Wednesday, February 14, 2024 – Edition: #7656
Where Else Would You Want to be on Feb. 14, But Between the Sheets?
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Katy Perry is saying goodbye to “American Idol” after 7 seasons. She announced her exit from the reality competition on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”. Kimmel asked Perry how long she would stay as a judge on the talent show, to which the singer said she was planning to attend the Rock in Rio music festival in Brazil this fall. Perry then dropped the bomb, saying, “So I think this will probably be my last season for Idol.” She continued, saying: “I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America but I feel like I need to feel that pulse to my own beat.”
-Deadline
★ Blake Lively is back home after Super Bowl weekend. Late Monday, the “Gossip Girl” posted an Instagram Story in response to her husband Ryan Reynolds’ Instagram joke questioning where she was — even though Lively had been shown alongside Taylor Swift multiple times on TV that night. Posing in front of the same “Deadpool” trailer background as Reynolds did in his post, Lively wrote, “Honey, I’m home. My day was good. Yours?” LINK: http://tinyurl.com/ytm7ac6e
-People
★ Tom Cruise reportedly has a new girlfriend. The “Top Gun: Maverick” star, who is 61, has been “growing closer” to 36-year-old Russian socialite Elsina Khayrova over the past couple of months and is now officially dating her, the Daily Mail reports. An insider said: “They take a lot of care not to be photographed together because they want to maintain their privacy.” The pair both attended a gala dinner in support of London’s Air Ambulance Charity, where Prince William was the guest of honor.
-PageSix
★ The new ‘Karate Kid’ has been found. Sony Pictures has cast Ben Wang, the star of Disney+ series “American Born Chinese”, to star in its latest installment of the coming-of-age martial arts franchise. The new “Karate Kid” film will have Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio reprising their iconic characters. Plot details are being kept under a bonsai tree, but the new installment will bring the story to the East Coast and focus on a teen from China who finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor (or two). It’s set for release on Dec. 13.
-HollywoodReporter
★ Jon Stewart has revealed why he decided to return to “The Daily Show” – sort of. Stewart, who began his weekly Monday night hosting duties this week, and will do so through the presidential election, said he “very much wanted to have some place to unload thoughts as we get into this election season”, because “Who better to comment on this election than someone who truly understands two aging men past their prime?”
-Deadline
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Pedro Pascal, Gwen Stefani
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Tyler Perry, Hilary Swank, Christina Tosi, Will Guidara
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Mark Wahlberg, Lily Gladstone
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Jake Tapper, Chelsea Peretti, Stephen Wilson Jr.
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Julia Lemigova, Ariana De Moura
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Joshua Green, Lashana Lynch
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Amy Schumer
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Tyler James Williams
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Justin Hartley, Zara Larsson, Il Divo performs
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Demi Lovato
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Coco Jones, Jennifer Freed
• “The Conners” (ABC): Becky decides it’s time to introduce Tyler to Beverly Rose, but she’s skeptical of Tyler’s bonding approach; Jackie believes someone has hacked Bev’s credit card.
• “I Can See Your Voice” (Fox): Doppelganger Night: Guest Host Joel McHale, Carnie Wilson, Maggie Lawson, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton
• “FBI True” (CBS): The FBI investigates the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Usher – He and girlfriend Jennifer Goicoechea were married in a ceremony in a secret location following his performance at the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show. The newlyweds were celebrated at a dance dinner party at Cathédrale Las Vegas. The couple rocked matching white outfits when they made their grand entrance.
• Jennifer Lopez – Her upcoming album “This Is Me… Now” could be her last. She said the record, which is all about her relationship with Ben Affleck, and drops on Friday, feels like an “end of an era” and the “beginning on a new one”. Quote: “The truth is I don’t even know if I’ll ever make another album after this. It’s such the kind of quintessential kind of J.Lo project and I really feel very fulfilled.”
• Billy Joel – April 14, CBS will air a concert special spotlighting his 100th performance at New York’s Madison Square Garden. “The 100th: Billy Joel Live at Madison Square Garden — The Greatest Arena Run of All Time” will be shot on March 28. His longstanding MSG residency will end in July.
• Ozzy Osbourne – currently leads Rock and Roll Hall of Fame fan voting for the class of 2024, with more than 45,000. Peter Frampton is second with over 42,000, and Foreigner is third with just over 40,000. They are followed, in order, by Cher, Dave Matthews, Lenny Kravita and Mariah Carey. Votes can be cast daily at https://vote.rockhall.com/ .
• Oasis — Liam Gallagher isn’t thrilled about his former group being nominated for induction to the Rock Hall of Fame. On X, he wrote: “F*** the Rock and Roll half of fame its full of BUMBACLARTS.” Many fans were confused about the word “Bumbaclarts,” which, it turns out, is a Jamaican slang that can mean toilet paper. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/mwcu6mf7
• AC/DC – followed up on hints of big news on Monday by announcing the “Power Up” tour of Europe, spanning 21 dates beginning in May. The band’s tweaked lineup will see singer Brian Johnson, lead guitarist Angus Young and rhythm guitarist Stevie Johnson joined by Matt Laug (ex- Alanis Morissette) on drums and Chris Chaney (formerly of Jane’s Addiction) on bass. No North American dates yet. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/ysmdu3s6
• Chris Lane – Of his new song ‘Find Another Bar’, he said: “Every country artist needs a good breakup song. And I hadn’t really had one of those. So this was my version of a breakup song, and glad to finally have one out there.” It’s the lead single from his new “Where I’m Sippin’” EP. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/3bawezv5
• Elle King – Dolly Parton has finally responded to that botched Opry tribute, where King flubbed the lyrics of Parton’s song ‘Marry Me’, and admitted to the crowd that she was “hammered.” On Extra TV, Parton said: “She’s a great girl. She’s been going through a lot of hard things lately and she just had a little too much to drink. So let’s just forgive that and forget it and move on.”
• Dierks Bentley – has announced more than 30 new dates for his summer “Gravel & Gold Tour”. They start June 7 in Fort Worth YX, and run through Sept. 21 in Milwaukee. Chase Rice and Lee Brice will support, with openers including Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Kaitlin Butts, Mae Estes, Ella Langley, Randy Rogers Band, Zach Top, Tanner Usrey and Bella White.
SHOOTING THE BULL
THE WRONG WAY TO “RIGHTSIZE”:
Does a firing by any other name still stink? Well, yes. But that isn’t stopping some corporate executives these days from coming up with alternate names for the act of letting staff go, in the hopes of avoiding online criticism. Many companies are avoiding the harsh-sounding word “fired” in their press releases and official comments, and replacing it with euphemisms like “involuntary career event” and “rightsizing,” even though it doesn’t change the outcome for those affected. Some examples:
• Citi described cutting 20,000 jobs in November as creating a “simplified operating model.”
• UPS said its 12,000 layoffs were an attempt to “fit our organization to our strategy.”
Stanford professor Robert Sutton called this use of soft language “jargon monoxide”. He says although it is intended to soften the blow to the person receiving the axe, it may have the opposite effect.
(I’ve got to admit that it definitely sounds nice to be “relieved of responsibility”, until you realize that you are also “relieved of getting paid”!)
(I gained so much weight over Christmas that right now, being “downsized” might actually be a good thing!)
-Insider
EVERY DOG HAS HIS AI:
If you’re looking for your perfect match…in a dog, then you might want to turn to AI. A new program developed by computer scientists at the University of East London and the University of Pennsylvania can analyze a dog’s behavior and predict their basic personality type with up to 99% accuracy. The groundbreaking tech, called “C-BARQ” (not even kidding…) uses machine learning algorithms to classify dogs into one of 5 personality categories based on their responses to everyday situations. The researchers say this tool could revolutionize how dogs are selected and trained for specialized working roles such as guide, assistance, detection, and search and rescue. And it may improve the pet adoption process by personality-matching dogs with compatible owners. Here are the 5 dog personality types…
1. Excitable/Hyperattached: Energetic, attached, playful, hard to settle down
2. Anxious/Fearful: Shy, startles easily, fearful of unfamiliar people or dogs
3. Aloof/Predatory: Low attachment/attention-seeking, high prey drive
4. Reactive/Assertive: Aggressive tendencies, reacts strongly to discipline
5. Calm/Agreeable: Low aggression/fear, eager to please, fast learner
(And interestingly, dogs use these exact same classifications for their people!)
(Mu pup is all of the above…usually within about 15 minutes!)
-StudyFinds
CITING THE SCIENCE OF LOVE AT FIRST SITE:
A body language expert says that “love at first sight” is real – and she knows the clues to watch for. Judi James says that what she calls “peek-a-boo” behavior” is one of the most obvious clues. That’s when we’re compelled to look away, but the impulse to look back at someone is too strong. Other clues include: lowering your chin, blushing, and giggling. Some other physical responses to look out for might include shallow breathing, and your mouth drying out. James teamed up with opticians and audiologists to decide: “Love at first sight happens when a hugely complex, computer-like process occurs in a matter of seconds, coming up with the emotional equivalent of a jackpot.” In a survey, 70% of respondents said they firmly believe in love at first sight. And 59% of relationships that began that way are still going strong.
(Here’s the problem: If signs include shallow breathing, giggling and my mouth drying out, I think I experience love at first sight with my boss every day!)
(Yes, love at first sight is real – but it’s the second and third ones that sometimes make us change our mind!)
-StudyFinds
FUNNIEST TWEETS OF THE WEEK FROM WOMEN:
⇒ I did some financial planning and it looks like I can retire at 97 and live comfortably for eleven minutes. – BUBBLY T
⇒ So many people breaking up right now… Pre Valentine’s Day layoffs you might say… – michaela okland
⇒ if you post a picture of your computer screen on any platform, I am zooming in. I’m looking at your tabs, I’m reading your open document, I’m browsing the desktop. im collecting data. every time – milk chiffon
⇒ oh it’s a marathon not a sprint? so like, much worse?? – Amy A
⇒ Oh so you thumbs-upped my text instead of hearting it, quick question why do u hate me? – Emily Murnane
⇒ Is rabies real or is it a vast government conspiracy aimed at stopping me from cuddling raccoons – Anne Theriault
⇒ i desire a trip to the aquarium, at the end of which i am permitted to pick one toy for my good behavior – callie actually
⇒ “that’s why they pay me the medium bucks” always kills in meetings. that’s free for you to use any time you want, buddy. little gift from me to you – katie
⇒ I’m flying this week. Should I pack an Allen wrench or will one be provided by the airline? — Andi-HuffPost
WHY BEING SINGLE IS ACTUALLY THE BEST:
Sure, it’s Valentine’s Day, but we should also give a thought to those who are currently without a life-partner. If that’s you, rejoice, and revel in your singlehood. Here are some of the advantages …
✓ Instead of spending money on Valentine’s Day, you can save it for more important things, like sandwiches and donuts.
✓ You only have one Netflix queue, and it’s filled with exactly what you want to watch.
✓ The whole bed is yours, and you can lie smack-dab in the middle of it … at 1 in the afternoon.
✓ You don’t have to share your food, which means the entire pizza can be yours. And you can order whatever you want on that pizza without having to consult someone first.
✓ A whole bottle of wine for dinner? No problem. No pants. No regrets.
✓ You don’t have to worry about drama, or stupid random arguments with a significant other.
✓ Don’t want to clean up after yourself? Don’t.
✓ You can totally make out with 4 different people in one night, no questions asked.
✓ You don’t have to work your schedule around someone else’s, so there’s no guilt if you want to take a spontaneous trip or just binge-watch something all day.
✓ Two words: No. In-laws.
-Adapted from BuzzFeed, first published in BS in 2023
DID YOU KNOW?
You dancing style is as unique as your fingerprints, researchers say. A team from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland used AI to analyze the dancing styles of test subjects. But interestingly, computers had trouble identifying which style of music, whether it be jazz, reggae, pop, country or metal, because the vast majority of people maintain a uniform uniqueness to their dancing style. The researchers also say a person’s dance moves can provide a whole lot of information about a person; such as if they are extroverted, neurotic, what type of mood they happen to be in, and even how much they empathize with others. (Also: How much they’ve had to drink!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 02.14.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Valentine’s Day”, the most widely celebrated unofficial holiday. A few fun facts …
➠ The Catholic Church recognizes at least 3 different saints named Valentine, all of whom were martyred, one for performing secret weddings for young lovers.
➠ Pope Gelasius declared February 14th “St Valentine’s Day” around 498 AD, in part to replace the ancient Roman fertility festival “Lupercalia”.
➠ It may come as no surprise that Valentine’s Day ranks #1 in terms of the most flowers sold and delivered.
➠ Almost half of all marriage proposals occur on Valentine’s Day.
• “Call In Single Day”, when those not celebrating Valentine’s are encouraged to take a day off work and set aside some time for themselves. Similarly, it’s “International Quirky Alone Day”, a reminder to value yourself, develop individuality, and celebrate the possibilities available to single people.
• “Organ Donor Day”, encouraging us to fill out an organ & tissue donation card and to donate blood. You could save a life! How appropriate that it’s on the day when we give hearts.
• “Have-A-Heart Day”, organized by the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada. Organizers and community members march to the parliament to raise their voices against the discrimination and marginalization faced by the Indigenous people of Canada. It is also an occasion when vegetarians encourage people to stop eating animals.
• “Ash Wednesday”, marking the first day of Lent in the Western Christian liturgical year. For the devout, it’s a season of spiritual discipline, cleansing, and fasting which occurs in the 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter. (So, what are you giving up for Lent? Cod liver oil?)
• “Pet Theft Awareness Day”, promoting awareness of the need for pet protection in public places. (***Here’s how to protect your pooch from being pilfered: https://tinyurl.com/2p9xeuaa***)
• “Ferris Wheel Day”, celebrating the 1860 birth of George Washington Gale Ferris, the Galesburg IL engineer who invented the ‘Ferris wheel’ for the 1893 “Chicago World’s Exposition”. The original wheel measured 250 feet in diameter and could hold 1,440 people.
• “Library Lovers Day”, a day to honor libraries, librarians, bookworms, and library lovers in your life. (Can’t go there today. I’m totally booked!)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] I Want Butterscotch Day
[Thurs] Hippo Day
[Fri] Do a Grouch a Favor Day
[Sat] Random Acts of Kindness Day
This Week Is…New Idea Week
This Month Is…Cat Health Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1942 [82] Michael Bloomberg, Boston MA, media mogul (Bloomberg News)/NYC mayor 2002-13/estimated net worth of $96 billion (2024)/philanthropist (has given away over $8 billion of his fortune as a signee of “The Giving Pledge”)
1948 [76] (Raymond) Teller, Philadelphia PA, magician/illusionist (the shorter, less obnoxious half of Penn & Teller)/TV personality (“Penn & Teller Fool Us” since 2011)
1970 [54] Simon Pegg (Beckingham), Brockworth England, movie actor (“Mission Impossible” movies “Shaun of the Dead”, “Hot Fuzz”) COMING UP… untitled 8th “Mission: Impossible” film, 2025
1972 [52] Rob Thomas, Landstuhl Military Base Germany, pop/rock singer (Matchbox 20-‘Bent’, ‘3 AM’, w/Santana-‘Smooth’, solo-‘Lonely No More’)
1978 [46] Danai Gurira, Grinnel IA, TV actress (‘Michonne’ on “The Walking Dead” 2012-20), “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” 2024/movie actress (“Black Panther” movies, “Avengers: Endgame”, “Avengers: Infinity War”)
1990 [34] Brett Dier, London ON, TV actor (“Jane the Virgin” 2014-19, “Schooled” 2019-20)
1992 [32] Freddie Highmore, London England, TV actor (“Bates Motel” 2013-2017, “The Good Doctor” since 2017)/movie actor (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2011 [13] “Jeopardy!” begins a series pitting human players Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings against an IBM computer named “Watson”, which eventually wins the first-place prize of $1 million
2009 [15] Salma Hayek marries French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault in Paris, France
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2015 [09] Lady Gaga becomes engaged to actor Taylor Kinney (“Chicago Fire”), but they split the following year
2016 [08] Adele’s 3rd album, “25”, debuts at #1 and breaks first-week sales records in multiple countries
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2005 [19] YouTube is launched by a group of college students, eventually becoming the largest video sharing website in the world, and a main source for viral videos. ***The first video: HERE
TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
2013 [11] Bankrupt airline American Airlines and US Airways merge, forming the world’s largest air carrier, under the name American Airlines
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK VALENTINE’S FACTS:
✓ February 14th is the second biggest card-giving occasion, after Christmas.
✓ 16% of flowers purchased by women on Valentine’s Day are for themselves.
✓ A study found that both men and women prefer to receive chocolate over flowers for Valentine’s Day.
✓ In addition to being the unofficial patron saint of love, St. Valentine is also the patron saint of beekeepers.
✓ Candy hearts were originally developed as throat lozenges.
✓ The average person spends 2 weeks of his/her life kissing.
WhattheFFacts, WomansDay
Best of BS . . .
BS LOVE MEANS NEVER . . .
• …having to say anything, because you’re both looking at your phones.
• …telling him what you’re really thinking.
• …remembering to close the cupboard. At least that’s what I tell her…
• …getting to decide where to have dinner again.
• …having to say you’re sorry for not being sorry.
• …gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you.
• (***CAUTION***)…smothering the snoring bastard with his pillow.
• …having to pay for it.
• …ordering a meal and not expecting to share part of it.
• …drinking her wine. Ever.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR ON VALENTINE’S DAY:
• “Wait, Valentine’s Day is in February this year?”
• “Todd, meet Aaron … he’s going to be joining us this evening.”
• “I gave you the wrong necklace, honey … that one’s for my girlfriend.”
• “OK, I’m in for the hanky, but there’ll be no panky!”
• “I picked out these flowers especially for you … at the cemetery.”
• “You’re not a cop, are you?”
• “Table for one?”
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS WEB GOODIE:
Singles on Valentine’s Day: http://tinyurl.com/7xuw6k53
BS RANDOM JOKE:
The brain is the most outstanding organ. It works 24/7, 365 days a year from the day you’re born — until you fall in love.
BS VALENTINE’S DAY KNOW-IT-ALL:
• Which white bird is often associated with romance? (You may see them on Valentine’s Day cards)
Answer: The dove
• What notorious gangster orchestrated the “St. Valentine’s Day massacre”?
A: Al Capone
• What do florists call a single red rose surrounded by baby’s breath?
A: A signature rose
• What singer paired up with Lionel Richie to sing the memorable 1981 hit ‘Endless Love’, named the top love song of all time by Billboard?
A: Diana Ross
• In what movie does Julia Robert’s character say: “I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her”?
A: Notting Hill
• Besides Valentine’s Day, on which occasion are the most flowers sent?
A: Mother’s Day
• Why did women and girls eat bizarre foods on Valentine’s Day in medieval times?
A: To make them dream about their future spouses
-Parade, ReadersDigest
BS PHONE STARTER:
What instantly makes someone more attractive?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTIONS:
Question: 21% of couples will be doing THIS for Valentine’s Day. What is it?
Answer: Watching a romantic movie
Question: 11% of people will do THIS on Valentine’s Day. What is it?
Answer: Call an ex
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Love is a game that two can play and both win.
