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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Jan 17, 2013
January 17, 2013
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Pet Patrol:
There's a revolutionary new way to feed and water your pets while you're out of town.
CARLOS HERRERA of Los Angeles created a wireless pet-feeder that owners control using a cell phone. It's called the Pintofeed. It not only dispenses food, it also allows you to monitor your pet remotely. Owners get updates on their pet's eating schedule by email, Facebook, Twitter, and text message.
Herrera explains, "With our background in robotics and artificial intelligence, we felt like we could create a smart web connected appliance that could do both autonomously." Ironically, Herrera himself is not a pet owner. (Still)Grace notes:
ELTON JOHN is getting the tables set for his 21st annual Academy Awards Viewing Party. West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles is the place to be on February 24th...if you're not at the actual Oscars on Hollywood and Highland. Elton and DAVID FURNISH will host the big party, which will feature a surprise musical guest the centerpiece of the evening, the live auction. All of the proceeds will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Over the years, Elton's Oscar party has raised more than $34-million dollars. (Marino)
Broadcast, cable and video news:
Like a woman who has several 29th birthdays, BETTY WHITE is having another 90th birthday party.
Turns out NBC, which got huge ratings for her 90th birthday special (and roast), has decided to do another one, scheduled for Tue, Feb 05. The speakers will include former President BILL CLINTON and VICKI LAWRENCE (as Mama from "Mama's Family") along with BILL COSBY, "Will & Grace's" SEAN HAYES, BLAKE SHELTON, LILY TOMLIN, ZACHARY LEVI from "Chuck," and Betty's "Hot in Cleveland" co-stars VALERIE BERTINELLI, JANE LEEVES and WENDIE MALICK.Good news for "Downton Abbey" fans.
Apple says people who buy a season pass to view the show via iTunes will actually be able to get the last three episodes of the current season before they air on PBS! The episodes can be downloaded beginning on Jan 29, three weeks before the season finale on Feb 17.Trolling for publicity:
MEGAN FOX can do lots of fun things --act, look pretty and (wait for it...) speak in tongues! The brunette bombshell tells Esquire magazine that she grew up attending a Pentecostal church in Tennessee where there's so much energy in the room that words just start coming out of your mouth. Megs says people can't comprehend the language because it's what's "spoken in heaven" and "only God understands it." (Lee)
Cirque du Soleil-offs:
The management at Canada's Cirque du Soleil are cutting 400 people --mostly at headquarters in Montreal-- as the circus company restructures.
The Hollywood Reporter says a number of shows in the past year have closed early due to "lackluster ticket sales," including "Viva Elvis" in Las Vegas and its latest show, "Iris."
However, the millionaire founder, GUY LALIBERTE --who's made enough money from the various shows to fly into space for 11 days at a price tag of $35 million-- says he's not interested in selling the business. -
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