Wednesday, February 24, 2021 – Edition: #6924

We Give a Sheet!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ It’s no secret that Gwyneth Paltrow has a tendency to stir controversy and prompt debate. This time, she’s really managed to blow some people’s hair back by claiming she single-handedly started the face mask trend amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a New York Times interview, she was praised for sharing a selfie wearing a mask back in Feb. 2020. That prompted her to insinuate that moment was the starting point of mask popularity. Quote: “This is a familiar pattern in my life. I do something early, everyone is like: ‘What is she doing? She’s insane.’ And then it’s adopted by the culture.”
-Yahoo
★ Harry Shearer is the latest “Simpsons” cast member to retire a role. Last Sunday’s episode of the long-running Fox animated series featured his final vocal performance as ‘Dr. Julius Hibbert’, one of the show’s most prominent Black characters. But Springfield’s citizens will still be able to visit the good doctor for his dubious medical advice — and plentiful lollipops. He’ll be voiced by veteran voiceover artist Kevin Michael Richardson, starting with the Feb. 28 episode. Richardson has voiced multiple supporting characters on The Simpsons since 2009. This is the latest casting change since producers first announced over the summer that white actors would no longer be voicing the various characters of color populating Springfield.
-Yahoo
★ “The Muppet Show” finally made its debut on Disney+ on Friday, along with a content disclaimer. 18 Muppets episodes start off with a warning of “negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.” Some of the guest hosts on the shows with the warning are Steve Martin, Alan Arkin, Debbie Harry, Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers. Each episode has a different reason for needing the disclaimer, but as an example, in the Johnny Cash episode, he is seen singing in front of a confederate flag.
-MSN
★ After its buzzworthy “Pandemic Special” last fall, “South Park” is returning with its second COVID-19 episode on March 10. A tweet from the show’s official account on Friday said: “We will be herd.” Presumably, that’s a nod to “herd immunity.” The upcoming 1-hour episode, “South ParQ Vaccination Special” will follow South Park residents as they try to get vaccinated. The show’s “Pandemic Special” in September took shots at everything 2020, including President Donald Trump, the COVID-19 pandemic and police brutality.
-Yahoo

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Garnett, Tobe Nwigwe
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Awkwafina, Ava DuVernay, Chloe x Halle
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Arsenio Hall, Celeste
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Ice-T, Tracey Wigfield, Raghav Mehrotra
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Stanley Tucci, Pentatonix
• “Conan” (TBS): Ted Danson
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Chloë Grace Moretz, Melissa Gorga
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Linsey Davis
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Kelly Marie Tran, Danny Lugo
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Colin Jost, Jamie Kern Lima
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Rosamund Pike, Sam Heughan, Valerie June
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Ben Platt, Courtney Platt, Samantha Bee
• “Name That Tune” (FOX): Eight new contestants are put to the test.
• “Tough as Nails” (CBS): Crew members maneuver a bulldozer through a course to avoid “punching out.”
• “Snowfall” (FX): Season 4 premiere

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• The Jonas Brothers – Their reunion is “effectively over”, according to a report. The family trio reunited in Feb. 2019, almost 6 years after they split, and were set to announce a follow-up to their comeback record “Happiness Begins”, when the pandemic happened and everything was postponed. Since then, they’ve all been working on their own projects and they feel like they’ve “moved on” from that music.
• Demi Lovato – looks forward to setting “the record straight” about her 2018 drug overdose in her new docuseries. On the heels of the trailer for “Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil” being released, in which she revealed that she suffered 3 strokes and a heart attack amid the OD, she spoke about the YouTube doc on Monday’s “Ellen DeGeneres Show”, saying she hopes that it helps others.
• Megan Thee Stallion – has been recording with Idris Elba (!). In an interview, Elba who, in addition to being an actor is also a DJ and rapper, revealed that he has “a bit of a banger, I don’t want to say too much but me, Megan Thee Stallion and Davido, that’s coming. Shout out to the fanatics.”
• Daft Punk – The French electronic music duo has called it quits after nearly 30 years. They released a video called “Epilogue” (an excerpt from their wordless 2006 film “Electroma”) to announce their retirement on Monday. Their hits include ‘Get Lucky’ and ‘Around the World’.
• Shinedown — Frontman Brent Smith says the group is working on its 7th studio album. They expect to be back on the road in late summer or early fall. Quote: “Each day we’re starting to get good news and better news, but we have to be mindful.”
• The Who — Pete Townshend says he has “pages and pages of draft lyrics”, and is working in his home studio. Townshend “wants to make another” Who album if it’s worthwhile financially, but feels that streaming income is “a joke”. After lockdown, he says “If the moment comes, I’ll go in and start.”
• Florida Georgia Line – Their upcoming musical “May We All” has been given a Nashville residency set for Summer 2022, which will kick off a national tour scheduled to run through 2023. The musical’s premiere in June 2022 will be part of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Broadway at TPAC series.
• Miranda Lambert – It seems she is teaming up with Elle King again. Lambert hinted at their plans on Twitter, sharing a photo of the two together, in which King is wearing an ’80s wedding dress — with a can of beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Lambert, wears an equally retro bridesmaid’s dress. The caption: “DRUNK”.
• Brandi Carlile – is one of the country stars teaming up with actor and social media personality Leslie Jordan for “Company’s Comin’”, a duets album set to drop April 2. It was inspired by Jordan’s weekly “Sunday Mornin’ Hymn Singin’” livestream, and features Jordan performing gospel hymns alongside Carlile, Tanya Tucker, Brothers Osborne’s TJ Osborne, Katie Pruitt and more.

SHOOTING THE BULL

GIVE IT A (SHORT) REST:
How can a nap be anything but a good thing? When it goes on too long, apparently. Researchers from Guangzhou Medical University in China say naps lasting longer than an hour can increase the risk of developing heart disease. While the common view is that napping improves performance and counteracts the negative consequences of ‘sleep debt’, the new study found that tuning out for more than an hour during the day can pose a threat to the heart and can even lead to premature death from other causes. Just the right amount of sleep, however, can be beneficial to the napper’s health. Study authors concluded that short naps, ideally lasting less than 45 minutes, can help improve heath. This is especially true for those who do not getting enough sleep at night.
(45 minutes? I nap that long before going to bed!)
(Well, I know that when I’m awakened after a nap of more than an hour, I’m THIS close to a heart attack!)
(You know you’re old when you go for a nap in the evening and don’t get up again until the morning. You know you’re REALLY old when you go for a nap in the evening and don’t get up again…)
-StudyFinds

REMOTE BURNING:
It appears that at some point anyone who is enjoying the pleasure these days of sitting down to work in their Pjs 5 minutes after stumbling out of bed and grabbing a coffee, will eventually have to pay. In a survey of human resources executives, many felt that people working from home – or from other remote locations, like a cottage – should be paid less. 45% of the 250 HR executives who took part in the survey said wages and bonuses should be adjusted when people decide to work remotely in areas with a lower cost of living. Those polled, who work for major companies in the US, Britain and Asia, pointed out that people working from home would be competing against a much bigger pool of potential rivals for their job, thus driving down their market value.
(But think of the money you’ll save on pants!)
(But still, hasn’t it always been your dream for them to pay you NOT to come to work?)
(On the positive side, that’s first time I’ve ever heard of an HR rep answering a question in less than 3 months…)
-Reuters

TASTY 80s:
Apparently, 80s pop jams are the official soundtrack to the COVID-19 pandemic – or they should be. Playlists that include cheesy 80s pop hits have the most pacifying effect on stressed listeners, when compared to several other musical styles. That’s according to a study by the Turkish cosmetic surgery center Vera Clinic, which specializes in hair transplants (And their clients perhaps know a thing or 2 about anxiety…). The survey asked 1,540 adults to undergo a series of mental stress tests, while listening to playlists comprised of either ’60s “Golden Oldies,” ’70s rock anthems, ’90s R&B, or other musical styles like dubstep, jazz and modern classical. The 80s playlists were determined to be most soothing, with 96% reporting a decrease in blood pressure while listening, and 36% experiencing a heart rate drop. The 80s playlist featured songs including Blondie’s ‘Call Me’, Wham!’s ‘Freedom’, Duran Duran’s ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’, and Bette Midler’s ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ among others. Techno music was found to aggravate study volunteers most, with its “untz-untz” prompting 78% to experience an increase in blood pressure. Heavy metal, surprisingly, ranked among the most effective at decreasing both heart rate and blood pressure.
(Well, you have to admit the 80s were fun. Looking at pics of my hair back then…NOT so much fun!)
(Dubstep? Please, we’re already depressed enough!)
(Oddly, I experienced a blood pressure spike as soon as I said “Bette Midler”!!)
-NYPost

MAKING CONTACTS:
Recently, Twitter user Jennifer Wortman shared how weird she thought it is that her husband has her listed in his phone contacts as “Jennifer Wortman”, and it went insanely viral. Soon, others started sharing the funny contact names they have saved on their phones. Here are some of the best:
☞ I have my husband as “Probably Brad” since he’s the only one who calls, if it rings it’s probably Brad – Green Eyed Momster
☞ One of my identical twin (brothers) has the other twin in his phone as “spare parts” – Jon Birger, author
☞ In my daughter’s phone I’m listed as Birthgiver – Dr. Liza Wieland
☞ My kid has me listed as The Feds – Dr. Sandra Steingraber
☞ My kid has me as Mothership – April Inc.
☞ Full name for my husband, which I finally changed from “OK Cupid Guy #3” after 5 years of marriage – Allison K Williams
☞ I am in my wife’s phone as Earthshaker Babymaker – MonksDad
☞ I had mine as his full name until he left and now he is Lord Voldemort — megabyte
☞ (My hubby has me as) Fran new number. I’ve had this phone number for more than 10 years – Fran(tastic) in MA
☞ My husband has me as Babe. I’m 65 – Wear A Mask or Die
(What funny contact names do you have in YOUR phone?)
-Demilked, Twitter

DID YOU KNOW?
Some believe drinking caffeine too late will keep them awake all night. Others feel their brain just can’t function unless they coffee in them. But a new study may have unraveled both of those beliefs. Researchers from the University of Basel found regular caffeine consumption does NOT disrupt sleep quality. But it can alter the structure of the brain connected to memory. In short, what they found is that after 10 days of no caffeine, coffee-drinking test participants had a much higher volume of “gray matter” in the brain than they did while consuming caffeine. This was especially noticeable in the brain’s right medial temporal lobe, which is essential for memory consolidation. So, caffeine may not interfere with sleep, but it can negatively affect your brain’s efficiency.
-StudyFinds

BS CHRONOMETER 02.24.21

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1945 [76] Barry Bostwick, San Mateo CA, movie actor (“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”)

1950 [71] George Thorogood, Wilmington Delaware, blues-rock singer-guitarist (w/The Destroyers-‘Bad to the Bone’, ‘One, Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer’)

1951 [70] Debra Jo Rupp, Glendale CA, TV actress (‘Kitty Forman’ on “That 70’s Show” 1998-2006, “The Ranch” 2017-2020)

1966 [55] Billy Zane, Chicago IL, movie actor (“Zoolander”, “Titanic”) COMING UP…”The Believer”, 2021

1977 [44] Floyd (“Money”) Mayweather Jr, Grand Rapids MI, retired pro boxer (held multiple world titles in 5 weight classes/retired with an undefeated record/world’s highest-paid athlete 2012-15)

1983 [38] Matt McGinley, Geneva NY, rock drummer (Gym Class Heroes-‘Cupid’s Chokehold’)

1989 [32] Daniel Kaluuya, London England, movie actor (“Get Out”, “Black Panther”)

1991 [30] O’Shea Jackson Jr, LA CA, movie actor (“Straight Outta Compton”)/son of rapper Ice Cube

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Tortilla Chip Day”, saluting 1940s the invention by Rebecca Webb Carranza of LA. Rather than tossing misshaped tortillas from an automated tortilla machine into the trash, she cut them into triangles, fried them, and sold them for a dime a bag. They were an immediate hit!

• “World Bartender Day”, to appreciate the staff at your favorite watering hole. They work hard to keep their customers happy and often aren’t paid very well.

• “Trading Card Day”, traditionally associated with sports; baseball cards are especially well-known. Cards dealing with other subjects like Pokémon are often considered a separate category, known as non-sports trading cards. These often feature cartoons, comic book characters, television series and film stills. (Got it…got it…need it…trader…)

• “Inconvenience Yourself Day”, not merely about inconveniencing oneself, it is about acknowledging others, putting them first, and having a positive effect on their lives. (There’s been a meme going around lately that says: “There are 2 types of people: Those who believe in doing what’s best for everyone even if it means personal sacrifice, and those who see their own inconvenience as unacceptable no matter what.” Perfect!)

COMING UP . . .
[Thurs] Chili Day
[Thurs] Clam Chowder Day
[Fri] Levi Strauss Day
[Fri] Carnival Day

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2011 [10] CBS-TV announces it’s suspending production of “Two-and-a-Half Men” after star Charlie Sheen airs a scathing rant about the network and show creator Chuck Lorre in a radio interview (eventually dumped for Ashton Kutcher, Sheen moves on to “Anger Management”)

2019 [02] Queen, with Adam Lambert on vocals, open the Oscars with a medley of ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘We Are The Champions’. The biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” goes on to win 4 awards, more than any other film at the ceremony

2020 [01] Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is found guilty of rape and a criminal sexual act in a landmark case that ignited #MeToo movement

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1993 [28] Eric Clapton wins big at the Grammy Awards, taking three awards for ‘Tears In Heaven’, two more for his album “Unplugged”, and Best Rock Song for his acoustic version of ‘Layla’.

1998 [23] Elton John is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2008 [13] Ailing 82-year-old Fidel Castro retires as President of Cuba after nearly 50 years, turning the reins of power over to his brother Raul (at the time a spry 77-year-old)

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Aerosmith made more money from “Guitar Hero” than from any of their albums.
✓ Intelligent people generally live longer, and research suggests there’s a genetic factor, rather than environmental.
✓ Cabbage was once considered an aphrodisiac.
✓ Cats have fewer toes on their back paws.
✓ Approximately 20-25% of people are immune to hangovers.
✓ While men see the average woman as average looking, women see the average man as below-average looking.
-F’dUpFacts, UberFacts

BS BOOKS FOR PERFECTIONISTS:
• Great Expectations — Met
• 7 Habits of Highly Anal Retentive People
• Around the World in 6912000 Seconds
• The Girl with the Anatomically Correct Dragon Tattoo
• Ironing Your Underwear for Dummies
• 50 Shades of Great
• Is it EXACTLY Fahrenheit 451?
• The Old Man and the OCD
• No Fault in Our Stars
• Everyone Poops — Except Me
-Twitter

TODAY’S SLICE OF BS:
➠ Kylie Jenner’s footwear is as famous as she is, and last week she FINALLY got her hands on a pair of “Birkinstocks”, made from Hermès Birkin bags, for a whopping $76,000 dollars!  (Thank God…I was beginning to think the terrorists were running out of reasons to hate us.)
➠ Producers of the Academy Awards say that moving the awards show to April 25th shows us how important it is. (Winning an Oscar is big . . . It’s like a football player winning a Super Bowl, a baseball player winning the World Series; or a basketball player winning a Kardashian…)
➠ The world’s first vegan chicken made from peanuts is coming to Asia. (The start-up company came up with the idea after they realized ‘turning a profit’ is boring…)
➠ Good News: Researchers say that fat in the buttocks, as opposed to belly fat, can actually be good for you. (Bad News: The Kardashian’s may live forever.)
➠ Fact: If you drink one glass of water with every alcoholic beverage, you can be drunk without a hangover. (But, if you take ‘Jell-O shots’ off your nanny’s belly with every alcoholic beverage, you could be Ben Affleck!)

BS WEB GOODIE:
I wish this was my only struggle in life: https://fb.watch/3J9y66Myx9/

BS THREEZER:
(Give contestant the clues, they must tell you what all three have in common…)
• Cards, Chess, Proms
(Answer: They all have Queens)

• A Storm, a Needle, a Potato
(Answer: They all have eyes)

• A Kiss, a Flower, a Bomb
(Answer:  They all can be planted)
-TriBond

BS PHONE STARTER:
What is your favorite movie quote?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I thought I was in a bad mood, but it’s been a few years so I guess this is who I am now.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  A survey found that at any given time, about 20% of us are thinking about THIS. What is it?
Answer:  Quitting our job

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Hide not your talents, for use they were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?