Tuesday, May 11, 2021 — Edition: #6984
Good Morning, Sheetheads!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Seth Rogen says he has “no plans” to work again with James Franco following sexual assault allegations against him. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Rogen addressed the charges against his friend and former collaborator. Quote: “What I can say is that I despise abuse and harassment and I would never cover or conceal the actions of someone doing it.” While he has no plans to work with Franco, when asked about their friendship, he said the allegations have “changed many things in our relationship and our dynamic.” Franco, who was accused of sexual harassment in 2014 and 2018, has denied the allegations.
-ETCanada
★ Sarah Ferguson is showing her support for Meghan Markle, after she was criticized upon announcing the release of her first children’s book, “The Bench”. The Duchess of York, who was previously married to Prince Harry’s uncle Prince Andrew, and knows all too well about backlash, told the Daily Mail: “To sit down and work hard to write a book, in any genre, should be supported and respected.” Fergie, who has written more than 70 books herself, added, “To encourage literacy in general not just children’s books, is a love of mine and to encourage more women to delve into their creative selves and get a book out is very well done.”
-MSN
★ Tom Arnold is back in the headlines because of a new docuseries about his sister, Lori Arnold. The two were abandoned as toddlers by their mother, Linda. And according to Lori, their mom was a “wild child” who did whatever she wanted. Tom says that there “weren’t any rules” when living with their mother, who they moved back in with as teens. All of this plays into “Queen of Meth”, which is currently streaming on Discovery+ in three parts that detail their early family life and Lori becoming one of the “most prolific meth dealers” in the midwestern U.S., grossing over $200k a week. The FBI caught up with her in 1989 and seized $10 million worth of assets. She eventually served time in prison for drug trafficking and money laundering.
-PopCulture
★ Scarlett Johansson says it’s time for Hollywood to distance itself from the organization behind the Golden Globes. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has been under fire for months for its lack of diversity, admitting in February it has no black members. Johansson, the star of Marvel’s upcoming “Black Widow,” slammed the association as “an organization that was legitimized by the likes of Harvey Weinstein to amass momentum for Academy recognition.”
-PageSix
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Heidi Klum, Mike Epps, Madness
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Joel McHale, Thalía
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Michelle Obama
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Amy Adams, Stacey Abrams, Ashe
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Martin Freeman, Rag’n’Bone Man
• “Conan” (TBS): Michele Buteau
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Leslie Bibb, Leah McSweeney
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Stacey Abrams
• “The Talk” (CBS): Andrew McCarthy, Jerry O’Connell.
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Josh Duhamel, Dr. Jennifer Ashton
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Pink, Imagine Dragons
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Sara Gore, Mariska Hargitay, Aaron Tveit, Maya Rudolph
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Courteney Cox, Amber Stevens West, Devon Franklin, Alexis Nikole
• “Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer” (PBS): The role vaccinations play in preventing the spread of illness; the history of vaccines and how new ones are developed.
• “Little People, Big World” (TLC): Season 22 premiere
• “America’s Book of Secrets” (HISTORY): On Dec. 20, 2019, Space Force was established, but in 2002, a man claimed he had discovered evidence that a secret military space program already existed, after hacking top-secret Pentagon and NASA computers.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Ariana Grande – has gotten the wax figure treatment, again. Her new statue, depicting her decked out in a bedazzled black lace two-piece set, appeared at Madame Tussauds Hollywood last week, but it will actually reside across the street at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel for a special fan experience. Grande also appears at the Madame Tussauds London museum.
• J Balvin – His participation in Saturday’s Global Citizen’s Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World was personal. He battled COVID-19 last summer, and before his performance, he said: “It almost killed me. We don’t want people to feel what I felt.”
• Nirvana – Six locks of late frontman Kurt Cobain’s hair are available via auction. Other, less weird items up for grabs in Iconic Auctions’ “The Amazing Music Auction (Vol. I)” include signed memorabilia from the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and other rockers and rappers, plus some of Cobain’s personal amps and a Stratocaster signed by all 3 Nirvana members. Bidding closes on May 15.
• Elton John – says he’ll “throw a party” when he never has to play ‘Crocodile Rock’ again. He’s not a fan of his 1972 hit and has vowed never to perform it once his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour comes to an end. Quote: “It was written as a kind of joke…and it became a big hit and people love to sing along with it. So, who am I to say, ‘I am not going to play it?’”
• Aaron Neville — is retiring from the road. In a Twitter post, he said that at 80, “The time has come for me to stop ripping and running on the road. I waited for someone to invent a way to beam me from show to show but no such luck…” He plans to keep making music and doesn’t rule out some concert appearances.
• UB40 — Drummer Jimmy Brown claims British security service MI5 bugged their phones and traced their every move in the 1980s. Brown, who is outspoken about social and political matters, said: “We thought, “‘Haven’t they got criminals to catch?’ We were just a bunch of potheads, smoking weed and playing music, talking about solving the world’s problems.”
• Kenny Chesney – has released a deluxe version of his “Here and Now” album. It contains 4 new songs: ‘Wind On’, ‘Fields of Glory’, ‘My Anthem’ and ‘Streets’.
• Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins – celebrated Mother’s Day by announcing that they are expecting, again. They are already parents to 3 daughters, ages 1 to 5, and in their Instagram posts, they noted that another girl is on the way.
• Luke Bryan – is booked to play Milwaukee’s epic Summerfest, scheduled for 3 weekends in September. Also on the bill: Chris Stapleton, the Zac Brown Band, Brett Eldredge, Gabby Barrett, Miley Cyrus, Chance the Rapper, the Jonas Brothers, ZZ Top, Joan Jett and many more.
SHOOTING THE BULL
GETTING MORE LIKES:
As many of us return to the workplace after over a year of working remotely, Harvard researchers say they know the secret to getting off on the right foot with your colleagues. They say the secret to coming across as more likeable is to do this: Follow the “3-question rule”. How does that work? (Whoops! There’s your first question!) According to their study, asking a question – then asking two follow-up questions about your co-worker’s response – can make you seem more genuine and likeable as a conversationalist. The 3-question rule works because it makes the other person feel heard, respected and appreciative of your presence. They say the key is to ask a meaningful question first, then make sure the follow-up questions indicate that you’ve been listening closely to the first answer. In short, the key to being more well-liked is asking three questions each time you have a conversation.
(Also, bring donuts!)
(***Caution***) It’s also a good idea to avoid asking any questions beginning with the words “Why the hell did you…!)
(…and the first question should never be “Huh”?)
-Ladders
MAN’S BEST FRIEND’S FRIENDS:
Many dog owners say that their pet is treated just like a member of the family. But according to a new survey, Fido might actually have an edge over the others in the household when it comes to one thing: His social life. Among 2,000 dog owners, 66% said they believe their pet has a better social life than they do. While 85% are concerned that their dog hasn’t been getting enough socialization with other pups during quarantine, nearly 6 in 10 pooch parents said their dogs have still been able to see their “friends” more often than they have since the start of the pandemic. The average doggo has been able to make 3 new pup pals during lockdown. One more thing: 57% said their friends and family seem more excited to see their dog than they do to see them.
(Well, when friends arrive, who is it that runs to the door, and kisses them, while wagging their tail…you or the dog?)
(Sure, my dog has a better social life than I do. If you call “sniffing the butt of every one you meet on the street” having a good social life!)
(I’ve got to admit: My dog has a pretty awesome social life, for someone who drinks toilet water…)
-StudyFinds
SOME OF THEIR BEESWAX:
Dutch researchers have trained bees to detect COVID-19. The insects, which have an unusually keen sense of smell, have proven to be able to identify samples infected with the coronavirus, which could eventually cut waiting times for test results to just seconds. To train the bees, scientists at Wageningen University in the Netherlands gave them sugary water as a reward after showing them samples infected with COVID-19. They would get no reward after being shown a non-infected sample. Once accustomed to the system, the bees would spontaneously extend their tongues to receive the reward when presented with an infected sample. Currently, it can take hours or days to get a COVID-19 test result, but the response from the bees is immediate. The method is also cheap, potentially making it useful for countries where tests are scarce.
(So cheap, in fact, you could call it a freebee!)
(Am I the only one who had no idea before this that bees have tongues?)
-Reuters
TOP NAMES OF 2020:
In the US Social Security Administration’s annual list of ‘top baby names’, the top 3 most popular female and male names remained the same for a second year in a row in 2020. Here are some results:
Most popular girl names in 2020: Most popular boy names in 2020:
1. Olivia 1. Liam
2. Emma 2. Noah
3. Ava 3. Oliver
4. Charlotte 4. Elijah
5. Sophia 5. William
6. Amelia 6. James
7. Isabella 7. Benjamin
8. Mia 8. Lucas
9. Evelyn 9. Henry (top 10 for the first time in over 100 years)
10. Harper 10. Alexander
Fastest rising girl names: Fastest rising boy names:
1. Avayah 1. Zyair
2. Denisse 2. Jaxtyn
3. Jianna 3. Jakobe
4. Capri 4. Kylo
5. Rosalia 5. Aziel
-CNN
DID YOU KNOW?
Though COVID-19 resulted in a drastic downturn in global carbon dioxide emissions, with an economic rebound ahead in 2021, the recovery is expected to include a sharp rise in coal generation and mark one of the highest emissions spikes on record. A report by the International Energy Agency predicts emissions to surge by 5%, reversing 80% of the decline from 2020. The IEA is warning that “the economic recovery from the Covid crisis is currently anything but sustainable for our climate”, and “unless governments…move rapidly to start cutting emissions, we are likely to face an even worse situation in 2022.”
-TheWeatherNetwork
BS CHRONOMETER 05.11.21
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1941 [80] Eric Burdon, Walker-on-Tyne England, rock singer (Animals-‘House of the Rising Sun’, War-‘Spill the Wine’)
1952 [69] Frances Fisher, Hampshire England, movie actress (“Titanic”, “Unforgiven”) COMING UP…”Grace and Grit”, 2021
1959 [62] Martha Quinn, Albany New York, actress/TV personality (an original MTV VJ when the station signed on in 1981)
1982 [39] Jonathan Jackson, Orlando FL, TV actor (‘Avery Barkley’ on “Nashville” 2012-18, ‘Lucky Spencer’ on “General Hospital” 1993-2015)
1988 [33] Blac Chyna (Angela Renee White), Washington, DC, model, reality star (“Rob & Chyna” 2016, “The Real Blac Chyna” since 2019)
1989 [32] Cam Newton, Atlanta GA, NFL quarterback (New England Patriots since 2020, Carolina Panthers 2011-19)/3-time Pro Bowl/NFL MVP 2015
1997 [24] Lana Condor, Can Tho Vietnam, movie actress (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”, “X-Men: Apocalypse”) COMING UP…“Girls Night”
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Eat What You Want Day”, a day to ignore all the warnings, avoid worrying and counting calories, and fight our obsession with being thin. If healthfulness was not a concern, what would you really, really want to eat? (We’re going with bacon-stuffed bacon!)
• “Twilight Zone Day”, that mysterious 24 hours that should be highlighted with eerie background music and unexplainable occurrences. Why today? It’s not the anniversary of the first episode of the show. It isn’t the anniversary of the birth or death of its creator, Rod Serling. It’s just…totally…unexplainable….
• “Foam Rolling Day”, It’s sometimes called the poor man’s massage. A once-mysterious technique used only by professional athletes, coaches, and therapists, it is now a familiar everyday practice for people at all levels of fitness. (It’s just how people roll these days…)
• “Hostess Cupcake Day” a day to celebrate and enjoy one of America’s most beloved snack cakes.
• “World Ego Awareness Day”, to raise social awareness about egotism. The day supports those affected by egotism, both the abused and perpetrators, and aims to prevent people from experiencing this invisible form of abuse. (So, today, leggo your ego…)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] International Nurses Day
[Wed] Limerick Day
[Thurs] Apple Pie Day
[Thurs] Frog Jumping Day
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1969 [52] The British comedy troupe “Monty Python” forms, made up of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin
2000 [21] George Clooney makes a surprise return appearance on “ER” as ‘Dr Doug Ross’ (he’d left the show in 1998 after 5 seasons to pursue a movie career)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1981 [40] Legendary reggae musician Bob Marley dies of brain cancer in Miami FL at age 36 (today is “Bob Marley Day” in Jamaica)
2011 [10] One of the rarest rock T-shirts in the world, a 1979 Led Zeppelin tee, sells on eBay for $10,000, the largest sum ever paid for a vintage tee
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1812 [209] ‘The Waltz’ is introduced to English ballrooms. Some observers consider it disgusting and immoral
2000 [21] The population of India officially crosses the 1 billion mark, the second country to do so, following China
TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
2003 [18] Gary Duschl of Virginia, who began a chain of gum wrappers as an 11-year-old in Canada in 1965, passes the 1 million mark (his chain of wrappers stretches over 8 miles and weighs 600 lbs)
2015 [06] Two art works set world records at a Christie’s auction in NYC, as Pablo Picasso’s painting “Women of Algiers Version O” sells for $179.3 million and Alberto Giacometti’s sculpture “Pointing Man” sells for $141.3 million
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Before 1850, most golf balls were stuffed with feathers.
✓ When Disneyland opened in July 1955, the 110 °F (43.3° C) temps melted the asphalt on Main St.
✓ Hippos must exhale in order to sink to the river’s floor.
✓ You can tell a pig is sick when it stops curling its tail.
✓ Iran arrested 14 squirrels for spying in 2007.
✓ In 1908, the New York Times advised readers to wash their hair “about every 6 weeks.”
-BathroomReadersInstitute
Best of BS . . .
BS FAKE PARENTING FACTS:
• The “terrible twos” stop abruptly when the child turns 3.
• You’ll thoroughly enjoy watching the same movie over and over.
• You’ll enjoy a deep and restorative sleep every night.
• Once your child is taller than you, you can no longer tell them what to do.
• They make a manual for it.
• Having a child is the only way to acquire a dad-bod.
• It’s never a competition with other parents.
• A “timeout” is given so the child can take a break from a bad situation and experience some peace and quiet.
• Eventually, your kids will be reassured by their therapist that you did a great job raising them.
• It gets easier as they get older.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ A study claims that 1 in 9 men secretly wear makeup. (And if Tom Brady isn’t one of them, I’ll eat my mascara!)
➠ The average Facebook user can only count on three or four “friends” to help them in a time of crisis, according to a study. (Not me. Yesterday, I posted that I had a headache, 86 people typed “prayers” under my status!)
➠ A study shows smoking weed doesn’t make teenagers dumber. (No stoned teenagers could be reached for comment, because they were busy ranting about how “Pineapple Express” is the single greatest work in cinematic history…)
➠ A report claims that male jurors are more likely to find overweight women guilty. (Unless that juror is Sir Mix-A-Lot!)
➠ Nearly 40% of men say they have masturbated at work to “relieve stress” (I was going to say, “Where do these guys get off?” but I just answered my own question…)
BS WEB GOODIE:
And to all a good night: https://tinyurl.com/tn9pehps
BS PHONE STARTER:
Who was your childhood celebrity crush, and who is it now?
BS RANDOM JOKE:
My New Year’s resolution is to stop procrastinating.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 44% of people have one of THESE in the car, even though it no longer works. What is it?
Answer: An air freshener
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.
