Pretty boy comedian-turned-hot handsome credible actor Ryan Reynolds adorns the cover of the June/July 2011 Details. The 34-year-old actor is starring as a superhero in this summer’s upcoming blockbuster The Green Lantern, and starring opposite Jason Bateman is the comedy The Change-Up.

God bless actor Jeff Conaway, who died Friday after being found unconscious on May 11. It sure would be nice if journalists writing about him were born before 1978, when his star-making vehicles Taxi and Grease were in the spotlight. To spell his name "Conway" is a crying shame... and yet, so typical in an era where "professional" writers are all trained by Wikipedia.

Racist toothpaste??

Memorial Day weekend... cold, clammy, rainy, gray... That's certainly what I'm accustomed to in New York. I'll be damned if the sun isn't shining. It's going to reach 80 Saturday. God is rewarding us for having faith that we'd still be on earth a week after the alleged Judgment Day. Let's take a glorious walk in the park, shall we?

You know how you try to explain to a teen-ager that that funny panel in the car called an AM/FM radio does more than act as an iPod hook-up? Or telling them about the olden days when you looked up stuff in the encyclopedia, instead of Wikipedia? Even worse, how about justifying that 15 years ago, there were no famous people that admitted to being gay?

Well, cool cats, the world is about to change again. I, of course, remember the days when groceries were rung up from stickers on every item... "Price check, please!!"... pre-UPC codes. Welcome to the next generation of supermarket tech: Scan It, which allows shoppers to ring up and bag their purchases, as a screen maintains a running total. Marvy!

The tech even offers electronic coupons as you meander up and down the aisles. And when you're done, just head to a self-checkout station to pay the bill. Oh, heaven.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Scan It—which resembles a smartphone, perched on the handle of the shopping cart—is being tested at Stop & Shop and Giant groceries in the Northeast. Shoppers dig it because it helps avoid an interminable wait in line, while retailers say it drives up sales about 10% per customer.

Wondering how stores prevent shoplifting? Retailers say they check receipts at the door, while potential losses are less than clerks ringing up prices wrong—in addition to Scan It's appeal over losing shoppers to online groceries.

Retail experts predict the new retail gizmo could bring end traditional cash registers. I've already seen the wonders of similar technology at New York's Fifth Avenue Apple Store. And after waiting in line at CVS today behind a codger who wanted his items rung up on three separate credit cards—while he tried to figure out the electronic signing pen—bring it on. Now, please.

There are a scant few men who possess the physical wherewithal to get away with parading around in a Speedo. In fact, if there's any small doubt that you're succeeding when you look in the mirror, chances are... you're not.

Thankfully, I have always had the good sense to know that my physique is better viewed with multiple layers of clothing... But when it works, man, oh man, it works s'well.

As we enter the Memorial Day weekend, let's celebrate the shedding of so many unnecessary garments. Let the sun shine!

Today, we call them pop-up ads. Were the billboards plastered all over this abandoned building in the 1890s any less invasive?

It's hard to believe it's been nine years since I discovered the Beu Sisters. At the beginning of the last decade, noted songwriter/producer Desmond Child took notice of the family act, based in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and helped them ink a contract with S-Curve Records, which was manned by my close Billboard contact Steve Greenberg. The ladies are also related to my pal Bernadette, so I got to spend some wild and wooly times with them whenever they were in NYC.

Their debut album Decisions—the majority of which they wrote—featured single "I Was Only (Seventeen)," which I reviewed for Billboard. Ultimately, it became my No. 17 song for the year (and damn, the track is on so many "greatest hits" playlists on my iTunes, not a month goes by that it doesn't reappear in my headphones).

The Beus subsequently toured in 2004 as opening act for Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken and since, have appeared on an endless stream of film and TV soundtracks, including Ella Enchanted, Home on the Range, Lizzie McGuire, Because of Winn-Dixie, Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, Charmed and How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days.

Next month, the Beu Sisters return with Volume 1 of their EP collecitve, A Collection of Beu-tiful Music on their own label, Beach Breakz Records, which they wrote, arranged and produced.

And on June 2, the Beus will be in New York for a release party on the Lower East Side. I can't wait to reconnect with the lovely ladies. Below is the video clip for new single "Definition of A Lady," only available to those with this link! It's tres Moulin Rouge and very sexy. And below the jump is the gorgeous, very mysterious music video for "Seventeen."
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There's more after the jump! »

As The Smoking Nun reported earlier this month, former 98 Degrees' singer Jeff Timmons has been enjoying a month-long run as the special music guest & host with the long-running Chippendales show at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Due to popular demand—breaking sell-out box office records—his gig has been extended through June 19, with the possibility of a further extension. It truly couldn't happen to a nicer guy. And at 38, Jeff certainly deserves such props for continuing to share that killer bod with the masses.
See video footage after the jump, featuring my pal Michael Caprio, publicist for Chippendales.

There's more after the jump! »

Dino's Then & Now shows us a view of Second Avenue and 2nd Street from Oct. 4, 1942. Below is the same set of buildings as of October 2010. Boo!!

What am I thinking? I intended to Tivo tonight's finale of American Idol, and watch it when I was drunk some other time... but curiosity killed the pussy. As I work at the laptop, I've decided to watch live... and why not write to my cool cats as we go... This could be painful, but "Thiiiiiiiiis is American Idol!!"

8:01 p.m. Ryan Seabreast is claiming that a world record was set with over 122 million votes "last night." What world? What's the context?

8:03 p.m. Final two Lauren Alaina is from Chattanooga, Tenn., and Scotty McCreery from Raleigh, N.C. I had no idea both were rednecks. God, the South has already risen again!

8:05 p.m. The 13 Season 10 finalists are singing Lady Gaga's "Born This Way." I thought Up With People disbanded in the late 1970s. I feel like I'm at a bad contemporary Christian concert... This is so sad.

8:08 p.m. After suffering through that, during the first commercial break, I was happy to discover that I'm stocked with gin and soda. Who could possibly endure this sober? Cheers!

8:11 p.m. Judas Priest is performing with some girly loser finalist named James who obviously idolizes Guns N Roses. Wow, Rob Halford is bald... I thought all rockers wore wigs to the grave...

8:16 p.m. They're showing a montage of Randy Jackson saying "in it to win it" 500 times this season, proving he's had nothing new to say in a decade of AI. "We've got to get you a new writer," says Seabreast, who, ironically, has never had a spontaneous moment on the show. Pot calling kettle black, so to speak?

8:18 p.m. A really queeny guy named Jacob is singing with gospel great Kirk Franklin. And here's Gladys Knight... For some reason, Jacob keeps singing lead, as if anyone gives a shit.

8:24 p.m. I'm clueless. Jack Black is singing southern rock with some ugly finalist... Notice how every celebrity guest has a new movie or something of the sort coming out within the next week, which Seabreast is eager to share with the viewing audience? Obviously, that's how Idol convinced name brands to humble themselves by singing alongside a troupe of amateurs.

8:34 p.m. The 13 female finalists just performed an anemic montage of Beyonce hits... and now she's onstage... yes, Beyonce... obviously, terrified/mortified that Lady Gaga has stolen her thunder. I sniff desperation.

8:41 p.m. The Steven Tyler montage. The best thing that's happened to AI. He truly breathed new life into a franchise that has no business maintaining its presence in pop culture. America must be awfully bored.

8:43 p.m. Some really tall finalist named Haley is singing with Tony Bennett. She's quite good. This is the best performance of the night. She's a real talent and seems to be having a fine time with the legendary vocalist. This is a good moment.

8:46 p.m. JLo montage... pretty cute... I'm kind of having a fond moment with Jennifer Lopez... after all, she employed William Levy for new music video "I'm Into You," which, if they'd excise Lil Wayne, is quite the catchy pop number.
8:49 p.m. TLC performs... with some of the generic female finalists. T-Boz sounds good singing "Waterfalls"... though I'm convinced is as much a lip sync as during the group's heyday.

8:52 p.m. I'm finally hearing one of the two finalists "in it to win it." Tim McGraw is singing No. 1 hit "Live Like You Were Dying" with Scotty McCreery. Tim is hot, as always. Scotty is not only more unattractive than in the pics I've seen, but boy, Tim McGraw could fit that little runt in his shirt pocket, huh?

9:02 p.m. I can't image how Marc Anthony managed to secure a solo spot... Well, I'll be, there's his wife Jennifer Lopez onstage shaking her booty. I've mentioned this a time or two: JLo is not a dancer... not much of a singer... She's real pretty and fun to watch in romantic comedies, but I'm a tad embarrassed for her dancing beside her talented man.

9:06 p.m. Finalists are bitching about being eliminated. I'm getting more gin... Perfect timing, as the eliminated guys sing. That first guy is really cute, but the falsetto... ugh, shades of Justin Bieber... We were doing okay with "What's New, Pussycat," until switching to Scotty, whose country warbling breaks and cracks to irritating effect; he thinks he's showing off his persona, but that is sim immaturity.

9:14 p.m. Tom Jones is singing "It's Not Unusual." There will be no better moment than this on television this decade... all 10 seconds...

9:16 p.m. At risk of ruining my reputation, you would not believe the great salad I've made for myself. With three kinds of lettuce, I've added mushrooms, fresh eggs, cheese, green peas and carrots and—showing my southern roots—a pile of Thousand Island dressing. Mmmm, mm, good!

9:22 p.m. Ford just gave some cars to teachers and to the two finalists.We're going waaaay downhill.

9:23 p.m. And just like that, the trajectory shifts. It's Lady Gaga, for real, in the flesh, performing her stellar new single "The Edge Of Glory" absolutely live! Happiness! (Damn, this salad is good.)

9:31 p.m. Finalist Lauren really shouldn't dare to sing Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats"—with her, for god's sake. There's really no comparison to Idol's season four victor, huh?

9:37 p.m. Beyonce gets a second shot to sing her new single, "Girls (Who Run the World)," which has already proved a flop on the singles chart, peaking at a tepid No. 33. Considering the fact that the dreary ballad has no chorus—and, of course, the fact that she is as shrill as ever—could it be that the beautiful girl with little talent has finally peaked?

9:42 p.m. U2 sang a song from their disastrous Broadway Spiderman show. Man, I love peas in salad.

9:56 p.m. Steven Tyler sings "Dream On." That was cool. Salad done, more gin, stat! This is going on forever, isn't it?

10:02 p.m. Well, shit, they're announcing the winner NOW... I thought this was going to drudge on for two hours. The winner is... Scotty... just as I predicted earlier today. Oh, he just had to thank the Lord, didn't he? He's singing what I suppose is the "winning anthem," complete with steel guitar and enough country elements to make it absolutely, utterly, wholly, unmistakably clear that he is a southern-fried singer.

Boy, with this kid's star presence, it's clear to me he's going far... as a manager at Applebee's... Yet another American Idol victor with absolutely no musical future... Isn't it time for this show to quietly call it quits? They've not produced a sustainable winner since Jordin Sparks, four years ago.