Wednesday, January 29, 2025 — Edition: #7882
There’s Nothing Like a Good Sheet, Early in the Morning!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ We’re going to be hearing about it for at least another year. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal battle officially has a trial date. A month after Lively filed a lawsuit against her “It Ends With Us” director and costar, a court date of March 6, 2026 has been set. And Lively’s lawsuit—which accuses Baldoni of sexually harassing her on set of the film and hiring a crisis PR expert to help destroy her reputation — won’t be the only case addressed during the hearing. The judge decided to “consolidate” her case with Baldoni’s lawsuit, which seeks $400 million and alleges that Lively implemented her own smear campaign against him, and hijacked his role as director of the film.
-E!
★ Gwyneth Paltrow recently sold her 8,000-square-foot mansion in Brentwood’s Mandeville Canyon for $22 million, though it fell far short of her initial asking price. The Wall Street Journal reports she originally listed the home for $29.99 million, later reducing it to $24.9 million. The estate, which avoided damage during the LA wildfires, boasts luxurious features including 6 bedrooms, a large kitchen with a wood-burning oven, as well as a one-bedroom guesthouse. It also includes an office, gym, wine cellar, movie theater, and game room. Paltrow purchased the home in 2012 with then-husband Chris Martin. Despite the $8 million price drop, the sale still leaves her with a substantial return.
-ExpressTribune, TMZ
★ Kevin Costner has teamed up with Fox Nation for a new docuseries focused on America’s national parks and their history — including Yellowstone. The 3-part limited series, titled “Yellowstone to Yosemite with Kevin Costner,” will be hosted and executive produced by Costner, who previously teamed with Fox Nation for 2022 documentary “Yellowstone: One-Fifty.” In the series, Costner will walk through President Teddy Roosevelt’s establishment of a more structured National Park System, which solidified the creation of 150 National Forests and 5 National Parks. The series premieres Feb. 8
-TheWrap
★ “The Big Bang Theory” was the “most-binged title” in streaming in 2024, according to a new report from Nielsen. The sitcom averaged 265.5 episodes per viewer on Max, the measurement firm said, or 29.1 billion minutes of total viewing. The CBS series has 281 total episodes available for streaming, and it came in at #7 overall among the year’s top streaming titles.
-Deadline
★ Kelly Clarkson is apologizing to the cast and crew of “The Rookie” after her 2023 cameo on the ABC drama. She appeared in the Season 5 episode titled “Death Notice” playing a version of herself. During a fan Q&A on “The Kelly Clarkson Show”, she said: “Oh my God, I was terrified. I have to apologize to that cast and crew.” She said that she is a big fan of Nathan Fillion, and “I already get nervous on sets, but then he made me more nervous than I have ever been on a set… I was an idiot on that set.”
-Deadline
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Ringo Starr, Noah Centineo, Nessa Barrett
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Amy Schumer, Joe Keery, Djo
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Drew Barrymore, Brandon Scott Jones
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Alan Cumming, Paul Skenes, Emilio Vitolo
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Jinkx Monsoon, BenDeLaCreme, Peaches Christ
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Garcelle Beauvais, Bob Harper
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Rachel Mason, host Michael Kosta
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Harvey Guillén
• “Today” (NBC): Rob Gronkowski, Ciara co-hosts
• “GMA3” (ABC): Gloria Gaynor, Joaquina Kalukango
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Lacey Chabert, Dr. Jennifer Ashton
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Sterling K. Brown, Carrie Preston
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Michelle Yeoh, Pilar Valdes
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Lil Rel Howery
• “Hollywood Squares” (CBS): Celeb guests include Nicole Byer, Drew Carey, Bobby Moynihan, Chelsea Peretti, Phil Rosenthal, JB Smoove, Julie Bowen, Margaret Cho, Kevin Nealon, RuPaul and Paul Scheer.
• “Chicago Fire” (NBC): Chicago’s first responders unite in the wake of a catastrophic gas explosion and fire that threaten a city government building. Followed by a new “Chicago Med” and “Chicago PD”.
• “Shifting Gears” (ABC): When Riley discovers a closet filled with her late mother’s clothes, she insists Matt hasn’t processed her death and urges him to see a grief counselor.
• “Paradise” (ABC): Series premiere. It’s just another day in Paradise until Agent Xavier Collins discovers one of the world’s most powerful people has been murdered – and recalls his complex relationship with the victim.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Lady Gaga – has announced that her 7th album “Mayhem,” will be released March 7. She has released multiple versions of the album’s first single ‘Disease’, as well as her #1 hit with Bruno Mars ‘Die With a Smile’, which will also appear on the album. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2yjdt29c
• Katy Perry – has announced the American leg of her “Lifetimes” tour. It’ll start May 7 in Houston, and run through Aug. 23 in Miami. Tix go on sale Friday. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4mnb9my6
• Taylor Swift – has been named best-dressed celeb of the decade by SuperDry. It analyzed average monthly Google searches for style among celebrities, and found she is the subject of an average 83,200 of them each month. Harry Styles came a distant second, with an average of 20,876 searches.
• David Lee Roth – has been announced as a co-headliner of the M3 festival in Columbia MD on the first weekend of May. Roth, who had supposedly retired from performing, joins a bill that also includes Sebastian Bach, Winger, Ace Frehley, and a partially reunited Ratt, plus more. LINK: https://m3rockfest.com/
• The Who and The Sex Pistols – are the first names announced for this year’s Teenage Cancer Trust Royal Albert Hall concert series. On May 24, opening night, The Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter will perform, while The Who and Level 42 will play March 27 and March 31.
• Alice Cooper — has announced a fill-in guitarist for his fill-in guitarist. Former Guns N’ Roses axeman Gilby Clarke will take over duties for Nita Strauss on Cooper’s tour beginning this Friday. Orianthi had previously been announced as Strauss’ fill-in, but she’s dealing with back and hip issues.
• Luke Bryan — will kick his “Country Song Came On Tour” May 29 in Bethel NY. The 30-city tour concludes Aug. 31 in Buffalo. Opening acts will include George Birge, Avery Anna, Ashland Craft, Mae Estes and more, with DJ Rock appearing on all dates. Tix go on sale tomorrow. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/u39ft8wu
• Zach Bryan — followed through on his promise to release his long-teased single, ‘Blue Jean Baby’, if his beloved Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Commanders. Just hours after they booked their spot in the 2025 Super Bowl, Bryan made the song available to stream. He also posted that he’ll be releasing both an EP and an album before the year is out. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ynnphwc4
• Post Malone – shared his weight loss secrets in an interview. He told Howard Stern that he lost 60 pounds by adopting a healthier diet while on tour, eating grilled chicken, carrots and white rice — with a key ingredient: Hot sauce. Posty said he was shocked to learn that the spicy sauce has no calories, and using it helped him cut out fried foods and unhealthy snacks.
SHOOTING THE BULL
ALARMING THOUGHT:
These days, who DOESN’T use their smartphone as an alarm clock? Here’s the thing, though: Experts are warning that you might be better off using a good old-fashioned alarm clock instead. Dr. Shalini Paruthi, sleep medicine attending physician at John J. Cochran Veterans Hospital in St. Louis and adjunct professor at St. Louis University School of Medicine (who, by the way, has an incredibly large business card…) says that if you keep your phone in another room, you’ll “decrease the opportunity for distraction from sleep, and also decrease opportunity for sleep procrastination.” What he means is that by having a phone at your bedside, it means it always sitting there, giving you easy access to scroll at night — and an easy snooze button in the morning. And remember: those late-night doomscrolling sessions aren’t just bad for your mental health, the exposure to bright light is not a good way to help the brain transition into a “fall-asleep” state.
(I can’t even remember HOW to set an alarm clock! Do they come with an app for that?)
(OK, I can see not using my phone as an alarm clock. And I can see not staying up all night doomscrolling. But sleep with it in another room? What about my 1am craving to check if the internet still exists?)
(Really? The solution to better sleep is just moving my phone to another room? And then I’m expected to just lie there in bed wondering if anyone liked my post from 4 hours ago?)
-CNN
NEW FOOD NEWS:
❑ Get set for another new Coca-Cola flavor. A year after Coca-Cola Spiced went over like ketchup on cookies, the drink company has announced that Coca-Cola Orange Cream will go on sale Feb. 10 in Canada and the USA. The new soda, which will be sold in regular and zero sugar varieties, mixes cola with orange and vanilla flavors. Orange cream, which was introduced with the Creamsicle ice cream bar in 1937, has enjoyed a recent renaissance. The probiotiv soda Olipop introduced an orange cream flavor in 2021. Carvel reintroduced its Orange Dreamy Creamy ice cream last year for the first time since 1972. And Wendy’s debuted an Orange Dreamsicle Frosty last spring. (I’m starting to think they have a dartboard full of random flavors and they’re just randomly throwing darts at it. I can’t wait for Coca-Cola Peanut Butter & Jelly. You heard it here first!)
❑ Like it or not, get ready for the new pizza -flavored Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. Uh-huh. General Mills has partnered with Totino’s on the new food collab, which they say combines “the savory flavor from Totino’s Pizza Rolls with the “Cinnadust” and cereal shape of Cinnamon Toast Crunch for a ‘match made in mashup heaven’. And the breakfast and dinner combo will even be served in a package resembling a pizza delivery box. Only 1,000 boxes are available on the Cinnamon Toast Crunch website. (I’d imagine they’re gone by now – sent off to 1,000 people who now wish they’d never heard of it!) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3js2ksp7
-AP, NYPost
LATEST LINGO:
“Oomf is a slang term among the Gen Z crowd that has been pushed into the limelight recently. It has actually existed as a Twitter (now X) hashtag since 2010 as a shortform for “One of my followers”. People often use it online to talk about other social media users they interact with, and it seems now to more often mean “one of my friends”. The idea is that you could be referring to almost anyone by using the term, which means no one can assume they are the person you’re talking about – and therefore, they can’t be offended when you gossip about them. Chloe Forero, as 21-year-old content creator, made a TikTok explaining the meaning of oomf, in which she said: “I fully admit I use that to sneak-diss my friends that I can’t fully confront in person.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mr3e2838
(Ah! So another word for “an excuse to be passive-aggressive”!)
(Oomf: When you want to say “this is about you” without actually saying it!)
-BuzzFeed
JERKPLACE:
Apparently, being late for work is no longer the taboo thing it once was. Just 14% of employees cite tardiness as an irritating office behavior, according to a survey conducted by the job recruitment company Monster. Maybe so, but according to the survey, these 5 workplace behaviors can leave your co-workers enraged…
☞ Failure to clean up after yourself: This was voted the most irritating office behavior. 88% of respondents agreed that leaving a trail in your wake as you carry out your duties is bad for office morale, and simply maddening. (I just realized why my wife told me I’m no longer allowed to work from home!)
☞ Gossiping: 81% said this is an office no-no. (But let’s be honest, we all love hearing about Gwendolyn’s mysterious ‘doctor appointment’ every other Friday!)
☞ Inappropriate language: 78% feel that using less-than businesslike language is, well – not appropriate…or even enraging. (But if you accidentally delete the presentation 5 minutes before the meeting, I’d say a few colorful words are practically mandatory!)
☞ Being late for meetings: 77% said that while they didn’t really care when others show up at work, if there is a mandated meeting scheduled, you’d better be on time.
☞ Unresponsiveness to messages: 77% also said that with most of us glued to our smartphones throughout the day, and with other tools such as Teams and Slack, there is no excuse for not getting back to someone. (There’s a fine line between “not responding” and “avoiding messages until I’m emotionally prepared to answer your stupid question”!)
(OK – I’m good with all of these – as long as I can still show up at whatever time I want!)
-NYPost
DID YOU KNOW?
Frogs can see color – even when it is pitch-black out, scientists say. Researchers from Sweden’s Lund University say they unexpectedly discovered the “incredible super-power” of frogs. While human vision loses color in low light, they found that frogs and toads seem to have special capabilities for still seeing color – even when it is so dark that humans can’t see at all. Further experiments found that frogs use their color vision superpower to navigate out of underground passageways – and when hunting for food in the dark. (Wow! I bet those worms and mosquitos look EXTRA tasty in the moonlight!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 01.29.25
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Chinese New Year”. It’s also called Lunar New Year, an annual festival in China and Chinese communities around the world that begins with the new moon and culminates with the Lantern Festival. This is the beginning of the ‘Year of the Snake’. (Keep your political jokes to yourself!) LINK: https://chinesenewyear.net/
• “Corn Chip Day”. Developed in Mexico, they’re not only eaten plain, but with salsa, cheese, and dips. They can be used as a salad topper, are found in party mixes, and used in Tex-Mex recipes such as Frito pie. (And they smell like your dog’s feet!)
• “Curmudgeons Day”, an annual celebration of the crusty, yet insightful, wags who consistently apply the needle of truth to the balloons of hypocrisy and social norms. Celebrated on the birthday of late comedian WC Fields, one of the all-time most beloved curmudgeons.
• “Seeing Eye Dog Day”, commemorating ‘The Seeing Eye’, North America’s first guide dog school, which opened in Nashville, Tennessee on this date in 1929.
• “Puzzle Day”, celebrating one of our all-time favorite pastimes. What’s your favorite: Jigsaw or Crossword? (Mine’s trying to remember my online passwords!)
• “National Carnation Day”, honoring the memory of US President William McKinley. The carnation was said to be McKinley’s favorite flower, and he always wore one on his lapel.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Escape Day
[Thurs] Yodel for Your Neighbors Day
[Fri] Hot Chocolate Day
[Sat] Change Your Password Day
This Week is…Take Back Your Time Week
This Month is…Poverty Awareness Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1940 [85] Katharine Ross, Los Angeles CA, movie actress (“The Graduate”, “The Stepford Wives”)
1945 [80] Tom Selleck, Detroit MI, TV actor (‘Frank Reagan’ on “Blue Bloods” 2010-24, “Magnum, P.I.” 1980-86)/movie actor (“Three Men and a Baby”)
1954 [71] Oprah Winfrey (“Queen of All Media”), Kosciusko MS, TV network mogul (OWN)/TV talk show host (“Oprah” 1986-2011)/movie producer-actress (“Selma”)/magazine publisher (“O”, now online only)
1968 [57] Ed Burns, Queens NY, movie actor (“Saving Private Ryan”)/movie producer-director (“She’s the One”)/TV producer (“The Wire”)
1970 [55] Heather Graham, Milwaukee WI, movie actress (“The Hangover” movies, “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”)/TV actress (“Scrubs” 2004-05)
1975 [50] Sara Gilbert, Santa Monica CA, TV personality (“The Talk” 2010-19)/TV actress (“Roseanne” 1988-97, “The Connors” since 2018, “The Big Bang Theory” 2007-10, 2016)
1977 [48] Justin Hartley, Knoxville IL, TV actor (“This Is Us” 2016-22) COMING UP… “Bride Hard” movie
1982 [43] Adam Lambert, Indianapolis IN, pop-rock singer (‘Whataya Want from Me’)/2009 “American Idol” runner-up/“Queen + Adam Lambert” singer since 2011
1983 [42] Eric Paslay, Abilene TX, country singer (‘She Don’t Love You’, ‘Friday Night’)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2006 [19] A US 39-cent stamp is released, featuring Hattie McDaniel in the dress she wore in 1940 when she became the first African-American to win an Academy Award.
2019 [06] “Empire” star Jussie Smollett suffers an apparent racist and homophobic attack in Chicago. It was later determined to be a self-perpetrated hoax.
2022 [03] Howard Hesseman, star of “WKRP in Cincinnati” (‘Dr. Johnny Fever’) and “Head of the Class”, dies of colon surgery complications at 81.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2009 [16] Kelly Clarkson makes the largest leap to date in “Billboard Hot 100” chart history, rising 96 places to #1 with ‘My Life Would Suck Without You’.
2014 [11] Over 100,000 Americans sign a petition to deport Canadian Justin Bieber out of the USA after his arrest for DUI and driving without a valid license (doesn’t happen).
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1936 [89] The first members of the Baseball Hall of Fame are announced in Cooperstown NY: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Matthewson, and Walter Johnson.
1963 [62] The first members of the NFL Hall of Fame are announced in Canton OH, including Jim Thorpe, Red Grange, and George Halas.
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Astronaut is a compound word derived from the Ancient Greek words “Astro,” meaning “star,” and “naut” meaning “sailor.”
✓ The Buddha commonly depicted in statues and pictures is a different person entirely. The real Buddha was incredibly skinny due to deprivation.
✓ At birth, a baby panda is smaller than a mouse.
✓ Bubbles from a bubble bath thermally insulate the surface of the water, keeping the bath warm for a longer period of time.
✓ There are more Lego Minifigures than there are people on Earth.
✓ A Cinnabon study found that the scent of cinnamon causes mall shoppers to be more polite.
-KickAssFacts, TheFactSite
Best of BS . . .
BS THINGS YOU DON’T EXPECT TO SEE ON A BABY SHOWER ANNOUNCEMENT:
• “Clothing optional.”
• “Baby Wendy, 19 inches, 84 pounds.”
• “BYOB”
• “Don’t forget your towel!”
• “Chiefs game to follow.”
• “RSV Pee-Pee.”
• “Best wishes only”
(***Caution***) • “Stephanie, you’re not invited, bitch.”
-First published in BS in 2009
BS PONDERABLES:
• What was Captain Hook’s name before he got the hook?
• How can one person be “dirt poor”, and another “filthy rich”?
• If Mars had earthquakes, would they be called marsquakes?
• Can you plan a surprise birthday party for a psychic?
• If you speak only one language, are you lingual?
• Did Noah have woodpeckers on the ark? If so, where did he keep them?
• How does a real estate company sell its office?
• Why are builders afraid to have a 13th floor, but book publishers aren’t afraid to have a Chapter 11?
-CrazyThoughts, first published in BS in 2019
BS WEB GOODIE:
Good boys, unscripted: https://tinyurl.com/34kdzv8x
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I just found out there’s no popcorn in popcorn shrimp. I guess now there’s no reason to try pot roast…
BS NAME GAME:
Which is the company’s original name?
• Yahoo!
a) Dick and Jen’s Networld Explorer
b) Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web [CORRECT]
c) Tom and Harry’s .COM Surf Machine
• Amazon
a) Cabana Inc.
c) Capybara Inc.
c) Cadabra Inc. [CORRECT]
• Snapple
a) Unadulterated Fruit Products [CORRECT]
b) Next Generation Juices
c) Generic Fruit Drinks Plus
• 3M
a) Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company [CORRECT]
b) MM&M
c) Minnetonka Menswear Manufacturer
• Subway
a) Mary’s Hoagie Heroes
b) Paul’s Sub Hub
c) Peter’s Super Submarines [CORRECT]
-BuzzFeed
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the most awkward thing that happens to you on a regular basis?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
In a sign of changing times, 10% of us have never used one of these. What is it?
Answer: A wall calendar
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.
