January 22, 2010

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

JOHN EDWARDS FINALLY ADMITTED HE FATHERED A LOVE CHILD:

Everyone pretty much knew this last year, and he just looked like an idiot for trying to ignore it . . . but yesterday JOHN EDWARDS finally admitted that he fathered a LOVE CHILD with his mistress, RIELLE HUNTER. --The child . . . a girl named Frances Quinn Hunter . . . is now almost two years old. --Edwards released a statement that said, quote, "I am Quinn's father. It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me." --He added, quote, "I will do everything in my power to provide her with the love and support she deserves. --"I have been able to spend time with her during the past year and trust that future efforts to show her the love and affection she deserves can be done privately and in peace." --"I have been providing financial support for Quinn and have reached an agreement with her mother to continue providing support in the future. To all those I have disappointed and hurt, these words will never be enough, but I am truly sorry." --Although the statement was issued yesterday, John wasn't available for comment, because he's in Haiti, aiding in the relief effort. (--What a Hero!) --Like so many scandal-plagued celebrities before him, Edwards seems to have been motivated to come clean by the fact that the truth was about to come out with or without his help. --One of Edwards' former aides, Andrew Young, is spilling the whole story in a book that comes out February 2nd. --You might remember that this guy Young actually came forward and claimed HE was the baby's father just before the 2008 presidential primaries. (--The child was conceived in mid-2007, while Edwards was running for president.) --Young tells ABC News that Edwards wanted him to fake a paternity test . . . telling him to, quote, "Go get a doctor to fake the DNA results." --Young added, quote, "He asked me . . . to steal a diaper from the baby so he could secretly do a DNA test to find out if this (was) indeed his child." --John's wife ELIZABETH issued a statement of her own yesterday, saying that the, quote, "whole family is relieved" that the truth has come out. --As for how this might affect her marriage, she said, quote, "My marriage shouldn't be on anybody's radar screen except mine." Then she added, quote, "If somebody has a crystal ball, they can let me know." (--John and Elizabeth Edwards have been married for almost 33 years. They've had four kids together.)


IS KANYE WEST BANNED FROM TONIGHT'S TELETHON???

A ton of celebrities will be participating in tonight's "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon. One who may NOT participate is KANYE WEST. And some people say it's because he WASN'T INVITED. --A so-called "source" close to the production says, quote, "After what he said on the Katrina telethon and the way he behaved at the 'MTV Video Music Awards', everyone agrees it's just best that he does not participate.--"Kayne has to make everything about himself. He will do anything to steal the spotlight and, well, this night it's just not about him." (--It was during the Katrina telethon that Kanye broke from the script to inform us that GEORGE W. BUSH didn't care about black people. And, of course, we all remember what he did to Taylor Swift at the "VMAs".) --But a rep for MTV says, quote, "That's absolutely not true. We DID reach out to Kanye." (--Apparently, Kanye hasn't reached back. At least not yet.) --"Hope for Haiti Now" airs from 8:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. on about a trillion different channels . . . including all the major networks, MTV, VH1, CNN, BET, HBO, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Bravo and E!.


MORE CELEBRITIES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO "HOPE FOR HAITI":

Some new names have signed on for tonight's telethon. They include:--BRAD PITT--ROBERT PATTINSON--MADONNA--HALLE BERRY--NICOLE KIDMAN--BILL CLINTON--CHRIS ROCK--CLINT EASTWOOD--DENZEL WASHINGTON--WILL SMITH with MUHAMMAD ALI--SACHA BARON COHEN--THE JONAS BROTHERS (--. . . and frankly, just about any other celebrity you can name. Speaking of which . . . Leonardo DiCaprio has already ponied up $1 million for the cause . . . and organizer (slash) host George Clooney is going to donate a million during tonight's telecast.)


QUINCY JONES IS RE-RECORDING "WE ARE THE WORLD" FOR HAITI . . . AND SIMON COWELL IS PUTTING TOGETHER A CHARITY SINGLE, TOO:

QUINCY JONES and LIONEL RICHIE are organizing a 25th anniversary re-recording of "We Are the World" to benefit Haiti. --There's no word yet on who'll be involved . . . but apparently, the following artists have been invited: Usher, Natalie Cole, John Legend, Wyclef Jean, Sting, Fergie, Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake. --Vocals from MICHAEL JACKSON . . . who co-wrote the song . . . will also be used. (--Quincy and Lionel will be asking everyone to stick around for an extra day after the January 31st Grammys to record their parts.) --Meanwhile, SIMON COWELL is putting together his own charity single. It'll probably utilize various Simon Cowell-created celebrities. The only names being tossed around at the moment are LEONA LEWIS and the gorgeous SUSAN BOYLE. --Simon claims this wasn't his idea, by the way. He says, quote, "I wanted to do something for Haiti, and we had a request from the prime minister to put a record together."

BROOKE MUELLER IS DOING WELL:

CHARLIE SHEEN'S wife BROOKE MUELLER is still in ICU with pneumonia in both lungs . . . and she'll probably remain hospitalized for a few more days. But she's on the mend. --Her mother says, quote, "Brooke came in at the very last minute because sepsis from an infection following surgery for her impacted wisdom tooth had invaded her system, and her organs were starting to shut down. --"Today her lungs, kidney and liver functions look better. But doctors are still worried about her low blood pressure." --Mom also revealed that Charlie was back for another visit yesterday morning. She said, quote, "They were lovey-dovey and touching each other. They are a perfect couple when neither of them is drinking." --The paparazzi actually caught Charlie leaving the hospital yesterday. Asked about Brooke's condition, he said, quote, "She's doing great . . . she's doing a lot better, yeah."(--Here's video . . .) http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=ed4cd00d-a113-4b73-b43f-22437f3f4884

TIGER'S FELLOW PATIENTS IN REHAB RESENT HIM . . . BECAUSE HE'S GETTING SPECIAL TREATMENT:

TIGER WOODS is quite popular with the white women. Not so much with the sex addicts. --Britain's not-always-reliable "Sun" tabloid claims that the other pervs at the rehab clinic in Mississippi RESENT Tiger because he's getting special treatment. --A so-called "source" says, quote, "When Tiger enters one of the public areas, other patients have been told they have to leave the room. Other patients share a cabin, but Tiger has his own. His special privileges are causing a lot of resentment." --He also gets MAID SERVICE, while everybody else had to take care of their own rooms. --One last note . . . and it wouldn't be much of a surprise if it's true: The "National Enquirer" says Tiger never wanted to go to rehab. But his wife ELIN NORDEGREN made him do it, under penalty of divorce. --If it were up to him, he would never have gone . . . because he doesn't think he has a problem.


ENJOY SOME VIDEO OF AN ITALIAN TV PERSONALITY GRABBING DAVID BECKHAM'S CROTCH:

Some Italian TV hostess posed as a reporter just so she could get close enough to DAVID BECKHAM to GRAB HIS CROTCH. (!!!) --She basically just wanted to see if Beckham "measures up", so to speak, to the bulge he shows in his underwear ads . . . or if he's just STUFFING. --The chick got a little roughed up as she was removed by David's security . . . but she was obviously proud enough of herself to air the footage on her show (--The show is called "Le lene" . . . which means "The Hyenas" . . . and the woman's name is Elena Di Cioccio. Here's the clip . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kXUCLsgNiA


IS RIHANNA'S NEW MAN ABUSIVE???

This is a little sad . . . if it's true. RIHANNA'S new boyfriend might have issues with anger toward women. --According to the "Star" tabloid, Dodgers outfielder MATT KEMP had a restraining order filed against him by a girlfriend in 2008. --That girlfriend is an actress by the name of FELISHA TERRELL. She played a character named Arianna Hernandez on "Days of Our Lives". She used to live with Matt . . . but things broke down. --In her petition for the restraining order, Felisha accused Matt of threatening, intimidating and stalking her. And she said, quote, "He is violent and I am afraid." --A so-called "friend" of Rihanna's says, quote, "You'd think after what she went through with Chris, Rihanna would be extra careful about learning the background of any man she gets close to. --"It's almost as if she has a dark side of her own . . . an attraction to bad boys."


LINDA HOGAN HAS SETTLED UP WITH THE FAMILY OF THE MAN HER SON VEGETATED:

LINDA HOGAN has settled up with the family of JOHN GRAZIANO . . . the young man who was essentially VEGETATED when her son NICK crashed his car while street-racing in Florida two and a half years ago. --The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Linda's attorney said she was happy with the settlement and, quote, "ready to move on with her life." --The family also settled with the driver of the vehicle Nick was allegedly drag-racing against.(--John was a passenger in Nick's car. He was NOT wearing his seatbelt. Nick, who WAS belted in, suffered only minor injuries. But he ended up doing jail time because he'd also been drinking.) --Nick and his dad, HULK HOGAN, remain defendants.


IT'S OFFICIAL: CONAN O'BRIEN IS OUT . . . AND JAY LENO WILL RETURN TO "THE TONIGHT SHOW":

Well, it's finally over. --Yesterday, NBC reached a settlement with CONAN O'BRIEN to scrap the final two and a half years of his "Tonight Show" contract. (--The terms of the original contract were never released, but several sources report that it was probably somewhere in the $12- to $15 million-per-year range.) --Like we'd heard, the total settlement came out to around $45 MILLION. Conan gets $32.5 . . . Conan's executive producer Jeffrey Ross gets $4.5 million . . . and the rest of the staff splits $7.5 million. --NBC also included $600,000 for some employees that were not under contract. It sounds like that's in addition to the general staff severance, although that's not totally clear. Conan's people have said that it was NBC's idea to chip in the extra money. (--We'd heard that NBC's payout would be OFFSET by the money that Conan pulls down at his next job . . . meaning that they'd be able to subtract his next salary from what they owe him. But that hasn't been addressed officially yet.) --As expected, Conan won't be able to jump back on the air on another network immediately. But he won't have to wait too long. NBC said that Conan will be able to, quote, "pursue other opportunities after September 1st" of this year. --And it sounds like he'll begin the job search . . . now. His manager, Gavin Palone, said, quote, "Now he just wants to get back on the air as quickly as possible." (--There's been a lot of talk about Fox making a move for Conan, but there hasn't been anything new on that front. You can probably expect Fox to be more public about their interest or disinterest now that NBC and Conan have officially split.) --Conan's last night will be TONIGHT. His guests will be TOM HANKS and WILL FERRELL, who was also his first "Tonight Show" guest back in June. NEIL YOUNG will be the musical guest. --JAY LENO will retake the reins on March 1st. --NBC plans on airing repeats from Conan's brief "Tonight Show" run over the next three weeks, until they begin airing coverage of the Winter Olympics. (--That'll take them through February.) --Naturally, NBC can air whatever repeats they want, so it's probably a safe bet that they'll stick to the ones taped BEFORE Conan hated the network. (--But then again, NBC isn't the sharpest tool in the shed . . . so who knows what they'll do.) --One thing we still haven't anything official on is whether or not NBC made Conan agree NOT to insult the network publicly after he leaves. --In NBC's official statement, they hyped the return of Jay Leno . . . quote, "We're pleased that Jay is returning to host the franchise that he helmed brilliantly and successfully for many years. --"He is an enormous talent, a consummate professional and one of the hardest-working performers on television. The program will continue to showcase many of the features that made Leno America's late-night leader for more than a dozen years."


NBC ISN'T WORRIED ABOUT THE FALL-OUT FROM THEIR LATE-NIGHT MESS . . . BECAUSE HAITI IS A MUCH BIGGER DISASTER:

In an interview with the "Hollywood Reporter", NBC Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin said that he's not worried about the beating that NBC is taking over their late-night catastrophe . . . because it isn't as bad as what's happening in Haiti. --He said, quote, "I think those jokes [about NBC] are waning very quickly. You're actually seeing backlash against those jokes on air. People are saying, 'We have a horrendous situation in Haiti, let's put this thing in perspective.' --"Controversies and scandals burn red hot for a short period of time. And then they are extinguished. I expect the same thing will happen here." --When asked if he was concerned that JAY LENO'S popularity may have taken a hit, he said, quote, "I think Leno will be competitive at 11:35 P.M., I think his fan base is very strong and they will welcome him back. I don't think they're paying nearly as much attention to what's going on as we are." --Gaspin also said Jay's new show will be a, quote, "hybrid" of his old "Tonight Show" and "The Jay Leno Show". He said, quote, "There's elements of the current show they like, and there's elements from 'The Tonight Show' they'd like to bring back. --"I would be surprised if they didn't bring back the desk and a couch, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a new desk and couch."

IS "THE JAY LENO SHOW" THE BIGGEST BOMB IN THE HISTORY OF TV???

The new issue of "Entertainment Weekly" features a list of TV's 50 Biggest Bombs Ever . . . and "The Jay Leno Show" was #1. Here's the Top 10:
#1.) Putting JAY LENO at 10:00 P.M.#2.) Fox yanks "Family Guy" off the air . . . twice#3.) "Cavemen" (ABC)#4.) "Moonlighting's" David and Maddie hook up #5.) "The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer"#6.) Premature exits . . . including "NYPD Blue's" DAVID CARUSO, "Cheers'" SHELLEY LONG, and "Bonanza's" PERNELL ROBERTS#7.) "Coupling" (NBC)#8.) ABC overdoes it with "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"#9.) "Felicity" cuts her hair#10.) The XFL (--To see the whole list, you have to pick up the issue, which is on newsstands now.)


THE FBI IS INVOLVED IN THE JON CRYER "DEATH THREAT":

"Two and a Half Men" taped without a studio audience last Friday, because someone had THREATENED CHARLIE SHEEN'S co-star, JON CRYER. (--Someone OTHER THAN Charlie Sheen, F.Y.I.) --We'd heard that Jon's ex-wife, Sarah Trigger, was behind it . . . because they've been involved in a nasty custody fight. Well, now it sounds more serious. --TMZ now says that Jon told the authorities that he thought Trigger had hired a HITMAN to off him. (!!!) There's no word on what led him to this conclusion. --The FBI is supposedly investigating, but no one's on the record about any of this. --Last year, Jon was awarded temporary custody of their nine-year-old son, Charlie, after Trigger was arrested on felony neglect charges. (--Her two-year-old son . . . with a different father . . . was found with suspicious marks around his neck.) (--For what it's worth, Trigger's lawyer denied that she had anything to do with a threat to Jon, saying, quote, "There's no reason in the world why Sarah would do anything like that." We'll let you know if anything comes of this.) (--Jon is now re-married. He and his new wife adopted a daughter last year.)


#1.) CBS has announced the cast of the 16th season of "The Amazing Race", and as usual, it's packed with teams of good-looking people, who are either models . . . have bizarre occupations . . . or have some sort of abnormal relationship. --This time around, there are undercover detectives, cowboy brothers, a professional baseball coach and a 71-year-old grandmother (slash) personal trainer. The madness kicks off on February 14th. (--For more information, hit up the show's website . . .) http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/

#2.) Fox411.com is reporting that LIZA MINNELLI has joined the cast of "Ugly Betty". So-called "set insiders" tell them that she'll be playing a, quote, "outrageous" drama teacher at Justin's high school. --She'll begin filming episodes next week, which will air later this spring. There's no word on how many episodes she'll be doing . . . but normally when someone "joins the cast," their stay is considered open-ended.

#3.) 28-year-old Jarrod Norrell . . . the dude that was shown leaving the "American Idol"

auditions in handcuffs on Wednesday night . . . didn't end up being arrested. (--He got aggressive with security when they had to remove him from the audition.) --Producers just kicked him out, and warned him not to come back.

#4.) ROB LOWE has announced that he's leaving "Brothers & Sisters" at the end of the current season. There's no official reason why . . . but word has it that Rob felt he was being "underutilized," so he asked to be released from his contract. --Deadline.com reports that ABC would like to keep Rob . . . and is talking to him about starring in a new series . . . but there aren't any further details on that. (--It's also unclear how Rob's characters' departure will be handled on the show.)

FRIDAY TV REMINDERS:
--"Hope for Haiti Now" [Two-Hour Telethon] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. Eastern on all the major networks . . . including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, the CW, CNN, MTV, VH1, CMT, CNN, PBS, BET, HBO, Showtime, TNT, and Comedy Central. (--Performers include . . . Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Taylor Swift, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Dave Matthews, Stevie Wonder, Rihanna, Bono, Jay-Z and a group performance by Keith Urban, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow.) (--Their performances will be available for sale on iTunes, Amazon and Rhapsody, with the proceeds going to relief efforts. The show will be hosted by Wyclef Jean in New York, George Clooney in L.A., and Anderson Cooper covering Haiti.)

--"Caprica" [Two-Hour SERIES Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Syfy. (--Esai Morales and Eric Stoltz star in this "Battlestar Galactica" spin-off, which is set 60 years before "Galactica" and tells the story of the creation of the first Cylon.)

--"Spartacus: Blood and Sand" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Starz. (--Australian stud Andy Whitfield is Spartacus, the legendary Roman gladiator who was played by Kirk Douglas in 1960's "Spartacus". "Xena's" Lucy Lawless is also in it.)

SATURDAY TV REMINDERS:

--"16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards" . . . 8:00 to 11:00 P.M. on TNT and TBS.

--"AT&T US Figure Skating Championships" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC.

--"The Pregnancy Pact" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Lifetime. (--Camryn Manheim plays a school nurse who proactively hands out contraceptives to high school girls.)

--"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC (--Blake Lively hosts and Rihanna is the musical guest.) (REPEAT)

SUNDAY TV REMINDERS:

--"AFC Championship" . . . 3:00 to 6:00 P.M. Eastern on CBS. (--The New York Jets battle the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana.)

--"NFC Championship" . . . 6:40 to 9:40 P.M. Eastern on Fox. (--The Minnesota Vikings battle the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome in Louisiana.)

--"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Ashanti helps a Jamaican immigrant get a new home.)

--"Big Love" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on HBO. (--Sissy Spacek guest stars as a D.C. lobbyist who is not very fond of Bill.)

--"AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC.

PRINCE WROTE A SONG FOR THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS:

If you're not a fan of the Minnesota Vikings, you'll be happy to hear there's another reason to hate them: PRINCE has written a song for the team. Yes, THAT Prince. --Prince is from Minneapolis, and he says he hadn't seen Minnesota play in a long time. But he went to the game against Dallas last Sunday, and after the Vikings won, he, quote, "saw the future." --So later that night, he wrote a song called "Purple and Gold". It's in honor of this weekend's game against the New Orleans Saints, and the lyrics include stuff like "we r the truth if the truth can b told . . . long reign the purple and gold." --Apparently the Vikings love it, and plan to put it on their site. But we'll see if it catches on with the fans. (--I don't know. What football team wants a fight song written by Prince? On the other hand . . . admit it. You secretly wish Prince had written a song for YOUR team. You can hear the song and check out the lyrics here . . .) http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/sports/prince-reveals-song-for-vikings-saints-game


NAZZY'S RANDOM STUFF

BUDDHIST MONKS IN JAPAN ARE USING ALCOHOL AND HIP-HOP TO ATTRACT YOUNG PEOPLE:

Last year, a study found that the number of Americans who identify themselves as Christians has fallen by 11%. But it seems Christianity isn't the only religion that's hemorrhaging followers . . . and it's not just happening here in the States. --Over the last few years, hundreds of Buddhist temples in Japan have been forced to close their doors. --According to a group of monks, the problem is that Japan's young people just can't relate to the traditions of Buddhism, so they're turning their backs on the religion. --So to attract more followers, a group of Japanese Buddhists has opened a new nightclub called the Monk Bar, which serves alcohol and features live hip-hop performances by the monks themselves. (???) --A guy named Kansho Tagai . . . who goes by the street name "Mr. Happiness" . . . is one of the monks who came up with the idea. He says, quote, "Getting the young people back to religion is key to Buddhism's survival. In Japan, it's a religion in crisis." (CNN) (--Check out a video of Mr. Happiness "spitting rhymes" at the Monk Bar, here . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDS0mFbBihg

THE VALUE OF THE WHITE HOUSE DROPPED 5% FROM LAST YEAR:

The sad truth is that the housing crisis has probably caused the value of your home to take a nosedive. But at least you're not alone. --That's because according to a real estate website called Zillow.com, the value of the White House has fallen from $308 MILLION to $292.5 MILLION since last year. That's about a 5% drop overall. --And now for some White House Fun Facts: --The White House cost just over $232,000 to build when construction started in 1792. That's the equivalent of about $2.4 MILLION now. --George Washington never lived in the White House. Its first occupant was America's second president, John Adams. --The White House has burned down twice. Once by the British during the War of 1812, and then again in 1929 when an electrical fire destroyed the West Wing. --The White House wasn't always white. It wasn't until after the White House was rebuilt following the British fires that its gray sandstone walls were painted white. --It takes about 570 gallons of paint to cover the White House's entire exterior. --The White House has 55,000 square feet, six stories, 132 rooms, 28 fireplaces, three elevators, and five full-time chefs, a tennis court, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a jogging track, a swimming pool and a putting green . . . but still no basketball court like OBAMA promised. (--You can add that to his list of unfulfilled promises . . .) (CNN / Wikipedia)


YOU CAN BUY THE ACTUAL US AIRWAYS PLANE THAT CRASH LANDED IN THE HUDSON:

If you've got a few extra bucks in these tough economic times, I've got just the thing for you to waste your hard-earned cash on: The actual US Airways Airbus 320 that crash-landed in the Hudson a little over a year ago is now up for auction. --You know the plane I'm talking about: US Airways Flight 1549 had its engines disabled by a 'double bird strike' last January, and heroic Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger safely landed the plane and all 155 passengers in the Hudson River. --Since then, the remains of the plane have been sitting in a salvage yard in Kearny, New Jersey (--about 10 miles west of New York City, not far from where the plane went down.) and now the plane is being auctioned off by a division of AIG.--There's no minimum bid listed, the sale's open to the public, and you can submit bids online.(--Go to: http://www.aigaviation.com/aviationsalvage/salvagedetail.aspx?faano=N106US)
--The bidding site describes the plane as, quote, "Destroyed. Aircraft suffered severe bird strike event resulting in water emergency landing. Severe water damage throughout the airframe. Impact damage to underside of aircraft." --And just so you know, you don't get the engines. And the wings are included, but they've been separated from the plane. The sale ends March 27th. (CNN)

HERE ARE FIVE OF THE RISKIEST TRIPS YOU CAN TAKE:

Last November, Lonely Planet came out with a new travel book called "1,000 Ultimate Experiences". --According to the publisher, it contains, quote, "1,000 ideas, places and activities to inspire and entertain for travelers and lovers of life-lists alike." Whatever that means. --Anyway, we're sure there are some decent trip ideas in the book. But a few of them are just awful. Here are five perfect examples:

#1.) Swimming with the orcas in Norway: Amazingly, the most dangerous aspect of this trip probably isn't that you'll be surrounded by killer whales. It's that you'll be swimming in water that's only about 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

#2.) Storm chasing in America's Tornado Alley: Every year, about 1,000 tornadoes ravage the plain states between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains, with winds reaching more than 300 miles per hour. --There are literally dozens of companies that book tornado-chasing tours, putting you directly in the tornado's path of destruction.

#3.) Walking safari among Zimbabwe's lions: If you've got a death wish, you might enjoy a WALKING TOUR of Zimbabwe's Matusadona National Park, which has the second-highest concentration of lions in Africa.

#4.) BASE jumping at Voss, Norway: Every summer, the town of Voss, Norway, holds an event called Extreme Sports Week. --During the event, participants are actually encouraged to BASE jump off an 1,100-foot cliff. Which sounds like fun . . . as long as you're not one of the four people each year who DIES while BASE jumping.

#5.) Day-trip to Chernobyl, Ukraine: In 1986, Chernobyl became the site of the most catastrophic nuclear accident in history. Now, you can visit the ruins of the plant and the nearby town of Pripyat, which has been abandoned ever since. --You know, because it might still be RADIOACTIVE. (--You can buy Lonely Planet's "1,000 Ultimate Experiences" for about $16 here . . .)http://www.amazon.com/1000-Ultimate-Experiences-General-Reference/dp/1741799457/ref=sr_1_1(Asylum)


A DRUG ADDICT ASKED FOR *MORE* TIME IN PRISON TO HELP HIM KICK THE HABIT:

I can't help but think the world would be a better place if more criminals would follow the lead of this guy . . . 25-year-old Damon Conrow of Ogden, Utah (--about 35 miles north of Salt Lake City). --Last month, Damon was charged with a second-degree felony drug offense for dealing heroin. He would have been looking at between one and 15 years in prison. --But he ASKED to be charged with a first-degree felony instead, which could have put him behind bars for LIFE. Why'd he do it? --Because Damon's a drug addict, and he was hoping the extra time in prison might help him kick the habit. (!!!) --On Tuesday, Damon got his wish and was sentenced to FIVE years in prison. --Damon's lawyer says, quote, "I've never seen it happen before. Clearly he's got willpower. He's admitting he needs the structure of prison to kick his addiction." (Standard-Examiner)


NAZZY'S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) Check out this EXTREMELY excited kid named Adam, who loves talking about basketball . . . and the swing set at the park by his house. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u-cUz104Jk(Search Terms: Adam Peterson Sioux City "Love Basketball" video)

#2.) An 8-year-old boy in Haiti named Kiki threw his arms in the air and smiled wide when he and his sister were rescued after being trapped for over seven days. http://tinyurl.com/y97kn6s (Search Terms: 8-year-old boy smile Kiki Haiti video Sky News)

#3.) Someone uploaded a video to FunnyOrDie.com that shows MILEY CYRUS seriously blowing her performance last August on the "Today" show.http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/d0dd0f8d2f/miley-cyrus-today-show-fail(Search Terms: Miley Cyrus Today Show Fail)
--But it's a hoax. The actual performance of "Party in the U.S.A." went off without a hitch . . .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSeHd7Ht1cE(Search Terms: Miley Cyrus - Party In The USA - Live Today Show August 28th 2009)

#4.) Just in time for the premiere of the final season of "Lost", this extended Italian family from Long Island, New York recaps all five previous seasons. It runs a little long, but it's actually funnier than it sounds.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1D-cuc8OTI (Search Terms: "Lost" Recapped by Extended Italian Family)

FIVE DATING MYTHS SINGLE WOMEN STILL BELIEVE:

The Huffington Post has a list of five dating myths single women still believe. Here it is. But let us know what you think. Do women really believe this stuff?

#1.) MEN ARE INTIMIDATED BY WOMEN. The article says women believe this one because it's easier than accepting that some guys just aren't attracted to them. So according to the article, it's a myth. But try telling that to an awkward teenager.

#2.) WOMEN LOVE GUYS WHO TREAT THEM LIKE CRAP. The Huffington Post article says it's a myth because it's only true for a small percentage of women. And women with high self-esteem don't date those types of guys because it's a waste of time.

#3.) IT'S WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS. In reality, it depends on the relationship. A guy might fall in LOVE with a woman's personality, but that's not what grabs his attention at the BEGINNING of a relationship.

#4.) IF HE TEASES YOU, IT MEANS HE LIKES YOU. Sure, it's true for third-graders, but if a grown MAN does it, he's either not that into you, or he's playing games, which is essentially the same thing.

#5.) A WEEKDAY DATE IS THE SAME AS A WEEKEND DATE. Yep, this one's a myth. Weekend nights are much more valuable. And if he's not going out with YOU on Saturday night, he's either with someone else, or he's LOOKING for someone else. (The Huffington Post)

THREE PHONE CONVERSATION MISTAKES . . . AND HOW TO FIX THEM:

In the era of email and texting, the art of the phone conversation is getting lost on some of you. So today, we have three common mistakes people make during phone calls, and how to fix them . . .

#1.) NOT HAVING ANYTHING TO SAY. If you're the shy type . . . or you find it hard to talk when you're nervous . . . make a cheat sheet about the person you're talking to and use it during slow spots in the conversation. --It sounds stupid, but it's better than having nothing to say.

#2.) STARTING A DELIBERATE GAME OF PHONE TAG. Here's how this works: After getting a person's phone number, you're nervous about talking to them, so you call on a weekday when you know they'll be at work, and leave a message. --Then they do the same thing to you. But if you keep it up, you'll both lose interest. So just suck it up and call when you know they're available, usually in the evenings.

#3.) NOT GIVING YOUR FULL ATTENTION. There's nothing more irritating than talking to someone who is blatantly distracted the entire time. So turn off the TV, step away from the computer, and make your call when you can give your FULL attention. (Happen Magazine)

January 21, 2010

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

CHARLIE SHEEN VISITED HIS WIFE IN THE HOSPITAL YESTERDAY . . . EVEN THOUGH THERE'S STILL A PROTECTION ORDER:

As you may recall, there was supposed to be a hearing yesterday on the status of the CHARLIE SHEEN / BROOKE MUELLER protection order. --Both Charlie and Brooke wanted to have the order altered so that they could move back in together and try to save their marriage. --It didn't happen, though, because Brooke needed emergency oral surgery . . . and things took a pretty serious turn for the worse. --Brooke's mother says, quote, "I talked to her doctor, and they are filling Brooke with antibiotics. She waited too long to get her impacted wisdom tooth removed and the infection has spread all over. It is in her bloodstream." --Brooke was rushed to intensive care with a 105-degree fever, pneumonia in both lungs and a serious level of infection in both kidneys. --So Charlie broke the restraining order and visited Brooke at the hospital yesterday. Brooke's attorney didn't object. --He said, quote, "It's his wife. We're certainly not complaining about it and if anybody does something about it, it will be the most cruel thing I've ever heard." --The Colorado judge overseeing the case has since signed an order allowing Charlie to visit and communicate with Brooke while she's in the hospital. (--Because of the original protection order, Charlie wasn't allowed to actually speak to his wife during yesterday's visit. But his attorney says Brooke was aware that he was with her.) (--Thanks to the judge's revision, he can have normal visits with her.)


WYCLEF JEAN SAYS HAITI DOESN'T NEED ANYMORE PHOTO OPS:

WYCLEF JEAN appeared on "Oprah" yesterday . . . to deliver an important message from his home country. --He said, quote, "The Haitian people told me specifically when I was coming on your show to tell people, 'Stop with the photo ops.' Haiti don't need no more photo ops. --"We need logistics, we need people to go to the airport who can get stuff out of the airport and to the people." (--Here's video . . .) http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b162979_wyclef_oprah_haiti_dont_need_no_more.html --Also on "Oprah" . . . RIHANNA sang BOB MARLEY'S "Redemption Song", and MAXWELL . . . who was raised by a Haitian grandmother, sang "Fistful of Tears".(--Both songs are available on iTunes, with the proceeds going to the relief effort.) (--Meanwhile, some new names have signed up for tomorrow night's telethon . . . including Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Ben Affleck, Ellen DeGeneres, Jason Bateman, Ashley Tisdale and "Avatar" minx Zoe Saldana.)


MORE INSANITY FROM JOHN MAYER'S "ROLLING STONE" INTERVIEW:

We have more insanity from JOHN MAYER'S interview in the new issue of "Rolling Stone". --Here's John's take on his future relationships . . . quote, "All I want to do now is (eff) the girls I've already (effed), because I can't fathom explaining myself to somebody who can't believe I'd be interested in them, and they're going, 'But you're John Mayer!' --"So I'm going backwards to move forward. I'm too freaked out to meet anybody else." --On his relationship with JESSICA SIMPSON . . . quote, "I got so many tension headaches from magazine covers that it felt like a threat." --On his relationship with JENNIFER ANISTON . . . quote, "I have this weird feeling, a pride thing, for the people I've had relationships with. --"What would I be saying to Jen, who I think is (effing) fantastic, if I said to her, 'I don't dislike you. In fact, I like you extremely well. But I have to back out of this because it doesn't arc over the horizon. --"'This is not where I see myself for the rest of my life, this is not my ideal destiny.'" --On the inspiration for "Your Body is a Wonderland" . . . "This woman is precious. She can vouch for me not as a celebrity. She carries with her information of this 14-year-old boy she knew.
--"She knows the truth. She hadn't written me in a long time. I think she was trying to forget me because she has a husband and kids." (--Jennifer Love-Hewitt has always been thought to have been the inspiration for that song. It sounds like John is saying she was NOT.) --On possibly going bi . . . quote, "I don't care about anything other than energy. That's why people think, 'Is he bi? Is he that?' I've never slept with a man. But I get it. I've seen pictures of men on the Internet that are sexier than pictures of most women."


HEIDI MONTAG'S ALBUM ONLY SOLD 658 COPIES IN ITS FIRST WEEK:

HEIDI MONTAG has been all over the media this week for getting 10 plastic surgery procedures done in a single day. Unfortunately, all that press did NOT translate into album sales. --Heidi dropped a new album called "Superficial" last week. And after one week on the shelves, it sold a whopping . . . 658 COPIES. --Last week, Heidi told "Entertainment Weekly", quote, "I put every dollar I have into this. I've spent over $1 million, almost $2 million, on this album. --"It's cost as much or more than a Britney Spears album because I wanted it to be that quality . . . The songs will make an impact in pop history." (--She also told "EW" that she expected to make all that money back with the first week's album sales. You don't have to be a math whiz to figure out that didn't really happen.)


UFC THUG BROCK LESNAR WILL RETURN TO THE OCTAGON THIS SUMMER:

UFC Thug BROCK LESNAR says he'll be back in the Octagon this summer. --He'll fight the winner of the SHANE CARWIN / FRANK MIR interim title bout in March. --Lesnar was the UFC Heavyweight Champion when he was sidelined last year by a very serious intestinal disorder known as diverticulitis. For a while, there were serious concerns about whether he'd ever fight again. --UFC President DANA WHITE set up the Mir / Carwin fight as an interim solution. Mir and Lesnar have fought twice . . . Mir won the first fight, and Lesnar won the second. (--Lesnar was pretty green the first time they fought . . . and Mir, an experienced veteran, caught him in an ankle lock that a veteran probably would have avoided. In their second match, Lesnar really overpowered and dominated Mir.) --But yesterday, Lesnar said he's had a MIRACLE recovery . . . adding, quote, "There's no signs of any problem with my stomach. I had another CT scan Tuesday just to be sure." --Lesnar's condition could have required surgery . . . not to mention a COLOSTOMY BAG. But he was able to avoid all that and bring it under control through diet. --Lesnar said that he dropped 40 pounds during the whole ordeal, but he's managed to put 30 back on. --Lesnar also used the occasion to make a plea AGAINST universal healthcare. (???) See, Lesnar came down with diverticulitis in Canada . . . and he wasn't impressed with the treatment he was getting. --He ended up having his wife . . . (--Former WWE minx SABLE) . . . drive him at 100 miles per hour to a hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota. --He said, quote, "Our healthcare system is a little radical, but we've got the best doctors in the world. I don't believe a total reform is necessary. We don't need socialistic healthcare in America. The doctors in the United States gave me the best care possible. --"They couldn't do nothing for me [in Canada]. It was like I was in a third world country. I had to get out of there."

#1.) The sequel to "Paranormal Activity" will hit theaters on October 22nd. There's no word on plot details, or even a title. (--The original cost $15,000 to make . . . and it has raked in $151 million so far.)

#2.) The COEN BROTHERS' remake of "True Grit" has a release date. It's hitting theaters on Christmas Day of this year. (--The 1969 original starred JOHN WAYNE, as if you didn't know. The new version will star MATT DAMON, JEFF BRIDGES and JOSH BROLIN.)

#3.) MR. T has not filmed a cameo for the new "A-Team" movie. But he still might. Director JOE CARNAHAN says, quote, "We would love to get [Mr T] in this film somewhere. He's such a personality . . . I think [it] would be a big boon."

#4.) THE AMAZING BRUCE CAMPBELL has announced that he's doing a follow-up to his flick, "My Name Is Bruce", called "Bruce vs. Frankenstein". (!!!) (--"My Name Is Bruce" is about a town that's plagued by an evil Chinese god, so they enlist Bruce . . . whom they think is the dashing hero he plays in his movies . . . to fight it.) --Of course in real life, Bruce . . . who thinks he's filming a movie . . . is actually a drunk, cowardly moron.)

THE LATEST ON CONAN'S SETTLEMENT TALKS:

(--As of late last night, there was still no official announcement, but . . .) A resolution to the negotiations between NBC and CONAN O'BRIEN is expected to be released TODAY. But honestly, who knows at this point? --The general consensus is that Conan is still trying to weasel more money out of NBC for his staff, who relocated to Los Angeles for the show less than a year ago. --TMZ is reporting that Conan is asking NBC for $600,000 more in severance for his people . . . and that NBC is cool with that amount, as long as this is Conan's last demand. --Other sources say the two sides are still arguing over how long Conan will be prohibited from trashing NBC. (--It's called a "non-disparagement clause.") ---For the record, TMZ is still sticking to the numbers they reported a few days ago: That Conan will receive no more than $32.5 million from them . . . although the total comes out to a little over $40 million when you include the money his staff is getting. --It still sounds like Conan's last night on "The Tonight Show" will be tomorrow. --By the way, NBC is bringing their show "Trauma" back from the dead. They cancelled it earlier this season, but now that they need to fill five 10:00 P.M. timeslots with new material, they will air ten more new episodes beginning this spring.

THE GRAMMYS WILL AIR A 3-D TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON:

Not surprisingly, the Recording Academy is planning a big tribute to MICHAEL JACKSON for this year's Grammy Awards, which will air on January 31st on CBS. --The day before the broadcast, the Academy will honor Michael . . . posthumously, of course . . . with a Lifetime Achievement Award. --And then during the show, he'll be remembered with a short, 3-D movie that was created by Michael himself. The film, which is synced with his hit, "Earth Song", was intended to be a part of his comeback shows in London last summer. --Some of the footage was shown in that "This Is It" documentary . . . but this is the first time it'll be shown in its entirety. (--It's also the first time that a 3-D video has aired during an award show . . . and something tells me it won't be the last.) --It's a pro-Earth movie. According to E! Online, it features, quote, "a young girl walking through a forest which is then destroyed." (--That sounds uplifting!) --If you have 3-D glasses the film will be "enhanced". If you don't, the clip will still be perfectly clear, just in 2-D. Target will be handing out the glasses for free --They'll be available for the full week leading up to the show, starting this coming Sunday. --Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson will sing along with Michael's voice during the video. --Some of Michael's family members are expected to be in attendance, but no one has been confirmed yet. --JERMAINE JACKSON recently said that he was excited to hear that the Grammys would be honoring Michael. He added, quote, "We'd just like to see exactly what went down in a great sort of tribute or whatever the plan is. We want it to be real."

IS THE NEW "90210" SQUEEZING OUT THE OLD "90210" STARS???

If you haven't heard, JENNIE GARTH will not be returning to the new "90210" next season . . . and yesterday, it was announced that ROB ESTES won't be either. (--Technically, the show hasn't even officially been picked up for a third season.) --There's no official word why they're leaving. There's some speculation that Rob QUIT the show . . . but a "source" tells E! Online that the producers want to focus on the young stars and, quote, "don't want the old people on the new show anymore." #1.) Every year, the "American Idol" Top 24 leaks online well before the finalists are revealed on the show . . . and this year is no different. --Some website called MJSBigBlog.com claims to have the names of most of the Top 24. As of late last night, they supposedly had all 12 of the boys and 10 of the 12 girls. (--Obviously, there's no way to tell how accurate this is, since the leaks mostly rely on "tips" from random people, but there's a good chance they're on the right track. Not everyone wants the results to be SPOILED, but if you DO, hit up this link . . .http://mjsbigblog.com/season-9-preview-top-2448.htm

It's finally official: DAVID HASSELHOFF will have a reality show on A&E. There's no title yet, but it'll feature The Hoff helping his daughters . . . 19-year-old Taylor-Ann and 17-year-old Hayley . . . break into the recording industry. --He says, quote, "It's the dream of every parent to be able to help their children succeed. I told the girls that I would help them open the door when they are ready, but they would have to walk through it on their own. This is their time and I am excited to be a part of it." (--The show will air sometime this year, but there's no premiere date yet.)

TV REMINDERS

THURSDAY TV REMINDERS: (--Check your local listings.)

--"The Deep End" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Five new lawyers start work at a highly competitive L.A. law firm. Billy Zane plays their boss.)

--"The Office" . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on NBC. (--The staff tries to impress a potential buyer and Michael reminisces about the great times they've had in the office.)

--"Grey's Anatomy" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Izzie returns to Seattle Grace to reconcile with Alex. Meanwhile Derek confronts the Chief's drinking problem.)

--"The Mentalist" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Sharon Lawrence guest stars as the mayor when one of her aides is murdered.)

--"Soundstage" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on PBS. (--Tim McGraw performs.)

--"Burn Notice" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on USA. (--Tyne Daly guest stars as a medical records file clerk.)

--"Jersey Shore" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on MTV.

--"Jersey Shore" [Reunion Special] . . . 11:00 P.M. to Midnight on MTV.

KORN AND ROB ZOMBIE WILL HEADLINE MAYHEM FEST:

KORN and ROB ZOMBIE will headline this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, which will hit up 24 cities in July and August. --LAMB OF GOD and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will also be on the main stage . . . and some of the other bands include: Hatebreed, Chimaira, Shadows Fall, Atreyu, In This Moment and 3 inches of Blood. Tickets go on sale in April.(--For the full list of announced bands, ticket information, and the tour itinerary, head over to the official website, here . . .)http://mayhemfest.com/


OZZY OSBOURNE SENDS HIS SYMPATHY TO DIO:

Last month, RONNIE JAMES DIO revealed that he'd been diagnosed with stomach cancer . . . and now, OZZY OSBOURNE is sending his sympathy. --But not personally. Ozzy tells "Rolling Stone", quote, "I'm sorry to hear about Ronnie having cancer. It must be really (effing) scary for the poor boy." (--Dio, of course, replaced Ozzy in BLACK SABBATH in 1979.)

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE SAY THEIR NEXT ALBUM WILL BE MORE STRAIGHT-FORWARD:

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE singer GERARD WAY says their next album . . . which is almost finished . . . will sound less theatrical, and more straight-forward. --He tells "NME" magazine, quote, "People just wanna (effing) rock. I don't know that people want to make statements right now. --"I can't comment on anybody else's record, but I certainly feel something in the air, like, people just want the truth and they don't need a big story." (--Neither a title or a release date for the album has been announced yet.)

NAZZY'S RANDOM STUFF

CHECK OUT SOME STATS FROM OBAMA'S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE:

Well, Republicans have won TED KENNEDY'S Senate seat, and ended the Democrat's super-majority. --So it's time for CBS's hard-hitting analysis of what OBAMA accomplished during his first year in office. Since he won't be getting a damn thing done from here on in.--Just kidding. CBS's analysis isn't hard-hitting. Check out some of their fun stats on Obama's first year in office:--He spent 26 days on vacation over the course of 4 trips. In comparison, GEORGE W. BUSH spent 69 days on vacation over the course of 9 trips to his ranch in Texas. --He visited Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, 11 times, totaling all or part of 27 days. Bush made 26 visits his first year, totaling all or part of 81 days. --He played 29 rounds of golf, whereas Bush only played golf 7 times. --He gave 411 speeches, and used a teleprompter 178 times. --He gave 158 interviews. 90 of them on TV, 11 on radio and 57 in newspapers or magazines. --He gave 42 news conferences, four of them in prime time. (--Bush did 21 in his first year, and only 1 was in prime time.) --He made 46 out-of-town trips to 58 cities in 30 states. (--Bush made appearances in 39 states during his first year.) --He met with 74 different foreign leaders, some of them multiple times. (--Bush met with 115 foreign leaders his first year.) --He made 10 trips to 21 foreign countries, 4 of them twice, more than any other U.S. president in their first year. --He did 28 fundraisers and raised $27 million. (--Bush only did 6 in his first year, but still raised $48 million.) --He conducted 23 Town Hall meetings, including two abroad. --He did 7 campaign rallies for three fellow Democrats. They all lost. --He took 160 flights on Air Force One, and 193 flights on Marine One. --He signed 124 bills, and vetoed one. (--Bush had no vetoes.) (CBS News)


THIS YEAR'S BATCH OF VALENTINE CANDY HEARTS WILL INCLUDE THE MESSAGES "TWEET ME" AND "TEXT ME":

You know what Sweethearts candy hearts are, right? They're those chalky, heart-shaped candies that are sold around Valentine's Day and have messages printed on them like "Love Me," "Be Mine," and "Kiss Me." --Anyway, Sweethearts conducted an online survey last year asking people to suggest the next Sweetheart candy saying. --The winner by a landslide was "Tweet Me." "Text Me" came in second, followed by "Love Bug." All three will be printed on Sweethearts candy hearts this Valentine's Day. --According to a spokesman for Twitter, quote, "It's even more proof that people can say anything in short messages. A 140-character message may seem short. Sweethearts are even smaller." (--YEAH!!! TWITTER RULES!!!) (???) --If you're wondering, each Sweethearts candy heart has about THREE CALORIES . . . just so you know.(USA Today / Holidash)


HERE ARE TEN SIGNS YOU'RE DATING AN EGOMANIAC:

In my vast dating experience, there's really nothing worse than getting involved with an EGOMANIAC. If you've ever dated one, you know I'm right. --On that note, here are ten signs you're dating an egomaniac from a site called TheFrisky.com:--He can't take even the most innocent joke at his expense.--He begins 75% of his sentences with "I."--He tells you about every aspect of his day like it's the most fascinating thing you've ever heard.--He complains about how uncomfortable he is because it's too hot or cold or crowded, when clearly everyone else in the situation is just as uncomfortable. --He's always talking about how rich and successful he's going to be in the future . . . even though he's an unemployed loser now.--He always zones out when you're talking to him.--He refers to himself in the third person.--He really wants to be famous. He's not sure for what. But something.--He asks you point blank if he's the best you've ever slept with.--He updates his Facebook status more than once a day. (Frisky)


A GUY USED AN IPHONE APP TO SAVE HIS LIFE AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI:

Even if you think the iPhone is over-hyped and overpriced, you have to admit THIS is pretty cool . . . --On January 12th, a guy named Dan Woolley was in a hotel in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, working on a documentary about poverty. Then the earthquake hit. --The walls started collapsing on top of Dan, and he became trapped underneath several tons of rubble. When everything was said and done, he suffered a fractured leg and a cut on his head. --Anyway, Dan was bleeding badly, and he had no idea what to do. So he pulled out his iPhone and used an app about first-aid to fashion a bandage for his head and a tourniquet for his leg. --The app even warned Dan not to fall asleep if he felt like he was going into shock, so he set the iPhone's alarm clock to go off every 20 minutes. And 65 hours later, Dan was discovered by a French rescue team. --I guess what I'm really trying to say is that iPhones save lives. (MSNBC / Wired)

HOLIDAY INNS IN BRITAIN ARE GOING TO START OFFERING GUESTS FREE *HUMAN* BED-WARMING SERVICE:

I hate climbing into a cold bed at night. Everyone does. So I guess I understand why some people might enjoy THIS bizarre new service . --Recently, officials for Holiday Inn announced that at the end of the month, they're going to start providing hotel guests in Britain with free bed-warming service. But they're not going to be using electric blankets or anything like that. --Instead, HUMAN BED WARMERS wearing "sleeper suits" will climb under the sheets for five minutes while you brush your teeth and get ready for bed. The idea is to heat up the sheets so they'll be nice and warm by the time you get in. --Dr. Chris Idzikowski is the director of the Edinburgh Sleep Center, which teamed up with Holiday Inn to provide the service. --He says, quote, "There's plenty of scientific evidence to show that sleep starts at the beginning of the night when body temperature starts to drop . . . --"A warm bed, approximately [68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit], is a good way to start this process, whereas a cold bed would inhibit sleep." --The service is going to start in London and Manchester. And if it's a success, the program may be expanded. (Daily Telegraph) (--Is this the most bizarre thing you've ever heard, or what? On the other hand, if you've ever been to the UK, you know they don't crank up the heat like we do when it's cold, so maybe this'll be a big hit.)


ONE IN TEN EMPLOYEES HAS GOTTEN CAUGHT CALLING IN SICK TO WORK WHEN THEY WERE JUST FINE:

This survey took place in the UK, but we imagine the results would be pretty similar here. --According to a survey of 5,000 people, the average employee has taken THREE sick days from work in the last year. But on average, they admit they were well enough to work TWO of those days. --15% of employees say they've called in sick just because the weather was bad. And more than 20% say they've called in sick because they were hung over. --And does this sound familiar? 44% of employees say that when they call in, they speak in a quiet, feeble voice so their boss will believe they're sick. And 5% admit they've shed a few crocodile tears to help strengthen their case. --Overall, ONE in TEN employees has taken a sick day from work when they were perfectly fine . . . and then gotten caught by the boss. (Daily Telegraph)


EIGHT TEENS IN GERMANY WERE HOSPITALIZED AFTER CHUGGING CHILI SAUCE THAT'S 214 TIMES HOTTER THAN TABASCO:

Here's even more proof that no matter how far you travel from home, the teens are bound to be just as DUMB wherever you happen to end up . . . --Yesterday, eight teens from Ausburg in southern Germany were rushed to the hospital after they dared each other to drink HOT SAUCE before school. --It's unclear exactly which brand of hot sauce these geniuses drank. But what we do know is that it scored a 535,000 on the Scoville scale, which is the measure that's used to determine the hotness of sauce. --To put that in perspective, normal Tabasco sauce scores 2,500 on the Scoville scale. That means the sauce these kids chugged was 214 TIMES hotter than Tabasco. (!!!) --The teens were kept overnight for observation, but they're expected to be okay. (--If you'd like to attempt the same boneheaded feat, we tracked down a list of the ten hottest hot sauces in the world. You're welcome . . .)http://www.chilliworld.com/search/chilliworld_hottest/index.asp(MSNBC)


NAZZY'S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) Over a year ago, ARTIE LANGE was on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", and basically predicted Conan's future. He explained that if NBC decided to stick with Jay Leno, Conan could make $40 million for doing nothing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzus6EmTgFw(Search Terms: Artie Lang predicts Conan O'Brien's future YouTube)

#2.) Two Asian guys dressed up as CONAN O'BRIEN and JAY LENO, then staged a fake fight at a pro-Conan rally in Los Angeles. (--There's a message from the REAL Andy Richter at 1:51.)http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/38406562d8/conan-rally-late-night-street-fight/(Search Terms: Conan O'Brien Asian street fight CoCo rally Hollywood)

#3.) An angry University of Tennessee fan filed an application to rename a local sewage plant the "Lane Kiffin Sewage Center." Here's a news report.http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/52653/vols_fans_want_to_name_a_building_for_lane_kiffin,_specifically_a_sewage_center(Search Terms: "Lane Kiffin Sewage Center" Knoxville SportingNews.com)

SEVEN WAYS TO BRUISE A GUY'S EGO:

A lot of guys have big egos that can be easily damaged. And even guys with thick skin can be taken down by a snide comment from a girlfriend, a parent, or their boss. Here's a list of seven foolproof ways to bruise a guy's ego.
--Remember, you're supposed to AVOID saying things like this. But if a guy really deserves to be taken down a notch or two, here's how to do it . . .

#1.) POINT OUT HIS GUT. Most guys are self-conscious about it, especially in the United States. It's like a constant reminder that they're not as young as they used to be.

#2.) INSULT HIS JOB. Even if he downplays it, chances are he's at least a LITTLE proud of what he does. Guys like to feel important. So, if you imply that what he does for a living ISN'T important, he'll be crushed . . . even if he doesn't show it.

#3.) COMPARE HIM TO AN ATHLETE. Playing slow-pitch softball is obviously a lot easier than playing professional baseball. And guys know it's true . . . but they don't want to hear it out loud.

#4.) COMPARE HIM TO A MUSICIAN. If he's more into music than sports, the same rule applies. He probably doesn't want to hear how much better John Mayer is on guitar.

#5.) COMPARE HIM TO HIS FATHER. Whether he loves his dad or hates him, he won't appreciate the comparison. Just like WOMEN don't like being compared to their MOTHERS.

#6.) TREAT HIM LIKE HE'S POOR. Pay for his dinner, then say that he can buy YOU dinner once he gets his paycheck. He'll almost definitely take it the wrong way.

#7.) LAUGH DURING SEX. He'll assume you're laughing at HIM. And if you refuse to tell him WHY you're laughing, he'll be self-conscious about it for years. (The Frisky)

January 20, 2010

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

THE 99 MOST DESIRABLE WOMEN IN THE WORLD

EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI IS ASKMEN.COM'S MOST DESIRABLE WOMAN IN THE WORLD:

AskMen.com has revealed its 99 Most Desirable Women in the World for the New Year. And their top pick is . . .
--EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI. (--She plays Sloan on HBO's "Entourage".) --Last year's winner, EVA MENDES, dropped to #9. --Speaking of drops, ANGELINA JOLIE took a pretty steep one this year . . . from #42 to #88. --And BRITNEY SPEARS, CHRISTINA AGUILERA and KEIRA KNIGHTLEY didn't even make the list.(--You can see the complete list, in annoying slideshow format, at this link . . .)http://www.askmen.com/specials/top_99_women/
#1.) EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI#2.) (Victoria's Secret model) MARISA MILLER#3.) KATE BECKINSALE#4.) (Model) ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO#5.) JESSICA ALBA#6.) BEYONCÉ#7.) PENELOPE CRUZ#8.) CHERYL COLE . . . (--She's a British singer and a judge on the U.K. version of Simon Cowell's "X-Factor". Rumor has it she'll be one of the judges when Simon brings the show to the U.S.)#9.) EVA MENDES#10.) MIRANDA KERR

SHE'S AT IT AGAIN!

LINDSAY LOHAN made out with a DUDE on Santa Monica Boulevard Monday night, and we have video to prove it. The guy's name is Aurelien Wiik, and he's a 29-year-old French actor. (--Here's the video.) http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=7657296b-79c9-4a0d-945a-53e8871a08da


THE 25 MOST STYLISH MEN IN THE WORLD:

"GQ" has announced its list of the 25 Most Stylish Men in the World. Top honors this year go to JOHNNY DEPP. --Simon Doonan, the creative director at Barney's, tells the magazine, quote, "Johnny Depp's a unicorn . . . a really glamorous, one-of-a-kind eccentric. Usually guys try to fit in; they don't want to get criticized. --"At any red-carpet event, there are going to be guys who look spiffy in their Prada or Armani tuxedos, but you wait for Johnny Depp, because he's always going to look super-groovy and unconventional. --"He wears great man jewelry. He doesn't shy away from color. He's always peeking through his amazing hair. It doesn't matter if Johnny Depp's lying in a ditch . . . he's always going to look incredible." --ROBERT PATTINSON--TOM BRADY--ANDRE BENJAMIN . . . (--From Outkast.)--ANDERSON COOPER--RUSSELL BRAND--RYAN GOSLING--PAUL SIMONON . . . (--The former bassist for The Clash.) (???)--L.A. REID . . . (--The boss of Island Def Jam Records.)--SPIKE JONZE--DAVID BYRNE--DAVID BECKHAM--LAPO ELKANN . . . (--Heir to the Fiat fortune.)--ICHIRO SUZUKI . . . (--Japanese import to Major League Baseball. He plays for the Seattle Mariners.)--DANIEL DAY-LEWIS--CLINT EASTWOOD--PHARRELL WILLIAMS--CRISTIANO RONALDO . . . (--Portuguese soccer stud.)--PETE DOHERTY . . . (--Smackhead.)--LEBRON JAMES--ED WESTWICK . . . (--From "Gossip Girl".)--BRAD PITT--JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE . . . (--Country singer, and the son of Steve Earle.)--JUDE LAW--JAY-Z(--Check out a slideshow with pics of all these guys . . .)http://www.gq.com/how-to/fashion/201002/25-most-stylish-men


HAITI AND HOLLYWOOD

U2 AND JAY-Z ARE DOING A SONG FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF:

U2, JAY-Z and producer SWIZZ BEATZ are joining forces to create a charity single that will raise money for the relief effort in Haiti. --U2 guitarist THE EDGE says, quote, "Bono got a call from a producer, Swizz. He and Jay-Z wanted to do something for Haiti. --"So, Bono came up with the phrase on the phone, and last night we were here, we wrote a song . . . finished, recorded, and sent it back to them. So, that might be the next thing you hear from us!" (--There's no word when we might hear the song, but it'll probably be for sale on iTunes in the immediate future.)

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, CHRISTINA AGUILERA AND RIHANNA ARE PERFORMING ON FRIDAY'S TELETHON:

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, RIHANNA and CHRISTINA AGUILERA will perform on that telethon GEORGE CLOONEY is hosting Friday night for Haitian earthquake relief. --The two-hour show is called "Hope for Haiti Now", and it airs at 8:00 P.M. on multiple channels . . . including ABC, NBC, HBO, CNN and all of MTV's networks. --Clooney is hosting from Los Angeles . . . WYCLEF JEAN is hosting from New York . . . and CNN'S ANDERSON COOPER will do the honors from Haiti. --Other stars making appearances include . . . Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Shakira, Alicia Keys, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, U2, and Coldplay.


STARS RAISED $9 MILLION ON "LARRY KING LIVE" MONDAY NIGHT:

Monday night's "Larry King Live" ended up being a two-hour fundraiser for earthquake relief in Haiti. And it worked. Nearly $9 million was raised . . . thanks in part to the participation of the following celebrities . . . --Jennifer Lopez, Paula Abdul, John Mayer, Ryan Seacrest, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, Jared Leto, Diddy and Scarlett Johansson. (--Obviously, the money didn't all come from donations from regular people. The stars were bidding on and buying things throughout the show. For instance, Jared Leto beat out Ryan Seacrest for a pair of Larry's suspenders. He got them for a grand.) --Speaking of Scarlett Johansson, she's also auctioning off HERSELF. The lucky winner of an eBay auction and three friends can meet Scarlett on the opening night of her new play, "A View from the Bridge", this coming Sunday in New York City. (--The last time we checked, the bidding was only up to $600 . . . which is more than reasonable for what you're getting. Check it out here . . .)http://cgi.ebay.com/Meet-Scarlett-Johansson-at-A-View-from-the-Bridge_W0QQitemZ190366067129QQcmdZViewItemQQptZTickets_Experiences?hash=item2c52b3a9b9

#1.) OPRAH WINFREY is dedicating her entire show today to Haiti. WYCLEF JEAN, RIHANNA and MAXWELL will be among her guests.

#2.) You can help the cause by bidding on various celebrity items at CharityBuzz.com. (--Here's the address . . .)http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/healhaiti/catalog_items

#3.) As we've already heard, "American Idol" is resurrecting its "Idol Gives Back" charity drive this year. And RANDY JACKSON says that Haiti will definitely be one of the causes they raise money for.

#4.) Several artists . . . including Linkin Park, the Dave Matthews Band, Alanis Morissette and Slash . . . have contributed previously-unreleased tracks to a charity effort called Download to Donate for Haiti. (--The concept is simple: You buy the music, the money goes to Haiti. Here's the website . . .) http://www.musicforrelief.org/

HEIDI MONTAG HAD 10 PLASTIC SURGERIES IN ONE DAY AND SHE WANTS MORE . . . BUT SHE SAYS SHE'S NOT ADDICTED:

As you've probably heard by now, reality "star" HEIDI MONTAG had 10 plastic surgery procedures done . . . in ONE DAY. --She had the work done in November, and she's been hiding ever since. But she finally showed her new face and body to the public yesterday. --And, unbelievably, she had the nerve to claim she's NOT addicted to plastic surgery. The "proof", she says, is that she had her nose and chest done once before, in 2007. But then she didn't have ANY work done for another three years. --She says, quote, "If you're addicted to something, you have to do it all the time, not once every couple years, if even." -The procedures Heidi got were: A mini brow lift, Botox in her forehead, a fix of her nose job, fat injections in cheeks and lips, chin reduction, neck liposuction, ears pinned back, a second boob job, liposuction on her waist and thighs and ass-cheek implants. --As for how she feels about her new look, Heidi says, quote, "I think I just look like a different, improved version of myself." (--Yeah, no issues there.) --Speaking of hypocrisy . . . Heidi also says she wants girls to know that BEAUTY IS ON THE INSIDE. But apparently, there's no conflict between that message and what she's done to herself. --She says, quote, "I'm also in a different industry than they are. You know, I'm in a limelight. I'm in a different industry. And I have to do things that are going to make me happy at the end of the day. --"I'm living in my skin, and I look in the mirror and it's my career, my life. --"You only have one, so I want to take advantage of everything and be the best me in and out every way." --Not surprisingly, there's been a lot of criticism in the media. And a significant amount of it is being leveled at Heidi's plastic surgeon, Dr. Frank Ryan. -But he says he didn't overdo it . . . quote, "These are little tweaks and things we did . . . These were all kind of small things. --Would you like to hate Heidi even more??? Then consider this: SHE'S NOT DONE GETTING PLASTIC SURGERY YET!!!--On yesterday's "Extra", Heidi admitted that her chest is now a Triple-D or F . . . and she added, quote, "I actually want H for Heidi." --In all, she spent around $30,000 on the work. But it almost cost her . . . HER LIFE. (??? --She says, quote, "I almost died after my procedure. I had too much Demerol like Michael Jackson did and my breathing was five breaths per minute which is like almost dead. [I was] in an aftercare center, there were nurses that were supposed to be tending to me at all times. --"So thank God, Charles, one of my security guys used to be an EMT, and he was timing my breath on his watch and he called the nurses and they had to put oxygen on my face and called my plastic surgeon to come in for an emergency."

#1.) Sony announced yesterday that MARC WEBB will direct the fourth "Spider-Man" movie . . . which will focus on Peter Parker (slash) Spider-Man when he was younger. It's due out sometime in 2012. --Webb directed "(500) Days of Summer" . . . as well as music DVDs for Green Day, 3 Doors Down and Jesse McCartney.

#2.) There's a new trailer online for "Macgruber" . . . which is based on the "Saturday Night Live" skit of the same name. This is one of those "red band" trailers . . . which means it's UNEDITED and NOT SAFE FOR BROADCAST. (--Check it out . . .)(--WARNING!!! There is plenty of language that is NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUR AIRWAVES . . . including a HILARIOUS bit at the very end featuring KRISTEN WIIG. Check it out . . .)http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/macgruber/red-band-trailer

NBC AND CONAN O'BRIEN ARE STILL NEGOTIATING . . . BUT CONAN'S GUEST LIST MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THIS IS HIS LAST WEEK:

(--As of late last night . . .) NBC and CONAN O'BRIEN have not made an official announcement regarding a settlement . . . so the two sides are still talking, presumably. --Word has it that the hang-up involves the severance packages for Conan's "Tonight Show" staff. NBC will be making payouts, but an amount hasn't been settled on yet. (--There hasn't been any update on the size of the settlement. TMZ has said Conan will get $32.5 million . . . or around $40 million if you include the money for his staff. Conan's payout will also be offset by whatever he makes at a future job.) --Even though it's still unofficial, it's looking more and more like this will be Conan's last week. The strongest evidence is that WILL FERRELL is booked to be a guest on Friday. He was Conan's first guest when he took over the "Tonight Show" in June. --It's become somewhat of a tradition to begin and end your tenure on the "Tonight Show" with the same guest. JAY LENO'S first guest was BILLY CRYSTAL . . . and then Billy appeared on Jay's second to last episode back in May. (--He wasn't on the last show because Jay had Conan on then . . . in an apparent gesture to help begin the transition. By the way, do you think there's a snowball's chance in hell that Conan has Jay on his last show to begin the transition back???)


FOX DENIES THAT THEY PURCHASED THE INTERNET DOMAIN NAME CONANONFOX.COM:

Yesterday, the fine investigative journalists at TMZ somehow discovered that the Internet domain name ConanOnFox.com was purchased last week . . . by Fox. (--Technically, it was registered to the Intellectual Property Department of Twentieth Century Fox.) --There wasn't any content on the site . . . it just redirected to a Twitter page that was also titled ConanOnFox. Once the word got out, the page went dark, and its listed registered owner was changed to "Domains By Proxy, Inc." (--According to TMZ, Domains By Proxy is a generic company that is used to hide the identity of the real owner. So, you know, that's not suspicious at all.) (???) (--If you try the address now, you may get mixed results. Strangely, some people on our staff got the blank page, while others were still being redirected to a bizarre Twitter page called "The3Wolves".) --Despite all this, Fox denies any involvement in the site or the Twitter account. --There is one other weird twist: Before the page went dark, the Twitter feed was apparently hacked by some diehard Boston Red Sox fan . . . who posted a message saying, quote, "Triumph means so many things to so many people. SoSH." (--The "SoSH" is a reference to a Red Sox forum called "Sons of Sam Horn". The moderator of the forum confirmed that one of their members did it.)

AN ANIMATED VIDEO ON THE NBC LATE-NIGHT MESS:

A bizarre computer-animated video explaining NBC's Late-Night Mess showed up online yesterday. It's from a news report in Taiwan, and it features computer-animated versions of JAY, CONAN, and NBC President JEFF ZUCKER. --Oh, and half-way through, they transform into Superman, The Incredible Hulk, and Captain America. (--It's from the same guys who made that weird re-enactment of the Tiger Woods accident. It's in Chinese, but it's still worth watching. Here's the link. They turn into superheroes at 1:03.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ9m1an-pQ8


#1.) NEIL PATRICK HARRIS is in talks to appear on an episode of "Glee". Nothing's definite yet . . . but it sounds like it's just a matter of time. --A so-called source tells "Entertainment Weekly", quote, "The plan is for Neil's acting, singing and dancing talents to all be used . . . and of course his awesome comedy chops." If it all comes together, his episode will reportedly air in May.


#2.) If you've always wanted to see if MARTHA STEWART could OWN a stripper pole . . . good news: She gave it a go on her show yesterday. (--It's amusing. To see the video, scroll down at this link . . .)http://www.popeater.com/2010/01/19/martha-stewart-stripper-pole/


THIS YEAR'S COACHELLA LINEUP HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED:

The MASSIVE lineup for this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has been announced, and the biggest names on the bill are: Jay-Z, Muse, Gorillaz, Pavement, Faith No More, Radiohead singer Thom Yorke. --Other performers include: Them Crooked Vultures, Sly and the Family Stone, LCD Soundsystem, De La Soul, Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Devo, Echo and the Bunnymen, Grace Jones, and DJ Lance Rock of "Yo Gabba Gabba" fame. --This year, Coachella will take place from April 16th through the 18th . . . at its usual venue in Indio, California. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10:00 A.M. (--For more information . . . including the complete lineup of performers . . . hit up Coachella's website, here . . .) http://www.coachella.com/


IS JANE'S ADDICTION WORKING ON A NEW ALBUM???

The JANE'S ADDICTION reunion has been rocky to say the least, but they're still together . . . and it sounds like they may be taking another crack at recording together. (--They tried to write some new stuff together last spring, but it didn't work out.) --In a post on the band's Facebook page over the weekend, PERRY FARRELL said, quote, "Monday we get together to write new music and craft a future." (--It's been TWO DECADES since the band's original lineup has released a studio album.) #1.) There's sad news in the world of sassy celebrity alter-egos today . . . and here it is: BEYONCÉ may be through with "Sasha Fierce." (--No! Say it ain't so!!!) -Beyoncé tells "Allure" magazine, quote, "The thing that's interesting is I don't need Sasha Fierce anymore, because I've grown, and I'm now able to merge the two. I want people to see me. I want people to see who I am."

#1.) BILLY CORGAN has released his second new SMASHING PUMPKINS song. It's called "Widow Wake My Mind", and you can grab it for FREE, at their site . . . http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/(--This is another track off their upcoming super-album, "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope". The Pumpkins are releasing 44 free songs . . . one by one . . . and when they're all out, they'll release them all in a single box set.)



NAZZY'S RANDOM STUFF

A RELIGIOUS GROUP IS DOING THEIR PART TO HELP HAITI BY SENDING SOLAR-POWERED AUDIO BIBLES:

Right now, the people of Haiti are in desperate need of food, water, medicine and other necessities. But a group called "Faith Comes By Hearing" has decided to go in a different direction by sending another type of aid . . . --By which I mean they're sending a shipment of SOLAR-POWERED AUDIO BIBLES. --According to a group spokesman, quote, "People's houses are crumbled, their families are shattered and they are living in ruins. Haitians will need that long-term hope and comfort that comes from knowing God has not forgotten them through this tragedy." --So far, 600 audio Bibles have been sent to Haiti. They can play scripture in more than 400 languages, including Haiti's native tongue Haitian Creole. (Fox News)


IS "GOING GREEN" DESTROYING YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

All along, I've sort of suspected that the "green" movement had a sinister agenda. Now I know what it is: To destroy your relationship. --Okay, maybe I'm being a little dramatic. But according to a recent "New York Times" article, therapists around the country say they're seeing an increase in green-related bickering between couples and family members . . . and it's causing real problems. --Basically, issues arise when one person is more devoted to environmental causes than the other. --When that happens, little arguments over things like recycling, buying organic food and the length of a person's shower can snowball into larger, much more destructive problems. --Linda Buzzell is a family and marriage therapist. She says, quote, "The danger arises when one partner undergoes an environmental 'waking up' process way before the other, leaving a new values gap between them." --Things have gotten so bad that some couples have even gotten DIVORCED after realizing that their environmental values were so far apart that they no longer had the same long-term plan. (Mother Nature Network)


IT'S MEN . . . NOT WOMEN . . . WHO RECEIVE THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC BOOST FROM GETTING MARRIED:

Guys . . . if you're trying to decide whether to pop the question to your girl, here's something you probably haven't considered . . . --Yesterday, the Pew Research Center released a new study on MARRIAGE and MONEY. --What they found is that since 1970, women have increased their earnings by about 44%, while men have only increased their earnings by 6%. --And 40 years ago, 96% of married men earned more money than their wife. But now, that number has dropped to 78%. So what does all this mean? --Researchers Richard Fry and D'Vera Cohn led the study. They write, quote, "From an economic perspective, these trends have contributed to a gender role reversal in the gains from marriage. --"In the past, when relatively few wives worked, marriage enhanced the economic status of women more than that of men. In recent decades, however, the economic gains associated with marriage have been greater for men." --In other words, getting married can help a dude get rich. And isn't that really what it's all about anyway? (Yahoo News)


NOW YOUR UNBORN CHILD CAN LISTEN TO MUSIC IN SURROUND SOUND:

Ladies . . . if you're looking for an interesting, new way to deliver surround-sound music directly to your UNBORN BABY'S EARS, you might want to check out a new product called the Nuvo Ritmo. --Put simply, the Nuvo Ritmo is a belt that connects to your MP3 player and fits around your baby bump. It's got four speakers . . . two on each side . . . and the idea is to pipe music directly into your womb, which your baby can enjoy in surround sound. (???) (--Check out a bizarre promotional video for the Nuvo Ritmo here . . .)http://vimeo.com/7246394(--You can buy the Nuvo Ritmo for $130 here . . .)http://www.nuvo-group.com/product.php?id=1(Switched)


MASSACHUSETTS PASSED A LAW REQUIRING KIDS IN DAYCARE TO BRUSH THEIR TEETH EVERY FOUR HOURS:
If you're under the mistaken impression that the government DOESN'T control every single aspect of your life, explain THIS . . . --Recently, Massachusetts passed a new law requiring kids at daycare to brush their teeth after every meal, or every four hours . . . whichever comes first. --It's part of a new program aimed at improving oral hygiene, and the government's going to provide all the toothbrushes, toothpaste and other products. --But state officials point out that even though the requirement is state law, parents can opt out if they choose. (--So let me get this straight. It's a state law, but parents can opt out of it? Well since when can you opt out of a law . . . and exactly what kind of law is this anyway?) (WCVB News 5 - Boston)


BEFORE DYING, A GUY ASKED HIS FRIENDS TO SPREAD HIS ASHES ALL OVER THE WORLD . . . SO THAT'S JUST WHAT THEY'RE DOING:

Almost two years ago, a 66-year-old guy from Los Angeles named Ralph White suffered an aortic aneurysm and passed away. --But before he died, Ralph told his friends and family members that instead of being buried, he wanted to be cremated and have his ashes spread at different locations all over the world. --Or as Ralph's former fiancée, 52-year-old Rosaly Lopes, puts it, quote, "Rather than have people mourn him, he wanted to give people incentive to go have adventures." --So they did. And over the past two years, Ralph's ashes have been spread at locations including:--The mountains of Nepal--The Australian Outback--The Great Wall of China--A volcano in Rwanda--The shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the Titanic was built--Fairview Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where 121 Titanic victims are buried--Prater Park in Vienna, Austria--The ruins of the Temple of Thor in Iceland--Lake Baikal in Russia--A lighthouse in Norway--A suspension bridge in British Columbia--Blue Nile Falls in Ethiopia--Mont Blanc in the French Alps--Mount Fuji in Japan--The Sistine Chapel in Rome, Italy--And in the waters off Zanzibar, Tanzania--His friends even tried to send Ralph's ashes to space aboard a "post-cremation memorial flight" operated by a company called Celestis. But there were problems with the launch, and the shuttle had to abort its mission. (Arizona Republic)


TAKE A LOOK AT THESE COOL 3-D PAPER SCULPTURES:

Peter Callesen is an artist from Denmark who uses just a single sheet of plain paper to create the most amazing 3-D paper sculptures. I promise you, his work is much cooler than it sounds. In fact, it's pretty unbelievable. (Digg)(--Take a look at Peter's artwork here . . .)http://www.petercallesen.com/ NAZZY'S SILLY VIDEO'S
ANDERSON COOPER helped a Haitian boy who was hit in the head with a rock thrown by a looter. (--The footage starts at :49.)(--Warning: This video contains graphic images.)http://mashable.com/2010/01/19/anderson-cooper-rescues-haitian-boy/(Search Terms: Anderson Cooper rescues Haitian boy CNN.com)
A guy robbed a convenience store in New York City, and forgot to put on his ski mask until halfway through.http://www.nypost.com/p/news/item_07prkKK9L0EHTQQsPzBmUP(Search Terms: robber's unsuccessful attempt to hide ID NYPost.com)

FIVE TIMES WHEN WOMEN SHOULDN'T TEXT MEN:

According to "Cosmopolitan", guys hate it when women write long, descriptive texts. So, to keep you ladies from ruining your relationship with bad texting habits, here's Cosmo's list of the five times women should NEVER text men . . .

#1.) AFTER YOUR FIRST FEW DATES. You're not supposed to call right away, and you shouldn't text either. It could scare him off.

#2.) WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK. You'll either gush about how much you love him . . . which is a red flag for some guys. Or you'll tell him how much you hate him . . . which is never good. --There's also a third option. You might text him for a quickie. And if you're too available he'll know he has all the leverage in the relationship.

#3.) WHEN YOU'RE ANGRY. If you put something in writing, it's a lot harder to take it back later. So fight face-to-face, not over text.

#4.) WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO BE SARCASTIC. Sarcasm doesn't come across very well in text messages. Without hearing your tone of voice, he might think you're being serious.

#5.) AFTER YOU JUST SENT HIM A TEXT. Guys like brief updates, not a blow-by-blow of your entire day. It's easy to get addicted to text messaging, and there's nothing wrong with using it to stay in touch. --But when you text each other too much, it discourages phone conversations and one-on-one time, which can hurt your relationship in the long run. (Cosmopolitan.com)

January 19, 2010

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW

HAITI AND HOLLYWOOD

WYCLEF JEAN SAYS HE NEVER BENEFITED PERSONALLY FROM HIS CHARITY:

Yesterday, WYCLEF JEAN denied that he has EVER profited from his charity, the Yele Haiti Foundation. --During a press conference in New York, he said, quote, "Did we make mistakes? Yes. Did I ever use any of Yele's money for personal benefits? Absolutely not. --"Yele's books are open and transparent, and we have been given a clean bill of health by an external auditor every year since we started." --Meanwhile, CNN quotes tax experts who say it's routine for individuals to charge their own charities . . . as long as they're providing services to those charities in return. --On a more important note, Wyclef also used the press conference to call for the evacuation of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. --He said, quote, "I am asking the world to move two million people out of Port-au-Prince. If I ask them to leave they will leave. We need to keep Haiti alive." --He added, quote, "We went inside the belly of the beast. I was the one carrying the little girls to the morgue. In reality, my people are dying. I have to go back for relief. I do not cry for myself, I cry for them."

MORE CELEBRITIES AND HOW THEY'RE HELPING:

Here's today's rundown of what celebrities are doing to aid in the relief effort in Haiti . . .
--JOHN TRAVOLTA is actually going to fly a plane full of supplies and volunteers into the heart of the tragedy. He says, quote, "I have arranged for a plane to take down some volunteer ministers and some supplies and some medics. --"My church has also arranged for 80 medics and 33 volunteers to go down. I hope that inspires others as well. It's needed."
--USHER is urging young people, through his own charitable foundation, to donate at least $5 each. He says, quote, "If only 1% of the world's youth population raised $5 each, we could raise $150 million to support the United Nations relief efforts." (--You can donate at www.ushernewlook.org, or by texting CERF to 90999.)
--BETTE MIDLER is asking for donations at all her concerts. After her last show on January 31st in Las Vegas, she'll match whatever her fans have ponied up. So far, she's raised almost $39,000.

RUMOR-VILLE

Are NICK JONAS and SELENA GOMEZ back together??? Selena was seen getting off Nick's tour bus in Chicago on Sunday. (--And there's video. Check it out . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3YV4oDa6UI (--Selena was also reportedly at Nick's gig in Detroit on Saturday . . . where she was seen CRYING when he sang the song "Stay", which is supposedly about her.)


IS CHER SPENDING $145,000 ON HER FACE . . . JUST SO SHE LOOKS GOOD NEXT TO CHRISTINA AGUILERA???

CHER and CHRISTINA AGUILERA presented an award together at the "Golden Globes" on Sunday night . . . and Cher looked pretty good for a 63-year-old woman. Especially standing next to a 29-year-old chick. --That might have something to do with the $145,000 Cher has been spending on her face. --See, Cher and Christina are filming a movie together called "Burlesque". And the "National Enquirer" says she was intimidated by the idea of having to share screen time with somebody much younger and hotter. --So she's doing everything she can to keep herself looking young. --This includes weekly facials and LED therapy . . . which, quote, "uses light to treat dark pigmentation and improve the appearance of small blood vessels in the skin." --She's also having actual electrical current zapped into her face to tighten the skin . . . and shelling out cash to keep her makeup crew, her trainer and her yoga and Pilates instructors on the movie set 24-7. --The same goes for her spiritual adviser and her homoepathic guru, or whatever you call it. --The grand total for keeping all of this up over the 10-week movie shoot is $145,000 . . . and it's all coming out of Cher's pocket.


RANDOM "GOLDEN GLOBES" FALLOUT:

Actor ED LAUTER tried to drive home from a "Golden Globes" after-party, but security wouldn't let him because he was too drunk. And unfortunately for him, the paparazzi got the whole thing on film. (--Here it is . . .)

(--WARNING!!! A woman in this clip uses the word HARD-ON . . .)http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=b046c259-de33-4ed4-80f0-aaee8e87fb23

(--Lauter is a character actor who's been in so many movies and TV shows that, even though you recognize his face, you might not remember where you've seen him. Well, he was in BOTH version of "The Longest Yard" . . .) (--. . . and he played the Coach in "Not Another Teen Movie". Those are probably the roles he'd be best remember for these days.)


NOT-SO-NONSENSICAL NEWS: JEFF CONAWAY WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER FALLING DOWN SOME STAIRS:

JEFF CONAWAY . . . a.k.a. Kenickie in "Grease" and Bobby Wheeler on "Taxi" . . . took a serious fall at his Los Angeles home yesterday . . . and ended up in the hospital. --Jeff's girlfriend says he fell down a staircase and suffered a broken hip, a broken arm, a fractured neck and a brain hemorrhage. There's no word on his condition. (--There's also no word whether drugs or alcohol were involved . . . but anyone who's seen the guy on "Celebrity Rehab" or "Celebrity Fit Club" knows that's a distinct possibility. We'll keep you updated.)


TIGER TALES

WILL TIGER WOODS RETURN TO GOLF IN THE SPRING???

The not-always-reliable RadarOnline.com says that TIGER WOODS will return to the PGA tour sometime this spring. --There's no word if he plans to be back in time for the Masters Tournament, which begins on April 5th. (--Obviously, we'll let you know if and when he makes an official announcement.)

Some website called MovieLine.com says that BRAD PITT and MATT DAMON are both doing voices for "Happy Feet 2". We'll let you know if we hear anything official. (--The original included voices by Robin Williams, Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Brittany Murphy. Most, if not all, of them are expected to return. With the possible exception of Brittany, of course.) (--Too soon???)

LESS THAN MEET'S THE EYE

Director MICHAEL BAY is going to try something new for "Transformers 3": LESS ACTION AND MORE PLOT. (???) -He says, quote, "Although the number of robots increased significantly from the first film for the second . . . the third film, which will hit theaters in the summer of 2011, won't be as robot-heavy and there will be fewer explosions."


JAY LENO ADDRESSED NBC'S LATE-NIGHT MESS LAST NIGHT ON "THE JAY LENO SHOW":

JAY LENO made a lengthy statement about NBC's late-night mess on "The Jay Leno Show" last night . . . and not just in a series of one-liners. He actually kept it SERIOUS. --Jay said, quote, "Folks, I thought maybe I should address this . . . to give you my view on what has been going on here at NBC." --For starters, he bent over backwards to praise CONAN O'BRIEN, and asked people not to blame him for any of this chaos. --Then he went back to 2004, when NBC suits first came to him with their concerns about CONAN O'BRIEN leaving the network. That's the situation that ended with Jay agreeing to retire in 2009, so that the "Tonight Show" could go to Conan. --Jay revealed that at the time, NBC told him they didn't think he could remain #1 up through 2009, but when he did . . . NBC decided they wanted to keep him in some capacity. -He said that when they first pitched him the idea of doing a primetime show, he knew it wouldn't work . . . but they insisted that they'd done, quote, "focus groups" and that people would love him at 10:00 P.M. --He said they "guaranteed" him two years on the air, and didn't expect him to start catching on until this coming summer . . . when all the other stations weren't airing new episodes of their 10:00 P.M. shows. --But as we all know, the show didn't end up making it that long because of pressure from the NBC affiliates. --Jay said that NBC insisted on keeping him . . . again . . . and now pitched him the idea of doing a half-hour show at 11:30 P.M. and bumping Conan's "Tonight Show". --He said he asked NBC if they thought Conan would go for that, and they told him YES . . . so he agreed to it. --Then, when Conan rejected that proposal, Jay said NBC asked him if he'd take the "Tonight Show" back if Conan walked . . . and he said he told them that he would. --He added, quote, "That's pretty much where we are. It looks like we'll be back at 11:30 . . . I'm not sure. I don't know." --Jay finished by saying, quote, "Through all of this, Conan O'Brien has been a gentleman. He's a good guy. I have no animosity towards him. This is all business. Folks, if you don't get the ratings, they take you off the air. --"It didn't work. We might have an answer for you tomorrow. So, we'll see." (--And since this aired last night, he meant TODAY. Obviously.) (--You can watch the whole thing, here . . .) http://www.thejaylenoshow.com/video/clips/jays-pov/1194348/--Meanwhile, late last night, TMZ reported . . . for what seems like the 87th time . . . that so-called "sources" told them it's official: Conan IS losing the "Tonight Show". --Supposedly, NBC will pay him $32.5 million to leave . . . and Conan has agreed not to host another show until next September at the earliest. If you include all the severance pay to Conan's staff, NBC's payout is in the neighborhood of $40 million. --That payout only guarantees that he'll make at least that much over the length of his old "Tonight Show" contract, which is believed to run into 2013. Any money that Conan makes at his next job will be subtracted from the money that NBC owes him.

WILL CONAN O'BRIEN BE ABLE TO KEEP THE CHARACTERS HE DEVELOPED ON HIS NBC SHOWS???

(--As of late last night . . .) NBC has yet to officially announce their rumored settlement with CONAN O'BRIEN, which would allow him to leave the network. The word from NBC is expected any day now. --TMZ reports that the two sides have, quote, "reached an agreement in principle" . . . but they're still hammering out some small issues, such as: Who will retain the rights to Conan's "Late Night" and "The Tonight Show" characters??? --The characters . . . like Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Pimpbot 5000, and the Masturbating Bear . . . are considered intellectual property, and since they were created, under contract, for his shows, they're legally owned by NBC. --But TMZ says that NBC would be willing to let him have the characters . . . as long as he signs off on that "non-disparagement clause" that prevents him from trashing the network after he leaves. --Later last night, TMZ changed their mind and said that it now appears that NBC will KEEP Conan's characters. We'll let you know how it all shakes out. (--I see a potential loophole here. If Conan agrees to this deal, would Triumph the Insult Comic Dog be able to roast NBC??? The dog is performed by comedian ROBERT SMIGEL. So technically, it's not Conan doing the trashing.)

10 CELEBRITIES WHO MIGHT BOYCOTT "THE TONIGHT SHOW" . . . IF JAY LENO RETAKES THE REINS:

The website Movieline.com has posted a list of 10 celebrities that COULD boycott "The Tonight Show" . . . assuming JAY LENO is indeed retaking the reins. --Basically, this is just a list of stars with strong ties to Conan, and there aren't any expressed sentiments from any of them that they'd boycott Leno. But considering the way NBC and Leno screwed Conan . . . anything is possible. --At least until they have something they need "The Tonight Show" to help promote.)--Here's the list . . . along with the reasons that they would boycott Leno.

#1.) PATTON OSWALT . . . "Oswalt made his distaste for Leno fairly official on a blistering takedown on Comedy Death-Ray Radio, where he likened the be-chinned one to Richard Nixon. Chances: 100%."

#2.) NORM MACDONALD . . . "A longtime 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' regular, who started on 'SNL' around the same time Conan started broadcasting from 30 Rock. On his final 'Late Night' appearance, he told some incredibly uncomfortable truths about Leno's decades of outfoxing the kings of late night."

#3.) WILL FERRELL . . . "Ferrell's ties to Conan go back as far as when the two worked at The Groundlings in the late '80s, where Lorne Michaels discovered O'Brien and hired him to write for 'SNL'. Ferrell was Conan's first 'Tonight Show' guest."

#4.) JIM GAFFIGAN . . . "A staunch Conan loyalist who used to appear alongside the host in 'Pale Force', an animated series in which they fought crime with their paleness. Gaffigan [has] tweeted: 'I'm on #teamconan.'"

#5.) AMY POEHLER . . . "Poehler used to play Stacey Richter . . . the fictional kid sister of co-host ANDY RICHTER . . . on 'Late Night'."

#6.) JACK WHITE . . . "THE WHITE STRIPES and Conan enjoy a close bond, dating back to when O'Brien met them in a Detroit bowling alley after shooting a remote segment with TED NUGENT in the late 1990s. --"They performed many times on the show, including a four-night residency in April 2003 . . . and a final broadcast performance of Conan's favorite tune, 'We're Going to Be Friends'."

#7.) PEARL JAM . . . "The rockers were Conan's first 'Tonight Show' musical act. Like Ticketmaster, NBC represents a greedy corporate force, and the band will be an unlikely guest on Leno's show." (--Well, that's a stretch.)

#8.) JON STEWART . . . "They may have had a staged feud over who gave Mike Huckabee's campaign a 'bump,' but you can be sure Stewart and Conan's brainy, East Coast-based allegiance will preclude any future appearances on Leno's couch."

#9.) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN . . . "Max Weinberg's other Boss would stand by his drummer." (--Max, of course, is the drummer for both Conan's house band . . . and Bruce's E STREET BAND.)

#10.) WILLIAM SHATNER . . . "The guy who forgot Captain Kirk's name on Conan's couch, and recently got ambushed by SARAH PALIN while reading excerpts from her biography on air, would almost certainly stick by his ginger man in the rift."

AEROSMITH IS LOOKING FOR A NEW SINGER, BUT JOE PERRY SAYS THEY AREN'T LOOKING FOR A STEVEN TYLER IMPERSONATOR:

AEROSMITH has been kicking around the idea of picking up a new lead singer for a while . . . and now guitarist JOE PERRY has elaborated on what they're looking for. --In an interview with Canada's "Globe and Mail" newspaper, Joe says, quote, "Right now, we're talking about getting another singer to fill in for STEVEN [TYLER]. --"I don't know what's going on with him, but as far as Aerosmith goes, we're going to find somebody to sing." --So would they consider turning to YouTube or MySpace to find an amateur sound-alike singer like JOURNEY and BOSTON did? Or are they looking to hire someone who's already made a name for himself??? --Joe says, quote, "I think it would make more sense, with a band like Aerosmith, to get somebody who the fans might recognize. There's no sense going out there and being an Aerosmith clone band. --"In order for both parties to get something out of this, to move things along musically, it's important to get somebody who's a legitimate headliner on their own." (--Steven Tyler entered a rehab facility a few days before Christmas. He was seeking help with pain management . . . a.k.a. addiction to prescription drugs. As far as we know, he's still in the program.)

NAZZY'S RANDOM STUFF

THE OWNER OF TACO BELL HAS DIED:

If you're a fan of fast food. I've got some sad news to report this morning: The founder of Taco Bell passed away on Sunday. His name was Glen Bell Jr. His cause of death hasn't been released yet. He was 86 years old. --And now for some FUN TACO BELL FACTS! --The first Taco Bell opened in Downey, California, on March 21st, 1962. Now, Taco Bell has more than 5,800 restaurants, and more than 143,000 employees.--Taco Bell's first international franchise opened in Guam in 1977. Now there are more than 278 Taco Bells in dozens of countries around the world. --Annually, Taco Bell brings in profits of more than $6.6 BILLION. --Taco Bell restaurants serve more than ONE BILLION burritos and more than TWO BILLION tacos every year.--In an average year, Taco Bell will go through 62 MILLION pounds of pinto beans, 106 MILLION pounds of cheese, and 3.8 BILLION tortillas. (!!!) --Taco Bell serves an average of 295 MILLION pounds of ground beef a year. And since the average beef steer yields about 570 pounds of usable meat, that's roughly 517,543 cows. --Every week, 36.8 MILLION people eat at Taco Bell. (Yahoo News / Associated Content)


A DEPARTMENT STORE IN LONDON IS OFFERING GIFT REGISTRIES FOR THE NEWLY DIVORCED:

As if it wasn't already easy enough, a department store in London called Debenhams has just made it a little simpler for couples to get divorced. They're offering a new service called the DIVORCE GIFT LIST. --Basically, the Divorce Gift List is like a wedding registry list . . . only in reverse. --What I mean is it allows newly divorced couples to register for linens, microwaves and other appliances, which friends and family members can buy to "congratulate" them on the dissolution of their marriage. --The logic is that after a divorce, one partner will be moving out and leaving all their household essentials behind. --And, presumably, they'll also be a little lighter in the wallet . . . what with all the alimony and child support payments . . . so they won't be able to afford to buy as much stuff for themselves. --According to a store spokesman, quote, "Divorcing can be an expensive time, and registering for a Divorce Gift List means that family and friends can help the newly separated begin their new life." (--Well, isn't that just great???) (Yahoo News)


NOW THERE'S SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT HOT CHICKS ARE A TOTAL PAIN IN THE BUTT:

We all know someone who's dated a girl so smoking-hot, that everyone overlooked how mean she was. And now, a "groundbreaking" new study has found that the reason girls like that are so mean . . . is because they're so good-looking. (???) --Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley interviewed 156 women to gauge their temperament and how they handle conflict. --What they found is that when a woman THINKS she's good-looking:#1.) She's more likely to respond with anger than a woman who thinks she's less attractive. And . . .#2.) She has higher expectations of what she deserves. --In other words: The hotter the woman, the bigger the headache. And get this . . . --The study also found a similar link with MEN, but it had more to do with their physical strength than their looks. (BBC News)

NAZZY'S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) This Australian news report shows how a reporter helped rescue a baby girl in Haiti, who was trapped under rubble for three days . . . along with the bodies of her dead parents. (--Footage of the rescue starts at :57, and they pull the baby out at 2:42.)http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/17671038(Search Terms: "Mike Amor's amazing rescue" Haiti Australia video)

#2.) Here's a viral ad from Ray-Ban, where a guy gets glasses tattooed on his face. But it's all fake. (--See the finished product at 1:25.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH1tTlq5-Qk(Search Terms: guy glasses tattooed on his face YouTube)

SIX SURPRISING THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE A HEART ATTACK:

A heart attack can come at any time. To prove it, here's a list from Prevention.com of five surprising things that can trigger a heart attack. Some aren't all that surprising, but there are a few you probably wouldn't think of . . .

#1.) SITTING IN TRAFFIC. You're not physically exerting yourself, but your stress level is through the roof, which can raise your blood pressure and cause a heart attack.

#2.) WAKING UP. Harvard researchers say you're 40% more likely to have a heart attack in the morning than you are later in the day. It's because when you wake up, your body gets flooded with adrenaline and other hormones that raise your blood pressure. --And your blood is thicker because you're partially dehydrated. Hitting snooze a few times actually decreases your risk of having a heart attack because it forces your body to wake up slowly. And if you exercise before work, make sure you always warm up first.

#3.) MONDAYS. 20% more heart attacks occur on Mondays because people are stressed out and depressed about returning to work. To reduce your risk, go to bed earlier on Sunday night.

#4.) HAVING A FATTY, HIGH-CARB MEAL. Foods that are high in fat and high in carbs constrict your blood vessels and make your blood more prone to clot.

#5.) GOING TO THE BATHROOM. Straining increases the pressure in your chest and slows the return of blood to your heart. The best way to avoid keeling over on the toilet is to eat more fiber.

#6.) PUBLIC SPEAKING. Being nervous raises your blood pressure, your heart rate, and your adrenaline level. Most of us don't like doing it, which is why people with heart issues often take a beta-blocker before they step up to the podium.(Prevention.com)