Friday, December 16, 2022 – Edition: #7381
Thanks a Sheetload for Choosing “BS”!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Henry Cavill is hanging up his cape, and now we know why. The 39-year-old revealed Wednesday he won’t be reprising his role as ‘Superman’ in James Gunn’s latest film. On Instagram, he wrote: “I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman.” The news may surprise followers, especially considering that Cavill announced on Oct. 24 that he was coming back to play ‘Clark Kent’, even sharing a teaser image on Instagram. But, it seems that things have changed. He continued: “After being told by the studio to announce my return…this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life…James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck…” Gunn, recently named co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios, tweeted that the next Superman film will focus “on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.”
-E!
★ CBS is bringing some of the biggest names in country music into our homes for New Year’s Eve. The network has announced that Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, and more country music superstars will appear on “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash”, airing Dec. 31 on CBS. The event will be hosted by Jimmie Allen, Elle King, and Entertainment Tonight’s Rachel Smith. CBS said “The 5-hour celebration will ring in the new year with high-energy performances of the lineup’s biggest hits and once-in-a-lifetime collaborations”. There will also be performances by King Calaway, rapper Flo-Rida, Riley Green, Ashley McBryde, Steve Miller, Thomas Rhett, Sheryl Crowe, Lainey Wilson, and The War and Treaty, and special appearances from Kelsea Ballerini, Brooks & Dunn, Little Big Town, and Zac Brown Band.
-PopCulture
★ Eddie Murphy will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 80th Golden Globe Awards. Murphy, a previous Globes winner and 6-time nominee, will be on hand to accept the award at the ceremony, set to air live Jan. 10 from the Beverly Hilton hotel. The Cecil B. DeMille Award has been handed out since 1952. Chosen by the HFPA board of directors, it “is presented to a talented individual for their outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” This year’s recipient for the TV equivalent, the Carol Burnett Award, is expected to be announced shortly.
-Variety
★ Amid a fresh round of royal revelations accompanying yesterday’s release of Volume 2 of Netflix’s “Harry & Meghan” comes the news that Prince William sees his relationship with Harry as “over,” damaged beyond repair by Harry’s betrayal of him and his wife, according to a source cited by The Daily Beast. The source, a friend of William and Kate’s who used also to be close to Harry, said: “It doesn’t make a great deal of difference what is in the films released this week. The general feeling that it won’t be anything they haven’t said before.” But the damage to the brother’s relationship is most definitely done, the source said, because “William will never forgive Harry for selling out his and Kate’s secrets. Harry knows, more than anyone, how much their privacy means to William and Kate because he felt the same.”
-DailyBeast
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): James Corden, Jenna Ortega, Mike Finney
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): James Corden, Jenna Ortega, Mike Finney
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Bruce Springsteen, Mike Birbiglia, Bryan Carter (R)
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Idina Menzel, James Marsden, Beth Orton (R)
• The View” (ABC/CTV): Edie Falco, Darlene Love, Rob Thomas
• “The Talk”(CBS): Paul Scheer, Karen David
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Harry Connick Jr., Maria Menounos, American Authors
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Linda Cardellini, Poppy Montgomery, Angie Thomas, Nicola Yoon
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Lily Collins, Ashley Park, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Lucas Bravo
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Gabrielle Union, Michael McIntyre, PJ Morton
• “Sherri” (Check local listings): Roselyn Sanchez, Stacey Ervin
• “The Greatest @Home Videos: Holiday Special” (CBS): An assortment of videos featuring awesome holiday cheer, not-to-be believed creativity and a sled full of internet gold.
• “Dateline NBC” (NBC): When a pediatric dentist is found dead, police uncover a complex plot that leads investigators on an international manhunt.
• “The 90th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade” (CW): The annual Christmas parade features celebs, bands from across the US, character balloons, floats and performers.
SATURDAY-
• “FIFA World Cup 2022” (Fox, TSN): Third place playoff — Croatia vs Morocco
• “The Holiday Dating Guide” (LIFE): Abigale makes her lifelong dream come true when she finishes her first book — a guide to dating in the modern world. But to satisfy her publisher, she must prove her advice works by making a man fall for her within the next 12 days.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Host Austin Butler; Lizzo performs.
SUNDAY-
• “FIFA World Cup 2022” (Fox, TSN): Final — Argentina vs France
• “When Christmas Was Young” (CBS): In desperate need of a hit song, a headstrong music manager falls for a gifted singer-songwriter who abandoned her dreams of making it big.
• “NFL Football” (NBC): New York Giants @ Washington Commanders
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Harry Styles – suffered a wardrobe malfunction during his Tuesday show in Brazil. Videos show that he ripped the pants of his sparkly jumpsuit. He can be seen bending over to inspect the damage, before covering his groin area and hilariously skipping away. Later, he triumphantly returns to the stage with a makeshift skirt made out of a flag, to finish the show. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mfpcjcsv
• Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar – plus Australian trio Rüfüs du Sol will headline the 2023 edition of the Osheaga festival, Aug. 4-6 in Montreal QC. Tickets go on sale today. LINK: https://www.osheaga.com/en
• Marillion – is a co-headliner of “Cruise to the Edge”, the premier prog-rock festival on the sea. Setting sail out of Miami, and running March 8-13 2024, other featured acts will include: Steve Hackett (Genesis), Flying Colors, Adrian Belew (King Crimson), Queensrÿche, and many more. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/423f8kzj
• Kiss – Paul Stanley says the band is “far from done”, even though the group is on its farewell tour. Quote: “Kiss is like an army or a sports team. When the MVP is…retired, the team doesn’t call it quits…an army, when they lose soldiers, doesn’t wave the white flag. Somebody else picks up the weapon and runs forward. So in one form or another, I believe there will always be a Kiss.”
• Metallica – Tonight, they will take the stage at the Microsoft Theater in LA for the third Helping Hands Concert & Auction. The fundraiser will be streamed live on Paramount+, Pluto TV, and MTV’s YouTube channel. Jimmy Kimmel hosts, beginning at 5:30 PST. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdznxz3v
• Brad Paisley – is among the performers in “Homeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon”, airing Dec. 21 on CBS. The show, recorded in April, also features Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, Eric Church, Susanna Hoffs, Jonas Brothers, Sting, Stevie Wonder and more. Paul Simon also makes a “special appearance”.
• Morgan Wallen – has made history, becoming the first artist ever to have songs simultaneously occupy the entire top 3 of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. ‘You Proof’, ‘One Thing At a Time’, and ‘Wasted On You’ head the chart dated Dec. 17. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4ap6pajh
• Blake Shelton – once sent Jennifer Hudson a goat – Yes! A real goat! – for Christmas. On Hudson‘s talk show, he told of how Hudson’s 13-year-old son had asked Shelton all about farm animals while on the set of “The Voice”. So, Shelton asked Jennifer if he could buy him a pygmy goat for Christmas. She shared that her son named it Prancer and called it “one of the most memorable Christmases…ever.”
SHOOTING THE BULL
TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
• “Avatar: The Way of Water” (PG-13, Sci-Fi, Adventure): Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. (Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet)
• “The Almond and the Seahorse” (Not rated, Drama, limited): An archaeologist and an architect fight to re-imagine a future after a traumatic brain injury leaves them adrift from the people they love. (Rebel Wilson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Meera Syal)
YOU CAN’T PICK YOUR FAMILY…OR CAN YOU?
A German researcher is developing the world’s first artificial womb facility, allowing parents to custom-order their baby’s characteristics from a menu. The plan is for “EctoLife” to be able to grow 30,000 babies a year. The concept is the brainchild of biotechnologist Hashem Al-Ghaili, who says the facility will let infertile couples to conceive a baby and become the true biological parents of their own offspring. A so-called ‘Elite Package’ would allow you to genetically engineer the embryo before implanting it into the artificial womb. Everything from eye and hair color to strength, height, and intelligence can be chosen, and inherited genetic diseases can be avoided. Ectolife features 75 highly equipped labs, with each able to accommodate up to 400 growth pods or artificial wombs. Every pod replicates the exact conditions inside the mother’s uterus. Because babies are thought to recognize language while still in the womb, the pods feature internal speakers that play a wide range of words and music to your baby. An app allows choice of the playlist baby listens to, and the ability to sing directly to them to gain familiarity with your voice before birth.
(You can pick your baby’s intelligence? Do they really think any parent is going to select “stupid”?)
(I’m pretty sure this is going to be the plot of a horror movie long before it opens in the real world…)
-StudyFinds
NEWS OF THE WEIRD:
➢ Several motorists who were speeding through an elementary school zone on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway received an odorous onion as a reminder to slow down from a county sheriff’s deputy dressed as the Grinch. Col. Lou Caputo, of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office who conjured up the concept more than 20 years ago, was back on the streets this week. Drivers caught traveling 5 mph or less above the school zone’s speed limit were allowed to choose between a traffic citation and an onion presented by the Grinch. Those speeding beyond that were likely to receive a costly ticket. Caputo said he portrays the fictional Christmas-stealing character to give motorists a “gift”, but also to nicely call attention to the need to obey speed limits in school zones. (“The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote: Stink, stank, stunk!”)
➢ It was the Grinch, not Santa, who came early for a driver who tried to pass off an inflatable figure of the Dr. Seuss character as a passenger. An Arizona state trooper noticed a car in a high-occupancy vehicle lane on Interstate 10 in Phoenix with a “Seusspicious-looking” green character in the passenger seat. While the gag may have caused the officer’s heart to grow, it did not stop the driver from getting cited for being in the HOV lane. The Arizona Department of Public Safety posted a photo of the belted-in Grinch figure, with the driver’s face blurred, on its Twitter account. Officials say they appreciate the “festive flair”, but the driver’s action was still illegal. (Grinch, meet Scrooge!) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/8p5a7zts
-AP
MOST RE-WATCHED CHRISTMAS FILMS:
(According TO a survey of 2,000 adults…)
1. Home Alone
2. The Snowman
3. Love Actually
4. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
5. Elf
6. Die Hard (WELL! I guess that settles THAT, doesn’t it!?!?)
7. A Christmas Carol
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas
9. Miracle on 34th Street
10. It’s a Wonderful Life
(What ones are on YOUR top-10 list?)
-StudyFinds
DID YOU KNOW?
If you want to live longer, get to know your neighbors. New research out of Rutgers University shows that feeling connected to one’s neighbors appears to promote better health outcomes. Study authors report strong neighborhood connections mitigated the negative impact of living alone on death rates among older adults. The results suggest perceptions of trust and connection within one’s neighborhood may help reduce death risk. (But DEFINITELY don’t borrow money from them. What? Only my neighborhood?)
-Talker
BS CHRONOMETER 12.16.22
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Chocolate Covered Anything Day”. What unusual ‘food enveloped in chocolate’ have you eaten? Chocolate-covered coffee beans … mmm! (And don’t knock chocolate-covered bacon ‘til you try it!)
• “Las Posadas” begins, the traditional 9-day Mexican Christmas celebration that includes breaking open a piñata.
• “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day”, an annual event on the 3rd Friday of December, celebrating the seasonal fad that’s become so commercialized that thrift stores are charging top prices for them. Ugly Christmas sweaters started as a trend in the 1950s, when holiday-themed motifs on sweaters began appearing in ads, then known as “Jingle Bell Sweaters.”
• “Stupid Toy Day”, a half-hearted salute to some of the bad inventions marketed for kids. Here are a few toys that have been pretty popular over the years, that just might be considered stupid:
– Slinky
– Weebles
– Pet Rock
– Tamagotchies
– Furbys
• “Tea Party Day” in Boston MA, anniversary of the original 1773 ‘Boston Tea Party’, when an entire shipment of tea was dumped into Boston Harbor in a protest over taxation. The episode escalated into the American Revolution. (You gotta fight for your right to pour tea!)
• “Barbie and Barney Backlash Day”, Barbie and Barney (the dinosaur) have long been favorite characters for children, but for parents? Not so much. Today, parents are allowed to tell their children what they really think of Barbie and Barney, and can even let them know that they aren’t real. (But that earworm “I love you, you love me” will STILL be stuck in your head!)
• “Underdog Day”, saluting the underdogs and the unsung heroes, the ‘Number Twos’ who contribute so much to the ‘Number Ones’ that we always hear about: Sherlock Holmes’ Dr Watson, Captain Kirk’s Mr. Spock, Batman’s Robin, Simon’s Garfunkel, etc.
SATURDAY-
• “Maple Syrup Day”, the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate this delicious North American treat. Canada makes more than 80% of the world’s supply, most of it in the province of Québec. The state of Vermont is the biggest producer in the USA.
• “Pan American Aviation Day”, celebrates and stimulates interest in aviation in the western hemisphere as a way to develop more rapid communications and cultural development. It is observed on the same day as . . .
• “Wright Brothers Day”, honoring their flight at Kitty Hawk NC December 17th, 1903. The first sustained motorized aircraft flight travelled a total of 850 ft. Orville Wright was the pilot, winning the honors in a coin toss. Wilbur got to run alongside. (Two wrongs don’t make a right, but two Wrights did make an airplane…)
SUNDAY-
• “Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day”. The idea is to answer: “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?”, a quote from the 2003 Will Ferrell movie “Elf”.
• “Bake Cookies Day”. What’s the best kind of homemade cookie: Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal-Raisin, or Peanut Butter? (And why is it Peanut Butter?)
• “Roast Suckling Pig Day”, “Here [co-host], put this apple in your mouth!”
• “Flake Appreciation Day”, a fun day to encourage us to take notice of snowflakes and to be mesmerized by each one that falls (And keep your “Everybody’s a snowflake these days” jokes to yourself!”)
• “International Migrants Day”, a day of solidarity for migrant workers, on the anniversary of the UN’s 1990 adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrants Workers & Members of Their Families. (Catchy name.)
• “National Twin Day”, celebrates the siblings who enjoy the unique connection because they share a birthday (as well as DNA…).
• “Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day”, We’re not exactly sure what you are supposed to do to observe this “special” day…
• “Ham Salad Day”, Why?
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1941 [81] Lesley Stahl, Lynn MA, TV journalist (“60 Minutes” since 1991, “48 Hours” 2002-04)
1946 [76] (Göran) Benny Andersson, Stockholm Sweden, pop musician-songwriter (ABBA-‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Take a Chance on Me’/co-composer of the musicals “Chess” and “Mamma Mia!”)
1949 [73] Billy Gibbons, Houston TX, classic rock guitarist/singer (ZZ Top-‘Legs’, ‘Tush’)
1963 [59] Benjamin Bratt, San Francisco CA, TV actor (“Star” 2016, “Private Practice” 2011-13)/movie actor (“Doctor Strange”, “Miss Congeniality”)
1967 [55] Donovan Bailey, Manchester Parish Jamaica (raised in Oakville ON), sprinter (WR 100m 9.84 1996; Olympic gold 100m, 4x100m 1996; World Championship gold 100m, 4x100m 1995, 4x100m 1997)
1975 [47] Benjamin Kowalewicz, Montréal QC, rock singer (Billy Talent-‘Stand Up and Run’, ‘Rusted From the Rain’)
1981 [41] Krysten Ritter, Bloomsburg PA, TV actress (“Jessica Jones” 2015-15, “Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23” 2012-13)/movie actress (“Veronica Mars”, “Big Eyes”)
1984 [38] Theo James, Oxford UK, movie actor (“The Divergent Series” film)/TV actor (“The White Lotus” 2022)
1986 [36] Dave Rublin, Maplewood NJ, rock bassist-keyboardist (American Authors-‘Best Day Of My Life’, ‘Believer’)
SATURDAY- Pope Francis is 86; Ernie Hudson (“Ghostbusters”) is 77; Eugene Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”) is 76; Bill Pullman (“Independence Day”) is 69; Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell (MMA fighter) is 53; Jeffrey “Duff” Goldman (“Cake Masters”) is 48; Giovanni Ribisi (“Selma”) is 48; Sarah Paulson (“American Horror Story”) is 48; Milla Jovovich (“Resident Evil” films) is 47; Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao (former pro boxer) is 44
SUNDAY- Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) is 79; Steven Spielberg (director-“Indiana Jones”) is 76; Brad Pitt (“Fight Club”) is 59; Sia (‘Chandelier’) is 47; Randy Houser (‘How Country Feels’) is 47; Katie Holmes (Dawson’s Creek”) is 44; Christina Aguilera (‘Genie In a Bottle’) is 42; Ashley Benson (“Pretty Little Liars”) is 33; Billie Eilish (‘Bad Guy’) is 21
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2005 [17] Singers and stars of “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica” Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson divorce due to irreconcilable differences
2010 [12] “Larry King Live” ends after 25 years on CNN as the 77-year-old host “retires.” (He goes on to host “Larry King Now” and “Politicking with Larry King” on Hulu and RT America through 2020, passes away January 23, 2021)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2013 [09] “Heat” magazine reports that Miley Cyrus has insured her infamous tongue for $1 million
2019 [03] Mariah Carey’s single ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ finally reaches #1, 25 years after release
2020 [02] After nearly 178 days, Twenty One Pilots pull the plug on the livestream for their ‘Level of Concern’ video, which refreshed every 3:40 with new footage uploaded by fans. Guinness declares it the longest music video ever made
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2003 [19] Shania Twain becomes the first woman with 3 Diamond albums when her 4th album, “Up!” is certified for 10 million in sales. “The Woman in Me” (1995) and “Come On Over” (1997) also went Diamond
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1998 [24] Kevin Cole of Carlsbad NM sets a new world record by blowing 7 inches of spaghetti out of his nose, beating the previous record of 5 inches (Mom must be so proud)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Many parts of the Christmas tree can be eaten. Needles are a good source of Vitamin C.
✓ It takes 100 lbs. (45kg) of rain water to produce a single pound of food from the earth.
✓ Google, the periodic table, the structure of our DNA, and ‘Yesterday’ by the Beatles are all ideas that were conceived in dreams.
✓ Kenny G’s real last name is “Gorelick”.
✓ 7,000 new insect species are discovered every year.
✓ According to a 2005 Bristol University study, birds prefer to “leave their droppings” on white cars.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, OfficeHolidays
Best of BS . . .
BS INFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
• “Excuse me. Did you drop this $100 bill?”
• “Are these Crocs too sexy?”
• “Do you think octopi have a preferred tentacle to use, the same way humans use one hand more than the other?”
• “Can I get a bigger fine?”
• “What would a Hallmark movie directed by Quentin Tarantino be like?”
• “Is that your real face?”
• “Can you please mansplain that to me one more time?”
• “Who let the dogs in?”
• “Is Jar Jar Binks your favorite Star Wars character?”
• “Do you smell magenta?”
• “Do you want my bacon?”
• “How’s Waldo?”
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
BS QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE BUYING EGG NOG:
• “Am I feeling sufficiently noggy today?”
• “What’s the best egg-to-nog ratio?”
• “I have high cholesterol — is there egg white nog?”
• “What other disgusting egg-based beverages could I try?”
• “Has this egg nog been approved by the Nogmaster General?”
• “Is egg my best choice of nog?”
• “Which one’s the egg nog that all the rappers drink?”
• “Do I really feel like drinking this crap?”
• “What would Jesus drink?”
• “Which came first, the egg or the nog?”
-Neloo, first published in BS in 2017
BS WEB GOODIE:
Same (definitely sound up): https://tinyurl.com/nrzxu2sm
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Anyone who believes that men and women are equal has never seen a man trying to wrap a Christmas present.
BS PHONE STARTER:
Do you prefer to watch movies in a theater, or in the comfort of your own home? Why?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: A surprising 68% of millennials don’t own THIS common item. What is it?
Answer: A toaster
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
