Tuesday, March 18, 2025 — Edition: #7916
Here’s More Bull Roar!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ ABC is sticking with a winning combination for the 2026 Academy Awards. Conan O’Brien is returning as host. Also coming back for next year’s ceremony are producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan and producers Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney. O’Brien said Monday: “The only reason I’m hosting The Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech.” The 2025 Oscars was a ratings win with 19.69 million viewers across ABC and Hulu, the largest audience since 2020. The 98th Oscars ceremony will air on ABC Sunday, March 15, 2026.
-TheWrap
★ The mystery surrounding the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, has deepened. Dr. Josiah Child, who runs a private practice in New Mexico, claims that he received a phone call from Arakawa the day after she was said to have died. He told The Daily Mail: “Mrs. Hackman didn’t die on Feb. 11 because she called my clinic on Feb. 12.” According to the doc, she had previously made an appointment for Feb. 10, but canceled it because her “husband was not well.” She called his office back “on the morning of Feb. 12 and arranged to “come in that afternoon,” but never showed up. The statement contradicts the medical examiner’s previous estimation that Arakawa died on Feb. 11.
-PageSix
★ Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas didn’t stay away from each other for long after Valentine’s Day. The 2 stepped out together for their second joint public appearance on Saturday. They were all smiles as they were photographed arriving at the London Heliport via helicopter. They sparked romance rumors over Valentine’s Day weekend when they were photographed together for the first time, walking in London’s Soho neighborhood, carrying bags of takeout from a restaurant. Neither have commented on the nature of their relationship.
-E!
★ Lucy Hale is best known as the leader in “Pretty Little Liars”, but in an alternate reality she could have been ‘Hannah Montana’. In a recent installment of BuzzFeed’s “The Puppy Interview”, Hale revealed a series of roles she auditioned for but didn’t get, including “Pitch Perfect”, “Hairspray”, “50 Shades of Grey”, “The Substance”, and, yes, for the lead role in “Hannah Montana”, which eventually went to Miley Cyrus. Hale said she tried out for the part “a couple years before they…cast Miley in it,” and said: “It was the audition that made me want to be an actress.”
-Deadline
★ Millie Bobby Brown: actress and zookeeper? The “Stranger Things” star, who lives on a farm in Georgia, recently discussed her ever-growing stable of pets – and revealed she owns a whopping 62 animals. Quote: “I have 25 farm animals, and then I have 23 foster dogs, and then I have 10 dogs in my house that are my personal dogs, and 4 cats”. When asked where the “personal dogs” sleep, Brown said that they have “real single beds.” And that her husband, Jake Bongiovi, set strict rules about the animals’ sleeping quarters: “Only one is allowed in the bed.”
-EW
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Aaron Paul, Bert Kreischer, Redd Kross
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): John Legend, Bill Burr, Black Thought
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): John Oliver, The War and Treaty (R)
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Nicole Scherzinger, Roy Wood Jr., Michael Solomonov (R)
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Melissa Rauch, Jessica St. Clair, Nico Santos (R)
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Leslie Bibb, Garcelle Beauvais
• “The Daily Show” (COM): TBA
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): The Political View with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jonathan Roumie
• “Today” (NBC): The Radio City Rockettes, Debra Messing, Willie Geist co-hosts
• “GMA3” (ABC): Eva Longoria, Paulina Chavez, Rocsi Diaz
• “Liv333e With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Blair Underwood, Dr. Wendy Bazilian
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Adam Scott, Marc Rebillet, GalaxSea Explorers
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Gal Gadot, Chet Hanks, Danny Seo
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Antoni Porowski
• “Canada’s Got Talent” (City): Season 4 premiere. Shania Twain joins returning judges Howie Mandel and Kardinal Offishall, as well as another new addition, comedian Katherine Ryan.
• “Kitchen Nightmares” (Fox): Season 2 finale. Gordon helps Chris establish fundamental systems and boundaries at Simmer Down Cafe.
• “Doc” (Fox): Season 1 finale. Amid the chaos of a mass casualty event, Gina deals with a devastating revelation and Amy is forced to confront her demons.
• “Will Trent” (ABC): Will investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl, uncovering betrayals among those closest to her; Faith and Elijah’s relationship deepens.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Lil Nas X — has released the single ‘HOTBOX’ from his upcoming “Dreamboy” album. In the vid, Nas rocks pink clothing, hangs out at a swimming pool with pink water, wears a pink robot suit, fights in a pink boxing ring, shows off a pink car, and sings while standing on top of pink speakers. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mryftjtb
• Lady Gaga – has joined the cast of “Wednesday” for its highly anticipated second season, and star Jenna Ortega is keeping coy about her role. Quote: “There’s definitely dances in the show. I’m not saying anything about her character though! Let her be incredible and amazing. She’s great…and I don’t think she’s what people expect her to be.”
• Disturbed – Pyro used during their Mar. 8 show at Chicago’s United Center caused damage to the Chicago Bulls’ 6 NBA championship banners. A spokesperson said repairs are underway, but they “will not be in place for the remainder of this season.” The banners were earned during Michael Jordan’s reign in the 1990s.
• Foreigner – Original singer Lou Gramm joined the current lineup at the band’s Saturday show in Clearwater FL to perform 2 songs. Gramm guested on ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ and ‘Hot Blooded’. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3uv3jdbb
• Poison – drummer Rikki Rockett has confirmed the band’s plan to tour in 2026. In an interview, he noted that the band will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut album “Look What the Cat Dragged In”, and said “’26 will be a Poison year”. He suggested plans will likely include a mix of headlining dates and a run of shows alongside another big-name act.
• Eric Church – Fans think a new album is on the way after he posted a mysterious video clip. It opens with a woman using a rag to clean off an old mirror or piece of art. Her necklace bears the Greek alphabet letter Sigma. Then we see a person wearing a hazmat suit with the letter “M” across the back. A stopwatch is seen counting down to what fans have calculated to be 12:30pm today. We shall see. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4usy7e6k
• Luke Combs – His answer to the question of who would play him in a biopic is a non-starter. Quote: “Oh geez…I like to think it would be like a dark comedy … I dunno, man. Maybe, Chris Farley? I mean, I know he’s dead, but he’s gotta be big, right?”
• Trisha Yearwood – will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, March 24. Yearwood will receive her star in the category of Recording (of course). On hand to pay tribute to her during the ceremony will be Reba McEntire and Carly Pearce.
SHOOTING THE BULL
TASK MASKING:
There’s a new TikTok trend called “task masking,” but it’s actually been a thing for a lot longer than TikTok has. “Task masking,” also called “fauxductivity,” is when employees make themselves LOOK busy at work — without really doing much. That could mean typing loudly, walking quickly while carrying a laptop, wearing headphones all day, or just staring blankly at a screen for hours. While some would swear Gen Z invented it, Gervase Bushe, a professor at Simon Fraser University, says it’s been happening for over 40 years. In a recent interview, he explained that task masking is a sign of disengaged workers, often caused by fewer managers, lack of oversight, and how technology has crept into the workplace. He believes that task masking shows employees don’t feel connected to their jobs or their company’s success. A survey recently showed that 48% of managers report seeing people fake busyness at work regularly.
(The other 52% of managers? They’re just not paying attention!)
(When I started my first job, we didn’t task mask, we “flask masked”!)
-CP24
WEIGHT FOR IT:
Some day soon, you’ll be able to eat your Ozempic – sort of. A number of companies are already offering GLP-1 supplements, which supposedly deliver the same benefits as Ozempic and Wegovy and other weight-loss drugs – without the expensive injections. And the latest might be the best. NotCo has developed its GLP Booster, a botanical powder that can be added to any food to help you eat less – and the company says it should be available by the end of the year. NotCo says GLP Booster uses natural ingredients to stimulate your body’s production of an appetite-regulating hormone, much like eating a high-fiber meal would. It’ll also be available as an ingredient for manufacturers, allowing brands to incorporate it into everyday foods like snacks, shakes and ready-to-eat meals.
(So…it’s powder that supposedly makes you eat less? Challenge accepted – with pleasure!)
(Why do I get a creepy feeling that my wife’s going to be sneaking that stuff into my coffee?)
-NYPost
APPRENTLY, PARENTS:
And you thought politicians and sports agents were the only who take part in exhausting, high-level dealmaking. The average parent spends 67 hours per year “in negotiation” with their child, says a new survey. 2,000 parents in the US took part in a poll which looked into the food-related battles and compromises that happen regularly in homes with children, and found the average mom or dad strikes 5 bargains with their child every week. Kids drive the toughest bargains at dinnertime, and 5-year-olds were found to be the pickiest. And what are they pickiest about? Not wanting to eat vegetables was found to be the #1 reason for mealtime bargaining, mentioned by 37% of parents. The smell of the meal was next (33%), followed by “not liking the way it looks (32%). On a happier note, the foods parents said their kids rarely turn down were: pizza (76%), chicken nuggets (73%), French fries (72%), mac and cheese (66%) and hamburgers (58%).
(Same, kids. Same.)
(67 hours a year? I think I spent that long negotiating one bite of broccoli last night!)
-SWNS
THE WORLD’S RICHEST ROCK STARS:
1. Paul McCartney (Beatles, Wings, solo): $1.2 billion
2. Bruce Springsteen ($750 million)
3. Bono (U2): $700 million
4. Elton John: $650 million
5. Sting (The Police, solo): ($550 million)
6. Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones): $500 million
6 (tie). Keith Richards (Rolling Stones): $500 million
6 (tie). Bob Dylan: $500 million
9. Eric Clapton (Cream, Yardbirds, Blind Faith, solo): $450 million
10. Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi): $410 million
-Stacker, CelebrityNetWorth
THE WORLD’S RICHEST COUNTRY STARS:
1. Dolly Parton: $675 million
2. Garth Brooks: $430 million
3. Shania Twain: $410 million
4. Toby Keith: $370 million at the time of his 2024 death
5. George Strait: $300 million
6. Faith Hill & Tim McGraw: $200 million combined (if that’s allowed)
7. Kenny Chesney: $180 million
8. Luke Bryan: $165 million
9. Alan Jackson: $160 million
10. Carrie Underwood: $140 million
(I’m just going to say that judging by these 2 lists, Taylor Swift isn’t classified as ‘rock’ or ‘country’!)
-LedgerNote
DID YOU KNOW?
The best way to reduce energy use in your household might be hanging in your backyard. New research from the University of Michigan reveals that line-drying clothes, even partially, could cut greenhouse gas emissions from drying by 41-67%, with complete line-drying eliminating them entirely. This low-tech solution often outperforms expensive technological fixes like energy-efficient dryers. The study also determined that over the lifetime of a dryer, 100% line drying could save a household more than $2,100. (And about that again in repair costs, based on my last visit from the appliance guy!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 03.18.25
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Awkward Moments Day”, a day to celebrate the humor in life’s uncomfortable and embarrassing situations … which we normally fail to see until years later. (If you need me, I’ll be sitting in the corner re-living my personal top-20…)
• “Agriculture Day”, to recognize and celebrate agriculture for the abundance it provides. Food, clothes, and many other items we use every day are provided by agriculture. Not to mention fuel and other bioproducts. (Speaking of which, it’s also…)
• “Biodiesel Day”, in honor of the clean-burning fuel that can be used in any diesel engine with no conversion whatsoever. It is derived from 100% renewable resources like soybeans, canola, mustard seed, even recycled cooking oil. The day is celebrated on the anniversary of the 1858 birth of Rudolph Diesel, the German inventor of the diesel engine. (His last name was Diesel? What are the odds?)
• “Forgive Mom & Dad Day”. No matter what mistakes they made as parents, it’s time to let it go, and get on with your life. (I’m still not forgiving them for my nose…)
• “Sloppy Joe Day”. America’s all-time favorite hot sandwich, it is often made with ground beef, onions, tomato sauce, brown sugar, cola or maple syrup to sweeten it, and seasonings to spice it, all served up on a hamburger bun or roll.
• “Goddess of Fertility Day”, celebrating Aphrodite and other gods and goddesses of fertility. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Her Roman equivalent is the Goddess Venus.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Certified Nurses Day
[Wed] Chocolate Caramel Day
[Thurs] Alien Abduction Day
[Fri] Flower Day
This Week is…Goof Off Week
This Month is…Celery Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1963 [62] Vanessa Williams, Tarrytown NY, TV actress (“Ugly Betty” 2006-10, “Desperate Housewives” 2010-12)/movie actress (“Bye Bye Birdie”)/pop singer (‘Save the Best for Last’)/first African-American to earn the title of Miss America, in 1984 (she later resigned)
1966 [59] Jerry Cantrell, Tacoma WA, alt-rock guitarist-singer (Alice in Chains-‘Man in the Box’, ‘Rooster’)
1970 [55] Queen Latifah (Dana Owens), Newark NJ, movie actress (“Chicago”, “Hairspray”)/TV actress “Living Single”, 1993-98/TV host “The Queen Latifah Show” 1999-2001, 2013-15)/rapper/jazz-pop singer (‘U.N.I.T.Y.’) COMING UP… “Ice Age 6” 2026
1972 [53] Dane Cook, Cambridge MA, comedian/movie actor (“Good Luck Chuck”, “Employee of the Month”)
1974 [51] Philip Sweet, Pocahontas AR, country singer (Little Big Town-‘Pontoon’, ‘Girl Crush’)
1979 [46] Adam Levine, LA CA, pop singer (Maroon 5-‘Moves Like Jagger’, ft. Cardi B-‘Girls Like You’)/TV personality (“The Voice” 2011-19)/TV actor (“American Horror Story” 2012)
1989 [36] Lily Collins, Surrey England, TV actress (“Emily in Paris” since 2020/movie actress (“Mirror, Mirror”, “The Blind Side”)/daughter of Phil Collins. COMING UP… “Halo of Stars”
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2009 [16] 45-year-old Natasha Richardson (Mrs. Liam Neeson) dies in NYC following a head injury suffered 2 days earlier during a ski lesson at Mont Tremblant, Québec.
2020 [05] Gal Gadot posts a video of herself and a host of celebrities singing ‘Imagine’ line-by-line from their places of quarantine during the pandemic. It doesn’t quite elicit the reaction she was hoping for . . .
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2002 [23] Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Isaac Hayes and Brenda Lee are among those inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2017 [08] Rock pioneer Chuck Berry dies at age 90.
2023 [02] Every song — all 36 of them — from Morgan Wallen’s album “One Thing at a Time” lands in the Billboard Hot 100, breaking Drake’s record of 27 from 2017. Wallen’s song ‘Last Night’ claims the top spot.
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1965 [60] Advertising mascot ‘Poppin Fresh’, the Pillsbury Dough Boy, is introduced.
2001 [24] Indiana Pacers’ Reggie Miller becomes the first NBA player to make 2,000 career 3-pointers after hitting 4 of them vs Sacramento (finishes career with a record 2,560).
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1981 [44] The Buffalo Sabres set an NHL record of 9 goals in 1 period (vs Toronto Maple Leafs).
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Before becoming a famous painter, Bob Ross was a military drill sergeant.
✓ To “snirtle” means to laugh with snorts.
✓ The distress signal “SOS” does not stand for “Save Our Souls”. The letters S-O-S were chosen because they’re the easiest Morse Code letters to use: 3 dots, 3 dashes, 3 dots.
✓ Sharks are the only fish that can blink.
✓ Couples who diet while on vacation argue 3 times more often.
✓ The average adult spends more time on the toilet than exercising.
-BathroomReadersInstitute, RandomFactGenerator
Best of BS . . .
BS THINGS FOUND DURING SPRING CLEANING:
What have you dug up around the house that you’d forgotten you had? Perhaps …
• A box of useful 5-and-a-quarter-inch floppy discs.
• Vintage hairballs, courtesy of ‘Fluffy’.
• That copy of “Purple Rain” you were sure your girlfriend stole when she left … in 1998.
• A valuable collection of fridge mold … 10 years in the fermenting.
• Your stockpile of microwave popcorn from ‘Y2K’.
• A complete set of ‘Garbage Pail Kids’ cards.
• The OTHER pink sock you thought the dryer ate.
• Or maybe just … your hatred of Spring Cleaning?
BS STUPID STOCK MARKET QUESTIONS:
• Is it like golf where it’s good to have fewer points?
• Why is the person who’s supposed to help me make money called a ‘broker’?
• How can I “sell high” if I’m out of weed?
• So, that bell means it’s break time, right?
• Can I buy both beef and chicken stock? I’m making soup.
• If I have a Hedge Fund, do I get free shrubbery?
• How can I get rid of my Tesla stock?
• Is the Bond market shaken or stirred?
• Is it too late to ask for my money back?
• How low can you go?
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2020
BS WEB GOODIE:
Of course, it’s the music that makes it great: https://tinyurl.com/mr3j7xdv
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Today I’m wearing pink to raise awareness for people like me who forgot to separate their red laundry from the whites.
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
Delete one vegetable. Go!
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
In a survey, 1% of people said they usually do THIS in under a minute. What is it?
Answer: Fall Asleep
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Storms make trees take deeper roots.