Wednesday, February 19, 2025 — Edition: #7897
Tomorrow’s Show Prep Today!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Teddi Mellencamp’s sister shared an update on the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum’s recovery from surgery to remove tumors from her brain. Justice Mellencamp posted a photo of herself sitting next to Teddi, who was resting in a hospital bed. She captioned the IG Story post: “Watching a loved one suffer is horrific.” Justice explained that Teddi “will share her journey when she is ready”, and called her “by far the strongest person I know.” She also thanked fans and well-wishers, saying: “Her village is the best one I’ve ever seen and I’m so grateful for them! Your prayers are everything.” Teddi’s estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave, later told fans the “surgery went well.”
-PageSix
★ The world of “Peaky Blinders” isn’t over yet, according to creator Steven Knight. Ahead of the premiere of the film spinoff, Knight hinted there could be more to his crime drama about English gang violence in the 1900s. During an interview on BBC on Tuesday, Knight said that the upcoming movie “The Immortal Man: A Peaky Blinders Film”, will be “a very fitting way to end this part of the Peaky story.” When pressed on what he meant by “this part,” he clarified: “It’s not over, let’s just put it like that. I’m not allowed to announce it … but I’m just saying that the world of Peaky will continue.”
-TheWrap
★ Wendy Williams was reportedly moved to the memory care unit of her assisted living facility. The 60-year-old former talk show host is living under a court-appointed guardianship at a New York wellness facility and was photographed arriving in Miami Airport on Saturday, ahead of her dad’s 94th birthday celebrations. She previously expressed uncertainty about whether she would be able to attend due to her conservatorship. A source told TMZ that after spending 8 months at the facility on a floor where she was allowed to move freely, she was placed in the “memory unit” gaining access to alcohol.
-Bang!
★ Incarcerated movie producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein is suing his brother and fellow Weinstein Company co-founder Bob Weinstein for fraud. Harvey filed a suit his against his brother last week in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. The suit adds his brother and several others as third parties in a complaint that was first filed against him by AI International Holdings in 2017, demanding immediate repayment of a $45 million loan that Weinstein procured in 2016. He claims his brother and others “diverted significant portions of the loan funds for unauthorized and personal purposes”.
-TheWrap
★ Anticipation is building for Christopher Nolan’s next epic. Universal has unveiled a first look of Matt Damon playing the lead in Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s “The Odyssey”. The side-angle shot shows Damon, who worked with Nolan in “Oppenheimer”, clad in military armor. An X post unveiling the image restated the movie’s July 17, 2026 release date. The cast also includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/36jtjrb7
-Deadline
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Pamela Anderson, Will Sasso, The Weeknd (R)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): David Letterman, Jim Gaffigan, Betty Gilpin, Mary Ellen Matthews, Adam Lambert (R)
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Robert De Niro, Tamara Tunie
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Graham Norton, Alex Wagner (R)
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Josh Sharp, Aaron Jackson, Monét X Change, Clifton Davis, Karla Mosley
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Sarah Hyland
• “Today” (NBC): Tom Hanks, Monica Lewinsky, Matthew Modine, Justin Sylvester
• “GMA3” (ABC): Charlie Cox, Teddy Swims
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Linsey Davis, The War and Treaty
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Daisy Ridley, Alex Cooper, Urban Youth Harp Ensemble, Sam Barber ft. Avery Anna
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Julie Morgenstern
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Mikey Madison, Druski
• “The Masked Singer” (Fox): Shrek Night
• “The Price Is Right at Night” (CBS): A player has an opportunity to win a Ford Mustang; a contestant plays 3 Strikes for a Tesla Cybertruck; a twist in the popular game Let ‘Em Roll.
• “Chicago Med” (NBC): Lenox’s mentorship is put to the test; Ripley’s self-destructive behavior continues to escalate. Followed by new eps of “Fire” and “P.D.”.
• “My 600-Lb. Life: Where Are They Now?” (TLC): Siblings Carlton and Shantel have always been close, but with their eating habits enabling each other, growing apart might be the thing they both need most.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Lady Gaga – Her website now features tiny black letters against an intense orange backdrop — and fans think they’re hidden lyrics from “Mayhem”, her new album, out March 7. The words appear one at a time, and quickly disappear. One string reads: “Choke on the fame and hope it gets your high”, while another says: “You can’t hear her with the music on.” LINK: ladygaga.com
• Shakira — thanked her fans for their support after announcing that she had been hospitalized, and had to cancel her show in Peru after experiencing an “abdominal issue”. On Instagram Stories, she wrote: “Thank you all for your loving messages. You give me so much strength!! I love you with all my heart.”
• Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion – have announced a co-headlining tour. The U.S. “Summer of Discontent” tour will feature openers The Mainliners, and will run from July 22 – Aug. 17. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. LINK: badreligion.com.
• Guns N’ Roses – have been added to the lineup for Black Sabbath’s final reunion concert on July 5. Other new additions include Tool, Rival Sons, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, songwriter-producer Andrew Watt, bassist Dave Ellefson, and Jason Momoa (as host) for the show at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5n75edtk
• Roy Orbison – His family has teamed with Compelling Pictures for a biopic and a documentary on the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. The feature film is being described as “a romance more than a traditional biopic,” telling the story of Orbison’s relationship with his wife and manager, Barbara, who helped guide his comeback in the ’80s. It has a working title of “You Got It”, after his posthumous 1989 hit single.
• Dierks Bentley – has announced his 2025 “Broken Branches Tour”, set to begin in late May in Austin TX. These shows will kick off his next musical chapter, which officially started earlier this month with the release of his grunge-rock-tinged song ‘She Hates Me’. He said: “I’ve seriously never been more excited about a tour.” The Band Loula and Zach Top will open. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mrysue7a
• Cody Johnson – Carrie Underwood joined him as a surprise guest at his Nashville show on Saturday. The 2 performed their duet ‘I’m Gonna Love You’. Afterward, she shared 2 pics of the occasion, and wrote: “Fun with friends! ‘Twas a pleasure joining [Cody Johnson] on stage.” She added: “He’s the real deal, folks! “Such a great show and what a LOUD crowd.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4x7zdn99
• Post Malone and Jelly Roll – are going international. Postie has announced a long run of new dates, turning his “Big Ass Stadium Tour” into a “Big Ass World Tour”. It has been extended to run through mid-September, with 18 European dates. Jelly will be aboard for all but 4 shows. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ax56bzz9
SHOOTING THE BULL
NAILED IT:
A Harvard genetics expert claims that monitoring your fingernail growth can provide insights into aging and biological health. Dr. David Sinclair explains that nail growth is linked to cell regeneration, and the faster your nails grow, the healthier and younger your body is, biologically. Studies dating back to 1979 found that fingernail growth slows by about 0.5% each year after age 30. That decrease in growth is associated with aging, as the body’s ability to generate new, healthy cells declines. Dr. Sinclair believes nail growth is a useful indicator of biological age, distinct from chronological age. Fast-growing nails could indicate slower aging, while slower growth might suggest the opposite. Additionally, as people age, they produce less keratin, leading to more brittle and fragile nails, which is also linked to the aging process.
(Great! Now I can become obsessive about how fast my nails are growing, instead of how fast my hair is turning gray!)
(Is toenail length also an indicator? Asking for a friend…)
-LADBible
TECH TALK:
❑ Instagram appears to be testing a new feature that allows users to “dislike” comments, but some users are slamming the feature for promoting bullying and negativity. Instagrammers shared screenshots of their comments sections that feature the newly added “down arrow”. One commenter wrote: “You can now downvote/dislike comments on Instagram, whaaatwhy?” Another agreed, writing: “People are already unhinged. We definitely don’t need that feature.” And another Instagrammer wrote that the new feature “will take Cyber Bullying to another level.” A Meta spokesperson said the feature is being tested “for people to privately signal they don’t feel good about that particular comment”. (We’re getting to the point now that if this was on Facebook, EVERY comment would be ‘disliked’!)
❑ X owner Elon Musk claims the latest version of X’s AI model, “Grok 3”, is the “smartest AI on earth”. Grok 3 was released on Monday night. Based on Musk’s previous comments, users can expect Grok 3 to perform better than OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which is run by his rival Sam Altman, and better than DeepSeek, the Chinese AI model that recently appeared, as well as other well-known models. Elon quote: Grok 3 is “scary smart”. (Maybe so, but it’ll still never win an argument with my grandma!)
NYPost, TheWrap
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Do you ever find yourself arguing with your significant other about money? Loaded question, I know. But don’t feel bad, because according to a new survey, you’re far from alone. The average couple has 58 arguments about money each year. That’s more than one heated discussion per week. The Talker Research poll also found that age plays a big role in discussions of money matters. Younger couples, particularly millennials, report about 6 money-related arguments each month. Baby boomers? They average only 3 arguments monthly. That suggests that younger couples may be facing different financial pressures than their older counterparts. One in 3 said they feel uncomfortable talking to their partner about finances. Little wonder: 44% said they worry that bringing up finances will lead to an argument. And what financial matters do couples argue about the most?
• 43% disagree about what counts as a “necessity” in their monthly spending.
• 36% argue about spending on “non-essential items” like streaming services and vacations.
• 34% disagree about how much money they should save.
(Spending on non-essentials? Hey, if Netflix is wrong, I don’t want to be right!)
(Actually, the reason younger couple argue about money more often is that if you’re arguing about money 6 times a month, when you’re older, you won’t still be a couple!)
-StudyFinds
THE BEST “SNL” CAST MEMBERS:
“Saturday Night Live’s” 50th anniversary special on Sunday reminded many of us of some of the beloved actors and classic characters who have been featured on the show over the years. Here are the 10 best SNL cast members ever, as ranked by the website DenofGeek.com:
1. Will Ferrell: “Presence” goes a long way in comedy. Even though his physical and comedic presence made him the focal point of just about every sketch he starred in, he was somehow able to work alongside everyone else in a way that commands attention rather than demands it. And he’s simply effortlessly funny.
2. Eddie Murphy: As one of the funniest people who ever lived, he would have become a star even without SNL. But when SNL appeared to be dead in the cultural waters, Murphy’s comedic power made it must-see TV.
3. Bill Hader: He transformed his struggle with stage fright and panic attacks into an asset that helped make him one of SNL’s most likable, versatile, intelligent, and downright funny performers ever.
4. Phil Hartman: Known among the crew as “The Glue” for his ability to keep the show together when everything should have been falling apart, his ability to adapt to absolutely everything made everyone around him look like the brightest stars.
5. John Belushi: Amongst a cast of undeniable comedic geniuses who were pushing a strange style of humor, he was a wrecking ball who delivered the big laughs. Plus, he was the inspiration for the great Chris Farley.
6. Kate McKinnon: Her willingness to explore the oddest places just to find that thing that will make you laugh is surpassed only by her ability to do so time and time again.
7. Dan Aykroyd: His ability to bring even the most outlandish character concepts to life led to “The Blues Brothers” and even “Coneheads” becoming major motion pictures. And as a writer, he helped shape the style that SNL became known for.
8. Gilda Radner: She is undoubtedly one of the most influential female comedians in TV history. Her work paved the way for nearly every female SNL cast member that followed. (Sorry, I have to say it: “Roseanne Roseadanna. Never mind!” There.)
9. Tina Fey: Her work behind the desk of SNL’s Weekend Update segments made her an on-screen legend.
10. Chris Farley: Best remembered for his willingness to do pretty much anything for a laugh. (Including living “Down by the river!”)
(Who’s YOUR fav? There are a lot to choose from!)
-DenofGeek
DID YOU KNOW?
A drop of water is all it takes to activate a new type of bandage that developers say generates an electrical field to speed healing. North Carolina State University researchers say the $1 bandage could transform treatment for the millions of people who struggle with chronic wounds. In testing with diabetic mice, 75% of wounds treated with the electrical bandage healed completely by day 11, versus 0% with standard bandages. The smart bandage, which uses a combination of magnesium and silver/silver chloride, allows patients to receive advanced wound treatment at home without visiting clinics or using bulky equipment, and its effectiveness has been compared to treatment that costs upwards of $20,000. (Of course, it’ll cost 20 grand too, once medical companies get wind of it…)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 02.19.25
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Tug-of-War Day”, a celebration of the competitive sport in which 2 teams hold opposite ends of a large rope and attempt to pull the other towards them. The spectacle has a long history all over the world. (And works best if there’s a giant mud pit in the middle!)
• “Chocolate Mint Day”, a celebration of one of the all-time great flavor pairings (and one of the all-time great Girl Guide cookie flavors!)
• “Lashes Day”, to appreciate both real and false eyelashes for the beauty they add to women (and men). Not only do they make our eyes “pop”, they also help keep foreign material from entering our eyes and prevent eye moisture from evaporating. (“I sentence you to two lashes…”)
• “Prevent Plagiarism Day”, to call attention to the rampant problem of high-tech theft of words, images and ideas that is all too easy in the internet age. (I may or may not have stolen this from Wikipedia…)
• “Boston Terrier Day”. The Boston Terrier, a cross between a bulldog and a terrier, isn’t technically classified as a terrier at all. It’s a small dog, but it has a big personality! Today, if you have one, spoil it rotten.
• “Arabian Horse Day”, dedicated to one of the oldest and most cherished horse breeds. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Love Your Pet Day
[Thurs] Comfy Day
[Fri] Sticky Bun Day
[Sat] Be Humble Day
This Week is…Engineers Week
This Month is…Snack Food Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1940 [85] (William) “Smokey” Robinson, Detroit MI, pop-R&B singer (w/The Miracles: ‘The Tears of a Clown’, ‘You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me’)/Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1987
1948 [77] Tony Iommi, Birmingham England, rock guitarist (Black Sabbath-‘Paranoid’, Iron Man’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2006
1955 [70] Jeff Daniels, Athens GA, movie actor (“Dumb & Dumber”, “Good Night, and Good Luck”)/TV actor (“The Newsroom” 2012-14, “American Rust” 2021-24) COMING UP… “Reykjavik”
1960 [65] Prince Andrew (Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor), London England, British royal (Duke of York/#2 son of Queen Elizabeth II/8th in the line to the British throne (He resigned from public duties in 2020 after allegations against him of sexual abuse)/married to Sarah Ferguson 1986-96
1963 [62] Seal (Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adelo Samuel), London England, pop singer (‘Kiss From a Rose’, ‘Crazy’)/married to Heidi Klum 2005-12
1966 [59] Justine Bateman, Rye NY, TV actress (‘Mallory’ on “Family Ties” 1982-89)/director (“Violet”)/sister of Jason Bateman
1967 [58] Benicio Del Toro, San Germán Puerto Rico, movie actor (“Guardians Of the Galaxy”, “Avengers: Infinity War”, Oscar-“Traffic”) COMING UP: “All-Star Weekend”, 2025
1970 [55] (Amy) ‘Bellamy’ Young, Asheville NC, TV actress (‘Mellie Grant’ on “Scandal” 2012-18, “Prodigal Son” 2019-21)
1975 [50] Daniel Adair, Vancouver BC, rock drummer (Nickelback-‘Photograph’, ex-3 Doors Down-‘Let Me Go’)
1993 [32] Victoria Justice, Hollywood FL, TV actress (‘Lola’ on “Zoey 101” 2005-08)/movie actress (“The Outcasts”)
1998 [27] Chappell Roan (Kayleigh Amstutz), Willard MO, pop singer-songwriter (‘Pink Pony Club’, ‘Hot to Go!’)
2004 [21] Millie Bobby Brown, Marbella Spain, TV actress (“Stranger Things” since 2016)/movie actress (“Godzilla” movies”)/UNICEF goodwill ambassador. COMING UP… “The Electric State” 2025
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1995 [30] “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee on a Cancun beach. The bride wears a white bikini, the groom…boardshorts. (They would divorce in 1998, 2 kids and one infamous video tape later…)
2008 [17] Toshiba announces the demise of its HD DVD video format, ending the format war between it and Sony’s Blu-Ray Disc, to become the next big thing in home video (until streaming came along…).
2021 [04] Kim Kardashian West files for divorce from her 3rd husband, Kanye West, after almost 7 years.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1980 [45] AC/DC singer Bon Scott dies at 33 after a night of heavy drinking. The coroner’s report lists “acute alcohol poisoning” as the cause of death, classified under “death by misadventure”.
1985 [40] Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger releases his first solo album, “She’s the Boss” (That went well…).
TODAY IN SPORTS . . .
2010 [15] In a televised news conference, the world’s #1 golfer Tiger Woods apologizes for his many, many extramarital affairs.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1985 [40] “Cherry Coke” is first sold in cans and bottles (after being available for decades at soda fountains and restaurants).
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ When shuffling a deck of cards, the number of possible arrangements is more than the number of stars in the observable universe.
✓ During the entire run of the show Gilligan’s Island, it was never revealed if ‘Gilligan’ was his first or last name.
✓ When you exercise, fat metabolizes to become carbon dioxide, water, and energy. That means you exhale the fat that you lose.
✓ Males sweat 40% more than females.
✓ Videogames have been found to be more effective at battling depression than therapy.
✓ Bi-weekly has two different definitions: Twice a week or once every 2 weeks.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, TheFactSite
Best of BS . . .
BS EXCUSES IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT WORK:
• “They told me at the blood bank this might happen.”
• “This is just a 15-minute power nap like they raved about at that ‘time management course’ you sent me to.”
• “Whew! I must’ve left the lid off the printer ink.”
• “I’m just testing the keyboard for drool resistance.”
• “I wasn’t sleeping, I was trying to pick up my contact lens without using my hands.”
• “Geez, thought you were gone for the day, boss.”
• “I’m in the management training program.”
-First published in BS in 2003
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ Monday was President’s Day. (…and you just know Trump was up at the crack of dawn, ready to open presents!)
➠ Monday was President’s Day. (…or, as Kamala Harris calls it: Monday.)
➠ A new report projects that by 2030, the legal marijuana industry will create more than a half of a million jobs. (…for people to be late to…)
➠ A study says that teens who spend most of their time listening to music are more likely to become depressed. (Technically, it’s not the music, but their parents constantly saying: “You call THIS music?” that’s depressing!)
➠ Sunday is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. (There’ll be a giant party, but last year I heard it was a real snausage fest…)
BS WEB GOODIE:
If you know, you know: https://tinyurl.com/46xxetub
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I made quite a name for myself back home. I left when I found out what that name was…!
BS THREEZER:
(Give contestant the clues, they tell you what all 3 have in common…)
• A student, a steak, a steep road
Answer: They all have grades
• Soccer’s World Cup, the Summer Olympics, Leap Year
Answer: They all happen every 4 years
• A party, a tapeworm, a talk show
Answer: They all have hosts
-Quizlet
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the best way you or someone you know has gotten out of a ticket – or trouble with the law?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Women read THIS 45% longer than men do. What is it?
Answer: A restaurant menu
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.
