Thursday, December 7, 2023 – Edition: #7613
Thanks For Being On Our Sheet List!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Legendary TV producer, writer and show creator Norman Lear, whose shows included “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Good Times” and countless others that changed the face of TV, has died. He was 101. His publicist said he died Tuesday at his Los Angeles home of natural causes. Beginning in the 1970s, Lear produced a string of hit comedies that dominated ratings while tackling issues of family, culture and race – and he never slowed down. In 2019, he became the oldest ever Emmy winner, then broke his own record in 2020 for “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” featuring reenactments of episodes from “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons” and “Good Times.” Other shows he produced included “Maude”, “Sanford and Son,” “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” and “One Day at a Time.”
-TheWrap
★ Taylor Swift is ending her year with another accolade: She has been named Time magazine’s 2023 “Person of the Year,” beating out Barbie and King Charles III. The magazine said: “While her popularity has grown across the decades, this is the year that Swift…achieved a kind of nuclear fusion: shooting art and commerce together to release an energy of historic force.” Time said the 33-year-old was selected because she found a way to give people around the world hope in some seriously dark times. (Plus, having her on the cover will sell a TON of magazines!)
-CNN
★ Angelina Jolie is ready to leave Hollywood. The “Maleficent” star recently opened up about her decision to eventually leave the LA area, but said she hasn’t been able to do so quite yet due to ongoing custody and estate issues related to her divorce from Brad Pitt. She told WSJ: “After my divorce, I lost the ability to live and travel as freely. I will move when I can.” Jolie stated she was never really “impressed” with the culture of the city of stars, saying: “I never bought into it as significant or important.” She plans to spend more time in the future at her home in Cambodia with her children.
-E!
★ Remember “Barbenheimer”? That was when 2 of the biggest movies of the year were released on the same day, July 21. Well, that might not have happened, had Oppenheimer’s producer had his way. Margot Robbie revealed to Cillian Murphy on Variety’s “Actors on Actors,” that she got a call from Charles Roven, and he asked her to change the Barbie release date, so it wouldn’t open on the same day as Oppenheimer. Robbie quote: “And he was like, ‘I think you guys should move your date.’ And I was like, ‘We’re not moving our date. If you’re scared to be up against us, then you move your date.’ And he’s like, ‘We’re not moving our date. I just think it’d be better for you to move.’ And I was like, ‘We’re not moving!’” No problem, though — Barbie became the highest-grossing film of the year, and Oppenheimer went on to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time.
-Variety
★ The Super Bowl is going under the sea. Nickelodeon will offer a “slime-filled” simulcast of Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11, in which CBS Sports’ Nate Burleson and Noah Eagle are joined in the booth by ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’, ‘Patrick Star’, ‘Sandy Cheeks’ and ‘Larry the Lobster’. The special presentation comes following Nickelodeon and CBS Sports’ previous team-up for the 2021 NFL Wild Card Game. They will also partner for the Nickelodeon NFL Nickmas Game, between the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, on Christmas Day, featuring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ‘Raphael’ and ‘Donatello’.
-TVLine
★ It’s a wonderful… robot? An AI-generated voice of Jimmy Stewart, the legendary Hollywood actor who died in 1997, reads a new bedtime story on the Calm sleep and meditation app. The voice of Stewart, who starred in films like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and “Vertigo, was recreated for the Calm story using AI voice-cloning technology. The project has the consent of Stewart’s family and his estate. The AI-generated “It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story,” which Calm says is “a heartwarming new holiday tale,” premiered exclusively on the app this week.
-Variety
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Adam Levine, Halle Bailey, Atarashii Gakko!
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Olivia Rodrigo, finalists from “Squid Game: The Challenge”, Ashley McBryde
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, Arlo Parks (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Colin Jost, Gael García Bernal
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Julia Roberts
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Jelly Roll, guest host Charlamagne tha God
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey
• “The Talk” (CBS): Dennis Quaid, Jack Cutmore-Scott
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Natalie Portman, Sara Bareilles
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Sara Bareilles, Pinky Cole
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Michelle Pfeiffer
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Demi Lovato, Ally Brooke, Davido
• “Bachelor in Paradise” (ABC): Season 9 finale. Relationships continue to be tested, with more couples considering leaving the beach; love continues to blossom at the first-ever Paradise wedding.
• “The First 48” (A&E): A woman’s body is discovered in her car on an overgrown lot; Detective Glenn Barton traces her final steps to find out what is responsible for her mysterious death.
• “Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays” (FOOD): It’s a surf-and-turf Christmas Eve as Michael Symon joins Selena Gomez.
• “Christmas at the Opry” (NBC): Wynonna Judd hosts, with performances by Mitchell Tenpenny, Kelly Clarkson, Trace Adkins and more, from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Taylor Swift – has made history – again. This time, it is for becoming the first living artist ever to have 5 of the Top 10 Albums on the Billboard 200. Her most recent release “1989 [Taylor’s Version”] has returned to #1 in the latest chart, followed by former chart-toppers “Midnights” (#3), “Folklore” (#5), “Lover” (#6), and “Speak Now [Taylor’s Version]” (#10).
• Cardi B – She and Offset have sparked breakup rumors after unfollowing each other on Instagram. She also shared some cryptic messages via her Instagram Story, writing: “You know when you just outgrow relationships.” The rappers married in 2017.
• Brenda Lee — has topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her holiday classic ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’, 65 years after the song’s release. That sets a new record for the longest gap between a song’s release and its appearance at #1. The previous record holder was Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’, which was released in 1994, and took 25 years to hit the top.
• Mariah Carey – Her perennial holiday fav ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ is at the top of both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. US charts dated Dec. 9. The song is currently at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Paul McCartney — A 50th anniversary edition of Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Band on the Run” drops on Feb. 2. The 2CD/2LP version includes the original album (remastered at half speed), plus 9 “underdubbed” mixes. McCartney: “When you are making a song and putting on additional parts, like an extra guitar, that’s an overdub. Well, this version of the album is the opposite, underdubbed.”
• Wings — Denny Laine, the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of both The Moody Blues and Wings, has passed away age 79. He had been dealing with health concerns after contracting COVID-19 in 2022. The news was announced Tuesday by his wife, Elizabeth. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/32ay9jek
• Jelly Roll –enjoyed a double celebration on his birthday. He turned 39 on Monday, with his Lainey Wilson-assisted single ‘Save Me’ topping the country charts. On Instagram, he wrote: “I couldn’t ask for a better birthday.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/444hkaw6
• Luke Combs – loves being a father of 2. In August, he and his wife, Nicole, welcomed their second boy, Beau Lee. Quote: “It’s wild. I’ll tell you that much. It’s crazy busy, but it’s so much fun. “We still trying to figure out how we have time to do everything.”
• Brad Paisley – is hinting at a collaboration with Post Malone. During Paisley’s appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, he confirmed he’s at work on a new album. Fallon asked if that might include a Post duet. Paisley admitted the 2 have been working together in the studio, and said: “Well, we’ll see”.
SHOOTING THE BULL
RAW TRUTH:
So – sushi tonight? A Japanese study has found that the spicy green topping wasabi could be very good for your memory. Going into the research, the team at Tohoku University knew that wasabi was linked to a wealth of health benefits — such as antibiotic, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties — but say they were “surprised” to see the “dramatic change” in participants’ cognition. In the 12-week study, they found that test participants who consumed the wasabi extract 6-MSITC regularly, showed about an 18% improvement in long and short-term memory. Researchers believe the wasabi extract lowered the levels of oxidants and inflammation in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory.
(I’m not much of a sushi person. Can I get some of that stuff for my hot dog?)
(This information makes “miso” happy. Sorry. Just “roll” with it…)
-NYPost
THE QUESTIONS KIDS ASK:
Stats show that kids ask their parents an average of 11 questions each day. So, you know that some of them are going to be cute, some will be funny…and some will be difficult to answer. A new poll of 2,000 parents of kids 6 and younger found that the most-commonly asked question among young children is – you guessed – “What?” 37% o parents put that at #1, followed by “When?” (22%), and “Why?” (11%). When asked about the most interesting question their child has ever asked, parents mentioned: “Why is the sky so high?” and “Why can fish keep their eyes open in water?” Parents said they can confidently answer only 42% of their child’s questions.
These are The Topics Kids Ask the Most Questions About:
• The world around them (animals/nature, current events, home experiences) – 76%
• School-related (history, math, reading, writing, science) – 64%
• Family-related (Parents/caregivers/siblings) – 62%
• Safety – 39%
• Relationships/friendships – 35%
• Daily experiences (food, clothing, sleep, routines) – 30%
• Future-facing (careers, money, dreams) – 29%
• Entertainment (TV, movies, music, sports) – 20%
(Don’t complain, parents. Those questions could have been A LOT worse!)
(I’m kinds surprised there are no questions there about becoming a social media influencer or TikTok star. But just you wait until they’re 7 or 8!)
-SWNS
20-MINUTE RULE:
If you deal with sleep issues (and about 40% of us do, according to stats), then you’ll know that the next day can be a particular kind of struggle, too. Whether you’re feeling sluggish, permanently hungry, or suffering with brain fog, it’s going to be a rough day when you’re running on low Zs. But a new study by the University of Portsmouth might have the answer. Scientists there found that doing 20 minutes of moderate intensity cardio (cycling, in this case) can improve cognitive performance the day after a sleepless night. Researcher Dr. Joe Costello concluded: “We know from existing research that exercise improves or maintains our cognitive performance. But this is the first study to suggest it also improves cognitive performance after both full and partial sleep deprivation.” Other activities that may help you deal with lack of sleep include hiking, swimming, dancing, brisk walking, water aerobics, rollerblading or pushing a lawn mower. And yes, even more rigorous forms of gardening.
(If I had a spare 20 minutes after a sleepless night, I’d spend it sleeping!)
(Yeah, because I always feel so refreshed and energetic after going on a hike!)
(Whenever I cut the lawn before work, I always get sent home because I smell like beer!)
-Vogue
GREATEST HOLIDAY SONGS OF ALL TIME:
This is according to Billboard’s newly-updated information for 2023. (***We’ll give you the top-20…which seems to be more than enough for most stations…!***)
1. All I Want For Christmas Is You — Mariah Carey (Kinda saw that coming…)
2. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree — Brenda Lee
3. Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
4. The Christmas Song — Nat King Cole
5. A Holly Jolly Christmas — Burl Ives
6. Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano
7. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year — Andy Williams
8. Last Christmas – Wham!
9. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! — Dean Martin
10. White Christmas — Bing Crosby
11. Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) — Trans-Siberian Orchestra
12. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer — Gene Autry
13. Sleigh Ride — The Ronettes
14. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas — Michael Bublé
15. Mary, Did You Know? — Pentatonix
16. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & Yoko Ono
17. Mistletoe — Justin Bieber
18. Blue Christmas — Elvis Presley
19. Santa Tell Me — Ariana Grande
20. Wonderful Christmastime — Paul McCartney
(OK, let’s just come out and say it – they’re the top 20 “Christmas” songs!)
LINK (to the top 100): https://tinyurl.com/yc62z35e
-Billboard
DID YOU KNOW?
Marijuana is sometimes linked to poor mental health, but a recent study found that it may improve users’ empathy, or the ability to understand or share the feelings of another person. Brain imaging showed that the marijuana users’ brains were more connected and functional in the region linked to empathy, compared to non-users. The findings, from researchers in Mexico, were published in the Journal of Neuroscience Research, and builds upon research that shows marijuana use activates certain areas of the brain. (Specifically, the areas associated with cookies, pizza and tie-dye!)
-WebMD
BS CHRONOMETER 12.07.23
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cotton Candy Day”, celebrating the sweet, sugary taste-treat that melts in your mouth. It was invented in 1897 as ‘Fairy Floss’, then renamed in 1920. In Greece, Israel, and India, it is often referred to as ‘Old Woman’s Hair’. Yuck.
• “International Civil Aviation Day”, an observance by the International Civil Aviation Organization since 1994, to reinforce the importance of civil aviation to social and economic development. (Will this idea ever take off?)
• “National Letter Writing Day”, when we’re encouraged to take a few minutes to send someone a handwritten letter. Letter-writing has almost become a lost art. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone, either printed or in cursive? (What other old-school skills are falling by the wayside?)
• “Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day”, observed on the anniversary of one of the defining moments in American history, the 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which caused the US to enter WW2. It is also known as the “date which will live in infamy”. BS FAST FACT: The 2001 film “Pearl Harbor” cost as much to make as the actual rebuilding of Pearl Harbor, and lasted an hour longer than the attack.
• “Slime Day”, celebrating the slimy, slippery, and squishy goo that has been engaging kids (and adults) since the 1970s. Slime is neither a solid or liquid. It’s both. Scientifically, it is considered a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning the polymers change depending on pressure. (A highlight of the “Kids Choice Awards”, too!)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Crossword Solvers Day
[Fri] Salesperson’s Day
[Sat] Pastry Day
[Sun] Lager Day
This Week is…Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week
This Month is…Honor Your Pharmacists Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1932 [91] Ellen Burstyn, Detroit MI, movie actress (“Requiem for a Dream”, “The Exorcist” movies)
1949 [74] Tom Waits, Pomona CA, blues-rock-folk-jazz singer-songwriter (‘Downtown Train’, ‘[Looking For] The Heart of Saturday Night’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2011
1954 [69] Priscilla Barnes, Fort Dix NJ, TV actress (“Jane The Virgin” 2014-19, ‘Terri’ on “Three’s Company 1981-1984)
1965 [58] Jeffrey Wright, Washington DC, TV actor (‘Bernard Lowe’ on “Westworld” 2016-22)/movie actor (“James Bond” and “Hunger Games” movies)
1978 [45] Kristofer Hivju, Oslo Norway, TV actor (‘Tormund Giantsbane’ in “Game of Thrones” 2013-19)/movie actor (“Cocaine Bear”, “The Fate of the Furious”) COMING UP…“Red One”
1979 [44] Sara Bareilles, Eureka CA, pop singer (‘Brave’, ‘Love Song’)
1988 [35] Winston Marshall, London England, folk-rock banjoist (ex-Mumford & Sons-‘Believe’, ‘I Will Wait’)
1989 [34] Nicholas Hoult, Wokingham England, movie actor (“X-Men: First Class”, “Mad Max: Fury Road”) COMING UP…“The Garfield Movie” 2024
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1969 [54] The TV special “Frosty the Snowman” is broadcast (on CBS) for the first time. It has aired annually every Christmas season since
2001 [22] The caper movie remake, “Ocean’s Eleven”, featuring an all-star cast (George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts) opens in theaters (it spawns the sequels “Ocean’s Twelve”, “Ocean’s Thirteen”, and the all-female “Ocean’s 8″)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1991 [32] Michael Jackson’s ‘Black or White’ reaches #1 on the singles chart; U2 s “Achtung Baby” debuts at #1 on the album chart
2014 [09] Pink Floyd’s classic 1973 album “The Dark Side of the Moon” makes a surprise return to the ‘Billboard 200’ (#13), thanks to ultra-cheap special pricing at 99¢ in the Google Play store
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2020 [03] Breaking, the competitive form of breakdancing, is confirmed as an Olympic sport for the Paris 2024 games
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Termites eat wood twice as fast when listening to heavy metal music.
✓The name for lint that gathers in the bottom of your pocket is “gnurr”.
✓ Buttermilk does not contain any butter.
✓ With 2 forks and a charge, a pickle will emit light.
✓ Most liquid laundry detergents contain living organisms that help to break down stains.
✓ One-third of Taiwanese funeral processions include a stripper.
-AllThatisInteresting, RandomFactGenerator
Best of BS . . .
BS COMPLAINTS FROM NORTH POLE ELVES:
• Not allowed to join in reindeer games.
• Always being compared to Buddy.
• Low shelf-esteem.
• Climate change is melting my work station.
• How are we supposed to make these kids an iPhone without getting sued?
• Nothing to eat but cookies and reindeer jerky.
• Keebler Elves have a better benefit package.
• The polar bears ate Sugarplum Mary.
• South Pole elves never have to do squat.
• “I can’t handle one more Christmas Carol, and it’s only Dec. 7!”
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS BETTER USES FOR FRUITCAKE:
• Balance that wobbly kitchen table.
• Use instead of sand bags during El Nino.
• Speed bumps to foil the neighborhood drag racers.
• Collect 10, and use them as bowling pins.
• Save for next summer’s garage sale.
• Carry it in your trunk for emergency use as a tire block.
• Save it until next year and give it back to the person who gave it to you.
• Two words: lethal weapon.
-Neloo, First published in BS in 2017
BS WEB GOODIE:
Yup (sound up): https://tinyurl.com/336cttrv
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I’m really good at stuff until somebody watches me do that stuff.
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the most annoying noise?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 70% of us agree: THIS is our biggest holiday pet peeve. What is it?
Answer: Waiting in line
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.
