Monday, February 21, 2022 – Edition: #7172
Here, Have Another Sheetload!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, Buckingham Palace said, adding that the famously stoic 95-year-old monarch plans to carry on working. The queen reached the milestone of 70 years on the throne on Feb. 6, the anniversary of the 1952 death of her father, King George VI. She’ll turn 96 on April 21. The palace said the queen, who has been fully vaccinated and had a booster shot, will continue with “light” duties at Windsor Castle over the coming week, and follow all appropriate guidelines.
-AP
★ Derek Hough and Julianne Hough are commemorating the 94th annual Academy Awards with a celebration of dance. The sibling professional dancing duo will recreate some of cinema’s most iconic performances in “Step Into…The Movies with Derek and Julianne Hough” ahead of the ceremony next month. The one-hour television special will put a modern twist on performances from films such as “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Moulin Rouge,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Chicago,” “Dirty Dancing,” “Saturday Night Fever” and “La La Land.”
-TheWrap
★ A fashion line based “Bridgerton” is coming to Bloomingdale’s. The period drama — which was, for a time, the highest-viewed show on Netflix — has inspired the department store to launch a series of costumes based on the show. The curation will feature a range of both men and women’s clothing inspired by the show from a diverse range of creators, and will be launched as part of the department store’s latest @Carousel pop-up shop and online. It will be open March 3-May 16, in celebration of the show’s second season, set to premiere on March 25.
-ContactMusic
★ Tom Holland’s mother called “Spider-Man” producers to insist her son get enough toilet breaks. On “Live With Kelly & Ryan”, Holland revealed that his mom Nikki once phoned the studio on his behalf, because she was worried about his costume not having a zipper for him to easily relieve himself. Two days later, he said, “the producer came up to me and was like, ‘How are your kidneys?'” Holland was puzzled until the producer told him: “Well, your mom called us…” Holland also used his appearance on the show to deny reports that he and girlfriend Zendaya have bought a house together in London.
-ContactMusic
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Ben Stiller, Laverne Cox, Muni Long
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Joseph Gordon-Levitt, alt-J
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Tom Holland, Alana Haim, Stevie Nistor
• ” The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Haley Bennett, Sam Richardson, Sam Morril
• “The Talk” (CBS): Jenna Dewan
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Jesse Palmer, Dr. Jennifer Haythe, A Great Big World, guest co-host David Muir
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Usher
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Michael Ealy, Chloe Kim, Brie & Nikki Bella
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Kat Dennings, Pilar Valdes, Patti Harrison
• “The Bachelor” (ABC): Sarah is intent on finding out which of the ladies tried to take her down; the group travels to Vienna, Austria.
• “All American: Homecoming” (CW): Series premiere. Following a pair of elite collegiate athletes (one in tennis, the other baseball) who attend a prestigious HBCU.
• “The Endgame” (NBC): Series premiere. A recently captured international arms dealer orchestrates multiple heists for a mysterious purpose, but she may have met her match with FBI agent Val Turner, who will stop at nothing to foil her plan.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Beyoncé and Zendaya — are in talks to star in a remake of the movie “Imitation of Life”. The drama was first released in 1934, and remade in 1959, starring Lana Turner. It’s thought if Zendaya does sign on for the film, which deals with issues of race, class and gender, it could take her movie stock “to the next level”.
• Kanye West – said on Friday he sold over $1 million worth of “stem player” music devices in 24 hours, a day after announcing that his upcoming “Donda 2” album will only be available on the $200 music players, and not on traditional streaming platforms. Stem players are hand-held devices that allow users to create their own mixes of songs with, by manipulating things like the bass, vocals and drums.
• Kelly Clarkson – has filed paperwork to legally change her name to Kelly Brianne. Documents say she wants to go by her first and middle name because that “more fully reflects who I am.” This comes 5 months after she was legally declared single amid her contentious divorce from Brandon Blackstock.
• Heavy Young Heathens – The US jingle-composing duo is suing Team USA figure skaters Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, along with NBC and U.S. Figure Skating, for using their recording of ‘House of the Rising Sun’ during their short program routine in Beijing. They claim that they weren’t contacted ahead of time, and NBC, USA Network, Peacock and USFS all profited by using the song.
• Paul McCartney — announced the 14-date “Got Back” US arena tour on Friday. It’ll be his first tour since his 2019 “Freshen Up” jaunt. Why the ‘Got Back’ tour name? “I said at the end of the last tour that I’d see you next time. I said I was going to get back to you. Well, I got back.” It kicks off April 28 in Spokane, WA.
• Dave Grohl – will release a “full on” metal album this week. It will be the “lost” album written by the fictional band Dream Widow, which is central to the plot of the new Foo Fighters’ film “Studio 666”.
• Jon Pardi – Friday, he released the new single ‘Last Night Lonely’, which he calls a “perfect 2022 song”. Why? Quote: “It’s about, you know, maybe falling in love forever, dancing, having a good time, getting out of whatever you’re in, finding somebody new.” LINK: https://youtu.be/gtsIM0_TCcU
• Chris Stapleton – has added 26 shows to his “All-American Road Show”. Stops were added in LA, Detroit, DC, Long Island, New Orleans and Fort Worth, among other places. Tickets for the newly-announced shows go on sale this Friday, tomorrow for fan club members.
• Willie Nelson — has scrapped 10 indoor concerts planned for March and April because of COVID-19 concerns. Nelson’s team said that the cancelations were made “out of an abundance of caution … as the safety of the audience and Willie and his touring personnel are of the utmost importance.”
SHOOTING THE BULL
UNLOCKING BONUS:
Let’s face it (so to speak . . .) one of the BIG inconveniences we’ve experienced over the past 2 years is trying to unlock your smartphone via Face ID while wearing a mask. That’s all about to change, though, for iPhone users. Apple’s latest software update, iOS 15.4, aims to ensure Face ID works without requiring you to remove your mask or (gasp!) manually punching in your passcode. The new feature, a technical feat given the fewer facial details it has available to analyze, is still in beta and could launch for iPhone 12 and newer in the coming weeks or months. (Yes, the timing is perhaps a bit ironic considering many jurisdictions are lifting mask mandates these days…) According to one tech writer who had an early version of the software for testing purposes, Face ID worked pretty well with many different masks, but not 100% of the time. Apple is still fine-tuning the feature.
(Even handier for my dental hygienist, who I believe is up to wearing 4 masks, now…)
(Or just get a Galaxy and open it with your fingerprint!)
(***Caution***) Good! Because my wife hates it when I take my mask off in bed!)
-CNN
GOOFY IDEA:
Disney announced plans last week to create numerous residential neighborhoods across the US, the first of which will break ground in Rancho Mirage, California this year. Featuring both condominiums and single-family homes, Disney plans to have a mixed-use district open to the public, with shopping, dining, entertainment, a hotel and a beach park. Some neighborhoods will be designated for residents 55 and older. Disney employees, called “cast members” by the company, will manage the properties and curate programming and experiences for residents. While Mickey Mouse won’t be found here, residents will find water recreation, cooking classes, and seminars on wellness and philanthropic projects. Residents would pay a homeowners association fee, as well as a voluntary club membership fee. Prices haven’t yet been announced.
(…but we do know that parking will be about $45!)
(Living in a Disney neighborhood? That’s a Fast Pass for me!)
(Well! It turns out it IS a small world, after all!)
-CNN
NEW GOOD NEWS:
➢ A group of teenagers decided they could help solve the shortage of emergency workers in their small town – by becoming EMTs. Like many rural areas, Sackets Harbor, NY relies entirely on volunteer EMTs, but the pandemic caused a shortage, as the older volunteers were no longer able to work. In New York, 17-year-olds can become EMTs, and people even younger than that can serve as assistants. That’s all the teens needed to hear — they quickly signed up for training, knowing they would be giving up time with friends and extracurricular activities to save lives. Once their training was complete, the teens immediately went to work, helping their neighbors with everything from chest pains to falls, even though sometimes when they respond to a call, the first thing they hear is, “Wait, how old are you?”
➢ Two brothers in their mid-50s have been reunited because Edward Waites decided to traveled to Lake Tahoe during a massive snowstorm. During his visit, he was interviewed about the conditions by a local TV station — a 4-second clip that was just enough time for his long-lost brother, Randy, to spot him. Randy wondered if there was a Waites family connection. His daughter did an internet search, and found that in fact, Edward and Randy shared a father, who left the family shortly after Randy’s birth, and the boys were raised separately. Edward was stunned when Randy’s family contacted him in January, and the brothers finally met in person earlier this month. Randy said: “I’ve waited my whole life to know someone like Ed. I just want to be the best brother I can be. And I know he wants to do the same for me.”
-TheWeek
BENEFITS OF DRINKING COFFEE:
➠ Adds years to your life: It lowers the risk of death from a variety of common afflictions (including diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancers) …an 18% decrease in mortality for those who drink 2-3cups per day. (And on Mondays, I find it also adds years to OTHER people’s lives…)
➠ Improves test performance and alertness — just by its smell: In a study, business students writing an exam in a coffee-scented room scored markedly higher than those in an unscented room. The smell of coffee has been found to add an extra layer of confidence for test-takers, and may help employees feel more enthusiastic or productive. (Except when waiting in line for 25 minutes at the drive-thru…)
➠ Burns fat: Just one cup of coffee can activate our “brown fat”. Unlike more traditional white fat, brown fat actually burns calories and promotes weight loss. (Does that negate the 2 donuts I just had with my coffee?)
➠ It can make desserts taste even sweeter: After a single cup, sweets taste that much sweeter and bitter sensations aren’t as intense. This may explain why dark chocolate doesn’t taste as strong when paired with hot java.
➠ Can improve sport performance: Drinking coffee prior to participating in athletics has been shown to improve aerobic performance and strength. (Which is just one more reason that you’ll never be able to pry this mug of coffee from my cold, clammy hand!)
(Well, I’m glad something good can come from my crippling and expensive addiction…)
-StudyFinds
DID YOU KNOW?
Some fish given tattoos will try to scrape them off if they catch sight of themselves in a mirror, indicating that they have mirror self-recognition, according to a study published in the journal PLOS Biology. Tattoos resembling parasites were applied to the test fish’s necks, to create the optical illusion that there was there for them to remove and eat (fish love a good parasite). Scientists call this an exciting revelation, considering self-awareness is a trait that’s so far only been conclusively shown in humans and chimpanzees. (And a billion dog and cat videos…)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 02.21.22
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Family Day”, observed in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick on the third Monday in February (In BC, it falls on the 2nd Mon.). Family Day celebrates the importance of families and family life to people and their communities.
• “Presidents’ Day”, also known as Washington’s Birthday, a holiday to honor the first US president, George Washington, who was actually born February 22, 1732. It’s also an occasion to remember all presidents (or at least the ones you WANT to remember…).
• “Card Reading Day”, a day to have your future foretold with tarot cards. (Or to go to the store and read a bunch of greeting cards…)
• “Single Tasking Day”, a day to focus on one project at a time. Studies show you’ll likely end up accomplishing more. (But good luck telling that to a multi-tasker!)
• “Sticky Bun Day”, an annual food holiday saluting the ooey-gooey buns you just can’t turn down (or let go of…)
• “UN International Mother Language Day”. (In school, Latin was always a real ‘mother’!)
COMING UP . . .
[Tues] Be Humble Day
[Tues] Cook a Sweet Potato Day
[Wed] Curling is Cool Day
[Wed] Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
This Week Is…Engineers Week
This Month Is…Snack Food Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1953 [69] William Petersen, Evanston IL, TV actor (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” 2000-2013)
1955 [67] Kelsey Grammar, St Thomas US Virgin Islands, TV actor (5 Emmy Awards-“Frasier” 1993-2004), “Cheers” 1984-93/movie actor (“X-Men: The Last Stand”)
1958 [64] Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Princeton NJ, country singer-songwriter (‘Shut Up And Kiss Me’, Passionate Kisses’)
1978 [44] Kumail Nanjiani, Karachi Pakistan, movie actor (“The Big Sick”, “Stuber”)
1979 [43] Tituss Burgess, Athens GA, TV actor (‘Titus Andromedon’ on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” 2015-19)
1979 [43] Jennifer Love Hewitt, Waco TX, TV actress (“The Client List” 2012-13, “Ghost Whisperer” 2005-10)/movie actress (“Garfield”, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”)
1979 [43] Jordan Peele, New York City NY, comedian (“The Twilight Zone” 2019-20, “Key and Peele” 2012-2015, “MADtv” 2003-2008)/director (“Get Out”, “Us”)
1987 [35] Elliot [formerly Ellen] Page, Halifax NS, movie actor (“Inception”, “Juno”)/LGBTQ activist
1987 [35] Ashley Greene, Jacksonville FL, movie actress (“Twilight” franchise)
1996 [26] Sophie Turner, Northampton UK, TV actress (‘Sansa Stark’ on “Game of Thrones” 2011-17)
2002 [20] Blanket Jackson [Prince Michael Jackson II], San Diego CA, (youngest child of the late pop legend Michael Jackson)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2003 [19] Bill Maher’s political talk show “Real Time with Bill Maher” debuts on HBO (still going…)
2018 [04] Evangelist Billy Graham, described as one of the 20th century’s most influential Christian leaders, dies at 99
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1977 [45] At a concert stop at Nassau Coliseum, the members of Kiss all have blood drawn — not for the Red Cross – but to be mixed with ink to print the first Kiss comic book, which appears in June
1997 [25] Spice Girls’ ‘Wannabe’ becomes the first debut single by a British group to top North American charts since The Beatles
2012 [10] Adele flips off producers at the “Brit Awards” when she is ushered off stage before finishing her ‘Album of the Year’ acceptance speech for “21”
2014 [08] A statue of Kurt Cobain crying a single tear is unveiled in the late Nirvana frontman’s hometown of Aberdeen WA
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2011 [11] An NYU professor has an experimental life-blogging camera removed from his head after his immune system rejects the implant
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ At a steady pace of 6 mph (9.65km/h), it would take a jogger 173 days to circle the globe.
✓ The largest wave ever surfed was 80 feet high (24.4m).
✓ Only 12% of those arrested for murder are women.
✓ Keeping mothballs in your tool chest will help prevent rust.
✓ People with blue eyes are better able to see in the dark.
✓ 95% of the paperwork filed in an average office will never again be seen by human eyes.
-BathroomReadersInstitute
BS GERIATRIC RAPPERS:
• Ice Pac
• Lay-Z
• Busta Hip
• Mary J. Bulge
• The Sugar Over-the-Hill Gang
• Slim Shady Acres
• Tone Def
• 50 Centrum
• Notorious W.I.G.
• 2-Pack of Depends
• Chance the Napper
-Twitter
Best of BS . . .
BS ODD JOB INTERVIEW RESPONSES:
• “My strengths? I once walked away from a plate of nachos with extra guacamole.”
• “It’s not a felony in most states.”
• “I know you are, but what am I?”
• “What can I bring to this company? Donuts every Friday.”
• “I work well with others as long as they’re not idiots.”
• “You look so different with your clothes on.”
• “I’d like to speak to my lawyer before I answer any questions.”
• “What do I see myself doing in 5 years? Ten to Twenty.”
• “I always quit before they can fire me.”
• “Convicted? No, never convicted.”
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• Who was originally cast to voice ‘Shrek’?
a) Bill Murray
b) Chris Farley [CORRECT]
c) Chris Rock
d) Sean Connery
• Which is the first movie in the ‘Bourne’ franchise?
a) The Bourne Legacy
b) The Bourne Supremacy
c) The Bourne Identity [CORRECT]
d) Bourne Again
• Which romantic movie does NOT feature Ryan Reynolds?
a) The Proposal
b) Definitely, Maybe
c) Just Friends
d) He’s Just Not That Into You [CORRECT]
-ReadersDigest
BS WEB GOODIE:
I needed this today (sound up): https://tinyurl.com/mr3y5bew
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the most unusual honeymoon you’ve heard of?
BS RANDOM JOKE:
If you’ve seen one shopping center, you’ve seen a mall.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: When asked to name what sounds make them happy, 15% people said THIS. What is it?
Answer: A cat purring
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.