Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Edition: #6587
Sheet Happens!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Joaquin Phoenix is a big animal lover and now he’s being recognized for it. On Monday, PETA announced that the “Joker” star is being named its ‘2019 Person of the Year’, following in the footsteps of luminaries like Oprah Winfrey and Pope Francis. Phoenix, who has been a vegan since he was three, recently appeared on a PETA billboard in Times Square, joined California lawmakers in announcing a ban on travelling wild-animal circuses, and led a memorial service at a National Animal Rights Day march cradling a dead chicken. He has also produced and narrated documentaries focused on the issue.
-ETCanada
★ Harry Styles, Jeff Goldblum and Alicia Keys will guest host “The Late Late Show with James Corden” this month. Corden is taking a break from his show to work on his upcoming movie “The Prom”, so during his absence, a range of stars, also including Melissa McCarthy, Ken Jeong and Chance the Rapper, will be taking the reins of the program. Singer Alicia will be the first guest host on December 9. The rest of the guest-host schedule hasn’t been announced, but we know that Corden will return on Dec. 18.
-ContactMusic
★ Gabrielle Union’s treatment on the set of “America’s Got Talent” has sparked an investigation by the actors union SAG-AFTRA, who says they will look into reports about the culture of racism and sexism on the show. NBC released a statement saying, “America’s Got Talent has a long history of inclusivity and diversity in both our talent and the acts championed by the show. NBC and the producers take any issues on set seriously.” Execs have been accused of treating Union unfairly, and at times she was allegedly subjected to criticism over her physical appearance. Other reports claim Union asked producers to speak with human resources about a joke told by guest judge Jay Leno. The report claimed Union’s request was never fulfilled.
(It’s good to see the union is supporting Union…!)
-TheBlast
★ Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has posted another picture of himself enjoying a “cheat meal”. This time, he shared a delicious looking picture of pizza covered in parmesan cheese, but the caption revealed what was special about it. He wrote: “Double dough pizzas. Where I have the pizza maker literally use two doughs to make one pie – highly recommend you give it a try. Cheese and Hawaiian…When you are 6’5” and 260 pounds of muscle and charm nobody will argue with you about anything.”
-TheBlast
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Tom Holland, Ana Gasteyer, Angel Olsen
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): John Lithgow, Alanis Morissette
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Eddie Redmayne, Pharrell Williams
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Sam Rockwell, Lucy Boynton, Les Savy Fav (R)
• “Lights Out with David Spade” (COMEDY): Adam Ray, Andrea Savage, Brent Morin
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Ashley Tisdale, Jennifer Aydin
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Michael Eric Dyson
• “The Talk” (CBS): David Boreanaz
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Harry Hamlin, Chris Byrne
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Patti LaBelle, Sam & Aaron Taylor-Johnson
• “87th Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (NBC): The annual tree lighting ceremony in New York features performances from John Legend, Brett Eldredge, Derek and Julianne Hough, Chicago, Straight No Chaser, Idina Menzel, Lea Michele, Ne-Yo and Gwen Stefani.
• “The Moodys” (FOX): Series premiere. Freshly single, Dan returns to his childhood home for Christmas to find it’s in various stages of disarray; He meets and instantly clicks with Cora, but she’s dating his cousin; Bridget returns to her childhood home after a fight with her husband.
• “Vikings” (HISTORY): Season 6 premiere
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Katy Perry – has gotten into the holiday spirit with a new video for last year’s ‘Cozy Little Christmas’. The clip shows Perry and Santa Claus stripping down during a much needed pre-Christmas break, and enjoying massages together courtesy of reindeer.
• Billie Eilish – Wolfgang Van Halen (Eddie’s son) came to her rescue after she touched off a mini-firestorm by admitting to Jimmy Kimmel that she’s never heard of Van Halen. Wolfgang tweeted: “If you haven’t heard of Billie Eilish, go check her out. She’s cool…Music is supposed to bring us together, not divide us. Listen to what you want and don’t shame others for not knowing what you like.”
• Mariah Carey – Her song ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ has sold 16 million copies and is the 12th biggest single of all time. But according to a poll of Brits, it’s also the most annoying holiday song. The rest of the top five in order: ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ – Band Aid; ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’ – Wizzard; ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ – Slade; ‘Last Christmas’ – Wham!
• The Pussycat Dolls – Their reunion on U.K. TV show “The X Factor: Celebrity” prompted 419 complaints to broadcasting authorities, the vast majority regarding their sexually suggestive performance.
• Mötley Crüe — Mick Mars will release his solo album in April. He’s been working on it for years, even before the group’s “Final Tour” ended in 2015. The group recently confirmed their return to the stage.
• Alanis Morissette — has released the new single ‘Reasons I Drink’. In the song, she opens up about her mental health struggles. She’ll performing it live Thursday on “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon”.
• Thomas Rhett — has turned down more than one chance for his family to be part of a reality TV show, and he says he will keep on saying “No”. He says he is happy to share his life with his family on social media, but not on TV. He is, however, interested in delving into a bit of acting…
• Brad Paisley — is putting together a celebrity dodgeball tournament. The event, set for Feb. 20, will raise money for his charitable “The Store”, a grocery store that he and wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley are opening in partnership with Belmont University to provide food security to families in need. Paisley and others will also perform at the event.
‘BIRD’ IS NOT THE WORD (OF THE YEAR):
“Existential” is Dictionary.com’s word of the year for 2019. Why? Senior Research Editor John Kelly says the word was selected after a year filled with high-stakes threats and crises. To him, the word speaks to that sense of grappling with our survival, both literally and figuratively. The word was used extensively in searches after the outbreak of wildfires, Hurricane Dorian, and mass shootings in New Zealand and Texas. It also was used as a theme in the movie “Toy Story 4” and when US presidential contender Bernie Sanders and 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg characterized climate change as an “existential” crisis. Oxford Dictionaries has picked “climate emergency” as its word of the year, While Collins Dictionary picked “climate strike.”
(Hey! Those are TWO words!)
(You want “grappling with survival? I had to teach my teenage daughter to drive this year!)
(I’m pretty sure the phrase “Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich” was used a lot more than any of them!)
-CTV
HOUSEHOLD HACKS:
The FBI has issued a warning about newer smart TVs, saying that they could be used as a gateway for hackers to take control of the camera and microphone to watch and listen in on your household. If you own a television that is connected to the internet, here is what they suggest you do:
1) Do a basic internet search to see if a TV has a camera or microphone.
2) If so, find out if it’s possible to turn the camera and microphone off.
3) Alternately, place black tape over an unused smart TV camera.
4) Keep your smart TV up-to-date with the latest patches and fixes.
5) Read the privacy policy to better understand what your smart TV is capable of.
(Ha! Who’s the guy with the 15-year-old smart TV now?)
(I hope hackers like watching a fat guy eat Doritos in bed!)
(I hope they have better luck with my internet signal than I do!)
-TechCrunch, UberFacts
THE HOTTEST TRENDS EVERY YEAR OF THE PAST DECADE:
➠ 2010: Angry Birds — It seemed that everyone with a phone and a few free moments was slingshotting grumpy cartoon birds into little green pigs. 6 billion downloads later, “Angry Birds 2” came along in 2015. (And of course, that all-time classic movie in 2016…)
➠ 2011: “Game of Thrones” — George R.R. Martin released the novel “A Game of Thrones” in 1996 as the first installment in his fantasy series “A Song of Fire and Ice.” In 2011, it became a TV series on HBO, and streaming media changed forever.
➠ 2012: ‘Gangnam Style’ – Not since ‘Macarena’ had any song/dance craze been as all-consuming. Released on July 15, by the end of the year, it was certified as the first video ever to reach 1 billion views on YouTube.
➠ 2013: Vine – Sort of like GIFs with audio, Vine allowed users to make videos with their front-facing camera, launching a new generation of Internet stars. The arrival of Snapchat, however, was the beginning of the end.
➠ 2014: Ice Bucket Challenge – If you were on social media, chances are good you were challenged to dump a bucket over your head. The viral fundraising scheme to raise money for ALS, commonly known as Lou Gherig’s disease, raised $100 million in 30 days. (And spawned a whole sub-category of viral videos: The “Ice-Bucket Challenge Fail”!)
➠ 2015: “Making a Murderer” – Netflix redefined the crime documentary and got the world talking about the American criminal justice system when it presented the strange case of Steven Avery. Nearly 20 million people watched it in the first 35 days alone.
➠ 2016: “Hamilton” – The Broadway play was nominated for a record-breaking 16 Tony Awards, launching the Colonial-era hip-hop stage show into the stuff of legend. Hamilton earned its investors a return of more than 600% on their $12.5 million investment by 2017.
➠ 2017: Instant Pot — Not since the Foreman Grill has a countertop appliance created more buzz. In 2017, it became the ‘must-have’ item, ranking among the top sellers on Amazon Prime Day, increasing sales by 79% and earning itself a cult following that remains unrivaled in the world of cooking appliances. (So why do I still not have one?)
➠ 2018: Keto Diet — The high-fat, low-carb diet had been floating around for years, but in 2018, the promise of turning your own body into a fat-burning machine on autopilot finally got the attention of the masses. That year, restaurants, meal kit delivery services, and grocery stores began altering their offerings to accommodate the craze.
➠ 2019: VSCO Girl – Launched by rich girls in high school, VSCO girl is a look, a style, and an attitude. Tiny shorts, giant oversized shirts, Hydro Flasks, and ’90s nostalgia like scrunchies on the wrists are all part of the style, which remains a staple in middle and high schools everywhere. (Aaaaand the only one that I haven’t heard of. But I suppose there’s still time this year…)
(What, to you, was a bigger trend this decade? Fidget spinners in 2017?)
-Cheapism
DID YOU KNOW?
A study found that singing songs from classic musicals can boost the brain function of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers working with elderly residents at a U.S. care facility found that those who sang their favorite showtunes showed a marked improvement in mental performance compared to other residents who merely listened.
-NewNowNext
BS CHRONOMETER 12.04.19
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [70] Jeff Bridges, LA CA, movie actor (“The Big Lebowski”, Oscar-“Crazy Heart”)
1964 [55] Marisa Tomei, Brooklyn NY, film actress (“Spider-Man Homecoming”, Oscar-“My Cousin Vinny”)
1966 [53] Fred Armisen, Hattiesburg MS, TV comic (“Portlandia” 2011-18, “Saturday Night Live” 2002-13)/movie actor (“Smurfs” movies)
1969 [50] Jay-Z (Shawn Carter), Brooklyn NY, rap artist-producer (w/Beyoncé-‘Crazy in Love’, f/Alicia Keys-‘Empire State of Mind’)/wed to Beyoncé since 2008
1970 [49] Kevin Sussman, NYC, TV actor (‘Stuart Bloom’ on “The Big Bang Theory” 2009-19)
1973 [46] Tyra Banks, Inglewood CA, TV personality (“America’s Next Top Model” since 2003, “The Tyra Banks Show” 2005-10)/former fashion model (“Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show”)
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cookie Day”, celebrating the yummiest treat of all. What’s the best kind? Chocolate chip? Oatmeal and raisin? Peanut butter with macadamia nuts?
• “Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day”, created in 2000 as a day to pass out ‘attaboys’ to employee teams that consistently work extraordinarily well together to produce significant results for their companies or organizations. (It’s far cheaper than year-end bonuses.)
• “Santa’s List Day”, the day the big guy purportedly decides who’s been naughty and who’s been nice (Does that make tomorrow “Do Whatever You Want Because Santa has Already Made his List Day”?)
• “Wear Brown Shoes Day”, for some unknown reason. To get the full effect, make sure you wear ’em with something black. (To get half-effect, wear ONE brown shoe)
• “World Wildlife Conservation Day”, with the aim of raising awareness and engaging conservationists in the goal of putting an end to wildlife crime. Some of the world’s best-loved species are being slaughtered by criminal networks driven by a voracious demand for illegal animal parts and products.
• “Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting” (***See Show Biz Sked, above***)
COMING UP . . .
[Thurs] Bathtub Party Day
[Thurs] Day of the Ninja
[Fri] Bartender Appreciation Day
[Fri] Faux Fur Friday
THIS DAY IN SHOWBIZ . . .
2015 [04] Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas divorce after 19 years of marriage
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1980 [39] Led Zeppelin officially disbands following the death by misadventure of drummer John Bonham due to excessive alcohol intake. They never fully reform, but do play some shows with Jason Bonham filling in for his father.
1993 [26] Frank Zappa dies of prostate cancer at age 52 in Los Angeles, California.
1992 [27] In an effort to prevent hearing loss among its fans, heavy metal group Megadeth distributes 13,000 pairs of earplugs at a concert in San Francisco, California
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1952 [67] Killer fogs begin in London, England; the term “Smog” is coined.
1982 [37] 1st human killed by a bowling ball (Hernia? Swallowing? Were other victims … ‘spared’?)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ In the 1800s, ketchup was believed to have medicinal qualities, such as curing diarrhea.
✓ Pound cake got its name from its original recipe, which called for a pound each of butter, eggs, sugar and flour.
✓ Apples, pears and plums all belong to the rose family.
✓ The Aztecs used chocolate as currency.
✓ Ninjas are said to have avoided particularly pungent foods, such as garlic, to prevent having detectable body odors.
✓ Costco’s more than 700 American food courts earn so much money that they are considered the 14th-largest pizza chain in the U.S.
-UberFacts
Best of BS . . .
BS MALL SANTA PET PEEVES:
• Kids who refuse to believe that’s fruitcake on your breath, not rum.
• When the last guy to use the beard leaves bits of his lunch in it.
• Parents who get all uptight when you offer their kids a pinch of Skoal.
• Enduring the taunts of your old buddies from drama school.
• Two words … lap rash.
– First published in ‘BS’ 2000.
NET: http://www.FreeRadioPrep.ca
BS THINGS NOT TO DO IN A BOOKSTORE:
• Read “Fifty Shades of Grey” out loud.
• Use their free Wi-Fi to log into Amazon and buy books.
• Return the book “How to Get Away With Murder” covered in blood.
• Light a match.
• Rearrange the books alphabetically by title.
• Ask if you can use your Blockbuster card.
• Stand in the self-help section and offer unsolicited advice.
• Read your Kindle.
• I couldn’t tell you. I’m not allowed within 500 feet since “the incident…”
-Twitter, first published in ‘BS’ in 2018
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the worst thing about trying to share living quarters with someone? (Top beef in a poll: Sharing a bathroom.)
BS RANDOM JOKE:
A bee is never as busy as it seems. It’s just that it can’t buzz any slower.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: When it comes to the holidays, 43% of people think THIS is tacky. What?
Answer: Inflatable lawn decorations
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
