HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (01-21-11)
Did Beyoncé Lose Her Virginity to Jay-Z?
BEYONCÉ may have revealed that she kept her virginity intact until JAY-Z came along. --In an interview with one of the not-always-reliable British tabloids, she supposedly said, quote, "People would be surprised as to the lack of experiences I've had. When I was 12, 13, I had my first boyfriend, and he was my boyfriend till I was 17. --"At that age, that was a long time. I've always been very loyal and a little more mature. --"Though I was too young for it to really be a boyfriend . . . we didn't live together, we didn't, you know . . . That was my only experience with a guy, and since then I've only had one other boyfriend in my life: Jay."
Jesse James and Kat Von D Are Engaged:
This is new: JESSE JAMES making an impulsive and irrational decision involving a trashy, tattooed chick. --Jesse and his new girlfriend, "L.A. Ink" star KAT VON D, are ENGAGED. It's been seven months since Jesse's divorce from SANDRA BULLOCK became final. --Jesse tells "People" magazine, quote, "You know sometimes the public and press gets it wrong. This is one of those times. 2010 was actually the best year of my life because I fell in love with my best friend. --"An amazing woman who stood behind me when the world turned their backs. --"I have never met anyone so kind and loving and committed to making the world a better place every day. My love for her is beyond description. So honored that she said 'yes.' Growing old with her is going to be a (effin') blast!" --Kat adds, quote, "There is no one else for me. He's the one." --Asked if she'll move from L.A. to Austin, Texas to live with Jesse fulltime, Kat said, quote, "If only it were that easy. Having two places we call home will be good for now. In the end, home is where the heart is, and my heart's with him." --Jesse later added, quote, "I would gladly go through all I have been through again, if in the end I could have Katherine." --That sounds like a bit of a slap in the face to Sandra. But she was tipped off in advance that this would be happening this week. And while she's not overjoyed, she's kind of in a different place, raising her adopted son Louis. --A source says, quote, "It may seem like only yesterday that Jesse and Sandra split, but for her, life has changed so much, that it seems like ages ago."
Are Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift Back Together?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL and TAYLOR SWIFT might be back together. They reportedly had dinner together Wednesday night at a restaurant called Bound'ry . . . which is near Taylor's condo in Nashville. --One source says, quote, "They were cordial to one another, but not affectionate." And another adds, quote, "There was no holding hands, but they seemed happy together. They sat next to the fireplace just chatting away." (--Jake broke up with Taylor several weeks ago, then spent "Golden Globes" weekend hitting on pretty much everything that menstruates.)
Is Jason Sudeikis Dating Heather Graham Now?
Maybe chicks do dig a guy with a sense of humor. "Saturday Night Live" clown-ass JASON SUDEIKIS and "Mad Men" minx JANUARY JONES just broke up. -And the other night, Jason was spotted at some showbiz event chatting up HEATHER GRAHAM. And at the end of the night, they LEFT TOGETHER.
George Clooney Got Malaria in Africa:
You can make fun of GEORGE CLOONEY'S activism and charity work all you want . . . as long as you can also claim that you've contracted malaria . . . TWICE. --During his trip to the Sudan in Africa earlier this month, George caught Malaria for the second time. --Luckily, when you have MONEY, Malaria isn't a death sentence. George took some medicine and he's completely recovered. And he uses that to make a point. --His rep says, quote, "This illustrates how with proper medication, the most lethal condition in Africa can be reduced to a bad 10 days instead of a death." --George will talk about his malaria . . . and everything else that's going on in the Sudan . . . on PIERS MORGAN'S new CNN talk show tonight.
George Lucas Does Not Believe The World Is Ending Next Year:
It turns out GEORGE LUCAS doesn't believe the world will end next year after all. --His rep says, quote, "I spoke with George. He was not serious when he talked about the end of the world in 2012 but he is an adamant believer that the world is flat, that Stonehenge was built by aliens, and that the sun revolves around the Earth. --"These are among the many subjects he commonly discusses at length with Elvis, who he's going to digitally insert into 'Indy 5' along with a roster of famous dead actors." --SETH ROGEN started all this chaos. He claimed that George was talking SERIOUSLY about the 2012 Apocalypse during a meeting between the two of them and STEVEN SPIELBERG. --Rogen also joked that if Lucas has a ship to take him into space when the world ends, then he wants a seat on it. --But George's rep says, quote, "Seth Rogen is a funny guy, but George and Steven are taking CHRIS ROCK with them on the Millennium Falcon!"
Justin Bieber's Haircut Costs $750:
Do you want to look like JUSTIN BIEBER? (--Or TOM BRADY?) You'll need to have an extra 750 bucks in your pocket every few weeks. Because that's what Justin pays for each one of his golden haircuts. --Vanessa Price . . . who "created" Justin's look back in 2009 . . . says, quote, "I usually cut his hair every couple of weeks when he's on tour." --Obviously, any Supercuts will CLAIM they can give you a Bieber on the cheap. But do you really want to trust your son's hair to some amateur?)
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND
Natalie Portman's New Romantic Comedy Is This Week's Biggest Movie:
#1.) "No Strings Attached" (R)
Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher enjoy carnal relations with each other under a strict "no strings attached" rule . . . until Ashton breaks the rule by falling in love. Their random group of friends includes Ludacris and "The Office's" Mindy Kaling. --It's directed by Ivan Reitman, whose classic films include "Stripes", "Ghostbusters", and the Arnold Schwarzenegger comedies "Twins", "Junior", and "Kindergarten Cop".
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubfcfs98MBw
Official Site: http://www.nostringsattachedmovie.com/
#2.) "The Way Back" (PG-13) (Limited)
Jim Sturgess . . . the guy who played Jude in "Across the Universe" . . . is a Polish prisoner who organizes an escape from a Siberian Gulag during World War Two. --Colin Farrell and Ed Harris escape with him, and the girl from "The Lovely Bones", Saoirse Ronan, joins their group during a 4,000 mile walk across the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas. Farrell does his best fake Russian accent. Harris plays an American.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87kezJTpyMI
Is Willow Smith Going to Be the Next Annie?
JADEN SMITH is the new Karate Kid . . . so why not make WILLOW SMITH the next Annie, right? -WILL SMITH is reportedly in talks to remake "Annie" . . . the musical about an orphan girl who gets adopted by a rich guy . . . as a starring vehicle for Willow. --JAY-Z . . . who signed Willow to his record label . . . may help with the music. --There's a connection here that no one could have predicted back in the day: Jay sampled the song "Hard Knock Life" from "Annie" for his 1998 single "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)".
Check Out the Trailer for "Rubber": A Movie About a Killer Tire:
If you thought every horror concept had been used up, I'm here to tell you you're wrong. "Rubber" is a movie about a KILLER TIRE. Yes, a CAR TIRE that comes to life and kills. And while its release date is listed as April 1st, it's not a joke. It's a real movie.
(--It even has a trailer . . . which you can see here.)
Clint Eastwood Will Direct Beyoncé In a Remake of "A Star Is Born":
CLINT EASTWOOD is going to direct BEYONCÉ in a remake of "A Star Is Born". --The plot revolves around an aspiring singer who falls in love with a troubled former star, who helps put her on the road to stardom. --There's no word yet who'll play the male lead. But this project has been kicking around for a few years . . . and at one point, studio suits were hoping to pair up Beyoncé with WILL SMITH. (--But we should note that there is absolutely no evidence that he's still in the running or even considering it.) --This movie has actually been made THREE TIMES already. The original version came out in 1937, and starred JANET GAYNOR and FREDRIC MARCH. --In 1954, it was remade with JUDY GARLAND and JAMES MASON. --The most famous version came out in 1976. It starred BARBRA STREISAND and KRIS KRISTOFFERSON. It won the Best Original Song Oscar for "Evergreen", as well as five Golden Globes.
"AMERICAN IDOL" INSANITY
The Ratings for "American Idol's" Premiere Were Down, But They're Not Alarming . . . Yet:
"American Idol" has been sinking in the ratings for three seasons now, and with all the changes it's gone through since last season, it was going to be interesting to see how many viewers are still onboard. --Well, we now have the answer: Ratings for Wednesday's premiere were down significantly from last year, but it wasn't an alarming drop-off . . . at least not yet. --The two-hour premiere averaged 26.1 million viewers. That's down 13% from last season's 29.8 million. It was also down 18% in the coveted demographic of 18- to 49-year-olds. --The good news is: It's still crushing everything else it's up against, and should easily be one of primetime's top shows, if not the #1 show. (--Its competitors are "Dancing with the Stars" and "NCIS", which is still on its bewildering ascent.) --The bad news is: "Idol" has now sunk to the point that this season's debut was the least-watched premiere since Season One, when no one knew what "Idol" was. --And things could very well get WORSE . . . assuming that some people will tune out after having checked out the dynamic between the new judges. (--The numbers from last night's follow-up episode aren't available yet.) --But executive producer NIGEL LYTHGOE isn't concerned. He says, quote, "I am thrilled and delighted at the reaction to the new panel." --He also pointed out that the premiere numbers were 45% higher than last season's final performance show (20.1 million viewers), and 18% higher than the season finale (24.2 million viewers). --And earlier this week, Nigel said he wasn't worried about ratings . . . quote, "I don't think it's a make-it-or-break-it point. It's certainly a changing point. It's a crossroads here. But no, make-it-or-break-it I would have said is around [Season] 15."
(--Here are a few updates on the rejected contestants who auditioned on Wednesday's show: 18-year-old Christopher Cordeiro . . . the dorky Boy Scout kid . . . is being promoted to the rank of "Eagle Scout" today. So at least he has that.)
(--And Yoji Pop . . . the Japanese guy who said he grew up impersonating MICHAEL JACKSON . . . was not joking about that. TMZ dug up a video of his MJ act from two years ago. He isn't bad. Watch the video, here.)
The Premiere Ratings From All 10 Seasons of "American Idol":
For your reference, here are the ratings for all 10 seasons of "American Idol".
Season 1 . . . the year KELLY CLARKSON won.
Premiere: 9.9 million viewers . . . Finale: 23.02 million viewers.
Season 2 . . . the year RUBEN STUDDARD won.
Premiere: 26.5 million viewers . . . Finale: 38.1 million viewers.
Season 3 . . . the year FANTASIA BARRINO won.
Premiere: 28.6 million viewers . . . Finale: 28.8 million viewers.
Season 4 . . . the year CARRIE UNDERWOOD won.
Premiere: 33.6 million viewers . . . Finale: 30.3 million viewers.
Season 5 . . . the year TAYLOR HICKS won.
Premiere: 35.5 million viewers . . . Finale: 36.4 million viewers.
Season 6 . . . the year JORDIN SPARKS won.
Premiere: 37.4 million viewers . . . Finale: 30.8 million viewers.
Season 7 . . . the year DAVID COOK won.
Premiere: 33.4 million viewers . . . Finale: 31.7 million viewers.
Season 8 . . . the year KRIS ALLEN won.
Premiere: 30.4 million viewers . . . Finale: 28.8 million viewers.
Season 9 . . . the year LEE DEWYZE won.
Premiere: 29.8 million viewers . . . Finale: 24.2 million viewers.
This season, Season 10 . . . Premiere: 26.1 million viewers
Is Steven Tyler Being Inappropriate Toward the Female Contestants?
The "American Idol" blogosphere is accusing new judge STEVEN TYLER of acting inappropriate toward the female singers on the premiere. One blog described him as "leering," and pointed out that "Idol" even ran a montage of him flirting with the girls. --But perhaps his most questionable comment was directed toward perky 16-year-old Victoria Huggins. Steven said that the skirt she was wearing left, quote, "just the right amount [of leg] showing . . . that's nice." --She didn't seem to mind . . . responding, quote, "Well, I gotta appeal to the boy audience, but yet I wanna be a lady." (--Here's video. It begins at the 3:00 mark.)
The PTC Calls for a Federal Probe Into the "Child Pornography" on MTV's "Skins" . . . and Taco Bell Pulls Its Sponsorship:
The Parents Television Council has ramped up its assault on the hyper-sexualized new MTV show "Skins", which it previously referred to as "the most dangerous show for children that we have ever seen." --The PTC is calling for a federal investigation into the show . . . for breaking CHILD PORNOGRAPHY laws. --In letters sent to the Department of Justice and the Senate and House Judiciary Committees . . . the PTC says, quote, "In addition to the sexual content on the show involving cast members as young as 15 . . . --"PTC counted 42 depictions and references to drugs and alcohol in the premiere episode. It is clear that [they] knowingly produced material that may well be in violation of [several anti-child pornography laws]." --MTV has not directly responded to the PTC's claims . . . but a rep for the network said, quote, "'Skins' is a show that addresses real-world issues confronting teens in a frank way. --"We review all of our shows on an ongoing basis to ensure our shows comply with laws and community standards. We are confident that 'Skins' will not only comply with all applicable legal requirements, but also with our responsibilities to our viewers." --But that doesn't mean MTV is hell-bent on keeping "Skins" THIS racy. --The "New York Times" is reporting that MTV executives recently sat down with "Skins'" producers, and asked them to make changes, or tone things down. --They say MTV is nervous about the third episode, which is supposed to air on January 31st. In the episode, a character played by a 17-year-old boy struggles with a super engorged manhood after taking some Viagra-type pills. --At some point, that character is shown running down the street naked from behind. --It should also be noted that the show DOES air on cable . . . after 10:00 P.M. . . . with a rating of MA-TV. But according to Nielsen data, over one-third of the viewers who watched the premiere were under 18. (--That's 1.2 million of the 3.3 million who tuned in. And that number will probably SKYROCKET next week, after teenagers hear how freaked the PTC is about this show . . . and spread the word on Twitter.) --By the way, after the PTC called for people to BOYCOTT Taco Bell over their sponsorship of "Skins", Taco Bell pulled their ads . . . --Quote, "We've decided the show is not a fit for our brand, and have moved our advertising to other MTV programming." (--This is Taco Bell pretending that they have no prior late-night relationship with stoned, up-to-no-good teenagers.)
Two Potential Super Bowl Ads That Fox Rejected:
Fox rejected two potential Super Bowl ads yesterday.
--One ad was from a "conservative comedy website" called JesusHatesObama.com. The spot features bobbleheads of PRESIDENT OBAMA and JESUS, and is basically just drumming up publicity for their site. (--Watch the ad, here.) (--I don't know how a cheap-looking t-shirt and novelty site could pony up the MILLIONS needed to buy a spot during the Super Bowl. So maybe they had someone backing them . . . or this "rejection" WAS their publicity stunt.) --And then, in what is becoming an annual tradition, Fox denied an ad from AshleyMadison.com, an online dating site for people who want to have an affair. It features mattress actress Savanna Samson in her underwear. (--You can watch that ad, here.) --NBC also rejected AshleyMadison.com's ad proposal last year. --Both ads were essentially deemed, "unacceptable."
WEEKEND TV REMINDERS
Friday TV Reminders:
--"Medium" [SERIES Finale] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"Kitchen Nightmares" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox.
--"My Big Redneck Wedding" [4th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on CMT.
--"Primetime: What Would You Do?" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Scenarios include a waiter insisting an overweight customer choose healthier options, and a single mother of four who can't afford her groceries.)
--"Fringe" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox. (--Christopher Lloyd guest stars as Walter's music idol, who was in Walter's favorite band in the 1970s.)
--"Your Own Show: Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on OWN. (--Arsenio Hall is the guest mentor.)
--"Onion News Network" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on IFC.
--"Portlandia" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on IFC. (--A comedy that pokes fun at the lives of Oregon residents. It features "SNL's" Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, who was the singer of the Oregon band Sleater-Kinney.)
--"Spartacus: Gods of the Arena" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Starz. (--Lucy Lawless and Dustin Clare star in a six-episode prequel about how the House of Batiatus rose to prominence in the gladiator business.)
--"Friday Night Alright: World Stage" . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on VH1. (--Vampire Weekend performs.)
Saturday TV Reminders:
--"Get Out Alive" [1st Season Finale] . . . 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Discovery.
--"Austin City Limits" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on PBS. (--Sonic Youth and The Black Keys perform.)
--"Pit Bulls & Parolees" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Animal Planet.
--"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC. (--Robert De Niro guest hosts and Diddy-Dirty Money is the musical guest.) (REPEAT)
Sunday TV Reminders:
--"Biography: Johnny Cash" . . . 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M. on A&E.
--"NFC Championship Game" . . . 3:00 to 6:00 P.M. Eastern on Fox. (--The Green Bay Packers take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago.)
--"AFC Championship Game" . . . 6:30 to 9:30 P.M. Eastern on CBS. (--The New York Jets battle the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.)
--"The Simpsons" . . . 8:00 to 8:30 P.M. on Fox. (--James Lipton and David Mamet have cameos when Homer learns about parenting from a 1980's sitcom.)
--"Mean Girls 2" . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC Family. (--"10 Things I Hate About You's" Meaghan Martin plays a new student who defends a social outcast, played by Jennifer Stone from "Wizards of Waverly Place".)
--"Hawaii Five-0" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS. (--"Aquamarine's" JoJo guest stars as the daughter of a missing scientist who heads a Tsunami Warning Center.)
--"Kourtney & Kim Take New York" [SERIES Premiere]. . . 10:00 to 10:40 P.M. on E!
--"Holly's World" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:40 to 11:00 P.M. on E!
--"Top Gear" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on History Channel.
--"Oprah Presents Master Class" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on OWN. (--Simon Cowell it this weekend's guest.)
--"Robot Chicken" . . . 11:45 P.M. to Midnight on Adult Swim. (--Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump performs.)
"Tik Tok" by Kesha Was the Best-Selling Global Digital Single of 2010:
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . . . an organization that represents the recording industry on a global level . . . has released its annual list of the Best-Selling Global Digital Singles. --And the top single of 2010 was "Tik Tok" by KE$HA, which sold 12.8 million downloads worldwide. Incredible. (--Question: Is this why the world hates us? Or is the production of horrid music like this the only reason the rest of the world is tolerating us? Maybe we can all find common ground in our embarrassing guilty pleasures. Discuss.) --This is the first time in the HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE that a song has amassed more than 10 million worldwide downloads in one year. Last year, LADY GAGA topped this list after 9.8 million people (legally) downloaded "Poker Face".
--Here's the Top 10:
1.) Ke$ha, "Tik Tok" . . . 12.8 million downloads
2.) Lady Gaga, "Bad Romance" . . . 9.7 million downloads
3.) Eminem (with Rihanna), "Love the Way You Lie" . . . 9.3 million downloads
4.) Lady Gaga (with Beyoncé), "Telephone" . . . 7.4 million downloads
5.) Usher (with Will.I.Am), "OMG" . . . 6.9 million downloads
6.) Katy Perry, "California Gurls" . . . 6.7 million downloads
7.) Train, "Hey, Soul Sister" . . . 6.6 million downloads
8.) Justin Bieber, "Baby" . . . 6.4 million downloads
9.) Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling" . . . 6.1 million downloads
10.) Paramore, "CrushCrushCrush" . . . 6.1 million downloads
Check Out Pink's Video for "(Effing) Perfect":
PINK has released the video for "(Effing) Perfect" . . . and it's pretty heavy. --It features Tina Majorino . . . who was Deb in "Napoleon Dynamite" . . . as a girl who's been an outcast her whole life. It gets so bad that she takes a razor blade and cuts the word "perfect" into her arm . . . before eventually finding her way. (--You can check out the video, here. ***WARNING***: "(Effing) Perfect is UNCENSORED in this video . . . and on a visually disturbing note, the brief cutting scene at the 2:24 mark is pretty graphic.)
Drake's Inspirations Include "Winnie the Pooh" and "Charlotte's Web":
Here's something you may not have known: DRAKE is obsessed with "Winnie the Pooh" and "Charlotte's Web" . . . to the point where he's dropped some major coin on first-edition books. --Drake says, quote, "I bought the first-ever 'Winnie the Pooh' books, like all four 'Winnie the Pooh' books. It cost me a lot of [money], man. I probably could have bought a small car for that." --But these aren't just side hobbies. Drake says "Winnie the Pooh" has been one of the inspirations for his next album, "Take Care". --He explains, quote, "'Winnie the Pooh' is like super not hip-hop, [but] that's my influence, man, 'Winnie the Pooh' on this next album." (--It's not clear exactly HOW Winnie influenced the album . . . or if we'll actually be able to RECOGNIZE that influence in the music.)
SHOWBIZ EXTRAS - 1 of 2
Former "Dancing with the Stars" host SAMANTHA HARRIS gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday. (Full Story)
Because his jaw was removed in 2006 due to cancer, ROGER EBERT will wear a "prosthetic chin" for his brief appearances on his new show, "Roger Ebert Presents At the Movies". (Full Story)
MICHAEL JACKSON'S estate is suing KATHERINE JACKSON'S business partner, Howard Mann. They claim he has illegally made MILLIONS off Michael's name. (Full Story)
MEGAN FOX and tennis stud RAFAEL NADAL got all sexy for Armani print ads. (Full Story)
The "National Enquirer" says there's a TODD PALIN sex scandal. (Full Story)
SNOOKI and J-WOWW are reportedly shooting a pilot for a "Jersey Shore" spin-off this weekend. (Full Story)
JENNIFER HUDSON will drop her second album, "I Remember Me", on March 22nd. (Full Story)
BRUNO MARS did a stripped-down version of KATY PERRY'S "California Gurls". (Video)
"Survivor" winner FABIO got picked up from jail in a LIMO. (Full Story) Oh, and he thinks the cops are trying to railroad him. (Full Story)
JADEN SMITH will perform with USHER and JUSTIN BIEBER at the Grammys. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF
For the 25th Year In a Row, NFL Football Is America's Most Popular Sport:
Calling baseball "America's pastime" is getting to be patronizing at this point. Because football passed it a long time ago . . . and that ain't changing anytime soon. --The Harris Poll just released their annual list of the most popular sports in the U.S., and for the 25th year in a row, NFL football was number one. --When they started this poll in 1985, the margin was tiny. Pro football got 24% of the votes for favorite sport . . . pro baseball got 23%. In the most recent survey, in 2010, that margin was 31% for the NFL, 17% for MLB. --Baseball still managed to beat out all of the other major U.S. sports. College football came in third, at 12% . . . auto racing was fourth, at 7% . . . and pro basketball came in fifth, at 6%. --Those are followed by hockey . . . men's soccer . . . men's college basketball . . . men's golf . . . track and field . . . bowling . . . men's tennis . . . boxing . . . horse racing . . . women's tennis . . . and swimming. --Four sports didn't even get 1% of the vote: women's pro basketball, women's soccer, women's college basketball, and women's golf. --For what it's worth, mixed martial arts isn't included in this survey. (--And neither is pro badminton. What the hell? Get some culture, Harris poll.) (PR Newswire)
Sure, the Economy Wreaked Havoc On the Country . . . But Traffic's Never Been Better:
This is pretty much the textbook definition of looking for a silver lining. Yes, the recession has had an impact on every single person in this country. Yes, it's wreaked havoc on all of our jobs. Yes, it's hurt countless people's lives. --But when it comes to TRAFFIC . . . my God, it's never been better. --According to a new study from the Texas Transportation Institute, in 2008 and 2009, the U.S. saw a HISTORIC drop in traffic jams. --Traffic jam data goes back to 1982. Every single year since then it has either stayed the same or gone up. Until the recession. Then the roads cleared out, and the amount of time people lost to traffic jams went down 13%. --Nationwide, in 2009, the average driver wasted 34 hours in rush hour traffic. That dropped things all the way back to 1996 levels. --David Schrank co-authored the report. He says, quote, "The economy is so tied to transportation. When jobs go away, bottlenecks on the road disappear and things ease up." (Kansas City Star)
In 1969, 15% of Parents Drove Their Children To School . . . Now It's Up To 75%:
Looks like the media has achieved its goal of convincing parents that the second you let your children out of your sight, something bad is going to happen to them. --According to the National Household Travel Survey, 75% of parents now drive their children to school. In 1969, it was only 15%. --And parents drive their kids even though at least half of the school-age children in this country live within two miles of their schools. --In a lot of cases, parents do it because they're worried about their children walking . . . they're afraid their kids will get hit by cars, bullied, approached by predators, or all of the above. --But there's another reason the number has gone up, and it's not related to 'helicopter parenting' . . . you know, where parents are always 'hovering.' --It's because there are more two-car families now than there were in 1969, so there's a car available to drive the kids to school. --And even though half of kids live within two miles of their schools . . . the kids who don't live within two miles of the school often live further away than kids a few decades ago, so driving them is a faster option than having them take the bus. (Dallas Morning News)
A Disabled Man Can't Get To a Phone When His House Catches On Fire, So He Posts an S.O.S. On Facebook . . . And It Works:
Being obsessed with Facebook SAVES LIVES. --51-year-old Bob Chambers of Spokane, Washington has muscular dystrophy and has a lot of difficulty moving around. So earlier this week, when he was home alone and the house caught on fire, he thought he might be SCREWED. --His toaster had caught on fire and smoke was starting to fill the room, but Bob couldn't move enough to get to the phone. So he used the only communication method he had available: Facebook. --Bob plays the Facebook game Evony, which is a medieval strategy game. He went into the chat room and typed, quote, "Help me. My house is on fire and I can't get out." He also typed his address. --Two of his online friends . . . one in Indiana and one in Texas . . . saw the message and called their local 911 numbers. --Those calls were passed on to Spokane, and the fire department made it to Bob's house only TEN MINUTES after he posted the S.O.S. Firefighters were able to contain the toaster fire before it could spread. --Bob's wife is named Pat Ducham. She says, quote, "I hated [Evony] because he doesn't pay attention to me or anything else in the house. Now I've got to bite my tongue because it saved his life quite possibly." (Spokesman-Review)
A 13-Year-Old Boy Is Saved From a Pack of Wolves By . . . The Music of Creed?
You're not going to believe it . . . but we've FINALLY found something good that's come from CREED making music. --Earlier this week, 13-year-old Walter Eikrem of Rakkestad, Norway was walking home from school, listening to music on his phone. Suddenly, he found himself face-to-face with a pack of FOUR WOLVES. --Walter says, quote, "I was afraid they would attack me." So he remembered something his parents had told him: Instead of running from wild animals, make as much noise as you can to try to scare them off. --So he quickly scrolled through his phone to find the loudest rock music he could find . . . and the first song he found that met that description was "Overcome" by Creed. He blasted it as loud as he could out of the phone's speakers. --He also started screaming and flailing his arms to try to scare the wolves off. --AND IT WORKED. Walter says, quote, "They didn't really get scared. They just turned around and simply walked away." (--Creed has that effect on most living things, ya know.) (Der Spiegel)
A Band In Mexico Refused to Play Past 4 A.M. . . . So Someone Threw a Grenade Onstage and Shot Two Band Members:
If you watch the news, it's seems like you can't do ANYTHING in Mexico without getting yourself killed. Like, as soon as you cross the border, someone's just waiting there to kill you. --On Monday, in Guadalajara, Mexico, a band called La Excelencia was playing at a bar. When they finished their set, four drunk guys demanded an encore . . . or else. So the band played until 4:00 A.M., when the bar closed. --But apparently that wasn't enough, and the guys wanted the band to keep playing. But they'd already been going for hours, so they declined. --And the guys reacted pretty much as you'd expect . . . they threw a GRENADE on stage . . . started a panic as the crowd ran out of the bar . . . and started SHOOTING at the band. --Two members of the band were killed. When the grenade went off, other members were injured, and so were some people in the crowd. --The guys who threw the grenade and fired the shots fled the scene, and the always-reliable Mexican police say they don't have any leads. (CBS News)
A 23-Year-Old Woman Solves Her Own Kidnapping . . . And Cracks a Cold Case From 1987:
In July of 1987, Carlina White was born at Harlem Hospital in New York. When she was 19 days old, a fake nurse KIDNAPPED her from the hospital. The police were never able to track her down and the case went cold. --That is . . . until a few weeks ago, when Carlina cracked the case HERSELF. --Carlina is now 23 years old. She grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut with the name Nejdra Nance, and believed the woman raising her, Mary Pettway, was her biological mother. --But Carlina always suspected something wasn't right. Last year, she started surfing missing persons websites. And her suspicions were confirmed . . . when she found a baby picture that looked like her. --Back on January 4th, she contacted her birth mother, Joy White. DNA tests proved Joy really was Carlina's mother. And on Wednesday night, they reunited in New York. --As for the kidnapper . . . the police don't believe that Mary Pettway was the one who took Carlina as a baby. They say they do have a suspect, quote, "but not enough probable cause to make an arrest." (New York Daily News)
Laredo, Texas Is Getting a Bookstore . . . So It *Won't* Be the Only Large City In the Country Without One Anymore:
There's just no way this is a distinction that ANY city would be proud of. One year ago, the B. Dalton bookstore in Laredo, Texas closed . . . making it the only large city in the entire country that didn't have a SINGLE bookstore. --And they've had that title for a full year. Laredo has a population of around 230,000 . . . and zero bookstores. The closest bookstore was 150 MILES AWAY, in San Antonio. Well . . . that's finally about to change. --A Books-A-Million bookstore has finished negotiations and will move into the Mall de Norte in Laredo. --Newark, New Jersey is closest to taking the title of biggest city without a bookstore. There's only one bookstore within the Newark city limits, although there are plenty nearby in New Jersey and the New York suburbs. (NBC 8 - Laredo)
BACTERIAL B.S.
It Just Might Be Okay To Keep On Wearing Your Jeans Without Ever Washing Them:
Good news: No, you DON'T have to wash your jeans every time you wear them. And if you're willing to base your behavior off one guy's semi-scientific experiment . . . you may never have to wash them again. --Josh Le is a student at the University of Alberta, Canada. He decided to do an experiment where he wore the same pair of jeans for FIFTEEN MONTHS without ever washing them once. --And, allegedly, it wasn't because he's a guy and therefore absurdly lazy about jean washing. No . . . he says he wanted to break them in so they'd fit perfectly and have nice, unique lines and creases. --Anyway, after 15 months, he took his jeans to a human ecology professor named Rachel McQueen to test them for bacteria. And while the swabs turned up five different kinds of bacteria . . . NONE of them posed any kind of health hazard. --Rachel found the highest concentration of bacteria in the crotch of the jeans. Which is nasty. But they were just regular skin bacteria . . . no E. coli or staph or anything like that. --She says, quote, "I didn't see any evidence, but that could be unique to Josh. I mean, he wore underwear, which can be helpful." (Toronto Star)
Your UGG Boots Could Be Swimming With Bacteria:
Here's a good reason to buy IMITATION UGG boots for fifteen bucks at Payless and not drop ten times that on the real things. You know, besides your cheapness. --According to a podiatrist in New York, UGG boots and other boots that are made with real sheepskin can be breeding grounds for harmful bacteria . . . which can lead to fungus, food odor, and inflammation. --If you don't want to stop wearing your real sheepskin boots, to keep yourself safe you should always wear socks . . . let your boots dry for 24 hours if they get wet . . . and make sure to clean them regularly, inside and out. (Stylelist)
Letting Your Dog Sleep In Your Bed . . . Could Kill You?
This sounds like something so over-the-top and sensationalist that it belongs on the six o'clock news . . . but, according to a veterinary medicine professor in California, letting your dog sleep in your bed COULD KILL YOU. --Dr. Bruno Chomel of the University of California, Davis, says that too much close contact between pets and their owners can put them at real risk for disease and infection. Some of those could even be life-threatening, like parasites or the PLAGUE. --Chomel says this doesn't happen THAT frequently, and children and people with weaker immune systems are at a much higher risk. But since 56% of dog owners say their dog sleeps in their bed . . . it's something you should really watch out for. --But, if you REFUSE to kick your pet out of bed, make sure to keep your pet's vaccinations up to date . . . wash any area, especially open wounds, if your pet licks it . . . and stop MOUTH KISSING your damn dog. (AOL News)
NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Here's A Chubby Woman With Two Teeth and a Lousy Singing Voice Doing Billy Joel . . . Karaoke:
Here's the next YouTube sensation! Or maybe not. It's a woman with two teeth, two chins, and absolutely NO singing voice posting karaoke-style videos. And one of the best so far is her rendition of "You May Be Right" by BILLY JOEL (--Search for "You May Be Right u8a22." She gets going at :24, and puts on a SWEET motorcycle helmet at :56. Then at 4:16, she talks about people telling her she's crazy.)
#2.) A Guy Asked for $1 Million on YouTube . . . And Someone Said Yes?
Two months ago, a comedian in New York City named CRAIG ROWIN started posting videos on YouTube asking for a million dollars. And now he says some millionaire has actually decided to give it to him. --The check for $1 million is supposed to be handed over to Craig during a live performance on February 2nd at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Manhattan. Of course, there's also a chance it's just a stupid publicity stunt. --Check out the videos, and see what YOU think. (--Search for "Craig Rowin Million Dollar Success." At 1:18, the girl who plays April on "Parks and Recreations" tells him to spend his money on a new personality.)
#3.) A Flight Attendant's Boyfriend Proposed Over the Intercom in Mid-Flight:
During a flight from Portugal to Spain, a guy proposed to his flight-attendant girlfriend over the plane's intercom. And the rest of the crew was in on it, so they got it on video. --Now the video is a huge hit on YouTube. The best part is how she responds. She's standing at the opposite end of the airplane when he asks, so she picks up the other intercom . . . and says yes.
(--Search for "Mid-Air Proposal for Air Stewardess." The proposal starts at :19.)
#4.) CBS Cares About Your Testicles:
CBS has released a Valentine's Day-themed public service announcement . . . about testicular cancer. The first line is, quote, "Wanna do something special for your woman on Valentine's Day? Examine yourself for testicular cancer." (--Search for "CBS Cares Testicular Cancer." The guy in the video is former "One Life to Live" star Chris Beetem.)
#5.) Have You Seen the Crazy Facial Exercise Videos on YouTube?
Have you seen the face workout videos on YouTube? They're from the 80's, and some chick with big hair explains that you can avoid plastic surgery by doing some simple breathing and facial exercises. And when she does them, she looks possessed. (--Search for "Crazy Funny Face Lift Exercises")
Four Bad First Date Signs . . . That Are Actually Good:
If you go out on a first date this weekend and don't really click with the other person, don't write them off just yet. Here's a list from Match.com of four BAD first date signs that can actually be GOOD . . .
#1.) Your Date Is Really Nervous. Most people are nervous on first dates, so don't overreact if they seem uptight or their palms are sweaty. It might even mean they like you.
#2.) Your Date Is Currently Seeing Other People. If they tell you they're seeing other people, it just means they're being upfront and honest, which is good. Honesty is a requirement for any good relationship. --On the other hand, if your date is in a SERIOUS relationship with someone, and they're going behind the other person's back, that's obviously different. Whatever you do, don't date that person. Explore them carnally, maybe. Date . . . no.
#3.) You Argue. According to Match.com, arguing with someone on a first date can actually be a good sign, because it means you're both passionate. And that means your relationship will never get boring. --But if you're on a first date and you get into a shouting match, by all means, feel free to delete their number.
#4.) They Start Asking Rapid-Fire Questions. It means they're probably just trying too hard, which is another sign they like you. But if they don't stop, just turn the tables and start asking THEM questions. --People who ask a lot of questions on first dates are usually much more relaxed by date number two. (Match.com)
Seven Reasons You Shouldn't Have Sex on the First Date:
There are two types of people in this world . . . those who think sex on the first date is okay, and those who don't. Now, we're not choosing sides here, but we've got seven reasons from "Ask Men" on why it's better to WAIT.
#1.) Waiting Creates Anticipation. These days . . . between texting, instant messaging, and social networking . . . we live in a society of immediate gratification. --But waiting to have sex gives you something to look forward to. It's more difficult, and not nearly as fun, to get to know each other AFTER you've already gotten naked.
#2.) It Challenges Both of You. Waiting to do the deed makes you seem more challenging to win over. This means SHE'LL have to do some work to chase YOU. --When you bone on the first date, you're showing her you're VERY interested right off the bat. What's the fun in that?
#3.) It Shows You Don't Think She's a Slut. If you get nasty the first time you go out, she's going to think you just see her as a cheap date. She'll assume you do this with ALL women you meet, and will worry that she looks like a slut. --Holding off on sex shows you respect her and want to know more about her than just how she looks naked.
#4.) It Keeps You Interested. When you go all the way on date #1, you run the risk of losing interest too fast. You've heard the phrase "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free", right? Yeah, it's true.
#5.) It Shows You're a Gentleman. Chivalry is still alive and well, and one of the best things you can do is pass on first-date sex. Getting-it-on after knowing each other a few hours makes it seem like you're only after one thing. Waiting makes you seem like a gentleman.
#6.) It Gives You Time To Evaluate Her. Since you guys just met, you don't REALLY know her. If you add sex into the mix too quickly, you might miss out on some crucial info. --Like, what if she's the crazy chick who assumes that you're a full-on couple after you've rubbed genitals? Like the 'Stage Five clinger' from "Wedding Crashers"? You should know her vibe before taking things to the next level.
#7.) Good Things Come To Those Who Wait. Sex is obviously an important part of any relationship. But holding off will just make it even BETTER when it actually happens. --By then you'll know if you've got chemistry, you'll know some of her quirks, and it'll be something that cements your relationship, rather than the foundation it's built on. (Ask Men)
BEYONCÉ may have revealed that she kept her virginity intact until JAY-Z came along. --In an interview with one of the not-always-reliable British tabloids, she supposedly said, quote, "People would be surprised as to the lack of experiences I've had. When I was 12, 13, I had my first boyfriend, and he was my boyfriend till I was 17. --"At that age, that was a long time. I've always been very loyal and a little more mature. --"Though I was too young for it to really be a boyfriend . . . we didn't live together, we didn't, you know . . . That was my only experience with a guy, and since then I've only had one other boyfriend in my life: Jay."
Jesse James and Kat Von D Are Engaged:
This is new: JESSE JAMES making an impulsive and irrational decision involving a trashy, tattooed chick. --Jesse and his new girlfriend, "L.A. Ink" star KAT VON D, are ENGAGED. It's been seven months since Jesse's divorce from SANDRA BULLOCK became final. --Jesse tells "People" magazine, quote, "You know sometimes the public and press gets it wrong. This is one of those times. 2010 was actually the best year of my life because I fell in love with my best friend. --"An amazing woman who stood behind me when the world turned their backs. --"I have never met anyone so kind and loving and committed to making the world a better place every day. My love for her is beyond description. So honored that she said 'yes.' Growing old with her is going to be a (effin') blast!" --Kat adds, quote, "There is no one else for me. He's the one." --Asked if she'll move from L.A. to Austin, Texas to live with Jesse fulltime, Kat said, quote, "If only it were that easy. Having two places we call home will be good for now. In the end, home is where the heart is, and my heart's with him." --Jesse later added, quote, "I would gladly go through all I have been through again, if in the end I could have Katherine." --That sounds like a bit of a slap in the face to Sandra. But she was tipped off in advance that this would be happening this week. And while she's not overjoyed, she's kind of in a different place, raising her adopted son Louis. --A source says, quote, "It may seem like only yesterday that Jesse and Sandra split, but for her, life has changed so much, that it seems like ages ago."
Are Jake Gyllenhaal and Taylor Swift Back Together?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL and TAYLOR SWIFT might be back together. They reportedly had dinner together Wednesday night at a restaurant called Bound'ry . . . which is near Taylor's condo in Nashville. --One source says, quote, "They were cordial to one another, but not affectionate." And another adds, quote, "There was no holding hands, but they seemed happy together. They sat next to the fireplace just chatting away." (--Jake broke up with Taylor several weeks ago, then spent "Golden Globes" weekend hitting on pretty much everything that menstruates.)
Is Jason Sudeikis Dating Heather Graham Now?
Maybe chicks do dig a guy with a sense of humor. "Saturday Night Live" clown-ass JASON SUDEIKIS and "Mad Men" minx JANUARY JONES just broke up. -And the other night, Jason was spotted at some showbiz event chatting up HEATHER GRAHAM. And at the end of the night, they LEFT TOGETHER.
George Clooney Got Malaria in Africa:
You can make fun of GEORGE CLOONEY'S activism and charity work all you want . . . as long as you can also claim that you've contracted malaria . . . TWICE. --During his trip to the Sudan in Africa earlier this month, George caught Malaria for the second time. --Luckily, when you have MONEY, Malaria isn't a death sentence. George took some medicine and he's completely recovered. And he uses that to make a point. --His rep says, quote, "This illustrates how with proper medication, the most lethal condition in Africa can be reduced to a bad 10 days instead of a death." --George will talk about his malaria . . . and everything else that's going on in the Sudan . . . on PIERS MORGAN'S new CNN talk show tonight.
George Lucas Does Not Believe The World Is Ending Next Year:
It turns out GEORGE LUCAS doesn't believe the world will end next year after all. --His rep says, quote, "I spoke with George. He was not serious when he talked about the end of the world in 2012 but he is an adamant believer that the world is flat, that Stonehenge was built by aliens, and that the sun revolves around the Earth. --"These are among the many subjects he commonly discusses at length with Elvis, who he's going to digitally insert into 'Indy 5' along with a roster of famous dead actors." --SETH ROGEN started all this chaos. He claimed that George was talking SERIOUSLY about the 2012 Apocalypse during a meeting between the two of them and STEVEN SPIELBERG. --Rogen also joked that if Lucas has a ship to take him into space when the world ends, then he wants a seat on it. --But George's rep says, quote, "Seth Rogen is a funny guy, but George and Steven are taking CHRIS ROCK with them on the Millennium Falcon!"
Justin Bieber's Haircut Costs $750:
Do you want to look like JUSTIN BIEBER? (--Or TOM BRADY?) You'll need to have an extra 750 bucks in your pocket every few weeks. Because that's what Justin pays for each one of his golden haircuts. --Vanessa Price . . . who "created" Justin's look back in 2009 . . . says, quote, "I usually cut his hair every couple of weeks when he's on tour." --Obviously, any Supercuts will CLAIM they can give you a Bieber on the cheap. But do you really want to trust your son's hair to some amateur?)
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND
Natalie Portman's New Romantic Comedy Is This Week's Biggest Movie:
#1.) "No Strings Attached" (R)
Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher enjoy carnal relations with each other under a strict "no strings attached" rule . . . until Ashton breaks the rule by falling in love. Their random group of friends includes Ludacris and "The Office's" Mindy Kaling. --It's directed by Ivan Reitman, whose classic films include "Stripes", "Ghostbusters", and the Arnold Schwarzenegger comedies "Twins", "Junior", and "Kindergarten Cop".
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubfcfs98MBw
Official Site: http://www.nostringsattachedmovie.com/
#2.) "The Way Back" (PG-13) (Limited)
Jim Sturgess . . . the guy who played Jude in "Across the Universe" . . . is a Polish prisoner who organizes an escape from a Siberian Gulag during World War Two. --Colin Farrell and Ed Harris escape with him, and the girl from "The Lovely Bones", Saoirse Ronan, joins their group during a 4,000 mile walk across the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas. Farrell does his best fake Russian accent. Harris plays an American.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87kezJTpyMI
Is Willow Smith Going to Be the Next Annie?
JADEN SMITH is the new Karate Kid . . . so why not make WILLOW SMITH the next Annie, right? -WILL SMITH is reportedly in talks to remake "Annie" . . . the musical about an orphan girl who gets adopted by a rich guy . . . as a starring vehicle for Willow. --JAY-Z . . . who signed Willow to his record label . . . may help with the music. --There's a connection here that no one could have predicted back in the day: Jay sampled the song "Hard Knock Life" from "Annie" for his 1998 single "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)".
Check Out the Trailer for "Rubber": A Movie About a Killer Tire:
If you thought every horror concept had been used up, I'm here to tell you you're wrong. "Rubber" is a movie about a KILLER TIRE. Yes, a CAR TIRE that comes to life and kills. And while its release date is listed as April 1st, it's not a joke. It's a real movie.
(--It even has a trailer . . . which you can see here.)
Clint Eastwood Will Direct Beyoncé In a Remake of "A Star Is Born":
CLINT EASTWOOD is going to direct BEYONCÉ in a remake of "A Star Is Born". --The plot revolves around an aspiring singer who falls in love with a troubled former star, who helps put her on the road to stardom. --There's no word yet who'll play the male lead. But this project has been kicking around for a few years . . . and at one point, studio suits were hoping to pair up Beyoncé with WILL SMITH. (--But we should note that there is absolutely no evidence that he's still in the running or even considering it.) --This movie has actually been made THREE TIMES already. The original version came out in 1937, and starred JANET GAYNOR and FREDRIC MARCH. --In 1954, it was remade with JUDY GARLAND and JAMES MASON. --The most famous version came out in 1976. It starred BARBRA STREISAND and KRIS KRISTOFFERSON. It won the Best Original Song Oscar for "Evergreen", as well as five Golden Globes.
"AMERICAN IDOL" INSANITY
The Ratings for "American Idol's" Premiere Were Down, But They're Not Alarming . . . Yet:
"American Idol" has been sinking in the ratings for three seasons now, and with all the changes it's gone through since last season, it was going to be interesting to see how many viewers are still onboard. --Well, we now have the answer: Ratings for Wednesday's premiere were down significantly from last year, but it wasn't an alarming drop-off . . . at least not yet. --The two-hour premiere averaged 26.1 million viewers. That's down 13% from last season's 29.8 million. It was also down 18% in the coveted demographic of 18- to 49-year-olds. --The good news is: It's still crushing everything else it's up against, and should easily be one of primetime's top shows, if not the #1 show. (--Its competitors are "Dancing with the Stars" and "NCIS", which is still on its bewildering ascent.) --The bad news is: "Idol" has now sunk to the point that this season's debut was the least-watched premiere since Season One, when no one knew what "Idol" was. --And things could very well get WORSE . . . assuming that some people will tune out after having checked out the dynamic between the new judges. (--The numbers from last night's follow-up episode aren't available yet.) --But executive producer NIGEL LYTHGOE isn't concerned. He says, quote, "I am thrilled and delighted at the reaction to the new panel." --He also pointed out that the premiere numbers were 45% higher than last season's final performance show (20.1 million viewers), and 18% higher than the season finale (24.2 million viewers). --And earlier this week, Nigel said he wasn't worried about ratings . . . quote, "I don't think it's a make-it-or-break-it point. It's certainly a changing point. It's a crossroads here. But no, make-it-or-break-it I would have said is around [Season] 15."
(--Here are a few updates on the rejected contestants who auditioned on Wednesday's show: 18-year-old Christopher Cordeiro . . . the dorky Boy Scout kid . . . is being promoted to the rank of "Eagle Scout" today. So at least he has that.)
(--And Yoji Pop . . . the Japanese guy who said he grew up impersonating MICHAEL JACKSON . . . was not joking about that. TMZ dug up a video of his MJ act from two years ago. He isn't bad. Watch the video, here.)
The Premiere Ratings From All 10 Seasons of "American Idol":
For your reference, here are the ratings for all 10 seasons of "American Idol".
Season 1 . . . the year KELLY CLARKSON won.
Premiere: 9.9 million viewers . . . Finale: 23.02 million viewers.
Season 2 . . . the year RUBEN STUDDARD won.
Premiere: 26.5 million viewers . . . Finale: 38.1 million viewers.
Season 3 . . . the year FANTASIA BARRINO won.
Premiere: 28.6 million viewers . . . Finale: 28.8 million viewers.
Season 4 . . . the year CARRIE UNDERWOOD won.
Premiere: 33.6 million viewers . . . Finale: 30.3 million viewers.
Season 5 . . . the year TAYLOR HICKS won.
Premiere: 35.5 million viewers . . . Finale: 36.4 million viewers.
Season 6 . . . the year JORDIN SPARKS won.
Premiere: 37.4 million viewers . . . Finale: 30.8 million viewers.
Season 7 . . . the year DAVID COOK won.
Premiere: 33.4 million viewers . . . Finale: 31.7 million viewers.
Season 8 . . . the year KRIS ALLEN won.
Premiere: 30.4 million viewers . . . Finale: 28.8 million viewers.
Season 9 . . . the year LEE DEWYZE won.
Premiere: 29.8 million viewers . . . Finale: 24.2 million viewers.
This season, Season 10 . . . Premiere: 26.1 million viewers
Is Steven Tyler Being Inappropriate Toward the Female Contestants?
The "American Idol" blogosphere is accusing new judge STEVEN TYLER of acting inappropriate toward the female singers on the premiere. One blog described him as "leering," and pointed out that "Idol" even ran a montage of him flirting with the girls. --But perhaps his most questionable comment was directed toward perky 16-year-old Victoria Huggins. Steven said that the skirt she was wearing left, quote, "just the right amount [of leg] showing . . . that's nice." --She didn't seem to mind . . . responding, quote, "Well, I gotta appeal to the boy audience, but yet I wanna be a lady." (--Here's video. It begins at the 3:00 mark.)
The PTC Calls for a Federal Probe Into the "Child Pornography" on MTV's "Skins" . . . and Taco Bell Pulls Its Sponsorship:
The Parents Television Council has ramped up its assault on the hyper-sexualized new MTV show "Skins", which it previously referred to as "the most dangerous show for children that we have ever seen." --The PTC is calling for a federal investigation into the show . . . for breaking CHILD PORNOGRAPHY laws. --In letters sent to the Department of Justice and the Senate and House Judiciary Committees . . . the PTC says, quote, "In addition to the sexual content on the show involving cast members as young as 15 . . . --"PTC counted 42 depictions and references to drugs and alcohol in the premiere episode. It is clear that [they] knowingly produced material that may well be in violation of [several anti-child pornography laws]." --MTV has not directly responded to the PTC's claims . . . but a rep for the network said, quote, "'Skins' is a show that addresses real-world issues confronting teens in a frank way. --"We review all of our shows on an ongoing basis to ensure our shows comply with laws and community standards. We are confident that 'Skins' will not only comply with all applicable legal requirements, but also with our responsibilities to our viewers." --But that doesn't mean MTV is hell-bent on keeping "Skins" THIS racy. --The "New York Times" is reporting that MTV executives recently sat down with "Skins'" producers, and asked them to make changes, or tone things down. --They say MTV is nervous about the third episode, which is supposed to air on January 31st. In the episode, a character played by a 17-year-old boy struggles with a super engorged manhood after taking some Viagra-type pills. --At some point, that character is shown running down the street naked from behind. --It should also be noted that the show DOES air on cable . . . after 10:00 P.M. . . . with a rating of MA-TV. But according to Nielsen data, over one-third of the viewers who watched the premiere were under 18. (--That's 1.2 million of the 3.3 million who tuned in. And that number will probably SKYROCKET next week, after teenagers hear how freaked the PTC is about this show . . . and spread the word on Twitter.) --By the way, after the PTC called for people to BOYCOTT Taco Bell over their sponsorship of "Skins", Taco Bell pulled their ads . . . --Quote, "We've decided the show is not a fit for our brand, and have moved our advertising to other MTV programming." (--This is Taco Bell pretending that they have no prior late-night relationship with stoned, up-to-no-good teenagers.)
Two Potential Super Bowl Ads That Fox Rejected:
Fox rejected two potential Super Bowl ads yesterday.
--One ad was from a "conservative comedy website" called JesusHatesObama.com. The spot features bobbleheads of PRESIDENT OBAMA and JESUS, and is basically just drumming up publicity for their site. (--Watch the ad, here.) (--I don't know how a cheap-looking t-shirt and novelty site could pony up the MILLIONS needed to buy a spot during the Super Bowl. So maybe they had someone backing them . . . or this "rejection" WAS their publicity stunt.) --And then, in what is becoming an annual tradition, Fox denied an ad from AshleyMadison.com, an online dating site for people who want to have an affair. It features mattress actress Savanna Samson in her underwear. (--You can watch that ad, here.) --NBC also rejected AshleyMadison.com's ad proposal last year. --Both ads were essentially deemed, "unacceptable."
WEEKEND TV REMINDERS
Friday TV Reminders:
--"Medium" [SERIES Finale] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS.
--"Kitchen Nightmares" [3rd Season Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox.
--"My Big Redneck Wedding" [4th Season Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on CMT.
--"Primetime: What Would You Do?" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Scenarios include a waiter insisting an overweight customer choose healthier options, and a single mother of four who can't afford her groceries.)
--"Fringe" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox. (--Christopher Lloyd guest stars as Walter's music idol, who was in Walter's favorite band in the 1970s.)
--"Your Own Show: Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on OWN. (--Arsenio Hall is the guest mentor.)
--"Onion News Network" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on IFC.
--"Portlandia" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on IFC. (--A comedy that pokes fun at the lives of Oregon residents. It features "SNL's" Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, who was the singer of the Oregon band Sleater-Kinney.)
--"Spartacus: Gods of the Arena" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Starz. (--Lucy Lawless and Dustin Clare star in a six-episode prequel about how the House of Batiatus rose to prominence in the gladiator business.)
--"Friday Night Alright: World Stage" . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on VH1. (--Vampire Weekend performs.)
Saturday TV Reminders:
--"Get Out Alive" [1st Season Finale] . . . 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Discovery.
--"Austin City Limits" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on PBS. (--Sonic Youth and The Black Keys perform.)
--"Pit Bulls & Parolees" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Animal Planet.
--"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC. (--Robert De Niro guest hosts and Diddy-Dirty Money is the musical guest.) (REPEAT)
Sunday TV Reminders:
--"Biography: Johnny Cash" . . . 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M. on A&E.
--"NFC Championship Game" . . . 3:00 to 6:00 P.M. Eastern on Fox. (--The Green Bay Packers take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago.)
--"AFC Championship Game" . . . 6:30 to 9:30 P.M. Eastern on CBS. (--The New York Jets battle the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.)
--"The Simpsons" . . . 8:00 to 8:30 P.M. on Fox. (--James Lipton and David Mamet have cameos when Homer learns about parenting from a 1980's sitcom.)
--"Mean Girls 2" . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC Family. (--"10 Things I Hate About You's" Meaghan Martin plays a new student who defends a social outcast, played by Jennifer Stone from "Wizards of Waverly Place".)
--"Hawaii Five-0" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS. (--"Aquamarine's" JoJo guest stars as the daughter of a missing scientist who heads a Tsunami Warning Center.)
--"Kourtney & Kim Take New York" [SERIES Premiere]. . . 10:00 to 10:40 P.M. on E!
--"Holly's World" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:40 to 11:00 P.M. on E!
--"Top Gear" [1st Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on History Channel.
--"Oprah Presents Master Class" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on OWN. (--Simon Cowell it this weekend's guest.)
--"Robot Chicken" . . . 11:45 P.M. to Midnight on Adult Swim. (--Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump performs.)
"Tik Tok" by Kesha Was the Best-Selling Global Digital Single of 2010:
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . . . an organization that represents the recording industry on a global level . . . has released its annual list of the Best-Selling Global Digital Singles. --And the top single of 2010 was "Tik Tok" by KE$HA, which sold 12.8 million downloads worldwide. Incredible. (--Question: Is this why the world hates us? Or is the production of horrid music like this the only reason the rest of the world is tolerating us? Maybe we can all find common ground in our embarrassing guilty pleasures. Discuss.) --This is the first time in the HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE that a song has amassed more than 10 million worldwide downloads in one year. Last year, LADY GAGA topped this list after 9.8 million people (legally) downloaded "Poker Face".
--Here's the Top 10:
1.) Ke$ha, "Tik Tok" . . . 12.8 million downloads
2.) Lady Gaga, "Bad Romance" . . . 9.7 million downloads
3.) Eminem (with Rihanna), "Love the Way You Lie" . . . 9.3 million downloads
4.) Lady Gaga (with Beyoncé), "Telephone" . . . 7.4 million downloads
5.) Usher (with Will.I.Am), "OMG" . . . 6.9 million downloads
6.) Katy Perry, "California Gurls" . . . 6.7 million downloads
7.) Train, "Hey, Soul Sister" . . . 6.6 million downloads
8.) Justin Bieber, "Baby" . . . 6.4 million downloads
9.) Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling" . . . 6.1 million downloads
10.) Paramore, "CrushCrushCrush" . . . 6.1 million downloads
Check Out Pink's Video for "(Effing) Perfect":
PINK has released the video for "(Effing) Perfect" . . . and it's pretty heavy. --It features Tina Majorino . . . who was Deb in "Napoleon Dynamite" . . . as a girl who's been an outcast her whole life. It gets so bad that she takes a razor blade and cuts the word "perfect" into her arm . . . before eventually finding her way. (--You can check out the video, here. ***WARNING***: "(Effing) Perfect is UNCENSORED in this video . . . and on a visually disturbing note, the brief cutting scene at the 2:24 mark is pretty graphic.)
Drake's Inspirations Include "Winnie the Pooh" and "Charlotte's Web":
Here's something you may not have known: DRAKE is obsessed with "Winnie the Pooh" and "Charlotte's Web" . . . to the point where he's dropped some major coin on first-edition books. --Drake says, quote, "I bought the first-ever 'Winnie the Pooh' books, like all four 'Winnie the Pooh' books. It cost me a lot of [money], man. I probably could have bought a small car for that." --But these aren't just side hobbies. Drake says "Winnie the Pooh" has been one of the inspirations for his next album, "Take Care". --He explains, quote, "'Winnie the Pooh' is like super not hip-hop, [but] that's my influence, man, 'Winnie the Pooh' on this next album." (--It's not clear exactly HOW Winnie influenced the album . . . or if we'll actually be able to RECOGNIZE that influence in the music.)
SHOWBIZ EXTRAS - 1 of 2
Former "Dancing with the Stars" host SAMANTHA HARRIS gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday. (Full Story)
Because his jaw was removed in 2006 due to cancer, ROGER EBERT will wear a "prosthetic chin" for his brief appearances on his new show, "Roger Ebert Presents At the Movies". (Full Story)
MICHAEL JACKSON'S estate is suing KATHERINE JACKSON'S business partner, Howard Mann. They claim he has illegally made MILLIONS off Michael's name. (Full Story)
MEGAN FOX and tennis stud RAFAEL NADAL got all sexy for Armani print ads. (Full Story)
The "National Enquirer" says there's a TODD PALIN sex scandal. (Full Story)
SNOOKI and J-WOWW are reportedly shooting a pilot for a "Jersey Shore" spin-off this weekend. (Full Story)
JENNIFER HUDSON will drop her second album, "I Remember Me", on March 22nd. (Full Story)
BRUNO MARS did a stripped-down version of KATY PERRY'S "California Gurls". (Video)
"Survivor" winner FABIO got picked up from jail in a LIMO. (Full Story) Oh, and he thinks the cops are trying to railroad him. (Full Story)
JADEN SMITH will perform with USHER and JUSTIN BIEBER at the Grammys. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF
For the 25th Year In a Row, NFL Football Is America's Most Popular Sport:
Calling baseball "America's pastime" is getting to be patronizing at this point. Because football passed it a long time ago . . . and that ain't changing anytime soon. --The Harris Poll just released their annual list of the most popular sports in the U.S., and for the 25th year in a row, NFL football was number one. --When they started this poll in 1985, the margin was tiny. Pro football got 24% of the votes for favorite sport . . . pro baseball got 23%. In the most recent survey, in 2010, that margin was 31% for the NFL, 17% for MLB. --Baseball still managed to beat out all of the other major U.S. sports. College football came in third, at 12% . . . auto racing was fourth, at 7% . . . and pro basketball came in fifth, at 6%. --Those are followed by hockey . . . men's soccer . . . men's college basketball . . . men's golf . . . track and field . . . bowling . . . men's tennis . . . boxing . . . horse racing . . . women's tennis . . . and swimming. --Four sports didn't even get 1% of the vote: women's pro basketball, women's soccer, women's college basketball, and women's golf. --For what it's worth, mixed martial arts isn't included in this survey. (--And neither is pro badminton. What the hell? Get some culture, Harris poll.) (PR Newswire)
Sure, the Economy Wreaked Havoc On the Country . . . But Traffic's Never Been Better:
This is pretty much the textbook definition of looking for a silver lining. Yes, the recession has had an impact on every single person in this country. Yes, it's wreaked havoc on all of our jobs. Yes, it's hurt countless people's lives. --But when it comes to TRAFFIC . . . my God, it's never been better. --According to a new study from the Texas Transportation Institute, in 2008 and 2009, the U.S. saw a HISTORIC drop in traffic jams. --Traffic jam data goes back to 1982. Every single year since then it has either stayed the same or gone up. Until the recession. Then the roads cleared out, and the amount of time people lost to traffic jams went down 13%. --Nationwide, in 2009, the average driver wasted 34 hours in rush hour traffic. That dropped things all the way back to 1996 levels. --David Schrank co-authored the report. He says, quote, "The economy is so tied to transportation. When jobs go away, bottlenecks on the road disappear and things ease up." (Kansas City Star)
In 1969, 15% of Parents Drove Their Children To School . . . Now It's Up To 75%:
Looks like the media has achieved its goal of convincing parents that the second you let your children out of your sight, something bad is going to happen to them. --According to the National Household Travel Survey, 75% of parents now drive their children to school. In 1969, it was only 15%. --And parents drive their kids even though at least half of the school-age children in this country live within two miles of their schools. --In a lot of cases, parents do it because they're worried about their children walking . . . they're afraid their kids will get hit by cars, bullied, approached by predators, or all of the above. --But there's another reason the number has gone up, and it's not related to 'helicopter parenting' . . . you know, where parents are always 'hovering.' --It's because there are more two-car families now than there were in 1969, so there's a car available to drive the kids to school. --And even though half of kids live within two miles of their schools . . . the kids who don't live within two miles of the school often live further away than kids a few decades ago, so driving them is a faster option than having them take the bus. (Dallas Morning News)
A Disabled Man Can't Get To a Phone When His House Catches On Fire, So He Posts an S.O.S. On Facebook . . . And It Works:
Being obsessed with Facebook SAVES LIVES. --51-year-old Bob Chambers of Spokane, Washington has muscular dystrophy and has a lot of difficulty moving around. So earlier this week, when he was home alone and the house caught on fire, he thought he might be SCREWED. --His toaster had caught on fire and smoke was starting to fill the room, but Bob couldn't move enough to get to the phone. So he used the only communication method he had available: Facebook. --Bob plays the Facebook game Evony, which is a medieval strategy game. He went into the chat room and typed, quote, "Help me. My house is on fire and I can't get out." He also typed his address. --Two of his online friends . . . one in Indiana and one in Texas . . . saw the message and called their local 911 numbers. --Those calls were passed on to Spokane, and the fire department made it to Bob's house only TEN MINUTES after he posted the S.O.S. Firefighters were able to contain the toaster fire before it could spread. --Bob's wife is named Pat Ducham. She says, quote, "I hated [Evony] because he doesn't pay attention to me or anything else in the house. Now I've got to bite my tongue because it saved his life quite possibly." (Spokesman-Review)
A 13-Year-Old Boy Is Saved From a Pack of Wolves By . . . The Music of Creed?
You're not going to believe it . . . but we've FINALLY found something good that's come from CREED making music. --Earlier this week, 13-year-old Walter Eikrem of Rakkestad, Norway was walking home from school, listening to music on his phone. Suddenly, he found himself face-to-face with a pack of FOUR WOLVES. --Walter says, quote, "I was afraid they would attack me." So he remembered something his parents had told him: Instead of running from wild animals, make as much noise as you can to try to scare them off. --So he quickly scrolled through his phone to find the loudest rock music he could find . . . and the first song he found that met that description was "Overcome" by Creed. He blasted it as loud as he could out of the phone's speakers. --He also started screaming and flailing his arms to try to scare the wolves off. --AND IT WORKED. Walter says, quote, "They didn't really get scared. They just turned around and simply walked away." (--Creed has that effect on most living things, ya know.) (Der Spiegel)
A Band In Mexico Refused to Play Past 4 A.M. . . . So Someone Threw a Grenade Onstage and Shot Two Band Members:
If you watch the news, it's seems like you can't do ANYTHING in Mexico without getting yourself killed. Like, as soon as you cross the border, someone's just waiting there to kill you. --On Monday, in Guadalajara, Mexico, a band called La Excelencia was playing at a bar. When they finished their set, four drunk guys demanded an encore . . . or else. So the band played until 4:00 A.M., when the bar closed. --But apparently that wasn't enough, and the guys wanted the band to keep playing. But they'd already been going for hours, so they declined. --And the guys reacted pretty much as you'd expect . . . they threw a GRENADE on stage . . . started a panic as the crowd ran out of the bar . . . and started SHOOTING at the band. --Two members of the band were killed. When the grenade went off, other members were injured, and so were some people in the crowd. --The guys who threw the grenade and fired the shots fled the scene, and the always-reliable Mexican police say they don't have any leads. (CBS News)
A 23-Year-Old Woman Solves Her Own Kidnapping . . . And Cracks a Cold Case From 1987:
In July of 1987, Carlina White was born at Harlem Hospital in New York. When she was 19 days old, a fake nurse KIDNAPPED her from the hospital. The police were never able to track her down and the case went cold. --That is . . . until a few weeks ago, when Carlina cracked the case HERSELF. --Carlina is now 23 years old. She grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut with the name Nejdra Nance, and believed the woman raising her, Mary Pettway, was her biological mother. --But Carlina always suspected something wasn't right. Last year, she started surfing missing persons websites. And her suspicions were confirmed . . . when she found a baby picture that looked like her. --Back on January 4th, she contacted her birth mother, Joy White. DNA tests proved Joy really was Carlina's mother. And on Wednesday night, they reunited in New York. --As for the kidnapper . . . the police don't believe that Mary Pettway was the one who took Carlina as a baby. They say they do have a suspect, quote, "but not enough probable cause to make an arrest." (New York Daily News)
Laredo, Texas Is Getting a Bookstore . . . So It *Won't* Be the Only Large City In the Country Without One Anymore:
There's just no way this is a distinction that ANY city would be proud of. One year ago, the B. Dalton bookstore in Laredo, Texas closed . . . making it the only large city in the entire country that didn't have a SINGLE bookstore. --And they've had that title for a full year. Laredo has a population of around 230,000 . . . and zero bookstores. The closest bookstore was 150 MILES AWAY, in San Antonio. Well . . . that's finally about to change. --A Books-A-Million bookstore has finished negotiations and will move into the Mall de Norte in Laredo. --Newark, New Jersey is closest to taking the title of biggest city without a bookstore. There's only one bookstore within the Newark city limits, although there are plenty nearby in New Jersey and the New York suburbs. (NBC 8 - Laredo)
BACTERIAL B.S.
It Just Might Be Okay To Keep On Wearing Your Jeans Without Ever Washing Them:
Good news: No, you DON'T have to wash your jeans every time you wear them. And if you're willing to base your behavior off one guy's semi-scientific experiment . . . you may never have to wash them again. --Josh Le is a student at the University of Alberta, Canada. He decided to do an experiment where he wore the same pair of jeans for FIFTEEN MONTHS without ever washing them once. --And, allegedly, it wasn't because he's a guy and therefore absurdly lazy about jean washing. No . . . he says he wanted to break them in so they'd fit perfectly and have nice, unique lines and creases. --Anyway, after 15 months, he took his jeans to a human ecology professor named Rachel McQueen to test them for bacteria. And while the swabs turned up five different kinds of bacteria . . . NONE of them posed any kind of health hazard. --Rachel found the highest concentration of bacteria in the crotch of the jeans. Which is nasty. But they were just regular skin bacteria . . . no E. coli or staph or anything like that. --She says, quote, "I didn't see any evidence, but that could be unique to Josh. I mean, he wore underwear, which can be helpful." (Toronto Star)
Your UGG Boots Could Be Swimming With Bacteria:
Here's a good reason to buy IMITATION UGG boots for fifteen bucks at Payless and not drop ten times that on the real things. You know, besides your cheapness. --According to a podiatrist in New York, UGG boots and other boots that are made with real sheepskin can be breeding grounds for harmful bacteria . . . which can lead to fungus, food odor, and inflammation. --If you don't want to stop wearing your real sheepskin boots, to keep yourself safe you should always wear socks . . . let your boots dry for 24 hours if they get wet . . . and make sure to clean them regularly, inside and out. (Stylelist)
Letting Your Dog Sleep In Your Bed . . . Could Kill You?
This sounds like something so over-the-top and sensationalist that it belongs on the six o'clock news . . . but, according to a veterinary medicine professor in California, letting your dog sleep in your bed COULD KILL YOU. --Dr. Bruno Chomel of the University of California, Davis, says that too much close contact between pets and their owners can put them at real risk for disease and infection. Some of those could even be life-threatening, like parasites or the PLAGUE. --Chomel says this doesn't happen THAT frequently, and children and people with weaker immune systems are at a much higher risk. But since 56% of dog owners say their dog sleeps in their bed . . . it's something you should really watch out for. --But, if you REFUSE to kick your pet out of bed, make sure to keep your pet's vaccinations up to date . . . wash any area, especially open wounds, if your pet licks it . . . and stop MOUTH KISSING your damn dog. (AOL News)
NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) Here's A Chubby Woman With Two Teeth and a Lousy Singing Voice Doing Billy Joel . . . Karaoke:
Here's the next YouTube sensation! Or maybe not. It's a woman with two teeth, two chins, and absolutely NO singing voice posting karaoke-style videos. And one of the best so far is her rendition of "You May Be Right" by BILLY JOEL (--Search for "You May Be Right u8a22." She gets going at :24, and puts on a SWEET motorcycle helmet at :56. Then at 4:16, she talks about people telling her she's crazy.)
#2.) A Guy Asked for $1 Million on YouTube . . . And Someone Said Yes?
Two months ago, a comedian in New York City named CRAIG ROWIN started posting videos on YouTube asking for a million dollars. And now he says some millionaire has actually decided to give it to him. --The check for $1 million is supposed to be handed over to Craig during a live performance on February 2nd at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Manhattan. Of course, there's also a chance it's just a stupid publicity stunt. --Check out the videos, and see what YOU think. (--Search for "Craig Rowin Million Dollar Success." At 1:18, the girl who plays April on "Parks and Recreations" tells him to spend his money on a new personality.)
#3.) A Flight Attendant's Boyfriend Proposed Over the Intercom in Mid-Flight:
During a flight from Portugal to Spain, a guy proposed to his flight-attendant girlfriend over the plane's intercom. And the rest of the crew was in on it, so they got it on video. --Now the video is a huge hit on YouTube. The best part is how she responds. She's standing at the opposite end of the airplane when he asks, so she picks up the other intercom . . . and says yes.
(--Search for "Mid-Air Proposal for Air Stewardess." The proposal starts at :19.)
#4.) CBS Cares About Your Testicles:
CBS has released a Valentine's Day-themed public service announcement . . . about testicular cancer. The first line is, quote, "Wanna do something special for your woman on Valentine's Day? Examine yourself for testicular cancer." (--Search for "CBS Cares Testicular Cancer." The guy in the video is former "One Life to Live" star Chris Beetem.)
#5.) Have You Seen the Crazy Facial Exercise Videos on YouTube?
Have you seen the face workout videos on YouTube? They're from the 80's, and some chick with big hair explains that you can avoid plastic surgery by doing some simple breathing and facial exercises. And when she does them, she looks possessed. (--Search for "Crazy Funny Face Lift Exercises")
Four Bad First Date Signs . . . That Are Actually Good:
If you go out on a first date this weekend and don't really click with the other person, don't write them off just yet. Here's a list from Match.com of four BAD first date signs that can actually be GOOD . . .
#1.) Your Date Is Really Nervous. Most people are nervous on first dates, so don't overreact if they seem uptight or their palms are sweaty. It might even mean they like you.
#2.) Your Date Is Currently Seeing Other People. If they tell you they're seeing other people, it just means they're being upfront and honest, which is good. Honesty is a requirement for any good relationship. --On the other hand, if your date is in a SERIOUS relationship with someone, and they're going behind the other person's back, that's obviously different. Whatever you do, don't date that person. Explore them carnally, maybe. Date . . . no.
#3.) You Argue. According to Match.com, arguing with someone on a first date can actually be a good sign, because it means you're both passionate. And that means your relationship will never get boring. --But if you're on a first date and you get into a shouting match, by all means, feel free to delete their number.
#4.) They Start Asking Rapid-Fire Questions. It means they're probably just trying too hard, which is another sign they like you. But if they don't stop, just turn the tables and start asking THEM questions. --People who ask a lot of questions on first dates are usually much more relaxed by date number two. (Match.com)
Seven Reasons You Shouldn't Have Sex on the First Date:
There are two types of people in this world . . . those who think sex on the first date is okay, and those who don't. Now, we're not choosing sides here, but we've got seven reasons from "Ask Men" on why it's better to WAIT.
#1.) Waiting Creates Anticipation. These days . . . between texting, instant messaging, and social networking . . . we live in a society of immediate gratification. --But waiting to have sex gives you something to look forward to. It's more difficult, and not nearly as fun, to get to know each other AFTER you've already gotten naked.
#2.) It Challenges Both of You. Waiting to do the deed makes you seem more challenging to win over. This means SHE'LL have to do some work to chase YOU. --When you bone on the first date, you're showing her you're VERY interested right off the bat. What's the fun in that?
#3.) It Shows You Don't Think She's a Slut. If you get nasty the first time you go out, she's going to think you just see her as a cheap date. She'll assume you do this with ALL women you meet, and will worry that she looks like a slut. --Holding off on sex shows you respect her and want to know more about her than just how she looks naked.
#4.) It Keeps You Interested. When you go all the way on date #1, you run the risk of losing interest too fast. You've heard the phrase "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free", right? Yeah, it's true.
#5.) It Shows You're a Gentleman. Chivalry is still alive and well, and one of the best things you can do is pass on first-date sex. Getting-it-on after knowing each other a few hours makes it seem like you're only after one thing. Waiting makes you seem like a gentleman.
#6.) It Gives You Time To Evaluate Her. Since you guys just met, you don't REALLY know her. If you add sex into the mix too quickly, you might miss out on some crucial info. --Like, what if she's the crazy chick who assumes that you're a full-on couple after you've rubbed genitals? Like the 'Stage Five clinger' from "Wedding Crashers"? You should know her vibe before taking things to the next level.
#7.) Good Things Come To Those Who Wait. Sex is obviously an important part of any relationship. But holding off will just make it even BETTER when it actually happens. --By then you'll know if you've got chemistry, you'll know some of her quirks, and it'll be something that cements your relationship, rather than the foundation it's built on. (Ask Men)
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