Monday, April 1, 2024 — Edition: #7688
Happy “Bull Day”…We’re 31-Years-Old Today – No Foolin’!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ King Charles attended the annual Easter church service in Windsor on Sunday, his first appearance at a public royal event since his cancer diagnosis was announced in February. The 75-year-old monarch waved as he and Queen Camilla arrived at St George’s Chapel, the resting place of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth. Charles has postponed all previous public engagements since Buckingham Palace announced he was to undergo treatment for an unspecified form of cancer which was found in tests after he had a corrective procedure to an enlarged prostate in January.
-NYPost
★ “Gen V” star Chance Perdomo has died in a motorcycle accident. The 27-year-old was involved in a single-vehicle accident in LA on Saturday, his publicist said. No other details have been revealed. A note from Perdomo’s family says: “His passion for the arts and insatiable appetite for life was felt by all who knew him, and his warmth will carry on in those who he loved dearest.” Born in LA, the Latin-Afro actor mostly grew up in England. His breakout American role was in Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”, where he starred as ‘Ambrose Spellman’.
-PopCulture, PageSix
★ Tim Allen’s “Home Improvement” co-star Patricia Richardson is calling him out after he hinted at a revival of the 90s sitcom. In November, Allen said that he’s still in contact with some of the show’s cast, and they are discussing a spinoff. But Richardson. who portrayed Allen’s wife ‘Jill Taylor’, said on a podcast: “He never asked me, and he never asked Jonathan [Taylor Thomas].” Richardson also said she “would not want to” do a Home Improvement reunion or revival if she were asked. And because star Zachery Ty Bryan faces a mess of legal troubles, and Taran Noah Smith hasn’t acted since the show ended in 1999, odds seem slim that a reunion is happening any time soon.
-PopCulture
★ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” blew past box office expectations. After being projected for an opening weekend in the low $50 million range, the 5th film in the MonsterVerse saga is estimated to have made about $80 million domestically. That’s the second best opening in the history of the MonsterVerse, behind the $93 million earned by the series’ 2014 “Godzilla” reboot. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” is projected to have earned a second weekend total of just $15 million.
-TheWrap
★ It’s officially over for Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott. The “Beverly Hills, 90210” star filed for divorce from the former “Chopped Canada” host on Friday, 9 months after announcing their split, court documents say. Spelling listed their date of separation as June 17, 2023, citing “irreconcilable differences”. She is requesting joint custody of their 5 children, but wants sole physical custody with visitation for McDermott. She also wants him to pay spousal support and legal fees.
-PageSix
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Billy Crystal, J.B. Smoove, SiR
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Hillary Rodham Clinton, Jonathan Groff, Sasha Alex Sloan
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Matt Damon, Hannah Waddingham
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Jourdain Fisher, Arden Myrin, Zach Zimmerman
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Jeremy Strong, Amber Ruffin, Fred Armisen
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Host Jon Stewart
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Kyra Sedgwick, Lisa Ann Walter
• “The Talk” (CBS): TBA
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Emma Roberts, Corey B., Barenaked Ladies
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Sheryl Crow, Heidi Gardner, Justin Willman, Marcus King
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Maya Rudolph, Victoria Garrick Browne
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Joel McHale
• “The Voice” (NBC): Best of Blinds/Battles
• “American Idol” (ABC): Showstopper/Final Judgment
• “The 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards” (Fox): Hosted by Ludacris. Drake performs and will be honored with the Icon Award. Other performers include Green Day, Jelly Roll and Justin Timberlake.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Lizzo – Posted on Instagram Friday that she has “QUIT”. A day after performing at a fundraiser for President Biden’s campaign, she wrote that she’s tired of “being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet”, and while she just wants “to make music and make people happy”, she feels as though “the world doesn’t want me in it”. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/26yx4t75
• Beyonce – While it had been revealed prior to Friday’s release of her new album “Cowboy Carter” that she had recorded a cover of Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’, the fact that it also contains her take on The Beatles’ ‘Blackbird’ is being called a “masterstroke” by some critics. The song’s subject matter touches on the civil rights movement and female emancipation, themes that resonate deeply with Bey. LINK: https://youtu.be/xhempeEjGUA
• Billie Eilish – blasted artists who release multiple versions of albums in order to boost sales. She said to Billboard: “As somebody who really goes out of my way to be sustainable and do the best that I can and try to involve everybody in my team in being sustainable…then it’s some of the biggest artists in the world making (bleep) 40 different vinyl packages that have a different unique thing just to get you to keep buying more.” (Translation: “Hello, Taylor!”)
• Pink Floyd — The viral music collective Rockin’1000 has taken on their iconic tune ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)’, sharing a video featuring 1,000 musicians playing the song to a stadium of fans. Rockin’1000 created a viral performance of Foo Fighters‘ ‘Learn To Fly’, in 2015, to encourage the Foos to play a gig in Cesena Italy, which they later did. LINK: https://youtu.be/EmhYhNqPgmo
• The Tragically Hip — has announced the “definitive chronicle” of their career. The deluxe, hand-crafted book and record box set collection “This Is Our Life”, limited to 1,000 copies, is available to pre-order through for $565. Each numbered copy is signed by the surviving members of the group. Or pre-order just the book for $79. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mr3ncywj
• Jason Aldean – says that he is often offered acting parts, but turns them down because, quote: “I’m a musician. I’m not an actor. Ya know?” What might make him change his mind? “If I had a chance to act with Clint Eastwood, I might take him up on that because he’s my dude”. Aldean did have a small part in 2013’s “Sweetwater”.
• Oliver Anthony – dropped his debut album “Hymnal of a Troubled Man’s Mind” yesterday. And surprise! It doesn’t contain his most well-known song, ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’. The 10-song collection is intertwined with spoken-word Gospel and the previously unreleased ‘Momma’s Been Hurting’. He calls it “The story of my life, from 2013 until 2023.”
• Terri Clark – The 90s country star has teamed with many of today’s top country hitmakers to reimagine her hits on the new album “Terri Clark: Take Two”, out May 31. On it, Clark joins forces with Lainey Wilson, Kelly Clarkson, Cody Johnson, Ben Rector, Paul Brandt, Lauren Alaina, Carly Pearce — and Ashley McBride on ‘Better Things to Do’, which is out now. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/44hs8nus
SHOOTING THE BULL
NEW TO YOU (AND ME):
⇒ Dunkin’ has announced that their new spiked iced teas and coffees will be available in 24 US states. The drinks add a kick to your regular Dunkin’ order, although you won’t be able to buy them in the drive-thru. The canned iced teas have an alcohol content of 5% and come in 4 flavors: slightly sweet, half and half, strawberry dragonfruit and mango pineapple. The iced coffees are 5% alcohol and come in original, caramel, mocha and vanilla flavors. (Who needs to grab a stupid Krispy Kreme at McDonald’s when we can go to Dunkin’ and get THIS??!!)
⇒ Last week, 7-Eleven announced it has teamed up with Miracle Seltzer on 4 new sparking seltzer drinks. The first 3 flavors — Lemon Lime, Green Apple, and Sweet Orange — are what you would expect…but the 4th is…hot dog water flavor (Ugh…). That’s right, it supposedly tastes like the water from boiled hot dogs, complete with mustard and ketchup. The company explained: “Gone are the days of alternating bites of a hot dog with sips of a beverage, because now those on the go can swap the bun for bubbles.” The convenience store chain says more details will be released today, leading some to believe it’s just an April Fools Day prank…and others to hope it’s true. One commenter wrote: “Will be drinking it next to that macaroni n cheese scented candle.” (I’m still holding out for a ketchup-flavored energy drink!)
-Dexerto
ECLIPSE TRICKS:
Millions of people in North America will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening next Monday…but the question is: Should they…without proper eye protection? The answer is no, says an expert. Dr. Philip Hooper, president of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, reminds us that the intense brightness of the sun normally triggers pain that causes us to look away. But as the moon starts to block the sun during an eclipse, we probably won’t feel that pain, so it’s possible to look at it long enough to do damage to the eye. He compares the effect on the eye to using a magnifying glass to burn a piece of paper on a sunny day. Not something you want to mess with. Neither sunglasses, windows nor phone camera offer any eye protection, either. The good doctor, who is also an associate professor of ophthalmology at Western University in London ON, cautions that to safely watch the eclipse, you’ll need special certified glasses designed for eclipse watching. These have special filters, and they must also have side protection so light rays can’t enter. Free eclipse-viewing glasses are available at many libraries, city offices and schools. While wearing the glasses, you should not be able to see anything — unless you’re staring at the sun.
(Hmmm…I guess that puts a monkey-wrench in my plan to watch it while driving…!)
(…and where can I find a pair that has my eye prescription?)
-CTV
NEW GOOD NEWS:
➢ A robot dog in Massachusetts is a hero after it was shot multiple times while searching for an armed suspect who was barricaded inside a house. Controlled remotely by police, Roscoe was able to locate the suspect in the basement, allowing officers to arrest him safely. State troopers credited Roscoe with potentially saving human lives. But even though he was a very good boy, poor bullet-ridden Roscoe the robo-dog was shipped back to its maker, Boston Dynamics, which will send the police a new model to replace him. (Thanks, Roscoe. And if it helps at all, please know that my dog hates shots, too!)
➢ Meet the real-life Easter bunny – a teenager who delivered 4,200 chocolate eggs to sick kids in hospitals. 14-year-old Jasmine Parker dropped off 2,000 Easter eggs to last year, but this year more than doubled that amount, and says she has no plans to stop. She started her annual quest 8 years ago to “put a smile” on the faces of ill children. Her mom, Maggie, drives Jasmine to hospitals in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to drop off the donated eggs on weekends and after school. This year, Jasmine was able to visit 8 hospitals and one children’s hospice, after local businesses rallied behind her appeal and donated more than £7,000 (US$8,838) worth of Easter eggs. Her mom said that Jasmine’s annual quest to put smiles on kids’ faces is “all she focuses on. This is what makes her happy.”
-MorningBrew, SWNS
THINGS YOU SHOULD DO FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TO BE HAPPIER ALL DAY:
It maybe already be too late to save your Monday, but keep these tips from experts in mind for tomorrow…
❑ Pick a wellness habit, and link it to one of your morning rituals: It could be meditation, deep breathing, reading, or exercise. Perhaps add the deep-breathing thing to the time you spend making the bed after your shower. (Is it a problem that my wellness habit is applying a band-aid after opening a 2-inch gash on my finger from trying to cut an avocado?)
❑ Get your phone out of your room: You’ve heard this before. No screen time in your room. If you reach for the phone or other device first thing, you’re letting the outside world dictate your mood for the day. (Actually, my alarm already did!)
❑ Talk to yourself: Self-talk can be very conducive to helping you overcome whatever obstacles you face in the coming day. It’s even better if you use your own name out loud. (Nothing like starting the day by making your kids think you’re nuts!)
❑ Talk to someone else: Make a social contact with somebody you like. This could be a spouse or child, a friend, an extended family member, almost anyone. A call or a text will work, but meeting for coffee will give you a big boost to start your day. (Especially if you have espresso!)
❑ Incorporate gratitude: People who journal about the things they’re thankful for have been shown to score much higher happiness scores those who kept track of things that irritate them. (I’ve never even heard of someone keeping an “UNgratitude journal”!)
-HuffPost
DID YOU KNOW?
Voters in Texas might decide in the upcoming US presidential election to vote for “Literally Anybody Else”. A math teacher has legally changed his name to ‘Literally Anybody Else’ with the intention of running for president as an independent candidate. The 35-year-old, previously known as Dustin Ebey, had his name changed to emphasize his discontent with the current candidates, writing that Americans want something “different” and “better.” He also secured the LiterallyAnybodyElse.com domain name, and he has been selling T-shirts in a move which began as a joke — and now has become a serious campaign to get his name on the ballot. (The problem? He’s going to face serious competition from another guy who has changed his name to “Literally Anybody Younger”!)
-CTV
BS CHRONOMETER 04.01.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Easter Monday”, celebrated in many ways in many places, including …
– In Canada, it’s a federal government holiday and a school holiday, in most areas.
– In the rural northwest of Switzerland, the annual Easter Monday “Egg Races” are held. Competitors attempt to carry the most eggs while running from village-to-village.
– In Washington DC, it’s the annual “Easter Egg Roll” on the south lawn of the White House, a custom which started on the US Capitol grounds about 1810 and moved to the White House by President Rutherford B Hayes in 1877. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mry4nmub
– In Hallaton UK, they hold the ancient ritual of “Bottle Kicking”, an Easter Monday tradition for over 600 years. How appropriate they try to ‘kick the bottle’ during Alcohol Awareness Month!
– In Poland, it’s “Dyngus Day” (Wet Monday), a day of fun when guys attempt to drench girls with water using pails, squirt guns, etc. The more gallant boys may substitute cologne. Females get their revenge the day after, when tradition has it, they throw dishes or crockery back at the boys.
• “April Fool’s Day”. The custom of playing practical jokes today originated with the reform of the calendar when “New Year’s Day” was moved from April 1 to January 1. Those who clung to the old “New Year’s Day” were scoffed at as ‘fools’ and sent fake party invitations and prank gifts. That tradition began in France around 1564, where an ‘April Fool’ is called a ‘poisson d’avril’ (April fish).
• “St Stupid’s Day”, a celebration on April 1st in San Francisco since 1980, when a wacky parade is held. The occasion’s dim-witted activities include the ‘high four’ handshake (hand up, palm towards partner, fold thumb across palm, slap high four, say “Ouch!”).
• “International Tatting Day”, NOT what you’re thinking! This celebrates the technique of handcrafting lace by using a series of knots and loops. (You can never have too many doilies, right?)
• “One Cent Day”, celebrating the world’s most useless currency … the penny. It now costs 2.72 cents to manufacture a penny in the U.S. Although several bills introduced in Congress would have ceased production of pennies, none have been approved. Some countries that no longer use the penny (or its equivalent) include Australia, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden.
• “Sourdough Bread Day”. If there’s one thing any sandwich connoisseur knows, it’s that most sandwiches are made better by using sourdough bread, especially when it’s toasted. (Someone stole my sourdough bagel this morning. I’m sure it was kneaded!)
• “Boomer Bonus Day”, a day where Baby Boomers (people born 1946-64) get a special price on their purchases. (It’s a nice way of saying “Senior’s prices.”)
• Fun at Work Day”, because experts say when we enjoy our work, we are more productive. Here are a few suggestions . . .
✓ Find out where your boss shops and buy the same exact outfits. Always wear them one day after your boss does. (Especially effective if your boss is a different gender.)
✓ Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.
✓ Include a piece of your kid’s artwork as a cover page for all reports you write.
✓ When answering your phone, talk in a fake British accent.
✓ Make up nicknames for all your co-workers and refer to them only by these names. (“That’s a good point, Sparky.”)
✓ Take a picture of your boss, have it framed, and display it prominently on your desk. (Or a pic of his wife!)
✓ Leave the photocopy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17-inch paper, 99 copies.
✓ Send e-mails to the rest of the company telling them EXACTLY what you’re doing. (“If anyone needs me, I’ll be in the bathroom.”)
✓ Pretend your computer mouse is a CB radio mic. Talk to it.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
[Tues] Autism Awareness Day
[Wed] Chocolate Mousse Day
[Thurs] Tell A Lie Day
This Week is…Bake Week
This Month is…Alcohol Awareness Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1944 [80] Jimmy Cliff (James Chambers), St James Jamaica, reggae singer (‘I Can See Clearly Now’, ‘Reggae Night’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2010 (***birthdate also reported as July 30, 1944***)
1961 [63] Susan Boyle, Blackburn Scotland, pop singer (‘Wild Horses’)/TV talent show contestant (“Britain’s Got Talent” 2009)
1973 [51] Rachel Maddow, Castro Valley CA, TV host/political commentator (“The Rachel Maddow Show” since 2008)
1980 [44] Bijou Phillips, Greenwich CT, TV actress (‘Lucy’ on “Raising Hope” 2010-13)/movie actress (“Almost Famous”, “Hostel: Part II”)/married to Danny Masterson since 2011, separated
1982 [42] Taran Killam, Culver City CA, TV actor (“Saturday Night Live” 2010-16, “Single Parents” 2018-20)/Broadway actor (“Hamilton”, “Spamalot”)
1986 [38] Hillary Scott, Nashville TN, country singer (Lady A-‘Need You Now’, ‘What if I Never Get Over You’)
1995 [29] Logan Paul, Westlake OH, internet personality (more than 20 million YouTube subscribers)/actor/singer/wrestler/hack boxer/promotor/brother of Jake Paul
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1979 [45] ‘Bart Simpson’ is “born” (according to several sources), but he’s perennially aged 10, according to “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2008 [16] YouTube tricks users with the popular bait-and-switch prank ‘Rickrolling,’ by featuring video links that actually do lead to Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ music video. Several other websites have the same idea, creating an unintentional, internet-wide April Fools’ joke
2012 [12] Taylor Swift wins her second consecutive ‘Entertainer of the Year’ award at the 47th Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas
2014 [10] Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates, Kiss, Nirvana, Linda Ronstadt and Cat Stevens are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1976 [48] Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne found “Apple Computer” in the garage of Jobs’ parents’ house in Cupertino, California
2001 [23] Netherlands becomes the first country to make same-sex marriage legal
2004 [20] Google introduces “Gmail” to the public (at the time, many think it is an April Fools joke)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ There are more possible arrangements in shuffling a deck of cards than there are stars in the sky.
✓ Adult cats very rarely meow at other cats.
✓ The verb “unfriend” first appeared in 1659.
✓ The word “dude” originated in the 1800s as an insult to men overly concerned with the latest fashion trends.
✓ The word “bi-weekly” can mean either every 2 weeks — or twice a week.
✓ Humans invented booze before we invented the wheel.
-BestLife, Facts
Best of BS . . .
BS SIGNS YOU WERE PRANKED LAST APRIL FOOL’S DAY:
• To thwart the office jokester this year, you’ve already Jell-O-molded your stapler.
• There are still pics of you going around of when you fell for the old “PJs Day at the Office” gag.
• You ended up married to Ashton Kutcher.
• There’s no way you’re falling for that “don’t worry it’s free parking downtown” joke again!
• You’re still trying to pick up that quarter that’s glued to the lunchroom floor.
• You’re pretty sure you’ll never, ever forget the taste of Nutella and Ex-lax.
• Pants-optional bus service sounded totally believable!
-First published in BS in 2019
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ According to some experts, the “plank” exercise is a waste of time. (What about eating a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos while trying to figure out the controls on the stationary bike, before giving up and going home? ‘Cause I’ve done that 3 times since Wednesday!)
➠ A report says that men today are 3 times more likely to cry in public than their fathers were. (When I hear stuff like this, I just can’t help but feeling like we’ve let Chuck Norris down…!)
➠ A medical team is expressing concern that some temporary henna tattoos can leave permanent scars. (Wow. As if being a fan of Renaissance Fairs wasn’t bad enough on its own, now this!)
➠ There’s a dating site for people who believe in the supernatural. (It’s for those who believe in ridiculous things…you know, like ghosts, aliens, Bigfoot … and love!)
➠ US authorities are looking into technology that would prevent a car from exceeding the speed limit. (I don’t need my car to tell me how fast I can drive. That’s my wife’s job!)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Worth it for the ‘shoes’ one alone: https://tinyurl.com/44zkju6h
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Today is the best day of the year to propose. If they say “yes”, great. If they say “no”, then…you know what to say!
BS TRUTH OR FOOLIN’:
Which of these ‘true facts’ — aren’t?
• Porcupines can throw their quills. [APRIL FOOLS!]
• “Bennifer” (Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez) starred together in a movie called “Gigli”. [TRUE]
• Canberra is the capital of Australia. [TRUE]
• Christina Aguilera was the first “American Idol” winner [APRIL FOOLS! Kelly Clarkson was.]
• Mushrooms need sunlight to grow. [APRIL FOOLS!]
• The Arctic Ocean is the world’s northernmost ocean. [TRUE]
• The Taj Mahal is located in India. [TRUE]
• Usain Bolt holds the world record for the fastest marathon. [APRIL FOOLS! He’s the 100m record-holder.]
• Nicolas Cage has won more Oscars than anyone else. [APRIL FOOLS! Walt Disney has.]
-FlexiQuiz
BS PHONE STARTERS:
What is the best prank that you’ve been the victim of?
What April Fools joke have you attempted — that failed miserably?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
A survey found that for 10% of people who have been fired, it was because of THIS. What is it?
Answer: They accidentally sent an inappropriate joke or picture to their boss
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.
