THURSDAY, Apr 17 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR THURSDAY, April 17, 2025
(Print button is at bottom of post. To print with larger type, cut and paste content into a document, and print that document.)

COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: PROM TIME – WHISTLESTOP NOSE RING REPAIR; EASTER SONG – WE GOT THE PEEPS; BROUGHT TO YOU BY

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.)

FORD MUSTANG DAY
The Ford Mustang was officially unveiled by Henry Ford II at the World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, New York, on April 17, 1964. That same day, the new car also debuted in Ford showrooms across America and almost 22,000 Mustangs were immediately snapped up by buyers.

NATIONAL CHEESEBALL DAY

NATIONAL HAIKU POETRY DAY
An initiative of The Haiku Foundation, National Haiku Day celebrates the art form every April 17. A haiku is an ancient form of Japanese poetry that consists of three lines with the syllable structure “five-seven-five.”
ChatGPT says:
“A day for haiku,
Syllables dancing with joy,
Nature sings along.”

NATIONAL KICKBALL DAY
The Days of the Year website says this:
“Kickball is a popular playground sport that has been around since the early 1900’s. It got its start in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio where it was invented in 1917 by Nicholas Seuss, the Supervisor of Cincinnati Parks and Playgrounds, and was played in parks and large backyards as well as on school playgrounds. Originally called ‘Kick Baseball,’ the game was used by physical education teachers to teach school children the basics of the game of baseball, but with less equipment and fewer opportunities for injury. The game of kickball is typically played on a field that uses three bases, a pitcher’s mound, and a home plate.”

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

GUESS WHO’S DRUMMER WAS FIRED? WHO? YES.

Rock band The Who has parted ways their long-time drummer Zak Starkey – son of Ringo – after a reported “huge falling out,” according to reports. Roger Daltrey, 81, and guitarist Pete Townshend, 79, ended things with Starkey following two shows in March at the Royal Albert Hall in the UK. A source said Daltrey raised some “issues” about Starkey’s playing being below the band’s standards. Another source reported that that Daltrey got upset that Starkey was “overplaying” during the band’s gigs in late March. (* How do you “overplay” for The Who?) At a March 30 show, Daltrey told the audience, “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t. All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that. I’m sorry guys.” Daltrey has mentioned that he’s losing his hearing, along with his eyesight. Starkey had been The Who’s full-time drummer since 1996, when he replaced Kenny Jones, who replaced original drummer Keith Moon.
* Boy, Pete and Roger are getting cranky in their old age.
* What bad timing! Just one week ago, Pete Best announced he was retiring! (At age 83)
* Well, it makes sense. They want everything to be perfect for their – what? – final six or seven shows?
* At least he didn’t spontaneously combust, or choke on vomit not his own.
* Speaking of spontaneously combusting, the timing couldn’t be better – Spinal Tap is coming back this summer, and they always need new drummers. Weekly.

THE BUZZ

DUMB HEADLINES

Time for another episode of Three Dumb Headlines. These are actual, word-for-word headlines of stories found on the internet. There’s no story, no context, just the actual headline. Discuss them amongst yourselves. Then, encourage listeners to vote for the Dumbest Headline on your station’s social media page. Maybe ask them to leave a comment. Reveal the results in the next break.
Today’s Dumb Headlines:
1. “Dismembered Scientist Found Inside Suitcase May Have Been Lured Into A Trap”
2. “Yawning Is More Dangerous Than You Think”
3. “This Wedge Of Cheese Got A Hayabusa Swap And Now It’s Faster Than You”
And here’s a spare, in case you don’t like one of those three: “James Brolin Says The ‘Best Investment’ He Made In Marriage To Barbra Streisand Is His Mattress”

TIME MAGAZINE’S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2025

Time magazine, which hasn’t been influential in 35 years, has just come out with their “100 Most Influential People of 2025” list. Here are just some of the people who are controlling your life, whether you like it or not:
Ed Sheeran, Scarlett Johansson, Daniel Dae Kim, Kristen Bell, Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Diego Luna, Nicole Scherzinger, Kristen Wiig, Danielle Deadwyler, Hosier, Demi Moore, Adrien Brody, David Muir, Serena Williams, Blake Lively, Lorne Michaels, Joe Rogan, Snoop Dogg, Nikki Glaser.
* Hold on – I’m really fixating on how Hosier got in there.
* In all honesty, I would do anything Scarlett Johansson tells me to do. Kill Ed Sheeran? I’ll do it.
* It’s not so much a list of influencers as it is a collection of “weren’t they in the news last week for something?”
* It’s an okay magazine front-cover marketing gimmick, but it doesn’t hold a candle to People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.

U.S. NEWS

PLANE BROUGHT DOWN BY SUICIDAL RABBIT

Over the weekend, a United Airlines flight made an emergency landing due to an engine fire that was apparently caused by a rabbit that was sucked into the engine. Dramatic video showed repeated flashes of flame shooting from one of United Flight 2325’s engines shortly after it departed Denver International Airport on its way to Edmonton, Canada. The pilot confirmed it was caused by a rabbit strike. One passenger said that he heard a “loud bang” after the unfortunate bunny was sucked into the turbine, followed by “significant vibration in the plane” as it continued its ascent. “Every few moments there was a backfire coming from the engine, a giant fireball behind it,” he said.
* Sorry, kids. No Easter this year. Or maybe ever again.
* And this is an animal whose feet are supposed to be lucky. Yeah, right.
* A rabbit goes into a jet plane engine during takeoff. OK, I have some questions:
– What was the rabbit doing at altitude? Did it have a jetpack, or was it just a particularly aggressive hopper?
– Had it been depressed lately? A bad breakup?
– Was it hanging on the wing, like Tom Cruise in “Mission Inhoppable”?

GOOD NEWS! GENE HACKMAN’S HOME SHOULD BE AN “EASY SELL”

You work you entire life at the thing you love — acting. You become good at your craft, successful at your career, and incredibly well-respected by your peers and audience alike. And when you die, you are immortalized by a headline that reads: “Gene Hackman’s Home Shouldn’t Be ‘Tough’ To Sell Despite Being A Rodent ‘Breeding Ground’, Say Real Estate Agents”. Yes, according to TMZ, three different Santa Fe area realtors say the $4 million mansion’s rat issues will be fixed and the home’s secluded location will be a big hit among prospective buyers. They point out that realtors in New Mexico aren’t required to disclose to potential buyers that both Hackman and his wife died in the home.
* In New Mexico they call that style of house “Albu-quirky.”
* The most important words in real estate are “Location, location, location.” Next comes “Exterminator, exterminator, exterminator.”
* I can’t help but think the place will be haunted by Lex Luthor searching for Miss Teschmacher.
* This story brought to you by Terminix.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

AUDIO: TENNIS PRO COMPLAINS ABOUT OPPONENT’S ODOR

The Rouen Open tennis tournament in France has its own controversy. During a first-round match on Tuesday, British tennis player Harriet Dart asked the chair umpire to tell her opponent, Lois Boisson, from France, to wear deodorant. Dart asked the umpire during the changeover in a hot-mic moment, “Can you tell her to wear deodorant? She’s smelling really bad.” Boisson did not hear the comment, according to reports. She ultimately defeated Dart, 6-0, 6-3, to advance to the second round.
* So, in their own way, they both stunk up the court.
* Dealing with other people’s personal hygiene is the pitts.
* Maybe the smell kept Dart from playing close to the net.
* “Wear deodorant? But ref, my stank is my secret weapon!”
* Complaining about French people smelling in France is like complaining about Swedes in Sweden being blonde.
CLIP: Harriet Dart complains the umpire about her opponent’s smell.
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/TennisPlayerSmells(dot)mp3

AUSTRALIAN MONOPOLY RECORD

A total of 918 people sat down at 150 tables to play simultaneous games of Monopoly and break a Guinness World Record in Sydney, Australia, back on March 30. The record attempt was organized to raise money for a charity for children with brain cancer.
* The world record was set on March 30th. The game actually started 18 years ago. Monopoly just takes for-freakin’-ever to play.
* 918 people. A country that’s its own continent and they couldn’t round up an even thousand?
* Did you know: Australian-rules Monopoly includes tackling.
* Of course, there was a brawl over who gets to be the Top Hat.
* Just curious – is there a Guinness World Record for drinking Guinness?

TRENDING

THOMAS RHETT TAKES A TUMBLE, INJURES ANKLE

Country singer Thomas Rhett took a tumble at a Nashville show last weekend. On April 13, Thomas was making a surprise appearance at Forrest Frank’s concert at Bridgestone Arena. On the way to the stage to sing their collaboration “Nothing Else,” Rhett fell down some stairs and hurt his ankle. He limped to the stage and powered through the performance, noting he was in “pain” throughout. He said, “Every now and then you just have to sing at a Forrest Frank concert and break your ankle in the process. I gave my all for Tennessee tonight.” While he didn’t break it, he did leave the arena in a wheelchair.

NATE BARGATZE TO HOST EMMYS

Nate Bargatze, famous for his particular brand of family-friendly comedy (* namely unfunny) will be hosting the 2025 Emmy Awards, set to take place in September. Bargatze said in a statement Wednesday: “It’s a huge honor to be asked to host such an iconic awards show and I’m beyond excited to work with CBS to create a night that can be enjoyed by families around the world.” Hilarious as always.

FYRE FESTIVAL 2, WHICH WAS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN, HAS BEEN POSTPONED

Fyre Festival 2 has been “postponed,” according to the organizers. Billy McFarland, the convicted scammer who was behind the initial Fyre Festival in the Bahamas, was trying to create Fyre Festival 2, scheduled to take place in Mexico from May 30 to June 2. Tickets started at $1,400. But on Wednesday, a message sent to a ticket holder said, “The event has been postponed and a new date will be announced. We have issued you a refund. Once the new date is announced, at that time, you can repurchase if it works for your schedule.” Like the initial Fyre Festival event, McFarland’s Fyre Fest 2 promised “an electrifying celebration of music, arts, cuisine, comedy, fashion, gaming, sports, and treasure hunting — all set in the stunning location of Isla Mujeres, Mexico.” However, Mexico officials with the Tourism Department and the Playa Del Carmen government said they had no knowledge of the event.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

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

Rooney Mara (actress, “Carol,” “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”) … 40
Victoria Beckham (UK fashion designer, TV personality, singer, formerly Posh Spice) … 51
Jennifer Garner (actress) … 53
Liz Phair (singer, songwriter, guitarist) … 58
David Bradley (actor, “After Life,” “Game of Thrones,” “Harry Potter”) … 83

Today’s Birthdays grade: Today’s standout is a millionaire fashion designer who, before that, was only a member of the best-selling female group of all time. Nobody else on the list comes close, but they’re okay for a seasoned bunch. Grade: B-minus.

[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!

“Beauty comes from a life well lived. If you’ve lived well, your smile lines are in the right places, and your frown lines aren’t too bad, what more do you need?”

(A) Robert Redford
(B) Tommy Lee Jones
(C) Jennifer Garner

ANSWER: (C) Jennifer Garner

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2011 – “Game of Thrones,” based on the fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin, premiered on HBO.
* “Game of Thrones” was our house growing up. Six people, two bathrooms.

2001 – Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hit his 500th career home run, becoming the 17th major leaguer to reach the mark.
* He was like a hitting machine on steroids! Or maybe not. We’ll never know.

1964 – The Ford Mustang was formally introduced.
* Followed quickly by the first formal diagnosis of mid-life crisis.

1961 – The U.S. tried to overthrow Fidel Castro’s government in Cuba as about 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion.
* It took us awhile to get the hang of overthrowing governments, and now we can do it in about six weeks.

1875 – Snooker, a variation of pool, was invented by Sir Neville Chamberlain.
* Rumor has it he invented snooker when he was snockered, and everyone snickered.

1524 – Giovanni Verrazano, a Florentine navigator, discovered New York Bay.
* A Florentine navigator? So – he was baked with spinach and cheese?

1492 – Christopher Columbus signed a contract with Spain to find a westward ocean route to Asia.
* And as we know, totally screwed it up.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2004 – Kurt Cobain’s Mark IV-style Mosrite Gospel guitar sold for $100,000 at the Icons of 20th Century Music auction held in Dallas, Texas.

1998 – Linda McCartney, the rock photographer wife of Sir Paul McCartney and onetime member of the band Wings, died of breast cancer in Santa Barbara, Calif. She was 56. Linda, a vegetarian who marketed her own line of meat-free dishes, had been battling the disease for three years.

1993 – David Lee Roth was arrested in NYC for purchasing marijuana for $10.

1984 – Michael Jackson burned his hair while filming a Pepsi commercial.

1970 – Johnny Cash performed at the White House. President Richard Nixon requested “A Boy Named Sue.”

1952 – Elvis Presley was fired from his job as a theater usher.

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. 13% of men surveyed said that if a woman does THIS on a first date, he won’t ask her out on a second date. What it is?
Order the most expensive item on the menu

2. 4 out of 10 men surveyed said they think it’s sexy when a woman wears THIS. What is it?
A hat

3. In an online survey, 48% of men said they would break up with a woman if she did THIS. What is it?
Gained weight

(c) 2025
MORNING SIDEKICK RADIO SHOW PREP & COMEDY
8062 West Massey Circle
Littleton, CO 80128
USA
morningsidekick(at)gmail(dot)(com)
Tel: 303-727-9111