Thursday, July 11, 2024 – Edition: #7752
The BS Press!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Sharon Stone had “zero money” to her name after she suffered a stroke in 2001. The “Basic Instinct” actress opened up about how her finances took a hit following the health crisis that required 7 years of recovery, in an interview with Hollywood Reporter. Stone said: “People took advantage of me over that time,” detailing that she “had $18 million saved”, but when she was able to check her bank account, “it was all gone”. The ordeal forced her to stap away from acting for 2 years, but despite the hardship, Stone said that she isn’t bitter, because she “decided to stay present and let go”, and now lives “for joy” and “purpose”.
-NYPost
★ We’re going back to the swamp. DreamWorks Animation has announced that “Shrek 5″ is officially in development, with a far, far away release date of July 1, 2026. Original stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz are all confirmed to return as ‘Shrek’, ‘Donkey’, and ‘Princess Fiona’, respectively. Antonio Banderas’ return as the feisty feline ‘Puss in Boots’ is not yet confirmed. Murphy let it slip in June that he has already begun voice recording for the film, and will next do a ‘Donkey’ spinoff movie. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2p9tpshc
-Variety
★ “Grey’s Anatomy” is paging ‘Dr. Meredith Grey’ for a longer shift in Season 21. Ellen Pompeo has signed on to appear in at least 7 episodes of the 18-episode season, an increase in her onscreen role in the ABC medical drama since her character’s dramatic farewell during Season 19. Pompeo initially reduced her role on “Grey’s” to make room for other projects, though she still provides the voiceovers for nearly every episode. The news should be a good sign for fans following the chaotic Season 20 finale, where virtually every key doctor at Grey Sloan Memorial was either fired — including Meredith — or threatened to walk out.
-TheWrap
★ Gird your loins. ‘Miranda Priestly’ is set to deliver more withering glances in a sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada.” Disney is developing a follow-up to the hit 2006 movie starring Meryl Streep as the high-powered fashion magazine editor from hell, with Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt as her harried assistants. The original film’s screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna is in talks to return to pen the next chapter. Who from the original cast will return is not clear, but the storyline reportedly follows Priestly as she navigates her career amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing, and faces off against Blunt’s character, now a high-powered executive with advertising dollars that Priestly desperately needs.
-Variety
★ Eddie Murphy’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” has debuted as Netflix’s most-watched title of the week. After arriving on July 3, the action comedy scored a whopping 41 million views during the week of July 1, ranking as both the most-watched title and movie of the week, and hitting the top 10 most-watched movies in 93 countries. Axel F booted out “A Family Affair” from the top spot on the English films list, with the Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron-led flick scoring the #2 spot. Third place went to Jessica Alba’s “Trigger Warning”.
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Mon Laferte, guest host Kumail Nanjiani
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Kevin Jonas, Phish
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Jake Tapper, Jessica Pratt
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Richie Moriarty, Betsy Sodaro, Punam Patel
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Jen Psaki, Kate Schellenbach
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Shannon Storms Beador, Kate Upton
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Naturi Naughton, Antony Starr
• “The Talk” (CBS): Susie Essman, Flame Monroe
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Tyler Perry
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Scarlett Johansson, Lester Holt, Trixie Mattel
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Martha Stewart
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Donald Faison, Bobby Berk
• “The 2024 ESPYS” (ABC): Celebrating humanitarian efforts and the year in sports; Serena Williams hosts.
• “The Real Housewives of Orange County” (BRAVO): Season 18 premiere
• “Caught! When Sharks Attack” (DSC): After an unusual amount of shark aggression and attacks, a team of experts analyzes the most intense encounters caught on camera, unveiling mysterious new behaviors.
• “How To Create A Sex Scandal” (ID): Series premiere. A town in Texas is thrown into turmoil when children reveal shocking stories about a pedophile sex ring.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Sabrina Carpenter – Dropping at 11am ET today is her appearance on the YouTube show “Hot Ones”, which features celebs answering questions while eating progressively spicier chicken wings.
She has also released the tracklist for her upcoming album “Short n’ Sweet”, out Aug. 23. Oddly, it features no collabs with other artists. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mu7upmzv
• BTS – will be featured in a K-pop-themed interactive exhibit at the Grammy Museum in LA. Running Aug. 2-Sept. 15, “HYBE: We Believe in Music, A Grammy Museum Exhibit” chronicles the history of HYBE, which is home to BTS, SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPHEN, and more. LINK: https://grammymuseum.org/
• Queens of the Stone Age — have cancelled their upcoming string of July European tour dates because frontman Josh Homme needs emergency surgery. No word on the nature of Homme’s surgical procedure. Homme recently announced that the band has received permission to perform a gig at the Catacombs of Paris. No date for that has been announced. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3kj5y4rx
• Elton John – reportedly relieved himself into a bottle while at a shoe store in France with his 2 sons. The owner of Sugarkikz claims that John asked whether there was a public bathroom nearby. When he was told that there wasn’t, he stepped away from other customers and peed into the bottle. The shopkeeper was ‘shocked and frustrated’ at John’s behavior, but also noted that he was ‘very cool,’ in spite of… well, you know.
• Hootie & the Blowfish – Daruis Rucker told Rolling Stone that in addition to his summer tour with the band and his solo country career, he’s working on a rock supergroup project with Mike Mills (ex-REM) and Steve Gorman (ex-Black Crowes). He also revealed that Hootie’s 1995 hit ‘Let Her Cry’ was inspired by the Crowes’ ‘She Talks to Angels’.
• Shaboozey – scored his first-ever Billboard Hot 100 chart topper with ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’, which hit #1 this week. To celebrate, he wrote on X alongside a tweet of the new chart achievement: “WE DID IT YALL. WE NO. 1, I LOVE Y’ALL. HAPPY A BAR SONG DAY. TAKE A DOUBLE SHOT OF WHISKEY 4 ME!” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mryujp65
• Luke Bryan – now has his own hospital wing. Williamson Medical Center in Franklin TN recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-minted Boyer-Bryan West Tower. Bryan’s family are primary donors of the project, as is the Brett Boyer family and Foundation. Both the Boyer and Bryan families were on hand for the occasion. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ysxt85s8
• Oak Ridge Boys – Joseph S. Bonsall, who was tenor vocalist with the group for 50 years, died Tuesday at age 76 from complications of ALS. He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Johnny Cash – “Songwriter”, the collection of previously music that he demoed in 1993, augmented with new production, has debuted at #23 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
SHOOTING THE BULL
ROTTING THE BED:
You know all about “Bed-rotting”, right? Maybe you’re even one who partakes in the trend that involves spending the entire day under the comfort of your duvet, sleeping, watching TV, or mindlessly doom-scrolling. While those who do it claim bed-rotting is a way of decompressing after a long, hard workweek, it could do you more harm than good, says an expert. Samantha Boardman, a psychiatrist and clinical instructor at Weill-Cornell Medical College, admits that while bed-rotting might be tempting, “the reality is, many people, after they engage in some extended period of bed-rotting…don’t feel that much better”, and can end up feeling even more drained. It turns out that bed-rotting could disrupt your circadian rhythm, leaving you feeling groggy come Monday morning, no matter how much you slept over the weekend. And research shows that extended periods of time spent staring at screens can cause eye strain, sleep disturbance and poor mental health. Boardman suggests instead that you try shaking up your routine, by taking part in low intensity exercise, or a relaxing activity that puts you in a good mental space.
(And get the heck outside for a while! Those weeds aren’t gonna whipper-snip themselves!)
(…and if you’re feeling REALLY crazy, go out and pick up your pizza, rather than having it delivered!)
-CNBC
HANDI-APPS:
With all the concern expressed lately about the possible dangers of Artificial Intelligence, it’s good to know that it can also be used to provide positive change in people’s lives. Apple, Google and other tech companies have rolled out a number of AI-powered tools designed to make life easier for people with a range of impediments. These include “assistive technology” in the form of eye-tracking tools that let physically disabled users control their iPhones with their eyes, and detailed voice guidance for blind users of Google Maps. New generative AI tools are great for accessibility applications because they’re designed in various formats, including text, audio, photos and videos. That means if a person needs to get info a certain way, AI can probably provide it – for instance, by turning audio into written text for a hearing-impaired user. What’s even more awesome, is that these new developments can also be used by others who might require them, such as the elderly.
(How about someone like me, who would be best described as “Luddite-rly”?)
(A.I. is nothing new to me. I’ve been faking intelligence for my entire life!)
-CNN
WELL-RED:
Summer isn’t all fun and games. I mean, sure, it is for your semi-retired rich uncle who has a home on the water. But even his family sometimes has to deal with sunburns. And because too much sun exposure can be harmful – not to mention cause you a world of hurt, here are some tips from medical pros for alleviating a sunburn:
• Use towels soaked in cold water to cool down your skin.
• Over-the-counter products such as aloe and ointments can also help soothe sunburned skin.
• If it’s still uncomfortable, try a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication like Ibuprofen to help deal with the inflammation.
• If it’s very, severe, you might need a health-care professional who could apply or prescribe a topical corticosteroid for inflammation.
• Also note: It might help, as skin heals, to use a lightweight moisturizer to rehydrate the skin. Avoid thick creams and even heavy clothing, which will trap the heat.
(And for God’s sake – next time wear sunscreen!)
(Life lesson learned: If you can actually see your skin changing shade while you’re still in the sun – it’s time to get your butt inside!)
-CTV
WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?
Everyone loves to save a few bucks – and for some, it’s a necessity, these days. Recently, a Reddit user posed the question: “What’s one frugal habit you’ve adopted that has made a significant impact on your financial well-being over time?” These are some of the best answers…
➠ “For online shopping, leave it in the cart. If you come back to it multiple times and think, ‘Yes, I need/want that,’ get it. Most of the time it’s not necessary and I’ll remove it.”
➠ “Rent/buy less house and car than you can afford. This has saved my partner and me hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years”
➠ “Bringing my own lunch. I’ve saved approximately $35k over my 12-year career by not going out to eat daily while at work.”
➠ “I bought the cheapest 2013 Prius C when gas prices were skyrocketing. I get between 50-60 mpg on my daily 60-mile commute.” (Yeah, but you drive a Prius…)
➠ “Using the library. It is free and is one of the last sanctuaries we can go to without an expectation to pay for a service or our time there. It’s been a boon both financially and mentally.”
➠ “Being semi-vegetarian…I found if I bought more veggies and just bought smaller portions of better quality meat, I could not only eat better but also lose weight!”
➠ “We never (well, 99% of the time) pay for coffee that we haven’t brewed ourselves at home. We use…excellent Costco coffee beans that we grind ourselves.”
➠ “Buy the high-quality version of the thing (even if it’s more expensive) and take good care of it. I’ve wasted so much money buying and replacing cheap crap.” (This SO goes against everything I’ve ever believed in…)
➠ “Pay in cash when I’m hanging with friends. Automatically limits my drinking and spending to what’s in my pocket.” (Especially handy when “my round” comes up…)
(Nothing here about removing the refrigerator light bulb to save on electricity? What? Just me?)
-BuzzFeed
DID YOU KNOW?
Data from the James Webb telescope has revealed a nearby exoplanet with a few interesting features: it experiences sideways rain made of glass – and it reeks of rotten eggs. The exoplanet the size of Jupiter has long intrigued astronomers because of its scorching temperatures and screaming winds, but the telescope was able to determine that the planet known as HD 189733b, which is 64 light years from earth, harbors trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide in its atmosphere. Hydrogen sulphide is a colorless gas that releases a strong sulfuric stench, and has never before been spotted beyond our solar system. (…or smelled, until now…)
-CNN
BS CHRONOMETER 07.11.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Mojito Day”, a salute to the traditional Cuban cocktail consisting of white rum, sugar, lime juice, sparkling water, and mint. This refreshing highball is particularly popular in the summertime. (Especially if you like leaves in your drink)
• “Blueberry Muffin Day”, celebrating the only morning snack we can think of that turns your teeth blue.
• “Cheer Up the Lonely Day”, an opportunity to make a lonely person happy by spending time with them. (It’s a good day to give [***afternoon guy***] a call!)
• “Essential Oils Day”. Essential oils may have medicinal benefits. Although more research is needed, they are used to treat stress and anxiety, combat headaches and migraines, promote sleep, tackle insomnia, and to reduce inflammation. (I tried them yesterday. Worst French fries I’ve ever had!)
• “Pet Photo Day”, a day to pose your little darlin’ and snap some pics. (And don’t forget to further humiliate the poor critter by decking it out in a dress and a funny hat. And be sure to photoshop it, adding the torso of a platypus…)
• “Slurpee Day”, (formerly “7-Eleven Day”), honoring the signature frozen beverage that the store began selling in 1967, held on the 11th day of the 7th month. Drop by for a free Slurpee, and try the
new limited-time Mountain Dew Freedom Fusion flavor, or one of your faves. (While supplies last — so get there early, to guarantee yourself a free brain-freeze!)
• “Swimming Pool Day”, although we think EVERY hot Summer day should be swimming pool day. (And that’s what friends with swimming pools are for!)
• “World Population Day”, declared by the UN as a day to focus on the problems of overpopulation. About 150 people are born each minute. World population crossed the 5-billion mark on this day in 1987. We reached the 6-billion mark in 1999, 7-billion in 2011, and 8 billion late last year. (And I STILL can’t get a date for my niece’s wedding…) LINK: https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Pecan Pie Day
[Fri] Etch A Sketch Day
[Sat] French Fry Day
[Sun] Mac and Cheese Day
This Week Is…Nude Recreation Week
This Month Is…Picnic Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1934 [90] Giorgio Armani, Piacenza, Italy, fashion designer/entrepreneur (music, sport, hotels)/2024 net worth: $12 billion
1953 [71] Mindy Sterling, Paterson NJ, movie actress (‘Frau’ in “Austin Powers” movies)/TV actress (“iCarly”, “The Goldbergs”) COMING UP…”When We Get There”
1959 [65] Richie Sambora, Perth Amboy NJ, rock guitarist (ex-Bon Jovi-‘Livin’ on a Prayer’)/RSO with Orianthi-‘Forever All the Way’)/Rock Hall of Fame with Bon Jovi, 2018/married to Heather Locklear 1994-2007
1959 [65] Suzanne Vega, Santa Monica CA, folk-rock singer-songwriter (‘Luka’, ‘Tom’s Diner’)
1963 [61] Lisa Rinna, Medford OR, TV actress (‘Billie Reed’ on “Days of Our Lives” 1992-2018)/reality TV star (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” 2014-22)
1965 [59] Scott Shriner, Toledo OH, rock bassist (Weezer-‘Buddy Holly’, ‘Beverly Hills’)
1970 [54] Justin Chambers, Springfield OH, TV actor (‘Dr Alex Karev’ on “Grey’s Anatomy” 2005-20/former fashion model
1974 [50] Lil’ Kim (Kimberly Jones), New York NY, rapper (w/Christina Aguilera, Mýa and Pink-‘Lady Marmalade’)/reality TV star (“Dancing With the Stars”, 2009)
1975 [49] Nadya Suleman, Fullerton CA, media personality (known as “Octomom”, she gave birth to 8 babies on January 26, 2009)
1996 [28] Alessia Cara (Caracciolo), Mississauga, ON, pop singer-songwriter (‘Here’, ‘Scars to Your Beautiful’)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2007 [17] “Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix” opens in theaters (goes on to make $940 million worldwide at the box office)
2013 [11] “Orange Is the New Black” premieres on Netflix. It’s the first series to be nominated for comedy and drama Emmy awards
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1969 [55] David Bowie releases the single ‘Space Oddity’, 9 days before Apollo 11 lands on the moon
2009 [15] Black Eyed Peas’ single ‘I Gotta Feeling’ begins a 14-week run at #1, ending the 12-week run of the group’s previous single, ‘Boom Boom Pow’
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
2012 [12] Astronomers announce the discovery of Styx, the 5th moon of Pluto (How did they know its name?)
2021 [03] Billionaire Richard Branson flies to the edge of space on his Virgin Galactic rocket plane, in a space tourism test-flight
TODAY’S LAST . . .
2019 [05] The final Volkswagen Beetle models are produced in Pueblo, Mexico, ending production worldwide after 80 years (23.5 million sold)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Two-thirds of the people on earth have never seen snow.
✓ The color orange was named after the fruit, not the other way around.
✓ Dandelions are loaded with vitamins A, C, and K—not to mention calcium, iron, and potassium.
✓ Mozart wrote the melody of ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ at the age of 5.
✓ When you’re 31 years old, you’ll live your billionth second.
✓ The Sesame Street characters ‘Ernie’ and ‘Bert’ were named after the police officer and the taxi driver in in the classic Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
-BestLife, Neatorama
Best of BS . . .
BS MY PERFORMANCE REVIEW IN FIVE WORDS:
• Brings donuts, two thumbs up.
• Meh, you’ll do for now.
• Nice job but wear pants.
• Security will see you out.
• Stop live tweeting this, Gary!
• You’re a lil’ pitchy, dawg.
• Can’t you do any better?
• Yes, Gary, embezzlement is bad.
• You don’t even work here.
• Doesn’t seem to know how to count.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
BS QUESTIONS PLAGUING HUMANITY:
• If someone says you’re in denial, but you’re not, what do you say?
• How can a ‘slim chance’ and a ‘fat chance’ be the same, while a ‘wise man’ and a ‘wise guy’ are opposites?
• Does an onion basically force you to cry over it’s dead body?
• Isn’t your age is just the number of laps you’ve done around a giant fireball in the center of the solar system?
• Why can we drink a drink, but we can’t food a food?
• Ever wonder how many people’s pictures you’ve been the background of, without knowing?
• Is sand called sand because it’s between the sea and land?
• Is a birth certificate basically a baby receipt with no refund/return policy?
-First published in BS in 2017
BS WEB GOODIE:
Caption says it all: https://tinyurl.com/4sdmut57
BS RANDOM JOKE:
There actually is no ‘secret’ to success. Because did you see a successful person who didn’t want to tell you all about it?
BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s a low-budget meal that doesn’t taste like it’s cheap?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Stats show that 5% of us are deathly afraid of THIS. What is it?
Answer: Birds
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Courage is knowing what NOT to fear.
