Wednesday, March 5, 2025 — Edition: #7907
Sheet Happens!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ A trailer for “Leaving Neverland 2” has dropped, promising to pick up the pieces of the bombshell 2019 documentary in which Michael Jackson faced pedophilia allegations. UK broadcaster Channel 4 posted a 40-second teaser for the film, which follows Wade Robson and James Safechuck’s fight for justice after accusing the King of Pop of sexual assault. Robson is seen saying: “I want my day in court,” to which Safechuck adds in a separate interview: “People must have known.” The hour-long film details the personal toll of going public with their accusations, and the backlash from Jackson’s army of fans. “Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson” premieres March 18. It’ll be available in North America on YouTube. LINK: https://youtu.be/9MB47h9IQOg
-Deadline
★ There’s more change within “The Bachelor” universe. Deadline reports that co-executive producers Michael Margolis and Keely Booth have exited the ABC dating franchise. That comes amid challenging circumstances behind the scenes of the show and its spinoffs. Last month, it was revealed that “The Bachelorette” had been paused for its 2025 cycle, leading to a slew of crew members losing their jobs on the franchise. Subsequently, a dozen former and current producers accused showrunners and executive producers Claire Freeland and Bennett Graebner of running a “toxic” and “hostile” environment, accusations the pair deny. Margolis and Booth resigned at the end of last week.
-Deadline
★ Fox is aiming to launch its new streaming service by the start of the NFL and college football seasons later this year, CEO Lachlan Murdoch said. Speaking at Morgan Stanley’s Technology, Media and Telecom conference in San Francisco, Murdoch said “the aspiration” is for the unnamed streaming service to hit the “mid-single digit millions of subscribers range.” His comments come a month after Fox announced it will launch a new subscription-based streaming service. The plan is for it to be priced “relatively low” and offer “existing content and existing brands”, including Fox shows, sports, and news.
-TheWrap
★ Kourtney Kardashian has shut down rumors about her son Mason having a “secret baby”. She was responding to rumors that she was a grandmother, denying that 15-year-old Mason, who was born to Kardashian and former partner Scott Disick, is a father. On her Instagram Stories, Kardashian shared a statement that reads: “I rarely address rumors of conspiracies regarding myself or my family, but this is about my child and it feels wrong to let anyone think for a second that these lies are remotely true. They are not. Mason does not have a child.”
-DigitalSpy
★ Conan O’Brien is welcome back to host the Oscars anytime, according to Walt Disney TV’s Rob Mills, the exec VP of unscripted and alternative entertainment. Mills was basking in the high marks that both O’Brien and the overall Oscars ceremony received for Sunday’s show, and remarked that: “Conan absolutely nailed it.” He said of the evening: “This was almost like Conan’s greatest hits…An incredibly funny monologue that had the hallmarks of what Conan does: silliness, self-deprecation, jokes that are funny — and then 20 minutes later you realize they’re really funny.” So, will he return? “That’s really up to Conan, but I know we would love to have him back,”
-Variety
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Walton Goggins, Mike Epps, Balu Brigada
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, Stephen A. Smith, Kai Cenat, Inhaler
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Jake Tapper, Paris Paloma
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Mindy Kaling
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Mitra Jouhari, Sandy Honig, Alyssa Stonoha
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Kyle Cooke, Tom Sandoval
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Julien Baker & TORRES, host Michael Kosta
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Questlove, Porsha Williams
• “Today” (NBC): Trace Adkins, Parker Posey, Regina Hall co-hosts
• “GMA3” (ABC): Wendell Pierce and Erika Woods; Samantha Brown
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan; Jenna Dewan
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Jason Derulo and Nora Fatehi; Jason Issacs, Allie X
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Bill Murray; Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Kathy Bates, Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio, and Leah Lewis
• “Survivor” (CBS): A castaway’s quick decision making must outlast the test of time when 3 castaways are sent on a journey.
• “The Amazing Race” (CBS): Season 37 premiere. In Hong Kong, 14 teams confront the inaugural Fork in the Road, creating 2 parallel races where 2 teams will be eliminated.
• “The Masked Singer” (Fox): Group B Premiere: Voices of Olympus
• “Chicago Med” (NBC): Ripley struggles to rescue a woman and her daughter trapped in an abandoned well; an old friend from Frost’s TV days shadows Maggie. Followed by new eps of “Fire” and “P.D.”.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Harry Styles – completed the Tokyo marathon over the weekend. Video shows him being cheered on by supporters, to whom he gives a big smile and flashes a peace sign. The marathon’s online records show he finished in 3 hours and 24 minutes, averaging 7:47 per mile.
• Katy Perry – kicks off her “Lifetimes” tour later this year, and she describes the show as a “sci-fi, hopeful video game” with “intense choreography,” as well as “flying” on wires, like she did on the VMAs. The stage is a figure 8, with two pits and what Katy calls “a special place called Club 143” with a bar. The set will include a “choose-your-own-adventure” segment of requests from fans.
• Alanis Morissette – has announced her first-ever Vegas residency. “Alanis Morissette: Las Vegas 2025” will take place at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. She is scheduled to deliver 8 performances there Oct. 15-Nov. 2. Tickets go on sale this Friday. LINK: https://www.ticketmaster.com/AlanisVegas
• The Offspring — have announced a 2025 North American summer tour with Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory. The newly-announced dates are part of the band’s “Supercharged Worldwide In ’25” tour, and begin July 11 in West Palm Beach FL. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdwdsaeu
• Neil Young – says he is “currently in talks” to visit Ukraine and play a free show to kick off his summer tour with the Chrome Hearts. No word yet on where or when, but the European leg of his tour begins June 18 in Sweden. He’ll announce the details on his Neil Young Archives website.
• Cole Swindell – has announced that his wife, Courtney, is pregnant. It’ll be the first child for the couple, who were married June 12, 2024. She appeared in his ‘Some Habits’ video, and he later joked that it was “sort of” their first date. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ms6zcacs
• Brad Paisley – has announced his 2025 “Truck Still Works” tour. It begins May 21 in Idaho Falls ID, and includes 20 dates May through Aug. Walker Hayes will open most shows. Tickets go on sale Friday. LINK: https://www.bradpaisley.com/
• Garth Brooks – will release part 5 of his “Anthology” book series this spring. It’ll cover his more-recent past, taking fans behind the scenes of a record-breaking arena tour that ran 2014-17. “The Anthology Part V: The Comeback” will be released at Amazon April 4. The book will come with 6 CDs containing 66 songs.
SHOOTING THE BULL
LAST NAME FIRST:
Baby name experts say there’s a recent trend that’s – well, backward. They are seeing an increase in first names given to newborns that are commonly thought of as surnames. And really, it’s not a new thing at all. Namerology founder Laura Wattenberg points out that there are many surnames that have become “so well established” as first names that we no longer think of them as surnames at all, such as Milton or Irving, which date back over 100 years. Or Glenn, Stewart, Curtis, and Wayne. More recently, Courtney, Taylor and Kelsey have all been big as first names. She points out that today, some last names that are starting to become common given names include Cash, Davis, Everly, Quinn and Wells. And she predicts we may see some other last names become first names, including Kingsley, Beck, and Sterling. Other “genteel” last names that are good candidates to become big as first names are: Montgomery, Shepard and Jennings, and one-syllable names like Locke, Holt, and Penn. Want more? Collins, Brooks, and Hayes might all become popular first names, as could Harlow, Winslow, Lennox and Knox.
(By 2050, I think every classroom will sound like the membership list at an exclusive country club!)
(Still no Zuckerbergs, huh?)
-Today, NYPost
MORE NEW FOOD NEWS:
❑ A budget-friendly drinks giant known for its bubble tea offerings has overtaken McDonald’s and Starbucks as the world’s largest food and beverage chain, by number of stores. China-based Mixue Bingcheng, which means “honey snow ice city”, now has over 45,000 outlets worldwide. With its signature drinks priced between the equivalent of US 30 cents to $1.20, and a snowman mascot, Mixue’s founder said his strategy is simple: “Let people around the world eat well and drink well for just 2 American dollars.” (Yeah, but for 2 bucks, you’ve gotta wonder exactly what it is that you’re actually eating and drinking…!)
❑ The news broke late last year, but now it’s real: “Reese’s is set to release a crazy new peanut butter and jelly peanut butter cup in 2025”, according to foodie and influencer “SnachWith Zach” (who supplied pics of the packaging). The new PB&J cup will come in 2 flavors: strawberry and grape. No release date has been announced yet, but they should hit stores sometime next month. Oh, and BTW, Zach also says that Reese’s is going to introduce a new red velvet peanut butter cup sometime this year. (It’s about time. Like, why go through all the trouble of making a sandwich when you can just eat chocolate?)
LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ysxnuf52
-Delish, CNN
A ‘CASE’ FOR SOLAR-POWERED PHONES:
A company has announced it has a working prototype of a solar-powered, wireless charging case that will fit on any phone. Infinix debuted it at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. In a demonstration, a representative pointed a source of light to the phone’s rear surface, and the device started charging. Of course, for the charging case to work, your smartphone needs to have wireless charging. The case, while not all that attractive, is simple, fairly thin, and easily put on and removed from your device. The bad news? It would take a couple days to fully charge a typical phone. The good news? Simply placing your phone (in the case) out on a sunny day should get you some power.
(Wow! The future is here! As long as you don’t need your phone… anytime soon…)
(It looks like your phone will be getting more sun this summer than the cast of “Jersey Shore”!)
-Mashable
HOW NOT TO LET DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME RUIN YOUR SLEEP:
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am Sunday (in the US, Canada, and many other countries). Although this means one less hour of sleep that night, there are some steps you can take to avoid upending your sleep-wake cycle – and potentially increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke (as well as general sleepy-headedness…). Here are some steps you can take now to minimize the impact on your schedule and body, according to Alcibiades J. Rodriguez, MD, director of sleep medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine…
☞ Be sure to get morning light: Natural light is essential for circadian rhythm, and next week, the sun will rise an hour later, thanks to the clock switch. Exposure to bright morning light boosts cortisol, increasing alertness and setting the stage for better sleep at night. (Yes, hopefully I’ll have the chance to spend some quality time each morning scraping the ice off my windshield!)
☞ Adjust your sleep schedule: Hit the hay 15-20 minutes earlier than usual for the rest of the week – and wake up 15-20 minutes earlier, too. But try to stick to your typical work schedule, exercise regimen and diet, so as not to overwhelm your body with changes. (So, when do I get to make up for that hour of sleep I’m about to lose?)
☞ Maintain your bedtime rituals: A consistent nightly routine helps the body adjust to the new time. Also, avoid caffeine and alcohol at night, stop using your phone and computer an hour before bed, don’t exercise or eat for 2 hours before bed, and DON’T KEEP CHECKING THE TIME when you’re trying to fall asleep! (Well, now that you’ve shouted, I’m going to be awake that much longer…)
(And by the way, 2024 research from Oklahoma State University linked sleep quality with the use of profanity – so LOOK OUT, WORLD on Monday!)
-NYPost
DID YOU KNOW?
According to a study, humans have 27 distinct emotional states. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley had 853 men and women watch short video clips meant to evoke a range of reactions, hoping to measure the true spectrum of human emotions. Nearly all participants reacted in a similar manner to any given video. And the researchers were able to use this data to determine that humans have 27 distinct categories of emotion. Previous research had only identified 6 significant emotional states. (SIX? My wife has that many before she gets up in the morning!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 03.05.25
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Ash Wednesday”, marking the first day of Lent in the Western Christian liturgical year. For the devout, it’s a season of spiritual discipline, cleansing, and fasting, which occurs in the 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter. (So, what are you giving up for Lent? Cod liver oil?)
• “Cinco de Marcho”, supposedly marks the beginning of the season to ‘train’ the liver for St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday known for drinking. Today is really the only drinking holiday for people who don’t drink that often. (Well, today and New Year’s Eve…)
• “Cheese Doodle Day”, honoring the snack food (aka “Cheezies”) made with cornmeal that has been puffed, baked, and coated with cheddar cheese. Morrie Yohai of The Bronx, NY invented the cheese doodle in the 1940s.
• “Poutine Day”, a salute to the dish comprised of French fries, cheese curds, and gravy (but you can also add about a million other things…). Poutine is a particularly popular dish in the Canadian province of Quebec, but it is enjoyed in many other places as well.
• “Stop Bad Service Day”. The first step is to stand up and say something when customer service is bad. But do it in a constructive way to try to help them improve, not to anger them. (And good luck with that!)
• “Discover What Your Name Means Day”. A part of “Celebrate Your Name Week”, it’s a day to learn what your name – and what the names of others mean. The day can also be used to give your name its own meaning — one that reflects who you are. (I think my neighbors already did!)
• “Multiple Personalities Day”, saluting the adage ‘We have only one person to blame, and that’s each other.’ (Can people with multiple personalities deduct themselves as dependents on their income tax?)
• “Absinthe Day”, also known as ‘The Green Fairy’, ‘The Green Goddess’ or ‘The Green Lady’, the drink was popular with artists and writers as far back as the 18th century, perhaps because of its rumored hallucinogenic effects. Studies have shown that absinthe’s psychoactive properties (alcohol aside) were exaggerated. (But it DOES make the heart grow fonder…)
• “Sportsmanship Day”, to bring about thoughtful discussion about good sportsmanship among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and parents.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Dentist’s Day
[Thurs] Frozen Food Day
[Fri] Flapjack Day
[Sat] Be Nasty Day
This Week is…Lawnmower Maintenance Week
This Month is… Employee Spirit Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1946 [79] Murray Head, London England, pop singer (‘One Night in Bangkok’, ‘Superstar’ [From “Jesus Christ Superstar”])
1948 [77] Eddy Grant, Plaisance Guyana, reggae-pop singer/guitarist (‘Electric Avenue’, ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’)
1955 [70] Penn Jillette, Greenfield MA, Las Vegas magician (Penn & Teller)/TV personality (“All-Star Celebrity Apprentice”, “Penn & Teller Tell a Lie”)
1963 [62] Joel Osteen, Houston TX, religious leader/author (televangelist seen by millions on broadcasts from Lakewood Church, a megachurch in Houston, Texas)
1970 [55] John Frusciante, NYC, rock guitarist (Red Hot Chili Peppers 1988–1992, 1998–2009, since 2019-‘Scar Tissue’, ‘Give it Away’)
1974 [51] Kevin Connolly, Patchogue NY, TV actor (“Entourage” 2004-11)/movie actor (“He’s Just Not That Into You”, “The Notebook”)/film director (“Gotti”)
1974 [51] Eva Mendes, Miami FL, movie actress (“The Place Beyond the Pines”, “Fast & Furious” films)/partner to Ryan Gosling since 2011
1975 [50] Niki Taylor, Fort Lauderdale FL, model (also known for appearances on “Celebrity Apprentice”, “Make Me a Supermodel” and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”)
1982 [43] Amanda Shires, Lubbock TX, country singer-fiddle player (‘Take it Like a Man’, The Highwomen-‘Redesigning Women’, The Texas Playboys)/married to Jason Isbell 2013-24
2000 [25] Gabby Barrett, Munhall PA, country singer-songwriter (‘I Hope’, ‘The Good Ones”)/reality TV contestant (3rd place on “American Idol”, 2018)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1982 [43] John Belushi of “SNL” and The Blues Brothers dies of drug intoxication after being injected with a mixture of cocaine and heroin, known as a speedball, at age 33.
2015 [10] Harrison Ford crash-lands his 1942 Ryan Aeronautical airplane onto a golf course in California. He suffers a broken pelvis, broken ankle, and other injuries.
2019 [06] Forbes declares Kylie Jenner the world’s youngest-ever billionaire, at 21.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1983 [42] Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ hits #1 for the first of 7 weeks.
2023 [02] Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington dies at 71. He was last surviving founding member of the band.
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2019 [06] Bugatti announces the most expensive new car ever made – the 1,500 horsepower La Voiture Noire, costing almost $19 million. Only one was made, the buyer remains a mystery.
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Your eyeballs do not grow or change size as you age.
✓ Yahoo! was originally called “Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web”.
✓ Unlike dogs, pigs, and some other mammals, humans cannot taste water. We taste only the chemicals and impurities in water.
✓ Tsunamis (tidal waves) can travel as fast as jet planes.
✓ Minnie Mouse’s first name is actually ‘Minerva’.
✓ In Tokyo, they sell toupees for dogs!
-RandomFactGenerator
Best of BS . . .
BS NEW FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS TO CHECK FOR MARIJUANA DUI:
• “Hold these Cheetos in your hands for as long as you can without eating them.”
• “Tell me about your favorite Pink Floyd song in less than 30 seconds.”
• “Describe the sound you hear when I tap my nightstick on your head.”
• “Count backwards from 1 to 0.”
• “I’m going to massage your shoulders. Tell me when to stop.”
• “See how long you can hold your eyes more than 25% open.”
• “Look directly into the flashing lights on my patrol car and try not to say, ‘Awesome.’”
• “Try to contemplate this without having your mind blown: Is it possible that our entire universe could be contained on the fingernail of a giant existing in a much larger universe?”
• “Now, tell me how many bong hits you’ve had tonight.”
-First published in BS in 2013
BS MY BIGGEST WORRIES IN THE 1990s:
• Losing at Pokemon
• Misplacing my address book
• That if I don’t make it home before the streetlights come on, I’ll be getting an earful on my walkie talkie
• That the DJ will talk when I’m trying to record a song on cassette
• That mom won’t accept the charges when I phone home
• That call waiting will interrupt my dialup AOL connection
• Who will take care of my Tamagotchi if I die???
• That my dad will discover that all the movies that he had ever recorded are slowly but surely being taped over whenever New Kids on the Block appear on TV
• That my dad will discover that all his booze is slowly but surely being replaced by water
• Y2K
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS WEB GOODIE:
All eyes on you: https://tinyurl.com/yjp6zbwv
BS BRIT-SPEAK:
Guess what the British term means in North America…
1. Trainers (Sneakers, or Running shoes)
2. Boot (Car trunk)
3. Wireless (Radio)
4. Nappy (Diaper)
5. Crisps (Potato chips)
6. Pram (Baby carriage)
7. Chemist (Pharmacist)
8. Sleeping policeman (Speed bump)
9. Off-license (Liquor store)
10. Starkers (Naked)
-BathroomReadersInstitute
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve found lying on the ground or the side of the road?
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Why do people say “Tuna Fish sandwich” – but nobody says “Chicken Bird sandwich”?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Odds are 1 in 4 that you are wearing THIS today. What is it?
Answer: The color blue
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.
