Friday, March 15, 2024 – Edition: #7678
Sheet Happens!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Prince Harry and Prince William were both set to make appearances at a memorial event for their late mother Princess Diana in London last night. However, a royal reunion was not in the cards for the feuding brothers. The Duke of Sussex was scheduled to appear via video call at the Diana Legacy Awards, only taking place after his brother, the Prince of Wales, had left the premises. William was set to attend solo, as his wife Kate Middleton recovers from surgery and her recent photo scandal. He was scheduled to deliver a speech and present awards at the ceremony, at London’s Science Museum.
-NYPost
★ Olivia Munn announced on Instagram that she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer. The 43-year-old wrote in a message to fans: “I hope by sharing this it will help others find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey.” She pointed out that she “wouldn’t have found my cancer for another year”– at her next scheduled mammogram – but her OBGYN decided to calculate her Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score, which she feels saved her life. Munn revealed she had a double mastectomy 30 days after her biopsy. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mrywe3wt
-Variety
★ Don Lemon announced Wednesday that his X show was canceled by Elon Musk, just hours after their interview. But in a CNN appearance, Lemon showed clips of their chat, including one where he asks about hate speech on X. An annoyed Musk responds by stating that he doesn’t have to answer anyone’s questions. In a statement, Lemon wrote: “Elon Musk has canceled the partnership I had with X, which they announced as part of their public commitment to amplifying more diverse voices on their platform.” The interview will remain the premiere episode of “The Don Lemon Show”, debuting Monday on YouTube, podcast platforms and X. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3cr5659s
-TheWrap
★ Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the “Rust” armorer convicted last week in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, will be sentenced on April 15, a judge has ruled. Gutierrez Reed faces a maximum of 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter. She accidentally loaded a live bullet into Alec Baldwin’s vintage Colt revolver, which went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the film’s director, Joel Souza. Baldwin, who has denied pulling the trigger, faces his own criminal trial for involuntary manslaughter in July.
-Variety
★ “Jeopardy!” is hosting its first-ever invitational tournament, and the field of contestants is set. The new tournament, casually named “JIT”, will debut the day after the current Tournament of Champions concludes. It will feature champions and fan-favorite trivia masters battling for a $100,000 prize and an invitation to compete in the 2024 Jeopardy Masters primetime event. The list of competitors includes the internet’s favorite Jeopardy competitor Austin Rogers, as well as the players who finished 4th, 5th, and 6th in the 2023 Jeopardy Masters tournament, Andrew He, Amy Schneider, and Sam Buttrey.
-EW
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Dwayne Johnson, Justin Timberlake (R)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Kimbal Musk, Sleater-Kinney
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): TBA
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Will Miles, Giulia Rozzi, Brian McElhaney, Nick Kocher, Anna Seregina, Chris Thayer (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Jamie Dornan, Andy Samberg, Fred Armisen (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Theresa Caputo
• “The Talk” (CBS): Chelsea Peretti, Lewis Howes
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): David Alan Grier, Monica Mangin
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Mark Wahlberg, Deion Sanders, Ruben Studdard
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Awkwafina, Jake Lacy
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Boris Kodjoe
• “Fire Country” (CBS): The crews respond to a chemical plant after a dangerous toxic spill goes up in flames.
• “20/20” (ABC): When 4 young women go missing, police hunt for a serial killer roaming the interstate.
• “America’s Backyard Gold” (DSC): Series premiere. In recent years, new gold worth millions has been uncovered in California due to storms and flooding. Dave Turin shows where everyday miners can find it.
SATURDAY-
• “55th NAACP Image Awards (CBS): Queen Latifah hosts the event celebrating the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts.
• “90 Day: The Single Life” (TLC): Tyray meets another potential love match in New Orleans; John feels unsure about his future with Meghan; Natalie goes to a fertility clinic. Followed by another new ep.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Host Dakota Johnson; Justin Timberlake performs. (R)
SUNDAY-
• “NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Selection Show” (CBS): The committee announces which men’s college basketball teams will compete in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, as well as revealing matchups.
• “American Idol” (ABC): Auditions continue.
• “CSI: Vegas” (CBS): The team investigates the death of a man visiting Las Vegas for a health and wellness convention; a fiery explosion traps Allie in the basement of an abandoned hospital.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Beyoncé – has revealed that her upcoming country album is titled “Cowboy Carter.” Out March 29, it is the long-awaited “Act II” of her 2022 “Renaissance” album. Merch is already available on her website, and box set editions include a bonus track and T-shirts. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/msj7pcmb
• Ariana Grande – Her 2015 ‘Focus’ music video has joined YouTube’s billion views club, her 8th vid to reach the milestone. The news comes as Grande’s most recent vid ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)’ rules YouTube’s U.S. Trending Music Videos chart.
• Elton John – His annual Academy Awards viewing party, benefitting the Elton John AIDS Foundation, raised $10.8 million, a new record. Even though he couldn’t walk the red carpet, thanks to a recent knee replacement, John still managed to pound out a few tunes on piano, in front of guests including Sharon Stone, Brandi Carlile, Danny DeVito, Elizabeth Hurley, Heidi Klum, and more.
• AC/DC — Brian Johnson is reaming up with Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler for a new TV series. “Johnson and Knopfler’s Music Legends” will see them speak about their careers and music, and talk with guests, including Carlos Santana, Tom Jones, and Cyndi Lauper. The 6-part series premieres April 25 on Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW.
• Neil Young – His music will return to Spotify. In 2022, he had it removed because Spotify also distributes Joe Rogan’s podcast, which he said was spreading vaccine misinformation. But now Rogan has signed a deal to make his podcast available on multiple platforms. Young wrote: “I cannot leave all those services…because my music would have no streaming outlet…at all, I have returned.”
• Miranda Lambert — The latest addition to her “family” is a beautiful horse named “Cool.” Lambert introduced him to her social media followers on Tuesday, writing: “In the last few months I’ve picked the hobby of mounted shooting and in the process, I’ve made some amazing new friends, including this fella.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5dvstv3c
• Jelly Roll — recently got an entirely new set of teeth. His wife, Bunnie Xo, chronicled the experience, sharing it in a video summary on TikTok. It shows a clearly sedated Jelly in a dentist chair, hooked up to tubes, but smiling as he explains what is happening. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2cpkfd59
• CMT Music Awards – Nominations have been announced for this year’s ceremony, set for April 7 on CBS. Kelsea Ballerini, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and Megan Moroney all have 3 nods. Nominees for the night’s top honor – Video of the Year – include Ballerini, Kacey Musgraves and Brandy Clark ft. Brandi Carlile, plus Darius Rucker, Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan. Kelsea Ballerini will return as host. Fan voting is now open at vote.cmt.com
SHOOTING THE BULL
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEK:
• “Love Lies Bleeding” (R, Mystery/Thriller): Reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family. (Kristen Stewart, Katy M. O’Brian, Ed Harris) Tomatometer: 91%
• “Arthur the King” (PG-13, Drama/Adventure): Desperate for one last chance to win, endurance racer Mikael Lindnord and his team pick up a stray dog – one that manages to keep pace in the brutal conditions – and becomes more than a mascot, but a source of inspiration. (Mark Wahlberg, Nathalie Emmanuel, Simu Liu) Tomatometer: 67%
• “The American Society of Magical Negroes” (PG-13, Comedy/Fantasy): A young man is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier. (Justice Smith, Zachary Barton, Anthony Coons) Tomatometer: 33%
MAD ABOUT MARCH MADNESS:
Selection Sunday for March Madness is this weekend, and the First Four begins Tuesday. From there, for basketball fans, it’s non-stop fun until the NCAA Championship is decided on April 8 in Glendale AZ. So, you’ve got to wonder: Exactly how much time would an avid fan devote to the annual NCAA tournament? A survey of 2,000 basketball fanatics ages 21+ shows that over the next 3 weeks, they’ll spend a total of 36 hours (a full day-and-half) completely consumed by the sport during March Madness. The breakdown:
• 13 hours watching games
• 3 hours creating brackets
• 5 hours discussing it with family and friends
• 5 hours engaging with online content
• 5 hours watching highlights
• 3 hours placing bets
The survey also revealed that March Madness can take precedent over daily routines and social events. 26% said they have skipped work to watch the games, while one in 5 have canceled dates and even birthday parties to ensure they don’t miss the action on the court.
(So, just a reminder, ladies…if you’re planning a wedding…make sure your anniversary doesn’t fall between mid-March and early-April!)
(If you think these fans are giving up a lot just to watch basketball, spare a moment for my friend, who arranged to recover from a vasectomy during finals week…and he didn’t even have any kids!)
-SWNS
BEST VINYL ALBUMS FOR AUDIOPHILES:
Vinyl records have made a BIG comeback in recent years. These are the ones that have best stood the test of time, and are considered must-haves for any vinyl enthusiast, according to a poll of collectors…
1. “Dark Side of the Moon” — Pink Floyd (1973)
2. “Kind of Blue” — Miles Davis (1959)
3. “Abbey Road” — The Beatles (1969)
4. “Thriller” — Michael Jackson (1982)
5. “Rumours” — Fleetwood Mac (1977)
6. “Purple Rain” — Prince and The Revolution (1984)
7. “Pet Sounds” — The Beach Boys (1966)
(Nothing by any artists where everyone is still alive, huh?)
-StudyFinds
NEWS OF THE WEIRD:
➢ A mysterious silver monolith has been found on a Welsh hillside, evoking memories of when similar structures appeared around the world in 2020. Richard Haynes was out for a run on Hay Bluff when he came across the 10-foot-tall metal monolith. He described it as “triangular, definitely stainless steel. It was hollow and I imagine pretty light — light enough for 2 people to carry it up and plant it in the ground.” The column is similar to one discovered in a Utah desert in 2020. That was followed by more discoveries in California, Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, Romania, and England’s Isle of Wight. An anonymous art collective called The Most Famous Artist later took credit for several of the US-based monoliths. No one has claimed responsibility for the Welsh structure. (It’s the first Welsh monolith since Tom Jones!)
➢ The California Highway Patrol says there were brief traffic delays after a pickup truck spilled hundreds of rolls of toilet paper onto the highway. Three boxes of toilet paper fell from the back of the Ford F-350 on Interstate 5 in Santa Clarita about 12:20 p.m. Monday. Footage shows traffic backed up as police throw rolls of toilet paper over the cement barrier separating the roadway from a construction site. (It fell from a pickup truck? I say if you need to take that much TP with you, you’re better off staying home!)
-UPI
DID YOU KNOW?
Scientists claim they have discovered the worst – and best – times of the day. Researchers from the University of Michigan and Dartmouth Health say that 5am is officially the worst time of day, based on mood, circadian clock, and other factors, according to their study, published in the “PLOS Digital Health Journal.” They found that the 5-6am hour is when people reported their lowest mood, regardless of when they got up. By contrast, 5pm is when the majority of people are at their cheeriest. (Especially on Fridays!)
-NYPost
BS CHRONOMETER 03.15.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Ides of March”, marking the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, which was a turning point in Roman history. It’s also the tongue-in-cheek observance “National Brutus Day”, recognizing the fact that no matter where you work, there’s as much backstabbing, plotting, and intrigue as there was in ancient Rome. The word ‘ides’ simply means ‘middle’. There’s nothing unlucky about it … unless you’re Caesar.
• “World Sleep Day”, an international celebration of sleep, and a call to action on important issues related to sleep, including medicine, education, and driving. (Scientists have finally determined exactly how much sleep we need: “Just 5 more minutes…”) LINK: http://www.worldsleepday.org
• “International Day Against Police Brutality”, begun in 1997 as an initiative of the Montréal-based “Collective Opposed to Police Brutality” and the “Black Flag” group in Switzerland.
• “True Confessions Day”, They say confession is good for the soul, so go ahead and spill (***open up the ‘Morning Crew Confessional’ where anonymous callers shed their guilt by admitting their outrageous actions. You can even assign penance! ***)
• “World Consumer Rights Day”, initiated by Consumers International to promote the basic rights of all consumers, and to demand that those rights are respected and protected.
• “World Contact Day”, first declared March 15, 1953 by the “International Flying Saucer Bureau”. Today, UFO contact groups unite to collectively try to make peaceful contact with extraterrestrial beings. (Like we don’t already have enough problems here on earth, without looking for more…)
• “Dumbstruck Day”. When someone is dumbstruck, they are so shocked and surprised that they can’t speak. People may be dumbstruck after hearing shocking, amazingly good or amazingly bad news. (Or reading any of a number of Facebook comments…)
• “Everything You Think is Wrong Day”, Maybe today is a day when nothing goes right and everything seems to go wrong for you. But don’t be dismayed — these types of days happen, and they, too, shall pass. The good news: “Everything You Do is Right Day” is coming tomorrow!
SATURDAY-
• “Everything You Do is Right Day”, a day to avoid second-guessing yourself. As long as your decisions are well thought through, just carry them out and let them go. You’ll likely find it saves you a lot of stress. (Great. Now tell my boss…)
• “Freedom of Information Day”, celebrating the importance of an open government with free access to info by the public. (A-HEM, Mr. ‘Special Military Operation’!)
• “Maple Syrup Saturday”, a celebration of the running of the sap from which they make liquid gold. About 75% of the world’s supply is produced in Canada, with 91% of that coming from the province of Québec.
• “Corndog Day”, a celebration of the hot dog sausage coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter. While the jury’s still out on exactly who invented the corn dog, we do know that cornmeal was a staple of the Native American diet.
• “Lips Appreciation Day”, when we’re encouraged to do something nice for our lips … kiss somebody. (As long as the other person’s lips think it’s nice too…)
• “No Selfies Day”, celebrated ironically on the birthday of Philippe Kahn, inventor of the cellphone camera, and the first to snap a pic with his phone … although it wasn’t a selfie. (So, we have him to blame for ‘duck face’?)
• “Worldwide Quilting Day”, the 33rd annual on the 3rd Saturday of March, celebrating the grassroots movement to unite quilters around-the-world.
• “St Urho’s Day”, celebrating the (tongue-in-cheek) saint who supposedly ‘cleared the grasshoppers out of Finland’. The mock holiday is observed in parts of Canada and the USA.
• “Panda Day”, drawing attention to one of the world’s unique bears. Pandas, also known as Giant Pandas, are also one of the world’s most endangered and adored animals.
SUNDAY-
• “St Patrick’s Day”, the Irish national holiday that began as a ‘solemn religious observance’ to honor St Patrick (389-461 AD), patron saint of Ireland. It’s a public holiday in Ireland, Montserrat, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland & Labrador. Some fast facts …
– It’s been an Irish holiday for 1,500 years.
– The world’s largest “St Patrick’s Parade” is in NYC, where over a million spectators and 150,000 participants turn out. A tradition since 1762, the parade lasts about 6 hours.
– It was first celebrated in Canada in 1765 in Québec City QC.
– Green is associated with “St Patrick’s Day” because it’s the color of Spring, Ireland, and the shamrock.
• “Corned Beef & Cabbage Day”, you’d think that corned beef and boiled cabbage is a traditional Irish dish for St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s not. It is an Irish-American invention, originating when Irish immigrants discovered that beef was cheaper than pork in America at the time.
• “Submarine Day”, to commemorate this date in 1898, when Irish-born engineer John Philip Holland demonstrated a submarine he designed, the “Holland VI”, for the US Navy. During the demonstration, the vessel was submerged for 1 hour and 40 minutes. (That seemed to “go down” well…)
• “Camp Fire Girls Day”, the sister organization to the Boy Scouts of America. In 1975, the name was changed to Camp Fire Boys and Girls, in 2001 to Camp Fire USA, and to Camp Fire in 2012.
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1935 [89] Judd Hirsch, The Bronx NY, TV actor (“Taxi” 1978-1983, “Numb3rs” 2005-10)
1941 [83] Mike Love, Los Angeles CA, rock-pop singer (The Beach Boys-‘Fun, Fun, Fun’, ‘Kokomo’)/Rock Hall of Fame, 1988
1943 [81] David Cronenberg, Toronto ON, filmmaker (director/writer of “The Fly”, director of “A History of Violence”)/Order of Canada, 2002/Canada’s Walk of Fame, 1999. COMING UP… “The Shrouds”
1953 [71] Frances Conroy, Monroe GA, TV actress (“American Horror Story” 2011-21, “Six Feet Under” 2001-05)/movie actress (“Joker”)
1955 [69] Dee Snider, Astoria NY, rock singer (Twisted Sister-‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’)/reality TV personality (“Celebrity Apprentice” 2012, “Growing Up Twisted” 2010)
1963 [61] Bret Michaels (Sychak), Butler PA, rock singer (Poison-‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’)/reality TV personality (“Celebrity Apprentice” 2010, 2013, “Rock of Love With Bret Michaels” 2007-09)
1968 [56] Mark McGrath, Hartford CT, pop singer (Sugar Ray-‘Fly’, ‘When It’s Over’)/TV host (“Extra” 2004-08, “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” 2010), reality TV personality (“Celebrity Big Brother” 2018)
1972 [52] Mark Hoppus, Ridgecrest CA, rock bassist-singer (Blink 182-‘All the Small Things’, ‘I Miss You’)
1975 [49] Eva Longoria, Corpus Christi TX, TV actress (“Telenovela” 2015, “Desperate Housewives” 2004-12) COMING UP… “Only Murders in the Building” Season 4
1975 [49] will.i.am (William Adams Jr), LA CA, rapper/music producer (Black Eyed Peas-‘I Gotta Feeling’, ‘My Humps’)
1985 [39] Kellan Lutz, Dickinson ND, movie actor (“The Legend of Hercules”, “Twilight” movies)/TV actor (“FBI: Most Wanted” 2020-21)
SATURDAY- Victor Garber (“Alias”) is 75; Erik Estrada (“CHiPs”) is 75; Nancy Wilson (Heart) is 70; Flavor Flav (Public Enemy) is 65; Jerome Flynn (“Game of Thrones”) is 61; Lauren Graham (“Parenthood”) is 57; Wolfgang Van Halen (Mammoth WVH) is 33
SUNDAY- Patrick Duffy (“Dallas”) is 74; Kurt Russell (“Escape from L.A.”) is 73; Gary Sinise (“Forrest Gump”) is 69; Rob Lowe (“The West Wing”) is 60; Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins) is 57; Keifer Thompson (Thompson Square) is 51; Geoff Sprung (Old Dominion) is 46; Grimes (‘Flesh Without Blood’) is 36; Hozier (‘Take Me to Church’) is 34; John Boyega (“Star Wars” films) is 32
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2010 [14] Sacha Baron Cohen marries Isla Fisher in Paris
2017 [07] Disney refuses to cut a gay moment in the film “Beauty and the Beast” for Malaysian censors, and instead pulls it from distribution
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2004 [20] Bob Seger, George Harrison, ZZ Top, Jackson Browne, Prince, Traffic and The Dells are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2010 [14] ABBA, Jimmy Cliff, Genesis, The Hollies, and The Stooges are inducted at the 25th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2019 [05] Sam Smith says he is nonbinary, telling interviewer Jameela Jamil, “I am not male or female. I think I float somewhere in between.”
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1985 [39] The first Internet domain name, symbolics.com is registered (***the rest of the first 100 here: https://symbolics.com/ )
2002 [22] Liverpool, England international air terminal is re-branded “Liverpool John Lennon Airport”, as Yoko Ono unveils a 7-ft bronze statue of Lennon overlooking the check-in hall
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2010 [14] Sony announces the ‘Biggest Recording Deal in History’, worth more than $250 million, with the estate of Michael Jackson (10 album projects over 7 years, including one of previously unreleased material)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Before clocks were common, the terms “deosil” and “widdershins” were used for ‘clockwise’ and ‘counter-clockwise’.
✓ More people speak English as their second language than those who use it as their mother tongue.
✓ Male cats are called ‘toms’, and females are called ‘queens’ or ‘mollies’.
✓ Dolphins give each other names, using their unique vocal whistles.
✓ Losing weight can cause your memory to improve.
✓ The inventor of the frisbee had his ashes turned into a frisbee, so he’d be able to play with his son even when he wasn’t around. (But he WAS “round”, literally!)
-WhattheFFacts, Facts
Best of BS . . .
BS CHANGE TWO LETTERS, RUIN A MOVIE:
• Bland Panther
• The Shindig (The Shining)
• Ding Dong (King Kong)
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Job
• Lord of the Bling
• Chill Bill
• The Texas Chainsaw Massage
• The Last Yeti
• Snacks on a Plane
• Farts and Furious
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ A Flying Car backed by Space X is set to Debut in 2025. (It’s just like a regular car, but when you drive, its doors turn into wings . . . and a few seconds later, you turn into dead…)
➠ Mark Cuban said he’s not a big fan of Donald Trump. (However, he remains an enormous fan of Mark Cuban…)
➠ Kanye West once Tweeted he believes human beings can create a Utopia. (Interesting — because Utopia for most human beings would not include Kanye West…)
➠ Almost 3 in 10 people admit they plan to watch March Madness games while at work. (Well, the boss DID say to get off social media…)
(***Caution***) ➠ Spring arrives on Tuesday. (Technically, it’s called the Vernal Equinox. But nobody says that because they don’t want to get their ass kicked…)
BS WEB GOODIE:
It just keeps getting worse: https://tinyurl.com/y523e5hp
BS RANDOM JOKE:
If pigs could fly…I bet their wings would be delicious!
BS U-PICK O’TRIVIA:
• What is the name of the Irish folk song that is commonly associated with St. Patrick’s Day?
a) Whiskey in the Jar
b) When Irish Eyes are Smiling [CORRECT]
c) Danny Boy
d) Where the Streets Have no Name
• What is the traditional Irish blessing often shared on St. Patrick’s Day?
a) “May the road rise up to meet you” [CORRECT]
b) “May the sun shine warm upon your face”
c) “May the wind be always at your back”
d) “May your partner miss your shoes if she be upchuckin’ today”
• Which is a common affectionate nickname for Ireland?
a) Home of the Shamrocks
b) Snakeless
c) The Emerald Isle [CORRECT]
d) Manly, yes, but I like it too
-BestQuizQuestions, first published in BS in 2023
BS PHONE STARTER:
What is the absolute WORST thing to put on your credit card?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
According to an article in Home Magazine, THIS is the #1 thing that makes people happy. What is it?
Answer: Getting a good night’s sleep
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.
