MONDAY, Oct 7 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR MONDAY, October 7, 2024
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COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: LESTER FEEKLE FOR CORONER

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.)

BATHTUB DAY
The Days Of The Year website says this:
“In a world in which demands on your time are high it is reassuring to know there is one day in the year when you can reclaim the right to relax at your leisure. Bathtub Day is more than just an excuse to while away the time as you immerse yourself in the warm waters of your bathroom; it is a day to remember and rejoice in the introduction of the bathtub in England in 1828.”

NATIONAL CHILD HEALTH DAY

NATIONAL FRAPPE DAY
The Days Of The Year website says this:
“A hallmark of Greek coffee culture from the 1950s onwards – supposedly, the frappe was created by a tired Nestle sales representative at the Thessaloniki Trade Fair who was beset by caffeine cravings. He took some instant coffee, cold water, and ice, and shook his way to an internationally enjoyed drink. Spray-dried instant coffee and its lower oil content are the key to creating long-lasting bubbles.”

October is:

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
American Cheese Month
Car Care Month
Child Health Month
Consumer Information Month
Cookbook Month
Country Music Month
Fire Prevention Month
National Pizza Month
National Popcorn Month
National Service Dog Month
Vegetarian Awareness Month

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITIES

WHAT TO WATCH – New and Returning Shows and Movies
Premiering Monday through Wednesday
Listings sourced from the TV Guide and EW websites

MONDAY, October 7

“Ali Wong: Single Lady”
Netflix – Comedy Special
Synopsis: After a whirlwind couple of years, Ali Wong returns to the stage to dish on the highs, lows and surprises of dating post-divorce.

“The Menendez Brothers”
Netflix – Documentary
Synopsis: Serving life in prison for murdering their parents, Lyle and Erik Menendez speak out in this documentary examining the shocking crime and ensuing trials.

Season Premiers:
Netflix – “Dinner Time Live With David Chang: Holiday Edition”
CW – “Superman & Lois”

TUESDAY, October 8

“Killer Cakes”
Prime Video – Halloween Cooking Competition
Synopsis: Contestants work with the best horror special effects artists in Hollywood to unleash their twisted imaginations and create cakes so disgusting, so disturbing, and so realistic, it’s the stuff of nightmares.

Season Premier:
NBC – “The Irrational”

WEDNESDAY, October 9

“Deceitful Love”
Netflix – Series
Synopsis: After turning 60, a wealthy woman suddenly falls in love with an attractive and much younger man, but her family raises doubts about his intentions.

“La Máquina”
Hulu – Series
Synopsis: When aging boxer Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna loses a pivotal match, his manager tries to revitalize his career by setting up a rematch.

“Scamanda”
ABC – Docuseries
Synopsis: Amanda – wife, mother, blogger and Christian – has a tragic cancer tale that captivates thousands. But Amanda has a secret that she’s dying to keep, and after an anonymous tip to an investigative reporter, her own words may prove to be her downfall. Based on the podcast.

“Starting 5”
Netflix – Sports Series
Synopsis: Follows Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Domantas Sabonis and Jayson Tatum throughout the 2023-24 NBA season.

“The Secret of the River”
Netflix – Series
Synopsis: Mexican TV drama series about two boys who form an unbreakable friendship after witnessing a death in their small village.

Season Premier:
ABC – “Abbott Elementary”

“JOKER 2” TANKS

Joker 2: Folie a Deux had a disastrous opening weekend at the U.S. box office, after earning a historically low score from opening night audiences – it got a “D.” It’s the first Hollywood comic book movie to earn a D CinemaScore (the first Joker film received a B+). The movie only took in around $45 million at box office over the weekend. It was expected to bring in around $70 million. The sequel cost almost four times as much as the first Joker film to make, with a budget of around $200 million. There were social media reports of audiences booing, groaning and even walking out.
* It’s so bad, people were walking out of Joker 2 and going next door to watch Megalopolis.
* Wow – how’d you like to be Joaquin Phoenix – losing 100 pounds to be in a stinker movie?
* If only they had spent the “four times the budget” on car chases and explosions.
* There’s only one way Hollywood can deal with a movie this bad: wait three years, then reboot the franchise with a new actor. Ben Affleck, maybe.
PHONE TOPIC: Did your audience see it? Ask them to share their opinion.

THE BUZZ

STICKIN’ IT TO THE MAN

Reddit asked, “What’s your way of stickin’ it to the man?” Some of the responses:
– “Adblock.”
– “Always, always muting the commercials.”
– “If there’s a lunch meeting at my workplace, I’m the one who orders the food. If the place offers reward points, I keep them for myself.”
– “I always pay my bills while at work so I can get paid to pay my bills. I will never pay them on my own unpaid time. I know it doesn’t make a fraction of a penny difference but it makes me feel like I’m sticking it to someone.”
– “Eating a grape in the grocery store.”
– “I’m not paying 5 cents for a plastic bag.”
– “I say ‘you’re welcome’ to PBS when they thank you for your support even though I don’t give them money.”
– “I wait a day past expiration to get a new inspection sticker. The new one is good for a year. You get a free month every year. Over twenty years, I’ve saved about $60!
– “I go #2 at the office, on company time.”
* PHONE TOPIC: How do you stick it to the man?

M&M’s TOP CANDY LIST

For the first time since anybody’s been keeping track, M&M’s have overtaken Reese’s Cups as the top Halloween candy. According to online candy distributor CandyStore.com, here are the Ten Most Popular Candies In America:
1. M&M’s
2. Reese’s Cups
3. Sour Patch Kids
4. Skittles
5. Starburst
6. Hot Tamales
7. Candy Corn
8. Hershey Kisses
9. Hershey Mini Bars
10. Butterfinger
* A list of candy is always good for a few Chuckles.
* Candy Corn is in the top ten??? Are these numbers from an alternate universe???
* This proves that you can’t buy your way onto a Top Ten list, not even with 100 Grand.
* My favorite candy is the one that’s had a Price Rollback at Walmart.

U.S. NEWS

BANK ROBBER ON THE RUN STOPPED FOR CHINESE FOOD

After robbing a Brooklyn, New York, bank on Friday morning, the robber went on the run. But he was captured later that morning after he stopped for breakfast at a Lower East Side Chinese restaurant. A tracking device hidden in the stolen cash led cops to the New Kim Tuong Restaurant, where the suspect ordered some shrimp fried rice, and sat down to eat before leaving. Police took the man into custody without incident.
* His fortune cookie said, “Expect the unexpected.”
* It also said, “Your lucky numbers are 8-to-10, with good behavior.”
* He would have gotten away if he hadn’t waited for them to box up the leftovers.
* Of course, he was hungry again by the time they got him to the station.
* The lesson here is: No more exploding dye packs in stolen money – they’re using tracking devices now – so, heads up, bank robbers!

WOMAN EATS DEAD NO-GOOD CHEATIN’ HUSBAND’S ASHES

There’s a new book out called “The Widow’s Guide To Dead Bastards.” Author Jessica Waite writes about how she thought she had a perfect marriage until her husband of 17 years suddenly died of a heart attack. In going through his things, she uncovered he had an entire secret life of constant cheating and obsessive pornography. Everywhere she looked – his computer, his phone, his business trips – she found evidence of him cheating on her. As Jessica writes in the book, the truth began to overwhelm her – driving her a little crazy. She admits to having been “detached from reality in the wake of Sean’s death.” One day, incredibly angry, she opened the bag containing her husband Sean’s ashes, carried them into her garden and mixed a portion of them with dog’s feces. But then, in further despair and guilt, she ate some of his ashes. She writes: “The remains feel dry against my fingertips, coarser than baking powder, grainier than salt, They mix with the teary water, a mineral mud on the back of my tongue. I swallow.” And then she wrote a book about it.
* There, saved you $24 on buying a book.
* This says something about her taste in men, but I’m not sure what.
* She figured she might as well get SOMETHING good from him, like phosphate and calcium.
* All I can say is, good thing he was cremated before she got hungry.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

AUDIO: PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA PLAGIARIZES “WEST WING” SPEECH

Argentina’s rightwing president, Javier Milei, has been accused of plagiarizing a chunk of his September 24th speech to the United Nations general assembly from the old TV show “The West Wing.” Milei had allegedly copied, almost word for word, a monologue by the television show’s fictional president, Jed Bartlet.
– Argentina’s leader said: “We believe in defending everyone’s lives. We believe in defending everyone’s property. We believe in freedom of speech for everybody. We believe in freedom to worship for everybody. We believe in freedom of trade for everybody … And because in these times what happens in one country quickly has an impact in others, we believe all people should live free from tyranny and oppression, whether in the form of political oppression, economic slavery or religious fanaticism. This fundamental idea must not be mere words – it has to be supported by deeds: diplomatically, economically and materially.”
– In season 4, episode 15, President Bartlet said, “We’re for freedom of speech everywhere. We’re for freedom to worship everywhere. We’re for freedom to learn … for everybody. And because in our time, you can build a bomb in your country and bring it to my country, what goes on in your country is very much my business. And so we are for freedom from tyranny, everywhere, whether in the guise of political oppression … or economic slavery … or religious fanaticism … That most fundamental idea cannot be met with merely our support. It has to be met with our strength: diplomatically, economically, materially.”
* Boy, he’s in trouble now. He’s going to have the Hollywood writers union on his ass.
* It’s like someone taking content from one source, having AI rewrite it slightly, and then passing it off as their own work. Which of course nobody would ever do.
* I don’t remember The West Wing being that… boring.
* Next time, steal from “Veep,” it’ll be more entertaining.
* I’m shocked! There’s a West Wing fan out there who can instantly recognize dialogue from any episode of seven seasons???
CLIP: The theme from “The West Wing”
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/TheWestWing-Theme(dot)mp3

BRITISH SURGEON USES SWISS ARMY KNIFE TO OPERATE

A surgeon at a British hospital used a Swiss Army penknife to open up the chest of a patient because he claimed he could not find a sterile scalpel. The patient survived but internal documents show it was the same pocket knife he normally used to cut fruit for his lunch, and the surgeon’s colleagues felt his behavior was “questionable.” An investigation has also discovered the same surgeon carried out three supposedly low-risk operations in two months where all three patients died soon after. This was just one case of strange medical practices at the hospital. Police are separately looking into at least 105 cases of alleged medical negligence.
* Start with the person who’s supposed to be sterilizing the scalpels.
* They didn’t give the surgeon’s name, but we can assume it was Dr. MacGyver.
* And why didn’t they tell us the name of the hospital so we could warn our listeners in England!
* This sounds like a rejected episode of Grey’s Anatomy.
* I’m sorry, but medical bills in America would be a lot less if they used a Swiss Army knife. Scalpel, forceps, corkscrew, saw, scissors all in one handy tool. And they could use the toothpick for a probe.

TRENDING

MADONNA’S BROTHER, CHRISTOPHER CICCONE, DIES AT 63

Madonna’s brother, Christopher Ciccone, has died. He was 63. Christopher “died peacefully” of cancer on Friday in Michigan, his rep confirmed. Christopher’s death comes less than two weeks after the passing of his and Madonna’s stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, from cancer. The siblings also lost their brother, Anthony Ciccone, in Feb. 2023. Christopher was an artist, interior decorator and designer. He served as the art director on Madonna’s Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990 and was the tour director for her The Girlie Show in 1993. He also directed music videos for Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett in the 1990s. The brother-sister duo had a falling out which Christopher wrote about in his 2008 tell-all book, “Life With My Sister Madonna.” Christopher said the “turning point” in his relationship with his sister was when she brought cameras to their mother’s grave for her 1991 documentary “Truth or Dare.”

RICHARD SIMMONS BURIED IN WORKOUT CLOTHES

The late Richard Simmons was buried in his fitness outfit, but under his regular clothes. Simmon’s brother Lenny Simmons spoke during his celebration of life, held at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans on Saturday, October 5. In his speech, Lenny shared “a little secret” with the crowd: Richard had been buried with a tank top and shorts, the look he had sported for most of his career. “Why, you ask? Because we think that God has another plan for him, and we want to make sure that he was going to be in his normal costume that we all know and love to help the saints and the angels get into shape.”

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (October 4-6)

1. Joker: Folie à Deux – $40 million
2. The Wild Robot – $18.7 million
3. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – $10.3 million
4. Transformers One – $5.3 million
5. Speak No Evil – $2.8 million

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

Oct. 14, Monday – Columbus Day
Oct. 16, Wednesday – National Boss’s Day
Oct. 31, Thursday – Halloween
Nov. 3, Sunday – Daylight Saving Time Ends, turn clocks back 1 hour
Nov. 11, Monday – Veterans Day
Nov. 28, Thursday – Thanksgiving
Dec. 21, Saturday – Winter begins, winter solstice occurs at 4:21 a.m. (EST)
Dec. 25, Wednesday – Christmas
Dec. 31, Tuesday – New Year’s Eve
Jan. 1, Wednesday – New Year’s Day

BIRTHDAYS

Omar Miller (actor, “The Unicorn”) … 46
Taylor Hicks (singer, American Idol winner) … 48
Toni Braxton (singer) … 57
Dale Watson (Country singer-songwriter) … 62
Simon Cowell (British record executive and producer, judge on TV music shows) … 65
Yo-Yo Ma (cello player) … 69
Tico Torres (drummer with Bon Jovi) … 71
Vladimir Putin (president of Russia, war criminal, madman) … 71
John Mellencamp (singer/songwriter) … 73
Joy Behar (TV personality, “The View”) … 82

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

“If you’ve got a big mouth and you’re controversial, you’re going to get attention.”

(A) Elon Musk
(B) Kanye West
(C) Simon Cowell

ANSWER: (C) Simon Cowell

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2003 – California governor Gray Davis was recalled, and Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor.
* He wasn’t the best governor, but at least we got a break from his dumb movies for awhile.

2001 – The U.S. and UK began bombing Taliban and Al-Quida strongholds in Afghanistan in retaliation for the September 11th terrorist attacks on America.
* That was just a practice run for Iraq.

1983 – The “Cabbage Patch Kids” first appeared in stores.
* The what?

1982 – The Broadway musical “Cats” premiered on this night in 1982 beginning its record run of 7,485 performances.
* And they say Western Civilization has nothing to offer.

1968 – The Motion Picture Association of America adopted its film-rating system.
* And over 30 years later, haven’t movies gotten a whole lot better?

1963 – The Learjet had its maiden flight in Wichita, Kansas.
* Officially launching a new corporate status symbol.

1954 – Computer firm IBM demonstrated the first calculator.
* Well, if you don’t count the abacus.

1913 – Henry Ford instituted the first moving assembly line.
* Exactly 11 minutes later, some guy wrote the first bad folk song about “workin’ that assembly line.”

1492 – A false cry of “Land Ho” and a sighting of land birds caused Christopher Columbus to change course and miss landing in Florida.
* A real disappointment to the alligators.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2016 – The Rolling Stones played the first night of the Desert Trip festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The event also featured Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Roger Waters and the Who. The six-day (split over two weekends) event raked in $160 million, making it the highest-earning music festival ever.

2009 – Barbra Streisand surprised many music industry watchers when she topped the Billboard Hot 200 for the ninth time with her latest release, “Love Is the Answer.” The CD extended Streisand’s lead as the female act with the most chart toppers in the history of the Billboard Hot 200.

2007 – The Rolling Stones set a new record for the top grossing tour of all time with their A Bigger Bang tour. The tour which ran from late 2005 to August 2007, earned the band $437m, with The Stones playing to over 3.5 million people at 113 shows.

2004 – It was announced that Melissa Etheridge had cancelled her tour and would undergo surgery and treatment for breast cancer.

2001 – Peter Criss played his final show with Kiss in Charleston, SC. He was replaced by Eric Singer. Singer had been a member of Kiss prior to the reunion tour in 1995.

2000 – Cowboy singer Chris LeDoux, diagnosed two months earlier with primary sclerosing cholangitis, underwent transplant surgery to receive a new liver.

1999 – It was reported that four musicians who claimed they worked on her “Miseducation” album were suing Lauryn Hill. The musicians were seeking unpaid royalties for co writers and producers.

1997 – Continuing a verbal sparring match which started earlier in the month, Elton John replied to Keith Richards’ charge that John’s only claim to fame was “writing songs for dead blondes.” John shot back, “He’s so pathetic, poor thing. It’s like a monkey with arthritis, trying to go onstage and look young.”

1978 – Billboard reported that Marvin Gaye had twice filed bankruptcy papers earlier in the year, with debts of $7 million.

1977 – Guitarist Steve Hackett announced he was leaving Genesis.

1975 – The New York Supreme Court voted by a two to one majority to reverse John Lennon’s deportation order.

1967 – Cass Elliot from The Mamas And The Papas spent the night in a London jail after being accused of stealing from a hotel. A TV and concert appearance had to be canceled.

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. Over 40% of people wake up thinking about THIS. What is it?
Their job

2. Over 25% of employers look for THIS quality in a job candidate. What is it?
A nice smile

3. In a recent survey, over 76% of workers said their bosses do THIS, and it drives them crazy. What is it?
Their boss calls or texts after business hours

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