Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Sep 14, 2011

Election 2012 Posturing, Posing and Press Releases:

Republicans won a pair of House special elections last night, but one of those wins will be interpreted by many as a sharp rebuke of the OBAMA administration. In New York's Ninth District, retired cable TV executive BOB TURNER easily defeated veteran Democratic state legislator DAVID WEPRIN to capture the seat once heald by disgraced former Congressman ANTHONY WEINER.
Many are looking at Turner's win as a slap in the face to the president for his perceived lack of support of Israel. The district has a large Orthodox Jewish population.
And in northern Nevada, Republican MARK AMODEI trounced Democrat KATE MARSHALL. (Pacelli)

What's Poppin':

Who do ya love, Dep't: Brand Keys' new 2011 Customer Loyalty Leaders Index shows Amazon has bumped Apple's iPhone from the top spot.
10. Mary Kay (cosmetics)
9. Patron (tequila)
8. Kindle (e-reader)
7. Hyundai (automotive)
6. Zappos (online retailer)
5. Apple (computer)
4. Samsung (cell phone)
3. Facebook (social network)
2. Apple (smartphone)
1. Amazon (online retailer)

On, off and way-off Broadway:

Broadway's "Phantom of the Opera" is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, a special performance of the ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER musical from London's Royal Albert Hall will be broadcast to movie theaters all over the world on October 2nd. There will be re-broadcasts on October 5th, 6th and 11th. More than 200 original and current cast members are expected to be a part of this event. (Marino)

Aussie star HUGH JACKMAN is coming back to Broadway in November.
Daily Variety reports he’ll be returning to the Broadhurst theatre with his one-man show, called "Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway," for a 10-week run. The show will feature Hugh singing some of his favorite musical theater tunes and reminiscing about his life, backed by an 18-piece orchestra. The show previously ran in San Francisco and Toronto; previews begin in the Big Apple on Oct 25; the show officially opens Nov 10.
Hugh was previously on Broadway in “The Boy From Oz” musical in 2003, and co-starred in the 2009 play "A Steady Rain," with DANIEL CRAIG. He's also hosted the Tony Awards three times.

Reality Round-Up:

Another day, another cruddy reality show. This time, former pro wrestler HULK HOGAN (real name: TERRY BOLLEA) is probing into the intimate world of wrestlers that just happen to be little people. H-squared tells PerezHilton.com he spent 20 years with ANDRE THE GIANT and claims people would "say cruel things" about his seven-foot-four buddy. In this program, we'll get to see how his new friends handle themselves in the ring, with normal-sized doors and cars, dealing with wives and children. Look for it to debut tonight on TruTV. (Lee)

Weird science:

Ever wonder why your fingers and toes get pruny after a good long soak in the tub? Science may have found the answer: wrinkly fingers improve traction.
A story on the NY Times’s science blog says raisin fingers and toes work just like tire treads. In a new study, a neurobiologist took a long, hard look at about 30 volunteers’ pruny fingers. Everybody in the study had the same wrinkly pattern on their paws. On closer examination, the study said the wrinkles let water drain away as fingertips are pressed to wet surfaces. That gives you more contact and a better grip. So that you're not slippery when wet. (Bartha)