Friday, December 2, 2016 – Edition: #5864

Can You Believe This Sheet?

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Have you heard? Netflix is now offering downloads to watch on-the-go. The streaming service has announced that members worldwide can now download shows and movies so they can watch them without an Internet connection later … and at no additional cost. The new feature is available for phones and tablets on Android and iOS. Just make sure to update your Netflix app to the latest version.
– “Entertainment Weekly”
★ Drake has once again dominated Spotify’s annual end-of-year list, being named ‘Most Streamed Artist’ and claiming both ‘Most Streamed Track’ (“One Dance”) and ‘Most Streamed Album’ (“Views”). The 30-year-old Canadian has completely dominated all categories in which he was eligible. He retains the ‘Most Streamed Artist’ title for a 2nd year in-a-row.
– TheVerge.com
★ Ryan Reynolds tells CTV’s “eTalk” that seeing his 2-year-old daughter James care for her newborn little sister is “kind of neat to see”. The 40-year-old “Deadpool” actor welcomed his 2nd child with wife Blake Lively in September. While the pair has yet to confirm the baby’s name, Ryan says he and Blake have “settled on the right one”. Ryan says he’s happily adapting to life as a father of 2 girls, even though he’s outnumbered in his household.
– WENN.com
★ And this week Johnny Depp & Amber Heard have finally hammered out their divorce settlement. Sources say Johnny is paying Amber $6.8 million – that’s the $7 million originally agreed upon, minus $200,000 he’s already donated to the ACLU and Children’s Hospital LA in her name. She’ll get all the loot within about 12 months, with the plan being to pay the full amount to the 2 charities by the end of 2018. Bottom line: Johnny gets a charitable tax write-off, and Amber gets an ever bigger one … if she ever completes the promised donations.
– TMZ.com

WEEKEND SHOW BIZ SKED:
• British Independent Film Awards (London UK) – Sunday “I, Daniel Blake” tops nominations with 7; followed by “American Honey”, “Notes on Blindness” and “Under the Shadow” with 6 apiece.
• “CMT Crossroads” (CMT) – Tonight Alicia Keys & Maren Morris trade each other’s tunes.
• “Ellen” (syndicated/CTV2) – Today Blake Shelton (“If I’m Honest”).
• “Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion” (PBS) – Saturday night a look back at the music of the 1970s, including the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Leo Sayer, Wild Cherry.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Tonight Kings of Leon (“Walls”). Rerun.
• Kennedy Center Honors (Washington DC) – Sunday James Taylor, The Eagles, and Mavis Staples are among those being saluted with this year’s honors. The Eagles were scheduled last year, but postponed their appearance due to Glenn Frey’s health. He died this January. Stephen Colbert hosts. Highlights air December 27th on CBS-TV.
• “Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS/CTV) – Tonight The Kills (“Ash & Ice”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV) – Tonight The 1975 (“I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It”). Rerun.
• “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global) – Tonight Fergie (“Double Dutchess”, early 2017).
• “Mariah’s World” (E!) – Sunday night the debut of an 8-part docu-series depicting the life of Mariah Carey from behind-the-scenes. Her “Sweet Sweet Fantasy” European tour and her (canceled) wedding plans are covered.
• “Saturday Night Live” (NBC/Global) – Host Emma Stone (“La La Land”); musical guest Shawn Mendes (“Illuminate”).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Tonight John Legend (“Darkness & Light”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Brett Young – The country music newcomer has a hit on his hands with “Sleep Without You”. His self-titled debut album is coming out February 10th.
• Brooks & Dunn – Their Las Vegas residency with Reba McEntire has been extended. The new dates for “Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas” are scheduled for next June, July, November, and December.
• Jessie J – Today the 28-year-old Brit singer releases a new cover of the 1967 Frankie Valli hit “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” as part her collaboration with makeup brand ‘Make Up Forever’.
• John Legend – Today he releases his first album since 2013’s “Love In the Future”. “Darkness & Light features appearances by Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, Chance the Rapper, and Miguel.
• Kanye West – A source tells E! News: “Kanye is the kind of person if he gets released (he was Wednesday) and isn’t mentally ready he will go back to his old ways and push himself over the limit again … He needs to keep up with counseling even though he has an intense work schedule. He is just really drained and still weak. He isn’t himself.”
• Kelly Clarkson – In a series of tweets she’s teased the direction and influences on her upcoming new album, due in 2017. She says the songs she’s currently working on sound like Mariah Carey meets Aretha Franklin meets Whitney Houston meets En Vogue.
• Kenny Chesney – He’s just-announced a 2nd show at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro MA. Tickets for both the August 25th and 26th shows go on sale today at 10 am EST via Ticketmaster.
• Miranda Lambert – She’s set to debut at #1 on the ‘Billboard Top Country Albums’ chart for next week with “The Weight of These Wings”.
• Muse – They’ve been announced as the first headliners for next year’s Reading & Leeds festivals next August in the UK. By the way, Muse was originally called Rocket Baby Dolls.
• Rolling Stones – Today they’re putting out their 1st studio album in over a decade. “Blue & Lonesome” is a new collection of 12 blues covers. The last new Stones album was 2005’s “A Bigger Bang”.

OPENING TODAY IN THEATERS:
• “Incarnate” ( PG-13 Horror Thriller ): A scientist with the ability to enter the subconscious minds of the possessed must save a young boy from the grips of a demon with powers never seen before, while facing the horrors of his past. Stars Carice van Houten, Aaron Eckhart, David Mazouz, Catalina Sandino Moreno.
NET: https://www.facebook.com/IncarnateMov
• “Jackie” ( R-Rated Biographical Drama ): Following the assassination of president John F Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy fights through grief and trauma to regain her faith, console her children, and define her husband’s historic legacy. Stars Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup.
NET: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/jackie/
• Opening in limited release: “The Duelist” (Action Thriller); “The Eyes of My Mother” (Horror); and “Things to Come” (Drama).

SENTENCED TO SCHMALTZ:
Cops in a small Prince Edward Island town have warned that drunk drivers will be punished with the music of some fellow Canadians … Nickelback. In a Facebook post, the Kensington PEI police force warns that they’ll be out this holiday season “looking for those dumb enough to feel they can drink and drive”. Those who are arrested for driving under the influence face a hefty fine, a criminal charge, a 1-year driving suspension, and the horrific punishment of having to listen to the department’s cassette copy of the 2001 Nickelback album “Silver Side Up” in the cruiser on the way to the cop shop. (Could be worse … Mariah Carey, for instance.)
– “Toronto Star”

GOLD ON ICE:
The New York Rangers are the most valuable franchise in the National Hockey League, according to the annual “Forbes” ranking, coming in at a valuation of $1.25 billion. New York takes over the top spot from the Toronto Maple Leafs, whose value has decreased by 4.4% to $1.1 billion, still good enough for 3rd place. The Montréal Canadiens are now 2nd, up one spot from a year ago despite seeing a 4.7% decrease. Those 3 teams are the only NHL clubs valued at more than $1 billion. The Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins round out the top 5. (All 5 of them are from the ‘Original 6’.)
– NYDailyNews.com

FOR THE RECORD:
When Emma Morano entered this world, the 2nd Boer War had just begun and Cuba had just been freed from Spanish rule. It was 1899, making Morano – who’s still watching the world go by from her home in Verbania, Italy – both the ‘Oldest Person In the World’ and the only currently living person known to have been born in the 1800s.
– CBS News

BS AMAZING FACT:
The world’s most employable graduates went to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
– “Business Insider”

BS CHRONOMETER 12.02.16

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1968 [48] Lucy Liu, Queens NY, TV actress (‘Joan Watson’ on “Elementary” since 2012, “Dirty Sexy Money” 2008-09)/movie actress (“Kung Fu Panda”, “Kill Bill”)

1968 [48] Nate Mendel, Richmond WA, rock bassist (Foo Fighters-“The Pretender”, “Best of You”)

1978 [38] Nelly Furtado, Victoria BC, pop singer (“Say It Right”, “Promiscuous”)

1978 [38] Chris Wolstenholme, Rotherham UK, rock bassist-vocalist (Muse-“Madness”, “Uprising”)

1981 [35] Britney Spears, Kentwood LA, pop singer (“Baby, One More Time”)/Las Vegas entertainer BS FACTOID: The unauthorized bio-film “Britney” is airing on Lifetime in January.

1983 [33] Aaron Rodgers, Chico CA, NFL quarterback (Green Bay Packers)/2011 Super Bowl

1983 [33] Daniela Ruah, Boston MA, TV actress (‘Kensi Blye’ on “NCIS: Los Angeles” since 2009)

1991 [25] Charlie Puth, Rumson NJ, pop singer (“See You Again” w/Wiz Khalifa, “We Don’t Talk Anymore” w/Selena Gomez)

SATURDAY –
Classic rocker Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath) is 68; Movie actress Daryl Hannah (“Kill Bill”) is 56; Movie actress Julianne Moore (“The Hunger Games”) is 56; TV/movie actor Brendan Fraser (“The Affair”) is 48; TV actress Dascha Polanco (“Orange Is the New Black”) is 34; Pop singer Andy Grammer (“Miss Me”) is 33; Movie actress Amanda Seyfried (“Mamma Mia!”) is 31.

SUNDAY –
Movie actor Jeff Bridges (“The Big Lebowski”) is 67; Movie actress Marisa Tomei (“The Big Short”) is 52; TV actor Fred Armisen (“Portlandia”) is 50; Rapper Jay Z (“Drunk in Love” w/Beyoncé) is 47; TV personality/model Tyra Banks (“America’s Next Top Model”) is 43.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Faux Fur Friday”, an excuse to wear your furriest synthetic outfits and accessories for an enjoyable day. (But isn’t it cruel to kill cute baby acrylics for their fur?)
• “Fritters Day”, honoring the yummy treat made by frying up small cakes of dough in butter or oil. (Yum! Really good for you, too!)
• “International Day For the Abolition of Slavery”, a UN observance begun in 1949.
• “International Sweater Vestival”, a day to wear your sweater vest to work. It’s meant as a parody of other celebrations.
• “Mutt Day”, saluting all dogs that are cross-breeds, no-breeds, or all-breeds.
• “Special Education Day”, initiated in 1975 to promote access to education for all children, including those with disabilities.
• “United Arab Emirates National Day”, celebrating the 45th anniversary of independence of the federation of 7 Persian Gulf states from Britain (1971).

SATURDAY –
• “Bartenders Appreciation Day”, an annual event saluting not only their skills in drink-making, but also in conversation, listening, joking, and being a shoulder to cry on.
• “International Day of Persons With Disabilities”, sponsored by the UN.
• “Roof Over Your Head Day”, an annual event to draw attention to the plight of the homeless.

SUNDAY –
• “Cookie Day”, celebrating the yummiest treat of all. What’s the best kind? Chocolate chip? Oatmeal and raisin? Peanut butter with macadamia nuts?
• “St Barbara’s Day”, patron saint of firemen, architects, mathematicians, miners, and sailors. Tradition has it that girls should place a cherry tree twig in a glass of water on this day. If it blooms by Christmas Eve, they’ll marry in the next year.
• “Santa’s List Day”, the day the big guy purportedly decides who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.
• “Wear Brown Shoes Day”, for some unknown reason. To get the full effect, make sure you wear them with something black.
• “World Wildlife Conservation Day”, to raise awareness of wildlife crime. Some of the world’s best-loved species are being slaughtered by criminal networks driven by a voracious demand for illegal animal parts and products.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2004 [12] Brian Williams becomes anchor of “NBC Nightly News”, succeeding Tom Brokaw (axed in 2015)

2006 [10] 25-year-old Beyoncé is signed to star in the film “Dreamgirls”, the musical based on Diana Ross & The Supremes

2012 [04] Blues legend Buddy Guy, actor Dustin Hoffman, TV host David Letterman, and the surviving members of Led Zeppelin receive Kennedy Center Honors for contributions to culture

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1983 [33] Michael Jackson’s 14-minute “Thriller” video debuts on MTV

2009 [07] Beyoncé leads nominees for the 52nd Grammy Awards with 10 nominations

2011 [05] Arkansas cops find country singer Mindy McCready hiding in a closet 2 days after she kidnapped her 5-year-old son from her mother, who had custody at the time

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Mon] “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” (CBS)
[Mon] British Fashion Awards (London UK)
[Mon] Bathtub Party Day
[Mon] International Day Of the Reef
[Mon] International Ninja Day
[Tues] St Nicholas Day
This Week Is … Cookie Cutter Week
This Month Is … Write a Business Plan Month

BULL’S BITS

HANDY PHRASEBOOK FOR TOURISTS TRAVELING TO CUBA THIS WEEKEND:
✓ “Yo soy Fidel” (Each day I wear this T-shirt, my family gets a voucher for 30 minutes of Internet access.)
✓ “Hasta siempre, comandante” (I love working mandatory overtime, even without premium pay for the extra 12 hours.)
✓ “Gloria eterna” (We are making a boat from my brother’s 1951 Chevy so we can see our beautiful island from the sea.)
✓ “Viva la Cuba” (Free medical care for all … except prisoners.)
✓ “Patria o muerte” (All dissidents who survive a car crash after being rammed by a government vehicle will be jailed.)
✓ “Por el, la vida” (There have been no deaths by firing squad since 2003.)
– Thanks to Christina Villafaña Dalcher

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What was the biggest or best thing you’ve ever won?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Oops, sorry about that goof. There’s still too much blood in my caffeine system this morning.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: The average person does THIS 98 times a year.
Answer: Eats cereal.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Time is what keeps things from happening all at once.