Monday, January 18, 2021 – Edition: #6895

Bully For You!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Ryan Reynolds sent an inspiring video message to a young fan who is battling cancer. Randi Dery posted a video on social media explaining that her 11-year-old son, Brody, is battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and while receiving chemotherapy at hospital in Vancouver, she said: “when we’re having a hard day, we love watching ‘Deadpool’,” and they “didn’t know who else to talk to, so we thought we’d send you a message.” Within 24 hours, the Vancouver-born “Deadpool” star responded with a video of his own, saying: “I just wanted to send you this video and let you know that I’m thinking about you, that I’m sending you tons of love, and I’m sending you strength — whatever strength I’ve got.”
-MSN
★ Dustin Diamond’s got some pretty cool friends … because when one of them wanted to wish him well in his recovery from cancer, he decided not to send a card, but opted instead to plaster the message on NASCAR driver Josh Bilicki’s car. Dan Block, the president of Insurance King, is honoring his close friend and the “Saved by the Bell” star by giving Bilicki’s car a new wrap that’ll pay homage to the classic TV show while wishing Dustin get well soon. It was revealed last week that Diamond, who played ‘Screech’ on the show, has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
-TMZ
★ Marvel Studios has found its villain for “Moon Knight.” Ethan Hawke will square off against Oscar Isaac’s ‘Marc Spector’ on the Disney+ series. There are no details as to which character Hawke will play. In the comics, Moon Knight’s nemesis is ‘Bushman’, a fellow mercenary-turned-terrorist. The cast for the Marvel series also includes “Ramy” star May Calamawy. The series is expected to start shooting in March in Budapest.
-TheWrap
★ “Guardians of the Galaxy” actor and former pro wrestler Dave Bautista took to Twitter to offer a $20,000 reward after learning that federal authorities are reviewing a video of a manatee spotted in a Florida spring with the word TRUMP scraped in algae on its back. The manatee was spotted last weekend in the Homosassa River. The area is about 80 miles (130km) north of Tampa, where Bautista lives.
-Yahoo

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Dua Lipa, Cynthia Erivo, Local Natives featuring Sharon Van Etten
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Alex Rodriguez, Spike Lee, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis featuring Babyface
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Sen. Cory Booker, Infinity Song
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): James Spader, Anthony Atamanuik, Julia Michaels, Sarah Thawer
• ” The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Henry Golding, Ella Mai (R)
• “Conan” (TBS): Bob Newhart
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Isabelle “Izzy” Wouters, Elizabeth Frankini
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Rep. Cori Bush, Keedron Bryant
• “The Talk” (CBS): Angela Bassett, Tamia & Deborah Cox
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Max Greenfield, Ice-T, Lance Ulanoff
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Justin Timberlake, Ryder Allen, members of the Dance Theatre of Harlem
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Michael Ealy
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Kristen Bell, Danny Seo
• “9-1-1” (FOX): Season 4 premiere
• “9-1-1 Lone Star” (FOX): Season 2 premiere
• “All American” (CW): Season 3 premiere
• “American Pickers” (HISTORY): Season 21 premiere

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Ariana Grande — recruited Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat for a new version of her song ‘34+35’. Grande began teasing the remix on social media last week, sharing a clip of a TV broadcasting three unidentified women. She then shared a cartoon of herself, Megan and Doja – all sporting ’60s style beehives – and wrote alongside it: “tonight @dojacat @theestallion.”
• Cardi B – will star in the upcoming comedy movie “Assisted Living.” She’ll play a small-time crook, who, after a heist goes wrong, needs to disguise herself as an elderly woman.
• Phil Spector — The revolutionary music producer who transformed rock ‘n’ roll with his “Wall of Sound”, and who later was convicted of the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, has died at 81. According to some reports, he died from COVID-related complications after being transferred from his prison cell to hospital. He produced notable hits including The Righteous Brothers ‘You Lost that Lovin’ Feeling’ and ‘Unchained Melody’, The Ronettes’ ‘Be My Baby’, The Crystals’ ‘He’s a Rebel’ and The Beatles’ final album “Let it Be”.
• The Tragically Hip — With the live music business decimated, the group has been selling face masks on its website to raise money for the Unison Benevolent Fund. Sales of the masks, with the word “Courage” across the front, have raised more than $40,000 in support of the Canadian music community.
• Rod Stewart — has ended his feud with Elton John to set an example to his kids. The two have been at loggerheads since Stewart criticized his old friend’s plans for a retirement tour. Now, Stewart says they’ve officially buried the hatchet. He says it didn’t seem fair for him to tell his 8 children to apologize to people without following his own advice.
• Fleetwood Mac – Drummer Mick Fleetwood has sold his share of the group’s recordings to BMG. The deal covers classic albums including “Rumours”, “Tango in the Night” and “Tusk”, representing 300 songs, or “18 hours of drumming”, BMG said. No dollar amount has been revealed.
• Tom Jones — has announced a diverse set of cover songs for his new album. “Surrounded By Time” drops on April 23, and will include the 80-year-old’s new versions of songs by the likes of Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens and Michael Kiwanuka.
• Morgan Wallen – After his “Dangerous” album release show, he revealed his “10 Songs That Made Me” playlist. On it are songs by Alan Jackson (‘The Old Rugged Cross’), Eric Church (‘Springsteen’), plus songs by some decidedly non-country acts such as Breaking Benjamin, Nickelback, Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Bad Company and The War on Drugs.
• Florida Georgia Line – dropped their new song, ‘Life Rolls On’ just in time for the weekend. The album of the same name arrives in stores and online February 12th. LINK: https://youtu.be/zxG-tY2AhkU
• Garth Brooks – It’s been announced that he will receive his Kennedy Center Honors in May. Five months after they were postponed because of the coronavirus, the lifetime artistic achievement awards are coming back in May, possibly in a series of small events. Also set to be recognized are actor Dick Van Dyke, folk icon Joan Baez, dancer and actress Debbie Allen, and violin virtuoso Midori.

SHOOTING THE BULL

ADJUSTING BRIGHTNESS:
Billionaire Bill Gates wants to spray dust into the atmosphere in an attempt to block the sun. The Microsoft founder is financially backing the development of sun-dimming technology that, if successful, would reflect sunlight out of earth’s atmosphere, triggering a global cooling effect. The Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment, launched by Harvard University scientists, aims to spray non-toxic calcium carbonate dust into the atmosphere — a sun-reflecting aerosol that may offset the effects of global warming. Opponents of the idea say it could cause unpredictable, extreme shifts in weather patterns, and some environmentalists fear the technology could be seen by some as a green light to continue current greenhouse gas emission levels.
(Hey, what could go wrong?)
(Maybe January is the wrong time of year to tell people about this?)
(Like there weren’t already enough conspiracy theories about this guy!)
-Forbes

ON THE RIGHT TRACKER:
New research from the University of Sydney has found that fitness trackers and apps are helping us exercise more. Scientists reviewed physical activity in healthy adults aged 18-65, including daily step counts and the frequency, intensity and length of physical activity. They found that people who use fitness trackers and apps take on average, about 2,000 more steps a day. The study is the first to prove the effectiveness of trackers and apps in improving physical activity levels. As you’re probably aware, increased activity levels are closely related to improved health – potentially lowering risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some types of cancer.
(What does it say about me that when I ordered a Fitbit, my bank called to see if my card was stolen?)
(My fitness tracker is old-school, but just as effective in getting my butt moving. I’m married to it!)
-WorldEconomicForum

MONDAY MORNING HANGOVER:
➢ Scientists have found that your bored, lonely pet goldfish probably isn’t quite as bored as you think. It has a remarkable coping mechanism for those long weeks swimming in its murky fish bowl: it makes its own alcohol and gets ‘lit’. Here’s how they do it. When oxygen levels in water are deprived, some fish activate a set of enzymes that convert carbohydrates into alcohol. The same thing happens with other animals, but the end process is lactic acid rather than alcohol. The adaptation didn’t evolve as a mechanism for surviving fish bowl life, it’s actually a method of surviving the harsh, oxygen-deprived conditions that wild carp often find themselves in. So, if your goldfish starts to swim a bit wobbly, it might be time to clean out its bowl. (And I thought I was awesome making my own BREAD during quarantine…)
➢A British man has a rare condition that causes him get drunk from eating cake. 62-year-old Nick Carson suffers “auto brewery syndrome” (ABS), where the body ferments carbs and turns them into alcohol in the stomach. That means he can become blind drunk without touching a single drop of alcohol. He developed the condition after being exposed to strong chemicals at work almost 20 years ago. Now, he must carry a breathalyser with him at all times because, although he tries to avoid carbs, sometimes they slip into his diet undetected. As Carter puts it: “I’ve basically become an involuntary alcoholic because this condition makes you one, whether you want to be or not.” (If he’s looking, I know the perfect pet for him…)
-TreeHugger, LADBible

FOODS THAT NUTRITIONISTS SAY THEY NEVER EAT:
✗ Boxed cereals:  They’re usually high in carbohydrates and offer very little, if any, protein and heart-healthy fats. Many kids’ cereals contain added sugars and lack fiber. (Stop calling my cereal “kids’”!)
✗ Frozen “diet” dinners:  Many claim they are healthy but are loaded with sodium and artificial ingredients. (What if I have it for lunch?)
✗ Low-fat foods:  When fat is reduced or removed from foods, sugar and sodium are often added to boost flavor. (Well, I don’t have to worry about this one…all my food, like myself, is fully fat!)
✗ Fruit juice:  While we do need fruit in our diets, when you drink it, the fiber is missing…and you end up drinking a high-calorie, high-sugar drink.
✗ Flavored yogurt:  While it can be a good source of protein, calcium and probiotics, those benefits are often cancelled out by a high sugar content if it is flavored. (Especially if it is Kit-Kat flavored!)
✗ Soda pop:  It provides absolutely nothing nutritionally, and can easily be avoided. So…much…sugar. (What was I supposed to do? It came with my bacon-double cheeseburger and fries!)
✗ Processed meats:  You know the drill: bacon, sausage, hot dogs, lunch meats…not only is it loaded with salt, processed meats have been shown to cause cancer. Stick with unprocessed, grass-fed meat.
✗ High-fructose corn syrup:  It is found in processed foods and sodas. It doesn’t satiate our hunger hormones, thereby encouraging us to overeat. (Just like Grandma?)
✗ Veggie chips:  Yup. Still a fried chip, whether it’s made from a potato or from another veggie. (Well, there went my last New Year’s resolution!)
✗ Pastries:  A donut is a good, bad example: a combination of all the worst things you can eat — refined white flour deep-fried in artery-clogging trans fats and then covered in sugar or icing, which can [also] contain trans fats. They provide no nutrition and make you hungry for more. (And now I AM!)
(Quick question: What DO nutritionists eat?)
-Mic

DID YOU KNOW?
The website Emojipedia has released some info on the latest emoji trends. According to its data, 1 in 5 messages now contains at least one emoji. The most popular emoji of 2020 was “face crying tears of joy”, which barely beat “loudly crying face”. The emojis that saw the biggest jump in use in 2020 were the yawning face, pinching fingers, otter, shopping cart and microbe. Emojis that saw the biggest drops in use last year were ones related to travel, like the airplane . . . and ones related to sports, like the soccer ball, baseball, and basketball. (Anyone want to give me an idea of in what situation anyone would include an “otter” emoji?)
-Emojipedia

BS CHRONOMETER 01.18.21

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1955 [66] Kevin Costner, Lynwood CA, movie actor (“The Bodyguard”, “Field of Dreams”)/movie director (“Dances With Wolves”)

1962 [59] Alison Arngrim, Queens NY, TV actress (‘Nellie Olson’ on “Little House on the Prairie” 1974-1982)

1969 [52] Dave Bautista, Washington DC, wrestler-actor (“Guardians of the Galaxy” movies/WWE Wrestling Champion) COMING UP…”Dune”, 2021

1969 [52] Jesse L. Martin, Rocky Mount VA, TV actor (“The Flash” since 2014, “Law & Order” 1999-2008)

1971 [50] Jonathan Davis, Bakersfield CA, rock singer-drummer-bagpiper (Korn-‘Word Up!’, feat. Amy Lee: ‘Freak on a Leash’)

1980 [41] Jason Segal, LA CA, TV actor (“How I Met Your Mother” 2005-15)/movie actor (“The Muppets”, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”)

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day”, in the US, honoring the legacy and celebrating the birthday of the iconic civil rights leader. King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination. He was assassinated in 1968.

• “Blue Monday”, the third Monday of January has been awarded this gloomy title due to a combination of post-Christmas blues, cold dark nights and the arrival of unpaid credit card bills. Though we may say we hate Mondays, an Australian study found that the day that scores lowest for most employees’ morale is actually Wednesday. (If you can imagine hating “Hump Day”!)

• “Gourmet Coffee Day”, honoring the “good stuff” that costs you an arm and a leg. And then the barista spells your name wrong on the cup. (Wandy?)

• “Maintenance Day”, honoring all janitors and building maintenance personnel. (What’s the correct term these days? Caretaker? Custodian? Attendant?)

• “Thesaurus Day”, celebrating the birthday of the author of “Roget’s Thesaurus”. Peter Roget was born on this day in 1779.  (Quick! What’s another word for thesaurus?)

• “Winnie the Pooh Day”, honoring the birthday of “Winnie-the-Pooh” author AA Milne (1882-1956) in London UK. (Disney says thanks for the profits, dude.)

• “Peking Duck Day”, Peking Duck is made with a specific breed of duck—the Imperial Peking. It is typically roasted in a brick oven, which causes the skin to become crispy. Peking Duck can be eaten with pancakes, spring onions, and either hoisin sauce or sweet bean sauce.

COMING UP . . .
[Tues] Popcorn Day
[Tues] Tin Can Day
[Wed] Cheese Lovers Day
[Wed] Inauguration Day
This Week Is…Hunt for Happiness Week
This Month Is…National Slow Cooking Month

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1996 [25] Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from Michael Jackson

2004 [17] Jennifer Lopez’s divorce from her second husband Cris Judd becomes final (his estimated settlement for a year of marriage … $15 million)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1989 [32] The Rolling Stones are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with Dion, Otis Redding, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder

2016 [05] Glenn Frey, Eagles co-founder, singer-songwriter, and guitarist, dies of pneumonia at 67

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
2005 [16] The Airbus A380, ‘World’s Largest Commercial Jet’ (800 passengers), is unveiled at a ceremony in Toulouse, France

2013 [08] NASA scientists achieve a first in laser communication when they successfully beam a picture of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ to a spacecraft orbiting the Moon

TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
2014 [07] 16-year-old Lewis Clarke of Bristol, U.K. becomes the youngest to trek to the South Pole

2015 [06] Over 6 million people attend a mass given by Pope Francis in Manila, Philippines

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Since 1770, there has been a global flu pandemic about once every 20 years.
✓ Kangaroos can not back up.
✓ On average, 3 people die each year from using their tongue to check if a battery works.
✓ Parasites account for 0.01% of your weight.
✓ The can opener was invented 48 years after the can.
✓ The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
-DidYouKnow

BS THINGS NEVER SEEN ON TV:
• A person saying “Goodbye” at the end of a phone call.
• A reality show about the cameramen who film reality shows.
• An actual star on “Dancing With the Stars”.
• A commercial for a wonder-drug whose side-effects don’t sound horrifying.
• Actual directions on how to get to Sesame Street.
• Characters staring at their phones for hours on end.
• A commercial that says it ISN’T the best time to buy a car.
• A functional family.
• How am I supposed to know what I HAVEN’T seen?
• Full frontal nudity. (Although I do keep offering…)
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019

TODAY’S SLICE OF BS:
➠ I just read that before going on a date, the majority of men listen to classic rock, while the majority of women prefer Top 40. (Proving that the majority of women have bad taste in music — and in MEN!)
➠ A study claims that people are more likely to cry at night because lack of sleep makes emotions hard to control. (So, when my wife and her friends are having lunch while talking about Ryan Gosling, they are REALLY just tired?)
➠ The level of Arctic Sea ice is now at an all-time low. (We haven’t seen ice disappear like this . . . since Vanilla.)
➠ Betty White turned 99 yesterday. (Friends and family were smart enough NOT to throw a surprise party…)
➠ Kid Rock turned 50 yesterday. (It’s not too late for a gift.  He’s registered at Bed, Needing a Bath & Beyond…)

BS WEB GOODIE:
Hula-hooper’s hypnotic hiney:  https://tinyurl.com/y2l2pjs3

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• What is an autoclave used for?
a) Unlocking a car
b) Sterilizing medical equipment [CORRECT]
c) Tuning musical instrument
d) Blowing one’s nose

• Halle Berry, Michelle Pfeiffer and Anne Hathaway have all played which character?
a) Sarah Connor
b) Wonder Woman
c) Cat Woman [CORRECT]
d) Margaret Thatcher

• Which word means ‘faster than the speed of sound’?
a) Hypersonic
b) Subsonic
c) Supersonic [CORRECT]
d) Masonic
-Stuff

BS RANDOM JOKE:
When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, “Why, what did you hear?”

BS PHONE STARTER:
What was the worst trouble you got into as a kid?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  In the last 50 years, the number of people who regularly do THIS has dropped by 72%. What is it?
Answer:  Take a bath

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.