Thursday, December 16, 2021 – Edition: #7130
Thanks a Sheetload for Choosing “BS”!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Early reviews for “Spider-Man: No Way Home” are in, and it looks like it could be the best film ever in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the embargo on critics’ opinions finally lifted for Tom Holland’s third instalment as the web slinger, ratings on Rotten Tomatoes for what could be the biggest movie of the year so far show the movie had a 99% score after 67 reviews, which is incredibly high for any film, let alone a superhero one. Tom Holland is being praised for his “incredible” performance as ‘Peter Parker’ as he navigates the difficulties of being a teenager and ‘Spider-Man,’ who has finally been unmasked to the world. Critics also seem amazed by how Marvel has introduced the multiverse, with villains from previous Spider-Man trilogies brought into the fold. Spider-Man: No Way Home premiere was held on Monday in LA, and the film officially opened today, with midnight screenings in some cities.
-LADBible
★ In a major shakeup to the Emmys race, the Television Academy and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences revealed plans to realign its TV awards categories and have series compete based solely on their genre, not their time slot. The shift is in response to the changing ways in which people consume television, and also follows NATAS’ plan to give the children’s and family shows their own awards ceremony apart from the Daytime ceremony.
-TheWrap
★ J.K. Rowling is receiving a new barrage of criticism after sharing an article that objected to Police Scotland’s announced policy of classifying rapists as women if they identify as such. Rowling, best known as the author of the Harry Potter books, tweeted an article with a headline that called the rape policy an “absurdity,” and she used language invoking George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. She’s made a number of previous anti-trans comments, claiming to love trans people but also essentially questioning their existence.
-Advocate
★ Chadwick Boseman’s brother Derrick is on board with his late sibling’s “Black Panther” role being recast so ‘T’Challa’ can continue inspiring Black fans of the superhero films. He told TMZ that although Boseman didn’t specifically say before his death that he would want his role to continue with another actor, he is confident the actor was aware the character was bigger than himself.
-MSN
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Neil Patrick Harris, Daniel Ranieri, Elton John & Ed Sheeran
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Scarlett Johansson, Bowen Yang, Toni Cornell
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Kyle Mooney, Joe Russo
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): BTS
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Ralph Fiennes, Will Forte
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Priyanka Chopra Jonas
• “The Talk” (CBS): Cheryl Hines, Katie Lowes
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Keanu Reeves, Maria Loi, guest co-host Dondré Whitfield
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Reese Witherspoon, Matthew McConaughey, Ed Sheeran
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jake Hoot
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Aubrey Plaza, Adam Rodriguez, the Crafty Lumberjacks
• “Dogs of the Year 2021” (CW): The top dog stories of 2021; celebrating dogs that go above and beyond, leave their mark on society and achieve the nearly impossible.
• “Christmas by Chance” (LIFETIME): A wealthy entrepreneur hires Chance Hazelton, owner of a struggling shop called Gifts by Chance, to help him organize a perfect proposal for his girlfriend.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Billie Eilish — says she “would have died” after contracting COVID-19 earlier this year, if she weren’t vaccinated. She told Howard Stern she had a breakthrough case of the virus in August, and “I still have side effects. I was sick for, like, two months almost.”
• Logic – According to a study by a medical journal, in the in the days after he performed his emotional single ‘1-800-273-8255’ at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, calls to the number – the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — increased by 50%, and saved hundreds of lives. VIDEO LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdzzewn5
• Snoop Dogg – His 1993 murder trial will be the focus of the upcoming season of 50 Cent’s Starz hip hop anthology series, “A Moment in Time.” The second season of the series will be titled “Murder was the Case.” Snoop will executive produce alongside 50 Cent.
• Avril Lavigne – wants to turn her 2002 hit ‘Sk8er Boi’ into a feature film. She says that with the upcoming 20th anniversary of the song’s release, she keeps getting asked to sing it on TV show, etc., so she’d like to “take it to the next level.”
• KISS — A museum dedicated to the band will open in March, containing “hundreds and hundreds” of memorabilia items, including costumes, stage props and gold and platinum albums. The 15,000 sq. ft. Kiss Museum will sit next to the glow-in-the dark Kiss by Monster Mini Golf indoor course at the Rio Hotel and Casino.
• The Kinks – Dave Davies’ autobiography “Living on a Thin Line” will be released in hardback and e-book in July. It is described as “revisiting the glory days of the ‘epoch-defining’ band.
• Garth Brooks – is headed to Las Vegas in early Feb. Two special shows billed as “Garth Brooks: The One Man Show” are set for Feb. 4 and 5 at the 5,200-capacity Dolby Live at Park MGM. That’s just days before Brooks turns 60 on Feb. 7, and he says the gigs will serve as a birthday party of sorts.
• Maddie & Tae – have just announced “Through the Madness Vol. 1”, an 8-song collection out Jan. 28, that they say will be the first release in a new chapter of their career. Maddie & Tae are also launching their official fanclub. Those who join can preorder the new EP, as well as special signed copies.
• Lady A, Sam Hunt and Carly Pearce – are among those added to the already star-packed line-up for “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash” on CBS. Ingrid Andress, BRELAND, King Calaway, Riley Green, Chris Janson, Jon Pardi, and Lainey Wilson have also been added to the event, hosted by Bobby Bones and ET’s Rachel Smith. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton & more.
SHOOTING THE BULL
SODA PRESSING:
Have You noticed that ‘diet’ soda pop is disappearing from store shelves? And it’s not another supply chain issue. It’s a matter of branding. Increasingly, you’ll find those beverages under their new name: ‘zero sugar’. Canada Dry and Schweppes ginger ales, 7Up, A&W and Sunkist, made by Keurig Dr Pepper, all now label their diet drinks “zero sugar.” (One exception is the namesake Dr Pepper which comes in “diet” packaging in addition to a different zero sugar version.) Why the change? The word “diet” has fallen out of fashion — especially for Millennials and Gen Z-ers. Greg Lyons, chief marketing officer at PepsiCo, says “Younger people just don’t like the word ‘diet, “and as a result, his company rebranded “Pepsi Max” as “Pepsi Zero Sugar” in 2016 and has been investing in its zero-sugar offerings over the past few years. Coca-Cola still offers Diet Coke, in addition to the more recently-introduced Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.
(I wonder how calling it “zero nutrients” would go over…)
(That explains why I can’t seem to find my Diet Tab lately…I should be looking for Tab Zero Sugar!)
-CNN
COURT COVERAGE:
Face masks are not only uncomfortable for many, they can also interfere with our ability to communicate with others. With that in mind, a team of researchers has found that face masks actually make it EASIER for people to pick out lies in the statements of witnesses testifying in court. The University of Portsmouth and John Jay College of Criminal Justice examined how changes in courtroom procedures during the pandemic are impacting juries’ lie detecting skills. While conventional wisdom may make you think face masks block out the facial expressions that give away lies, they found the exact opposite effect. How? Facial expressions and other forms of non-verbal communication are actually unreliable measures of how deceitful someone is being. Therefore, masking these actions seems to improve a person’s ability to tell the difference between the truth and lies.
(My first reaction is that all lawyers should be required to wear masks – pandemic or not. Politicians too!)
(So now if a dude wearing a mask tells me he’s vaccinated…I won’t know what to believe!)
-StudyFinds
IT’S DEFINITELY NOT ROCKET SURGERY:
At some point, we’ve all used the sayings “It’s not rocket science” and “It’s not brain surgery”, but have you ever wondered who would win in a battle of the wits between a rocket scientist and a brain surgeon? Well, it turns out that the brains of doctors, scientists and engineers are no different than those of any other profession. A study of nearly 400 scientific and medical professionals has revealed that stereotypical smartypants — like brain surgeons and rocket scientists — are no better off than anyone else in particular when it comes to the skills needed to succeed in logical mathematical professions. As reported in the British Medical Journal, tests showed that each profession correlated with one area of intelligence more than the others. For example, neuroscientists scored higher in language-based problem solving, while aerospace engineers were better at spatial reasoning. But their overall averages were on par with the general public. As study author Aswin Chari put it, “It is not that they are better at everything — but they are better at certain things that make them good at what they do.”
(Just like you are. Now, I just wish I could figure what it is that I’m good at…)
(Still, if a brain surgeon makes one little mistake, somebody loses their mind. Literally!)
(On the other hand, there are a lot of people I’ve seen who I’m glad their jobs AREN’T rocket science…or brain surgery for that matter!)
-ScienceAlert, NYPost
OVERUSED WORDS – AND WHAT TO SAY INSTEAD:
(Yesterday, we talked about mispronounced words – today it’s the ones we use so often, there’s no CHANCE we could say them wrong…)
⇒ Amazing: It’s become common to describe anything the slightest bit good as “amazing.” Ask yourself: Will “good” suffice? Or “great”? Or perhaps you really do mean “astonishing,” “stunning,” or “jaw-dropping”. (Also, PLEASE stay away from “Amaze-balls”!)
⇒ Interesting: It’s sometimes hard to know what a person really means by “interesting”: good, bad, intriguing, bizarre? Try a synonym like “engaging,” “gripping,” “riveting,” or “captivating.”
⇒ Very/Really: They are used interchangeably and far too often. They can often be omitted, but if you want emphasis, try “truly,” “genuinely,” “especially,” or “particularly.” (Or “totes”. People totes love that!)
⇒ Literally: If you say “I was literally drowning in paperwork,” that means your body really was submerged in a pile of papers. Try “positively” or “absolutely,” which add emphasis without making it seem as if your life was in danger.
⇒ Nice: You can do so much better. Is the person thoughtful? Compassionate? Gracious? Affable? Accommodating? Charming? (There are “literally”, “really” dozens of more precise words to substitute for “nice.”
⇒ Said: Synonyms can be handy when you’re quoting multiple sources. But even non-writers have had to search for an alternative to “said” at some point. Try “stated,” “announced,” “disclosed,” “claimed,” “argued,” or “explained.” (Or the ever-handy, “I’m like…and she’s like…”)
⇒ Like: Using the verb “like” is the simplest way to show…well…that you like something. But there’s also “favor,” “prefer,” “care for,” “enjoy,” “relish,” “appreciate,” “adore,” “cherish,” and “dig.” (No, not ‘dig’.)
⇒ Ridiculous: Most things we call “ridiculous” aren’t really THAT ridiculous. Related, but less extreme, words include “silly,” “asinine,” and “laughable,” or try “absurd,” “ludicrous,” and “preposterous.” (How did they get their hands on my performance review?)
-Espresso
DID YOU KNOW?
A serving size of eggnog is probably much smaller than you thought. As you know, one too many eggnogs can cause a less-than-jolly experience, especially in terms of digestive distress. As nutritionist Amanda Frankeny puts it, “Eggnog is just an alcoholic Christmas milkshake, Think what’s in it: heavy cream, milk, sugar, whipped eggs and alcohol.” That could be why the recommended serving size is a paltry half a cup. High in fat and sugar, that small serving contains one-third of the recommended daily amount of fat. Add spirits, and you can increase your risk of dehydration-related effects (aka a hangover) as well as digestive discomfort. (See the things I deal with to be with my family around Christmas?)
-HuffPost
BS CHRONOMETER 12.16.21
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1941 [80] Lesley Stahl, Lynn MA, TV journalist (“60 Minutes” since 1991, “48 Hours” 2002-04)
1946 [75] [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 [72] Billy Gibbons, Houston TX, classic rock guitarist/singer (ZZ Top-‘Legs’, ‘Tush’)
1963 [58] Benjamin Bratt, San Francisco CA, TV actor (“Star” 2016, “Private Practice” 2011-13)/movie actor (“Doctor Strange”, “Miss Congeniality”)
1975 [46] Benjamin Kowalewicz, Montréal QC, rock singer (Billy Talent-‘Stand Up and Run’, ‘Rusted From the Rain’)
1981 [40] 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 [37] Theo James, Oxford UK, movie actor (“The Divergent Series” movies)
1986 [35] Dave Rublin, Maplewood NJ, rock bassist-keyboardist (American Authors-‘Best Day Of My Life’, ‘Believer’)
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.
• “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!)
COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Maple Syrup Day
[Fri] Wright Brothers Day
[Sat] Bake Cookies Day
[Sat] Flake Appreciation Day
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2005 [16] Singers and stars of “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica” Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson divorce due to irreconcilable differences
2010 [11] “Larry King Live” ends after 25 years on CNN as the then-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, and passes away January 23, 2021)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2013 [08] “Heat” magazine reports that Miley Cyrus has insured her infamous tongue for $1 million
2019 [02] Mariah Carey’s single ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ finally reaches #1, 25 years after release
2020 [01] 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 [18] 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 RECORDS . . .
1998 [23] 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)
2019 [02] Drew Brees breaks Peyton Manning’s NFL record for career touchdown passes (539)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ A typical thunderstorm measures 15 miles (24 km) in diameter and lasts about 30 minutes.
✓ It takes 100 lbs. (45kg) of rain water to produce a single pound of food from the earth.
✓ The abbreviation for pound (‘lb.’) comes from the astrological sign ‘Libra’.
✓ The call of a humpback whale can be heard 500 miles (800 km) away.
✓ 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
Best of BS . . .
BS MORE APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVE NAMES FOR EGG NOG:
• Christmas Cream
• Eggs: The Drink
• Congealed Dairy Product
• Alcoholic Egg Goop
• Beige Sugar Milk
• Drinkable Egg Syrup
• Holiday Chicken-Baby Refreshment
• Caloric Egg Slurry
• Melted Ice Cream With a Bonus of Raw Eggs
• Try-Not-to-Think-About-It-Too-Much Egg Cocktail
-Adapted from BuzzFeed, first published in BS in 2014
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ Nominations were announced this week for the 79th Golden Globe Awards, which will be held on January 9th. (Winning a Golden Globe is a good indicator of who will win an Oscar. Just like winning “American Idol” is a good indicator of who will be singing at a boat show…)
➠ Kim Kardashian lashed out at the paparazzi for bothering her. (And how were they bothering her? By not taking enough pictures!)
➠ I just read that Koalas sleep for 22 hours a day. (“Game On!” barked teenagers everywhere…)
➠ Fact of the Day: When men listen to women’s voices, it activates the same part of the brain that processes the sound of music. (For me, it’s Kenny G music…)
➠ Doctors say wearing your hair in a man-bun can result in baldness. (Thank you, Karma!)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Like, is this a cartoon? (sound up): https://tinyurl.com/3rkja2rw
BS RANDOM JOKE:
You can tell a lot about a person by the way he handles these 3 things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
BS PHONE STARTER:
What is your favorite holiday treat?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Over half of us do THIS when we go to the grocery store. What is it?
Answer: Go down every aisle
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.
