11/9/2023: The Binge Drinking Crown 🍻
Discover more from Morning Martini
11/9/2023: The Binge Drinking Crown 🍻
PLUS: Another Weight Loss Drug; “Sexiest Man Alive”; and William the Activist
Today is Thursday, November 9, 2023.
It is the 313th day of the year.
52 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
A shakeup within the “Sphere” venue’s management team and a new use for an everyday household staple. More in HIT LIST.
BRITTANY MAHOMES wants to play matchmaker and MARIAH CAREY is working on new music. More in SHOWBIZ
ANDY COHEN really wants to celebrate NYE right this year…with lots and lots of booze. More on that in CASTING CALL.
YE and NORTH WEST take on Dubai. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE WILLIAM wants to make a real impact. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
Only four giant pandas remain on display at American zoos following the return of three of the black-and-white bears to China on Wednesday.
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian came to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in 2000. In the ensuing years, Mei Xiang gave birth to four cubs, three of which have already been returned to China as part of the animals’ loan program. The fourth cub, born in 2020, returned with Mei Xiang.
Amid ongoing tense foreign relations, China has been recalling panda bears that it has loaned out to Western countries and not renewing the programs. That leaves a set of parents and their twin cubs at the Atlanta zoo as the only remaining pandas in the country; their loan expires next year. [via WUSA]
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The hot new venue turning heads in Las Vegas just lost its CFO.
Since it opened about a month ago, the Sphere has hosted a residency for the band U2 and features an immersive audiovisual experience for guests, after running a BILLION DOLLARS over budget in its construction.
Now, the company’s CFO, Gautam Ranji, has quit after enduring the venue’s owner’s screaming and yelling at a recent meeting. That owner, JAMES DOLAN, also owns Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall in New York, among other enterprises including professional sports teams. Dolan has a reputation for brass tacks and verbal assaults as part of his abrasive management style.
No other details on Ranji’s departure, other than the formal filings that are part of being a publicly-traded company. Those documents make clear there was no performance issue connected to his leaving. [via New York Post]
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Another diabetes treatment-turned-weight-loss drug is headed to shelves before the end of the year.
Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly earned FDA approval to market its diabetes drug Mounjaro under a different label called Zepbound, specifically for patients looking for medicated assistance in losing weight.
Big Pharma competitor Novo Nordisk already sells diabetes drug Ozempic under the name Wegovy for weight loss. [via CBS News]
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A global study to find the nationality most likely to party down and binge drink gives the top spot to DENMARK, where more than two-thirds of respondents say they’ve had six or more drinks in one sitting in the last month, at 37%.
Romania (36%), United Kingdom (35%), Luxembourg (35%), and Germany (30%) round out the top five. Americans ranked tenth, at 23%.
When broken down by gender, men drank harder than women in all countries. [via The Sun]
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The latest TIKTOK trend has people putting toilet paper in their fridge.
While it may not be the most pleasant thing to see when searching for a late night snack, it turns out that a roll of TP can help absorb moisture that contributes to mold, mildew and foul smells.
Baking soda is still a much more cost effective solution, but in a pinch, a good ol’ roll of TP will do the trick! Just don't put the roll back in the bathroom afterward. 🫣 [via Parade]
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DEATHS
Former football player MATT ULRICH has died.
His passing was announced Wednesday. No details were shared.
Ulrich played for the Indianapolis Colts, and was part of the 2006 Super Bowl team.
He was only 41.
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RELATIONSHIPS
TV personality MELISSA RIVERS is engaged to Los Angeles attorney STEVE MITCHEL.
The pair, who have been together for almost two years, got engaged last month while vacationing in Mexico.
Rivers was previously married to horse trainer JOHN ENDICOTT, whom she shares a son with.
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SICKBAY
Actor KEL MITCHELL is being treated at a Los Angeles-area hospital for an unknown injury or illness.
According to insiders, he arrived at the emergency room on Tuesday night. He was alert and awake at the time.
Stay tuned…
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 40 points (0.12%) to close at 34,112 on Wednesday. The S&P was up just 4 points (0.1%) to close at 4,382 and the NASDAQ increased 10 points (0.07%) to close at 13,650.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $75; BRENT CRUDE at $79.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.40 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN gained on Wednesday, up about half a percent and trading around $35,600.
🛩 There were more than 1,440 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 30 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $223 million jackpot or a $100 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
Actor PATRICK DEMPSEY has been named People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” 2023.
“It’s nice to have the recognition, and certainly my ego takes a little bump, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive,” the 57-year-old said of the honor. [via People]
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Vogue has announced the theme for the Met Gala 2024.
The Museum of Art has decided to honor vintage items with “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” an exhibit dedicated to 50 historically significant pieces that are too delicate to ever be worn again.
Hosts and the dress code will be announced on a later date.
As always, the Met Gala will be held the first Monday in May. [via Vogue]
WORTH ASKING: Does anyone else wonder if the “too delicate to ever be worn again” is a dig at KIM KARDASHIAN for wearing MARILYN MONROE’s dress to last year’s event? Remember the backlash that ensued after it was speculated that she may have damaged the iconic dress for a photo op?
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More than a dozen crew members were injured Wednesday when SHANIA TWAIN’s tour bus was involved in a multi-vehicle wreck while traveling between shows in Canada.
According to a statement from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, all of those injured were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Slippery roads were to blame for the accident.
Twain was not on the bus at the time. [via ET]
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TIMBALAND has apologized to fans for comments he made about BRITNEY SPEARS and her new memoir, adding that he never should have said anything about her right to speak out.
As previously reported, Timbaland joked that JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE should have “put a muzzle” on Spears regarding the bombshells she dropped about their past relationship. [via TMZ]
No word on if Spears accepted the apology or even heard about the “muzzle” comment in the first place.
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TAYLOR SWIFT’s new bestie BRITTANY MAHOMES, the wife of Chiefs QB PATRICK MAHOMES, wants to play matchmaker.
An insider told Us Weekly that Mahomes wants to help find Swift’s friend, actress SOPHIE TURNER, a new man following her split from husband JOE JONAS. [via US Weekly]
WORTH ASKING: Does this mean Turner isn’t actually dating English aristocrat PEREGRINE JOHN DICKINSON PEARSON, who she was spotted kissing just a week ago.
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MARIAH CAREY says she has been back in the studio working on some new music.
As for when fans can expect the new tracks, Carey isn’t telling.
Her last album, “Caution,” was released in 2018. It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. [via Billboard]
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CASTING CALL
After 118 days of picketing, SAG-AFTRA struck a three-year tentative deal with studios on Wednesday.
Details of the new deal have not been shared, though actors were asking for better pay and on-set conditions, as well as certain rules and restrictions when it came to using A.I.
The deal comes about a month after WGA landed their new contract; thus ending their strike. [via THR]
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“Give the daddies some juice,” is what ANDY COHEN wants CNN to do when he and ANDERSON COOPER host the annual “New Years Eve Live” special.
“They need to let us drink. It’s New Year’s Eve,” Cohen told E! News of his upcoming hosting gig.
Many may recall that CNN nixed the booze after Cohen joked about being “over-served” before insulting Mayor de Blasio on air during the 2021 special. [via Decider]
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MACHINE GUN KELLY wants to play Link in the newly announced live-action movie based on the popular video-game series “The Legend of Zelda.”
It is well known that MGK is a huge fan of the series; he and fiancee MEGAN FOX even dressed up as Link and Princess Zelda for Halloween last year.
The game franchise centers on Link, an elf-like warrior who helps Zelda save the kingdom of Hyrule from the games’ villain, Gannon.
There have been no casting or release date details announced. [via Complex]
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“Shrek 5” was trending after the LinkedIn resume of an NBCUniversal intern was shared on X.
In the profile, the intern noted how she worked on “Shrek 5” which she claims is set to be released in 2025.
NBCU -- the parent company of Dreamworks Studio -- has not commented on the leak. [via TMZ]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE was spotted out and about in Dubai with daughter NORTH WEST this week.
None of his other children, whom he shares with ex-wife KIM KARDASHIAN, were with him. Also, his wife BIANCA CENSORI was not with them. She was reportedly elsewhere galavanting with some girlfriends.
The getaway comes after the most recent episode of “The Kardashians” featured North saying how she prefers to spend time with Ye because he doesn’t have a nanny, chef or security and lives in a simple apartment. [via Mirror]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
While speaking to reporters in Singapore, PRINCE WILLIAM alluded to taking an increasingly activist role as heir to the throne.
He noted that he has long been a patron of charities that assist the homeless in the United Kingdom, which he says he wants to take a step further. “...rather than just being patron I want to do more, I want to actually build the homes, I want to provide them with the mental support, all the employment and the education they might need,” he said.
WORTH NOTING: William’s wealth as Prince of Wales largely derives from his management of the Duchy of Cornwall, which holds hundreds of millions worth of real estate assets. He’s suggested using those resources to help move such projects along. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day
Chaos Never Dies Day
National Scrapple Day
World Quality Day
World Freedom Day
Carl Sagan Day
British Pudding Day
National Louisiana Day
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ON THIS DATE
1872 - A fire in Boston kills 14 and levels hundreds of buildings.
The blaze began in a warehouse basement, and quickly spread to nearby homes and small factories. Roofs were widely made of wood, which made the fires spread quickly, especially with strong winds that night.
Boston did have a rudimentary hydrant system, but it proved ineffective. With the help of firefighters from Maine and Connecticut, the fire was put out by the following morning.
In rebuilding the town, Boston set up a financial district that remains today.
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1906 - President Teddy Roosevelt departs the US on board the battleship Louisiana, en route to Panama.
His visit came on the heels of his support to overthrow the Colombian government, in part to aid the construction of the Panama Canal.
Roosevelt checked out the beginning phases of construction on the project. Afterward, he toured Puerto Rico.
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1923 - German police forces push against the Nazi Party.
It had recently gained power and control with the Beer Hall Putsch a few days prior.
In the fighting between police and Nazis, Hitler's elbow became dislocated, and Hermann Goering took a bullet to the groin.
Ultimately 16 Nazis and 3 German police were killed.
Hitler was captured and tried and convicted of treason. While in prison, he wrote “Mein Kampf” and honed his oratory skills. When he was released, he relaunched the Nazi Party -- and the rest is morbid history.
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1960 - Robert McNamara is named President of Ford.
He would only hold the post for a month, though, before taking a spot in JFK's cabinet as Secretary of Defense.
McNamara kept the spot under Johnson, and afterward, became president of the World Bank.
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1990 - The IRS nails Willie Nelson for the $16.7 million he owed in back taxes.
He was primarily in trouble for hiding money in an illegal tax shelter. The IRS negotiated a $6 million cash payment to forgive the whole bill -- but Willie was broke.
Feds seized his house and put it up for auction. A die-hard Willie Nelson fan bought the ranch, which found its way back to the singer's hands.
Part of the revenues from Nelson's next album, “The IRS Tapes,” funded his debt bill. He would pay it off entirely in 1993.
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2015 – SeaWorld in San Diego announces it will overhaul its killer whale show after controversy over the whales’ treatment.
The show which has been a part of the park’s identity for decades was replaced with a conservation-based show.
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2020 - COVID-19 cases in the US pass 10 million. The death toll is over 237,000.
Also…
Pfizer announces their COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective in preventing the virus.
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BIRTHDAYS
Finn Cole - actor, “Peaky Blinders” & “Animal Kingdom” - 28
Nikki Blonsky - actress, “Hairspray” - 35
French Montana - rapper - 39
Chris Lane - country singer - 39
Vanessa Lachey - actress, “The Bold and the Beautiful” & “Dads” - 43
Sisqo - R&B singer - 45
Nick Lachey - pop singer, 98 Degrees - 50
Eric Dane - actor, “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Last Ship” & “Euphoria” - 51
Chris Jericho - wrestler - 53
Scarface - rapper - 53
Ryan Murphy - TV producer, “Glee” & “American Horror Story” - 58
Lou Ferrigno - actor, “The Incredible Hulk” - 72
Born On This Date
Caroline Flack - TV show host, “Love Island” - 1979 (d. 2020)
Carl Sagan - astronomer - 1934 (d. 1996)
Hedy Lamarr - actress, “Ecstasy” & “Boom Town” - 1914 (d. 2000)
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