Thursday, November 28, 2024 – Edition: #7845

Another Sheetload of Bull!

 

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Comedian Kathy Griffin is single and ready to mingle — on TV. In a recent interview on the “Politickin'” podcast, the 64-year-old comedian announced that she wants to be the next ‘Golden Bachelorette’. The “My Life on the D-List” star told the hosts that she already has a plan to differentiate herself from original Golden girl Joan Vassos. Quote: “Here’s my pitch… The first episode where there’s the most bachelors and the most roses, I (have sex with) each one…Then I decide!” She went on to promise “no hidden cameras, just a little blurring here and there for the cellulite. Boom! Ratings gold.” Although they may not agree with THAT idea, EW reports that an ABC insider indicated the network would be open to meeting with Griffin about the Golden gig.
-EW
★ “Vanderpump Rules” is returning for season 12 – with a completely new cast, following the “Scandoval” debacle. Season 12 of the Bravo show will feature SUR owner Lisa Vanderpump and a whole new crop of close-knit employees. In a statement, Vanderpump said: “The last 12 years of filming have been an extraordinary run full of laughter, tears and everything in between.” After thanking “those who have shared their lives”, she wrote: “In the restaurant business, one shift always gives way to another. Cheers to the next generation of ‘Vanderpump Rules.’” Season 12 will begin production next year.
-TheWrap
★ Wendy Williams’ health battle has taken a heartbreaking turn. Nine months after the former TV host’s diagnoses with progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia—which her care team said then had begun to impact her cognitive functions — a new legal filing confirms her health has continued to decline. In it, Williams’ guardian says the 60-year-old “has been afflicted by early-onset dementia and, as a result, has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated.” The filing, according to TMZ, is part of ongoing litigation between guardian Sabrina Morrissey and the “Where Is Wendy Williams?” Lifetime documentary.
-E!
★ Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande received equal pay for their work on “Wicked,” despite recent online buzz. A Universal spokesperson said: “Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on Internet fodder.” Over the weekend, users on TikTok and Reddit spread false claims that Grande received $15 million while Erivo was paid just $1 million for their roles in the film. Multiple outlets reported the story.
-TheWrap
★ Kelly Ripa has inadvertently wedged an even bigger divide across America’s Thanksgiving dinner tables, after stoking an intense debate over “stuffing” vs. “dressing”. A day after igniting discourse over the proper name for the Thanksgiving meal side dish, Ripa kicked off Wednesday’s episode of “Live With Kelly and Mark” with a stern message for trolls who came after her over the featherweight issue. Quote: “Yesterday, I simply read an article that I didn’t write. So, don’t shoot the messenger. But the messenger was attacked viciously…forget any political discourse. The real discourse are the people arguing about stuffing and dressing.” After promising to read the feedback she has received, she concluded: “Basically, …Get a life, honestly…If you’re worried about this, then congratulations, you don’t have actual problems.”
-EW

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Colman Domingo, Doriane Pin, Nate Smith (R)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Jerry Seinfeld, Cody Rhodes, Billy Strings
• “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Paul Bettany, Mike Birbiglia, Robert Zemeckis (R)
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Pete Holmes, Echo Kellum, Jess McKenna (R)
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): The Meyers family
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Stephen A. Smith
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Winston Duke, Kim Fields, Corey B
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Eva Longoria, Isabella Rossellini, James Morosini, Allen Stone, Sarah Kinsley (R)
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Jeff Bridges (R)
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Joel McHale
• “98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (NBC): The annual parade in New York City ushers in the holiday season with balloons, floats, marching bands, celebrities, and more, all welcoming Santa Claus. Hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker.
• “The National Dog Show” (NBC): 1,800 of the nation’s top dogs spanning over 190 breeds vie to be named “Best in Show” at the annual event hosted by John O’Hurley and David Frei.
• “The Masked Singer” (Fox): Group C Finals: A Peanuts Thanksgiving
• “NFL Football” (Check local listings): Chicago @ Detroit, NY Giants @ Dallas, Miami @ Green Bay

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Ed Sheeran — has released ‘Under the Tree’, a new Christmas song for the upcoming Netflix film “That Christmas”, out Dec. 4. The music video’s co-star is Claudia Jessie, known as ‘Eloise’ on the hit series “Bridgerton”. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5dp85697
• Pink – Her “Summer Carnival Tour” is now the second-highest grossing tour by a female artist ever – behind…you know who.  Billboard reports that after 128 shows over a year and a half, Pink grossed $694 million, with 4.8 million tickets sold. Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” has grossed more than $1 billion.
• The Beatles — A guitar played by George Harrison during the Beatles’ early years has sold for $1.27 million. Julien’s Auctions originally priced the guitar between $600,000-800,000. Harrison purchased the Resonet Futurama in 1959 at a Liverpool music store for £58 (US$73).
• Eagles — have extended their residency at Las Vegas’ The Sphere. The 4 newly-announced concerts will happen on Fridays and Saturdays during the first half of April. The group’s total number of performances at Sphere now comes to 32 shows over 16 weekends since the residency began in September.
• U2 — The Edge said the band is working on new music, which has an Irish folk element, and could appear on their next album. Actual quote: “Bono and I are working on some crazy kind of sci-fi Irish folk music”, whatever that means. They’ve just released “How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb”, containing unreleased sessions from 2004.
• Shaboozey – His crossover smash ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ has claimed a record-tying 19th week at #1 on the all-format Billboard Hot 100. The song, which has topped Hot Country Songs chart for 23 weeks, is now tied for the longest Hot 100 reign with Lil NasX’s ‘Old Town Road’ ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, which stayed at #1 for 19 weeks in 2019.
• Chris Janson – joined Alabama in studio to record a new version of the group’s 1982 seasonal favorite ‘Christmas in Dixie’. On X, Janson wrote: “This is one of my favorite Christmas songs and I’m so honored that Randy [Owen] and Teddy [Gentry] wanted to be a part of it.” The song is available now. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/28k8dxfw
• Miranda Lambert – provided guest vocals on Randy Houser’s new song ‘Still That Cowboy’. He said that he knew he wanted her to sing on it, because “I could hear her voice on it.” He also called her “one of my favorite singers and favorite people.” Still That Cowboy will be included on Houser’s new album “Note to Self – Deluxe”, dropping in January. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2yn7ap87

SHOOTING THE BULL

COLD AND LONELY:
If you feel lonesome, chances are you’ll have a harder time dealing with sicknesses like the common cold, according to a new study. Researchers at Rice University found that people who are lonely tend to feel lousier when fighting a cold than those who are in a relationship or surrounded a network of friends and family. In the study, which involved giving a cold virus via nasal spray to 159 people, it was found that loneliness did not increase one’s likelihood to get sick, but it did worsen symptoms while one was ill.
(Sure. But on the other hand, what’s the first thing they tell you do to when you’re sick? Isolate yourself…!)
(Those guys have no idea how many nights I’ve spent being “cold and lonely”!)
-StudyFinds

MAC AND CHEESE – AND EVERYTHING:
Whether you’re ready for it or not, Kraft Heinz has launched an “everything bagel” flavored version of their bestselling Mac & Cheese. The new product was created in response to fan demand, after the forthcoming flavor won the company’s “Fan Favorites” competition last year. The new creation is seasoned with dehydrated garlic and onion, and flecked with poppy seeds. Early reviews of Kraft Everything Bagel Mac & Cheese have been positive, with one taster at Mashed writing: “This might be the most flavorful box of Kraft Mac and Cheese I have ever had in the best way possible.” But even though it is named “everything”, you won’t find it “everywhere”. The limited run will be available tomorrow at Walmart, via online order only.
(Would you be brave enough to serve up that stuff instead of homemade mac and cheese for Thanksgiving dinner?)
(OK, if you’re good with THIS, stop giving me the business for putting ketchup on mine!)
-NYPost

DEFAULTING TO ‘DEMURE’:
Last week, Cambridge Dictionary decided that the word of the year for 2024 is “manifest”, and now Dictionary.com has weighed in. The word “demure” was given the honor, after its popular use on social media in recent months. Demure’s surge into pop culture started with TikToker Jools Lebron’s viral video using the phrase “Very demure, very mindful.” Following that, ‘demure’ saw a nearly 1200% increase in usage in digital web media alone, according to Dictionary.com. The term’s definition says: “to be characterized by shyness and modesty and to be reserved.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ycyvev4d
(…because when you think of all that happened this year, “shyness” and modesty” are the first things that come to mind, right?)
(What’s is YOUR word of the year for 2024? For me, it’s “snacks” – but I’m pretty sure that’s my word of the year EVERY year!)
-People

IN THE AIR TONIGHT:
A few things to keep in mind as you get set to sit down with those closest to you to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner tonight: According to a new report by someone who reports on things like this, eating an enormous meal like the ones many of us enjoy this time of year comes with very gassy consequences. Gas is caused by swallowing air and the breakdown of food in your digestive tract, which usually leads to burping, bloating, and/or flatulence. On average, we pass gas 5-15 times a day, but eating rich dishes, and large quantities, and the fact that we tend to eat faster when feasting, and therefore swallow more air, mean that you’re likely to create even more gas. Here are some of the dishes that tend to exacerbate the condition even more…
► Mac and cheese: Starches produce gas are they break down. It’s also high in fat and dairy, a lethal combination (pardon the pun…).
► Roasted Brussels sprouts: These mini members of the brassica family are so filled with fiber that they can cause gastrointestinal distress.
►Broccoli casserole: Also a member of the brassica family it also contains the difficult-to-digest complex sugar raffinose. Plus, high-fat, dairy-rich ingredients like heavy cream, condensed soup, and cheese all work together to…well…you’ll know soon enough!
► Sweet potatoes and candied yams: Sweet potatoes contain mannitol, a sugar alcohol that is rapidly fermented in the intestines, resulting in gas and bloating. Both sweet potatoes and yams are starchy vegetables, notorious for producing gas. And both contain fructose, which can trigger bloating, gas and constipation. Plus, by adding inflammatory sugar and marshmallows to these dishes, you’re really tempting fate. (Whatever happened to good old-fashioned turkey farts?)
-NYPost

SPENDING THRIFTLY:
A Reddit user asked users to share their best “poor hacks” (life hacks for poor people). Here are some of the best responses…
☞ “Before you pay to have something repaired, watch YouTube and see if you can fix it yourself.”
☞ “Meal prep every Sunday for the whole week. And learn how to say no if someone asks you to do something you know will put you in financial stress.”
☞ “You can use vinegar, baking soda, or dish soap to clean almost everything.”
☞”Eliminate food waste. Things you’d normally throw away like vegetable peelings and bones can be turned into flavorful stock for future meals.”
☞ “Pop an egg into your ramen. Simple, cheap, and improves the taste a lot.”
☞ “Get a library card. Libraries are sanity savers when you’re too broke for other entertainment.”
☞ “Rich people throw out amazing stuff. If you know someone with a truck…go around the wealthy areas on garbage day and get all sorts of furniture, appliances, and clothing. A little cleaning and maybe a few minor repairs, and you have lots of stuff to use or sell.”
☞ “Tell your doctor if your medications are too expensive…I’m a family doctor…and I make it a point to talk about medication costs and ask at all of my follow-ups if things are affordable.”
(What’s your money-saving tip? I removed the light from the refrigerator to save electricity!)
-BuzzFeed

DID YOU KNOW?
A research group at Carnegie Mellon University is exploring technology that could one day power your earbuds, or any other small gadget . . . by sucking electricity through your skin. That would mean, of course, that your devices would never run out of juice again. “Power-over-Skin” technology works by transforming the human body into a power delivery medium, using RF (radio frequency) signals to wirelessly transmit electricity across the skin. A co-author of the research project says it could become a game-changer for the consumer electronics industry. (It sucks it right out of your skin? Did they get the idea from the tax agency?)
-FastCompany

BS CHRONOMETER 11.28.24

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Thanksgiving Day” in the US, an annual feasting tradition proclaimed for all states in 1863 and made a national holiday set on the 4th Thursday of November in 1879. The event that Americans commonly call the ‘First Thanksgiving’ was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in 1621. (No ‘Black Friday’ that year!) A few facts …
– The original Thanksgiving festivities date back 2,000 years to Celtic priests, the Druids, who celebrated a harvest festival.
– Canadian Thanksgiving was originally celebrated at the same time as in the US, but was eventually moved to the 2nd Monday of October, to reflect the earlier harvest season.
– The term ‘turkey’ was used by New England pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl. It could have been seagull. (Yum!)
• “Turkey Leftover Day”. It’s awkward this year. Because of the late date of Thanksgiving, it falls on Turkey Leftover Day, which is supposed to be the last day you have to eat up your Thanksgiving leftovers. (You’ll probably have had enough by the end of the day, anyway…!)
• “Letter Writing Day”, when we’re encouraged to take a few minutes to send someone a handwritten letter. Letter-writing has almost become a lost art. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone, either printed or in cursive? (Well, I left a note on someone’s windshield yesterday…and it was FULL of ‘cursive’!)
• “French Toast Day”. Either bread dipped in egg and fried … or, if you prefer, another approach to “French Toast” day would be enjoying a big ol’ glass of Champagne!
• “Family Health History Day”. The idea is to take a day when everyone in your family is assembled (Thanksgiving) and discuss family health history, specifically any occurrence of colorectal cancer, although it may be beneficial to share and care about any other serious afflictions. LINK: https://shorturl.at/trGx7
• “Make Your Own Head Day”, a crafty day often celebrated by artists and grade-school children. The idea is to create your own head through one of many different artistic options. The rule is that the head you make must be your own. (Looks like I’m getting a head of myself!)
• “Red Planet Day”, commemorating the launch of the Spacecraft Mariner 4 on November 28, 1964. The 228-day mission of Mariner 4 brought the spacecraft within 6,118 miles of Mars on July 14, 1965.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] Buy Nothing Day
[Fri] Chocolates Day
[Sat] Computer Security Day
[Sun] Christmas Lights Day
This Week is…Family Week
This Month is…Sleep Comfort Month

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1929 [95] Berry Gordy Jr., Detroit MI, record exec/producer/songwriter (Motown Records founder known for his work with The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and more)/Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1988

1943 [81] Randy Newman, Los Angeles CA, pop singer-songwriter (“Short People’, ‘I Love L.A.’)/Disney-Pixar film scores including “Toy Story”, “Cars”, “The Princess and the Frog”, and “James and the Giant Peach”

1949 [75] Paul Shaffer, Thunder Bay ON, multi-instrumentalist/TV bandleader-sidekick (“Late Night With David Letterman” 1982-93, “Late Show with David Letterman 1993–2015”/movie actor (“Spinal Tap”, “Scrooged”)/session player (Cher, Chicago, Robert Plant…)

1950 [74] Ed Harris, Tenafly NJ, movie actor (“Apollo 13”, “The Right Stuff”)/TV actor (‘The Man in Black’ on “Westworld” 2016-22) COMING UP…“Long Day’s Journey into Night”

1959 [65] Judd Nelson, Portland ME, movie actor (“The Breakfast Club”, “St. Elmo’s Fire”)/TV actor (“Suddenly Susan” 1996-99)

1962 [62] Jon Stewart (Leibowitz), NYC, TV host (23 Emmy Awards-“The Daily Show” 1999-2015, 2024, “The Problem with Jon Stewart” 2021-23)

1962 [62] Matt Cameron, San Diego CA, rock drummer (Pearl Jam-‘Jeremy’, Soundgarden-‘Black Hole Sun’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2017 (with Pearl Jam)

1974 [50] apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo Jr), Angeles City Philippines, pop singer/rapper (Black Eyed Peas-‘I Gotta Feeling’, ‘Where Is the Love?’)

1984 [40] Trey Songz (Tremaine Neverson), Petersburg VA, rapper/producer/singer (‘Can’t Be Friends’, f/Nicki Minaj-‘Bottoms Up’)

1987 [37] Karen Gillan, Inverness Scotland, TV actress (‘Amy Pond’ on “Doctor Who” 2010-13), movie actress (‘Nebula’ in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Avengers” movies) COMING UP… “Let’s Have Kids!”

1993 [31] Bryshere (“Yazz”) Gray, Philadelphia PA, TV actor (‘Hakeem Lyon’ on “Empire” 2015-20)/rapper

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1997 [27] The final episode of “Beavis & Butt-head” airs on MTV (until reboots in 2011…and 2022).

2004 [20] Julia Roberts gives birth to twins, a girl and a boy, whom she and husband Danny Moder name ‘Hazel Patricia’ and ‘Phinnaeus Walter’ (Thanks, Mom…).

2010 [14] Leslie Nielsen, the star of “Airplane” and the “Naked Gun” movies, dies at age 84.

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1987 [37] The “Dirty Dancing” hit ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’ by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, hits #1 in the US, as the “Swayze-lift” becomes a popular dance move.

1974 [50] John Lennon makes his last-ever concert appearance, at an Elton John concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1925 [99] The Grand Ole Opry premieres as the “WSM Barn Dance” on WSM radio in Nashville.

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2009 [15] A 26 feet and 2 inches (8m) tall gingerbread man is unveiled at the “Gingerbread Cookie Factory” fundraiser in Madison, WI.

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Every 2 minutes, people take more photos than were taken in the entire 19th century.
✓ BBCSport determined that the precise speed at which jogging becomes running is 6mph (9.7kph).
✓ Humans and giraffes have the same number of neck bones (7).
✓ The raptor sounds in “Jurassic Park” movies are actually the sounds of tortoises mating.
✓ People’s sharpest memories are usually from early adulthood, when you are most likely to be shaping your identity.
✓ “Banana” flavoring is based on an extinct type of banana, which explains why it tastes almost nothing like a “real” banana.
-BestLife, ReadersDigest

Best of BS . . .
BS SIGNS YOUR RELATIVE IS WACKY:
• After Thanksgiving dinner, sharpens knife and says, “Okay, now it’s time to carve Uncle Leo!”
• Loudly gives thanks for ‘wonderful music of Justin Bieber’.
• Insists on wearing a homemade ‘Turkey Giblet Facial Mask’ to reduce unsightly wrinkles.
• Insists on leaving an extra glass of wine on the Thanksgiving table for Trader Joe.
• Eats. Flosses. Eats food off the floss.
• Can tolerate large family gatherings without complaint.
• Considers gravy a beverage.
-First published in BS in 2002

BS BENEFITS OF WINTER WEIGHT GAIN:
• Harder to kidnap
• Makes a good “before” picture
• No longer need to ask the question, “Does my butt look big in these jeans?”
• Big savings on home heating
• Friends all want to come to visit because they know that you have pizza, cookies and pie
• The only running you have to do is to get in the front of the line at Krispy Kreme
• Make extra cash by selling your skinny jeans on eBay
• Thinner friends want you in all their pictures
• Hides your summer body, which was also last year’s winter body
• You can still say your stomach is flat…but the “L” is silent
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018

BS WEB GOODIE:
Can’t …stop…watching:   https://tinyurl.com/bdcsayuk

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Organized people are really people who are just too lazy to look for things.

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s something that will always be in fashion, no matter how much time passes?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Over half of women, and a third of men say they need THIS when traveling. What is it?
Answer:  Their own pillow

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground.