Wednesday, October 2, 2024 — Edition: #7805
We’ve Got Our Sheet Together!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
[***UPDATE***] ★ John Amos, the actor whose characters in “Good Times”, “Roots” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” lent the 1970s a share of its too-few portrayals of strong Black male role models, died August 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes. He was 84. His death, announced by son Kelly Christopher Amos, had not been disclosed until this week. Amos’ career spanned over 5 decades, taking off in 1970 when he played ‘Gordy Howard’, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The recurring role led to his signature role of ‘James Evans Sr.’ on the groundbreaking CBS sitcom Good Times from 1974-76.
-Deadline
★ Travis Kelce is everywhere these days: dating Taylor Swift, winning the Super Bowl, making his acting debut, and now, hosting a game show. Prime Video has released the first trailer for “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?,” a new game show hosted by the NFL superstar. In the clip, Kelce walks onstage wearing a dusky pink suit, and explains this is “the game show where people could win ridiculous money, just by answering questions about stuff we all learned back in elementary school.” When one man confesses that he doesn’t know anything about geography, Kelce quips, “Me neither.” The spinoff of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” premieres Oct. 16 on Prime Video. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5s9mpep6
-Variety, NYPost
★ A new book claims that Queen Elizabeth II was battling bone cancer before her death. In his memoir “Unleashed”, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson details his final meeting with the late monarch, who passed away on September 8, 2022, at 96. In an excerpt, Johnson wrote, “I had known for a year or more that she had a form of bone cancer, and her doctors were worried that at any time she could enter a sharp decline.” The book will be released in the UK on Oct. 10, and on Oct. 22 in North America.
-NYPost
★ Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are expecting their second child. Beatrice, granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth and daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, announced her pregnancy in a palace statement. Beatrice and Edoardo are already parents to 3-year-old daughter Sienna Elizabeth. Beatrice, who is due in early spring, is also a stepmother to Edoardo’s 8-year-old son Christopher Woolf, known as “Wolfie” — from a previous relationship.
-People
★ Another month, another star-studded new series from Ryan Murphy under his Disney deal. FX has given a series order to “The Beauty”, a drama starring Evan Peters, Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope and Ashton Kutcher. Co-created, written and exec produced by Murphy and Matt Hodgson, The Beauty is based on the comic books by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley. Production on the 11-episode first season is slated to begin this fall. As usual for a Ryan Murphy project, no official details about the premise and the characters have been given.
-Deadline
★ Robert Englund wants to return to the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” series for an animated movie. The 77-year-old starred as the dreaded ‘Freddy Krueger’ in the horror franchise from the 1984 original until the 2003 spin-off “Freddy vs. Jason”, and when ComicBook.com pitched Englund on the idea of an R-rated animated flick, he said: “Let’s go for it. We’ll have lunch!” Englund suggested “A nice, dark” prequel, featuring a “retro” Freddy Krueger, set in the 1970s, that would follow the killer before he terrorized young children in their dreams.
-ContactMusic
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Jennifer Aniston, Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, Lady Gaga
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Luke Bryan, Colin Kaepernick
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Andrew Garfield, Ina Garten
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Michelle Collins, Vinny Thomas, Akilah Hughes
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Mariska Hargitay, Method Man
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Heather Gay, Sarah Paulson
• “The Daily Show” (COM): Jelani Cobb, host Michael Kosta
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Gov. Chris Christie, Raven-Symoné
• “The Talk” (CBS): Jay Pharoah guest co-hosts
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Sarah Paulson, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, The Fray
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Kate McKinnon, Halle Berry, Miranda Lambert, Danielle Kartes, “MJ The Musical” performance
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Chloe Sevigny, Zanna Roberts Rassi
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Gwen Stefani, Myka Meier, Serena Page and Kordell Beckham
• “Survivor” (CBS): Three castaways go on a journey and make a big decision that will impact the game; tribes try to earn a reward that will provide comfort at camp as well as safety in the game.
• “The Masked Singer” (Fox): Footloose Night
• “Chicago Med” (NBC): Lenox continues to rankle Archer as they tackle their new roles; Ripley faces possible suspension over what really happened to Pawel; Goodwin is forced to make layoffs. Followed by new episodes of Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.
• “The Golden Bachelorette” (ABC): A glitzy outing in Las Vegas, a spirited kickball game and a whimsical horseback ride; a surprise guest joins Joan as she faces a pivotal decision.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Taylor Swift — A mystery buyer has gone viral for paying $4,000 to buy a signed Taylor Swift guitar at a Texas charity auction — and immediately smashing it up with a hammer. Video shows the white-haired man grinning as he makes his way to the stage. The auctioneer laughs along with him over the loudspeaker as he pummels the guitar. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/y5j9jryz
• Hozier – joined Maren Morris onstage during her set at the All Things Go festival in Columbia MD over the weekend. The Irish singer emerged on stage without much fanfare, making fans shriek with surprise. With the crowd singing along, Hozier and Morris traded harmonies on their 2019 duet ‘The Bones’. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ytpnh3ne
• BTS — Suga has been fined 15 million won (US$11,500) for driving an electric scooter while intoxicated. The DUI incident took place in early August when Suga fell off his scooter near his home. Police spotted his fall and administered a breathalyzer, which determined Suga’s blood alcohol level was 0.227%. The legal limit is 0.08%.
• Maroon 5 – has extended its Vegas residency into 2025. The show at Dolby Live at Park MGM, titled “M5LV: The Residency”, will run for 8 additional dates in March. Tickets go on sale Friday.
• Foo Fighters — are reportedly taking a “hiatus” from performing after Dave Grohl revealed he welcomed a baby with a mistress. The Sun reported an insider as saying: “He wants to be at home and focus on earning back the trust of his family.” The group unexpectedly canceled their weekend appearance at the Soundside Music Festival in Connecticut.
• Wang Chung – have dropped a new remix of their 1986 signature hit ‘Everybody Have Fun Tonight’. The group’s Nick Feldman and Jack Hues describe Eric Kupper remix as “vibrant, infectious, and full of dynamic energy.” It is available digitally, and will appear on the upcoming Wang Chung vinyl retrospective “Clear Light/Dark Matter”, out early next year. LINK: https://youtu.be/4PfkGac86nA
• Blondie – Denny Harry says she’s “flattered” that a new Gucci bag has been named “Blondie”. The 79-year-old has signed on to star in Gucci’s latest fashion campaign, and the company’s creative director said: “What I like the most about Debbie Harry is her irreverence. She is a free spirit in her choices, and she is still an icon.”
• Miranda Lambert – Her horses are prize-winners. Last month, she took a break from her press run to head to the Oklahoma State Fair, and shared a round-up of photos of herself and her horses in competition, including one of her coming home with some first-place prizes. She wrote: “Horses are my happy place.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3mb9rpcn
• Morgan Wallen – posted on Instagram a note of concern for those impacted by Hurricane Helene, particularly those in his home region of East Tennessee. Wallen said that his friends and family are OK, but “(Relief efforts will) take a monumental effort and I am in contact with my team and others working on ways I can help.”
• Lainey Wilson – will be one of 3 co-hosts for the 2024 CMA Awards, joining Luke Bryan and football great Peyton Manning. Wilson, who won the Entertainer of the Year award at last year’s ceremony, is also nominated in 4 categories, including for Entertainer of the Year again. The show airs live on ABC on Nov. 20.
SHOOTING THE BULL
AIR-BRAINED IDEA?
Ah! Just what you need — an already-exhausting travel day stretched out even longer! Some scientists are calling for flights to slow down, because slower airplane speeds would help save the planet. Researchers at the University of Cambridge have announced their idea to help the aviation industry get to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 — by mandating longer flight times. Their “bold measure” would see flight times slowed by 15%, which would add about 50 minutes of travel time to pretty much every transatlantic flight. They say the proposal would cut fuel consumption by 5-7%, and would reduce the industry’s overall 4% contribution to climate change.
(How about instead of making flights longer, they work on making flight delays SHORTER?)
(…because you really want to have to take your kids to the restroom FOUR times every time you fly, right?)
-NYPost
STAGNANT WATER OF YOUTH:
Could it be that the secret to a longer life lies in…pond scum? A new study says that phytoene, a colorless compound found in microalgae, seems to have remarkable anti-aging properties, including extending lifespan. Spanish and British researchers used a type of tiny worm in their study, and found that the ones treated with phytoene showed increased resistance to oxidative stress, suggesting that phytoene acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals. The researchers also found that phytoene had a powerful protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease, and the positive effect of extending lifespan. They say their findings open up intriguing possibilities for future anti-aging research.
(…and if that doesn’t work out, they’ve at least found a way to make live bait last longer!)
(Now, the race is on to become the first celeb to release a line of anti-aging “pond scum” cosmetics!)
-StudyFinds
BURNING CALORIES – AND PUTTING THEM BACK ON:
❑ If you’re trying to lose weight, take the stairs…during your workout. Lauri van Houten, vice president of the International Skyrunning Federation, says that stairclimbing “gets you fit faster and consumes more calories”. She suggests adding a few minutes of stair-climbing as a daily routine. As you know, stairs are accessible almost everywhere, and research shows it’s more effective than walking on level ground. And the great news? The more you weigh, the more calories you’ll burn by climbing stairs. (Yeah, that last part didn’t exactly sell it for me!)
❑ For optimum health, you should eat dinner between 5:00 and 7:00pm. Experts say that eating your evening meal within that 2-hour window can boost weight loss, improve sleep, and aid digestion. Known as the “early bird approach,” timing your last meal of the day to end before 7pm allows you to align with your body’s natural circadian rhythm, which influences metabolism, digestion and hormonal release, peaking during daylight hours and slowing with the onset of evening. (Early bird? If I don’t have something into my gut by 5:30, your leather shoes aren’t safe!)
-NYPost
LONGEST-LASTING TV SHOWS:
The 50th season of “Saturday Night Live” kicked off on Saturday, and while that’s definitely an impressive feat, these shows have been around even longer…
☆ “Meet the Press” (since 1947): The longest running show on network TV is still running, and over the years, its interview-style has featured every US president and other world newsmakers.
☆ “Today” (since 1952): It debuted on NBC over 70 years ago, and in 1974, legendary journalist Barbara Walters made history on the show when she became the first woman to anchor an American news program.
☆ “The Tonight Show (since 1954): Using a then-groundbreaking talk show format, legendary hosts over the years have included Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and current emcee Jimmy Fallon.
☆ “Jeopardy!” (since 1964): Did you know Alex Trebek wasn’t the original host? Art Fleming was first, with Don Pardo as the announcer. Contestant Mary Cabell Eubanks was the first-ever winner, taking home a prize of $345. “Jeopardy!” GOAT Ken Jennings became host in 2022.
☆ “60 Minutes” (since 1968): Famous for its in-depth interviews, profiles and investigative news reports, the CBS show debuted with Mike Wallace and Harry Reasoner as the first 2 correspondents. Other journalists on the show have included Andy Rooney, Lesley Stahl and Anderson Cooper.
☆ “Sesame Street” (since 1969): The PBS children’s program – featuring both humans and Muppets – is widely considered one of the most important movements in pop culture. It has entertained generations of children – and their parents!
☆ “Monday Night Football” (since 1970): The longest-running sports series in TV history. In its premiere, quarterback Joe Namath and the New York Jets were beaten by the Cleveland Browns.
(Why does it seem as though “Survivor” has been around just as long?)
-CNN
DID YOU KNOW?
The world’s tallest mountain is getting taller. Mount Everest is 15-50m (50-165ft.) taller than it would otherwise be because a river is eroding rock and soil at its base, helping push it upwards, according to a new study. University College London researchers say that a river basin 75km (47 miles) away is causing the world’s highest peak to rise by up to 2mm a year. A study co-author likened the process to “throwing a load of cargo off a ship”, causing the ship to become lighter, and “float a little higher”. Another factor in Everest’s rise is continued pressure from the collision of the tectonic plates which formed the Himalayan mountains in the first place, 40-50 million years ago. (So, if climbing Everest is on your bucket list, you’d better hurry up – because it ain’t getting’ any smaller!)
-BBC
BS CHRONOMETER 10.02.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Custodial Workers Day”, honoring those who clean up after the rest of us. Nicer names for ‘Janitor’ include: ‘Caretaker’, ‘Maintenance Coordinator’, and ‘Sanitation Engineer’.
• “Name Your Car Day”. Polls show that about 15% of people have a pet name for their vehicle. What awesome name did you give to yours…and why?)
• “International Day of Non-Violence”, observed on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. This day is referred to in India as “Gandhi Jayanti”. (You know what to do…or what NOT to do!)
• “World Farm Animal Day”, as declared by the ‘Farm Animal Reform Movement’ to memorialize the “needless suffering and death” of billions of innocent farm animals each year. It also honors the birthday of Gandhi, who was a champion of humane farming. LINK: https://dayforanimals.com/
• “World No Alcohol Day”, Finally! A day to dry out after celebrating Beer Day, Wine Day, Margarita Day, Bloody Mary Day, Martini Day, Mai Tai Day, Pina Colada Day…you see where I’m going here. (NOW what am I supposed to have for breakfast?)
• “Walk to School Day”, an annual event that involves communities walking and rolling to school, all on the same day. It began in 1997, and today, thousands of schools in all 50 US states and around the world participate in the movement for year-round safe routes to school.
• “Balloons Around the World Day”, the annual event celebrating ‘Balloon Sculpture’. Balloon artists worldwide showcase the art of balloon twisting and decorating and, in the process, deliver thousands of smiles through the act of giving.
• “National Kale Day”. A versatile food, kale can be cooked or eaten raw. It is commonly used in salads or baked into chips. It can be also be used to make many other things, from smoothies to pizza. (I prefer mine with a silent “K”!)
• “Guardian Angel Day”. Surveys have shown that close to 75% of us believe in them. Today, we think about, appreciate, and give thanks to them, for watching over us. (I’m just thankful that mine doesn’t laugh out loud at me!)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Boyfriend Day
[Thurs] Soft Taco Day
[Fri] Improve Your Office Day
[Sat] James Bond Day
This Week is…Universal Children’s Week
This Month is…Adopt-A-Dog Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1945 [79] Don McLean, New Rochelle NY, folk-pop singer/songwriter (‘American Pie’, ‘Vincent’)
1948 [76] Donna Karan (Faske), Forest Hills NY, fashion house founder (DKNY)
1950 [74] Mike Rutherford, Chertsy England, rock bassist-guitarist (Mike & the Mechanics-‘The Living Years’, All I Need is a Miracle’, Genesis-‘Turn it on Again’)/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (w/Genesis) 2010
1951 [73] Sting (Gordon Sumner), Wallsend England, rock singer-bassist (‘If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free’, The Police-‘Every Breath You Take’)/movie actor (“Dune” [1984])/activist (founder of the ‘Rainforest Foundation’, 1989)
1954 [70] Lorraine Bracco, Brooklyn NY, TV actress (‘Jennifer Melfi’ on “The Sopranos” 1999-2007)/movie actress (“Goodfellas”)
1970 [54] Kelly Ripa, Stratford NJ, TV talk show host (“Live With Kelly & ______” since 2001)/TV actress (‘Hayley Vaughan’ on “All My Children” 1990-2002, 2010)
1971 [53] Tiffany (Darwish), Norwalk CA, pop singer (‘I Think We’re Alone Now’), movie actress (“Necrosis”)
1974 [50] Sam Roberts, Montréal QC, rock singer-guitarist (‘Don’t Walk Away Eileen’, ‘Brother Down’)
1988 [36] Brittany Howard, Athens GA, blues-rock singer (Alabama Shakes-‘Don’t Wanna Fight’, ‘Always Alright’)
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2013 [11] In the case of ‘AEG Live vs. Michael Jackson Estate’, the court determines that AEG is not guilty of negligence for hiring Michael Jackson’s physician Dr Conrad Murray.
2016 [08] Kim Kardashian is robbed at gunpoint of $10 million worth of jewelry in her hotel in Paris.
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2004 [20] 55-year-old Billy Joel causes a stir by marrying his third wife, 22-year-old cooking student Katie Lee. (He’s now married to Alexis Roderick, since 2015.)
2010 [14] On Season 7 of “The X Factor” (UK), One Direction perform as a group for the first time, singing a cover of ‘Torn’. They finish the competition in third place.
2017 [07] 66-year-old Tom Petty dies after going into cardiac arrest at his Malibu home. He is taken to UCLA medical center, but cannot be revived.
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1991 [33] The Toronto Blue Jays become the first sport franchise ever to draw 4 million fans in one season, the same day the team clinches the AL East title with a win over the California Angels.
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1971 [53] A homing pigeon averages a record 133kph (83 mph) in an 1100km race in Australia.
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ ‘Ray-Bans’ are called that because they ‘ban’ rays from the sun.
✓ People who drink black coffee consume about 69 fewer total calories per day than those who add sweeteners or cream.
✓ Frogs use their eyeballs to push food down their throat.
✓ Singer Meat Loaf was a vegetarian.
✓ You can tweak your metabolic health by turning down the bedroom thermostat a few degrees.
✓ The world record for the longest pee is 508 seconds.
-UberFacts, BathroomReadersInstitute
Best of BS . . .
BS WAYS YOU CAN TELL IT’S OCTOBER:
• UV rating’s out, windchill factor’s in.
• School kids have already had 17 ‘Professional Development’ days.
• People getting excited the oven clock will soon be correct again.
• Air conditioning repair guy finally showed up.
• You already have the kids’ Christmas list.
• Grandma is now expecting you to wear that ugly sweater she knit 8 years ago.
-First published in BS in 2013
BS WEIRD THINGS TO ‘PUMPKIN SPICE’:
• Laundry detergent
• Hotdogs
• Chloroform
• Diapers
• An IV
• Cigarettes
• Kale
• Suppositories
• Embalming fluid
• Literally anything other than pumpkin pie and other baked goods containing actual pumpkin.
• Ramen noodles. I mean…What is wrong with these people?!
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019
BS WEB GOODIE:
May your day go THIS well: https://tinyurl.com/38wf5wcz
BS RANDOM JOKE:
The big difference between men and women is that if a woman says, “Smell this…”, it will usually smell nice.
TRUTH OR BS:
• The Great Wall of China can be seen from space. [BS. this is a common myth; it is not visible from space with the naked eye.]
• The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. [True.]
• The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage. [True, in April 1912.]
• Camels store water in their humps. [BS. Camel humps store fat, not water.]
• A group of mountains is called a “pack”. [BS. It is referred to as a “range”.]
• The femur is the largest bone in the human body. [True.]
• All planets in our solar system orbit the Sun in a circular path. [BS. The orbits are elliptical.]
• The internet and the World Wide Web are the same thing. [BS. The internet is a huge network of networks, while the World Wide Web is a collection of information accessible on the internet.
-Games4esl, MomJunction
☎ BS PHONE STARTER:
What household chore do you secretly enjoy? And why?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
A study showed that we throw away THIS food more than any other. What is it?
Answer: Bananas
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Extraordinary things are always hiding in places people never think to look.
