THURSDAY, Dec 5 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR THURSDAY, December 5, 2024
(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: CHRISTMAS CLAPPER; PROMOS-TO-GO

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.)

BATHTUB PARTY DAY
The National Day Calendar website says this:
“Bathtub Party Day was created as a way to skip the ordinary, everyday shower and to luxuriate in the pure pleasure of a good soak in the tub. Gather your favorite bath bomb, a good book and a glass of Moscato and let the worries of the day fade away while you relax in the tub.”

INTERNATIONAL NINJA DAY

INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY

NATIONAL BLUE JEANS DAY

NATIONAL COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR KIDS DAY

NATIONAL SACHER TORTE DAY
The National Day Calendar website says this:
“Sacher Torte Day is observed annually on December 5. Sacher Torte, also known as Sachertorte, is a unique type of chocolate cake (or torte) that was invented by Austrian Franz Sacher in 1832. Sacher Torte is one of Vienna’s most famous culinary specialties. The Sacher Torte is created with apricot jam between layers of rich, chocolate sponge cake and topped with a layer of chocolate icing.”

REPEAL DAY
The Holiday Insights website says this:
“Repeal Day commemorates the repeal of the 18th Amendment. Once more, Americans were free to buy, sell, and consume alcoholic beverages. In the early 1900’s, many of the good people of America believed that alcohol was the root cause of many social ills in the country. Prohibition on a national scale was promoted in part by the American Christian Women’s Temperance Union. This movement grew in popularity. Ultimately, the United States Congress passed the 16th amendment on January 16, 1919. The 16th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, transportation, sale and consumption of alcohol. The ban on alcohol did little to improve the social conditions of the country, or to reduce crime. Rather, crime increased as racketeers got into the the business of making and selling alcohol. The popularity of the 18th Amendment waned. More and more people and groups sought its repeal. Congress proposed the 21st Amendment, effectively repealing the 18th Amendment. On December 5, 1933, the State of Utah voted its approval of the 21st Amendment, achieving the 3/4 of states need to approve this amendment. Thus on this day, the 18th Amendment was formally repealed.”

December is:

Exotic/Tropical Fruits Month
National Egg Nog Month
National Fruit Cake Month
National Stress-Free Family Holiday Month
National Write a Business Plan Month
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Tomato Month
Winter Squash Month

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITIES

WHAT TO WATCH – New and Returning Shows and Movies
Premiering Thursday through Sunday
Listings sourced from the TV Guide, EW and other websites

THURSDAY, December 5

“Black Doves”
Netflix – New Limited Series
Synopsis: In London, a spy (Keira Knightley) investigates the assassination of her lover (Warrior’s Andrew Koji) with the protection of a fellow spy (Ben Whishaw), uncovering a massive conspiracy in the process.

“Creature Commandos”
Max – New Animated Series
Synopsis: In this Suicide Squad spinoff, Amanda Waller uses the Creature Commandos – a motley crew of monsters and non-human entities with super abilities that includes Circe, G.I. Robot, Doctor Phosphorus, and Weasel – for secret missions.

“Glitter & Greed: The Lisa Frank Story”
Prime Video – New Docuseries
Synopsis: Uncovers the darkness within the neon-hued world of Lisa Frank Inc., a brand that defined girlhood for a generation of Americans only to seemingly disappear overnight. Behind the rainbows and psychedelic illustrations, we unravel a nostalgia-soaked, stranger-than-fiction tale that exposes the hidden toxicity that lurked at the heart of the company for decades.

“Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld”
Netflix – New Animated Series
Synopsis: Yet another young teen discovers they have hidden supernatural powers. This time, As her 16th birthday approaches, a not-so-average teen rediscovers the fiery powers she’s long suppressed and is forced to face her demons — literally.

FRIDAY, December 6

“A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter”
Netflix – Holiday Special
Synopsis: The special showcases pop icon Carpenter performing songs from her holiday EP fruitcake and other chart-topping holiday covers, and features guest performing artists, comedic cameos, and unexpected duets.

“Biggest Heist Ever”
Netflix – New Documentary
Synopsis: Centers on Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein and Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan, a married couple accused of laundering about 120,000 stolen Bitcoin valued at over $11 billion.

“Camp Crasher”
Netflix – New Movie from Argentina
Synopsis: Patri Peiró, a control-freak mother who thinks she’s cooler than she actually is, struggles to connect with her 13-year-old son Ramiro, who is determined to go live with his father. When Patri offers to drive Ramiro and his friends to a school camp after the bus driver fails an alcohol test, she has the duration of the trip to prove how cool she really is and convince her son to stay with her.

“Echoes of the Past”
Netflix – New Series from Egypt
Synopsis: A man accused of his sister’s murder is fiercely determined to seek vengeance and unmask the true perpetrator.

“Paris Has Fallen”
Hulu – New Series
Synopsis: A protection officer and an MI6 operative team up after a terrorist attack. They suspect a mole as they race to thwart a larger conspiracy threatening Paris.

“The Sticky”
Prime Video – New Series
Synopsis: In Canada, a syrup farmer’s farm gets shut down by the government, forcing her to team up with a Boston mobster and a French-Canadian security guard to make ends meet by siphoning syrup from the country’s national reserve. Based on the great Canadian maple syrup heist of 2011-2012 that saw thieves make off with more than 3,000 tons of pancake dressing.

TEN THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN EVERY HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIE

From Slashfilm, here are Ten Things That Happen In Every Hallmark Movie:
(* NOTE: Make a bit out of it. Have listeners call in and guess what they are!)
1. Someone returns to their small hometown.
2. There’s a conflict between small and big business.
3. A crabby person rediscovers their love for the holidays.
4. The town comes together.
5. People have names like Holly, Nick, Eve and Chris.
6. People get hit on the head and have amnesia about their life, which they have to rediscover.
7. There’s magic, and no one cares.
8. People resist the obvious romantic partner.
9. Someone turns out to literally be Santa Claus.
10. No one has sex.
* I was gonna say, no one reads over the script beforehand.
* Aren’t there always commercials for Hallmark cards?
* An actor who once had a promising career plays a shopkeeper in a secondary role?
* In our house, the first thing that always happens is: We don’t put on a Hallmark Christmas movie.

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. “The Secret Sex Lives Of Lichens”
2. “Orcas Are Wearing Salmon Hats Again”
3. “Vodka-Powered Robots Harness Cheerios-Inspired Physics For Movement”
And here’s a spare, in case you don’t like one of those three: “New Study Unveils the Explosive Secrets of the Squirting Cucumber”

TIKTOK’S MOST VIRAL TRENDS OF 2024

TikTok has ranked their most popular viral trends of 2024:
1. Baby Animals: Moo Deng the baby pygmy hippo, and Pesto the Penguin pulled the most viewers.
2. The catchphrase “Very demure, very mindful.” It came from Influencer Jools Lebron in October and exploded on social media, with over 54 million views.
3. Cucumbers. Logan Moffitt, a food influencer known as the “cucumber guy” got over 43 million views with a video showing how to make a creamy cucumber California roll.
* Food Network president: “Fire Guy Fieri! Get me CUCUMBER GUY!”
* “And I want 10 cucumber-based competition show concepts on my desk by the end of the day!”
* We’ve come a long way since cats playing a piano… kind of. Maybe not.
* You may think this trending stuff is dumb, but you have to admit the unbridled randomness of the public is truly remarkable. Baby Hippo, demure, and cucumber. It’s like one of those cognitive tests: “Remember these three things, I’ll ask you to repeat them later.”

MOST POPULAR PET NAMES OF 2024

According to Petsitting website Rover, here are the Top Ten Most Popular Pet Names of 2024:
Male Dog: Charlie, Max, Milo, Cooper, Buddy, Teddy, Rocky, Bear, Leo, Duke
Female Dog: Luna, Bella, Daisy, Lucy, Lily, Lola, Zoe, Sadie, Coco, Bailey
Male Cat: Milo, Oliver, Leo, Charlie, Loki, Max, Simba, Jack, Ollie, Jasper
Female Cat: Luna, Lily, Bella, Lucy, Callie, Nala, Kitty, WIllow, Cleo, Daisy
* Too early for names from “Wicked” to be showing up, I guess.
* No Elon? No Taylor? No Shaboozey or Jelly Roll?
* What are the most popular pet names among people who can’t afford to hire petsitters on the Rover website?
* There’s no point in having a pet if you’re not going to be unique with the name. Ask my dog, Jimmy Kibble. Or my betta fish, Sid Fishes.
* PHONE TOPIC: Does your pet have a really good name? I mean, a REALLY GOOD name?

U.S. NEWS

BEWARE “GRANNY’S PURSE SYNDROME”

A pediatrician named Dr. Meghan Martin is warning about the dangers of “granny’s purse syndrome,” in which kids get into grandma and grandpa’s pills. Doc Martin shared her warning on TikTok, saying, “If you are spending time with your family for the holidays, it’s important to know about something called ‘granny’s purse syndrome.’ This is when young kids get into their grandparents’ medications that are not secured properly. Grandparents are not used to having kids around. Often their medications are on low shelves or in their purses or in medication containers that are not child resistant.” She points out a 2006 study that found 10% to 20% of accidental intoxication in kids is caused by their grandparents’ medications.
* It’s not as bad as Grandpa’s Jokes Syndrome, but still.
* No mention of getting high off the fumes from all the hand creams and perfumes in grandma’s purse?
* Also, kids could choke on the amount of Kleenexes in there.
* And for god’s sakes, keep them away from the Werthers.
* Has Dr. Martin watched TV in the last ten years? Has she seen how every commercial break has four or five Big Pharma drug commercials? It’s not just grandma and grandpa with the medications. It’s EVERYBODY.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

MAN JUMPS ON POLAR BEAR TO SAVE WIFE

A Canadian man leaped onto a polar bear to protect his wife.Officials say he will survive his injuries. The incident occurred early Tuesday in Canada’s Fort Severn First Nation, in the far north of Ontario near Hudson Bay. The couple had left their home at 5am to find their dogs. While in the driveway, a polar bear lunged at the woman. She slipped to the ground as her husband jumped onto the animal to prevent the attack. The bear then attacked the man, causing serious but non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and legs. A neighbor came out with a firearm and shot the bear a number of times. It fled to a nearby wooded area where it succumbed to its injuries. Experts at the organization Polar Bear International say if you are attacked by a polar bear, “Definitely do not play dead—that is a myth. Fight as long as you can.”
* Good to know, for when we’re all attacked by international polar bears.
* 5am. Polar bears are really cranky before they have their coffee.
* I think we’ve just found the Husband of the Year.
* And no candidates at all for Dogs of the Year.
* Fort Severn First Nation, known as the Australia of Canada, where everything will kill you.

SPANISH KIDS ARE TURNING INTO WEREWOLVES

Spanish infants are developing “werewolf syndrome” due to their parents taking a popular over-the-counter hair-loss remedy. The Navarra Pharmacovigilance Center has reported 11 cases of hypertrichosis — commonly known as “werewolf syndrome” — in babies throughout Spain and has found that the topical drug Minoxidil was used by their caregivers. Infants who developed hypertrichosis grew tufty hair across their back, legs and face. In extreme cases, the syndrome can make their appearance resemble a Wookiee from “Star Wars.” (* I would have gone with ‘Ewok” here, given the size of the children). Investigators believe that the minoxidil cream being used by the infants’ parents is absorbed by the babies either topically or orally. In every case in Spain, the babies’ unwanted hair receded when the parent or caregiver stopped using the minoxidil.
* Many children with werewolf syndrome have gone on to success in school. Several have been voted School Mascot.
* On the bright side, they’ve been bonding great with the family dogs.
* And new in Spain just in time for Christmas: Baby’s First Shaving Kit.
* Sorry, parents. You have kids, you’ll be tearing your hair out. That’s just how it works.
* Nice to see there’s SOMEPLACE in the world where minoxidil actually grows hair.

GERMAN MAN SETS RECORD FOR DRINKING LEMON JUICE

A German man set a record by drinking a liter of lemon juice and a liter of lime juice in record time. Andre Ortolf, 30, drank a liter of lemon juice through a straw in 13.3 seconds, and soon after drank a liter of lime juice in 13.51 seconds. Mr. Ortolf said the only side effect was a toothache, which went away after a day.
* Also, his face was frozen in a permanent pucker. He looked kinda like Popeye.
* He drank one liter of lemon juice and one liter of lime juice, but then burped 7-Up.
* And by he way, his burps now smell springtime fresh.
* It was a bitter victory.

TRENDING

NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW NAMES “WICKED” BEST PICTURE

No point in going to the movies any more this year. The National Board of Review, which, we guess, reviews things that are national, has named “Wicked” as their Best Film of the Year. NBR president Annie Schulhof said in a statement, “Wicked represents the pure magic that movies can bring to audiences. Every detail is beautifully crafted and designed, the actors are all exceptional and the music is second-to-none – together it adds up to a transporting experience like no other.” The Board also named Wicked director Jon M. Chu as Best Director.

ZACH BRYAN TEEN FAN WINS LOTTERY

A California teen won $250,000 on a scratch-off this week just hours after he celebrated his 18th birthday with his mother at a Zach Bryan concert. AJ Tamraz and his mother, Danielle Magalen, were traveling home to Laguna Nigel from the country star’s concert in Sacramento Sunday when they stopped for gas at a Santa Nella truck stop. AJ’s mom gave him a $20 bill to go buy some Peppermint Payout Scratchers. The first three were a bust, but the fourth ticket was a $250,000 winner. Tamraz now plans on using the money to pay off his mother’s car loan, credit cards and six months of rent. “She gets to breathe, and I get to help her,” he said.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

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

Frankie Muniz (former actor, now racecar driver, “Malcolm in the Middle”) … 39
Amy Acker (actress, “The Gifted”) … 48
Kali Rocha (actress, “Man with a Plan”) … 54
Margaret Cho (comedian, actress) … 56
Gary Allan (country singer) … 57
Ty England (country singer) … 61

Today’s Birthdays grade: Okay, people, move along. Nothing special to see here. Just some ho-hum birthdays that get a C.
[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!

“People drain me, even the closest of friends, and I find loneliness to be the best state in the union to live in.”

(A) Ryan Seacrest
(B) Kanye West
(C) Margaret Cho

ANSWER: (C) Margaret Cho

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2008 – A judge in Las Vegas sentenced O.J. Simpson to 33 years in prison (with eligibility for parole after nine) for an armed robbery at a hotel room. He was released Oct. 1, 2017.
* As soon as he got out, O.J. vowed to begin a search for the real armed robber.

1933 – The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment which banned alcoholic drinks. It became official at 5:32 PM Eastern Time.
* Just in time for Happy Hour.

1929 – The first American nudist organization was founded, in New York City – The American League for Physical Culture.
* This gave people who were wiped out in the stock market crash two months earlier an excuse to not buy clothes.

1893 – The first electric car debuted. Built in Toronto, it could go 15 miles between charges.
* And boy, did the gasoline companies shut THAT down in a hurry.

1854 – Aaron Allen of Boston patented a folding theater chair.
* Which, besides being a great convenience, would later become a great weapon for professional wrestlers.

1846 – C.F. Schoenbein obtained a patent for cellulose nitrate explosive.
* His neighbors wanted to complain about the noise, but didn’t dare.

1776 – The First American scholastic fraternity was founded, Phi Beta Kappa.
* That night, to celebrate, they stayed up ’til 8:30! Drinking sarsaparilla!

1492 – Columbus discovered Hispaniola, Haiti.
* He showered the natives with gifts like cloth, tools, and smallpox.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2017 – Twitter revealed that K-pop boy band BTS were the most tweeted-about celebrities in 2017.

2009 – Phish played the final show of their 2009 Fall Tour at the John Paul Jones Arena at the University of Virginia. At the beginning of a first set an erratic fan proceeded to run on stage fully naked. He ran up and hugged guitarist Trey Anastasio and kissed him on the cheek. He made three laps around the stage before finally being chased down by security.

2006 – Beatles lyrics handwritten by Sir Paul McCartney to an early version of Maxwell’s Silver Hammer sold for $192,000 at an auction in New York. A guitar owned by Jimi Hendrix fetched $168,000, a notebook containing lyrics written by Bob Marley sold for $72,000 and a poem penned by Doors frontman Jim Morrison brought $49,000 at the Christie’s sale.

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 average person will eat almost 3,000 of THESE over the course of their life. What are they?
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

2. The average person will eat about 3,100 of THESE over the course of their life. What are they?
Bananas

3. The average person will eat over 12,000 of THESE over the course of their life. What are they?
Slices of bread

(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