Thursday, November 12, 2020 — Edition: #6849

Bully For You!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Johnny Depp is not walking away from the latest “Fantastic Beasts” film emptyhanded. He’ll be compensated his full eight-figure salary for “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3”, following his recent exit from the franchise days after losing his libel case in the U.K. Depp had only shot one scene since the start of production on Sept. 20, but due to his “pay-or-play contract” with no “morality clause,” he was able to receive his full salary regardless of whether the film was made or recast.
-Yahoo
★ CBS has heard the calls for more diversity on its reality shows … and now it’s making a pledge to make it happen. The network says its unscripted shows — including “Survivor,” “Big Brother” and “Love Island” — will have casts of at least 50% Black, Indigenous and People of Color beginning with the 2021-22 season. CBS has come under fire for racial controversies on its reality programs in recent years, especially with “Big Brother.” Houseguests were slammed for making a racially-charged joke about a fellow Asian houseguest in 2019, and there was an n-word controversy the year before.
-TMZ
★ NBC is inviting the Grinch to share its holiday season: The network will air a two-hour production of “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical!” on December 9. The musical production will star Glee’s Matthew Morrison as the small-hearted Grinch, and Denis O’Hare as his hapless mutt Max. The musical will feature the hit songs ‘You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch’ and ‘Welcome Christmas’ which were played on Broadway during the holiday seasons of 2006 and 2007.
-Yahoo
★ Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds are feuding again — but this time it’s all for a good cause. The actors’ brands —Reynolds’ “Aviation Gin” and Jackman’s “Laughing Man Coffee” — are teaming up with Sam’s Club to determine the ultimate feud winner and raise money for two charities this holiday season: the SickKids Foundation and Jackman’s Laughing Man Foundation. Between now and Dec. 20, the purchase of Aviation Gin or Laughing Man Coffee at Sam’s Club will count as a vote for Reynolds or Jackson. In a hilarious promotional ad, Jackman says: “The only thing Ryan should be making is better movies”, while Reynolds counters: “Hugh should focus on brewing up a more believable Australian accent.”
-MSN

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Ellen Pompeo, Chris Stapleton
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): James Spader, Chris Paul, 21 Savage x Metro Boomin
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Michael Moore, Sara Bareilles
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Dan Aykroyd, Anya Taylor-Joy, Carter McLean
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV):  Jack Harlow
• “Conan” (TBS): David Oyelowo
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Kate Mara, Jane Lynch
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Michael Strahan
• “The Talk” (CBS): Walton Goggins
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Chandra Wilson
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Vince Vaughn, Mario Lopez, Why Don’t We
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Billy Gardell, Kate the Chemist
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Chris O’Donnell, Geoffrey Zakarian, Dr. Aliza Pressman
• “Station 19” (ABC): Season 4 premiere
• “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC): Season 17 premiere
• “The Unicorn” (CBS): Season 2 premiere
• “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC): Season 22 premiere

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Drake – says he has come to expect some people to dislike his work, but says he makes music to “evolve to”. He took part in an Instagram Live session, and was responding to a fan who said his 2016 album “Views” “be hittin’ different” four years later. Drake releases sixth studio album, ‘Certified Lover Boy’, in January.
• Beyoncé – has signed a multi-year deal with at-home fitness company Peloton to craft a “series of themed workout experiences”. She’ll work with the company on “class curation across all workout disciplines…including music, movement, fitness and wellness.”
• Halsey — says she wants to make a punk rock album before she outgrows being “angsty and punk”. She loves rock music and has shown off her screamo chops on ‘Experiment On Me’, which was written by Bring Me The Horizon for the “Birds of Prey” soundtrack.
• Britney Spears — is demanding $300,000 spent by her father to be returned to her bank account. She believes Jamie Spears overspent when hiring a business manager without informing her.
• Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, and Black Eyed Peas – are among the star-studded lineup of performers who are lending their voices in support of “Nurse Heroes” on U.S. Thanksgiving Day. Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Billy Crystal will also appear on the concert to provide funds for programs, including scholarships for nurses and their children. It will be broadcast worldwide.
• Don McLean – says he was “touched” when late “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek asked him to perform at what he knew may be his final Christmas party. McLean says Trebek told him that he was “on his ‘bucket list,” and there was “not the slightest hint of self-pity or weakness in this man.”
• Foo Fighters — will broadcast a livestream concert from the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday. Tickets are on sale now for $15. A portion of proceeds will go to Sweet Relief, an organization providing assistance to musicians and music-industry workers who have been impacted by the pandemic.
• Gabby Barrett – Her hit ‘I Hope’ is #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the 15th week, which is the second-longest run by a solo female artist in the history of the chart. Maren Morris’ ‘The Bones’ was at the top for 19 weeks.
• Tim McGraw – is among the stars taking part in Tracy Lawrence’s annual “Mission Possible Turkey Fry & Concert on Nov. 24. The all-star show will also feature Chris Young, Cole Swindell, John Rich, Mitchell Tenpenny, David Tolliver and more. This year’s concert will be live-streamed, with proceeds going to Nashville Rescue Mission.
• Scotty McCreery — will perform an acoustic livestream concert on Dec. 2 in Raleigh, NC Tickets are on sale now for $5, with after party packages ($20) and VIP packages ($50) available.

CONTACT SOLUTION:
Anyone who uses contact lenses knows what an ordeal they can be to put in and remove (especially…AHEM…after a night on the town…), but thanks to a Florida doctor, that might not be the case much longer. Craig Hershoff has invented a tool that makes inserting and removing them easy. After losing most of his vision and experiencing difficulty with contacts, he was inspired to come up with the device which uses suction cups to measure the precise amount of force needed to insert and remove the lenses. The user looks straight down, and monitors what’s going on by looking at a video display with the opposite eye, allowing them to track the motion of the contact lens at all times. He or she then commands the device to go to the eye, and sensors detect contact (no pun intended…) as the lens is inserted. The invention is undergoing clinical trials now, and it’s hoped it will be approved for commercial use next year.
(And for use in “Mr. Bean” movies by 2022!)
(Any word on exactly HOW Mr. Hershoff lost most of his vision?)
(An invention that only sucks if it doesn’t suction…)
-LADBible

NETPICKS:
You know the old joke about spending more time trying to decide what to watch on Netflix than actually watching something? What? Just me? Well, regardless, that might be about to change. The streaming service is experimenting with a system of “channels” to help viewers select what to view according to what genre of entertainment they feel like watching. That’s right, Netflix is testing “Direct” in France this month – which operates similarly to traditional cable TV systems, with “real-time, scheduled programming” which could someday be available to subscribers in a number of formats, such as an “action” channel, a “comedy” channel, a “true-crime” channel, and so on – all featuring real-time programming. Why the shift, considering one of the great advantages of streaming services has always been that you can watch what you want, when you want to watch it? Basically, the company has discovered what we’ve always known about ourselves — people have a tough time making decisions, especially when there are so many options.
(And it’s easier to plop onto the couch after a busy day and let THEM decide…)
(Hey, if you’re anything like me, you’re only going to see the first 10 minutes anyway…)
(I can’t wait to see which channel they put a documentary on the Trump presidency on!)
-BroBible

TAKING THE ‘FUN’ OUT OF ‘FUNDS’:
If you’re worried that you’re getting well into your 20s and still don’t have your finances in order, don’t worry – it seems that many of us don’t. A new survey has found that the average person doesn’t experience a “financial awakening” until age 33. The study of 2,000 Americans found that this financial awakening can come in many forms. The most common is a sudden drop in income. 23% of people say they’ve experienced that, due to a job loss or reduction in hours. Other common triggers include “health events (18%) and the simple “recognition of the impact” of their spending behavior” (15%). Other findings:
• 9%  is the average amount of income that respondents save
• 63%  are not saving at all
• 46%  discussed finances with a family member while growing up
• 43%  are afraid to look at their bank balances
(I usually wait until Monday, when I need a good laugh!)
(That’s ironic. Because when I was 33, I had no money issues. Now, I have no money AND “issues”.
-StudyFinds

FUNNIEST TWEETS OF THE WEEK FROM PARENTS:
⇒ Waiting for the election results is nothing. My 5yo’s been finishing her dinner for the last 3 days.
— mark
⇒ My husband was surprised to learn that my daughter’s Wednesday swim lesson was being held on a Wednesday again. — Jessie
⇒ I love when childless people say ‘I’d never let my kids do that.’ Mark my words: when you become a parent, you’ll gladly hand your kid the iPad and a donut for ten minutes of peace and quiet. – Scary Mommy
⇒ A big part of parenting is teaching your kids how to do things on their own, and then redoing them the right way as soon as they aren’t around. – Rodney Lacroix
⇒ 4-year-old: *draws a person* Me: Why does he have two different colored eyes? 4: He got punched. Me: Why? 4: He knows why. – James Breakwell
⇒ Anyone hoping for a peaceful transition has never had to pull a toddler out of a Chuck E. Cheese. – Julia Segal
…AND A FEW FROM PARTNERS:
⇒ When I feel like my husband seems to relaxed, I’ll just start a sentence with “y’know, I’ve been thinking…” – Arianna Bradford
⇒ WIFE: [watching me unwrap a 10th piece of candy] how many of those are you going to eat? ME: it’s the weekend, this is how i party now — mark
⇒ The only time I complain about my husband being on his phone is when I’m not on mine. — jESSIE
⇒ I haven’t waited this long for a result since I asked my wife to marry me. – Kent Graham
-HuffPost

DID YOU KNOW?
A Michigan couple with 14 sons have finally welcomed their first daughter. Last week, Kateri Schwandt gave birth to Maggie Jayne, who weighed in at 7lb 8oz and entered a world filled with 14 older brothers, the oldest of which is 28. Kateri and her husband, Jay Schwandt, both of whom are 45, were married right out of high school. They had three sons by the time they were done college, but they both still went on to get advanced degrees.
-TheGuardian

BS CHRONOMETER 11.12.20

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1944 [76] Al Michaels, Brooklyn NY, TV sportscaster (“NBC Sunday Night Football” since 2006, “ABC Monday Night Football” 1986-2006)/5 Emmy Awards/Hollywood Walk of Fame (2004)

1945 [75] Neil Young, Toronto ON, classic rocker (‘Heart of Gold’, Crosby Stills Nash & Young-‘Ohio’)/Farm Aid co-founder/Canada’s Walk of Fame (2000)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1995-solo, 1997-Buffalo Springfield)/Canadian Music Hall of Fame (1982)/Married to Daryl Hannah since 2018

1958 [62] Megan Mullally, Los Angeles CA, TV actress (‘Karen Walker’ on “Will & Grace” 1998-2006, 2017-20)

1970 [50] Tonya Harding, Portland OR, figure skater (Olympic ice skater best known for her involvement in the controversial attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan in 1994)/two-time Skate America Champion/3rd place on Season 26 of “Dancing With the Stars”

1979 [41] Cote de Pablo (María José de Pablo Fernández), Santiago Chile, TV actress (‘Ziva David’ on “NCIS” 2005-16)

1980 [40] Ryan Gosling, London ON, movie actor (“La La Land”, “The Notebook”)

1982 [38] Anne Hathaway, Brooklyn NY, movie actress (“Ocean’s 8”, “Les Misérables”) COMING UP…”Lockdown”

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day”. The world’s first true pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, opened in 1830 and is still in business today in Naples, Italy. Italian immigrant Gennaro Lombardi opened the first North American pizzeria in 1895 in NYC. Pizza is now consumed all over the world …with or without anchovies. (Sounds fishy to me…)

• “Happy Hour Day”, celebrates the time at bars and restaurants when alcoholic drinks are served at discounted prices. Happy hours usually take place in the late afternoon – and usually for more than an hour. (Booze won’t fix your life…but it’s worth a shot!)

• “Fancy Rat & Mouse Day”, a day set aside for people who appreciate pets … that are vermin.
NET: http://www.afrma.org

• “World Pneumonia Day”, an annual forum for the world to stand together and demand action in the fight against the deadly lung inflammation. More than 100 organizations representing the interests of children staged the first observance in 2009.

• “Chicken Soup for the Soul Day”, honoring the sappy series of feel-good books. Conventional wisdom says that chicken soup works wonders on the common cold. So, “chicken soup” became a shorthand for a cure-all, a mysterious-but-effective way to solve problems. Hence the book with the same title, which spawned a generation of sentimental spinoffs.

• “International Guinness World Records Day”, an annual celebration of record-breaking, a day which sees thousands of people around the world come together with one common goal, to become a title holder. (What record would you attempt?)

COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Actor’s Day
[Fri] Sadie Hawkins Day
[Sat] International Girls Day
[Sat] National Family PJ Day

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2016 [04] Jackie Chan is awarded an honorary Oscar for his film achievements at 8th Annual Governors Awards ceremony

2018 [02] Stan Lee [Stanley Martin Lieber], comic-book artist, writer and creative leader of Marvel (Avengers, Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk), dies at 95

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2008 [12] Kenny Chesney captures the CMA Awards’ highest honor, ‘Entertainer of the Year’, for a 4th time

2011 [09] Justin Timberlake makes good on a promise to escort Corporal Kelsey De Santis to a Marine Corps ball in Richmond VA (she invited him via a YouTube video earlier in the year)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2014 [06] The European Space Agency makes history by landing its Rosetta probe named ‘Philae’ on the surface of a comet (67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko)

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Sweden is so efficient, only one percent of its garbage ends up in a landfill.
✓ To ensure its growth, World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee refused to patent the idea.
✓ The average baby has its diaper changed up to 10,000 times before being potty trained.
✓ Frank Sinatra was offered the lead role in “Die Hard”.
✓ The heads on Easter Island have bodies.
✓ Baby porcupines are known as ‘porcupettes’.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, MentalFloss

Best of BS . . .
BS THINGS NOT TO SAY TO YOUR PREGNANT WIFE:
• “I finished the Oreos.”
• “Not to imply anything, but I don’t think the kid weighs 40 pounds.”
• “Y’know, looking at her, you’d never guess that Meghan Markle had a baby!”
• “Well, couldn’t they induce labor? The 7th is the Super Bowl.”
• “Larry at the office passed a stone the size of a pea. Boy, that’s gotta hurt!”
• “Are your ankles supposed to look like that?”
• “Get your OWN ice cream.”
• “You’re awfully puffy looking today!”
• “Maybe we should name the baby after my secretary, Tawney.”
• “Retaining water? Yeah, like the Hoover Dam retains water.”
• “Got milk?”
-Poddy’s, first published in BS in 2004

TODAY’S SLICE OF BS:
➠ The “CMA Awards” aired last night on ABC. (The race for ‘Entertainer of the Year’ was particularly close this year. In fact, the only thing that was tighter was Miranda Lambert’s outfit!)
➠ AC/DC is rumored to be a front-runner to play the Super Bowl halftime show. (Unless, of course . . . Tom Brady is playing. Because, hey… a stadium can only handle so much sexuality in one place!)
➠ A French Bulldog named ‘Wilbur Beast’ has been elected Mayor of a small town in Kentucky. (FINALLY! . . . a Mayor who won’t ‘roll over’ to just anybody. What’s that? He will? My bad.)
➠ Neil Young is 75 today. (Okay, I think it’s safe now to just call him “Neil”.)
➠ Tonya Harding is 50 today. (It’s that one day of the year when she’s allowed to take a crowbar to a Piñata, so be careful!)

BS WEB GOODIE:
A little more enthusiasm, please:  https://tinyurl.com/y3u5eed9

BS RANDOM JOKE:
The best part of being a flight attendant has to be when you walk up and down the aisle saying “Trash” to everyone’s faces.

BS PHONE STARTER:
What question do you HATE to be asked?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  One in 6 of us say we do THIS when we go through a fast-food drive-thru. What is it?
Answer:  Buy something for our pet

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears.