Thursday, January 4, 2024 – Edition: #7627

The BS Press!

 

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Kelly Clarkson claims her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, once told her she wasn’t “sexy” enough to be a coach on “The Voice.” In court documents, Clarkson says she told the talent manager for years that she wanted to star on the singing competition show, but he informed her that network execs were “looking for a more sex symbol type”, like Rihanna. The “Kelly Clarkson Show” host made the bombshell claim last year to a California labor commissioner, who ultimately ordered Blackstock to pay Clarkson $2.6 million for unlawfully procuring deals that should have been handled by her agents. Clarkson was named a coach on “The Voice” in 2018. She filed for divorce in 2020.
-PageSix
★ Sienna Miller’s second baby has arrived! The model and her boyfriend, Oli Green, stepped out with their first child together on Wednesday. The 42-year-old cradled her newborn in a baby carrier as she and 26-year-old Green stopped at a coffee shop in London. No word on exactly when the baby arrived. Miller is also the mother of an 11-year-old daughter named Marlowe.
-PageSix
★ Whoopi Goldberg experienced a shock to start 2024. “The View” moderator was surprised to learn during Tuesday’s episode that she and former NFL star Tony Gonzalez are cousins. Goldberg was speechless to hear the results of a DNA test, presented by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the host of PBS’ “Finding Your Roots”, who works with genealogy experts to help guests track down their long-lost ancestors. Co-host Sara Haines teased, ” Wow, I want to come over for your family dinner.”
-PopCulture
★ Jack Black is trading his Bowser spikes for a pick axe in his next movie role. Reports are that he’ll starring in the upcoming “Minecraft” movie, set to begin filming in New Zealand. Rumors suggest Black will be playing Minecraft character ‘Steve’, while Jason Momoa is the movie’s lead in an undisclosed role. No release date has been announced.
-PopCulture
★ Brace yourself for a Mickey Mouse horror film. The upcoming indie movie “Mickey’s Mouse Trap”, has released its first teaser, the first movie to show footage since the “Steamboat Willie” version of Disney’s Mickey Mouse entered the public domain on Jan. 1. The horror-comedy focuses on a group of friends who throw a surprise birthday party in an arcade. When they start disappearing, an unexpected foe is to blame: Mickey Mouse. Text on the teaser reads: “A place for fun, a place for friends, a place for hunting. The mouse is out.” LINK: http://tinyurl.com/msa84sux
-TheWrap

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Zac Efron, Jason Mantzoukas; Queens of the Stone Age (R)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Chloe Flower, The Roots (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Rachel Maddow, Gracie Abrams (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Colin Jost, Gael García Bernal (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Kate Hudson
• “The Talk” (CBS): Nina Dobrev, Mat Franco
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Robert Herjavec, Matteo Bocelli
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Sara Bareilles, Pinky Cole (R)
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Martha Stewart (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Howie Mandel
• “The Golden Bachelor — The Golden Wedding” (ABC): After lifetimes of love and loss and a whirlwind journey, Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist walk down the aisle to begin their next chapter.
• “General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling” (ABC): Fan-favorite cast members pull back the curtain on 6 decades in Port Charles, including behind-the-scenes moments and bloopers.
• “Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox): A Hell’s Kitchen Special Delivery. The chefs face 3 challenges to win the coveted black jackets.
• “2024 World Junior Hockey Championship” (TSN, NHL): Germany vs Norway, plus 2 semi-final matchups, teams TBD. From Gothenburg, Sweden (all games during daytime ET)

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Shawn Mendes – amid his break from performing, on Tuesday, he shared a rare video of himself singing along to a harmonium. In a lengthy post, he explained that this particular way of making music has helped him with “extreme anxiety” and “fear”, and “whatever came out it would often ease the pain”. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/39b699r7
• BTS — Jin kicked off 2024 with a special message to BTS ARMY. He shared a short video to BTS’ YouTube, wishing them happy new year and asking them to remain patient while he’s completing his mandatory military service in South Korea. He ended by saying: “I’ll be back in February and March, until then, bye!” LINK: http://tinyurl.com/46jx8kyb
• Jack White – seems to be teasing new music. On Insta, he posted a clip of guitar music, and left fans guessing that it’s a new tune by leaving the caption blank. He previously revealed that he made more music during lockdown than he had in the previous decade. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/ycyshzyk
• Eddie Vedder – The Pearl Jam frontman had a heartwarming holiday surprise for a few young musicians in Hawaii. A Facebook post from Coconut Grove Music teacher Harry Koizumi says Vedder stopped into the store and “asked if I could help him choose some electric guitars that would be good for younger players”. He then bought 3 of them, and asked if there were 3 younger students that might need them…to help them be inspired!” LINK: http://tinyurl.com/2p8vp26s
• Elton John and Brandi Carlile – have apparently recorded an album together. John’s friend, The Who’s Pete Townshend, said to Clashmusic: “They made an album together in two weeks. He says it’s one of the best things they’ve ever done.”
• Zach Bryan – has announced that at age 27, he has finally earned his Bachelor’s degree, just like he promised his late mother he would. He’s been studying and taking exams everywhere from backstage at shows to deployments overseas, during his time in the Navy. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/yr7y2b9r
• Brothers Osborne – Great line from TJ Osborne regarding eating: “I love how everyone starts the year off with diets and then we end the year with excessive amounts of food. And then you get to the end of the year, you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m going to start a diet on the 1st, so I’m going to eat everything that’s in front of me.’ I love it.” (He’s not wrong.)
• Jelly Roll – says he’s still fighting his demons. He told the New York Times: “As jovial as I am in real life, the music is a reflection of a very, very dark hallway between my ears…I dread going to sleep every night. The ghosts are there.”

SHOOTING THE BULL

SHOWER SHOW-ER:
How long should a shower last? According to a dermatologist, if you want what’s best for your skin, you should be taking maximum 5-minute showers, using lukewarm water. Dr. Alia Ahmed has a list of 10 showering practices which she says will enhance skin health and appearance. Among them: using your hands rather than a cloth. She also stresses warm showers over hot ones. Why? According to her, “Using hot water causes dilation of blood vessels, as the skin wants to cool down, which promotes inflammation and itch.” The 5-minute rule, she says, is especially important to the skin of people who have hard water, as that can lead to dryness and irritation of the skin. As for her other showering tips, they include:
• Aim for once per day
• Remember to wash extremities like ears, toes and legs
• Wash all products off properly
• Not only should the water not be too hot, don’t force yourself to have a freezing shower
• No need to double cleanse if you’re using a suitably moisturising body wash
• Use a quarter-size squirt of product
• Wash your face at the sink after your shower with lukewarm water as it’s easier on the skin
• Pick products that nourish the skin, rather than strip it, like alcohol-based ones do
(15 minutes? In 15 minutes, my wife is just getting warmed up – literally!)
(I don’t want what’s best for my skin – I want to get clean, and be comfortable while I do it!)
-StudyFinds

TECH TALK:
⇒ Social media posts may not be creating the impression that posters are hoping for, says a new study. Researchers in New York discovered that social media updates, such as Facebook statuses, often lack context and are seen in isolation, leading to misconceptions about the person doing the posting. The study found that those viewing the post generally perceive social media users as more open, having lower self-esteem, and being less reliant on others than the users perceive themselves to be. Interestingly, viewers of posts had a more accurate perception of a poster’s traits when updates were done in a multimedia format, including text, images, and hyperlinks. (Wow. If you thought you had low self-esteem before…)
⇒ Neuroscience expert and founder of Brain Tap Dr. Patrick Porter has explained exactly what is going on in the brains of people who use TikTok a lot. According to him, “TikTok Brain” is a term used to describe the cognitive and neurological changes observed in individuals who have used the platform a lot. He says: “It is characterized by a notably reduced attention span, often compared by neuroscientists to the…approximately 5-second attention span of a goldfish. This phenomenon manifests as an increased need for instant gratification and a diminished patience for tasks that are longer and more complex.” (What if someone already had a short attention span even before they used TikTok? Asking for a generation…)
-StudyFinds, PureWow

SLUMP INFO DUMP:
So – when does it hit you? New research says that the “afternoon slump” strikes at 3 o’clock on the dot for most people. You know the feeling: a loss of motivation, lack of energy, the feeling like you could put your head down and drift off at any . . . ZZZZZZZZZ. Uh…yeah…the new survey of 2,000 people in the US found that the average afternoon slump lasts for 29 minutes. Of those who experience one, half (49% agreed that Tuesdays are the day when it is most likely to happen. And what causes them? 56% said the top cause is a lack of caffeine, followed by boredom (53%), and a lack of energy (53%). The top remedies to get over the afternoon slump include taking a walk, used by 58% of respondents, followed by eating a meal (55%), and exercising (49%). Others said they take a nap (47%) or eat a snack (45%).
(They way I felt this Tuesday, I had to opt for “all of the above!)
(3 o’clock? Of all the things in life to be early for – [***afternoon guy***] had to go and pick THIS?)
-StudyFinds

IS CASH STILL KING?
Do you still use cash for many transactions? In a world dominated by debit and credit cards and mobile payment apps, a writer for the financial advice website “My Life, I Guess” came up with the following reasons that cash remains a popular choice for many . . .
☞ To Support Small Business: Some small businesses simply can’t afford the costs of accepting non-cash payments. In doing so, they avoid high transaction fees, there’s less risk of fraud, and it simplifies their accounting. (Even if this sounds shady, it could be legit. Think small food vendors or other service providers.)
☞ Better Money Management: It’s hard to follow a budget when a transaction is completed with just a swipe. Instead, many prefer to use cash to manage their money more effectively. Cash is tangible, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. (By the way, dear, if you’re listening, it’s gone!)
☞ In Case of Emergency: If the power goes out or a server goes down, cash could be your savior. Or, you could have simply forgotten your wallet at home – and are relieved to remember that $20 hidden away in your purse. (…that my kids probably stole about 6 months ago…!)
☞ Less Paper Trail: Maybe the government and major corporations don’t need to know every purchase you make. Cash transactions offer a degree of anonymity that electronic transactions do not. (Not in a town like [***local small town where everyone knows everyone***]!)
☞ Less Pressure to Tip: Many feel that prompted tips amounts on electronic payment terminals are too high. And having the server present while entering your tip adds another degree of pressure. Simply leaving a bill on the table or handing it to the worker on your way out feels more appropriate.
☞ Being Paid In Cash: If you’re paid in cash or tips, it makes sense to keep that money in your wallet to spend instead of putting it into the bank. This way, you can immediately access your money without worrying about transaction fees or processing delays.
(Good points, all of them. I’ve got to give her credit…!)
-MyLifeIGuess

DID YOU KNOW?
The average “pet parent” spends about $4,800 a year on their furry friends, according to a new poll. A survey of 2,000 dog and cat owners in the US found that last year, pet parents spent about $633 on food for their pets — but even more on treats ($645). They also spent money on fun items such as toys ($585) and clothes ($598). But vet bills were the biggest expense, averaging $1,242. On average, people with pets budgeted for about half the $4,800 in total expenditures. (How much for the pet psychologist after you made Fluffy wear that embarrassing onesie to Grandma’s?)
-StudyFinds

BS CHRONOMETER 01.04.24

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Spaghetti Day”, celebrating the Italian pasta dish that almost everyone loves. Marco Polo brought the recipe for pasta back to Europe with him after his famous trip to China in the 13th century.
• “Trivia Day”, honoring those with ‘doctorates in uselessology’.
BS TRIVIA DAY QUIZ, COURTESY OF “TRIVIA CRACK”:
⇒ Who uttered the famous salute “Live Long and Prosper”? (“Star Trek’s” ‘Spock’)
⇒ Who wrote the French romantic novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”? (Victor Hugo)
⇒ What famous phrase is Marie Antoinette known for? (“Let them eat cake”)
⇒ In the sport of bull riding, which hand do you ride with? (Either)
⇒ A group of porcupines is known as what? (A ‘prickle’)
• “World Braille Day”, observed on the anniversary of the 1809 birth of Louis Braille in France. In 1829, he published “Method of Writing Words, Music & Plain Song by Means of Dots, for Use by the Blind”. Today, the ‘Braille method’ is used in virtually every language as the standard form of reading and writing by those with vision-loss.
• “World Hypnotism Day”, to correct the myths and misconceptions about hypnotism and promote the truth and benefits of the process that helps many put aside fears, and change what they believed was unchangeable. (Not to mention bark like a dog…) LINK: http://www.worldhypnotismday.com
• “Tom Thumb Day”, commemorating the legacy of Charles Sherwood Stratton, the greatest actor of his time. Under his stage name “Tom Thumb”, he achieved global acclaim under the patronage of his mentor and adoptee, circus pioneer P. T. Barnum. Stratton, a dwarf, evaded the stigma that came with his condition and took his talent all the way to the courtyard of Queen Victoria.
• “Pop Music Chart Day”, celebrated on the anniversary of Billboard magazine publishing its first music hit parade on this date in 1936. Billboard is considered by many to be the “bible” of the music industry.

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Whipped Cream Day
[Fri] Screenwriters Day
[Sat] Cuddle Up Day
[Sun] Pass Gas Day
This Week is…Celebration of Life Week
This Month is…Brain Teaser Month

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1954 [70] Tina Knowles, Galveston TX, fashion designer (known for her House of Dereon and Miss Tina by Tina Knowles brands)/mother of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles

1957 [67] Patty Loveless (Ramey), Pikeville KY, country singer (‘Blame it on Your Heart’, ‘Lonely Too Long’)

1960 [64] Michael Stipe, Decatur GA, rock singer-songwriter (R.E.M.-‘The One I Love’, ‘Losing My Religion’)

1963 [61] Dave Foley, Etobicoke ON, actor-comedian (“The Kids In The Hall” 1988-95, 2022, “NewsRadio” 1995-99, “Hot in Cleveland” 2010-15)

1965 [59] Julia Ormond, Epsom England, movie actress (“Legends of the Fall”, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”)/TV actress (“Mad Men” 2013-15) COMING UP… “Reminisce”

1966 [58] Deana Carter, Nashville TN, country singer (‘How Do I Get There’, ‘Strawberry Wine’)

1989 [35] Michelle Mylett, Ladysmith BC, TV actress (‘Katie’ on “Letterkenny” 2016-23)

1991 [33] Charles Melton, Juneau AK, TV actor (‘Reggie’ on “Riverdale” 2017-23)

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1984 [40] “Night Court” starring Harry Anderson, Markie Post and John Larroquette, premieres on NBC

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2009 [15] Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant is voted the ‘Greatest Voice in Rock’ by the readers of New Music Express, followed by Queen’s Freddie Mercury, and Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company

2012 [12] 66-year-old Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry marries 29-year-old Amanda Sheppard, who briefly dated Ferry’s son

2020 [04] Mariah Carey becomes the first artist to top the Hot 100 in 4 different decades when ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ stays at #1 for a third week

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1863 [161] 4-wheeled roller skates are patented by James Plimpton of NY

1996 [28] The first ‘Live Rock Concert on the Internet’ features Deborah Harry, Joan Jett, Joey Ramone and The Lunachicks

TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
1975 [49] Ice thickness is measured at 4776m, at Wilkes Land, Antarctica

2010 [14] The Burj Khalifa, ‘World’s Tallest Building’ (828 m or 2,717 ft), is officially opened in Dubai UAE

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Only 5% of the world’s oceans have been explored.
✓ The British Royal family isn’t allowed to play Monopoly because it gets too competitive.
✓ Mary Stuart became Queen of Scotland at the age of just 6 days.
✓ People whose names start with ‘A’ have the longest life expectancy.
✓ The only muscle that never tires is the heart.
✓ Your earlobes line up with your nipples.
-WhattheFFacts, WomansDay

Best of BS . . .
BS ODD CALENDAR THEMES:
• People of Walmart
• “The Bachelor” contestants you forgot about
• Nuns having fun
• Pictures of last year’s calendars
• Skin disease of the month
• Mugshots
• Plumber’s cracks
• People who “can’t even”
• Nick Cannon’s child of the month
• Doomsday countdown
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018

BS EXPECTED 2024 SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES:
• Rocket science is actually the easiest of all the sciences.
• It is physically impossible to be blinded by science.
• Egyptians walk just like everybody else.
• It turns out that Pluto is actually a planet (again…).
• 2023 was actually a science experiment gone wrong.
• All you need to know about this year is there is yet another “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie coming out.
• With Bob Barker gone, the entire hopes for the future of humanity rest on Keith Richards’ shoulders.
• Men are not actually from Mars, but they’re still pretty weird.
• Wedding cake reduces a woman’s sex drive by 75%.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018

BS WEB GOODIE:
My 2024 so far:  http://tinyurl.com/y4j49rvt

BS RANDOM JOKE:
My therapist said I have trouble expressing emotion. Can’t say I’m surprised!

BS PHONE STARTER:
What food do you crave most often?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  Men are more likely to have THESE hidden away than women. What are they?
Answer:  Love letters from an ex

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Great work is done by people who are not afraid to be great.