Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Oct 19, 2011

Top talkables of the day:

A major note in the ongoing debate over marijuana use. For the first time ever, at least half of all Americans say the use of marijuana should be made legal. Fifty-percent of those surveyed by Gallup want marijuana legalized, up from 46-percent last year.
Forty-six percent say marijuana use should remain illegal.
Just 12-percent favored legalizing pot back in 1969, the first year the question was asked. No surprise that support for legalizing marijuana is directly linked to age, with 62-percent support among those 18-to-29, versus 31-percent for those 65-and-older. (Pacelli)

Guilty Pleasures:

No winner in Saturday night's drawing for the Powerball Lottery. That means tonight's drawing is valued at $124 million ($75.7 million cash value). Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington DC and the U-S Virgin Islands. Chances of winning the grand prize (all five numbers plus the powerball) are 1 in 195.2 million.

Filling a need:

Some might call it betrayal, others see it as adapting to the market. Starbucks is introducing a lighter roast coffee.
Starbucks has been famous for its burnt dark roast, but so many people called it "bitter," that the company is now providing an option --a blonde roast.
FYI: Sounds counterintuitive but lighter roasts have more caffeine in them than darker ones.
The new, lighter roast will be in stores in January. (Maiman)

Trash talk and satellite dish:

Everyone's wondering if DEMI MOORE will divorce ASHTON KUTCHER, but here's a question --are they actually married? RadarOnline.com reports a guy named MARC AISEN claims their big shindig was not a legal union. Mr. Aisen is suing MADONNA, Ashton and a few other members of the Kaballah Center for racketeering and conspiracy and is ticked off the material girl wore a necklace he created, but never gave him design credit. He's Jewish, but has spent lots of time researching Kabbalah and says the religion is actually a "militant and fanatical cult." (Lee)

TARA CONNOR is thanking DONALD TRUMP for saving her life. The former Miss USA 2006 tells Star magazine that she's grateful to him for letting her keep her crown and get herself clean of meth, coke and heroin. She's now happy in a two-year relationship and working consultant for Caron Treatment Centers. (Myers)

Casting Call:

Looks like ANNE HATHAWAY will be joining the cast of "Les Miserables."
Deadline.com reports she'll play Fantine, the prostitute, in the film, along with RUSSELL CROWE, HUGH JACKMAN and HELENA BONHAM CARTER.

It looked like HARRY BELAFONTE was taking a nap when he was supposed to be doing a live interview with a morning TV news show out of Bakersfield, California. The anchor said good morning to Harry, but there he was, eyes shut and head back, not responding. Of course, that led to all sorts of chuckling and stupid jokes like, "I guess daylight hasn't come yet." Anyway, Harry's people say he was just meditating, waiting for the interview to start, and his earpiece was not working. (Marino)