Wednesday, December 20, 2023 – Edition: #7622
Sheet For Brains!
BS SUBSCRIBER NOTE:
The Bull Sheet will not be publishing during the period December 25, 2023 – January 1, 2024, to allow staff an opportunity to enjoy the holidays. All subscribers will receive account credits for non-service days. Following Fri. Dec. 22, the next Bull Sheet edition will be for Tuesday, January 2nd. Thanks for being here for The Bull in 2023, and Happy Holidays, all!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Celine Dion’s sister, Claudette Dion, has shared a heartbreaking update about the superstar’s battle with stiff person syndrome. Claudette said to Canada’s 7 Jours that Celine has “lost control of her muscles,” as the debilitating condition has worsened over time. She told the outlet: “What breaks my heart is that she’s always been disciplined. She’s always worked hard.” Claudette added that Celine, who is 55, has a desire to perform again, but “In what capacity, I don’t know”.
-PageSix
★ An M.D. who has prescribed ketamine to his own patients says blaming the drug for Matthew Perry’s death is misleading. Dr. Zaid Fadul — the Medical Director at BetterU and an expert in addiction medicine, told TMZ that the L.A. County Coroner Office’s finding last week that Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine doesn’t really explain how he died — in his professional opinion. While ketamine was in Perry’s system at the time of his death, Dr. Fadul pointed out that any drug that spurs sedation would’ve likely had the same effect, causing the “Friends” star to doze off while in his hot tub. And blaming his death on ketamine alone isn’t fair, and might deter people from seeking it out as a viable treatment for depression and anxiety.
-TMZ
★ Tiffany Haddish is making headlines again, this time by announcing her latest book, a collection of essays and stories titled “I Curse You With Joy”, out May 7. In a press release, she said: “This book is me, highs and lows. The good, the bad, the ugly and of course the funny. The wig is off.” The announcement of comes on the heels of Haddish’s second DUI arrest in 2 years. In November, she was discovered sleeping behind the wheel of her vehicle with the engine running. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yc2fp7mn
-Messenger
★ Tom Cruise rented out an entire floor of the swanky London restaurant Novikov Friday night to wow his new flame Elsina Khayrova. UK newspaper The Sun reported that the “Mission Impossible” star “seemed very loved up” and appeared to be “hanging on every word Elsina was saying,” according to an eyewitness. Cruise and the Russian socialite were joined by his security guard, who stepped in when a member of staff asked for a picture. He reportedly dropped over $600 on a lobster, seafood and sushi dish at the Russian-owned restaurant, and tipped the staff over $100 before he and his date “slipped out the side door into a waiting getaway car.”
-PageSix
★ Netflix is looking to expand the universe of its hit series “Wednesday” with a spin-off about ‘Uncle Fester’ now in development. Talks about the potential spin-off come as the show is preparing for production on its highly-anticipated second season to begin this spring. Reportedly, the spinoff is not set in stone, but Netflix is “eager to establish a pipeline” of “Addams Family”-themed programs to build off of the success of Wednesday.
-TheWrap
★ George Clooney isn’t exactly rushing to don the Batsuit again. DC fans will recall that Clooney first became ‘Bruce Wayne’ for the 1997 film “Batman & Robin”, then unexpectedly reprised the role for a cameo in this year’s “The Flash”. Was that reappearance the first of many? Not likely. At the L.A. premiere of his latest directorial venture “The Boys in the Boat” Clooney addressed the question of his potential return to the DCEU, saying: “I don’t think there are enough drugs in the world for me to go back again.” He further joked that he only returned for The Flash because he assumed fans were dying to see him again.
-EW
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Blake Shelton, Luke Grimes, Jelly Roll (R)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Chloe Flower
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Nicki Minaj, Liam Neeson
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Adam Driver, Gary Gulman
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Tyler Perry, Holly Marie (R)
• “The Talk” (CBS): Hilarie Burton
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Adam Driver, Patrick Wilson
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Shannon Doherty, Ariana Madix, Lauren Ash
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Jason Momoa, Gracie Abrams
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Lil Rel Howery, Tara Lipinski (R)
• “Survivor” (CBS): Season 45 finale
• “The Masked Singer” (Fox): Season 10 finale. The final 4 celeb contestants perform new songs in the before the audience and panel votes.
• “CMT Crossroads: Bret Michaels & Chris Janson” (CMT): The rock icon and the country star come together to perform songs from both of their careers, including ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’, ‘Buy Me A Boat’, and more.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Nick Minaj – “Pink Friday 2” has debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It’s her third album to hit #1, following 2012’s “Roman Reloaded” and 2011’s “Pink Friday” — making her the female rapper with the most chart-topping albums ever.
• Harry Styles – His (count ‘em) EIGHTH Madame Tussauds wax figure this year has arrived, this time at the museum’s Orlando, Florida location. Earlier this year, wax versions of him were unveiled at Madame Tussauds locations in London, New York, Hollywood, Amsterdam, Berlin, Singapore and Sydney. In his latest incarnation, Styles is dressed in a replica of the suit he wore to the 2023 Grammys.
• Blink-182 – After spending most of 2023 touring with the reunited lineup, Travis Barker is selling some of his blood-stained clothes and drum equipment. He’s offering up 12 items as part of his Trophy Collection — and 5 are stained with the drummer’s blood, the results of onstage injuries. These include bloody drumsticks ($1,500), drum heads ($1,500–$2,000), Vans shoes ($4,000) and pants ($8,000).
• Lynyrd Skynyrd – are scheduled to perform on the 5-hour CBS special “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash”, and guitarist Rickey Medlocke has revealed that the band has some special guests lined up for the show, including Lainey Wilson and Elle King, plus “a whole bunch of things”.
• Lainey Wilson — had a big surprise for the fans who attended her Friday show in Vegas. She brought Miranda Lambert out to join her — and they debuted a new, unreleased song live on stage. Crowd-shot video shows the 2 sing a high-energy rendition of one of Lambert’s hit ‘Kerosene’, then the new song, which seems to be titled ‘Good Horses’. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdft78sa
• Blake Shelton — often jokes about how much he drinks, but in a new interview, he said his New Year’s resolution is to cut way back on his alcohol consumption — or even stop entirely. He said to “ET”: “Even cutting back has been hard…it’s a resolution though.” He’ll ring in the New Year by performing at Nashville’s Big Bash New Year’s Eve celebration.
• Little Big Town – honored Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees by performing ‘Lonely Days’ at the 46th annual Kennedy Center Honors. The ceremony, including Little Big Town’s performance and tributes to other honorees Billy Crystal, Renée Fleming, Queen Latifah and Dionne Warwick – will air Dec. 27 on CBS and Paramount+. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mskhc68z
SHOOTING THE BULL
YOU SNOOZE, YOU WIN:
If you’ve ever needed an excuse to sleep in on a Saturday morning when your partner is urging you to get up and “get some stuff done”, this is it: New research published in the journal Sleep Health indicates that that sleeping in on weekends could actually save your life in the long run. Scientists at Nanjing Medical University in China analyzed how sleep cycles affected the health of 3,400 people. They found that an extra 2 hours of sleep on the weekend can reduce the chances of a heart attack or stroke by 63% — especially for people who average less than 6 hours of sleep during the week. On the other hand, a study published earlier this year showed that people who sleep more than 9 hours per night have an increased chance of suffering a stroke.
(Also facing an increased chance of dying young: Anyone who wakes me up early on a Sunday morning!)
(The way I look at it is this: If that 3:30am alarm clock doesn’t give me a stroke, nothing will!)
-NYPost
FEEL-BETTER FOODS:
If you’re going to take a sick day, you might as well enjoy yourself – and in doing so, you may end up making yourself feel better. According to a survey of 2,000 millennial parents of school-age kids, it takes less than 30 minutes to start feeling better after indulging in their favorite sick-day foods. The parents’ fav comfort foods? Soup (65%), broth (42%), crackers (35%), and popsicles (35%) top the list. Some less common (but still popular) comfort foods include stew (21%) and pasta (14%). For children who are feeling under the weather, they are most likely to ask for mac and cheese (23%), toast (21%), pudding (20%), and oatmeal (14%).
(My go-to comfort food remains . . . Aspirin!)
(What weird comfort food do you – or your kids – reach for?)
-StudyFinds
CAROL OF THE WELL:
Today is “Go Caroling Day”, and, well, let’s just say: ‘Don’t knock it ‘til you try it”. Research shows that group singing has many beneficial biological, psychological, behavioral, and social benefits. How? Group singing can synchronize singers’ heartbeats and breathing patterns. That can partly explain some of the positive effects of group singing such as bonding and social connection. Singing together also increases the feel-good hormone oxytocin and improves mood, helping us to bond with our fellow singers as we “perform”. Group singing also has psychosocial benefits for those living with a range of health conditions – including building resilience, enhancing mood, creating a sense of belonging and purpose, improving quality of life, and promoting wellbeing.
(You also sometimes get free cookies…so there’s that too!)
(I sang tenor in a Christmas choir last year. As soon as I started, they told me to stand “tenor 12 feet away”!)
-StudyFinds, first published in BS in 2022
ODD (but real) CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS:
➠ Eye Massager: Everyone loves a good back massage, but who knew eyes can hold just as much tension? This product claims to relieve puffiness, dry eyes and dark circles with its 2 compression modes. It’s also heated, for ultimate relaxation. US $76 https://tinyurl.com/yckjvz53
➠ The Two Million Dollar Puzzle: It’s like giving a lottery ticket, except in the form of a puzzle — when they finish it, a QR code appears. Then they scan it to find out if they won anywhere between $1 and $1,000,000. $28 https://tinyurl.com/3dmrj74t
➠ Password Book: They’ll never lose their passwords again with this handy book, which includes tabs to find the one they need in a pinch. (For those computer users who “don’t trust technology” to safely store their passwords?) $15 https://tinyurl.com/4792usck
➠ Bluetooth Knit Beanie: Even on the coldest winter days, it keeps them warm while they listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks via Bluetooth speakers. And since it connects to their phone, they can also answer calls totally hands-free. Light optional. $28 https://tinyurl.com/2p87ytsh
➠ Squishy Gummy Bear Light: Just what you thought – These cute, LED light-up bears will brighten up any space with a squeeze of their gummy bellies. $28 https://tinyurl.com/yyh3m3x8
➠ “From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes From Tha Boss Dogg’s Kitchen”: It’s a collection of 50 recipes by Snoop Dogg. From Frito BBQ Twists to Baked Mac & Cheese, it seems he has something for everyone who gets the munchies. $17 https://tinyurl.com/bdy2e2m8
➠ “I Pooped” Bathroom Guest Book: We all do (-doo) it. So why not gift your friend this housewarming present to spruce up their new bathroom? (I’m not sure that ‘houseWARMING’ is the right word for this!) $7 https://tinyurl.com/2dzzkzyp
-GoodHousekeeping, WomansDay
THE BEST NETFLIX SHOWS OF ALL-TIME:
According to a panel of “expert sources”…
1. “Stranger Things” (2016 – 2025)
2. “Bojack Horseman” (2014 – 2020)
3. “Master of None” (2015 – 2021)
4. “Squid Game” (since 2021)
5. “Orange Is The New Black” (2013 – 2019)
(What? Please explain to me how “Tiger King” isn’t on this list…)
(Thanks a lot. 5 more series for my “watch list…”)
-StudyFinds
DID YOU KNOW?
A gifting enthusiast known as “The Gift Girl” on TikTok has revealed the 3 presents you should avoid getting for women. According to Leah, who is from Dallas TX, the gifts NOT to give to any woman (unless she specifically asks for them) are: (#1) household cleaning supplies, (#2) a scale, supplements, weight loss or weight gain items, and (#3) any kind of anti-aging skincare. (Follow “The Gift Girl” on TikTok for more “you should already know better” tips that may someday save your life!) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3s6pkp4b
-NYPost
BS CHRONOMETER 12.20.23
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Go Caroling Day”, a day to get together and sing out with friends, family, or a singing group. Nursing homes, hospitals and other places often welcome carolers if you call ahead. (One thing I learned from drinking is that if you ever go Christmas caroling, you should go with a group of people. And also go in December!) [***See ‘Carol of the Well’, above***]
• “Dot Your i’s Day”, don’t be a poor penmanship perpetrator. Stop the neglect and give i’s their dots. (I’m fine with dotting my i’s, but crossing my t’s? That’s where I draw the line…)
• “International Human Solidarity Day”, a UN observance since 2005 to remind us of the importance of solidarity and the spirit of sharing in combatting poverty worldwide.
• “Sangria Day”, put a little “olé” in your life with the traditional fruity wine punch named for the Spanish word ‘sangre’, which means ‘blood’.
• “Games Day”, When was the last time you sat down with friends or family for an evening of carefree fun? If you can’t remember, this is the perfect occasion. The best-selling board game of all-time? ‘Monopoly’, with over 250 million sold in 80 countries and 26 languages since 1935.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Winter Solstice (Winter arrives in Northern Hemisphere at 10:27pm)
[Thurs] Humbug Day
[Fri] Abilities Day
[Sat] Festivus
This Week Is…Halcyon Days
This Month Is…Car Donation Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1945 [78] Peter Criss (Criscuola), Brooklyn, NY, retired rock drummer/sometime vocalist (Kiss-‘Beth’, ‘Hard Luck Woman’)
1948 [75] Alan Parsons, London England, rock multi-instrumentalist/songwriter (Alan Parsons Project-‘Games People Play’, ‘Eye in the Sky’), recording engineer/producer (Pink Floyd-“The Dark Side of the Moon”, The Beatles-“Abbey Road, “Let it Be”)
1966 [57] Chris Robinson, Marietta GA, rock singer (The Black Crowes-‘Hard To Handle’, ‘She Talks to Angels’)
1982 [41] David Cook, Houston TX, pop singer (‘The Time of My Life’, ‘Light On’)/2008 “American Idol” winner
1983 [40] Jonah Hill, Mill Valley CA, movie actor (“The Wolf of Wall Street”, “Superbad”)
1990 [33] JoJo (Joanna Levesque), Brattleboro VT, pop singer (‘Too Little, Too Late’, ‘Leave [Get Out]’, ‘Baby It’s You’ ft. Bow Wow)/at age 13, the youngest solo artist to have a #1 hit
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1946 [77] The Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” premieres in New York, directed by Frank Capra, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore
2005 [18] Renee Zellweger annuls her marriage to Kenny Chesney, citing fraud, after 4 months of marriage
2007 [16] Valerie Bertinelli divorces Eddie Van Halen due to irreconcilable differences, after 26 years of marriage
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1980 [43] ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ becomes John Lennon’s first #1 single as a solo artist in the UK, 12 days after his murder
2012 [11] Adele is named Billboard magazine’s ‘Top Artist of 2012’; and “21” is named ‘Album of the Year’
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1980 [43] The first (and only) NFL telecast with NO announcers occurs (as a stunt, NBC uses only sounds and graphics for a meaningless NY Jets-Miami Dolphins game)
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2007 [16] Queen Elizabeth II becomes Britain’s oldest-ever monarch, surpassing Queen Victoria’s lifespan of 81 years, 7 months, 29 days (in 2015, she overtakes Victoria as longest-serving British monarch)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Worldwide, toilet flushing accounts for only 10% of water usage. Agriculture uses 70%.
✓ The names of Barbie’s 5 sisters are: Skipper, Tutti, Stacie, Kelly and Krissy.
✓ Gatorade was invented at the University of Florida, and named after the mascots of the school, Albert and Alberta Gator.
✓ The “Sesame Street” character ‘Cookie Monster’s’ real name is ‘Sid’.
✓ Glass balls can bounce higher than rubber balls.
✓ The inventor of the water bed chose water over Jell-O because Jell-O “tends to decompose”.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, WomansDay
Best of BS . . .
BS EASY WAYS TO RUIN CHRISTMAS:
• Start your diet on December 24th
• Have a birthday on December 25th
• Give your daughter a gift certificate for a boob job
• If you’re a Grandma, get run over by a reindeer
• Shoot your eye out
• Put me in charge of baking
• A well-wrapped charcoal briquette can easily be mistaken for a ring gift box
• Discuss politics
• Explain to the kids that “Santa” fell asleep and forgot to put the presents under the tree
• Invite Cousin Eddie
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
BS IF THE GRINCH WERE CANADIAN:
• Rather than 2 sizes too small, his heart would be enlarged from eating back bacon
• He would convince The Whos to share their gifts with the less fortunate
• He’d do everything the usual Grinch did, but on a more modest scale
• He’d leave an apology notes after stealing Christmas
• The quote would be, “It came without ribbons, it came without bows, it came without packages, boxes or hockey bags…”
• Instead of a sleigh, he’d come charging in on a Zamboni
• His little dog Max would be a Newfoundland
• Canadian children would refer to the jerk version of him as ‘Brad Marchand’
• Tim Horton would hear the Whos
• He was played by Jim Carrey, so technically, he IS Canadian
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
BS WEB GOODIE:
So . . . it’s not just me? https://tinyurl.com/3dbk5ndj
BS RANDOM JOKE:
You know it’s the holidays when you’ve got Jack Frost nipping at your nose – and Jack Squat in your bank account!
BS FAST CHRISTMAS TRIVIA:
• Which popular Christmas beverage is also called “milk punch?”
A: Eggnog
• What are the 2 most popular “other” names for Santa Claus?
A: Kris Kringle and Saint Nick
• What word for Christmas or a Christmas carol was borrowed from French?
A: Noel
• According to the Christmas story, in what town was baby Jesus born?
A: Bethlehem
• The song says that Elvis isn’t going to have a white Christmas — he’s going to have a what?
A: Blue Christmas
• What’s the German name for the song known in English as ‘O Christmas Tree?’
A: ‘O Tannenbaum’
• In the song ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’, what type of pudding is called for?
A: Figgy pudding
• What do children supposedly get in their stockings if they’re on the Naughty List?
A: A lump of coal
• In 1996, what toy with origins in “Sesame Street” was an absolute sensation at Christmastime?
A: Tickle Me Elmo
• What phrase, made popular in “A Christmas Carol”, expresses annoyance with cheery holiday celebrations?
A: Bah humbug!
-Parade, WhiteElephantRules
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the best day of the week for Christmas to fall on? This year’s Monday holiday might be good for some, but awkward for others. What works best for you?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: When it comes to holiday gift giving, 19% of people admit they’ll do THIS at least once. What is it?
Answer: Re-use wrapping paper
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.