Monday, July 24, 2023 — Edition: #7522
The BS Press!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Jamie Foxx has spoken for the first time about his medical emergency, and says he wasn’t sure he was going to make it. He posted an Instagram video on Friday night, emotionally opening up about the suffering he went through and why he kept the specifics under wraps. Quote: “I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back. I went through something that I thought I would never, ever go through.” Why did he wait so long to talk? He said didn’t want the public to see him with tubes coming out of his body, adding, “I want you to see me laughing, having a good time, partying…” He also shut rumors he was paralyzed and blind, and said he is now able to work. Still no word on what, exactly, his medical emergency was. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3m5tura6
-TMZ
★ “Barbenheimer” has given the box office the triumphant weekend that it needed. Totals from the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” combo are estimated to have reached the highest of any weekend since the 2019 opening weekend of “Avengers: Endgame.” Barbie led the way with a spectacular $70 million opening day and an opening weekend of at least $150 million, the highest Fri.-Sun. weekend total this year. Oppenheimer exploded onto the scene with an estimated $80 million domestic opening weekend.
-TheWrap
★ It has come out that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly denied a seat on Air Force One after Queen Elizabeth’s death. According to a report, the couple attempted to hitch a ride back to the US after the Queen’s funeral. The request was reportedly a non-starter and The White House denied the request almost immediately. A source says the request “would have strained relations with the palace and the new king.” President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were transported to and from the funeral on Air Force One.
-PopCulture
★ Kevin Costner’s estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, is vacationing in of Hawaii with one of Costner’s friends. Baumgartner has been photographed at a resort with Josh Connor, a wealthy financier who lives close to the Costner family home in Carpinteria, CA. However, sources say that while Baumgartner and Connor have grown close, there is “absolutely no romantic relationship.”
-TMZ
★ One of the big reveals at San Diego Comic-Con was the title and trailer of the ‘Rick and ‘Michonne’ “Walking Dead” spinoff. At a Fan Watch Party, attendees were given a first look at “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live”, which was announced as the official title for the upcoming series starring Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira. In the clip, Michonne says, “I’ve been out there a long time. I lost someone years ago. And then things changed. I found out that he’s alive.” That’s when Rick appears. The new show debuts in 2024. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5ajxehzj
-Deadline
★ “Star Trek” is no stranger to music. And if you’re a fan, you know that Starfleet officers are not afraid to break into song from time to time — as Allison Pill’s ‘Agnes Jurati’ did in season 2 of “Picard”, for example. But this season, “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” is going even further — with a full-blown musical episode for the first time in franchise history. The news was announced as part of the Star Trek Universe panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, along with a video teasing the episode — which will be called “Subspace Rhapsody.” That will be episode 9 of season 2, set to premiere Aug. 3 on Paramount+. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2s3eyuzv
-EW
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Laura Dern, Anna Konkle (R)
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Keegan-Michael Key, Richard Branson, Blondshell (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Maggie Haberman (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Adam Driver, Adam Brody (R)
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Capt. Jason Chambers, Aesha Scott (R)
• “The Talk” (CBS): Alfre Woodard, Marcus Scribner (R)
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Cynthia Nixon, Annie Murphy
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Kristen Bell, Anna Diop, Panic! at the Disco (R)
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Janelle James (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Tia Mowry, Ledisi (R)
• “The Bachelorette” (ABC): It’s Charity’s last chance at clarity before meeting families; she and the bachelors spend a week in New Orleans filled with unexpected dates and shocking twists.
• “Son of a Critch” (CW): US Series premiere. Mark, a boy much older inside than his 11 years, uses comedy and self-deprecation to win friends and connect with the people in his limited world.
• “Children Ruin Everything” (CW): Series premiere. Astrid and James struggle to hold onto their identities while raising their young children in the city.
• “Futurama” (Hulu): Good news, everyone! The show returns with its first new season in a decade. The entire voice cast is back. Guests this season include the late rapper Coolio.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• SZA — Upon seeing her song ‘Snooze’ was included on Barack Obama’s annual summer playlist, she wrote on Twitter, “My forever president said hurry up w the video and I heard him.” That probably means a music video for the song is coming. Also on the former president’s playlist: J Hus and Drake’s ‘Who Told You’, Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro’s ‘Vampiros’, Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj’s ‘Princess Diana’, Luke Combs’ ‘Fast Car’, and more. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5cmxu3bs
• Drake — has opened up about why he isn’t married. In an interview, Bobbi Althoff, host of “The Really Good Podcast” said to him that he probably isn’t going to marry someone who’s NOT famous. Drake’s reply: “I probably will end up marrying somebody that’s not famous. Famous people… they’re not that intriguing.” When reminded that what he just said would include himself, Drake said: “I’m an anomaly.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2p848zwu
• Slash — The Guns N’ Roses guitarist is putting together a “blues-oriented” solo album that will feature “a bunch of different singers”, one of which is Demi Lovato. He says it will “definitely” come out next year.
• Fleetwood Mac – will release “Rumours Live”, on Sept. 8. It features a show recorded Aug. 29, 1977 at the Forum in Los Angeles, during the Rumours tour. Aside from ‘Gold Dust Woman’, none of the recordings have been released before. ‘Dreams’ is available to preview now. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/567ar39b
• David Bowie — The guitar riff from his 1974 single ‘Rebel Rebel’ is recreated in the new Chris Young single ‘Young Love and Saturday Nights’, creating the possibility that the avant-garde rocker could have his first-ever country hit as a songwriter. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2p869k2m
• Brandi Carlile – appears on a new, expanded edition of the “Barbie” movie soundtrack, releaseD in conjunction with the movie on Friday. “Barbie The Album (Best Weekend Ever Edition)” features Carlile’s cover of ‘Closer To Fine’ ft. her wife Catherine Carlile, plus Ryan Gosling’s cover of Matchbox Twenty’s ‘Push’.
• Jason Aldean – His ‘Try That in a Small Town’ has seen a surge in sales and streaming following the uproar over its controversial music video. Music industry experts predict the song will enter the all-genre top 10 this week, perhaps even at #1.
• Chris Stapleton – will release his much-anticipated new album “Higher” on Nov. 10. When Stapleton made the announcement on Instagram, his buddy Justin Timberlake commented: “Here comes THAT man!!!!” The record’s first single ‘White Horse’ is out now. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2p8m3rss
SHOOTING THE BULL
E-BEER:
While we continue to feel sorry for displaced cashiers every time we’re forced to use a supermarket self-serve, we should pause and think for a moment about what service provider might be next. Like perhaps – your friendly-neighborhood bartender? Recently, self-service EBars have been popping up at sporting and cultural events in England, replacing the need for anything but bare-bones bar staff. Spectators at Ashes at Old Trafford, a major cricket event, witnessed a wall of mobile vending machines pouring pints at the touch of a button. Each EBar can pour 120- 150 pints an hour, and the machines, which are “designed to pour the perfect pint every time”, also don’t require a break, the way human bartenders do, say EBar’s founders. They have plans to take their invention to the US as well as elsewhere in Europe. They insist they are not trying to take jobs away from humans, but simply helping to ensure that anyone who wants a pint at a large-scale event can get one, without standing in line for too long.
(Good! Because judging by what I’ve seen at some beer lineups, it’s the “standing” that becomes a challenge, after a while…!)
(Darn! This was NOT the first thing that came to mind when I heard “self-serve” bar service!)
(It still takes tips, I bet!)
-Guardian
THROWN PHONES:
How often do you drop your phone in a typical day? According to a new survey, the average person experiences about 140 moments of “phone peril” a year. Phone peril would include all instances of almost dropping or cracking their phone. Among a panel of 2,000 adults in the US, Gen Z (ages 18–26) was found to be the clumsiest generation, averaging 187 “close calls” annually. The average person has owned their phone for 2.2 years – and 69% said they’re currently using one that’s partly broken — including 79% of Gen Z. The most common issues include a cracked or scratched screen (24%), battery problems (21%), and overheating (15%).
(I’m not really sure how often I drop mine in a day. I’ll start counting…how many times I swear!)
(Funny, though — my kids always seem to drop theirs right about the time that the new iPhones are released!)
-StudyFinds
NEW GOOD NEWS:
➢ This year’s convention for the American Veterinary Medical Association was turned into a free clinic to care for the pets of homeless people in the Denver area. In partnership with the Street Dog Coalition and other sponsors, the event held last weekend allowed anyone to bring in an animal to receive a free health check, vaccinations, and essential supplies to take home. A spokesperson said: “People experiencing homelessness have incredibly strong bonds with their pets who provide companionship, purpose, and unconditional love. By providing free…care…we hope to help preserve, protect, and strengthen those bonds.” Research shows that social isolation is as deadly to humans as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and a companion animal can almost entirely alleviate those effects.
➢ A nursing home has launched a campaign where families with young children can “adopt a grandparent”, as a way of tackling loneliness among the elderly. The heartwarming idea was introduced by Mountview Home in England, after a 93-year-old resident said she had never had a granddaughter. Families are invited to visit the care home to spend time with seniors and create multi-generational relationships. Each month, volunteers drop by with their children for a lunch, plus activities and games. Research says these types of visits are hugely beneficial for both the children and the residents – and according to those who work there, the smiles on their faces say it all.
-GoodNewsNetwork, SWNS
BAD TO THE LAST DROP:
What food would you refuse to eat, even if it were the last thing available? That’s the question a Reddit user posed…and the answers didn’t disappoint. Here are some of the best…
☞ “Caviar, oysters, and snails.”
☞ “Black licorice”
☞ “Liver. If I wanted that taste, I would eat the filter from a fish tank.”
☞ “Excessively built-up greasy, greasy hamburgers. The kind with, like, 3 patties made of 3 different animals, bacon, 4 types of cheese, zillion condiments, and built sky-high to the point you can’t even take a bite without it falling apart and half the contents (falling) out the back…onto your plate.”
☞ “Cottage Cheese”
☞ “Olives”
☞ “Candied apples. I always dreamed of trying one as a kid, then was massively disappointed when I found it was awful to chew, too hard and sticky to be enjoyable, and didn’t have much flavor. ”
☞ “London’s jellied eels. Wtf.”
☞ “Blue cheese. Literally rotten cheese. I know it’s ‘safe mold,’ but it still tastes horrendous. They say it’s an acquired taste. Why would you want to acquire a taste for mold?”
☞ “Japanese blowfish. You can literally die if it’s prepared incorrectly.”
☞ “Chicken feet”
☞ “Potatoes” (??)
(Pro tip: Anything tastes good if you use enough ketchup!)
(***Ask listeners for theirs***)
-BuzzFeed
DID YOU KNOW?
A marketing expert says that parents can use artificial intelligence (AI) to make their lives easier — by getting their children to bed on time, planning birthday parties, and even helping with their homework. Her parenting secret? ChatGPT. Celia Quillain says she helps parents use the AI chatbot to make “parenting easier.” She teaches moms and dads to use ChatGPT to write a bedtime story, to ease nighttime routine, to complete school assignments, and help with plans such as play dates and big family gatherings. (And to show kids how to plot the demise of mankind, from what I’ve heard lately…!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 07.24.23
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cousins Day”, to honor cousins who are living and pay homage to those who aren’t. (You might as well enjoy them, because you’re stuck with them, and there’s nothing you can do about it!)
• “Drive-Thru Day”, honoring the businesses that allow you to shop without leaving your vehicle. There are drive-thru banks, coffee shops, fast-food restaurants, florists, ice cream bars, liquor stores, marriage chapels (Las Vegas), and pharmacies. What’s the weirdest you’ve seen? Ours is a funeral home…
• “Tell an Old Joke Day”, a good excuse to dust off your best chicken-crossing-the-road zinger (***and ask listeners to tell their best jokes … but only if they’re under 5-years-old***) What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear! What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Nacho cheese! (Eyeroll…)
• “Tequila Day”, celebrating Mexico’s national booze that’s becoming increasingly popular in other drinks beside margaritas. But we still like it the old-fashioned way – a little salt, a slice of lime and … ay caramba!
• “Amelia Earhart Day”, honoring the aviation pioneer who was born on this date in 1897. During an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937, she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. Theories and conspiracies still exist about the cause of her disappearance.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] Hot Fudge Sundae Day
[Tues] Merry-Go-Round Day
[Wed] Aunt and Uncles Day
[Thurs] Intern Day
This Week Is…Moth Week
This Month Is…Baked Bean Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [74] Michael Richards, Culver City CA, TV actor (‘Kramer’ on “Seinfeld” 1989-1998, “Kirstie” 2013-2014)
1951 [72] Lynda Carter, Phoenix AZ, TV actress (“Wonder Woman” 1975-1979)
1963 [60] Karl “The Mailman” Malone, Summerfield LA, retired NBA player (14 X all star, MVP 1997, 99 with Utah Jazz, Olympic gold 1992, 96, Basketball Hall of Fame, 2010)
1964 [59] Barry Bonds, Riverside CA, retired MLB player (MLB career home-run record [762], single-season home run record [73], 7 X NL MVP, 8 X Gold Glove winner, 12 X silver slugger, 14 X all-star)/indicted for allegations that he lied while under oath about his alleged use of steroids
1968 [55] Kristin Chenoweth, Broken Arrow OK, TV actress (“The Good Wife” 2012, “Glee” 2009-14)/Broadway actress (“Wicked”)
1969 [54] Jennifer Lopez, Bronx NY, pop singer (‘Jenny From the Block’/TV personality (“American Idol” 2011-12, 2014-16)/movie actress (“The Boy Next Door”)/married to Ben Affleck since 2022
1979 [44] Rose Byrne, Sydney Australia, movie actress (“Bridesmaids”, Neighbors”)
1982 [41] Elisabeth Moss, LA CA, TV actress (“The Handmaid’s Tale” 2017-22, ‘Peggy Olson’ on “Mad Men” 2007-15, “The West Wing” 1999-2006)
1982 [41] Anna Paquin, Winnipeg MB [raised Wellington NZ], TV actress (“True Blood” 2008-14)/movie actress (“X-Men” films, 1994 Oscar-“The Piano”)
1987 [36] Mara Wilson, Burbank CA, movie actress (“Matilda”, “Mrs. Doubtfire”)
1998 [25] Bindi Irwin, Buderim Australia, TV host (“Jungle Girl” 2007-2008, “Bindi’s Bootcamp” 2015, “Dancing With the Stars” season 21 winner)/daughter of “The Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1980 [43] English actor and comedian Peter Sellers (“The Pink Panther” films, “The Party”), dies at 54
2020 [03] Talk and game show host Regis Philbin dies at age 88
TODAY IN MUSIC . . .
1999 [24] On the third day of the Woodstock ’99 festival at a New York air force base, overpriced water, overflowing toilets and a Limp Bizkit performance lead to riots and injuries. Conditions deteriorate as the festival rages on, and by the final day, MTV is calling it “Apocalypse Woodstock”
2018 [05] Demi Lovato is hospitalized after an apparent drug overdose in LA. She was hospitalized for 2 weeks and subsequently entered an in-patient rehab facility. (She said last week that she still suffers from vision and hearing impairment as a result)
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1534 [489] Jacques Cartier lands in what would become Canada, claiming it for France
1995 [28] The first-ever woman announces a network baseball game (Suzyn Waldman on “ABC Monday Night Baseball”)
TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
2005 [18] US cyclist Lance Armstrong wins a record 7th consecutive Tour de France (all 7 titles later stripped due to doping)
2019 [04] Facebook agrees to pay a $5 billion fine, the largest ever for violating consumer privacy, to the US Federal Trade Commission
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ The average adult has 4 dreams a night, and 1 nightmare a year.
✓ On any given day, half of the world’s population will eat rice.
✓ The FBI got the idea for the “10 Most Wanted” list from the fashion designer who invented the “10 Best-Dressed Women” list.
✓ The scientific name for any object that’s shaped like a football is “prolate spheroid”.
✓ Blockbuster had the chance to buy Netflix for US$50 million in 2000, but turned it down to go into business with Enron.
✓ In 1987, a man convinced 2.8 million people to send him a penny each to pay for his college education. (Total: $28.000)
-BathroomReadersInstitute
Best of BS . . .
BS WAYS TO UPSET YOUR SPOUSE:
• Record golf over your wedding video.
• Smile, laugh, and say, “I know” when he’s telling you something serious.
• Get engaged to someone else.
• Text her to get you a beer while she’s in the other room.
• If he asks if he is the only ‘one’ that you’ve ever been with, say, “Yes. All the others were nines and tens.”
• Tighten every jar in the house.
• Text back with “K”.
• Steal the covers, of course.
• She just told me 5 minutes ago, but I can’t remember.
• Just be yourself.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ A 3.6 magnitude earthquake shook Texas on Saturday. (No reports of injury, but several homes fell off their tires!)
➠ Prince George of Cambridge (10) shared a birthday with David Spade (59) on Saturday. (George and Spade are very different, of course. One is an adorable little thing, unjustifiably rich for doing so very little. And the other is the Prince…)
➠ Alex Rodriguez turns 48 on Thursday. (It’s not too late for a gift. He’s registered at Bed Bath & Beyond Pretentious!)
➠ So the story goes, Bruce Wayne’s parents were shot and killed in an alley this week in 1939, so one could argue that July 26th, 1939 was the true birth of Batman, making him 84. (Batman is one of the few superheroes with no superpowers. In other words, he’s just another guy overcompensating with a cool car!)
➠ About 30% of people who take prescription drugs misuse them. (The other 70% had vision so blurry, they couldn’t read the survey.)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Do you think he knows? https://tinyurl.com/3ad8t64r
BS RANDOM JOKE:
‘Always’ and ‘never’ are two words you should always remember never to use.
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• Who co-founded Microsoft?
a) Steve Jobs
b) Steve Wozniak
c) Bill Gates [CORRECT]
d) Bill Hader
• Where is the United Nations Headquarters?
a) Washington, DC
b) New York City [CORRECT]
c) Geneva, Switzerland
d) Wagga Wagga, Australia
• After “The Simpsons”, what is the longest-running prime-time US TV series?
a) Law & Order: SVO [CORRECT]
b) Grey’s Anatomy
c) NCIS
d) Barney and Friends (or did it just seem like it?)
-ThoughtCatalog
BS PHONE STARTER:
What bizarre thing is your dog afraid of? Dog owners’ answers to this question in a survey included umbrellas, bacon frying, a mug with his own picture on it, blimps, puppies, white things…and his own farts.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 45% of us agree: We do THIS healthy thing more often in the summer. What is it?
Answer: Take vitamins and supplements
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.
