HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (05-20-10)
JUSTIN BIEBER SAYS HE'S A GREAT KISSER:
In a radio interview yesterday . . . JUSTIN BIEBER talked up his kissing skills. --Justin said, quote, "I'm a good . . . I'm a great kisser." And he added that he's made out with, quote, "a couple chicks." --Justin also proved that he knows what to do if he's driving with a girl in that new Range Rover that USHER bought him for his 16th birthday, and things start getting a little hot and heavy. --He said, quote, "I mean, if you're driving you make a little stop at, you know, the Wal-Mart rest stop . . . you're good." --Bieber also said he's SINGLE . . . despite his recent dinner date with MILEY CYRUS. He said there was nothing romantic going on . . . they were, quote, "just hanging out."
AUDRINA PATRIDGE AND RYAN CABRERA HAVE BROKEN UP:
AUDRINA PATRIDGE and RYAN CABRERA have broken up. "Us Weekly" says they split about a week ago because, quote, "Ryan's a constant partier and that became an issue."
KIM CATTRALL REFUSED TO DO A PHOTO SHOOT WITH A COUGAR . . . BECAUSE SHE FINDS THAT TERM INSULTING:
KIM CATTRALL was supposed to do a cover shoot for a, quote, "significant magazine for women over 40." (--She refused to name it.) But she bailed because they wanted her to pose with a real, live COUGAR. --Kim . . . who's 53 . . . thinks that term is DEROGATORY. And she also doesn't believe that it fits her "Sex and the City" character, Samantha Jones. --She says, quote, "I really take umbrage to the [term] 'cougar'. I think cougar has a negative connotation and I don't see anything negative about Samantha and her sexuality, sensuality and choice. --"I don't think she stands or sits in bars waiting for young men to prey on. And I think that's something that people who are uncomfortable with strong women have labeled her. --"I refused to do it because I felt it was insulting. They took away the cover because I refused to do so."
ARE ROBERT PATTINSON AND KRISTEN STEWART ENGAGED???
"OK!" magazine says that ROBERT PATTINSON has proposed to KRISTEN STEWART. If you want to believe it and hear more about it, the new issue of "OK!" is on newsstands today.
FRIENDS SAY KEANU REEVES AND CHARLIZE THERON *ARE* DATING:
Earlier this month, CHARLIZE THERON set the gossip world on fire when she hugged KEANU REEVES UNDER HIS JACKET after a dinner date. (!!!) Well, friends are now confirming what that hug implied: These two are hooking up. --Supposedly, Charlize turned to Keanu for comfort after her eight-year relationship with STEWART TOWNSEND ended . . . but she ended up getting a little more. --A source says, quote, "Charlize and Keanu make a great couple, and everyone is thrilled at the turn of events. -"Keanu kept Charlize's spirits high with his goofy sense of humor and low-key, easy-to-love manner. He makes her laugh, which was just what the doctor ordered for her broken heart."
LINDSAY LOHAN CAN'T MAKE HER COURT HEARING . . . BECAUSE SOMEBODY SUPPOSEDLY STOLE HER PASSPORT:
This is pretty pathetic: LINDSAY LOHAN will NOT make her DUI hearing this morning because she's still stuck at the Cannes Film Festival in France. And her excuse is that SOMEBODY STOLE HER PASSPORT. --Lindsay's attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, says, quote, "Her passport was stolen. She is doing everything in her power to get a temporary passport and get home." He added that Lindsay should be home tomorrow at the latest. --Lindsay's hot-but-irresponsible mom DINA is covering for her, as usual. She says, quote, "This was not a planned scheme. We are still working with the embassy. Her passport was stolen. We have made a police report." (--E! News actually contacted police in Cannes, and they said they have not received a stolen property report.) --Dina also says Lindsay has every intention of being in court . . . but the hearing might have to be put off . . . quote, "She will be in court, whether it's on Friday or Monday. She has, like, two alcohol classes left and she plans to make them up next week." --Lindsay's psycho dad MICHAEL expects the judge to throw Lindsay in jail for missing the hearing. --And he says, quote, "It's obvious that Lindsay needs help, not incarceration, and I have a program and people in place that will satisfy the court and finally provide Lindsay with the help she needs to have her real life back." --Michael also claims that Dina is on his side for a change . . . quote, "I have met with Dina to resolve our differences, which I believe we have. --"I can honestly say that we shared a much needed moment of truth that ended on a very positive note. I actually felt the old Dina, that I married and truly love!" (--By the way . . . E! says that Lindsay is booked to attend some kind of benefit gala in Cannes TONIGHT. Which is interesting, since she was expected to be in L.A. this morning, and is supposedly trying to get back home ASAP.) --The judge might issue a warrant if Lindsay no-shows today. But it's no big deal. It'll only be a misdemeanor warrant, meaning nobody's going to arrest her when she steps off the plane in L.A. She'll just have to reschedule with the court.
BRET MICHAELS HAS PROMISED GOD HE'LL BE A BETTER PERSON:
Not surprisingly, BRET MICHAELS has done a lot of talking to God since his brain hemorrhage. --On yesterday's "Oprah", he said that he told God, quote, "I know I've done a lot of rotten things. I'm asking for a break here. If you could cut me a break, I promise, I'll be better in the future." --He also said the incident put everything in perspective quickly . . . quote, "You instantly put into your life what matters the most at that exact time . . . it is your immediate family, your kids, your best friends. --"At that point, you're not thinking about anything else. You're not thinking about career, you're not thinking about nothing, you're thinking, 'Let me live through this . . . --"'. . . The only thing that matters right now is taking care of my family and my kids and thanking God I'm still alive to talk about it.'" --Bret teared up watching a video of his 9-year-old daughter Raine talking about how it felt to think her father might die. --She said, quote, "To think that my dad wouldn't be growing up with me and my dad wouldn't be walking me down the aisle for my wedding, it was just really heartbreaking." --Bret said that thinking about his family . . . especially his two young daughters . . . helped him survive . . . quote, "It gave me this unsinkable strength. It gave me this amazing courage." --As for Bret's recovery, he says he's still having trouble moving his legs, and he's still getting bad headaches . . . which could last another month or so. --But he's on the mend . . . quote, "It gets better each day. I'm so happy to be here talking to you, to be alive. I'm just appreciative to be here and have such great family around, great friends and a great medical team. --"I'm just happy that whoever's watching over me didn't decide to take me out." --As for why he got a second chance, when 80% of the people who suffer the same type of hemorrhage DIE, he said, quote, "I don't know what that reason is just yet."
(--Here are some videos from yesterday's "Oprah" . . .)
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b181797_bret_michaels_talks_recovery_on_oprah.html
http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=ce5de581-0b67-4253-9da2-6dfb500e8fd5
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/see-how-bret-michaels-has-recovered-from-his-brain-hemorrhage-2010195
LEGENDARY GOLFER CHI CHI RODRIGUEZ WAS TIED UP AND ROBBED AT GUNPOINT:
Legendary golfer CHI CHI RODRIGUEZ and his wife were tied up and robbed at GUNPOINT by four men who broke into their home in Puerto Rico early yesterday morning. --And even though they took $500,000 worth of stuff . . . including his wife's wedding ring . . . Chi Chi says the robbers were, quote, "gentle and very respectful of my wife." --A security guard was also tied up . . . but luckily, no one was injured. (--Chi Chi is 71 years old.)
ELIN NORDEGREN IS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL:
ELIN NORDEGREN is going back to school. She's taking summer undergraduate classes at Rollins College . . . a small liberal arts school in Winter Park, Florida. There's no word what she's studying. --Before hooking up with TIGER WOODS, Elin was pursuing psychology degree at Lund University in Sweden.
ANNA NICOLE SMITH'S WORN UNDERGARMENTS CAN'T BE SOLD ON EBAY:
Some supposed "friends" of ANNA NICOLE SMITH are selling some of her old junk on eBay. Unfortunately, some of the items they had put up for sale got yanked . . . because they were USED UNDERGARMENTS. --eBay says, quote, "Our policy strictly prohibits listing used underwear. Used clothing may be listed on eBay as long as it has been cleaned and the listing clearly states that the clothing is used."
NADYA SULEMAN HAS AGREED TO PUT A PETA SIGN IN HER YARD ADVOCATING THE SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF PETS:
"OCTOMOM" NADYA SULEMAN agreed to put a PETA sign in her yard urging people to have their pets spayed or neutered. But she didn't do it out of the goodness of her heart. --PETA is giving her $5,000, plus a month's supply of veggie hamburgers and hot dogs. --Nadya and a guy in a dopey dog costume unveiled the sign yesterday. (--Check out the video . . . and note Nadya's complete inability to read a prepared statement . . .)
http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=4118838d-5950-49a9-8ce3-7f63a61beb04
ASHLEY GREENE AND KELLAN LUTZ WILL RETURN FOR "BREAKING DAWN":
A "Twilight" casting crisis has been averted. ASHLEY GREENE and KELLAN LUTZ have settled their salary disputes with Summit Entertainment, meaning that they WILL appear in "Breaking Dawn". (--"Breaking Dawn" is the fourth and final installment in the "Twilight" book series, but Summit is expected to announce that it'll be split into TWO movies.) --The "Hollywood Reporter" says Ashley and Kellan . . . who play Alice and Emmett Cullen . . . are getting $1.25 million for each of the final two films. (--That's assuming that "Breaking Dawn" is made into two movies . . . which most people think is a DONE DEAL, and Summit just hasn't announced it yet.) --That's significantly more than they made for the first three, but it's still below the approximately $2 million to $4 million they were asking for. (--Wise move. Summit proved that the non-lead actors were replaceable when they ditched Rachelle Lefevre in favor of Bryce Dallas Howard after she tried to play hardball with them.)
MEGAN FOX WILL *NOT* APPEAR IN "TRANSFORMERS 3":
MEGAN FOX is officially OUT of "Transformers 3" . . . and she claims SHE was the one who bailed. Her rep says, quote, "It was her decision not to return. She wishes the franchise the best." --But there are those who say it was director MICHAEL BAY who made the call. And it may have been REVENGE for all of the SMACK Megan talked about Michael after the second "Transformers" flick. --As you may recall, Megan likened Bay to Napoleon and Hitler on his movie sets. She also said that when you work on a Michael Bay movie it's, quote, "not about an acting experience." --Members of the "Transformers" crew responded by writing an anonymous letter trashing Megan HARD. --But Bay stood up for her. He said her mouthiness is actually part of her, quote, "crazy charm." He added that he looked forward to working with her on "Transformers 3". That was last September. --In October, on Spike TV's "Scream Awards", Megan tried to make her peace with Michael and his crew . . . saying, quote, "The movie took me out of obscurity and gave me a career, and I'm completely grateful to everyone involved with this franchise." --Whatever the reason for her departure, Bay is expected to find another actress to act as a love interest for SHIA LABEOUF.
THERE'S A "MEAN GIRLS" FOLLOW-UP IN THE WORKS CALLED "MEAN MOMS" . . . BUT LINDSAY LOHAN WON'T BE IN IT:
There's a follow-up to "Mean Girls" in the works, but it won't star LINDSAY LOHAN . . . or AMANDA SEYFRIED or RACHEL MCADAMS, for that matter. --It's called "Mean Moms", and it's based on a book called "Queen Bee Moms and King Pin Dads: Dealing with the Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Counselors Who Can Make — or Break — Your Child's Future". --The book is by Rosalind Wiseman. She also wrote the book, "Queen Bees and Wannabees: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World" . . . which is what "Mean Girls" was based on. --The movie will be about a, quote, "happily married mother of two who moves from small town America to the high class suburbs and is faced with confronting the cut throat world of competitive parenting." --Not only are none of the actors from "Mean Girls" returning . . . none of the CHARACTERS are coming back, either. This is a totally new story. (--"Mean Girls" came out in 2004 . . . back when people thought Lindsay had a FUTURE.)
CBS WILL OVERHAUL THEIR SCHEDULE FOR NEXT SEASON:
(--This week, all the major networks will be unveiling their schedules for next season. In the industry, this is referred to as "upfront week", where the networks present their lineups for the upcoming TV season to advertisers.) CBS is completely overhauling their schedule for the upcoming TV season. --In addition to dropping seven shows . . . CBS has announced that they're going to make the shows they did keep HARDER TO FIND. Here's the rundown: --"CSI: Miami" will be moving from Mondays to Sundays . . . "Two and a Half Men" will be on Thursdays instead of Mondays . . . "Survivor" will move from Thursdays to Wednesdays . . . and "CSI: New York" will jump from Wednesdays to Fridays. --When asked what the heck they're doing, CBS suit Kelly Kahl explained, quote, "[It's] the TV network circle of life. We could have just filled holes in our schedule, or we could totally revamp it. If you wait too long, you start to decline [in the ratings], and once that starts it's hard to pull out of." --She added that CBS considers this game plan to be, quote, "aggressive stability." --OK. Cutting through all that mumbo-jumbo, the basic point is that CBS wanted to banish several declining shows . . . and wanted to reconstruct their schedule so that their biggest shows are all serving as lead-ins for the new ones. --Here's a brief summary of CBS' new blood, along with preview clips of each one: --First off, there's "Hawaii Five-O" . . . a, quote, "re-imagining" of the original series, which ran on CBS from 1968 to 1980. (--It starred JACK LORD and JAMES MACARTHUR.) --The new version will star Australian actor Alex O'Loughlin as Detective Steve McGarrett, Scott Caan as Detective Danny "Danno" Williams and Daniel Dae Kim from "Lost" as Detective Chin Ho Kelly. --Other stars will include Grace Park, Jean Smart and Taryn Manning. (--Here's a preview clip . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJOhqxHnWa8
--There's also a, quote, "comedic legal drama" called "The Defenders" . . . starring Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell as two wild defense attorneys. (--Here's the preview . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFDznZZE8vA --WILLIAM SHATNER will star in a sitcom based on the Twitter "sensation" @(Crap)MyDadSays. The show is called "$#*! My Dad Says", and it'll be verbally pronounced as "Bleep My Dad Says". (--Here's the preview clip . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YTsKXYGUwo (--The Twitter account is what it sounds like . . . some guy posts random, "colorful" comments that his crazy father says. If you want to look it up, remember that the site uses the actual S-word instead of "crap.") --There's also a show called "Blue Bloods", which is being described as a, quote, "New York family cop drama." It has an impressive cast, including Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Will Estes and Bridget Moynahan. (--Here's the preview . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGkoEM7dnUs
--And there's "Mike and Molly", a sitcom about a guy and a girl who start dating after bumping into each other at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting. It was created Chuck Lorre, the man behind "Two and A Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory". (--Here's the preview clip . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihWp2QaXnZI
--CBS will also be unleashing a "Criminal Minds" spin-off sometime midseason . . . but there aren't many details on that. It doesn't even have a title. All we do know is that it'll star FOREST WHITAKER. (--Forest guest-starred on an episode of "Criminal Minds" last month. He played Sam Cooper, a former member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit, who now heads up his own handpicked team. He'll likely be playing the same character in the spin-off.) --Earlier this week, CBS reached a deal with CHARLIE SHEEN to do another two seasons of "Two and a Half Men". The network's other returning shows are: --"NCIS", "NCIS: Los Angeles", "The Mentalist", "CSI", "CSI: New York", "CSI: Miami", "Criminal Minds", "The Good Wife", "The Big Bang Theory", "How I Met Your Mother", "Rules of Engagement", "Medium", "The Amazing Race" and "Undercover Boss". --Canceled shows include: "The New Adventures of Old Christine", "The Ghost Whisperer", "Gary Unmarried", "Accidentally on Purpose", "Cold Case", "Numb3rs", "Three Rivers" and "Miami Medical".
CONAN O'BRIEN'S TBS SHOW NOW HAS A PREMIERE DATE:
TBS announced an official premiere date for CONAN O'BRIEN'S return to TV at their upfront presentation yesterday. It's November 8th. --Conan also showed up at the event. He joked around . . . and didn't reveal any SERIOUS details about his upcoming show, except to insinuate that his sidekick ANDY RICHTER will be joining him again. (--He said he couldn't get rid of him.) --Then, regarding the show, he joked, quote, "My vision . . . is to pick up where 'Hee Haw' left off. My hunch is that 33-year-old males want to hear corny jokes and country music." --And he also said, quote, "[I] really believe in basic-cable television. I don't want to live in a country with less than six ESPN channels." --He also made a few references to NBC. At one point, he asked the crowd if anyone knew, quote, "what the hell happened four months ago," and joked, quote, "The plot to 'Lost' is more plausible than my last year at NBC."
"SMALLVILLE" IS COMING TO AN END . . . NEXT YEAR:
The CW will bring "Smallville" back for a 10th season this fall . . . but it'll be the FINAL season. It'll also be the first time we get to see Clark in his Superman outfit. His mom finally gave it to him in this season's second-to-last episode. (--The CW will reveal the rest of their fall schedule later today.)
SIMON COWELL ADMITS THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WAS LEAVING "AMERICAN IDOL" KIND OF SCREWED ELLEN DEGENERES:
A preview clip from OPRAH WINFREY'S interview with SIMON COWELL . . . from TODAY'S "Oprah" . . . has hit the Internet early. Here are a few highlights: -On the Announcement That He'd Be Leaving "American Idol": "I think it was difficult for Ellen [DEGENERES] because the timing was horrific. On her first day, and I hadn't thought about this, I announce I'm leaving. And she didn't know. --"And I think that put her into a very tricky situation. And then everyone starts getting a bit paranoid about who my replacement is, blah, blah, blah." --On Who He Thinks Should Replace Him: "A couple of weeks ago, we were arguing or whatever, kidding around on the panel and it was . . . there were only about five people left and I remember suddenly thinking at that point . . . --"'I think it's too much about the judges at the moment and we've forgotten what the contestants are going through.' So to answer your question, I think primarily you've got to have somebody on that panel who actually knows what they're talking about. (--I love that Simon apparently never realized that the show was becoming TOO MUCH about the judges until halfway through Season Nine. Is it just me, or has that been a problem for at LEAST seven seasons now?)
--On the Inevitable Competition Between "Idol" and His New Show, the American Version of "X Factor": "I have to not even think about that at the moment. What I have to do is . . . make a show I'd like to watch. --"And I promise you that's how I'm approaching it, which is all the things I'd like to see on a talent show, I'm gonna try and make happen."
--And on Whether or Not He'd Like to Have Children: "I . . . you know, I worry about that because of my age. (--He's 50 years old.)
--"You know, when I was younger, you know, my dad used to play soccer and, you know, games with me and I worry . . . I worry that if I was 70 . . . It worries me a bit." --He added, quote, "If [kids] could be born at the age of five, maybe. Maybe that will happen."
--You can watch the corresponding clip from the interview, here . . .)
http://www.eonline.com/videos/v53905_oprah-peek-.html
WILL SUSAN BOYLE PLAY A LUNCH LADY ON "GLEE"?
If this isn't brilliant casting, I don't know what is: SUSAN BOYLE could guest-star as a LUNCH LADY on "Glee" next season. But sadly, it isn't a sure thing yet. --"Glee" co-creator Ryan Murphy says, quote, "I don't even know if she's interested but it's been pitched." The plan is to have Susan appear on a Christmas-themed episode. (--We'll let you know if this comes together.)
JESSE JAMES WILL "BREAK HIS SILENCE" ON "NIGHTLINE":
JESSE JAMES . . . the idiot who cheated on SANDRA BULLOCK just as people began considering her a good actress . . . has given an interview to "Nightline", which will air next Tuesday night. --He'll be "breaking his silence" . . . which sounds interesting already . . . and will discuss things like: Why he cheated on Sandra, how many tattooed trollops he banged, his time in rehab, and his future role in Sandra's newly-adopted son's life.
IS KYLE MACLACHLAN LEAVING "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES"?
"Entertainment Weekly" is reporting that KYLE MACLACHLAN will be leaving "Desperate Housewives". (--If it's true, it's unknown whose call it was.) --Nothing is official yet, but he'll reportedly return for a few more episodes to tie up his storyline with MARCIA CROSS' character, and then be gone. (--He plays Bree's husband. He's been in a wheelchair ever since the plane crash that crippled him and killed Bree's adulterous side-action, Karl.)
THURSDAY TV REMINDERS: (--Check your local listings.)
--"Bones" [5th Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox. (--ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons guest stars as Angela's dad.)
--"Community" [1st Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 8:30 P.M. on NBC.
--"Parks and Recreation" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on NBC.
--"The Office" [6th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on NBC.
--"30 Rock" [4th Season Finale] . . . 9:30 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Matt Damon guest stars as Liz's dream man.)
--"CSI" [10th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CBS. (--The Dick and Jane killer returns.)
--"Grey's Anatomy" [6th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Mandy Moore guest stars as a patient.)
--"Fringe" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox.
--"The Mentalist" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"The Marriage Ref" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Demi Moore, Kelly Ripa and Jim Breuer are this week's refs.)
SARAH MCLACHLAN HAS ADMITTED THAT LILITH FAIR TICKET SALES ARE "PRETTY SOFT":
When SARAH MCLACHLAN announced that Lilith Fair would be returning this summer . . . after an 11-year hiatus . . . my first thought was: Wow, this is going to be the hottest ticket since LED ZEPPELIN'S one-off reunion in 2007. (???) --Well, contrary to my expectations, it turns out ticket sales have been, quote, "pretty soft" . . . and that's according to Sarah herself. --Ticket prices might have something to do with it. As ridiculous as it sounds, tickets are going for as much as $250 at some venues. --But Sarah says, quote, "There's about 300 seats out of 16,000 or whatever that are $250. Then there's 9,000 [seats] that are $25, so come on. --"We're working our hardest to have reasonably priced tickets so it can be accessible for everyone and that people will want to come. We might get slaughtered, I don't know, but I kind of have blind faith in the fact we're putting on a really great show and we always have, and that will bring people in the end." --Tickets may have sold a little better if MILEY CYRUS was involved . . . (--that is, assuming she's big within the female hippie / rocker lesbian crowd) . . . and Sarah says she did invite her, but Miley couldn't fit it into her schedule. --Sarah tells E! Online, quote, "She was big on my list. I actually think she's really talented and my [eight-year-old] daughter [India] loves her. It's all about Miley."
In a radio interview yesterday . . . JUSTIN BIEBER talked up his kissing skills. --Justin said, quote, "I'm a good . . . I'm a great kisser." And he added that he's made out with, quote, "a couple chicks." --Justin also proved that he knows what to do if he's driving with a girl in that new Range Rover that USHER bought him for his 16th birthday, and things start getting a little hot and heavy. --He said, quote, "I mean, if you're driving you make a little stop at, you know, the Wal-Mart rest stop . . . you're good." --Bieber also said he's SINGLE . . . despite his recent dinner date with MILEY CYRUS. He said there was nothing romantic going on . . . they were, quote, "just hanging out."
AUDRINA PATRIDGE AND RYAN CABRERA HAVE BROKEN UP:
AUDRINA PATRIDGE and RYAN CABRERA have broken up. "Us Weekly" says they split about a week ago because, quote, "Ryan's a constant partier and that became an issue."
KIM CATTRALL REFUSED TO DO A PHOTO SHOOT WITH A COUGAR . . . BECAUSE SHE FINDS THAT TERM INSULTING:
KIM CATTRALL was supposed to do a cover shoot for a, quote, "significant magazine for women over 40." (--She refused to name it.) But she bailed because they wanted her to pose with a real, live COUGAR. --Kim . . . who's 53 . . . thinks that term is DEROGATORY. And she also doesn't believe that it fits her "Sex and the City" character, Samantha Jones. --She says, quote, "I really take umbrage to the [term] 'cougar'. I think cougar has a negative connotation and I don't see anything negative about Samantha and her sexuality, sensuality and choice. --"I don't think she stands or sits in bars waiting for young men to prey on. And I think that's something that people who are uncomfortable with strong women have labeled her. --"I refused to do it because I felt it was insulting. They took away the cover because I refused to do so."
ARE ROBERT PATTINSON AND KRISTEN STEWART ENGAGED???
"OK!" magazine says that ROBERT PATTINSON has proposed to KRISTEN STEWART. If you want to believe it and hear more about it, the new issue of "OK!" is on newsstands today.
FRIENDS SAY KEANU REEVES AND CHARLIZE THERON *ARE* DATING:
Earlier this month, CHARLIZE THERON set the gossip world on fire when she hugged KEANU REEVES UNDER HIS JACKET after a dinner date. (!!!) Well, friends are now confirming what that hug implied: These two are hooking up. --Supposedly, Charlize turned to Keanu for comfort after her eight-year relationship with STEWART TOWNSEND ended . . . but she ended up getting a little more. --A source says, quote, "Charlize and Keanu make a great couple, and everyone is thrilled at the turn of events. -"Keanu kept Charlize's spirits high with his goofy sense of humor and low-key, easy-to-love manner. He makes her laugh, which was just what the doctor ordered for her broken heart."
LINDSAY LOHAN CAN'T MAKE HER COURT HEARING . . . BECAUSE SOMEBODY SUPPOSEDLY STOLE HER PASSPORT:
This is pretty pathetic: LINDSAY LOHAN will NOT make her DUI hearing this morning because she's still stuck at the Cannes Film Festival in France. And her excuse is that SOMEBODY STOLE HER PASSPORT. --Lindsay's attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, says, quote, "Her passport was stolen. She is doing everything in her power to get a temporary passport and get home." He added that Lindsay should be home tomorrow at the latest. --Lindsay's hot-but-irresponsible mom DINA is covering for her, as usual. She says, quote, "This was not a planned scheme. We are still working with the embassy. Her passport was stolen. We have made a police report." (--E! News actually contacted police in Cannes, and they said they have not received a stolen property report.) --Dina also says Lindsay has every intention of being in court . . . but the hearing might have to be put off . . . quote, "She will be in court, whether it's on Friday or Monday. She has, like, two alcohol classes left and she plans to make them up next week." --Lindsay's psycho dad MICHAEL expects the judge to throw Lindsay in jail for missing the hearing. --And he says, quote, "It's obvious that Lindsay needs help, not incarceration, and I have a program and people in place that will satisfy the court and finally provide Lindsay with the help she needs to have her real life back." --Michael also claims that Dina is on his side for a change . . . quote, "I have met with Dina to resolve our differences, which I believe we have. --"I can honestly say that we shared a much needed moment of truth that ended on a very positive note. I actually felt the old Dina, that I married and truly love!" (--By the way . . . E! says that Lindsay is booked to attend some kind of benefit gala in Cannes TONIGHT. Which is interesting, since she was expected to be in L.A. this morning, and is supposedly trying to get back home ASAP.) --The judge might issue a warrant if Lindsay no-shows today. But it's no big deal. It'll only be a misdemeanor warrant, meaning nobody's going to arrest her when she steps off the plane in L.A. She'll just have to reschedule with the court.
BRET MICHAELS HAS PROMISED GOD HE'LL BE A BETTER PERSON:
Not surprisingly, BRET MICHAELS has done a lot of talking to God since his brain hemorrhage. --On yesterday's "Oprah", he said that he told God, quote, "I know I've done a lot of rotten things. I'm asking for a break here. If you could cut me a break, I promise, I'll be better in the future." --He also said the incident put everything in perspective quickly . . . quote, "You instantly put into your life what matters the most at that exact time . . . it is your immediate family, your kids, your best friends. --"At that point, you're not thinking about anything else. You're not thinking about career, you're not thinking about nothing, you're thinking, 'Let me live through this . . . --"'. . . The only thing that matters right now is taking care of my family and my kids and thanking God I'm still alive to talk about it.'" --Bret teared up watching a video of his 9-year-old daughter Raine talking about how it felt to think her father might die. --She said, quote, "To think that my dad wouldn't be growing up with me and my dad wouldn't be walking me down the aisle for my wedding, it was just really heartbreaking." --Bret said that thinking about his family . . . especially his two young daughters . . . helped him survive . . . quote, "It gave me this unsinkable strength. It gave me this amazing courage." --As for Bret's recovery, he says he's still having trouble moving his legs, and he's still getting bad headaches . . . which could last another month or so. --But he's on the mend . . . quote, "It gets better each day. I'm so happy to be here talking to you, to be alive. I'm just appreciative to be here and have such great family around, great friends and a great medical team. --"I'm just happy that whoever's watching over me didn't decide to take me out." --As for why he got a second chance, when 80% of the people who suffer the same type of hemorrhage DIE, he said, quote, "I don't know what that reason is just yet."
(--Here are some videos from yesterday's "Oprah" . . .)
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b181797_bret_michaels_talks_recovery_on_oprah.html
http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=ce5de581-0b67-4253-9da2-6dfb500e8fd5
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/see-how-bret-michaels-has-recovered-from-his-brain-hemorrhage-2010195
LEGENDARY GOLFER CHI CHI RODRIGUEZ WAS TIED UP AND ROBBED AT GUNPOINT:
Legendary golfer CHI CHI RODRIGUEZ and his wife were tied up and robbed at GUNPOINT by four men who broke into their home in Puerto Rico early yesterday morning. --And even though they took $500,000 worth of stuff . . . including his wife's wedding ring . . . Chi Chi says the robbers were, quote, "gentle and very respectful of my wife." --A security guard was also tied up . . . but luckily, no one was injured. (--Chi Chi is 71 years old.)
ELIN NORDEGREN IS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL:
ELIN NORDEGREN is going back to school. She's taking summer undergraduate classes at Rollins College . . . a small liberal arts school in Winter Park, Florida. There's no word what she's studying. --Before hooking up with TIGER WOODS, Elin was pursuing psychology degree at Lund University in Sweden.
ANNA NICOLE SMITH'S WORN UNDERGARMENTS CAN'T BE SOLD ON EBAY:
Some supposed "friends" of ANNA NICOLE SMITH are selling some of her old junk on eBay. Unfortunately, some of the items they had put up for sale got yanked . . . because they were USED UNDERGARMENTS. --eBay says, quote, "Our policy strictly prohibits listing used underwear. Used clothing may be listed on eBay as long as it has been cleaned and the listing clearly states that the clothing is used."
NADYA SULEMAN HAS AGREED TO PUT A PETA SIGN IN HER YARD ADVOCATING THE SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF PETS:
"OCTOMOM" NADYA SULEMAN agreed to put a PETA sign in her yard urging people to have their pets spayed or neutered. But she didn't do it out of the goodness of her heart. --PETA is giving her $5,000, plus a month's supply of veggie hamburgers and hot dogs. --Nadya and a guy in a dopey dog costume unveiled the sign yesterday. (--Check out the video . . . and note Nadya's complete inability to read a prepared statement . . .)
http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=4118838d-5950-49a9-8ce3-7f63a61beb04
ASHLEY GREENE AND KELLAN LUTZ WILL RETURN FOR "BREAKING DAWN":
A "Twilight" casting crisis has been averted. ASHLEY GREENE and KELLAN LUTZ have settled their salary disputes with Summit Entertainment, meaning that they WILL appear in "Breaking Dawn". (--"Breaking Dawn" is the fourth and final installment in the "Twilight" book series, but Summit is expected to announce that it'll be split into TWO movies.) --The "Hollywood Reporter" says Ashley and Kellan . . . who play Alice and Emmett Cullen . . . are getting $1.25 million for each of the final two films. (--That's assuming that "Breaking Dawn" is made into two movies . . . which most people think is a DONE DEAL, and Summit just hasn't announced it yet.) --That's significantly more than they made for the first three, but it's still below the approximately $2 million to $4 million they were asking for. (--Wise move. Summit proved that the non-lead actors were replaceable when they ditched Rachelle Lefevre in favor of Bryce Dallas Howard after she tried to play hardball with them.)
MEGAN FOX WILL *NOT* APPEAR IN "TRANSFORMERS 3":
MEGAN FOX is officially OUT of "Transformers 3" . . . and she claims SHE was the one who bailed. Her rep says, quote, "It was her decision not to return. She wishes the franchise the best." --But there are those who say it was director MICHAEL BAY who made the call. And it may have been REVENGE for all of the SMACK Megan talked about Michael after the second "Transformers" flick. --As you may recall, Megan likened Bay to Napoleon and Hitler on his movie sets. She also said that when you work on a Michael Bay movie it's, quote, "not about an acting experience." --Members of the "Transformers" crew responded by writing an anonymous letter trashing Megan HARD. --But Bay stood up for her. He said her mouthiness is actually part of her, quote, "crazy charm." He added that he looked forward to working with her on "Transformers 3". That was last September. --In October, on Spike TV's "Scream Awards", Megan tried to make her peace with Michael and his crew . . . saying, quote, "The movie took me out of obscurity and gave me a career, and I'm completely grateful to everyone involved with this franchise." --Whatever the reason for her departure, Bay is expected to find another actress to act as a love interest for SHIA LABEOUF.
THERE'S A "MEAN GIRLS" FOLLOW-UP IN THE WORKS CALLED "MEAN MOMS" . . . BUT LINDSAY LOHAN WON'T BE IN IT:
There's a follow-up to "Mean Girls" in the works, but it won't star LINDSAY LOHAN . . . or AMANDA SEYFRIED or RACHEL MCADAMS, for that matter. --It's called "Mean Moms", and it's based on a book called "Queen Bee Moms and King Pin Dads: Dealing with the Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Counselors Who Can Make — or Break — Your Child's Future". --The book is by Rosalind Wiseman. She also wrote the book, "Queen Bees and Wannabees: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World" . . . which is what "Mean Girls" was based on. --The movie will be about a, quote, "happily married mother of two who moves from small town America to the high class suburbs and is faced with confronting the cut throat world of competitive parenting." --Not only are none of the actors from "Mean Girls" returning . . . none of the CHARACTERS are coming back, either. This is a totally new story. (--"Mean Girls" came out in 2004 . . . back when people thought Lindsay had a FUTURE.)
CBS WILL OVERHAUL THEIR SCHEDULE FOR NEXT SEASON:
(--This week, all the major networks will be unveiling their schedules for next season. In the industry, this is referred to as "upfront week", where the networks present their lineups for the upcoming TV season to advertisers.) CBS is completely overhauling their schedule for the upcoming TV season. --In addition to dropping seven shows . . . CBS has announced that they're going to make the shows they did keep HARDER TO FIND. Here's the rundown: --"CSI: Miami" will be moving from Mondays to Sundays . . . "Two and a Half Men" will be on Thursdays instead of Mondays . . . "Survivor" will move from Thursdays to Wednesdays . . . and "CSI: New York" will jump from Wednesdays to Fridays. --When asked what the heck they're doing, CBS suit Kelly Kahl explained, quote, "[It's] the TV network circle of life. We could have just filled holes in our schedule, or we could totally revamp it. If you wait too long, you start to decline [in the ratings], and once that starts it's hard to pull out of." --She added that CBS considers this game plan to be, quote, "aggressive stability." --OK. Cutting through all that mumbo-jumbo, the basic point is that CBS wanted to banish several declining shows . . . and wanted to reconstruct their schedule so that their biggest shows are all serving as lead-ins for the new ones. --Here's a brief summary of CBS' new blood, along with preview clips of each one: --First off, there's "Hawaii Five-O" . . . a, quote, "re-imagining" of the original series, which ran on CBS from 1968 to 1980. (--It starred JACK LORD and JAMES MACARTHUR.) --The new version will star Australian actor Alex O'Loughlin as Detective Steve McGarrett, Scott Caan as Detective Danny "Danno" Williams and Daniel Dae Kim from "Lost" as Detective Chin Ho Kelly. --Other stars will include Grace Park, Jean Smart and Taryn Manning. (--Here's a preview clip . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJOhqxHnWa8
--There's also a, quote, "comedic legal drama" called "The Defenders" . . . starring Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell as two wild defense attorneys. (--Here's the preview . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFDznZZE8vA --WILLIAM SHATNER will star in a sitcom based on the Twitter "sensation" @(Crap)MyDadSays. The show is called "$#*! My Dad Says", and it'll be verbally pronounced as "Bleep My Dad Says". (--Here's the preview clip . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YTsKXYGUwo (--The Twitter account is what it sounds like . . . some guy posts random, "colorful" comments that his crazy father says. If you want to look it up, remember that the site uses the actual S-word instead of "crap.") --There's also a show called "Blue Bloods", which is being described as a, quote, "New York family cop drama." It has an impressive cast, including Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Will Estes and Bridget Moynahan. (--Here's the preview . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGkoEM7dnUs
--And there's "Mike and Molly", a sitcom about a guy and a girl who start dating after bumping into each other at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting. It was created Chuck Lorre, the man behind "Two and A Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory". (--Here's the preview clip . . .)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihWp2QaXnZI
--CBS will also be unleashing a "Criminal Minds" spin-off sometime midseason . . . but there aren't many details on that. It doesn't even have a title. All we do know is that it'll star FOREST WHITAKER. (--Forest guest-starred on an episode of "Criminal Minds" last month. He played Sam Cooper, a former member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit, who now heads up his own handpicked team. He'll likely be playing the same character in the spin-off.) --Earlier this week, CBS reached a deal with CHARLIE SHEEN to do another two seasons of "Two and a Half Men". The network's other returning shows are: --"NCIS", "NCIS: Los Angeles", "The Mentalist", "CSI", "CSI: New York", "CSI: Miami", "Criminal Minds", "The Good Wife", "The Big Bang Theory", "How I Met Your Mother", "Rules of Engagement", "Medium", "The Amazing Race" and "Undercover Boss". --Canceled shows include: "The New Adventures of Old Christine", "The Ghost Whisperer", "Gary Unmarried", "Accidentally on Purpose", "Cold Case", "Numb3rs", "Three Rivers" and "Miami Medical".
CONAN O'BRIEN'S TBS SHOW NOW HAS A PREMIERE DATE:
TBS announced an official premiere date for CONAN O'BRIEN'S return to TV at their upfront presentation yesterday. It's November 8th. --Conan also showed up at the event. He joked around . . . and didn't reveal any SERIOUS details about his upcoming show, except to insinuate that his sidekick ANDY RICHTER will be joining him again. (--He said he couldn't get rid of him.) --Then, regarding the show, he joked, quote, "My vision . . . is to pick up where 'Hee Haw' left off. My hunch is that 33-year-old males want to hear corny jokes and country music." --And he also said, quote, "[I] really believe in basic-cable television. I don't want to live in a country with less than six ESPN channels." --He also made a few references to NBC. At one point, he asked the crowd if anyone knew, quote, "what the hell happened four months ago," and joked, quote, "The plot to 'Lost' is more plausible than my last year at NBC."
"SMALLVILLE" IS COMING TO AN END . . . NEXT YEAR:
The CW will bring "Smallville" back for a 10th season this fall . . . but it'll be the FINAL season. It'll also be the first time we get to see Clark in his Superman outfit. His mom finally gave it to him in this season's second-to-last episode. (--The CW will reveal the rest of their fall schedule later today.)
SIMON COWELL ADMITS THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WAS LEAVING "AMERICAN IDOL" KIND OF SCREWED ELLEN DEGENERES:
A preview clip from OPRAH WINFREY'S interview with SIMON COWELL . . . from TODAY'S "Oprah" . . . has hit the Internet early. Here are a few highlights: -On the Announcement That He'd Be Leaving "American Idol": "I think it was difficult for Ellen [DEGENERES] because the timing was horrific. On her first day, and I hadn't thought about this, I announce I'm leaving. And she didn't know. --"And I think that put her into a very tricky situation. And then everyone starts getting a bit paranoid about who my replacement is, blah, blah, blah." --On Who He Thinks Should Replace Him: "A couple of weeks ago, we were arguing or whatever, kidding around on the panel and it was . . . there were only about five people left and I remember suddenly thinking at that point . . . --"'I think it's too much about the judges at the moment and we've forgotten what the contestants are going through.' So to answer your question, I think primarily you've got to have somebody on that panel who actually knows what they're talking about. (--I love that Simon apparently never realized that the show was becoming TOO MUCH about the judges until halfway through Season Nine. Is it just me, or has that been a problem for at LEAST seven seasons now?)
--On the Inevitable Competition Between "Idol" and His New Show, the American Version of "X Factor": "I have to not even think about that at the moment. What I have to do is . . . make a show I'd like to watch. --"And I promise you that's how I'm approaching it, which is all the things I'd like to see on a talent show, I'm gonna try and make happen."
--And on Whether or Not He'd Like to Have Children: "I . . . you know, I worry about that because of my age. (--He's 50 years old.)
--"You know, when I was younger, you know, my dad used to play soccer and, you know, games with me and I worry . . . I worry that if I was 70 . . . It worries me a bit." --He added, quote, "If [kids] could be born at the age of five, maybe. Maybe that will happen."
--You can watch the corresponding clip from the interview, here . . .)
http://www.eonline.com/videos/v53905_oprah-peek-.html
WILL SUSAN BOYLE PLAY A LUNCH LADY ON "GLEE"?
If this isn't brilliant casting, I don't know what is: SUSAN BOYLE could guest-star as a LUNCH LADY on "Glee" next season. But sadly, it isn't a sure thing yet. --"Glee" co-creator Ryan Murphy says, quote, "I don't even know if she's interested but it's been pitched." The plan is to have Susan appear on a Christmas-themed episode. (--We'll let you know if this comes together.)
JESSE JAMES WILL "BREAK HIS SILENCE" ON "NIGHTLINE":
JESSE JAMES . . . the idiot who cheated on SANDRA BULLOCK just as people began considering her a good actress . . . has given an interview to "Nightline", which will air next Tuesday night. --He'll be "breaking his silence" . . . which sounds interesting already . . . and will discuss things like: Why he cheated on Sandra, how many tattooed trollops he banged, his time in rehab, and his future role in Sandra's newly-adopted son's life.
IS KYLE MACLACHLAN LEAVING "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES"?
"Entertainment Weekly" is reporting that KYLE MACLACHLAN will be leaving "Desperate Housewives". (--If it's true, it's unknown whose call it was.) --Nothing is official yet, but he'll reportedly return for a few more episodes to tie up his storyline with MARCIA CROSS' character, and then be gone. (--He plays Bree's husband. He's been in a wheelchair ever since the plane crash that crippled him and killed Bree's adulterous side-action, Karl.)
THURSDAY TV REMINDERS: (--Check your local listings.)
--"Bones" [5th Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox. (--ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons guest stars as Angela's dad.)
--"Community" [1st Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 8:30 P.M. on NBC.
--"Parks and Recreation" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on NBC.
--"The Office" [6th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on NBC.
--"30 Rock" [4th Season Finale] . . . 9:30 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Matt Damon guest stars as Liz's dream man.)
--"CSI" [10th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CBS. (--The Dick and Jane killer returns.)
--"Grey's Anatomy" [6th Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Mandy Moore guest stars as a patient.)
--"Fringe" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox.
--"The Mentalist" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"The Marriage Ref" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Demi Moore, Kelly Ripa and Jim Breuer are this week's refs.)
SARAH MCLACHLAN HAS ADMITTED THAT LILITH FAIR TICKET SALES ARE "PRETTY SOFT":
When SARAH MCLACHLAN announced that Lilith Fair would be returning this summer . . . after an 11-year hiatus . . . my first thought was: Wow, this is going to be the hottest ticket since LED ZEPPELIN'S one-off reunion in 2007. (???) --Well, contrary to my expectations, it turns out ticket sales have been, quote, "pretty soft" . . . and that's according to Sarah herself. --Ticket prices might have something to do with it. As ridiculous as it sounds, tickets are going for as much as $250 at some venues. --But Sarah says, quote, "There's about 300 seats out of 16,000 or whatever that are $250. Then there's 9,000 [seats] that are $25, so come on. --"We're working our hardest to have reasonably priced tickets so it can be accessible for everyone and that people will want to come. We might get slaughtered, I don't know, but I kind of have blind faith in the fact we're putting on a really great show and we always have, and that will bring people in the end." --Tickets may have sold a little better if MILEY CYRUS was involved . . . (--that is, assuming she's big within the female hippie / rocker lesbian crowd) . . . and Sarah says she did invite her, but Miley couldn't fit it into her schedule. --Sarah tells E! Online, quote, "She was big on my list. I actually think she's really talented and my [eight-year-old] daughter [India] loves her. It's all about Miley."
NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF
A GUY IS ONLY COMMUNICATING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA FOR A MONTH, TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY:
There's a guy in Atlanta named Clark Harris, and after losing his mother to cancer last February, he decided to do something to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Here's what he came up with: --Basically, Clark decided that for the entire month of May, he was only going to communicate through social media channels, like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, and Google Chat. --But communicating by talking, writing, sign language, email, and text messaging aren't allowed. And Clark's serious about it. He's not even talking to his wife. --Anyway, Clark started a website where he's accepting donations. His goal is to raise $10,000 by the end of the month. As of last night, he was at nearly $5,000
--If you're interested in tracking Clark's progress, you can friend "SilentClark Harris" on Facebook. And his Twitter handle is SilentClark.
(Mashable)
(--You can link to Clark's website and make a donation here . . .) http://socialmediaexperiment.com/
90% OF CELL PHONE OWNERS IGNORE CALLS FROM THEIR RELATIVES:
The next time you call your kid . . . or your parents . . . or your boyfriend . . . and it goes straight to their voicemail, I want you to think about THIS . . . --According to a new study from the University of Salford in England, 90% of cell phone users say they screen their phone calls. And they're more likely to ignore calls from family members than those from co-workers, or even strangers. --A woman named Dr. Ashley Weinberg co-led the study. She says the main reason people ignore calls from relatives and close friends is because those conversations are usually longer, and involve more effort than calls from people they don't know as well. --In general, the ten most common reasons people ignore phone calls are:
#1.) They didn't hear it ring
#2.) They're driving
#3.) They're feeding their pet (???)
#4.) They just can't talk for one reason or another
#5.) THEY'RE HAVING SEX
#6.) They lost their phone
#7.) They're in a meeting
#8.) They don't recognize the number
#9.) They're not in the mood to talk on the phone
#10.) They're in a crowd, and they don't want other people overhearing (All Headline News)
PEOPLE WOULD RATHER GIVE UP SEX FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH THAN WORK FOR A WEEK AS A TELEMARKETER:
In February, a management training company called Sandler Training conducted a random online survey. The idea was to learn how the average person feels about salespeople.
--Anyway, study participants were given five miserable options, and asked which one they thought was the WORST:
--13% chose speaking in front of an audience.
--15% picked being a surprise guest on a reality TV show.
--18% picked giving up sex for an entire month.
--23% chose making cold calls for a week as a salesperson.
--And 33% chose getting a root canal.
--In other words, more people would rather give up sex for an entire month, than spend a few days working as a telemarketer.
(Yahoo News)
UGLY DEFENDANTS ARE 22% MORE LIKELY TO BE CONVICTED THAN GOOD-LOOKING ONES:
This is just a heads-up to let you know that if you're going to commit a crime . . . and I'm not saying you should . . . it would help if you're good-looking. --That's because according to a new study by Cornell University, ugly defendants are 22% more likely to be convicted than attractive ones. --And they're also given harsher sentences than good-looking criminals: They get an average of about 22 months more prison time. --A couple of guys named Justin Gunnell and Stephen Ceci led the study. They say some jurors make decisions rationally, basing them on facts and logic alone. --But others will factor in certain considerations that have nothing to do with the case. And attractiveness is one of those things. --To be fair, in strong cases with lots of evidence, it doesn't make much difference how attractive the defendant is. But in cases that are less cut-and-dry, jurors tend to be more lenient if the defendant is good-looking. (CBS News)
SMOKING AND DRINKING MAY KILL YOU . . . BUT AT LEAST THEY PREVENT DEPRESSION:
I've got some good news and some bad news to report this morning. The good news is that smoking, drinking, drugs, and overeating will all make you a HAPPIER person. Obviously the bad news is that, eventually, they'll also KILL YOU. --That's according to a professor at the University of Michigan named James Jackson. --James wanted to find out why blacks tend to have worse physical health than whites, but better psychiatric health. --What he found is that vices actually DO prevent depression, which makes sense given higher levels of obesity and substance abuse in black communities. --As he puts it, quote, "People engage in bad habits for functional reasons, not because of weak character or ignorance." --But, as you already know, smoking, drinking, drugs and overeating are all really bad for your physical health. And if you keep using them, eventually, the effects are going to catch up with you . . . and send you to an early grave. --In other words, you can live your life one of two ways: --Either you live a short, happy life that's filled with smoking, drinking and other fun stuff. Or you live a long life that's kind of dull. But you already knew that, didn't you? (Science Daily)
THERE'S A PLACE IN SINGAPORE THAT OFFERS LUXURY "ROCK AND ROLL" FUNERALS:
If you feel like quiet, respectable funerals are for losers, then you should check out the Nirvana Memorial Garden in Singapore as a possible resting place after you die. --It's a columbarium, which . . . if you don't know the term . . . is a place to respectfully store people's cremated remains. And like most columbaria, the Nirvana Memorial Garden has thousands of little niches for storing urns containing the ashes of the dead. --But that's where the similarities stop, because the Nirvana Memorial Gardens offers what they like to refer to as "rock and roll" funerals. --For a typical "rock and roll" funeral, the urn is placed on a pedestal under a beam of light, while machine-generated smoke fills the prayer hall. --Then a booming recorded voice, accompanied by the recorded chants of monks, starts speaking Buddhist scripture, as the hall's Buddha statues shoot laser lights out of their foreheads. --It all sounds pretty cool. But it doesn't come cheap. Prices start at $2,200 for a single-person niche, and go all the way up to $93,000 for a luxury "Family Suite" cubicle that can store as many as 32 urns. --According to the facility's director, quote, "This is not a place for people to come only once a year to visit their parents or relatives. We want to create an environment to encourage them to come as often as possible." (???) (Yahoo News)
THERE'S A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN "RENT A LOCAL" TO SHOW YOU AROUND ON VACATION:
I don't know about you, but for me, the hardest part about planning vacations is that I always end up doing all the same, touristy stuff as every other jerk. --Which is great if that's what you want. But if you're looking for a real, authentic experience, that's a little more difficult. And it's why THIS is sort of brilliant . . . --There's a travel website called RentALocalFriend.com. Basically, it allows you to hire a local to act as your personal tour guide. --All you have to do is send an email describing the stuff you like to do . . . like if you're into shopping, or sports or restaurants. Then your "local" comes up with a personalized itinerary to help you make the most of your vacation. --Right now, the service offers "friends" in 15 major cities, including New York, Paris, London, Rome and Rio de Janeiro. --Prices vary depending on the location and length of your tour. But the average for three people to go on a four-hour tour is about $85. (AOL Travel) (--You can link to the website here . . .) http://rentalocalfriend.com/
THIS JUST MIGHT BE THE WORST HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK IDEA EVER:
Last Friday, yearbooks were distributed at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia (--about 50 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.). --Ordinarily, the distribution of a high school yearbook wouldn't make headlines. But this one's different . . . --That's because this year, students at Massaponax came up with the bright idea to collect anonymous confessions from their classmates, and include them in the yearbook. --Most of the confessions are harmless, but some of them are pretty messed up. Check out some of the more-disturbing confessions printed in the yearbook:
--"I have sex with people just to feel wanted."
--"I worry all the time my ex-boyfriend will use the naked picture I sent him to ruin my life."
--"I had an abortion and my mom doesn't know."
--"I once did so much pot that I woke up high."
--"I'm pregnant with my best friend's boyfriend's kid."
--Anyway, school officials immediately stopped distribution of the yearbook. The plan is to have it reprinted without all the insane confessions. --According to the principal at Massaponax High . . . a guy named Joe Rodkey . . . quote, "It's totally inappropriate for a high school yearbook. The students, the school and this community deserve a better yearbook than what I have." (Free Lance-Star)
HUGGIES CAME OUT WITH A NEW LINE OF DIAPERS THAT LOOK LIKE BLUE JEANS:
I'll be honest with you, I'm extremely vain. I'm talking "So vain that I need my baby to look hip and stylish even when he's soiling himself" vain. If you're like me, then you'll want to check this out . . . --Recently, Huggies released a new line of diapers that look like blue jeans. (???) No, really. --Huggies describes the jean diapers as, quote, "as fun and unique as you-know-who." Fortunately, they're only available for a limited time. (Huffington Post / Frisky) (--You can buy these stupid things for $20 here . . .)
http://www.target.com/Huggies-Jean-Diapers-Baby/b?ie=UTF8&node=2280617011
SUMMER EMERGENCIES
A new Red Cross survey shows that 68% of Americans have been involved in some kind of summer emergency, ranging from insect bites, heat stroke and broken bones to more life-threatening situations. One in every four people said they have been in a situation where someone needed CPR. The survey found that Americans are most comfortable giving CPR to family members, friends and coworkers, with less than half likely to perform CPR on a stranger. Physical appearance was a significant factor when people are deciding to perform CPR on a stranger. Men with a disheveled or sloppy appearance were the least likely to receive assistance, with only half of respondents saying they would very likely try to give them CPR. The survey also found that less than two-thirds of adults felt confident helping a heat stroke victim and fewer than half could help someone with an allergic reaction to an insect or snake bite. This year, the Red Cross is offering a new Wilderness and Remote First Aid course designed to teach people how to respond to emergencies when help is delayed. In addition, the Red Cross teaches swimming and water safety skills to over 2 million people each year, trains millions in life-saving skills through its Lifeguarding and CPR/AED courses, and offers life saving training for young people through its Babysitter Training courses. Find out more at www.redcross.org or contact your local Red Cross chapter.
NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) HERE'S FOOTAGE OF A HUGE LANDSLIDE FROM 100 FEET AWAY:
Footage of a massive landslide in Japan from 2004 is making the rounds online again, and a lot of people think it's fake . . . but it's real. The camera shows a road, telephone poles, and a bunch of huge trees getting taken out.
(--Search for "extreme landslide caught on camera." It starts at :20.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh60NfULkq4
(--Check out some other videos and photos of the damage at these sites . . .)
http://www.japanprobe.com/2006/10/15/landslide-video/
http://www.ajiko.co.jp/bousai/nara/nara.htm
#2.) HERE'S A TRAILER PARODY FOR A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE FIRST GUYS WHO JUMPED INTO A POOL WHILE TRYING TO CATCH A BALL:
A sketch comedy group called THE BIRTHDAY BOYS made a fake trailer for a movie called "Pool Jumpers". It's in the style of a serious sports documentary, but it's about the first guys who jumped into a pool while trying to catch a ball.
(--Search for "Pool Jumpers trailer.")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GIZ3cN4JwA
FIVE WAYS TO TURN A FRIENDSHIP INTO SOMETHING MORE:
Sometimes the best relationships start out as friendships. But all guys know that once they're in the 'friend zone,' it's tough to get out. So if you secretly want to nail one of your friends, here are five tips from "Glamour" magazine on how to do it . . .
#1.) STOP USING NICKNAMES. You don't want to treat a girl like one of the guys if you plan on making her more than a friend. So don't call her "dude" or "buddy," and don't call her by her last name. It sends the wrong signal. --Once you're dating, you can use whatever lame pet-names you want. But until then, use the person's first name.
#2.) DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TOGETHER. If all you do is play softball on Sundays, try doing things that are a little more like a date. Just meeting up for a drink could get something going.
#3.) DATE OTHER PEOPLE. Remember, there's no guarantee it'll work out, so don't ever get obsessed with one person. If it doesn't pan out, you'll be disappointed. And your self-esteem could take a major shot too. --So keep your options open. A little competition will make you more desirable.
#4.) FLIRT MORE. It shouldn't be a drastic change in how you relate. Just smile more, and laugh at their jokes. If you really like the person, it shouldn't be too hard.
#5.) JUST ASK THEM OUT. If you want to save a lot of time, and if you can build up the courage to do it, just do it. And if you get rejected, don't worry . . . -They might not think you're their type right NOW. But that could change. It might just take them a while to get used to thinking about you in that way. (Glamour Magazine)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAC-MAN!
The Japanese video game company Namco is throwing a 30th birthday party for “Pac-Man” and releasing anniversary versions of the games. Namco will be celebrating on Saturday with a Los Angeles party and the release of “Pac-Man Championship Edition” for the iPad and iPhone. Some interesting tidbits about Pac-Man:
· Pac-Man was inspired by a pizza with a slice missing. Namco designer Tohru Iwatani created Pac-Man in 1979. He wanted to call the game Puck Man, but due to worries that American vandals would change the “p” to something less dignified, the name became Pac-Man.
· The first Pac-Man arcade game didn’t make it to America until five months after its May 22, 1980, unveiling in Japan. American fans spent more than $1 billion in quarters on Pac-Man games in the first 15 months after its release.
· Pac-Man even spawned his own family – Ms. Pac-Man (which many consider the perfected version of Pac-Man) and Jr. Pac-Man.
· Pac-Man was played more than 10 billion times during the 20th century and is listed by Guinness World Records as the “Most Successful Coin-Operated Game” ever.
Only one person, Billy Mitchell, in 1999, played a perfect game of Pac-Man, which ends with its highest difficulty at level 256 with a programming glitch.
· “Pac-Man Fever,” by Buckner & Garcia, reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982.
· 1982 saw the debut of ABC’s animated cartoon, “The Pac-Man Show.” It ran for two years as Pac-Man tried to save his friends and Pac-Land from the evil Mezmaron.
· Pac-Man and his fellow Pacs travel 20% faster through mazes that have been cleared of dots than when they’re eating.
· Pac-Man has been licensed to more than 250 companies for over 400 products. There are Pac-Man air fresheners, cereal boxes, flip phones, costumes, record books and even a hot rod.
· The business world has co-opted Pac-Man’s name as a technique to protect against a hostile takeover. The defending company would instead swallow the larger company in a move known as the Pac-Man defense.
· The four Pac-Man ghosts are Blinky (the red one), Pinky (the pink one), Inky (the blue one) and Clyde (the orange one). They’re also given an alternate set of names: Shadow, Speedy, Bashful and Pokey, respectively.
A GUY IS ONLY COMMUNICATING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA FOR A MONTH, TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY:
There's a guy in Atlanta named Clark Harris, and after losing his mother to cancer last February, he decided to do something to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Here's what he came up with: --Basically, Clark decided that for the entire month of May, he was only going to communicate through social media channels, like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, and Google Chat. --But communicating by talking, writing, sign language, email, and text messaging aren't allowed. And Clark's serious about it. He's not even talking to his wife. --Anyway, Clark started a website where he's accepting donations. His goal is to raise $10,000 by the end of the month. As of last night, he was at nearly $5,000
--If you're interested in tracking Clark's progress, you can friend "SilentClark Harris" on Facebook. And his Twitter handle is SilentClark.
(Mashable)
(--You can link to Clark's website and make a donation here . . .) http://socialmediaexperiment.com/
90% OF CELL PHONE OWNERS IGNORE CALLS FROM THEIR RELATIVES:
The next time you call your kid . . . or your parents . . . or your boyfriend . . . and it goes straight to their voicemail, I want you to think about THIS . . . --According to a new study from the University of Salford in England, 90% of cell phone users say they screen their phone calls. And they're more likely to ignore calls from family members than those from co-workers, or even strangers. --A woman named Dr. Ashley Weinberg co-led the study. She says the main reason people ignore calls from relatives and close friends is because those conversations are usually longer, and involve more effort than calls from people they don't know as well. --In general, the ten most common reasons people ignore phone calls are:
#1.) They didn't hear it ring
#2.) They're driving
#3.) They're feeding their pet (???)
#4.) They just can't talk for one reason or another
#5.) THEY'RE HAVING SEX
#6.) They lost their phone
#7.) They're in a meeting
#8.) They don't recognize the number
#9.) They're not in the mood to talk on the phone
#10.) They're in a crowd, and they don't want other people overhearing (All Headline News)
PEOPLE WOULD RATHER GIVE UP SEX FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH THAN WORK FOR A WEEK AS A TELEMARKETER:
In February, a management training company called Sandler Training conducted a random online survey. The idea was to learn how the average person feels about salespeople.
--Anyway, study participants were given five miserable options, and asked which one they thought was the WORST:
--13% chose speaking in front of an audience.
--15% picked being a surprise guest on a reality TV show.
--18% picked giving up sex for an entire month.
--23% chose making cold calls for a week as a salesperson.
--And 33% chose getting a root canal.
--In other words, more people would rather give up sex for an entire month, than spend a few days working as a telemarketer.
(Yahoo News)
UGLY DEFENDANTS ARE 22% MORE LIKELY TO BE CONVICTED THAN GOOD-LOOKING ONES:
This is just a heads-up to let you know that if you're going to commit a crime . . . and I'm not saying you should . . . it would help if you're good-looking. --That's because according to a new study by Cornell University, ugly defendants are 22% more likely to be convicted than attractive ones. --And they're also given harsher sentences than good-looking criminals: They get an average of about 22 months more prison time. --A couple of guys named Justin Gunnell and Stephen Ceci led the study. They say some jurors make decisions rationally, basing them on facts and logic alone. --But others will factor in certain considerations that have nothing to do with the case. And attractiveness is one of those things. --To be fair, in strong cases with lots of evidence, it doesn't make much difference how attractive the defendant is. But in cases that are less cut-and-dry, jurors tend to be more lenient if the defendant is good-looking. (CBS News)
SMOKING AND DRINKING MAY KILL YOU . . . BUT AT LEAST THEY PREVENT DEPRESSION:
I've got some good news and some bad news to report this morning. The good news is that smoking, drinking, drugs, and overeating will all make you a HAPPIER person. Obviously the bad news is that, eventually, they'll also KILL YOU. --That's according to a professor at the University of Michigan named James Jackson. --James wanted to find out why blacks tend to have worse physical health than whites, but better psychiatric health. --What he found is that vices actually DO prevent depression, which makes sense given higher levels of obesity and substance abuse in black communities. --As he puts it, quote, "People engage in bad habits for functional reasons, not because of weak character or ignorance." --But, as you already know, smoking, drinking, drugs and overeating are all really bad for your physical health. And if you keep using them, eventually, the effects are going to catch up with you . . . and send you to an early grave. --In other words, you can live your life one of two ways: --Either you live a short, happy life that's filled with smoking, drinking and other fun stuff. Or you live a long life that's kind of dull. But you already knew that, didn't you? (Science Daily)
THERE'S A PLACE IN SINGAPORE THAT OFFERS LUXURY "ROCK AND ROLL" FUNERALS:
If you feel like quiet, respectable funerals are for losers, then you should check out the Nirvana Memorial Garden in Singapore as a possible resting place after you die. --It's a columbarium, which . . . if you don't know the term . . . is a place to respectfully store people's cremated remains. And like most columbaria, the Nirvana Memorial Garden has thousands of little niches for storing urns containing the ashes of the dead. --But that's where the similarities stop, because the Nirvana Memorial Gardens offers what they like to refer to as "rock and roll" funerals. --For a typical "rock and roll" funeral, the urn is placed on a pedestal under a beam of light, while machine-generated smoke fills the prayer hall. --Then a booming recorded voice, accompanied by the recorded chants of monks, starts speaking Buddhist scripture, as the hall's Buddha statues shoot laser lights out of their foreheads. --It all sounds pretty cool. But it doesn't come cheap. Prices start at $2,200 for a single-person niche, and go all the way up to $93,000 for a luxury "Family Suite" cubicle that can store as many as 32 urns. --According to the facility's director, quote, "This is not a place for people to come only once a year to visit their parents or relatives. We want to create an environment to encourage them to come as often as possible." (???) (Yahoo News)
THERE'S A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN "RENT A LOCAL" TO SHOW YOU AROUND ON VACATION:
I don't know about you, but for me, the hardest part about planning vacations is that I always end up doing all the same, touristy stuff as every other jerk. --Which is great if that's what you want. But if you're looking for a real, authentic experience, that's a little more difficult. And it's why THIS is sort of brilliant . . . --There's a travel website called RentALocalFriend.com. Basically, it allows you to hire a local to act as your personal tour guide. --All you have to do is send an email describing the stuff you like to do . . . like if you're into shopping, or sports or restaurants. Then your "local" comes up with a personalized itinerary to help you make the most of your vacation. --Right now, the service offers "friends" in 15 major cities, including New York, Paris, London, Rome and Rio de Janeiro. --Prices vary depending on the location and length of your tour. But the average for three people to go on a four-hour tour is about $85. (AOL Travel) (--You can link to the website here . . .) http://rentalocalfriend.com/
THIS JUST MIGHT BE THE WORST HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK IDEA EVER:
Last Friday, yearbooks were distributed at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia (--about 50 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.). --Ordinarily, the distribution of a high school yearbook wouldn't make headlines. But this one's different . . . --That's because this year, students at Massaponax came up with the bright idea to collect anonymous confessions from their classmates, and include them in the yearbook. --Most of the confessions are harmless, but some of them are pretty messed up. Check out some of the more-disturbing confessions printed in the yearbook:
--"I have sex with people just to feel wanted."
--"I worry all the time my ex-boyfriend will use the naked picture I sent him to ruin my life."
--"I had an abortion and my mom doesn't know."
--"I once did so much pot that I woke up high."
--"I'm pregnant with my best friend's boyfriend's kid."
--Anyway, school officials immediately stopped distribution of the yearbook. The plan is to have it reprinted without all the insane confessions. --According to the principal at Massaponax High . . . a guy named Joe Rodkey . . . quote, "It's totally inappropriate for a high school yearbook. The students, the school and this community deserve a better yearbook than what I have." (Free Lance-Star)
HUGGIES CAME OUT WITH A NEW LINE OF DIAPERS THAT LOOK LIKE BLUE JEANS:
I'll be honest with you, I'm extremely vain. I'm talking "So vain that I need my baby to look hip and stylish even when he's soiling himself" vain. If you're like me, then you'll want to check this out . . . --Recently, Huggies released a new line of diapers that look like blue jeans. (???) No, really. --Huggies describes the jean diapers as, quote, "as fun and unique as you-know-who." Fortunately, they're only available for a limited time. (Huffington Post / Frisky) (--You can buy these stupid things for $20 here . . .)
http://www.target.com/Huggies-Jean-Diapers-Baby/b?ie=UTF8&node=2280617011
SUMMER EMERGENCIES
A new Red Cross survey shows that 68% of Americans have been involved in some kind of summer emergency, ranging from insect bites, heat stroke and broken bones to more life-threatening situations. One in every four people said they have been in a situation where someone needed CPR. The survey found that Americans are most comfortable giving CPR to family members, friends and coworkers, with less than half likely to perform CPR on a stranger. Physical appearance was a significant factor when people are deciding to perform CPR on a stranger. Men with a disheveled or sloppy appearance were the least likely to receive assistance, with only half of respondents saying they would very likely try to give them CPR. The survey also found that less than two-thirds of adults felt confident helping a heat stroke victim and fewer than half could help someone with an allergic reaction to an insect or snake bite. This year, the Red Cross is offering a new Wilderness and Remote First Aid course designed to teach people how to respond to emergencies when help is delayed. In addition, the Red Cross teaches swimming and water safety skills to over 2 million people each year, trains millions in life-saving skills through its Lifeguarding and CPR/AED courses, and offers life saving training for young people through its Babysitter Training courses. Find out more at www.redcross.org or contact your local Red Cross chapter.
NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) HERE'S FOOTAGE OF A HUGE LANDSLIDE FROM 100 FEET AWAY:
Footage of a massive landslide in Japan from 2004 is making the rounds online again, and a lot of people think it's fake . . . but it's real. The camera shows a road, telephone poles, and a bunch of huge trees getting taken out.
(--Search for "extreme landslide caught on camera." It starts at :20.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh60NfULkq4
(--Check out some other videos and photos of the damage at these sites . . .)
http://www.japanprobe.com/2006/10/15/landslide-video/
http://www.ajiko.co.jp/bousai/nara/nara.htm
#2.) HERE'S A TRAILER PARODY FOR A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE FIRST GUYS WHO JUMPED INTO A POOL WHILE TRYING TO CATCH A BALL:
A sketch comedy group called THE BIRTHDAY BOYS made a fake trailer for a movie called "Pool Jumpers". It's in the style of a serious sports documentary, but it's about the first guys who jumped into a pool while trying to catch a ball.
(--Search for "Pool Jumpers trailer.")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GIZ3cN4JwA
FIVE WAYS TO TURN A FRIENDSHIP INTO SOMETHING MORE:
Sometimes the best relationships start out as friendships. But all guys know that once they're in the 'friend zone,' it's tough to get out. So if you secretly want to nail one of your friends, here are five tips from "Glamour" magazine on how to do it . . .
#1.) STOP USING NICKNAMES. You don't want to treat a girl like one of the guys if you plan on making her more than a friend. So don't call her "dude" or "buddy," and don't call her by her last name. It sends the wrong signal. --Once you're dating, you can use whatever lame pet-names you want. But until then, use the person's first name.
#2.) DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TOGETHER. If all you do is play softball on Sundays, try doing things that are a little more like a date. Just meeting up for a drink could get something going.
#3.) DATE OTHER PEOPLE. Remember, there's no guarantee it'll work out, so don't ever get obsessed with one person. If it doesn't pan out, you'll be disappointed. And your self-esteem could take a major shot too. --So keep your options open. A little competition will make you more desirable.
#4.) FLIRT MORE. It shouldn't be a drastic change in how you relate. Just smile more, and laugh at their jokes. If you really like the person, it shouldn't be too hard.
#5.) JUST ASK THEM OUT. If you want to save a lot of time, and if you can build up the courage to do it, just do it. And if you get rejected, don't worry . . . -They might not think you're their type right NOW. But that could change. It might just take them a while to get used to thinking about you in that way. (Glamour Magazine)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAC-MAN!
The Japanese video game company Namco is throwing a 30th birthday party for “Pac-Man” and releasing anniversary versions of the games. Namco will be celebrating on Saturday with a Los Angeles party and the release of “Pac-Man Championship Edition” for the iPad and iPhone. Some interesting tidbits about Pac-Man:
· Pac-Man was inspired by a pizza with a slice missing. Namco designer Tohru Iwatani created Pac-Man in 1979. He wanted to call the game Puck Man, but due to worries that American vandals would change the “p” to something less dignified, the name became Pac-Man.
· The first Pac-Man arcade game didn’t make it to America until five months after its May 22, 1980, unveiling in Japan. American fans spent more than $1 billion in quarters on Pac-Man games in the first 15 months after its release.
· Pac-Man even spawned his own family – Ms. Pac-Man (which many consider the perfected version of Pac-Man) and Jr. Pac-Man.
· Pac-Man was played more than 10 billion times during the 20th century and is listed by Guinness World Records as the “Most Successful Coin-Operated Game” ever.
Only one person, Billy Mitchell, in 1999, played a perfect game of Pac-Man, which ends with its highest difficulty at level 256 with a programming glitch.
· “Pac-Man Fever,” by Buckner & Garcia, reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982.
· 1982 saw the debut of ABC’s animated cartoon, “The Pac-Man Show.” It ran for two years as Pac-Man tried to save his friends and Pac-Land from the evil Mezmaron.
· Pac-Man and his fellow Pacs travel 20% faster through mazes that have been cleared of dots than when they’re eating.
· Pac-Man has been licensed to more than 250 companies for over 400 products. There are Pac-Man air fresheners, cereal boxes, flip phones, costumes, record books and even a hot rod.
· The business world has co-opted Pac-Man’s name as a technique to protect against a hostile takeover. The defending company would instead swallow the larger company in a move known as the Pac-Man defense.
· The four Pac-Man ghosts are Blinky (the red one), Pinky (the pink one), Inky (the blue one) and Clyde (the orange one). They’re also given an alternate set of names: Shadow, Speedy, Bashful and Pokey, respectively.
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