BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Melissa McCarthy’s CBS-TV comedy “Mike & Molly” has been axed, according to cast member Rondi Reed. The show’s current 6th season will apparently be its last. It is also a shortened season of 13 episodes, compared to the full renewal of 22 episodes announced back in March. Taping finishes as of January 27th. “Mike & Molly”, which stars McCarthy and Billy Gardell, debuted in 2010.
– WENN.com
★ Actress Eva Longoria is getting married again after accepting boyfriend Jose Antonio Baston’s proposal. The 40-year-old, who plays ‘Ana Sofia Calderón’ on the new NBC-TV comedy “Telenovela”, has confirmed the engagement via Instagram. Her fiancé is an executive at media company Televisa. They began dating in 2013. She has been previously married to actor Tyler Christopher (2002-04) and French NBA player Tony Parker (2007-11).
– ContactMusic.com
★ And Kim Kardashian & Kanye West have reportedly been told by doctors NOT to have any more children. Kim suffered pregnancy complications before what’s been described as the  ‘extremely painful’ arrival of their 2nd child, Saint West, earlier this month. Her medical team are said to have warned her & her hubby that a 3rd pregnancy would be a major health risk. Just as well … they’ve run out of dumb baby names.
– TMZ.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Beach House (“Depression Cherry”).
• “Daily Show” (Comedy Central/CTV) – Pusha T (“King Push”, out in 2016).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Seal (“7”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Swingin’ Utters (“Fistful of Hollow”). Rerun.
• “Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS/M3) – Chvrches (“Every Open Eye”).
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV) – Angels & Airwaves drummer Ilan Rubin.
• “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global) – Squeeze (“Cradle To the Grave”).
• “Tavis Smiley” (PBS) – “Star Wars” composer John Williams.
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Sheryl Crow (“Feels Like Home”).
• “The Voice” (NBC/CTV2) – Season 9 finalé. The winner is revealed; Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Missy Elliott, Sam Hunt, and The Weeknd perform.
• “Wendy Williams” (syndicated) – The cast of “Elf: The Musical”.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Adele – She’s returning to North America for her first tour in 5 years. The trek beings July 5th nest year in St Paul MN. Along the way she’ll do 6-night residencies at LA’s Staples Center and NYC’s Madison Square Garden, as well as a 4-night stand in Toronto.
• Beyoncé – She’s reportedly been recruited for the lead role in the upcoming “A Star Is Born” remake, with Bradley Cooper co-starring and making his directorial debut. The project is likely to begin in late 2016 or early 2017. Beyoncé is said to already be taking acting classes in the hope of landing more movie roles.
• Ed Sheeran – He has announced he’s taking a break from social media, so he can stop “seeing the world through a screen” (hear hear!). The singer has 16 million followers on Twitter and 5.5 million on Instagram. He’s assured fans he will be back online next Autumn.
• Gaslight Anthem – Frontman Brian Fallon has released “A Wonderful Life”, the lead single from his upcoming solo record “Painkillers”, which arrives March 11th. Fallon hits the road for a North American tour beginning January 7th in Portland ME.
• Mariah Carey – She’s announced her 1st European tour in 13 years. The “Sweet Sweet Fantasy” tour begins March 15th in Glasgow, Scotland. The UK leg includes stops in Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, and London’s O2 Arena.
• Prince – He’s released “Hitnrun Phase Two” exclusively on TIDAL. The surprise release is his 33rd studio album and a followup to “Hitnrun Phase One”, which came out in September.
• Take That – They’ve been signed for a Las Vegas residency. The Brit boy-band (now man-band) reportedly impressed promoters with their recent SRO live shows promoting their latest album “III”. The deal does not include former members Jason Orange and Robbie Williams.
• Taylor Swift – Apple Music is hosting an exclusive video recording of her “1989” world tour, available on the platform beginning December 20th. The footage was filmed in Sydney, Australia on November 28th.

THIS WEEK’S VIDEO RELEASES:
Out today on DVD, Netflix, Google Play and/or other video providers …
• “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” ( PG-13 Sci-Fi Thriller ): The 2nd film in the franchise based on author James Dashner’s best-selling book series. The ‘Gladers’ may have escaped the ‘Maze’, but now face a greater challenge: searching for the secret organization known as ‘WCKD’. Stars Dylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee.
• “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” ( PG-13 Action Adventure ): ‘Ethan’ and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the ‘Syndicate’, an international rogue organization committed to destroying the ‘IMF’. Stars Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg. Cruise has already confirmed there will be a “Mission Impossible 6”.
• “Ted 2” ( R-Rated Comedy ): Newlywed  couple ‘Ted & Tami-Lynn’ want to have a baby, but in order to be a parent, ‘Ted’ the bear (voice of director Seth MacFarlane) has to prove he’s a person in a court of law. Stars Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried (taking over for Mila Kunis).
• Also released today: “Best of History Gift Set” (History Channel Compilation); “Duck Dynasty: Seasons 1-8” (TV Compilation); “Mission: Impossible 5-Movie Blu-ray Collection” (Compilation); “Teen Wolf Season 5 Part 1” (TV); and “Triumph of the Will” (Leni Riefenstahl’s classic 1935 Nazi documentary re-mastered).

TOO SEXY FOR YOUR SHIRT:
Being pretty comes with plenty of perks … but it could actually hinder a man’s career. A new study out of the University College London finds that good looks can keep a male from climbing the career ladder because male colleagues are less likely to promote rivals they consider more handsome than themselves. Though beauty in women isn’t associated with competence, it apparently is in men, and male managers generally see attractive males as posing a threat to their own positions. As a result, attractive men are often excluded from competitive roles, such as sales and investment banking. They are, however, picked for jobs in which team performance is rewarded. (Women have less hiring bias about men, but let good-looking guys off easier when they screw up.)
– “Daily Telegraph”

IN THEIR CUPS:
Keurig, the maker of single-cup coffee machines, has agreed to be sold to private equity firm JAB Holding, the company with a majority stake in Jimmy Choo shoes, for almost $14 billion. Keurig has been dealing with slowing sales of its machines and K-Cups, the coffee-filled pods used in the coffeemakers. Sales of its machines alone have fallen 23% over the past year. JAB Holding already has a robust coffee empire, with a controlling stake of Jacobs Douwe Egberts, the company behind Gevalia, Tassimo, and other brands. It also has stakes in Peet’s Coffee & Tea and Caribou Coffee. After the deal closes, which is expected to happen in the first quarter of next year, Keurig Green Mountain Inc will remain headquartered in Waterbury VT. (Hopefully the new owner will take responsibility to make the millions-upon-million of K-Cups sold biodegradable.)
– Newser.com

YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL:
Not everyone accepts that compliment graciously. Pace University student Shea Glover of Chicago IL has been recording videos of people she deems beautiful. The reaction of her subjects when they’re told they are part of a project on beauty is wide- ranging. Some are embarrassed (“You’re making me blush”); some are amused (“You’re being goofy”); and some get downright angry (“You better watch your ass, I’ll cut you in the face”). Glover concludes that a lot of people don’t like to think of themselves as beautiful beings, especially adolescents, so it makes them visibly vulnerable. ‘Beauty’ is valued so highly in our society, yet talking about our own beauty seems to be taboo. (Unless you’re a Kardashian.)
– People.com

A FINAL WORD:
The latest Tumblr meme, ‘The Last Message Received’, encourages anonymous users to share final texts sent from exes, former besties, and even loved ones who’ve passed away as a way of sharing glimpses into the lives of others. A sampling …
• “You never came. Why?” “Because I don’t love you anymore.” (A blunt ‘Dear John’ text announcing a breakup.)
• “I’m not gonna drive drunk. I promise. I’ll talk to you later, love.” (From a 22-year-old later hit by a drunk driver.)
• “Don’t worry. I’ll be OK. Love you more.” (From a grandmother just before dying following heart surgery.)
• “You aren’t a father. You are a poor excuse for a man and a human being.” (The last communication to a less-than-loved estranged father.)
Submit your own last message here …
NET: http://thelastmessagereceived.tumblr.com/submit
– Mashable.com

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER WHAT TYPE OF PERSON BELIEVES BS:
University of Waterloo researchers have set out to study profound-sounding bullshit and who believes it. In a survey, subjects have been asked to rate quotations that are philosophical, mundane, or simply BS. The team has found that those who are more receptive to BS have lower ‘verbal and fluid intelligence’ and are more likely to believe in the paranormal, conspiracy theories, and alternative medicine. On the other hand, participants who are adept at spotting BS have been found to have a more analytic cognitive style and are skeptical about paranormal phenomena. To find statements deemed total BS, the scientists turned to the Twitter feed of spiritualist author/public speaker Deepak Chopra as well as the ‘New Age Bullshit Generator’, a website that generates made-up pseudo-profound statements.
NET: http://sebpearce.com/bullshit/
– Forbes.com

HOW TO BE HAPPY:
What does it take to be truly happy? A lot less than you might think. A panel of experts from a variety of disciplines – a psychologist, psychotherapist, social entrepreneur, an economist, and 2 workplace specialists – worked together to come up with a 10-point plan. Do all of these things regularly and they promise you’ll soon be smiling …
• Plant something and nurture it.
• Count your blessings – at least 5 – at the end of each day.
• Take time to talk. Have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week.
• Contact a friend with whom you have not spoken for a while and arrange to meet up.
• Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it.
• Have a good laugh at least once a day.
• Get physical. Exercise for half-an-hour 3 times a week.
• Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day.
• Cut your screen viewing by half.
• Spread kindness. Do a good turn for someone every day.
– BBC News

MTV NAMES POST-MILLENNIAL GENERATION:
Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials looking for a new group to blame for the woes of the world, rest easy: MTV is expected to announce tomorrow (Wednesday) that ‘Founders’ is the label we should now be using for post-millennial kids, those 15 and under who’ve grown up fully immersed in the digital world and who are ready to rebuild a society that the previous generation ‘disrupted’. There had been plenty of unofficial names: Gen Z, iGen, Homeland Gen already in circulation before MTV decided to poll kids born after December 2000 on what they thought the ideal name for their generation would be. ‘Founders’ has been selected ahead of ‘Navigators’, ‘Builders’, and the ‘Bridge Generation’ among hundreds of others. (This will never catch on, right?)
– “New York Daily News”

BS AMAZING FACT:
Playing 3D videogames could help treat age-related memory loss and dementia.
– “The Scotsman”

BS CHRONOMETER 12.15.15

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [66] Don Johnson, Flat Creek MO, TV actor (‘Hap Briggs’ on “Blood & Oil” 2015, “Nash Bridges” 1996-2001, “Miami Vice” 1984-89)/movie actor (“Django Unchained”)

1979 [36] Adam Brody, San Diego CA, movie actor (“Scream 4” , “The Ring”)/former TV actor (“The OC” 2003-07)  NOW FILMING: “CHiPs” 2016.

1980 [35] Sergio Pizzorno, Newton Abbot UK, alt-rock guitarist (Kasabian-“Goodbye Kiss”, “Fire”)

1981 [34] Michelle Dockery, London UK, (‘Lady Mary Crawley’ on “Downton Abbey” since 2010)

1991 [24] Alana Haim, LA CA, pop-rock guitarist (Haim-“The Wire”, “Don’t Save Me”).

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cat Herders Day”, a day of sympathy for anyone who feels their job, or even their life, is like trying to herd cats.

• “Zamenhof Day”, the beginning of “International Language Week” celebrated by the International Esperanto League. The international language ‘Esperanto’ was invented by Dr LL Zamenhof in 1887 to solve the world’s language barrier, but never really caught on. Get some useful phrases in ‘Esperantese’ here …
NET: http://www.esperanto.ca/kurso/phrases.htm

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1939 [76] World premiere of the movie classic “Gone With the Wind” in Atlanta GA (later wins 10 Oscars)

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
2001 [14] Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years and $27 million are spent to fortify it, without fixing its famous lean

2009 [06] Boeing’s new ‘787 Dreamliner’ makes its maiden flight from Seattle WA

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
[Thurs] “Canada’s Walk of Fame 2015 Gala” (Global)
[Thurs] Clean Air Day
[Thurs] Free Shipping Day
[Thurs] Re-Gifting Day
This Week Is … Gluten-Free Baking Week
This Month Is … Buckwheat Month

BULL’S BITS

BS SIGNS YOU’RE HAVING A CRAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON:
✗ Doctor has removed 50 feet of Christmas lights from your intestines.
✗ Latest YouTube video meme … mall elf kicking you in the nuts.
✗ Still recovering from the salmonella you got from that undercooked Thanksgiving turkey.
✗ Wednesday: Employed; Thursday: Drunk at office party; Friday: Unemployed.
✗ Department store Santa says, “So Tubby, I’m guessing you want an Ab Roller?”
✗ Willie Nelson [Snoop Dogg] has smoked all of your frankincense.

BS RANDOM JOKE:
What melts in the mouth bulges in the mirror.

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ How many Christmas gifts per child is reasonable? (Social media has been going crazy since a married mother of 3 posted a photo of her family Christmas tree nearly buried under more than 300 gifts. The image has been shared thousands of times, often with nasty comments.)

BS WEB GOODIE:
How many people are in space right now?
NET: http://bit.ly/WLDZRd

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Before the end of the year, 99% of us will see one of THESE.
Answer: A Salvation Army Red Kettle.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A friend is someone who likes you … even after they know you.