Friday, May 23, 2025 – Edition: #7958
Get Sheet-Faced Every Morning!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ In a rare Instagram post, Megan Fox has revealed her and ex MGK’s pregnancy was “unplanned”. She re-shared an “Overcompensating” clip to her Story on Wednesday that was filmed last year while she was expecting her 4th child. The “Jennifer’s Body” star captioned the footage from the Amazon Prime series with the words: “38 years old. Six weeks pregnant.” In parentheses, she wrote: “Unplanned but a happy surprise.” It was her first foray into social media since she and MGK welcomed their baby girl in March.
-PageSix
★ Michael B. Jordan, the “Fruitvale Station”, “Creed”, “Black Panther” and “Sinners” star who has become one of Hollywood’s most influential multihyphenates, will receive the 39th American Cinematheque Award. The honor will be handed out in a ceremony November 20 at the Beverly Hilton. The news comes amid the success of Sinners, the Warner Bros vampire horror film that represents Jordan’s 5th collaboration with filmmaker Ryan Coogler.
-Deadline
★ More good news for “Scrubs” fans. Five and a half months after the reboot of the medical comedy, the project has locked in star Zach Braff. He’ll reprise his role as ‘John “J.D.” Dorian’ in the Scrubs followup, which is in development at ABC. The deal comes after months of touch-and-go negotiations that hit major hurdles over both money and Braff’s request for the series to film in LA, and not Vancouver as originally planned, sources said. The impasse was so serious, there was a chance the entire project would be…um, scrubbed, until the 2 sides recently came to an agreement. No filming location has been officially announced.
-Deadline
★ Martin Scorsese has directed over a dozen documentaries, from “The Last Waltz” to “No Direction Home”. But he’s now set to have the cameras turned on him in a new 5-part series for Apple TV+. It’ll explore how his own colorful life experiences informed his artistic vision from student films at New York University such as “Who’s That Knocking At My Front Door” – his first feature-length film — through to his classics and his more recent work. Rebecca Miller, the filmmaker behind “Personal Velocity: Three Portraits” is set to direct.
-Deadline
[***Caution: Preview for language***] ★ Jeremy Renner remains among the living, which is pretty great news for his family, friends and fans … but there is someone who has a slight issue with it – Renner himself. He made an unusual admission on Kelly Ripa’s “Let’s Talk Off Camera” podcast, when talking about nearly dying in a 2023 snowplow accident in Northern California — in which several of his bones were crushed. Renner told Ripa that being alive is all well and good … but he was also “pissed” for a time about being revived … because the experience of dying was actually pretty nice. Quote: “It’s a wonderful, wonderful relief to be removed from your body. It is the most exhilarating peace you could ever feel.”
-TMZ
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Will Forte, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), BigXthaPlug
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Tom Cruise, Milly Alcock, Shakira (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): TBA
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Jonathan Groff, Gracie Lawrence, Adria Arjona, Eric Choi, David Yun, Steve Choi (R)
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Michael Urie, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Kerry Washington, Omar Sy, Sarah Kate Ellis (R)
• “Today” (NBC): Joe Jonas, Shaquille O’Neal
• “GMA3” (ABC): Stanley Tucci
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Sarah Jessica Parker, Method Man
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Jason Momoa (R)
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Naomi Scott, Trevor Noah (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Curtis Stone, Julia Michaels
• “Pee-wee as Himself” (HBO): An intimate look at the life of late actor Paul Reubens, also known as ‘Pee-wee Herman’.
• “NHL Playoffs” (SN, CBC, ESPN): Conference final game #2: Edmonton @ Dallas
• “NBA Playoffs” (TNT, TSN): Conference final game #2: Indiana @ New York
SATURDAY:
• “Jerrod Carmichael: Don’t Be Gay” (HBO): The Emmy-winning comedian brings to the stage his signature blend of unbridled honesty, emotional gut punches and sharp, dry wit.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Host Shane Gillis; musical guest Tate McRae (R)
• “NHL Playoffs” (SN, CBC, TNT): Conference final game #2: Carolina @ Florida
• “NBA Playoffs” (ABC, TSN): Conference final Game #3: Oklahoma @ Minnesota
SUNDAY:
• “Indianapolis 500” (FOX): The 109th running of the crown jewel event of the IndyCar Series.
• “24 in 24: Last Chef Standing” (FOOD): Season 2 finale
• “The Last of Us” (HBO): Season 2 finale
• “National Memorial Day Concert” (PBS): Live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Performers include Scotty Hasting, Loren Allred, Yolanda Adams, Mary McCormack, Angel Blue, and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jack Everly. Hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise.
• “NHL Playoffs” (SN, CBC, ABC): Conference final game #3: Dallas @ Edmonton
• “NBA Playoffs” (TNT, TSN): Conference final game #3: NY Knicks @ Indiana
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Lady Gaga – After winning a Sports Emmy for her Super Bowl performance of ‘Hold My Hand’, she is one step closer to EGOT status, having already won an Academy Award and a Grammy. She was honored with an Emmy for her performance of the “Top Gun: Maverick” anthem on Bourbon Street in New Orleans as a tribute to the victims of the New Year’s attack, which left 14 people dead.
• Harry Styles, Megan Thee Stallion and Olivia Rodrigo – are among the more than 250 public figures banding together to support Planned Parenthood, as attacks on reproductive freedom continue to rise in the US. The musicians, actors, designers, athletes and influencers lent their names to a declaration that says in part: “Americans are losing more of our freedom to decide how we live our own lives”.
• Gorillaz – The Damon Albarn side project will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year with a residency and exhibition at London’s Copper Box. Dubbed “House of Kong”, the exhibition promises a “journey through the band’s life of misadventures, musical innovation and ground-breaking virtual ways.”
• Robbie Williams – The Britpop icon has released ‘Rocket’,” featuring Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi on guitar(!). The song will appear on Williams’ upcoming album, aptly titled “Britpop”, expected this fall. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yx22f37c
• Starship – Their 1985 hit ‘We Built This City’, which singer Grace Slick called “the worst song ever,” has seemingly achieved its ultimate destiny — as the soundtrack for a toilet paper commercial. The song, re-recorded as ‘We Quilt This City’, is being used to sell Quilted Northern TP. Sample lyric: “So cushy and so plushy / Just give it a try / Feeling is believing / We quilt this city with a comfy roll.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yckdfkwy
• Foreigner – After 20 years with the group, singer Kelly Hansen has announced that he’ll leave the band at the end of their 2025 summer tour. He’ll be replaced by current Foreigner multi-instrumentalist Luis Maldonado, who subbed in as singer on their recent tour of Latin America.
• Carrie Underwood – will celebrate the 20th anniversary of her debut album with the release of the special edition vinyl “Some Hearts 20th Anniversary Edition”. This special edition is available for pre-order now exclusively through Target, and will be released on Nov. 14, just ahead of the “Some Hearts” anniversary date (Nov. 15, 2005).
• Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker, and Marty Stuart – are among the acts who are set to play “Grand Ole Opry: Live in London” on Sept. 26 at Royal Albert Hall. Celebrating its 100th anniversary, it will be the Opry’s first-ever international broadcast. Tickets go on sale today.
• Reba McEntire — scored the biggest streaming debut of her career with her new single ‘Trailblazer’, a collab with Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert. The anthem, which celebrates the spirit of women in country music, garnered 2.6 million on-demand streams in its first week. A few days after its live debut at the ACM Awards, it reached 882,000 daily streams.
SHOOTING THE BULL
NEW MOVIES THIS WEEK:
• “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (PG-13, Action): Ethan Hunt and the IMF team race against time to find the Entity, a rogue artificial intelligence that can destroy mankind. (Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell) Tomatometer: 79%
• “Lilo & Stitch” (PG, Kids/Family): Tells the story of the bond formed between a lonely human girl named Lilo and a dog-like alien named Stitch, who is engineered to be a force of destruction. (Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders, Zach Galifianakis) Tomatometer: 73%
• “Friendship” (R, Comedy): Suburban dad Craig falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor, but Craig’s attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives. (Paul Rudd, Tim Robinson, Kate Mara) Tomatometer: 90% Audience score: 84%
• “The Last Rodeo” (PG, Drama): To save his grandson, a retired rodeo star enters a high-stakes bull-riding competition. Along the way, he confronts his past, discovers faith, and proves that true courage lies in family. (Neal McDonough, Sarah Jones) Tomatometer: 70%
FIRST DATE CHEAPSKATE:
If you can believe it, it’s now officially OK to use a coupon on a first date! A new survey found that most people (56%) feel that using a coupon is perfectly acceptable, and to 61%, “frugality” is an attractive trait in a partner. Is it a sign of the times? Well, yes. In a world of economic uncertainty, and inflation, it would seem that having the ability – and the will — to be wise with one’s money is an attractive quality. In the poll of 2,000 adults in the US, over a quarter (28%) said that frugality is “sexy.” $125 was found to be the maximum amount people are comfortable spending on a date. The survey also found that 37% are OK with their date using rewards points to pay – and half are happy to split the bill.
(Because nothing says romance like BOGO tacos?)
(She had me at Groupon!)
-SWNS
BURGERS AND WEENIES:
► A Texas man who ordered his hamburger at Whataburger without onions, but received one WITH onions, is suing the fast-food chain after he says he experienced an allergic reaction. Demery Wilson says the July 2024 incident resulted in “serious personal injuries,” and he wants $250,000 to $1 million. Wilson also has a pending lawsuit against Sonic Drive-In for a nearly identical experience he claims happened in 2023. Both restaurant chains deny the allegations. (Buddy, I used to tell my parents I was allergic to onions, too. They didn’t believe me, either!)
► It’s the Indy 500 – for Wienermobiles. The inaugural Wienie 500 will take place today, just a few days before the Indianapolis 500. There are 6 Wienermobiles that travel throughout the US, and they’ll come together to go head-to-head on the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Each Wienermobile represents a different type of regional dog. The ‘Chi Dog’ represents the Midwest, while the ‘New York Dog’ will race for the East. The ‘Slaw Dog’ stands for the Southeast, while the ‘Sonoran Dog’ reps the Southwest. The ‘Chili Dog’, of course, represents the South, while the ‘Seattle Dog’ will race for the Northwest. The Wienie 500 can be seen on the Fox Sports app at 2pm ET. It’ll be the first-ever competitive race for the fleet. (…but we’re pretty sure they won’t be racing for 500 miles!)
-Newser, TheBoot
NEWS OF THE WEIRD:
➢ Chloe Gray is redefining airplane snacks — one rotisserie chicken at a time. The NYC-based influencer turned heads (and probably noses) when she strolled through TSA at Newark Airport with an entire cooked bird — as her carry-on. No designer tote, no soggy airport sandwich — just a Whole Foods rotisserie chicken, which she casually cradled like an edible handbag on her flight to California. In a TikTok that’s racked up over half a million views, Chloe joked: “This is how you give yourself a first-class experience without paying for first class.” TSA did stop her, but once they realized her “suspicious item” was just poultry, she was good to go. (The emotional-support chicken sitting across the aisle was NOT impressed!) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2nhh3src
➢ A woman was reportedly forced to take off her heavy makeup after facial recognition scanners at an airport couldn’t confirm her identity. A video clip showing a young woman using wet wipes to clean her face of makeup went viral on Chinese social media last week, sparking many humorous comments. According to the boarding pass shown in the video next to the woman’s ID, the video was shot at Shanghai Airport last fall, but only recently attracted attention online. The woman holding the camera (presumably an airport official), scolds the young girl, telling her that she needs to wipe off all the makeup until she looks like the picture on her document. Its unclear if she eventually passed the facial recognition scan. (It’s the first time that AI has ever said: “Who dis?”)
-Fox, OddityCentral
FUNNIEST TWEETS OF THE WEEK FROM WOMEN:
⇒ an air fryer is like if the easy bake oven team went “what if they never outgrow us” — teewatterss
⇒ it’s crazy how doing laundry isn’t even that difficult except for it being the hardest thing in the world – lesbian mothman
⇒ my dad just told me he’s going to pull a prank by acting “completely normal” at my brother’s wedding — meeka
⇒ Had a cozy lil facetime with my mom’s forehead today — aparnapkin
⇒ Europeans: “I get 6 weeks of paid vacation.” Americans: “I get 6 minutes to cry in the bathroom.” — elazbireanu
⇒ sorry, I can’t come, my clothes look stupid on me — aristelle
⇒ Nighttime me: Let’s set the alarm for 6am so we can meditate, journal, do yoga, and become better people. Morning me: Who the hell is “we”? – maddy_macrae__
⇒ I gave a little kid some frozen yogurt today, and his mom says ‘okay, what do you say?’ And he looks me dead in the eyes and says ‘I love you.’ – dory__
-HuffPost
DID YOU KNOW?
The “tush push” lives on! NFL owners met this week in Minnesota to debate the fate of the hotly contested short-yardage play that’s become the Philadelphia Eagles’ not-so-secret weapon. Despite rumors of a possible ban, the motion didn’t pass—falling short of the 24 votes needed. The tush push involves teammates literally shoving the quarterback forward in a rugby-style surge. The almost-unstoppable play powered the Eagles, powering them through tough downs all season long. The team celebrated the decision by posting a cheeky “Push On” graphic to X—featuring none other than their game vs. the Packers… the very team that tried to outlaw it. (…because nothing says ‘pro football’ like ‘group shoving’!)
-CNN
BS CHRONOMETER 05.23.25
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Taffy Day”, celebrating the ooey-gooey soft candy that sticks to your dental fillings. Salt water taffy was originally produced in Atlantic City, NJ in 1883.
• “Lucky Penny Day”. See a penny, pick it up…all day long, you’ll have good luck. When you’re out and about, look on the ground for pennies. It just might be your lucky day! (Canadians, Aussies and Kiwis, you’ll have to look for a lucky nickel. And USA, you’re next!)
• “Turtle Day”, an opportunity to learn more about turtles and how to protect them and their shrinking habitats. (Scientists are now saying that the earliest turtles developed their shells not for protection, but for digging. Do you believe them?)
• “World Crohn’s and Colitis Day”, to bring people affected by either disease together, as well as friends and family members, and even those who know nothing about either disease, in an effort to increase awareness. (Celebrated in some areas as “World IBD Day” on May 19) LINK: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/
• “National Road Trip Day”, observed on the Friday before Memorial Day in the US, and the official kickoff of the summer road trip season. 63% of road trippers say that having good music, audiobooks, and/or podcasts to listen to are the most important parts of a successful road trip. (For me, it’s all about the snacks…!)
• “Title Track Day”, a day to listen only to title tracks, whether from a record, CD, mp3, the radio, or a streaming service. Some of the best: ‘Let It Be’ by The Beatles, ‘L.A. Woman’ by The Doors, Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ and Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’. (***Add to the list!***)
SATURDAY:
• “Asparagus Day”, honoring the only ‘spears’ most of us ever eat. Essayist Marcel Proust wrote in the late 1800s that asparagus “transforms my chamber-pot into a flask of perfume.” (Someone needs to get his nose checked!)
• “Brothers Day”, a day to give yours a quick punch on the arm … just to let ’em know you care.
• “Escargot Day”, celebrating the gourmet food you can harvest off your driveway. (How come we’ll eat snails — but not slugs? Aren’t they the same thing?)
• “International Tiara Day”, a day for women to celebrate their leadership powers. Real or virtual tiara-wearing is optional.
• “Scavenger Hunt Day”, celebrating the game where individuals or teams compete to find items or perform tasks provided to them as a list by the organizers. (My friend’s mom kicked me out of the birthday party when I’d clearly won the scavenger hunt. She was all like “I don’t care how many vultures you shot, get those things out of here!”)
SUNDAY:
• “Geek Pride Day”, a day for sci-fi fans and techno-nerds to stand tall. The date coincides with the 1977 release of the first “Star Wars” movie. What’s a geek? The Geek Pride Organization says ‘you know one when you see one’. (I already knew this, because I had it circled on my “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” calendar…)
• “International Missing Children’s Day”, promoting awareness of the problem and, highlighting safety tips for kids and parents. We’re encouraged to turn on our porch lights as a way to show hope for missing kids, and support for their families.
• “African Liberation Day”, when many African countries celebrate the hard-fought achievement of their freedom from European colonial powers. It was founded in 1958 and coincides with the African Union’s “Africa Day”.
• “Tap Dance Day”, honoring the birthday of Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson, ‘King of Tap Dancers’, in 1878. (***Caution***I wonder if tap dancers look at a floor and think “I’d tap that!”)
• “Brown Bag-It Day”. Taking your lunch to work or school is an effective way to save money and to ensure you and your family are eating healthy (and a great way to smuggle all of the cookies out of the house for yourself!).
• “Wine Day”. In moderation, wine not only fights heart disease, it is believed it can also help with high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, stroke, reduce risk of some cancers, and even fight depression. In general, red wines are healthier than white wines. (Really, ANY day is wine day!)
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1933 [92] Joan Collins, London England, TV Actress (‘Alexis Carrington’ on “Dynasty” 1981-1999) COMING UP… “The Bitter End”
1958 [67] Drew Carey, Cleveland OH, comedian/TV host (“The Price is Right” since 2007)/TV producer (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?” 1998-2006)/TV actor (“Drew Carey Show” 1995-2004)
1958 [67] Lea DeLaria, Belleville IL, TV actress (‘Big Boo’ on “Orange Is the New Black” 2013-18)
1965 [60] Melissa McBride, Lexington KY, TV actress (‘Carol’ on “The Walking Dead” 2010-2022; “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” since 2023)
1967 [58] Phil Selway, Abingdon England, alt-rock drummer (Radiohead-‘Creep’, ‘Karma Police’)
1970 [55] Matt Flynn, LA CA, pop drummer (Maroon 5-‘Moves Like Jagger’, ‘She Will Be Loved’)
1974 [51] Jewel (Kilcher), Payson UT, folk/pop singer (‘Foolish Games’, ‘Who Will Save Your Soul’)
1974 [51] Ken Jennings, Edmonds WA, TV host (“Jeopardy!” since 2021, “Celebrity Jeopardy!” since 2022, “Jeopardy! Masters” since 2023)/broke the record for the longest winning streak as a contestant on Jeopardy! [74], amassing over $4.5 million
1986 [39] Ryan Coogler, Oakland CA, movie director/screenwriter (“Creed”, “Black Panther” films)
1999 [26] James Charles (Dickinson), Bethlehem NY, influencer (makeup artist who became the first male spokesperson for CoverGirl)/internet host (YouTube Originals reality competition “Instant Influencer”, 2020)
SATURDAY- Tommy Chong (“Cheech and Chong”) is 87; Bob Dylan (‘Like a Rolling Stone’) is 84; Patti LaBelle (‘Lady Marmalade’) is 81; Priscilla Presley (“Dallas”) is 80; Alfred Molina (“Spider-Man 2″) is 72; Rosanne Cash (‘Seven Year Ache’) is 70; Kristin Scott Thomas (“The English Patient”) is 65; Doug Jones (“The Shape of Water”) is 65; John C. Reilly (“Step Brothers”) is 60; Rich Robinson (Black Crowes) is 56; Mark Ballas (“Dancing With the Stars”) is 38
SUNDAY- (Sir) Ian McKellen (“Lord of the Rings”) is 86; Muppeteer Frank Oz is 81; Klaus Meine (Scorpions) is 77; Mike Myers (“Austin Powers”) is 62; Octavia Spencer (“The Help”) is 53; Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) is 49
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2005 [20] Tom Cruise infamously leaps on the couch and pumps his fist in the air to express his love for Katie Holmes during an appearance on “Oprah” (that seemed to help the relationship…).
2016 [09] Amber Heard files for divorce from Johnny Depp. They were married in 2015.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2007 [18] The US Library of Congress hands out its first ‘Gershwin Award’ to singer-songwriter Paul Simon.
2012 [13] Adam Lambert becomes the first openly gay artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, with his album “Trespassing”.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1785 [240] Benjamin Franklin announces his invention of bifocals (causing everyone of a certain age to tilt their head back and open their mouth, in order to read).
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Smiling can lower your heart rate – and your stress level.
✓ The youngest Pope was 11 years old (Benedict IX, in 1032).
✓ The first manager of the first McDonald’s franchise was named Ed MacLuckie.
✓ The sting from a killer bee contains less venom than the sting from a regular bee.
✓ Dogs sneeze to show they’re play-fighting.
✓ Goats have accents, depending on the region they grow up in.
-RandomFactGenerator, Facts
Best of BS…
BS WILDLIFE TV SHOWS GONE WRONG:
• “The Lion Taunter”
• “Fast Animals, Slow Children”
• “Panda-monium”
• “Late Night National Geographic”
• “Animals Gone Wild Kingdom”
• “Get This Thing Off of Me!”
• “Guy Fieri Tries Put BBQ Sauce on a Live Gator”
• “Wait, I Think They’re Watching Us Back”
• “Baby Shark Week”
• “Jacques Cousteau Does Dallas”
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS SIGNS YOU’RE AT A GEEK BBQ:
• It’s being live-blogged online.
• Everybody’s drinking open-source beer.
• There is barbecue-flavored ramen.
• Heat resistant webcam inserted in the grill lid keeps an eye on the food when it’s closed.
• It’s being held in mom & dad’s basement.
-BBSpot, first published in BS in 2008
BS WEB GOODIE:
Took me by surprise: https://tinyurl.com/4x6bbfpv
BS RANDOM JOKE:
When one door closes and another opens, you’re probably in prison.
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
If you could rename your city or town, what would you rename it — and why?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
If you’re average, you have 9 of THESE that you don’t use. What are they?
Answer: Apps on your phone
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.