Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Oct 18, 2021

Tube talk: Variety reports that the Korean drama, “Squid Game,” is now Netflix’s biggest-ever TV show, with the nine episodes bringing in an estimated $891 million to the company --which only shelled out $21.4 million for the series to begin with. That's because the show is so popular that it's caused people to sign up with Netflix to see the show.

Sick bay: MÖTLEY CRÜE singer VINCE NEIL, who fell off the stage last Friday and reportedly broke his ribs at the Monsters on the Mountain three-day music festival in Pigeon Forge, TN, during a concert with his road band (not MÖTLEY CRÜE). He was taken to the hospital; no word on his condition at publication time.

Splitsville: MEGAN FOX and BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN are getting a divorce and TMZ reports since they didn't have a prenup, California law requires the couple to split everything they acquired during their decade-long marriage. They will also share custody of their three children (Noah Shannon, who's 9; Bodhi Ransom, who's 7; and Journey River, who's 5. The split should come as no surprise to anyone who's familiar with the couple; she's been dating MACHINE GUN KELLY since mid-2020, while he's been dating SHARNA BURGESS, one of the pro's on "Dancing With The Stars."

Also calling it a day: SEAN PENN and wife LEILA GEORGE. She's the one who filed for divorce after just one year of marriage. FYI: He's 61; she 29. They have no children together; he has two children a 30-year-old daughter, named DYLAN, and a 28-year-old son, named HOPPER with his ex-wife, ROBIN WRIGHT. Yeah, that's right --she's a year younger than his oldest child.

The members of the IATSE union (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) were able to reach a three-year deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on Friday. The deal reportedly gives union members a 10-hour “turnaround” time between shifts, 54-hour weekend turnarounds, and a three-percent wage increase for each of the next three years. And it means no strike beginning today. But insiders say it isn't enough and union members may not ratify the new deal.

Lotsa talk about the skimpy new uniform shorts which waitresses at Hooters have to wear. The new shorts which were given out to the waitresses at the beginning of October are basically bikini bottoms --two sets in orange and one set in black-- which are described (and pictured) as "skin tight" and "crotch length." Some of the waitresses believe the shorts are "too short" --and of course, the management at Hooters says "If after two weeks, you are still hesitant to wear the new shorts you may transfer to a non-image based position or resign your position as a Hooters Girl."

Just what your kids need for Halloween: the folks at HEINZ will be releasing a limited-edition bottle of it's Tomato Blood Ketchup. It's filled with regular ketchup --it's just the bottle that looks different, but could be just the thing to put on the table for a Halloween party. If you can't find it at your local store, you can pick it up online at HeinzHalloween.com. Also on the website --a deal to get a Tomato Blood Costume Kit, which includes a bottle of Heinz Tomato Blood Ketchup, face paint, tattoos, vampire fangs, applicators and more for $19.99 --while supplies last.

The World Series is beginning October 26th, and with it, another Taco Bell "Steal A Base, Steal A Taco" promotion. It works like this --once the first base is stolen during the World Series, Taco Bell "will celebrate America’s Taco Hero" by giving away a free Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Taco to everybody in America --while supplies last. In case you're wondering: 170 calories each; 350 mg of sodium. You're welcome.