Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Mar 24, 2011

Today's lesser known birthdays include:

actress DONNA PESCOW (she was the girl in the back seat with John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever" --57). Also, my favorite Marine drill instructor, Gunnery Sgt R-LEE "Lock and Load" ERMEY (the "psychiatrist" in that GEICO TV commercial. More importantly, from "Full Metal Jacket" and more than 60 other films --he's 67).
   The late BILLY STEWART (who did the original version of "Summertime") was also born on this date, as well as famed magician HARRY HOUDINI.

Two stories about famed magician HARRY HOUDINI in the news.
   First, Daily Variety magazine reports Sony Pictures has put a long-simmering biography of the magician back on the front burner. No word on a star for the film, yet.
   And coincidentally, Variety also reports that the Harry's last surviving assistant passed away yesterday at the ripe old age of 103. DOROTHY YOUNG died Sunday at her home in a Tinton Falls, NJ, retirement community, about 20 miles south of New York City.
   She spent a year with Harry in the mid-1920s, before he died in October 1926, two months after she had left the show. She went on to become a dancer and performed in several movies.

Grace notes:

GWEN STEFANI has donated a million dollars to the "Japan Earthquake-Tsunami Children In Emergency Fund." The Save The Children organization set up the fund to help out the relief efforts in that country. Gwen has also designed a limited-edition shirt that will be sold excluisvely through NoDoubt.com. All of the proceeds will also go to the emergency fund. There are also plans in the works for a charity auction and a fundraising event. (Marino)

Zap2It.com says there's no truth to the rumor that internet sensation REBECCA BLACK will be doing a mall tour, despite having the story picked up by the New York Times and several other media outlets. Managers of several of the 17 malls Rebecca was supposed to be booked at were contacted and said no event was scheduled "at this time," leaving the door open, of course, for the possibility. Rebecca's label, Ark Music Factory, also has no mention of any live performances on their official website.

Taking everything much too seriously:

A lady in England admits giving Botox injections to her eight-year-old daughter.
   The London Sun says 34-year old beautician KERRY CAMPBELL buys the Botox online and injects it into her daughter's forehead, lips and around the eyes. Daughter BRITNEY gets the injections every three-months to help her win beauty pageants.
   Kerry says, "I know one day she will be a model, actress or singer, and having these treatments now will ensure she stays looking younger and baby-faced for longer." (Picture) (Still)

London tabloids:

Warning: note sexual content.
   RUSSELL BRAND is a new man now that he's kicked his numerous addictions. The British tabloid the London Sun reports that before meeting wife KATY PERRY he used to sleep with up to five different women a day! Instead of meeting chicks, he's now become quite the gardener, looks forward to starting a family and can't believe how much marriage changes your life. He finds it astounding how much time the missus spends getting ready and says she isn't exactly a neatnik --the pop tart tends to leave things lying around. (Lee)

What do these people have in common? They're 25 stars who dropped out of college (from Us Weekly magazine):
   --ANNE HATHAWAY
   --ASHLEY OLSEN
   --BEN AFFLECK
   --BEN STILLER
   --BRAD PITT
   --BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
   --CLAIRE DANES
   --DAN AYKROYD
   --DIDDY
   --EMMA WATSON
   --GWYNETH PALTROW
   --JAKE GYLLENHAAL
   --JESSICA BIEL
   --JOY BRYANT
   --JUSTIN LONG
   --KANYE WEST
   --MADONNA
   --MARY-KATE OLSEN
   --MATT DAMON
   --REESE WITHERSPOON
   --SANDRA BULLOCK
   --STEVEN SPEILBERG
   --TIGER WOODS
   --WOODY ALLEN
   --ZOOEY DESCHANEL