LARRY HAGMAN: Dead at 81
Larry Hagman -- best known as evil oil baron J.R. Ewing on Dallas -- died on Friday. He was 81.
Hagman, who'd had a long history of health problems, died in Texas from complications from cancer. He was in the midst of filming the second season of the Dallas re-boot. A statement from his family says, "Larry was back in his beloved hometown of Dallas, re-enacting the iconic role he loved the most. Larry's family and closest friends had joined him in Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday."
In addition to Dallas, Hagman will also be remembered as Major Tony Nelson on the '60s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.
There's no word on how the producers of the new Dallas series plan to deal with Hagman's death.
Source: Associated Press
CHARLIE SHEEN: Pays Lindsay Lohan's Taxes
Charlie Sheen has a new pet charity -- Lindsay Lohan.
The actor reportedly sent Linds a $100,000 check to help her pay back taxes. TMZ says the two troubled stars bonded on the set of Scary Movie 5 in September. Charlie offered to give her some cash back then, but Lindsay refused. Then last week her business manager received the six-figure check from Charlie. Lindsay owes about $234,00 in unpaid taxes for 2009 and 2010.
BOX-OFFICE REPORT
Hollywood had plenty to be thankful for at the holiday box office. With $290 million from Wednesday to Sunday, Tinseltown had its best Thanksgiving week ever. That tops the previous record of $273 million over Thanksgiving in 2009.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 was number-one for a second week with $64 million during the five-day holiday period that began Wednesday.
The James Bond flick Skyfall was second with $51 million.
Lincoln was third with $34.1 million.
Rise of the Guardians opened in fourth with $32.6 million.
Life of Pi debuted in fifth with $30.2 million.
The week's other new release, the Red Dawn remake, came in seventh with $22 million.
HECTOR "MACHO" CAMACHO: Dies After Being Gunned Down in Drive-By
Boxing legend Hector "Macho" Camacho died Saturday, several days after being shot in a drive-by in Puerto Rico.
According to TMZ, Camacho went into cardiac arrest early Saturday. He was then taken off life support and died shortly after.
The boxer and a friend were shot several times Tuesday night while sitting inside their car. His pal died at the scene. So far, no suspects have been identified. Camacho was 50.
MAYIM BIALIAK: Getting Divorced
Mayim Bialik and her husband, Michael Stone, are divorcing after nine years of marriage.
The Big Bang Theory star wrote on her blog that "after much consideration and soul-searching, Michael and I have arrived at the decision to divorce due to 'Irreconcilable Differences.'" The couple has two sons -- Miles, 7, and Frederick, 4.
SOURCE: LA Times
EMMA STONE: Made Sex Tape?
Emma Stone may be following in the infamous footsteps of Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and Hulk Hogan.
The Amazing Spider-Man actress has recorded a sex tape, according to RadarOnline.com. The 24-year-old reportedly filmed the video before meeting her current boyfriend, Andrew Garfield. A source says, "She was just young and probably thought nothing would ever come of it."
The tape hasn't surfaced yet. It's still in the "hands of the person she made it with," says the insider. "But that doesn't mean there's any guarantee that it won't eventually hit the market. The higher Emma's star rises, the more valuable that tape becomes."
LARRY HAGMAN: Remembered by Barbara Eden and Audrey Landers (audio)
Barbara Eden remembers her co-star Larry Hagman as "the center of so many fun, wild, shocking… and in retrospect, memorable moments that will remain in my heart forever." Eden, who starred in I Dream of Jeannie and then matched wits with J.R. Ewing in a memorable Dallas story arc, issued a statement after learning of Hagman's death.
"He was such a key element in my life for so long and even, years after I Dream of Jeannie; our paths crossed many times. Throughout various productions I had the pleasure of watching the Texas Tornado that was Larry Hagman. Amidst a whirlwind of big laughs, big smiles and unrestrained personality Larry was always, simply Larry. You couldn’t fault him for it, it was just who he was. I am so thankful that this past year I was able to spend time with him and experience yet again ‘Larry’ in all his Big Texas bravado. I can honestly say that we’ve lost not just a great actor, not just a television icon, but an element of pure Americana. Goodbye Larry, there was no one like you before and there will never be anyone like you again.”
Last year, before Hagman again fell ill, Barbara noted that they had "some kind of connection -- his timing and my timing work. We really do. The minute that camera is rolling, I have never been more comfortable working with an actor in my life."
BRITNEY SPEARS: Thanksgiving Shopping at Target
Celebrities, they are "just like us". Yesterday, Britney Spears and her extended family went shopping... at Target.
She's earning $15 million this year, though that money is controlled by her father and fiance. Britney is given an allowance, meaning she's not shopping and splurging like the other A-listers. The paparazzi caught The X-Factor judge in the Target parking lot, with her two sons in tow, and her little sister Jamie Lynn.
BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUTS
Celebs with birthdays today: Shawn Kemp, Garcelle Beauvais, Rich Little
#HappyBirthday to Tina Turner. The singer turns 73 today.
TOP CELEBRITY TWEETS
The holiday season tops celebrity tweets.
- Jon Favreau: "And just like that it became Christmas season."
- Seth MacFarlane: "I can't believe I actually know people who think the world is going to end in December."
- Lisa Lampanelli: "Rihanna and Chris Brown spend Thanksgiving together. Nice, they were able gave thanks for forgiveness, friendship, love and, of course, hospitals."
- Hugh Jackman: "So happy to be back in Korea."
- Sarah Silverman: "I have a sex fantasy where my boyfriend and I pretend we're in our golden years and rediscover sensual desire."
- Andy Richter: "There's pot 'edibles' for stoners who don't want to smoke, so why isn't there smoke-able booze for drunks with stomach issues?"
- Jeffrey Ross: "I wish Hillary Clinton would negotiate a cease fire between the Seahawks and the Dolphins so my nephews would get off the couch."
- Russell Brand: "I just ate two kiwi fruits in the bath to celebrate New Zealand. Now I'm going to the harbor to smoke meth on a whale's back."
- Kelly Osbourne: "We have always had stupid people but it was not until twitter came along that it gave them a stupid voice."
ON THE TUBE
- Kelly & Michael (ABC) - Jack Black, comedian Carrot Top
- The View (ABC) - Angie Harmon (Rizzoli and Isles), Wendie Malick (Hot in Cleavland)
- Katie Couric (synd) - Taylor Swift
- Ellen DeGeneres (NBC) - Ray Romano (Parenthood), performance by Cirque du Soleil's Kiriki
- Jay Leno (NBC) - Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Maggie Elizabeth Jones (Ben and Kate), musical guest Delta Rae
- Jimmy Kimmel (NBC) - Ryan Seacrest, Erin Andrews, musical guest Soundgarden
- Chelsea Lately (E!) - Marion Cotillard
- Put on your apron for the series premiere of TLC's The Next Great Baker.
- Throw on your heels and strut over to Logo for the season finale of RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race.
- Grab your tool belt and head over to ABC for the season premiere of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
TAYLOR SWIFT: Red Sells Nearly 3 Million Worldwide (audio)
Taylor Swift’s new album Red has only been out a month and it’s already nearing the 2.8 million album sales mark worldwide. The 16-track collection has topped charts in 42 countries, with international sales topping 920,000 albums thus far.
BLACK FRIDAY: Record Sales and More Insanity (audio)
If you're hearing this, you avoided or survived the shopping madness known as Black Friday. As usual, some over-excited shoppers threatened their fellow shoppers with bodily harm and/or risked life and limb stampeding into stores in the name of saving a few bucks.
For retailers, the promotions were a boon. They raked in an estimated $59.1 billion in sales over the holiday weekend from Thanksgiving Day through Sunday. That's up from $52.4 million last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Spending per shopper was also up six-percent to $423.
While the holiday weekend is over, the shopping in not -- it was expected to continue on what's known as Cyber Monday, when office workers who haven't had their fill hit the web in search of deals from the comfort of their home or office.
Source:Los Angeles Times
WEIRD NEWS: Hitting From Below The Belt
A man in Maine will have to spend five days in jail after he failed in an attempt to seduce his estranged wife, then slapped her in the face ... with his genitals.
Fred Thomas pleaded guilty to a variety of charges stemming from the incident, which took place after his wife of nearly 40 years slept at his house back in July. He offered her 20 bucks for a sexual encounter, and when she turned down the "opportunity," he grew angry and struck her with his penis -- a gesture his lawyer says was "not his normal conduct."
The wife did not seek jail time for Thomas but did ask that he undergo counseling for anger management, which was also ordered. (Bangor Daily News)
WEIRD NEWS: Rehab Plan Up In Smoke
A British retiree is set to be sentenced on drug charges after he was caught growing thousands of dollars worth of pot -- to pay for his son's stint in drug rehab.
Frank Jones admitted that he'd been tending the cannabis crop on his rural property, but insisted he was no hardened criminal, merely a concerned parent. The 74-year-old, who says he knew his actions were illegal, told a judge, "You tell me any parent who sees their son suffering who would not do just about anything to help them. When I learned what I was charged with, I was gobsmacked."
Just call it another good moneymaking plan gone to pot. (Daily Mail)
WEIRD NEWS: Just Meth-In' Around
A Kentucky man is in police custody after he went into a Wal-Mart bathroom and tried to bring the store the one product is was lacking -- a heapin' helping of meth!
James Prater aroused suspicion among store employees after they noticed he was spending an awfully long time in the can -- and when security guards went to check on him, they found him passed out on the floor. Cops summoned to the scene woke the 36-year-old and searched his backpack, in which they found all the makings of a working meth lab.
The store was evacuated -- and we're guessing the same could be said for Prater's innards, once he realized he was headed for jail (WKYT)
WEIRD NEWS:: Two Drunks Can't Make a Right ... or a Left
A New Jersey man is facing charges of driving while intoxicated after being hauled in while bailing out a friend who was behind bars for ... driving while intoxicated.
Joseph Shea was taken into custody after a witness saw him driving erratically at a high rate of speed, while in the parking lot of a south Jersey police station. He tried to flee when cops approached him for questioning, but didn't get far before being busted.
Shea was released without posting bail, and was picked up by a friend -- who hadn't had a drop to drink. No word on what happened to the original booze-hound driver. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
DIET & EXERCISE: Best Diet Tricks of All Time
OK, so you over-indulged a little over Thanksgiving weekend. Need to lose a few pounds before the rest of the holiday eating frenzy begins? Maybe the best diet tricks of all time can help get you in tip-top shape for the weeks ahead:
- Use the three-bite dessert rule: Don't deny yourself your favorite sweet treat, but after three bites put your fork down!
- Don't rest more than 30 seconds between exercises at the gym: It will dramatically bump up your calorie burn.
- Question your cravings: Before grabbing a doughnut in the break room, ask yourself, "Am I really hungry?" You are less likely to eat mindlessly if you question your cravings.
- Bring your lunch to work: Eating out every day is sure to pack on the calories, but brown bagging your lunch keeps you in control of your consumption. It saves money too!
- Fill up on veggies: Eat in order of healthy. That way you fill up on the stuff that's good for you and nibble on the less healthy stuff.
- Weigh yourself once a week: This holds you accountable for your results and good results keep you motivated!
- Don't go food shopping hungry: You will be less likely to make impulse buys if you shop with a full belly. (HuffingtonPost)
MIND & BODY: 10 Counterintuitive Health & Beauty Tips
When it comes to healthy and beauty, it’s not always right to trust your gut. Here are "10 Counterintuitive Health and Beauty Tips":
- If you want to banish bloat: Drink more water. It seems crazy to fight water weight with water, but bloating happens when your kidneys sense dropping fluid levels and order your body to hang on to all the water it’s got. Drinking water throughout the day can help you slip back into your skinny jeans.
- If you want fewer breakouts: Eat more chocolate. The flavonoids in dark chocolate help reduce inflammation, redness, protect the skin from sun damage and help resolve acne by improving blood flow to the skin.
- If you want whiter teeth: Brush less! Brushing your teeth too often erodes enamel, making your teeth weaker, less white and more prone to cavities.
- If you want to drop a dress size: Gain weight. But don’t head to Krispy Kreme. Head to the gym and lift weights. Weight-training helps you burn more fat and build lean muscle mass. So while the number on the scale may go up, your jeans size goes down.
- If you want to eat less: Surround yourself with more food. We eat what we see, which works against us when we’re surrounded by Little Debbies. But snacking on food that’s healthy and whole keeps your blood sugar in check.
- If you want to run a faster marathon: Walk more. Adding walk breaks in your run before your body gets tired helps speed up recovering, boosts endurance, and ultimately shortens your race time.
- If you want to be happier: Spend less time talking about your problems. This doesn’t mean you should bottle up your emotions. There’s nothing wrong with blowing off steam to a friend. Just don’t get caught up in a negative downward spiral.
- If you want to get stronger: Lift less. Do shorter sets with heavy weights instead of working with dumbbells. Your muscles need time to rest and rebuild between weight lifting.
- If you want less stinky gas: Eat more stinky bacteria. There are more than five thousand strains of bacteria in your gut right now. If all works well, the strains balance each other out. But when it’s out of whack, biological warfare breaks out and results in rank gas. Eat fermented foods like yogurt or kefir.
- If you want shinier hair: Shampoo less and avoid shine products. Washing your hair everyday strips your hair’s natural oils, making your locks dry and prone to breakage. Allow more time between shampoos. (Shape)
MONEY MATTERS: The Ultimate Christmas Shopping Ripoff
Millions of Americans will be heading into shopping malls between now and Christmas, in search of gifts and bargains.
Financial experts are warning shoppers against the number one rip-off in the world – the retail store credit card.
Store employees have incentives and want you to open up new accounts. They offer a 10 percent or 15 percent discount on that first purchase – and it’s tempting. But financial planners urge customers to be careful.
Racking up debt through the holidays can be a budget buster. And, making matters worse, the interest rates on those store credit cards can be obscene.
If you look at the fine print, some of those cards are charging almost 30 percent interest. This means that, if you don't pay off your bills in full every month, you pay 28 percent more than the purchase price – twice as much as you would be charged on a typical credit card. That’s just crazy. (MoneyCrashers.com)
TRAVEL: Snow Globes Now Legal on Airplanes
Well, here’s some good news for people who plan to board airplanes carrying snow globes … The TSA security people will let you through.
They need to contain less than 3.4 ounces of water, though – and need to be able to fit in a quart-sized baggie.
The TSA is also now allowing pies and cakes – but the food might need “further inspection” before being waved through. (What does this mean? A taste test?)
Lastly, the TSA is discouraging travelers from bringing wrapped presents along in their carry-on bag and warning that they might need to unwrap and inspect the package. (Yahoo News)
