THURSDAY, Jan 2 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR THURSDAY, January 2, 2025
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COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: BIG VINNIE’S NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION ENFORCEMENT

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.)

NATIONAL BUFFET DAY

NATIONAL CREAM PUFF DAY

NATIONAL RUN IT UP THE FLAGPOLE AND SEE IF ANYONE SALUTES DAY
The Holiday Insights website says this:
“‘Run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes’ is an expression. It means to float an idea to see what people think, or if they notice. The term is commonly used in advertising and print media. Run it Up the Flagpole to See if Anyone Salutes Day is set aside to allow people to do just that. Be creative today. Use this day to try and test new ideas and concepts. Don’t limit the ideas to business applications. In your personal life, try out a new dress or clothing style, perhaps a different haircut. Or, maybe buy a new houseflag and run it up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes…or even notices.”

NATIONAL SCIENCE FICTION DAY

SWISS CHEESE DAY

January is:

Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
Be Kind to Food Servers Month
Family Fit Lifestyle Month
Financial Wellness Month
Get Organized Month
National Candy Month
National Clean Up Your Computer Month
National Hobby Month
National Skating Month
National Train Your Dog Month
Walk Your Pet 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, January 2

“Going Dutch”
Fox – New Comedy Series
Synopsis: After an unfiltered rant, a loudmouth Army Colonel (Denis Leary) is punished by being sent to a Netherlands base with no military purpose. He tries to restore order with his estranged daughter’s help, who was the interim commander.

“Lockerbie: A Search for Truth”
Peacock – New Limited Series
Synopsis: A five-part geopolitical thriller that follows Jim Swire and his search for justice following the death of his daughter in one of the world’s worst air disasters: the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
ABC – Home Renovation Series Return
Synopsis: Designers, workmen and neighbors renovate a family’s entire house in seven days; host Ty Pennington.

Season Premieres:
Fox – “Animal Control”
Fox – “Hell’s Kitchen”
Netflix” – “Stranded with my Mother-in-Law”

FRIDAY, January 3

“Love Is Blind: Germany”
Netflix – Reality Series
Synopsis: In the “Love Is Blind” franchise, singles form connections through intimate conversations without seeing each other. As their relationships grow, they must decide if their bond is strong enough to lead to marriage, culminating in a dramatic face-to-face meeting. This version takes place in Germany.

“Selling the City”
Netflix – New Real Estate Reality Series
Synopsis: A team of stylishly savvy New York real estate agents hustle to seal multimillion-dollar deals while stirring up drama in this soapy reality series.

Season Premieres:
NBC – “Happy’s Place”
NBC – “Lopez vs. Lopez”
Netflix – “Bandidos”

SATURDAY, January 4

“When the Stars Gossip”
Netflix – New Series from Korea
Synopsis: From two different worlds and with separate missions, an astronaut and a space tourist entangle in space — only to start falling for each other.

SUNDAY, January 5

“Golden Globe Awards”
CBS/Paramount+ – Awards Show

Season Premieres:
ABC – “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
AMC – “Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches”

THE MOST-WATCHED TV SHOWS OF LAST YEAR

Of the Top 100 most-watched TV shows of 2024, 75 were sporting events: the Super Bowl, NFL playoff games, the World Series, the NBA finals, the Olympics, Women’s NCAA Basketball Championship, and the like. Some of the highlights of The 100 Most-Watched Shows of 2024:
– The most-watched program was Super Bowl LVIII: Kansas City vs. San Francisco, with 121,009,000 viewers.
– The Harris-Trump debate was #12 with 20,257,000 viewers.
– The Oscars were #13, with 20,215,000 viewer.
– 60 Minutes made four appearances in the Top 100.
– Young Sheldon, the finale “Memoir” was #71, and episode 13 “Funeral” came in at #80.
– The relatively new show “Tracker” on CBS made fourteen appearances on the list, with around 11 million viewers per episode.
* Sorry, Hallmark Christmas Movies.
* This goes to prove the long-held TV theory that American viewers are too darn lazy to even change the channel. It’s a button push, people.
* The 100 Most-Watched Shows of 2024. I wonder how many billions of drug commercials everybody had to sit through?
* C’mon, Tracker watchers. Here’s the plot: Guy goes missing. Surprise ending: He finds him.
* I thought Everybody Loves Raymond, but turns out they really love Sheldon.

THE BUZZ

2025: THE YEAR OF THE SEX ROBOT

Futurists are predicting that 2025 will be the year of the sex robot. (* No, ladies, we’re not talking about yours truly. Although we very well could be. Rowwrrr.) Dr. Ian Pearson – physics professor, math PhD and futurist – predicts that humanity this year “will start to see some forms of robot sex appearing in high-income, very wealthy households.” Professor Pearson, who has boasted of having an 85 percent accuracy rate for his forecasts, argues women might overtake men in the adoption of sex robots in 2025.
* “Might.” That some fine futuristic forecasting work there, Lou.
* Is adopting a sex robot like adopting an animal from the pet shelter? Do the robots look at you with those cold, dead eyes that say, “I will love you unconditionally, with a couple of double-A batteries.”
* How long ’til somebody brings a sex robot on a plane claiming it’s an Emotional Support Machine? June?
* Time to buy stock in personal lubricants.
* A math professor who studies sex robots. I bet the word problems on his tests are very interesting.

POINTLESS RULES OF SOCIETY

Reddit asked, “What’s a rule in society that everyone agrees is pointless, but we all still follow?” Some of the responses:
– “Clicking ‘I have read and agree to the terms and conditions’— we all know nobody’s reading that.”
– “Inviting all your relatives to your wedding.”
– “Saying ‘We should get together sometime’ with no intention of ever doing so.”
– “When you go to a bank and have to snake through the ropes even when no one else is in line. I tried going around once and the teller told me not to.”
– “The need to buy an expensive engagement ring to demonstrate your love.”
– “The idea of certain foods for certain parts of the day. If I want a cheeseburger at 6am, and your restaurant can make cheeseburgers, then what’s the problem?”
– “You can’t wear jeans or street clothes to church. If God is judgemental of my jeans and Nikes, then I need to upgrade spiritual bodies.”
– “Waiting at a red light when you are the only vehicle around.”
– “Matching socks.”
* Yes, but it used to be one of the unspoken rules was you don’t wear pajamas out in public. Now look at us.
* When someone hands you their phone to look at pictures of their pet, apparently it’s wrong to throw that phone as far as you can. Who knew?
* PHONE TOPIC: What societal rule are you tired of?

U.S. NEWS

FALLING LEGOS INJURE TEN AT NEW YEAR EVENT

Ten people were injured when a Lego display fell onto a crowd during a New Year’s Eve family event in Peabody, Massachusetts. The incident occurred during an indoor balloon drop at In The Game, an arcade and restaurant. The netting holding the balloons was attached to an eight-foot tall Lego structure sitting on a high ledge, but the staff was having trouble releasing the balloons. Someone tugged too hard and the Lego display tipped over and fell about 12 feet onto the guests below. Ten spectators — four adults and six children — were injured with minor cuts and scrapes.
* It hit them like a ton of bricks.
* Happy New Lawsuit!
* No one is sure exactly what happened. Police are trying to put the pieces together.
* As family events go, these guys crushed it.
* What’s worse – being hit by falling Legos during a public celebration, or falling drones? Let’s open the phones.

THE TEXAS CHEERLEADER GOAT MASSACRE

A teenage cheerleader in Texas has allegedly admitted to poisoning a rival’s competitive show goat. Aubrey Vanlandingham, a 17-year-old senior, was a regular competitor at livestock shows with her own goat. When Willy, another goat in the competition, fell ill and then died, security cameras were checked and officials found that Vanlandingham had used a drench gun to force-feed Willy a toxic pesticide. She confessed to police that she had killed the goat because she believed the goat’s 15-year-old owner was “a cheater.” Vanlandingham also said she had tried to kill Willy once before and was unsuccessful. The cheerleader had recently been named the president of the school’s Future Farmers of America and was an avid participant in goat shows. If convicted, she could face up to two years in prison.
* It’s all part of the 4-H Club – Head, Head, Hands and Homicide.
* She’s ba-a-a-a-ad to the bone.
* She thought the other competitor was a cheater but she took it to a whole other level.
* She really got their goat. Literally.
* (clap along) L-E/L-E-T/L-E-T-S/LETS KILL!

THE SOUTHWEST AIRLINE WHEELCHAIR SCAM

Some wily travelers have learned how to take advantage of a flaw in the Southwest Airlines seating system. Southwest lets passengers pick their seats on a first-come, first-served basis. But you can board earlier if:
– You buy the most expensive tickets
– If you’re a frequent traveler
– If you pay for early boarding
– If you need a wheelchair
That last one is the scam. People have learned that if they call ahead and say they need a wheelchair, Southwest will provide one, and let them on the plane first. Southwest Airlines has more wheelchair passengers than any other airline. One recent Southwest Airlines passenger on a Tampa flight posted online that his plane had 30 passengers in wheelchairs that boarded early. Miraculously, only two of them needed wheelchairs when they got off the plane.
* Well, they talk about the miracle of flight. Maybe this is it.
* A lot of people needed wheelchairs to board the red eye flights after midnight on New Year’s Eve.
* Hmm. If they released a lion in the boarding area, they could find out pretty quick who didn’t need a wheelchair.
* Given the current state of the air industry, I’d be happy if the plane just landed without incident.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

VICTORIA, CANADA’S 911 CALLS THAT SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN 911 CALLS

From the 911 emergency system in Canadian city of Victoria, here are the Top 10 List of Calls That Should Not Have Been 9-1-1 in 2024:
1. Their neighbor was wearing too much cologne
2. The dry cleaners stained their shirt (* Why would you tell emergency services that the dry cleaner has a stained shirt?)
3. McDonald’s wouldn’t open their doors
4. They wanted directions to a 24/7 Shoppers Drug Mart
5. Complaining the power was out
6. Requesting technical support
7. The box of 38 avocados they purchased were rotten
8. They left their phone in an Uber (* Now how did they call 911 if they left their phone in the Uber?)
9. Requesting help removing a wasp nest (* If you don’t get the 911 call before they remove the wasp nest, you’re surely going to get the 911 call after they remove the wasp nest.)
10. There was a domesticated-looking bunny in the park
* By the way, 911 in Canada is actually 1307, at the current exchange rate.
* Victoria needs to set up a Citizen Complaint Line.
* Then you’d get “Hello, 9-1-1? Nobody at the Citizen Complaint Line has responded to my call about loud birds on my lawn.”
* Save the Canadian 911 calls for the serious stuff, like car accidents or maple syrup spills.

PSYCHIC PREDICTIONS FOR 2025

Every year, the world’s psychics like to remind the public how scarily accurate their annual predictions are. And every year, no one bothers to check. So, with that in mind, here are some of the predictions for the coming year from the top psychics, as chosen by the British trash press. I tell you, you will get chills hearing these. Chills:
***Mary Ann Jordan, 77, better known as Mae the Irish Psychic, makes her readings from a stack of Aer Lingus playing cards:
– Meghan Markle, the wife of Prince Harry, may come to the rescue with efforts to restore her husband’s relationship with Prince William.
– On Sean Diddy’s trial, she said the rapper is “pretty much done.” She stressed that she will be “shocked” if he ever comes out of the prison.
– Luigi Mangione, the alleged CEO murderer, is “going to have an interesting year.” While Mae believes Luigi will spend some time in prison – “as little as 10 years, maximum 27,” she also thinks he will be released.
***Psychic Nicolas Aujula:
– Challenges ahead for Katy Perry with potential marriage issues in 2025.
– Actress Cate Blanchett should have a successful year, with possible awards.
– Prince William and Prince Harry reconcile after years of tension.
*** Inbaal Honigman, who reads Tarot cards:
– Oasis, who is reuniting for a tour, will have arguments, and for part of the tour, they won’t even be speaking.
– ABBA will actually reunite and sing on stage, as part of a large, international show.
– Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will make a decision this year to spend a little time apart, just to check whether they feel more stressed alone or together. “Then they will start planning for a wedding.”
– Jennifer Lopez will go on a few dates in 2025. She will agree to go out on a date with someone really special, but she won’t promise a second date. She’ll be “pictured with an older, established actor who’s wanted to pursue her for years.”
***Medium Mark Christopher Nelson:
– 2025 will be “the year of disclosures.” He foresees significant revelations about UFOs, stating, “I feel like there’s going to be some kind of ground-shaking, mind-altering disclosures.”
*** Medium Erika Gabriel:
– “I see a lot of water and a lot of wind.”
***Nostradamus, who died in 1566:
– War in the UK and the return of the plague.
– “A decrease in the influence of Western countries and the emergence of new world powers.”
– “From the cosmos, a fireball will rise.” Asteroid!!!
– A “mysterious leader” would rise to form an “aquatic empire.” Aquaman!

ALMANACNOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

January 9, Thursday – National Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter
January 20, Monday – Inauguration Day
January 20, Monday – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 27, Monday – Int’l Holocaust Remembrance Day (UN)
January 29, Wednesday – Chinese New Year (The Year of the Wood Snake)
February 2, Sunday – Groundhog Day
February 12, Wednesday – Lincoln’s Birthday
February 14, Friday – Valentine’s Day
February 17, Monday – Presidents Day / Washington’s Birthday
March 9, Tuesday – Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras
March 9, Sunday – Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 17, Monday – St. Patrick’s Day
March 20, Thursday – Spring begins, Spring Equinox is 5:01 a.m. EDT

BIRTHDAYS

Anthony Carrigan (“Barry”) … 42
Kate Bosworth (actress) … 42
Taye Diggs (actor, “All American”) … 54
Christy Turlington (supermodel) … 56
Cuba Gooding Jr. (actor, “American Horror Story,” “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”) … 57
Tia Carrere (actress, “Wayne’s World”) … 58
Jack Hanna (TV host, “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild”) … 78

Today’s Birthdays grade:

Today’s Birthdays grade: Today’s birthdays aren’t too exciting, on the other hand that’s a good thing ’cause we’re still recovering from New Year’s, so … a generous 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!

“I’ve always been a sucker for attention.”

(A) Donald Trump
(B) Kim Kardashian
(C) Cuba Gooding, Jr.

ANSWER: (C) Cuba Gooding, Jr.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2018 – The World Health Organization announced its next official Classification of Diseases would classify gaming addiction as mental health condition.
* Not a lot of people heard about it – they were busy playing Red Dead Redemption 2.

2008 – Oil prices soared to $100 a barrel for the first time.
* They wanted to see if they could get away with it. And … yep, they did!

1974 – U.S. president Nixon signed a bill requiring states to limit highway speeds to 55 mph to save gasoline. It was repealed in 1995.
* I work in radio. I’ve never been able to afford a car that could run well enough to hit 55 mph.

1960 – John F. Kennedy announced he would run for the U.S. presidency.
* He heard the Oval Office was a chick magnet.

1929 – America and Canada agreed to preserve Niagara Falls.
* Only after studies showed the costs would be covered by income from tacky gift shops and cheesy honeymoon motels.

1893 – A woman appeared on a U.S. postage stamp for the first time.
* And all day she asked everyone, “Does this stamp make me look fat?”

1870 – Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began.
* I got a great deal on that bridge a few years back.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2016 – Adele was at No.1 on the U.S. album chart with her third studio album “25.” The album was a massive commercial success, debuting at No.1 in more than 25 markets and breaking first-week sales records in multiple countries, including the United Kingdom and United States; in the U.S., the album sold 3.38 million copies in its first week of release, marking the largest single-week sales for an album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking point-of-sale music purchases in 1991.

2002 – Backstreet Boy Nick Carter was arrested in a Tampa, Florida nightclub after being involved in a fight. Police said that Carter was arguing with a woman and when he was asked to leave, he continued arguing. He was arrested on a misdemeanor count of resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.

1988 – Michael Jackson and Bono shared first place in an American poll of “the most beautiful lips.”

1985 – Rolling Stone Ron Wood married his girlfriend Jo Karslake in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England. Guests included Keith Richard, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck. In 2008, Wood left his wife for Katia Ivanova; his wife was granted a divorce in 2009.

1969 – Led Zeppelin began their first North American tour appearing at the Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles for four nights. Opening group was the Alice Cooper band.

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. 90% of the time in relationships, THIS choice is left up to the woman. What is it?
Which side of the bed they sleep on

2. 46% of people in the dating world say they would end a relationship over THIS. What is it?
If they didn’t like the other person’s family

3. 85% of people surveyed said their relationship would be better if their partner stopped doing THIS. What is it?
Snoring

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