the buzz log

From the people who have rocked your abs, mastered your thighs and trimmed your nose hairs comes a device to fix that turkey gullet you call a chin. 

The Neckline Slimmer is the latest As Seen on TV fix-it to rock the Buzz. Yahoo! searches on "neckline slimmer" have swelled, mostly from the double-chinned contingents in Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York City, and D.C.

While we don't doubt "world renowned physiotherapist" Paul Younane for his ingenuity, the little device looks like an asthma inhaler with springs. According to the infomercials, you sandwich the device between your chest and your chin, and raise your head up and down...and for just two humiliating minutes a day, you could look years younger. The slimmer offers three resistance levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced), so you can build jowls so mighty you could break bricks with your jaw.

Of course, people aren't swallowing this fad whole, despite Younane's "personal" guarantee and bonus European firming accelerator cream (with separate shipping costs). Skeptical consumers have been scouting online for "neckline slimmer reviews" and asking "does the neckline slimmer really work." So far, blog comments from people who actually bought the exerciser just complain about shipping costs.

No feedback on its Amazon page either—although under "Customers also looked at" related links, there are at least 14 favorable reviews for the "facial flex" firming tool, AKA the Hannibal Lecter training mask.

But really, this is just one of the classic TV moments. Watch this for just two minutes a day, and the guffaws will make you look years younger. Stick a squishy ball under your chin for the extra burn.

Filed under: TV, Exercise, Gadgets

Independence Day is the time to come together with kin and community, to admire the bravery of America's founders, and to eat like there is no tomorrow.

The economy may have dampened travel and pyrotechnic shows, but the hot dog-eating contest will go on. Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest (now that's a mouthful) is the crown jewel of Major League Eating. If you don't believe it's a $10-mil industry, read the Forbes article.

In case the sight of men and women gorging on meat tubes doesn't satisfy, organizers have made a circus show of out of this year's competition. Literally. Circus elephants Bunny, Susie, and Minnie will face off with human gurgitators Juliet Lee, Gravy Brown, and Patrick Bertoletti in what's being billed as the "First-Ever Cross-Species Eating competition." (Apparently, the organizers don't count the "Man vs. Beast" FOX special when a Kodiak bear crushed then-hot dog eating champ Takeru Kobayashi.)

The six-minute pachyderm appetizer event takes place July 3. In concession to elephants' dietary restrictions (they're herbivores), contestants will only be eating the buns. Animal rights activists feel nauseous over the elephantine event, and at least one "mindful eating" proponent's not thrilled about the human involvement either. 

But, as sure as illegal firecrackers on a neighborhood street, the Coney Island hot dog tradition will go on, with defending champ Joey Chestnut trying to hold his own against former six-time champ Kobayashi. ESPN will again air the gullet-guster at noon (ET) on July 4. Don't forget the mustard-flavored popcorn. 

Filed under: TV, Holidays, Food, Contests, Fourth of July

Come Monday, the Gosselins of “Jon & Kate Plus 8” will make a "life-changing" announcement, conveniently timed during its one-hour TLC time slot.

The promised change is supposed to broker a "peace." Considering the couple spent their 10th anniversary on June 12 "150 miles apart," it sounds like time to cut bait. The Gosselin disintegration may have them among the top 25 searched people on Yahoo! in May, but a grumbling backlash makes us feel they've overstayed their welcome.

So, based on pure conjecture, hearsay, and irritation over the whole matter, here's 10 modest proposals on what the reality TV couple might just tell its benumbed viewers:

1. The Gosselins will try one more time, and adopt Nadya "Octomom" Suleman’s brood.
2. Kate's changing her hairstyle from reverse mullet to 145-degree-off-kilter mullet.
3. The children will be starring in a musical version of “Lord of the Flies.” 
4. Kate will get her tubes tied. Jon will put a finger down so the ribbon’s tight.
5. With the crossover success of “American Chopper,” Jon will try “Wife Swap,” then renege on the return policy.
6. Inspired by the pregnant man, Jon is going to go for it.
7. Kate will revive that 2001 trend, the Surrendered Wife.
8. The Gosselins enters the Octagon to face fellow TLC stars of “Little People.” Game on.
9. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt plans to adopt the entire family, mom and dad included. Their buyout offer was better than Madonna’s.
10. They’re upgrading from TLC to HBO. Two words: “Big Love.”

Filed under: TV, Reality TV, Rumors, Gossip