Monday, December 16, 2024 – Edition: #7857
Thanks a Sheetload for Choosing “BS”!
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:
★ Jamie Foxx was involved in an altercation at the LA hotspot Mr. Chow on Friday night. A spokesperson said he was enjoying his birthday dinner when “someone from another table threw a glass that hit him in the mouth. He had to get stitches and is recovering. The police were called and the matter is now in law enforcement’s hands.” Beverly Hills police said that the report of assault was “unfounded,” and the incident “involved a physical altercation between parties.” No arrests have been made, though the incident is still being investigated.
-PageSix
★ With one more week until the Christmas box office really picks up, Disney’s “Moana 2” is still at the top of the box charts, with an estimated weekend gross of $27 million domestically. Meanwhile, “Kraven the Hunter” and “Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim” basically failed to launch. Kraven the Hunter took in an estimated $12 million, a long way from its $110 mil production cost. The Tolkien prequel netted an estimated $5 million. “Wicked” came second at the box office over the weekend, with about $22 mil.
-TheWrap, HollywoodReporter
★ Life is about to become unfair all over again. Disney+ has ordered a limited 4-episode “Malcolm in the Middle” revival, with original series stars Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston all returning. Disney said in a statement: “Malcolm in the Middle is a landmark sitcom that captured the essence of family life with humor, heart and relatability…and we’re so excited to welcome the original cast back to bring that magic to life again.” Malcolm in the Middle originally aired on Fox from 2000-06, winning 7 Primetime Emmy Awards for writing and directing, and 2 for guest star Cloris Leachman.
-TVLine
★ After previously shutting down the idea, Sarah Michelle Gellar is now open to returning to the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” universe. On “The Drew Barrymore Show,” Gellar shared that she has been considering reprising her role as ‘Buffy’ in a potential project. Quote: “I always used to say no, because it’s in its bubble and it’s so perfect. But watching ‘[And Just Like That…]’ and seeing ‘[Dexter: Original Sin],’ and realizing there are ways to do it, definitely does get your mind thinking, ‘Well, maybe.’” Gellar added that a new iteration of the show would not necessarily need to be a prequel, saying, “It could be anything.”
-Variety
★ Brian Austin Green is firmly on team Megan Fox — to whom he was married from 2010-22 and shares 3 kids with — when it comes to the actress’ split from Machine Gun Kelly last week. The “Beverly Hills, 90210” actor was asked by TMZ about the news of his famous ex’s breakup with the musician. After a reporter suggested that something on MGK’s phone is what sparked the breakup, Green threw back his head with a big sigh, and said: “How old is he? He’s in his 30s, isn’t he?…Grow up. She’s pregnant.” He continued, saying: “I just want the best for [Megan], I want the best for the baby, I want the best for our kids.”
-Billboard
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Josh Brolin, Clarence Maclin, RAYE (R)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Fred Armisen, Lily-Rose Depp, André 3000
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Nicole Kidman, Bill Skarsgård
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Lisa Gilroy, Chris Fleming, Oscar Montoya (R)
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Kerry Washington, Darren Criss, Helen J. Shen
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Julianne Moore, Anderson Cooper
• “The Daily Show” (COM): TBA
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Day of Hot Topics; 12 Days of Holidays
• “The Talk” (CBS): Danny DeVito and Lucy DeVito
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Keira Knightley, Billy Eichner, O.A.R.
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Elle Fanning, Clay Aiken, Muni Long
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Jimmy Fallon; Gabriel Labelle and Jason Reitman
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Jeffrey Wright
• “TMZ Investigates: Liam Payne: Who’s to Blame?” (Fox): A look into his tragic fall from a balcony; TMZ speaks to 3 suspects who prosecutors want charged; an eyewitness shares an account of Payne’s last hours.
• “NCIS” (CBS): When a shocking tell-all threatens to ruin Christmas for a Marine, NCIS must unwrap the truth and deliver a holiday miracle. Followed by a new “NCIS: Origins”.
• “Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry” (NBC): Also featuring performances by Kelsea Ballerini, Sheryl Crow, Dan + Shay, Josh Groban, Orville Peck and more.
• “NFL Football” (Check local listings): Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings; Atlanta Falcons @ Las Vegas Raiders
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Taylor Swift – On Friday, her 35th birthday, her YouTube channel suddenly made available a series of behind-the-scenes clips documenting the making of many of her recent videos. The footage includes shots of her directing stars such as Laura Dern, Ethan Hawke, Post Malone, the HAIM sisters, Taylor Lautner and Joey King, Ice Spice, Dita Von Teese and Mike Birbiglia. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5n7dpm5j
• Billie Eilish – said she was “so honored & happy & excited & nervous” to film an NPR Tiny Desk concert. On IG, she posted a clip of herself performing ‘The Greatest’ with brother FINNEAS. The whole performance is available on YouTube. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5ewcc6jv
• Mariah Carey – After canceling her Dec. 11 show in Pittsburgh due to the flu, the Queen of Christmas had to scrap 2 more concerts: Friday in Newark NJ, and Sunday in Belmont NY. On X, she wrote: “I’m really devastated about it and appreciate your support. Love, MC.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/c5j9eh6t
• Billy Idol – guitarist Steve Stevens confirms that they are working on Idol’s first new album since 2014, expected next year. Quote: “In some respects it’s a return to the aggressive punk rock. Nobody does late ’70s, early ’80s punk better than Billy Idol.”
• Bruce Springsteen and The Rolling Stones — were among the top worldwide touring acts of 2024, according to a new report by Pollstar. While Taylor Swift topped the list, grossing over $1 billion, Springsteen landed at #5, bringing in over $250 million from 44 shows. The Stones are #6, grossing over $235 mil. Metallica is at #9 and Madonna #10.
• Neil Young — has launched a 27-song festive playlist. It is accompanied by fireplace footage, allowing fans of the ecologically-minded artist to enjoy the music without burning fossil fuels. The playlist includes his own classics ‘Heart of Gold’ and ‘Harvest Moon’, plus songs from 1994’s “Seven Gates: A Christmas Album”, which featured Johnny Cash, J.J. Cale and others. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yndeyr7y
• Shaboozey – has officially made Google tipsy. After he won 3 Billboard Music Awards on Thursday, including Top Country Song for ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’, some people noticed that if you Google Shaboozey, the screen rocks back and forth for a few seconds before stabilizing…because it’s “tipsy”. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/57jv77es
• Morgan Wallen – Got 2 years probation over the infamous April chair-throwing incident at Eric Church’s Chief’s bar in Nashville. Wallen pleaded guilty to 2 counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment as part of a plea agreement. As part of the deal, Wallen will also spend 7 days at a DUI Education Center.
• Ryan Bingham – Thursday, the “Yellowstone” actor and singer/songwriter dropped the new tune ‘A Song for the Stone’, which he wrote for last night’s Yellowstone series (season?) finale. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3yhxzxkn
SHOOTING THE BULL
B-E-A SANDWICH:
If you went and overdid it at a holiday party over the weekend – and maybe you plan to overdo it a few more times over the holidays — a UK celeb doctor has some important info for you. ITV’s “This Morning” resident doctor, Zoe Williams, says she has devised a hangover-cure-in-a-sandwich. What is it? A bacon, egg and avocado sandwich. According to the good doctor, a bacon, egg, and avocado sammie consists of the perfect combo of nutrients to restore the balance of salts, sugars, and proteins lost during an evening of boozing. The hangover special’s special powers start with the bread, which contains carbs, which help “soften a hangover’s landing”. The proteins found in many breads can accelerate the breakdown of alcohol and offer up some much-needed energy. The bacon helps replenish stores of sodium to make you feel better. Eggs might be the real heroes, as they all full of nutrients that are “specifically good” for the post-party feeling. And throw in avocado’s energy-boosting healthy fats, as well as vitamins and minerals such as potassium, and you’ve got the perfect triple threat for chasing the morning after the night before feeling, according to Dr. Williams.
(I’m ALL FOR a bacon-and-egg-sandwich when I’m feeling woozy, but I’ve gotta say that unless I can have the avocado on the side, this could turn into a regrettable situation for everyone!)
(After the staff Christmas party over the weekend, I should have had TWO!)
-NYPost
LIFTING WAITS:
If you’re taking a break these days from your workout routine to deal with the busyness of the season, with the intention of getting back at it in January, you might be wondering how much muscle you’ll lose by shutting things down for a few weeks. Well, good news: New research shows that taking a break from resistance training doesn’t significantly affect your overall strength, in the long run. But you still have to get back to the gym next month. Researchers from the Finnish University of Jyväskylä found that muscles quickly recover their size and strength once you return to your routine. In their study of male and female regular exercisers between the ages of 18 and 40, it was determined that it usually takes about half the length of the break to get back to your previous fitness level. The team surmised that recovery happens so quickly because among those who regularly lift weights, those muscles already have increased blood flow, helping them when you return to your routine. Also, the necessary neural pathways are there, thanks to ‘muscle memory’, making “it easier to rebuild strength and muscle after a break.”
(The only problem? In January, you also have to wait twice as LONG to get a weight machine at the gym!)
(Perfect. Half the length of the break for me would be…hmmm…5 years!)
-Health
FROM HOLLYDAYS TO HOLIDAYS:
How often would you say you NEED a vacation? According to a new poll, the average person requires a proper vacation every 110 days (15.8 weeks). The survey of 2,000 adults in the US found that in spite of the fact that many of us feel we need a break that often, only 18% of workers actually use their full allotment of paid time off each year. The average respondent with PTO said they had 5.4 PTO days left over that they didn’t use or rollover last year. Regardless of employment status, a full 79% of respondents said they have felt particularly burnt out in 2024. And by the way, assuming you’ll get some vacation time around Christmas, according to this poll, you’ll need another week off by April 20.
(Earlier, if you’re hosting this year!)
(My wife wanted to go on vacation, but I wanted a staycation. What we would up with was an altercation…!)
-Talker
UNIQUE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD:
☆ German Christmas Markets – Some cities host impressive ‘Christkindlmarkts’, where people can shop hand-made souvenirs and seasonal-themed treats, like lebkuchen and pfeffernüsse. Some of these outdoor markets and villages date back 500 years.
☆ British Polar Bear Plunge: Hundreds of people in Brighton, England schedule a Christmas Day dip every year – wearing just a swimsuit and a Santa hat. It is also practiced in London, Dublin, and many other cold places around the world.
☆ Japanese KFC Feast: While Christmas is not a huge celebration in Japan, a fairly new tradition has emerged in which families enjoy a feast of Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas Day.
☆ Norwegian Hiding of the Brooms: Dating back centuries, the act of hiding all the brooms in the house is said to deprive the witches and evil spirits of finding something to ride on. (Does that mean your visiting mother-in-law will never leave?)
☆ Venezuelan Roller Skate Tour: Before some people in Caracas head home to enjoy their Christmas feast of tamales, hundreds head to church on roller skates. Roads are closed to cars so people can safely partake in this unique annual tradition.
☆ Czech Shoe-Throw for Love: Young unmarried women are said to predict their romantic futures by standing with their backs to their house and tossing a shoe over their shoulder. If the toe points toward the door, wedding bells might be ringing soon, but if it points away, they’ll need to wait another year for true love. Family and friends gather to watch this playful tradition.
☆ Filipino Building of Giant Lanterns: 11 villages in San Fernando create giant lanterns in an annual competition known as The Giant Lantern Festival. People from all over the country gather to see the elaborate collection of lanterns, some of which can reach 20 feet high.
☆ Eat Fried Caterpillars in South Africa: The Pine Tree Emperor Moth — also known as the Christmas caterpillar — is covered in different colors and is said to give a little extra luck in the New Year to all those who eat it. It is considered a delicacy by those who partake. (I’ll stick with ham, thanks…!)
☆ View the Yule Goat in Sweden: People construct a giant straw goat, which is over 42 feet high, 23 feet wide, and weighs over 3 tons. A live stream of the event is available until the New Year.
☆ Austrian Krampus Parade: Here, while St. Nicholas rewards nice boys and girls with presents, his evil accomplice, Krampus, is said to capture the naughty children and take them away in a sack. The half-man, half-goat costume is designed to frighten kids during the parade, which has grown in popularity across Europe. (…and on that happy note, Happy Holidays!)
-Minted
DID YOU KNOW?
A London, Ontario college student has constructed what is believed to be the world’s smallest arcade machine. Victoria Korhonen, an electromechanical engineering student at Fanshawe College, unveiled her creation last week. The mini-machine, measuring 2.5 inches (6.4cm) tall, 1 inch wide and 1.3 inches long, runs the classic game “Pong”. While in high school, Korhonen was part of a team that broke the Guinness World Record for the longest selfie stick. Last week’s official measuring of the Pong game will be reviewed by Guinness to determine if she gets a second title to her name. (Where do you put the quarter?)
-UPI
BS CHRONOMETER 12.16.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Chocolate Covered Anything Day”. What unusual ‘food enveloped in chocolate’ have you eaten? Chocolate-covered coffee beans … mmm! (And don’t knock chocolate-covered bacon ‘til you try it!)
• “Las Posadas” begins, the traditional 9-day Mexican Christmas celebration that includes breaking open a piñata.
• “Stupid Toy Day”, a half-hearted salute to some of the bad inventions marketed for kids. Here are a few toys that have been pretty popular over the years, that just might be considered stupid:
– Slinky
– Weebles
– Pet Rock
– Tamagotchies
– Furbys
• “Tea Party Day” in Boston MA, anniversary of the original 1773 ‘Boston Tea Party’, when an entire shipment of tea was dumped into Boston Harbor in a protest over taxation. The episode escalated into the American Revolution. (You gotta fight for your right to pour tea!)
• “Barbie and Barney Backlash Day”. Barbie and Barney (the dinosaur) have long been favorite characters for children, but for parents? Not so much. Today, parents are allowed to tell their children what they really think of Barbie and Barney, and can even let them know that they aren’t real. (But that earworm “I love you, you love me” will STILL be stuck in your head!)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] Maple Syrup Day
[Tues] Wright Brothers Day
[Wed] Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day
[Thurs] Regifting Day
This Week is…Christmas Bird Count Week
This Month is…Tomato and Winter Squash Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1941 [83] Lesley Stahl, Lynn MA, TV journalist (“60 Minutes” since 1991, “48 Hours” 2002-04)
1946 [78] (Göran) Benny Andersson, Stockholm Sweden, pop musician-songwriter (ABBA-‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Take a Chance on Me’/co-composer of the musicals “Chess” and “Mamma Mia!”)
1949 [75] Billy Gibbons, Houston TX, classic rock guitarist/singer (ZZ Top-‘Legs’, ‘Tush’)
1963 [61] Benjamin Bratt, San Francisco CA, TV actor (“Law & Order 1995-2009, “Private Practice” 2011-13)/movie actor (“Doctor Strange”, “Miss Congeniality”)
1967 [57] Donovan Bailey, Manchester Parish Jamaica (raised in Oakville ON), sprinter (WR 100m 9.84 1996; Olympic gold 100m, 4x100m 1996; World Championship gold 100m, 4x100m 1995, 4x100m 1997)
1975 [49] Benjamin Kowalewicz, Montréal QC, rock singer (Billy Talent-‘Stand Up and Run’, ‘Rusted From the Rain’)
1981 [43] Krysten Ritter, Bloomsburg PA, TV actress (“Jessica Jones” 2015-15, “Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23” 2012-13)/movie actress (“Veronica Mars”, “Big Eyes”) COMING UP… “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”, opening this Friday
1984 [40] Theo James, Oxford England, movie actor (“The Divergent Series” film)/TV actor (“The White Lotus” 2022) COMING UP… “The Monkey” 2025
1986 [38] Dave Rublin, Maplewood NJ, rock bassist-keyboardist (American Authors-‘Best Day Of My Life’, ‘Believer’)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2005 [19] Singer and reality star Nick Lachey files for divorce from his “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica” co-star Jessica Simpson due to irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized the following June.
2010 [14] “Larry King Live” ends after 25 years on CNN, as the 77-year-old host “retires.” (He goes on to host “Larry King Now” and “Politicking with Larry King” on Hulu and RT America through 2020, and passes away January 23, 2021.)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2013 [11] “Heat” magazine reports that Miley Cyrus has insured her infamous tongue for $1 million.
2019 [05] Mariah Carey’s single ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ finally reaches #1, 25 years after release.
2020 [04] After nearly 178 days, Twenty One Pilots pull the plug on the livestream for their ‘Level of Concern’ video, which refreshed every 3:40 with new footage uploaded by fans. Guinness declares it the longest music video ever made.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2003 [21] Shania Twain becomes the first woman with 3 Diamond albums when her 4th album, “Up!” is certified for 10 million in sales. “The Woman in Me” (1995) and “Come On Over” (1997) also went Diamond.
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1998 [26] Kevin Cole of Carlsbad NM sets a new world record by blowing 7 inches of spaghetti out of his nose, beating the previous record of 5 inches. (Mom must be so proud…)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Many parts of the Christmas tree can be eaten. Needles are a good source of Vitamin C.
✓ It takes 100 lbs. (45kg) of rain water to produce a single pound of food from the earth.
✓ Hot water freezes faster than cold water.
✓ 7,000 new insect species are discovered every year.
✓ Cats can learn how to bark from listening to dogs.
✓ According to a 2005 Bristol University study, birds prefer to “leave their droppings” on white cars.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, OfficeHolidays
Best of BS . . .
BS INFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
• “Excuse me. Did you drop this $100 bill?”
• “Are these Crocs too sexy?”
• “Do you think octopuses have a preferred tentacle to use, the same way humans use one hand more than the other?”
• “Could I have a bigger fine?”
• “What would a Hallmark movie directed by Quentin Tarantino be like?”
• “Is that your real face?”
• “Can you please mansplain that to me one more time?”
• “Who let the dogs in?”
• “Is Jar Jar Binks your favorite Star Wars character?”
• “Do you smell magenta?”
• “Do you want my bacon?”
• “How’s Waldo?”
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ Forbes has released its list of the 8 Holiday Scams to Avoid. (…and get THIS – it only cost me $150 bucks to get it!)
➠ 62% of teens surveyed want a smartphone for Christmas. (The other 38% want world peace. . . Just kidding, they want an Xbox.)
➠ Scientists have discovered that mice can, in fact, sing. (Before you get too excited, they can only sing Creed songs…)
➠ Donald Trump continues to raise eyebrows with his cabinet appointments. (I can’t wait to see who he picks to be the next president!)
➠ Keith Richards turns 81 on Wednesday. (But he still has the body of a 181-year-old!)
BS WEB GOODIE:
‘Tis the season: https://tinyurl.com/49w8rs6x
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Anyone who believes that men and women are equal has never seen a man try to wrap a Christmas present.
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• How many gifts in total were given in ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ song?
a) 121
b) 222
c) 364 [CORRECT]
d) 12
• In the 1990 movie “Home Alone”, where are the McCallisters going on vacation when they leave ‘Kevin’ behind?
a) New York
b) Paris [CORRECT]
c) Fargo
d) North Pole
• What is the name of ‘George Bailey’s’ guardian angel in “It’s a Wonderful Life”?
a) Gabriel
b) Clarence [CORRECT]
c) Peter
d) Scrooge
-Parade
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
Do you prefer to watch movies in a theater, or in the comfort of your own home? Why?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
14% of women have had THIS happen when attending a holiday party. What is it?
Answer: Someone else showed up wearing the same outfit.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.
