Daily Dirt: Quincy’s Jonathan Van Ness debuts in new show Jan. 28

We’re five days into the new year. How’s it going? While you contemplate that answer, sit back, relax and welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 177 of the Daily Dirt.

1. Quincy native Jonathan Van Ness will soon be seen in a new Netflix reality series, “Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness”.

The 34-year-old Van Ness, one of the stars on Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” which began its sixth season in late December, will offer a variety of views on a variety of topics that range from snacks to fashion. “Getting Curious” debuts Jan. 28. “It is based on the podcast, ‘Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness’,” reports Natasha Dado of yahoo.com. “Van Ness (will discuss) varying life experiences and perspectives. The grooming guru can be seen doing everything from skating at an ice rink and tasting bugs to trying on wigs and playing dress-up.”

Van Ness said he is looking forward to the experience.

“I am going to be embarking on a new journey of learning more … of opening my mind, learning new perspectives,” Van Ness told Dado. “This is a huge universe to explore and to learn about.”

“Getting Curious” will be a six-show series. Later this year, Van Ness’s memoir, “Love That Story: Observations from a Gorgeously Queer Life,” will be released. The book will be available beginning April 12.

2. Beginning today, we’ll showcase a new weekly element of The Daily Dirt that we’re reviving from our previous journalistic life. I’ll be featuring some of the best license plates I come across in West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri.

This week’s great plates:

• Gold medal: OH DEER 4. This is so good in so many different ways.
• Silver medal: SHOPQCY. Obviously a business owner … but which one?
• Bronze medal: SNOW GO. Perfect for this time of the year.
• Honorable mention: DIPI. A nickname? An acronym? Some sort of political comment?? We may never know.

3. The bowl games are finished, and just one college football game remains — the Alabama vs. Georgia national championship bout Feb. 10. Here’s are our top 10s heading into that title tilt:

Tier 1 (Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, ACC, Pac-12, major independents)

• 1. Georgia (13-1): I’ll be shocked if Alabama can light up that Georgia defense two games in a row.
• 2. Alabama (13-1): What will happen first — playoff field is expanded to either eight or 12 teams, or Nick Saban retires as Crimson Tide coach.
• 3. Baylor (12-2): Dave Aranda did not get enough consideration for coach of the year.
• 4. Michigan (12-2): Jim Harbaugh being linked to Las Vegas Raiders coaching vacancy.
• 5. Ohio State (12-2): Preseason No. 1 for 2022?
• 6. Oklahoma State (12-2): I think Mike Gundy has officially become a clone of Mississippi State Mike Leach. Whenever either of those guys speaks, it’s hard to predict what we’ll hear.
• 7. Notre Dame (11-2): Marcus Freeman won me over when one of his first decrees was to put names on the back of the Irish jerseys.
• 8. Utah (10-4): I have much more respect for the Utes following that epic Rose Bowl loss to mighty Ohio State.
• 9. Oklahoma (11-2): Sooners are now in a fragile position. There is a new coach (Brent Venables). There are players utilizing the transfer portal. There will be plenty of question marks going into next fall.
• 10. Michigan State (11-2): Sparty is on his way to surpassing Michigan as the state’s No. 1 team. Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State are the top four programs (not necessarily in that order, of course) in the nation’s toughest division: Big Ten East.

Just missed: Clemson (10-3).

Tier 2 (Conference USA, Sun Belt, Mountain West, MAC, AAC)

• 1. Cincinnati (13-1): And now we wait to see if Luke Fickell remains as coach.
• 2. Louisiana (13-1): The Rajin’ Cajuns have cemented themselves as one of the elite Tier 2 programs.
• 3. Houston (12-2): Remember, these guys are headed to the Big 12.
• 4. Fresno State (10-3): Best Tier 2 club on the left coast.
• 5. Air Force (10-3): Troy Calhoun most underrated coach in the nation?
• 6. Coastal Carolina (11-2): For those wondering, Coastal Carolina is headquartered in Conway, S.C.
• 7. Utah State (11-3): Utah State pounded San Diego State 46-13 in the MWC championship game.
• 8. San Diego State (12-2): That’s why the Aztecs are No. 8.
• 9. UAB (9-4): Another great coaching job (Bill Clark) too few people know about.
• 10. UCF (9-4): Ended the season with a win over Florida.

Just missed: Army (9-3).

Steve Fact O’ The Day In high school, Steve passed plane geometry by accepting a plea from his instructor, Mr. Mizer. “I’ll give you a ‘C’ if you simply don’t disrupt the class anymore,” Mizer said. Having absolutely no clue of what was going on in said class, Steve gladly accepted the offering. “Deal,” Steve said. The two shook hands and co-existed happily ever after.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He should be a guest on “Getting Curious”.