HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW (01-05-12)
Are Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel Engaged?
"Us Weekly" says that JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and JESSICA BIEL got engaged sometime within the last few weeks. Sources say he popped the question during a snowboarding vacation in the mountains of Jackson, Wyoming. --There's been no word yet from either of their camps. --Justin and Jessica have been together more than four years . . . minus a three-month "break" last year.
Alex Rodriguez Took Torrie Wilson to a Laker Game:
Yankees stud ALEX RODRIGUEZ took his relationship with former WWE diva TORRIE WILSON public this week. The two of them sat next to CINDY CRAWFORD and her husband at Tuesday night's Laker game. --And they were even caught KISSING. (--Here are some pics.) (Radar Online)
Marc Anthony Has a New, Young Girlfriend:
MARC ANTHONY has a new girlfriend, and she's 24 years old . . . the same age as JENNIFER LOPEZ'S new boyfriend, Casper Smart. --Her name is Shannon De Lima, and she's a Venezuelan model. She also has a 4-year-old son from a previous relationship. --Marc posted a picture of them kissing on Facebook, which I believe is his way of saying, "I am SOOO over you, Jennifer!" (--Check it out here.) (RadarOnline)
Zooey Deschanel Is Worth $3 Million and Has Zero Credit Card Debt, According to Her Divorce Papers:
ZOOEY DESCHANEL'S divorce from DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE singer BEN GIBBARD continues. And her lawyer just filed a detailed rundown of her finances. --Zooey has about $3 million in cash, property and stocks and bonds. And she has three credit cards, but ZERO BALANCE on all three, meaning she has no credit card debt. --Zooey makes about $95,000 a month . . . mostly thanks to her Fox series "New Girl" . . . and her average monthly expenses are $22,550. She also gives $1,500 a month to charity.
Tabloid Roundup: Angelina Jolie is Happy Because She's Pregnant . . . She's Mad Because Brad Pitt Once Knocked Up Jennifer Aniston . . . And She's Racing to Get Pregnant Before Jennifer:
It's a busy week in the tabloids for ANGELINA JOLIE and BRAD PITT. Here are the various silly rumors the rags are pushing . . .
#1.) First off, the "National Enquirer" says Angelina is THREE MONTHS PREGNANT. Obviously, she and Brad are "ecstatic". (--You can read more about that here.)
#2.) Meanwhile, the "Star" says that Angelina angrily walked out on Brad after she found out that he impregnated JENNIFER ANISTON in 2004. --Jennifer allegedly miscarried, and of course it was before Brad and Angelina were together. But supposedly, Angelina was jealous that she wasn't the first woman Brad had ever knocked up. (--Here's more on that.)
#3.) And last but not least, "OK!" magazine says Angelina is NOT pregnant, but she's desperately trying . . . because she wants to get knocked up before Jennifer so she can, quote, "steal her thunder." (--And here's the full scoop.)
Showbiz Photo of the Day: Watch President Obama Eat Sand During a Beach Football Game:
If you'd like to see PRESIDENT OBAMA eat a face full of sand, I can help you out. --On New Year's Day in Hawaii, Obama took part in a beach football game . . . and went down face first while catching a pass. (--Check out the pics here.) (--You can also see them in a gallery here. And if you cycle through pictures 1 through 8 as fast as possible, it's almost like you're watching a VIDEO of him hitting the dirt.)
KARDASHIAN KAOS
The Kardashians Are Getting Barbie Dolls:
Do you want your daughters playing with small, plastic representations of KIM, KOURTNEY and KHLOE KARDASHIAN? Because apparently, they're going to have a chance soon. --Limited edition BARBIE versions are on their way sometime this year. Kim Tweeted, quote, "Merry Christmas Barbs! I'm sure we'll be seeing lots of each other [in 2012]. Shopping soon!" --Now, this part I'm not sure about . . . but a source says the dolls will, quote, "reflect the girls' measurements." (--If that's the case, you'd THINK the dolls won't be marketed toward children. Especially Kim's. But you never know.)
A Group Wants Kim Kardashian to Pay More Taxes:
There's a group in California that wants the state's rich people to pay more in taxes. They're hoping to get an initiative on the ballot in November that forces them to do just that. --And they're using KIM KARDASHIAN as an example. They even set up a website called TaxKimK.com . . . where you can watch a video that illustrates their point.
Nick Cannon Has Suffered "Mild Kidney Failure":
NICK CANNON has been hospitalized in Aspen, Colorado with what his wife MARIAH CAREY is calling "mild kidney failure". --Yesterday she Tweeted, quote, "Please pray for Nick as he's fighting to recover from a mild kidney failure. #mybraveman." --Then she posted a message on her website saying, quote, "We're trying to be as festive as possible under the circumstances but please keep Nick in your thoughts because this is very painful. --"They tried to kick me out of the hospital but here I am pon de bed with Mr. C." (--The message was accompanied by a picture of Mariah and Nick on his hospital bed. Check it out here.) (MariahCarey.com) --Nick later Tweeted that he's being transferred to a hospital in L.A., and added, quote, "Thank you all for all your love, prayers and concern. You know me . . . I will be a'ight." --There's no official word on what caused this, but a "source" says Nick had been battling the flu . . . and the kidney dysfunction was a side-effect.
Paris Hilton Has Generated $1.3 Billion In Revenue Since 2005 From Her Fragrances Alone:
These days it's all about the Kardashians. But we forget that PARIS HILTON is the ORIGINAL "celebuskank". And she's still a money-making machine. --She says, quote, "I'm involved in my products every step of the way. My fragrances are doing really well at the moment. They've produced more than $1.3 billion in revenue since 2005." --"I have 35 stores and 17 product lines. And then there's my racing team, my 14 fragrances and my new project, the Paris Hilton Beach Club chain. --"The first one is opening in the Philippines soon. It's going to have nightclubs, restaurants, bars, gyms. Everything really." --Oh, and here's some scary news: Paris is also working on her second album. Although luckily, it doesn't sound like she's gunning for pop stardom this time. She's making party music. --She says, quote, "I have a huge passion for house music. I've been working on the album with lots of other top DJs for a while now and I think people will be really surprised. It's very modern and very catchy; perfect party music. --"There are just so many great DJs right now. And I should know . . . I've been to over 100 raves in the past year, so I've heard every type of music."
Demi Lovato Says She'll Always Be Friends With Miley Cyrus . . . Even Though They Have "Brutal" Fights:
DEMI LOVATO would like you to know that she'll always be friends with MILEY CYRUS and SELENA GOMEZ. And with Miley that's not easy, because they've been known to go for each other's throats. --Demi says, quote, "No matter how many times we fight, we will always be in each others' lives. Miley and I are very strong-headed, so when we fight, it's brutal and we're like, 'We're never going to be friends again!' --"Then two days later, we're like, 'I love you and I miss you!'" --Things are a lot cooler with Selena because, quote, "She's not a confrontational person at all." But Demi adds, quote, "Both of them will never leave my life no matter what happens, because we've been through so much together." --Demi also gives props to some other girls who were there for her when she was dealing with her personal issues . . . quote, "We're not super-close, but TAYLOR SWIFT tweeted 'Pray for Demi,' which I thought was really awesome of her. --"And KIM KARDASHIAN, the busiest woman on the planet, took time to call me."
Joe Torre Wants to Buy the Dodgers:
Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager JOE TORRE is going to try to buy his old team. -Since last February, Torre had been working as an executive for Major League Baseball . . . but he had to resign that position to launch his ownership bid. --Torre managed the Dodgers from 2008 to 2010, after a 12-year run as manager of the Yankees. The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy this past June. --There are several groups trying to buy the team. One includes former Dodgers STEVE GARVEY and OREL HERSHISER. Another includes Lakers legend MAGIC JOHNSON. Dallas Mavericks owner MARK CUBAN has also expressed interest. --Torre's group is backed by a Los Angeles real estate developer named Rick Caruso.
A Paternity Court Judge Just Told Terrell Owens His NFL Career Is Over:
Wide receiver TERRELL OWENS is still a man without a team. And thus, a man without an income. So he's been trying to adjust his various child support payments accordingly. --Yesterday, he was in a Los Angeles courtroom trying to get two of those payments reduced, and the judge hit him with a serious TRUTH TORPEDO. --Addressing T.O.'s lawyer, the judge said, quote, "His NFL career seems to be over. I mean no disrespect." According to TMZ, Terrell, quote, "nodded his head in acknowledgement." --By the way . . . T.O. wasn't the only athlete at the courthouse for a child support hearing yesterday. --UFC legend CHUCK LIDDELL, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end MARCEDES LEWIS and ROGER MASON of the Washington Wizards were there to sort out baby-mama issues, too.
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND
A Movie Starring Dennis Quaid as a Killer Mortician and A New Exorcist Flick Are The First New Movies to Hit Theaters in 2012:
#1.) "The Devil Inside" (R) (Trailer)
A woman murders three people in the middle of her own exorcism, and gets locked up for the rest of her life. A Brazilian minx named Fernanda Andrade plays her daughter, who asks some exorcists to take another shot at removing the four demons that have possessed her mom.
#2.) "Beneath the Darkness" (R) (Trailer) (Limited)
Dennis Quaid plays a mortician who terrorizes a group of high school students after they catch him DANCING WITH A CORPSE. He kills one of them that first night, but the cops don't believe their story so he's free to go after the rest. --One of the kids is played by Aimee Teegarden, who you might recognize as the coach's daughter Julie on "Friday Night Lights".
#3.) "Roadie" (Not Rated) (Trailer) (In New York only)
Ron Eldard is a guy who spent 25 years as a roadie for Blue Oyster Cult. When the band fires him, he returns home and reconnects with his high school sweetheart . . . "Crossing Jordan's" Jill Hennessy . . . even though she's married to another guy.
Taylor Swift and Amanda Seyfried May Join the Cast of "Les Miserables":
TAYLOR SWIFT and AMANDA SEYFRIED may join the cast of the upcoming movie version of "Les Miserables". --Swift has been offered the part of Eponine . . . which was also being sought after by SCARLETT JOHANSSON, LEA MICHELE and EVAN RACHEL WOOD. --Eponine's parents are being played by HELENA BONHAM CARTER and SACHA BARON COHEN. --Seyfried is reportedly in final negotiations to play Cosette . . . whose mother, Fantine, is being played by ANNE HATHAWAY. (--Who's only three years older than Amanda, by the way.) --The cast also includes HUGH JACKMAN and RUSSELL CROWE. The film is scheduled to hit theaters next December.
Is Kristen Wiig Refusing to Do a "Bridesmaids" Sequel?
Word has it that KRISTEN WIIG is refusing to do a "Bridesmaids" sequel. But Universal may be willing to go ahead without her. --There's no word why Kristen is balking, but one theory is that she was INSULTED by how the studio rewarded her for giving them such a huge hit. --Supposedly, the six principal cast members . . . including MELISSA MCCARTHY and MAYA RUDOLPH . . . were given a $100,000 bonus when the movie became one of the biggest hits of 2011. --But given the film's $288 million haul, some of them found that figure a little low. Reached for comment, Kristen wouldn't say whether she was upset about the amount of the bonus. --Kristen and another woman actually WROTE "Bridesmaids". But when asked if the two of them were interested in a follow-up, she said, quote, "We aren't working on that. We aren't planning a sequel. We are writing something else." --A source at Universal says, quote, "We are over the moon with the success of 'Bridesmaids', and if we do a sequel we want to get it right. --"We are talking to filmmakers now about concepts, and if the right one emerges, we'll move forward." (--Speaking of sequels, "Horrible Bosses 2" is in the works . . . and Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis are all expected to return.)
NBC Has Confirmed the Cast of the Next "Celebrity Apprentice":
NBC has officially announced the cast of the next "Celebrity Apprentice" . . . although 16 of the 18 contestants were "outed" by RealityBlurred.com THREE MONTHS AGO. --Unfortunately, the two they didn't have aren't all that exciting. They are "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star TERESA GIUDICE and VICTORIA GOTTI, who's only famous because she's the daughter of mobster JOHN GOTTI.
--Here's the rest of the cast:
--Adam Carolla
--Former "American Idol" Clay Aiken
--Magician Penn Jillette
--Comedienne Lisa Lampanelli
--Former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day
--"American Chopper" dad Paul Teutul
--24-year-old racecar driver Marco Andretti (--He's the grandson of Mario Andretti.)
--Model Patricia Velásquez
--Former Miss Venezuela and Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza
--"Wayne's World" minx Tia Carrere
--'80s pop superstar Debbie Gibson
--Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider
--George Takei . . . a.k.a. Sulu from "Star Trek"
--Former "Incredible Hulk" star Lou Ferrigno
--Model Cheryl Tiegs (--She's 64 years old now.)
--And easily the most important, EXCITING celebrity to EVER do "Celebrity Apprentice": ARSENIO HALL. (--Seriously. Word that Arsenio was doing this leaked three months ago . . . and I STILL can't believe it.) (--It isn't everyday that we're able to see Arsenio on TV . . . since 1994 that is . . . so I'm glad DONALD TRUMP was willing to accommodate Arsenio's insane schedule to make this happen.)
--"Celebrity Apprentice" premieres February 12th on NBC.
(--Here's video of the cast talking about doing "Celebrity Apprentice". It begins with some typical Donald Trump hyperboles . . . where he calls the cast "iconic" and says it's "the best cast we've ever had.")
Martha Stewart's Daytime Talk Show Is Coming to an End:
MARTHA STEWART'S daytime talk show is coming to an end after six years. Sources say production will shut down in April, and the last episode will air in May. --The show averaged 225,000 viewers last year . . . and obviously, that wasn't enough. --"Martha" was syndicated from September of 2005 until September of 2010, when it moved to the Hallmark Channel. (--Here's something you may not have realized: Martha will turn 71 years old this August. Pretty crazy, right?)
This Season of "The Bachelor" Is Going to Feature a Lot of Censored Nudity:
Here's some outstanding news for anyone who's a big fan of censored nudity. This season of "The Bachelor" is going to have a lot of it . . . mostly involving BEN FLAJNIK. (--Pronounced "Flannick.") --Host CHRIS HARRISON says, quote, "It's a very nude season. Ben is very comfortable in his own skin. He doesn't have modesty issues." --Obviously, there won't be any ACTUAL nudity. All the naughty parts will be covered by black boxes . . . just like they were in the previews at the end of the premiere.
Thursday TV Reminders:
--"Wipeout" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC.
--"Project Runway All Stars" [Series Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Lifetime. Thirteen contestants return to compete with "Marie Claire's" Joanna Coles as their mentor, Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman as the judges, and supermodel Angela Lindvall as your host.
--"Jersey Shore" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on MTV.
--"24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic" [15th Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on HBO.
--"American Stuffers" [Series Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Animal Planet. This reality series focuses on an owner of a taxidermy shop.
It's On! Between Patrick Carney of the Black Keys and Nickelback:
THE BLACK KEYS are on the cover of the next issue of "Rolling Stone", which comes out tomorrow. Now that they've reached this level, they often get lumped in with other popular "rock bands" like NICKELBACK. --But the Black Keys are NOT cool with that. --In the "Rolling Stone" interview, drummer PATRICK CARNEY unleashed this rant: Quote, "Rock 'n' roll is dying because people became OK with Nickelback being the biggest band in the world. --"So they became OK with the idea that the biggest rock band in the world is always going to be [crap] . . . therefore you should never try to be the biggest rock band in the world. [Eff] that! --"Rock 'n' roll is the music I feel the most passionately about, and I don't like to see it [effing] ruined and spoon-fed down our throats in this watered-down, post-grunge, horrendous [crap]. --"When people start lumping us into that kind of [crap], it's like, '[Eff] you,' honestly." --Black Keys singer DAN AUERBACH probably shares Patrick's sentiments. Last year, he went off on the BLACK EYED PEAS after MTV gave them a VMA trophy that mistakenly had the Black Eyed Peas name on it.
Adele's "21" Sold More Copies Last Year Than Any Album in Seven Years:
Nielsen Soundscan has released some of music's final sales numbers for 2011 . . . and not surprisingly, it was all about ADELE. --Her album "21" sold 5.8 million copies last year, which is A LOT. In fact, it's the most a single album has sold in a calendar year since 2004 . . . when USHER sold just under 8 million copies of "Confessions". --It was also more than double the sales of the next best seller, MICHAEL BUBLÉ'S "Christmas", which sold 2.4 million copies.
--Here are the 10 best-selling albums in 2011:
1.) "21", Adele . . . 5.8 million copies
2.) "Christmas", Michael Bublé . . . 2.4 million copies
3.) "Born This Way", Lady Gaga . . . 2.1 million copies
4.) "Tha Carter 4", Lil Wayne . . . 1.9 million copies
5.) "My Kinda Party", Jason Aldean . . . 1.6 million copies
6.) "Sigh No More", Mumford & Sons . . . 1.4 million copies
7.) "Take Care", Drake . . . 1.3 million copies
8.) "Under the Mistletoe", Justin Bieber . . . 1.3 million copies (--About 2,000 copies behind Drake.)
9.) "Watch the Throne", Jay-Z and Kanye West . . . 1.23 million copies
10.) "Own the Night", Lady Antebellum . . . 1.2 million copies
--Adele also topped the digital songs list. Her hit "Rolling in the Deep" sold 5.8 million downloads. Here's the Top 10:
1.) "Rolling in the Deep", Adele . . . 5.8 million downloads
2.) "Party Rock Anthem", LMFAO . . . 5.5 million downloads
3.) "E.T.", Katy Perry . . . 4.8 million downloads
4.) "Moves Like Jagger", Maroon 5 . . . 4.1 million downloads
5.) "Give Me Everything", Pitbull . . . 3.9 million downloads
6.) "Pumped Up Kicks", Foster the People . . . 3.8 million downloads
7.) "Someone Like You", Adele . . . 3.8 million downloads
8.) "Forget You", Cee Lo Green . . . 3.7 million downloads
9.) "Super Bass", Nicki Minaj . . . 3.6 million downloads
10.) "Born This Way", Lady Gaga . . . 3.5 million downloads
--And here are a few other interesting facts from Nielsen on last year's music sales:
--It was the first year since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991 that two Christmas albums were among the top 10 best-sellers: Michael Bublé's "Christmas" and Justin Bieber's "Under the Mistletoe".
--Overall album sales in the U.S. actually IMPROVED. This is the first time that's happened since 2004. It was only by 1% though. 330.6 million albums sold last year, compared to 326.2 million in 2010.
--However, the CD is still dying. CD sales were down 6% . . . but digital album downloads were up by 20% to a record 103.1 million copies. In 2010, 86.3 million digital albums were sold.
--The top-selling digital album of 2011 was also Adele's "21" . . . naturally. She sold 1.8 million digital albums.
--This is the first year any song has sold at least 5 million downloads . . . and two songs did it. ("Rolling in the Deep" and "Party Rock Anthem"). 2010's top selling digital song was Katy Perry's "California Gurls" with 4.40 million downloads.
--For the fourth straight year, vinyl album sales GREW. More vinyl albums were sold last year than in any other year since SoundScan began in 1991. In 2011, 3.9 million vinyl LPs were sold, compared to 2.8 million in 2010.
And Here's How Adele Did on Last Week's "Billboard" Chart:
ADELE is back on top of the "Billboard" chart. Her disc "21" sold another 144,000 copies to notch its 14th non-consecutive week at #1. It's the most weeks at #1 since the "Titanic" soundtrack spent 16 weeks there in 1998.
--The week's top debut came from SKRILLEX. His "Bangarang" EP opened at #19 with nearly 24,000 copies sold. Here's this week's Top 10 . . .
1.) "21", Adele (144,000 copies)
2.) "Take Care", Drake (72,000 copies)
3.) "TM103: Hustlerz Ambition", Young Jeezy (67,000 copies)
4.) "Own the Night", Lady Antebellum (54,000 copies)
5.) "Sorry for Party Rocking", LMFAO (49,000 copies)
6.) "Ceremonials", Florence + the Machine (47,000 copies)
7.) "El Camino", The Black Keys (45,000 copies)
8.) "Mylo Xyloto", Coldplay (44,000 copies)
9.) "Talk That Talk", Rihanna (42,000 copies)
10.) "Now That's What I Call Music, Volume 40" (41,000 copies)
Carrie Underwood Saved the Life of a Dog That Was Thrown From a Car:
CARRIE UNDERWOOD may be a big star, but she's not above jumping out of her car to save a stray dog's life. It happened over the holidays when she was on her way back to Nashville after visiting her family. --Carrie spotted two Labrador puppies on the side of the road. Sadly, only one was still alive . . . and according to the emergency vet, it was most likely THROWN from a moving vehicle. (--I believe there's a place in hell for people who treat living creatures like that.) --After the puppy was treated, Carrie brought it home and named it Stella. She also talked some neighbors into adopting it. (--Carrie didn't keep the pup because she already has two dogs, plus Stella needs full-time attention right now.)
THURSDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
MARIO LOPEZ and his baby-mama COURTNEY MAZZA are engaged. Mario and Courtney have a daughter named Gia who's a little over a year old. Mario's first marriage to ALI LANDRY was annulled after two weeks because Mario cheated on her at his bachelor party. (Full Story)
CHAD OCHOCINCO'S fiancée EVELYN LOZADA has reportedly put the brakes on their wedding plans . . . because she suspects he might be CHEATING on her. (Full Story)
MOON UNIT ZAPPA and MATCHBOX 20 guitarist PAUL DOUCETTE are getting divorced. (Full Story)
The Wegmans grocery chain pulled holiday ads featuring ALEC BALDWIN one week early after people complained because of Alec's recent airplane tirade. But then they got way more messages of SUPPORT for Alec, so they're running the ads again. (Full Story)
LILY COLLINS . . . daughter of PHIL . . . has scored the lead in the upcoming "Evil Dead" remake. (Full Story)
RICK SPRINGFIELD will show up on an episode of "Hot in Cleveland" sometime this summer. He's playing himself . . . the STUD you know from "Jessie's Girl", "General Hospital" and of course killing a man in 'Nam!!! (Full Story)
If you didn't know, America isn't the only country being subjected to the "Real Housewives" franchise. They're developing one for France now . . . and hope to also do ones in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia. Canada and Brazil will get theirs this spring, and there are already "Real Housewives" shows in Greece and Israel. (Full Story)
GEORGE MICHAEL says that some extreme Christian organizations were praying for him to DIE while he was hospitalized for pneumonia this past fall. (Full Story)
LUDACRIS is opening a restaurant in Atlanta's airport. It's called Chicken & Beer . . . after his 2003 album of the same name. This will be his second restaurant. He also has an Atlanta-based joint called Straits. (Full Story)
VH1 has no plans to do seasons of "Celebrity Rehab" or "Sober House" this year, but neither show has been officially canceled. (Full Story)
RATT singer STEPHEN PEARCY and guitarist WARREN DEMARTINI are doing something with DAVE GROHL from the FOO FIGHTERS. They won't say what it's all about though. Stephen says, quote, "We'll let [Dave] tell you about when he's ready, kids. [It's] not for a RATT record." (Full Story)
A female contestant got so excited on "The Price Is Right" that she jumped on DREW CAREY and they slammed into a wall. She also tackled NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, who was yesterday's celebrity guest. (Full Story and Video)
RANDOM STUFF
A Mother Shot and Killed an Intruder After Asking a 911 Operator Whether It Was Okay:
There's a crazy story out of Oklahoma about SELF-DEFENSE . . . and what you can do to protect your family inside your home. --On New Year's Eve, 18-year-old Sarah McKinley of Blanchard, Oklahoma was home with her three-month-old son, MOURNING. Her husband . . . the baby's father . . . had died of CANCER on Christmas.--Suddenly, two men began trying to break into her house: 24-year-old Justin Martin, and 29-year-old Dustin Stewart. And they had a 12-inch hunting knife. --So Sarah grabbed her baby and locked herself in the bedroom. But not before she grabbed her TWO GUNS . . . a 12-gauge shotgun and a pistol. Then she called 911. --She asked for help, and asked the dispatcher, quote, "I'm here by myself with my infant baby . . . I've got two guns in my hand. Is it okay to shoot him if he comes in this door?" --And the dispatcher basically gave her the green light: Quote, "I can't tell you that you can do that, but you do what you have to do to protect your baby." --So, when Martin kicked in the door to the bedroom and went at Sarah with a knife, she SHOT and KILLED HIM with the 12-gauge. --The police have ruled it a justified shooting in self defense. In a statement, they say, quote, "You're allowed to shoot an unauthorized person that is in your home. The law provides you the remedy, and sanctions the use of deadly force." (--Keep in mind, this can vary state-by-state. You can see the laws for every state here.) --Sarah says, quote, "I wouldn't have done it, but it was my son. It's not an easy decision to make, but I knew it was him or my son. And it wasn't going to be my son. There's nothing more dangerous than a woman with a child." --After the shooting, the other guy took off, then turned himself into police. --Interestingly enough, STEWART is going to be charged with Martin's murder. Since he was participating in a felony that resulted in a death, even though Sarah is clear of murder charges, HE'S NOT. (The Oklahoman)
Yesterday was the Biggest Day of the Year for Cheating on Your Husband or Wife:
Did you cheat on your husband or wife yesterday? --We're not sure if this is going to put your conscience at ease . . . or make JESUS any less angry at you . . . but you weren't the only one. --According to relationship experts, January 4th is the BIGGEST day of the entire year for cheating. --It's hard to find statistics to back up that kind of claim, but here's one. The cheating website IllicitEncounters.com reported that they got more than DOUBLE their normal amount of daily signups yesterday. --Here's why January 4th is big for cheating. The stress and intensity of the holiday season can put a big strain on relationships. But no one wants to break up over the holidays. So that frustration and anger just festers and grows. --By January 4th, everyone's been back to work for a couple of days, settled back into a routine . . . and now they can actually take active steps toward ending their relationship, including the COWARD'S ROUTE of cheating.(Daily Mail)
People Who Meet Online Get Married in an Average of 18 Months . . . Other Couples Wait 42 Months:
If you sign up for online dating with the goal of getting married as quickly as possible, here's some good news. Once you wade through the sea of lunatics and find the right person . . . you guys will be married before you know it. --According to a new survey, the average couple that meets through online dating gets married in 18-and-a-half months . . . or a year-and-a-half.
--For couples who meet offline, the average is 42 months . . . or three-and-a-half years.
--In 2010, 17% of married couples . . . or one out of six . . . met on a dating site.
--About 5.5 million of the 54 million single adults in the U.S. are now using online dating. About 20% have tried it.
--Every user spends an average of almost 13 minutes per week on their online dating profile and correspondence . . . not counting the time spent on dates. (Jezebel)
Is This the First Marriage Between People Brought Together by "Words With Friends"?
Maybe there IS a purpose to "Words With Friends" . . . besides wasting an enormous amount of your time and getting ALEC BALDWIN kicked off planes. --Now, it's also a MATCHMAKER. --If you're not familiar, "Words With Friends" is a popular iPhone, Android, and Facebook game that lets you play a game . . . suspiciously like Scrabble . . . against other people. --32-year-old Megan Lawless of Chicago has been a big "Words With Friends" fan for years. But she didn't just want to play against her friends. She also wanted to play some Words With Strangers. --So, back in November of 2009, she hit the "Random Opponent" button. -31-year-old Jasper Jasperse of the Netherlands randomly got matched up with her. They started playing, and started having good games, so they kept playing. Those games led to online chatting. That chatting led to talking. --And now, Jasper has moved to Chicago . . . and they're MARRIED. --A company called Zynga makes "Words With Friends". They said this is the first "Words With Friends" marriage they know of. (Redeye Chicago) --Here's a photo of Megan and Jasper.)
What Song Was Number One the Week You Were Born?
The new thing on Facebook is people looking up the song that was number one the week they were born, then posting the video on their Facebook wall. --Even if you're too cool to participate in Facebook trends, it actually IS interesting to find out what your "Birth Song" is. --To find your song, go to Wikipedia and look up 'List of number-one hits.' Then select United States, click on your birth year, and find the week you were born. Then prepare to feel old. (--Here's a shortcut: tinyurl.com/YourBirthSong.)
The Girl Scouts are Rolling Out a New Cookie Called "Savannah Smiles":
It's January 5th, which means you can start planning the binge eating you'll do after you drop your New Year's resolution. And this is a good start. --It's the 100th anniversary of Girl Scout cookies, and they're rolling out a NEW FLAVOR called Savannah Smiles. They're described as a "cool and crisp lemon wedge." --They're named Savannah Smiles because the founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, was born in Savannah, Georgia. (Zap2It) (--So, no, they're NOT named after a porn star. Here's a picture of the box and the cookies.)
If You Make Your Own Coffee Instead of Buying Starbucks, You Could Be Half-a-Million Dollars Richer by Retirement:
Yesterday, Starbucks started raising prices in various stores around the country by 1%. Not a huge jump, but it could add up to around $15 extra per year if you drink there every day. --Well . . . CBS News took that Starbucks math to a whole different level. Here's what they figured out. --If you buy one $4 latte a day, you're spending $1,460 per year on Starbucks. After five years, that's $7,300. --Let's say you invested that $4 every day instead, in an account with an average return of 9%. After 10 years, you could have enough to buy a car. And at 40 years, the money you saved from coffee would be worth $634,428. --But if you don't want to give up Starbucks, here's another alternative. You could buy bags of Starbucks French roast and brew them yourself. You can also add milk to make lattes. --That will reduce your budget to about $29-a-month . . . saving you $91 over going to an actual Starbucks. --Over 40 years, if you invested the difference, you'd have $481,108. Even if you don't invest it, just saving the $91-a-month would mean you'll end the year $1,092 richer . . . and have an extra $43,680 when you retire in 40 years. (CBS News)
A Heavy Cold or the Flu Messes You Up as Much as Getting Drunk:
Who knew that getting the flu was basically the same as going out and getting HAMMERED? -According to a new study by an insurance company in England, when you have a heavy cold or the flu, it affects your concentration and reaction time in the car JUST like being drunk. --Researchers found that drivers with serious colds or the flu were about 50% slower to react behind the wheel. That's the same effect as taking FOUR SHOTS of WHISKEY. --So the conclusion here is obvious. If you're sick . . . DON'T DRIVE. And if you really have to go somewhere, find someone else to drive you. (The Telegraph)
Word of the Day: New Year Flu:
New Year Flu (noun) /noo yeer floo/ - a sickness brought on by the combination of unhealthy activities on New Year's Eve . . . drinking too much, wandering around in the cold, and kissing random strangers. --Example: I hate to burn three sick days the first week of January, but I've got a serious case of the New Year Flu. Better than last year, I guess, when I caught an even MORE serious case of New Year Gonorrhea.
One Out of Every 30 Babies Born in the U.S. is Now a Twin:
This country is getting closer and closer to being OVERRUN by twins. And that scares me, because you know in every set of twins, one of them is EVIL. --According to new data from the CDC, one out of every THIRTY babies born in this country is now a twin. That's insane. Back in 1980, the rate was one in 53.--The twin birth rate is up 76% in about 30 years, from 18.9 per 1,000 births to 33.2 per 1,000 births. --The main reason is fertility treatments. Fertility drugs and treatments are FAR more common now than they were 30 years ago . . . and those significantly increase the odds of multiple births. --The other reason? There are more women giving birth in their 30s and early 40s . . . and older mothers are more likely to have twins. Scientists don't really know why . . . they just are. --One other twin note. Yesterday, the "Guinness" world record holders for Oldest Twins celebrated their 102nd birthday. --Ena Pugh and Lily Millward were born on January 4th, 1910 . . . before World War One. They're both still alive, living in Wales, and have been widows for over two decades. (USA Today) (--Here's a photo of the twins.)
Medical Records Technicians, Jewelers, and Hair Stylists Are the Least-Stressful Jobs . . . and Solider is the Most Stressful:
CareerCast.com released their annual list of the most and least-stressful jobs in the 2012 Job Stress Report.
--Several of the low-stress jobs pay about as much as the most-stressful. And they're all indoors, in fairly comfortable settings. The jobs with the least stress are:
#1.) Medical records technician: Average income is $32,350.
#2.) Jeweler: $35,170.
#3.) Hair stylist: $22,760.
#4.) Dressmaker/tailor: $26,560.
#5.) Medical Lab Tech: $36,280.
#6.) Audiologist: That's the person who gives hearing tests. They make $66,660.
#7.) Precision Assembler: They make electronics. Average salary: $31,250.
#8.) Dietitian: $53,250.
#9.) Furniture Upholsterer: $29,960.
#10.) Electrical Technician: $56,040.
The jobs with the MOST stress are:
#1.) Enlisted military soldier: Average income $35,580
#2.) Firefighter: $45,250
#3.) Airline pilot: $103,210
#4.) Military general: $196,300
#5.) Police Officer: $53,540
#6.) Event Coordinator: $45,260
#7.) Public Relations Executive: $91,810
#8.) Senior Corporate Executive: $165,830
#9.) Photojournalist: $40,000
#10.) Taxi Driver: $22,440
(PR Newswire)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
A Man Stabs His Friend for Not Knowing That Jay-Z and Beyoncé are Married:
Here's yet another reason why you should listen to this show from start to finish, every single day, without fail. We make SURE you're up on everything in pop culture. And apparently, that can keep you from GETTING STABBED. --On New Year's Eve, 31-year-old Ronald Deaver of Parma, Ohio was hanging out with his friend, a 48-year-old man from Garfield Heights, Ohio whose name hasn't been released. --An hour before the New Year, they started arguing. The 48-year-old didn't know that JAY-Z and BEYONCÉ are married. Ronald was arguing with him that, yes, they are married. --Things escalated. And Ronald ended up STABBING his friend. --The friend was rushed to the hospital. He's still there, and is listed in good condition. -Ronald was arrested and charged with felony assault. (FOX 8 - Cleveland) (--Here's Ronald's mugshot.)
A Woman Tried to Get Out of a Shoplifting Arrest By Claiming She Was Rudy from "The Cosby Show":
32-year-old Leah Efay Davis got caught shoplifting from a JC Penney at Provo, Utah's University Mall earlier this week, and came up with our 'Stupid Legal Defense of the Day.' --Leah was caught with four purses and four pajamas worth $591. And she tried to convince police to let her go . . . by claiming she played RUDY on "The Cosby Show". --In Leah's defense, she is the same age as Keshia Knight Pulliam is now . . . the actress who really DID play Rudy . . . and she's got the three-word name. On the other hand, actually being Rudy probably wouldn't have gotten her off anyway. --But Leah didn't just rely on the "I'm Rudy," defense. She also said that she OWNED the mall. And she told police she was eight months pregnant. We're not sure if that one was true or not. --Leah was charged with third-degree felony theft. She's been caught shoplifting before and was banned from the mall because of it. So police also charged her with criminal trespassing. (Salt Lake Tribune) (--Here's Leah's mugshot, along with a photo of the real Rudy, then and now. There's some resemblance . . . probably good enough to get her some free drinks over the years . . . but not enough to stay out of jail.)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
The U.S. Olympic Committee is threatening to sue the Redneck Olympics for using the word "Olympic." (Full Story)
PRESIDENT OBAMA has joined Instagram, the smartphone app that allows you to use artsy retro filters on your photos. (Full Story)
Check out the seven-foot tall dude who's the world's tallest transsexual. (Full Story)
A teenager from Phoenix fell asleep on a Southwest flight to Tulsa, slept through the landing, slept through the next takeoff, and ended up in St. Louis. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) A Guy Proposed on the Jumbo Screen at a UCLA Basketball Game . . . and Got Rejected:
Some guy proposed to a girl on the "kiss cam" at a UCLA basketball game last month. And now the video is making the rounds on YouTube . . . because the girl said NO. --The guy had it all planned out, and someone was there with a microphone to get the girl's reaction: But first she sat there for a few seconds looking shocked. Then she got up and LEFT. The best part is, the crowd booed her. --The whole thing could have been staged. You decide. (--It happened on December 23rd, but the video was just posted on YouTube. Search for "UCLA Marriage Proposal Fail." It starts at :33, and she leaves at 1:03.)
#2.) A Reporter in Pakistan Punched a Teenager in the Face with His Microphone:
On New Year's Eve in Pakistan, a journalist named Asad Sahi was reporting on the celebrations on live TV. And when a big group of people crowded around him and started yelling into the camera, he got frustrated. --SO frustrated that he spun around and punched a teenager in the FACE with his MICROPHONE. (--Search YouTube for "City42 Reporter Live Punch on Boy." It happens at :48.)
#3.) And Now, Yoda's Death Scene from "Return of the Jedi" . . . with Flatulence:
Remember the scene in "Return of the Jedi" when Yoda dies? Well, someone re-cut it . . . and added in a bunch of FLATULENCE sound effects. It sounds stupid, but I dare you to watch it and not laugh. Luke's reactions are great. (--Search for "Return of the Farting Jedi." WARNING: This video includes the term "Dutch oven.")
#4.) A Soccer Goalie Scored from the Opposite End of the Field:
TIM HOWARD is the goalie for the U.S. soccer team, but he also plays for Everton in the English Premiere League. And during a match yesterday, he scored an amazing goal . . . from the opposite end of the field, without the ball touching any players. --Howard kicked it from the front of his penalty box, it went about 70 yards, landed about 25 yards in front of the other goalie, bounced over his head, and went in. (--Search for "Tim Howard Goal from Downtown.")
Five Things "Cool" Offices Have . . . That Yours Doesn't:
If you hate your job, this probably won't help. Cracked.com came up with a list of things you'll find at a "COOL" office . . . like the offices of YouTube or Google . . . but probably not at YOUR office. Here are the top five.
#1.) Scooters and Skateboards. Getting around the office on wheels is an option if you work at Pixar, Google, Facebook, PopCap Games, or the website Mashable.com. Some offices even have skateboard RAMPS.
#2.) Foosball Tables. You see this one SOMETIMES. But apparently at a "cool" office it's a must-have. The offices of Google, Apple, Pixar, and Groupon all have them. Ping-pong tables and pool tables are also popular.
#3.) Red Walls. Not all of them, just one or two "accent" walls. Apparently having all white walls is too conventional. And a single bright red wall makes it look like the people who work there think outside the box.
--YouTube, Etsy, and software companies like Autodesk and Valve all have at least one red wall.
#4.) Orange Furniture. This one's even more common than red walls. Orange chairs and couches have been spotted at the offices of Groupon, Google, Twitter, Skype, Digg, Mozilla . . . and basically every other tech company in the world.
#5.) Slides. YouTube has one, and so do Red Bull, Epic Games, and Google. In fact, Google has slides at their offices in New York, San Francisco, Zurich, and their headquarters in Mountain View, California. (Cracked.com)
"Us Weekly" says that JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and JESSICA BIEL got engaged sometime within the last few weeks. Sources say he popped the question during a snowboarding vacation in the mountains of Jackson, Wyoming. --There's been no word yet from either of their camps. --Justin and Jessica have been together more than four years . . . minus a three-month "break" last year.
Alex Rodriguez Took Torrie Wilson to a Laker Game:
Yankees stud ALEX RODRIGUEZ took his relationship with former WWE diva TORRIE WILSON public this week. The two of them sat next to CINDY CRAWFORD and her husband at Tuesday night's Laker game. --And they were even caught KISSING. (--Here are some pics.) (Radar Online)
Marc Anthony Has a New, Young Girlfriend:
MARC ANTHONY has a new girlfriend, and she's 24 years old . . . the same age as JENNIFER LOPEZ'S new boyfriend, Casper Smart. --Her name is Shannon De Lima, and she's a Venezuelan model. She also has a 4-year-old son from a previous relationship. --Marc posted a picture of them kissing on Facebook, which I believe is his way of saying, "I am SOOO over you, Jennifer!" (--Check it out here.) (RadarOnline)
Zooey Deschanel Is Worth $3 Million and Has Zero Credit Card Debt, According to Her Divorce Papers:
ZOOEY DESCHANEL'S divorce from DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE singer BEN GIBBARD continues. And her lawyer just filed a detailed rundown of her finances. --Zooey has about $3 million in cash, property and stocks and bonds. And she has three credit cards, but ZERO BALANCE on all three, meaning she has no credit card debt. --Zooey makes about $95,000 a month . . . mostly thanks to her Fox series "New Girl" . . . and her average monthly expenses are $22,550. She also gives $1,500 a month to charity.
Tabloid Roundup: Angelina Jolie is Happy Because She's Pregnant . . . She's Mad Because Brad Pitt Once Knocked Up Jennifer Aniston . . . And She's Racing to Get Pregnant Before Jennifer:
It's a busy week in the tabloids for ANGELINA JOLIE and BRAD PITT. Here are the various silly rumors the rags are pushing . . .
#1.) First off, the "National Enquirer" says Angelina is THREE MONTHS PREGNANT. Obviously, she and Brad are "ecstatic". (--You can read more about that here.)
#2.) Meanwhile, the "Star" says that Angelina angrily walked out on Brad after she found out that he impregnated JENNIFER ANISTON in 2004. --Jennifer allegedly miscarried, and of course it was before Brad and Angelina were together. But supposedly, Angelina was jealous that she wasn't the first woman Brad had ever knocked up. (--Here's more on that.)
#3.) And last but not least, "OK!" magazine says Angelina is NOT pregnant, but she's desperately trying . . . because she wants to get knocked up before Jennifer so she can, quote, "steal her thunder." (--And here's the full scoop.)
Showbiz Photo of the Day: Watch President Obama Eat Sand During a Beach Football Game:
If you'd like to see PRESIDENT OBAMA eat a face full of sand, I can help you out. --On New Year's Day in Hawaii, Obama took part in a beach football game . . . and went down face first while catching a pass. (--Check out the pics here.) (--You can also see them in a gallery here. And if you cycle through pictures 1 through 8 as fast as possible, it's almost like you're watching a VIDEO of him hitting the dirt.)
KARDASHIAN KAOS
The Kardashians Are Getting Barbie Dolls:
Do you want your daughters playing with small, plastic representations of KIM, KOURTNEY and KHLOE KARDASHIAN? Because apparently, they're going to have a chance soon. --Limited edition BARBIE versions are on their way sometime this year. Kim Tweeted, quote, "Merry Christmas Barbs! I'm sure we'll be seeing lots of each other [in 2012]. Shopping soon!" --Now, this part I'm not sure about . . . but a source says the dolls will, quote, "reflect the girls' measurements." (--If that's the case, you'd THINK the dolls won't be marketed toward children. Especially Kim's. But you never know.)
A Group Wants Kim Kardashian to Pay More Taxes:
There's a group in California that wants the state's rich people to pay more in taxes. They're hoping to get an initiative on the ballot in November that forces them to do just that. --And they're using KIM KARDASHIAN as an example. They even set up a website called TaxKimK.com . . . where you can watch a video that illustrates their point.
Nick Cannon Has Suffered "Mild Kidney Failure":
NICK CANNON has been hospitalized in Aspen, Colorado with what his wife MARIAH CAREY is calling "mild kidney failure". --Yesterday she Tweeted, quote, "Please pray for Nick as he's fighting to recover from a mild kidney failure. #mybraveman." --Then she posted a message on her website saying, quote, "We're trying to be as festive as possible under the circumstances but please keep Nick in your thoughts because this is very painful. --"They tried to kick me out of the hospital but here I am pon de bed with Mr. C." (--The message was accompanied by a picture of Mariah and Nick on his hospital bed. Check it out here.) (MariahCarey.com) --Nick later Tweeted that he's being transferred to a hospital in L.A., and added, quote, "Thank you all for all your love, prayers and concern. You know me . . . I will be a'ight." --There's no official word on what caused this, but a "source" says Nick had been battling the flu . . . and the kidney dysfunction was a side-effect.
Paris Hilton Has Generated $1.3 Billion In Revenue Since 2005 From Her Fragrances Alone:
These days it's all about the Kardashians. But we forget that PARIS HILTON is the ORIGINAL "celebuskank". And she's still a money-making machine. --She says, quote, "I'm involved in my products every step of the way. My fragrances are doing really well at the moment. They've produced more than $1.3 billion in revenue since 2005." --"I have 35 stores and 17 product lines. And then there's my racing team, my 14 fragrances and my new project, the Paris Hilton Beach Club chain. --"The first one is opening in the Philippines soon. It's going to have nightclubs, restaurants, bars, gyms. Everything really." --Oh, and here's some scary news: Paris is also working on her second album. Although luckily, it doesn't sound like she's gunning for pop stardom this time. She's making party music. --She says, quote, "I have a huge passion for house music. I've been working on the album with lots of other top DJs for a while now and I think people will be really surprised. It's very modern and very catchy; perfect party music. --"There are just so many great DJs right now. And I should know . . . I've been to over 100 raves in the past year, so I've heard every type of music."
Demi Lovato Says She'll Always Be Friends With Miley Cyrus . . . Even Though They Have "Brutal" Fights:
DEMI LOVATO would like you to know that she'll always be friends with MILEY CYRUS and SELENA GOMEZ. And with Miley that's not easy, because they've been known to go for each other's throats. --Demi says, quote, "No matter how many times we fight, we will always be in each others' lives. Miley and I are very strong-headed, so when we fight, it's brutal and we're like, 'We're never going to be friends again!' --"Then two days later, we're like, 'I love you and I miss you!'" --Things are a lot cooler with Selena because, quote, "She's not a confrontational person at all." But Demi adds, quote, "Both of them will never leave my life no matter what happens, because we've been through so much together." --Demi also gives props to some other girls who were there for her when she was dealing with her personal issues . . . quote, "We're not super-close, but TAYLOR SWIFT tweeted 'Pray for Demi,' which I thought was really awesome of her. --"And KIM KARDASHIAN, the busiest woman on the planet, took time to call me."
Joe Torre Wants to Buy the Dodgers:
Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager JOE TORRE is going to try to buy his old team. -Since last February, Torre had been working as an executive for Major League Baseball . . . but he had to resign that position to launch his ownership bid. --Torre managed the Dodgers from 2008 to 2010, after a 12-year run as manager of the Yankees. The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy this past June. --There are several groups trying to buy the team. One includes former Dodgers STEVE GARVEY and OREL HERSHISER. Another includes Lakers legend MAGIC JOHNSON. Dallas Mavericks owner MARK CUBAN has also expressed interest. --Torre's group is backed by a Los Angeles real estate developer named Rick Caruso.
A Paternity Court Judge Just Told Terrell Owens His NFL Career Is Over:
Wide receiver TERRELL OWENS is still a man without a team. And thus, a man without an income. So he's been trying to adjust his various child support payments accordingly. --Yesterday, he was in a Los Angeles courtroom trying to get two of those payments reduced, and the judge hit him with a serious TRUTH TORPEDO. --Addressing T.O.'s lawyer, the judge said, quote, "His NFL career seems to be over. I mean no disrespect." According to TMZ, Terrell, quote, "nodded his head in acknowledgement." --By the way . . . T.O. wasn't the only athlete at the courthouse for a child support hearing yesterday. --UFC legend CHUCK LIDDELL, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end MARCEDES LEWIS and ROGER MASON of the Washington Wizards were there to sort out baby-mama issues, too.
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND
A Movie Starring Dennis Quaid as a Killer Mortician and A New Exorcist Flick Are The First New Movies to Hit Theaters in 2012:
#1.) "The Devil Inside" (R) (Trailer)
A woman murders three people in the middle of her own exorcism, and gets locked up for the rest of her life. A Brazilian minx named Fernanda Andrade plays her daughter, who asks some exorcists to take another shot at removing the four demons that have possessed her mom.
#2.) "Beneath the Darkness" (R) (Trailer) (Limited)
Dennis Quaid plays a mortician who terrorizes a group of high school students after they catch him DANCING WITH A CORPSE. He kills one of them that first night, but the cops don't believe their story so he's free to go after the rest. --One of the kids is played by Aimee Teegarden, who you might recognize as the coach's daughter Julie on "Friday Night Lights".
#3.) "Roadie" (Not Rated) (Trailer) (In New York only)
Ron Eldard is a guy who spent 25 years as a roadie for Blue Oyster Cult. When the band fires him, he returns home and reconnects with his high school sweetheart . . . "Crossing Jordan's" Jill Hennessy . . . even though she's married to another guy.
Taylor Swift and Amanda Seyfried May Join the Cast of "Les Miserables":
TAYLOR SWIFT and AMANDA SEYFRIED may join the cast of the upcoming movie version of "Les Miserables". --Swift has been offered the part of Eponine . . . which was also being sought after by SCARLETT JOHANSSON, LEA MICHELE and EVAN RACHEL WOOD. --Eponine's parents are being played by HELENA BONHAM CARTER and SACHA BARON COHEN. --Seyfried is reportedly in final negotiations to play Cosette . . . whose mother, Fantine, is being played by ANNE HATHAWAY. (--Who's only three years older than Amanda, by the way.) --The cast also includes HUGH JACKMAN and RUSSELL CROWE. The film is scheduled to hit theaters next December.
Is Kristen Wiig Refusing to Do a "Bridesmaids" Sequel?
Word has it that KRISTEN WIIG is refusing to do a "Bridesmaids" sequel. But Universal may be willing to go ahead without her. --There's no word why Kristen is balking, but one theory is that she was INSULTED by how the studio rewarded her for giving them such a huge hit. --Supposedly, the six principal cast members . . . including MELISSA MCCARTHY and MAYA RUDOLPH . . . were given a $100,000 bonus when the movie became one of the biggest hits of 2011. --But given the film's $288 million haul, some of them found that figure a little low. Reached for comment, Kristen wouldn't say whether she was upset about the amount of the bonus. --Kristen and another woman actually WROTE "Bridesmaids". But when asked if the two of them were interested in a follow-up, she said, quote, "We aren't working on that. We aren't planning a sequel. We are writing something else." --A source at Universal says, quote, "We are over the moon with the success of 'Bridesmaids', and if we do a sequel we want to get it right. --"We are talking to filmmakers now about concepts, and if the right one emerges, we'll move forward." (--Speaking of sequels, "Horrible Bosses 2" is in the works . . . and Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis are all expected to return.)
NBC Has Confirmed the Cast of the Next "Celebrity Apprentice":
NBC has officially announced the cast of the next "Celebrity Apprentice" . . . although 16 of the 18 contestants were "outed" by RealityBlurred.com THREE MONTHS AGO. --Unfortunately, the two they didn't have aren't all that exciting. They are "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star TERESA GIUDICE and VICTORIA GOTTI, who's only famous because she's the daughter of mobster JOHN GOTTI.
--Here's the rest of the cast:
--Adam Carolla
--Former "American Idol" Clay Aiken
--Magician Penn Jillette
--Comedienne Lisa Lampanelli
--Former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day
--"American Chopper" dad Paul Teutul
--24-year-old racecar driver Marco Andretti (--He's the grandson of Mario Andretti.)
--Model Patricia Velásquez
--Former Miss Venezuela and Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza
--"Wayne's World" minx Tia Carrere
--'80s pop superstar Debbie Gibson
--Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider
--George Takei . . . a.k.a. Sulu from "Star Trek"
--Former "Incredible Hulk" star Lou Ferrigno
--Model Cheryl Tiegs (--She's 64 years old now.)
--And easily the most important, EXCITING celebrity to EVER do "Celebrity Apprentice": ARSENIO HALL. (--Seriously. Word that Arsenio was doing this leaked three months ago . . . and I STILL can't believe it.) (--It isn't everyday that we're able to see Arsenio on TV . . . since 1994 that is . . . so I'm glad DONALD TRUMP was willing to accommodate Arsenio's insane schedule to make this happen.)
--"Celebrity Apprentice" premieres February 12th on NBC.
(--Here's video of the cast talking about doing "Celebrity Apprentice". It begins with some typical Donald Trump hyperboles . . . where he calls the cast "iconic" and says it's "the best cast we've ever had.")
Martha Stewart's Daytime Talk Show Is Coming to an End:
MARTHA STEWART'S daytime talk show is coming to an end after six years. Sources say production will shut down in April, and the last episode will air in May. --The show averaged 225,000 viewers last year . . . and obviously, that wasn't enough. --"Martha" was syndicated from September of 2005 until September of 2010, when it moved to the Hallmark Channel. (--Here's something you may not have realized: Martha will turn 71 years old this August. Pretty crazy, right?)
This Season of "The Bachelor" Is Going to Feature a Lot of Censored Nudity:
Here's some outstanding news for anyone who's a big fan of censored nudity. This season of "The Bachelor" is going to have a lot of it . . . mostly involving BEN FLAJNIK. (--Pronounced "Flannick.") --Host CHRIS HARRISON says, quote, "It's a very nude season. Ben is very comfortable in his own skin. He doesn't have modesty issues." --Obviously, there won't be any ACTUAL nudity. All the naughty parts will be covered by black boxes . . . just like they were in the previews at the end of the premiere.
Thursday TV Reminders:
--"Wipeout" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 8:00 to 9:00 P.M. on ABC.
--"Project Runway All Stars" [Series Premiere] . . . 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. on Lifetime. Thirteen contestants return to compete with "Marie Claire's" Joanna Coles as their mentor, Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman as the judges, and supermodel Angela Lindvall as your host.
--"Jersey Shore" [5th Season Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on MTV.
--"24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic" [15th Season Finale] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on HBO.
--"American Stuffers" [Series Premiere] . . . 10:00 to 11:00 P.M. on Animal Planet. This reality series focuses on an owner of a taxidermy shop.
It's On! Between Patrick Carney of the Black Keys and Nickelback:
THE BLACK KEYS are on the cover of the next issue of "Rolling Stone", which comes out tomorrow. Now that they've reached this level, they often get lumped in with other popular "rock bands" like NICKELBACK. --But the Black Keys are NOT cool with that. --In the "Rolling Stone" interview, drummer PATRICK CARNEY unleashed this rant: Quote, "Rock 'n' roll is dying because people became OK with Nickelback being the biggest band in the world. --"So they became OK with the idea that the biggest rock band in the world is always going to be [crap] . . . therefore you should never try to be the biggest rock band in the world. [Eff] that! --"Rock 'n' roll is the music I feel the most passionately about, and I don't like to see it [effing] ruined and spoon-fed down our throats in this watered-down, post-grunge, horrendous [crap]. --"When people start lumping us into that kind of [crap], it's like, '[Eff] you,' honestly." --Black Keys singer DAN AUERBACH probably shares Patrick's sentiments. Last year, he went off on the BLACK EYED PEAS after MTV gave them a VMA trophy that mistakenly had the Black Eyed Peas name on it.
Adele's "21" Sold More Copies Last Year Than Any Album in Seven Years:
Nielsen Soundscan has released some of music's final sales numbers for 2011 . . . and not surprisingly, it was all about ADELE. --Her album "21" sold 5.8 million copies last year, which is A LOT. In fact, it's the most a single album has sold in a calendar year since 2004 . . . when USHER sold just under 8 million copies of "Confessions". --It was also more than double the sales of the next best seller, MICHAEL BUBLÉ'S "Christmas", which sold 2.4 million copies.
--Here are the 10 best-selling albums in 2011:
1.) "21", Adele . . . 5.8 million copies
2.) "Christmas", Michael Bublé . . . 2.4 million copies
3.) "Born This Way", Lady Gaga . . . 2.1 million copies
4.) "Tha Carter 4", Lil Wayne . . . 1.9 million copies
5.) "My Kinda Party", Jason Aldean . . . 1.6 million copies
6.) "Sigh No More", Mumford & Sons . . . 1.4 million copies
7.) "Take Care", Drake . . . 1.3 million copies
8.) "Under the Mistletoe", Justin Bieber . . . 1.3 million copies (--About 2,000 copies behind Drake.)
9.) "Watch the Throne", Jay-Z and Kanye West . . . 1.23 million copies
10.) "Own the Night", Lady Antebellum . . . 1.2 million copies
--Adele also topped the digital songs list. Her hit "Rolling in the Deep" sold 5.8 million downloads. Here's the Top 10:
1.) "Rolling in the Deep", Adele . . . 5.8 million downloads
2.) "Party Rock Anthem", LMFAO . . . 5.5 million downloads
3.) "E.T.", Katy Perry . . . 4.8 million downloads
4.) "Moves Like Jagger", Maroon 5 . . . 4.1 million downloads
5.) "Give Me Everything", Pitbull . . . 3.9 million downloads
6.) "Pumped Up Kicks", Foster the People . . . 3.8 million downloads
7.) "Someone Like You", Adele . . . 3.8 million downloads
8.) "Forget You", Cee Lo Green . . . 3.7 million downloads
9.) "Super Bass", Nicki Minaj . . . 3.6 million downloads
10.) "Born This Way", Lady Gaga . . . 3.5 million downloads
--And here are a few other interesting facts from Nielsen on last year's music sales:
--It was the first year since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991 that two Christmas albums were among the top 10 best-sellers: Michael Bublé's "Christmas" and Justin Bieber's "Under the Mistletoe".
--Overall album sales in the U.S. actually IMPROVED. This is the first time that's happened since 2004. It was only by 1% though. 330.6 million albums sold last year, compared to 326.2 million in 2010.
--However, the CD is still dying. CD sales were down 6% . . . but digital album downloads were up by 20% to a record 103.1 million copies. In 2010, 86.3 million digital albums were sold.
--The top-selling digital album of 2011 was also Adele's "21" . . . naturally. She sold 1.8 million digital albums.
--This is the first year any song has sold at least 5 million downloads . . . and two songs did it. ("Rolling in the Deep" and "Party Rock Anthem"). 2010's top selling digital song was Katy Perry's "California Gurls" with 4.40 million downloads.
--For the fourth straight year, vinyl album sales GREW. More vinyl albums were sold last year than in any other year since SoundScan began in 1991. In 2011, 3.9 million vinyl LPs were sold, compared to 2.8 million in 2010.
And Here's How Adele Did on Last Week's "Billboard" Chart:
ADELE is back on top of the "Billboard" chart. Her disc "21" sold another 144,000 copies to notch its 14th non-consecutive week at #1. It's the most weeks at #1 since the "Titanic" soundtrack spent 16 weeks there in 1998.
--The week's top debut came from SKRILLEX. His "Bangarang" EP opened at #19 with nearly 24,000 copies sold. Here's this week's Top 10 . . .
1.) "21", Adele (144,000 copies)
2.) "Take Care", Drake (72,000 copies)
3.) "TM103: Hustlerz Ambition", Young Jeezy (67,000 copies)
4.) "Own the Night", Lady Antebellum (54,000 copies)
5.) "Sorry for Party Rocking", LMFAO (49,000 copies)
6.) "Ceremonials", Florence + the Machine (47,000 copies)
7.) "El Camino", The Black Keys (45,000 copies)
8.) "Mylo Xyloto", Coldplay (44,000 copies)
9.) "Talk That Talk", Rihanna (42,000 copies)
10.) "Now That's What I Call Music, Volume 40" (41,000 copies)
Carrie Underwood Saved the Life of a Dog That Was Thrown From a Car:
CARRIE UNDERWOOD may be a big star, but she's not above jumping out of her car to save a stray dog's life. It happened over the holidays when she was on her way back to Nashville after visiting her family. --Carrie spotted two Labrador puppies on the side of the road. Sadly, only one was still alive . . . and according to the emergency vet, it was most likely THROWN from a moving vehicle. (--I believe there's a place in hell for people who treat living creatures like that.) --After the puppy was treated, Carrie brought it home and named it Stella. She also talked some neighbors into adopting it. (--Carrie didn't keep the pup because she already has two dogs, plus Stella needs full-time attention right now.)
THURSDAY'S SHOWBIZ EXTRAS
Showbiz Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
MARIO LOPEZ and his baby-mama COURTNEY MAZZA are engaged. Mario and Courtney have a daughter named Gia who's a little over a year old. Mario's first marriage to ALI LANDRY was annulled after two weeks because Mario cheated on her at his bachelor party. (Full Story)
CHAD OCHOCINCO'S fiancée EVELYN LOZADA has reportedly put the brakes on their wedding plans . . . because she suspects he might be CHEATING on her. (Full Story)
MOON UNIT ZAPPA and MATCHBOX 20 guitarist PAUL DOUCETTE are getting divorced. (Full Story)
The Wegmans grocery chain pulled holiday ads featuring ALEC BALDWIN one week early after people complained because of Alec's recent airplane tirade. But then they got way more messages of SUPPORT for Alec, so they're running the ads again. (Full Story)
LILY COLLINS . . . daughter of PHIL . . . has scored the lead in the upcoming "Evil Dead" remake. (Full Story)
RICK SPRINGFIELD will show up on an episode of "Hot in Cleveland" sometime this summer. He's playing himself . . . the STUD you know from "Jessie's Girl", "General Hospital" and of course killing a man in 'Nam!!! (Full Story)
If you didn't know, America isn't the only country being subjected to the "Real Housewives" franchise. They're developing one for France now . . . and hope to also do ones in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia. Canada and Brazil will get theirs this spring, and there are already "Real Housewives" shows in Greece and Israel. (Full Story)
GEORGE MICHAEL says that some extreme Christian organizations were praying for him to DIE while he was hospitalized for pneumonia this past fall. (Full Story)
LUDACRIS is opening a restaurant in Atlanta's airport. It's called Chicken & Beer . . . after his 2003 album of the same name. This will be his second restaurant. He also has an Atlanta-based joint called Straits. (Full Story)
VH1 has no plans to do seasons of "Celebrity Rehab" or "Sober House" this year, but neither show has been officially canceled. (Full Story)
RATT singer STEPHEN PEARCY and guitarist WARREN DEMARTINI are doing something with DAVE GROHL from the FOO FIGHTERS. They won't say what it's all about though. Stephen says, quote, "We'll let [Dave] tell you about when he's ready, kids. [It's] not for a RATT record." (Full Story)
A female contestant got so excited on "The Price Is Right" that she jumped on DREW CAREY and they slammed into a wall. She also tackled NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, who was yesterday's celebrity guest. (Full Story and Video)
RANDOM STUFF
A Mother Shot and Killed an Intruder After Asking a 911 Operator Whether It Was Okay:
There's a crazy story out of Oklahoma about SELF-DEFENSE . . . and what you can do to protect your family inside your home. --On New Year's Eve, 18-year-old Sarah McKinley of Blanchard, Oklahoma was home with her three-month-old son, MOURNING. Her husband . . . the baby's father . . . had died of CANCER on Christmas.--Suddenly, two men began trying to break into her house: 24-year-old Justin Martin, and 29-year-old Dustin Stewart. And they had a 12-inch hunting knife. --So Sarah grabbed her baby and locked herself in the bedroom. But not before she grabbed her TWO GUNS . . . a 12-gauge shotgun and a pistol. Then she called 911. --She asked for help, and asked the dispatcher, quote, "I'm here by myself with my infant baby . . . I've got two guns in my hand. Is it okay to shoot him if he comes in this door?" --And the dispatcher basically gave her the green light: Quote, "I can't tell you that you can do that, but you do what you have to do to protect your baby." --So, when Martin kicked in the door to the bedroom and went at Sarah with a knife, she SHOT and KILLED HIM with the 12-gauge. --The police have ruled it a justified shooting in self defense. In a statement, they say, quote, "You're allowed to shoot an unauthorized person that is in your home. The law provides you the remedy, and sanctions the use of deadly force." (--Keep in mind, this can vary state-by-state. You can see the laws for every state here.) --Sarah says, quote, "I wouldn't have done it, but it was my son. It's not an easy decision to make, but I knew it was him or my son. And it wasn't going to be my son. There's nothing more dangerous than a woman with a child." --After the shooting, the other guy took off, then turned himself into police. --Interestingly enough, STEWART is going to be charged with Martin's murder. Since he was participating in a felony that resulted in a death, even though Sarah is clear of murder charges, HE'S NOT. (The Oklahoman)
Yesterday was the Biggest Day of the Year for Cheating on Your Husband or Wife:
Did you cheat on your husband or wife yesterday? --We're not sure if this is going to put your conscience at ease . . . or make JESUS any less angry at you . . . but you weren't the only one. --According to relationship experts, January 4th is the BIGGEST day of the entire year for cheating. --It's hard to find statistics to back up that kind of claim, but here's one. The cheating website IllicitEncounters.com reported that they got more than DOUBLE their normal amount of daily signups yesterday. --Here's why January 4th is big for cheating. The stress and intensity of the holiday season can put a big strain on relationships. But no one wants to break up over the holidays. So that frustration and anger just festers and grows. --By January 4th, everyone's been back to work for a couple of days, settled back into a routine . . . and now they can actually take active steps toward ending their relationship, including the COWARD'S ROUTE of cheating.(Daily Mail)
People Who Meet Online Get Married in an Average of 18 Months . . . Other Couples Wait 42 Months:
If you sign up for online dating with the goal of getting married as quickly as possible, here's some good news. Once you wade through the sea of lunatics and find the right person . . . you guys will be married before you know it. --According to a new survey, the average couple that meets through online dating gets married in 18-and-a-half months . . . or a year-and-a-half.
--For couples who meet offline, the average is 42 months . . . or three-and-a-half years.
--In 2010, 17% of married couples . . . or one out of six . . . met on a dating site.
--About 5.5 million of the 54 million single adults in the U.S. are now using online dating. About 20% have tried it.
--Every user spends an average of almost 13 minutes per week on their online dating profile and correspondence . . . not counting the time spent on dates. (Jezebel)
Is This the First Marriage Between People Brought Together by "Words With Friends"?
Maybe there IS a purpose to "Words With Friends" . . . besides wasting an enormous amount of your time and getting ALEC BALDWIN kicked off planes. --Now, it's also a MATCHMAKER. --If you're not familiar, "Words With Friends" is a popular iPhone, Android, and Facebook game that lets you play a game . . . suspiciously like Scrabble . . . against other people. --32-year-old Megan Lawless of Chicago has been a big "Words With Friends" fan for years. But she didn't just want to play against her friends. She also wanted to play some Words With Strangers. --So, back in November of 2009, she hit the "Random Opponent" button. -31-year-old Jasper Jasperse of the Netherlands randomly got matched up with her. They started playing, and started having good games, so they kept playing. Those games led to online chatting. That chatting led to talking. --And now, Jasper has moved to Chicago . . . and they're MARRIED. --A company called Zynga makes "Words With Friends". They said this is the first "Words With Friends" marriage they know of. (Redeye Chicago) --Here's a photo of Megan and Jasper.)
What Song Was Number One the Week You Were Born?
The new thing on Facebook is people looking up the song that was number one the week they were born, then posting the video on their Facebook wall. --Even if you're too cool to participate in Facebook trends, it actually IS interesting to find out what your "Birth Song" is. --To find your song, go to Wikipedia and look up 'List of number-one hits.' Then select United States, click on your birth year, and find the week you were born. Then prepare to feel old. (--Here's a shortcut: tinyurl.com/YourBirthSong.)
The Girl Scouts are Rolling Out a New Cookie Called "Savannah Smiles":
It's January 5th, which means you can start planning the binge eating you'll do after you drop your New Year's resolution. And this is a good start. --It's the 100th anniversary of Girl Scout cookies, and they're rolling out a NEW FLAVOR called Savannah Smiles. They're described as a "cool and crisp lemon wedge." --They're named Savannah Smiles because the founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, was born in Savannah, Georgia. (Zap2It) (--So, no, they're NOT named after a porn star. Here's a picture of the box and the cookies.)
If You Make Your Own Coffee Instead of Buying Starbucks, You Could Be Half-a-Million Dollars Richer by Retirement:
Yesterday, Starbucks started raising prices in various stores around the country by 1%. Not a huge jump, but it could add up to around $15 extra per year if you drink there every day. --Well . . . CBS News took that Starbucks math to a whole different level. Here's what they figured out. --If you buy one $4 latte a day, you're spending $1,460 per year on Starbucks. After five years, that's $7,300. --Let's say you invested that $4 every day instead, in an account with an average return of 9%. After 10 years, you could have enough to buy a car. And at 40 years, the money you saved from coffee would be worth $634,428. --But if you don't want to give up Starbucks, here's another alternative. You could buy bags of Starbucks French roast and brew them yourself. You can also add milk to make lattes. --That will reduce your budget to about $29-a-month . . . saving you $91 over going to an actual Starbucks. --Over 40 years, if you invested the difference, you'd have $481,108. Even if you don't invest it, just saving the $91-a-month would mean you'll end the year $1,092 richer . . . and have an extra $43,680 when you retire in 40 years. (CBS News)
A Heavy Cold or the Flu Messes You Up as Much as Getting Drunk:
Who knew that getting the flu was basically the same as going out and getting HAMMERED? -According to a new study by an insurance company in England, when you have a heavy cold or the flu, it affects your concentration and reaction time in the car JUST like being drunk. --Researchers found that drivers with serious colds or the flu were about 50% slower to react behind the wheel. That's the same effect as taking FOUR SHOTS of WHISKEY. --So the conclusion here is obvious. If you're sick . . . DON'T DRIVE. And if you really have to go somewhere, find someone else to drive you. (The Telegraph)
Word of the Day: New Year Flu:
New Year Flu (noun) /noo yeer floo/ - a sickness brought on by the combination of unhealthy activities on New Year's Eve . . . drinking too much, wandering around in the cold, and kissing random strangers. --Example: I hate to burn three sick days the first week of January, but I've got a serious case of the New Year Flu. Better than last year, I guess, when I caught an even MORE serious case of New Year Gonorrhea.
One Out of Every 30 Babies Born in the U.S. is Now a Twin:
This country is getting closer and closer to being OVERRUN by twins. And that scares me, because you know in every set of twins, one of them is EVIL. --According to new data from the CDC, one out of every THIRTY babies born in this country is now a twin. That's insane. Back in 1980, the rate was one in 53.--The twin birth rate is up 76% in about 30 years, from 18.9 per 1,000 births to 33.2 per 1,000 births. --The main reason is fertility treatments. Fertility drugs and treatments are FAR more common now than they were 30 years ago . . . and those significantly increase the odds of multiple births. --The other reason? There are more women giving birth in their 30s and early 40s . . . and older mothers are more likely to have twins. Scientists don't really know why . . . they just are. --One other twin note. Yesterday, the "Guinness" world record holders for Oldest Twins celebrated their 102nd birthday. --Ena Pugh and Lily Millward were born on January 4th, 1910 . . . before World War One. They're both still alive, living in Wales, and have been widows for over two decades. (USA Today) (--Here's a photo of the twins.)
Medical Records Technicians, Jewelers, and Hair Stylists Are the Least-Stressful Jobs . . . and Solider is the Most Stressful:
CareerCast.com released their annual list of the most and least-stressful jobs in the 2012 Job Stress Report.
--Several of the low-stress jobs pay about as much as the most-stressful. And they're all indoors, in fairly comfortable settings. The jobs with the least stress are:
#1.) Medical records technician: Average income is $32,350.
#2.) Jeweler: $35,170.
#3.) Hair stylist: $22,760.
#4.) Dressmaker/tailor: $26,560.
#5.) Medical Lab Tech: $36,280.
#6.) Audiologist: That's the person who gives hearing tests. They make $66,660.
#7.) Precision Assembler: They make electronics. Average salary: $31,250.
#8.) Dietitian: $53,250.
#9.) Furniture Upholsterer: $29,960.
#10.) Electrical Technician: $56,040.
The jobs with the MOST stress are:
#1.) Enlisted military soldier: Average income $35,580
#2.) Firefighter: $45,250
#3.) Airline pilot: $103,210
#4.) Military general: $196,300
#5.) Police Officer: $53,540
#6.) Event Coordinator: $45,260
#7.) Public Relations Executive: $91,810
#8.) Senior Corporate Executive: $165,830
#9.) Photojournalist: $40,000
#10.) Taxi Driver: $22,440
(PR Newswire)
MEATBALL CRIMINALS
A Man Stabs His Friend for Not Knowing That Jay-Z and Beyoncé are Married:
Here's yet another reason why you should listen to this show from start to finish, every single day, without fail. We make SURE you're up on everything in pop culture. And apparently, that can keep you from GETTING STABBED. --On New Year's Eve, 31-year-old Ronald Deaver of Parma, Ohio was hanging out with his friend, a 48-year-old man from Garfield Heights, Ohio whose name hasn't been released. --An hour before the New Year, they started arguing. The 48-year-old didn't know that JAY-Z and BEYONCÉ are married. Ronald was arguing with him that, yes, they are married. --Things escalated. And Ronald ended up STABBING his friend. --The friend was rushed to the hospital. He's still there, and is listed in good condition. -Ronald was arrested and charged with felony assault. (FOX 8 - Cleveland) (--Here's Ronald's mugshot.)
A Woman Tried to Get Out of a Shoplifting Arrest By Claiming She Was Rudy from "The Cosby Show":
32-year-old Leah Efay Davis got caught shoplifting from a JC Penney at Provo, Utah's University Mall earlier this week, and came up with our 'Stupid Legal Defense of the Day.' --Leah was caught with four purses and four pajamas worth $591. And she tried to convince police to let her go . . . by claiming she played RUDY on "The Cosby Show". --In Leah's defense, she is the same age as Keshia Knight Pulliam is now . . . the actress who really DID play Rudy . . . and she's got the three-word name. On the other hand, actually being Rudy probably wouldn't have gotten her off anyway. --But Leah didn't just rely on the "I'm Rudy," defense. She also said that she OWNED the mall. And she told police she was eight months pregnant. We're not sure if that one was true or not. --Leah was charged with third-degree felony theft. She's been caught shoplifting before and was banned from the mall because of it. So police also charged her with criminal trespassing. (Salt Lake Tribune) (--Here's Leah's mugshot, along with a photo of the real Rudy, then and now. There's some resemblance . . . probably good enough to get her some free drinks over the years . . . but not enough to stay out of jail.)
RANDOM NEWS EXTRAS
Random News Extras . . . Random Links to Additional Stories:
The U.S. Olympic Committee is threatening to sue the Redneck Olympics for using the word "Olympic." (Full Story)
PRESIDENT OBAMA has joined Instagram, the smartphone app that allows you to use artsy retro filters on your photos. (Full Story)
Check out the seven-foot tall dude who's the world's tallest transsexual. (Full Story)
A teenager from Phoenix fell asleep on a Southwest flight to Tulsa, slept through the landing, slept through the next takeoff, and ended up in St. Louis. (Full Story)
NAZZY’S VIDEOS OF THE DAY
#1.) A Guy Proposed on the Jumbo Screen at a UCLA Basketball Game . . . and Got Rejected:
Some guy proposed to a girl on the "kiss cam" at a UCLA basketball game last month. And now the video is making the rounds on YouTube . . . because the girl said NO. --The guy had it all planned out, and someone was there with a microphone to get the girl's reaction: But first she sat there for a few seconds looking shocked. Then she got up and LEFT. The best part is, the crowd booed her. --The whole thing could have been staged. You decide. (--It happened on December 23rd, but the video was just posted on YouTube. Search for "UCLA Marriage Proposal Fail." It starts at :33, and she leaves at 1:03.)
#2.) A Reporter in Pakistan Punched a Teenager in the Face with His Microphone:
On New Year's Eve in Pakistan, a journalist named Asad Sahi was reporting on the celebrations on live TV. And when a big group of people crowded around him and started yelling into the camera, he got frustrated. --SO frustrated that he spun around and punched a teenager in the FACE with his MICROPHONE. (--Search YouTube for "City42 Reporter Live Punch on Boy." It happens at :48.)
#3.) And Now, Yoda's Death Scene from "Return of the Jedi" . . . with Flatulence:
Remember the scene in "Return of the Jedi" when Yoda dies? Well, someone re-cut it . . . and added in a bunch of FLATULENCE sound effects. It sounds stupid, but I dare you to watch it and not laugh. Luke's reactions are great. (--Search for "Return of the Farting Jedi." WARNING: This video includes the term "Dutch oven.")
#4.) A Soccer Goalie Scored from the Opposite End of the Field:
TIM HOWARD is the goalie for the U.S. soccer team, but he also plays for Everton in the English Premiere League. And during a match yesterday, he scored an amazing goal . . . from the opposite end of the field, without the ball touching any players. --Howard kicked it from the front of his penalty box, it went about 70 yards, landed about 25 yards in front of the other goalie, bounced over his head, and went in. (--Search for "Tim Howard Goal from Downtown.")
Five Things "Cool" Offices Have . . . That Yours Doesn't:
If you hate your job, this probably won't help. Cracked.com came up with a list of things you'll find at a "COOL" office . . . like the offices of YouTube or Google . . . but probably not at YOUR office. Here are the top five.
#1.) Scooters and Skateboards. Getting around the office on wheels is an option if you work at Pixar, Google, Facebook, PopCap Games, or the website Mashable.com. Some offices even have skateboard RAMPS.
#2.) Foosball Tables. You see this one SOMETIMES. But apparently at a "cool" office it's a must-have. The offices of Google, Apple, Pixar, and Groupon all have them. Ping-pong tables and pool tables are also popular.
#3.) Red Walls. Not all of them, just one or two "accent" walls. Apparently having all white walls is too conventional. And a single bright red wall makes it look like the people who work there think outside the box.
--YouTube, Etsy, and software companies like Autodesk and Valve all have at least one red wall.
#4.) Orange Furniture. This one's even more common than red walls. Orange chairs and couches have been spotted at the offices of Groupon, Google, Twitter, Skype, Digg, Mozilla . . . and basically every other tech company in the world.
#5.) Slides. YouTube has one, and so do Red Bull, Epic Games, and Google. In fact, Google has slides at their offices in New York, San Francisco, Zurich, and their headquarters in Mountain View, California. (Cracked.com)
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