Thursday, March 3, 2022 – Edition: #7180
100% Grade A Bull!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Simon Leviev, the so-called “Tinder Swindler,” is being sued by the diamond-rich family he claimed to be a part of as he allegedly bilked millions from young women he met on the dating app. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Leviev family, whose patriarch, Lev Leviev, is a billionaire diamond magnate. Simon Leviev — whose story was recently documented in the Netflix true-crime doc “The Tinder Swindler” — spent nearly a decade traipsing around Europe and posing as an heir to the Leviev diamond fortune, while convincing women to give him money he promised he would pay back, but never did.
-Yahoo
★ Paramount has announced it will hold back the Sandra Bullock/Channing Tatum adventure comedy “The Lost City” and the family film “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” from Russia, the latest studio to pull new releases following the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. This news follows 3 different studios announcing their plans to withhold the release of upcoming films in Russia, including Warner Bros. pausing the release of “The Batman,” Disney yanking the Pixar film “Turning Red” and Sony pulling “Morbius.”
-TheWrap
★ Larry David fans will really have to ‘curb their enthusiasm’ now. The 2-part HBO documentary “The Larry David Story,” which “shines a new light on the infamous cynic who remains a singular voice in comedy today,” was scrapped late on Monday, the day before it was slated to premiere. Why? A tweet from the HBO Documentaries Twitter account says: “David has decided he wants to do it in front of an audience. Stay tuned for more info.” The news came 2 weeks after the network announced the documentary, which was supposed to give fans of the 74-year-old funnyman a “peek behind the proverbial curtain”
-NYPost
★ Bob Odenkirk has said that working out for the 2021 film “Nobody” helped save his life. He spoke about suffering a heart attack on the set of “Better Call Saul” on July 27. When asked whether all the intense training for his action-hero role contributed to his heart attack, Odenkirk said: “It saved my life.” He went on to explain: “you kind of enlarge some of the… other veins around your heart, if you work out a lot. And I had done that and, as a result, I was told that more blood was able to go to my heart during CPR.” He also pointed out that he would be dead anyway if “somebody hadn’t immediately screamed and got someone there to give me CPR.”
-ETCanada
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Jamie Dornan, Louisa Jacobson, Shenseea
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Sam Heughan, Band of Horses
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Amy Poehler, Jeffrey Wright, Carter McLean
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Camila Cabello, Nathan Lane
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Charli XCX, Shay Mitchell
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Amy Poehler
• “The Talk” (CBS): Jason Clarke
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Clayton Echard, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Faroosh Torabi, guest co-host Maria Menounos
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Jimmie Allen, Priscilla Block, guest host Mickey Guyton
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Colin Farrell, Stephanie Izard, Avril Lavigne
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Eitan Bernath
• “Top Chef” (BRAVO): Season 19 premiere
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and Charlotte Cardin — lead the list of Juno Award nominees. Montreal-born Cardin is up for 6 awards, while Bieber and The Weeknd are nominated for 5 each. Other big nominees include JESSIA and Pressa, both first-time nominees, and Shawn Mendes, who are all up for 4 awards each. The 2022 Juno Awards will air on CBC, live from Toronto, on May 15.
• Charli XCX — has shared another new single from her forthcoming album “Crash”. The disco pop tune ‘Baby’ follows her recent collaboration ‘Beg For You’ with Rina Sawayama. According to Charli, it’s “about great sex.” LINK: https://youtu.be/ggrYaDxyrGM
• Usher – has announced a residency set for July-Oct. Las Vegas’ Dolby Live at Park MGM. He says fans can expect a set list of hits spanning his 20-year career, as well as new music. His 20-show Vegas residency last year sold out completely.
• Greta Van Fleet – have announced a fall North American arena tour. It launches Aug. 11 in Buffalo — the first of 2 opening dates for Metallica — and wraps Nov. 12 in Sacramento. Openers include the Pretty Reckless, Crown Lands and Fruit Bats. The band’s spring “Dreams in Gold” tour opens March 10 in Kalamazoo Michigan.
• Blondie — have announced more tour dates for 2022. The band will be joined by British punks the Damned for the “Against the Odds” tour, beginning Aug. 12 in Mashantucket CT, and running through Aug. 27 in Chicago. Both bands will appear at the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena CA in mid-May.
• Eric Clapton – is among the artists who have canceled scheduled concerts in Russia as a result of that country’s invasion of Ukraine. Others include: Imagine Dragons, The Killers, Green Day and Louis Tomlinson. We’re still waiting to hear what plans are for Judas Priest, Bjork, Korn, Slipknot, Gorillaz and Five Finger Death Punch, all of whom have Russian shows booked this summer.
• Thomas Rhett — has partnered with Fritos for their new “Down for Everything” campaign, and hit a milestone in the process. While it is Fritos’ first commercial in nearly 2 decades, it’s also Rhett’s first-ever commercial. According to him, he loves the snack so much that he “can eat them nonstop…which may be kind of a problem.”
• Maren Morris – Her 3rd album “Humble Quest” drops on March 25, and she says fans shouldn’t expect anything reminiscent of her crossover hit “The Middle.” By the way, she has tried writing while high on marijuana, and it just doesn’t work for her, but she loves using it to help her sleep. Quote: “I can’t go to parties (high) and socialize, but I’m jealous of those who can.”
• Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean – are among the artists taking part in Live Nation’s “Lawn Pass” program this summer. With a Lawn Pass, fans can attend unlimited concerts at one of 30 US venues for just $199, plus fees. Some other artists included in the program: Chris Stapleton, Zac Brown Band, Kiss, Black Keys, Iron Maiden, Rod Stewart, The Lumineers and many more.
SHOOTING THE BULL
CRUST STATION:
A California company has unveiled a vending machine that uses robotics to have a pizza hot n’ ready for you in just 3 minutes. Piestro’s pizza machine builds pies to the specifications of customers, who are able to select their favorite crust, sauce, cheese and toppings. The machine has a large window so customers can watch their pizza being built, before it is transferred into a special oven that cooks it in 2 minutes. The entire process takes about 3 minutes. While the company has no plans to make its own pizzas, several pizza brands are now placing pre-orders for the $100,000 machine, in order to sell their products in more places.
(I had a joke here, but just like pizza, it’s all about the delivery…)
(I could see this working quite well outside a college dorm…)
(I hope their plan is well thawed-out!)
-UPI
KNOWING THE SCORE:
According to a team of economists, your credit score isn’t just a good indicator of how stable you are as a borrower — it can also predict how long you’ll live. Researchers from the Universities of California and Geneva analyzed the credit data for of more than 2 million people. Next, they created a computer algorithm to delve into other elements of their credit report — like whether a sudden, significant change in credit score — is linked to mortality. They found that it absolutely is – in 2 main ways. The first is in how people spend money near the end of their lives. Someone who just received a terminal diagnosis, for example, will spend in very different ways than a few months previous. He might rack up medical debt or, max out his credit cards on exotic vacations or experiences. The second connection is less direct. People who experience economic strains, like a sudden job loss, are more likely to take on debt, lose access to health care resources, and experience mental health crises. This leads to financial problems that can shorten a person’s life in the long run. And that shows up in their credit data. The good news? Having a low credit score doesn’t necessarily mean you’re more likely to die young. The researchers say this data could help a company develop services that flag certain people as a candidate for targeted financial help, or a subsidized health insurance plan.
(My credit score’s so low, I can’t get a loan from the library!)
(Or maybe you’re like my first wife, who had the talent of racking up once-in-a-lifetime exotic vacation expenses twice annually!)
(I don’t understand why my credit score is so low. When collectors call, they always say my payments are OUTSTANDING!)
-Money
TOO MANY COOKS:
It seems most of us think we’re pretty handy in the kitchen. According to a survey, 63% of people are so confident in their cooking skills, they believe they could compete with the professional celebrity chefs they see on TV. 77% of respondents to the poll of 2,000 Americans agreed that cooking is one of their favorite things to do…which is a good thing, as they prepare an average of 9 meals at home per week. Two-thirds think they have what it takes to open their own restaurant or catering business, and 63% think they should host their own cooking show on TV. When asked how they think they would make out on a cooking competition TV show, 3 in 10 think they would make it to mid-season, and 27% are sure they’d be the first to go. But 5% say they are confident they could win.
(My wife has been watching a lot of those competitive cooking shows, and it’s really inspiring her…Now, she criticizes everything I cook!)
(The only celeb chef I could compete with is “Boyardee”!)
-StudyFinds
LIFE HACKS FROM THOSE WHO’VE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK:
A recent Reddit thread asked: “Older women: What are some underrated ways to take care of ourselves now, to make things easier when we get older?” Here are the best responses . . .
☞ “MOISTURIZE everyday, head to toe, no matter how yucky it feels. Your old skin will reward you!”
☞ “Keep making friends. My retired former boss has a group of girl friends. They vacation together, go golfing, shopping, dining, etc.”
☞ “Nurture your old friendships. The older you get, the more precious it becomes to have friends who knew you in different stages of your life.”
☞ “Financial stability is so important. Make sure you’re putting something away now for the future.”
☞ “Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, and go to bed at a regular time.”
☞ “Sun protection! Not only will it help you look more youthful, but it will also aid in skin cancer prevention.”
☞ “Get rid of things you don’t need.”
☞”If you have the means, go see a therapist if you are even entertaining the idea. It WILL help you.”
☞ “Don’t be afraid to edit your life…After being upset when friends posted yet another unsettling untrue thing on Facebook…I realized I just don’t want to be a fact checker for my friends.”
☞ “Embrace and enjoy the body you have right here, right now. You know who thinks you look great? You, 10 years from now.” (Dammit . . .)
(What would you add to the list?)
-BuzzFeed
DID YOU KNOW?
When a 7-year-old became too sick to go to school, but still wanted to interact with his teacher and classmates, an avatar robot was sent in his place. Joshua Martinangeli of Berlin, Germany, is currently unable to attend school due to severe lung disease. So, in his place, the avatar robot sits at his desk and sends a blinking signal to indicate when the boy has something to say. What’s more, his classmates are able to talk and share a laugh with him during class through the robot. They say that while they like the robot being there, they’re looking forward to seeing their friend in class again soon. (We’ve all heard of substitute teachers – why not substitute students?)
-Canoe
BS CHRONOMETER 03.03.22
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “I Want You to Be Happy Day”, a day to show love, care, and concern for others. (Tomorrow is “OK, My Turn Day”.)
• “American National Anthem Day” in observance of the bill designating ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ as the U.S. national anthem being passed by Congress and signed into law by President Hoover on this date in 1931.
• “Cold Cuts Day”, You might pop deli meats into sandwiches, you might have them drizzled with oil and with a few slices of cheese – whatever way you like them, today is all about celebrating the tasty meats that are somehow even tastier when served up in slices. (No matter what science tells us about how healthy they are…)
• “Mulled Wine Day”, one of the most delicious ways of serving up your usual cheeky glass of red. Laden with spices and fruit, mulled wine brings out the natural sweetness of the alcoholic drink and gives it an extra sparkle of flavor. On a chilly night, curling up with a warm glass is the perfect tonic to winter blues.
• “Canadian Bacon Day”, as it is known in the US (“back bacon” to Canadians). It is actually a little more like ham than bacon. It is served formed into a cylindrical shape and is sold ready to eat.
• “International Ear Care Day”, to raise awareness and promote ear and hearing care across the world. (As mom used to say, “Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear”)
• “World Wildlife Day”, the 8th annual, proclaimed by the UN to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora (the famous nature twins). This year’s theme is “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration.” LINK: https://www.wildlifeday.org/
• “Talk in Third Person Day”, the day is quite simple—it is spent speaking in the third person. During the first celebration, in 2006, the day’s creator said, “It’s finally here. Russell is very excited!”
COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Grammar Day
[Fri] Pound Cake Day
[Sat] Poutine Day
[Sat] Reel Film Day
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1945 [77] George Miller, Brisbane Australia, movie producer-director (“Mad Max: Fury Road”, “Happy Feet” films) COMING UP…“Three Thousand Years of Longing”
1958 [64] Miranda Richardson, Southport UK, movie actress (“Harry Potter” films, “The Hours”)
1966 [56] Tone Loc [Anthony Smith], Los Angeles CA, rapper (‘Funky Cold Medina’, ‘Wild Thing’)
1970 [52] Julie Bowen [Luetkemeyer], Baltimore MD, TV actress (2 Emmys-‘Claire Dunphy’ on “Modern Family” 2009-20)/movie actress (“Happy Gilmore”, “Horrible Bosses”)
1977 [45] [Bartolo] ‘Buddy’ Valastro, Hoboken NJ, baker/reality TV star (“Cake Boss” since 2009, “Kitchen Boss 2011-12)
1982 [40] Jessica Biel, Ely MN, movie actress (“Hitchcock”)/TV actress (“7th Heaven” 1996-2006)/married to Justin Timberlake since 2012
1984 [38] Joe ‘Blower’ Garvey, Oklahoma City OK, rock guitarist (Hinder-‘Lips of an Angel’, ‘Better Than Me’)
1997 [25] [Karla] Camila Cabello [Estrabao], Havana Cuba, pop singer (w/Shawn Mendes-‘Señorita’, ft. Young Thug-‘Havana’, ex-Fifth Harmony-ft. Ty Dolla $ign-‘Work From Home’)/reality TV contestant (“The X Factor” 2012)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2019 [03] Undeterred by a lawsuit from Michael Jackson’s estate, HBO airs the first part of the 4-hour documentary “Leaving Neverland”, leveling new accusations of child abuse at Jackson 10 years after his death
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2009 [13] To celebrate the release of U2’s album “No Line on the Horizon” and their appearance every night for a week on “Late Show with David Letterman”, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg temporarily renames part of 53rd Street in Midtown Manhattan “U2 Way”
2017 [05] Nickelback’s “All The Right Reasons” album is certified Diamond for sales of over 10 million in the US, making them just the 4th Canadian act to reach that level. The other 3: Celine Dion, Shania Twain and Alanis Morissette
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2009 [13] The uber-luxurious Maybach Zeppelin sedan goes on sale, with a starting price of $524,000-to-$611,000 (automaker Daimler-Benz announces only 100 will be built, each to owner specifications)
TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
2004 [18] Belgian brewer Interbrew and Brazilian rival AmBev agree to merge in a $11.2 billion-deal that forms InBev, the ‘World’s Largest Brewer’
2005 [17] Steve Fossett flies the ‘Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer’ aircraft to a world record by completing the first non-stop, non-refueled, solo flight around-the-world (40,000km-25,000 miles/67 hours, 2 minutes)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ The harmonica is the world’s best-selling music instrument.
✓ To make one kilogram (2.2 lbs) of honey, bees have to visit 4 million flowers, traveling a distance equal to 4 times around the earth.
✓ According to “The Joy of Cooking”, one ostrich egg will serve 24 people.
✓ ‘The Incredible Hulk’ was initially supposed to be gray, but according to Stan Lee, an issue with the printer turned the Hulk green.
✓ If you type the word “askew” into Google, the entire page will tilt slightly.
✓ NASA slang for floating space poop is “escapees”.
-DidYouKnow, FactRetriever
BS STUPID BREAKUP QUESTIONS:
• Can I get a letter of reference for future relationships?
• How would you like your stuff — burned or smashed?
• Which one of the ‘50 ways to leave your lover’ is this?
• Do our Sims replicas have to break up, too?
• How are we going to split the goldfish?
• Can we make this classy and call it a ‘Conscious Uncoupling’?
• Uh, what’s your sister’s number?
• (***Caution – ‘ASS’***) Do you know where I can get your name tattoo removed from my ass?
• Can I still use your Netflix password?
• Do I HAVE to see them every other weekend?
-Twitter
Best of BS . . .
BS WHYZITS:
• Whyzit there isn’t a special name for the tops of your feet?
• Whyzit so many animals are named after cars?
• Whyzit fluffy kitties are so often used in toilet paper ads? Are they saying if you run out, you can always use a cat?
• Whyzit the ‘middle of the night’ comes after the ‘end of the night’?
• Whyzit no one has ever measured the ‘speed of dark’?
• Whyzit you can wear a bikini in public, but not underwear?
-First published in BS in 2011
BS WEB GOODIE:
Life goals: https://tinyurl.com/2p9ary9k
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I have any more passwords left in me.
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the strangest favor someone has ever asked of you?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: The average person will say THIS 5 times today. What is it?
Answer: Thank you
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.
