FRIDAY, Apr 4 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR FRIDAY, April 4, 2025
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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 – including “holidays” created by the National Day Calendar and Wellcat websites to drive traffic to their websites – or the hundreds of disease awareness listings which occur each year. We present only those specially designated days we feel your listeners would find most interesting or significant.)

INTERNATIONAL CARROT DAY

NATIONAL CORDON BLEU DAY
The Foodimentary website says this:
“Cordon Bleu is a thinly pounded piece of meat (most often chicken, but also veal or pork) stuffed with ham and cheese, then breaded and fried. Chicken Cordon Bleu is a relatively recent American creation, first found mentioned in writing in 1967. Common variations on this recipe include baking instead of frying, skipping the breading, and switching the order of the meats.”

NATIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARIAN DAY

(NATIONAL) VITAMIN C DAY
This is not a generic day to recognize the benefits of Vitamin C. Actually, it was “created” by a company called SkinCeuticals, a maker of skin products, some of which contain Vitamin C.

NATIONAL WALK TO WORK DAY (First Friday in April)

WORLD RAT DAY
From various sources:
In 1995, owners of pet rats created an internet mailing list for their community called the Ratlist. In 2002 the members of this group began discussing the idea of creating a holiday that both honored rats and also educated the public about their amazing capacity as pets. They agreed on the date of April 4 because they believed it was the date most associated with when the Ratlist first began. The main focus of the day is to actively promote rats as the truly special pet they are. According to rat owners. Results may vary.

April is:

Adopt a Greyhound Month
Car Care Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
D.E.A.R Drop Everything and Read Month
International Guitar Month
Jazz Appreciation Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
National Card and Letter Writing Month
National Garden Month
National Humor Month
National Poetry Month

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITIES

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN RELEASING SEVEN UNRELEASED ALBUMS

Bruce Springsteen is putting out a new box set called Tracks II: The Lost Albums, which includes seven unreleased LPs recorded between 1983 through 2018. More than 80 songs are collected on the upcoming set. Albums are titled LA Garage Sessions ’83, Streets of Philadelphia Sessions, Faithless, Somewhere North of Nashville, Inyo, Twilight Hours and Perfect World. Springsteen said in a press release, “The Lost Albums were full records, some of them even to the point of being mixed and not released. I’ve played this music to myself and often close friends for years now. I’m glad you’ll get a chance to finally hear them. I hope you enjoy them.” The box set drops on June 27.
* Springsteen will tour behind the box set release, playing all seven albums start to finish at every show.
* I think we know why Clarence Clemons died: exhaustion.
* It’ll be so exciting to hear seven album’s worth of songs his record companies didn’t think were worth releasing.
* And don’t think he doesn’t have another five box sets waiting in the wings.

THE BUZZ

EASTER EGG ALTERNATIVES: POTATOES

With Easter coming up, and the cost of eggs still so high, and the availability still spotty, many consumers are getting creative at finding substitutes for dying Easter eggs. A trend that started last year was to dye marshmallows, potatoes and even onions instead of eggs. The method is the same. Just dunk the potato or the marshmallow into a bowl of water colored with food dye.
* And it looks just like a… well, an egg, laid by a very sick chicken.
* Dyed potatoes? Do they get delivered by the Easter Leprechaun?
* On the bright side: No cholesterol!
* A basket full of Easter onions for your kid. It’s the equivalent of a lump of coal in your stocking at Christmas.
* When you’re looking for round things to dye, just stay the hell away from Dad’s golf balls.
* Instead of dying marshmallows, just buy a box of Lucky Charms and toss out the cereal part.

U.S. NEWS

CAR CRASHES INTO DRIVER’S LICENSE OFFICE

Wednesday afternoon in Mobile, Alabama, a car crashed into the exterior of the Mobile Driver’s License Office. A witness said he was waiting for his son to get his driver’s license when a woman drove onto the sidewalk and crashed into the exterior of the building. Police said the driver thought she was hitting the break but instead pressed the gas. There was modest damage to the building, and no one was seriously injured.
* If only there weren’t so many darn pedals on the floor to keep track of.
* Maybe she should color code them?
* That’s one way to get the DMV to see you first, no waiting.
* Here in (your state), that’s not even grounds for failing the test.
* If you’re the driver’s license building and you don’t have a concrete barrier out in front, you’re just asking for it.

MAN STEALS EX-GIRLFRIEND’S PET CHICKEN

A 50-year-old Port Orchard, Washington man was arrested for breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house and stealing her chicken. The woman called police in the early morning of March 29 to say her ex-boyfriend snatched her pet chicken, named Polly. After a brief but intense search, authorities found the man hiding in the woods. Deputies allowed the man to place Polly safely in a patrol vehicle before taking him into custody. Officials said the man had only been released from custody less than three hours before the incident. He now faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.
* The state of Washington doesn’t take kindly to fowl play.
* And yet you can get a whole bucket of chicken at KFC for less than 25 bucks.
* The dumb cluck.
* Back to being cooped up.
* It’s not the chicken, it’s the eggs he was after.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER TRIED TO HIRE STUDENT TO KILL HER HUSBAND

A substitute teacher at an Ohio high school is accused of trying to hire a student to kill her husband for $2,000. Stephanie Demetrius, 44, was charged with felony conspiracy for allegedly asking a juvenile at the Academy for Urban Scholars in Columbus to commit the murder. Demetrius allegedly approached the student on March 26 and paid $250 cash “as a down payment for the job.” Police obtained a recording of a phone call between the student and Demetrius during which she “confirmed the remaining payment was not a worry.” During her arraignment on Thursday, her public defender said Demetrius denied the allegations and “says this is being fabricated.”
* Note to substitute teachers: stick with the lesson plan.
* Does this come under the heading of “extra credit”?
* If only teachers would stick to having affairs with their students. Wait, that doesn’t sound right.
* The real tragedy here is our teachers can barely afford the $2,000 it would take to hire a hit man.
* Remember, kids: if you see something like a contract killing, say something.

AUDIO: THE CONGA NATIONAL ANTHEM

There’s controversy in the sports world over a rendition of the National Anthem played on the conga drums. It happened at a Wednesday night NHL game as the Nashville Predators welcomed the Anaheim Ducks. The Predators brought out performer Bruce Gust, a nine-year Marine Corps veteran, who pounded a pair of electronic conga drums and belted out The Star-Spangled Banner as he played. Internet reaction was mixed, although the home crowd seemed to love it. The Predators beat the Ducks 4-1.
* Shoulda added a fife.
* I did not know Francis Scott Key played in a mambo band.
* I’m sorry, but this is what America needs right now. A conga line to Washington, D.C. to get Congress up and off their butts to start doing their jobs.
* ♪♫ “…And maracas red glare / Bongos bursting in air / Gave proof through the night / Latin Jazz was still there…”♫
* ♪♪”…and the home of the braaaave…cha-cha-cha.”♪♪♪
CLIP: Bruce Gust congas the heck out of the National Anthem.
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/NationalAnthemConga(dot)mp3

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

BABY EATS GRANDPA’S ASHES

In the county of Lincolnshire in the UK, a mom was “mortified” after walking into her living room to find her 1-year-old son eating his grandpa’s cremated ashes. In a viral TikTok video (because that’s what gramps would have wanted) Natasha Emeny says she had popped upstairs for just a few minutes to put away some laundry. When she returned, she saw her son Koah “covered in ashes,” whereupon she realized that he’d been eating her father’s remains. She had placed the urn on a top shelf where she thought her toddler couldn’t reach it — but obviously he could. Emeny says she’s learned to see the funny side of the incident, quipping, “He never met his grandfather, but now they are always together!”
* Unless grampa is only passing through.
* What a crummy thing to do.
* They always thought he had a bit of grandpa in him, and now they know for sure.
* Maybe instead of filming TikToks you can feed your baby some real food, so he’s not so hungry he’ll eat everything in sight.
* Talk about “Eat my dust!”

TRENDING

“SCREAMBOAT” HORROR MOVIE FILMED ON OLD STATEN ISLAND FERRY BOUGHT BY COLIN JOST AND PETE DAVIDSON

There’s a new low-rent horror movie out called “Screamboat,” where Mickey Mouse runs around on a boat killing people. The boat used in the movie is an actual decommissioned Staten Island ferry. And, it turns out, it is the same boat that made headlines a couple of years ago when it was bought by Pete Davidson and Colin Jost. The two SNL comedians bought it to turn it into a floating nightclub. They haven’t succeeded yet. But apparently they did manage to rent it out to “Screamboat” director Steven LaMorte to film his movie, so Davidson and Jost are recouping at least a little of their losses.

CHRISTOPHER WALKEN’S FAVORITE ACTOR: BUGS BUNNY

Legendary actor Christopher Walken (who just turned 82 on Monday) was being interviewed by Ben Stiller. After the interview, Stiller recalls, “It was like right after we put the microphones away, we were talking still about acting, and Walken said that Bugs Bunny is one of his favorite actors ever. And he was saying this kind of with a twinkle in his eye, but not really. And he said, ‘A lot of times I’ve played roles as if I was Bugs Bunny, but nobody knew.’ Now, which character, which movie, we don’t know.”

KANE BROWN ENDS FAST

Kane Brown just completed a 60-hour fast — two-and-a-half days without. Brown took to his Instagram Stories to tell fans about abstaining from food. He writes, “I just did a 60-hour fast. First meal: chicken and broccoli.” He has stated previously in interviews that he likes to stay healthy and wants to get as ripped as possible.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

April 15, Tuesday – U.S. Tax Day
May 11, Sunday – Mother’s Day
May 26, Monday – Memorial Day
June 14, Saturday – Flag Day
June 15, Sunday – Father’s Day
June 20, Friday – Summer begins (The June solstice occurs at 10:42 P.M. EDT)

BIRTHDAYS

Jamie Lynn Spears (actress, singer, “Zoey 101,” sister of Britney) … 34
Natasha Lyonne (actress, writer/producer, “Poker Face,” “Russian Doll,” “Orange Is The New Black”) … 46
David Blaine (magician, illusionist, endurance artist) … 52
Robert Downey, Jr. (actor) … 60
David Cross (actor, comedian, “Arrested Development,” the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” movies, “Mr. Show”) … 61
David E. Kelley (writer/producer, “Big Little Lies,” Ally McBeal,” “The Practice,” “Boston Legal”) … 69
Steve Gatlin (singer, Gatlin Brothers) … 74
Craig T. Nelson (actor, “Grace and Frankie,” “Parenthood,” “Poltergeist”) … 81

Today’s Birthdays grade: Iron Man – the guy who started the Marvel Superhero Film Franchise! Always cool Natasha Lyonne (who’s gonna be in the Fantastic Four movie speaking of Marvel), David Cross (if you’ve never seen his comedy series with Bob Odenkirk you should!), and some other okay names. Not a bad end to the week. Grade: B-plus.

[Want to try something different with the daily birthdays? Try grading them! Some days have “good” celebs, some have “great” celebs, some have “lousy” celebs. For fun, give the group an arbitrary grade: A-plus through F-minus. Sidekick will give you our take on it; you can to take the concept and run with it.]

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

“I know very little about acting. I’m just an incredibly gifted faker.”

(A) Arnold Schwarzenegger
(B) Sylvester Stallone
(C) Robert Downey, Jr.

ANSWER: (C) Robert Downey, Jr.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2024 – A rare 1938 copy of the comic (Action Comics No. 1) that first introduced Superman sold for a record US$6 million at auction.
* It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a gigantic suitcase full of cash!

2017 – Alibaba became the world’s largest retailer according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
* Sorry, Walmart.

1958 – The first protest march against nuclear weapons was held.
* Basically, nuclear weapons stopped being cool once other countries got them.

1818 – Congress decided the U.S. flag would consist of 13 red and white stripes and 20 stars, with a new star to be added for every new state.
* It beat out Benjamin Franklin’s idea that each state should be represented by a delicious chocolate cake.

1581 – Frances Drake completed the circumnavigation of the world.
* “And All I Got was This Lousy T-Shirt!”

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2008 – Procol Harum singer Gary Brooker won back full royalty rights to the band’s worldwide hit, “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” at London’s Court of Appeal. The decision overturned a 2006 ruling that organist Matthew Fisher was entitled to a 40% portion of royalties on the 1967 hit after he argued he had written the song’s organ melody. The court ruled there was an “excessive delay” in the claim being made – nearly 40 years after the song was recorded.

2008 – Beyonce Knowles married Jay-Z at his New York apartment. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and wife Gwyneth Paltrow and Beyonce’s former bandmates in Destiny’s Child, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams all attended the private ceremony.

2004 – Usher was at No.1 on the U.S. album chart with “Confessions,” the singer’s second U.S. No.1.

2003 – 50 Cent’s latest album “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” sold more than four million copies in two months.

1998 – K-Ci & Jojo started a three-week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with “All My Life.”

1992 – The film soundtrack from “Wayne’s World” started a two-week run at No.1 on the U.S. album chart.

1987 – Starship started a two-week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us,” taken from the film “Mannequin.”

1981 – Styx went to No.1 on the U.S. album chart with “Paradise Theater.”

1970 – Crosby Stills Nash & Young went to No.1 on the U.S. album chart with “Deja Vu.”

1964 – The Beatles held the top five places in the U.S. singles chart, at No. 5 “Please Please Me,” No.4 “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” No.3, “Roll Over Beethoven,” No.2 “Love Me Do” and at No.1 “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

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. According to USA Today, the amount of people doing THIS has decreased 27% since 1975. What is it?
Hunting

2. THIS activity in American homes has decreased by over 80% since 1960. What is it?
Taking baths

3. According to the Wall St. Journal, 24% fewer kids do THIS than a decade ago. What is it?
Play baseball

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