THURSDAY, Jan 9 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR THURSDAY, January 9, 2025
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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.)

BALLOON ASCENSION DAY
The Keep In Calendar website says this:
“At 10 a.m. on the morning of January 9, 1793, in Philadelphia, Jean Pierre Blanchard made the first aerial trip (in America) in a yellow balloon. Blanchard, a famous French aeronaut, had filled his balloon with hydrogen and sold tickets for $5 for the take off. Our first president, General George Washington, and French dignitaries arrived minutes before the take off to witness this amazing feat. Blanchard had taken to the skies in hydrogen powered balloons 44 times in Europe and decided that he would be the first to perform this feat in the New World. Blanchard insisted on taking the balloon journey alone. He didn’t even want anyone to accompany him on the ground aboard wagons. His ascent into the sky was perpendicular at first, enabling him to see the various expressions of astonishment on spectators’ faces. It was a perfect day for flight. His balloon continued to float with southeasterly winds while climbing 5,800 feet in the air. Blanchard conducted experiments and recorded them in his journal. Blanchard landed 46 minutes later in Woodbury, N.J. some 15 miles southeast of Philadelphia. He was greeted by a couple of astounded farmers. His first problem immediately presented itself: how was he going to get back to Philadelphia? His second problem lay in the fact that he spoke very little English. Somehow, Blanchard communicated with one of the farmers by showing them President Washington’s signature and seal on the document he brought with him. The farmers helped him carefully fold and stow his balloon on a wagon. They arrived back in Philadelphia at 7 o’clock that evening.”

NATIONAL APRICOT DAY

NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION 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 9

“American Primeval”
Netflix – New Limited Series
Synopsis: A Western showing how dismal (and macho) the old American West once was, as the cowboys, Native Americans, the prospectors, the Mormons, the fugitives, the drunks, and even some naughty children all tried to get their piece of the pie.

“Asura”
Netflix – New Series from Japan
Synopsis: In 1979 Tokyo, four distinct sisters uncover their aging father’s affair, causing their happy facades and bottled-up emotions to slowly unravel.

“Hollywood Squares”
CBS – Game Show
Synopsis: A reboot of the classic celebrities-in-a-big-Tic-Tac-Toe grid game show.

“On Call”
Prime Video – New Series
Synopsis: Follows a pair of police officers – a rookie and a veteran officer patrol duo in Long Beach, California – as they face the morality of protecting and serving a community, responding to radio calls and arriving on the scene to resolve incidents.

“The Pitt”
Max – New Series
Synopsis: Follows the daily lives of healthcare professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital as they juggle personal crises, workplace politics, and the emotional toll of treating critically ill patients, revealing the resilience required in their noble calling. With “ER” vet Noah Wyle.”

Season Premieres:
Netflix – “The Upshaws”
Peacock – “The Traitors”

FRIDAY – January 10

Season Premieres:
Hulu/Disney+ – “Goosebumps”

SATURDAY – January 11

“NFL Wild Card Game”
Prime Video – Sports Event
Synopsis: Prime Video hosts its first NFL playoff game in the Wild Card round featuring one of football’s best rivalries as the Pittsburgh Steelers head to the Baltimore Ravens for another battle of these AFC North enemies.

SUNDAY – January 12

“2025 Critics Choice Awards”
E! / Available on Peacock Jan 13 – Awards Show

Season Premieres:
MGM+ – “Rogue Heroes”

OSCARS VOTING, NOMINATIONS SCHEDULE CHANGES DUE TO FIRE

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, out of consideration for the many members whose lives have been upended by the Los Angeles fires, has announced the extension of the Oscar nomination voting window, which began at 9am on Wednesday morning and was to have ended at 5pm PT on Sunday evening. Now, members whose ballots are not burned to ashes have until 5pm on Jan. 14 to turn them in. And the Oscar nominations announcement has been pushed back from Friday, Jan. 17 to Sunday, Jan. 19.
* Watch your mailbox – or what’s left of it – for your ballot!
* If you had an Oscar that was melted in the fire, tick the special box at the bottom for a replacement.
* Good to see the media focused on the important things in a time of crisis.
* Do you think maybe Academy members have other things to worry about than voting? Are we going to hear, “And the Oscar for Best Picture, with a grand total of 8 votes, is…”

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. “20 Men Who Actually Wore Something Interesting To The Golden Globes”
2. “Scientists Finally Crack The Secret Of Hula Hoops”
3. “Why 2025 Will Be The Year Of The Bidet”
And here’s a spare, in case you don’t like one of those three: “She’s Not An Art Historian, She’s A Fruit Detective”

EVEN MORE TECHNOLOGY AT THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW

Here are some more gadgets on display at the Consumer Electronics Show, currently running in Las Vegas:
– Samsung’s MicroLed Beauty Mirror, an AI-powered smart mirror that scans your face and provides “personalized beauty insights.” The mirror will grade your skin at different levels and recommend skin care products based on your results.
– LG Transparent TV: This was demoed last year, but now it’s a real thing. A 77-inch clear piece of glass that, when turned on, becomes a TV. It’s available to purchase with shipping beginning in the middle of January. Cost: $60,000.
– From Petcube, a smart water fountain for your pets. If your cat likes to drink from a bubbling pool of water, this is for you. An internal battery holds its charge for up to 20 days before you need to charge it. And, it filters the water.
– Pawport pet door: A smart, motorized pet door that opens and closes on demand by detecting your pet’s presence via a small, waterproof, rechargeable Bluetooth collar tag.
– The Purobot Ultra litter box. Paired with an app, it claims to have a facial recognition system that tells you which of your cats is pooping and when.

U.S. NEWS

L.A. MILLIONAIRE OFFERS TO PAY “ANY AMOUNT” FOR PRIVATE FIREFIGHTERS

A millionaire Los Angeles CEO has gone viral for posting a message online offering to pay private firefighters “any amount” to protect his luxury home from the Palisades wildfire. Keith Wasserman, co-founder of real estate investment company Gelt Venture Partners, posted the plea on X Tuesday as the rapidly-spreading blaze ripped through the area. He wrote, “Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you.” The message sparked (*!) outrage over “resource” hogging as neighbors’ homes burned. One commenter wrote, “If you find yourself tweeting for private firefighters to protect your property, you should probably question what you have become as a human being.” Back in 2019, private firefighting companies began offering “on-call” wildfire protection to wealthy Californians as the number and intensity of fires increased.
* That’s called “money to burn.”
* “You should probably question what you have become as a human being.” That’s not actually high on millionaires’ lists of things to do.
* So the millionaires are starting to turn on each other now. Guess we can put away those pitchforks and torches for awhile longer.
* The problem with private firefighters is, you call them and they say, “How’s Tuesday work for ya?”

WOMAN ADVERTISES FOR A GIRLFRIEND FOR HER SON

A New Hampshire mother has put an ad in the Laconia Daily Sun newspaper seeking a girlfriend for her 28-year-old son. She writes, in part:
“My dear boy, who is now a young man, is unable to find love. This tall and handsome lad is unique in this time for his genuine character, honesty and benevolence. Strong, healthy and fit, he does not drink or smoke any variety. An intellectual homebody of sorts, he also enjoys working outdoors, seasonal activities and playing with his dogs. At age 28, my responsible and dependable son continues to add to his current savings that can easily secure a comfortable homestead. He has long conveyed his desire to marry a kindhearted and hardworking woman of similar values for the purpose of raising a family and mutual, lifelong devotion, adoration and happiness. Take a chance and I will reveal to him this post and your response. Send replies to Box A, Laconia Daily Sun, New Hampshire.”
* “…also, 2007 Subaru Outback for sale, $6,000 or best offer.”
* “Should you marry my son, please be assured I will have my nose in your business 24/7 like you can’t even begin to imagine.”
* Boy, Joe Jonas’ mom is really overstepping her bounds here.
* I bet she conveniently left out “He also loves Magic: The Gathering.”
* “Dear Madame, You son is gay. Sincerely, The Rest Of The World.”

FLORIDA ORANGE JUICE? NOT FOR MUCH LONGER

A major citrus grower is abandoning its citrus growing operations in Florida. Alico Inc. announced Monday that it planned to wind down its citrus operations after the current crop is harvested later this year. The company provides a large amount of oranges, lemons and limes to juice maker Tropicana. Alico said its citrus production had declined by 73% over the past decade due to a continuing series of hurricanes, combined with trees weakened from years of citrus greening disease. Alico says that “growing citrus is no longer economically viable for us in Florida.” Florida’s orange production forecast for the 2024-2025 season had dropped 20% from the previous one in October, reflecting damage from Hurricane Milton.
* If I have to switch to Wheatgrass juice in the morning, I will not be happy.
* Oh, well, I guess it’s back to orange Kool-Aid.
* If global warming keeps up, we’ll be talking about Alaska orange juice before long.
* Maybe this is why Trump wants Greenland? Acres and acres of yuge, incredible Greenlandic orange groves. Tremendous.

TRENDINGCELEBRITIES AFFECTED BY THE L.A. FIRE

Dozens of celebrities have been forced to flee their homes in coastal Los Angeles as three raging wildfires threaten the coastal hillsides. Among the 30,000 residents evacuated from their homes, more than a few celebrities have been affected:
– Reality TV star Spencer Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag have lost their home to the fire.
– James Woods and his family have evacuated. Woods also declared that he and many of his neighbors no longer have insurance after a ‘major company’ canceled many of the policies four months ago.
– Mark Hamill evacuated his Malibu home on Tuesday night. He said ‘small fires’ burned on ‘both sides of the road’ as he approached the Pacific Coast Highway.
– Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg assisted firefighters by moving parked cars in order to make room for the incoming fire trucks.
– Eugene Levy said he was caught in the gridlock of residents fleeing the area.
– Mandy Moore and her three children have evacuated their Pasadena home.
The infernos are tearing through neighborhoods that dozens of A-listers call home, including Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, and Miles Teller.
– Leighton Meester and Adam Brody’s Los Angeles home was burned down in the Pacific Palisades fire on Wednesday.

BONNAROO ANNOUNCES LINEUP

The Bonnaroo Festival has announced its bands. The four-day event will take place June 12-15 on the 700-acre Bonnaroo Farm in Manchester, Tennessee, located about 60 miles southeast of Nashville. The headliners:
Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator, Luke Combs and Hozier. Others set to perform include Vampire Weekend, GloRilla, Tyla, Raye, Avril Lavigne, Queens of the Stone Age, John Summit, Justice, Dom Dolla, Glass Animals and The Red Clay Strays. Tickets go on sale Thursday.

NIKKI GLASER WILL BE RETURNING TO GOLDEN GLOBES

Comedian Nikki Glaser, who did a fine job hosting Sunday’s Golden Globes, will reportedly be returning to host again in 2026 and 2027. Deadline reports that Glaser has a three-year deal for the gig. Glaser was rumored to have been paid “a bit more than $400,000″ for hosting Sunday’s show, which is on the very low end of the pay scale for jobs of that sort. She will certainly be paid more for the next two.

SAG AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced Tuesday. These are awards voted on by critics.
Male Actor in a Leading Role:
– Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist”
– Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown”
– Daniel Craig, “Queer”
– Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing”
– Ralph Fiennes, “Conclave”

Female Actor in a Leading Role:
– Pamela Anderson, “The Last Showgirl”
– Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked”
– Karla Sofía Gascón, “Emilia Pérez”
– Mikey Madison, “Anora”
– Demi Moore, “The Substance”

Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series:
– Javier Bardem, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”
– Colin Farrell, “The Penguin”
– Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”
– Kevin Kline, “Disclaimer”
– Andrew Scott, “Ripley”

Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series:
– Kathy Bates, “The Great Lillian Hall”
– Cate Blanchett, “Disclaimer”
– Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country”
– Lily Gladstone, “Under the Bridge”
– Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”
– Cristin Milioti, “The Penguin”

Male Actor in a Drama Series:
– Tadanobu Asano, “Shōgun”
– Jeff Bridge, “The Old Man”
– Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”
– Eddie Redmayne, “The Day of the Jackal”
– Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shōgun”

Female Actor in a Drama Series:
– Kathy Bates, “Matlock”
– Nicola Coughlan, “Bridgerton”
– Allison Janney, “The Diplomat”
– Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”
– Anna Sawai, “Shōgun”

Male Actor in a Comedy Series:
– Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”
– Ted Danson, “A Man on the Inside”
– Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”
– Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
– Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

Female Actor in a Comedy Series:
– Kristen Bell, ”Nobody Wants This”
– Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
– Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”
– Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
– Jean Smart, “Hacks”

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

TODAY – 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

Catherine (“Kate”), Duchess of Cambridge, the wife of Britain’s Prince William… 43
A.J. McLean (singer with the Backstreet Boys) … 47
Dave Matthews (singer, musician, Dave Matthews Band) … 58
J.K. Simmons (actor, “Red One,” the Farmer’s Insurance guy) … 70
Crystal Gayle (country singer) … 74
Jimmy Page (guitarist with Led Zeppelin) … 81
Joan Baez (folk singer) … 84

Today’s Birthdays grade:

Today’s Birthdays grade: The guitar god who founded Led Zeppelin, four more music stars, the crazy-ripped Santa from “Red One” and a royal. Something for everyone! 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 always believed in the music we did and that’s why it was uncompromising.”

(A) Kenny G.
(B) Yanni
(C) Jimmy Page

ANSWER: (C) Jimmy Page

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2007 – Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone.
* And if we’d been smart enough to buy Apple stock just then, we’d be in the Bahamas right now.

2001 – Apple Computer Inc. introduced its iTunes music management software at the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco.
* And if we’d been smart enough to buy Apple stock just then ALSO, we’d be in the Bahamas right now.

1984 – Wendy’s “Where’s The Beef?” commercial debuted.
* You see, sometimes we DO know exactly when an annoying catch phrase started.

1923 – In Spain, Juan de la Cierva made the first helicopter flight.
* He predicted helicopters would be useful for military air cover, search and rescue, and televising high speed car chases.

1889 – The first computer was patented by Dr. Herman Hollerith.
* Businesses immediately saw it as a way to improve productivity, cut costs, and provide a convenient scapegoat for human incompetence.

1811 – The first recorded golf tournament for women took place in Scotland.
* The winner took home the purse, and a lovely pair of matching shoes.

1793 – The first hydrogen-filled balloon flight in the U.S. lifted off in Philadelphia.
* It was a gas, baby!

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2020 – Harry Styles was at No.1 on the U.S. chart with his second studio album Fine Line. The album received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance.

2014 – Rolling Stone magazine published their Readers Poll: The 10 Greatest Double Albums of All Time. The top 5 were: 5. Led Zeppelin – “Physical Graffiti,” 4. Bruce Springsteen – “The River,” 3. The Rolling Stones – “Exile on Main Street,” 2. Pink Floyd – “The Wall,” and winning the poll was The Beatles – “The White Album.”

2006 – Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson put the house they made famous in the MTV series “Newlyweds” up for sale after splitting up. The house in Calabasas, California, was on the market for $3.75m.

1997 – David Bowie celebrated his 50th birthday with a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, one day after his actual birth date. The concert featured special guests the Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, Frank Black, Robert Smith, Sonic Youth and Placebo.

1992 – Sting made a guest appearance on the Fox animated TV comedy series “The Simpsons” in the episode “Radio Bart.”

1988 – Whitney Houston scored her sixth consecutive U.S. No.1 with “So Emotional.”

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. A survey says that 57% of men under the age of 30 say they don’t own one of THESE. What is it?
A suit

2. A recent survey says that men are happier, generally healthier and more confident if they have one of THESE. What is it?
A sister

3. The average American man will do THIS nearly 2,400 times in his lifetime. What is it?
Mow a lawn

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