Monday, May 8, 2017        Edition: #5969

Bull Works!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ HBO developing 4 ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoffs.  The pay TV network is determined to find a way to continue the most popular series in the company’s history and has taken the highly unusual step of developing four different ideas from different writers.  HBO isn’t revealing any story details at this time other than that the shows “explore different time periods of George R. R. Martin’s vast and rich universe.”
(Games of Thrones?)
-EW
★ Tom Cruise is set to perform the ‘most dangerous stunt sequence of his career’ for the now-filming ‘Mission Impossible 6.’  Although the plot of the movie has been kept tightly under wraps, the 54 year-old has been training for the historical action scene for a year. The film is now shooting in Paris.  According to sources, the sequence is ‘absolutely unbelievable.’
(Most dangerous of his career?  Did these people not see his cameo in “Goldmember”?)
-DailyMail
★ Charlie Sheen credits an experimental anti-HIV drug for helping him ward off “borderline dementia”.  He has thrown his star power behind the drug in an effort to help get it approved for wider use.  Sheen, who revealed that he was HIV-positive in November 2015, says that he was previously taking four pills daily as part of his “cocktail” of drugs, but suffered from serious side effects, including a constant migraine and at times, borderline dementia.”
-PageSix
★ Kurt Russell committed a “cardinal sin” on the set of the ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ sequel. He secretly sent a photo of himself in full costume to his family.  Marvel is famous for keeping details about their superhero blockbusters under wraps, and cast and crew are often banned from taking photos on set. But Kurt apparently couldn’t help himself because he was stunned at how youthful his make-up artist made him look for flashback scenes. Sixty-six year-old Russell plays  Chris Pratt’s onscreen dad in the movie.
(Goldie’s never gonna hear the end of this!)
(jam.canoe.com)
★ Speaking of Chris Pratt…he used sign language to issue an apology after a Facebook video for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2′ sparked criticism.  He made the video and requested that people turn up the volume and not ‘just read the subtitles’.   Although his intention was to encourage people to actually watch the video rather than scroll past it on mute, he received some backlash.  Pratt was quick to apologize on Instagram, writing: “I realize now doing so was incredibly insensitive to the many folks out there who depend on subtitles. More than 38 million Americans live with some sort of hearing disability”,  while simultaneously signing an apology in ASL in the accompanying video.
-EW
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global):  Zach Galifianakis, Tracee Ellis Ross, Logic
“The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV):  Kevin Bacon, David Feherty, Chris Stapleton
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global):  Rami Malek, Bill Nye, Roger Waters
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV):  Cobie Smulders, Chris Meloni, Maggie Rogers, Thaddeus Dixon
“Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Caitlyn Jenner, Michael Weatherly, LP
“Last Call with Carson Daly” (NBC/CTV):  Jeff Garlin, Galantis, Mary Mack
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy): Wanda Sykes
“Conan” (TBS/Comedy):  Amanda Peet, Todd Barry, Incubus
“Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo):  Jim Parsons, Diane Lane
“The View” (ABC/CTV):  Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
“The Talk” (CBS):  Katharine McPhee, Elyes Gabel, Natalie Morales
“Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Seth Meyers, Ben Platt
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV):  Colin Farrell, Normani Kordei & Val Chmerkovskiy
“Harry” (NBC/CTV):  Kristen Schaal, Rose McIver, Lizzie Armanto
“The Real” (FOX): Bishop Hezekiah Walker & Israel Houghton, Sevyn Streeter & Artesha Spencer, guest co-host Kelly Osbourne
Dancing With The Stars” (ABC) The couples perform in a trio round in which the judges have chosen the partners.
“The Voice” (NBC) The top 10 artists perform live in front of the coaches as they try to capture America’s vote.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Christina Aguilera  – has signed on to appear in the movie ‘Zoe’. The sci-fi romance will star Ewan McGregor and Lea Seydoux.
• Lorde – her sophomore album ‘Melodrama’ will be released June 16, and New Zealand’s musical prodigy shared a hand-curated Spotify playlist to promote it. Lorde’s personal playlist includes tracks featuring Kendrick Lamar, Future, Bon Iver and throwbacks like Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ and Nancy Sinatra’s ‘Bang Bang.’
• Ed Sheeran – believes songwriting is ”a form of therapy”.  The 26-year-old singer and songwriter has admitted whenever he feels down, the one thing that instantly picks him up and leaves him feeling more upbeat is when he puts pen to paper and writes a song.
• Cher – will receive the Billboard ‘Icon’ Award at the ceremony May 21.  The only other artists ever to receive the honor are Celine Dion, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Stevie Wonder and Neil Diamond.
• Paul McCartney – has been named the richest musician in the U.K.  Together with wife Nancy Shevall, his worth is pegged at over 1 BILLION dollars U.S.  Andrew Lloyd Webber is second with $960 million.  Rounding out the top 5, the usual suspects: #3. U2, #4. Elton John and #5. Mick Jagger with $323 million net worth.  (Didn’t we find out last week that Ryan Seacrest is worth more than that?)
• John Lennon – A new graphic novel from writer Eric Cobeyran and French artist Horne will tell the story of Lennon’s life from a unique point of view.  Based on David Foenkinos’ 2010 novel “Lennon,”,  it will feature the late star during his time living in New York City. The novel showcases Lennon talking about his life to an unnamed therapist who resides in his building. The graphic novel will be available later this month.
• Grateful Dead – Jerry Garcia’s custom-made guitar is truckin’ to auction in New York City.  The guitar, named ‘Wolf’, will be offered May 31 at Brooklyn Bowl, a bowling alley, restaurant and venue for music shows. The proceeds will go to the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center .  It was last sold in 2002 for $790,000. It could exceed $1 million this time.
• Miranda Lambert – admits that because she reveals so much of herself through her songs, she doesn’t like to reveal much of herself through social media. She prefers to use it to promote her friends’ music, and her dogs.
• Blake Shelton – is once again considering hanging up his spurs. He says his next album may be his last.  But don’t get too upset…he says that the consideration is a common theme with him as he approaches each new studio album.
• Little Big Town – took a trip to Sesame Street.  They performed the song “I Is for Instruments” on the long-running children’s program, alongside Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby.

SPEAKING OF BIEBS (You were, weren’t you?):
It doesn’t take much to accommodate Justin Bieber – a convoy of 10 luxury sedans and two buses, rooms at two different five-star hotels, 12 white handkerchiefs… the Biebs is keeping things modest for his debut performance in India on Wednesday. Bieber’s alleged tour rider has leaked.  Here are the highlights:

√ Biebs will be fly into the show via helicopter – none of this driving nonsense.
√ A 1000 square-foot suite turned into a “private villa.” Oh, and purple carnations, please!
√ A dressing room “entirely draped with white curtains.” Oh, and toss in a minimum of 12 white handkerchiefs.
√ Top chefs to make five dishes per day, all named for the Bieb’s top tunes.
√ Vegetables seasoned with Ranch sauce.
√ See-through glass-door refrigerator. Stocked with energy drinks, cream sodas, protein drinks, half a gallon of almond milk and “24 still water bottles.”
√ Crew-neck T-shirts, tank tops and socks.
√ Kashmiri bedroom linens, a female masseuse, “cans of wildberries,” the most hydrating of lip balms.
√ Oh, and a Jacuzzi so he can soak before hitting the stage.
√ Perhaps most laughable: “Books on chakras and yoga asanas will be placed in Bieber’s suite knowing his love for yoga.”
√ The topper? An “Indian yoga casket.”
(Somewhere, Mariah is snapping her fingers and saying “I wish I would have thought of that!)
(Somewhere, Keith Richards is sitting with his head in his hands saying, “I don’t  want to live in a world where almond milk is on a tour rider”)
-Business Insider

MORE EXTINCT DRINKS:
Now that Starbucks’ wildly-popular Unicorn Frappuccino is officially extinct, it doesn’t mean sugar-loving fans of fantasy will have to settle for a boring, old vanilla frapp.  In an effort to appease disappointed customers upset with the Unicorn Frappuccino’s short-lived reign – it was only offered from April 19-23 in Canada and the U.S. – creative Starbucks baristas have been coming up with their own colorful themed beverages.  Introducing the “Mermaid Frappuccino” and the “Dragon Frappuccino.” Since the Unicorn Frappucino delighted (or disgusted) its last customers, images of green and purple/pink blended beverages have been popping up all over social media.  The Mermaid Frappuccino is described as being made with a vanilla bean base, with toasted coconut matcha sauce, freeze-dried blackberries and whipped cream.  The Dragon Frappuccino seems to be a Green Tea Frappuccino with vanilla bean powder and some kind of berry syrup swirled in.  How do you get one?  Customers suggest that if your barista is unclear,  just to tell them which ingredients are involved.
(If I could do that, I’d make it myself!)
(All these coffee drinks that are named after mythical characters….I’m still waiting for the ‘honest politician’!)
(I’m still holding out for ‘Bigfoot’.  Or ‘Loch Ness’.  Or the ‘Leprechaun’)
-CTV

WHAT’S YOUR HANGUP?
For the first time, there are more households in the U.S. with cell-only phone service than those with landlines.  A government study shows that no-landline households have finally tipped past the 50% mark, with 50.8%  of households reporting that they use cell service exclusively. 39% of homes retain both mobile and traditional landline service.  Renters and younger adults are more likely to have just a cellphone, as are heavy drinkers, smokers and those without insurance.
(Wait a minute!  I do have insurance….on my cellphone!)
(The only reason I keep the landline is so I can call my cell when it’s lost!)
-AP, Toronto Star

 
DID YOU KNOW?
Loveseats weren’t originally intended for two people.  The earliest versions were meant to seat just one person, but they had extra space so women in the 17th and 18th centuries could sit down in their extremely wide dresses.
– Didyouknowfacts.com

BS CHRONOMETER 05.08.17

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .

1944 [73] Gary Glitter, (Paul Gadd) Banbury, England, Rock Singer (“ Rock and Roll, Part Two”, “Do You Wanna Touch Me? (Oh Yeah)” )
1953 [64] Alex Van Halen, Nijmegen, Netherlands, classic rock drummer (Van Halen-”Jump”)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2007)/brother of guitarist Eddie Van Halen
1957 [60] Bill Cowher, Crafton PA, TV football analyst (“NFL Today on CBS”)/retired NFL coach (Pittsburgh Steelers 1992-2007)/Super Bowl 40 winner (2006)
1964 [53] Melissa Gilbert, Los Angeles, CA, TV Actress (Laura Ingalls on “Little House on the Prairie”)
1975 [42] Enrique Iglesias (Preysler), Madrid, Spain, pop/Latin singer (“Hero”,“I Like It- f/Pitbull-”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “V-E Day”, Victory in Europe Day, generally known as V-E Day, or simply V Day, was the public holiday celebrated on 8 May 1945 to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces. It thus marked the end of World War II in Europe.
• “Student Nurse Day”, As part of National Nurses Week, Student Nurses are honored on May 8.
• “National Have A Coke Day”, a day to enjoy a glass of ice-cold Coca-Cola (or two).  Fun fact: cans of coke first appeared in 1955.  Some call it ‘soda’. In other parts, it’s called  ‘pop,’ or ‘tonic’.  In my family, it’s called ‘mix’.
• “No Socks Day”, when we’re encouraged to avoid wearing socks to feel less encumbered and help the environment by creating less laundry.
• “Women’s Checkup Day”, an effort started by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to remind women across the country to pencil in appointments with their doctors.
• “World Red Cross Day”, celebrating the 1828 birth of Jean Henri Dunant in Geneva, Switzerland, founder of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2006 [11] After holding his breath underwater for 7 minutes at NYC’s Lincoln Center, illusionist David Blaine fails to break the world record by having to be pulled out by divers 2 minutes short

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1987 [30] Canada’s 1-dollar coin is introduced (quickly nicknamed the ‘loonie’, due to its reverse side depiction of the Common Loon, a bird that’s well-known throughout the country)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2010 [07] At age 88, Betty White becomes oldest-ever host of “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

AND REMEMBER (DAYS/WEEK):
[Tues] Lost Sock Day
[Tues] Teacher Appreciation Day
[Wed] Clean Your Room Day
[Wed] Shrimp Day
This Week Is…Small Business Week
This Month Is…Motorcycle Awareness Month

BULL’S BITS

(Mother’s Day is coming…)
YOU KNOW YOU’RE A MOTHER WHEN …
• You regularly clean your kid’s face using ‘Mom spit’.
• You’re willing to kiss your child’s ‘boo-boo’ … regardless of where it is.
• Your idea of a good day is making it through without a child leaking any bodily fluids on you.
• You buy cereal with marshmallows in it.
• You have time to shave only one leg at a time.
• You find yourself cutting your husband’s sandwiches into cute little shapes.
• You hear your mother’s voice coming out of your mouth when you say, “NOT in your good clothes!”
• You donate to charities in the hope your child won’t get that disease.
• You hire a sitter because you haven’t been out with your husband in ages, then spend half the night checking on the kids.
• You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎What has made you so happy that you literally cried?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I’m finally ready to be a parent.  I just turned 30 and I’m tired of cutting the grass.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: When asked “What talent do you wish you had?”, 15% of respondents said THIS.
Answer: Dancing.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Most people are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.