-
Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check
October 21, 2010
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
Conspiracy Corner:
British officials have announced a major security crackdown that has some U-K civil liberties groups up in arms. Every e-mail, phone call and website visit will be recorded and stored by British authorities.
The new rules will allow state security services and the police to spy on the activities of every Briton who uses a phone or the internet. Also coming later this year --a plan to make every communications company store details for at least one year. (Pacelli)What's the Buzz --and where:
So exactly how much marijuana is presently growing in California these days? A new state report says about $14-billion-dollars worth of weed is growing in California at any one time.
By comparison, California's wine business is worth about $2-billion-dollars.
In Mendicino County, at least half of the economy depends on growing marijuana. (Pacelli)Shopping Around:
The National Retail Federation says Americans' holiday wish list this year is a little more frivolous: 23% will ask for jewelry this holiday, a 10% jump from last year. Gift cards continue to be the most-requested gift, with 57% putting them on their wish list. (Kaye)
On, off and way-off Broadway:
"The Merchant of Venice" --which ran to a sold-out audience in Central Park earlier this summer-- re-opened at the Broadhurst Theatre Tuesday night. There will be just 78 performances with Oscar and two-time Tony winner AL PACINO in the title role as Shylock; he'll be leaving the show Jan 09.
"Lombardi" opens tonight on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre, with the title role of the quintessential NFL coach played by DAN LAURIA from "The Wonder Years." Actress JUDITH LIGHT (from "Who's the Boss") will also play his wife, Marie.
BroadwayWorld.com reports NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL will be in the opening night audience, along with Green Bay Packers' CEO MARK MURPHY, New York Giants' Co-owners JOHN MARA and JONATHAN TISCH, broadcaster BOB COSTAS, Vince's daughter SUSAN LOMBARDI, and former Green Bay Packers CHUCK MERCEIN and JERRY KRAMER, as well as PAUL HORNUNG, DAVE ROBINSON and JIM TAYLOR, who are all featured as characters in the play.
Other celebs expected to attend include WENDIE MALICK, TYNE DALY, JACK KLUGMAN and REGIS PHILBIN.Look for "Night Court" star JOHN LARROQUETTE on Broadway in yet still another revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." "Harry Potter" star DANIEL RADCLIFFE will be playing the role last played by MATTHEW BRODERICK (and before that, ROBERT MORSE) about the young mailroom attendant trying to scheme his way to the top.
Larroquette would play J-B Biggley, the head of the World Wide Wicket Company, a role originally played by RUDY VALLEE! The show opens in March of next year.
A young BOB FOSSE choreographed the original, which also co-starred CHARLES NELSON REILLY and DONNA McKECHNIE (from "A Chorus Line").Grace notes:
Is BEYONCE pregnant... or not? She hasn't actually confirmed that yet, but US Weekly magazine says the singer and her husband JAY-Z are expecting their first child. Beyonce was reportedly "shocked" that she was in a family way because she's not ready to be a mother yet. She wanted to finish her album, then go on tour. There's no word on if those plans have changed.
But, late last night, TMZ.com got a hold of today's "Ellen DeGeneres Show" which has Beyonce's mom as a guest. TINA KNOWLES denies that her daughter is pregnant and says all of the reports are just rumors. (Marino) -
-