Tuesday, May 7, 2024 — Edition: #7707
The BS Press!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Emily Blunt admits she has had to fake chemistry with certain co-stars over the years, and that sometimes kissing people on-set has made her feel sick. She told Howard Stern that despite the fact she has acted opposite many high-profile leading men, including Matt Damon, Tom Cruise, Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Gosling, sometimes kissing a co-star comes with certain hazards. When Stern asked if she ever “wanted to throw up?” The “Oppenheimer” star responded: “Absolutely. Absolutely. I wouldn’t say it’s sort of extreme loathing, but I’ve definitely not enjoyed some of it”.
-Variety
★ Jennifer Connelly wants to go back to college to finish her education — 3 decades after dropping out to become a full-time actor. The 53-year-old dabbled with modelling and acting as a child but headed off to Yale in 1988 to study English, and transferred to Stanford later to study drama. She ended up dropping out to chase her Hollywood career – but she’d still like to return to school. The “Top Gun: Maverick” actress told the Guardian: “Of all the things that I go back and say, ‘Oh, I wish I had done that,’ I wish I’d finished college. I’ve thought, in fits and starts, about going back.” The problem? She isn’t sure what she would study, although she is interested in American history, and science and medicine.
-ContactMusic
★ Pauly Shore says plans are moving forward for his Richard Simmons biopic. The film about the ’80s fitness guru was announced in January, but the news was met with condemnation from Simmons himself, who noted that he wasn’t attached and didn’t approve. But Shore told a “Netflix Is A Joke” live show audience that it’s “just another bump in the road”, and he’ll “be starring in the Richard Simmons biopic…whether he likes it or not, Richard.” Earlier this year, Shore starred as Simmons in an unrelated short film, “The Court Jester.”
-TheWrap
★ Whoopi Goldberg admits in her upcoming memoir that she once had a serious cocaine addiction. In “Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me”, she writes that after going to rehab in the 1970s before becoming famous, she “stayed pretty far away from drugs, except for pot”. But then, Hollywood and New York redefined the meaning of “recreational drug use” in the 80s. That’s when she started being invited to parties where she was “greeted at the door with a bowl of Quaaludes”, and “Lines of cocaine were laid across tables and bathroom counters for the taking.” Goldberg explains that partygoers knew cops wouldn’t raid the home of a “big-time producer or actor,” so the attitude was “very relaxed” and “everyone partook.”
-PageSix
★ ‘Captain Kirk’ says he is open to a return to “Star Trek” – if the storytelling is stellar. 93-year-old William Shatner told Canadian Press: “It’s an intriguing idea”, while promoting his new documentary “You Can Call Me Bill”, which drops today. The Captain of the Starship Enterprise said: “If there were a reason to be there not just to make a cameo appearance, but…a genuine reason for the character appearing, I might consider it.” Perhaps not-so-coincidentally, Shatner promotes a company that specializes in technology that “takes years off of your face, so that in a film you can look (up to) 50 years younger than you are.”
-Deadline
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Josh Brolin, Nikki Glaser, Sarah McLachlan
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Lin-Manuel Miranda, Luis Miranda, Josh Charles, Fontaines D.C.
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Tiffany Haddish, Meredith Scardino
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Mike Birbiglia, Sydnee Washington, Atsuko Okatsuka
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Joel Edgerton, Lily Gladstone, Cole Escola, Jay Weinberg
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Tom Sandoval, Jax Taylor
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Host Jordan Klepper
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Tiffany Haddish
• “The Talk” (CBS): Thomas Lennon, Teresa Giudice; Camilla Luddington guest co-hosts
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Jessica Lange, Cedric the Entertainer
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Zayn Malik, Craig Melvin, Luke Hemmings
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Jamie Oliver, Jean Smart
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs
• “FBI” (CBS): The team is thrown into a highly political case after 4 members of the Taliban are shot and one is kidnapped. Followed by new eps of “FBI: International” and FBI: Most Wanted”.
• “The Voice” (NBC): Live Top 12 Results
• “Will Trent” (ABC): After discovering the body of a missing girl 13 years later, Will experiences flashbacks as he and Faith work to uncover the truth.
• “NBA Playoffs” (Check local listings): TBD @ Celtics; Mavericks @ Thunder
• “NHL Playoffs” (Check local listings): Hurricanes at NY Rangers
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Ed Sheeran – says that even though he has new music ready to go, we won’t be hearing it this year. He told People: “I released 2 records on tour last year and it’s quite a lot being on tour and releasing records. So, I’ve made the new music and I’m just going to sit on it for a bit.” He’s currently on tour.
• Charlie Puth – Friday, he teased his upcoming single ‘Hero’, days after responding to Taylor Swift name-dropping him on her song ‘The Tortured Poets Department’. He wrote over a TikTok clip of the song: “I think someone out there was giving me a sign that I needed to release it.” It drops May 24. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mtxutzpv
• Madonna – capped her Celebration Tour with a free show at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, and set a record while doing it. Her team claims the show drew 1.6 million fans, the largest audience ever for a stand-alone concert by any artist in history. The previous record of 1.5 million was set by the Rolling Stones in 2006.
• Pet Shop Boys – want to record with Cardi B. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe were thrilled to learn that Cardi is a fan of their music, when she mentioned them during an appearance on “The Tonight Show”. But if a collab is going to happen, Tennant said she needs to get in touch: “The ball’s in her court.”
• David Bowie – A second song from the upcoming box set “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star”, out June 14, has been released. This one is an alternative version of ‘Lady Stardust’, recorded in 1971, during sessions for the classic album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3usy6n2n
• Morgan Wallen – We already knew he had a Post Malone collab in the works, but now we officially have a title and release date. The song is called ‘I Had Some Help’, and it arrives this Friday (May 10). They shared the news in a joint Instagram post featuring the pair playfully making a heart with their hands. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ymp8a66v
• Miranda Lambert – has released ‘Wranglers’, the first single from her upcoming album. She calls it “a classic tale of a woman taking her power back.” Lambert feels that everyone can identify with the theme, “because we have all had a time in our life where we needed to find our strength, and also get a little revenge on someone who did us wrong.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4t3rdx59
• Kimberly Perry – The former singer for The Band Perry will headline CMT’s “Next Women of Country Tour”. Also featured on the tour will be HunterGirl, Jenna Paulette, Madeline Merlo, and Tanner Adell. It will run from August through October, and Perry said “the request line is officially open.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bddv34sv
SHOOTING THE BULL
NOT SO FINE:
If you fail to return a book to the library on time, you can pretty much expect to pay a fine, right? Well, these days, that concept seems to be catching on. A number of businesses, fed-up with flakes not showing up for appointments, are charging them anyway. A California barber has posted notice that AWOL customers will be required to pay up to $100 – double the price of a normal haircut. A
science and test-prep tutor in Pasadena says her policy of charging last-minute cancellations or no-shows 50% or 100% of her normal rate helps keep prices lower for clients who do keep their appointments. Experts say that charging people for missing a scheduled service used to be the exclusive domain of doctors’ offices and the occasional restaurant or hotel, but since the pandemic stretched many businesses’ bottom lines, fees for flaking are spreading to salons, personal trainers and beyond.
(…and of course, if your stylist or your personal trainer has to cancel on YOU, you’re entitled to charge THEM a fee, too, right?)
(If you ask me, $50 or $100 is a small price to pay on days that you just don’t feel like working out!)
-WSJournal
NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
❑ It’s the new symbol of “making it” for rich millennial guys. The Herman Miller Eames lounge chair is a bank-busting leather-bound lounger that is said to have reached “meme status” and has replaced the Rolex watch as the current must-have among corporate climbers. But it’s really nothing new. The Eames is an updated version of a 19th-century English club chair with the warm, welcoming look of a well-worn baseball mitt. It was created in 1956, and the current version, featuring black leather and a wood base, with an accompanying ottoman, costs about $7,400. The Herman Miller lounger is said to be an obvious pick among men who are design minded, and of a certain income bracket. It’s especially popular among bachelors. (At least until they get married and are told to “Get that tacky thing out of here!”)
❑ The rich have yachts, but the ultra-rich will soon have yachts that can disappear underwater at the first sign of trouble. An Austrian company is developing a 540-foot (165m) “submersible superyacht” that can stay underwater for about a month. Migaloo says its “M5” is for yacht owners who are “looking for privacy, security, and protection…or for the fulfillment of unique experiences (or) scientific desires, as well as for the greatest possible exclusivity.” Features aboard the submersible yacht will include LED exterior lighting with a laser show, a helipad, a hot-air balloon, and – because why not? — an underwater shark-feeding station. That’s in addition to the run-of-the-mill accessories that any mega-yacht owner might expect, like a spa, gym, gaming room, wine cellar, art gallery and a panic room. It is expected to be able to house up to 20 guests, plus about 40 staffers(!). The company is playing coy about the price, but did say that there are probably only 50 people in the world who could afford to buy one. (Trust me: If I’m on a boat and it suddenly starts to go underwater, I don’t need a special room to panic in!)
-Insider
PROCRASTINATE LIGHT:
When the “check engine” light comes on in your vehicle, are you the “rush it to the mechanic right now” type, or the “I’ll get to it when I get to it” type? According to a survey, drivers ignore that warning light on the instrument panel for an average of 4 months before getting it looked into. The survey of 2,000 American car owners found that one in 5 (20%) stretch it out even longer, putting it off between 6-18 months. And one-third say they tend to wait “as long as possible” before taking their car in for service. Worse still, another 39% said that chances are, they are going to wait for something to break or stop working before taking it to the mechanic. Perhaps not surprisingly, 21% said they feel like their car is going to break down “any day now”.
(I find the “check engine” light usually comes on the day after the warranty expires!)
(I checked the engine. It’s still there. Now what?)
-SWNS
COMMON WORDS YOU’RE PROBABLY “MISPRONOUNCIATING”:
☞ Seuss: Children’s author Theodore Geisel’s college buddy made a rhyme to show how to pronounce Dr. Seuss’s name: “You’re wrong as the deuce, And you shouldn’t rejoice, If you’re calling him Seuss, He pronounces it ‘Soice.’”
☞ Kibosh: Let’s put the kibosh (which should be pronounced “KY-bosh” or “ky-BOSH”) on saying this word “kuh-BOSH” or “kih-BOSH.”
☞ Comptroller: It sounds just like controller. If you’re tempted to pronounce that silent “mp”, please comptrol yourself!
☞ Celtic: A hard “k” sound at the beginning is the standard these days, says Merriam-Webster, but the “s” version technically came first. If you’re talking about the Boston Celtics, though, stick with “SELL-tick.”
☞ Cache: Maybe it’s because it’s one letter short of cachet. But cache should be said just like “cash” — the ‘e’ is silent. (Fortunately, I have no plans to ever use that word!)
☞ Chicanery: The ch- is pronounced “sh,” as in Chicago. The French pronounce the word “shih-connery,” but North Americans tend to pronounce it “shih-CANE-er-ee.”
☞ Banal: There’s more than one way to pronounce this word. The 3 most commonly used options are “BAY-nul,” “buh-NAHL,” and “buh-NAL” (like canal). (Apparently, you can’t go wrong!)
☞ Affluent: The stress on this word is supposed to be on the first syllable — “AFF-loo-ent.” But stressing the second syllable became so mainstream that some dictionaries now say that’s acceptable, too.
☞ Niche: When this word was taken from French in the 17th century, it was quickly anglicized to rhyme with “itch”. But in the 20th century, the true French pronunciation of “NEESH” was embraced. Either is acceptable.
-MentalFloss
DID YOU KNOW?
The United Kingdom has enacted a new law that bans generic passwords on smart devices. The purpose of the new law is to protect consumers from increasingly sophisticated hackers and cyber criminals. It requires manufacturers to adopt minimum security standards to prevent hackers from accessing internet-enabled devices such as smartphones, game consoles and connected fridges. Manufacturers are now banned from allowing “weak, easily guessable default passwords like “admin” or “12345”. (I guess they don’t recognize facial recognition?)
-GlobalNews
BS CHRONOMETER 05.07.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “National Cosmopolitan Day”. Typically made with vodka, lime and cranberry juices, today there are many delicious variations of the Cosmo. (Here’s the problem: If I celebrate Cosmo day, chances are I’ll miss Tuesday!)
• “National Tourism Day” (in the US), part of “Travel & Tourism Week”. Municipalities and entertainment venues big and small use today to let people know about activities and events in their area. (By the way, “World Tourism Day” happens every September.) LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mke2szj2
• “National Teacher Day”. Today, students, parents, and others give thanks to teachers for their valuable contributions to society. The day is also used to encourage people to become teachers.
BS SIGNS YOU’RE A TEACHER:
☞ You can’t have children because there’s not a name you can think of that doesn’t give you high blood pressure.
☞ You believe ‘Shallow Gene Pool’ should have its own little check box on report cards.
☞ Your voice is permanently set on high volume.
☞ You’ve corrected a total stranger’s grammatical errors.
☞ Any sustained loud noise causes you to impulsively flick the light switch on and off.
• “Childhood Depression Awareness Day”, first designated by the National Mental Health Association in 1997. Also known as “Green Ribbon Day”, we’re encouraged to wear one to create awareness.
• “Concert Day”, a day to celebrate music artists, record labels, live music industry leaders, tour managers, and their teams, who work to produce live music experiences for fans. (***Here are some of the best concerts that ever happened: https://tinyurl.com/2sjpzbu9 ***)
• “World Asthma Day”, to raise awareness and help improve the lives of the many people around the world who suffer from asthma, a common but potentially life-threatening ailment.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Bike to School Day
[Wed] Have a Coke Day
[Thurs] Tear the Tags off the Mattress Day
[Fri] Clean Up Your Room Day
This Week is…Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
This Month is…Better Hearing & Speech Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1946 [78] Bill Kreutzmann, Palo Alto CA, rock drummer (Grateful Dead-‘Touch of Grey’)/author (“Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams, and Drugs With the Grateful Dead”)/also performed in “Dead and Company” with other former members of The Grateful Dead)
1968 [56] Eagle-Eye Cherry (yup, that’s his real name), Skane Sweden, rock singer (‘Save Tonight’)/half-brother of singer Neneh Cherry (BS FAST FACT: His middle name is ‘Lanoo’)
1986 [38] Matt Helders, Sheffield England, indie rock drummer (Arctic Monkeys-‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’, ‘Do I Wanna Know?’)
1987 [37] Aidy Bryant, Phoenix AZ, comedian/TV actress (“Saturday Night Live” 2012-22, “Shrill” 2019-21)
1992 [32] Alexander Ludwig, Vancouver BC, TV actor (‘Björn Ironside’ on “Vikings” 2013-20)/movie actor (“The Hunger Games”, “Race to Witch Mountain”)/country singer (‘Let Me Be Your Whiskey’)
1985 [39] (José) J Balvin, Medellín Colombia, reggaeton singer (w/Cardi B and Bad Bunny-‘I Like It’, w/The Black Eyed Peas-‘Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)’
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2010 [14] “Iron Man 2” opens in theaters, eventually grossing $624 million worldwide (unlike most film series, the ‘threequel’ proves an even bigger hit in 2013)
2017 [07] MTV Video Music Awards becomes the first major awards show to adopt gender-neutral categories – Emma Watson wins ‘Best film actor’, Millie Bobby Brown wins ‘Best TV actor’.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2016 [08] Axl Rose takes over as lead singer for AC/DC, filling in for Brian Johnson at a show in Lisbon after Johnson is advised that continuing the tour could result in permanent hearing loss. Rose finishes the band’s tour as guest vocalist.
2016 [08] Following his unexpected death on April 21 (and with his music unavailable on most streaming services), Prince takes the top 2 spots on the Billboard albums chart with “The Very Best of Prince” at #1 and “Purple Rain” at #2.
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
2000 [24] Vladimir Putin is inaugurated president of Russia (the first time). Today, he is scheduled to be sworn in for a 5th term.
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2000 [24] Skydiver Mike Hennessy of West Springfield, Massachusetts celebrates his 50th birthday by jumping out of an airplane … 50 times
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ All babies are color blind when they are born.
✓ People tend to mimic the actions of the person they are attracted to.
✓ A human-on-human bite will almost always become infected.
✓ The word “nice” originally meant ‘foolish’ or ‘stupid’.
✓ By the age of 60, most people have lost 50% of their taste buds.
✓ Spread across a lifetime, most people spend a total of one year sitting on the toilet.
-UnbelievableFacts, RandomFactGenerator
Best of BS . . .
BS MUCH-NEEDED BASKETBALL RULES:
• Penalty for shoe-squeaking
• Miss a free-throw, fifty pushups.
• One tattoo per player.
• First basket wins the game.
• No dunkin’ without donuts.
• A special Oscar awarded in the category of “Best On-Court Flop”.
• All free throws must be made “Granny-style”.
• No drooling while dribbling.
• Football-style end zone dance required after a slam dunk.
• No crying in basketball, either.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS THINGS MOM REALLY WANTS FOR MOTHERS DAY ON SUNDAY:
Forget the flowers and greeting cards; a few things mom would actually appreciate …
✓ To eat an entire meal without any discussion of bodily functions at the table.
✓ At least 5 minutes in the bathroom without someone knocking on the door because they can’t find something.
✓ Instead of a candy bar and a card from the corner store, a cleaned house and a cooked dinner.
✓ A beautiful bouquet of tulips is fine, but just for once, NOT stolen from her garden.
✓ Last year’s belated Mothers Day gift … which seems to have never arrived.
✓ Hours of labor multiplied by years of service, expressed in dollars (rounded up, with interest).
-Adapted from BennyDesk, first published in BS in 2015
BS WEB GOODIE:
Nailed it: https://tinyurl.com/564ameve
BS PHONE STARTER:
What place is on your travel “bucket list”?
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I simply cannot express how limited my vocabulary is…
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
More than 60% of drivers do not know how to do THIS. What is it?
Answer: Jumpstart a car
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Friends are the siblings God never gave us.
