Wednesday, May 3, 2023 — Edition: #7466
Sheet For Brains!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Production on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and other late-night talk shows has paused, a result of the writer’s strike. Kimmel’s long-running talk show will move to airing reruns for the foreseeable future, with this week’s live shows and the scheduled celebrity guests nixed, after the Writers Guild of America officially began a strike at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Other nightly talk shows including “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” are also going dark. The strike was confirmed after talks between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed.
-PopCulture
★ Fans who are eagerly anticipating Pete Davidson’s return to “Saturday Night Live” may have to wait a bit longer. On Monday, negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed, with the WGA officially beginning a strike at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. While numerous talk shows have been impacted, it remains unclear if SNL will be forced to halt production. According to a report, “final decisions” on SNL, as well as other weekly shows. such as “Real Time with Bill Maher”, and “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” are expected to come later in the week. Davidson was set to return to the SNL stage this weekend.
-PopCulture
★ Food connoisseur Stanley Tucci said he had to use a feeding tube for 6 months while fighting his “brutal” battle against oral cancer. The “Devil Wears Prada” star told Willie Geist on “Sunday Sitdown” that he lost 35 pounds because he “had a feeding tube for six months and everything tasted like you-know-what and smelled like you-know-what.” It took him “months and months and months to finally be able to eat again and then taste properly again.”
-PageSix
★ Reality TV’s all-stars are facing off to see who is the greatest contestant of all time in the brand-new series “The GOAT” from Amazon Freevee. Standout personalities from hit shows including “Love Is Blind”, “The Bachelor”, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “The Challenge” star in the epic new competition, which is hosted by comedian Daniel Tosh. The GOAT began filming at GOAT Manor in Atlanta last month, with the cast facing “a series of mental, physical and social challenges”.
-PopCulture
★ In a shocking move, “9-1-1” has been canceled at Fox, but the show has been rescued by ABC. Season 7 will be the show’s first at its new network. Fox issued a statement, saying the upcoming Season 6 finale on May 15 will be its last episode on Fox, and thanked the creative team, as well as the show’s cast, for many years of “impactful” stories, and saying: “We wish them well after 9-1-1’s final Fox season concludes.” “9-1-1 Lonestar” was renewed for a 5th season on Fox.
-PopCulture
★ Hang on for some truly nail-biting news: Sylvester Stallone will reprise his role as ‘Gabe Walker’ in a reboot of his 1993 mountain-climbing thriller “Cliffhanger.” In the original, Stallone starred as a ranger in the Colorado Rockies suffering from trauma following a fatal accident, who soon gets embroiled in a scheme involving a sinister former Military Intelligence officer. Taking over for director Renny Harlin is Ric Roman Waugh, who is behind the upcoming “Kandahar”.
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): TBA (due to the writer’s strike)
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): TBA
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): TBA
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): TBA
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Annaleigh Ashford, Kristen Doute
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Guest host Dulcé Sloan
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Minka Kelly, Richard Dreyfuss
• “The Talk” (CBS): Shailene Woodley, Jack Whitehall, Jaime Camil
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Chris Pratt, Abby Ryder Fortson, Emily King
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Joshua Jackson, Christine Ko, Kristen Kish
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Dove Cameron, Eitan Bernath, Will Coleman
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Angela Reese, Flau’jae Johnson, Alexis Morris, Rhea Williams
• “The Conners” (ABC): Season 5 finale. As Mark’s graduation approaches, he considers his relationship with his father; Louise plans a big graduation ceremony at the Lunch Box.
• “The Goldbergs” (ABC): Series finale. Adam takes Beverly to her high school reunion and tries to end a reality in which she winds up with the wrong man; Barry and Joanne make a surprising decision.
• “Not Dead Yet” (ABC): Season 1 finale
• “A Million Little Things” (ABC): Season 5 finale
• “NHL Playoffs” (Check local listings): Round 2: Edmonton @ Las Vegas
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Harry Styles – Today, he drops the latest single from 2022’s “Harry’s House”. Long-time fan-favorite ‘Satellite’ follows the Billboard chart-topper ‘As It Was’, ‘Late Night Talking’ and ‘Music for a Sushi Restaurant’. His label posted a pic of a rover-like robot surveying rocky terrain, over which white text displays a lyric from the “Satellite” chorus: “SPINNING OUT WAITING FOR YA.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3aavcex8
• Ed Sheeran — His “The Sum of it All” documentary series debuts today on Disney+. In it, his wife Cherry Seaborn reveals that when she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor, during her pregnancy, Sheeran went to the basement and wrote 7 songs in 4 hours. Quote: “Some people write a diary…and, for Eds, if something really intense happens, he’ll go and write a song.”
• Steve Perry – The former Journey singer makes a guest appearance on a new song by Irish folk group the High Kings. He said that after hearing the song, he “went to my home studio and started stacking some vocal harmonies against what was already there.” The High Kings’ Darren Holden reports that when he heard the results, he was so blown away, he “had to sit down.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mr47e9nc
• Rick Springfield — has announced his “I Want My ’80s”summer tour. It begins Aug. 4 in Youngstown OH, running through Sept. 16 in Fresno CA. Springfield will be joined on select dates by The Hooters, Paul Young, Tommy Tutone, John Waite and the Tubes. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2wcvhjb4
• Keith Richards – was one of the stars to join in on Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday celebration in LA on Sunday. The pair performed ‘We Had It All’, a 1973 Waylon Jennings tune, that Nelson later recorded with Richards as a guest. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2fuyada6
• Kane Brown – is stepping back from his music career in order to work on his acting career, following a recent appearance in “Fire Country”. Quote: “We’re taking a couple of months off coming up. I don’t know what I’m going to do. But you know, whatever’s there, I’m going to try and pursue it.”
• Blake Shelton – surprised travelers at Nashville Airport with an impromptu performance at the Ole Red restaurant there. In a video, Shelton is seen walking out of the kitchen, greeting fans and posing for pictures, before taking to the stage and performing his song ‘Ole Red’, which inspired the name of his establishment. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yxnmfvyh
• Kimberly Perry – The Band Perry’s lead vocalist has announced her debut solo EP, “Bloom”. Arriving June 9, the 5-song set will feature the lead single ‘If I Die Young Pt. 2’, which drops this Friday. It’s a sequel song to the trio’s fan-favorite ballad from 2010, ‘If I Die Young’. The Band Perry announced their “creative break as a group” in March.
SHOOTING THE BULL
RETORT REPORT:
If a friend or co-worker makes a joke at your expense, or comes up with a “fun” insult, how should you respond? (And no, something containing the words “Yo” and “Mama” is NOT the correct answer!) The problem is that is you act as if the comment didn’t offend you, that may invite a repeat performance — but taking exception might result serious conflict. This is where Harvard-trained etiquette expert Sara Jane Ho comes in. Ho is not only the founder of a finishing school, she also has her own Netflix show, called “Mind Your Manners”. She says that when someone is rude to you, you should use this 3-word response: “Are you OK?” According to her, saying ‘Are you OK?’ signals that even if you don’t take the comment personally, you didn’t appreciate it. In order not to be offensive back, you should say it in a friendly way, so it “sounds as though it is coming from a place of care, and that’s usually (enough) to put the person in check.” One more thing: Regardless of who made the negative comment, remember to not let it control your mood. Ho says: “The greatest power is showing that the other person doesn’t have power over you.”
(How about: “Are you high?”)
(I prefer to simply stare in uncomfortable silence. It either shuts them up, or makes them suddenly remember they need to be somewhere else…)
-CNBC
ROBOT-TALKS:
➠ A technological breakthrough by a team at Tel Aviv University has made it possible, for the first time ever, for a robot to sniff odors. A biological sensor sends electrical signals as a response to the presence of a nearby odor, which the robot can then go on to detect and interpret. The development could one day lead to the replacement of contraband-sniffing dogs at airports and other public venues all over the world. (And you don’t have to let them outside every few hours, either!)
➠ If a reassuring pat on the back brings you comfort during a tough day, you’re definitely not alone. But German researchers have found that people aren’t even picky about who’s doing the touching. They say the touch of a humanoid robot makes people happier and more likely to follow their requests. Instead of being reliant on other humans, they hope that in the future, robots may be able to fulfill the roles of therapists, personal trainers, and even life coaches. (I’m pretty sure my life-coach already IS a robot!)
-StudyFinds
UBER TREATS:
Uber has released its annual list of items left in vehicles by riders, and as usual, it includes some odd items, some embarrassing ones, and some that just make you scratch your head and say: “How could someone leave THAT behind?” Case in point: The most “unique” item left in a vehicle was a Danny DeVito Christmas ornament. Other notables: a toy poodle, a fog machine, ankle monitor, 16 ounces of fake blood, a printer, a remote-control vibrator, and a pin of Jesus holding a slice of pizza. A few more? A Statue of Liberty green foam crown, a lightsaber, hamsters, 2 painted rat traps, a power of attorney document issued by the Turkish consulate, pet turtles, a slab of bluefin tuna, a slushy machine, and a fake tooth. Oh, by the way, the top-10 most-forgotten items are, in order: clothing, phones, backpacks and purses, headphones, jewelry, keys, books, laptops and watches.
(Actually, I’m guessing that Danny DeVito ornament was left behind on purpose!)
(What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever left in an Uber? I mean BESIDES whatever it was you were drinking that night…!)
-NYPost
THE TOP-5 CARTOON TV SERIES OF ALL-TIME:
According to fans…
1. “Looney Tunes” (1930): Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Co. have an enduring appeal that has made their slapstick antics pop-culture mainstays.
2. “Batman The Animated Series” (1992): Started a new era of dramatic action storytelling in cartoon series.
3. “The Simpsons” (1989): Not just the longest-running cartoon series to date, it’s TV’s longest-running scripted primetime series.
4. “Bojack Horseman” (2014): An often-searing portrait of depression, failure, addiction, and more. It just happens to focus on a talking horse.
5. “Avatar The Last Airbender” (2005): Through its original storytelling and respectful representation of fictional eastern culture, it has become a beloved classic.
(Right now, a whole bunch of rejected-feeling “South Park” fans are unleashing a torrent of blue words that they first heard on…South Park!)
-StudyFinds
DID YOU KNOW?
India has become the most populous country in the world. According to United Nations data, the country now has 1.43 billion people, about 3 million more than China. Last year, the number of people in China shrank for the first time since 1960. In 2016, Beijing ended its strict “one-child policy”, imposed in the 1980s amid overpopulation fears, and it started allowing couples to have 3 children in 2021, amid a looming demographic decline, as birth rates plunge and its workforce ages.
-Livemint, CNN
BS CHRONOMETER 05.03.23
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Two Different Colored Shoes Day” to celebrate your uniqueness and put it on display today. Wear two different colored shoes, and see where they take you.
• “Wordsmith Day, just one more excuse for miscellaneous merriment. How scintillating, yet somehow egregious…
• “Paranormal Day”, a day for all paranormal enthusiasts to get together and share their unique experiences with each other. Seminars and readings are scheduled worldwide. (Personally, I would hold this on Oct. 31. Maybe a pair o’ paranormal days?)
• “Specially-Abled Pets Day”, begun in 2006 to educate the public about caring for disabled pets and to find homes for orphaned and physically-challenged animals.
• “World Press Freedom Day”, created by the UN to recognize the value of freedom of expression and the sacrifices journalists have made to attain this freedom.
• “Garden Meditation Day”, a day to let go of your concerns, and center your full attention on a garden, even if it’s just for a few minutes. (Maybe meditate about when you’re going to get around to weeding?)
• “Great American Grump Out”, a day to focus on humor and positive behaviors, in an effort to lighten up the mood and ward off grumpiness, crabbiness, and rudeness for 24 hours. (But starting tomorrow, you kids get off my lawn!) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/cfe6aknf
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Star Wars Day
[Thurs] Anti-Bullying Day
[Fri] Cinco de Mayo
[Sat] Beer Pong Day
This Week is…Small Business Week
This Month is…Asian-Pacific Heritage Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1934 [89] Frankie Valli, Newark NJ, still-touring pop singer (‘Grease’, The Four Seasons-‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, ‘December, 1963 [Oh, What a Night]’)/Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1990
1946 [77] Greg Gumbel, New Orleans LA, CBS-TV sportscaster since 1998 (“The NFL on CBS”, NCAA basketball)/brother of Bryant Gumbel
1951 [72] Christopher Cross (Geppert), San Antonio TX, pop singer (‘Sailing’, ‘Arthur’s Theme [Best That You Can Do]’)
1969 [54] Amy Ryan, Queens NY, TV actress (‘Holly’ on “The Office” 2008-11)/movie actress (“Birdman”)
1971 [52] John Driskell Hopkins, Atlanta GA, country bass guitarist-vocalist (Zac Brown Band-‘Colder Weather’, ‘Chicken Fried’)
1975 [48] Christina Hendricks, Knoxville TN, TV actress (“Good Girls” 2018-2021, “Mad Men” 2007-15, “Firefly” 2002-03)/Esquire magazine’s ‘Sexiest Woman in the World’, 2010
1977 [46] Eric Church, Granite Falls NC, country singer (‘Record Year’, ‘Drink in My Hand’)
1984 [39] Cheryl Burke, San Francisco CA, professional dancer (first 2-time champion on “Dancing With the Stars”)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2018 [05] The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences members vote to expel Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski
2021 [02] Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife, philanthropist Melinda, announce their divorce after 27 years
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1986 [37] Dolly Parton’s “Dollywood” amusement park opens near Gatlinburg, Tennessee
2010 [13] ‘I Gotta Feelin’’ by The Black Eyed Peas reaches over 5.56 million downloads, making it the best-selling digital song of all time, surpassing Flo-Rida’s ‘Low’. It eventually sells 8 million, and retains the record as streaming replaces downloads
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1934 [89] The first-ever ‘Comic Book’ is published, “Famous Funnies,” from Dell Books
2000 [23] The sport of geocaching begins, with the first cache placed and the GPS coordinates posted on Usenet
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1986 [37] 54-year-old Willie Shoemaker, aboard 18-to-1 longshot Ferdinand, becomes the oldest jockey ever to win the Kentucky Derby
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Due to climate change, allergy season is getting longer and more intense each year.
✓ In the 18th century, tornados were called “twirlblasts” and “twirlwinds”.
✓ Donkey Kong got his name because its creator believed “donkey” meant “stupid” in English and wanted to convey the impression that the character was a “Stupid Ape.”
✓ More than one-fifth of all the calories consumed by humans is provided by rice alone.
✓ Despite the fact that she has her own fragrance line, Beyoncé is allergic to perfume.
✓ Bullfrogs do not sleep.
Buzzfeed, BestLife
Best of BS . . .
BS BEST YEARBOOK QUOTES:
• I’ll totally explain this hairstyle at the reunion.
• Do they have more accommodating trash bins to be stuffed in, in college?
• If at first you don’t succeed, transfer to Mr. Wilson’s 5th Period class. He’ll give anyone a C.
• Best six years of my life!
• If you’re still single, look me up in 10 years.
• I never seem to finish what I st…
• I’ve had a great year. But it sure wasn’t this one.
• What do you mean, “Do I go here”? I see you literally EVERY DAY.
• See everyone next fall in the school of hard knocks!
• No picture
• I’m not allowed within 300 feet of a school, yet here I am!
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS ILL-CONCEIVED ADVICE:
• If it burns, just put some gasoline on it.
• No really, wear socks with them, totally hip.
• You should tweet drunk.
• If you have an ant problem, buy some lizards.
• Tell your wife she’s not allowed to.
• Poke it and see if it’s dead.
• Just put it on the credit card.
• Yes, ABSOLUTELY air your marital problems on Facebook. It’s like free therapy.
• If you’re sad, just keep drinking more.
• Don’t vote. It doesn’t matter.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
BS WEB GOODIE:
He had to think about that (sound up): https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYw5w8kg/
BS RANDOM JOKE:
You know what they say about cliffhangers…
TRUTH OR BS:
• In the “Star Wars” movies, the voice of ‘Darth Vader’ is done by the same person who performed the voices of ‘Miss Piggy’, ‘Grover’, and ‘Cookie Monster’. [BS. But the voice of ‘Yoda’ is! (Frank Oz)]
• ‘Mario’ of SuperMarioBros. fame was once a carpenter. [TRUE. He was first introduced as a carpenter in the videogame “Donkey Kong”.]
• “Jeopardy!” host Mayim Bialik, who played ‘Amy Farrah Fowler’ on “The Big Bang Theory”, is a neuroscientist in real life. [True. She earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience in 2007.]
• Abraham Lincoln had no middle name. [True]
• On Venus, it snows silver. [BS. It snows metal there.]
• Lightning never strikes the same place twice. [BS. Lightning can strike anywhere more than once.]
• Cows can walk down stairs, but not up them. [BS. It’s the other way around.]
-LovetoKnow, Playbuzz
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the most boring sport, and what would you do to make it more exciting?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 65% of adults agree – THIS helps them get a good night’s sleep. What is it?
Answer: Blackout curtains
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Be stubborn about your goals, and flexible about your methods.
