Bet that Obama's speech will have action

Thanks to the Internet and the trivialization of everything, you can place a bet on the color of tie President Barack Obama will be wearing when he gives his State of the Union address.

Red is the odds-on favorite tie at Paddy Power, an Irish online betting service. Among the other color choices are blue (6-to-4), silver (6-to-1), pink (8-to-1), green (10-to-1), purple (12-to-1) and orange (18-to-1). The long shot is a stars and stripes pattern at 100-to-1.

You also can bet on how long the speech will be. The odds are 4-to-1 that it will be more than 55 minutes.

Paddy Power has a sense of humor about this American tradition, offering chances to wager on more than 70 "cliches" that might come up during the address.

Odds are 4-to-1 that "heath care reform" will be mentioned, and there are 12-to-1 odds he'll say "God Bless America." It's 14-to-1 that he will say "let me be clear."

"Let's get ready to rumble" and "life is like a box of chocolates" are both long shots at 250-to-1 odds, along with "I won't seek re-election."

Paddy Power issued a statement that a record TV audience is expected worldwide so this betting is a chance to "hopefully profit from the president's performance."

This gambling site offers bets on just about everything, including outcomes of reality shows, winners of award shows, which actress will be the next James Bond girl or who will be the next pope.

Obama is the odds-on favorite to win a second term in the 2012 presidential race, and the odds on Sarah Palin winning the White House are 10-to-1, with Paris Hilton a long shot at 1,000-to-1.

Check it out at www.paddypower .com/bet. Look under "novelty bets."

Obama's State of the Union address will be carried live at 9 p.m. on NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, PBS, C-SPAN, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, CNBC, Fox Business Network and BET.

DYLAN TO PERFORM: A bevy of talented singers will perform at the White House for a Black History Month concert to air on PBS.

Singer Bob Dylan will be making his White House debut, performing along with Natalie Cole, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Smokey Robinson, Seal, and the Blind Boys of Alabama for "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement."

The Feb. 10 event will air at 8 p.m. Feb. 11.

Morgan Freeman and Queen Latifah are the hosts. The evening will feature songs from the civil right movement and readings from famous civil rights speeches and writings.

"GLEE" AUDITIONS: The producers of "Glee" are planning a nationwide casting search in February to fill three new roles that will be added to the show's second season.

Auditions will be open to professional and amateur individuals ages 16 to 26. All hopefuls will be able to submit auditions online.