Friday, February 23, 2024 – Edition: #7663
Have a Sheety Weekend!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ A new report says Kelly Rowland’s dramatic walk-off from “Today” last week was in response to Savannah Guthrie’s questions about Beyoncé, not the size of her dressing room. The Wrap says it has learned that despite initial reports, someone with knowledge of the situation claims that Rowland “was offended that Savannah repeatedly and aggressively asked her about Beyoncé.” Rowland has an agreement ahead of interviews that she won’t be asked about Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child, according to the source.
TheWrap
★ Greta Gerwig is “just happy” to celebrate ‘Barbie’ at the Oscars. The filmmaker was a notable omission from the Best Director shortlist at the upcoming Academy Awards, and while she is disappointed Margot Robbie missed out on a nomination for Best Actress, she insisted she isn’t sad about being snubbed herself, because the film is up for a total of 8 accolades, including a Best Adapted Screenplay nod for herself and husband, co-writer Noah Baumbach. Gerwig told Time magazine: “Of course I wanted it for Margot. “But I’m just happy we all get to be there together.” The Oscars are set for March 10.
-Bang
★ CBS has revealed its new cast for Season 36 of “The Amazing Race”, which premieres March 13th. Host Phil Keoghan will kick things off from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where teams will participate in a traditional Mexican rodeo. Along the way, racers will go paragliding in Colombia, rally car racing in Argentina. They’ll swim through waterfalls in the Dominican Republic and visit Rihanna’s childhood home in Barbados. The cast includes former NFL player Rod Gardner and his wife Leticia; firefighter moms Sunny and Bizzy; military pilots Juan and Shane; and twin brothers Anthony and Bailey, among others.
-TVLine
★ If you build it, he will come. Kevin Costner is working on his very own field of dreams following a very public divorce from ex-wife Christine Baumgartner, which was finalized this week. The “Yellowstone” actor has partnered with a developer in Utah to bring a $40 million film studio to St. George. The studio plans to break ground on the 153,000 square foot studio space, “in the spring or summer,” depending on how fast the permit processes for the new complex are completed.
-NYPost
★ The arts are well represented on Time magazine’s annual Women of the Year list, with the class of ’24 including actor, writer and director Greta Gerwig, actor Taraji P. Henson and singer, songwriter and actor Andra Day. The Time list recognizes “extraordinary leaders working toward a more equal world.” Regarding “Barbie” director Gerwig, editor Sam Lansky said her “story is as much about commerce as it is about art: Her films are humane, emotional, and playful, (plus) she is the only director in history to have their first 3 solo feature films nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.”
-Deadline
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Selena Gomez, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Chromeo
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Ken Jeong, Dwyane Wade, Pete Lee (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Martin Scorsese, Future Islands (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Dakota Johnson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Dan Peters (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Susie Essman
• “The Talk” (CBS): Jeffrey Wright; celebrating Black History Month with CEO Fawn Weaver
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Guy Fieri
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Tyler Perry, Kelly Rowland and Trevante Rhodes, Ziggy Marley and Kingsley Ben-Adir
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Margaret Qualley, Beanie Feldstein and Geraldine Viswanathan
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Lil John, Dr. Theresa Price
• “S.W.A.T.” (CBS): Hondo and Hicks desperately search for Powell, who’s gone missing in Mexico, along with a bomb capable of killing thousands. Followed by new episodes of “Fire Country” and “Blue Bloods”.
• “Shark Tank” (ABC): A state-of-the-art bionic prosthetic device; artisanal desserts for dogs; a bug-catching device; insulated water bottles guaranteed to keep beverages cold for 36 hours.
• “90 Day Fiancé” (TLC): It’s wedding day for Gino and Jasmine; Clayton worries Anali won’t show up at the altar; Citra’s dad rejects Sam’s Christian ceremony; Nikki hopes she can trust Justin as she departs.
SATURDAY-
• “The Wall” (NBC): Sisters Kevyn and Monet gear up to take on the wall.
• “Where Is Wendy Williams?” (Life): Premiere. As the mystery surrounding her health struggles grows, new questions arise about her career and her family life; her struggles may be more severe than previously thought.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Host Shane Gillis; 21 Savage performs
SUNDAY-
• “The Equalizer” (CBS): After a young girl is struck by a car in an illegal street race, McCall tracks down the person responsible; Dee contemplates following in her mother’s footsteps to join the armed forces.
• “The Simpsons” (Fox): Lisa feels a need for speed as well as a need for control of her anxiety when she becomes a pro kid go-cart racer.
• “American Idol” (ABC): Auditions continue
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• The Kid Laroi – A new teaser for the upcoming documentary “Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About a Kid Named Laroi” shows him reminiscing about his rise, his friendship with Juice WRLD, and getting a call from Justin Bieber while in the shower. Directed by Michael D. Ratner, it tracks the young Australian musician’s remarkable past few years as he shot to superstardom. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/3d462w4z
• Usher — Following his Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 11, 4 of his previous albums are now on the Billboard 200 chart, alongside the debut of his new LP “Coming Home” at #2. Former #1 “Confessions”, released in 2004 is at #15, followed by 2010’s “Raymond V Raymond” at #68, 2001’s “8701” (#122), and 1997’s “My Way”, at #197. The 4 albums feature songs that Usher performed during his halftime show.
• Foreigner – Founding guitarist Mick Jones has revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease “several years ago”. The group is currently on its farewell tour, but Jones has not performed with them since 2022. In a statement, he said: “I am doing alright. I’ve always liked to be at my best when performing onstage, and sadly, at present, I find that a bit difficult.” LINK: http://tinyurl.com/yck8d9xa
• The Beatles — Now that it’s been announced that Sam Mendes will direct 4 movies about them, speculation has begun about who’ll play the Fab Four. Here are Variety’s suggestions: Daisy Jones & The Six’s Sam Claflin as John Lennon. Jacob Elordi (‘Elvis Presley’ in “Priscilla”) is one of its picks for Paul McCartney, as is Tom Holland. For George Harrison, it offers up Timothée Chalamet. And “Saltburn’s” Barry Keoghan and Daniel Radcliffe are suggested to play Ringo Starr.
• John Mellencamp – He, Jackson Browne, Dion Dimucci and Mavis Staples will be honored at the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music’s second annual American Music Honors. The event will take place April 24 in West Long Branch NJ, the home of the Bruce Springsteen Archives.
• Beyoncé – Her new single ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ has made her the first-ever Black female artist to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. That comes less than two weeks after she announced her country era with her newest album “Act II”, during the 2024 Super Bowl, which will be released March 29. She also dropped ‘16 Carriages’, which debuted at #9.
• Kane Brown — and Mexican artist Carin Leon debuted their new song ‘The One (Pero No Como Yo)’ at the Premio Lo Nuestro Awards last night. They announced the duet via a post on both of their Instagram pages. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/5n9yfyju
• Dylan Scott – will drop the deluxe album “Livin’ My Best Life (Still)” on March 29. The expansive 26-song record will feature 6 new tunes, including ‘What He’ll Never Have’, which he’s been teasing on socials. “Livin’ My Best Life” arrived in 2022 and included the #1 hits ‘New Truck’ and ‘Can’t Have Mine’.
SHOOTING THE BULL
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEK:
• “Drive-Away Dolls” (R, Action/Comedy): Bemoaning another breakup, free-spirited Jamie and her demure friend Marian embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee, but things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals. (Margaret Qualley, Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon) Tomatometer: 69%
• “Ordinary Angels” (PG-13, Drama): Based on a true story: a hairdresser does everything in her power, including rallying the local community, to come to the aid of a recently-widowed father looking to save the life of his ailing young daughter. (Alan Ritchson, Amy Acker, Hilary Swank) Tomatometer: 80%
• “Tenet” (PG-13, Action/Sci-Fi, re-release): A secret agent embarks on a dangerous, time-bending mission to prevent the start of World War III. (Robert Pattinson, John David Washington, Kenneth Branagh) Tomatometer: 69%, Audience score: 76%
WORKING OUT AND SPITTING UP:
Traditionally, workout centers see a sharp increase in popularity immediately after the New Year. But apparently, gym attendance in the US has flatlined in the early part of 2024, and trainers are blaming Ozempic. It’s not just because the trendy weight-loss drug is helping people lose weight without the bother of actually working up a sweat (although that sounds nice…). It’s because it seems Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs have been causing people to become nauseous and sometimes even vomit during workouts. One trainer says he has seen “a handful of new and experienced clients throw up while taking the drugs, because of the dizziness and nausea the drugs can induce.” And a 28-year-old said she has thrown up twice at the gym since starting the drug, but “fortunately the trash can was handy”. Some gym-goers say they are still doing their workouts, but know they have to do it on an empty stomach. Experts say these side-effects of Ozempic explain why, for the first time since early in the pandemic, foot traffic at gyms has tailed off in January and February.
(Thanks. I’ll file that under “Things I couldn’t possibly have known otherwise”…)
(Hey! I may need to lose a few pounds too, but at least I don’t need a trendy drug to make me throw up when I work out!)
-NYPost
STATE LINES:
The U.S. state of Nebraska recently announced that it would be retiring its tourism slogan after 5 years. Because, as it turns out, the tagline, “Nebraska, honestly it’s not for everyone”, honestly ISN’T for everyone. And while that slogan certainly was never going to cause the tourism dollars to start flooding in, it’s probably not the worst state tourism slogan ever. Here are some contenders:
• “Rhode Island: Cooler and Warmer.”
• Idaho: “Famous Potatoes.” If they’re that famous, do we have to be reminded?)
• Washington: “Say WA?” (The people said “No”!)
…and by the way, the universally agreed-upon choice for the BEST state slogan is: “Virginia is for lovers”.
(Still, you can’t beat: “Arizona: But it’s a dry heat!”
***Caution***(I always thought Manitoba came up with the best provincial slogan: “Friendly Manitoba”…those bastards!)
-Insider
NEWS OF THE WEIRD:
➢ A woman walking her dogs on a British Columbia beach made a surprising discovery among the trash that washed up with the tide — her own long-lost wallet. Marcie Callawaert was on the beach of the remote island where she and her husband live near Tofino when she spotted something familiar in the sand. Callawaert had dropped the wallet into the water while boarding a boat in June 2023. Later, after realizing her misfortune, she paid a diver to search for the wallet, without results. But the unrelenting power of the surf eventually dredged her billfold to the to the beach. She said the wallet, cash, cards and ID are still in remarkably good condition. (But, inflation, being what it is, all her $20 bills are now 10s!)
➢ A woman left an online shopper furious after she was spotted trying to sell her own grandmother’s funeral flowers on a second-hand clothing website. The shopper who came across the wreaths, which were posted on a site called “Vinted,” was shocked after seeing white and colorful flowers listed as “Mum/Nan flowers” for £115 (US$145). The listing was labelled: “new without tags”. Enraged, the shopper took things into their own hands by direct messaging the woman to tell her how “offensive” she was, for selling the funeral flowers. This is the response she received: “It’s my nanna’s flowers. I suggest you leave your thoughts to yourself because I find you rather offensive at a difficult time.” An extended back and forth ensued, but it’s safe to say that neither person back ed down. The listing was reported to the shopping website. (…and the story, of course, made it to TikTok!) LINK: http://tinyurl.com/28vtt9ew
-UPI, NYPost
DID YOU KNOW?
A new study found that reusable water bottles can contain 40,000 times more germs than a toilet seat! The investigation, conducted by researchers with WaterFilterGuru.com, sent samples from everyday reusable water bottles to a professional lab, revealing surprising levels of bacterial contamination from 2 main types of bacteria: gram-negative rods and bacillus. The first is particularly concerning due to its increasing resistance to antibiotics, posing a significant infection risk. Meanwhile, bacillus bacteria could lead to uncomfortable gastrointestinal issues. (This is no way a recommendation that you should go wash out your water bottle in a toilet!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 02.23.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Curling is Cool Day”, celebrating the Winter sport of curling … basically a drinking game with some housecleaning interspersed. In tribute, here are some . . .
(***Caution***) BS REASONS CURLING IS BETTER THAN SEX:
✓ It’s acceptable to play with your best friend’s wife.
✓ You can yell “Hurry, hurry, hard!” without anyone taking much notice.
✓ You can score more than once in each end.
✓ You can do it in 8 houses in less than 2 hours.
✓ You get to shoot your rocks 16 times in just 1 game.
✓ You can use your rubber more than once.
✓ Short is not always bad.
✓ Men don’t fall asleep when play is completed.
✓ The ice-maker always cleans the sheets when you’re done.
• “Banana Bread Day”, the first cookbooks mentioning banana bread were published during the Great Depression. Culinary historians believe that a resourceful housewife who didn’t want to throw away over-ripe bananas may have invented the original recipe.
• “Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day”. In 1907, American inventor Carleton Ellis had the idea of making dog biscuits into the shape of a bone, and he came up with a milk-based biscuit. He claimed his dog didn’t care for it much until he shaped it liked a bone. (I’m going to have to call ol’ Carleton out that one!)
• “Diesel Engine Day”, on this day in 1893, Rudolf Diesel received a patent for his diesel engine. Instead of gasoline, this engine burns fuel oil, and uses compressed air in the cylinder instead of a spark, to ignite the fuel.
• “National Rationalization Day”, all about observing the fake reasons or false excuses given for not finishing work, or for doing it wrong. Today, we should try to correct the mistakes we’ve made because of rationalization. (How do I get the dog to “un-eat” my homework?)
• “International Stand Up to Bullying Day”, which happens in February and in November, when participants sign up and wear a pink shirt to take a visible stance against bullying. It is based on a campaign started by Travis Price and David Shepherd, who took a stand for a fellow student who was bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school.
• “Skip the Straw Day”, a group of 8thgrade students in Whitehall MI came up with this in 2017, “to encourage Americans to give up the straw habit, and help spread awareness about the damage caused by disposable plastics.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yptkuxfu
SATURDAY-
• “Tortilla Chip Day”, saluting the 1940s invention by Rebecca Webb Carranza of LA. Rather than tossing misshaped tortillas from an automated tortilla machine, 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. (And without them, really, how many jokes would there be?)
• “Trading Card Day”, traditionally associated with sports; baseball cards are especially popular. Cards dealing with other subjects, like Pokémon, are often considered a separate category, known as non-sports trading cards. These can include cartoons, comic book characters, television series and film stills. (Got it…got it…need it…trader…)
• “International Sword Swallowers Day”, a day of recognition for practitioners of the ancient art. Demonstrations are scheduled at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums worldwide.
• “Open That Bottle Night” … you know, the one that’s gathering dust in your wine cellar, or maybe that 20-year-old bottle of Scotch you were given as a gift. What are you saving it for?
SUNDAY-
• “Clam Chowder Day”, a day to add a little heat to your Winter with a bit of bacon, onion, and flour; some diced potatoes and a can of clams, simmered in clam juice and milk. Add lots of black pepper.
• “Let’s All Eat Right Day”, honoring Adelle Davis, one of America’s best-known nutritionists. Born February 25th 1904, she wrote a series of books about healthy living. (…as opposed to any other day, when it’s “Let’s eat. All right!”)
• “Chocolate-Covered Peanuts Day” (there goes “Let’s All Eat Right Day”!), The first chocolate-covered peanut candies were “Goobers”, first sold in 1925. The word “Goober” was a common slang word for peanut (and for many of my relatives!)
• “Quiet Day”, also known as “National Don’t Utter a Word Day”. It’s a day to lower the noise level for a healthier and more relaxed life.
• “Pistol Patent Day”, Samuel Colt invented the pistol. He received Patent #138 for it on this day in 1836. The patent was for the Colt Revolver with a rotating chamber containing 6 bullets.
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1951 [73] Patricia Richardson, Bethesda MD, TV actress (“Home Improvement” 1991-99, “Strong Medicine” 2002-05)/movie actress (“Ulee’s Gold”)
1952 [72] Brad Whitford, Winchester MA, rock guitarist (Aerosmith-‘Walk This Way’, ‘Sweet Emotion’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 2001
1955 [69] Howard Jones, Southampton England, new wave singer (‘Things Can Only Get Better’, ‘No One is to Blame’)
1965 [59] Kristin Davis, Boulder CO, TV actress (“Melrose Place” 1995-96, “Sex and the City” 1998-2004, “And Just Like That” since 2021)/movie actress (“Sex and the City” movies)
1965 [59] Michael Dell, Houston TX, entrepreneur (founder & CEO of Dell Computer)/philanthropist (co-founder of the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, focusing on urban education, childhood health and family economic stability)/current net worth: $72 billion
1969 [55] Daymond John, Queens NY, TV personality (“Shark Tank” since 2009)/businessman (CEO of FUBU, The Shark Group)/consultant/speaker
1970 [54] Niecy Nash (Carol Ensley), Palmdale CA, TV actress (“Reno 911!” 2003-09, 2020-22)/TV host (“Clean House” 2003-10)/movie actress (“Selma”)
1981 [43] Josh Gad, Hollywood FL, movie actor (“Frozen”, “Jobs”)/Broadway actor (“The Book of Mormon”)/TV actor (“Wolf Like Me” since 2022)
1983 [41] Emily Blunt, London England, movie actress (“A Quiet Place” movies, “Oppenheimer”)/married to John Krasinski since 2010. COMING UP… “The Fall Guy”, 2024
1983 [41] Aziz Ansari, Columbia SC, TV actor (“Parks & Recreation” 2009-15), “Master of None” 2015-21/standup comedian (“Live at Madison Square Garden”) COMING UP… “Good Fortune”
1994 [30] Dakota Fanning, Conyers GA, movie actress (“Twilight Saga”, “The Runaways”) COMING UP… “The Watchers, 2024
SATURDAY- Barry Bostwick (“Spin City”) is 79; George Thorogood (‘Bad to the Bone’) is 74; Debra Jo Rupp (“That ‘70s Show”) is 73; Sammy Kershaw (‘Third Rate Romance’) is 66; Billy Zane (“Titanic”) is 58; retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr is 47; Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out”) is 35; O’Shea Jackson Jr (“Cocaine Bear”) is 33
SUNDAY- comedian Carrot Top [Scott Thompson] is 59; Téa Leoni (“Jurassic Park 3”) is 58; Sean Astin (“Lord of the Rings” films) is 53; Chelsea Handler (“Chelsea Lately”) is 49; Rashida Jones (“Parks & Recreation”) is 48; Shawna Thompson (Thompson Square) is 46; Jameela Jamil (“The Good Place”) is 38; pro tennis player Eugenie Bouchard is 30
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2013 [11] At the 33rd Golden Raspberry Awards, Rihanna is named ‘Worst Supporting Actress’ for her role in the sci-fi action flick “Battleship”
2023 [01] Former Hollywood exec Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years in prison for rape, on top of the 23 years he is already serving for sex crimes
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2010 [14] Britain’s Culture Ministry declares The Beatles’ Abbey Road Studios in London a protected historic site
2019 [05] Ariana Grande becomes the first solo artist to hold the top 3 spots on the Hot 100, a feat previously accomplished only by The Beatles. The songs: #1: ‘7 Rings’ #2: ‘Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored’, and #3: ‘Thank U, Next’
TODAY IN SPORTS . . .
2021 [03] Tiger Woods crashes his Genesis SUV south of LA, seriously injuring both legs, and leading to his November declaration that that his full-time career as a pro golfer is over, but he would continue to play “a few events per year”
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2000 [24] Santana wins 8 Grammys for the album “Supernatural”, tying Michael Jackson’s record for the most in a single night
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Studies show a “50% off” sign increases sales, even if shoppers don’t know the original price or what a reasonable price for the product would be.
✓ Cabbage was once considered an aphrodisiac.
✓ Disney World is the second-largest purchaser of explosives in the United States, the first is the U.S. Department of Defense.
✓ The word “good-bye” is a contraction of “God be with ye.”
✓ The Greek name for the mosquito is “anopheles,” which means “good for nothing.”
✓ Flies spend 30% of their time vomiting.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, FactRetriever
Best of BS . . .
BS WEIRDEST WANT ADS:
The world’s first ‘Classified Ad’ appeared in “The Times of London” 138 years ago today in 1886. A few more-recent ads that might cause a double-take …
• “Used Tombstone. Perfect for someone named Homer Hendel-Bergen-Heinzel. One only.”
• “Turkey for sale. Partially eaten. Only 8-days-old. Both drumsticks still intact. $23.”
• “Full-size mattress. Royal Tonic. 20-year warranty. Like new. Slight urine smell. $40.”
• “Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.”
• “Human skull. Used once only. $200 OBO.”
• “White trash compactor. Looks like new. Asking $225.”
• “China cabinet, buffet, hutch. Solid pine. A few cat scratches … but cat has been killed. $700.”
-First published in BS 2011
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ A New York City man who attempted to smuggle Burmese pythons in his pants across the Canadian Border has been arrested. (There are many, better ways to sneak a snake across the border, but I’m not going to rattle them off…)
➠ A leading geneticist says that human intelligence is slowly declining. (Cool. What does “declining” mean?)
➠ Lady Gaga is recording these days, and rumors are flying that she’s making a hard rock album. (If that’s true, it’ll be the first time ever that she did something before Madonna did it first…!)
➠ A survey finds that Americans only drink half as much coffee as they did 60 years ago. (They just pay 4 times more for it…)
➠ A study found that guppies seek ugly friends to make themselves look more attractive. (How superficial. I’m going to laugh about this at dinner tonight with Steve Buscemi!)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Cat got your scent: http://tinyurl.com/y7x8bkvh
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Every pizza is a personal pizza, if you believe in yourself.
BS PHONE STARTER:
What outdated slang do you use on a regular basis?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: The average woman begins to regret THIS after 70 minutes. What is it?
Answer: Wearing high heels
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A happy life is one spent in learning, earning, and yearning.
