Thursday, May 2, 2024 — Edition: #7704
Good Morning, Sheetheads!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ There’s no bad blood between Melissa McCarthy and Barbra Streisand. After Babs sparked backlash with a now-deleted Instagram comment asking if McCarthy was on Ozempic, the “This Is Us” star responded on Instagram, joking: “The takeaway, Barbra Streisand knows I exist. She reached out to me and she thought I looked good”. The video showed her reading a copy of “Barbra: Celebrating an Icon”, and concluding: “I win the day.” That came hours after After McCarthy shared photos of herself and director Adam Shankman attending a gala, and Streisand commented: “Give him my regards did you take Ozempic?” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yyy2wked
-PopCulture
★ Alec Baldwin has compared his former cocaine addiction to drinking coffee, revealing he had a “white-hot problem every day for 2 years”. During an appearance on the “Our Way with Paul Anka and Skip Bronson” podcast, Baldwin said that he only discusses his cocaine addiction “when it makes sense”, and that he is now “39 years sober.” He went on to joke that he snorted a line of powder long enough to stretch from the Earth to Saturn and back again. Today, the “30 Rock” star claims not to miss drugs at all, but said: “I do miss drinking.”
-ContactMusic
★ Elisabeth Moss really laid it all on the line while filming her new Hulu show “The Veil”. While filming one action sequence, she fractured a vertebra in her back, and wound up lying for 2 hours on a roof in Istanbul. In the show, which debuted on Tuesday, Moss plays an undercover MI6 agent. In Episode 2, her character tries to fend off an attack from an assailant on a rooftop above the Grand Bazaar. Moss said: “The [scene] you see in the show is actually the second time we shot it, about 6 weeks later. The first time we shot it, I hit a wall the wrong way…and ended up lying on the roof for a couple hours.”
-PopCulture
★ “Baby Reindeer” continues its surprise meteoric ascent. The limited series, which reached 2.6 million views in its debut weekend, which was impressive, given the show’s minimal marketing push, rose to 13.3 million views in its second week, then shot up by another 49%, landing at 22 million views last week. That made it the most-watched Netflix title for the second straight week, followed by “Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver,” which was the top movie with 18.8 million views. “Anyone but You” was the #2 movie of the week, in its first 6 days of availability, following a successful run at the box office earlier this year.
-Variety
★ Chris Hemsworth says the movie “Thor: Love and Thunder” is one of his biggest career regrets. In a profile in Vanity Fair, he said that he “got caught up in the improv and the wackiness, and I became a parody of myself. I didn’t stick the landing.” For that reason, Hemsworth believes he owes the audience “another ‘Thor’ after what felt like a whiff with Thor: Love and Thunder.” The movie was criticized for its inconsistencies, but still took in over $760 at the box office.
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): John Mulaney, Gary Clark Jr., Stevie Wonder
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Kate Hudson, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): John Leguizamo, Laura Coates
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Phoebe Robinson, Dewayne Perkins, Guy Branum (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Adam Pally, Queen Cora Coleman
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Danielle Olivera, Andrea Canning
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Jeff Daniels
• “The Talk” (CBS): Carrie Preston
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Halfway to Halloween: Live’s Version!
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Jean Smart, Nicholas Galitzine, WIL
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Benny Blanco, Valerie Bertinelli
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Reba McEntire, Ray and Eilyn Jimenez
• “Ghosts” (CBS): Season 3 finale. Isaac’s wedding day jitters are exacerbated by the arrival of a surprise guest.
• “9-1-1” (ABC): Maddie and Chimney’s long-awaited wedding day arrives; when the groom mysteriously vanishes, the 118 races to ensure he doesn’t miss the most crucial day of his life.
• “Welcome to Wrexham” (FX): Season 3 premiere. Wrexham AFC play a series of summer friendlies in America, and have a less than friendly return to the English Football League.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Taylor Swift – keeps on breaking records. Her songs are now in all of the top 14 positions of the Billboard Hot 100, and with “The Tortured Poets Department” debuting at the top of the albums chart, she’s now tied with Jay-Z for the second-most #1 albums (14), behind only The Beatles (19).
(***Preview for content***) • Kendrick Lamar — has finally returned fire against Drake with a new diss track. Tuesday, he dropped ‘Euphoria’, which begins by calling Drizzy a “scam artist,” a “master manipulator”, a “bitch” and a “liar”. From there, it serves up blow after blow to Drake’s legacy. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdwxfw2s
• Rolling Stones – 76-year-old Ron Wood battled drugs and booze for years, but with the group having kicked off its “Hackney Diamonds” tour over the weekend, what does his backstage preparation consist of these days? Quote: “I like to have my green juices now and I do workouts with my trainer…I like to have my quiet time. I’m addicted to (Netflix series) Ripley.”
• The Beatles – The first official preview for the new, restored version of the “Let It Be” film has been released. The 1970 film from Michael Lindsay-Hogg chronicled the era of tumult during creation of the group’s final album “Let it Be”. It drops May 8 on Disney+. LINK: https://youtu.be/FvR2_CCoX60
• Deep Purple – has dropped a music video for ‘Portable Door’, the first single from the album “+1”, out July 19. It’s the group’s 23rd studio album, and first with new guitarist Simon McBride. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ydv9a7xn
• Shaboozey – His hit ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ has jumped to #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, dethroning Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ’Em’. It’s the first time ever that 2 Black artists have topped the chart back-to-back.
• Darius Rucker — is returning to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for his 15th annual Darius & Friends event. Set for June 3, the star-studded show will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The full lineup of artists has yet to be announced, and tickets go on sale tomorrow. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yeznx98m
• Jelly Roll – One thing he loves about his newfound success is appearing on TV. But there’s one show that’s still on his wish list – “American Horror Story”. He offered a plea to co-creator Ryan Murphy, saying: “Please call me, man. I know you don’t know me. If we could do a 30-minute Zoom and just let me hard sell you on why I should be in the next American Horror Story.”
SHOOTING THE BULL
HOUSEHOLD NAMES:
If you’ve ever found yourself calling one of your children by another’s name, this’ll be interesting to you. For starters, don’t worry about it. A psychologist says it’s perfectly normal to make this mix-up. Dr. Samantha Deffler, an associate professor of psychology at York College of Pennsylvania, says it can simply be a “cognitive glitch” that is “natural” and “very common.” She surveyed 1,700 people, and found that most respondents had experienced their name being confused by a relative, and 95% “were called the incorrect name by a family member.” So why does this happen? The Dr. says that the brain stores information similar to how a computer uses folders, so choosing the wrong name is something like opening up the wrong file within a folder. As a result, “Naming errors typically happen within a category, so the wrong name being used is in the same group.” On the other hand, “It would be weird for a mom to call her child by a name outside of that family category.” That’s also why you might slip-up and call your significant other the name of an ex. Which is never a good thing. Dr. Deffler also noted that the momentary mix-up of calling your child another child’s name isn’t usually a sign of cognitive decline or aging, but could be a result of stress, because it’s when you’re rushed or multi-tasking that you most rely on using automatic responses to come up with info such as your children’s names.
(…and if you think YOU have a tough time coming up with your kids’ names, let’s spare a thought for Nick Cannon!)
(You know what’s even worse? When you accidentally address your teenager by your dog’s name. That did NOT go over well…!)
-NYPost
PHONING IT IN:
❑ Apparently, dull devices are now cool. The Boring Phone is a new, almost featureless flip phone that is perfect for younger people who are seeking to ditch their smartphones in favor of a “dumbphone”. The new collab between Heineken beer and fashion retailer Bodega caused a storm when it was unveiled at Milan design week. The Boring Phone is part of a new dumbphone boom, a result of the growing suspicion of Gen Z towards the data- and attention-harvesting tech they have grown up with. It really started last year, thanks to some TikTokers posting under the #bringbackflipphones hashtag. The move to offlining, or digital minimalism, is also seen in Gen Z’s declining use of social media. They are the only generation whose time on social media has fallen since 2021. (A featureless flip phone? And once again, my grandmother is waaay cooler than I am!)
❑ Norway’s ban on smartphone use in schools ban is working, according to a new report. An analysis by the Norwegian Institute of Health found that middle school students have been feeling mentally healthier and performing better academically since a public health initiative banned smartphones in schools. After 3 years of the policy, girls’ GPAs increased, and visits to mental health professionals decreased by 60%. Girls from lower-income families benefited the most. Boys? While there wasn’t much effect on boys’ academic achievement, both boys and girls experienced about 45% less bullying after the cell phones were put away. (Which I suppose more than makes up for all the awesome memes these poor kids are missing…!)
-Guardian, Insider
DEPRESSION SUPPRESSION:
There are a number of things that could contribute to your risk for depression. Among them: family history and environmental stressors. But over the past few years, the effects of diet on depression have attracted considerable attention. And according to a new study reported in Psychology Today, there are 3 main ways that what you eat could affect your chances of suffering from depression. Here they are:
• Those who do not eat meat have a higher incidence or risk of anxiety and depression.
• Low-quality carbohydrates are associated with increased risk of depression.
• Consuming high-quality proteins and carbohydrates, especially at dinner, is associated with a reduced risk of depression. These could include fruits, whole grains, and red vegetables such as beets, radishes, bell peppers, carrots, red onions and tomatoes.
(You had me at “Eat meat”!)
(Now, when you say I should avoid low quality carbs, do that mean I should buy the expensive potato chips?)
-PsychologyToday
MOST-SEARCHED SUMMER TRAVEL DESTINATIONS:
Delta Air Lines has released its annual list of the most-searched summer travel destinations for 2024. Here is the top 10…
1. London, England
2. Paris, France (2024 Olympics may be a factor…or maybe not. After all, Paris is Paris!)
3. Rome, Italy
4. Athens, Greece
5. Cancun, Mexico
6. Amsterdam, Netherlands
7. Tokyo, Japan
8. Dublin, Ireland
9. Barcelona, Spain
10. Vancouver, Canada
(If expense was not a consideration, where would you go on vacation? And why am I not invited?)
-NYPost
DID YOU KNOW?
According to new research, the perfect movie length is just 92 minutes. A poll of 2,000 adults found that the average person is totally done with 2 and 3-hour blockbusters, and would much rather get in and out of the movie theater in just over an hour-and-a-half. 15% said they prefer a movie that’s 2 hours or longer. And just 2% felt that a movie should be longer than 2½ hours. (92 minutes? I’ve sat through PREVIEWS that last longer than that!)
-SWNS
BS CHRONOMETER 05.02.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Brothers and Sisters Day!”, a day to let siblings know you care. (Or maybe to add up all the times you got ratted on, had your hair pulled or your dessert stolen … and get even!)
• “Play Your Ukulele Day”, when you’re encouraged to play a ukulele, share your ukulele, and teach someone else how to play. (What’s the difference between a ukulele and a trampoline? You take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline.)
• “Life Insurance Day”, The anniversary of the day life insurance became available in the United States in 1759. (They say that life insurance is like fun: The older you get, the more it costs…)
• “Truffle Day”, celebrating the chocolate confectionery traditionally made with a chocolate ganache center coated in chocolate, icing, cocoa powder, chopped nuts or coconut.
• “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
☞ The password “Password” is NOT your friend
• “National Day of Prayer”, designated by the US Congress, asking people “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.” The modern law formalizing the annual National Day of Prayer observance was enacted in 1952, and each year, the President signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.
• “National Day of Reason”, a secular celebration for humanists, atheists, and other secularists and freethinkers, in response to the National Day of Prayer.
• “World Tuna Day”, not to encourage us to eat more tuna fish, but to bring attention to this valuable species threatened by demand for its meat, mostly in the form of canned tuna and sushi.
• “Fire Day”. What’s your celebration plan? Of course, there are many interesting things you could do, such as:
⇒ Fire up the grill.
⇒ Light a match under someone.
⇒ Sing ‘Ring of Fire’.
⇒ Install Firefox.
⇒ Watch “Chicago Fire”.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Two Different Colored Shoes Day
[Fri] No Pants Day
[Sat] Beer Pong Day
[Sun] Cinco de Mayo
This Week is…Go Diaper Free Week
This Month is…Better Sleep Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1950 [74] Lou Gramm (Louis Grammatico), Rochester NY, classic rock singer (‘Midnight Blue’, Foreigner-Cold as Ice’, ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’)/will be inducted to Rock Hall of Fame (with Foreigner) in Oct.
1952 [72] Christine Baranski, Buffalo NY, TV actress (‘Diane Lockhart’ on “The Good Wife” 2009-16)/movie actress (“Mamma Mia!”)
1955 [69] Donatella Versace, Reggio di Calabria, Italy, fashion designer-businesswoman (founder & Chief Creative Officer, Versace Group)/model/plastic surgery victim/sister of the late Gianni Versace
1972 [52] Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Hayward CA, movie actor (“Fast & Furious” films, “San Andreas”, Jumanji” films)/6’5”, 272-lb WWE wrestler (1996-2004, part-time since 2011) COMING UP… “Red One”, 2024
1975 [49] David Beckham, London England, retired soccer star (Paris Saint-Germain, LA Galaxy, Real Madrid, Manchester United)/married to Victoria (Adams) Beckham since 1999
1980 [44] Ellie Kemper, Kansas City MO, TV actress (‘Kimmy’ in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” 2015-19, “The Office” 2009-13)/movie actress (“Bridesmaids”, “21 Jump Street”)
1985 [39] Lily Allen (Cooper), London England, pop singer (‘Somewhere Only We Know’, ‘Smile’)/movie actress (“How to Build a Girl”)
1985 [39] Kyle Busch, Las Vegas NV, NASCAR driver (most wins in all 3 of NASCAR’s national touring series combined, with 231/younger brother of Kurt Busch
2015 [09] Princess Charlotte (Charlotte Elizabeth Diana), London England, British Royal (Princess of Cambridge)/third in line to the throne (The second child and only daughter of Prince William and Princess Catherine)
ON THIS DAY . . .
2011 [12] Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the September 11 attacks and the FBI’s most wanted man, is killed by a team of United States Navy SEALs in Pakistan
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1997 [27] The ‘James Bond’ spoof “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery”, starring Mike Myers, hits theaters. It spawns 2 sequels (and a rumored 3rd…) Yeah, baby!
2008 [16] The first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Iron Man”, starring Robert Downey Jr., is released
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2008 [16] Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger is banned from driving for 1 year due to a DUI conviction in Vancouver BC, after being caught speeding in his Lamborghini
2009 [15] The TV series “Jonas”, starring the Jonas Brothers, debuts on the Disney Channel. It runs 2 seasons
2010 [14] A flood damages the Grand Ole Opry House and Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. John Fogerty, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill and Keith Urban are among those who lose guitars and other equipment
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2000 [24] US President Bill Clinton announces that GPS access will no longer be restricted to the US military (now it’s in your phone, in your car, it’s everywhere!)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ King Charles & Prince William never travel in the same plane. That’s because if there is a crash, one needs to survive.
✓ The artist who created ‘Scooby-Doo’ researched the desirable traits of a top-level show dog and drew the character to represent the opposite.
✓ Ravens in captivity can learn to talk better than parrots can.
✓ Teflon is the only known material to which geckos are unable to stick.
✓ “Dessert stomach” is a real thing. Your gut expands upon contact with sugar, making room for dessert, even after having the feeling of being full.
✓ Cocktails became popular during prohibition when juices were added to bootleg liquor to disguise the taste of ingredients such as dead rat and wood tar.
-KickassFacts
Best of BS . . .
BS IT’S NEVER A GOOD SIGN WHEN:
• The restaurant parking lot is empty.
• Your mechanic wants to “show you something”.
• You skip makeup for the day and everyone asks if you’re sick.
• She doesn’t text back.
• Your UBER driver has had more to drink than you have.
• Your teenager starts the conversation by telling you what a great Mom you are.
• Your phone rings at 3AM.
• Your doctor tells you to say, “Ahhh”…then gasps.
• You’re invited to someone’s house for dinner and there’s no hand soap in the bathroom.
• The kids are suddenly very quiet…
• Your wife asks, “Notice anything different?”
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
A STUPID PERSON’S GUIDE TO LIFE:
• Don’t throw a brick straight up.
• The stuff on the bottom of your shoe is not for internal consumption.
• If you’re riding a bicycle down a hill, turn your head before you spit.
• When using a weed-wacker, don’t hold the end with the wire.
• Your body has the correct number of holes in it. Don’t make any more.
• When sticking thumb tacks into bulletin boards, press on the flat end.
• Under no circumstances should you ever reproduce.
-First published in BS 2001
BS WEB GOODIE:
Every. Stinkin’. Time: https://tinyurl.com/6hkbbpb7
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I’ve officially mastered ‘broke problems’. Now, I’d like to give ‘rich problems’ a try!
BS PHONE STARTER:
What is the worst thing your kids have ever done?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Stats show the average woman spends about 40 minutes each day doing THIS. What is it?
Answer: Gossiping
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Don’t allow someone who has never walked in your shoes to tell you how to tie your laces.