Wednesday, February 5, 2025 – Edition: #7887
Deja Moo!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Marvel has unveiled the first trailer for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” The film stars Pedro Pascal as ‘Mr. Fantastic’, Vanessa Kirby as the ‘Invisible Woman’, Joseph Quinn as the ‘Human Torch’ and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the ‘Thing’. The cast also includes Ralph Ineson as ‘Galactus’, Julia Garner as the ‘Silver Surfer’, Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne and John Malkovich. The trailer provides glimpses of each of the heroes’ lives before and after they got their powers, along with a sneak peek of villain Galactus. Directed by Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set in a retro-futuristic version of the 1960s, during the space race. It hits theaters July 25. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/fz6hpfsy
-Variety
★ Fox is planning to launch a new subscription-based streaming service by the end of 2025, company execs revealed yesterday. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said the service will be priced “relatively low” and offer “existing content and existing brands”, including sports, TV shows and news. No launch date was given, but Murdoch said it will be aimed at reaching viewers who do not typically pay for cable and other pay TV services. This news comes after Fox, along with partners Disney and Warner Bros., ditched plans for a sports streamings service named “Venu” last month. The company is also home to the free, ad-supported service “Tubi”.
-Deadline
★ The first court hearing in the legal and media war between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni saw a judge threaten to move up the March 2026 trial-start date if the high-profile matter continues to be “litigated in the press.” Despite the protests of Baldoni’s lawyer that his client had “suffered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages” from Lively’s claims of sexual harassment on the set “It Ends With Us”, and an online smear campaign leading up to the movie’s release, Judge Lewis J. Liman imposed a New York rule that essentially bars both sides from talking to the press about anything that could taint a potential jury.
-Deadline
★ NBC is making a change to its judges table for the upcoming 20th season of “America’s Got Talent”. Heidi Klum, who has been on the show for 11 of the past 12 seasons, is leaving. Her seat will be taken by Mel B, who served as a judge alongside Klum for Seasons 8-13. Mel B will join returning judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara. Also back is host Terry Crews. Season 20 is set to premiere May 27. It was announced last week that Klum is returning to “Project Runway”.
-Deadline
★ In every generation, there is a chosen one — again. Sources say that a sequel series to the beloved show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is nearing a pilot order at Hulu. Variety quotes insiders as saying that Sarah Michelle Gellar is in final talks to once again play the iconic title character in the untitled project, although it will focus on a new ‘Slayer’, and Gellar would appear in a recurring role rather than leading the series.
-Variety
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Ariana Grande, Bernadette Peters, Victoria Canal
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Christina Ricci, Ke Huy Quan, the cast of “Cobra Kai”, Gigi Perez
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Damon Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., Daniel Boulud, Evie McGee Colbert
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Amy Schumer, Jillian Bell, George Wallace
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): John Hodgman, Urzila Carlson, Jean Grae
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Drew Barrymore, Nate Burleson
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Julia Stiles, host Desi Lydic
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Melanie Lynskey
• “Today” (NBC): John Legend, Christina Ricci, Damon Wayans, Ego Nwodim co-hosts
• “GMA3” (ABC): Tory Johnson
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Anthony Mackie
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Amy Schumer, Jillian Bell and Brianne Howey; David Kwong
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Jesse Eisenberg, Harvey Guillen
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): The cast of “General Hospital
• “Super Bowl Greatest Commercials: Funniest of All-Time” (CBS): Favorite commercial moments from past Super Bowl games.
• “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” (Fox): Season 3 finale. The recruits must mentally harness their vulnerability and shift their mindsets to overcome the final tasks.
• “Abbott Elementary” (ABC): While supervising the kids making their science fair projects, the teachers’ competitive sides come out.
• “Chicago Med” (NBC): Goodwin struggles with the psychological aftermath of her attack; Ripley treats a patient with helicopter parents. Followed by new episodes of “Fire” and “P.D.”
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Teddy Swims – He didn’t win a Grammy, but everything else is coming up roses for him. His new album “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2)”, debuted at #4 on the Billboard album chart, and he revealed to ET that he and girlfriend Raiche Wright are expecting their first child in June.
• Lady Gaga – In case you missed it, she debuted a new music video for ‘Abracadabra’ during a commercial break on the Grammys. The clip shows her portraying 2 characters, one in all white, the other in red latex and a red hat, and a large dance troupe performing. The song will appear on Gaga’s album “Mayhem”, out March 7. LINK: https://youtu.be/vBynw9Isr28
• Paul McCartney and Stevie Nicks — Memorabilia from them and other stars sold for big bucks at Julien’s Auctions’ annual MusiCares Charity Relief Auction on Sunday. McCartney’s signed copy of his 2021 book “The Lyrics: 1965 to Present” brought in $63,500, more than 15 times over the initial estimate. And the top hat Nicks wore for a 2024 “SNL” promo went for $58,500, 60 times its estimate.
• Marc Cohn – The ‘Walking in Memphis’ singer has Parkinson’s disease. He posted: “About 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I waited this long to tell you about the diagnosis because I needed time to process the unsettling news myself.” He said he is “doing everything I can to stave off Parkinson’s progression”, and plans on “continuing to do shows for as long as possible.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/muz7u9sx
• Aerosmith — Steven Tyler returned to the stage on Sunday night at the Hollywood Palladium. Aerosmith had to cancel its farewell tour in 2024, due to Tyler’s vocal cord damage, but he sounded great at the Grammys watch party to benefit his Janie’s Fund charity, where he sang a few songs, joined by all-star friends, including Mick Fleetwood, Lainey Wilson, and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5rfrnb39
• Post Malone – set a dubious Grammys record on Sunday. He didn’t win any of the 8 awards he was nominated for, making him the country artist with the most Grammy nominations without a win. Add to that his zero-for-10 record prior to his country career, and he passes Martina McBride (0-14) and Dierks Bentley (0-15). The only people with more are 2 guys you’ve never heard of.
• Morgan Wallen – may have just confirmed that his new album “I’m the Problem” is a double album. He shared a photo of himself narrowing down the tracklist, and let’s just say, it’s a long list. On his IG Stories, he is seen looking at a large whiteboard. The album’s name is at the top, and he wrote on the pic: “Chopping block.” It appears to have 22 songs listed.
• Jelly Roll – performed a free benefit concert for first responders at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena on Saturday. Nearly 6,000 emergency personnel were there, and heard Jelly tell them “You are here tonight because you are a hero or you are a loved one of a hero.” Lainey Wilson, DJ Marshmello, and Public Enemy also performed.
SHOOTING THE BULL
ROMANTIC FICTION?
OK, guys: Valentine’s Day is on Feb. 14th this year. That’s just over a week away. I just wanted to put that out there for you. But you already knew that – because according to a new poll, men are actually bigger romance fans than women. The survey of 2,000 American romance readers revealed that 63% of men consider themselves die-hard romance enthusiasts — compared to 60% of women. Men spend more time reading romance, too. The Talker Research study found that men spend 364 hours immersed in the genre per year, while women spend about 312. And just so you know, 17% percent of married romance readers typically picture their spouse when imagining the love interest in a novel. 21% of respondents admitted to having envisioned their celeb crush — and 7% said they usually imagine their ex.
(What a coincidence! I usually envision their spouse, too!)
(I’ve got news for you, guys: A story about a race car driver or an astronaut who happens to have a love interest doesn’t count as a romance novel!)
-SWNS
NEW TO YOU (and me…):
► Subway is now selling a foot-long Oreo cookie. Last year, the sub sandwich shop launched its Sidekicks menu, featuring “footlong snacks”. The first 3 were a Footlong Cookie, a Footlong Churro (developed with Cinnabon), and a Footlong Pretzel. And now, the Footlong Oreo. According to Subway, the 12-inch dessert features chocolate cookie dough with Oreo cookie pieces and topped with vanilla cream and more pieces of Oreo cookies — and served warm. On Jan31, the company wrote on Instagram: “Our new Oreo footlong is almost as long as this month.” (For God’s sake, I hope they still sell milk!) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2xu8k6kt
► Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the perfect gift for “Lego lovers” is now available. Amazon is selling the Lego “Icons Bouquet of Roses” set. The Lego set includes 822 pieces that assemble into an impressive-looking bouquet of roses. Builders can choose from 3 different stages of flowering to mix up the process: 4 roses in full bloom, 3 blossoms, and 4 buds. How much? $60. (Hey, if I can buy roses and not have to worry about keeping them alive until I give them to her, I’m interested!) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/yu2b8646
-EatTHisNotThat, CNN
PROBLEMATIC IMMUNITY:
Have you ever had it happen to you that in the says leading up to a big presentation, or an important social function — or during a stressful work week, your skin seems to flare up, or you go all blotchy? Scientists always believed there must be a link between stress and worsening allergy symptoms – and now, Japanese researchers say they have uncovered the cellular chain reaction that explains why stress can mess with your immune system and make your skin allergies more severe. In research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the scientists describe how when we’re stressed, certain immune cells that normally reduce inflammation basically “forget” how to do their job. That’s what causes your skin problems. They say that these cellular changes can persist for up to a week after the stressful event. That’s also a possibly explanation of why periods of high stress often lead to prolonged allergy symptoms.
(So, what they’re saying is that I’m stressed out all spring and summer – every year?)
(Does that also explain why I always get a huge zit on my nose before an important meeting – or is that just me?)
-StudyFinds
THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU COULD RECYCLE:
☞ Ziploc bags: They can be recycled at many grocery stores that still accept plastic shopping bags (bread and newspaper bags can also be dropped off in these bins). They are used mostly to make composite lumber. (Why did I think they would use them to make new Ziploc bags?)
☞ Cereal bags: TerraCycle recycles all sorts of packaging, including coffee bags and pods, snack and drink pouches and pet food bags. One of their most popular programs is recycling cereal bags and liners. These get turned into garden pavers, outdoor children’s items and garbage cans.
☞ Carpet: Not only does it take upwards of 50 years to decompose, it also accounts for 4% of landfill waste. Some companies collect discarded carpet to turn it into new carpet, or to make other products. (50 years to decompose? I’ve got carpet in my basement that’s already halfway there!)
☞ Cigarette butts: They’re not only bad for you, they are bad for the environment. TerraCycle recycles cigarette butts the same way they recycle cereal bags. (So, this is different from that guy in the park who picks up used cigarette butts and “recycles” them himself?)
☞ Drywall and concrete: Can be ground down and turned into new materials. Most waste management facilities accept drywall as long as nails and screws are removed. Concrete can be dumped for free at most manufacturer’s facilities or at waste facilities, usually for a fee.
(Fruitcake…fruitcake…looking for fruitcake on this list…Bueller? Bueller?)
-Global
THINGS THAT MAKE GUYS HAPPY:
TikTok creator and simple-life advocate Nolan Reid made a video detailing the “Little things in life that make men happy. Here is his sometimes-funny list…
✓ A fridge full of beer.
✓ Drinking said beer in the garage. With your dog. And a good buddy.
✓ Finding a cool stick.
✓ Kicking a rock.
✓ Staring at water.
✓ Dropping rocks into said water.
✓ Doing the one finger wave when driving past someone you know.
LINK: https://tinyurl.com/erevnnxa
(If you’re looking for ideas for Valentine’s Day, I wouldn’t suggest getting him a cool stick. But the fridge full of beer might be a pretty good place to start…)
(***We’ll happily make the same list for women – let us know what your “happy things” are, ladies!***)
-Upworthy
DID YOU KNOW?
Parts of Dutch society are campaigning to bring risky playground equipment back, as concerns about too much time spent indoors, helicopter parenting, and childhood diabetes risk grow. Some are advocating playgrounds with potentially dangerous toys, such as a merry-go-round, but others are even asking for places for their children to start fires, build with hammers, and play-fight with sticks. Of course, no one wants kids to be injured, but the policy proposal from one political party claims that without spaces to explore and challenge themselves in, kids risk losing the chance to develop crucial skills. One rep said: “The inspiration, and it really is a huge problem, is that children are hardly moving. All kinds of problems stem from just sitting behind a screen.” (Let them use a metal slide in the middle of summer. THAT’LL get ‘em moving!)
-GoodNewsNetwork
BS CHRONOMETER 02.05.25
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Weather Forecasters Day”, commemorating the 1746 birth of Boston physician Dr. John Jeffries, one of the first to keep detailed records of weather conditions. It celebrates the science of meteorology, and honors those who work in fields related to weather forecasting. (Let’s give them a trophy for precipitation!)
• “World Nutella Day”, the 19th annual celebration of the chocolate-y hazelnut spread that’s best eaten right out of the jar … by the handful. (***And remember: ‘Nutella’ is pronounced “New-TELL-uh”, according to the company’s FAQ page***) LINK: nutelladay.com
• “Chocolate Fondue Day”. The word “fondue” is derived from the French word “fondre,” which means ‘to melt’. Traditional dippers include fresh fruits such as bananas, strawberries, and tangerines; small pieces of cookie or cake; and miscellaneous goodies like marshmallows and pretzels.
• “Girls and Women in Sports Day”, an observance begun in 1986 to honor female athletic achievement and recognize the importance of sports and fitness for all girls and women. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/39uj998b
• “Western Monarch Day”, celebrating the stunning orange & black migratory butterfly. The eastern North American monarch population is notable for its annual migration from the northern and central United States and southern Canada to Florida and Mexico. Western monarchs have been known to winter in California and Mexico.
• “International Clash Day”, to honor and celebrate the legendary band The Clash. Although ‘punk’ is probably the first genre you associate with them, they had an extraordinary influence on reggae, pop, disco, punk, rock, rap, and even world music.
(***CAUTION – Content***) • “Fart Day”. Let’s face it: Everyone does it. The technical term for the gas is flatus, and when someone passes it out of their body, we say they have flatulence. The word “fart” was thought up in 1632. Farts can travel at speeds of about 10 feet per second. On average, people fart about 14 times a day, producing enough gas to fill a balloon. (So, I can celebrate 14 times today?)
• “Disaster Day”. Strangely enough, despite all the things that could potentially have gone wrong, there weren’t any major disasters today. (Although that’s now up for discussion, having seen what [co-host] chose to wear….)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Frozen Yogurt Day
[Thurs] Sweater Day
[Fri] Fettuccine Alfredo Day
[Sat] Propose Day
This Week is…Pride in Foodservice Week
This Month is…Celebration of Chocolate Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1934 [91] Don Cherry, Kingston ON, former TV hockey commentator (“Coach’s Corner” on “Hockey Night in Canada” 1982-2019)/former NHL coach (Boston Bruins 1974-79, Colorado Rockies 1979-80)
1948 [77] Christopher Guest, New York NY, comedian-movie actor (“This is Spinal Tap”, “Best in Show”)/married to Jamie Lee Curtis since 1984/holds a hereditary British peerage as the 5th Baron Haden-Guest, a member of the House of Lords known as “Lord Haden-Guest”. COMING UP… “Spinal Tap II”
1962 [63] Jennifer Jason Leigh, Los Angeles CA, movie actress (“Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, “The Hateful Eight”, “Single White Female”)/TV actress (“Fargo” 2023-24) COMING UP… “Night Always Comes”
1964 [62] Laura Linney, New York City NY, TV actress (‘Wendy Byrde’ on “Ozark” 2017-22, “The Big C” 2010-13)/movie actress (“The Truman Show”, “Mystic River”)
1964 [61] (Micheal) “Duff” McKagan, Seattle WA, rock bassist (Guns N’ Roses-‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, Velvet Revolver-‘Fall to Pieces’)
1969 [56] Bobby Brown, Roxbury MA, R&B singer (‘My Prerogative’, New Edition-‘If It Isn’t Love’)/married to Whitney Houston 1992-2007/father of the late Bobbi Kristina Brown
1969 [56] Michael Sheen, Newport Wales, TV actor (‘William H Masters’ on “Masters of Sex” 2013-16)/movie actor (“The Twilight Saga”, “Frost/Nixon”) COMING UP… “The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde”
1971 [54] Sara Evans, Boonville MO, country singer (‘A Little Bit Stronger’, ‘Suds in the Bucket’)
1984 [41] Tyler Farr, Garden City MO, country singer (‘A Guy Walks Into a Bar’, ‘Redneck Crazy’)
1985 [40] Cristiano Ronaldo (Averio), Funchal Portugal, soccer star (captain of both Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and Portugal national team)/holds record for the most goals in the UEFA Champions League (140)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1992 [33] For the first time, an animated feature is nominated for a ‘Best Picture’ Oscar (Disney’s “Beauty & The Beast”).
2020 [05] Kirk Douglas (star of “Spartacus”, and father of Michael Douglas) dies at 103.
2021 [04] Oscar, Tony, and Emmy winner Christopher Plummer (star of “Sound of Music” and “Beginners”) dies at 91.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2017 [08] Black Sabbath finish its final concert in its hometown of Birmingham, England (started on Feb 4).
2023 [02] Beyoncé wins 4 Grammys, breaking the record for most all-time Grammy wins with 32. There’s also a “50 Years of Hip-hop” celebration, and the inaugural Dr. Dre Global Impact Award is given to… Dr. Dre. (Bey now has 35 total Grammys.)
2024 [01] Toby Keith dies at 62, following a battle with stomach cancer. Among his hits are ‘How Do You Like Me Now!?’ and ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)’.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1901 [124] The “Loop-the-Loop” centrifugal roller coaster is patented by Ed Prescot.
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1981 [44] World’s ‘Largest Jell-O’ is created in Brisbane, Australia, containing 9,246 gallons (35,000L) of watermelon-flavored mix.
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ If you heat up a magnet, it will lose its magnetism.
✓ New bacteria grows on a kitchen sponge every 20 minutes.
✓ The unique smell of rain actually comes from plant oils, bacteria, and ozone.
✓ It’s rare, but it is possible to get goose bumps on your face.
✓ In the 1700s, people added butter to their coffee. (I’m willing to try that!)
✓ Vanilla flavoring is sometimes made from ‘castoreum’, a scented oil secreted by beavers’ butts.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, TheFactSite
Best of BS . . .
BS REJECTED HALFTIME SHOWS:
• Maroons One through Four
• Everyone who has ever been rejected by American Idol
• A salute to Marionettes
• A video highlight reel of NFL referees’ greatest non-calls
• A medley of jazz standards by Fran Drescher and Roseanne
• The State of the Union address
• A fourth grade recorder recital
• R. Kelly
• Choreographed Prancercise
• Justin Timberlake & Janet Jackson
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
Best of BS . . .
BS REJECTED MAGAZINE TITLES:
• Adequate Housekeeping
• Reader’s Digested
• Local Geographic
• Completed Crosswords
• U.S. Nudes and World Report
• Dude, Where’s My Car & Driver
• Vague
• No Appetit
• Worse Homes and Gardens
• Pauly Shore Monthly
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS WEB GOODIE:
Oh yeah? I’ll show YOU! https://tinyurl.com/396v3a3y
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Judging by my day so far, apparently, rock bottom has a basement…
BS EASY FOOTBALL TRIVIA:
• Who headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2024?
A: Usher
• What is the name of the Super Bowl trophy?
A: The Vince Lombardi Trophy
• How many players line up on offense on any given play?
A: 11
• How long is a football field from end to end?
A: 360 feet (120 yards)
• Which is the only NFL team with a number in its name?
A: San Francisco 49ers
• Which 2 teams have purple uniforms?
A: Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings
• Which team became notorious for running a play called “the Tush Push,” also known as “the Brotherly Shove”?
A: Philadelphia Eagles
• Arrowhead Stadium, one of the loudest NFL stadiums, plays home to which NFL team?
A: Kansas City Chiefs
• Which 2 franchises have won the most Super Bowls?
A: Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots (6)
• Who won last year?
A: Kansas City Chiefs
-LastWordonSports
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What is the most ridiculous movie trope? According to Collider, the worst include: bad guys attacking one-by-one, slasher villains that never die, and characters hanging up the phone without saying goodbye…
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
A survey found that 4% of couples sleep THIS way. What is it?
Answer: Facing each other
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Hate injures the hater more than the hated.
