HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (10-17-11)
"Star Trek" Star Zachary Quinto Is Gay:
ZACHARY QUINTO . . . who plays Spock in the new "Star Trek" movie franchise . . . has admitted he's gay. (--Zachary also played Sylar on NBC's "Heroes", for the five or six of you who remember that show.) --In an interview in "New York" magazine, Quinto was talking about his recent run as a gay man in a new Broadway version of "Angels In America". --He said, quote, "[It was] the most challenging thing I've ever done as an actor, and the most rewarding. --"At the same time, as a gay man, it made me feel like there's still so much work to be done, and there's still so many things that need to be looked at and addressed." --Elsewhere in the interview, Quinto spoke about the legalization of gay marriage in New York . . . and how three months after it happened, a gay teenager killed himself because he was being bullied. --And he said, quote, "Again, as a gay man, I look at that and say there's a hopelessness that surrounds it." --Quinto later revealed that it was the death of that boy . . . whose name was Jamey Rodemeyer . . . that inspired him to speak openly about his sexuality. --In a blog post, he said, quote, "In light of Jamey's death it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality." --He added, quote, "I am eternally grateful to him for being the catalyst for change within me. Now I can only hope to serve as the same catalyst for even one other person in this world." (--You can read Zachary's blog here.)
Taylor Lautner Can Have Dinner With Two Gay Men and Still Be Straight:
TAYLOR LAUTNER recently had dinner with director GUS VAN SANT and screenwriter DUSTIN LANCE BLACK . . . both of whom are gay. --Despite having girlfriends like TAYLOR SWIFT and LILY COLLINS on his resume, Taylor has weathered his share of gay rumors. -So when he sat down for an interview with the Australian edition of "GQ" magazine, they asked him if either Gus or Dustin HIT ON HIM during the meal. --He said, quote, "No, definitely not. I think they know I'm straight. But they're great guys. They're a lot of fun."
Jennifer Lopez and Bradley Cooper Went Out Saturday Night . . . Are They "Casually Dating"?
JENNIFER LOPEZ and BRADLEY COOPER spent some time together in Los Angeles on Saturday night. --Jennifer and Bradley also had dinner together last month in New York City. That was supposedly a BUSINESS meeting, but it may have grown into something more. A source says they're, quote, "casually dating". --And another source says, quote, "After their date in New York, Bradley and Jennifer stayed in touch. She does like his attention, and it makes her feel good that he seems so into her. --"She has a fun time with Bradley and he makes her laugh. She likes him." (--J-Lo might have some competition. The "National Enquirer" claims KIRSTIE ALLEY is desperate to land Bradley . . . and she's trying to get friends to set them up. You can read more about it here.)
There Was NOT A Moving Van in Front of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore's House:
The Internet went DOG NUTS over the weekend when a picture of a moving van in front of ASHTON KUTCHER and DEMI MOORE'S house popped up. (--Here it is.) (Us Weekly) --But it was B.S. The truck wasn't in front of Ashton and Demi's house. In fact, it wasn't even on their STREET. The misleading claim was made by the photo agency that sold the picture.
Shannen Doherty Is Married:
SHANNEN DOHERTY got married Saturday. The "lucky" guy is a photographer named Kurt Iswarienko. --The wedding was filmed for Shannen's upcoming reality show, "Shannen Says" . . . which will premiere on WEtv sometime next year. --This is Shannen's THIRD marriage. Her first two husbands were Ashley "Son of George" Hamilton and Rick Salomon . . . a.k.a. PARIS HILTON'S sex tape co-star. (--Shannen is 40 years old.)
Nikki Reed and "American Idol" Contestant Paul McDonald Got Married Yesterday:
"Twilight" actress NIKKI REED and "American Idol" contestant PAUL MCDONALD got married yesterday in Malibu. --Nikki plays Rosalie Hale in the "Twilight" movies. She was actually a fan of Paul's from watching "Idol" . . . and met him when the contestants attended the premiere of the movie "Little Red Riding Hood" earlier this year. --In June . . . just two months later . . . they were engaged. He's 27 . . . she's 23. (--Here's a picture of them together.) (E! Online)
Julianne Hough's Rep Says She Didn't Make Out with Her "Footloose" Co-star:
Despite a supposed eyewitness account, JULIANNE HOUGH'S rep says her client did NOT make out with her "Footloose" co-star KENNY WORMALD at a Nashville bar last week. --The rep says, quote, "It's all completely untrue." Julianne has been dating RYAN SEACREST since last year.
Beyoncé's Baby Bump Appears to be Real:
BEYONCÉ showed off her baby bump in New York City on Friday night. And despite video that made it look fake a few days ago, it appears to be real. (--I'd be more convinced if she showed some skin. But still, it's pretty convincing. Check out a pic here.) (E! Online)
Trace Cyrus and Brenda Song Are Engaged:
MILEY CYRUS' brother TRACE is engaged to his girlfriend, former Disney Channel star BRENDA SONG. He's 22 . . . she's 23. -Miley Tweeted, quote, "Can't wait for Brenda to be a Cyrus. Couldn't be more excited about my 'sister in law to be' yay." --Over the summer, various news outlets reported that Brenda and Trace were EXPECTING. But last month, the "Star" tabloid supposedly spoke to Brenda's mother, who said Brenda was, quote, "actually not pregnant."
Larry Hagman Has Cancer:
Production on TNT's new version of "Dallas" begins on Monday, and the evil J.R. Ewing . . . a.k.a. LARRY HAGMAN . . . is indeed on board. But on Friday, Larry announced that he has CANCER. --He issued a statement saying, quote, "As J.R. I could get away with anything . . . bribery, blackmail and adultery. But I got caught by cancer. I do want everyone to know that it is a very common and treatable form of cancer. --"I will be receiving treatment while working on the new 'Dallas' series. I could not think of a better place to be than working on a show I love, with people I love. Besides, as we all know, you can't keep J.R. down!" --Larry didn't say what kind of cancer he has, or how it'll be treated. --He also had a battle with cancer in the '90s, which prompted him to quit smoking and become an anti-tobacco activist. --In 1995, he had to have a liver transplant, after running his into the ground through years of heavy drinking.
Robert Downey Jr. Wants Us to Forgive Mel Gibson:
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. has a message for Hollywood: MEL GIBSON has suffered enough. --Friday night, Downey received an American Cinematheque Award in Beverly Hills. He chose Mel to present it to him . . . then used a chunk of his acceptance speech to plead Mel's case. --He said, quote, "Unless you are without sin . . . and if you are, you are in the wrong [effing] industry . . . you should forgive him and let him work." --"He taught me many things, and I will use the 'C' word . . . courage. There's nothing so much wrong with him. Of course you have to worry about the guy making the judgment here. He's a good dude with a good heart." --Downey and Gibson first worked together in the 1990 comedy "Air America". --Years later, when Downey was having trouble getting work due to his drug troubles, Mel cast him in his 2003 film "The Singing Detective". --On Friday night, Downey said, quote, "Mel and I have the same lawyer, same publicist, and same shrink. I couldn't get hired and he cast me. --"He said if I accepted responsibility . . . he called it hugging the cactus . . . long enough, my life would take meaning. And if he helped me, I would help the next guy. But it was not reasonable to expect the next guy would be him." (--We haven't seen a video of this online yet, but here's a picture of Robert and Mel after the award presentation.) (Us Weekly)
Lindsay Lohan Says She's Doing Everything Right and She's "Not to Be Made an Example of Anymore":
LINDSAY LOHAN is fighting back against reports that she's blowing off her community service. On Twitter this weekend, she said, quote, "I am not to be made an example of anymore. --"I am working hard and fulfilling my obligations every single day, to the court as well as myself. If I travel, it's for work and it's been approved. As is anything I do when I leave the state. --"I'd appreciate it if people will just let me do what is asked of me, so that I can get my life back. Please ignore the reports which have no truth to them. Thank you." --Lindsay has a status hearing on Wednesday. It'll be interesting to see if she gets in any trouble over her supposedly lax attitude toward her community service.
Kelly Osbourne is Still Making "Fat" Cracks About Christina Aguilera:
KELLY OSBOURNE is LOVING the fact that CHRISTINA AGUILERA is having a little weight problem these days. --Kelly went off on Christina Friday on E!'s "Fashion Police" after seeing those pictures of her performing at the MICHAEL JACKSON tribute concert. --She said, quote, "She called me fat for years. I was never THAT fat." --When one of the other hosts suggested Christina is still a size 2/4, Kelly said, quote, "Trust me, I'm a size 2/4. That is not a 2/4." --JOAN RIVERS didn't hold back either. She said, quote, "Lady Marmalade got into the peanut butter again." --On "Fashion Police" last month, Kelly called Christina a "Fat [B-word]." She added, quote, "She called me fat for so many [effing] years, so you know what? [Eff] you! You're fat too." (--As if on cue, pictures surfaced online over the weekend of Christina at a pumpkin farm . . . wearing SPANDEX PANTS. Check 'em out here.) (D-Listed)
"Footloose" and "The Thing" Both Failed to Take Down "Real Steel":
HUGH JACKMAN'S "Real Steel" is the #1 movie in America for the second week in a row. Its competition was "Footloose" and "The Thing", but neither '80s-inspired movie could take it down. "Footloose" came a close second. It made $16.1 million, about $200,000 less than "Real Steel". (--The original "Footloose" opened with $8.6 million back in 1984 and it would eventually earn a total of $80 million. Adjusted for inflation, that's roughly a $20 million opening in today dollars . . . or $4 million better than the remake.) --"The Thing" wasn't even in the running. It made about half of what those movies did . . . $8.7 million . . . in 3rd place.
1.) "Real Steel", $16.3 million. Up to $51.7 million in its 2nd week.
2.) (NEW) "Footloose", $16.1 million.
3.) (NEW) "The Thing", $8.7 million.
Three Years Ago, Eddie Murphy Said He Was Going to Retire from Movies At the Age of 50 . . . And He's 50:
"Tower Heist" hits theaters on November 4th. Will it be EDDIE MURPHY'S last film? --In July of 2008 . . . just over three years ago . . . Eddie appeared on the "Today" show, and he told AL ROKER he was, quote, "planning to make movies until I'm 50 . . . then I'm going back to the stage." (--Check out that interview here.) --Well, Eddie's 50th birthday was on April 3rd. There's no word if he's sticking to that timetable. --Eddie has another movie coming out in March called "A Thousand Words". But he made that one BEFORE "Tower Heist". It's just been sitting on a shelf awaiting release. (--Which is never a good sign.) --He's also doing the voice of the animated character "Hong Kong Phooey" in a movie that's scheduled to come out in 2014. (--Not that this has anything to do with Eddie's supposed retirement, but he's also set to host the Oscars on February 26th.)
Check Out a Trailer for Madonna's New Movie "W.E.":
There's a new trailer out for "W.E.", that movie MADONNA directed that's been getting UNDER-whelming reviews so far. --It's actually two stories intertwined. There's the true story of Kind Edward the 8th, who actually gave up the British throne to marry an American divorcee named Wallis Simpson. --The second story is set in the present day, and focuses on an unhappily married woman whose obsession with the love story between Edward and Wallis leads her to have an affair. (--"W.E." hits theaters December 9th. Here's the trailer.)
U.S. Marines Will Fight Roman Soldiers in "Rome Sweet Rome":
There's a movie in the works called "Rome Sweet Rome". It's about a U.S. Marine battalion that somehow gets sent back in time to Rome in 23 B.C., where they discover a plot to overthrow Caesar. --Somehow, they mess up history, and have to set things right in order to return to the present, where they were fighting in Afghanistan. --The movie actually started as a hypothetical question on the website Reddit.com, asking if a Marine unit could take out the entire Roman empire. Some guy basically responded with an entire short story, and Warner Brothers bought it. (--You can read the story here.)
The 60 Coolest TV Show Title Sequences of All Time . . . Supposedly:
The site Pajiba.com has put out a rundown of The 60 Coolest TV Show Title Sequences of All Time, which SEEMS like it would be a pretty interesting list. -But there's just one BIG problem: It's SEVERELY lacking in anything outside the past decade. So, its claim to "all time" is highly suspect.
--In fact, here's the top 10, which includes TWO shows that premiered THIS month . . . and NO SHOWS that were on TV before 2003.
1.) "Carnivale", HBO (2003-2005)
2.) "Mad Men", AMC (2007-present)
3.) "American Horror Story", FX (It premiered earlier this month.)
4.) "Dexter", Showtime (2006-present)
5.) "The IT Crowd", Britain's Channel 4 (2006-present)
6.) "Huff", Showtime (2004-2006)
7.) "Dead Like Me", Showtime (2003-2004)
8.) "Fringe", Fox (2008-present)
9.) "True Blood", HBO (2008-present)
10.) "Homeland", Showtime (It premiered earlier this month.)
(--You can find the complete list, and videos of most of the title sequences at Pajiba.com. Note: The list is broken down into three pages.)
The New "Charlie's Angels" Has Been Canceled:
ABC has canceled the "Charlie's Angels" reboot after just four episodes. It debuted to 8.7 million viewers last month, but the last two episodes only attracted 5.9 million viewers apiece. --There are four remaining episodes . . . and it sounds like ABC will air them in the show's regular timeslot until they decide on a replacement. (--Since you apparently haven't been tuning in . . . that's Thursdays at 8:00 P.M.)
Monday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"Monday Night Football" . . . 8:30 to 11:30 P.M. Eastern on ESPN. (--The New York Jets host the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.)
--"Dancing with the Stars" [Performance Show] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--The Bangles perform live as the contestants dance to '80s music.)
--"The Sing-Off" . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC. (--The ten remaining groups perform "guilty-pleasure" songs before two teams are eliminated.)
--"How I Met Your Mother" . . . 8:00 to 8:30 P.M. on CBS. (--Ted's new love interest is Amber Stevens, a cocolicious minx who played Ashleigh on "Greek".)
--"The Lying Game" [1st Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC Family.
--"Fort Boyard - Ultimate Challenge" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on Disney XD. (--Six teams compete to find hidden treasure at a 19th century French sea fort. It's hosted by Geno Segers, who plays burly Mason on "Pair of Kings".)
--"House" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox. (--"Prison Break's" Wentworth Miller guests as a guy who collapses after making a large charitable donation. Plus: Thirteen says goodbye.) (--You can read Olivia Wilde's thoughts on her final episode, and watch a preview clip here.)
--"American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Discovery. (--OCC constructs a charity bike for Cell Buckle.)
--"Invitation Only: Martina McBride" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CMT.
--"Bachelorette Party: Las Vegas" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Oxygen. (--VIP event planners are followed as they arrange bachelorette parties for brides-to-be and their bridesmaids. Rapper Too $hort performs.)
VIDEO GAME QUICK HITS
The New "Batman" Game is Out This Week:
--"Batman: Arkham City" (T) . . . on Xbox360 and PS3. The new mayor of Gotham City has closed down Arkham Asylum and turned the city's slums into an immense open-air prison named Arkham City. (Launch Trailer)
--Batman has some new gadgets to play with including smoke pellets, ice grenades, and a sniper-like taser gun. The villains include the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Solomon Grundy. --Catwoman is a playable character for her own set of missions. And you'll be able to get separate downloadable packs that add Nightwing and Robin as playable characters in a few weeks. (--People who preordered from Best Buy will get Robin for free.) --Alfred also supports Batman by radio throughout the game, and there is also has a heavy focus on stealth game play. (No Place For a Hero) (Die Here Tonight)
--"Rocksmith" (T) . . . on Xbox360 and PS3. This title is similar to the "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" games, but you can actually plug in ANY real guitar to play. The difficulty adjusts to your personal skill level, so you can progress at your own pace. Check out the track list here. (Trailer)
--"Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One" (E10+) . . . on PS3. For the first time in this ten game series, the focus is on multiplayer game play. Up to four players can players can drop in and out of co-op games both locally and online. Some weapons making their debut in this game included the Frost Cannon, Plasma Bomb Launcher and Warmonger. (Trailer)
ESRB Game Ratings: (E) for Everyone; (T) for Teen; (M) for Mature (18+)
Video Game Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
#1.) DAVID HASSELHOFF want to develop his own video game . . . maybe one based on "Knight Rider"? (Full Story)
#2.) Sony's upcoming handheld gaming console the Vita will cap the amount of data users can download from the 3G version of the device. Gamers will also have to connect to a WiFi network to download any file bigger than 20 MB. (Full Story)
#3.) Multiplayer has been confirmed for "Mass Effect 3". Up to four players will battle co-operatively for territories around the galaxy, and the multiplayer will be completely separate from the single player campaign. (Video)
#4.) Here's a minute of awesome explosions from "Battlefield 3", which hits stores next week. (Video)
#5.) IGN.com came out with a list of the top 25 iPhone games. The top spot went to "Cut the Rope", a puzzle game where you feed monsters candy. "Angry Birds" came in at number seven. (IGN.com)
NEW ON VIDEO THIS WEEK
--"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" - Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush are back as Jack Sparrow and Barbosa on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth. Penelope Cruz is Jack's love interest . . . and Ian McShane is Blackbeard. (--A Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack is out today, but you'll have to wait another month until November 15th if you want just the DVD alone.)
--"Monte Carlo" Selena Gomez is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress who looks just like her, and then pretends to be that chick after getting a taste of what it's like to be rich. Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy are the two friends vacationing with her, and "Glee's" Cory Monteith plays Katie's boyfriend, who follows them to Europe.
--"Bad Teacher" - Cameron Diaz is a foul-mouthed, irresponsible teacher trying to sink her gold-digging claws into Justin Timberlake, a substitute teacher with a rich family. Jason Segel is also in it as a gym teacher who has a crush on her.
--"Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest" - A documentary about hip hop pioneers A Tribe Called Quest. It's directed by actor Michael Rapaport, who traveled with the band during their 2008 reunion tour. For the uninitiated, Tribe is made up of Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White.
TV Series On DVD:
--"Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season Three" . . . a four-disc DVD set.
--"V: The Complete Second Season" . . . a three-disc set of the final season.
--"Gigolos: Season 1" . . . a single-disc DVD set of the Showtime series.
--"Little House On The Prairie: The Complete Series" . . . a 55-disc DVD set. (--It ran for nine seasons.)
--"Pawn Stars: The Complete Third Season" . . . a single-disc DVD set.
NEW MUSIC OUT THIS WEEK
This Week's CD Releases:
--"The Great Escape Artist", Jane's Addiction (--This is their fourth album, and their first new disc since reuniting in 2008. (--On the title, singer Perry Farrell has said, quote, "I love being able to escape my past, even though my past was great. I just love the future even more.") --Bassist Eric Avery initially reunited with the band, but left again last year. Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan was brought in to take his place . . . but he left after six months. Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio took over for him.)
--"Songs of the Ungrateful Living", Everlast
--"Soul Punk", former Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump (--This is his solo debut.)
--"Beyond the Sun", Chris Isaak (--This is a covers disc with the Elvis songs "It's Now or Never" and "Can't Help Falling in Love", the Johnny Cash songs "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line", and the Jerry Lee Lewis hit "Great Balls of Fire".)
--"Best of 25 Years", Sting
--"Rebels on the Run", Montgomery Gentry (--It includes the single, "Where I Come From". One lucky person will win a "One-of-a-Kind Demented Chopper" that Montgomery Gentry helped design if they find the ticket hidden in a special CD.)
--"Blessed Assurance", Randy Travis
--"Dixie Lullabies", The Kentucky Headhunters
Robin Gibb Has Been Hospitalized with Severe Abdominal Pain Again:
61-year-old ROBIN GIBB of the BEE GEES was hospitalized in the U.K. on Thursday with severe abdominal pain and inflammation of the colon. His prognosis is unclear. --Robin's wife Dwina is, quote, "desperately worried" about his health. Robin experienced similar symptoms back in April . . . and last year, he had emergency surgery for a blocked intestine. Part of his intestine was removed. --Robin's twin brother MAURICE GIBB DIED from an intestinal problem back in 2003.
Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon Have Separated . . . But the Band Will Continue, For Now:
SONIC YOUTH'S THURSTON MOORE and KIM GORDON have announced that they're separating after 27 years of marriage. They got married in 1984, three years after starting the band. They have a 17-year-old daughter named Coco. --Of course, the big question is: Will Sonic Youth survive? --The answer is YES . . . for now. The band released this statement: Quote, "Sonic Youth, with both Kim and Thurston involved, will proceed with its South American tour dates in November. --"Plans beyond that tour are uncertain. The couple has requested respect for their personal privacy and does not wish to issue further comment." --Sonic Youth have released 16 albums over the past 30 years. The most recent one came out in 2009. Somewhat ironically, it was titled "The Eternal". (--Thurston is 53 years old now. Kim is 58.)
Chris Martin Compares Landing Gwyneth Paltrow to Winning the Lottery:
COLDPLAY singer CHRIS MARTIN says he's only had "one serious relationship" in his life . . . and it's the one he has with his wife, GWYNETH PALTROW. Some would say that's some astonishing beginner's luck . . . and Chris would AGREE. --In an interview on "CBS Sunday Morning", Chris said, quote, "It's a big leap . . . from being a loser to going out with an Oscar winner. It's a giant leap. Let's face it, it's like winning the lottery." --Chris met Gwyneth in October of 2002 . . . and he took the marriage "leap" in December of 2003. They have a seven-year-old daughter named Apple and a five-year-old son named Moses.
Lady Gaga Dropped an F-Bomb in Front of Bill Clinton . . . and Usher Ripped His Pants:
LADY GAGA and USHER were two of the performers for an event honoring BILL CLINTON. It was called "The William J. Clinton Decade of Difference Concert." --And yes, Bill was there . . . along with HILLARY and their daughter CHELSEA. --In honor of the Clintons, Lady Gaga tweaked some of her songs. She turned "Bad Romance" into "Bill Romance" . . . and "You and I" into "The Clintons, You and I". And she was performing in a bizarre skin-colored wrap of some sort. --You can find video of all this chaos on YouTube. Here's "Bill Romance" . . . and here's "The Clintons, You and I". WARNING: These clips contain some profanity..) --Lady Gaga also used this opportunity to drop an F-BOMB . . . she said, quote, "If someone had told me so many years ago that I'd be doing that right in front of you I just wouldn't have believed them. I would have given them a good American [eff] you." (--You can find a CENSORED version of the video, here.) --And Usher used this opportunity to EXPOSE HIMSELF. Sort of. Usher's pants ripped open during his performance . . . but you couldn't see anything other than some leg. (--You can find video, here.) (--If you have about four hours to blow, you can watch the entire concert at Yahoo.com. I watched the first minute or two. It looks like it could be okay . . . even though I didn't even get through the opening montage.)
Adam Levine Is Tastefully Naked in a Magazine . . . Again:
Earlier this year, MAROON 5 singer ADAM LEVINE took off his clothes for the British edition of "Cosmo". Now, he's done it again! This time it's the Russian "Vogue" . . . and once again, it features his girlfriend, Russian model Anne Vyalitsyna. --The cover features Adam and Anne hugging naked. Their arms cover her breasts . . . and the very bottom of the picture cuts off JUST ABOVE where Adam's nether region would be. (DListed)
Tone Loc Collapsed Onstage in Atlanta:
TONE LOC collapsed while performing at a private party in Atlanta on Saturday night. According to reports from people who were there, it looked like he had a seizure, but there's no confirmation on that. --All we know for sure is that Tone Loc was rushed to the hospital, where he was hooked up to an I.V. His manager says he was suffering from exhaustion . . . and that he's fine now. --Tone Loc is 45 . . . and has a history of passing out. In May of 2009, he collapsed at an outdoor concert in Florida. He reportedly suffered a seizure caused by the heat. He was taken to the hospital that time, too. (--Here's video of Tone Loc performing "Funky Cold Medina". This was supposedly filmed just before he collapsed on Sat rday night. No video of the actual collapse has surfaced yet.)
MONDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
CHARLIE SHEEN and DENISE RICHARDS had a friendly lunch in New York the other day. (Photos)
CHRIS TUCKER joked about his financial troubles during a recent standup gig. (Full Story)
MATT DAMON says it was "really hard to watch" BEN AFFLECK go through his "Daredevil" / "Gigli" period. (Full Story)
MIKE TYSON calls himself a "pigeon whisperer" in a new E-card for a company called StarGreetz. (Video)
Spike TV's "Scream Awards" went down on Saturday. (--The show airs tomorrow night.) Big winners included "Harry Potter", "Black Swan", "Game of Thrones" and "Let Me In". (Winners List)
TUPAC SHAKUR'S estate is in talks with someone who wants to buy the unreleased song that Tupac was rapping in the sex tape that just surfaced. (Full Story) (--That's mind-blowing. Tupac's estate is STILL holding onto unreleased tracks?)
Former FALL OUT BOY singer PATRICK STUMP has dropped 60 pounds. He explains, quote, "I lost the weight for health reasons, but embracing looking different was me reclaiming my identity because I was hiding for so long." (Full Story)
PANIC! AT THE DISCO almost had to cancel a Salt Lake City show because singer BRENDON URIE came down with a fever . . . but then they came up with the awesome idea to have some fans fill in for him. (Full Story)
SMASHING PUMPKINS singer BILLY CORGAN has started his own professional wrestling company. (???) (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
How Far Over the Speed Limit Do You Think You Can Go Without Getting Pulled Over?
You hear stories sometimes about your friends doing 27 miles-an-hour in a 25 zone and getting a ticket. And while that sucks for them . . . think of how many times people speed a little and DON'T get tickets. --A new survey by Pemco Insurance asked drivers about the speeding "buffer zone" . . . that's the zone above the speed limit where cops won't bother pulling you over to give you a ticket. And here's what they found . . .
--50% of people say as long as you're going four miles-per-hour over the speed limit or less, you won't get a ticket.
--43% think the buffer zone is between five to nine miles-per-hour over the limit.
--5% think you're not going to get pulled over even for going 10 to 14 miles-per-hour over the limit.
--And 1% think cops only target MASSIVE speeders . . . so you'll be okay even going 15 to 19 miles-per-hour over the speed limit.
--If you add that up, it means 99% of people believe you're clear up to four miles-per-hour over . . . 49% believe you're clear up to nine miles-per-hour over . . . and 6% believe you're clear up to 14 miles-per-hour over.
--The survey also found that 13% of people say they often go over the speed limit . . . 38% do it sometimes . . . 41% rarely do it . . . and 8% of people claim they never go over the speed limit. (Pemco)
The Five Qualities We Most Want in a Coworker Include Making Sure We Don't Have to Do Extra Work . . . and Supplying Us With Junk Food:
We've got the results from a survey about the qualities people look for most in a coworker, and one thing is clear. Even if you're not good at your job, as long as you're FUNNY and you FEED US JUNK FOOD, you'll never get fired.
--Here's the full top five:
#1.) Having a sense of humor and not taking things too seriously.
#2.) Always pulling your weight at work.
#3.) Bringing in homemade treats to share.
#4.) Stepping up when someone else isn't pulling their weight at work.
#5.) Bringing in store-bought treats to share.
--So TWO of the top five qualities we look for most in coworkers have to do with food. And two others are about making sure they pick up the slack so we don't have to do extra work. --The five coworker qualities that people dislike are: Being a smoker who takes a ton of breaks . . . being the office gossip . . . talking too loudly on the phone . . . leaving the bathroom a mess . . . and taking office conversation too seriously. (Technorati)
One in Six Phones is Contaminated With Fecal Matter:
If you got the new iPhone over the weekend, try making a pledge to only use it after you've washed your hands. Either that, or just make a pledge to start washing your hands EVERY TIME you get off the toilet. --According to a new study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, approximately one out of every SIX cell phones is CONTAMINATED with fecal matter. (--CAREFUL!) The main way it happens is: You go to the bathroom, you wipe, you don't properly wash your hands, you touch your phone . . . and the poop transfer happens.
--95% of the people whose phones were tested in the survey say they ALWAYS wash their hands with soap and water after using the toilet.
--BUT . . . 92% of the phones studied had bacteria on them. And 82% of the people's HANDS had bacteria on them.
--And both 16% of the phones and hands had E. coli bacteria . . . which is associated with feces. (CNN)
Most Americans Watch the NFL . . . but Very Few DVR the Games or Attend Them Live:
A survey by "Adweek" and Harris Poll found that most Americans watch NFL football on Sundays . . . but watching the game on live TV is as far as most of us are willing to go. --Nearly two in three Americans say they watch the NFL. That includes three out of four men and 55% of women. --The Midwest is the biggest group of NFL fans, with seven out of 10 people watching. The West Coast is least likely to watch, but they still have 56% of people watching. --Most people watch the games on their TV. Only 6% say they attend games live, and even fewer watch on a smartphone or iPad. --Three out of five viewers say they spend less than five hours a week watching football. 16% watch more than 10 hours. (--One game is a little over three hours and you usually get four games a week on network TV and basic cable.) --Only one in eight people play fantasy football, and most of them spend less than five hours a week on their fantasy team. --One in 16 people say they subscribe to a satellite TV football package to get extra games. Almost as many say they're "not sure" if they do. --Only one in five people say they use their DVR to record games and watch them later (--or again). Men are twice as likely as women to record games. One in 25 people say they record all their team's games. (PR Newswire)
Two NFL Coaches Got Into a Fight After Their Post-Game Handshake:
The 49ers beat the Lions 25-19 yesterday, and immediately after the game, Niners coach JIM HARBAUGH and Lions coach JIM SCHWARTZ almost got into a FIGHT. --Harbaugh was jumping up and down celebrating, and he gave Schwartz a pretty hard handshake at mid-field, and sort of dismissed him. And he also allegedly shouted a swear word. --And Schwartz apparently took offense . . . because he ended up CHASING Harbaugh down the field, while the players and coaches kept them from going at it. --Harbaugh tried to accept some of the blame for it, but not really. He said, quote, "I was really revved up . . . That's on me. [The] handshake was too hard." --But they both definitely lost their cool. (--Search for "Jim Harbaugh Jim Schwartz Fight.") (--It's actually the second time Harbaugh has had an issue with post-game handshakes. He and former USC coach Pete Carroll got into it back in 2009 when Harbaugh was coaching at Stanford.)
Which NFL Stadiums Have the Best and Worst Beer Prices? Atlanta and Houston are the Best . . . Washington and Indianapolis are the Worst:
You know that if you go to an NFL game, you're NOT going to be getting a good deal on beer. That being said . . . God forbid you buy a $120 ticket to sit there and watch a game SOBER. --A website called SaveOnBrew.com just released the results of their study on beer prices at all 31 NFL stadiums. (--There are 32 teams, but the New York Giants and Jets both share their stadium, in New Jersey.)
--And here's what they found . . .
--The Atlanta Falcons' Georgia Dome and Houston Texans' Reliant Stadium have the best prices on beer. Atlanta sells a 24-ounce for $7, Houston sells a 21-ounce for $6 . . . in both cases, that's about 29 cents per ounce.
--For what it's worth, that means a regular 12-ounce can of beer would cost $3.48. When you're watching a game at home and drinking the Natural Light or Old Milwaukee you bought at Rite Aid, you can get almost SIX beers for that price.
--The Washington Redskins' FedEx Field and the Indianapolis Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium have the worst prices. Both sell a 12-ounce cup of beer for $7 . . . that's 58 cents an ounce.
--Across all 31 stadiums, the average cost is $7.19 for 17 ounces of beer, or about 43 cents per ounce. That means a 12-ounce can of, say, Bud Light would cost $5.16 . . . or roughly TEN TIMES what it would cost to buy one from a store. (SaveOnBrew)
(--Here's a chart showing the prices at all 31 stadiums.)
The Buffalo Bills Have the Worst Weather in the NFL:
It's been a few weeks since the last hurricane, so the folks at The Weather Channel need something to keep them busy. --They've decided to fill the time by finding the NFL teams that play in the WORST weather. --To measure "bad football weather," they looked at 30-year averages of wind speed, snow, rain, days below freezing, and days above 90 degrees during football season. --And the NFL team with the worst weather is . . . the Buffalo Bills. Not only do the Bills have the worst weather in the NFL, based on their score, their weather is 30% WORSE than any other city. --Windy, rainy, frigid Cleveland is the next worst-weather city, followed by Pittsburgh, where the swirling wind causes kickers to miss one out of every three field goals. --The Green Bay Packers . . . who play on a field often described as "the frozen tundra" . . . only had the fourth-worst NFL weather. --In fifth place were the Kansas City Chiefs. They combine the worst of hot and cold weather with triple-digit temperatures in September, more freezing December days than New England, and more snowy days than the Jets or Giants. --San Diego has the best weather of teams that play outdoors. If they didn't play in a dome, the Minnesota Vikings would have ranked second, behind the Bills. (Weather.com)
San Diego is the Luckiest City in the U.S. . . . and Charleston, West Virginia is the Least Lucky:
"Men's Health" magazine just ranked the 100 biggest cities in the U.S. based on their LUCK. And even though that sounds like something that would be impossible to calculate . . . they came up with a pretty smart formula. --The rankings are based on the number of people who've won lottery jackpots, Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, most golf holes-in-one, fewest lightning strikes and deaths from falling objects, and least money lost on lotto tickets. --And after all that, the luckiest city in the U.S. is . . . San Diego, California. --The rest of the top 10 are: Baltimore . . . Phoenix . . . Wilmington, Delaware . . . Richmond, Virginia . . . San Francisco . . . Las Vegas . . . Philadelphia . . . Louisville, Kentucky . . . and Reno, Nevada. --Charleston, West Virginia was named the least lucky city in the U.S. --It finished just below Tampa, Florida . . . Jackson, Mississippi . . . Memphis, Tennessee . . . Sioux Falls, South Dakota . . . Billings, Montana . . . St. Petersburg, Florida . . . Bridgeport, Connecticut . . . Miami . . . and Fargo, North Dakota. (Men's Health) (--You can see all 100 cities ranked here.)
A State Champion Goat Has Been Disqualified After Failing a Drug Test:
So yeah . . . America's performance-enhancing drug trend has brought us to THIS. In Pueblo, Colorado, the GOAT that won the state championship at the Colorado State Fair has been disqualified and had to forfeit . . . after failing a drug test. --Seriously. The goat tested positive for a food additive called ractopamine, which is banned from livestock competitions. It helps animals grow larger while staying lean. --The goat's owner is a 19-year-old college student at Colorado State University named Margaret Weinroth. She and her family say their animals have ALWAYS been clean . . . and they suspect someone might've SABOTAGED them. --Their goat won $5,500 at the State Fair, which they'll have to give back. They also won't be able to participate in any more competitions in the future. (Arizona Republic)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
A Woman Stabs Her Boyfriend Because He Didn't Buy Her a 40-Ounce:
Look, I love drinking 40s as much as anyone. You give me 40 ounces of King Cobra or Colt 45 and I'm happy. But they're not worth this. --On Thursday afternoon, 22-year-old Alexa Monet Rodriguez of Las Cruces, New Mexico wanted her boyfriend to go out and buy her a 40. --He said no. So she FREAKED OUT. --Alexa hit him with a TV tray and a chair, threw a three-pound weight at his head, and capped it off by THROWING a 14-inch knife at him. It hit him in the arm and he was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. --Alexa was arrested and hit with several charges, including aggravated battery and aggravated assault. The media didn't make it clear, but we're pretty sure she didn't end up getting her 40, either. (Las Cruces Sun-News)
A Guy Running From the Cops Hid in a Cornfield . . . So the Police Had the Farm Owner Harvest His Corn to Find the Guy:
Last week, police in Kankakee, Illinois were chasing a 19-year-old named Daniel Thomas. --The police didn't disclose the exact reason . . . they just say Daniel had violated his parole and decided to flee. --During the chase, Daniel ran into a cornfield. It was on a farm owned by a guy named Mark Tanner, and the police knew it would be tough to find Daniel inside the corn. --So they quickly came up with a solution. They asked Mark if he would HARVEST the corn to eliminate Daniel's hiding place. --Mark said he was planning to harvest soon anyway . . . so the cops gave him a bulletproof vest and he hopped in his combine to get to work. --About 90 minutes later, as his hiding place was disappearing . . . and a mammoth piece of farm equipment was closing in on him . . . Daniel walked out of the cornfield, hands in the air, surrendering. --He was arrested. In addition to being charged for his parole violation he's also looking at charges for resisting a peace officer, fleeing, and attempting to elude police. (Daily Journal)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
It turns out STEVE JOBS might not have gotten his trademark black mock turtlenecks from the company St. Croix after all. So they're taking down references to him from their website. His biography says he wore clothing from Issey Miyake instead. (Full Story)
There's a new product that combines a sex toy with . . . a video game controller? Basically, it allows you to get naughty while your partner operates the toy remotely. (Full Story)
In case you haven't heard, Earth's seven-billionth person should be born around Halloween. (Full Story)
57% of women over age 50 say they want more sex. (Full Story)
You know those stoners who say weed doesn't affect your ability to drive? This may come as a shock, but . . . they're wrong. According to a new study, people who drive after smoking pot are twice as likely to crash. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Indy 500 Winner Dan Wheldon Was Killed in a Horrible 15-Car Crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
33-year-old Indy 500 winner DAN WHELDON was killed yesterday in a 15-car pile-up at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On lap 13, two cars bumped and set off a chain reaction. Then Wheldon ramped off another car, hit the wall, and his car caught fire. --He was airlifted to a hospital, but two hours later, they announced he didn't make it. He'd won the Indy 500 twice: In May, and back in 2005. Three other drivers were hurt, and it's not surprising . . . --In the video, you can see THREE cars go completely airborne at one point. The rest of the race was cancelled. (--Search for "Dan Wheldon Crash Video." He hits the wall at :18, and goes airborne along with two other cars at 1:24.)
#2.) (NC-17) A Pastor's Wife on "Family Feud" Gave One of the Dirtiest Answers in Game Show History:
A pastor's wife on "Family Feud" gave the dirtiest answer I've ever heard on a game show, by far. The host, STEVE HARVEY, was asking for, quote, "Something you put in your mouth, but don't swallow." And a good answer was "gum." --But Steve also made a joke about the obvious sexual thing the contestants should NOT say on television. And a woman named Magen responded by saying, quote, "I'm a pastor's wife, but I will say this out loud. They're [man-seed]." --She was POSITIVE it would be one of the most popular answers. Sadly, it was not. (--She said a word that rhymes with "worm." Search for "Family Feud - Don't Swallow." She answers at 1:24. WARNING: The video includes the word "sp**m.")
#3.) A Guy Tried to Get Out of a Speeding Ticket . . . by Beating Himself Up and Claiming Police Brutality:
We're not sure where it happened, but there's a new video on TruTV.com of some Russian guy trying to get out of a speeding ticket by BEATING HIMSELF UP. -It's shot from inside the car, and the guy tell the cop he's going to get out of the ticket. And when the cop asks how, the guy starts punching himself in the FACE. --So the cop lets him do it, and even encourages him. Then he lets him know it's all on video, and the guy immediately realizes he's a moron. (--Search for "TruTV.com Stop Hitting Yourself." He starts hitting himself at :26.)
#4.) A McDonald's Cashier Was Attacked by Two Customers . . . So He Beat Them With a Metal Rod:
Two women argued with a McDonald's cashier in New York last Thursday, and one of them slapped him. When he slapped back, one woman hopped the counter, and the other went around. So the guy began beating BOTH of them with a METAL ROD. --He's 31-year-old Rayon McIntosh, and he's being charged with felony assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. It turns out he was on parole, and served ten years for manslaughter. --The two women were charged with menacing, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. One of them has a fractured skull. (--Search for "McDonald's Incident Greenwich Village." She slaps him at :24, and he comes back with the metal rod at :34.) (--WARNING: This video includes the F-word, P-word, and violence. But the actually beating is partially obscured by the counter.)
Three Ways Your Job Is Killing You . . . While Making Your Boss Lose Money:
As if Mondays aren't depressing enough, CNBC.com has a list of ways your job is sucking the life out of you . . . and costing your boss money at the same time. Here are the top three.
#1.) You Can't Get Enough Sleep. If you consistently get less than seven hours a night, it can shorten your lifespan by years. And according to the Mayo Clinic, work-related stress is one of the main causes of insomnia. --In a recent poll of over 7,000 people, 23% said they experience insomnia. But being tired obviously isn't a good enough excuse for calling in sick. --And according to a study from Harvard Medical School, tired employees cost employers $63 billion in productivity a year.
#2.) You Have to Commute. According a Gallup poll, the average commute in the U.S. is 23 minutes. And if yours is longer than that, you're more likely to gain weight, have back pain, neck pain, and high cholesterol. --And people who commute more than 90 minutes are more likely to suffer from anxiety. In the poll, 40% of them said they spend most of the day worrying. And obviously, that affects productivity.
#3.) Working Odd Hours Can Make You Gain Weight. Working the night shift or not having a regular schedule messes with your sleep cycle. --And some research shows it can mess with your metabolism, and put you at a higher risk for diabetes and heart disease. --In 2007, the International Agency for Research on Cancer even classified "shift work" as a "probable carcinogen" . . . just like engine exhaust. In other words, working nights might give you CANCER. --And obviously if it messes with your sleep and you're always tired, that affects your job, and costs the company money. (CNBC.com)
Bad Bosses Aren't Just Annoying . . . They Might Be Killing You:
If you hate your boss, we have some bad news for you: Not only are they making your life miserable, they may be shortening it. --"New York Times" bestselling author Kevin Kruse created a Facebook quiz to determine whether your boss is bad enough to be fatal. The quiz is based on a survey of stroke and heart-attack patients on how their bosses acted. --According to Kevin, working for a bad boss increases your odds of having a heart attack by 50%, and, if you have a heart attack, working for a bad boss makes you almost two and a half times more likely to DIE from it. --Workers with bad bosses are also twice as likely to have to be hospitalized for heart disease over the next 10 years. --Among the things bosses can do that will shorten your life span are: --Not giving you information you need or explaining why what you're working on is important. --Failing to provide clear goals. --Not giving employees power to make decisions that affect their work. --Not praising employees when they accomplish something good. (PR Newswire) (--You can take the five-question quiz here. You can contact Kevin through Danielle Millerick at ThinkMedia at 978-740-1013.)
ZACHARY QUINTO . . . who plays Spock in the new "Star Trek" movie franchise . . . has admitted he's gay. (--Zachary also played Sylar on NBC's "Heroes", for the five or six of you who remember that show.) --In an interview in "New York" magazine, Quinto was talking about his recent run as a gay man in a new Broadway version of "Angels In America". --He said, quote, "[It was] the most challenging thing I've ever done as an actor, and the most rewarding. --"At the same time, as a gay man, it made me feel like there's still so much work to be done, and there's still so many things that need to be looked at and addressed." --Elsewhere in the interview, Quinto spoke about the legalization of gay marriage in New York . . . and how three months after it happened, a gay teenager killed himself because he was being bullied. --And he said, quote, "Again, as a gay man, I look at that and say there's a hopelessness that surrounds it." --Quinto later revealed that it was the death of that boy . . . whose name was Jamey Rodemeyer . . . that inspired him to speak openly about his sexuality. --In a blog post, he said, quote, "In light of Jamey's death it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality." --He added, quote, "I am eternally grateful to him for being the catalyst for change within me. Now I can only hope to serve as the same catalyst for even one other person in this world." (--You can read Zachary's blog here.)
Taylor Lautner Can Have Dinner With Two Gay Men and Still Be Straight:
TAYLOR LAUTNER recently had dinner with director GUS VAN SANT and screenwriter DUSTIN LANCE BLACK . . . both of whom are gay. --Despite having girlfriends like TAYLOR SWIFT and LILY COLLINS on his resume, Taylor has weathered his share of gay rumors. -So when he sat down for an interview with the Australian edition of "GQ" magazine, they asked him if either Gus or Dustin HIT ON HIM during the meal. --He said, quote, "No, definitely not. I think they know I'm straight. But they're great guys. They're a lot of fun."
Jennifer Lopez and Bradley Cooper Went Out Saturday Night . . . Are They "Casually Dating"?
JENNIFER LOPEZ and BRADLEY COOPER spent some time together in Los Angeles on Saturday night. --Jennifer and Bradley also had dinner together last month in New York City. That was supposedly a BUSINESS meeting, but it may have grown into something more. A source says they're, quote, "casually dating". --And another source says, quote, "After their date in New York, Bradley and Jennifer stayed in touch. She does like his attention, and it makes her feel good that he seems so into her. --"She has a fun time with Bradley and he makes her laugh. She likes him." (--J-Lo might have some competition. The "National Enquirer" claims KIRSTIE ALLEY is desperate to land Bradley . . . and she's trying to get friends to set them up. You can read more about it here.)
There Was NOT A Moving Van in Front of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore's House:
The Internet went DOG NUTS over the weekend when a picture of a moving van in front of ASHTON KUTCHER and DEMI MOORE'S house popped up. (--Here it is.) (Us Weekly) --But it was B.S. The truck wasn't in front of Ashton and Demi's house. In fact, it wasn't even on their STREET. The misleading claim was made by the photo agency that sold the picture.
Shannen Doherty Is Married:
SHANNEN DOHERTY got married Saturday. The "lucky" guy is a photographer named Kurt Iswarienko. --The wedding was filmed for Shannen's upcoming reality show, "Shannen Says" . . . which will premiere on WEtv sometime next year. --This is Shannen's THIRD marriage. Her first two husbands were Ashley "Son of George" Hamilton and Rick Salomon . . . a.k.a. PARIS HILTON'S sex tape co-star. (--Shannen is 40 years old.)
Nikki Reed and "American Idol" Contestant Paul McDonald Got Married Yesterday:
"Twilight" actress NIKKI REED and "American Idol" contestant PAUL MCDONALD got married yesterday in Malibu. --Nikki plays Rosalie Hale in the "Twilight" movies. She was actually a fan of Paul's from watching "Idol" . . . and met him when the contestants attended the premiere of the movie "Little Red Riding Hood" earlier this year. --In June . . . just two months later . . . they were engaged. He's 27 . . . she's 23. (--Here's a picture of them together.) (E! Online)
Julianne Hough's Rep Says She Didn't Make Out with Her "Footloose" Co-star:
Despite a supposed eyewitness account, JULIANNE HOUGH'S rep says her client did NOT make out with her "Footloose" co-star KENNY WORMALD at a Nashville bar last week. --The rep says, quote, "It's all completely untrue." Julianne has been dating RYAN SEACREST since last year.
Beyoncé's Baby Bump Appears to be Real:
BEYONCÉ showed off her baby bump in New York City on Friday night. And despite video that made it look fake a few days ago, it appears to be real. (--I'd be more convinced if she showed some skin. But still, it's pretty convincing. Check out a pic here.) (E! Online)
Trace Cyrus and Brenda Song Are Engaged:
MILEY CYRUS' brother TRACE is engaged to his girlfriend, former Disney Channel star BRENDA SONG. He's 22 . . . she's 23. -Miley Tweeted, quote, "Can't wait for Brenda to be a Cyrus. Couldn't be more excited about my 'sister in law to be' yay." --Over the summer, various news outlets reported that Brenda and Trace were EXPECTING. But last month, the "Star" tabloid supposedly spoke to Brenda's mother, who said Brenda was, quote, "actually not pregnant."
Larry Hagman Has Cancer:
Production on TNT's new version of "Dallas" begins on Monday, and the evil J.R. Ewing . . . a.k.a. LARRY HAGMAN . . . is indeed on board. But on Friday, Larry announced that he has CANCER. --He issued a statement saying, quote, "As J.R. I could get away with anything . . . bribery, blackmail and adultery. But I got caught by cancer. I do want everyone to know that it is a very common and treatable form of cancer. --"I will be receiving treatment while working on the new 'Dallas' series. I could not think of a better place to be than working on a show I love, with people I love. Besides, as we all know, you can't keep J.R. down!" --Larry didn't say what kind of cancer he has, or how it'll be treated. --He also had a battle with cancer in the '90s, which prompted him to quit smoking and become an anti-tobacco activist. --In 1995, he had to have a liver transplant, after running his into the ground through years of heavy drinking.
Robert Downey Jr. Wants Us to Forgive Mel Gibson:
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. has a message for Hollywood: MEL GIBSON has suffered enough. --Friday night, Downey received an American Cinematheque Award in Beverly Hills. He chose Mel to present it to him . . . then used a chunk of his acceptance speech to plead Mel's case. --He said, quote, "Unless you are without sin . . . and if you are, you are in the wrong [effing] industry . . . you should forgive him and let him work." --"He taught me many things, and I will use the 'C' word . . . courage. There's nothing so much wrong with him. Of course you have to worry about the guy making the judgment here. He's a good dude with a good heart." --Downey and Gibson first worked together in the 1990 comedy "Air America". --Years later, when Downey was having trouble getting work due to his drug troubles, Mel cast him in his 2003 film "The Singing Detective". --On Friday night, Downey said, quote, "Mel and I have the same lawyer, same publicist, and same shrink. I couldn't get hired and he cast me. --"He said if I accepted responsibility . . . he called it hugging the cactus . . . long enough, my life would take meaning. And if he helped me, I would help the next guy. But it was not reasonable to expect the next guy would be him." (--We haven't seen a video of this online yet, but here's a picture of Robert and Mel after the award presentation.) (Us Weekly)
Lindsay Lohan Says She's Doing Everything Right and She's "Not to Be Made an Example of Anymore":
LINDSAY LOHAN is fighting back against reports that she's blowing off her community service. On Twitter this weekend, she said, quote, "I am not to be made an example of anymore. --"I am working hard and fulfilling my obligations every single day, to the court as well as myself. If I travel, it's for work and it's been approved. As is anything I do when I leave the state. --"I'd appreciate it if people will just let me do what is asked of me, so that I can get my life back. Please ignore the reports which have no truth to them. Thank you." --Lindsay has a status hearing on Wednesday. It'll be interesting to see if she gets in any trouble over her supposedly lax attitude toward her community service.
Kelly Osbourne is Still Making "Fat" Cracks About Christina Aguilera:
KELLY OSBOURNE is LOVING the fact that CHRISTINA AGUILERA is having a little weight problem these days. --Kelly went off on Christina Friday on E!'s "Fashion Police" after seeing those pictures of her performing at the MICHAEL JACKSON tribute concert. --She said, quote, "She called me fat for years. I was never THAT fat." --When one of the other hosts suggested Christina is still a size 2/4, Kelly said, quote, "Trust me, I'm a size 2/4. That is not a 2/4." --JOAN RIVERS didn't hold back either. She said, quote, "Lady Marmalade got into the peanut butter again." --On "Fashion Police" last month, Kelly called Christina a "Fat [B-word]." She added, quote, "She called me fat for so many [effing] years, so you know what? [Eff] you! You're fat too." (--As if on cue, pictures surfaced online over the weekend of Christina at a pumpkin farm . . . wearing SPANDEX PANTS. Check 'em out here.) (D-Listed)
"Footloose" and "The Thing" Both Failed to Take Down "Real Steel":
HUGH JACKMAN'S "Real Steel" is the #1 movie in America for the second week in a row. Its competition was "Footloose" and "The Thing", but neither '80s-inspired movie could take it down. "Footloose" came a close second. It made $16.1 million, about $200,000 less than "Real Steel". (--The original "Footloose" opened with $8.6 million back in 1984 and it would eventually earn a total of $80 million. Adjusted for inflation, that's roughly a $20 million opening in today dollars . . . or $4 million better than the remake.) --"The Thing" wasn't even in the running. It made about half of what those movies did . . . $8.7 million . . . in 3rd place.
1.) "Real Steel", $16.3 million. Up to $51.7 million in its 2nd week.
2.) (NEW) "Footloose", $16.1 million.
3.) (NEW) "The Thing", $8.7 million.
Three Years Ago, Eddie Murphy Said He Was Going to Retire from Movies At the Age of 50 . . . And He's 50:
"Tower Heist" hits theaters on November 4th. Will it be EDDIE MURPHY'S last film? --In July of 2008 . . . just over three years ago . . . Eddie appeared on the "Today" show, and he told AL ROKER he was, quote, "planning to make movies until I'm 50 . . . then I'm going back to the stage." (--Check out that interview here.) --Well, Eddie's 50th birthday was on April 3rd. There's no word if he's sticking to that timetable. --Eddie has another movie coming out in March called "A Thousand Words". But he made that one BEFORE "Tower Heist". It's just been sitting on a shelf awaiting release. (--Which is never a good sign.) --He's also doing the voice of the animated character "Hong Kong Phooey" in a movie that's scheduled to come out in 2014. (--Not that this has anything to do with Eddie's supposed retirement, but he's also set to host the Oscars on February 26th.)
Check Out a Trailer for Madonna's New Movie "W.E.":
There's a new trailer out for "W.E.", that movie MADONNA directed that's been getting UNDER-whelming reviews so far. --It's actually two stories intertwined. There's the true story of Kind Edward the 8th, who actually gave up the British throne to marry an American divorcee named Wallis Simpson. --The second story is set in the present day, and focuses on an unhappily married woman whose obsession with the love story between Edward and Wallis leads her to have an affair. (--"W.E." hits theaters December 9th. Here's the trailer.)
U.S. Marines Will Fight Roman Soldiers in "Rome Sweet Rome":
There's a movie in the works called "Rome Sweet Rome". It's about a U.S. Marine battalion that somehow gets sent back in time to Rome in 23 B.C., where they discover a plot to overthrow Caesar. --Somehow, they mess up history, and have to set things right in order to return to the present, where they were fighting in Afghanistan. --The movie actually started as a hypothetical question on the website Reddit.com, asking if a Marine unit could take out the entire Roman empire. Some guy basically responded with an entire short story, and Warner Brothers bought it. (--You can read the story here.)
The 60 Coolest TV Show Title Sequences of All Time . . . Supposedly:
The site Pajiba.com has put out a rundown of The 60 Coolest TV Show Title Sequences of All Time, which SEEMS like it would be a pretty interesting list. -But there's just one BIG problem: It's SEVERELY lacking in anything outside the past decade. So, its claim to "all time" is highly suspect.
--In fact, here's the top 10, which includes TWO shows that premiered THIS month . . . and NO SHOWS that were on TV before 2003.
1.) "Carnivale", HBO (2003-2005)
2.) "Mad Men", AMC (2007-present)
3.) "American Horror Story", FX (It premiered earlier this month.)
4.) "Dexter", Showtime (2006-present)
5.) "The IT Crowd", Britain's Channel 4 (2006-present)
6.) "Huff", Showtime (2004-2006)
7.) "Dead Like Me", Showtime (2003-2004)
8.) "Fringe", Fox (2008-present)
9.) "True Blood", HBO (2008-present)
10.) "Homeland", Showtime (It premiered earlier this month.)
(--You can find the complete list, and videos of most of the title sequences at Pajiba.com. Note: The list is broken down into three pages.)
The New "Charlie's Angels" Has Been Canceled:
ABC has canceled the "Charlie's Angels" reboot after just four episodes. It debuted to 8.7 million viewers last month, but the last two episodes only attracted 5.9 million viewers apiece. --There are four remaining episodes . . . and it sounds like ABC will air them in the show's regular timeslot until they decide on a replacement. (--Since you apparently haven't been tuning in . . . that's Thursdays at 8:00 P.M.)
Monday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)
--"Monday Night Football" . . . 8:30 to 11:30 P.M. Eastern on ESPN. (--The New York Jets host the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.)
--"Dancing with the Stars" [Performance Show] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--The Bangles perform live as the contestants dance to '80s music.)
--"The Sing-Off" . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on NBC. (--The ten remaining groups perform "guilty-pleasure" songs before two teams are eliminated.)
--"How I Met Your Mother" . . . 8:00 to 8:30 P.M. on CBS. (--Ted's new love interest is Amber Stevens, a cocolicious minx who played Ashleigh on "Greek".)
--"The Lying Game" [1st Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC Family.
--"Fort Boyard - Ultimate Challenge" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on Disney XD. (--Six teams compete to find hidden treasure at a 19th century French sea fort. It's hosted by Geno Segers, who plays burly Mason on "Pair of Kings".)
--"House" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox. (--"Prison Break's" Wentworth Miller guests as a guy who collapses after making a large charitable donation. Plus: Thirteen says goodbye.) (--You can read Olivia Wilde's thoughts on her final episode, and watch a preview clip here.)
--"American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Discovery. (--OCC constructs a charity bike for Cell Buckle.)
--"Invitation Only: Martina McBride" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CMT.
--"Bachelorette Party: Las Vegas" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Oxygen. (--VIP event planners are followed as they arrange bachelorette parties for brides-to-be and their bridesmaids. Rapper Too $hort performs.)
VIDEO GAME QUICK HITS
The New "Batman" Game is Out This Week:
--"Batman: Arkham City" (T) . . . on Xbox360 and PS3. The new mayor of Gotham City has closed down Arkham Asylum and turned the city's slums into an immense open-air prison named Arkham City. (Launch Trailer)
--Batman has some new gadgets to play with including smoke pellets, ice grenades, and a sniper-like taser gun. The villains include the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Solomon Grundy. --Catwoman is a playable character for her own set of missions. And you'll be able to get separate downloadable packs that add Nightwing and Robin as playable characters in a few weeks. (--People who preordered from Best Buy will get Robin for free.) --Alfred also supports Batman by radio throughout the game, and there is also has a heavy focus on stealth game play. (No Place For a Hero) (Die Here Tonight)
--"Rocksmith" (T) . . . on Xbox360 and PS3. This title is similar to the "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" games, but you can actually plug in ANY real guitar to play. The difficulty adjusts to your personal skill level, so you can progress at your own pace. Check out the track list here. (Trailer)
--"Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One" (E10+) . . . on PS3. For the first time in this ten game series, the focus is on multiplayer game play. Up to four players can players can drop in and out of co-op games both locally and online. Some weapons making their debut in this game included the Frost Cannon, Plasma Bomb Launcher and Warmonger. (Trailer)
ESRB Game Ratings: (E) for Everyone; (T) for Teen; (M) for Mature (18+)
Video Game Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
#1.) DAVID HASSELHOFF want to develop his own video game . . . maybe one based on "Knight Rider"? (Full Story)
#2.) Sony's upcoming handheld gaming console the Vita will cap the amount of data users can download from the 3G version of the device. Gamers will also have to connect to a WiFi network to download any file bigger than 20 MB. (Full Story)
#3.) Multiplayer has been confirmed for "Mass Effect 3". Up to four players will battle co-operatively for territories around the galaxy, and the multiplayer will be completely separate from the single player campaign. (Video)
#4.) Here's a minute of awesome explosions from "Battlefield 3", which hits stores next week. (Video)
#5.) IGN.com came out with a list of the top 25 iPhone games. The top spot went to "Cut the Rope", a puzzle game where you feed monsters candy. "Angry Birds" came in at number seven. (IGN.com)
NEW ON VIDEO THIS WEEK
--"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" - Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush are back as Jack Sparrow and Barbosa on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth. Penelope Cruz is Jack's love interest . . . and Ian McShane is Blackbeard. (--A Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack is out today, but you'll have to wait another month until November 15th if you want just the DVD alone.)
--"Monte Carlo" Selena Gomez is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress who looks just like her, and then pretends to be that chick after getting a taste of what it's like to be rich. Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy are the two friends vacationing with her, and "Glee's" Cory Monteith plays Katie's boyfriend, who follows them to Europe.
--"Bad Teacher" - Cameron Diaz is a foul-mouthed, irresponsible teacher trying to sink her gold-digging claws into Justin Timberlake, a substitute teacher with a rich family. Jason Segel is also in it as a gym teacher who has a crush on her.
--"Beats, Rhymes, & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest" - A documentary about hip hop pioneers A Tribe Called Quest. It's directed by actor Michael Rapaport, who traveled with the band during their 2008 reunion tour. For the uninitiated, Tribe is made up of Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White.
TV Series On DVD:
--"Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season Three" . . . a four-disc DVD set.
--"V: The Complete Second Season" . . . a three-disc set of the final season.
--"Gigolos: Season 1" . . . a single-disc DVD set of the Showtime series.
--"Little House On The Prairie: The Complete Series" . . . a 55-disc DVD set. (--It ran for nine seasons.)
--"Pawn Stars: The Complete Third Season" . . . a single-disc DVD set.
NEW MUSIC OUT THIS WEEK
This Week's CD Releases:
--"The Great Escape Artist", Jane's Addiction (--This is their fourth album, and their first new disc since reuniting in 2008. (--On the title, singer Perry Farrell has said, quote, "I love being able to escape my past, even though my past was great. I just love the future even more.") --Bassist Eric Avery initially reunited with the band, but left again last year. Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan was brought in to take his place . . . but he left after six months. Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio took over for him.)
--"Songs of the Ungrateful Living", Everlast
--"Soul Punk", former Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump (--This is his solo debut.)
--"Beyond the Sun", Chris Isaak (--This is a covers disc with the Elvis songs "It's Now or Never" and "Can't Help Falling in Love", the Johnny Cash songs "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line", and the Jerry Lee Lewis hit "Great Balls of Fire".)
--"Best of 25 Years", Sting
--"Rebels on the Run", Montgomery Gentry (--It includes the single, "Where I Come From". One lucky person will win a "One-of-a-Kind Demented Chopper" that Montgomery Gentry helped design if they find the ticket hidden in a special CD.)
--"Blessed Assurance", Randy Travis
--"Dixie Lullabies", The Kentucky Headhunters
Robin Gibb Has Been Hospitalized with Severe Abdominal Pain Again:
61-year-old ROBIN GIBB of the BEE GEES was hospitalized in the U.K. on Thursday with severe abdominal pain and inflammation of the colon. His prognosis is unclear. --Robin's wife Dwina is, quote, "desperately worried" about his health. Robin experienced similar symptoms back in April . . . and last year, he had emergency surgery for a blocked intestine. Part of his intestine was removed. --Robin's twin brother MAURICE GIBB DIED from an intestinal problem back in 2003.
Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon Have Separated . . . But the Band Will Continue, For Now:
SONIC YOUTH'S THURSTON MOORE and KIM GORDON have announced that they're separating after 27 years of marriage. They got married in 1984, three years after starting the band. They have a 17-year-old daughter named Coco. --Of course, the big question is: Will Sonic Youth survive? --The answer is YES . . . for now. The band released this statement: Quote, "Sonic Youth, with both Kim and Thurston involved, will proceed with its South American tour dates in November. --"Plans beyond that tour are uncertain. The couple has requested respect for their personal privacy and does not wish to issue further comment." --Sonic Youth have released 16 albums over the past 30 years. The most recent one came out in 2009. Somewhat ironically, it was titled "The Eternal". (--Thurston is 53 years old now. Kim is 58.)
Chris Martin Compares Landing Gwyneth Paltrow to Winning the Lottery:
COLDPLAY singer CHRIS MARTIN says he's only had "one serious relationship" in his life . . . and it's the one he has with his wife, GWYNETH PALTROW. Some would say that's some astonishing beginner's luck . . . and Chris would AGREE. --In an interview on "CBS Sunday Morning", Chris said, quote, "It's a big leap . . . from being a loser to going out with an Oscar winner. It's a giant leap. Let's face it, it's like winning the lottery." --Chris met Gwyneth in October of 2002 . . . and he took the marriage "leap" in December of 2003. They have a seven-year-old daughter named Apple and a five-year-old son named Moses.
Lady Gaga Dropped an F-Bomb in Front of Bill Clinton . . . and Usher Ripped His Pants:
LADY GAGA and USHER were two of the performers for an event honoring BILL CLINTON. It was called "The William J. Clinton Decade of Difference Concert." --And yes, Bill was there . . . along with HILLARY and their daughter CHELSEA. --In honor of the Clintons, Lady Gaga tweaked some of her songs. She turned "Bad Romance" into "Bill Romance" . . . and "You and I" into "The Clintons, You and I". And she was performing in a bizarre skin-colored wrap of some sort. --You can find video of all this chaos on YouTube. Here's "Bill Romance" . . . and here's "The Clintons, You and I". WARNING: These clips contain some profanity..) --Lady Gaga also used this opportunity to drop an F-BOMB . . . she said, quote, "If someone had told me so many years ago that I'd be doing that right in front of you I just wouldn't have believed them. I would have given them a good American [eff] you." (--You can find a CENSORED version of the video, here.) --And Usher used this opportunity to EXPOSE HIMSELF. Sort of. Usher's pants ripped open during his performance . . . but you couldn't see anything other than some leg. (--You can find video, here.) (--If you have about four hours to blow, you can watch the entire concert at Yahoo.com. I watched the first minute or two. It looks like it could be okay . . . even though I didn't even get through the opening montage.)
Adam Levine Is Tastefully Naked in a Magazine . . . Again:
Earlier this year, MAROON 5 singer ADAM LEVINE took off his clothes for the British edition of "Cosmo". Now, he's done it again! This time it's the Russian "Vogue" . . . and once again, it features his girlfriend, Russian model Anne Vyalitsyna. --The cover features Adam and Anne hugging naked. Their arms cover her breasts . . . and the very bottom of the picture cuts off JUST ABOVE where Adam's nether region would be. (DListed)
Tone Loc Collapsed Onstage in Atlanta:
TONE LOC collapsed while performing at a private party in Atlanta on Saturday night. According to reports from people who were there, it looked like he had a seizure, but there's no confirmation on that. --All we know for sure is that Tone Loc was rushed to the hospital, where he was hooked up to an I.V. His manager says he was suffering from exhaustion . . . and that he's fine now. --Tone Loc is 45 . . . and has a history of passing out. In May of 2009, he collapsed at an outdoor concert in Florida. He reportedly suffered a seizure caused by the heat. He was taken to the hospital that time, too. (--Here's video of Tone Loc performing "Funky Cold Medina". This was supposedly filmed just before he collapsed on Sat rday night. No video of the actual collapse has surfaced yet.)
MONDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
CHARLIE SHEEN and DENISE RICHARDS had a friendly lunch in New York the other day. (Photos)
CHRIS TUCKER joked about his financial troubles during a recent standup gig. (Full Story)
MATT DAMON says it was "really hard to watch" BEN AFFLECK go through his "Daredevil" / "Gigli" period. (Full Story)
MIKE TYSON calls himself a "pigeon whisperer" in a new E-card for a company called StarGreetz. (Video)
Spike TV's "Scream Awards" went down on Saturday. (--The show airs tomorrow night.) Big winners included "Harry Potter", "Black Swan", "Game of Thrones" and "Let Me In". (Winners List)
TUPAC SHAKUR'S estate is in talks with someone who wants to buy the unreleased song that Tupac was rapping in the sex tape that just surfaced. (Full Story) (--That's mind-blowing. Tupac's estate is STILL holding onto unreleased tracks?)
Former FALL OUT BOY singer PATRICK STUMP has dropped 60 pounds. He explains, quote, "I lost the weight for health reasons, but embracing looking different was me reclaiming my identity because I was hiding for so long." (Full Story)
PANIC! AT THE DISCO almost had to cancel a Salt Lake City show because singer BRENDON URIE came down with a fever . . . but then they came up with the awesome idea to have some fans fill in for him. (Full Story)
SMASHING PUMPKINS singer BILLY CORGAN has started his own professional wrestling company. (???) (Full Story)
RANDOM STUFF
How Far Over the Speed Limit Do You Think You Can Go Without Getting Pulled Over?
You hear stories sometimes about your friends doing 27 miles-an-hour in a 25 zone and getting a ticket. And while that sucks for them . . . think of how many times people speed a little and DON'T get tickets. --A new survey by Pemco Insurance asked drivers about the speeding "buffer zone" . . . that's the zone above the speed limit where cops won't bother pulling you over to give you a ticket. And here's what they found . . .
--50% of people say as long as you're going four miles-per-hour over the speed limit or less, you won't get a ticket.
--43% think the buffer zone is between five to nine miles-per-hour over the limit.
--5% think you're not going to get pulled over even for going 10 to 14 miles-per-hour over the limit.
--And 1% think cops only target MASSIVE speeders . . . so you'll be okay even going 15 to 19 miles-per-hour over the speed limit.
--If you add that up, it means 99% of people believe you're clear up to four miles-per-hour over . . . 49% believe you're clear up to nine miles-per-hour over . . . and 6% believe you're clear up to 14 miles-per-hour over.
--The survey also found that 13% of people say they often go over the speed limit . . . 38% do it sometimes . . . 41% rarely do it . . . and 8% of people claim they never go over the speed limit. (Pemco)
The Five Qualities We Most Want in a Coworker Include Making Sure We Don't Have to Do Extra Work . . . and Supplying Us With Junk Food:
We've got the results from a survey about the qualities people look for most in a coworker, and one thing is clear. Even if you're not good at your job, as long as you're FUNNY and you FEED US JUNK FOOD, you'll never get fired.
--Here's the full top five:
#1.) Having a sense of humor and not taking things too seriously.
#2.) Always pulling your weight at work.
#3.) Bringing in homemade treats to share.
#4.) Stepping up when someone else isn't pulling their weight at work.
#5.) Bringing in store-bought treats to share.
--So TWO of the top five qualities we look for most in coworkers have to do with food. And two others are about making sure they pick up the slack so we don't have to do extra work. --The five coworker qualities that people dislike are: Being a smoker who takes a ton of breaks . . . being the office gossip . . . talking too loudly on the phone . . . leaving the bathroom a mess . . . and taking office conversation too seriously. (Technorati)
One in Six Phones is Contaminated With Fecal Matter:
If you got the new iPhone over the weekend, try making a pledge to only use it after you've washed your hands. Either that, or just make a pledge to start washing your hands EVERY TIME you get off the toilet. --According to a new study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, approximately one out of every SIX cell phones is CONTAMINATED with fecal matter. (--CAREFUL!) The main way it happens is: You go to the bathroom, you wipe, you don't properly wash your hands, you touch your phone . . . and the poop transfer happens.
--95% of the people whose phones were tested in the survey say they ALWAYS wash their hands with soap and water after using the toilet.
--BUT . . . 92% of the phones studied had bacteria on them. And 82% of the people's HANDS had bacteria on them.
--And both 16% of the phones and hands had E. coli bacteria . . . which is associated with feces. (CNN)
Most Americans Watch the NFL . . . but Very Few DVR the Games or Attend Them Live:
A survey by "Adweek" and Harris Poll found that most Americans watch NFL football on Sundays . . . but watching the game on live TV is as far as most of us are willing to go. --Nearly two in three Americans say they watch the NFL. That includes three out of four men and 55% of women. --The Midwest is the biggest group of NFL fans, with seven out of 10 people watching. The West Coast is least likely to watch, but they still have 56% of people watching. --Most people watch the games on their TV. Only 6% say they attend games live, and even fewer watch on a smartphone or iPad. --Three out of five viewers say they spend less than five hours a week watching football. 16% watch more than 10 hours. (--One game is a little over three hours and you usually get four games a week on network TV and basic cable.) --Only one in eight people play fantasy football, and most of them spend less than five hours a week on their fantasy team. --One in 16 people say they subscribe to a satellite TV football package to get extra games. Almost as many say they're "not sure" if they do. --Only one in five people say they use their DVR to record games and watch them later (--or again). Men are twice as likely as women to record games. One in 25 people say they record all their team's games. (PR Newswire)
Two NFL Coaches Got Into a Fight After Their Post-Game Handshake:
The 49ers beat the Lions 25-19 yesterday, and immediately after the game, Niners coach JIM HARBAUGH and Lions coach JIM SCHWARTZ almost got into a FIGHT. --Harbaugh was jumping up and down celebrating, and he gave Schwartz a pretty hard handshake at mid-field, and sort of dismissed him. And he also allegedly shouted a swear word. --And Schwartz apparently took offense . . . because he ended up CHASING Harbaugh down the field, while the players and coaches kept them from going at it. --Harbaugh tried to accept some of the blame for it, but not really. He said, quote, "I was really revved up . . . That's on me. [The] handshake was too hard." --But they both definitely lost their cool. (--Search for "Jim Harbaugh Jim Schwartz Fight.") (--It's actually the second time Harbaugh has had an issue with post-game handshakes. He and former USC coach Pete Carroll got into it back in 2009 when Harbaugh was coaching at Stanford.)
Which NFL Stadiums Have the Best and Worst Beer Prices? Atlanta and Houston are the Best . . . Washington and Indianapolis are the Worst:
You know that if you go to an NFL game, you're NOT going to be getting a good deal on beer. That being said . . . God forbid you buy a $120 ticket to sit there and watch a game SOBER. --A website called SaveOnBrew.com just released the results of their study on beer prices at all 31 NFL stadiums. (--There are 32 teams, but the New York Giants and Jets both share their stadium, in New Jersey.)
--And here's what they found . . .
--The Atlanta Falcons' Georgia Dome and Houston Texans' Reliant Stadium have the best prices on beer. Atlanta sells a 24-ounce for $7, Houston sells a 21-ounce for $6 . . . in both cases, that's about 29 cents per ounce.
--For what it's worth, that means a regular 12-ounce can of beer would cost $3.48. When you're watching a game at home and drinking the Natural Light or Old Milwaukee you bought at Rite Aid, you can get almost SIX beers for that price.
--The Washington Redskins' FedEx Field and the Indianapolis Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium have the worst prices. Both sell a 12-ounce cup of beer for $7 . . . that's 58 cents an ounce.
--Across all 31 stadiums, the average cost is $7.19 for 17 ounces of beer, or about 43 cents per ounce. That means a 12-ounce can of, say, Bud Light would cost $5.16 . . . or roughly TEN TIMES what it would cost to buy one from a store. (SaveOnBrew)
(--Here's a chart showing the prices at all 31 stadiums.)
The Buffalo Bills Have the Worst Weather in the NFL:
It's been a few weeks since the last hurricane, so the folks at The Weather Channel need something to keep them busy. --They've decided to fill the time by finding the NFL teams that play in the WORST weather. --To measure "bad football weather," they looked at 30-year averages of wind speed, snow, rain, days below freezing, and days above 90 degrees during football season. --And the NFL team with the worst weather is . . . the Buffalo Bills. Not only do the Bills have the worst weather in the NFL, based on their score, their weather is 30% WORSE than any other city. --Windy, rainy, frigid Cleveland is the next worst-weather city, followed by Pittsburgh, where the swirling wind causes kickers to miss one out of every three field goals. --The Green Bay Packers . . . who play on a field often described as "the frozen tundra" . . . only had the fourth-worst NFL weather. --In fifth place were the Kansas City Chiefs. They combine the worst of hot and cold weather with triple-digit temperatures in September, more freezing December days than New England, and more snowy days than the Jets or Giants. --San Diego has the best weather of teams that play outdoors. If they didn't play in a dome, the Minnesota Vikings would have ranked second, behind the Bills. (Weather.com)
San Diego is the Luckiest City in the U.S. . . . and Charleston, West Virginia is the Least Lucky:
"Men's Health" magazine just ranked the 100 biggest cities in the U.S. based on their LUCK. And even though that sounds like something that would be impossible to calculate . . . they came up with a pretty smart formula. --The rankings are based on the number of people who've won lottery jackpots, Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, most golf holes-in-one, fewest lightning strikes and deaths from falling objects, and least money lost on lotto tickets. --And after all that, the luckiest city in the U.S. is . . . San Diego, California. --The rest of the top 10 are: Baltimore . . . Phoenix . . . Wilmington, Delaware . . . Richmond, Virginia . . . San Francisco . . . Las Vegas . . . Philadelphia . . . Louisville, Kentucky . . . and Reno, Nevada. --Charleston, West Virginia was named the least lucky city in the U.S. --It finished just below Tampa, Florida . . . Jackson, Mississippi . . . Memphis, Tennessee . . . Sioux Falls, South Dakota . . . Billings, Montana . . . St. Petersburg, Florida . . . Bridgeport, Connecticut . . . Miami . . . and Fargo, North Dakota. (Men's Health) (--You can see all 100 cities ranked here.)
A State Champion Goat Has Been Disqualified After Failing a Drug Test:
So yeah . . . America's performance-enhancing drug trend has brought us to THIS. In Pueblo, Colorado, the GOAT that won the state championship at the Colorado State Fair has been disqualified and had to forfeit . . . after failing a drug test. --Seriously. The goat tested positive for a food additive called ractopamine, which is banned from livestock competitions. It helps animals grow larger while staying lean. --The goat's owner is a 19-year-old college student at Colorado State University named Margaret Weinroth. She and her family say their animals have ALWAYS been clean . . . and they suspect someone might've SABOTAGED them. --Their goat won $5,500 at the State Fair, which they'll have to give back. They also won't be able to participate in any more competitions in the future. (Arizona Republic)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
A Woman Stabs Her Boyfriend Because He Didn't Buy Her a 40-Ounce:
Look, I love drinking 40s as much as anyone. You give me 40 ounces of King Cobra or Colt 45 and I'm happy. But they're not worth this. --On Thursday afternoon, 22-year-old Alexa Monet Rodriguez of Las Cruces, New Mexico wanted her boyfriend to go out and buy her a 40. --He said no. So she FREAKED OUT. --Alexa hit him with a TV tray and a chair, threw a three-pound weight at his head, and capped it off by THROWING a 14-inch knife at him. It hit him in the arm and he was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. --Alexa was arrested and hit with several charges, including aggravated battery and aggravated assault. The media didn't make it clear, but we're pretty sure she didn't end up getting her 40, either. (Las Cruces Sun-News)
A Guy Running From the Cops Hid in a Cornfield . . . So the Police Had the Farm Owner Harvest His Corn to Find the Guy:
Last week, police in Kankakee, Illinois were chasing a 19-year-old named Daniel Thomas. --The police didn't disclose the exact reason . . . they just say Daniel had violated his parole and decided to flee. --During the chase, Daniel ran into a cornfield. It was on a farm owned by a guy named Mark Tanner, and the police knew it would be tough to find Daniel inside the corn. --So they quickly came up with a solution. They asked Mark if he would HARVEST the corn to eliminate Daniel's hiding place. --Mark said he was planning to harvest soon anyway . . . so the cops gave him a bulletproof vest and he hopped in his combine to get to work. --About 90 minutes later, as his hiding place was disappearing . . . and a mammoth piece of farm equipment was closing in on him . . . Daniel walked out of the cornfield, hands in the air, surrendering. --He was arrested. In addition to being charged for his parole violation he's also looking at charges for resisting a peace officer, fleeing, and attempting to elude police. (Daily Journal)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
It turns out STEVE JOBS might not have gotten his trademark black mock turtlenecks from the company St. Croix after all. So they're taking down references to him from their website. His biography says he wore clothing from Issey Miyake instead. (Full Story)
There's a new product that combines a sex toy with . . . a video game controller? Basically, it allows you to get naughty while your partner operates the toy remotely. (Full Story)
In case you haven't heard, Earth's seven-billionth person should be born around Halloween. (Full Story)
57% of women over age 50 say they want more sex. (Full Story)
You know those stoners who say weed doesn't affect your ability to drive? This may come as a shock, but . . . they're wrong. According to a new study, people who drive after smoking pot are twice as likely to crash. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Indy 500 Winner Dan Wheldon Was Killed in a Horrible 15-Car Crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
33-year-old Indy 500 winner DAN WHELDON was killed yesterday in a 15-car pile-up at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On lap 13, two cars bumped and set off a chain reaction. Then Wheldon ramped off another car, hit the wall, and his car caught fire. --He was airlifted to a hospital, but two hours later, they announced he didn't make it. He'd won the Indy 500 twice: In May, and back in 2005. Three other drivers were hurt, and it's not surprising . . . --In the video, you can see THREE cars go completely airborne at one point. The rest of the race was cancelled. (--Search for "Dan Wheldon Crash Video." He hits the wall at :18, and goes airborne along with two other cars at 1:24.)
#2.) (NC-17) A Pastor's Wife on "Family Feud" Gave One of the Dirtiest Answers in Game Show History:
A pastor's wife on "Family Feud" gave the dirtiest answer I've ever heard on a game show, by far. The host, STEVE HARVEY, was asking for, quote, "Something you put in your mouth, but don't swallow." And a good answer was "gum." --But Steve also made a joke about the obvious sexual thing the contestants should NOT say on television. And a woman named Magen responded by saying, quote, "I'm a pastor's wife, but I will say this out loud. They're [man-seed]." --She was POSITIVE it would be one of the most popular answers. Sadly, it was not. (--She said a word that rhymes with "worm." Search for "Family Feud - Don't Swallow." She answers at 1:24. WARNING: The video includes the word "sp**m.")
#3.) A Guy Tried to Get Out of a Speeding Ticket . . . by Beating Himself Up and Claiming Police Brutality:
We're not sure where it happened, but there's a new video on TruTV.com of some Russian guy trying to get out of a speeding ticket by BEATING HIMSELF UP. -It's shot from inside the car, and the guy tell the cop he's going to get out of the ticket. And when the cop asks how, the guy starts punching himself in the FACE. --So the cop lets him do it, and even encourages him. Then he lets him know it's all on video, and the guy immediately realizes he's a moron. (--Search for "TruTV.com Stop Hitting Yourself." He starts hitting himself at :26.)
#4.) A McDonald's Cashier Was Attacked by Two Customers . . . So He Beat Them With a Metal Rod:
Two women argued with a McDonald's cashier in New York last Thursday, and one of them slapped him. When he slapped back, one woman hopped the counter, and the other went around. So the guy began beating BOTH of them with a METAL ROD. --He's 31-year-old Rayon McIntosh, and he's being charged with felony assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. It turns out he was on parole, and served ten years for manslaughter. --The two women were charged with menacing, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. One of them has a fractured skull. (--Search for "McDonald's Incident Greenwich Village." She slaps him at :24, and he comes back with the metal rod at :34.) (--WARNING: This video includes the F-word, P-word, and violence. But the actually beating is partially obscured by the counter.)
Three Ways Your Job Is Killing You . . . While Making Your Boss Lose Money:
As if Mondays aren't depressing enough, CNBC.com has a list of ways your job is sucking the life out of you . . . and costing your boss money at the same time. Here are the top three.
#1.) You Can't Get Enough Sleep. If you consistently get less than seven hours a night, it can shorten your lifespan by years. And according to the Mayo Clinic, work-related stress is one of the main causes of insomnia. --In a recent poll of over 7,000 people, 23% said they experience insomnia. But being tired obviously isn't a good enough excuse for calling in sick. --And according to a study from Harvard Medical School, tired employees cost employers $63 billion in productivity a year.
#2.) You Have to Commute. According a Gallup poll, the average commute in the U.S. is 23 minutes. And if yours is longer than that, you're more likely to gain weight, have back pain, neck pain, and high cholesterol. --And people who commute more than 90 minutes are more likely to suffer from anxiety. In the poll, 40% of them said they spend most of the day worrying. And obviously, that affects productivity.
#3.) Working Odd Hours Can Make You Gain Weight. Working the night shift or not having a regular schedule messes with your sleep cycle. --And some research shows it can mess with your metabolism, and put you at a higher risk for diabetes and heart disease. --In 2007, the International Agency for Research on Cancer even classified "shift work" as a "probable carcinogen" . . . just like engine exhaust. In other words, working nights might give you CANCER. --And obviously if it messes with your sleep and you're always tired, that affects your job, and costs the company money. (CNBC.com)
Bad Bosses Aren't Just Annoying . . . They Might Be Killing You:
If you hate your boss, we have some bad news for you: Not only are they making your life miserable, they may be shortening it. --"New York Times" bestselling author Kevin Kruse created a Facebook quiz to determine whether your boss is bad enough to be fatal. The quiz is based on a survey of stroke and heart-attack patients on how their bosses acted. --According to Kevin, working for a bad boss increases your odds of having a heart attack by 50%, and, if you have a heart attack, working for a bad boss makes you almost two and a half times more likely to DIE from it. --Workers with bad bosses are also twice as likely to have to be hospitalized for heart disease over the next 10 years. --Among the things bosses can do that will shorten your life span are: --Not giving you information you need or explaining why what you're working on is important. --Failing to provide clear goals. --Not giving employees power to make decisions that affect their work. --Not praising employees when they accomplish something good. (PR Newswire) (--You can take the five-question quiz here. You can contact Kevin through Danielle Millerick at ThinkMedia at 978-740-1013.)
posted by Nazzy @ 5:54 AM
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