Tuesday, November 28, 2023 – Edition: #7606

Another Sheetload of Bull!

 

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Taylor Swift will be celebrating her birthday in a big way. She has just announced she’ll be releasing an extended version of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” for digital rental starting December 13, her 34th birthday. The new version will include bonus performances of ‘Wildest Dreams’, ‘The Archer’ and ‘Long Live’ and will be available in the United States and Canada. Additional countries will be announced soon. No word yet on which streamer will be used. “The Eras Tour” broke the Guinness World Record as the highest-grossing concert film of all time, bringing in $249 million. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/m225tytd
-TheWrap
★ Filmmakers of the “Fast & Furious” franchise have been ordered to pay a $1 million fine after a stuntman broke his skull while filming. Joe Watts fell 25 feet head-first onto concrete during a staged fight scene while filming “F9: The Fast Saga” in 2019 at Warner Bros. studio in Hertfordshire, UK. FF9 Pictures admitted health and safety failings in court and accepted the fine. The UK judge said on Friday that Watts is “fortunate to be alive” after prosecutors detailed how his safety line became detached as he performed a stunt that differed from the one that had been rehearsed.
-ThePost
★ Kim Kardashian is headed to Netflix. After a week-long bidding war, the streaming platform has acquired the distribution rights to her upcoming comedy “The Fifth Wheel”. The reality star and aspiring screen star is set to lead the female-driven ensemble cast, as well as serve as a producer on the project. No info about plot details has been released, nor have any casting decisions been announced, apart from Kardashian.
-ET
★ Machine Gun Kelly could be changing his name. The musician and actor, whose real name is Colson Baker, has received some feedback from fans who think he should come up with something new. Why? They feet that the name Machine Gun Kelly glorifies firearms. Although the idea may be well-intentioned, the problem with taking out “machine gun” would just mean he’d just be “Kelly”. Instead, he captioned a post to Instagram with “Machine” — without mentioning the ‘Gun Kelly’ part. He did the same thing on X. His official name has not been updated on any of his social media profiles.
-PopCulture
★ Idris Elba is set to star in and direct new thriller “Above the Below”. The independent survival thriller – which will also star Succession’s Caitlin FitzGerald and After’s Hero Fiennes Tiffin – will see 3 astronauts endure a very bumpy re–entry to Earth. After a “chaotic and destructive” crash landing, they find themselves off course and in the middle of the ocean; their capsule begins to sink to unfathomable depths, and another battle for survival starts. Filming began last week.
-DigitalSpy
★ Bradley Cooper says he is interested in making “Hangover 4” — in fact, he said he’d make the film “in an instant.” During an appearance on “The New Yorker Radio Hour” the “Maestro” writer, director and star said he’d love to make another film in the comedy series, quote: “Just because I love Todd [Phillips], I love Zach [Galifianakis], I love Ed [Helms] so much.” Cooper isn’t sure, though, if the director would be interested. Phillips received acclaim 2019’s “Joker,” starring Joaquin Phoenix, which took in more than a billion dollars. He’s been working on that film’s sequel.
-TheWrap

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Jon Hamm, Carrie Coon, Dogstar
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Pete Davidson, Troye Sivan, Josh Johnson (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Henry Winkler, Brendan Hunt
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Tom Schwartz, Whitney Rose
• “The Daily Show (COM): Guest Host Michelle Wolf
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Mario Lopez
• “The Talk” (CBS): George Lopez, Kel Mitchell
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Jennifer Garner, Bryant Gumbel, Samara Joy
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Mark Harmon, Kel Mitchell
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Jada Pinkett Smith, Arthur Brooks, Norah O’Donnell
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Henry Winkler
• “Dancing With the Stars” (ABC): Each of the 5 couples showcase 2 all-new performances as they fight for a spot in the finale.
• “NCIS: Sydney” (CBS): When a shark spits out an arm wearing US Navy equipment, the team’s investigation tests the loyalty of a band of former Navy divers.
• “The Voice” (NBC): The Playoffs Part 3
• “Name That Tune (Fox): Cele contestants Kym Whitley, Caroline Rhea, Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Harry Styles – is reportedly in talks for a one-off show at the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, after witnessing U2’s show at the revolutionary venue. The immersive performance would reportedly be streamed globally. It’s also being reported that Beyoncé is eyeing a $10 million show there.
• Jennifer Lopez – On Instagram, she seemingly revealed the visuals for her upcoming album “This Is Me…Now.” The reel shows JLo dancing in the rain, in a factory, and at a wedding. And at the end, a message says: “THIS MUSICAL EXPERIENCE IS A MANIFESTATION, THROUGH MUSIC, FILM, AND REALITY, OF A LIFE’S JOURNEY ON THE SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/32mrc7zf
• Ariana Grande — took to social media to promote her 2014 Christmas-themed hit ‘Santa Tell Me’. In the clip, she puts on various makeup products, presumably from her popular cosmetics brand r.e.m. beauty. Next year, she’ll star in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked”, playing ‘Glinda’ the “good witch.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/v4snjace
• David Bowie — A handwritten lyric sheet could sell for up to $126,000 at auction today. The double-sided page features Bowie’s corrections, drafts and notes for ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’ and ‘Suffragette City’, both from his 1972 classic album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.” Also available: handwritten lyrics by Jim Morrison, Noel Gallagher and Queen’s Roger Taylor.
• Neil Young — has premiered a new video in which he performs a Hendrix-like instrumental version of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’. The final text reads ‘Be Brave’ and ‘Stand For Peace’ which suggests the piece is a musical comment on the horrors in Gaza and Israel. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/m4tj8wwz
• Keith Urban – said in an interview that if he hadn’t gone into music, he’d probably be in jail. On Criss Angel’s Talking Junkies podcast, he also revealed that one of the hobbies he and his wife Nicole Kidman enjoy doing together is – bowling.
• Luke Bryan – has dropped the price (again!) of his spectacular beach mansion in Florida – by more than a million dollars. He and wife Caroline, originally listed the 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom, 4,645-square-foot beach house in Santa Rosa Beach, for $18 million in December 2022. The price was dropped to $16 million in February, and now, it is listed at $14.95 million. Monthly payment? $97,811.
• Tracy Lawrence — hosted his 18th annual Mission: Possible Turkey Fry and Benefit Concert in Nashville last week, to support the Nashville Rescue Mission and help feed Middle Tennessee’s hungry. This year, more than 250 volunteers helped fry over 1,200 turkeys – enough for more than 10,000 meals. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2342ykmh

SHOOTING THE BULL

MANY HAPPY RETURNS:
With Cyber Monday over and done with, you might be dealing with some “buyer’s remorse”, and plan to send back a few – or a few dozen – of your online purchases. It turns out that these days, so many online shoppers are returning their packages that many retailers say they’ve been forced to adjust their return policies. An estimated 44% of retailers now charge customers a fee to ship something back, up from 33% in 2021. And it makes sense, because processing costs companies money…plain and simple. But it isn’t all bad news for companies accepting returns. Call it “Girl Math” if you like, but a Harvard Business Review study found that consumers are more likely to spend refunded money than they would a bonus or unexpected cash they found — because most people see the money they receive from a return as “already lost”. The researchers recommend to retailers that they offer store credit or exchanges in order to hopefully avoid giving you your money back.
(Dad joke: I bought a boomerang on Amazon, and it didn’t work. So, I returned it. They said: “We received it. What’s the problem?”)
(My wife agrees. When she returns something worth $100, and buys something for $200, it’s like she got it for half-off!)
-Insider

SLEEP-TALKING:
If you’re feeling stressed that you didn’t get much sleep over the weekend and you still haven’t “caught up”, the experts have some advice for you: Don’t worry about it – you’ll only make it worse. Dr. Reena Mehra, director of sleep-disorders research at the Cleveland Clinic, says that worrying about getting a “perfect” 8 hours of sleep per night may actually result in a drop in sleep quality and duration. Another expert, Dr. Shelby Harris of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said patterns and routines are more important than that magic 8 hours. And she also warns that you shouldn’t be so rigid that you end up unable to sleep at all if your routine is messed up by working late or dealing with a restless child. Quote: “The pressure we put on ourselves is making sleep worse.”
(So, really what they’re saying is that if you’re not getting enough sleep – don’t lose sleep over it??!!)
(Whenever I can’t sleep, I get up and have a snack. It doesn’t help me sleep, but at least I get to have a snack!)
-Fox

HOMING IN:
Now are we going to start blaming young people for the demise of the nightclub? A new poll indicates that these days, many young – and young-ish — adults are attending house parties as a main social outlet, rather than heading out to a bar. The survey of 2,000 adults aged 18-45 found that 75% have attended or arranged a house party during the last 12 months – and 23% have been to more of them compared to the year prior. Why the sudden interest in “going out by staying in”? In a word: money. The biggest draw, cited by 44% of respondents, is to save money amid the cost-of-living crisis. 39% said they like house parties because they tend to know many of the guests, while 44% enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.
(Ha! I was cheap before being cheap was cool!)
(Hey – these days, if you’re lucky enough to be able to afford a house, you might as well use it!)
-SWNS

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN:
☞ Most people gain a full size during the holidays: MYTH. A study found that females gain about one pound and males 1.5 in the 6 weeks leading up to the New Year. That’s far less than the 7-10 pounds (3.2-4.5kg) often cited for this time of year. (Speak for yourselves…)
☞ Bloating isn’t the same as fat weight: FACT. One reason you may feel like you’ve packed on more weight is because many holiday foods trigger bloating and water retention. The main culprit? Carbs. And sodium. (And pecan pie. And mashed potatoes with gravy. And shortbread cookies…)
☞ Exercise staves off holiday pounds: MYTH. More than one study has found that those who work out around the holidays gain the same amount of weight as those who don’t. But remember, there are many other benefits to exercise, including stress reduction and improved sleep. (Also, if I’m working out, I’m not drinking eggnog — usually!)
☞ I’ll lose it in January: MYTH. Studies show most of us never lose our holiday padding, probably because after giving up on New Year’s resolutions, we tend to gain back any weight we’ve lost. (Hoping to get pajama pants for Christmas…again…)
☞ It’s not too late to avoid gaining weight this holiday season: FACT: Commit to 2 simple goals: budget your carbs, and drink more water. Both can help you avoid having to make that annual New Year’s resolution to lose weight. (Well, as we’ve learned, at least I don’t have to bother resolving to work out!)
-Health

DID YOU KNOW?
When comparing pet dogs and cats, it’s easy to see which of the 2 generally requires more attention. Pups usually can’t get enough love from their human owners, while cats tend to be much more independent. And that may be why pet owners generally show more care toward their dogs than their cats, and are willing to pay more for canine medical treatment, according to recent research by the University of Copenhagen. (Whatever you do, PLEASE don’t tell my cat about this!)
-StudyFinds

BS CHRONOMETER 11.28.23

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Giving Tuesday”, a global day of giving that kicks off the charitable giving season. Coming just after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it was created in part as a response to the commercialism and consumerism of those days. (Anyone know of a store holding a “Giving Tuesday” sale?)
• “Turkey Leftover Day”, apparently, today is the last day you have to eat up your Thanksgiving leftovers. The 5 most popular ways to serve leftover turkey are: sandwich, stew or soup, salad, casserole, and stir-fry. (You’ve probably had enough by now, anyway…!)
• “Letter Writing Day”, when we’re encouraged to take a few minutes to send someone a handwritten letter. Letter-writing has almost become a lost art. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone, either printed or in cursive? (Well, I left a note on someone’s windshield yesterday…and it was FULL of ‘cursive’!)
• “French Toast Day”. Either bread dipped in egg and fried … or, if you prefer, another approach to “French Toast” day would be enjoying a big ol’ glass of Champagne!
• “Make Your Own Head Day”, a crafty day often celebrated by artists and grade-school children. The idea is to create your own head through one of many different artistic options. The rule is that the head you make must be your own. (Looks like I’m getting a head of myself!)
• “Red Planet Day”, commemorating the launch of the Spacecraft Mariner 4 on November 28, 1964. The 228-day mission of Mariner 4 brought the spacecraft within 6,118 miles of Mars on July 14, 1965.

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Electronic Greeting Card Day
[Wed] Square Dance Day
[Thurs] Computer Security Day
[Fri] Wear a Dress Day
This Month is…Raisin Bread Month
This Month is…Novel Writing Month

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1929 [94] Berry Gordy Jr., Detroit MI, record exec/producer/songwriter (Motown Records founder known for his work with The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and more)/Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1988

1943 [80] Randy Newman, Los Angeles CA, pop singer-songwriter (“Short People’, ‘I Love L.A.’)/Disney-Pixar film scores including “Toy Story”, “Cars”, “The Princess and the Frog”, and “James and the Giant Peach”

1949 [74] Paul Shaffer, Thunder Bay ON, multi-instrumentalist/TV bandleader-sidekick (“Late Night With David Letterman” 1982-93, “Late Show with David Letterman 1993–2015”/movie actor (“Spinal Tap”, “Scrooged”)/session player (Cher, Chicago, Robert Plant…)

1950 [73] Ed Harris, Tenafly NJ, movie actor (“Apollo 13”, “The Right Stuff”)/TV actor (‘The Man in Black’ on “Westworld” 2016-22) COMING UP…“Love Lies Bleeding”

1959 [64] Judd Nelson, Portland ME, movie actor (“The Breakfast Club”, “St. Elmo’s Fire”)/TV actor (“Suddenly Susan” 1996-99)

1962 [61] Jon Stewart (Leibowitz), NYC, TV host (19 Emmy Awards-“The Daily Show” 1999-2015, “The Problem with Jon Stewart” 2021-23)

1962 [61] Matt Cameron, San Diego CA, rock drummer (Pearl Jam-‘Jeremy’, Soundgarden-‘Black Hole Sun’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 2017 (with Pearl Jam)

1974 [49] apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo Jr), Angeles City Philippines, pop singer/rapper (Black Eyed Peas-‘I Gotta Feeling’, ‘Where Is the Love?’)

1984 [39] Trey Songz (Tremaine Neverson), Petersburg VA, rapper/producer/singer-songwriter (‘Can’t Be Friends’, f/Nicki Minaj-‘Bottoms Up’)

1987 [36] Karen Gillan, Inverness Scotland, TV actress (‘Amy Pond’ on “Doctor Who” 2010-13), movie actress (‘Nebula’ in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Avengers” movies) COMING UP… “Sleeping Dogs”

1993 [30] Bryshere (“Yazz”) Gray, Philadelphia PA, TV actor (‘Hakeem Lyon’ on “Empire” 2015-20)/rapper

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1997 [26] The final episode of “Beavis & Butt-head” airs on MTV (until reboots in 2011…and 2022)

2004 [19] Julia Roberts gives birth to twins, a girl and a boy, whom she and husband Danny Moder name ‘Hazel Patricia’ and ‘Phinnaeus Walter’ (Thanks, Mom…)

2010 [13] Leslie Nielsen, the star of “Airplane” and the “Naked Gun” movies, dies at age 84

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1987 [36] The “Dirty Dancing” hit ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’ by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes hits #1 in the US, as the “Swayze-lift” becomes a popular dance move

1974 [49] John Lennon makes his last-ever concert appearance, at an Elton John concert at Madison Square Garden in New York

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1925 [98] The Grand Ole Opry premieres as the “WSM Barn Dance” on WSM radio in Nashville

TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
2009 [14] A 26 feet and 2 inches (8m) tall gingerbread man is unveiled at the “Gingerbread Cookie Factory” fundraiser in Madison, WI

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ The 2022 Subaru Ascent SEV has 19 cupholders.
✓ BBCSport determined that the precise speed at which jogging becomes running is 6mph (9.7kph).
✓ People who swear a lot tend to be more honest, upfront, and loyal with their friends, partners and family.
✓ Talking to yourself makes you smarter.
✓ People’s sharpest memories are usually from early adulthood, when you are most likely to be shaping your identity.
✓ Studies have shown that video games are more effective at battling depression than therapy.
-BestLife, WhattheFFacts

Best of BS . . .
BS FAKE SPIDER-MAN FACTS:
• When he sneezes, he leaks webbing.
• He freaks out when he sees a spider in the tub and has to get Mary Jane to kill it so he can take a bath.
• He teamed up with Dr. Octopus to develop “WebMD”.
• In spite of his name, he identifies as a caterpillar.
• Black Widow is his Godmother.
• He cried whenever he saw “Uncle Ben’s” rice.
• His greatest fear is being squished by a giant slipper.
• He lost his other 4 limbs in a horrible accident.
• He learned early on that his Spidey-sense does not help him avoid burning toast.
• They should keep making more Spider-Man movies.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018

BS THINGS NOT TO SAY AT A HOLIDAY PARTY:
• “Wow, you’ve gained weight!”
• “Why did you bring your wife?”
• “I’ll start off the karaoke.”
• “The doctor said it’s contagious.”
• “So, who else is sleeping with the boss?”
• “Do you have a plunger?”
• “Who wants to start with the Airing of Grievances??!!”
• “I want a divorce.”
• “I could have sworn you said ‘clothing optional.’”
• “We’re out of booze.”
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2017

BS WEB GOODIE:
True story (sound up):  https://tinyurl.com/ywtkc9nk

BS RANDOM JOKE:
If you use the phrase “easy as taking candy from a baby”, try taking candy from a baby.

BS PHONE STARTER:
How do you politely tell a visitor that it’s time to go?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  68% of kids have done THIS around the holidays. What is it?
Answer:  Cried on Santa’s lap

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Forget all the reasons it won’t work and believe the one reason it will.