Thursday, December 19, 2024 – Edition: #7860
Can You Believe This Sheet?
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:
★ The “Today” show’s Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager will ring in the New Year when they return as hosts of the 2-hour NBC primetime special “A Toast to 2024!”, on Dec. 31 at 9pm ET. Among the famous guests who will discuss the year’s buzziest moments are Reba McEntire, star of “Happy’s Place”, plus NBC Paris Olympics correspondent and rapper Snoop Dogg, and George Lopez, co-creator and star of “Lopez vs. Lopez”. Other celebs set to appear include Kristin Chenoweth, Fortune Feimster, David Alan Grier, Lester Holt, Adam Lambert, Howie Mandel, Joel McHale, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Craig Melvin, Keith Morrison, Al Roker, and many more.
-Deadline
★ Something Wicked comes our way – again. Producers of “Wicked: Part Two” have announced a new title ahead of its 2025 release. The second movie of the 2-part big screen adaptation of the hit musical will arrive in theaters on November 21, 2025, and will be called “Wicked: For Good”. News of the title change was confirmed via the film’s official X account, which tweeted: “You will be changed. Wicked: For Good, only in theaters November 21, 2025.” The title of the second movie is the same as one of the song titles that appears in the second act of the musical. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3y35n3f6
-DigitalSpy
★ Jay-Z is looking out for his family. After the rapper—real name Shawn Carter—was accused in a civil suit of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2000, his lawyer Alex Shapiro gave an update on how Carter and his family, including wife Beyoncé and their 3 children, are navigating the accusations. During a press briefing, Spiro said: “He’s upset. He’s upset that somebody would be allowed to do this, to make a mockery of the system like this. But most of all, Spiro noted that Jay-Z is “upset that his kids and his family have to deal with this.”
-E!
★ Marijuana is legal in 38 states, and now ‘Cheech & Chong’ are in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. 1978’s “Up in Smoke”, the first feature from Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, is one of the 25 “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” motion pictures selected for preservation this year. Also among those chosen are “The Pride of the Yankees” (1942), “Invaders From Mars” (1953), “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974), “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984), “Dirty Dancing” (1987), “My Own Private Idaho” (1991), “No Country for Old Men” (2007) and “The Social Network” (2010).
-HollywoodReporter
★ Prepare to see “Bluey” like you’ve never seen her before. The beloved Australian series is getting a movie, which is set for a 2027 theatrical release. The animated film, which currently doesn’t have a title, will be written and directed by series creator Joe Brumm. Little is known about the plot, but it will feature the adventures of blue heeler pup ‘Bluey’ along with her Mum, Dad and little sister ‘Bingo’.
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Blake Shelton, Ralph Macchio (R)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Martin Short, Chloe Fineman
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Edward Norton
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): John Mulaney, Simon Rich, Nicholas Hoult
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Affion Crockett, Jade Catta-Preta, Laura Peek (R)
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Shep Rose, Molly O’Connell
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Billy Eichner
• “The Talk” (CBS): Morris Chestnut
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Whitney Cummings, Anika Noni Rose
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Michael Fassbender, Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Martha Stewart, Ana Gasteyer
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): The cast of “The Six Triple Eight”, including Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian, and Milauna Jackson
• “Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas” (CBS): A mix of stand-up comedy, comedy shorts, sketches and musical performances, spotlighting the spirit of Nashville during the holiday season.
• “The Great Christmas Light Fight” (ABC): Season 12 finale.
• “Ghosts” (CBS): A leaky water heater threatens to ruin holiday plans as Sam and Jay prepare to host Jay’s hard-to-please dad, difficult-to-impress mom, and sister Bela.
• “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” (FOOD): James and Oliver Phelps host as bakers create edible showpieces on Harry Potter film sets.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Jonas Brothers – have been announced as performers on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest”. The group, set to mark its 20th anniversary in 2025, will perform a medley of hits. Other performers include Carrie Underwood, Teddy Swims, Thomas Rhett, and Megan Moroney.
• Olivia Rodrigo – Her Fund 4 Good is donating more than $2 million. During her “GUTS World Tour”, she announced that a portion of ticket sales would go to charities. Now that the tour is nearly over, she has let it be known that the nonprofits that are receiving money include those supporting reproductive rights and girls’ education, and work to prevent gender-based violence.
• Chance the Rapper – Friday, his wife filed for divorce after 5 years of marriage. The couple announced their separation in April. They have 2 young children together — daughters Kensli and Marli.
• Madonna – This week, she posted on Instagram: “Who wants to hear new music in 2025!” In Sept., she announced that she was working with Stuart Price, with whom she co-produced her Grammy-winning 2005 album, “Confessions on a Dance Floor”. In her latest update, she said: “These past few months has been medicine for my SOUL.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2xdnk5np
• Pink Floyd – is the #1 most popular tattoo choice for rock fans. A new study by LLTattoo revealed the rock bands that inspire the most tattoos worldwide. Number 2 is Guns N’ Roses, followed, in order, by Rammstein, Metallica, and Nirvana.
• Carrie Underwood – recently performed the songs ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ at a Nashville-area church. A TikToker posted video, explaining: “We were invited to a Christmas Concert by my husband’s co-worker and got a special treat to hear Carrie Underwood do a couple of songs.” She added “It wasn’t announced…so we were surprised.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5n7jerwn
• Shaboozey – The Recording Industry Association of America has announced that he had the highest-certified song of 2024. ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ accumulated sales of 5 million units. Artists who earned their first RIAA certifications this year include Tucker Wetmore for ‘Wine Into Whiskey’, Dasha for ‘Austin’, and The War And Treaty for their Zach Bryan collab ‘Hey Driver’.
• Shania Twain – has announced a final series of summer 2025 “Queen of Me” tour dates across the US. The tour included over 70 dates across North America and Europe. Her Vegas residency, “Shania Twain: COME ON OVER”, also featured over 70 performances. Tickets for the new dates, beginning July 19 in Buffalo, go on sale tomorrow. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/senx95ay
SHOOTING THE BULL
UP TO SNOW GOOD:
Is your child THIS CLOSE to landing on Santa’s naughty list? A survey found that this year, about one in 4 parents are using the threat of no gifts in an attempt at convincing their children to “be good” during the holidays. But is that the right approach? No, say the experts. Dr. Michelle Janning, professor of sociology at Whitman College in Washington state, said that both threats and bribes can backfire, especially if you don’t follow through, encouraging further misbehavior and causing stress to young children. Instead, the experts recommend positive reinforcement. Dr. Susan Woolford, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor, suggests: “Rather than saying, ‘Oh, what a good girl’”, try “‘Wow, that’s so good how you helped Mom pick up the toys.’” Using rewards for good behavior can help, but it not a good idea that food be one of those rewards. Try instead something the child enjoys, like reading time or a game.
(And if THAT doesn’t work, make ‘em watch “Bad Santa”!)
(I just realized that my wife has been doing the same thing to me for 20 years!)
-CNN
NEW FOOD NEWS (ANOTHER HELPING):
⇒ The latest viral drink in Japan is called “Nomu Mayo”. Any idea what the main ingredient is? Yup. Nomu Mayo is a drinkable form of mayonnaise. Launched by Lawson, a well-known Japanese convenience store chain, the company calls it a “chilled drink mayo fanatics have long been waiting for.” Priced at about US $1.30, “mayonnaise-style drink” in a 200-mililiter cup is a white-colored thick beverage, with a label noting ingredients like milk-based foods, mayonnaise-flavoured seasoning, and processed whole eggs. Early reviewers, while admitting that the stuff does taste like mayo, are mixed about the taste. One X user wrote: “I can’t decide if this is genius or a crime against food. Maybe both?” (What the ‘Hellman’?) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2536h7ec
⇒ Uber Eats has released its annual Uber Eats Cravings Report, detailing the most popular, unusual and surprising orders of the year. Unexpected requests included combos like scallops + boiled eggs, fajitas + French onion soup, and fried fish sticks + green tea. The most unique non-food combos include these inventive pairings: Oxbow Chinchilla Food + Zupreem Pure Fun Bird Food for Parrots, Gray Mesh Laundry Bag + Hydrocolloid Acne Pimple Patch, and that important one-two punch of Fujifilm Mini Instant Film + an Oral-B Soft Toothbrush. (I’m just happy to see that at least one other person dips their fajitas in French onion soup!)
-EuroNews, Uber
UNHAPPY RETURNS:
A former Michigan resident attempted to return a library book that was 50 years overdue — but the library told him to keep it. Chuck Hildebrandt, who now lives near Chicago, was recently looking through the books on his shelf when he spotted a copy of “Baseball’s Zaniest Stars” by Howard Liss, and noticed it had a Dewey decimal number on the spine. That made him realize he had checked the book out from the Warren Public Library on Dec. 4, 1974. While visiting Detroit for Thanksgiving, he tried to return the book, but was told it is no longer in the system, and there was no record of his having borrowed it. Librarians told him he could keep the book, and he would not be charged the 25-cents per day overdue fee — which would have totalled $4,563.75. Hildebrandt is now trying to crowdfund the amount of that waived fee to donate to a nonprofit literacy group. He put in the first $457 himself. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/26ap24ka
(Well…she didn’t actually SAY he could keep it…it was more like: “Shhhhhhh!!”)
(I would have just stuck it in the book return when the library was closed, and been done with it!)
-UPI
THE WORST MOVIES OF 2024:
According to industry publication “Variety” critics Owen Gleiberman and Peter Debruge…
✪ Poolman: Chris Pine plays a long-haired pool cleaner who’s sort of like the Dude, except he’s a Dude whose brains are leaking out his ears. It’s all dithering half-jokes, wrapped around a conspiracy plot that has the same relation to “Chinatown” that boxed wine has to Chateau Lafite Rothschild.
✪ Rumours: A group of world leaders, led by Cate Blanchett as a haughty Angela Merkel knockoff, meet at the G7 summit, then get lost in the woods, where they wind up talking in the most phantasmagorically dull way. Political “satire” that turns into satirical torture.
✪ Reagan: Dennis Quaid plays Reagan, who is driven by exactly one issue — fighting Communism — and the movie, cutting historical corners right and left, turns him into the ranch-hand superhero who singlehandedly defeated it. It’s like watching an infomercial for an aw-shucks cult leader.
✪ The End: A stultifying post-apocalyptic left-wing chamber-drama musical set entirely in a bunker, it’s the kind of movie that makes you feel like time itself has stopped.
✪ Lisa Frankenstein: What’s shockingly lame about this teen-girl-raises-boyfriend-from-the-dead flick is that it feels like the world’s most needlessly overcomplicated “SNL” sketch.
✪ Dogman: This 3rd-rate “Joker” rip-off is ill-conceived on every level — a convoluted act of misplaced empathy in which a cop struggles to tame a traumatized outsider who was literally raised in a doghouse.
✪ The Mouse Trap: There must be an upside to beloved cultural icons entering the public domain, but this ain’t it. A dreary horror movie about a dude who goes homicidal after watching “Steamboat Willie, with zero scares.
✪ Not Another Church Movie: 19 years after “Diary of the Mad Black Woman”, Tyler Perry is still churning out the same sausage. This one badgers everyone from Oprah to Judge Hatchett, squandering cameos from Jamie Foxx as God and Mickey Rourke as a sickly-looking Satan in a red cape and lingerie.
✪ Harold and the Purple Crayon: In the book upon which it is based, a boy draws whatever comes to mind. Why is it that children’s movies preach to us about the importance of imagination, but when it comes to showing any, they come up short?
✪ Rebel Moon: Director’s Cut: Can you think of anything more gratuitous or unnecessary than a 2-part “Star Wars” knockoff directed by pop-culture remix artist Zack Snyder? How about a bloodier 6-hour director’s cut of that same movie?
(Have these people not seen “Kraven the Hunter” yet?)
(What movie is at the top of YOUR 2024 ‘worst-list’?)
-Variety
DID YOU KNOW?
If you’re planning on buying Hot Wheels cars as a gift this holiday season, you won’t get any points for originality. The collectible cars are the bestselling toy in the world, according to market research firm Circana, and their popularity shows no signs of hitting the brakes 56 years after their introduction. Mattel sells 22½ Hot Wheels cars per second, or 709 million cars per year. And priced as low as $1.25, they actually cost less than they did in 1968, when they sold for 69–89 cents [up to $8 in today’s dollars]. (No wonder — dudes love ‘em – whether they’re 4 or 74!)
-MorningBrew
BS CHRONOMETER 12.19.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Holly Day”. While the prickly leaves and berries make lovely additions to any holiday décor, eating holly can be bad for your health. The leaves and berries can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and other issues. While toxic to dogs, cats and horses, consuming 20 or more berries can actually be fatal to children. (Happy Holly-days, here’s a deadly plant for you!)
• “Regifting Day”. The Thursday before Christmas is a common date for work parties and festivities. Regifting Day encourages you to avoid giving the usual cheap and undesirable presents, and help preserve the environment by ‘regifting’ a colleague. The term “regifting” came from the 1995 “Seinfeld” episode “The Label Maker,” although the practice itself had long existed.
• “Look for an Evergreen Day”, saluting those for whom only a fresh-cut real tree will do for Christmas. For them, the scent of fresh pine helps to capture the feeling of the holidays. (But remember…just because you find one, it doesn’t mean it’s yours!)
• “Oatmeal Muffin Day”, a day to enjoy the cholesterol-lowering benefit of oatmeal in your muffins … then slather on a ton of butter and enjoy!
• “Hard Candy Day”, a celebration of all types of hard candies—everything from lollipops to candy canes to caramels. (If you don’t have one, just ask any older lady carrying a purse. She has at least 30 in there…usually unwrapped.)
• “Emo Day”, a day for emos to congregate for a mass non-celebration, and generally whine about life. Also, a day for non-emos to pretend to be emo. (Gee, sounds like fun…)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
[Fri] Sangria Day
[Sat] Crossword Puzzle Day
[Sun] Cookie Exchange Day
This Week is…Gluten-Free Baking Week
This Month is…Take a New Year’s Resolution to Stop Smoking Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1944 [80] Tim Reid, Norfolk VA, comedian-TV actor (‘Venus Flytrap’ on “WKRP in Cincinnati” 1978-82, “That 70s Show” 2004-06)
1963 [61] Jennifer Beals, Chicago IL, movie actress (“Flashdance”, “The Book of Eli”)/TV actress (“The L Word 2004-09, “Law & Order: Organized Crime” 2022)
1965 [59] Jessica Steen, Toronto ON, movie actress (“Armageddon”)/TV actress (“Homefront” 1991-93, “Heartland” since 2007)
1967 [57] Criss Angel (Christopher Sarantakos), NYC, Las Vegas magician-illusionist (“Criss Angel: Believe”, “Criss Angel: Mindfreak”)
1969 [55] (Kristen) Kristy Swanson, Mission Viejo CA, TV actress (“Knots Landing” 1987-88)/movie actress (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Flowers in the Attic”)
1970 [54] Tyson Beckford, Rochester NY, model (Ralph Lauren Polo)/TV host (“Make Me a Supermodel” 2008-2009)/named “greatest male model of all time” by Vogue in 2014
1972 [52] Alyssa Milano, Brooklyn NY, TV actress (“My Name is Earl” 2007-08, “Charmed” 1998-2006, “Who’s the Boss” 1984-92)/movie actress (“Hall Pass”)/TV host (“Project Runway All Stars” 2013-19)
1980 [44] Jake Gyllenhaal, LA CA, movie actor (“Spider-Man: Far From Home”, “Brokeback Mountain”, “Donnie Darko”)/brother of Maggie Gyllenhaal. COMING UP… “In the Grey” 2025
1988 [36] Paulina Gretzky, Los Angeles CA, celebutante/model/singer/movie actress (“Grown Ups 2”, “Fame” [2009])/married to golfer Dustin Johnson, daughter of Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1997 [27] “Titanic” opens in theaters. It becomes the top-grossing movie of all time ($2.2 billion, currently #4), with a soundtrack that sells 18 million copies, thanks mostly to Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’.
2014 [10] A study on advice given by talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz shows that only about 46% of his suggestions are supported by legitimate medical evidence.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2005 [19] Elton John turns down an offer of almost $6 million for TV rights to his civil union to David Furnish
2014 [10] Darlene Love sings ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ on “The Late Show with David Letterman” for the final time. (When she first performed it in 1986, it went so well that Dave made it an annual Christmas tradition.)
2015 [09] 33 years after its release, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” becomes the first album to sell more than 30 million in the US (current estimated US sales: 34 million).
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1917 [107] The first NHL games are played (5,500 fans watch Montréal Canadiens beat Ottawa Senators 7-4, while 700 soldiers get in free to see Montréal Wanderers defeat Toronto Arenas 10-9).
1922 [102] 24-year-old Theresa Vaughn confesses in court in England, to being married 61 times over 5 years, in 50 cities, in 3 countries.
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ According to studies, men change their minds 2 to 3 times more often than women.
✓ The South Pole is colder than the North Pole.
✓ ‘Tiny Tim’ in Charles Dickens’ classic story “A Christmas Carol”, was almost named ‘Little Fred’.
✓ Gymnastics is from a Greek word meaning “to exercise naked”.
✓ No one knows who named Earth.
✓ Worldwide, about 20% of married couples are first cousins.
-RandomFactGenerator, WomansDay
Best of BS . . .
BS HOLIDAY SPECIALS YOU WON’T SEE:
• Silent Night of the Lambs
• Grandma Got Made Over by a Reindeer
• Home But Not Alone
• Rudolph the Brown-Nosed Reindeer
• Jersey Shore on Ice
• Bill Cosby presents ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’
• There’s Something About Mary’s Boy Child
• Ho Ho Homicide
• A Hallmark Channel movie with a sad ending.
• Anything featuring the on-screen pairing of Megan Fox & Machine Gun Kelly
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS HOW TO GET YOUR HOLIDAY GUESTS TO LEAVE:
• Break out the non-alcoholic beer
• Ask someone to pull your finger
• Let the dog lick the plates, then put them away. (Plus, they’ll never come back!)
• Say, “Have Y’all read ‘Dianetics’?”
• Dance like nobody’s watching
• Put on your pajamas
• Announce that your snake has escaped his cage
• Don’t answer the door in the first place
• Nickelback
• Move
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
BS WEB GOODIE:
How it’s going: https://tinyurl.com/3zjty7mz
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I learn from the mistakes of others who took my advice…
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s something you’d love to receive as a gift, but no one considers giving you because you’re “an adult”?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
When it comes to shopping, 6% of us have done THIS during the holidays. What is it?
Answer: Called in sick to Christmas shop.
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.