Wednesday, September 18, 2024 — Edition: #7795
We’ve Got Our Sheet Together!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Sean “Diddy” Combs has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution, according to an unsealed indictment released yesterday. Details of the arrest indictment were revealed after the music mogul, who was the subject of a sex trafficking investigation and 2 federal raids, was arrested in Manhattan on Monday. The 14-page indictment says Combs turned his “multi-faceted business empire” into a “criminal enterprise” in which he and associates engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor and other crimes. It also says he threatened and coerced women to “fulfill his sexual desires”. He pled not guilty before a judge yesterday afternoon.
-USAToday
★ Is Ryan Reynolds’ next big purchase going to be a Welsh cricket team? He and his showbiz pal Rob McElhenney have “made contact” over the possibility of buying a stake in Welsh Fire, a Cardiff-based cricket franchise. Dan Cherry – the chief executive of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, which has strong links to the franchise, told the BBC: “It is a feasible option.” According to him, “we’re in the process (of selling) and…that they’ll certainly be included in any process that we’ve got going forward.” Reynolds and McElhenney became the co-chairs of the Welsh soccer team Wrexham A.F.C. in 2020.
-ContactMusic
★ Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are not getting back together. Despite having a friendly lunch with their kids over the weekend, “They are still moving forward with the divorce” and “working out financial details amicably,” a source told People. The insider said: “They all came together for a fun lunch so the kids could hang out.” The gathering included Affleck’s 2 younger children, 15-year-old Seraphin and Samuel, who is 12, plus Lopez’s 16-year-old twins Max and Emme. The group dined at the Polo Lounge inside the Beverly Hills Hotel in LA, less than a month after Lopez filed for divorce.
-PageSix
★ Survivor 47 is about to crash on our shores and according to host Jeff Probst, the upcoming season is “impossible to contain.” He said to TV Line: “Each season of Survivor is influenced by the previous season, so the moves and strategies employed in Survivor 46 will definitely impact Survivor 47.” This year’s cast includes “Pod Save America” co-host Jon Lovett, plus an ER doctor, a nurse, a pilot, a flight attendant and more, and Probst promises “big personalities with very clear agendas of how they want to play.” He even compares this season to HBO’s Game of Thrones, saying: “The throne is never secure and the crown is always up for grabs.” Survivor Season 27 debuts tonight on CBS.
-TVLine
★ Donald Glover said the next “Star Wars” chapter “Lando” is still happening — and not only will it present a new chapter centered on his character ‘Lando Calrissian’, he also wants the film to bring joy to fans. Quote: “As a Star Wars fan myself, I think it’s important that there just needs to be more fun being had.” Glover pointed out that “there are very serious things happening … But part of the human experience, I believe, is we have a responsibility to have enjoyment and I just feel like we’re lacking in that department.” He said the movie will be completely centered on the smooth-talking smuggler, and how he rose to his status in the original trilogy.
-TheWrap
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Jon Hamm, Maisy Stella, Glass Animals
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Eva Mendes, Zachary Quinto, Brandi Denise
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Rachel Maddow, Shaboozey
• “After Midnight” (CBS/Global): Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah, Mary Lynn Rajskub
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Colin Farrell, Ashley Park
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Lisa Barlow, Molly Sims
• “The Daily Show” (COM): TBA
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Connie Chung
• “The Talk” (CBS): Rob Lowe
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Colin Farrell, “Golden Bachelorette” Joan Vassos
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Gisele Bündchen, Gloria Gaynor, Emily Blunt, Rebecca Hall, Mat Franco, Lily Taylor; Chris Pratt surprise
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Jaleel White, James McAvoy
• “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Leslie Jones
• “Survivor” (CBS): Season 47 premiere. 18 new castaways are abandoned on the islands of Fiji.
• “MasterChef” (Fox): Season 23 finale parts 1 and 2.
• “The Golden Bachelorette” (ABC): Series premiere. Golden Bachelorette Joan has dinner with her family.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Usher – shared in an interview how he maintains his six-pack abs at age 45. And wouldn’t you know it? It’s down to hard work and discipline. He explained that he abides by a strict diet and exercise regime, and performing onstage is good exercise too. Quote: “Thank God that I have fans that I go work hard for every night.”
• Nicki Minaj—has announced the new album “Pink Friday 3”. On social media, she explained that she decided to scrap the deluxe edition of her LP “Pink Friday 2” in favor of a whole other album in the series. Quote: “I’ll announce the new date within the next couple weeks. The new music is just too good to be thrown away on a deluxe album… “Last night, the songs I recorded were just way too iconic.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/m7d6tkfw
• Jane’s Addiction – In addition to the band’s announcement that it has canceled the remainder of its reunion tour in the wake of the onstage melee between Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro, Navarro issued his own statement, saying the decision was “Due to a continuing pattern of behavior and the mental health difficulties of our singer Perry Farrell.” He also said: “We hope that he will find the help he needs.” Farrell has apologized. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2cnshhje
• Duran Duran — will celebrate the spooky season with a new version of their 2023 album “Danse Macabre”. “Danse Macabre – De Luxe”, out Oct. 11, includes 3 bonus tracks: an instrumental called ‘Masque of Pink Death’, a cover of ELO’s ‘Evil Woman’, and ‘New Moon (Dark Phase)’, a reimagined version of their hit ‘New Moon on Monday’, which is available now. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/46srukpa
• Styx — is returning to Vegas next year for a residency at The Venetian Theatre. The band will play 5 shows in January and February, during which they’ll perform their 1977 album “The Grand Illusion”, in its entirety (for the first time), along with other hits. Tickets go on sale this Friday.
• Cody Johnson – is about to deliver an expanded version of his latest album “Leather”. He told ABC that the record, out this fall, will feature 13 additional songs, some of which are “potential #1 hits”. Leather is nominated for Album of the Year at the 2024 CMA Awards.
• Miranda Lambert – has always been an advocate for pet welfare, and now she has announced the benefit show “Music for Mutts” to celebrate her MuttNation Foundation’s 15th anniversary. Lambert, Hardy, Lukas Nelson, Jake Worthington and other yet-to-be-revealed surprise guests will perform at the event, set for Oct. 5 at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5am59bdr
• Brooks & Dunn – On Nov. 15, they will release “REBOOT 2”, a sequel to their 2019 album “REBOOT”, which will follow the same format, with guests on each song. The new edition will feature appearances by Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Megan Moroney, Warren Zeiders, Jelly Roll, Halestorm, Mitchell Tenpenny, HARDY, ERNEST, and more. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5yvybk2s
SHOOTING THE BULL
LEAVING KIDS TO THEIR OWN ‘DEVICES’:
Do you ever catch yourself scrolling through your phone, only to realize that you should be paying more attention to your children? Of course. It happens. Well, here’s a little something to remember: According to a study, parents who stare at their screens instead of talking to their kids could be hindering their children’s language development. The findings, published in the academic journal Frontiers in Developmental Psychology, show that parents who used screens more had children who also used screens more — and those children had lower aptitude in grammar and vocabulary. The research was carried out on parents of 421 Estonian children between the ages of 2 ½ and 4. One expert said the results make sense, because verbal interactions with parents are one of the main ways children learn language.
(…and if your kid is on Facebook, that’ll hinder their language development EVEN MORE!)
(I see. Now, what should I do, as a parent, when my teen is scrolling through HER phone, when she should be talking to ME?)
-CNN
FAT FACTS:
❑ While no one can deny the effectiveness of the recent wave of weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, the holy grail would still be a safe, effective pill that melts away pounds without the need for injections or invasive procedures. And a new drug called amycretin could be just that. Unveiled at the meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Madrid, “amycretin” is a once-a-day tablet that mimics 2 crucial appetite-regulating hormones. In trials, participants taking the highest does of amycretin experienced an impressive average weight loss of 13.1% over a 12-week period. To put this in perspective, a 200-pound (91kg) person could lose over 26 pounds (12kg) in just 3 months. (And then gain it all back over Christmas!)
❑ Researchers at University of Michigan say that being a dedicated gym-goer might be doing more for your body than just burning calories – it could actually make your belly fat “healthier”. In the study, they found that long-term exercise appears to increase your body’s ability to store fat effectively. That means that if you do gain weight, your body is more likely to store that extra fat in the healthier subcutaneous tissue (just under the skin), rather than in more dangerous areas, such as around your organs or inside your liver. (No kidding. I’ve been going to the gym for years, and the guys down there are always talking about my “healthy gut”!)
-StudyFinds
CHRISTMAS EARLY-BIRD:
With less than 100 days to go, it seems that if you haven’t begun your Christmas shopping, you’re already behind. A new poll shows that one in 4 people have started their seasonal shopping – mainly because they’re worried about items selling out. The survey, conducted in the US, revealed that in the past, half of us have had problems getting their hands on in-demand presents, and 30% have completely missed out on the item they were after. And that’s why 36% said they have already purchased the “main present” for an adult. What are the items we are most concerned about selling out? Decorations were first (36%), followed by tech products (32%), advent calendars (29%), and “must-have” toys (29%). Other shoppers said they started the Christmas shopping season early as a way of spreading the cost (52%), or simply because they love Christmas (26%).
(…fortunately, my kids presented me with a 16-page Christmas wish list in early July…)
(Wow – if everyone is already doing their Christmas shopping – suddenly I’m worried about not being able to find Halloween stuff!)
-SWNS
IG NOBEL AWARDS, 2024:
The Journal of Improbable Research has announced this year’s “Ig Nobel Prize” winners. That’s the tongue-in-cheek celebration of unusual or dubious scientific achievements. This year’s awards…
☞ The Botany Prize: “for finding evidence that some real plants imitate the shapes of neighboring artificial plastic plants.” (Do they also gather dust?)
☞ The Anatomy Prize: “for studying whether the hair on the heads of most people in the northern hemisphere swirls in the same direction as hair on the heads of most people in the southern hemisphere.” (“Part”-ly correct?)
☞ The Medicine Prize: “for demonstrating that fake medicine that causes painful side-effects can be more effective than fake medicine that does not cause painful side-effects.”
☞ The Physics Prize: for research into the swimming abilities of a deceased trout.
☞ The Probability Prize: for studying the results of 350,757 coin flips and determining coins are slightly more likely to land on the same side they started from.
☞The Physiology Prize: “for discovering that many mammals are capable of breathing through their anus.” (Well, the exhaling part is easy…)
☞ The Chemistry Prize: “for using chromatography to separate drunk and sober worms.”
☞ The Demography Prize: for finding that “many…people famous for having the longest lives lived in places that had lousy birth-and-death record-keeping.”
☞ The Biology Prize: for 1941 research that involved “exploding a paper bag next to a cat that’s standing on the back of a cow, to explore how and when cows spew their milk.”
☞ The Peace Prize — for 1960 research into whether live pigeons could be housed inside missiles, to guide their flight paths.
And by the way, while the monetary prize for an actual Nobel prize is about $1 million, Ig Nobel winners get an obsolete Zimbabwean $10 trillion bill — that’s currently selling for $22 on eBay.
-UPI, MorningBrew
DID YOU KNOW?
Lately, Elon Musk has been taking his personal safety more seriously. How seriously? The New York Times reports the Tesla CEO travels with 20 or more security personnel – drawing comparisons to a mini-Secret Service detail. And that doesn’t come cheap: According to Tesla filings, the company paid $2.4 million to cover a portion of that protection last year. How does that compare to other rich guys? Apple spent $820,000 to cover CEO Tim Cook last year; Amazon pays $1.6 million per year to guard Jeff Bezos. But Zuck takes the title: Meta shelled out $23.4 million last year to protect Mark Zuckerberg. (If only these guys guarded our personal info that well!)
MorningBrew
BS CHRONOMETER 09.18.24
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Cheeseburger Day”, celebrating the best way to get 2 kinds of cattle fat into your system simultaneously. Supposedly, the first person to ever slap cheese on a burg’ was grill chef Lionel Sternberger at the Rite Spot restaurant in Pasadena CA in 1926. To celebrate, many burger joints offer amazing specials on cheeseburgers today. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdha4x2v
• “Hug a Greeting Card Writer Day”, saluting the anonymous and often under-appreciated wordsmiths who say the things we have trouble expressing. (Thanks for saving our bacon on numerous occasions!)
• “Chiropractic Founder’s Day”. The first chiropractic adjustment was given by Dr. DD Palmer to janitor Harvey Lillard in 1895. Harvey had lost most of his hearing 17 years earlier after experiencing a popping sound in his neck. Dr. Palmer determined that a bone was out of place in the janitor’s neck, and decided to move it back. Harvey’s hearing returned, and the chiropractic profession was born.
• “Rice Krispies Treats Day”, a combination of butter or margarine and melted marshmallows or marshmallow creme. Kellogg’s employees Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day are credited with the invention, in 1939, as a promotional vehicle for the cereal. (Is it a coincidence that ‘snap, crackle and pop’ and ‘Chiropractic Founders Day’ are celebrated together??)
• “School Backpack Awareness Day”. The American Occupational Therapy Association created this occasion to help prevent injuries to the back, neck, and shoulders that can occur from carrying heavy backpacks. But it’s not all about backpacks — suitcases, briefcases, and large purses are focused on as well. (A full backpack also makes it tough to sit in the school bus!)
• “First Love Day”, a day to reflect on your first love. For some people, this will feel like a distant memory. Or maybe you’re still with your first love! Today, reflect on those butterflies you experienced when you felt that first romantic spark.
• “Respect Day”. Created by Family Violence Prevention Fund (now Futures Without Violence), the day is about teaching respect and raising awareness about domestic and dating violence, with the goal of ending violence against women and children. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2bftxzmu
• “Read an eBook Day”, celebrated since 2014. (Can I just listen to an audio book instead?) LINK: https://readanebookday.com/
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Butterscotch Pudding Day
[Thurs] Free Queso Day
[Fri] Pepperoni Pizza Day
[Sat] Batman Day
This Week is…Security Officer Appreciation Week
This Month is…Update Your Résumé Month
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1950 [74] Darryl Sittler, St. Jacobs ON, retired NHL player (Toronto Maple Leafs captain who holds the record for points in a game, with 10)/Hockey Hall of Fame, 1989
1970 [54] Aisha Tyler, San Francisco CA, TV personality (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?” since 2013, “The Talk” 2011-17)/TV actress (“Bojack Horseman” 2014-15, “Archer” 2009-23)
1971 [53] Jada Pinkett Smith, Baltimore MD, movie actress (“Madagascar” films, “The Matrix” films)/ TV Host (“Red Table Talk” 2018-22)/married to Will Smith since 1997, separated
1971 [53] Lance Armstrong, Plano TX, former pro racing cyclist (stripped of 7 consecutive Tour De France titles due to doping)
1973 [51] James Marsden, Stillwater OK, movie actor (“The Butler”, ‘Cyclops’ in “X-Men” films)/TV actor “Westworld” 2016-22. COMING UP… “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice”
1975 [49] Jason Sudeikis, Fairfax VA, comedian/TV actor (“Ted Lasso” since 2020, “The Last Man on Earth” 2015-18)/movie actor (“We’re the Millers”, “Horrible Bosses”)/married to Olivia Wilde 2011-20
1976 [48] Ronaldo (Luís Nazário de Lima), Rio de Janeiro Brazil, retired professional soccer striker (3X FIFA World Player of the Year, 2002 FIFA World Cup winner)/entrepreneur (majority owner of Real Valladolid and Cruzeiro football clubs
1993 [31] Patrick Schwarzenegger, Los Angeles CA, movie actor (“Midnight Sun”)/model/son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. COMING UP… “The White Lotus” season 3
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1965 [59] “I Dream of Jeannie”, starring Barbara Eden as a 2,000-year-old genie, and Larry Hagman as an astronaut who becomes her master, premieres on NBC.
1985 [39] The first-ever ‘Top 10 List’ on “Late Night With David Letterman” is presented, titled ‘Top 10 Things That Almost Rhyme With Peas’ (#1 is ‘Meats’. Um, maybe it’s in the delivery?).
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1970 [54] Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix dies from asphyxiation at 27.
1983 [41] KISS make their first public appearance without their trademark make-up when they show up on MTV to promote the new album – and single – “Lick It Up”.
2004 [20] Britney Spears marries Kevin Federline in a low-key ceremony at a private home in Studio City CA, her 2nd wedding in 9 months (they divorce in 2007).
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1999 [25] The first husband & wife gender-swap happens, with each undergoing a sex-change operation in Hungary. (“I couldn’t stand my husband … so now she’s my wife.”)
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2009 [15] The final episode of radio-turned-TV soap opera “The Guiding Light” airs, ending its 72-year run.
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Professional baseball players have an average visual acuity of 20/12, much better than 20/20, which is considered “good”.
✓ Modern squirrels are almost identical to their ancestors from 35 million years ago.
✓ Honeybees keep their hives at 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35C)
✓ Peaches, avocados, cashews and bananas are all pollinated by bats.
✓ Being hungry causes serotonin levels to drop, causing a whirlwind of uncontrollable emotions such as anxiety, stress, anger and sadness (Hangry?).
✓ There was a real WWII hero named G.I. Joe. He was a carrier pigeon.
-BBC, WhattheFFacts
Best of BS . . .
BS REJECTED SUPERHERO SIDEKICKS:
• Assistant to the Regional Superhero
• Captain Backseat Driver
• I Told-You-So-Boy
• The Edible Hulk
• Garfunkel Boy
• He-Man Bun
• Soup-or-Salad Man
• Need-to-be-Home-by-Six Boy
• PMS Woman
• The Passive Aggressor
• Jason Kelce
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2017
BS AFTER A MONTH OF COLLEGE:
• I realized that it is easier to buy clothes at a thrift store than do laundry.
• I had mastered 37 recipes using ramen noodles.
• I thought, “What Frosh Hell is this?”
• I realized that the more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.
• I found I was majoring in pizza and beer pong.
• I was a month behind in my studies.
• I realized I couldn’t spell collage.
• I knew that I would never drink peppermint schnapps again.
• I had completed one month of college.
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2018
BS WEB GOODIE:
WTF 101: https://tinyurl.com/yeyvrk82
BS RANDOM JOKE:
Live so that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.
BS THREEZER:
(Give contestant the clues, they tell you what all 3 have in common…)
• Picnic, Card, Pool
Answer: They are all types of tables
• Gas, Police, Train
Answer: They are all types of trains
• A skunk, A nose, Garbage
Answer: They all smell
-TriBond
BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s the goofiest thing you’ve ever heard said in a meeting?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Just over 60% of people have done THIS in the last 6 months. What is it?
Answer: Chewed gum
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.