Monday, December 18, 2023 — Edition: #7620

100% Grade A Bull!

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:
★ TMZ is reporting that Matthew Perry had enough ketamine in his system to render him incapacitated or unconscious, causing him to drown. That’s based on his autopsy findings. Friday, it was revealed that he died from “the acute effects of ketamine,” a drug used to treat depression — also used as a recreational drug. The LA County Medical Examiner’s Office released its toxicology report, concluding Perry had taken ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety a week-and-a-half before his death. The ketamine in his system at the time of his death, however, “could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine’s half-life is 3 to 4 hours, or less.” The Medical Examiner said the ketamine in Perry’s system caused both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression. TMZ says the amount was equivalent to the anesthesia some patients get before surgery.
-TMZ
★ Singer Demi Lovato is engaged to musician Jutes after one year of dating. Jutes, whose real name is Jordan Lutes, proposed to the ‘Sorry, Not Sorry’ singer Saturday in Los Angeles with a massive pear-shaped diamond solitaire engagement ring. The couple — both rocking all-black ensembles – appeared in a low-key engagement photo shoot, gazing up at each other adoringly while photographers snapped their pics. Lovato and Jutes have been romantically linked since August 2022, nearly 2 years after she ended her engagement with actor Max Ehrich.
-PageSix
★ Oompa Loompa doopity doo — here’s a box office opening for you. “Wonka” is off to an OK start in North America after earning a projected first weekend domestic total of $39 million. That’s a so-so start for the film, which carries a hefty $125 million production budget. The prequel musical is also benefiting from golden ticket prices for premium large format auditoriums like Imax. After taking first-place in its opening last weekend, “The Boy and the Heron” has fallen to third place, after Wonka and “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”.
-Variety, HollywoodReporter
★ Mayim Bialik has faced her final “Jeopardy!” Two years after stepping in as a permanent host following the death of Alex Trebek, she posted a statement Instagram, sharing that Sony Pictures Television had informed her that she will no longer have hosting duties on the series beginning in 2024. She stated that she is “deeply grateful” for having “had the opportunity to have been a part of the Jeopardy! family.” Sony said the decision has been made to go forward with one host – Ken Jennings.
-Variety
★ Jason Momoa will be on the big screen in ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” this weekend, but says he isn’t certain about the role beyond that. He told ET: “The truth of it is — I mean, if the audience loves it, then there’s a possibility” the character’s saga could continue. However, he said: “Right now…It’s not looking too good”. He also stated that he doesn’t “necessarily want it to be the end”, but it is not his choice to make”. (In other words, “PLEASE go see my new movie this weekend!!”)
-Messenger
★ Jessica Chastain has Taylor Swift to thank for getting her through a break-up. On “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” Chastain revealed that Swift sent her a break-up playlist after the pair met for the first time at the 2011 Met Gala. The 2 were sitting next to each other, and Chastain said that she had just been through a break-up, and they spoke about that and danced together, saying it “was such a fun night. And then the next day, I had an email from iTunes that said, like, ‘Taylor Swift’ or whatever, and I just thought that it was a Taylor Swift album.” But she later discovered that Swift, quote: “had made me a break-up playlist that she sent me! Isn’t that the sweetest thing?”
-People

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Eddie Murphy, Teyana Taylor, Mitch Rowland (R)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Mandy Moore, Elvis Duran, Adam Blackstone
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Kenan Thompson, Olivia Rodrigo
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Jeremy Allen White, Hannah Waddingham
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Most Outrageous Vanderpump Moments (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Cassidy Hutchinson (R)
• “The Talk” (CBS): Wayne Brady, Charli D’Amelio (R)
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Awkwafina, Charles Melton
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Jason Momoa, Fantasia Barrino Taylor, Angela Cartwright
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Jada Pinkett Smith, Arthur Brooks, Norah O’Donnell (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Shaquille O’Neal (R)
• “The Voice” (NBC): Live Finale, Part 1
• “Big Brother Reindeer Games” (CBS): 9 iconic former players are invited to Santa’s magical world to compete for the $100,000 grand prize.
• “Freddie Mercury: The Final Act” (CW): Showcasing the extraordinary final chapter of his life and how, after his death from AIDS, Queen staged one of the biggest concerts in history.
• “NFL Football” (Check local listings): Philadelphia Eagles @ Seattle Seahawks

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Taylor Swift – As if there was any doubt, she has been named Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star of 2023. The rest of the top-5, in order, are: SZA, Beyoncé, Ice Spice and Morgan Wallen. LINK: https://www.billboard.com/t/greatest-pop-stars-of-2023/
• Nicki Minaj and Kanye West – Their long-awaited collab ‘New Body’ isn’t coming out any time soon. She posted a new text message Ye sent her, asking for permission to release it. Then she said on Instagram Live: “Now regarding Kanye, that train has left the station, OK? No disrespect in any way, I just put out a brand-new album. Now why would I put out a song that has been out for 3 years?”
• Cher – isn’t interested in being inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame. On the “Kelly Clarkson Show”, she vented about her exclusion, saying: “You know what, I wouldn’t be in it now if they gave me a million dollars…They can just go you-know-what themselves.”
• Michael Jackson – His estate has had some “extremely rare” unreleased recordings removed from sale. Last month, Gotta Have Rock and Roll announced plans to auction off over 2 dozen master tapes recorded in 1994, and expected to fetch up to $4,000 each. But lawyers acting on behalf of the estate threatened to sue, arguing the recordings were “unquestionably stolen”.
• Def Leppard — has shared the latest episode of its “Behind The World Tour” YouTube series, featuring footage from the band’s “The World Tour” with Mötley Crüe. In the 8-minute clip, the band takes over Brisbane, Australia, breaks curfew, sightsees in Sydney and prepares for the end of “The World Tour”. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/22j4jp44
• Dan + Shay – Their #1 hit ‘10,000 Hours’ with Justin Bieber has just become the first song with a country artist lead to garner 1 billion streams on Spotify. They wrote on social media: “That means the song has been listened to for approximately 46,388,889 hours (and counting). That’s also about how long it would take us to express how grateful we are for everyone who helped make this happen.”
• Old Dominion – Has announced their Nashville Bar, “Odie’s”, will open next year. But unlike most other music-themed spots in the city, this one will be located near Music Row, instead of Lower Broadway. Trevor Rosen explains: “We wanted it to be a place where a group of songwriters…could play…or someone starting out might be able to be part of a writers thing and get heard.”
• Chris Stapleton – “Higher” has been named Billboard’s favorite Country album of 2023. The rest of the top-5, in order, are: “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat”–Kelsea Ballerini, “Whitsitt Chapel”–Jelly Roll, “Zach Bryan”– Zach Bryan, and “The Devil I Know”– Ashley McBride.

SHOOTING THE BULL

HAPPY HOLIDAYS:
The countdown to Christmas is on, and hopefully it includes some time off for you to spend with those you love most (and other family members…!). Time off work, of course, is closely associated with happiness, and according to a new survey of workers in the US, the happiest people took an average of 15 days of paid time off last year. That’s the good news. Not so good is the fact that a whopping 38% of workers took less than the average – some because that’s all they are allowed, some because they felt they couldn’t get away. And this might sound familiar: To compensate for their guilt of leaving their work for vacation days, 66% put in extra hours ahead of time, and 69% admitted responding to notifications while off. And by the way, 87% of employees said they would prefer a $10,000 raise rather than taking vacation days at all.
(It sounds like a lot people live with their mother-in-law!)
(The only paid time off I get is when I watch YouTube in my office!)
-NYPost

NEW FOOD NEWS:
⇒ It looks like a stylish laptop bag, but it’s actually the world’s first microwave bag that actually lets you heat meals while on the go. The Willtex “Willcook” is made out of conductive fabric that allows the user to heat whatever’s inside up to 250°C (480°F). The bag, including its rechargeable battery pack, weighs just 280 grams. The Japanese manufacturer says the inside of a Willcook microwave bag reaches 80°C in 5 minutes, and can be controled via a smartphone app. The battery lasts 8 hours. (Awesome! I’ve always wanted to be able to burn my dinner while driving!) LINK: https://www.willtex.co.jp/exfibers/willcook/
⇒ It seems like they come up with a new style of Doritos every other week, but this one definitely wasn’t expected – or was it? Frito Lay announced last week that it has teamed up with Empirical to create a liquor that tastes like its Nacho Cheese-flavored chips. It will be available for a limited time starting in January. The companies are inviting adventurous people to try the “Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit” over ice, neat, or in a variety of cocktails, including the “double triangle margarita,” the “mary mary” and the “red bag old-fashioned.” The liquor is made using real Doritos chips and alcohol. (Because those 2 have never been used in combination before?) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ycx8uj84
-OddityCentral

NEW GOOD NEWS:
➢ A 4-month-old baby was found asleep and unharmed in a “cradle” of fallen limbs after being sucked up in a Tennessee tornado. Mom Sydney Moore watched as the bassinet containing her infant son Lord followed the roof of her mobile home into the funnel of a tornado, and she thought she’d never see him again. Surviving the collapse of her home, she searched desperately for the baby with her boyfriend, who had been thrown by the force of the funnel, breaking his arm and shoulder. Then, a miracle. Lord was spotted in what looked like “a little tree cradle”, unscathed, lying asleep in the crook of a fallen tree. Moore’s sister said it looked as though the baby was placed there by “an angel”. A GoFundMe has been started to replace the family’s home.
➢ A kind-hearted schoolboy is helping the poor this Christmas by opening his FIFTH foodbank — and donating toys to families who can’t afford to buy presents. Isaac Winfield made headlines 2 months ago after a foodbank outside his home was robbed. Thieves took £50 worth of food, leaving the shelves bare. The 12-year-old had started his Friend’s of Isaac’s Food Bank on Facebook 3 years ago using his birthday money, which went viral and now helps hundreds of families every week. After being targeted by the thief, well-wishers helped restock the food bank with thousands of pounds worth of donations. And now, he has enlisted the help of a local pub to store all the donated goods after being inundated with hundreds of toys and gifts for needy families this year.
-GoodNewsNetwork, Talker

THINGS NOT TO BUY YOUR KIDS FOR CHRISTMAS:
Paediatric emergency doctor @dr.beachgem10 shared her top 5 items she would never consider buying a child, because of the horror stories she has witnessed during her shifts in the children’s ward…
❑ Anything with a button battery: “They keep those little compartments closed with those little cheap screws. It’s not worth it. They can literally kill kids and they do, every year.”
❑ Water Beads: “These are sold as sensory toys, but little kids can ingest them…and they can get larger and cause bowel obstructions.” (Can harm pets too!)
❑ Electric Scooters: “Kids go way too fast on these. They hit a bump, they go flying. They mess up their faces, their arms, their heads. It’s bad news.” (They also scare the heck out of me when one comes up from behind on the sidewalk!)
❑ Hoverboards: “We see so many hoverboard injuries right after Christmas. They break their forearms, their elbows, and sometimes their heads. And they can literally light your house on fire”.
❑ Trampolines: “They literally keep the emergency department and the orthopedics team in business. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a net, it doesn’t matter if they’re buried in the ground. Most of the injuries actually happen ON the trampoline.” (If my kids are any indication, they’ll will find a way to break bones anyway!) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4xm9ff22
-NYPost

DID YOU KNOW?
Reading books stimulates the imagination more effectively than watching TV, says a new study. UK researchers found that unlike reading, where mental visualization is necessary, television and movies present ready-made images, reducing the need for imaginative thinking. They say given its significance, especially in children, toward abilities such as planning, creativity, and empathy, fostering imagination is of paramount importance. And encouraging reading over screen-based entertainment could be a key strategy in nurturing imaginative skills. (For details, pick up the scientists’ brand-new book!)
-StudyFinds

BS CHRONOMETER 12.18.23

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day”. The idea is to answer: “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?”, a quote from the 2003 Will Ferrell movie “Elf”.
• “Bake Cookies Day”. What’s the best kind of homemade cookie: Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal-Raisin, or Peanut Butter? (And why is it Peanut Butter?)
• “Roast Suckling Pig Day”, “Here [co-host], put this apple in your mouth!”
• “Flake Appreciation Day”, a fun day created to encourage us to take notice of snowflakes and to be mesmerized by each one that falls (And keep your “Everybody’s a snowflake these days” jokes to yourself!”)
• “International Migrants Day”, a day of solidarity for migrant workers, on the anniversary of the UN’s 1990 adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrants Workers & Members of Their Families. (Catchy name.)
• “National Twin Day”, celebrates the siblings who enjoy the unique connection because they share a birthday. (As well as DNA…)
• “I Love Honey Day”. Did you know that Greeks and Roman referred to honey as a food “fit for the gods”? (***More reasons to love honey here: https://tinyurl.com/39jkmwed ***)
• “Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day.” We’re not exactly sure what you are supposed to do to observe this “special” day…
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] Holly Day
[Tues] Emo Day
[Wed] Go Caroling Day
[Thurs] Winter arrives (Northern Hemisphere)
This Week is…Saturnalia
This Month is…Seasonal Depression Awareness Month

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1943 [80] Keith Richards, Dartford England, rock guitarist (Rolling Stones-‘Start Me Up’, ‘Satisfaction’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 1989

1946 [77] Steven Spielberg, Cincinnati OH, movie director-producer (“E.T.”, “Indiana Jones” films, “Jurassic Park” films)

1963 [60] Brad Pitt, Shawnee OK, movie actor (“Fight Club”, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, “Ocean’s Eleven” movies)/movie producer (“12 Years A Slave”)/married to Angelina Jolie 2014-19, Jennifer Aniston 2000-05

1964 [59] “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (Steven Anderson), Austin TX, pro wrestler (6 x WWF Heavyweight Champ, 4 x WWF Tag-Team Champ, 2 x WWF Intercontinental Champ, 3 x Royal Rumble)/TV host (“Stone Cold Takes on America since 2023, “Straight Up Steve Austin” 2019-21)

1975 [48] Sia (Furler), Adelaide Australia, pop singer (w/ Sean Paul-‘Cheap Thrills’, ‘Chandelier’)

1975 [48] Randy Houser, Lake MS, country singer (‘How Country Feels’, ‘Runnin’ Outta Moonlight’)

1978 [45] Katie Holmes, Toledo OH, movie actress (“Batman Begins”, “First Daughter”)/TV actress (“Dawson’s Creek” 1998-2003, ‘Jacqueline Onassis in “The Kennedys”)/Married to Tom Cruise 2006-12

1980 [43] Christina Aguilera, Staten Island NY, pop singer (‘Beautiful’, ‘Genie In a Bottle’)/TV personality (“The Voice” 2011-2016)/5 Grammy Awards, 30 million+ albums sold

1989 [34] Ashley Benson, Anaheim CA, TV actress (‘Hanna Marin’ on “Pretty Little Liars” 2010-17)/movie actress (“Spring Breakers”)

2001 [22] Billie Eilish, Los Angeles CA, pop singer (‘Bad Guy’, ‘Happier Than Ever’)

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1966 [57] Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” airs on TV for the first time

2009 [14] “Avatar”, directed by James Cameron, opens in theaters. With a budget of $300 million-plus, it’s the most expensive movie ever made; it’s also the most successful ($2.9 billion gross). 2022’s “Avatar 2: The Way of Water” is third, with $2.3 billion

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1983 [40] With Mick Jagger serving as best man, Keith Richards marries his long-time girlfriend, model Patti Hansen, on his 40th birthday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

2011 [12] One Direction play their first-ever show, at Watford Colosseum in London. It does not go well. Niall Horan says, “We were just a joke.”

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2006 [17] United Arab Emirates holds its first-ever elections

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ If they were laid end to end, all of the blood vessels in your body would circle the Earth 4 times.
✓ By age 50, your eyes will let in 20% less light than they did in your 20s.
✓ Stats show that the less religious you are, the more likely you are to believe in aliens.
✓ Belly buttons grow special hairs to catch lint.
✓ Right-handed men tend to put on their pants ‘right-leg first’ (and vice-versa).
✓ Drunk men smile more often than drunk women.
-MentalFloss, WhattheFFacts

Best of BS . . .
BS FAVORITE REINDEER GAMES:
• Deer Pong
• Rackgammon
• Buck, Buck, Goose
• I don’t know what its called, but you sure get Blitzened playing it!
• Tic Tac Doe
• So You Think You Can Prance
• Stag, You’re it
• Antlers in the Pants
• Drinking until it’s not just Rudolph who has a red nose
• Of course, the first rule of reindeer games is you do not talk about reindeer games
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018

IF DOGS DID THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING:
• All the presents would be buried, instead of wrapped.
• They would all say “From Santa Paws”.
• I’d probably get a phone with “collar ID”.
• They would make us return the gift so they could go get it for us again.
• Mmmmm. Bacon.
• Some people wouldn’t mind working retail during the holiday season.
• They would do a better job of shopping than most men.
• Christmas morning would be Ruff.
• Then we probably wouldn’t force them to sit on the floor and beg for scraps during Christmas dinner.
(***Caution***) • I don’t have a dog, so I wouldn’t get shihtzu.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2017

BS WEB GOODIE:
Dirty Deeds Around the Christmas Tree (sound up):  https://tinyurl.com/kspm7f84

BS RANDOM JOKE:
You can tell a lot about a person by the way he handles these 3 things: a rainy day, lost luggage . . . and tangled Christmas tree lights.

BS CHRISTMAS MOVIE TRIVIA:
• The ‘Grinch’s’ heart is said to be how many sizes too small?
A:  2
• Finish this iconic line from “It’s a Wonderful Life”: “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his _____.”
A:  Wings
• In “A Christmas Story”, what does ‘Ralphie’ want for Christmas?
A:  A BB gun
• In what movie is one of the characters rushing to get her hands on canned hickory honey ham?
A:  “Christmas with the Kranks”
• What was the name of Scrooge’s old partner in “A Christmas Carol”?
A:  Jacob Marley
• What does ‘Clark Griswold’ hope to buy with his big Christmas bonus in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?”
A:  A pool
• What is the name of the head elf in “The Santa Clause”?
A:  ‘Bernard’
• In what movie does a little boy run after his love in the airport?
A:  “Love, Actually”
• What is “Bad Santa’s” profession?
A:  Thief and mall Santa
• Complete this famous line from “Elf”: “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is ________”
A:  “Singing loud for all to hear.”
-BuzzFeed

BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the strangest thing you’ve experienced at a work holiday party? (…that can be repeated in this forum…)

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  For the average person this Christmas, THIS will only take 5 seconds. What is it?
Answer:  Deciding whether or not they like a gift

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.