Monday, January 6, 2025 – Edition: #7866
Tomorrow’s Show Prep Today!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Jeff Baena, a writer and director who was also married to Aubrey Plaza, has died at age 47. Law enforcement sources said that an assistant discovered Baena’s body at a Los Angeles-area home around 10:30am on Friday. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and TMZ quotes sources as saying he died by suicide. Baena co-wrote the 2004 film “I Heart Huckabees”, and not long after, made his directorial debut by writing and directing “Life After Beth”, a zombie comedy starring Plaza. The 2 started dating in 2011, and were married in 2021.
-People
★ Saturday, the White House awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 recipients, among them Denzel Washington, Michael J. Fox, and Bill Nye “the Science guy”. The nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to those who have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant…endeavors”, was also given to renowned chef José Andrés, U2 frontman Bono, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, scientist Jane Goodall, Magic Johnson, Ralph Lauren, Lionel Messi, Anna Wintour, and founder of the American Film Institute and the Kennedy Center Honors, George Stevens, Jr.
-EW
★ Multiple films that people enjoyed at the end of 2024 stayed at the top to start 2025, as “Mufasa” claimed the #1 spot for the year’s first weekend. In its third weekend in theaters, the “Lion King” prequel earned an estimated $24.5 million, bringing its domestic total to $168 million as it crossed $400 million globally. “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” came second with $20.7 million, pushing the franchise over $1 billion for its 3 films. “Nosferatu” came third, followed by November holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2”.
TheWrap
★ The National Society of Film Critics has named “Nickel Boys” its best picture of 2024. RaMell Ross won for best director, and the film received the award for best cinematography. Colman Domingo took home the prize for best actor for his role in “Sing Sing”, while “Hard Truths” star Marianne Jean-Baptiste won best actress. Fellow Hard Truths star Michele Austin won best supporting actress, and Kieran Culkin received the award for best supporting actor for “A Real Pain”.
-HollywoodReporter
★ Perhaps “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” is a touch too tough. Denise Richards, who will appear in an episode of Fox’s grueling reality series’ 3rd season, recently revealed that she “jumped off a bridge” while filming the show, which, as she put it, “ruptured my implants.” The “Wild Things” star clarified on “Jeff Lewis Live” that it was the harness which caused the injury, saying, “I still have to get them redone.” When Lewis asked if Fox was picking up the tab for the procedure, Richards said” “No, I have to pay the price. I think I pretty much signed (my) life away doing that show. It’s dangerous.”
-EW
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Selena Gomez, Anna Sawai, The Linda Lindas
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Joe Manganiello, Charli D’Amelio, Busta Rhymes
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Jon Batiste
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Day Drinking with Seth Meyers New Year’s Special (R)
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Joel Kim Booster, Pat Regan, Katya Zamolodchikova
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Diana Cruz, Danni Warren
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Host Jon Stewart
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): A day of hot topics; celebrating Ana Navarro’s birthday
• “GMA3” (ABC): Tim Allen, Tiffany Aliche (the “Budgetnista”)
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Michelle Buteau, Scott Wolf, Rachel Hollis
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Hoda Kotb, Jharrel Jerome
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Chefs Pilar Valdes and Jacques Pépin
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Karamo, Michelle Obama
• “TMZ Investigates: Luigi Mangione: The Mind of a Killer” (Fox): Why a privileged man may have turned to murder; shocking new details about how he became enraged by corporate greed.
• “Brilliant Minds” (NBC): Season 1 finale. Dr. Wolf meets a pastor dealing with mysterious visions; the interns grapple with the fallout from the building collapse. Preceded by another new episode.
• “90 Day: The Last Resort” (TLC): Tempers continue to flare after a night of excessive partying; a kayaking activity challenges power dynamics.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Benson Boone — Following the news that Billie Eilish‘s ‘Birds of a Feather’ was the most-streamed song on Spotify for 2024 comes word that Boone‘s hit ‘Beautiful Things’ was the #1 most-streamed song worldwide in 2024. It has racked up more than 3 billion streams since its release last year. It also won 2 Billboard Music Awards, and he’s up for a Grammy for Best New Artist.
(***Caution: Preview for content***) • Sabrina Carpenter — literally broke her New Year’s resolution as she was announcing it. Alongside a carousel of photos she posted to Instagram showing herself and friends hanging out at a ski resort, she wrote: “new year’s resolution no more d*** jokes it’s gonna be really hard.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2p95p2ne
• Santana – Carlos Santana has postponed the start of his 2025 residency at House of Blues Las Vegas after suffering an “accidental fall” at home, and breaking a finger. The dates were to begin on Jan. 22, but he will be unable to play guitar for 6 weeks, according to his people. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5zxz7s3t
• Neil Young – Days after announcing he wouldn’t be playing at this year’s Glastonbury festival, he has had a change of heart, and been announced as the first of this year’s headliners. Last week, he posted that he’d pulled out of Britain’s largest festival, because it is now under “corporate control”. A follow-up post indicates there had been “an error in the information” that he had received.
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – The 2024 induction ceremony is now streaming on Hulu. It includes performances from new honorees Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, and Dionne Warwick. The Oct. 19, 2024 ceremony also featured presenters and performers including Billy Idol, Dua Lipa, Jelly Roll, Kelly Clarkson, Roger Daltrey, Slash, and more.
• Luke Combs – is teasing new music again, but this time, he’s asking fans for their input. He posted a clip of a love ballad that seems to be titled ‘More Less Than Perfect’. Alongside the snippet, he wrote: “Who should I duet this with?” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5dubz523
• Brett Eldredge – Friday, he shared his new song ‘Gorgeous’. The new tune, according to him, “is a reminder of the gorgeous person that you are, even on your worst days, you are more than enough, you’re Gorgeous. Let. that. sink. IN”. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/8bhdaac4
• Parmalee – Expect them to drop the new tune ‘Cowgirl’ soon. The group shared a clip of the song on X, and wrote: “2025 resolution … release this song.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/msfnd9w5
SHOOTING THE BULL
NEWSFLASH: “KNOW-IT-ALLS” DON’T:
Here’s a little something to keep in mind the next time you find yourself in a heated argument – and you’re absolutely sure that you’re right: Science has just confirmed that the more confident you feel about your stance, the more likely it is that you don’t know as much as you think you do. Study coordinator Angus Fletcher of Ohio State University’s Project Narrative used the example of when someone is stuck in traffic, complaining of the “idiot” moving too slowly in front of them, woefully unaware that the driver is carefully transporting a wedding cake, or that the “maniac” who just rushed past was taking someone to the hospital. Fletcher said that in general, “people don’t stop to think whether there might be more information that would help them make a more informed decision. If you give people a few pieces of information that seem to line up, most will say ‘that sounds about right’ and go with that.”
(This says SO MUCH about a lot of what passes for “public discourse” on social media these days!)
(So why is it that even when I DON’T know what the hell I’m arguing about, I STILL lose?)
-StudyFinds
POP-ULARITY:
➢ Coca-Cola has brought back a flavor that hasn’t been on store shelves for 18 years. Lime Coke, which features a hint of green citrus, was first released in 2005, and it lasted for about 2 years before being discontinued. So far, Lime Coke is only available in the UK, but North Americans might be interested to know that the new Orange Cream flavor (Think of an orange creamsicle) will be available next month. (The lime stuff is only available in the UK? I’m not exactly green with envy…)
➢ A former corporate chef at McDonald’s says that the fast-food chain’s newest straws make beverages taste different. In a TikTok, Mike Haracz explains that McDonald’s switched out their iconic striped straw for something that is “either a little more sustainable and/or cheaper.” He says the new version is “more flimsy”, especially when drinking a milkshake. Even worse to Haracz, “when you try these beverages through this new straw, it is not the same.” He claims there are “a variety of reasons why you perceive beverages in a certain way”, including “the volume, by the diameter of the straw, the tactile feel of it. But because it’s changed, it’s not hitting just right.” McDonald’s sort-of agrees, saying on its website that previous straws were “slightly wider than a typical straw, so all that Coke taste can hit your taste buds.” (This guy should try the paper straws McD’s gives you in other countries – and the wooden sundae spoons!)
-NYPost
STREAMING SERVICES: OVERFLOWING?
It’s just like that old saying “57 channels and nothing’s on”, except now there are about 57 streaming services, and still, people are having a tough time deciding what to watch. A new survey has found that despite having more content at their fingertips than ever before, the average person spends a staggering 110 hours per year – nearly 5 full days(!!) – simply scrolling through streaming platforms in search of something to watch. The Talker Research poll, conducted in the US, found that one in 5 streaming subscribers feel that finding something good to watch is harder now than a decade ago, and 41% struggle with increasingly large content libraries. 51% agreed that they feel overwhelmed by the sheer content of content suggested to them by streamers, and 26% feel that streamers are making too much original content these days.
(And THAT, my friend, is why we keep re-watching old episodes of “Friends”!)
(It turns out, the true sport of our era isn’t binge-watching, it’s scrolling endlessly until you finally settle on binge-watching “The Office” for the 5th time!)
-StudyFinds
THE MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIES OF 2025 (Part 1):
✪ “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera”: The sequel to the 2018 thriller features the return of Gerard Butler’s grizzled cop, who aligns with the master thief played by O’Shea Jackson Jr., whom he’s been chasing around the world. (Jan. 10)
✪ “Captain America: Brave New World”: When ‘Steve Rogers’ (Chris Evans) handed his shield to former ‘Sam Wilson’ (Anthony Mackie), a.k.a. The Falcon in “Endgame,” it marked an exchange of power that went on to be explored in the series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and on the big screen here. (Feb. 14)
✪ “A Minecraft Movie”: Last year, fans of the world-building videogame helped a meme of an excitable Jack Black roaring “I am Steve” go viral. Now, we’ll have a chance to see the clip in context. (April 4)
✪ “Mickey 17”: After being delayed for almost a year, Bong Joon-ho’s high-concept sci-fi comedy starring Robert Pattinson tells the tale of an “expendable” clone who is sent to colonize a deep-space ice planet. (April 18)
✪ “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey”: Margot Robbie’s first post-“Barbie” vehicle is a romantic fantasy that, is almost a complete mystery in terms of plot. It also stars Colin Farrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Jodie Turner-Smith and Sarah Gadon. (May 9)
✪ “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”: For those counting, it’s the 8th and possible final ‘Ethan Hunt’ spy spectacle. Returning are Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Henry Czerny, as Tom Cruise’s Hunt tries to save the world from the all-knowing AI known as “The Entity.” (May 23)
✪ “The Life of Chuck”: The TIFF People’s Choice award winner starring Tom Hiddleston is an adaptation of one of Stephen King’s more gentle tales, and could turn out to be an early-summer crowd-pleaser. (May 30)
✪ “How to Train Your Dragon”: The first official live-action adaptation of a DreamWorks feature it is once again set on the Isle of Berk, where it snows 9 months of the year, and hails the other 3. (June 13)
✪ “28 Years Later”: The third film in the zombie franchise reunites original director Danny Boyle with writer Alex Garland for a terrifying story about how humans have found ways to exist amidst the zombie hordes. (June 20)
✪ “F1”: With Universal’s “Fast & Furious” series taking a break this summer, Apple hopes to cash in on moviegoers’ need for speed with this Brad Pitt flick. Co-starring Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon and Shea Whigham, it follows a disgraced Formula 1 racer who gets back in the game to mentor a young driver. Does that sound at all like “Top Gun: Maverick” at all? Same director. (June 27)
[***Part 2 coming tomorrow***]
-Globe&Mail, CTV
DID YOU KNOW?
New research suggests that success may result more from luck than from merit, according to a new study. Scientists at Cornell University found that even among genetically identical mice, early chance events create lasting differences in success – which they say demonstrates that luck can outweigh innate ability in determining life outcomes. The study demonstrates what scientists call the “Matthew effect” — a phenomenon where individuals or institutions that achieve early success tend to achieve ever greater success in the future. (So far, my success in being the loudest kid at pre-school has failed to provide me with any tangible benefits!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 01.06.25
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Thank God It’s Monday Day”, celebrating all the great things that happen on Mondays. Things like new jobs; new promotions; new week; new resolutions; birthdays; and all those other things that give you reason to celebrate. (I’m celebrating the fact that after Mondays, the week usually doesn’t get any worse!)
• “Weigh-In Day”, when many kick off their resolution to lose weight — on the first day back at work in the New Year. (The only problem? Everyone brings their leftover Christmas goodies into the office with them, because they’d rather YOU eat them…)
• “Take Down the Christmas Tree Day”, as the official holiday season ends today with Epiphany.
• “Epiphany” (aka “Three Kings Day”), a Christian celebration and public holiday in Spain, Italy, Sweden, and Puerto Rico. In Ireland it’s known as “Little Christmas”; in Italy the kindly witch ‘La Befana’ slides down chimneys on her broom to bring toys & goodies for kids; in Mexico, where it’s known as “Dia de los Santos Reyes”, kids leave shoes out to be filled with toys by ‘Los Tres Reyes’ (The Three Kings), who tote gifts while riding camel-back.
• “Carnival Season” begins, running from today (“Epiphany”) until March 4 (“Fat Tuesday”). Although some people use Carnival and Mardi Gras interchangeably, they’re actually different things. Carnival is a time to eat, drink and be merry before the rigorous fasting and sacrifice during Lent.
• “Cuddle Up Day”, an opportunity to snuggle up to someone or something on a cold Winter’s day.
• “Apple Tree Day”, started as a celebration of an apple tree that was almost 2 centuries old. It is unknown which tree it was—maybe it was the Original Bramley apple tree, or Granfer’s apple tree (both in England), both of which stood for over 200 years. (And lived “appley” ever after?)
• “Smith Day”, celebrating the most-common surname in the English-speaking world, plus all surnames with “Smith” in them, such as Smitherham, and Nesmith. “Smith” means “worker.”
• “Bean Day”, celebrating the British 1990s sitcom “Mr. Bean”, starring Rowan Atkinson, who turns 70 today. (We understand this occasion is huge in England, but those of us in North America don’t really get it at all!)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] Bobblehead Day
[Tues] Orthodox Christmas Day
[Wed] Bubble Bath Day
[Thurs] Word Nerd Day
This Week is…Lose Weight, Feel Great Week
This Month is…Be Kind to Food Servers Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1955 [70] Rowan Atkinson, Consett England, movie actor (“Bean”, “Four Weddings & A Funeral”, “Johnny English” movies)/TV comic (“Mr. Bean” 1990-95, “Blackadder” 1983-89)/Order of the British Empire, 2013. COMING UP…untitled 4th ‘Johnny English’ film
1955 [70] Sandra Bernhard, Flint MI, comedian-movie actress (“King of Comedy”)/TV actress (‘Nancy’ on “Roseanne” 1991-97)
1960 [65] Nigella Lawson, London England, celebrity chef (“Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat”, “The Taste” 2013-14, “Nigella Bites” 1999-2001, “My Kitchen Rules” since 2022)
1960 [65] Howie Long, Charlestown MA, TV football analyst (“FOX NFL Sunday” since 1994)/movie actor (“That Thing You Do!”)/retired NFL DE (Raiders 1981-93)/Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2000
1969 [56] Norman Reedus, Hollywood FL, TV actor (‘Daryl Dixon’ on “The Walking Dead” 2010-22, “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” since 2023, “Ride with Norman Reedus” since 2016)
1969 [56] (Anne Marie) ‘Ree’ Drummond, Bartlesville OK, celeb chef (“The Pioneer Woman” since 2011)
1970 [55] Julie Chen (Moonves), Queens NY, TV host (“The Talk” 2010-18, “Big Brother” since 2000)/married to former CBS chairman-CEO Leslie Moonves since 2004
1982 [43] Eddie Redmayne, London England, movie actor (“Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them”, “The Theory of Everything”)/TV actor (“The Day of the Jackal” 2024)
1984 [41] Kate McKinnon, Oyster Bay NY, comedian-TV actress (“Saturday Night Live” 2012-22, Joe vs Carole”/movie actress (“Ghostbusters” [2016], “Barbie”) COMING UP… “A Minecraft Movie” 2025
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1975 [50] “Wheel of Fortune” debuts on NBC.
2016 [09] “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” breaks the North American box office record, passing the $760.5m taken in by “Avatar” (still #1, with $936.6 million).
2022 [03] Sidney Poitier, the first Black actor to win Oscar for Best Actor, also a director, civil rights advocate, and diplomat, dies at 94.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1993 [32] Rolling Stones bass player Bill Wyman leaves the group after 30 years, because he “didn’t see anything new happening in the future.”
2003 [22] Rocker Elvis Costello marries jazz singer Diana Krall at Elton John’s mansion in England.
2019 [04] Kanye West debuts his weekly Sunday Service series at his home in Calabasas CA. The event features gospel-soul takes of his hits with the rapper’s celeb pals rounding out the congregation.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2021 [04] Seeking to overturn his defeat, supporters of US President Trump storm the US Capitol in Washington during congressional certification of Joe Biden’s victory, resulting in 5 deaths, and prompting evacuation of lawmakers and vice-president Mike Pence.
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2012 [13] Andy Coyne manages to wear 249 T-shirts at one time, weighing in at more than 200 pounds, at a trade show in Las Vegas. (Current record: 260)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ 91% people skip the first slice of bread, just because it’s ugly.
✓ When you consume chocolate, the chemical Oxytocin is produced in your body, the same one that’s produced when you’re happy.
✓ If you ran (literally) at a snail’s pace, it would take you 18 months to finish a marathon.
✓ Behavioral studies show that if you lose your phone, you experience a fear comparable to a near-death experience.
✓ It was also found that people seem happier when they’re busy. This keeps them from worrying about their problems.
✓ Our minds try to make boring speeches entertaining.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, Odee
Best of BS . . .
BS JANUARY DIET CHEATING EXCUSES:
• If you eat something but no one else sees you eat it, it has no calories.
• Movie-related foods do not have additional calories because they are part of the entire entertainment package.
• Foods that have the same color have the same number of calories. (Spinach and pistachio ice cream, cauliflower and whipped cream.)
• Things licked off knives and spoons have no calories if you are in the process of cooking.
• Chocolate is a universal substitute, and may be used for any other food.
• If you drink a diet soft drink with a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are canceled out by the diet soft drink.
• Cookie pieces have no calories. The breaking of the cookies causes the calories to leak out.
• Food used for medicinal purposes never counts, such as hot chocolate, brandy, toast — and cheesecake…
-First published in BS in 2010
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ 2025 is here! (And if you accidentally write “2024” on a check, you shouldn’t worry about it. (You should worry that it’s 2025 . . . and you’re still writing checks!)
➠ New Year’s resolutions are destined to fail. (I mean, the whole year starts off with somebody dropping the ball…)
➠ My New Year’s resolution is to join a gym in 2025. (In 2026 my resolution will be to go to that gym. Baby steps, people…)
➠ A study found that moderate consumption of red wine leads to higher test scores. (So apparently, I spent New Year’s Eve cramming for a final!)
➠ Elon Musk has announced that the first SpaceX missions to Mars aboard the next-generation Starship rocket are planned for 2026. (Passengers need to be over 18, physically fit — and prepared to die!)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Caption says it all: https://tinyurl.com/562susyp
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I used to ‘crastinate’, but I got so good, I went pro.
BS “WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR”:
We give you the acronym, or short form, you tell us what it stands for…
• ATM [Automated Teller Machine]
• CIA [Central Intelligence Organization]
• CEO [Chief Executive Officer]
• ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder]
Now, we give you a clue, and you tell us the acronym, or short form, that it refers to…
• You are asking someone to send you something urgently. You need it… [ASAP]
• If you are working on a home improvement project, but not hiring professionals to do the work. [DIY]
• You are meeting up with friends and want to let them know when you’ll arrive. What will you give them? [ETA]
• If you invite friends to a party, but are not providing drinks, what would you describe the party as? [BYOB]
-QuizTriviaGames
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the story behind the last time you slept for more than 9 hours?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
75% say THIS skill automatically makes you more attractive. What is it?
Answer: Cooking
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Perfection is boring. Getting better is where all the fun is.
