Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – Edition: #7631
Sheet Rocks!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Sinéad O’Connor died of natural causes, says the London Coroner’s Court. Almost 6 months after the ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ singer died at age 56, a rep for London’s Southwark Coroner’s Court has confirmed “the coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death.” In July, London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed they responded to “reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address,” noting at the time that her death wasn’t being treated as “suspicious.” Her passing came more than a year after her 17-year-old son Shane died by an apparent suicide. Throughout her time in the spotlight, the Dublin native spoke openly about her mental health struggles, including being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her struggles with depression.
-E!
★ The 2024 Golden Globes turned into a Skywalker family reunion. “Star Wars” legends Mark Hamill and Natalie Portman both attended the awards show Sunday night, only to have an impromptu run-in backstage. And later, Hamill shared a photo he took with Portman — who played ‘Luke Skywalker’s’ mother, ‘Padmé Amidala’, in all 3 Star Wars prequel movies. He wrote on social media: “Now I have finally met my ‘mother,’ thanks to the @goldenglobes”. Both Hamill and Portman have frequently joked about how they’d never actually met in person, despite their “family ties.” (“Luke, I am your mother”?) LINK: http://tinyurl.com/3j46xe45
-EW
★ Lisa Bonet is finally ready to officially end her relationship with Jason Momoa. She has filed for divorce from the “Aquaman” star. Court docs show that Bonet is asking for a dissolution of marriage, nearly 2 years after they announced they were splitting up. She lists their date of separation as Oct. 7, 2020… 3 years after they were married. Bonet is asking for joint custody of their 2 children, and says neither she or Momoa will be asking for spousal support.
-TMZ
★ Martin Scorsese plans to make a movie based on the “Life of Jesus” later this year. He told the LA Times that the film will be based on a book by Shūsaku Endō. The director said it will probably be set mainly in modern day, and will mostly be “focusing on Jesus’ core teachings in a way that explores the principles, but doesn’t proselytize.” Scorsese said he is trying “to make it more accessible and take away the negative onus of what has been associated with organized religion.”
-TheWrap
★ Today is the 25th anniversary of the debut of “The Sopranos”, and if you’re due for a rewatch of the classic series but don’t have a lot of time, Max has you covered. The Warner Bros. streaming service has launched the official @thesopranos TikTok account, featuring 25-second-long versions of every episode. The clips basically feel like really short “previously on” recaps, but they do hit each episode’s major points in a quick, fun way. It is part of a large collection of Sopranos anniversary content HBO and Max are releasing this year.
-Messenger
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Robert Downey Jr., Ayo Edebiri, Fridayy
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Tina Fey, LaKeith Stanfield, Mitchell Tenpenny
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): America Ferrera, Reneé Rapp
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Lisa Hochstein, Larsa Pippen
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Liz Cheney
• “The Talk” (CBS): Edgar Ramirez, June Diane Raphael
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Dr. Sue Varma
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Jon Cryer, Joe Keery, Brad Meltzer
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Dan Souza
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Jerry O’Connell
• “I Can See Your Voice” (Fox): Queen Night: Gavin DeGraw, Thomas Lennon, Jennie Garth, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Cheryl Hines
• “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (Bravo): The women head to Ojai for Annemarie’s birthday, as frosting isn’t the only thing Sutton is licking; Dorit questions her marriage after PK’s shocking admission.
• “FBI True” (CBS): A devastating explosion rips through downtown Oklahoma City, forcing FBI investigators on a rescue mission while searching for clues about the murderer.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Taylor Swift – According to a new Forbes-style list of the world’s wealthiest pets by AllAboutCats.com, her feline Olivia Benson is worth more money than her boyfriend Travis Kelce. Olivia Benson, whom she adopted in 2014, is worth an estimated $97 million, having “earned her fortune starring alongside her owner in several music videos.” Kelce is estimated to be worth $40 million.
• The Weeknd – is teasing the final album in his trilogy, which also includes 2020’s “After Hours” and 2022’s Dawn FM”. He posted those 2 album covers, and a third, black slide with a white question mark in the middle and a parental advisory warning label. His caption: “3”. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/3heknvcm
• Prince – His “Purple Rain” film is being adapted as a stage musical. It will feature a score by Prince, and will be based on a book by Pulitzer-Prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, whose play “Appropriate” is currently on Broadway.
• David Bowie — Four of his B-sides will be released on this year’s Record Store Day as part of the upcoming new album “Waiting In The Sky (Before The Starman Came To Earth)”. The songs were recorded in 1971 during “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars” sessions, but didn’t make the final cut for the album.
• Roger Daltrey – The Who singer has announced his final Teenage Cancer Trust show lineup, after curating the event in London for the past 24 years. The 79-year-old said that £32 million has been raised at this point, with more coming from this year’s shows in March, which will feature The Who, Squeeze, Robert Plant with Saving Grace, Pete Townshend, Eddie Vedder and Paul Weller, and Noel Gallagher.
• Morgan Wallen – A vid posted to TikTok shows that his family has just as much fun as anyone at his concerts. In it, Wallen’s sisters, Ashlyne and Lacey, as well as his parents, Leslie and Tommy, are “vibing hard,” as captioned by Wallen’s sister, Ashlyne. It shows the family jamming to Morgan’s performance of ‘The Way I Talk’ – and mom Leslie dancing and singing along to the words, which are about her. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/mucux8ev
• Jelly Roll — Recently visited his old jail cell inside Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility, and was overwhelmed with emotion. He told CBS News Sunday Morning‘s Kelefa Sanneh: “There was a time in my life where I truly thought this was it”. He also said that he “wrote hundreds of songs right here” in the cell of the Nashville prison. The segment is available on YouTube. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/2p9kpzd5
• John Pardi – He and his wife Summer are expecting…again! Sunday, they announced that she’s pregnant in a social media post that prominently featured their almost one-year-old daughter Presley, as well as the building site of their new house. Summer wrote in the caption: “Good thing we have that extra guest room”. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/5btbsxru
SHOOTING THE BULL
OF MICE AND MEN . . . AND CATS:
❑ A man in Wales set up a camera in his tool shed to find out why objects were moving around — and discovered a “tidy mouse” was cleaning up the place. Rodney Holbrook said the mystery began with some bird food he stored in the shed ending up in an old pair of shoes. So, the wildlife photographer set up a camera and ended up recording footage of a mouse making nightly visits to round up small items that had been left out, and placing them into a small tray on the shelf. Usually the tidy mouse works alone, but will occasionally be accompanied by one or two others. The mouse and its cohorts have placed things like nails, cable ties and small tools into the tray in an apparent effort at hiding nuts. Holbrook says: “It happens every night without fail.” (It’s like having a “reverse-teenager”!) LINK: http://tinyurl.com/ycy36d6j
❑ It’s not the most revolutionary product ever to debut at the Consumer Electronics Show, on now in Las Vegas, but it might be the most useful. A pair of Swiss twin brothers have unveiled the “Flappie”, a cat door that stops felines from bringing mice and other prey into the house – living or dead. Oliver and Denis Wilder said the Flappie cat door was inspired by their mother’s struggles to keep the family cats from bringing mice inside. It features an AI-powered detection system that refuses to allow a cat to enter the home if it is carrying a mouse, bird or other small animal in its mouth. It also features a manual locking system that can be operated by the homeowner, and a chip detection option that can ensure the flap only opens for the owner’s microchipped pet. Internet connectivity also allows review of camera footage via a smartphone app. (The $400 price tag doesn’t sound so bad if you’ve ever tried to convince a chipmunk to exit through the front door!)
-UPI
SENORITA AFFECTIVE DISORDER:
So – it’s the coldest time of the year, the daylight disappears before dinner’s ready, and those Christmas bills just keep on rolling in. What’s not to like about winter? And if you believe the results of a new survey, that especially applies to women. A poll, of 2,000 found that women are grumpier than men during winter. Six in 10 females admitted to being in a bad mood between December and February – compared to 48% of males. And exactly what is it that made women feel this way? Miserable weather was the top reason (87%), while men blamed a lack of sunshine (81%). As a result, 42% of all adults said they are likely to book a holiday to give them something look forward to. The survey also found that the things people miss most this time of year are: the sun on their skin (55%), spending more time outside (53%), and the general warmer weather (61%).
(Truth be told, the top reason men feel grumpy this time of year is because their wife is!)
(Never mind the feeling of sun on my skin – the thing I miss most this time of year is having feeling in my hands!)
-SWNS
WEIGHT AND SEE:
Losing weight and eating healthier are 2 of the most-common New Year’s resolutions. And Australian dietician Susie Burrell, author of “The 30-Day Reset Plan”, has shared her 4 “food rules” to follow in 2024 in order to lose weight. Here they are…
• Limit sweets to once a day
• Avoid fried food
• Abstain from alcohol until Thursday
• Indulge in only one coffee with milk a day.
(She had me up until #1!)
(I’m perfectly fine with abstaining from alcohol until Thursday…if we start on Wednesday!)
(Hold on – This is starting to sound like FOUR New Year’s resolutions!)
-TheMirror
DOMINO’S MOST-REQUESTED PIZZA TOPPINGS IN THE UK, 2023:
1. Pepperoni
2. Roast chicken
3. Sweet corn (Yup, sweet corn)
4. Ham
5. Mushrooms
(And for the record, pineapple beat onions, green and red peppers AND extra cheese!)
-StudyFinds
THE BEST SONGS TO CLEAN TO:
According to a UK poll by Samsung…
1. ‘I Want to Break Free’ – Queen (If you’ve seen the video, you know…)
2. ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ – Journey
3. ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)’ – Whitney Houston
4. ‘Happy’ – Pharrell Williams
5. ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ – Cyndi Lauper
6. ‘I Will Survive’ – Gloria Gaynor
7. ‘Uptown Funk’ – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
8. ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ – Foreigner
9. ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ – Bonnie Tyler
10. ‘Shake It Off’ – Taylor Swift
-StudyFinds
DID YOU KNOW?
The NFL playoff matchups are set, and if there’s one thing you can bet on, it’s that Americans will be watching. The NFL accounted for 93 of the top-rated 100 US broadcasts last year, according to Sportico. That’s up from 82 in 2022 — and 61 five years ago. The only non-football broadcasts to crack the top 50: the State of the Union address . . . and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (That’s only until Taylor Swift gets her own TV show…)
-Insider
BS CHRONOMETER 01.10.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Bittersweet Chocolate Day”, the kind you can eat with less guilt because it has less sugar. And unlike milk chocolate or white chocolate, it doesn’t contain any milk solids.
• “Cut Your Energy Costs Day”, a day to help both the environment and your bottom line. So, what’s your best tip? (I removed the light bulb in the fridge…until my wife found out!)
• “Houseplant Appreciation Day”, a day to salute their therapeutic value in lifting your mood and outlook. And if you’re a gardener, they give you an opportunity to play in the dirt until Spring arrives in the seemingly far, far, distant future. (No, thanks. I already take care of a few things that sit around the house all day doing nothing: Teenagers.)
• “Peculiar People Day”, to celebrate the leaders of the strange and unusual, those who refuse to succumb to the world’s idea of what is normal. Which is great until you find out that they mean YOU! (***Ask listeners to tell about the extraordinary, unusual, strange, odd, uncommon, intriguing, different, abnormal, and quirky people they know***)
• “Save the Eagles Day”, some species of eagles are on the endangered list. But thanks to the work of scientists and the public, although still “protected”, the Bald Eagle was removed from the endangered list in 2007.
• “Oysters Rockefeller Day”, consists of oysters on the half-shell that have been topped with a rich sauce of butter, parsley and other green herbs, and bread crumbs, then baked or broiled. Lemon wedges are the typical garnish. After its invention in 1889, the dish was named after John D. Rockefeller, the then-wealthiest American, for its extreme “richness”.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Secret Pal Day
[Thurs] Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day
[Fri] Hot Tea Day
[Sat] Rubber Ducky Day
This Month is…Blood Donor Month
This Month Is…International Creativity Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1945 [79] Rod Stewart, London England, rock/pop singer (‘Maggie May’, ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?’, Faces-‘Stay With Me’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 1994/awarded CBE and Knight Bachelor by the British monarchy
1948 [76] Donald Fagen, Passaic NJ, rock singer-keyboardist (Steely Dan-‘Reeling in the Years’, ‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 2001
1949 [75] George Foreman, Marshall TX, former pro boxer (2-time heavyweight champ/Olympic gold medalist)/cooking grill spokesperson/father of 5 sons…all named George Foreman
1953 [71] Pat Benatar (Andrzejewski), Brooklyn NY, rock singer (‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’, ‘We Belong’)/4 consecutive ‘Best Female Rock Vocal Performance’ Grammys – 1980-83/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2022
1961 [63] Janet Gretzky (Jones), Bridgeton MO, movie actress (“A League of Their Own”, “Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach”)/married to Wayne Gretzky since 1988, Mom of Paulina Gretzky)
1964 [60] Brad Roberts, Winnipeg MB, alt-rock singer (Crash Test Dummies-‘Superman’s Song’, ‘Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm’)
1978 [46] Brent Smith, Knoxville TN, rock singer-songwriter (Shinedown-‘The Crow & The Butterfly’, ‘Second Chance’)
2000 [24] Reneé Rapp, Huntersville NC, TV actress (“The Sex Lives of College Girls” since 2021) Broadway actress (“Mean Girls” 2019-20)/pop singer (w/Megan Thee Stallion-‘Not My Fault’) COMING UP… “Mean Girls” movie
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1999 [25] “The Sopranos”, starring James Gandolfini as mobster ‘Tony Soprano’, debuts on HBO
2009 [15] Singer Fergie marries Josh Duhamel in Malibu CA (divorced in 2019)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2008 [16] Radiohead hits #1 with the physical release of the “In Rainbows” album, originally sold via the internet, where fans could choose the price they paid for it
2016 [08] David Bowie dies of liver cancer at age 69 in New York City
2023 [01] Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck (Jeff Beck Group, Yardbirds, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart) dies at 78 after a battle with bacterial meningitis
TODAY’S SECOND . . .
2018 [06] Amazon president Jeff Bezos becomes the second person worth over $100 billion, due to a rise in Amazon’s share price (Bill Gates was first; Bezos current net worth: $170 billion)
TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
2008 [16] Tata Motors, India’s largest automaker, unveils the “World’s Cheapest Car”, the Nano (MSRP around $1,500. It was discontinued in 2018)
2010 [14] China surpasses Germany to become the “World’s Largest Exporter” (Germany is now third, US is #2)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ In a room with just 23 people, there’s a 50% chance that at least 2 share the same birthday.
✓ Women have a slightly higher average IQ than men.
✓ White chocolate isn’t actually chocolate at all.
✓ Technically, freshwater fish is not seafood.
✓ Applesauce was the first food to be eaten by astronauts in space.
✓ Earwax is technically a form of sweat.
-WomansDay, QuiteInteresting
Best of BS . . .
BS RUIN A SAYING IN ONE WORD:
• A stitch in time saves duct tape.
• Get dizzy living or get busy dying.
• Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder.
• Curiosity kilted the cat.
• Life begins deteriorating at 40.
• Just don’t do it.
• Better latte than never.
• People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them food.
• Love means constantly having to say you’re sorry.
• It’s the little thongs that matter.
• You CAN fix stupid.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ The Golden Globes were on Sunday night. (I didn’t watch. As a Jacksonville Jaguar fan, I already spent more than enough time over the weekend watching people have their dreams crushed!)
➠ About 25% of adults have used a coupon on a first date. (Not me. It’s just not worth the judgmental looks I get from everyone else at Chuck E. Cheese…)
➠ According to a study, nearly 80% of people sometimes suspect their coworkers are lying and not really sick when they use a sick day. (And you know what those people are called? Correct.)
➠ I’m sure you’ve heard that Mariah Carey and boyfriend Bryan Tanaka have broken up after 7-years of dating. (But even so, this failed relationship is only Mariah’s second biggest “bust.”)
➠ Kate Middleton turned 42 yesterday. (She enjoyed some pampering and a little R & R before having to return to her usual daily grind of pampering and R & R…)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Yup: http://tinyurl.com/2y4fvh6p
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I no longer fight my demons. We’re on the same side.
TRUTH OR BS:
• Polar bears can only live in the Arctic region, not in the Antarctic. [True]
• By the number of locations, McDonald’s has the most eateries in the US. [BS. Subway has over 20,000, compared to about 13,500 McDonald’s locations.]
•Pineapples grow on trees. [BS. They grow as a small shrub.]
• Japan’s currency is the Yen. [True.]
• The same number of dimples appear on each golf ball. [BS. For example, balls used in the PGA Tour in 2020 featured between 322 and 376 dimples.]
• The band Nirvana sang the “Friends” theme song. [BS. The Rembrandts recorded ‘I’ll Be There For You’]
• Fortune Cookies were invented in Finland. [BS. They were invented in the USA.]
-QuizandSurveyMaster, MomJunction
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s something that everyone agrees we should change, but somehow it never gets changed?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Stats show that women are 20% more likely to help out with THIS, than men are. What is it?
Answer: Cover up a crime
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.
