Thursday, August 17, 2023 – Edition: #7535
Sheeters Always Prosper!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
(***UPDATE***) ★ Britney Spears and her husband Sam Asghari have split and are heading for divorce, following a “nuclear argument that involves allegations” of her cheating, TMZ reports. Spears began dating Asghari, an Iranian-American model and actor, after they met on the set of a music video shoot in 2016. He served as a fierce advocate and de facto spokesperson for Spears during the final years of her conservatorship. Days after the conservatorship ended in September 2021, Spears and Asghari announced their engagement. The couple wed in June 2022. Spears was in 2 marriages before meeting Asghari.
-Consequence, TMZ
★ Independent testing on the weapon used in a fatal shooting on the set of the film “Rust” shows the trigger had to be pulled, the gun fired normally and did not malfunction, raising the possibility that charges could be refiled against Alec Baldwin. The report was filed as part of a defense motion on behalf of the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who is charged with tampering with the gun used in the shooting, and 2 counts of involuntary manslaughter. The October 2021 shooting on a New Mexico film set killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter in January, but the charges were dismissed in April.
-CNN
★ Katharine McPhee and David Foster’s son’s nanny died after an elderly woman at a car dealership ran her over with an SUV. TMZ reports that the nanny, Yadira Calito, died last week in an incident at a San Fernando Valley Toyota dealership. The fatal accident happened when an 84-year-old woman behind the wheel of a Toyota RAV4 crashed into the customer reception area. Two men working there were also injured. McPhee left her concert tour in Asia with Foster the day after the accident, explaining she needed to return home to deal with a family tragedy.
-TMZ
★ Margot Robbie is being richly rewarded by “Barbie”. The star and producer behind the summer’s biggest hit stands to make roughly $50 million in salary and box office bonuses, according to 3 insiders with knowledge of her deal. The movie has earned an astonishing $1.1 billion at the global box office since it opened a month ago — and that figure should keep climbing, given that Barbie is still topping box office charts. The film is the highest-grossing film ever from a female director (Greta Gerwig, who will also likely receive huge bonuses because of the film’s outsized success).
-Variety
★ Sofia Coppola and Michael B. Jordan will be receiving honors at this year’s Academy of Motion Pictures Museum gala, alongside Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey. The Oct. 14 event has permission to proceed from SAG-AFTRA and WGA, even if the strikes continue. Jordan, the star of “Creed,” and “Black Panther”, will receive the Vantage Award, for those working to challenge and contextualize dominant narratives around film. Sofia Coppola will receive the Visionary Award, noting an artist/scholar whose innovations have advanced the art form of cinema.
-TheWrap
★ “Game of Thrones” actor Darren Kent, who appeared as a goatherd during the season 4 finale of the HBO series, died on Aug. 11, his rep has confirmed. He was 36. Kent’s agency tweeted: “It is with deep sadness we have to tell you that our dear friend and client Darren Kent passed away peacefully”, noting his parents and best friend were by his side. A cause of death has not been shared. Kent suffered from a rare skin disorder, giving him a distinct appearance. Earlier this year, he appeared in the movie “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” as a reanimated corpse, to great effect.
-E!, PopCulture
★ Why did it have to be snakes? Harrison Ford’s iconic character ‘Indiana Jones’ might be petrified of snakes, but the star says he’s “humbled” to be the namesake for a new snake species. The 81-year-old was referring to a newly-discovered species that is now called “Tachymenoides harrisonfordi.” It was found in the Andes mountains in Peru. And although it was discovered in 2022, info about the snake’s name was not made public until this week.
-NYPost
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Kristen Bell, Ike Barinholtz (R)
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Jon Hamm, Jurnee Smollett, The Smashing Pumpkins (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Prince Harry (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Kelly Ripa, Fred Armisen, Ana Fabrega & Julio Torres, Ashley McBryde (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Karine Jean-Pierre (R)
• “The Talk” (CBS): Marg Helgenberger (R)
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Alan Cumming, Nia Long, Rachel Bilson
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen (R)
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Henry Winkler, Laura Harrier (R)
• “Big Brother” (CBS): A houseguest is evicted and interviewed; remaining houseguests compete to be the next head of household.
• “Hey Yahoo!” (GSN): Season 1 finale
• “Mercy” (SHOWTIME): An ex-military doctor finds herself in a fight for survival when the Irish mafia seizes control of the hospital. When her son is taken hostage, she’s forced to rely on her lethal skills.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Miley Cyrus — is teasing new music — in a latex cone bra and hot pants in posters plastered all over Los Angeles – because…Miley Cyrus. In the black and white posters, she’s seen wearing a black latex bustier and matching high-waisted shorts to plug the forthcoming song ‘Used To Be Young’. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/fuxyjdw2
• Taylor Swift — Ghent University in Belgium is launching a new literature course dedicated to her lyrics. “Literature: Taylor’s Version” — a nod to Swift’s re-recorded album titles — will use Swift’s work to engage with literature “from the Medieval period to the Victorian.”
(***Caution – language***) • Aerosmith – Chris Daughtry says he was approached by Joe Perry to front the band when they were going through a rough patch with singer Steven Tyler in the late ‘00s. Why did he say no? Quote: “He is irreplaceable in my mind. Furthermore, Steven Tyler’s alive! This whole fear of pissing off one of my heroes was just looming, and I was, like, ‘There’s no way I can do this, Joe.'”
• Rick Springfield – will celebrate his 74th birthday on the road next week, and says he still loves playing his signature 1981 hit ‘Jessie’s Girl’. Quote: It’s the energy that it creates in the crowd, in the audience, which is where I get my feedback and get the energy for me to perform.”
• Neil Young & Crazy Horse – will play benefit shows Sept. 20 and 21 at The Roxy Theatre, one of the most famous and influential music venues in Los Angeles, as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. The shows will occur exactly 50 years after Young headlined the club’s first-ever shows. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ybtxb7r4
• Luke Combs – Not only has he released a new live version of his hit ‘Fast Car’, he has also added 25 US stadium shows to his “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour”, extending it into 2024. LINK: https://youtu.be/Fr7oYjnt3bM
• Mogan Wallen – His mega-hit ‘Last Night’ has topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for a 25th
Week. It is also at #1 on the Hot 100 for a 16th week, tying for the second-longest reign with ‘Despacito’. ‘Old Town Road’ by Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus topped the chart for 19 weeks.
• Shania Twain — has announced her third Vegas residency, “Shania Twain: Come on Over — The Las Vegas Residency — All the Hits!” This time, Twain will set up camp at Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, starting in May. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5n7pdvc9
SHOOTING THE BULL
THINK FAST:
When you come across someone who answers a question quickly, do you subconsciously assume that person to be smart? It turns out that might not be the case. Researchers in Germany and Spain discovered in a study that contrary to popular belief, those with higher IQ scores were only faster when it came to simple tasks, but they actually took longer to solve difficult problems, compared to those with lower IQ scores. The researchers found that brains with “reduced synchrony” between brain areas tended to “jump to conclusions” when making decisions (Reduced synchrony means “dumber people”, we think!) Those of higher IQ were found to take longer to reach a conclusion because their brain is going through more thorough processing, and waiting for certain brain regions to complete the necessary steps to come up with what it feels is the correct answer.
(Now, tell me again how quickly AI works…)
(So – ask yourself: Do you usually answer a question quickly? I’ll let you think about that for a minute…!)
-StudyFinds
NEW TO YOU – AND ME:
⇒ A new “thermal cloak” has been designed to extend the battery life of electric cars, and it doesn’t use additional energy. Chinese researchers say the Janus thermal cloak, which operates across all seasons, can drastically decrease the temperature of an electric vehicle on a hot day, and increase it by 44°F (6.7°C) overnight. Made mainly of silica and aluminum, the “clothing for vehicles” performs its temperature-regulating function autonomously, using an outer layer that effectively reflects sunlight and an inner layer that traps and stores heat. (The way this summer has been, I’d like to order one in “Muumuu” size, please!)
⇒ Scientists say they are on the cusp of turning flies into biodegradable goods, such as bioplastics, offering an alternative to conventional plastics derived from fossil fuels. Texas A&M University researchers say that while flies are being increasingly cultivated, for use in waste management, once their short lifespan concludes, they are typically discarded. The team utilized these discarded flies as a foundation for their research, finding that dead flies are full of chitin, a non-biodegradable sugar-based polymer. They envision it being used as raw material for crafting bioplastics, “taking something that’s quite literally garbage and making something useful out of it”, according to one researcher. (The ultimate irony will be achieved when they use it to create a fly-swatter!)
-SWNS, StudyFinds
COMMUNITY WATCH:
So, when you arrive at home after a long day, do you step out of your car and greet the neighbor across the street, or do you gather up your things and exit the vehicle with your head down in hopes you don’t have to engage in social interaction? Hopefully, it’s option #1, because according to a new Gallup survey, adults who regularly say hello to multiple people in their neighborhood have better well-being than those who speak to few or no neighbors. The poll, taken in the US, found that with 100 being a perfect score, well-being rose from 51.5 among people who don’t greet neighbors — to over 64 for people who regularly say “how do you do?” to 6 neighbors. A Gallup spokesperson pointed out that no benefit was observed in greeting more than 6 neighbors regularly, “but 6 is better than 5, five is better than 4, all the way down to zero.” And there is no “minimum” method of interaction required to realize a mental health benefit. A simple nod, a wave, a fist bump or a short conversation are all sufficient.
(I talk to most of my neighbors on a regular basis – usually because I’m apologizing for something my teenager did!)
(I’m careful to be friendly to all my neighbors – they know too much!)
-CNN
JOBS CELEBS HELD BEFORE FAME:
✪ Ken Jeong: The “community” and “Masked Singer” star was a physician specializing in internal medicine.
✪ Morgan Freeman: Before he became known for movies like “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Batman Begins”, he worked in the US Air Force as a repairman.
✪ Jon Hamm: The “Mad Men” and ‘Baby Driver” was a high school drama teacher.
✪ Taraji P. Henson: The “Empire” and “Curious Case of Benjamin Button” actress started in showbiz by working on a cruise boat as a singing and dancing waitress.
✪ Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: You might know this one. He played pro football in Canada, before moving on to pro wrestling in the WWE.
✪ Halle Berry: She competed in pageants before making movies. In 1986, she won the Miss Ohio pageant at age 18, and went on to win Miss USA.
✪ Whoopi Goldberg: She became a qualified beautician, and took on a job doing hair and makeup on the deceased at a funeral home.
-Buzzfeed
FROM THE BS POLL VAULT:
A statistical breakdown of life by the numbers …
• 71% of us eavesdrop.
• 65% of women brush their teeth at least twice a day.
• 50% admit to regularly sneaking food into movie theaters.
• 35% give to charity at least once a month.
• 20% of bosses won’t consider a job applicant if they have a typo on their résumé.
• 21% of us don’t make our bed daily.
• 16% of us lost our phone charger while on summer vacation.
• 32% of guys use hairspray daily.
• 60% of women know how to tie a necktie.
• 34% of us have intentionally driven the wrong way on a one-way street!
DID YOU KNOW?
New pro sports teams bring more than fandemonium to a city — they also spark a spike in flu deaths, according to a new study. Flu mortality jumped as much as nearly 25% in cities that picked up new sports franchises in baseball, basketball, football or hockey, researchers at West Virginia University found. WVU economics professor (and co-author of the study) said: “It’s important for sports fans to realize that there is some additional risk that they’re taking, now that we’re all acutely aware of airborne virus transmission or respiratory virus transmission.” (And I thought the only harm a new team did was to my wallet!)
-NYPost
BS CHRONOMETER 08.17.23
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Baby Boomer Recognition Day”, a day to commemorate the accomplishments of those born between 1946 and 1964. The oldest ‘boomers’ are now 77. (‘OK, Boomer!’ …or is that totally a ‘boomer’ thing to say now?)
• “Black Cat Appreciation Day”, an annual event encouraging the adoption of black, and black & white cats. Like black dogs, they are usually the least popular choice at animal shelters.
• “Thrift Shop Day”. What’s the best deal you ever found in one? Our list includes Pierre Cardin and Oscar de la Renta jackets, a solid walnut coffee table, and a roll-top desk. (If I ever opened a thrift shop, it would definitely be called “Stranger’s Things”!)
• “#2 Pencil Day”. If it’s the most popular pencil, why isn’t it #1?
• “Vanilla Custard Day”, a sweet pudding-like dish made with vanilla, eggs, sugar, and milk. It can be enjoyed on its own, or as a topping for other desserts.
• “I Love My Feet Day”, saluting the appendage most models say is their ugliest feature.
LINK: http://www.ilovemyfeetdays.com
• “Nonprofit Day”, recognizing the goals and positive impacts non-profits have on communities — and on the world.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Pinot Noir Day
[Fri] Never Give Up Day
[Sat] Aviation Day
[Sun] Radio Day
This Month Is…Eat Dessert First Month
This Month Is…Eye Exam Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1943 [80] Robert De Niro, NYC, movie actor (Oscars for “The Godfather II”, “Raging Bull”) COMING UP…”Ezra”, 2023
1958 [65] Belinda Carlisle, Los Angeles CA, pop singer (‘Mad About You’, ‘Heaven is a Place on Earth’, Go-Go’s-‘We Got the Beat’, ‘Our Lips are Sealed’)
1960 [63] Sean Penn, Santa Monica CA, movie actor (“Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, Oscars for “Milk”, “Mystic River”) COMING UP…”Daddio”, 2023
1964 [59] Colin James, Regina SK, rock/blues singer-guitarist (‘Just Came Back’, Voodoo Thing’)
1969 [54] Donnie Wahlberg, Dorchester MA, pop singer (New Kids On the Block-‘Hangin’ Tough’)/TV actor (“Blue Bloods” since 2010)/movie actor (“Saw” films)
1974 [49] Giuliana Rancic, Naples Italy, TV personality (“Fashion Police” 2010-17, “E! News” 2005-15, 2018-19), former “Miss Universe” and “Miss USA” co-host)
1991 [32] Austin Butler, Anaheim CA, movie actor (“Elvis”, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) COMING UP…“Dune: Part Two”, 2023
1994 [29] Taissa Farmiga, White House Station NJ, TV actress (“American Horror Story” 2011-18)
2000 [23] Lil Pump (Gazzy Garcia), Miami FL, rapper (‘Gucci Gang’, w/Kanye West-‘I Love it’)
2003 [20] The Kid Laroi (Charlton Howard), Waterloo Australia, rapper/singer-songwriter (w/Miley Cyrus-‘Without You’, w/Justin Bieber-‘Stay’)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1979 [44] Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” premieres, directed by Terry Jones, starring Graham Chapman & John Cleese
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1995 [28] Microsoft buys the rights to The Rolling Stones’ 1981 hit ‘Start Me Up’ to use as the theme for the rollout of the “Windows 95” operating system
2011 [12] ‘Last Friday Night (TGIF)’ by Katy Perry hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the second artist with 5 #1 singles from the same album (“Teenage Dream”), joining Michael Jackson (“Bad”)
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2001 [22] After performing over 400 vasectomies, 45-year-old Dr Jonathan Heatley of London, England performs one . . . on himself (do NOT try this at home)
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2008 [15] By winning gold in the Men’s 4X100 medley relay in Beijing, USA swimmer Michael Phelps becomes the first Olympian to win 8 gold medals in a single Olympics (retired from competition with a record 23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ One of the side effects listed on an Aspirin package is ‘headache’.
✓ During the Victorian era, leeches were used to predict the weather.
✓ Sailors consider black cats to be good luck.
✓ Cold water is just as cleansing as hot water.
✓ Melting glaciers make fizzy noises, similar to the sound of fizzing soda.
✓ There are more than 200 flavors of Kit Kat available in Japan. Among them: Tamaruya Honten Wasabi (Japanese horseradish).
-Facts
Best of BS . . .
BS WINES TO AVOID:
There are many great vintages you could choose from to enjoy with a fine meal; these aren’t among them …
• ‘Big Red Gulp’
• ‘NASCARbernet’
• ‘Nasti Spumante’
• ‘Chef Boyardeaux’
• ‘Grape Expectations’
• ‘Chateau Traileur Doublewide’
• ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Vinegar!’
• ‘World Championship Riesling’
• (***Caution***) ‘Merde du Pays’
-First published in BS in 2010
BS THINGS A COWBOY WOULDN’T SAY:
• “It’s way too hot for boots. Where are my flip-flops?”
• “I’ll just have a salad.”
• “I need to get me a 37.85-litre hat.”
• “Here kitty kitty.”
• “Can’t get enough of that ice fishing.”
• “My financial advisor suggested I move 10% of my portfolio to Bitcoin, but I’m leaning toward high-yield dividend stocks.”
• “No beer. I’ll have an appletini.”
• “I’ve had enough beans for now.”
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2020
BS WEB GOODIE:
What’s good for the goose… (sound up): https://tinyurl.com/yc5ubhzf
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Laughter is like a windshield wiper; it won’t stop the rain, but it will allow you to keep going.
BS PHONE STARTER:
What is something you really wanted as a kid, but now look back on it and shake your head? (For me: wanting to live at my school, and to drive a tractor as a car…)
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 15 years ago, about 1 in 3 adults said doing THIS was OK. Now, 81% are good with it. What is it?
Answer: Using your phone while on the toilet
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
You are the same today as you will be 5 years, except for 2 things: the people you meet and the books you read. Choose both carefully.
