Thursday, April 21, 2022 — Edition: #7214
Can You Believe This Sheet?
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ “Star Wars” actor Ewan McGregor will marry his “Fargo” co-star Mary Elizabeth Winstead tomorrow, according to reports. 51-year-old McGregor is set to tie the knot with Winstead, who is 37, in Los Angeles, after meeting in late 2016 when they played a couple in the FX TV series. A source says: “They are more in love than ever” after welcoming their first child together in June 2020, a son named Laurie. The couple bought a home in the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles in 2019.
-PageSix
★ Liza Minnelli’s longtime friend Michael Feinstein claims the Broadway icon was “sabotaged” at the Oscars by being “forced” to use a wheelchair that sparked concern about her health. During the broadcast, Minnelli took the stage with Lady Gaga to present the Best Picture award. Aside from sitting in a wheelchair, she also notably flubbed some of her teleprompter lines. Friend and collaborator Feinstein said in an interview that she “only agreed to appear if she could sit in a director’s chair, ’cause she’s been having back trouble,” and didn’t want people to worry about her. However, 5 minutes before she was set to appear, a stage manager told her she had to use a wheelchair. Feinstein believes the last-minute change was made because producers “were all shaken up because of everything that had happened earlier” a reference to the Will Smith/Chris Rock slapping incident.
-PageSix
★ Simon Cowell says he was “lucky to survive” back surgery after undergoing a serious operation in 2020. The “Britain’s Got Talent” judge was rushed to hospital after breaking his back in an accident involving his e-bike, and underwent 6 hours of surgery which included having a metal rod implanted. In a new interview, Cowell admitted he didn’t talk much about his injury at the time, because it was “a lot worse than people thought”. Then, when he believed the bones had healed, he went to a funfair with his son Eric, and tried to kick a football, resulting in “agony”. A year later he again fell from a bike – which set him back, but now, Cowell says he’s “almost healed” and “can actually play football with Eric.”
-HuffPost
★ Here we go again: Another record for “Bridgerton”. After 4 weeks on the charts, Season 2 has become Netflix’s most-watched English Language series ever, with more than 627.11 million hours watched. The 2nd season of the show, which stars Jonathan Bailey as ‘Anthony Bridgerton’ and Simone Ashley as ‘Kate Sharma’, has now bested Season 1. And it’s the first time a show has held the #1 and #2 most-watched slots.
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Magic Johnson, Naomi Scott
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Pusha T
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Jason Bateman, Laura Linney
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Tiffany Haddish, Chloë Sevigny, a performance from “Company”, Aric Improta
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Nicolas Cage, Aaron Paul, Robert Winston
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Kaley Cuoco, Rosie Perez
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Regina Hall, Mindy Scheier (R)
• “The Talk” (CBS): Brandon Scott Jones, Danielle Pinnock, Roman Zaragoza
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Alexander Skarsgård
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Katie Lowes, Tyler Cameron, Simon Pierro, guest host Mario Lopez
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Adam Richman, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Danielle Kartes, Bonnie Raitt
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Ben Schwartz, Lorena Bobbitt
• “Ghosts” (ABC): Season 1 finale
• “Windy City Rehab” (HGTV): Season 3 premiere
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• (***Caution – content***) Megan Thee Stallion – plans to release the diss track she debuted on stage at Coachella over the weekend. A music insider says the tune, titled ‘You’s a B*tch” is coming out “soon.” The female empowerment anthem includes lines like, “Ladies, love yourself ’cause this s–t could get ugly.”
• Drake and Taylor Swift – fans are apoplectic about a possible collab after he posted a pic of the 2 on Instagram. One Swiftie wrote: “Drake wouldn’t randomly post a photo with Taylor Swift just like that…”, while another commented: “Remember there were rumours about Drake x Taylor Swift during the 1989 era? What if the song is in the vault?” One surmised he could be a guest on the re-recording of her “1989” album.
• Arkells – helped a Toronto man execute a surprise proposal during a concert in Oshawa ON Saturday. Fabian Vargas messaged frontman Max Kerman to ensure “their song” ‘My Heart Will Always Be Yours’ would be on the set list, but instead, Vargas and Drew Price were brought on stage under the guise that they would dance and “get the crowd going.” In reality, Kerman was ready to propose. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdzzduc6
• Van Halen — David Lee Roth has responded recent rumors regarding a possible Van Halen tribute tour. It would involve remaining band members alongside notable guests, including guitarist Joe Satriani. Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted claims he has opted out, but in a statement, Roth said: “‘Van Halen 4k,’ in the age of COVID, is going to require 2 of us for every position. Satriani and (Toto’s Steve) Lukather, (Michael) Anthony and Newsted, Al (Van Halen) or Tommy Lee.” The plot thickens…
• Jerry Doucette – The Canadian classic rock guitarist-singer died of cancer on Monday at 70. Best known for his 1977 hit ‘Mama Let Him Play’, his band, Doucette, won a Juno for Most Promising Group of the Year in 1979. He retired in 2018, citing health issues.
• Dierks Bentley – His collaboration with HARDY and Breland ‘Beers On Me’ has become his 21st #1 hit. He posted on Insta: “Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen, to @breland (which… congrats on your first #1 dude) and @hardy for making this song what it is. Country radio… I owe y’all a beer.” HARDY replied: “THANK YOU SO MUCH DUDE” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2pev585b
• Kane Brown – Although he has yet to share specifics on his next album, expected this year, he posted a video of himself dancing to music in the kitchen with his oldest daughter, Kingsley, in his arms, and wrote: “This will be the new radio single (like I love country music)…” The song uses a sample from Brooks and Dunn’s ‘Brand New Man’. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3bma3cwr
• Keith Urban — has never hidden his battle with addiction, but recently explained he doesn’t like to talk about it, either. Quote: “I love my audience being able to just come and have a great time…Everyone does what they want to do to have a great time. I just realized I’m allergic to it.”
SHOOTING THE BULL
UTENSALT:
Japanese researchers have developed computerized chopsticks that enhance salty tastes. Why? The idea is to help those who need to reduce sodium in their diets. The chopsticks enhance tastes using electrical stimulation and a mini-computer worn on a wristband. It uses a weak electrical current to transmit sodium ions from food, through the chopsticks, to the mouth — where they create a sense of saltiness, according to inventor Homei Miyashita of Meiji University. He says the salty taste is enhanced 1.5 times. Excess sodium intake is related to high blood pressure, strokes and other ailments. By the way, Miyashita and his lab have explored other ways that technology can stimulate human sensory experiences – and also came up with a lickable TV screen that can imitate various food flavors.
(If you’ve got kids, you know ALL about TV screens that have been enhanced with food flavors – AND LICKED!)
(And if you use the “salt chopsticks” often enough, eventually you’ll be “cured”!)
-Reuters
ROUTINE OBSERVATION:
Does it sometimes seem like your life consists the same mundane, boring things, day after day? That could be a good thing. An occupational therapist at Queen’s University in Kingston ON says that having routines can support cognitive function, boost health and provide meaningful activities and social opportunities. How? Megan Edgelow says having a daily routine and regular habits supports cognitive function by freeing you up to be more creative. Research shows that regular work processes allows people to spend less cognitive energy on recurring tasks, which can support focus and creativity for more complex tasks. As for health, regular routines and habits can support older adults to function better in their home environments, such as taking medications at the same time, regular meals and getting enough sleep. And what about the social benefits of routines? Edgelow says a health-promoting activity such as walking can offer chances to enjoy nature, explore new places and socialize…while providing mental health benefits at the same time. With some pandemic measures being eased these days, she says we now have an opportunity to consider the routines we want to keep and the things we need in our daily lives to stay productive, happy and healthy.
(…so if you can’t find me on Facebook, you’ll know why!)
(Which is why I’m going straight home to smash my alarm clock with a hammer!)
(I’m not gonna say I like to stick to a routine, but my wife says I’m so boring that my pronouns should be ‘ho’ and ‘hum’!)
-CNN
DISNEY & CHILL?
What’s the best streaming service? Disney+ is the “genre-leader” according to Fandom’s 2nd annual “State of Streaming” report, which delved into how much consumers feel is a fair price to pay for streamers. Here are the “average” monthly amounts that people said they want to pay for Video on Demand (all figures in US dollars):
• Netflix — $10.60
• HBO Max — $9.30
• Disney+ — $9.20
• Hulu — $8.60
• Amazon Prime Video — $8.60
• Apple TV+ — $6.90
• Paramount+ — $6.80
• Peacock — $5.50
61% of those surveyed believe their streaming subscriptions are too expensive. Respondents value the average streamer at $7.46 monthly. 62% said “genre is the key differentiator” between streaming platforms, with Disney+ “the genre-leader to date.”
(…so if you’re thinking of selling your password, that gives you an idea of how much you can get!)
(I don’t plan to get Disney+ until I’m finished watching all of Netflix!)
-Variety
WEIRD WEATHER:
We have definitely experienced some weird weather this month…and here come some “Weird Weather Facts”…
✓ Snow isn’t white. It’s actually translucent. Light reflects from the many sides of every snowflake, diffusing the color spectrum and making it appear white. (I’m dreaming of a translucent Christmas?)
✓ Wind is silent. At least, until it comes into contact with an object. Then, friction, rolling or rubbing causes the “wind” sound.
✓ Raindrops are fast. Most physicists agree the average raindrop falls at a speed od 9-10 meters per second, about 22mph (35.4km/h).
✓ …and they’re not teardrop-shaped. Many factors, like gravity and air resistance can affect the shape, but overall, smaller droplets are spherical, while larger drops have a domed shape.
✓ The US experiences about 75% of the world’s known tornadoes – that’s an average of 1,253 tornadoes per year. (Probably because the US also has 75% of the world’s known trailer parks…)
✓ The wettest place on Earth is in India. With a long monsoon season, Mawsynram in eastern India experiences average annual rainfall of 467.4 inches (11,872mm), about as high as a 3-storey house.
✓ The lowest-ever temperature recorded is -89.2°C (-128.6°F). In 1983, the mark was set at a Russian research facility in Antarctica. (Still warmer than Putin’s heart!)
✓ Yuma, Arizona is the sunniest place on Earth. Residents enjoy 11 hours of sunlight daily in winter and up to 13 in summer. And just 7.8 inches (200mm) of rain per year.
✓ Aomori City in Japan is the snowiest city on Earth. With average snowfall of 26 feet (8m) per year, it’s not unusual to find yourself driving along walls of snow. (No…actually that’s VERY unusual!)
-LoveExploring
DID YOU KNOW?
A child’s first words are often ‘Mama’ or ‘Daddy’, but not always. Researchers from Cornell University have found that kids are just as likely to learn ‘this’ or ‘that’ as their first real words. Other demonstratives, such ‘here’ and ‘there’ are also often among early additions to a child’s vocabulary. Interestingly, this has been documented across a number of languages, including English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 04.21.22
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Kindergarten Day”, honoring the 1782 birth of German educator Friedrich Froebel, who established the first kindergarten in 1837. (Thanks for all the finger paintings, Freid.) BS FAST FACT: The word ‘kindergarten’ literally means “garden of children” in German.
• “Chocolate Covered Cashews Day”, The cashew is a tree from the family Anacardiaceae. Surprisingly, the shell of the cashew nut is toxic, which is why the cashew is shelled before it is sold to consumers.
• “Keep Off the Grass Day”, can mean different things to different folks. This green holiday is observed in-between two momentous events – the day before Earth Day, and one day after 4/20. Coincidence?
• “Big Word Day”, a day to use humongous words on purpose just to impress yourself. So, go ahead and facilitate this celebration of excess verbiage! (But I was taught never to use a tremendous word when a diminutive one will suffice!) [Find a big word for any word here … LINK: http://www.bigwords.com/bigwords ]
• “Bulldogs are Beautiful Day”, in 2005, Jackie Valent published the children’s book “Stinky the Bulldog”, and she created Bulldogs are Beautiful Day in 2007. Since bulldogs are a little different looking, she hoped the day would help people look beyond appearance and accept those who are a little different.
• “High Five Day”, to spread positivity and good vibes by using the famous greeting. Today, encourage high-fiving spreading good energy.
COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Earth Day
[Fri] Jelly Bean Day
[Sat] English Language Day
[Sat] German Beer Day
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1926 [96] Queen Elizabeth II [Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Mountbatten-Windsor], London England, British Monarch (Queen of the UK since 1952, plus 15 other Commonwealth realms) BS FACTOID: ‘Trooping the Colour’, the traditional parade, will be held June 11 to mark the official celebration of the Queen’s birthday. This year, it will be preceded by The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee June 2-5, marking her 70 years as monarch.)
1947 [75] Iggy Pop [Jim Osterberg Jr.], Muskegon MI, ‘The Godfather of Punk Music’ (‘Real Wild Child’, ‘Lust for Life’, The Stooges –‘Search and Destroy’)
1951 [71] Tony Danza [Antonio Iadanza], Brooklyn NY, TV actor (“Taxi” 1978-83, “Who’s the Boss” 1984-92)
1958 [64] Andie MacDowell, Gaffney SC, movie actress (“Four Weddings & A Funeral”, “Groundhog Day”)/spokesmodel (L’Oreal)
1959 [63] Robert Smith, Blackpool England, goth-alt-rock singer-guitarist (The Cure-‘Friday I’m in Love’, ‘Lovesong’, Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist 1982-84)
1970 [52] Rob Riggle, Louisville KY, movie actor (“The Hangover”, “21 Jump Street”)
1978 [44] Dave Brenner, Delta BC, rock guitarist (Theory of a Deadman-‘Santa Monica’, ‘Bad Girlfriend’)
1979 [43] James McAvoy, Glasgow Scotland, movie actor (“Split”, ‘Professor Charles Xavier’ in “X-Men” films)
1980 [42] Tony Romo, San Diego CA, retired NFL quarterback (Dallas Cowboys 2003-16)/4-time Pro Bowl/CBS NFL football analyst since 2017 (“the highest-paid NFL analyst in television history” at $17 million per season)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2018 [04] Actor Verne Troyer (‘Mini-Me’ in “Austin Powers” movies), dies at 49, a victim of suicide
2019 [03] Ukrainian actor-comedian Volodymyr Zelensky wins the country’s presidential election in a landslide
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2006 [16] Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s co-headlining “Soul2Soul II Tour″, kicks off in Columbus OH (ends 116 shows later as the highest-grossing country music tour ever with $141 million…since exceeded by Garth Brooks/Trisha Yearwood)
2014 [08] Big Sean becomes the first rapper to perform at the White House, duetting with Ariana Grande on ‘Right There’ at the annual Easter Egg Roll
2016 [06] Prince is found dead of a fentanyl overdose at his home in Minnesota at the age of 57, after police are summoned to his Paisley Park estate and find his body in an elevator
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2001 [21] In the XFL’s first (and last) championship game, the LA Xtreme beat the San Francisco Demons 38-6 (it folds soon afterward – the 2020 league revival filed for bankruptcy in 2021, but Dwayne Johnson and partners have plans to resurrect the XFL again for 2023)
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1959 [63] Using just a rod and reel, a man hooks a 2,664lb, 16′ 10″ (1,208kg, 5.13m) great white shark off the coast of Ceduna, Australia
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Roughly 33% of cats are not affected by catnip.
✓ Kangaroos keep growing until they die.
✓ Racehorses can wear out new horse shoes in one race.
✓ According to hotel industry data, men generally leave their hotel rooms cleaner than women do.
✓ Lard has more calories than any other food — 902 per 100g. Butter has 876 per 100g.
✓ In the middle ages, having ants in the house was a sign of good luck.
-BathroomReadersInstitute
Best of BS . . .
BS LOW-BAR INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES:
• When one door closes, that’s a sign.
• When life hands you lemons, feed them to kids and enjoy the laugh.
• The cheapest things in life are free.
• Just do your okayest.
• If you can dream it, keep dreaming.
• There is no try. So don’t.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2020
BS SIGNS QUEEN ELIZABETH II IS TURNING 96 TODAY:
• Can no longer kick the Queen of Sweden’s butt at croquet.
• Often jokes with Charles that his ears are now hairier than his head, then almost smiles.
• Often has erotic dreams about prunes.
• No longer able to throw the ceremonial first punch at English soccer riots.
• Has asked Prince Harry to cease wearing T-shirts that say, “Wanna See the Royal Jewels?”
• Her son Prince Charles has already been on ‘Basic State Pension’ for several years.
• It’s almost 9 o’clock in the morning and she’s still on the throne.
-First published in BS in 2016
BS WEB GOODIE:
The text says it all: https://tinyurl.com/24vyj8vu
BS RANDOM JOKE:
My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone trying on summer clothes…
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the best (or worst prank) you’ve ever seen in the workplace?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: The average person has about 20 of THESE. What are they?
Answer: Passwords
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Leaders don’t force people to follow. They invite them on a journey.
