Wednesday, May 27, 2020 – Edition: #6706
Sheet For Brains!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Every prop on “The Big Bang Theory” was microchipped so Warner Brothers could keep track of their location, according to the show’s set designer Ann Shea. The stars were unable to take physical mementos from the show because they all had to be packed up and sent off to be archived. Although the cast was restricted from helping themselves to goodies from the set, Shea says she made hundreds of replica door numbers to give to the cast and crew.
-Metro
★ Elon Musk and partner Grimes have changed their child’s name – a bit. The baby boy was originally named what could be described as a series of letters followed by a dash and the number “12”. And yes, that’s a fairly out-there name, but the couple has had to change it to something a little more mainstream because it doesn’t comply with Californian law. According to state legislation, people cannot have numerals in their names, so the Grimes and Musk have changed it to…a series of letters followed by the Roman Numerals for “12”, which are written as “X-i-i”. Problem solved. As for how to pronounce it, Musk told an interviewer “It’s just X, the letter X. And then…’Ash’… and then, A-12.” (The poor kid is still going to get beat up at school!)
-LADBible, CNN
★ While he’s mostly been fielding questions about “Sons of Anarchy” while in quarantine, some fans have been asking creator Kurt Sutter about some of the other projects he’s worked on. One fan asked about the 2015 boxing flick “Southpaw”. Specifically, the fact that role of ‘Billy’ was originally going to be played by Marshall Mathers (aka Eminem). Sutter responded that he did indeed write the part for the rapper, but the project ended up hitting a snag when Eminem decided to pull out. Sutter said: “Marshall decided to focus on music and his sobriety. Which I totally understood and respected.”
-PopCulture
★ Director Paul Feig blames the 2016 US presidential election for the “Ghostbusters” flop. He believes that the backlash against presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the US directly led to the failure of the female Ghostbusters reboot, which starred Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. In an interview, he said: ”It’s crazy how people got nuts about women trying to be empowered or be in positions they weren’t normally in, and it was an ugly, ugly year.”
-ContactMusic
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Howie Mandel
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): “Tonight Show” Staff Favorites, including Jamie Foxx, Bruce Springsteen, Will Ferrell
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Anderson Cooper, Mark Foster (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Ice T, Paul Schrader, Ina Garten, Tucker Rule (R)
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Helen Hunt, Ron Funches, Dave East (R)
• “Conan” (TBS): Julia Louis-Dreyfus (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Zach Braff, Donald Faison
• “The Talk” (CBS): Keegan-Michael Key, Venus Williams, Rob Gronkowski, guest co-host Irika Sargent
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Josh Gad, Monica Mangin
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): James Corden
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): A new Message From Montana, repeat segments with Tim Allen, Alison Pill (R)
• “Game On!” (CBS): Premiere. Comic Gabriel Iglesias and NBA player J.R. Smith compete in a variety of challenges, including kicking a field goal, a battle of strength, and a soccer drill with Mark McGrath, Coolio and Macy Gray.
• “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC): Season 7 premiere
• “Ghost Hunters” (A&E): Season 2 finale
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Taylor Swift — In what many fans think is a dig at ex-manager Scooter Braun, she praised a cover of her hit ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ by an unknown band that played over the opening credits of Sunday’s episode of “Killing Eve.” She tweeted she was “VERY STOKED” about the cover by Jack Leopards & the Dolphin Club. Some fans are thinking that Swift released the song under a fake name and had her brother perform, denying Braun any payment.
• Major Lazer — previewed a new collaboration with Nicki Minaj during their latest lockdown live-stream. The new collaboration sees them join forces with Mr Eazi. Title and release date are yet to be released.
• G-Eazy — has announced his new album “Everything’s Strange Here”, will be released on June 5. He tweeted: ”8 weeks ago I didn’t know I needed to make this. The world has been turned upside down and inside out – but a lot of us have had the opportunity to self-reflect and evolve.”
• Boy George – says he’s written so much music during self-isolation that he has “enough for six or seven albums.” He admits that perhaps not all the new stuff is great, but it’s good that he has new material because he signed a deal just before Christmas with a company whose job it is to place music in movies.
• KISS – A British mail carrier has brought some excitement to his delivery route by painting his face just like Gene Simmons as a way of cheering up locals amid the pandemic. It became a viral sensation after Simmons shared a photo of the man in makeup while wearing his orange mail carrier uniform.
• Aldo Nova — will release the new single ‘When All Is Said and Done’ on Friday. It’s taken from his forthcoming rock opera, “The Life and Times of Eddie Gage”. He plays all the characters on the album, changing his voice in each song.
• Morgan Wallen – has apologized on social media after being arrested on public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges. He was ejected from Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk bar in Nashville on Saturday night. Police say he was removed by security guards after exhibiting disorderly behavior and kicking glass items inside.
• Maren Morris – Her song ‘The Bones’ is #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the 11th week, which is the longest run by a solo female artist in the history of the chart. Taylor Swift’s ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’ ruled the chart for 10 weeks in 2012.
I’M GLAD WE COVERED THAT:
Do face masks prevent transmission of COVID-19? Up until now, it was a case of “it depends on who you believe”, but now, according to an international team of researchers who examined a century’s worth of studies, the answer is “YES”. According to a paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine last week, homemade masks with multiple layers of cloth may help provide “a modest reduction in transmission” if widely used. Lead author Catherine Clase, associate professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., said the study found that “At their best, cloth masks can be really quite good and are definitely worth considering under the circumstances.” The team of scientists looked at 100 years of research, going back to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic when scientists sprayed bacteria on gauze to see how the thread count and layering impacted transmission.
(I find they’re also very handy if you don’t want people to understand a word you’re saying!)
(Now they’re working on a way to make them disgustingly expensive…)
-CTV
UNIVERSAL TRUTHS:
⇒ NASA is looking for participants to spent EIGHT MONTHS together inside a spaceflight simulator at the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems in Moscow. The goal is to study the effects of spending time in isolation and confinement while on lengthy space missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. According to its website, NASA is looking for “healthy participants” between the ages of 30-55 who have professional experience with “science, technology, engineering or math.” Participants will be paid, but they’re not saying how much. (It’s a shame I’m no good with math, because I’m pretty much spending all my time in isolation these days anyway…)
⇒ Odds are, we’re not alone. A Columbia University study looked at how Earth developed over millions of years in order to determine if alien worlds can also support life. What did they find? The odds that life is common throughout the universe are much better than the odds against it. Is there intelligent life? The research put the odds at 3:2 in favor of intelligent aliens. (I bet they’re at least intelligent enough not to hang out together on a beach during a pandemic!)
-Futurism, StudyFinds
MYTHBUSTERS: SUNSCREEN EDITION
Today is ‘Sunscreen Protection Day’. Let’s set the record straight on some myths about sun protection. The statements below, contrary to what you have probably been told, are all myths:
• Dark skin doesn’t need sunscreen/can’t get melanoma: Darker skin tones are less prone to skin cancer, but this myth can mean signs are ignored until there’s a lesion so far advanced that chances of successful treatment are diminished.
• A base tan protects you: A base tan is nature’s way of producing sun protection because you’ve been irradiated. However, it doesn’t lessen your risk of skin cancer, and you’ll age your skin exponentially with constant sun tanning.
• You don’t need to use sunscreen inside: All contact with sunlight requires protection. Any exposure, from an office or car window to walking from building to building, requires SPF.
• The number on sunscreen is proportionate to the number of minutes of sun protection: The number has nothing to do with exposure time — it’s about the strength of protection against the sun’s harmful rays. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is a measure of how much solar energy (UV radiation) is required to sunburn protected skin relative to unprotected skin. Here’s how to do the math — it’s simple, we swear: 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. If you’re outside longer than 15 minutes, you need higher SPF and must reapply.
• One application of sunscreen in the morning is enough 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 to remain protected.
• You don’t need sunscreen during off-peak hours: The sun’s powerful rays can cause damage no matter what time it is. If you’re outside at any point for longer than 15 minutes, you need some SPF. You can still get burned at 8 am 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: That’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 less hair. (That’s what my fishing hat is for!)
• Melanoma is only caused by sun exposure: Melanoma can strike without sun exposure, which makes regular skin checks important. Sun exposure makes the risk higher, but isn’t always the main factor.
(See you at the beach this summer…if we recognize each other with all the sunscreen and extra clothing on! Oh, yeah, and our masks!)
-Yahoo
DID YOU KNOW?
Scientists have created a mouse embryo that’s part human — 4% to be exact. The hybrid is what scientists call a human-animal chimera, a single organism that’s made up of two different sets of cells — in this case, a mouse embryo that has both mouse cells and human cells. It has by far the highest number of human cells ever recorded in an animal. Their experiment suggests that many types of human cells can be generated in mouse embryos, and at a much faster rate than in human embryos. The scientists say this carries enormous potential for the treatment of human diseases, possibly even Covid-19.
-CNN
BS CHRONOMETER 05.27.20
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1945 [75] Bruce Cockburn, Ottawa ON, folk-rock singer songwriter (‘Lovers in a Dangerous Time’, ‘If I Had a Rocket Launcher’)
1958 [62] Neil Finn, Te Awamutu New Zealand, singer-guitarist (Split Enz -‘I Got You’, Crowded House-‘Don’t Dream Its Over’)
1965 [55] Todd Bridges, San Francisco CA, TV actor (‘Willis’ on “Diff’rent Strokes” 1978-1986)
1966 [54] Sean Kinney, Renton WA, rock drummer (Alice in Chains-‘Rooster’, ‘Man in the Box’)
1970 [50] Joseph Fiennes, Wiltshire UK, TV actor (“The Handmaid’s Tale” since 2017, “Flashforward” 2009-2010)/brother of Ralph Fiennes
1971 [49] Paul Bettany, London UK, movie actor (“Iron Man 2”, “The Da Vinci Code”)/married to actress Jennifer Connelly since 2003
1973 [47] Jack McBrayer, Macon GA, TV actor (“30 Rock” 2006-13, “The Middle” 2013-18)
1975 [45] André 3000 (Benjamin), Atlanta GA, hip-hop artist (OutKast-‘Hey Ya!’, ‘The Way You Move’)
1975 [45] Jamie Oliver, Clavering UK, celebrity TV chef (“Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution”, “Jamie’s Kitchen”, “The Naked Chef”, etc.)
1980 [40] Ben Feldman, Washington DC, TV actor (“Superstore” since 2015, “Mad Men” 2012-14)
1990 [30] Chris Colfer, Clovis CA, TV actor (“Glee” 2009-15)
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “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 create awareness of the importance of using protection against the harmful UV rays from the Sun. (***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.
• “National Senior Health & Fitness Day”, traditionally held on the last Wednesday of in May. The goal is to help keep older Americans healthy and fit.
COMING UP . . .
[Thurs] Amnesty International Day
[Thurs] National Brisket Day
[Fri] International Coq Au Vin Day
[Fri] Paper Clip Day
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2006 [14] Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt welcome their first biological child, a daughter named Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, while staying at a compound in Swakopmund, Namibia
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2004 [16] The Bee Gees are made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace; Maurice’s son Adam accepts on behalf of his father, who’d died six months earlier
2017 [03] Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band dies at 69 after a battle with liver cancer.
2017 [03] ‘Despacito’ by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber tops the Hot 100, becoming the first #1 sung mostly in Spanish since ‘Macarena’ in 1996.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2014 [06] Google unveils its self-driving car, a prototype that can drive 25 mph and safely respond to a variety of situations
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2013 [07] Guinness World Records confirms the ‘World’s Largest Flag’, made by a village in Romania, weighing 5 tons and using 44 miles of thread
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ The world record for the most candles ever put on a birthday cake is 50,151.
✓ Jesse James issued his own press releases.
✓ England’s Queen Victoria smoked marijuana to relieve her cramps.
✓ St Lucia is the only country in the world named after a woman.
✓ When scientists developed straight bananas in the 1960s, the public refused to buy them.
✓ The farthest recorded distance for projectile vomiting is 27 feet.
-WhattheFFacts, BathroomReadersInstitute
Best of BS . . .
HOW TO TELL IT’S TIME FOR A NEW CAR:
• People behind you change lanes to keep your oil off their windshield
• Opening your trunk requires finding a screwdriver.
• Tractor trailer drivers are afraid to pass you.
• Your friends would rather walk or ride a bus than ride with you.
• The engine is so loud you cant hear a dump truck crash through a nitroglycerin factory.
• You have to leave it running for fear it might not start back up.
• You have on more than one occasion been chased down by a firetruck.
• You refer to your car as “beast”, “jalopy’, “hooptee” or “P.O.S.”
• You have parked on the side of the road and had someone stop and ask if you are injured.
BONUS:
• Your “rag top” has really lived up to its nickname.
• You have to start pulling a trailer to pick up the parts that fall off on the way to work.
• There is so much blue smoke coming out of the back that you have to pull over to use the rear view mirror.
• There are so many rust holes that the neighborhood kids can’t find a spot to write “Wash me”.
• When you drive through a puddle, your pants get wet.
-First published in BS in 2017
TODAY’S SLICE OF BS . . .
➠ 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee has been cancelled due to concerns over coronavirus. (This is a big deal. If spelling bees were football, this would be the Super Bowl. If they were baseball, then this is the World Series. If they were soccer, this is . . . whatever the soccer championship is.
➠ A recent study found that food tastes better when it’s more expensive. (Obviously the study didn’t include any airport restaurants!)
➠ I just read a study that claimed women who dress sexy look smarter. (Well, they’re smart enough to get whatever they want from me!)
➠ 67 years ago this week, Sir Edmund Hillary became the first man to climb Mount Everest. (He was immediately knighted for his accomplishment. Which is why climbing Everest is considered the fastest way to become a “sir” outside of gender reassignment surgery!)
➠ I just read that Viagra dissolved in water can make cut flowers stand up straight for up to a week.
(In the industry we call that an Oopsie-daisy!)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Waaay too much time on his hands: https://tinyurl.com/y8nq6nkm
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• In “Twilight”, main character ‘Bella Swan’ was pulled into two different love directions with Edward Cullen and whom?
a) Jasper Hale
b) Jacob Black [CORRECT]
c) Billy Black
d) Christian Grey
• In “The Office”, what food did Dwight grow on his farm?
a) pumpkins
b) onions
c) beets [CORRECT]
d) rutabagas
• In the movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation”, what is the name of the fictional amusement park the Griswold family is trying to go to?
a) Walley World [CORRECT]
b) Wild Water Village
c) Six Flags
d) Itchy & Scratchy Land
-ThoughtCatalog
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Never date a tennis player. Love means nothing to them.
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the goofiest/funniest/most profound thing you’ve seen written on a coffee mug?
– “Good Morning, I See the Assassins Have Failed”
– “Teenage Daughter Survivor”
– “There’s a good chance this is whisky”
– “I Pooped Today :)”
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 16% of women say they have demanded their man do THIS. What is it?
Answer: Pluck his eyebrows
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The richest person is not he who has the most, but who needs the least.
