Friday, February 16, 2024 – Edition: #7658
Sheet Happens!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Fresh off his polarizing (but very widely seen) Super Bowl halftime performance, Usher has inked a deal with Universal to develop a TV series inspired by his decades-long music catalog. “The Untitled Usher Project” is described as a show “about Black love in Atlanta and individuals looking to find a place to call home”, according to the official description. In addition, it will “explore music, style, sex, romance and secrets that threaten to tear relationships apart”.
-TVLine
★ Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have adopted their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as the last name for their children. While their 4-year-old son, Prince Archie, and 2-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, were previously known as “Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor” and “Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor,” the children were afforded the titles of prince and princess when their grandfather King Charles became monarch in 2022. The children’s names have been updated to “Prince Archie of Sussex” and “Princess Lilibet of Sussex” on the royal family’s official website. Using their titles as their children’s last names follows the tradition used by members of the royal family.
-People
★ Marvel Studios has its “Fantastic Four.” The superhero quartet — the first characters created for Marvel by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby — will be played by Pedro Pascal as ‘Reed Richards’ (aka ‘Mr. Fantastic’), Vanessa Kirby as ‘Sue Storm’ (‘Invisible Woman’), Joseph Quinn as ‘Johnny Storm’ (‘The Human Torch’) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as ‘Ben Grimm’ (‘The Thing’). As part of the announcement, Disney also revealed that the release date of “The Fantastic Four” is now July 25, 2025.
-Variety
★ Will Smith is set to star and produce the upcoming crime action thriller “Sugar Bandits”. Based on the 2010 novel “Devils in Exile” by Chuck Hogan, who also wrote the screenplay, Smith will play ‘Maven’, an Iraq War veteran who struggles to fit back into civilian life in Boston. He joins a gang of fellow war vets who rip off drug dealers, only to find himself being hunted by both a DEA agent and a vengeful drug lord. No release date yet.
-TheWrap
★ An Amazon Prime subscriber has a problem with the company’s implementation of ads on Prime Video – and has filed a class action lawsuit, challenging the move. The plaintiff, who lives in California, alleges misleading advertising and consumer protection law breaches against Amazon in connection to its “unfair” change to ads on Prime Video. This comes about a week and a half after the company started showing limited ads to US subscribers and asking those looking to continue streaming without them to pay an extra $2.99 per month.
-Fox
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Milo Ventimiglia, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Vacations
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Jennifer Lopez, Alan Ritchson, Gary Clark Jr.
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): TBA
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Sen. Bernie Sanders, Zosia Mamet, Dan Peters (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Rita Ora, John Quiñones
• “The Talk”(CBS): Milo Ventimiglia, Guest co-host Justin Long
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Darren Criss
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Billy Dee Williams, Leo Woodall, Jessica Long, Taylor Dayne
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Annaleigh Ashford, Rachel Smith, Jon Kung
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Billy Gardell
• “S.W.A.T.” (CBS): Season 7 premiere. Followed by season premieres of “Fire Country” and “Blue Bloods”.
• “20/20” (ABC): The story of a young husband, father and soldier murdered while home for the holidays; The investigation reveals a twisted tale of heartache and greed.
• “Hustlers Gamblers Crooks” (DSC): A party boy who runs his own poker games finds himself in a life-or-death situation; a lottery winner’s dream turns into her nightmare; 2 broke guys set out on a weekend adventure they’ll never forget.
SATURDAY-
• “CMT Campfire Sessions” (CMT): Love songs from an all-star lineup, including Riley Green, Sara Evans, Chris Young and more.
• “2024 NBA All-Star Saturday Night” (Check local listings): NBA players participate in a skills challenge, a 3-point contest and a slam dunk contest. From Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Host Jacob Elordi; Reneé Rapp performs (R)
SUNDAY-
• “The Equalizer” (CBS): Season 4 premiere. McCall races to save the team after they’re put into extreme danger by a former CIA colleague; He discovers the truth that led to the death of one of her friends.
• “2024 People’s Choice Awards” (NBC): Awards ceremony celebrating movies, TV, music and pop culture, chosen by the people. Hosted by Simu Liu.
• “American Idol” (ABC): Season 22 premiere. Auditions.
• “2024 NBA All-Star Game” (Check local listings): Western Conference vs. Eastern Conference from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Ariana Grande – Today, she drops a new remix of her latest single ‘yes, and?’, featuring a big-name guest star. She wrote on Instagram: “I cannot believe the words i am typing…Yes, And? Remix feat the one and only, queen of my heart and lifelong inspiration @mariahcarey is out this friday !!!!!!!!!!!” LINK: http://tinyurl.com/27c23f9y
• Post Malone – will appear in the upcoming film “Road House”. Amazon Prime has revealed that he’ll play the role of ‘Carter’ in the remake of the 1989 movie, under his birth name Austin Post. Star Jake Gyllenhaal calls Postie a “natural actor”. The film debuts on Amazon Prime March 21. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/4ytk43mp
• Tina Turner – The soundtrack album for the 1993 movie “What’s Love Got to Do With It”, in which she re-recorded hits she’d originally cut with her ex-husband, Ike Turner, will be reissued April 26 as an expanded box set. The 4-disc, one-DVD collection will feature a volume of single edits, remixes, and instrumentals, and 2 volumes with a full 1993 concert. There will also be a 2-disc edition. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/yud8pnek
• Rod Stewart – While visiting “The Kelly Clarkson Show” to promote his new album “Swing Fever”, he was asked by to name which of his songs should go on a Valentine’s playlist. He picked ‘Tonight’s the Night’, plus his covers of Van Morrison’s ‘Have I Told You Lately That I Love You’, Cat Stevens’ ‘The First Cut Is the Deepest’, and Danny Whitten’s ‘I Don’t Want to Talk About It’.
• Slash – appears on the new single from The Dandy Warhols, ‘I’d Like To Help You With Your Problem’. Dandys leader Courtney Taylor-Taylor said: “The song has a real Vietnam-era acid rock sound. We wanted that kind of guitar playing on it, but we don’t have anyone in the band who can do it…so thus the Hail Mary to try and get Slash to play on it.” LINK: http://tinyurl.com/mr39vupt
• Miranda Lambert – will drop ‘Space in MY Heart’, a new duet with Latin pop artist Enrique Iglesias, on February 22. She wrote on X: “Texas meets Spain! [cowboy emoji] Can’t wait for y’all to hear this one.” Iglesias also shared a snippet. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/46pty5m5
• Dan + Shay – shared on Instagram that they want fans to help create the set list for their “The Heartbreak On The Map Tour”, which starts Feb. 29 in Greenville SC. They asked people to “Comment your requests and we’ll try to play as many as we possibly can.” LINK: http://tinyurl.com/5n7rb23d
• BRELAND – has announced his “Little More Countrier Tour. It begins with his 3rd annual BRELAND & Friends charity concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on March 26 in support of the Oasis Center. From there, he hits cities in the midwest, east and Texas, through May 10. He drops the new song ‘Heartbreak & Alcohol’ today.
SHOOTING THE BULL
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEK (both were released Wed., Feb. 14):
• “Bob Marley: One Love” (PG-13, Music biopic): The life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. (Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton) Tomatometer: 42%, Audience Score: 96%
• “Madame Web” (PG-13, Action/Sci-Fi): A Manhattan paramedic gains the power to see the future – even if she has trouble escaping her own past. She finds herself linked to 3 other women. But that shared future is threatened by a man who has the same power. (Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced) Tomatometer: 15%, Audience Score: 59%
DEFENSIVE GUARD:
Some football injuries could become a thing of the past. Researchers with the University of Colorado-Boulder have developed a revolutionary new padding design capable of withstanding significant impacts. This comes as players consistently deal with brain trauma from repeated head injuries. Using advanced computer algorithms, the team developed a way of redesigning the interior structure of cushioning materials. Testing shows the 3D-printed blocks can absorb roughly 6 times more energy than standard foams, and can outperform other designs by up to 25%. They project that the future looks promising for the development of padding that can provide optimal protection under all circumstances.
(Awesome stuff, but I don’t think it would have helped that guy who blew out his Achilles tendon trotting onto the field at the Super Bowl on Sunday!)
(But alas, even this is helpless in preventing the pain that comes with being a lifetime Cleveland Browns fan…)
-StudyFinds
WHAT’S WORDS WORTH:
This week, Dictionary.com announced it is adding 327 new entries. Here are some of them – which ones do you already know?
❑ Bed rotting: The practice of spending many hours in bed during the day, often with snacks or an electronic device, as a voluntary retreat from activity or stress.
❑ Bussin’: Great; wonderful; amazing.
❑ Barbiecore: An aesthetic or style featuring playful pink outfits, accessories, decor, etc., celebrating and modeled on the wardrobe of the Barbie doll.
❑ Cheat code: A ploy or technique that bypasses traditional methods or rules in order to improve oneself or one’s success.
❑ Girl dinner: An attractively presented collection of snacks that involve little preparation, such as small helpings of cold cuts, cheese, fruit, cherry tomatoes, etc., sufficient to constitute a meal for one.
❑ Greedflation: A rise in prices that is not due to market pressure or other factor organic to the economy, but caused by corporate executives, property owners, etc., solely to increase profits that are already healthy or excessive.
❑ Keto flu: A temporary feeling of illness or physical unease often experienced by those starting a keto diet.
❑ Pretty privilege: An unearned and mostly unacknowledged societal advantage that a person has by fitting into the beauty standards of their culture.
❑ Slow fashion: A movement that emphasizes eco-friendly, well-made clothing, maintenance and repair of garments to extend their lifespan, and a reduction of one’s consumption of new clothing items.
❑ Range anxiety: The apprehension or fear that an electric vehicle’s battery will run out of power before reaching one’s destination or a charging station.
❑ Skiplagging: The practice of purchasing a ticket for a flight with a layover at one’s true destination, getting off at the layover point, and skipping the last leg, in order to avoid paying a higher fare for a direct flight to one’s supposed destination.
❑ The ick: A sudden feeling of disgust or dislike, often in response to the actions of another person.
(Don’t worry — “Swiftie” is already in there — I totally checked!)
-USAToday, Dictionary.com
NEWS OF THE WEIRD:
➢ A bizarre act of vandalism was reported at an art exhibition in Moscow, where a security guard damaged an art exhibit — and tried to eat it. The organizers of a contemporary art exhibition at Moscow’s VDNKh exhibition center noticed that one of the exhibits was missing its main protagonist. The art piece, named “Escape of the Goldfish”, featured a goldfish bowl with a goldfish sticking out, next to a painting of the open sea, with another goldfish appearing as if it had jumped from the bowl and into the waves. The thought-provoking concept must have caught the eye of the security guard on duty, who ended up destroying the very thing he was paid to protect. Security footage shows the guard casually holding the painting of the open sea with one hand and pulling on the goldfish with the other until it comes off. He then smells the (fake) fish, and tries to take a bite of it. When confronted, the man said that he had had a tough night with very little sleep. (The goldfish, as you might expect, remembers nothing…)
➢ A woman tried to sneak out of a private hospital in Turkey, hours after undergoing plastic surgery in an attempt to avoid paying. In a clip that has been doing the rounds online, a woman wearing a hospital robe and white slippers can be seen arguing with doctors and nurses who are trying to stop her from leaving. The woman’s face is visibly swollen and almost completely covered in bandages. which makes sense when considering she had undergone extensive plastic surgery just hours prior. A local TV station reported she had traveled to Turkey to get plastic surgery to her face, but as soon as she could walk straight after the cosmetic procedure, she allegedly tried to sneak out of the hospital without paying. The patient was escorted backinside, but it’s unclear how the situation was resolved. (“I have no idea how they knew it was me…!”)
-OddityCentral
DID YOU KNOW?
How many calories can you burn shoveling snow? According to the “Omni Calculator”, it’s a pretty good workout. The free online calculator says the result will vary, depending on your weight. But for example, a person weighing 180 pounds (82kg) shoveling snow with intensive effort for one hour can expect to burn about 600 calories. You’d burn about the same by ice skating for an hour. And remember: Physical activity can also have positive effects on mental health. Studies show that shoveling snow for at least 30 minutes can trigger the release of endorphins in the brain. (Not if you’re freezing…and the car is stuck…and you’re late for work…!) LINK: http://tinyurl.com/bdzj735
-NYPost
BS CHRONOMETER 02.16.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Friday Fish Fry Day”, on the first Friday of Lent, when family and friends gather for fish frys at restaurants and bars. It is celebrated in the US Midwest, as well as other places around the world. The day was created by Caleb Westphal, who had eaten over 370 consecutive Friday night fish frys at the time of the holiday’s first celebration. (It’s also a song – by The Wiggles!) https://tinyurl.com/1cgektu0
• “Almond Day”, saluting what’s believed to be one of the earliest cultivated foods. Native to the Middle East, 80% of the world’s almonds are now grown in California. Almonds are one of the most heart-healthy foods, packed with vitamin E, magnesium, and fiber.
• “Do a Grouch a Favor Day”, a day to perform an unexpected good deed to cheer up someone who’s…well…grouchy. LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u2KSBq7y-o
• “Innovation Day”, spot a problem, think of a solution, and before you know it, you’re innovating! Innovation Day is all about imagining new, better ways of doing things.
• “Kyoto Protocol Day”, the anniversary of the 2005 date that the international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (which contribute to global warming) took effect. (How are we doing so far?) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2furpzy3
• “National Caregivers Day” (in the US), honoring the health care professionals who provide long-term and hospice care, and to give the thumbs-up to anyone who provides care to other people. (Let them know you care!) [***NOTE: Canada celebrates National Caregivers Day on April 6***]
• “No One Eats Alone Day”, a school-based day of action that encourages youth to sit with others, find new friends, and model ways to end social isolation in the lunchroom. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bv39kzxd
• “Tim Tam Day”, A Tim Tam is a treat consisting of 2 chocolate malted biscuits with a fluffy cream filling and dipped in milk chocolate. Creator Ross Arnott (of the Australian biscuit company Arnott’s) attended the Kentucky Derby in 1958, and chose to name his new line of biscuits after the horse that won.
SATURDAY-
• “Random Acts of Kindness Day”, studies prove the positive effects on us of doing kind acts for others, as well as receiving or even witnessing kindness. Some suggestions: Compliment a stranger, treat a homeless person to lunch, or anonymously donate to charity. LINK: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org
• “PTA Founders’ Day”, commemorating the parent-teacher association’s 1897 founding. It was originally known as the ‘National Congress of Mothers’. (And all this time, I thought it stood for ‘Parents to Avoid’…my bad!)
• “World Human Spirit Day”, encouraging 2 minutes of silent meditation throughout the world – “and beyond” – to focus on the true spirit that flows through everything. (Wow, groovy.)
• “My Way Day”, in celebration of the phrase “It’s my way or the highway”. The day is believed to have been inspired by key events in the world happening because someone had a bold idea and wasn’t afraid to go through with it. Today, you are encouraged to do whatever you want, however you want. (Finally! I can get a donut with extra sprinkles!)
• “Café au Lait Day”, French for “coffee with milk,” the drink is simply coffee with hot milk added. In Europe, it is either espresso or dark-coffee-based, and steamed milk is used. In France, it is traditionally served in a white porcelain cup or bowl.
SUNDAY-
• “Battery Day”, on the birth date of Count Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), the Italian physicist credited with developing the first electric cell in 1800. His vital invention is now used everywhere from smoke alarms to phones, and comes in all shapes, sizes, and power capacities. (But is rarely included when you buy stuff…)
• “Drink Wine Day”, as if you needed an excuse. This is to embrace the positive benefits of wine — such as new friends, reduced risk of heart disease, and the enhancement of food and life (not to mention my flawless dance moves…).
• “Thumb Appreciation Day”, devoted to the digit that helps make us human . . . the opposable thumb. Of course, a few other animals can also celebrate, including koalas, opossums, and pandas; as well as chimps, gorillas, and orangutans, which have opposable thumbs . . . on all 4 limbs. (Wow, I’ve got thumb envy!)
• “Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day”, this one-of-kind dish is composed of a stuffing made with crab meat, bread crumbs, butter, and seasonings, all stuffed into the whole flounder or rolled up into the fillets and baked.
• “Pluto Discovery Day”, Astronomer Clyde W. Tombaugh discovered Pluto on Feb. 18, 1930, at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff AZ. It was considered one of the 9 planets in the solar system until 2006, when it was demoted to “dwarf-planet” status.
• “World Whale Day”, an event started in Maui, Hawaii, in 1980, to raise awareness and to protect these majestic creatures and their habitat.
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1957 [67] LeVar Burton, Landstuhl Germany, TV actor (“Roots”, ‘Geordi La Forge’ in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” 1987-1994)/TV host (“Reading Rainbow” 1983-2006)
1958 [66] Ice-T (Tracy Morrow), Newark NJ, TV actor (‘Detective Fin Tutuola’ on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” since 2000)/reality TV star (“Ice Loves Coco: 2011-13)/rapper (Body Count-‘Cop Killer’)
1959 [65] John McEnroe, Wiesbaden West Germany, pro tennis great (3-time Wimbledon winner, 4-time US Open winner)
1961 [63] Andy Taylor, Northumberland England, pop-rock guitarist (Duran Duran-‘The Reflex’, Hungry Like the Wolf’, The Power Station -‘Some Like it Hot’)/Rock Hall of Fame w/Duran Duran, 2022
1974 [50] Mahershala Ali (Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore), Oakland CA, movie actor (Oscars-“Green Book” and “Moonlight”, “Leave the World Behind”)/TV actor (“House of Cards” 2013-16) COMING UP… “Wildwood”, 2025
1977 [47] Brad Walst, Norwood ON, rock bassist (Three Days Grace-‘Pain’, ‘I Hate Everything About You’)
1989 [35] Danielle Haim, LA CA, pop-rock guitarist-drummer (Haim-‘The Wire’, ‘Forever’)
1989 [35] Elizabeth Olsen, Sherman Oaks CA, movie actress (‘Scarlet Witch’ in “Captain America: Civil War”, “Avengers” movies/TV actress (“Wandavision”, 2021, “Love and Death”, 2023)/sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
1990 [34] The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), Toronto ON, pop singer-songwriter (‘Can’t Feel My Face’, ‘Blinding Lights’)/TV actor (“The Idol”, 2023)
SATURDAY- Lou Diamond Phillips (“La Bamba”) is 62; NBA star Michael Jordan is 61; Michael Bay (director-“Transformers” films) is 59; Denise Richards (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”) is 53; Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day) is 52; Jerry O’Connell (“The Talk”) is 50; Jason Ritter (“Parenthood”) is 44; Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“3rd Rock From the Sun”) is 43; Paris Hilton (“The Simple Life”) is 43; Ed Sheeran (‘Shape of You’) is 33; Bonnie Wright (“Harry Potter” movies) is 33; Sasha Pieterse (“Pretty Little Liars”) is 28
SUNDAY- Yoko Ono (widow of John Lennon) is 91; Dennis DeYoung (Styx) is 77; Cybill Shepherd (“Moonlighting”) is 74; John Travolta (“Saturday Night Fever”) is 70; Vanna White (“Wheel of Fortune”) is 67; Matt Dillon (“Crash”) is 60; Dr Dre (NWA) is 59; Molly Ringwald (“The Breakfast Club”) is 56; Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace) is 54; Jillian Michaels (“The Biggest Loser”) is 50; Ike Barinholtz (“The Mindy Project”) is 47; Jeremy Allen White (“Shameless”) is 33
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2013 [11] Angelina Jolie undergoes a preventive double mastectomy after learning she had an 87% risk of developing breast cancer due to a defective gene
2021 [03] Nicholas Cage marries for the 5th time, to Riko Shibata, in Las Vegas (Still married!)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2002 [23] Thieves break into George Michael’s London home and steal over $170,000-worth of paintings, jewelry, and designer clothes; then drive off in his $135,000 Aston Martin
2011 [13] Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ becomes the ‘Billboard Hot 100’ chart’s 1,000th #1 hit
2021 [03] Lauryn Hill’s 1998 album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” is certified Diamond for 10 million sales in the US, making her the first female hip-hop artist to earn that certification
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
600 [1424] Pope Gregory the Great decrees that saying “God bless You” is the correct response to a sneeze
2005 [19] The NHL cancels the entire regular season and playoffs, becoming the first major sports league in North America to do so over a labor dispute
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Originally, Dunce Caps were used to signify intelligence.
✓ Generally, the colder the air is, the smaller the snowflakes are.
✓ The term “brain-freeze” was invented by 7-11.
✓ Another term for nieces or nephews is “niblings.”
✓ Blue whale tongues can weigh as much as an elephant.
✓ A pill bug can drink through its rear end.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, TheFactSite
Best of BS . . .
BS THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUR UBER DRIVER:
✗ “Does the back seat smell like a dead guy?”
✗ “You can help yourself to the loose potato chips under the seat.”
✗ “You’re not a cop, are you?”
✗ “If my doctor knew I was driving, he’d be real mad.”
✗ “All the empty bottles up here keep rolling under the brake.”
✗ “I’m letting you know up front, any touching is 50 bucks extra.”
✗ “Mommy let me drive by myself today.”
✗ “You know, it’s only midnight, and 3 couples already had sex back there.”
✗ “My passengers have a nearly 80% survival rate.”
-First published in BS in 2017
BS THINGS I THINK ABOUT WHEN I RUN:
• Why am I running?
• Have I outrun my problems yet?
• I’ve been running for like 30 seconds. Am I skinny yet?
• So this is what they mean by “full-body pain”.
• Apparently the buses are running early today…
• Am I outside of the blast radius?
• McDonald’s has to be getting close…
• It’s true. You can’t outrun ugly.
• She sure is good at playing hard-to-get!
• Who are we kidding? I don’t run.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS WEB GOODIE:
Current mood: http://tinyurl.com/mxj9u6nx
BS RANDOM JOKE:
The capacity for friendship is God’s way of apologizing for our families.
BS PHONE STARTER:
What was the most important store in the world to you — when you were 12?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 11% of households have THESE under at least one bed. What are they?
Answer: Dirty dishes
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Happiness is only real when shared.
