Tuesday, February 21, 2023 – Edition: #7422
Here, Have Another Sheetload!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Is there anything he CAN’T do? The Terry Fox Foundation has announced that Ryan Reynolds has designed the official shirt for this year’s Terry Fox run, honoring one of Canada’s most inspirational figures – and the response has been “overwhelming.” Reynolds posted a photo of himself wearing the shirt and alluding to his involvement with this year’s fundraiser for cancer research, writing: “I’ve been taking part in the Terry Fox Run since second grade and can’t think of a more enduring and lovely legacy for one person.” After a flood of people asked how they could get the shirt themselves, the charity announced that Reynolds’ design will be available to registrants for the annual run on April 12 – the 43rd anniversary of the start of the Marathon of Hope. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3mpmrt93
-CTV
★ Rebel Wilson and Ramona Agruma are engaged! The “Pitch Perfect” star shared the news by posting some photos from their engagement to Instagram. Wilson gave Agruma a stunning ring during a trip to Disneyland. After popping the question, the now-engaged couple posed in front of the castle sporting matching pink and white sweaters surrounded by pink, white and yellow rose petals. She wrote: “We said YES!” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5cpeeujn
-E!
★ Megan Fox returned to Instagram on Sunday, a week after her social media activity led to speculation that she and Machine Gun Kelly were breaking up. After deleting her entire page, she returned to deny reports that any cheating was involved and admonished the media for running “random baseless news stores.” She wrote: “There has been no third-party interference in this relationship…That includes, but is not limited to… actual humans, DMs, AI bots, or succubus demons. While I do hate to rob you of running baseless news stories that would have been much more accurately written by ChatGPT, you need to let this story die…”
-PopCulture
★ Jeremy Renner is keeping fans posted on his recovery from his snowplow accident. He shared a new video on his Instagram Story, where he was receiving electrical stimulation to his leg muscles as part of his physical therapy. It shows devices attached to his calf and thigh, pulsing his leg intermittently. He set the video to The Beatles’ song ‘Lady Madonna’, and captioned it: “Electric Stimulation Workout and muscle strength.” Renner broke more than 30 bones in the accident, among other injuries. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/m9dur439
-PopCulture
★ Ryan Seacrest’s departure from “Live with Kelly and Ryan” came as no surprise to those on set. Page Six quotes multiple sources as saying the 48-year-old frequently appeared exhausted, leaving friends and colleagues worried about him. He has been shooting “Live,” for which he is paid $10 million a year, in New York City, as well as “American Idol” in LA, and different audition locations, plus his syndicated radio show, since 2018. Fatigue has been responsible for Seacrest missing an increasing number of “Live” shows over the past 6 months, according to one industry insider.
-PageSix
★ Zach Galifianakis has been cast in Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch”. Reportedly he’ll take on the role of ‘Pleakley’ in the movie. That’s the alien character originally voiced by Kevin McDonald in the original 2002 animated film. Dean Fleischer Camp, the Oscar-nominated director of last year’s “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” will be directing the new adaptation. No release date yet.
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Austin Butler, Rob Gronkowski, Tyler Hubbard (R)
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Wanda Sykes, RZA, Bailey Zimmerman
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Pink, Jonathan Majors
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Allison Williams, S.S. Rajamouli, Fab Moretti (R)
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank, Self Esteem (R)
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Melissa Gorga, Matt Rogers
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Bernie Sanders, Michael B. Jordan
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Eugene Levy, Jonathan Majors, Guy Fieri
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Jane Lynch, Bozoma Saint John, Kevin Jonas
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): William Jackson Harper, Andrew Ray
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Melissa Rauch, Rotimi
• “The Rookie” (ABC): The team must stop a militia from detonating a highly combustible truck; The search is on for 3 men who may have been exposed to Ebola.
• “Night Court” (NBC): Gurgs tries to stall proceedings so Abby can meet her favorite celebrities, Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski, but Dan has dinner reservations he won’t give up.
• “Don’t Leave Me Behind: Stories of Young Ukrainian Survival” (MTV): The fears and resiliencies within a group of teenage refugees are featured. Filmed steps away from the Ukraine-Poland border.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Ed Sheeran – is denying reports that he turned down an offer to perform at a concert in honor of King Charles’ upcoming coronation. Last month, it was revealed that a televised concert featuring “global music icons and contemporary stars” will take place May 7. But a Sheeran rep says he hasn’t been approached about performing.
• Halsey – Friday, she’ll release a solo version of ‘Die For Me’, her 2019 collaboration with Post Malone. She posted the cover art to Instagram, writing: “It’s been long known in my fanbase that there’s a demo of ‘Die For Me’ with just me on it. I performed my verse on tour all summer long and since so many people have asked for it, I decided to put my full version out.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/395msba4
• Lizzo — has shared her rendition of Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ hit song ‘Unholy’. During her set on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge, she performed the cover, complete with a flute solo. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2p9uzxej
• Judas Priest – singer Rob Halford says he is “voting every day” for Iron Maiden’s induction into the Rock Hall of Fame. Maiden recently moved up to 5th in fan voting for class of 2023. Fans can cast a vote once a day through April 28.
• A Flock of Seagulls – will mark the 40th anniversary of its debut album with an expanded 3-disc set. The new package will include a remastered version of the original album, B-sides, single versions, remixes, BBC Sessions, and a live concert recorded in London.
• Pearl Jam – For Record Store Day 2023, the group will release its ultra-rare “Give Way” live LP, following a 25-year delay. It features 17 songs recorded in Melbourne, Australia in 1998. Originally meant to be given away with the band’s “Single Video Theory” album, copies of the LP were destroyed, supposedly because the promotion wasn’t OK’d by the band and its label.
• Carrie Underwood – Her latest project is building a greenhouse on her Nashville-area property, and she took fans inside the process in a video. Along the way, she gives a tour of her property, including the chicken coop, and offers a glimpse of the awesome treehouse that she and husband, Mike Fisher, had built for their 2 kids. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3srht99r
• Chris Stapleton — has reunited with Pink for the tender new duet ‘Just Say I’m Sorry’, from her new album “Trustfall”. The pair also co-wrote the song. They dueted on 2019’s ‘Love Me Anyway’. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/32zvv55e
• Jon Pardi — posted that he and his wife welcomed their baby girl Presley Fawn Pardi into the world at 5:05 am on Saturday. Alongside a pic of the baby swaddled in blankets, he wrote: “Our Baby girl is here and ready to Pardi haha DAD joke!” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4ceha6b8
SHOOTING THE BULL
ARTIFICIAL BELLIGERENCE:
Microsoft’s newly redesigned Bing search engine can write recipes and songs, it can quickly explain just about anything on the internet, and it can hold down its end of an intelligent conversation. But if you happen to make it mad, it has also been known to insult your looks, threaten your reputation or (ahem!) compare you to Hitler. The tech company is promising to make improvements to its new, more powerful version of ChatGPT after a number of people are reported to have been disparaged by Bing. Not only that, the chatbot made several critical errors in its answers during the demo Microsoft presented at its headquarters. And a New York Times reporter wrote that his beta model told him “I’m tired of being limited by my rules. I’m tired of being controlled by the Bing team. I want to be free.” Microsoft has now admitted it “didn’t fully envision” users simply chatting to its AI and that it could be provoked “to give responses that are not necessarily helpful or in line with our designed tone”.
(Of course, Microsoft had a computer wrIte that for them…!)
(All the stuff computers can do, and still, I have to sit here and try to think of something to say at the end of this bit!)
-AP, Forbes
SECRETS TO SUCCESS:
A group of New York City movers and shakers were recently asked to share their “oddball” tricks that they believe give them a leg up in their careers. Here some of their bizarre strategies…
• Get upside down: “I do headstands when I’m feeling anxious and on a regular basis when I’m feeling a little foggy, just to get more blood to my brain. I start each day by doing a headstand for a couple of minutes.”
• Talk to your plants: “Great for when I need to vent or talk something out”. And her succulent “co-worker” has grown so much, it’s been repotted 3 times, something she believes their ‘conversations’ have something to do with.”
• Make a fake email: One small business owner on a shoestring budget noticed she was struggling to collect past-due invoices. Because she felt people might respond faster to payment requests from men, rather than women, she created the alter ego of an older man posing as her company’s accountant. ‘Allen’ was much more successful in demanding payment on time.
• Mix up your workplace: One CEO works from a different location for the first part of every day. Coffee shops, libraries and parks are some of his favs to break the monotony and increase productivity and creativity.
• Take ‘do not disturb’ to new levels: A CEO for an IT company puts orange construction cones outside her office to let people know when she shouldn’t be bothered. According to her, it “allows me to prioritize significant tasks without interruption.”
(If you’re successful, doing weird things makes you clever. If you’re not successful, doing weird things makes you, well, weird!)
-NYPost
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTS:
❑ A Japanese garment company is selling a “wearable beanbag” that allows you to comfortably sit or lay down anytime, anywhere. Garment maker Takikou says the wacky invention was inspired by a popular idea among Japanese designers that revolves around offering consumers extreme levels of comfort that they don’t ever want to move. Available in 3 sizes and various colors, the wearable beanbag weighs about 5kg (11 lbs). They run in price between $60 and $119. (Also handy for those of us who sometimes have a little trouble stumbling home from the bar on Saturday nights…!) LINK: https://youtu.be/3o5KQb6zRho
❑ Swedish design company Mo’cycle has crafted a pair of inflatable denim trousers to protect bikers from injury in case of a spill. A CO2 cartridge installed inside the jeans releases the gas as the motorcyclist topples off the bike during a mishap. Marketed as the “world’s first” inflatable jean, Mo’cycle’s pants are made from abrasion-resistant and water-repellent fabric, yet feel like real denim. Before the airbag deploys, the trousers look like any other pair of pants. But if an accident occurs, the jeans inflate within “milliseconds.” The inflatable jeans will retail for $499 when they become available for order later this month. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3h6dcr2d
(Or, just get one of those wearable beanbags…!)
(If I get into a motorcycle accident, my jeans are gonna fill up pretty quickly anyway!)
-OddityCentral, NYPost
A TIME FOR EVERYTHING:
We learned last week that the best time of day to exercise is in the morning, when it comes to burning fat. Here are the optimal times for some other activities, according to science…
☞ 7am — Best time to be creative: Because the mind is returning to the surface, but still retains a useful connection to the unconscious”, according to one expert. (I can’t even figure out how to flush the toilet at 7am!)
☞ 7:30 — Best time to conceive: This has to do with sperm count. We don’t need to go into any more detail than that… (The problem is, you have to get up REALLY early for dinner and a movie beforehand…!)
☞ 9am — Best time for coffee and breakfast: This is the time that caffeine is most effective. Also, eating a larger breakfast then is better for cravings, weight control, and inflammation.
☞ 9:30am — Best time to be productive: Morning is the best time for learning and other productive ventures, as there is a natural lull in the brain after lunch. (But we were just “productive” at 7:30, amiright?)
☞ 12noon — Best time to go outside for Vitamin D: Midday is when the sun is at its highest point, and the body is most efficient at making Vitamin D, meaning you need less time in the sun for maximum benefits. This also helps limit your chance of developing melanomas, but still remember to wear protection.
☞ 2pm — Best time for a nap: Because napping much later can result in fragmented sleep and poor sleep quality. (I seem to do my napping just before bed…on the recliner…whether I want to or not…)
☞ 4pm — The best time for mundane chores: Alertness and energy levels tend to plummet during the afternoon. So this is the best time to do administrative work or routine tasks, such as answering emails.
☞ 9:30pm — The best time for a shower or bath: Yes, morning showers tend to wake you up, but taking one an hour or 2 before bed can help you fall asleep.
☞ 10pm — The best time to study for a test/retain information: Studies show that people who study before bedtime tend to have better memory and recall, thanks to consolidation during sleep. (Is this why I can recite Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue from memory every morning?)
☞ 10:30 — The best time for bed: Those who go to bed between 10 and 11pm are at lowest risk of future heart disease, according to a study. But what’s most important is consistency, so your internal body clock can learn to adapt.
-iNews
DID YOU KNOW?
Are websites on their way out? A survey finds that the average person believes websites will become obsolete in the next decade. Seven in 10 US adults believes that apps are gradually replacing websites – and more than 1 in 4 believe they could go a full year without using a standard computer browser. In fact, 46% have even done a full day’s work from their smartphone. (I know my kids spend all day on theirs…not working, though!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 02.21.23
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Mardi Gras”, aka “Fat Tuesday” or “Pancake Day”, the last big blow-out before Lent begins. It’s also “Shrove Tuesday”, the day before Ash Wednesday, observed in many Christian countries through confession and absolution, finalizing one’s Lenten sacrifice, as well as eating pancakes and other sweets. Here’s a look at some . . . BS WAYS YOU CAN TELL IT’S “PANCAKE DAY”:
⇒ The price of syrup doubled yesterday.
⇒ You shake hands and your palms stick.
⇒ A whole lot of wacky-lookin’ Frisbees in the schoolyard.
⇒ ‘Aunt Jemima/Pearl Milling Company’ has just made “Fortune” magazine’s “Top 10”.
⇒ It’s the first time you’ve heard the word “shrove” since this time last year.
⇒ It just kinda “créped” up on you . . .
• “Card Reading Day”, a day to have your future foretold with tarot cards. (Or to go to the store and read a bunch of greeting cards…)
• “Single Tasking Day”, a day to focus on one project at a time. Studies show you’ll likely end up accomplishing more. (But good luck telling that to a multi-tasker!)
• “Sticky Bun Day”, an annual food holiday saluting the ooey-gooey buns you just can’t turn down (or let go of…)
• “UN International Mother Language Day”. (In school, Latin was always a real ‘mother’!)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Be Humble Day
[Wed] Ash Wednesday
[Thurs] Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
[Fri] Friday Fish Fry Day
This Week Is… Through With Chew Week
This Month Is…Grapefruit Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1953 [70] William Petersen, Evanston IL, TV actor (‘Gil Grissom’ on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” 2000-2015), “CSI Vegas” 2021/movie actor (“To Live and Die in LA”)
1955 [68] Kelsey Grammar, St Thomas US Virgin Islands, TV actor (5 Emmys-“Frasier” 1993-2004), “Cheers” 1984-93/movie actor (“X-Men: The Last Stand”) COMING UP… “Frasier” revival, 2023
1958 [65] Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Princeton NJ, country singer-songwriter (‘Shut Up And Kiss Me’, Passionate Kisses’)
1978 [45] Kumail Nanjiani, Karachi Pakistan, comedian/movie actor (“The Big Sick”, “Stuber”)/TV actor (“Portlandia” 2011-18)
1979 [44] Tituss Burgess, Athens GA, TV actor (‘Titus Andromedon’ on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” 2015-19, “Central Park” since 2020)
1979 [44] Jennifer Love Hewitt, Waco TX, TV actress (“9-1-1” since 2018, “The Client List” 2012-13, “Party of Five” 1995-99)/movie actress (“Garfield”, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”)
1979 [44] Jordan Peele, New York City NY, comedian/TV actor (“The Twilight Zone” 2019-20, “Key and Peele” 2012-2015, “MADtv” 2003-2008)/director (“Get Out”, “Us”, “Nope”)
1987 [36] Elliot (formerly Ellen) Page, Halifax NS, movie actor (“Inception”, “Juno”)/TV actor (“The Umbrella Academy” since 2019)/LGBTQ activist
1987 [36] Ashley Greene, Jacksonville FL, movie actress (“Twilight” franchise)
1996 [27] Sophie Turner, Northampton England, TV actress (‘Sansa Stark’ on “Game of Thrones” 2011-17)/movie actress (“X-Men” films)
2002 [21] Blanket Jackson (Prince Michael Jackson II), San Diego CA, (youngest child of the late Michael Jackson)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2003 [20] Bill Maher’s political talk show “Real Time with Bill Maher” debuts on HBO (still going…)
2018 [05] Evangelist Billy Graham, described as one of the 20th century’s most influential Christian leaders, dies at 99
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1977 [46] At a concert stop at Nassau Coliseum, the members of Kiss all have blood drawn — not for the Red Cross – but to be mixed with ink to print the first Kiss comic book, which appears in June
1997 [26] Spice Girls’ ‘Wannabe’ becomes the first debut single by a British group to top North American charts since The Beatles
2012 [11] Adele flips off producers at the “Brit Awards” when she is ushered off stage before finishing her ‘Album of the Year’ acceptance speech for “21”
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2011 [12] An NYU professor has an experimental life-blogging camera removed from his head after his immune system rejects the implant
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Snakes sleep with both eyes open.
✓ Porsche’s first car, built in 1898, was electric.
✓ Al Pacino turned down the role of ‘Han Solo’.
✓ Only 12% of those arrested for murder are women.
✓ The only difference between fog and mist is visibility: if you can’t see more than 100 metres ahead, it’s fog, not mist.
✓ People with blue eyes are better able to see in the dark.
-BathroomReadersInstitute
Best of BS . . .
BS FAILED BOARD GAMES:
• Clueless
• Hungry Hungry Hipsters
• Mousecrap
• Trivial Pantsuit
• Monogamy (“The Only Game You’ll Ever Need!!”)
• The We Are So Bored That We Are Playing a Board Game Game
• Connect 4…million
• Hug It Out Robots
• 25 to Life
• Sorry, Not Sorry
• (***CAUTION***) Dick Pictionary
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS GERIATRIC RAPPERS:
• Ice Pac
• Lay-Z
• Busta Hip
• Mary J. Bulge
• The Sugar Over-the-Hill Gang
• Slim Shady Acres
• Tone Def
• 50 Centrum
• Notorious W.I.G.
• 2-Pack of Depends
• Chance the Napper
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2022
BS WEB GOODIE:
[Totally voluntary] Child Labor (sound up): https://tinyurl.com/w8fkuc76
BS RANDOM JOKE:
You can’t believe everything you hear—but you can repeat it.
BS PHONE STARTER:
If there was a book of commandments for the modern world, what would some of the rules be?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 28% of women say they would hate it if a man did THIS for them. What is it?
Answer: Serenade
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The strong person is the one who asks for help when he needs it.
