Thursday, January 6, 2022 – Edition: #7140

Tomorrow’s Show Prep Today!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Betty White’s life and career won’t just be celebrated in Oak Park Illinois. The village where she was born is creating a full-on holiday to honor the late actress. “Betty White Day” will be recognized in Betty’s hometown on January 17, which would have been her 100th birthday. The small business community is banding together to offer discounts to customers and “Betty White specials.” For example, Mickey’s Restaurant will be offering a special consisting of a hotdog, fries, and Diet Coke — one of Betty’s favorite meals. (What? No vodka?)
-TMZ
★ (***CAUTION — language***) “Tiger King” star Joe Exotic is launching a GoFundMe, asking for an incredible $500,000 to cover recent legal fees associated with his ongoing feud with Carole Baskin. A judge sanctioned Exotic, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, instructing him to pay Baskin nearly $10,000 from a dispute over the infamous Oklahoma zoo he used to own. He says he still owes $1 million to Carole’s Big Cat Rescue from her trademark infringement lawsuit — and he needs help covering that debt too. Exotic had to appeal to honchos at GoFundMe to get the page approved, and as he puts it, it’s essentially a “pay that bitch Carole Baskin back fund.”
-TMZ
★ HBO made Harry Potter fans very happy recently with its 20th anniversary special – and now, producers have gone back to fix it after a few awkward gaffes slipped through. A picture of Emma Roberts was incorrectly used during a segment about Emma Watson, who played ‘Hermione Granger’ in the franchise. And a second error was spotted by Harry Potter star Oliver Phelps, who played ‘George’, one of the Weasley twins. The original version of the special misidentified him as his identical twin brother, James Phelps – who played the other Weasley sibling, ‘Fred’ – and vice versa.
-Metro
★ James Cameron is planning to make 6-hour movies for streaming platforms. He explained that he is excited by the “chaos” that the rise of streaming services such as Netflix have brought to Hollywood and says he wants to make a new type of film using the platforms. Quote: “You can stream it for 6 hours, or you can go and have a more condensed, rollercoaster, immersive version of that experience in a movie theatre. Same movie. Just, one’s the novel, and one’s the movie . . . Let’s just use these platforms in ways that haven’t been done before.” (Six hours? That’s a LOTTA wine!)
-ContactMusic

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Michael Keaton, John Wilson, The War on Drugs (R)
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Kenan Thompson, Terrace Martin featuring Arin Ray, Smino & Robert Glasper
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Corey Hawkins
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Diane Kruger
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Oliver Hudson, David Arquette
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Bob Woodward, Robert Costa
• “The Talk” (CBS): Sheila Carrasco, Devan Long, Rebecca Wisocky
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Anthony Anderson, Quinta Brunson, Dr. Jennifer Ashton
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Penélope Cruz, Demian Chapman
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Gordon Ramsay, Cheryl Burke, Eric Bellinger
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Donny Osmond, Danny Seo
• “Women of the Movement” (ABC): Series premiere. A mother faces her worst nightmare when her son is kidnapped, so she rallies her community to help bring him home.
• “Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer” (FOX): Series premiere. 20 women date 2 men — one is rich and one is definitely not — without knowing who is who. Each guy finds his perfect match, and the women must decide which is more important: love or money.
• “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” (MTV): Season 5 premiere

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• The Weeknd – will drop his new album tomorrow. He teased that “Dawn FM”, will feature comedian Jim Carrey. In a Twitter post, a voice says: “You are now listening to 103.5: Dawn FM. You’ve been in the dark for way too long, it’s time to walk into the light and accept your fate with open arms.”
• Kanye West — is working on a follow-up to “Donda”.  He only released his 10th studio album a few months ago, but is reportedly back in the studio crafting his new “masterpiece”, which will serve as a sequel to Donda, which was named in honor of his late mother.
• Janet Jackson – sets the record straight about a few things in her upcoming Lifetime and A&E doc “Janet” (out Jan. 28). In it, she claims that her career was hurt by the accusations against her brother Michael. Her Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction is also covered, plus the long-running rumor that she and first husband James DeBarge had a baby that she secretly gave up for adoption in the 1980s.
• David Lee Roth – His retirement seems to have come sooner than planned. After canceling his New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day performances in Las Vegas due to coronavirus concerns, he has also nixed his remaining 7 scheduled farewell shows between last night and Jan. 22.
• Rush – Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson appear in a playful behind the scenes teaser for the upcoming Rush pinball machine. The Stern Pinball website notes that players will “travel with Rush through time” as they’re “immersed in exclusive Rush concert footage and guided by custom speech” by Lee, Lifeson and friend Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdfc7aw8
• Luke Combs – is putting the “finishing touches” to his third album. He completed his “What You See Is What You Get” tour last month after 2-plus years of setbacks, and on Instagram, he called the trek: “the funnest, scariest, most rewarding, most stressful musical experience of my life and I’d do it all over again tomorrow.”
• Lady A — launched into the new year with the new single ‘What A Song Can Do’. The title cut from their eighth studio album was written by the group’s Charles Kelley with Ryan Hurd, Sam Ellis and Laura Veltz. The album came out Oct. 21.
• Maren Morris — is kicking off the new year with new music. On her socials, she shared the single image for her new song ‘Circles Around This Town’, which drops tomorrow. She also dropped a small tease of the music video. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4wbskze7

SHOOTING THE BULL

WILD CARDS:
Your next credit card or debit card will probably look significantly different from the ones in your wallet now. Card providers are moving away from the style that dates back to the 1960s, and moving to a design that more accurately reflects the way they are used today. Basically, the new look turns the familiar horizontal credit card on its side and adopts a new vertical configuration that’s faster and easier to use in with today’s card-processing terminals. Think about how you use yours. When you tap it, or insert it into a machine to make a payment, you’re holding the short end – so why not have your card provider’s logo staring you in the face vertically as you’re paying, rather than sideways? The card companies claim this change makes it easier for the consumer to tap or insert the card correctly. HSBC launched a vertical card last summer that was praised by accessibility groups because it has raised dots for those with visual impairment, labels indicating which way to use the card, and larger font sizes.
(Vertical or not, I’ll still find a way to put it in the wrong way!)
(But the reason I use a debit card is that I don’t like change – literally!)
(I accidentally swiped my donor card instead of my debit card yesterday. My groceries ended up costing me an arm and a leg!)
-CBC

INTERESTING ENVIRONMENT:
➢ In order to save the environment and our health, a new study argues that people should give up all sweet and fried foods. Researchers in Australia and New Zealand concluded that the production of unhealthy foods (or junk food) has a negative effect on the Earth’s ecology — as well as an eater’s health. Looking at 20 studies on the environmental impact of food consumption, they determined that unhealthier foods such as sweets, pastries, processed meat, and fatty foods produce more greenhouse gases. (They referring to production and transportation, not what happens after you eat it, silly!)
➢ Over 380 million tons of plastic is produced each year, much of it plastic bags. Cotton also has a large ecological footprint. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology hoping to combat both issues have developed an ingenious solution to turn plastic bags, wraps and other supermarket waste into textiles. Sportswear, shoes, army uniforms and maybe even spacesuits can be formed from fabric created out of plastic bags, according to the scientists. The eco-friendly, recycling textile could revolutionize fashion, as it resists dirt and can be washed in cold water in just 10 minutes. (Great. Next, we’ll have an island of undershorts in the middle of the ocean…)
-StudyFinds

THE MOST-ANTICIPATED MOVIES OF 2022:
⇒ Jan. 14 — Scream: Fifth installment featuring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette…again.
⇒ Feb. 4 — Jackass Forever: Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and the gang still sacrificing their bodies in middle-age. Plus, their first-ever female member, Rachel Wolfson.
⇒ Feb. 11 — Marry Me: Remember romcoms? Jennifer Lopez plays a pop star in this one.
⇒ Mar. 4 – The Batman: Robert Pattinson inherits the cape and cowl.
⇒ Ap. 22 – The Northman: Alexander Skarsgard is a 10th-century Viking prince who is forced to avenge the death of his father (Ethan Hawke).
⇒ Ap. 22 – Disappointment Blvd: A “nightmare comedy” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Nathan Lane.
⇒ May 6 – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: This sequel sees Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Doctor Strange’ team up with Elizabeth Olsen’s ‘Scarlet Witch’.
⇒ May 27 – Top Gun: Maverick: Tom Cruise returns as the fighter pilot ‘Maverick’ 36 years later.
⇒ July 8 — Thor: Love and Thunder: Chris Hemsworth’s Norse god and Tessa Thompson’s Asgardian warrior link up with the Guardians of the Galaxy to take on ‘Gorr the God Butcher’.
⇒ July 22 – Nope: Horror film written and directed by Jordan Peele, with his “Get Out” star Daniel Kaluuya.
⇒ Sept. 30 – Mission Impossible 7: Tom Cruise again, running and leaping across Italy, Norway, and the Swiss Alps, and he’ll once again be joined by Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, plus villain Esai Morales.
⇒ Oct. 7 — Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2: Focuses on Spidey’s budding relationship with Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld.
⇒ Nov. 4 – Canterbury Glass: Period film about a doctor and a lawyer who “form an unlikely partnership”. Starring, among others, Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, Rami Malek, Robert De Niro, Chris Rock, Timothy Olyphant… and… Taylor Swift.
⇒ Nov. 23 – The Fabelmans: Seth Rogen plays the fun uncle in this coming-of-age drama based on Steven Spielberg’s childhood years in Arizona.
⇒ Dec. 16 — Follows ‘Jake’ (Sam Worthington) and ‘Neytiri’ (Zoe Saldana) as they raise a family and contend with more evil corporate goons intent on destroying the planet (we think).
⇒ Dec. 25: Babylon: Set in 1920s Hollywood, as the film industry transitions from silent films to talkies. Featuring an all-star cast led by Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Olivia Wilde and Tobey Maguire.
-DailyBeast

DID YOU KNOW?
As omicron infections continue to break records, an expert is advising those without access to KN95 or N95 masks to “double up” on 2 other types instead.  Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University, advises those who can’t get their hands on medical-grade protection to wear “both” of the more widely available versions of masks on hand — the cloth and disposable surgical versions. She says wearing a 3-ply surgical mask that sometimes doesn’t fit well around the face, with a cloth mask on top of that, which is well-fitting, can be a satisfactory substitute.
-People

BS CHRONOMETER 01.06.22

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Take Down the Christmas Tree Day”, as the official holiday season ends today with Epiphany.
• “Epiphany” (aka “Three Kings Day”), a Christian celebration and public holiday in Spain, Italy, Sweden, and Puerto Rico. In Ireland it’s known as “Little Christmas”; in Italy the kindly witch ‘La Befana’ slides down chimneys on her broom to bring toys & goodies for kids; in Mexico, where it’s known as “Dia de los Santos Reyes”, kids leave shoes out to be filled with toys by ‘Los Tres Reyes’ (The Three Kings), who tote gifts while riding camel-back.
• “Carnival Season” begins, running from today (“Epiphany”) until February 16th (“Shrove Tuesday”). Although some people use Carnival and Mardi Gras interchangeably, they are actually different things. Carnival is a time to eat, drink and be merry before the rigorous fasting and sacrifice during Lent.
• “Cuddle Up Day”, an opportunity to snuggle up to someone or something on a cold Winter’s day.
• “Apple Tree Day”, started as a celebration of an apple tree that was almost 2 centuries old. It is unknown which tree it was—maybe it was the Original Bramley apple tree, or Granfer’s apple tree (both in England). both of which stood for over 200 years. (And lived “appley” ever after?)
• “Smith Day”, celebrating the most-common surname in the English-speaking world.

COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Harlem Globetrotter’s Day
[Fri] Tempura Day
[Sat] Argyle Day
[Sat] Bubble Bath Day

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1955 [67] Rowan Atkinson, Consett UK, movie actor (“Bean”, “Four Weddings & A Funeral”, “Johnny English” movies)/TV comic (“Mr. Bean” 1990-95, “Blackadder” 1983-89)/Order of the British Empire, 2013

1960 [62] Nigella Lawson, London UK, celebrity chef (“Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat”, “The Taste” 2013-14, “Nigella Bites” 1999-2001)

1960 [62] Howie Long, Charlestown MA, TV football analyst (“FOX NFL Sunday” since 1994)/retired NFL DE (Raiders 1981-93)/Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2000

1969 [53] Norman Reedus, Hollywood FL, TV actor (‘Daryl Dixon’ on “The Walking Dead” since 2010, “Ride with Norman Reedus” since 2016)

1969 [53] [Anne Marie] ‘Ree’ Drummond, Bartlesville OK, celeb chef (“The Pioneer Woman” since 2011)

1970 [52] Julie Chen [Moonves], Queens NY, TV host (“The Talk” 2010-18, “Big Brother” since 2000)/married to former CBS chairman-CEO Leslie Moonves since 2004

1982 [40] Eddie Redmayne, London UK, movie actor (“Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them”, “The Theory of Everything”) COMING UP…“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3″, 2022

1984 [38] Kate McKinnon, Sea Cliff NY, comedian-actress (“Saturday Night Live” since 2012, “Ghostbusters” [2016])

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1975 [47] “Wheel Of Fortune” debuts on NBC

2016 [06] “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” breaks the North American box office record, passing the $760.5m record set by “Avatar” (still #1, with $936.6 million)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2003 [19] Rocker Elvis Costello weds jazz singer Diana Krall in a ceremony at Elton John’s mansion in England

2012 [10] Wiz Khalifa is sued for $2.3 million over his hit song ‘Black & Yellow’, which rapper Maxamillion claims is a rip-off of his obscure 2007 tune ‘Pink & Yellow’

2019 [03] Kanye West debuts his weekly Sunday Service series at his home in Calabasas CA. The event features gospel-soul takes of his hits with the rapper’s celeb pals rounding out the congregation

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2021 [01] Seeking to overturn his defeat, supporters of US President Trump storm US Capitol in Washington during congressional certification of Joe Biden’s victory, resulting in 5 deaths and prompting evacuation of lawmakers and vice-president Mike Pence

TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
2012 [10] Andy Coyne manages to wear 249 T-shirts at one time, weighing in at more than 200 pounds, at a trade show in Las Vegas – setting the new world record for the most t-shirts worn at once

2013 [09] The electric guitar played by Bob Dylan at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival is sold for $965,000 (the Fender Strat had been in the possession of a New Jersey family for 48 years after Dylan left it on a private plane)

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ 91% people skip the first slice of bread, just because it’s ugly.
✓ If you ran (literally) at a snail’s pace, it would take you 18 months to finish a marathon.
✓ The country with the most Olympic medals per capita is Liechtenstein.
✓ A high quality Persian rug can last for 500 years.
✓ Incidences of déjà vu decrease with age.
✓ Tom Cruise writes with his right hand, but does almost everything else with his left hand.
-BathroomReadersInstitute

Best of BS . . .
BS SIGNS YOU WORK IN A BAD OFFICE:
• You have a desk, but no chair.
• Every week a third of your pay is deducted for the ‘Prozac Fund’.
• To increase profitability, the conference room has been turned into a chinchilla farm.
• Only the vending machine makes less money than you.
• In your one-page performance report, the word ‘sucks’ appears 13 times.
• The company president casually asks you if you know anything about starting fires.
• When stressed, your boss compulsively licks his back.
• The guy who comes in once a week to change the water cooler is the new VP.
• When you say, “See you tomorrow,” the security guard laughs uncontrollably.
• Your office nickname: ‘Deadwood’.
-First published in BS in 2014

TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ An increasing number of people are naming their kids after their favorite TV characters. (At least according to an article that was recently brought to my attention by my kids, Peppermint Patty and He-Man…)
➠ A study says that cleaning up the clutter in your home cuts down on about 40% of your housework. (…Not to mention about 85% of A&E’s reality programming!)
➠ Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, turns 10 this week. (And, if I know her parents, I’m sure the celebration will be a low-key affair, devoid of any extravagance or pretense…)
➠ The British actor and comedian who played “Mr. Bean,” Rowan Atkinson, is 67 today. (At his birthday party, all his European friends laughed and laughed and laughed, but as usual, his American friends thought it was stupid…)
➠ A report found no link between eating butter and heart disease. (But what about when you get naked and coat your entire body with it?!? Asking for a friend…)

BS WEB GOODIE:
Can’t . . . not . . . watch:  https://tinyurl.com/mrxv8d57

BS RANDOM JOKE:
When I was a kid, my parents would always say, “Excuse my French” after swearing…I’ll never forget my first day of school when the teacher asked if any of us knew any French!

BS PHONE STARTER:
Have you ever been punished for something you didn’t do?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  In a survey, 1 in 5 said THIS is the biggest annoyance in their home. What is it?
Answer:  Pet hair

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.