Monday, March 23, 2020 – Edition: #6660
There’s No BS Like Show BS …
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Continuing their work-from-home program, the late-night comedians are soldiering on, bringing us important takes with a twist of humor. “The Daily Social Distancing Show” with Trevor Noah was again live from Trevor’s couch in New York City on Friday. Jimmy Fallon brought the at-home edition to his backyard, and reported that while his family’s spirits are high, the wine supplies are low. And Jimmy Kimmel used his downtime to bring us “Formal Friday” as part of his #Minilogue, in which he dressed up as if he is going somewhere.
-MSN
★ Bear Grylls has turned his attention to tackling boredom during the coronavirus outbreak by launching a new initiative designed to encourage children to try new activities and develop new skills. The survival expert and chief Scout has teamed up with the Scout movement to announce ‘The Great Indoors’ initiative, a collection of more than 100 activities that young people can do to stave-off cabin fever while they are self-isolating. How-to sessions on Facebook Live will take place alongside the resources to help parents, and will be led by Scout ambassadors such as TV naturalist Steve Backshall and ex-Olympian Helen Glover.
-MSN
★ Daniel Craig won’t leave his $145 million fortune to his children. He said that “inheritance is distasteful” and has vowed to give away his fortune rather than pass it on to his 28-year-old daughter Ella, with his ex-wife, or his two-year-old child with current spouse Rachel Weisz. Craig quote: “I don’t want to leave great sums to the next generation. I think inheritance is quite distasteful. My philosophy is to get rid of it or give it away before you go.” (His kids are reportedly ‘shaken, not stirred’ by the news…)
-MSN
★ AMC has pushed back the premiere for the third “Walking Dead” spinoff. The network announced on Friday that the debut of “The Walking Dead: World Beyond” will be delayed from April 12th to “later this year”. The series is one of many being affected by the coronavirus pandemic that has brought film and TV production to a standstill in recent weeks.
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Emily Blunt, Jake Johnson, Christina Aguilera (R)
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): David Beckham, Guy Fieri, Doja Cat (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Andrew Yang, Abby McEnany (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Beto O’Rourke, Retta, Hunter Schafer (R)
• ” The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Tom Hanks, Mila Kunis (R)
• “Conan” (TBS): Kristin Chenoweth (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Guest co-hosts Sara Haines & Rahm Emanuel
• “The Talk” (CBS): Eric Braeden (R)
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Alec Baldwin, Maya Rudolph, Hilaria Baldwin
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Joel McHale, Grace Byers, Duff Goldman
• “American Idol: (ABC): Hollywood Week–Solos
• “The Voice” (NBC): The Battles Premiere
• “Street Outlaws: Memphis” (DISCOVERY): Season 4 premiere. JJ and the MSO prepare for a fierce battle against Quinn Shireman and his racers from Kentucky; tempers flare as the two teams slug it out in the first of many brutal battles facing Memphis.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Drake — has tested negative for coronavirus after spending time with NBA player Kevin Durant, who has been diagnosed with the virus. After hearing of Durant’s diagnosis, Drake put himself into isolation at his home in Toronto.
• Rihanna – Her Clara Lionel Foundation has announced a $5 million donation to a number of organizations including food banks, disaster relief, and healthcare workers to combat the Coronavirus and aid those in the health industry. Clara Lionel Foundation “supports and funds groundbreaking emergency preparedness and education work around the world.”
• Taylor Swift — Her fans are going for Kanye West after their unedited phone conversation over the controversial lyrics in his 2016 hit ‘Famous’ leaked online. The two have been battling for years over the truth after Kim Kardashian released bits of their conversation which was recorded behind Swift’s back.
• Wyclef Jean – was featured in the new “MTV Unplugged at Home” series on Friday. Like its 1990s predecessor “MTV Unplugged”, the show offers stripped down, acoustic sets from musicians, this time because they are remaining indoors due to the global pandemic. More artists will be revealed at a later date.
• Styx – former singer Dennis DeYoung has pushed back the release date of his new album due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. “26 East, Vol. 1” will now arrive on May 22, 2020.
• Oasis — Former singer Liam Gallagher has called on his brother and ex-bandmate Noel Gallagher to agree to a “one-off” reunion in aid of coronavirus issues. He says the show should take place once the global emergency is receding and could also include other British bands who have split up, such as The Jam and The Smiths.
• Ozzy Osbourne – Has a small voice role in the upcoming animated “Trolls World Tour” movie. His song ‘Crazy Train’, has also been re-recorded for the soundtrack by “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” star Rachel Bloom. The movie, starring George Clinton, Kelly Clarkson and Sam Rockwell, will arrive April 10 via on demand services.
• Kenny Rogers – passed away at age 81 on Friday night. On Saturday, Dolly Parton tweeted, “You never know how much you love somebody until they’re gone. I’ve had so many wonderful years and wonderful times with my friend Kenny, but above all the music and the success I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend.”
• Garth Brooks — will live stream a 30-minute acoustic concert today at 7:00 p.m. (EDT) during his Facebook Live show. He’d been asking fans for requests throughout the weekend.
LOW DEF:
With so many people isolating themselves at home these days, what are they doing with their time? For many, the answer to that question is either working from home or binge-watching TV or movies. The problem? Both require internet usage. With that in mind, Netflix and YouTube have agreed to reduce streaming quality (to lower bandwidth usage) in Europe for at least the next month to prevent the internet collapsing under the strain of unprecedented usage due to the coronavirus pandemic. Netflix expects that some customers will see a reduction in picture quality, although many will not. The small number getting its most expensive package with Ultra High Definition (4K), priced at £11.99 (US$14) a month, will be the most likely to notice the difference. The majority of customers pay £8.99 (US$10.50) a month for Netflix’s standard package, which comes with high-definition quality. According to a 2019 report, video accounts for over 60% of data delivered to consumers.
(If you thought people are losing their minds now, imagine if the internet went down!)
(Fortunately, unlike toilet paper, you can’t hoard bandwidth…)
-TheGuardian, CNN
HOOP DREAMS:
Things are pretty bleak for sports fans these days, but that could change, if the NBA gets its way. Commissioner Adam Silver said last week that the league is considering some sort of charity game involving “medically cleared” players and personnel. The game would not only provide some entertainment for action-starved basketballs fans, but would also serve as a fundraiser during the league’s current coronavirus-induced hiatus. According to Silver, the big question to be answered before staging an exhibition game is this: “Is there a protocol in which (the players) can be tested and quarantined or isolated in some way, and then they can compete against each other?”
(I don’t know if they would sell tickets to this, but some people would definitely be stupid enough to buy them!)
(Do you really want to see cheerleaders wearing Hazmat suits?)
(In the meantime, here is how sports broadcasters are occupying their time: https://tinyurl.com/sf8qrvn )
-SportBusiness. BroBible
RING THE ALARM:
Handwashing is definitely an essential habit to stop the spread of germs during the coronavirus outbreak, but what about the rings and watches we wear? Could the virus survive on them, and infect us? Yes, say the experts. A study from Georgia State University found that when healthcare providers wore rings to their jobs, the area where the rings sat on their skin provided “a protected area in which bacteria can flourish.” So, what should we do? Take them off while washing our hands? Not so fast. Because putting them back on could also impede your ability to kill all of the germs on your hands. Lucy Wilson, a professor in the department of emergency health services at the University of Maryland Baltimore County says: “If rings are contaminated and you pop them back on after washing your hands, you’ve recontaminated your hands.” She says that if you aren’t going to disinfect your ring, you shouldn’t be wearing them. The best method for cleaning your rings off is to wash them with hot and soapy water, and keep in mind that using hand sanitizer on them could ruin them.
(Hey! Who needs a watch when you’re working from home!)
(And besides, with the virus going around, women have a whole other reason to avoid me besides the fact that I’m wearing a wedding ring!)
(There is not a chance in the world that I’m ever going to wash my ring without it ending up down the drain…)
-MSN
RULES FOR WORKING FROM HOME:
➢ Have A designated work space: Pick a spot that’s away from most of the commotion in the house. This also helps to make it easier to leave work at the end of the day. (I WAS going to use my home office, but that seems to have been taken over by ‘she who will remain nameless…’)
➢ Work regular hours: This might be hard for those with home-bound kids, but it is important to schedule your day as if you are working in an office. (I’ve certainly got the ‘regular coffee breaks’ part down pat!)
➢ Don’t clean: Resist the temptation to straighten up or take on large projects around the house while you’re working from home. (I could understand making an exception to this one, considering present circumstances…)
➢ Aim to leave the house at least once per day: With the ease of online shopping, food delivery, and even services to walk your dog, it can become pretty easy to stay home all day. Be sure to take a short walk, go pick up a coffee, or just a drive.
➢ Stay professional: Just because your home office doesn’t have a dress code doesn’t mean that you can wear your pajamas (or nothing at all) to business meetings. If you’re clean and dressed, you’ll conduct calls much more professionally and have better results. (Can I still wear my toasty bunny slippers?)
➢ Check in with work—frequently: You won’t see your boss or co-workers as often, so this is important. Send an extra email to confirm receipt of materials, call up a co-worker to check in on a project, and make it clear that you’re accessible and available. (Which kind of defeats the purpose – except for that whole “avoiding the coronavirus” thing…)
-ReadersDigest
DID YOU KNOW?
Spring Fever is a real physical condition which commonly occurs when a sudden warm spell follows a long cold period. When the temperature rises, the body needs to get rid of heat; thus, there’s a dilation or expansion of the blood vessels so that blood can be carried to the body surface where heat can be lost quickly. Some people experience an energetic feeling when this change happens due to the body’s reaction to the great amount of internal work going on.
-Withgia.com
BS CHRONOMETER 03.23.20
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1968 [52] Damon Albarn, London UK, alt-rock singer/songwriter/producer (Gorillaz-‘Feel Good Inc’, Blur-‘Song 2’)
1972 [48] Reggie Watts, Stuttgart Germany, band leader (“The Late Late Show With James Corden” since 2015)
1974 [46] Randall Park, Los Angeles CA, TV actor (‘Louis Huang’ on “Fresh Off the Boat” 2015-20, “Veep” 2012-16)
1976 [44] Keri Russell, Fountain Valley CA, TV actress (“The Americans” 2013-18, “Felicity” 1998-2002)/movie actress (“Waitress”, “Mission: Impossible III”)
1976 [44] Michelle Monaghan, Winthrop IA, movie actress (“Patriots Day”, “Mission: Impossible III”)/TV actress (“The Path” 2016-18, “True Detective” 2015)
1978 [42] Perez Hilton (Mario Lavandeira Jr), Miami FL, pop culture blogger (PerezHilton.com)/media personality (“Radio Perez”)
1986 [34] Brett Eldredge, Paris IL, country singer (‘Wanna Be That Song’, ‘Lose My Mind’), 2014 CMT artist of the year)
1989 [31] Ayesha Curry, Toronto ON, TV show host (“Ayesha’s Home Kitchen” 2016-17)/ wife of NBA superstar Steph Curry.
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Chip & Dip Day”. While North Americans might pick ‘Sour Cream & Onion’ or ‘Salt & Vinegar’ chips, the top flavors for ‘crisps’ in the UK include ‘Roast Beef & Mustard’ and ‘Smoked Ham & Pickle’. The Swiss like ‘Paprika’, while Thais choose ‘Prawn’, and in Egypt ‘Kebab’ is popular. The best dip? ‘Hot Bean with Jalapenos’ … or is it?
• “Puppy Day”, the idea is to save 10,000 homeless puppies in a single day by encouraging adoptions at dog pounds and rescue centers. (Although your local shelter may be closed these days, you can certainly ‘window shop’ – online!)
• “Cuddly Kitten Day”, whether you are a cat person or dog person, today serves as a reminder to pamper your pet. Cuddle and snuggle with your beloved, furry friend. Shower him or her with extra love, a few extra treats or a brand-new toy. (How happy are most doggos these days with their owners home basically all day? And how mad are cats about it?)
• “World Meteorological Day”, an annual UN observance to promote understanding of how weather, climate, and water affects us all. For one thing, it seems to be our favorite topic of conversation. What overused weather cliché should be dumped? (Mixed-bag? Dodged a bullet? White stuff? Snowmageddon?)
• “Melba Toast Day”, according to lore, the tiny thin, crispy toasts were first prepared for opera singer Dame Nellie Melba, and were named by the eminent hotel magnate Cesar Ritz. Talk about a pedigree!
COMING UP . . .
[Tues] National Agriculture Day
[Tues] National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
[Wed] National Little Red Wagon Day
[Wed] International Waffle Day
This Week Is…National Cleaning Week
This Month Is…National Social Work Month
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1997 [23] “Titanic” wins a record-tying 11 Oscars at the 70th Academy Awards, including “Best Picture” and “Best Director” for James Cameron.
2011 [09] Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor (“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, “Cleopatra”) dies in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure at age 79
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1985 [35] Billy Joel marries his “Uptown Girl”, supermodel Christie Brinkley. They remain married for nine years.
1992 [28] 1992 Billy Ray Cyrus releases ‘Achy Breaky Heart’. It becomes his signature song and starts a line-dancing craze throughout the US.
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1839 [181] First recorded use of the term “OK” [oll korrect] (in the Boston Post)
2002 [18] At the 75th Academy Awards, Eminem becomes the first rapper to take home an Oscar as ‘Lose Yourself’ from the film “8 Mile” wins ‘Best Original Song’
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2014 [06] Kentucky beats undefeated Wichita State in the NCAA basketball tournament, ending Wichita’s historic 35-0 record
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ A dull knife can slice cheese thinner than a sharp one.
✓ The lowest number that, when spelled out, uses every vowel is one thousand twenty-five.
✓ According to experts, camels have the worst breath in the animal kingdom.
✓ Only four days of every year are exactly 24 hours long.
✓ The Grand Canyon gets more snowfall annually than Minneapolis, Minnesota.
✓ According to legend, in case you’re out of garlic, constant bell ringing will also drive away vampires.
✓ Males of many species act like infants to woo potential mates.
-BathroomReadersInstitute
(***New feature, BS’ers! An alternate take on recent headline news, etc.***)
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ Americans are crossing into Mexico to buy toilet paper amid coronavirus concerns. (Hey, if you find some, please use Google Translate to tell me where, por favor!)
➠ The Australian Prime Minister has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic “is a once-in-100 year type event”. (It’s so scary down under that Men at Work have changed their name to Men on Sick Leave!)
➠ A study has found that playfulness and a sense of humor are two of the top things people find attractive. (So how come when I tell knock-knock jokes while hula-hooping, chicks avoid me like a pandemic?)
➠ A bodybuilder from Kazakhstan is set to marry his sex robot girlfriend. (If this guy is looking for advice on robotic sex, maybe I can help — I’ve been married for 10 years!)
➠ Thought of the Day: Nobody should be treated like an option. (Unless you work at a call center..)
BS SOCIAL DISTANCING PICKUP LINES:
• Hey, baby, do you come within 6 feet of here often?
• We shouldn’t get together sometime.
• Would you like to wipe down any of my surfaces?
• Since all the libraries are closed, I’m checking YOU out instead.
• You can’t spell quarantine without ‘u-r-a-q-t’.
• You smell so good. Is that Purell you’re wearing?
• Are you a pandemic, because you’ve got my heart on lockdown.
• I love your mask, but it would look better crumpled up on my floor 12 weeks from now.
• Your place and mine?
• If COVID-19 doesn’t take you out, can I?
• I have toilet paper.
-Twitter
BS WEB GOODIE:
IT’s important to keep up your regular routine: https://tinyurl.com/w8by9xy
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• According to Kenny Rogers’ hit ‘The Gambler’, what is “the secret to survivin’”?
a. Know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em
b. Knowin’ what to throw away, and knowin’ what to keep [CORRECT]
c. Never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table
d. It won’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheek
• What is the process of sterilizing liquids to kill bacteria by using heat called?
a. oxygenation
b. homogenization
c. pasteurization [CORRECT]
d. moonshinin’
• What 1994 TV miniseries, based on a Stephen King book, told the story of a supervirus that kills most of the population?
a. Thinner
b. The Stand [CORRECT]
c. The Dead Zone
d. A Bad Case of Corona
-IsTharYourFinalAnswer
BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the oddest thing you’ve ever found while Spring cleaning? (Other than the fact that you hate Spring cleaning.)
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I’m sorry for name dropping. The Queen hates it when I do that.
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: 33% of men do THIS in secret to improve their appearance. What is it?
Answer: Diet
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
You cannot be lonely if you like the person you are alone with.
