THE BITS…
Summer officially arrived over the weekend. You can tell that it’s summer because Pope Francis has switched from a funny hat to a funny visor.
Summer officially arrived over the weekend. You can tell that it’s summer because the True Blood characters are drinking refreshing bloody Marys.
Summer officially arrived over the weekend. You can tell summer is here because Justin Bieber is egging ice cream parlors.
Katy Perryhas offered to write Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign theme song. Unfortunately, it could be tough for Katy to come up with a word that rhymes with pantsuit.
Jill Duggar, of the reality show 19 Kids & Counting, got married over the weekend. There wasn’t a dry eye when the minister told the groom, “You may now side-hug the bride.”
Jill Duggar, of the reality show 19 Kids & Counting, got married over the weekend. It’s estimated that in his lifetime Jim Bob Duggar will travel 10,000 miles walking all of his daughters down the aisle.
Jill Duggar, of reality TV’sDuggar family, got married in front of 1,000 guests over the weekend. So, apparently it was only for immediate family members.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West threw a lavish birthday party for daughter North West over the weekend. There were stages, musical performances, a Ferris wheel and Kanye even had a cussing booth.
SON OF THE BITS…
The new singing talent show Rising Star premiered last night. The good news is that host Josh Groban is just about done explaining the rules.
There’s a new dating reality show premiering this summer in which couples will go on dates while completely naked. At least the couples won’t have to waste time deciding what to wear.
There’s a new dating reality show premiering this summer in which couples will go on dates while completely naked. Apparently they got the idea from Madonna.
U.S. Olympic soccer star Hope Solo was arrested over the weekend on domestic violence charges. The good news is she’s made up with her husband, Han Solo.
The U. S. soccer team gave up a World Cup win in the last minute of play as Portugal tied the game 2-2. The last-minute goal broke the hearts of U.S. soccer fans – all three of them.
Michelle Wie won the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament. Michelle said she planned to celebrate with her brother, Nintendo Wie.
On this date in 1955, Disney's Lady and the Tramp premiered. I once wrote a story about a purebred dog that meets a billionaire called Lady and the Trump.
Starbucks has announced that they’re raising prices on some of their drinks. Starbucks says they’re raising their prices from ridiculous to outrageous.
Starbucks has announced that they’re raising prices on some of their drinks. The good news is that they’re now offering financing.
TODAY’S BITMAN AUDIO…
Today on the Bitman audio feed we have clips from the new singing talent show Rising Star, the old talent show America’s Got Talent, plus the final season premiere of True Blood.
Plus more from Pamela Furr and the Bitman audio archive! It’s all at BitmanComedy.com in the Subscribers area
Not hearing anything? TV Sound bites are available at BitmanComedy.com! If you need access to the site, contact Adrienne Munos at United Stations Radio Network at561-381-7598or
TINSELTOWN TATTLER…
JENNIFER LOPEZ has denied rumors that she’s dating MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY, but those reports are getting harder to deny. The pair was spotted dancing together at a nightclub after J.Lo’s performance in Connecticut. An eyewitness says, “Maks was whispering into her ear and hugging her,” and “They looked very flirty with each other. She had a huge smile on her face and looked like she was having a great time.” The source also said they were holding hands at the end of the night before saying goodbye.
KIM KARDASHIAN and KANYE WEST threw a lavish birthday party for daughter North West over the weekend. Of course, what other kind of party would they throw for her? The theme of the party was “Kidchella,” a play on the Coachella music festival. Activities included karaoke, multiple stages for various performers and a Ferris wheel with the youngsters dressed in hippie fashions as they visited various booths where they were treated to hair-braiding, face-painting, tie-dyed T-shirts and bandanas. (See here)
Real Housewife BRANDI GLANVILLE is refusing to apologize after calling her seven-year-old son Jake an "a--hole" and a "d--k" during a segment on Brandi Glanville Unfiltered. Brandi later tweeted, "I joke about my kids &dogs being a--holes sometimes cuz honestly they can be but I love them more than life!! People that know me know that!"
KATIE COURIC married fiance John Molner on Saturday in Katie’s East Hampton, New York backyard. The wedding included readings by the groom’s children as well as Katie’s daughters, while John’s nieces served as flower girls. It was Katie’s second marriage. Her first husband, Jay Monahan, died of cancer in 1998 at the age of 42.
TINSELTOWN TATTLER 2…
JILL DUGGAR, of the reality show 19 Kids & Counting, married fiancé Derick Dillard over the weekend in Springdale, Arkansas. Some 1,000 people attended the ceremony and later enjoyed snacking on more than 600 cupcakes, 3,000 chocolate-chip cookies and 3,000 root-beer floats. Dillard's father, Rick, died in 2008, and his mother, Cathy, who is battling cancer, came to the wedding from the hospital. The newlyweds obliged the crowd when they started chanting, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" The couple had saved their very first kiss for the moment they became man and wife and the new Mrs. Dillard told People magazine "It was worth the wait."
U.S. women's soccer star HOPE SOLO was arrested at a suburban Seattle home over the weekend on domestic violence charges. However, her attorney claims that Solo was the victim in the altercation. Officers responded to her sister's home after receiving a 911 call that a woman was hitting people and that she refused to stop or leave. Police arrived to find Solo intoxicated and upset and saw injuries on her nephew and her sister, and arrested her after determining that she was the primary aggressor. It wasn’t the first time that Hope was involved in a domestic violence situation. Back in 2012, she married former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens just hours after his arrest on assault charges. However, Solo said there never was an assault and that she and her new husband were happy.
The government of North Korea is blasting SETH ROGEN and JAMES FRANCO'S new movie, which features an assassination attempt on Kim Jong-un. A spokesman said the government isn’t pleased with the content although Un will likely watch the movie. (See clip here)
TRACY MORGAN continues to make progress in his recovery following that terrible auto accident. His publicist says that Tracy has been released from the hospital and transferred to an undisclosed rehab center. Tracy is expected to remain there for the next few weeks, but still has a long way to go in his recovery.
TINSELTOWN TATTLER 3…
After undergoing a double mastectomy in May, former Dancing with the Stars co-host SAMANTHA HARRIS may need chemotherapy after discovering her cancer has spread. Harris told People magazine, "When I came to in recovery, my surgeon was standing over me with a look of sadness and told me that he had to take out all of my lymph nodes." Harris added: "Stay positive. When life deals you lemons, you gotta make lemonade!"
Apparently the stroke that singer RANDY TRAVIS had last year was a lot worse than his people let on. Word has it that he’s unable to sing or even speak and is just now able to walk with a cane. Travis recently stepped out in public for the first time late last month to attend Dolly Parton's show in Oklahoma. Reports surfaced that Randy told Dolly he wanted to go back to singing, but sources tell TMZ that
Randy didn't say anything to Dolly because he can't. However, a rep for Travis says his therapist said it wouldn't be out of the question for him to return to the stage possibly in three years. However, it’s reported that Travis can't form a sentence and it's unclear if he can even follow a conversation.
Storage Wars auctioneer DAN DOTSON was rushed to a hospital in Palm Springs last week after suffering a double brain aneurysm and only given a slight chance of survival. Dotson's wife says that early Monday morning he began asking weird questions in his sleep and when he got up later he complained of having double vision and not feeling right, so he went back to sleep. However, when Dan got up a few hours later to take a shower, he collapsed. Luckily his surgery was a success and while he's doing better than expected, he's not out of the woods.
DATELINE HOLLYWOOD…
This Weekend’s Top 10 Movies…
1. "Think Like a Man Too," $30 million.
2. "22 Jump Street," $29 million
3. "How To Train Your Dragon 2," $25.3 million
4. "Jersey Boys," $13.5 million
5. "Maleficent," $13 million
6. "Edge of Tomorrow," $13.3 million
7. "The Fault in Our Stars," $8.6 million
8. "X-Men: Days of Future Past," $6.4 million
9. "Chef," $1.8 million.
10. "Godzilla," $1.8 million
The BREAKING BAD spinoff Better Call Saul hasn’t even premiered yet and AMC has already renewed it for a second season. The show will star Bob Odenkirk as lawyer Saul Goodman and it was originally scheduled to debut later this year, but has been delayed until 2015.
Coming to VH1 this summer is the reality show DATING NAKED. As the title suggests, the show will have couples going on dates without clothing. A man and a woman each date two different, naked suitors and will decide on whether or not to continue seeing their matches. (See here)
The DAYTIME EMMYS were handed out last night. KATHY GRIFFIN hosted the ceremony, which was streamed live online. The Young and the Restless led the pack with 26 nominations, and won four of the main awards, including Outstanding Drama Series.
DAYTIME EMMY WINNERS…
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Eric Martsolf, Days of our Lives
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Amelia Heinle, The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Culinary Host: Bobby Flay, Bobby Flay's Barbecue Addiction
Outstanding Culinary Program: The Mind of a Chef
Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program: The People's Court
Outstanding Game Show Host: Steve Harvey, Family Feud
Outstanding Talk Show Host: (TIE) Dr. Oz, The Dr. Oz Show; Katie Couric, Katie
Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team: One Life to Live
Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series: Hunter King, The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series: Chandler Massey, Days of Our Lives
Outstanding Daytime Talent in Spanish: El Gordo y la Flaca
Outstanding Talk Show / Entertainment: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Outstanding Talk Show / Informative: Steve Harvey
Outstanding Morning Program: Good Morning America
Outstanding Game Show: Jeopardy!
Outstanding Special Class Special: The Young and the Restless: Jeanne Cooper Tribute
Outstanding Entertainment News Program: Entertainment Tonight; Extra
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Billy Miller, The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Eileen Davidson, Days of Our Lives
Outstanding New Approaches – Drama Series: Venice the Series
Outstanding Drama Series: The Young and the Restless
MUSIC NOTES…
The Illinois State Crime Commission presented SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman BILLY CORGAN with the Jesse White Award for a wrestling-focused outreach program he helped create for Chicago children. The AMC cable channel has ordered eight one-hour, unscripted episodes of a show that will feature the program and Corgan.
AC/DC singer Brian Johnson has hinted that a tour is looking very likely before the end of the year. Just a couple of months ago it looked like it might be over for the band when Malcolm Young announced he was going on hiatus due to ill health.
GUIDED BY VOICES are getting their own beer. Tomark the 20th anniversary of their album "Bee Thousand," Dogfish Head Brewery in Delaware has created an imperial lager called Beer Thousand.This fall the beer will be in stores, packaged with a 10-inch record with 10 songs recorded live June 25th, 1994, during the "Insects of Rock" tour.
There’s bad news for STING’S kids as he says they won’t be inheriting his fortune. Sting says, "I told them there won't be much money left because we’re spending it. We have a lot of commitments. What comes in we spend, and there isn't much left."Sting’s fortune is estimated to nearly $300 million and he added: "I certainly don't want to leave them trust funds that are albatrosses round their necks."
JULIAN LENNON will release his first-ever box set called "Everything Changes" on September 10th. The four-disc set includes three editions of his recent release, "Everything Changes," including studio, acoustic and instrumental versions as well as the documentary, "Through the Picture Window." The limited edition run of 1000 will be numbered and include a signed certificate from Lennon.
MUSIC NOTES 2…
MICHAEL JACKSON'S "Captain EO" has temporarily closed at Disneyland and some are saying it might be gone for good. The 3D musical has been replaced by a new preview of the upcoming film "Guardians of the Galaxy" and now the "Captain EO" attraction's sign has been removed. For the record, Disney has said that "EO" is "expected to return at a later date," although Tokyo Disneyland will permanently close their "Captain EO Tribute" on June 30th.
MERRY CLAYTON, one of the stars of the documentary "Thirty Feet From Stardom," was involved in a car accident last week in which she sustained severe injuries to her lower body. Merry had a few minor hits on her own, but is best known for her backup vocals with the Rolling Stones and Ray Charles.
RAY STEVENS has written his memoir. Ray Stevens' Nashville covers his career in the music business throughout the past 50 years, including his friendships with such legends as Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins. Stevens also recently wrapped a movie called Campin' Buddies, and has a gospel album due later this year.
LORDE has responded to comments made by IGGY AZALEA about her performance with the surviving members of Nirvana at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Iggy told Billboard magazine, "Nothing against her, but I think when you're doing a tribute to someone that's dead, generally it should be the person's peer. Lorde is not Kurt Cobain's peer. No matter if she killed the performance or not, I just don't think it's appropriate." Lorde said, “I’ve been in a position where I’ve said something in an interview where I’ve thought, ‘Damn, I wish I could take that back.’ I don’t know how (Iggy) is feeling about it, but anyone who’s doing well deserves respect, and I respect what she’s doing.”
MUSIC NOTES 3…
KATY PERRYmet Hillary Clinton at a book signing for her new memoir, Hard Choices. Katy shared a photo of them together on Instagram and said she offered to write her 2016 presidential campaign theme song, should she run.
LANA DEL REY is speaking out afterThe Guardian ran a story last week with the headline "Lana Del Rey: ‘I Wish I Was Dead Already.'" In the piece Lana is quoted as saying, "I wish I was dead already." I do! I don't want to have to keep doing this...Everything. That's just how I feel. If it wasn't that way, then I wouldn't say it. I would be scared if I knew [death] was coming, but..." While Lana doesn’t deny the quote, she did say, "I regret trusting the guardian- I didn't want to do an interview but the journalist was persistent."
EMBLEM3 is now Emblem2 as founding member Drew Chadwick has left to pursue a solo career. Brothers Wesley and Keaton Stromberg will continue with this summer’s schedule of tour dates.