SUPER BOWL: Fun Facts

On Super Bowl Sunday, you will most likely be filling your belly with plenty of tasty food and drink.

In the meantime, you can fill your head with these Super Bowl fun facts:

• 6 percent of Americans call in sick the Monday after Super Bowl.

• On the Monday after the Super Bowl, antacid sales increase by 20 percent.

• Pizza sales go up 35 percent the day of the Super Bowl.

• 8 million pounds of guacamole will be consumed on Super Bowl Sunday.

• 14,500 tons of chips will be eaten along with that guacamole.

• Dips and spreads are top choice for food to eat during the Super Bowl (at 30 percent) followed by chicken wings (22 percent), pizza (17 percent), chips and salty snacks (14 percent), and burgers and hot dogs (9 percent).

• Super Bowl fans spend more than $50 million on food during the four days prior to the super bowl.

• Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest winter grilling day of the year.

• More than 49 million cases of beer will be purchased. The Super Bowl is the seventh most popular "beer holiday," behind July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Halloween.

• More drivers are involved in alcohol-related accidents on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year except St. Patrick's Day.

• The Super Bowl is the second largest day of food consumption behind Thanksgiving.

• Your average calorie intake during the game is about 1,200 calories. (You'd need to run 12 miles to burn off those calories.)

• You would need about 13,333 NFL linemen (at 300 pounds each) to balance the four-million pounds of fat consumed from potato chips on Super Bowl Sunday.

• The average number of people at a Super Bowl party is 17.

• 5 percent of Americans will watch the game alone.

• 35 percent of people who actually attend the game write it off as a corporate expense.

• Super Bowl weekend is the slowest weekend of the year for weddings.

• 1.5 million televisions are sold the week before the Super Bowl.

• More than 700,000 footballs are produced annually for official NFL use and 72 of them are used for the Super Bowl. (YumSugar.com)

SUPER BOWL: The Top Halftime Shows Of All Time

Madonna, who has sold more than 300 million records, will perform at halftime of the Super Bowl on Sunday. It's the biggest stage in the world and you know that on Monday, everybody will be talking about it.

Will she be awesome? Or, will she flop? We will know soon enough.

According to the Washington Times, here's a rundown of the Top 5 Super Bowl halftime shows of all time:

5. Bruce Springsteen (2009)
4. Diana Ross (1996)
3. Michael Jackson (1993)
2. Prince (2007)
1. U2 (2002)

Dishonorable Mention: Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake in 2004 --the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" performance.

SUPER BOWL: A Woman's Guide To Watching Football

It's Super Bowl time! If you didn't grow up watching the game, but your man is a diehard football fan, it can be hard to understand and enjoy. If you are going to a party with guy and his friends, avoid these blunders to ensure a good time is had by all:

• Don't interrupt the viewing with unrelated conversation: Think of how annoying it is getting interrupted when you are watching your favorite show. This is the same thing. Watch along and cheer with the gang -- you'll probably end up having a great time!

• If you have a game related question, don't ask mid-play: Wait until a commercial break or a play break, but not during the excitement.

• Don't take up prime viewing seating if you aren't paying attention to the game: If you plan on getting up a lot or talking to the other wives and girlfriends about unrelated topics, find a seat that isn't right in front of the TV. (TresSugar.com)

SUPER BOWL: Things To Do Instead of Watching The Big Game

To most Americans, the thought of not watching the Super Bowl doesn't even occur to them. It's just something that "everybody" does. Well, the truth is, there are actually quite a few people who have absolutely, positively no interest in anything having to do with football.

If you're one of these people, here's a rundown of some stuff you can do on Super Bowl Sunday, when the streets are empty:

• Read a book or watch a movie -- While others have their eyes glued to this game and to goofy commercials, you can put your attention on something of substance like a good book or a movie you've been excited to see.

• Reconnect with an old friend -- If you have a friend who also has no interest in the Super Bowl, meet up at one of the city's deserted restaurants or coffee shops.

• Throw an Anti-Super Bowl party -- Do you have a bunch of friends who also have no interest in the Super Bowl? Invite them over for food, drinks and ... movies, board games, chit-chat, whatever ...

• Revisit your resolutions -- Remember those New Year's Resolutions you made last month? Don't give up on them yet. Get back to business and take some action to accomplish your goals.

• Do your taxes -- No one likes doing their taxes, no matter when it happens. Why not seize the chance to be alone and get them done ahead of schedule?

• Seek a soulmate -- Anyone you meet out and about on Super Bowl day is a potential love of your life. Go shopping, hit the zoo or just wander around aimlessly, seeking that one true love who, like you, hates football. (UCCSScribe.com)

DIET & EXERCISE: Watch What You Say To A Woman On A Diet!

Being on a diet is hard enough, but when other women make thoughtless food and weight-related comments, it can really mess with your head!

If you are a naturally thin girl, who has never struggled with weight, please watch what you say -- and if you have no idea what might be offensive, never say the following:

• "Do I look fat?" -- when you are obviously a skinny little thing.
• "I'm so tired of men only noticing me for my body!"
• "I don't even know why people bother dieting, you just gain all the weight back again anyway!"
• "Oh you're on a diet? Is that why you've been in such a bad mood lately?" (Redbook)

FOOD & DRINK: Breast Milk Foods

Medical studies have shown that breast milk, if you are able to supply it, is the perfect food for a healthy baby.

Well, believe it or not, some foodies think adults can benefit from the nutrition supplied in breast milk too. It's been whipped into cheese at a NYC restaurant and ice cream in London! Um ... no thank you.

Besides the gross factor, viruses can easily be transmitted through unpasteurized breast milk, and then there's the whole question of ... Who knows where the supply comes from?! (Redbook)

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CELEB NEWS

AMERICAN IDOL: Final Auditions in St. Louis

Last night's (Thursday's) American Idol took us to St. Louis, where Carrie Underwood was discovered eight years ago. We got a strong crop of singers on the final night of auditions.

• 22-year-old hottie Johnny Keyser wowed the judges with "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. Jennifer Lopez predicted that he'll be a star.
• Fellow-hottie Ethan Jones went through with Edwin McCain's pop ballad "I'll Be."
• Single-mom Rachelle Lamb brought her daughter to dance along to Faith Hill's "Find Somebody New."
• Bullying-survivor Reis Kloeckener impressed with Bill Withers' "Lean on Me." Steven Tyler was teary eyed.
• Lauren Gray, who sings with her father in a Southern rock band, did Adele's "One and Only." Steven called her fearless. J-Lo said she was one of the best female singers this season.
• Mark Ingram, who works at the hotel where the auditions were held, brought the bad. He mangled "Overjoyed" by Stevie Wonder, and tried to belt out another tune as they were trying to get him off the stage.
• We also got an exclusive sneak peek at Madonna's new music video "Give Me All Your Luvin."

Head to TV Drops for more audio. 

JERSEY SHORE: Snooki Gets Wet & Wild

On last night's (Thursday's) Jersey Shore...

• Vinny moved back in! Pauly D was pumped to have his wing-man back. The gang went to club Karma. Snooki was so excited that she literally peed herself on the dance floor. She cleaned up with body spray in the bathroom, and tossed her undies later. Snook's peeing problem continued, and she was soon diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. With her training as a veterinary technician, Snook assured us that drinking was the way to deal with the pain. Snooki's dad came to the house bearing cranberry juice and false eyelashes.
• The crew went to batting cages, where Snooki declared, "I hate balls being thrown at me. I just like them in my mouth."
• They played a concentration game called Warm Beer.
• The Situation griped that the guys were turning on him, but later turned apologetic. Snooki wasn't buying his nice-guy act.
• J-woww had a situation with Roger dodging her calls.

Head to TV Drops for more audio. 

BIG BANG THEORY: The Friendship Contraction

On last night's (Thursday's) Big Bang Theory...

• Sheldon (Jim Parsons) woke the apartment with an emergency drill. Leonard (Johnny Galecki) rebelled against the house rules. To make peace, the official Roommate Agreement was renegotiated to create "Leonard's Day."
• A power outage brought Leonard and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) back together.
• Howard (Simon Helberg) wanted a cool astronaut nickname for his space flight with NASA. A breakfast bungle landed him with the handle "Fruit Loops."

Head to TV Drops for more audio. 

ROB: Family Secrets

On last night's (Thursday's) Rob...

• Rob (Rob Schneider) let it slip that family patriarch Fernando (Cheech Marin) once got cozy with his wife's sister. It sent the family into a tailspin.
• Rob fretted that he looked like an old fool being out with his young bride Maggie (Claudia Bassols). She admitted to having secrets of her own. Rob dug into her past, and found an old engagement.

Head to TV Drops for more audio. 

DONALD TRUMP: Endorses Mitt Romney After False Newt Reports

After press reports suggested that real estate mogul Donald Trump would endorse Newt Gingrich for the Republican presidential nomination, Trump surprised some yesterday (Thursday) by endorsing Mitt Romney.

Trump said that he was endorsing Romney because he won't "allow bad things to continue to happen to us."

Romney said he was "honored" to have Trump's endorsement and was "looking for the endorsement of the people of Nevada." The Nevada Republican caucus is tomorrow (Saturday).

Trump blamed early reports that circulated Wednesday night and early Thursday morning that he would endorse Gingrich on Newt's camp. "They put that out," Trump told reporters.

Of course, some Democrats were quick to turn Trump's endorsement of Romney into a negative. "Why would Trump endorse Romney?" asked a headline from statement released by the Democratic National Committee. "Perhaps because they both light firing people!"

Source: CBS News

PLANNED PARENTHOOD: N.Y.C. Mayor Donates $250,000 After Komen Flap

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has come to the rescue of Planned Parenthood. His office announced yesterday (Thursday) that he's giving a $250,000 matching gift to the organization to make up for the controversial loss of funding from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

In a statement Bloomberg said, "Politics have no place in health care. Breast cancer screening saves lives, and hundreds of thousands of women rely on Planned Parenthood for access to care. We should be helping women access that care, not placing barriers in their way."

Meanwhile, Nancy G. Brinker, founder and CEO of Komen denied that the move to cut funding to Planned Parenthood was spurred on by political pressure. But Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards said the move was due to pressure from right-wing groups.

In a related development, Mollie Williams, the managing director of Community Health programs at the Komen foundation, quit her job over Komen's decision. In a statement, Williams praised both Komen and Planned Parenthood for their efforts and added that "the divide between these two very important organizations saddens me."

Sources: CNN, The New York Times

Related: Komen gives new explanation for cutting funds to Planned Parenthood

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: Indicts Swiss Bank

Uncle Sam is tired of wealthy Americans evading taxes by hiding their money in offshore bank accounts. To prove it, yesterday (Thursday) the U.S. indicted Wegelin, the oldest Swiss private bank, on charges that it enabled U.S. citizens to commit tax fraud on at least $1.2 billion.

This marks the first time that an overseas bank has been indicted by the U.S. for enabling tax fraud. The indictment, announced by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, said that the U.S. government seized more than $16 million from Wegelin's sister bank, the Stamford, Connecticut-based UBS AG, through a separate complaint. Since Wegelin doesn't have branches outside of Switzerland, it uses UBS AG for its American clients.

Source: Reuters

ACCUSED TEACHER: Was Target of a 1994 Investigation

More information is coming to light related to Mark Berndt, the Los Angeles teacher accused of committing vulgar acts on more than 20 elementary school children. Berndt was the subject of a police investigation nearly 20 years ago, after he allegedly tried to fondle a female student.

The alleged abuse took place in September 1993, but the young girl reportedly didn't tell her mother until four months later, after seeing an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show about child abuse that explained the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching.

The girl's mother told school authorities, who notified the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, which turned the case over to the district attorney. However, the case was dropped after the D.A. determined "that the evidence was insufficient to prove a crime occurred."

Source: Los Angeles Times

POSSIBLE ATTACK: Israel Eyeing Iran, Panetta Says

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says there's a strong likelihood that Israel will attack Iran in April, May or June in an attempt to derail their nuclear program.

The speculation is partly fueled by the fact that Israel asked to postpone a planned U.S.-Israel military exercise that was set for May, after the country's Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Israel couldn't devote the resources necessary for the annual exercise.

The Obama administration is said to be weighing its options and investigating what a possible Israeli attack on Iran would mean the U.S. It appears for now that the administration is in favor of staying out of any possible conflict.

Source: The Washington Post

OBAMA: Says Policies are Based on his Christian Faith

A yesterday's (Thursday's) National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama said that his religion is a major influence on his economic policies, including Wall Street reform and his quest to have the richest Americans pay higher taxes.

In front of a crowd of 3,000, Obama explained, "If I'm willing to give something up as somebody who's been extraordinarily blessed, and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that's going to make economic sense. But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus's teaching that 'for unto whom much is given, much shall be required.' It mirrors the Islamic belief that those who've been blessed have an obligation to use those blessings to help others, or the Jewish doctrine of moderation and consideration for others."

The president has been taking heat from Catholic groups and conservatives who say he's at war with religion because of his decision to make church-affiliated groups cover free birth control for their employees.

Source: AP

OTHER NEWS

• Colts QB Peyton Manning cleared to resume NFL career
  
  
• In Clashes With Police, Egyptians Unleash Fury Over Soccer Riot Deaths
  
  
• Senate OK's bill barring Congress from insider trading
  
  
• Adoption of girlfriend might cost millionaire Goodman

SUPER BOWL POLL: Stars from Sports, Hollywood & Politics Make Picks

We have our annual predictions from the Scripps Howard Celebrity Super Bowl Poll.

HOLLYWOOD FAVORS NEW YORK

• HOWIE MANDEL: New York, 41-7. "Giants will mob the Patriots. I was just looking for a way to mention my show, Mobbed."
• ALISON SWEENEY: New York, 23-21. "Since I was in New York when the Giants won on Sunday night in overtime, I'm going with the Giants. Hopefully, it'll be another close game since those are the most fun to watch."
• ROSEANNE BARR: New York, 24-21.
• DENNIS FARINA: New York, 33-29. "The Giants are on a roll and Tom Brady is a little hurt."
• ANDREW DICE CLAY: New York, 31-21. "This is just my Brooklyn premonition. I don't follow sports that much, but I do like to watch the cheerleaders and you never know when you will ever get another wardrobe malfunction."
• HALEY JOEL OSMENT: New York, 34-31. "It's just destined to be won at the last second by a field goal." [He has picked 11 of the last 12 Super Bowl winners.]
• HOLLY MADISON: New York, 24-20. "First, I love New York and the Giants are on such a good roll right now that I don't want to mess with that."
• ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: New England, 31-24. "I can't pick against my neighbor, especially when he is playing at such a high level. Tom Brady will be the Super Bowl MVP."
• SHERRI SHEPHERD: New England, 42-35. "New England Baby! Both teams have great offenses but Tom Brady is better under pressure. Eli Manning only has one Super Bowl win while Tom Brady has three (soon to be four)!"
• JOEL MCHALE: "Broncos by 7. Even though they're not in the game, Denver will show up unannounced and beat both teams at once. That's right, 11 versus 22. (Broncos quarterback Tim) Tebow will throw a last-second Hail Mary pass while saying a Hail Mary. Mary will then catch the pass for a touchdown."

CLASSIC TV STARS FOR NEW YORK

• DAWN WELLS, Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island: New York, 24-17. "There's nobody handsomer than Brady. But I kind of like Eli."
• RUSSELL JOHNSON, the Professor on Gilligan's Island: New York, 17-14. "They seem to be so evenly matched. I'm going to go with Eli and the Giants."
• TINA LOUISE, Ginger on Gilligan's Island: New York, 28-27.
• JACLYN SMITH, Charlie's Angels: New York, 27-24. "If I didn't pick the Giants, my husband would be filing for divorce!"

CLASSIC TV STARS FOR NEW ENGLAND

• FLORENCE HENDERSON, Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch: New England, 24-14. "They're a great team and I especially love Tom Brady."
• BARRY WILLIAMS, Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch: New England, 31-17. "As the seventh and youngest Brady, Tom is a classic and a winner."
• ADAM WEST, Batman: New England, 21-17. "It will be close and wrenching. Brady is on a record-breaking super roll. If his offensive line can keep up (its) great protection abilities, we know somebody's pattern and luck downfield could pile up points."
• JERRY MATHERS, Beaver on Leave it to Beaver: New England, 38-31. "Tom Brady is looking to avenge that last loss. I think it will be high scoring, because defensively both (teams) are weak (in the secondary)."

POLITICAL PUNDITS

• LOU DOBBS: New York, 34-24. "I think (Manning) and Brady are playing at about the same level, with an edge to Manning. Without (Patriots tight end Rob) Gronkowski, the Pats lose at least a touchdown of offense. Go Giants."
• BILL O'REILLY: New York, 27-24. "The Giants will be able to disrupt Tom Brady's passing. The Pats can't run the ball. Eli Manning will hit a few deep passes."
• KEITH OLBERMANN: New York, 27-17. "I was at (the Giants') last loss and saw two things: a) the Giant defense, especially the line, was humiliated by its own work versus Washington and vowed to never let it happen again. And b) Eli Manning can now pretty much put the ball to within a foot of where he wants it."
• RACHEL MADDOW: New England, 31-27. "Because the Lesser Manning is lesser. Adorable, and with such tiny hands! But lesser."

WORLD OF SPORTS

• YOGI BERRA: New York, 23-20. "Better defense should be the difference."
• JOHN MCENROE: New York, 24-21.
• MARK CUBAN: New York, 38-31.
• DANICA PATRICK: New York, 34-31. "The Giants have been on a roll; confidence and momentum are important in any sport."
• HULK HOGAN: New York, 24-17.
• ARNOLD PALMER: New York, 28-17. "Eli Manning is feeling his oats. I think he will have a good game in the Super Bowl."
• JACK NICKLAUS: New England, 31-28. "How many games have the Patriots lost? Three. How many games have the Giants lost? Seven. I realize the Giants are hot right now, but over the course of a season I think the Patriots have performed better and I like their body of work. Eli is a great quarterback and I am a big fan. It just so happens I root for the AFC, because I am a long-time Dolphins' fan."
• DALE EARNHARDT JR.: New England. "The Redskins whooped the Giants twice so if they won it would make me feel good as a Redskins fan, but I think the Patriots will win, barely, by 3 or 4 points."

MUSICIANS

• JOAN JETT: New York, 38-35. [She has picked the last six Super Bowl winners.]
• VANILLA ICE: New England, 31-21. "I think the G-Men are playing great ball and could upset again, but I think the Pats are out for revenge from the last time they met and will do whatever it takes not to lose the Super Bowl a second time to the same team."
• ANDY WILLIAMS: New England, 13-10. "I love Brady and (New England owner) Robert Kraft runs a great organization."

INTERNET FIND OF THE DAY

Lana Del Rey is a hot new singer getting attention for her music and for her voluptuous lips. One blogger wondered what other performers might look like with her lips. You might be wondering too. So log onto CheckThis.com/PeopleWithLanaDelReyLips

WEIRD AROUND THE WORLD

THOSE SUPER BOWL BEERS ARE EXPENSIVE ...

You know they jack up the prices around any event, but an Indiana couple didn't expect to pay nearly 3000 bucks ... for two beers.

The two were attending the NFL Experience at the Indiana Convention Center and used their credit card to buy two beers at the concession stand. It should have cost them 14 dollars, but they found out later that their credit card had been charged $2,995.

The concession manager said they are working to correct the problem -- and that overcharges like that are rare.

Source: UPI

NJ CAMEL PICKS THE GIANTS

Look out, Patriots -- a camel has picked the Giants to win the Super Bowl.

Princess, who resides at New Jersey's Popcorn Park Zoo, has correctly picked the winner of five of the last six Super Bowls.

Need more proof of her picking prowess? She went 14-6 predicting regular season and playoff games this year, and has a lifetime record of 88-51. Apparently her best season was 2008, when she got 17 out of 22 games right, including correctly picking the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the Super Bowl.

How does she pick the winner, you ask? The zoo's general manager writes the name of the competing teams on his hands, then holds out a graham cracker in each hand. Whichever hand Princess nibbles from is her pick. Apparently, Princess showed no hesitation when she picked the hand with the Giants written on it.

Source: ESPN

HE WAS IN A HURRY ...

A 65-year-old Tennessee man wasn't about to sit idly while another vehicle blocked his car -- even if that vehicle was an ambulance ... with a patient being loaded onto it.

Warren Melamed was upset that the ambulance was blocking his car -- so he decided it to get in and move it -- despite the fact that paramedics were putting a patient inside.

The paramedics heard the engine start and were able to stop Melamed before he could move the ambulance.

Melamed was arrested on one count of unauthorized use of a vehicle.

He allegedly told officers he was mad because the ambulance was blocking his car.

Source: AP

LOVE TOKEN

A man using a metal detector along the Thames River in London found a rare coin that may have been used nearly 2,000 years ago ... as a "brothel token."

The bronze coin, currently being displayed in the Museum of London, depicts a man and woman in an intimate embrace.

According to the museum's senior curator, it is likely brothels existed in Roman London after the Roman invasion of Britain in the 1st Century A.D.

Source: CBS News

NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ

44 percent of people say they'd like to get this for Valentine's Day. What is it?

ANSWER: A love note.

Phone topic: Do you leave love notes for special occasions -- or do it year round? Or are you strictly an E-mailer?

QUIZ: Super Bowl XLVI

The New England Patriots and New York Giants will face off in the Super Bowl this Sunday, February 5th.

1. Super Bowl XLVI is a rematch of Super Bowl XLII. Who won that game: New York Giants or New England Patriots?
(ANSWER: The New York Giants, ruining the Patriots' perfect season)

2. How many current Patriots played in Super Bowl XLII against the Giants: twelve, seven or zero?
(ANSWER: Seven. The Giants have 16 active players still on the roster from the 2007 season.)

3. True or false: if the Patriots win, it will be Tom Brady's fifth Super Bowl title?
(ANSWER: False, Tom Brady is playing for his fourth Super Bowl title)

4. Tom Brady hopes to become one of three quarterbacks with four Super Bowl rings. Name the other two?
(ANSWER: Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana)

5. This year's Super Bowl is the first to be hosted by the city of Indianapolis. Next year's game will be the 10th Super Bowl to be hosted by what city: Miami, New Orleans or Dallas?
(ANSWER: New Orleans)

6. True or false: when Eli Manning and Tom Brady face off, it will mark the first time in NFL history two Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterbacks have met in a Super Bowl?
(ANSWER: True)

7. Of the 46 players to win Super Bowl MVP awards, how many have been quarterbacks: 11, 18 or 24?
(ANSWER: 24, including two for Brady)

8. Has a kicker ever won the Super Bowl MVP: yes or no?
(ANSWER: No)

9. True or false: there were 198 picks before the Patriots selected Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft?
(ANSWER: True)

10. Three NFL teams have each lost a record four Super Bowls. Which team lost them in four consecutive years: Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills or Denver Broncos?
(ANSWER: Buffalo Bills)

11. Which team has won the most Super Bowls with six: New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers or San Francisco 49ers?
(ANSWER: Pittsburgh Steelers)

12: Four NFL teams have never made it to the Super Bowl. Name one of them?
(ANSWER: Browns, Lions, Jaguars and Texans)

BONUS: The Super Bowl is the second biggest day for food consumption in America, surpassed only by what?
(ANSWER: Thanksgiving)

UPCOMING MOVIES

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD

BIG MIRACLE (drama) Kristen Bell, Drew Barrymore, Dermot Mulroney, John Krasinski, Ted Danson, Rob Riggle, James LeGros. True tale of a reporter and an activist who join forces to save whales in the Arctic Circle.

CHRONICLE (sci-fi thriller) Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Dane DeHaan, Anna Wood. High school friends gain super powers.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK (horror) Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Janet McTeer, Liz White, Alisa Khazanova. The ghost of a scorned woman haunts a small town.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (adventure) Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Vanessa Hudgens, Kristin Davis. A blended family investigates a distress signal on a remote island.

SAFE HOUSE (action thriller) Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Vera Farmiga. A CIA agent goes on the run with the fugitive in his custody.

STAR WARS: EPISODE ONE -- THE PHANTOM MENACE (3D) (sci-fi) Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd. The 1999 film gets a 3D makeover.

THE VOW (drama) Channing Tatum, Rachel McAdams, Scott Speedman, Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange. Newlyweds have to fall in love all over after an accident results in amnesia.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH

THIS MEANS WAR (action comedy) Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Reese Witherspoon, Chelsea Handler, Til Schweiger. Two CIA pals turn on each other over a woman.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH

GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE (horror thriller) Nicolas Cage, Violante Placido, Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba, Johnny Whitworth. The demon motorcycle man hits the road to protect a mother and her child.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (animated) Voices of Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett and Will Arnett. A young boy strikes up a friendship with a tiny girl who lives under the floorboards.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH

GONE (drama, thriller) Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Carpenter, Sebastian Stan. A woman's hunts down a kidnapper after her sister is abducted.

TYLER PERRY'S GOOD DEEDS (drama) Tyler Perry, Thandie Newton, Gabrielle Union. Wesley Deeds lives a picture perfect life until he does a good deed that changes him.

WANDERLUST (comedy) Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston. A couple leave behind their crazy life in New York but end up in a community called Elysium, which is much different than what they're used to.

ACT OF VALOR (thriller) Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano. U.S. Navy SEALs try and stop a terrorist plot.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2ND

DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX (animated) Voices of Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Betty White and Rob Riggle. A young boy enlists a grumpy creature in his quest for the attention of a girl in the eco-cautionary tale.

PROJECT X (comedy) Thomas Mann, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Oliver Cooper, Dax Flame. High-school students try and make a name for themselves with a big party.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9TH

JOHN CARTER (sci-fi) Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Thomas Haden Church, Willem Dafoe, James Purefoy. A soldier is transported to Mars, where he finds himself embroiled in a battle among indigenous inhabitants.

ON THE TUBE: Fri - Sun(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/3/2012)

Friday

• Live! With Kelly (synd) -- Co-host D.L. Hughley
• The View (ABC) -- Woody Harrelson (Rampart)
• The Talk (CBS) -- Daniel Radcliffe (The Woman in Black), co-host Kelli Osbourne
• Ellen DeGeneres (synd) -- Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine (The Voice)
• Wendy Williams (synd) -- J-Woww and Snooki (Jersey Shore), Daniel Radcliffe (The Woman in Black)
• David Letterman (CBS) -- Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn)
• Jay Leno (NBC) -- Debra Messing (Smash)
• Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) -- Kiefer Sutherland, Bear Grylls (repeat)
• Craig Ferguson (CBS) -- Rachel Bilson (Hart of Dixie)
• Jimmy Fallon (NBC) -- Snoop Dogg, Shaquille O'Neal
• NBC kicks off a new season of Who Do You Think You Are? by tracing Martin Sheen's roots.

Saturday

• Because we need more awards shows, NBC brings us the NFL Honors.
• A special edition of CMT Crossroads, filmed this week at the Pepsi Super Bowl Jam, features Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood.

Sunday

• The Super Bowl airs on NBC. Madonna is the halftime entertainment.
• A new season of The Voice gets rolling after the Super Bowl, on NBC.
• MTV2 has coverage of the ninth Lingerie Bowl.

LESLIE CARTER: Police Were Worried About Stepmom ODing(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/3/2012)

Police officers worried that Leslie Carter's stepmom, Ginger Carter, might also be at risk for an overdose during their interview with her following Leslie's death by an apparent O.D. on Tuesday. This according to People.com, which cited the police report noting that Ginger was slurring her speech, had glassy eyes and was falling asleep. She said it was a result of having taken extra prescription meds in the wake of Leslie's death.

Ginger told police that Leslie -- the 25-year-old sister of Nick and Aaron Carter -- had "a long history of mental illness" and seemed to be depressed on the day she died, according to the report. --Dave Schulps

GOO GOO DOLLS: Close to Recording (Posted 3:00 AM, 2/3/2012)

Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik reveals to us that he's "pretty far along in the [writing] process" for the band's next album, and that the songs he's got reflect his feeling that the album should be "upbeat, uptempo and positive." He says that's how he's feeling about his life at the moment, "and [an album] should be a reflection of you." Rzeznik tells us he's "really excited about going into the studio and bringing the ideas I have for this album into fruition." --Dave Schulps

TAYLOR SWIFT: Donates Books to Library(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/3/2012)

Taylor Swift has donated 14,000 books to the Nashville Public Library. The books that don't make it onto the shelves will be given to low-income families and day-care centers. The donation is one of the largest the library system has ever had. -- Rosemary Young

BRITNEY SPEARS: In a Modern Family Way(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/3/2012)

It didn't take Britney Spears fans long to spring into action after their girl tweeted that she's less excited about watching the Super Bowl than she is about seeing next Tuesday's episode of Modern Family -- which she calls "the funniest show on TV." Following a re-tweet by the show's Sofia Vergara and one by BritBrit's manager that said, "@BritneySpears on 'Modern Family'? What do you guys think?," her followers created the topic #GetBritneyOnModernFamily.

"I would love to be on it!," Britney tweeted once the ball had started rolling. That ball is now in the court of ABC, which airs the Emmy-winning comedy. --Dave Schulps

Source: Billboard.com

THE VOICE: Javier Colon Says Season Two Offers More Bang (audio)(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/3/2012)

Javier Colon, who won the first season of NBC's The Voice, says season two -- which premieres on NBC Sunday, after the Super Bowl -- will be "a bigger, longer show, with more contestants" and "more bang for the buck."He says he's already met the team of his mentor last year, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, and "they're some really talented people."

Like most Americans, Colon will be watching the Super Bowl before The Voice premiere. He tells us he's a huge Patriots fan, but says they'll have to bring their A-qame to win, because Giants quarterback Eli Manning "shows up in the clutch and he gets the job done." --Dave Schulps

THE FRAY: Take a Bow, Tebow! (audio)(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/3/2012)

The Fray's hometown Denver Broncos didn't make it to the Super Bowl this year, but guitarist Joe King has hope for the future -- thanks to quarterback Tim Tebow. King tells us, "[His story] became a massive story in the whole U.S. For Denver sports it was a big thing. That game against the Steelers was literally one of the top five games in Bronco history." -- Deb Sprague

0203 SP fray FRIDAY

The Fray guitarist Joe King talks about the impact Tim Tebow had on his hometown Denver Broncos. OC:...in Bronco history. :23<p>"And not only for Denver, I mean you look at obviously what happened with the story of it. It became a massive story in the whole U.S. And I think it was a good thing for the NFL, that people are talking about things like that and it's just discussion, you know. So yeah, for Denver sports it was a big thing. That game against the Steelers was literally one of the top 5 games in Bronco history."

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Warming Up at the Grammys (audio)(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/3/2012)

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have joined the list of artists performing at the Grammy Awards on February 12th. It will be the first E Street Band performance without sax player Clarence Clemons, who died last June following a massive stroke. Springsteen will likely play "We Take Care of Our Own," the first single off his album Wrecking Ball, in stores March 6th. Ironically, Springsteen isn't a fan of the Staples Center, where the Grammys are being held. He did the first-ever show there in 1999 and hasn't been back since because he doesn't like the number of luxury boxes.

Springsteen is nominated for one Grammy -- The Promise is up for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package. He last performed on the Grammy stage in 2006, when he did an acoustic version of "Devils and Dust" and took part in a tribute to New Orleans, joining Sam Moore, Elvis Costello, The Edge, Bonnie Raitt , Dr. John and others for "In the Midnight Hour." And in 2003, he and The E Street Band did "The Rising," and he joined in on a tribute to the late Clash singer Joe Strummer, doing "London Calling."

Also just announced -- Ringo Starr will be one of the presenters. His former bandmate, Paul McCartney, will perform. The Grammy Awards air live on CBS at 8p.m. ET. --Sal Cirrincione

CARRIE UNDERWOOD: May Music (audio)(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/3/2012)

Carrie Underwood will release her fourth studio album on May 1st, and no one is more thrilled than she is. She's excited just to have new stuff to sing in her shows. Carrie hasn't given the album a title yet, but the first single, "Good Girl," will hit the airwaves on February 23rd.

Tune in to CMT Saturday night at 11 p.m. ET to see Carrie perform with rocker Steven Tyler for a special edition of CMT Crossroads. --Tammy Ragusa

Today's Birthdays:

Sean Kingston (Kisean Anderson)

1990

(Age: 22)

Ryne Sanborn

1989

Actor (High School Musical) (Age: 23)

Maura Tierney

1965

Actress (T-V's E-R and NewsRadio) (Age: 47)

Nathan Lane

1956

Actor (The Producers on stage and screen, The Birdcage) (Age: 56)

Morgan Fairchild (Patsy Ann McClenny)

1950

Actress (T-V's The City, Falcon Crest and Flamingo Road) (Age: 62)

Blythe Danner

1943

The actress (Meet the Parents/Fockers, Mr. & Mrs. Bridge) is Gwyneth Paltrow's mom. (Age: 69)

Joey Bishop (Gottlieb)

1918 - 2007

The last surviving member of The Rat Pack died October 17th, 2007 at 89. He starred in a T-V sitcom and hosted a late-night talk show -- both called The Joey Bishop Show. His movies included Texas Across the River, Sergeants 3 and the original Oceans 11.

This Day In History:

2004

Maria Shriver, California's new first lady, gives up her job at N-B-C News.

2003

Lana Clarkson dies of a gunshot wound at Phil Spector's L-A-area mansion. The aspiring actress had met the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame producer earlier that evening at an L-A club.

1999

It is announced that three of Tammy Wynette's daughters are petitioning the Nashville medical examiner's office to exhume her body and perform an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.

1994

Michael Jackson and his future ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley go on their first date -- to a Temptations concert.

1977

The airing of the eighth and final night of the mini-series based on Alex Haley's Roots scores the highest ratings ever for a single T-V program.

SOCIAL NETWORKING: Facebook Baby Gets A Name

Dave and Lindsey Meske couldn't decide what on a name for the baby girl that Lindsey was on the verge of giving birth to, so they turned to the most logical place for help -- Facebook!

The couple started a poll that allowed perfect strangers to chime in with potential names for the baby -- and the winner, in a tight race, was Madelyn.

The choice came as a relief to Dave, who says that was his favorite -- but Lindsey's pick, McKenna, finished far back in third place.

In all, more than 4,000 folks went to the polls -- or the keyboards -- before voting ended on Tuesday, when the seven pound, 14 ounce bundle of joy was delivered.

Fortunately for the Meskes, the vote didn't go viral -- or else they might be welcoming baby Snooki! (Chicago Sun-Times)

SURVEY: Phone Calls From The Toilet On The Rise

Our manners have gone into the toilet. That's the message sent by a new survey that indicates about three-quarters of us admit to using our cell phones while using the bathroom.

• 63 percent of Americans say they've answered a call while answering nature's call -- and four in ten admit they've dialed someone while in the bathroom.

• Nearly 70 percent of us have texted in the toilet, while 38 percent say they've surfed the internet on the throne.

• Younger folks are the most likely bathroom multi-taskers: 91 percent of Generation Y take the plunge, versus 80 percent of Gen X and 65 percent of boomers.

• And while ladies may go to the restroom together, guys are far more likely to bring their electronics along for company -- 30 percent say they never go into the men's room without it. Two in ten women say the same.

RELATIONSHIPS: Signs It's Time To Take A Break

Coming to the realization that your relationship is on the fast track to nowhere is a horrible, but necessary part of life. It's as important to know when it's time to break things off as it is to know when it's time to take things further.

If you're unsure about the future of your relationship, here are some signs that it's definitely time to call it quits:

• You Don't Talk Anymore
• You Don't Spend Any Time Together
• You Fight All The Time
• You Are No Longer Intimate
• You're Not Happy When You Are Together
• You Think About Breaking Up (CafeMom)

SUPER BOWL: What To Do If You Don't Watch The Game

No matter how hard you try this weekend, there's a good chance you will not be able to escape the Super Bowl.

But just because the game is on -- and everybody in the country will be watching it -- doesn't mean you have to.

Instead, there are some things you can do to help entertain your Super Bowl party guests, who don't really care about football.

Here are some fun games to share with your party guests:

• Commercial BINGO -- Make a list of 25 or 30 things you're likely to see in a Super Bowl commercial, such as, a minivan, the name of a celebrity, dog, baby, etc. Print several copies of blank BINGO cards and fill them in randomly with items from your list.

• Board Games -- If you prefer regular games, just escape your living room and play Catchphrase, Taboo or even Online Trivia.

• Pick-a-Player -- Write up the names of the key players in the game on both teams. Put the names in a hat and have everyone draw a name. Every time that player is involved in a play you are able to pass out a drink. A touchdown is worth seven drinks for the player that scores it. (NBC News)

SUPER BOWL: Zoo Is Fed Up With Chimps In Super Bowl Ads

It's a huge crowd pleaser to put chimps in commercials. But, one zoo isn't laughing.

Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo says there's nothing funny about the CareerBuilder.com commercials featuring suit-and-tie wearing chimpanzees.

Dr. Steven Ross of the zoo explains that the commercials actually pose a risk to the chimps because people lose sight of the fact they're an endangered species and less likely to try to save them.

The ads do little to help conservation efforts and inaccurately portray the animals as unthreatened and even as cuddly and harmless pets.

"If people see them that way they are less likely to try and conserve them," said Ross. "Individual chimps are being harmed and wild populations are being harmed by this frivolous use of an endangered species."

Ross said he and other animal activists have been complaining to CareerBuilder.com ever since the company started using chimps in Super Bowl commercials in 2005. (Washington Post)

WORKPLACE: Office In Norway Times Employee Bathroom Breaks!

Remind me not to move to Norway anytime soon ... Call center employees at a Norway based insurance company are timed when using the bathroom! If an employee spends more than 8 minutes in the restroom an actual alarm notifies their manager. Unions and workplace inspectors are calling this policy a potential breach of human rights, but the company isn't making any changes as of yet. (TheGrindstone)

MEN: Long Ring Finger = Facial Attractiveness

Ever find yourself mesmerized by a man's hands? It's not as strange as you might think. The length of a man's ring finger is a direct link to the amount of prenatal testosterone he was exposed to in the womb. The longer the finger, the higher the levels of testosterone -- and the more attractive a man's face is to a woman. (Cracked.com)

CELEB NEWS(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/2/2012)

AMERICAN IDOL: Portland Auditions

Last night's American Idol auditions took us to Portland, Oregon.

THE GOOD

• Brittany "Tripster the Hipster" Zika, who was once invited on stage by Sara Bareilles, did "The Story" by Brandi Carlile. Jennifer Lopez said, "The tone of it is so pretty."
• Towering Jermaine Jones did "Superstar" by Luther Vandross. Steven Tyler said, "Very spiritual voice, took me away."
• Mother-of-two Britnee Kellogg, who had a cheating husband, sang the classic "You're No Good." J-Lo loved her raspy voice.
• Naomi Gilles did a lounge take on Aerosmith's "Cryin.'" Randy Jackson proclaimed, "That's how you do it!"
• Liberian-refugee Romeo Diahn made it through with Bob Marley's "Is this Love."
• Jessica Phillips, who cares for an incapacitated boyfriend, put some R&B flavor into Faith Evans' "Again."

THE BAD

• Sam Gershman, a "motivational dancer," wore a crazy tight sweater for some bad Broadway with "I'm a Woman."
• Sickly Ben Purdom threw some mucus into his bad rendition of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."
• David Weed crashed with Rush's "Tom Sawyer."

Head to TV Drops for more audio.

MITT ROMNEY: Takes Heat for "Very Poor" Remark

Mitt Romney might have won the Florida primary on Tuesday, but yesterday he was in damage control mode after making a potential misstep by saying he "wasn't concerned about the very poor" because there is a safety net in place to help them.

When Romney was questioned about his statement by CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien, he said, "You can choose where to focus. You can focus on the rich; that's not my focus. You can focus on the very poor; that's not my focus. My focus is on middle-income Americans."

When he met with reporters later in the day, Romney insisted that his remarks needed to be kept in context. "You've got to take the whole sentence, [or else] it sounds very different. We have a safety net for the poor. ... If there are people that are falling through the cracks, I want to fix that."

To make matters worse, Romney got "glitter-bombed" yesterday after a campaign event in Eagan, Minnesota, but he tried to make the best of it, joking that it was confetti to celebrate his victory in Florida.

Source: CNN

PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Receives Donations in Wake of Komen Split

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer foundation's decision to yesterday stop funding Planned Parenthood led to an immediate response. Some 6,000 donors gave more than $400,000 to Planned Parenthood, while Komen took a hit with criticism coming from members of Congress, liberal advocacy groups and some newspapers.

There are those, however, who applauded the move, including conservative and religious leaders, and anti-abortion groups that detest Planned Parenthood for providing abortions.

Planned Parenthood claimed that Komen cut of their funding due to pressure from anti-abortion groups, but in a statement Komen denied that, saying the decision was based on new criteria for issuing grants. Komen says it will no longer give grants to any organization that's under local, state or federal investigation. That includes Planned Parenthood, which is being investigated for financial wrongdoing by a Republican congressman.

Source: AP

SOCCER VIOLENCE: 74 Killed in Egypt, Fans Blame Army

At least 74 people were killed yesterday and more than 1,000 injured after soccer fans clashed following a match in Port Said, Egypt. Fans and politicians today are blaming the army for failing to prevent -- or even causing -- the tragedy, the deadliest incident since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year.

The riot occurred after fans invaded the field following the game, although local favorite al-Masry beat Cairo's visiting Al Ahli. Most of the deaths occurred as fans were trampled by panicked fellow fans or fell or were pushed from the stadium's upper decks.

Some blamed those who are still in power from the old regime. Albadry Farghali, a Port Said parliament member, said, "The security forces did this or allowed it to happen. The men of Mubarak are still ruling. The head of the regime has fallen but all his men are still in their positions."

Source: Reuters

FACEBOOK: Friends Line Up for IPO

Facebook is on track for one of the biggest U.S. stock-market debuts in history after it filed for its initial public offering yesterday, which could value the social network between $75 billion and $100 billion.

According to people familiar with the company, they hope to raise up to $10 billion when they start selling shares in the spring. In filing for the public offering, Facebook released their financials yesterday, which revealed that they made $3.71 billion in revenues last year, including $1 billion in profit. Eight-five percent of that revenue came from advertising with the reminder from social gaming and other fees.

If the IPO goes as expected, Facebook employees, in particular CEO and founder Mark Zukerberg, stand to make a bundle.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

ANGELO DUNDEE: Muhammad Ali's Trainer Dead at 90

Angelo Dundee, the trainer who pushed Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard to victory in some of their most famous bouts, died yesterday in Tampa, Florida. He was 90.

Dundee served in Ali's corner for much of his career and was able to attend Ali's 70th birthday party in Louisville, Kentucky last month.

Promoter Bob Arum credited Dundee with convincing Ali to keep fighting Joe Frazier in the famed "Thrilla in Manilla."

Later working for Leonard, Dundee famously shouted, "You're blowing it son. You're blowing it" when Sugar Ray was faltering in his 1981 bout with Tommy Hearns. Leonard went on to win the fight by a knockout.

Dundee was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994 after six decades in the ring, training 15 world champions, including George Foreman.

Source: AP

THE DONALD: Plans to Endorse Newt

Donald Trump may not be running for president, but he's still planning to throw himself into the race by endorsing Newt Gingrich.

Trump's office announced yesterday that he'll make a major announcement this morning in Las Vegas, but wouldn't reveal what he'd say. However, two sources told CBS News that The Apprentice mastermind will endorse former House Speaker Gingrich just days for Saturday's Nevada caucus.

Source: CBS News

OTHER NEWS

• Mike Kelley, California Artist, An Apparent Suicide at 57
  

• Town Of Sodesto, Spain Wins 'El Gordo' Lottery Except For One Man

• Washington state Senate approves gay marriage bill

• Tom Brady's toilet is a Super Bowl

INTERNET FIND OF THE DAY

There's no denying the ferocity and enormity of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, but if there was one weakness the 65-million-year-old beast had to overcome, it was its unusually short arms. It probably didn't bother T-Rex too much back then, but he'd have a lot of trouble today. Artist Hugh Murphy has drawn a series of funny cartoons showing the T-Rex's hypothetical problems in our time. Check it out at TRexTrying.tumblr.com.

WEIRD AROUND THE WORLD

COCK-A-DOODLE OUCH!!

A police officer in Virginia found himself in the middle of a cockfight when he went to serve a warrant and got attacked by a rooster -- which went straight for his groin.

Deputy Tom Wood was heading for the front door, and had a can of mace in his hand, but he was distracted by the barking of a large dog in the yard. While the deputy was looking at the dog, the rooster launched itself at his privates -- connecting with enough force to double him over.

Wood shot the rooster with the spray, but witnesses say it appeared to have no effect on the bird, which went back to walking around the yard eating its lunch.

Source: Newsplex.com

HE WON'T SKATE ON THIS CHARGE

A Minnesota man is cooling his heels after being arrested for driving drunk -- in the Zamboni he was operating at a local hockey rink.

The driver was tearing across the ice erratically between periods of a pee-wee league game, bouncing off the boards and driving folks away from front row seats. The coach of the home team called 911 after 25 minutes of the bizarre display, and the driver failed a field sobriety test.

The man has not been formally charged yet. He was convicted of drunken driving in 2002 and twice in 1999.

Source: Duluth News Tribune

YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT TO THE BANK

An Illinois man was arrested after pulling into a bank's drive-thru lane in an attempt to make an unauthorized deposit -- but not one involving cash.

Dustin Kraushaar began his transaction innocently enough, but then reached down and exposed himself -- to quote the police record, "in order to arouse his sexual desires." When the teller called for help, the 20-year-old abandoned his plan to pull a fast one, driving off in a hurry and managing to evade police.

He turned himself in a short time later and was charged with public indecency.

Source: Riverfront Times

COW-A-BUNGA!

Two Ohio farmers were searching for a way to put their cows in a really good moo-o-o-o-d, so they came up with an idea that some would consider all wet -- a waterbed for each and every one of them.

Richard and David Conrad decided to butter up the critters in order to increase milk production, so they invested nearly $70,000 for 240 waterbeds designed especially for bovine use. The Conrads say that the cows are happier, and just like that commercial says, the happy cows produce better tasting, better-quality milk.

As Richard Conrad says, "You make them happy, they'll make you happy."

Source: Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette

NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ

The average price for one of these is just under $2300. What are they?

ANSWER:

UPCOMING MOVIES

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD

BIG MIRACLE (drama) Kristen Bell, Drew Barrymore, Dermot Mulroney, John Krasinski, Ted Danson, Rob Riggle, James LeGros. True tale of a reporter and an activist who join forces to save whales in the Arctic Circle.

CHRONICLE (sci-fi thriller) Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Dane DeHaan, Anna Wood. High school friends gain super powers.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK (horror) Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Janet McTeer, Liz White, Alisa Khazanova. The ghost of a scorned woman haunts a small town.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (adventure) Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Vanessa Hudgens, Kristin Davis. A blended family investigates a distress signal on a remote island.

SAFE HOUSE (action thriller) Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Vera Farmiga. A CIA agent goes on the run with the fugitive in his custody.

STAR WARS: EPISODE ONE -- THE PHANTOM MENACE (3D) (sci-fi) Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd. The 1999 film gets a 3D makeover.

THE VOW (drama) Channing Tatum, Rachel McAdams, Scott Speedman, Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange. Newlyweds have to fall in love all over after an accident results in amnesia.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH

THIS MEANS WAR (action comedy) Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Reese Witherspoon, Chelsea Handler, Til Schweiger. Two CIA pals turn on each other over a woman.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH

GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE (horror thriller) Nicolas Cage, Violante Placido, Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba, Johnny Whitworth. The demon motorcycle man hits the road to protect a mother and her child.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (animated) Voices of Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett and Will Arnett. A young boy strikes up a friendship with a tiny girl who lives under the floorboards.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH

GONE (drama, thriller) Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Carpenter, Sebastian Stan. A woman's hunts down a kidnapper after her sister is abducted.

TYLER PERRY'S GOOD DEEDS (drama) Tyler Perry, Thandie Newton, Gabrielle Union. Wesley Deeds lives a picture perfect life until he does a good deed that changes him.

WANDERLUST (comedy) Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston. A couple leave behind their crazy life in New York but end up in a community called Elysium, which is much different than what they're used to.

ACT OF VALOR (thriller) Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano. U.S. Navy SEALs try and stop a terrorist plot.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2ND

DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX (animated) Voices of Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Betty White and Rob Riggle. A young boy enlists a grumpy creature in his quest for the attention of a girl in the eco-cautionary tale.

PROJECT X (comedy) Thomas Mann, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Oliver Cooper, Dax Flame. High-school students try and make a name for themselves with a big party.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9TH

JOHN CARTER (sci-fi) Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Thomas Haden Church, Willem Dafoe, James Purefoy. A soldier is transported to Mars, where he finds himself embroiled in a battle among indigenous inhabitants.

ON THE TUBE: Thursday(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/2/2012)

• Live! With Kelly (synd) -- Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn), Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Jenni "J-Woww" Farley (Jersey Shore)
• Rosie O'Donnell (OWN) -- Kristin Chenoweth (Good Christian Belles)
• The View (ABC) -- Lisa Kudrow (Web Therapy)
• The Talk (CBS) -- John Stamos, Kelly Osbourne
• Ellen DeGeneres (synd) -- Michelle Obama, Daniel Radcliffe (The Woman in Black)
• Stephen Colbert (Comedy Central) -- Newswoman Christiane Amanpour
• Conan O'Brien (TBS) -- John Krasinski (Big Miracle)
• Jay Leno (NBC) -- Drew Barrymore (Big Miracle), Blake Shelton
• David Letterman (CBS) -- Woody Harrelson (Rampart)
• Jimmy Fallon (NBC) -- Taylor Lautner (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part Two), NFL star Drew Brees
• Craig Ferguson (CBS) -- Daniel Radcliffe (The Woman in Black)
• Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) -- Gary Oldman (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)
• HBO airs the Elton John-Leon Russell concert film The Union.
• VH1 airs the Super Bowl Fan Jam, with Gym Class Heroes, B.O.B and others.

KATY PERRY: Dreaming in 3-D(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/2/2012)

Katy Perry is coming to a theater near you. The California Gurl will star in a flick that's part concert movie and part biography -- much like Justin Bieber's Never Say Never. Also like that project, Katy's film, which she largely shot while touring North America last year, will hit theaters in 3D. Look for it in June or July.

Katy has signed on to perform at next Friday's MusiCares tribute to Paul McCartney, part of Grammy week festivities. --Deb Sprague

Source: Deadline.com

ADELE: Still at #1(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/2/2012)

Adele has locked up an 18th week at number-one. 116,000 copies of 21 sold last week, according to the latest SoundScan figures. That's a jump of more than 20 percent, mostly thanks to the deluxe version of the album going on sale at Target locations last week.

Adele has a shot at racking up at least one more week on top, but industry insiders predict that the new Van Halen album coming out on February 7th will knock her off the throne.

In other chart news, Ingrid Michaelson has her first ever Top 10 album as Human Again debuts at number-five with 40,000 copies sold. --Steve Reynolds

MAROON 5: Adam Levine on LGBT Special(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/2/2012)

Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and Jake Shears of The Scissor Sisters are among the performers who'll appear in It Gets Better, a joint production of MTV and Logo. The special, airing on both networks on February 21st, tells the stories of three young people struggling with LGBT issues. Margaret Cho, Zachary Quinto and Chaz Bono are also featured on the show. --Deb Sprague

Source: Entertainment Weekly

TAYLOR SWIFT: No More Miz(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/2/2012)

It looks like Taylor Swift won't be playing Eponine in the film version of Les Miserables. According to Broadway World, Samantha Barks, who played the part in the 25th anniversary concert, has won the coveted role. --Tammy Ragusa

MICHAEL BUBLE: What the Puck?(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/2/2012)

Michael Buble is using some time off from the road to get back to his first love -- playing hockey. He'll take part in a celebrity game in Richmond, British Columbia on February 11th as part of the annual Hockey Day in Canada celebration. Buble, who grew up nearby, is a longtime supporter of the minor league Richmond Sockeyes and will wear their uniform for the game. --Deb Sprague

Source: Richmond Review

AMY WINEHOUSE: Case Closed? Not So Fast(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/2/2012)

Amy Winehouse's family may ask for an inquiry over the inquiry into her death -- because a deputy assistant coroner may not have been properly qualified. Suzanne Greenaway, who was appointed to the case by her husband, resigned her position on a technical issue last October. And though no laws were broken, all her cases are being re-examined. In a statement, the Winehouse family says it is "taking advice on the implications of this and will decide if any further discussion with the authorities is needed." --Deb Sprague

Source: Reuters

ELTON: A Couple of Numbers with Leon Tonight (audio)(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/2/2012)

The Cameron Crowe documentary on the making of the Elton John-Leon Russell album, The Union, will premiere on HBO tonight at 9 ET. Elton's goal in making the album was to reintroduce Leon, who was a big influence in him, to the world. They followed up the 2010 album with a tour and Elton inducted Leon into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year. --Sal Cirrincione

Today's Birthdays:

Martin Spanjers

1987

Actor (T-V's Eight Simple Rules, Daddio and Two of a Kind) (Age: 25)

Shakira (Shakira Mebarak Ripoll)

1977

(Age: 35)

Christie Brinkley

1954

The model is an ex-wife of Billy Joel's. (Age: 58)

Brent Spiner

1949

Actor (T-V's Star Trek: The Next Generation) (Age: 63)

Farrah Fawcett

1947 - 2009

The actress (The Apostle, Extremities, The Cannonball Run; T-V's Charlie's Angels) was one of the top pinups and sex symbols of the second half of the 1970s. She died of anal cancer June 25th, 2009 at 62.

Liz Smith

1923

Gossip columnist (Age: 89)

This Day In History:

2008

American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee gets married in Los Angeles.

2007

Ryan O'Neal is hauled off to jail for attacking his 42-year-old son with a gun.

2007

The U-S Senate agrees to the first minimum-wage hike in a decade. The measure will move the minimum wage from five-dollars-and-15-cents an hour to seven-dollars-and-25-cents an hour over a two-year period.

2005

Donald Trump announces that Martha Stewart will host an edition of N-B-C's The Apprentice, saying, "I think she will do an amazing job." He later changes his tune, and her show is cancelled.

2003

Whitney Houston's father, John Houston, dies of complications from diabetes and heart disease at 82. He managed his wife Cissy Drinkard Houston's group, The Sweet Inspirations.

1999

Jason Priestley weds former Beverly Hills 90210 makeup artist Ashlee Petersen. The union doesn't last.

1998

President Clinton presents the first balanced federal budget in 30 years.

1998

"Nice and Slow" by Usher is certified gold.

1995

Brandy's self-titled album debut goes platinum.

1987

The Judds' Heartland album is certified gold.

1985

O-J Simpson marries Nicole Brown.

1981

Duran Duran's first single, "Planet Earth," is released in the U-K.

1974

Dolly Parton tops Billboard's country chart with "Jolene," her second number-one country song.

1973

The Midnight Special debuts on N-B-C T-V, with Helen Reddy as the late-night music show's first host.

SUPER BOWL: Is This The Beginning Of The End Of Super Bowl Ads?

In years past, people would tune in to the Super Bowl to see the big, fun, loud commercials -- the best of the best -- for the first time.

These days, there's a little less magic because, even before the game, the commercials are leaked online.

For example, Honda leaked their ad featuring Matthew Broderick bringing back his Ferris Bueller role -- as well as another ad with Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno.

Teaser trailers from such companies as H&M, Volkswagen, Doritos, Priceline and Coca-Cola are already floating around.

So, when the Super Bowl actually arrives, it could be that very few of the commercials are surprises -- and this trend doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon. (Forbes)

RELATIONSHIPS: Women Reluctant To Re-Marry After Divorce

According to a new study, twice as many men as women are eager to walk down the aisle again after a divorce.

Regardless of how complicated or stressful the break-up was, about half of divorced men are anxious to get married again.

It's very different for women. Just 20 percent of divorced women say they want to get married again. (Daily Mail)

STUDY: Women Are Better At Parking

Gotta love this one ... According to a new UK study, women are better at parking cars than men!

The study of 2500 drivers found that while women may take longer to park, they were better at maneuvering into a parking space and parking between the lines than men. Women were also better at finding a parking space.

However, when asked about their parking abilities, only 18% of women thought they were better parkers than men and only 28% believed they were better parkers than their husbands or boyfriends. (MSNBC)

DIET & EXERCISE: Coffee After A Workout?

A growing trend among Hollywood's hottest bodies is drinking coffee after an intense workout. Before jumping to conclusions about how coffee is super dehydrating and unhealthy after excessive perspiration, health experts and doctors alike say that although caffeine is a diuretic, it takes an unusually high amount to have negative effects on the average person, and that caffeine can help significantly decrease muscle pain after a workout.

Another recent study even found evidence of caffeine helping your muscles refuel if paired with a healthy carb, like a banana. (Cosmo)

EXPECTING: Creative Ways To Announce Your Pregnancy

There's a new trend in pregnancy announcements, where moms and dads to be are coming up with some really creative, fun ways to tell their family and friends about their new addition. From videos, to creative birth announcements, to subtle hints and gifts -- every couple has their own way of sharing their good news. (Yahoo Shine)

CELEB NEWS

GEORGE CLOONEY: Inside the Actors Studio Interview

We got two hours of candid George Clooney on last night's Inside the Actors Studio, where he dished about his childhood, career, foreign TV commercials, a prank he has planned for pal Brad Pitt, flops like Batman and Robin, and hits like The Descendants.

• Odd Childhood Confession: "In second grade, you're eight years old, and you're going to confession once a week. You go down that list of Ten (Commandments)...and I remember reading 'adultery,' and I would confess to committing adultery because I thought it mean acting like an adult."
• On Jennifer Lopez: "The studio didn't want to work with her [on Out of Sight] because she wasn't famous enough. We had to fight to get her."
• On Batman and Robin: "If Batman had to wear the suit you had to wear, everyone would die -- because you can't move."
• On referring to himself as the Pete Rose of Actors: "Charlie Hustle! I always believed in what you lacked in skill, you can make up for in effort...I've lacked skill in about everything I've done."
• On TV ads: "I do commercials overseas. I do! If I do a coffee commercial that affords me to live in the house I live in, and have a nice life, and I get to make the films I want to make and not to have to worry about a profit, then I will sell coffee."
• On directing himself: "It's a very delicate line because, as two actors know -- it's a really crappy thing for one actor to tell another what to do."
• On nerding-up for The Descendants: "I went to a wardrobe fitting, and they put me in a pair of khakis up underneath my armpits, and tucked a Hawaiian shirt into it. I put away my masculinity and vanity right there. It was gone."

THE BIGGEST LOSER: Volleyball Challenge

On last night's Biggest Loser...

• Host Alison Sweeney brought back the aqua team, Adrian and Daphne, who lost a combined 60 pounds to earn back spots on the ranch.
• A volleyball challenge had teams use trampolines to bounce balls over a wall and into a net. The red team won an advantage at the weigh-in.
• At the weigh-in, the black team won, with Cassandra in the lead with a six-pound loss. Daphne was in the rear with a one-pound loss.
• At eliminations, Nancy was sent home.

Head to TV Drops for more audio.  

GLEE: What Would Michael Jackson Do?

On last night's Glee ...

• This week's theme was "What Would Michael Jackson Do?" Blaine (Darren Criss) kicked things off with "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin.'"
• New Directions and their Warbler rivals had a "Bad" showdown in a parking garage over who sings MJ at Regionals. Sebastian (Grant Gustin) threw a rock-salt slushee that cut Blaine's cornea. Santana (Naya Rivera) got Sebastian to confess with a "Smooth Criminal" sing-off. Kurt (Chris Colfer) brought the rival groups together to sing "Black or White."
• Sam (Chord Overstreet) worked to get Mercedes (Amber Riley) back, and got a kiss in the auditorium to the tune of "Human Nature."
• Rachel (Lea Michele) learned that she's a finalist for the New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts.

Head to TV Drops for more audio. 

CELEBRITY WIFE SWAP: Antonio Sabato, Jr. & Mick Foley

Actor Antonio Sabato Jr. and wrestler Mick "Mankind" Foley swapped on last night's Celebrity Wife Swap.

• Sabato and his fiancee, Cheryl, have strict rules for their nine-year-old daughter, and three-month-old son. Foley and his wife Colette have four kids, and a house full of mayhem.
• At the Foley house, Cheryl had to help dress Mick, as his injuries prevent him from doing it himself. She cleaned up both their cluttered home, and Mick, and taught the family that there's still time to play after chores.
• At the Sabato house, Colette had to handle the household duties while Antonio toned in the gym. She soon cut down the chores, and slowed things down for some more-relaxed family time. Antonio seemed to like the more slowed pace.
• At the final meet-up, Cheryl went off about the nasty Foley habits, and wouldn't listen to the group's pleas for her to chill out.

Head to TV Drops for more audio. 

MITT ROMNEY: Takes Florida Primary, Eyes Obama

Thanks in part to his blitz of TV advertising, Mitt Romney took Florida's Republican presidential primary yesterday, easily topping his arch rival Newt Gingrich. With almost all of the precincts counted, Romney had 46-percent of the vote.

Romney thanked his supporters and rivals, but now seems to be setting his sights on President Obama, saying in his victory speech, "I stand ready to lead this party and lead this nation." He added, "My leadership will end the Obama era and begin in a new era of American prosperity"

Source: USA Today

SICK TEACHER?: Students Allegedly Bound and Gagged

In what sounds more like an episode of Fear Factor than anything that should go on in a school classroom, police are alleging that a Los Angeles teacher bound and gagged children, covered them with cockroaches and feed them his bodily fluids.

The teacher, 61-year-old Mark Berndt was charged yesterday with 23 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. After a year-long investigation, Berndt was arrested on Monday. He was dismissed from his job as a teacher in March.

The case began after photos turned up that showed bound and blindfolded students, some with large cockroaches crawling on them, inside the school. Some girls were photographed with a spoon containing a white substance near their mouth.

Miramonte Elementary, where the alleged crimes took place, is in the Florence Firestone unincorporated area of L.A. County and is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Source: Los Angeles Times

BIRTH CONTROL PILLS RECALLED: May Not Prevent Pregnancy

About one-million packets of birth control pills are being recalled by Pfizer because they might not have enough contraceptive to halt pregnancy, the company announced yesterday.

Although the affected pills don't pose a health risk, Pfizer is urging consumers who used the pills to "begin using a non-hormonal form of contraception immediately."

The pills affected are 14 lots of the Lo/Overal-28 tablets and 14 lots of Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets.

Source: Reuters

SUPER BOWL: NFL Sells Tickets to Media Day, Eli & Peyton

The NFL won't only make a bundle off the Super Bowl, they're also cashing in on a whole slew of side events. This year, they're even selling tickets to media day, where fans have the opportunity to sit in the stands and watch reporters ask players and coaches about the big game on video screens and by eavesdropping on small radios with six different channels.

Yesterday there were 7,300 fans who paid $25 apiece to witness the non-action. The Indianapolis locals got a big thrill when New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning gave props to his older brother, hometown hero Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts.

However, on Monday Eli appeared to put his foot in his mouth, mentioning Peyton "played for the Colts" in past tense, which some thought alluded to his possible retirement.

Peyton gave an interview with ESPN yesterday to clear the air, saying he's still undergoing rehab for his injured neck, but adding that he doesn't want to take the spotlight away from Sunday's big game.

Sources: Los Angeles Times, NFL.com

CHEATING SCANDAL: College Probed for Inflating SAT Scores

We've all heard stories about students cheating on their SATs. Now one of the nation's highest-ranked liberal arts colleges is being accused of inflating scores of their students to pump up the school's national ranking.

It happened at Claremont McKenna College, in Claremont, California, where the accusations prompted the resignation of a senior administrator.

Richard Vos, the college's Dean of Admissions, admitted that he inflated the scores on college entrance exams before resigning. His biography has already been stripped off the college's website.

Earlier in the week, the school's president emailed staff and students and told them that scores had been inflated by 10-to-20 points before the numbers were reported to national publications. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Claremont McKenna as the nation's ninth best liberal arts college.

Source: KABC-TV

ZONKEY: Zebra-Donkey Hybrid Lives in Glendale, California

A Glendale, California woman bought a donkey for her son and later found out that the animal in question was actually a "zonkey" or a "zedonk," a mix of a zebra and donkey.

The animal, named Mona Lisa, looks like a donkey at first glance, but if you look a little closer you'll see zebra-like stripes on her legs, ears, mane and tail.

It's rare when zebras and donkeys mate and when they do, the odds that they'll have offspring are slim. The Mona Lisa's owner, Mara Baygulova, says that she has the best traits of both animals.

Source: KABC-TV

OTHER NEWS

• After TV cameras leave, Romney PAC discloses $18 million
  
  
• Michelle Obama calls Mitt Romney's singing 'beautiful'
  
  
• FDA Approves Cystic Fibrosis Drug
  
  
• AG seeks out-of-county jury for Sandusky

AMERICAN IDOL: Randy and Steven's Favorites in Portland Tonight

Tonight, American Idol takes us to Portland, Oregon for the last audition week, ending tomorrow in St. Louis, Missouri. Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler agree that some of the season's best singers came from Portland, with Tyler especially digging the hippie vibe in the City of Roses.

• Phone Topic: Have you been watching American Idol? What cities have shown the most talent so far? Which have been the worst?

INTERNET FIND OF THE DAY

Sometimes you just feel like you have to release the animal within. So when you do, it might help to have a name to call the beast. Check out this animal name generator at BuzzFeed.com and find your animal name.

WEIRD AROUND THE WORLD

PEE UP A STORM, YOU'RE THE PIANO MAN

Billy Joel may have sung about having a bottle of red and a bottle of white, but a Chicago man outdid him -- by getting wasted, then peeing on a police station floor as he played air piano to pass the time.

Cops found Santa Ana Zuloaga-Campuzano passed out in his SUV surrounded by empty beer cans. He admitted he had consumed eight beers, three shots of tequila and three shots of cognac, but declined to take a breath test, saying, "What's the point, I know I'm drunk."

Shortly after being hauled in, the 30-year-old relieved himself on the floor, then treated officers to an air piano-accompanied song fest -- all while handcuffed.

Source: Chicago Tribune

THIS'LL CURL YOUR HAIR!

An Ohio woman caused a hairy situation at a tax preparation office when she burst in and pulled a stick-up -- using a curling iron as her weapon.

Sonia Watson, who had come into the office for a consultation just a few days before, entered with a towel draped over the device and fled with a grand total of $280.

The branch manager told a local television station that he was shocked to be robbed by "a customer, where we have every piece of their information, their private information."

Source: Huffington Post

GETTING ORGAN-IZED FOR A JOB HUNT

An Italian woman put her heart and soul into helping her son find a job, and when that didn't work, she offered to throw in a kidney as well!

The woman, whose name was not released, made the offer to help her 38-year-old son, who's been unemployed since his business went bankrupt back in August. Despite the fact that he "speaks multiple languages" and has other skills, he's had no luck on the job front.

She told an Italian paper, "One kidney is enough for me to live on; therefore, I am willing to give it up to help a 38-year-old smile again."

Source: UPI

BACON, CLOROX AND TOMATO SANDWICH, ANYONE?

A Maryland man was arrested last week after attempting to make the other white meat even whiter -- by dousing dozens of packages of supermarket pork with bleach.

John Waskey, a former employee of the Food Lion market, calmly walked in, grabbed a bottle of bleach from a shelf and began pouring it over the meat case. He ultimately ruined more than 90 pre-packed chops, roasts and ribs -- causing $700 in damage.

Waskey was charged with theft and malicious destruction of property. He gave no reason for his rampage.

Source: Annapolis Capital

NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ

According to a new survey, 38 percent of Americans have surfed the Internet here. Where is it?

ANSWER:

UPCOMING MOVIES

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD

BIG MIRACLE (drama) Kristen Bell, Drew Barrymore, Dermot Mulroney, John Krasinski, Ted Danson, Rob Riggle, James LeGros. True tale of a reporter and an activist who join forces to save whales in the Arctic Circle.

CHRONICLE (sci-fi thriller) Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Dane DeHaan, Anna Wood. High school friends gain super powers.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK (horror) Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Janet McTeer, Liz White, Alisa Khazanova. The ghost of a scorned woman haunts a small town.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (adventure) Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Vanessa Hudgens, Kristin Davis. A blended family investigates a distress signal on a remote island.

SAFE HOUSE (action thriller) Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Vera Farmiga. A CIA agent goes on the run with the fugitive in his custody.

STAR WARS: EPISODE ONE -- THE PHANTOM MENACE (3D) (sci-fi) Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd. The 1999 film gets a 3D makeover.

THE VOW (drama) Channing Tatum, Rachel McAdams, Scott Speedman, Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange. Newlyweds have to fall in love all over after an accident results in amnesia.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH

THIS MEANS WAR (action comedy) Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Reese Witherspoon, Chelsea Handler, Til Schweiger. Two CIA pals turn on each other over a woman.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH

GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE (horror thriller) Nicolas Cage, Violante Placido, Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba, Johnny Whitworth. The demon motorcycle man hits the road to protect a mother and her child.

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (animated) Voices of Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett and Will Arnett. A young boy strikes up a friendship with a tiny girl who lives under the floorboards.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH

GONE (drama, thriller) Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Carpenter, Sebastian Stan. A woman's hunts down a kidnapper after her sister is abducted.

TYLER PERRY'S GOOD DEEDS (drama) Tyler Perry, Thandie Newton, Gabrielle Union. Wesley Deeds lives a picture perfect life until he does a good deed that changes him.

WANDERLUST (comedy) Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston. A couple leave behind their crazy life in New York but end up in a community called Elysium, which is much different than what they're used to.

ACT OF VALOR (thriller) Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano. U.S. Navy SEALs try and stop a terrorist plot.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2ND

DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX (animated) Voices of Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Betty White and Rob Riggle. A young boy enlists a grumpy creature in his quest for the attention of a girl in the eco-cautionary tale.

PROJECT X (comedy) Thomas Mann, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Oliver Cooper, Dax Flame. High-school students try and make a name for themselves with a big party.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9TH

JOHN CARTER (sci-fi) Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Thomas Haden Church, Willem Dafoe, James Purefoy. A soldier is transported to Mars, where he finds himself embroiled in a battle among indigenous inhabitants.

ON THE TUBE: Wednesday

• Live! With Kelly (synd) -- Jennifer Lopez (American Idol), guest co-host Howie Mandel
• Rosie O'Donnell (OWN) -- Jerry Springer
• The View (ABC) -- Julianne Moore (Game Change)
• The Talk (CBS) -- Dr. Phil McGraw
• Ellen DeGeneres (synd) -- Drew Barrymore (Big Miracle), Octavia Spencer (The Help)
• Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) -- Brad Pitt
• Conan O'Brien (TBS) -- Ringo Starr
• Jay Leno (NBC) -- Daniel Radcliffe (The Woman in Black)
• David Letterman (CBS) -- Howard Stern
• Jimmy Fallon (NBC) -- Tracy Morgan (30 Rock), Tim Tebow
• Craig Ferguson (CBS) -- William Shatner
• Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) -- John Krasinski (Big Miracle)
• CBS airs the all-ads, all-the-time special Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials.
• Beast Tracker premieres on Discovery.
• TV Land airs the season finale of The Exes.

MADONNA: Show Her the Money

A lot of top-tier artists have cut concert ticket prices in light of current economic woes, but Madonna won't be one of them. Madge tells The Daily Beast that the tour supporting her upcoming MDNA album will be big budget all the way. She says, "Start saving your pennies now. People spend $300 on crazy things all the time, things like handbags. So work all year, scrape the money together and come to my show. I'm worth it." --Deb Sprague

Phone topic: How much do you think Madonna is worth?

MADONNA: Back to School

Madonna is planning to take a second shot at building schools in the African nation of Malawi -- even though her first attempt collapsed due to mismanagement and corruption. She's teaming with a company called Build On to build 10 schools, twice the number initially slated.

Madonna has issued a statement saying, "I have learned a great deal over the last few years and feel confident that we can reach our goals to educate children in Malawi, especially young girls, in a much more practical way. Constructing smaller schools in partnership with Build On has restored my faith that we can accomplish what we promised we would." --Deb Sprague

Source: Vancouver Sun

ADELE: Comeback at Grammys

As expected, Adele will make her return to live performance at the Grammy Awards on February 12th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. She's been recovering from vocal cord surgery and hasn't sung live in more than five months. Adele says, "It's an absolute honor to be included in such a night, and for it to be my first performance in months is very exciting and, of course, nerve-racking, but what a way to get back into it all."

Adele has six Grammy nominations and will likely be one of the night's big winners. --Steve Reynolds

GEORGE MICHAEL: On the Mend, On the Road

George Michael is on the road to recovery from the bout of pneumonia that nearly killed him last year -- and he plans to get back on the road for real in a few months. He writes on Twitter, "Realistically, I can't see my vocal cords being being ready till the summer, but then I have to think about people losing out if they are on their summer holidays. So September seems the most likely... [But I'll be] working on improving the show, mixing the live tracks, finishing brand-new tracks!" --Deb Sprague

PAUL McCARTNEY: Free Kisses on the Net

You can stream all 14 tracks on Paul McCartney's new album, Kisses on the Bottom, before it's released next Tuesday -- just head to Guardian.co.uk. The album, which consists of a dozen standards and two new originals, features contributions by Diana Krall, Stevie Wonder and Eric Clapton. --Sal Cirrincione

BONUS VIDEO: Taylor and LL's Grammy Awards Promo

Taylor Swift and LL Cool J ham it up in the promos for the upcoming Grammy Awards.

Today's Birthdays:

Big Boi (Antoine Patton)

1975

OutKast singer-rapper/Actor (Who's Your Caddy, Idlewild, A-T-L) (Age: 37)

Michael C. Hall

1971

Actor (T-V's Dexter and Six Feet Under) (Age: 41)

Lisa Marie Presley

1968

Elvis and Priscilla Presley's daughter has followed in her daddy's footsteps and become a singer. (Age: 44)

Pauly Shore

1968

Actor (Encino Man, Son in Law, In the Army Now, Pauly Shore is Dead)-comedian (Age: 44)

Princess Stephanie of Monaco

1965

(Age: 47)

Sherilyn Fenn

1965

Actress (Boxing Helena; T-V's Rude Awakening and Twin Peaks) (Age: 47)

Billy Mumy

1954

Actor-singer (Lost in Space/Barnes and Barnes) (Age: 58)

Sherman Hemsley

1938

Actor-comedian (The Jeffersons) (Age: 74)

This Day In History:

2008

Britney Spears is committed to a mental hospital as "a danger to herself and others." The stay is to be no less than 72 hours.

2007

Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie signs a seven-figure deal to be the next face -- and feet -- of Candie's Shoes.

2007

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden calls fellow senator Barack Obama "The first sort of mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man." Members of the African-American community feel insulted by the remark, believing that Biden's remarks imply that previous candidates like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton did not share those qualities. Biden quickly apologizes. That same day, comedian Al Franken lets it slip that he will run for the U-S Senate seat in Minnesota.

2007

Patrick Dempsey and his wife Jillian have twin boys.

2004

"Nipplegate" begins as Janet Jackson's breast is exposed on national television by Justin Timberlake during the Super Bowl 38 halftime show in Houston. Janet later tearfully apologizes and C-B-S is eventually fined 550-thousand dollars by the F-C-C for the "wardrobe malfunction." The other performers during the halftime show include Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Kid Rock and Nelly. Before the game, Beyonce makes her Super Bowl performing debut singing the national anthem.

2003

The space shuttle Columbia breaks up during re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere. All seven astronauts on board die.

2002

Actress Winona Ryder is charged with four felony counts that stem from her shoplifting arrest on December 12th, 2001. She is charged with theft, burglary, vandalism and possession of a controlled substance.

1999

Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky gives a deposition that is videotaped for senators weighing impeachment charges against President Clinton.

1998

Ashley Judd is named Cosmopolitan magazine's first annual "Fun, Fearless Female."