Thursday, December 12, 2024 – Edition: #7855
Here’s More Bull Roar!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ “The Amazing Kreskin”, the mentalist who became a popular TV fixture in the 1970s, died Monday, his family has announced. He was 89. Kreskin, born George Kresge, was a frequent guest on TV talk shows, appearing on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” 88 times, as well as other popular shows from the era. In later years he would appear often on Howard Stern’s show, as well as on David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon’s shows. One of his most famous tricks was to have his paycheck for a performance hidden somewhere in the venue, promising not to be paid if he couldn’t find it. His cause of death has not been made public.
-TheWrap
★ The “Yellowstone” saga isn’t coming to an end just yet. Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser are set to bring their characters ‘Beth’ and ‘Rip’ to a new spinoff, Variety reports sources as saying. The news comes just before Sunday’s season finale of the 5th season of Yellowstone, which has been long speculated to be a series finale, given the departure of star Kevin Costner midway through the season. Show mastermind Taylor Sheridan is said to be working on the creative for the new show, which will likely feature other cast members from the mothership series alongside Reilly and Hauser
-Variety, Deadline
★ Jeremy Allen White has joined the “Star Wars” film “The Mandalorian & Grogu” as the voice of ‘Jabba the Hutt’s’ son, ‘Rotta the Hutt’. The project marks the first major franchise for the actor following his Emmy-winning breakout role on the FX series “The Bear.” Plot details are scarce for The Mandalorian & Grogu, and White’s casting as Jabba’s son provides the first real glimpse for what could be in store for the bounty hunter and his adorable adopted son. The Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” is set in the years following the events of 1983’s “Return of the Jedi”, and is scheduled for release in May 2026.
-Variety
★ Chris Evans is planning an MCU homecoming. The actor, best known to Marvel fans as ‘Steve “Captain America” Rogers’, is apparently returning for the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday”, according to The Wrap. It is currently unknown if Evans will reprise his role as Rogers, his earlier role as ‘Johnny Storm’, also known as the ‘Human Torch’, or in a brand new role. No official word from Evans or Marvel, yet. Evans first appeared as Captain America in 2011, and since, he has starred in 5 additional Marvel films, and made cameos in 4 others.
-EW
★ Meet the Parents – again? Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo and Blythe Danner are in early talks to return for a new film in the “Meet the Parents” franchise. Deadline reports that plot details are being kept inside the circle of trust. John Hamburg — who co-wrote all 3 prior films, and produced the most recent, “Little Fockers”, is set to write the screenplay. No word yet on who’s directing. Meet the Parents centers on the hilariously awkward and tension-filled dynamics between Stiller’s male nurse ‘Greg Focker’, and his intimidating, ex-CIA father-in-law, De Niro’s ‘Jack Byrnes’.
-Deadline
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Josh Brolin, Clarence Maclin, RAYE
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Lisa Kudrow, Elle Fanning, Jack Huston, Kamasi Washington
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Timothée Chalamet, Sabrina Carpenter
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Fortune Feimster, Paul Scheer, Ilana Glazer
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Billy Crystal, Sarah Michelle Gellar
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): S.E. Cupp, Craig Conover
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Peter Sarsgaard, host Michael Kosta
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Edward Norton, Carol Kane
• “The Talk” (CBS): Drew Carey
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Patrick Dempsey, Monica Mangin, Linda Cardellini
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Taron Egerton, Simone Biles, the cast of “Death Becomes Her”
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Kyle Mooney, Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Keith Urban, Aaron Pierre
• “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (NBC): The classic tale of the reindeer with the red nose who guides Santa’s sleigh through a storm on Christmas Eve.
• “Billboard Music Awards” (Fox): Honoring the artists, albums and songs that dominated the charts over the past year. Performers include Coldplay, Seventeen, Teddy Swims and Tyla. Michelle Buteau hosts.
• “The Great Christmas Light Fight” (ABC): The Laakso, McCarty-Williams, Hetherington, Kittell, Richards, Kraklow, Clark and Bell families compete.
• “Matlock” (CBS): Olympia defends a defamed nanny at her children’s school; Matty is on a stressful hunt for an important document.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Miley Cyrus — has released her new song ‘Beautiful That Way’, which she recorded for the soundtrack of Gia Coppola’s film “The Last Showgirl”. It dropped shortly after it was announced the tune has received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song — Motion Picture. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/muarmn52
• SZA – has teased her new song in an eye-popping preview clip. To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of her hit album “SOS”, she uploaded a clip of ‘Lana’, her upcoming single from the project’s deluxe version. The song samples The Isley Brothers’ 1977 tune ‘Voyage to Atlantis’ — while she squats to pee by a creek in the woods at night. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mryau5wd
• Mariah Carey – Her perennial holiday hit ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ has hit #1 – again. This week, the song is at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, marking its 15th week on top since its 1994 release. It first hit #1 on the chart in 2019, and has done so every year since. Carey is the only artist to have hit #1 in the ’90s, 2000s, ’10s and ’20s.
• Joan Jett & the Blackhearts – have scheduled a residency at House of Blues Las Vegas inside Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers’ residency is currently scheduled to run for 5 dates in June, beginning on the 13th. Look for more dates to be added. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ynsupzeb
• Phil Collins — The trailer for an upcoming documentary on him shows him sitting down at a drum set for the first time in several years. His playing career came to end due to health issues, and in 2021, he said he could “barely hold a stick”. “Phil Collins: Drummer First” will be launched on the musicians’ educational site Drumeo on Dec. 18. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/56tmvcfr
• Toto — has announced a summer North American tour with Men at Work and Christopher Cross. It kicks off July 18 in Palm Beach FL, and wraps on Aug. 30 in Ridgefield WA. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am. LINK: www.totoofficial.com .
• Cody Johnson – has revealed his pre-show secret to warming up his vocal cords: “Throat Coat tea, and a little bit of Grand Marnier.” In an interview, he explained: “It kinda burns like whiskey, opens you up, kinda of lubes your throat up to sing. It’s not potent like whiskey, it’s kind of syrupy.”
• Blake Shelton – will perform on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest”. Although the annual New Year’s Eve special is broadcast from New York’s Times Square, Shelton’s performance of his new single ‘Texas’ will be beamed in from Las Vegas. Other newly-announced performers on the broadcast include Hardy, Ernest and Dasha.
• Parker McCollum — is denying Oliver Anthony’s seeming allegation that he used autotune modulators while playing live. In a new video on social media, McCollum says: “Never ever ever one time have I used autotune or a drum loop or anything fake of any kind onstage. Me and my guys are rippin’ it, the real deal, every single night.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mxr79hjf
SHOOTING THE BULL
MAKING A LIST – AND POSTING IT ONCE:
If you’re looking to find Santa Claus, you’d be on the right track if you headed to Finland. That country has a magical tradition that shares the joy of the season with people from all over the world – a post office where people can send their Christmas wish list – and they are able to visit with jolly old St. Nick every day of the year. It is located at the tourist destination Santa Claus Village near the city of Rovaniemi, and is staffed by a crew of full-time “elves”. The happy crew spend their days sorting through the roughly half-million letters sent to the nearly-North Pole address each year – and respond to as many as they are able. The Santa Claus Main Post Office – first opened in 1991 – is considered Santa’s official address – at least by Finns, and many visitors to the attraction are actually surprised that it is an actual working post office. While many of the letters received there are wish-lists from children, others are from adults, who have been writing every year since they were kids, and feel the need to keep in touch with Santa, and let him know how their year has been. Many young adults also write to Santa, often asking for relationship advice. LINK: https://santaclausvillage.info/
(I like Santa as much as the next guy, but I’m not sure how smart it is to ask for relationship advice from a dude who has “taken off” on Christmas Eve without his wife – for the last 2,000 years or whatever!)
(Well, no WONDER it’s the happiest country on Earth – Santa lives there!)
-NYPost
GUINNESS GOODNESS:
Beer industry experts are calling it a Guinness revival. And they’re definitely not talking about the book of world records. It seems the legendary stout brew that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness in Dublin, Ireland, in the 18th century, is fast becoming the beer of choice among hip, young people, who wouldn’t know malted barley from unmalted barley. In New York, the “farmer’s beer” is being spotted in unexpected places, including Mexican restaurants, diners and natural wine bars. One Boston bar told the New York Times that it increased its Guinness order by 63% from last year to meet demand. And this week, Guinness owner Diageo placed a limit on orders throughout Britain, due to “exceptional demand.” Why is this historic brew suddenly so popular with the cool kids? There are a few reasons:
• Apparently, it has become a game among young drinkers to “split the G.” That’s trying with your first gulp to get the head of the beer to sit in the middle of the letter ‘G’ on a Guinness glass.
• Guinness maker Diageo has been working to broaden Guinness’s appeal — and dispel the myth that it’s a heavy beer. (A 12-ounce Guinness has 125 calories — just 15 more than a Bud Light.)
• But the biggest factor may be timing. The beer is seeing new-found popularity right at the same time that Irish celebrities, like Cillian Murphy, Hozier, and Barry Keoghan – are top-of-mind in the world of pop culture.
(It’s just like 20 years ago, when everyone had to have a haircut just like Conan O’Brien’s. What? Just me?)
(I don’t like the idea of making a game out of the consumption of alcohol. I’d much rather make my drink choices based on whether drinking 3 of them results in my becoming a fantastic dancer!)
-MorningBrew
“SPENDING” THE HOLIDAYS:
It won’t come as a surprise to you when I say this, but the holidays aren’t cheap. And a new survey shows just how much of a financial hole some people will be digging for themselves between now and the 25th. The poll of 2,000 Americans who celebrate a winter holiday found that the average adult will spend over $2,000 this holiday season. How does that 2 grand break down? The #1 seasonal spend is on transportation, with those planning to travel spending an average of $846. Hosting the holiday gathering ranks as the second most-expensive item. Those who are “putting on” the celebration said they’ll spend about $658 getting their home ready. Other spendy items include holiday food and refreshments ($155), throwing parties ($123), and clothing ($107). When it comes to gifts, the plan is to spend an average of $559 on loved ones this year, with the most money being spent on kids ($117) and partners ($92). And if you’re wondering how these people are able to spend so much on a holiday, many can’t. 20% said they won’t financially recover from the holiday season until May 2025 or later. And 28% have – or plan to – open a new line of credit to finance their seasonal revelry.
(Me too! Last year’s new line of credit isn’t working any more!)
(They’re spending 2 thousand bucks? I thought the Taylor Swift tour was over!)
-StudyFinds
NORMAL NOW:
A Reddit user asked: “What was ‘unimaginable’ 10 years ago, but we’re now totally used to?” Here are some of the best answers . . .
→ “Leaving a pizza order on someone’s front porch without even knocking.”
→ “Kids having constant access to an AI that will effortlessly do all their homework for them.”
→ “Fear Factor guy interviews the game show dude, and it’s one of the most important political events ever.” (Joe Rogan – Donald Trump)
→ “Same-day shipping”
→ “Paying more than $10 for a fast-food combo”
→ “Everything, including Walmart, being closed before midnight.”
→ “Subscriptions for damn near everything!”
→ “Computers are making art, and people are still doing mindless repetitive tasks.”
(Did no one mention the fact that it’s now a totally normal occurrence to have to charge your doorbell?)
-BuzzFeed
DID YOU KNOW?
Harvard researchers say they have cracked the code to being happy at work. Their 10-year study of more than 1,000 employees found that the secret is to focus on progress over perfection in your career. Doing so, they say, leads to greater fulfillment than chasing a ‘dream job’ that “ticks all of your boxes”. Co-author of the study Michael Horn said you should “identify what energizes you, understand what your priorities are, and embrace the trade-offs needed to get there.” He said that letting go of the idea of a dream job doesn’t mean abandoning ambition – it’s about building a more satisfying and balanced career. (But if you’re a brain surgeon, then, by all means, you should focus on perfection!)
-CNBC)
BS CHRONOMETER 12.12.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Geminid Meteor Shower”, this annual event peaks tonight and into tomorrow morning. As Earth crosses the debris field of asteroid 3200 Phaethon, we often are able to witness as many as 120 meteors (or “shooting stars”) per hour. For best viewing, find a cloudless spot away from city lights as much as possible. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/396626vy
• “Poinsettia Day”, honoring Dr Joel Roberts Poinsett, the US diplomat to Mexico who introduced the plant to the US in 1825. Now a favorite decoration for the holiday season, about 75 million are grown in North America each year. Though proper pronunciation of the word DOES include the ‘e’ sound prior to the last syllable (poin-SET-ee-uh), many dictionaries now also accept the more commonly used ‘poin-SETTA’ pronunciation.
• “Gingerbread House Day”. It’s time to get at it, if you want one in time for the holidays. Also known as “Eat Yourself Out of House and Home Day”.
• “Fresh Breath Day”, if you’re average, you have over 10 billion bacteria in your mouth right now. Some of them churn out truly stinky chemicals such as hydrogen sulphide, the same gas that gives rotten eggs their odor. Some germs release another sulfurous compound that has the essence of rotting meat. (***Ask listeners for old folk remedies for bad breath, like chewing cloves or scraping your tongue with a spoon***)
• “Sound Check Day”. Check one two, one two, one two…First celebrated on the date “one two, one two, one two” (12/12/12), the occasion is, of course, a play on the date it is held. (Sibilance…sibilance!)
• “Ambrosia Day”. The mythical “food of the gods,” is a heavenly treat for we mortals at any time of the year. This cool and creamy citrus fruit salad is a light and tasty side dish or dessert.
• “Ding-a-Ling Day”, a day when celebrants should call people they haven’t seen in years, in order to rekindle old friendships. (So, call up the first person who popped into your head when you heard the word ‘ding-a-ling’…)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Cocoa Day
[Fri] Violin Day
[Sat] Shareware Day
[Sun] Cupcake Day
This Month is…Tie Month
This Month is…Seasonal Depression Awareness Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1940 [84] (Marie) Dionne Warwick, East Orange NJ, pop singer (‘I Say a Little Prayer’, w/Elton John, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder-‘That’s What Friends Are For’)/1990s infomercial host (“Psychic Friends Network”)/cousin of Whitney Houston
1949 [75] Bill Nighy, Caterham England (“Pirates of the Caribbean” films, “Love Actually”) COMING UP… “500 Miles” 2025
1957 [67] Sheila E. (Escovedo), Oakland CA, pop singer/drummer (‘The Glamorous Life’), recorded or performed with Prince, Phil Collins, Beyoncé…/biological aunt to Nicole Richie
1970 [54] Jennifer Connelly, Round Top NY, movie actress (“Top Gun: Maverick”, Oscar-“A Beautiful Mind”)/TV actress (“Snowpiercer” 2020-24)/married to Paul Bettany since 2003
1970 [54] Regina Hall, Washington DC, movie actress (“Scary Movie” films, “Girls Trip”)/TV actress (“Ally McBeal” 2001-02, “Law & Order: LA” 2010–2011)/COMING UP… “In Memoriam” 2025
1975 [49] Mayim Bialik, San Diego CA, TV actress (‘Amy Farrah Fowler’ on “Big Bang Theory” 2010-19, “Blossom” 1990-1995)/TV host (“Jeopardy!” 2021-23) COMING UP…“Father, Mother, Sister, Brother” movie
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2001 [23] Winona Ryder is arrested on shoplifting charges in Beverly Hills, California.
2014 [10] Nick Cannon files for divorce from Mariah Carey. The pair married in 2008 and have 2 children, twins Monroe and Moroccan.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2003 [21] Rolling Stones’ frontman (Sir) Mick Jagger is knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace (Queen Elizabeth II didn’t want to do it).
2020 [04] Country star Charley Pride dies at 86 of COVID-19 complications.
2020 [04] Bad Bunny’s “El Último Tour Del Mundo” hits #1 on the Billboard 200, becoming the first album entirely in Spanish to top the chart.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2012 [12] Pope Benedict XVI sends out the first papal tweet through his personal Twitter account, using the handle @pontifex.
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Golf balls were once made out of solid wood.
✓ In Chinese, the word for computer literally translates to “electric brain”.
✓ The suggestion to “drink 8 glasses of water a day” is based on a 1945 recommendation that had no medical basis.
✓ Gin and tonic was originally used as a medicine to fight malaria.
✓ The world’s longest concert lasted 453 hours.
✓ As a child, Jim Carrey wore tap shoes to bed, just in case his parents needed cheering up in the middle of the night.
-WomansDay, BathroomReadersInstitute
Best of BS . . .
BS TOP SIGNS YOU BOUGHT A BAD CHRISTMAS TREE:
• Two feet tall, forty feet wide.
• Salesman’s opening line: “You’re not a cop, are you?”
• It looks suspiciously like a broom handle with a lot of coat hangers.
• While you sleep, it gets liquored up and takes the family car for a joy ride.
• Each branch has “Duraflame” printed on it.
• Keeps heckling this lame list.
• Its nickname? “Timberrrrr!”
• Rabbis have better Christmas trees than yours.
• Even the dog will have nothing to do with it.
• It’s very small and says “air freshener” on it.
-Neloo, first published in BS in 2017
BS WAYS DOGS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS:
• By leaving Santa a glass of milk and a mutilated squirrel.
• Decorating the tree with slobber-soaked tennis balls.
• Laying by the fire with a nice brandy, licking themselves.
• Gingerbread-flavored worm pills.
• Attending candlelight vigil to remember neutered brothers.
• Praying for peace on Earth — and a slightly larger hole in the fence to the collie’s yard.
• Drinking eggnog out of the toilet bowl.
-First published in BS in 2012
BS WEB GOODIE:
Not my crowd: https://tinyurl.com/yuermy4t
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Ever notice that facial recognition software can pick a person out of a crowd, but the vending machine at work can’t recognize a dollar with a bent corner?
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the most ridiculous spur-of-the-moment purchase you’ve ever made?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
During Christmas season, just under 28 of THESE are sold every second. What are they?
Answer: Lego sets
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
When one teaches, two learn.
