Wednesday, July 3, 2024 — Edition: #7746
It’s Another Running of The Bull!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the long-time-coming sequel to Tim Burton’s cult classic, will open the 81st Venice International Film Festival out of competition on August 28. The film reunites Burton with Micheal Keaton, who reprises his role as the mischievous title character. The cast includes Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and newcomers Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe and Jenna Ortega. Ortega stars as Lydia’s daughter, ‘Astrid’, who inadvertently reawakens ‘Beetlejuice’. The film will hit theaters on Sept. 6 in North America, with international releases beginning September 4.
-TheWrap
★ Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have tried their best to put on a united front — but the couple’s marriage has allegedly been over for months, according to a report. PageSix quotes sources as saying they’ve been apart since March, but Affleck is “very protective of Jennifer.” In May, a source said that Affleck had “come to his senses” about his and J.Lo’s short-lived marriage and wanted to call it quits.
-PageSix
★ Jamie Foxx has revealed what led to his mysterious hospitalization last year. The 56-year-old was recently recorded telling a group of people in Phoenix that on April 11, 2023, he had a “bad headache.” After telling them that he took Advil, Foxx then snapped his fingers and said, “I was gone for 20 days,” and that he does not “remember anything.” He continued, saying a doctor informed him: “[There’s] something going on up there,” pointing to his head. He quickly added: “I won’t say it on camera,” while looking directly at the person filming.
-PageSix
★ Richard Gere has taken his first major TV role. He’s set to star opposite Michael Fassbender and Jeffrey Wright in “The Agency”, the upcoming espionage political thriller series for Paramount+ with Showtime. The Agency, co-produced by George Clooney, follows Fassbender as a CIA agent, ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. Gere will play the role of ‘Bosko’, the London Station Chief with a storied past.
-Deadline
★ The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures named the honorees for its 4th annual fundraising gala, to be held Oct. 19. Oscar-nominated actor Paul Mescal, Oscar-winning actress, singer and dancer Rita Moreno and 2-time Academy Award-winning writer and director Quentin Tarantino are this year’s nominees. The evening will raise funds to support museum exhibitions, education initiatives and public programming, and access initiatives in Los Angeles.
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Vice President Kamala Harris, Abby Elliott (R)
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Will Forte, S. Epatha Merkerson, Miranda Rae Mayo, Jason Beghe, a performance from “The Great Gatsby” (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Jake Gyllenhaal, Chloe Fineman (R)
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Laura Ramoso, Johnny Pemberton, Michaela Watkins (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Eddie Redmayne, Dan Licata, Tico Torres (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): George Stephanopoulos, Robert De Niro (R)
• “The Talk” (CBS): Jerrod Carmichael, Tabitha Brown
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Debra Jo Rupp, Steve Patterson
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Dev Patel, Nick Mohammed, Sue Bird, Maurette Brown Clark
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Carolina Garcia Jayaram (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Craig Robinson, Shanola Hampton (R)
• “Hope in the Water” (PBS): Season 1 finale
• “Killer Cases” (A&E): Season 5 finale
• “The Real CSI: Miami” (CBS): When James Barry is murdered in a house full of his loved ones, an intriguing development involving digital forensics reveals a startling motive.
• “Backed by the Bros” (HGTV): Series premiere. The Brothers must decide between 2 experienced investors with much to gain, and possibly lose.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Sabrina Carpenter – gives Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” album credit for inspiring her to experiment with different genres. She said to Vanity Fair that Bey “kind of had a little bit of everything in that album and it really made me feel like I didn’t have to just stay in a box…So thanks Beyoncé, I love you.”
• Tate McRae and The Kid LAROI – have finally gone Instagram official. Monday was McCrae’s birthday, and on his Instagram Story, LAROI posted a pic of the pair kissing and wrote, “happy 21st birthday. you make me better! I love yoooouuu.” She reposted it. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4m478d8m
• Bruno Mars — has been doing residencies in Vegas for years, and has just opened his own nightclub, The Pinky Ring, at the Bellagio. And, he says, when it comes to Sin City, “I’m just getting started…Just wait to see what I do next.”
• Don McLean – is selling handwritten lyrics to his 1971 mega-hit ‘American Pie’. The words to the 8½ minute classic were “scribbled across 8 sheets of personalized parchment” for a friend a few years ago, and autographed. The sheets are listed on Moments in Time for $154,000. In 2015, he sold the original lyrics for $1.2million. LINK: https://momentsintime.com/8-page-faircopy-of-american-pie-signed-by-mclean/
• Rolling Stones – were joined onstage by Lainey Wilson in Chicago on Sunday for a rendition of ‘Dead Flowers’. Another country musician, Tyler Childers, guested during that song on June 3 in Orlando.
• Brantley Gilbert – is selling his Georgia home. The 6-bedroom, 5-bath 8,446 sq ft property on 12 acres in Maysville is listed for $3.5 million. Among its features are: a gourmet kitchen, fully-equipped gym, a safe room, and a detached 68 X 90ft. man cave. LINK:
• Miranda Lambert – Broke up a fight between 2 women during her Midland TX show over the weekend. Video shows her noticing a commotion while singing ‘Tin Man’. She stops mid-song, and says: “Did somebody pass out? Are you good? Are y’all fightin’? During this song? Because I will come down there. We’re not doing that today.” She later asks police to “go ahead and remove that.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/47w39znn
• Jason Aldean – shared his go-to hack for preparing his kids’ dinner. “If you’re giving your kids TV dinners, you need to step your game up. You can get an air fryer now and put in chicken nuggets and get them done in 8 minutes.” He also quipped: “Kids are weird…my kids will eat broccoli but they won’t eat cheese pizza. But if you put cheese on the broccoli, they will eat that.”
SHOOTING THE BULL
OZEMPET:
Ozempic for pets — because of COURSE it’s going to happen! There may soon be a weight-loss drug available for fat felines and hefty hounds that promises to help them shed pounds similar to the way Ozempic and other drugs are doing the same for people. The startup company Okava Pharmaceuticals found in a study that a weight-loss drug helped cats shed 5% of their body weight in about 4 months. No word on how the dogs fared, but experts say that the new pet-friendly Ozempic-style drugs would also help as a method of preventing diabetes in canines. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found in 2022 that 61% of cats and 59% of dogs are overweight.
(I hope it’s injectable. Because if it comes as a pill, I’d have to slather it in butter just to get mine to take it. That or bacon grease!)
(Cats lost just 5% of their weight on Ozempic? Mine loses that after a trip to the cat-box!)
-NYPost
SPORTING CHANCES:
The world of fantasy sports is more than just a bit of leisure-time fun. For many, it’s a passion – or even an obsession. But it also can be a huge problem. A new study published in “Simulation & Gaming” warns that participating in fantasy soccer can be very bad for your mental health. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London found that players who were most heavily involved in fantasy soccer (‘fantasy football’ in the UK) — those who spent more time managing their teams, participated in multiple leagues, and had money riding on the outcomes — reported both the highest levels of positive mood and the most significant mental health concerns. This suggests that for many players, fantasy soccer is a double-edged sword, capable of producing intense emotional highs alongside potentially troubling lows. Another key finding was that those who often compare their team’s performance to others, or frequently checked their rankings, also reported negative mental health outcomes. This suggests that the competitive aspect of fantasy sports can be a significant source of stress and anxiety for players.
(They also stress everyone else out, because that’s all they talk about all day on Mondays!)
(You know what stresses me out? The fact that my fantasy football team sucks almost as much as my real football team!)
-StudyFinds
GIRLS ON GRILLS:
According to the cliché, the barbecue is the exclusive domain of the dude – and also the place where they do some of their best work. But it turns out that women are the “unsung heroes” of the grill, according to a new poll. 2,000 men and women took part in the survey, which showed that 53% of us believe women don’t get the credit they’re due – or the praise they deserve — for their skills on the grill. Why is that? Like I said, the stereotype is that grilling is a guy thing. But the majority of people (53%) agreed that that’s an outdated idea, and 77% think grilling should be just as common for women as it is for men. And by the way: The poll also found that 84% of males and females agree: there’s nothing better than a good grilled dinner in summertime.
(Girls: This is a trap! Do NOT take on that responsibility even once – or it’ll be yours forever!)
(Well, I know that at my place, it’s the female who mans the grill. Sorry. Bad choice of words. I mean it’s the woman who does the barbecuing — by popular demand!)
-SWNS
THINGS AMERICANS DO THAT CONFUSE THE REST OF THE WORLD:
(The 4th of July is coming…and we present this fun look at America!)
➢ Use a Single-Colored Currency: The U.S. dollar is powerful, but it isn’t very exciting to look at. (And they call other countries’ bills “Monopoly money”!)
➢ Party With Red Solo Cups: Going to a party and drinking out of red solo cups is viewed by many others as a very American thing to do. It’s mostly because Hollywood uses them in party scenes. The cups are a staple at America-themed parties thrown around the world, and considered a fun cultural association.
➢ Eat it All: Visitors are often blown away by the size of American meals. Plus, researchers found that U.S. candy bars are an average of 41% bigger, yogurt servings are 82% bigger, and sodas are 52% bigger than those of other countries. (Plus: free refills!)
➢ Hold a World Series: They call it the World Series, but every team except for one is American. The fact that they call the winners “World Champs” is baffling to foreigners.
➢ Refer to Themselves Simply as ‘America’: Sometimes it seems forgotten that the U.S. is not the only America. It is actually considered politically incorrect in South America to call the U.S. “America”.
➢ Measure in Miles, Feet, and Inches: This is an obvious one, and a constant source of bewilderment for most of the world. America is one of just 3 countries to follow the imperial system of measurement. (Canada only uses imperial for football…and ordering a quarter-pounder!)
[****Happy Independence Day to all U.S.B.S.’ers!!***]
-Redbook, first published in BS in 2018
DID YOU KNOW?
A Japanese company has developed an ‘artificial intelligence filter’ that can detect angry screams and translate them into calm speech, as a way of reducing the stress experienced by call center operators. The app consists of 2 stages: one in which the AI identifies an angry voice and extracts key points of speech, and a second where it uses acoustic tools to transform it into a more natural, even polite tone. To train the AI, SoftBank’s engineers had actors record common phrases, including screams, accusations, threats, and demands for an apology. More than 10,000 pieces of voice data were used to train the AI filter. Interestingly, it doesn’t change any of the words spoken by the person, but significantly softens the intonation. (Isn’t it even WORSE to be sworn at by someone who sounds calm, rational, and in control?)
-OddityCentral
BS CHRONOMETER 07.03.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Compliment Your Mirror Day”. Participation involves complimenting your mirror on having such a wonderful owner, and keeping track of whether other mirrors you meet during the day smile at you. (Why should I compliment the mirror. It definitely doesn’t do ME any favors!)
• “International Plastic Bag-Free Day”, a day to pick paper over plastic or, even better, a bag that’s reusable. “Disposable” plastic bags are one of the world’s worst environmental problems. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mr399mhr
• “Stay Out of the Sun Day”, encouraging us to give our skin a much-needed break from the sweltering heat. (At least they decided NOT to have this on a ‘Sun’day!)
• “Disobedience Day”. Today is dedicated to civil or social disobedience, which is also commonly known as civil or passive resistance. It is a day for learning about civil disobedience, and for participating in it if you so choose. Civil disobedience is a type of nonviolent protest.
• “Eat Your Beans Day”, celebrating beans of all sizes, shapes and colors. Beans (legumes) are one of the longest-cultivated plants, dating back to the 7th millennium BC. They are also an excellent source of protein, fiber, iron and complex carbohydrates (not to mention fart jokes…)
• “American Redneck Day”. Remember, you might be a redneck if:
☞ You mow your lawn and find a car.
☞ You can spit without opening your mouth.
☞ Your brother-in-law is your uncle.
☞ You have flowers planted in a bathroom appliance in your front yard.
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Country Music Day
[Thurs] Barbecue Day
[Fri] Graham Cracker Day
[Sat] Kissing Day
This Week is…Eye Safety Awareness Week
This Month is…Hemp Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1943 [81] Kurtwood Smith, New Lisbon WI, TV actor (‘Red Forman’ on “That 70’s Show” 1998-2006, “The Ranch” 2017-19, “That ’90s Show” since 2023)
1957 [67] Stephen Pearcy, San Diego CA, rock singer (Ratt-‘Round and Round’)
1958 [66] Aaron Tippin, Pensacola FL, country singer (‘There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with the Radio’, Kiss This’)
1962 [62] Tom Cruise (Thomas Mapother IV), Syracuse NY, movie star (“Risky Business”, “Top Gun”) COMING UP…”Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two”, 2025
1962 [62] Thomas Gibson, Charleston SC, TV actor (“Criminal Minds” 2005-16, “Dharma & Greg” 1997-2002) COMING UP…”The Writer’s Bible”
1964 [60] Yeardley Smith, Paris France, TV voice actress (‘Lisa Simpson’ on “The Simpsons” since 1989)
1971 [53] Julian Assange, Townsville Australia, editor-publisher-entrepreneur (founder of WikiLeaks, released from British prison in June 2024 after reaching a plea deal with US prosecutors
1973 [51] Patrick Wilson, Norfolk VA, movie actor (“Insidious”, “The Conjuring”) COMING UP…”Millers in Marriage”
1980 [44] Olivia Munn, Oklahoma City OK, movie actress (“Magic Mike”, “Iron Man 2”)/TV actress (“The Newsroom” 2012-14, “The Daily Show” 2010-19)/married to John Mulaney since 2021. COMING UP…”Your Friends and Neighbors”
1989 [35] Elle King (Tanner Elle Schneider), Los Angeles CA, pop singer (‘Ex’s & Oh’s’, w/Miranda Lambert-‘Drunk [And I Don’t Wanna Go Home]’)/daughter of Rob Schneider
1997 [27] Mia McKenna-Bruce, London England, movie actress (“How to Have Sex”)/TV actress (“Vampire Academy” 2022)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1985 [39] “Back to the Future” opens in theaters, starring Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and a customized 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 sports car (the first of a trilogy)
2012 [12] “The Amazing Spider-Man”, starring Andrew Garfield & Emma Stone, opens in movie theaters (goes on to gross over $750 million worldwide)
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1971 [53] Jim Morrison of The Doors is found dead in a bathtub at age 27. No autopsy is performed, and while drugs are suspected, the official cause is listed as heart failure
2018 [06] Cardi B becomes first female rapper to score two #1 US Billboard hits, with ‘I Like It’, featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin (her previous #1 was ‘Bodak Yellow’)
2021 [03] Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are married at his ranch in Oklahoma. They met in 2014 when they were judges on “The Voice”.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2004 [20] Maria Sharapova wins her first Grand Slam tennis title by beating Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 at Wimbledon
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1988 [36] Rocky Kenover sets a world record by skydiving 403 times within 24 hours, averaging 1 jump every 3 minutes, using 7 planes, 10 pilots, and 50 parachute packers (The record now? 640!)
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ 35 years after leaving school, most people can still identify 90% of their classmates.
✓ Worker performance declines by about 1% for each degree that an office temperature varies (hotter or colder) from 22C (72F).
✓ Drinking wine before a meal makes you eat 25% more.
✓ Blue whales can eat 500,000 calories in 1 mouthful.
✓ Earth is farthest from the sun in July and closest to the sun in January.
✓ Because people tend to carry their devices in their back pocket, Samsung created a robotic butt to test phone durability.
-KickassFacts, Facts
BS WHACK U.S. FACTS (For Independence Day tomorrow):
✓The first 4th of July celebration included 13 cannon shots and 13 toasts (Philadelphia, 1777).
✓ The country’s Declaration of Independence was actually passed on July 2 – but was officially ratified on July 4.
✓ Americans typically eat 150 million hot dogs on Independence Day, enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. more than 5 times.
✓ New York City’s Statue of Liberty is technically in Jersey City, New Jersey.
✓ USA is the only country that has all 5 climate zones: temperate, continental, tropical, dry, and polar.
✓ Abraham Lincoln is in the Wrestling Hall of Fame.
-UberFacts, KickassFacts
Best of BS . . .
BS SILLY WEATHER COMPLAINTS:
• That breeze is way too pleasant.
• This rain is way too wet!
• This rain is NOT gluten-free!
• Yes, it’s cloudy, but still no meatballs.
• I can’t go outside, the oxygen level is too high.
• It’s too weathery.
• It’s just not humid enough.
• Why do they never include rainbows in the forecast? That’s weather!
• The sun makes my butt look big.
• It’s too perfect out and now I don’t have an excuse to stay inside.
• It’s raining men.
• That whole “hurricane in the forecast” thing.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2020
BS HOW DOGS WOULD CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY:
• A bark-B-Q
• Having drinks with friends & telling the story of how they almost got that darned mailman.
• Partying with no clothes on!
• Being grilled and eaten. Whoops. Wrong kind of dog…
• Following children and drunk people around, waiting for them to drop some food.
• Sleeping as much as possible, same as me.
• Lighting up some barklers.
• Pausing to reflect on the sacrifices of the brave people who helped form this great nati—SQUIRREL!!!
• Eating and pooping, same as any other day.
• Banning fireworks.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
BS WEB GOODIE:
Competitive edge: https://tinyurl.com/5n78n4bv
BS RANDOM JOKE:
I didn’t realize I was supposed to know how to do everything by my second rodeo. That’s still a very low number of rodeos…
BS ‘THIS OR THAT’:
(You run down the list rapid-fire while your guest picks one from each pair …)
• Cake or pie?
• Vacation or staycation?
• Zombies or vampires?
• Sandals or Crocs?
• Clown or magician?
• 80s or 90s?
• Swimming or sunbathing?
• Iced coffee on a cold day or hot coffee in a heatwave?
• Saturday or Sunday?
• Chicken pox or poison ivy?
• Money or brains?
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the biggest lie your parents told you as a child?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
10% of us are happy to admit we’ve played this game while drunk. What is it?
Answer: Mini golf
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
He who blames others has a long way to go on his journey. He who blames himself is halfway there. He who blames no one has arrived.
