Monday, December 11, 2023 — Edition: #7615
Don’t Take Any Sheet, Unless It’s Pure Bull!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Jada Pinkett Smith claims Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscars slap saved their marriage. She told The Daily Mail: “After all those years trying to figure out if I would leave Will’s side, it took that slap for me to see I will never leave him.” The pair has been married since 1997, but she revealed in October that they had been quietly separated for 7 years. But she said everything changed that night after her husband charged onstage to slap Chris Rock for his joke about her alopecia. Pinkett Smith said: “I call it the ‘holy slap’ now because so many positive things came after it.”
-PageSix
[***UPDATE***]★ Mama June’s eldest daughter — Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell — has died after a difficult cancer battle. The “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” co-star passed away Saturday night due to complications from stage 4 adrenal carcinoma, which had previously been described as terminal. Mama June broke the sad news online, writing … “With the breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us. She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12 PM.” – TMZ
Mama June Shannon says the family is going through a “transition” amid her eldest daughter Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell’s battle with terminal cancer. The reality star took to her Instagram Story asking for prayers because “some things have changed” over the last few weeks, and “things that are totally out of our control.” She added that “God has all the cards” and that Anna is “still with us,” but she’s asking for prayers as the family goes “through this transition.” In January, Cardwell was diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma.
-PageSix, ET
★ Hayao Miyazaki‘s “The Boy and the Heron” topped the domestic box office over the weekend, netting a record-breaking $12.8million opening, making it the first original anime title in history to top the chart. Coming in at #2 is “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of the Songbirds and Snakes” with a $9.4 million in its 4th weekend. Last weekend’s champ, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” tumbled in its second weekend, earning $5 million for a 5th place finish.
-HollywoodReporter, Variety
★ ABC announced last week that it has canceled “Station 19”, but fans aren’t having it. In the hopes of the network might pull a CBS with a reverse cancelation, they have started a Change.org petition to save the show. The petition says the show is important because it “was one of the few shows on network television showing LGBTQIA+ representation.” At last check, the petition had just over 17,000 signatures, with it’s latest goal set at 25,000. LINK: https://www.change.org/p/save-station-19
-PopCulture
★ Here’s a new celeb couple: Kevin Costner and . . . Jewel? The “Yellowstone” star seemingly couldn’t keep his hands off the folksy singer in cozy new pictures of the pair. TMZ obtained photos of Jewel, who is 49, speaking into a microphone as 68-year-old Costner wrapped his arms around her waist with a smile. Sources said their relationship is “rather new.” The duo was in the British Virgin Islands for a week last month as part of a tennis fundraiser for Jewel’s winner’s Inspiring Children Foundation.
-PageSix
★ Dick Van Dyke channeled his iconic chimney sweep dance from the 1964 film “Mary Poppins” days before his 98th birthday. In a video shared on Instagram Stories, the legendary movie star performed a few dance moves from the scene, with his wooden cane in hand. Van Dyke looked dapper cutting a rug as he filmed his upcoming CBS special “Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic,” wearing a white button-up shirt and a gray suit. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5ewb6zjp
-PageSix
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): George Clooney, Kumail Nanjiani, Lenny Kravitz
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Mark Wahlberg, Elle Fanning, Carin León
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Liz Cheney, Olivia Rodrigo
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): TBA, Marcus Gilmore sits in with the 8G Band
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Gayle King, Anderson Cooper
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Guest Host Kal Penn
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): “Taxi” stars Danny DeVito, Judd Hirsch, Carol Kane, Tony Danza Marilu Henner and Christopher Lloyd
• “The Talk” (CBS): Cristela Alonzo, Fitz & The Tantrums
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Mark Wahlberg
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Barry Manilow, Teddy Swims
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Timothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant, Keegan-Michael Key
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): “American Fiction” cast, Melissa Peterman
• “Barry Manilow’s A Very Barry Christmas” (NBC): Manilow and his world-renowned band celebrate the holidays at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino with performances of his hits and holiday favorites.
• “Big Brother Reindeer Games” (CBS): Series premiere. Santa invites 9 former “Big Brother” players to his magical world where the “Reindeer Games” take place, with a $100,000 grand prize.
• “NFL Football” (Check local listings): Green Bay Packers @ New York Giants
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Charlie Puth – headlined “TikTok in the Mix”, the app’s first global event yesterday in Arizona. He was happy to be invited because “it’s played such a huge part in my career. I think the app has been able to explain my musical process better than anything else.” Other headliners included Cardi B, Niall Horan, and Anitta. Puth was one of the first artists to embrace the platform.
• Olivia Rodrigo – She first found fame in Disney TV shows “Bizaardvark” and “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”, and recently was asked about returning to acting. The 20-year-old’s response: “I’m open for whatever. I think acting’s so fun.” She wrote and performed ‘Can’t Catch Me Now’ for “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” soundtrack.
• Guns N’ Roses – Friday, they released the new song ‘The General’, about a month after debuting it live in Los Angeles. The song, which has roots stretching as far back as the 1990s, was scheduled to arrive in October as the vinyl B-side to the new release ‘Perhaps’, but was delayed. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/33b5tdxd
• David Lee Roth — has shared a new holiday song, titled ‘Talking Christmas Blues’. The tune features him speaking over an acoustic guitar and harmonica. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2yf6e9db
• The Pogues – played together for the first time since 2014 at the funeral of frontman Shane MacGowan in Ireland on Friday. Johnny Depp, Bob Geldof and “Game of Thrones” star Aidan Gillen all gave readings, as tens of thousands of fans gathered to mourn and party late into the night. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2rkfm6b4
• Brandy Clark – has released a new live version of her twice Grammy-nominated song ‘Dear Insecurity’, featuring Brandi Carlile. The performance was recorded at Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre during Carlile’s “Echoes Through The Canyon” weekend. Clark is up for 6 Grammys at next year’s ceremony. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mr2hkwyk
• Thomas Rhett Cody Johnson and Jason Aldean – will headline the 2024 Boots and Hearts festival north of Toronto ON. Also on the bill for the event, which runs Aug. 8-11, are: Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Megan Moroney, NEEDTOBREATHE, Nate Smith, Lonestar and Madeline Merlo. LINK: https://bootsandhearts.com/
• Kane Brown — On Thursday, the RIAA announced that his #1 song ‘Heaven’ has surpassed the 10 million milestone, becoming just the 8th country single to achieve the honor. His fellow diamond-selling artists Luke Combs, Hillary Scott, Tyler Hubbard and Darius Rucker called to surprise him with the news – and Brown posted video. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2c3pbdj4
SHOOTING THE BULL
NEW FOOD NEWS:
⇒ Have you ever felt like enjoying one, single McDonald’s Chicken McNugget? If you were in Switzerland, you could order exactly that. McD’s there are offering a single-McNugget option to celebrate the menu item’s 40th birthday. Fans love to enjoy jokey theorems about the breaded bites – and there is also intense competition over who gets the final McNugget. According to the new campaign, by making singles available at the fast-food restaurant, “Everyone gets the last nugget.” Each special Nug sells for 1.20 Swiss francs. (US$1.36). (Remember when you could get a whole McD’s burger for a buck?) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mtvp5mfk
⇒ A high-end restaurant in Chicago is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the movie “Elf” by recreating the sugar-coma-inducing pasta dish enjoyed by Will Ferrell’s title character in the Christmas classic. Miss Ricky’s, an eatery located inside the Virgin Hotel, is selling the sweet surprise through Dec. 31. For $16, daring diners can order the mashup, which features sugar-coated spaghetti, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, marshmallows, M&Ms, crunchy wafers, and maple syrup. (You’d have to be a cotton-headed ninnymuggins to miss THAT!) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/346b7uxu
-Muse, NYPost
ANIMAL TALES:
❑ Pet owners spend more on dogs than cats at Christmastime. A poll of 2,000 pet owners found that kitties typically receive $24 worth of gifts, while pampered pooches can expect about $34 worth of puppy presents. Chew toys top the Christmas list for dogs this year, with many likely to get a new snuggly blanket and their own turkey dinner to enjoy on the big day. Cats are most likely to receive new toys and scratching posts under the tree. One in 3 pet owners said they will also be buying a pet stocking this year. (And 80% of pet owners said they’re smart enough to know that you can’t put ANY pet presents under the tree!)
❑ Having a dog or cat helps to slow cognitive decline in older people, according to a new study from the University of Maryland. Nearly 650 people were given cognitive tests over a period of 13 years, and while all experienced some degree of mental decline, deterioration was generally slower in those who had pets. Researchers noted that pet ownership is associated with lower levels of stress, heart disease and, in the case of dogs, increased physical activity. It may also combat social isolation and loneliness, which have both been linked to cognitive decline. The researchers suggest that efforts should be made to ensure older people are able to live with pets. (It should also be pointed out incidental research has shown that owning cat can drive you completely nuts!)
-SWNS, TheWeek
NEW GOOD NEWS:
➢ Every holiday season, eco-conscious consumers ask themselves the same question: What kind of Christmas tree is the most sustainable? A London company is offering to let you “rent” the same tree year after year. You can order a pot-grown Norway Spruce online or pick it in person, and then enjoy it for the festive season, and return it after Christmas. London Christmas Tree Rental will then replant it, allowing it to grow for the year, before returning it to you to use again. When a reused tree reaches 7 feet tall, the company “retires” it, and replants it back in its original forest. (Well, that’s a “clear-cut” answer, isn’t it? Sorry – bad choice of words…) LINK: https://www.londonchristmastreerental.com/
➢ Britain’s loneliest reindeer is “glowing like Rudolph” after finding a mate in time for Christmas. Owner Suzie Wright says it was love at first sight for 4-year-old Sven and 3-year-old Daisy. She had launched a desperate bid to find him a friend when his previous stable-mate Klaus died in September, leaving him heartbroken. Suzie thought Sven, a natural herd animal, might die from loneliness, but she managed to raise £4,000 (US$5,000) from donors to ship Daisy 300 miles to Sven’s cozy barn in Hull. And she reports that the love-struck pair have since become inseparable, sharing food and cuddling up together during cold winter nights. (If only there were a cheaper way for reindeer to travel…Santa?)
-Glossary, YupThatExists, SWNS
TOP CONCERT FILMS OF ALL TIME:
Beyoncé says she is overwhelmed by the recent “outpouring of love” from her fans. On Instagram, she thanked her “hive” for their support of her new concert film “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé”, which debuted at the top of the box office in its opening weekend. Here is a rundown of the top concert films of all time. Any idea what might be at #1?
1. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (2023): $178.9 million domestic box office (so far)
2. “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” (2011): $73 million
3. “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” (2009): $72.1 million
4. “Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert” (2008): $65.3 million
5. “One Direction: This Is Us” (2013): $28.9 million
6. “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” (2023) $28.2 million (so far)
7. “Katy Perry: Part of Me” (2012): $25.3 million
8. “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience” (2009): $19.1 million
9. “Madonna: Truth or Dare” (1991): $15 million
10. “Glee: The 3D Concert Movie” (2011): $11.9 million
-Billboard, Deadline
DID YOU KNOW?
The Pantone Color Institute has named “Peach Fuzz” the color of the year for 2024. The light, fruity tone conjures peace and serenity, according to the Pantene experts, who said: “We’re going through a lot of turmoil in our lives, and we have a need for a color that’s nurturing.” The Pantene team trawls through high-fashion runways, interior design trends, pop culture moments and human psychology to make their pick. (Wow – I’m glad THAT’S settled. Now I can finally stop chewing my fingernails down to nubs in anticipation!)
-CNN
BS CHRONOMETER 12.11.23
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Green Monday”, an online shopping day similar to Cyber Monday, it occurs on the last Monday when there are at least 10 days to go until Christmas, considered by many to be the last possible day to order gifts and expect they will arrive in time (as if anyone in my household needs another excuse to order something online…)
• “National App Day”. “App” was named word of the year in 2010 by the American Dialect Society. Apps have changed how we work, live and play. They have created thousands of new companies, millions of new jobs and billions of dollars in revenue (and a lot of bad puns…)
• “International Mountain Day”, first declared by the UN in 2002 to draw attention to the important role that mountainous regions play in our water and food supply. (OK…but why?)
• “National Noodle Ring Day”. A noodle ring is, rather predictably, made from noodles – especially flat, tagliatelle type egg noodles. It’s made using a ring mold, or a Bundt tray, with ingredients including cheese, eggs, and flour, along with the noodles.
• “Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day”, focusing on collecting animal food to bring to shelters and humane societies. Food such as dry and wet cat food, as well as treats, can also be directly donated to organizations. (They’d probably be happy to receive cat litter, too!) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/vx3vy43e
• “UNICEF Birthday”, the anniversary of the creation of UNICEF in 1946. What does it stand for? “The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund”.
• “National Have a Bagel Day”, here are 5 food things to know about the Bagel:
– The bagel originated in Poland and it was designed for Lent.
– Its name derives from the Yiddish word ‘bengal’, meaning ‘ring’ or ‘bracelet’. Immigrant Polish-Jews brought the bagel to the United States.
– The hole in the center is for multiple bagels to be threaded onto a dowel, which allows bakers to transport them more easily. (And melted peanut butter to leak onto your hand more easily…)
– Automated production and distribution of frozen bagels started in the 1960s with bagel baker Harry Lender, Murray Lender, and Florence Sender.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] Gingerbread House Day
[Tues] Poinsettia Day
[Wed] Ice Cream Day
[Thurs] Free Shipping Day
This Week Is…Lager Beer Week
This Month Is…Write a Business Plan Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1944 [79] Brenda Lee, Atlanta GA, country-pop singer (‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’, ‘I’m Sorry’)
1954 [69] Jermaine Jackson, Gary IN, pop singer-bassist (‘Let’s Get Serious’, w/The Jackson 5-‘ABC’, ‘I Want You Back’)/brother of Michael and Janet Jackson
1958 [65] Nikki Sixx (Frank Ferranna), San Jose CA, rock bassist (Mötley Crüe-‘Dr. Feelgood’, ‘Home Sweet Home’, Sixx:A.M.-‘Lies of the Beautiful People’)
1961 [62] Darryl Jones, Chicago IL, rock bassist (Rolling Stones since 1993-‘Love is Strong’, ‘Anybody Seen My Baby’, also played with Miles Davis and Sting)
1967 [56] Mo’Nique (Monique Imes), Baltimore MD, comedian-movie actress (Oscar-“Precious”)/TV actress (“The Parkers” 1999-2004) COMING UP… “The Deliverance”
1981 [42] Zacky Vengeance (Baker), Olympia WA, metal guitarist-vocalist (Avenged Sevenfold-‘So Far Away’, ‘Buried Alive’)
1984 [39] Xosha Roquemore, LA CA, TV actress (‘Tamra’ on “The Mindy Project” 2013-17)/movie actress (“The Butler”, “Precious”) COMING UP… “Captain America: Brave New World” 2025
1986 [37] Karla Souza, Mexico City Mexico, TV actress (‘Laurel Castillo’ on “How to Get Away With Murder” 2014-20, “Home Economics” 2021-23)
1996 [27] Hailee Steinfeld, LA CA, movie actress (“Pitch Perfect 2″, “True Grit”)/pop singer (‘Starving’)/TV personality (advisor on “The Voice” 2015-18)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2005 [18] Matt Damon weds Argentine-born Luciana Barrosa at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau near New York City Hall
2014 [09] The number of Instagram monthly users overtakes Twitter, 300 million+ to 284 million (Today: Insta – 2.35 billion, Twitter [now “X”] – 556 million)
THIS DAY IN MUSIC . . .
2006 [17] ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ by Mariah Carey becomes the first ringtone certified Gold for sales of over 500,000
2010 [13] Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden marries fashion designer and reality star Nicole Richie in Beverly Hills (still together)
TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
2014 [09] Detroit, Michigan emerges from the largest municipal bankruptcy in US history
2017 [06] 997 students, staff and parents gather at West Byford Primary School, setting the world record for the ‘Largest gathering of people dressed as Harry Potter’
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ The Atlantic Ocean grows an inch wider every year. The Pacific shrinks an inch.
✓ Groundhogs, woodchucks and marmots are all the same critter.
✓ A soap bubble is 10,000 times thinner than a human hair.
✓ If you’re average, you’ll have about 1,400 dreams this year.
✓ Just like human babies suck their thumbs, baby elephants sometimes suck on their trunks.
✓ A little gross, but also kind of funny: Lobsters pee out of their faces. And even more interesting, they do this as a way of attracting mates.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, WomansDay
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:
➠ I just read that the average Canadian is now worth more than the average American. (For Americans, it’s a steep price to pay for the ability to pronounce the word “About” correctly…)
➠ Taylor Swift has 6 Grammy nominations for the Feb. 4 ceremony. (She’s also up for a lifetime achievement award in the field of overexposure!)
➠ Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx turns 65 today. (He’ll spend the day “Shouting at the Devil” … to get off of his lawn.)
➠ Scientists say 2023 was a breakthrough year for artificial intelligence. (As for REAL intelligence . . . I’m gonna go with ALL-TIME LOW!)
➠ A woman dropped her pants and squatted to pee in the aisle of her flight when the flight attendant refused to let her into the lavatory. (On Greyhound, they call that first-class!)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Why I don’t even try: https://tinyurl.com/mwkk2car
BS RANDOM JOKE:
The true nature of a human being clearly shows when the supermarket opens another register.
MORE BS CHRISTMAS (HOLIDAY) TRIVIA:
• What fast-food choice is very popular for Christmas dinner in Japan?
Answer: KFC
• What is the most-recorded Christmas song?
Answer: ‘Silent Night’
• What song was originally titled ‘Tinkle Bell’?
Answer: ‘Silver Bells’
• What is the first line of the poem ‘A Visit From St. Nicholas’?
Answer: “’Twas the Night Before Christmas…”
• Who says “It’s because I’m green, isn’t it?”
Answer: The Grinch
-TheStandard
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the most frustrating product you own?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: In a survey, the top-3 gifts that women said they dread getting the most were gift certificates, tacky ornaments and THIS. What is it?
Answer: A diet book
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Work as though you’ll live forever, and live as though you’ll die today.
