Wednesday, December 15, 2021 – Edition: #7129
Ah, the Sweet Smell of BS!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Pixar’s “Wall-E,” “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” and “Selena” have been selected for preservation by the National Film Registry. Each year, the Librarian of Congress names 25 motion pictures that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, the movies have to be at least 10 years old. With this year’s selections, the organization says it hopes to highlight that diverse stories carry universal themes. Other titles added to the National Film Registry in 2021 include “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” Pink Flamingos,” “Who Killed Vincent Chin?,” “Richard Pryor: Live in Concert,” “Cooley High” and “Sounder.”
-Variety
★ Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2021, a year that saw his electric car company become the most valuable carmaker in the world, and his rocket company soar to the edge of space with an all-civilian crew. According to the magazine, the Person of the Year signifies somebody “who affected the news or our lives the most, for better, or worse.”
-CBC
★ Dr. Oz is being replaced by his own daughter. Because he is running for Senate in Pennsylvania, the “Dr. Oz” show is set to end on Jan. 14. But 3 days later, Daphne Oz’s new talk/cooking show “The Good Dish,” a Dr. Oz spinoff, will premiere in 90% of the US. The Good Dish will also be hosted by Gail Simmons and Jamika Pessoa. The trio did a weekly cooking segment on Dr. Oz.
-TheWrap
★ The disappearance and death of Gabby Petito captured worldwide attention, galvanizing the internet as the case unfolded on social media. Now, it is the subject of a documentary on Peacock. “The Murder of Gabby Petito: Truth, Lies and Social Media” premieres this Friday on the NBCU streaming service. Peacock says the documentary “sheds new light on the tragic story, the unanswered questions and the shocking conclusion.” TRAILER LINK: https://tinyurl.com/35mt4nrr
-Deadline
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Ben Affleck, Jay Ellis, the Record Company
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Penélope Cruz, Kid Cudi, Joanna Stern
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Denzel Washington, Maggie Gyllenhaal, a 20th Anniversary celebration of “Lord of the Rings”, featuring special guests
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Turnstile, Joe Russo
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Ariana Grande, RuPaul, Jimmie Allen
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Shannon Beador, Sherri Shepherd
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Maggie Gyllenhaal, Amy Robach, Andrew Shue
• “The Talk” (CBS): Lucy Hale, guest co-host NeNe Leakes
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Matthew McConaughey, Eric Ripert, guest co-host Mark Consuelos
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Aubrey Plaza
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Chloë Grace Moretz, Aisling Bea, Tasha Cobbs Leonard
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Jonathan Groff, Amanda Gorman, Lindsey Peers
• “Survivor” (CBS): Season 41 finale
• “Young Rock” (NBC): Series premiere
• “Kenan” (NBC): Series premiere
• “Mr. Mayor” (NBC): Series premiere
• “The Masked Singer” (FOX): Seaon 6 finale
• “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2021” (CW): Performers include Ed Sheeran, BTS, Dua Lipa, Jonas Brothers, Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Saweetie, AJR, Kane Brown, Tate McRae, Bazzi and Dixie D’Amelio.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Doja Cat – tested positive for COVID-19, and was forced to pull out of the remainder of the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour. She posted on social media that she looks “forward to recovering and getting back out there as soon as I can!” She missed tour stops in Philadelphia and DC so far, and will sit out shows in Atlanta and Miami Thursday and Sunday.
• Travis Scott — Over a month after the Astroworld tragedy, Anheuser-Busch has announced that it will no longer distribute his Cacti line of hard seltzers. The beverage maker said: “We believe brand fans will understand and respect this decision.”
• John Legend — is applying his musical expertise to a modern-day movie musical adaption of “The Phantom of the Opera”, set in New Orleans. Legend has plenty of Broadway knowledge as he is a two-time Tony Award nominee and one-time winner.
• David Bowie — An unheard 1965 recording he made as Davie Jones and The Lower Third is expected to sell for up to $16,000 at auction in England tomorrow. ‘I Want Your Love’ is described as a “full-on, the Who-style assault with slashing guitars and David Bowie’s distinctive vocals”.
Steve Perry – The former Journey singer say a residency in either Las Vegas or New York “has been discussed”. The 74-year-old, who has not toured since the mid-90s, said he’d “love nothing more than to be on stage again”, and “You never know — you might just see me in a nightclub singing a couple of Christmas songs.”
• Chris Young and Kane Brown – Their hit ‘Famous Friends’ has been named by Billboard as the most played on country radio in 2021. #2 is Luke Combs’ ‘Forever After All’. The rest of the top 5, in order: ‘What’s Your Country Song’-Thomas Rhett, ‘Single Saturday Night’-Cole Swindell, and Combs’ ‘Better Together’.
• Eric Church – is one of several artists enlisted for the PBS special “In Performance at the White House: Spirit of the Season”. The Dec. 21 show will also feature Andrea Bocelli, Camila Cabello, Jonas Brothers, Norah Jones, Pentatonix and Billy Porter. Jennifer Garner will host.
• (***Caution: possible mention of competitor’s feature***) Granger Smith – has been named the new host of After MidNite on Premiere Networks, beginning next month. He’s no stranger to talking for a living. He also hosts the Granger Smith Podcast, and his family is featured on their YouTube vlog series “The Smiths”.
SHOOTING THE BULL
BABY BRAIN:
We all do it. Put an infant in our care, and no matter how hard you try to resist, before you know it, you’re speaking their language. And, it turns out, that’s a good thing. Speaking “baby talk” to babies not only helps parents and caregivers connect with the young ones in their charge, but it may also help babies learn to make words. That’s according to a study published by the journal Speech, Language and Hearing. Mimicking the sounds that a baby makes shows them how words should sound coming out of their own mouths, the University of Florida researchers said. They found that the way adults instinctively speak to babies, using a higher pitch, slower speed and exaggerated pronunciation, appeals to them. It also likely helps them learn to understand what is being said, according to previous studies.
(Fine. Now explain to me why I feel the need to speak the same way to my German Shepherd!)
(Is there any connection between this and the fact that my boss speaks to me like I’m 3 years old?)
-UPI
OF MICE AND MEN:
There are many different supposed “anti-aging” treatments, so why not one more? Scientists say they have come up with a “fountain of youth” pill that dramatically increases the lifespan of mice. The team, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai, says injecting elderly rodents with a grape seed extract increased their remaining time by more than 60%. It also boosted overall lifespan by 9%, equivalent to more than a decade in humans. They say the plant chemical has “high potential” as a way to delay, alleviate and even prevent illnesses. It works by flushing out “zombie” or “senescent” cells that have stopped dividing. These aging cells accumulate naturally as people get older and release chemicals that cause inflammation, potentially leading to a number of age-relate conditions.
(Never mind that — I’ll just have whatever Rob Lowe is taking!)
(Ah, yes – the world-famous “fruitcake pill”. It makes things last much longer than believed scientifically possible!)
(However this thing works, we CAN NOT afford to let the mice in my basement get their hands on this!)
-StudyFinds
THE YEAR’S MOST MISPRONOUNCED WORDS:
(among newsreaders and others on TV, according to the U.S. Captioning Company…)
✗Cheugy (CHOO-gee): A trendy Gen Z term used to mock an unfashionable aesthetic typically associated with millennials, such as “Live, Laugh, Love” signs.
✗Chipotle (chih-POHT-lay): The fast food chain that became the center of a viral trend this year challenging Baby Boomers to pronounce the name. (I’m actually surprised to find that I’ve been saying this one RIGHT!)
✗Dalgona (tal-goh-NAH): A Korean treat made with melted sugar and baking soda, popularized in Netflix’s “Squid Game.”
✗Dogecoin (DOHJ-coin): The cryptocurrency that began somewhat ironically before being popularized by Elon Musk, causing its value to dramatically increase.
✗Eilish (EYE-lish): Singer Billie Eilish, who was pretty much everywhere this year, and whose “Happier Than Ever” has a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
✗Ethereum (ih-THEE-ree-um): Another cryptocurrency that skyrocketed in value this year.
✗Ever Given (EV-er GIV-en): The name of the ship that blocked the Suez Canal, costing billions in lost trade. Many mistook the name as “Evergreen,” the name of the company that owns the vessel, which was printed on its hull.
✗Glasgow (GLAHZ-go): The host city of November’s UN Climate Conference was mispronounced by both President Joe Biden and former president Barack Obama. (And don’t even get me STARTED on Moscow!)
✗Kelce (KELs): Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce revealed this year that his teammates and media had been mispronouncing his name for years.
✗Omicron (AH-muh-kraan /OH-mee-kraan): The new COVID-19 variant, named in keeping with the World Health Organization’s system of identifying variants with Greek letters. It’s pronounced differently in North America and the U.K.
✗Shein (SHEE-in): The Chinese fast fashion company at the center of the “Shein haul” trend, in which people record themselves trying on numerous outfits from the company.
✗Stefanos Tsitsipas (STEH-fuh-nohs TSEE-tsee-pas): Currently ranked the world’s #4 tennis player, he rose to international prominence when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the final of the French Open. ✗Yassify (YEAH-sih-fai): A popular trend in which multiple beauty filters are applied to well-known pictures or portraits for comic effect. (But is IS pretty cheugy now – did I do that right?)
(What word(s) would you add to the list?)
-MSN
SIX INEXPENSIVE GIFTS EVERYONE LOVES GETTING:
☺ Homemade or Gourmet Food: Giving food as a gift is both thoughtful and inexpensive. Gourmet candy and hot sauces can be bargains, and there is something to suit everyone on your list. Baking something and putting it in a fancy container is a great idea too. (If it lasts long enough to make it out the door…)
☺ Festive Socks: They’re a great way to add a splash of personality to a wardrobe, and there are lots of companies making awesome novelty socks. They’re inexpensive and you can find a pair to fit anyone’s personality. (OK…FIVE inexpensive gifts that everyone loves getting…)
☺ Coffee or Tea (and accessories): coffees that pair with a winter chill or teas flavored with holiday spices are easy to find this time of year and are perfect for the cold weather. There are also plenty of accessories, like mugs and French presses. (What is a ‘coffee accessory’? Is that like a funnel?)
☺ Books: They’ve an inexpensive, thoughtful gift that you can match to anyone’s taste. This time of year, many paperbacks and even some hardcovers can be under $10. (Even cheaper if they’re used, big-spender!)
☺ Scarves and hats: They’re are all over the place around the holidays, and you may be able to find them for under $10 in a wide range of styles and colors (But take it from someone who has been there: If your Grandma knits, check with her first!)
☺ Bath Products: Pretty much everyone could use a nice bath to unwind, and you can grab things like bath bombs for under $10. There are even aromatic coffee soaps for those who may not be the type to sit in lavender-scented water. (10 bucks? Apparently, the people on my list aren’t the only ones who’ll be getting ‘soaked’ this Christmas!)
-MentalFloss
DID YOU KNOW?
It’s no secret stress has a negative effect on the human body. But a new study has found that stress literally makes people age faster at a genetic level. Researchers from Yale discovered that experiencing stress speeds up the chemical changes in a person’s DNA that naturally occur as they age. The good news? Learning to relax helps you live longer. The scientists say that “a promising way to possibly minimize these adverse consequences of stress through strengthening emotion regulation and self-control.”
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 12.15.21
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1939 [82] Dave Clark, Tottenham England, rock drummer-vocalist (The Dave Cark Five-‘Glad All Over’, Bits and Pieces’)
1949 [72] Don Johnson, Flat Creek MO, TV actor (“Nash Bridges” 1996-2001, “Miami Vice” 1984-89)/movie actor (“Django Unchained”) COMING UP… “Shriver”
1979 [42] Adam Brody, San Diego CA, movie actor (“Scream 4″, “The Ring”)/TV actor (“The OC” 2003-07)
1981 [40] Michelle Dockery, London England, TV actress (“Good Behavior” 2016-27, “Downton Abbey” 2010-15) COMING UP…“Downton Abbey: A New Era” 2022
1983 [38] Camilla Luddington, Ascot England, TV actress (‘Jo Wilson’ on “Grey’s Anatomy” since 2012)
1991 [30] Alana Haim, LA CA, pop-rock guitarist (Haim-‘The Wire’, ‘Don’t Save Me’)
1997 [24] Maude Apatow, CA, movie actress (“The King of Staten Island”, “This Is 40”)/TV actress (“Euphoria” since 2019)/daughter of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cat Herders Day”, a day of sympathy for anyone who feels their job, or even their life, is like trying to herd cats. (Or making cats do anything else, for that matter…)
• “International Tea Day”, observed annually since 2005 in tea-producing countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, India, and Tanzania. (Not Chai-land?)
• “National Cupcake Day”, for many years, cupcakes were known as “1-2-3-4 cakes” because of their recipe: 1 cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 3 cups of flour, 4 eggs, plus 1 cup of milk and 1 spoonful of baking soda. (And as you know, it’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you’re eating a cupcake!)
• “National Wear Your Pearls Day”, reminds us that when life throws dirt our way, we all have value in the end. The beautiful result of nature’s design, one irritating grain of sand can cause an iridescent pearl to form.
• “Bill of Rights Day”, on December 15, 1791, Virginia ratified the first 10 amendments of the Constitution (The Bill of Rights). With this, the amendments reached the requisite number of state ratifications necessary to become part of the US Constitution.
COMING UP . . .
[Thurs] Chocolate Covered Anything Day
[Thurs] Stupid Toy Day
[Fri] Maple Syrup Day
[Fri] Wright Brothers Day
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1997 [24] The “Spice World” movie, directed by Bob Spiers and starring girl group the Spice Girls, premieres in the UK
2008 [12] Madonna pays her former husband, film director Guy Ritchie, around £50 million ($65 million) as part of their divorce settlement
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1967 [54] The Beatles release ‘Christmas Time is Here Again’
2014 [07] Taylor Swift’s 5th album, “1989″, reaches #1 and goes on to become the best-selling album of 2014 (9.5 million copies)
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1979 [42] After finding pieces of their “Scrabble” game missing, Canadians Chris Haney and Scott Abbott create the board game “Trivial Pursuit”
2001 [20] Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years and $27 million are spent to fortify it, without fixing its famous lean (because that’s the tourist attraction)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ The real St. Nicholas was a wiry Greek-Turkish archbishop who lived on a sunny Mediterranean beach.
✓ ‘Jingle Bells’ was originally a Thanksgiving song.
✓ The original Elf on the Shelf in the 1970s was named ‘Fisbee’.
✓ Christmas Day boasts the fewest relationship breakups – and the most engagements.
✓ Mistletoe is an ancient symbol of fertility and virility — and the Druids considered it an aphrodisiac…
✓ …But the Germanic word for mistletoe literally means “dung on a twig.”
-UberFacts, GoodHousekeeping
Best of BS . . .
BS SIGNS YOU’RE HAVING A BAD HOLIDAY SEASON:
• All of the Christmas cards you receive are addressed to “Resident.”
• The first words your daughter’s new talking doll says are, “Take me back to the store.”
• The FBI finds your handprints on Mrs. Claus’s dress.
• You’ve had more than one fist fight with a mall cop.
• You’re riding in a one-horse closed sleigh, and your wife keeps whining, “Oh what fun we’d be having if only this were an open sleigh!”
• Every person you know gets you an industrial-sized bottle of Clearasil.
• A week after Christmas, you notice a bizarre smell coming from the chimney.
• Two words: tinsel rash.
-Neloo, first published in BS in 2017
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ A Las Vegas strip joint is recruiting recent high school graduates, claiming that stripping is a great way to earn money for college. (It’s true. Every stripper I’ve ever met was totally only doing it for that EXACT reason!)
➠ A study found that today’s teens drink, smoke, and have less sex than ever before. (In other words, more of today’s teens lie to researchers.)
➠ Christmas is 10 days away, but I haven’t started my Christmas Shopping yet. (Still patiently awaiting Oprah’s instructions on exactly what to buy…)
➠ In a deal worth $900 million, LeBron James is becoming a part-owner of thr NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. (The deal was a no-brainer. LeBron, even more so…)
➠ According to a study, people in relationships spend $3,600 more a year than single people. (Yeah, most of it on therapy!)
BS THREEZER:
(Give contestant the clues, they tell you what all 3 have in common…)
• Surprise, Search, Birthday
Answer: Types of parties
• Steel, balance, laser
Answer: Types of beams
• Cowboy, Combat, Go-Go
Answer: Types of boots
-FunTrivia
BS WEB GOODIE:
That face, tho: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM8vmmLnF/
BS RANDOM JOKE:
2022 is gonna be MY year — to talk about how 2023 is gonna be my year.
BS PHONE STARTER:
Which holiday tradition is an absolute MUST for you each year?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Nearly 25% of us admit we do THIS in the bathroom. What is it?
Answer: Put up Christmas decorations
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
You cannot be anything if you want to be everything.