Monday, December 14, 2020 – Edition: #6871

The Sheet Hits the Fans!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Singer FKA twigs has filed a lawsuit alleging that Shia LaBeouf was physically and emotionally abusive during their relationship from 2018 to 2019. In the filing, she accuses LaBeouf of sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress. The 32-year-old British singer and actor, whose legal name is Tahliah Barnett, alleges that LaBeouf left her in a constant state of fear and humiliation, once slammed her into a car, tried to strangle her and knowingly gave her a sexually transmitted disease. They met in 2018 when she was cast in his mostly autobiographical film “Honey Boy”.
-Yahoo, CBC
★ Michael Douglas and Christoph Waltz will star as former president Ronald Reagan and his Soviet counterpart Mikhail Gorbachev in a limited series in development at Paramount TV Studios. “Reagan & Gorbachev” will chronicle the 1986 summit between the two leaders in Iceland, which is described by many historians as the turning point in the Cold War. The two-day gathering in Reykjavik laid the groundwork for an historic arms accord the following year, and is considered one of Reagan’s finest moments as president.
-TheWrap
★ Chris Evans is the new voice of ‘Buzz Lightyear’. He’ll take over the role of the space hero made famous by Tim Allen, for a new “Toy Story” prequel. Reacting to the news on Twitter, Evans wrote: “I don’t even have words. And just to be clear, this isn’t Buzz Lightyear the toy. This is the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on.” The project is aiming for release in June, 2022.
-ContactMusic
★ 78-year-old Harrison Ford will be grabbing his whip and ramming on his hat for a fifth and supposedly final ‘Indiana Jones’ movie. Disney made the announcement in a virtual presentation to investors. The film, a mere 41 years after the first installment, is due for release in July 2022. Disney also unveiled plans for 10 Star Wars and Marvel shows which are in the works for Disney+.
-CNN, BBC, TheGuardian

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Taylor Swift, Christian Serratos, Sabrina Claudio
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Gal Gadot, Ricky Martin, Lana Del Rey
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Chance the Rapper, Christopher Walken, Laura Benanti
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): The Chicks, Jamie Demetriou, Christina Aguilera
• ” The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Kyle Chandler, Meghan Trainor
• “Conan” (TBS): Jay Pharoah
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Kate Chastain, Francesca Rubi
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Day of Hot Topics
• “The Talk” (CBS): Mary Steenburgen, Duff Goldman, guest co-host Rumer Willis
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Mark Consuelos, guest co-host Andy Cohen
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Matthew McConaughey, Gabby Barrett (R)
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Garth Brooks
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Elaine Welteroth, Andrew Rannells
• “The Voice” (NBC): Live Finale Part 1
• “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2020” (CW): performers include Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Lewis Capaldi, Sam Smith, Shawn Mendes and The Weeknd.
• “Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir Featuring Kelli O’Hara and Richard Thomas” (PBS): The Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas celebration featuring carols and seasonal favorites.
• “The Shot: Race for the Vaccine — A Special Edition of 20/20” (ABC): An inside look at how officials expect to deliver a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine; answers to questions regarding safety, access and timing.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Dua Lipa – She and Demi Lovato, J Balvin, and Matthew McConaughey will be helping fans ring in 2021 virtually as part of a series of YouTube specials. “Hello 2021” will feature five different shows for viewers in the Americas, the U.K., South Korea, Japan, and India, where fans will be treated to speeches, musical performances, and dance parties from big name stars as they count down to the New Year.
• Sam Smith — has forgiven Shawn Mendes for using the wrong pronoun while introducing Smith at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball, referencing Sam as “he”, instead of the non-binary star’s preferred pronouns of “they”, “them” and “theirs”. After Mendes posted an apology, Smith quickly responded: “We’re all learning together. Happy holidays, all my love xx.”
• Beyoncé – Her daughter Blue Ivy now has a Grammys nomination. When nominations were announced last month, the 8-year-old wasn’t on the list of artists recognized for “Brown Skin Girl,” which was nominated in the best music video category. At the time, only her mother received a nomination, though Blue Ivy can be heard singing a few lines. Her name has since been added on the Grammys website.
• Chris Cornell – His estate has released what’s being called his last ever album, “No One Sings Like You Anymore”, is a 10-song collection of covers of songs by the likes of John Lennon, Prince and Guns N’ Roses. His widow, Vicky, calls the release “bittersweet” because he should be here to put it out himself, but she hopes it will help to lift everyone’s spirits amid the pandemic.
• Alice Cooper – has released the new song ‘Our Love Will Change the World’, a cover of a song from Detroit psych-pop band Outrageous Cherry. It will appear on Cooper’s “Detroit Stories” album, out Feb. 26, featuring music inspired by his home city.
• Sammy Hagar & the Circle — have announced their new album “Lockdown 2020” will be released Jan. 8. It was recorded remotely during the band’s “Lockdown Sessions,” a series of cover songs, plus an original called ‘Funky Feng Shui’ that the group began releasing in March amid quarantine. They’re previewing their take on David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ now. LINK:  https://youtu.be/TMxiai7aIl4
• Kelly Clarkson – had Garth Brooks as a socially distanced guest on her talk show, and revealed that his song ‘The Dance’ is helping her through what appears to be a particularly nasty divorce from estranged husband Brandon Blackstock. She also shared a snippet of her version of the song, which she said will appear on her next album.
•  Charley Pride — whose rich baritone voice and impeccable song-sense altered American culture, died Saturday in Dallas of complications from Covid-19 at age 86. Born a sharecropper’s son in Sledge, Mississippi, he emerged from Southern cotton fields to become country music’s first Black superstar and the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Blake Shelton – was asked on “Late Night With Seth Myers” about a potential band for his upcoming wedding with Gwen Stefani. He named his former “The Voice” co-coach and longtime frenemy Adam Levine’s group Maroon 5 as an option, saying “He may not like it, but Adam Levine’s going to have to get the band together and come and play our wedding.”
• Tim McGraw — went the holiday season route Friday with the release of ‘It Wasn’t His Child’. He first performed the Skip Ewing Christmas standard at the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway and most recently on this year’s CMA Country Christmas, which will re-air Dec. 21 on ABC.

SO MUCH FOR FREE SHIPPING:
New York City is considering a law that would require residents to pay a $3 surcharge on packages ordered online. Assemblyman Robert Carroll, who proposed the bill, says the online shopping fee would raise more than $1 billion a year to “fund the operating costs of buses and subways”. The bill points out that the surcharge, which would provide exceptions for deliveries of medicine and food, would support small businesses, and “encourage consumers, and the Amazons of the world, to more regularly consolidate multiple items into a single package for delivery.”
(What about deliveries from small, local businesses?)
(So it’d be a good idea NOT to order my toothpaste one day, and deodorant the next?)
(Is dial-a-bottle still a thing? Asking for a friend. Who has the same name as me…)
-BroBible

HOW’S THIS ‘WORK OUT’ FOR YOU?
OK, this is going to be tough to hear, but if you’re interested in exercising to lose weight, you’re going to have to work out for 300 minutes a week, according to a study. University of Kentucky researchers looked at 44 overweight, sedentary participants between the ages of 19-49 as they participated in 12-week exercise programs. One group was assigned to exercise for 6 days a week for about an hour a day, another group exercised twice a week, and the final group maintained its typical inactive routine. While both exercising groups lost a small amout of weight, the frequent exercisers lost significantly more body fat. The researchers determined that while any amount of exercise increases our appetite, by exercising for 300 minutes (5 hours) a week, you’d burn enough calories to offset typical post-workout snacks.
(Yeah, great, thanks. Could you remind me of this in January?)
(I think this is one study where it’d be best to be in the “control” group…)
(Does that 300 minutes include flexing in the mirror, checking messages and posting gym selfies?)
-Insider

AIR LEAK:
Flight cabin crew in China are being advised to wear diapers to reduce the chance of catching COVID-19. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has made the recommendation for crew flying to high-risk destinations in its updated list of guidelines, which also asks cabin crew to “avoid using the lavatory unless in special circumstances to reduce the risk of infection.” Other PPE recommendations include wearing medical protective masks, a double-layer of disposable medical rubber gloves, goggles, disposable caps, disposable protective clothing and disposable shoe covers, as well as cordoning off the rear 3 rows of the plane for use as an emergency quarantine area.
(For COVID, or for flight attendants who overfilled their diapers?)
(That brings new meaning to the phrase “They changed the flight crew during refueling”!)
(And just like that, every guy’s “stewardess” fantasy has been put on ice until the pandemic is over…)
-Yahoo

GOOGLE TOP SEARCHES WORLDWIDE IN 2020:
1. Coronavirus
2. Election results
3. Kobe Bryant
4. Zoom
5. IPL (Indian Premier League)

TOP ‘PEOPLE’ SEARCHES:
1. Joe Biden
2. Kim Jong Un
3. Boris Johnson
4. Kamala Harris
5. Tom Hanks

TOP TV SHOW SEARCHES:
1. Tiger King
2. Big Brother Brasil
3. Money Heist
4. Cobra Kai
5. The Umbrella Academy

TOP LYRIC SEARCHES:
1. WAP – Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion
2. Savage Love – Jason Derulo & Jawsh 685
3. GOOBA — 6ix9ine
4. Skechers — DripReport
5. Dynamite – BTS
Country-specific results:  https://trends.google.com/trends/yis/2020/US/
-GoogleTrends

DID YOU KNOW?
The 1980s, with its crimps, perms and teases, have been named the decade with the most iconic hairstyles, according to a OnePoll survey of women. Respondents were also asked to pinpoint the most iconic hairstyles of all time. Farrah Fawcett’s feathered locks reign supreme, while next in line is Shirley Temple’s curls, Marilyn Monroe’s platinum blonde hair, and Jennifer Aniston’s “The Rachel” from “Friends.” The average woman was found to have experienced 4 completely botched hairstyles over the years, but nearly 8 in 10 say they have come to appreciate and love their hair thanks to their time in COVID-19 quarantine.
-StudyFinds

BS CHRONOMETER 12.14.20

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [71] Cliff Williams, Romford UK, un-retired rock bassist (AC/DC-‘Thunderstruck’, ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2003)

1984 [36] Jackson Rathbone, Singapore, movie actor (“Twilight” franchise)

1988 [32] Vanessa Hudgens, Salinas CA, movie actress (“High School Musical” movies, “Thirteen”)/ pop singer (w/ Drew Seeley & Zac Efron-‘Breaking Free’)

1992 [28] Tori Kelly, Wildomar CA, singer-songwriter (‘Should’ve Been Us’, ‘Nobody Love’)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Bouillabaisse Day”, a day to throw some shellfish in a pot with some finely-chopped onion, celery, and tomato; a little white wine, a little more white wine; and a whole mess of garlic. Nummers, instant heaven!

• “International Monkey Day”, to raise awareness about monkey issues, monkeys in the news, and ways you can help monkeys . . . apes and other primates included (Did you know humans eat more bananas than monkeys? It’s true, although monkeys are more filling…!)

• “Roast Chestnuts Day”, when we’re encouraged to actually do what we all sing about at this time of year: “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”. They go great with a cup of hot chocolate!

• “Green Monday”, an online shopping day similar to Cyber Monday, it occurs on the last Monday when there are at least ten days prior to Christmas (usually the second Monday in December)

• “Free Shipping Day”, another day dedicated to shopping. Today, thousands of online retailers, both large and small, offer free shipping and guarantee your items by Christmas Eve. https://www.freeshippingday.com/

COMING UP . . .
[Tues] Cat Herders’ Day
[Tues] International Tea Day
[Wed] Chocolate Covered Anything Day
[Wed] Stupid Toy Day
This Week Is…Computer Science Education Week
This Month Is…National Car Donation Month

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1977 [43] At the peak of the disco era, the film ‘Saturday Night Fever’ opens in theaters. The soundtrack contains the #1 hits ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and ‘Night Fever’, among others

2019 [01] The Bel Air mansion featured in the TV series “The Beverly Hillbillies” sells for $150 million, becoming California’s most expensive property

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1978 [42] Billy Joel plays Madison Square Garden for the first time, which he considered a “temple” while growing up. He later became the first musical act to hold residency there.

2004 [16] The funeral for guitarist Dimebag Darrell (Damageplan, Pantera) takes place in Arlington TX with Eddie Van Halen placing his original black & yellow-striped guitar into the KISS Kasket that Dimebag is buried in (Darrell had been shot while onstage by a deranged fan)

2012 [08] A stalker is arrested outside a residence belonging to Taylor Swift and charged with trespassing (he claims he’s been in touch with her via social media and is planning to surprise her for her birthday)

CATCH OF THE DAY:
2003 [17] US President George W. Bush announces the capture of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2004 [16] The Millau Viaduct, the “Tallest Bridge in the World” (343 m or 1,125 ft) is inaugurated near Millau, France

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ In the average film, male actors utter 10 times as many profanities as female actors.
✓ Every second, 10,000 chemical reactions occur in your brain.
✓ Disposable diapers are five times more likely to cause diaper rash than cotton ones.
✓ Princess Diana’s favorite band was Duran Duran.
✓ The Statue of Liberty’s waist size is 35 – feet.
✓ Google’s original name was “BackRub”.
-BathroomReadersInstitute

Best of BS . . .
BS UNUSUAL THINGS TO BRAG ABOUT:
• Taking the longest nap ever
• Getting fired
• Surviving Y2K
• Being in the friendzone
• Turning oxygen into carbon dioxide
• Using a toilet backwards
• Being the most amazingly humble person. Like no one- literally NO ONE, is more humble
• Four nipples
• High score at the local golf club
• Knowing all the words to ‘Tequila’
• Bacne
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2017

TODAY’S SLICE OF BS:
➠ Authorities in Georgia are looking for a man who stabbed a Dunkin’ Donuts employee for NOT having the flavor he wanted. (Cops rushed to the scene…as soon as they heard the word “donut.”)
➠ Michael Bay will direct the action thriller “Ambulance” and Jake Gyllenhaal has signed on to star. (Although Bay plans to shoot Ambulance in early 2021, it already sucks!)
➠ A “Once in a Lifetime” event will take place Dec 21st, when Jupiter & Saturn reunite after 800 Years to form a rare ‘Christmas Star’ (Though to be fair, if you spend your Monday night sitting alone in a field, eagerly clutching a four-foot telescope, you probably didn’t have too much of a life to begin with…)
➠ The Backstreet Boys just got their Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  (Coincidentally, it’s located on the same side of the street that their careers sleep on…)
➠ Steve Buscemi turned 63 yesterday. (He tried to eat the whole birthday cake, but couldn’t finish it . . . because his eyes are, literally, bigger than his stomach.)

BS WEB GOODIE:
What it takes to work here: https://tinyurl.com/y6d6hcke

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• The French word “Noel” is often used around Christmas. What was its original meaning in Latin?
a) Birth [CORRECT]
b) Gift
c) Tree
d) Leon

• Which is NOT another name for “Santa Claus” somewhere in the world?
a) Papa Noel
b) Father North [CORRECT. He’s known as ‘Papa Noel’ in Peru and Brazil, ‘Grandfather Frost’ in Russia, and ‘Joulupukki’ in Finland]
c) Grandfather Frost
d) Joulupukki

• Which traditional Christmas carol is actually set on December 26?
a) ‘Jingle Bells’
b) ‘Good King Wenceslas’ [CORRECT. “… on the feast of Stephen” refers to St Stephen’s Day, observed December 26th.]
c) ‘We Three Kings’
d) ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’
(The song ‘Jingle Bells’ was originally written for Thanksgiving.)
-Wiki, Conversationstarters

BS RANDOM JOKE:
A perfect metaphor for my life would be: “Someone trying to stand up in a hammock.”

BS PHONE STARTER:
What did you really, really want for Christmas when you were a kid but never got?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  37% of us admit we’ve had to replace gifts we’ve purchased because of THIS. What is it?
Answer:  They ate or drank it.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly.