HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (05-06-11)
OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD
Bin Laden Would've Been Spared If He Was Naked . . . He Hadn't Left the Room In Five Years . . . and He Forbid His Kids From Joining Al Qaeda:
More and more details have been coming out about the raid on OSAMA BIN LADEN'S compound. Here are some of the most interesting new highlights. --Nudity would've saved bin Laden's life. According to a congressional aide, if bin Laden had been naked, it would've been clear he didn't have a weapon or suicide vest, so he would've been spared. --But when they got there, he was in pajamas. So . . . shot in the head. --Bin Laden hadn't left the room in five years. When bin Laden's wife was interrogated after the raid, she said they hadn't left one room in the compound for FIVE YEARS. --Bin Laden banned his children from joining Al Qaeda. In his will, bin Laden specifically names his two last wishes: That his wives don't remarry, and that his children never join Al Qaeda. --He wrote the will in December of 2001. And in it, he predicts that if he does get killed, it will be because of, quote, "treachery" of the Al Qaeda members around him. --Some documents with NASTY terror plans were found in the compound. Some of the papers that were taken from the compound show Al Qaeda was considering attacks on key U.S. cities and trains. --In fact, they were apparently targeting U.S. railroads for the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 . . . which is this September.
Bin Laden's Compound is Quickly Becoming a Tourist Attraction:
It's hard to blame people for wanting to check out OSAMA BIN LADEN'S compound in Pakistan. If I happened to be hanging out in northern Pakistan right now, I'm thinking my curiosity would take me there. --And according to all reports, the compound is already starting to become a tourist attraction. --It's drawing people who were bin Laden SUPPORTERS . . . and people who are thrilled that he's gone. --An Associated Press photographer even caught a woman taking photos of her daughter standing in front of the gate of the compound. (--You can see those photos here.) --Finally, yesterday, the police secured off the area to keep people from being able to walk up to the compound during the investigation.--Some bin Laden supporters have also latched on to the area in the North Arabian Sea where bin Laden's body was buried at sea. Apparently, they're calling it "the Martyr's Sea."
Did Bristol Palin Get Plastic Surgery?
BRISTOL PALIN may have put all that money she gets for telling kids not to have sex to good use . . . on PLASTIC SURGERY. --Bristol showed up at an event in New York City Tuesday with a new look that included a much slimmer face. (--Check out the before-and-after here.) --A plastic surgery expert told "People" magazine, quote, "She seems to have had liposuction of her entire neck with a focus under her chin, which has produced a much more defined jaw line and lower facial area." (Washington Post)
George Clooney's Girlfriend Gets Naked for PETA:
There are a lot of things you can harp on PETA for. But they also do a lot of good. And one of the best things they do is get celebrities to GO NAKED. --The latest is GEORGE CLOONEY'S sexy Italian girlfriend, ELISABETTA CANALIS. And they didn't just release one photo of her like they usually do. They dropped a whole photo shoot's worth on us. (--Sadly, all of Elisabetta's naughty parts are covered . . . and thus, they remain a mystery to all of us but George. You can see the video of the photo shoot . . . with any naughty bits blurred.)
Rihanna's Cleavage Was Censored Out of a Perfume Ad in Kuwait:
Print ads for RIHANNA'S new perfume Reb'l Fleur show her in a robe that's open enough to display some major skin. Well, that kind of thing doesn't fly in the Middle East. --Someone in Kuwait snapped a picture of the version of the ad that's running there, and it's pretty obvious that they used Photoshop to close her robe. (--Check out the two pics here.) (--Didn't we LIBERATE these people?) (E! Online)
And Now . . . Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Tops The FHM.com World's Sexiest Women List:
"Transformers 3" minx ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY already tops the "Maxim" magazine Hot 100 list. And yesterday, she added another notch to her belt. --FHM.com put her at the top of their World's Sexiest Women list. Her "Transformers" predecessor MEGAN FOX came in at #4.
--Here's the Top 10 . . .
#1.) Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
#2.) Katy Perry
#3.) Rihanna
#4.) Megan Fox
#5.) Olivia Wilde
#6.) Brooklyn Decker
#7.) Marisa Miller
#8.) Kelly Brook
#9.) Nicole Scherzinger
#10.) Russian model Irina Shayk, who you'd know as the chick on the cover of this year's "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition" (--You can see the complete list, one entry at a time, here. Or, if you scroll down, you can see the entire list all at once.) (--"Glee" minx Dianna Agron was nowhere to be found on the "Maxim" list, but she came in at #81 for FHM. This time it was her co-star Naya Rivera who got the shaft . . . while Lea Michele came in pretty high on both lists.) (--And for those of you with a "royal" fixation, yes Kate Middleton made this list too. She's #39 on the FHM list; but she ranked higher with Maxim at #26.)
Adele Says She'd Have Sex With Rihanna:
British pop minx ADELE has a dirty little secret. You know RIHANNA? Adele would TOTALLY DO HER. (!!!) She says, quote, "If Rihanna wanted me, I'd do it with her. She's hot." --Adele is straight . . . but something happened when she saw Rihanna on Britain's "X Factor" last year. She says, quote, "She had pinstripe flares on. She whipped them off and there were her stunning thighs. --"I said to all my girlfriends: 'Are you feeling a bit gay right now?'"
Randy Quaid Once Asked Chevy Chase for Bail Money . . . And Chevy Refused:
RANDY and EVI QUAID were guests at some low-rent Canadian variety show Wednesday night . . . where they revealed that they reached out to CHEVY CHASE last year for bail money . . . and he REFUSED. --The host asked the Quaids what Chevy is like, and Randy replied, quote, "He didn't bail me out." --Then Evi told the story of how they went through Warner Brothers to get Chevy's phone number, then called him and got his answering machine. --He did get back to them, but through his lawyers . . . who told the Quaids, quote, "Chevy won't bail you out, although Chevy misses you." (--For those of you who don't understand the connection, Chevy and Randy were in the "Vacation" movies together.) (--Here's video of the interview, along with a few seconds of a musical performance by Randy. The sound quality isn't the best.)
Gisele Bundchen Is the World's Top-Earning Model . . . With a Take of $45 Million Over the Past Year:
GISELE BUNDCHEN is the World's Top-Earning Model, according to a new list by "Forbes" magazine. They say she banked $45 MILLION over the past year. --HEIDI KLUM finished a distant second with $20 million . . . less than HALF of Gisele's take. (--And remember, Heidi is executive producer of the "Project Runway" empire.) --KATE MOSS came in third, with $13.5 million. (--You can check out the rest of the list in annoying slideshow format here. It's doubly annoying because you have to click through TWO slides to get to the next person. And you probably won't know the other names, so it's not really worth digging below the Top 3.)
Ted Williams . . . The Homeless Guy with the Golden Voice . . . Is Back in Rehab:
So whatever happened to TED WILLIAMS . . . the homeless guy with the "golden voice" who seemed to be on the fast track to redemption and stardom? Well, as of yesterday, he was heading back to rehab. --Ted's rep said he was checking himself back into the Origins Recover Center in Texas . . . which is the clinic he bailed on back in January. A book deal and reality show have been put on hold while he once again tries to straighten up.
Charlie Sheen Says He's Relieved to be Done with His Live Show . . . And Yet He's Also Talking About Taking it to Australia and Europe:
CHARLIE SHEEN called in to an Australian radio station yesterday, and admitted he's, quote, "relieved" to be done with his "Violent Torpedo of Truth" tour. --He said, quote, "I think the tour was overbooked and it went on too long. It wasn't a question of my fatigue factor but I had to keep digging a little deeper each night in the new cities to remind myself that it was new for them." --But Charlie is thinking about revamping the show and taking it overseas. He said, quote, "Why don't I take this thing on the road to Australia, parts of Europe, parts of Asia. --"If I pick out six cities over two weeks and if it wasn't about violent torpedoes and truth seeking but more about an evening with Charlie Sheen, if I told people what to expect maybe they wouldn't heckle me like the drunk clowns that they are." --In Other Sheen-Anigans: Video surfaced yesterday of Charlie taking batting practice at a baseball field in Denver last week. Former Major League picture TODD ZEILE was on the mound, and Charlie parked one over the right field fence. --Then he hung out for a while with a local team that was practicing there, and gave them five cases of balls. (--Here's video of the home run.)
Hines Ward Was Mistakenly Handcuffed in L.A. Yesterday Morning:
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver and "Dancing With the Stars" stud HINES WARD was HANDCUFFED in Los Angeles early yesterday morning . . . but it turned out to be a mistake. --I know what you're thinking . . . but this wasn't one of those LAPD white cop / black suspect "mistakes". The mistake was made by Hines' girlfriend . . . who was also cuffed. --Here's the deal: The unidentified woman had some kind of "incident" with a valet, which resulted in her calling the police and reporting her car stolen. --After the incident was cleared up and her car was returned to her, she failed to call police and cancel the report. --At about 2:00 A.M. yesterday morning, cops saw the vehicle and pulled it over. According to some reports, they approached the car with their GUNS DRAWN. But the woman was able to clear things up by proving it was her car. --A police spokesman says Hines was VERY cooperative and understanding. --He's definitely NOT making a big deal out of this. He posted a message online yesterday saying, quote, "The incident in the news that involved me getting pulled over. --"I want everyone to know that this was a complete misunderstanding. The police were just doing their job. Apologies were made and it's now in the past. Moving forward."
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND
"Thor", "The Beaver", or "Hobo With a Shotgun" . . . I'm So Torn!
#1.) "Thor" (PG-13)
The latest Marvel Comics movie stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, the Norse god of thunder. He's banished to Earth and stripped of his powers after he reignites an ancient war in Asgard, the world of the gods. --Natalie Portman is one of the scientists who finds him, and Anthony Hopkins plays Odin, the father of the gods back in Asgard. (--Another one of the main gods is a black guy, which the white power crowd wasn't too happy about.) (Trailer) --Chris Hemsworth will be back as Thor for "The Avengers" movie that comes out next May . . . with Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America and Mark Ruffalo taking over as The Hulk --Samuel L. Jackson ties all the movies together as Nick Fury, and he'll have a cameo at the end of this one just like he did in the last "Iron Man". You'll also get to see him in the "Captain America" movie in July.
#2.) "Something Borrowed" (PG-13)
A romantic comedy starring "Big Love's" Ginnifer Goodwin as a chick who gets drunk and sleeps with the guy she's had a crush on since law school. Unfortunately, he's engaged to marry her best friend, played by Kate Hudson. --John Krasinski from "The Office" is in it too, but he's not the one they're fighting over. That guy's played by Colin Egglesfield, who you may remember as Auggie on "Melrose Place" or Josh Madden on "All My Children". (Trailer)
#3.) "Jumping the Broom" (PG-13)
A comedy about two black families about to be joined by marriage. The bride's family is ultra-rich and wants the ceremony to be held in Martha's Vineyard. The groom's family is working class, and you can guess how that goes over with them. --Paula Patton is the bride, Angela Bassett plays her mom, and the rest of the bride's family includes Romeo and the lovely Meaghan Good. "Modern Family's" Julie Bowen has an amusing role as their very white wedding planner. (Trailer) (--The movie's title is from an old tradition where couples commit to each other by jumping over a broom.)
#4.) "The Beaver" (PG-13) (Limited . . . it expands to more theaters on May 20th)
Mel Gibson plays a guy who's so depressed that he walks around with a beaver puppet on his hand, and only communicates with people through the puppet as part of his therapy. (Photo) Jodie Foster directed it and she also plays his wife. --Their son is played by Anton Yelchin . . . the guy who was Chekov in "Star Trek" and Kyle Reese in "Terminator Salvation". (Trailer)
#5.) "Hobo With a Shotgun" (R) (Limited)
A truly AWESOME movie based on a trailer that's included on the Blu-ray edition of "Grindhouse". Rutger Hauer plays the vigilante hobo who unleashes homeless vengeance upon crooked cops, street gangs, and even a pedophile Santa. (Trailer) (--Here's an UNRATED Trailer, with an extra 30 seconds of violent content . . . including the decapitation of the guy whose head is in the manhole cover. And you can see the new Red Band Trailer showing on the official site here.) (--"Hobo With a Shotgun" has been playing On Demand on cable systems for a while now, and I can honestly say it's AMAZING. It's utterly and completely mental, but in the best possible way. See it!)
Johnny Depp Admits That the Second and Third "Pirates of the Caribbean" Movies Don't Make Sense:
The first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie was meant to be a stand-alone film. But after its mega-success, Disney decided to turn it into a trilogy. --A lot of people think they just ended up making a MESS out of it. And JOHNNY DEPP is one of those people. And apparently, even director GORE VERBINSKI agrees with him. --Johnny tells "Entertainment Weekly", quote, "They had to invent a trilogy out of nowhere. It was plot driven and complicated. --"I remember talking to [Verbinski] at certain points during production of 2 or 3, and saying: 'I don't really know what this means.' He said, 'Neither do I, but let's just shoot it.' This guy is this guy's dad, and this guy was in love with this broad. It was like, 'What?'" --The upcoming, fourth flick, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides", is a stand-alone movie . . . and any future sequels will be, too. (--The fourth "Pirates" flick comes out on the 20th of this month.) --In a separate interview, Johnny also revealed that he's shot his cameo for the "21 Jump Street" movie. He said, quote, "It's done. I went in and did my bit and worked with JONAH HILL and CHANNING TATUM. It was fun."
Has Hilary Duff Been Dropped from the Bonnie and Clyde Movie?
TMZ is reporting that HILARY DUFF has been dropped from "The Story of Bonnie & Clyde" . . . and will be replaced by another actress. --There's no word why she was canned, but producers must have really wanted her out, because they still have to pay her AND whoever they get to replace her. TMZ says her successor hasn't been chosen yet. (--This news will no doubt make FAYE DUNAWAY happy. She was vehemently opposed to Hilary Duff taking on the role she played in the 1967 flick "Bonnie & Clyde". In fact, the two of them made the list of the Top Celebrity Feuds of 2010. You can read what they said here.)
The "Home Alone" House Is On the Market for $2.4 Million:
If you're SERIOUS about movie memorabilia, I have your ticket right here: The house that MACAULAY CULKIN had to defend in "Home Alone" is on the market . . . for $2.4 million. --It's in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Illinois, and the current owners are the ones who lived in it when the 1990 film was being shot. They even say their daughter and Macaulay became playmates. (--Check out some pictures of the house here.) (TMZ)
It's Official: The Third Judge on "X Factor" Is Cheryl Cole:
Yesterday, Fox confirmed that British singer CHERYL COLE is joining SIMON COWELL and L.A. REID on the "X Factor" judges' panel. She's been rumored as a possible judge for weeks. --The final spot is expected to go to PAULA ABDUL, but her deal isn't done yet. Simon recently confirmed that negotiations are underway to bring Paula into the fold. --Cheryl is a member of the British pop group GIRLS ALOUD, but they've been on hiatus for the past two years. In the meantime, Cheryl has released two solo albums, and has judged the last three seasons of the British version of "X Factor".
An Italian College Is Warning Its Students to Avoid the "Jersey Shore" Cast:
An Italian university . . . the Istituto Lorenzo de' Medici . . . has warned its students that "Jersey Shore" is filming in one of its dormitories next week, and they're asking everyone to stay away from the insanity. --The school said, quote, "We advise you to NOT sign any paper, let anyone in, and keep us informed." The affected students were offered alternative housing options.
ABC Censored a Joke About Osama Bin Laden on "Happy Endings":
On Wednesday night, ABC cut part of an OSAMA BIN LADEN joke from their new sitcom, "Happy Endings". It wasn't anything controversial . . . it just wouldn't have made sense now that Osama has been captured and killed. (--The episode was filmed several weeks ago.) --Here's the joke: Two characters, a guy and a girl, were talking about their attempts to catch an elusive mouse. The guy said, quote, "He's my bin Laden . . . Jessica bin Laden, a super hot Arab girl I went to college with." --And the woman responded, quote, "She was the one that got away." But when it aired, that part was cut out . . . so you only saw her lips moving. (--You can watch video, here . . .) (--Note: This is not the version that aired, so you won't see her lips moving. What you WILL see is an awkward cut. When ABC put the episode online, they cut her reaction out entirely.)
WEEKEND TV REMINDERS
(--Check your local listing for times in your area.)
Friday TV Reminders:
--"NBA Playoffs: Hawks vs. Bulls" [Eastern Conference Semifinals] . . . 7:00 to 9:30 P.M. Eastern on ESPN. (--The Atlanta Hawks host the Chicago Bulls.)
--"NBA Playoffs: Mavericks vs. Lakers" [Western Conference Semifinals] . . . 9:30 P.M. to Midnight Eastern on ESPN. (--The Dallas Mavericks host the Los Angeles Lakers.)
--"Smallville" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on the CW. (--Jor-El bestows Lois with Clark's powers for a day as his wedding gift to her, but then she must use them to fight the Toyman when he returns to Metropolis.)
--"Flashpoint" [4th Season Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"Fringe" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox.
--"CSI: New York" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Peter Fonda returns as Mac's ex-partner when they uncover a vendetta spanning 17-years.)
--"CMT's Next Superstar" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CMT. (--The singers visit troops returning from Afghanistan before writing songs about the veterans' experiences. Voting will be done by the troops and their families.)
--"20/20" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC. (--The death of Osama Bin Laden.)
Saturday TV Reminders:
--"NBA Playoffs: Grizzlies vs. Thunder" [Western Conference Semifinals] . . . 5:00 to 7:30 P.M. Eastern on ESPN. (--The Memphis Grizzlies host the Oklahoma City Thunder.)
--"NBA Playoffs: Celtics vs. Heat" [Eastern Conference Semifinals] . . . 8:00 to 10:30 P.M. Eastern on ABC. (--The Boston Celtics host the Miami Heat.)
--"NASCAR Racing: Darlington 500" . . . 7:00 to 11:30 P.M. Eastern on Fox.
--"Grand Ole Opry Live" . . . 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. on GAC. (--Jimmy C. Newman, Del McCoury Band, LoCash Cowboys and Aaron Tippin perform.)
--"Extraordinary Moms" . . . 8:00 to 9:30 P.M. on OWN. (--Julia Roberts produced this special that celebrates motherhood and showcases high profile moms Hillary Clinton, Rosie O'Donnell and Christiane Amanpour.)
--"Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on HBO. (--The concert she taped during her February tour at Madison Square Garden.)
--"Austin City Limits" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on PBS. (--K'Naan and Mos Def perform.) (REPEAT)
--"Almighty Thor" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Syfy. (--If you're too cheap to pay high ticket prices at the theater, here's a made-for-TV movie starring Richard Grieco as Loki, rassler Kevin Nash as Odin and a guy named Cody Deal as Thor.)
--"No Woman, No Cry" . . . 9:30 to 11:00 P.M. on OWN. (--Christy Turlington directs this look at the effects of pregnancy complications on the poor.)
--"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC. (--Tina Fey guest hosts and Ellie Goulding is the musical guest.)
Sunday TV Reminders:
--"NBA Playoffs: Mavericks vs. Lakers" [Western Conference Semifinals] . . . 3:30 to 6:00 P.M. Eastern on ABC. (--The Dallas Mavericks host the L.A. Lakers.)
--"NBA Playoffs: Hawks vs. Bulls" [Eastern Conference Semifinals] . . . 8:00 to 10:30 P.M. Eastern on TNT. (--The Atlanta Hawks host the Chicago Bulls.)
--"60 Minutes" . . . 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Barack Obama discusses the covert operation that finally resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden.)
--"Amazing Race" [18th Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"Celebrity Apprentice" . . . 8:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Jimmy Fallon and Tracy Morgan help out the contestants as they try to produce a live comedy show.)
--"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Volleyball star Misty May-Treanor guests when Ty and his team replace a home for a volleyball coach who took in three sisters when their parents passed away.)
--"Brothers & Sisters" [5th Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC.
--"CSI: Miami" [9th Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"The Judds" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on OWN.
--"Why Not? With Shania Twain" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 11:00 P.M. to Midnight on OWN. (--Shania Twain sets out to regain her voice as she pieces her life back together after a painful divorce with the aid of her sister, friends and bandmates.)
--"Aqua Teen Hunger Force" [8th Season Premiere] . . . 11:45 P.M. to Midnight on Adult Swim.
LADY GAGA INSANITY
Lady Gaga's "Judas" Video Is Out . . . And It's Something:
LADY GAGA'S "Judas" video hit the Internet yesterday . . . and it's as epic as a typical Lady Gaga video. (--You can watch it, here.) --But despite all the hype, it's actually not all that extreme on the religious stuff. Yes, Lady Gaga plays Mary Magdalene, sort of, and she's hanging with Jesus and his Apostles. --But it's not exactly historically accurate. In fact, they're a MOTORCYCLE GANG. And the first minute of the video . . . which ultimately clocks in at five-and-a-half minutes . . . is just them riding. --And the religious imagery is trumped by shots of Lady Gaga's crazy costumes . . . Lady Gaga wearing barely any clothes . . . close-ups of Lady Gaga's face . . . and a wild dance party that's lit like it's taking place at a classy miniature golf joint. (--And if you really want to nit-pick, there's also some amusing green-screen action in the shots where she's singing on the motorcycle.)
The Controversy of Lady Gaga's "Judas" Video; A Commentary:
LADY GAGA'S "Judas" video was stirring up controversy before anyone had even seen it. Now that it's out . . . what's the takeaway? --Well, I suppose if you're super-sensitive to religious iconography, you're not going to like this. But then again, it's unlikely that you'd ever be cool with the representation of religious imagery in pop culture. --Personally, now that I've seen the video, I can't see how anyone could take it seriously enough to be genuinely offended by it. It's an over-the-top Lady Gaga video, with somewhat of a religious theme. That's what it is, like it or not. --No matter what Lady Gaga and her detractors say, it really isn't saying anything, positive or negative, about religion. No impressionable kid is going to be ruined by Lady Gaga's "Judas" video.
Lady Gaga Performed On Top of a Giant High Heel on "Oprah":
LADY GAGA performed on "Oprah" yesterday . . . on top of a GIANT HIGH HEEL . . . with what appeared to be a stingray on her head. (???) --She sang a medley of "Born This Way" and "You and I", which included several shout-outs to Oprah and the 25-year run of her show. (--Here's video.)
Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour Was the Biggest Tour Ever By a Debut Headlining Artist:
LADY GAGA'S Monster Ball tour, which began all the way back in November of 2009, will FINALLY wrap tonight in Mexico City. --In all, there were 200 concerts that were attended by 2.5 million people, and grossed $227.4 million. Billboard.com says it was the biggest tour EVER by a first-time headlining artist . . . and it's on the cusp of being one of the Top 10 highest grossing tours of all time.
BIEBER FEVER
Justin Bieber's Crew Is Threatening to Bail on His Planned Trip to Japan:
TMZ says "many crewmembers" on JUSTIN BIEBER'S tour are refusing to follow the tour to Japan later this month . . . because they're afraid of the "cancer risks" from the nuclear disaster, and are worried that there could be another earthquake. --Supposedly, Justin's manager laid into them . . . saying, quote, "Man the [eff] up and do the right thing by these kids." It's unclear if they've had a change of heart.
The 17-Year-Old Perp Who Egged Justin Bieber in Australia Is in Trouble:
Remember how JUSTIN BIEBER was assaulted with EGGS while performing in Australia last week? Well, that mystery has been solved. --It turns out a 17-year-old boy somehow broke into the venue through the ROOF, and dropped the eggs from above the stage. He was arrested yesterday, and charged with breaking and entering, trespassing and malicious damage. (--Since the boy is a minor, his name was not released. That's lucky for him, because Justin's online army of fans would've absolutely torn him apart. The eggs came close to hitting Justin, but he escaped unscathed.)
President Obama Might Be Calling in a Favor from Justin Bieber:
A 14-year-old girl named Payton Wall got a chance to meet PRESIDENT OBAMA at Ground Zero yesterday. (--Peyton's dad was killed in the 9/11 attacks.) But is she just using the President . . . to get to JUSTIN BIEBER? --Payton said Obama was "really cool" . . . but THIS is what had her MORE excited: She said, quote, "[The President] told us he knows Justin." And supposedly, Obama said she "could meet him some time soon."
10 Great "Mother" Songs:
In honor of Mother's Day, which as a courtesy reminder is THIS Sunday, Spinner.com put together a list of their 10 Favorite Mother Songs. Here it is:
1.) "Mother", Danzig
2.) "Julia", John Lennon
3.) "Bohemian Rhapsody", Queen
4.) "Mother", Pink Floyd
5.) "Mother and Child Reunion", Paul Simon
6.) "I Like Your Mom", Bouncing Souls
7.) "Hey Mama", Kanye West
8.) "Cleanin' Out My Closet", Eminem
9.) "Mama Told Me Not to Come", Randy Newman
10.) "Mother's Little Helper", The Rolling Stones
(--For commentary and YouTube links to each song, hit up Spinner.com.)
FRIDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
JACOB LUSK got sent home on "American Idol" last night . . . and teen country chick LAUREN ALAINA joined him in the bottom two. (Full Story)
Here's one of those amusing photo galleries of celebrities without makeup. (Gallery)
The VP of marketing at "Playgirl" says he'd LOVE to have "Dancing With the Stars" studs MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY and DMITRY CHAPLIN, and maybe even MARK BALLAS . . . but he's not the least bit interested in DEREK HOUGH because he's, quote, "sort of bland-looking." (Full Story)
Are you into shirtless jockeys? If so, you might be interested in the "2012 Thoroughbred Racing Jockeys" calendar. These guys might be small, but they're pretty ripped. And they're SHIRTLESS! (Full Story)
Singer BRYAN ADAMS is a first-time father at the age of 51. (Full Story)
DONALD TRUMP was supposed to drive the pace car for the Indy 500 later this month, but he bowed out due to what he called, quote, "time and business constraints." But some people think the Facebook campaign to have him removed from his duties had something to do with it. (Full Story)
NICOLAS CAGE won't face any charges over his drunken incident in New Orleans last month. (Full Story)
JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS from Showtime's "The Tudors" has checked into alcohol rehab for the FOURTH time. (Full Story)
The original "Hangover" had an opening weekend take of $45 million. But industry analysts say "Part 2" should far exceed that number when it opens on May 26th. (Full Story)
KATIE COURIC is reportedly close to signing a $20 MILLION deal with ABC that'll give her a daytime talk show and a significant role at ABC News. Here's the part your grandmother won't like: Katie's talk show might bump "General Hospital" off the air completely. (Full Story)
Rapper LIL B is defending himself after people got mad when he Tweeted, quote, "just because they say osama is dead dosent [sic] mean thats a good thing osama has family to that probably loves him alot as well." (Full Story)
NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF
The Worst Mother's Day Gifts Include a Used Frying Pan, Plus-Sized Pajamas, Frozen Pasta, and a Mustache Trimmer:
There are a couple of surveys floating around that asked moms to name the WORST Mother's Day gifts they'd ever received. So if you're planning on giving mom any of these on Sunday, you'd better get ready to hit the mall tomorrow.
--Here are some of the things that were named as the worst gifts:
--A used frying pan.
--Plus-sized pajamas.
--A PAULY SHORE video.
--A used breast pump.
--A bullwhip.
--A bag of frozen cheese tortellini.
--A denture-cleaning kit.
--A mustache trimmer.
--The good news? Overall, 51% of mothers say they've never received a bad gift. And 14% say they haven't received a bad gift, but they have received NO GIFT, and that was pretty bad. (Northern Life / Consumer Search)
We Should All Be Ashamed of the Most Popular Baby Names of 2010:
The Social Security Administration just released its list of the most popular baby names for 2010 . . . and we, as a people, should be ashamed of ourselves. Here are just a few of the reasons why . . .
#1.) The most popular boys' name was Jacob and the most popular girls' name was Isabella. You might recognize those as the name of two of the three main characters from "Twilight".
#2.) And that's not the only "Twilight" influence. The second-biggest gain for a boys' name was Kellan. The actor who plays the vampire Emmett Cullen in the "Twilight" films is KELLAN LUTZ.
#3.) But that's not the worst part. The two names that saw the biggest gains were Maci and Bentley. Why? MACI BOOKOUT is one of the girls on the MTV show "Teen Mom" and her son's name is Bentley.
#4.) And clearly, we've lost respect for the classics. For the first time in 55 years, the name ELVIS didn't make the top 1,000 boys' names.
--The top 10 most popular girls' names are: Isabella, Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Ava, Emily, Abigail, Madison, Chloe, and Mia.
--The top 10 most popular boys' names are: Jacob, Ethan, Michael, Jayden, William, Alexander, Noah, Daniel, Aiden, and Anthony.
(Associated Press) (--You can see all of the most popular names for both genders here.)
A Mother Of A Mother’s Day
Poll after poll has shown that despite the fact that Americans are tightening their belts because of increased gas prices, a mother’s love is one that cannot be ignored. According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, spending is expected to be big business this year. BIGSearch conducted a survey and found…
•Spending will reach $16.3 billion this year.
•The average person will spend $140.73 on gifts, up from $126.90 last year.
•Spending on electronics is expected to be the biggest grabber, increasing by 48% over last year. The average person will spend just under $100 on electronic devices.
•54.7% will take mom out to a restaurant this year.
•64.9% will buy flowers.
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Mommy Makeover
This Mother’s Day, you may want to get mommy dearest something even more glamorous than a day at the spa, a bouquet of flowers, or a box of chocolates. According to a new survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the desires of mom go way beyond sweets and spas. ASPS and Impulse Research conducted a survey that found 62% of mothers said they’d consider a “mommy makeover,” which includes a tummy tuck, breast enhancement, and/or a breast lift. The survey also found that tummy tucks increased 85%, while breast lifts are up 70% and breast augmentation is up 39% between 2000 and 2010.
Single Parents Actually Date More Than Single People Without Kids:
Well, this is some reassuring news if you're a single parent looking to get back out there. I mean, not good news for your kid or your babysitting budget . . . but good news for you. --According to a study by Match.com, members who are single parents actually date MORE than members who are single without kids. --21% of single parents are currently dating someone, versus 16% of singles without kids. 35% of single parents have been on a first date so far in 2011, versus 27% of singles without kids. --The average single parent said they waited two to three months to introduce their kid or kids to someone new they're dating. (Your Tango)
Men Think About Sex Quite a Bit . . . But They Think About Food and Sleep Just As Much:
I don't think we're breaking any new ground here when we say men think about sex a lot. But we've got a new study that shows men have two other things on their mind that are TOP PRIORITIES. --Psychologists out of Ohio State University at Mansfield found that men think about sex about 18 times a day, versus women who think about it 10 times. But men and women ALSO think about FOOD and SLEEP at those same proportions. --Terri Fisher is a psychologist who led the study. She says, quote, "Males thought more about any of the health-related thoughts compared to females, not just thoughts about sex." (MSNBC)
One Out of Nine Brain Aneurysms Leads to a Stroke Because People Drink Soda, Have Sex, or Strain To Poop:
God forbid you ever have a brain aneurysm. But if you do . . . make sure to eat your prunes and take your laxatives, because you could be one vigorous toilet session away from rupturing it and having a stroke. --A new study out of the University Medical Center in the Netherlands looked at some of the more unusual things that cause brain aneurysms to rupture . . . which generally causes a stroke. --And straining to poop caused 3.6% of the ruptured brain aneurysms in the study. --Drinking soda caused 3.5%, because of the caffeine bump. And sexual relations caused 4.3%. So between those three, more than one out of nine ruptured aneurysms happens from soda, sex, or defecating. --Some of the other less common causes of ruptures include: 10.6% from drinking coffee . . . 5.4% from nose blowing . . . 2.7% from being startled . . . and 1.3% from being angry. --Drinking alcohol didn't make the list. (Eurekalert)
Did a Woman Really Have Oral Surgery and Wake Up With an Irish Accent?
We've seen stories like this before and we're ALWAYS skeptical: People who have surgery then wake up speaking in a totally different accent. I don't know . . . just doesn't seem real. But if you're less jaded, you should find this fantastic. --About a year and a half ago, Karen Butler of Newport, Oregon went to have an oral surgery and was knocked out with anesthesia. --When she woke up, instead of her usual voice, she found herself talking in some kind of a modified IRISH ACCENT. --Doctors call this Foreign Accent Syndrome. It's an extremely rare syndrome that seems to be triggered by a stroke or brain damage. Less than 100 cases have ever been reported, but it started popping up 70 years ago. --As for Karen, she says she still gets strange reactions even after a year-and-a-half with her new accent . . . but she's gotten used to it and really doesn't mind talking like she's from Ireland. (Huffington Post) (--Here's a video from the "Today" show where you can hear Karen talk now, and in an old home movie from before she developed her accent. I don't know about the Irish thing . . . sounds more eastern European to me.)
Body Wash Has Passed Bar Soap and Is Now the Most Popular Soap Product In the Country:
We've become a country of loofah fanatics, my friends. And I'm not sure how to feel about that. --According to a new report, liquid body wash has finally passed bar soap as the most popular soap and shower product in the country. --Body wash accounts for about 40% of the soap market in the U.S. --Between 2009 and 2014, liquid body wash sales are projected to go up 35%. (WalletPop)
The Most Stolen Vehicle in the Country is the '94 Honda Accord:
Every year, the National Crime Bureau releases their stats on the most stolen cars in the country. And that's when we're reminded every year that clearly, thieves want something easy to steal WAY more than something hot and flashy. --The new champ for the most stolen car in the country is . . . the 1994 Honda Accord. It's easy to break in to, easy to hotwire, and easy to blend in after you steal one. Plus they have trade-in values around $975. Here's the full top 10:
#1.) 1994 Honda Accord
#2.) 1995 Honda Civic
#3.) 1991 Toyota Camry
#4.) 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup
#5.) 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
#6.) 2000 Dodge Caravan
#7.) 1994 Chevrolet Pickup
#8.) 1994 Acura Integra
#9.) 2002 Ford Explorer
#10.) 2009 Toyota Corolla
(Yahoo Autos)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
Police in New York Pulled Over a Car . . . And the Passenger Was So Worried They Were After Him That He Jumped Into the Hudson River:
On Wednesday afternoon, the police in Albany, New York pulled over a driver for a traffic violation. The driver stayed put but his passenger, 21-year-old Nicholas Volmer, FREAKED OUT. --Nicholas believed that he was WANTED by the cops, and that they had pulled over the car because they were after him. So he opened the door, ran across some train tracks, and jumped into the HUDSON RIVER. --He ended up floating downstream for about 10 minutes in water that was between 40 and 45 degrees, before those same cops fished him out. He kept trying to get out on his own but the current kept sweeping him away from the shore. --Turns out they didn't have any interest in him . . . he wasn't a wanted man, didn't have outstanding warrants, nothing. But they BECAME interested in him after he jumped into the river. --He was arrested for trespassing and resisting arrest. (Albany Times Union)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
The seniors at a high school in Wilson, Oklahoma vandalized the local water tower, so it said "Home town of Seniors 2011." Which is a classic prank. But one thing makes it a lot less classic. Because in order to do it, they had to cover up the words, "Home town of Chuck Norris." (Full Story)
The last combat veteran of World War One has died in Australia, at 110. (Full Story)
A 93-year-old and a 100-year-old in California have become the world's oldest newlyweds. (Full Story)
A retired NYC cop had GETOSAMA as his license plate for four years, and he had to fight to get it. Now he's traded it in for a plate that reads GOTOSAMA. (Full Story)
Girl Scout cookies hurt the environment! Some people are upset that they contain palm oil, and harvesting palm oil contributes to rainforest deforestation. (Full Story)
The recession wiped out a total of $15.5 trillion in wealth in the U.S. . . . but the good news is that the number of millionaires is expected to double by 2020! (Full Story)
Didn't get into the college you wanted? There's still space in the freshman classes of 280 schools, including Arizona, Hofstra, St. John's, and Texas A&M. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) A Woman on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Said, "I Can't Even Put a Finger on Uranus":
A contestant on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" was asked which planet was named after someone from Greek mythology: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn or Uranus. --And while she was going through the possible answers, she said she was pretty sure Jupiter was Roman. But then she said, quote, "I can't even put a finger on Uranus." --She immediately realized what she'd said, and host MEREDITH VIEIRA told her, "Rebecca, I really need this job." --Rebecca ended up guessing Venus, but the correct answer WAS Uranus. The video's up on YouTube. (--Search for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Uranus." She says it at :21.)
#2.) A Guy Tried to Start a "USA" Chant on the New York Subway . . . But No One Joined In:
The morning after OSAMA BIN LADEN was killed, a guy went on a New York City subway train and tried to start a "USA" chant. But not a single person on the packed train joined in. (--Search YouTube for "USA Chant on NYC Subway Fail." He starts the chant at :30.) (--WARNING: This video includes the S-word.)
#3.) A Guy Celebrated Osama bin Laden's Death by Riding Around on a Four-Wheeler with a Flag Tied to His Fishing Rod and Firing His Gun:
A chef in West Virginia made a spoof video where he celebrated Osama bin Laden's death by strapping an American flag to the fishing rod attached to his four-wheeler, and riding around a field shooting his gun in the air. --The YouTube video has gotten over 600,000 views. It's called "Osama's Dead, Baby. Osama's Dead".
#4.) Two Little Kids Kissed on the Lips, Then Celebrated With High Fives:
There's a new video on YouTube called "High Five for First Kiss" that shows two little kids kissing on the lips, then celebrating by high-fiving each other. --Meanwhile, an adult warns them that they better not do it again. But you can tell the little boy DEFINITELY wants to. (--They kiss at :40.)
#5.) A Guy Worked Out for One Year and Took a Photo of Himself Every Day:
Here's what can happen if you work out like a maniac for a year straight: Some guy with an average body started lifting weights and took a picture of himself in boxer shorts every day for 365 days in a row. --Then he strung all the pictures together to make a 37-second video of his progress. You can check it out at TodaysBigThing.com. --He's basically ripped by the 13-second mark. And over the course of the year, it looks like he also discovered tanning beds and hair dye. (--Search for "365 Days of Exercise.")
The 13 Worst Things About Being Pregnant:
Mother's Day is Sunday, so in case you're not appreciating your mom as much as you should be, here's a list of the 13 worst things a pregnant woman has to go through. Aside from the actual labor, which obviously wins hands down.
#1.) Morning Sickness. Over half of pregnant women experience it during their first trimester because of changing hormones.
#2.) Exhaustion. High levels of progesterone in the first trimester make most pregnant women want a nap at least once a day. And in the third trimester, it's common to have insomnia.
#3.) Heartburn. Basically, having a baby inside of you causes all your organs to get pushed upward. And since your stomach is squeezed up closer to your throat, heartburn can be a major issue.
#4.) Varicose Veins. Being pregnant and gaining a ton of weight can completely kill a woman's self-esteem. And getting varicose veins . . . lumpy, swollen veins that are usually on the legs . . . doesn't help.
#5.) Back Pain. Almost every pregnant woman has to deal with it for a number of reasons, including weight gain, a shifting center of gravity, and bigger breasts.
#6.) Hemorrhoids. When a woman's pregnant, her enlarged uterus puts pressure on her pelvic veins, which limits blood flow and causes hemorrhoids. And they're also common right after the birth.
#7.) Constipation. Progesterone basically paralyzes the uterus and the other 'smooth muscles' in the body . . . a.k.a., the stomach, intestines, and rectum.
#8.) Excessive Drooling. No one's really sure why it happens, but it's associated with morning sickness, and researchers think it's caused by hormones.
#9.) Gas. A lot of women get gassy when they're pregnant. And some women also crave beans and foods with a lot of fiber, which make them even gassier.
#10.) Constantly Having to Pee. In the third trimester, some women feel the urge to pee every five minutes.
#11.) Urinary Tract Infections. The odds of getting a U.T.I. go up during pregnancy because there's more pressure on the bladder.
#12.) Stretch Marks. More than half of pregnant women get them, and they can start showing up as early as the second trimester. --A lot of women use lotion to prevent them, but according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it doesn't really help. They're also permanent, although they do tend to fade over time.
#13.) Postpartum Depression. The numbers vary, but it affects somewhere between 10 and 20% of women in the first few months after they give birth. Women under the age of 20 are more likely to suffer from it. (Babble.com / CDC.gov)
Three Dating Mistakes You Learned From Mom:
Since Mother's Day is Sunday, let's talk about your mom . . . and all the crappy dating advice she's given you. Sure, she means well . . . but sometimes she's WRONG. Today we've got three dating mistakes you actually learned from your mom.
#1.) Nagging Instead of Communicating Effectively. When it comes to relationship advice, moms love to tell their kids that the best way to communicate with their partner is to be calm, listen, and try to reach a compromise. --But then she'll turn around and nag dad to no end. And since actions speak louder than words, you learn pretty early on in life that whining will get you what you want.
#2.) Turning a Blind Eye to the Obvious. When you were growing up, if your mom was anything like mine, you probably noticed that she turned a blind eye to certain things when it came to your dad. --Not acknowledging problems was a way for her to keep the peace and avoid drama at home . . . whether it was about something small, like not helping around the house, or something big, like cheating. --But avoiding conflict isn't a very efficient relationship tool, since nothing ever REALLY gets resolved that way.
#3.) Making Marriage All About the Kids. Once kids come into the picture, romance and hot sex become afterthoughts. And over time, your mom probably started wearing sweatpants MORE and makeup LESS. --It happens to women AND men . . . over time you kinda just stop caring about your looks. But giving up on yourself isn't good for ANY relationship. (Match.com)
Bin Laden Would've Been Spared If He Was Naked . . . He Hadn't Left the Room In Five Years . . . and He Forbid His Kids From Joining Al Qaeda:
More and more details have been coming out about the raid on OSAMA BIN LADEN'S compound. Here are some of the most interesting new highlights. --Nudity would've saved bin Laden's life. According to a congressional aide, if bin Laden had been naked, it would've been clear he didn't have a weapon or suicide vest, so he would've been spared. --But when they got there, he was in pajamas. So . . . shot in the head. --Bin Laden hadn't left the room in five years. When bin Laden's wife was interrogated after the raid, she said they hadn't left one room in the compound for FIVE YEARS. --Bin Laden banned his children from joining Al Qaeda. In his will, bin Laden specifically names his two last wishes: That his wives don't remarry, and that his children never join Al Qaeda. --He wrote the will in December of 2001. And in it, he predicts that if he does get killed, it will be because of, quote, "treachery" of the Al Qaeda members around him. --Some documents with NASTY terror plans were found in the compound. Some of the papers that were taken from the compound show Al Qaeda was considering attacks on key U.S. cities and trains. --In fact, they were apparently targeting U.S. railroads for the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 . . . which is this September.
Bin Laden's Compound is Quickly Becoming a Tourist Attraction:
It's hard to blame people for wanting to check out OSAMA BIN LADEN'S compound in Pakistan. If I happened to be hanging out in northern Pakistan right now, I'm thinking my curiosity would take me there. --And according to all reports, the compound is already starting to become a tourist attraction. --It's drawing people who were bin Laden SUPPORTERS . . . and people who are thrilled that he's gone. --An Associated Press photographer even caught a woman taking photos of her daughter standing in front of the gate of the compound. (--You can see those photos here.) --Finally, yesterday, the police secured off the area to keep people from being able to walk up to the compound during the investigation.--Some bin Laden supporters have also latched on to the area in the North Arabian Sea where bin Laden's body was buried at sea. Apparently, they're calling it "the Martyr's Sea."
Did Bristol Palin Get Plastic Surgery?
BRISTOL PALIN may have put all that money she gets for telling kids not to have sex to good use . . . on PLASTIC SURGERY. --Bristol showed up at an event in New York City Tuesday with a new look that included a much slimmer face. (--Check out the before-and-after here.) --A plastic surgery expert told "People" magazine, quote, "She seems to have had liposuction of her entire neck with a focus under her chin, which has produced a much more defined jaw line and lower facial area." (Washington Post)
George Clooney's Girlfriend Gets Naked for PETA:
There are a lot of things you can harp on PETA for. But they also do a lot of good. And one of the best things they do is get celebrities to GO NAKED. --The latest is GEORGE CLOONEY'S sexy Italian girlfriend, ELISABETTA CANALIS. And they didn't just release one photo of her like they usually do. They dropped a whole photo shoot's worth on us. (--Sadly, all of Elisabetta's naughty parts are covered . . . and thus, they remain a mystery to all of us but George. You can see the video of the photo shoot . . . with any naughty bits blurred.)
Rihanna's Cleavage Was Censored Out of a Perfume Ad in Kuwait:
Print ads for RIHANNA'S new perfume Reb'l Fleur show her in a robe that's open enough to display some major skin. Well, that kind of thing doesn't fly in the Middle East. --Someone in Kuwait snapped a picture of the version of the ad that's running there, and it's pretty obvious that they used Photoshop to close her robe. (--Check out the two pics here.) (--Didn't we LIBERATE these people?) (E! Online)
And Now . . . Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Tops The FHM.com World's Sexiest Women List:
"Transformers 3" minx ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY already tops the "Maxim" magazine Hot 100 list. And yesterday, she added another notch to her belt. --FHM.com put her at the top of their World's Sexiest Women list. Her "Transformers" predecessor MEGAN FOX came in at #4.
--Here's the Top 10 . . .
#1.) Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
#2.) Katy Perry
#3.) Rihanna
#4.) Megan Fox
#5.) Olivia Wilde
#6.) Brooklyn Decker
#7.) Marisa Miller
#8.) Kelly Brook
#9.) Nicole Scherzinger
#10.) Russian model Irina Shayk, who you'd know as the chick on the cover of this year's "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition" (--You can see the complete list, one entry at a time, here. Or, if you scroll down, you can see the entire list all at once.) (--"Glee" minx Dianna Agron was nowhere to be found on the "Maxim" list, but she came in at #81 for FHM. This time it was her co-star Naya Rivera who got the shaft . . . while Lea Michele came in pretty high on both lists.) (--And for those of you with a "royal" fixation, yes Kate Middleton made this list too. She's #39 on the FHM list; but she ranked higher with Maxim at #26.)
Adele Says She'd Have Sex With Rihanna:
British pop minx ADELE has a dirty little secret. You know RIHANNA? Adele would TOTALLY DO HER. (!!!) She says, quote, "If Rihanna wanted me, I'd do it with her. She's hot." --Adele is straight . . . but something happened when she saw Rihanna on Britain's "X Factor" last year. She says, quote, "She had pinstripe flares on. She whipped them off and there were her stunning thighs. --"I said to all my girlfriends: 'Are you feeling a bit gay right now?'"
Randy Quaid Once Asked Chevy Chase for Bail Money . . . And Chevy Refused:
RANDY and EVI QUAID were guests at some low-rent Canadian variety show Wednesday night . . . where they revealed that they reached out to CHEVY CHASE last year for bail money . . . and he REFUSED. --The host asked the Quaids what Chevy is like, and Randy replied, quote, "He didn't bail me out." --Then Evi told the story of how they went through Warner Brothers to get Chevy's phone number, then called him and got his answering machine. --He did get back to them, but through his lawyers . . . who told the Quaids, quote, "Chevy won't bail you out, although Chevy misses you." (--For those of you who don't understand the connection, Chevy and Randy were in the "Vacation" movies together.) (--Here's video of the interview, along with a few seconds of a musical performance by Randy. The sound quality isn't the best.)
Gisele Bundchen Is the World's Top-Earning Model . . . With a Take of $45 Million Over the Past Year:
GISELE BUNDCHEN is the World's Top-Earning Model, according to a new list by "Forbes" magazine. They say she banked $45 MILLION over the past year. --HEIDI KLUM finished a distant second with $20 million . . . less than HALF of Gisele's take. (--And remember, Heidi is executive producer of the "Project Runway" empire.) --KATE MOSS came in third, with $13.5 million. (--You can check out the rest of the list in annoying slideshow format here. It's doubly annoying because you have to click through TWO slides to get to the next person. And you probably won't know the other names, so it's not really worth digging below the Top 3.)
Ted Williams . . . The Homeless Guy with the Golden Voice . . . Is Back in Rehab:
So whatever happened to TED WILLIAMS . . . the homeless guy with the "golden voice" who seemed to be on the fast track to redemption and stardom? Well, as of yesterday, he was heading back to rehab. --Ted's rep said he was checking himself back into the Origins Recover Center in Texas . . . which is the clinic he bailed on back in January. A book deal and reality show have been put on hold while he once again tries to straighten up.
Charlie Sheen Says He's Relieved to be Done with His Live Show . . . And Yet He's Also Talking About Taking it to Australia and Europe:
CHARLIE SHEEN called in to an Australian radio station yesterday, and admitted he's, quote, "relieved" to be done with his "Violent Torpedo of Truth" tour. --He said, quote, "I think the tour was overbooked and it went on too long. It wasn't a question of my fatigue factor but I had to keep digging a little deeper each night in the new cities to remind myself that it was new for them." --But Charlie is thinking about revamping the show and taking it overseas. He said, quote, "Why don't I take this thing on the road to Australia, parts of Europe, parts of Asia. --"If I pick out six cities over two weeks and if it wasn't about violent torpedoes and truth seeking but more about an evening with Charlie Sheen, if I told people what to expect maybe they wouldn't heckle me like the drunk clowns that they are." --In Other Sheen-Anigans: Video surfaced yesterday of Charlie taking batting practice at a baseball field in Denver last week. Former Major League picture TODD ZEILE was on the mound, and Charlie parked one over the right field fence. --Then he hung out for a while with a local team that was practicing there, and gave them five cases of balls. (--Here's video of the home run.)
Hines Ward Was Mistakenly Handcuffed in L.A. Yesterday Morning:
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver and "Dancing With the Stars" stud HINES WARD was HANDCUFFED in Los Angeles early yesterday morning . . . but it turned out to be a mistake. --I know what you're thinking . . . but this wasn't one of those LAPD white cop / black suspect "mistakes". The mistake was made by Hines' girlfriend . . . who was also cuffed. --Here's the deal: The unidentified woman had some kind of "incident" with a valet, which resulted in her calling the police and reporting her car stolen. --After the incident was cleared up and her car was returned to her, she failed to call police and cancel the report. --At about 2:00 A.M. yesterday morning, cops saw the vehicle and pulled it over. According to some reports, they approached the car with their GUNS DRAWN. But the woman was able to clear things up by proving it was her car. --A police spokesman says Hines was VERY cooperative and understanding. --He's definitely NOT making a big deal out of this. He posted a message online yesterday saying, quote, "The incident in the news that involved me getting pulled over. --"I want everyone to know that this was a complete misunderstanding. The police were just doing their job. Apologies were made and it's now in the past. Moving forward."
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND
"Thor", "The Beaver", or "Hobo With a Shotgun" . . . I'm So Torn!
#1.) "Thor" (PG-13)
The latest Marvel Comics movie stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, the Norse god of thunder. He's banished to Earth and stripped of his powers after he reignites an ancient war in Asgard, the world of the gods. --Natalie Portman is one of the scientists who finds him, and Anthony Hopkins plays Odin, the father of the gods back in Asgard. (--Another one of the main gods is a black guy, which the white power crowd wasn't too happy about.) (Trailer) --Chris Hemsworth will be back as Thor for "The Avengers" movie that comes out next May . . . with Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America and Mark Ruffalo taking over as The Hulk --Samuel L. Jackson ties all the movies together as Nick Fury, and he'll have a cameo at the end of this one just like he did in the last "Iron Man". You'll also get to see him in the "Captain America" movie in July.
#2.) "Something Borrowed" (PG-13)
A romantic comedy starring "Big Love's" Ginnifer Goodwin as a chick who gets drunk and sleeps with the guy she's had a crush on since law school. Unfortunately, he's engaged to marry her best friend, played by Kate Hudson. --John Krasinski from "The Office" is in it too, but he's not the one they're fighting over. That guy's played by Colin Egglesfield, who you may remember as Auggie on "Melrose Place" or Josh Madden on "All My Children". (Trailer)
#3.) "Jumping the Broom" (PG-13)
A comedy about two black families about to be joined by marriage. The bride's family is ultra-rich and wants the ceremony to be held in Martha's Vineyard. The groom's family is working class, and you can guess how that goes over with them. --Paula Patton is the bride, Angela Bassett plays her mom, and the rest of the bride's family includes Romeo and the lovely Meaghan Good. "Modern Family's" Julie Bowen has an amusing role as their very white wedding planner. (Trailer) (--The movie's title is from an old tradition where couples commit to each other by jumping over a broom.)
#4.) "The Beaver" (PG-13) (Limited . . . it expands to more theaters on May 20th)
Mel Gibson plays a guy who's so depressed that he walks around with a beaver puppet on his hand, and only communicates with people through the puppet as part of his therapy. (Photo) Jodie Foster directed it and she also plays his wife. --Their son is played by Anton Yelchin . . . the guy who was Chekov in "Star Trek" and Kyle Reese in "Terminator Salvation". (Trailer)
#5.) "Hobo With a Shotgun" (R) (Limited)
A truly AWESOME movie based on a trailer that's included on the Blu-ray edition of "Grindhouse". Rutger Hauer plays the vigilante hobo who unleashes homeless vengeance upon crooked cops, street gangs, and even a pedophile Santa. (Trailer) (--Here's an UNRATED Trailer, with an extra 30 seconds of violent content . . . including the decapitation of the guy whose head is in the manhole cover. And you can see the new Red Band Trailer showing on the official site here.) (--"Hobo With a Shotgun" has been playing On Demand on cable systems for a while now, and I can honestly say it's AMAZING. It's utterly and completely mental, but in the best possible way. See it!)
Johnny Depp Admits That the Second and Third "Pirates of the Caribbean" Movies Don't Make Sense:
The first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie was meant to be a stand-alone film. But after its mega-success, Disney decided to turn it into a trilogy. --A lot of people think they just ended up making a MESS out of it. And JOHNNY DEPP is one of those people. And apparently, even director GORE VERBINSKI agrees with him. --Johnny tells "Entertainment Weekly", quote, "They had to invent a trilogy out of nowhere. It was plot driven and complicated. --"I remember talking to [Verbinski] at certain points during production of 2 or 3, and saying: 'I don't really know what this means.' He said, 'Neither do I, but let's just shoot it.' This guy is this guy's dad, and this guy was in love with this broad. It was like, 'What?'" --The upcoming, fourth flick, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides", is a stand-alone movie . . . and any future sequels will be, too. (--The fourth "Pirates" flick comes out on the 20th of this month.) --In a separate interview, Johnny also revealed that he's shot his cameo for the "21 Jump Street" movie. He said, quote, "It's done. I went in and did my bit and worked with JONAH HILL and CHANNING TATUM. It was fun."
Has Hilary Duff Been Dropped from the Bonnie and Clyde Movie?
TMZ is reporting that HILARY DUFF has been dropped from "The Story of Bonnie & Clyde" . . . and will be replaced by another actress. --There's no word why she was canned, but producers must have really wanted her out, because they still have to pay her AND whoever they get to replace her. TMZ says her successor hasn't been chosen yet. (--This news will no doubt make FAYE DUNAWAY happy. She was vehemently opposed to Hilary Duff taking on the role she played in the 1967 flick "Bonnie & Clyde". In fact, the two of them made the list of the Top Celebrity Feuds of 2010. You can read what they said here.)
The "Home Alone" House Is On the Market for $2.4 Million:
If you're SERIOUS about movie memorabilia, I have your ticket right here: The house that MACAULAY CULKIN had to defend in "Home Alone" is on the market . . . for $2.4 million. --It's in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Illinois, and the current owners are the ones who lived in it when the 1990 film was being shot. They even say their daughter and Macaulay became playmates. (--Check out some pictures of the house here.) (TMZ)
It's Official: The Third Judge on "X Factor" Is Cheryl Cole:
Yesterday, Fox confirmed that British singer CHERYL COLE is joining SIMON COWELL and L.A. REID on the "X Factor" judges' panel. She's been rumored as a possible judge for weeks. --The final spot is expected to go to PAULA ABDUL, but her deal isn't done yet. Simon recently confirmed that negotiations are underway to bring Paula into the fold. --Cheryl is a member of the British pop group GIRLS ALOUD, but they've been on hiatus for the past two years. In the meantime, Cheryl has released two solo albums, and has judged the last three seasons of the British version of "X Factor".
An Italian College Is Warning Its Students to Avoid the "Jersey Shore" Cast:
An Italian university . . . the Istituto Lorenzo de' Medici . . . has warned its students that "Jersey Shore" is filming in one of its dormitories next week, and they're asking everyone to stay away from the insanity. --The school said, quote, "We advise you to NOT sign any paper, let anyone in, and keep us informed." The affected students were offered alternative housing options.
ABC Censored a Joke About Osama Bin Laden on "Happy Endings":
On Wednesday night, ABC cut part of an OSAMA BIN LADEN joke from their new sitcom, "Happy Endings". It wasn't anything controversial . . . it just wouldn't have made sense now that Osama has been captured and killed. (--The episode was filmed several weeks ago.) --Here's the joke: Two characters, a guy and a girl, were talking about their attempts to catch an elusive mouse. The guy said, quote, "He's my bin Laden . . . Jessica bin Laden, a super hot Arab girl I went to college with." --And the woman responded, quote, "She was the one that got away." But when it aired, that part was cut out . . . so you only saw her lips moving. (--You can watch video, here . . .) (--Note: This is not the version that aired, so you won't see her lips moving. What you WILL see is an awkward cut. When ABC put the episode online, they cut her reaction out entirely.)
WEEKEND TV REMINDERS
(--Check your local listing for times in your area.)
Friday TV Reminders:
--"NBA Playoffs: Hawks vs. Bulls" [Eastern Conference Semifinals] . . . 7:00 to 9:30 P.M. Eastern on ESPN. (--The Atlanta Hawks host the Chicago Bulls.)
--"NBA Playoffs: Mavericks vs. Lakers" [Western Conference Semifinals] . . . 9:30 P.M. to Midnight Eastern on ESPN. (--The Dallas Mavericks host the Los Angeles Lakers.)
--"Smallville" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on the CW. (--Jor-El bestows Lois with Clark's powers for a day as his wedding gift to her, but then she must use them to fight the Toyman when he returns to Metropolis.)
--"Flashpoint" [4th Season Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"Fringe" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox.
--"CSI: New York" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Peter Fonda returns as Mac's ex-partner when they uncover a vendetta spanning 17-years.)
--"CMT's Next Superstar" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CMT. (--The singers visit troops returning from Afghanistan before writing songs about the veterans' experiences. Voting will be done by the troops and their families.)
--"20/20" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC. (--The death of Osama Bin Laden.)
Saturday TV Reminders:
--"NBA Playoffs: Grizzlies vs. Thunder" [Western Conference Semifinals] . . . 5:00 to 7:30 P.M. Eastern on ESPN. (--The Memphis Grizzlies host the Oklahoma City Thunder.)
--"NBA Playoffs: Celtics vs. Heat" [Eastern Conference Semifinals] . . . 8:00 to 10:30 P.M. Eastern on ABC. (--The Boston Celtics host the Miami Heat.)
--"NASCAR Racing: Darlington 500" . . . 7:00 to 11:30 P.M. Eastern on Fox.
--"Grand Ole Opry Live" . . . 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. on GAC. (--Jimmy C. Newman, Del McCoury Band, LoCash Cowboys and Aaron Tippin perform.)
--"Extraordinary Moms" . . . 8:00 to 9:30 P.M. on OWN. (--Julia Roberts produced this special that celebrates motherhood and showcases high profile moms Hillary Clinton, Rosie O'Donnell and Christiane Amanpour.)
--"Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on HBO. (--The concert she taped during her February tour at Madison Square Garden.)
--"Austin City Limits" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on PBS. (--K'Naan and Mos Def perform.) (REPEAT)
--"Almighty Thor" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Syfy. (--If you're too cheap to pay high ticket prices at the theater, here's a made-for-TV movie starring Richard Grieco as Loki, rassler Kevin Nash as Odin and a guy named Cody Deal as Thor.)
--"No Woman, No Cry" . . . 9:30 to 11:00 P.M. on OWN. (--Christy Turlington directs this look at the effects of pregnancy complications on the poor.)
--"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC. (--Tina Fey guest hosts and Ellie Goulding is the musical guest.)
Sunday TV Reminders:
--"NBA Playoffs: Mavericks vs. Lakers" [Western Conference Semifinals] . . . 3:30 to 6:00 P.M. Eastern on ABC. (--The Dallas Mavericks host the L.A. Lakers.)
--"NBA Playoffs: Hawks vs. Bulls" [Eastern Conference Semifinals] . . . 8:00 to 10:30 P.M. Eastern on TNT. (--The Atlanta Hawks host the Chicago Bulls.)
--"60 Minutes" . . . 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Barack Obama discusses the covert operation that finally resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden.)
--"Amazing Race" [18th Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"Celebrity Apprentice" . . . 8:00 to 11:00 P.M. on NBC. (--Jimmy Fallon and Tracy Morgan help out the contestants as they try to produce a live comedy show.)
--"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Volleyball star Misty May-Treanor guests when Ty and his team replace a home for a volleyball coach who took in three sisters when their parents passed away.)
--"Brothers & Sisters" [5th Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC.
--"CSI: Miami" [9th Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"The Judds" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on OWN.
--"Why Not? With Shania Twain" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 11:00 P.M. to Midnight on OWN. (--Shania Twain sets out to regain her voice as she pieces her life back together after a painful divorce with the aid of her sister, friends and bandmates.)
--"Aqua Teen Hunger Force" [8th Season Premiere] . . . 11:45 P.M. to Midnight on Adult Swim.
LADY GAGA INSANITY
Lady Gaga's "Judas" Video Is Out . . . And It's Something:
LADY GAGA'S "Judas" video hit the Internet yesterday . . . and it's as epic as a typical Lady Gaga video. (--You can watch it, here.) --But despite all the hype, it's actually not all that extreme on the religious stuff. Yes, Lady Gaga plays Mary Magdalene, sort of, and she's hanging with Jesus and his Apostles. --But it's not exactly historically accurate. In fact, they're a MOTORCYCLE GANG. And the first minute of the video . . . which ultimately clocks in at five-and-a-half minutes . . . is just them riding. --And the religious imagery is trumped by shots of Lady Gaga's crazy costumes . . . Lady Gaga wearing barely any clothes . . . close-ups of Lady Gaga's face . . . and a wild dance party that's lit like it's taking place at a classy miniature golf joint. (--And if you really want to nit-pick, there's also some amusing green-screen action in the shots where she's singing on the motorcycle.)
The Controversy of Lady Gaga's "Judas" Video; A Commentary:
LADY GAGA'S "Judas" video was stirring up controversy before anyone had even seen it. Now that it's out . . . what's the takeaway? --Well, I suppose if you're super-sensitive to religious iconography, you're not going to like this. But then again, it's unlikely that you'd ever be cool with the representation of religious imagery in pop culture. --Personally, now that I've seen the video, I can't see how anyone could take it seriously enough to be genuinely offended by it. It's an over-the-top Lady Gaga video, with somewhat of a religious theme. That's what it is, like it or not. --No matter what Lady Gaga and her detractors say, it really isn't saying anything, positive or negative, about religion. No impressionable kid is going to be ruined by Lady Gaga's "Judas" video.
Lady Gaga Performed On Top of a Giant High Heel on "Oprah":
LADY GAGA performed on "Oprah" yesterday . . . on top of a GIANT HIGH HEEL . . . with what appeared to be a stingray on her head. (???) --She sang a medley of "Born This Way" and "You and I", which included several shout-outs to Oprah and the 25-year run of her show. (--Here's video.)
Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour Was the Biggest Tour Ever By a Debut Headlining Artist:
LADY GAGA'S Monster Ball tour, which began all the way back in November of 2009, will FINALLY wrap tonight in Mexico City. --In all, there were 200 concerts that were attended by 2.5 million people, and grossed $227.4 million. Billboard.com says it was the biggest tour EVER by a first-time headlining artist . . . and it's on the cusp of being one of the Top 10 highest grossing tours of all time.
BIEBER FEVER
Justin Bieber's Crew Is Threatening to Bail on His Planned Trip to Japan:
TMZ says "many crewmembers" on JUSTIN BIEBER'S tour are refusing to follow the tour to Japan later this month . . . because they're afraid of the "cancer risks" from the nuclear disaster, and are worried that there could be another earthquake. --Supposedly, Justin's manager laid into them . . . saying, quote, "Man the [eff] up and do the right thing by these kids." It's unclear if they've had a change of heart.
The 17-Year-Old Perp Who Egged Justin Bieber in Australia Is in Trouble:
Remember how JUSTIN BIEBER was assaulted with EGGS while performing in Australia last week? Well, that mystery has been solved. --It turns out a 17-year-old boy somehow broke into the venue through the ROOF, and dropped the eggs from above the stage. He was arrested yesterday, and charged with breaking and entering, trespassing and malicious damage. (--Since the boy is a minor, his name was not released. That's lucky for him, because Justin's online army of fans would've absolutely torn him apart. The eggs came close to hitting Justin, but he escaped unscathed.)
President Obama Might Be Calling in a Favor from Justin Bieber:
A 14-year-old girl named Payton Wall got a chance to meet PRESIDENT OBAMA at Ground Zero yesterday. (--Peyton's dad was killed in the 9/11 attacks.) But is she just using the President . . . to get to JUSTIN BIEBER? --Payton said Obama was "really cool" . . . but THIS is what had her MORE excited: She said, quote, "[The President] told us he knows Justin." And supposedly, Obama said she "could meet him some time soon."
10 Great "Mother" Songs:
In honor of Mother's Day, which as a courtesy reminder is THIS Sunday, Spinner.com put together a list of their 10 Favorite Mother Songs. Here it is:
1.) "Mother", Danzig
2.) "Julia", John Lennon
3.) "Bohemian Rhapsody", Queen
4.) "Mother", Pink Floyd
5.) "Mother and Child Reunion", Paul Simon
6.) "I Like Your Mom", Bouncing Souls
7.) "Hey Mama", Kanye West
8.) "Cleanin' Out My Closet", Eminem
9.) "Mama Told Me Not to Come", Randy Newman
10.) "Mother's Little Helper", The Rolling Stones
(--For commentary and YouTube links to each song, hit up Spinner.com.)
FRIDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
JACOB LUSK got sent home on "American Idol" last night . . . and teen country chick LAUREN ALAINA joined him in the bottom two. (Full Story)
Here's one of those amusing photo galleries of celebrities without makeup. (Gallery)
The VP of marketing at "Playgirl" says he'd LOVE to have "Dancing With the Stars" studs MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY and DMITRY CHAPLIN, and maybe even MARK BALLAS . . . but he's not the least bit interested in DEREK HOUGH because he's, quote, "sort of bland-looking." (Full Story)
Are you into shirtless jockeys? If so, you might be interested in the "2012 Thoroughbred Racing Jockeys" calendar. These guys might be small, but they're pretty ripped. And they're SHIRTLESS! (Full Story)
Singer BRYAN ADAMS is a first-time father at the age of 51. (Full Story)
DONALD TRUMP was supposed to drive the pace car for the Indy 500 later this month, but he bowed out due to what he called, quote, "time and business constraints." But some people think the Facebook campaign to have him removed from his duties had something to do with it. (Full Story)
NICOLAS CAGE won't face any charges over his drunken incident in New Orleans last month. (Full Story)
JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS from Showtime's "The Tudors" has checked into alcohol rehab for the FOURTH time. (Full Story)
The original "Hangover" had an opening weekend take of $45 million. But industry analysts say "Part 2" should far exceed that number when it opens on May 26th. (Full Story)
KATIE COURIC is reportedly close to signing a $20 MILLION deal with ABC that'll give her a daytime talk show and a significant role at ABC News. Here's the part your grandmother won't like: Katie's talk show might bump "General Hospital" off the air completely. (Full Story)
Rapper LIL B is defending himself after people got mad when he Tweeted, quote, "just because they say osama is dead dosent [sic] mean thats a good thing osama has family to that probably loves him alot as well." (Full Story)
NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF
The Worst Mother's Day Gifts Include a Used Frying Pan, Plus-Sized Pajamas, Frozen Pasta, and a Mustache Trimmer:
There are a couple of surveys floating around that asked moms to name the WORST Mother's Day gifts they'd ever received. So if you're planning on giving mom any of these on Sunday, you'd better get ready to hit the mall tomorrow.
--Here are some of the things that were named as the worst gifts:
--A used frying pan.
--Plus-sized pajamas.
--A PAULY SHORE video.
--A used breast pump.
--A bullwhip.
--A bag of frozen cheese tortellini.
--A denture-cleaning kit.
--A mustache trimmer.
--The good news? Overall, 51% of mothers say they've never received a bad gift. And 14% say they haven't received a bad gift, but they have received NO GIFT, and that was pretty bad. (Northern Life / Consumer Search)
We Should All Be Ashamed of the Most Popular Baby Names of 2010:
The Social Security Administration just released its list of the most popular baby names for 2010 . . . and we, as a people, should be ashamed of ourselves. Here are just a few of the reasons why . . .
#1.) The most popular boys' name was Jacob and the most popular girls' name was Isabella. You might recognize those as the name of two of the three main characters from "Twilight".
#2.) And that's not the only "Twilight" influence. The second-biggest gain for a boys' name was Kellan. The actor who plays the vampire Emmett Cullen in the "Twilight" films is KELLAN LUTZ.
#3.) But that's not the worst part. The two names that saw the biggest gains were Maci and Bentley. Why? MACI BOOKOUT is one of the girls on the MTV show "Teen Mom" and her son's name is Bentley.
#4.) And clearly, we've lost respect for the classics. For the first time in 55 years, the name ELVIS didn't make the top 1,000 boys' names.
--The top 10 most popular girls' names are: Isabella, Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Ava, Emily, Abigail, Madison, Chloe, and Mia.
--The top 10 most popular boys' names are: Jacob, Ethan, Michael, Jayden, William, Alexander, Noah, Daniel, Aiden, and Anthony.
(Associated Press) (--You can see all of the most popular names for both genders here.)
A Mother Of A Mother’s Day
Poll after poll has shown that despite the fact that Americans are tightening their belts because of increased gas prices, a mother’s love is one that cannot be ignored. According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, spending is expected to be big business this year. BIGSearch conducted a survey and found…
•Spending will reach $16.3 billion this year.
•The average person will spend $140.73 on gifts, up from $126.90 last year.
•Spending on electronics is expected to be the biggest grabber, increasing by 48% over last year. The average person will spend just under $100 on electronic devices.
•54.7% will take mom out to a restaurant this year.
•64.9% will buy flowers.
__________________________________
Mommy Makeover
This Mother’s Day, you may want to get mommy dearest something even more glamorous than a day at the spa, a bouquet of flowers, or a box of chocolates. According to a new survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the desires of mom go way beyond sweets and spas. ASPS and Impulse Research conducted a survey that found 62% of mothers said they’d consider a “mommy makeover,” which includes a tummy tuck, breast enhancement, and/or a breast lift. The survey also found that tummy tucks increased 85%, while breast lifts are up 70% and breast augmentation is up 39% between 2000 and 2010.
Single Parents Actually Date More Than Single People Without Kids:
Well, this is some reassuring news if you're a single parent looking to get back out there. I mean, not good news for your kid or your babysitting budget . . . but good news for you. --According to a study by Match.com, members who are single parents actually date MORE than members who are single without kids. --21% of single parents are currently dating someone, versus 16% of singles without kids. 35% of single parents have been on a first date so far in 2011, versus 27% of singles without kids. --The average single parent said they waited two to three months to introduce their kid or kids to someone new they're dating. (Your Tango)
Men Think About Sex Quite a Bit . . . But They Think About Food and Sleep Just As Much:
I don't think we're breaking any new ground here when we say men think about sex a lot. But we've got a new study that shows men have two other things on their mind that are TOP PRIORITIES. --Psychologists out of Ohio State University at Mansfield found that men think about sex about 18 times a day, versus women who think about it 10 times. But men and women ALSO think about FOOD and SLEEP at those same proportions. --Terri Fisher is a psychologist who led the study. She says, quote, "Males thought more about any of the health-related thoughts compared to females, not just thoughts about sex." (MSNBC)
One Out of Nine Brain Aneurysms Leads to a Stroke Because People Drink Soda, Have Sex, or Strain To Poop:
God forbid you ever have a brain aneurysm. But if you do . . . make sure to eat your prunes and take your laxatives, because you could be one vigorous toilet session away from rupturing it and having a stroke. --A new study out of the University Medical Center in the Netherlands looked at some of the more unusual things that cause brain aneurysms to rupture . . . which generally causes a stroke. --And straining to poop caused 3.6% of the ruptured brain aneurysms in the study. --Drinking soda caused 3.5%, because of the caffeine bump. And sexual relations caused 4.3%. So between those three, more than one out of nine ruptured aneurysms happens from soda, sex, or defecating. --Some of the other less common causes of ruptures include: 10.6% from drinking coffee . . . 5.4% from nose blowing . . . 2.7% from being startled . . . and 1.3% from being angry. --Drinking alcohol didn't make the list. (Eurekalert)
Did a Woman Really Have Oral Surgery and Wake Up With an Irish Accent?
We've seen stories like this before and we're ALWAYS skeptical: People who have surgery then wake up speaking in a totally different accent. I don't know . . . just doesn't seem real. But if you're less jaded, you should find this fantastic. --About a year and a half ago, Karen Butler of Newport, Oregon went to have an oral surgery and was knocked out with anesthesia. --When she woke up, instead of her usual voice, she found herself talking in some kind of a modified IRISH ACCENT. --Doctors call this Foreign Accent Syndrome. It's an extremely rare syndrome that seems to be triggered by a stroke or brain damage. Less than 100 cases have ever been reported, but it started popping up 70 years ago. --As for Karen, she says she still gets strange reactions even after a year-and-a-half with her new accent . . . but she's gotten used to it and really doesn't mind talking like she's from Ireland. (Huffington Post) (--Here's a video from the "Today" show where you can hear Karen talk now, and in an old home movie from before she developed her accent. I don't know about the Irish thing . . . sounds more eastern European to me.)
Body Wash Has Passed Bar Soap and Is Now the Most Popular Soap Product In the Country:
We've become a country of loofah fanatics, my friends. And I'm not sure how to feel about that. --According to a new report, liquid body wash has finally passed bar soap as the most popular soap and shower product in the country. --Body wash accounts for about 40% of the soap market in the U.S. --Between 2009 and 2014, liquid body wash sales are projected to go up 35%. (WalletPop)
The Most Stolen Vehicle in the Country is the '94 Honda Accord:
Every year, the National Crime Bureau releases their stats on the most stolen cars in the country. And that's when we're reminded every year that clearly, thieves want something easy to steal WAY more than something hot and flashy. --The new champ for the most stolen car in the country is . . . the 1994 Honda Accord. It's easy to break in to, easy to hotwire, and easy to blend in after you steal one. Plus they have trade-in values around $975. Here's the full top 10:
#1.) 1994 Honda Accord
#2.) 1995 Honda Civic
#3.) 1991 Toyota Camry
#4.) 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup
#5.) 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
#6.) 2000 Dodge Caravan
#7.) 1994 Chevrolet Pickup
#8.) 1994 Acura Integra
#9.) 2002 Ford Explorer
#10.) 2009 Toyota Corolla
(Yahoo Autos)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
Police in New York Pulled Over a Car . . . And the Passenger Was So Worried They Were After Him That He Jumped Into the Hudson River:
On Wednesday afternoon, the police in Albany, New York pulled over a driver for a traffic violation. The driver stayed put but his passenger, 21-year-old Nicholas Volmer, FREAKED OUT. --Nicholas believed that he was WANTED by the cops, and that they had pulled over the car because they were after him. So he opened the door, ran across some train tracks, and jumped into the HUDSON RIVER. --He ended up floating downstream for about 10 minutes in water that was between 40 and 45 degrees, before those same cops fished him out. He kept trying to get out on his own but the current kept sweeping him away from the shore. --Turns out they didn't have any interest in him . . . he wasn't a wanted man, didn't have outstanding warrants, nothing. But they BECAME interested in him after he jumped into the river. --He was arrested for trespassing and resisting arrest. (Albany Times Union)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
The seniors at a high school in Wilson, Oklahoma vandalized the local water tower, so it said "Home town of Seniors 2011." Which is a classic prank. But one thing makes it a lot less classic. Because in order to do it, they had to cover up the words, "Home town of Chuck Norris." (Full Story)
The last combat veteran of World War One has died in Australia, at 110. (Full Story)
A 93-year-old and a 100-year-old in California have become the world's oldest newlyweds. (Full Story)
A retired NYC cop had GETOSAMA as his license plate for four years, and he had to fight to get it. Now he's traded it in for a plate that reads GOTOSAMA. (Full Story)
Girl Scout cookies hurt the environment! Some people are upset that they contain palm oil, and harvesting palm oil contributes to rainforest deforestation. (Full Story)
The recession wiped out a total of $15.5 trillion in wealth in the U.S. . . . but the good news is that the number of millionaires is expected to double by 2020! (Full Story)
Didn't get into the college you wanted? There's still space in the freshman classes of 280 schools, including Arizona, Hofstra, St. John's, and Texas A&M. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) A Woman on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Said, "I Can't Even Put a Finger on Uranus":
A contestant on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" was asked which planet was named after someone from Greek mythology: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn or Uranus. --And while she was going through the possible answers, she said she was pretty sure Jupiter was Roman. But then she said, quote, "I can't even put a finger on Uranus." --She immediately realized what she'd said, and host MEREDITH VIEIRA told her, "Rebecca, I really need this job." --Rebecca ended up guessing Venus, but the correct answer WAS Uranus. The video's up on YouTube. (--Search for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Uranus." She says it at :21.)
#2.) A Guy Tried to Start a "USA" Chant on the New York Subway . . . But No One Joined In:
The morning after OSAMA BIN LADEN was killed, a guy went on a New York City subway train and tried to start a "USA" chant. But not a single person on the packed train joined in. (--Search YouTube for "USA Chant on NYC Subway Fail." He starts the chant at :30.) (--WARNING: This video includes the S-word.)
#3.) A Guy Celebrated Osama bin Laden's Death by Riding Around on a Four-Wheeler with a Flag Tied to His Fishing Rod and Firing His Gun:
A chef in West Virginia made a spoof video where he celebrated Osama bin Laden's death by strapping an American flag to the fishing rod attached to his four-wheeler, and riding around a field shooting his gun in the air. --The YouTube video has gotten over 600,000 views. It's called "Osama's Dead, Baby. Osama's Dead".
#4.) Two Little Kids Kissed on the Lips, Then Celebrated With High Fives:
There's a new video on YouTube called "High Five for First Kiss" that shows two little kids kissing on the lips, then celebrating by high-fiving each other. --Meanwhile, an adult warns them that they better not do it again. But you can tell the little boy DEFINITELY wants to. (--They kiss at :40.)
#5.) A Guy Worked Out for One Year and Took a Photo of Himself Every Day:
Here's what can happen if you work out like a maniac for a year straight: Some guy with an average body started lifting weights and took a picture of himself in boxer shorts every day for 365 days in a row. --Then he strung all the pictures together to make a 37-second video of his progress. You can check it out at TodaysBigThing.com. --He's basically ripped by the 13-second mark. And over the course of the year, it looks like he also discovered tanning beds and hair dye. (--Search for "365 Days of Exercise.")
The 13 Worst Things About Being Pregnant:
Mother's Day is Sunday, so in case you're not appreciating your mom as much as you should be, here's a list of the 13 worst things a pregnant woman has to go through. Aside from the actual labor, which obviously wins hands down.
#1.) Morning Sickness. Over half of pregnant women experience it during their first trimester because of changing hormones.
#2.) Exhaustion. High levels of progesterone in the first trimester make most pregnant women want a nap at least once a day. And in the third trimester, it's common to have insomnia.
#3.) Heartburn. Basically, having a baby inside of you causes all your organs to get pushed upward. And since your stomach is squeezed up closer to your throat, heartburn can be a major issue.
#4.) Varicose Veins. Being pregnant and gaining a ton of weight can completely kill a woman's self-esteem. And getting varicose veins . . . lumpy, swollen veins that are usually on the legs . . . doesn't help.
#5.) Back Pain. Almost every pregnant woman has to deal with it for a number of reasons, including weight gain, a shifting center of gravity, and bigger breasts.
#6.) Hemorrhoids. When a woman's pregnant, her enlarged uterus puts pressure on her pelvic veins, which limits blood flow and causes hemorrhoids. And they're also common right after the birth.
#7.) Constipation. Progesterone basically paralyzes the uterus and the other 'smooth muscles' in the body . . . a.k.a., the stomach, intestines, and rectum.
#8.) Excessive Drooling. No one's really sure why it happens, but it's associated with morning sickness, and researchers think it's caused by hormones.
#9.) Gas. A lot of women get gassy when they're pregnant. And some women also crave beans and foods with a lot of fiber, which make them even gassier.
#10.) Constantly Having to Pee. In the third trimester, some women feel the urge to pee every five minutes.
#11.) Urinary Tract Infections. The odds of getting a U.T.I. go up during pregnancy because there's more pressure on the bladder.
#12.) Stretch Marks. More than half of pregnant women get them, and they can start showing up as early as the second trimester. --A lot of women use lotion to prevent them, but according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it doesn't really help. They're also permanent, although they do tend to fade over time.
#13.) Postpartum Depression. The numbers vary, but it affects somewhere between 10 and 20% of women in the first few months after they give birth. Women under the age of 20 are more likely to suffer from it. (Babble.com / CDC.gov)
Three Dating Mistakes You Learned From Mom:
Since Mother's Day is Sunday, let's talk about your mom . . . and all the crappy dating advice she's given you. Sure, she means well . . . but sometimes she's WRONG. Today we've got three dating mistakes you actually learned from your mom.
#1.) Nagging Instead of Communicating Effectively. When it comes to relationship advice, moms love to tell their kids that the best way to communicate with their partner is to be calm, listen, and try to reach a compromise. --But then she'll turn around and nag dad to no end. And since actions speak louder than words, you learn pretty early on in life that whining will get you what you want.
#2.) Turning a Blind Eye to the Obvious. When you were growing up, if your mom was anything like mine, you probably noticed that she turned a blind eye to certain things when it came to your dad. --Not acknowledging problems was a way for her to keep the peace and avoid drama at home . . . whether it was about something small, like not helping around the house, or something big, like cheating. --But avoiding conflict isn't a very efficient relationship tool, since nothing ever REALLY gets resolved that way.
#3.) Making Marriage All About the Kids. Once kids come into the picture, romance and hot sex become afterthoughts. And over time, your mom probably started wearing sweatpants MORE and makeup LESS. --It happens to women AND men . . . over time you kinda just stop caring about your looks. But giving up on yourself isn't good for ANY relationship. (Match.com)
posted by Nazzy @ 5:54 AM
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