Thursday, August 12, 2021 – Edition: #7044

The BS Press!

 

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ The search for new permanent host of “Jeopardy!” is officially over. The show’s executive producer Mike Richards has been named the new permanent host of the syndicated game show, succeeding the late Alex Trebek. Additionally, “The Big Bang Theory” star Mayim Bialik will host Jeopardy!’s primetime and spinoff series, including the upcoming “Jeopardy! National College Championship” set to air on ABC next year. “The Greatest of All Time” winner Ken Jennings will return as consulting producer for the show.
-Yahoo
★ Spain’s leading group of female filmmakers on Tuesday condemned the San Sebastian film festival’s decision to award Johnny Depp its highest honor, saying it gave the international event a bad name after a judge ruled last year that allegations of domestic violence against the actor were “substantially correct”. Cristina Andreu, the President of Spain’s Association of Female Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media, said she was “very surprised” by the decision to award Depp the Donostia Award next month. According to her, “This…transmits a terrible message to the public: ‘It doesn’t matter if you are an abuser as long as you are a good actor’”.
-Yahoo
★ Elon Musk doesn’t just want to send billionaires to space, he also wants to send advertising. And that idea isn’t sitting well with earthbound critics. The plan is for Musk’s SpaceX to work with Canadian-based Geometric Energy Corp. to send the square-shaped CubeSat satellite, with one side used as a display screen, into space by 2022. The satellite would allow people or companies to pay what’s likely an ‘astronomical’ fee to project advertising on the satellite as it orbits Earth. More than a few people have wondered online why Musk isn’t using much of his $185 billion net worth to do something more useful, like fight climate change.
-TheWrap
★ Pete Davidson rented out an entire movie theatre last weekend to allow his fans to watch “The Suicide Squad” for free. Davidson, who stars in the new DC Comics movie as ‘Richard Hertz’ and his alter-ego ‘Blackguard’, encouraged people to head out to see the film by renting out the Atrium Stadium Cinema in his hometown of Staten Island, New York. All fans had to do to get in was announce they were “friends” of Davidson. (They didn’t even need a password – like the short-form for his character’s name?)
-Canoe

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Kenan Thompson, Regina Hall, the Killers, guest host Sarah Silverman
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Kit Harington, Miranda Cosgrove, Normani
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Jennifer Hudson
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Ethan Hawke, Jodie Comer
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Andrew Rannells, All Time Low (R)
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Marlon Wayans, Amber Ruffin
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Mena Suvari (R)
• “The Talk” (CBS): Paul Reiser, Renée Felice Smith, guest co-host Justin Baldoni (R)
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Susan Kelechi Watson, Anthony Scotto, Billy Ray Cyrus & FIREROSE, guest co-host Sebastian Maniscalo
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Jennifer Garner, Maren Morris (R)
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Emilio Estevez, Arica Himmel, Karen Akunowicz (R)
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Liza Koshy, Lindsey Vonn, David Sedaris (R)
• “When Nature Calls With Helen Mirren” (ABC): A rabbit attacks a water buffalo; a celebrity bear tries to answer interview questions while eating increasingly prickly cacti; a falcon wearing yoga pants.
• “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (NBC): Season 8 premiere
• “Walker” (CW): Season 1 finale
• MLB “Field of Dreams Game” (Fox, SN): NY Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox at Dyersville, Iowa, the filming site of the 1989 movie.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Billie Eilish — appeared on “The Tonight Show” and talked with Jimmy Fallon about returning to the road. She said she has had “like, 6 dreams this week about shows. I’m dead serious. It’s been so long.” The 19-year-old says, after 2 years, she “can’t wait” to perform live again.
• Ed Sheeran — has announced an intimate show in London. He’ll perform for 2,000 fans at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on September 2 — his first headline show since the end of his record-breaking ‘Divide Tour’ in 2019. The concert will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his debut album ‘+’.
• Pink — She and her husband, Carey Hart, hosted a family ‘Olympic games’ in celebration of the Tokyo Summer Olympics. She posted a pic of herself and 10-year-old daughter Willow striking matching poses in the swimming pool. Her hashtags? #MamaWonGold” and “#BetterLuckInFourYearsWills.
• Kiss — Auction house Gotta Have Rock And Roll has listed a 1973 Les Paul Deluxe owned by original guitarist Ace Frehley. The signed axe, which Frehely purchased around the time the band formed, is expected to fetch between $150,000 and $250,000. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2kku7zw7
• Metallica – Sept. 10, they will release an exclusive “Black Album” remastered deluxe box set and tour jacket bundle. It will be available in configurations including 180-gram double vinyl LP, 3 CD expanded edition, and limited-edition deluxe box set (containing the album remastered on 180-gram 2LP, a picture disc, three live LPs, 14 CDs, 6 DVDs, a 120-page hardcover book, plus extras).
• The Beatles — London’s world-famous Abbey Road Studios is hosting an open house event through Sunday as part of its 90th birthday celebrations. It gives visitors the opportunity to explore all 3 of the original recording rooms used by artists including the Fab Four, Pink Floyd, Oasis, Kanye West, Adele, Ed Sheeran and Frank Ocean.
• Tim McGraw — will release his first music video since 2018 for his single ‘7500 OBO’ from his “Here on Earth” album, which was released last summer. It will premiere on YouTube tomorrow with a YouTube Premium-exclusive afterparty starring McGraw. His daughter Audrey makes her acting debut in the video.
• Chris Stapleton, Brooks & Dunn and Old Dominion – Fans who planned to see them in Panama City Beach, FL next month will have to wait. The 2021 Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam (set for Sept. 3-5) has been bumped to June 2022 because of the current growth rate of COVID-19 cases in the area.
• Toby Keith and Alabama – will headline the “Country Kickoff to Labor Day Weekend,” a live event on Thurs. Sept 2 to be shown at hundreds of outdoor movie theaters across North America. Tickets go on sale tomorrow starting at $56 per car. Michael Ray will be opening act and Blanco Brown will host. LINK: https://www.encorenights.com/

SHOOTING THE BULL

COVID-28, POLIO-26:
As the pandemic wears on, the idea of someday eliminating the coronavirus completely and going back to “normal” feels like more and more unlikely. But keep your chin up…according to a group of scientists from New Zealand, we shouldn’t give up hope just yet. In an analysis of past studies, and looking at comparisons with smallpox and polio, they found that eradication of COVID-19 might still be feasible, even if it wouldn’t be easy. They note that in the past, humans have managed to eradicate one human disease: smallpox, and have almost eliminated polio. People lived alongside smallpox for 3,000 years before an extensive vaccine campaign wiped it out. Using a scoring system based on factors such as the availability of a vaccine, lifespan of immunity and impact of health measures, the team found that COVID-19 scored 28 points out of 51, compared to polio, which scored 26 and smallpox with 43. Scientifically, that means eradication of COVID-19 is slightly more feasible than for polio, and much less so than for smallpox. The scientists admit that there are definitely challenges for eradicating COVID-19 that didn’t factor as much with polio and smallpox, such as vaccine hesitancy, and the rapid evolution of variants.
(Also, Facebook!)
(And if you ever wondered whether scientists are nerds, the fact that they are ranking diseases on a scorecard should tell you all you need to know!)
-ScienceAlert

BOTH YOUNG AT HEART:
The smallest baby ever has defied fate and, after spending over a year at Singapore’s National University Hospital, has finally gone home. Kwek Yu Xuan was born in June 2020 nearly 4 months premature via emergency C-section, weighing about as much as a softball — 7.5 ounces (213 grams) — making her the lightest baby ever delivered. It also meant her likelihood of survival was limited. Despite her fragile entrance into the world, the hospital announced last weekend that she has been discharged. The bitty tot is still battling chronic lung disease and pulmonary hypertension but has, at last, been turned over to the care of her parents.
➢ Edith Murway-Traina — who celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday — has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest competitive female powerlifter. In 2019, she broke the record for ‘oldest powerlifter’ by hulking upwards of 150 pounds at 98. Her achievement is marked in the 2022 edition of the “Guinness World Records” book, out next month. She stopped working out due to the pandemic, but is now back at the gym 3 times a week with her trainer, preparing for another competition in November. How does she do it? The Tampa-based great-great-grandmother says: “I’m kind of annoying.” Tell me I can’t do something, and I will prove that I can.” (She just keeps on raising the bar…)
-NYPost

HOST WITH THE MOST VOTES:
(***UPDATE: Wednesday, it was announced that “Jeopardy!” executive producer Mike Richards will be the new host of the long-running quiz-show, and actress Mayim Bialik will host primetime and spin-off specials. See “Show Biz Buzz”, above***)
“Jeopardy!’ viewers are buzzing amid rumors that the game show has decided who will be its next permanent host. It has been reported that the show is in “advanced negotiations” with executive producer Mike Richards to replace the legendary Alex Trebek, following his death in November. Richards, however, isn’t the first choice for all fans, according to a recent poll of 1,000 Americans. If you said, “Who is Ken Jennings?”, you’d be correct! The OnePoll survey shows that the record-setting Jeopardy contestant is the preferred replacement host of 23% of those asked. Richards came in second with 14% of the vote, and despite his rave reviews, only one in 10 believe “Reading Rainbow” and “Star Trek” star Levar Burton should be given the reins. CNN’s Anderson Cooper came next with 5%, Dr. Mehmet Oz with 4%, and CNBC’s David Ferber scored 1%, but in fairness, the poll was taken prior to his turn as guest-host.
(They should just pick a host like they do around here – based solely on who will work the cheapest!)
(Why can’t they just do what every other show does — Call Seacrest!)
(Who, to you, would make the best Jeopardy host?)
-StudyFinds, TVLine

FUNNIEST TWEETS OF THE WEEK ABOUT MARRIAGE:
⇒ Sixteen years of marriage and I still suck in my gut on date night. That’s romance. – Laura Marie
⇒ You know you’ve mastered marriage when you ask your spouse to hand you “that thingy” over there and they know exactly what that means. – Jawbreaker
⇒ I’m your wife. You might remember me from such hits as It’s in the Hall Closet and its sequel Look Again. — Jessie
⇒ Welcome to marriage, you’ll tell each other the same stories so many times you’ll get confused about which stories are actually yours — MomInBits
⇒ “Be still and be quiet, don’t be scared, it will be over soon”: Me to myself, hiding in the other room when I hear my wife start unloading the dishwasher – Simon Holland
⇒ Married 25 years, yet the wife and I still find things to talk about every day. Just not with each other, obviously. – bacon popsicle
⇒ I hinted at new patio furniture to the wife and I heard a faint swoosh of her sending the order. — Cracked
⇒ (***Caution***) My wife and I role play “The Fast and the Furious” in bed. Me and her, respectively. – Henpecked Hal
-BuzzFeed

DID YOU KNOW?
It seems that kids aren’t the only ones who play with their food instead of eating it. A new study found over one-third of people admit they’ve ordered food they didn’t actually eat — so they could post a picture of it on social media. In a survey of 2,000 people, 40% admitted to uploading images of food or beverages that they themselves did not consume. 57% physically rearrange a dish to get the best photo angle. And 6 in 10 have stopped friends from digging in just to grab a photo of their order first or know someone who did the same thing to them. (I guess you can’t get the same effect just taking a pic of the menu board above the cash register?)
-StudyFinds

BS CHRONOMETER 08.12.21

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [72] Mark Knopfler, Glasgow Scotland (raised in England), rock guitarist-singer (Dire Straits-‘Money for Nothing’, ‘Sultans of Swing’)

1963 [58] Sir Mix-a-Lot [Anthony Ray], Seattle WA, rapper (‘Baby Got Back’)

1965 [56] Peter Krause, Alexandria MN, TV actor (‘Adam Braverman’ on “Parenthood” 2010-15, “Dirty Sexy Money” 2007-09, “Six Feet Under” 2001-05)

1971 [50] Yvette Nicole Brown, East Cleveland OH, TV actress (‘Shirley Bennett’ on “Community” 2009-15)

1971 [50] Pete Sampras, Lake Sherwood CA, retired tennis pro (15 Grand Slam singles titles including 7 Wimbledon and 5 US Open, ranked #1 for 286 weeks beginning in 1993)

1975 [46] Casey Affleck, Falmouth MA, movie actor (“Gone Baby Gone”, “Ocean’s 11” movies)

1992 [29] Cara Delevingne, London UK, fashion model (Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, etc.)/movie actress (“Suicide Squad”, “Paper Towns”) COMING UP…”Tell It Like A Woman”

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “International Youth Day”, a UN observance since 1999 to draw attention to youth issues worldwide. (Acne?) This year’s theme: “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health” LINK: https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/iyd2021.html

• “Middle Children’s Day”, a salute to middle-born children whose childhood activities were seemingly always limited by being ‘too young’ or ‘too old’. (But the occasion will probably be ignored, just like a middle child…)

• “Vinyl Record Day”, celebrated on one of the possible dates in 1877 on which Thomas Edison is thought to have invented the phonograph. The purpose is to encourage the preservation of the recordings, cover art, and cultural influence of vinyl records. NET: http://vinylrecordday.org

• “World Elephant Day”, conceived in 2011 and dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world’s increasingly scarce pachyderms. NET: http://worldelephantday.org

• “Baseball Fans Day”, today, we celebrate fans of America’s pastime, baseball. Baseball evolved from a British game called rounders and is similar to the game of cricket. To celebrate, MLB is holding a “Field of Dreams” event, named after the 1989 film, its first-ever game in Iowa. The Dyersville game (the filming location of the movie) between the White Sox and Yankees will be played on a specially-constructed 8,000-capacity ballpark constructed amid 159 acres of cornfield.

• “Sewing Machine Day”, the newest machines are computerized and can do some pretty impressive things.  If you don’t use yours too often, take it out and sew something today.  But if you use your sewing machine a lot, then today is a day to give it a well-earned vacation.

• “Truck Driver Day”, Today, we honor the truckers who we depend upon to transport our belongings, good for sale, equipment, and anything else we need moved from one place to another.

COMING UP . . .
[Fri] Left-Handers Day
[Fri] Filet Mignon Day
[Sat] Creamsicle Day
[Sat] Bowling Day

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2014 [07] Screen legend Lauren Bacall (“Key Largo”, “The Big Sleep”) dies in NYC at age 89

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1994 [27] Woodstock 2 – officially “Woodstock ’94” – begins in Saugerties, New York. The festival draws a crowd of about 350,000 over 3 days to see acts including Aerosmith, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow and Peter Gabriel

2007 [14] Led Zeppelin announces plans for what has proven to be their last gig together – a performance at London’s O2 Arena to honor Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun

2012 [09] London 2012 Olympics end with a 3-hour musical closing ceremony (Spice Girls, George Michael, The Who, Take That, Muse, Jessie J, Pet Shop Boys, One Direction, etc.)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1981 [40] IBM introduces its first ‘Personal Computer’, the model 5150 equipped with MS-DOS 1.0 and a price tag of $1,565 (almost $4,700 in today’s dollars)

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ A hippo’s stomach is 10 feet long and can hold 400 pounds of food.
✓ Insects shiver when they’re cold.
✓ Male monkeys go bald, just like men.
✓ The kilt originated in France.
✓ 90% of the world’s crops come from only 12 species of plants.
✓ Gerber once tried to market a baby food for adults.
-BathroomReadersInstitute

Best of BS . . .
BS STUPID QUESTIONS FOR PESSIMISTS:
• You don’t want this 4-leaf clover, do you?
• If a tree falls in the forest, will it land on you?
• What are your thoughts on 2021 so far?
• Are you positive you’re a pessimist?
• Don’t you think tomorrow will be awesome?
• What if your glass were half-full of vodka?
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2020

BS THINGS YOU DON’T WANNA OVERHEAR FROM A RESTAURANT KITCHEN:
• “Dammit, that’s the 3rd band-aid I’ve lost this week!”
• “C’mon! Let’s get those forks spit-shined!”
• “Y’know, those food prep gloves work in a pinch for a prostate exam.”
• “Attention! Did anyone on the kitchen staff lose a finger?”
• “Dude, you have to use the microwave to heat up that chicken. You can’t just keep it your pants!”
• “I can’t believe he STILL ate it!!”
-First published in BS 2000

TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ A tech insider says Apple will launch the new AirPods 3 alongside the iPhone 13 this fall. (Little is known about these new products other than the fact I’ll buy them because of my pathetic need to fit in…)
➠ According to Match.com, half of women research a man before they go on a date. (In a completely related story, I haven’t had a date in months…)
➠ Scientists may have discovered the gene that causes people to cheat. (Yeah, those genes can also be found very tightly affixed to the 24-year-old in accounting!)
➠ Did you know that Leonardo DaVinci used to buy caged animals from the market just so that he could set them free? It’s true! (There’s nothing quite like that feeling you get after doing a good deed, even if it means knowing that hungry leopards are roaming the streets of Florence…)
➠ A report claims that ‘streetwalkers and escorts” are facing a shortage of clients due to hook-up apps and the coronavirus. (If there were ever a time for a ‘Charlie Sheen Bat Signal,’ now would be it.)

BS WEB GOODIE:
The last thing she says (sound up):  https://tinyurl.com/4t7u3xf8

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I’m working on a theory that says the first time a trend in pants drastically changes and you don’t like that change, you are officially no longer young.

BS PHONE STARTER:
What simple daily practice helps you stay positive?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  It has been calculated that in your lifetime, you’ll hurt yourself about 190 times while doing THIS. What is it?
Answer:  Shaving

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
A person with a sharp tongue will eventually cut himself.