the buzz log
The Buzz Week in Review
If you're looking to catch up on what's hot, you've come to the right place. This is the Buzz Log Week in Review, where we recap the week's top stories. Read on for the scoop on a budding romance, four alien worlds, and one mega-retailer that's seen better days.
Meet Camilla Belle
When do you know you've made it? Simple. When people push searches on your name up 6,103% in a week. That's exactly what happened to Camilla Belle, the brunette starlet best known for screaming her lungs out in "When a Stranger Calls," after folks learned that she is dating a Jonas Brother. Related searches on "camila belle pictures" surged, as did lookups for her new beau, Joe Jonas. She's not yet A-list, but by dating one of the most popular celebs on the planet, she's seeing her buzz score skyrocket. Call it the Guy Ritchie effect.
Not all telescopes are used for peeping
Scientists discovered not one, not two, but four planets this week. Sources confirmed that the planets are gaseous and not habitable, but apparently "they raise the possibility" of finding others that are "more hospitable." So, what made these planets so special? According to USA Today, "this is the first image of a multi-planet solar system." Previous planetary discoveries have relied on gravitational anomalies. To the untrained eye (like ours), the photos look rather unremarkable. Here's hoping the scientists aren't just showing us a picture of some pocket lint.
Tough Times at the City of Circuits
Electronics retailer Circuit City declared bankruptcy amid slowing sales. The struggling outlet will slash jobs and close stores, but continue to operate. Many experts are questioning whether the chain can survive as it continues to see its chief rival, Best Buy, eat its lunch as well as market share.
Also buzzing this week...
• In an interview with BBC News, Angelina Jolie said she "doesn't plan to keep acting very long." No word yet on the timeline, but hopefully she'll quit before somebody offers a bag full of cash for "Tomb Raider 3."
• Look out, there's a new lawsuit in town! This one aims to take Classmates.com to court for sending out all those mass emails saying "someone from your class is looking for you." Apparently some poor chump actually signed up for the site only to discover that nobody was really looking for him. Outrage and legal action quickly ensued.
Filed under: Recaps
The Buzz Week in Review
The economic meltdown continued to dominate the Buzz, but it wasn't the only story that had folks talking this week. The slow-motion trainwreck that is Lindsay Lohan and a glow-in-the-dark cat named Mr. Green Genes also scored with readers. Join us for a look back at the bad, the worse, and the weird from the week in Buzz.
Greenspan: What the hell just happened?
Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, acknowledged during testimony on Capitol Hill that he was "shocked" by the economic meltdown. His complete dismay came as a bit of a shock to Main Street investors who had to wonder that if one of the brightest financial minds in the world didn't see this coming, what chance did they have? Articles from New York Magazine and The Consumerist were devoured. The Dow teetered daily and plunged 550 points on Friday.
Lohan's boorish behavior gets her booted
Lindsay Lohan hasn't had a cinematic hit in a looooong time. Her solution was to glom onto the successful "Ugly Betty" and see her star rebound. It was a good plan but had one flaw: It necessitated Lohan acting as a professional, something she is apparently incapable of doing. Various sources reported her being late and throwing tantrums on the set. She's since been kicked off the show. "Mean Girls 2," anyone?
Just in time for Halloween ...
By day he looks like a normal tabby cat. But when the lights go down, Mr. Green Genes lets his freak fur fly. Known as the "first fluorescent cat in the United States," the kitty's bizarre new look is the result of an important genetic experiment. Its aim, according to researchers, is to further the possibilities of gene therapy. The glowing cat is just the first step, albeit a positive one. Researchers were also quick to point out that "unless he’s exposed to a black light, the secret of his glow is safe."
Also buzzing ...
• Sarah Palin was the center of several stories this week. Our favorite: the revelation that her stylist makes more money than her foreign policy advisor.
• Lindsey Evans, Miss Teen Louisiana, was stripped of her tiara after she was arrested for dining and ditching. Her crime was foiled when cops discovered that a) she left her purse at the scene of the crime and b) she had marijuna in it. At least she had one of the better mug shots in recent memory. Once a model, always a model. ...
Filed under: Recaps
The Buzz Week in Review
Joe the Plumber ruled the Buzz this week, but he wasn't the only one clogging the Search box. Join us for a look back at some of the week's biggest stories, including a '70s sitcom star's shocking secrets, three unlikely siblings, and a presidential candidate's sheepish return to late-night TV.
Marcia, we hardly knew thee
We always suspected there was some slightly sketchy stuff happening on the set of "The Brady Bunch." But apparently the truth is even wilder than we imagined. Maureen McCormick, who played comely Marcia, has released a stunning tell-all memoir that details her days as the eldest Brady daughter. There were copious amounts of drugs, sex, and (brace yourself) sex for drugs. Searches on the actress-turned-author skyrocketed 48,571%, and a slew of articles, including this one from the AP, roared in the Buzz.
Identical triplets born
A New York woman gave birth to three identical sons this past week. According to doctors, this is extremely rare, occurring in as few as 1 in 100 million births. Articles from across the Buzz chimed in with factoids and well wishes, while curious queries on "identical triplets" and "identical triplet odds" both surged. So how do the mother and father tell their sons apart? Color-coded diapers, perhaps?
John and Dave finally make up
A few weeks ago, John McCain was scheduled to appear on "The Late Show With David Letterman." He canceled, and Dave wasn't pleased. In fact, Dave was quite upset. The comedian teased and mocked McCain until McCain could take no more. The presidential candidate finally appeared on Letterman's show this week to apologize. As soon as Sen. McCain walked on to the stage, Letterman quipped, "Can you stay?" Ol' Dave may have forgiven, but he clearly hasn't forgotten.
It's all about Joe
We tried to avoid writing about Joe the Plumber, but no week in review would be complete without him. After Wednesday night's debate, Joe went from little-known working man to overnight celebrity. He visited morning talk shows and actually inspired investigative reporting. (Item! He doesn't actually have a plumbing license. Gasp!) One of our favorite offshoots from the bizarre phenomenon: a salute to Joes of all kinds, courtesy of TV Guide.
Also buzzing this week...
• Rumors swirled that Tom Cruise fell to his death in New Zealand. Not true. His spokesman reports that the couch-jumping maniac is alive and well.
• Think all airlines are terrible? Think again, Jack. According to Condé Nast Traveler, Virgin America is the USA's best airline, while Singapore Airlines was picked as the world's best. But wait—whither Hooters Air?
Filed under: Recaps
The Buzz Weekend Recap
You don’t have to be a cable news-watching, op-ed reading political junkie to have noticed that things haven’t exactly been swinging McCain/Palin's way lately. And events this weekend certainly didn’t alter the trend, as reflected in a small swarm of buzzingly negative news items. But GOP fans may have taken heart by escaping into all things Angelina and Britney, still thriving, as always in the Buzz.
Sarah, smile (if possible)
On Friday, an Alaska legislative committee found Gov. Sarah Palin’s dismissal of the state Public Safety Commissioner to be a violation of state ethics law. On Saturday, news broke of a statement condemning the McCain campaign for "sowing the seeds of hatred and division" from revered civil rights figure John Lewis, a man McCain once cited as one of three wise people he’d consult as president. Lewis, a Democratic congressman, criticized the harsh anti-Obama rhetoric heard mostly at Palin rallies. (McCain called his former wise man’s comments “shocking and beyond the pale.”) And finally, during an appearance at a Philadelphia Flyers’ home game, Palin actually dropped the ceremonial first puck. C’mon, world’s-most-famous-hockey-mom! Get back in the game!
The Comeback
If there’s anyone who knows the path from diva to punchline better than Sarah Palin, it’s Britney Spears. But mandatory hating on the midriffed-one may become passé very soon. The new video of her top 40-hit “Womanizer” is buzzing like mad and drawing favorable reviews, too. While it may be a titch early to describe the pop phenom cum human tragedy as a national treasure, the time may have come for her sneering detractors to take a break.
Thanks, but this doesn’t help
An AP piece getting kicked around the Web explores where, exactly, those trillions of dollars lost in the stock market have actually gone. Economist Robert Schiller says shareholders haven’t really lost all that money because “we’re just recording a measure of what people think the stock market is worth. ….It’s in people’s minds.” Now, if only our mortgage, dentist bill, and tuition payments were all in our minds, too, we'd really have something here...
Also buzzing this weekend…
- In the how does-she-know-until-she's-finished-adopting department, Angelina Jolie says “Obama would be great for my family.”
- More Angelina: Her “W” cover, apparently, will inspire new moms to breastfeed.
- High school senior Megan Reitenour will take part in a NASCAR program designed to show off driving skills in front of NASCAR team owners and execs in South Boston, Va. Monday and Tuesday.
Filed under: Recaps
The Buzz Weekend Recap
It was truly a weekend of guilty pleasures, and just plain guilt. Not to worry -- Buzz has got you covered.
And the winner is…"Saturday Night Live"
The vp debate had hardly ended before the late-night comedy show "Saturday Night Live" rolled out its version. Tina Fey returned as a ringer for Sarah Palin, brandishing a flute for the "talent portion" of the competition. And none other than Queen Latifah filled in as moderator Gwen Ifill. According to the Telegraph, the election-comedy fodder has helped boost ratings for the NBC program and its Web traffic -- along with, of course, lots of Buzz.
Trial of the new century
There was no slow-speed car chase down an LA highway. Nor were there catch phrases like, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." O.J. Simpson was acquitted last century on charges of murdering his ex-wife and her friend. This time the former football player was found guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping. The tawdry crime of stealing sports memorabilia, which Simpson claimed belonged to him, could land him a life sentence, according to People's website.
Coast Guard crank-called
It isn't exactly calls asking to speak with "Ivanna Sailor," but a series of pranks have had the Coast Guard rushing to the aid of imaginary boats in trouble. According to WBZ, the three hoaxes in as many weeks have faked out the Coast Guard in three New England states. If the perps do get caught, they'll face a $250,000 fine. That's no joke.
Also buzzing this weekend…
• Knockout actress Angelina Jolie hit the red carpet for the New York Film Festival to promote her new movie, "Changeling." The event marked the premiere of the movie, and was Jolie's first time back in the U.S. since the birth of her twins, according to Us Weekly.
• Mixed martial arts fighter Kimbo Slice got served on Saturday night. The fight, which surged 1,500% in Buzz, took all of 14 seconds and 12 punches to take the juice out of Slice. The real losers may be the fans of MMA, who didn't get much for all the pre-fight hype.
Filed under: Recaps
top movers
| Rank | Subject | 1-Day Move |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lin Chi Ling | Breakout! |
| 2 | Gloria Diaz | Breakout! |
| 3 | Freida Pinto | 27459% |
| 4 | Gloria Estefan | 9975% |
| 5 | Gloria Velez | 6463% |
| 6 | Gloria Trevi | 3878% |
| 7 | Faith Hill | 2081% |
| 8 | 60 Minutes | 1114% |
| 9 | Alexis Denisof | 994% |
| 10 | Lee Ann Womack | 987% |
top leaders
| Rank | Subject | Move | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NFL | +464 | 575 |
| 2 | Britney Spears | +194 | 316 |
| 3 | Hi-5 | -11 | 244 |
| 4 | Black Friday | +23 | 212 |
| 5 | Freida Pinto | +198 | 199 |
| 6 | UFC | -24 | 194 |
| 7 | Club Penguin | -30 | 161 |
| 8 | Gloria Estefan | +149 | 150 |
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.