Friday, January 28, 2011

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (01-28-11)

Kate Hudson Thinks She's Having a Girl:

KATE HUDSON doesn't know if she's having a boy or a girl. But like a lot of women, she's got a hunch. --She says, quote, "It feels like a girl, but I don't know. [My son] Ryder thinks it's a girl." --Kate is also denying rumors that she and her baby-daddy, MATT BELLAMY of MUSE, are engaged . . . quote, "I don't like putting that sort of pressure on it, and I don't feel it necessary to get married."


Charlie Sheen Was Rushed to the Hospital Yesterday with Stomach Pains:

CHARLIE SHEEN was rushed to the hospital yesterday morning with severe abdominal pains. --We're not sure exactly what happened . . . but the word is that it happened after about 36 straight hours of partying at Charlie's house that included at least two porno stars and three other women. --The 911 call was made by Charlie's neighbors, Dr. Paul Nassif and Adrienne Maloof-Nassif from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills". Apparently, someone at Charlie's house had called them for medical advice. --Sources say Dr. Nassif told the 911 operator that Charlie was, quote, "not alert". --Charlie was transported to the hospital via ambulance at about 6:30 yesterday morning. As far as we know, he's okay now. --His parents, MARTIN SHEEN and JANET TEMPLETON, were with him yesterday . . . as was his ex-wife DENISE RICHARDS. --Charlie's other ex-wife, BROOKE MUELLER, did NOT go. She told reporters, quote, "I'm not going to the hospital, Charlie's doing good." --TMZ is reporting that Charlie didn't O.D. or anything like that. He has a hiatal hernia. --That's a condition that affects the upper part of the stomach and the esophagus. It causes acid reflux, and can also produce symptoms in the chest similar to those of a heart attack. --And a friend of his claims that he aggravated it by . . . LAUGHING TOO HARD while watching TV. --But there's no doubt that some partying was going on. Neighbors say they heard women outside Charlie's house singing RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS songs well into the morning. --And so-called "sources" say somebody showed up at some point in the evening with a BRIEFCASE FULL OF COCAINE. --TMZ says Charlie was snorting and SMOKING cocaine . . . and critiquing porn on his TV. (--Is that what he was laughing about? Because it couldn't have been "Two and a Half Men" that was cracking him up.) --A source says Charlie was watching smut with one of the porno stars at his house, and was asking her lots of technical questions about camera angles and such. She was reportedly, quote, "surprised by the depth of his knowledge." --When Charlie was wheeled out of his house yesterday morning, two young women were also seen leaving. --One of the mattress actresses who had been partying with Charlie was 22-year-old KACEY JORDAN. Wednesday afternoon, she Tweeted, quote, "It's officially 24 hours of drinking! Hehe." --She also Tweeted a picture of her CROTCH in a bikini bottom. --Kacey reportedly left the party Wednesday afternoon . . . so she missed yesterday morning's chaos. But later yesterday, she Tweeted, quote, "My phones are ringing off the hook! ugh!" --According to RadarOnline.com, Charlie promised Kacey a baby blue Bentley convertible on Wednesday afternoon.


Will This Latest Incident Finally Force Charlie Sheen Into Rehab?

Everybody's worried about CHARLIE SHEEN. CBS President Nina Tassler even said she had, quote, "a high level of concern" for him earlier this month. --And this latest incident may finally give his bosses the excuse they need to FORCE Charlie to go into rehab. --Rumor has it that the suits at Warner Brothers . . . which produces "Two and a Half Men" . . . have been waiting for just such an excuse. --It's been hard for them so far, because what Charlie does OFF the set never seems to affect his work. Even this time, his hospitalization hasn't shut down production because the show is on hiatus. --A source on the show says, quote, "They are all afraid Charlie will end up dead. It is literally day by day. If he did anything to delay production or put it in jeopardy, they'd shut it down and try to force him to go to rehab." --Meanwhile . . . Charlie, as usual, doesn't think he has a problem. In fact, a friend of his says it's not fair to say Charlie was on a bender over the last few days . . . because he's been partying like this for weeks. --The friend says, quote, "He says things like, 'Men like me don't die.'"


IT'S ON!!! Jenna Jameson Calls Chelsea Handler a "Dried Up Old Whore":

Legendary mattress actress JENNA JAMESON has a bone to pick with CHELSEA HANDLER. --It's because of something Chelsea said in a recent issue of "Glamour" magazine. --The adjective "raunchy" was brought up to describe Chelsea's humor . . . and she said, quote, "I don't like the word raunchy. I'm irreverent and I say things that a lot of people wouldn't say, and some of it probably isn't in the best taste. --"But when I hear the word raunchy, to me that describes Jenna Jameson. Look, I'm never going to please everybody." --That really ticked Jenna off, because she replied by calling Chelsea, quote, "a dried up old whore" on Twitter. --Then she added, quote, "Just cuz I say it like it is. Don't hate . . . She talks massive (crap). Ok, whatever...."


Natalie Portman Has a Politically-Correct, Eco-Friendly Engagement Ring:

NATALIE PORTMAN'S engagement ring is just like her: Politically-correct and eco-friendly. Her fiancé Benjamin Millepied, a dancer she met on the set of "Black Swan", designed it himself. --According to Jewelry designer Jamie Wolf, the ring is made of recycled platinum, and the diamonds are CONFLICT FREE. He says, quote, "We wanted everything about the ring to speak to things that are important to Natalie." (--Here's a picture of the ring. And here is an amusing video of Natalie Portman as a teenager in 1996, in her theater camp's production of "Cabaret".)


SPORT SHORTS

Kansas City Royal Gil Meche Retired and Gave Up a Guaranteed $12 Million . . . Because He Didn't Think He Deserved It:

If there was an actual HERO OF THE DAY trophy, I would hand it today to Kansas City Royals pitcher GIL MECHE. --Gil decided to RETIRE from the game instead of having shoulder surgery and getting busted down to relief pitcher. In doing so, he gave up the guaranteed $12 MILLION he would have made in the coming year. --And he did it because he doesn't think he would DESERVE the money if he wasn't playing his absolute best. --He says, quote, "When I signed my contract, my main goal was to earn it. Once I started to realize I wasn't earning my money, I felt bad. --"I was making a crazy amount of money for not even pitching. Honestly, I didn't feel like I deserved it. I didn't want to have those feelings again." --He added, quote, "This isn't about being a hero . . . that's not even close to what it's about. It's just me getting back to a point in my life where I'm comfortable. --"Making that amount of money from a team that's already given me over $40 million for my life and for my kids, it just wasn't the right thing to do."


This Week's New Movies Include Anthony Hopkins Fighting The Devil . . . and Jason Statham Killing Off Other Hitmen:

#1.) "The Rite" (PG-13)

Anthony Hopkins is an experienced exorcist who trains a skeptical seminary student, until he himself is possessed. An unknown actor named Colin O'Donoghue is the young exorcist trying to drive the Devil out of Anthony Hopkins. It's his first major role. (Trailer)
Official Site: WhatDoYouBelieve.WarnerBros.com

#2.) "The Mechanic" (R)

An action flick starring Jason Statham as an assassin looking for some major revenge after his mentor, Donald Sutherland, is murdered. Ben Foster plays the dead guy's son, who convinces Statham to teach him everything he knows. If you're a sci-fi fan, you might remember Foster as the dude with wings in the third "X-Men" movie. (Trailer)
Official Site: TheMechanicMovie.com


"The Social Network" Is the Odds-On Favorite to Win Best Picture . . . And Colin Firth Is the Favorite to Win Best Actor:

"Access Hollywood" spoke to two top oddsmakers in Las Vegas, and they say that "The Social Network" is the favorite to win the Oscar for Best Picture. --They also have COLIN FIRTH winning Best Actor for "The King's Speech" and NATALIE PORTMAN winning Best Actress for "Black Swan". (--Speaking of the Oscars, somebody put together Lego scenes of the 10 Best Picture nominees. You can check them out here.) (--The "Toy Story 3" picture is kind of a cheat, because Woody, Buzz and the three-eyed alien are non-Lego toys. The only thing that's Lego is the toy box they're hiding in. Anybody could have done that.)
"AMERICAN IDOL" INSANITY

Check Out Some More Performances By "Idol" Hopeful Chris Medina:

If you enjoyed "American Idol" contestant CHRIS MEDINA, you should check out the past performance videos he has online. (--Chris auditioned at the end of Wednesday's show. He's the guy who's taking care of his fiancée because she was left brain damaged following a bad accident just two months before they were supposed to get married.) (--You can watch the audition, here . . . but be warned: It might make you weep.) -In one video, Chris performs an original song called "What Has Become of Me" on what would've been his wedding day. He wrote the song while his fiancée, Juliana, was still in the hospital. (--Listen to it, here.) --And there's another of Chris singing a song called "Chicago". It was done a few months before Juliana's accident, and she's sitting next to Chris in the video. (--Here's the link.) --Finally, there's a song called "Young Hearts" by Chris' band, THE ABLE BODY. It's unclear when it was recorded, but it was just uploaded last week. (--You can check it out, here.) --By the way, "Idol" rebounded in the ratings Wednesday. After the premiere drew 26.2 million viewers and the second episode dropped to 22.9 million, 25.2 million viewers tuned in for Wednesday's episode. (--The numbers from last night's show aren't out yet.)


Sanjaya Malakar Doesn't Think "American Idol" Should've Lowered Its Minimum Age to 15:

SANJAYA MALAKAR is not only watching "American Idol" this season, he's also sharing his thoughts on the contestants. (--And you thought ELLEN DEGENERES was unqualified to be a judge.) --After watching Wednesday's auditions in Milwaukee, Sanjaya said he was very impressed with the talent pool this year, but even though he liked some of the young kids, he has his doubts about the minimum age being lowered to 15 this season. --He said, quote, "It threw me off a little bit at first, because I was one of the young ones when I was on the show. I don't know if it's harder [when you're younger], but it's definitely difficult. --"The show's about projecting yourself, and I don't know anyone at 17, let alone 15, that really has a full grasp of who they are, and how to project it." (--And that my friends was best displayed in 2006, when Sanjaya himself auditioned for "American Idol" nine days after turning 17.) (--You can watch Sanjaya's full video blog at RadarOnline.com, here. He's actually rockin' NORMAL hair . . . and well, you can see why he went with the wild look on "Idol". He looks like a poor man's young ERIK ESTRADA.)


Ed O'Neill Has Craig T. Nelson's Greed to Thank for His Role on "Modern Family":

CRAIG T. NELSON was the first choice to play the role of Jay Pritchett on "Modern Family" . . . but when he turned it down, the part went to ED O'NEILL. --Craig ended up with a gig on NBC's "Parenthood" . . . but he says he did not CHOOSE "Parenthood" over "Modern Family", because he hadn't been offered the "Parenthood" role yet. So why did he turn down "Modern Family"? --Money. --He tells "Access Hollywood", quote, "I'm old enough to say it, I guess. [Money], that was it. I really wanted to do 'Modern Family' and I really liked the script and I liked the people. I just said, 'You know what? I've been doing this too long.' --"We're in the middle of a cutback here, ladies and gentlemen, in Hollywood and salaries have gone way, way down. I just felt disrespected to tell you the truth." --Craig adds that this time it worked out for everyone. He thinks he ended up with better role for him . . . while Ed O'Neill and "Modern Family' were a good match. (--Craig starred on "Coach" over almost the exact same period that Ed was starring on "Married with Children".)


Minka Kelly and Rachel Taylor Are in Line to Star on "Charlie's Angels":

It seems like ABC is FINALLY getting their new "Charlie's Angels" series off the ground . . . because they may have their three angels. Deadline.com says MINKA KELLY and Australian actress RACHAEL TAYLOR are "close" to signing on. -Minka is best known for her role on the show "Friday Night Lights" . . . and for dating New York Yankee DEREK JETER. Rachael was in the first "Transformers" movie. She played a hacker named Maggie. --The show has already locked in "General Hospital" star ANNIE Ilonzeh as the third angel. (--If you're familiar with "General Hospital", she plays Maya Ward.)


Steve Carell and Ricky Gervais Bumped Into Each Other on "The Office" Last Night:

RICKY GERVAIS . . . the star of the British "Office" . . . made his long-awaited appearance on the U.S. version last night, when he bumped into STEVE CARELL while coming out of the elevator. --They joked about accents, and got along really well. (--You can watch the clip, here.)
WEEKEND TV REMINDERS
Friday TV Reminders:

--"Working Class" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CMT. (--Melissa Peterman, who was Barbara Jean on "Reba", plays a single mom who gets a job working with Ed Asner in a supermarket.)

--"Primetime: What Would You Do?" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC.

--"Survivor: Redemption Island Preview" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on TV Guide Network. (--The 22nd season is previewed including some of the upcoming challenges the contestants will face.)

--"20/20" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Chris Cuomo examines the growing trend of homeless youths in America and the challenges of helping them.)

--"Friday Night Alright" . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M. on VH1. (--Kings of Leon, La Roux and Jason Derulo perform at the 2010 V Festival.)

--"Comedy Central Presents: Chelsea Peretti" . . . 11:00 to 11:30 P.M.

--"Comedy Central Presents: Sheng Wang" . . . 11:30 P.M. to Midnight.

Saturday TV Reminders:

--"Goodnight for Justice" . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on the Hallmark Movie Channel. (--"90210's" Luke Perry plays a guy who attempts to settle a decades-old vendetta against the person who killed his parents. It's directed by Jason Priestley.)

--"Austin City Limits" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on PBS. (--Lyle Lovett and Bob Schneider perform.)

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

--"Mega Python vs Gatoroid" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Syfy. (--Debbie Gibson and Tiffany have an '80s minx catfight in this flick about oversized reptiles that clash in the Everglades.)

--"Pit Boss" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Animal Planet.

--"Nick Kroll: Thank You Very Cool" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Comedy Central. (--Comedian Nick Kroll performs.)

--"Kidnap & Rescue" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Discovery Channel. (--This new series follows Brad Barker and his San Diego-based security firm HALO Corp as they try to recover kidnapped people.)

--"Saturday Night Live" . . . 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. on NBC. (--Jesse Eisenberg guest hosts and Nicki Minaj is the musical guest.)

Sunday TV Reminders:

--"Jerseylicious" [2nd Season Finale] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Style.

--"Brick City" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Sundance. (--Mayor Cory Booker returns for this documentary series as he seeks a second term as mayor of Newark, New Jersey.)

--"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ABC. (--Justin Bieber, Emma Roberts and NASCAR'S Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle volunteer to build a new home for a family who lost their 17-year-old daughter to a texting-while-driving accident.)

--"Celebration of Gospel" . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on BET. (--Steve Harvey hosts. You'll find all the performers here.)

--"The 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards" . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on TBS and TNT. (--Ernest Borgnine receives a Life Achievement Award. You'll find all the nominees here.)


--"The Lost Valentine" . . . 9:00 to 11:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Jennifer Love Hewitt is a TV reporter who helps a World War 2 widow, played by Betty White, learn more about her long-lost husband.)

--"Bridalplasty" [1st Season Finale] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on E!

--"Oprah Presents Master Class" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on OWN. (--"SNL" creator Lorne Michaels guests.)

--"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" [3rd Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:30 P.M. on Bravo.

--"UNCF: An Evening of Stars" . . . 10:00 P.M. to Midnight on BET. (--The 32nd fund-raiser for the United Negro College Fund pays tribute to Chaka Khan . . . Chaka Khan.) (--You can never say it just once.) (Find all the guests here.)


Katy Perry's Upcoming Concerts Will Smell Like Candy:

KATY PERRY wants her upcoming California Dreams Tour to be arty and crazy . . . kinda like LADY GAGA and PINK'S shows . . . and if that's what she's going for, it sounds like she's on the right track. --She says, quote, "I have this whole thing in my show that is about candy and cupcakes and meat. It's both really sweet and shocking, but not in a sexual way." --Katy is also introducing something called "smell-o-vision." --She explains, quote, "It's the first concert that's going to smell good. It's going to smell like you're in cotton candy heaven. It's a fun little nuance." (--Unfortunately, Katy didn't elaborate any more on "smell-o-vision.") --Katy adds, quote, "I just really want to raise the bar. Touring is no longer an ordinary thing where you play an instrument in jeans and a T-shirt. --"It has some pizzazz these days, and I'm definitely bringing the pizzazz with a lot of bells and whistles. The show has a Broadway feel to it. It's got a storyline that's going to be very interesting, kind of loosely based on my life, but a cartoon version." (--Katy's world tour begins next month, but it won't hit the U.S. until June 7th. You can see her full itinerary at her website, here.) (--The phrase "smell-o-vision" was first used for a movie that came out in 1960, called "Scent of Mystery". About 30 different smells were piped into the theater at the appropriate moments throughout the film.)


Richie Sambora Wants Bon Jovi to Be the Rolling Stones:

BON JOVI'S current tour grossed over $146 MILLION last year . . . and it'll pick up where it left off in two weeks. And drummer TICO TORRES says he's looking forward to taking a break after it ends in July. --But guitarist RICHIE SAMBORA says it won't be a long breather . . . because he wants to see the band keep on going like the ROLLING STONES. --He says, quote, "We do need a little bit of a break, but not that much of a break, 'cause what's going to happen is there's more songs to be written and . . . you know, guess what? We want to be the Rolling Stones. I know I do." --Richie adds, quote, "I don't think we know what the hell's gonna happen [after the tour]. We're just going out there and working our asses off and enjoying it, actually being the best band of our lives . . . we're not gonna quit. --"We're gonna keep on going and writing new, great songs . . . go in the studio and make great records . . . evolve more . . . and get back into stadiums and give people a great, great show." --Richie also acknowledges that JON BON JOVI wants to do a solo album after the tour . . . and he's cool with that. He says, quote, "It's okay with all of us. We're all gonna stick together. We're like a gang."


Check Out This Rejection Letter Madonna Got In 1981:

Here's an important lesson for struggling artists: Don't let rejection keep you down, because even the most talented people get told 'no' before they get a 'yes.' --Even MADONNA. --A letter has surfaced, in which a record label president named Jimmy Ienner rejected Madonna. He said, quote, "I enjoyed listening to Madonna. The production, arrangements and she are very strong. The direction is a good one." --He added that he liked some of the songs she sang, but said that he, quote, "did not like 'Love on the Run' at all." --He concluded that he "did not feel that [Madonna] is ready yet" . . . but did say that he does, quote, "hear the basis for a strong artist. I will pass for now, but I will wait for more." --Well, that didn't happen. Two years later, in 1983, Madonna released her debut album on Sire records . . . and then, you know, she went on to become one of the most iconic female pop artists EVER. (--You can see the whole letter, here.) (--And you can listen to Madonna's 1981 version of "Love on the Run", here. What do you think? Would you have been interested in signing her?)
SHOWBIZ EXTRAS

AMANDA BYNES has brought her insanity back to Twitter. (Full Story)


British actor BENJAMIN WALKER will play our 16th president in "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter". (Full Story)


A promo for Bravo's "Real Housewives of Orange County" contains a brief shot of TAMRA BARNEY'S nipple. (Full Story)


GLADYS HORTON of THE MARVELETTES . . . who sang "Please Mr. Postman" . . . died on Wednesday. She'd been recovering from a stroke. She was 66. (Full Story)


A crazy woman is suing DIDDY, claiming that he's responsible for the collapse of the World Trade Center. She also says she and Diddy had a son together. She's asking for $900 BILLION in child support and $100 billion in "loss of income." (Full Story)


TVline.com is reporting that KATE WALSH will return to "Grey's Anatomy" for one episode on March 31st. It's going to be a "musical-themed" episode. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF

Take a Quiz That Uses Your Favorite Colors To Figure Out Your Perfect Job:

If you're wondering what the PERFECT JOB is for you . . . and you don't want to meet with career counselors or make a bunch of lists about your hopes and dreams . . . why not put it in the hands of your favorite COLOR? --Dewey Sadka is the author of "The Dewey Color System", and he created a quiz that uses your favorite colors to figure out your perfect career. --He says that by only focusing on colors, the quiz gets rid of the divide between how you perceive yourself and what the truth really is. All you do is pick which colors you like. --We don't want to spoil it too much or bias your choices, but Sadka uses decades-worth of color research to figure out what your preferences mean. --Some examples: People who lean toward yellows are information-driven . . . people who lean toward blue are idea-driven . . . and people who lean toward red are results-driven. (AOL Jobs) (--You can take the quiz at http://www.careerpath.com/career-tests/color-test/. It only takes a couple of minutes.)


If the Super Bowl Goes To Overtime, Papa John's Will Give a Free Pizza To Every Single American Adult:

There have been 44 Super Bowls, and none of them have gone to overtime. And Papa John's is hoping that trend continues this year . . . or this publicity stunt is going to blow up in their face. --Papa John's is one of the official sponsors of the Super Bowl this year, and they've just made a major announcement: If the game goes to overtime, they'll give a free large pizza with up to three toppings to EVERY SINGLE American adult. --There is a catch. To be eligible, you have to register for Papa John's Rewards Program before Super Bowl Sunday, which is February 6th. --Registration is free but, you know, they'll probably send you a whole bunch of emails and whatnot. --The line in the Super Bowl is tight this year . . . the Green Bay Packers are two-and-a-half-point favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers . . . so the game MIGHT be tight enough to go to overtime. But probably not. (Slashfood) (--If you want to register and get in on the contest, go to PapaJohns.com/rewards.)
The Girl Scouts Are Cutting Down To Just Six Types of Cookies . . . Will Your Favorites Make the Cut?

Downsizing is everywhere, man. It's even affecting the one industry in America we thought was untouchable . . . cookie production. --The Girl Scouts are cutting back on the different types of cookies they're selling. Right now they have 11 varieties . . . but this year, some troops are only selling SIX as a test. If the test works, they'll officially cut down to six flavors next year. --By cutting flavors, they can save money on production, and also help the Girl Scouts focus their sales efforts. So which six are going to survive? Basically, it's the classics.

#1.) Thin Mints

#2.) Do-Si-Dos, which are the two oatmeal cookies with peanut butter in between.

#3.) Trefoils, which are the shortbread cookies.

#4.) Samoas, also known as Caramel deLites, the vanilla cookies covered in caramel and sprinkled with coconut.

#5.) Lemon Chalet Cremes, the cinnamon cookies with lemon filling.

#6.) Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties, the vanilla cookies layered with peanut butter and covered in chocolate.

--The flavors getting cut are Thanks-A-Lot, sugar-free chocolate chip cookies, Dulce De Leche, Lemonades, and Thank U Berry Munch. --Thin Mints are the biggest seller, and account for about 25% of all sales. Samoas are next, at 19% . . . then Tagalongs at 13% . . . Do-Si-Dos at 11% . . . and Trefoils at 9%. All of the others add up to about 23%. --Girl Scout Cookies bring in more than $714 MILLION every year, and usually make up at least two-thirds of every local Girl Scout council's budget. (Wall Street Journal)


A Woman Files For Divorce From Her New Husband . . . After He Brings His Mother Along On Their Honeymoon:

It's tough to be romantic and sexy when your mother's around . . . making sure you tuck in your shirt, asking the restaurant to turn down the air conditioning, silently and not-so-silently judging at all times. --In December, in Rome, Italy, a couple got married . . . and then, as they went to their airport to fly to their honeymoon in France . . . the groom's mom showed up. And the groom told his new wife he'd invited mom along on the honeymoon. --She pulled him aside and asked him to reconsider, but he said he couldn't leave her alone for health reasons -So the three of them went on their honeymoon together. Now, less than a month later, the bride has filed for divorce . . . citing, quote, "excessive emotional attachment" between her husband and his mother. (AFP)


The "Unluckiest Man In the World" Has Survived Snake Bites, Armed Robbery, a Stabbing . . . And Has Now Been Hit By Lightning:

47-year-old John Wade Agan of Tampa, Florida believes he's the WORLD'S UNLUCKIEST MAN. And if you look at his last four years . . . he makes a pretty decent case. --Four years ago, he was robbed at gunpoint while he was driving his taxi. The robbers beat him up and stuffed him in the trunk of his car. --Three years ago, he was stabbed in the chest with a butcher knife. --Two years ago, two different snakes bit him at the same time. --And now, on Tuesday, he was STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. --Somehow, he's survived all of those. He says that when people hear his stories, they think he's making all this up to get prescriptions for painkillers but, quote, "I don't care what people say. Any day of the week, I'll go take a drug test." --He's still in the hospital now, recovering from the lightning strike. (St. Petersburg Times)


A Woman In Russia Burns Down Her House When She Tries To Revive Her Dead Sister's Mummified Body:

Last year in Yekaterinburg, Russia, a 73-year-old woman died from natural causes. She was home at the time with her 69-year-old sister. --Instead of reporting that her sister had died, the 69-year-old woman decided she was going to go on a quest to bring her sister back to life. --For the past year, she's researched cures . . . all while preserving and mummifying her sister's body with GASOLINE. --Finally, on Tuesday, she came up with her best plan. She was going to connect her sister to a car battery and use the wires to JUMP START her. --But when she tried it, the spark from the battery made all the gasoline catch on fire . . . and burned down the house. Also, surprisingly enough, it didn't bring her sister back to life. --The woman was hospitalized with burns and smoke inhalation. --Police are charging her with arson . . . but believe that she's not mentally stable. (Russian Times)
Police In New York Show Up At the Scene of a Car Accident . . . And Find a Man Tied Up and Bleeding In the Trunk of a Car:

On Wednesday, police in Manhattan went to the scene of an accident between a cab and a BMW: The BMW driver had run a light, crashed into the back of the cab, and got stuck in the snow on the side of the road. Then he ran away. --When the police got to the scene, they figured out why the BMW driver had taken off on foot. They noticed a BULLET HOLE in the trunk of the car, and popped it open. --Inside, they found . . . A MAN. --The guy was tied up, he was badly beaten, he was bleeding, and part of his EAR was missing. He was rushed to the hospital but he's still unconscious. --Police believe that the man who was tied up is the owner of the BMW, and he was trying to sell it. When he met with a potential buyer, that guy beat him, tied him up in the trunk, and drove off. --The cops say they have a name of a suspect, but he's still at large. They got his name and the victim's name off a bill of sale inside the car. (New York Daily News)


A Court Rules That Inmates Can't Play "Dungeons & Dragons" . . . Because It's Too Similar To Organizing a Gang:

Some really bad news today for any HUGE, HUGE NERDS who get sent to prison. Leave your 12-sided die at home . . . because there ain't no role-playing games on the inside. --On Wednesday, a U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that American inmates can NOT play "Dungeons & Dragons" in prison. --In "D&D", there's a dungeon master who gives directions to other players as they go on quests and fight against dragons and other monsters. --And the court ruled that the entire dynamic, quote, "mimics the organization of a gang" . . . and they can't have gangs in prison, even if those gangs are made up of wizards and orcs and elves. --The court was ruling on "D&D" because of an inmate named Kevin Singer in Wisconsin, who got life in prison in 2002 for killing his sister's boyfriend. --He's a lifelong Dungeon Master and wanted to bring his game in with him. He was denied . . . and the "D&D" fight has been slowly moving through the courts ever since. (FOX News)


Border Patrol Finds That Mexican Smugglers Have Been Getting Drugs Into the U.S. With . . . a Medieval Catapult:

One of the newest ways that Mexican drug cartels have been smuggling drugs across the border into the U.S. is . . . by using technology straight out of "Lord of the Rings". --Border Patrol and the Mexican military recently found a MEDIEVAL CATAPULT just south of the Arizona border. Smugglers would put packages of marijuana in the catapult and launch them to people waiting across the border. --Every year, the Border Patrol busts hundreds of different smuggling attempts . . . from tunnels underground, to horses and trucks on the ground, to small aircraft above the ground. This is their very first catapult, though. (Reuters)


MEATBALL CRIMINALS

A Fugitive Who's Been On the Run Since 1983 Is Finally Busted . . . When He Gets Arrested For Relieving Himself In Public:

Back in 1983, 23-year-old Edward Nathan Junior was locked up at the Tampa Community Correctional Center, serving five years for robbery with a deadly weapon. --On August 27th, 1983, he escaped from a work release center and went on the lam. He's been on the run as a fugitive ever since. --On Friday, after 27 years, four months, and 25 days of freedom, Edward was finally captured . . . when police in Fulton County, Georgia arrested him for PEEING IN PUBLIC. --They had no idea who he was. He escaped when he was 23 . . . he's FIFTY now . . . so he hasn't exactly been at the top of anyone's fugitive pile. All they knew was that some 50-year-old was peeing in the street, so they busted him. --He told them his name was Claude Brooks. They ran his fingerprints through a national database and found out he was actually Edward Nathan Junior . . . and was still wanted by the Florida Department of Corrections. --He's been living as Claude Brooks since he escaped. He works for Atlanta's public works department as an environmental services worker. --Right now the police are still sorting out the case, but Edward will probably be sent back to Florida to face his escape charges. (FOX 5 - Atlanta)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS

Not-So-Stupid News: Current college freshmen have experienced the biggest one-year drop in mental health in HISTORY. Only 52% say their mental health is "above average." 30% say they were overwhelmed by high school. (Full Story)



Colorado State University just got an $8 million grant from the Department of Defense . . . to develop bomb-detecting plants for malls and airports that change color in the presence of explosives. (Full Story)



A woman in Florida couldn't afford a hit man to kill her abusive ex-boyfriend. So she tried to negotiate a lower price . . . to paralyze him from the neck down. Unfortunately she negotiated with an undercover cop, and was arrested. (Full Story)



A woman in Tennessee got upset that her brother was getting arrested outside her house for traffic violations . . . so she mooned the cops. Now she's in jail, and her brother's already been released. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) The Creepy Selena Gomez Fan on YouTube Also Does Special Birthday Dances by Request:

The creepy Selena Gomez fan from YouTube is like a gift that keeps on giving. Yesterday we told you about how he professed his love for her in a series of YouTube videos. --But it turns out he also does special birthday dances for women who email him. And his signature dance move is . . . humping the air. In one video, he even does it in a SKIRT, then takes it off to reveal a G-STRING underneath. (--Search for "JayHerrod1 Debera Birthday" and "Birthday Dance Wearing a Skirt." He takes off the skirt at :55.)


#2.) Here's an Old Couple Doing an Awesome Interpretive Dance to the Whitney Houston Song "I Wanna Dance With Somebody":

A few months ago, some cover band called The Time Machine Band posted a YouTube video of a gig at an Oklahoma casino. And now it's starting to get some attention online. But not because of the music. --It's because a strange older couple did a hilarious interpretive dance to the Whitney Houston song "I Wanna Dance With Somebody". (--Search for "Time Machine Band Dance With Somebody." Don't miss the karate chops at 1:01.)


#3.) The Leftover Footage From "Jackass 3-D" Will Be Posted Online April 1st . . . And the Trailer Was Released Yesterday:

The "Jackass" guys are releasing the leftover footage from "Jackass 3-D" on Joost.com on April 1st. They're calling it "Jackass 3.5", and they posted the trailer on Joost yesterday. (--Search for "Jackass 3.5 Trailer Joost.com")


#4.) A Super-Fast Rapper Has Been Posting Videos on YouTube . . . But Some People Say They're Fake:

A wannabe rapper named Mac Lethal has been posting videos on YouTube showing how fast he can rap, and it's pretty impressive . . . if it's real. He posted one on YouTube less than a week ago that already has over half a million views. -- Some people say it looks doctored, but see what you think. He also posted a new one yesterday that's not as fast, but it sums up the entire plot of the movie "Dazed and Confused" in two minutes. (--WARNING: Both videos include a TON of profanity, including the F-word.) (--Search for "Fastest Rapper Ever Mac Lethal" and "Dazed and Confused 120 Seconds")


#5.) A Guy Was Playing Xbox Kinect in His Living Room . . . And Accidentally Punched His Toddler In the Face:

Last November, Xbox released their Kinect system, the one that lets you play games by jumping around in front of the TV instead of using a controller. --And as you might expect, there are now plenty of videos on YouTube of people hurting themselves . . . or the people standing around them . . . while they're playing. And the worst one yet was posted yesterday on CollegeHumor.com. --It shows a guy playing Kinect while a little girl runs around behind him. And the little girl ends up taking a huge shot to the face. (--Search for "Kinect Bad Parenting Adventure")

Three Hidden Costs of Dating:

Let's face it: dating is expensive. From drinks to dinners to movies, the cost of chasing tail adds up. But it's not just your wallet that takes a hit. Today we've got three hidden costs of dating, courtesy of Match.com.

#1.) Friendships. It's just a fact of life: people lose friends when they get into new relationships. --Most people have five friends they consider to be part of their "inner circle." But when you get into a new relationship, that number drops to just four. And since one of them is your new boyfriend or girlfriend, it means you really just lost two friends.

#2.) Time. Dating is a process that takes time. According to a survey by a dating site in the UK, women said they went on an average of 24 dates before finding someone they wanted to settle down with. --That's time that could be spent doing other productive things, like going the extra mile at work or spending time with friends and family.

#3.) The City You Live In. The city you live in has a huge impact on how much you'll have to spend on dating. According to a survey by Dateable.com, New York City is the most expensive city in the U.S. for dating. --Dinner and a movie in New York runs about $135, while the same date in Portland, Oregon, would set you back just $82. (Match.com)

Thursday, January 27, 2011

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (01-27-11)

Kelsey Grammer's Wife May Prevent Him from Getting Remarried Next Month:

KELSEY GRAMMER wants to marry his new girlfriend, Kayte Walsh, next month. But that plan may have just gone up in smoke, thanks to his CURRENT wife CAMILLE. --Camille and her irritable bowel asked a judge to delay the divorce proceedings, so her lawyers can make sure all the financial issues are sorted out and she doesn't get screwed in the settlement. And that request was granted. --Camille is also asking for a $10 million bond to protect her in case Kelsey remarries and then DIES . . . and Camille has to fight Kayte over his estate. --Her attorney says, quote, "There is no question [that Kelsey] plans to remarry immediately. --"She shouldn't have to go into her pocketbook to fight for the estate when you know there is going to be a remarriage . . . with Ms. Grammer number next." (--Camille is his third wife.) --Kelsey's attorney says Camille is just stalling. And, obviously, he's going to fight that whole $10 million bond thing. --He says he expects the divorce to be finalized at a hearing on February 7th . . . after which Kelsey and Kayte will get married, as planned.


Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem Had a Boy:

PENELOPE CRUZ and JAVIER BARDEM are the proud parents of a baby BOY. There's still no word on the name. --Also, we're now hearing that Penelope gave birth on Saturday, not Tuesday.


Mike Tyson Has a New Son:

MIKE TYSON and his wife Lakiha are the proud parents of a baby boy named Morocco Elijah Tyson. Lakiha gave birth on Tuesday. --Mike and Lakiha already have a 2-year-old daughter named Milan . . . and Mike has five other children from previous relationships. --In May of 2009, Mike's 4-year-old daughter Exodus died when she accidentally strangled herself with a treadmill cord while at the home of her mother . . . who was Mike's ex-girlfriend. --Ten days later, Mike married Lakiha.


Did Chelsea Handler Break 50 Cent's Heart?

As far-fetched as it sounds, "Us Weekly" claims that CHELSEA HANDLER broke 50 CENT'S heart. --The two of them were allegedly messing around late last year . . . although neither of them ever confirmed that genital secretions had been swapped. But she dumped him just before the holidays. --A so-called "source" says that 50 tried to win her back by sending her gifts . . . but she sent them back. She even put a note on one of them that said, quote, "I can buy my own gifts." (--Chelsea is currently having her cradle robbed by Andre Balazs . . . a 54-year-old hotel tycoon who used to nail Uma Thurman. Chelsea is 35.)


Cheryl Burke from "Dancing with the Stars" Was Molested as a Child:

CHERYL BURKE from "Dancing with the Stars" reveals in the new issue of "People" magazine that she was molested as a child. -It happened when she was just five years old. The molester was a retired mailman who used to do odd jobs around her house . . . including picking her up from school. --Cheryl says, quote, "It was lots of touching. He would pull my pants down in his van or he would touch me in the living room while [Burke's caregiver] Ima was in the kitchen cooking. --"I knew what he did was wrong, but I wanted this older man's affection." --A year later, though, Cheryl ended up testifying against the man in court after he sexually assaulted her stepsister and a friend. --He ended up being sentenced to 20 years in prison, but he's since been released. Cheryl says, quote, "It creeps me out. My worst nightmare is to run into him. Not until he dies will I be able not to worry." (--Cheryl is 26 . . . she'll be 27 in May. It's not clear how long the dirtbag ultimately served.) --Cheryl discusses this in her memoir, "Dancing Lessons", which comes out next month. She also reveals that she's been physically abused by two boyfriends.


Bret Michaels Is Out of the Hospital:

BRET MICHAELS was discharged from the hospital yesterday . . . just two days after he underwent surgery to repair a hole in his heart. He's now recuperating at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. --His doctor says, quote, "Because of the successful outcome [of the surgery] and Bret's determination, I believe he will be able to return to normal activity within weeks."



Levi Johnston Will *Not* Let Bristol Palin Change Their Son's Last Name:

BRISTOL PALIN'S efforts to give her son Tripp her own last name will apparently come to nothing. LEVI JOHNSTON says that boy will REMAIN a Johnston . . . and he's not giving up his parental rights, either. --Levi's rep says, quote, "Levi has his son, and that isn't changing. It is what it is." --He also thinks Bristol should stop talking smack about Levi's parenting skills in public . . . quote, "The Palins need to take the high road. There's a child involved in this and Levi is not going to stoop to this level. --"The Palins like to fight. They can say whatever they want to say. But Levi is not going to dignify their comments with a response."


Vanilla Ice is Apparently Pretty Rich:

When VANILLA ICE does cheesy reality shows like "Dancing On Ice", "Celebrity Boxing" and "The Surreal Life", it gives the impression that he's a washed-up celebrity just scraping by and taking any gig that comes his way. --But apparently, that's NOT the case. Ice is doing just fine, in fact. As you may have known, Ice has his own show on the DIY Network, called "The Vanilla Ice Project". --And he says, quote, "I've been making great investments on property for 15 years and it follows me going around buying houses, doing them up, doing construction. I do a lot of TV stuff but I also turn a lot down . . . it's got to be an adventure." --And despite what you may think, Vanilla Ice's music career is still going pretty strong. He says, quote, "I've sold 3 million records in the past eight months and I've got a new record out next month called 'WTF'." --This should give you an indication of how good things are going for him . . . quote, "I've bought yachts, mansions, cars . . . I have an exotic car rental business in Palm Beach and I've just bought a Rolls-Royce Phantom." --He also has a pet Kangaroo named Bucky Buckaroo. (???) He says, quote, "I've had him since he was a baby and now he's 5-foot-10. He's spoiled rotten; he has his own enclosure and a female pot-bellied pig in there who is his lover. --"Kangaroos will hump anything. I think the pig likes it. There's also a goat in there who he grew up with but they're just friends."


Willow Smith Will Indeed Star in a Remake of "Annie":

It's happening just like they said it would: WILLOW SMITH will star in a remake of the rags-to-riches musical "Annie", which is being developed by Willow's parents, WILL and JADA, along with JAY-Z. --Jay . . . who's also the boss of Willow's record label . . . says, quote, "We're developing a true superstar in Willow."


Peter Jackson Had to Have Emergency Ulcer Surgery:

All that "Hobbit" chaos must have finally taken its toll on PETER JACKSON. He had emergency surgery yesterday to repair a perforated ulcer. --Ironically, the same condition contributed to the death of J.R.R. TOLKIEN in 1973. But Jackson is expected to fully recover.


John Travolta Met with John Gotti Jr. Yeserday:

It looks like JOHN TRAVOLTA is seriously considering that JOHN GOTTI movie . . . because he met with JOHN GOTTI JR. at a restaurant last night. The director, Nick Cassavetes, was there, too. (--Cassavetes' movies include "John Q", "Alpha Dog" and "The Notebook".) (--Check out video of the two Johns leaving the restaurant here.)


The "Glee" / Kings of Leon Battle Is Becoming More Intense:

"Glee" creator Ryan Murphy and the band KINGS OF LEON do NOT get along . . . and the back-and-forth between them appears to be HEATING UP. --Here's the latest: Yesterday, Kings of Leon drummer NATHAN FOLLOWILL slammed Murphy on Twitter . . . saying, quote, "Dear Ryan Murphy, let it go. See a therapist, get a manicure, buy a new bra. --"Zip your lip, and focus on educating 7 [year]-olds how to say (eff)." --Murphy is an openly gay man . . . so naturally, people are calling Nathan's "insults" homophobic. And Murphy himself is among them. --He responded, quote, "Just read [his] Tweet, in which he implied I should 'get a manicure and buy a bra.' Wow. That's a homophobe badly in need of some education. I'm all for manicures, [but] don't wear a bra. --"[I'd] guess most gay dudes don't. But it's telling that Nathan can reduce a group of people to a mean-spirited cliché, in a time where young gay men are killing themselves all over the country because of hatred like this." --Nathan later deleted his Tweet . . . and said he was sorry. He Tweeted, quote, "I'm sorry 4 anyone that misconstrued my comments as homophobic or misogynistic. I'm so not that kind of person. I really do apologize." --The whole thing started when Kings of Leon refused to let "Glee" use their music. They later said they turned it down because they weren't familiar with the show, but they also implied that by doing it they'd be "selling out." --Then, Murphy told the "Hollywood Reporter", quote, "(Eff) you, Kings of Leon" and called them "self-centered (A-holes)," and accused them of hating on "arts education." --Kings of Leon singer CALEB FOLLOWILL seemed STUNNED at that. He responded, quote, "This whole 'Glee' thing is a shock to us. It's gotten out of hand. We're not sure where the anger is coming from." --Bassist JARED FOLLOWILL also chimed in on Twitter . . . although it's awkwardly worded. He said, quote, "I think I found out who I was sitting [next] to last night and he said '(Eff) You' and something about music at school. Who gives a (crap)?" ) (--Meanwhile, previews of "Glee's" big post-Super Bowl episode are out . . .) (--It'll feature a rendition of MICHAEL JACKSON'S classic, zombie-packed "Thriller" video. You can find the spots, here and here . . . and pictures of the cast as zombies, here.)


10 Dudes That Could Replace Regis Philbin on "Live!":


REGIS PHILBIN isn't walking away from "Live! with Regis and Kelly" until this summer at the earliest . . . but "Entertainment Weekly" has already put together a list of 10 guys who could replace him on the show.

--Supposedly, this is NOT a wish list . . . all these names are being talked about behind the scenes. Naturally, ABC isn't commenting on any of this.

--Here's "Entertainment Weekly's" list:

--Ryan Seacrest

--"Survivor" host Jeff Probst (--He's co-hosted the show in the past.)

--Mario Lopez (--He's also co-hosted the show in the past.)

--"Bachelor" host Chris Harrison

--Kelly Ripa's husband Mark Consuelos. (--"Entertainment Weekly" adds, quote, "We're hearing he's an unlikely choice.")

--"20/20" host Chris Cuomo.

--CNN superstar Anderson Cooper. (--He's also co-hosted before. However, he's in the middle of developing his own daytime talk show.)

--"Access Hollywood" anchor Billy Bush

--"How I Met Your Mother" stud Neil Patrick Harris (--He's also co-hosted.)

--"Dirty Jobs" host and "Deadliest Catch" narrator Mike Rowe

--"Entertainment Weekly" also listed five names that are being "floated by other publications" . . . but that they consider, quote, "silly."

--They are: Nick Jonas . . . uh, yeah, that's pretty silly . . . Bryant Gumbel, Glenn Beck, Tom Bergeron, Larry King and "Glee" star Jane Lynch. (???) (--Nick Jonas . . . like many of these other rumored replacements . . . has co-hosted with Kelly before.)

--By the way, Regis has apparently talked with MARY HART . . . who's leaving "Entertainment Tonight" in May . . . about working together in the future. --Obviously, it's too early to say if anything will come of it. They bumped into each other at a recent event, and discussed the possibilities.
Will Ferrell Will Do an Extended Guest Stint on "The Office":

NBC has announced that WILL FERRELL will be joining "The Office" later this season. He'll appear in four episodes . . . with at least one of them coming after STEVE CARELL leaves in April. (--There are no specific airdates yet.) --Will is playing an "inappropriate branch manager" who arrives from the home office while Steve's character, Michael Scott, prepares to leave. --Supposedly, Will is a fan of the show, and it was his idea to come aboard for a few episodes to help ease the transition to "Office" life after Steve Carell.


NBC Has Ordered-Up Some Lesbians:

NBC is developing a sitcom called "I Hate That I Love You" . . . about a lesbian couple. Here's the premise: "A straight couple introduces two of its lesbian friends to one another, and what results is both instant attraction and a pregnancy."


Steven Tyler's Daughters Say Steven Has Made "American Idol" Less Boring:

If nothing else, STEVEN TYLER has brought some fun unpredictability to the "American Idol" judging panel this season . . . and his daughters would agree. --MIA TYLER tells "Life & Style" magazine, quote, "We're a very sarcastic family. He's the funniest man I know. --"He's saving the show because it was kind of boring before. There's only so many times you can watch Simon [COWELL] be mean to people." --She adds that despite his borderline insanity on "Idol", he's just a normal guy at home. She says, quote, "He's very protective and gets mad at us for not cleaning the cat litter box . . . typical dad stuff." --"Idol" has continued its slide in the ratings this season, but the show picked up at least one new fan: Steven's other daughter LIV TYLER. --She says, quote, "I was so excited [when Steven became a judge]. I never really watched 'American Idol' [before]. --"[But] I watched it with my girlfriends at home the other night . . . and I had goose bumps for an hour and a half and laughed and loved it."


Thursday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)

--"American Idol" [Auditions Show] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Fox.

--"[Bleep] My Dad Says" . . . 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS. (--Tila Tequila guest stars as Ting-Ting, the trophy wife of one of Ed's neighbors.)

--"The Office" . . . 9:00 to 9:30 P.M. on NBC. (--Andy tries to boost his slumping sales by organizing a business seminar that transforms into an improv contest for Michael and Holly.)

--"Nikita" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on the CW. (--"The Young & the Restless'" Thad Luckinbill guest stars as Alex's new neighbor.)

--"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" [Reunion Show Part 1 of 2] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Bravo.

--"Winter X Games" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on ESPN 2. (--Highlights from the 15th annual extreme sports competition in Aspen, Colorado.)

--"Archer" [2nd Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on FX.
Jimmy Buffett Fell Off a Stage in Australia . . . But He Is OK:

JIMMY BUFFETT was hospitalized after falling off the stage during a concert in Australia Tuesday night. It was a nasty fall, but apparently he's OK. --Jimmy was in the middle of singing when he suddenly fell. There was a gap in-between the stage and the crowd . . . and he dropped into it, hitting his head. He lay on the ground for five to 10 minutes before paramedics helped him up. --It's unclear what caused Jimmy to fall . . . but a source tells TMZ that there were some bright, flashing stage lights that may have temporarily blinded him. (--TMZ has video of the fall. You can't see much . . . but you can see him fall, and the security guys swarm in to assist him. Check it out, here.) --Jimmy was then taken to the hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. --His rep released this statement: "The doctors say he is doing well and will be released tomorrow. More info as we get it, and thank you for all of your well-wishes!" And as expected, he was released yesterday. --He's next scheduled to perform this Saturday in New Zealand. As of late last night, it was unclear whether he'd be able to make it.


Is Lady Gaga Creating a Scent That Smells Like Blood and Man-Juice?

Like a lot of celebrities, LADY GAGA is getting her own fragrance, and like a lot of celebrities, she'll probably have LITTLE to ZERO input in its creation . . . regardless of what anyone says. It'll just have her picture on the box or whatever. -That's OK, because we're better off WITHOUT these celebrities being in the lab . . . mixing the chemicals and stuff. And that's especially the case with Lady Gaga. --That's because, according to Fashionista.com, Lady Gaga wants her fragrance to smell like blood and man-juice. (--And yeah, that would be "semen.")


It's Official: Vince Neil Is Doing 15 Days in Prison:

As expected, MOTLEY CRUE singer VINCE NEIL accepted a plea deal in his DUI case, which will send him to prison for 15 days. He must begin his term on or before February 15th. (--TMZ has video from the courtroom. Check it out, here.)


"The Big 4" One-Off Concert COULD Still Become a Tour:

Earlier this week, "The Big Four" . . . METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX . . . announced that they'd be doing ONE concert together on April 23rd in California. But there's still a chance for a full-on tour. (--They did a brief, seven-date tour together in Europe last year, and fans were hoping for a similar run in the U.S. this year. But instead, they just announced ONE show . . . and TWO more in Europe this summer.) --Metallica drummer LARS ULRICH says more Big Four shows COULD happen . . . quote, "Most of the egos and sandbox issues from the '80s and '90s have dissipated. --"We actually enjoy each others' company and are comfortable celebrating the past while continuing our path into the future. It's cool. --"I'm not saying this is the last one. But I don't want this to turn into something that overtakes everybody's schedules for the next couple years. If we keep it special, it's better than to overstay your welcome . . . let's see what happens." --Special or not, SLAYER guitarist KERRY KING is down for it. He says, quote, "I'm chomping at the bit to do a full-blown tour at stadiums across the country."


Elton John Calls Seeing Kanye West or Eminem in the Studio a "Phenomenon":

ELTON JOHN is always preaching tolerance. And he puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to music. Elton is into everything . . . including rap. --He said, quote, "I never dismiss any form of music. I listen to everything. […] People who mock rap, and say, 'I don't like it,' they should go check out Kanye [WEST] in the studio rapping. Or Eminem when he's in the studio. --"It's a phenomenon. Don't knock it until you've seen it. It may not be your cup of tea, but don't ridicule. I find that so many of my peers of my age don't listen to anything new. I love the new." (--And he supports "the new," too. Elton appears on Kanye's new disc, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" . . . and he's on the new ALICE IN CHAINS album.)


Nas Owes $6.4 Million in Taxes:

NAS has some big time debt collectors NOT named KELIS. --Nas owes the IRS $6.5 million in back taxes. That's the total of three tax liens that Nas has been hit with over the past three years. (--He also owes his ex-wife Kelis $25,000-a-month in spousal and child support.)
SHOWBIZ EXTRAS


A supermarket in Arkansas has drawn the ire of gay rights activists for obscuring the cover of the "People" magazine issue that featured ELTON JOHN, his partner and their adopted son. (Full Story)


MICHAEL VICK has scored his first post-prison endorsement deal . . . although it's "only" with Unequal Technologies . . . a company that makes football pads. It's a two-year deal. There's no word how much it's worth. (Full Story)


Cincinnati Bengals receiver CHAD OCHOCINCO has announced that he's changing his last name back to JOHNSON. He also says he doesn't want to leave Cincinnati. (Full Story)


Rumors that JENNIFER ANISTON is adopting a kid are, once again, untrue. (Full Story)


MTV is now canceling "Skins", despite rumors to the contrary. (Full Story)


Ratings for PRESIDENT OBAMA'S State of the Union Address were down from last year. (Full Story)


LORI LAUGHLIN is being dropped from the cast of "90210" at the end of the season. (Full Story)


WILL.I.AM is the new "Director of Creative Innovation" for Intel. He'll assist in the development of devices such as laptops, smart phones and tablets. (Full Story)


JUSTIN BIEBER will be on "Letterman" twice next week. On Monday, he'll be a regular guest . . . then he'll be back on Friday to present the Top 10 List. (Full Story)


DIDDY will guest star on an episode of "Hawaii Five-O" sometime this spring. He'll play a detective who's on a personal mission to hunt down some men responsible for a crime against his family. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF

The Best Way To Keep Your Marriage Together Is . . . Refusing To Forgive Your Spouse for Their Mistakes:

Next time your husband or wife does something that makes you furious, here's the best thing you can do for the marriage. Confront them . . . scream at them . . . and then flat-out REJECT their apology and hold a permanent grudge. --According to a new study from the University of Tennessee, when you forgive your spouse for doing something bad, it doesn't make your marriage better . . . it makes it WORSE. --The reason? You're sending the message that bad behavior is forgivable. By holding an eternal grudge, you show that what they did is NEVER ok and is never going to be ok. --In the study, researchers found that people who forgave their spouse for doing something wrong were TWICE as likely to have their spouses do it again. --And this ranged from mild bad behavior . . . like moodiness, nagging, or being inconsiderate . . . all the way up to horrific bad behavior . . . like abuse or cheating. --James McNulty led the study. He says the reason you shouldn't be too quick to forgive is, quote, "It may simply be that negatively behaving partners realize their negative behaviors have implications for them [like] anger and loneliness." (Time)
A Man Files for Police Protection . . . Because of His Wife's Insane Appetite for Sex:

See . . . it SEEMS like it's a good idea to marry a woman who's insatiably randy and wants it all the time. That's hot for a while. Then a few years pass, and some nights you just want to relax, watch TV, and go to sleep without having to perform. --That's what happened to a guy in Waiblingen, Germany. On Tuesday, he went to the police and asked for some protection from his wife . . . because of her insane appetite for sexual relations. --The man told the police that he'd been sleeping on the couch for the past four years to try to escape from his wife. They've been together 18 years and have two children. --The police told him they couldn't really intervene, so he decided his only choice was to end the marriage. --The police released a statement saying, quote, "Now he has decided to get a divorce and move out in the hope of finally getting some rest. --"At this moment, this is impossible, because he says his wife keeps coming into the living room demanding that he perform his marital duties. He asked for police help in getting some sleep at night." (FOX News)


If Your Ex-Boyfriend Keeps Popping Up In Your Sex Dreams, Don't Freak Out:

Here's some good news: If your ex-boyfriend keeps popping up in your sex dreams, it ISN'T a sign you want to get back together with him. It's totally innocent. BUT . . . you still probably shouldn't tell your current boyfriend or husband. -According to a group of researchers, it just means you're approaching ovulation. The longer you've been in your current relationship, the more your subconscious is going to wander during that time each month when you're randiest. --But the dreams don't really mean anything, and they aren't a sign that you should dump your boyfriend or husband and go back to your ex. It's just basic biological nature for your mind to wander to previous sexual partners. (Psychology Today)


A Good Way for a Woman To Get Promoted Is . . . Act Manly:

Hey, let's set the women's movement back four or five decades, how 'bout it? According to a new study at George Mason University, one of the best ways for women to get promoted at work is . . . to act like a man. --Researchers found that women who show traditional masculine workplace traits . . . like dominance and self-confidence . . . tend to get more promotions than other women. And they also get promoted faster than MEN. --But before you go into work and start smacking your male co-workers on the butt and calling them "Toots" or "Jiggles", there's a catch. --The researchers say the key here is monitoring yourself. So that when you're being confident and assertive, you also need to constantly gauge your co-workers' reactions and make sure you stay LIKEABLE. (ABC News)


Google's Next Mission Is . . . Becoming a Go-To Source For Internet Pornography:

Google's become the most powerful company in the world by redefining the way we look at web searching, email, maps, and pretty much everything else online. Now, they're targeting the final Internet frontier. --Google wants to become your go-to source for online porno. --On Tuesday, Google was issued a patent for a new image search technology that will help figure out whether you're searching for porno or regular content . . . and give you what you're looking for in either case. --Basically, they'd monitor which searches lead to people clicking on porno sites and images, and which searches are for people who want to click on real, non-sexual content. --Then, based on what you search for, they'd know whether or not to give you porno . . . and using their infinite supply of data, they'd be able to put the best, most relevant, targeted porno right in front of you. --This would also help your non-sexual searches return even better results . . . but we're more focused on the other side of the coin. --There's no word on when Google might start implementing this new search technology. (Thinq)


Check Out the Best Time of Day to Hit the Gym, Make a Doctor's Appointment, Call Tech Support . . . and Ten Other Things:

We've got a list here from "Woman's Day" magazine that has all the best times of day to do different things. It's usually the times when no one else is doing them. --And yes, we do see the problem in sharing a list of off-peak times . . . which could, in theory, lead to those times becoming the peak times. But let's just pretend that's not the case.

--Go to the gym before 8:00 A.M. If you put off exercising until later in the day, there's a much greater chance you'll skip it. Plus the gym is less crowded in the mornings than it is after work.

--Place orders online before 9:00 A.M. That way you have the best chance they'll be shipped out that same day.

--Call customer service just after 9:00 A.M. It's early, but a little bit after they've opened, so the people there will be done handling overnight messages and be able to focus on you.

--The best time to hit the DMV and the post office is . . . before 11:00 A.M. Most people will try to squeeze those in before work or during lunch, not during the mid-morning.

--Make restaurant reservations after 11:00 A.M. If you want to make reservations, do it close to lunch. By then, a manager or maitre d' will be at the restaurant and you can deal with them directly.

--The best time for a business lunch is before noon. By getting there before the rush, you'll get the best table and more attention from the staff.

--You should set up doctor's and dentist's appointments after 1:00 P.M. In the morning, they're usually dealing with emergencies, and get backed up until lunch. After lunch they're less busy and have a clean slate.

--If you want to talk to an executive, try after 5:00 P.M. Your best bet is to try calling after their assistant has left for the day. Executives tend to work later, so calling after regular business hours gives you the best chance of getting through directly.

--Fill up your gas tank after 6:00 P.M. In the morning, there are usually lines. After 6:00, there shouldn't be any waiting.

--The best time to buy groceries is after 9:00 P.M. There are fewer people there at night . . . and fewer kids running around.

--If you need to call tech support, do it in the middle of the night. Later at night gives you a better shot of only sitting on hold for an hour, instead of six hours. Since a lot of tech support lines are 24-hours, take advantage of the off-peak time (Woman's Day)


Americans Think Southern Accents Make You Sound Nice . . . British Accents Make You Sound Smart . . . And New York Accents Make You Sound Rude:

Harris Interactive just released the results of a nationwide survey asking people what they think of when they hear different accents. And it shows that good old American stereotyping is alive and well. Check this out . . .

--A Southern accent was associated with being nice . . . and uneducated. It was least associated with being rude or sophisticated.

--A British accent was associated with being sophisticated and well-educated. It was least associated with being uneducated or dishonest.

--A New York accent was associated with being RUDE and dishonest. It was least associated with being nice or honest. 51% of people associated the New York accent with rudeness, which was the highest percentage in the entire survey.

--A Midwest accent (--pronounced aaaaaaccent) was associated with being nice and honest. It was least associated with being rude or dishonest.

--And a New England accent was associated with being well-educated and intelligent. It was least associated with being uneducated or sophisticated.

--Across the board, people tended to give the best associations to the accent from their region. Like . . . Southern people were most likely to trust Southern accents, New Yorkers were most likely to trust New York accents, and so on.

(PR Newswire) (--You can see specifics on how each accent ranked here.)
The Color-Coded Terror Alert System Will Be Gone By April:

I don't know about you, but the first thing I do every morning is check Homeland Security to see what color the terror level is for the day. And it's always orange. Looks like I'm going to have to start changing my routine. -The Department of Homeland Security is announcing today that they're phasing out the color-coded terror warning system. It will be completely gone by April 27th. --In other words: Next time you're at the airport, you won't hear a recording of a woman's voice telling you that the current threat level is orange. --Homeland Security will take the next three months to roll out a replacement, which will be called the National Terrorism Advisory System. Instead of colors, it will notify the public by talking about specific threats, and how they're being handled. --Under the current system, there were five color-coded alerts to describe the different level of a threat: Green, blue, yellow, orange, and red. The government hasn't changed the alert level from orange in more than four years. --Representative Bennie Thompson is a Democrat from Mississippi who helped come up with the new system. Quote, "The old BUSH color-coded system taught Americans to be scared, not prepared. --"Every time the threat level was raised, very rarely did the public know the reason, how to proceed, or for how long to be on alert." (Associated Press)


Website of the Day: A Dating Site for Sea Captains Only:

I guess there's a dating site for EVERY niche at this point . . . no matter how ridiculous it seems. The newest one is called SeaCaptainDate.com . . . which matches up men or women with the sea captain of their dreams. --They say that they have more than 10,000 sea captains signed up already. No word on how many non-sea captains have signed up.


MEATBALL CRIMINALS

A Woman Runs Down Her Cousin With a Minivan . . . Over a Facebook Friend Request From a Guy:

One of the BIG problems with Facebook is that it's a very, very public way of finding out the love of your life is exploring someone else's genitalia. That happened to a woman on Long Island, New York. And the results were NOT good. --This weekend, 20-year-old Melanie Spanopoulous of Franklin Square, New York found out that her cousin, 21-year-old Giselle Penagos was dating a guy she liked. --And she found out because the guy accepted Giselle's Facebook friend request, but not hers. -So she responded by getting in her minivan . . . and RUNNING OVER her cousin in the middle of the street. Then, once her cousin was knocked down and trying to get up, Melanie threw the van in reverse and hit her again. --A man saw what was going on and ran over to help. Melanie offered him $20 to take her cousin to her father's house in Queens . . . and then drove off. --The man refused the money and drove Giselle to her father's anyway. Her father took her to the hospital, where doctors worked on her broken pelvis and broken leg. --Melanie was charged with assault. (New York Post)


A High Speed Chase In Washington Ends When a Woman Accidentally Runs Herself Over With Her Car:

On Monday, 40-year-old Jona Zeigler of Moses Lake, Washington was driving in her truck when the cops tried to pull her over for an outstanding felony warrant. --And Jona made the snap decision to BOLT. --She ended up leading the cops on a brief high-speed chase through some local neighborhoods . . . then got out of her truck to take off on foot. --But Jona made two major mistakes. One, she got out of her truck without throwing it into park. And two, as she got out of the moving vehicle she tripped . . . fell . . . and was RUN OVER by her own truck. --It ended up crashing into a chain link fence and coming to a stop. --She was taken to the hospital with undisclosed injuries. Once she's stable, she'll be arrested for her warrant, and for a new charge of felony evading. (Columbia Basin Herald)


Police Report To an Elementary School After a Substitute Teacher Drunkenly Passes Out In Front of Her Students:

I remember how my classes used to react when we had a substitute teacher . . . so I can completely empathize with a sub needing to DRINK to deal with horrible, horrible children. Just wait until AFTER school, not before. --Last week, a 46-year-old woman was substitute teaching a sixth-grade class at Pope Elementary School in Puyallup, Washington. --The sheriff's department got a call around 12:30 P.M. Apparently, the teacher was swearing and screaming at her students . . . and then started passing out at her desk. --When the police got there, they found her slumped down at the desk. --She told the deputies she'd taken some medication the night before . . . and put down a few glasses of wine before she came to school. --The cops found a flask in her purse. --No children were hurt, and the teacher wasn't arrested . . . but she was suspended by the school district while they investigate. (Seattle Times)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS

There's an insurance company called American Family Insurance that now offers parents a DriveCam . . . a spy camera in the car to let them spy on their teenage drivers. (Full Story)

Wal-Mart . . . now offering a line of makeup for 8- to 12-year-olds. (Full Story)

Girl Scouts selling cookies in Florida lost $100 . . . in a drive-by robbery. (Full Story)

And now . . . indoor heating may cause obesity too. A new study says that being exposed to milder temperatures means our bodies don't need to work as hard to regulate our own body temperatures . . . so we burn less energy. (Full Story)


NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) Here's an Old Guy with Bad Teeth Professing His Love for Selena Gomez:

There's a weird older guy with gray hair and brown teeth who's been posting YouTube videos about his love for 18-year-old SELENA GOMEZ. And despite the creepiness factor, the videos are pretty funny. --One of them begins with the guy saying, quote, "Selena Gomez: Totally in control of me? Yes." And in another video, he talks about how much young women are attracted to him. (--Search for "Selena Gomez Total Control" and "The Gossip About Me and Selena Gomez")


#2.) A Guy Peeled Out In His Classic Car, and Left Flames on the Road Like in "Back to the Future":

Some guy at a classic car event peeled out so hard, his tires left two flaming skid marks on the road, just like in "Back to the Future". (--Search for "Classic Car Leaves Flames on Road." See the flames at :25.)


#3.) Ben Stiller's Parents Have Their Own Web Series . . . And in the Latest Episode They Make Fun of the Kardashians:

BEN STILLER'S parents, JERRY STILLER and ANNE MEARA, have their own web series on Yahoo where they talk about pop culture. And in the latest episode, they go after the Kardashians and BRUCE JENNER'S plastic surgery.
(--WARNING: This video includes the word "ass".)
(--Search for "Stiller & Meara Episode 17")


The Seven Strangest Things People are Allergic To:

Over 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, usually triggered by things like pollen, pet dander, and peanuts. But you can be allergic to just about anything, and here's proof. These are seven of the strangest allergies ever documented.

#1.) Water. Since the human body is made up of about 60% water, it seems impossible. But 40 people worldwide have been diagnosed with water allergies, also known as "aquagenic urticaria" (--aqua-jenn-ic er-tah-CARRY-uh) --It causes your skin to break out in hives when it comes into contact with water. And in severe cases, your throat can swell up if you drink any. --A woman in the U.K. who suffers from it can only drink Diet Coke. For some reason, her body can tolerate it even though it contains carbonated water.

#2.) Everything But Water. It's so rare, there isn't even a name for it. But there are documented cases of children who have such bad allergies, water is the only thing they can safely consume. --One of the most severe cases is a 6-year-old boy in Australia who can only have water, ice, and one brand of lemonade. If he eats anything else, he gets ulcers and has severe stomach aches. So he has to eat through a feeding tube instead.

#3.) Cold Weather. Some people develop hives if their skin is exposed to cold air, even for a few seconds. --So going outside in cold would obviously cause a reaction, but so can walking through the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. And swimming in cold water can be deadly.
#4.) Heat. People with heat allergies develop red, itchy, swollen skin and welts if they're exposed to temperatures above 109 degrees. Things like exercise, hot showers, saunas, heavy blankets, and spicy food can all cause a reaction.

#5.) Touch. It's called dermatographia (--pronounced der-ma-toe-GRAPH-ee-uh). And in severe cases, even a slight brush against the person's skin creates an itchy, red rash. --It's also called "skin writing disease" because words and designs can easily be scratched on the person's skin. And after a few minutes, it swells up and almost looks like it was branded there. --Two to five percent of the population is thought to have at least a mild form of it.

#6.) Cell Phones. Dermatologists are seeing more and more of what they call "cell phone rashes" on the sides of people's faces. And it's usually because the patient is allergic to nickel, which is used in a lot of cell phone parts. --Only about 3% of men have an allergic reaction to nickel. But 17% of women do, because the more contact you have with nickel, the more likely you are to be allergic to it. And nickel is found in a lot of earrings.

#7.) Sex. Well, not the act ITSELF, but the end result. Between 20,000 and 40,000 American women are thought to experience something called "human seminal plasma hypersensitivity". In other words, they're allergic to a guy's seed. --And since it can cause burning sensations, rashes, and welts, the allergic reaction is often misdiagnosed as an STD. (MNN.com)

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (01-26-11)

THE OSCAR NOMINEES
"The King's Speech" Leads This Year's Oscar Nominees:

Nominees for the "83rd Annual Academy Awards" were announced yesterday. --The most love went to "The King's Speech" . . . starring COLIN FIRTH as King George the 6th of Britain. It got 12 nominations. --"True Grit" followed with 10 nominations . . . while "The Social Network" and "Inception" had eight each. --All four of those movies will compete for Best Picture, along with "Black Swan", "The Fighter", "The Kids Are All Right", "127 Hours", "Toy Story 3" and "Winter's Bone". (--Remember, they nominate 10 films for Best Picture now. They do it so that the 99.99% of Americans who haven't seen "The King's Speech" can tune in to root for "Toy Story 3".) --Several "Golden Globe" winners will have a chance to add an Oscar to their trophy cases. NATALIE PORTMAN is up for Best Actress for "Black Swan" . . . as is ANNETTE BENING for "The Kids Are All Right". --And CHRISTIAN BALE and MELISSA LEO are up for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively, for "The Fighter". --JAMES FRANCO . . . who's co-hosting the ceremony with ANNE HATHAWAY . . . is up for Best Actor for "127 Hours". But among his competition is JEFF BRIDGES, who won last year for "Crazy Heart". (--He's up this year for "True Grit".) --Jeff's "True Grit" co-star, the amazing HAILEE STEINFELD, is one of the youngest Supporting Actress nominees at 14. (--The youngest Oscar nominee EVER is Justin Henry. He was eight when he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the 1979 drama "Kramer vs. Kramer".) (--The youngest WINNER was TATUM O'NEAL, who was 10 when she won Best Supporting Actress for "Paper Moon" in 1974.) (--Hailee has a high-powered supporter in Justin Bieber. After hearing of her nomination, he Tweeted, quote, "Met at the Globes and she is super talented. CONGRATS to Hailee Steinfeld for being 14 and getting nominated for an OSCAR for TRUE GRIT!") (--The Oscars air on Sunday, February 27th at 8:00 P.M. Eastern . . . on ABC. . . .)

Best Picture:

--"The King's Speech"
--"Inception"
--"Black Swan"
--"True Grit"
--"The Fighter"
--"127 Hours"
--"Toy Story 3"
--"The Social Network"
--"The Kids Are All Right"
--"Winter's Bone"



Best Actor:

--Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"
--Jeff Bridges, "True Grit"
--James Franco, "127 Hours"
--Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"
--Javier Bardem, "Biutiful" . . . which is also up for Best Foreign Film



Best Actress:

--Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"
--Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"
--Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine"
--Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"
--Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone"



Best Supporting Actor:

--Geoffrey Rush, "The King's Speech"
--Christian Bale, "The Fighter"
--Jeremy Renner, "The Town"
--Mark Ruffalo, "The Kids Are All Right"
--John Hawkes, "Winter's Bone"



Best Supporting Actress:

--Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"
--Helena Bonham Carter, "The King's Speech"
--Amy Adams, "The Fighter"
--Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"
--Jacki Weaver, "Animal Kingdom"



Best Director:

--Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"
--The Coen Brothers, "True Grit"
--Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"
--David O. Russell, "The Fighter"
--David Fincher, "The Social Network"


Best Adapted Screenplay:

--"True Grit"
--"127 Hours"
--"The Social Network"
--"Toy Story 3"
--"Winter's Bone"



Best Original Screenplay:

--"Inception"
--"The King's Speech"
--"The Fighter"
--"The Kids Are All Right"
--"Another Year"



Best Original Song:

--"Coming Home" . . . which Gwyneth Paltrow performed in "Country Strong"
--"I See the Light" . . . performed by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi in "Tangled"
--"If I Rise" . . . a Dido song, which is the main song in "127 Hours"
--"We Belong Together" . . . a Randy Newman song from "Toy Story 3"



Best Original Score:

--"How to Train Your Dragon" . . . composed by John Powell
--"Inception" . . . composed by Hans Zimmer
--"The King's Speech" . . . composed by Alexandre Desplat
--"127 Hours" . . . composed by A.R. Rahman
--"The Social Network" . . . composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross


Best Animated Film:

--"How to Train Your Dragon"
--"The Illusionist"
--"Toy Story 3"



Best Documentary Feature:

--"Inside Job" . . . a documentary about the global financial crisis.
--"Restrepo" . . . it's about soldiers in Afghanistan defending an outpost.
--"Gasland" . . . a documentary about Americans impacted by natural gas drilling.
--"Waste Land" . . . it's about an artist who uses his art to help Brazilian trash pickers.
--"Exit Through the Gift Shop" . . . a documentary about a French street artist in L.A.



Best Documentary (Short Subject):

--"Killing in the Name" . . . a documentary about radical Islamic terrorism.
--"Poster Girl" . . . it's about a former cheerleader who fought in Iraq.
--"Strangers No More" . . . about a school in Tel Aviv with students from 48 countries.
--"Sun Come Up" . . . a documentary about environmental refugees from New Guinea.
--"The Warriors of Qiugang" . . . it's about a group of Chinese villagers who fought the poisoning of the land and water from a nearby chemical factory.


And Here Are A Few Technical Categories You May Or May Not Care About . . .

Best Costume:

--"Alice in Wonderland"
--"True Grit"
--"The King's Speech"
--"The Tempest"
--"I Am Love"



Best Makeup:

--"The Wolfman"
--"The Way Back"
--"Barney's Version"



Best Visual Effects:

--"Alice in Wonderland"
--"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"
--"Inception"
--"Iron Man 2"
--"Hereafter"



Best Cinematography:

--"Black Swan"
--"Inception"
--"The King's Speech"
--"The Social Network"
--"True Grit"

(--You'll find the rest of the less-exciting nominees at the official site for the Oscars, here. That way you can clean up in your office pool when it comes to "Best Achievement in Sound Mixing.") (???)


Who Got Snubbed by the Academy?

More people seem to be talking about the SNUBS this year than the nominees. The consensus seems to be that the biggest snub was CHRISTOPHER NOLAN being left out of the Best Director category for "Inception". --Here are some other perceived snubs people are talking about . . .

--MARK WAHLBERG, Best Actor, "The Fighter" (--His co-stars CHRISTIAN BALE, AMY ADAMS and MELISSA LEO all got nominated.)

--ANDREW GARFIELD, Best Actor, "The Social Network" (--Some people think JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE should have gotten one, too. JESSE EISENBERG did get recognized in the Best Actor category.)

--"Burlesque", in any music categories

--MILA KUNIS, Best Supporting Actress, "Black Swan"

--LEONARDO DICAPRIO, Best Actor, "Inception" or "Shutter Island"

--"Despicable Me", Best Animated Feature

--RYAN GOSLING, Best Actor, "Blue Valentine"

--JULIANNE MOORE, Best Actress, "The Kids Are All Right"


Penelope Cruz Had Her Baby Yesterday:

"Us Weekly" is reporting that PENELOPE CRUZ had her baby yesterday. There's no word yet on the name or whether it's a boy or a girl. --This is the first child for Penelope and boyfriend JAVIER BARDEM . . . who was nominated yesterday for the Best Actor Oscar for "Biutiful". (--Penelope is 36 . . . Javier is 41.)



Sophie Monk Is Engaged to a 50-Year-Old Guy:

Model (slash) actress SOPHIE MONK is engaged to a 50-YEAR-OLD DUDE. -His name is Jimmy Esebag, and he's loaded, not surprisingly. He's the chairman of United Licensing Group, which owns the rights to the "Playboy" brand . . . and is also tied in with the Elite Modeling Agency. Sophie is 31. -Sophie . . . who was born in England but grew up in Australia . . . says, quote, "He's a keeper . . . It feels right. I think you know when you know." --Sophie got engaged to BENJI MADDEN of GOOD CHARLOTTE in 2006, but they broke up in 2008. She's also been linked to "Entourage" star KEVIN CONNOLLY and RYAN SEACREST.


Jennifer Love Hewitt Has Three Engagement Rings Picked Out . . . But No Fiancé:

Is this ingenious . . . or pathetic? --JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT has three engagement rings picked out . . . but no fiancé. --On yesterday's "Ellen DeGeneres Show", Jennifer said, quote, "I actually have three because I feel like I'm doing the guy a favor. --"Women are very confusing. We never know what we want and we're not very good at nailing that down for them. I feel like I don't want to be upset if he picks a bad ring." --She adds, quote, "If it gets to that conversation, if marriage comes up, I'm like, 'You know what's so weird. There is this store [Tiffany's] and there are three rings in it. --"'And if you chose one of these three, I'm going to be really excited. And if you go off on your own, we can have an awful, awkward moment. So why would you want to do that?'" (--Jennifer has been dating unknown actor Alex Beh for about seven months.)


Troy Aikman and His Wife Are Getting Divorced:

NFL legend TROY AIKMAN and his wife Rhonda are breaking up after 10 years together. --Troy issued a statement saying, quote, "This has been a difficult decision for Rhonda and me, but after 10 years of marriage we have decided to separate. --"We remain deeply committed to our children and respectfully ask that you honor our family's privacy during this period of adjustment." --Troy and Rhonda have two daughters, ages 8 and 9. Rhonda also has a daughter from a previous marriage. --This was Troy's first marriage. In the '90s, he dated country singer LORRIE MORGAN . . . and may have also tapped SANDRA BULLOCK and JANINE TURNER. --Aikman quarterbacked the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 2000 . . . winning three Super Bowls along the way. --These days, he calls games for Fox.


MICHAEL JACKSON MADNESS

Dr. Conrad Murray Pleaded Not Guilty Yesterday:

DR. CONRAD MURRAY pleaded NOT GUILTY yesterday to one count of involuntary manslaughter, for allegedly causing the death of MICHAEL JACKSON. --Asked for his plea, Murray said, quote, "Your honor, I am an innocent man. I therefore plead not guilty." (--Here's video.) --Outside the courthouse, his attorney told reporters, quote, "Dr. Murray is looking forward to telling his side of the story. Dr. Murray's been waiting 22 months for the opportunity to do this, and this is the first chance we have to force the issue." --Murray could get four years if convicted. His medical license was suspended in California . . . but he's still allowed to practice in Texas and Las Vegas. --KATHERINE JACKSON was at yesterday's hearing, even though she told ABC News, quote, "When I'm in that courtroom I can't stand to look at that man. And I go because I love my son, and I just feel I have to be there." (--Here's video.) --Jury selection is scheduled for March 28th. The judge has not yet decided whether to allow cameras in the courtroom. --For what it's worth, a homeless man was found dead on a park bench near the courthouse before the hearing. Dr. Murray's alibi is pretty airtight, though.


Kentucky Fried Idiots - #1: Did Spencer Pratt Record a Rap for KFC?

A rap song that SPENCER PRATT recorded last year has hit the web . . . and it's pretty bad. --It's called "Ain't No Thing But a Chicken Wing", and it includes such lyrics as, quote, "Money ain't a thing / Nothing but a chicken wing / Call me Mr. KFC / S dot P in the flesh." (--You can listen to it here.) --Spencer says his goal was to pitch it to KFC for a commercial. But he never got that far, because he had a falling out with the producers. He doesn't know who leaked the track, but he's not happy about it. --He says, quote, "This is an attempt to sabotage my credibility and reputation."


Kentucky Fried Idiots - #2: Is the Imagery at Flavor Flav's New Fried Chicken Restaurant Racist?

As you may have heard, FLAVOR FLAV recently opened a fried chicken restaurant called Flav's Fried Chicken in Clinton, Iowa. --Some people are already wondering if Flav is bolstering black stereotypes by opening a fried chicken joint. And now, TMZ is suggesting that Flav's image on the restaurant sign and the menus might be kind of racist and minstrel-y. (--You can see the supposedly offensive imagery in this photo gallery. What do you think? Check out numbers 3, 5, 7, 10, 11 and 13, especially.)


Was Betty White Knocking Back Grey Goose During Her Birthday Party?

BETTY WHITE turned 89 last week. And you better believe she partied. --She celebrated her birthday at a restaurant called Le Cirque in New York City. Guests included VALERIE BERTINELLI, SHERRI SHEPHERD and JACK MCBRAYER from "30 Rock". --A source says, quote, "She was eating hot dogs and throwing back vodka . . . Grey Goose, rocks, lime rim. She was amazing." --But Betty is still a lady. And thus, she would NOT dance on any tables. The source says, quote, "We were all trying to get her to table dance. We were chanting 'Betty! Betty!' and trying to get her up there all night. --"And that was after a very busy day. She was laughing at all of it. We thought maybe she would, but she was shaking her head and saying, 'Oh no! No.'"


There Might Be Another Linda Lovelace Movie in the Works . . . Starring Kate Hudson and James Franco:

There may now be TWO movies about "Deep Throat" star LINDA LOVELACE in the works. --There's "Inferno" . . . the one that LINDSAY LOHAN was attached to for much of last year. (--MALIN AKERMAN has since taken her place.) --And now, there's a SECOND one in the hopper. This one might star KATE HUDSON as Linda, and JAMES FRANCO as her abusive scumbag husband Chuck Traynor.


John Travolta Might Play Mobster John Gotti:

The World Wide Web of Movie Gossip says that JOHN TRAVOLTA might play New York mobster JOHN GOTTI in an upcoming flick. And JAMES FRANCO has been approached about playing John Gotti Jr. (--Keep in mind this is all FAR from confirmed.) --Gotti was the boss of the Gambino crime family. He was known as the Dapper Don, for his style . . . and as the Teflon Don, because the feds had so much trouble making charges stick. --Until 1992, when they got convictions against him for multiple murders, racketeering, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling, extortion, tax evasion and loansharking. He was sentenced to life in prison, where he died of throat cancer in 2002.


The Fourth Season of "Jersey Shore" Will Take Place in Italy:

MTV has ordered a fourth season of "Jersey Shore". That isn't at all surprising, considering its ratings this season. (--Last Thursday's episode drew a series-high 8.9 million viewers.) --But what IS surprising is the news that Season Four will take place in ITALY. --An MTV exec said, quote, "The cast is headed to the birthplace of the culture they love and live by. We can't wait to see what erupts as a result." --Naturally, UNICO National . . . the Italian-American organization that has been slamming "Jersey Shore" from Day One . . . is NOT happy about this. --A rep from UNICO says, quote, "People used to go to the circus to see the freak show . . . that is what this will be. It will not only hurt Italians but all Americans . . . their outrageous, reprehensible behavior will make us look like buffoons and bimbos." --For what it's worth, "Jersey Shore" does air in Italy, and MTV Italy's website refers to the cast as, quote, "the world's most favorite Italian-Americans." (--Not that an MTV website would be biased or anything.) --Production on Season Four will begin this spring. There's no premiere date yet . . . but MTV says it'll start "later this year." (--Let's hope it's MUCH "later this year." There's still plenty of Season Three left. We're only four episodes in.)
Oprah Winfrey's Sister-Revealing Episode Drew Big Ratings:

OPRAH WINFREY might be hoping that she has some other family members she doesn't know about, because Monday's episode . . . where she revealed her long-lost sister . . . was a ratings bonanza. --The exact number of viewers hasn't been revealed yet, but according to the "Hollywood Reporter", the preliminary data shows that it was her highest-rated episode in SIX YEARS. (--By the way, Oprah's dad VERNON WINFREY tells RadarOnline.com that he didn't know about Oprah's new half-sister Patricia until he saw the episode.) (--But remember, Oprah and Patricia share a mom. Vernon is not Patricia's father. You can read Vernon's thoughts on all this at RadarOnline.com, here.)


The Second Episode of "Skins" Dropped in the Ratings:

MTV's oh-so-"controversial" show, "Skins", did NOT benefit from all the hysterics about its "dangerous" content. (--That being teens engaging in sex and drugs.) --The second episode only attracted 1.6 million viewers. Last week's premiere attracted more than twice that much: 3.3 million viewers.


The NFL Playoffs Had Twice As Many Viewers As the Return of "American Idol":

54.9 million people watched the Pittsburgh Steelers advance to the Super Bowl by beating the Jets in Sunday's "AFC Championship" game. It was the week's #1 show, and the most-watched AFC championship game in history. (--The NFC Championship game between the Packers and the Bears attracted 51.9 million viewers, but since it was an afternoon game, those numbers aren't reflected in the primetime ratings.) -Football completely overshadowed last week's return of "American Idol". Wednesday's 10th season premiere was watched by just over 26 million people, while 23 million tuned in to Thursday's episode. (--You can take another look at the season premiere ratings for all 10 seasons of "American Idol", here.)

Here's a quick look at last week's Top shows . . .

1.) Sunday's "AFC Championship" game between the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, CBS, 54.9 million viewers (--The Steelers beat the Jets, 24-19.)

2.) The "AFC Championship Postgame" show, CBS, 31.5 million viewers

3.) The 10th season premiere of "American Idol", Fox, 26.2 million viewers


Gloria Allred Is Getting Her Own "Judge Judy"-Type Courtroom Show:

Attention-starved and celebrity-obsessed attorney GLORIA ALLRED has landed her own "Judge Judy"-type courtroom show. It'll be called "We the People with Gloria Allred", and it'll premiere this fall. She'll be serving as the judge, of course.


"Glee" Creator Ryan Murphy Has Unloaded on Kings of Leon:

"Glee" creator Ryan Murphy is apparently still ticked off at KINGS OF LEON for turning the show down last year . . . because he just UNLOADED on them. --In a new interview with the "Hollywood Reporter", Murphy said, quote, "(Eff) you, Kings of Leon. They're self-centered (A-holes), and they missed the big picture. --"They missed that a 7-year-old kid can see someone close to their age singing a Kings of Leon song, which will maybe make them want to join a glee club or pick up a musical instrument. It's like, OK, hate on arts education. --"You can make fun of 'Glee' all you want, but at its heart, what we really do is turn kids on to music." --But maybe Murphy is overreacting a bit. Yes, Kings of Leon turned down an offer to have their music redone on "Glee". But it doesn't sound like they "made fun" of the show at all. --Back in November, the band said that they didn't realize it was a big deal when they turned "Glee" down, because they'd never seen the show, and didn't know what it was about --Then . . . talking in general about the offers to put their music in shows, movies and commercials . . . they added, quote, "I mean, you're not gonna say yes to everything. --"So there's a balance between the cool stuff and the not-cool stuff, and hopefully that's not taken the wrong way." --Kings of Leon singer Caleb Followill seemed STUNNED at Murphy's latest statements. He responded, quote, "This whole 'Glee' thing is a shock to us. It's gotten out of hand. At the time of the request, we hadn't even seen the show. --"It came at the end of that record cycle, and we were over promoting ['Use Somebody']. This was never meant as a slap in the face to 'Glee' or to music education or to fans of the show. We're not sure where the anger is coming from."


TV REMINDERS

Wednesday TV Reminders: (--Check your local listings.)

--"American Idol" [Auditions Show] . . . 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Fox.

--"Live to Dance" [Performance Show] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on CBS.

--"Dog the Bounty Hunter" [Retrospective] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on A&E. (--The best episodes of past seasons are highlighted in anticipation of the 200th episode.)

--"Dog the Bounty Hunter" [200th Episode] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on A&E. (--Dog helps a fellow bondsman find his fugitive to keep him from losing his business.)

--"Criminal Minds" . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on CBS. (--"Friday Night Lights" minx Adrianne Palicki guest stars as a psychopathic killer on an interstate killing spree.)

--"Sons of Guns" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Discovery Channel. (--A show about a business that buys, sells, trades, builds and customizes weapons.)

--"Clean House" . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Style. (--Former "Cosby" kid Tempestt Bledsoe takes over as host. It was formerly hosted by Niecy Nash.)

--"Face Off" [SERIES Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Syfy. (--Special-effects make-up artists compete against each other in various challenges.)

--"Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" [Reunion Show] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on VH1.

--"Hot in Cleveland" . . . 10:00 to 10:30 P.M. on TV Land. (--Valerie Bertinelli meets her boyfriend's mother, who's played by her former "One Day at a Time" mom Bonnie Franklin. And his brother is being played by John Schneider.)

--"Retired at 35" . . . 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. on TV Land. (--Shelley Long guest stars as Alan's love interest, who he meets while strolling the retirement community's grounds.)


Kesha's Former Management Company Is Suing Her, and They Want the Judicial System to Work Quickly . . . While Kesha Still Has a Career:

This is pretty amusing. --The management firm that used to represent KE$HA is suing her for $14 million. They're claiming that she breached her written contract with them when she suddenly dumped them for a new manager in 2008. --But here's the fun part. The management company is asking the courts to act QUICKLY on this case . . . because they're worried that Kesha's career might not last much longer, and they want to make sure they get paid. (--In other words, they want to secure a judgment against her NOW before she bottoms out, and the only money she has to her name is . . . well . . . the dollar sign that's IN her name.) --The firm claims Kesha's defense has been stalling . . . quote, "Their legal maneuver was to try and delay everything and we defeated every one of those motions." --Now, they want a judge to speed things up . . . because, quote, "Ke$ha is a very young and inexperienced artist whose 'star' may not continue to rise. --"Although she has made an incredible amount of money in a very short period of time, in large part due to [our] efforts on her behalf, she could just as easily lose money if not properly guided." (--Ke$ha has not commented.)
It's NOT Happening . . . There Is No American Superstars of Thrash Tour, It's Just *One* Show:

It was a False alarm. --There will NOT be a Superstars of Thrash Tour in America . . . at least not yet. --This morning, "The Big Four" . . . METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX were supposedly going to be announcing a long-awaited U.S. tour . . . but instead, they just announced ONE show. --The concert will be held Saturday, April 23rd in Indio, California . . . at the site of the Coachella music festival, which will be happening the weekend before. --According to the press release, quote, "this is indeed the only scheduled stop in America this go around." (--Lame. This is an EPIC event. Why couldn't they at least schedule a half-dozen shows scattered throughout the U.S.?) --Tickets for the concert go on sale this Friday at 7:00 A.M. Eastern. General admission tickets will run you $99. (--For more info hit up TheBig4Festival.com.)


SHOWBIZ EXTRAS

GARY VALENTINE . . . the older brother of KEVIN JAMES . . . is suing a woman for $500,000 because she accused him of sexual assault after a night of what HE claims was consensual oral sex. (--Gary played Cousin Danny on "King of Queens".) (Full Story)


Check out ASHTON KUTCHER and stepdaughter SCOUT WILLIS singing a ridiculous song about coffee. (Video)


JESSE VENTURA is suing the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security. He accuses security screeners of, quote, "warrantless, non-suspicion-based offensive touching, gripping and rubbing of the genital and other sensitive areas of his body." (Full Story)


For some reason, the "New York Daily News" posted a photo gallery of celebrities sweating. (Photos)


KIM KARDASHIAN gives 10% of all her money to charity. Most of it's going to Haiti right now. (Full Story) She also admits that the most extravagant thing she's ever bought for herself was a $115,000 watch. (Full Story)


The CW has a new ad campaign urging viewers to "Catch VD". "VD" meaning "VAMPIRE DIARIES", of course. (Full Story)


On its first night without KEITH OLBERMANN, MSNBC actually saw its ratings INCREASE. (Full Story)


JUSTIN BIEBER will appear on this Sunday's episode of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" . . . to shed light on the issue of TEXTING AND DRIVING. (Full Story)


Animal Planet's "Puppy Bowl" may be the most adorable thing in the history of TV. It airs Super Bowl Sunday at 3:00 P.M. Overdose on cuteness by watching all the preview videos. (Official Site)

NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF

A Man Wins a MINI Cooper In a German Radio Contest . . . By Having the Word "MINI" Tattooed On His Manhood:

--39-year-old Andreas Muller of Sachsen Anhalt, Germany won a $32,000 MINI Cooper from a radio station contest by . . . having the word "MINI" tattooed on his junk. That's right. His manhood is now permanently branded as "mini." --The station was giving away the car to the person who did the, quote, "craziest, most idiotic stunt." (--Apparently, there's no such thing as a MASSIVE LAWSUIT in Germany. Our lawyers would've shut this down before we finished saying the word "craziest.") --Andreas says that the tattoo was insanely painful but, quote, "Once I'm sitting in the car, it won't matter anymore. Then the pain will be gone and it'll be alright." --There's no word on whether or not Andreas has a wife or girlfriend. (Metro) (--You can see a video from the 89.0 RTL morning show where Andreas was tattooed here. Warning: It's all in German. AND GRAPHIC.)


A New Survey Proves Your Boss Is Judging You Because of the Mess On Your Desk:

As you let a mountain of papers, supplies, and empty Red Bull cans pile up on your desk at work, just know this . . . they're judging you. They're all judging you. -According to a new survey by OfficeMax, having a messy desk could actually be holding back your career.

--53% of people surveyed say they think negative things about coworkers who have messy desks. 40% . . . including managers and bosses . . . say that they think a messy desk is a sign that the person is lacking in other aspects of their job too.

--13% of people say they have a lower overall opinion of their messy coworker AS A HUMAN BEING. 4% say it's a sign you're really bad at your job. And 3% think a messy desk is a sign that you're NOT SMART.

--46% of the people surveyed said that they're planning to try to keep their work space cleaner this year than they did last year.

--77% say that when things are messy or cluttered, it hurts their productivity. And 9% say that being surrounded by a mess makes them GAIN WEIGHT. (PR Newswire)


Two Out of Five Young Couples Have Different Opinions On How Exclusive Their Relationship Is:

The generation that watched BILL CLINTON change the definition of cheating has grown up . . . and they seem pretty confused on what really DOES constitute cheating. --In a new survey of couples where both people are 18 to 25 years old, 40% had different opinions about how exclusive and monogamous their relationship actually is. --Almost half of those couples disagreed as to whether they were seeing each other exclusively. --And a lot of them disagreed on monogamy . . . one person might be monogamous, but the other wasn't as strict about it. Married couples were no more likely than dating couples to be monogamous. --About 30% of the people surveyed said they've cheated on their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife. --Jocelyn Warren at Oregon State University led the study. She says, quote, "Monogamy comes up quite a bit as a way to protect against STDs. But you can see that agreement on monogamy is fraught with issues." (LiveScience)


One Out of Seven Americans Say That If It Came Down To Picking Their Significant Other or Their Pet . . . They'd Go with the Pet:

At this point, we all know how much people are OBSESSED with their pets, so it takes a lot to shock us. But this comes pretty close. --A new survey by the Associated Press and Petside.com found that one out of seven pet owners in the U.S. say that if it came down to staying with their significant other or staying with their pet . . . they'd go with the pet. --84% of people say they'd stay with the human. --People who are in relationships but aren't married are more likely to choose their pet than married people. 25% of unmarried people say they'd choose their pet over their boyfriend or girlfriend . . . versus 8% of married people. --There was no difference in the genders when it came to making the choice. But women were more likely to say it's a TOUGH decision . . . 40% of women say it would be a tough call, versus 26% of men. --There was also no difference between dog and cat owners. --57% of people say they've had to give up or put down a pet in their lifetime. The most common reason was that the pet was too sick. (Yahoo News)
Men Have More Trouble Remembering the News When the Anchorwoman Is Hot:

According to a new study, believe it or not, men are still distracted by hot women showing cleavage. I know. Groundbreaking stuff. --Two researchers at Indiana University wanted to see how an anchorwoman's looks and clothing style would affect the news. So they had two groups of men watch two different newscasts, featuring the exact same news and the exact same anchor. --The only difference? One group saw the anchorwoman in tight-fitting clothes and red lipstick, showing off her curves and some cleavage. The other group saw her in a shapeless and loose-fitting jacket with no makeup. --Afterward, the men took a quiz on the news. And the men who had the sexed-up anchor remembered, quote, "significantly [less] information than [the men] watching the unsexualized anchor." --The researchers ran the same experiment with women and found the opposite was true . . . women remembered MORE of the info from the sexed up version than the sexless version. --They didn't offer a theory on why women retained more info when the anchorwoman looked more attractive. (--Could it be because women are socially trained to respect attractive women more than ugly ones?) (Miller McCune)


Cookies Are Still the Most Popular Homemade Dessert In the U.S. . . . But Pies Are Making Strong Moves At Restaurants:

And now, some very important news on DESSERT TRENDS. Which, in a way, are the only trends we're ALL interested in. --According to a new survey, as usual, COOKIES are still the most popular homemade dessert in the country. But there are other desserts making strong moves too.

--82% of people surveyed said they baked cookies last year.

--Cakes are the second-most popular, at 74% . . . that's up 17% since the same survey in 2008.

--Brownies are third-most popular, at 73% . . . up 18% from 2008.

--And cupcakes are fourth-most popular, at 52% . . . up 15% from 2008.

--But the big winner might be pie. 41% of people baked a pie at home last year, which is fifth place . . . but Americans ordered 12 million more slices of pie at restaurants in 2010 than we did in 2009.

--Pastries are the least-popular homemade dessert . . . only 17% of people surveyed baked them last year. (PR Newswire / Walletpop)


If Cities Want Less Traffic, The Answer Is . . . Make It Impossible To Park:

In theory, it would be good for us to drive less. We'd cut down on emissions, get more exercise, cut our dependence on foreign oil, get into fewer accidents, waste less time in rush hour traffic jams . . . and basically live healthier, safer, cleaner lives. --But we're Americans, and we love our cars . . . so NONE of that seems to get us to drive less. A new study figured out a strategy that actually COULD make people get out of their cars . . . without having to jack up gas prices into the $5-and-over range. --The study found that people drive less if it's impossible to park. In ten different European cities, cutting down on the number of public parking spots caused a significant cut in the number of drivers. --In Amsterdam, it had the biggest effect . . . cutting parking led to a 20% drop in traffic. -So could this happen in the U.S.? There aren't any plans to put it in place right now . . . but according to an urban planning professor at UCLA, cutting spots or raising parking prices would lead to a change in traffic here, too. (Time)


Website of the Day: Squabbler.com:

There's a new website called Squabbler.com that lets you settle your arguments in a very YouTube-era way: By uploading videos and letting complete strangers decide your fate. -Both people in the argument upload a 30-second webcam video explaining their side. Then you watch both videos and vote. And whoever gets more votes wins the argument.
Bergen County, New Jersey Can't Afford To Salt the Roads Anymore, So They've Switched To Covering the Roads With Pickle Juice:

It's been a rough winter, and Bergen County, New Jersey has already used up most of its snow budget. And that's a problem, because the snow doesn't look like it's going away any time soon. --So they needed an alternative to help melt the snow. And they found it . . . in PICKLE JUICE. The county has been buying a salt-and-water brine that resembles pickle juice, and is using it to keep their roads salted. --It costs almost four times less to buy the brine than it does to buy salt, so they're spraying it everywhere . . . sidewalks, roads, parking lots, and even on some of the county buildings. --There's no word on how effective it is compared to traditional salt . . . or if it's making the county smell like pickle juice. (--But if I know New Jersey, that would actually IMPROVE the smell. WHOA! Am I right? Hello? Anyone?) (CBS 2 - New York)


MEATBALL CRIMINALS

A Man Tells a Judge "Suck My [Appendage]" . . . Right Before He Gets a 107-Year Sentence:

24-year-old Zaire Paige of Brooklyn, New York was probably going to get the maximum sentence for murder no matter what. But his mouth DEFINITELY didn't help him get any last-minute sympathy from the judge. --On Monday, Paige was being sentenced for murdering a man and injuring four others when he opened fire inside of a hair salon back in 2008. --And before the judge could sentence him, Paige had an opportunity to speak, and said to the judge, quote, "With all due respect and from the bottom of my heart, suck my [appendage]." --The judge was Vincent Del Giudice, and he instantly responded, quote, "I respectfully decline your offer. You are a danger to all civilized members of society." And he gave Paige the maximum sentence . . . 107 YEARS in prison. --Back in October of 2008, Paige and another man, named Robert Crawford, teamed up to kill a 20-year-old named Lethania Garcia . . . who apparently killed one of their friends in 2006. --They tracked Garcia down at a salon in Fort Greene, New York and started shooting at him. They killed him, and injured four other people, one of whom was an off duty cop. Crawford was sentenced to 53 years in prison last month. --Before Paige killed Garcia, he actually had a role in the movie "Brooklyn's Finest" and . . . SPOILER ALERT . . . he actually kills ETHAN HAWKE'S character. Paige didn't have any formal acting training when he was cast in the role. (New York Daily News)


RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS


God isn't safe from foreclosure either. Since 2008, more than 200 churches have been foreclosed on, up from eight in the previous two years. (Full Story)


An elderly British couple took advice from their GPS in Germany . . . and crashed into a 100-year-old church, causing $37,000 in damages. (Full Story)


Is your kid impulsive, easily frustrated, restless, and unable to think in the long term? Then he's more likely to have a criminal record, drug and alcohol addictions, poor health, and financial problems. (Full Story)


Indiana issues a statewide ban on smoking, except in casinos, bars . . . and nursing homes? (Full Story)


A New York State Senator had proposed a ban on talking on your phone or wearing headphones while crossing the street. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) Footage of the Moscow Bombing Has Been Released . . . Along With Graphic Footage of the Aftermath:

Security footage of Monday's Moscow airport bombing has made its way onto YouTube. It's pretty low-quality and doesn't have sound, but you can clearly see the bomb explode in the top right corner of the screen. -And there's also a second, more-graphic video that someone shot with their cell phone right after the bomb went off. In the second video, the person walks around the scene, and you can see bodies on the ground. (--WARNING: These videos are somewhat graphic in nature.)
(--Search for "CCTV Moscow bomb" and "Raw Footage Moscow Bombing Scene." In the first video, the bomb goes off at :15. In the second video, it shows the bodies around :30.)


#2.) A Grand Piano Showed Up on a Sandbar in Florida . . . And No One's Sure How It Got There:

A 650-pound grand piano showed up on a sandbar south of Miami last week, about 500 feet from shore . . . and no one's sure how it got there. --According to unconfirmed reports, someone put it there for a music video shoot, then left it. But as of right now, authorities say it's not posing a risk to anyone, so they're just planning to leave it. (--Search for "Mystery Piano Biscayne Bay." At :38 they pull back, and you can see the sand bar from further away, and the ocean around it.)


Yahoo's List of the Four Most Satisfying Jobs:

If you're thinking of changing careers, Yahoo.com has a list of the four most satisfying jobs in the United States, based on opportunity, salary, flexibility, and how easy it is to advance your career. Here's the list.

#1.) Freelance Graphic Designer. It's creative, and you can work from home. And according to the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the average freelance graphic designer makes around $55,000 a year.

#2.) Critical Care Nurse. According to a survey done by the University of Chicago, jobs that involve helping other people rate highest in job satisfaction. And according to the Department of Labor, the average critical care nurse made around $66,000 in 2009.

#3.) Quality Assurance Managers for Software Companies. According to a 2010 poll, 45% of them have flexible work schedules. And after five years, the average salary is around $85,000.

#4.) Hospital Administrator. The Department of Labor predicts steady growth in the healthcare industry through at least 2018. And health care managers make $90,000 a year on average, with the top ten percent making more than $140,000. (Yahoo)