★ Jessica Simpson is the latest celebrity to learn the hard way that you can’t post a photo of yourself that you don’t own. According to a lawsuit, the paparazzi agency Splash News and Picture Agency (one of the biggest in the business) is suing Simpson over a photo she posted to social media last year. The agency claims Simpson took the image from them without permission, edited out their copyright information, and posted the pic to her Instagram and Twitter accounts. The photo now seems to be deleted from both places.
★ Another beloved comedy series is coming back. CBS has given a 13-episode series order to ‘Murphy Brown’, a revival of the 1988 sitcom with its creator Diane English and star Candice Bergen both set to return. Bergen will reprise her role as the famous investigative journalist and TV anchor at the FYI network, as Murphy Brown returns to a world of cable news, social media, fake news and a very different political and cultural climate. Word is that talks are underway with other original cast members to return.
★ Several TV writers and actors have anonymously shared their salary information in a push for equal pay. A Google docs named “TV WRITERS SALARY” is spreading through social media as Hollywood continues to grapple with the realities of the ongoing wage gap debate. In addition to salary, the doc is requesting information including gender, race, and network.
★ “Storm Chasers” star Joel Taylor has died while vacationing aboard a cruise ship. Sources say that Taylor was found unresponsive in his cabin on Tuesday while onboard the Royal Caribbean ship, ‘Harmony of the Seas’. The ship left Ft. Lauderdale, FL on Saturday for a week-long voyage. His cause of death of death is unclear and his body is undergoing an autopsy in Puerto Rico. Joel Taylor was 38.
• “Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo” (CBS): Bruno Mars performs at the Apollo Theater in New York City with his band the Hooligans, and takes to the streets, visiting, singing and entertaining locals.
• “Winter’s Dream” (HALLMARK): A former ski champion reenters the competitive world when a 16-year old downhill racer asks for help leading her to reawaken an old passion and find a new love.
• “Conan Without Borders: Haiti” (TBS): Conan travels to Haiti.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Host Will Ferrell with musical guest, Chris Stapleton.
• “Grammy Awards” (CBS): James Corden hosts the 60th annual Grammy Awards from New York’s Madison Square Garden. Performers include: Cardi B; Miley Cyrus; Luis Fonsi; Childish Gambino; Elton John; Kesha; Lady Gaga; Kendrick Lamar; Little Big Town; Bruno Mars; Pink; Sam Smith; U2.
• Elton John – has announced the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ world tour to mark his retirement from touring. The plan is to play about 300 shows across the globe over the next three years.
• Led Zeppelin – has announced the reissue of their 2003 live album ‘How the West Was Won’. The remastered album is coming in a variety of formats, including vinyl for the first time. It is the first major release of their 2018 50th anniversary celebrations.
• Jack White – The former White Stripes leader, who opened a vinyl record pressing plant in his home town of Detroit last year, is making his shows a no-smartphone-zone, providing special pouches in which fans must zip up their phones during his concerts.
• 50 Cent – After emerging from bankruptcy a year ago, he’s now getting rich…thanks to bitcoin. In 2014, he released his “Animal Ambition” album, and accepted cryptocurrency as a form of payment. The 700 bitcoins he received as payment are now valued at $7-8.5 million.
• ‘NSYNC – their fans may have to say “Bye Bye Bye” to dreams of a Super Bowl reunion. Although Justin Timberlake will headline the Feb. 4 halftime performance, former bandmate Joey Fatone has shut down rumors of a regrouping.
• Flavor Flav – was on the receiving end of a beatdown at a Las Vegas casino. Flav told police that the suspect accused him of somehow disrespecting his mother, and then started swinging. He was also kicked while on the ground.
• Demi Lovato – is partnering with CAST Centers to bring free mental health sessions to each of her upcoming tour dates. She did the same thing last summer.
• Chris Stapleton – he and Emmylou Harris will sing together on the Grammys. What song they will collaborate on has not been revealed.
• Brothers Osborne – have announced their sophomore album ‘Port Saint Joe’ is due out on April 20.
1961  Wayne Gretzky, Brantford ON, Hockey Hall of Fame former NHL player (9-time MVP)/all-time greatest hockey player?
Pop singer Sarah McLachlan (‘Angel’) is 50; Pop keyboardist Brandon Bush (Train) is 45; Rapper Rick Ross (“The Boss”) is 41; Pop singer Joey Fatone (*NSYNC) is 41; Pop singer Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys) is 38; Movie actor Elijah Wood (“The Hobbit”) is 37; TV actress Ariel Winter (“Modern Family”) is 20.
• “Australia Day”, the national day for our mates Down Under, commemorating the 1788 landing of Captain Arthur Phillip at Sydney to establish a penal colony. Records of an annual celebration date back to 1808.
• Fun At Work Day”, because experts say when we enjoy our work, we are more productive. So here are a few suggestions . . .
✓ Every time someone asks you to do something, ask them if they want fries with that.
✓ Include a piece of your kid’s artwork as a cover page for all reports you write.
✓ When answering your phone, talk in a fake British accent.
✓ Take a picture of your boss, have it framed and display it prominently on your desk.
✓ Leave the photocopy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17-inch paper, 99 copies.
✓ Pretend your computer mouse is a CB radio mike. Talk to it.
✓ It would cost you only about $140 a year if you ate ramen for every meal.
✓ A cluster of bananas is called a ‘hand’. A single banana is called a ‘finger’.
✓ A study claims that Instagramming your food before eating it may make it taste better.
✓ Researchers found that having too many friends on Facebook causes people to have a negative perception of you.
✓ It takes about 12 days of exercise to improve and preserve the body.
✓ No one really knows for sure why we have armpit hair.
• It contains the words, “You look really good from far away”.
• They can’t say it with a straight face.
• They add, “…for your age”.
• There are air quotes.
• It is followed by the word, “but”.
• You need chocolate and a hug after you hear it.
• You are saying it to the mirror.
I saved 15% on car insurance by leaving the scene of the accident.
• What is the largest island on Earth?
• What animal has a tongue longer than its tail?
☎ What’s your weirdest and/or worst border-crossing experience anywhere?
Question: 54% of women fantasize about this once a month. What is it?
Give the gift of love, and people think you’re cheap. Give them a cheap bit of crap, and they love you for it.