FRIDAY, June 21 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR FRIDAY, June 21, 2024
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COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: THE FRIDAY CLUSTERFLICKS

TODAY IS …
(All days repeat annually on today’s date unless otherwise noted; days may or may not be called “National”/”International”/”World” depending on source; sources listed often have additional info. We generally do not list special days which were created by commercial companies for the purpose of marketing, or the hundreds of disease awareness listings which occur each year.)

GO SKATEBOARDING DAY

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA

NATIONAL DOG PARTY DAY

NATIONAL PEACHES AND CREAM DAY

NATIONAL SELFIE DAY

WORLD HANDSHAKE DAY

WORLD MUSIC DAY

June is:

NATIONAL DJ MONTH – Yeah!
National Adopt a Cat / Adopt a Shelter Cat Month
African-American Music / Black Music Appreciation Month
Corn Month
Great Outdoors Month / National Camping Month
International Men’s Month
Lemon Month
LGBTQIA Pride Month
National Candy Month
National Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Month
National Iced Tea Month
National Rose Month
National Seafood Month
Women’s Golf Month

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITIES

THE KELCE BROTHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT COUNTRY MUSIC

On the latest episode of New Heights, the Kelce brothers’ podcast, the topic of current country music came up and Jason Kelce blasted it. He said, “If I have to hear one more country song that’s like ‘I got my boots in my truck going through the fields.’ Like, what the [bleep] are we talking about? That’s not country music. Put on some Willie Nelson. I am tired of what country music has become. It’s horse[pucky].” Travis Kelce, the one dating Taylor Swift, wasn’t as quick to jump in on the criticism of the genre. In fact, he asked Jason if he had heard Shaboozey, claiming that he would like that.
* Oh, I bet Travis gets Shaboozey all the time from Taylor Swift.
* Who wants to tell Jason that Willie Nelson is, like 118?
* If only there was some way Jason could pick the kind of music he listens to. Like, make his own list of songs to play.
* Well, there you go, country music industry, the Kelce brothers need you to clean house.

JUDY GARLAND’S HOMETOWN TRYING TO BUY BACK RUBY SLIPPERS

Grand Rapids, the northern Minnesota hometown of Judy Garland, is raising money to purchase the pair of ruby slippers she wore in “The Wizard of Oz” that were stolen from the town’s museum 20 years ago. The costume shoes, just one of several pair used in the film, were owned by a memorabilia collector who had loaned them to the Judy Garland Museum in 2005. Shortly after they went on display, someone smashed the display case and stole them. Their whereabouts remained a mystery until the FBI recovered them in 2018, arresting the thief. The shoes went back into the possession of the memorabilia collector, who is now selling them at an auction this December. Minnesota lawmakers have already set aside $100,000 to purchase the slippers, but they want to raise more money from the public in case the price goes higher.
* Sorry about that new elementary school, kids. We need to buy Judy Garland’s stinky shoes.
* Thanks for the info. It’ll help the memorabilia collector set his starting price.
* I hope they have a second fund ready to buy a better display case.
* We were planning on taking the family to northern Minnesota for vacation this summer, but now we’ll just wait until they get the shoes.

THE BUZZ

DUMB PURCHASES

Reddit asked, “What is the dumbest thing you have ever spent money on?” Some of the responses:
– “My Go-Pro camera 10 years ago. Turns out, I don’t live the exciting life I thought I did.”
– “A drone.”
– ‘A Shake Weight. I used it twice.”
– “I currently have 130 untouched games on Steam.”
– “Extra lives on Candy Crush.”
– “A pair of Christian Louboutin stilettos that I absolutely could not afford and paid for with my whole credit card limit. I wore them twice. They are INDESCRIBABLY uncomfortable.”
– “A kilt. Got a little drunk at an Irish fest, decided I needed it.”
– “I bought my dad a sword for Christmas and he just keeps it next to his shoes”
– “I spent $20 for a 1×1-foot plot of land in Scotland to receive a Lord title.”
– “I Door Dashed from next door.”
– “I drunk-bought a $40 pink pineapple that I promptly forgot about, then was shocked when it showed up at my door.”
– “A few friends and I went to a super fancy restaurant in New York City but we were all so hungry after paying the bill we went to McDonald’s.”
– “A $2,000 massage chair that doesn’t even feel good.”
– “Amy Schumer stand up show.”
* PHONE TOPIC: What is the dumbest thing you ever spent money on? And you can’t say ‘exercise equipment’ because everybody’s done that.

U.S. NEWS

THE TALLEST BASKETBALL PLAYER

An incoming Florida basketball freshman is about to set a record for the tallest college basketball player ever. Olivier Rioux is 7-foot-9-inches tall. That makes him the tallest college basketball player of all time, passing former 7-foot-8 Florida Tech center Paul Sturgess. Even the famous Manute Bol, who played college ball, stood at 7-foot-7. Rioux, a Canadian, wears size 20 shoes. He literally only needs to jump about three inches to dunk the ball. The pituitarily-augmented Rioux is set to join a Florida team that lost in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
* Just place him directly under the opposing team’s basket so the basketball bounces off his head and right back up and out.
* Let me guess: Custom-made clothes?
* He looks down on other players, but not in a mean way.
* All the other college coaches have their players eating poutine to see if that helps the height deficit.
* He should have gone out for swimming. As soon as he dives into the pool he’s touching the other end.

SEAWORLD MIME FIRED

Ever been to SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida? Ever see the mime? A beloved (* And you have to question that word) longtime SeaWorld mime claims he was fired by a rogue security guard. Lynn Frey, “Lynn the Mime,” has been a staple at SeaWorld Orlando for 36 years, where he performed around the aquatic park. Last month, Frey drove into work with his bicycle hanging off the car’s bike rack, as he did every day. Frey rode his bike past a security checkpoint, greeting several guards that he saw daily. But as he rode past, one guard shouted, “Hey come here!” The guard told him he wasn’t allowed to ride his bike on the park’s property. Frey explained that he worked there, that he rode on a service road to his dressing room, been doing it for years. The guard repeated over and over, “You’re not allowed to ride your bike.” As Frey walked away, he mumbled, “Oh give some guy some sergeant bars and it goes to his head.” The security guard went to HR and complained that the mime had cussed at him (* breaking the first rule of mimery), threw his bike and bragged that he was going to get the man fired. Frey later received a phone call from his boss, told he wasn’t allowed on SeaWorld property anymore because he cussed at the security guard, and was fired. Frey said. “And 36 years at SeaWorld, that evidently means nothing to them.”
* He sure says a lot of things for a mime.
* As a mime, he never quite learned to watch what he said.
* When he heard he was fired, did the color white drain from his face?
* Should we have a moment of silence?
* So, if anybody needs a mime, I know one who’s looking for a job. Anybody? Anybody?
* Maybe we could hire him for the morning show here.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

BRITISH OLYMPIC CYCLIST OUT IN BIZARRE GARDENING ACCIDENT

British cyclist Katie Archibald will miss the Paris Olympics after breaking her leg in a freak accident. The 30-year-old former gold medalist suffered a double leg break, dislocated her ankle, and ripped her ligaments after tripping over a garden step. In a statement on Instagram on Thursday she wrote, “I tripped over a step in the garden and managed to, somehow, dislocate my ankle; break my tibia and fibula; and rip two ligaments off the bone. What the heck.”
* We could have done without the strong language, my dear.
* This right here is exactly why I don’t garden.
* Oooo – the agony of de-feet! (sorry about that one. – M.S.)
* Tough break!
* She should have taken up a safer hobby than gardening. Like bullfighting.

FRENCH SWIMMER DISLOCATES SHOULDER CELEBRATING OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION

A French swimmer, Rafael Fente-Damers, qualified for the Paris Games with a second-place finish in the 100m freestyle final at the French Olympic trials on Tuesday. He was so exuberant in his celebration for making the team that he dislocated his shoulder. Immediately after the race, the 17-year-old excitedly slapped the water before suddenly clutching his left shoulder in pain. He was later pictured on the podium with his arm in a sling.
* If he’d made the biathalon team he would have shot his toe off.
* If only he’d been in better shape his shoulder could have withstood him slapping water.
* He can still swim, but now he starts in lane 1 and finishes over in lane 8.
* Maybe he can just do the side stroke.

WALES CONSIDERING CRIMINALIZING POLITICIANS WHO LIE

In Wales, there is a proposal in the Welsh parliament to criminalize politicians who lie. If passed, Wales would become the first country in the world to introduce criminal sanctions for lying politicians. Under the proposals, it would be a criminal offense for a member of the Wales Senedd, or a candidate for election to the Senedd, to willfully, or with intent to mislead, make or publish a statement that is known to be false or deceptive. A hearing would have to be brought within six months from the date on which the statement was made. The only defense to lying would be if it could be “reasonably inferred” to be a statement of opinion, or if it were retracted with an apology within 14 days. Being prosecuted for such an offence would disqualify a person from being elected to the Senedd.
* Some Welsh politicians are saying they think it’s a good idea, but they’re probably lying. While they still can.
* This is the best thing to come out of Wales since ambergris.
* Politicians in the UK are shaking in their Wellies.
* If a Welsh politician lies, do you call them a welcher?

TRENDING

YELLOWSTONE RETURN DATE ANNOUNCED: NOVEMBER 10

“Yellowstone” has set a November premiere date for its final episodes. After the first half of Season 5 finished airing in Jan. 2023, the Kevin Costner-led series, which is produced by MTV Entertainment and 101 Studios, is finally making its long-awaited return. The second half of Season 5, which is currently filming in Montana, will return to Paramount Network on Sunday, Nov. 10. No one seems to know exactly how many episodes there will be, and Kevin Costner may or may not return depending on which version this story you’re reading. Costner reportedly hasn’t boarded the new season and, given that episodes are now filming, it seems likely the show has somehow moved on without him. Yet the actor has been repeatedly making statements to the press about wanting to re-join the project — but only if he likes his character’s final arc.

DONALD SUTHERLAND DIES AT 88

Actor Donald Sutherland has died at the age of 88, his son announced Thursday. Kiefer Sutherland posted about his father’s death on social media, writing “With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.” A Canadian born actor, he rose to fame in the late 1960s and early ’70s with film roles in “The Dirty Dozen” and “M*A*S*H.” But his career has spanned so many beloved projects that he became a household name for multiple generations: “JFK” and “Backdraft”, “Don’t Look Now”, “The Hunger Games” and many, many more.

COUNTRY STAR MARK CHESTNUTT HAS HEART BYPASS SURGERY

Country star Mark Chesnutt is recovering from emergency heart surgery. On Sunday, the 60-year-old singer was hospitalized before undergoing emergency quadruple bypass surgery. An Instagram post shared by his team said, “Mark Chesnutt, one of the most signatured country music voices of the 90s and a honky tonk mainstay for more than three decades, experienced a heart health issue over the weekend that hospitalized him Sunday evening, June 16; Mark underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery,” the post read. Chesnutt offered his own words and expressed his gratitude: “It is with a heavy heart (* literally!) that I announce the cancellation of my upcoming shows. I send my love and gratitude to my family and friends, the band and fans for your understanding, prayers and support, and look forward to seeing you all again soon at a honky tonk near you.”

JIMMY KIMMEL’S SUMMER GUEST HOSTS

As is his annual tradition, ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel will be taking a summer break, with a rotation of guest hosts filling in. The guest hosting starts Monday with Martin Short all next week. Other celebs stepping in will be Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, Jeff Goldblum, RuPaul, Anthony Anderson, Kathryn Hahn, Kumail Nanjiani and Lamorne Morris.

CAROL BURNETT GETS HANDPRINTS IN CEMENT AT CHINESE THEATER

Comedy legend Carol Burnett placed her hands and feet in wet cement at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, an honor that goes back decades. Along with the hand and shoe prints, the 91-year-old Burnett signed her name, drew a heart, and added the date of 6/20/24. The ceremony included her friends and co-stars from over the years including Laura Dern, Bob Odenkirk, Bill Hader, Jane Lynch, Bob Mackie, Maya Rudolph, Allison Janney and Dick Van Dyke, as well as talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. Carol received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1975, and she also is depicted in a mural at her alma mater Hollywood High School, which was completed in 2002.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

July 4, Thursday – U.S. Independence Day
Sept. 2, Monday – Labor Day
Sept. 11, Wednesday – Patriot Day
Sept. 23, Sunday – Fall begins (Autumn Equinox is 8:44 a.m. EDT)

BIRTHDAYS

Lana Del Rey (singer) … 39
Kris Allen (singer, winner of eighth season of “American Idol”) … 39
HRH Prince William (UK royalty) … 42
Chris Pratt (actor) … 45
Juliette Lewis (actress) … 51
Allison Moorer (country singer) … 52
Porter Howell (guitarist with Little Texas) … 60
Kathy Mattea (country singer) … 65
Joey Kramer (drummer with Aerosmith) … 74
Meredith Baxter (actress, “Family Ties”) … 77
Michael Gross (actor, “Family Ties”) … 77
Ray Davies (singer, guitarist with the Kinks) … 80

BIRTHDAY QUOTE QUIZ – Ask your listeners “Who said it?” HINT: Today’s their birthday!

“My favorite way to blow off steam is to sing obnoxiously loud in the shower.”

(A) Dr. Phil
(B) Pope Francis
(C) Chris Pratt

ANSWER: (C) Chris Pratt

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1989 – The Supreme Court ruled it was a legal form of free speech to burn the American flag.
* After they allowed underwear with stars and stripes in the 60s, it was all downhill from there.

1948 – Columbia Records committed to the 33 1/3 rpm record, and made plans to phase out 78’s.
* Then they made plans to phase out 33 1/3’s, then vinyl altogether, then 8-tracks … all as part of long term program to keep us buying the same albums in newer and more profitable formats.

1913 – Georgia Broadwick became the first woman to parachute from an airplane.
* Well, the first one who landed safely, anyway.

1907 – E. W. Scripps founded the United Press news service.
* When it came to news, it was kind of like the Internet, except they checked their facts.

1893 – The Ferris wheel debuted at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
* In addition to getting sick going in circles horizontally on a Merry-Go-Round, people could now get sick going in circles VERTICALLY.

1834 – Cyrus McCormick patented the first practical reaper for farming.
* He stole the idea from this real skinny guy in a hooded black robe.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2015 – Apple Music reversed its payment policy, a day after Taylor Swift said she was refusing to allow the company to stream her latest album “1989.” In an open letter to Apple, Swift said she was withholding the record as she was unhappy with the three-month free trial offered to subscribers, saying “We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.” Apple now said it would pay artists for music streamed during trial periods.

2011 – People magazine reported that 75-year-old Glen Campbell had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. “I still love making music,” said Campbell. “And I still love performing for my fans. I’d like to thank them for sticking with me through thick and thin.”

2000 – Karen McNeil, 39, who claimed she was the wife of Axl Rose and that she communicated with him telepathically, was jailed for one year for stalking the singer.

1998 – Bobby Brown was arrested on charges of sexual battery after an incident at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel.

1994 – George Michael – former member of 80s band “Wham!” – lost a legal battle with his recording company Sony, and went on strike as a result.

1992 – Three members of M.C. Hammer’s tour crew were wounded in a drive-by shooting incident. Three days later Joseph Mack, a dancer in Hammer’s entourage, was shot on stage during a concert in Nevada.

X-TREME TRIVIA CHALLENGE

Every installment of X-Treme Trivia Challenge includes three mystery factoids. Create your own “Impossible Question” contest – great for listener giveaways and phone interaction starters! Also a perfect sponsorship opportunity!

1. The most common day for someone to do THIS is on a Monday. What is it?
Break up with someone

2. If you’re going to screw THIS up today, it will most likely happen around 4 this afternoon. What is it?
Your diet

3. THIS happens most often on Friday afternoons around 5 o’clock. What is it?
Road rage

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