Here Are the Top States We Moved Into and Out of Last Year – LINK
Oregon becomes first state to legalize magic mushrooms as more states ease drug laws in ‘psychedelic renaissance’ – LINK
Southwest apologizes, gives customers frequent-flyer points after holiday meltdown – LINK
Amazon Begins Delivering Packages Through Its Newest Prime Air Featur – LINK
Just a Reminder: You Can Eat Your Christmas Tree – LINK
You’re 50% More Likely to Look Old if You Don’t Drink Enough Water – LINK
Here’s When Holidays Are in 2023 . . . Schedule Your Days Off Accordingly – LINK
“Avengers” star Jeremy Renner posted a selfie from his hospital bed yesterday. He captioned it, quote, “Thank you all for your kind words. I’m too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all.” There’s been no official update on his health. Last we heard, Jeremy was in critical but stable condition after suffering blunt chest trauma and “orthopedic injuries” while plowing snow at his Nevada property. Meanwhile, the local sheriff of Washoe County held a press conference yesterday to explain what happened. Jeremy was operating a 14,000-pound snow groomer called a PistenBully, and was helping a family member whose car had gotten stuck on his private road. After getting the car unstuck, Jeremy hopped out of the snow groomer, thinking it was in park. But it started rolling. He tried to jump back INTO it, but fell and got run over. Neighbors brought towels and rendered first aid until help could arrive. There was NOT a doctor present, as previous reports had claimed. It’s not clear if a mechanical issue caused the accident, or if Jeremy had failed to put the machine in park before jumping out. According to Jeremy’s rep, he is in the “intensive care unit in critical but stable condition.” (South Tahoe Now)
Ryan Seacrest may technically compete with CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen on New Year’s Eve, but there are no hard feelings between them. Or are there? Yesterday on “Live with Kelly and Ryan”, Secreast suggested that Andy SNUBBED him during their competing broadcasts. He said, quote, “My big stage was right in front of Anderson and Andy. When I was not working, I was trying to get their attention . . . I just wanted to wave and say hi. They have a great show.” He said that Anderson acknowledged him, and told him to, quote, “have a good show.” But Andy never even turned around. But Kelly Ripa said, quote, “That’s not true. He said he was trying to get your attention.” During last year’s broadcast, a very drunk Andy Cohen actually TRASHED Ryan and ABC’s New Year’s coverage. He said, quote, “If you look behind me, you’ll see Ryan Seacrest’s group of losers performing. “I’m sorry but if you’re watching ABC, you’re watching nothing.” He later apologized . . . and this year, CNN banned alcohol for on-air talent (Page Six)
Actors on “Yellowstone” and its spin-off series had to go through a two-week cowboy boot camp. And honestly, it sounds fun. The creator Taylor Sheridan has actors partake in it before filming, so the action is authentic. Brian Geraghty, who plays Zane on “1923”, said, quote, “You gotta not only ride a horse, but look like you know what you’re doing . . . [we] were running on horses, lassoing. I learned how to use an old six shooter, weapons training . . . “Walking in spurs and chaps. It’s a whole different world. We got to have highs and lows together before we started, which was really good for bonding. As adults, it’s not easy to learn a new skill.” Cole Hauser, who plays Rip on “Yellowstone”, mentioned the boot camp back in November. He said Taylor taught him roping and reining (People) Never assume when you pay for a streaming service that the programming will remain. Warner Brothers pulled 256 Looney Tunes shorts from HBO Max on the last day of 2022 with no announcement. Variety explains that those shows were licensed to HBO Max by Warner Bros. They’re the company that OWNS HBO Max. (Here’s Porky Pig pulling the plug.)
They also pulled seasons 4 through 6 of “The Flintstones”. How will our children learn of Kazoo? Netflix at least announces what is going away soon.
The thrilling hunt for the next James Bond may be drawing to an end soon. “Bullet Train” star Aaron Taylor-Johnson seems to have emerged as a frontrunner for the 007 role previously occupied by Daniel Craig, according to news reports.The 32-year-old “Avengers: Age of Ultron” actor has reportedly met with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli — and even had a secret audition last year, according to the Daily Mail. A source told Puck News via the Daily Mail that while the screen test went “very well,” nothing has been officially confirmed. The Post reached out to reps for Broccoli and Taylor-Johnson for comment. The “Savages” actor reportedly recently shot scenes as the spy, including the franchise’s iconic gun barrel sequence.“Aaron went for a screen test to be the next Bond in September, and producers and Barbara loved him,” a source told the Sun in November. “He is now one of the frontrunners,” the source added. “Aaron has impressed bosses so much that he has filmed one of the franchise’s famous gun barrel teaser scenes, something all the actors do.” “Bosses at the brand were really impressed with his unique blend of acting intensity and his impressive back catalogue of action films.”The Bond battle follows Craig’s last turn as the suave spy in 2021’s “No Time to Die.” The “Knives Out” actor, 54, has played the MI6 womanizer since 2006’s “Casino Royale.”Other A-listers rumored to be in the mix include Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill, Richard Madden and “Bridgerton” star Regé-Jean Page (LINK)
Christmas is over, but the latest data tracking week reflecting four days after Christmas Day (Dec. 23-29) has Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” holding at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a 12th total week. It leads for a fourth week this holiday season – the most over any Yuletide season since it hit the charts in December 2019. “All I Want For Christmas” becomes the second-holiday hit to reign for four consecutive weeks, and the first in 64 years, after…… “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent four weeks at No. 1 beginning in December 1958. Another holiday milestone is Nat King Cole‘s “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You),” is up from No. 11 to No. 9. The late legend is back in the top 10 after an unprecedented break of 59 years, six months and a week. The holiday classic completes the longest journey to the top 10: over 62 years and three weeks.
It has become apparent in recent years that Dionne Warwick takes no crap. And it turns out she never has. In the new CNN documentary “Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over”, Snoop Dogg remembers when she took HIM to the woodshed. It was back in the ’90s. Dionne was upset with the misogynistic lyrics she was hearing from hip-hop artists. So she called them to a meeting at her home at 7:00 a.m., and they SHOWED. Snoop says, quote, “We were kind of, like, scared and shook up. We’re powerful right now, but she’s been powerful forever. Thirty-some years in the game, in the big home with a lot of money and success.” Dionne read them the riot act, and told them how someday they were going to have to explain those lyrics to their own kids. Snoop says, quote, “She was checking me at a time when I thought we couldn’t be checked. We were the most gangsta as you could be, but that day at Dionne Warwick’s house, I believe we got out-gangstered that day.” And it WORKED. Snoop says, quote, “I made it a point to put records of joy, me uplifting everybody and nobody dying and everybody living. “Dionne, I hope I became the jewel that you saw when I was the little, dirty rock that was in your house. I hope I’m making you proud.” (Billboard)
Iggy Pop told ‘The New York Times’ he was once approached by AC/DC’s management about joining the band. He explained “They had a manager many years ago, when I hadn’t reformed the Stooges, I hadn’t moved to England. This guy said, ‘Are you interested in joining AC/DC?’ They were looking for a singer.” Pop doesn’t give dates but it sounds like he’s talking about the early 70s before AC/DC formed with singer Bon Scott. The singer admits he didn’t think he was the right man for the job: “”I listened to their record. I thought, I can’t fit that bill. I wasn’t like, ugh, I don’t like them. It was quite well made. They do careful work, but I’m not what they needed.”
Speaking of not what they needed. At this point, getting System of a Down to do anything is like pulling teeth. And drummer John Dolmayan seems to be implying that it’s Serj Tankian’s fault. In a new interview, he said, quote, “Serj hasn’t really wanted to be in the band for a long time. And quite frankly, we probably should have parted ways around 2006.” He did claim that everyone in the band shares the blame, but he also said, quote, “At the end of the day, if you have a majority of the band thinking one way and one person thinking the other, it’s very difficult to come together and make music.” John would really like to see the band work together again, because he thinks none of their side projects measure up. Quote, “They’re never quite that good compared to System. In fact, I think a lot of ’em aren’t very good at all.” (Loudwire)
2023 is in launching in major way in the dance world, with Skrillex announcing that he’s dropping a double album this year. On New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), the producer born Sonny Moore posted an announcement to social media reading “QFF/DGTC 23,” with the acronyms widely understood to stand for the names of a pair of albums coming in 2023. Then on Jan. 2, he posted a snippet of the project’s first single, “Rumble,” a sinewy, foreboding collaboration with Fred again.. and MC Flowdan. The albums will mark Skrillex’s first studio albums since his 2014 debut, Recess, which album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 in April of 2014 in the apex of the EDM boom (LINK)
CELEBRITIES CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY
Our buddy, IndyCar driver Graham Rahal is 34.
Rammstein singer Till Lindemann is 60.
“Kid’s in the Hall” co-founder Dave Foley is 60.
R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe is 63.
Country singer Patty Loveless is 66
Beyonce’s mom Tina Knowles is 69.
Victoria Rush
Today’s birthday girl has been in 99 fine films, including:
– The Big Package
– Boob E
– Chicks Gone Wild 5
– Cougars and Coeds 1
– Dungeon Sluts
– I Love It Hairy 3
– Moms Gone Wild 1
– Ready Wet Go 4
– And who can forget her role in 2015’s Unshaved And Dangerous 1
Victoria Rush is 42 years old