the buzz log
'Friends': The Film
Following in the high-heeled footsteps of "Sex and the City: The Movie" comes another film that's sure to make boyfriends around the world run for cover. Prepare thyself for "Friends: The Movie." Mwa ha ha!
That's right, kids. Rumor has it that there is renewed interest in bringing the six fabulously perky and quirky New Yorkers to the big screen. You can either thank or blame "Sex and the City" for this news. The success of that franchise's recent flick reportedly inspired the cast to bring their beloved sitcom back from the dead.
According to Current, Jennifer Aniston "is believed to have dragged her heels" on the project, but has since changed her mind. Filming should start within the next 18 months. Or will it? Another blog reports that Warner Bros. denied the "Friends" movie rumor, "and there's no confirmation from anyone around town that anything is even being considered."
So, is there hope for all the haters who thought they'd seen the last of Ross, Rachel, and that stupid monkey? Maybe, but remember: When it comes to rumors, they're often denied, but usually true. Sorry.
Filed under: Movies, Jennifer Aniston
Rain Man Goes to London
"Rain Man" was an Oscar-winning film about an autistic man and his self-absorbed brother getting to know each other. Now, in an acknowledgement that the theatrical community is just as starved for ideas as Hollywood, the film is being adapted for an on-stage production at London's West End.
Near as we can tell, it's not a musical. So, you needn't worry about a ballad dedicated to Judge Wapner or a rousing refrain on "excellent drivers." Phew! Here's what we do know: Entertainment Weekly reports that former "it-boy" Josh Hartnett will play Tom Cruise's role. The part of Raymond (aka Rain Man) will be tackled by Adam Godley best known for his work in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and the upcoming "X-Files" film. The curtain goes up this September.
For many, the 1988 movie with Cruise and Dustin Hoffman marked the first time they'd ever heard of autism. The disability is still very much in the news due to concerns that childhood vaccines may somehow cause autism. Could that anxiety have played a part in bringing the film to the stage? We're not sure, but terms like "autism causes," "what is autism," and "autism symptoms" continue to be big in Search.
Filed under: Celebrities, Broadway
The Return of Brenda
Before Dawson went up a Creek, before the Girls who Gossiped, before we were rudely welcomed to "The O.C." there was "Beverly Hills, 90210." As you've probably heard, the granddaddy of all teen angst dramas is getting a reboot. And rumor has it that Shannen Doherty may return to the zip code that made her a star.
Several sources within the Buzz are in a tizzy over the news. iVillage writes that Shannen is interested in reprising her role as "bratty Brenda Walsh," provided she likes the script (and the money). If the devilish diva does return, she would join fellow alums Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling who have already hopped aboard the career lifeboat.
Of course, one can't write, whisper, or even think about Shannen without conjuring up memories of her notorious on-set antics. Entertainment Weekly notes that Shannen "allegedly once engaged in a fistfight" with Ms. Garth. Additionally, the bad girl brunette was fired from "90210" in 1994. Should the return really happen, it'll be fun to see if bratty Brenda has truly changed her ways. For the sake of the Buzz, here's hoping she hasn't.
Filed under: TV
Sorry, Can't Talk Now
Today is a big day in California and Washington. Drivers who chat on their cell phones must use a handsfree device or speaker phone or they risk facing the wrath of John Q. Law.
The new law is no surprise—drivers have had ample warning, and many have taken the opportunity to acquire (or at least search for) the necessary equipment. Queries for "bluetooth headsets" have soared 2,751% during the past 30 days. Related lookups for "handsfree cell phones" and "mobile headsets" have also surged. Clearly, those who want to (legally) talk while behind the wheel are adapting to the new reality. Darwin would be proud.
We browsed through the Buzz and found a variety of articles on the new law. TechCruch writes that Californians face a $20 fine for their first offense. According to Boing Boing, the fine goes up to $50 for additional infractions. Oh, and California Highway Patrol definitely plans to enforce the rule, so don't test them.
It all sounds resonable, but NPR points out a confusing wrinkle to the new law: Using a cell phone without a handsfree headset is illegal, but there is no such ban on writing text messages while driving. "TTYL. Crashd car into tree. LOL!"Filed under: Law Enforcement, Cell Phones
June 2008 Buzz
Leading June's fastest moving searches, newsman Tim Russert's unexpected death triggered an astonishing outpouring online. His passing was followed by comedian and cultural commentator George Carlin.
The international soccer tournament besieged Search, while Tiger Woods bogged down Internet traffic during his knee-buckling win. Meanwhile, Gina Gershon moved from entertainer to newsmaker with the stroke of one Vanity Fair article and much political buzz.
In the entertainment world, "Battlestar Galactica" paused midway in its fourth and final season, but launched hysteria over actress Katee Sackhoff. Here are the terms that attracted searches and moved fast in the month of June.
| Top Searched Movers (News & Sports) | Top Searched Movers (Entertainment) | |||
| 1. | Tim Russert (+22,899%) | 1. | Katee Sackhoff (+6,216%) | |
| 2. | George Carlin (+3,668%) | 2. | Kristin Cavalleri (+2,221%) | |
| 3. | U.S. Open (+4,161%) | 3. | Christie Brinkley (+1,973%) | |
| 4. | Euro 2008 (+1,640%) | 4. | Nadia Bjorlin (+1,494%) | |
| 5. | Gina Gershon (+871%) | 5. | Alyson Hannigan (+634%) |
June searchers also followed Mother Nature's rampage as she turned from Asia to the American Midwest. Look-ups surged for "iowa dot" and towns under siege like Cedar Rapids (+5,799%), Waterloo (+1,355%), Ames (+806%), and others including Burlington, Coralville, Dubuque and Waverly. The reflex to blame climate change shifted to point to modern practices of depleting wetlands and other natural protections.
Another chapter of history closed when Senator Hillary Clinton ended her campaign to be the first female president, and Senator Barack Obama continued his quest to be the first biracial Commander in Chief. Another political figure making the top 500 terms—not Republican contender John McCain, but Michelle Obama, whose image revamp included an appearance on "The View."
Filed under: Politics, Celebrities, Entertainment, Death, Africa, Wrap Up
top movers
| Rank | Subject | 1-Day Move |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ingrid Betancourt | Breakout! |
| 2 | Black National Anthem | Breakout! |
| 3 | Tori Praver | 53020% |
| 4 | Tatum O'Neal | 12545% |
| 5 | Ranae Shrider | 2607% |
| 6 | Tunguska Event | 1869% |
| 7 | Diana Bianchi | 1620% |
| 8 | Live Cricket Score India | 1578% |
| 9 | Brett Favre | 1485% |
| 10 | Tax Stimulus Checks | 1408% |
top leaders
| Rank | Subject | Move | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jessica Simpson | +143 | 333 |
| 2 | Kimberly Caldwell | +139 | 328 |
| 3 | Hi-5 | -1 | 230 |
| 4 | Lindsay Lohan | +133 | 211 |
| 5 | Tila Tequila | +137 | 182 |
| 6 | RuneScape | -30 | 149 |
| 7 | Tori Praver | +148 | 149 |
| 8 | Wimbledon | +27 | 142 |
what's the buzz?
A subject's buzz score is the percentage of Yahoo! users searching for that subject on a given day, multiplied by a constant to make the number easier to read. Weekly leaders are the subjects with the greatest average buzz score for a given week.
For more detailed information, visit our FAQ.