Tuesday, December 17, 2024 — Edition: #7858
Our Sheet Don’t Stink!
BS SUBSCRIBER NOTE:
The Bull Sheet will not be publishing during the period December 25, 2024 – January 1, 2025, to allow staff an opportunity to enjoy the holidays. All subscribers will receive account credits for non-service days. Following Tuesday, December 24, the next Bull Sheet edition will be for Thursday, January 2nd. Thanks for being here for The Bull in 2024, and Happy Holidays, all!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
[***UPDATE***] ★ Robinson later attempted to clear things up, posting: “I would like to sincerely apologize for my previous post. I had a true misjudgment in a situation. Tom Did not do anything. From my own personal trauma and experiences hearing false accusations about him all the time clouded my judgment and got the best of me.”
Does Tom Sandoval have another #Scandoval on his hands? The “Vanderpump Rules” star’s girlfriend, Victoria Lee Robinson, seemingly revealed their breakup — and implied that he cheated — in a since-deleted Instagram Story post Sunday night. She wrote: “wow… you guys were right. tiger never changes its stripes… he loves the best friends apparently. That’s according to fan screenshots, which suggest Sandoval stepped out on her with a pal. She concluded, “i feel like a fool. completely heartbroken.” Sandoval and Robinson, who has since made her account private, no longer follow each other on IG. No comment so far from his rep.
-PageSix
★ Nicole Kidman almost left Hollywood for good in 2008. After moving to Nashville and giving birth to her first daughter with Keith Urban, the Oscar winner thought she was “pretty much done” and wanted to turn her full attention to her family. Then her mother stepped in. Kidman said to CBS News: “We were living on a farm, and that’s when my mother said, ‘I wouldn’t give up completely. Keep a finger sort of in it.’ And I’m like, ‘No, no. I’m done now. I’m done.’ She’s going, ‘Just listen to me. Keep moving forward. Not saying that you have to do it to the level you’ve been doing it, but I wouldn’t give it up completely.’” Kidman took the advice to heart, and 3 years later, she scored her third Oscar nod for her role in “Rabbit Hole.” Her new film “Babygirl” opens Christmas Day.
-Variety
★ Jim Carrey could don the iconic green mask once again. He recently revealed that he’d be open to reprising his role in a sequel to his 1994 comedy “The Mask”. He said to Comicbook.com: “If somebody had the right idea, I guess… I said I’d like to retire, but I think I was talking more about power-resting. Because as soon as a good idea comes your way, or a group of people that you really enjoyed working with…things tend to change.” Last week, he also admitted that he would return for a “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” sequel, if they “could figure out the Grinch” costume.
-HollywoodReporter
★ According to 2 separate sources, Oscar-nominated writers Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have an idea for a sequel to the blockbuster “Barbie” film. Hollywood Reporter says they have already brought their concept to Warner Bros., and while it is said to be in “early stages,” it is understood that this has opened the door for talks about creating another Barbie film. While a rep for the filmmakers said “There is no legitimacy to this reporting”, the outlet stands by its story.
-HollywoodReporter
★ Forget owning your childhood home — how about buying a piece of cinematic history? Or, in Macaulay Culkin’s case, a little bit of both. The former child star, who became a sensation for his portrayal of ‘Kevin McCallister’ in “Home Alone”, has revealed that he noticed when the iconic Winnetka, Illinois home where the film was shot went on the market in May – and he even considered buying it. Why? Well, not so he could set up elaborate booby traps. Culkin told a crowd at a theater during a screening of the movie that he “had half a mind to buy it — just for giggles.” He went on to say he wanted to turn his old fictional home into a “movie fun house” where people could sled down the stairs, just like Kevin does in the movie. So why didn’t he? Quote: “I got kids. I’m busy, man.”
-EW
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Garth Brooks, Drew Starkey (R)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Michael Fassbender, Lee Jung-jae, Dustin Nickerson
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Elton John, Brandi Carlile
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Billy Eichner, Harris Dickinson, Mario Carbone
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Nick Kocher, Brian McElhaney, Demi Adejuyigbe (R)
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Kyle Richards, Jessel Taank
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Tyler Perry, The Temptations
• “The Talk” (CBS): Eric McCormack
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Michael Fassbender, Nikki Glaser
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Common, Pete Rock, Brett Eldredge
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Ariana Grande
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Michelle Obama
• “St. Denis Medical” (NBC): Alex and Ron care for a patient whose diagnosis is not what it seems; Joyce enlists Serena’s help to boost St. Denis’ online presence; Bruce and Matt help a Santa in need.
• “LEGO Masters” (Fox): Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular with Sophia Bush, Holly Robinson Peete, Eric McCormack and Lil Rel Howery.
• “FBI” (CBS): After 3 customs officers are killed in a cargo heist, the team entrusts OA’s old army buddy Clay to help determine if it was an inside job. Followed by new eps of “International” and “Most Wanted”.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Travis Scott — was joined by a surprise guest Owen Wilson during his headlining set at Rolling Loud Miami 2024 on Saturday. The two performed ‘FE!N’ from Scott’s 2023 album “Utopia”. Video shows Wilson enthusiastically shouting: “I’m feigning for more.” The surprise appearance comes amid news that Wilson is set to star in “Rolling Loud”, a film inspired by the annual music festival.
• Mariah Carey – ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ has now garnered over 2 billion streams on Spotify. It is the first holiday song to hit that milestone, making it the most-streamed holiday song of all time. It has also hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 every Christmas for the last 4 years.
• Blink-182 – Tom DeLonge has offered his thoughts on the mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey. The guitarist and UFO researcher wrote on IG that they “can hover for 6 hours, and then disappear…Some of them can even move into the ocean, and then back up to the air. Which is called ‘transmedium travel.’” He feels we should consider they might be alien spaceships that are ‘mimicking’ other aircraft. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mw7kb759
• The Cure — Robert Smith said in an interview that he may be on the verge of writing a Christmas banger. He claims to have composed a “really catchy” pop song, and he may add some festive lyrics on it for a release around the holiday season.
• Jelly Roll – appears on a cut on Snoop Dogg’s new album “Missionary”, which dropped Friday. The new version of Tom Petty’s ‘Last Dance With Mary Jane’, includes new lyrics performed by Snoop and Jelly. Petty also makes a posthumous appearance on the song. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2p9m4ayp
• Morgan Wallen – topped 7 of Billboard’s 32 country-related year-end lists, giving him more #1s in the genre’s closing chart summation than anyone else, for the 4th straight year. His “One Thing at a Time” album was named Top Country Album, and Wallen won, for the 4th year running, the titles of Top Country Artist, Top Country Artist — Male, Top Hot Country Songs Artist, and Top Country Albums Artist.
• Luke Bryan – His name shows up at #7 on the website “Celebrity Private Jet Tracker’s” list of famous people who have flown the most over the past year in their private planes. Also on the list are Kim Kardashian, Elon Musk, Jay-Z & Diddy. Celebrity Private Jet Tracker reports that Bryan flew 646 times in 2024, for a total distance of 373,154 miles, requiring 225,000 gallons of jet fuel.
SHOOTING THE BULL
MUSCLE = MEMORY:
Well, this is one of the best arguments I’ve ever seen for a visit to the gym before work: A new study has found that workouts aren’t just good for the body – they also keep your brain in top gear for a full 24 hours. Researchers from University College London said their study suggests that daily moderate exercise could not only help people keep their mental edge well into old age, it also offers improved memory the very next day. They found that study participants between 50-83 years-old who did more physical activity than usual benefited from a sustained cognitive boost that could have significant implications for brain health. They say a full workout isn’t even required – just something as simple as a brisk walk, or another activity that gets your heart rate up.
(Believe me, my heart rate shoots up the minute I arrive in the morning…)
(Wow. I’d hate to see how dumb I’d be if I didn’t walk to work…)
-StudyFinds
A LESSON IN SELF-CAR:
Have you ever heard of one of those studies where they found that money only makes you happier up to a certain income level? Well, this is apparently the “Car version” of that. Researchers supported by Arizona State University say that our dependence on the automobile is negatively affecting our happiness levels. It seems that people are more likely to feel less happy with their lives when they reach the point that they need a car for more than half of the activities they do in a given week. The study was carried out on more than 2,000 US adults in cities and suburbs. The researchers noted that in the USA, only 3% of commuters travel to work via public transit, and 69% drive.
(What makes you even unhappier is when you need a car for half the activities you do in a week – and it’s in the shop!)
(Also making me unhappy, when I DIDN’T need the car – but now I want to visit the drive-thru!)
-MorningBrew, ScienceDirect
OLD FLAMES:
Sunday, a 94-year-old Pennsylvania man married his 89-year-old ex-wife. Fay Gable and Robert Wenrich were first married in November 1951 and had 4 children together. But they divorced in 1975, and both remarried, remaining with their new spouses until the spouses died. The story goes that Gable and Wenrich maintained a good relationship and often attended family events together. And they recently decided it was time to tie the knot again. Between the 2 of them, they have 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and twin great-great grandchildren. The reunited couple’s daughter told a reporter that he said Fay “was the first love of my life. I never thought I’d get her back. And now that I did, I’m not wasting any time”. She also said the couple carry on “like two teenagers in love.”
(…and by that, she means they aren’t allowed to drive – and they can fall asleep anywhere!)
(We understand that instead of having an open bar at the reception, they just let guests raid their medicine cabinet…)
-CBS
RIDICULOUS MYTHS ABOUT DODGY STUFF IN FOOD AND DRINK:
⇒ Apple seeds contain cyanide: It’s actually true, but in small amounts. So, while it is best to be safe and not consume them, you would need to eat a minimum of 150 seeds – and up to thousands, depending on the type of apple, in order to get cyanide poisoning. (And by then, you’d have an apple tree growing in your stomach anyway…!)
⇒ Vodka has antifreeze as an ingredient: Years ago, Dan Akroyd was shilling his vodka on TV, and bragged that his brand was so good because it contained no propylene glycol, which some manufacturers do use to make it have a smoother mouth feel. The problem is that he went on to claim that propylene glycol is used in antifreeze. But when it comes to disastrous uses of antifreeze, it is ethylene glycol that is toxic to humans.
⇒ Twinkies contain scary ingredients that make them last forever: The story was that a teacher once kept a Twinkie for years without it disintegrating or getting moldy. But the truth is that they aren’t known to be any more heavily processed than any other guilty-pleasure snack foods.
⇒ Licorice can be dangerous: You might have heard that licorice root extract can contain something called glycyrrhizic acid, which can be quite deadly if you take too much. But the vast majority of licorice candy today does not actually contain any licorice root extract. (But rest assured that it still stinks just as bad as it ever did!)
⇒ MSG sensitivity is a thing: Oh, boy…this is going to set someone off. But while the so-called phenomenon of MSG sensitivity has been around for decades, but there is no evidence to support claims of people having adverse effects from eating food with MSG.
⇒ Putting feet in wine is unsanitary: Not as an ingredient, silly! Grape stomping is a practice that goes back to ancient days. It involves people treading barefoot over grapes to break them down for the fermentation process. But most winemakers today use automated systems because they are much more efficient, not because science has proved that grape stomping is unsafe. In fact, the practice, while not often used anymore, is still not banned anywhere of note.
-Listverse
DID YOU KNOW?
Research shows that taking a placebo not only helps people feel better when dealing with an illness – it also helps with a broken heart — simply by tricking one into thinking that they’re on the mend. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder gave a nasal spray without medicinal properties to test participants who recently experienced an unwanted breakup. They “found a placebo can have quite strong effects on reducing the intensity of social pain.” They concluded their research demonstrates “how expectation can be harnessed to achieve desired aims”, and how “doing anything that you believe will help you feel better will probably help you feel better.” (So they could also have given them chocolate?)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 12.17.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Maple Syrup Day”, the perfect opportunity to enjoy and appreciate this delicious North American treat. Canada makes more than 80% of the world’s supply, most of it in the province of Québec. The state of Vermont is the biggest producer in the USA. (Got a straw?)
• “Say It Now Day”, a day to tell friends and loved ones how important they are to us by expressing gratitude for all the ways they’ve impacted our lives. With the year winding down, it’s the perfect time to show gratitude for all they have done during the year. (Plus, you want to be in their good books, so they’ll get you an awesome Christmas gift!)
• “Pan American Aviation Day”, celebrates and stimulates interest in aviation in the western hemisphere as a way to develop more rapid communications and cultural development. It is observed on the same day as ‘Wright Brothers Day’. . .
• “Wright Brothers Day”, honoring their flight at Kitty Hawk NC December 17th, 1903. The first sustained motorized aircraft flight travelled a total of 850 ft. Orville Wright was the pilot, winning the honors in a coin toss. Wilbur got to run alongside. (Two wrongs don’t make a right, but two Wrights did make an airplane…)
• “Device Appreciation Day”, a reminder to appreciate the devices that help us lead our lives, and take steps to protect the ones that are most important to you. The idea for the day was thought up by “Traverse”, a company which provides insurance for devices (Go figure!)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Bake Cookies Day
[Wed] Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day
[Thurs] Emo Day
[Fri] Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
This Week is…Los Posadas
This Month is…Human Rights Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1936 [88] Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio), Buenos Aires Argentina, religious leader (266th Pope of the Catholic Church, who took over for Benedict XVI in March 2013)
1945 [79] Ernie Hudson, Benton Harbor MI, movie actor (“Ghostbusters”, “The Crow”)/TV actor (Grace and Frankie” 2015-20)
1946 [78] Eugene Levy, Hamilton ON, movie actor (“American Pie” movies)/TV actor (“Schitt’s Creek” 2015-20, “SCTV” 1976-84)/Order of Canada 2011/father of Dan Levy and Sarah Levy
1949 [75] Paul Rodgers, Middlesborough England, rock singer (Bad Company-‘Can’t Get Enough’, Free-‘All Right Now’), Queen + Paul Rodgers 2004-09
1953 [71] Bill Pullman, Hornell NY, movie actor (“Independence Day”, “Spaceballs”)/TV actor (“The Sinner” 2019-21
1958 [66] Mike Mills, Orange County CA, rock bassist (R.E.M.-‘Losing My Religion’, ‘Everybody Hurts’)
1969 [55] Chuck Liddell (“The Iceman”), Santa Barbara CA, MMA fighter (former Ultimate Fighting Champion, career record of 21-9, UFC Hall of Fame 2009)/season 9 competitor on “Dancing With the Stars”
1974 [50] (Jeffrey) “Duff” Goldman, Detroit MI, pastry chef/TV personality (“Ace of Cakes” 2006-11, “Cake Masters” since 2016)/owner of Charm City Cakes
1974 [50] Giovanni Ribisi, LA CA, movie actor (“Selma”, “Avatar”)/TV actor (“Dads” 2013-14) COMING UP… “Avatar: Fire and Ash” 2025
1974 [50] Sarah Paulson, Tampa FL, movie actress (“12 Years a Slave”, “What Women Want”)/TV actress (“American Horror Story” 2012-21, “Ratched”)
1975 [49] Milla Jovovich, Kiev Ukraine, movie actress (“Resident Evil” films, “The Fifth Element”) COMING UP… “In the Lost Lands” 2025
1978 [46] Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao, Kibawe Philippines, former pro boxer (the first 8-division world champion)/politician (a Senator of the Philippines 2016-22)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1989 [35] “The Simpsons” debuts on Fox with the episode “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”.
2017 [07] “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” takes more than $450 million worldwide in its opening weekend. At the time, it’s the second largest North American opening, grossing $220 million (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is first).
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2004 [20] A guitar played by George Harrison while recording The Beatles’ “Revolver” album sells for just shy of $568,000 at a Christie’s auction in NYC.
1994 [30] Two musical wedding take place: Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora marries Heather Locklear, and Celine Dion weds her manager, Rene Angelil.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1900 [124] A prize of 100,000 francs is offered for proven communication with extraterrestrials. Martians are excluded — because contacting them is considered “too easy”.
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2000 [24] San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens sets an NFL record with 20 catches in a single game in a 17-0 victory over Chicago Bears.
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Beer is twice as fizzy as champagne.
✓ The Human genome includes as many as 145 genes that have jumped from bacteria, fungi, other single-celled organisms, and viruses.
✓ Polar bears have black skin.
✓ Even Antarctica has an area code. It’s 672.
✓ The first footprints on the moon will remain there for a million years.
✓ Netflix was conceived after its co-founder racked up $40 in late fees for a VHS rental.
-AllThatIsInteresting, ReadersDigest
BS REASONS YOU HAVEN’T STARTED YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING YET:
(Just 8 shopping days left — and that includes today…)
• You believe the most important thing about the holiday season is spending time with family and friends, not buying expensive gifts. Also, your unemployment ran out last month.
• You don’t have enough money to shop at Walmart . . . because you work at Walmart.
• You’re still patiently awaiting Gwyneth Paltrow’s instructions on exactly what to buy.
• Your kids are already spoiled enough, with their fancy crutches and tuberculosis medicine.
• You’ve decided to give all your money to “Charity.” She’s the most popular dancer at the Rhino.
• Because you’re giving everyone in your life the greatest gift of all: love. And also because you’re a cheap so-and-so.
• Mall crowds make you a little “stabby.”
• Legally, you’re not allowed to be within a mile of Victoria’s Secret.
• The other members of your biker gang haven’t gotten around to drawing names yet.
• For the last time, you’re Jewish.
• You’re a guy. And it’s not 11:59 on Christmas Eve.
Best of BS . . .
BS WHAT I GOT AT THE OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY:
• Super gassy from Margaret’s 3-bean salad.
• Served…a restraining order.
• The party started.
• The ‘come hither’ look from Norman in accounting.
• Annoyed. Because I already spend all day with these people.
• Some great pictures for the company newsletter.
• Snacks for later — and then I got the hell out of there!
• Fired, for making it more like XXXmas.
• My Stapler back.
• Drunk.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2017
BS WEB GOODIE:
Everyone has a special talent: https://tinyurl.com/bddftr2y
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I grew up living paycheck to paycheck. But now things are much better. I live direct deposit to direct deposit.
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What is your worst-ever Christmas shopping fail?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
10% of people say they have bought a Christmas present HERE. Where is it?
Answer: A gas station
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
There’s nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.
