The list
Top 10 prime-time TV earners among men from June 1, 2008, to June 1, 2009, according to Forbes (dollar figures in millions):
1. Simon Cowell ($75)
2. Donald Trump ($50)
3. Ryan Seacrest ($38)
4. Charlie Sheen ($21)
5. Steve Carell ($20)
6. Howie Mandel ($15)
7. Kiefer Sutherland ($13)
8. Jeff Foxworthy ($11)
9. Hugh Laurie ($10)
10. David Caruso ($9)
Mad, Mad world
When it comes to making headlines, Rod Blagojevich is among the best. When it comes to the dumbest things of the year, he’s just No. 15, at least according to the folks at Mad magazine. “Mad 20,” on sale Tuesday, features a mock movie poster of Blagojevich starring in “The Untrustables,” rated PG for “political graft.”
Ponzi-wear
More than 100 items belonging to convicted Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff and his wife, Ruth, will be auctioned Saturday in New York, with proceeds going to victims of Madoff’s estimated $65 billion fraud. See more details about the jewels, furs and other available items at usmarshals.gov/madoff. And, really, who doesn’t need a “Madoff” New York Mets jacket?
the number
Sports fans who will compete in ESPN’s eighth annual Ultimate Couch Potato competition, Jan. 1 at the ESPN Zone in Chicago. The competitive sitter who can watch the most consecutive hours of televised sports action (no sleeping, one bathroom break per eight hours) will win a recliner, free cable for a year and $1,000 toward “the ultimate sports home theater.” For more details, go to chicagotribune.com/couchpotato. Unless that’s too much effort.
