Tuesday, July 8, 2025 – Edition: #7989
Sweet Sheet!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Scarlett Johansson has become the world’s highest box office grossing actor following the release of “Jurassic World Rebirth”. The new blockbuster has seen the grand total of Johansson’s film credits jump to $14.61 billion, putting her in the #1 position as the star with the most box office success – ahead of fellow Marvel stars Samuel L Jackson and Robert Downey Jr. Johansson was catapulted to stardom in 2003 by her role in Sofia Coppola’s “Lost in Translation”. Her other huge successes include her ongoing work in the MCU as ‘Black Widow’, as well as in “Lucy”, and voice roles in films such as “The Jungle Book”, and the “Sing” movies.
-Independent
★ Molly Shannon likes the idea of Kenan Thompson one day taking over from longtime “Saturday Night Live” showrunner Lorne Michaels, despite calling Michaels “irreplaceable.” Asked what she thought about Thompson — who is the longest-tenured cast member ever on the sketch comedy series — potentially taking the reins at the NBC show, Shannon, who was a cast member between 1995 and 2001, said: “I love this idea. He’s the greatest — I adore Kenan,” and added that he is “so talented.” In September 2024, Michaels, who is 80, addressed speculation over his future, telling The Hollywood Reporter he had no “immediate” plans to retire.
-BusinessInsider
★ There’s a new leader atop Hollywood’s 2025 box office charts, as Disney’s remake of “Lilo & Stitch” has passed the global gross of “A Minecraft Movie” in its 7th weekend in theaters. The live-action remake added $3.8 million domestically, bringing its total to $408.5 million in North America, and $972.7 million worldwide. A Minecraft Movie”, which busted a multiweek drought that plagued the box office in April, grossed $954 million worldwide.
-TheWrap
★ An all-time movie classic is being spun off for the small screen. It’s been revealed that the rights holders behind “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” are cooking up a new series adaptation. Speaking on a podcast, producer Paul Zaentz, the nephew of the film’s original producer Saul Zaentz, announced that he has “signed an agreement with (writer) Ken Kesey’s widow to develop a TV series which we’ll make through the point of view of the ‘Chief’ for the first season.” He indicated that in subsequent seasons, viewers will “see what happens to the Chief after he escapes [from the psychiatric hospital].” Chief Bromden was memorably played in the 1975 film by Will Sampson.
-Deadline
★ There will be no 5th season for HGTV‘s “Battle on the Beach”. Alison Victoria, who co-hosted the beachfront property renovation series with Ty Pennington and Taniya Nayak, revealed the news on a recent podcast. Quote: “I love that show. It was so fun and funny. And then all of a sudden, I watched the episode, I’m like, well, where’d all that [great content] go?” She pointed out that there is a lot of content to “put into 42 minutes”, but, she asked, “Where is it? Where’s the great editing?” She mused that “you lose a show that way”.
-Deadline
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Charlize Theron, Jensen Ackles, Lukas Nelson (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): William Shatner, Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Doobie Brothers (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Jeff Goldblum, Jason Isaacs (R)
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Colton Dunn, Jason Sklar, Randy Sklar (R)
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Abby Elliott, Jesse Lally
• “The Daily Show” (COM): TBA
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Phaedra Parks
• “Today” (NBC): Maggie Q
• “GMA3” (ABC): Cyndi Lauper, Will Ganss
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Jensen Ackles
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Jonathan Groff, Lovie Simone, Jamie Ward
(R)
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Kate Hudson (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Michelle Williams, Grant Ellis (R)
• “America’s Got Talent” (NBC): Auditions 6
• “The 1% Club” (FOX): The farmers of the first season of “Farmer Wants a Wife” are among 100 contestants competing for the chance to win up to $100,000.
• “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” (MTV): Season 13 premiere
• “Evict My Kid” (A&E): Series premiere. Two fed-up families take on a 30-day eviction process to finally push their adult children out of the nest.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Ed Sheeran – ‘Shape of You’ leads the pack on Apple Music’s list of the 500 most-streamed songs of the decade. The 2017 smash has been listened to more than any other song on the platform in the past 10 years. #2 is ‘Blinding Lights’ by The Weeknd, and ‘God’s Plan’ by Drake is #3.
• “Kpop Demon Hunters” – The soundtrack jumped from #8 to #3 in its second week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, becoming the highest-charting soundtrack of 2025. The “Wicked” soundtrack reached a high of #4 in January, after debuting and peaking at #2 in December 2024.
• Lauryn Hill — closed out her set at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture to a near-empty stadium after taking the stage hours later than expected. She performed at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, starting her set at 2:30am — and finishing at 3:37am on Saturday, for what was supposed to be a Friday performance. Just several hundred people remained at the venue, which accommodates 83,000 people.
• Foreigner – has released ‘Fool if You Love Him’, one of 5 previously unreleased songs that will appear on the deluxe version of their 1981 multi-Platinum album “4”, out Sept. 12. It was initially recorded and left unfinished during the album’s recording sessions in New York. Original frontman Lou Gramm returned decades later to add a new verse, and record new vocals. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3rum4jpm
• Aldo Nova – The Canadian ‘Fantasy’ singer’s wife posted on his social media: “Due to an unfortunate fall down a flight of stairs, Aldo has suffered a cervical spine fracture at the level of C1, which is a serious injury.” She indicated he does not need spinal surgery, but has to wear a special neck brace for up to a year. She’ll post updates on his progress. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/35cpe2cz
• Ozzy Osbourne – His daughter Kelly Osbourne and Sid Wilson of Slipknot got engaged backstage at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert on Saturday. After years of dating and recently welcoming their first child together, Wilson popped the question just before Ozzy took the stage for his final performance with Black Sabbath.
• Morgan Wallen – seems to be teasing an acoustic version of ‘Love Somebody’. In a flurry of pics and videos from his show in Madison WI last weekend, he included a home-video-style recording of him singing an a cappella version of the Billboard #1 hit. Some fans surmised that he may drop an acoustic rendition as part of a deluxe version of “I’m the Problem”. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/y8j7vnuu
• Miranda Lambert — After the devastating floods that hit large parts of Texas, she turned to social media to ask fans for their help with a new fundraiser to help animals who have been displaced. She’s heavily involved in animal rescue via her MuttNation Foundation. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4azd5jbh
• Alan Jackson – His 2021 song ‘Back’ is the soundtrack to the latest TikTok trend. Users have been posting videos of cute dogs wearing boots and a cowboy hat with the song’s chorus of: “I got my boots, I got my hat, I’m bringing country back” in the background. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2mdctj5h
SHOOTING THE BULL
STRONG ARGUMENT FOR THE 4-DAY WORKWEEK:
The subject of the 4-day workweek hasn’t come up a lot lately. (I hope that’s not because everyone else is already doing it and no one offered ME the chance!) Anyhow, a recent UK trial is giving the 4-day workweek a big thumbs-up. Over 6 months, nearly 1,000 employees across 17 organizations worked one less day a week — without losing pay, or piling on extra work. And guess what? It wasn’t just the workers who loved it. Some companies actually made MORE money and saw FEWER sick days. The London software firm BrandPipe reported a 130% revenue jump, which the CEO calling the trial “an overwhelming success.” Though the data is limited, most participants stuck with the shorter week after the trial ended. Critics say these trials are self-selecting – because companies that want this to work make it work. But supporters believe it’s a growing trend. And one hopeful CEO said: “I think most places will adopt this in the next decade.”
(Me? I’d LOVE the chance to have one less day that I have to try to look busy!)
(…and then there’s [***Afternoon guy***], who we’re still trying to get a THREE-day workweek out of…!)
-CNN
PRIZE SURPRISE:
Every year, schools hand out graduation awards – and of course, these awards usually go to students with the highest grades. But some psychologists are saying this focus on academic achievement might actually backfire, even for top students. Dr. Dina Lafoyiannis, a Toronto-based child psychologist, says awards that only recognize marks can increase anxiety and hurt motivation. She believes we should celebrate a wider range of skills — things like collaboration, communication, adaptability, and leadership. And Dr. Linda Iwenofu agrees. She says research shows students thrive when effort and growth are recognized — not just results. Focusing just on grades can leave many students feeling excluded or inadequate, especially in middle school, when peer approval matters most. Both experts suggest a rethink: One that would involve celebrating creativity, perseverance, and progress. It could lead to happier, more motivated students in the long run.
(So… no award for “Most Likely to Cry During Math”?)
(How about “Most Creative Excuse for being tardy?)
-CTVNews
CALLING CARS:
Yes, it’s a known fact the many of us love our cars – and think of them as something more than a way to get form Place A to Place B. But according to a new survey, one-third of drivers love their vehicle so much that they’ve given it a name. For some, it’s something cute like Buttercup’s Folly, or bold like Road Warrior, or gloriously honest like The Rolling Turd. The poll of 2,000 vehicle owners in the US found that Gen X and millennials are the biggest car-namers, with over 40% giving their ride a handle, while boomers are least likely to name their wheels. Pop culture faves like Batmobile and The Millennium Falcon are big, and so are animal-inspired names like Party Chicken and The Slug. One very grounded driver calls their car The Grocery Getter. Oh, and fun fact: 12% of people believe cars actually have feelings. Gen Z leads the pack on that one. Here some more of the wackier car names Americans have chosen: Love Bug, Puddle Jumper, Old Flame, Road Warrior, Nasty Beast, Silver Bullet, Green Machine, Turtle, and Blue Goose.
(I call mine “Debt Trap.” Very fitting…)
(If Gen Z thinks cars have feelings, mine’s probably in therapy!)
-SWNS
CORPORATE DECISIONS:
The Facebook page known as “Kale Salad” reposted a meme from ‘Kristen’, who wrote:
“Flour company: What if we sell it in a paper bad that’s not fully sealed at the bottom?”
That question prompted a flood of similarly-themed questions from commenters – and many of them are golden. Some examples…
⇒ Brown sugar people: Let’s have this come in a non resealable bag so it’ll be rock hard and unusable. Then we can sell more.
⇒ Baby wipes company: What if we put them in a plastic packet and tangle them all together so you get 10 at once?
⇒ Pasta Company: What if we put it in bags that rip into oblivion the first time you open them and add a ‘reseal’ sticker that’s not sticky?
⇒ Pillow company: How about we fill them so that one isn’t just quite enough but two are too much?
⇒ Cold and flu pills company: When they’re at their weakest, let’s make opening the packet impossible.
⇒ Oven company: Why don’t we tint the glass so the food looks cooked before it is?
⇒ Cling wrap company: Let’s provide a serrated cutting strip that’s absolutely useless, and also let’s make cling wrap that clings to itself and nothing else.
⇒ Scissor company: What if we make the scissor packaging completely inaccessible — unless you already have a pair of scissors?
⇒ Fruit cup company: Fill it to the brim with sticky juice and make the lid impossible to peel off without spilling it everywhere.
[***Caution***] Ham company: how about we fart into the packet and then seal it?
(Got any to add to the list?)
-KaleSalad
DID YOU KNOW?
The classic ‘dad-bod’ is the body type women find most attractive. A new study found that women find this body type — a bit soft with some extra padding — even more attractive than chiseled abs. Researchers showed people from China, Lithuania, and the UK photos of men with different body types, and the top-rated bodies had a BMI between 23 and 27. The reason? It may signal better survival and reproductive health. So skipping the gym for a beer now and then might not be so bad after all. On the other hand, as you might have expected, while women tend to pick a partner based on their evolutionary advantages, men prefer women who are thinner than what’s considered “evolutionary optimal”. (Never mind having a 6-pack, guys – what you REALLY want is the “family pack”!)
-SWNS
BS CHRONOMETER 07.08.25
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Be a Kid Again Day”, when we’re encouraged to participate in activities we enjoyed as a child, and to introduce them to a kid we know. (“OK, Noah, this is known as ‘playing outdoors’ …”) What do you miss most about being a kid?
• “Ice Cream Sundae Day”, a day to create your own sundae from all your favorite toppings. The first sundae was purportedly created on this date in 1881 by Edward Berner in Two Rivers WI. (FUN FACT: Though there are many supposed sundae origin stories, most of them agree that the sundae’s original spelling was “Sunday”, but it was changed to avoid religious connotation.)
• “National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day”, celebrating what happens when these 2 fantastic tastes come together into a mind-bendingly delectable whole. Today, have some brownies, cupcakes, or muffins made with milk chocolate and almonds. Or just eat some almonds covered with milk chocolate. (Not if I get to them first!)
• “Math 2.0 Day”, celebrating math and technology, specifically the intersection between the 2. Today, mathematicians, educators, innovators, and policymakers come together to raise awareness about math literacy and education. (Figures…)
• “SCUD (Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama) Day”, to remind people of the benefits of spending more time in the ‘Comic Zone’ and less in the ‘Drama Zone’. Today, step back, relax and laugh, and leave the drama alone. (I particularly enjoy those who claim they hate drama, but feel the need to dramatically complain about it…)
• “Cow Appreciation Day”. Celebrated since 2005, this holiday was created by Chick-Fil-A in order to acknowledge all the hard work cows do for us, from providing us with food and fuel, to helping promote a sustainable environment.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Fashion Day
[Wed] Sugar Cookie Day
[Thurs] Don’t Step on a Bee Day
[Fri] Mojito Day
This Week is…Running of The Bulls (Spain)
This Month is…Family Golf Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1944 [81] Jeffrey Tambor, San Francisco CA, TV actor (‘Maura Pfefferman’ on “Transparent” 2014-17, “Arrested Development” 2003-19)/movie actor (“Hangover” films)
1949 [76] Wolfgang Puck, Sankt Veit an der Glan Austria, celeb chef (“Hell’s Kitchen” 2011-14, “The Chef Show”)/restauranteur (‘Spago’ and ‘Wolfgang Puck’ restaurants)
1951 [74] Anjelica Huston, Santa Monica CA, TV actress (“Smash” 2012-13)/movie actress (“Prizzi’s Honor”, “The Addams Family”) COMING UP… “The Christmas Witch Trial of La Befana”
1958 [67] Kevin Bacon, Philadelphia PA, movie actor (“Apollo 13”, “Footloose”)/TV actor (“The Following” 2013-15)/married to Kyra Sedgwick since 1988. COMING UP… “Family Movie”
1968 [57] Billy Crudup, Manhasset NY, movie actor (“Almost Famous”, “Mission: Impossible III”)/TV actor (“The Morning Show” 2019-2023)/married to Naomi Watts since 2023
1970 [55] Beck (Hanson) [born Bek Campbell], LA CA, alt-rock singer (‘Loser’, ‘Devils Haircut’)
1973 [52] Sebastian Maniscalco, Arlington Heights IL, comedian-movie actor (“About My Father”, “Green Book”)/TV actor (“Bookie” since 2023)
1977 [48] Milo Ventimiglia, Anaheim CA, TV actor (‘Jack Pearson’ on “This Is Us” 2016-22)/movie actor (“Rocky Balboa”, “Creed 2”)
1982 [43] Sophia Bush, Pasadena CA, TV actress (“Chicago P.D.” 2014-17, “One Tree Hill” 2003-12)
1985 [40] Jamie Cook, Sheffield England, indie rock guitarist-songwriter (Arctic Monkeys-‘Do I Wanna Know?’, ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’)
1998 [27] Jaden Smith, Malibu CA, movie actor (“The Karate Kid”, “The Pursuit of Happyness”)/rapper (w/Justin Bieber-‘Never Say Never’)/son of Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith
1998 [27] Maya Hawke, New York City NY, TV actress (“Stranger Things” 2019-2025, “Little Women”)/daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. COMING UP…”The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping”, 2026
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1999 [26] “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” the third book of the series by JK Rowling, is published. (Exactly one year later, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” is published.)
2020 [05] “Glee” actress-singer Naya Rivera drowns at age 33 near Santa Clarita, California, while swimming with her 4-year-old son Josey, who was found alone on their rented boat.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1996 [29] Spice Girls release their debut single ‘Wannabe’ in the UK. It shoots to #1, setting Spice-mania (and Girl Power) in motion. It is released in North America in Jan. 1997, and hits #1 there as well.
2023 [02] Elton John wraps up his farewell tour with a show in Stockholm. Since 2018, he played to over 6 million fans in 22 countries. It sets the mark for highest-grossing tour at over $900 million, a record broken months later by Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1947 [78] It is reported that a UFO crash-landed in Roswell, New Mexico. Although the Air Force explains it was actually a downed weather balloon, the ‘Roswell Incident’ spurs numerous conspiracy theories about alien activity and government cover-ups.
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1977 [48] Sabra Starr finishes the longest-ever recorded belly dance (100 hrs).
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ For the Apollo 11 moon landing conspiracy theory to be true, over 400,000 people would need to be part of the secret.
✓ Polar bears are almost invisible to infrared cameras.
✓ The only difference between white and brown eggs is the hen that lays them. The color of a hen’s earlobes determines the color of her eggs.
✓ Cockroaches can withstand 10 times more radiation than a person can.
✓ A full bladder is about the size of a softball.
✓ If you cut a hole in your fishing net, it will have fewer holes.
-Facts, RandomFactGenerator
Best of BS . . .
BS SIGNS THAT YOU’RE LIVING IN THE PAST:
• Every time you go to a concert, it’s a “farewell tour”.
• You find yourself making frequent use of the word “newfangled”.
• Landline.
• You have a VCR, and aren’t afraid to use it.
• You still call “hashtags” “poundsigns”.
• You’re still trying to text her, even though she unfriended you on Facebook and blocked you on Twitter.
• All your calendars are B.C.
• Aladdin, Lion King and Dumbo are all in your local theater.
• Every once in a while, you still call 867-5309 to see if someone answers.
• Like me, your paycheque is the same as it was 20 years ago…
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS THINGS HEARD ON SPEAKERPHONE…
• “Tell her I’m not here.”
• “Your call is very important to us! Now, please listen to this 8 minute flute solo.”
• Someone saying “Hellooo…” while I have it on mute because I’m yelling at my kids to shut up because I’m on the phone.
• Me, cussing out every stupid driver, while on the phone with my mother.
• “$3.99 for the first minute, $5.99 each additional minute.”
• Chewing sounds.
• “Eww, did you see the dress Sarah is wearing today?” “Yes I did. She’s standing right next to me.”
• “Stormy wants another 130 thousand.”
• “Hello? Is it me you’re looking for?”
• “Do you have me on speakerphone?!?”
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
BS WEB GOODIE:
The future is in good hands: https://tinyurl.com/mwtcfd2
BS RANDOM JOKE:
You know what they say about people who are paranoid…
BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s the worst way you’ve ever heard of to break up with someone?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
The average lifespan of THIS household item is 10 years. What is it?
Answer: Vacuum cleaner
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Pay attention to who you’re with when you feel your best.
