MONDAY, July 22 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR MONDAY, July 22, 2024
(Print button is at bottom of post. To print with larger type, cut and paste content into a document, and print that document.)

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.)

HAMMOCK DAY

MANGO DAY

NATIONAL PENUCHE FUDGE DAY
The National Day Calendar website says this:
“Penuche (Italian: panucci) is a fudge-like candy made from brown sugar, butter, vanilla and milk. Lighter in color than traditional fudge, the flavor of penuche is reminiscent of maple thanks to the brown sugar. It’s primarily found in New England where pecans and other nuts are added, especially if making a candy form of penuche. It’s also popular in the Southern United States where it is known as brown sugar fudge candy.”

RATCATCHER’S DAY
The Holiday Insights website says this:
“Ratcatcher’s Day commemorates the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the most infamous of ratcatchers and one of the most well known German folk tales. The town of Hamelin, Germany was infested by rats. The mayor promised to handsomely pay the Pied Piper, if he rid the town of rats. The Pied Piper played his flute. Lured by the magical music, all of the rats left town, and followed him. He played his music all the way down to the river, waded into the river, and the rats followed him and drowned. The mayor refused to pay him. So, one night when the townspeople were asleep, the Pied Piper played his music again. This time, the children of the town followed him all the way into a cave. Some versions for the legend vary here. In one version, the Pied Piper kept them there until he was paid by the town for his services. In most versions, the children were never seen again.”

July is:

Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
Air Conditioning Appreciation Month
Baked Bean Month
Cell Phone Courtesy Month
Family Reunion Month
International Blondie and Deborah Harry Month
National Blueberries Month
National Grilling Month
National Hot Dog Month
National Ice Cream Month
Melon 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, July 22

Season Premiere:
CW – “61st Street”

TUESDAY, July 23

“Dress My Tour”
Hulu – New Fashion Competition Show
Synopsis: Follows 11 aspiring fashion designers as they compete for the approval of music icons including JoJo Siwa, Paula Abdul, Toni Braxton and more, with the winner taking home $100,000.

WEDNESDAY, July 24

“Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose”
Max – New Documentary
Synopsis: Four-part documentary details Pete Rose’s heroic rise in baseball, subsequent banishment from the game, and eventual bid for reinstatement and place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

“Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam”
Netflix – New Docuseries
Synopsis: Lou Pearlman created the biggest boy bands of the ’90s — and one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history.

“Resurrected Rides”
Netflix – New Automotive Makeover Show
Synopsis: Comedian Chris Redd works with a dream team of car experts to breathe new life into worn-out rides with stunning customized makeovers.

“Time Bandits”
Apple TV+ – New Series
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Kevin’s passion for history is put to the test when he joins a ragtag group of time-traveling thieves on a high-stakes and hilarious adventure in this reimagining of the iconic film.

THE KELCE BROTHERS CEREAL

General Mills, the breakfast cereal company, has announced an upcoming collaboration with Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs (and Taylor Swift’s boyfriend), and his brother Jason, recently retired center for the Philadelphia Eagles. They will be launching the Kelce Mix Cereal this fall. Kelce Mix isn’t a new cereal; instead, it’s a boxed mix of Lucky Charms, Reese’s Puffs, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. One reviewer said “The chocolate and peanut butter from the Reese’s Puffs easily played with the cinnamon sugar of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and the frosted cereal bits from the Lucky Charms blended in seamlessly.”
* Adding, “Now – where’s my diabetes medicine?”
* I call illegal formation on that breakfast.
* Sounds like more sugar than a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie
* Sorry, I still have uneaten boxes of Snoop Dogg cereal.
* You could just buy all three cereals and mix it together yourself.

AUDIO: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN NOW A BILLIONAIRE

Bruce Springsteen is officially a billionaire. According to a conservative Forbes estimate, The Boss is now worth $1.1 billion. In 2021, Springsteen sold his music catalog to Sony for an estimated $500-$550 million, marking the biggest transaction ever struck for a single artist’s body of work. Pollstar reported that in 2023, The Boss sold more than 1.6 million concert tickets, generating $380 million in revenue. And with more than 71 million albums sold in the U.S. and 140 million worldwide, Springsteen is among the bestselling music artists of all time. He’s won 20 Grammy Awards, an Oscar and a special Tony Award for “Springsteen on Broadway,” his critically acclaimed, one-man show.
* But really, he’s just an everyday blue-collar workin’ man.
* He’s 74. Taylor Swift was declared a billionaire earlier this year at age 34. Ouch!!
* Time to rework those songs:
– Count It All Night
– Tenth Avenue Buyout
– Born in the BOA, the Bank of America
– Junkbondland
– Racing in the WallStreet
– Born to Run the Market.
CLIP: We always love bringing this out: Our classic “Bruce on Broadway” bit.
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/10-12-BruceOnBroadway(dot)mp3

THE BUZZ

EVENING PEOPLE FUNCTION BETTER THAN MORNING PEOPLE

A new study from Imperial College London on cognitive function looked at data on more than 26,000 adults who’d completed tests to gauge intelligence, reasoning, reaction time, and memory. They found those who slept for seven to nine hours per night experienced optimum brain function. But also, they looked at the test subjects’ chronotype, or natural preference for evening or morning activity. They found that those inclined to be more active in the evenings performed better on tests than those more active in the mornings. Night owls scored 13.5% higher than early birds types in one group, and 7.5% better in another group. Morning people, according to the study, “consistently showed the lowest cognitive scores.”
* (pause) What?
* I’ve ready this story three times and I still don’t understand it.
* Did the morning people have to take the test while they were still half asleep?
* Well, congratulations, evening people, although none of you are listening right now.

U.S. NEWS

RANDOM WOMAN VANDALIZES ICE CREAM CYBERTRUCK

In Bellbrook, Ohio, a woman vandalized a Cybertruck a man was using in his ice cream business. Daniel Herres was at home when he heard what sounded like glass being smashed – it was the windows of the Cybertruck. He checked his Ring camera video which showed a woman pulling into the driveway where his Cybertruck with a huge “Cyber Cream” decal on the side was sitting. She got out and began smashing all but one of the truck’s windows. (* By the way, these are the shatter-resistant windows, according to Elon Musk.) When she finished, she got back into her car and drove away. Police found and arrested her a few minutes later, identifying her as a 29-year-old woman from Indiana. Herres said the damage will force him to shut down his ice cream Cybertruck business – which he started in May – for the rest of the summer. “Within 30 seconds, our business was torpedoed,” he said. Herres said he had never seen the woman before Monday.
* If she really wanted to make the Cybertruck inoperable, she could have just tossed some sand under the tires. I’ve seen where that immobilizes them.
* So, four Cybertruck windows replaced. That’s, what, $80,000?
* Cybertrucks are like Boeing – is there ever a GOOD story about them?
* Anyway, that’s the scoop on the Ice Cream Cybertruck.

ACT TEST NOW MAKING SCIENCE PORTION OPTIONAL

Remember the ACT test in high school – the SAT’s second cousin? The ACT people are now making the science exam optional. The writing section was already made optional in 2005. Students can now opt between several versions of the test: the ACT core exam (which includes reading, math and English), the ACT plus writing, the ACT plus science or the ACT plus science and writing. The organization says, “With this flexibility, students can focus on their strengths and showcase their abilities in the best possible way.” The changes will start with online testing in spring of 2025 and in-school testing in spring of 2026.
* If you show up and can remember your name, that’s a guaranteed C.
* If you remembered to bring a #2 pencil, that’s a B. If you brought a backup pencil, that’s an automatic B+.
* And if you skip the writing, or skip the science, or skip the writing AND science, you can also skip applying to colleges altogether.
* ACT used to stand for American College Testing. Now it’s Avoid Challenging Topics.
* There go all of America’s Nobel prizes in about twenty years.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

JAPAN KICKS CAPTAIN OFF OLYMPIC GYMNASTIC TEAM FOR SMOKING

Japan has kicked their team captain in women’s artistic gymnastics out of the Olympics. Shoko Miyata has been sent home from France by the Japan Gymnastics Association because the 19-year-old admitting to smoking and drinking. The offenses violate the Association’s code of conduct. Miyata, Japan’s reigning champion in artistic gymnastics, admitted that she had a smoke and a drink in June and July.
* Well, if THAT doesn’t make you want to tie one on …
* It’s a shame because every other Olympic athlete is following every rule 100%.
* In France, they pretty much hand you a pack of cigarettes when you get off the plane, you know.
* And wine comes out of the tap, so what’re you gonna do?

TRENDING

“TWISTERS” STARS APPEAR AT LUKE COMBS CONCERT

“Twisters” stars Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos popped up at a surprise appearance at a Luke Combs concert over the weekend. Combs recorded the original song “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” for the film. The actors joined Luke onstage at his show Friday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Everybody took part in a brief chugging contest. Powell and Combs can be seen quickly shotgunning their beers and then tossing the empty cans toward the audience. Edgar-Jones did not finish hers and instead handed it to Powell, who polished it off and tossed that can to the crowd as well.

RICHARD SIMMONS PLANNED ONE LAST POST BEFORE HE DIED

Richard Simmons prepared a social media post for his fans before his death at age 76. The late fitness star’s team released the post, which includes a photo of Simmons and a message from him, on Saturday. In the photo, a gray-haired Simmons – looking just like an older Richard Simmons would look – is seen smiling while wearing a bright orange NASA flight suit. He is standing in front of a colorful wall. The caption reads: “Let me fly you to the moon so we can gaze among the stars. Love, Richard.” Simmons died on July 13, just one day after his 76th birthday. He allegedly suffered a fall in his bathroom and refused to get medical help immediately despite his housekeeper’s concern. He reportedly felt dizzy before his fall but wanted to stay home on his birthday. At around 10 a.m. the next day, Simmons was found dead on the floor next to his bed.

BOB NEWHART TRIBUTE MONDAY NIGHT

CBS will honor late actor and comedian Bob Newhart during a tribute tonight (Monday night) with a special entitled “Bob Newhart: A Legacy of Laughter,” produced by Entertainment Tonight. The show will feature never-before-seen interviews and Newhart’s final interview from his home in Los Angeles. It also includes new and archival interviews with some of the star’s closest friends and co-stars, including Jim Parsons, Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Jason Bateman and Michael Weatherly. The one-hour tribute will air Monday at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS and also stream on Paramount+.

INDIANA JONES HAT FROM “TEMPLE OF DOOM” UP FOR AUCTION

Indiana Jones’ fedora from “Temple of Doom” is up for auction. The hat, worn by Harrison Ford in the 1984 adventure-action flick, is expected to fetch up to $500,000 when it goes under the hammer next month. According to the auction house, the hat is marked ‘IJ’ inside, which is how all the other authentic hats have been marked. The hat shows some wear and tear, and there’s small evidence of makeup traces in the front of the hat band on the interior. The hat currently belongs to the estate of Harrison Ford’s stuntman, Dean Ferrandini, who died last year.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (July 19-21)

1.Twisters – $80.5 million
2. Despicable Me 4 – $23.8 million
3. Inside Out 2 – $12.8 million
4. Longlegs – $11.7 million
5. A Quiet Place: Day One – $6.1 million

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

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

BIRTHDAYS

Selena Gomez (actress, singer) … 32
Keegan Allen (actor, “Walker,” “Pretty Little Liars”) … 37
Colin Ferguson (actor, “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” “Eureka”) … 52
David Spade (actor, comedian) … 60
John Leguizamo (actor, comedian) … 64
Willem Dafoe (actor) … 69
Don Henley (rock musician, singer, “The Eagles”) … 77
Albert Brooks (actor-comedian-director) … 77
Danny Glover (actor) … 78

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

“I’m trying to get away from being smart-assy, because I don’t want to get laughs by being mean to people.”

(A) Kathy Griffin
(B) Greg Gutfeld
(C) David Spade

ANSWER: (C) David Spade

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2004 – The Sept. 11 commission issued a report saying America’s leaders failed to grasp the gravity of terrorist threats before the 9/11 attacks.
* NAILED IT!

2003 – In Paris, France, a fire broke out near the top of the Eiffel Tower. About 4,000 visitors were evacuated and no injuries were reported.
* A fire? Isn’t it made of metal?

1994 – O.J. Simpson pleaded innocent to the slaying of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
* And never did catch the real killer.

1991 – Police arrested Jeffrey Dahmer after finding the dismembered remains of 11 victims in his Milwaukee apartment.
* He was charged with murder, cannibalism, and also for shoplifting a bunch of large Tupperware containers.

1933 – Aviator Wiley Post completed the first solo flight around the globe, taking 7 days, 18 hours and 45 minutes.
* It sounds like a long time to be in a plane, but you have to remember – back then, airplanes actually gave you some leg room.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2023 – The audiences at Taylor Swift concerts in Seattle July 22 and 23 shook the ground so hard it registered as equivalent to magnitude 2.3 earthquakes.

2007 – Ja Rule and Lil Wayne were arrested after a concert in Manhattan on charges of carrying illegal firearms. The rappers were arrested separately: Rule was stopped for speeding when a weapon was discovered in his car and officers who arrested Wayne for smoking marijuana also found a pistol in his car.

2006 – Johnny Cash was at No.1 on the U.S. album chart with “American V: A Hundred Highways.” Released posthumously on July 4, the vocal parts were recorded before Cash’s death, but the instruments were not recorded until 2005.

1979 – Little Richard, now known as the Reverend Richard Pennman, told his congregation about the evils of rock & roll music, declaring “If God can save an old homosexual like me, he can save anybody.”

1977 – Stiff Records released “My Aim Is True,” the debut album from Elvis Costello, in the UK. The musicians who were featured on the album were uncredited on the original release (due to contractual difficulties), although the backing band was made up of members of the band Clover.

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. In a recent survey, over 65% of people said they live in fear that THIS could happen to them at any moment. What is it?
They could get fired

2. A recent survey says 23% of us are guilty of THIS at work, at least once a week. What is it?
Arriving late

3. In a recent survey, 25% of people said if they won the lottery, they’d remain at their current job because of THIS. What is it?
Their co-workers

(c) 2024
MORNING SIDEKICK RADIO SHOW PREP & COMEDY
8062 West Massey Circle
Littleton, CO 80128
USA
morningsidekick(at)gmail(dot)(com)
Tel: 303-727-9111