hours a day. AC/DC. Queen. Pantera. The prisoner, military contractor Donald Vance of Chicago, told The Associated Press he was soon suicidal. The tactic has been common in the U.S. war on terror, with forces systematically using loud music on hundreds of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, then the U.S. military commander in Iraq, authorized it on Sept. 14, 2003, “to create fear, disorient … and prolong capture shock.” Now the detainees aren’t the only ones complaining. Musicians are banding together to demand the U.S. military stop using their songs as weapons. A campaign being launched Wednesday has brought together groups including Massive Attack and musicians such as Tom Morello, who played with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave and is now on a solo tour. It will feature minutes of silence during concerts and festivals, said Chloe Davies of the British law group Reprieve, which represents dozens of Guantanamo Bay detainees and is organizing the campaign. At least Vance, who says he was jailed for reporting illegal arms sales, was used to rock music. For many detainees who grew up in Afghanistan – where music was prohibited under Taliban rule – interrogations by U.S. forces marked their first exposure to the pounding rhythms, played at top volume. The experience was overwhelming for many. Binyam Mohammed, now a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, said men held with him at the CIA’s “Dark Prison” in Afghanistan wound up screaming and smashing their heads against walls, unable to endure more. “There was loud music, (Eminem’s) ‘Slim Shady’ and Dr. Dre for 20 days. I heard this nonstop over and over,” he told his lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith. “The CIA worked on people, including me, day and night for the months before I left. Plenty lost their minds.” Rear Adm. David Thomas, the commander of Guantanamo’s detention center, said the music treatment is not currently used at Guantanamo but added that he could not rule out its use in the future. “I couldn’t speculate and I wouldn’t speculate but I can tell you it doesn’t happen here at Guantanamo and it hasn’t happened since I’ve been here,” Thomas, who has been at Guantanamo for a half-year, told AP. The spokeswoman for Guantanamo’s detention center, Navy Cmdr. Pauline Storum, wouldn’t give details of when and how music has been used at the prison. FBI agents stationed at Guantanamo Bay reported numerous instances in which music was blasted at detainees, saying they were “told such tactics were common there.” According to an FBI memo, one interrogator at Guantanamo Bay bragged he needed only four days to “break” someone by alternating 16 hours of music and lights with four hours of silence and darkness. Ruhal Ahmed, a Briton who was captured in Afghanistan, describes excruciating sessions at Guantanamo Bay. He said his hands were shackled to his feet, which were shackled to the floor, forcing him into a painful squat for periods of up to two days. “You’re in agony,” Ahmed, who was released without charge in 2004, told Reprieve. He said the agony was compounded when music was introduced, because “before you could actually concentrate on something else, try to make yourself focus on some other things in your life that you did before and take that pain away. “It makes you feel like you are going mad,” he said. Not all of the music is hard rock. Christopher Cerf, who wrote music for “Sesame Street,” said he was horrified to learn songs from the children’s TV show were used in interrogations. “I wouldn’t want my music to be a party to that,” he told AP. Bob Singleton, whose song “I Love You” is beloved by legions of preschool Barney fans, wrote in a newspaper opinion column that any music can become unbearable if played loudly for long stretches. “It’s absolutely ludicrous,” he wrote in the Los Angeles Times. “A song that was designed to make little children feel safe and loved was somehow going to threaten the mental state of adults and drive them to the emotional breaking point?” Morello, of Rage Against the Machine, has been especially forceful in denouncing the practice. During a recent concert in San Francisco, he proposed taking revenge on President George W. Bush. “I suggest that they level Guantanamo Bay, but they keep one small cell and they put Bush in there … and they blast some Rage Against the Machine,” he said to whoops and cheers. Some musicians, however, say they’re proud that their music is used in interrogations. Those include bassist Stevie Benton, whose group Drowning Pool has performed in Iraq and recorded one of the interrogators’ favorites, “Bodies.” “People assume we should be offended that somebody in the military thinks our song is annoying enough that played over and over it can psychologically break someone down,” he told Spin magazine. “I take it as an honor to think that perhaps our song could be used to quell another 9/11 attack or something like that.” The band’s record label told AP that Benton did not want to comment further. Instead, the band issued a statement reading: “Drowning Pool is committed to supporting the lives and rights of our troops stationed around the world.” Vance, in a telephone interview from Chicago, said the tactic can make innocent men go mad. According to a lawsuit he has filed, his jailers said he was being held because his employer was suspected of selling weapons to terrorists and insurgents. The U.S. military confirms Vance was jailed but won’t elaborate because of the lawsuit. He said he was locked in an overcooled 9-foot-by-9-foot cell that had a speaker with a metal grate over it. Two large speakers stood in the hallway outside. The music was almost constant, mostly hard rock, he said. “There was a lot of Nine Inch Nails, including ‘March of the Pigs,'” he said. “I couldn’t tell you how many times I heard Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You.'” He wore only a jumpsuit and flip-flops and had no protection from the cold. “I had no blanket or sheet. If I had, I would probably have tried suicide,” he said. “I got to a few points toward the end where I thought, `How can I do this?’ Actively plotting, `How can I get away with it so they don’t stop it?'” Asked to describe the experience, Vance said: “It sort of removes you from you. You can no longer formulate your own thoughts when you’re in an environment like that.” He was released after 97 days. Two years later, he says, “I keep my home very quiet.” (Daily Record)

 

 

MOVIE . . .

 

Batman has a shot at an Academy Award for musical score, after all. The music branch committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has reversed an earlier decision that would have made “The Dark Knight” score ineligible to compete for the Oscar. On Nov. 10, the committee declared the score ineligible because the studio submitted too many names as musical contributors. The committee now has reversed that ruling after getting further information that only two composers, Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, wrote the score. A statement from the academy says nomination ballots and lists of eligible scores have not yet been distributed to branch members, so voting will not be affected by the change. Oscar nominations come out Jan. 22. (Daily Record)

 

Lindsay Lohan and Sean Penn are in discussions about filming a movie together, according to U.S. reports. The Mean Girls star has appeared in a number of flops in recent years, including 2007’s Georgia Rule, and is more famous for her romance with DJ Samantha Ronson. But now the actress looks set to revive her career by starring in a film with acclaimed actor Penn, after the pair were heard discussing their career together with director Gus Van Sant. A source tells New York gossip column PageSix, “Lindsay and Sean were talking about possibly doing a film together. Lindsay seems like she was really into the idea.”  (Teen Hollywood)

 

A naughty dancing scene in new movie Bride Wars had to be cut when Anne Hathaway took it a little too far. The actress decided to have a little fun with her dancing partner, not realizing cameras were still rolling. She explains, “My favorite part of the scene got cut out of the movie. At the end of it I run up to my partner and I did a handstand at his feet and wrapped my legs around his head and pulled myself up and then he grabbed my butt. “I opened my legs wide, into a V, and I said, ‘F**k me!'” Co-star and producer Kate Hudson insists the X-Rated scene will be among the outtakes on the DVD. (Teen Hollywood)

 

Marisa Tomei prepared for her stripper role in The Wrestler by watching Rock of Love With Bret Michaels. Heather, Daisy, Frenchie and friends can be such an inspiration. (Eonline)

 

Cynthia Nixon has put a dampener on rumors that there will be a sequel to the Sex And The City film, insisting that the stars are yet to sign contracts. Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker have both confirmed that a sequel is in the works but Cynthia, who plays Miranda, says fans might be in for a bit of a wait. “We don’t know if it’s coming up. We’re in negotiation. I’m very hopeful, but certainly nothing is for sure. I don’t think anyone’s deals are done,” she said. We were very excited to get to do the first one, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we get to do another one.” (British Glamour)

 

The creators of the new Friday the 13th are obviously hoping to make a killing at the box office. Yeah, that was hokey, but then again, that’s kinda what we think about the latest trailer for a flick that doesn’t seem to have much to do with the original. Which is why, instead of a calling it a remake, the filmmakers prefer to label it with the oh-so-sophisticated-sounding term re-imagining, thereby allowing them to tag on familiar elements from the 1980 horror classic—the creepy music, Crystal Lake and, of course, Jason Vorhees—to what essentially looks to be nothing more than a generic slasher flick conveniently wrapped up in a title that people recognize (though the addition of hottie Jared Padalecki is appreciated). But what say you? Have a look and, um, stab us with your comments below… (Eonline)

 

Betty Thomas has signed on to direct “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel,” Fox 2000 and Regency’s follow-up to the surprise 2007 hit featuring the lovable CGI-animated singing rodents. Although plot details are being kept under wraps, the new movie will introduce the Chipmunks’ female counterparts, the Chipettes.  Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney are returning to respectively voice the parts of troublemaker Alvin, intellectual Simon and chubby Theodore. It is unclear whether Jason Lee is returning. Casting of the Chipettes is under way.  Writer deals are being finalized. Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and Janice Karman are producing. Karen Rosenfelt is executive producing. Erin Siminoff is overseeing for Fox 2000.  The first “Alvin” movie grossed more than $360 million worldwide. Thomas, repped by CAA, most recently helmed “John Tucker Must Die” and worked with animals in “Doctor Dolittle.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Fox Searchlight is greenlighting an intergenerational comedy written and directed by indie darlings Jay and Mark Duplass. The studio is in talks with Marisa Tomei, John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill to star in the film, which will center on a budding romance between a man (Reilly) and woman (Tomei) that the woman’s son (Hill) attempts to foil. The project, which was at one point was called “Safety Man,” follows in the steps of such dramatic romantic comedies as “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” and Searchlight’s own “500 Days of Summer.” The project is expected to begin production in the first half of 2009. The Duplass brothers landed on the map four years ago with “The Puffy Chair,” which became a Sundance sensation and cemented them as part of the mumblecore movement. They subsequently landed deals with Universal and Searchlight. Tomei is drawing awards attention for her role as a sympathetic exotic dancer in “The Wrestler,” Reilly is starring in Universal’s vampire pic “Cirque du Freak,” and Hill has been cast in Ricky Gervais’ directorial debut, “This Side of the Truth.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

SAG leadership has notified its members that strike authorization ballots will be mailed to them on Friday, Jan. 2. Only those of the 120,000-strong membership that are paid up in full at that time can vote on the measure which, if passed, would give the guild’s national board of directors the authority to call a strike. At least 75% of those voting would have to respond “yes” for the measure to pass. Those votes will be tabulated at Integrity Voting Systems in Everett, Wash., on Jan. 23. “SAG members understand that their futures as professional actors are at stake,” SAG national president Alan Rosenberg said, “and I believe that SAG members will evaluate the AMPTP’s June 30 offer, and vote to send us back to the table with the threat of a strike. A ‘yes’ vote sends a strong message that we are serious about fending off rollbacks and getting what is fair for actors in new media.” The two sides in the labor dispute — SAG and the companies, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers — have been at an impasse since July. The participation of a federal mediator in October and November did not bring about a resolution to the prolonged, combative contract negotiations. In waiting until the New Year, SAG leaders expressed a desire to avoid burdening members with the decision over the holidays and to give themselves more time to persuade members of its justification. Among other things, the timing of the vote tabulation means that the Golden Globes, at least, appears safe from any kind of walkout or boycott by movie stars and nominees. The show will take place Jan. 11. Last year’s ceremony was crippled by the actors’ offscreen support of the writers strike. “We will continue our comprehensive education campaign and urge our members to vote yes on the strike authorization,” national executive director and chief negotiator Doug Allen said. “I am confident that members around the country will empower our negotiating team with the leverage and strength of unified Screen Actors Guild members. Our objective remains to get a deal that SAG members will ratify — not to go on strike.” The AMPTP quickly responded with its own statement: “It’s now official: SAG members are going to be asked to bail out a failed negotiating strategy by going on strike during one of the worst economic crises in history. We hope that working actors will study our contract offer carefully and come to the conclusion that no strike can solve the problems that have been created by SAG’s own failed negotiation strategy.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

 

TV . . .

 

What’s so funny about Jay Leno going to primetime? Everything, according to the outgoing Tonight Show host and his late-night replacement, Conan O’Brien. “We’re going to be doing a new show in the fall,” Leno said in his monologue Tuesday. “We’ll start at 10 p.m. right after the last hour of the Today show. And, he added, “As you may have heard there were rumblings that I was leaving NBC and going to ABC, and let me tell you something, those were nothing but rumors started by a disgruntled employee: ME!” NBC announced that Leno will stay with the struggling network and host a new primetime comedy/talk show five nights a week starting in the fall of 2009. “We’re going to try it,” Leno said later in the show. “If it works, great. If it doesn’t, we’ve had a hell of a ride. For the last 17 years, it’s been a privilege to say, ‘Please stay tuned for Conan,’ and I’m glad I’ll be able to do that again.” O’Brien, who is taking over the Tonight Show, opened his late-night show Tuesday by saying, “I saw something on the front page of the paper that absolutely shocked me. I was stunned and I have to say I didn’t see this coming and I just had to share it with you for a second.” O’Brien opened a New York Post with the Leno news on the front page and then a New York Daily News, also with the Leno headline, and complained the two papers gave different weather forecasts. “Let’s get our stories straight here, people! This is insanity!” he said. On a more serious note, O’Brien said, “I’ve talked a lot about this with Jay. I am thrilled. I am absolutely thrilled that Jay is staying at NBC. He has been my lead-in on this program for 16 seasons. He is a fantastic lead-in. He is a huge part of my success. I am indebted to Jay Leno. And I love the idea that that relationship is going to continue.” After congratulating Leno, he added, “Also I’ve talked it over with my producer and that means I can keep doing my Jay Leno impression.” (People)

 

David Letterman is having a good chuckle over Jay Leno‘s new primetime comedy/talk show. “Welcome to the Late Show. Still at 11:35,” Letterman deadpanned on his show Tuesday night. Said CBS’ Craig Ferguson, “Jay’s getting a little older now. So 10 p.m. is kinda ‘late night’ for Jay.” Leno also joked about his new show, which will air five nights a week at 10 p.m. starting in the fall of 2009 “Guys, leave those boxes. We’re not going anywhere,” he said, adding that reports about a possible network move “were nothing but rumors started by a disgruntled employee: me.” Leno teased that Letterman would try to one-up him with a scheduling change by having a show at 9:59 p.m.  “Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in,” Leno jokingly told reporters at a press conference Tuesday. “Originally, I wasn’t going to stay with NBC. But my parents said, ‘Whatever you do in life, always try to come in 4th.'” The new show will feature Leno’s opening monologue and sketches like “Headlines” and “Jaywalking.” Bandleader Kevin Eubanks will also return. (US Weekly)

 

Turner Sports, The National Basketball Association and Cinedigm Digital Cinema will team up to broadcast TNT’s coverage of “NBA All-Star Saturday Night” in live 3-D to 80 digitally equipped theaters across the United States. Scheduled for Feb. 14, the broadcast will play on as many as 160 screens in 35 states. The event represents the first-ever fully marketed deal to deliver an NBA sporting event to the public in live 3-D.  Participating theater chains include Carmike Cinemas, Celebration Cinemas, Cinema West, Emagine, Galaxy Theatres, Marquee Cinemas, MJR, NCG, Rave Motion Pictures, Showcase and UltraStar Cinema. “NBA All-Star Saturday Night,” which also be broadcast live on TNT at 8 p.m. ET will feature the league’s top-players in such events as: Haeir Shooting Stars, with San Antonio players David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Becky Hammon; PlayStation Skills Challenge, with Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams; Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, with Toronto Raptors forward Jason Kapono; and Sprite Slam Dunk, with Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. The event will employ Cinedigm’s CineLive technology, which enables live 2-D and 3-D streaming currently to more than 80 theater complexes with more than 160 3-D screens in the U.S. Cinedigm expects to further expand its CineLive network throughout 2009 to at least 150 locations. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Martha Plimpton, Kiele Sanchez, Eddie Shin, Nate Torrence and Dreama Walker have joined Matthew Perry on his dark comedy Showtime pilot “The End of Steve.” The Sony TV project, penned and executive produced by Peter Tolan and Perry, stars Perry as Steve, an egomaniacal local talk show host who is on a reluctant path to redemption. Plimpton will play he show’s producer. Sanchez will play his pretty co-host, by whom he is completely entranced. Shin (“That ’80s Show”) will play Bob Hu, Steve’s boss. Torrence, who co-starred with Perry on NBC’s “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” will play Nathan, Steve’s assistant. Walker (“Gossip Girl”) will play the hot teen daughter of the manager of the apartment complex where Steve lives. Tony-nomineted Plimpton next stars on stage opposite Stockard Channing in the revival of “Pal Joey.” She is repped by Innovative and manager Jill Littman. Sanchez, who recurred on “Samantha Who?” and “Lost,” is repped by Gersh and Artistry. Shin is repped by APA and Meghan Schumacher Management. Torrence is repped by CAA and Messina Baker. Walker is repped by Gersh. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

After a gloomy assessment by rival CEO Jeff Zucker and NBC’s plan to give five hours of primetime to Jay Leno, CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves said that there is nothing wrong with network TV’s model. After those comments made at the UBS annual media conference two days ago by Zucker, Moonves said that CBS was having a good season in the ratings and would be doing better with advertising revenue if it weren’t for the bad economy. “I’m here to tell you the model ain’t broke,” Moonves said at the UBS conference late Wednesday morning. “You can still make a lot of money in network television. We like 10 o’clock shows.” Moonves’ comments drew a chuckle from the analysts and investors. He later brought up Leno and NBC directly, asking the analyst who was conducting the Q&A if he was going to ask about it. He did. “For NBC, probably a very good move,” Moonves said. “For us, it wouldn’t be a good move. We are winning four of five nights at 10 p.m.” And he didn’t seem worried by the possibility that Leno’s show could be a big hit.  “I would bet anyone who would like to bet that ‘CSI: Miami’ will beat Jay by a lot,” Moonves said. “Remember: by a lot.” He said also that CBS’ dramas not only rate well but they also provide a good lead-in to the late local news and also since they own the content, gives CBS “about 12 different ways” to monetize that content after its first run. It’s true that CBS is doing much better than the rest of the network, only slightly lower year over year. CBS is tops in viewers and 25-54 this season to date, and tied in adults 18-49, the best showing CBS has had in two decades. He said that CBS at least had no issues with makegoods. “Certain people are having audience erosion, and certain people aren’t,” Moonves said. “We aren’t.”  Moonves touted CBS’ strong schedule, where only one show has been canceled. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Who says network television can’t create new hits? CBS’ “The Mentalist” topped the prime-time ratings last week for the first time. The series with Simon Baker solving crimes using astute powers of observation was seen by 18.74 million people last week, its biggest audience ever, according to Nielsen Media Research. It was the first time since May 2005 that a freshman series has led Nielsen’s weekly prime-time ratings, when “Desperate Housewives” did it for ABC. The departure of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” which competed with “The Mentalist,” helped drive new viewers to the CBS show. Three CBS dramas were the most-watched programs last week. Barbara Walters reached Nielsen’s top 10 with her annual special focusing on the year’s most fascinating people, with President-elect Barack Obama taking the top spot. It was the best showing for this annual special since 2004. For the week, CBS led with an average of 10.9 million prime-time viewers (6.9 rating, 11 share). ABC had 8.6 million (5.4, 9), Fox 7.7 million (4.7, 7), NBC 7.5 million (4.8, 8), My Network TV 2 million (1.2, 2), the CW 1.7 million (1.1, 2) and ION Television 790,000 (0.5, 1). Among the Spanish-language networks, Univision led with a prime-time average of 4 million viewers (2.0 rating, 3 share). Telemundo had 1.2 million viewers (0.6, 1), TeleFutura 510,000 (0.3, 0) and Azteca 280,000 (0.2, 0). NBC’s “Nightly News” won the evening news ratings race with an average of 9.4 million viewers last week (6.3 rating, 12 share). ABC’s “World News” was second with 8.8 million (5.9, 11) and the “CBS Evening News” had 6.8 million viewers (4.6, 8). A ratings point represents 1,145,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation’s estimated 114.5 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show. For the week of Dec 1-7, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: “The Mentalist,” CBS, 18.74 million; “NCIS,” CBS, 18.52 million; “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS, 17.48 million; “The OT,” Fox, 16.22 million; “Desperate Housewives,” ABC, 16.09 million; “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC, 15.28 million; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 13.79 million; “Two and a Half Men,” CBS, 13.63 million; NFL Football: Washington at Baltimore, NBC, 13.29 million; “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of ’08,” ABC, 13.19 million. (Daily Record)

 

A British television channel plans to show a film about an American man who commits assisted suicide at a Swiss clinic, reigniting debate over an issue that strongly divides opinion in Britain. Opponents called the broadcast a ratings-grabbing stunt. Feelings about the issue ran so high Wednesday that Prime Minister Gordon Brown was asked about the program in Parliament. The 2006 suicide of 59-year-old Craig Ewert was to be shown Wednesday evening in a documentary on the Sky Real Lives digital channel. Ewert had degenerative motor neuron disease and died at a clinic in Zurich run by the assisted suicide group Dignitas, with his wife Mary at his side. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland in some circumstances and organizations there provide suicide services. Ewert lived in Britain, where assisted suicide and euthanasia are banned. The film by Oscar-winning documentary maker John Zaritsky has been screened at film festivals around the world and was shown on Canadian television last year. But it was attracting controversy in Britain, where previous programs on the topic have stopped short of showing the actual moment of death. Originally called “The Suicide Tourist,” the film has been titled “Right to Die?” for its British broadcast. Peter Saunders of the anti-euthanasia lobby group Care Not Killing said the decision to show Ewert’s death was a “cynical attempt to boost television ratings.” Lawmaker Phil Willis, who represents Ewert’s home town of Harrogate in northern England, accused the film of promoting assisted suicide. “While I have huge sympathy for Mary Ewert and the rest of the family and indeed the great courage of Craig Ewert, their private decisions – I do not think – should be made the subject of a public film which is available to everybody,” Willis said. In the House of Commons, Willis asked the prime minister whether the program was “in the public interest or … simply distasteful voyeurism.” Brown said it was “very important these issues are dealt with sensitively and without sensationalism, and I hope broadcasters remember they have a wider duty to the general public.” “Of course, it will be a matter for the television watchdogs when the broadcast is shown,” Brown told lawmakers in the House of Commons. The film shows Ewert, a former computer science lecturer from Chicago, traveling to Switzerland with his wife. “If I go through with it, I die as I must at some point,” Ewert says in the film. “If I don’t go through with it, my choice is essentially to suffer, and to inflict suffering on my family, and then die.” Later, Ewert is shown drinking sedatives and turning off his ventilator. Ewert’s widow said she was “very happy” with the film. Writing in The Independent newspaper, Mary Ewert said her husband wanted his death recorded and shown “because when death is hidden and private, people don’t face their fears about it.” Zaritsky said it was important to show the moment of death to counteract claims “that the death was unpleasant or cruel or wasn’t even done willingly.” “By putting it out there, and putting it out there in its entirety, people can judge for themselves,” said Zaritsky, who won an Academy Award in 1982 for his documentary “Just Another Missing Kid.” British law bans “aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring” suicide, but courts have recently been reluctant to convict people who help loved ones to end their lives. On Tuesday, state prosecutors said they would not charge the parents of 23-year-old Daniel James, who also died at a Swiss Dignitas clinic in September. James was paralyzed from the chest down after an accident while playing rugby. Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said there was enough evidence to charge his parents, Mark and Julie James, but a prosecution would not be in the public interest. Starmer said it was “very unlikely” a court would send James’ parents to prison. (Daily Record)

 

Gay rights groups charged Wednesday that Italy’s state television censored Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” when it aired the Oscar-winning movie by cutting scenes of gay sex. Activists protested that RAI TV would never have dropped similar scenes had they involved a heterosexual couple, and politicians called for the incident to be discussed in parliament. RAI said it had aired the cut version by mistake. “Brokeback Mountain” is a cowboy romance about two ranch-hand buddies who start an affair when they meet on the fictional mountain in the 1960s. The 2005 movie won three Oscars, including the best director award for Lee, as well as the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. RAI’s second channel aired the film late Monday cutting out a sex scene and a sequence showing a kiss between the lead characters, played by the late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. “I don’t believe it was an oversight, I believe it was preventive censorship,” said gay rights advocate and former lawmaker Vladimir Luxuria. In an interview with La Repubblica daily, Luxuria said cutting the key scenes was “like showing the Mona Lisa without its head.” RAI said in a statement the film had arrived from the distributor already cut so that it could be shown in prime time. When it was decided to air it late at night, no one checked for the uncut version, it said. RAI pledged to show the complete movie soon. Some commentators and politicians were not satisfied, saying the cuts would not have been justified even if the film had been aired earlier. “It is grotesque that RAI censored scenes that have the same content as those seen in most prime-time movies,” Benedetto Della Vedova, a conservative lawmaker, was quoted as saying by the Corriere della Sera newspaper. Luigi Vimercati, a center-left lawmaker, told Corriere he would take up the issue in parliament. In overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Italy, skimpily dressed women are a fixture on many TV programs, while scenes of sex and violence in movies are generally left untouched. Massimo Gramellini, a top commentator for La Stampa daily, wrote in a front-page editorial: “I would like to understand why a kiss between two gays … should offend our sensibilities more than scenes of heterosexual sex or bloodthirsty violence.” (Daily Record)

 

 

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . .  (Mike Butts Creative)

 

Q.  We pass by these every day and the average age is 24 years. Age of what?

            A.  Telephone poles

 

 

TODAY’S QUOTE (Irish Proverb)

 

“YOU WILL NEVER PLOUGH A FIELD IF YOU ONLY TURN IT OVER IN YOUR MIND.”

 

 

MIND BOGGLERS . . .  (QuickTrivia)

 

Q.  What Capri-pants-wearing role did Mary Tyler Moore get on the recommendation of TV legend Danny Thomas?

            A.  Laura Petrie  ****

            B.  Mary Richards

            C.  Gidget

            D.  The Flying Nun

 

Q.  Who was the oldest member of the Beatles?

            A.  Ringo Starr  ****

            B.  George Harrison

            C.  Paul McCartney

            D.  John Lennon

 

Q.  What is the actual name of the Christmas poem Clement Clark Moore had published in 1823?

            A.  A visit from Saint Nicholas  ****

            B.  Twas the Night Before Christmas

            C.  Not a creature was stirring

            D.  Not even a mouse

 

Q.  Mary Edwards Walker, the first female surgeon in the US Army, is also the only female winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor. In which war did she serve?

            A.  Civil War  ****

            B.  War of 1812

            C.  Vietnam War

            D.  World War II

 

Q.  Name the Zeppelin song containing these lyrics: “Do you remember mama, when I knocked upon your door”?

            A.  Down By The Seaside

            B.  Black Dog

            C.  I’m Gonna Crawl

            D.  Since I’ve Been Loving You  ****  (From the album “Led Zeppelin III”)

 

Q.  What is the correct name of Bangkok?

            A.  Phitsanulok

            B.  Tak

            C.  Krung Thep  ****

            D.  Ban Pong

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

 

NEW(ER) SECRET FLIGHTS:

 

You may have heard of something called secret flights: these are unusual routes flown by airlines that you would never expect. And in return, you may have a much better flying experience. Want to fly to Europe in style? Indian airline Jet Airways flies from Toronto, New York or New Jersey—non-stop— to Brussels. Flying from Los Angeles to London usually means a layover in New York. But not if you fly Air New Zealand, which has a daily non-stop flight on its way from Auckland.  If you want to get from New York to Frankfurt, sure you could take Lufthansa, Delta or Continental. But you can also fly the award-winning Singapore Airlines. Foreign carriers often provide better customer service, more comfortable seating, and better food than U.S. carriers on the same route. And because these flights are less known, you may find fewer crowds and lower prices.

 

(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.)

 

 

MIKE BUTTS CREATIVE . . .

 

A CHRISTMAS STORY: J

 

MS JONES WAS A NICE TEACHER AND SHE WAS CURIOUS HOW HER STUDENTS CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS. SO SHE CALLED ON YOUNG PATRICK

MURPHY AND ASKED HIM HOW HIS FAMILY CELEBRATED?

 

THE BOY SAID, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS GO TO MIDNIGHT MASS—WE COME HOME VERY LATE –WE SING HYMNS—HANG OUR STOCKINGS,

LEAVE PIES FOR FATHER CHRISTMAS AND GO TO BED!

 

THEN MS. JONES ASKED JIMMY BROWN HOW HIS FAMILY CELEBRATED? JIMMY SAID “WE ALL GO TO CHURCH—WE ALL SING CAROLS—LEAVE

COOKIES AND MILK FOR SANTA—SAY OUR PRAYERS– HANG OUR STOCKINGS AND GO TO BED AND WAIT FOR SANTA.

 

MS. JONES REALIZED SHE HAD A JEWISH BOY IN CLASS AND DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE HIM OUT SO SHE ASKED—ISAAC, HOW DOES YOUR FAMILY CELEBRATE? ISAAC SAID, WELL MS. JONES—IT’S THE SAME EVERY YEAR—DAD COMES HOME—WE ALL PILE IN THE ROLLS ROYCE—DRIVE TO HIS

TOY FACTORY—GO INSIDE AND SEE ALL THE EMPTY BOXES –SING WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS-AND GO TO THE BAHAMAS!!!

 

 

REAL STOOPIT CROOK NEWZ:

 

JEAN ETIENNE IS A STOOPIT CROOK—HE WAS ARRESTED FOR SHOPLIFTING—AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT. BUT HIS DUMBEST MOVE WAS WHEN

HE TRIED TO PAY HIS BAIL WITH COUNTERFEIT MONEY.

 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT REILLY SAID, IT COULD’VE BEEN THE FACT THAT THE WATERMARK WAS MISSING—THE INK WAS ALL WRONG OR MAYBE

IT WAS THAT BOTH $100 DOLLAR BILLS HAD THE EXACT SAME SERIAL NUMBERS THAT TIPPED ME OFF!  ETIENNE WAS LOOKING AT PROBATION..NOW

WE’RE TALKING 7 YEARS IN A FEDERAL PEN!!

 

 

BIRTHDAYS . . .

 

—1913  Producer Carlo Ponti (d. 1-10-2007)

—1923  Actress Betsy Blair

—1926  Singer Big Mama Thornton (d.)

—1931  Actress/Singer Rita Moreno (The Four Seasons)

—1935  Actor Ron Carey (d. 1-16-2007)

—1940  Musician David Gates (Bread) (“Diary”)

—1940  Politician/Activist Tom Hayden (Jane Fonda’s Ex-husband)

—1941  J. Frank Wilson (“Last Kiss”)

—1943  Actress Donna Mills (“Abby” Knots Landing)

—1944  Singer Brenda Lee (“I’m Sorry”)

—1944  Keyboardist Booker T. Jones (Booker T. & The MG’s)

—1949  Actress Teri Garr (Tootsie)

—1950  Heiress Christina Onassis (d. 11-19-1988)

—1952  Filmmaker Susan Seidelman (Desperately Seeking Susan)

—1953  Actress Bess Armstrong (Married People)

—1954  Musician Jermaine Jackson (Jackson 5) (“ABC”)

—1958  Musician Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue)

—1962  Singer Curtis Williams

¾1966  Actor Gary Dourdan (CSI)

¾1968  Actress Monique (The Parkers)

¾1979  Actor Rider Strong (Boy Meets World)

 

 

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

 

—1816  Indiana became the 19^th state. The state capital is Indianapolis, their state flower is peony.

—1930  A refugee from Nazi anti-Semitism arrived on U.S. shores, with the secret which would ultimately lead to victory in World War II and, the nuclear age: Albert Einstein.

—1936  King Edward VIII of Great Britain abdicated his throne, saying he could not continue to discharge his duties as king, “without the help and support of the woman I love,” twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Warfield Simpson. He married her the following June.

—1946  Hank Williams begins his first recording session.

—1946  The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established.

—1953  KTVA, Channel 11 in Anchorage, Alaska, signed on the air becoming Alaska’s first broadcast station.

—1957  Jerry Lee Lewis secretly weds his 13-year old cousin Myra Brown; however, the news soon leaks and ensuing controversy severely hurts his career.

—1961  President John F. Kennedy sent the first direct U.S. military aid to South Viet Nam — two helicopter companies.

—1964  Sam Cooke is shot and killed by a LA Hotel Manager in an incident involving a woman he had picked up at a party. She claimed he was attempting to rape her. Court later rules justifiable homicide. Cooke was only 29.

—1970  John Lennon’s first solo album “Plastic Ono Band,” is released in Britain.

—1972  Then quintet Genesis plays its first US concert in Massachusetts at Brandeis University.

—1976  Ace Frehley (Kiss) is almost electrocuted after touching a short circuited light. After being carried off stage, he returns ten minutes later to finish the show in Florida.

—1977  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, after losing 26 consecutive games, won their first game, defeating New Orleans.

—1980  Series premier of “Magnum PI” on CBS starring Tom Selleck.

—1985  In the biggest non-oil corporate merger ever, up until that time, G.E. agreed to buy out NBC for $6.28 billion.

¾1990  Ivana Trump (b. 2-20-1949) was divorced from Donald Trump after 12 years of marriage. They have 3 children together, Donald Jr, Ivanka, Eric Trump.

 ¾2006  Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bolden died in Memphis, TN on this date at the age of 116.  She was the oldest living person in the world at the time of her death.  She had 75 great-great-great-great grandchildren.

 

 

RADIO ONLINE® DAILY SHOW PREP™ . . .

 

ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1719, the first recorded sighting of the Aurora Borealis took place. Of course, back then, it was recorded in black and white.

In 1816, Indiana became our 19th state. A guy named Jonathon Jennings gets credit for leading the drive for statehood, thus earning him the name “Hoosier Daddy!”

In 1892, the very first basketball game was played.

·         The game was in its early form. They soon discovered they needed a “no tackling rule” and to get rid of the bats.

·         Until then, it had been pretty much played in closets, which made it tough to get a shot off.

On this date in 1953, Alaska got it’s very first television station. The first program shown on Alaskan television? “Nome Improvement.”

In 1975, the cost of a U.S. postage stamp went up… to 13 cents. Now that wouldn’t even get your letter a third of the way there!

TODAY IS

Mo’nique is 40 today. That’s how she spells her name: Mo, then an apostrophe, then nique. Does that make nique her last name? Does she have a brother named Hugh and a sister named Clin? Okay, now I’m thinking too much.

Jermaine Jackson turns 54 today. Michael Jackson is his younger brother… uh, or is it sister?

The original “roll in ze hay” girl, Terri Garr, turns 59 today.

David Gates, who led the group “Bread” through the 60s and early 70s is now in the same area himself: 68. For a while, Bread was hot… then, they went stale.

Jack Frost Day — In “The Christmas Song,” what is Jack Frost doing to your nose?” (“Nipping!”)

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

·         Tough times on Broadway: “Grease,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Hairspray” and “Monty Python’s Spamalot” will all close after the holiday season.

·         Britney Spears’ latest CD, “Circus,” is #1 on the album charts. Estimates have the record selling as many as 500,000 copies in its first week of release.

·         Character actor Robert Prosky has died at age 77. His was a face seen in lots of movies like “Mrs. Doubtfire” to TV’s “Hill Street Blues.”

·         Trista Sutter and her firefighter husband, Ryan, are having a baby girl, due next April.

·         Jennifer Hudson will get back to work next week, working on a video, for the first time since the tragic death of her family members.

·         One more visit from Amy Poehler on Saturday Night Live this weekend before she officially takes off for her new series.

·         Rapper DMX is behind bars again in Miami after he was arrested by federal authorities for allegedly skipping out on a court appearance.

·         T.R. Knight has asked to be released from his contract and get off “Grey’s Anatomy.”

·         Yes that was Ellen Degeneres and Britney Spears dressed up in Victorian clothes and caroling in L.A. last week. They were filming a big for Ellen’s December 16th show.

·         Paula Abdul says Fox and “American Idol” producers knew Paula Goodspeed had stalked her, and allowed the woman to audition for the show anyway.

·         Oscar Meyer is accepting resumes until the end of January for one-year spots as Hotdoggers: drivers for the one of the official Oscar Meyer Wiener-mobiles.

·         Even the NFL is facing hard times and is trimming 14% of the staff at its headquarters.

·         Actor John Schneider’s SUV was stolen and later recovered. But missing are the two puppies he had bought to give to his kids for Christmas.

·         Police cleared a woman arrested in the shooting death of actor Mark Ruffalo’s younger brother after being shown evidence that the wound was self-inflicted, as they were playing Russian Roulette.

·         What’s Brad getting from Angelina on his upcoming 45th birthday? A $12,000 Ducati Monster 1100S titanium motorcycle.

·         Toni Braxton had a good excuse for not dancing on the finale of “Dancing With the Stars” last month: she had a benign tumor removed from her breast the week before.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

A survey by TheLadders.com reveals that 36% of U.S. bosses have issued a formal warning for swearing, and 6% have actually fired an employee for swearing. The survey also found that 81.2% of senior executives find a foul-mouthed colleague unacceptable to work alongside in the office. Nearly 100% of the survey respondents believed that the idea of office etiquette does exist and the majority (69.7%) said they would fire an employee for bad office manners. Of managers who have fired employees for office etiquette offenses, the top five most common causes were:

1.      Bad language, 38.4%

2.      Excessive workplace gossip, 36.5%

3.      Drinking on the job, 35.2%

4.      Leaving the office without telling anyone, 33.6%

5.      Too many personal calls, 28%

When asked to rate the worst affronts to office etiquette:

1.      Eating someone else’s food from the fridge, 97.8%

2.      Bad hygiene, 95.6%

3.      Bad habits, 88.2%

4.      Drinking on the job, 85.7%

5.      Wastefulness with paper, 82%

6.      Cooking smelly food in the office microwave, 74.1%

7.      Sneaking peeks at the BlackBerry in meetings, 63.5%

When men take risky gambles with money, they aren’t just thinking about dollar signs. Turns out, they’re also thinking about sex. That’s the word from a new study by researchers at Northwestern University and Stanford University who say that when a man sees erotic photographs, it lights up the same part of the brain as when he takes big financial risks. Researchers found that when excited by erotic images, the 15 heterosexual men in this study were far more likely to bet high on a random chance game that would earn them either a dollar or a dime.

An Entertainment Weekly online poll asked, “What show’s January return are you most looking forward to?”

·         48% said “Lost”

·         13% said “24”

·         12% said “Battlestar Galactica”

·         12% said “American Idol”

·         10% said “Scrubs”

·         5% said “Big Love”

Fathers are likely to pass their good looks down to their daughters but their sons are on their own when it comes to diving into the gene pool. That’s the findings of a study that shows both parents influence the beauty of daughters, but male attractiveness is not hereditary. “We checked to see if male and female facial traits are inherited,” the authors write in an article published in the journal Animal Behavior. “For the male line, we find facial masculine dads have masculine sons. But we didn’t find evidence that facial attractiveness is passed down from father to son.” The theory implies it’s not unusual for attractive parents to produce a beautiful daughter while failing to pass the same good looks to a son, and for a good looking dad to pass his striking appearance to a daughter, regardless of the beauty of the mother.

According to a survey conducted by Blockbuster, movie lovers chose Tim Allen’s portrayal in “The Santa Clause” as their favorite “nice” on-screen Santa. They chose Billy Bob Thornton’s anti-Claus in “Bad Santa” as their favorite version of a less jolly old elf.

America’s Favorite Nice Santas

·         The Santa Clause (played by Tim Allen), 35%

·         Miracle on 34th Street (played by Edmund Gwenn), 22%

·         Elf (played by Edward Asner), 14%

·         Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (voiceover by Stan Francis), 10%

·         Polar Express (voiceover by Tom Hanks), 10%

American’s Favorite Naughty Santas

·         Bad Santa (played by Billy Bob Thornton), 33%

·         Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (played by Jim Carrey), 27%

·         How The Grinch Stole Christmas (voice-over by Boris Karloff), 20%

·         A Christmas Story (played by Jeff Gillen), 13%

·         Trading Places (played by Dan Akroyd), 5%

Watching your finances like everyone else? Pull out the greenbacks and put away the plastic. People spend less when they pay cash than when they use credit cards. Why? It’s harder to part with actual bills, which is why people who use credit cards typically buy more, according to a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

PHONE TOPICS

·         Ever win big money gambling?

·         What did you find in your dead relative’s house after they died? (You won’t believe the stuff you’ll get on this topic.)

·         What do you have in your desk that some people might think is weird?

·         What do you like to hear first, good news or bad news?

·         Who was your first celebrity crush?

·         He’s 50, I’m 21. Will it work out?

·         Do you spank your kids?

·         What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done to get even with an ex?

·         Ways your parents still embarrass you?

·         Complete the sentence, “A woman looks best when she’s wearing _____.”

·         What is the most you have ever eaten?

·         Ask listeners to call in an create the ultimate man using various body parts from celebrities.

·         The most embarrassing thing a parent did while you were growing up?

·         Is there anything you refuse to buy at a grocery store?

·         What are “musts” when it comes to Christmas stockings?

Ooga Ooga! New research show that men overspend more than women do. Why? To attract women. Yes. Their maxed-out credit cards and mega-purchases have been tied to their desire to attract mates. And that’s not all the study found. The biggest male spenders in the survey were found to have the highest number of reported past partners and desired the most future partners. The finding, detailed in the current issue of the journal Evolutionary Psychology, did not hold with women. Does your man overspend? Is it to impress you ladies?

Ladies, at what age do you, or did you feel, the “sexiest”? A new study has found that women feel most sexy at the age of 34. The survey also revealed that middle-aged women have half as much sex as they did when they were younger – in fact the researchers found that that on average women aged 45 to 60 have sex 4.5 times a month, compared to 10.4 times a month in their 20s and 30s.

According to a new survey conducted by the insurance company Admiral, taxi drivers are the rudest people in the world. But don’t feel left out van drivers and teenagers. You’re second and third on the list. Which professionals are by far the worst drivers?

Which car color is the coolest? DuPont has awarded the top car color for 2008. It once again is white. When it comes to choosing a car color, the majority of people go with the white paint job. Now, white and white pearl combined to score 20 percent of the North America market, with black and “black effect” at 17 percent and silver just a fraction behind.

Are British women easy? According to a new survey, British women have more sexual partners in their lives than other women around the world. They average nine lovers by the age of 21. Most women lost their virginity by the age of 16.

Do you have a Christmas Joke? Here are some from people you may know:

·         “The one thing women don’t want to find in their stockings on Christmas morning is their husband.” -Joan Rivers

·         “I was so poor growing up, if I hadn’t been a boy I’d have had nothing to play with on Christmas Day.” -Rodney Dangerfield

·         “Do you do this with Christmas tree lights? You have a string of them and one bulb is dead and you flick the bulb with your finger to get it to light up? They do the same thing with George Bush before a debate.” -Jay Leno

·         “I saw a guy driving down Hollywood Boulevard with a tree on his bumper and I said: ‘Getting ready for Christmas?’ He said: ‘No, teaching the wife how to drive.'” -Bob Hope

·         “At the office party you’re supposed to sit naked on top of the photocopier, not the shredder.” -David Letterman

·         “Roses are reddish, violets are bluish, if it wasn’t for Christmas, we’d all be Jewish.” -Benny Hill

·         “Christmas is a time for remembering. So that’s me f***ed.” -Ozzy Osbourne

Talked about cell phones and where people have seen other people use them where they felt it was inappropriate — church, in line at the checkout, at the movies, etc. Do Americans feel that anywhere is there private living room where they can chat on the phone about anything in public?

We got going on divorces and how to handle it. We had the “experts'” advice and then took calls from people who’ve been there and done that. It was funny how many women said, “Whatever you do, don’t jump into another relationship right away.”

What the heck is the logic behind wearing pajamas? Besides warmth, is there any logical reason for clothing made specifically for sleeping? Or are you wearing them mostly for modesty? Phoner: How many listening that sleep naked? Find out. Does your mate have any sleeping habits that drive you up the wall? Tell us about it.

Have you ever had to cram 2 weeks of project making into 1 night for your kid? Most parents have had to do this and it is a tense situation to say the least. And the follow up question, “Have you ever been caught by the teacher doing your kids school work?” I bet you get calls! We did.

We talked about lopsided gifts. This is when you buy your significant other a really extravagant gift and they bought you something worth $5. We had great stories. One was a guy buying his girlfriend a promise ring and she bought him a hair brush.

What is the secret to getting a solid 7 to 8 hours of sleep? Head for the kitchen and enjoy one or two of these 10 foods. They relax tense muscles, quiet buzzing minds, and/or get calming, sleep-inducing hormones – serotonin and melatonin – flowing. Yawning yet? Here are some foods that are good bedtime foods (from Yahoo Food):

·         Bananas. They’re practically a sleeping pill in a peel. In addition to a bit of soothing melatonin and serotonin, bananas contain magnesium, a muscle relaxant.

·         Chamomile tea. The reason chamomile is such a staple of bedtime tea blends is its mild sedating effect.

·         Warm milk. It’s not a myth. Milk has some tryptophan – an amino acid that has a sedative – like effect – and calcium, which helps the brain use tryptophan.

·         Honey. Drizzle a little in your warm milk or herb tea. Lots of sugar is stimulating, but a little glucose tells your brain to turn off orexin, a recently discovered neurotransmitter that’s linked to alertness.

·         Potatoes. A small baked spud won’t overwhelm your GI tract, and it clears away acids that can interfere with yawn-inducing tryptophan.

·         Oatmeal. Oats are a rich source of sleep – inviting melatonin, and a small bowl of warm cereal with a splash of maple syrup is cozy – plus if you’ve got the munchies, it’s filling too.

·         Almonds. A handful of these heart-healthy nuts can be snooze-inducing, as they contain both tryptophan and a nice dose of muscle-relaxing magnesium.

·         Flaxseeds. When life goes awry and feeling down is keeping you up, try sprinkling 2 tablespoons of these healthy little seeds on your bedtime oatmeal.

·         Whole-wheat bread. A slice of toast with your tea and honey will release insulin, which helps tryptophan get to your brain, where it’s converted to serotonin and quietly murmurs “time to sleep.”

·         Turkey. It’s the most famous source of tryptophan, credited with all those Thanksgiving naps. But that’s actually modern folklore. Tryptophan works when your stomach’s basically empty, not overstuffed, and when there are some carbs around, not tons of protein.

You no longer need to be as sick as a dog to take time off work – we hear that some companies are allowing employees to work from home or take days off to look after unwell pets. Hasn’t pet care gone too far? Taking the day off for a sick pet? What’s next, your company will be covering them on your family health insurance plan? My co-host thinks it’s a great idea. What do your people say?

My partner is a severe nut when it comes to grammar. She has a Yahoo Personals ad going on and we read the responses from the boys. She loses her mind if they spell wrong or use words like what not, do what, and such. I do it on purpose, use words that don’t exist just to get her going.

I become very irritated by my co-host and how she sings along to songs even if she doesn’t know the words. So this started an on air confession about what each host does that annoys them. So we then decided to ask for people from our audience that has stories on some of their pet peeves. Some of the bad habits we heard about were people chewing their food too loudly, popping gum, and breathing heavy. This was a very easy bit to come about and it ended up being pretty exciting.

Ever been down with a bad cold and have to still go on with all your plans? Work, taking care of kids? Even worse, handling a huge presentation to a client. Nothing’s worse than not getting time in bed to recover. A lot of stories about how life goes on, even when you are sick!

What over the counter items are you addicted to? It is cold/flu and allergy season and lots of calls about those nasal sprays like Afrin. Use more than 3 days and your nose absolutely won’t work without it! Also heard about lip balm, like Carmex. Totally addictive! And tons of calls on caffeine. Coffee and other things you may not expect, like migraine meds. For instance the new Advil Migraine medicine is over the counter. But with the amount of caffeine in it, hard not to get hooked! Even if it is just mental.

WEIRD NEWS

Nip Tuck Kitty
In Winthrop, Massachusetts, veterinarians had quite a challenge with Edgar, a 5-year-old long-haired cat. She (yes — a girl named Edgar) went missing from her home for three days and when she finally returned, her owner found her in her litter box — with part of her face dangling from her head! Vets think she may have been injured by a car’s fan belt, probably because she tried to stay warm under the hood. When her owner saw her, she passed out. Anyway, the surgical team at Angell Animal Medical Center did some major facial reconstruction surgery and Edgar’s going to be just fine. Remarkably, she suffered no major blood loss or any permanent nerve damage from her accident. She just needed to have her facial skin stitched back on. So — eight more lives to go! (myway.com)

No — This Really Is My Van
In Bloomfield Township, Michigan, a motorist was stopped and handcuffed by police on suspicion of stealing what turned out to be his own van. Police Chief Kirt Bowden said he witnessed the traffic stop Monday from his office window and worried something was amiss when he noticed the van wasn’t new and the driver appeared to be in his 70s. According to a report on WJBK-TV, the motorist spotted the van he reported stolen and was told by Detroit police he could take it back. It was still was listed as stolen in the Law Enforcement Information Network when the man was stopped by his officers about 15 miles northwest of Detroit. (myway.com)

A New Way To Pray
In Longview, Texas, Pastor Thomas McDaniels of the LifeBridge Christian Center may be on to something — a new way to pray. Pastor McDaniels filled out a bank deposit slip for $1 million bucks, then prayed over it hoping the funds would come to build a new church. And come they did. An anonymous donor wrote a check for $1.5 million and the new church is set to open in a few weeks. Members of LifeBridge, which formed in 2005, had been meeting at a Longview hotel. McDaniels says, in these economic times, that “the Lord wanted to show his power.” (myway.com)

A Cure For Alcoholism?
French cardiologist Dr. Oliver Ameisen claims he is no longer an alcoholic because an anti-muscle spasm pill that he had been taking for many years caused him to lose desire to drink liquor. The claim is in a new book set for release in the U.S. next year under the title “The End of My Addiction.” In the book, which is already a best-seller in France, Ameisen said he started taking Baclofen after reading a news story about a cocaine addict who lost his drug addiction after taking the pill commonly prescribed to multiple sclerosis patients. Dr. James Garbutt, a researcher at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine says, “There is a fair amount of evidence that the drug does something. The basic science is sound, and it’s been shown to work in animals.” (ABC News)

There Still Are Honest People in the World
Here’s our hero of the day. It’s 75-year-old Billie Watts of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She and her husband found $97,000 in cash inside a bag left in a Cracker Barrel restaurant restroom. They took the bag home because there was nothing inside to identify its owner, except for a photo. Billie also left her phone number with the restaurant’s store clerk. The owner of the bag, an old lady, called Watts within 15 minutes and identified the contents. The unidentified owner said the money came from selling her home and belongings. She offered to give Billie a $1,000 reward but Billie refused saying the owner needed the money a lot more than she does. (AHN News)

Company Launches Pre-chewed Pencils!
The Concentrate Company in England has launched an interesting new product to help children concentrate at school– pre-chewed pencils! No kidding! The pencils are made to look like they have already been chewed making pupils less likely to put them in their mouths. They say it’s a cheap but effective way of encouraging youngsters to get their teeth into their lessons instead. Concentrate specializes in products to help kids at school and identify why they get distracted or are unable to focus in class. A company spokesperson, in true British fashion said, “We know it’s daft but just get down to some concentrated thinking and who knows what might happen.” (Ananova)

Man Pulls Car With Eyelids!
In China, 21-year-old martial artist Luo Deyuan has done what seems to be the impossible — pulling a one-ton car by a rope fastened to his eyelids! He also pulled the vehicle by fastening the rope to a piercing in his neck. Luo says he learned his skills from a local martial arts master, adding, “I really wanted to do something special.” Luo claims he can do 23 other stunts including lifting two buckets of water with his eyelids, stopping electric fans with his tongue, and walking on sharp blades. (Guizhou Metropolis News)

Saddam Sells Chicken Wings?
The Passion Barbecue Chicken Wings restaurant in Shenyang, China is using the image of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to promote its spicy chicken wings. According to the posters featuring pictures of Saddam, the spicy taste is a challenge for customers, just like Saddam was to the U.S. and the UK. A restaurant spokeswoman said, “Saddam loved challenges, and eating our spicy chicken wings also requires courage, so it’s a good match.” What? (Liao Shen Evening Post)

HOLE IN THE HEADLINE

·         “Panda Bites Student Who Just Wanted A ____!” (Hug)

·         “Police Think They’ve Nabbed ‘____ Bandit’!” (Butt)

·         “‘Ugly Ducklings’ Plea Wins Mayor ____ Award!” (Sexism)

·         “Robber Apologizes During Store ____!” (Holdup)

·         “Cell Phone In Man’s Chest Pocket Stops ____!” (Bullet)

·         “____ Crashes Van Into Coffeehouse!” (Dog)

·         “Priest Gets Probation For Jogging ____ At Track!” (Nude)

·         “Cops ____ Pallbearer At Dad’s Funeral!” (Taser)

·         “Upset Over Fee, Man Wields ____ To Get Back Cat!” (Bat)

·         “Driver Gets Jail For Throwing ____ At Motorist!” (Ax)

·         “Man In Wheelchair Allegedly Hides Cash In ____!” (Leg)

·         “Hand Model, Magician Sues Over Snipped ____!” (Finger)

MAKE IT FUN!

Constantly being reminded to promote other dayparts? Make it fun! We run a bit where we have our producer break into other jocks’ lockers and rummage through them. What will you find? You can pre-record a phone bit with the “victim,” this is a great way to recycle.

TICKED-OFF COLUMN

This is something that we do a couple of times a week. People can e-mail us their letters complaining about something in their lives. Many times these issues are funny. The local newspaper has a similar column too. People love to vent.

TOP FIVE SIGNS YOU LIVE NEXT DOOR TO AN ELF

1.      Always wearing t-shirt that says, “I’m with Santa”

2.      Shoes with curled toes left on porch

3.      Company truck in driveway says, “Toys made while you wait”

4.      Basketball hoop just two feet off the ground

5.      Stepladder next to the mailbox

HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter

An extra second will be added on at the end of the year so that we can stay in sync with atomic time. Wow, even the clocks needs a bailout.

More layoffs were announced this week by several companies. Everyone’s down-sizing these days except Oprah.

I’m trying to figure out what to buy my dad for Christmas. It’s between a subscription to Sports Illustrated or an Illinois Senate Seat.

SLOGAN OFF

Classic Edition

·         “Lifts and Seperates” (Playtex Cross-Your-Heart Bra)

·         “The fun develops instantly” (Polaroid Cameras)

·         “I liked it so much I bought the company.” (Remington)

·         “The Uncola” (7-up)

·         “Kills bugs dead” (Raid)

Modern Edition

·         “A new kind of family” (ABC Family Network)

·         “Spirit of Service” (Qwest)

·         “You are now free to roam about the country” (Southwest Airlines)

·         “Believe” (Yahoo personals)

·         “Eat Fresh” (Subway)

THE LOSERS BALL

Have a party for men and women who try too hard, and are really unlucky in love. This can be an on-going bit. If romance happens as a result of your party, you can follow these people for a couple of years.

SEX COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

Yes, that’s the word from Kerry McCloskey, whose book, The Ultimate Sex Diet: The Secret Formula for a Slimmer, Healthier, More Passionate Life, maintains that sex will make you skinny and healthy. Here’s the top 10 health benefits of sex:

1.      Sex helps you to live longer.

2.      It strengthens your heart. Do it right and sex can be a cardio workout.

3.      Sex helps to reduce stress and depression thanks to certain stress-busting chemicals your body produces during intercourse.

4.      Sex strengthens your bones and muscles.

5.      It improves your memory and helps keep your mind sharp.

6.      Frequent sex helps you to look younger. A 1999 study by Scotland’s Royal Edinburgh Hospital found that an active sex life can make you look up to seven years younger.

7.      Sex improves your sense of smell.

8.      It provides pain relief.

9.      Sex may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

10.  It boosts the immune system.

KISS AND MAKEUP DAY

Get a couple on the outs to (a guy) call you. Send your street guy to the ladies work with candy and flowers to smooth it over for the idiot guy.

TRIVIA

·         Terrorists attacked India’s financial capital, Mumbai, killing more than 170 people in a 60-hour rampage across the city. Part of the attacks involved the occupation and siege of two landmark hotels. Name one of the two. (Taj Mahal hotel and Rambagh Palace)

·         President-elect Barack Obama continues to fill his future cabinet with the announcement of his security team. Who will stay on as defense secretary? (Robert Gates)

·         President-elect Obama announced his choice for commerce secretary. Who is this governor of New Mexico? (Bill Richardson)

·         After the CEOs of America’s Big Three automakers returned to Washington in another attempt to persuade Congress to hand over billions to bail them out. Learning a lesson from their previous trip — when they were roundly criticized for having flown to the nation’s capital in private jets — the trio drove from Detroit in what? (fuel-efficient cars)

·         They were recently announced, so…which artist had the most grammy nominations this year? (Lil Wayne)

·         Which British rock band took second place? (Coldplay – with 7)

·         The National Bureau of Economic Research — the body charged with making pronouncements in this type of thing — said that the United States indeed was in recession and had been for quite a long time. What month did they say the downturn had started? (December 2007)

·         Plaxico Burress, the talented but troubled New York Giants receiver, was suspended and faces a possible end to his career for a gun incident at New York City nightclub. He accidentally shot himself where? (the upper thigh)

·         She’s a single-named singer who performed at the 1963 March on Washington and whose music influenced Bob Dylan and other folk-boom artists died at age 77. Who is she? (Odetta)

·         Car thieves stole which “Dukes of Hazzard” TV show cast member’s sport utility vehicle at a mall last week, with puppies inside that were early Christmas gifts? (John Schneider)

·         Dennis Yost, lead singer of which 1960s rock group, died at the age of 65? (Classics IV)

·         A judge dismissed drug and battery charges filed against hip-hop bigwig “Suge” Knight, who was accused of beating a woman in a parking lot in what city? (Las Vegas)

·         What is the relationship of “Amazing Race” winners Nick and Starr? (brother and sister)

·         HarperCollins just published a book by 9-year-old Alec Greven on what subject? (picking up girls)

·         Jessica Simpson says she can’t pass up a lucky penny that may be on the ground and collects all she can. Where does she keep them? (in a Ziploc bag)

·         First introduced in the U.S. in 1966, what shoe carried such nicknames as Hari Krishna shoes, Jesus sandals, or Flintstone Feet? (Birkenstocks)

·         Where is Rutgers University? (New Jersey)

·         What do scientists say jellyfish have, similar to humans, which help them survive? (Eyes)

·         Invented in Italy, what pointed toe tall heeled shoes were often banned in buildings after emerging in popularity in the mid ’50’s? (Stilettos)

·         What was used as blood in Hitchcock’s “Psycho?” (Chocolate Sauce)

GORSEFEATHERS by Patrick Gorse

A new study by Vanderbilt University says that people who have cochlear hearing implants should avoid MRI machines because they can permanently damage the hearing devices. This new information totally contradicts the prevailing theory that Rush Limbaugh should have his head examined.

A cardiologist in France claims that he cured his alcoholism by taking muscle relaxant pills that caused him to lose his desire to drink liquor. This is great news if you like your heart surgery done by a guy who’s hooked on muscle relaxants.

In Australia, an 18-year-old male white rhinoceros that was looking to mate broke out of his zoo enclosure to seek out females. When he finally found one, the lady rhinoceros said, “Is that a horn on your face or are you just happy to see me?”

Yesterday was “Call in Gay” to work day, to show your opposition to Proposition 8. What if you work in a gay bar? Were you supposed to go to a Mormon Tabernacle instead? How does that work?

Early Wednesday morning, MSNBC showed video of Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich leaving for work. At least we know he’s not gay.

I don’t understand this huge controversy with the Governor of Illinois. Jay Leno sold his seat to Conan O’Brien and worked out a great side-deal for himself. I don’t see anything wrong with that.

Britain’s Prince Andrew has been accused of forcing his royal security officers to act as ball boys while practicing golf on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. In a related story, Sen. Larry Craig has been accused of replacing his security force with ball boys.

Oprah Winfrey is confessing that she weighs at least 200 pounds. Duh! She’s on TV every day. Isn’t this like Gov. Rod Blagojevich confessing that his haircut looks dorky?

Oprah confessed that she gained weight as a defense mechanism. She didn’t want to leave any jumping room on her couch for Tom Cruise.

In related stories, Tom Cruise confessed that he’s a self-absorbed ass; Andy Dick confessed that he’s a drunk — and Amy Winehouse admitted to having a bad hair day.

The Big Three automakers are close to a deal with Congress over a $15 Billion bailout loan–but there’s been a snag. The auto CEO’s are refusing to throw in the floor mats.

Larry Craig lost his appeal to purge his guilty plea to soliciting sex. Craig says he may appeal the appeal. What started for Craig with an appeal continues on appeal after the appeals court has issued their response to his appeal. It’s ironic — because I don’t find Larry Craig appealing at all.

Senator Larry Craig continues to deny he’s gay — but that doesn’t jive with the facts. In his appeal, Craig claimed he was temporarily insane when he originally pled guilty in court, because he couldn’t stop fantasizing about what the judge was wearing under his robe.

Disgraced Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said on Monday that taping his conversations with hidden devices “smells like Nixon.” Which is funny, because when Arnold Schwarzenegger first came to America, he said that President Nixon was, “like a breath of fresh air.” Of course, back then, Arnold spent all his time in gymnasiums.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich claimed that secret taping “smells like Nixon.” The founder of the Log Cabin Republicans defended President Nixon saying, “I used to love the smell of Dick in the morning.”

Asked if Barack Obama is “tainted” by Rod Blagojevich, NBC political director Chuck Todd said that it “depends how you define taint.” I looked up ‘taint’ in the dictionary. Look, Chuck… I think we already established that Rod Blagojevich isn’t gay.

On Monday, responding to a reporter who asked Rod Blagojevich if he felt the cloud of a federal corruption investigation hanging over him, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said, “I’ve got nothing but sunshine hanging over me.” There you have it — ANOTHER Democratic politician palling around with The Weathermen.

A new study in the medical journal Human Nature says that 60 percent of the people in their study group who were shown pictures of cars, attributed human personalities to them, describing them as adult or childlike, masculine or feminine, and dominant or submissive. Many saw headlights as eyes, the grill as a nose and air intakes as a mouth. This explains a posting I saw on Craig’s List that read, “Looking for a ’65 Mustang with leather seat covers — no freaks.”

Conservative Episcopalian leaders in the U.S. who disagree with the churches’ liberal stance on homosexuality have decided to break away and form their own church. The conservative leaders said they were tired of Southern Baptists referring to them as ‘Episcopansies.’

IS YOUR GUY MAKING YOU FAT?

(Fitness) A relationship adds so much to your life like extra weight. The bittersweet gains: three pounds, on average, for cohabitators in the first five years and nine for new brides, says a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Let your love but not your waistline grow with these tips from Jenna Bergen, author of “Your Big Fat Boyfriend.”

·         Take charge of takeout — “Volunteer to make the call,” Bergen suggests. “That way you can be sure your food is grilled rather than fried, has the dressing on the side or comes with brown, not white rice.”

·         Ask for a shelf in the fridge — When he offers you closet space, tell him you’d love some in the refrigerator too. Then stock up on healthier snacks than his chips and dips.

·         Save the couch for non-meal activities — Eat in front of the TV and you’ll mindlessly overindulge. Bergen’s advice: Sit at the kitchen table, even if that means you two dine apart.

·         Exercise your wardrobe — “Dressing sexy keeps you aware of your body,” Bergen says. So don’t let those hot pants get cold, wear them regularly.

WHAT GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE?

(Sun) Discovering the source of your self-esteem can help you achieve your important goals. Answer the questions in the this short quiz, see what the analysis reveals and find out what give you confidence:

When it comes to roses, your favorite color is:

a.       red

b.      pink

c.       yellow

Your handwriting is:

a.       large and vivid

b.      small and tidy

c.       medium and distinctive

The outfit you’d wear to a big social event is:

a.       a slinky designer knock-off

b.      an elegant black cocktail dress

c.       a classic evening suit

If you have a bad hair day, you’d:

a.       keep working on it until you look presentable

b.      quit fussing and put it up in a bun

c.       tame it with fancy barrettes

Analysis

Mostly “a” – You possess a wealth of talents that makes you a standout in a crowd. And your strong belief in yourself makes you a natural leader that others admire and emulate.

Mostly “b” – You have a spiritual strength that you use to answer life’s important questions. Your drive to always do your best inspires achievement among your friends and family.

Mostly “c” – Your upbeat outlook gives you the ability to follow your dreams to the limit. Even when things go wrong, you take the lessons from the experience to conquer future obstacles.

SANTA TREATS

According to The American Dietetic Association (ADA), if Santa drinks a glass of whole milk and eats two butter cookies at every American household he visits, he will consume a shocking 14,026,032,000 calories and 6,180,336,000 grams of fat in one night alone!

·         Try skim milk instead of whole, saving 64 calories and eight grams of fat for each glass he drinks.

·         Offer Santa “skinny nog” — a mixture of skim milk and low fat egg nog or use dry egg nog mix with skim milk to save 145 calories and 18 grams of fat per serving.

·         Leave Santa gingersnaps or graham crackers in place of higher fat cookies conserving 169 calories and eight grams of fat per serving.

·         Opt to give non-food gifts, like food and nutrition books, subscriptions to health newsletters, exercise tapes or equipment and gift certificates.

And, according to Zanecosky, carrots, celery, apples and pears are great treats for Santa as well as his reindeer. “With a little planning, it will be easy to expand Santa’s food choices without expanding his waistline.”

JINGLE BELLS

Jingle Bells! (666) Jingle Bells! (666) Jingle all the way! (6#786999) Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh! (99555557456)

A TOY SEARCH TOY FIND

Works well up to Christmas. Listeners help each other out in finding those hard to find toys. We’ve had some pretty good calls. Lots of them too! The listeners are being really depictive in describing their frustration and telling of their encounters in the crowded stores.

CHRISTMAS CAROL QUIZ

·         According to the song when do “We need a little Christmas?” (“Right this very minute!”)

·         What do you hear when “It’s Christmas-time in the city?” (“Silver Bells!”)

·         The song says it’s “A beautiful sight we’re happy tonight.” What are we doing? (“Walking in a winter wonderland!”)

·         In “Jingle Bells,” what are we doing in a “one-horse open sleigh?” (“Dashing through the snow!”)

·         According to the song where is Brenda Lee “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree?” (“At the Christmas party hop!”)

·         In the Garth Brooks’ song “Santa Looks A Lot Like…” Who? (“Daddy!”)

·         The song says “For the holiday’s you can’t beat…” Where? (“Home sweet home!”)

·         Name the song where “All is calm, all is bright!” (“Silent Night!”)

·         What’s the very last thing that “Frosty The Snowman” said to the children?” (“Don’t you cry. I’ll be back again some day!”)

·         In the “Twelve Days Of Christmas,” what is the gift on the 6th day of Christmas?” (“Six geese a laying!”)

·         In “The Christmas Song,” what is Jack Frost doing to your nose?” (“Nipping!”)

·         In “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “I don’t know if there’ll be snow but have but have a cup of this!” What is it? (“Cheer!”)

·         What are the things you better not do ’cause “Santa Claus is coming to town?” (“Pout… cry… shout!”)

·         According to the song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” exactly where did she tickle Santa Claus? (“Underneath his beard (so snowy white))

·         In “White Christmas,” what do the treetops do? (“Glisten!”)

·         In the song “Here Comes Santa Claus,” what is Santa coming down? (“Right down Santa Claus lane!”)

·         In “The Christmas Song” what a folks dressed up like? (“Eskimos!”)

·         What did Rudolph the reindeer have? (“He had a very shiny nose!”)

·         What do we “Deck The Halls” with?” (“Boughs of holly!”)

·         In the song “Let It Snow,” how do they describe the weather outside? (“The weather outside is (frightful)!”)

NAME THAT YULETIDE TUNE

Whip out your accordion (or that sound-a-like on the keyboard player) and have your listeners guess the name of poorly played Christmas tunes.

AND A PORRIDGE IN A SPARE TREE

Here’s another spin on an idea. Line up a succession of callers and have each do a line from a holiday classic like “The Twelve Days of Christmas” or “The Night Before Christmas.” It should be spontaneous and, the more foul-ups, the funnier it’ll be.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

12.10.08

= SHOW PREP DECEMBER 10, 2008

 

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

 

Oscar winner Angelina Jolie has been named the actress who commands the biggest salary. Angelina Jolie is the highest paid actress in Hollywood an annual report published by the Hollywood Reporter has said. Angelina expects to make a whopping £10.2million per film according to the report ahead of Julia Roberts, 2007’s winner Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz and Knocked Up star Catherine Heigl. Former Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Halle Berry have dropped out of the top five as they are no longer to charge £6.2million ($10million) a film the report adds. (Handbag)

 

Actress Anne Hathaway would love to get married – and often finds herself fantasizing about where the ceremony would be held. The Devil Wears Prada star is reportedly dating Adam Shulman, after her four-year engagement to Italian businessman Raffaello Follieri ended when he was arrested for fraud earlier this year. And the 26-year-old admits she often dreams about exchanging vows – and even imagines where she could hold the nuptials. She tells Access Hollywood, “Sometimes I find myself somewhere and I’m just like, ‘Oh, it’d be really fun to get married here’. “I really don’t know what that says about me but… I try not to anticipate things before they happen – especially things that I would like very much to have happen.” But Hathaway has found herself at times questioning whether marriage is really for her. She adds, “Of course, like everyone, I’m kind of going through a moment where I’m like, ‘Do I even believe in marriage? What’s going on?’ You know, as you do when you’re fresh from a break up.” Despite her doubts, the actress is sure that she’ll wed when the circumstances are right: “I do think eventually someday – if I met the right person – I would get married.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Twilight heart-throb Robert Pattinson was forced to end his modeling career at the age of 16 – because he started to look too manly. The British actor was a child model from the age of 12 but had to give up his life in front of the camera when work dried up just four years later. And Pattinson, who subsequently turned to acting, blames growing into a man for his modeling rejections. He tells British magazine Closer, “When I first started I was quite tall and looked like a girl, so I got lots of jobs, because it was during that period where the androgynous look was cool. Then, I guess, I became too much of a guy, so I never got any more jobs. I had the most unsuccessful modeling career.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

It’s been two years since she split from husband Chris Robinson, but Kate Hudson is in no hurry to walk back down the aisle. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get married again,” the actress – who plays a wedding-obsessed woman in the upcoming Bride Wars – recently told Extra. “I don’t know. … It depends on who you end up with.” Hudson, who has dated Owen Wilson and Lance Armstrong since her divorce, also said she has no second thoughts about marrying the Black Crowes frontman when she was just 21. “I don’t regret a second of my marriage. … Thank God for Chris,” she explained. “He made me partly who I am. … We had a great time. We love each other deeply. We have an amazing son.” Their son, Ryder Russell Robinson, turns 5 next month. (People)

 

Mariah Carey‘s wish may finally be coming true. Spies in LA saw the songbird coming out of a well-known ob/gyn’s office on North Crescent Boulevard, “clutching what looked like a sonogram and being greeted by her entourage with cheers. She was ebullient.” It was the same type of paper that Minnie Driver was holding when she found out she was pregnant at the same doctor’s office. Carey, who wed Nick Cannon this year in a quickie Bahamas ceremony, has made no bones about wanting a child. A rep said, “As far as I’m told it’s not true.” (Page Six)

 

New York Yankees star Alex ‘A Rod’ Rodriguez has insisted he and Madonna are just good friends. Alex Rodriguez has spoken publicly for the first time about his rumored relationship with Madonna. “I’ve been to two of her concerts, yet I’ve read that I went to 20. I’ve also read that we were buying an apartment together. That is absolutely ridiculous and not true. You have to have a sense of humor when it comes to this stuff,” he told People magazine. “If I answered every rumor we’d be here for three weeks. We’re friends – that’s it. I have a lot of respect for her. She’s very committed to making the world a better place. She’s had an amazing career, and we’re friends. That’s it.” (Handbag)

 

According to the London media, Kate Moss’ Christmas gift to her hard working 60-year old nanny (who also happens to be Sadie Frost’s mother!) was a Topshop shopping spree. Would you gift your mom/grandma with a Topshop shopping spree? We didn’t think so! Wouldn’t a 60-year old prefer Harrod’s shopping in London? Plus, since Kate designs for Topshop, we bet she got all that shiz for free or at a huge discount. Hope this is just part of the hard working nanny’s gifts. Little Lila Grace is lucky dear nanny’s around with all those hard pAArtying nights of yours!  P.S. Kate gets all her Topshop shit for free cuz she has a deal with them, hence the shopping free for the nanny there. (Perez Hilton)

 

Ashlee Simpson made her first public appearance on Monday since giving birth to son Bronx three weeks ago. Hiding her post-baby bod in a coat, the singer, 24, popped by West Hollywood Troubadour club to watch her husband, Pete Wentz, perform with his band Fall Out Boy. During her pregnancy, Simpson (who craved green olives) said she didn’t mind that she packed on extra pounds. She even said her doctor told her she was “right on target” with my weight gain, though she declined to reveal how much she had gained. “My weight and my pant size are the absolute last thing I am concerned about,” she said. “I am only concerned with having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. “People who judge pregnant women’s weight need to get a life.” (US Weekly)

 

Former “Desperate Housewives” star Jesse Metcalfe rang in his 30th birthday in Vegas. He and friends attended the Oscar De La Hoya fight, then headed to the Bank Nightclub Dec. 6. (Scoop)

 

Nick Cannon was spotted (sans wife Mariah Carey) shopping at the American Eagle on Hollywood and Highland Dec. 1. He was there with the local Big Brother Big Sister organization. (Scoop)

 

In a pre-taped interview on Monday’s Hills after-show, Tom Cruise was asked what advice he had for Spencer Pratt, who famously eloped with Heidi Montag Nov. 24. Cruise said that Pratt may have made a mistake since Montag had always talked about wanting a big wedding with her family.  “If the girl wants the wedding, you gotta do the wedding,” Cruise said. “It’s a special occasion, and she’ll remember it forever. Spencer… dude… you’ll realize this later.” In a response, Pratt tells Usmagazine.com exclusively: “You all know how I feel about big weddings, but if Tom Cruise says so, it must be true. If Tom’s the best man, we’ll have a big wedding!” Meanwhile, Spencer’s sister Stephanie has revealed that Heidi’s mom Darlene phoned Mrs. Pratt after her Us Weekly interview, in which she said Spencer may have drugged Heidi to get her to marry him. “Heidi’s mom actually called my mom and was really apologetic and crying,” said Stephanie, who added that Darlene’s comments to Us were “tongue-in-cheek.” Believe it or not, Stephanie added, “the general consensus, with all the family members, is that we’re all really happy for them.” (US Weekly)

 

Twilight star Robert Pattinson fears for his life after shooting to fame with the hit film – because he worries fans will take the movie’s dark storyline too far. The British actor plays vampire Edward Cullen in the new movie and has been besieged by teenagers asking him to bite their necks. And Pattinson is worried that some fans of the cult picture will confuse fiction with reality and try to harm him. He says, “People ambush me in public and ask me to bite them and want to touch my hair. I just don’t want someone to have a needle and give me Aids and I don’t want to get shot or stabbed. This is my life.” Pattinson admits that his fears reached new heights following the film’s Los Angeles premiere last month – because of the deafening noise of all the screaming girls. He adds, “I thought, ‘Oh my God. Are they going to blow the place up?'” (Teen Hollywood)

 

A grinch has stolen a little bit more of John Schneider’s Christmas than the law will allow: a couple of puppies. Car thieves swiped Schneider’s sport utility vehicle at a suburban Los Angeles mall last week, including the pups that were early Christmas gifts for his children. The SUV has since been found – but no dogs. Schneider himself searched the neighborhood for the Yorkie and Yorkie-Poodle mix. He says he’s certain whoever took the SUV is caring for the dogs, or even re-gifting them. But the man who played a different kind of true modern-day Robin Hood – Bo Duke – believes the story, first reported by TMZ, will end with the equivalent of a freeze-frame smile. “I think we’re going to get my dogs back,” he said. (Daily Record)

 

Lindsay Lohan is begging the paparazzi to stop asking her if she’s split from girlfriend Samantha Ronson – assuring fans she’d write the news on her blog if they ever broke-up. Rumors have swirled about the couple’s relationship status since they began dating earlier this year. They have repeatedly denied splitting, and Lohan has once again taken to her MySpace.com blog to “prove all the liars wrong” – less than a week after slamming previous break-up reports. She writes, “(The paparazzi) should just stop asking altogether, once and for all if she and I are broken up because frankly, if we ever, ever did… I would say it before they could even think of asking… I’d say it here probably… I say everything here on MySpace. “I was out with my friend Jamie and paparazzi wouldn’t stop asking me where Samantha was. I’m not writing this blog because I feel like I need to prove that I’m with my girl to anyone at all. It’s just annoying. And I want to vent.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Dennis Yost, lead singer of the 1960s group the Classics IV, has died in an Ohio hospital. He was 65. Yost died Sunday at Fort Hamilton Hospital in Hamilton, about 30 miles northwest of Cincinnati. He died of respiratory failure, hospital spokeswoman Marielou Vierling said. The Classics IV’s hits included “Spooky,” “Stormy” and “Traces of Love.” Yost had been in nursing homes since suffering a brain injury sustained in a 2005 fall, said Joe Glickman, the singer’s friend and biographer. “I’m still in shock because he was fine Saturday morning,” said his wife, Linda Yost, of suburban Hamilton. “And by, you know, early Sunday morning he was gone.” The Classics IV got their start in Jacksonville, Fla., where Yost, a native of Detroit, was raised, Glickman said. Their hit recordings were produced in Atlanta under the supervision of producer Buddy Buie and Bill Lowery, founder of Lowery Music Inc. The group performed together for about five years. Buie, who was a co-writer of the group’s songs with the group’s guitarist, J.R. Cobb, said: “Dennis had an incredible voice – just a great voice for love songs.” The 67-year-old Buie, who’s retired and living in Eufaula, Ala., added: “I am deeply saddened by his passing.” Cobb, 65, said he and Yost grew up in Jacksonville and rode motorcycles together before they were in the band. Cobb, who later performed with the Atlanta Rhythm Section and with the Highwaymen – a country group that included Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson – is retired and lives in Monticello, Ga. “Dennis was a friend as well as a fellow musician,” said Cobb. “I always thought he had a very distinctive voice, and I think we had some of the hits we had because of him and his ability as a singer.” Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, a vocalist with the former rock and comedy group Sha Na Na, held a benefit concert last year to help with Yost’s increasing medical costs, Glickman said. “He was a tremendous talent who did an enormous amount of the work for that group,” said Bauman, who works against copycat performers as chairman of Truth in Music, based at the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation in Sharon, Pa. “Paradoxically, I came to know Dennis better in the later years, in which he was involved in a massive struggle to retain his own musical identity, which was one of the saddest and most difficult cases of someone losing the name of their own group, when he had pretty much been the group,” Bauman said. Bauman said truth in music legislation has been adopted in 26 states, and a bill was expected to make it through the legislature and to the governor’s desk next week in Yost’s home state of Ohio. Yost is survived by his wife and five children. A memorial service is planned for this weekend, Linda Yost said. (Daily Record)

 

Oliver Postgate, creator of cuddly stuffed cat Bagpuss and other much-loved British children’s television characters, has died at the age of 83, his family said Tuesday. Postgate’s partner, Naomi Linnell, said the artist and puppeteer died Monday at a nursing home in Broadstairs, 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of London. Both surreal and warmhearted, Postgate’s productions were a staple of British children’s television for three decades, beginning in the 1950s. They included musical Welsh locomotive Ivor the Engine, Norse prince Noggin the Nog and The Clangers, a family of mouse-like pink knitted aliens who spoke in whistles. His best-loved creation was Bagpuss, a pink “saggy, old, cloth cat” who appeared in a 1970s series and has topped several polls of Britain’s favorite children’s shows. Postgate – grandson of British Labour politician George Lansbury and cousin of actress Angela Lansbury – was born in London in 1925. During World War II he declared himself a conscientious objector and was jailed, later serving as a Red Cross stretcher-bearer in Germany. He remained politically active throughout his life, opposing nuclear weapons and, recently, the Iraq war. Postgate attended drama school after the war, then moved into animation with the black-and-white series “Alexander the Mouse.” In the late 1950s Postgate established the Smallfilms production company with fellow artist Peter Firmin. Working on tiny budgets in an old cowshed in southeast England, the pair devised and wrote scripts, created puppets and artworks and filmed their shows in stop-motion animation. Postgate provided the voices and narration. Postgate is survived by Linnell and several children from his marriage to the late Prudence Myers. (Daily Record)

 

The brother of actor Mark Ruffalo has died a week after he was shot in the head, police said Tuesday. Scott Ruffalo, 39, died late Monday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills Police Sgt. Renato Moreno said. A phone message left early Tuesday for a Mark Ruffalo publicist wasn’t immediately returned. Two people wanted for questioning about the shooting had surrendered themselves to police earlier Monday. Shaha Mishaal Adham was suspected of shooting Scott Ruffalo, and authorities had issued an attempted murder arrest warrant for the 26-year-old. Brian Scofield was being held on a misdemeanor traffic warrant. Jail records didn’t indicate whether the pair have hired attorneys, but showed that a court date for Adham had been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday. Scott Ruffalo, a hairstylist, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in Beverly Hills on Dec. 1. Police haven’t discussed a motive. Mark Ruffalo, 41, has appeared in the films “Zodiac,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “You Can Count on Me” and “Blindness.” (Daily Record)

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

 

Oprah Winfrey is used to dealing with weighty issues. In the January issue of “O” magazine, she deals with another one – her own. In the magazine, out Tuesday, the talk-show queen says she now weighs 200 pounds and has fallen off the wagon when it comes to healthy living. “I’m mad at myself,” Winfrey writes in an article provided early to The Associated Press by Harpo Productions. “I’m embarrassed,” she writes. “I can’t believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I’m still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, `How did I let this happen again?'” In the piece, Winfrey, 54, details her recent struggles with an out-of-balance thyroid and how the condition made her develop “a fear of working out.” She says she’s added 40 pounds to her frame since she weighed 160 pounds in 2006. “Yes, you’re adding correctly; that means the dreaded 2-0-0,” Winfrey writes. “I was so frustrated I started eating whatever I wanted – and that’s never good.” Winfrey also writes that her goal is no longer to be thin; instead, she wants to be strong, healthy and fit. She hopes to get started with her upcoming “Best Life Week,” starting Jan. 5 with an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” during which she is expected to talk candidly about her weight. Winfrey, who is chairman of Harpo Inc., famously wheeled a wagon loaded with fat onto the set of her talk show in 1988 to represent a 67-pound weight loss while wearing a pair of size 10 Calvin Klein jeans. She had lost the pounds with a liquid protein diet. “I had literally starved myself for four months – not a morsel of food,” Winfrey recalled in 2005. “Two hours after that show, I started eating to celebrate – of course, within two days those jeans no longer fit!” Winfrey’s weight has yo-yoed to the delight of the tabloid press ever since. She weighed as many as 237 pounds and by late 1990 acknowledged she had regained most of the 67 pounds, saying “I’ll never diet again.” In 1994, she finished the Marine Corps Marathon and by 1996 hired personal trainer Bob Greene, saying her roller-coaster weight saga was over. But now, 20 years since the Calvin Klein jeans episode, Winfrey finds herself tipping the scales again, telling AP Television last week that she has yet to choose a gown for President-elect Barack Obama’s inaugural ball next month. “I had a dress on the vision board, but I’m not sure that’s gonna fit,” Winfrey said. “So I have to work on something else.” In the latest “O” magazine article, Winfrey writes that she hit rock bottom when she wanted to skip out on an April 26 taping with Cher and Tina Turner in Las Vegas. “I felt like a fat cow,” Winfrey writes. “I wanted to disappear.” Winfrey’s weight and height put her body mass index at 31.8, which is obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says people who are obese are “at higher risk for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.” It seems Winfrey is aware of the health risks, inviting both Greene and Dr. Mehmet Oz to her show during the first week of January, along with spirituality experts, sex therapists and financial expert Suze Orman. Winfrey also is expected to discuss her weight on her XM satellite radio station’s “The Gayle King Show” on Jan. 5 and will host interactive live Web casts at Oprah.com the week of Jan. 12 to 16 every night at 9 p.m. EST. Winfrey, an admitted food addict, sounds almost apologetic in her article. “I definitely wasn’t setting an example,” she writes. “I was talking the talk, but I wasn’t walking the walk. And that was very disappointing to me.” (Daily Record)

 

Why won’t Jessica Biel talk about Justin Timberlake? It’s simple, she says. “It’s the one part of my life that is my own and not for anyone else.” And, as Christmas approaches, Biel already has the best gift of all. Her relationship is “one sparkly present,” she tells the January issue of British GQ. “And I don’t want to open it in front of strangers.” Biel – currently starring in Easy Virtue – also opens up about the challenge of finding good roles as a woman in Hollywood. “Your face and your body can get your foot in the door, obviously. And I’m thankful for that,” she notes. “But I think it’s almost historical in Hollywood that there just aren’t so many good parts for women as they are for men. I think as long as you’re playing the wife or the girlfriend to the lead then you’re always playing second fiddle to the guys.” (People)

 

When Brandy talks about future goals, she doesn’t list No. 1 hits or a top-selling CD among them. Instead, she talks about more personal benchmarks, like learning to be more understanding, staying true to herself, and living her life with a purpose. “I don’t want to live my life in vain,” says Brandy, who released her first CD in four years, “Human,” this week. “That is the most important thing … not just to be here to be here.” Brandy’s new focus reflects lessons learned from a tumultuous time, including her involvement in a car accident that left one woman dead. The 2006 accident did not result in charges against Brandy, although she faces a lawsuit and has sued another party in the accident herself. The tragedy was a “life-changing” experience for the Grammy-winning singer/actress. “I don’t really know how to say it, because I don’t like to talk about it much,” she says quietly as she sits in a dressing room at BET’s “106 & Park” after delivering a rousing performance of her album’s first single, “Right Here (Departed).” “It was one of the hardest times in my life,” she says. “I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone.”

The accident came as Brandy, a former child actress who became a multiplatinum singing sensation as a teen, was in flux professionally. She had left longtime label Atlantic Records after disappointing sales of 2004’s “Afrodisiac,” her fourth CD, and was contemplating a career switch. “I didn’t really know what to do. I didn’t have a deal. I was just kind of, in limbo, but it was funny because that journey without music was very lonely,” says Brandy, a single mother to a young daughter. She went back to her roots in TV as a judge on the first season of “America’s Got Talent” in 2006, but even then, the former “Moesha” sitcom actress felt a void: “There were moments when I felt like I should have been on the stage.” The accident occurred Dec. 30, 2006, as Brandy was driving on the freeway. Traffic slowed and her Land Rover smashed into the back of a Honda. That car was involved in several other collisions. The driver, 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, died in the accident. Even though the California Highway Patrol suggested charges be filed against Brandy, an investigation found insufficient evidence. Brandy credits family and friends for helping her from sinking into a depression. “Some of the things that people said about me was also very very tough,” she says, tears welling up as she talked about the accident. “I was involved in something that was life-changing. … I still feel the effects of that. It was a tough experience, and I don’t think that’s something that I could ever forget.” Music helped her. She reunited with longtime producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jenkins, linked up with Epic Records and co-wrote some of the album’s most personal songs, including the title track, on which she sings: “I make mistakes but I can’t turn back time, I’m only human, forgive me.” So far, her comeback has been solid, though not huge. She has had a respectable showing on the charts and “Right Here (Departed)” has gotten consistent radio play. “She’s been kind of out of the limelight for a little while, but she’s never stopped being a great singer,” says John Legend, who worked with Brandy for his latest CD, “Evolver.” “I’m glad she’s coming back.” Brandy is glad as well, eager to return as more than just a pop star this time. “I feel like my life isn’t in vain,” she says. “I’m actually contributing to uplifting people and inspiring people, and that feels great, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way before – ever.” (Daily Record)

 

Pamela Anderson tore up Miami during her weekend trip to Art Basel to support her good pal David LaChapelle. Anderson first went to the Miami Convention Center on Saturday to pose for photos with LaChapelle in front of his “Jesus Is My Homeboy” exhibit, wearing a gray T-shirt, yellow underwear and pink heels, and with mysterious bruise marks on her back. She next went to Liv to celebrate her nude Ocean Drive cover, escorted by LaChapelle and PETA head Dan Mathews. Anderson, who seemed unsteady on the red carpet, then drank absinthe before making out with Stephen Dorff, a witness said. Anderson ditched Dorff – after briefly passing out on LaChapelle’s shoulder – to hit up four other parties and was last seen Sunday morning around 11 a.m. in the lobby of the Fontainebleau coming in from her wild night with a young hot man “who was not Dorff.” A rep for Anderson didn’t return calls. (Page Six)

 

He’s willing to take on judges, so what’s a little animal-rights org for Kid Rock? The rock-vocateur says he’s ready to go to war with PETA: “I’m just willing the animal rights protestors to chuck some red paint on me,” he tells the Mail. “They do it to little Hollywood actresses who can’t defend themselves.” Kid adds he’s “got every kind of animal in my wardrobe.” Ironic, given Kid’s marriage to PETA poster child Pam Anderson. PETA, your serve. (TMZ)

 

No baby shall suffer the perils of cold footsies while Erik Estrada is on the case! We’re told while Estrada was on patrol as a reserve officer for Indiana’s Muncie Police Department, he risked his own safety for that of a child. Police say during one of Erik’s midnight shifts, “he spotted a man and his girlfriend walking with a baby in the snow in 10 degree weather at 2 AM … the baby was only dressed in pajamas.” That’s when Erik braved the freezing temperature and “got them inside.” A hero never rests. (TMZ)

 

LAPD came to Stevie Wonder’s house yesterday afternoon after one of the singer’s cousins showed up with a refrigerator. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ there has been an ongoing dispute between Stevie and his relative. Cops were called last Friday after the cuz showed up. The police told the cousin to leave and not to come back. But today the cousin showed up again at Stevie’s San Fernando Valley home, this time with a fridge and other personal items. He unloaded his stuff onto Stevie’s property — that’s when security called the LAPD. Cops showed up but Stevie, who was not there at the time, called in and asked the police to leave. Stevie said it was a “family matter.” When cops left, Stevie’s cousin had entered the guest house and was holed up there. (TMZ)

 

Madonna managed to spend a massive $1m at a hotel in Argentina last week as, along with her entourage, she enjoyed more than a bit of luxury on the South American stretch of her Sticky And Sweet tour. The singer, who was staying at the Four Seasons resort in Buenos Aires, is reported to have splashed out $9,000 a night on the hotel’s luxury suite (a private mansion and grounds), while her make-up artists and assistants took up another 110 rooms at $600 each.  “”When they check out on Tuesday, with room service and extras the bill will top $1m (€782,528). This is the finest hotel in South America offering every luxury you could possibly imagine, and it doesn’t come cheap. We’ve had some pop stars and presidents before, but nothing quite like this,” a source said. (British Glamour)

 

Joe Biden isn’t much of a partier. The teetotaling vice-president-elect sipped water and stayed off the dance floor at Saturday’s surprise 40th birthday party for Kathleen Biden, the wife of his second son, Hunter Biden, at The Elephant restaurant on East First Street. The senator arrived 25 minutes late so his Secret Service detail wouldn’t ruin the surprise. Biden slipped out and headed back to Delaware at 10 p.m, though the rest of the Biden clan carried on until 2 a.m. (Page Six)

 

Michael Vick’s prison cell may soon be more of a home than his mother has — and it’s all his fault. Recent bankruptcy docs show Vick can’t afford to pay the $4700/month mortgage payments for his mother’s Suffolk home — and he’s hired a local realtor in Virginia to try and sell off the property. To make matters worse, his mom, Brenda Boddie, won’t earn her $100K income anymore — because she works for Michael’s company, which is now kaput. The home is one of several Vick bought when he blew through more than $18 mil over a couple of years. We reached Vick’s mother at home and she politely declined to speak with us. (TMZ)

 

Is The Real Housewives of Orange County on the verge of losing one of its original stars, Vicki Gunvalson? Sad to say, but it sounds like Vicki may be ready to go at the end of this fourth season. Asked if she wants to sign up for a fifth, she gives a terse, “No comment.” Why the possible about-face? Perhaps it has something to do with the problems she had with her husband of 14 years, Don, when they were filming the fourth season last summer. Vicki revealed to me yesterday that Don now “100 percent” regrets signing up for the reality show, especially after tonight’s episode, in which Vicki complains on the show that her “love tank is depleted” and she’s unsure if Don “can fill it up. “He’s a vice president of a company. He has to go to work the next day, and he has people saying, ‘Wow your wife really trashed ya again last night,’ ” Vicki said. “For a man, it’s horrible. All I could say to him is, ‘Honey, I love you. I’m sorry. Let’s get past it.’ And he was like, ‘You should have thought about that when you were blabbing about your stupid love tank.’ “While Vicki says they’ve worked through their problems and now have an “amazing marriage,” she’s not happy about reliving the bad times as new episodes air each week. “It’s embarrassing,” she said. And then there were the issues Vicki had with the new Housewife, Gretchen Rossi. Gretchen has gone public on the show and with the media about not being a big fan of Vicki’s. Vicki says she and Gretchen will never be friends, but they patched things up this weekend when they ran into each other at the KIIS-FM’s Jingle Ball concert. “We hugged each other and I said, ‘Let’s move on; we’re big girls,’ ” Vicki said. “She agreed.” (Eonline)

 

Lily Allen has started another celebrity feud – this time with Katy Perry. The Smile singer said that the American singer had pinched her style and called her fat. “I happen to know for a fact that she was an American version of me. She was signed by my label in America as, ‘We need to find something controversial and kooky like Lily Allen.’ And they found her. I think the lyrics and stuff are a bit crass,” Lily told Capital FM. The British star, who has famously feuded with Amy Winehouse, Cheryl Cole and Elton John, also added: “When I met her [Katy Perry], I was a bit frosty with her because someone asked her to describe herself. She’s like, ‘Aha, I like a fatter version of Amy Winehouse and a skinnier version of Lily Allen’. It’s like, you’re not English and you don’t write your own songs…Shut up!” (British Glamour)

 

Wherever you are, DMX, you best start thinking about turning yourself in! The Maricopa County Sheriff’s office in Arizona is now offering a $5000 reward for information leading to the arrest of DMX. DMX – whose real name is Earl Simmons – is believed to be hiding out in Florida. He faces a $120,000 cash bond for charges of animal abuse, felony drug possession, traffic violations, and defrauding the Mayo Clinic of $7,500 in hospital bills. It’s RecessMas time and $5000 could buy a few (soon to be extinct) Bratz dolls and egg nog! (Perez Hilton)

 

Four years ago, millions of television viewers watched as a deaf couple marveled at the renovations to their home that would help them better accommodate their blind, autistic son. But now the couple, Judy and Larry Vardon, worry that the home could face foreclosure. They were featured in a two-hour episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” that set a ratings record for the show when broadcast Nov. 6, 2004. Weighed down by a mortgage payment that has almost doubled since the makeover and medical insurance that doesn’t cover autism treatment for 16-year-old Lance, the Vardons are clinging to the hope that Larry will keep his job at Chrysler LLC’s Sterling Heights stamping plant. The company is on the brink of bankruptcy as it and the other Detroit automakers appeal to Congress for emergency loans. “I’m afraid I’m going to lose my house now,” Judy Vardon, using sign language through an interpreter, told The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens. “This house really belongs to Lance. This is his environment. He can’t speak out for himself, and I hope we can save this house.” ABC said 20.5 million viewers saw a crew led by host Ty Pennington rehabilitate the Vardons’ 980-square-foot house near Detroit from the inside out, including installing cameras and flat-screen monitors allowing the Vardons to monitor Lance. After the makeover, the couple refinanced the mortgage, and their monthly payments have nearly doubled – from $1,200 to $2,300. They had debts of $20,000 for the boy’s therapy alone. “We didn’t have bad spending habits,” Judy Vardon said. “My husband got laid off for a time, and insurance wouldn’t cover Lance’s autism therapy and some other things like his vision and special dental work.” The couple are working with a nonprofit group that aids families in crisis to help them negotiate a lower mortgage rate. The Vardons remain grateful to “Extreme Makeover” and the volunteers who worked to renovate their house and make it safer for Lance. “We’re a close family that loves each other,” Judy Vardon said. “I feel that I was given this life to show others that you can face these challenges.” (Daily Record)

 

TV comedian Alan Carr has apologized for dedicating his British Comedy Award to Karen Matthews. Alan Carr has apologized for any offence he caused by dedicating his British Comedy Award to Karen Matthews, who last week was found guilty of the kidnap of her ‘missing’ daughter Shannon. When asked by press at Saturday’s awards who would be a dream guest on his Celebrity Ding Dong show Alan said he had originally planned a sketch to feature rough women not fashionistas. “It didn’t work out because they couldn’t cast it. I suppose it is a bit difficult to find rough women. I suppose Shannon Matthew’s mum was busy,” he said. “Oh yeah, she would be my dream guest. I think she’s a gay icon. People like a bit of rough don’t they? I must be obsessed with her actually if you look at my Google searches. So I should dedicate this award to her.” Junior Justice minister Shahid Malik, the MP for Dewsbury, West Yorkshire led the criticism of the comments. “I think Alan Carr can be funny on occasion but I think last night he really let himself down,” He told the Daily Mail. “I think most people think it to be both sick and insensitive and people will be disgusted with him at a time when many people are looking very closely at the comic/comedian profession anyway. This isn’t a helpful contribution either to the sad case of Shannon Matthews, where we’ve only just got a conviction, and Michael Donovan and Karen Matthews haven’t even been sentenced yet.” Alan has been quick to apologize, telling press, “I realize what I said was insensitive and I am very sorry for any offence caused.” (Handbag)

 

 

2008 celeb hookups _ and a split we saw coming: Finding a mate in 2008: That was the theme for many celebrities as they hooked up with new partners and sealed the deal in undercover weddings. Here’s a look at four notable couplings and one split we all saw coming: (Daily Record)

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JEN AND JOHN: John Mayer has dated everyone from Jessica Simpson to Jennifer Love Hewitt and this year, Jennifer Aniston’s body is his wonderland. Despite Mayer’s player reputation, a shockingly smitten Aniston followed Mayer on tour as his Public Groupie No. 1, not trying to hide under her trusty pashmina. The musician and the movie star have been on and off since last spring; during a break, the loose-lipped Mayer blabbed to the media about how he ended their romance. And yet, she’s taken him back, telling Vogue: “Love just shows up and you go, `Oh, wow, this is going to be a hayride and a half.'”

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LINDSAY AND SAM: After a string of go-nowhere relationships and plain bad choices, Lindsay Lohan is still going strong with disc jockey Samantha Ronson. The inseparable duo ignited an are-they-or-aren’t-they media frenzy when they were photographed getting cozy at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Lohan eventually confirmed the romance in a radio interview, saying she’d been dating Ronson “a very long time.” The celeb disc spinner has shown fierce loyalty to the actress as her once-bright career founders (following a trip to rehab and run-ins with the law). Tabloids report they’re on the rocks, but Lohan denied breakup rumors on her MySpace blog, posting the song “Happy Together” to drive the point across.

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JAY-Z AND BEYONCE: Jay-Z liked it, so he put a ring on it. The rap mogul and the singing superstar finally tied the knot after six years of unconfirmed dating in an April ceremony at his Manhattan apartment. The newlyweds tried to keep the lavish affair under wraps, but paparazzi made that impossible, catching arriving guests including Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Though Beyoncé refuses to dish too much about her personal life, the “Single Ladies” singer told talk-show host Oprah Winfrey that marriage feels great, but “the most important thing is to make sure you have your own life before you’re someone else’s wife.” Cue applause.

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MARIAH AND NICK: Mariah Carey found love again with Nick Cannon, an actor 11 years her junior. And Mimi wasted no time when it comes to affairs of the heart: She married the “Drumline” star at her Bahamian estate in April after just weeks of dating. Like many celebrity couples, they shared (ahem, sold) their wedding album in People magazine, where they talked about tattooing their love for each other. Carey, who sports a “Mrs. Cannon” tattoo on her back, has said that she and her so-called soul mate didn’t consummate their relationship before tying the knot.

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MADONNA AND GUY: The least shocking split of the year, hands down. Madonna and Guy Ritchie weren’t fooling anyone when they denied rampant rumors of marital strife, thereby stoking that golden rule of celebrity gossip: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire! The pop star and the British filmmaker announced in October they were divorcing after nearly eight years of marriage and two children. Ever the workaholic-provocateur, Madonna has poked fun at Ritchie on her “Sticky & Sweet” world tour, and has been spotted with New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez. As she told The Associated Press, “It would be horrible if I was just thinking about getting a divorce and had nothing to do.”

 

Celebrity baby boom expands in 2008:  The celebrity baby boom expanded into 2008 with the arrivals of newborns belonging to A-listers like Halle, Nicole, J.Lo and – most anticipated of all – the magnetic force known as Brangelina. (Daily Record)

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BRAD AND ANGELINA: Like Demi Moore raising the glass ceiling for actresses earning a $20 million paycheck, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt hit a new record payday selling their baby photos. Last summer, People magazine and the British tabloid Hello! paid $14 million in a joint deal to publish the first shots of the Jolie-Pitt clan with twins Knox and Vivienne, born in July. As is their custom, Jolie and Pitt traded media access for a donation to charity. The couple have said they hope to expand their brood – now six kids and counting. No one can stop them!

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JENNIFER AND MARC: Some people think Brangelina stole J.Lo’s twin thunder – actually, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony had them beat by four months. The married performers welcomed Max and Emme last February, waiting only weeks after Lopez gave birth to display the twin boy and girl on the cover of People. The magazine reportedly burned a $6 million hole in its pocket for rights to the photos.

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HALLE AND GABRIEL: The daughter of Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry will certainly grow up to be competition for future hotties like Shiloh Jolie-Pitt. A two-time divorcee, Berry ultimately found her Prince Charming – and impossibly gorgeous physical equal – in Aubry, a model she met while shooting a Versace ad two years ago. The Oscar-winning actress gave birth to Nahla Ariela Aubry in March. Berry has said she will never sell pictures of her children to the press, following in the footsteps of Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman, who’ve turned down their own offers.

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NICOLE AND KEITH: Two years after tying the knot, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban welcomed baby girl Sunday Rose in July. The 41-year-old Kidman has called Sunday “a miracle baby,” crediting an unexpected fertility source: the waterfalls of the Australian Outback. According to Kidman, she and six other women who took a dip in the waters of a small town during production of the epic romance “Australia” became pregnant.

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JAMIE LYNN AND CASEY: It’s tough to top Britney Spears in the “OMG – no she didn’t!” category, but the pop star’s teenage sister, Jamie Lynn, did just that when she announced her pregnancy last December. The 17-year-old former “Zoey 101” star swiftly became engaged to the baby’s father, Casey Aldridge, a pipe layer from Liberty, Miss. A baby having a baby, Jamie Lynn gave birth to their daughter Maddie Briann in June; a Spears being a Spears, she sold the photo rights to OK! magazine for a reported $1 million.

 

 

Year’s big celeb shockers, from Ledger to Hudson:  A look at this year’s biggest celebrity shockers: (Daily Record)

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HEATH LEDGER: When news broke of Heath Ledger’s death at 28, the response was a collective, “You’re kidding, right?” The “Brokeback Mountain” star died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in January, and many months later, it was still tough to fathom. The Australia-born Ledger left behind a 3-year-old daughter and a bright career. He earned posthumous raves – and Oscar buzz – for his frightening performance as the Joker in the Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight.”

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JENNIFER HUDSON’S TRAGEDY: The Oscar-winning actress and singer had a new fiancé and solo album to boot when her worst nightmare came true. In late October, Hudson’s mother and brother were found shot to death in the family home on Chicago’s South Side, where Hudson grew up. Adding to the heartbreak, a frantic search began for her missing 7-year-old nephew Julian, whose body was discovered days later in the back of an abandoned SUV. Hudson’s estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour, was formally charged with the triple murder the first week of December.

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TRAVIS BARKER/DJ AM PLANE CRASH: The punk musician and celebrity disc jockey went through hell and came out the other side – changed forever. After performing in South Carolina on Sept. 19, they boarded a private plane bound for Los Angeles that crashed and killed the two pilots and two of their close friends. The surviving duo fled the burning wreckage; DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, jumped through a fireball. The near-death experience left the performers emotionally scarred and badly burned, requiring weeks of treatment at various burn centers. Back in good form, the pair will reunite to headline a New Year’s Eve party at a West Hollywood, Calif., nightclub.

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PAULA ABDUL FAN DEATH: The “American Idol” judge has lived through her share of drama, but she wasn’t prepared for the shocking death of Paula Goodspeed – an aspiring pop star and obsessed fan. Goodspeed, who grew up Sandra May McIntyre in her home state of Maine, was found dead Nov. 12 in a car near Abdul’s Los Angeles home. The 30-year-old had dreamed of stardom and expressed her admiration for Abdul during a train-wreck audition on season five of Fox’s “Idol” in which she was ridiculed for the braces on her teeth and a lack of talent. Goodspeed’s family members said she struggled with depression and eating disorders as her show business dreams fell apart. Goodspeed died of a drug overdose the day before she was to have moved back home with her mother.

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BERNIE MAC: Sending shock waves to his fans and celebrity friends, the comic actor died Aug. 9 in the Chicago area from complications due to pneumonia. Mac, who starred in his own TV sitcom and numerous movies including the “Ocean’s 11” trilogy, did not live to see his final roles voicing the lion Zuba in “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” and starring alongside Samuel L. Jackson in “Soul Men.” Speaking before thousands of mourners at the 50-year-old’s memorial service, Jackson said: “He never turned that kid down for an autograph. He always had time to shake a hand. He was always that kid from Chicago who wanted to make everybody happy and everybody laugh.”

 

 

2008’s quirkiest baby names, from Bronx to Sunday: Remember the uproar over Gwyneth Paltrow naming her daughter Apple? That seems downright quaint in 2008. Check out the new additions in the category of quirkiest baby names: (Daily Record)

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BRONX MOWGLI: This year’s most unusual moniker, courtesy of Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz. He grew up near Chicago and she hails from Texas – yet, inexplicably, the rock-star couple named their son after one of the toughest boroughs in New York City. Giving some insight, Wentz revealed the middle name Mowgli was inspired by the scrappy boy hero of Disney’s “The Jungle Book.”

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SUNDAY ROSE: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban welcomed their baby girl on a Monday, then named her for the day before. Kidman has said Sunday is the couple’s favorite day of the week because it can be both lonely and happy depending on whether “you’ve got your family” around. They also found inspiration in Aussie art collector Sunday Reed, whose first name Kidman’s father suggested as a possibility. The baby’s second name is a tribute to Urban’s grandmother, Rose.

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ZUMA NESTA ROCK: When he’s old enough, Gwen Stefani’s baby boy might want to change his first name to something that sounds less like a certain clear malt beverage – and lose the other two names altogether. Then again, a child raised by music royalty – Stefani and hubby Gavin Rossdale – might fully embrace a moniker that spells nothing but embarrassment for regular kids. Stefani grew up in Southern California and loves Jamaican culture, which might explain her choice of Zuma (a beach in Malibu) and Nesta (the middle name of reggae legend Bob Marley).

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HONOR MARIE: An honorable mention – sorry, we couldn’t resist – goes to the daughter of Jessica Alba and her husband, Cash Warren. Honor should get a lifetime of instant respect, based on her first name alone. Latin in origin, Honor means “woman of honor” and denotes glory, dignity and high rank.

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BUSTER TIMOTHY: The name Buster has been around a long time – all the way back to the silent film era when comic actor Buster Keaton used sight gags to get laughs. The moniker struck a chord with married actors Jonny Lee Miller and Michele Hicks, who chose to name their son Buster Timothy. The couple balanced the quirkiness with a way more traditional second name.

 

 

Amy, Janet among celeb train wrecks of 2008:  Surprisingly missing in action from celebrity trainwreck-itude: Britney, Lindsay and Paris. With those three behaving themselves, other stars angled for the title of Hot Mess of the Year. Here are five who made the cut: (Daily Record)

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AMY WINEHOUSE: The acclaimed soul singer continues to unravel in the public eye. Winehouse’s long list of problems – drug use, run-ins with the law and a dramatic marriage – seemingly multiplied this year after she won five Grammys for her 2006 album “Back to Black.” Concerns about her health grew as the 25-year-old Brit checked in and out of a London hospital, most recently for an allergic reaction to prescribed medication.

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GARY BUSEY AT THE OSCARS: Nobody brings the crazy quite like Gary Busey. The actor turned the Academy Awards’ red carpet into a danger zone this year when he ambushed Ryan Seacrest’s interviews with Jennifer Garner and Laura Linney. He stunned Garner with an unsolicited bear hug. He horrified the unflappable Seacrest, who ended the awkward moment by politely suggesting they catch up later in the evening – yeah, right. Busey, 64, is now on the second season of VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab,” where he tried to say he was part of the staff – until Dr. Drew Pinsky clarified that he’s a patient. When you don’t realize you have a problem, then you have problem.

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JANET JACKSON: The pop star – or is it pop has-been? – sank further into irrelevance as her new album tanked and she cut short her first North American tour in seven years due to health problems. In February, Jackson released the low-selling “Discipline,” which failed to reclaim the success of her previous multiplatinum albums; a month later, she dropped out of her performance on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” because she had the flu. Mariah Carey replaced her in the telecast. The 42-year-old sister of Michael Jackson made headlines again when she canceled a string of dates on her “Rock Witchu” tour. Why? She had been suffering from a bout of migraine-associated vertigo, which is characterized by dizziness, imbalance and other symptoms.

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HEATHER LOCKLEAR: The 47-year-old actress has had a tough year. Locklear, who divorced Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora in 2007, checked into an Arizona rehab facility to get treatment for anxiety and depression last summer. In September, she was arrested in Montecito, Calif., on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Locklear was later charged with a misdemeanor DUI incurred by prescription drugs, and is scheduled for arraignment next month. There may be hope yet: Looking fresh in a white dress, Locklear recently joked about her troubles on NBC’s “Tonight” show, telling host Jay Leno: “I am really looking forward to 2009.”

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THE O’NEAL FAMILY: Oh, what a mess. What a hot mess. Actor Ryan O’Neal and his children ran into trouble with the law for a series of drug busts. O’Neal – who was arrested in February following a scuffle with son Griffin – found himself embroiled in scandal yet again in September when police discovered drugs in his Malibu, Calif., home during a routine parole check on Redmond O’Neal, his son with Farrah Fawcett. Father and son were arrested and released on $10,000 bail; O’Neal’s lawyer denied any wrongdoing by the 67-year-old actor and asked a judge for more time to review evidence in the felony drug cases. O’Neal’s daughter, Tatum O’Neal, was arrested for allegedly buying cocaine near her New York apartment last summer; she attributed the slip-up in her sobriety to a moment of weakness. In a statement of support for her father and Redmond, she said: “Addiction, if untreated, can lead to jail, institutions and death. I love them both and I am sorry to hear about this.”

 

 

Former Hollywood has-beens turn it around in 2008:  Who woulda thunk it? After downward spirals, former Hollywood pariahs Britney Spears, Mickey Rourke and Robert Downey Jr. managed to turn it around this year. And file under TV turnaround: NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” became culturally relevant again. (Daily Record)

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BRITNEY SPEARS: What was more stunning – the fact that Spears snagged three MTV Video Music Awards (including video of the year) or that she looked like a million bucks while doing so? Either way, the pop star – sporting a glittering silver dress and a slimmer body – pulled a remarkable 180-degree turn from last year’s fiasco at the VMAs, when she trudged through a performance of “Gimme More.” It was a striking example of how far the 27-year-old mother of two has risen since her father, Jamie, took control of her financial and private affairs in February. Spears, who famously shaved her head during one of her public meltdowns, continues to gain career momentum and stability in her personal life. Delighting her fans, the “Womanizer” singer will kick off her first tour in five years this March.

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MICKEY ROURKE: The 52-year-old actor more or less peaced out from Hollywood after squandering his early potential with bad-boy behavior. But thanks to his leading role in “The Wrestler,” Rourke is reliving the critical acclaim of his work in films such as “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” “Diner” and “Rumble Fish.” Director Darren Aronofsky fought to cast Rourke against the concerns of financial backers; Aronofsky forged a comprise by settling on a lower budget of $6 million. So far, so good: Rourke is getting strong Oscar buzz, and the poignancy of his heartbreaking turn as a down-and-out celebrity wrestler itching to make a comeback isn’t lost on him. As he told The Associated Press: “There were some broken pieces I didn’t know how to fix that made me behave a certain way. … I wish I knew differently, because I put myself and a lot of other people through a lot of hell that I regret.”

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ROBERT DOWNEY JR: The charismatic actor went from cautionary tale to bankable movie star last summer for his performance in the Marvel Studios blockbuster “Iron Man,” which grossed $318.3 million domestically. He also got raves for his risk-taking role as an actor in blackface in “Tropic Thunder.” Like Rourke, Downey had trouble finding plum roles that exploited the depth of his talent after some personal trouble – and Downey’s dark path included a crippling battle with addiction that led to stints in jail and rehab. Now clean, Downey proved he could draw millions to the multiplex last summer as billionaire genius-turned-superhero Tony Stark. That’s something new for Downey, who previously acted in smaller-scale movies. And he’ll do it again: Marvel has tapped him to star in “Iron Man 2” and “The Avengers,” respectively slated for 2010 and 2011.

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“SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”: The NBC sketch-comedy show returned to sharp political satire this year – and the payoff was big. Dogged by dwindling ratings, “SNL” experienced a much-needed boost, finding inspiration in the presidential campaign and a savior in the multitalented Tina Fey. Fey’s spot-on impression of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin helped resurrect the show as appointment television for viewers who couldn’t get enough of her winking send-up of the Alaskan governor. Don’t rule out Amy Poehler’s brilliant Hillary Rodham Clinton or Jason Sudeikis’ teeth-baring Joe Biden. Time will tell if “SNL” can continue its winning streak. If the sketches are able to mine laughs from an Obama administration, then you betcha.

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CLORIS LEACHMAN: The bitingly funny actress gained a new generation of fans with her crowd-pleasing run on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” At 82, she wore sparkly dance costumes, sat in judges’ laps and cussed during the live television broadcast – displaying 1,000 times more personality than beauty queen Brooke Burke, who waltzed away with the mirror-ball trophy in the Nov. 26 finale. After her early dismissal, Leachman declared: “I’m not leaving.” Here’s hoping the star, who nabbed an Oscar for her supporting role in 1971’s “The Last Picture Show,” will be here to stay.

 

 

Celebrities get their day in court in 2008:  Stargazing at Los Angeles courthouses is common, but most of the A-list celebrity justice action took place away from Hollywood in 2008. Jurors in Florida, Chicago and Las Vegas decided the fates of top celebs in criminal cases, while New York played host to the year’s messiest divorce. Los Angeles wasn’t completely left out, thanks in large part to Britney Spears. Here’s a recap of stars who kept attorneys flush in billable hours: (Daily Record)

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WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS … : Thirteen years after his acquittal for his wife’s murder, jurors in Las Vegas pronounced judgment on O.J. Simpson. Guilty. The conviction came after authorities charged Simpson with spearheading the robbery of a sports memorabilia dealer in a Sin City hotel room.

Attorneys for the former football great and occasional actor claim jurors were out to punish Simpson for his murder acquittal and plan to appeal his conviction. A teary apology during sentencing didn’t change his fate. For at least the next nine years, and possibly as many as 33, Simpson will spend his days at a prison 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas – just outside the glow of that city’s lights and his former fame.

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AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER: Former model Christie Brinkley’s 10-year marriage to fourth husband Peter Cook may have ostensibly ended in 2006, but the couple’s weeklong divorce trial burned hotter than a heat wave. A week’s worth of testimony provided embarrassing details of Cook’s affair with an 18-year-old woman, his porn predilections and a psychiatrist’s assessment that he was “narcissistic.” Cook’s attorney likened the trial to a public flogging and, sure enough, it ended on a theatrical note. The couple settled the case after an all-nighter, with Brinkley gaining custody of her children and some property in the Hamptons. She left court carrying a dinosaur diorama she helped one of her children prepare. Cook walked away with about $2.1 million and very little dignity.

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IT’S BRITNEY, YOUR HONOR: Not all comebacks involve courtrooms and a cadre of lawyers, but Britney Spears’ sure did. The singer started out the year in meltdown but seemed better within months of a court awarding her father control of her personal and financial affairs. Along the way, Spears landed in just about every court possible: criminal, probate, family law, federal, appeals. All that to establish a conservatorship, settle a custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline and avoid a conviction on a misdemeanor driver’s license charge. The deal with Federline grants her more time with her children, and she managed to avoid further legal woes. None of this came cheap: she increased her monthly payments to Federline, paid his hefty attorney fees and continues to pay thousands of dollars a month to keep the conservatorship going. Is it any wonder her new album is called “Circus”?

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FREE BIRD: The man who belted out to audiences that he believed he could fly finally showed he would walk – on criminal charges. Jurors in Chicago acquitted R. Kelly of charges he videotaped himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. The monthlong trial ended with Kelly crying as his acquittal was read. Jurors never heard from Kelly, nor the young woman who prosecutors said appeared on the sex tape with the Grammy winner.

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THE TAXMAN COMETH: “Passenger 57” got a new identifier in ’08 – a federal prisoner ID number. A federal jury acquitted Wesley Snipes of tax fraud and conspiracy charges in February, but found him guilty of three counts of failing to file income tax returns. Snipes stopped paying taxes in 1999, and was convicted of failing to file returns for that year and 2000 and 2001. Government prosecutors wanted to make Snipes a poster child for why paying your taxes is essential. The “Blade” actor avoided more serious penalties, but a judge sentenced him to three years in federal prison – and that was after Snipes gave the government $5 million. He was also ordered to repay the costs of his prosecution. The credits haven’t quite rolled on this one yet: Snipes is appealing his convictions and remains free on bail.

 

 

MUSIC . . .

 

Britney Spears’ latest CD, “Circus,” has landed her back at a familiar position – No. 1. The singer’s comeback CD – actually, make that her second comeback CD – will top the album charts next week, according to her label, Jive. Though Nielsen SoundScan does not release its official figures until Wednesday, estimates have the record selling as many as 500,000 copies in its first week of release. “This is going to reinforce her icon status,” said Barry Weiss, chairman and CEO of the BMG Label Group, which includes Spears’ label. “It’s not just a No. 1 album.”

Indeed, it’s not. For Spears, who has rebounded after a disastrous year that included rehab, a custody battle for her two sons and court-ordered supervision by her father, it is another step in her bid to reclaim her status among pop’s elite. “At the end of the day, I think she is America’s pop princess, and the world’s pop princess, and this just reconfirms it to everyone who doubted it,” said her manager, Larry Rudolph. While her last CD, “Blackout,” also debuted at No.1 when it was released in October 2007, it quickly fizzled on the U.S. charts, despite receiving critical acclaim, because Spears didn’t really promote it amid the chaos in her life. Things appear to be different this time around. Spears has been showing off her dancing moves and taut body during high-profile appearances on shows like ABC’s “Good Morning America” and was also the focus of a documentary, “Britney: For the Record.” The special, executive produced by Rudolph, aired on MTV in the days before the release of “Circus.” “The documentary had a huge role,” said Rudolph. “People were able to see Britney, to see her tell her story. I think they got the true sense of who she is, and they appreciated it.” “Circus,” which debuted to mainly positive reviews, was released on the singer’s 27th birthday, Dec. 2. The CD’s first single, “Womanizer,” was a No. 1 hit, and her latest single, “Circus,” was the most added song at pop radio, her label said. Spears plans a nationwide tour that is set to kick off March 3 in New Orleans. Weiss said Jive decided to release “Circus” just a year after “Blackout” because of the strength of the music, and said recording the CD was a great constructive outlet for the singer. Rudolph said when it comes to crunching the numbers, Spears is not all that interested in how many copies she sold the first week or her chart positions. But, he added: “Professionally, she’s feeling great. … It’s great for her to hear that she’s got a No. 1 album again.” One of entertainment’s biggest names, Spears has been a multiplatinum sensation since she made her debut over a decade ago. She’s sold more than 30 million albums in the United States alone. (Daily Record)

 

Jennifer Hudson is getting back to work. The singer is set to begin filming a video next week for her single, “If This Isn’t Love,” according to her label, J Records. Hudson was due to film the clip in Los Angeles when her mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were discovered shot to death in their Chicago home on the city’s South Side on Oct. 24. The body of her nephew, 7-year-old Julian King, was found in a sport utility vehicle three days later. Hudson’s estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour, who is married to Hudson’s sister Julia, has been charged in the slayings. Prosecutors have said Balfour was upset Julia had been dating another man. Hudson has been in seclusion since the killings. However, she has thanked the public for their support since the tragedy, and last week issued a statement after she was nominated for four Grammy awards, including best R&B album for her self-titled debut. “It’s been a childhood dream of mine to release an album, so to receive four Grammy nominations is truly a blessing,” she said. “I am extremely honored and humbled by the nominations.” Hudson – also an Academy Award-winning actress – was reaching a new career peak at the time of the killings. She had just released her first CD, and was also starring in the movie “The Secret Life of Bees.” She was featured in the summer blockbuster “Sex and the City” and sang the national anthem the night President-Elect Barack Obama accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Denver. She has recently been featured in ads for the Gap, but those images were shot well before the murders. (Daily Record)

 

X Factor judge Cheryl Cole has revealed her desire to move into artist management. Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole has said she would like to break into pop management like her X Factor co-judges Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell. “Simon and I think alike and I’d like to manage some acts like he does,” she told The Sun when asked if she had any plans to develop young talent into successful acts. “Someone said I’m the female version of Simon – I don’t quite know how to take that!” (Handbag)

 

Singer Dido has been heavily criticized for including lyrics from an Irish Republican protest song on her new album. Dido has been slammed for including the lyrics from a controversial Irish Republican song on her new album. On new album track Let’s Do The Things We Normally Do the singer has used lined from The Men Behind The Wire, a tribute to provisional IRA men written by Paddy McGuigan and recently associated with extreme republican movements such as the Real IRA and Continuity IRA. In the track Dido sings ‘Armoured cars and tanks and guns, Came to take away our sons, But every man must stand behind, The men behind the wire.’ “Given her Irish roots, it is inconceivable that she doesn’t know the background of the wording,” Gregory Campbell, MP for East Londonderry angrily told the Daily Mail. “She must know it was written about people who were murderers, arsonists and terrorists. She should clarify her position so that her fans and the wider public knows where she stands on these things.” (Handbag)

 

Sources reveal exclusively to PerezHilton.com that German “band” Tokio Hotel has been lipsynching and miming all of their performances in America. The “band” has been playing a round of radio holiday shows recently, and according to multiple sources, the lead singer is not singing live and the band isn’t even playing their instruments live. Straight-up fakery! Our source even provided us with the band’s set list from one of the recent radio holiday shows, which indicates when to turn the mic back on for lead singer Bill Kaulitz to address the audience. Pathetic!!!!!! (Perez Hilton)

 

Death Cab For Cutie, Snoop Dogg, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Dashboard Confessional, Broken Social Scene and Girl Talk lead the bill for the seventh Langerado Music Festival, to be held March 6-8 at Bicentennial Park in Miami. Thievery Corporation, Slightly Stoopid, Flogging Molly, Chromeo, Mute Math, Black Kids, Gym Class Heroes, the Faint, the Pogues, Zac Brown Band, Matisyahu, Disco Biscuits, Umphrey’s McGree, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Michael Franti and Spearhead and the Virgins are also confirmed. Tickets go on sale Friday (Dec. 12) from Langerado.com. The event will also encompass late night shows in and around Miami, with details to be announced. Last year’s Langerado Festival, held at Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in the Florida Everglades, featured R.E.M., Built To Spill, Of Montreal, the Beastie Boys, the Roots, Gov’t Mule, 311, the National, Phil Lesh and Matisyahu, among others. The four-day festival drew about 25,000 people per day and grossed $4.3 million, according to festival co-producer Evan Schwartz. Schwartz told Billboard in September he and Langerado Festival co-producer Mark Brown have diversified the event’s lineup over the past four years. “We started out as a jam-oriented festival,” he said. “It’s more exciting for us to put together these lineups every year, because there is so much great music out there.” (Billboard)

 

U.K. rock act Blur will reform for an open-air show in London’s Hyde Park next summer. The band has been on hiatus following the campaign for its album “Think Tank” (Parlophone). The Hyde Park show takes place on July 3 and is promoted by Live Nation and Metropolis Music, in association with CMO management and booking agent X-Ray Touring. Guitarist Graham Coxon, who quit the band for a solo career in 2002, has signed up to the reunion, which features the full original lineup of frontman Damon Albarn, drummer Dave Rowntree and bassist Alex James. There has also been speculation in U.K tabloid the Sun that Blur will headline the Glastonbury festival in June, but there has been no official confirmation. Coxon last performed with Blur in 2000 at London’s Royal Festival Hall. While he has focused on solo albums, Albarn has worked on several projects outside Blur, including the animated group Gorillaz and the Mandarin language opera, “Monkey: Journey To The West.” The band, which formed 20 years ago, released seven studio albums, five of them reaching No. 1 in the U.K. (Billboard)

 

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead has put the finishing touches on its next album, “The Century of Self,” which is due Feb. 17. It will be the first release on the band’s Richter Scale imprint in conjunction with Justice Records. The tracks “Bells of Creation” and “Inland Sea,” which re-establish the dark, punishing rock of classics like 2002’s “Source Tags & Codes,” have already been previewed on the “Festival Thyme” EP. Other highlights include “Pictures of an Only Child,” which begins as a subdued wash of sound before bursting into a loud, chugging chorus; the bracing “Far Pavilions,” with shouted counterpoint vocals from drummer Jason Reece; and “Fields of Coal,” which has an inspirational chorus almost in the vein of an old field worker’s song. Elsewhere, acoustic guitar and piano carry “Luna Park,” while “Insatiable” is mostly frontman Conrad Keely and piano. “The Century of Self” was produced by Chris Coady (TV On The Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and features backing vocal contributions from members of Yeasayer and Dragons Of Zynth. “On the last two albums, we were really meticulous recording to click-tracks and doing overdubs,” Keely told Billboard in August. “This time, we threw all that out. We learned the songs and all tracked live.” A longtime Austin resident, Keely moved to New York a couple years ago and quickly found himself inspired by local bands such as Yeasayer and Dirty Projector. “Suddenly I was almost overloaded with all this new music, and wondering how we could come close to matching it?,” he says. “That inspiration came into a lot of the writing.” Here is the track list for “The Century of Self”:
“Giants Causeway”
“Far Pavilions”
“Isis Unveiled”
“Halcyon Days”
“Bells of Creation”
“Fields of Coal”
“Inland Sea”
“Luna Park”
“Pictures of an Only Child”
“Insatiable One”
“Ascending”
“An August Theme”
“Insatiable Two” (Billboard)

 

Jamie Foxx says he wanted his new album, “Intuition,” to bang a little harder than his chart-topping, double-platinum 2005 release “Unpredictable.” “‘Unpredictable” was more, like, slow, bedroom things, which was great but when I went on the road we had all these ballads, so sometimes I had to work a little harder to keep people’s attention,” the singer and actor tells Billboard.com. “With (‘Intuition’), we’ve got all these legitimate club, international hits and the tempo is up. People hear this record and go absolutely nuts for it.” Foxx spent the better part of the past two years working on “Intuition,” which comes out December 16 via J. He’s assembled a Grammy-pedigreed cast of guests and producers, including T.I. (on the first single, “Just Like Me”), Kanye West, the-Dream and Tricky Stewart, Ne-Yo, Fabolous, Timbaland and Floetry’s Marsha Ambrosius. “Number One,” with Lil Wayne, is currently being “floated” into the clubs, while “Blame It,” with T-Pain, is slated to be worked in mid-January. “I think people are slowly wanting to work with me more as far as music is concerned,” notes Foxx, who studied piano on a scholarship to United States International University. “I do run into a lot of roadblocks. I’ve been trying to break down those sort of preconceived thoughts that this is just a hobby to me or … ‘He’s already got enough.’ People want to work with you, but sometimes they don’t take it seriously until they hear the records and see the direction I’m going with. I think it’ll be even easier to get people to feature with me for the next record.” Foxx says that could come as early as a year from now as he seeks to “get my content up.” He plans to tour for “Intuition” in the spring, after he finishes a 10-week shoot for “Law Abiding Citizen,” a drama with Jerry Butler. His next film, “The Soloist” — the true-life story of homeless cello virtuoso Nathaniel Ayers — is due in theaters this March. “I just see something really high-energy,” Foxx says of the shows. “I see myself probably with Ne-Yo, out on the road, a little different demographic than what ‘Unpredictable’ was. A high-energy, great show — just hit ’em and quit ’em.” (Launch)

 

With archival releases, documentaries and even a Broadway musical on tap, Berry Gordy, Jr., says there will be nowhere to run and nowhere to hide from the celebration of Motown’s 50th anniversary during the coming two years. Gordy, who founded the Motown empire after securing an $800 loan from his family on January 12, 1959, tells Billboard.com that “I’ve been fighting to protect the legacy for 50 years, and now it seems that after 50 years we can go and talk about the real deal, what really happened … and how it happened, my story and everything that goes with it. And I’m just thrilled that I’m here to enjoy now what I couldn’t enjoy while I was doing it.” The official Motown 50th celebration kicks off Tuesday with the release of “Motown: The Complete No. 1’s,,” a 10-disc set housed in a package designed to look like the company’s original Hitsville U.S.A. headquarters in Detroit. Gordy and former Motown staffer Suzanne DePasse, who won a 1983 Emmy Award for the Motown 25th anniversary TV special, are also producing a Motown documentary that’s due to roll out in September. “It’s about me and … not only what I did and how I did it but how I felt doing it and what it was that happened, from my standpoint,” explains Gordy. Among the footage is a videotaped session of one of the company’s famed weekly Quality Control meetings, at which staffers argued over whether to release the Temptations’ “My Girl” as a single. A Broadway musical about Motown is due to open in 2010, and Gordy says there will also be “long-form, multi-part videos” about the company’s history “because there’s so much to tell. The documentary is just a two-hour thing.” Universal Music Enterprises, which handles Motown’s archival releases, is also planning to support the activity with online podcasts and other special features. More retrospective titles are expected to come out over the course of the celebration, and the Motown Historical Museum in Detroit is planning a series of special events for 2009, including an In Their Own Words series with Motown alumni that will kick off January 12, a Marvin Gaye exhibit in April and a pumped-up version of its annual gala and concert in November. “It’s just a unique situation,” Gordy notes, “and I’m the major recipient of that now because I can look back. It’s a different kind of enjoyment. I enjoyed making the records. I enjoyed dealing with the people. Now I can look at it a different way and say, ‘OK, we did it. We really did it.'” (Launch)

 

 

MOVIE . . .

 

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were accompanied by two special guests at Monday’s Los Angeles premiere of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Pitt’s mom and dad! Jane Etta Hillhouse and William Pitt walked the carpet with the couple. Pitt’s father was photographed with his arms around the actress. As for the clan’s holiday plans? “We’re feeling our way through it,” Pitt told Entertainment Tonight. “I’m very, very proud,” Jolie told a href=”http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/12/68632/index.html” target=”_blank”>ET. “Mainly, I have seen everyday he went to work just how hard he worked, how hard the director worked, and Cate [Blanchett] — and just how dedicated they were. It’s been a big process; it’s a very trying film. So, I am just so happy that it came out so beautifully and their work is going to be recognized. Jolie then asked Pitt’s mother what she though of the film. “I cried, it’s so beautiful,” she said. “It’s so touching. It’s lovely; it’s just a wonderful picture.” Pitt went on to say he is proud of Button (out Dec. 25) because it’s “in the vein of the classics. “And a kind of classic epic, dealing with life and love, and all that fantastic stuff, so yeah that’s the idea,” he added. He told ET that director David Fincher took the film to a whole new level “You can feel a film when something’s happening off the page,” Pitt said. “And yeah certainly felt it on this one. Fincher’s done an extraordinary, extraordinary job here. I find it quite special.” Pitt and Jolie weren’t the only A-Listers at Monday’s premiere: Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone and Eva Longoria Parker also turned out to watch the film, which follows the life of a man (Pitt) who is born old and ages backwards as he advances in years. (US Weekly)

 

Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler may soon be heating up the big screen. According to Variety, they’re in talks to headline an untitled bounty hunter comedy by the director of Hitch. The flick centers on a bounty hunter (Butler) who is hired to retrieve his ex-wife (Aniston), who has skipped bail. Shooting could begin in May. Aniston recently told USA Today she’d “like to” branch out movie-wise. “It’s good,” she said of the bounty hunter film. “It’s not definite yet.” Butler and Aniston were romantically linked earlier this year, but Butler laughed off rumors. When asked if he’s taken any ladies to lunch lately, he joked with Usmagazine.com, “Oh, you know, Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts, Cindy Crawford – and I may even get together with a single one.” (US Weekly)

 

In the annals of journalism, most people’s memories begin and end with the publication of the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate investigation. But if some serious-minded Hollywood filmmakers have their say, a third will be added to that vaunted list: the Arizona Project. Ben Affleck is in negotiations to follow up his directing debut, “Gone Baby Gone,” with the story of the death of Arizona journalist Don Bolles and the events it provoked. Sheldon Turner (“The Longest Yard”) has written the screenplay. Producer Sean Bailey (“Matchstick Men”) found the story — mostly forgotten outside Arizona — and brought it to Turner and Affleck, who developed a pitch and sold it to Miramax. In 1976, Bolles was a reporter for the Arizona Republic looking into political corruption and the convergence of New York, Chicago and Detroit mobsters in Phoenix. When lured to a downtown hotel by a source who didn’t show up, Bolles was blown up in his car. He died days later. The group of elite national journalists that Bolles had been trying to organize at the time, Investigative Reporters and Editors, responded to the murder by convening dozens of investigative reporters in Phoenix from 23 different newspapers and launching an unprecedented crusade to finish Bolles’ work. Although the result involved 40 articles exposing corruption in the state, many criticized the effort as vigilantism, including former presidential candidate and Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. Cori Stevens is executive producing. Justin Springer at Ideaology brought the project into the company. Turner, who is repped by CAA, is working on the Enron story “Conspiracy of Fools” with director Robert Schwentke for Warner Bros. and “X-Men Origins: Magneto” with director David Goyer for Fox. Bailey and Affleck, both Endeavor clients, have several other projects in development together. Affleck will next be seen on camera in the New Line comedy “He’s Just Not That Into You” in February. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

With eight nominations each, romantic fable “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and the political biography “Milk” are atop the list as the nominees for the fourth annual Critics Choice Awards, announced Tuesday morning. “The Dark Knight,” “Doubt” and “Slumdog Millionaire” followed close behind with six noms each. The Broadcast Film Critics Assn., representing more than 200 film critics in the U.S. and Canada, votes for the awards, which often proves to be a harbinger of Oscar nominations. To hedge its bets, the group nominates 10 movies for best picture: In addition to the aforementioned films, that group contained “Changeling,” “Frost/Nixon,” “The Reader,” “WALL-E” and “The Wrestler.” Clint Eastwood personally scored two noms — as best actor for his turn as an irascible ex-Marine in “Gran Torino” and as the composer of “Changeling.” In the best actor heat, he will face off against Richard Jenkins (“The Visitor”), Frank Langella (“Frost/Nixon”), Sean Penn (“Milk”), Brad Pitt (“Button”) and Mickey Rourke (“The Wrestler”). Pitt’s “Button” co-star Cate Blanchett was nominated for best actress, along with Kate Beckinsale (“Nothing but the Truth”), Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”), Angelina Jolie (“Changeling”), Melissa Leo (“Frozen River”) and Meryl Streep (“Doubt”). But while Eastwood could have been nominated for best director for both “Changeling” and “Gran Torino,” he didn’t make it into that category. Instead, the five directing nominees were Danny Boyle (“Slumdog”), David Fincher (“Button”), Ron Howard (“Frost/Nixon”), Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight”) and Gus Van Sant (“Milk”). Recognized among the best picture nominees, Disney/Pixar’s “WALL-E” also popped up in the animated film category along with “Bolt,” “Kung Fu Panda, “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” and “Waltz With Bashir.” Best feature nominee “The Dark Knight” also was nominated for best action movie along with “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “Iron Man,” “Quantum of Solace” and “Wanted.” The nominees for best comedy ranged from the dry humor of “Burn After Reading” and the cosmopolitan wit of “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” to broader jokefests such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Role Models” and “Tropic Thunder.” Two of “Milk’s” actors — James Franco, who plays Harvey Milk’s lover, and Josh Brolin, who appears as a political rival — were nominated in the best supporting actor category along with Robert Downey Jr. (“Tropic Thunder”), Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”) and the late Heath Ledger (“Dark Knight”). Kate Winslet failed in her bid for a best actress nomination for “Revolutionary Road” — her co-star in that film, Leonardo DiCaprio, also didn’t make the list of nominees — but she earned a supporting actress nom for “The Reader” and will compete with Penelope Cruz (“Barcelona”), Viola Davis (“Doubt”), Vera Farmiga (“Nothing but the Truth”), Traji P. Henson (“Button”) and Marisa Tomei (“The Wrestler”). The awards, set for Jan. 8 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, will be broadcast by VH1. The nominations, announced by Rosie Perez, “At the Movies” hosts Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz and VH1 president Tom Calderone, were announced Tuesday morning at the MTV Networks studios in Times Square. Other nominations included:  (Hollywood Reporter)

Best acting ensemble: “Button,” “Knight,” “Doubt,” “Milk” and “Rachel.”
Best writer: Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog”; Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”; Peter Morgan, “Frost/Nixon”; Eric Roth, “Button”; and John Patrick Shanley, “Doubt.”
Best young actor/actress (under 21): Dakota Fanning, “The Secret Life of Bees”; David Kross, “The Reader”; Dev Petal, “Slumdog”; and Brandon Walters, “Australia.”
Best picture made for television: “John Adams,” “Recount” and “Coco Chanel.”
Best foreign-language film: “A Christmas Tale,” “Gomorra,” “I’ve Loved You So Long,” “Let the Right One In,” “Mongol” and “Waltz With Bashir.”
Best documentary feature: “I.O.U.S.A.,” “Man on Wire,” “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,” “Standard Operating Procedure” and “Young at Heart.”
Best song: “Another Way to Die,” Jack White and Alica Keys/Jack White, “Quantum of Solace”; “Down to Earth,” Peter Gabriel/Peter Gabriel and Thoms Newman, “WALL-E”; “I Thought I Lost You,” Miley Cyrus and John Travolta/Miley Cyrus and Jeffrey Steele, “Bolt”; “Jaiho,” Sukwinder Singh/A.R. Rahman and Gulzar, “Slumdog”; and “The Wrestler,” Bruce Springsteen/Bruce Springsteen, “The Wrestler.”
Best composer: Alexandre Desplat, “Button”; Eastwood, “Changeling”; Danny Elfman, “Milk”; Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, “Dark Knight”; and A.R. Rahman, “Slumdog.”

 

 

TV . . .

 

Paula Abdul has laughed off rumors new American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi was hired to replace her, insisting the newest judge is her close friend, former roommate and songwriting partner. Abdul admits even show boss Simon Cowell had no idea the pair were pals when he gave DioGuardi a job on the judging panel of the hit reality TV series. But the singer is adamant Cowell has no chance of driving a wedge between them to create drama onscreen – because the pair have such a strong bond. She explains, “This one has backfired on him. Ten years ago on a rainy day in New York a girl comes up and says, ‘You’re Paula Abdul. There’s a signed thank you letter you wrote in my boss’ office.’ I asked who her boss was, and he was the president of Billboard magazine. So I invited her to lunch, and we wrote a song that day, on a napkin. “It turned out to be the biggest song for Kylie Minogue ever (Spinning Around). It hit number one all over Europe. I then listened to her demos and told her to give two weeks notice and I moved her into my home in L.A., and we became the best roommates. “She has since become one of the most successful songwriters. And now she is on this show, of all people.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Jay Leno is staying at NBC, and he’s moving to prime time. The network announced Tuesday that Leno will host a show five nights a week at 10 p.m. Eastern, after he leaves the “Tonight” show next year. The network had announced nearly five years ago that Conan O’Brien would move to “Tonight” and succeed Leno. The deal not only prevents Leno from moving to another network and competing with O’Brien, it also has the potential to be a big cost savings for NBC. A talk show is considerably cheaper to produce than the dramas that usually air at 10 p.m. Eastern. Leno could now deliver his nightly monologue and sketches to more viewers. Generally about 50 percent more people are watching TV at 10 p.m. than at 11:30 p.m. Dramas used to be a mainstay of network schedules, and NBC’s own history at the time slot includes “ER,” “Hill Street Blues,” “Law & Order” and “L.A. Law.” Yet dramas have been fading in recent years. One reason is digital video recorders; more people are watching shows they taped earlier than the live 10 p.m. shows. Ten years ago, “ER” was the top-rated show in television, with an average of 25.4 million viewers. This season, its last, “ER” is averaging 9.9 million viewers and is ranked No. 33 in prime time. Besides “ER,” NBC this season airs “Law & Order” and its “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” spinoff in the 10 p.m. time slot – both shows that could easily move to an earlier hour. “My Own Worst Enemy” and “Lipstick Jungle,” shows in the 10 p.m. hour on Monday and Friday, have already been canceled. NBC had said last summer that Leno’s last “Tonight” show would be on Friday, May 29, and that O’Brien would take over the following Monday, June 1. Jimmy Fallon is taking over the 12:30 a.m. time slot that O’Brien is vacating. (Daily Record)

 

Chuck and Blair can’t really be over…Can they? And Chuck doesn’t really go tumbling to his death…Right?! This is what many of you fellow Gossip Girl fans are asking (shrieking) after tonight’s heart-stopping episode, in which Blair finally said those three little words (“I love you”) only to be left behind—followed by a sneak peek of the next episode in which Chuck teeters over the edge of a building. Not only was tonight’s G.G. episode arguably the best of the season, it left behind some burning Q’s that, tragically, won’t be answered until next year. (That’s just cruel.) Lucky for you, I have answers right now… Though it might not seem like there is much hope for a shiny, blissed-out future for our beloved Chuck (Ed Westwick) and Blair (Leighton Meester), a reliable insider assures me, “Chuck and Blair aren’t just the Gossip Girl couple of the moment. They are the core Gossip Girl couple of the series. So you definitely will see much, much more of them in the days to come. The dance has just begun.” What did you think of tonight’s episode? Pretty great, no? What do you think is in store for Chuck and Blair, and when—if ever—do you think that mother-Chucker will say “I love you” back to his Queen? Post in the comments! What did you think of tonight’s episode? Pretty great, no? What do you think is in store for Chuck and Blair, and when—if ever—do you think that mother-Chucker will say “I love you” back to his Queen? Post in the comments! (Eonline)

 

The “Wipeout” set looks like the world’s largest playground. Candy-colored ramps, rope swings, slides and bouncy big balls. You know it’s a complete mirage. You know the course is treacherous, specifically designed to make runners face-plant, and that most parents wouldn’t let their kids anywhere near it. Yet from a distance, your inner adolescent wants to run straight down the launch ramp. ABC’s “Wipeout” is shot on a sprawling ranch in Santa Clarita, Calif. The crew is readying 16 hours for a second season in the summer with a new array of obstacles to trip up contestants.  “We changed 95% of the course, but we kept the Big Balls,” said executive producer Matt Kunitz, referring to the show’s signature inflated obstacle. “We want it to be like ‘The Price Is Right,’ where we’re constantly changing the course but sometimes bringing back favorite games with new twists.” The secret to the show’s comedy, Kunitz said, is to avoid having contestants fall straight down. “The Big Balls — we never knew they were going to be great,” he said. “With them you get an uncontrollable fall. If somebody falls straight into the water, it’s not interesting. If somebody falls and ricochets off something, it’s funny.” This past summer, it was reality shows that were falling uncontrollably, though broadcasters didn’t find much amusing about it. “Wipeout” was the only new title to break out. Nowadays, such a success usually means that the show immediately would be drafted into service filling a slot in-season. But ABC elected to save the show until the summer — aside from counterprogramming the Super Bowl on Feb. 1.  “I prefer that,” Kunitz said. “We don’t want to burn out. We did 39 hours of ‘Fear Factor’ one year. I’d rather have 16 hours and run for many years.” Another shakeup for the second season: no helmets, so viewers can better see contestants’ faces. When asked if that means increasing the danger, Kunitz said the softness of the course’s surfaces prevents the sort of injuries a helmet protects against.  “We spend hundreds of thousands on foam,” he said. “This is like nothing that wouldn’t happen in a backyard game of touch football.”  Still, insuring the contestants isn’t cheap. The company pays roughly $2,000 to insure each person who runs the course. “Wipeout” may not look it to the casual viewer, but it’s one of the more expensive reality shows on television. Along with the equipment, there’s a special effects crew, stunt team, medical team — 300 people working on the series. “Any stunt show is expensive, but we’re still one-third the cost of a scripted show,” Kunitz said.  The show’s success has had one potential spoiler — a lawsuit from a Japanese broadcaster claiming that the format for “Wipeout” was knocked off from several previous obstacle-course programs, shows that air in the U.S. under the titles “MXC” on Spike TV and “Ninja Warrior” on G4.  Kunitz points out he and fellow executive producer Scott Larsen’s background producing shows such as “Real World-Road Rules Challenge,” “Dog Eat Dog” and “Fear Factor” — all series with physical competitions.  “I challenge you to find producers who have more experience doing stunt-based shows.” Kunitz said. “We thought it was time to bring back a show like ‘Fear Factor,’ only more family oriented, and that became ‘Wipeout.’ I don’t believe anybody can claim to own the idea of doing an obstacle course.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

A terrible fall season at NBC is forcing the network to consider scaling back the number of hours it airs programming, Chief Executive Jeff Zucker told an investor conference. While NBC will continue to fund the creation of pilots, Zucker told analysts at a media investor conference sponsored by UBS on Monday that NBC is considering cutting the number of hours or perhaps even the number of nights it provides programming. “Can we continue to program 22 hours of prime-time? Three of our competitors don’t. Can we afford to program seven nights a week? One of our competitors doesn’t,” Zucker said. “All of these questions have to be on the table. And we are actively looking at all of those questions.” Zucker’s comments came after the company last week laid off 500 employees – about 3 percent of its work force of 15,000 – as part of a plan to trim $500 million next year. Part of the problem at NBC has to do with the economic crisis and slowdown in advertising revenue in a market that is “as difficult as any we’ve seen,” Zucker said. “Businesses are just afraid to commit.” Zucker said he did not blame the poor ratings at NBC on NBC Entertainment co-chairmen Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff. “We have not had a good fall at NBC. I don’t think that’s lost on anyone,” he said, adding, “but in no way have we lost confidence in either one of them.” Zucker also said there needs to be a major change at its 10 owned-and-operated local TV stations, which have been hard-hit by a decline in advertising, especially from the auto sector. “We’re in an era where if we don’t change the models of these local TV stations, we will be newspapers, we will be car companies,” he said. “I don’t want to be a company that files for bankruptcy.” NBC was doing stronger on the cable network front, and Zucker said he expects revenues from its cable channels, which include Bravo, USA Network and MSNBC, to grow in the double-digit percentages next year. In 2009, double-digit growth in cable advertising and single-digit growth in affiliate fees will lift the division, which accounts for 60 percent of the profit at the company, a unit of General Electric Co., he said. “Every one of our cable networks … are going to enjoy their best year ever this year both from a financial standpoint and a ratings standpoint,” Zucker said. “We believe that will again be the case in 2009.” (Daily Record)

 

DirecTV hasn’t felt a hit from the economic downturn but is playing it safe nonetheless due to an uncertain outlook for economy and financial markets. The satellite TV giant has instituted a hiring freeze and focused capital spending on critical projects amid the downturn, Jonathan Rubin, senior VP financial planning and investor relations, said here Tuesday. Speaking at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, he said “to date the economy has not had a material impact on our business.” He added that the company remains “bullish” on 2009 despite the weaker economy and “quite bullish” on its subscriber gross additions momentum in 2009. Churn, or customer turnover, will go a touch higher for the current fourth quarter, but churn for all of 2008 will end below 2007 levels, he added. Nonetheless, Rubin warned it would be “naive” to assume a sharp downturn couldn’t affect business momentum down the line, which has led DirecTV to freeze its headcount and focus on the most important capital spending projects.  For example, the company will launch a new satellite, DirecTV 12, in 2009, bringing its national HD channel offering to 200, Rubin said. But another launch has been pushed back because of the uncertain economic outlook. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

U.K. satellite TV giant BSkyB sees opportunities to more aggressively market to cost-conscious consumers in this economic downturn. The company, controlled by News Corp., is looking to push the value of bundled services, CFO Andrew Griffith said here Tuesday at the annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. TV customers who also sign up for broadband services from the company can save more than 200 pounds ($296) per year, and call center staff getting rings from users asking for savings will highlight this opportunity, he said. Griffith also argued that content is key in a downturn. “Great content is more important than ever at a time when customers spend more time at home,” he told the UBS crowd. Later, he also said TV viewing seems to have increased in recent weeks and months amid a deepening economic downturn. Asked about upcoming big content deal negotiations, Griffith said talks with the Premier league for U.K. soccer rights should start in the first quarter. BSkyB has a three-year deal through mid-2010 for four Premier league packages out of the league’s six. Setanta holds the other two. Griffith called the soccer rights “an important piece of content” and said it “drives value for our customers.” He didn’t comment further on how aggressively BSkyB could bid for the rights. Asked about a possible play for broadband TV and telephony provider Tiscali, he wouldn’t comment in detail, but said BSkyB takes a “pretty skeptical gaze” at any potential broadband acquisition, arguing the company can meet its goals alone. For any broadband deal to make sense, “you’d have to believe there are real, tangible synergies,” Griffith said. He signaled that the potential upside to Tiscali’s reach could be attractive. Griffith also touted BSkyB’s HD offerings, which now amount to 29 channels and more than 11,000 hours of programming per month, he said. That’s 40 times the amount offered by cable competitors, he added. Griffith argued there is more HD upside given that only 7% of customers currently subscribe to HD services. Other areas of potential future growth are bundled services and the digital switchover. Only 12% of BSkyB users take TV, broadband and telephony services, the CFO said. The digital switchover by the end of 2012 means that up to 3.3 million analog-only TV users will be up for grabs, and BSkyB expects to win its share of those, Griffith said. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

 

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . . (Mike Butts Creative)

 

Q.  There are 2 of these for every Man, Woman and Child in the USA?

            A.  Radios

 

 

TODAY’S QUOTE (By Helen Gahagan Douglas)

 

“CHARACTER ISN’T INHERITED. ONE BUILDS IT DAILY BY THE WAY ONE THINKS AND ACTS, THOUGHT BY THOUGHT, ACTION BY ACTION.”

 

 

MIND BOGGLERS . . . (QuickTrivia)

 

Q.  In the 1970’s, who famously wore Beauty Mist pantyhose in TV ads?

            A.  Muhammad Ali

            B.  Burt Reynolds

            C.  Joe Namath  ****

            D.  Paul Newman

 

Q.  What is a doggerel?

            A.  Weapon

            B.  Poem  ****

            C.  Instrument

            D.  Tree

 

Q.  What is the name of the green-shag ogre that is the Philadelphia Phillies’ mascot?

            A.  Slider

            B.  Billy the Marlin

            C.  The Phanatic  ****

            D.  Sluggrrr

 

Q.  Matt Frewer played Max Headroom, but he also provided the first-ever voice for which pussy cat?

            A.  Felix the Cat

            B.  Pink Panther  ****

            C.  Fritz the Cat

            D.  Garfield

 

Q.  What band recorded the 1978 hit album: “Briefcase full of Blues”?

            A.  Rockitfile

            B.  Blue Attitude

            C.  Legal Reasons

            D.  The Blues Brothers  ****

 

Q.  What predominantly Moslem country has a Hindu eagle as its national emblem?

            A.  Nepal

            B.  Pakistan

            C.  Indonesia  ****

            D.  Sri Lanka

 

 

SELF MAGAZINE . . .  (December 2008)

 

Cities:

 

Cleanest Air: Tuscon AZ

Dirtiest Air: Los Angeles, CA

 

Cleanest Water: Colorado Springs, CO

Dirtiest Water: Philadelphia, PA

 

Fewest toxic Sites: Austin, TX

Most Toxic Sites: Bakersfield, CA

 

Most Sunshine: Phoenix, AZ

Least Sunshine: Tacoma, WA

 

Least Depression: Nassau- Suffolk counties, NY

Most Depression: Bakersfield, CA

 

Least Suicides: Nassau-Suffolk Counties, NY

Most Suicides: Colorado Spring, CO

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

 

FORAGING FOR YOUR FOOD:

 

If you’re looking for a culinary experience that takes you back to nature, how about foraging? Foraging means you pick the ingredients for your next meal, which guarantees that your food is fresh and local. WaterColor Inn in Northwest Florida offers a four-day foraging package for $1,500. Adventurous foodies learn how to harvest honey, go crabbing, and even try something called oyster tonging and flounder gigging. After all your hard work, chefs prepare your harvested goods into a meal for you. At the Treetops Luxury Lodge and Estate in New Zealand, a Maori [MOW-ri] chief helps you forage for edible bites along an indigenous food trail, starting at $185 per person. If you’re short on time, New York naturalist Steve Brill leads half-day tours around Central Park to help you track down edible plants such as wild garlic, sassafras and mustard greens. 

 

(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.)

 

 

MIKE BUTTS CREATIVE . . .

 

EMERGENCY JOKEBOX:

 

HOW MANY STAND- UP COMICS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?  NONE—THEY JUST STEAL SOMEBODY ELSE’S LIGHT! J

 

 

GOT A G.P.S.- COOL: J

 

MY WIFE GOT ME A MAGELLEN GPS FOR MY BIRTHDAY—ITS VERY COOL! GREAT DETAILS—YOU CAN SEE THE ROUTE AS YOU DRIVE—A VOICE TELLS

YOU  WHEN A TURN IS COMING UP—IT TELLS YOU WHEN TO TURN WITH A VOICE AND A CHIME—AND EVEN HAS HELPFUL LITTLE “ICONS” ON EACH

ROUTE TELLING YOU WHAT’S COMING UP—LIKE A LITTLE “$ DOLLAR SIGN FOR A BANK—A GAS PUMP FOR A GAS STATION—TO LET YOU KNOW THE

ROAD HAS A LIQUOR STORE IT HAS A LITTLE ICON OF A MAN HOLDING A BOTTLE IN A BROWN PAPER BAG AND STUMBLING ALL OVER—IT LOOKS

LIKE  MEL GIBSON. J

 

I PASSED BY_______________GOLF COURSE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GPS SCREEN LIT UP GREEN.

 

IT’S SO ACCURATE THAT YOU TEND NOT TO LOOK AT THE SCREEN—YOU JUST TRUST THE VOICE AND DO WHAT IT TELLS YOU!

 

THAT’S FINE WHEN EVERYTHING IS OK–BUT WHAT IF YOUR GPS BECAME POSSESSED LIKE HAL 9000 IN 2001.( Twilight zone Sign Post Up Ahead)

 

ACCELERATE TO 100 MILES PER HOUR!! Wheeee- That  WAS FUN—slam on the brakes!!! Put your left foot in—put your left foot out-do the Hokey Pokey and move it all

about—WHAT IF SATAN GOT AHOLD OF IT? TURN INTO ONCOMING 18 WHEELER.

 

 

BIRTHDAYS . . .

 

—1830  Poet Emily Dickinson (d. 5-15-1886)

—1910  Actor Dennis Morgan (21 Beacon Street)

—1911  News Anchor Chet Huntley (d. 3-20-1974)

—1914  Actress Dorothy Lamour (Road to Rio) (d. 9-22-1996)

—1923  Actor Harold Gould (Rhoda)

—1928  Actor Dan Blocker (Bonanza) (d. 5-13-1972)

—1941  Actor Tom Rettig (Lassie) (d. 2-15-1996)

—1943  Musician Chad Stuart (Chad & Jeremy) (“Yesterday’s Gone”)

—1946  Actress/Singer Gloria Loring (“Friends and Lovers”)

—1946  Musician Walter Orange (The Commodores) (“Easy”)

—1948  Musician Ralph Tavares (Tavares) (“Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel”)

—1951  Musician Frank Beard (ZZ Top)

—1952  Actress Susan Dey (L.A. Law)

—1954  Musician Jack Hues (Wang Chung)

—1956  Actor/Comedian Sinbad (First Kid)

—1958  Musician/Producer Paul Hardcastle (19)

¾1958  Singer Tim Lawter (Marshall Tucker Band) (“Can’t You See”)

—1959  Basketball’s Mark Aguirre

—1960  Singer Pepsi Demacque (Pepsi & Shirlie)

—1960  Actor Kenneth Branagh (Henry V)

—1961  Singer/Actress Nia Peeples (“Fame”)

 

 

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

 

Today is HUMAN RIGHTS DAY. This is also HUMAN RIGHTS WEEK.

—1817  Mississippi became the 20^th state. The state capital is Jackson, their state flower is magnolia.

—1869  Wyoming became the first state in the union to allow women to vote and hold public office. According to historians, it had less to do with equal rights than with attracting female settlers, since there was a big shortage of women in the state. (A state where men are men and the sheep are nervous).

—1898  The US and Spain signed a treaty ending the Spanish-American War. Cuba got its independence … more or less . . . and the US got Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

—1907  University of Chicago professor Albert Michelson, known for his research on the speed of light and optics, became the first US scientist to receive the Nobel Prize.

—1927  The “WSM Barn Dance” officially becomes the Grand Ole Opry.

—1946  The first Toys for Tots Campaign organized

—1955  TV premiere of “The Mighty Mouse Playhouse” on CBS.

—1958  National Airlines inaugurated the first commercial passenger jet service in America, between NY and Miami.

—1959  The four male members of the Platters are acquitted of lewdness and abetting prostitution charges. Despite the exoneration, negative publicity does irreparable damage to the group’s career.

—1960  Elvis Presley’s “G.I. Blues” album enters the British album chart at number one within a few days of its release.

—1960  Walt Disney’s movie “Swiss Family Robinson” was released in movie theaters.

—1962  The Alan Freed payola trial begins in NY. He eventually pleads guilty to accepting $2000 for airplay but is fined only $300 and receives six months probation.

—1963  Six-year-old Donny Osmond made his signing debut on the Andy Williams Show.

—1964  Dr. Martin Luther King becomes the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize

—1964  Lorne Greene’s song “Ringo” is a top 5 hit.

—1966  “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys is the top single in the US.

—1967  Otis Redding (b. 9/9/41) and four members of the Bar-Kays are killed in a plane crash near Madison, WI.

—1976  Paul McCartney releases “Wings Over America.”

—1984  Band – Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas” is released.

—1988  Aerobic Beat magazine names its top workout songs: Tiffany – “I Saw Him Standing There,” Escape Club – “Wild Wild West,” Michael Jackson – “The Way You Make Me Feel”

—1988  “Look Away” by Chicago peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart.

—1991  “Hook” starring Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts and directed by Steven Spielberg opened in theaters.

¾2007  Actor Chris O’Donnell (b. 6-26-1970) & wife Caroline welcomed their 5^th child into the world. Maeve Francis was born on this date in Los Angeles., joining her sister Lily and 3 brothers.

 

 

RADIO ONLINE® DAILY SHOW PREP™ . . .

 

ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1520, Martin Luther burned a papal edict… although he blamed the dog.

In 1869, Wyoming gave women the right to vote. It was cheaper than actually buying each one a gift. On this date in 1898, the Spanish-American war ended… except in parts of Los Angeles.

In 1958, the first commercial jet flight took passengers from New York to Miami… and luggage from New York to Pittsburgh.

TODAY IS

Michael Clarke Duncan turns 45 today. He’s a big dude. We wouldn’t be surprised if someday, he applied for statehood. Actually, he was born on December 10th, 11th and 12th. Big baby. Singer Nia Peeples turns 47 today. You know, people who need Peeples are the luckiest people in the world.

Susan Dey turns 56 today. She started out her career with “The Partridge Family,” which was tough. You try sitting in a pear tree all the time.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

·         Dennis Yost, lead singer of the Classics IV (“Spooky,” “Stormy” and “Traces of Love”) has died in an Ohio hospital. He was 65. Yost died Sunday at Fort Hamilton Hospital in Hamilton, northwest of Cincinnati.

·         The brother of Mark Ruffalo has died a week after he was shot in the head. Scott Ruffalo, 39, died late Monday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

·         Cancer will overtake heart disease as the world’s top killer by 2010. Why? Rising tobacco use in developing countries is believed to be a huge reason for the shift, particularly in China and India, where 40% of the world’s smokers now live.

·         In case you missed it, NBC’s current plan is to move Jay Leno to 10pm (9pm central) five nights a week, when Conan O’Brien takes over the Tonight Show in May.

·         One of the hot sellers in Japan these days: bras for men. To help support their man-boobs.

·         According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine only 59% of high schoolers buckle up when they’re behind the wheel, and even fewer, 42% do so when they’re passengers, reports a recent study.

·         The big controversy in London tonight will be a televised assisted suicide. A terminally ill man will be shown ending his own life.

·         Kiefer Sutherland got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday.

·         Josh Holloway, who plays Sawyer on ABC’s Lost, and wife Yessica Kumala are expecting their first child together in 2009.

·         Oprah has confessed: she now tips the scales at 200 pounds.

·         A group is organizing “Day without a Gay,” to show the impact of how much our world depends on gay people. To demonstrate that point, today is the day you’re supposed to “call in gay” to work. (instead of sick)

·         Men in their 40s and 50s who eat seven or more eggs a week have a higher risk of dying earlier, according to a 20-year study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

·         While everyone’s talking about Caroline Kennedy filling Hillary Clinton’s senate seat, Fran Drescher has said in an interview that she’d be interested.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

The most dreaded holiday gift is a necktie. According to a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of eBay, neckties are the gift men most dread, with 24% ranking them as their least wanted holiday gift. Coming in right behind are flowers (12%) and candles (8%). Here’s the top 5 most desired gifts:

1.      Gift cards — So what’s the most desired gift this holiday season? It’s the one people choose themselves. 64% ranked gift cards at the top of their wish list.

2.      Consumer Electronics — And for men, bigger is still better. More men than women reported that they would prefer to receive bigger personal electronics items this holiday season, such as a high-definition TV (20%), LCD TV (10%) and Blu-ray DVD player (7%). More women said they favor compact gadgets like a digital or video camera (26%) or iPod (9%). In addition, 26% they wanted a laptop computer.

3.      A Passion for Fashion — 48% said they would most like to receive apparel, with jeans and a blouse or shirt at the very top of fashion fanatics’ holiday lists. Shopping for men is always hard, but you won’t go wrong if you buy the man in your life a nice pair of jeans. That’s right, more men than women want jeans this holiday season (24%of men vs. 16% of women).

4.      Games — Of those who indicated they most want a gaming system for the holidays, 44% want a Nintendo system (with 43% wanting a Wii), while only 33% a Sony system (with 31% wanting a PS3).

5.      Totally cellular — Overall, the Apple iPhone is the smart phone of choice for those who indicated they would most like to receive one this holiday season (35%). The BlackBerry is also a favorite among women, with 47% of women wanting to receive one compared to just 11% of men.

Feminists are protesting a new line of sexy lingerie equipped with GPS tracking devices. “It’s outrageous to think that men can buy this, program it, give it to their partners and then monitor them,” fumes women’s rights activist Claudia Burghart. “It’s really nothing more than a chastity belt for insecure men.” Brazilian designer Lucia Lorio, who created the controversial outfit of lace bodice, bikini panties, faux pearl collar and GPS unit, claims the high tech undies could take a bite out of crime. “some women are not interested in buying it for protection,” she says. “In London, New York, Rio de Janeiro wherever there’s danger, the underwear may prove to be a lifesaver.” (Sun)

Close that crime novel and turn off scary TV shows. Thinking about death makes you anxious, which can cause you to eat more, according to new research. Volunteers who wrote essays about death consumed 25% more cookies than those who wrote about a less terrifying topic. Overindulging in food helps many escape dark thoughts, possibly because the physical sensation of chewing is distracting, says study coauthor Naomi Mandel, associate professor of marketing at W.P. Carey School of Business. (Family Circle)

PHONE TOPICS

·         How about that time you got pulled over by the police and DIDN’T get a ticket?

·         If I ask about the coolest Christmas present you ever got, what would that be?

·         What are you asking Santa for this year?

·         Will you watch Jay Leno at his new 10pm slot?

·         What’s the dumbest photo that someone can find of you online?

·         What’s the very worst disaster your kid ever created?

·         Who’s the one relative that drives you nuts? (yeah, only one)

·         “I’m stuck” stories?

·         Who is the one actor that should just give it up? Who is your favorite leading man or leading lady?

·         Stars you met backstage, or on the street, that were jerks?

·         What music CD of your spouse’s do you want to destroy?

·         The last thing he did that he thought was romantic but really wasn’t?

·         Shaving accidents? Men and women knicking themselves while shaving and having a date or a job interview, etc. Lots of embarrassing stories.

·         Disclosure in marriages? Have you told your spouse about everyone you’ve been with before them? Sexually obviously.

·         What secret have you sat on long enough that NOW you can tell?

How do you think Obama is doing with the transition? Nearly eight in 10 Americans questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey out this week are giving the president-elect the thumbs up when it comes to his handling of the transition. Seventy-nine percent approve of Obama’s performance so far during transition, with 18 percent disapproving. Obama’s approval rating is 14 points higher than the approval rating for President-elect George Bush in 2001 and 17 points higher than President-elect Clinton’s rating in 1992.

Is it more important than ever to buy American? My cohost and I talked about how the media is not pushing the story of buying American during our down turn in the economy. How come no one is talking about this? I think some people have just accepted the fact that other countries can make cars better than we can. Are we just rolling over and hoping for a miracle? What do you think?

Occasionally, I let a four letter word slip in front of my two-year old. I forgot that she repeats everything I say. So, to the phones we go. We asked what people use instead of the traditional four-letter fare. Some of our more honorable mentions included: “great-googly noogly,” “Hassennpheffer,” “alakazam” and “Frik & Frak,” my personal favorite.

A friend of mine left for a vacation last week and I was surprised to find out she’s terrified of flying. She’s a strong, confident woman so when she first mentioned it to me, I immediately launched into an ad-lib that was designed to make it worse. It wasn’t until she burst out crying that my little male mind realized that was a mistake and then I was committed to being a therapist and cheerleader. On the upside, it did provide us with a topic! We took calls from people who were also scared to fly and tried to pick their minds to find out why and what they did to deal with it. The most common approach seemed to be drink a lot. It also brought up the question of why we (mostly male, I think) enjoy teasing someone when they admit a fear.

Do you fight over the remote? Seriously fight? Do you constantly fight over which channel you watch in your house? How do you decide when you watch what?

Phoner: Anyone look forward to their holiday office party? Everyone I know doesn’t seem to like going. But, if you must, here’s how you can survive your corporate holiday get-together. (from Karen Grigsby Batesis of NPR News)

·         Talk about your silver linings! It doesn’t matter whether you’re treated to a five-course dinner at a spiffy restaurant or Cheez Whiz on Ritz crackers “what happens at the office holiday party can affect your professional life well into the next year. To keep yourself out of the minefield that’s packaged as holiday merriment, remember: The important word in the phrase “office holiday party” is office. In other words, it’s still work, just in dressier clothes and with liquor.

·         Do I Have To Go? It’s work, remember? And if you work in a place where you’re One of the Few (that’s anything that represents the non-majority in your office), your absence will be duly noted. So mark your calendar and plan to be there. It’s what, maybe four hours out of your life? So go, already; you’ll probably enjoy it more than you think you will.

·         What Do I Wear? Dress festively, but not the same way you would for a night out on the town with your friends. If you’ve worked hard at the gym all year and want to show off your new form, do it in a dress that’s pretty but not provocative.

·         Who Do I Bring? If you’re allowed to bring a guest, bring someone who will enjoy meeting your colleagues and who will be discreet enough to remember the gossip you’ve shared while connecting the dots mentally, rather than out loud.

·         Can I Drink? Sure”as long as you drink very modestly and make your drink last a very long time. Some people self-impose a two-drink maximum. We all know that interesting, sometimes disastrous, things happen when office politics mixes with liberal quantities of alcohol. Far better to drink less and be one of the people who remembers the fool who re-created the Madonna-Britney smooch on the dance floor with the boss’s wife, instead of being one of the smoochers in question.

·         What If Someone Says or Does Something That’s Totally Out? Repeat: Alcohol and office politics are a dangerous mixture.

·         Do I Have To Stay Till The End? Usually, no. If you arrive at the end of drinks, stay for dinner and quietly slip away soon after, you’ve done your duty. (If people beg you to stay, you can always murmur something about needing to relieve the babysitter if you have children, or breakfast with out-of-town friends the next day.) Whenever you’re back in the office, remember to thank whoever was responsible for the evening.

December is actually the sixth-busiest month for dining out, according to the National Restaurant Association. (August is tops). But the crowds — and people’s patience — seem to be at their tipping point this time of year. Do you have any tips or tricks on getting a table at a busy restaurant? A friend of mine, always says her friend is Diabetic and that she needs food fast. She says it works sometimes.

What does your woman bring up on an annual basis or whenever her latent anger is triggered? Tell the ladies they should thank us for forgetting everything, because otherwise we’d be fighting all the time. Forgetting is just our way of letting go.

Do women still feel a lot of pressure if they’re not married by a certain age? Our calls indicated that’s still a problem, depending on what your family is like. Anyone’s parents just finally give up? Ladies, any advice for other women dealing with this, or the when are you going to have a baby pressure?

We received a listener letter about a little boy that liked to play dress up in a ballerina tutu. Should little boys be able to play dress up (and dress like girls). And what about little boys who ask Santa for an Easy Bake Oven! Is this strange for a little boy to be ask for girl toys, or do all little boys go through a period where they want “girl toys?”

Have you ever snooped in your spouse’s diary? What did you find? Anyone find out about a secret lover by snooping in the diary? Did you approach them about it?

Christmas by the numbers (Source: U.S. Postal Service):

·         19 billion letters, packages and cards the U.S. Postal Service expects to deliver between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

·         960 million cards and letters the postal service expects to process on its busiest day – Monday, Dec. 15.

·         826 million first-class letters the postal service expects to process daily during the holiday season, up from the usual 700 million daily.

·         12 million packages the postal service expects to deliver daily on average through Christmas Eve.

U.S. Postal Service holiday shipping deadlines:

·         Dec. 4: Military mail destined for Iraq or Afghanistan.

·         Dec. 11: Military mail to other international destinations.

·         Dec. 16: Parcel post, the most economical service.

·         Dec. 20: First class and priority mail.

·         Dec. 23: Express mail.

My co-host wears a lot of jewelry. As we were discussing it, we started getting calls from gals and guys who had even more on. We talked to a lady wearing 24 pieces including 9 toes rings, 12 rings on her fingers and a triple tongue piercing.

What kind of weird things do you do around the holidays? Do you wait until Christmas Eve to buy your tree? Does Santa wrap your presents or does he leave them out on Christmas morning? Tell us about your crazy holiday rituals.

Crappy Christmas movies? We opened up the phones to take calls on crappy Christmas movies – just to bring a little scrooge into the mix. It was fun and a nice break from all that holiday cheer! Bah! Humbug!

What’s in your wallet? You know… it’s the hook line from those credit card commercials. Have people call in and tell you what’s in their wallet. But start with yourself first. This can be hilarious.

The only thing a diary is good for is getting you in trouble. My co-host left her diary out on her nightstand and worried all morning that her boyfriend would read it. Of course he’s gonna read it! Would you? Good mix of calls.

WEIRD NEWS

The Upside To a Nagging Wife
Sometimes — and we emphasize sometimes — a nagging wife can be a good thing. In Auckland, New Zealand, one man’s nagging wife led him to a $4.2 million dollar lottery win! He said, “My wife had been nagging me all week to get a ticket, so I when saw the Lotto sign I sprinted in to get the ticket before they closed.” He just made it — making his lottery ticket purchase just two minutes before the deadline. He added that the young married couple had had a “rough” couple of years, reduced to just one income after having children and said, “I have never been so glad to listen to my wife’s nagging.” (myway.com)

Really Bad Smugglers
29-year-old Gypsy Lawson and her mother, 55-year-old Fran Ogren of Spokane, Washington, have been convicted in federal court after the worst smuggling idea we’ve ever heard. Gypsy had sedated a rhesus monkey she got while in Thailand and tried to smuggle the animal into the United States by hiding it under her blouse and pretending to be pregnant. She actually made it through U.S. Customs in Los Angeles after a trip to Bangkok but the monkey was later discovered. The two women were found guilty on separate charges of conspiracy and smuggling goods into the United States. The monkey is now at a primate rescue facility in Oregon. Hey — you name your kid Gypsy — what do you expect! (The Spokesman-Review)

For the Person Who Has Everything
Got somebody extra hard to shop for on your list this holiday season? Here’s something you can be assured they don’t have. Purdue University is auctioning the naming rights to seven newly discovered bats and two turtles. Winning bidders will be able to link a relative, friend or themselves to an animal’s scientific name for the ages. The winning bids will be announced just before Christmas and John Bickham, a Purdue professor who discovered or co-discovered the nine species, said he expects the auctions to attract wide interest. He added, “Unlike naming a building or something like that, this is much more permanent. This will last as long as we have our society.” (myway.com)

It’s the Principle!
63-year-old Simon Belsky, a retired electrical hardware firm vice president, says he spent $7,500 fighting a $115 parking ticket because– he’s got “nothing else to do.” Belsky insists he was erroneously ticketed two years ago for blocking a Brooklyn fire hydrant even though the only hydrant on the street was down the block. The November 2006 fine has ballooned from $115 to about $200 with penalties. Belsky was in court last week and is due back February 2. He says if he wins he’ll file a civil suit against the city to recover the $7,500 he’s spent on legal work. But he also says he’ll donate any compensation he’s awarded to educational programs. (New York Post)

Nebraska’s Butt Bandit Captured!
Relax Nebraska — the Butt Bandit is no more. Police captured 35-year-old Thomas Larvie in the act on November 19. He had a bad habit rubbing Vaseline or lotion on his backside, then leaving his greasy butt prints on the windows of stores, churches and schools since the spring of 2007. He’s now been sentenced to 13 1/2 months in jail. The townspeople of Valentine, Nebraska, where the crimes took place, had dubbed the Larvie the “Butt Bandit” even though no theft was involved. (myway.com)

The Latest Virgin Mary Sighting
You might say Pamela Latrimore of Fort Pierce, Florida, has the Virgin Mary on the brain. She claims an MRI scan of her brain clearly shows the image of the Virgin Mary and now plans to sell that scan to help pay her rising medical costs. Latrimore has been sick for years with cancer, arthritis and a series of serious ailments she blames on a childhood in Jacksonville, Arkansas, a place that has been investigated by the U.S. government for possible dioxin exposure. Dioxin is a toxic chemical linked to a variety of illnesses including cancer and liver problems. The MRI scan is from 2002 and was stashed in her thick pile of medical records. Her sister-in-law looked at the sheet recently and pointed out what appeared to be the image of the Virgin Mary. (TC Palm)

An Empty Nest Can Be Good For Your Marriage!
According to a new study by the University of California Berkeley’s Institute of Personality & Social Research says that having an empty nest may work wonders for your marriage! The study was based on the marriage of 100 women and the different stages they went through such as early married life, child-rearing and separations. Not surprisingly, the availability of their time for their spouse after the children left home helped improve their marriage. UC Berkeley psychology professor Oliver John, co-author of the report which was published in journal Psychological Science, advised couples not to wait for their children to leave home before they start including in their schedule quality time as a couple. (AHN News)

MATCH THE MOUTH

“Everyone’s got an opinion. I wish they didn’t. I’ve gotten to the point where, if I focus on all that stuff, I won’t make a move, you know?”

·         Oprah

·         Michelle Obama

·         Britney Spears

·         Madonna

·         Jennifer Aniston ***

“Man years ago, I was fishing and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realized… as I watched him fight for breath, that his life was as important to him as mine is to me!”

·         David Duchovney

·         Samuel L. Jackson

·         Greg Kinnear

·         Paul McCartney ***

·         Tara Reid

“In 47 years they haven’t made many mistakes with the James Bond franchise. They’re clever enough to sense a trend. And the trend right now is for hard, gritty Bond.”

·         Timothy Dalton

·         Daniel Craig

·         Roger Moore ***

·         Sean Connery

·         Pierce Brosnan

TOP FIVE FIRST DRAFTS OF FAMOUS CHRISTMAS SONGS

1.      “Jingle Beers”

2.      “Do you smell what I smell?”

3.      “Santa Claus is Coming to An All-Inclusive Club”

4.      “O Little Town of Twisp, Washington”

5.      “It came upon an 11pm Clear”

HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter

President-elect Barack Obama met with Al Gore on Tuesday. Al reminded him that he invented meetings.

It was the first time that Gore had meant with Obama since the election and the first time EVER that he had met with someone who legitimately won in Florida.

McDonald’s is reporting that in spite of the bad economy, sales were up last month. In a related story, GM announced that effective immediately, they’re going to start making all of their cars out of bread, meat and grease.

18-year-old Emma Watson says she would go naked in a movie IF it was the right part. And frankly, for being naked on camera, the right parts are really all that matter.

WHAT’S YOUR NATURAL ELEMENT?

(Sun) Ancient Chinese teaching say that each of us is influenced by one of the natural elements – wind, fire, earth or water. Discover where your power lies by completing this short quiz:

Your favorite color for your bedroom is:

a.       White

b.      Rose

c.       Gray

d.      Sky blue

You prefer to read a:

a.       Novel

b.      Newspaper

c.       Self-improvement book

d.      Fashion magazine

When friends come over for dinner, you:

a.       Have them help cook

b.      Serve a sit down meal

c.       Set up a buffet of favorite foods

d.      Ask everyone to bring a dish

The type of TV show you enjoy watching is:

a.       Comedy

b.      Mystery

c.       Home improvement

d.      Reality

Analysis

Mostly “a” – The wind element is the inspiration for your imaginative way of dealing with problems. You would excel in a job that demands creative abilities such as design.

Mostly “b” – The fire element gives you the confidence and passion to meet challenges head on. And that take charge attitude makes you a natural at running your own business.

Mostly “c” – The earth element encourages you to see life in practical, sensible terms. Your ability to offer solid advice makes you a shoo-in for a position where you can help others.

Mostly “d” – The water element makes you flexible and laid back and your live and let live approach is the perfect outlook for a position as a mediator who brings others together.

10 DUMBEST JOB-INTERVIEW MOVES

“What is the wackiest or most unusual pitch you’ve heard from a job seeker about why he or she should get the job?” Here are the top ten from job hunters:

1.      “…told me to hire him because he was allergic to unemployment.”

2.      “… said that we should hire him because he would make a great addition to our softball team.”

3.      “…said he should get the job because he had already applied three times and he felt that it was now his turn to be hired.”

4.      “…said we had nice benefits, which was good because he was going to have to take a lot of leave in the coming year.”

5.      “… drafted a press release announcing that we had hired him.”

6.      “… explained that he had no relevant experience for the job he was interviewing for, but his friend did.”

7.      “… delivered his entire cover letter in the form of a rap song.”

8.      “…told me she wanted the position because she wanted to get away from working with people.”

9.      “…brought his mother to the interview and let her do all the talking.”

10.  “…when our company moved to Texas, gave us his resume in a ten-gallon hat.”

FIGURE SKATING

Put like the 10 men in a sports bar and have them watch figure skating on the big screen TV. Have them all act like they’re watching the Final Four or the Super Bowl, getting nuts. Then record the people who walk in and don’t know it’s a joke.

FIVE-SPOT CONTEST

Your listeners have a five dollar bill. Have them come up with a list of items they can buy that total up to exactly $5.00. The best sounding list wins.

HEADLINE TRUTH OR TRASH

“Italian Group Pays Parents To Name New Babies Mussolini!”
Truth! An extremist political party in Italy is actually offering the equivalent of about $2,000 U.S. dollars to parents willing to name their babies after wartime fascist dictator Benito Mussolini or his wife Rachele, saying their names are under threat of extinction. If you’ve forgotten your history, Mussolini ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 but was executed after leading Italy to ruin by entering World War Two as an ally of Germany. A sick idea yes — but secretly it’s fun to say “Baby Mussolini” in your best Italian accent!

“Governor of Illinois Having Going Out of Business Sale!”
Trash! Too late. Business closed.

“Woman Calls Police After Husband Takes Viagra!”
Truth! In Palermo, Italy, 69-year-old Carla di Stefano called police after her 82-year-old husband, Giovanni, took Viagra! Carla said he was so excited she thought he would have a heart attack. Giovanni kind of lost the mood after the police arrived.

“Oprah Trying Orange Food Diet!”
Trash! She tried that. Kept saying, “Orange you hungry? I am!”

“Police Arrest Two Drunk Drivers From Same Car!”
Truth! Police on Long Island say it’s a first — pulling over two drunk drivers from the same car! Apparently they watched one woman miserably trying to make a three-point turn. When she failed she switched places with a male passenger, who took the steering wheel and completed the turn while not wearing a seat belt. Police eventually pulled them over and discovered both were intoxicated.

“Bearded Ladies Offended by Britney’s New Circus Video!”
Trash! Oh, they think the video is OK. They just think she’s a freak!”

“Man Attacks Father With Christmas Tree!”
Truth! Not much Christmas spirit for a 37-year-old Parrish, Florida man who lives with his parents and was arrested after attacking his father with a Christmas tree! He allegedly threw a 3-foot Christmas tree at his father and then tried to use the steel base from the tree to strike his dad. Both mom and dad then grabbed his arms to prevent further attacks until police arrived.

“Fox Network to Ask for Federal Bailout!”
Trash! No worries. Jack Bauer will take care of them… and in 24 hours!”

“Condolezza Rice Plays Piano For the Queen!”
Truth! Our out going Secretary of State was the star of a piano recital for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth herself. Madame Secretary is actually an accomplished concert level pianist and played a piece by Brahms, and was joined by three members of the London Symphony Orchestra. Maybe we should call her Condo-Liberace Rice!

MAXIM’S DIRTY JOBS

Not only is your job unbelievably tedious; it’s also fraught with untold hidden dangers. Check this out:

·         Job Security — You have a 1-in-33 chance of losing your job in the next year. Bonus: The unemployed are more than twice as likely to commit suicide.

·         Paper — Chemicals in carbonless copy paper can cause skin irritation, itchy eyes and labored breathing. Not to mention painful paper cuts.

·         Fluorescent Lights — Insufficient natural light can result in abnormal sleep patterns, depression, weight gain and decreased sex drive. Like marriage, but brighter.

·         Typing — Repetitive stress disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome affect 250,000 whiny assholes each year. That’s nearly half of all on-the-job “illnesses.”

·         Laser Pointers — Momentary eye contact can cause temporary blindness, and prolonged exposure leads to permanent cornea damage. But it’s still funny.

·         Printers — The carbon powder inside toner cartridges can cause emphysema, bronchitis, cancer and even ruined blouses!

·         Water Coolers — Parched? Nearly a third of all bottled water contains potentially dangerous bacteria, like colon-liquefying cryptoporidium. Cheers.

·         Violence — There are two million assaults and 7,000 homicides in the workplace each year. Still want to fire that creepy Ukrainian mailroom guy?

·         Envelopes — Ever wonder why you’re supposed to “moisten” rather than lick? The delicious acetate glue hasn’t been approved for human consumption.

·         Ventilation systems — The recirculated air in a typical office building can contain the fumes from as many as 350 volatile chemicals — just like your breath.

·         Bathrooms — Just about every office in America has at least one greasy employee who fumigates the john with a noxious egg curry.

·         Retirement Funds — Employers are repeatedly caught “borrowing” cash from their employees’ 401(k) accounts. Enjoy your retirement in debtor’s prison.

GORSEFEATHERS by Patrick Gorse

I guess you’ve heard the big story about Jay Leno. He’ll be staying with NBC — but with a new show at 10pm. NBC couldn’t make up their minds whether they should can Jay or keep him…so they decided to can Jay AND keep him.

Jay Leno will be leaving his 11:35 P.M. time slot to start a new show at ten o’clock. Which means, to get drunk enough to laugh at his jokes, you’re going to have to start drinking at 3:25.

I tell ‘ya, the economy is in rough shape. Yesterday, the Santa Claus at Macy’s recommended I could get a better deal by shoving merchandise down my pants.

Little Emma Watson who plays young Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” movies says she “would go nude” in a film, but only for Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci. Asked to comment, R. Kelly said he was too busy working on an impression of Bernardo Bertolucci.

Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been arrested and charged with trying to sell the Senate seat formerly held by Barack Obama. The voters of Illinois are shocked. Thousands of them rolled over in their graves.

Of course, Barack Obama insists he didn’t do anything illegal in the corruption case involving the sale of his former Senate seat. Obama said, “When the President-elect does it, it’s NOT illegal.”

It’s just incredible that the Governor of Illinois has been arrested and charged with attempting to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat by the Bush Justice Department. The only words that come to mind are vile, despicable and crooked as all get out…And then there’s this problem with the Governor of Illinois…

On a Sunday morning news show–while speaking about Saddam Hussein’s supposed WMD’s, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, “Mustard gas is not marmalade. You ought to be able to say what you did with it.” Watching the show while he was eating breakfast, President Bush said, “This toast tastes mustardy.”

The head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics told Congress last week that the latest jobs report issued by his department was the worst in 124 years. At times like this you have to look for the silver lining. For instance, I personally know five Mexican guys who say they’re going back across the border—which should open up about 500 jobs right there.

A 42-year-old Florida woman is claiming she sees an image of the Virgin Mary in an MRI taken while doctor’s performed a brain scan. Former President Bill Clinton replied, “I know just how she feels. I can’t get virgins out of my head either.”

Even as protesters waged a sit-in at a Chicago factory that was closed because the Bank of America, who’d just received a $25 billion dollar government bailout, shut down their line of credit, B of A announced it was merging with Merrill Lynch. The new financial institution will be called “Bank of Merrily Lynching America.”

General Motors took out a full-page ad on Monday in which they admitted that they “disappointed” and “betrayed” consumers–that they “violated” our trust by letting their “quality fall below industry standards,” and that they put out products that were “lackluster.” Windows Vista creator Bill Gates…it’s your move.

Talking about the proposed Big Three auto bailout on the PBS News Hour Monday night, political observer Amy Walter noted that Congress was leading on this issue and it’s not a place where President-elect Barack Obama “wants to insert himself yet.” To which Bill Clinton replied, “Oh, come on, Obama…insert yourself. I always did.”

The face of one of the famous sculptured metal lions ‘guarding’ London’s Trafalgar Square has been given a technological makeover that allows the metal beast to speak. Sportswriters in Michigan are hoping they can do the same thing with the Detroit Lions.

The face of one of the famous sculptured metal lions guarding London’s Trafalgar has been given a technological makeover that allows the beast to talk to tourists. The lion now gives tourist information to the fascinated crowds. Although, bearing a striking resemblance to Ebeneezer Scrooge’s talking lion doorknockers, descendants of Charles Dickens may sue for theft of intellectual property. Anyway, couldn’t pass this up. How ’bout them knockers?

Asked if Congress should rescue the Big Three auto companies, Alabama Senator Dick Shelby said on Monday, “I say no. Not until they show they can rescue themselves, and then we can help them.” I guess this explains why Shelby was fired from his first job as a lifeguard.

President-elect Barack Obama, who is addicted to technological gadgets like computers and Blackberries, had a meeting with Al Gore this morning. After the meeting, Gore said he was a little offended that Obama didn’t thank him for inventing the Internet.

With big corporations pulling their sports sponsorships because of the bad economy, the purses for professional golf tournaments may be scaled back. By the time Tiger Woods gets back on tour, he could be competing for the home version of The Masters… a Wal-Mart shopping spree… and a year’s supply of Turtle Wax.

TOP FIVE THINGS THAT DRIVE SANTA’S NEIGHBORS NUTS

1.      Reindeer droppings on the lawn

2.      “Doesn’t that guy ever work? Oh yeah, once a year!”

3.      Always parking his sleigh out in the street

4.      Elf keggers

5.      All that hammering and sawing in the toy shop

TOP FIVE SIGNS YOU’VE BEEN DOING TOO MUCH CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

1.      VISA has sent you a love note

2.      You’ve got “Credit Card wrist”

3.      The mall custodian knows your first name

4.      Toys R Us ran out of something and called you to see if you had one

5.      You even bought a gift for the door-to-door window salesman

MEN OF HONOR

What kind of a world do we live in when a bride asks, “Will you be my man of honor?” Christa Vagnozzi, senior editor of WeddingChannel.com, says, “Asking their best guy friend to be a man of honor, deciding to keep their last name and registering for their honeymoon are becoming more mainstream as brides and grooms strive to incorporate their personal style.” Here are the four new wedding traditions for the 21st century:

1.      Gender-Bending Rituals — Man of honor? Best woman? Brides and grooms are no longer dismissing their best friends of the opposite sex when it comes to their wedding. In fact, according to a WeddingChannel.com poll, an overwhelming 63% of brides said that if their best friend were a guy, they would definitely ask him to be a bridesman or man of honor.

2.      A Friend as the Officiant — According to a WeddingChannel.com poll, 59% of couples would be interested in having a friend or family member officiate. After all, who better to help you tie the knot than a close childhood friend or a favorite relative? Whether it’s an interfaith ceremony or one that takes place in the great outdoors, there’s nothing more intimate than opting for a friend or relative to help you say “I do.”

3.      The Name Game — Don’t make any assumptions when it comes to the bride’s last name. According to the Real Weddings Survey 2007 by The Knot Wedding Network, 12% of brides don’t plan on taking their spouse’s name upon marriage. Whether it’s for professional reasons or the bride just likes her maiden name more, wedding guests should not expect to hear “I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs.” at the next wedding. Here’s a new twist: Blending the two last names to create a brand new one. A recent WeddingChannel.com poll found that 15% of brides would consider blending their last names.

4.      Alternative Wedding Registries — China and crystal are so yesterday. Brides and grooms are ditching traditional registries or augmenting them with such unusual gifts as horseback riding lessons, the honeymoon, a hi-definition plasma-screen TV and even donations to their favorite charity. While most couples still register at two or three different retailers, don’t be surprised if one or more of them ends in dot com.

CHRISTMAS’ MOST WATCHED

For most Americans, Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without Rudolph, Frosty, and the rest of the Christmas movie and television-special gang. A Maritz AmeriPoll asked which movies and TV programs they would watch this holiday season and whether or not they own the video. Here’s what they said:

Movies

1.      “It’s a Wonderful Life,” 49%

2.      “Miracle on 34th Street,” 48%

3.      “A Christmas Carol,” 47%

4.      “The Santa Clause,” movies 37%

5.      “A Christmas Story,” 36%

TV Specials

1.      “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” 54%

2.      “Frosty the Snowman,” 52%

3.      “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” 48%

4.      “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” 44%

5.      “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” 40%

SECRET SANTA

Have everyone put their names in a hat folded up. Then everyone picks a piece of paper and you buy a cheap gift everyday for a week. You must be really sneaky about where and when you leave it so you don’t get caught. Then every weekday you open them and tell the listeners what you got. The last day you guess who your Secret Santa is.

THE CHRISTMAS CAROL GAME

We’ll give you the “fractured” title, you name the real Christmas Carol.

·         Tiny Triumvirate (“We Three Kings”)

·         K.O. The Corridors (“Deck The Halls”)

·         Zero Holiday Conifer (“Oh, Christmas Tree”)

·         Ad-Song Alarms (“Jingle Bells”)

·         Valentino The Rosy Schnozzed Ruminant (“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”)

·         Wee Tom Tom Tot (“Little Drummer Boy”)

·         Detergent For The Globe (“Joy To The World”)

·         Jelly Belly’s Making the Metropolis (“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”)

TOY TEST

We picked two identical noisy toys at random off the shelves, paid for with cash dollars. Batteries bought at random. Paid for with cash dollars. Duracell in one, Energizer in the other. Turn them on at the same time and let them go. Note of caution. Think twice about using toys with two D cells. Lotta power in those suckers. Ours ran 29 hours and 3 minutes. Duracell won in our test, then we donated the toys to the Marines “Toys for Tots.”

Blogged with the Flock Browser

12.09.08

SHOW PREP DECEMBER 9, 2008

 

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

 

While former Felicity costar Keri Russell has been promoting her new flick Bedtime Stories, Amy Jo Johnson has begun telling them. Johnson, 38, who played Julie Emrich on Felicity and is currently starring in CBS’ Flashpoint, and fiancé Olivier Giner welcomed their first child, Francesca Christine, on the evening of Dec. 1, per People. No doubt baby Francesca will be a big fan of the Power Rangers. (Eonline)

 

America’s Next Top Model judge Nigel Barker may have another future catwalker on his hands. He and his wife, model Cristen Chin Barker, have welcomed a baby girl, he tells Usmagazine.com exclusively. Jasmine Barker — who weighed 7 lbs., 11 oz. — was born 5:03 p.m. in New York City on Sunday. “Jasmine and Crissy are doing extremely well!” Barker tells Us. The couple originally thought they’d be having another boy to join their son Jack, 2. “In the first reading, they were told they’re having a boy,” Barker’s agent, George Cominskie, told Us in September. “When they went back for a second reading, they learned it was a girl. “They were thrilled to have a healthy baby boy – but to find out it’s a girl, they’re elated!” Cominskie added. “Now they’ll have a son and a daughter.” So will Tyra Banks be godmother? “I think she will be,” Barker joked, “and Miss J will be a fairy godmother.” (US Weekly)

 

Beyoncé Knowles kept her April wedding ceremony top secret by refusing to hire caterers – she relied on mum Tina and husband-to-be Jay-Z’s grandmother to cook up treats for the guests. The singer feared that the more outsiders that were a part of her big day, the more chance there was that details and photos would be leaked, so she called on family members to help her out. Tina Knowles tells Giant magazine, “We cooked all the food. I cooked all my Creole stuff, and his grandmother cooked her oxtails. “My favorite part was when we put all of this home cooking on that fancy china. It was special.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has said she now feels more comfortable being photographed. Victoria Beckham has told Harper’s Bazaar magazine she now feels so comfortable being photographed she’s even able to muster a smile. “I used to get so nervous, and when I got on the red carpet I’d freeze up. I have started smiling. I’ve mastered this smirk. It’s a smile that isn’t a smile,” she explained. “The older you get, the more comfortable you become with yourself, and you accept what you have physically. Also, the fact that my [fashion] business is doing very well makes me feel a little more confident, too.” (Handbag)

 

Playing R+B legend Etta James in new movie Cadillac Records gave Beyoncé the strength to be a “natural woman”. The former Destiny’s Child star admits her portrayal of the troubled singer in the film inspired her new look. She explains, “She gave me a better understanding of who I am. Half of my new album is called I Am and on the cover I wore minimal make-up. It looks very natural, very vulnerable, very stripped down.” And Beyoncé reveals James’ spirit is now surging through everything she does: “Playing Etta James gave me the confidence to be fearless and I felt like I could sing whatever I wanted and sing about things that I really cared about; not just something you could play on the radio or make a nice video, but something that had substance. “Etta James was one of the first African-American women to cross over on the radio and she made it possible for me to succeed.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Oscar winner Helen Mirren has said she isn’t sure if she can rely on her bottom being a good feature. Helen Mirren has admitted she is unsure whether she can call her bum an attractive feature. “I am not too keen on my nose, I don’t like my knees, I hate my ankles, I am unsure about my behind, I don’t like my legs at all,” the Oscar winner told the Guardian when asked to pick the features she likes least about herself. “I am not too sure about my chin, my forehead is a bit dodgy. But, overall, I can live with it.” Bit like the rest of us then Helen. (Handbag)

 

Lee Majors likes to play Good Samaritan. TV’s “Six Million Dollar Man” was leaving a post office in Beverly Hills recently when he spotted a woman struggling with an armload of dry cleaning at her car. “Lee immediately grabbed the clothes and put them neatly on the back seat, telling her, ‘Don’t hang them from the hooks. They block your vision,’ ” reports Hollywood P.R. man Hal Lifson. “Then, while walking back to his Jaguar, he spotted a homeless man in front of the BeverLiz Cafe, went up to him and said, ‘Breakfast’s on me, pal!’ He ordered the gent a California omelet with turkey bacon and OJ.” (Page Six)

 

He’s tackled everything from angry aliens to rowdy robots with aplomb, but there’s one thing that still makes Will Smith uneasy: Love scenes. “My grandmother was really firm about how men are supposed to treat women,” the actor said Friday at a press junket for his new drama Seven Pounds. “So for me, my worst nightmare is for an actress to … feel like I’m taking this opportunity to get a little quickie feel – you know, some legal cheating going on!” “I just need, specifically women, to feel comfortable around me,” he added. “I just don’t want to feel like I’m that dude.” But when Smith’s shyness threatened to spill into his romantic moments with Seven Pounds costar Rosario Dawson, his wife Jada had to step in. “Jada said, ‘Listen, I know you’re uncomfortable, but you better not embarrass me,’ ” he said with a laugh. “She said, ‘When you do that love scene, you better show ’em what you’re working with!’ ” Something else Smith is working on: Getting used to all the attention paid to his eleven-year marriage. “I was with [rapper] Redman the other day [and] he said, ‘Man, listen. I’ve got this relationship that I’m trying to make work, but I’m telling you, if you and Jada don’t work, I’m done,’ ” Smith said. “That so terrifies me that there are people’s lives that I can affect like that just with little stuff, not even having to do anything big,” he continued. “So I don’t want to break that … I might mess something up, and that sorta keeps me in a place where I’m really focused and paying attention, and I just don’t want to step wrongly.” (People)

 

Don’t expect one-time party girl Lily Allen to stumble out of a club anytime soon. “I’ve become a character in a comic … and that character is always drunk! I wish my comic character wasn’t that,” she told the U.K.’s Observer Music Monthly. Allen claims she’s been off alcohol “since 22 September,” and doesn’t plan on indulging again – at least for now. “I have no intention of taking drugs again at the moment,” she said. “But I can’t say ‘Never again,’ because I don’t know where I’ll be in 10 years’ time. And I will definitely drink in the future, just not for awhile.” Gearing up for the release of her second studio album It’s Not Me, It’s You, the 23-year-old continues to battle insecurities with her weight and appearance.  “My mum always told me, ‘You’re beautiful, you’re my beautiful little girl,’ and then suddenly I wasn’t,” she said. “I read all the stuff that people were writing about me and I started to get a different view. I mean, I never thought I was supermodel or anything, but I didn’t think I was quite as unattractive as people were saying!” She adds, “I just thought, ‘Maybe if I’m not fat, then people won’t call me ugly.’ ” But what is she most afraid of? “When I’m playing live, I won’t let anyone introduce me. I just appear,” she said. “Because it’s my biggest fear. Someone walking out on stage, saying ‘Ladies and gentlemen, Lily Allen.’ And then, ‘Boooooooo!’ “  Meanwhile in another interview, Allen said her friend Amy Winehouse – who she knows “very well,” is different from how she’s portrayed. “[She’s] a very clever, intelligent, witty, funny person who can hold it together,” she said. “You just don’t see that side. She gets a really hard time.” (People)

 

Four Christmases star Reese Witherspoon has slammed reports she had on-set rows with co-star Vince Vaughn. Reese Witherspoon has insisted she gets on well with current co-star Vince Vaughn. The pair star together in Four Christmases and the gossip is that they frequently fell out over Vaughn’s laid back attitude to making films. “We get along great. We were good friends and we were very much partners in this movie,” Showbiz Spy quote Oscar winner saying. “Vince is the funniest man I’ve ever worked with. Apparently, every man I ever work with, I’m either having an affair with him, having a baby with him or we can’t stand each other!” (Handbag)

 

Singer/actress Beyoncé Knowles has denied claims that she is a diva. Beyoncé has denied claims she is a high maintenance diva and said she is simply misunderstood. “It angers me when I get called a diva. At one point I was misunderstood a lot. But the more I meet people, I think people are beginning to feel a little differently about me,” she told Showbiz Spy before revealing her career plans. “My goal is to become a successful actress in dramas that don’t involve singing. I’ve been comfortable in singing role, but I don’t want to be comfortable. I want non-singing roles that will challenge me. I want to open the door for black female entertainers and show them they can do anything.” (Handbag)

 

Ginnifer Goodwin was just not that into being in a relationship. The He’s Just Not That Into You and Big Love star has mutually and—as tends to be the publicly touted case—amicably separated from her boyfriend of two years, Chris Klein. “They realized they wanted different things,” a friend of Goodwin’s told People. “In the long run, the relationship wasn’t going to work.” The 30-year-old Goodwin and the 29-year-old Klein first began dating back in 2006, not long after Klein split from his fiancée, Katie Holmes (you may have heard of her?). Neither Goodwin nor Klein will have much time to wallow, as both have projects on the horizon. The actress returns for a third season of Big Love in January, and the erstwhile American Pie star next appears in the video game-based action flick Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. (Eonline)

 

Everyone’s still wondering why Janet Jackson bailed on most of her “comeback” tour –- the one guy who would probably know says it’s not because she was PG. Jermaine Dupri tells Usmagazine.com his woman isn’t knocked up, despite the scuttlebutt. Dupri even called out certain members of gossiping classes for spreading false rumors. Nonetheless, Janet hasn’t totally pooh-poohed the idea of bringing more spawn of Jacko into the world: “I’d love to have children. It’s just up to Jermaine, what he wants to do.” Do the right thing Jermaine. (TMZ)

 

Amy Winehouse’s husband Blake Fielder-Civil has demanded £1million for a ‘quickie’ divorce. Blake Fielder-Civil has asked for £1million to divorce wife Amy Winehouse a source has told the News Of The World. Blake, who is apparently to be sent back to prison for parole violation, is reported to have asked for the money to agree to a quick divorce and confidentiality agreement. “Blake has asked Amy’s manager for £1 million to walk away from their marriage and not write a tell-all book about it,” the source claimed. “He’s so two-faced. He just wants a pay-off. Money’s his driving force.” (Handbag)

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

 

How much does a date with Anne Hathaway cost? Oh, about $12,000, give or take. That’s the price three fans paid for drinks with the Rachel Getting Married actress at the Cracked X-mas Fundraiser in Los Angeles Sunday night. “I’m not usually very forward, but I thought if there was ever a crowd for me to do something like this, this is my crowd so I would like to auction myself off,” Hathaway announced, “for drinks somewhere fabulous and basically get you totally s— faced. Tell me what I’m worth.” The proceeds for the night went to benefit the Trevor Project, a crisis helpline for LGBT youth. Hathaway, 26, was embarrassed when her price kept going up. “I’m blushing,” Hathaway said during the bidding process. “Wow, I feel really good right now.” The actress returned to the stage later to present Sigourney Weaver with an award. “God you’re sexy!” Hathaway said after watching a highlights reel of Weaver’s career. Also in attendance was newly out Wanda Sykes, who performed stand up for the crowd. “Come on, it ain’t like you never seen a black lesbian before!” she said as she walked on stage, then launched into a 12-minute routine about everything from gay marriage to the Obamas. “This is the first time the First Lady can drop it like it’s hot!” (People)

 

Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan has managed to defy the global economic downturn – her new line of leggings have sold out in boutiques across the world. The Mean Girls star launched the 6126 collection this summer and the products which range in price from $44 to $132 have become bestsellers. Jill Lowe, publicist for high-end Hollywood boutique Intuition, tells the New York Daily News, “They’re blowing off the shelves.” The leggings – which come in 35 different colors and patterns – are also said to have scored record sales in U.S. stores including Henri Bendel, Nordstrom, Intermix and Lisa Kline. (Teen Hollywood)

 

They’re making a list and checking it twice!  Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes did a little holiday shopping on Katie’s day off from the theater – but not for trinkets for little Suri. Shortly after New York City’s famed toy store, FAO Schwarz, closed Sunday, the couple slipped in to go on a little shopping spree for children they don’t even know. They are expected to pile up shopping carts full of dolls, toys, books, and games to donate to Stockings with Care, a not-for-profit organization that gives gifts to children in need.  The organization, founded in 1992, assists homeless and near-homeless families by fulfilling thousands of needy children’s “wish lists” for presents to open on Christmas morning to “create the magic of Christmas.” (People)

 

Barbra Streisand got an awkward kiss on the cheek from the president, and yes, she gave him a smooch back. Streisand, a vocal critic of President George W. Bush, was a guest Sunday at the White House just before one of Washington’s few A-list events: the Kennedy Center Honors. “Art transcends politics this weekend,” the longtime Democrat said beforehand. Still, she said it would have been “lovely” if she could have received the award while President-elect Barack Obama was in office. The singer and actress was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, along with actor Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who. The honors recognize individuals who helped define American culture through the performing arts, part of the living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. The hug and kiss between Bush and Babs – who has previously said Bush’s election wins in 2000 and 2004 were stolen – was replayed later on video at a Kennedy Center gala. The crowd couldn’t help but laugh. Queen Latifah opened the tribute to Streisand, saying she “threw out the rule book” to chart her own career. “She took to the stage like butter on a bagel,” Latifah added in a video tribute. Idina Menzel from Broadway’s “Rent” and “Wicked” sang “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from Streisand’s 1964 musical “Funny Girl.” She mixed in some new lyrics – “Hey there, Ms. Streisand, I am your biggest fan.” Beyoncé Knowles rose from the stage floor to sing “The Way We Were.” And the young musical star Ne-Yo grooved to Streisand’s 1965 hit “Lover, Come Back to Me,” with four male dancers. “Barbra Streisand is the epitome of emotion in music,” Ne-Yo said. “You feel every word, that’s something that artists in my day and age don’t really pay attention to.” Earlier, another set of stars paid tribute to The Who in front of a neon-lit backdrop of the Union Jack, in honor of the British band. “The full impact of it is still sinking in,” Townshend said of the honor. “It feels a bit iconic.” Rock singer Rob Thomas sang “Baba O’Riley,” and the British flag pulled away to reveal a choir of 150 New York policemen and firefighters singing the “teenage wasteland” chorus with Thomas under an American flag. They were thanking The Who for being the first musical group to sign on for an emotional Radio City Music Hall benefit concert after 9/11. Jones, who earned the nickname “No Show Jones” for performances he missed during his wild drinking days, promised to show up this time. The 77-year-old said “I’m in a daze” about being an honoree. First lady Laura Bush took the stage to salute Jones, saying “there’s no getting tired of a singer like him.” Jones is a favorite on the president’s iPod, said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Garth Brooks, Randy Travis and Alan Jackson gave Jones a tip of the hat with performances of the country legend’s work. And fellow country singer Shelby Lynne sang “Amazing Grace.” Tickets to the gala sell for as much as $4,000. Last year, the event raised $5 million to support Kennedy Center programs. The show will air Dec. 30 on CBS. The awards were presented Saturday night at a State Department dinner. Rice addressed each honoree, beginning with Freeman, who once played the president in the movie “Deep Impact.” “I know that when you played the African-American president of the United States, most people thought that would happen when a comet hit,” Rice said, drawing laughs and cheers. “But wonder of wonders, fiction has become true.” Freeman, 71, who starred this year in “The Dark Knight,” also made headlines after suffering broken bones in a Mississippi car crash in August. The Oscar-winning actor said he was still recovering from nerve damage in his left hand and wore a glove to control the swelling. Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood testified to their success working with Freeman. “You’re a great good luck charm,” said Eastwood, a 2000 honoree. “Everything you touch is fine by me.” For Tharp’s presentation, actress Lily Tomlin said Tharp sees dance everywhere she looks: “This is a woman who saw the Beach Boys and made a ballet.” Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser, who worked with Tharp at the American Ballet Theater, said Tharp taught him “the difference between making a ballet and making art.” (Daily Record)

 

An original handwritten outline for Martin Luther King Jr.’s first speech condemning the Vietnam War owned by his friend Harry Belafonte is going on the auction block this week. Sotheby’s will offer the document for sale Thursday along with two others: the scribbled notes for a speech King planned to deliver in Memphis, Tenn., three days after he was assassinated and a letter of condolence from President Lyndon B. Johnson to King’s widow. The auction house put the overall pre-sale estimate for the three documents at $750,000 to $1.13 million, with the Vietnam speech valued at $500,000 to $800,000. Belafonte, a singer and actor, was an early disciple of King and his host on King’s visits to New York dating from the mid-1950s. In a telephone interview, Belafonte said he was putting his documents up for sale because “I am at the end of my life – I will be 82 shortly – and there are a lot of causes I believe in for which resources are not available, and there is a need to redistribute those resources.” Selby Kiffer, a senior manuscripts curator at Sotheby’s, said the anti-war speech possibly ranks in importance with King’s most famous papers: his “I Have a Dream” speech, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and a draft of his Nobel Prize acceptance address. Kiffer and Elizabeth Muller, a Sotheby’s expert on manuscripts who in 2006 discovered a printed version of the jail letter, said the Belafonte papers were previously unknown to King archivists. Some 10,000 King documents that his family had planned to auction at Sotheby’s in 2006 were bought for $32 million by the city of Atlanta and are housed at King’s alma mater, Morehouse College. Another King collection is at Boston University. King wrote the first draft of his Vietnam speech in ink on three sheets from a yellow legal pad and left it behind at Belafonte’s apartment when he went to Los Angeles to deliver the finished remarks on Feb. 25, 1967, before a hotel crowd of Hollywood celebrities and four U.S. senators who also had denounced the war. The speech, titled “The Casualties of the War in Vietnam,” cited, along with military and civilian victims, a loss of moral principle, resources diverted from the fight for civil rights and the war’s effect in alienating other nations from the United States. The Memphis notes, found in King’s pocket after he was gunned down April 4, 1968, on the balcony of a Memphis motel, were given by Coretta Scott King to the late Stan Levison, a close friend who then gave them to Belafonte. In the notes, King praises the city’s sanitation workers for striking against “starvation wages” – the cause that had brought him to Memphis. “What does it profit to be able to eat in an integrated restaurant and not make enough money to take the wife out?” he asks. Johnson’s letter of condolence tells Mrs. King that the “full powers of local and federal authority” had been committed to finding her husband’s killer, and “we will overcome this calamity and continue the work of justice and love that is Martin Luther King’s legacy.”

She gave the letter to Belafonte after the funeral service, where he stood at her side. Belafonte said his personal relationship with King began in early 1956 when the preacher was invited to speak at Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church, then led by the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, and Belafonte went to hear him. King hoped to gain Belafonte’s support in spreading the civil rights gospel in the entertainment industry. After the sermon, Belafonte and King met in the church basement, sitting at a table for what Belafonte had expected would be 20 minutes. “Four hours later we emerged, and I knew then I would be part of his mission,” he said. Belafonte said he later opened his apartment to King, providing a private suite and entrance for King’s use on his visits to New York. Officials, journalists and civil rights activists met King at what was an all-but-undisclosed location. Belafonte said “confidentiality was required” to keep his own celebrity as an entertainer from obscuring the message and the cause that King was pursuing. “It was not my mission,” he said. “I didn’t need to be seen. I needed to be felt.” (Daily Record)

 

With deadline time on college applications approaching, actress Emma Roberts has honed in on two schools in New York. “I really loved Sarah Lawrence and NYU,” the onetime star of Nickelodeon’s Unfabulous, now 17, told PEOPLE at a Hotel for Dogs event held at New York’s FAO Schwarz Friday. “When I got to Sarah Lawrence or NYU,” she says of her campus visits, “I could really see myself walking around here making friends.” Roberts – whose dad is actor Eric Roberts and whose aunt is Julia Roberts – also explained what a busy time this has been for her and her friends. “Nobody has left the house for the past few weeks, because everyone’s just trying to get their college applications done,” she said. With her interests in photography, writing and literature, there’s one thing Roberts isn’t keen on studying at school: acting. “Definitely not,” she said with a laugh, despite her bloodline and her own accomplishments – including two movies, The Winning Season and Lymelife, due to be shown at Sundance in January. “I’d be too nervous,” Roberts said about any potential acting class. “Because I’d already worked, I’d feel like everyone would be like judging me. I would be too embarrassed to do a play.” (People)

 

It’s official – Food Network star Sandra Lee and divorced New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo are an item. At Cuomo’s 51st-birthday party the other day at Bridgewaters at the South Street Seaport, Lee joined Matt Dillon, Mayor Bloomberg, Tony Bennett and 400 other guests in toasting Cuomo. Lee’s rep confirmed, “Yes, Sandra did attend with her sweetie.” Andrew’s younger brother, “Good Morning America” host Chris Cuomo, mentioned Sandra during his scathingly funny slide-show presentation. “Chris got out all kinds of resentment that had been simmering for years,” said our source. The digs may have been payback for Andrew’s recent appearance on “GMA,” where he got Chris to raise his right hand and swear “to give the truth, the whole truth, so help me God.” (Page Six)

 

Jennifer Aniston says she doesn’t get why people care about her life so much. “I think it’s ridiculous. There’s just this insatiable need,” she tells USA Today.  She hopes her new film Marley & Me (out Dec. 25) “is going to create something else to talk about and realize that I have a job, and I’m an actress. “I am honestly getting sick of it, and I feel like telling people, ‘You know what? It’s none of your (expletive) business.’ Seriously, it’s enough,” adds Aniston, who openly talked about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in December’s Vogue. “It’s like we’re appealing to the lowest… “And this is at a time when we should be so inspired and excited with what’s happening with the president,” she says. “It’s a time to be positive and join together. We’re just trying to entertain you, man. Don’t shoot the messenger.” She tells the paper that dogs “do help” get through “the stupid stuff.” Aniston — who has a corgi-terrier mix named Norman — says when it comes to animals “there is no relationship ever — parents, a friendship, partners or lover — there’s no connection like that ever.” Though her next two movies explore human relationships — including the romantic comedy He’s Just Not That Into You (out in February) — she also says she’d “like to” star in a Western film down the road. “There’s something else out there that I’m going to be possibly doing called Bounty Hunter. It’s good,” she says. “It’s not definite yet.” As for her holiday plans? “I haven’t even quite put that much thought into it yet,” says the actress. “I have an annual tree-trimming party. But I usually rearrange the ornaments the next day!” (US Weekly)

 

Has Aubrey O’Day  switched teams? The press-hungry “Hairspray” star showed up the other day at SKY Group’s launch of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip at Highbar and later at NASCAR’s party at Marquee with a woman she introduced as “my girlfriend.” O’Day said she was making a statement against California’s Prop 8, which made gay marriage illegal. Not that she wants to marry her “girlfriend” if Prop 8 is ever overturned. “We don’t need a piece of paper to validate our relationship,” O’Day joked, adding that her dog, Ginger, was “also a lesbian.” (Page Six)

 

Although separated for months, David Duchovny and Téa Leoni put differences aside to spend some quality time together with their kids at a Knicks game in NYC on Sunday. Perhaps David’s sex addiction isn’t the only thing that has been rehabilitated. (TMZ)

 

Tiny twin Mary-Kate Olsen is drowning the recent rumor that she is with child. The other night, Olsen and boyfriend Nate Lowman hit the Art Basel scene at the opening of The Station, an art exhibition in Miami that he helped curate. A spy told us Mary-Kate was smooching with her beau and smoking and drinking vodka cocktails all night, supporting her spokesperson’s recent announcement to Page Six that “there is absolutely no truth” to the rumor. (Page Six)

 

Follow his team or his fashion choices, but David Beckham apparently doesn’t want you following his car. After being pursued by paparazzi today in Beverly Hills, the soccer stud confronted a photographer, with a fight breaking out moments later between one of the soccer star’s bodyguards and the shutterbug. According to an eyewitness, Beckham went up to the car and tried to get the driver to come out. When the driver declined, Beckham’s bodyguard went to the passenger’s side and punches began flying. The scuffle did not go unnoticed by the authorities. “They started fighting right in the street in front of the police station,” an eyewitness tells E! News. “Once the bodyguards and the paparazzi started fighting, David ran back to the car and he and Victoria drove off…The cops finally came and broke it up.” Two of the bodyguards were later questioned by police. One of the bodyguards, who had been scratched in the fight, declined to comment. A rep for Beckham tells E! News, “Yes, an incident did occur. However, there will be no comment as this is now in the hands of the lawyers.” Photographers on the scene showed police a video of the fight, which police then confiscated as evidence. “We took a report at the scene, but no one was taken into custody or cited,” said Beverly Hills Police Department Sgt. Gregg Mader. “We’ll review what we have to see if further action needs to be taken.” “They just can’t do this,” said the photog involved in the fight. “They put me on the floor, they got my camera and they threw it in the trash can. They can’t do this to us. ” An ambulance was called to the scene, but all of those involved in the fracas refused treatment. (Eonline)

 

Stephanie Tanner should ask Mr. Bear for some advice! Ex-meth-head Jodie Sweetin leaked details of her court papers so people would pay attention to her. Okay, maybe not, but we wouldn’t put it past her! It looks like her 16 month marriage to Cody Herpin had fallen into major disrepair, because in her court files, Sweetin says, “Our house is in foreclosure, our water has been shut off twice. Currently, all of our other utilities are overdue” and that soon-to-be-ex Herpin quit working after their marriage because “[He] kept finding one excuse after another for his failure to even attempt to find employment.” In her latest ploy for attention, poor Stephanie Tanner is requesting a court order to return to the house (She’s living with her parents) to retrieve her belongings, and clothes and toys for daughter Zoie because Herpin might “prevent [her] from peacefully taking these items.” How rude! Herpin says otherwise, and that all his attempts to reach Sweetin have gone unanswered. The deadbeat dad is claiming that he was actually a stay-at-home dad to accommodate Sweetin’s “busy schedule.” If that doesn’t sound like a total lie, we don’t know what does! Herpin is seeking full custody of Zoei and spousal support. Spousal support? From Stephanie Tanner?  Ha! Attention-seeking Sweetin says that even though she’s asking for joint custody, she “believes he [Herpin] is going to try to prevent me from seeing [Zoie]” citing an incident that occurred the day she told her husband she was getting a divorce wherein “He told me I could not take Zoie with me. He said he would call the police and report that she was abducted by me and seek sole custody. He grabbed Zoie from the floor where she was playing … but put Zoie down and later went for a walk.” Herpin says he doesn’t know what the crazy bitch is talking about. We mean, doesn’t she know that Britney already did this? And did it better? (Perez Hilton)

 

Madonna, always in fighting shape, has won a round against the British press. The pop star won a judgment Monday against a British tabloid that she accused of breaching her privacy and copyright by publishing pictures of her 2000 wedding. Madonna, who says the pictures were stolen by an interior decorator from her home in Beverly Hills, California, is seeking damages in excess of 5 million pounds ($7.5 million) from the publishers of the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Judge David Eady entered a judgment in her favor but deferred a decision on compensation until the new year. Madonna and film director Guy Ritchie, who recently gained a preliminary divorce decree, were married at a Scottish castle on Dec. 22, 2000. No pictures of the event had been published until they appeared Oct. 19 in the Mail on Sunday, said Matthew Nicklin, a lawyer representing Madonna. The newspaper published 11 photographs over the front page and a double-page inside spread. “She was ambushed, for the simple reason that if the Mail on Sunday had told her what they intended to do, the claimant would have sought and obtained an injunction,” Nicklin said. Nicklin said the newspaper paid 5,000 pounds ($7,500) for the pictures. Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Mail on Sunday, had no immediate comment on the court’s decision. Nicklin said the only photographs of the wedding were taken by photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino and presented to Madonna as a gift. He said Madonna put the photographs in an album that she kept in her home. He said an interior designer, Robert Joseph Wilber, “surreptitiously gained access to the photograph album and copied at least 26 photographs.” Those images, which he said had “essentially been stolen by Mr. Wilber” were sold Oct. 15 to the Mail on Sunday by a woman identified as Bonnie Robinson of Los Angeles, Nicklin said. Despite admissions made by the newspaper, Madonna has not received an apology, Nicklin added. Madonna and Ritchie were granted a preliminary decree of divorce on Nov. 21. The split is expected to become final early next month. (Daily Record)

 

Critics’ reaction to the gala premiere at La Scala can be summed up in one word: Boring. The last-minute decision to substitute the lead “Don Carlo” tenor with his understudy created tension that spurred many in the audience to open rebellion against conductor Daniele Gatti, emitting whistles and catcalls at his every entrance. A critic for Corriere della Sera called the level of hostility “almost scary.” But for all of the backstage drama that seemed to poison the audience’s reception, American tenor Stuart Neill, received sympathetic, if lukewarm, reviews for the performance he gave after Giuseppe Filianoti was unexpectedly removed. Neill, a 43-year-old Atlanta, Georgia-native, got the word only on Saturday that he would be singing the lead, and told reporters backstage after the performance that he had just three and a half hours to practice with the opening-night cast. La Scala explained the switch by saying Neill appeared to be “in better shape” than Filianoti, who had made mistakes during a dress rehearsal. “Neill doesn’t boast the timbre or the phrasing of Filianoti, but he certainly has a more confident voice,” La Repubblica’s Michelangelo Zurletti wrote in Monday’s editions. Some self-proclaimed critics among the audience weren’t so kind – with some booing heard over the applause as flowers showered on Neill when he came out to take his bows. “Stuart Neill’s Carlo wasn’t helped by the whistles, but he had a strong timbre and a secure voice,” La Stampa critic Giorgio Pestelli wrote. Alfredo Gasponi of il Messagero agreed that Neill demonstrated “confidence,” but noted that the last-minute switch had taken its toll with the orchestra overwhelming the singers in some places “because the new tonal relationships were not yet defined.” The result was an unemotional duet when Neill’s Carlo swears eternal friendship with Rodrigo, sung by baritone Dalibor Jenis, Gasponi wrote. Despite the difficult circumstances, Neill told reporters afterward that he felt comfortable in the role. “I received very warm greetings from the orchestra, from the chorus, from my colleagues. I felt the support of the entire theater with me,” Neill said. As for Filianoti, “I wish him the best,” adding the two plan to have dinner when Filianoti is in New York to sing “Rigoletto.” Neill said he has been asked to sing the remaining five December performances as well as Jan. 4. Then he must be in London for a commitment to sing “Requiem.” La Scala has not announced who will sing the remaining three performances. Neill wasn’t singled out for criticism by Corriere’s long-time critic, Paolo Isotto, who said he found the whole execution “boring.” Most of the cast – with the full exception Dolora Zajick as the princess of Eboli and partial exception of bass Ferruccio Furlanetto as Philip – “sang their roles as though they were reading the phone book,” Isotto wrote. Isotto expressed disapproval for the catcalls mid-performance, the likes of which he said he hadn’t seen in nearly 30 years covering opera. “It is tantamount to tampering with a sporting event,” Isotto wrote. While Gatti was “courageous and resisted with apparent serenity,” the tension came through “in a dry sound that in some parts seemed like the orchestra drowning out the singers like an illegal streetband.” In the end, “Don Carlo” received just eight minutes of applause – a modest showing for a La Scala premiere. (Daily Record)

 

Vegas sports agent Perry Rogers, who repped Steffi’s husband Andre for years and was childhood pals with him as well, has taken Steffi to court — the kind without white lines. According to the suit, Rogers also repped Steffi, helping her pull in $20 mil. In return, he says he got stiffed. Now he’s asking for more than $50,000 in commissions. A delusional Agassi said, “I remain hopeful that we will be able to resolve our business issues with minimal damage to our families and mutual friends.” Funny how lawsuits can ruin a relationship. (TMZ)

 

In less than a week, officials have a locked down a warrant for the person they believe shot Mark Ruffalo’s brother in the head — and the suspect is a woman. Shaha Mishaal Adham, one of the two “persons of interest” first linked to the case, is now the prime suspect in the attempted murder investigation. Sources close to the investigation tell us Adham is related to members of Saudi Arabian royalty. Adham is already gearing up for a serious fight — signing on Manny Pacquiao’s high profile attorney Keith Davidson. Ruffalo’s brother, Scott, is still clinging to life after he was suspiciously shot in the head in his Beverly Hills apartment last Monday night. (TMZ)

 

 

MUSIC . . .

 

Forget the economic recession: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is going for the gold with host Ryan Seacrest when ringing in 2009 from Times Square. The Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift and Lionel Richie will perform live on the ABC broadcast, says the network, which also announced Monday that Kellie Pickler will handle live reports from the scene in the middle of New York City. Meanwhile, during segments of the show emanating from Hollywood, hostess Fergie will officiate over performances by Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, Solange and Robin Thicke.  The annual tradition kicks off Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 10 p.m. ET. (People)

 

Diana Krall describes her first record in three years as intimate, sensual – and erotic. “I’m not coy single girl singing ‘Peel Me A Grape.’ I love that song but I don’t love it for me any more,” Krall, 43, said from her Vancouver, British Columbia home in an interview last week. “I feel more womanly, I guess, and I think this record is a love letter but very sensual, more on the erotic side. It’s definitely late night.” “Quiet Nights,” to be released on March 31, is Krall’s CD of new material in three years. The sultry jazz vocalist and pianist known for her crossover appeal had twin sons with husband Elvis Costello in 2006; they turned 2 Dec. 6. Krall said she’s never been happier, and the record reflects that. The 10 songs include ballads, three recordings of songs by bossa nova legend Antonio Carlos Jobim, and standards such as “Walk On By” by Burt Bacharach. “It was just the greatest recording experience I’ve had to date,” said Krall, who was inspired to make the record following a trip to Brazil last year. A two-time Grammy winner, Krall is surrounded by familiar faces on “Quiet Nights.” In addition to her longtime quartet and producer Tommy LiPuma, who worked with her on nine previous recordings, arranger Claus Ogerman returns. He last worked with Krall on her 2001 record “The Look of Love.” Ogerman was the arranger on many of bossa nova’s first wave of recordings in the 1960s, working with Jobim, Frank Sinatra, Stan Getz and Bill Evans. Ogerman came out of semiretirement to once again work with Krall. LiPuma, who first worked with Krall in 1994, said the record shows how she has matured as a singer. “She approaches her vocal phrasing much more like an instrumentalist than a straight singer,” LiPuma said. “It’s in her reading of the lyrics, and the timbre of her voice, much more misty like Peggy Lee in her mature period.” In addition to finishing “Quiet Nights,” Krall is producing a new Barbra Streisand record that is slated to be completed in January and released sometime in 2009. Krall intends to tour North America in April following the release of “Quiet Nights.” “I think I’ve reached the best time in my life,” Krall said. “I really went through some rough spots with the death of my mother (in 2002). … But now that I have my own family, I’m working as hard as I ever worked, but I feel like I have it all.” (Daily Record)

 

Prince brought Beyoncé Knowles’ sassy alter-ego Sasha Fierce to the forefront when the pop diva performed with him at the 2004 Grammy Awards. The Survivor singer’s family and friends insist Beyoncé has always taken on a totally different persona when she gets on stage, but it took Prince to make her realize she ‘trances out’ and becomes Fierce during big shows. Beyoncé has since given the character a name and now uses her aggressive alter-ego to help her combat nerves and counter difficult interviews and photoshoots. She even pays tribute to Fierce on her hit new album, I Am… Sasha Fierce. She tells Giant magazine, “That night with Prince, I was just in a trance. I don’t remember anything after I walked through the smoke onstage. “I was definitely Sasha Fierce that night, completely free.” But the singer’s parents first spotted Fierce when Beyoncé was just six and performing at a school talent show. Mum Tina Knowles explains, “She got on that stage and became a different person. My husband and I looked at each other like, ‘Who is that?'” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Take That’s “The Circus” (Polydor/Universal) gave the latter-day boy band another U.K. No. 1 album yesterday with a massive opening sales total of 432,000. Leona Lewis’ cover of Snow Patrol’s “Run” (Syco Music/Sony BMG) went straight to the top of the singles chart, becoming the fastest-selling download in British chart history, with 133,000 copies. The Take That album hit the top a week after its flagship single “Greatest Day” became a No. 1 single. The quartet now has five U.K. chart-topping albums, starting with “Everything Changes” in 1993 and “Nobody Else” in 1995, in their first incarnation, which also brought them a No. 1 “Greatest Hits” set in ’96. The reunited lineup hit the top with 2006’s “Beautiful World,” which is now certified eight-times platinum. “The Circus” nudged the Killers’ “Day & Age” album (Vertigo/Universal) down 1-2, as Lewis’ revamped “Spirit” moved back 4-3. Britney Spears’ “Circus” (Jive) debuted at No. 4 as her “Womanizer” single jumped 7-3 and the album’s title track debuted on download sales at No. 32. Kings Of Leon’s “Only by the Night” album (Hand Me Down/Sony BMG) improved 7-5, while the band’s current single “Use Somebody” climbed 15-10 and its predecessor, the former chart-topper “Sex on Fire,” rose 17-14.  Guns N’ Roses’ “Chinese Democracy” album (Black Frog/Geffen), which arrived last week at No. 2, fell sharply to No. 11. Lewis’ cover of “Run” is one of the new songs added to the re-promoted “Spirit” and, although it wasn’t originally planned as a single, was promoted as such after huge public reaction to the singer’s performance of the song on BBC Radio 1. After recording it in the studio in September, Lewis performed it on ITV’s “The X Factor” Nov. 15 and the “Divas II” special eight days later. Snow Patrol’s long-running original version climbed to No. 28 two weeks ago, but this week fell 31-42. Oasis’ “I’m Outta Time” (Big Brother) opened at No. 12, while “Cash In My Pocket” (Asylum/Warner Music) by Wiley featuring Daniel Merriweather came in at No. 18 and Miley Cyrus’ “7 Things” (Hollywood/EMI) 56-25. In a repeat of last year’s digital boost for holiday singles, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” (Columbia) raced 37-17 and “Fairytale of New York” (Warner Bros.) by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl rose 44-19. Carey’s song, a No. 2 hit in 1994, hit No. 6 last year, while the Pogues’ track continued its extraordinary popularity, hitting the top 40 for a fourth year running and sixth overall. Another festive perennial, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” (Epic), returned to the top 40 with a 67-36 climb, and the top 75 welcomed back further Christmas chestnuts by Shakin’ Stevens, Wizzard, Slade, Perry Como, Band Aid and Chris Rea. The Guns N’ Roses set rose 36-1 on Billboard’s European Top 100 Albums survey, as Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy” (Columbia) secured a second week at No. 1 on Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. (Billboard)

 

U.K. rock act Keane was joined by producer Jon Brion on stage last night (Dec. 7) for several songs during its 14-song set at the Largo Theater in West Hollywood. The group, whose current album, “Perfect Symmetry,” was produced by Brion, completed a trio of promotional dates last week with the stripped-down Largo performance. The evening began with singer Tom Chaplin playing two songs unaccompanied on acoustic guitar. The industry-heavy crowd responded well to new songs “The Lovers Are Losing” and “Spiralling,” alongside previous U.K. hits like “Everybody’s Changing” and “Somewhere Only We Know”, the latter of which was enhanced by a two-piece string section. Keane now returns to its native England for a string of holiday performances and is expected to come back to North America in the spring for a full tour. (Billboard)

 

U.K. rapper Lady Sovereign has inked a global deal with EMI for her own Midget Records imprint, and will release her new album, “Jigsaw,” on April 9. A new track, “I Got You Dancing,” is available for free on the artist’s MySpace site. “The album is the next chapter. It’s a massive leap forward for mankind,” Lady Sovereign says. The rapper made a splash in 2005 with the EP “Vertically Challenged,” released in North America by Chocolate Industries. She then jumped to Def Jam for the following year’s “Public Warning,” which has sold 125,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That album’s single, “Love Me or Hate Me,” has sold more than 427,000 digital downloads. (Billboard)

 

 

MOVIE . . .

 

Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie have been voted the actors that fans would most like to see play Batman villains. Fans voted for who they would most like to see play The Riddler and Harley Quinn in the follow-up to The Dark Knight and Depp and Jolie emerged as frontrunners. Other stars that made the list included Natalie Portman, Edward Norton, Clive Owen and – most bizarrely – Keira Knightley. (British Glamour)

 

Rachel Weisz has been lined up to play Blanche Dubois in a West End adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play, A Streetcar Named Desire. Just a week after Gwyneth Paltrow admitted that this was the part she wanted to play on Broadway, it was announced that the Constant Gardener actress would take on the role at the Donmar Warehouse from July. No other cast details have been announced but the production will be directed by Rob Ashford. (British Glamour)

 

Director Catherine Hardwicke won’t be coming back to do the Twilight sequel, New Moon, according to Variety. It was a timing issue, says the report. The studio wants to rush the movie out in 2009 and wasn’t willing to give Hardwicke the time that she wanted to develop the sequel script. In a statement, Hardwicke said, “I am sorry that due to timing I will not have the opportunity to direct ‘New Moon’. Directing ‘Twilight’ has been one of the great experiences of my life, and I am grateful to the fans for their passionate support of the film. I wish everyone at Summit the best with the sequel — it is a great story.” And the studio issued this statement, “Catherine did an incredible job in helping us to launch the ‘Twilight’ franchise, and we thank her for all of her efforts and we very much hope to work with her on future Summit projects. We as a studio have a mandate to bring the next installment in the franchise to the big screen in a timely fashion so that fans can get more of Edward, Bella and all of the characters that Stephenie Meyer has created. We are able to pursue an aggressive time frame as we have the luxury of only adapting the novels into screenplays as opposed to having to create a storyline from scratch.” No one’s getting in the way of pumping money out (as quickly as possible!) of the Twilight machine! But, Miz Hardwick walks away with this amazing feat — she delivered the biggest opening weekend ever for a woman with Twilight. Congrats!  (Perez Hilton)

 

Lauren Holly and Luke Perry are starring in Uwe Boll’s latest filmmaker endeavor, “The Storm.”  In the apocalyptic thriller, Holly plays a dedicated wife and mother who must deal with the end of days scenario — all heightened by the arrival of a mysterious stranger named Silas (Perry) who holds the key to the approaching doom. The movie, budgeted in the $5 million range, is shooting in Vancouver. Boll is directing and producing. Brightlight Pictures’ Stephen Hegyes and Shawn Williamson also are producing. Holly, repped by Fortitude and Gilbertson Management, is best known for her work on CBS’ “NCIS.” Her feature credits range from “Dumb and Dumber” to “The Chumscrubber.” Perry recently appeared as a series regular in David Milch’s HBO series “John From Cincinnati.” he is repped by Fortitude and Himber Entertainment. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Fifteenth century Thai martial arts action film “Ong Bak 2” by actor-director Tony Jaa summited the local boxoffice in its long holiday opening weekend by grossing 70 million baht. ($2.06 million), distributor Sahamongkolfilm International said. The opening of the much anticipated film on Dec. 5, the 81st birthday of Thailand’s revered king, put Jaa’s fist film as a director ahead in 2008 weekend gross figures of “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” which earned 61 Million baht. Sahamongkol executive VP Gilbert Lim projected that “Ong Bak 2,” a story about an orphaned boy warrior avenging his father’s death, would earn more than 100 million baht by the end of the week and end up the No. 1 movie at Thailand’s boxoffice. The film was presold to Sony in the U.K., to Splendid in Germany, to Showbox in South Korea, to Edko in Hong Kong, and to Madman in Australia and New Zealand. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Studio cost-cutting is affecting the producer ranks. In its ongoing effort to trim overhead, Paramount has declined to renew a number of production deals. Included in the group are Kevin Misher and his Misher Films banner, Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg and their Double Feature Films and Scott Aversano. And Universal isn’t renewing its production deal with the producing team of Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall. The Kennedy/Marshall Co. has had a long association with the studio, where it has been involved in such movies as “Seabiscuit” and the Bourne trilogy. But while Kennedy/Marshall has been based at Universal, which began its own round of about 70 layoffs last week, the company also has been active at other studios around town and is represented by “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” a Paramount/Warner Bros. co-production. At Universal, the two producers will continue their involvement in planned sequels “Jurassic Park IV” and the untitled fourth Bourne film. Paramount has been navigating a highly transitional year. January was filled with exec movements, and the summer saw the company merge several Paramount Vantage departments into the studio proper. Layoffs followed even as the studio enjoyed a successful summer boxoffice. On Thursday, Paramount laid off another large group of employees as part of corporate parent Viacom’s cutting of 7% of its work force. Then Vantage was downsized further with the departure of label president Nick Meyer on Thursday. The studio will have continuing relationships with all three departing production entities. Aversano was president of Paramount divisions Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films before he was handed an outside producer deal. He is prepping the “Untitled Kidrobot Project” for the studio’s Nick stamp. Misher’s contract runs through the end of 2009, and he has several high-profile projects incubating, including a “Dune” revamp, “The Last Duel” with Martin Scorsese directing and “Case 39,” set for release in April. Sher and Shamberg delivered “World Trade Center” to the studio and have “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” and “The Devil in the White City” in development there. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

‘Tis not the season to be jolly at the movies – there are no fewer than six heart-wrenching, Holocaust-theme flicks coming to a theater near you. In the days ahead, moviegoers will have their choice of “The Reader,” with Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, and “Adam Resurrected,” with Jeff Goldblum (both opening Friday), “Valkyrie,” with Tom Cruise (Dec. 25), “Defiance,” with Daniel Craig, and “Good,” with Viggo Mortensen (both Dec. 31). Already out is “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” with Vera Farmiga. The pile-up of movies about the slaughter of Jews by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany might reflect the tastes of Academy Award voters, who gave seven Oscars to “Schindler’s List” (1993), four to “Life Is Beautiful” (1997) and three to “The Pianist” (2002). Anti-Defamation League chairman Abe Foxman has seen three of this year’s Holocaust films and praised all of them in a statement he gave to Page Six. Of “The Reader,” Foxman said, “I was extremely moved by this wonderful film. Extraordinarily acted, directed and filmed. The viewer shares the knowledge, shame and poignancy of the characters, based on Bernhard Schlink‘s brilliant book.” Of “Defiance,” Foxman opined: “An important contribution to understanding what some Jews faced during the Holocaust and how they fought back.” And of “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” he said, “Throughout, it provokes strong and complicated emotions.” Harvey Weinstein, whose studio is behind “The Reader,” believes no number of Holocaust movies is too many. “What a wonderful subject to explore in as many ways as possible,” he told us. “I hope our children get educated about the Holocaust, so it will be ‘Never again.’ ” The most unusual title of the group may be the Paul Schrader-directed “Adam Resurrected,” which is being touted as Goldblum’s role of a lifetime. He plays a mental patient in 1960s Israel who survived the Holocaust by serving as a Nazi commander’s “dog.” (Page Six)

 

Catherine Hardwicke delivered the biggest opening weekend ever for a female film director—not to mention Robert Pattinson to the screaming fans—but it doesn’t look like she’ll be getting the chance to top that record with the next Twilight film. The helmer has parted ways with the series. The story broke today on the blog Deadline Hollywood Daily, and by Sunday night Variety had a statement from the director. “I am sorry that due to timing I will not have the opportunity to direct New Moon,” said Hardwicke. “Directing Twilight has been one of the great experiences of my life, and I am grateful to the fans for their passionate support of the film. I wish everyone at Summit the best with the sequel—it is a great story.” So it is. Considering all the elements that went into the film—a successful series of novels, an attractive cast and, of course, teen vampirism—does this seem like a decision that might put the series in jeopardy, or is it just par for the course in Hollywood (Eonline)

 

The comeback continues. Now being touted for an Oscar for his performance in “The Wrestler,” an almost unrecognizable Mickey Rourke – covered in scars, facial hair, tattoos and cowboy gear – was shooting last week inside a cramped jail cell on Long Island. The tough-guy actor is in good company for his new film “13.” Jason Statham, Ray Winstone, 50 Cent and Michael Shannon (also getting Oscar buzz for “Revolutionary Road”) all join the comeback kid in a new thriller about a high-stakes game of Russian roulette. (Page Six)

 

Emma Watson says that she would consider stripping off on film – but only for the right role. “Yes. For Bernardo Bertolucci [director]. It … depends,” said the 18-year-old. “I’m not getting my kit off any time soon, but it is part of my job.” The actress, who is famous for playing Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, said: “I’m at a strange age. I’m not a woman yet, but I’m not a girl any more… They [film companies] say: “Oh, in a couple of years you’ll be perfect for this. I’ll be like, yeah, but I want to be studying English then, so it’s going to be quite tough to choose between the two,” the actress added. (British Glamour)

 

 

TV . . .

 

The Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift and Lionel Richie will ring in 2009 from Times Square on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” They will perform live during the ABC broadcast, joining Clark in New York along with his co-host Ryan Seacrest, the network announced. Kellie Pickler also will be on hand in Times Square with live reports on the festivities. As previously announced, Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, Solange and Robin Thicke will perform during the Hollywood Party segments, which will be hosted by Fergie. A New Year’s Eve tradition, the show will begin Dec. 31 at 10 p.m. EST. (Daily Record)

 

They might not go home with a recording contract, but Paula Abdul doesn’t let any “American Idol” contestant leave empty-handed. Each season she designs and distributes jewelry for the aspiring singers as a keepsake of their experience. Beginning this month, Abdul’s fans will be able to buy similar items on HSN. “I pretty much wear my jewelry all the time now, but I end up giving it away,” she says. “I’ll take it off my wrist or neck and give it to someone who likes it.” Abdul has made jewelry since the first season of “Idol” in 2002. Once she saw what the contestants had to endure from critic Simon Cowell, she wanted to do something nice for them, she says. “I wanted something the kids could touch and feel to remind themselves that their talent got them here.” She previously sold a limited jewelry collection on QVC. The new HSN Forever Your Girl line, which debuts Saturday, also includes handbags and other accessories, with a price range of $29-$200. Among her newest pieces is a beaded leather cuff bracelet that will go to the female participants in the new season inscribed with a message to “reach for the stars.” Abdul says she’s looking forward to welcoming her old friend and new judge Kara DioGuardi when the top-rated Fox show returns Jan. 13. “Hopefully she’ll give Simon hell,” Abdul says. The singer-dancer-choreographer’s other plans for 2009 include her first album of new material in over a decade and a new reality TV special for MTV called “Rah! Paula Abdul’s Cheerleading Bowl.” (Daily Record)

 

Soon, Wolf Blitzer can sleep in Sunday mornings. CNN’s “Late Edition” is about to get a makeover, with John King taking over from Blitzer, the Sunday newscast’s anchor for 10 years. The first hour of the four-hour block will focus on politics, followed by national and world affairs, the network says. It also will include “Reliable Sources,” the media-oriented discussion program hosted by Howard Kurtz. With the broadcast’s January debut, King will retain his title as chief national correspondent. Blitzer, CNN’s lead anchor for political coverage, will continue anchoring the three-hour “Situation Room” each weekday. Both he and King have extended their contracts through 2012. These Sunday changes follow NBC’s announcement of David Gregory as the new moderator of “Meet the Press.” (Daily Record)

 

There’s still no official start date for “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” but fans will be able to begin to get a taste of what’s to come when daily video blogs start hitting NBC.com at 12:35 a.m. on Dec. 9. A rep for Fallon confirms that the Webisodes will not be bite-size episodes of what you’ll see when Fallon officially takes over the Conan spot — they’ll just be behind-the-scenes blogs of Fallon being, well, Fallon. Details of what to expect when “Late Night” goes live this spring have been hard to come by, but more and more often, Fallon has been spotted at 30 Rock. Also, The Roots are rumored to be Fallon’s house band, although NBC hasn’t confirmed that yet. (Scoop)

 

Fall was a lousy trade for broadcast networks: Four firmly viable freshman shows in exchange for about a dozen failed series, with several other new and returning titles standing on shaky legs going into next year. But there’s also plenty of reason to expect most networks can have a better second half of the season than their first. Take ABC. The implosion of its Wednesday-night lineup, coupled with the ratings erosion of such reliable hits as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Dancing With the Stars,” has resulted in the network taking a dive this fall. By maintaining an active development pipeline, though, ABC has a flurry of new shows ready to go. After premiering only two new hours so far, ABC will unveil more than four hours in the spring, reversing the usual rollout process. With its dramas all short orders of 10 episodes or less, though, ABC risks being in a position next year that somewhat mimics its problem this fall: airing sophomore dramas that haven’t had a lot of viewer exposure. CBS also is in position to improve. The network already has defied ratings gravity with “How I Met Your Mother,” “Big Bang Theory” and “NCIS” recently hitting series highs, plus it launched the fall’s biggest hit, “The Mentalist.” Just as “Mentalist” reimagined Sherlock Holmes, CBS’ midseason show “Harper’s Island” reworks Agatha Christie. Although insiders are skeptical that its odd horror-tinged format will draw enough viewers, the idea is a clever effort to bring back a faded genre. But CBS is concerned about “Island’s” once-indestructible lead-in. With “CSI” swapping lead actors in January as Laurence Fishburne takes over for the departing William Petersen, the show’s ratings might weaken. Otherwise, CBS, the least-eroded network this fall, can likely watch the rest of its season on auto-pilot. Fox, of course, will improve dramatically. The network expects the return of “American Idol” to be down another 10% and would be thrilled if that’s all it’s down. With “Fringe” and “Lie to Me” having “Idol” lead-ins, both could hit the roof. Plus, Fox is expected to have more shows for midseason, such as hot prospects “Glee” and “Boldly Going Nowhere,” though the once-promising sci-fi drama “Dollhouse” has been banished to Friday nights. Fox’s growth could effectively hamstring ABC and CBS, but there’s no systematic reason why more than one show cannot pull large numbers in a time period (9 p.m. Thursday, for example, houses three hit shows). As for NBC, after the triumph of the Summer Olympics, the network has lived in crisis. Most of its new shows misfired and sparked derision from viewers and critics, and ratings for “Heroes” have dropped alarmingly. With NBC airing the Super Bowl, the network has a significant platform to reboot, if only it had more promising new content. NBC’s only likely bet is the new drama “Kings,” but that’s only one hour. The network will follow the Super Bowl with “The Office,” which should draw a large number but won’t rescue its trouble spots. The CW is in a similar situation, with only returning series “Reaper” and horror-reality show “13: Fear Is Real” scheduled to drop in midseason and neither expected to improve their time periods significantly. Still, with Fox set to improve dramatically, CBS steady and growing some hours and ABC replacing strike-hampered series with fresh content, on balance broadcast has potential to have better headlines next year. And all certainly will improve on this past spring. Unless, of course, there’s another strike. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Time Warner Cable president and CEO Glenn Britt on Monday cited retransmission deals with broadcasters as a key factor of cost pressures for cable operators beyond sports content and said his company may suggest the new Congress review regulation on the issue. Already-pressured broadcast TV groups are now also facing a weak economy, which has dragged down local advertising spending, he told a UBS investor conference here. “They don’t have anywhere to go, so they make pretty big demands,” Britt said. He added that TWC may take up the issue with lawmakers as the current retrans regulations may not make sense anymore. Asked about net neutrality, Britt said he is increasingly confused about its meaning giving use of the phrase by many different groups for different Web-related issues. “There will be some (Web) regulation,” he predicted about the newly elected Washington power brokers. But he warned that regulation beyond ensuring First Amendment rights could mess up the economics of the Internet. Britt on Monday also downplayed current cable consolidation opportunities and said the housing and economic problems affect TWC’s growth rate, even though the business is holding up better than most others. “People who may be sellers are all smart enough to know that this is not the time to sell,” he said when asked if the separation of TWC from Time Warner next year will lead to acquisitions, pointing to depressed stock prices. “I don’t think people will sell while things are cheap.” Industry observers have mentioned Cablevision Systems and at least parts of Charter Communications as possible targets for TWC after the separation. Britt said Monday that he had no precise guidance on when it will go through given that the FCC hasn’t put it on its agenda yet. Overall, he argued that the cable business is performing “better than most businesses” in a recession, but he acknowledged that user gains has continued to run well behind 2007 levels since October. “History would say that people watch more TV during bad times,” he said. And broadband users seem reluctant to disconnect given the Internet has become a key part of their lives. “It may be even more important than TV,” he said. But Britt admitted that telephone subscription growth looks slower in the current environment, and fewer housing starts and foreclosures drag down growth. So does the advertising business, which for TWC was flat for the first three quarters of 2008. “It is big enough that it affects our growth rate as an overall company,” he said. And DVR user growth has been running about 40% behind the year-ago period. “People still watch TV and cable,” Britt said. “But they are thinking: How can I cut around the edges?” Trimming staff and labor costs amid slowing user growth is one cost lever TWC is looking at using, he said. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Endemol CEO Ynon Kreiz will deliver the keynote address at this year’s MIPTV market, pronouncing the forthcoming year to be “the most challenging year our sector has faced in over a decade.” Kreiz, who took over as head of the private equity-backed producer of such shows as “Big Brother” and “Deal or No Deal” in June this year, will tell execs at the global content market that runs March 30 through April 3 that content creators will need to take “bold and innovative” steps in order to ride the downturn. “MIPTV is a pivotal event in the TV industry calendar and 2009 is set to be the most challenging year our sector has faced in over a decade,” said Kreiz. His senior team — including incoming chief operating officer and former head of Disney’s European distribution and channels business Tom Toumazis — gets its feet under the table from Jan. 1 next year. Reed Midem’s director of television Paul Johnson said the keynote would be one of the market’s highlights. “Ynon is steering Endemol on a new path,” said Johnson. “Undoubtedly, Endemol’s keynote will be one of the highlights of our MIPTV conference program next year,” he said. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

 

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . . (Mike Butts Creative)

 

Q.  32% of people have lied to get out of THIS. Get out of what?

            A.  Going to a wedding

 

 

TODAY’S QUOTE (By Johann Wolfgang Von Geothe)

 

“DREAM NO SMALL DREAMS FOR THEY HAVE NO POWER TO MOVE THE HEARTS OF MEN.”

 

 

MIND BOGGLERS . . .  (QuickTrivia)

 

Q.  Born September 5, 1940, she starred in this movie: The Four Musketeers – 1075?

            A.  Dorothy Arzner

            B.  Mona Barrie

            C.  Raquel Welch  ****

            D.  Julie Andrews

 

Q.  What electrical appliance was featured on the Sgt. Pepper album cover?

            A.  An electric fan

            B.  A portable television  ****

            C.  A toaster oven

            D.  An old time radio

 

Q.  Which of the following is generally largest?

            A.  Ice cap

            B.  Ice sheet  ****

            C.  Cirque

            D.  Ice field

 

Q.  Jazz was born when slaves mixed Irish jigs and African dance. Later, Creole musicians added brass instruments to the mix. Where did this happen?

            A.  Chicago

            B.  St. Louis

            C.  Kansas City

            D.  New Orleans  ****

 

Q.  USA states:  What is the capital of Iowa?

            A.  Ames

            B.  Dubuque

            C.  Council Bluffs

            D.  Des Moines  ****

 

Q.  In which country might you sail the Rhone?

            A.  Germany

            B.  Poland

            C.  Austria

            D.  France  ****

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

 

EXTREME SPECTATOR SPORTS:

 

If the thought of bungee jumping, skydiving, or running with the bulls makes you queasy, don’t worry. I’ll tell you where you can WATCH adrenaline junkies in action, which is sure to get your heart racing. Bloukrans Bungee near Cape Town, South Africa is the highest commercial bungee jumping spot in the world. You can enter for free and watch daredevils plummet from the observation deck. The running of the bulls in Pamplona is an extremely dangerous sport for participants, but you can watch this activity along railings, a safe distance from the bulls. And, a little closer to home, many skydiving facilities offer free viewing zones for those who want to watch safely from the ground. You can find skydiving spectator areas at Jumptown in Massachusetts, in Pennsylvania’s Above the Poconos Skydivers, and at Skydive Lake Elsinore in Southern California.

 

(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.)

 

 

MIKE BUTTS CREATIVE . . .

 

MY DOG HATES ROSCOE: JL

 

THERE IS A FRENCH POODLE ON MY STREET NAMED ROSCOE—SWEET DOG—OWNER IS A NICE LADY. MY “BOY-BUDDY, A LAB, LOVES HIM”! THE DOG WE ADOPTED RECENTLY, NIKKI ABSOLUTELY HATES HIM AND ACTS LIKE SHE WANTS TO GET AT HIM IF

I’D LET HER. IT’S A SHAME BECAUSE HE IS SUCH A NICE DOG—HE DOESN’T DESERVE HER CARRYING ON. ALTHOUGH—IT COULD JUST MEAN THAT SHE’S AN AMERICAN DOG~~ WHO JUST DOESN’T LIKE THE “FRENCH”..YA GOTTA RESPECT THAT!!

 

 

2,700 YEAR OLD “STASH”: J

 

SOME RESEARCHERS SAY THAT THE OLDEST MARIJUANA STASH IN THE WORLD WAS RECENTLY DISCOVERED IN CHINA. GET

THIS THEY SAY IT’S 2,700 YEARS OLD!  WHY DO I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD STORY FOR ANOTHER “CHEECH AND CHONG

MOVIE”?  Hey man—lets see if we can go hang out with the little chi-coms mannn!

 

 

MY THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: J

 

THEY ALL LAUGHED AT NOAH—UNTIL IT STARTED TO RAIN!! J

 

 

BIRTHDAYS . . .

 

—1848  American author Joel Chandler Harris (creator of “Uncle Remus” stories) (d. 7-3-1908)

—1886  Industrialist Clarence Birdseye (d. 10-7-1956)

—1898  Actor Emmett Kelly (d. 3-28-1979)

—1909  Actor Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (The Prisoner of Zenda) (d. 5-7-00)

—1912  Former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill (d. 1-5-1994)

—1916  Actor Kirk Douglas (Tough Guys)

—1922  Actor Redd Foxx (Sanford & Son) (d. 10-11-1991)

—1925  Actress Dina Merrill (Operation Petticoat)

—1928  Actor Dick Van Patten (Eight is Enough)

—1932  Blues Musician Junior Wells (d. 1-15-1998)

—1933  Talk Host Morton Downey

¾1934  Actress Judy Dench (Shakespeare In Love)

—1941  Actor Beau Bridges (Fabulous Baker Boys)

—1942  Actor/Football’s Dick Butkus (Rich Man, Poor Man)

—1943  Musician Rick Danko (The Band) (d. 12-10-1999)

¾1944 – Shirley Brickley – vocalist for The Orlons (“Don’t Hang Up”)

—1945  Actor Michael Nouri (Flashdance)

—1948  Bassist Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper)

—1950  Musician Joan Armatrading

—1953  Actor John Malkovich (Dangerous Liaisons)

—1955  Basketball’s Otis Birdsong

—1957  Entertainer/Singer Donny Osmond (“Puppy Love”)

¾1961  Actor Joe Lando (Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman)

¾1962  Actress Felicity Huffman (“Lynette” Desperate Housewives)

¾1968  Guitarist Brian Bell (Weezer)

—1969  Actress Alison Smith (Kate & Allie)

¾1969  Singer Jakob Dylan

¾1978  Actor Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives)

 

 

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

 

¾1775  The first post office in Canada opened, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

¾1792  The first formal cremation took place in Charleston, SC.

—1793  The American Minerva, first daily newspaper in NYC, began publication.

—1842  The first known Christmas card was made in England by John Horsley. It depicted three generations of a family sitting around the dinner table enjoying a feast, with their glasses raised as  a toast to the recipient of the card

—1884  Levant Richardson of Chicago was granted a patent for his invention -roller skates.

—1950  “Frosty the Snowman” by Gene Autry peaked at #7.

—1967  Police mace the Doors’ Jim Morrison after he verbally abuses one of New Haven’s finest. Onstage that night, Morrison berates the cops, who drag him away and arrest him for disturbing the peace and resisting arrest.

—1969  Charles Manson is arrested for the murder of actress Sharon Tate.

—1972  “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy reaches #1.

—1978  The Blues Brothers release their version of the Sam & Dave classic “Soul Man.”

—1984  The Jacksons’ much troubled “Victory” tour comes to a rainy end at Dodger Stadium. Michael Jackson announces it’s his last tour with his brothers.

—1986  Elton John collapses onstage in Sydney, Australia, but returns a few minutes later to finish his show with the symphony orchestra. Excerpts from this show are released as a live album.

—1986  Luther Vandross enters a no contest plea to charges of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter during his trial in Los Angeles.

—1992  The separation of Prince Charles and Princess Diana of England was officially announced.

—1995  The Beatles’ “Anthology, Vol 1” debut at #1.

 

 

RADIO ONLINE® DAILY SHOW PREP™ . . .

 

ON THIS DAY

The French government established the very first pawn shop on this date in 1777. As soon as they opened their doors, a customer walked in with a pig, marking the first “ham hock.”

In 1792, the very first formal cremation of a human being took place in the U.S. I don’t know: I just can’t see going through life, then winding it up by making a big ash out of myself.

On this date in 1884, roller skates with ball bearings were patented. They were much smoother than roller skates with rocks in them.

In 1979, the heaviest turkey on record weighed in at 77.25 pounds. His nickname was “Leftovers.”

TODAY IS

Donny Osmond turns 51 today… I believe that’s a year for every cousin.

Reiko Aylesworth turns 36 today. She was best known as Michelle on “24” before starting up her car. Then it was her all over. It’s a day for “Desperate” birthdays: Felicity Huffman turns 46 and Jesse Metcalfe (the former gardener Gabrielle was sleeping with) turns the big 3-0.

Golfer Tom Kite is shooting a 59 today.

Homemade Gift Day — We all know that gift giving and receiving can be extremely stressful. And most importantly, many people have forgotten what Christmas is all about. That’s why we are exchanging gifts that are homemade. None of us know how to make anything! Do normal people actually make Christmas presents? Phoner: would you rather have a gift that someone made for you instead of something that you really really want?

National Pastry Day — Send stunt boy out to a high traffic area and have him hold in his hand a pastry (Danish you pick it). Then you pay $XX for every person that he gets to take a bit of that pastry within 30 seconds.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

·         ‘Tis the season: Brad and Angelina have made a $100,000 donation to a children’s charity.

·         Britney Spears’ first husband, Jason Alexander, has been sent to jail for violating his probation. That was her 55-hour Las Vegas marriage.

·         Madonna won a judgment Monday against a British tabloid that she accused of breaching her privacy and copyright by publishing pictures of her 2000 wedding.

·         Eli Stone’s Jonny Lee Miller and his wife, actress Michele Hicks, have brought their first child into the world, a son: Buster Timothy Miller.

·         Forrest Ackerman has died at age 92. An actor, agent and magazine editor, he was credited with discovering Ray Bradbury and coining the phrase, “sci-fi.”

·         The Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift and Lionel Richie will ring in 2009 from Times Square on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”

·         To fan the Oscar hype, “The Dark Knight” will return to theaters on January 23rd. Yes, it comes out on video today.

·         John Malkovich and Hugh Laurie are both going to host “Saturday Night Live” this season. By the way, Amy Poehler returned to SNL over the weekend, for a quick appearance as Hillary.

·         In Oregon last Saturday, Scott Napper took his girlfriend out to a local spot on the beach, “Engagement Rock”… but before he could pop the question, a wave crashed on shore and swept her way. She hasn’t been seen since.

·         John Rich of Big & Rich fame, married his girlfriend Joan Bush on Saturday.

·         An original hand-written outline for Martin Luther King Jr.’s first speech condemning the Vietnam War, owned by his friend Harry Belafonte, is going on the auction block on Thursday.

·         Shania Twain arrived in New York to do some Christmas shopping, along with several friends from Switzerland… including the ex-husband of the woman who broke up her marriage to Mutt Lange.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Cosmopolitan says look for these clues the next time you think your guy may be trying to pull a fast one:

·         Shrugging his shoulders is a sign of uncertainty. So if he does so while talking definitively, be suspicious.

·         If he nods his head yes while verbally denying or vice versa, believe his body, not his words.

·         Placing a barrier between you and his mouth means he may not want you to listen too closely.

Men who want their wives to be more amorous in the bedroom at night should learn how to do the dishes and run the vacuum cleaner. That’s the word from the Council on Contemporary Families, which concludes that American men still don’t do their full, equal share of housework and child care, even though their contributions to housework have doubled in the past 40 years.

Meanwhile, plump women are getting more nooky than skinnier gals, reveals eye opening new research. The study seems to contradict widely held stereotypes that overweight and obese women are not as sexually active as other women. The researchers from Oregon and Hawaii concluded that the opposite seems to be true. “I was glad to see the stereotype that you have to be slender to have sex is just that, a stereotype,” says Oregon State University professor Marie Harvrey. 92% of overweight women reported having a history of sex with a man, as opposed to 87% of women with a normal body mass index. (National Examiner)

McGill University reports new research has exploded the myth that women have a higher pain threshold than men. In fact, gals are less tolerant of pain than guys. The finding is important because doctors have traditionally not paid sufficient attention to women patients who complain of pain, and often don’t give them adequate doses of medication to deal with the problem. Redheaded women are more pain sensitive than blondes or brunettes because a mutation in a pain receptor gene also produces red hair and fair skin. If you’re a woman facing surgery especially if you’re a redhead, make sure all the doctors involved in your case are aware of this new data and take it into account when determining the amount of anesthetic and post operative pain medication you’re given. (Sun)

PHONE TOPICS

·         What’s your favorite Christmas cookie?

·         Which Christmas song do you know ALL the words to?

·         What do you leave for Santa Claus? Cookies? Something else?

·         Which Christmas special can you not stand?

·         What’s the longest it’s taken you to get home from work after a storm hit?

·         How many shoes does a person really need?

·         What lie has caused you the most trouble?

·         Which is worse, arguing with your mate or arguing with your boss?

·         If you could put one driving tip on those written drivers tests what would it be?

·         What’s the hardest thing that you had to get used to about your in-laws? Anyone have their in-laws living in their home?!

·         What is the weirdest excuse you used when late for work?

·         Honestly (and anonymously), did you get married for true love or for some other reason? Money? Just wanted to be married to someone?

·         Weird smells that you enjoy?

·         Have you ever had dieting success… long-term?

·         Annual Christmas letters: good idea or annoying?

Do you have the patience to put together Christmas toys? Being a guy, I’d say no. I think us men are more impatient than most women. And from what I hear, there’s new info to prove it. Woman are more skilled than men at assembling Ikea’s flatpack furniture, according to Ikea. Why? They say that woman usually sort the parts in an orderly way first. Men throw them in a pile and then something goes missing.

What’s the dumbest joke you’ve ever heard? Ron Mlodzik won a Reader’s Digest joke telling contest, earning him $3,000. The joke: “A guy is walking down a dark street, when he hears something behind him. He looks behind him and sees a casket, and it’s going, dum … dum … dum … dum … ‘ and it’s followin’ him. So he gets frightened and goes faster, and the casket goes faster ” ‘dum, dum, dum, dum, dum … ‘ So he starts to trot and runs into his apartment building and the casket crashes through the door and comes at him faster, up the stairs… ‘dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum!’ He slams the door, and it crashes through his apartment door, so he runs into his bathroom and he slams the door and he hears, ‘dum … dum … dum … dum … ‘ and he knows it’s going to crash through the door … then it crashes through the door, and he grabs the only thing he can. He grabs a bottle of cough syrup and he throws it at the casket … and it stops the coffin!”

Do you think that parents should pay for their kids crimes? Do you think a mom should do time for her kid being a no-show? A Gainesville, Florida mother has been arrested after her daughter missed too many days of school. Allegedly her ninth-grade daughter had 59 unexcused absences. Florida requires attendance after 15 unexcused absences.

Our producer is worried about losing his job with the bad economy so we tried to come up with a dream job for him, just in case. We took calls on which profession would be your ultimate dream job. One of our listeners called in to say that Oscar Meyer is accepting resumes til the end of January. Yes, I guess it’s a real job. Apparently, the gig comes with a “competitive” salary, expenses, benefits, and clothing. They send you to Hot Dog High in lovely Madison, Wis., for training on Oscar Meyer’s products, how to run your own PR operation, and, most importantly, how to drive the Wienermobile.

Guy car or chick car? Okay, so it was a slow day! But an easy phoner none the less. Good calls from the big SUV lovers and haters. We decided that the Jetta, Miata and the old Gremlin were all chick cars. Callers chose the Hummer as the ultimate guy car (for obvious reasons). Guess size does matter.

Want a healthier home? Here are five tricks to a happier home:

·         Color your way to happiness – Adding color to any room is a drastic mood lifter, and it can be done pretty quickly! Consider painting just one wall a lively color. A bright red, a soothing green or even a vibrant yellow completely changes the feel, and will really affect the vibe of a room.

·         Celebrate life – First of all, think Flower Power! Fresh flowers are very easy to get at your local grocery market, and they make any room seem more alive. Plants have the same positive effect.

·         Let there be light – The more points of light in any room, the better. Especially as the days are getting shorter, having warm lighting will help you feel more energized and alive through the winter months. Overhead lighting can be augmented by lamps in several places throughout a room.

·         Get comfortable – You begin and end almost every day in your bedroom, so make the room an oasis! Have proper bedding and pillows. You will feel well rested, and it will be easier to get up in the morning.

·         Take control – It’s this simple: Clear space = A clear mind. Keep desktops, countertops and tabletops open. Put the papers, files and knickknacks away. Not only will your home feel cleaner, it will feel a whole lot bigger!

Phoner: What other ways do you create a happier and healthier home?

Typed in funny business names on the web and up popped a good phoner. Best was Dyno-Mite Hooker Towing Service. And another caller let us in on a place called the Soak & Poke (a spa and massage parlor). It’s a good way to find out about quirky local places.

A good man/woman topic is asking which one ladies would pick if they had to choose between the following: a guy who hovered over her always underfoot and afraid of ever doing something that might displease her, or a free spirit kind of guy who loves you but never calls, parties too much, etc. The surprising part for us was that since they had to choose one or the other, most women actually admitted the free spirit guy would drive them less crazy than the doting guy.

What guys do that annoy the women in their lives. The ladies really wanted to weigh in on this one. They got pretty worked up, too. Of course, there are the standard things like leaving clothes on the floor and not putting a new roll of toilet paper on, but the best calls are the ones from left field. When you get those, throw some gas on the fire, baby! We had a woman whose man always leaves the wash cloth on the bar of soap in the shower. Apparently this has been driving her buggy for 7 years now because it makes the soap “gushy.” You could suggest, perhaps, switching to liquid soap but it’s a lot more entertaining to get her all worked up and perhaps divorced over “gushy” soap bars. Of course, the obligatory follow-up topic is the annoying stuff women do.

Here’s a good topic. We started talking about who has it better “couples” or “single” people. Start this by suggesting your own observations by using people on your show. Especially, if you have a combo of married and single people on the show.

Out: Scales. In: Online calculators. Dieters search the Web are getting the skinny on the state of their size and health. Phoner: Have you ever tried to use an online dieters support group? Can you recommend one?

A warm coat is the most-utilized piece in a woman’s winter wardrobe, and with cold weather quickly approaching, there’s little time to sugarcoat the need for every woman to find a cover-up that is both figure-flattering and fashionable. This guide to picking the right winter coat for your body type will help you bundle up beautifully, regardless of your size or shape.

·         If You’re Bottom Heavy: When you have an ample rear, the wrong fit can make your coat appear to be too small, even if it’s the right size for your body. Also, trenches, and coats that are double-breasted work well with wider hips.

·         If You’re An Apple: A woman’s stomach can easily appear larger and wider in an inappropriate coat style. Luckily, swing coats, are not only stylish this season but are also very flattering to the apple-shaped figure. Coat Styles to Shun: Belted coats are not flattering (or comfortable) on apple-shaped women, nor are extremely fitted coats.

·         If You’re Extremely Busty: Well-endowed women often struggle to find stylish coats that fit across the bust line without adding inches elsewhere. To keep your chest under wraps without sacrificing style, opt for single-breasted coats with a tailored look.

·         If You’re Extremely Thin: Being too skinny often creates chaos when looking for a well-fitting coat that doesn’t swamp its wearer. Never fear, a well placed belt on a coat or jacket can create curves.

·         If You’re Short: Being petite can leave you swimming inside of the wrong coat style, so it is very important that you invest in a fitted winter coat so the cut of your coat does not overwhelm your small frame.

·         If You’re Plus-Sized: Larger women need to make sure their coats accentuate (not add to!) their curves. Less bulky (but still warm) fabrics in solid colors are a huge plus for fuller figures. Also, try drawing attention to your face with a v-neck coat in a classic pattern.

This was an interesting study result. One third of women who meet someone online have sex on the first date. In general, women were “holding out more” and that the “12 date rule” was becoming popular, but when talking to someone online over a period of time, it was easy to be lulled into a false sense of security. Phoner: What’s your rule about “romance” while dating? Is it different meeting someone online vs. in public?

A local guy celebrated his 100th birthday today so we also took calls on “Who is (or was) your oldest relative?” People love to brag about that, but it gets old pretty quick (excuse the pun) unless you get them to share stories about that person. It’s great fun to hear what a wild woman someone’s great grandmother was in her younger years.

What’s the worst look you’ve ever had? My female co-host was talking about her bad 80’s hair, and led me to talk about my 70’s leisure suit? Get the audience involved with their worst looks.

Phoner: Ever confront someone because of their lack of “Gym Etiquette”? Could have been grunting, not wiping down machines, staying on the treadmill way after their scheduled time was up?

Phoner: Anyone listening, and this is a test of trust – you can remain anonymous, that couldn’t agree to ALL of these terms with their ex… or in their current relationship with their kids in their custody?

THIS OR THAT

Two choices: you gotta pick one and tell us why!

·         Mistletoe or Holly

·         Real tree or Artificial tree

·         Write something in each Christmas card or Just sign ’em

·         Eggnog or Roasted Chestnuts

·         Christmas Wreath or Poinsettia

·         Reindeer or Turtle Doves

·         The Grinch or Scrooge

·         “I’ll be home for Christmas” or “White Christmas”

·         Going out to the woods to cut your tree or A Christmas tree lot

·         “Christmas Vacation” or “Scrooged”

FRONT ROW GARAGE DOOR CONTEST

Here’s a good bit for giving away front row tickets. Ask listeners to paint their garage doors. The painting must include the recording artist and your logo. One guy actually tried to fool us with a computer generated entry.

STUNT BOY DAY TRIP

This sounds really corny, but it is an awesome bit. Figure out how far $20 will get you on a bus. Then make it a road trip with listeners. Guaranteed it will be some little hole-in-the-wall town that you will converge on. Makes for a very fun day with the listeners.

THE TOP FIVE COMPLAINTS OF MRS. CLAUS

1.      You think YOU always have toys left laying around

2.      “Red is really just not my color”

3.      He only leaves the house once a year

4.      He shakes like a bowl full of jelly during everything… am I clear?

5.      Keeps tripping over elves

HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter

The price of gas is at its lowest level in five years. The first person who says the phrase, ‘those poor oil companies’ will be asked to leave.

President-elect Barack Obama says that “it’s going to get worse before it gets better.” He was either talking about the U.S. economy or the crowds at the mall, one of the two…

Bill Clinton says he is open to a role in the Obama administration. I heard he was interested in any position, which is pretty much the common wisdom.

Christmas is just two weeks from Thursday. I’m not hitting the panic button yet… I’m just making sure all the papers are out of the way so that I can get to it when I’m ready.

Tough times at NBC. They laid off 500 folks last week. You can notice a more edgier feel around the network these days. For example, the new slogan for one show is “Screw the cheerleader, it’s every hero for themselves!”

Around the network, everyone’s saying NBC stands for “No Bonus Coming.”

FILL IN THE BLANK

·         A Nobel Prize winner says that if we had ____________ back in the days of Adolph Hitler, he could have been stopped. (The Internet)

·         Disneyland has fired the four actors who played _____________ because of concerns that females would flash them at night” (Jack Sparrow)

·         A British Cookbook author is suggesting that due to economic times, you might consider having ____________ instead of turkey for Christmas.

CONVENIENCE STORE TOUR

Send your street person on a convenience store across (your town). They must go to every convenience store in town no matter how long it takes. Give them something to leave at each store that promotes the show.

LOVE STORY

(This is a long bit, but got good response.) Ever sink deep into your seat in a darkened movie theater as you realize the love story projected on the big screen is your own? It’s not uncommon, according to Marcia Millman, author of the book, “The Seven Stories of Love: And How To Choose Your Own Happy Ending.” By recognizing these seven basic love stories that are reenacted over and over in films, fiction and life, Millman says, we can connect with the motives and early experiences that unconsciously drive our choices and behavior in relationships.

·         First Love — “Titanic” and “Dirty Dancing.” This is a powerful plotline for youth when finding romance has much to do with “breaking away from our parents and finding our own identity,” says Millman. Later in life, as in “The Way We Were,” some people long for their first love to recapture their youth or when something’s missing in their current relationship.

·         Pygmalion — “My Fair Lady,” “Educating Rita” and “Working Girl.” The mentor-and-protégé plot revolves around the older partner’s need for admiration and control and the younger one’s desire to grow. This story line often triggers emotions in women who lost their fathers at an early age.

·         The Downstairs Woman and the Upstairs Man — “Pretty Woman” and “You’ve Got Mail.” One of the most popular stories usually involves a bright, ambitious woman from a poor and unconnected background who falls in love with a powerful and wealthy man out of her reach. “Her aim is to win the love of a powerful man to make up for the father who never paid attention to her or rejected her,” says Millman.

·         Sacrifice — “Casablanca,” “The Bridges of Madison County” and “The End of the Affair.” This is when people sacrifice once-in-a-lifetime happiness for a higher moral purpose or principle – not hurting someone else, a higher calling. “What these people are often most afraid of is passion,” says Millman.

·         Rescue — “Beauty and the Beast,” “Run Lola Run” and “What Dreams May Come.” Common for both men and women, it’s the tale of falling in love with someone who’s been wounded in the past, and unconsciously seeking to rescue oneself by saving the lover.

·         Postponement and Avoidance — “An Affair To Remember,” “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Forever Young.” Perhaps the all-time favorite, it’s about having the faith that love will survive every obstacle. Such stories are about “someone who has been inhibited or afraid and finally takes a chance on love and it works out well,” Millman says.

NEWS CLUES

Had some concert tickets to give away, so we added a new contest that we used to hold people through the new that might otherwise button push. We called it “News Clues.” All we did was ask the caller a question about a story our news anchor did during the newscast. Get it right, win the tickets. Used a cheesy news bed (not our regular sounder), and had some fun with it.

BIG NAME GAME

We asked listeners to get a celebrity to call the show for a cash prize. We’ll also match the cash and donate it to the biggest celeb’s charity. We did this last year, and it was a huge success.

YOU KEEP ME HANGIN’ ON

Women who want to hang on to their guys had better forget about keeping the house tidy or whipping up yummy dinners. The key to keeping a man coming back for more is to keep yourself looking good, says a top European fashion model. No man wants to come home to a gal if they look like the maid. Here are some tips to keep a man from straying:

·         Flattery is the best policy. Make a fuss over your guy picking out his good points and praising them. Even if your man’s a fat blimp, he has to have some attractive feature. “It might be his hair, his smile or his eyes. Tell him he looks great.”

·         Never chew your nails. Guys may not mention your nails, but they notice them. And the one thing no man likes is a hand with chewed-up fingernails.

·         Be careful how you talk. Guys like sweethearts who look like ladies and act like ladies. You might think you’re cool letting out a curse word or two, but your man will think you’ve got no class.

·         Makeup is fine, but the late Tammy Faye Bakker look is a no-no. Men want to see the real you.

·         If you’re single, don’t start giving your guy “baby talk.” Telling him how much you like kids and how you’d love to have a family of your own is likely to give your man roaming feet. Trapping a man into marriage or a fulltime relationship is fine, but making him feel trapped by talking about kids and family is bound to make him start looking around for a less demanding lover.

·         Never tell your man about your past conquests. No guy wants to be part of a long list, especially when it concerns his sweetie. He wants you to look good to other guys, but he doesn’t want to know that he’s the last in a long line to hold your hand.

·         Be sexy, but don’t be a tramp. Showing him all the goodies all the time leaves nothing to the imagination — and a definite no.

·         Keep him laughing. A good sense of humor is more attractive than a thigh-high slit in a skirt or really tight pants.

·         Being funny will relax him, and make him want to be around you. And don’t forget to laugh at his jokes, too.

·         Don’t be obvious — even with your special guy. No man likes a woman who over-flirts in public. It makes you look cheap and desperate. You can make your guy know you’re interested by giving him quick, meaningful looks and standing or sitting close enough to him that your arms or knees touch. But throwing your arms around your guy and hanging on or pinching his behind are out.

WHAT’S IN THEIR DESK?

Play “Guess What’s In (Co-host)’s Desk.” Have your stunt boy/girl go through your sidekick/partner’s desk and make a list of all things good and evil. Next morning go big with it on the air. We home-brewed our own jingle for the game and contestants had to guess different products and categories. Bonus points are given if the player can correctly identify the name brand of the said product.

HAIR OF THE DOG

How about getting a dog groomer and some guys with long hair in public. The bit is that the groomer makes each look as much like a poodle as he can. Listeners drive by and vote on best poodle. Guy wins concert tickets or something but must go to event with poodle deal.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES

For Men:

·         What was the address of Big Bird’s nest on Sesame Street? 123, 124, or 123 and a half ***.

·         Which of the TV’s Golden Girls was the oldest? Beatrice Arthur (Dorothy), Betty White (Rose) ***, Rue McClanahan (Blanche), or Estelle Getty (Sophia).

·         How wide is the balance beam used in the Olympics gymnastic competition? 1 inch, 4 inches *** , or 6 inches.

·         On the TV show, “Three’s Company” what was the full name of Chrissy played by Suzanne Somers? Christmas Snow *** , Christine Somers, or Christmas Show.

For Women:

·         Athlete Plaxico Burress, was suspended and faces a possible end to his career for a gun incident at New York City nightclub. What sport does he play? Football ***, Baseball or Hockey.

·         The “Superman Seat Grab,” is used in what sport? Nascar, Freestyle Motocross ***, or Bowling.

·         What ex-football player is now being featured on TV ads pitching Nutrisystem? Reggie White, Dan Marino ***, or Dan Akroyd.

·         Who makes the Escalade? Dodge, Cadillac ***, or Volvo.

GORSEFEATHERS by Patrick Gorse

According to the November issue of Behavioral Brain Research, a short, afternoon nap at work is better than a cup of strong coffee for making you more alert. Of course, if you take a nap at work, you’ll probably end up being doused by your boss with a strong cup of coffee.

A cruise ship carrying 122 people was stranded Thursday after hitting ice off the coast of Antarctica. At first the passengers were amused by a group of precocious penguins who rushed towards the vessel—Turned out to be pirates dressed in tuxedos.

President Bush says that history will judge him to be a very good president. Apparently, in the future, history will be judged by juries from Southern California.

Former socialite Sunny von Bulow has died after being in a coma for 28 years. Ms. Von Bulow was nicknamed Choo-Choo as a child, because she was born in a Pullman car, then later called Sunny, because of her disposition. What will they call her now? Six-Feet von Below?

The news shows are still talking about that Wal-Mart worker who was hired just for the holidays and ended up being trampled to death. Isn’t that unbelievable? Not that he got trampled–that anybody is hiring for the holidays.

Asked by Ellen DeGeneres how to get George Clooney on her show, Brad Pitt suggested she should hire some strippers from Chippendales. After realizing what he said, Brad corrected himself, saying, “I thought you said Boy George Clooney.”

Just after the terrorist bombings in Mumbai, the Government of Pakistan received a hoax telephone call on a secured line from a party claiming to be the foreign minister of India that threatened a harsh, even nuclear military response. It turned out they’d been Punk’d by the infamous Calcutta Morning-After-Zoo radio team of Hindude and Ali-Baba-Booey.

Two hundred St. Louis and Kansas City-area residents found themselves $100 richer this weekend when Secret Santa’s passed out 20,000 in crisp 100 dollar bills. Asked what it felt like to get free money as a Christmas present, the residents said, “Oh, it’s a Christmas present? We thought it was just because the Democrats are back in power.”

Barack Obama said on “Meet the Press” Sunday morning, that developing the nation’s infrastructure was a key to stimulating the economy, and that America’s governors have worthy projects that are “shovel ready.” Usually the term “shovel ready,” only apples to programs in the NBC prime-time line-up.

Reports say that the New York Giants are working privately to unload troubled wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Sad — if they’d only ‘unloaded’ him a week ago… they wouldn’t have to trade him now.

Some NFL analysts believe Tampa Bay may get Plaxico Burress at a bargain-rate-discount. Talk about getting a lot of bang for your “Buc.”

Doctors say that Plaxico Burress was lucky in that dance club because the bullet that lodged in Plaxico’s thigh narrowly missed his crotch. Coincidentally, you know what was playing when the gun fired? The Sex Pistols.

Urging swift and sweeping action to fix the nation’s economy, on “Meet the Press” Sunday, President-elect Barack Obama compared the subprime mortgage crisis to a fire in your neighbor’s house. Obama said that whether the fire was caused by “smoking in the bedroom, or leaving the stove on” in the kitchen, you’re incentive is to put out the fire before it spreads to your house. Of course, Amy Winehouse said, “But what if the fire was caused by meth you cooked in the kitchen and smoked in the bedroom?”

So Barack Obama says you have to put out your neighbor’s house fire whether it was caused by “smoking in the bedroom, or leaving the stove on” in the kitchen. Well — with one exception. If it was caused by a burning cross that went off prematurely — you’re on your own.

Tom Brokaw reminded Barack Obama Sunday morning that “the White House is a no smoking zone,” and Obama replied that “you will not see any violations of these rules.” That rules out the kitchen, but not the bedroom or the bathroom.

Before picking Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State designate, Barack Obama had a difficult choice between Hillary and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Senator Clinton won out because she advocated Obama’s “carrots and sticks” style diplomacy, while Richardson wanted hot carrots with a side of churros.

On Sunday morning, Tom Brokaw retired as the “Meet the Press” host, and introduced David Gregory as the new permanent moderator. Tom was extremely graceful, telling David, “I hand this assignment off to you.” Up in Heaven, Tim Russert said, “Lord, I now understand why you took me so soon. You can’t trust a Buffalo Bill to make a decent handoff.”

So David Gregory will now host “Meet the Press.” The world’s number one Buffalo Bills fan, Tim Russert, would be proud to see that his old job went to a guy with Jack Kemp’s haircut.

Adam Goldstein, who’s better known as DJ AM, survived a fiery plane crash in September and is now back spinning records in hip-hop clubs. With guns going off in nightclubs, that’s not too safe either. He might as well have Ted Kennedy drive him home from the club.

YOUR FAVORITE DESSERT REVEALS YOUR PERSONALITY

Whether it’s dark chocolate mousse or melt in your mouth cheesecake, your favorite dessert speaks volumes about your personality. “Pleasant tastes release feel good chemicals in the brain,” says psychologist Truman Shorts. “These pleasurable sensations, in turn, attract distinctively different personalities.”

·         Ice cream — You’re a creative genius who’s always full of new ideas, and you can handle several projects simultaneously. You’re also outgoing, infinitely curious, and your genuine interest in others draws people to you in swarms. But for all your grownup abilities, just like your enthusiasm for yummy ice cream, you embrace life with the infectious enthusiasm of a child, seeing only the good in everyone.

·         Fruit — You’re a positive thinker who sees the silver lining in the gray cloud, while using all your talents to ambitiously forge ahead in your career. Nibbling fruit perfectly fits your temperament, since natural sugars don’t produce dramatic highs or lows that alter brain chemistry. Your consistency of mood makes you a dependable person who rarely stays down for long and can be counted on to stand firm in a crisis.

·         Chocolate — Your natural courage is boosted by eating chocolate, which triggers the urge to take risks. You’re always at the center of the action, going for the solution that requires passionate commitment. People find your ebullient disposition and clever wit so charming that they easily fall under your spell and allow you to take the lead in most situations. You make an excellent boss.

·         Pecan pie or carrot cake — You always tell the truth, but with a diplomatic flair that rarely ruffles any feathers. You’re also intensely loyal to family and friends, and, like your favorite dessert, you are deeply connected to traditional values. Smart as a whip and flexible enough to resolve conflicts without losing your cool, you impress people with a mixture of idealism and sophistication that makes you a standout.

·         Cheesecake — Your intuitive nature makes you aware of brewing conflicts before anyone else notices the danger signs. Just as cheesecake requires sensitive taste buds to appreciate its subtle flavor, your emotional savvy is a welcome ability in tense situations. You also possess an unerring sense of fairness, bringing harmony to any situation. Your calming influence is indispensable to your family.

COSMO’S LAME GUY EXCUSES YOU SHOULD NEVER FALL FOR

·         “I swear that wasn’t a fart. It’s just the way this damn leather chair sounds whenever I sit down.”

·         “I was looking at her because I was thinking how much prettier you are.”

·         “It was terrible. The aliens, they… they said they wanted to observe human males at leisure and made me stay out until four a.m. drinking with the guys.”

·         “I’d love to help out, but I can’t… I once killed a man in a laundry accident.”

·         “But don’t you see? My underpants and sweaty socks are protecting the floor from scratches.”

·         “About tonight… I was going to take you someplace nice, but I thought you’d dig the low-key vibe of Dunkin’ Donuts.”

·         “I know this sounds crazy, but I’m allergic to your third cousin. I guess I have to skip her co-ed wedding shower.”

·         “Oh, but that was just my ex calling to say how glad she is that I’ve found someone who makes me so happy.”

TICKET TO RIDE

Mel Leiding, an attorney from Anaheim, CA, and author of “How to Fight Your Traffic Ticket and Win,” says he would rather be mugged than get a traffic ticket. Why? Getting mugged is faster, cheaper and has no long-term repercussions, such as increased insurance premiums, loss of a license or being forced to attend traffic school. Here are the only two legitimate ways you might be able to wiggle out of it:

Ask for a warning. When you’re pulled over by a police officer for speeding, remain in your car. Never get out. When the officer comes to your car window, look contrite. Be very polite. Do apologize* profusely. And ask very nicely for a warning instead of a ticket. Never answer such questions as: “Do you know why I stopped you?” or “Do you know how fast you were going?” Say “I’m not sure,” instead of saying something that admits your guilt.

No matter what the facts are, plead “not guilty” and ask for a court date. Never pay the ticket by mail since that is the same as admitting guilt. Even if you think the evidence is solidly against you * after all, there is that radar gun the cop was using * don’t give up. There are many ways the police can make mistakes that will result in your ticket being dismissed.

How to avoid getting a speeding ticket in the first place:

1.      Know the speed limit. While you want to keep up with traffic around you, try to not exceed the speed limit by more than nine mph.

2.      Don’t drive in the left lane. Use it only for passing. More tickets are given to drivers who are in the left lane than other lanes.

3.      Realize that police officers with radar guns position themselves so you can’t see them until it’s too late, such as in parking lots or around a bend in the road.

4.      If you see a police officer giving someone else a ticket or driving on the opposite side of the highway, don’t assume you’re safe. The police could still be tracking you.

5.      Don’t call attention to yourself. Keep the bumper stickers and vehicle modifications to a minimum. Make sure your car isn’t loud.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Bill Drake dead @ 71

Boss of Boss Radio Dies

(December 1, 2008) Bill Drake, the architect of Boss Radio and arguably one of a handful of Top 40 programmers who shaped the Rock ‘n Roll landscape during the last half century, died Saturday afternoon of lung cancer at the age of 71.   Blogs and Web sites (some listed below) will tell stories about the man, born Philip Yarbrough, who launched 93/KHJ Boss Radio in 1965 and revolutionized the presentation of Top 40 radio. Some would say it was the most copied format ever.  Charlie Van Dyke worked for Bill in Boston, San Francisco and at KHJ. The veteran Boss Jock tells the Drake story:

“Bill Drake had been working as pd of KYA-San Francisco and ran into the now-often-experienced ‘philosophical differences.’ He decided that he should quit KYA and find a station to program that would give him more room. Gene Chenault offered him the opportunity to program a station in Stockton and KYNO-Fresno. Drake said, ‘Chenault gave me complete creative freedom, two salaries and a brand new Cadillac. Not bad!’  

Drake pulled off a quick ‘worst to first’ featuring a classic radio battle with KMAK, which was being programmed by Ron Jacobs. It is reported that the battle featured all the dirty tactics possible…going through the other station’s trash, secretly recording conversations and more. When the battle ended, Drake and KYNO were strong winners. KYNO had more audience than the other 17 stations combined. (Bill Drake with former K-EARTH general managers Pat Duffy and Maureen Lesourd)

Excited by the success, Chenault talked with a friend of his, Willet Brown, who owned another ratings disaster, KGB-San Diego. Chenault wanted to buy the station. Brown decided that he wanted to keep it and made a deal for Drake to come to KGB and work his Fresno magic at the San Diego property. Again, it was a quick win. KGB went from last to first in 63 days. Meanwhile, Brown was talking to a friend of his, Tom O’Neil, who was head of RKO. The conversation was about this whiz kid from Fresno who turned Gene’s station around, then rolled into San Diego and did it again. O’Neil was well aware of the poor position of most of the RKO stations at that time. So the decision was made to see if Drake could pull it off again.  

KHJ was given over to the team of Bill Drake and Gene Chenault. Chenault dealt with the ownership and Drake made the programming plans. Drake began running practice shows in a KHJ production room, getting ready for the debut of ‘Boss Radio.’ During this period, a newsman at KHJ was fired and, in reaction, took much of the material and tapes in his possession to then market champ KFWB. KFWB attempted to beat KHJ to the debut of the new format. Drake and KHJ responded by popping the format immediately and ran promos on KHJ inviting listeners to sample KFWB and KRLA and then come back to ‘93/KHJ’ to hear the real ‘Boss Radio.’ 

The pd’s job at KHJ was especially important and Drake selected his former Fresno competitor, Ron Jacobs, for the job, having been impressed with Jacobs’ battle skills during the ‘Fresno War.’ The a capella jingles, reduced commercial load, tight format, high profile promotions and unique djs all worked together, and KHJ was another ‘worst to first’ for Drake. Detractors said that his was a West Coast style that could not work anywhere else.   Drake and Chenault decided to test the format elsewhere and went to work at KAKC-Tulsa. So the friendship of Gene Chenault, Willet Brown and Tom O’Neil, which was really three guys operating radio stations that were ‘dogs,’ provided an opportunity for the birth of a new format. Drake said, ‘Getting cooperation on the format was really pretty easy – they had nothing to lose.’ The reduced commercial load wasn’t a problem, Drake notes, ‘Most of the stations didn’t have any commercials anyway.’ Another factor was that all the stations, while performing poorly when Drake came on board, had good signals. (Photo: The Real Don Steele holding his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star plaque with Bill Drake on the right)

The necessity for a strong signal was a position also held by Top 40-pioneer Gordon McLendon who said, ‘it doesn’t matter how good you are if the people can’t hear you.’ O’Neil recognized the potential of KFRC-San Francisco and handed it over to Drake. Within about a year, RKO also delivered CKLW-Detroit, WHBQ-Memphis, WRKO-Boston and WOR/fm-New York to be remade in the image of their winning sisters.  

Anyone who worked a Drake station knows that it wasn’t just the spot load and jingles that made the Drake sound unique. Drake has been described by Bill Watson, a long-time programming associate, as having the kind of ‘listener ear’ that programmers often don’t have. Watson said that he once went into a gas station, and the attendant made a comment about his station that went right to the point. ‘Why didn’t I think of what that gas station guy said?’ Watson commented, ‘That’s the kind of feedback Drake would give all the time.’  

Drake also set up the station in a way that put air people directly under the pd, who was essentially the only one who could deal with the air staff. The pd’s, in turn, were coached on style and morale techniques, and a real attitude developed that grew into pride. It was kind of the Marine Corps of Radio. Programmers were in constant contact with the air staff via the famous ‘Batphone.’ Drake pd’s all had car phones long before they became so popular. And Drake and his team were available to the pd’s 24-hours-a-day to talk through any sudden change in the market.  So it was in Los Angeles that the nation really first noticed a new air product that received life primarily through the friendship of three radio executives who shared their frustrations with each other and decided to give it a try.”

Bill Drake started as a jock in Northern California. In December 1973, he took over KIQQ and brought along Robert W. Morgan and The Real Don Steele to wage battle against their alma mater. In his definitive book on the history of radio and pop music, Music in the Air, Philip Eberly described the “Drake formula” this way: “He declared dead air a felony. He decreed more rapid-fire talk by disc jockeys. He dropped the traditional 40-song playlist down 10 to 30 (that is, ‘Boss 30’). He reduced the allowable 18 commercials per hour (the FCC quota) to an ironclad 12.”  

During the first half of the early 1990s, Drake played a pivotal role in the success of “K-Earth 101,” which at the time was the sister station to KHJ.

Charlie Tuna 
Remembers Bill Drake

Bill Drake completely changed my life. He heard me in Boston working opposite his WRKO when he was in town to change that station to the KHJ format in 1967. To this day, I have no idea what made him pick me, but he sent a tape to KHJ pd Ron Jacobs, who called me in October of 1967 out of the blue to offer me the opportunity of a lifetime to join 93/KHJ. When I eventually arrived at KHJ to start (ironically 41 years ago this past Thanksgiving Day was my first day on the air in Los Angeles), I remember meeting Bill Drake for the first time in the production room with Bill Mouzis. Drake was a towering presence, both physically (very tall), and the way he had changed radio. I remember his quick smile and southern charm trying to put this obviously nervous 23- year-old kid at ease, but he communicated, with very few words (Drake format obviously), that made you believe you belonged here.

Talk about intimidating, Drake would later tell me in a conversation that I was his “morning man” because that’s when he usually woke up to start his day during my initial 9 to noon shift on KHJ. And despite all the rumors, I never did hear from Bill Drake on the “hotline” ever. Matter of fact, the only time the hotline rang, it was usually our pd Ron Jacobs just checking in to see what we were hearing on the street about KHJ and radio in general, if he was away from the station that day. And the Drake format, as all of us Boss Jocks came to learn, was a great support system that always made you sound your very best. Bill never once complained about a break being too long or criticized anyone for pushing the envelope of his radio design, but on those days when you might have been less than 110%, the format was always there to fall back on, and that, as Robert W. Morgan and I talked about many times, was something you felt very lucky to have.

There’s only a few people in this radio business you can say really changed it for the better, and forever. Bill Drake is one of them! His legacy still makes stations number #1, just look at what Jhani Kaye, our K-Earth pd has done with what essentially is the Drake format on K-EARTH. When I started on K-EARTH this past February, Jhani was just getting ready for a new jingle session and didn’t have one for me yet. But our resourceful imaging director, Keith Smith, had copies of all the original 93/KHJ acappella jingles. Keith found my original Charlie Tuna jock jingle that Drake and Jacobs created, and for the few weeks until the new K-EARTH jingle package came back, edited the “Charlie Tuna” sing, to the K-Earth jingle, and you would never have known 41 years had passed.

Bill Drake is a radio man for the ages, and we’ll never see anyone like him again. Very quiet and humble is the way I’ll always remember him, with southern charm and an instinctive gift for knowing what made people listen to the radio. I can’t imagine what heaven must be like today with Drake, Morgan and The Real Don Steele all back together again. Now that’s a party!” 

Mike Lundy 
Remembers Bill Drake

I didn’t know Bill Drake. And now it is impossible to believe that this icon is gone.

In the early sixties, I was hot for a job in real radio. I traveled up the San Joaquin Valley with a “slightly edited” tape and “slightly expanded” resume, looking for that first real radio job.

Taft. Bakersfield. Delano. Porterville. FRESNO.

That was the end of the first day, and all the rejections had convinced me to head back home to Alhambra – via my grandmother’s in Redwood City and a quick stop looking for work at KMBY in Monterey – where I knew I had to enroll in Ogden’s (then in Burbank) and get my “First Phone.”

(As luck would have it, my drive took me through Merced, where a friend had landed the job as pd.  I was the new morning man. But that is another story.)

FRESNO. 1962.

KYNO was king, with Drake having joined Gene Chenault in a combo deal with Knox LaRue at KSTN, Stockton after leaving KYA.

KYNO sounded great. But competition was just around the corner. A tiny local-frequency AM, KMAK, was doing “dress rehearsal” on the air.

Ron Jacobs, following success at KPOI in his beloved Oahu and KMEN-San Bernardino, was shepherding the third Colgreene station into the format and billing.

The battle was intense. Two programming superstars fighting head-to-head.

Ultimately, after success at KGB, Drake came to KHJ, with former rival Jacobs as the pd. (To this day, the “who conceived and executed” the Boss Radio format argument has never officially been resolved. But it appears to this outside observer that it was collaborative, with each using each individual strengths to craft the ultimate “Top 40” format. And let us not forget Bill Watson and others, including air talent, who contributed so much to the success.)

By this time, I was going to UCLA for my degree in Political Science, while working afternoons for Ted Randal, an early radio programming consultant in Hollywood, and initially driving to Bakersfield to work weekends at KAFY – ultimately landing a weekend gig at KDAY under Bob Wilson and Art Astor.

Weekdays meant just one thing. 5 p.m., off to the bar at Martoni’s.

That restaurant on Cahuenga was the gathering place for a motley assortment of promo “men,” “recording artists,” currently-employed radio talent – and a whole lotta wannabees!

It was also the place where some of us would not-so-innocently hook for an invite from one of the promo folk to leave the bar and sit down for a nice, expensive – and free – dinner.

But it was mostly booze which greased the wheels of radio and records in those days.

 (I often look back and wonder how I drove home from there to my home up on Apian Way in Laurel Canyon. Thank God I didn’t kill myself or someone else! And Thank God those boozing days are now a long forgotten part of my life.)

Sal the bartender was our mentor. Mario and Tony smoothly handled the various factions. And it was at Martoni’s Drake would occasionally stop by with his entourage for “winkiepoos” and camaraderie. That’s the closest I came to knowing the man.

When they entered, bartender Sal would whisper “Drake is here.” A literal hush fell over the joint as he and his cronies headed for a booth. Soon the place was bustling again, but the mere presence of the then-God of radio programming felt very special and important, even if from some distance.

His mark on programming was without peer. Working with Gene Chenault, he convinced RKO and their other clients that “less is more.”

And it was wonderful, both as a listener and a “wish I could be part of it” – guy in his early twenties.

No, I never knew Bill Drake. But in my gut I feel that I did. And I was fortunate enough to bask in some of his sunshine – reality and my ego notwithstanding.

So much of Mr. Yarbrough’s effort made so much sense. And it worked! Those halcyon days are gone forever, of course. Sales once again runs radio (into the ground?)

But the memories of brilliant radio programming will never die.

Rest in Peace, Bill Drake. 

Bill Mouzis 
Remembers Bill Drake

An era is quickly disappearing, and a man who expressed and exhibited such a mutual respect and appreciation for our personal and working relationship during the Boss Radio years at 93/KHJ has left us to join Robert W. Morgan, The Real Don Steele. Bobby Tripp and Frank Terry. I cried a bit yesterday when I learned of his passing and flashed back to when I last saw Bill at Casey’s Bar in Woodland Hills a few months ago and how we once again had such a great time visiting and recalling some of the great moments in our long association. I will dearly miss his friendship, professionalism, understanding and working relationship during some of the greatest days radio has ever experienced since Marconi. He is also a legend.   

It was the highlight of my 45 year career being the engineering and production director during the glory years of Boss Radio, 93/KHJ. No one can ever take away the memories. 

Others are also paying tribute to the legend of Boss Radio:

John Rook was a friend and colleague of Bill Drake: www.JohnRook.com 

Bill Earl has posted a Bill Drake entry in his scrapbook: Click here: Classic DJ & Radio Scrapbook: The Death Of BILL DRAKE 

Bill Drake was one of the most influences in Ken Levine’s life: http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/ 

Woody Goulart was a student at the time of KIQQ and had unique access to Bill Drake. “One especially unique aspect that my Web site provides is the commentary from Ramona Palmer, who was married to Drake in the 1960s. Very touching, very cute photos from when they were just starting out as young newlyweds,” emailed Woody. “I feel truly honored to have known and worked for Drake, even if it was for such a brief period. His agreeing to an interview with me in 1975 directly led to my attempts to preserve a bit of rock and roll radio history online on www.bossradioforever.com.”

Drake Memorial. A memorial service for Bill Drake is planned for Wednesday, December 3rd at 3 p.m. at:

THE LITTLE BROWN CHURCH
4418 COLDWATER CANYON BLVD.
STUDIO CITY, CALIFORNIA

 

Blogged with the Flock Browser

12.05.08

SHOW PREP DECEMBER 5, 2008

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

Former Baywatch star Gena Lee Nolin and her husband, NHL hockey player Cale Hulse, have welcomed a girl, her rep tells PEOPLE exclusively. Stella Monroe Hulse was born Wednesday in Scottsdale, Ariz., and weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. “Mom and baby are both healthy and doing very well,” says Nolin’s rep, Jerry Shandrew. “The whole family is very excited to welcome baby Stella home”. This is the second child for the couple, who welcomed son Hudson in April 2006. Nolin also has an 11-year-old son, Spencer, from her first marriage to video producer Greg Fahlman, and Hulse has a daughter, Caia, 7, from a previous relationship. Nolin, 37, starred as Neely Capshaw on Baywatch and appeared on the TV series Sheena. She married Hulse in September, 2004, after they met on a blind date. “My children teach me to slow down and enjoy life,” Nolin told PEOPLE in 2006. “My children are the reason I laugh, smile and want to get up every morning.” (People)

Anne Heche may not have Men in Trees but she has babies coming out of the woodwork. The 39-year-old actress, fresh from a rather nasty custody battle, is expecting her first child with boyfriend James Tupper, 43, according to Heche’s rep, who told Us Weekly the couple “are thrilled.” Each was still married when they met in 2006 on the Vancouver set of ABC’s Men in Trees, which lasted two seasons. They debuted as a couple shortly after Heche filed for divorce from her hubby of more than five years, Coley Laffoon, in February 2007. Before finally settling their differences in June, the estranged exes traded barbs galore as they fought over custody of their now 6-year-old son, Homer, with Laffoon objecting to the boy spending too much time in Vancouver with mom and her new beau.
When asked last year whether she was open to having more children, Heche told Extra, “Gotta leave it open, ya know what I’m saying?” (Eonline)

What could be better than winning an Olympic gold medal? Becoming a mom, of course! Two-time beach volleyball champ Kerri Walsh is pregnant with her first child, she confirmed on The Billy Bush Show. “I’m chubby and I’m pregnant and it’s awesome!” the 30-year-old, who is 16 weeks along, said Wednesday morning. “We believe we conceived our last days in Beijing – so I think a day or two after we won gold medal.” Walsh married fellow beach volleyball player Casey Jennings in 2005, and the couple are waiting to find out the gender of their baby. “We have a feeling it’s a boy, but we’re going to find out the traditional way,” Walsh said. She’ll also be waiting a while to hit the beach again, she told Bush. “I’m used to living my life in a bikini and I’m definitely not bikini-ready. I think the chubbiness is all relative, but it’s for the very best cause in the whole world, and I’m proud of it.” (People)

Jamie Lynn Spears has undergone a secret fat-reducing cosmetic procedure, according to U.S. tabloid reports. Both Star magazine and the National Enquirer allege 17-year-old Spears has had her tummy trimmed by soy-based injections that dissolve fat. The Enquirer claims the former star of Zooey 101 underwent the procedure recently, at a clinic in Nevada; but Star claims Spears was actually treated in October 2007, shortly before she discovered she was pregnant with her daughter Maddie. A source tells Star, “Her mom, Lynne, approved the injections and went through tons of red tape to get the clinic to administer them to an underage patient. She had no idea she was pregnant.” Surgery experts claim the teenager put her unborn daughter’s health at risk, if the rumors are true. Dr. Gary Burton tells Star, “Any form of liposuction is dangerous and should not be performed on a pregnant woman. It poses serious health risks to the foetus.”
A representative for Spears has refused to comment on the reports. (Teen Hollywood)

It’s hard to be a working mom, even for Christina Aguilera. The 27-year-old pop star said she’s navigating the “balancing act” she expected when she took on parenthood with her husband, Jordan Bratman. “I wasn’t going to give up who I was before I had the baby,” Aguilera said on the red carpet outside the Nokia Theatre, where she performed Wednesday during the “Grammy Nominations Concert Live!” “It’s important to stay true to that as an example – also for my son to find out what his goals are, what he’s passionate about doing, so it’s sort of leading by example in that sense,” she said. “It’s a tough thing. I had a moment leaving him today to get ready for tonight of missing him, but every working mom goes through it. They know what it feels like.” Aguilera performed “I Loves You Porgy” from George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” (Daily Record)

With so much of her life spent on stage, Céline Dion says she plans to mark next year’s finish to her lengthy concert tour by expanding her family – which currently is comprised of husband René Angélil and their 7-year-old son, René-Charles. “We’d love to extend the family,” the singer – who herself is the youngest of 14 children – told CBS Early Show host Julie Chen. Asked if she has a frozen embryo, Dion, whose son was conceived by in vitro fertilization after six years of trying, replied, “Yes, we do have a frozen embryo.” Only, one may not be enough. “I started to talk to René-Charles about it. He said ‘Can we have four and five?’ ” said Dion. “So if we’re blessed again, I will be very happy to come back and do another interview with you and talk about it. I will be the first one to be extremely happy.” (People)

On the same day Jennifer Aniston told EW she’s longing for motherhood, John Mayer’s biological clock seemed to be on his brain at an exclusive Grammy nomination concert. Before breaking into “Stop This Train,” John reflected on Thanksgiving with his family and how his dad is shorter every time he sees him. “You realize time doesn’t like you more than anyone else,” the 31-year-old said of the aging process. “Now we’re holding up people who used to hold us up when we were little babies.” After receiving a standing ovation, the formerly media-friendly rocker skipped the pressroom and party following his concert. Was he running off to meet Jen? The Jonas Brothers, on the other hand, stuck around to celebrate their very first nomination… The squeaky-clean band of brothers had a VIP table at the afterparty, where Nick and Kevin were texting up a storm as Joe ate pizza and fries. What keeps the boys grounded after their amazingly successful year? “I think our fans,” Kevin said backstage. “We remember where we were and where we are today. We still can’t believe we’re standing on this stage tonight.” The brothers have an unlikely fan in Kathy Griffin, whose comedy album was nominated for a Grammy as well. “I love the Jonas Brothers!” she said. “I am not ready to lose my virginity. I am looking for the right girl, just like them.” (Eonline)

Let’s get this out of the way: Jennifer Aniston is not pregnant. In fact, the constant baby buzz is “hysterical,” John Mayer’s leading lady tells Entertainment Weekly. “It’s almost going to take away the fun from actually being able to say one day, ‘I’m pregnant!’ ” the Marley & Me star continues. “Everyone will be like, ‘Yeah, right.’ It’s the boy who cried wolf. Stop stealing my thunder, motherf—ers!”  (That’s some strong language from America’s Sweetheart!) And while she doesn’t have any announcements to make just yet, Aniston, 39, says she embraced playing a mother in the movie. ”I feel like that’s in my future and I’m on the verge of it in some way – or it’s something I long for,” she explains. “So it was great to sort of dip your toe in it.” Bringing Up Brad Aniston, the interviewer notes, is careful not to mention the men in her life – not Mayer, or Vince Vaughn, and definitely not ex-husband Brad Pitt. But some references are unavoidable. When asked about supporters wearing “Team Aniston” shirts, for example, Aniston admits, “”I can see how that would be flattering. But that divide-and-conquer thing is stupid. It’s just catty. I’m not catty.” And there’s the fact that Marley & Me (costarring Owen Wilson and a cuddly yellow Lab) opens on Chirstmas day, the same day as Pitt’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. “‘Oh, you had to go there!” she says, pretending to chastise the reporter. ”I want [Button] to do great. I’ve seen about an hour of it. It’s amazing. Amazing.” (People)

Supermodel Heidi Klum has said being naked in front of her family is “no big deal”. Heidi Klum has said she has no problems being naked in front in front of her family. “People are pretty open with their bodies in Germany and the children see you naked or in lingerie all the time so it’s not a big deal for us. We don’t hide inside a room somewhere and change – it’s all very out in the open,” the mother-of-three, and wife of Seal explained to Digital Spy  before revealing how she keeps famous body trim. “You have to work out to be sexy. People always ask me how I stay in shape and how do I do it and what really makes me do it is because I have a hot man waiting at home for me. So I don’t want to be a slouch bag, I have to keep up appearances.” (Handbag)

Taylor Momsen may be heading on a new path. The “Gossip Girl” star, 15, who’s looking more like a rocker chick, was talking about her dreams of a music career at the opening party at the new Manhattan Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex on Mercer Street. Our spy said, “She looked just like a rocker and kept talking about her band” while Debbie Harry performed. Semi Precious Weapons frontman Justin Tranter, Olivia Palermo and Molly Sims were rocking out, as was guitar legend Les Paul, who gave the middle finger to photographers on the red carpet. (Page Six)

Paris Hilton wants to play Tinkerbell – not her pet Chihuahua, but the famed fairy from “Peter Pan.” A source tells us the celebutard is lobbying for the title role in Disney’s live-action version of “Tinkerbell,” in which the pixie finally gets a chance at life as a real girl. “Paris has worked on her acting chops lately and showed some comedy prowess in her YouTube spoof of running for president,” our insider said. “Disney suits saw it and think she may be developing some comedic-actress potential.” (Page Six)

Finally, Brad Pitt admits it isn’t easy being a father of six. “It wears you out. Are you kidding?” the 44-year-old actor said in an interview on Larry King Live on Wednesday. “I’m aging fast.” Still, he added, “It’s worth every second of it.” When King told him there’s nothing better than being a father, Pitt replied, “Not for me there’s not. No, not for me. I would agree with that.” Does Pitt want more kids? “I don’t know” he said. “I can’t find a reason why not — just yet.” (Incidentally, he said his children are “healthy, so we’re all happy. They are getting heavy.”) This year, he said they’re hoping to keep things multicultural with regards to the holidays. “We’re working on it. We’re still working on it,” he told King. “You know, we tried a little something last year, but the kids are so young, it just didn’t mean much, really. But we’re getting there. “You know, as they get older, they’ll start to understand more,” Pitt added. “Right now, it’s still presents, you know.” Asked why the public seems fascinated by the Jolie-Pitt clan, the actor said, “I’ve stopped thinking about it, really. I mean, I don’t know. “There are certainly people I’m interested in. It’s quite complimentary,” he said. “But, you know — and I think it is an interesting family. It’s not your usual family.” The star also opened up about his buzzed-about new drama The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which is already generating Oscar buzz. The film’s theme about aging “certainly makes me conscious of how much time do I have left,” Pitt told King. “Do I — you know, is this my day? Do I have 40 years left? What do I want to do in that time? How do I want to use it? And who do I want to spend it with? “And I don’t know,” he continued. “Me, man, it makes me — this film just makes me want to hug my kids and call my folks. And it’s really special. And I’m not a salesman. I find this one quite authentic and something really special.” (US Weekly)

Balthazar Getty says he stood of stood up for girlfriend Sienna Miller and his wife, Rosetta, when the media furore broke out over the summer. The Brothers and Sisters actor believes that both women were treated unfairly and regrets that he didn’t do something to stop it. “There comes a time when it just gets a little bit too hurtful. It takes two to tango, man. You can’t just point your finger at one person. Historically, women always get the short end of the stick,” he said. “People went too far, whether it was invading Rosetta and the kids’ privacy or saying really awful things about Sienna…Sometimes I wish I’d just stepped forward and said, ‘Enough!'” The actor refused to confirm that he has reunited with girlfriend Sienna Miller, saying only that the actress and his wife are “both special people in my life”.(British Glamour)

A preview of Louis Vuitton’s latest advertisement campaign has been revealed and its star is none other than Madonna. And she’s looking ferosh!!!!!!! We reported earlier in November about the rumor that LV had tapped the Material Mom to be photographed by fashion shoot dream team Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Vuitton designer and creative director Marc Jacobs says they went with Her Madgesty after he “just blurted out, ‘I think we should do Madonna'” at a meeting. He had been inspired by her concert the night before and “was totally just blown away by it, and moved by her performance, by what she had to say, and her energy.” Madonna has that effect over the gays! Jacobs says he asked her via text message, and that she responded within 5 minutes with “I’d love to.” Text messaging is the new language of business! The six photo series was shot by Steven Meisel instead of Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, which marks an amicable departure from Vuitton’s collaboration with the photographers and a reunion for Meisel and Madonna, who collaborated on her infamous Sex book. The photos expand on the classic Parisian aesthetic of Jacobs’ spring Vuitton collection, and the designer says that the photos, which “feel more like portraits,” are very contemporary despite their sepia tones and almost cliché French references. He says, “It looks like beautiful, gorgeous Madonna.” True dat! (Perez Hilton)

Jason Alexander didn’t see dead people — so he saw a jail cell instead. TMZ has learned the real reason Brit’s 55 hour first hubby is behind bars in L.A. is because he blew off two court ordered appointments at the county morgue. After Alexander was busted for DUI back in 2006, the judge ordered the 27-year-old to go to an alcohol education program, which required him to visit the local morgue. When the judge learned Alexander had ditched his first 2 appointments, he refused to give him a third chance and promptly chucked him in the slammer. Jason is scheduled to be released on December 9th — and after he serves his stint behind bars, Jason’s obligation to check out the dead bodies will officially be dead. (TMZ)

Kim Kardashian wants Playboy boss Hugh Hefner to ignore reports she’ll never pose nude in his magazine again – because she’d love to strip for him again someday. The party girl-turned-reality TV star peeled off for a special 12-page pictorial in December 2007, but has since been quoted stating the photoshoot was a one off. However, 28 year old is desperate not to burn bridges between herself and Hefner – and wants him to keep her phone number on speed-dial for another spread in the future. In a message on her website, Kardashian writes, “There are a bunch of reports about me on the web claiming that I said I would never do Playboy again. They’re quoting me as saying, ‘It was a one-off. I don’t think I’ll do Playboy or anything like that again.’ “This is totally false. While I’m not planning to pose for the men’s magazine in the immediate future, I definitely don’t want to close the door to the opportunity. Never say never.”  (Teen Hollywood)

Heather Locklear talked about her DUI bust on “The Tonight Show” Wednesday night without ever mentioning the term “DUI” — but that wasn’t what made her start crying. (TMZ)

Sources tell TMZ Jamie Lynn Spears is swelling up with anger over one gossip mag’s claims she had lipo while pregnant — so much so that she may take legal action. We’re told the story is “100% NOT true” — that Jamie Lynn has never had lipo and would “never in her life” do anything like it. Calls to Jamie Lynn’s publicist have not been returned. (TMZ)

With a real fortune in the bank, Morgan Freeman’s divorce from Myrna Colley-Lee could get expensive for him. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Myrna stands to make more than $100 mil from the breakup: Morgan apparently has pretty wide real estate holdings and he’s been “frugal” over the years. Translation: He’s got coin, and she’s due. The split spilled out when Freeman was involved in a car crash with a female friend. The couple have been separated for a year. (TMZ)

In his new interview with Details magazine, Pete Wentz talks about becoming a father (“a happy accident,” he said) but also about putting his prescription drug habit to rest. Wentz tells the magazine that he took Xanax, Ativan and Klonopin but, “after Heath Ledger,” he says, “I was just like, ‘Man, this is not going to end up good.” Wentz also credits wife Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and new baby Bronx Mowgli for helping him stay away from the pills. “I’d realized I’d found my soulmate, and it made me want to be a better person,” he told Details. “Now, with the baby, I want to be the best dad I can be,” he said. (Scoop)

Benji Madden might have dropped Paris Hilton from his life, but the Good Charlotte singer reportedly dropped quite a few pounds during the course of their relationship, too. Life & Style reports that the 5-foot-7 Madden lost 35 pounds. “Benji seemed self-conscious about his weight when he started seeing Paris in February,” an insider close to him told the magazine. “He was also launching his DCMA Collective fashion line and was focused on how he looked, so he started dieting and working out.” There’s reportedly some concern that he’s gone a little overboard, however. The magazine source says, “he looks scary skinny,” says the insider, “especially since the break-up. He’s already lost enough weight, but he’s still going.” (Scoop)

Brothers and Sisters star Balthazar Getty has finally spoken out to defend girlfriend Sienna Miller. Balthazar Getty has finally spoken out about his relationship with Sienna Miller and insisted she isn’t to blame for his marriage split. The actress was widely accused of stealing Getty away from his wife Rosetta Millington and three children this summer however the actor has told the Mirror the accusations are unfair. “I don’t know that I have been treated unfairly. I think Sienna might have been,” he explained. “There comes a time when it just gets a little bit too hurtful. It takes two to tango, man. You can’t just point your finger at one person. Historically, women always get the short end of the stick.” (Handbag)

Paul Benedict, the actor who played the English neighbor Harry Bentley on the sitcom “The Jeffersons,” has died. He was 70. Benedict was found dead Monday on Martha’s Vineyard and his brother, Charles, said authorities were still investigating the cause of death. Benedict began his acting career in the 1960s in the Theatre Company of Boston, alongside such future stars as Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino. Benedict went on to appear in a number of movies, including a role as the oddball director in “The Goodbye Girl” with Richard Dreyfuss. But he was mainly known for his role as Bentley in “The Jeffersons,” which ran on CBS from 1975 to ’85. (Daily Record)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Britney beats Barack on Yahoo search. US President-elect Barack Obama, the global financial meltdown and natural disasters were of less interest than Britney Spears to people using Yahoo’s mighty search engine. Yahoo has not revealed the exact number of searches conducted but BBC reports that out of the literally “billions” of web searches undertaken in 2008, Britney was the number one most sought after search term on yahoo.com. And she’s topped the list for the last seven years. Britney also topped Australian searches on Yahoo7.com.au. “She was number one last year for all the wrong reasons and this year for all the right reasons,” says Vera Chan, Senior Editor over at Yahoo Buzz. “People like redemption tales. You can’t have a public meltdown that big and not have people follow you. “This was the kind of life it would have taken someone 50 years to live and she did it in 27. Welcome to the 21st century.”
Here’s Yahoo.com’s Top 10:
1. Britney Spears
2. World Wrestling Entertainment
3. Barack Obama
4. Miley Cyrus
5. RuneScape
6. Jessica Alba
7. Naruto
8. Lindsay Lohan
9. Angelina Jolie
10. American Idol
And here’s Yahoo7.com.au’s Top 10:
1. Britney Spears
2. Heath Ledger
3. Olympics 2008
4. Angelina Jolie and Jessica Alba (tie)
5. Stephanie Rice
6. Global economic downturn
7. US election
8. Chinese earthquake
9. Burma Cyclone
10. Large Hadron Collider
“There is an evolution going on in how people use the Internet and search on it,” the Yahoo Buzz editor told the BBC. “Every year it changes slightly and broadens slightly. We still have our guilty pleasures like following celebrities, and our homework like looking at how much is in our bank account, researching holiday sales and shopping online. “The Internet is becoming this nice gateway that reaches into so many aspects of our lives.” (themusicnetwork)

“The Tales of Beedle the Bard” (Children’s High Level Group, $12.99, 111 pages), by J.K. Rowling: Just in time for the holidays, J.K. Rowling has given Harry Potter fans a little gift. No, not a new book about the young wizard – THAT would be like a birthday combined with Christmas! Instead, she’s written a charming confection of a book from the world of Harry Potter with the sparkle and wit that remind us why she became a publishing sensation in the first place. The title of the book, “The Tales of Beedle the Bard,” should be instantly familiar to all Potter fans. That was the book Harry’s friend Hermione Granger was bequeathed following the death of Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster at their school. One tale in the collection of childrens’ stories played a part in Harry figuring out how to destroy his enemy, the evil Lord Voldemort. Following the publication of the last of the Potter books last year, Rowling created seven copies of the Beedle book, writing and illustrating the five stories. She gave six of the copies to friends and the last one to the Children’s High Level Group, a charity she helped create. The charity auctioned the book, which Amazon bought for $4 million, and has released an edition for the general public to raise more money. In this edition, Rowling tells us, the tales were translated from the Ancient Runes by none other than Hermione. And adding a special flair, the stories are accompanied by notes from Dumbledore, expounding on their larger meaning. In her introduction, Rowling says the notes date to about 18 months before Dumbledore’s death. If anything, the new book shows us Rowling hasn’t lost her touch since finishing her series. It’s all here – cleverly written stories, little details that add to the enjoyment of readers who spot them, deeper points about the choices people make and their consequences. The yarns are ostensibly meant to be read by wizard children, so they’re short, but they don’t lack for action, or in some cases, rather gruesome imagery and some violence. Apparently wizard children are a hardy bunch. This isn’t a full-length book, though, so it doesn’t have the depth and emotional heft that were the hallmark of the series. But it really is a gift to fans. It rewards them for their dedication to the world of Harry Potter by giving them more glimpses into that place. Dumbledore’s commentary is a particular pleasure, especially when he recounts details that make certain aspects of the series a little clearer. Fans saddened that the series had to end will now have a reason to smile a little. (Daily record)

A family of Hurricane Katrina survivors whose new house was partly built with lumber from last year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree were among tens of thousands who attended this year’s lighting ceremony. The eight-ton, 72-foot Norway spruce was illuminated Wednesday night in the Manhattan plaza after performances by entertainers including Tony Bennett, Harry Connick Jr., Jamie Foxx and Beyoncé. “It’s been an awesome experience,” said Tracey Davison, 40, a teacher’s assistant from Pascagoula, Miss. “I have a famous living room because of the tree from last year, and my girls and I have had a spectacular trip to New York for the first time.” This year’s tree was decorated with 30,000 energy-efficient LED lights on five miles of wire, topped with a 750-pound star made of 25,000 Swarovski crystals. It was donated by the Varanyak family in Hamilton Township, N.J. Among the thousands of onlookers who gathered to watch the annual tradition were Davison and her four daughters: Ashunti, 10; Nylah, 9; Majsa, 8; and Karly, 4. The family, who fled Katrina with just a few suitcases, recently moved into a new three-bedroom house built by Habitat for Humanity. Parts of the walls and floors in their living room were made with lumber from last year’s tree. “It’s kinda like Christmas before Christmas,” said Davison. “It was a dream come true. We’re very, very excited to be in the house.” Others who lined the streets to watch the celebrity performers and the ceremony were Anita McLean, 71, her son and her two grandchildren, ages 14 and 11. “It’s my fourth year, and I’m not cold,” she said, adding that she stood for more than three hours to secure a viewing spot for the lights. “Just being together, the excitement of the day, it’s keeping with the spirit of Christmas.” In past years, the Rockefeller Center tree has been recycled after the holiday season, being made into toys for animals at the Bronx Zoo and mulched for hiking trails. The tree lighting ceremony started in 1933, but workers building the Art Deco complex began putting up Christmas trees in 1931 during the Great Depression. (Daily Record)

Natalie Portman is a sole sister no more. Proving that not even celebrities are immune to the country’s economic crisis, the actress’ vegan shoe line of less than a year, the Natalie Portman Collection for Té Casan, has closed up shop, making it even more of a limited-edition than expected. The critter-free line of footwear, announced by the longtime vegetarian back in January, was launched in February of this year to the delight of animal-loving fashionistas but not so much to the credit-crunched masses—each pair retailed on average for $200. However, Portman’s line didn’t fail on its own merits, instead was a casualty of the folding of its parent company, Té Casan, which closed up shop for good last month. The company’s website, too, has wasted no time in closing down. It’s unclear whether Portman will seek to continue her vegan venture with another partnership. (Eonline0

Britney Spears’ cousin Alli Sims has spoken for the first time about her ousting as the pop star’s assistant, insisting her former boss isn’t ready for a comeback. Sims was one of the people dismissed by Spears’ father Jamie when he took control of the singer’s personal and professional affairs in February, and she’s still sore about being cast aside. Speaking for the first time since she was replaced, Sims tells American magazine In Touch she was used as “a scapegoat” as Spears’ family took control of the troubled star’s life, following a double mental health scare. And Sims, who worked for Spears throughout 2007 and into 2008 – as the singer struggled with personal problems, including a divorce and child custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, is convinced her cousin isn’t ready to be back on world stages, performing live. She says, “This isn’t any old job. How can they say Britney is sick and then shove her out on the road, with all that pressure?? Sore Sims feels for her relative, but she’s even more concerned about rebuilding her own reputation after it was ruined by the Spears family. She adds, “I have been accused of so many things I didn’t do. My reputation has been dragged through the mud.? (Teen Hollywood)

The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, better have all hands on deck when Barbra Streisand comes to town for its 31st Annual Honors gala on Sunday. Back in March of 2001, Streisand appeared at an “Innovators & Navigators” conference at the Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara sponsored by now-defunct Talk magazine. According to an event organizer, Babs drove hotel staff up the wall by making a number of outlandish requests in her contract rider.  “It was totally insane,” says the source. “She requested that there be no oysters in her room at any time; that every square inch of her hotel room and bathroom be carpeted; and that the head of her bed be elevated a specific number of degrees off the ground. And she said the bed couldn’t be propped up – she wanted an engineer to come in and do it himself.”  The source also reports: “She also requested that she not have to use the lobby during her arrival or departure – which was comical when she arrived with her husband and proceeded to plow right through the front door.”  Streisand, who is being honored at the Kennedy Center along with Morgan Freeman, country star George Jones, The Who’s Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey and choreographer Twyla Tharp, could be especially ornery, since her avowed nemesis, President George W. Bush, will be seated with the honorees during the gala. Streisand has been a relentless critic of Bush, having called for his impeachment and even canceling a performance in Jerusalem this year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Israel after learning that Bush would attend. A flack for Streisand tells Page Six, “I don’t want to be in the position of challenging the veracity of her prior contract, but it’s not true. There were no demands this time.” A Kennedy Center rep says, “Typically, the honorees go to the White House and see the president, and that’s something that’s been happening for years regardless of personal politics. It’s all pretty standard.” (Page Six)

Disgraced former Gov. Eliot Spitzer has a new gig: columnist for Slate.com, opining every other week about government regulation and finance – not sex. Yawn. “He’s going to be doing a regular thing,” Slate Group editor-in-chief Jacob Weisberg tells the Observer. “He was very receptive . . . I don’t portray this as something we had to coax him into. He’s got a lot to say and he was very receptive to writing on the subject.” It’s not as if he’s had a lot of other offers. (Page Six)

Regis Philbin doesn’t accept freebies, even from friends. After flying in from Florida the other day on Donald Trump’s plane, the “Live with Regis and Kelly” host and his wife, Joy, visited billionaire drugstore wholesaler Stewart Rahr at his Kinray warehouse in Queens. During a tour of the huge facility, Philbin loaded up on shaving cream, cosmetics and cologne. Rahr refused payment, but when he returned to his office, he found Philbin had left $400 under his computer keyboard. (Page Six)

Julianne Hough says isn’t waltzing to the altar anytime soon. In response to a recent story claiming that she and boyfriend Chuck Wicks talk marriage, she writes on her Web site, “I know there are a lot of rumors out there right now … and I just wanted to clear things up.” First of all, sorry to disappoint, but we are not engaged,” she continues. “We are dating and enjoying this stage in our relationship. We’re not in any rush. They, of course, twisted my words in that article, and it’s gotten to be a much bigger deal than it should be.” Before signing off, she writes, “You can always get the most up to date and ACCURATE info here on my site. Thank you for all of your support and well wishes!” Hough recently admitted that she won’t be on Dancing With the Stars’ spring season (which debuts March 9) and may sit out next fall as well. “I’m definitely going to focus on the music,” she said. “My first album was a learning . (US Weekly)

The self-confessed skank behind the Gordon Ramsay affair allegations got fired from her job as an infidelity spokesperson for — get this — allegedly opening her mouth too damn much! A website that specializes in hooking up married people behind their spouses backs called The Ashley Madison Agency allegedly fired Sarah Symonds as their UK spokescheater because she wasn’t “discreet enough” for their liking. Symonds wrote a book about being a mistress and has been named the “other woman” in several high-profile affairs. The “Hells Kitchen” star had steadfastly has denied any affair. We’ve been attempting to contact Sarah — no luck yet. (TMZ)

Talk about a blindside hit: Antonio Pierce is going to sing to a grand jury about teammate Plaxico Burress’ gun and could seal the deal against Burress. His lawyer says he’ll cooperate if the DA asks him to talk to a grand jury, and Pierce will meet with investigators in the DA’s office “in the next few days.” In exchange for his testimony, according to the New York Post, he will most likely get a pass on any concealment or conspiracy charges. Pierce’s first call after the shooting, apparently, was to a Giants trainer. Meanwhile, the Giants are taking heat for waiting almost eight hours after the incident, according to their own timeline, before they called cops. (TMZ)

Bratz fans everywhere, brace yourselves. We have some bad news for you. Really really bad! After a four year legal battle between Bratz maker MGA Entertainment and Barbie makers Mattel, the Bratz have lost. That we’ve know. But…. Yesterday a federal judge banned MGA from making and selling it’s highly successful Bratz dolls!!!! As we mentioned previously, Mattel sued MGA because the Bratz dolls creator, Carter Bryant, was working at Mattel when he came up with the concept for the dolls. In August, a California jury awarded Mattel $40 million. Mattel was originally asking for over $2 billion. The jury also later awarded Mattel $10 million for copyright infringement and $90 million for breach of contract. After yesterday’s ruling to ban Bratz dolls, Mattel attorney Michael Zeller said “It’s a pretty sweeping victory. They have no right to use Bratz for any goods or services at all.” Luckily for MGA and Bratz fans everywhere, the judge did allow MGA to wait until the holiday season ends to remove the toys from their store shelves. MGA should be filing their appeal, like, RIGHT NOW! (Perez Hilton)

Wanna take home Katy Perry’s breasts? Now’s your chance! A cast of her top shelf—painted and accessorized by the “I Kissed a Girl” hitmaker’s boyfriend, Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes—is up for auction. Sale of the multicolored piece, which even incorporates one of McCoy’s sneakers, benefits the Keep a Breast Foundation’s youth outreach program. But ya gotta act fast! The auction closes this Saturday. Also on the block are decorated Vans sneakers and more than 45 images taken by photographer Erin Caruso during the Vans Warped Tour music festival, including pics of Perry, Paramore and Shwayze. (Daily Record)

Blake Fielder-Civil took a page from his missus and apparently said no, no, no to rehab. Amy Winehouse’s hubby has vacated a drug-treatment facility and was ordered back to prison for violating the terms of his release. According to Britain’s Sun newspaper, Fielder-Civil wound up back behind bars after flubbing a drug test. That means he must serve out the rest of his 27-month sentence for assaulting a barkeep, leaving him locked up until 2010. Unlike his last trip to jail, however, Winehouse wasn’t around to give him a teary sendoff—the Grammy-winning diva remains holed up in a London hospital recovering from an allergic reaction to her medication. Winehouse has been hospitalized since Nov. 23, her latest stint in sick bay in a malady-filled year. Upon learning of his failed drug test and return trip to the clink, Fielder-Civil reportedly left his rehab clinic Tuesday night and paid a visit to his estranged wife. In recent days, as word of their marital woes played out in the British tabs, Fielder-Civil blamed himself for her drug problems. He blabbed to News of the World that he was responsible for introducing her to heroin, crack cocaine and self-mutiliation. He also vowed to let her go so he could save her from doing further harm to herself. Despite reports that Winehouse has consulted with divorce attorneys, her rep has denied the 25-year-old singer is seeking to end the two-and-half-year union. (Daily Record)

Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines is the target of a defamation lawsuit by the stepfather of one of three 8-year-old boys slain in 1993. Maines spoke out for three people convicted of the slayings and alleged the stepfather was instead involved in the killings. Terry Hobbs, stepfather of Steve Branch, who was killed in 1993 with Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, filed suit in Pulaski County Circuit Court on Nov. 25. The suit names all three members of the Dixie Chicks, but focuses on Maines. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Hobbs claims he suffered loss of income, injury to his reputation and emotional distress. Maines attended a Dec. 19 rally in Little Rock, where she claimed Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley – known to sympathizers as the “West Memphis Three” – were innocent and that supposed new evidence pointed to Hobbs. Her comments echoed a Nov. 26, 2007, letter that was still on the Dixie Chicks’ Web site on Thursday, in which she claimed that new DNA testing of hair from the crime scene linked Hobbs to the killings and that his behavior after the slayings indicated his guilt. The lawsuit says the claim is false. Hobbs told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a Feb. 1 interview that his reputation was in tatters and he wanted to clear his name.
“I want people to know I haven’t done nothing wrong,” Hobbs said. “I want them to hear it from me.” No lawyer for Maines was listed in court filings and a publicist didn’t immediately return a call for comment. Hobbs’ attorney, J. Cody Hiland, didn’t immediately return a call for comment Thursday. The lawsuit says Maines’ statements were “so extreme in degree as to be beyond the pale of decency and to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in civilized society.” Assertions similar to those made by Maines were also made by lawyers seeking new trials for the three convicts. The boys’ bodies were found by police a day after they vanished from their quiet, tree-lined neighborhood May 5, 1993. Police arrested the three after a confession by Misskelley in which he described how he watched Baldwin and Echols sexually assault and beat two of the boys as he ran down another trying to escape. A jury gave Misskelley a life-plus-40-year sentence for the killings. A later jury gave Baldwin a life sentence without parole. Echols, then 19, the oldest of the three, received the death penalty. The Arkansas Supreme Court later upheld the convictions, but a later documentary sparked interest across the Internet, as well as among celebrities, including Maines, who felt the teens were railroaded by police for their interest in heavy metal music and the occult. Supporters say they raised more than $1 million for a legal defense fund for the three, enough to pay for lawyers, new DNA testing and a second federal appeal on behalf of Echols. A judge has since denied defense motions for a new trial. (Daily Record)

Since Proposition 8 passed in California, much of Hollywood has been up in arms. Now, they are singing and dancing, too, in a new Web video called “Prop 8: The Musical.” The video was posted Wednesday on FunnyOrDie.com, the video site co-founded by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. The site has found a niche in getting professional talent to quickly create topical comedy videos. “Prop 8: The Musical” may be a 3-minute Internet video, but it has a blockbuster cast – including Jack Black (who plays Jesus), Neil Patrick Harris, John C. Reilly, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Margaret Cho, Rashida Jones and others. Though Jesus doesn’t bring the two sides together, Harris has better luck. He argues gay marriage could save the economy: “Every time a gay or lesbian finds love at the parade, there’s money to be made.” The video was conceived and written by Marc Shaiman, the Tony-winning composer of “Hairspray” and “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.” McKay, who had previously collaborated with Shaiman on the song-and-dance routine Ferrell, Black and Reilly did at the Oscars earlier this year, sent him an e-mail floating the idea of a video. As of Thursday, the clip had clearly ascended to viral status, with more than 1.1 million views on FunnyOrDie.com. Given the sensitivity of the issue, comments also have been flying, with well over a thousand posted. Shaiman had been involved in a more serious debate over Proposition 8. After voters approved Proposition 8, which changed the state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage, it was revealed that Scott Eckern, artistic director of the California Musical Theater in Sacramento (the state’s largest nonprofit musical theater company) had donated $1,000 to the “Yes on 8” campaign. Shaiman’s “Hairspray” had played at the theater and he said he would never allow anything he wrote to play there because of Eckern’s donation. Others protested and Eckern resigned in November. In an interview Wednesday, Shaiman regretted that it came to Eckern losing his job and said: “It’s a tragedy for everyone involved. You’ll certainly see that no one called for him to resign.” The video for Funny or Die was a lighter-hearted protest. Shaiman wrote the piece in a day, recorded it the next and shot it in a single day last week.
“It was like, `Eureka! That’s right, that’s what I do!” said Shaiman of the mini-musical. “If I’m going to stand on the soap box, at least let me sing and dance.” (Daily Record)

MUSIC . . .

Lil Wayne is having a big year. Not only did the rapper’s album Tha Carter III go five times platinum, selling over five million copies, but on Wednesday, he was nominated for eight Grammy Awards, including the prestigious album of the year honors. And the rapper will face off against British rockers Coldplay in that category, who followed closely behind, earning seven nominations. For the first time ever, the Grammy nominations were announced on primetime television as part of a special concert featuring performances by Christina Aguilera, John Mayer and Mariah Carey, who opened the telecast with a seasonal run through “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” The show, which was broadcast from the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live also celebrated the official opening of the Grammy Museum, which will open to the public in Los Angeles on Dec. 6. The event was cohosted by Taylor Swift – a nominee for best new artist last year – and LL Cool J. Jay-Z, Ne-Yo and Kanye West were other top Grammy nominees – each with six nods. Radiohead was nominated for five awards, as were Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, who released the collaborative album Raising Sand. Album of the year contenders included Coldplay (Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends); rapper Lil Wayne (Tha Carter III); Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (Raising Sand); R&B singer Ne-Yo (Year of the Gentleman); and British alt-rock heroes Radiohead (In Rainbows). Pop-rock trio the Jonas Brothers led the list of best new artist nominees, along with British soul singers Adele and Duffy. They will compete against country group Lady Antebellum and R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan. “We’re happy to be here,” Joe Jonas told LL Cool J on the live CBS telecast after receiving their good news. CBS will broadcast the 51st Grammy Awards live from Los Angeles’s Staples Center on Feb. 8. Here’s a rundown of the top categories:  (People)1
Album of the Year
• Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay
• Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
• Year of the Gentleman, Ne-Yo
• Raising Sand, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
• In Rainbows, Radiohead
Record of the Year
• “Chasing Pavements,” Adele
• “Viva la Vida,” Coldplay
• “Bleeding Love,” Leona Lewis
• “Paper Planes,” M.I.A.
• “Please Read the Letter,” Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Song of the Year
• “American Boy,” William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters (Estelle featuring Kanye West)
• “Chasing Pavements,” Adele Adkins & Eg White, songwriters (Adele)
• “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz, songwriter (Jason Mraz)
• “Love Song,” Sara Bareilles, songwriter (Sara Bareilles)
• “Viva La Vida,” Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay)
Best New Artist
• Adele
• Duffy
• Jonas Brothers
• Lady Antebellum
• Jazmine Sullivan
Pop Vocal Album
• Detours, Sheryl Crow
• Rockferry, Duffy
• Long Road Out of Eden, Eagles
• Spirit, Leona Lewis
• Covers, James Taylor
Rap Album
• American Gangster, Jay-Z
• Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
• The Cool, Lupe Fiasco
• Nas, Nas
• Paper Trail, T.I.
Rock Album
• Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay
• Rock N Roll Jesus, Kid Rock
• Only By the Night, Kings of Leon
• Death Magnetic, Metallica
• Consolers of the Lonely, The Raconteurs
Country Album
• That Lonesome Song, Jamey Johnson
• Sleepless Nights, Patty Loveless
• Troubadour, George Strait
• Around the Bend, Randy Travis
• Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love, Trisha Yearwood

Remember when Britney Spears just showed up at Madonna’s L.A. tour stop and sorta comatose-jiggled through a halfassed duet of “Human Nature”? Well, it’s payback time!  We’re hearing from inside musical spies that Madonna’s planning on paying back her crazy little showbiz sis, Brit-Brit, and showing up at one of her upcoming concerts—too fierce and fab! What could the duet possibly be they’d choose from Britney’s eclectic song catalog? Their already existing job together, “Me Against the Music,” would just be too insanely appropriate, and since both babes are far more into the shock factor than actually making beautiful music together, scratch that notion. Instead, we’re told a far more likely choice would be something along the lines of… …”Womanizer,” Britney’s current brilliant and subversive comeback number; love it. “Although it’s Britney’s trademark song right now, don’t for sure count on her sharing it with Madonna,” we’re advised by Spears insiders. Also, don’t get too used to the notion of anything being totally duet-official right now; it’s all in the early stages, and Madonna’s camp is certainly being cautious at this point. “I don’t see this happening,” Madonna’s lioness gatekeeper, Liz Rosenberg, exclusively tells us. “Madonna is still on tour, but I’ll let you know.” Hmmm, how interesting. First off, Liz likes to say things aren’t true, emphatically so, when they are, e.g., Madonna was never going to get divorced. Second, the sort of brush-off entirely means Madonna just might do it; trust me on this. That is, if Ms. M. can steal herself away from that dude she’s so busying trying to have another kid with, A-Rod. Oh, and did L.R. just accidentally confirm the rumor that Madonna might extend her current tour, which is scheduled to stop as of Dec. 21 in São Paulo, Brazil? The talk that Queen Madge is extending into Asia after that would surely seem all the more likely since Liz said Madonna’s going to be busy touring during Brit’s own tour, which doesn’t even start till March 3, right? Right. (Daily Record)

Industry insiders now predict that Britney Spears’ Circus is on track to sell 450,000+ copies AND will be next week’s #1 album. Experts had previously though that Brit would only sell about 350,000 in the first week. Way to prove them wrong, Miz Spears! This is a HUGE victory for Britney, especially considering the fact that her last album, Blackout, only sold 290,000 copies its debut week. A true, heartfelt congratulations to Spears and her team!! (Perez Hilton)

Kathie Lee Gifford is under fire for allegedly not being able to come up with an original thought — and stealing an idea for a horrible musical segment on “The Today Show.” It’s all over a segment called “Everyone Has a Story,” in which people send their life stories to Kathie Lee and then she writes a show-tune about them — yes, it’s as painful as it sounds. But it gets worse. Kathie Lee and NBC have been accused of taking the idea from a musician who claims he pitched a show based around the idea last year — and after some Hollywood bigwigs passed on the idea, they allegedly funneled it to “Today.” In the lawsuit, filed in L.A. Superior Court, the musician — Harold Johns — claims NBC and Kathie Lee were well aware the ideas came from Johns but they screwed him anyway. Now Johns wants over a million bucks for his troubles, but we’re thinkin’ dude should pen his sob story and send it over to Kathie Lee — maybe it’ll get on the show. (TMZ)

Beyoncé notches her fifth solo No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” one more than she scored while a member of Destiny’s Child. The cut rises 2-1 after selling 228,000 downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. T.I.’s “Live You Life” thus drops 1-2, while another Beyoncé song, “If I Were a Girl,” holds at No. 3 and T.I.’s former chart-topper “Whatever You Like” stays at No. 4. Newcomer Lady GaGa’s “Just Dance” featuring Colby O’Donis rises 7-5, as Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold” slides 5-6. Ne-Yo’s “Miss Independent” jumps 9-7, Pink’s “So What” sticks at No. 8, Britney Spears’ “Womanizer” inches up 12-9 and Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” rises 13-10 to round out the top tier. The Fray’s “You Found Me” is the top digital gainer thanks to second-week download sales of 145,000, and rises 28-15 on the Hot 100. The chart’s top debut comes from Kanye West’s “See You in My Nightmares” featuring Lil Wayne, which starts at No. 21. On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, “Single Ladies” begins a third week at No. 1. Zac Brown Band’s “Chicken Fried” starts a second week atop Hot Country Songs with “Chicken Fried.” AC/DC’s “Rock’N’Roll Train” is in a third week atop the Mainstream Rock chart, while the Offspring’s “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid” is No. 1 on Modern Rock for an eleventh. (Billboard)

Its highly anticipated album “Merriweather Post Pavilion” won’t hit stores until early next year, but experimental rock act Animal Collective is already planning a return to the studio. Founding member Dave Portner describes the project as “visual record. The lines were really blurry when we started,” he tells Billboard.com. “It was going to be a film, like a feature film, but by no means a narrative. It’s more collaborative, between us and our friend Danny Perez, who did one of our music videos.”  Portner says Perez has been working on the visuals for the as-yet-untitled project for more than two years, and that the band will be providing the accompanying music. “This year, we got to a place where we can start doing demos and nailing all the sounds down, while we’re at home,” Portner explains.  “It’s something new for all of us. It’s been a work-as-we-go process.” Animal Collective will take to the road in January around the launch of “Merriweather Post Pavilion,” due Jan. 20 via Domino.  After seven European dates, the band will play New York, Chicago and Los Angeles on Jan. 20, 22 and 23, respectively. (Billboard)

MOVIE . . .

And yet again we have another “list”! This time, the New York Post has compiled the Top 10 Worst Movies of 2008.  And in the top this year is the obvious What Happens In Vegas with Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz.  Also on the list is Mad Money featuring Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes and Queen Latifah.n But, the number 1 worst movie of 2008 goes to Mike Myers’ The Love Guru. We bet it was because of Jessica Alba. Check out the entire top 10 list….after the jump!
10. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”
We thought the whole talking dogs fad was over, but apparently, it’s not. George Lopez and Drew Barrymore provide voices for this 2008 flop about zany California dogs.
9. “Witless Protection”Larry the Cable Guy followed up 2006’s “Larry The Cable Guy: Health Inspector” and 2007’s “Delta Farce” with this “Witless” effort. Larry’s 0-for-3. So bad, we didn’t bother reviewing it.8. “Rambo”
Did we need another “Rambo”? No, but Sly Stallone gave us one – an ultra-gorefest, even by Stallone standards.
7. “You Don’t Mess With The Zohan”
Adam Sandler makes the list with his tale of an Israeli special forces soldier who dreams of being a hairstylist. Childish humor from a familiar source.
6. “Babylon A.D.”
Starring master thespian Vin Diesel, “Babylon A.D.” went way over budget and there were reports of ego clashes between Diesel and director Mathieu Kassovitz. Released six months after its original release date, the film wasn’t even screened for New York critics.
5. “10,000 B.C.”
“10,000 B.C” could be called the movie the Museum of Natural History doesn’t want you to see. Full of special effects but lacking a shred of authenticity, the film was widely panned.
4. “What Happens In Vegas”
“What Happens In Vegas” stars Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz as two people who get married after a booze-fueled night in Sin City, and the wacky adventures that transpire after they also win a large sum of money. The easy joke is that this bomb should have stayed in Vegas. We took the easy way out.
3. “Mad Money”
With a trio of actresses like Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes and Queen Latifah, what could have possibly gone wrong with “Mad Money”? Everything, apparently. But mostly the fact that this comedy had no laughs.
2. “The Hottie & The Nottie”
Is it worth describing the plot to this Paris Hilton-starred stinker? We won’t bother, because you shouldn’t bother watching it. According to Box Office Mojo, the film grossed less than $1.6 million as of Nov. 26, which sounds generous.
1. “The Love Guru”
Our number one worst movie is “The Love Guru,” co-written and starring “SNL” alum Mike Myers as Guru Pitka, a man on a quest to become the #1 guru. Films like “Guru” and 2003’s “The Cat in the Hat” are destroying all the comedy credibilty Myers built through the “Wayne’s World” and “Austin Powers” films. Thank goodness for “Shrek.” “Guru” also stars acting legends Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake. (Perez Hilton)

Fox is bringing “Romancing the Stone” to the big screen again, swinging into development a remake of the 1984 adventure movie and tapping Daniel McDermott to write it. The original movie helped launch Robert Zemeckis as a director, turned Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito — then best known for their TV work — into film stars and established Kathleen Turner as a romantic lead. Written by Diane Thomas, “Romancing” told the story of a repressed romance novelist who travels to Colombia to find her missing sister only to meet up with an American soldier of fortune. The two embark on a cross-country adventure involving a map, a jewel and a private police force. Thomas wrote the script while working as a waitress in Malibu. It turned out to be her only produced screenplay; she died in a car crash the year after the film’s release. No producers are attached to the remake. McDermott, a former head of DreamWorks Television who segued to screenwriting, most recently co-wrote the DreamWorks thriller “Eagle Eye.” He is developing a contemporary adventure movie for Tom Cruise at UA titled “Adventurer’s Club” and working on a remake of “Soylent Green” for Warner Bros. McDermott, repped by UTA and Media Talent Group, also created and executive produced the Lifetime drama “Angela’s Eyes.”  (Hollywood Reporter)

Documentaries chronicling the fight against hardship across Asia and the Middle East will be in abundance at the Sundance Film Festival in January, while only three dramas from either region made the cut. Organizers of the annual event in Park City, Utah, on Wednesday unveiled the names of nonfiction films competing for the best World Cinema Documentary award. They include the North American premiere of “Afghan Star,” a documentary made in the U.K. and Afghanistan by director Havana Marking about post-Taliban Afghanis risking their lives to sing competitively on TV. From neighboring Iran, director Hamid Rahmanian’s documentary “The Glass House,” also a North American premiere, follows teenage girls trying to overcome drug addiction, abandonment and abuse in a Tehran rehab center. The world premiere of “The Queen and I” sees Iranian exile turned Swedish filmmaker Nahid Persson Sarvestani confront her role in the 1979 overthrow of the Shah of Iran by engaging the deposed leader’s widow. From Kurdistan and the U.S., the world premiere of “Quest for Honor” is director Mary Ann Bruni’s documentary about an activist’s attempts to stop honor killings in the Middle Eastern tribal plateau of Kurdistan. Moving to East Asia, the world premiere of the Franco-U.S. documentary  “Kimjongilia” by director N.C. Heikin aims to capture the terrifying reality of defectors from North Korea. In a similar vein, “Tibet in Song” recounts director Ngawang Choephel serving six years of an 18-year prison sentence for trying to film the story of Tibetan music to capture his people’s efforts at cultural preservation . The U.S.-made film will have its world premiere at Sundance. From the factories of India to financial markets in Singapore to housing developments in Spain and offshore banks in Jersey, director Erwin Wagenhofer’s “Let’s Make Money” tries to reveal the complex workings of global money flow.  The film, which has some backing from China, will have its world premiere in Park City.  One film in the world cinema documentary competition is simply set in Asia: “Thriller in Manila,” U.K. director John Dower’s chronicling of the 1975 final boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.  Another, “Old Partner,” from South Korean director Chung-ryoul Lee, has little apparent thematic similarity to the rest of the bunch.  In North American premiere at Sundance, the documentary tells the tale of a farmer living out his final days with his wife and ox in Korea’s countryside. Two Asian dramas in a field of 16 titles were chosen from around the world for the Sundance world cinema drama competition. “The Clone Returns” is Japanese writer and director Kanji Nakajima’s tale of the resurrection of an astronaut who dies during a mission. In North American premiere, the film stars Mitsuhiro Oikawa, Eri Ishida and Hiromi Nagasaku.  From China, “Dada’s Dance,” by director Zhang Yuan and screenwriter Li Xiaofeng, tells the story of a young woman’s search for her birth mother.  Starring Li Xinyun, Li Xiaofeng, Gai Ge and Chen Jun, the film’s Sundance screening will be its North American Premiere. The lone Sundance competition drama from the Middle East, the world premiere of “Zion and His Brother,” is writer and director Eran Merav’s Franco-Israeli film about the disappearance of a young boy dividing two teenage brothers in a working class Tel Aviv single-parent family. The film stars Reuven Badalov, Ronit Elkabetz and  Tzahi Grad. (Hollywood Reporter)

Russell Brand might soon be caught between the moon and New York City. The British comedian is developing a remake of “Arthur,” the 1981 comedy that starred Dudley Moore, for Warner Bros. as a potential starring vehicle. Brand is meeting with scribes to write the screenplay, which will be produced by MBST’s Larry Brezner, whose credits range from “Good Morning, Vietnam” to HBO’s recent “Little Britain USA.” The original movie followed a boozy playboy rascal who is set to inherit a fortune if he marries an heiress his family thinks will make something out of him. However, he falls in love with a working-class woman and turns to his valet for help when his family makes him choose between money and love. Moore was nominated for an Oscar as was Steve Gordon, the film’s writer-director. John Gielgud, who played the valet, won the best supporting actor Oscar, and the movie’s theme song, “The Best That You Can Do,” won for original song. Sarah Schechter is overseeing for Warners. Brand already has a rascally reputation, not only for his past sex-, drugs- and alcohol-infused lifestyle but also for on-air radio pranks that recently led him to being suspended by the BBC. He subsequently resigned. American audiences got their first taste of Brand in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” in which he played a rock star lothario. He next appears with Adam Sandler in “Bedtime Stories,” which opens on Christmas Day. The Endeavor-repped actor is filming Julie Taymor’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and will reunite his “Marshall” co-horts for “Get Him to the Greek.” (Hollywood Reporter)

Review: `Frost/Nixon’ depicts tense TV showdown. “No holds barred,” Richard Nixon urges to David Frost as the two prepare to sit down for a series of interviews in 1977. As “Frost/Nixon” powerfully reveals, that statement contains equal parts promise and threat from both the disgraced figure on screen and the actor playing him. Frank Langella is positively formidable as the former president, a skilled manipulator under optimal circumstances whose desperate desire for rehabilitation makes him extra dangerous. Langella isn’t doing a dead-on impression, which is preferable; Nixon’s quirks have been imitated so frequently and poorly, such an approach risks lapsing into caricature. Rather, he has internalized a volatile combination of inferiority, awkwardness, quick wit and a hunger for power. He loses himself in the role with rumbles and growls, with a hunched carriage and the slightest lift of the eyebrows. Langella and Michael Sheen, also excellent as the breezy British TV personality Frost, reprise the parts they originated in Peter Morgan’s Tony Award-winning stage production. But you never feel like you’re watching a play on film: The way Morgan has opened up the proceedings in his screenplay feels organic under the direction of Ron Howard, who’s crafted his finest film yet, and one of the year’s best. “Frost/Nixon” is talky and weighty as it digs into the details of Vietnam and Watergate, but it moves along with a fluidity that keeps it constantly engaging. Morgan’s script also contains a healthy amount of dark humor, mostly the result of something crass or inappropriate Nixon has said. Good thing, too, because the tension starts percolating early and only grows. Upon seeing the image of Nixon smiling eerily as he boards a helicopter after resigning the presidency, Frost stands in front of a television transfixed. Hoping to lose the perception that he’s a lightweight and gain some credibility – or rather, achieve fame in America – he approaches Nixon for an interview and promises money he doesn’t have. Sheen is doing something so subtle here, and as in his insightful work as Tony Blair in Morgan’s “The Queen,” he’s likely to get upstaged, unfortunately. All his Frost wants is to be liked, but he strives for that with the slightest obsequiousness. Critics may mistake his playboy demeanor for arrogance, but it truly seems to spring from longing. The former president, meanwhile, hopes to use the opportunity to return to public life among the East Coast elite: He’s bored with retirement and feels humiliated droning on for banquet crowds for cash. He wants an interviewer with heft, but he’ll take the $600,000 his agent, Swifty Lazar (Toby Jones), has secured by saying yes to Frost. And so they face each other for four extended interviews, which comprise the film’s second hour. Frost has gotten help cramming for this exam from British TV producer John Birt (Matthew Macfadyen), veteran journalist Bob Zelnick (Oliver Platt) and author and Nixon critic James Reston Jr. (Sam Rockwell). Rebecca Hall provides moral support as the sultry socialite Frost picked up in first class while flying to the United States. In Nixon’s corner are loyalists including the fierce strategist Jack Brennan (Kevin Bacon) and, amusingly, a young Diane Sawyer. Performances from the chief supporting players are uniformly excellent, especially from Platt and Rockwell, whose characters rib each other and share a disdain of Frost’s celebrity. But Zelnick puts it best when he calls Frost “the most unlikely white knight … but a man who had one big advantage over all of us. He understood television.” And television exposed both Frost and Nixon for their true natures – for better and for worse. “Frost/Nixon,” a Universal Pictures release, is rated R for some language. Running time: 122 minutes. Four stars out of four. (Daily Record)

TV . . .

Dear Santa: It’s beginning to look a lot like – well, you know like what. So I’ve got a yule log crackling on my flat-screen TV. The stockings are hung with carelessness. And I’m putting a few TV wishes out there in the hope you’ll notice and make them come true.
– There have been some good shows, but I think you’d agree that, overall, 2008 came up short.
Now what? TV is more important than usual, since no one can afford to leave the house, and people getting laid off have a lot of extra time on their hands.
The moment is ripe for the networks to address our economic plight with relatable new comedies and dramas. (Hello, we’re in a recession!) So I’d like the gift of some new shows that face the audience’s harsh shared reality with a little humor and even reassurance.
This fall a comedy-drama about a family of loan sharks, “Easy Money,” arrived perfectly in synch with the economic meltdown. But buried on the CW network Sunday nights, it was overlooked and swiftly canceled.
Hey, anybody remember past hits like “Roseanne”? It was entertaining, and at the same time in tune with the working-class concerns of its viewers. Santa, could you whisper in the ears of TV programmers: Enough with the lawyers, cops and the jabbing of corpses in mood-lit laboratories! How about something with which we can identify?
– And while you’re at it, Santa, would you please step in before it’s too late and ward off a strike by the Screen Actors Guild? Networks, studios and viewers are still reeling from the writers strike. How much worse will the TV scene be if actors and producers don’t find some common ground and their shows grind to a halt?
Santa, please pass along this question to the SAG leadership: Are you crazy?! And here’s a question you can ask the other side: Are you crazy?!
– One of many likely results from an actors strike (just as with the writers strike) would be an upsurge of reality programming to fill the gap. And this would happen, ironically, when the audience may at last be kicking its reality addiction.
In a recent report, industry analyst Brad Adgate found viewership down for every unscripted show except NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” With the stripmalling of reality/competition shows, each as indistinguishable from another, has the genre reached its saturation point?
That’s not to say there isn’t hunger for fresh ideas. And I happen to have one. Santa, please pitch this concept to a network (I’ll give you a nice percentage): I’m calling my show “The Big Bailout.” It’s a high-stakes game show where the contestant who competes most ineptly, with the least scruples, wins the big cash jackpot.
– One more thing, Santa: As we near the five-year anniversary of Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl flash dance, would you deliver a commemorative plaque inscribed with “GET A LIFE” to everyone who has stayed in a lather over that morals-threatening display, as well as assaults on decency like the occasional inadvertent on-the-air F-bomb?
The courts, politicians, pundits, indignant viewer groups and, of course, the Federal Communications Commission – all are painfully ill-equipped to settle an issue people have disputed since the first caveman scrawled an X-rated drawing in a public cave. There must be more important things for all of us to do. My Christmas wish is that we will. (Daily Record)

Jon Hamm is temporarily trading the offices of Sterling Cooper for “30 Rock.” The actor, who plays advertising executive Don Draper on AMC’s “Mad Men,” will portray the love interest of Tina Fey character Liz Lemon – a doctor who lives in her apartment. Could it last? “I just finished a couple of episodes, and I’ll go back in the new year and do another one of those, and then we’ll see what happens,” Hamm said Tuesday at a benefit for the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. (Daily Record)

Howard Donald and Gary Barlow of Take That have taken a swipe at Britney Spears. Take That have slammed Britney Spears’ recent X Factor appearance. “I don’t see the point of Britney anymore, she was rubbish on the show. I think she’s more famous than she deserves to be now,” Gary told the Mirror. “Why come on a show like that and mime? I don’t like her new song either. Her old stuff was great but maybe she should have spent more time on this one. But, I listen to more bands now anyway, like Kings of Leon and Coldplay. I don’t really listen to many pop acts.” Miaow. Band mate Howard Donald also got in on the act, “The truth is all the contestants on X Factor are so talented and were able to sing and dance live, so why couldn’t Britney do it?” He explained. “It’s the whole point of the show and her miming looked stupid.” Take That’s new album, Circus, looks set to top the album charts this week while another album titled Circus, by, oh, Britney Spears, was sitting at number three in the midweek charts. (Handbag)

“Project Runway” producers The Magical Elves, who left the show behind after executive producer Harvey Weinstein moved it to Lifetime, have a new muse: People’s Revolution public relations boss and “The Hills” enforcer Kelly Cutrone. “We’re working on a show together that’s going to showcase the nitty-gritty side of fashion publicity,” Cutrone told us. “Think of it as ‘The Wizard of Oz’ meets Stephen King meets ‘Rhoda.’ I’m really sure we’re gonna be the first p.r. company to be on TV that showcases what really goes down.” (Page Six)

NBC is holding back from anointing David Gregory as the new host of “Meet the Press” because “they’re furious about leaks” that tipped off the media, well-placed sources told Page Six. The infamous in-house squabbling over Tim Russert’s replacement “is at a new peak” said one tipster, with some NBC suits and talent sore over the network’s widely reported choice of Gregory – who had yet to be confirmed as of last night. An other source said the brass blame MSNBC host Chuck Todd for tipping off media blogs on Gregory’s new gig – for which Todd was a top contender – and ruining the announcement that was planned to be made this Sunday by interim “Meet the Press” host Tom Brokaw. (Page Six)

Today is D-day at MTV and its sister companies! The axe has come down and 850 people are being fired within MTV networks (MTV, VH1, CMT, BMT, Nickelodeon, etc). The following is an email that was sent out this morning to all Viacom employees from the CFOs: “Dear Colleagues: With less than a month until the close of 2008, our entire organization continues to do everything possible to anticipate and adapt to the unprecedented changes affecting all our businesses. We know it hasn’t been easy and we couldn’t be more proud or more appreciative of how you have risen to the challenge. Even in these tough economic times, Viacom has a strong hand to play. We have a broad stable of outstanding brands, diverse revenue streams and an impressive global footprint, backed up by exceptional financial strength. Added to that we have talented employees, extremely able leaders and a creative ingenuity that runs deep. Unfortunately, our advantages and best efforts can’t completely protect Viacom from the very serious and broad-based challenges of this economic recession. Viacom’s long-term health will depend on our shared commitment to adapt, to innovate and to make difficult choices. To compete and thrive, we need to create an organization and a cost structure that are in step with the evolving economic environment. Today, we are announcing a company-wide restructuring plan that includes staffing reductions in all divisions. This will result in a reduction of our worldwide workforce of approximately 7 percent, or about 850 positions. We are also suspending salary increases for the Company’s senior level management in 2009. In addition, after a comprehensive review of our operations, we will write down certain programming and other assets. These three actions will bring us significant cost savings and other efficiencies. Top managers at every part of the company worked thoughtfully, carefully and compassionately to create a leaner, more focused organization. It was not an easy task, but it was an essential step that will keep Viacom at the competitive forefront today and tomorrow. Department heads and supervisors will provide you with more information about the changes that will be taking place in your division. Saying goodbye to friends and colleagues is always difficult, particularly when we have shared so much. Those of you who will be leaving should be proud of your contributions, which we will always respect and appreciate. We thank you and we wish you the best. The true measure of an organization is how it deals with change and overcomes challenges. We know that you are up to the task and that together we will push through the difficulties ahead and go on to even greater achievements. We truly appreciate your continued commitment and hard work and we thank you for everything you do each day.  Sincerely, Philippe and Tom” (Perez Hilton)

Celebrity couple Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin are ready to expose their lives to the cameras in an unscripted project for TV Land. The network has ordered a pilot presentation of a project that would follow the lives of the husband-and-wife duo along with their two daughters.  The project is executive produced by Jason Carbone. “Ever since I started here (in May 2006), I’ve been out in the marketplace looking for a celebrity couple with dynamic stories to tell, and when I met Lisa and Harry, it made sense,” said Keith Cox, TV Land’s executive VP development and original programming. Should TV Land go forward with the project, said to have generated interest from a few cable networks, it will go straight to a half-hour series pickup targeted for a 2009 debut, Cox said. (Hollywood Reporter)

Inside sources confirm that NBC has decided not to order any more episodes of Knight Rider this season and will close production after the cast and crew complete the 17th episode, which is filming this week. So will the show live on to see a season two? Find out… According to sources close to the series, there is no official kill order on Knight Rider, so the future of the show depends almost entirely the ratings for the remaining 10 unaired episodes. The decision on season two will come next year. As you may have heard, NBC has been working under KITT’s hood for a while now, trying to rev up the ratings. Bruce Davison, Yancey Arias and Sydney Tamiia Poitier were let go earlier this year in an effort to tighten and brighten storylines. What do you think of this news? Based on the fan emails we get, many of you are watching and enjoying this series. But you’ll need to help spread the word among your friends if you want this series to stick around. (Eonline)

In broadcasting the world’s first live 3-D football game to theaters in Los Angeles, New York and Boston Thursday evening, the NFL promised an “up close, personal, visceral” experience that could open a new revenue stream for the league. The screenings for team owners, producers and journalists will use technology developed by 3ality Digital, a Burbank, Calif.-based company whose major investor is the family of Art Modell, owners of the Baltimore Ravens from 1996 to 2004. “We are merely doing a test for our friends at the NFL to show them definitively that this digital 3-D technology is now,” said David Modell, 47, former Ravens president and chairman of 3ality. “This is not something we’re hoping will happen. This is now.” Eight 3-D camera crews will sidle up to 2-D counterparts to catch the game between the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers Thursday evening. The 2-D crews will work on behalf of the NFL Network, while the 3-D crews will work for the test broadcast, which will have its own commentators. 3-D viewers must don polarized lenses to see the action. Attendees at the Boston screening are to include New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who leads the NFL Broadcasting Committee and will help shape how the league uses 3-D. The New York screening will host Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, New York Giants co-owner John Mara, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, another broadcasting committee member. “All this right now is an experiment,” said Howard Katz, the National Football League’s senior vice president of broadcasting and media operations. “It’s a proof of concept. We just want to get an idea of what our game would look like in 3-D. Anything beyond that is just speculation.” A transition to regular broadcasts of 3-D sports events is not expected soon. David Hill, the chief executive of Fox Sports Television Group, said at a 3-D entertainment conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday that equipment makers would have to fund a large-scale rollout of 3-D cameras for sports events because broadcasters are still paying for the conversion to high-definition. “The people who make money off it are going to have to subsidize it,” Hill said. “I can’t see making a move into 3-D until a good fairy comes flapping into my office with a check.” Despite the concern about costs, Fox Sports plans to do a 3-D broadcast itself of college football’s BCS National Championship on Jan. 8 to about 150 digital theaters nationwide. Details have yet to be worked out, said Fox Sports spokesman Lou D’Ermilio. By the end of 2008, an estimated 2 million U.S. TV sets will be capable of handling 3-D signals, about 2 percent of the nation’s estimated 114.5 million TV homes. Katz said the NFL is not exploring making theater broadcasts regularly available in the way that documentary filmmakers and concert promoters have increasingly been offering their material at digital theaters. “It’s not an alternative we’re currently contemplating,” Katz said. “We’re very committed to the free, over-the-air distribution of our games.” An experiment last year with live 3-D broadcasts involved Pace, a company founded by director James Cameron and his partner Vince Pace. They showed VIP guests a live 3-D transmission of the NBA All-Star game in Las Vegas and followed up with a 3-D transmission of Game 2 of the NBA finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban also hosted a 3-D transmission of a game between the Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs at theaters in Dallas in March. (Daily Record)

BEC World, operator of Thailand’s second most popular television channel, said on Thursday higher advertising revenue should boost its net profit by 20% this year. BEC, which owns Channel 3 and gets 90% of its revenue from advertising, might raise advertising rates next year as advertising spending was still good despite the poor economic outlook for 2009, financial chief Chatchai Thiamtong told reporters. “In the first nine months, our net profit already rose about 20%, so we should achieve the same growth for the whole year as advertising revenues still show double-digit growth in the fourth quarter,” Chatchai said. “Next year should be tough. But we will run business carefully. We are also looking for a good time to raise advertising rates,” he added. The listed firm reported a 37% rise in net profit to 2.25 billion baht ($63 million) in 2007. In the first nine months of this year, it made a net profit of 2.15 billion baht, up 24% from a year earlier thanks to strong television advertising revenue. However, analysts said the outlook for the entertainment sector remained weak. They expect advertisers’ spending to slow in line with a drop in economic growth. Thirteen analysts polled by Reuters Estimates expected 2008 earnings to rise 22% to 2.75 billion baht, but net profit growth should be only 6.2% in 2009. BEC World shares closed up nearly 4% at 18.40 baht on Thursday, when the overall stock market. SETI was flat. (Hollywood Reporter)

In addition to all the firings going on at MTV/Viacom right now…..NBC/Universal is also laying off 500 employees today. The job cuts are at all levels of the company — television, film and parks. Such a bummer! (Perez Hilton)

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . .  (Mike Butts Creative)

Q.  50 of these are sold every minute in the world. In the time it took to ask this question 50 more flew out the door. What?
    A.  Bibles

TODAY’S QUOTE  (By Napoleon Bonaparte)

“MEN TAKE ONLY THEIR NEEDS INTO CONSIDERATION, NEVER THEIR ABILITIES.”

DISNEY MIND BOGGLERS . . .  (Disney Insider)

Q.  What personal item did Walt Disney sell in order to purchase a one-way railroad ticket from Kansas City to California so he would begin his new career?
    A.  Typewriter
    B.  Camera  ****  (Walt sold his camera so he could raise enough money to take him to California)
    C. Pen
    D.  Car

Q.  How many puppies were actually born to Pongo and Perdita?
    A.  Fifteen  ****
    B.  Twelve
    C.  Five
    D.  Twenty

Q. What famous character was first introduced in the 1947 comic book “Christmas on Bear Mountain”?
    A.  Scrooge McDuck  ****  (“Christmas on Bear Mountain” introduced miserly Scrooge McDuck)
    B.  Goofy
    C.  Pluto
    D.  Daisy

Q.  In “High School Musical 2,” we learn that Ryan Evans is a champ at what sport?
    A.  Ryan’s an ace baseball player – and a former Little League championship team member

Q.  What does the name WALL-E stand for?
    A.  The main character’s name is actually an acronym, standing for Waste Allocation Load Lifter – Earth-Class

Q.  What does King Triton want Ariel to refrain from doing, prompting him to say, “As long as you live under my ocean, obey my rules”?
    A.  King Triton instructs Ariel not to swim to the surface again, for fear of being seen by humans, whom he thinks are “barbarians.”

PEARL HARBOR FACTS . . .  (Internet)

1941

The Japanese surprise attack on the U.S. Navy’s base at Pearl Harbor and on Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday morning, 7 December 1941, destroyed much of the American Pacific Fleet and brought the United States into World War II. What President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a “day which will live in infamy” led Congress to declare war on Japan on 8 December.

The attack followed the decision of the government of Premier Hideki Tojo that the Roosevelt administration would not abandon China and Southeast Asia to the Japanese military nor continue to supply Tokyo with oil and other vital supplies. Thus, while negotiating with Washington, Tokyo also planned a major Japanese offensive into British Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, and the American Philippines.  (http://www.answers.com/topic/attack-on-pearl-harbor)

Eight American battleships and 13 other naval vessels were sunk or badly damaged, almost 200 American aircraft were destroyed, and approximately 3,000 naval and military personnel were killed or wounded. The attack marked the entrance of Japan into World War II on the side of Germany and Italy, and the entrance of the United States on the Allied side.
(http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312409/thinkquestww2_3/Pearl_Harbor_p.html)

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

SISTER NATIONAL PARKS AROUND THE WORLD:

You may be familiar with America’s great national parks. But did you know that our national parks have little sisters around the world?  Many of our best-known national parks have “little sisters” in other countries; these parks have similar topographies and attract tourists with similar interests. Sequoia National Park in California now has a Cambodian sister, called the Samlaut National Park. Excessive poaching and mismanagement has led to a decline in wildlife in this 148,000-acre park, so the Sequoia National Park is sharing information to help rebuild the Cambodian park for tourism. Yosemite shares a sisterhood with China’s Huangshan National Park. Both boast granite cliffs and pine trees which have inspired generations of painters, poets and photographers. And the Rocky Mountain National Park works in cooperation with Tatra National Park, which protects Poland’s highest mountains. These parks share research and information to protect their ecosystems and promote tourism.

(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 . . .

December 5th:
—1782  8th President Martin Van Buren (d. 7-24-1862)
—1870  American Rodeo Cowboy Bill Pickett (d. 4-21-1932)
—1901  Animator Walt Disney (d. 12-15-1966)
—1902  US Senator Strom Thurmond (d. 6-26-2003)
—1906  Producer Otto Preminger (d. 1986)
—1932  Singer Little Richard (“Tutti Frutti”)
—1934  Author, journalist Joan Didion (After Henry)
—1935  Author Calvin Trillin (American Stories)
—1936  Musician Chad Mitchell (The Chad Mitchell Trio) (“The John Birch Society”)
—1938  J.J. Cale (“Crazy Mama”)
—1943  Musician Mike Smith (Dave Clark 5)
—1944  Actor Jeroen Krabbe (The Fugitive)
—1945  Eduardo Serrato – drummer for ? & The Mysterians (“96 Tears”)
—1946  Singer Andy Kim  (“Rock Me Gently”)
—1946  Opera singer Jose Carreras
—1947  Musician Jim Messina (Loggins & Messina) (“Your Mama Don’t Dance”)
—1947  Football’s Jim Plunkett
—1950  Actress Morgan Brittany (Dallas)
—1957  Football’s Art Monk
—1963  Actress Carrie Hamilton (Fame) (d. 1-20-2002)
⎯1965  Musician/Singer Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls)
—1968  Actress Margaret Cho (All American Girl)
⎯1985  Actor Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle)

December 6th:
—1886  American poet Joyce (Alfred) Kilmer (Trees) (d. 7-30-1918)
—1896  Lyricist/Author Ira Gershwin (d. 8-17-1983)
—1906  Actress Agnes Moorehead (Bewitched) (d. 4-30-1974)
—1920  Jazz Musician Dave Brubeck (“Take Five”)
—1924  Actor Wally Cox (d. 1973)
—1941  Football’s Walter Perkins
—1943  Mike Smith – keyboards and lead singer for The Dave Clark Five (“Glad All Over”)
⎯1944  Singer Jonathan King (“Everyone’s Gone to the Moon”)
—1945  Actor James Naughton (The Paper Chase)
—1953  Actor Tom Hulce (Amadeus)
—1953  Actress JoBeth Williams (The Big Chill)
—1955  Comedian Stephen Wright
—1955  Musician Rick Butler (The Jam)
—1956  Guitarist Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
—1961  Baseball’s Larry Sheets
—1962  Guitarist Ben Watt (Everything But The Girl)
—1962  Actress Janine Turner (Northern Exposure)
⎯1969  Singer Macy Gray

December 7th:
—1761  Museum Curator Madame Marie Tussaud (d. 4-15-1850)
—1873  American Author Willa Sibert Cather (My Antonia) (d. 4-24-1947)
—1912  Actor Rod Cameron (d. 12-21-1983)
—1915  Actor Eli Wallach (The Tiger Makes Out)
—1932  Actress Ellen Burstyn (Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood)
—1942  Musician Harry Chapin (“Cats In The Cradle”) (d. 7-16-1981)
—1947  Baseball’s Johnny Bench
—1948  Singer Gary Morris
—1949  Musician Tom Waits (I Never Talk to Strangers)
—1954  Singer Mike Nolan (Bucks Fizz)
—1956  Basketball’s Larry Byrd
—1956  Actress Priscilla Barnes (License to Kill)
—1961   Musician Rob Downes (Then Jerico)
—1966  Actor C. Thomas Howell (Soul Man)

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

December 5th:
MOON PHASE: FIRST QUARTER (4:26pm EST). Today is BATHTUB PARTY DAY which is a day to remind everyone to experience one of the great luxuries of life and take a long, hot bath instead of a shower.
—1492  Christopher Columbus discovered the Island of Hispaniola; today’s discovery day in Haiti.
—1776  Phi Beta Kappa, the original Greek letter fraternity, was founded at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
—1854  Aaron Allen of Boston patents a folding theater chair.
—1876  President Ulysses S. Grant delivered his speech of apology to Congress claiming mistakes he made while he was President were due to his inexperience. His errors he said, were “errors of judgment, not intent.”
—1882  James Lafferty was granted a patent for his “Elephant Hotel” in New Jersey. The 65-foot high “Elephant” was divided into rooms which were reached by stairs in the legs.
—1893  The first electric car hit the streets, built by a Toronto firm. It could go fifteen miles between chargings.
—1929  America’s first nudist organization, the American League of Physical Culture, was founded.
—1933  Ratification of the Twenty-First Amendment to the US Constitution ending Prohibition.
—1955  America’s two largest labor organizations, the AF of L and the CIO, merged into a single group, with George Meany as their first president.
—1964 The Zombies’ “She’s Not There” and the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” make their first appearances on the U.S. singles chart.
—1968  Graham Nash leaves the Hollies after refusing to do an album of Bob Dylan songs.
—1968  The Rolling Stones celebrate the release of “Beggars Banquet” with a custard pie fight at London’s Elizabeth Rooms Hotel.
—1975  “Fleetwood Mac,” the first Mac LP with Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, goes gold.
—1979  “Pop Muzik” by M goes gold in NY, London, Paris, and Munich.
—1987  Belinda Carlisle has the number one US single with “Heaven Is A Place On Earth.”
—1990  Billy Joel receives a Humanitarian Award from the Cathedral of St. John in New York City and also receives a Grammy Legend Award.

December 6th:
Today is SAINT NICHOLAS DAY.
—1865  The Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, abolishing slavery in the United States.
—1877  Thomas Edison perfects the phonograph by recording “Mary Had A Little Lamb.”
—1917  1654 people were killed in Halifax, Nova Scotia when the Norwegian ship Imo plowed in the French munitions ship Mont Blanc. A tidal wave was caused by the explosion and washed much of the city’s remains out to sea.
—1921  Agnes McPhail became the first woman ever elected to a seat in Canada’s House of Commons.
—1965  The Rolling Stones record “19th Nervous Breakdown.”
—1968  James Taylor’s self-titled debut album is released in Britain.
—1968  President-Elect Richard Nixon sends form letters to prospective office holders. One recipient is Elvis Presley.
—1969Meredith Hunter is stabbed to death by Hell’s Angels in front of the stage at a free concert by the Rolling Stones at Altamont Speedway near San Francisco. Contributing to the incident is cold weather and overcrowding. Violent skirmishes climax in the death of four fans, one by the aforementioned Hell’s Angels who were appointed security guards.
—1970  “Gimme Shelter,” the film of the Rolling Stones’ 1969 tour, opens in New York.
—1973  Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as Vice President, following the resignation of Spiro Agnew.
—1976  Democrats in the House of Representatives elected a new speaker – Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neil.
—1985  About thirty minutes into his concert, John Cougar Mellencamp suffers through two sound failures at Madison Square Garden. He apologizes and offers to pay for all tickets. Though he does a two-hour show close to half the audience accepts his offer.
—1985  The “Miami Vice” LP becomes the first TV soundtrack to go double platinum.
—1986  The Hooters hit the pinnacle of success as they become a TV Guide crossword puzzle clue.
—1988  Roy Orbison dies of a heart attack at the age of 52 in Tennessee.
⎯1991  Star Trek VI …The Undiscovered Country premieres.  It is the last of the films based solely on the original series cast & it presents their final mission together.  The film earned 2 Academy Award nominations.

December 7th:
Today is PEARL HARBOR DAY.
—1907  Emily Bissell of Wilmington, Delaware became the first person to sell Christmas Seals to help fight tuberculosis.
—1911 China abolished compulsory wearing of pigtails. They had been introduced by the Mongol conquerors as a sign of servitude, back in the 17th century.
—1941  Pearl Harbor Day, “A Day,” as Franklin D. Roosevelt put it, “that will live in infamy.” It was on this day in 1941 that planes from the Japanese Imperial Navy, operating in secret from ships some 275 miles off Hawaii, bombed and sank all but one of our country’s entire Pacific fleet, anchored at Pearl Harbor, Honolulu. The original cost of the raid, according to Japanese sources, was about $700,000. When Hollywood re-created it for the movie “Tora Tora Tora” it cost them $8 million.
—1963  “Dominique” by the Singing Nun is the top single in the US.
—1963  The Beatles’ “I Want To Hold Your Hand” becomes their first record to enter the British chart at number one.
—1964  Brian Wilson suffers a nervous breakdown on a plane from LA to Houston. A short time later he quits touring with the Beach Boys.
—1967  Otis Redding records “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” three days before his death.
—1967  The Beatles’ Apple Shop & Boutique opens in London.
—1968  The University of Cincinnati library decided to waive the fine on a book borrowed in 1823, when the borrower’s great grandson offered to return it. The fine would have been more than $2500.
—1968  The Supremes and the Temptations release their collaboration “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me.”
—1973  A yearlong name ownership battle begins between Fleetwood Mac and ex-manager Clifford Davis, who has assembled a replacement band.
—1979  “Escape, (The Pina Colada Song)” hits #1 CHR as thousands of lonely people scan classified ads.
—1988  Former Partridge Family “bassist” Danny Bonaduce lands the night shift at WEGX/ Philadelphia.
—1988  An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale rocked the Soviet province of Armenia killing upwards of 60,000 people. Many of the deaths were blamed on poor construction practices.

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ON THIS DAY
On this date in 1484, the Pope set down severe penalties against German witches and magicians… but only for a spell.
Phi Beta Kappa, the very first fraternity in the U.S., was organized on this date in 1776. Their motto: “Gonna party like its 1799!”
In 1848, President James Polk announced to Congress that gold had been discovered in California. Congress immediately wanted to appropriate enough whiskey for all the prospectors, but that would have been contributing to the delinquency of miners.
On this date in 1876, the pipe wrench was invented. Until that time, there was one less weapon in the game of “Clue.”
In 1908, numbers were put on football uniforms for the very first time at the University of Pittsburgh. The players with numbers 32131133 and 2091039 weren’t very happy about it.
TODAY IS
Hey, happy “Cinco de Decembero!”
Frankie Muniz turns 23 today. For years, he was Malcolm in the Middle. Now he’s just plain Frankie on the outside.
Margaret Cho turns the big 4-0 today. Margaret has proved that you don’t necessarily have to be funny to become a comedian.
Jim Messina turns 61 today… or, as he’s better known, “the guy who used to sing with Kenny Loggins.”
Bathtub Fun Day — Send stunt boy to one of the fanciest hotels in the city to see if he could help one of the maids clean the bathtub together… naked! It’s great if you can get the maid to chase him down the hallway with a feather duster.
Play Hooky Day — Rinkworks.com offers these school excuse notes parents have written for their kids:
•    “My son is under a doctor’s care and should not take P.E. today. Please execute him.”
•    “Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick, and I had her shot.”
•    “Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is administrating.”
•    “Dear School: Please ekscuse John being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and also 33.”
•    “Please excuse Roland from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.”
•    “John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.”
•    “Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.”
•    “Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.”
•    “Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.”
•    “Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels.”
•    “Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.”
•    “Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.”
•    “Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father’s fault.”
•    “Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.”
•    “Sally won’t be in school a week from Friday. We have to attend her funeral.”
•    “My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the Marines.”
•    “Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.”
•    “Please excuse Mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.”
•    “Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.”
•    “Please excuse Burma, she has been sick and under the doctor.”
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
•    For what it’s worth, gun sales have gone up — as much as 50% in some areas — since Barack Obama was elected president.
•    Whoops! Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) hung up on President-Elect Obama twice because she thought Elvis Duran (airing on WHYI-FM Y100 Miami) was pranking her.
•    The economy is tight out there. Natalie Portman’s vegan line of shoes, Te Cesan, has gone under.
•    Actor Mark Ruffalo (“Zodiac”)’s brother is fighting for his life after being shot in the head in Beverly Hills.
•    Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have sent a letter to the National Enquirer demanding “a full public retraction” of story saying Kelly and Mark have “split.”
•    Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”) will play the love interest of Tina Fey character Liz Lemon on “30 Rock.”
•    Former New York Yankees star Bernie Williams’ second album, Moving Forward, will come out April 14th. On Reform Records.
•    Country music stars Julianne Hough (Dancing with the Stars) and Chuck Wicks are hinting at wedding plans after spending a family Thanksgiving together.
•    Designer Carmen Marc Valvo told Newsweek that the female body part with the starring role is her back. For spring and summer 2009 fashion, the sexy focus will be on the back with intricate, eye-popping dresses that show off a woman’s back–from nape to tailbone.
•    Fleetwood Mac will go on tour in 2009 for the first time in five years.
•    Ask Heidi Montag’s mom about her marriage to Spencer Pratt and she’ll say that she gives it six months.
•    Prosecutors now allege Jennifer Hudson’s estranged brother-in-law killed three family members because he was angry that the singer’s sister was dating another man.
•    If you’re trying to keep up, Amy Winehouse’s husband is back in jail after failing a drug test.
•    “E.R.” will wrap up in a two-hour series finale on March 12.
•    Gwen Stefani is reportedly pregnant with child #3.
•    You knew this was only a matter of time: in Germany, a priest has found a newborn baby abandoned in the manger of a church nativity scene.
•    Latest layoff announcements: MTV, 850. Dupont, 2500. AT&T 12,000.
•    Anne Heche is pregnant. No, we’re not accusing you.
CONVERSATION STARTERS
Among teenagers, texting is the hands down preferred way to be in touch. So how about a little Text Messaging 101?
•    Text messages are limited to 160 character each, are quicker than e-mail, quieter than phone calls and much more likely to get a response from your kid.
•    25% of teens in relationships communicate with a boyfriend or girlfriend via text between the hours of midnight and 5am.
•    QWERTY keyboard, pronounced “kwer-tee,” this mini keyboard built into some phones allows for faster, easier texting. The first six letters on a keyboard are “Q, W, E, R, T, and Y.”
•    1,742 text messages a month is the average, teenagers ages 13 to 17 send or receive according to Nielsen Mobile.
•    158 billion text messages were sent nationwide in 2006, nearly double the number in 2005.
•    The people most likely to text message are between the ages of 13 to 24.
According to a survey conducted by Blockbuster, movie fans are hoping to see Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie play starring roles in the next Batman flick. The villains that fans would most like to see Batman take on are The Riddler and The Joker’s therapist turned girlfriend Harley Quinn. Other top picks were Cat Woman, The Penguin and tough guy Bane. Favorite actors to play roles like these included Natalie Portman, Edward Norton and Keira Knightley.
According to a Glamour poll:
•    55% of women spend at least $500 on holiday gifts.
•    38% of women spend 10 or more hours shopping for gifts.
•    36% of women wish they had more “me time” during the holidays.
•    33% of women do most of your holiday shopping online.
•    25% of women avoid talking politics at holiday functions.
•    23% of women shop for gifts a month in advance
•    18% of women say the most stressful part of the season is their family.
•    12% of women say they spend holidays with friends instead of family.
If holiday shopping leaves you befuddled, it may be that you had too many decision to make. In a study of 58 shoppers, researchers at the University of Minnesota found that the more buying choices people made, the worse they did on simple math tests, even if they were no more fatigued. Shopping at stores with a limited selection may help, but you’ll still be choosing which is “mentally exhausting,” says study leader Kathleen D. Vohs, Ph.D. Her advice: “If you have an important meeting in the afternoon or need the self control to get through a holiday gathering with difficult relatives, do your gift buying another day.” (Good Housekeeping)
The Kaiser Permanente Center reports keeping a food diary can double your weight loss results and help you reach your goal twice as fast. A study of 1,685 dieters found that as the use of a daily food log increased, so did weight loss. In addition to keeping a food diary, participants in the study ate a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat and sodium. They also got some light exercise every day. The researchers believe that focusing on what we eat makes us more aware of our behavior and better equipped to change it. (Sun)
PHONE TOPICS
•    Anyone know a professional athlete? How about an Olympic athlete?
•    What do you know enough about to write a book?
•    When do you think our economy will recover?
•    Did you ever get into a fight over cutting in line?
•    The strangest thing on your kids wish list.
•    Which is more important to you? Christmas Eve, or Day?
•    Hardest thing you ever had to give up?
•    Anyone break up recently, right before the holiday?
•    Best work from home job?
•    Have you ever been on a reality TV show?
•    Strangest thing you’ve ever found in your mates pockets.
•    Ever been temporarily blind? Deaf?
•    Ever date someone who was incredibly taller or shorter than you?
•    What’s the best day of the week to take off?
•    If you could only hear one Christmas song this year, which one?
This is a recent email scam that your listeners should be on the lookout for. My co-host got an e-mail yesterday saying, “I felt very sorry and bad for you, that your life is going to end like this if you don’t comply, I was paid to eliminate you and I have to do it within 10 days…I might just spare your life, $8,000 is all you need to spend.” Obviously it’s an email scam, but for those not too familiar with the internet scam artists, it’s got to be scary. Have you ever received a death threat via e-mail that requested cash? How did you react?
I heard on the cable news networks today that the cost of attending college has risen nearly three times the rate of the cost of living. Eventually, it could be unaffordable for most of our kids. We talked on our show about student loan payback. I still have $30k in loans. I’ve been paying for 10 years. I still have $30k left. Anyone like me and pay just the interest? Who listening has the most student loan debt?
We talked about the 9-year-old kid who’s on a media book blitz. He has a book that offers tips on how to get the right girl. So we took our own poll, and asked our younger listeners to call and answer the same question. The answers were hilarious, from “offering them chocolate,” to “not teasing them.” It was a real warm and fuzzy.
What the heck is wrong with women? My male co-host doesn’t understand why women can’t tell guys what they’re really mad about. He says they think that guys should already know the problem. Open the phones, it’s a never ending battle.
Have you ever been at a funeral and someone says something negative about the person? This was a funny phoner! We started out by discussing our own experiences at funeral homes.
Which holiday special do you most look forward to every year? So you don’t miss it, here are some annual Holiday favorites on your upcoming TV schedule (all times Eastern):
•    “Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer,” The CW Dec. 5, 8 p.m.
•    “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland,” ABC Family, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.
•    “A Charlie Brown Christmas, ABC, Dec. 8, 8 p.m. Also showing Dec. 16, 8pm.
•    “Twas the Night Before Christmas” ABC, Dec. 8, 7 p.m.
•    “A Garfield Christmas,” ABC Family, Dec. 9, 7 p.m.
•    “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” ABC Family, Dec. 10, 7 p.m.
•    “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” ABC Family, Dec. 10, 8 p.m.
•    “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year,” ABC Family, Dec. 10, 9 p.m. Repeating Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
•    “I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown” ABC, Dec. 15, 8 p.m. Repeating Dec. 20.
Recurring Movies (all times Eastern):
•    “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” ABC, Dec. 5, 9 p.m., with Jim Carrey as the green one.
•    “Prancer,” AMC, Dec. 7, 8 p.m.
•    “A Christmas Carol,” AMC, Dec. 7, 10:30 p.m.
•    “Jack Frost,” ABC Family, Dec. 10, 10 p.m.
•    “Surviving Christmas” ABC, Dec. 13, 9 p.m.
•    “Elf,” USA, Dec. 10, 10 p.m. Repeating Dec. 14 at 3 p.m.
•    “The Polar Express” ABC Family, with Tom Hanks in every computerized role. Dec. 22 at 6 and 8:30 p.m.
•    “A Christmas Story” TNT, in its annual 24 hour marathon on TBS, starting Dec. 24 at 8 p.m.
•    “It’s a Wonderful Life” NBC, Dec. 13, 8 p.m. Repeating Dec. 24, 8 p.m.
Have you ever sold or bought something at a pawn shop? What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever pawned/bought?
“What is the easiest job in (city)?” Funny, nobody offered their job as the easiest but sure had a lot of co-workers or bosses in mind. We also heard about little 15-car parking lots where a guy sits in a booth and watches his cars all day.
“Your biggest job screw-up.” We had a lot to tell about for sure. Then we heard from a lady who e-mailed her friend about her boss’s tacky clothes and accidentally sent it to the man himself. Also talking about co-workers who are in the next cubicle hearing every word. That kind of thing.
The average person only gets six hours of sleep every night. So, we asked about the strangest place you’ve ever fallen asleep. The phones lit up with stories. We had a lot of good ones, but the best was from a woman who fell asleep during sex with her ex-husband. She actually told us that’s what led to the divorce.
Who is your hero? Many people will call and say athletes, movie stars., etc. What is a hero? It’s not someone who throws a ball through a hoop or reads scripts. It’s someone who has saved a life or who changes lives. People like John Walsh or the EMT’s who save people everyday. Maybe your dad is your hero. Ask your listeners who their hero is and talk about yours.
What really happens when your head hits the pillow? Sure, sleep fulfills some very basic needs–like maintaining your physical and mental health, not to mention preparing you for those crucial daytime hours. But a lot more happens after the lights go out. Did you know that sleep affects your memory, your heart, and even the health of your teeth? Here, are some of sleep’s strangest facts.
•    Flexing Memory – From a special vacation to a holiday gathering, long-term memories are predominantly formed during sleep when the brain replays recent experiences.
•    Sleep to a Better Beat – A good night’s sleep is essential for a healthy ticker. Lack of sleep can lead to hypertension.
•    Snooze and Smile – Tossing and turning can affect your smile. A Journal of Periodontology study shows that the amount of sleep you get can significantly affect your teeth. Researchers speculate that sleep shortage impairs the body’s immune system, something that can lead to bad teeth.
•    Sleep to Your Own Rhythm – If you find yourself awake and energetic late at night, you may have a genetic mutation. The altered gene may explain why some people prefer late nights.
•    Getting by with Less – Some people can survive on very little sleep, while others require many hours to function normally. If you still perform relatively well when sleep deprived, the reason could be your genes.
A recent Harris Poll found that 16 percent of adults have at least one tattoo. Among Americans ages 25 to 29 – a prime childbearing age – the number jumps to 36 percent. Do you think it’s ok for a mom to get a tattoo? My co-host says it’s sexy, but I think it’s gross. Open your phones.
What’s going on in your neighborhood? We had some outrageous stories about what you can pick up with a baby monitor, scanner, or even crossed phone lines. Apparently, there are quite a few housewives around having lesbian affairs with their neighbors. We gave the juiciest story teller some great prizes.
Five word phrases that mean trouble? Such as “Honey, I might be late,” “This might hurt a little,” “Honey, I was just thinking,” “Hold my beer, watch this,” “Trust me, I’m a professional,” you get the idea, it’s an easy home run for the phones.
We’ve all seen those commercials about identity theft but, honestly, I don’t think many of us really worry about it. That’s a mistake. My co-host recently found a several thousand dollar charge on his Visa from some place he had never heard of before. We asked our listeners if they had experience with identity theft or credit fraud, and what to do about it. The lines flooded. A lot of people go through a lot of stress about this and, wow, does that make for intense radio.
I’ve seen a couple of guys who pull off grey hair pretty well. Some of my favorite grey-headed men are, Richard Gere, and Anderson Cooper. Is grey hair sexy on guys? Do you find it attractive?
WEIRD NEWS
Fishy Story
21 years ago Joe Richardson of Buena, Texas lost his class ring. It did have his name engraved on it so there was always hope that it would turn up somewhere and be returned. It did — and it was — but you won’t believe how. A fisherman fishing on Lake Sam Rayburn caught an 8-pound bass and while cleaning it — you guessed it — the ring popped out! Joe said, “My first reaction was – you gotta be kidding.” But his new fishing buddy wasn’t kidding and contacted Joe after the internet helped him track Joe down. Joe, who’s now 41 said he lost the ring about two weeks after his 1987 graduation from Universal Technical Institute in Houston. His mom had bought it for about $200 and was none too pleased when it went missing. (KFDM-TV News)
Don’t Bring a Knife To a Candy Cane Fight!
In Sacramento, California, a man using a candy cane lawn ornament successfully fended off a knife-wielding neighbor who had been attacking holiday guests gathered at a Sacramento home. Police spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong said the man used the two-foot-tall plastic ornament to subdue the attacker until officers arrived. The 49-year-old suspect was intoxicated and went over to a neighbor’s home on Thanksgiving and began waving a kitchen knife at people gathered on the lawn. He cut several peoples’ clothing before one of them decided to fight back — with the candy cane. The knife-wielding idiot was arrested. Our candy cane-wielding hero was not as police determined he acted in self-defense. (Sacramento Bee)
Come On Boy, Let’s Make a Beer Run
No parent of the year awards here. In Cape Coral, Florida police arrested a 27-year-old intoxicated man after he had his 9-year-old son take him on a beer run. The boy managed to drive the truck onto a median which is wear officers caught up with them. The man said he was teaching his son to drive but it was obvious he was drunk as he stunk of alcohol and was unable to stand without swaying. Plus there was an open case of Budweiser beer was in the backseat. Our Bud-loving friend was charged with cruelty toward a child and allowing an unlicensed minor to drive. (The News-Press)
Deformity In the Lobster World
Off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island, lobsterman Patrick Marks caught the most amazing lobster of his 14 year career. A lady lobster with four — count ’em — four claws! All of the lobster’s excess appendages worked. So where is the strange creature of the deep now? Well Patrick says he sometimes lets lobsters go out of guilt when they look at him funny. This one did so after he showed off the multi-clawed lobster for most of the day and took a few pictures, he let her go. (The Newport Daily News)
Non-Traditional Christmas Decorations
In Oberlin, Ohio, artist Keith McGuckin is back at it doing what he does best — pushing the artistic envelope. This time it’s a rather unique Christmas display at the Oberlin Public Library which features a legless Santa Claus in a wheelchair being pushed down stairs by a crazed Christmas tree! Keith says his Santa has no legs because of an accident involving alcohol and some power lines. An accompanying narrative explains that the tree later goes off to a strip club with money from Santa’s Salvation Army kettle. Keith’s holiday creations have been raising eyebrows for years. His 2006 gingerbread Nazis drew so many complaints he was forced to remove them from a hardware store window. But library director Darren McDonough said the latest display is staying. He jokes that if a library doesn’t have something that offends, it’s not doing its job. (The Chronicle-Telegram)
The Right To Bear Arthritic Arms
Constitution Arms, of New Jersey, has introduced a new kind of hand gun– the Palm Pistol. It’s a double action 9mm handgun that is designed specifically for sufferers of arthritis. According to the company web site, the Palm Pistol is designed for seniors, the disabled or those with limited hand strength. Normal handguns put significant stress on the wrist and hand joints, while even pulling the trigger can be impossible for some. But according to Constitution Arms, the FDA has formally designated the gun as a “medical gadget,” and the makers are seeking a prescription status for the weapon, meaning patients may be able to get reimbursement through Medicare or private insurance companies. Just what we want — people who have trouble holding a spoon shooting off guns. AHN News)
Really Bad Getaway Vehicle Choice
Police in Romania had no trouble catching up with and arresting a would-be smuggler after he made a most idiotic getaway vehicle choice. The guy tried to outrun border police with about $400,000 worth of cigarettes — in a horse and cart. Police arrested Janos Jakab as he crossed Romania’s northern border with the Ukraine carrying nearly 100,000 packs of smokes. A spokesman for the local border police said, “In general smugglers are becoming more and more sophisticated in their methods of getting contraband across borders. But in this case — not so much.” (Ananova)
Italian Stud — Literally!
American heiress and millionaire Alexis Genevieve wants to buy herself an Italian stud — quite literally. She has offered the star of an Italian reality show $300,000 to father her child! Alexis fell for 31-year-old Claudio Paselli after spotting him on Italy’s Perfect Bride TV show. But he split with his “Perfect Bride” after just two months as amazingly another reality TV show romance somehow failed. Alexis, a mother of three, offered up the cash to have Paselli fly to Arizona and have a baby with her. Paselli said, “I’m not interested in the money, I was impressed by her determination and perseverance. If I accept, it’s just because she is charming me and then I’ll destroy the check.” Yeah — right. (Ananova)
SPY THE LIE
According to the website, didyouknow.com, all of the following are names of Santa’s Elves except for one: Spy the lie!
•    Bushy Evergree
•    Shinny Upatree
•    Yuletide Brenner ***
•    Pepper Minstix
•    Sugarplum Mary
All of the following are real, really bad Christmas movies except for one: Spy the lie!
•    “Santa Who” (2000)
•    “The Elf Who Ran Away” ***
•    “To Grandmother’s House We Go” (1992)
•    “Santa with Muscles” (1992)
•    “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964)
All of the following actors have played Santa Claus in a movie except for one: Spy the lie!
•    George Wendt (“Santa Baby,” 2006)
•    Leslie Nielsen (“Santa Who,” 2000)
•    John Candy ***
•    Edward Asner (“Elf,” 2003)
•    John Goodman “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” 2006)
THOUGHTLESS TALK FRIDAY
This bit was great. Thoughtless Talk Friday. Something that a man said to you or that you said to a woman that you regretted the minute it came out of your mouth. I had some great ones. Very funny.
GOT WORK?
Each week, we feature an unemployed listener’s resume on our web site to get the attention of potential employers. Go through a mock job interview on the air and have callers critique what the person is doing wrong/right in the interview as well as on their resume.
TOP FIVE SIGNS YOUR REINDEER ARE GETTING OLD
1.    You need to jump start them with a battery every morning
2.    Grey antlers
3.    You’re thinking about trading in at least a couple of them on some ’08 models
4.    Rudolph’s nose blinking and you’re not turning
5.    You’ve had to switch to support reigns
HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter
I just hope that when congress decides how to much to give the U.S. automakers that someone reminds them of how much they were offering for our trade-ins.
Oil is down below $46 a barrel. It would mean a bleak Christmas for OPEC… if they celebrated Christmas.
YouTube is going to ban suggestive videos. So now what am I supposed to do at work all day?
My memory isn’t completely shot. I can still remember back to the days when everyone seriously thought George Michael was straight.
Because of complaints about it cruel and inhumane, a group is asking President-elect Obama that the second he takes office, he immediately shut down “Last Comic Standing.” Thank God… …
Madonna has post-poned the first of her four concerts in Buenos Aires. Hey, Argentina, stop crying!
The Grammy Award nominations were announced Thursday and once again I took a giant leap away from the current music world. My only question: Who are these people?
And now it’s time for that holiday classic, “Do they know it’s Christmas… yes they do and they wish you’d quit reminding them about it.”
THREE TIMES NOT TO TELL THE TRUTH
Cosmopolitan gives us three times not to tell the truth.
•    If a pal asks your opinion, weigh whether it’s in her best interest to be honest before responding. For example, if she wonders if her nose is too big, simply reply “I love your nose. You’re gorgeous.”
•    When someone opens up about anything from a work issue to a guy dilemma, don’t offer unsolicited advice. It can be misinterpreted as criticism of how she’s handling the situation.
•    Considering cluing in a friend to a nasty rumor you heard about her? First, ask yourself whether it’s something you’d want to know if you were in her position. If not, zip it.
CAB COMEDY
Give a cab driver a joke book or jokes that you write. One liners and have him tell them in a row. Do a different driver each week. This will be pretty funny, especially when they are from other countries.
SCAVENGER HUNT
If you have a great prize to give away a Scavenger Hunt is still a great promotion for the morning show. Here are some of the items we asked for:
•    Pool cue chalk
•    Receipt from a tourist attraction
•    A naked Barbie doll
•    Picture of the listener inside a stranger’s kitchen
•    A skateboard
•    A monogrammed towel from a hotel
•    A Slinky
INTRODUCE THE SHOW
We set up a voice mail box and have someone new introduce the show each morning. We ask listeners if they want to introduce the show to call and record an introduction and then we air the best ones every morning at 5am. We put sample scripts and the number to call on our web site.
BEST OF FRIDAY
Every Friday we ask for callers for the best of things in our area — best restaurant, best ice cream, etc. We’ve kind of run out of ideas for that so it’s morphing into Best Of… Favorite Guests on the show. It’s a great chance to bring back an old interview that was long forgotten about.
WAYS TO STOP STRESSING
Are you a worry wart? Self magazine offers these six ways to stop your stressing:
1.    Hop off the worry train — Just because you have an idea (“I might get fired”) doesn’t mean you need to ride it to its terminus. “Worry can waste energy you’re trying to fix every possible problem, even if none exist,” psychologist Robert L. Leahy says. Instead, thing of a few tasks that will help whatever happens, like bonding with coworkers.
2.    Plan to fret — “Take half an hour to worry intensively, then move on,” says Penn State professor Tom Borkovec, Ph.D.
3.    Keep a journal — Jot down your worry, then in a few days or weeks, write down the outcome. What you’ll find: Things usually turn out better than you think they will.
4.    Challenge the likelihood of your worry — If your husband is late coming home and you imagine he has been hit by a bus, think about the emotion behind your worry. (You are anxious because you love him and want to keep him around.) Once you have identified the emotion at the heart of your worry and allowed yourself to experience it, see if it’s a reasonable worry hint: probably not. Then let it pass rather than allowing anxiety to ruin your quiet night at home.
5.    Peel an orange — The next time a thought threatens to snowball into a stressfest, grab an orange or grapefruit. Press your nail into the skin, peel it back and smell the citrus scent, focusing on every sensation. “Rather than worry about the future, you can bring yourself into the moment,” Leahy says.
6.    Get nostalgic — Visualize your key life events of the past 10 years. You probably can’t recall the worries linked with these experiences, or, if you can, you may see that most never happened. Tell yourself that current worries will fade from memory, too.
Ladies, next time he complains about the stress at work, throw this in his face! Woman feel more stress. 44% of the day, vs 39% for guys.
•    Stress fell for both sexes after age 60
•    Woman stress over people and family, men over work
•    Under 40 feel heavy stress from arguments or interpersonal communication
•    Midlifers were most stressed over money, not the lack of it, but how to use what they have.
•    Woman have 30 minutes less free time than men. Mother’s have the least free time.
GORSEFEATHERS by Patrick Gorse
Now states and cities are asking the government for bailout money. Even in Southern California, they’re cutting way back on essential services. In Malibu, no more limo rides home from the drunk tank. And in Studio City, where Britney Spears lives, white trash-day pickup has been cut to once a week.
To help secure the chances for an auto industry bailout, the United Auto Workers had to make concessions. They agreed to suspend what is known as their “Jobs Bank,” that guarantees laid-off workers 95 percent of their salary. Don’t confuse a jobs bank with a sperm bank. A sperm bank is a hand jobs bank.
People don’t realize how many industries depend on the survival of the Big Three automakers. The Mafia, for instance. Have you ever tried to stick a 300 pound Italian guy into the trunk of a Honda?
The CEO of Ford, Alan Mullaly, drove to Washington this week in a hybrid. The 520 mile trip took ten hours, he ate a box lunch, he didn’t stop on the Pennsylvania turnpike–and he wore the same diaper that crazy astronaut lady wore.
Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen received a call from President-elect Barack Obama, but thinking it was a prank, she hung up. When Obama’s Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, called her back, she hung up again. Good for the congresswoman. Not only did she humble the White House, she totally prepared Obama for life with Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.
The marketing director of the Bloomington, Illinois, Zoo is making a nice profit fashioning Christmas ornaments out of reindeer poop. She dries the little balls of dung, puts glitter on them, and hangs them on strings. I thought they were caramel corn and dried cranberries. Could someone please call a doctor?
Madonna and A-Rod have been spotted house-hunting in the Hamptons. They are trying to pick out a low-priced luxury love shack in the down housing market. A-Rod was amazed. He said the prices were lower than his post-season batting average.
Although Barack Obama has moved very quickly to fill many positions in his administration, sources say the job of CIA Director is still “wide open.” This narrows the possibilities down to any receiver who’s played against the Detroit Lions secondary.
A Sacramento man fought off a knife-wielding attacker with a large, plastic candy cane lawn ornament. The attacker was really dazed. When police arrested him, the crook said all he could hear were jingle bells.
Can you imagine being beaten silly with a candy cane? When the guy got to the hospital, he saw a candy striper and jumped out the window.
An arms company in New Jersey has designed an easy-to-use hand gun for people suffering from arthritis. Is this really a good idea? Guns are already going off in perfectly healthy guys’ sweat pants. I can’t imagine what could go wrong here!
So, in New Jersey, they’re making hand guns for arthritis victims that are easier to use. Like New Jersey has a problem with not enough guns going off? “You know, the guy I was trying to shoot kicked me in the hand. If I hadn’t been using the new ‘EZ-Fire Palm Pistol,’ I never would have been able to squeeze off the kill shot!”
Reports say that MSNBC News anchor and pundit Chris Matthews has been advised to leave the network and declare his intention to run for the Senate in Pennsylvania. Of course, that advice did come from Bill O’Reilly…
Freshman Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz of Utah is taking the frugal route by sleeping on a cot in his office rather than renting an apartment. Chaffetz says the only problem he’s had so far is late at night when Senator Larry Craig shows up at his door dressed as a French maid cleaning lady.
On the Sunday evening broadcast of NBC Nightly News, a protester in Mumbai said these exact words about the response to the terrorist attacks, “We are trying to ask just one question. What is the action the government has taken? Why is it that systems aren’t in place? What is it that went wrong?” Now…there are three things I want to say about that. What???
A study from the medical journal Reproductive Health says that regular exercise during pregnancy reduces the need for anesthesia during childbirth. Now I don’t feel so bad for those times I said, “Honey, can you get up and get me a beer? And don’t drink any!”
During the Senate auto bailout testimony on Thursday, Montana Senator Jon Tester mixed up Mexico with Michigan. The Big Three automakers have the same problem. They keep expanding plants in Mexico instead of Michigan.
PRESIDENTIAL PICKY EATERS
(US Weekly) Barack Obama is the latest head of state to be fussy with food.
•    Chefs at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, take note. There is one veggie the number 44th won’t eat. The president elect recently revealed he dislikes beets. “I always avoid eating them,” Barack Obama, 47, said.
•    President Bill Clinton who was known as the first fast food loving president his favorite Big Macs. He has to forgo one of the most universal of indulgences. The Arkansas native, 62, has an allergy to both chocolate and dairy.
•    Like father, like son. Both Preside George H.W. Bush, 84, and the current president, 62, refuse to eat broccoli. “My mother made me eat it. And I’m preside of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli,” Bush Sr. famously exclaimed.
•    Tough President John F. Kennedy was known as a “meat and potatoes” man, when it came to turkey, America’s King of Camelot couldn’t stand the taste of dark meat.
MAKE THAT RELATIONSHIP WORK BOY!
Guys, want to make your relationship last? Men’s Health magazine has a list of tips to help you stay on your mate’s good side. Here’s a few:
•    When she fills out one of those quizzes in a women’s magazine, read it.
•    Send her a postcard — even when you’re home.
•    Never agree with her mother when they’re arguing.
•    Let her pick the movie once in a while.
•    Never bring up her weight.
•    Have 2 bathrooms.
•    Keep all her vital statistics on a card in your wallet–birthday, anniversary, dress size, lingerie size.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS BOOKS TO AVOID
•    Santa… Raw!
•    Rudy The Brain-Dead Redneck!
•    Pervo The Leg-Humping Elf!
•    Frosty… The Wife No Man Desired!
•    I Saw Mommy Massaging Santa Claus!
•    All Kids Get Christmas Presents… Except You!
•    Bone-Dry… The Tragic Little Christmas Tree!
•    The Twelve Gays Of Christmas!
•    Michael Jackson’s Make Believe Christmas!
•    Turbo The Lactose-Intolerant Christmas Cow
THE GREAT TOY TEST
We set up with Wal-Mart to send stunt boy to one of their stores to play on the air with all the new hot Christmas toys. It’s great radio.
CHRISTMAS JEOPARDY
(Don’t forget to phrase your answer in the form of a question)
•    This red, silver and white screen has been around for decades and it allows kids to create graphics with vertical and horizontal lines using knobs. What is Etch-A-Sketch?
•    She is Rudolph’s girlfriend. Who is Clarice?
•    In the carol “We wish you a merry Christmas, The guests demand that the host bring “this” right now or right here. What is Figgy Pudding?
•    This toy walks down stairs and is fun for a girl and a boy. What is a Slinky?
•    In “Twas the night before Christmas,” Santa rose up the chimney after doing this. What is “Laying a finger aside his nose?”
•    It brought Frosty to life. What is a magic hat?
•    He’s the director of the Christmas show in “It’s a Charlie Brown Christmas.” Who’s Charlie Brown.
•    In “Miracle on 34th Street,” this government agency verifies the existence of Santa Claus. What is the post office?
•    This toy company made more trucks this year than Ford, General Motors and Chrysler combined. What is Tonka?
NAME THAT SCROOGE
We do a Christmas game or two now. One called “Name That Scrooge.” Take a clip from a Scrooge-like character from any movie or TV show. Doesn’t have to be Scrooge himself from “A Christmas Carol,” but can be. Also, “The Caroling Game.” You might have done it. Read an obscure line from a lesser-known verse from a carol. Listeners have to guess which carol.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

12.04.08

 SHOW PREP DECEMBER 4, 2008

 

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

 

Something seems to be in the water on the set of “How I Met Your Mother.” Show co-star Alyson Hannigan is pregnant and due this spring, and now comes news her co-star Cobie Smulders is pregnant, too. While it’s not clear yet whether the pregnancies will be written into the show’s storylines, show creator Craig Thomas is good natured about the announcements. “If you’re trying to start a family, please come visit the set of ‘How I Met Your Mother.’ Just come by and hang out for a day or two. We can’t legally guarantee anything, but by the time you leave, you will almost certainly be pregnant,” Thomas told TV Guide. (Scoop)

 

Paris Hilton is “addicted” to skydiving – after throwing herself out of a plane to celebrate her birthday last year. The 27-year-old socialite is known for teetering around in high heels and skimpy outfits in the Hollywood party scene. But Hilton insists she’s become an adrenaline junkie since taking part in her first parachute jump in February 2007. She says, “I went for my birthday last year and got addicted, it’s so much fun. I was (terrified) but it’s such a rush, it’s really thrilling.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

British actor Daniel Radcliffe has accepted he’ll forever be linked to his wand-wielding character Harry Potter – because his role in the film has “given him everything”. The 19-year-old attempted to shed his boyish image when he stripped for a full frontal nude seen on London and New York stages in Equus. But Radcliffe insists he’ll always be thankful for his magical role in the blockbuster franchise. He says, “It’s a reality you have to come to terms with – rather than letting it bother you, just accept the fact that there will always be some people who will forever see you for the one part you are most famous for. “It’s not that I want to distance myself from it because… they’ve given me everything… it’s just a matter of being an actor rather than a character.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Brad Pitt has said that he might marry partner Angelina Jolie in the future, but only if their children want them to. During an appearance on the Today show Brad, soon to be seen in the film The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, talked about his family, “I’m really proud of this family. I look at my sons and daughters, I feel rich being around them. Each one offers so much to the mix.” Before briefly commenting on the subject of marriage, “If we feel it’s important to our kids, we would.” Old romantic. (Handbag)

 

Sienna Miller and Balthazar Getty are still cooking – because they never actually split up. British papers recently quoted Miller as saying, “I’m single at the moment . . . I’m cool being on my own.” But a rep for Miller told Page Six: “Contrary to British reports, Sienna never gave an interview about her relationship with Balthazar. An old quote was pulled from an interview three years ago.” So when the London Sun spotted the couple looking “so much in love” while walking hand-in-hand through London, it’s because they are. (Page Six)

 

Fall Out Boy rocker Pete Wentz may have been embarrassed by the nude photos of him that surfaced back in 2006, but they ultimately landed him a nice consolation prize: wife Ashlee Simpson. “She just called me up and made me feel a lot better,” he tells Details. (Simpson herself had just gone through a public shaming for her disastrous “Saturday Night Live” performance.) Wentz admits that getting Simpson pregnant was a “happy accident,” and she had to e-mail him a picture of the pregnancy test to make it sink in. (Page Six)

 

Jessica Simpson wants to head off to college to study theology – and watching TV was her inspiration. “I’ve been contemplating taking a college course in religion,” the bubblehead told Marie Claire. “I love religion. I remember whenever the book ‘The Da Vinci Code’ came out, the Discovery Channel did this three-night piece on it that I TiVoed and then watched eight times.” We just hope someone advises her not to include that bit in her application letter. (Page Six)

 

Meryl Streep says she would love to appear in a Mamma Mia sequel if only the producers can “get those fabulous boys back. The Abba musical became the surprise hit of the summer, grossing £375m worldwide, and starred Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgard. “Grand Mamma Mia! I like it! I’m up for doing a sequel, as long as you can get those fabulous boys back! It’s so gratifying it has been this phenomenon around the work. It says there’s an audience for something that appeals to a lot of women, something that might make them some money too,” Streep said. (British Glamour)

 

Former child star Haley Joel Osment quit alcohol at the age of 18, after he was caught driving drunk in Hollywood in 2006. The Sixth Sense actor was deeply shamed by the incident, which earned him a hefty fine and probation, as well as a mandatory rehab stint and Alcoholics Anonymous course. Osment vowed to stop drinking completely until he turns 21 and is able to buy his own booze legally. Two-and-a-half years on, the actor is approaching the landmark – he turns 21 in April 2009 – and he is proud to have confronted his demons and served his punishment. He say, “It was an example of someone just out of high school being extremely irresponsible. There’s no excuse for that. “I learned my lesson. I made a bad decision, and it’s something you can’t run from.”  (Teen Hollywood)

 

The Hills stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt plan to start a family – just weeks after they married in a secret ceremony in Mexico. The pair, who have been dating since 2006, exchanged vows while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas. And the reality TV couple insist the next logical stage is to try for children. Asked by website TMZ.com whether they plan on having a child, Montag says: “We are going to start it!”. And Pratt adds, “(It’s the) next step!” Pratt also revealed he was surprised at the sudden wedding, which will feature in later episodes of the MTV show. He says, “I have been trying to marry Heidi for two and a half years now. It came out of nowhere. I was like, ‘This was my shot’. ” And Montag recalls the wedding day, adding, “Actually, I really started crying. My eyes just started tearing up. When you hear the love of your life just saying the most amazing, sweet things from his heart, I couldn’t help it. It was the best moment in my life.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Kevin Federline never wanted to divorce Britney Spears – and insists the singer went behind his back to engineer their break-up. The former dancer – who has two children, Sean Preston and Jayden James, with the singer – hit back after she claimed in her MTV documentary Britney: For the Record this week that it was his decision to split up. But while Federline admits he found married life tough after the birth of their children, he is adamant he wanted to make it work – but the Toxic hitmaker pushed for a divorce. He tells People.com, “It’s hard enough to be in a marriage, and then have a kid, then kids, it changes everything. For me, I’d become more concerned with my children. Not that I ignored Britney, but my kids are always most important “I mean, we were having complications. I didn’t give her an ultimatum, but I was trying to work stuff out with her, and she didn’t even talk to me or anything and went behind my back and filed (for divorce). (I was) completely blindsided.” Federline also revealed he was scared he would never see his sons again after the split. (Teen Hollywood)

 

Mary-Kate Olsen‘s house is in no danger of getting full. The pint-size mogul’s spokesman has shot back at a National Enquirer report claiming the 22-year-old is packing her first child courtesy of artist boyfriend Nate Lowman. “Mary-Kate is absolutely not pregnant,” her rep told Us Weekly. The baby-on-board speculation kicked up Monday when the tabloid published a less-than-flattering photo of the diminutive fashion plate and noted that her weight had “shot up”—the post-Thanksgiving horror!—to just over 100 pounds. (Apparently, the dangers of publicly speculating on the weight of someone who publicly battled an eating disorder was of no concern to the Enquiring set.) The Olsen denial has done nothing to improve the batting average of the tab’s Dec. 1 issue. Yesterday, Patrick Swayze personally denied the Enquirer‘s other major cover story, that his battle with pancreatic cancer had taken a turn for the worse. The newsstand guilty pleasure should be feeling a little more guilty today. (Eonline)

 

Dirty Dancing star Patrick Swayze has slammed reports that he is close to losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. Patrick Swayze has called reports that he is close to death “shoddy and reckless reporting”. Tabloids in the US recently claimed the actor was “on his last legs and saying goodbye to my tearful family” after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. “Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease and from the moment I was diagnosed, I knew I was in for the fight of my life. It’s a battle, and so far, I’ve been winning. I’m one of the lucky few that responds well to treatment,” Swayze said in a statement given to People magazine. “”It’s upsetting that the shoddy and reckless reporting from these publications cast a negative shadow on the positive and good fight I’m fighting. For me, my family, and those close to me, it amounts to downright emotional cruelty. That makes me angry when hope is so precious.” (Handbag)

 

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has slammed claims that she courts media attention. Victoria Beckham has denied she, and husband David court media attention. “We lead our lives in a much more low-profile way than people think. I’m not going to The Ivy in Beverly Hills. I don’t think I’ve been to a premiere since we moved there,” she told The Times. “We’re not courting fame. I can give you a list of numerous restaurants that have underground parking so no one can get any photographs. I don’t really care what people think. I never made friends easily. For years, when I was in the Spice Girls, those were my four best friends. Now I’ve got David.” (Handbag)

 

Kelly Ripa‘s rep has a reply to the claim that the star’s 12-year marriage to actor Mark Consuelos is over: No way. “There is no truth to the story. Their marriage continues to be quite healthy, and the National Enquirer should be ashamed for fabricating such an untruthful story,” Ripa’s spokesman, Stan Rosenfield, told PEOPLE Wednesday, after the paper reported the couple have split. “Their story is 100 percent false,” Rosenfield added. Regis Philbin’s on-air cohost of Live! since February 2001, Ripa, 38, has been wed to Conseulos, 37, since 1996, after having met the year before while both were acting on the daytime drama All My Children. Together they have three children: Michael, 11; Lola, 7; and Joaquin, 5. Last year, Ripa said of Consuelos: “I’ve had a crush on my husband since the day I met him.”  (People)

 

Mark Ruffalo’s brother is clinging to life right now after he was shot in the head in Beverly Hills Monday. Police sources tell TMZ Scott Ruffalo was the victim of a “suspicious shooting” that took place in his own Beverly Hills apartment. We’re also told cops are trying to determine if anything criminal went down — meaning they haven’t ruled out an accidental shooting or a suicide attempt. (TMZ)

 

Odetta, the folk singer with the powerful voice who moved audiences and influenced fellow musicians for a half-century, has died. She was 77. Odetta died Tuesday of heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital, said her manager of 12 years, Doug Yeager. She was admitted to the hospital with kidney failure about three weeks ago, he said. In spite of failing health that caused her to use a wheelchair, Odetta performed 60 concerts in the last two years, singing for 90 minutes at a time. Her singing ability never diminished, Yeager said. “The power would just come out of her like people wouldn’t believe,” he said. With her booming, classically trained voice and spare guitar, Odetta gave life to the songs by workingmen and slaves, farmers and miners, housewives and washerwomen, blacks and whites. First coming to prominence in the 1950s, she influenced Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and other singers who had roots in the folk music boom. An Odetta record on the turntable, listeners could close their eyes and imagine themselves hearing the sounds of spirituals and blues as they rang out from a weathered back porch or around a long-vanished campfire a century before. “What distinguished her from the start was the meticulous care with which she tried to re-create the feeling of her folk songs; to understand the emotions of a convict in a convict ditty, she once tried breaking up rocks with a sledge hammer,” Time magazine wrote in 1960. “She is a keening Irishwoman in `Foggy Dew,’ a chain-gang convict in `Take This Hammer,’ a deserted lover in `Lass from the Low Country,'” Time wrote. Odetta called on her fellow blacks to “take pride in the history of the American Negro” and was active in the civil rights movement. When she sang at the March on Washington in August 1963, “Odetta’s great, full-throated voice carried almost to Capitol Hill,” The New York Times wrote. She was nominated for a 1963 Grammy awards for best folk recording for “Odetta Sings Folk Songs.” Two more Grammy nominations came in recent years, for her 1999 “Blues Everywhere I Go” and her 2005 album “Gonna Let It Shine.” In 1999, she was honored with a National Medal of the Arts. Then-President Bill Clinton said her career showed “us all that songs have the power to change the heart and change the world.” “I’m not a real folksinger,” she told The Washington Post in 1983. “I don’t mind people calling me that, but I’m a musical historian. I’m a city kid who has admired an area and who got into it. I’ve been fortunate. With folk music, I can do my teaching and preaching, my propagandizing.” Among her notable early works were her 1956 album “Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues,” which included such songs as “Muleskinner Blues” and “Jack O’ Diamonds”; and her 1957 “At the Gate of Horn,” which featured the popular spiritual “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Her 1965 album “Odetta Sings Dylan” included such standards as “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” “Masters of War” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” In a 1978 Playboy interview, Dylan said, “the first thing that turned me on to folk singing was Odetta.” He said he found “just something vital and personal” when he heard an early album of hers in a record store as a teenager. “Right then and there, I went out and traded my electric guitar and amplifier for an acoustical guitar,” he said. Belafonte also cited her as a key influence on his hugely successful recording career, and she was a guest singer on his 1960 album, “Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall.” She continued to record in recent years; her 2001 album “Looking for a Home (Thanks to Leadbelly)” paid tribute to the great blues singer to whom she was sometimes compared. Odetta’s last big concert was on Oct. 4 at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, where she performed in front of tens of thousands at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, Yeager said. She also performed Oct. 25-26 in Toronto. Odetta hoped to sing at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, though she had not been officially invited, Yeager said. Born Odetta Holmes in Birmingham, Ala., in 1930, she moved with her family to Los Angeles at age 6. Her father had died when she was young and she took her stepfather’s last name, Felious. Hearing her in glee club, a junior high teacher made sure she got music lessons, but Odetta became interested in folk music in her late teens and turned away from classical studies. She got much of her early experience at the Turnabout Theatre in Los Angeles, where she sang and played occasional stage roles in the early 1950s. “What power of characterization and projection of mood are hers, even though plainly clad and sitting or standing in half light!” a Los Angeles Times critic wrote in 1955. Over the years, she picked up occasional acting roles in TV and film. None other than famed Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper reported in 1961 that she “comes through beautifully” in the film “Sanctuary.” In the Washington Post interview, Odetta theorized that humans developed music and dance because of fear, “fear of God, fear that the sun would not come back, many things. I think it developed as a way of worship or to appease something. … The world hasn’t improved, and so there’s always something to sing about.” Odetta is survived by a daughter, Michelle Esrick of New York City, and a son, Boots Jaffre, of Fort Collins, Colo. She was divorced about 40 years ago and never remarried, her manager said. A memorial service was planned for next month, Yeager said. (Daily Record)

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

 

Hollywood stars Jane Fonda and Jack Nicholson are among the latest notable figures being inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Musicians Dave Brubeck and Quincy Jones, fitness guru Jack LaLanne, sculptor Robert Graham and chef Alice Waters will also be inducted at the Dec. 15 ceremony in Sacramento. “Dr. Seuss” author Theodor Geisel, photographer Dorothea Lange, architect Julia Morgan, scientist Linus Pauling and former Gov. Leland Stanford will be inducted posthumously. First lady Maria Shriver started the program in 2006 to honor those who’ve helped shape the state. Fonda’s induction comes nearly 30 years after the state Senate rejected her nomination to the California Arts Council because of her campaign against the Vietnam War. (Daily Record)

 

Jet Li said China is ready for an explosion of volunteerism amid its growing prosperity as he put aside his acting duties to discuss charitable efforts Wednesday at former President Bill Clinton’s donor conference in Hong Kong. Speaking at a panel discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative Asia conference, the 45-year-old action film star said volunteerism and charity are rare in China but are now on the rise as the country becomes more prosperous after two decades of capitalist-style economic reforms. “Before the reforms, China’s 1.3 billion people couldn’t even fill their stomachs. The only way people could help others is a word of encouragement,” Li said. Now Chinese are eager to help others in need, Li said, saying he expects “an explosion of the Chinese people’s generosity pent-up over the past 100 years.” Li, who founded the charity One Foundation, a partnership with the Red Cross Society of China, said he was particularly impressed with the number of volunteers that flocked to help victims of the earthquake in China’s central Sichuan province in May. “Countless volunteers were on the front lines,” he said. Li’s movie credits include “Lethal Weapon 4,” “Romeo Must Die,” “The Forbidden Kingdom” and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.” (Daily Record)

 

Tom Hanks wants to attend President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration even if he doesn’t get a front-row seat. Or any seat at all. “Look, I’ll be in the back,” the 52-year-old Oscar winner said backstage Tuesday night at a benefit for the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. “I’ll sit on the Lincoln steps and just watch it from the distance on a Jumbotron. I’ve never been to anything like that, and – finally – a guy I voted for won. That hasn’t happened most of my life.” Hanks posted a video pledging his support for Obama on MySpace last May. In the video, Hanks said he was backing Obama because of his “character and vision, and the high road he has taken during this campaign.” Hanks also said Obama “has the integrity and the inspiration to unify us, as did FDR and Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy and even Ronald Reagan when they ran for the job.” Hank’s wife, Rita Wilson, echoed her husband’s sentiment before the pair joined a star-studded cast – which included Annette Bening, William Shatner, Martin Short, James Cromwell and Alicia Silverstone – for a one-time only performance of the Pulitzer-prize-winning play “You Can’t Take It With You” at UCLA’s Royce Hall. However, Wilson had a different viewing spot in mind for Jan. 20. “I think we’re going to get a kayak and go into the National Mall waters,” she joked. (Daily Record)

 

After grabbing the spotlight on Dancing with the Stars Lance Bass has a few words about another celebrity returning to the stage – Britney Spears. “This is going to be the biggest comeback of all time,” he told PEOPLE Monday during a party in his honor at New York’s Citrine. “I don’t think she needs any advice from me,” added Bass, 29. “She’s doing an amazing job right now and I’m so proud of her.” Spears released her sixth studio album, Circus, on Tuesday – which was also her 27th birthday – and celebrated with a performance on Good Morning America. Spears is also going back on the road with a 27-city North American tour that will kick off in March. Bass also offered congratulations to his former bandmate (and Spears’s onetime boyfriend) Justin Timberlake, whose romance with Jessica Biel is going strong. “They’re just really great people,” he gushed. “She’s just one of the guys when it comes to him, and that something that he really loves, a girl that can just hang and get along with all his friends.” As for Bass, don’t look for him on the dance floor again anytime soon. “I’m lucky that I don’t have to dance the samba anymore,” he said laughing. “But it’s definitely opened my eyes to a lot of new things and different styles of music, which is really cool. I can say I can danced those different styles, which is something I never thought I’d be able to do.” (People)

 

Donald Trump is fuming at his brother Robert, who’s in a nasty divorce battle with his socialite wife, Blaine. “Donald is extremely angry because Robert failed to have a prenuptial agreement,” a source close to the developer says. “Donald would constantly tell him to get an agreement signed, and Robert told him he had one. Ironically, Robert Cohen, the lawyer repping Blaine, also represented Ivana Trump when she tried to break her prenuptial agreement with Donald. Cohen lost big to Donald, and the prenup was upheld in its entirety. Donald likes going around telling people that he kicked Cohen’s ass. He’s surprised Blaine is using him.” (Page Six)

 

Supermodel-turned-talkshow host Tyra Banks avoids romance with fellow celebrities – instead choosing to meet potential boyfriends through blind dates. The America’s Next Top Model beauty has most recently been linked to New York banker John Utendahl, but was previously rumored to be dating former basketball star Chris Webber and director John Singleton. But she insists she isn’t looking to find love with another famous person – because the media attention would be too much to handle. She tells Ebony magazine, “One thing I can say is I try not to date people who are famous because one celebrity plus another celebrity equals five… The paparazzi will just start mixing my name with theirs. “I find it fascinating looking at other celebs dating each other and I’m like, ‘Look how cool they look!’ But it’s not a personal interest of mine, I get set up by my friends. It’s the hook up!”  (Teen Hollywood)

 

Dallas Stars hockey player Sean Avery has been suspended indefinitely for referring to his ex, 24‘s Elisha Cuthbert, as “sloppy seconds.” Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning after a practice in Calgary, Avery made a public dig at Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who is dating Cuthbert. “I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada,” he said. “I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don’t know what that’s about. Enjoy the game tonight.” After the National Hockey League suspended him for “inappropriate public comments,” Avery — who served as an intern at Vogue this past year — now has to meet with Commissioner Gary Bettman, who will determine any additional penalty. A hearing has yet to be scheduled.  “I completely support the league’s decision to suspend Sean Avery,” Stars owner Tom Hicks said in a statement. “Had the league not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so.” Avery signed a four-year, $15.5 million deal with the Stars last summer. He previously played for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings before that. (US Weekly)

 

Sir Bob Geldof’s daughter Peaches has confessed to being a big fan of Kerry Katona. Peaches Geldof has owned up to being a huge fan of former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona. “I love Kerry so much. Her show was my favorite thing on TV. She’s such a train wreck but she’s amazing,” the socialite told Closer magazine before going on to say she’d like to see Katona dressed in a ‘dress made of Iceland bags’. Last week Kelly Osbourne called Peaches a “sad little girl”.  (Handbag)

 

NeNe Leakes, star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is no longer living at the 5,000-square-foot, 5-bedroom home shown on the hit Bravo series. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she and her husband, real estate investor Gregory Leakes, left the property in November — a month after an eviction notice was filed by Winwood Properties. The notice, filed Sept. 24, claimed that they owed $6,240 in past rent. “The tenant said they would move by Sept. 14th because they could no longer afford the house,” the notice read. NeNe would not reveal where she is currently living. “It’s none of your business,” she told The Journal-Constitution in an e-mail. She also mentioned that they “are financial able [sic] and stable to live where ever we feel fits.” She stressed that the eviction notice did not have her name on it. “You don’t know my relationship with Greg,” she said, “so be careful what you report!” She said their home “was a lease purchase corporate deal with Greg & his company. Things didn’t work out between the two of them so they did what they had to do and he did what he had to do.” In a later email, she wrote, “If we rent, lease purchase or buy, money is still coming out of my pocket. So who’s [sic] business is that??” (US Weekly)

 

Meow! Meow! Meow! Tamra Barney of The Real Housewives of Orange County has some fightin’ words for the show’s newest housewife, Gretchen Rossi. Why? Because Gretchen told me earlier this week that she and Tamra got into tiff during filming when Tamra allegedly made an insensitive remark about her fiancé, Jeff Beitzel. (At the time, Jeff was suffering from leukemia; he passed away in September.) Tamra insists she did no such thing. “I have never made a statement about Jeff,” she wrote me in an email. “I never met the man. May he RIP!” Tamra goes even further to claim, “The only time we heard Gretchen speak of Jeff was when the cameras were turned ON.” Oy. And there’s more. Tamra insists she worked hard to make Gretchen feel at home among the O.C. posse, but never promised to be her BFF. (Gretchen told me she felt betrayed by Tamra’s Jeff comments because they had just talked like they were “best friends.”)  “I told her from day one I was not here to be her friend,” she wrote. “This is a working relationship…I might be judged harshly for my sharp tongue RIGHT NOW, but keep watching! I judge people on their actions and not their words.” Nope, Tamra’s not done yet. “Jeana [Keough] was right when she wrote on her blog [that] Gretchen should be on scripted TV, if you get what I mean,” Barney continued. “This is reality TV and I give viewers my life, not bulls–t or what sounds good at the moment.” And besides, she added, “I really don’t care if she does not like me.” So there! See you in the schoolyard, kids! (Eonline)

 

“Blake incarcerated” – again! Amy Winehouse‘s husband Blake Fielder-Civil is being sent back to prison, just one month after he was released into rehab, his lawyer confirms to PEOPLE. “I can confirm he has been recalled,” says Fielder-Civil’s lawyer Kate Anderson, declining to state the reason. (A source close to Fielder-Civil tells PEOPLE that he failed a drug test.) The 26-year-old – who was sentenced to 27 months on charges of assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice – had been in rehab as part of his early release from jail. Anderson tells PEOPLE that “the position on recall is that you then serve the remainder of the sentence” – meaning Fielder-Civil would remain in jail until 2010. The U.K.’s Sun newspaper also reports that Fielder-Civil ran away from the rehab facility Tuesday night to visit to his estranged wife. Winehouse, 25, remains hospitalized in London as part of her ongoing treatment, her rep told PEOPLE earlier this week. Fielder-Civil “turned up in hospital and hell broke loose,” according to The Sun‘s source. “He was asking Amy to forgive him.” Winehouse and Fielder-Civil wed in Miami in 2007. The “Rehab” singer dedicated this year’s Grammy wins to “my Blake, my Blake incarcerated.” But the singer had not visited her husband since his November release. Just last weekend, Fielder-Civil hinted to the News of the World that he was ready to end their union. “I have to let her go to save her life.” (People)

 

We obtained a 911 call made by Nate Dogg’s estranged wife, Latoya, and she was pretty calm considering the consequences — that Nate allegedly was chasing her down the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles and trying to kill her. Nate was arrested back in June for the incident, and charged with three felony counts of making criminal threats and stalking and one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license. (TMZ)

 

Paparazzi-ing is dangerous work sometimes! In May, bodyguards working for pop princess Rihanna and boyfriend Chris Brown supposedly beat up a Florida photog named Luis Santana for snapping some pics of the two getting cozy outside of a Florida club before they ‘officially’ came out as a couple. On Tuesday, the pap filed a $1 million lawsuit against the couple, the bodyguards and the club, who Santana claims had ‘inadequate security’. “I couldn’t believe it was happening. I’ve done this many, many times before and never have I ever gotten close to being grabbed. There’s a dark side to celebrities and nightlife,” said the photog to the media. Chris Brown’s attorney stated, “neither Chris Brown nor his security was involved in the alleged incident.” Papping can be hazardous to your health! (Perez Hilton)

 

Tyler Perry went to court to face allegations that he stole material from someone else for his blockbuster film “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.” Donna West is suing the actor-screenwriter for copyright infringement in U.S. District Court and wants a jury to award her family all profits made from the film. “I can’t put my play on because the stories are basically the same and nobody wants to see that again,” she said. West testified Tuesday that she developed a script titled “Fantasy of a Black Woman” based primarily on her own experiences. With her in the starring role, the play was performed in July 1991 at the Junior Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Dallas Convention Center. “The play was opened to the public. Anyone could have attended,” West said. Perry’s movie, which earned some $50 million, came out in 2005. Jurors on Tuesday watched the film and listened to a reading of the script from West’s play. In her opening remarks to the jury, Perry’s attorney, Veronica Lewis, said her client is an “immensely talented” individual “who has no need whatsoever” to use the materials of others. Lewis noted that Perry had experienced considerable success before and after the film, “so why would he need to copy Ms. West’s script?” Testimony was expected to resume Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis told jurors he anticipates the case will be completed by next Tuesday. (Daily Record)

 

 

MUSIC . . .

 

Today’s stage and screen divas could learn from Tina Turner. The day before the living legend brought down the house at a packed Madison Square Garden, Turner had to be hospitalized for a very high fever and was put on oxygen. But Turner, the consummate professional, refused to cancel the show sponsored by Amway Global. Nor did she let down the VIPs – including Anne Hathaway, Molly Simms and MTV honcho Tony DiSanto – who congregated on the Artistry tour bus before the concert. The group was told that when they met Turner, “no one is to shake her hand, and she cannot talk before performing [because of the illness]. She’s very shy.” However, Turner not only shook hands but spoke with each guest. Also there were Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, celebrating their second anniversary, who chatted with Turner backstage. (Page Six)

 

To the delight of trannies everywhere, Cher is coming out with another album. The legendary singer, who’s ensconced at Caesars in Las Vegas for the next two years, told a Page Six operative at the new Luau restaurant: “I’m planning an album of all these great songs from the ’60s that I’ve never covered before. It was such a magical time for music – groups like The Beatles, the Hollies, the Zombies, the Kinks, the Stones and singers like Dylan and Otis Redding . . . I want to pay tribute to a time when I used to listen to music on my little transistor radio or on my AM radio in my Ford Mustang.” (Page Six)

 

Van Halen’s backstage concert rider isn’t as salacious as it was decades ago, when the band was demanding various and sundry controlled substances, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some fodder to be found in the band’s 2008 rider. TheSmokingGun.com unearthed said rider, and it stipulates that Diamond Dave’s dwelling “SHOULD BE AS FAR AWAY FROM” dressing rooms occupied by bandmates Wolfgang, Alex, and Eddie Van Halen. And while alcohol isn’t stocked in individual dressing rooms, (it’s all Red Bull, Gatorade, fresh fruit, and Japanese Apple Pears), Eddie’s onstage cooler contained “mini bottles” of “Gallo Twin Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (red & white label, red cap).” (Scoop)

 

Madonna has postponed the first of four shows in Argentina. Representatives of River Plate Stadium say they have postponed the pop star’s opening concert at the request of the production company. She will still perform as scheduled in Buenos Aires on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Local news media are reporting that some of Madonna’s sound equipment hasn’t arrived due to flight delays, so the concert could be rescheduled for Monday. Local production company Time 4 Fun wouldn’t comment when contacted by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Madonna kicked off the Latin American leg of her “Sticky & Sweet” world tour last week in Mexico City. From Buenos Aires she heads to Chile and Brazil. (Daily Record)

 

Beyoncé is the first artist lined up for next year’s Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. Organizers of the festival announced Tuesday the singer has confirmed her participation. The July event will mark the 15th anniversary of the celebration of black music and culture. The festival will include more than 12 musical acts a day. The festival had one of its biggest turnouts this year with more than 270,000 attendees. Performers at the last event included Mary J. Blige and LL Cool J. (Daily Record)

 

This week marks the 20^th anniversary of Roy Orbison’s death. The untimely death of this music legend at the age of 52 left a hole in the music industry that will never be filled. To commemorate the 20^th anniversary of Orbison’s passing and to thank fans for keeping Roy’s memory alive, Roy Orbison Jr. has made the full recording of ‘The Last Concert’ available for download, exclusively at iTunes on December 2, 2008.  Roy Orbison performed his final concert at Highland Heights in Akron, Ohio on December 4, 1988 – two days before his untimely passing.  While the concert was recorded and Roy’s performance of “It’s Over” is featured in ‘The Soul of Rock and Roll’ 4 CD Box set, released by Sony Music In October 2008, the final tapes in their entirety have remained unreleased, until now.  

Roy Orbison The Last Concert – Track List

1.   Only the Lonely 4:32

2.   Leah 3:16

3.   Dream Baby 2:56

4.   In Dreams 3:28

5.   Mean Woman Blues 3:17

6.   Blue Bayou 3:27

7.   Candyman 3:45

8.   Crying 5:43

9.   Ooby Dooby 5:57

10. Go, Go, Go (Down the Line) 5:52

11. It’s Over 3:29

12. Working For the Man 1:50

13. Lana 2:48

14.  Oh, Pretty Woman 5:22

 Sony Music Entertainment has released the ‘The Best of The Soul Of Rock And Roll’ to honor the profoundly influential American singer, songwriter and performer Roy Orbison.  Featuring all the big singles, including (Oh) Pretty Woman, Crying, Only The Lonely, in Dreams and many more, it is a fitting tribute to someone who is regarded by all as one of the true musical greats. (Press Release)

 

 

MOVIE . . .

 

Shia LaBeouf is in for more action on the big screen after movie bosses tapped him to star in an upcoming legal thriller. The Indiana Jones actor has landed the title role in the movie version of John Grisham’s new book The Associate, scheduled to hit shelves in January. LaBeouf will play a student graduating from Yale Law School who is given confidential information about a multi-billion dollar lawsuit. The 22-year-old joins a list of Hollywood actors who’ve led Grisham adaptations, including Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman. (Teen Hollywood)

 

Alfie star Sienna Miller plans to make a film with on/off boyfriend Balthazar Getty. Sienna Miller has told friends a film staring her partner Balthazar Getty would be “movie gold” sources have told The Sun. Sienna and Balthazar’s relationship has a received negative press after the Brothers And Sisters star left his wife and four children. “Her advisers are warning how unpopular that would be but Sienna insists it could be movie gold and is looking for a script,” the insider says. “People haven’t taken to them as a pair due to the way they got together. They fear people will find it a bit too sickly – as though they are rubbing his wife’s face in it.” (Handbag)

 

Years after making Zoolander, there might be a Zoolander 2 in the works for star Ben Stiller. Stiller was in London last week for the premiere of another one of his sequels, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. And, during an interview, he confirms the news that there might be a Zoolander 2 in the works, especially since they’ve been working on scripts. Stiller says, “I’ve been trying to get Zoolander 2 together and we’ve had a few scripts. I feel that is the sequel I really would like to do some day because I like the original and I would make sure it was something new and worthy of it first.” And there’s more. Stiller adds, “Meet the Parents 3 is a possibility too.” Enough with the sequels! (Perez Hilton)

 

Paramount Vantage is off to a bad start hyping its expensive Leonardo DiCaprio–Kate Winslet flick, “Revolutionary Road,” as an Oscar contender. On Monday, the studio so overbooked an industry screening at the AMC Loews 34th Street – featuring a live Q&A with Leo and Kate – that nearly 200 were turned away, one movie honcho told us. Those kept out included members of guilds representing actors, writers and producers, and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, some of whom vote for Oscar nominees. “Scott Rudin, who produced, is always very respectful of industry members, so he’s got to be furious about this. It can’t help the film’s chances,” our insider said. A studio rep told us: “Guild screenings are traditionally overbooked to account for drop-off . . . We look forward to showing it at a later date to those who missed it.” The R-rated movie opens Dec. 26. (Page Six)

 

The Golden Globes are getting a lot of support. The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. has accepted bids from several studios to classify actors in its supporting categories despite comparatively significant screen time. The HFPA allowed Miramax’s push for Philip Seymour Hoffman’s complicated cleric Father Flynn in “Doubt” and Dev Patel’s soft-spoken Jamal Malik in “Slumdog Millionaire” as supporting roles in the Golden Globes race, nominations for which will be announced Dec. 11. And after what was said to be heated discussion, they ultimately accepted the Weinstein Co.’s positioning of Kate Winslet’s Nazi guard Hanna Schmitz in “The Reader” as a supporting actress, ensuring the star of “Revolutionary Road” will not compete against herself. Ralph Fiennes and David Kross, who play younger and older versions of conflicted lawyer Michael Burk, also were accepted as supporting actors, making the movie a rarity: a non-ensemble film with no lead. The abundance of borderline cases that went supporting will make a normally sparse field more crowded. Studios often prefer supporting categories because the roomier field could increase nomination chances, but the cases this year could upend the conventional wisdom. Supporting categories also are more limited because they don’t split comedy/musical and drama into two categories, as the lead acting categories do. At the other end of the spectrum, the HFPA accepted three leads for Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” in Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall and also allowed Michael Sheen as a lead for David Frost in presidential talker “Frost/Nixon.” On the film front, the HFPA allowed Overture’s push for “Last Chance Harvey” as a comedy/musical, which will mean that leads Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson will face a less dense field in acting categories. The group also allowed “Cadillac Records” as a comedy/musical. The HFPA rejected, however, Lionsgate’s bid to consider “W.” as a comedy/musical, a move that would have put it in a less crowded field. The decision opens up a slot in best motion picture comedy/musical for what’s considered an up-for-grabs race. Another movie, “Slumdog,” had been the subject of early rumors as a potential comedy/musical entry, but Fox Searchlight submitted it as a drama, which the HFPA accepted. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Kevin Spacey has been tapped to host the first annual MOFILM Mobile Short Film Festival at the GSMA’s Mobile World Congress event. Spacey will also sit for a keynote interview at the Congress, which will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from Feb. 16-20. MOFILM has received entries from filmmakers in over 40 countries; grand prize winner will receive a Cruze vehicle from Chevrolet, a partner in the festival. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

 

TV . . .

 

Julie Andrews is going from “The Sound of Music” to hosting one of music’s biggest annual events. The 73-year-old actress is succeeding Walter Cronkite as anchor of the Vienna Philharmonic’s annual New Year’s Day concert on PBS. Cronkite had been the narrator of the “Great Performances” telecast in the United States for the past 24 years. “He is passing the baton this year and staying home with his family, and they asked me if I would do this special 25th anniversary program,” Andrews said Wednesday during a telephone interview from Los Angeles. The New Year’s concert in Vienna – mostly waltzes, polkas and marches from the Strauss family – has an estimated worldwide TV audience exceeding 1 billion. Daniel Barenboim will conduct for the first time in 2009, and the concert is to be released on DVD by Decca Classics. Andrews wasn’t sure whether she will become a permanent replacement for the 92-year-old Cronkite, the retired CBS anchorman. “I’m sure the format is pretty much the same,” she said. “It’s like a wonderful postcard tribute to Vienna and its surrounding areas and beautiful museums and castles. I’m sort of the glue that holds the whole evening together.” Andrews plans to fly to Vienna on Friday for the start of production. She has not been there since the early 1960s, when she visited the city while “The Sound of Music” was in production in Salzburg and other parts of Austria. The picture won an Academy Award for best picture, and Andrews was nominated for best actress for her portrayal of Maria von Trapp. She thinks that, because of the movie, many people identify her with Austria. “Certainly for me it has wonderful memories,” she said. “It seemed to make a great deal sense that I accept the baton being passed from Mr. Cronkite.” Andrews, a fan of the music of Ravel, Prokofiev, Mozart, Brahms and the Strauss family, has never been to the Musikverein, the 138-year-old hall where the concert takes place. “As much as I will be a hostess, I will also be a tourist,” she said. “I just think it’s a lovely tradition. It’s something that makes everybody feel good. The great Strauss music is so enjoyable, it all seems to fit in with the happiness of the new year.” (Daily Record)

 

A veteran star being saluted by a bunch of hot new ones – Alan Jackson knows this can be trouble. But in his case, Country Music Television’s “CMT Giants: Alan Jackson” (9 p.m. EST Saturday) doesn’t signal a changing of the guard just yet. At 50, Jackson remains a reliable hitmaker, even though he probably has guitar picks older than Taylor Swift and some of the other artists honoring him. “Typically, your career is over or you’re dead before they do something like this, so I’m very lucky to have it at this point,” said the easygoing singer, who had a pair of No. 1 singles from his latest album, “Good Time.” Still, there’s no escaping that Jackson has become an elder. The word “influence” was tossed around a lot when the show was taped in October at the Ryman Auditorium with performers including Swift, George Strait, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Lee Ann Womack. Hank Williams Jr., George Jones and Jackson’s wife, Denise, were also on hand, as were President George W. Bush, Diane Sawyer and Carrie Underwood by videotape. “I’d say Hank Williams Jr. and Alan Jackson are the two guys whose music really resonated with me,” said Bentley, who recalled seeing Jackson in concert when he was 18. “As a songwriter, anytime I’m looking for inspiration musically, all I’ve got to do is listen either to an old Alan Jackson record or get hold of whatever new Alan Jackson record is out there, and it reminds me of why I wanted to do this,” said Paisley, who performed Jackson’s hit “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere.” It was tough to tell how Jackson felt about the attention. Even on a normal day, he always seems painfully shy for a guy in his line of work. “When they first came to me and said they wanted to do a show about giants, I thought it was because I was so tall,” he joked. He credited wife Denise for keeping him grounded (“She knew me when I was nobody, and she still speaks to me that way”) and he appeared humbled by all the kind words. “It’s an incredible honor and kind of freaky to see all these people here. The president of the United States and all these celebrities coming together and saying all these nice things. It’s pretty overwhelming,” said Jackson. (Daily Record)

 

NBC says “ER” will treat its last patients during a two-hour series finale set to air March 12. A week after that medical drama ends its 15-season run, NBC will introduce “Kings,” an ambitious new series set in the present but based on the Biblical tale of David and Goliath. It stars Ian McShane (“Deadwood”) as the powerful monarch of mythical Gilboa. A four-hour thriller starring Val Kilmer (“The Doors”) and Stephen Dorff (“World Trade Center”), “XIII” will air Feb. 8 and 15. And the new season of “Celebrity Apprentice” will begin March 1, NBC says. But there’s no news yet on a premiere date for the as-yet-untitled comedy starring “Saturday Night Live” alum Amy Poehler, which NBC is still promising for later this season. (Daily Record)

 

Hey, Ellen, forget Victoria’s Secret models. Leave Kate Hudson at home. The real way to nab George Clooney to appear on her show is to woo him with male dancers, Brad Pitt slyly reveals. “We’ve tried everything,” DeGeneres explains to Pitt of her “catch Clooney” project, which she’s been working on since moving to her new studio adjacent to the actor’s office. “We’ve sent ‘Victoria’s Secret’ models over. We’ve sent Miss America over. We’ve sent Kate Hudson over. We’ve sent gifts. We decorated his bungalow for Halloween. I don’t know what more we can do.” Quick to the punch, Pitt says via satellite from New Orleans, “This is your problem … Get a bunch of Chippendales. He’s yours. Three, four – no less than three.” And he adds, “Make one a blonde.” Not one to pass on a great joke, DeGeneres vows, “We’re going to do it and we’re going to say it’s from you.” In the interview, set to air on DeGeneres’s talk show Wednesday, the two also discuss Pitt’s “Make it Right” foundation to aid the hurricane ravaged Lower Ninth Ward and supporting No on Prop 8. (People)

 

Neve Campbell is close to returning to series television with a co-starring role on NBC’s midseason drama “The Philanthropist.” “Philanthropist,” from Universal Media Studios, centers on Teddy Rist (James Purefoy), a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth, connections and power to help people in need around the world.  “Party of Five” alumna Campbell will play the wife of his business partner and lifelong friend, Phillip (Jesse Martin), who runs the two billionaires’ charitable foundation and has strong chemistry with Teddy. The actress, repped by ICM and Foster-Delaney Management and attorney Steve Younger, is expected to leave shortly for South Africa where “Philanthropist” is being shot.  (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Emmy winner Craig T. Nelson is set to do a three-episode arc of CBS’ crime drama “CSI: NY.” He will play Robert Parker, an powerful NYC publishing magnet and a nemesis to Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise). Nelson, who won an Emmy for his starring role on the comedy “Coach,” recurred on NBC’s “My Name Is Earl” last year. On the big screen the actor, repped by Paradigm and Forward Entertainment, will next be seen in the comedy “The Proposal.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Miles O’Brien will soon be leaving CNN after 16 years. O’Brien, who has been CNN’s chief technology and environment correspondent since ending his stint as anchor of “American Morning” in April 2007, is departing as the network dismantles its science and technology unit. Six producers also will be leaving. CNN’s coverage of science, technology and the environment has been integrated into the general editorial structure, according to spokeswoman Christa Robinson. Along with other duties, O’Brien had covered the space program for a decade, and in 2005 revealed that he had been close to getting NASA’s go-ahead to be the first American journalist in space until the shuttle Columbia broke apart on its return flight two years earlier. No departure date for O’Brien has been announced. (Daily Record)

 

College football’s Bowl Championship Series game will be broadcast in 3-D to the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show and select 3-D-ready theaters, David Hill, chairman and CEO of Fox Sports Television Group, said Tuesday at the 3-D Entertainment Summit. He is enthusiastic about the format but made it clear that if 3-D TV is to move forward, stakeholders should be prepared to take out their checkbooks. “You are not going to see 3-D — if I have my way — on broadcast television until the manufacturers of the sets that are making money are subsidizing us with every piece of equipment that we have to buy,” he said. “The HD transition was dreadful. It cost us a fortune to work in HD: to re-equip our studios, to re-equip our cameras, to re-equip our trucks. And do we get an extra cent from the advertisers? No. If the 3-D industry thinks they are going to get the same ride, they are wrong.” Speaking frankly about the cost of the equipment, he added: “Do I want to build a truck that shoots in 3-D? No. I’m having trouble paying for trucks that shoot in HD. I would prefer to be paying for trucks that shoot in standard definition because that’s cheaper. I’d prefer to be paying for a truck that shot in black-and-white right now.” During the presentation, Hill showed a Fox Sports test reel of 3-D professional football, basketball, boxing and NASCAR. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Andrew Sachs’s granddaughter, Georgina Baillie is being lined up to appear in the next series of Celebrity Big Brother. Georgina Baillie, the exotic dancer at the centre of the Jonathan Ross/Russell Brand/Andrew Sachs phone prank controversy is top of producer’s wish list to appear in the next series of Celebrity Big Brother sources have told the Daily Mail. Georgina, a member of dance troop the Satanic Sluts, came to the public’s attention after ex-lover Russell Brand and fellow DJ Jonathan Ross left lewd messages on her grandfather Andrew Sachs’s answer phone. “We couldn’t have timed it better if we tried,” an insider claims. “It will guarantee Big Brother maximum publicity. An approach is being made to her and we are confident of landing her because we know she is keen for publicity to kickstart her own TV career. She would be on primetime TV every night and the producers know that Georgie is not backward in coming forwards. Georgie knows they will want her to talk openly about the whole affair, but she doesn’t mind in the slightest – she will do anything for fame.” Other names in the frame for this year’s show include Amy Winehouse’s husband Blake Fielder-Civil, former Sugababe Mutya Buena and Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik. (Handbag)

 

 

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . .  (Mike Butts Creative)

 

Q.  9 out of 10 women says that doing THIS . . . is a real turn off for them?

            A.  Wearing too much cologne

 

 

TODAY’S QUOTE  (By Marcus A. Antoninus)

 

“THE HAPPINESS OF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF YOUR THOUGHTS.”

 

 

MIND BOGGLERS . . .  (QuickTrivia)

 

Q.  In 1964, a Beatles song won a Grammy for Best Performance by a Vocal Group. That song also became the title of their first movie. What was it?

            A.  Help

            B.  Yellow Submarine
            C.  Magical Mystery Tour

            D.  A Hard Days Night  ****

 

Q.  In 1851, they lowered that outrageous 5-cent price for a government postage stamp to ___?

            A.  4 cents

            B.  3 cents
            C.  2 cents

            D.  1 cent  ****

 

Q.  Confused fans of “The Blair Witch Project” went looking for the three lost filmmakers in Burkittsville in what state?

            A.  North Carolina

            B.  Maryland  ****
            C.  Maine

            D.  New York

 

Q.  Who did Leo Rosten introduce by saying, “Any man who hates babies and dogs can’t be all bad”?

            A.  Will Rogers

            B.  W.C. Fields  ****
            C.  Don Rickles

            D.  Groucho Marx

 

Q.  Which of the Great Lakes is on the average the most shallow?

            A.  Lake Superior

            B.  Lake Erie  ****
            C.  Lake Ontario

            D.  Lake Michigan

 

Q.  Who was King of Britain throughout World War II?

            A.  George VI  ****

            B.  Edward VII
            C.  George V

            D.  Edward VII

 

 

INTERVIEW/GUEST . . .

 

For interview requests for Barabara Orbison regarding Roy Orbison please contact: Tatiana Marchant – Promotions & Publicity Manager – 02 9383 6381 email: tatiana.marchant@sonybmg.com, or your local Sony Music Entertainment representative. (Press Release)

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

 

NEW WEB SITES FOR PLANNING YOUR TRAVELS:

 

You may be familiar with Web sites like Orbitz and Travelocity for hotel, car rental, and airfares. But these days, several new sites have started up to help you plan your travels. Let your fingers do the walking with Yellow pages dot travel, which lets you view several travel search engines at once and on one screen for easier comparison. VibeAgent dot com will direct you to the Web site with the most competitive hotel price, and it even personalizes your hotel search with criteria such as “hip,” “downtown,”  “budget” or “boutique.” Bezurk dot com is a newer meta-search engine that finds price comparison between several travel sites around the world. And you may have heard of Farecast dot com, which offers free airfare predictions. Well, these folks recently expanded its searches to include Canada, which may make your next trip up north a lot more affordable.

 

(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 . . .

 

—1835  Author Samuel Butler (d. 6-18-1902)

—1861  Singer/Actress Lillian Russell (d. 6-6-1922)

—1899  Musician Sonny Boy Williamson (d. 6-1-1948)

—1921  Actress/Singer Deanna Durbin (It Started With Eve)

—1933  Actor Horst Buchholtz (The Magnificent Seven) (d. 3-3-2003)

—1934  Singer/Game Show host Wink Martindale (Tic Tac Dough)

—1934  Actor Victor French (Little House On the Prairie) (d. 6-15-1989)

—1937  Producer/Actor Max Baer Jr. (The Beverly Hillbillies)

—1940  Singer Freddy Cannon (“Palisades Park”)

¾1940  Musician John Cale

—1944  Musician Chris Hillman (The Byrds) (“Turn Turn Turn”)

—1942  Bassist Bob Mosley (Moby Grape)

—1944  Drummer Dennis Wilson (The Beach Boys) (“Good Vibrations”) (d. 12-28-1983)

—1946  Tennis player Stan Smith

—1948  Musician Southside Johnny (& The Asbury Jukes)

—1949  Actor Jeff Bridges (The Mirror Has Two Faces)

—1950  Comedienne Pamela Stephenson (ex-Saturday Night Live)

—1951  Musician Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd) (“Sweet Home Alabama”)

—1951  Actress Patricia Wettig (“Holly” Brothers and Sisters)

¾1955  Jazz Singer Cassandra Wilson

—1960  Musician Bob Griffin (The BoDeans)

—1964  Actress Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny)

—1970  Football’s Jeff Blake

—1973  Model/Actress/TV Host Tyra Banks

¾1976  Country Singer Amie Comeaux  (d. 12-21-1997)

 

 

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

 

 Today is ST. BARBARA’S DAY.  This is NATIONAL DICE DAY

—1568  Sir Walter Raleigh unwrapped another goodie he’d brought back from the New World: the potato.

—1918  President Woodrow Wilson set sail for Europe to attend the peace conference in Versailles (ver-SIGH), France, thus becoming the first American president ever to travel outside the country while in office.

—1933  The first “Ma Perkins” episode was broadcast on radio. It continued for more than 25 years.

—1965  In Sacramento, Rolling Stone Keith Richards is knocked unconscious for several minutes after moving an underground microphone with his guitar. He returns to finish the show.

—1971  The top single in the US is “Family Affair” from Sly & The Family Stone.

—1976  Bob Marley is shot in the arm at his Kingston home in an apparent assassination attempt. The politically motivated gunman shot Marley, his wife Rita, and two others to discourage Marley’s upcoming performance for Jamaica’s prime minister. No one is seriously hurt, and two days later Marley plays the gig.

—1976  Liz Taylor marries her seventh husband to John Warner.

—1978  Our Pioneer Venus I spacecraft, launched the preceding May, went into orbit around Venus and began sending information, enabling us to map portions of the Venusian’s surface for the first time.

—1981  TV premiere of the nighttime series “Falcon Crest.” The show was set in California wine country. It was on the air 9 years.

—1988  Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart, and Barbra Streisand make People’s “Best Dressed” list. The “Worst Dressed” include Madonna and Prince.

—1990  The cartoon show, The Simpsons, release their LP “The Simpsons Sing The Blues.”

—1991  Release of Terry Anderson, an Associated Press correspondent, who became the final American hostage held in Lebanon to be freed.

—1992  Whitney Houston has the top single in the US with “I Will Always Love You” from the Bodyguard soundtrack.

 

 

RADIO ONLINE® DAILY SHOW PREP™ . . .

 

ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1783, George Washington bid farewell to his troops at a tavern in New York. He received endless cheers all the way up until he uttered those immortal words, “Separate checks, please!”

In 1839, the Whig party held its first convention. I believe the founder was the great-great-grandfather of Donald Trump. It only makes sense.

On this date in 1918, Woodrow Wilson became the first U.S. president to travel outside the country while in office. Of course, the tough part was getting his office there.

TODAY IS

Supermodel and actress Tyra Banks turns 35 today. She’s looking forward to sinking her teeth in a big piece of birthday cracker.

Jay-Z turns 39 today. He’s married to Beyonce: who needs a gift?

Max Baer Jr. who played Jethro on “The Beverly Hillbillies” turns 71 today. Don’t know how he’ll celebrate, but I’m sure he’ll figure out something with that fancy 6th grade education of his.

Marisa Tomei turns 43 today. Last year, she was voted “Best Nude Scene of 2007” in the intentional category. However, Britney still wins the “Overall Best of Show” award.

National Cookie Day — There’s more going on inside your cookie jar than meets your taste buds. In fact, psychologists have discovered that the way your cookie crumbles reveals the flavor of your personality, says family therapist Jim Franklin.

·         Chocolate Chip — You’re as American as apple pie, and you’re raising your kids with the traditional values you treasure. Your low-key approach to life makes you a favorite with family and friends because you bring a steadying influence to the most chaotic situations.

·         Ginger Snaps — You’re bold, brave and in search of excitement. Life is never dull when you’re around, and both kids and adults are attracted by your zest for life. You never shy away from new adventures, leading a happy band of friends and family who’ll gladly follow you anywhere.

·         Graham Crackers — You’re softhearted and kind with a taste for nostalgia. You have many fond memories of your childhood, and your closet is probably stuffed with keepsakes from years gone by. But you don’t dwell on the past because you’re too busy making memories today.

·         Vanilla Wafers — You have uncanny intuitive powers that give you the unique ability to size up a situation or a person with breathtaking accuracy. Loved ones caught up in complex problems often turn to you for advice because they know you’ll steer them in the right direction.

·         Sandwich Cookies — Whether you eat the creme filling first or dunk them in milk, your choice says you’re a creative person with a vivid imagination. A born storyteller, you’re often the center of attention at parties, regaling your pals with funny, sometimes outrageous, tales.

·         Fig Newtons — Quiet, reserved and mature, your keen mind makes you a force to be reckoned with. You always have your “ducks in a row,” and your organizational skills assure your home and job are both running smoothly. Just don’t forget, spontaneity is a good thing too.

·         Sugar Cookies — You’re a nonconformist who believes that variety is the spice of life. Your avid interest in a multitude of subjects, teamed with your antiestablishment sensibility, makes you a challenging companion. You may not always take the safe path, but there’s no doubt that life with you is never dull.

·         Oatmeal — As homespun and down-to-earth as a comfy pair of slippers, you’re a genius at making others feel loved. Your family and friends blossom under the warmth of your generous spirit, while your practical approach to problems helps you find the best route to a solution that satisfies everyone involved.

·         Shortbread — You present a placid face to the world, but beneath your calm facade beats the heart of a passionate romantic. In fact, those closest to you would be amazed by your colorful fantasy life. Once you’ve found the right partner, you’re able to give this untapped side free rein with totally satisfying results.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

·         No more variety shows for Rosie O’Donnell, as her show was cancelled after only one airing. Her NBC special the night before Thanksgiving, “Rosie Live,” attracted only 5 million viewers.

·         A tracking device has been found on Simon Cowell’s Rolls Royce. Some paparazzi are so lazy.

·         Julianne Hough and boyfriend Chuck Wicks have been an item for five months… but she tells People that she wouldn’t surprised if this is it.

·         Patrick Swayze says it ticks him off when the tabloids have him all but dead. He said he’s still battling pancreatic cancer, but is responding well to treatment and doing fine.

·         Some scientists think the digital age may be changing the way we read, learn and interact with each other. Dr. Gary Small, a psychiatrist at UCLA, argues that daily exposure to digital technologies such as the Internet and smart phones alter how the brain works. You think…

·         Sean Avery of the NHL’s Dallas Stars has been suspended indefinitely for referring to his ex-girlfriends — including actress Elisha Cuthbert and model Rachel Hunter — as “sloppy seconds” in an interview.

·         American folk singer Odetta has died. She was 77. She died Tuesday of heart disease after being admitted to the hospital with kidney failure about three weeks ago.

·         Part of the deal making Hillary Clinton Secretary of State included Barack Obama maintaining veto rights on Bill Clinton’s speeches.

·         NBC White House correspondent David Gregory is about to be named the new host for “Meet the Press.”

·         “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” star Marg Helgenberger and her husband of 19 years have split.

·         Dylan McDermott and his wife of 13 years are now officially divorced.

·         President Bush had to send out some apologies this week to Jewish leaders who had been sent an invitation to the official White House Hanukkah reception. On the invitation: a Christmas tree and Christmas wreaths. Not his fault, but no one would believe it.

·         Divorces in the military have hit a 16-year high rate. A lot of stress these days.

·         Experts say that cases of domestic violence actually get worse during the holiday season.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Men’s Health says holidays add stress and divide time. Here’s the count:

·         618,000 is the number of people hired to help staff stores nationwide during the holidays last year.

·         95% of malls will display Christmas decor.

·         70% of companies plan to host a holiday party.

·         1.1 pounds is the average pounds a person gains over the holidays.

·         $40 is the average amount people spend on a gift card.

·         55% of U.S. flights delayed by at least 15 minutes last December 28th.

·         19 billion of mails items the U.S. Postal service will delivers during the holidays.

Are you stressed out over the economy, the election, health care, you job? Don’t look now, but your pet is suffering right along with you. “Dogs and cats are very good at picking up anxiety in people, as are birds,” explains veterinarian James Morrisey, of Cornell University. “In general, the more intelligent the animal, the more psychological stress it can undergo.” But it’s not just an owner’s anxieties that can send an animal into orbit. Researchers discovered that domestic cats can also be traumatized by unfriendly relationships with other felines in the house. (Sun)

As it turns out, it really is downhill after age 40, and you can blame it on your brain. The part of the brain that is charge of motion begins to decline after four decades of life, impacting not only how fast you can throw a ball or run, but also swerve a steering wheel. New research from the University of California, Los Angeles suggests that by middle age, even healthy people lose some of the insulation in the motor-control part of the brain. Study author Dr. George Bartzokis, a UCLA neurologist, says this helps explain why “it’s hard to be a world-class athlete after 40.”

Women’s Health asked women, “The most difficult person to buy holiday gifts for is my…”

·         43% said mother and/or father

·         32% said main squeeze

·         13% said co-worker

·         12% said sibling

Men with facial scars are more attractive to women who are seeking short-term relationships, scientists have found. In non-Western cultures scars are perceived as a sign of maturity and strength, say scientists at Liverpool and Stirling Universities. But now researchers have found that Western women find scarring on men attractive and may associate it with health and bravery –as scarring on a man was often evidence of his courage.

PHONE TOPICS

·         Kanye West says that Beyonce is better than Tina Turner. Your thoughts?

·         Who has the most Christmas lights on their house?

·         What’s the most expensive Christmas decoration you own?

·         What’s the “sappiest thing” you do for the holidays?

·         If you wrote a message in a bottle, what would it say?

·         Anyone have the new Blackberry Storm? Call us on it!

·         Does any married couple, “get romantic” every day of the week?

·         When are the best years of marriage, when you’re younger or older?

·         How many cousins do you have?

·         Which Superhero would you want fighting for your life?

·         Who belongs to the most clubs and organizations?

·         Did your dog ever run away and you found it?

·         Who can get by on the least amount of sleep and still function?

·         What’s the classic moment in your home movie collection?

·         When did you get your first Christmas card?

Have you ever looked up an old love? We had a listener call and tell us her story. She said that her guy wanted to make it serious when they were in high school, but she wasn’t ready. Her parents always told her not to consider marriage until her career was established, and she listened to them. Over the years she thought about him — he was the one that got away. After her divorce she looked him up online. Come to find out, he was divorced too. They started talking and now they’re getting married! A great warm and fuzzy phoner.

Our producer overslept and came in about an hour late one day last week. While we were waiting for him to arrive, my news anchor and I started talking about “The worst jobs to have in which to oversleep?” Funny calls in professions running the gamut from airline pilots to morticians.

When was the last time you made an offer to someone that you really didn’t mean and assumed they’d say no to? You know, like, “We should get together for lunch sometime.” And they’re supposed to say, “Yeah, we’ll have to do that.” But instead they say, “Okay. How about tomorrow?” Or they’re talking about moving and you ask if they need any help and they say they do.

My partner is off this week because she had to have surgery on her nose. When she was a kid she wanted to be an Olympic pole vaulter. So she tried to pole vault over her sofa in the living room. She ended up smashing into a book shelf and knocking a jar full of pennies off the shelf and on to her nose. She hasn’t been able to breathe properly since then. Did you ever injure yourself as a child, and still have scars to prove it?

What are your crazy 911 (emergency call) stories? We had a listener call us that said her eight month old child dialed 911 by accident and two hot officers showed up at her door while she wasn’t exactly looking so hot. They even came in and searched the house to make sure everything was OK.

What unpleasant things do people always put off as long as possible? Some of our answers:

·         Working out

·         Housecleaning

·         Visiting the doctor

·         Writing thank you notes

·         Drawing up a will

·         Visiting a relative

·         Washing the car

·         Cutting the grass

·         Taking out the trash

·         Listening to this show

A recent study suggests older people would rather exercise alone than be surrounded by a bunch of youthful hard bodies in Spandex. It recognizes that people of all ages generally prefer to exercise with people their own age — or they may opt to go it alone. Do you prefer to workout alone or at the gym? Are other people at the gym motivation for you or intimidation?

If she’s happy, then he’s happy — and vice versa. Married men and women are significantly more satisfied with their life when their spouse is also satisfied with life, according to recent research from Britain’s University of Warwick. But this only works if you’re married. The same level of satisfaction was not found in couples who simply live together. Phoner: For married guys — are you really happy when she’s happy?

When I was 4 I had a little red fire engine. You know the type, all steel construction with the white steering wheel. My friend was pushing me down the sidewalk when I ended up smashing into my dad’s car and I broke my collar bone. What did you do when you were a kid that got you horribly injured? Great calls on this one. Give it a try!

If kids are required to pay for their own college/cars, etc. Does that make them more responsible than the kids today that have everything handed to them. We had quite a few calls on how parents try to teach their kids how to be responsible and manage money. Most agreed today’s kids have the attitude “what’s in it for me?” more than ever before!

What’s the strangest food combination you can enjoy? My cohost’s wife dropped a bomb on him that she LOVES dipping French fries in a Wendy’s Frosty. Seven years together and he never knew that, but I’ve always known about that. Excluding pregnancy cravings, who’s got the strangest, creepily enjoyable food combination?

Percentage of adults who think the following generalizations are true:

·         Men like gadgets: 83%

·         Men like to have control of the TV remote: 80%

·         Women are more nurturing than men: 79%

·         Men refuse to ask for directions: 69%

·         Women talk on the phone more than men: 68%

·         Women are more moody: 58%

Other generalizations that are true of men in (city)? Generalizations for women?

I saw a _____ in my neighborhood! You should get some great calls on this. We’ve had everything from a peeping tom, streaker, bear, gator and more.

What singer or band have you see over & over? Find the person in your audience whose seen one artist more than the rest of the callers. I know someone whose seen Kiss over 100 times!

First dates are always a bit weird… and sometimes a huge mistake! Especially when we talk too much. What’s the strangest thing someone has admitted to you on a first date? Was there a second date?

Have you ever bought a car that was a lemon? We also took a bunch of calls asking people if they ever bought a used car from a celebrity. How were you sure it was truly the star’s car?

How do you get you kid out of bed in the morning? My wife is going crazy trying to get our teen-aged daughter up on school days, so I asked the audience for help. The calls came pouring in. One woman suggested frozen marbles in bed, a few suggested spray bottles of water to the face and more than a few said “just leave her there, and if she misses school she’ll have to face the consequences.”

WEIRD NEWS

Message In a Bottle
Along the beach of Corolla, North Carolina, Mark Ciarmello and his 3-year-old daughter made a real find! A genuine message in a bottle. This one was dated August 17, 1969 and the simple note inside read: “If found notify the North Haledon Fire Co. 2.” That’s about 400 miles from where it was released off Barnegat Bay. Mark said he immediately got on his cell phone, called North Haledon and e-mailed photos of the bottle to the firefighters. Nobody’s quite sure who tossed the bottle but firefighters suspect it was during one of the many fishing trips that they used to take years ago. (The Record of Bergen County)

Don’t Try This At Home
Props to truck owner Alonzo Johnson for bravery — or stupidity — we’re not quite sure which. And we don’t suggest trying this yourself. Alonzo saw his pickup truck being stolen from a Quick Mart parking lot in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so he jumped into the bed of the moving vehicle, kicked out the back window and crawled into the cab to stop the thief! Police said the 18-year-old woman who stole the truck then jumped out and hopped into her boyfriend’s car, which the truck owner chased until officers finally intervened. The woman was arrested and Alonzo needs a good quote for a new rear window. (Tulsa World)

Christmas Tree Spirit
In Parrish, Florida, a 37-year-old man who lives with his parents was arrested after attacking his father — with a Christmas tree! According to the Manatee County sheriff’s report, the guy allegedly threw a 3-foot Christmas tree at his father. The tree missed, but the man then tried to use the steel base from the tree to strike his dad. Both mom and dad then grabbed his arms to prevent further attacks but deputies say the tree could have caused serious injuries because the metal base weighs about five pounds. Our loser friend denied the whole incident but was still charged with felony assault. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)

More Christmas Spirit — NOT!
How’s this for how low some people can go? In Manchester, Maryland, police arrested a 51-year-old woman for stealing Christmas decorations from her neighbor’s yards, and then setting them up in her own yard! The county sheriff’s office said the suspect was found in her own home with decorations from at least three area homes. So she’s now in jail — but she has a very festive yard. (Carroll County Times)

Condo-Liberace Rice!
Maybe we should call her Condo-Liberace Rice. Our out going Secretary of State was the star of a piano recital for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth herself. You may not know this but Madame Secretary is actually an accomplished concert level pianist. She played a piece by Brahms, and was joined by three members of the London Symphony Orchestra. A palace spokeswoman said, “Condoleezza expressed a wish to play at Buckingham Palace and the queen offered her to play in the music room.” Queen Elizabeth listened to some of the performance, and then gave Condoleezza a recording of it as a souvenir. (BBC News)

Real Gratitude
How’s this for gratitude? A New York City bus driver was stabbed to death by the very passenger he had allowed to ride for free! 46-year-old Edwin Thomas became the first on-duty bus driver to be killed in the city since 1981 for his act of kindness. The suspect’s metro card had apparently expired but Thomas allowed him to ride anyway. But then the guy began demanding a free transfer card as well, and became agitated and attacked Thomas after he refused and reminded the guy that he hadn’t paid to begin with. Ironically, the father of two had become a bus driver after driving an armored truck because he thought it would be safer. After the stabbing, the suspect jumped off the bus and police are still looking for him. Police raced Thomas to the hospital after arriving on the scene but he died at the hospital. There is a $36,000 reward for the capture of the passenger, who was described as being in his 20s. (AHN News)

How To Talk To Girls!
There’s a new book out called “How To Talk To Girls.” What makes this book unique is that it was written by 9-year-old Alec Greven. Alec started the book as a creative writing project in school at Castle Rock, Colorado. His handwritten pamphlet was then sold for $5 at a school book fair where it was the surprise bestseller. After local news stations picked up the story he ended up being offered a publishing deal with HarperCollins. “How To Talk To Girls” is now available as a 46-page hardcover across the U.S. So what’s some of Alec’s best advice? He told the New York Post, “I saw a lot of boys that had trouble talking to girls. If I say hi and you say hi back, we’re probably off to a good start.” (New York Post)

Life Saving Text!
British vascular surgeon David Nott saved the day and saved a 16-year-old boy’s life thanks to surgical instructions being texted to him from a colleague while he was in Africa! The boy’s left arm had been ripped off by a hippopotamus and was badly infected and gangrenous. Dr. Nott knew he needed to perform a forequarter amputation, which requires the surgeon to remove the collar bone and shoulder blade. While he had never performed the operation before, he followed instructions from a colleague who had. Nott, who is normally based at Charing Cross Hospital in London, said, “I texted him and he texted back step-by-step instructions on how to do it. Dr. Nott, who volunteers with MSF for a month every year, added, “It was just luck that I was there and could do it.” (Ananova)

HOLE IN THE HEADLINE

·  “Top 10 Stupid Gifts From Chickens To ____ Golf!” (Toilet)

·  “Police Turn On Anti-Government ____s?!” (Facebookers)

·  “Security Intrudes On Live ____!” (Interview)

·  “Cop Pulls Gun Over Scooter ____ Violation!” (Helmet)

·  “Three Jailed For ____ T-Shirts In Court!” (Kangaroo)

·  “Forgot Socks, Adopt a ____ For Christmas!” (Koala)

·  “Ancient ________-Like Insect Imprint Found!” (Dragonfly)

·  “____-Boy Footballer Dropped By Club!” (Garlic)

·  “French Say They Need Biggest ____s!” (Condoms)

·  “Dutch Ban On “____” Mushrooms To Take Effect!” (Magic)

·  “Japan Pm Aso Criticizes Unhealthy ____!” (Elderly)

·  “Man Says God Ordered Him To Ram ____ at 100 Mph!” (Vehicle)

SHAMELESS PLUG DAY

Offer 30 seconds of free time for your listeners to talk about anything or product that they want. You’ll get people who want to just tell their bosses off, bands, entrepreneurs, small businesses and overworked moms.

TOP FIVE THINGS A PHYSICAL TRAINER MIGHT SAY TO A SNOWMAN

1.      “Your arms are like sticks! Oh, wait… they really ARE sticks!”

2.      “Let me help you melt away the pounds”

3.      “You’re just a skinny person

4.      “Someone really packed on the snow this weekend, didn’t they?”

5.      “Is your nose a carrot or are you just happy to see me?”

HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter

Olympic Gold winner Michael Phelps has just been named Sports Illustrated‘s “Sportsman of the Year.” Boy, who could have seen that coming?

Jessica Simpson says she wants to go back to college and study theology. Especially since every guy named Theo that she has met has been so nice…

With Barack Obama naming Hillary Clinton as his new Secretary of State, the rumor has sprung up that Bill Clinton might take over her Senate seat. Bill Clinton held a press conference yesterday and said he had no interest in Hillary’s seat… or her job as Senator, for that matter.

SLOGAN OFF

Classic Edition

·         “Cooks who know trust ______” (Crisco)

·         “Better living through chemistry” (Dupont)

·         “The best tires in the world have ______ written all over them” (Goodyear)

·         “_____ has a better idea” (Ford)

·         “Manly, yes, but I like it, too” (Irish Spring Soap)

Modern Edition

·         “Search. Savor. Share.” (Myrecipes.com)

·         “Jump in” (Xbox 360)

·         “Better sound through research” (Bose)

·         “At the heart of the image” (Nikon)

·         “The power of dreams” (Honda)

LIE LIKE A DOG

Have guys (and women) call with the stuff guys have said just to get a date. Guys are very creative and some women date them for months before they find out. Best story wins.

WHO NEEDS A SLAP?

Have a listener party where you have a punching bag set up. Ladies bring pictures of someone they really despise and you put the photo on the punching bag and let them slap it until they are exhausted as you cheer them on. Have a good bunch of sound effects for the air as they go at it.

HURRY IT UP!

Does your girlfriend or wife take forever to get ready (or do you)? For most guys, it doesn’t matter if their wife or girlfriend spends ten minutes or three hours. She looks the same either way. But that doesn’t stop women from barricading themselves in the bathroom and… doing whatever it is that they’re doing in there for a long, long time. Like it or not, according to Men’s Health magazine, there’s not much you can do to hurry things up. But there might be a few things you can do to ease your pain.

·         Lie — Tell her that dinner is at 7:30 instead of 8. That way you’ve got a “cushion” of half an hour for her to do all the things she feels she needs to get done, and you’re not sitting there steaming about it.

·         Remind her — Gently. An hour and a half before it’s time to leave, remind her that it’s time to start getting ready.

·         Get ready first — Do all your showering and shaving long before she locks herself in the can. That way the pressure’s off you.

·         Get a book — The fact is nothing short of tear gas is going to get her out of that bathroom before she’s good and ready, so make that time productive. Catch up on your reading. Watch SportsCenter. Whatever it takes to take your mind off the fact that time’s-a-wasting.

Phoner: What do you do or say to speed things along? Ever cause a fight that ended up with you NOT going out?

MEN GONE MAD AND THE WOMEN WHO LOVE THEM

You get women to call up to tell you how their men have gone mad. They either watch the same movie over and over or are insanely in love with their cars or a chair. It’s some crazy behavior that they do. The women call and you listen but goat them on. You play about four and pick the winner.

IT’S THE NETWORK

With all of our bad winter weather, we urge listeners to call in whenever they see anything newsworthy like accidents or traffic delays. It’s amazing how much they embraced this and at a time when radio news is practically nonexistant, it goes a long way to making them sound on top of everything. We’ve got a produced breaker for the reports and the payoff for the caller is hearing themselves on the radio. Now they’re calling in unsolicited just to tell them which areas are experiencing bad weather conditions, etc.

TRIVIA

·         Gary Coleman has pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge and paid a $100 fine stemming from a September incident at what kind of establishment in Salt Lake City? (Bowling alley)

·         Ivana Trump, ex-wife of property mogul Donald Trump, said she has split from husband number what? (Four)

·         Fans of the holiday classic, “A Christmas Story,” are celebrating the film’s 25th anniversary with a convention and trips to the house where the movie, set in Indiana, was made. In what state? (Ohio)

·         Police in Spain are investigating $125,000 in missing designer jewelry last seen on which actress at an event in Madrid? (Winona Ryder)

·         John Travolta says he turned down a role in which movie, allowing Tom Hanks to grab the starring role? (“Green Mile”)

·         Country music star Faith Hill finally has that Christmas gift that she said she’s always wanted, performing her favorite holiday songs with a 31-piece orchestra, nine-member choir and an elaborate stage set for a new special on what network? (PBS)

·         On “Top Chef New York,” whose banana s’mores ended the chef’s stint on the show? (Richard)

·         Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet finally get back together on the big screen this year for the first time since they co-starred in 1997’s “Titanic,” in which movie? (“Revolution Road”)

·         Author Jeff Lindsay made a cameo appearance on which cable TV series based on his work? (“Dexter”)

·         This internet search engine’s co-founder Jerry Yang is stepping down as chief executive. Which search engine? (Yahoo)

·         Journalist/author Carl Bernstein lamented what type of culture in the U.S.? (Idiot)

·         The 1976 horror film “Carrie” starred Sissy Spacek and what leading Hollywood actor in one of his earliest roles? (John Travolta)

·         In 1999, for the first time in 13 years a female artist won Entertainer of the Year. Name this artist. (Shania Twain)

·         Which two Great Lakes are hydrologically intertwined and are sometimes considered to be one entity? (Lake Michigan and Lake Huron)

·         If five people were to shake hands with everyone in the group, how many handshakes would it take? (10)

·         Who was the male star of the 1985 film, “Summer Rental?” (John Candy)

·         Who won the first Daytona 500? (Lee Petty)

·         About how long can your average mole dig in a single night? (300 feet)

·         What was the Skipper’s name on “Gilligan’s Island”? (Jonas Grumby)

·         In which film did Elizabeth Taylor embark on her singing career? (Cynthia)

GORSEFEATHERS by Patrick Gorse

The Jonas Brothers may appear in an adaptation of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” In this version, one of the ghosts shows the Jonas Brothers their future. By the way, the future Jonas Brothers are played by Hanson.

An amateur astronomer in Canada has captured images of that NASA tool bag lost by the Space Shuttle astronauts floating in space. The discovery was made by a man named Kevin Fetter. So remember, K-Fett discovered a tool bag, and K-Fed is a tool bag.

Did you know that George Bush once bowled with a frozen turkey when he was Governor of Texas? And that Senator Barack Obama bowled like a turkey when he was running for president? And of course, when Bill Clinton was President, he got in trouble for Butterballing.

Lance Armstrong says he’ll be back racing at the Tour de France next year. I’m not saying Lance is a little old to be doing that, but he’ll be riding a Little Rascal Scooter.

Now, instead of Live Strong bracelets, Lance has a deal with Life Alert.

Big scandal over at CNN–Today it was exposed that CNN’s Chief Pentagon Correspondent, Barbara Starr, is actually their terror expert, Peter Bergen, in drag.

During a fight scene with a seven-foot wrestler on the set of his upcoming film, “Sherlock Holmes,” actor Robert Downey Jr. was knocked out cold. Asked what it felt like being knocked unconscious, Robert said, “A lot like the 80’s and the 90’s.”

Robert Downey Jr. says he’s feeling a little weak after a bout with dysentery. Let’s call him, “Not Enough Iron Man.”

On “Hardball” Tuesday, the Chief Operating Officer of GM, Frederick “Fritz” Henderson, was asked if General Motors was on the “brink of bankruptcy,” and Henderson answered, “Our liquidity is badly tested.” You know what also does badly on tests? GM’s product line.

The CEO’s of the Big Three auto companies will be back on Capitol Hill this week to tell Congress that they’re dangerously close to the edge. And if they don’t stop now…with their brakes, who knows what could happen?

Ford announced on Tuesday that they plan to drop more than 600 dealers. You know what Amy Winehouse calls dropping 600 dealers? Rehab.

I think there may be something wrong with President Bush’s hearing. When he was told the Big Three had arrived in Washington he said, “I can’t wait to decorate it.”

The stock market rallied from a 680 point loss on Monday to a 270 point gain on Tuesday. In fact, Superball stock went from really, really low, to very, very high. Now, I’m no market analyst, but I bet it’s coming back down.

During Charlie Gibson’s interview of George Bush, the president said that among Laura Bush’s greatest accomplishments were “lifting the spirits” of “activists in Burma,” and also “those teachers in America.” Of course, those teachers in America would probably tell President Bush that Burma was renamed Myanmar in 1989.

In his interview with ABC News anchor, Charlie Gibson, President Bush said he would leave office with his “head held high.” That way, it won’t bump into his approval rating.

Pastor Rick Warren has awarded President George Bush the “International Medal of Peace.” A medal of peace for a guy who started a war over bogus WMD’s? Might as well give a medal of sobriety to Amy Winehouse–a medal of fidelity to John Edwards–and a medal of intelligence to Sarah Palin…

Barack Obama is assembling a cabinet that is being referred to as a “Team of Rivals.” In a related story, Sarah Palin says when she’s elected president in 2012, she’ll assemble a team of rifle lovers.

Researchers say they’ve discovered the world’s oldest marijuana stash in a remote part of China. It’s was 2,700 years old! That’s incredible. I didn’t even realize Willie Nelson was touring 2,700 years ago.

You know what the toughest part was about smoking pot 2,700 years ago? Rolling joints with those stone tablets. Talk about smoking rock!

Rumors are running rampant that MSNBC’s Chris Matthews is considering a run for the U.S. Senate. Bill O’Reilly just announced that he’s pulling two squadrons out of the War on Christmas to start a second-front War on Chris Matthews.

Experts say the holiday season always sees a sharp rise in reports of domestic violence. I suppose that’s why the Ike and Tina Turner Christmas Special never made it to broadcast.

WHAT DOES YOUR SLEEP POSITION SAY ABOUT YOU

(Sun) The position you snooze in involves more than comfort it reveals important information about your personality. “The way you sleep echoes the way you deal with your daytime waking hours,” says researcher Dr. Samuel Dunkell. “Invariably, you sleep as you live.” So what is your body saying when you let down your defenses and head off into dreamland? Choose your favorite nightly slumber position, and find out what it reveals about you:

·         You sleep flat on your back — This is known as the royal sleeper, fully on the back with arms slightly akimbo at the sides. This open, vulnerable position reveals your supreme confidence in your abilities. You’re a resilient, inspirational leader who takes on difficult tasks with relish while encouraging others to excel.

·         You assume the fetal position — Lying curled on your side, knees pulled all the way up and head bent forward says you’re highly emotional, inventive and gregarious. You enjoy taking creative risks and you’re flexible enough to handle surprise situations. Women who sleep in this position often enjoy a heightened sexual response.

·         You’re most comfy on your tummy — Sleeping in the prone position with arms framed above your head is a sure sign you’re an adventurer who’s ready for anything. You’re also willing to take on projects that are outside your comfort zone. Uneasy with emotional displays, you only reveal your sensitive side to trusted loved ones.

·         You prefer to stretch out on your side — Falling asleep on your side with one knee slightly bent indicates you’re easygoing, nonjudgmental and thrive on parties and meeting new people. You may get hurt when others abuse your trusting nature, but you’ve also got a long list of loyal pals.

·         You change your position almost every night — Choosing something different every night makes you special, only 5 percent of Americans are in this category. You possess an adaptable mind that’s constantly coming up with innovative ways to handle problems. Family and friends depend on your ability to produce smart solutions.

BANG YOUR HEAD

Glamour says these diseases feel real, but no HMO will cover them.

·         Apologitis — A needless-blame-taking disorder signaled by overuse of the phrase “I’m so sorry.” Acute cases have been known to apologize to people who bump into them. The cure: Try “Oops.”

·         Indecisionism — When it’s 4:30 but there are still seven restaurants under consideration for tonight’s dinner, indecisionism is to blame. The wish to abandon responsibility is a risk factor. A radical treatment involving flipping a coin is in final testing.

·         Man-orexia — This insatiable hunger for anything male causes the sufferer to put her life on hold whenever a set of XY chromosomes crosses her path. One remedy is an all-girl retreat, but more serious cases may need a few hours listening to (radio show) to remember just how unappealing men can be.

·         Screw-you-enza — More common during warm weather, this ailment prompts sufferers to cancel prearranged plans “just because.” It was once thought to be contagious, but clingy relatives and over social peers are more likely the cause. Treatment includes, but is not limited to, high doses of guilt.

OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTIES

Office Christmas parties are in full swing and it’s always fun to talk about “horror” stories from Office Christmas parties. Did you know:

·         A total of 618,000 Americans will be fired because of remarks they made to their boss at the party.

·         At least 288,000 marriages will be damaged beyond repair because of something that happened at a party. About half of those will end in divorce within a year.

·         There will be at least 500,000 unexpected pregnancies as a result of party drinking.

CHRISTMAS MONTAGE

We’ve teamed up with a local jeweler to give away a diamond pendant for with a Christmas Montage. Basically, we’ve strung together 10 song clips with just the word “Christmas” isolated… the first listener who can correctly identify all 10 songs in the correct order wins! We’re posting clues to each song on the web site, as well.

YOU’RE NOT EVEN CLOSE

When it comes to finding Christmas presents, Men’s Health says 2 in three men who, as boys, searched the house for the hidden stash of Christmas presents. And two in 10 men who, as grown men, still search the house for the hidden stash of Christmas presents. Want more? You’re in luck:

·         26% of guys have proposed at the holidays.

·         9 in 10 guys really do believe that “Good things come in small packages.”

·         1 in 6 men have dressed up as Santa Claus.

·         1 in 4 men who dressed up as Santa Claus said it got old really quick.

·         3 in 10 men have their wife or girlfriend do some of their holiday shopping for them.

·         77% of women would prefer to receive a plasma high definition television instead of a diamond solitaire necklace.

·         2 in 3 men have to exchange at least one gift on Christmas Eve.

·         3 in 4 men who have bought a gift so cool they just had to buy the same thing for themselves.

·         1 in 2 men who have “regifted” – taken their gift and given it to someone else.

·         2 in 3 guys have shopped on Christmas Eve.

TANGLED WEB WE UNWEAVE

We made listeners sweat it out holiday style for an ultimate experience. Three listeners were each given 300 tangled Christmas lights as part of “Roulight.” The first person to completely untangle their mess of knotted lights won the ultimate concert experience, including front row seats, a meet and greet, tour merchandise and lots more.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

12.04.08

 SHOW PREP DECEMBER 4, 2008

 

HOLLYWOOD 411 . . .

 

Something seems to be in the water on the set of “How I Met Your Mother.” Show co-star Alyson Hannigan is pregnant and due this spring, and now comes news her co-star Cobie Smulders is pregnant, too. While it’s not clear yet whether the pregnancies will be written into the show’s storylines, show creator Craig Thomas is good natured about the announcements. “If you’re trying to start a family, please come visit the set of ‘How I Met Your Mother.’ Just come by and hang out for a day or two. We can’t legally guarantee anything, but by the time you leave, you will almost certainly be pregnant,” Thomas told TV Guide. (Scoop)

 

Paris Hilton is “addicted” to skydiving – after throwing herself out of a plane to celebrate her birthday last year. The 27-year-old socialite is known for teetering around in high heels and skimpy outfits in the Hollywood party scene. But Hilton insists she’s become an adrenaline junkie since taking part in her first parachute jump in February 2007. She says, “I went for my birthday last year and got addicted, it’s so much fun. I was (terrified) but it’s such a rush, it’s really thrilling.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

British actor Daniel Radcliffe has accepted he’ll forever be linked to his wand-wielding character Harry Potter – because his role in the film has “given him everything”. The 19-year-old attempted to shed his boyish image when he stripped for a full frontal nude seen on London and New York stages in Equus. But Radcliffe insists he’ll always be thankful for his magical role in the blockbuster franchise. He says, “It’s a reality you have to come to terms with – rather than letting it bother you, just accept the fact that there will always be some people who will forever see you for the one part you are most famous for. “It’s not that I want to distance myself from it because… they’ve given me everything… it’s just a matter of being an actor rather than a character.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Brad Pitt has said that he might marry partner Angelina Jolie in the future, but only if their children want them to. During an appearance on the Today show Brad, soon to be seen in the film The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, talked about his family, “I’m really proud of this family. I look at my sons and daughters, I feel rich being around them. Each one offers so much to the mix.” Before briefly commenting on the subject of marriage, “If we feel it’s important to our kids, we would.” Old romantic. (Handbag)

 

Sienna Miller and Balthazar Getty are still cooking – because they never actually split up. British papers recently quoted Miller as saying, “I’m single at the moment . . . I’m cool being on my own.” But a rep for Miller told Page Six: “Contrary to British reports, Sienna never gave an interview about her relationship with Balthazar. An old quote was pulled from an interview three years ago.” So when the London Sun spotted the couple looking “so much in love” while walking hand-in-hand through London, it’s because they are. (Page Six)

 

Fall Out Boy rocker Pete Wentz may have been embarrassed by the nude photos of him that surfaced back in 2006, but they ultimately landed him a nice consolation prize: wife Ashlee Simpson. “She just called me up and made me feel a lot better,” he tells Details. (Simpson herself had just gone through a public shaming for her disastrous “Saturday Night Live” performance.) Wentz admits that getting Simpson pregnant was a “happy accident,” and she had to e-mail him a picture of the pregnancy test to make it sink in. (Page Six)

 

Jessica Simpson wants to head off to college to study theology – and watching TV was her inspiration. “I’ve been contemplating taking a college course in religion,” the bubblehead told Marie Claire. “I love religion. I remember whenever the book ‘The Da Vinci Code’ came out, the Discovery Channel did this three-night piece on it that I TiVoed and then watched eight times.” We just hope someone advises her not to include that bit in her application letter. (Page Six)

 

Meryl Streep says she would love to appear in a Mamma Mia sequel if only the producers can “get those fabulous boys back. The Abba musical became the surprise hit of the summer, grossing £375m worldwide, and starred Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgard. “Grand Mamma Mia! I like it! I’m up for doing a sequel, as long as you can get those fabulous boys back! It’s so gratifying it has been this phenomenon around the work. It says there’s an audience for something that appeals to a lot of women, something that might make them some money too,” Streep said. (British Glamour)

 

Former child star Haley Joel Osment quit alcohol at the age of 18, after he was caught driving drunk in Hollywood in 2006. The Sixth Sense actor was deeply shamed by the incident, which earned him a hefty fine and probation, as well as a mandatory rehab stint and Alcoholics Anonymous course. Osment vowed to stop drinking completely until he turns 21 and is able to buy his own booze legally. Two-and-a-half years on, the actor is approaching the landmark – he turns 21 in April 2009 – and he is proud to have confronted his demons and served his punishment. He say, “It was an example of someone just out of high school being extremely irresponsible. There’s no excuse for that. “I learned my lesson. I made a bad decision, and it’s something you can’t run from.”  (Teen Hollywood)

 

The Hills stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt plan to start a family – just weeks after they married in a secret ceremony in Mexico. The pair, who have been dating since 2006, exchanged vows while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas. And the reality TV couple insist the next logical stage is to try for children. Asked by website TMZ.com whether they plan on having a child, Montag says: “We are going to start it!”. And Pratt adds, “(It’s the) next step!” Pratt also revealed he was surprised at the sudden wedding, which will feature in later episodes of the MTV show. He says, “I have been trying to marry Heidi for two and a half years now. It came out of nowhere. I was like, ‘This was my shot’. ” And Montag recalls the wedding day, adding, “Actually, I really started crying. My eyes just started tearing up. When you hear the love of your life just saying the most amazing, sweet things from his heart, I couldn’t help it. It was the best moment in my life.” (Teen Hollywood)

 

Kevin Federline never wanted to divorce Britney Spears – and insists the singer went behind his back to engineer their break-up. The former dancer – who has two children, Sean Preston and Jayden James, with the singer – hit back after she claimed in her MTV documentary Britney: For the Record this week that it was his decision to split up. But while Federline admits he found married life tough after the birth of their children, he is adamant he wanted to make it work – but the Toxic hitmaker pushed for a divorce. He tells People.com, “It’s hard enough to be in a marriage, and then have a kid, then kids, it changes everything. For me, I’d become more concerned with my children. Not that I ignored Britney, but my kids are always most important “I mean, we were having complications. I didn’t give her an ultimatum, but I was trying to work stuff out with her, and she didn’t even talk to me or anything and went behind my back and filed (for divorce). (I was) completely blindsided.” Federline also revealed he was scared he would never see his sons again after the split. (Teen Hollywood)

 

Mary-Kate Olsen‘s house is in no danger of getting full. The pint-size mogul’s spokesman has shot back at a National Enquirer report claiming the 22-year-old is packing her first child courtesy of artist boyfriend Nate Lowman. “Mary-Kate is absolutely not pregnant,” her rep told Us Weekly. The baby-on-board speculation kicked up Monday when the tabloid published a less-than-flattering photo of the diminutive fashion plate and noted that her weight had “shot up”—the post-Thanksgiving horror!—to just over 100 pounds. (Apparently, the dangers of publicly speculating on the weight of someone who publicly battled an eating disorder was of no concern to the Enquiring set.) The Olsen denial has done nothing to improve the batting average of the tab’s Dec. 1 issue. Yesterday, Patrick Swayze personally denied the Enquirer‘s other major cover story, that his battle with pancreatic cancer had taken a turn for the worse. The newsstand guilty pleasure should be feeling a little more guilty today. (Eonline)

 

Dirty Dancing star Patrick Swayze has slammed reports that he is close to losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. Patrick Swayze has called reports that he is close to death “shoddy and reckless reporting”. Tabloids in the US recently claimed the actor was “on his last legs and saying goodbye to my tearful family” after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. “Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease and from the moment I was diagnosed, I knew I was in for the fight of my life. It’s a battle, and so far, I’ve been winning. I’m one of the lucky few that responds well to treatment,” Swayze said in a statement given to People magazine. “”It’s upsetting that the shoddy and reckless reporting from these publications cast a negative shadow on the positive and good fight I’m fighting. For me, my family, and those close to me, it amounts to downright emotional cruelty. That makes me angry when hope is so precious.” (Handbag)

 

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has slammed claims that she courts media attention. Victoria Beckham has denied she, and husband David court media attention. “We lead our lives in a much more low-profile way than people think. I’m not going to The Ivy in Beverly Hills. I don’t think I’ve been to a premiere since we moved there,” she told The Times. “We’re not courting fame. I can give you a list of numerous restaurants that have underground parking so no one can get any photographs. I don’t really care what people think. I never made friends easily. For years, when I was in the Spice Girls, those were my four best friends. Now I’ve got David.” (Handbag)

 

Kelly Ripa‘s rep has a reply to the claim that the star’s 12-year marriage to actor Mark Consuelos is over: No way. “There is no truth to the story. Their marriage continues to be quite healthy, and the National Enquirer should be ashamed for fabricating such an untruthful story,” Ripa’s spokesman, Stan Rosenfield, told PEOPLE Wednesday, after the paper reported the couple have split. “Their story is 100 percent false,” Rosenfield added. Regis Philbin’s on-air cohost of Live! since February 2001, Ripa, 38, has been wed to Conseulos, 37, since 1996, after having met the year before while both were acting on the daytime drama All My Children. Together they have three children: Michael, 11; Lola, 7; and Joaquin, 5. Last year, Ripa said of Consuelos: “I’ve had a crush on my husband since the day I met him.”  (People)

 

Mark Ruffalo’s brother is clinging to life right now after he was shot in the head in Beverly Hills Monday. Police sources tell TMZ Scott Ruffalo was the victim of a “suspicious shooting” that took place in his own Beverly Hills apartment. We’re also told cops are trying to determine if anything criminal went down — meaning they haven’t ruled out an accidental shooting or a suicide attempt. (TMZ)

 

Odetta, the folk singer with the powerful voice who moved audiences and influenced fellow musicians for a half-century, has died. She was 77. Odetta died Tuesday of heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital, said her manager of 12 years, Doug Yeager. She was admitted to the hospital with kidney failure about three weeks ago, he said. In spite of failing health that caused her to use a wheelchair, Odetta performed 60 concerts in the last two years, singing for 90 minutes at a time. Her singing ability never diminished, Yeager said. “The power would just come out of her like people wouldn’t believe,” he said. With her booming, classically trained voice and spare guitar, Odetta gave life to the songs by workingmen and slaves, farmers and miners, housewives and washerwomen, blacks and whites. First coming to prominence in the 1950s, she influenced Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and other singers who had roots in the folk music boom. An Odetta record on the turntable, listeners could close their eyes and imagine themselves hearing the sounds of spirituals and blues as they rang out from a weathered back porch or around a long-vanished campfire a century before. “What distinguished her from the start was the meticulous care with which she tried to re-create the feeling of her folk songs; to understand the emotions of a convict in a convict ditty, she once tried breaking up rocks with a sledge hammer,” Time magazine wrote in 1960. “She is a keening Irishwoman in `Foggy Dew,’ a chain-gang convict in `Take This Hammer,’ a deserted lover in `Lass from the Low Country,'” Time wrote. Odetta called on her fellow blacks to “take pride in the history of the American Negro” and was active in the civil rights movement. When she sang at the March on Washington in August 1963, “Odetta’s great, full-throated voice carried almost to Capitol Hill,” The New York Times wrote. She was nominated for a 1963 Grammy awards for best folk recording for “Odetta Sings Folk Songs.” Two more Grammy nominations came in recent years, for her 1999 “Blues Everywhere I Go” and her 2005 album “Gonna Let It Shine.” In 1999, she was honored with a National Medal of the Arts. Then-President Bill Clinton said her career showed “us all that songs have the power to change the heart and change the world.” “I’m not a real folksinger,” she told The Washington Post in 1983. “I don’t mind people calling me that, but I’m a musical historian. I’m a city kid who has admired an area and who got into it. I’ve been fortunate. With folk music, I can do my teaching and preaching, my propagandizing.” Among her notable early works were her 1956 album “Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues,” which included such songs as “Muleskinner Blues” and “Jack O’ Diamonds”; and her 1957 “At the Gate of Horn,” which featured the popular spiritual “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Her 1965 album “Odetta Sings Dylan” included such standards as “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” “Masters of War” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” In a 1978 Playboy interview, Dylan said, “the first thing that turned me on to folk singing was Odetta.” He said he found “just something vital and personal” when he heard an early album of hers in a record store as a teenager. “Right then and there, I went out and traded my electric guitar and amplifier for an acoustical guitar,” he said. Belafonte also cited her as a key influence on his hugely successful recording career, and she was a guest singer on his 1960 album, “Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall.” She continued to record in recent years; her 2001 album “Looking for a Home (Thanks to Leadbelly)” paid tribute to the great blues singer to whom she was sometimes compared. Odetta’s last big concert was on Oct. 4 at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, where she performed in front of tens of thousands at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, Yeager said. She also performed Oct. 25-26 in Toronto. Odetta hoped to sing at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, though she had not been officially invited, Yeager said. Born Odetta Holmes in Birmingham, Ala., in 1930, she moved with her family to Los Angeles at age 6. Her father had died when she was young and she took her stepfather’s last name, Felious. Hearing her in glee club, a junior high teacher made sure she got music lessons, but Odetta became interested in folk music in her late teens and turned away from classical studies. She got much of her early experience at the Turnabout Theatre in Los Angeles, where she sang and played occasional stage roles in the early 1950s. “What power of characterization and projection of mood are hers, even though plainly clad and sitting or standing in half light!” a Los Angeles Times critic wrote in 1955. Over the years, she picked up occasional acting roles in TV and film. None other than famed Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper reported in 1961 that she “comes through beautifully” in the film “Sanctuary.” In the Washington Post interview, Odetta theorized that humans developed music and dance because of fear, “fear of God, fear that the sun would not come back, many things. I think it developed as a way of worship or to appease something. … The world hasn’t improved, and so there’s always something to sing about.” Odetta is survived by a daughter, Michelle Esrick of New York City, and a son, Boots Jaffre, of Fort Collins, Colo. She was divorced about 40 years ago and never remarried, her manager said. A memorial service was planned for next month, Yeager said. (Daily Record)

 

 

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

 

Hollywood stars Jane Fonda and Jack Nicholson are among the latest notable figures being inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Musicians Dave Brubeck and Quincy Jones, fitness guru Jack LaLanne, sculptor Robert Graham and chef Alice Waters will also be inducted at the Dec. 15 ceremony in Sacramento. “Dr. Seuss” author Theodor Geisel, photographer Dorothea Lange, architect Julia Morgan, scientist Linus Pauling and former Gov. Leland Stanford will be inducted posthumously. First lady Maria Shriver started the program in 2006 to honor those who’ve helped shape the state. Fonda’s induction comes nearly 30 years after the state Senate rejected her nomination to the California Arts Council because of her campaign against the Vietnam War. (Daily Record)

 

Jet Li said China is ready for an explosion of volunteerism amid its growing prosperity as he put aside his acting duties to discuss charitable efforts Wednesday at former President Bill Clinton’s donor conference in Hong Kong. Speaking at a panel discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative Asia conference, the 45-year-old action film star said volunteerism and charity are rare in China but are now on the rise as the country becomes more prosperous after two decades of capitalist-style economic reforms. “Before the reforms, China’s 1.3 billion people couldn’t even fill their stomachs. The only way people could help others is a word of encouragement,” Li said. Now Chinese are eager to help others in need, Li said, saying he expects “an explosion of the Chinese people’s generosity pent-up over the past 100 years.” Li, who founded the charity One Foundation, a partnership with the Red Cross Society of China, said he was particularly impressed with the number of volunteers that flocked to help victims of the earthquake in China’s central Sichuan province in May. “Countless volunteers were on the front lines,” he said. Li’s movie credits include “Lethal Weapon 4,” “Romeo Must Die,” “The Forbidden Kingdom” and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.” (Daily Record)

 

Tom Hanks wants to attend President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration even if he doesn’t get a front-row seat. Or any seat at all. “Look, I’ll be in the back,” the 52-year-old Oscar winner said backstage Tuesday night at a benefit for the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. “I’ll sit on the Lincoln steps and just watch it from the distance on a Jumbotron. I’ve never been to anything like that, and – finally – a guy I voted for won. That hasn’t happened most of my life.” Hanks posted a video pledging his support for Obama on MySpace last May. In the video, Hanks said he was backing Obama because of his “character and vision, and the high road he has taken during this campaign.” Hanks also said Obama “has the integrity and the inspiration to unify us, as did FDR and Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy and even Ronald Reagan when they ran for the job.” Hank’s wife, Rita Wilson, echoed her husband’s sentiment before the pair joined a star-studded cast – which included Annette Bening, William Shatner, Martin Short, James Cromwell and Alicia Silverstone – for a one-time only performance of the Pulitzer-prize-winning play “You Can’t Take It With You” at UCLA’s Royce Hall. However, Wilson had a different viewing spot in mind for Jan. 20. “I think we’re going to get a kayak and go into the National Mall waters,” she joked. (Daily Record)

 

After grabbing the spotlight on Dancing with the Stars Lance Bass has a few words about another celebrity returning to the stage – Britney Spears. “This is going to be the biggest comeback of all time,” he told PEOPLE Monday during a party in his honor at New York’s Citrine. “I don’t think she needs any advice from me,” added Bass, 29. “She’s doing an amazing job right now and I’m so proud of her.” Spears released her sixth studio album, Circus, on Tuesday – which was also her 27th birthday – and celebrated with a performance on Good Morning America. Spears is also going back on the road with a 27-city North American tour that will kick off in March. Bass also offered congratulations to his former bandmate (and Spears’s onetime boyfriend) Justin Timberlake, whose romance with Jessica Biel is going strong. “They’re just really great people,” he gushed. “She’s just one of the guys when it comes to him, and that something that he really loves, a girl that can just hang and get along with all his friends.” As for Bass, don’t look for him on the dance floor again anytime soon. “I’m lucky that I don’t have to dance the samba anymore,” he said laughing. “But it’s definitely opened my eyes to a lot of new things and different styles of music, which is really cool. I can say I can danced those different styles, which is something I never thought I’d be able to do.” (People)

 

Donald Trump is fuming at his brother Robert, who’s in a nasty divorce battle with his socialite wife, Blaine. “Donald is extremely angry because Robert failed to have a prenuptial agreement,” a source close to the developer says. “Donald would constantly tell him to get an agreement signed, and Robert told him he had one. Ironically, Robert Cohen, the lawyer repping Blaine, also represented Ivana Trump when she tried to break her prenuptial agreement with Donald. Cohen lost big to Donald, and the prenup was upheld in its entirety. Donald likes going around telling people that he kicked Cohen’s ass. He’s surprised Blaine is using him.” (Page Six)

 

Supermodel-turned-talkshow host Tyra Banks avoids romance with fellow celebrities – instead choosing to meet potential boyfriends through blind dates. The America’s Next Top Model beauty has most recently been linked to New York banker John Utendahl, but was previously rumored to be dating former basketball star Chris Webber and director John Singleton. But she insists she isn’t looking to find love with another famous person – because the media attention would be too much to handle. She tells Ebony magazine, “One thing I can say is I try not to date people who are famous because one celebrity plus another celebrity equals five… The paparazzi will just start mixing my name with theirs. “I find it fascinating looking at other celebs dating each other and I’m like, ‘Look how cool they look!’ But it’s not a personal interest of mine, I get set up by my friends. It’s the hook up!”  (Teen Hollywood)

 

Dallas Stars hockey player Sean Avery has been suspended indefinitely for referring to his ex, 24‘s Elisha Cuthbert, as “sloppy seconds.” Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning after a practice in Calgary, Avery made a public dig at Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who is dating Cuthbert. “I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada,” he said. “I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don’t know what that’s about. Enjoy the game tonight.” After the National Hockey League suspended him for “inappropriate public comments,” Avery — who served as an intern at Vogue this past year — now has to meet with Commissioner Gary Bettman, who will determine any additional penalty. A hearing has yet to be scheduled.  “I completely support the league’s decision to suspend Sean Avery,” Stars owner Tom Hicks said in a statement. “Had the league not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so.” Avery signed a four-year, $15.5 million deal with the Stars last summer. He previously played for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings before that. (US Weekly)

 

Sir Bob Geldof’s daughter Peaches has confessed to being a big fan of Kerry Katona. Peaches Geldof has owned up to being a huge fan of former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona. “I love Kerry so much. Her show was my favorite thing on TV. She’s such a train wreck but she’s amazing,” the socialite told Closer magazine before going on to say she’d like to see Katona dressed in a ‘dress made of Iceland bags’. Last week Kelly Osbourne called Peaches a “sad little girl”.  (Handbag)

 

NeNe Leakes, star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is no longer living at the 5,000-square-foot, 5-bedroom home shown on the hit Bravo series. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she and her husband, real estate investor Gregory Leakes, left the property in November — a month after an eviction notice was filed by Winwood Properties. The notice, filed Sept. 24, claimed that they owed $6,240 in past rent. “The tenant said they would move by Sept. 14th because they could no longer afford the house,” the notice read. NeNe would not reveal where she is currently living. “It’s none of your business,” she told The Journal-Constitution in an e-mail. She also mentioned that they “are financial able [sic] and stable to live where ever we feel fits.” She stressed that the eviction notice did not have her name on it. “You don’t know my relationship with Greg,” she said, “so be careful what you report!” She said their home “was a lease purchase corporate deal with Greg & his company. Things didn’t work out between the two of them so they did what they had to do and he did what he had to do.” In a later email, she wrote, “If we rent, lease purchase or buy, money is still coming out of my pocket. So who’s [sic] business is that??” (US Weekly)

 

Meow! Meow! Meow! Tamra Barney of The Real Housewives of Orange County has some fightin’ words for the show’s newest housewife, Gretchen Rossi. Why? Because Gretchen told me earlier this week that she and Tamra got into tiff during filming when Tamra allegedly made an insensitive remark about her fiancé, Jeff Beitzel. (At the time, Jeff was suffering from leukemia; he passed away in September.) Tamra insists she did no such thing. “I have never made a statement about Jeff,” she wrote me in an email. “I never met the man. May he RIP!” Tamra goes even further to claim, “The only time we heard Gretchen speak of Jeff was when the cameras were turned ON.” Oy. And there’s more. Tamra insists she worked hard to make Gretchen feel at home among the O.C. posse, but never promised to be her BFF. (Gretchen told me she felt betrayed by Tamra’s Jeff comments because they had just talked like they were “best friends.”)  “I told her from day one I was not here to be her friend,” she wrote. “This is a working relationship…I might be judged harshly for my sharp tongue RIGHT NOW, but keep watching! I judge people on their actions and not their words.” Nope, Tamra’s not done yet. “Jeana [Keough] was right when she wrote on her blog [that] Gretchen should be on scripted TV, if you get what I mean,” Barney continued. “This is reality TV and I give viewers my life, not bulls–t or what sounds good at the moment.” And besides, she added, “I really don’t care if she does not like me.” So there! See you in the schoolyard, kids! (Eonline)

 

“Blake incarcerated” – again! Amy Winehouse‘s husband Blake Fielder-Civil is being sent back to prison, just one month after he was released into rehab, his lawyer confirms to PEOPLE. “I can confirm he has been recalled,” says Fielder-Civil’s lawyer Kate Anderson, declining to state the reason. (A source close to Fielder-Civil tells PEOPLE that he failed a drug test.) The 26-year-old – who was sentenced to 27 months on charges of assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice – had been in rehab as part of his early release from jail. Anderson tells PEOPLE that “the position on recall is that you then serve the remainder of the sentence” – meaning Fielder-Civil would remain in jail until 2010. The U.K.’s Sun newspaper also reports that Fielder-Civil ran away from the rehab facility Tuesday night to visit to his estranged wife. Winehouse, 25, remains hospitalized in London as part of her ongoing treatment, her rep told PEOPLE earlier this week. Fielder-Civil “turned up in hospital and hell broke loose,” according to The Sun‘s source. “He was asking Amy to forgive him.” Winehouse and Fielder-Civil wed in Miami in 2007. The “Rehab” singer dedicated this year’s Grammy wins to “my Blake, my Blake incarcerated.” But the singer had not visited her husband since his November release. Just last weekend, Fielder-Civil hinted to the News of the World that he was ready to end their union. “I have to let her go to save her life.” (People)

 

We obtained a 911 call made by Nate Dogg’s estranged wife, Latoya, and she was pretty calm considering the consequences — that Nate allegedly was chasing her down the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles and trying to kill her. Nate was arrested back in June for the incident, and charged with three felony counts of making criminal threats and stalking and one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license. (TMZ)

 

Paparazzi-ing is dangerous work sometimes! In May, bodyguards working for pop princess Rihanna and boyfriend Chris Brown supposedly beat up a Florida photog named Luis Santana for snapping some pics of the two getting cozy outside of a Florida club before they ‘officially’ came out as a couple. On Tuesday, the pap filed a $1 million lawsuit against the couple, the bodyguards and the club, who Santana claims had ‘inadequate security’. “I couldn’t believe it was happening. I’ve done this many, many times before and never have I ever gotten close to being grabbed. There’s a dark side to celebrities and nightlife,” said the photog to the media. Chris Brown’s attorney stated, “neither Chris Brown nor his security was involved in the alleged incident.” Papping can be hazardous to your health! (Perez Hilton)

 

Tyler Perry went to court to face allegations that he stole material from someone else for his blockbuster film “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.” Donna West is suing the actor-screenwriter for copyright infringement in U.S. District Court and wants a jury to award her family all profits made from the film. “I can’t put my play on because the stories are basically the same and nobody wants to see that again,” she said. West testified Tuesday that she developed a script titled “Fantasy of a Black Woman” based primarily on her own experiences. With her in the starring role, the play was performed in July 1991 at the Junior Black Academy of Arts and Letters at the Dallas Convention Center. “The play was opened to the public. Anyone could have attended,” West said. Perry’s movie, which earned some $50 million, came out in 2005. Jurors on Tuesday watched the film and listened to a reading of the script from West’s play. In her opening remarks to the jury, Perry’s attorney, Veronica Lewis, said her client is an “immensely talented” individual “who has no need whatsoever” to use the materials of others. Lewis noted that Perry had experienced considerable success before and after the film, “so why would he need to copy Ms. West’s script?” Testimony was expected to resume Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis told jurors he anticipates the case will be completed by next Tuesday. (Daily Record)

 

 

MUSIC . . .

 

Today’s stage and screen divas could learn from Tina Turner. The day before the living legend brought down the house at a packed Madison Square Garden, Turner had to be hospitalized for a very high fever and was put on oxygen. But Turner, the consummate professional, refused to cancel the show sponsored by Amway Global. Nor did she let down the VIPs – including Anne Hathaway, Molly Simms and MTV honcho Tony DiSanto – who congregated on the Artistry tour bus before the concert. The group was told that when they met Turner, “no one is to shake her hand, and she cannot talk before performing [because of the illness]. She’s very shy.” However, Turner not only shook hands but spoke with each guest. Also there were Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, celebrating their second anniversary, who chatted with Turner backstage. (Page Six)

 

To the delight of trannies everywhere, Cher is coming out with another album. The legendary singer, who’s ensconced at Caesars in Las Vegas for the next two years, told a Page Six operative at the new Luau restaurant: “I’m planning an album of all these great songs from the ’60s that I’ve never covered before. It was such a magical time for music – groups like The Beatles, the Hollies, the Zombies, the Kinks, the Stones and singers like Dylan and Otis Redding . . . I want to pay tribute to a time when I used to listen to music on my little transistor radio or on my AM radio in my Ford Mustang.” (Page Six)

 

Van Halen’s backstage concert rider isn’t as salacious as it was decades ago, when the band was demanding various and sundry controlled substances, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some fodder to be found in the band’s 2008 rider. TheSmokingGun.com unearthed said rider, and it stipulates that Diamond Dave’s dwelling “SHOULD BE AS FAR AWAY FROM” dressing rooms occupied by bandmates Wolfgang, Alex, and Eddie Van Halen. And while alcohol isn’t stocked in individual dressing rooms, (it’s all Red Bull, Gatorade, fresh fruit, and Japanese Apple Pears), Eddie’s onstage cooler contained “mini bottles” of “Gallo Twin Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (red & white label, red cap).” (Scoop)

 

Madonna has postponed the first of four shows in Argentina. Representatives of River Plate Stadium say they have postponed the pop star’s opening concert at the request of the production company. She will still perform as scheduled in Buenos Aires on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Local news media are reporting that some of Madonna’s sound equipment hasn’t arrived due to flight delays, so the concert could be rescheduled for Monday. Local production company Time 4 Fun wouldn’t comment when contacted by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Madonna kicked off the Latin American leg of her “Sticky & Sweet” world tour last week in Mexico City. From Buenos Aires she heads to Chile and Brazil. (Daily Record)

 

Beyoncé is the first artist lined up for next year’s Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. Organizers of the festival announced Tuesday the singer has confirmed her participation. The July event will mark the 15th anniversary of the celebration of black music and culture. The festival will include more than 12 musical acts a day. The festival had one of its biggest turnouts this year with more than 270,000 attendees. Performers at the last event included Mary J. Blige and LL Cool J. (Daily Record)

 

This week marks the 20^th anniversary of Roy Orbison’s death. The untimely death of this music legend at the age of 52 left a hole in the music industry that will never be filled. To commemorate the 20^th anniversary of Orbison’s passing and to thank fans for keeping Roy’s memory alive, Roy Orbison Jr. has made the full recording of ‘The Last Concert’ available for download, exclusively at iTunes on December 2, 2008.  Roy Orbison performed his final concert at Highland Heights in Akron, Ohio on December 4, 1988 – two days before his untimely passing.  While the concert was recorded and Roy’s performance of “It’s Over” is featured in ‘The Soul of Rock and Roll’ 4 CD Box set, released by Sony Music In October 2008, the final tapes in their entirety have remained unreleased, until now.  

Roy Orbison The Last Concert – Track List

1.   Only the Lonely 4:32

2.   Leah 3:16

3.   Dream Baby 2:56

4.   In Dreams 3:28

5.   Mean Woman Blues 3:17

6.   Blue Bayou 3:27

7.   Candyman 3:45

8.   Crying 5:43

9.   Ooby Dooby 5:57

10. Go, Go, Go (Down the Line) 5:52

11. It’s Over 3:29

12. Working For the Man 1:50

13. Lana 2:48

14.  Oh, Pretty Woman 5:22

 Sony Music Entertainment has released the ‘The Best of The Soul Of Rock And Roll’ to honor the profoundly influential American singer, songwriter and performer Roy Orbison.  Featuring all the big singles, including (Oh) Pretty Woman, Crying, Only The Lonely, in Dreams and many more, it is a fitting tribute to someone who is regarded by all as one of the true musical greats. (Press Release)

 

 

MOVIE . . .

 

Shia LaBeouf is in for more action on the big screen after movie bosses tapped him to star in an upcoming legal thriller. The Indiana Jones actor has landed the title role in the movie version of John Grisham’s new book The Associate, scheduled to hit shelves in January. LaBeouf will play a student graduating from Yale Law School who is given confidential information about a multi-billion dollar lawsuit. The 22-year-old joins a list of Hollywood actors who’ve led Grisham adaptations, including Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman. (Teen Hollywood)

 

Alfie star Sienna Miller plans to make a film with on/off boyfriend Balthazar Getty. Sienna Miller has told friends a film staring her partner Balthazar Getty would be “movie gold” sources have told The Sun. Sienna and Balthazar’s relationship has a received negative press after the Brothers And Sisters star left his wife and four children. “Her advisers are warning how unpopular that would be but Sienna insists it could be movie gold and is looking for a script,” the insider says. “People haven’t taken to them as a pair due to the way they got together. They fear people will find it a bit too sickly – as though they are rubbing his wife’s face in it.” (Handbag)

 

Years after making Zoolander, there might be a Zoolander 2 in the works for star Ben Stiller. Stiller was in London last week for the premiere of another one of his sequels, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. And, during an interview, he confirms the news that there might be a Zoolander 2 in the works, especially since they’ve been working on scripts. Stiller says, “I’ve been trying to get Zoolander 2 together and we’ve had a few scripts. I feel that is the sequel I really would like to do some day because I like the original and I would make sure it was something new and worthy of it first.” And there’s more. Stiller adds, “Meet the Parents 3 is a possibility too.” Enough with the sequels! (Perez Hilton)

 

Paramount Vantage is off to a bad start hyping its expensive Leonardo DiCaprio–Kate Winslet flick, “Revolutionary Road,” as an Oscar contender. On Monday, the studio so overbooked an industry screening at the AMC Loews 34th Street – featuring a live Q&A with Leo and Kate – that nearly 200 were turned away, one movie honcho told us. Those kept out included members of guilds representing actors, writers and producers, and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, some of whom vote for Oscar nominees. “Scott Rudin, who produced, is always very respectful of industry members, so he’s got to be furious about this. It can’t help the film’s chances,” our insider said. A studio rep told us: “Guild screenings are traditionally overbooked to account for drop-off . . . We look forward to showing it at a later date to those who missed it.” The R-rated movie opens Dec. 26. (Page Six)

 

The Golden Globes are getting a lot of support. The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. has accepted bids from several studios to classify actors in its supporting categories despite comparatively significant screen time. The HFPA allowed Miramax’s push for Philip Seymour Hoffman’s complicated cleric Father Flynn in “Doubt” and Dev Patel’s soft-spoken Jamal Malik in “Slumdog Millionaire” as supporting roles in the Golden Globes race, nominations for which will be announced Dec. 11. And after what was said to be heated discussion, they ultimately accepted the Weinstein Co.’s positioning of Kate Winslet’s Nazi guard Hanna Schmitz in “The Reader” as a supporting actress, ensuring the star of “Revolutionary Road” will not compete against herself. Ralph Fiennes and David Kross, who play younger and older versions of conflicted lawyer Michael Burk, also were accepted as supporting actors, making the movie a rarity: a non-ensemble film with no lead. The abundance of borderline cases that went supporting will make a normally sparse field more crowded. Studios often prefer supporting categories because the roomier field could increase nomination chances, but the cases this year could upend the conventional wisdom. Supporting categories also are more limited because they don’t split comedy/musical and drama into two categories, as the lead acting categories do. At the other end of the spectrum, the HFPA accepted three leads for Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” in Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall and also allowed Michael Sheen as a lead for David Frost in presidential talker “Frost/Nixon.” On the film front, the HFPA allowed Overture’s push for “Last Chance Harvey” as a comedy/musical, which will mean that leads Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson will face a less dense field in acting categories. The group also allowed “Cadillac Records” as a comedy/musical. The HFPA rejected, however, Lionsgate’s bid to consider “W.” as a comedy/musical, a move that would have put it in a less crowded field. The decision opens up a slot in best motion picture comedy/musical for what’s considered an up-for-grabs race. Another movie, “Slumdog,” had been the subject of early rumors as a potential comedy/musical entry, but Fox Searchlight submitted it as a drama, which the HFPA accepted. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Kevin Spacey has been tapped to host the first annual MOFILM Mobile Short Film Festival at the GSMA’s Mobile World Congress event. Spacey will also sit for a keynote interview at the Congress, which will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from Feb. 16-20. MOFILM has received entries from filmmakers in over 40 countries; grand prize winner will receive a Cruze vehicle from Chevrolet, a partner in the festival. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

 

TV . . .

 

Julie Andrews is going from “The Sound of Music” to hosting one of music’s biggest annual events. The 73-year-old actress is succeeding Walter Cronkite as anchor of the Vienna Philharmonic’s annual New Year’s Day concert on PBS. Cronkite had been the narrator of the “Great Performances” telecast in the United States for the past 24 years. “He is passing the baton this year and staying home with his family, and they asked me if I would do this special 25th anniversary program,” Andrews said Wednesday during a telephone interview from Los Angeles. The New Year’s concert in Vienna – mostly waltzes, polkas and marches from the Strauss family – has an estimated worldwide TV audience exceeding 1 billion. Daniel Barenboim will conduct for the first time in 2009, and the concert is to be released on DVD by Decca Classics. Andrews wasn’t sure whether she will become a permanent replacement for the 92-year-old Cronkite, the retired CBS anchorman. “I’m sure the format is pretty much the same,” she said. “It’s like a wonderful postcard tribute to Vienna and its surrounding areas and beautiful museums and castles. I’m sort of the glue that holds the whole evening together.” Andrews plans to fly to Vienna on Friday for the start of production. She has not been there since the early 1960s, when she visited the city while “The Sound of Music” was in production in Salzburg and other parts of Austria. The picture won an Academy Award for best picture, and Andrews was nominated for best actress for her portrayal of Maria von Trapp. She thinks that, because of the movie, many people identify her with Austria. “Certainly for me it has wonderful memories,” she said. “It seemed to make a great deal sense that I accept the baton being passed from Mr. Cronkite.” Andrews, a fan of the music of Ravel, Prokofiev, Mozart, Brahms and the Strauss family, has never been to the Musikverein, the 138-year-old hall where the concert takes place. “As much as I will be a hostess, I will also be a tourist,” she said. “I just think it’s a lovely tradition. It’s something that makes everybody feel good. The great Strauss music is so enjoyable, it all seems to fit in with the happiness of the new year.” (Daily Record)

 

A veteran star being saluted by a bunch of hot new ones – Alan Jackson knows this can be trouble. But in his case, Country Music Television’s “CMT Giants: Alan Jackson” (9 p.m. EST Saturday) doesn’t signal a changing of the guard just yet. At 50, Jackson remains a reliable hitmaker, even though he probably has guitar picks older than Taylor Swift and some of the other artists honoring him. “Typically, your career is over or you’re dead before they do something like this, so I’m very lucky to have it at this point,” said the easygoing singer, who had a pair of No. 1 singles from his latest album, “Good Time.” Still, there’s no escaping that Jackson has become an elder. The word “influence” was tossed around a lot when the show was taped in October at the Ryman Auditorium with performers including Swift, George Strait, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Lee Ann Womack. Hank Williams Jr., George Jones and Jackson’s wife, Denise, were also on hand, as were President George W. Bush, Diane Sawyer and Carrie Underwood by videotape. “I’d say Hank Williams Jr. and Alan Jackson are the two guys whose music really resonated with me,” said Bentley, who recalled seeing Jackson in concert when he was 18. “As a songwriter, anytime I’m looking for inspiration musically, all I’ve got to do is listen either to an old Alan Jackson record or get hold of whatever new Alan Jackson record is out there, and it reminds me of why I wanted to do this,” said Paisley, who performed Jackson’s hit “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere.” It was tough to tell how Jackson felt about the attention. Even on a normal day, he always seems painfully shy for a guy in his line of work. “When they first came to me and said they wanted to do a show about giants, I thought it was because I was so tall,” he joked. He credited wife Denise for keeping him grounded (“She knew me when I was nobody, and she still speaks to me that way”) and he appeared humbled by all the kind words. “It’s an incredible honor and kind of freaky to see all these people here. The president of the United States and all these celebrities coming together and saying all these nice things. It’s pretty overwhelming,” said Jackson. (Daily Record)

 

NBC says “ER” will treat its last patients during a two-hour series finale set to air March 12. A week after that medical drama ends its 15-season run, NBC will introduce “Kings,” an ambitious new series set in the present but based on the Biblical tale of David and Goliath. It stars Ian McShane (“Deadwood”) as the powerful monarch of mythical Gilboa. A four-hour thriller starring Val Kilmer (“The Doors”) and Stephen Dorff (“World Trade Center”), “XIII” will air Feb. 8 and 15. And the new season of “Celebrity Apprentice” will begin March 1, NBC says. But there’s no news yet on a premiere date for the as-yet-untitled comedy starring “Saturday Night Live” alum Amy Poehler, which NBC is still promising for later this season. (Daily Record)

 

Hey, Ellen, forget Victoria’s Secret models. Leave Kate Hudson at home. The real way to nab George Clooney to appear on her show is to woo him with male dancers, Brad Pitt slyly reveals. “We’ve tried everything,” DeGeneres explains to Pitt of her “catch Clooney” project, which she’s been working on since moving to her new studio adjacent to the actor’s office. “We’ve sent ‘Victoria’s Secret’ models over. We’ve sent Miss America over. We’ve sent Kate Hudson over. We’ve sent gifts. We decorated his bungalow for Halloween. I don’t know what more we can do.” Quick to the punch, Pitt says via satellite from New Orleans, “This is your problem … Get a bunch of Chippendales. He’s yours. Three, four – no less than three.” And he adds, “Make one a blonde.” Not one to pass on a great joke, DeGeneres vows, “We’re going to do it and we’re going to say it’s from you.” In the interview, set to air on DeGeneres’s talk show Wednesday, the two also discuss Pitt’s “Make it Right” foundation to aid the hurricane ravaged Lower Ninth Ward and supporting No on Prop 8. (People)

 

Neve Campbell is close to returning to series television with a co-starring role on NBC’s midseason drama “The Philanthropist.” “Philanthropist,” from Universal Media Studios, centers on Teddy Rist (James Purefoy), a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth, connections and power to help people in need around the world.  “Party of Five” alumna Campbell will play the wife of his business partner and lifelong friend, Phillip (Jesse Martin), who runs the two billionaires’ charitable foundation and has strong chemistry with Teddy. The actress, repped by ICM and Foster-Delaney Management and attorney Steve Younger, is expected to leave shortly for South Africa where “Philanthropist” is being shot.  (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Emmy winner Craig T. Nelson is set to do a three-episode arc of CBS’ crime drama “CSI: NY.” He will play Robert Parker, an powerful NYC publishing magnet and a nemesis to Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise). Nelson, who won an Emmy for his starring role on the comedy “Coach,” recurred on NBC’s “My Name Is Earl” last year. On the big screen the actor, repped by Paradigm and Forward Entertainment, will next be seen in the comedy “The Proposal.” (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Miles O’Brien will soon be leaving CNN after 16 years. O’Brien, who has been CNN’s chief technology and environment correspondent since ending his stint as anchor of “American Morning” in April 2007, is departing as the network dismantles its science and technology unit. Six producers also will be leaving. CNN’s coverage of science, technology and the environment has been integrated into the general editorial structure, according to spokeswoman Christa Robinson. Along with other duties, O’Brien had covered the space program for a decade, and in 2005 revealed that he had been close to getting NASA’s go-ahead to be the first American journalist in space until the shuttle Columbia broke apart on its return flight two years earlier. No departure date for O’Brien has been announced. (Daily Record)

 

College football’s Bowl Championship Series game will be broadcast in 3-D to the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show and select 3-D-ready theaters, David Hill, chairman and CEO of Fox Sports Television Group, said Tuesday at the 3-D Entertainment Summit. He is enthusiastic about the format but made it clear that if 3-D TV is to move forward, stakeholders should be prepared to take out their checkbooks. “You are not going to see 3-D — if I have my way — on broadcast television until the manufacturers of the sets that are making money are subsidizing us with every piece of equipment that we have to buy,” he said. “The HD transition was dreadful. It cost us a fortune to work in HD: to re-equip our studios, to re-equip our cameras, to re-equip our trucks. And do we get an extra cent from the advertisers? No. If the 3-D industry thinks they are going to get the same ride, they are wrong.” Speaking frankly about the cost of the equipment, he added: “Do I want to build a truck that shoots in 3-D? No. I’m having trouble paying for trucks that shoot in HD. I would prefer to be paying for trucks that shoot in standard definition because that’s cheaper. I’d prefer to be paying for a truck that shot in black-and-white right now.” During the presentation, Hill showed a Fox Sports test reel of 3-D professional football, basketball, boxing and NASCAR. (Hollywood Reporter)

 

Andrew Sachs’s granddaughter, Georgina Baillie is being lined up to appear in the next series of Celebrity Big Brother. Georgina Baillie, the exotic dancer at the centre of the Jonathan Ross/Russell Brand/Andrew Sachs phone prank controversy is top of producer’s wish list to appear in the next series of Celebrity Big Brother sources have told the Daily Mail. Georgina, a member of dance troop the Satanic Sluts, came to the public’s attention after ex-lover Russell Brand and fellow DJ Jonathan Ross left lewd messages on her grandfather Andrew Sachs’s answer phone. “We couldn’t have timed it better if we tried,” an insider claims. “It will guarantee Big Brother maximum publicity. An approach is being made to her and we are confident of landing her because we know she is keen for publicity to kickstart her own TV career. She would be on primetime TV every night and the producers know that Georgie is not backward in coming forwards. Georgie knows they will want her to talk openly about the whole affair, but she doesn’t mind in the slightest – she will do anything for fame.” Other names in the frame for this year’s show include Amy Winehouse’s husband Blake Fielder-Civil, former Sugababe Mutya Buena and Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik. (Handbag)

 

 

TODAY’S IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION . . .  (Mike Butts Creative)

 

Q.  9 out of 10 women says that doing THIS . . . is a real turn off for them?

            A.  Wearing too much cologne

 

 

TODAY’S QUOTE  (By Marcus A. Antoninus)

 

“THE HAPPINESS OF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF YOUR THOUGHTS.”

 

 

MIND BOGGLERS . . .  (QuickTrivia)

 

Q.  In 1964, a Beatles song won a Grammy for Best Performance by a Vocal Group. That song also became the title of their first movie. What was it?

            A.  Help

            B.  Yellow Submarine
            C.  Magical Mystery Tour

            D.  A Hard Days Night  ****

 

Q.  In 1851, they lowered that outrageous 5-cent price for a government postage stamp to ___?

            A.  4 cents

            B.  3 cents
            C.  2 cents

            D.  1 cent  ****

 

Q.  Confused fans of “The Blair Witch Project” went looking for the three lost filmmakers in Burkittsville in what state?

            A.  North Carolina

            B.  Maryland  ****
            C.  Maine

            D.  New York

 

Q.  Who did Leo Rosten introduce by saying, “Any man who hates babies and dogs can’t be all bad”?

            A.  Will Rogers

            B.  W.C. Fields  ****
            C.  Don Rickles

            D.  Groucho Marx

 

Q.  Which of the Great Lakes is on the average the most shallow?

            A.  Lake Superior

            B.  Lake Erie  ****
            C.  Lake Ontario

            D.  Lake Michigan

 

Q.  Who was King of Britain throughout World War II?

            A.  George VI  ****

            B.  Edward VII
            C.  George V

            D.  Edward VII

 

 

INTERVIEW/GUEST . . .

 

For interview requests for Barabara Orbison regarding Roy Orbison please contact: Tatiana Marchant – Promotions & Publicity Manager – 02 9383 6381 email: tatiana.marchant@sonybmg.com, or your local Sony Music Entertainment representative. (Press Release)

 

 

TRAVEL TIPS . . . (Peter Greenberg Worldwide)

 

NEW WEB SITES FOR PLANNING YOUR TRAVELS:

 

You may be familiar with Web sites like Orbitz and Travelocity for hotel, car rental, and airfares. But these days, several new sites have started up to help you plan your travels. Let your fingers do the walking with Yellow pages dot travel, which lets you view several travel search engines at once and on one screen for easier comparison. VibeAgent dot com will direct you to the Web site with the most competitive hotel price, and it even personalizes your hotel search with criteria such as “hip,” “downtown,”  “budget” or “boutique.” Bezurk dot com is a newer meta-search engine that finds price comparison between several travel sites around the world. And you may have heard of Farecast dot com, which offers free airfare predictions. Well, these folks recently expanded its searches to include Canada, which may make your next trip up north a lot more affordable.

 

(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 . . .

 

—1835  Author Samuel Butler (d. 6-18-1902)

—1861  Singer/Actress Lillian Russell (d. 6-6-1922)

—1899  Musician Sonny Boy Williamson (d. 6-1-1948)

—1921  Actress/Singer Deanna Durbin (It Started With Eve)

—1933  Actor Horst Buchholtz (The Magnificent Seven) (d. 3-3-2003)

—1934  Singer/Game Show host Wink Martindale (Tic Tac Dough)

—1934  Actor Victor French (Little House On the Prairie) (d. 6-15-1989)

—1937  Producer/Actor Max Baer Jr. (The Beverly Hillbillies)

—1940  Singer Freddy Cannon (“Palisades Park”)

¾1940  Musician John Cale

—1944  Musician Chris Hillman (The Byrds) (“Turn Turn Turn”)

—1942  Bassist Bob Mosley (Moby Grape)

—1944  Drummer Dennis Wilson (The Beach Boys) (“Good Vibrations”) (d. 12-28-1983)

—1946  Tennis player Stan Smith

—1948  Musician Southside Johnny (& The Asbury Jukes)

—1949  Actor Jeff Bridges (The Mirror Has Two Faces)

—1950  Comedienne Pamela Stephenson (ex-Saturday Night Live)

—1951  Musician Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd) (“Sweet Home Alabama”)

—1951  Actress Patricia Wettig (“Holly” Brothers and Sisters)

¾1955  Jazz Singer Cassandra Wilson

—1960  Musician Bob Griffin (The BoDeans)

—1964  Actress Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny)

—1970  Football’s Jeff Blake

—1973  Model/Actress/TV Host Tyra Banks

¾1976  Country Singer Amie Comeaux  (d. 12-21-1997)

 

 

THIS DAY IN HISTORY . . .

 

 Today is ST. BARBARA’S DAY.  This is NATIONAL DICE DAY

—1568  Sir Walter Raleigh unwrapped another goodie he’d brought back from the New World: the potato.

—1918  President Woodrow Wilson set sail for Europe to attend the peace conference in Versailles (ver-SIGH), France, thus becoming the first American president ever to travel outside the country while in office.

—1933  The first “Ma Perkins” episode was broadcast on radio. It continued for more than 25 years.

—1965  In Sacramento, Rolling Stone Keith Richards is knocked unconscious for several minutes after moving an underground microphone with his guitar. He returns to finish the show.

—1971  The top single in the US is “Family Affair” from Sly & The Family Stone.

—1976  Bob Marley is shot in the arm at his Kingston home in an apparent assassination attempt. The politically motivated gunman shot Marley, his wife Rita, and two others to discourage Marley’s upcoming performance for Jamaica’s prime minister. No one is seriously hurt, and two days later Marley plays the gig.

—1976  Liz Taylor marries her seventh husband to John Warner.

—1978  Our Pioneer Venus I spacecraft, launched the preceding May, went into orbit around Venus and began sending information, enabling us to map portions of the Venusian’s surface for the first time.

—1981  TV premiere of the nighttime series “Falcon Crest.” The show was set in California wine country. It was on the air 9 years.

—1988  Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart, and Barbra Streisand make People’s “Best Dressed” list. The “Worst Dressed” include Madonna and Prince.

—1990  The cartoon show, The Simpsons, release their LP “The Simpsons Sing The Blues.”

—1991  Release of Terry Anderson, an Associated Press correspondent, who became the final American hostage held in Lebanon to be freed.

—1992  Whitney Houston has the top single in the US with “I Will Always Love You” from the Bodyguard soundtrack.

 

 

RADIO ONLINE® DAILY SHOW PREP™ . . .

 

ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1783, George Washington bid farewell to his troops at a tavern in New York. He received endless cheers all the way up until he uttered those immortal words, “Separate checks, please!”

In 1839, the Whig party held its first convention. I believe the founder was the great-great-grandfather of Donald Trump. It only makes sense.

On this date in 1918, Woodrow Wilson became the first U.S. president to travel outside the country while in office. Of course, the tough part was getting his office there.

TODAY IS

Supermodel and actress Tyra Banks turns 35 today. She’s looking forward to sinking her teeth in a big piece of birthday cracker.

Jay-Z turns 39 today. He’s married to Beyonce: who needs a gift?

Max Baer Jr. who played Jethro on “The Beverly Hillbillies” turns 71 today. Don’t know how he’ll celebrate, but I’m sure he’ll figure out something with that fancy 6th grade education of his.

Marisa Tomei turns 43 today. Last year, she was voted “Best Nude Scene of 2007” in the intentional category. However, Britney still wins the “Overall Best of Show” award.

National Cookie Day — There’s more going on inside your cookie jar than meets your taste buds. In fact, psychologists have discovered that the way your cookie crumbles reveals the flavor of your personality, says family therapist Jim Franklin.

·         Chocolate Chip — You’re as American as apple pie, and you’re raising your kids with the traditional values you treasure. Your low-key approach to life makes you a favorite with family and friends because you bring a steadying influence to the most chaotic situations.

·         Ginger Snaps — You’re bold, brave and in search of excitement. Life is never dull when you’re around, and both kids and adults are attracted by your zest for life. You never shy away from new adventures, leading a happy band of friends and family who’ll gladly follow you anywhere.

·         Graham Crackers — You’re softhearted and kind with a taste for nostalgia. You have many fond memories of your childhood, and your closet is probably stuffed with keepsakes from years gone by. But you don’t dwell on the past because you’re too busy making memories today.

·         Vanilla Wafers — You have uncanny intuitive powers that give you the unique ability to size up a situation or a person with breathtaking accuracy. Loved ones caught up in complex problems often turn to you for advice because they know you’ll steer them in the right direction.

·         Sandwich Cookies — Whether you eat the creme filling first or dunk them in milk, your choice says you’re a creative person with a vivid imagination. A born storyteller, you’re often the center of attention at parties, regaling your pals with funny, sometimes outrageous, tales.

·         Fig Newtons — Quiet, reserved and mature, your keen mind makes you a force to be reckoned with. You always have your “ducks in a row,” and your organizational skills assure your home and job are both running smoothly. Just don’t forget, spontaneity is a good thing too.

·         Sugar Cookies — You’re a nonconformist who believes that variety is the spice of life. Your avid interest in a multitude of subjects, teamed with your antiestablishment sensibility, makes you a challenging companion. You may not always take the safe path, but there’s no doubt that life with you is never dull.

·         Oatmeal — As homespun and down-to-earth as a comfy pair of slippers, you’re a genius at making others feel loved. Your family and friends blossom under the warmth of your generous spirit, while your practical approach to problems helps you find the best route to a solution that satisfies everyone involved.

·         Shortbread — You present a placid face to the world, but beneath your calm facade beats the heart of a passionate romantic. In fact, those closest to you would be amazed by your colorful fantasy life. Once you’ve found the right partner, you’re able to give this untapped side free rein with totally satisfying results.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

·         No more variety shows for Rosie O’Donnell, as her show was cancelled after only one airing. Her NBC special the night before Thanksgiving, “Rosie Live,” attracted only 5 million viewers.

·         A tracking device has been found on Simon Cowell’s Rolls Royce. Some paparazzi are so lazy.

·         Julianne Hough and boyfriend Chuck Wicks have been an item for five months… but she tells People that she wouldn’t surprised if this is it.

·         Patrick Swayze says it ticks him off when the tabloids have him all but dead. He said he’s still battling pancreatic cancer, but is responding well to treatment and doing fine.

·         Some scientists think the digital age may be changing the way we read, learn and interact with each other. Dr. Gary Small, a psychiatrist at UCLA, argues that daily exposure to digital technologies such as the Internet and smart phones alter how the brain works. You think…

·         Sean Avery of the NHL’s Dallas Stars has been suspended indefinitely for referring to his ex-girlfriends — including actress Elisha Cuthbert and model Rachel Hunter — as “sloppy seconds” in an interview.

·         American folk singer Odetta has died. She was 77. She died Tuesday of heart disease after being admitted to the hospital with kidney failure about three weeks ago.

·         Part of the deal making Hillary Clinton Secretary of State included Barack Obama maintaining veto rights on Bill Clinton’s speeches.

·         NBC White House correspondent David Gregory is about to be named the new host for “Meet the Press.”

·         “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” star Marg Helgenberger and her husband of 19 years have split.

·         Dylan McDermott and his wife of 13 years are now officially divorced.

·         President Bush had to send out some apologies this week to Jewish leaders who had been sent an invitation to the official White House Hanukkah reception. On the invitation: a Christmas tree and Christmas wreaths. Not his fault, but no one would believe it.

·         Divorces in the military have hit a 16-year high rate. A lot of stress these days.

·         Experts say that cases of domestic violence actually get worse during the holiday season.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Men’s Health says holidays add stress and divide time. Here’s the count:

·         618,000 is the number of people hired to help staff stores nationwide during the holidays last year.

·         95% of malls will display Christmas decor.

·         70% of companies plan to host a holiday party.

·         1.1 pounds is the average pounds a person gains over the holidays.

·         $40 is the average amount people spend on a gift card.

·         55% of U.S. flights delayed by at least 15 minutes last December 28th.

·         19 billion of mails items the U.S. Postal service will delivers during the holidays.

Are you stressed out over the economy, the election, health care, you job? Don’t look now, but your pet is suffering right along with you. “Dogs and cats are very good at picking up anxiety in people, as are birds,” explains veterinarian James Morrisey, of Cornell University. “In general, the more intelligent the animal, the more psychological stress it can undergo.” But it’s not just an owner’s anxieties that can send an animal into orbit. Researchers discovered that domestic cats can also be traumatized by unfriendly relationships with other felines in the house. (Sun)

As it turns out, it really is downhill after age 40, and you can blame it on your brain. The part of the brain that is charge of motion begins to decline after four decades of life, impacting not only how fast you can throw a ball or run, but also swerve a steering wheel. New research from the University of California, Los Angeles suggests that by middle age, even healthy people lose some of the insulation in the motor-control part of the brain. Study author Dr. George Bartzokis, a UCLA neurologist, says this helps explain why “it’s hard to be a world-class athlete after 40.”

Women’s Health asked women, “The most difficult person to buy holiday gifts for is my…”

·         43% said mother and/or father

·         32% said main squeeze

·         13% said co-worker

·         12% said sibling

Men with facial scars are more attractive to women who are seeking short-term relationships, scientists have found. In non-Western cultures scars are perceived as a sign of maturity and strength, say scientists at Liverpool and Stirling Universities. But now researchers have found that Western women find scarring on men attractive and may associate it with health and bravery –as scarring on a man was often evidence of his courage.

PHONE TOPICS

·         Kanye West says that Beyonce is better than Tina Turner. Your thoughts?

·         Who has the most Christmas lights on their house?

·         What’s the most expensive Christmas decoration you own?

·         What’s the “sappiest thing” you do for the holidays?

·         If you wrote a message in a bottle, what would it say?

·         Anyone have the new Blackberry Storm? Call us on it!

·         Does any married couple, “get romantic” every day of the week?

·         When are the best years of marriage, when you’re younger or older?

·         How many cousins do you have?

·         Which Superhero would you want fighting for your life?

·         Who belongs to the most clubs and organizations?

·         Did your dog ever run away and you found it?

·         Who can get by on the least amount of sleep and still function?

·         What’s the classic moment in your home movie collection?

·         When did you get your first Christmas card?

Have you ever looked up an old love? We had a listener call and tell us her story. She said that her guy wanted to make it serious when they were in high school, but she wasn’t ready. Her parents always told her not to consider marriage until her career was established, and she listened to them. Over the years she thought about him — he was the one that got away. After her divorce she looked him up online. Come to find out, he was divorced too. They started talking and now they’re getting married! A great warm and fuzzy phoner.

Our producer overslept and came in about an hour late one day last week. While we were waiting for him to arrive, my news anchor and I started talking about “The worst jobs to have in which to oversleep?” Funny calls in professions running the gamut from airline pilots to morticians.

When was the last time you made an offer to someone that you really didn’t mean and assumed they’d say no to? You know, like, “We should get together for lunch sometime.” And they’re supposed to say, “Yeah, we’ll have to do that.” But instead they say, “Okay. How about tomorrow?” Or they’re talking about moving and you ask if they need any help and they say they do.

My partner is off this week because she had to have surgery on her nose. When she was a kid she wanted to be an Olympic pole vaulter. So she tried to pole vault over her sofa in the living room. She ended up smashing into a book shelf and knocking a jar full of pennies off the shelf and on to her nose. She hasn’t been able to breathe properly since then. Did you ever injure yourself as a child, and still have scars to prove it?

What are your crazy 911 (emergency call) stories? We had a listener call us that said her eight month old child dialed 911 by accident and two hot officers showed up at her door while she wasn’t exactly looking so hot. They even came in and searched the house to make sure everything was OK.

What unpleasant things do people always put off as long as possible? Some of our answers:

·         Working out

·         Housecleaning

·         Visiting the doctor

·         Writing thank you notes

·         Drawing up a will

·         Visiting a relative

·         Washing the car

·         Cutting the grass

·         Taking out the trash

·         Listening to this show

A recent study suggests older people would rather exercise alone than be surrounded by a bunch of youthful hard bodies in Spandex. It recognizes that people of all ages generally prefer to exercise with people their own age — or they may opt to go it alone. Do you prefer to workout alone or at the gym? Are other people at the gym motivation for you or intimidation?

If she’s happy, then he’s happy — and vice versa. Married men and women are significantly more satisfied with their life when their spouse is also satisfied with life, according to recent research from Britain’s University of Warwick. But this only works if you’re married. The same level of satisfaction was not found in couples who simply live together. Phoner: For married guys — are you really happy when she’s happy?

When I was 4 I had a little red fire engine. You know the type, all steel construction with the white steering wheel. My friend was pushing me down the sidewalk when I ended up smashing into my dad’s car and I broke my collar bone. What did you do when you were a kid that got you horribly injured? Great calls on this one. Give it a try!

If kids are required to pay for their own college/cars, etc. Does that make them more responsible than the kids today that have everything handed to them. We had quite a few calls on how parents try to teach their kids how to be responsible and manage money. Most agreed today’s kids have the attitude “what’s in it for me?” more than ever before!

What’s the strangest food combination you can enjoy? My cohost’s wife dropped a bomb on him that she LOVES dipping French fries in a Wendy’s Frosty. Seven years together and he never knew that, but I’ve always known about that. Excluding pregnancy cravings, who’s got the strangest, creepily enjoyable food combination?

Percentage of adults who think the following generalizations are true:

·         Men like gadgets: 83%

·         Men like to have control of the TV remote: 80%

·         Women are more nurturing than men: 79%

·         Men refuse to ask for directions: 69%

·         Women talk on the phone more than men: 68%

·         Women are more moody: 58%

Other generalizations that are true of men in (city)? Generalizations for women?

I saw a _____ in my neighborhood! You should get some great calls on this. We’ve had everything from a peeping tom, streaker, bear, gator and more.

What singer or band have you see over & over? Find the person in your audience whose seen one artist more than the rest of the callers. I know someone whose seen Kiss over 100 times!

First dates are always a bit weird… and sometimes a huge mistake! Especially when we talk too much. What’s the strangest thing someone has admitted to you on a first date? Was there a second date?

Have you ever bought a car that was a lemon? We also took a bunch of calls asking people if they ever bought a used car from a celebrity. How were you sure it was truly the star’s car?

How do you get you kid out of bed in the morning? My wife is going crazy trying to get our teen-aged daughter up on school days, so I asked the audience for help. The calls came pouring in. One woman suggested frozen marbles in bed, a few suggested spray bottles of water to the face and more than a few said “just leave her there, and if she misses school she’ll have to face the consequences.”

WEIRD NEWS

Message In a Bottle
Along the beach of Corolla, North Carolina, Mark Ciarmello and his 3-year-old daughter made a real find! A genuine message in a bottle. This one was dated August 17, 1969 and the simple note inside read: “If found notify the North Haledon Fire Co. 2.” That’s about 400 miles from where it was released off Barnegat Bay. Mark said he immediately got on his cell phone, called North Haledon and e-mailed photos of the bottle to the firefighters. Nobody’s quite sure who tossed the bottle but firefighters suspect it was during one of the many fishing trips that they used to take years ago. (The Record of Bergen County)

Don’t Try This At Home
Props to truck owner Alonzo Johnson for bravery — or stupidity — we’re not quite sure which. And we don’t suggest trying this yourself. Alonzo saw his pickup truck being stolen from a Quick Mart parking lot in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so he jumped into the bed of the moving vehicle, kicked out the back window and crawled into the cab to stop the thief! Police said the 18-year-old woman who stole the truck then jumped out and hopped into her boyfriend’s car, which the truck owner chased until officers finally intervened. The woman was arrested and Alonzo needs a good quote for a new rear window. (Tulsa World)

Christmas Tree Spirit
In Parrish, Florida, a 37-year-old man who lives with his parents was arrested after attacking his father — with a Christmas tree! According to the Manatee County sheriff’s report, the guy allegedly threw a 3-foot Christmas tree at his father. The tree missed, but the man then tried to use the steel base from the tree to strike his dad. Both mom and dad then grabbed his arms to prevent further attacks but deputies say the tree could have caused serious injuries because the metal base weighs about five pounds. Our loser friend denied the whole incident but was still charged with felony assault. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)

More Christmas Spirit — NOT!
How’s this for how low some people can go? In Manchester, Maryland, police arrested a 51-year-old woman for stealing Christmas decorations from her neighbor’s yards, and then setting them up in her own yard! The county sheriff’s office said the suspect was found in her own home with decorations from at least three area homes. So she’s now in jail — but she has a very festive yard. (Carroll County Times)

Condo-Liberace Rice!
Maybe we should call her Condo-Liberace Rice. Our out going Secretary of State was the star of a piano recital for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth herself. You may not know this but Madame Secretary is actually an accomplished concert level pianist. She played a piece by Brahms, and was joined by three members of the London Symphony Orchestra. A palace spokeswoman said, “Condoleezza expressed a wish to play at Buckingham Palace and the queen offered her to play in the music room.” Queen Elizabeth listened to some of the performance, and then gave Condoleezza a recording of it as a souvenir. (BBC News)

Real Gratitude
How’s this for gratitude? A New York City bus driver was stabbed to death by the very passenger he had allowed to ride for free! 46-year-old Edwin Thomas became the first on-duty bus driver to be killed in the city since 1981 for his act of kindness. The suspect’s metro card had apparently expired but Thomas allowed him to ride anyway. But then the guy began demanding a free transfer card as well, and became agitated and attacked Thomas after he refused and reminded the guy that he hadn’t paid to begin with. Ironically, the father of two had become a bus driver after driving an armored truck because he thought it would be safer. After the stabbing, the suspect jumped off the bus and police are still looking for him. Police raced Thomas to the hospital after arriving on the scene but he died at the hospital. There is a $36,000 reward for the capture of the passenger, who was described as being in his 20s. (AHN News)

How To Talk To Girls!
There’s a new book out called “How To Talk To Girls.” What makes this book unique is that it was written by 9-year-old Alec Greven. Alec started the book as a creative writing project in school at Castle Rock, Colorado. His handwritten pamphlet was then sold for $5 at a school book fair where it was the surprise bestseller. After local news stations picked up the story he ended up being offered a publishing deal with HarperCollins. “How To Talk To Girls” is now available as a 46-page hardcover across the U.S. So what’s some of Alec’s best advice? He told the New York Post, “I saw a lot of boys that had trouble talking to girls. If I say hi and you say hi back, we’re probably off to a good start.” (New York Post)

Life Saving Text!
British vascular surgeon David Nott saved the day and saved a 16-year-old boy’s life thanks to surgical instructions being texted to him from a colleague while he was in Africa! The boy’s left arm had been ripped off by a hippopotamus and was badly infected and gangrenous. Dr. Nott knew he needed to perform a forequarter amputation, which requires the surgeon to remove the collar bone and shoulder blade. While he had never performed the operation before, he followed instructions from a colleague who had. Nott, who is normally based at Charing Cross Hospital in London, said, “I texted him and he texted back step-by-step instructions on how to do it. Dr. Nott, who volunteers with MSF for a month every year, added, “It was just luck that I was there and could do it.” (Ananova)

HOLE IN THE HEADLINE

·  “Top 10 Stupid Gifts From Chickens To ____ Golf!” (Toilet)

·  “Police Turn On Anti-Government ____s?!” (Facebookers)

·  “Security Intrudes On Live ____!” (Interview)

·  “Cop Pulls Gun Over Scooter ____ Violation!” (Helmet)

·  “Three Jailed For ____ T-Shirts In Court!” (Kangaroo)

·  “Forgot Socks, Adopt a ____ For Christmas!” (Koala)

·  “Ancient ________-Like Insect Imprint Found!” (Dragonfly)

·  “____-Boy Footballer Dropped By Club!” (Garlic)

·  “French Say They Need Biggest ____s!” (Condoms)

·  “Dutch Ban On “____” Mushrooms To Take Effect!” (Magic)

·  “Japan Pm Aso Criticizes Unhealthy ____!” (Elderly)

·  “Man Says God Ordered Him To Ram ____ at 100 Mph!” (Vehicle)

SHAMELESS PLUG DAY

Offer 30 seconds of free time for your listeners to talk about anything or product that they want. You’ll get people who want to just tell their bosses off, bands, entrepreneurs, small businesses and overworked moms.

TOP FIVE THINGS A PHYSICAL TRAINER MIGHT SAY TO A SNOWMAN

1.      “Your arms are like sticks! Oh, wait… they really ARE sticks!”

2.      “Let me help you melt away the pounds”

3.      “You’re just a skinny person

4.      “Someone really packed on the snow this weekend, didn’t they?”

5.      “Is your nose a carrot or are you just happy to see me?”

HUNTER’S HUMOR by Tim Hunter

Olympic Gold winner Michael Phelps has just been named Sports Illustrated‘s “Sportsman of the Year.” Boy, who could have seen that coming?

Jessica Simpson says she wants to go back to college and study theology. Especially since every guy named Theo that she has met has been so nice…

With Barack Obama naming Hillary Clinton as his new Secretary of State, the rumor has sprung up that Bill Clinton might take over her Senate seat. Bill Clinton held a press conference yesterday and said he had no interest in Hillary’s seat… or her job as Senator, for that matter.

SLOGAN OFF

Classic Edition

·         “Cooks who know trust ______” (Crisco)

·         “Better living through chemistry” (Dupont)

·         “The best tires in the world have ______ written all over them” (Goodyear)

·         “_____ has a better idea” (Ford)

·         “Manly, yes, but I like it, too” (Irish Spring Soap)

Modern Edition

·         “Search. Savor. Share.” (Myrecipes.com)

·         “Jump in” (Xbox 360)

·         “Better sound through research” (Bose)

·         “At the heart of the image” (Nikon)

·         “The power of dreams” (Honda)

LIE LIKE A DOG

Have guys (and women) call with the stuff guys have said just to get a date. Guys are very creative and some women date them for months before they find out. Best story wins.

WHO NEEDS A SLAP?

Have a listener party where you have a punching bag set up. Ladies bring pictures of someone they really despise and you put the photo on the punching bag and let them slap it until they are exhausted as you cheer them on. Have a good bunch of sound effects for the air as they go at it.

HURRY IT UP!

Does your girlfriend or wife take forever to get ready (or do you)? For most guys, it doesn’t matter if their wife or girlfriend spends ten minutes or three hours. She looks the same either way. But that doesn’t stop women from barricading themselves in the bathroom and… doing whatever it is that they’re doing in there for a long, long time. Like it or not, according to Men’s Health magazine, there’s not much you can do to hurry things up. But there might be a few things you can do to ease your pain.

·         Lie — Tell her that dinner is at 7:30 instead of 8. That way you’ve got a “cushion” of half an hour for her to do all the things she feels she needs to get done, and you’re not sitting there steaming about it.

·         Remind her — Gently. An hour and a half before it’s time to leave, remind her that it’s time to start getting ready.

·         Get ready first — Do all your showering and shaving long before she locks herself in the can. That way the pressure’s off you.

·         Get a book — The fact is nothing short of tear gas is going to get her out of that bathroom before she’s good and ready, so make that time productive. Catch up on your reading. Watch SportsCenter. Whatever it takes to take your mind off the fact that time’s-a-wasting.

Phoner: What do you do or say to speed things along? Ever cause a fight that ended up with you NOT going out?

MEN GONE MAD AND THE WOMEN WHO LOVE THEM

You get women to call up to tell you how their men have gone mad. They either watch the same movie over and over or are insanely in love with their cars or a chair. It’s some crazy behavior that they do. The women call and you listen but goat them on. You play about four and pick the winner.

IT’S THE NETWORK

With all of our bad winter weather, we urge listeners to call in whenever they see anything newsworthy like accidents or traffic delays. It’s amazing how much they embraced this and at a time when radio news is practically nonexistant, it goes a long way to making them sound on top of everything. We’ve got a produced breaker for the reports and the payoff for the caller is hearing themselves on the radio. Now they’re calling in unsolicited just to tell them which areas are experiencing bad weather conditions, etc.

TRIVIA

·         Gary Coleman has pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge and paid a $100 fine stemming from a September incident at what kind of establishment in Salt Lake City? (Bowling alley)

·         Ivana Trump, ex-wife of property mogul Donald Trump, said she has split from husband number what? (Four)

·         Fans of the holiday classic, “A Christmas Story,” are celebrating the film’s 25th anniversary with a convention and trips to the house where the movie, set in Indiana, was made. In what state? (Ohio)

·         Police in Spain are investigating $125,000 in missing designer jewelry last seen on which actress at an event in Madrid? (Winona Ryder)

·         John Travolta says he turned down a role in which movie, allowing Tom Hanks to grab the starring role? (“Green Mile”)

·         Country music star Faith Hill finally has that Christmas gift that she said she’s always wanted, performing her favorite holiday songs with a 31-piece orchestra, nine-member choir and an elaborate stage set for a new special on what network? (PBS)

·         On “Top Chef New York,” whose banana s’mores ended the chef’s stint on the show? (Richard)

·         Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet finally get back together on the big screen this year for the first time since they co-starred in 1997’s “Titanic,” in which movie? (“Revolution Road”)

·         Author Jeff Lindsay made a cameo appearance on which cable TV series based on his work? (“Dexter”)

·         This internet search engine’s co-founder Jerry Yang is stepping down as chief executive. Which search engine? (Yahoo)

·         Journalist/author Carl Bernstein lamented what type of culture in the U.S.? (Idiot)

·         The 1976 horror film “Carrie” starred Sissy Spacek and what leading Hollywood actor in one of his earliest roles? (John Travolta)

·         In 1999, for the first time in 13 years a female artist won Entertainer of the Year. Name this artist. (Shania Twain)

·         Which two Great Lakes are hydrologically intertwined and are sometimes considered to be one entity? (Lake Michigan and Lake Huron)

·         If five people were to shake hands with everyone in the group, how many handshakes would it take? (10)

·         Who was the male star of the 1985 film, “Summer Rental?” (John Candy)

·         Who won the first Daytona 500? (Lee Petty)

·         About how long can your average mole dig in a single night? (300 feet)

·         What was the Skipper’s name on “Gilligan’s Island”? (Jonas Grumby)

·         In which film did Elizabeth Taylor embark on her singing career? (Cynthia)

GORSEFEATHERS by Patrick Gorse

The Jonas Brothers may appear in an adaptation of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” In this version, one of the ghosts shows the Jonas Brothers their future. By the way, the future Jonas Brothers are played by Hanson.

An amateur astronomer in Canada has captured images of that NASA tool bag lost by the Space Shuttle astronauts floating in space. The discovery was made by a man named Kevin Fetter. So remember, K-Fett discovered a tool bag, and K-Fed is a tool bag.

Did you know that George Bush once bowled with a frozen turkey when he was Governor of Texas? And that Senator Barack Obama bowled like a turkey when he was running for president? And of course, when Bill Clinton was President, he got in trouble for Butterballing.

Lance Armstrong says he’ll be back racing at the Tour de France next year. I’m not saying Lance is a little old to be doing that, but he’ll be riding a Little Rascal Scooter.

Now, instead of Live Strong bracelets, Lance has a deal with Life Alert.

Big scandal over at CNN–Today it was exposed that CNN’s Chief Pentagon Correspondent, Barbara Starr, is actually their terror expert, Peter Bergen, in drag.

During a fight scene with a seven-foot wrestler on the set of his upcoming film, “Sherlock Holmes,” actor Robert Downey Jr. was knocked out cold. Asked what it felt like being knocked unconscious, Robert said, “A lot like the 80’s and the 90’s.”

Robert Downey Jr. says he’s feeling a little weak after a bout with dysentery. Let’s call him, “Not Enough Iron Man.”

On “Hardball” Tuesday, the Chief Operating Officer of GM, Frederick “Fritz” Henderson, was asked if General Motors was on the “brink of bankruptcy,” and Henderson answered, “Our liquidity is badly tested.” You know what also does badly on tests? GM’s product line.

The CEO’s of the Big Three auto companies will be back on Capitol Hill this week to tell Congress that they’re dangerously close to the edge. And if they don’t stop now…with their brakes, who knows what could happen?

Ford announced on Tuesday that they plan to drop more than 600 dealers. You know what Amy Winehouse calls dropping 600 dealers? Rehab.

I think there may be something wrong with President Bush’s hearing. When he was told the Big Three had arrived in Washington he said, “I can’t wait to decorate it.”

The stock market rallied from a 680 point loss on Monday to a 270 point gain on Tuesday. In fact, Superball stock went from really, really low, to very, very high. Now, I’m no market analyst, but I bet it’s coming back down.

During Charlie Gibson’s interview of George Bush, the president said that among Laura Bush’s greatest accomplishments were “lifting the spirits” of “activists in Burma,” and also “those teachers in America.” Of course, those teachers in America would probably tell President Bush that Burma was renamed Myanmar in 1989.

In his interview with ABC News anchor, Charlie Gibson, President Bush said he would leave office with his “head held high.” That way, it won’t bump into his approval rating.

Pastor Rick Warren has awarded President George Bush the “International Medal of Peace.” A medal of peace for a guy who started a war over bogus WMD’s? Might as well give a medal of sobriety to Amy Winehouse–a medal of fidelity to John Edwards–and a medal of intelligence to Sarah Palin…

Barack Obama is assembling a cabinet that is being referred to as a “Team of Rivals.” In a related story, Sarah Palin says when she’s elected president in 2012, she’ll assemble a team of rifle lovers.

Researchers say they’ve discovered the world’s oldest marijuana stash in a remote part of China. It’s was 2,700 years old! That’s incredible. I didn’t even realize Willie Nelson was touring 2,700 years ago.

You know what the toughest part was about smoking pot 2,700 years ago? Rolling joints with those stone tablets. Talk about smoking rock!

Rumors are running rampant that MSNBC’s Chris Matthews is considering a run for the U.S. Senate. Bill O’Reilly just announced that he’s pulling two squadrons out of the War on Christmas to start a second-front War on Chris Matthews.

Experts say the holiday season always sees a sharp rise in reports of domestic violence. I suppose that’s why the Ike and Tina Turner Christmas Special never made it to broadcast.

WHAT DOES YOUR SLEEP POSITION SAY ABOUT YOU

(Sun) The position you snooze in involves more than comfort it reveals important information about your personality. “The way you sleep echoes the way you deal with your daytime waking hours,” says researcher Dr. Samuel Dunkell. “Invariably, you sleep as you live.” So what is your body saying when you let down your defenses and head off into dreamland? Choose your favorite nightly slumber position, and find out what it reveals about you:

·         You sleep flat on your back — This is known as the royal sleeper, fully on the back with arms slightly akimbo at the sides. This open, vulnerable position reveals your supreme confidence in your abilities. You’re a resilient, inspirational leader who takes on difficult tasks with relish while encouraging others to excel.

·         You assume the fetal position — Lying curled on your side, knees pulled all the way up and head bent forward says you’re highly emotional, inventive and gregarious. You enjoy taking creative risks and you’re flexible enough to handle surprise situations. Women who sleep in this position often enjoy a heightened sexual response.

·         You’re most comfy on your tummy — Sleeping in the prone position with arms framed above your head is a sure sign you’re an adventurer who’s ready for anything. You’re also willing to take on projects that are outside your comfort zone. Uneasy with emotional displays, you only reveal your sensitive side to trusted loved ones.

·         You prefer to stretch out on your side — Falling asleep on your side with one knee slightly bent indicates you’re easygoing, nonjudgmental and thrive on parties and meeting new people. You may get hurt when others abuse your trusting nature, but you’ve also got a long list of loyal pals.

·         You change your position almost every night — Choosing something different every night makes you special, only 5 percent of Americans are in this category. You possess an adaptable mind that’s constantly coming up with innovative ways to handle problems. Family and friends depend on your ability to produce smart solutions.

BANG YOUR HEAD

Glamour says these diseases feel real, but no HMO will cover them.

·         Apologitis — A needless-blame-taking disorder signaled by overuse of the phrase “I’m so sorry.” Acute cases have been known to apologize to people who bump into them. The cure: Try “Oops.”

·         Indecisionism — When it’s 4:30 but there are still seven restaurants under consideration for tonight’s dinner, indecisionism is to blame. The wish to abandon responsibility is a risk factor. A radical treatment involving flipping a coin is in final testing.

·         Man-orexia — This insatiable hunger for anything male causes the sufferer to put her life on hold whenever a set of XY chromosomes crosses her path. One remedy is an all-girl retreat, but more serious cases may need a few hours listening to (radio show) to remember just how unappealing men can be.

·         Screw-you-enza — More common during warm weather, this ailment prompts sufferers to cancel prearranged plans “just because.” It was once thought to be contagious, but clingy relatives and over social peers are more likely the cause. Treatment includes, but is not limited to, high doses of guilt.

OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTIES

Office Christmas parties are in full swing and it’s always fun to talk about “horror” stories from Office Christmas parties. Did you know:

·         A total of 618,000 Americans will be fired because of remarks they made to their boss at the party.

·         At least 288,000 marriages will be damaged beyond repair because of something that happened at a party. About half of those will end in divorce within a year.

·         There will be at least 500,000 unexpected pregnancies as a result of party drinking.

CHRISTMAS MONTAGE

We’ve teamed up with a local jeweler to give away a diamond pendant for with a Christmas Montage. Basically, we’ve strung together 10 song clips with just the word “Christmas” isolated… the first listener who can correctly identify all 10 songs in the correct order wins! We’re posting clues to each song on the web site, as well.

YOU’RE NOT EVEN CLOSE

When it comes to finding Christmas presents, Men’s Health says 2 in three men who, as boys, searched the house for the hidden stash of Christmas presents. And two in 10 men who, as grown men, still search the house for the hidden stash of Christmas presents. Want more? You’re in luck:

·         26% of guys have proposed at the holidays.

·         9 in 10 guys really do believe that “Good things come in small packages.”

·         1 in 6 men have dressed up as Santa Claus.

·         1 in 4 men who dressed up as Santa Claus said it got old really quick.

·         3 in 10 men have their wife or girlfriend do some of their holiday shopping for them.

·         77% of women would prefer to receive a plasma high definition television instead of a diamond solitaire necklace.

·         2 in 3 men have to exchange at least one gift on Christmas Eve.

·         3 in 4 men who have bought a gift so cool they just had to buy the same thing for themselves.

·         1 in 2 men who have “regifted” – taken their gift and given it to someone else.

·         2 in 3 guys have shopped on Christmas Eve.

TANGLED WEB WE UNWEAVE

We made listeners sweat it out holiday style for an ultimate experience. Three listeners were each given 300 tangled Christmas lights as part of “Roulight.” The first person to completely untangle their mess of knotted lights won the ultimate concert experience, including front row seats, a meet and greet, tour merchandise and lots more.

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