Wilmington, North Carolina, has become the first city in the nation to make the switch to digital-only broadcasting. Wilmington made the change yesterday, ahead of the February 17th deadline. Wilmington is the 135th largest television market in the U.S. with about 180,000 television households, according to Nielsen. In February, Nielsen estimated there were more than 13 million households in the U.S. with television sets that can only receive analog broadcasts. Viewers who receive programming through an antenna and do not own newer-model digital TV sets by the time of the changeover must buy a converter box. The government is providing two $40 coupons per household to help defray the cost. Viewers who subscribe to a cable or satellite service won’t be affected. To apply for a coupon for a converter box, go to www.dtv2009.gov
Nicole Kidman has become the most overpaid celebrity in Hollywood. According to Forbes’ second annual ranking of the least bankable actors in Hollywood, Kidman’s films earn a mere $1 for every dollar she was paid, compared with $8 in 2007. To compile the list, Forbes looked at each star’s last three films that opened wide before January 1st. They didn’t count animated movies, supporting roles or anyone consistently earning under $5 million per movie. The top 10 overpaid celebrities:
1. Nicole Kidman: For every dollar she was paid, Kidman’s movies averaged $1 of gross income.
2. Jennifer Garner: $3.60 of gross income for every dollar paid.
3. (Tie) Tom Cruise: $4 of gross income for every dollar paid.
3. (Tie) Cameron Diaz: $4 of gross income for every dollar paid.
5. Jennifer Lopez: $4.10 of gross income for every dollar paid.
6. Jim Carrey: $4.11 of gross income for every dollar paid.
7. Nicolas Cage: $4.16 of gross income for every dollar paid.
8. Drew Barrymore: $4.38 of gross income for every dollar paid.
9. Will Ferrell: $4.67 of gross income for every dollar paid.
10. Cate Blanchett: $4.97 of gross income for every dollar paid.
Washington police hope they’ve got an ace in the hole with their cold case playing cards. Jail inmates in the nation’s capital are getting free decks of cards. But instead of pictures of kings and jacks, the cards include victims’ photos and details of recent unsolved cases. The city plans to distribute 500 decks. More cards will be ordered so inmates can take them home when they’re released. Officials are also offering rewards of up to $25,000 for information leading to convictions.
Russ Marr is bullish on his barbecue. He’s created “El Toro Bravo” – a cast-aluminum grill/smoker in the shape of a bull. The Lincoln, Nebraska, man spent two and a-half years tinkering on El Toro. Everything is functional, down to the bull’s rear end. Marr says the tail controls an air pump and that when El Toro is really smokin’ clouds of smoke billow from its nostrils.
A Brooklyn rabbi can now claim the title of best beard in New York. Rabbi Abraham Abraham beat out 20 other bearded competitors at Coney Island Saturday to win a trophy for best groomed beard and mustache. Abraham says he has been growing his well groomed facial hair for more than fifty years, and after every shower he uses hair gel to sculpt them. His main competition came from a man who has grown his sideburns down to his chest. The contest is sponsored by a non-profit community organization in Brooklyn.
I can’t believe this next poll it says Women are quicker to trust Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey than their own husbands, according to a new AOL Living and Woman’s Day poll. The poll showed that 37% of participants said Winfrey was their most trusted celebrity compared with Hank’s first-place vote of 40%. However, participants appear to be less trusting of their loved ones. Other findings:
· 67% of respondents admitted they wanted to know everyone their husband was contacting by email or text message.
· 75% said they routinely check who their kids are messaging.
· 24% of female respondents admitted to cheating on their spouses.
· 48% said they considered themselves honest people.
A Crossett, Arkansas, teen will have a whopper of a fish story to tell some day, but right now the whole episode is still a blur to the 15-year-old, who was knocked unconscious, suffered a broken jaw and was left covered with fish guts and blood. Seth Russell was cruising Lake Chicot on a large inner tube towed by a boat when a Silver Asian carp leaped from the water and smacked him in the face. Seth was knocked unconscious. The teen has had oral surgery to wire several teeth together and still experiences back pain that doctors say is whiplash caused from the high-speed collision.
Construction workers in Charles Town, West Virginia, have found a live 10-pound Confederate artillery round. The shell was discovered in the wall of a home now owned by the American Public University System. School officials say the shell will be donated to the Jefferson County Museum and rendered safe. History buffs say the Confederate round was probably fired during a battle on October 18, 1863, when rebel troops were shelling the county courthouse.
A Grants Pass, Oregon, man playing in the yard with his toddler sons captured a dangerous 6-footlong lizard. Ryan Nelson said he thought it was a crocodile when he first spotted the Nile monitor by the rose bushes. He was able to capture it and wrestle it into a large metal dog cage with the help of Dalton Brown from MB Reptiles, a local pet store. Officials don’t know who the lizard belongs to, but say whoever lost it should have immediately reported it because the Nile monitor’s teeth and claws make it dangerous to pets and people. The lizard is now on display at the pet store.
Jessica's new album, Do You Know, is in stores today.
Jessica Simpson made quite a "showing" at her Grand Ole Opry debut last weekend. People-dot-com reports that some people in the audience were uncomfortable with Jess's cut-down-to-there sparkly black dress. One audience member said, "I think she should have put some clothes on." Jessica said
| "Loretta is one of the funniest people I think I ever sat down and talked to. The first thing she said to me was, 'I like it that you're showing cleavage because I'm showing cleavage tonight, too." | |
Travis Tritt will perform a free concert after the Atlanta Braves take on the New York Mets in Atlanta on September 21st. The show is a "thank you" to Braves fans on the last day of their home schedule.
Darius Rucker from Hootie and the Blowfish has become the first African American to crack the country music Top 10 since Charley Pride in the late ‘80s. His solo hit, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” is currently No. 5 on Billboard’s hot country singles chart. Rucker says he “expected some success, but this is unbelievable.”
Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood is feeling a lot more at home in Nashville these days. She tells C-M-T that since she bought another home in Nashville that's a bit closer to town, and her sister and her niece have been living in the first house she purchased. Big sis is never far away -- she's a teacher who teaches just five minutes from Carrie's new home. And now another family member is planning to move closer to Carrie -- her nephew is hoping to attend a Nashville-area college.
Kellie Pickler still loves her debut single, "Red High Heels," but she's ready to give her tootsies a break from the scarlet stilettos. She tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "People give them to me all the time. I don't want them. I'm so sick of having red shoes now. I'm just burned out on them. I'll be at Wal-Mart or a restaurant and people will ask why I'm not wearing red heels. I'm going to have to do a song now about diamonds or a Mercedes." During a photo shoot for O-K! magazine not a single red high heel was in sight
After experimenting with a few shows this summer Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert have announced dates for their upcoming fall co-headlining tour starting October 3rd in Richmond, Virginia at the state fair. Blake says. "It's exciting. It's really scary, but I'm finally going to take the step and she's going to do it with me, and we're going to play arenas this fall. And that is creeping me out just sitting here talking about it -- four and five-thousand seat arenas. I'm not opening for Rascal Flatts anymore or Toby, you've got to hope that I'm enough and that she's enough, and finally we feel like we're there. And it's that much more exciting that she's taking that step with me and we're leaning on each other."
Joe Nichols will soon be seen tooling around town on a motor scooter. Pocatello, Idaho's Local News 8 reports that while Joe was in town for a show, he stopped in local shop and picked himself up a brand new Yamaha Zuma 125 scooter. Joe says, "A lot of guys have got Harley Davidsons, but I like my scooter. I'm not trying to impress anybody." Joe got the idea for buying a scooter from Garth Brooks. Both Garth and his wife Trisha Yearwoodjust bought scooters so they could ride together.
Dierks Bentley and his wife are expecting their first child. The baby is due later this fall. Bentley says they’ve practiced parenting with their two dogs, which they think of as kids, but are “looking forward to a real one.”
Keith Urban says his back is getting better. Last month, he announced he had a slipped disc in his back. But he tells “CMT Insider” that his condition has improved greatly, adding “It’s much better.” Urban also talked about fatherhood, saying he likes being a hands-on dad. He says, “When my wife’s working and I’ve got time off, I’m just Mr. Mom during the day, taking care of the little girl.”
Former talk show host Jenny Jones is donating $250,000 in school supplies and equipment to teachers in classrooms across the United States. “Teachers’ Month” is a highlight of Jones’s “Jenny’s Heroes” program, a yearlong philanthropic initiative. The donations will benefit schools in at least 15 states. Jones will make surprise phone calls throughout September responding to requests ranging from $3,000 up to $25,000.
Brad Paisley's Paisley Party Tour will party on through the first few months of 2009 with some new opening acts on board. Dierks Bentley will join Brad for the entire tour, with Darius Rucker opening dates in January andCrystal Shawanda taking over in February. Brad just scored his eighth consecutive number-one with "Waiting on a Woman." Brad's next single will be "Start a Band" with Keith Urban. "Start a Band" is from Brad's upcomingPlay C-D, due out on November 4th.
Miley Cyrus has splashed out on a $75,000 car for her 16th birthday. The “Hannah Montana” star – who reportedly earned $18.2 million last year – is reportedly treating herself to a fully loaded white convertible Mercedes Benz to mark the milestone on November 23rd. Miley is set to celebrate her birthday at Disneyland in California, and is selling $250 tickets for the bash to raise money for Youth Service America.
TipThePizzaGuy.com has everything you’d ever want to know about tipping the pizza guy. From tipping etiquette to a tip calculator, everything is right at your fingertips. Scrolling over the left-hand list will bring up great tips to make sure your next encounter with the pizza guy is a good one. The site also included tips on the best way to order pizza, when not to tip, and some great stories that happened while in the process of delivering pizza. www.tipthepizzaguy.com
An Alabama businessman says he’s looking to shatter stereotypes about the South, and he’s putting up hundreds of thousands of dollars to do it. Larry Blumberg has offered Jewish families $50,000 to move to his hometown of Dothan, Alabama. Blumberg’s group will pay moving costs, private school tuition and even seed money for small businesses to any Jewish family who moves to the town. Blumberg said many of his Jewish friends are nervous about moving to the South, fearing anti- Semitism. He said he hopes his offer will help show they’ve got nothing to worry about.
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