Wednesday, May 21, 2025 — Edition: #7956
You Really Know Your Sheet!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
[***UPDATE***] ★ George Wendt, best known for playing ‘Norm Peterson’ on the long-running sitcom “Cheers”, has died at 76. Beginning in 1982, his character, Norm Peterson, was a frequent customer at the bar, and one of only 3 characters to appear in every episode. In 2021, Wendt told Chicago magazine: “My friend Pat Finn always reminds me what the audition was for Cheers: I needed to look like a guy who wanted to have another beer.” He was also known for his cameos as a Chicago Bears superfan on “Saturday Night Live”.
-People
★ The “Dora the Explorer” franchise is expanding with a new live-action movie, and now we know its release date. “Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado” is a new feature-length live-action movie that will premiere July 2 — but unlike 2019’s “Dora and the Lost City of Gold,” this one is going directly to Paramount+ — and Nickelodeon. The new movie is part of Nickelodeon’s 25th anniversary celebration of the Dora the Explorer franchise, which also includes an hourlong special and a new season of the CG-animated preschool series “Dora”, also premiering on July 2.
-TheWrap
★ Who needs another Oscar nomination when you can get an honorary Palme d’Or? Screen legend Denzel Washington received the surprise career achievement badge from Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Frémaux for his contributions to cinema, currently showcased by his starring role in Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest.” Honorary awards are not unheard of — Robert De Niro received an expected one at the top of this year’s festival, and Frémaux similarly bestowed one upon Tom Cruise in 2022, the last time the distinction was given under wraps.
-TheWrap
★ The glory days of music videos in the 1990s – when an MTV hot could change a band’s career – will be the subject of a new scripted drama series. “Glitter Fades” explores the “raw glamour, identity crises, and chaotic reinvention behind the scenes of the 1990s music video boom”. It is set in the “fast-paced, ego-fueled world where some of the most iconic images of pop culture were made – and where many identities were broken and reborn”. Jonas Akerlund, who worked on videos for Britney Spears and Sheryl Crow, is to direct the pilot and exec produce.
-Deadline
★ The CW has renewed “Scrabble” for a 30-episode second season — and has recruited Craig Ferguson to take over as host. The Former “Late Late Show” host said: “I’m cock-a-hoop to be hosting Scrabble. I’ve wanted to do this show ever since I found out the letters of my name can be used to spell Cougar Fingers.” Ferguson is a New York Times bestselling author who has recorded numerous standup specials for Netflix, Epix, Comedy Central and Amazon. “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” ran on CBS for 10 years and remains a cult favorite on YouTube.
-Deadline
★ The next era of “Sesame Street” streaming rights are here, with the beloved kids’ series heading to PBS Kids and Netflix. New episodes of “Sesame Street”, as well as library episodes, will be available to watch on Netflix worldwide, and new episodes will release the same day on both PBS stations and PBS Kids. As part of the deal, Netflix will also be able to develop video games for both “Sesame Street” and “Sesame Street Mecha Builders.”
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Owen Wilson, Tramell Tillman, Laufey
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Ana de Armas, Pom Klementieff, Jin
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Natalie Portman, Dawn Staley, Wednesday, Buddy Guy
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Tina Fey, Gabriel Luna, Graydon Carter (R)
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Lindsay Hubbard, Kyle Cooke
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Simon Pegg, host Ronny Chieng
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Jessica Biel
• “Today” (NBC): Howie Mandel, Gerard Butler, Nico Parker, Mason Thames
• “GMA3” (ABC): Maia Kealoha, Kristin Davis
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Kristin Davis, Ryan Phillippe
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Keith Urban, Teddy Swims, Jessica Seinfeld, Rosé, Chris Martin, Julia Michaels, Sebastian Yatra
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): It’s Drew’s big 50th birthday show! (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Tabitha Brown
• “Survivor” (CBS): Season 48 finale
• “Chicago Med/Fire/P.D.” (NBC): Season finales
• “MasterChef” (FOX): Season 24 premiere
• “Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service” (FOX): Series premiere. Ramsay takes on a new role as an undercover culinary inspector, using surveillance tech and insider information to identify and address problems in struggling restaurants.
• “NHL Playoffs” (SN, CBC, ESPN): Conference final game #1: Edmonton @ Dallas
• “NBA Playoffs” (TNT, TSN): Conference final game #1: Indiana @ NY Knicks
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Teddy Swims – ‘Lose Control’ has now amassed a record-tying 91 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. That matches the run of Glass Animals’ ‘Heat Waves’ in 2021-22. Swims’ soulful smash has also spent a record 62 weeks in the Hot 100’s top 10.
• Billie Eilish – Amid recent buzz surrounding the fact that her song ‘Birds of a Feather’ becoming the most streamed song on Spotify by a female in the last decade, surpassing 2.5 billion streams and making it the fastest song in history to achieve that, her “Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour” has been extended with 23 more dates across Japan and North America. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yc5wyfcs
• Guns N’ Roses – has released a video which features an entire minute’s footage of frontman Axl Rose falling over onstage. It compiles 14 different instances of him taking a tumble – although one seems to be deliberate — alongside one shot showing him tripping, but cleverly regaining his balance. No word on why the group – or Rose – approved release of the vid. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/36mu5xks
• The Black Keys – Aug. 8, they’ll release the new album “No Rain, No Flowers”. It follows a tumultuous 2024 that saw them cancel a planned arena tour and fire their management team, amid other tribulations. Friday, they released the latest preview song from the new record, its title cut. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4c9sm96v
• Whitney Houston – To celebrate the 40th anniversary of her career, her estate has announced “The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration”. The North American fall tour will feature “the original master and remastered recordings of Whitney’s vocals set to new arrangements”, according to a press release, plus “never-before-seen video footage and interviews (and) historic performances.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mvzfjprh
• Jelly Roll — brought out Detroit rapper Eminem during his performance in — where else? — Detroit. At one point in the show at Ford Field, Jelly began performing Em’s classic ‘Lose Yourself’, and the rapper joined him onstage for the final verse. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5n98nb84
• Morgan Wallen – His current smash ‘Superman’, which is dedicated to his 4-year-old son, Indigo, sold 4,000 downloads in its launch week, blasting in at #1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart. It also debuted at #5 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
• Keith Urban – should stay in his lane, said his wife, actress Nicole Kidman. Asked if she’d like to do a TV series with her country superstar husband by her side, she said: “No. We’re together in life, so we don’t need to do our show together. Our life is a show.” On the other hand, she’s been known to hop onstage and sing with him, as she did for his 57th birthday last fall.
SHOOTING THE BULL
DATING APPS ARE OUT:
While they used to be on the tips of every single’s fingers (and many people that AREN’T single…), it would seem that dating apps are starting to lose their charm — and their users. Stats show that in the UK alone, the biggest platforms dropped over a million users last year. Why? People are simply over it. Swipe fatigue is real, and many are tired of ghosting, flaky chats, and connections that fizzle out faster than you can say “left swipe.” What started as an exciting way to meet someone, according to those who know, has morphed into a mindless loop of boredom, disappointment, and algorithmic frustration. Many apps seem more focused on keeping people on the app than in helping create an actual relationship. Unlike the OG dating sites — like OkCupid, with its charmingly nerdy quizzes – people say that today’s apps are like digital slot machines, running on secretive AI and engagement metrics. And as trust erodes, people are demanding more transparency, more control, and more meaning.
(I know! My soulmate’s probably stuck in an algorithm somewhere…!)
(But on the plus side, without dating apps, think about all the nice people that you would never have been ghosted by!)
-StudyFinds
APPLICATION FALSIFICATION:
Go ahead…admit it: When it comes to filling out a job application, at some point, you’ve either s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d the truth a bit – or outright lied. If so, you’ve got that in common with 25% of job applicants, according to a new survey. Career services platform career.io found that nearly half of Gen Z admitted to falsifying some part of their job applications in an effort at getting hired. That was followed by 39% of millennials, 20.4% of Gen Xers, and 9.4% of baby boomers. 23% of Gen Z said they lied in areas such as “work experience”, 28% lied about job responsibilities, and 18% were dishonest about their job title. According to Certified Professional Career Coach Amanda Augustine, the main reason that people include falsehoods on their applications is that young job seekers with limited experience are desperate to make a good first impression and get their foot in the door.
(Not only that, but if everyone else is lying, you’re at a competitive disadvantage if you don’t!)
(I knew they were onto me when my resume said I’m “fluent in Excel”, but I opened it once and screamed!)
-Fox
ROYAL FLUSH:
A man who tried to sell a $6.4 million gold toilet has managed to dodge jail time. A British judge ruled that Frederick Doe was roped into participating in one of the most bizarre art heists in recent memory. In 2019, Doe, aka Frederick Sines, helped thieves try to sell the 18-carat fully-functional golden toilet from the historic Blenheim Palace—Winston Churchill’s birthplace. The toilet was part of a cheeky art installation titled “America” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan (He’s the same guy who taped a banana to a wall and sold it for millions). Judge Ian Pringle told Doe he’d been “foolish” and taken advantage of by the real masterminds, who were caught on CCTV making their golden getaway. The lavish loo, weighing over 200 pounds, was previously displayed at New York’s Guggenheim Museum, which once offered it to President Trump after he asked to borrow a Van Gogh. The golden toilet has never been recovered.
(And at 200 pounds, neither have the crooks who lifted it!)
(This gives new meaning to the phrase “sitting on a gold mine”!)
-CP
WHAT’S WORDS WORTH:
English words that you never thought existed…
➢ Bumfuzzle – To confuse or fluster.
➢ Callipygian – Having well-shaped buttocks.
➢ Collywobbles – A feeling of anxiety or an upset stomach.
➢ Defenestration – The act of throwing someone out of a window.
➢ Doodle Sack – An old word for a bagpipe.
➢ Flibbertigibbet – A frivolous, flighty, or excessively talkative person.
➢ Gardyloo – A warning shouted before throwing waste from above (historical).
➢ Impignorate – To pawn or mortgage something.
➢ Jiggery-pokery – Deceitful or dishonest behavior.
➢ Limerence – The state of being infatuated with another person.
➢ Mumpsimus – A stubborn person who keeps making a known mistake.
➢ Nudiustertian – Relating to the day before yesterday.
➢ Oxter – An armpit (chiefly Scottish/Irish English).
➢ Pandiculation – The act of stretching and yawning.
➢ Scurryfunge – A hasty tidying of the house before company arrives.
➢ Snollygoster – A shrewd, unprincipled person (especially in politics).
➢ Tittynope – A small quantity of something left over (like a few grains of rice).
➢ Trumpery – Having woolly or showy appeal but of little value.
➢ Ultracrepidarian – Someone who gives opinions beyond their knowledge.
➢ Xertz – To gulp down quickly and greedily.
➢ Zugzwang – A situation in chess where every possible move is a bad one.
(Now, use them all in a sentence…ONE sentence!)
-EnglishGrammar
DID YOU KNOW?
When you’re on vacation, are you also enjoying a getaway from your phone? Not likely, according to a study commissioned by global tech services company Asurion. Their research showed that the average adult still checks his or her phone once every 12 minutes while vacationing. In fact, smartphone addiction is so widespread, 53% of Americans admit they’ve never unplugged while on vacation. (I know. My kids don’t even unplug their charger while on vacation!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 05.21.25
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “World Day for Cultural Diversity”, a UN-sanctioned event to help communities understand the value of cultural diversity, and learn how to live together in harmony. (We’re gonna need more than one day for that…)
• “Wait Staff Day”, set aside for restaurant managers and patrons to show appreciation for the efforts of servers. A few questions to consider …
– What percentage is the proper tip these days?
– Are there occasions when you don’t tip?
– Should restaurant owners get away with paying minimum wage and expecting customers to supplement servers’ incomes?
– What other occupations deserve tips?
• “Rapture Party Day”, an excuse for an impromptu bash on the anniversary of late radio evangelist Harold Camping’s prediction that the world would end on May 21, 2011. (It didn’t.)
• “Red Cross Founder’s Day”. The American Red Cross was founded on this day in 1881 by Clara Barton, the first president of the organization. The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that does things like…
– Providing community services to help the needy
– Providing communications services and comfort for military members and their families
– Collecting, processing, and distributing blood and blood products
– Coordinating educational programs on preparedness, health, and safety
– Providing international relief and development programs
• “International Tea Day”. Did you know that more people drink tea than any other beverage besides water? And why not? Tea has a number of health benefits: It is anti-inflammatory, contains antioxidants, and assists with weight loss. Tea also holds cultural significance in many parts of the world.
• “Memo Day”, a day for office workers who are tired of receiving memos from bosses to post their own. The ultimate act is to post a memo complaining about … too many memos. (Then clean out your desk and go home…)
• “I Need a Patch For That Day”. The word “patch” has several definitions…
– A piece of material used to mend a torn or worn spot in a piece of fabric.
– A cloth badge sewn onto clothing, like boy scout or girl scout patches.
– A pad worn over the eye to protect it.
– A medicated pad worn on the skin to deliver a drug slowly over time, such as nicotine or birth control patches.
– A piece of code added to a program to correct a security vulnerability or error, or to make the program work better.
– A small area of ground, like a garden patch.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] World Goth Day
[Thurs] Vanilla Pudding Day
[Fri] Road Trip Day
[Sat] Escargot Day
This Week is…Neuroscience Nurses Week
This Month is…Healthy Vision Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1941 [84] Ronald (“Mr. Biggs”) Isley, Cincinnati OH, pop singer (The Isley Brothers-‘Twist & Shout’, ‘This Old Heart of Mine’)
1948 [77] (Gerard) “Leo” Sayer, Sussex England, pop singer (‘You Make Me Feel Like Dancing’, ‘When I Need You’)/songwriter (Cliff Richard, Roger Daltrey, Three Dog Night)
1951 [74] Al Franken, New York NY, comedian (“Saturday Night Live” writer-performer 1975-80, 1985-95)/politician (US Senator [Democrat, Minnesota] 2009-18)/radio host (“The Al Franken Show”)
1952 [73] “Mr. T” (Laurence Tureaud), Chicago IL, TV actor (“The A-Team” 1983-87)/movie actor (“Rocky III”)
1955 [70] Stan Lynch, Cincinnati OH, rock drummer (ex-Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers-‘You Got Lucky’, ‘Mary Jane’s Last Dance’), toured with the Eagles
1957 [68] (Edward) “Judge” Reinhold, movie actor, Wilmington DE (“Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, “Beverly Hills Cop” movies, “The Santa Clause” movies)
1959 [66] Nick Cassavetes, New York NY, movie director (“The Notebook”)/movie actor (“Face/Off”, “Blow”)
1966 [59] Lisa Edelstein, TV actress, Boston MA (‘Dr. Lisa Cuddy’ on “House” 2004-11, “The Good Doctor” 2018-19)/movie actress (“Daddy Day Care”)
1980 [45] Gotye (Wouter De Backer), Bruges Belgium (raised Melbourne Australia), pop singer-songwriter (f/Kimbra-‘Somebody That I Used to Know’)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1980 [45] “Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back”, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Billy Dee Williams, opens in theaters.
1999 [26] “All My Children” star Susan Lucci finally wins a Daytime Emmy after being nominated 19 times, the most unsuccessful nominations in television history.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2003 [22] Ruben Studdard beats Clay Aiken to win the second “American Idol” competition.
2016 [09] Following the release of his album “Views”, Drake places a record 20 songs on the Hot 100, besting Justin Bieber’s mark of 17 set in 2015. (Current record: Morgan Wallen’s 36, following the March 2023 release of “One Thing at a Time”)
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2014 [11] The “National September 11 Museum” in NYC opens to the public.
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2005 [20] The ‘Tallest Roller Coaster in the World’, Kingda Ka, opens at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ (456 feet or 139 meters, still a record, although the coaster was closed in 2024).
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ People born in May have the lowest risk of illness and disease, while those born in October have the highest, according to a study.
✓ An average adult’s stomach can hold about 2 quarts (1.9 liters) of food.
✓ When double rainbows occur, the colors of the second arc are always reversed.
✓ Your dog can get a sense of when you’re supposed to be home from work based on how much of your scent is left in the house.
✓ If you drilled a tunnel straight through Earth and jumped in, it would take you about 42 minutes to get from one side to the other.
✓ A bear named Wojtek was enlisted in the Polish army — and made it to the rank of Corporal. He also smoked, drank and carried weapons to the front during battles.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, UberFacts
Best of BS . . .
THE LAWS OF GOLFING:
• No matter how bad your last shot was, the worst is yet to come.
• Your best round of golf will be followed almost immediately by your worst round ever.
• Brand new golf balls are water-magnetic.
• The higher a golfer’s handicap, the more qualified he deems himself as an instructor.
• Every par-3 hole in the world has a secret desire to humiliate golfers.
• Golf carts always run out of juice at the farthest point from the clubhouse.
• All 3-woods are demon-possessed.
• The person you would most hate to lose to will always be the one who beats you.
• The last 3 holes of a round will automatically adjust your score to what it really should be.
• Golf should be given up at least twice per month.
-FunnyLists, first published in BS in 2015
BS FAKE BEACH FACTS:
• The best beach bods are at the nudie beaches.
• You can make friends there by approaching random strangers and offering to rub them down with sun tan lotion. Pantsless.
• Winter is the best time to visit.
• That’s really kitty litter.
• Everyone you meet there ends up transferring to your school so you can fall in love forever.
• I own some Arizona ocean front property, in case you’re looking.
• Jellyfish go great with peanut butter.
• Walking to your car with sand in your suit feels fantastic.
• Actual sex on the beach is better than the drink of the same name.
• Socks with sandals are perfectly acceptable.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2020
BS WEB GOODIE:
Yup: https://tinyurl.com/9vr9fxvj
BS RANDOM JOKE:
This morning, Siri said: “Don’t call me Shirley.” Turns out, I accidentally left my phone in Airplane mode…
BS FAST TRIVIA:
• What color of flame is the hottest?
A: Blue (around 1,500°C (2,700°F)
• Which country is famous for its policy of neutrality?
A: Switzerland
• What is pencil lead made of? (Hint: it’s not lead)
A: Graphite
• What is a female sheep called?
A: A ewe
• What kind of dog is ‘Scooby-Doo’?
A: A Great Dane
-BuzzFeed
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
If you do THIS at work, it will likely be on a Wednesday. What is it?
Answer: Shop online
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.
