Wednesday, December 14, 2022 – Edition: #7379

The Sheet Hits the Fans!

 

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
(***Caution — “p—y”***) ★ To put it bluntly, don’t be mad at Tom Cruise. Emily Blunt recently shared that co-star Cruise told her to “stop being such a p—y” while filming “Edge of Tomorrow” in 2014. And although she found the memory comical, she is is now clearing the air after her story was “taken literally and absurdly out of context”. In a statement, she said: “It’s ludicrous that it’s being spun as something that offended me. It didn’t. I shared the story as lightheartedly as it was meant by Tom.” Blunt added that she and the “Top Gun” actor have no bad blood, but rather, are close friends, saying: “I absolutely adore Tom, he’s a dear friend and he was a total gem to me. It was said as a joke to make me laugh, which it did in a big way. And it’s still something we laugh about to this day.”
-E!
★ A lot of people have been saying Brendan Fraser’s name wrong the whole time. Last week, “The Whale” star sat down for an “Actors on Actors” video for Variety with his old “Airheads” co-star Adam Sandler. After Sandler accidentally mispronounced Fraser’s surname, The star of “The Mummy” films cleared up the confusion and shared a rhyming trick to help fans remember how to say it correctly. Quote: “It’s Fraser. You shave with a razor.” That’s right — Fraser rhymes with razor. It seems that over the years, fans and industry types alike have tended to pronounce his name ‘Frasier’, as in Kelsey Grammer’s TV psychiatrist Dr. ‘Frasier Crane’. Fans will be hearing Fraser’s name a lot more as his new movie The Whale continues to generate buzz this award show season.
-E!
★ James Cameron could not attend the Monday evening premiere of his highly anticipated sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” in Los Angeles after contracting COVID-19. Cameron, who has not brought a film he directed to Hollywood’s backyard since 2009, when the game-changing “Avatar” debuted, was asymptomatic and feeling well, according to an insider, and plans to continue to engage in publicity for the film virtually. Many of the film’s stars, including Kate Winslet, Zoe Saldaña, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Edie Falco and Jemaine Clement, were still expected to attend the movie’s premiere. Avatar: The Way of Water opens this Friday.
-Variety
★ Al Roker has hope for the road ahead. The 68-year-old “Today” weatherman was released from the hospital for the second time in the past month, and shared an update on his recovery process. On the show, via phone, he said: “It’s been a tough slog…It’s been the hardest one yet, and, you know, I’ve had my share of surgeries.” Rocker has “a profound sense of gratitude for this outpouring of prayers and thanks”. Now, Roker—who was first hospitalized in November for blood clots in his legs, is focused on regaining his energy. After being in hospital for 4 weeks, he says he has suffered muscle loss, and is doing physical therapy every day, to get his strength back.
-E!

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Margot Robbie, Jeremy Allen White, The White Buffalo
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Salma Hayek, Wiz Khalifa
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Harrison Ford, José Andrés, Carlota, Inés & Lucía Andrés
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Janelle Monáe, Wet Leg, Kevin Murphy
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Meredith Marks, Diallo Riddle
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Janelle Monáe, Amber Ruffin
• “The Talk” (CBS): Joanna Garcia Swisher, Sabrina Impacciatore
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Kate Hudson, Holly Robinson Peete
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Jesse Williams, Sara Jane Ho
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Sam Worthington, Kendrick Sampson, Sheléa
• “Sherri” (Check local listings): Wendy Raquel Robinson, Hosea Chanchez
• “FIFA World Cup 2022” (Fox, TSN): Semi-finals – France vs Morocco
• “Survivor” (CBS): Season 43 finale
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Christmas-themed sketches, including D… in a Box, Martha Stewart’s Topless Christmas, Schweddy Balls, Elf on the Shelf and more.
• “LEGO Masters” (FOX): Season 3 finale

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Taylor Swift — Several Swifties woke up Monday to discover that, weeks after their dreams were crushed by the disastrous Ticketmaster presale for her “Eras Tour”, she had arranged a surprise second round of ticket sales specifically geared toward those who missed out.
• Miley Cyrus — has announced some of the guests who will ring in 2023 with her and Dolly Parton on “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party”, live from Miami on NBC. She told Jimmy Fallon that Sia, Latto and Rae Sremmurd are among the musical artists who will appear. More guests will be announced later, and as Cyrus put it: “The lineup is very me”.
• Janet Jackson – made a live announcement on Instagram Monday about her 2023 North American arena/amphitheater “Together Again” tour. Rapper Ludacris will serve as opening act, and, as she put it, “There will be new music.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdzhew2y
• Quiet Riot — has released a previously unfinished song featuring late vocalist Kevin DuBrow and late drummer Frankie Banali. ‘I Can’t Hold On’ appears on a newly remastered version of the group’s 2008 album “Rehab”, now streaming. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4h88jw42
• ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd — have announced the co-headlining “The Sharp Dressed Simple Man” tour. The 2 groups will hit 21 US cities this summer, beginning July 21 in West Palm Beach FL, plus a date in Toronto Aug. 27. Tickets go on sale this Friday.
• Thomas Rhett – He and his family LOVE Christmas trees. So much that each of his 4 daughters has her own tree in their bedroom. Quote: “It’s like 4 feet tall or whatever”. And only real trees in the Rhett household: “It’s kinda been a rule in our house since I got married to Lauren, but we do not do the fake tree scenario.”
• Luke Combs – wants to know what fans think of his new song. He posted a video clip of himself performing part of a new song called ‘Tattoo on a Sunburn’, centering around a tattoo that serves as a permanent reminder of a lost love. He captioned the video: “Y’all want me to release this one?” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4zvtjtv5
• Walker Hayes – Tickets go on sale Friday for his “Duck Buck Tour”, which kicks off in late April and will continue into August. The name of the tour is an inside joke between the singer and his fans. The “Duck Buck” dates back to the release of the song ‘Country Stuff’, with the lyric “I like shooting ducks and bucks.” The “Duck Buck” then morphed into an animal design, which is used on his merch and online.

SHOOTING THE BULL

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY:
The family history brand Findmypast has unveiled the most festive-themed baby names throughout history, with some surprises – like Sprout and Tinsel making the cut. The team scoured through more than 14 billion digitized historical documents dating back to the 1500s. Ivy was found to be the most popular festive-themed name, with almost 2.5 million people given that name in the records. Other festive baby names that are still common today include Angel, which occurred 650,000 times in the records, and Holly (about 460,000). Now, the interesting ones: Some of the more-unique festive-themed first names include Christmas, Turkey, Present, Santa, Chestnut and Wine, all of which made the top-10. Outside of the top-10, a total of 7,000 people named Sprout and Crackers were discovered in the records, plus 579 babies called Snowman, 2,015 named Mistletoe, and 293 called Bauble. Oh, and 37 lucky babies have been christened . . . Eggnog.
(Gee, I wonder what dad was drinking the night that kid was born!)
(Suddenly, I don’t feel so bad about having the middle name ‘Blitzen’!)
-Mirror

TOILET HUMOR:
✗In an experiment using bright green lasers and camera equipment, scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder were able to visualize airborne particles, invisible to the naked eye, that are shot into the air when a lidless toilet is flushed. While it’s been known for decades that these tiny particles are released into the air upon flushing, this study is the first to directly visualize this, to measure how fast and far the particles spread. The scientists found that in just 8 seconds, the particles shot out at speeds of 6.6 feet per second, reaching 5 feet above the toilet, with the bigger droplets landing on surfaces within seconds, while the smaller ones linger in the air for minutes or longer. These particles can transport pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, or other micro-organisms, that can cause disease, which could potentially expose risk in public bathrooms. (As if anyone flushes in a public bathroom…!)
✗ Researchers at University of London have found that found that curse words in most languages sound alike. Across many unrelated languages, swear words are less likely than other words to include the consonant sounds L, R, W or Y. And more family-friendly versions of curses often have these sounds added, just like the ‘R’ in “darn” or “frick”.  Another thing that swear words in different languages tend to have in common: They’re often short and punchy. They also tend to include the sounds P, T or K. Why? One researcher said: “These sounds are called stop consonants because they interrupt the airflow when we’re speaking.” The finding suggests that some underlying rules may link the world’s languages, no matter how different they are. (Someone is actually paying these guys to study swearing? Because I know a few guys who could give a clinic!)
-CTV, CNN

ISLAND TIME?
South Koreans are about to get a year or 2 younger, thanks to a new law that aims to standardize how age is calculated in the country. Currently, it’s common for South Koreans to have not just one age, but 3 — an “international age,” a “Korean age” and a “calendar age.” In South Korea, a person’s “international age” refers to the number of years since they were born, and starts at zero – the same system used in most other countries. But when asked their age in informal settings, most South Koreans will answer with their “Korean age,” which could be 1 or 2 years older than their “international age.” Under this system, babies are considered a year old on the day they’re born, with a year added every January 1. To make things even more confusing, sometimes South Koreans also use their “calendar age” – a kind of mash-up between international and Korean age – which consider babies as zero years old the day they’re born, and adds a year to their age every January 1. Using ‘Gangnam Style’ singer Psy as an example: He was born December 31, 1977, so he’s considered 44 by international age; 45 by calendar year age; and 46 by Korean age. To end confusion, the country’s parliament has decreed that from June 2023, all official documents must use the standard “international age.”
(Oh, no! Don’t tell me this means Psy will get another minute or 2 of fame!?!?)
(It sounds weird…but they’ve been doing stuff like that in Hollywood forever!)
-CNN

WHOLESOME FACTS:
Sometimes, you just need to hear stuff like this…
✓ Sir J.M. Barrie, the man who created ‘Peter Pan’, left the rights to the character, used in many adaptations over the years including books, movies and TV, to a children’s hospital in London.
✓ Like humans, Orca grandmothers dote on their grandkids. Once they can no longer breed, they help raise the calves of their children. In fact, they are the only nonhuman species where non-reproducing females help rear grandchildren.
✓ The wholesome image of Fred Rogers was real. The “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” star was famous for his opening scene where he put on a cardigan from his closet. His zipped cardigans hand-knit gifts from his mother, Nancy McFeely Rogers.
✓ Male puppies will let females win while playing. Even though they have a physical advantage over the ladies, a study showed they will “self-handicap” themselves during a mock fight. (What polite young gentlepups!)
✓ Nervous racehorses are given a companion animal to help calm them. When stressed before a race (usually because their jockey is too), some trainers supply them with companion goats. The sociable goats are happy to be around the horses, and for the horses, the playful goats take their mind off the upcoming race.
✓ A Netherlands town was built specifically for Alzheimer’s patients. Hogeway, near Amsterdam, is like a nursing home, except it was built to resemble a small village, complete with a town square, theater, garden, and post office. Its 152 inhabitants are monitored at all times, while caretakers are dressed in street clothes. Staff pretend to hold normal jobs like grocery store clerks and mail delivery persons.
-AmazingHumans

DID YOU KNOW?
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is once again holding it’s now-traditional “Name a Snowplow” contest. The contest, which in the past has come up with winners including ‘Betty Whiteout’, ‘Plowy McPlowFace’, ‘Ctrl Salt Delete’, ‘Snowbi Wan Kenobi’, and ‘The Truck Formerly Known As Plow’, is open until this Friday. The idea is becoming a tradition in other areas as well. Similar contests are being held in Ohio, Massachusetts and Nebraska, in the Canadian cities of Edmonton and Calgary, and as far away as Scotland. It has become an even more awesome concept since the adoption of map applications that gave those in blizzard-prone areas real-time updates on the positioning of the colorfully-named snowplows.
-GoodNewsNetwork

BS CHRONOMETER 12.14.22

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!
• “Halcyon Days” begin, the 7 days before and the 7 days after the Winter Solstice that are traditionally thought to be a time of ‘calm and tranquility’. (Uh, maybe at YOUR house…)
• “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.

COMING UP . . .
[Thurs] Cupcake Day
[Thurs] International Tea Day
[Fri] Stupid Toy Day
[Sat] Maple Syrup Day
This Month is…Seasonal Depression Awareness Month
This Month is…Safe Toys and Gifts Month

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [72] Cliff Williams, Essex England, un-retired rock bassist (AC/DC-‘Thunderstruck’, ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2003

1984 [38] Jackson Rathbone, Singapore, movie actor (“Twilight” franchise, “Mixtape”)

1988 [34] Vanessa Hudgens, Salinas CA, movie actress (“High School Musical” movies, “Thirteen”)/pop singer (w/Drew Seeley & Zac Efron-‘Breaking Free’) COMING UP…“Downtown Owl”

1992 [30] Tori Kelly, Wildomar CA, pop-soul singer-songwriter (‘Should’ve Been Us’, ‘Nobody Love’)/“American Idol” season 10 contestant

1991 [31] Offset (Kiari Cephus), Lawrenceville GA, rapper (Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert-‘Bad and Boujee’/married to Cardi B since 2017

1996 [26] Barbie Ferreira, New York NY, TV actress (‘Kat Hernandez’ on “Euphoria” 2019-22)/model (Adidas, Target, Forever 21…)

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1977 [45] At the peak of the disco era, the film “Saturday Night Fever” opens in theaters. The soundtrack contains the Bee Gees’ #1 hits ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and ‘Night Fever’, among others

2017 [05] The Walt Disney Company buys most of 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion

2019 [03] The Bel Air mansion featured in the TV’s “The Beverly Hillbillies” sells for $150 million, becoming California’s most expensive property

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1978 [44] Billy Joel plays Madison Square Garden for the first time, which he considered a “temple” while growing up. He later becomes the first musical act to hold residency there.

2012 [10] A stalker is arrested outside Taylor Swift’s home 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 [19] US President George W. Bush announces the capture of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2016 [06] Amazon announces its first delivery by drone, 2 km from its warehouse in the UK

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2004 [18] The Millau Viaduct, the “Tallest Bridge in the World” (343m/1,125 ft) is inaugurated near Millau, France

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ It costs almost $290,000 per year in fees to run a hot dog cart near the Central Park Zoo in New York City.
✓ In the average film, male actors utter 10 times as many profanities as female actors.
✓ The longer a couple dates before marrying, the less likely the marriage is to end in divorce.
✓ Cows get hairballs.
✓ In virtually every language, the word for “mother” begins with the letter ‘m’.
✓ Extreme ironing is an actual sport in which people take ironing boards to remote locations and, yes, iron items of clothing.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, TheFactSite

Best of BS . . .
BS LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT MRS. CLAUS:
• She met Santa on an online dating site called “OK Cupid, Comet, Donner & Blitzen”.
• Santa’s outfit was originally white, until she left a red stocking in the wash.
• She once worked as a ‘North Pole’ dancer.
• She keeps an actual Elf on the shelf.
• Loves listening to ‘Wrap’ music.
• She was also once run over by a reindeer.
• She is a strong woman who doesn’t consider herself a subordinate Claus.
• She could always tell what Santa got her for Christmas because she could feel his presents.
• She’s really busy one night a year, too…
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018

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

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• How many gifts in total were given in ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ song?
a) 121
b) 222
c) 364 [CORRECT]
d) 12

• In “Home Alone”, where are the McCallisters going on vacation when they leave ‘Kevin’ behind?
a) New York
b) Paris [CORRECT]
c) Fargo
d) North Pole

• What is the name of ‘George Bailey’s’ guardian angel in “It’s a Wonderful Life”?
a) Gabriel
b) Clarence [CORRECT]
c) Peter
d) Scrooge

• In the song ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer’, what “incriminating” evidence was found on Grandma’s back?
a) Claus marks [CORRECT]
b) Reindeer tracks
c) Hoof prints
d) Whiskey stains
-Parade, WhiteElephantRules

BS WEB GOODIE:
Top TikToks of 2022:  https://tinyurl.com/y4aunkpr

BS RANDOM JOKE:
The shirt I’m wearing is “dry clean only”, which means, it’s dirty.

BS PHONE STARTER:
Which protagonist from a book or movie would make the worst roommate?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  One in 10 people say they’d like to be buried with THIS when they pass away. What is it?
Answer:  Their smartphone

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Some people say you are going the wrong way, when it’s simply a way of your own.