Regis Philbin Retiring

Veteran broadcaster Regis Philbin is retiring from his weekday talk show. Philbin made the announcement at the start of Tuesday morning’s “Live With Regis and Kelly,” which he has hosted for more than a quarter-century, most recently sharing hosting duties with Kelly Ripa.

Philbin said he would be stepping down from the show around the end of the summer, but he didn’t specify a departure date.
“I don’t want to alarm anybody,” he began, then declared, “This will be my last year on the show.”

“It’s been a long time. It’s been 28 years,” he continued, “and it was the biggest thrill of my life to come back to New York, where I grew up as a kid watching TV in the early days, you know, never even dreaming that I would one day have the ability, or whatever it takes, to get in front of the camera and talk to it. …

“There is a time that everything must come to an end for certain people on camera — especially certain old people!” cracked Philbin, who is 79.

“I think I can only speak for America and all of us here,” responded Ripa, “when I say it has been a pleasure and a privilege and a dream come true. And I wish I could do something to make you change your mind.”
“Now wait a minute,” Philbin said slyly.

Nothing was said about the future of the show after Philbin’s exit, or what the future holds for Ripa, who is currently marking a decade as Philbin’s co-host.

I would imagine, however, that Regis will pop up in a lot of places in the future, be it a game show, or a guest/skit on Letterman.

Don Kirshner, Music Mogul, Dies.

NPR – by Tom Cole – Don Kirshner saw rock n’ roll born out of R&B, and he was there as the music grew into a self-indulgent young adult. Kirshner was a music publisher and a television producer. He had a hand in launching Bobby Darin’s career and he put the Ramones on network TV. He was sometimes called, “The Man With The Golden Ear.”

Kirshner died yesterday of heart failure in Boca Raton, Florida, where he lived. He was 76 years old.

He was born in the Bronx and, the story goes, met Robert Cassotto at a candy shop in Washington Heights. They wrote some songs together, including Cassotto’s first single, “My First Love,” which he recorded under the name Bobby Darin.

In 1958, Kirshner co-founded Aldon Music with publisher Al Nevins. That same year, Darin’s “Splish Splash” hit the Top 10. Aldon landed some of the top songwriting teams of the day, including Carole King and Gerry Goffin; Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil; and Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. Their songs were recorded by the Drifters, the Shirelles, and Bobby Vee.

Kirshner launched a label, Dimension Records, that released such hits as Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion” (written by Goffin and King) in 1962. Kirshner and Nevins sold Aldon to Screen Gems/Columbia the following year, and Kirshner eventually became the company’s president.

It was there that Kirshner began to combine music and television. The result was the Monkees. Whatever you may think, they were hugely successful — but disputes over royalties and rights led to Kirshner’s departure from Screen Gems under a legal cloud.

He shot back with another music/TV effort that replaced ungrateful musicians with animated comic book characters — the Archies. Don’t laugh. The “band” (which featured lead vocals by the Cuff Links’ Ron Dante and guitar and bass by such session veterans as Hugh McCracken and Chuck Rainey, respectively) scored a number 1 hit with, “Sugar, Sugar,” selling more than 6 million records.

In the early ’70s, Kirshner became the executive producer for ABC-TV’s “In Concert” late night series, which featured performances by the Allman Brothers BandAlice Cooper, and Curtis Mayfield, among many others. Kirshner then launched his own syndicated concert show, Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, in September of 1973 with a performance by The Rolling Stones. Later guests included the Ramones, The Eagles, and Kansas, a band Kirshner is credited with helping to launch. The show ran through 1981 and became a staple for ’70s rock fans, despite Kirshner’s stiff stage presence.

Kirshner remained active in the music business right up until the end of his life, through music publishing and a new company called Rockrena which, according to a press release announcing Kirshner’s death is “an online global community where artists, bands, fans, rock stars, and industry professionals come together to find, judge, and enjoy the best undiscovered rock talent online, and at ROCK CITY CLUB shows worldwide.”

Betty White and Mary Tyler Moore Reunited!

Is it ‘Hot in Cleveland’? You bet!

The show premiers this Wednesday on TV Land, with Mary Tyler Moore as a guest star! That’s right! It has been 33 years since Mary Tyler Moore and Betty White appeared on screen together so be sure to set your Tivo/DVR! It’s bound to be hilarious!

Airs Jan 19, 10pm ET on TV Land.

Guns N’ Roses Denies ‘Glee’ Tribute

Not many acts turn down an offer from one of TV’s biggest hits, but Guns N’ Roses is taking a stand. Slash, the band’s former guitarist, revealed that he and frontman Axl Rose were approached by Glee producers regarding a possible tribute episode to the band’s biggest hits. He went on to say that they opted not to be a part of the newly crowned Best Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes. In an interview with EW, Slash said “In the current climate of what’s going on in entertainment these days, I try to be more optimistic than negative, because it’s really easy to get negative about it, but I draw the line at ‘Glee.’ ‘Glee’ is worse than ‘Grease,’ and ‘Grease’ is bad enough. … When ‘Grease’ came out, I was like, ‘Oh, c’mon, give me a break.’ Actually, I look at ‘Grease’ now and think, ‘Between “High School Musical” and “Glee,” “Grease” was a brilliant work of art.”

Kings of Leon and Coldplay have also turned down Glee producers in the past; however, Coldplay has since reconsidered and cleared the show for use of their songbook. What do you think? Are you happy Guns N’ Roses said no? Do you think they’ll change their mind? Let us know below and in our FORUMS!

Tech Tuesday! This Weeks Stories in Tech

Well, it’s been another week, and stories just don’t stop in the tech world. Here are the chosen topics today:

Steve Jobs Goes on Medical Leave

Apple Inc. co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs sent a note Monday to employees saying he’s taking a second medical leave of absence (he had taken a medical leave previously less than two years ago) so he can focus on his health.

There was no information provided about his current condition, and Apple Spokesman Steve Dowling would not directle answer any questions relating to Jobs’ health or whereabouts. Jobs did say, however, that he will continue as CEO and be involved in the major decisions, but has put Steve Cook (COO) in charge of day-to-day operations. Jobs said “I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can”.

Jobs has had health troubles in the past, but those issues were never disclosed until after the fact. Back in 2004, he recovered from a rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, but the surgery and recovery were not revealed until afterward. In 2009, on another 6 month medical leave, he had a liver transplant, which wasn’t public until two months later.

COO Steve Cook was put in charge on every medical leave to date. In 2004, it was his performance in the day-to-day operations that won him the COO position. Many consider Cook as the Jobs’ logical successor.

Shares of Apple dropped 5% since the announcement.

White iPhone 4 Could Finally be a Reality

Speaking of Apple the mythical white iPhone 4  could finally be ready for retail.

According to reports from Engadget and MacRumors, white iPhone 4 units are showing up in inventory systems at Vodafone Germany and Best Buy. Leaked screenshots of the Best Buy inventory system indicate a projected in-stock date of February 27, 2011.

Apple was supposed to release the white iPhone at the end of June last year, but the launch just never happened. The company attributed the delays to “manufacturing problems.”

I think if I were to grab myself an iPhone, I would probably choose white if given the choice.

Facebook Stops it’s Phone & Address Sharing (Momentarily)

Following major outrage from FB users over it’s recent decision to allow applications to request access to a user’s address and mobile phone number, Facebook has decided to temporarily disable this feature until it implements changes that will help users make better informed decisions about their privacy.

Just like our recent post about Spokeo that puts all your info in one place, I think this is a good decision by Facebook. However, I still don’t trust Facebook with my information, and have since removed a lot of my more personal details.

Matter of fact, and I know this isn’t a very popular opinion, but I’m not a fan of Facebook. If there were a “like” button for Facebook, I wouldn’t push it, how about that! I’m such a rebel. I would imagine that this opinion may end up getting me deleted as a friend from many, but I an in complete agreement with Andy Ostroy over yonder at Hufffington Post who wrote an article on just this topic back in 2009. Read his article HERE, and you will get my sentiments exactly.

Facebook Arranged Date Ends in Murder

…And another reason to dislike Facebook:

VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lithuanian police say a 14-year-old boy has admitted killing a 13-year-old girl he met through Facebook.

Police spokeswoman Dalia Petrauskiene says the girl from the town Alytus was murdered after arranging on Facebook to meet the boy, who lives in the capital, Vilnius. Her half-naked body was found at a bus stop outside Vilnius on Sunday.

The spokeswoman said Monday that the boy confessed to the killing. If found guilty of murder he faces a maximum 10-year sentence.

Lithuania is one of Facebook’s fastest growing markets, with some 710,000 users in the country of 3.4 million.

Be careful out there Yaksters, and keep an eye on the kids when online.

HP Launches New Comedy Improv Show on YouTube

HP is bringing a new kind of comedy show to YouTube. Actors from the ‘Upright Citizens Brigade Theater’ will take skit ideas from viewers and perform them live on Google’s video-sharing site.

The two-hour show, called HP ePrint Live, will be hosted by comedian Rob Riggle (The Daily Show) and simultaneously broadcast on the HP for Home Facebook Page. HP will allow viewers to send in their ideas for the different skits by sending an e-mail to one of the internet-connected ePrint printers on the stage. Viewer submissions that get chosen will be performed live on the stage.

The premier of the show will be on Jan 21, starting at 3:00 p.m. ET and will contunue for 6 days (January 21 through 26) with more comedy shorts based on new selected ePrint submissions. According to HP, viewers can submit their ideas using photos, poems, single words and drawings to ideas@hpeprintlive.com throughout the week; if chosen, a link to a video of the participant’s skit will be e-mailed back to the viewer.

The skits will be performed live, but they will also be made into short videos later so a viewer doesn’t have to be there at any specific time.

It’s an interesting advertiseing concept, but will it work? I guess that depends on the talent and whether the HP promotion will be subtle rather than in your face annoying.

That’s all for today folks! Share your thoughts below!

American Idol: Top 10 Best Auditions

American Idol hits it’s 10th season on the airwaves tomorrow night with it’s much anticipated winter premiere (8EST/7CST on Fox). Lots has changed with the show following Simon Cowell’s departure. Ellen Degeneres left the judge’s table, soon followed by Kara DioGuardi. Randy Jackson is the only original judge left and welcomed Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler to the panel. A few more changes will be made to the show’s format this season, which you can read all about HERE! As we prepare to begin a new season with the audition stage, we thought it’d be fun to take a look back at some of the best Idol auditions of the past. We’ve narrowed it down to our Top 10, but we know you’ll have a different list. So check ours out and be sure to comment below and share your very own Top 10 list here in our forums! Didn’t like ours? Well let us know below! Here we go…

#10. Clay Aiken, “Always and Forever”

Love him or hate him, Clay was the original Idol surprise, if you will. Walking in, not looking like a pop star, only to surprise the judges and America with his powerful and soothing voice, Clay gave them reason to believe he had what it takes to follow Clarkson and become the next American Idol. And he got pretty close…Until he released “Invisible” and I think people’s opinion on Clay started to change.