Tuesday, November 23, 2021 – Edition: #7113
Sheet Happens!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ The James Bond film “No Time to Die” has set a new high for Hollywood this year, passing the Fast & Furious film “F9” to become the highest grossing Motion Picture Association release of the year, and third highest among all global films. The 007 film has grossed $733 million worldwide, topping the $721 million that “F9” grossed over the summer. While profits from theatrical grosses have been significantly impacted due to increased costs for marketing, product placement and other factors related to its repeated delays forced by the pandemic, No Time to Die has outperformed multiple Marvel films.
-TheWrap
★ The Charlie Brown holiday specials are streaming on Apple TV+ once again this year, but unlike in 2020, they aren’t free. Last year, Apple offered specials like “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” for free in an effort to entice new subscribers. This year, you’ll have to pay $4.99 per month to see the Peanuts gang. The Charlie Brown holiday specials are one of the biggest intellectual property acquisitions Apple TV+ has managed to pull off in the so-called streaming wars.
-PopCulture
★ Scarlett Johansson is set to star in a new mystery Marvel project after settling her “Black Widow” lawsuit with Disney bosses. The top-secret film was announced by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige as Johansson was honored with the American Cinematheque Award on Thursday. After praising her “vision” and “intelligence”, Feige revealed they’ll team up again for a “top secret Marvel Studios project” that is not related to her Black Widow character, who was killed off in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.”
-Canoe
★ Another person featured in “Tiger King” has died — this time, by suicide. Former reptile dealer Jeff Johnson made a brief appearance in episode 4 of the docuseries to talk Carole Baskin. It has been revealed that he shot and killed himself in September. His time on Tiger King was short-lived, but memorable because he explained the beef between Joe Exotic and Baskin. Interestingly enough, Johnson and Exotic are said to be one-time pals who had a falling out once Jeff Lowe came into the picture.
-TMZ
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Hailee Steinfeld, Liza Koshy, Ali Kolbert
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rachel Dratch, Mastodon, Jon Epcar
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Nicholas Hoult, Aisling Bea, BTS
• “The Talk” (CBS): Ashanti, guest co-host NeNe Leakes
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Tony Goldwyn, Kristin Chenoweth
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Kalen Allen
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Hailee Steinfeld
• “The Bachelorette” (ABC): The men will have to be on their best behavior to impress Michelle’s fifth grade students.
• “The Voice” (NBC): Live Top 11 Eliminations
• “The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip” (BRAVO): Series premiere
• “Black and Missing” (HBO): Series premiere. A 4-part documentary following sisters-in-law Derrica and Natalie Wilson as they fight to bring awareness to the Black missing persons cases.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Kanye West — has officially announced the one-night benefit concert “Free Larry Hoover,” scheduled for Dec. 9 at the L.A. Coliseum. The event will feature Drake, who West publicly approached with an invitation to end their longstanding feud and appear at the concert. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/jsb2tt5k
• Adele – has convinced Spotify to remove the “shuffle” feature from album pages, so tracks play in their proper order. In a tweet, she pointed out that artists “don’t create albums with so much care and thought into our track listing for no reason. Our art tells a story and our stories should be listened to as we intended.” Spotify’s response: “Anything for you.”
• Ed Sheeran — hopes he’ll get a part in the “Red Notice” sequel. He made a cameo in the hit Netflix heist movie – which became the most-watched film on the platform on release day – and he’s hoping director Rawson Marshall Thurber will invite him back for the second flick.
• Britney Spears — is reportedly checking out potential wedding sites ahead of her nuptials with fiancé Sam Asghari. Now that she’s free from her 13-year conservatorship, sources claim she’s in a hurry to tie the knot with Asghari, who popped the question in September.
• Sting – In an interview, he described himself as a “heavy metal singer” while explaining why it’s essential for him to deliver the Police’s songs in a high register. Quote: “Most heavy metal singers sing up there, so I’m a heavy metal singer – but I have a little more melody.”
• Quiet Riot — The original metal “asylum” mask used to create the iconic cover image for their “Metal Health” album sold for $50,000 (6 times its original estimate) at Julien’s “Icons & Idols: Rock N’ Roll” auction.
• Grateful Dead — Jonah Hill will play Jerry Garcia in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming band biopic for Apple. Hill will also co-produce. Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann will executive produce with Garcia’s daughter Trixie Garcia, Eric Eisner and Bernie Cahill.
• Dan + Shay – recently stopped by during a couple’s proposal to perform an acoustic version of ‘You’. The bandmates captured the moment on social media, with Dan Smyers explaining they received a message from a fan named Erin, who wanted to propose at their concert, but they decided to do something “a little extra special”. Shay Mooney responds: “We’re gonna go sing our song, and I’ve never been more nervous for anything in my life.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2u236r37
• Brett Young – is ringing in the holiday season both with his “Brett Young & Friends Sing The Christmas Classics” holiday album (out now), and with the Dec. 8-premiere of “CMT CROSSROADS Christmas: Brett Young & Friends” with special guests Boyz II Men, Chris Tomlin, Colbie Caillat, Dann Huff, Darius Rucker, Gavin DeGraw, and Maddie & Tae.
• Carrie Underwood – is known for sharing fitness-related updates on social media. She did exactly that recently when she posted a short clip of her participating in the #rocktheboatchallenge workout routine. The video has since garnered over 4.3 million views. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/hf5fvzcd
SHOOTING THE BULL
JUST LIKE THE COLDEN DAYS:
Lately, we’re hearing a lot about the so-called “super-cold” going around. People are posting on social media about being knocked out of commission for 2 weeks at a time or more, complaining about the “worst” cold they’ve ever had, and some are referring to it as a “non-Covid” chest or sinus infection. Well, if you’ve had it, here’s some news for you: It’s just a cold. You’re just not used to them anymore. A top infectious disease expert says there is no evidence of a “super cold” getting people sick in recent months. Researchers believe people have just forgotten what it’s like to be unwell while staying indoors during the coronavirus pandemic. Professor Neil Mabbott, from the University of Edinburgh, says the absence of most viruses last year due to rigorous COVID safety measures had led to waning immunity to some common illnesses. Although people may be more susceptible to colds and flu after the pandemic – Mabbott says a “super cold” is just a buzzword.
(But fortunately, most of us are very accustomed to laying around on the couch all day…so there’s that!)
(Not me. Of course, that’s because I’m the only one on earth who somehow managed to catch 2 colds last year while in lockdown!)
-StudyFinds
SLIP SLIDING AWAY:
Five out of 6 types of winter boots fail a slip test on ice, according to an investigation. “Marketplace”, a program on Canada’s national broadcaster CBC, looked at the popular winter boot brands Merrell, Sorel, Kamik, Ugg, Timberland and WindRiver — to see how they would fare on a wet, icy surface. The WindRivers proved to be the only boots that allowed the wearer to walk uphill at an angle of 15 degrees without slipping on the wet, icy surface. It is believed that the reason the WindRiver boots fared so well in testing is because they are manufactured with fiber-embedded soles. The fibers consist of abrasive materials which provide traction on wet ice.
(This is going to sound like a stupid question, but I’m guessing they put that stuff in winter tires, too?)
(They also determined that 5 out of 6 teenagers wouldn’t be caught dead wearing winter boots…or a hat!)
(Just for the record, even the WindRivers won’t help you if you get hit by a Zamboni…)
-CBC
FAILING PASSWORDS 2021:
It’s hard to believe, but some people are still using computer passwords like “123456” and, well, “password”. Cybersecurity company Nordpass has released its annual list of the most common passwords, and says that too many people are using passwords that can be easily guessed. This year’s list of most common passwords is topped by the usual suspects, such as “password,” “qwerty” and different variations of “123456.” NordPass says 144 out of the top 200 most common passwords can be cracked in less than one second.
Here are the top 5 most-commonly-used passwords:
1. 123456 (and variations, such as 123456789
2. qwerty
3. Password (yes, that one can be cracked in less than a second, Einstein)
4. 111111
5. 123123
Some suggestions for strengthening your passwords:
☞ Use complex, long and unique passwords for each account
☞ Store them in a password manager
☞ Use multi-factor authentication
They suggest changing your password if it appears anywhere on the top 200 list. LINK: https://nordpass.com/most-common-passwords-list/
(Is it just me, or do you find it weird that a cybersecurity company is giving out people’s passwords?)
(I’m fortunate in that I’m such a poor speller that my passwords ARE long and unique…)
-CTV
HIGHEST-PAID “CAMEO” STARS:
When they’re not dazzling fans on stage and screen, some stars are making a killing on Cameo — the app that allows people to pay their favorite A-listers — and even D-listers — to record a personalized video message for themselves or friends. Here are the 5 highest earners (US dollars):
1. Brian Baumgartner (‘Kevin’ on “The Office”) – Cost: $225. Earnings: over $1 million
2. Gilbert Gottfried (loud-mouthed comedian) – Cost: $175. Earnings: $450,000
3. Mick Foley (former pro wrestler) – Cost: $149. Earnings: $445,000
4. Kevin O’Leary (“Shark Tank” investor) – Cost: $1,500. Earnings: $350,000
5. Mike Rappaport (comedian-actor) – Cost: $159. Earnings: $300,000
Some…umm…others:
• Carole Baskin (“Tiger King”) – Cost: $199. Earnings: $150,000
• “Big Ed” Brown (“90 Day Fiancé”) – Cost: $65. Earnings: $122,000
• Rudy Giuliani (Donald Trump’s former attorney) – Cost: $259. Earnings: $11,000
(You couldn’t PAY me to do that! Or, rather…you WOULDN’T!)
-NYPost
DID YOU KNOW?
The perfect hug should last 5-10 seconds, according to science. Psychologists at the University of London, found that a longer hug — between 5 and 10 seconds — delivers a more positive impact compared to shorter ones. They also learned that arm positioning — whether crisscrossed, around the waist or over the shoulder — did not matter. One-second hugs are regarded as less pleasant and under-control than 5-10 second ones. The researchers concluded that after 10 seconds, huggers may reach “a plateau in pleasantness.”
-NYPost
BS CHRONOMETER 11.23.21
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1954 [67] Bruce Hornsby, Williamsburg VA, pop-rock-jazz keyboardist/singer (‘The Way It Is’, Mandolin Rain’)/former Grateful Dead touring member
1959 [62] Maxwell Caulfield, England (“Grease 2”, “Empire Records”)/TV actor (“The Colbys” 1985-87)
1960 [61] Robin Roberts, Tuskegee AL, TV host (“Good Morning America” since 2005, SportsCenter 1990-2005)
1961 [60] John Schnatter, Jeffersonville IN, entrepreneur (spokesman, and CEO of the pizza company Papa Johns, which he founded in 1984)
1971 [50] Lesley Fera, Los Angeles CA, TV actress (“Pretty Little Liars” 2010-2017)
1971 [50] Chris Hardwick, Louisville KY, comedian (“@Midnight” 2013-17), TV host (“Talking Dead” since 2011)
1987 [34] Snooki [Nicole Polizzi], Santiago Chile, reality TV star (“Jersey Shore” 2009-2012, “Snooki & JWOWW” 2012-2015, “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” 2018)
1992 [29] Miley Cyrus [born Destiny Hope Cyrus], Nashville TN, pop singer (‘Wrecking Ball’, ‘The Climb’)/TV actress (“Hannah Montana” 2006-10)/daughter of singer Billy Ray Cyrus
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cashew Day”, celebrating the yummy nut that sounds like a sneeze. (ca-SHEEEWW!)
• “Espresso Day”, a good excuse to have a wake-me-up shot this morning. Luigi Bezzera invented the espresso coffee machine in Italy in 1901. His objective was to decrease his employees’ coffee break time and increase their productivity. The small cup in which an espresso is served is called a demitasse.
• “Dr. Who Day”, the 58th anniversary of “An Unearthly Child,” the debut episode of Doctor Who, and the origin point of an ever-expanding universe. Originally airing on the BBC, William Hartnell’s character hopped in his TARDIS and embarked on an adventure that has enamored millions of fans. Happy birthday, Doctor. (***See “This Day in Show Biz”, below***)
• “Eat a Cranberry Day”, native to North America, cranberries are grown in bogs, primarily in New England. When the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, they found Native Americans harvesting and eating them. They were also used as dyes for clothing, and for medicinal purposes.
• “Fibonacci Day”, November 23 — or 11/23 — is Fibonacci Day because the first series of numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, and 3. The sequence is created by adding the previous 2 numbers to get the third number, so it begins as follows: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, and 144.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Sardines Day
[Wed] Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day
[Thurs] US Thanksgiving
[Thurs] Blasé Day
[Thurs] Parfait Day
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2012 Larry Hagman, star of “I Dream of Jeannie” and “Dallas”, dies at age 81
2011 [10] Lady Gaga’s 90 minute “A Very Gaga Thanksgiving” special airs on ABC. She directed the program, which features her singing, eating, visiting her old school, and being interviewed by Katie Couric
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1979 [42] Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” is released. It sells 6 million copies in 2 weeks
2013 [08] One Direction hosts “1D Day”, a 7½ hour interactive live-stream on YouTube and Google+ Hangout that includes live band performances and celebrity guests (an unprecedented use of social media)
2018 [03] Justin Bieber confirms he has married model Hailey Baldwin
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2013 [08] A special episode of “Doctor Who” titled ‘The Day Of the Doctor’ airs simultaneously in 94 countries to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary (Guinness World Record for the largest-ever simulcast of a TV drama, the first episode to feature the 12th “Doctor”, Peter Capaldi)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Your big toes have only 2 bones each. The rest of your toes have 3.
✓ J. R. R. Tolkien typed the entire 1,200-page manuscript of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy with 2 fingers.
✓ The marshmallows in Lucky Charms are technically known as “marbits”.
✓ Coconut shells can absorb more impact than most crash helmets.
✓ The Battle of Waterloo (1815) wasn’t fought in Waterloo. It was fought in Pancenoit, Netherlands, 4 miles away.
✓ The day after tomorrow is called “Overmorrow.”
-WhattheFFacts, BathroomReadersInstitute
Best of BS . . .
BS REJECTED INTERNATIONAL SPORTS TEAM NAMES:
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cannes Openers
• Vienna Sausages
• Belgium Waffles
• Prague Tologists
• Manila Folders
• Czech Bouncers
• Taipei Personalities
-First published in BS in 2006
BS SIGNS YOUR FAMILY MAY BE DYSFUNCTIONAL:
• Family discussions usually begin with the words: “Put the weapon down.”
• Your mother and your pre-teen sister are always fighting over the last beer.
• You’re 42, but your dad still makes you watch the parade on his shoulders.
• All of mom’s recipes involve 3 parts gin and 1 part tonic.
• Breaking the turkey wishbone usually involves a trip to the hospital
• Instead of spouses, each family member brings an attorney to get-togethers.
• Local cops save money by making your house a precinct station.
• The bikers next door are always complaining about the noise.
• No more sunny breakfast nook now that the kitchen is a meth lab.
• Your vacations are planned through AA instead of AAA.
• Your step-mom’s name is Camilla.
-First published in BS in 2010
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ BTS won 3 AMAs on Sunday, including Artist of the Year. (And they’d trade all three for a single chest hair…)
➠ The first Thanksgiving was held in October, 1621. (Some 400 years later, it remains an American institution. Just like Betty White and Mel Brooks…)
➠ Snooki is 34 today. (It’s not too late to get a gift. She’s registered at Bed, Hot-Bath & Beyond Crazy!)
➠ Miley Cyrus is 29 today. (If you’re thinking of getting her something she’ll use, I wouldn’t suggest a bra…)
➠ Some retailers and business insiders predict that new FDA regulations could kill the vaping industry. (And suddenly, the FDA’s approval rating shot up to 110%…)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Teamwork: https://tinyurl.com/2r9b6b7p
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Why is it that I’ve been shopping for over 25 years now, and I still have nothing to wear?
BS PHONE STARTER:
What “old-school” phrase would sound funny if you used it today?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTIONS:
Question: 75% of women say they do THIS more during the holidays than any other time of the year. What is it?
Answer: Cleaning
Question: 64% of children refuse to eat THIS at Thanksgiving dinner. What is it?
Answer: Yams
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
If you can’t excel with talent, triumph with effort.