Thursday, September 19, 2024 — Edition: #7796
Ah, Some BS You Actually Look Forward To In the Morning!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ A new docuseries from Investigation Discovery following the rise and fall of Sean “Diddy” Combs is in production. The special, from the producers of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” will delve into the “allegations of violent behavior and illegal activity that have trailed the music mogul.” News of the project comes after Combs was arrested on Monday and charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The indictment also includes allegations of kidnapping, forced labor, bribery, and other crimes. Producer Maxine Productions said the untitled docuseries “traces the story of this self-proclaimed Bad Boy, unraveling allegations of a pattern of depravity.” Combs is currently in federal custody after pleading not guilty.
-Deadline, TVInsider
★ Fresh off their reunion on Sunday’s Emmys, some of the key stars and producers from “The West Wing” are off to the White House for a celebration being thrown by Jill Biden. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the show, the Office of the First Lady will hold an event marking the occasion. Set to join the festivities are creator/executive producer Aaron Sorkin and director/exec producer Thomas Schlamme, as well as stars Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff, Dulé Hill, Janel Moloney, Emily Procter, Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack. At the Emmys, Sheen, Hill, Moloney, Schiff and Allison Janney appeared on a replica of The West Wing oval office set and presented the award for best drama series.
-Variety
★ Jennifer Lopez has clearly gotten a kick out of her recent Netflix films, because she’s returning to the streamer for her next feature. J Lo and “Ted Lasso” standout Brett Goldstein are set to star in the rom-com “Office Romance”. Plot details have not been shared, and a director is not yet attached. Earlier this year, Lopez starred in director Brad Peyton’s Netflix sci-fi flick “Atlas”, and prior to that, she led the streamer’s 2023 action film “The Mother”.
-HollywoodReporter
★ Oprah Winfrey will sit down with actress Riley Keough — Elvis Presley‘s granddaughter — for the CBS primetime event “An Oprah Special: The Presleys — Elvis, Lisa Maria and Riley.” It’ll be the first extensive interview with Keough about her family since the death of her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, in 2023. Winfrey interviewed Keough at Graceland in Memphis, where the king of rock and roll is famously buried. The special, which airs Oct. 8, is described as “an intimate conversation about her life, Lisa Marie’s life, and her famous family.” The special coincides with the Oct. 8 release of Lisa Marie Presley’s posthumous memoir “From Here to the Great Unknown,” which Keough helped co-write and finish.
-Variety
★ John Cena has zoomed into his latest action franchise. He’s slated to star in the Apple Original Film “Matchbox,” a feature adaptation of the iconic Mattel toy brand. Sam Hargrave (“Extraction”) is set to direct the live-action feature film. Cena will next be seen in Season 2 of the Max original series “Peacemaker” and will embark on his farewell WWE tour in 2025.
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Kristen Bell, Peter Krause, Hozier
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Demi Lovato, Hillary Rodham Clinton
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Anderson Cooper, Sting
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Lake Bell, James Adomian, Opey Olagbaju
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Heather Dubrow, Dan Bucatinsky
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Hillary Rodham Clinton, Will, Alexandra and Matthew Reeve
• “The Talk” (CBS): Dr. Phil
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Eva Mendes, Calum Scott
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Tiffany Haddish, Freya Allen, Jean Smart, Nicholas Galitzine, Jonathan and Drew Scott, Daniela Melchior, Melissa Rivers, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence surprise.
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Eva Mendes, Lucien Laviscount
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Sofía Vergara
• “CBS Fall First Look” (CBS): A look at new and returning series for the fall season, featuring sneak peeks, fun facts and cross-show conversations between stars.
• “Big Brother” (CBS): Following a live vote, a houseguest is evicted.
• “Big Cats 24/7” (PBS): Series premiere. Wildlife filmmakers follow lions, leopards and cheetahs in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
• “NFL Football” (Fox, TSN): New England Patriots @ New York Jets
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Short n’ Sweet” has scored a third consecutive week at #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” is the only other album to spend its first 3 weeks atop the list this year.
• Miley Cyrus – is being sued, again. Tempo Music Investments claims her 2023 Grammy-winning song ‘Flowers’ intentionally copied Bruno Mars’ ‘When I Was Your Man’, which was released in 2012. Tempo says it holds a share of the copyright to Mars’ song. Mars is not listed as a plaintiff. It’s the 4th time she’s been sued over copyright infringement.
• Dua Lipa – told “60 Minutes” that her response to critics who say her songs don’t give the listener a sense of who she is or “aren’t very personal”, is this: “It’s something that I just naturally hold back…For me, it was always important to make music that people really loved, not because I was putting someone on blast or because I’m doing it for clickbait at someone else’s expense.”
• Cher – has been booked to headline the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024. The lingerie brand is bringing the event back on Oct. 15, after a 5-year hiatus, with an all-female musical talent lineup. Other Cher events this fall include her Oct. 19 Rock Hall of Fame induction, and the Nov. 19 release of the first volume of her book “Cher: The Memoir, Part One”.
• Linkin Park – Their comeback single ‘The Emptiness Machine’ debuted at #3 on Billboard’s Global 200 chart. It debuted at #21 on the Hot 100.
• Thin Lizzy – A new animated video for their 1976 single ‘Jailbreak’ has been released. The clip, based on Jim Fitzpatrick’s iconic cover art for the album of the same name, arrives as fans anticipate the Sept. 28 release of new mixes of the “Jailbreak” and “Johnny The Fox” albums. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/32tadtj7
• Jelly Roll — had such a great time at the Emmys that he’s already planning to come back. He told People: “It’s crazy, man. I want to be in a TV show now so I can come here every year. I’m calling all my country music friends and telling them ‘we are missing the mark, dude, we gotta be at the Emmys.’” He sang his current hit ‘I Am Not Okay’ during the in memoriam segment of the 76th Emmys.
• Kelsea Ballerini – has landed a role in the new ABC drama “Doctor Odyssey”. She appears in the first few seconds of the just-released trailer for the show, which explores how doctors and nurses aboard a cruise ship navigate their jobs and personal lives. Ballerini describes her participation as “guest star”. It premieres on ABC and Hulu on Sept. 26. LINK: https://youtu.be/O_kVaY3dZF0
• Randy Travis — has announced that the “More Life Tour” will hit the road again in 2025. Travis, his original touring band, and guest vocalist James Dupré start the tour in January in Tulsa, and end in May in Branson MO. Although Travis won’t sing due to the stroke he suffered in 2013, he will appear on stage with his wife, Mary, engaging with fans and interacting with the band. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2ydubbwh
SHOOTING THE BULL
BUYING IN BULK:
It’s not news to anyone, but for all but the most disciplined of shoppers, it’s nearly impossible to leave a Costco without spending at least a few hundred bucks. You know how it goes: You pop in to pick up a few specific items, and end up leaving with a cart full of bulk items and a long receipt – and grab a sausage on the way out. And now we know exactly how much money the average shopper spends at Costco – per minute. According to a new report from business news site Morning Brew and @maxinomicsmb, a YouTube channel that explores spending habits, from the minute they walk into a Costco, to the second they leave, a shoppers will spend about $1.75 per minute. The report says that the average person spends about 37 minutes wandering around the bulk warehouse store, which means the average shopper spends about $64.75. But people in the comments section said they spend WAY more than 37 minutes there, with one joking that they “spend 37 minutes in each aisle.” Another said their family spends “at least 1.5-2 hours” in the store, and if those estimates were applied, that would equal a bill of about $210.
(I know that sounds like a lot, but if it keeps my wife off Amazon for an hour, I figure I’m SAVING money!)
(The good news? I eat AT LEAST $1.75 per minute worth of free samples!)
-NYPost
TEXT TALK:
Would you rather have a conversation in person or via text? It probably won’t come as a surprise to you that 7 in 10 millennials and Gen Z say they prefer to communicate digitally – mostly by text – than in person. In a poll of 4,000 young adults between 18-34 throughout a number of Western countries, 65% said they talk to peers more often via texting or cell phone, and that number is even higher in English-speaking nations, where about 74% said they prefer to talk via text. A few other “phone findings” from the survey…
• 62% percent would rather forget their wallet than their phone when going out.
• 70% said they sleep within arm’s length of their phone. And just over half even check their phone for notifications if they wake up in the night.
• 66% bring their device with them to the restroom.
(If that’s where they’re having their conversations, I don’t want to talk to them in person, either!)
(Can you blame them for wanting to text, rather than talk? Every time they answer the thing, there’s someone on the other end trying to sell them an extended warranty for a car that they don’t own!)
-StudyFinds
SEND IN THE CLOWNS:
It turns out that laughter really IS the best medicine. A study out of Israel found that spending time with a clown can actually shorten a child’s hospital stay. The lead researcher, from Carmel Medical Center, pointed out that the study involved “medical clowns”, who are specifically trained to work with patients in hospitals. And by visiting with children, they have been shown to reduce pain and alleviate stress and anxiety in children — and their families — during medical treatment. Medical clowns use humor, music, and playfulness to help patients cope with being in the hospital. They have been referred to as “a ray of sunshine” in an otherwise sterile and sometimes scary environment. In a test conducted among kids with pneumonia, those who got to hang out with clowns were able to leave hospital after 43.5 hours, compared to 70 hours for those who didn’t see the clowns. The kids who “clowned around” also required less IV treatment and had better vital signs.
(The only problem? All the banana peels that get left behind in the hallway!)
(Either that, or the kids were so terrified of meeting up with ‘Pennywise’ that they PRETENDED to be all better!)
-StudyFinds
GUINNESS WEIRD RECORDS:
Perhaps a rename is in order – to Guinness “Weird” Records. In its latest 2025 book edition, Guinness World Records has revealed its weirdest and wildest stunts of 2024 so far. These include…
☆ Largest hands and feet on a teenager: Eric, a 16-year-old from Michigan, wears a size 23 shoe (two, actually). And although he has been able to find his rare shoe size, he struggles to find gloves that fit his larger-than-life hands.
☆ Most dog tricks performed under a time restraint: Bonnie and Simba, 2 pooches from the UK, hold several records for their paw-some tricks, including the most bottles deposited into a recycling bin by a dog in one minute (16), and most coins deposited into a bottle (13). They also hold the record for the most clothes hung on a washing line by a dog in one minute, with 17 items.
☆ Largest collection of Squishmallows: Sabrina Dausman of Illinois has a collection of 1,528 Squishmallows, the largest collection in the world. Her obsession with the plush toys started in 2018 when she spotted “Fern the Valentine’s Fox” at Walmart.
☆ Heaviest single repetition weighted pull-up in a wheelchair: Adnan Alfermli of Syria lifted 71.8 pounds (32.6kg) while seated in his wheelchair.
☆ Most backside skateboard tricks in one minute: 9-year-old Ema Kawakami completed 540 backside skateboard tricks in one minute. The Japanese skateboarder also nailed 13 tricks within 60 seconds.
(I’m actually not sure these are even the weirdest. In the last week alone, records have been set for the largest electric toothbrush, most pinatas at a gathering, most balloons punched, and largest charcuterie board!)
-NYPost, UPI
DID YOU KNOW?
The average adult has 2 embarrassing secrets that they keep from everyone, according to a poll conducted in 2021. The OnePoll survey of British adults found that mental health issues are the most common secret among adults. After that, an embarrassing or “cringeworthy” incident comes in at #2, with a third of respondents admitting to keeping such mistakes to themselves. The rest of the top-5 secrets, in order, were: people’s internet history, their eating or snacking habits, and their hygiene habits. (I think they’d better come clean on some of these. Because what I just imagined is probably waaay worse!)
-StudyFinds
BS CHRONOMETER 09.19.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Talk Like a Pirate Day”. So here goes … “Har’ Billy, hoist that bilge! Avast ya scurvy scum, stow away your jib! Ahoy matey, grab thee a wench! Swab the deck, ya lily-livered landlubbers!” Here are some tips for all those who are hoping to appear seaworthy today:
→ Substitute “me” for “I” (e.g., “Methinks this deck is ready for a swabbin’”).
→ Leverage the Five A’s: ahoy, avast, arrrrghh, aye, and—when addressing a figure of authority—aye-aye.
→ Confidence, confidence, confidence! Being a pirate is all about believing in yourself, even if your mutiny fails and results in you getting cleaved to the brisket. (The first thing I said today when I woke up was, “Arrrgh!” Actually, that’s the first thing I say EVERY morning…) LINK: http://www.talklikeapirate.com
• “Woman Road Warrior Day”, to honor women who travel for business. While men were once the main business travelers, women now account for half of all work-related travel. (As opposed to my mother, who is a ‘Road Worrier’.)
• “Butterscotch Pudding Day”, because apparently every single thing in existence deserves its own holiday…
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Fri] String Cheese Day
[Fri] Gibberish Day
[Sat] Miniature Golf Day
[Sun] Hobbit Day
This Week is…Indoor Plant Week
This Month is…Family Meals Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1940 [84] Bill Medley, Santa Ana CA, pop singer (w/Jennifer Warnes-‘[I’ve Had] The Time of My Life’, The Righteous Brothers-‘Unchained Melody’)
1948 [76] Jeremy Irons, Cowes England, movie actor (“Reversal of Fortune”, “The Lion King”)/TV actor (“The Borgias”). COMING UP… “The Count of Monte Cristo” miniseries, 2024
1951 [73] Daniel Lanois, Gatineau QC, singer-songwriter-music producer (U2, The Killers, Neil Young)/Canadian Music Hall of Fame 2002/Canada’s Walk of Fame 2005
1952 [74] Nile Rodgers, The Bronx NY, pop-disco guitarist (Chic-‘Le Freak’, ‘Good Times’)/music producer (David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”, INXS, Duran Duran, Sister Sledge) Rock Hall of Fame, 2017
1958 [66] Lita Ford, London England, rock guitarist/singer (w/Ozzy Osbourne: ‘Close My Eyes Forever’, The Runaways-‘Cherry Bomb’)
1964 [60] Trisha Yearwood, Monticello GA, country singer (‘XXX’s and OOO’s [An American Girl]’, ‘She’s in Love with the Boy’)/TV host (“Trisha’s Southern Kitchen”)/married to Garth Brooks since 2005
1964 [60] Kim Richards, Long Island NY, reality TV star (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” 2010-20)/movie actress (“Escape to Witch Mountain”)/sister of Kyle Richards, aunt of Paris Hilton
1974 [50] Jimmy Fallon, Brooklyn NY, TV host/comedian (“Tonight Show” host since 2014, “Late Night” host 2009-14, “Saturday Night Live” 1998-2006)/movie actor (“Fever Pitch”)
1976 [48] Alison Sweeney, Los Angeles CA, TV actress (“Days of Our Lives” 1993-2015), TV host (“The Biggest Loser” 2007-2015)
1980 [44] Tegan & Sara Quin, Calgary AB, twin sister indie-rock singer-songwriters (Tegan & Sara-‘Closer’, ‘I Was a Fool’)
THIS DAY IN SHOWBIZ . . .
1994 [30] “ER” premieres on NBC, created by Michael Crichton, starring George Clooney, Anthony Edwards and Noah Wyle.
2016 [08] Angelina Jolie files for divorce from Brad Pitt after 2 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1999 [25] The Dixie Chicks become the first country group to top the Billboard albums chart when “Fly” debuts at #1.
2008 [16] Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM are seriously injured when the plane they are in hurtles off the end of a runway in South Carolina, and hits a highway embankment.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1982 [42] Carnegie Mellon University professor Scott Fahlman produces the first ‘smiley face’ to punctuate humorous computer messages, employing a colon followed by a hyphen and a parenthesis [:-)] (the first emoji?).
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2011 [13] Pitcher Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees surpasses Trevor Hoffman to become Major League Baseball’s all-time saves leader with 602 (retired in 2013 with 652).
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ The Saturday before Christmas is the busiest shopping day of the year.
✓ A cotton shirt requires 700 gallons of water to make.
✓ Some hospitals keep a stock of beer. This is to help alcoholic patients avoid withdrawal symptoms, when necessary.
✓ The word “friends” is said in every episode of the show “Friends”.
✓ Babies cry for an average of 1 to 3 hours each day.
✓ There are 923 words in the English language that break the “i before e” rule. Only 44 words actually follow it.
-TheFactSite, Facts
Best of BS . . .
BS UNNECESSARY IPHONE FEATURES:
• A new version every 6 months or whatever.
• Voicemail. Like I’m ever gonna check that.
• The $1,100 price tag.
• “Screen time”. I already know I’m on my phone all day!
• Airbag.
• Swiss Army Knife.
• Blockbuster locator app.
• Mansplaining app.
• The user.
• Apparently, the little Apple sticker.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ Jennifer Lopez said in an interview that she’s not a diva. (In fact, just hearing that word sends such a shiver up her spine, it takes her personal masseuse 2 hours to massage it out.)
➠ There was a 4.7 magnitude earthquake in Southern California over the weekend. (The mayor of L.A. considered declaring a state of emergency because thousands had to change their outdoor brunch plans!)
➠ A study has determined the 10 happiest countries. (And as you’d probably expect, they’re all places where no one’s heard of the Kardashians…)
➠ Lance Armstrong turned 53 yesterday. (You could totally tell it was his birthday because he was telling everyone that it wasn’t his birthday…)
➠ A report claims that women with big butts are likely to live longer. (…and men who like big butts — are less likely to lie!)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Make us proud, dad: https://tinyurl.com/4h9p9rt5
BS RANDOM JOKE:
My Father had a profound influence on me. He was a lunatic.
BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
The average person will spend 5 1/2 months of their life waiting on THIS. What is it?
Answer: A webpage or video to load
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.
