Monday, July 15, 2024 – Edition: #7754
You’re Up to Your Eyeballs in Sheet!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Shannen Doherty, best known for her roles on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed”, has died at age 53. Her publicist said in a statement: “On Saturday, July 13th she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. In June, Doherty revealed on her podcast that she would be undergoing chemotherapy for stage 4 breast cancer. She was first diagnosed in 2015.
-ET
★ Alec Baldwin’s finally reacted to the result of his manslaughter trial. Saturday, he posted a photo to Instagram of himself during the trial, seemingly taken just as he realized his legal troubles had ended. He wrote: “There are too many people who have supported me to thank just now. To all of you, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my family.” Friday, the judge dismissed the prosecution’s case — with prejudice, so it cannot be brought again — after finding law enforcement had concealed evidence. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdzfmche
-TMZ
★ Richard Simmons, the fitness instructor who reached massive celebrity status, died a day after celebrating his 76th birthday. TMZ reports he was found by his housekeeper just before 10am Saturday, and was pronounced dead at the scene, of apparently natural causes. Friday on X, he thanked fans for their birthday wishes, writing: “I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life!…Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.” News also broke over the weekend of the death of TV and radio sex therapist and author Dr. Ruth Westheimer, who was 96.
-Nexstar, People
★ Jana Kramer and Allan Russell have tied the knot! The “One Tree Hill” actress, singer and podcast host, who is 40, and the former soccer coach, age 43, exchanged vows on Saturday at a historic estate in Scotland in a nod to Russell, who hails from the country. They were joined by 35 family members and friends, including Kramer’s 2 children, Russell’s son, and their son together, Roman, whom they welcomed in November.
-People
★ ‘Gru’ and the Minions have continued their box office reign, topping newcomers “Longlegs” and “Fly Me to the Moon.” “Despicable Me 4” retained its #1 spot, with an estimated weekend take of $44.7 million, surpassing $200 million at the domestic box office. “Longlegs”, starring Nicholas Cage, crept its way to a $22.6 million opening weekend. And “Fly Me to the Moon”, the romantic comedy led by Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson, earned a projected $10 million weekend debut, good for #5.
-Variety
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Gina Rodriguez, Meagan Good, Pepe Aguilar, guest host Anthony Anderson
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Natalie Portman, Julio Torres, Pete Yorn
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Bikini Kill
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Danny Tamberelli, Lori Beth Denberg, Kel Mitchell
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Anna Faris, Colman Domingo, José Medeles
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Johnathan Shillingford, Iain Maclean
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Natalie Portman
• “The Talk” (CBS): Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Anna Faris; Kylie Cantrall
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Justin Timberlake, New Kids on the Block, Donnie Wahlberg, Mark Wahlberg, Ricky Martin, Big Time Rush
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Isla Fisher
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Offset
• “NBC News Special: President Biden Exclusive” (NBC): Lester Holt and US President Joe Biden in an exclusive one-on-one interview.
• “The Bachelorette” (ABC): Jenn and her suitors jet-set to Australia, and continue their journey to find love.
• “2024 MLB Home Run Derby” (ESPN, SN): Competitors include 2019 and 2021 champ Pete Alonso, Bobby Witt Jr., José Ramírez, Marcell Ozuna, Teoscar Hernández, Adolis García, Gunnar Henderson and Alec Bohm.
• “Contraband: Seized at Sea” (DSC): Series premiere. Agents investigate a DJ smuggling ecstasy in cans of dog food; A luxury boat with a checkered history catches agents’ attention; a boat with people smugglers attempts to make landfall.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Taylor Swift — Nelly Furtado says she has an idea for a collab between the 2 artists. The problem? Swift hasn’t heard it yet. In an interview, Furtado said she has “a song for Taylor,” and considering she’s been working with a producer who is a friend of Travis Kelce, the 2 artists should “get it popping”. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mr35fbey
• Joe Jonas – On Instagram, he revealed that his new solo single ‘Work It Out’ will arrive this Friday, and wrote: “I’m both excited and emotional as I’m gearing up to release new music.” He released his only solo album 13 years ago. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ybwhczum
• The Beaches – are among the artists nominated for the Polaris Music prize for best Canadian album of the year. Also in the running: electronic producer Bambii, Allison Russell, Cindy Lee, previous Polaris-winner Jeremy Dutcher, rappers DijahSB and Tobi, Inuk singer Elisapie, Montreal punk rock band NOBRO, and Charlotte Cardin. The winner will be crowned Sept. 17.
• Eminem – ‘Houdini’ has achieved a feat that no single from him had in over 20 years: make Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart. It debuted at #35, his first appearance on that chart since ‘Lose Yourself’ peaked at #14 in 2002.
• Stevie Nicks – was joined onstage by Harry Styles during her encore Friday night in London. Together, they performed ‘Landslide’, dedicated to Christine McVie, who would have turned 81 that day. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ms3vwham
• Sting — will be performing at New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Aug. 7 and 8 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Philippe Petit‘s highwire walk between the towers of the World Trade Center (of all things). Petit’s illegal walk was the subject of the 2008 film “Man on Wire”, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4xd727sf
• Shania Twain – will host the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards. Country music’s newest award show, in its second year, will air live on NBC on Sept. 26 with streaming on Peacock. On social media, People’s Choice wrote: “Consider this your prerogative to have a little fun!” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mtmjy6jp
• Luke Combs – His new single ‘Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma’ is his 21st consecutive career-opening top 10 single on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. The song, from the “Twisters” soundtrack, which drops this Friday along with the movie, jumped from #11 to #10 on the current chart.
• Morgan Wallen – has become the first artist in the 34-year history of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart to simultaneously hold down the #1 and #2 spots for 3 weeks. ‘Cowgirls’ ft. ERNEST is currently at #2, while Wallen’s Post Malone collab ‘I Had Some Help’ remains at #1.
SHOOTING THE BULL
TIRED OF BEING TIRED?
I hate to spring this info on you on a Monday, but according to new research, the average person spends 1,460 hours each year…feeling tired. To break that down, that works out to 4 hours of bleary-eyed staring into nothingness each and every day. Want more? The survey, carried out in the US, also found that a third of us “always” or “often” still feel tired — even after a good night’s sleep. Perhaps as a result, 32% of respondents said they find themselves procrastinating chores when they feel tired, and 30% said they sometimes simply stay in bed. 21% shared that they end up skipping exercising, and 20% avoid cooking. 58% of those surveyed agreed that being tired often keeps them from enjoying life.
(I’m the opposite: Enjoying life leads to me feeling tired!)
(Well, if being tired keeps me from cooking, at least it’s not ALL bad!)
-SWNS
A.I. RING:
Samsung has launched its latest AI-enabled wearable device – a smart ring that can help monitor your health. Last week, the company revealed the Galaxy Ring, priced at $400, as well as its latest smart watch, can both use AI to analyze health data collected from the person wearing the devices to provide customized assessments of their well-being through an “energy score” that will deliver ratings on a one to 100 scale. They can also make recommendations to the wearer, like a “virtual fitness couch”. And while most of the info will be collected on the devices themselves, some data will need to be sent to “data centers”, which Samsung promises will be protected like a virtual Fort Knox. And if you’re interested in the possibilities that something like a smart ring can present, here’s some good news. Owning one won’t mean you have another device to recharge every night: The new Galaxy Ring is equipped with a battery that can last 6-7 days before needing a charge.
(…even longer if you have activity levels like mine!)
(It’ll have to be REALLY smart to make up for the last ring I bought. That was the dumbest purchase I ever made!)
-NYPost
NEW GOOD NEWS:
➢ A Kelowna BC resident was the victim of a gnome-napping…with a happy ending. In June, Kelly Blair was sad to discover that his beloved, albeit weathered and worn, gnomes had gone missing from his front lawn. Having already had a few items go missing from his property, he grimly accepted the fact that the tiny men were likely never to be seen again. But on July 3rd, a woman showed up at his door and handed him an envelope addressed only to “The Homeowner.” Inside was a paper gnome with “Gnome Preservation Society” written on the back. The mysterious woman led him to her car, where he found all his gnomes cleaned up and meticulously painted. The woman would only offer that the society wished to remain anonymous. Blair is thrilled to have his gnomes back through the random acts of kindness, and is amazed at the handiwork of the Gnome Preservation Society, saying: “The detail is just incredible.” (No further info about the “gnome-napping” is ‘gnown’.)
➢ With all the talk about “tourists behaving badly” and the overcrowding and environmental damage that come with being a hot spot destination, the city of Copenhagen has come up with a way that might get tourists to behave. The Danish capital has launched an initiative to reward climate-conscious visitors with incentives like free meals, wine, kayaking tours, and complimentary entry to museums. People are being rewarded for their green deeds, such as arriving at a tourist attraction on a bicycle, or picking up litter. One perk allows those who take a train or ride a bike to Copenhagen’s heating plant to then ski down its sloped roof. Visitors who show up with a piece of plastic waste at the National Gallery can take part in workshops that turn that waste into art. Most of the initiatives are based on the honor system. And little wonder: A report from the Pew Research Center shows that Denmark has the highest levels of personal trust in the world.
-BoingBoing, Insider
EXTREMELY RARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE THINK ARE COMMON:
❑ Dying from a lightning strike: The chances of lightning hitting you are one in 1.1 million within any given year, and only about 10% of lightning strikes are fatal. (Still sucks if it happens to you, though…!)
❑ CPR being successful: Sad, but true. When given by a non-professional, CPR helps only in 10-12% of cardiac arrest cases. When done by pros, the success rate is still less than 25%. (Much better chance in the movies, though!)
❑ Making it big on social media: While it seems like any jerk can go viral by doing something stupid (or smart) and become a social media sensation, for every star, there are thousands and thousands of people who fail to catch on. (What a waste of all that non-talent!)
❑ Being audited: 60% of us say they fear getting audited. But in the US, only about 0.3% of taxpayers face an audit from the IRS each year. More among the $10 million-plus earners. (Nice problem to have?)
❑ Having a photographic memory: Really, a photographic memory doesn’t exist in the way most people imagine it. While basically no one can memorize a textbook by glancing at it for a few seconds, some are able to recall an image in vivid detail after seeing it. (I can’t even remember what the McDonald’s logo looks like!)
(Also not as common as we were led to believe while growing up: Quicksand!)
-Oddee
DID YOU KNOW?
Husbands cause twice as much stress for their wives as their kids do. That was the finding of a 2018 survey of 7,000 mothers in the US. The study, conducted by “Today”, also showed that the division of household tasks is one of the factors contributing to their stress, with 75% of mothers feeling that they shoulder most, if not all, of the household chores. (Maybe so, but do you have any idea how stressful it is avoiding all those household chores?)
-PositiveOutlooks
BS CHRONOMETER 07.15.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Be a Dork Day”, an annual excuse to wear goofy clothing, not brush your teeth, eat yucky food, and trip over your own feet. (In other words, act like me…)
• “Respect Canada Day” as declared by the US-based ‘Wellness Permission League’, a day to ‘show we know it’s not some strange northern province of America’. (And to thank Canada for its “permanent loan” to the US of the Stanley Cup!)
• “Give Something Away Day”, an opportunity to share some of your bounty, whether it be buying a meal for someone, donating clothing, or giving flowers to someone confined to their home. (#GiveSomethingAwayDay)
• “Get Out of the Doghouse Day”. Have you wronged someone and they’ve put you “in the doghouse?” Or, is there someone you haven’t spoken to for a while that you’ve put in the doghouse yourself? Today is for mending strained relationships that have left some in doghouses. It was started in 1999 by a florist…because what better way is there get yourself out of the doghouse then to buy flowers?
• “Hug Your Kids Day”. Hugging is practiced by almost all cultures as a way to connect to others without speaking. This day reminds moms and dads to show affection to their kids by hugging them every day. (And if it bugs them, do it twice!)
• “Gummi Worm Day”, celebrating the ooey-gooey candies first created by German company Trolli in 1981. ‘Gummi’ means ‘rubber’ in German.
• “Pet Fire Safety Day”, a day to consider ways to keep your 4-legged friend(s) safe from house fires. The #1 tip is to have an escape plan that includes your pets. (Some fire stations offer free Pet Fire Safety window stickers, so first responders know to look for any pets inside, in the event of a fire.)
• “Orange Chicken Day”. This Chinese-American dish is believed to have been invented in 1987 at a Panda Express restaurant. Sometimes known as orange peel chicken or tangerine chicken, it consists of chopped and battered chicken that’s fried until crispy, then coated in a sweet orange-flavored chili sauce that caramelizes like a glaze. (I drooled just a bit there…)
• “Tapioca Pudding Day”, While we observed “Tapioca Day” on June 28, today we should make it a point to enjoy it as a pudding. Or, get adventurous, and try it in soup, beverages, or baked goods.
• “I Love Horses Day”, to salute a greatly-loved animal and pet. Horses played an important part in history by helping us explore new territories, deliver mail, and have served in wars. Horses such as Silver, Trigger, and Mr. Ed have even become TV stars.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] Spinach Day
[Tues] World Snake Day
[Wed] World Emoji Day
[Thurs] Caviar Day
This Week Is…Parenting Gifted Children Week
This Month Is…Lasagna Awareness Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1946 [78] Linda Ronstadt, Tucson AZ, rock-country-pop-Latin-opera singer (’Blue Bayou’, w/The Stone Poneys-‘Different Drum’)/movie and stage actress (“The Pirates of Penzance”)
1952 [72] Terry O’Quinn, Sault Ste. Marie MI, TV actor (“Lost” 2004-10, “Hawaii Five-0” 2011-18)
1956 [68] Joe Satriani, rock guitarist (‘Surfing With the Alien’, w/Chickenfoot-‘Oh Yeah’, also played with Mick Jagger and Deep Purple, and touring now with Sammy Hagar)/15-time Grammy winner
1961 [63] Forest Whitaker, Longview TX, movie actor (“The Butler”, Oscar-“The Last King of Scotland”) COMING UP…”Havoc”
1963 [61] Brigitte Nielsen, Rødovre Denmark, movie actress (“Red Sonja”, “Rocky IV”, “Creed 2”) married to Sylvester Stallone 1985-87
1967 [57] Adam Savage, New York NY, TV host (“Mythbusters” 2003-18)
1972 [52] Scott Foley, Kansas City KS, TV actor (“Scandal” 2013-18)/married to Jennifer Garner 2000-04
1973 [51] Brian Austin Green, Van Nuys CA, TV actor (“Beverly Hills, 90210” 1990-2000, “Anger Management” 2012-14)/married to Megan Fox 2010-2021. COMING UP…”Chasing Midnight”
1976 [48] Diane Kruger, Algermissen Germany, movie actress (“Inglourious Basterds”, “National Treasure”)/partner of Norman Reedus since 2016
1979 [45] Travis Fimmel, Echuca Australia, TV actor (“Vikings” 2013-2017) COMING UP…“Rust”
1981 [43] Taylor Kinney, Lancaster PA, TV actor (“Chicago Fire” since 2012)/movie actor (“Zero Dark Thirty”)
2008 [16] Iain Armitage, Savannah GA, TV actor (“Young Sheldon” 2017-24, “Big Little Lies” 2017-19)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2011 [13] “Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2” (the last in the series) opens in movie theaters (grosses $1.3 billion in worldwide box office, still #18 all-time)
2016 [08] In what they famously describe as a “conscious uncoupling”, Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay singer Chris Martin divorce after 12 years of marriage
2016 [08] “Stranger Things” debuts on Netflix, created by the Duffer Brothers, starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard and Millie Bobby Brown (Season 5 is coming next year)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2015 [09] A judge trims $2.1 million from the $7.4 million in damages Pharrell Williams and co-writer Robin Thicke must pay after the ‘Blurred Lines’ copyright trial (also awards Marvin Gaye’s family 50% of future earnings)
2018 [06] ‘November Rain’ by Guns N’ Roses becomes the first ’90s video to pass a billion views on YouTube (currently: 2.1 billion). The next closest at the time is ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries, at 739 million
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
2003 [21] A Japanese company unveils the ‘Meowlingual’, a gadget it claims can translate cat meows and purrs into human phrases
2006 [18] Twitter is launched, and quickly becomes one of the largest social media platforms
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Jumbo jets use about 5,000 gallons (19,000 liters) of fuel to take off.
✓ Hair and nails grow faster during pregnancy.
✓ A strawberry isn’t an actual berry, but a banana is.
✓ Apples ripen after being picked. Oranges don’t.
✓ Sleeping next to someone you love makes you fall asleep faster, reduces depression and helps you live longer.
✓ The sleepiest animal in the world is the koala, which sleeps 22 hours a day
-BestLife, BathroomReadersInstitute
Best of BS . . .
BS ODD PASSWORD REQUIREMENTS:
• Must contain zero letters and zero numbers.
• Must rhyme with orange.
• Must include the word, or some variation of the word “PASSWORD”.
• Must include a chemical element, a doughy product and a color that reflects your soul.
• You must be at least this tall to create a password.
• Must include GPS coordinates of your house and a time you usually aren’t home.
• Must contain your father’s maiden name.
• Must be at least 280 characters long.
• Must contain the letters ‘A’ and ‘F’, in that order.
• Must contain up to 6 letters (no less than 4), up to 4 numbers, your Hogwarts House, and the maiden name of your favorite movie’s director’s mom. Also, that’s not a strong password. Please try again. Actually, sign-in with Google.
• Must be Snoopified. As in “Passwizzle”.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ A New York woman gave birth during her wedding. (That’s crazy. The only things born at my wedding were the seeds of divorce…!)
➠ The Dalai Lama has called on young people to make this a happier century. (But since he didn’t TikTok it, they didn’t get the message…)
➠ I just read that a lion’s roar can be heard from 5 miles away. (…which explains why I can hear the beginning of every movie from the theater down the street…)
➠ Happy 70th Birthday to David Hasselhoff on Wednesday. (I won’t say he’s old, but now when he runs in slow motion on the beach, he’s actually going full speed!)
➠ Fact of the Day: A study found that marrying an older man reduces a woman’s lifespan, but marrying a younger man reduces it even more. (In related news: Demi Moore is on her deathbed…)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Not “Bad”: https://tinyurl.com/p2weyfy6
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Just once, I’d like to live in PRECEDENTED times!
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• How long does it take for light to travel from the Sun to Earth?
a) It’s instantaneous
b) 8 minutes [CORRECT]
c) 11 days
d) 2-3 months, depending on the time of year
• What is Limburger cheese known for?
a) Its bright color
b) Its high price
c) Its pungent smell [CORRECT]
d) Lim, of course
• According to official rules, what is the maximum time allowed to find a lost ball while playing golf?
a) 3 minutes [CORRECT]
b) 30 seconds
c) 8 minutes
d) Who cares? It’s not like golfers follow the rules anyway
-JetPunk
BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s the weirdest thing a guest has done at your house?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
THIS is most likely to happen in your home at 8am. What is it?
Answer: People fighting for time in the bathroom
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Even if I don’t reach all my goals, I’ve gone higher than I would have if I hadn’t set any.