Wednesday, February 3, 2021 – Edition: #6907
Tomorrow’s Show Prep Today!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ “Frasier” might finally be making a comeback. It has been reported that the long-talked-about sitcom reboot is nearing the green light at the new streaming service Paramount+, which is set to replace CBS All Access. It would see Kelsey Grammer reprising his most famous role as ‘Dr. Frasier Crane’. Discussions have been ongoing for several years, including in 2018, when it was reported that a reboot in the works would see Frasier move away from Seattle. The original ran for 11 seasons from 1993-2004. Reps for Paramount+ and CBS TV Studios have not commented on the report.
-MSN
★ Jennifer Lopez is set to star in and produce an action film at Netflix called “The Mother.” She’ll play an assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she gave up years earlier. Lopez is also teaming with Netflix for another film, an adaptation of the bestselling book “The Cipher.” She will also produce and star in that movie, centering on an FBI agent who finds herself drawn into a serial killer’s strategically designed cat-and-mouse chase.
-Yahoo
★ Fans of Pixar’s “Cars” movies — and of unique fashion — are demanding that Crocs and Heelys cater to their needs. Crocs and Disney teamed up to make a version of the unique rubber shoe designed to look like the character ‘Lightning McQueen’, while Heelys is known for its casual shoes with wheels. The problem is that no combination of these shoe styles is available for adults. An online petition to Crocs and Heelys making the rounds demands that the companies offer Lightning McQueen Crocs, with a Heelys wheel insert, in adult sizes. So far, a staggering 266,861 people have signed.
-PopCulture
★ Mattel Television is set to develop a game show inspired by the arcade game “Whac-A-Mole”. The game show will turn it into an elimination competition during which opposing teams will “use their skill, strength and endurance to face off to become the ultimate Whac-A-Mole champion”. The unscripted series will incorporate life-sized Whac-a-Mole, races and obstacle courses, along with what is being described as “a surprising twist that will awe participants and audiences alike.” (What would awe me is if it lasted more than one season…)
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Magic Johnson, Jenny Slate, Ashnikko
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Kelly Ripa, M. Night Shyamalan, Fireboy DML
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Salma Hayek, Mark Harris
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Amy Schumer, Thomas Middleditch, Matt Cameron
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Kal Penn, Josh Groban
• “Conan” (TBS): Kyra Sedgwick
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Lisa Barlow, Jeff Lewis
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Day of Hot Topics
• “The Talk” (CBS): Viggo Mortensen
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Ricky Gervais, Dr. Doris Day
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): A look back at Ellen’s favorite football moments
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Elizabeth Olsen, Brian Austin Green, Teddy Swims
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Carrie Ann Inaba, Amanda Kloots, Elaine Welteroth, Pilar Valdes, Benny Drama
• “Super Bowl Greatest Commercials 2021” (CBS): Boomer Esiason and Daniela Ruah host a countdown of the best Super Bowl commercials; Kevin Frazier reports on the new commercials that will air during this year’s event.
• “My Feet Are Killing Me” (TLC): Season 2 premiere. Dr. Ebonie attempts to diagnose a patient with feet covered in huge masses; Dr. Brad is confronted with a case that could be related to the elephant man, as well as a patient with paper-thin skin.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Miley Cyrus – wants to be Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s wedding singer. In a series of tweets, Cyrus posted: “I’ll be your wedding singer! I promise to be on my best behavior. Or worst. whatever you want! It’s your special day!” While it’s unclear whether the couple will take Cyrus up on her offer, Stefani replied: “Thanks puppy.” (Translation: “Call me when you’re sober…”)
• Pitbull – has been appointed grand marshal of the 2021 Daytona 500, set for Feb. 14. He entered the world of NASCAR during the offseason, becoming the co-owner of Trackhouse Racing. Country star Luke Combs will perform a pre-race concert, marking his first show in front of fans since coronavirus shut down live events.
• Beastie Boys — Mike D is selling many of his awards for charity, including a 1986 Gold record for “License to Ill”, an MTV “Moon Man” award for 1998’s ‘Intergalactic’ video, and limited-edition Beastie Boys action figures (current bid: $1,600). Proceeds will benefit the Good Eats program, which feeds elementary school children on weekends.
• Peter Frampton – will release his new instrumental album “Frampton Forgets the Words” on April 23. It will feature tributes to some of his favorite tunes, including songs originally recorded by David Bowie, George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, and more. The first single is a take on Radiohead’s ‘Reckoner’.
• Dave Grohl – insists Glastonbury festival won’t be beaten by the coronavirus pandemic. The Foo Fighters frontman – whose band headlined the Pyramid Stage in 2017 – says he’s confident Glastonbury will return, and when it does, he and his daughters will be there.
• Chris Cornell — A second volume of his posthumously released “No One Sings Like You Anymore” album is in the works. The first edition, which featured 10 cover songs by the late Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman, was released in December.
• Tony Bennett – His family has revealed that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. An AARP magazine article on the 94-year-old says he endures “increasingly rarer moments of clarity and awareness,” but he continues to rehearse, going through his 90-minute set twice weekly with his longtime pianist. The magazine says he still sings with perfect pitch.
• Luke Combs – Not only has he announced his first live appearance since COVID-19 shut down live events with a planned pre-race concert at this year’s Daytona 500 on Feb. 14, on Sunday, he released “The Great Divide,” a collaboration with bluegrass artist Billy Strings. LINK: https://youtu.be/2LFP2KLabp4
• Home Free – The all-vocal country group have unveiled their version of the rock ‘n’ roll classic, Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’. The cover, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the song’s original release, includes a guest spot from none other than McLean himself. (***See “Today’s Music Events”, below***) LINK: https://youtu.be/MYU1-wQ4XFA
• Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis – Some of their iconic songs have a new home. Primary Wave Music has announced the acquisition of Sun Records. The huge deal includes master recordings from some other huge names, such as Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and The Dixie Cups.
SHOOTING THE BULL
CHILD’S PAY:
Raising a child can be very rewarding, but also very costly. According to a study by the United States Department of Agriculture, the average child born in 2020 will cost a middle-class family about US$284,570 by the time they turn 18. Here is a partial breakdown:
• Housing: $82,523. Fortunately, this cost doesn’t go up by an equal amount with each child you have.
• Food: $50,000-plus. The “plus” comes into play if parents emphasize a healthy diet for their children.
• Snacks: $10,000. Yes, snacks get their own category. The average American spends US$30,000 on snacks throughout their life. Your child will make up their fair share of that in juice boxes, granola bars, and other pre-packaged, small-portion foods (that dad will eat half of…)
• Transportation: Parents can expect to spend over $42,000 on transportation for their children.
• Health Care: This depends heavily on the health care system of the country one raises their child in. The USDA estimates that a parent will spend over $25,000 on their child. In countries with free health care such as Canada, parents can still expect to spend thousands on dental and vision care, plus prescription medication.
• Clothing: $17,000. Younger siblings often complain about wearing hand-me-downs, but there’s a good reason for them: The USDA estimates that parents will spend over $17,000 on a child’s clothes. (My daughter has spent that in one trip to the mall…!)
(What are some of the other major expenses involved in child-raising? Daycare? Vacations? Bail?)
-MSN
COOKING UP SOME NUMBERS:
Yes, a lot of things have changed in the last year. Remember enjoying a carefree, maskless meal at a restaurant? Remember buffets? Many have had no choice but to spend more time cooking (and baking) at home during the pandemic. And according to a survey by research firm Hunter, we plan to stick with it. 71% say they plan to cook more for themselves after the pandemic ends. Why? 67% say saving money is a major factor, while 56% say they have a desire to eat healthier and enjoy the good feeling that comes from cooking for yourself. 81% said that they are enjoying cooking at home more, and half feel more confident in their kitchen skills than they were a year ago. When it comes to how our food habits have changed since lockdowns began, 42% say they are more mindful of food waste, and 56% feel that their ratio of healthy-to-indulgent eating is at pre-pandemic levels.
(I have to say that my kitchen skills have improved. It’s been months since I’ve burned a salad!)
(If you’re anything like me, not only are you cooking more often, you’re cooking MORE!)
(What does it tell you that for Christmas, my family bought me a fancy new smoke detector that shuts off when you yell, “I’m just cooking!!”?)
-AllRecipes
THE THINGS YOU DO THAT DRIVE YOUR BOSS CRAZY:
(That you’re not aware of…)
☞ You’re constantly late: 5 or 10 minutes might not seem like a big deal, but, over time, it might be. Being late for meetings is also an irritant. (So is showing up late with a Starbucks in your hand!)
☞ You’re never at your desk: In a traditional office, your boss can easily tell how often you’re at your desk. But even when working from home, your responsiveness to texts and Zoom calls is something that your boss will focus on.
☞ You dress inappropriately: Though your boss may not come right out and say it, he or she probably notices if you dress less formally than you should. (So, you’re saying that “Flip-flop Wednesday” isn’t a thing here?)
☞ You never commit: If you tend to say things like “I’ll try” or “I’ll see what I can do”, your boss picks up on your hesitancy. You are giving yourself an excuse before you even start the task, and that drives bosses crazy. (Of course, that’s also exactly what the boss says when you ask for a raise…)
☞ Chit-chat: Bosses are generally accepting of some non-work-related talk. But if your small talk is getting in the way of your (and others’) productivity, there’s going to be a problem. (What if I chit-chat with the boss?)
☞ You nitpick everything: It has its place. For example, on a business proposal or important sales document, things need to be perfect. But informal emails and whiteboard illustrations might not need the same level of perfection. (Not to mention your 26-page PowerPoint dissertation on the shoddy selection of snacks in the break-room vending machine…)
☞ You send company-wide joke emails: This is a time when it pays to know what’s appropriate at your organization. The occasional joke may be OK, but don’t send them too often. (Wow. Nitpicky…)
-Ladders
DID YOU KNOW?
There has never been a better time to be quite possibly the greatest player in history on one of the richest clubs. You would assume football (soccer) star Lionel Messi was paid along the lines of the world’s top athletes. Now, thanks to a leak, we know his income blows every other known athlete’s salary out of the water, even the half-billion-dollar contract Patrick Mahomes signed with the Kansas City Chiefs last year. Spanish newspaper El Mundo reports that according to the deal Messi signed in 2017, he has 5 months left on contract that pays him US$674 million (€555,237,619) over the 4 years. That includes an annual salary of $167 million (€138 million), a $139 million (€115 million) “renewal fee” and a $94.6 million (€77 million) loyalty bonus.
-Yahoo
BS CHRONOMETER 02.03.21
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1943 [78] Blythe Danner, Philadelphia PA, movie actress (“Meet the Parents”)/mother of Gwyneth Paltrow
1956 [65] Nathan Lane, Jersey City NJ, Broadway actor (“The Producers”, “Guys & Dolls”)/movie actor (“Swing Vote”, “The Birdcage”)
1965 [56] Maura Tierney, Boston MA, TV actress (‘Helen Solloway’ on “The Affair” 2014-19, “The Good Wife” 2012-13)/movie actress (“Baby Mama”, “Semi-Pro”)
1970 [51] Warwick Davis, Epsom England, movie actor (“Willow”, “Leprechaun”)
1976 [45] Isla [‘EYE-luh’] Fisher, Muscat Oman, movie actress (“Rise of the Guardians”, “Wedding Crashers”)/married to Sacha Baron Cohen since 2010. COMING UP…”Back to the Outback”
1977 [44] Daddy Yankee [Ramón Rodríguez], San Juan Puerto Rico, reggaeton singer and rapper (Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber-‘Despacito’)
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Halfway point of Winter”, in the Northern Hemisphere. Today is the exact halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Many think the midpoint of winter is always Groundhog Day, but it varies. Winter is the shortest of the four seasons, lasting 88.99 days
• “Carrot Cake Day”, saluting an idea hatched in the Middle Ages. At that time, sugar and other sweeteners were rare and very expensive, so people used sweet vegetables for flavor.
• “National Missing Persons Day” in America. Every day in the US, approximately 2,300 people are reported missing. We are encouraged to be alert, share the names and pics of those who have gone missing, and help bring them home to their families.
• “American Painters Day”, A brush, some canvas, an easel, and some paint—these are just a few of the tools that painters use to perform their craft. Although the holiday honors all American painters, there is a special emphasis on Norman Rockwell, who was born in New York City on this date in 1894.
• “The Day the Music Died”, in memory of the death of three American musicians — Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and JP Richardson. While on tour, logistical issues and tour bus problems them to charter a small plane to their next venue. On February 3, 1959 it crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa, killing all on board. (***See “Today’s Music Events”, below***)
COMING UP . . .
[Thurs] Hemp Day
[Thurs] Stuffed Mushroom Day
[Fri] Disaster Day
[Fri] Chocolate Fondue Day
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2015 [06] Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are married at their home in Los Angeles. They would divorce acrimoniously in 2017
2015 [06] It’s announced that author Harper Lee will release her second novel, “Go Set a Watchman”, 55 years after her only other novel, the classic “To Kill a Mockingbird”
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1959 [62] Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson are killed in an Iowa plane crash. Don McLean would call it “The Day the Music Died” in his 1971 hit ‘American Pie’.
2008 [13] Adele’s debut album “19” hits #1 on the UK album chart (worldwide sales are now estimated at over 10 million)
2014 [07] Bruce Springsteen tops the album chart for the 11th time with “High Hopes”, placing him 3rd all-time for most #1 albums behind The Beatles and Jay Z
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2013 [08] A power outage occurs during Super Bowl 47 at the Superdome in New Orleans LA (Baltimore Ravens come out of the dark to defeat San Francisco 49ers 34-31)
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2014 [07] Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning wins a record 5th NFL MVP Award
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ The word “February” comes from a Latin word meaning “to cleanse”.
✓ It takes 6 months to produce an episode of “The Simpsons”. “South Park?” 5 days.
✓ Your eyes produce about a teaspoon of tears every hour.
✓ In a feeding frenzy, sharks sometimes eat parts of their own body.
✓ South African giant bullfrogs sometimes attack lions.
✓ In the 1600s, French women wore high heels to show that they were too rich to walk.
-BathroomReadersInstitute
Best of BS . . .
BS WORST WAYS TO END AN ARGUMENT:
• A ‘boop’ to the nose.
• A “Yo Mama” joke.
• By realizing you’re wrong.
• Yelling “Fake news!”
• Storming off dramatically, slamming the door, then realizing you forgot to grab your keys.
• Saying “Fine.”
• Farting in their general direction.
• Saying: “That’s what she said.”
• Telling him his brother is better.
• Telling her to “calm down”, of course.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2020
TODAY’S SLICE OF BS:
➠ Super Bowl 55 is this weekend. (It should be a good game. Both teams have deep rosters, a ferocious pass rush, and one more thing I heard someone on TV say that I can’t remember…)
➠ Super Bowl Sunday is just a couple days away! (This year’s Super Bowl will air on CBS, and well over 150 million people will watch. (To give you an idea how many that is, take the number of people who normally watch CBS, and add 150 million…)
➠ Yesterday was Groundhog Day. (Truthfully, though…I don’t get my weather from a celebrity groundhog. I use that OTHER adorable weather predictor: Al Roker.)
➠ In a recent interview, Nancy Sinatra said she will “never forgive Trump voters”. (Sorry, but when it comes to dissecting politics, I don’t form an opinion until Debby Boone weighs-in!)
➠ Did you know. . . The hormone that makes you grow is only produced when you sleep. (And THAT explains why my step-son is 11-feet tall!)
BS WEB GOODIE:
When the gym finally opens after lockdown: https://tinyurl.com/y5ofx5vk
BS PHONE STARTER:
What unbelievable thing did your boss do?
BS U-PICK SUPER BOWL TRIVIA:
• Which team has never gone to the Super Bowl?
a) Jacksonville Jaguars [CORRECT]
b) Chicago Bears
c) Buffalo Bills
d) New England Patriots
• Which city has hosted the most Super Bowls (11)?
a) New Orleans
b) Los Angeles
c) Miami (CORRECT]
d) Butte
(New Orleans has hosted 10, LA 7, and Butte…zip)
• Which artist performed the most-watched halftime show of all time?
a) Katy Perry (with Lenny Kravitz & Missy Elliot), 2015 [CORRECT]
b) Lady Gaga, 2017
c) Janet Jackson & Justin Timberlake, 2004
d) The Three Stooges & University of Arizona and Grambling State University marching bands, 1967
-GH, TorontoStar
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I’m fairly certain that the guy who decided to put the first ‘R’ in February was also the guy who decided how to spell ‘Wednesday’.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: In a survey, women said ice cream is their #1 comfort food. For men it was THIS. What?
Answer: Soup
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Friends are those rare people who ask how we are, and then wait to hear the answer.