Today we visit with Rex Linn about his new sitcom, with his real-life girlfriend, Reba McEntire called “Happy's Place” on NBC and Peacock.
NBC: https://www.nbc.com/happys-place
Peacock: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/happys-place/5571697868434107112
TODAY'S REASON TO PARTY! (special thanks to ListOfNationalDays.com)
Eggnog Day
https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a50609/classic-eggnog-recipe/
SURVEYS, STUDIES & SUCH
Rising prices are forcing many parents to rethink holiday spending, with a growing number turning to grandparents for help, according to a new survey. The poll of adults with children in Canada, found that 21% will rely on their own parents to help buy gifts for their kids, and 33% said the grandparents will spend more on the kids’ gifts than the parents are able to. While three-quarters of parents say creating a magical holiday for their kids remains their top priority, many agree it’s getting harder to manage costs. Two-thirds say higher prices are squeezing their budgets, and more than half worry about overspending. Some more findings from the survey…
→ 45% plan to spend under $500 on gifts
→ 25% are budgeting $500–$999
→ 28% expect to spend over $1,000
→ 40% say holidays put them in a financial hole
→ 44% will take until spring to recover financially
AND HERE ARE THE MAIN PROBLEMS WITH GRANDMA AND GRANDPA BEING IN CHARGE OF GIFTS:
• It’s either huge or completely impractical.
• They think ‘educational’ means ‘loud’.
• The batteries are never included – or removable.
• They buy the one toy with 900 pieces.
• They don’t believe in age limits.
• Every gift comes with a 20-minute backstory.
• It needs a garage, a charger, or both.
• No matter what the gift is, it’ll be crocheted!)
BIG SCREEN-LITTLE SCREEN
Courtney B. Vance will be honored with the 2,831st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce selected Vance for his decades of outstanding work across film, television, and theater, as well as his impact as a mentor and advocate in the industry. Vance’s star will be located directly across the street from his wife Angela Bassett’s star. Joining emcee Angelique Jackson will be John Landgraf, and Angela Bassett, alongside their twins Bronwyn and Slater Vance.
New fears are set to be unlocked when “Fear Factor: House of Fear” premieres on Fox January 14. The trailer for the Johnny Knoxville-hosted reality series shares a sneak peek into the challenges 14 contestants are set to face in the reboot. The reimagined reality sees contestants dropped into an unforgiving, remote location. The group of strangers will live together under one roof, and face mind-blowing stunts, harrowing challenges and a twisted game of social strategy where trust is fleeting, and fear is a weapon. Only one contestant will conquer all their fears and walk away with the massive grand prize. The series will stream on Hulu a day after its Fox premiere. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bhx37u2n
James Cameron is officially a billionaire, Forbes reported, days before Friday’s theatrical release of “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” The sequel is the third film in Cameron’s blockbuster “Avatar” film franchise, which includes 2009’s “Avatar” (the highest-grossing movie of all time, with $2.9 billion) and 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” (third highest, with $2.3 billion). That puts Cameron on the extremely short list of filmmakers who have reached billionaire status, including George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Tyler Perry, according to the report. Cameron is estimated to make at least $200 million on “Fire and Ash”, assuming the movie lives up to its lofty box office expectations.
DID YA KNOW!?
Did
You Know... The Great Wall of China Is Not Visible From
Space?
Despite popular belief, the Great Wall of China is not
visible from space with the naked eye. The myth started because of
the wall's length, but it’s too narrow and blends too closely with
the natural landscape to be seen from space without the aid of
telescopic lenses.
JOKE OF THE DAY
(FROM
HEIDI)
SCOOP
OF THE DAY
The Better Business Bureau just released a list of the top 10 holiday scams to avoid.
Health experts are urging parents to think twice before putting e-scooters under the tree this Christmas, warning they pose serious risks for children. Calgary emergency physician Dr. Stephanie VandenBerg said she gives an “unequivocal no,” citing high speeds, poor balance and kids’ limited ability to judge danger. Alberta Health Services data shows 3,660 e-scooter injuries treated in Calgary-area emergency rooms between 2022 and August 2025, with injuries among those 17 and under jumping nearly 68%. Confusion around e-scooter laws adds to the concern, as private scooters are largely illegal on public property, with limited exceptions. While retailers argue safe use and helmets can reduce risks, experts say clearer rules and stronger safety measures are needed.
THE MOVIE QUOTE OF THE DAY
If you have a favorite quote.... you can send it to us at the bottom of the page at JohnAndHeidiShow.com
"You're killin' me, Smalls!" — The Sandlot, Ham Porter, 1993
NEWS TO ME
(FROM HEIDI)
FUN
FACT FOR YOU:
Share
this with your friends... they'll think you're really smart!
✓ Mistletoe is an ancient symbol of fertility and virility — and the Druids considered it an aphrodisiac…
✓ …But the Germanic word for mistletoe literally means “dung on a twig.”
✓
In
1879, a Belgian town tried having cats deliver the mail. It didn’t
work.
✓ Statistically, the safest form of travel (miles traveled
versus number of deaths) is the elevator.
✓
The first Christmas card, printed in 1843, depicts a child drinking
wine.
WEIRD NEWS
Being late can get you fired – but apparently, being early can, too. A Spanish delivery worker learned that the hard way after repeatedly showing up before her 7:30am start time, sometimes as early as 6:45am. Management warned her multiple times, but she persisted, eager to get a head start. Earlier this year, her boss fired her for “serious misconduct,” claiming she contributed nothing while arriving early. To the young woman’s surprise, the court sided with her employer, saying that, by repeatedly ignoring the warnings of management, she had a negative impact on the employee-employer relationship.
QUESTION OF THE DAY
20% of us will do THIS at least once during the holidays. What is it?
Answer: Kiss someone under the mistletoe
SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH HEIDI SMALL
(FROM HEIDI)
THE LIST
What are children most grateful for this holiday season? A new survey reveals that young children’s gratitude this holiday season ranges from deeply sweet…to delightfully random. Researchers surveyed 2,000 parents of kids ages 0–6, asking them to record their child’s unfiltered answer to the question of what they’re most thankful for. While many children named parents, siblings, and pets, others focused on more specific joys like favorite foods, toys, and activities. The study, commissioned by Kiddie Academy in the US, also found that most parents believe gratitude should be taught early, with many starting before age 2, and that the holiday season makes those lessons even easier to reinforce. Here are some of the odder things some kids said they’re most thankful for:
☞ “Chicken dino nuggets”
☞ “Spiderman”
☞ “Folding laundry”
☞ “Potato chips and M&Ms”
☞ “Elsa’s yellow hair”
☞ “Wrestling”
☞ “Cheetos”
☞ “Basketball”
☞ “My dead fish”
☞ “Everything in the entire world — except mosquitoes”
GOOD NEWS
She Pulled Over And Offered A Grocery Store Worker A Ride. It Changed Both Their Lives. https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news
