Monday, May 27, 2024 — Edition: #7720
Sheet For Brains!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ The security guard who got into a heated exchange with Kelly Rowland at the Cannes Film Festival was involved in another incident, and this time she was shoved. Video shows beauty queen Massiel Taveras navigating her gown’s 15-foot train while trying to ascend the stairs at Palais des Festivals. The 2007 Miss Dominican Republic tells a group of security guards to back off. The vid then cuts to Taveras — surrounded by a group of security guards — trying to unfurl her train, then she poses for the cameras while halfway up the stairs. But the female security guard can be seen blocking her view with her arm, similarly to how she blocked Rowland’s view. In Taveras’ case, a pair of security guards could be seen picking up the train, much to Taveras’ chagrin, who yanks the train away from a security guard and, again, unfurls it. It’s at this point Taveras tells security to back off and poses for photos again, before she shoves the female security guard. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/s6mmme42
-ET
★ Sean Baker’s romantic dramedy “Anora” scooped the Cannes Film Festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or. It was Baker’s second time in the competition after 2021’s “Red Rocket”, and he said the accolade has been his “singular goal as a filmmaker for the past 30 years.” Anora stars Mikey Madison as a stripper from Brooklyn who transforms into a modern Cinderella when she meets the son of a Russian oligarch. Complications arise when his parents find out and try to get the marriage annulled.
-Deadline
★ It was a bit of a wasteland out there, as US theaters saw their slowest Memorial Day weekend in 29 years. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is projected to have opened well short of the industry’s prior estimates of $40 million over the 4-day window. The high-budget action epic was practically neck-and-neck for first place with the animated adaptation “The Garfield Movie” domestically. Latest projections have Garfield opening above $31 million over 4 days.
-Variety, Deadline
★ The iconic house featured in the classic 1990 classic Christmas film “Home Alone” is up for sale – for $5.25 million. The 9,100 square foot home, in Winnetka, Illinois, is listed on Zillow, and its current owners say it has been “reimagined for modern-day luxury”, while “maintaining the architectural detail and integrity of the home’s most memorable and recognizable spaces.” But since most interior shots for the movie were actually shot at a school, much of the home is hardly recognizable anyway. The house was rented out on Airbnb over the holidays in 2021 for $25 a stay.
-TheWrap
★ Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi definitely aren’t giving love a bad name. The 20-year-old “Stranger Things” star and 22-year-old model — who is the son of Jon Bon Jovi — have gotten married after about 3 years together, tying the knot in a private wedding ceremony last weekend. The young couple reportedly wed in an intimate ceremony in the US, with their parents in attendance — ahead of a larger ceremony planned for later this year.
-Billboard
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Carol Burnett, Nicholas Galitzine, Christian Nodal (R)
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Michael Phelps, Jon Glaser, Laufey (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Ryan Gosling, Desi Lydic (R)
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Hari Kondabolu, Liz Miele, Dave Hill (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Orlando Bloom, Ncuti Gatwa, Queen Cora Coleman (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Whoopi shares her new book.
• “The Talk” (CBS): Wendell Pierce, Liza Koshy
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Harry Hamlin, J.B. Smoove
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Zayn Malik, Craig Melvin, Luke Hemmings (R)
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Guy Fieri (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): John Stamos, Cheryl Burke (R)
• “Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter” (ID): Premiere. Former pop star Melissa Schuman goes public with sexual assault allegations against Backstreet Boy Nick Carter. Others come forward, and their ally is Nick’s brother, Aaron.
• “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard” (LIFE): Desperate to escape her mother, Dee Dee, Gypsy turns to her boyfriend from a Christian dating site; the couple hatches a plan to murder Dee Dee.
• “M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television” (FOX): Featuring new interviews with cast members and producers, and never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage.
• “Call Me Country: Beyoncé & Nashville’s Renaissance” (CNN): Exploring the evolving definition of country music, highlighting Beyoncé’s impact as Black artists in Nashville continue to fight for visibility.
• “Stanley Cup Playoffs” (Check local listings): Dallas Stars @ Edmonton Oilers
• “NBA Playoffs” (Check local listings): Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Nicki Minaj – spent 6 hours in jail after Amsterdam police detained her Saturday for marijuana possession. She livestreamed footage showing an officer telling her to get into a police vehicle because “you’re carrying drugs.” Minaj denied wrongdoing, and later pointed out in a post: “This is Amsterdam btw, where weed is legal.” Her Manchester show was canceled as a result. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yy5fb6ms
• Sean Kingston — was arrested in California following a SWAT raid of his rented South Florida mansion, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said. Kingston, real name Kisean Anderson, was arrested “without incident” on numerous fraud and theft charges and booked into a San Bernadino jail. A news report said his mother, Janice Turner, was also arrested on fraud charges.
• Imagine Dragons — are back with their newest single ‘Nice To Meet You’. They also revealed the music video for the song, the third single from the album “LOOM”, out June 28. LINK: https://youtu.be/NeUfmyu5t8Q
• Rush — Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson reunited to perform at the Gordon Lightfoot tribute concert at Toronto’s Massey Hall on Thursday. The duo, who were not announced on the bill, joined house band Blue Rodeo to perform ‘The Way I Feel’. Other artists paying homage to Lightfoot at the event included Burton Cummings, Tom Cochrane, and City and Colour frontman Dallas Green.
• Van Halen – will drop an expanded edition of their 1991 chart-topping album “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” on July 12. Along with a remastered version of the original album, it will include alternate mixes of ‘Right Now’ and an instrumental version of ‘The Dream Is Over,” and footage from the band’s free concert in Dallas on Dec. 4, 1991. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/a2bhe6w4
• Bailey Zimmerman – has notched his 4th career #1 song on the Country Airplay chart – with his 4th career single ‘Where it Ends’. It jumped from #3 to #1 on the chart dated June 1. It follows previous chart toppers ‘Religiously’, ‘Rock and a Hard Place’ and his debut single ‘Fall in Love’.
• Zac Bryan — released the new song ‘Pink Skies’ on Friday. The acoustic-based tune is from the upcoming record “The Great American Bar Scene”, for which no release date has been announced. It’s his first release since last year’s “Boys of Faith” EP. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/53p3cke8
• Blake Shelton – is the latest country artist to record a collab with Post Malone. Posty shared a 27-second snippet of the new track, which Shelton re-shared, bopping along and raising a drink to their work. While Malone has confirmed he’s working on a country project, he hasn’t announced a title, tracklist or release date. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3bsy4fun
SHOOTING THE BULL
CONTINGENT VOICE ASSISTANT:
Sure, a voice assistant can be a handy thing to have, but would you play a subscription charge for one? It has been reported that Amazon plans to introduce a new AI-powered, “more conversational” version of Alexa – and will charge a monthly subscription fee. While there’s no word yet on what the monthly cost of the new services will be, a subscription to Alexa will not be included in its popular annual Prime offering, according to the report. Amazon introduced Alexa in 2014, but has not found a consistent means to make it profitable. The company said last year that it was working on a generative AI-powered version of Alexa, amid growing competition from chatbots made by OpenAI and Google.
(I see what they mean. I asked Alexa if this was true, and she told me to ask Google!)
(I’m not sure I’m willing to pay a monthly fee for something that so far, I’ve only been able to use to tell me the weather and when my veggies are ready!)
-Reuters
CREATURE COMFORTS:
News broke last week of the inaugural flight of BARK Air. The first airline catering to dogs – and their owners, departed from New York and touched down in Los Angeles. One ticket on the sold-out flight cost $6,000, and included fare for one dog and one human companion. The airline, 10 years in the making, claims that “Every single detail of this flight experience has been crafted with a ‘dogs-first’ mindset.” Such as? It starts with a waiting lounge filled with treats — and a speedy check-in. Doggos were also given noise-canceling ear muffs and “calming” jackets to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable flight. BARK Air also offers an onboard spa for the pups, and a menu featuring “doggie champagne” and “barkaccinos.” Each flight includes a maximum of 10 dogs plus their humans, “to ensure you and your dog have enough room to spread out comfortably.” The company currently flies between New York, LA and London, but is considering expanding, after receiving 15,000 requests for new destinations. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yjyv5vue
(I guessing it’s the only time you’ll ever see an airplane with a fire hydrant in the middle of the cabin!)
(I’m going to make sure my puppy gets to emBARK on an adventure this summer!)
-Reuters, NYPost
MYTHBUSTERS: SUNSCREEN EDITION…
Today is ‘Sunscreen Protection Day’. These statements, contrary to what you have probably been told, are all myths. Each will be followed by the facts…
• Dark skin doesn’t need sunscreen/can’t get melanoma: Darker skin tones are less prone to skin cancer, but this can also mean signs of trouble are too often ignored.
• A base tan protects you: A base tan is nature’s way of producing sun protection because you’ve been irradiated. But that doesn’t lessen your risk of skin cancer, and constant tanning ages your skin.
• You don’t need to use sunscreen inside: All contact with sunlight requires protection, even exposure through an office or car window — and walking from building to building.
• The number on sunscreen is proportionate to the number of minutes of sun protection: Nope. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is a measure of how much solar energy (UV radiation) is required to burn protected skin. SPF 15 allows 1/15 of harmful UVB rays to reach the skin. The remaining 14/15 means you’re protecting against 93% of UVB radiation. So, SPF 30 blocks 97% and SPF 50 prevents 98%. (OK you got me there…I thought that one was true!)
• The SPF in makeup is enough: It’s good enough to cover you when you’re walking from your car to work. But if you’re outside longer than 15 minutes, you need higher SPF and must reapply.
• One application of sunscreen in the morning is good for the whole day: Reapplying is just as important as the first coat. Sunscreen gets consumed once the light hits it, which means you have to reapply regularly.
• You don’t need sunscreen during off-peak hours: The sun’s rays can cause damage no matter what time it is. If you’re outside for longer than 15 minutes, use protection. You can get burned at 8am, as well as after 4 pm. (So why can’t I seem to TAN then??)
• Sunscreen on your face, arms, back, and legs is enough: It’s a great start, but you should also apply it to the ears, nose, hands and the tops of your feet. And remember your scalp, especially if you have thinning or sparse hair. (That’s what my fishing hat is for!)
• Melanoma is only caused by sun exposure: It can strike without sun exposure, which makes regular skin checks important. Sun exposure does make the risk higher.
(See you at the beach this summer…if we recognize each other with all that sunscreen and extra clothing on!)
-Yahoo, first published in BS in 2021
NEW GOOD NEWS:
➢ Is there nothing Ozempic CAN’T do? A new study by Novo Nordisk found that semaglutide, the compound that has taken the world by storm as a weight loss drug in Ozempic and Wegovy, also slows the progression of chronic kidney disease. It was also found to reduce the risk of kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and death in Type 2 diabetes patients. The long-term study yielded such good results that the company ended it early, and the findings may one day revolutionize how doctors approach kidney disease. (Hollywood Stars are complaining, though, because, in their words, “there’s already a shortage of the stuff!)
➢ Imagine an entire summer of carefree driving – where you NEVER run into traffic jams due to road construction. Switzerland’s road maintenance authority has developed an ingenious mobile bridge that allows the paving of public roads without the need to stop traffic on the affected lanes. The Astra Bridge is a 257-meter-long mobile bridge that allows traffic to pass over sections of road while infrastructure is being repaired below. After years of development, the finished product it easy to drive on at 60 km/h. And as a bonus, the Astra Bridge also shields workers from the sun and rain — and eliminates the need for them to work at night when traffic is lighter. (If they ever got one of those around here, politicians would immediately add a toll charge. And of course, that would cause traffic delays!)
-MorningBrew
DID YOU KNOW?
Sometimes, first-born children think they’re smarter than their siblings – and a 2020 study backs them up. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and University of Sydney found that eldest children tend to have higher IQs than their younger brothers and sisters, perform better in school, and even earn more income. Why? Not because first-born children receive greater emotional support at home, but because their parents pay special attention to developing their thinking skills. It was determined that latter-born children receive comparatively less encouragement in this area from their parents. (It’s thanks to you, Mom, that I am where I am today!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 05.27.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Memorial Day”, in the US, honoring men and women who died while serving in the military. It began following the Civil War, when, in 1865, the first national cemeteries were established. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial start of summer in the US. (And apparently, a fantastic time to take advantage of clearance prices on used cars, mattresses…and fireworks!)
• “Cellophane Tape Day”, marking the date in 1930 that a patent for the product was granted to Richard Drew. His invention was later marketed by 3M as ‘Scotch’ tape. Mr. Drew also invented masking tape. (I had a book about him. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the beginning…)
• “Grape Popsicle Day”, a salute to one of the favorite flavors of the frozen treat. Also, messiest.
• “Sunscreen Protection Day”, to stress the importance of using protection against the harmful UV rays from the Sun. Doctors and medical professionals recommend a Skin Protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Wear sunglasses too! (***See ‘Mythbusters: Sunscreen Edition’, above***]
• “Nothing To Fear Day”. It’s a chance to stand up and declare, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt did on May 27, 1941 that, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” and take back control of our lives. (He forgot about spiders…)
• “Gray Day”, to raise awareness about brain cancer, and to honor caregivers, and remember those who passed away from brain cancer, and to celebrate those who survived it. LINK: https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/brain-cancer
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] Hamburger Day
[Tues] Amnesty International Day
[Wed] Paper Clip Day
[Thurs] Mint Julep Day
This Month is…Photography Month
This Month is…Moving Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1945 [79] Bruce Cockburn, Ottawa ON, folk-rock singer-songwriter (‘Lovers in a Dangerous Time’, ‘If I Had a Rocket Launcher’)
1958 [66] Neil Finn, Te Awamutu New Zealand, rock singer-guitarist (Split Enz -‘I Got You’, Crowded House-‘Don’t Dream Its Over’)/Fleetwood Mac touring guitarist 2018-19
1965 [59] Todd Bridges, San Francisco CA, TV actor (‘Willis’ on “Diff’rent Strokes” 1978-1986)
1966 [58] Sean Kinney, Renton WA, rock drummer (Alice in Chains-‘Rooster’, ‘Man in the Box’)
1970 [54] Joseph Fiennes, Wiltshire England, TV actor (“The Handmaid’s Tale” 2017-2021, “Flashforward” 2009-2010)/brother of Ralph Fiennes. COMING UP…”The Last Planet”
1971 [53] Paul Bettany, London England, movie actor (‘J.A.R.V.I.S.’ in Marvel Universe, “The Da Vinci Code”)/TV actor (“WandaVision”) COMING UP…”The Collaboration”
1973 [51] Jack McBrayer, Macon GA, TV actor (“30 Rock” 2006-13, “The Middle” 2013-18) COMING UP…”You’re Cordially Invited”, 2025
1975 [48] André 3000 (Benjamin), Atlanta GA, rapper (OutKast-‘Hey Ya!’, ‘The Way You Move’)/TV actor (“Dispatches From Elsewhere”, 2020)
1975 [49] Jamie Oliver, Essex England, celebrity TV chef (“Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution”, “Jamie’s Kitchen”, “The Naked Chef”, etc.)
1980 [44] Ben Feldman, Washington DC, TV actor (“Superstore” 2015-21, “Mad Men” 2012-14)
1990 [34] Chris Colfer, Clovis CA, TV actor (“Glee” 2009-15)
1999 ]25] Lily-Rose Depp, Neuilly-sur-Seine France, TV actress (“The Idol” 2023)/movie actress (“The Dancer”)/model (Chanel brand ambassador)/daughter of Johnny Depp
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2021 [03] The “Friends” reunion screens on HBO Max, 17 years after the TV series ended
2022 [02] Season 4 of the Netflix series “Stranger Things” airs, with a scene featuring the 1985 Kate Bush song ‘Running Up That Hill’. The song trends, and enters the Top 10 in 34 territories, including the US, where it lands at #8. Bush’s previous US chart peak was #30, when the song was first released
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2004 [20] The Bee Gees are made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace; Maurice’s son Adam accepts on behalf of his father, who died 6 months earlier
2017 [07] Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band dies at 69 after a battle with liver cancer
2017 [07] ‘Despacito’ by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber tops the Hot 100, becoming the first #1 sung mostly in Spanish since ‘Macarena’ in 1996
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2014 [10] Google unveils its self-driving car, a prototype that can travel 25 mph (40kph) and safely respond to a variety of situations
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ A single lightning bolt has enough energy to toast 100,000 slices of bread.
✓ When scientists developed straight bananas in the 1960s, the public refused to buy them.
✓ With an average height of 183.8cm (6.03 ft) for men and 171cm (5 feet 7 inches) for women, Netherlands is home to the tallest population on Earth.
✓ Given the choice, mice prefer sweets and carbs over cheese.
✓ Jesse James issued his own press releases.
✓ The Chinese words for “crisis” and “opportunity” are the same.
-WhattheFFacts, Facts
Best of BS . . .
MORE BS THINGS TO DO IN AN ELEVATOR:
• Stand silently and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, and don’t get off.
• Swat at flies that don’t exist.
• Wear a puppet on your hand and use it to talk to the other passengers.
• Listen to the elevator walls with a stethoscope.
• Make explosion noises whenever anyone presses a button.
• Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to other passengers, “This is MY personal space!”
• Look around at everyone and ask with concern, “Wow, did you feel that?”
-ListsOPlenty, first published in BS in 2013
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ A recent study found that food seems to taste better when it’s more expensive. (Obviously the study didn’t include any restaurants at an airport!)
➠ Research shows that teens’ interest in Facebook is dwindling. (Meanwhile, Facebook shows that your Aunt Carol’s interest in ‘adorable angel memes’ is skyrocketing…!)
➠ Mental Health Awareness Month continues. (My therapist is so bad. She once said: “That’s the most humiliating story I’ve ever heard. I’m totally putting it on Facebook!”)
➠ Tomorrow through Thursday is the Scripps National Spelling Bee. (Some people think spelling doesn’t matter anymore. But those people are wrong. W-O-N-G . . . wong…)
➠ Fact of the Day: Watermelon has health benefits for dogs. (Dogs who eat Watermelon are called: Waterdogs? Melon-Collies? …hang in here with me…)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Yeah? Do it again: https://tinyurl.com/mrmw9xmn
BS RANDOM JOKE:
The man who says his wife can’t take a joke, forgets that she took him.
BS U-PICK TRIVIA (‘80s edition):
• What was the highest-grossing movie of the 1980s?
a) E.T. the Extraterrestrial [CORRECT]
b) Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
c) Dirty Dancing
d) The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
• Who was the “other” member of the singing duo “Wham!”?
a) Joey McIntyre
b) Andrew Ridgeley [CORRECT]
c) Sheena Easton
d) Vanilli
• Who starred in the successful 1980s hit TV shows “Knight Rider” and “Baywatch”?
a) Pamela Anderson
b) Woody Harrelson
c) David Hasselhoff [CORRECT]
d) Pee Wee Herman
-BuzzFeed
BS PHONE STARTER:
What name would be cute if it didn’t mean what it means? (Rubella? Alopecia? Salmonella? Omelette?)
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Women take 45% longer than men to do THIS. What is it?
Answer: Read a menu
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
It’s better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly.
