Thursday, May 4, 2023 — Edition: #7467

Ah, Some BS You Actually Look Forward to in the Morning!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Willie Nelson just got a slightly-late 90th birthday present: an impending induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The country music legend is one of 7 acts announced yesterday as the Class of 2023, along with Kate Bush, Rage Against the Machine, Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, George Michael and the Spinners. There are 6 other inductees picked by a select Hall of Fame committee: singer Chaka Khan, instrumentalist-producer Al Kooper and lyricist Bernie Taupin, all in the “musical excellence” category; plus pioneering guitarist Link Wray and hip-hop originator DJ Kool Herc in the “musical influence” division; and “Soul Train” TV host Don Cornelius as the recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun Award. The induction ceremony will take place Nov. 3 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
-Variety
[***UPDATE***] ★ Jamie Foxx is back in the land of social media for the first time following his mysterious hospitalization, breaking his silence with a heartfelt message to those who’ve been wishing him well. The actor took to Instagram Wednesday, writing “Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed.” He also gave a shoutout to Nick Cannon, who will be filling his hosting shoes on his game show “Beat Shazam” … and told people he’ll see them soon. Foxx remains hospitalized after suffering a medical emergency. It was recently reported that Beat Shazam, which he co-hosts with his daughter Corinne Foxx, has started filming its new season, but has recruited Nick Cannon as replacement host, with Kelly Osbourne subbing-in as DJ. Sources close to Foxx have asked for prayers for his recovery. He’s been hospitalized since mid-April.
-PageSix, TMZ
★ Live from New York, it’s not “Saturday Night Live”. NBC has announced that this Saturday’s episode, which former cast member Pete Davidson was set to host, has been canceled due to the Writers Guild of America strike. Lil Uzi Vert was scheduled to be musical guest. The network noted in its announcement that “SNL will air repeats until further notice.” The season finale was previously scheduled for May 20.
-Billboard
★ “Dancing With the Stars” is returning to ABC, and fans are freaking out over the surprising news. Tuesday, Vulture reported that sources said the reality competition series will be going back to its old network while still airing live on Disney+. No official announcement has been made. The show initially aired on ABC, starting in 2005, but was moved to Disney+ in 2022.
-PopCulture
★ Cher and Alexander “A.E.” Edwards have reportedly ended their relationship. Also, the 2 were never engaged, despite speculation that developed after Cher started wearing a giant diamond ring she got for Christmas. Cher, who is 76, told photographers that she and the 37-year-old were engaged, but it was just a joke on her part. Sources close to both told TMZ that the pair called it quits a couple of weeks ago. It is unclear what led to the decision. Cher and Edwards were linked in November after they were seen holding hands in Hollywood.
-PopCulture
★ Former NFL QB Peyton Manning is exec-producing a comedy about sports gambling. NBC is developing “What Are the Odds?”, a Las Vegas sports book workplace sitcom. The plan is to use the backdrop of gambling to look at all the other bets people make in their lives – choosing friends, jobs and relationships. The series will explore how all of our most meaningful decisions are really just big bets with hugely uncertain outcomes.
-Deadline

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): TBD (due to writer’s strike)
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): TBD
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): TBD
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): TBD
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): TBD
•  “The Daily Show” (COM): TBD
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Charlie Day
• “The Talk” (CBS): Rashida Jones, Bing Chen, guest co-host Shemar Moore
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Kathleen Turner, Karen Gillan
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Tony Shalhoub, Michael Zegen, Carey Hart, Andrea Pett-Joseph, Thee Sacred Souls
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Pink (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Chloe Bailey, Kelvin Harrison Jr.
• “Call Me Kat” (FOX): Season 3 finale
• “BBQ Across America” (COOKING): Series premiere. Beef brisket is a Texas barbecue staple, and salt and smoke are the main ingredients because it’s all about letting the meat speak for itself.
• “20/20” (ABC): Investigating the mystery of a body found in a barrel at Nevada’s Lake Mead.
• “NHL Playoffs” (Check local listings): Florida @ Toronto, Seattle @ Dallas

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Jonas Brothers – have announced “Five Albums. One Night. The Tour,” a show they teased last month with a series of secret shows across the US. The trek will follow the same concept of playing hits from throughout their career all in one place. Things start August 12-13 with 2 shows at Yankee Stadium, and wrap in Miami in October. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/58ddjdev
• Ed Sheeran – he and Alanis Morissette will fill in as guest judges on “American Idol” on Sunday. That’s so Katy Perry and Lionel Richie can be in England to perform at the coronation of King Charles III. In other Ed news, he told his lawyer that he’ll quit the music industry if he’s found guilty of plagiarism. He’s been taken to court for allegedly copying Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get it On’.
• Donna Summer – The trailer for the ‘Love To Love You, Donna Summer’ documentary has been revealed. The doc co-directed by her daughter Brooklyn Sudano and will premiere on HBO May 20. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yc5m429v
• Foo Fighters — Queen’s Roger Taylor has refused to confirm or deny if his son Rufus will replace the late Taylor Hawkins as Foo Fighters’ drummer. Quote: “Rufus is phenomenal…he’s just annoyingly powerful and he’s become very, very good. I can’t say any more!”  Rufus currently plays with The Darkness, and played Hawkins’ parts during parts of the tribute shows put on for Hawkins last year.
•  Gordon Lightfoot – In the wake of his passing at age 84, ‘Bob Dylan’ was trending on Twitter. Why? Because thousands posted the Dylan quote: “I can’t think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don’t like. Every time I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever.” Many celebs chimed in to mourn the loss too, including Brian Wilson, Stephen King and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2748srdw
• Chris Janson – says he’s got a new song coming tomorrow, and it features 2 musical legends. ‘21 Forever’ features guest performances from Dolly Parton and Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. He posted: “it doesn’t get any bigger than that!…This is going to be EPIC.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3rjdb4h6
• Dierks Bentley – says his side project, the Hot Country Knights, might have something big coming. In an interview, he revealed that the ’90s themed country group — who tapped older stars like Travis Tritt and Terri Clark as duet partners in the past, will collaborate with “A-listers” like Lainey Wilson on their next project.
• Luke Combs – His wife Nicole had an awesome answer for the fan who asked in an Instagram Q&A why the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year and his family live in a relatively modest 2-bedroom home, which seems “so basic”. Nicole posted a dramatically filtered selfie with enormous eyes and an exaggerated, frog-like mouth, and wrote: “We’re basic AF.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3h2eycey

SHOOTING THE BULL

NATURE CALLS:
We all seem to bring our phones with us everywhere – but EVERY where? I mean, yes, it can be handy and even a little bit fun to close the bathroom door, and scroll away the minutes while you…uh…attend to business. But this habit could actually really quite harmful, says Primrose Freestone, a senior lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester. He’s urging mobile phone users to think more about “mobile phone hygiene”. Most people wash their hands numerous times throughout the day. But he says if you’re not cleaning your phone regularly, you could still be putting your health at risk, especially if you use it in the bathroom. He also says we should consider how often we hand our phones to our children, and place them on unclean surfaces throughout the day, adding that these can “transfer microbes onto your phone along with food deposits for those microbes to eat.” He offers a 10-point plan for good mobile phone hygiene, and here’s #1:
• Use alcohol-based wipes or sprays. They need to be at least 70% alcohol to effectively disinfect phone casings and touch screens, and this should be done daily. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yvamyn5y
(I’m OK with phone use on the toilet. What I’m not OK with is Facetime use on the toilet!)
(And this info comes as a surprise to some people?)
-HuffPost, TheConversation, InsideHook

CHANGING YOUR TUNES:
Apparently, when it comes to new music, singers are getting quieter. A new study found that the volume of lead singers in chart-topping songs has gradually decreased over the past 75 years. Now, whether that’s a good thing, I’ll leave up to you. Traditionally, music has focused on emphasizing the lead singer’s voice, but researchers at the University of Oldenburg in Germany have discovered that lead vocals are becoming increasingly quieter compared to the rest of the band (or music). The researchers feel this trend is due to changes in music technology, but say it could also be related to the “stylistic evolution” of pop songs. Study authors found country music has the highest lead vocal-to-accompaniment ratio (LAR), followed by rap and pop. Rock music had an almost zero LAR, while metal had a negative LAR, and solo singers had a much higher LAR than bands.
(I’m not sure how I feel about this, but if the same trend holds true in karaoke, I think we ALL win!)
(I don’t know if I’m buying it. I think this is all based on stereo types!)
-StudyFinds

KILLER CEREAL:
Just in case you’re concerned that your kids – or you – aren’t getting enough sugar, you’ll be happy to learn that “Kit Kat Cereal” is now a thing. General Mills is launching the dessert-for breakfast confection In the US this month. Kit Kat Cereal, based on the candy bar of the same name that is advertised as being loaded with “chocolatey crispy deliciousness”, will sell at $5.69 for a standard-size box. And just like the candy bar, the cereal has a creamy coating and distinct crunch, according to the company, and the box shares the look of the candy’s distinct red wrapper. (It launched in Europe in March.) Other “interesting” cereals that General Mills is launching this spring include “Cinnamon Toast Crunch Tres Leches” (yup, a cake-flavored cereal) and “Vanilla Spice Cheerios”. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5n7yeuf2
(I plan to eat Kit Kat cereal in chocolate milk, because Why not??!!??)
(But wait! Who needs a “Kit Kat break” first thing in the morning?)
-CNN

THE BEST PODCASTS OF 2023:
These are the most ear-worthy podcasts out there, according to a survey of fans:
1. “Love, Janessa”: true crime is one of the most listened-to podcast genres. This one focuses on Janessa Brazil – the woman whose likeness has been used to catfish and con countless victims out of thousands of dollars.
2. “The Coldest Case in Laramie”: Another great (and grim) crime-centered podcast. It takes you on a journey through the unsolved murder of a college student in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1985. The story alone is haunting, and the way it is told is sure to keep you on your toes!
3. “Frozen Head”: We still don’t know if we will ever be able to successfully bring someone back to life after being cryogenically frozen. Frozen Head is centered around the true story of a scientist determined to find the answers, discussing the pros, cons, and difficulties of this process.
4. “Can I Tell You a Secret?”: Another true crime series, “Can I Tell You a Secret” focuses on the true story of a cyber stalker. This investigative series covers his motivations, actions and consequences, and keeps you wanting more…
5. “Normal Gossip”: From scandalous affairs to shocking breakups, it covers all the juicy details about the lives of our favorite celebs. What sets it apart is the hosts’ ability to deliver the news in a way that is both informative and entertaining.
(The problem is that every time I listen to a new podcast, it always has a commercial for another one that also sounds awesome…!)
-StudyFinds

DID YOU KNOW?
Ghosting your friends is worse for your mental health than ghosting a romantic partner. That’s the conclusion of a new study into the relationship-ending habit, which finds that ghosting a romantic partner and ghosting a friend are in fact two rather different things, as far as your brain is concerned. The University of Vienna research determined that “People who…ghosted friends…were more likely to report increased depressive tendencies four months later” than those who ghost romantic partners.
-IFLScience

BS CHRONOMETER 05.04.23

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Intergalactic Star Wars Day”, an unofficial holiday celebrating the Star Wars media franchise. Why today? Because of the painful pun: “May the 4th be with you” (ouch!). Even though the holiday was not created by Lucasfilm, it has been embraced by the company, and parent company Disney, as an annual celebration of Star Wars. (***See “Signs You’re a Star Wars Fanatic”, below***)
• “International Firefighters’ Day”, to recognize the efforts of those brave hearts who risk their lives to keep us safe. (And the job consistently picked in polls as ‘Sexiest Profession’.) LINK: http://www.firefightersday.org
• “Petite & Proud Day”, for all people under 5’4″ who are tired of derogatory comments about their size. It’s all about celebrating your lack of height and the advantages it brings. Famous names 5’4″ and under include: Amy Poehler, Eva Longoria, Natalie Portman, Michael J Fox, Reese Witherspoon, Dolly Parton and Bruno Mars. (And, we suspect, Danny DeVito…)
• “Relationship Renewal Day”, a day to forget the old problems and celebrate your relationship making it through yet another year. Couples are encouraged to congratulate one another … and each other.
• “Respect For Chickens Day”, promoting compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl. Advocacy group United Poultry Concerns asks us to celebrate the beauty and dignity of chickens and protest the bleakness of their lives in farming operations. LINK: http://www.upc-online.org
• “National Orange Juice Day”, When someone mentions Vitamin C, you probably picture a glass of orange juice. OJ has more nutrients than virtually any other fruit juice. If you want maximum goodness, drink it with the pulp in. (If you don’t, have a screwdriver!)
• “Anti-Bullying Day”, as declared by the UN, when people wear a pink shirt to symbolize a stand against bullying. It originated in Canada, and is now celebrated on various dates around the world.
• “World Password Day”, an annual reminder to promote better password habits and digital security. A few things to consider today:
☞ Change an old password to a long, strong one
☞ Turn on 2-factor authentication for your important accounts
☞ Password protect your wireless router
☞ Don’t store passwords on your computer or phone (Whoops…)
☞ Log off when you’re done with a program or password-protected site

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Cinco de Mayo
[Fri] No Pants Day
[Sat] International No Diet Day
[Sun] Laughter Day
This Week is…Go Diaper Free Week
This Month is…Food Allergy Awareness Month

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1947 [76] Richard Jenkins, DeKalb IL, movie actor (“The Shape of Water”, “The Visitor”)

1951 [72] Mick Mars (Robert Deal), Terre Haute IN, rock guitarist (now ex-Mötley Crüe-‘Home Sweet Home’, ‘Dr. Feelgood’)

1959 [64] Randy Travis (Traywick), Marshville NC, country singer (‘Diggin’ Up Bones’, ‘Forever & Ever Amen’)

1970 [53] Will Arnett, Toronto ON, TV actor (“Arrested Development” 2003-06, 2013)/movie actor (“Hot Rod”)/voice actor (“The Lego Movie”, “Despicable Me”, “BoJack Horseman”) COMING UP… “Next Goal Wins”, 2023

1972 [51] Mike Dirnt (Pritchard), Rodeo CA, rock bassist (Green Day-‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’, ‘Good Riddance [Time of Your Life]’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2015

1978 [45] Erin Andrews, Lewiston ME, TV host (Fox NFL sideline reporter 2014-present), season 10 contestant on “Dancing With the Stars”, co-host 2014-19)

1979 [44] Lance Bass, Laurel MS, boy-band singer (‘NSYNC-‘Bye Bye Bye’)/actor/film-TV producer

1989 [34] Rory McIlroy, Holywood Northern Ireland, pro golfer (US Open winner, 2011, British Open winner, 2014, 2 X PGA Championship, 2 X FedEx Cup winner)

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1927 [96] The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is founded in Hollywood (the Oscar people)

2012 [11] In its opening weekend, “The Avengers” earns $207 million domestically, overtaking “Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 2” for biggest film opening of all-time (currently stands at #7)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1990 [33] In an interview, David Bowie’s ex-wife, Angie (namesake of the Rolling Stones song) claims she once walked in on her ex and Stones singer Mick Jagger naked in bed

2012 [11] Adam Yauch, the gravelly-voiced rapper who helped make the Beastie Boys one of the seminal groups in hip-hop, dies of cancer at age 47

2020 [03] Canadian singer Grimes has a baby boy with entrepreneur Elon Musk, which they bless with the name “X Æ A-12” (pronounced ‘Ex Ash A Twelve’ or ‘Ex Ay Eye’)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1968 [55] The first McDonald’s ‘Big Mac’ is served (2 all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun) in Uniontown, PA. Price: 45 cents

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ A typical pair of tennis shoes will last 500 miles (805km) of walking.
✓ The fastest gust of wind (non-tornado) ever recorded on Earth was 253mph (407km/h).
✓ A blind chameleon can still adjust to the colors of its environment.
✓ Twins are more common now than ever before.
✓ A well-thrown curveball can dive as much as 17 inches (43cm) as it approaches the batter.
✓ In order to overcome gravity and hurl us all into space, Earth would have to spin 800 times faster.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, BestLife

Best of BS . . .
It’s “Intergalactic Star Wars Day”, so here are the . . .
BS SIGNS YOU’RE A STAR WARS FANATIC:
• You have the original version of “Star Wars” on VHS. And laser disk. And DVD. And Blu Ray.
• You knew about the existence of the “Holiday Special” before the internet was invented.
• Your favorite episode of “Friends” is ‘The One With the Princess Leia Fantasy’.
• You try to use the Force on automatic paper towel dispensers.
• You think “The Phantom Menace” is a cinematic Tour de Force.
• You enjoyed “The Big Bang Theory” way more than the casual viewer.
• You still have your Star Wars bed sheets and pillows. On your bed.
• Think it’s funny to speak like Yoda, you do.
• Six Words: Your wedding song: ‘Imperial Death March’.
-First published in BS in 2017

TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ May is National Burger Month. (David Hasselhoff will celebrate the day by enjoying one at his favorite place: The Floor!)
➠ Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly dating a 28-year-old TV Host. (So apparently, he’s developed a thing for older women?)
➠ Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” opens this weekend. (This time, the Guardians battle their toughest foe yet: Growing indifference to superhero movies.)
➠ Tomorrow is Cinco De Mayo. (But I’m reluctant to celebrate anything to do with Mexico after what happened the last time I ate at Chipotle!)
➠ A survey found that women desire sex the most at 11:21 P.M. (There’s just something about Seth Meyers…)

BS WEB GOODIE:
Hey – whatever works:   https://tinyurl.com/ykjwk73k

BS RANDOM JOKE:
My co-worker said she’s never seen the movie I was quoting because it came out before she was born — and I’m not sure I can work in these conditions.

BS PHONE STARTER:
What fictional character did you kinda, sorta have a crush on?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  27% of dog owners say they do THIS on a daily basis. What is it?
Answer:  Vacuum up hair

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory.