Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jun 23, 2011

Palin Addict update:

Oops. So much for SARAH PALIN's "One Nation" bus tour. It's over.
   Palin's tour had people speculating about a presidential run, but instead, she's returned home to Alaska even though her aides' itineraries show her traveling through the Midwest and Southeast this month.
   Mama Grizzly's reasons for returning home are unknown. Speculators suggest it could mean she has decided against a run in 2012, or just the opposite, taking a break to think things through. (Maiman)

Idle gossip & unconfirmed rumors:

JUSTIN BIEBER has a problem most teenage boys would kill for --teenage girls keep stealing his underwear! AbsoluteNow.com reports the problem has gotten out-of-control so he's come up with a serious solution. All of his undies will now be burned after just one wearing! (Lee)

NIKKI REED and PAUL McDONALD are moving forward at lightning speed. According to Us Weekly, the "Twilight" star and "American Idol" reject, engaged after only three months of dating, have already bought a house together in L-A. (Myers)

Fashion Emergency:

It looks like KIM KARDASHIAN will be a guest judge at the "Project Runway" finale.
   The finale show is taping this week in New York City and CocoPerez.com says a source close to Kim is excited to be part of the taping. But "Runway's" TIM GUNN can't be too happy about it. Last year, he slammed the Kardashian's fashion line at Fashion Week, saying it showed an "absence of taste."
   Season nine of "Project Runway" starts airing on Lifetime later this summer. (Bartha)

Grace notes:

GLEN CAMPBELL has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He told People magazine that’ll he do a series of “farewell” shows this fall. His wife, KIM, said Glen wanted to let the fans know that if he forgets some of the lyrics, he’s not drunk or or on drugs... it’s just a part of the disease. Glen will release his final album, "Ghost On The Canvas," on August 30th. Ex-REPLACEMENTS leader PAUL WESTERBERG wrote a few original songs for the project, along with JAKOB DYLAN, and BILLY CORGAN of SMASHING PUMPKINS performs on the album. (Marino)

Chocolate, Caffeine, Alcohol:

Coffee-hounds say that having their morning of caffeine clears their heads. Now scientists are saying it might keep it that way years down the line.
   A University of South Florida study finds that drinking caffeinated coffee can help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Caffeinated coffee boosts production of a growth factor [GCSF (granulocyte colony stimulating factor)] that Alzheimer's patients somehow lost along the way.
   Scientists don't know why this happens yet, but research is ongoing. (AB)

Finders Keepers:

A Pennsylvania gambler walked out of a casino with 25-grand thanks to a slot machine error.
   The NY Post says the machine at The Rivers Casino was supposed to pay out 12-bucks. But, somehow it tacked on an additional 24-thousand, 998-dollars. Officials say the slot machine hadn't been "properly tested" prior to being used.
   The unidentified customer got to keep the money. (Still)

The Reel Deal:

Hollywood insiders say EMMA STONE may be doing another zombie picture.
   Emma, who starred in "Easy A" last year, was also JESSE EISENBERG’s love interest in "Zombieland," and the Hollywood Reporter says she's been offered the lead in the upcoming film, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." That's the takeoff on the JANE AUSTEN novel done by SETH GRAHAME-SMITH, who added a virus which turned members of the 1800s into Zombies.
   In the "expanded version," Elizabeth Bennet is (quote) "distracted from her quest to eradicate the zombie menace by the arrival of the arrogant Mr. Darcy."